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memeisteria2024-10-20 04:00 pm
magisteriamods) wrote in memeisteria2024-10-20 04:00 pm
Magisteria TDM #4
🌠 A Long, Long Time From Now, In a Future World Far, Far Away . . . 🌠
Welcome to the fourth official test drive meme for Magisteria! The TDM is game canon. Characters who do not app will simply disappear. Current players are highly encouraged to participate in the TDM.
QUESTS can be found at the bottom of the TDM! This edition of the TDM is spliced together from previous game content to give a thorough overview of Magisteria for prospective players, so it's very encompassing. Current players can feel free to put quest starters here or link their quest logs on their top levels.
ADULT content has been marked/noted as such, including CNs for sexy fare and substances. These prompts are also near the bottom.
🪄 The Eternal City 💻
In one moment, you find yourself before a portal radiant with light, a tree of life that blazes with fire and the brilliant hues of some great, potent energy which you feel surrounding you and infusing your body. Your vision fills with colors brighter than any you have known. Time waxes and wanes.
In another moment, or perhaps many moments later, you are standing within what appears to be a station. Whatever you were doing before is simply on hold; instinctively, you know that, and instinctively, you feel a pull towards this place. There are others with you: a group of people, newly arriving.
A girl with silvery white hair and pale blue eyes approaches your group. She introduces herself: "Welcome, Otherworlders, to Magisteria. My name is Seraphine Nova. I'm your guide."
📱 She's a high school student.
📱 Helping new Otherworlders settle in is her part-time job.
📱 She's half-human, born of an AI mother. Known as a "thetic", half-human/half-AI are one of the many forms of existence unique to the paradise city of Magisteria.
You have some time to explore the station and witness its many sights and sounds. Advanced technology can be heard and seen everywhere, and everywhere, there are humanoid beings. Some are organic: humans and faeries and elves and other races from all the lores of all worlds. Others are inorganic: cyborgs and AI and robots. In Magisteria, all beings share the same destiny.
Soon, the train for your group begins to board. You are invited to step inside: It's time to travel to your new apartment!
Your guide explains to your group that the first priority is to have you all acquainted with your aXess Link device. The device can be shaped like anything you want, such as a phone, a watch, or something more intricate. Pretty much everyone in the city needs one, so they're ubiquitous and subsidized. The aXess Link allows you to produce video or audio broadcast with full techno-magical special effects. You can have telepathic brain-to-speech communications and project holograms with the device.
Speaking of holograms, there's a projection which all Otherworlders are strongly encouraged to download and view:
Speaking of holograms, there's a projection which all Otherworlders are strongly encouraged to download and view:
The Projection: To All Arriving Otherworlders, From The Government of Magisteria
Welcome, Otherworlders. My name is Minister Brennam Tyrgen, representative of the sovereign of Magisteria. I've recorded a new version of this broadcast for you, and I'll get right to the point. My aim is to provide a brief overview of what you need to know before you continue any further.
Yours is not the first group of Otherworlders we've played host to. You've been arriving in our world for millennia now, and from all across the cosmos, no less. But your group is different from the others that have come before in one important respect.
You may have noticed it on your body as you exited the Infinity Corridor. Maybe it's even in the shape of something you find inspiring or meaningful or artistic. I speak of course of your new tattoo. That tattoo is your connection to Bios, the energy within your body and within all living things. Moreover, you Otherworlders are capable of engaging in something called Synthesis. These are cooperative acts which can generate massive amounts of excess Bios. You can research Bios and Synthesis, as well as anything else, on your aXess Link devices.
As to why your group is different than those who have come before... that's something we ourselves are still researching. But as the Bios in our world could use replenishing, it just may be that you all are somehow exactly what our world needs, and we want you to be as comfortable, settled, and in peace as may be possible.
Each of you should currently have enough funds in your virtual wallet to cover your housing expenses for about four months. Longer, should you find a roommate. After that, you will need to finance your own way. But don't worry. The apartments host learnshops and there will be ample opportunities to pursue vocational training and diverse careers within High Rise Village.
I do encourage each of you to be prepared to pursue the study of magic or technology. Two or more of you can integrate your abilities across disciplines, but each one of you can only specialize in one or the other. You'll soon come to understand why. You can pursue other opportunities as well, but the Order of Mysterium and the Council for Technological Advancement have always provided the best paths of upward mobility for Otherworlders.
Currently, you can access High Rise Village, our Business District, where you are now, as well as Eden 6, also called Neon Heaven, the Entertainment District. You can also visit most of the Market District and the Agriculture District. The Central Gardens have recently (for now) opened their gates to you all, and you may even have some opportunities to complete tasks there. Very soon, we should be able to finally beginning opening the remaining districts, such as our Northern Temple District and the Tech and Magic Districts.
Finally... I'm afraid your group has come at something of a difficult time for this part of the city. Certain... disturbances have recently made themselves known. I'm afraid I can't lend much help, as I have my own work keeping me busy, but not to worry: High Rise Village has its own authorities, and some of the most important will be out and about soon, determined to secure the district against threats. Your fellow Otherworlders will also play vital roles, as will you.
My final advice to each and all of you is that you keep your eyes and ears open. Watch, listen, and pay attention. Trust that your questions will have answers in time, but remember: sometimes you must find them yourselves.
Yours is not the first group of Otherworlders we've played host to. You've been arriving in our world for millennia now, and from all across the cosmos, no less. But your group is different from the others that have come before in one important respect.
You may have noticed it on your body as you exited the Infinity Corridor. Maybe it's even in the shape of something you find inspiring or meaningful or artistic. I speak of course of your new tattoo. That tattoo is your connection to Bios, the energy within your body and within all living things. Moreover, you Otherworlders are capable of engaging in something called Synthesis. These are cooperative acts which can generate massive amounts of excess Bios. You can research Bios and Synthesis, as well as anything else, on your aXess Link devices.
As to why your group is different than those who have come before... that's something we ourselves are still researching. But as the Bios in our world could use replenishing, it just may be that you all are somehow exactly what our world needs, and we want you to be as comfortable, settled, and in peace as may be possible.
Each of you should currently have enough funds in your virtual wallet to cover your housing expenses for about four months. Longer, should you find a roommate. After that, you will need to finance your own way. But don't worry. The apartments host learnshops and there will be ample opportunities to pursue vocational training and diverse careers within High Rise Village.
I do encourage each of you to be prepared to pursue the study of magic or technology. Two or more of you can integrate your abilities across disciplines, but each one of you can only specialize in one or the other. You'll soon come to understand why. You can pursue other opportunities as well, but the Order of Mysterium and the Council for Technological Advancement have always provided the best paths of upward mobility for Otherworlders.
Currently, you can access High Rise Village, our Business District, where you are now, as well as Eden 6, also called Neon Heaven, the Entertainment District. You can also visit most of the Market District and the Agriculture District. The Central Gardens have recently (for now) opened their gates to you all, and you may even have some opportunities to complete tasks there. Very soon, we should be able to finally beginning opening the remaining districts, such as our Northern Temple District and the Tech and Magic Districts.
Finally... I'm afraid your group has come at something of a difficult time for this part of the city. Certain... disturbances have recently made themselves known. I'm afraid I can't lend much help, as I have my own work keeping me busy, but not to worry: High Rise Village has its own authorities, and some of the most important will be out and about soon, determined to secure the district against threats. Your fellow Otherworlders will also play vital roles, as will you.
My final advice to each and all of you is that you keep your eyes and ears open. Watch, listen, and pay attention. Trust that your questions will have answers in time, but remember: sometimes you must find them yourselves.
🪄 The Bean and Berry 💻
Along the ride, the train stops at The Bean & Berry, High Rise Village’s upscale coffee shop with full service AR/VR amenities. Each Otherworlder is eligible for two free drinks and two free pastries, as well as a new arrival discount!
Please note: Beyond just being fun, these drinks/pastries will augment Otherworlders in preparation for later parts of the TDM!
🧋 DRINKS MENU
🌠 Techno Tonic 🌠 - A clear tonic. Infused with nanotechnology, it allows a user to buff their cybergear if they have it, or grow impromptu/temporary cybergear parts if they do not.
🌠 Synapse Sparkler 🌠 - A fizzy, sparkling drink that contains microchips designed to boost synaptic activity. Allows you to rapidly understand Magisterian magic or technology.
🌠 Clari-tea 🌠 - an enhanced version of a traditional chai. Beyond having a lovely, spiced-sweet flavour, it promotes blissful levels of stress reduction, making one relaxed and amiable.
🌠 Holo-Hot Chocolate 🌠 - A hot chocolate mixed with holographic particles that interact with the brain’s visual cortex. Those who drink it will be able to create especially stunning and lifelike holographs. Just be warned: drink too much and you might be creating holographs even when you don't mean to, just by moving around!
🌠Time in a Bottle 🌠 - a carbonated beverage that has been carefully infused to create a sensation of time dilation, making minutes feel like hours. Has a refreshing lemon-mint flavour.
🌠 Creativi-tea 🌠 - this drink encourages literary, artistic, and other innovative endeavors. The first sip can spark a "Eureka Burst!" in which you feel a rush of inspiration and a whirlwind of blazingly creative thoughts. You see colors more vividly and hear melodies in everyday sounds. For a short time, you can mentally connect with those around you who have partaken of the drink, mind-melding with a creativity boost. Be cautioned: the drink can encourage inhibition loss, especially if consumed in higher quantities, and drinking too much can induce bouts of uncontrollable laughter. This effect can last for up to 24 hours, and is intermittent.
🌠 Icy Rainbows 🌠 - a smoothie - with or without popping boba bubbles - that no one can really pin down the flavour of, beyond ‘some sort of fruit’. It projects a stunning, three-dimensional light display when consumed and the night after is always known to be full of vivid dreams.
🌠 Glitch Glaze Frappe 🌠 -A cold frappe that shimmers with a glitchy effect, as if it's not entirely solid. Provides a temporary 'glitch' ability, allowing characters to phase in and out of electronic systems, bypassing security or moving through digital barriers.
🥐 PASTRIES MENU
🌠 Byte Bites 🌠 - Small, crunchy cookies embedded with edible microchips. They can cause those who consume them to crackle with bright, raw Bios. It's like lightning that Otherworlders can channel and use as a weapon... or just to show off the pretty lights!
🌠 Fireall Fritters 🌠 - Eating these nanobot-infused fritters will imbue Otherworlders with the power to harden their Bios into actual solid metallic walls which are also lit with fire, perfect for protection against particularly dangerous foes. Ready to be a shielder?
🌠 Enchanted Éclairs 🌠 Éclairs filled with a shimmering cream that sparkles with magical energy. These treats can heighten magical energy and increase outputs.
🌠 Mystic Macarons 🌠 Colorful macarons that change hues to reflect the magical energy within. Consuming them can impart healing abilities and the ability to locate and bring forth such abilities from flora and the natural world.
🌠 Arcane Apple Tart 🌠 A tart made with enchanted apples that glow faintly in the dark. They are said to boost resistance to corruption and corrosive influences and to strengthen the user against other forms of magic.
Please note: Beyond just being fun, these drinks/pastries will augment Otherworlders in preparation for later parts of the TDM!
🌠 Techno Tonic 🌠 - A clear tonic. Infused with nanotechnology, it allows a user to buff their cybergear if they have it, or grow impromptu/temporary cybergear parts if they do not.
🌠 Synapse Sparkler 🌠 - A fizzy, sparkling drink that contains microchips designed to boost synaptic activity. Allows you to rapidly understand Magisterian magic or technology.
🌠 Clari-tea 🌠 - an enhanced version of a traditional chai. Beyond having a lovely, spiced-sweet flavour, it promotes blissful levels of stress reduction, making one relaxed and amiable.
🌠 Holo-Hot Chocolate 🌠 - A hot chocolate mixed with holographic particles that interact with the brain’s visual cortex. Those who drink it will be able to create especially stunning and lifelike holographs. Just be warned: drink too much and you might be creating holographs even when you don't mean to, just by moving around!
🌠Time in a Bottle 🌠 - a carbonated beverage that has been carefully infused to create a sensation of time dilation, making minutes feel like hours. Has a refreshing lemon-mint flavour.
🌠 Creativi-tea 🌠 - this drink encourages literary, artistic, and other innovative endeavors. The first sip can spark a "Eureka Burst!" in which you feel a rush of inspiration and a whirlwind of blazingly creative thoughts. You see colors more vividly and hear melodies in everyday sounds. For a short time, you can mentally connect with those around you who have partaken of the drink, mind-melding with a creativity boost. Be cautioned: the drink can encourage inhibition loss, especially if consumed in higher quantities, and drinking too much can induce bouts of uncontrollable laughter. This effect can last for up to 24 hours, and is intermittent.
🌠 Icy Rainbows 🌠 - a smoothie - with or without popping boba bubbles - that no one can really pin down the flavour of, beyond ‘some sort of fruit’. It projects a stunning, three-dimensional light display when consumed and the night after is always known to be full of vivid dreams.
🌠 Glitch Glaze Frappe 🌠 -A cold frappe that shimmers with a glitchy effect, as if it's not entirely solid. Provides a temporary 'glitch' ability, allowing characters to phase in and out of electronic systems, bypassing security or moving through digital barriers.
🌠 Byte Bites 🌠 - Small, crunchy cookies embedded with edible microchips. They can cause those who consume them to crackle with bright, raw Bios. It's like lightning that Otherworlders can channel and use as a weapon... or just to show off the pretty lights!
🌠 Fireall Fritters 🌠 - Eating these nanobot-infused fritters will imbue Otherworlders with the power to harden their Bios into actual solid metallic walls which are also lit with fire, perfect for protection against particularly dangerous foes. Ready to be a shielder?
🌠 Enchanted Éclairs 🌠 Éclairs filled with a shimmering cream that sparkles with magical energy. These treats can heighten magical energy and increase outputs.
🌠 Mystic Macarons 🌠 Colorful macarons that change hues to reflect the magical energy within. Consuming them can impart healing abilities and the ability to locate and bring forth such abilities from flora and the natural world.
🌠 Arcane Apple Tart 🌠 A tart made with enchanted apples that glow faintly in the dark. They are said to boost resistance to corruption and corrosive influences and to strengthen the user against other forms of magic.
🪄 Memories of Magisteria 💻
Before the train finally arrives at the apartments, there is one more piece of technology Otherworlders can interact with along the way: DreamDives. These are programs installed in the aXess Link device. If Otherworlders wish to learn more about what previous arrivals have experienced in this fantastical world, or if they wish to expedite the process of gaining the abilities those Otherworlders have accessed via the same trials, they are encouraged to access the DreamDives.
When accessed, the DreamDives create a hyperreal experience that is both technological and magical, as these particular dives are infused with real memories and experiences and with a level of magic which causes the AR/VR technology to blur at the seams. Otherworlders will be cautioned that they can experience real pain and fear from touring these augmented simulations, though they are also designed so that if an Otherworlder feels overwhelmed, they can mentally signal for the experience to end, and they will find themselves back awake/aware in their train seats.
Otherworlders who gain powers/tech from these DreamDives will have them in reality, too, i.e. skills with the two tech fauna and their own tech fauna! Again, this is a means of fast-tracking new players to catch up with the settings/plot. AND YES, the above pastries/drinks can be used to enhance/develop powers for these activities! In fact, that's encouraged!
Via the DreamDives, Otherworlders can access and experience the journeys to retrieve the four Greater Runes. This means visiting the Azure Vault and the Ember Hearth [ Event I ], as well as Whisperwind Alley and the Glimmergrove [ Event II ].
The four Greater Runes are giant gemstones. Concealed within each of the four above locations, as you approach the runes, you will behold a pulsing light in a color representing the respective element (i.e. as one approaches the depths of the Azure Vault, they will see a pulsing pale blue glow).
In reality, Otherworlders have retrieved these four runes, but these augmented simulations are a sort of memory share, so all Otherworlders may both see and experience everything together, and those who have already completed these challenges will be able to project or engage with their former activities, or participate in the challenges anew (their choice) with new partners.
For all challenges, current Otherworlders, those who have completed these challenges, are encouraged to be leaders and show the newbies how it's done. New Otherworlders can fast-track their abilities with elemental magic by participating in any of these DreamDives, meaning they can gain the ability to use spells from the four elemental powers by the time they enter the game.
Also, beware some of the beings at these locations. While the first two are fairly tame [Sea Bears, Janky Jellies, and enigmatic spirits], the latter two deal in more PVE-centric critters:
[ pictured from Event II ]
Via this DreamDive, Otherworlders can journey to the four special tech locations: the Digital Flora Dome and the Neon Nest [Event I], as well as the Symbiotic Skyscraper [Event II].
As with the above magic challenges, Otherworlders can develop their abilities with technology and fast-track their way through overcoming the challenges. As always, fellow Otherworlders are your best bet to success. Each tech-affiliated PC will have the chance to engage in training with the Bursterflies and the Lepidoperatives [see Flora/Fauna and the linked events] via the Digital Flora Dome and the Neon Nest, as well as the Symbiotic Skyscraper, with the latter being against the disrupted tech fauna from the second event.
Finally, in this DreamDive, new Otherworlders can experience the events of the High Risk Quest. You will journey to the Wreckage Labyrinth [recently demolished in the actual world, but accessible in the DreamDive] and encounter the Fractured, the corrupted AI entities whom Otherworlders previously fought.
Otherworlders will have access to various tech weapons for the quest against the Fractured and the battle against the tech fauna at the Symbiotic Skyscraper.
Turns out, there's one more aspect to these DreamDives -- one that may be unexpected to both the Otherworlders and the natives. Somehow or another, some of the Woofaloomps and the cryptofish have entered the programs.
It may be that the Woofaloomps, having discovered the DreamDive tech intended for the Otherworlders, have found a means of inserting themselves via their Bios footprints. It can be assumed that their physical counterparts are experiencing the techo-magical simulations as "real" in the same way that Otherworlders are.
Along with the Woofaloomps are the twin troublesome fish of Magisteria, the cryptofish and the near-figmentary tetras [NFTs]. How exactly did they get in? No idea!
Otherworlders journeying in any of the above simulations/locations may sporadically and randomly encounter Woofaloomps and the two cryptofish. And random is not an exaggeration: the fish may appear within the waters of the Azure Vault, or they may suddenly be floating in the air amid the battle with the Fractured. The Woofaloomps are, once again, scurrying and running all about the place, glitching from space to space.
The Woofaloomps and the cryptofish also seem eager to engage in the PVE battles alongside Otherworlders. However, being dumb and eccentric animals, they are likely to be more of a hindrance than a help for the most part.
🌀 Powers/Abilities: The Woofaloomps can "glitch" from space to space. They can induce feelings of peace/tranquility in others, which may actually adversely affect an Otherworlder's ability to do battle. However, if they can get close enough to project this ability against the Fractured (with the help of Otherworlders, of course), the Woofaloomps may be able to neutralize some of their abilities. Ditto the other PVE antagonists above. Finally, as living Bios baubles, the Woofaloomps can boost the magic/tech abilities of Otherworlders. Unfortunately, they may not always boost them in the most helpful manners: your abilities might grow erratic or uncontrollable when boosted by the Woofaloomps, so best be careful!
💰If the twin cryptofish touch an unlucky person, they impart a 24-hour curse which causes the affected individual to dispense bad financial advice, so beware, Otherworlders! If used against the tech fauna or the Fractured... the powers of the cryptofish may induce deeply irregular output. No knowing what happens unless you try, though, right? If used against the more magically oriented fauna or fed to them... again, who knows what might happen. Possibly very dubious effects all around.
🍩If you wish to deter these fucked up animals from engaging (or attempting to engage) in PVE or distracting your PVE/training, feeding them pastries (or crumbs, for the fish) will completely shift their focus, as they are all highly food-motivated. Other food, such as berries, can also work for this.
When accessed, the DreamDives create a hyperreal experience that is both technological and magical, as these particular dives are infused with real memories and experiences and with a level of magic which causes the AR/VR technology to blur at the seams. Otherworlders will be cautioned that they can experience real pain and fear from touring these augmented simulations, though they are also designed so that if an Otherworlder feels overwhelmed, they can mentally signal for the experience to end, and they will find themselves back awake/aware in their train seats.
Otherworlders who gain powers/tech from these DreamDives will have them in reality, too, i.e. skills with the two tech fauna and their own tech fauna! Again, this is a means of fast-tracking new players to catch up with the settings/plot. AND YES, the above pastries/drinks can be used to enhance/develop powers for these activities! In fact, that's encouraged!
Memories of Magic: Azure Vault, Ember Hearth, Glimmergrove, Whisperwind Alley
Via the DreamDives, Otherworlders can access and experience the journeys to retrieve the four Greater Runes. This means visiting the Azure Vault and the Ember Hearth [ Event I ], as well as Whisperwind Alley and the Glimmergrove [ Event II ].
The four Greater Runes are giant gemstones. Concealed within each of the four above locations, as you approach the runes, you will behold a pulsing light in a color representing the respective element (i.e. as one approaches the depths of the Azure Vault, they will see a pulsing pale blue glow).
In reality, Otherworlders have retrieved these four runes, but these augmented simulations are a sort of memory share, so all Otherworlders may both see and experience everything together, and those who have already completed these challenges will be able to project or engage with their former activities, or participate in the challenges anew (their choice) with new partners.
For all challenges, current Otherworlders, those who have completed these challenges, are encouraged to be leaders and show the newbies how it's done. New Otherworlders can fast-track their abilities with elemental magic by participating in any of these DreamDives, meaning they can gain the ability to use spells from the four elemental powers by the time they enter the game.
Also, beware some of the beings at these locations. While the first two are fairly tame [Sea Bears, Janky Jellies, and enigmatic spirits], the latter two deal in more PVE-centric critters:
Memories of Tech: Digital Flora Dome, Neon Nest, Symbiotic Skyscraper, and the Fractured
Via this DreamDive, Otherworlders can journey to the four special tech locations: the Digital Flora Dome and the Neon Nest [Event I], as well as the Symbiotic Skyscraper [Event II].
As with the above magic challenges, Otherworlders can develop their abilities with technology and fast-track their way through overcoming the challenges. As always, fellow Otherworlders are your best bet to success. Each tech-affiliated PC will have the chance to engage in training with the Bursterflies and the Lepidoperatives [see Flora/Fauna and the linked events] via the Digital Flora Dome and the Neon Nest, as well as the Symbiotic Skyscraper, with the latter being against the disrupted tech fauna from the second event.
Finally, in this DreamDive, new Otherworlders can experience the events of the High Risk Quest. You will journey to the Wreckage Labyrinth [recently demolished in the actual world, but accessible in the DreamDive] and encounter the Fractured, the corrupted AI entities whom Otherworlders previously fought.
Otherworlders will have access to various tech weapons for the quest against the Fractured and the battle against the tech fauna at the Symbiotic Skyscraper.
Memories of WTF: Woofaloomps and the Cryptofish
Turns out, there's one more aspect to these DreamDives -- one that may be unexpected to both the Otherworlders and the natives. Somehow or another, some of the Woofaloomps and the cryptofish have entered the programs.
It may be that the Woofaloomps, having discovered the DreamDive tech intended for the Otherworlders, have found a means of inserting themselves via their Bios footprints. It can be assumed that their physical counterparts are experiencing the techo-magical simulations as "real" in the same way that Otherworlders are.
Along with the Woofaloomps are the twin troublesome fish of Magisteria, the cryptofish and the near-figmentary tetras [NFTs]. How exactly did they get in? No idea!
Otherworlders journeying in any of the above simulations/locations may sporadically and randomly encounter Woofaloomps and the two cryptofish. And random is not an exaggeration: the fish may appear within the waters of the Azure Vault, or they may suddenly be floating in the air amid the battle with the Fractured. The Woofaloomps are, once again, scurrying and running all about the place, glitching from space to space.
The Woofaloomps and the cryptofish also seem eager to engage in the PVE battles alongside Otherworlders. However, being dumb and eccentric animals, they are likely to be more of a hindrance than a help for the most part.
🌀 Powers/Abilities: The Woofaloomps can "glitch" from space to space. They can induce feelings of peace/tranquility in others, which may actually adversely affect an Otherworlder's ability to do battle. However, if they can get close enough to project this ability against the Fractured (with the help of Otherworlders, of course), the Woofaloomps may be able to neutralize some of their abilities. Ditto the other PVE antagonists above. Finally, as living Bios baubles, the Woofaloomps can boost the magic/tech abilities of Otherworlders. Unfortunately, they may not always boost them in the most helpful manners: your abilities might grow erratic or uncontrollable when boosted by the Woofaloomps, so best be careful!
💰If the twin cryptofish touch an unlucky person, they impart a 24-hour curse which causes the affected individual to dispense bad financial advice, so beware, Otherworlders! If used against the tech fauna or the Fractured... the powers of the cryptofish may induce deeply irregular output. No knowing what happens unless you try, though, right? If used against the more magically oriented fauna or fed to them... again, who knows what might happen. Possibly very dubious effects all around.
🍩If you wish to deter these fucked up animals from engaging (or attempting to engage) in PVE or distracting your PVE/training, feeding them pastries (or crumbs, for the fish) will completely shift their focus, as they are all highly food-motivated. Other food, such as berries, can also work for this.
🪄 The World of Tomorrow: Evergreen Terrace 💻
At last, the train arrives at its destination. Centrally located in High Rise Village, this is Evergreen Terrace, a luxury apartment complex. You are informed that many of the district's elite, both techies and magic users, live within these apartments. They serve a thriving, hybrid community.
🌟Above the apartment complex today, a golden prism of light as wide as the buildings themselves pierces the clouds and appears to also pierce the roofs of the buildings, entering and disappearing into some hidden interior space.
Otherworlders who have been living within the apartments will find this mysterious light to be a new addition, an unexplained change.🌟
The apartments feature a series of buildings consisting of terraces of windows overflowing with greenery and pink bougainvillea. The buildings are bright alabaster white, and should you ask about their composition, you will be informed that there are magic-infused crystals within the architecture. The city sprawls around the apartments, but the greenery throughout and around purifies the air.
💧 a) Waters of Seeing
The apartment complex is encircled by artificial ponds and streams of running water. The water itself is crystal clear and sparkles in a manner that may give Otherworlders the distinctive impression of enchantment, even if they are not magically attuned individuals. There are signs indicating that Otherworlders are responsible for whatever they see, should they gaze at these waters.
If you look for very long, you may see a vision from home, perhaps someone you care for. Or you may see a memory, a glimpse of your past. Should another stand beside you, they just may see your memory, as well. Or the reverse: you might find yourself gazing into another’s past.
💥 b) Interior
???: Maggots who interfere with the peace of the Forever City deserve no less than to have their guts stomped, don't you agree?
She says nothing further, but merely pushes past you as you enter the apartments.
Often known as a lively place, Evergreen Terrace is especially bustling today. Denizens with all manners of appearance and apparent abilities are moving around within the interior, crowding one another out and talking hurriedly, some in different languages, some with mechanical voices.
Behind the desk, a figure greets you: "Sup, guys? A group of new arrivals, huh? Wow, it's been a while. Didn't get to greet the last group properly, seeing as how they ended up in the grove with the spirits. Uh, anyway, I'm Malik Patel, concierge of Evergreen Terrace.
Oh, in case anyone asks... if you just saw a woman with a very menacing aura, that's Commander Kyra Bladeheart. She's an Enforcer, and they all have names assigned to them, or that they choose themselves, that are... like that. Y'know. Dangerous-sounding. I can't really excuse her... attitude, but I can tell you she's been training her whole life to fight something very, VERY bad, and it kind of... informs the way she is.
Anyway, I gotta be real. You guys have come at a bit of a time. The Enforcers are here because the whole district, but especially Evergreen Terrace, is preparing for a big conflict. This cyborg skeleton anarchist hacker guy named Phantom Cipher recently materialized and is threatening us on behalf of his mysterious boss/group. Something about causing the city to explode. So that means we're all readying for the conflict, and I'm afraid you guys are going to need to be ready, too.
The boss is coming back and will be meeting with you all anytime now. This is all honestly above my pay grade.
Oh, if you want to see the incident with Phantom Cipher, it's recorded here. You can see via your aXess Link. Ava and I weren't exactly meaning to record this, but rather our progress, but... well, you'll see how it went down.
Oh, yeah. I guess there's one more thing. Our friend Soraya -- she's a bit like a cosmic djinn -- is in a pretty bad way today. I've never seen her so anxious. Did the Woofaloomps get off the train with you? They help siphon off her excess Bios, and uh, she could really use that, I think..."
🌈 c) Chaos of the cosmic djinn
"AUGHHHHH, I HEAR EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT ME, MALIK! And what you said on that recording, too! Shame on your rudeness! Anxious? Of course I am! Those awful Enforcers are here, and we're being threatened by ... whoever heard of this 'Phantom Cipher'? And it's so crowded! Everyone in the district is coming to our complex to seek safety!
And not only that, but my precious children have once again escaped, this time into those DreamDives? How does this keep happening? My precious children do not even know how to use technology! It's like they're inventing new problems! Ughhh, focus, focus... I'm forcing my energies towards positive magic, TRYING not to accidentally incinerate anyone or create a miniature black hole...
But at least my Master is returning, soon! That will make everything better!"
This is Soraya. As her color scheme suggests, her Bios quantity is massive. Too massive. Rather than being an asset, the sheer amount of energy in her body overwhelms her, feeding into her anxiety and erratic temperament. Right now, she's in the lobby of Evergreen Terrace, and her powers are going awry. Some effects of her temper include:
Portals appear/disappear everywhere: sometimes these portals drop people or objects, sometimes they expose the interiors of rooms in the apartment complex and their denizens. Sometimes her magic causes one room to become another room to become a third room.
Accidental levitation, causing people/objects to lose their gravity and float upside down towards the upper floors.
A blooming floral frenzy: every time Soraya raises her voice or gets particularly anxious, flowers start blooming everywhere -- on the floor, walls, and even on people. They’re colorful, oversized, and grow at a rapid rate, causing anyone in the vicinity to have to push their way through the sudden jungle of flora.
Other effects of her temper include furniture coming to life and talking, accidentally filling the room with floating bubbles, and small storm clouds which appear over people's heads and rain glitter or confetti.
Otherworlders can calm Soraya by re-acquainting her with her "precious children," the Woofaloomps! They will help siphon off her excess energy by absorbing it as Bios into themselves. Fortunately, a group of these mischievous creatures have somehow followed Otherworlders off the train... maybe they were hiding on there all along when they entered the DreamDives?
Otherworlders can also offer to siphon off some of her excess Bios into their own bodies. This may enhance powers, but in surprise ways: an Otherworlder can gain the ability to transform into an animal, the ability to make flowers bloom, the ability to generate tempestuous fire tornadoes, a sudden mecha or full tech bodysuit which springs fully formed with extra weapons, OR even the use of more canon abilities.
Mod note: Feel free to ask if there's a particular power you wish for a character to acquire, as this is a special fun pre-event bonus gain. Feel free to handwave the NPC leaving or settling down as PCs interact around these prompts.
Within Evergreen Terrace, there are tech quarters and magic quarters, as well as plenty of all-purpose apartments with full service amenities. Occupants will learn that their rooms are fully customizable to their specific preferences: via enchantment or AR, each room can take on virtually any appearance its owner wishes.
Some common themes include Neo-Tokyo Metropolis, Nature Fusion, Steampunk Retrofuturism, and Synthetic Dreamscape.
Not only can these rooms assume different appearances, but they are immersive enough to provide full sensory experiences. From the scent of metal to the feeling of sun-infused warmth touched with the coolness of a recent rain shower, the sensations are realistic and evocative.
Otherworlders are encouraged to explore. You may settle in, pick a theme, or personalize your room with your own imaginative design choices. There are also communal areas, and Otherworlders can congregate and interact in the hopes of finding prospective roommates. Why not come out and meet your neighbors? After all, you can make the currency in your virtual account last longer if you share a place . . .
🌟Above the apartment complex today, a golden prism of light as wide as the buildings themselves pierces the clouds and appears to also pierce the roofs of the buildings, entering and disappearing into some hidden interior space.
Otherworlders who have been living within the apartments will find this mysterious light to be a new addition, an unexplained change.🌟
The apartments feature a series of buildings consisting of terraces of windows overflowing with greenery and pink bougainvillea. The buildings are bright alabaster white, and should you ask about their composition, you will be informed that there are magic-infused crystals within the architecture. The city sprawls around the apartments, but the greenery throughout and around purifies the air.
The apartment complex is encircled by artificial ponds and streams of running water. The water itself is crystal clear and sparkles in a manner that may give Otherworlders the distinctive impression of enchantment, even if they are not magically attuned individuals. There are signs indicating that Otherworlders are responsible for whatever they see, should they gaze at these waters.
If you look for very long, you may see a vision from home, perhaps someone you care for. Or you may see a memory, a glimpse of your past. Should another stand beside you, they just may see your memory, as well. Or the reverse: you might find yourself gazing into another’s past.
???: Maggots who interfere with the peace of the Forever City deserve no less than to have their guts stomped, don't you agree?
She says nothing further, but merely pushes past you as you enter the apartments.
Often known as a lively place, Evergreen Terrace is especially bustling today. Denizens with all manners of appearance and apparent abilities are moving around within the interior, crowding one another out and talking hurriedly, some in different languages, some with mechanical voices.
Behind the desk, a figure greets you: "Sup, guys? A group of new arrivals, huh? Wow, it's been a while. Didn't get to greet the last group properly, seeing as how they ended up in the grove with the spirits. Uh, anyway, I'm Malik Patel, concierge of Evergreen Terrace.
Oh, in case anyone asks... if you just saw a woman with a very menacing aura, that's Commander Kyra Bladeheart. She's an Enforcer, and they all have names assigned to them, or that they choose themselves, that are... like that. Y'know. Dangerous-sounding. I can't really excuse her... attitude, but I can tell you she's been training her whole life to fight something very, VERY bad, and it kind of... informs the way she is.
Anyway, I gotta be real. You guys have come at a bit of a time. The Enforcers are here because the whole district, but especially Evergreen Terrace, is preparing for a big conflict. This cyborg skeleton anarchist hacker guy named Phantom Cipher recently materialized and is threatening us on behalf of his mysterious boss/group. Something about causing the city to explode. So that means we're all readying for the conflict, and I'm afraid you guys are going to need to be ready, too.
The boss is coming back and will be meeting with you all anytime now. This is all honestly above my pay grade.
Oh, if you want to see the incident with Phantom Cipher, it's recorded here. You can see via your aXess Link. Ava and I weren't exactly meaning to record this, but rather our progress, but... well, you'll see how it went down.
Oh, yeah. I guess there's one more thing. Our friend Soraya -- she's a bit like a cosmic djinn -- is in a pretty bad way today. I've never seen her so anxious. Did the Woofaloomps get off the train with you? They help siphon off her excess Bios, and uh, she could really use that, I think..."
"AUGHHHHH, I HEAR EVERYTHING YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT ME, MALIK! And what you said on that recording, too! Shame on your rudeness! Anxious? Of course I am! Those awful Enforcers are here, and we're being threatened by ... whoever heard of this 'Phantom Cipher'? And it's so crowded! Everyone in the district is coming to our complex to seek safety!
And not only that, but my precious children have once again escaped, this time into those DreamDives? How does this keep happening? My precious children do not even know how to use technology! It's like they're inventing new problems! Ughhh, focus, focus... I'm forcing my energies towards positive magic, TRYING not to accidentally incinerate anyone or create a miniature black hole...
But at least my Master is returning, soon! That will make everything better!"
This is Soraya. As her color scheme suggests, her Bios quantity is massive. Too massive. Rather than being an asset, the sheer amount of energy in her body overwhelms her, feeding into her anxiety and erratic temperament. Right now, she's in the lobby of Evergreen Terrace, and her powers are going awry. Some effects of her temper include:
Portals appear/disappear everywhere: sometimes these portals drop people or objects, sometimes they expose the interiors of rooms in the apartment complex and their denizens. Sometimes her magic causes one room to become another room to become a third room.
Accidental levitation, causing people/objects to lose their gravity and float upside down towards the upper floors.
A blooming floral frenzy: every time Soraya raises her voice or gets particularly anxious, flowers start blooming everywhere -- on the floor, walls, and even on people. They’re colorful, oversized, and grow at a rapid rate, causing anyone in the vicinity to have to push their way through the sudden jungle of flora.
Other effects of her temper include furniture coming to life and talking, accidentally filling the room with floating bubbles, and small storm clouds which appear over people's heads and rain glitter or confetti.
Otherworlders can calm Soraya by re-acquainting her with her "precious children," the Woofaloomps! They will help siphon off her excess energy by absorbing it as Bios into themselves. Fortunately, a group of these mischievous creatures have somehow followed Otherworlders off the train... maybe they were hiding on there all along when they entered the DreamDives?
Otherworlders can also offer to siphon off some of her excess Bios into their own bodies. This may enhance powers, but in surprise ways: an Otherworlder can gain the ability to transform into an animal, the ability to make flowers bloom, the ability to generate tempestuous fire tornadoes, a sudden mecha or full tech bodysuit which springs fully formed with extra weapons, OR even the use of more canon abilities.
Mod note: Feel free to ask if there's a particular power you wish for a character to acquire, as this is a special fun pre-event bonus gain. Feel free to handwave the NPC leaving or settling down as PCs interact around these prompts.
🌆 Rooms with a View
Within Evergreen Terrace, there are tech quarters and magic quarters, as well as plenty of all-purpose apartments with full service amenities. Occupants will learn that their rooms are fully customizable to their specific preferences: via enchantment or AR, each room can take on virtually any appearance its owner wishes.
Some common themes include Neo-Tokyo Metropolis, Nature Fusion, Steampunk Retrofuturism, and Synthetic Dreamscape.
Not only can these rooms assume different appearances, but they are immersive enough to provide full sensory experiences. From the scent of metal to the feeling of sun-infused warmth touched with the coolness of a recent rain shower, the sensations are realistic and evocative.
Otherworlders are encouraged to explore. You may settle in, pick a theme, or personalize your room with your own imaginative design choices. There are also communal areas, and Otherworlders can congregate and interact in the hopes of finding prospective roommates. Why not come out and meet your neighbors? After all, you can make the currency in your virtual account last longer if you share a place . . .
🌆 The Eternal City: Entertainment District
When the evening descends, you are encouraged to explore the night life of the Entertainment District.
At night, the colors within the city truly come to life. Bios shows itself everywhere, and in all things. Natural Bios and industrial, mechanized Bios. There is conventional neon and conventional electricity, but also Bios, and as you walk the avenues, you can feel the pulse of this great, incandescent power.
Also colloquially referred to as Neon Heaven by the locals, Eden 6 is broadly comprised of two different zones:
🍏Green Apple Quarters – all-ages fare
🌹Red Rose Quarters – adult centers
Also colloquially referred to as Neon Heaven by the locals, Eden 6 is broadly comprised of two different zones:
🌹Red Rose Quarters – adult centers
🍏 a) Green Apple Exploration
These quarters house most restaurants, except those with notable bars or alcoholic beverage menus. Coffee and pastry shops are well-represented. There are plenty of magic-themed attractions, as well as general techie hangouts. One popular shop is named Fairy Dust: it’s a shop for potion and alchemy products, as well as magical toys of sorts to entertain children, and fun little spells. The highlight of the Green Apple Quarters, however, are certainly the gaming centers and arcades.
🛹 b) Skyracing
This is an activity which both children and adults participate in, often in different forms. Throughout the all-ages districts, young people can often be seen riding in the air on skateboards. But there are also other kinds of flying craft, some which are more like aerocycles, as well as hoverboards. Some of the latter are more prominent among the older set, with some races even having a hardcore adrenaline junkie component. Those take place primarily around The Fountain, the superclub which is on the border between Apple and Rose. There, skyracing is especially popular around the sunset and early evening hours.
Beings glimpsed in the evening sky can include sylphs and zephyrs, though sighting them is not entirely common.
[* For this activity, you use your Bios signature to link to the vehicle or skateboard, so crashing or falling is functionally impossible. ]
Beings glimpsed in the evening sky can include sylphs and zephyrs, though sighting them is not entirely common.
[* For this activity, you use your Bios signature to link to the vehicle or skateboard, so crashing or falling is functionally impossible. ]
🌹Red Rose Quarters
Quarters identified with the Red Rose designation are those which contain adult-centric fare. This includes any alcohol-first establishment, such as bars or nightclubs.
Otherworlders will find that the denizens of Magisteria’s Entertainment district maintain complex attitudes around nightlife. On the one hand, they are big believers in the protection and demarcation of adult sexuality. They’re very anti-criminalization of substances and big on legalization in principle. Perhaps not surprising for the people of a futuristic city. But even in Magisteria, there’s some sense that what happens in Neon Heaven, under the cover of night, stays there, and the usage of certain inducements to pleasure is not, as a rule, spoken of in the pristine offices of High Rise Village.
While the city emphasizes age restrictions, there are also plenty of people around the adult-centric establishments, none very hard to find, who will, for a small price, help teens who are on the older side (15+) access some of these establishments, especially the ones focused on pleasures of an AR-centric nature, [i.e. DreamDives with virtualized sexual content] After all, teens will find ways to explore things, and if it’s AR, it’s probably fine, right?
Otherworlders will find that the denizens of Magisteria’s Entertainment district maintain complex attitudes around nightlife. On the one hand, they are big believers in the protection and demarcation of adult sexuality. They’re very anti-criminalization of substances and big on legalization in principle. Perhaps not surprising for the people of a futuristic city. But even in Magisteria, there’s some sense that what happens in Neon Heaven, under the cover of night, stays there, and the usage of certain inducements to pleasure is not, as a rule, spoken of in the pristine offices of High Rise Village.
While the city emphasizes age restrictions, there are also plenty of people around the adult-centric establishments, none very hard to find, who will, for a small price, help teens who are on the older side (15+) access some of these establishments, especially the ones focused on pleasures of an AR-centric nature, [i.e. DreamDives with virtualized sexual content] After all, teens will find ways to explore things, and if it’s AR, it’s probably fine, right?
🎲 The Neon Oracle
Come one, come all to the Grand Casino, the Neon Oracle.
Set in a towering skyscraper in the heart of a bustling cyberpunk city, The Neon Oracle dominates the skyline with its glowing neon lights and holographic displays. The casino is known for its blending of ancient magic with futuristic technology. There are gaming tables, slot machines, a VIP lounge with exquisite drinks for the ambitious, and of course, everything is enhanced by technology and magic. Augmentations and enchantments abound.
🃏 There are poker and blackjack tables. Players can play enhanced poker with magical effects, such as cards that randomly change to wild cards or cards which whisper about other teams and try to coordinate with the players. Enchanted cards, as it were.
🎁 Unlike casinos you may be familiar with, flashy wins are common at the Neon Oracle. Hundreds or even thousands in virtual currency can be deposited directly into an Otherworlder's virtual bank account. But truly, money is considered one of the more minor prizes: the natives play to win unicorn companions or other mythic mounts, for a chance to visit the realm of the gods, for a temporary ability to reverse time by hours or even a day, and other extraordinary and supernatural prizes. These prizes, of course, are far more difficult to win than currency. Currency is relatively cheap in the abundance city of Magisteria.
🏆When you win, any number of techno-magical effects may occur: a dazzling hologram surrounds you and the Augur of Stars, a glowing digital sorceress, emerges from a swirling nebula of light above the gaming table. Celestial symbols twinkle in the air, promising good fortune upon you. Also, a golden rain of holographic coins descends upon winners, equating to the money which immediately deposits into their accounts virtually.
🌀There are, however, chances to lose. Those with E-rank luck may experience 24-hour distortions in which one or more limbs or body parts becomes invisible, or you may be visited by whispering spirits who haunt you for the duration of the day.
Speaking of spirits, the Neon Oracle is certain to be filled with gamblers of fantastic backgrounds, including wraiths and ghosts, as well as various forms of AI. At this time of year especially, there is no telling who or what you may encounter at this place.
Set in a towering skyscraper in the heart of a bustling cyberpunk city, The Neon Oracle dominates the skyline with its glowing neon lights and holographic displays. The casino is known for its blending of ancient magic with futuristic technology. There are gaming tables, slot machines, a VIP lounge with exquisite drinks for the ambitious, and of course, everything is enhanced by technology and magic. Augmentations and enchantments abound.
🃏 There are poker and blackjack tables. Players can play enhanced poker with magical effects, such as cards that randomly change to wild cards or cards which whisper about other teams and try to coordinate with the players. Enchanted cards, as it were.
🎁 Unlike casinos you may be familiar with, flashy wins are common at the Neon Oracle. Hundreds or even thousands in virtual currency can be deposited directly into an Otherworlder's virtual bank account. But truly, money is considered one of the more minor prizes: the natives play to win unicorn companions or other mythic mounts, for a chance to visit the realm of the gods, for a temporary ability to reverse time by hours or even a day, and other extraordinary and supernatural prizes. These prizes, of course, are far more difficult to win than currency. Currency is relatively cheap in the abundance city of Magisteria.
🏆When you win, any number of techno-magical effects may occur: a dazzling hologram surrounds you and the Augur of Stars, a glowing digital sorceress, emerges from a swirling nebula of light above the gaming table. Celestial symbols twinkle in the air, promising good fortune upon you. Also, a golden rain of holographic coins descends upon winners, equating to the money which immediately deposits into their accounts virtually.
🌀There are, however, chances to lose. Those with E-rank luck may experience 24-hour distortions in which one or more limbs or body parts becomes invisible, or you may be visited by whispering spirits who haunt you for the duration of the day.
Speaking of spirits, the Neon Oracle is certain to be filled with gamblers of fantastic backgrounds, including wraiths and ghosts, as well as various forms of AI. At this time of year especially, there is no telling who or what you may encounter at this place.
🍹 Water Gardens [CN: Substances!]
”Water garden” is the codename for Verve hotspots. Verve is a substance specific to Magisteria and its Entertainment district. It’s really the major drug of note, the biggest if not nearly-only game in town, mostly because of how intense its effects are.
Verve creates feelings of euphoria and bliss. The drug also enhances sensory perception, making colors more vibrant, sounds more vivid, and textures more pronounced. Users feel more connected to their surroundings. Other effects include: heightened energy levels and excitement, a creativity boost, heightened empathy and a desire to connect with others, mood regulation and increased feelings of relaxation, the potential for lucid dreams, time dilation – in which moments feel elongated, and sensory merging, in which synesthetic effects occur. While under the influence of Verve, you may see music or taste colors.
There’s also the aphrodisiac effect, which can be quite potent, particularly if one is otherwise savoring the pleasures of their environs.
Most users partake of Verve by having it mingled with their alcoholic beverages. Shots for cocktails come at a small fee. It brightens drinks with luminous colours and enhances the taste with its own, so there’s no question of anyone partaking of it accidentally or without their knowledge.
Some clubs and gathering spots have Verve misting stations outside or small fountains spraying droplets of mist into the air, so patrons can indulge before even entering, priming their mood for intense indulgences and the full sensory brilliance of the neon city.
Verve creates feelings of euphoria and bliss. The drug also enhances sensory perception, making colors more vibrant, sounds more vivid, and textures more pronounced. Users feel more connected to their surroundings. Other effects include: heightened energy levels and excitement, a creativity boost, heightened empathy and a desire to connect with others, mood regulation and increased feelings of relaxation, the potential for lucid dreams, time dilation – in which moments feel elongated, and sensory merging, in which synesthetic effects occur. While under the influence of Verve, you may see music or taste colors.
There’s also the aphrodisiac effect, which can be quite potent, particularly if one is otherwise savoring the pleasures of their environs.
Most users partake of Verve by having it mingled with their alcoholic beverages. Shots for cocktails come at a small fee. It brightens drinks with luminous colours and enhances the taste with its own, so there’s no question of anyone partaking of it accidentally or without their knowledge.
Some clubs and gathering spots have Verve misting stations outside or small fountains spraying droplets of mist into the air, so patrons can indulge before even entering, priming their mood for intense indulgences and the full sensory brilliance of the neon city.
🌠 Bonus TDM Material: Spirit Grove, Central Library, Quests! 🌠
🌠 The Elysian Grove: The Enchanted Central Gardens of Magisteria 🌠
At the heart of the city-state of Magisteria, between the Entertainment District and the Business District of High Rise Village, lie the Central Gardens. Properly called the the Elysian Grove, these gardens, which have recently opened their gates to Otherworlders, are the most enchanted space upon the island city-state. Home to the spirits from ancient pantheons, many of which have since disappeared from the world, the beings within the Gardens are those which exist nowhere else in Medeas.
[ All prompts from the prior TDM can be re-used for this TDM, as the Gardens are an enchanted and timeless world. CLICK HERE for the Elysian Grove! ]
🌠 The Central Library of Magisteria 🌠
Like all else in Magisteria, the Central Library is somewhat Extra: a shimmering edifice of towers that spiral into the horizon. When one walks into the Library, they will be reminded of the great antiquity that undergirds this ultra-modern cyberpunk city. Of course, the ultra-modern is ever present, too: Whole walls and entire rooms are just panels of screens with softly lit, sometimes-scrolling words.
The Library is the root of all information of the written variety. All languages begin here, all syllables. The books sit within their glass cases, or they exist on the screens, or the words can be heard in one's mind. All the speeds, all the cadences, all the page types. Everything within the Library is customizable to whatever an Otherworlder sees as the perfect ambience of a Book, or a Word, mystical or technologically innovative. The future and the past meet eternally here.
The Librarian: All within my realm is attuned to the algorithms which I design. The past and future mean nothing to me. For me, there is always and only the Library. Ahhh, but to think! At last, the proprietor of Evergreen Terrace returns! A being as Absolute as myself...
Well, what can I do for you, Otherworlders? What knowledge do you seek, and what the form thereof?
🌠 Quests for October/November 🌠
The full QUESTBOARD can be accessed HERE, but here are a few examples to get players started:
Nature-centric Quests [Elysian Grove and Agrarian Enclave]
🌠 Echoes of the Past
Zyren the Lightweaver is a famous artist who lives in Mysticaire District. Their race/species, age, and gender – or whether they have one – are all unknown. They are rumored to have been a companion to such entities as the Librarian and the Architect. Recently, Zyren has been struggling with inspiration. They believe they left a precious memory in the Gardens. Your help is requested to find the Luminari that holds Zyren’s ancient memorial moment of inspiration.
The artist gives you a painting to exchange for the stone that holds the memory: it’s a scenic depiction of High Rise Village, Magisteria’s modern Business District, where Otherworlders now live and where most of the game’s plot has transpired. The painting can appear or disappear with a thought [Zyren’s magic], so Otherworlders will not need to carry it physically.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens and find the Luminari who holds Zyren’s memory. The memory is solidified as a stone in the Luminari’s possession. Exchange the painting of High Rise Village for the memory stone and return the latter to Zyren. Tips: Remember, the Lumens are especially adept at finding lost objects/people, and they can help Otherworlders navigate the illusions of the Elysian Grove, whose ancient magic may prove a bit challenging for Otherworlders. [See the third TDM for an overview of the Grove.]
Result: Zyren’s memory stone contains a vision of the five moons of Medeas in the Before Times when Medeas was as Gloambristle spoke of it: a world of ancient spirits and never-ending twilight. Otherworlders who recover the memory will catch a glimpse of Magisteria/Medeas in the days of old, before the destruction of two of the world’s moons. They may also witness a dark shadow that passes over the moons. They will not see the Entity or Entities responsible for the shadow, but the sight can induce involuntarily chills in the nervous system: It is the first glimpse Otherworlders have had of what the spirits allude to: the “Enemies” who brought war to Magisteria long, long ago.
Reward: Magic-affiliated PCs will receive an additional spell in a magic domain of their choosing (mod will offer options). Tech PCs will receive a special tool or weapon. All PCs will receive three months' worth of virtual currency for living expenses and whatever immediate needs/purchases they might want.
The artist gives you a painting to exchange for the stone that holds the memory: it’s a scenic depiction of High Rise Village, Magisteria’s modern Business District, where Otherworlders now live and where most of the game’s plot has transpired. The painting can appear or disappear with a thought [Zyren’s magic], so Otherworlders will not need to carry it physically.
Objective: Travel to the Central Gardens and find the Luminari who holds Zyren’s memory. The memory is solidified as a stone in the Luminari’s possession. Exchange the painting of High Rise Village for the memory stone and return the latter to Zyren. Tips: Remember, the Lumens are especially adept at finding lost objects/people, and they can help Otherworlders navigate the illusions of the Elysian Grove, whose ancient magic may prove a bit challenging for Otherworlders. [See the third TDM for an overview of the Grove.]
Result: Zyren’s memory stone contains a vision of the five moons of Medeas in the Before Times when Medeas was as Gloambristle spoke of it: a world of ancient spirits and never-ending twilight. Otherworlders who recover the memory will catch a glimpse of Magisteria/Medeas in the days of old, before the destruction of two of the world’s moons. They may also witness a dark shadow that passes over the moons. They will not see the Entity or Entities responsible for the shadow, but the sight can induce involuntarily chills in the nervous system: It is the first glimpse Otherworlders have had of what the spirits allude to: the “Enemies” who brought war to Magisteria long, long ago.
Reward: Magic-affiliated PCs will receive an additional spell in a magic domain of their choosing (mod will offer options). Tech PCs will receive a special tool or weapon. All PCs will receive three months' worth of virtual currency for living expenses and whatever immediate needs/purchases they might want.
🍃 The Restoration of the Agrarian Enclave: Multiple Quests
“Otherworlders, what a time you’ve arrived at. Our agriculture district, the Agrarian Enclave, a peaceful and prosperous land of eternal growth, has been experiencing such confusing occurrences.”
Lady Viridia, the Greenveil Warden, presides over the Sunwoven Meadows, a special enchanted region of eternal summer within the Agrarian Enclave. Recently, parts of these forever-green lands have begun to appear blighted and withered. These are not natural barren autumnal/wintry conditions, as the Sunwoven Meadows are a land of perpetual summer. Lady Viridia believes the mining of Bios to refine it (industrial Bios) has weakened the region’s natural defenses, allowing dark influences to seep in and angering certain of the region’s natural powers and wardens.
Lady Viridia believes the seeds scattered by the Bloombeasts and the pollen from the Pygmy Flouribounder can restore these areas. However, the animals have become skittish with the rise of dark influences.
The restoration spans multiple quests.
Lady Viridia, the Greenveil Warden, presides over the Sunwoven Meadows, a special enchanted region of eternal summer within the Agrarian Enclave. Recently, parts of these forever-green lands have begun to appear blighted and withered. These are not natural barren autumnal/wintry conditions, as the Sunwoven Meadows are a land of perpetual summer. Lady Viridia believes the mining of Bios to refine it (industrial Bios) has weakened the region’s natural defenses, allowing dark influences to seep in and angering certain of the region’s natural powers and wardens.
Lady Viridia believes the seeds scattered by the Bloombeasts and the pollen from the Pygmy Flouribounder can restore these areas. However, the animals have become skittish with the rise of dark influences.
The restoration spans multiple quests.
🍃 Quest #1: Beneath the Shepherd's Gaze: The Heartwood Tree Challenge
The majestic Bloombeasts of Magisteria’s Agrarian Enclave are guarded by a being known as the Eye of the Meadow. Lady Viridia gives each Otherworlder a green token for an audience with the Eye, but it will also want them to pass a trial to prove they can be trusted.
The trial involves balancing an ancient sentient tree known as the Heartwood Tree. The Heartwood Tree has three resonance nodes: the Root Node, the Flora Node, and the Fauna Node. Otherworlders can perform Synthesis to generate Bios, boosting each node.
However, there are positives and negatives for each node.
Boosting the Root Node with Bios can cause the roots to become strong, forming protective barriers, but too much Bios will lead to tangled roots which strangle plant growth in the Flora Node.
Boosting the Flora Node will cause vibrant plant growth, but too much Bios may result in an abundance of flora which draws pests and predators.
Boosting the Fauna Node will draw animal life to the region, but too much Bios may result in over-grazing and a strain on the resources of the Flora and Root nodes.
Otherworlders may encounter giant spiders, Moss Titans, Gnarled Revenants [as well as other creatures: PCs are free to invent their own!] depending on the nodes they boost. To conquer this challenge, Otherworlders must act cooperatively and use their Synthesizing abilities to balance the Bios in the Heartwood Tree’s nodes.
Otherworlders who cooperate to balance the Heartwood Tree will receive a token called the petal of resilience from a being known as the Barkshade. This will be the key to the next quest.
The trial involves balancing an ancient sentient tree known as the Heartwood Tree. The Heartwood Tree has three resonance nodes: the Root Node, the Flora Node, and the Fauna Node. Otherworlders can perform Synthesis to generate Bios, boosting each node.
However, there are positives and negatives for each node.
Boosting the Root Node with Bios can cause the roots to become strong, forming protective barriers, but too much Bios will lead to tangled roots which strangle plant growth in the Flora Node.
Boosting the Flora Node will cause vibrant plant growth, but too much Bios may result in an abundance of flora which draws pests and predators.
Boosting the Fauna Node will draw animal life to the region, but too much Bios may result in over-grazing and a strain on the resources of the Flora and Root nodes.
Otherworlders may encounter giant spiders, Moss Titans, Gnarled Revenants [as well as other creatures: PCs are free to invent their own!] depending on the nodes they boost. To conquer this challenge, Otherworlders must act cooperatively and use their Synthesizing abilities to balance the Bios in the Heartwood Tree’s nodes.
Otherworlders who cooperate to balance the Heartwood Tree will receive a token called the petal of resilience from a being known as the Barkshade. This will be the key to the next quest.
🍃 Quest #2: The Seeds of Renewal: The Land of Eternal Summer
Only once Otherworlders have appeased the Eye and retrieved the Bloombeasts can they be eligible for this quest, so the Enclave restoration is de facto a two-part quest.
Once Otherworlders have retrieved Bloombeasts, as well as the Pygmy Flouribounders, they must travel to the area of corruption in the Sunwoven Meadows. There, they will encounter a force known as the Witherblight. The Witherblight is a sinister, corrupting force that thrives in areas where natural magic has faltered. It manifests as a creeping shadow of decay, draining vitality from the soil and plants, and turning once-vibrant gardens into lifeless husks. This dark presence is characterized by thorny vines and shadowy tendrils that emit a faint, toxic glow. Areas affected by the Witherblight often attract lesser shadowy entities known as Blightlings, which feed on the lingering remnants of natural magic.
The Witherblight appeared shortly after industrial Bios mining became more prevalent in the Agrarian Enclave. As the balance between technology and nature shifted, it created a void in the magical ecosystem that the Witherblight took advantage of. Now, as autumn sets in -- a time when the natural world is already more vulnerable -- the Witherblight’s influence has grown stronger, threatening to overtake entire sections of the Agrarian Enclave.
Objective: Otherworlders must guide the Bloombeasts and the Pygmy Flouribounders (the latter, being small, can also be carried) to the areas of corruption, using their pollen-producing and seeding abilities and their gentle magic to restore the corrupted lands. Along the way, they may encounter and defeat the forces of the Witherblight, the Blightlings [1, 2, 3]. The final encounter will be against a creature known as the Witherthorn, a sentient manifestation of the Witherblight, a twisted amalgamation of corrupted vines, shadowy thorns, and toxic blossoms. Its presence warps the surrounding flora, spreading decay and attracting hostile Blightlings. The Witherthorn will only be vulnerable after the local flora has been restored, and players will need to fend off waves of Blightlings while they complete the purification.
To defeat the Witherthorn, Otherworlders must imbue the petal of resilience from the previous quest with a share of their Bios via their Synthesis abilities, cooperating to empower the petal. Magic from the Flouribounders and the Bloombeasts will also go towards empowering the petal. Once the petal has become sufficiently empowered with the Bios and the magic of the fauna, it will glow brilliantly, burning off the corruption of the Witherthorn.
Result: Successfully purging the corruption/curse of the Witherblight will cause the vines and tangles of the Witherthorn to fall away, revealing that the creature is actually a twisted manifestation of a once beneficent nature spirit: the Thornmother. The Thornmother will thank Otherworlders and promise to give them aid in the battles which are to come, for this is not the last of the difficulties the Agrarian Enclave will face.
Reward: The allies who successfully complete this quest will receive a powerful summons from the Thornmother: something that can greatly aid them in the battles to come. Mod will reveal details to those who successfully complete the quest. ;D
Once Otherworlders have retrieved Bloombeasts, as well as the Pygmy Flouribounders, they must travel to the area of corruption in the Sunwoven Meadows. There, they will encounter a force known as the Witherblight. The Witherblight is a sinister, corrupting force that thrives in areas where natural magic has faltered. It manifests as a creeping shadow of decay, draining vitality from the soil and plants, and turning once-vibrant gardens into lifeless husks. This dark presence is characterized by thorny vines and shadowy tendrils that emit a faint, toxic glow. Areas affected by the Witherblight often attract lesser shadowy entities known as Blightlings, which feed on the lingering remnants of natural magic.
The Witherblight appeared shortly after industrial Bios mining became more prevalent in the Agrarian Enclave. As the balance between technology and nature shifted, it created a void in the magical ecosystem that the Witherblight took advantage of. Now, as autumn sets in -- a time when the natural world is already more vulnerable -- the Witherblight’s influence has grown stronger, threatening to overtake entire sections of the Agrarian Enclave.
Objective: Otherworlders must guide the Bloombeasts and the Pygmy Flouribounders (the latter, being small, can also be carried) to the areas of corruption, using their pollen-producing and seeding abilities and their gentle magic to restore the corrupted lands. Along the way, they may encounter and defeat the forces of the Witherblight, the Blightlings [1, 2, 3]. The final encounter will be against a creature known as the Witherthorn, a sentient manifestation of the Witherblight, a twisted amalgamation of corrupted vines, shadowy thorns, and toxic blossoms. Its presence warps the surrounding flora, spreading decay and attracting hostile Blightlings. The Witherthorn will only be vulnerable after the local flora has been restored, and players will need to fend off waves of Blightlings while they complete the purification.
To defeat the Witherthorn, Otherworlders must imbue the petal of resilience from the previous quest with a share of their Bios via their Synthesis abilities, cooperating to empower the petal. Magic from the Flouribounders and the Bloombeasts will also go towards empowering the petal. Once the petal has become sufficiently empowered with the Bios and the magic of the fauna, it will glow brilliantly, burning off the corruption of the Witherthorn.
Result: Successfully purging the corruption/curse of the Witherblight will cause the vines and tangles of the Witherthorn to fall away, revealing that the creature is actually a twisted manifestation of a once beneficent nature spirit: the Thornmother. The Thornmother will thank Otherworlders and promise to give them aid in the battles which are to come, for this is not the last of the difficulties the Agrarian Enclave will face.
Reward: The allies who successfully complete this quest will receive a powerful summons from the Thornmother: something that can greatly aid them in the battles to come. Mod will reveal details to those who successfully complete the quest. ;D
Tech-centric Quests [High Rise Village and VPlane (virtual overlay)]
🤖 Augment Ascension
The biotech labs of the Aetherium District have created a new type of physical augment called Symphogenics, which directly harmonizes with a user’s inherent abilities, enhancing their physical performance in specific ways. To determine the most effective configurations, Otherworlders are invited to a unique testing ground: The Starlight Apex, an enigmatic skyscraper outfitted with advanced obstacle courses.
Objective: Choose from different augment types (e.g., enhanced reflexes, short-range flight, or kinetic energy absorption) and ascend the Apex by overcoming various trials that challenge speed, strength, or problem-solving. The Symphogenic augments adapt dynamically based on the user’s performance, growing stronger the more the user pushes them. Some challenges might include jumping across moving platforms, balancing on thin, invisible pathways, or racing against augmented androids. Players must also be wary of “overloading” their augments, which can cause them to malfunction temporarily, increasing difficulty.
Reward: Permanent access to a single-use Symphogenic augment for future quests or a unique, limited-duration ability like “Accelerated Reflexes.”
Objective: Choose from different augment types (e.g., enhanced reflexes, short-range flight, or kinetic energy absorption) and ascend the Apex by overcoming various trials that challenge speed, strength, or problem-solving. The Symphogenic augments adapt dynamically based on the user’s performance, growing stronger the more the user pushes them. Some challenges might include jumping across moving platforms, balancing on thin, invisible pathways, or racing against augmented androids. Players must also be wary of “overloading” their augments, which can cause them to malfunction temporarily, increasing difficulty.
Reward: Permanent access to a single-use Symphogenic augment for future quests or a unique, limited-duration ability like “Accelerated Reflexes.”
🤖 Initiate: Vplane
The time has come at last for Otherworlders of the tech persuasion to encounter Vplane, the virtual overlay of Magisteria. What is Vplane? It is an entire virtual world, and Otherworlders can enter it by placing their physical bodies in virtual reality pods found throughout Magisteria and by switching to the appropriate settings on their aXess Link devices, sychronizing their neurons with the appropriate alogrithms and bases of code.
In the Vplane, reality is sometimes what you make of it, and the more talented you are at manipulating technology (especially those who are learning, for example, mental hacking), the more a visitor can very literally shape the environs around them. Otherworlders who enter the Vplane will find an entire society of people who come for work, play, leisure, and to simply soak in the pleasures of the virtual sphere, including many AI and other inorganic beings, for whom this world is often more comfortable and not such a sensory overload as the world of the flesh, i.e. the human world. AI have outsized rights, responsibilities, and roles in the Vplane, as this is their backyard.
For this quest, Otherworlders encounter a figure known as the Gridmaster. The Gridmaster, having learned of Phantom Cipher's plans, offers Otherworlders an opportunity to create digital Echoes of themselves. These Echoes are digital ghost-signatures, essentially clones of Otherworlders which can be summoned by Otherworlders to maintain a piece of themselves in the face of Cipher's Manifestation.
The Gridmaster presents a task in which the Otherworlders must sync their Bios energy to a series of fluctuating nodes that represent the dissonance of their own physical and digital selves. The test involves interacting with these nodes to find a point of resonance, stabilizing the flow of data between them. The Otherworlders must navigate through a shifting maze-like structure made of mirrored data streams. Here, they encounter areas where the environment actively erases their presence or scrambles their data, forcing them to adapt quickly. This is meant to represent how easily the Vplane can erase intruders who don’t try to understand or respect the virtual world.
Objective: Otherworlders must demonstrate their attunement to and mastery of the virtual sphere. In so doing, they may confront aspects of themselves, embodied in the shifting structures and in the Echoes they create. The goal is to create an Echo which can be used to aid an Otherworlder in the Symphony of Disruption, perhaps via a summoning (a way for magic/tech users to cooperate) for the Echo to act as an ally force, even if the original Otherworlder has been corrupted by Cipher's machinations. To create an Echo, Otherworlders must master the challenges and successfully build a digital footprint with their Bios.
Reward: Otherworlders can successfully create Echoes of themselves to retrieve/summon (or be summoned) during upcoming event.
In the Vplane, reality is sometimes what you make of it, and the more talented you are at manipulating technology (especially those who are learning, for example, mental hacking), the more a visitor can very literally shape the environs around them. Otherworlders who enter the Vplane will find an entire society of people who come for work, play, leisure, and to simply soak in the pleasures of the virtual sphere, including many AI and other inorganic beings, for whom this world is often more comfortable and not such a sensory overload as the world of the flesh, i.e. the human world. AI have outsized rights, responsibilities, and roles in the Vplane, as this is their backyard.
For this quest, Otherworlders encounter a figure known as the Gridmaster. The Gridmaster, having learned of Phantom Cipher's plans, offers Otherworlders an opportunity to create digital Echoes of themselves. These Echoes are digital ghost-signatures, essentially clones of Otherworlders which can be summoned by Otherworlders to maintain a piece of themselves in the face of Cipher's Manifestation.
The Gridmaster presents a task in which the Otherworlders must sync their Bios energy to a series of fluctuating nodes that represent the dissonance of their own physical and digital selves. The test involves interacting with these nodes to find a point of resonance, stabilizing the flow of data between them. The Otherworlders must navigate through a shifting maze-like structure made of mirrored data streams. Here, they encounter areas where the environment actively erases their presence or scrambles their data, forcing them to adapt quickly. This is meant to represent how easily the Vplane can erase intruders who don’t try to understand or respect the virtual world.
Objective: Otherworlders must demonstrate their attunement to and mastery of the virtual sphere. In so doing, they may confront aspects of themselves, embodied in the shifting structures and in the Echoes they create. The goal is to create an Echo which can be used to aid an Otherworlder in the Symphony of Disruption, perhaps via a summoning (a way for magic/tech users to cooperate) for the Echo to act as an ally force, even if the original Otherworlder has been corrupted by Cipher's machinations. To create an Echo, Otherworlders must master the challenges and successfully build a digital footprint with their Bios.
Reward: Otherworlders can successfully create Echoes of themselves to retrieve/summon (or be summoned) during upcoming event.
🤖 Cyber Samurai: Way of the Blade
Otherworlders may have already seen some of these mysterious sword-wielding figures throughout Magisteria, their blades infused with Bios. These are cyber-samurai, and unlike their standard counterparts, their blades are honed specifically to enact digital functions on their opponents. That is to say, a cyber samurai can use a sword blow (or series thereof) to disrupt and manipulate/alter the code of cyber/cyborg/AI antagonists, effectively neutralizing them. These guardians of Magisteria's tech sectors are especially effective against beings such as the Fractured or hostile inorganic entities such as Phantom Cipher.
With the rising threats to High Rise Village, some of these elite and secretive cyber samurai groups are opening their doors to train Otherworlders.
Objective: Visit the Shattered Circuit Temple in Magisteria's Business District and begin training with the cyber samurai. Training will consist of sword techniques interspersed with actual "hacking" techniques -- techniques for manipulating industrial/refined Bios to carefully disrupt the defenses of cyber-foes. Initially, the training will be on the simpler side, as these are very advanced techniques and carefully guarded secrets of Magisteria's protectors: trust must be developed, even for the Otherworlders. However, Otherworlders who pursue The Way of the Blade in this quest will have future opportunities related to obstacles/challenges with the tech path and antagonist forces.
Reward: The skills upgrade will be its own reward! However, Otherworlders will also receive a training stipend of a month of living/general expenses covered and also be eligible for more cyber-security and even potential cyber samurai jobs in the city.
With the rising threats to High Rise Village, some of these elite and secretive cyber samurai groups are opening their doors to train Otherworlders.
Objective: Visit the Shattered Circuit Temple in Magisteria's Business District and begin training with the cyber samurai. Training will consist of sword techniques interspersed with actual "hacking" techniques -- techniques for manipulating industrial/refined Bios to carefully disrupt the defenses of cyber-foes. Initially, the training will be on the simpler side, as these are very advanced techniques and carefully guarded secrets of Magisteria's protectors: trust must be developed, even for the Otherworlders. However, Otherworlders who pursue The Way of the Blade in this quest will have future opportunities related to obstacles/challenges with the tech path and antagonist forces.
Reward: The skills upgrade will be its own reward! However, Otherworlders will also receive a training stipend of a month of living/general expenses covered and also be eligible for more cyber-security and even potential cyber samurai jobs in the city.
🤖 Broken Doll, Broken Code
Years ago, the AI scientists of Magisteria created a tech doll named Whisper to store the digital memories of cyborgs and other inorganic beings who were destroyed or who malfunctioned for any reason. The tech doll could replicate behaviors and sounds of these entities, giving comfort to families. However, there was controversy around the tech doll's existence, with some seeing its ability/use as perverse. This controversy occurred particularly among the techno-citizens of Magisteria, though some organic beings were not without their opinions on the matter. During the controversy, the doll disappeared, the theory being that she may have been abducted either by someone who wished to use her abilities, or by hostile oppositional forces who wished to see her destroyed.
Now, amid the recent controversies and conflicts, Whisper has suddenly re-appeared. Not only that, but she's no longer "merely" a doll: Whisper reveals that she has been living in the city's Supernatural Undercity, and that she has merged with a spirit who is now inhabiting her body and who has worked to merge with her code, the two of them becoming a new kind of sentience. Whisper claims that she holds the secrets of the Fractured (whose appearance she resembles) and their disillusion. True to her name, she whispers that she alone knows possible secrets to Umbra and to reversing or at least mitigating the corruption of the code, and she is willing to talk to Otherworlders... "if you will play a little game with me".
Objective: Whisper invites the Otherworlders into a hidden chamber just above the entrance to Undercity, the mysterious eleventh district of Magisteria home to supernatural beings. Each chamber is modeled after key locations tied to the downfall of those who became the Fractured and is filled with interactive holograms and audio logs.
Whisper reveals that, for her “game,” she wishes to play out scenarios from different moments in her own past -- the moments when she was taken from the laboratory, the interactions with hostile forces, and finally, her merger with the spirit. Players are drawn into “holographic reenactments” that Whisper constructs using her memories and the spiritual essence now animating her. These reenactments are dangerous; they are more than just visual illusions. Any damage sustained or interaction made can have real-world consequences.
Each scenario contains hidden elements and moral dilemmas, such as choosing between Whisper’s potential freedom or someone else’s safety. Players are forced to play various roles, such as Whisper’s abductors, her original creators, or even the hostile forces trying to dismantle her, seeing the events unfold from each point of view.
Players who successfully navigate these challenges, keeping their sanity, will be eligible to finally receive the actual secrets to entering the Undercity of Magisteria (which at this time cannot be visited by Otherworlders -- yet), as well as deep lore about the Fractured, who they were, and their secrets.
Tips: Remember the Luminous Bloom blessing from the third TDM? As well as the other blessings of the spirits? Might come in handy for this challenge...
Now, amid the recent controversies and conflicts, Whisper has suddenly re-appeared. Not only that, but she's no longer "merely" a doll: Whisper reveals that she has been living in the city's Supernatural Undercity, and that she has merged with a spirit who is now inhabiting her body and who has worked to merge with her code, the two of them becoming a new kind of sentience. Whisper claims that she holds the secrets of the Fractured (whose appearance she resembles) and their disillusion. True to her name, she whispers that she alone knows possible secrets to Umbra and to reversing or at least mitigating the corruption of the code, and she is willing to talk to Otherworlders... "if you will play a little game with me".
Objective: Whisper invites the Otherworlders into a hidden chamber just above the entrance to Undercity, the mysterious eleventh district of Magisteria home to supernatural beings. Each chamber is modeled after key locations tied to the downfall of those who became the Fractured and is filled with interactive holograms and audio logs.
Whisper reveals that, for her “game,” she wishes to play out scenarios from different moments in her own past -- the moments when she was taken from the laboratory, the interactions with hostile forces, and finally, her merger with the spirit. Players are drawn into “holographic reenactments” that Whisper constructs using her memories and the spiritual essence now animating her. These reenactments are dangerous; they are more than just visual illusions. Any damage sustained or interaction made can have real-world consequences.
Each scenario contains hidden elements and moral dilemmas, such as choosing between Whisper’s potential freedom or someone else’s safety. Players are forced to play various roles, such as Whisper’s abductors, her original creators, or even the hostile forces trying to dismantle her, seeing the events unfold from each point of view.
Players who successfully navigate these challenges, keeping their sanity, will be eligible to finally receive the actual secrets to entering the Undercity of Magisteria (which at this time cannot be visited by Otherworlders -- yet), as well as deep lore about the Fractured, who they were, and their secrets.
Tips: Remember the Luminous Bloom blessing from the third TDM? As well as the other blessings of the spirits? Might come in handy for this challenge...
Bakugou Katsuki | My Hero Academia | New Player (CRAU from Labyrinthum)
💣 ii. | Clair BnB 💣
💣 iii. | Light My Fuse (Skyracing) 💣
💣 iv. | Wildcard 💣
i. Arrival
[It's a familiar voice, and it's teasing him, but he can no doubt hear the underlining fear in it.
How could he not? And certainly, how couldn't she be scared?
They were just IN Visium, she had thought the adventure was over and was surprised she remembered everything but was so GLAD too. She had thought this some trick, some final ploy but no... no, she pinched herself enough times and tried as hard as she could. But then, she was able to grow a small flower in her hand and... well, she certainly couldn't do that before Visium. Where was she now?
As gentle as everyone was being with her, reassuring her everything was fine and that they would get her situated with a parental unit in no time, she mildly panicked. Parental unit? She has parents. Two sets of them, in fact! That isn't very common! Where were they? She waited for them to find her because they ALWAYS found her. Loki and Gamora would come, or Jasmine or Aladdin, or especially Katsuki. Someone always came.
But then... they didn't.
And she was trying as hard as she could not to be upset, especially after everything with being in the prison and then the crystal and everything back together. She didn't really listen to what was being said as she tried to be brave and not cry.
Don't cry. Don't cry. What sort of impression would you make to all these new people if you cried? No one was being mean, they wouldn't understand.
But then she saw him. And he sounded the same and looked the same and she didn't care if he didn't remember her because he was Katsuki with or without memories of her. She prayed he had them but she'd take him without them.
So long as it was him. But don't cry.
Katsuki hated crybabies and if this Katsuki didn't know her yet, she couldn't... she couldn't plead with him to remember her, because it was like those different timelines all over again.]
The best superhero in the world has to be approachable, yes? [Please remember me, please please please...]
JAX HOW DARE.... 1/2
Haah? [He strides toward her, one pace, then another, and by the time Katsuki realizes, he's all but sprinted to grab that little girl securely into his arms like he never held her a day in his life. There's a part of him that knows, because she knows, that this Alice is his. She knows to tease him, she knows he's a Hero, she knows he's not the most approachable person out there.] What would a pipsqueak like you know about that, aa?
[The hug he gives her is warm, and loving, and the way his lips curve into a crooked little smirk as he kisses her cheek is naturally him, too.]
2/2
YOU LITTLE BRAT!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW SCARED HE GOT FOR A SECOND THERE?! HOW DARE YOU MAKE HIM FEEL VULNERABLE AND WEAK FOR MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES!!]
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And then, he picks her up, and he hugs her. It's all she needs to know. Alice squeezes onto him as tight as her arms are able. It's him! It's him it's him it's him! She exhaled, but a sob and a laugh, tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Her arms were shaking as she hugged him as tight as she could. Alice hid her face in his shoulder and the laughter became sobs because she was just so relieved.
This whole world was so grand and big and she had felt so alone. Even though everyone had been nice, they were still strangers. Katsuki wasn't a stranger. Katsuki was familiar and warm, he was constantly warm, probably from his quirk but it just meant it was comforting to hug him.
They could do this, they could face whatever... whatever this place was. Whatever was thrown at them because they were going to do this together.
The kiss on her cheek was warm, too, and she laughed as he bit her, because that was so very like him as well. What a sight they must be on this train.]
I know plenty... My big brother is going to be the best superhero in the world.
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CW: Victorian Era general child abuse
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Arrival
Even though she knows this is the wrong place, she wasn't panicking, not yet, because the feeling of being where she should be will take over.
Odd...she doesn't want to float away....? Even though she was surrounded by other humans, no not just humans, but all kinds of different species. Some from the Old-World Myths and Legends that her mama would read to her every night....
Were the rest other aliens? They reminded her of the technology from her world except even more advanced. It was incredible!
Seraphine will introduce herself to the group. Everyone was boarding the train as expected, well, maybe except for one which will catch Nuvia's attention. There was a boy with blond spikey hair reacting angrily? Was that saying supposed to be an insult or something he needed to be literally done for him to enter the train?
Oddly enough, watching him enter the train will bring some calm, normalcy for her. Almost as if everything will be okay if she simply follows instructions. Nothing happened to that boy, then...maybe she'll be okay too? If it was back in her world, she knew the enforcers would have a field day with him...and her too. Mainly her. And right now, no one seems to be stopping her.
Once she had a better idea of this new world known as Magisteria due to Seraphine helping her download the hologram message to her new device, known as the aXess Link, before boarding the train, Nuvia will feel more at ease at the idea of being in a new vehicle filled with unknown strangers once she realized everyone was ignoring her instead of gawking at her as per usual.
The only seat available belonged to the angry boy from before who looks even more upset than before? Nuvia will hold her aXess Link tightly which was in the shape of a see-through device. Making a motion for it to return to her fingertips and disappear, she will slowly make her way to the angry boy. Her sky-blue eyes will be on him for a moment as she cautiously takes a seat next to him, mainly to make sure he won't say something to her. Well, he luckily doesn't, meaning it was safe for her to take a seat next to him which she will do.
Once the vehicle begins to move, Nuvia will get her see-through device to reappear as she watches the holographic message from....a minister? Huh. She's heard that word once before. It has something to do with prayer and confessions, right?
Whatever the case, Nuvia will try to pay attention to the message as she turns away from the boy, not realizing her long cloud hair was now very close to his shoulder which should give off a cold feeling.]
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That is...until she sits next to him on the train. Katsuki was keeping his eyes out the window, hands stuffed into the pockets of his blazer, and though he did glance in the girl's direction, locking eyes for a moment with a clear frown, he didn't say anything to deter her from sitting down. He doesn't want her to, and she can stand for all he cares - the boy is Japanese, he's used to standing for long train rides, squashed tight into tiny cars during the peak of rush hour - but in the end...he can't exactly tell her not to. He's perfectly capable of ignoring her, and she seems keen on doing the exact same thing. Awesome!! Everything should go swimmingly, then!
... :) It does not go swimmingly.
A low growl starts to vibrate in the blond's throat as he feels goosebumps prickle all up one side of him, shivers starting to make his skin quake and twitch...and his eyes dart to this shitty broad seated next to him, and her cloud-like hair is a little too close for comfort. He swats it away wordlessly, hoping that will get the message across well enough.]
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Someone touching her without fear.
Nuvia will quickly turn towards the frowny boy with utter shock as though he just did something extraordinary to her (which he has because only her mother has ever touched her before).
What should she say? Do? Uhhhhh....she was close to tears though; he was being gentle with her (no he was not but she is ignoring that detail because the action didn't hurt her).]
...I'm sorry...? [What did he want with her? What was the swatting for? Did he find her hair fun to play with? Well, all she can remember about him was.] Um...I don't want to kiss your ass.
[A pause as she looks down ashamed.]
...even though you are being very kind to me right now...
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i.
She lets out a heavy sigh, before tapping her fingers against the arm of her seat, barely even cognizant of Bakugou—which, considering how conspicuous he is, must say something about how preoccupied and angry she is. Finally, the metaphorical tea boils over, and she lets it explode, crying out: ]
I can't fucking believe this!
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Fuck it, he needs a target, and she's literally RIGHT THERE.]
Oi, stuff it for when you're not in public, E-Girl. No one wants to be stuck on this shitty train with a screaming child.
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The fuck did you call me?! You looking for a problem, you spiky-haired jerk?!
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skyracing
The course around The Fountain isn't just straightforward and up in the air, there's obstacles, too, things to cut around, things to zoom under or over. Lucy's on an aerocycle, sleek and black and pointy, the wheels and lines down the sides lit up with her own white-purple glow of Bios. She doesn't really race to win so much as she races for the vibes, for the wind in her hair and the triumphant shouts of the racers around her. For the distraction.
Someone blows past her with a shout and glowing palms, and Lucy's eyes narrow under her helmet, putting on a burst of extra speed. There's an obstacle coming up, a floating block that's meant to be gone under. When people do, they lose a tiny bit of speed with the maneuver. Lucy's heartbeat kicks up a notch, and her plan is stupid because she's still new to the cyberware she's going to use, but-- hey, there's no better practice than practical, right?
She doesn't go under the obstacle. She dips her aerocycle just low enough that it'll barely scrape under the floating block without losing any speed. If she stayed on her bike, she'd be decapitated. But as she gets close, Lucy throws her hands behind her, palms down -- subtle lines slot open, the glow of her Bios a contrast with the orange heat of the short-range flight cyberware, and she launches off the bike. Sails over the obstacle. And lands back on her bike after it's cleared the underneath of the obstacle. Someone nearby hoots in wild amusement at her stunt, and Lucy smiles fiercely underneath her helmet.
(She hopes nobody notices the wobble she gave after landing on her bike again. She'd nearly missed the fucking thing. She's still working on aiming.)
She calls back to the person that had blown past her before: ]
Chill, noob. Just try to keep up.
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However, she's on a bike - which is large and though made to be aerodynamic and streamlined...it's still bulky and doesn't earn her points for those low hanging obstructions, or any sharp turns. Without dismounting from his board, he pulls the top half of it it up with one hand then flexes his fingers with the other behind him and--
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM!
It's like a domino effect of each drop of sweat that flew off him from before - a cluster of explosions forming a line behind the blond, almost akin to fireworks - and each explosion's powerful blast adds its own propulsion and force to not only make Katsuki soar over the block like it was a ramp, but to give him enough air to pull off a couple wild flips and stunts before he "lands" a good ten or so feet in front of this cheeky broad... and puts a fist to his ass, flipping her the bird right over his backside.]
In case you didn't know where to shove it.
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A few more obstacles go by; things to swerve around, and over, ramps to jet up. Lucy likes the open spaces the best, the stretches of the track where she can just soar through the open air and watch the neon city blur beneath her, wind racing over her exposed skin, nothing but wind and engines in her ears. Flying like this; it makes her feel free in a way she's never felt before.
She'll have to bring Musashi up here one day. If Musashi hasn't already taken part in these races, she'd love it.
Lucy spares half a second to contemplate the idea of messing with explosion-guy's board, but that's generally frowned upon in these races. What isn't against the rules is messing with her own bike, and it's easy to engage her neuro-gear to quickhack into it, removing the speed limiters it has in place. For the last minute or so, she's been trailing explosion-guy by a good dozen feet-- until her bike's glowing lines flare with a howl of the engine, shooting her forward to put her side by side with her opponent. ]
That hoverboard's not cool enough for you to be so cocky, choom.
[ Lucy's grinning under her helmet. Damn, maybe she should do this more often. ]
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Clair-BnB
Musashi likes to grab a coffee from this place since she settled into her life here in Magisteria. She's just off a shift at work, and traded her usual powder blue kimono with spiderlily design for a rather smart-looking suit. The Blooming Rose is a high end establishment, and security has to look the part. She's undone her tie, unpopped the first two buttons of her shirt,. and got the jacket folded under one arm. With the twin katana sheathed at her side it's quite a look.
"Lemme guess. New arrival?" She plops down in the seat across from Bakugou. "Aaaah, you're drinkin' Clari-Tea I see. Good choice! Settles the mind. Not a bad choice for being dropped into a new world. I'm Musashi. I was in the first group. So, how you settling in?"
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...This chick is noisy. Energetic in a way that reminds him of Hagakure, or Ashido, and usually the boy would be annoyed by that level of...movement in his immediate space, but he can't bring himself to get beyond even a light sigh. Someone more established in this place would be good to talk to, as well - he needs an experienced person's insight into what this place is like.
"Aa, just came in...couple of hours ago," he leans back in his seat, resisting the urge to put his feet up on the table. Bad habit, but even Katsuki knows where and when not to give in to his more delinquent-like tendencies. "Been through this sort of shit before, once, so it's not like this is new...and a more modern place is what I'm used to back home. Nice not having to take a crap in an outhouse in December when I needed to."
Which was...the worst. :') He will never forget that. Before even his quirk, Katsuki requested plumbing and electricity in his home when he was in Visium. #priorities
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What Bakugou says is description enough. "Ah, lower-tech than this one, huh? Well, Magisteria can be overwhelming even if you've been around the block before. But as worlds go, you could do a lot worse." She half turns in her chair to catch the barista's eye, raises her arm and signals. The barista nods, Musashi's drink apparently known to her, and gets to work. She turns back to Bakugou.
"So, whaddya wanna know? Could recommend some preem places to visit!" Though maybe not some of the clubs she's visited with Lucy...and definitely not the Red Rose.
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He's still walking around in his hospital gown even after leaving the train, when he gets to his apartment he feels... almost alienated by what things look like. Is he really supposed to just... live there? He still has to watch all the guides, he may have zoned out while getting some explanations and he's a bit... lost? No, okay, he's completely lost.
Perhaps he'll find some quest later, find relevant npcs, he's just not sure why he can't see his own stat screen when in his dreams he always had access to it. He only stops in front of the bathroom mirror while exploring the place, bringing one hand to his still bandaged eye and letting out a small, small hum. It doesn't hurt, not for now, but is it because he still has in his system enough painkillers? Or maybe it's because with it being a dream pain doesn't translate well over.]
...!
[He jumps when he hears the slam and that single word being yelled out. First, rude. Second... maybe that's... the hint he should look for a quest? The teen leaves the bathroom, stepping in the living room and reaching the wall- that's where it was coming from, huh?
He hesitantly raises one hand, knocking back. Infinitely more gently.]
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But he can't do that. He doesn't know where to look, and flying around aimlessly will only make his mood worse, make him want to blow up even more. He just has to...to breathe.
His fist knocks back, still hard, still sturdy, but without the same pounding force as before. Whoever is on the other side of that wall knows he's there, probably knocked for him to shut up and keep the volume down, but he doesn't care. They can suck his goddamn dick for all he cares. He should say that. Tell them to fuck off, but all that comes out of his throat when the blond opens his mouth is a cracked gasp and a broken sob, then grit teeth and a snarl of frustration.]
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Sunny leans against the wall, awaiting a sound, a voice, almost tempted to step outside and check the door outside. Maybe it's some kind of event that announced itself but wont' really start unless he goes there... hard to tell. He can wait a bit longer, Sunny decides, eyeing the small couch and wondering if he should just rest there before starting any quest- he's already feeling rather exhausted. Perhaps he should also check if there are some actual clothes around the place, he can't keep the hospital gown as equipment, can he?]
Ah...
[Another bump from the other side. So this... entity is responding to him. It must be one of the other residents and Sunny bites his lips while leaning against the wall and pressing his ear against it. That seems to be all for now? The teen raises his hand up, knocking his fist against it, gently, like he's knocking in a rhythmic way. Thump, tu-tu-tum thump, da-dump. Maybe he can get a reply?]
... hi?
[He's not even sure anyone can hear him, but at least the knocks should be audible enough.]
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Light My Fuse / Skyracing
Fascinating! I've got to know...how are you achieving that means of propulsion? Is it your suit or do you naturally produce an explosive substance through your skin?
[ Tails...buddy...this is supposed to be a race... ]
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Who is this little punk?!]
Haah?! You really have the time to ask stupid questions now?! Focus on the track, you damn kyuubi!!
[Because there's a sharp turning coming up, well...now, and if they don't drift well enough to make it, at this speed it's going to result in a wipeout.]
i - at the apartments
He's just fine tuning his bathroom setup, finally getting a look in the mirror at his new tattoo, when there comes a huge THUD! through the wall which rattles the mirror on the wall, followed by a muffled expletive. Gunnie's no stranger to noisy neighbors, but still. This is a little much, isn't it?
He balls his metal hand into a fist and knocks on the wall a few times, shouting back, ] HEY! You mind keeping it down over there?!
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He doesn't expect his voice to crack when he shouts back, or sound as wet as it does - Katsuki didn't even realize the tears he'd failed to hold back were running down his cheeks now - but what can he do about it? He just wants to, well...explode, and he can't exactly do that in a closed space, can he? Not literally, at least. Hopefully this damn extra doesn't catch the shift in his voice, or the sniff.]
PISS OFF!!
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Uh. Okay!! [ He calls back, loud enough to be heard through the walls again.
And he does piss off, at least for a little while. But there's a nagging feeling in his heart (hearts...? now? He's still not sure where that stands after his interfacing with Gnosis) that whoever it is in the next apartment, he maybe shouldn't be left alone with his feelings right now. Even if that is what he seems to want. The guy sounds young, and Gunnie knows that he's freaked out enough being so far from his friends and his ship, without any knowledge of how to get back. He can't imagine how he'd feel if this had happened to him fifteen or so years ago, when he was just a teenager.
So, after a short time of pissing off, Gunnie decides to check in on his neighbor. Properly, this time. By going out into the hallway and knocking on his door, instead of banging and shouting through their adjoining walls. ]
Uh, hey! It's me, Gunnie? From next door. Uh. That's my name, Gunnie. Look, I just wanted to apologize. I know we're all stressed out, and I'm sorry I lashed out at you, yeah?
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