epidemiology | EVENT ▸ WELCOME TO DRAKSTADEN

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EVENT ▸ WELCOME TO DRAKSTADEN

CITIZENS OF TOMORROW

It's raining when Guild Ophelia arrives in Drakstaden, a constant drizzle which doesn't let up for hours. The team all rift in separately on the lower levels, conveniently placed in alleyways, behind dumpsters, and in abandoned lots. They've already been outfitted in their Drakstaden clothes and, for the nonhuman members, cloaking devices, although Imogen reminds them that the cloaking devices will only make them appear human to outsiders; the magitek allows Ophelia to see them as they truly are, letting them recognize their teammates.

The lower levels house the dregs of society. The tired, the poor, the huddled masses. It isn't uncommon to pass beggars on these levels, and overall, almost all of the citizens on the lowest levels are in bad financial shape. There are a few shops here and there, although many are manually operated rather than robotically, making them less efficient and, therefore, less profitable.

The higher one goes, the more wealthy the people they pass appear -- and they will pass many people. It's almost impossible not to run into people, as they're all cramped in a quite small space. When it comes to crossing over lower levels, Ophelia might find themselves actually running into people, as the walkways tend to consist of nothing more than wooden planks, which aren't exactly roomy. On the higher levels, the passages between areas are sky bridges, often enclosed -- or at least roofed -- places with moving walkways that denizens need only stand on to be brought to their destinations.

Also present in the higher levels are the Vakdir, Darkstaden's police force, making them appear analogous with wealth. There are little to no Vakdir in the lowermost levels, but the higher one goes, the more are patrolling -- and if they see you in clothes that make you look like you don't really belong here, you may wind up getting harassed. Everyone knows their place here, so you'd better learn quickly if you want to fit in.

▸ HOTEL DRAKSTADEN

A self-sufficient "smart hotel" with 20 floors, run without human intervention, the Hotel Drakstaden is built on top of a four story building, meaning it's located in the lower portions of the middle levels. Imogen has arranged for Guild Ophelia to have rooms here, though space is limited, so you may have to bunk up with a buddy or three.

The only interaction one will get here is with the lonely android receptionist, Edvard, who is very excited to see you, as it's been so long since he's had a guest! Tourists have stopped coming, you see, although he can't imagine why; it's a perfectly lovely place to live, if you ask him (although it has been a while since he was out of the hotel... why, he hasn't been outside the hotel since the day he was assembled, now that he thinks of it). He'll talk your ear off as he gets you a room, and even after, if you let him. He seems very sad to see you go, and asks you to please come visit him if you have any problems with the room.

Each room contains a smart bed that adjusts its firmness to your movements and sheets with adjustable temperature, a smart shower with a touch-screen LED display of the temperature and water pressure (as well as displaying the date and time, and offering music options accompanied by matching visuals), and a TV that visually scans you, then matches you to the shows most favored by your demographic. Interestingly, one of the shows almost always includes pro-government propaganda.

The hotel is not considered "fancy" by Drakstaden standards; this technology is old news for them. In fact, it's the bare minimum of what you'd expect from a decent bed, shower, or TV.

A fleet of Roombas and Tidy-Bots arrive around noon each day to clean it from top to bottom. None appear to have any sentience whatsoever, just an overwhelming prerogative to clean your room. If you head downstairs in the morning, the automated kitchen's open to make you breakfast, or Edvard has a continually updated catalog of every restaurant within a short walking distance. The same goes for lunch and dinner, although they haven't got a bartender, so any alcoholic drinks that aren't bottled will have to be found elsewhere.

All in all, it's a suitable place to sleep and rest, but not good for much else. In order to really sink your teeth into the city and get your job done, you'll need to head out.

▸ ROST: THE HIDEOUT

Soon enough, your local contact will meet with you: a woman with purple hair and a black, robotic arm that is named Froken gives you directions to a "local hotspot" that people "of your caliber" would be interested in. It's close to the hotel, up a few floors and around a few corners, and behind a false wall in a middle class sympathizer's apartment, but it's there. Froken notes your numbers and suggests you don't all come around at once -- they want to remain hidden, not alert "unwanted individuals" to their "underground club."

The hideout is located in a surveillance deadzone, at the edge of any Vakdir patrol zone and a surveillance drone blindspot due to electrical wires that hang overhead. Inside are computers and half-constructed gadgets, along with blueprints, notes, and more tacked up on the walls or spilling out of folders strewn across a salvaged table. It's disorganized, but thorough; this isn't just a fleeting whim. They want to take the government down by any means necessary.

Froken introduces you to the lot of them: Bjalla, Eitur, Flader, Hakarl, Sparv, Varg, and more -- you get the feeling these are code names, as they stress that what they are doing is treasonous. In plotting against their government, they aren't only putting themselves in danger, but their family, friends, and even neighbors. Looking at their clothing and the state of their cybernetics (or lack thereof, in some cases), it's clear that most of Rost comes from the lower levels of Drakstaden, though there are a few who look to be middle class as well.

The members of Rost explain the state of affairs of Drakstaden, the way the government controls everyone and everything. Those in the lower class are hit the hardest, trapped in the veritable slums of the lowest levels of the city, but the middle and upper classes are victims themselves, either believing the lies the government-sponsored programs broadcast over government-sponsored channels, or otherwise being unable to openly announce dissent. Those who even speak against the government, you see, are often never seen again.

The only way for Drakstaden to be free, according to Rost, is to remove the current government and all who are complicit in the prime minister's iron fisted rule. By the hardened and grim looks on their faces, it's clear they did not ask Ophelia here to engage in a diplomacy mission.

▸ OOC NOTES

Welcome to Mission: Drakstaden! If you have questions about this log or the mission, please direct them to the dossier. Questions about the game in general can be directed to the FAQ.

▸ Up now:

Mission: Drakstaden Bounty Board is now open! Bounties must be turned in by the beginning of the next mission, estimated for mid-summer. As a reminder, bounty threads do not count toward !plot AC.
CR/Welcome Meme is available for plotting or getting to know your fellow players.
Drakstaden Locations are now live! Please leave any questions about the locations on the dossier.

▸ Coming next (Futurology runs on timezone UTC):

26 April: May calendar goes up!
28 April: Next !plot log goes up. You may use threads started during April for May AC.
01 May: April AC begins, ending on 5 May 23:59 UTC. All new characters must provide one proof.

▸ CR/Welcome Meme ▸ Drakstaden Dossier ▸ Drakstaden Locations ▸ Drakstaden Bounty Board ▸ April Calendar

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

i. dripping dry

[Everything about this city is claustrophobic. It's not that Keith minds tight spaces. What he does mind is how ... lifeless this place really is. He knows that everything is inherently connected in some way. He realized that once, and he never let go of it. But what he sees after he arrives is evidence of the contrary. This is a world that's trying to stomp that out. This is a city that's ... not unlike the Galra. They love to destroy any and all individuality, all for the sake of victory in the face of death.

He's scowling when he gets in from the rain. Keith didn't mean to be out there for so long, but something about the rain helped him feel like this city could be helped. It was a weird thought. But it was a thought all the same.

Edvard is momentarily concerned when he sees Keith dripping water all over the floor as he stalks off in the direction of his room, but ... well. That's why there's a cleaning "crew." Keith won't be up for talking, but he is up for awkward confrontations as two people nearly walk into one another.]

Before you ask, no, I didn't fall into some water.

[Not that anyone would ask. He's just touchy right now.]

ii. the rost hideout

[Keith doesn't communicate with any of the rebels directly. The reality of this scene is weird for him. A hidden hideout. An evil government. A force that needs help taking it down. The difference is that the Rost are more proactive in that "taking it down" aspect, as they called in a group like Ophelia to help them accomplish things. It's not that the Blade of Marmora didn't have their reasons. But then, he can see the difference between the two.

It's odd for him personally because of the news from Allura. He still doesn't know what to say. What to tell anyone. How to feel. Is that what he should have done? Is that what he should have been planning for, instead of ... preparing to be a leader, like an idiot?

Somehow, it's easier to avoid answering that by focusing on this rebel faction.

Keith's position in the room doesn't change throughout the various stages of them going through stuff. What is noticeable is that he has a blade in his hand, wrapped once again with a piece of bandage to hide the insignia underneath. It's a smaller dagger, but he keeps it close.

He nods at one of the members of Ophelia sometimes, catching their eye. He'll talk. He'll even start the conversation:]

Wonder if they have plans for some plants. We'll need that to do this right.

iii. wildcard

[Keith will be doing reconnaissance at first, and possibly being caught out doing it, whoops. I'm also interested in some of the bounties, so! If you'd like something more unique as a starter, or want to hash out a thread, my cr meme link is here.]

[ Loki has been through more rebellions than he can count, all of them different in some way, but all of them serving the same purpose. while the Rost doesn't seem to know what exactly they need to do—they feel as if they need to do something. there's tension here, and it's about to break. ]

Ah—that won't be difficult. There are a few things we can arrange, if we'd like to be creative about it.

[ the gears in his head are already turning. he's a one man Oceans 11, and revolutions are his jam. ]

We'll have to convince them to take their time with this one. Everything they have here—it looks like an explosive finish. That won't rework things the way they need to be. [Keith sounds confident and oddly comfortable about this entire arrangement. None of it will be easy, but this is the first mission in a long time where he feels like he knows what to do. He can take point on aspects of it.]

You have ideas?

[ an explosive finish is what he likes about it. his nature is in this sort of work. ]

I always have ideas. [ ideas, and contingency plans, just in case. in his time as this Loki, he had learned to leave a little breathing room in all of his schemes, as the improvisation was less stifling. ] Sneaking in anywhere is what I do—when we do work, we'll need to do it quickly, because despite my kind of flawless illusion, there will be suspicions.

I can disguise anyone as anyone, for a time. We just need to find a good actor.

That counts me out. [Acting. And Keith. He'd probably miss something incredibly important and destroy the operation. He can't do that.]

But I can help with planning. I might be able to work with them. We just need to make sure we have people ready to move into place to help. Taking out the head doesn't solve anything. You just think it does.

[What was that about hydras? Well, Keith wouldn't think of that phrase, but it suits corrupt governments that he knows all too well.]

[ mortals were very black and white in those regards, and Loki used it to in his advantage in past lives. politics were much more intricate than that. ]

That's because politics depend on relationships, not just the individual. Pull it here, and it goes somewhere else—push it and watch it react ... the system has far more cracks than those who conceived it would like to believe.

We look at those.

[ there were more options here than not: a coup, breaking it apart from the inside, make the head retreat and step away himself, but they had to work with it. ]

We have to inspire the people to fight back, too. The ones who are kept down by this. The Rost is only a small group. When Voltron came on the scene, people had something to look to. We might have to have something that's similar.

[In all of his arguments with Rey and others over the past couple of months, the matter of "hope" kept coming up over and over again. It still has a place. Hope determines a lot. If people don't have hope, they can't be helped. It's not even their fault they got there.

It's just—Keith knows he's turned his back on that. He hasn't liked being the head of that, the symbol which guides that. Knowing he stepped away ... makes it stand out all the more. He can't continue running away just because he feels he's going to fail and make things worse.

Then again, maybe he's already made things worse.]

Yes.

[ a revolution always needed someone to fight back. ]

There are more people than just in the lower levels—there's a police force too, isn't there? They're made up of people, just like everyone else. We'll have to be awfully convincing, but we can turn this on its head yet.

[ hope is one thing that Loki's good at. with change, there's hope, and he has to hold on to that even when everything seems lost. it's not just for the times where it's easy, when it can be preached and swallowed and manufactured, but when the world was crumbling around them, too.

or it was worth nothing at all. ]

Uhhh. I'm not sure if you noticed, but the police here seem pretty ... corrupt. Like they're in the back pockets of the government officials. Do you really want to look to them for anything? [Attacking them is one thing. Loki's statement makes it sound like they're meant to be—what? Good or something? They sound more like Galran soldiers to him.]

keith | ota

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iii. red tape

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