MISSION 007

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: January 24th - ???
WHERE: Etraya
WHAT: The Quantum Rail
NOTES\WARNINGS: Class warfare, potential death.

⏵ the quantum rail ⏴ The morning of January 24th dawns with a sharp chill in the air, under a pale, overcast sky. Characters are all summoned to arrive to the new train station perched at the edge of the South Eastern island right on the edge of Etraya's barrier. The station itself feels like an artifact from another time - polished steel and worn brass glint beneath the pale light. Beyond the barrier, the tracks stretch out impossibly, gliding over dead earth and extending beyond the curve of the planet's edge into the space beyond. No explanation is given for how the rails defy gravity, or why it's placed as such. Only the train may cross the barrier safely, and everyone must be inside of it before it begins it's trek. Aurora is present at the train station to see off everyone, and to remind them that they either need to take any companion animals along with them, or leave them in her direct care so she can bring them into the hospital where they will be safe until everyone returns. No one is allowed to stay behind, and any organic matter left outside of the hospital may not be the same when the citizens of Etraya return. The train itself pulls through the barrier with little problem: some may notice the paneling of the barrier sliding out of the way to allow it to come through, and how some of the more liquid elements of the barrier stick to a few areas outside the train as it pulls up - an element that looks misplaced on the seemingly ancient train. Aurora, along with her companion bots, direct the crowds to the correct carriages they'll need to board. The Elites are brought to carriages towards the front of the train, whereas everyone else is brought lower. Neons are dropped off to the beginning of their carriages, and Sprawls and Dregs are directed to board along with them. With the train stopped where it is, the only accessible carriages are those who belong to the upper class: the lower classes will have to travel backwards to get to their living quarters. Every Dreg is given a special pass, excusing their presence in areas of the train they may not usually be allowed, due to them assisting with an unspecified "mechanical issue". They will discover why upon boarding: it quickly becomes apparent that those already aboard were entirely unaware the train had stopped at all. It's been running ceaselessly for generations, the rhythmic hum of it's machinery woven into the very fabric of life aboard. Stories of a world before the train only linger in fragments - passed down as legends from the ancestors of those who currently reside on the train. Their world had been dying, they were told, and the only way to survive was to remain aboard the train as it sped along the Quantum Rail, drawing infinite power from the energy of it's movement. No one truly understands the mechanisms that keep it in motion, but everyone understands that stepping off the train means certain death. To survive, it must continue, and so must the passengers residing within it. ⏵ life on the train ⏴ Life on the train is dictated by the class one is born into. This does not change, unless an Elite takes pity on one of those below them. However, not even Elites have ultimate power! They are allowed to request to keep someone of lower ranking along with them, but cannot grant them any power. They may not take in more individuals than they can house, and any actions taken by those under their care become the Elite's responsibility—including crimes. But why would any Elites take advantage of this? Their lives are perfect, pristine, they want for nothing, and they have all the companions here that they could ever need. Their lifestyles show their status: their days are filled with elaborate social events, from masquerade balls to massive feasts and fun theater performances. Their carriages are lavish, with gold-inlaid floors, crystal chandeliers, and suites that look like miniature mansions all on their own. Elites live disconnected from the workings of the train, viewing it as a luxury liner rather than the lifeboat that it is. They may squabble between one another - Lady Lyra and Sir Grey have been known to fail to keep their quarrels on the quite side, and rumors of their affairs are often whispered between other socialites. But everything else? Well. The lower classes are there for their benefit, clearly. Why would they need to worry about anything? The Neons thrive on structure and order. Their carriages feature a minimalist design, focusing on productivity. Their children follow a strict school schedule, and are often and are often assigned to their future roles based on observed skills. Their schooling is then based wholly around what role they will be given. There is limited choice among the Neons, and it becomes obvious from a very young age. They are assigned life partners among other Neons, are expected to reproduce just enough to replace their numbers and no more. Doctors make their rounds, teachers hold their lessons for Elites, Neons, and Sprawls alike, and administrators enforce policies. Those who defy the regimented structure are quietly removed from their carriages and left with the Dregs, if they don't vanish entirely without explanation. Given this, not many are willing to step out of line, and most keep to themselves and their small family units. In the carriages just beyond, the Sprawls lead lives of steady labor. Their areas are a blend of workshops and homes, where families may share compact spaces surrounded by tools, the smell of grease, and half-finished projects that are never entirely put away. Their shared kitchens and small gardens provide a sense of community, where individuals get together to eat their meals between projects. The devices they create and projects they're given are solely meant to replace broken parts and keep the train moving and nothing more. Given the limited amount of materials available, their inventory is carefully guarded. Life isn't glamorous, but they have freedom to choose their spouses - or choose to not have one. If the number of Sprawls begins getting too low, a few children are selected from the Dregs to move up the ranks. While they are more free to make their own choices, they also seem to only have enough to go around; if famine hits, life among the Sprawls quickly turns awry. Food shortages may cause them to need to sacrifice one or two among them, and malfunctions of the more essential train pieces can cause significant stress on them and their numbers. Further down, the Dregs endure the harshest conditions. They are crowded into dim, rust-lined carriages near the end of the train. Their bed frames, crafted from scrap metal, are stacked tightly to conserve space. The air smells faintly of oil and stale water, and leaves an unpleasant taste on one's tongue. Food arrives in ration packets, each block made of bugs that are harvested from the Dregs themselves at the far end of the train. Previous years have seen their bug supply die off rapidly due to disease, leaving them desperate and starving while slowly regrowing their population using the spares kept in the Sprawls carriages. They are sent in to cover the jobs no one else on the train will do willingly. Children of the Dregs are sent to fill in empty space among the Sprawls when necessary, and they fill their days by cleaning the space between carriages, making sure the train continues it's trek without interruption. Some Dregs have gathered into small gangs, who fight each other for control of their supplies. Some secretly hoard parts scavenged from t he train, believing they might one day be able to use them to seize control and escape from their less than ideal circumstances. ⏵ connection interrupted ⏴ Once they've settled into their temporary lives among the train inhabitants, Accelerator gets the opportunity to utilize his Esper abilities. Though normally connected to Aurora's network, Accelerator's attempt to draw more power while on the train causes a system-wide outage. Everyone's earpieces will suddenly make a loud, shrill noise, before their access to the HUD and the rest of the network's functions cuts off entirely. For roughly ten minutes on Sunday, January 26th, the network will remain unavailable for everyone. Hopefully, no one was in the middle of an important conversation! If they were - well, there are always the letter carriers among the Sprawls who deliver important messages, but do you really want to try to communicate with someone else through a train native? ⏵ a gathering ⏴ There are not many parties that are open to multiple classes, but on Friday, January 31st, entertainment coordinators have managed to put together a massive get-together for the Elites, Neons, and Sprawls. Tables are set up in the Neons' common areas, each with name placards dedicated to specific individuals and large tea pots settled towards the center. The name placards are moved around between events, allowing individuals who may not normally socialize a chance to get to get to know new people. While many Sprawls and a few Neons are working, they are also given shifts so they can enjoy the gathering while others overtake their job duties. Now, the party itself has multiple sections set aside for everyone's enjoyment! The first, is a play, based on the legend of the ancient god Abdastartos and his lover, Salka Hannes. Abdastartos had fallen deeply, madly in love with one of his temple keepers, Salka. Salka had dedicated herself to taking care of the temple, spending every waking moment scrubbing marble clean and ensuring that all of those within the temple were well-cared for. She was truly a follower of Abdastartos' cause: peace, serenity, and healing. Her devotion and beautiful voice caught his attention. Abdastartos, who often descended to the mortal realm in disguise to be among his followers, would spend his time assisting her in caring for the temple. It is said that her kindness softened the very marble of the temple, and her touch was so gentle that flowers would bloom where her hands had lingered. The god, unable to resist his feelings, revealed himself to her one evening. He was not a towering figure, but a man of simple beauty who radiated calm like the dawn after a storm. Together, the two of them lived a beautiful but simple life within the temple. But their relationship was frowned upon by the other deities. Teo, the god of strife and discord, became enraged when he learned his brother had taken a mortal as his lover. He sought out Salka, and imprisoned her heart in embers of the temple's fires, thus destroying her mortal body. Abdastartos was not able to reverse Teo's actions, but he did have one consolation: the bright flames were fueled by Salka's love for Abdastartos, and as long as the flame remained lit, he knew her feelings for him remained strong. At the end of the play, they are given some time to discuss what they've watched, and meet with the actors playing the various parts from the play. The second segment was planned by event coordinator Fabian Seacaster. With newly developed technology, he introduces holographic displays of various animals! Partygoers are instructed to sit at their small tables which now feature small cages housing holographic birds. The smell of the outdoors is filtered into the carriages, allowing those who attend to feel like they're enjoying the birds in something close to their natural habitat. A third segment was also planned by Fabian Seacaster. Every attending individual is given a mask. As they all put on their masks, they are told about the mysterious King, and how one of the individuals wearing the mask must be the King. There are a few other mysteries that they are instructed to solve, making a game out of the segment. The fourth is simply for sitting and socializing towards the end of the night, giving them time to relax and enjoy their evening. ⏵ diversion ⏴ Using his position as a resource manager, Silco has been aiming to stoke the rebellion and get them up in arms. Unfortunately for many, it doesn't take much effort at all to get the Dregs in the mood for a good riot. Many of them have been waiting for the opportunity to get back at the upper classes who refuse to share the wealth. They take advantage of the party. While a significant portion of the train is out enjoying their night, the lower classes begin fighting the guards meant to ensure they stay in line. With dangerously low ammo and limited weapons, the guards quickly find themselves outmatched as the fighting escalates. Innocents become stuck in the cross fire, and before the Dregs and rebelling Sprawls have even managed to push through the Sprawls determined to protect their homes, many lives are lost. War is never pretty, and this is no different. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

diversion. (cw: gore, which is his and he's. into it, like a freak. oops)

[fatedfinality]

[ Ardyn isn't hiding either. Of course, he's not. This riot is the best thing that's happened since he arrived here. He can smell the iron of blood splattered on the floor, feel the fear coursing through those around him, and it's an environment he thrives in- It's everything the most fucked up parts of him crave. Need, he'd even say.

At the call, Ardyn is alerted to a guard coming up on his blind spot. He appreciates the assist but also doesn't actually move. No, he lets the guard point a rifle right against his back and fire. The blood spray is gorgeous and he gives a choked laugh of a response at the sudden burst of blinding pain. Ah, he feels alive.

The guard doesn't seem to know how to respond to the reaction nor that he isn't crumbling. He lets Vax take care of before turning around and grinning. Despite the tear in his clothes from that bullet, his skin is already stitching itself together and he gives an appreciative hiss as he presses his fingers to the healing wound. ]

Thanks for the heads up, [ he notes ] but it'll take a bit more than that to count me out, I assure you.

xD

[twin_blade]

[ Seeing the rifle go off right in Ardyn’s back gets a sharp gasp from Vax, who expects Ardyn to fall, but he doesn't. It's even more shocking as the man simply stands there and laughs.

After a moment, Vax throws both of his daggers, which land in the guard's back. As the man drops his rifle and hits the ground, the daggers disappear and reappear in Vax's hands. ]

Holy fuck.

[ That's all Vax can think to say at the display. Is Ardyn indestructible or something? He's healing before Vax's own eyes! ]

[fatedfinality]

[ Perhaps his pain tolerance is a bit... elevated thanks to his unique 'condition.' Blood and inky black sludge receding back into his body as he does, in fact, heal right before the other man's eyes. ]

I'm not sure about 'holy,' but it might look like a miracle to some. [ He knows it's actually a terrible curse though. ] How are you holding up in all this chaos?

[twin_blade]

[ Clearly, Ardyn is used to this. He's far too casual about it. ]

I have so many questions, but I'm managing.

[ Not without a few scrapes and bruises, but he's not going to heal the way Ardyn just did. ]

Did you come down here to help the rebellion or stop it?

[fatedfinality]

[ While not planning to flex his abilities quite so soon or abruptly, he also didn't anticipate a violent riot. Ah, well. It's only a little slice of what he can actually do anyway. ]

I came for the excitement, mostly. I'm glad to see these Dregs sticking up for themselves, but beyond that have no real intention in getting too involved.

[twin_blade]

So you came here for... what, a show? Entertainment?

[ That makes Vax a little angry. ]

If you're going to be here anyway, you should make yourself useful. Clearly, you can handle it.

[fatedfinality]

[ Well, well. That's interesting. He's just going to poke that a little more. ]

I can handle it! I did. But what good is my involvement to them? This isn't my fight.

[twin_blade]

Your involvement could help them win. Or spare a few lives.

[ It isn't really their fight. He's right about that. But Vax has a hard time just watching it happen without getting involved. ]

[fatedfinality]

I don't think this is necessarily a win or lose situation, unfortunately. Even if the Dregs manage to uprise, the former Elites will be resentful and retaliate. [ Of course, that doesn't mean they shouldn't try. ]

Violence often begets violence. Are we really helping, in that case?

[twin_blade]

There's no stopping this violence now.

[ It's already in full swing. ]

Sometimes, you've got to act now and think later.

[ Or maybe that's just Vax's way of behaving. No one said he was the smart one. ]

[fatedfinality]

Act first, ask questions later? That's certainly one approach. [ He's reminded a bit of a certain young prince, admittedly. He also tended to act out and only later ask the questions he should have, but- That wasn't entirely his fault. A lot of people didn't want to answer his questions regardless, it seemed. ]

Well, if you feel there's no stopping it then who am I to argue with that? [ ... said as he brandishes a dagger again and gives a sharp look to the restless noise of the Dreg cabin. ]