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

They don't. [The answer is crisp and direct. Keith can already see that from their brief introduction to the Rost. They don't have the bodies or the means to do anything right now. Ophelia is going to have to be creative to not leave this world with a power vacuum. He only knows that that happens back home. He doesn't know what it's like to experience it, but he can guess.

After all, he was foolish to believe that Zarkon would be all that was needed to be taken down to stop the Galra Empire. That seemed like so long ago, but it mattered now.]

We can't talk here. You want to talk, right?

[ He can practically hear the leather of her glove crunch from how tight she clenches her grasp. She hates it — his words that they can't talk out in the open. Even under hushed breath and soft whispers, Ciri feels her privacy invaded. It's a horrible feeling, one she's trying hard to forget. ]

I do. There's a few things I'm unsure about and it'd be in my best interest to better adjust.

[ Mainly, she doesn't know why she can't blink to the upper levels and cut a corrupt politician's head off? :/ ]

Walk with me back to our lodging, then?

[Incidentally, Keith actually has an argument against going up there and cutting off the head of a corrupt politician. But that's for later, probably. Like when he knows that she's thinking about it.]

Right. Let's go.

[Keith doesn't like being all covert, either. It's not that he isn't used to it. There have been missions where he's had to hide the fact that he's a paladin, only he's done it rather poorly. He managed to get through Hanabira mostly unscathed, but still.]

I'm Keith, by the way. [To get that out of the way. Otherwise, he'd probably forget. Social mores aren't his strong suit.]

[ And off they go. Somewhere else less focused on the attention of prying eyes and fashionable clothes. She moves with a pep in her step, someone eager to not remain idle. ]

Ciri.

[ At least it's out now? ]

This whole mess is far too familiar...

The heavy surveillance or the corrupt government? [The former is less the Galra's style. They were too confident in their abilities to really vet any of their soldiers to make sure they wouldn't be spies. It was easy to break into their facilities because he had Galra DNA. It all could help a lot.

But the latter ... he knows all too well. That's the Galra in a nutshell.]

The worst part is knowing that we made it worse somehow. We should've been called in before that.

The government. [ She says with a cough. She still wants to try to be covert. She's a bit bad at it, especially when she's use to leaving trails for others to follow. ] But, we have no means to control that. It's simply the hand we're dealt.

Right. The government. That looks out for everyone. [So much for going somewhere private to talk. Keith feels a little foolish. He's going to mess up this entire mission because his social awareness is ... fleeting.

At best.]

I guess a lot of ... governments. Look out for people this way.

[ Look? IT WAS A VAGUE ANSWER... ]

Right, the government that rewards those who make the city a better place.

[ Totally... not harmful, right? Ciri may not be dense, but she certainly doesn't play well with others — she'd rather take lead and get this done with. But, as she slinks through the crowds, giving a nod and an apology if she brushes against them, the girl nods. ]

And those who don't... get what they deserve. It's simply the way the world works.

[ This is the worst. ]

I'm glad there's been an increased police force to keep the naysayers... quiet.

[ The. Worst. ]

[At least she didn't use the word "corrupt" without thinking. Because he hadn't been thinking. It took all of two minutes for him to mess up.]

It's a good thing that the naysayers are found. Quickly. We don't need to hear any of that. [Keith's voice is really flat as he says this, like he can't inject any emotion into it. Really, it's like he's reading off a script, but there's no script currently present.]

The hotel's just up ahead. [Said mostly for him to feel relieved.]

...I've heard of stories when I was younger. Of worlds of fantasy where the tormentors and hagglers would find themselves hoisted by the neck to their wrong-doing. Hung for the world to see, to shame and stone —

[ She remains quiet, stepping in silence as he notes the hotel. ]

We're lucky to be far better than that, hm?

[ The front door meets them, Edvard already eager to meet them and one hand lifts up, indicating that she's no mood to talk. ]

Which room is yours? [ To Keith. ] Or would mine do nicely?

Let's just go to mine. [Lance's almost inevitable barbs about bringing a woman to his room aside, Keith doesn't really think about it beyond that. It beats having to discuss where they're going, and he doubts anyone he's staying with is in at the moment.

He leads them straight there. Things are tidy in there, the way they might be if someone were worried about not being able to find their belongings. Keith has a dark bag full of stealth things, and his utility belt is currently sticking out. He hasn't had to make use of them yet.

He turns toward her.]

That description you gave. That's about your world, right?

[ Neither does Ciri. Thankfully, they were far too chaste in thought and focused on their objective to even start bullshit drama. :///

As they enter, Ciri does do a quick visual sweep. She feels a bit undone, her hand instinctively moving to the sword that wasn't on her back. Her hand awkwardly finds itself at her hip right when he looks to her. ]

There's warlords and corrupt emperors in ample supply, yes. I've never the mind to fight the way the world found itself, but we were brought here to change that. I suppose it's... a preview for me of what could be possible back home. If we're successful, that is.

I think a lot of us have dealt with corrupt rulers. [There's that word again, making its way back into his vocabulary. At least he's not using it while on the street. He's learned.] I'm worried about whether we can do this in a couple months. It definitely didn't work that way back home. Hasn't worked that way.

[Allura's news about the growing coalition had been promising, but ... there's also the part where he's worried that they've been led right into a trap. Then again, this could be a trap, too.

... Better not to focus on that right now. It usually isn't a trap.]

I've taken notice. [ SIGH. It was frustrating. Why was fate unkind to people trying to live honest lives? :/ ] If we attempt to follow rules and guidelines, then no. We won't be able to.

[ She's not use to thinking of politics. She hates it — loathes it because it is where so many others want her to be. Princess of Cintra, heir to Nilfgaard — two titles she wishes to leave behind. ]

I'm not naive enough to believe on one of my first few missions things will go according to plan, but if we're to strike — we must be precise.

[In contrast, Keith's experience with politics is something that he's reluctantly come to terms with over time. He doesn't like politics. He hates diplomacy. If given the opportunity, he'll avoid it. He just knows that cutting off the head in a revolution doesn't save anyone. It just allows someone waiting to come into power to step forward.]

A lot of us have been at this for a while. We only failed once. [It's an absently-stated reassurance. None of the people from Audentes even know why they failed, so they don't have a means of preventing it from happening again.

And that was a mission where they had to prevent to be higher than they were on the societal ladder to get at something ... Ugh, it's annoying to think about. This could be the same scenario all over again.]

If we strike, we have to take out the entire chain of command, and ensure there's something ready to take over. The dossier really only lists one guy. That's wrong. It's never like that.

... An impressive track record. [ She admits. She's failed more times than she can imagine, but it was truly a relief. It means the team is mainly competent... ] Mm. It makes it a bit difficult to find any of his allies if discretion is the preferred way to go about this.

[ She could bully people into talking, sure, but it won't get her anywhere. ]

The closer we get to our objective, the more opposing force we'll find. Nothing proved beneficial in the lower levels thus far...

[His mind goes back to the success of the coalition. Keith hasn't been there. He hasn't experienced the growth of it all. He doesn't know how any of it has happened. But he knows that they need to help these people rise up themselves. That much is clear.]

Beneficial—maybe not. They don't know that they can fight back. They probably can't even do that. Not yet. [That's why the Rost is careful and why their hideout is in the middle of the road. But for all their information and ideas, they don't have the forces. Hence: Ophelia. But what if the forces were there all along?]

We can help them change that. We can help them get there. There's less surveillance down there, less policing. If a revolution is gonna take place, it has to be where no one's bothering to pay attention because they thought they already won.

[ She stays silent, one of her best traits. Above all else, Ciri is able to stand around and listen to his words.

If she was to ever gain political power back home, she would have been a natural-born leader, one with a kind heart for her people. She chose a different role, however. Although... some things can't be changed.

She views optimism from his words, even if it was hidden behind uncertainty. ]

So, we need their numbers. The ones sober enough to assist us, however. [ She looks down a bit. ] I'm still green on the ways to go about this, to ensure there's no problems on our end — but I believe there may be some worth in seeking this Doctor... Have you met him?

No, uh—do you mean the only one who does safe surgeries? That guy? [It hadn't even occurred to him to think of people who are helping there. No matter what he has several consistent blindspots.]

You think he's good? [Er.] I mean—that can he can help us.

I'm not for certain, but... I wouldn't put my faith in anyone at the moment. He seems...rooted, at the very least.

[ This is all she knows about him. Even if he doesn't seem morally just, he has connections. She views it as a gray area. ]

I wish I could just go up there and handle the business myself without the risk of making the wrong choice — [ She growls a bit in bitterness. ] I'd like to add him to a list of people to at the very least consider, but I'm not sure if he'll make the cut in the long run.

He might know how to do things without being spotted. If we can get the information out of him, that could help. [Rey and Kylo Ren come to mind for doing that. He'll have to see if either of them are interested in participating in that path.

Then again, it'll probably have to be Rey since Keith and civil conversations with Kylo Ren don't go hand in hand.]

I will say this: killing someone you think is the leader just because we have his name won't do the trick. I—uh. I've tried it before. Elsewhere.

It could. Unfortunately, humans are a lot more complex than what I'm use to dealing with.

[ She's not ashamed to admit that. It's difficult to work through — motives, fears, credibility, moral compass... for her, monsters are easier to deal with. ]

That sounds like a story. [ She says with a sigh, almost teasingly. ] Don't worry, I wouldn't brandish my sword so easily unless we have just cause and a plan.

[Keith looks sheepish when she mentions that it sounds like "a story." It was a story, definitely. One that almost got him killed.

Still, that's not what he remarks upon. It's the "humans" bit that catches his attention.]

What, uh, what are you used to dealing with? Normally.

Monsters. I'm a Witcher.

[ And, she has to remember — that name means nothing here. ]

Beasts and fiends that cause problems for folk. I'm the answer to that — I've hunted them for a large portion of my life, but now the title is sort-of official.

Witcher ... does that mean you do magic? [Keith's knowledge of magic is limited to what he knows of Noctis (the previous Noctis, though he assumes Noctis-of-Now has the same powers) and Loki. It might be what helps drive Ahad's power, but he doesn't know for sure.]

EVENT ▸ WELCOME TO DRAKSTADEN

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