JANUARY MINGLE

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: January 17th - January 23rd
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The arrival of newcomers and some new construction!
NOTES\WARNINGS:

⏵ arrival ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Arrival goes as expected - characters awaken on hospital beds and are offered an explanation of their situation: that they have arrived in the city of Etraya, and they are their world's only hope. They are welcome to wander the hospital if they would like to - the upper floors are mostly empty, full of pristine hallways and numerous rooms filled with supplies, cots, and things one would expect from a relatively average 21st-century hospital. A coat rack is situated by the doors leading out of the hospital, covered in warm clothing that fits the new arrivals just right - whether it's to their preferred style or not is something else entirely. Some of them appear normal enough. Others? Well. Looks like someone was trying to improve on last month's designs. Outside the windows, the grass is covered in a couple of inches of loosely packed snow. We hope you enjoy your stay. ⏵ passion for fashion ⏴ As the newcomers find themselves leaving the hospital as per their usual arrival, they will find that not too far from it is a small boutique. Newly added, just as they have been, though they lack the context to know this. Companion bots will encourage them to go in and meet the particularly unique bot inside, dressed to the nines in line with the fashion the boutique itself is offering. While small, it's clearly been decorated to emphasize the loose era and taste of the particular fashion it's advertising. The building itself is also petite, and made to feel more personal rather than a commercial experience. It has a single dressing room, and outside of it has an area with mirrors where one might take in their lovely visage from nearly all angles. There is a little waiting area with seating in the front, for those who are not being molded through Theobold's vision, or simply waiting for whoever is. The tastes and aforementioned era of this little establishment is decidedly Victorian, with a bold splash of neon trimming, cog-like adornments, and other accessories that brighten up the otherwise neutral fabrics typically used in the style of dress. Theobold, as he has named himself and will not let anyone forget, has taken to a three-piece suit, a deep emerald in color, with a black vest, and matching black gloves. He will take it upon himself to judge each person's attire (which he will unabashedly hate), then restyle them into something more along his tastes (even if it takes him a while, he will find something you don't ruin). There are, of course, many different combinations to pick from, all hearkening to a very loud style of dress that seems as much neon as it is punk or steam. One might even name it steampunk with a splash of neon. Neon Steampunk? Something like that. An interesting combination to say the least, Theobold insists as much. This is, of course, not simply limited to newcomers, though they will likely be exposed to this boutique more quickly than the others. Any who come near the general area of the hospital (thus the boutique) will find themselves being encouraged by the other bots to come inside, and they will likewise be judged and restyled to Theobold's tastes—which are as bright as they are bold. He really doesn't take no for an answer, though he can't truly stop anyone from leaving any more than a pushy grandmother fussing over her grandchild's clothes might. He has obviously discovered his passion, why not indulge him? ⏵ trending or treading ⏴ After enjoying the privilege of being restyled by Theobold, he will also insist that you take the outfit for a spin around the city! See what people say, take note of how many looks you catch, how many eyes are on you. He wants to hear about it as well, clearly to validate his own artistry, and who can blame him? Does not every artist strive to hear a little bit of praise for their hard work? Do they not yearn for recognition from the public? Theobold may be a bot, but he is also an artist honing his craft! His boutique is not above critique, though he hopes the critique isn't too harsh... Should one indulge him, telling about what others thought, he will gladly gift the outfit to the wearer. A humble act of his endless generosity! Or if they fancy another outfit of their own taste from his boutique, then that will suffice as well. Even if it breaks his heart that you don't like the outfit. No, no. It's fine, really. It's perfectly okay. Everyone has their tastes, and yours just happens to stab him in his mechanical heart. He'll get over it. In time. Probably. ⏵ leaving tracks ⏴ Companion bots have taken to building train tracks, as well as what appears to be a train station, in the South Eastern island of Etraya. The area is, for the most part, blocked off from Etrayans. After all, it is a construction zone, and the companion bots are ever vigilant with safety. At least they try to be. However, if people wish to lend their aid in the construction, well, they won't necessarily stop them. However they will assure them that they are not in need of assistance, and might intermittently remind those especially helpful Etrayans of that fact. Those who wish to simply watch the construction may do so, but nothing especially interesting is going on beyond the mystery of what this these tracks and the station might be for. Besides a train, of course. After all, since when has there been any mention of a train? Asking the companion bots about it will yield little results. They won't be able to give any further details besides the obvious: when this is done, it will be for a train. It seems even they might not know the full extent of what this entails, or maybe they cannot say. Regardless the reason of their lack of explanation, it seems patience might be the key to the answer. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Some may notice that in the area Gorgug's friend had gone exploring outside of the environmental bubble, there is a message written on a massive piece of fabric, which is tied to two large rebar poles. The message is in an alien language, but the earpiece will automatically translate it: DID YOU THINK YOU WERE THE ONLY ONES? On the bottom of the fabric are four vertical lines. Every Friday, a vertical line becomes crossed through with a horizontal one. For all questions relating to this log, please refer to the mod queries comment. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[hexcope]

[Capes are mostly functionless. But counterpoint, wizards wear them, so that negates any problems they would bring to the table.]

Wearable blanket? You know, when it gets a little extra cold in the lab, just wrap it tighter?

[Viktor’s doing that thing again, where he shrinks under too much attention. Jayce should probably reel it in, before he makes him too uncomfortable.]

You could ask Theobold to try again? For something more subtle?

[Which Jayce thinks would be a shame, but it’s not for him. No point in Viktor having an outfit he’d never wear again.]

[hexcorized]

I suppose the wiring and metal could be repurposed for something in the lab. [ He will look at the metal gauntlet that covers his hexcorized hand. But a blanket...Jayce, please. Viktor surprisingly isn't against the notion though and will give a hum of acknowledgment. He looks away, thoughtful, before Jayce speaks again about giving that bucket of bolts another chance. A scoffs as he rolls his eyes. ] I'd rather not. If this is to be the potential result every time. To mismanage such a simple task...mm, no.

[ He has lost all trust in that stupid robot!! ]

I rather just...pick it out myself or have you help pick at this point. [ He freezes momentarily as he realizes the words that have just made their way out of his mouth. He flusters for like .5 seconds before he looks at the changing rooms with such intensity in his eyes that they could bore holes into the damn doors. Time to leave he thinks. ]

[hexcope]

He has his limitations, as an… artificial intelligence.

[He’s raising his eyebrows here, clearly trying to impress Viktor with some of the new things he’s learned. Come on Viktor. Ask him what artificial intelligence is. He learned all about it, just for this very moment so he could yap about it.]

Oh? Yeah, we could do that.

[Viktor hasn’t cared much about his outfits in recent years— which makes sense, he’s got bigger priorities than how he looks, what with his dedication to Hextech development and all. But Jayce has always thought Viktor looked nice no matter what he wore. Even when his hair is messy, tossed about like bedhead, it still looked soft enough to run your hands through. And even if Viktor wore the same sweatervest every day, he kept it clean, which isn’t easy in a lab environment. Jayce’s gaze softens, and he heads toward one of the racks of shirts, sifting through them.]

The pants can stay, but maybe a different kind of shirt and jacket?

[hexcorized]

[ Viktor waves Jayce's fashion question off with a noncommital 'mm' because that is not important at all?! He needs to know more about this new, fascinating, term he's never heard before. He leans forward with that look in his eye for Jayce to explain himself. ] Are you going to elaborate on that, Jayce?

[ Don't just put that out there without an explanation! ]

[hexcope]

[Jayce was hoping he’d get that kind of reaction, and so he looks over his shoulder looking charmingly self-satisfied with himself for having Viktor intrigued.]

On the shirt? I was thinking a button-up?

[He asks, with an innocent look, but even he can’t keep it up for much longer than a few seconds, the desire to blab overwhelming him.]

All of the mechanical beings around here, from Theobold to the companion bots, all work with something called “artificial intelligence.” They’re “programmed using code” to behave in certain ways, and to learn adaptability based on inputs and responses. The more advanced they are with their artificial intelligence, the more nuance they can have to their reactions. The regular companion bots are pretty simple, mostly yes or no sort of answers with basic tasks they handle, but Theobold has more of a personality— he was programmed to react positively to some answers, but negatively to whatever would go against the personality aspects he was assigned. I thought at first these bots were being piloted in by Echo, but that would take a huge level of effort to coordinate seamlessly. This answer makes more sense, given how many there are. It just takes the initial set up, and then let it process its own reactions from there. Amazing, right?

[hexcorized]

Focus, Jayce. [ Just giving him this dead-ass look as he stares. Viktor is locked in so please humor him and talk science! He enjoys it when Jayce blabs or gets excited about something new that they've discovered. Right now it is so very reminiscent of their days back in the lab pooling over their additions and recalibrations to the prototype hexgate, gauntlets, and anything else.

Viktor listens his eyes never leaving Jayce as he speaks. It's only after the other is done speaking that he'll lean back in his seat on the couch a thoughtful expression on his face. It is not quite unfamiliar to him, this idea of an ever-evolving adaptable construct. He might look at his gloved hand briefly, the hexcore flickering through his mind before he nods. ]

It is fascinating, yes. But it also means that they are limited by their, ah, code to which they were programmed, correct? Unless they are somehow able to overcome their own limitations in some way. It is still a remarkable feat, one that I wish we might be able to inspect closer.

[ What would be the consequences of committing a small crime and stealing a robot? ]

[hexcope]

Yes, they’re limited to the code. There’s some overlap with how we use runes. It’s only as intricate as the runes used to create it. Simpler runes, simpler results, like the regular companion bots. More intricate runes with complicated patterns, you get a Theobold. Even further than that, you get Aurora.

[At least that’s how he understands it.]

Depending on the code, it can adapt in certain ways, and it can give the impression it’s “learning,” but really it’s still a part of it’s program, as opposed to how biological intelligence works. The benefit is that once it knows something, it can retrieve that information faster and with more detail than average biological recall and thought. It probably would have made all those nights reworking our calculations much easier. There’s a man, Finch, who knows much more about this.

Inspect one closer? I’m sure we could get one to look at.

[He has no idea it’s definitely one of the few crimes to do that.]

[hexcorized]

I suppose the term artificial intelligence is aptly put then. It is more or less a glorified assistant, with much less, mm, talking involved. [ But it will never be human levels of intelligence. Or so he hopes. Adaptability can sometimes lead to unexpected results. Which, hm, considering his work with the hexcore and what it began to shift into...how it all spun out of his control so quickly he's not sure how to feel about these companion bots. They were there but Viktor wasn't exactly paying them the closest attention, that is of course, until now with his curiosity piqued. ]

It would be an interesting study at least. Learning more about these advancements can only prove useful later on. [ He is so very interested in seeing how it all works. ]