futurologists: (Default)
Hathaway. ([personal profile] futurologists) wrote in [community profile] epidemiology2018-04-15 05:19 pm

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:
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 MemeDrakstaden DossierDrakstaden LocationsDrakstaden Bounty BoardApril Calendar
tormado: Especially one that's going up at a 90 degree angle. (Never run for a bus.)

[personal profile] tormado 2018-04-20 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah.

[Amado cracks his knuckles. Another one comes at him with a chain. He grabs it out of their hand, jerks it away with one pull, then makes a fist with his hand and buries it in their stomach. The attacker hacks up their breath and bends over. Amado drops his elbow into the back of their neck, dropping them to the ground.

Another took the chance to get the jump on him with a pipe. It hits the back of his head with a thunk, but. It doesn't make the sound metal impacting against skin should. And when Amado slowly turns his head back towards them, it's clear that it didn't have the effect it should've had either. He glowers at the Red Sun just long enough for them to realize how much trouble they're in and then grabs them, burying one knee, two knees into their stomach. Then he lifts them into the air and slams them back onto the ground on their back.

At this point, the others are noticing that he's doing all of this without using his cybernetic arm at all.]


I'll say this one more time because despite what idiots you're being right now, I don't wanna hurt you: just walk away.

[It kinda has the opposite of the desired effect. If a pretty obvious gulf in strength and skill between these two guys and the rest of them made them hesitant, then getting blatantly pitied like that just pissed them off all over again. The remaining three charge Amado at once. It's tempting to just use his magitek shield and have them all run into it like a brick wall, but there's too many witnesses around for him to do anything really flashy like that. He turns his head and keeps all of them at least in his peripheral as they try to surround him and slips into more of a defensive stance.

One of them comes at him with a knife. He slips back. Another kicks him in the back and it actually gets him to stiffen a bit (cybernetic legs. boy, those do pack a bit of a wallop, don't they). He spins and sweeps their other leg out from under them. On their way down, he grabs them by the waist, lifts them up a bit, then drives them down, their back colliding with his knee. He flips them over, lifts them up again and drops them again, this time their knee smashing into their chest. He tosses them at the ground after that and they immediately curl up. The one with the knife is coming again. He snatches their wrist, this time and squeezes it. The gang member gets a chance to see Amado slowly shake his head before he wrenches their wrist. They yell in pain as the knife drops out of their hand. It clatters to the ground and he stomps on the blade, breaking it in two. He then leaps into the air, delivering a bicycle knee that hits them on the bottom of their chin and snaps their head up before they fall backwards onto the ground, out of it.

That leaves just one. They look around at their buddies and quickly realize they're alone. Concern doesn't seem to work on these guys, so Amado tries to intimidate him into leaving. He takes a couple steps forward, taps his cheek a couple times as if to say 'come on, give it your best shot'.

That doesn't work either. They step forward, bringing up their own cybernetic arm and lay it into the side of Amado's head. His head turns, he falls back all of a half-step, then he turns his head back to glare at them. They step forward and strike him again, it making the same thunk sound as the pipe. He still just glowers, unhurt and, apparently, undamaged. Somewhere between panicked and pissed off, the gang member grabs Amado's head with their other hand and just starts laying forearms and punches until eventually, Amado gets tired of letting them punch the side of his head and delivers a forearm of his own into the side of their head and their legs immediately buckle and they drop to one knee. He pats them on both shoulders. They look up at him.]


I'm gonna give you some free advice to share among your buddies when you're all conscious again.

Go home. Get a haircut. [Pot callin' the kettle black, there.] Get a real job. Don't cause any more trouble.

[His knee snaps up and hits them right in the dome. They go down. Amado's pretty well aware that his advice is probably gonna go unheeded, but, oh well.

He looks over to see how Majima's doing.]
justbeingknife: (tattoo)

[personal profile] justbeingknife 2018-04-20 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ While Amado dealt with his rebellious gaggle of gang members, Majima had exhausted his admittedly limited supply of dutiful warnings to hand out. Instead, he'd drawn his dagger, already a blur of black and violet-flecked flame as he lashed out with metal-tipped boot and whisper-quick strikes with the blade.

Majima was just saying hello to them, really -- nothing more than some surface slices until the last man standing aimed a punch at him that practically pulverized the stone facade behind him. If he'd actually been slow enough to be in its way when it landed, the fist might have broken some ribs.

In other words, fair game. Majima slipped around the blow in an instant, letting the dagger bite deep just under the man's rib cage.

By the time Amado turned around, he was already sliding free with the blade; the man, suddenly wobbly on his feet, slumped over.

That guy was stabbed when he got here!! ]
tormado: They're stuck to the gum! (My shoes are covered in ants!)

[personal profile] tormado 2018-04-20 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Amado's eyes widens when he sees -- oh boy. That's. Yep. That's knife and that's blood.]

Ah, geez.

[The hard look he was giving the rest of the punks drops as he runs over and grabs the guy before he hits the ground. He looks back. Good thing they're near a hospital, huh!]


We gotta get him inside.
justbeingknife: (in there?)

[personal profile] justbeingknife 2018-04-20 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
He'll be alright. Probably have to pay off this bill before he gets around to upgrading those cybernetics of his, though.

[ Speaking of cybernetic enhancements, did they really just hand augmented strength to everyone who had the cash? Majima hauled the man up, supporting him under one shoulder as he began to drag the guy to the double doors. ]
tormado: They're stuck to the gum! (My shoes are covered in ants!)

[personal profile] tormado 2018-04-20 10:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[He looks out at the crowd -- the people who weren't cheering look pretty mortified now, and Amado's pretty sure he heard something about calling the Vakdir in there.]

Okay, we gotta drop this guy off and then get outta here before the cops show up.

[Bright side, the crowd's thinning out. Somebody gets stabbed and the party's over, apparently.]
justbeingknife: (profile)

[personal profile] justbeingknife 2018-04-21 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Majima hauled the man just inside the doors, at which point he figured the staff running towards them could probably take things. ]

Better make it fast. C'mon, I scoped out an alternate route earlier.

[ Through a series of side alleys, it turned out, where it was easy to get lost in the milling of foot traffic and close-pressed bodies. ]