epidemiology | EVENT ▸ RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

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EVENT ▸ RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

RESCUERS

Tensions are high in the Democratic City-State of Drakstaden. It's been two days since the infiltration of the Broadcasting Station, where a secret recording of the Prime Minister laying out plans to enslave the lower classes was broadcast to the entire city -- leading to a number of bystanders, Ophelia, and Rost to get arrested and thrown in prison.

Of course, no one's useful to the resistance effort behind bars, so Rost makes contact and explains that they've been spending the past two days planning a prison break -- and it's time to put it in action.

▸ VAKDIR PRISON

Rost’s most studious member, Brynja, proposes that the prison break effort be split into two groups: a distraction group and an infiltration group.

The infiltration group will need members familiar with technology who will be able to use -- and if necessary, manipulate -- the Vakdir security tech. Stealth and speed are of the essence, as being caught could blow the entire operation. It’s possible there will be run-ins with stray Vakdir who will need to be dispatched quickly and quietly, then hidden; fighters who specialize in guns, explosives, or other loud weaponry might want to join the other group.

The distraction group will have to busy the Vakdir on guard duty and, in the worst-case scenario, take them out before they can investigate or stop the break-in. Good conversationalists are required, but good fighters are necessary, too. Most importantly, creative minds who can think on their feet and get themselves out of tight spots are ideal for the distraction group.

The main Vakdir security is positioned in the lobby near the entrance and around the perimeter of the building. The minimum number of guards at any given area is two; the Vakdir do guard duty in groups. The most important thing while there are no alarms going off is to keep the guards busy and in place -- you don’t want them heading back and finding a group of infiltrators. Whatever it takes to keep them there! Each guard is a different person and has a different personality, so what works for one may not work for another. If an alarm goes off -- when an alarm goes off, since one does near the end of the operation -- it’s time to pull out all the stops. This is when it likely gets violent, unless you’re particularly persuasive. The security camera footage will be deleted and the released inmates won’t be taking any prisoners themselves, so no one will be left to remember your face; don’t worry about becoming a fugitive.

The infiltration part is a little trickier. Brynja knows the location of an alternate entrance, but it's locked. The only hope is a small, impossibly high window. Looks like you’ll have to do some teamwork! With some standing on each other’s shoulders -- and a good lookout -- someone will be able to drop in through the window (watch your landing!) and unlock the door from the inside. Unluckily, one of the first obstacles they’ll run into is a retina scanner. Luckily, a few of those retinas are nearby... some Vakdir officers have accidentally stumbled upon the team. They’re unprepared, but armed; take them out quickly, before they can alert anyone. Once they’re out, you can hold them up to the retina scanner.

The door to the holding cells is the next obstacle. It appears there’s a password, one that changes daily if the TODAY’S PASSCODE IS... is any indication. For a moment, it looks like they’re out of luck, before a prompt pops up: WOULD YOU LIKE A HINT? If pressed, it will bring up the following hint:

6
16
1611
111621
31161211
THE PASSCODE IS THE NEXT NUMBER IN THE SEQUENCE.

Eventually, someone’s bound to figure it out -- the answer is 132116111221; each number describes the number before it. In this case, one three, two ones, one six, one one, one two, and two ones. Once inside, it’s up to inventors to hack the locks or bruisers to brute force their way in. Either way, free the prisoners! Yes, all of them -- not only are most of them probably locked up for bogus charges, but the more people on your side, the better your chances are for winning not just this battle, but the war.

Once they’re all free, it’s time to lead them all back the way you came so nobody trips an alarm. Except... everyone’s a little bit worked up about being freed and running amok. And it looks like someone just tripped an alarm all on their own.

Well, no one said it would be easy!

▸ DISCUSSION

After the break-in and escape, you'll need to lie low. Go back to the hotel, hide with Rost, spread throughout the city with your newly freed friends -- whatever you like. But wherever you go, you'll notice that Vakdir presence has increased, even in the previously unguarded lowest levels. If you're wanted for crimes, you'll need to be especially careful, unless you want to constantly be running for your life.

With the sudden surge in criminal and treasonous behavior, the entire city has gone on lockdown. There is now a curfew in place: everyone must be in their homes by an hour after sunset, which, given the short daylight hours on this part of the planet, means citizens only have ten hours per day of freedom.

This curfew applies to the rebels of Rost and Ophelia, of course, though with your combined resources, you should be able to find a way to get around it and continue your work throughout the city, whatever that may be.

Still, things are bad. And despite the combined efforts of Rost and Ophelia, things keep getting worse; Rost worries that the Vakdir will increase its efforts to root them out, pulling innocent citizens into the thick of everything and bringing the lower class ever closer to the Prime Minister's planned subjugation.

Purple-haired Rost agent Froken stops by the hotel one day before curfew, surreptitiously letting Ophelia know they're ready to do whatever it takes to finish this once and for all; Rost is prepared to hear any suggestions that Ophelia may come up with, trusting them as experts in this matter (whether or not that's true for the individuals in the guild).

But first, you'll need to discuss what to do.

▸ OOC NOTES

This log takes place over one day, with the next log beginning two weeks later. Get ready to get serious!

Please note: due to a dip in activity, we have shifted some plot points, combining this log and the next. The next planned !plot log on 26 May will be the final log of this mission.

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:

Player Plot: Mayission Impossible (sign-ups closed).

▸ Coming next (Futurology runs on timezone UTC):

19 May: Resolution submissions and voting begins.
23 May: Resolution submissions and voting ends.
26 May: Final log of Mission: Drakstaden.

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ If there's anything Ahad is familiar with, it's centuries of his freedom to move being curtailed. While he could likely leave the hotel at any time as long as he put some effort toward being stealthy, just the idea of being under a curfew left him quietly discomforted. He'd taken to wandering through the hotel at night, itchy to get out in a way he found troubling.

It's not the suggestion of a game that draws him closer to Veronica's couch, so much as the mention of drinking. It's likely a poor idea when he feels like this, but when has that ever stopped him before? ]

If you're in need of more alcohol, I have some that I would be willing to donate to a worthy cause.

[From where she rests, her eyebrows raise. Veronica doesn't sit up immediately, but there's a quirk of her lips in response. Someone offering their own stores means that it must be unique.

That, or he managed to get sake from Hanabira and he's trying to pass it off to someone unsuspecting. She'll be able to tell the difference.]

Ah, it sounds like you may have something special to donate to the cause. It's here with you?

That depends entirely on what you mean by special. The most unique property is that I can easily create more.

[ He isn't bringing out the good alcohol so much as offering to turn water into wine. ]

Ah ... [That draws Veronica upward. Her legs swing over the side of the couch as she sits up. It's not that she's looking to imbibe large quantities of alcohol. It's more that this unique feature has her attention.

What can she say? Water to wine is definitely going to get a good Catholic girl's to look that way.]

How do you manage such a thing yourself? That's an ability I haven't come across just yet.

[ Explanations aren't simple, for more than one reason. Ahad is young for a god and unfamiliar with their language. While any other godling could likely rattle something suitable off, Ahad will pause to collect his words. ]

I...make a suggestion? It doesn't take more than a push, along with a strong desire for change.

Do you need something to change? Is there something inherently necessary about transmutation when it comes to this particular act? [Her interest is purely one that's curious, given the nature of it all.] Unless transmutation isn't the right word. I'm thinking in terms of, well, Jesus. If you've ever heard of him. [Look, strange things have happened on this team.]

Transmutation is not incorrect. [ But it's not quite correct. Unfortunately, Ahad doesn't know what the right word would be, or if it would even be translatable. ] Changing the substance of something is easier than creating it from nothing, but both are possible.

Not that 'nothing' is the right word, either. [ He'll sigh here. ] I have never heard of Jesus, but I assume he must be some sort of god from your world?

[Explain the Holy Trinity or just pass on it? She decides to go with it, though the lack of familiarity with Jesus is going to create some uncertainty if she doesn't break it down. Maybe he won't ask her to do that. Besides, whatever understanding he gains won't border on heresy that needs to be stamped out—so, it's fine.]

Depending on what you believe. Monotheism doesn't seem to be a popular practice around these parts. [She motions over to the elevator, indicating everyone on the team, rather than Drakstaden itself.] But Jesus is the son of god, and his first miracle was turning water into wine.

[She cracks a smile and throws up a quick shoulder for a shrug.]

Hence why you proceeded to get my attention.

Your god only has one son?

[ That seems to be the part he's caught on. Ahad isn't exactly used to gods who don't have children by the hundreds, if they have children at all. ]

[Not surprising, all in all. She smiles at that being the standout fact.]

Yes, by way of immaculate conception. We're meant to live our best lives so that one day he may return to us again. Since he passed on. And in that, Jesus is not God or a God as one of God's three ... [What's the best word for it?] I guess ... faces may work best. ["Avatar" does occur to her, but that's the wrong religion.]

We call it the Holy Trinity. But all are really one.

It's interesting, how many places have gods that work in threes.

[ Perhaps it's a constant of every universe? Ahad doesn't have any deep thoughts on it, but it's something that he's picked up on. ]

In my own universe, there are three sibling gods from whom all else is descended.

Hmm ... the interesting part is that the Holy Trinity is really quite ... recent? I guess you could say. We measure our calendar by Christ's conception, and thus, I come from the year 2017. [Though her mind thinks of it as 2018 now, with time passing and all. The fact that it was Christmas Eve is definitely a factor.

It'll be very strange to return to that point.]

Perhaps my God was simply trying to recreate synchronicity with the gods of the multiverse. Which ... is not a thing I ever thought I'd consider until today.

[She pants a laugh, almost in disbelief.]

Ah, we're about the same age. [ Ahad's amused, at least. He's also young, for a god. ]

[Ah, confirmation about his status. At least she's proved right.]

Well, drop a few words here and there, and you likely would be able to pass yourself off as some ... version of him. The hair, the whole—[Veronica waves a hand at him.]

Though do keep in mind that even suggesting this is blasphemous.

It's only blasphemy if your god cares. [ He'll shrug, uncertain about how he would feel about the idea of someone impersonating him. ]

I have little enough desire to be a god at all, much less pretend to be another one.

Yeah, something tells me if God is aware of the multiverse, he isn't going to take any of this too badly. [That likely should go without saying.]

But still—regarding you as a god. That sounds like a can of worms that's just asking to be knocked over. What's it called when someone has the inverse of a god complex? Inferiority...?

I'll bow to your better knowledge of your own god.

[ But he's going to raise an eyebrow at where this conversation heads next. He's mostly resigned, however, because he did start it. ]

Inferiority usually involves feeling as if you're lower in status or inadequate in some way. My feelings center on a genuine dislike for most of my family.

Not to liken myself to a god, but I can see where familial issues would come up. Especially if you're stuck experiencing them for a couple millennia. My condolences.

[Imagine if she had to deal with Hiram Lodge's bullshit for another thousand years, much less two thousand?

She would happily bail on that.]

I suspect there are certain conventions that would get ... tiring, if those of myths are largely similar across dimensional lines.

Family issues are not unique to gods. [ Especially not if one considers mortals a reflection of the gods. ]

What conventions are you thinking of?

In mythology? Which, prior to my experience with all of this, was my main introduction with the lowercase G gods. [Just getting that out of the way.] There's a sense that gods can do whatever they want to one another, because of the longevity associated with such a thing. Whatever compunctions might exist among us humans wouldn't exist among gods, partly due to a loss of perspective.

I would not call it a loss, but a difference of perspective. The vast majority of godlings do not live among the mortals, but in their own realm. The rules are...different, perhaps, but our parents would not respond favorably to godlings harming each other.

[ He'll pause, to roll his eyes. ] Once they actually paid attention, that is.

Are gods—or godlings—more of a different species than an all-powerful entity, then?

[Nomenclature may help here, and she feels like that's a piece she may be missing.]

No. The Three, when they join together, are all-powerful. The godlings, their children, are less so. [ That much terminology he knows, at least. The distinctions between types of godlings are often lost on him, because he doesn't bother to learn them. ]

Godlings have a nature, an area that I suppose you could say they have a special affinity for.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT ▸ RESCUERS DOWN UNDER

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