MISSION 008

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: March 14th - April 11th
WHERE: Aphaia
WHAT: Mission 008
NOTES\WARNINGS: Survival horror elements, violence, (mild) body horror, potential death.

⏵ 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⏴

Comments

[sortie]

"Yeah, I'll live." Neither of them got wounded, save for what might resolve to be some bruises later. It could definitely have been worse. After a long enough lapse of silence that he seems to have nothing more to say, he adds just one thing. "...Thanks."

For catching hold of him. He realizes they're cuffed together and he'd drag Jason down with him, but still.

[leastdramatic]

"Not a problem. Thanks for help before," Jason says. He's going to feel sore all over once the challenge is done but he's had worse injuries and is choosing to power through for now.

He looks up at the next few platforms.

"We can't keep having close calls like these. You think we could preemptive set off some of the traps?"

[sortie]

Lars weighs the prospect. If they're being tactical about this, and they're trying to ensure that the rest of their climb is less eventful... "We could break off the fake hand-holds and toss them where where we're looking to go. If a trap's triggered by movement or impact, that'd set it off."

Sometimes, they did that with mines. Setting them off from a distance was far preferable to stepping on one, if someone wanted to live.

[leastdramatic]

Jason nods. He does have projectile weapons like batarangs and his guns but with this mission being about limited resources, he'd rather not use them unless the situation was serious enough to warrant them.

"That should work. How often can you use your wind abilities?"

[sortie]

It's a question with a potentially involved answer. At least in the Cage itself, there were set intervals between uses of skills, and certain equipment influenced it. In a place like this, Lars doesn't know how much of that was systemic and how much applies still.

"You know... I haven't gotten to test it that much. The place I came from was different." Lars shrugs, lacking the perspective others might have on it. "But might as well find out now."

[leastdramatic]

"I got some stuff on me too if we need more ammo. We'll try to alternate just in case," Jason offers. It doesn't seem right for one half of a chained pair to strain himself more than the other.

Jason grips one blatantly fake handhold and rips it off.

[sortie]

"Alright. Just save anything you'd rather not use." With a whole mess of unknown challenges ahead of them on this mission, Lars doesn't want Jason to find himself lacking something he needs later.

His wind attacks come back after a short time. Ammo? Ammo's a loss.

[leastdramatic]

Jason tucks the pieces of the fake handhold in his pockets before looking back up, trying to think up of the next path. He then throws a piece up near another platform and arrows from the platform's underside are fired, skewering the piece.

"Fun," Jason dryly says.

[sortie]

Lars huffs. "At least it isn't a turret... Not that it's saying much." He imagines the only reason it's not is because this challenge has to seem winnable.

With one avenue cleared, he moves to one side, peering up at the structure. "...Maybe I spoke too soon." He draws his rapier, pointing the slim blade toward the metal muzzle of something that looks to be pointed right at the path Jason cleared. "So more is more with these people."

[leastdramatic]

Jason clicks his tongue, indignant at their predicament again. He takes out one of his handguns.

"At least we can see it. I could try to shoot it down unless you got something else in mind."

Thought Lars is correct that there's only so much ammo Jason can use for this challenge.

[sortie]

"I can cut it. Just wanted you to see what it looked like first." They can both keep an eye out for more of them that way.

Lars flicks his blade, livid green lines goughing the air around the turret's muzzle. Chunks of metal tumble down in the next moment. "They should use all this for something productive."

[leastdramatic]

"Yeah. It's a lot of wasted resources. But then again, maybe that's the point," Jason agrees. "They seem to don't care and just given up."

He then picks up one of the fallen metal pieces as more ammo.

"Nice technique by they way."

[sortie]

It does seem that way. Lars can't relate, having plodded onward even when he thought he had nothing to press on for. Some part of him had never been able to stop, somehow.

"Thanks." Short as the response is, his tone is sincere. Lars simply never has known what to do with compliments or praise. "See any of them on the other side?"

[leastdramatic]

Jason looks over at the wall again for potential traps. Then he points out a spot near the middle and higher up.

"Another muzzle. 11 o'clock."

[sortie]

Lars follows Jason's indication, tipping his head back to narrow his eyes at yet another obstacle meant to injure or kill them. This place really is out to thin the numbers while making it appear sporting. For many, traps like these would be the end of it.

Once more Lars raises his blade, slashing at the open air. Above them, the same green tears appear, rending the muzzle of the weapon. Ammo and chunks of metal sprinkle down on them. "The hell would people with no range even do here?"

[leastdramatic]

"Fall to their deaths," Jason replies grimly. Like Lars, he recognizes how it's only luck that they're both capable of doing long-ranged attacks for this challenge.

"We gotta be almost done by now."

He searches again for potential traps before throwing a piece of debris in front of a suspicious hole not far from the muzzle Lars just struck down. A spike shoots out.

[sortie]

"Yeah, I'd think so." Still, Lars doesn't trust the damn place one bit. He circles around their platform, eyes narrowed at the area above, but it looks like they've managed to clear the way after that last trap. "Seems clear. Hopefully."

He feels sorry for anyone less armed or more trusting than the two of them.

[leastdramatic]

Jason exhales. He also looks up at the wall and agrees with Lars's assessment. He grips one genuine handhold.

"Ready then?"

[sortie]

"Yeah, let's finish this." So far as Lars is concerned, this tower has put them through enough work. If nothing else, they've earned a win.

He finds another hand-hold that supports him, ready to continue their climb. This time without projectiles and spikes. Hopefully.

[leastdramatic]

Jason begins to climb again. There isn't much left but because of the very real possibility that there are more traps scattered about, he's taking it slow. At this point, he's not surprised the safest path is probably a convoluted one.

[sortie]

Lars is no more trusting of the tower, half-expecting something to swoop in and attack them for good measure. His advances are cautious and deliberate, and he makes an effort to ensure he can draw his sword again if necessary. It's not like this place plays fair.

[leastdramatic]

"Still okay there?" Jason says, still looking ahead for the next safe handholds. There isn't much of a way for Jason to turn to look at Lars to check on him so he has to trust his hearing and other senses for that.

[sortie]

"So far, yeah. Run into anything cursed?" Lars tosses the question back up at him. Whether it's a joke or not is left to Jason's judgement.

[leastdramatic]

At this point, it might as well be a real question.

"Not yet but if there is anything magical here, I might be screwed," Jason replies. It's also hard to tell if he's joking.

[sortie]

"If that happens, guess I'm avenging us both...or haunting them. Whichever." Lars is determined enough he could make one or the other happen, probably.

If he's joking, it only sounds halfway convincing as humor.