⏵ APHAIA ⏴
At the request of those inhabiting Etraya, Aurora has adjusted the mission schedule a little in order to send everyone into a world that is actively dying. Which means that, on the morning of March 14th, everyone will be directed to a glowing, purple portal situated just outside the hospital. Aurora will recommend that those with pets leave them behind; given the mission parameters of survive, she anticipates that it will not be a place for companion animals to accompany their owners to. She will not, however, force this: people are welcome to bring their companions if they'd like!
Once they have stepped through the portal, it will become clear that survival will not come easily. The sky overhead is fractured into a kaleidoscope of neon colors, artificial stars blinking in and out of existence among shards. Towering structures resembling stadiums and coliseums stretch endlessly into the horizon, their surfaces plastered with massive holographic advertisements displaying the face of past "champions" - many of whom appear to be long-since deceased.
From the moment they step through the portal, cameras whir to life around them, zooming in on their expressions while loudly announcing their names, their specialties, and what they are capable of. Applause echoes through unseen speakers when talents worth the excitement are announced: those with fighting capabilities, unique extraordinary powers, or odd talents seem to get the loudest reaction.
And once introductions are complete, a loud, booming voice cuts through the noise:
WELCOME, CONTESTANTS! ARE YOU PREPARED TO SEE WHO AMONG YOU IS THE SMARTEST, THE HOTTEST, THE STRONGEST, AND THE SHINIEST? ONLY THOSE AMONG YOU WHO ARE WORTHY WILL SURVIVE. KALI TYCHI!!
There is no introduction to the voice. No explanation.
Welcome to Aphaia.
⏵ SURVIVAL SPOTLIGHT ⏴
Aphaia is a dying world. Once vibrant, now it is little more than a stage - an arena where survival meets spectacle and death is a form of entertainment. Cameras are everywhere, their mechanical eyes dissecting every action, hesitation, every moment of weakness. To the residents of Aphaia, it's all a game. After all, they know they are living on borrowed time - why not make it fun?
Towering holograms flicker with advertisements for upcoming challenges, massive leaderboards shift constantly, tracking the contestants' popularity in real time. Every move is judged, and every breath is measured.
Participation is not mandatory, but refusal comes with some hefty consequences. Those who refuse to play fade into the background, their scores slowly dropping closer and closer to zero.
And when it does bottom out? They disappear. No body, no remains, just - erased entirely from existence.
Now, survival is not just about brute force (although there is some of that too!), but about entertainment. Contestants are not simply fighters, but performers earning the favor of other contestants.
Each contestant has a score, visible using the HUD of their earpiece. Scores range from 1-100, with 80+ reserved for crowd favorites. The moment scores hit zero, they disappear, presumed (and are) dead.
New contestants start with a randomized score, assigned the moment they step onto Aphaia's surface. From there, their survival depends on strategy, skill, and showmanship.
Nanotechnology laces the very air they breathe, embedding itself into their bodies. It monitors oxygen, tracks food intake, measures every potential need for everyone, including alien species whose needs differ. Supplies are scarce - meaning only those who keep their scores up receive rations, shelter, and medical aid. The lower one's score? The less they get.
And there are no second chances.
⏵ DISTRICTS ⏴
Aphaia is separated into four districts.
The Colosseum is where blood is currency. A high-tech battle arena where combatants are pitted against each other for entertainment, the Colosseum is always prepared for any battle one may wish to take part of. The floors shift, and the environment changes at the whim of the audience. It's built to support any challenge that requires physicality: the floors will break into massive labyrinths meant to confuse individuals, or the walls will raise to create rooms that are difficult to escape to test one's intellect. Within the Colosseum, contestants are invited to battle one another and others for glory. Are you a warrior? Built for combat? Do you have capabilities that shine through with physical action, rather than mental stimulation? This is the place for you.
A place of luxury, the Symposium is where alliances are forged - and broken. Here, the highest-rated contestants (those who rank Luminary or higher) are invited to partake in fine dining and lavish parties. Violence is not permitted within the walls of the Symposium; while this may provide the false illusion of safety, it is anything but. Whispered betrayals are passed between contestants within the walls of the Symposium, with deals struck to ensure that those who rank high enough to enjoy all the benefits it offers continue to be able to visit.
In the heart of Aphaia is the Agora. Pulsing with flashing billboards featuring the faces of many past and current contestants and live polls of the current scores of those who are still alive, the Agora is where contestants are invited to engage with the public to shape their own narrative.
In the streets, many contestants can be found putting on quirky performances, participating in challenges, or conducting interviews with other contestants. Charisma can be just as valuable as brute strength, and this is the place for those who rely on their ability to sweet-talk others to make sure their points remain high. This is where the facilities for the non-physical challenges resides, such as Echoes of the Past and Tychaios.
The Agora contains the housing district in which contestants reside. There are a few massive apartment towers stacked to the sky. The high-ranking live in luxury, enjoying rooms up to two bedrooms with plenty of space - the lower ranking individuals reside in smaller apartments, with significantly less amenities.
On the edges of Aphaia are the Backalleys, where rules are meant to be broken. A maze of shadowed corridors and hidden tunnels, there are multiple "convenient" corners where camera blind spots can be found. Here is where people come to converse between one another outside the eyes of the audience or to find temporary sanctuary from their lives being consistently narrated. However, it is also well-known that while they may be able to find areas where the cameras cannot reach, the Gamerunner is also aware of these blind spots.
⏵ RATED & REVIEWED ⏴
While the highest rated contestants get to go to The Symposium, those middling or in danger of falling off get invited to only the finest of trashy talk shows.
Anyone can see how this daily, midday TV show plays out. Stand in front of a television long enough and you’ll see reruns of bruised competitors hashing it out in front of an audience over failed plans, ruined alliances, and broken friendships. If you want to see the worst in others Kathiki Pidón is the show to watch.
Though one might wonder why anyone would ever go on this thing, it is a nearly universal guilty pleasure. There is a chance to raise one’s own rating without risking one’s life. But say the wrong things, and you may become more unpopular than ever. It is a desperate place to go- but they do always give a hot meal to anyone who agrees to come on. It might be your only chance to recuperate.
This is also a great opportunity to try to lower someone else’s ranking by airing out private grievances very publicly. Was the only reason you lost because you were tricked or betrayed? Is there a secret alliance you want people to know about? Or perhaps you need a platform to earn a little sympathy.
Kathiki will be more than happy to host you, donning his usual black and gold suit and holding his slim microphone for you to speak into.
For those who are a little shier, Kathiki has a private booth in the back of the studio where you can pour your heart out in front of a camera. This can have the same benefits, but it may be edited in very unfortunate ways before the public sees it.
⏵ NOTES ⏴
Please use our NPC Threads toplevel on this post for any NPC interactions you'd like! This includes Kathiki.
For all questions relating to this mission, please refer to the plotting post. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.
⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴
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etrayamods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
etrayalogs2025-03-14 11:19 am
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[ Sure, why not? At least it's not blimps. Blimps are so stupid. ]
It's not my thing, astronomy. But there's this quote: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." So I try to look up every so often. [ Never mind the fact that one of the times he looked up, an helicopter fell on him. ] But now that's done, I'm concerned with more earthly things; food, water, shelter.
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Shelter has been provided for us, apparently. As for the other two, I do believe that it is more based on one's given position here. Much like a, eh, caste system. Rather antiquated if you ask me, but those are the supposed rules.
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[ There's part of him that just fucking knows the cough is some kind of magic-related illness and he's happier not asking, but he can't help himself. What if it's the kind of stupid magic thing that can be fixed with cough syrup? ]
Chronic illness?
no subject
He does lean a bit on his crutch as he gives Robert a look. A doctor or just an overly curious citizen. But it's not like Viktor has much to hide, given his pallor and cough, which is decidedly not a magical one but one that's from breathing in gases and runoff for decades as a child. ] Terminal.
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[ Robert isn't an optimist by any means, but it'd be stupid not to consider the possibilities when you end up in a place like Etraya. People from different worlds, bringing in different knowledge and technology. He can't diagnose a cough from how it sounds, but the hospital in Etraya is well-stocked, maybe he wouldn't be able to cure it, but he could treat it. ]
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He had gone from giving up to now trying to stay alive, if not for himself, then for the memory of Sky at the very least. ]
I've only begun to seek out other options here. [ A pause. ] Whatever they may be.
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[ Some of it is a few years ahead from what he knows, but that's better. ]
I'm pretty much living there, so drop by, we might be able to ease the cough if nothing else.
[ He offers his one real hand, almost as an afterthought. ]
Doctor Robert Romano.
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He will blink and then return the shake with the hand that isn't gloved. ] It's Viktor. [ Another pause. ] You're the one Jayce has spoken about, then. About your arm, I mean.
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[ If this guy is from the same world then his deal must be similar to radiation sickness, except with magic, maybe? He's very curious. ]
Same world?
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I can't help but agree with most of that. [ Viktor can't help but smirk. What a first impression to make. But leave it to Jayce... ]
That's correct. Runeterra, Piltover to be more specific. Jayce had informed me that you're in desperate need of a hand, or should I say an arm. [ Viktor stop. ]
Before ending up here, we were...in the process of making it. Perhaps when we get back, you might stop by Star Labs for a fitting.
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He's so kind to have offered a helping hand, I couldn't possibly elbow my way out of this without his help. Glad he's got assistance, I'm sure the work in an armful.
[ Listen, two people can play this game. ]
I'll drop by as soon as we're back. I'm hoping not to die, but we'll end up back in Etraya either way.
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But I can assure you that Jayce and I have built...far more complex things in the past. So we're, eh, armed with enough knowledge that it shouldn't be that hard to make. [ My god. Viktor looks amused for like a second before his expression drops as he nods. ]
Well, that will make two of us. I'd rather not die anytime soon either. Though the thought of going through the embarrassment of thousands of people watching you fumble your way through these ridiculous challenges...does make the prospect a bit more enticing.
[ Hi. He hates everything about this place and has thrown up due to social anxiety, and even just the thought of being in the spotlight before has caused him to do so. This is why Jayce is in the spotlight and the face of Hextech and not him!! Dying sure is looking pretty great right about now!! ]
no subject
Gotta hand it to him, he's does have impressive skills. As for the challenges, I imagine there's a way out of them— I can't fight, I'm a one-armed guy, I can't fight against Warpath The Destroyer or whoever the fuck is out there shooting grenades with their eyes.
[ He likes to think there is a path to survival that can be walked one-handed and without that much effort. ]
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I'd be more curious examining them, truthfully. To be able to shoot grenades from one's eyes...a marvel of engineering. Inspiring. Or would it be eyenspiring? Hm. [ Viktor stop. ]
We're in a similar quandary, then. I'm not exactly what they would call, eh, physically fit for this sort of thing. But perhaps tinkering with things people might need will prove my worth, so to speak.
[ Even if the way he says it sounds like he's trying his best to not have an ounce of venom in his voice, but it's unfortunately a failed attempt, and it comes out bitter regardless. His whole life has been trying to play the part, trying to win the favor of a society that has only ever seen people like him as dregs to society. Having to do something similar here is...unpleasant. ]