etrayalogs | MISSION 005 PT 2 & ARRIVALS

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MISSION 005 PT 2 & ARRIVALS

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: September 27th-???
WHERE: Throughout Etraya
WHAT: New Arrivals! With a side of mission 005.
NOTES\WARNINGS: Horror elements, including fear-inducing landscapes, distorted environments, unseen predators, mental/emotional distress, potential body horror, corruption, possession, brainwashing, and compulsion.

⏵ disrupted arrival ⏴

Your arrival does not go as anticipated.

Aurora, the AI that keeps Etraya in order, had been overtaken by the Im'mari earlier in the month, her systems corrupted by its influence. While efforts have been made to save her from succumbing to it, much of the city is still in disrepair.

New arrivals will not awaken in pristine hospital rooms, but will instead awaken within the Dhaliwal-to-wall Bookstore. Cots are laid on the ground surrounded by books. Kneeling beside them is a woman - or rather, Aurora, with her new body that is vaguely similar to the makeup of those from Connor's world. Her features are strangely serene, with light hair framing her face. Those capable may recognize that she is machine, rather than flesh and blood. Beside her, a vital monitor thrums as it monitors the newcomers, checking them over for any abnormalities that may require her attention. Those who may have arrived injured will find their wounds well-tended to.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience." Her voice is steady, tinged with something almost apologetic. She offers a slight smile, looking over her charges. "We are in the midst of a mission that has... gotten out of hand. My name is Aurora. You have been chosen to protect your home world, and I am here to assist you in achieving that goal. The multiverse has begun to fall apart, and Echo will only be able to protect some of them. You are here to show them the importance of protecting your world."

She will remain to answer questions for those who respond to her politely in turn. For those who opt to be unkind, Aurora will simply shake her head in disappointment and pull herself up to her feet, moving to check on her next charge, if any remain. Otherwise, she has other matters to attend to.

Each newcomer is given an earpiece to connect them to the others residing on Etraya before they exit the bookstore.

Welcome to your new home.

⏵ into the fractured city ⏴

Once the initial shock of arrival wears off, they're left with the daunting reality that is Etraya: a collection of islands teetering on the edge of collapse, still reeling under the influence of the Im'mari. The streets outside are eerily quiet, but signs of life and activity are scattered throughout the city.

Aurora provides a moment to gather their bearings, but the weight of her words hangs in the air: there is no time for complacency here. Etraya may be fractured, but it is still home. For now.

Whispers of Im'mari's influence linger in the city, and numerous individuals who have been drafted have become infected by it. Faint shadows seem to move just beyond sight, strange echoes sound in the empty alleys of Nova City, the hospital appears to be temporarily taken over by something otherworldly, and while many within the city are beginning to figure out their next steps in taking care of what's happening, others are left reeling, consumed by the fears that haunt them.

It may be wise to scout out a few safe zones among the untouched areas of Etraya. Ramsey Farm seems to remain... mostly peaceful, outside of the havoc caused by Mena the goat. The catacombs under the city proper also seem to have escaped Im'mari's notice - for now. And while it may be covered in snow and cold, the Wolf Cove also seems to be relatively peaceful.

Outside of safe zones, others who have been present in the city for long may provide useful information, if one were to seek them out. There are strange objects imbued with dark magic hidden throughout Etraya by Gorgug and placed strategically to affect those who come into contact with them. Those who are perceptive enough may be able to find and neutralize these objects before they spread further terror.

With enough effort, perhaps things will return to normal.

⏵ whispered influence ⏴

The air in Etraya is charged with tension, thick with the weight of something ancient and malevolent. Whatever it is has already begun warping the landscape, but what lurks behind the shifting reality is far worse. Im'mari, a fragment of the cosmic horror that ravaged Moorecroft through the night, managed to follow those who returned to Etraya on their journey back home. Its insidious presence creeps through the city like a shadow that refuses to lift.

This isn't just a fight against fear. It's a slow devouring, a feeding on the darkness that lingers in every corner of your mind.

Im'mari is not a distant beast; its very essence has embedded itself into the heart of Etraya, infecting wolves, plants, and even a few of those who currently call Etraya home. Its influence spreads like a whisper in the night, quiet at first, almost imperceptible. But with each passing moment, with each shudder that goes through one's spine as they face their fears, it grows stronger. The more one struggles, the more it feeds.

Can you feel it? The weight of it pressing in?

⏵ through the veil ⏴

The whispers grow louder.

Perhaps you see it in your friends. A little shift in their tone, the way they hesitate before speaking. Or perhaps it's something deeper--subtle changes, things you'd never normally question. Maybe they seem more irritable or doubt themselves in a way that feels foreign. You wonder: is this just the strain of the mission? Or is it something darker?

"It's easier if you just give in."

And the more you listen, the more your world bends. You swear you hear something--a voice, someone calling out to you. Or was it just the wind? The scent of blood hangs in the air, though when you search, you can't find its source.

Suddenly you see it on the walls--a message, a memory from your past--something that grips you with a cold fear. It settles deep in your gut, but it's too late. The image lingers at the edges of your vision. Your mind is playing tricks on you, isn't it? Or is it something else? The longer you linger in the halls of the apartment complex, marketplace, or the hospital, the more the world twists around you. Objects shift in your peripheral vision - did that lamp just move? Did that thing lingering just at the edge of your peripheral vision just speak your name?

Im'mari is everywhere now, its influence seeping into the very walls. While Aurora has been freed from its web and continues to work to regain control of her city, Im'mari tightens its grip, refusing to give in. The stairs creep beneath your feet, the scent of rot clings to the food in the diner, and the hospital's medical rooms are empty... or are they? Was that a scalpel, or something else? Paranoia begins to creep in, the lines between reality and illusion blurring the longer Im'mari maintains control.

And grows bolder.

Words, sounds, and images warp the world around you. Faces appear in the shadows. Scents that shouldn't exist hang in the air, triggering memories you'd long since buried. Blood, ocean waves, familiar voices fading in and out. The longer you stay in these places, the more paranoia seeps in, eroding your defenses and wearing you down.

Many objects may seem harmless, but Gorgug's magic has imbued them with dark energy. As you pass them, the whispers begin. A stair creaks underfoot and suddenly you're back within a memory. A stone shifts, and you catch a glimpse of something that shouldn't be there. These objects are traps, set to trigger the worst within you.

Each time a memory comes to life, it seems to warp the world around you - the hallways stretch, the lights flicker out, and you're certain someone is following you. The paranoia builds, a creeping dread that won't leave. You have to find the source. Break the spell, or endure it continuing to spread.

⏵ cottage in the woods ⏴

As you travel deeper into the twisted forest, the air grows heavier, more oppressive. The scorpions that guard the way to the cottage scuttle through the trees, their pincers sharp as they block your path. Vanessa lingers there, her appearance changed, eyes glowing a fiery red. Black veins pulse beneath her skin with the same dark energy that courses through the Im'mari. Along with her are her guardians, ready to fight to defend her.

The closer you get to her, the more distorted the forest becomes. Light blinks in and out, disorienting you. You're not sure which way is forward, and the scorpions hiss from the shadows, attempting to lead you away. But you must keep going. Vanessa stands at the heart of it all - broken, feral, lashing out at anyone who dares to approach.

If you get too close, you'll hear the whispers.

"They see evil in you. You're no different."

If confronted, she may call upon her magic, using Verbis Diablo. But if you act fast, you can attempt to stop her before the words take hold.

⏵ NOTES ⏴

There is a header for new arrivals if they wish to talk with Aurora!

For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. Please keep an eye out for new comments, as we have many new characters and players arriving! All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Perhaps you can.

[Huaisang hopes he will. Truly. He can hear the love Shanks has for the sailor's life quite plainly and well, he's always been softer and more sentimental than he tends to let on.]

Lady Aurora said something that effect, did she not? I can't say there's much from home that I'd want here myself. If I can learn my way around this place and keep my people safe from harm, that's enough of a reward for me, I think.

[But maybe he should think about that more once he's more settled in. Even if he can't defend his world completely on his own, if he's clever enough, he might be able to save parts of it.]

You believe her?

[ Shanks isn't sure he does. It's not even that he disbelieves the premise, he could buy that the "multiverse" is too crowded and that there is some higher being that decides which worlds are destroyed.

But he doesn't believe at all that this higher being would care to get to know the lesser creatures he's destroying. So this must be something else altogether. ]

[Huaisang goes quiet for a moment, biting his lip pensively before answering.]

I do. It's too risky not to when the stakes are this high.

[So much of this situation is beyond Huaisang's comprehension but there's one simple truth he's holding on to guide him through it all.]

Back home, I'm a leader. I have a responsibility to my subordinates and my ancestors that came before me. And right now, it seems as if I'm the only one who even knows aboout this threat to their lives. I can't afford not to believe. At least, for the time being.

I don't think I agree.

[ He's a leader too, he has an obligation towards his crew and all the smaller crews who have his banner. ]

You can't afford not to play along. But you can do that without believing what you're told.

[Shanks isn't wrong. But what's the best way to explain his methods in situations like this?]

Oh, no. It's nothing like that. What I mean is a little more nuanced. It's part of the sell. The best way to act like a true believer allow yourself to fall a little deeper into the role.

[Flat out admitting he's a skilled liar to a sailor he just met wasn't on Huaisang's agenda for the day but here they are.]

It's only until I've gathered enough information. So yes, I'm playing along. Just a little more extremely than most, I suppose.

Edited 2024-09-29 07:23 (UTC)

Ah. I'm a terrible actor.

[ He can do it in a pinch, but saying what he means is built into him. ]

I see the wisdom in your approach, though.

[ They're walking through the city. It's... well, unlike any city Shanks has ever been to. His hand hovers over his sword like he half expects the helper robots to jump them. ]

It's kept me alive. I'm more of a tactician than a fighter.

[On the other hand, the city looks strange to Huaisang whose accustomed to order and conformity. The mishmash of styles, while eclectic, has a chaotic, haphazard feel to it that he's not sure what to make of. Add in the eerie quiet of the place and the whole place makes him feel uneasy.]

This place gives me the creeps. It's too quiet. I don't suppose you've seen any sign of water yet? Maybe a creek or river?

Not yet, but I trust we're heading in the right direction.

[ This trust is unwarranted. He's a great navigator out at sea, but when he's on land he has a very poor sense of direction. ]

I suppose you're right. If we keep walking in the same direction, we're bound to wind up somehwere eventually.

[Fortunately, Huaisang is accustomed to travelling overland on foot or horseback. Unlike many of his people back home, he never quite mastered swordflight. And even if he had, he doesn't have his saber with him. So walking it is.]

Do you spend much time on land or are you always out at sea?

I'm usually at sea— and even when I'm on land I usually sleep in my ship.

[ Shanks knows what a horse looks like but he's never been on one. He's traveled by carriage but he didn't like it. He assumes Etraya is an island and that it can't possibly be that big. ]

The buildings don't seem to follow a specific aesthetic.

[ Usually in a town or a city, the buildings will resemble each other. They'll be made of the same material, painted similar colors. He supposes it makes sense if the idea is that they're all from different worlds. ]

I wonder how many different worlds are represented in this trial.

[And just how many worlds exist that don't have anyone here to act on their behalf if these tests are being conducted in good faith.]

Some of the buildings seem more uniform than others but I can't say that I've noticed anything that looks like it came from my homeland yet.

I would assume one world per person. It wouldn't feel very fair if some had more representatives than others.

[ Not that he expects this to be fair. It's a good question, finding out how many people having brought here and how many worlds are being represented. ]

Did the lady tell you how many people there are here?

[ He should've asked more questions. Maybe he'll get to it once he has a more solid idea of where he is. ]

No, she didn't. I was so overwhelmed by it all that I didn't think to ask.

[The idea of this being one to one does make this feel a slightly less daunting. There's something a little comforting in the thought of an equal playing field.]

It's a pretty heavy burden to think that all that might stand between a god and the destruction of the only world you've known is yourself. If it does turn out that these trials are exactly what they've been said to be.

It's easier to think it's a lie.

[ He's in charge of a crew but they're all self-sufficient, talented people who don't often need his protection. The weight of his whole world isn't something he wants to carry. ]

It being true would require a lot more thought than I'm capable of.

That's fair.

[He understands it, too. When he'd been younger and his current leadership position had been only an impending inheritance forced on him against his will, he'd held a similar mindset. He'd sought refuge in denial, too, so no judgment coming from him on this one.]

Hopefully, for all our sakes, it is a lie and nothing is as she said.

If there is an intelligence in charge, and it is destroying worlds, then the quickest solution would be to go after it.

[ Get out of the stage, bring down the whole theater. ]

But playing along until we know more seems like the right move.

[ It's not the one he likes the most, but it's probably what his first mate would do. And he's the smart one so that's the best Shanks has right now. ]

I agree that eliminating the enemy would be the best and most effective way to resolve the issue. It's generally best to remove the threat doing the most harm to the greatest amount of people.

[After all, it's part of the reason why he's been working secretly toward removing the leader of society from power back home. The other reason being good, old fashioned revenge.]

Scouting things out first would be a wise course of action. Gathering what information we can on on this Echo, what strengths and weaknesses it has would be very helpful to one planning an assault.

The lingo was unfamiliar, but it sounded like Echo was a construct of some kind. Which would suggest someone created them.

[ If he's going after anyone it'll be whoever is above Echo. ]

This all seems like the work of gods beyond my understanding.

[One can fight demons and spirits but to go up against a god is a prospect that makes Huaisang very nervous. To a spiritualist like himself, it feels like it goes against the natural order of existence.]

To anger a deity seems like a way to invite terrible misfortune.

I don't think an actual god would need to watch us perform to know who's worth saving.

[ He's not religious at all, but he gets why people are. As far as he's concerned there's someone either powerful or with the means to transport people between worlds fucking with them. ]

What is this trial to prove something if not a ritual to a appease a deity?

[It's what makes the most sense to him with what he knows. But he's also completely out of his depth in this strange new place he's found himself in.]

I think it's a circus. But I suppose I could be proven wrong.

[ They're performing for Aurora who's relying the information to Echo, who should have someone even higher up. Perhaps several someones, machines are rarely ever created by just one person. ]

Believing we're simply performing tricks for a circus would make all of this a little easier to cope with.

[It's certainly less scary to think of all of this that way. They have more agency if there's an option to quit and not perform with it leading to a devastating fallout. As for himself, he doesn't quite grasp what machines even are. Their creation is just as incomprehensible to him as the creation of living beings.]

Edited 2024-10-02 05:44 (UTC)

Think of it like that, then. Until we have any evidence to the contrary.

[ That's what Shanks means to do. He'll play along until he has any evidence of what's really happening. ]

All right. I'll try to do that.

[Huaisang's a worrier by nature. Once his mind's engaged, it's hard for him to turn it off. Thankfully though, he catches sight of what they've been looking for up ahead between two buildings.]

Looks like there's a river up ahead. Will that do for now?

[He could use a peaceful rest by the water himself after all this walking and talking.]

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