MISSION 004 WRAP-UP

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: August 9th and going forward
WHERE: Returning to Etraya
WHAT: End of Mission 004 Log
NOTES\WARNINGS: N/A

⏵ there's no place like home ⏴ On the morning of August 9th, every Etrayan’s earpiece receives a message from Eos: FAIL or PASS in big, bold letters with no further context. Players are free to choose which response their character gets; if they were able to go through Moorecroft without letting on that they were from Etraya, or another city bubble in general, they will receive a PASS. Those whose identities as Etrayans were spoiled, will get a FAIL. This response has no bearing on whether or not they participated in the midnight breakouts, nor what condition they’ve managed to get themselves into. It wouldn’t be the first time some kids from Moorecroft tore up the town looking for answers, even if it is the first time in a while they’ve managed to get as far as they had and cause as much damage as they have. Regardless, any responses sent to Eos will bounce right back to the original sender, with a RECEIVER UNAVAILABLE error: it seems that, shortly after sending through their results, all of those from Etraya have been disconnected from Eos’ network, and reconnected to Aurora’s by the friendly companion bots stepping through another portal in the middle of Moorecroft’s park. They’ll offer waves of their hands, and usher everyone back to Etraya proper. They’ll offer explanations similar to what Aurora would give to newcomers arriving to those who were dropped in with Eos, as well as offer to assist them in getting settled in Etraya. The companion bots will allow Etrayans to step through the portal with items they can carry, minus the smaller android babies. If they insist, it will be explained to them that, much like the companion bots native to Etraya, these babies are meant to assist newcomers in settling, and they cannot take them from Eos. Welcome home. At the very least, everything looks normal on this side. ⏵ whispered secrets of the night ⏴ Or it seems normal enough. While previous excursions outside of Etraya have featured environmental changes, the city bubble now appears exactly as it had before everyone left. Buildings stand as pristine as ever, animals have been fed and cared for, and everyone is invited to return to their homes for a quick rest. But as you meander through the familiar streets and over bridges, an unsettling stillness clings to the air. The usual sounds of Etraya–the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the chatter from the companion bots– feel slightly off. Shadows stretch a little too long, lingering in the corners of your vision, and the light, although warm, seems to cast an unnatural tint over everything. It’s as if the city itself had been holding its breath in everyone’s absence. As days pass, the eerie stillness begins to ebb. The animals gradually resume their usual activities, and companion bots return to their routines, chatting with Etrayans as they wander the city and help set up new facilities. Yet despite the return of normalcy, a sense of unease lingers. The city feels different as if it’s been touched by something while you were away. There are no curfews on Etraya, unlike Moorecroft, but those who wander in the dark may be unable to help but notice that it almost feels as if something is watching you, waiting for you to let your guard down. Etraya appears to be the same, but something has changed, shifted. And it’s only a matter of time before that change reveals itself. Those who wander outside at night during their first several days back will feel like they are being watched, but will be unable to find what is watching them, regardless of the method they use to try and discern what it is. ⏵ sea la vie ⏴ The unsettling sensation of being watched gradually fades over the next few days. Etraya begins to feel more like the place you remember: slightly empty, but comfortably so. The weather shifts unpredictably, with cool breezes one day and almost stifling warmth the next. The companion bots, seemingly oblivious to any lingering unease, appear to be in full vacation mode. They spend a significant amount of time on the two small, sandy islands that are just south of the hospital, setting up for what looks like the perfect beach day. Chairs are arranged in neat rows, colorful towels are spread out across the sand, and a small shack has been built just off the side of the bridge that offers swimsuits and any other beach-related item that they could need - or most of them! The narrow river means surfboards are out of the question; instead, the bots provide massive tube floaties, perfect for lazily drifting down the currents. ⏵ polaroid pandemonium ⏴ Everyone receives an invitation to Corrine’s Cafe, along with a table number. The invitation may arrive via a companion bot delivering it to them physically, or as a direct message from Aurora via their earpiece. The invitation instructs them to meet at the cafe at a specific time and sit at a designated table. At each table, two envelopes sit in front of two chairs, each containing a collection of photos. These images capture significant moments from your history - events you may have forgotten or ones that have shaped who you are. On the back of each envelope, instructions for the task await: discuss the moment featured in the photo with your partner, and share what it means to you. Whether it’s a memory of a terrible ordeal, or one of your happiest times with your loved ones. The choice to participate is yours; however, Aurora and the companion bots make it clear that your place at the table is pre-reserved whether you show up or not - meaning, your photos may still be viewed by others, even if you decide not to show up. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This log marks the end of their visit to Moorecroft! Characters return to Etraya on August 9th regardless of what shenanigans they were getting up to within the other city bubble. We'll be following up with the mission: breakout threads, as well as continuing to follow through with NPC threads and provide further information for those still participating in plotting. For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please use the mod queries thread. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

polaroid pandemonium

[equivo]

[ After the last one of these, Krouse had resolved to show up for them whatever the circumstances were. He can't keep information from getting out entirely, but it's better if he shows up to manage it.

Seeing Nuvia at his assigned table is a good sign. Whatever is sitting inside of his envelope, he can expect a sympathetic audience for the reveal. It's a bonus that she doesn't seem crushed by whatever Aurora decided to set out for her. Wistful, sure, but not in shambles. With what he's gleaned of her life before now, that's nice to see. ]

You go ahead.

[ He smiles back, fingertips splayed on top of his unopened envelope. He hooks the chair on his side out with his ankle and sinks into it, folding his arms on top of his sheaf of unseen memories. ]

How have you been?

[utinam]

[As Krouse settles into his seat, Nuvia feels a comforting sense of familiarity with him as her partner for this task. She trusts him, grateful for his understanding and the gentle way he has always handled what he knows of her past. She begins by showing him a photograph of her mother in vibrant flower fields, the hues around her almost as lively as the story Nuvia shares.]

This was taken the first time my mama went to our island home. My hair was starting to change from blond to white, and she wanted to leave human society before more changes happened. She was right to worry—by the time I was a year old, I had lost all my hair.

[Nuvia shifts to the next photograph, a contrasting image of a giant man standing distantly from a machine in a lush garden.]

And this one is of my father, or his AI version. He left it behind before he died. It accidentally activated when I entered a safehouse after my mama went missing. I was scared—I had never known what he looked like, human or otherwise.

[Returning to Krouse's question about how she's been, Nuvia manages a small, somewhat rueful smile.]

I'm doing okay, all things considered. I actually failed the mission, but I’m trying to keep moving forward, learning from each experience.

[equivo]

[ Krouse studies the photographs with the gravity they merit, these small tokens of a life out of reach.

He wouldn't have thought to give a damn about other people's photos, once upon a time. He thought they were profoundly uninteresting. Then he ended up in a position where he would have given a lot to have his own, those physical reminders of faces and places. Under his folded arms, he almost feels the promise in the envelope vibrating.

He doesn't look down. ]

Your mom looks nice. [ He says, quietly. ] Your dad, too.

[ All the rest of it, the details - he's paying attention, filing them away. But they're not really the part that matters. It's the way she sounds talking about them, happy and warm, pleased to share. ]

And I wouldn't sweat failing the mission. We had s- sucky information.

[ He doesn't know why he decided not to swear, there. ]

It's cumulative, anyway. Or that's my impression. We're getting multiple tests, so we can assume some kind of overall compilation score.

[ He gives her one of his better reassuring, confident smiles, like he believes what he's saying past all doubt. ]

Trust me. I'm a veteran of long term evaluative testing.