EVENT #12: ADVERSITY 6568654

[expiationmods]

EVENT #12: DO AIS DREAM OF ALGORITHMIC SHEEP?

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand)

-Over time, characters have discovered that the world of Expiation is actually a large, elaborate simulation run by an AI that seems to be intent on helping them atone for their crimes. This news is well-known by the Chosen, enough so that any new character who wishes to handwave this knowledge is able to do so.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-Things have been quiet in Aldrip since September, aside from the routine arrival of new Chosen. The locals seem less than happy with the Chosen, though, as if they have already branded them all criminals. As if they no longer trust them…

JANUARY 13

SLEEP MODE INITIATED.
LOADING………………….

The calming hush that falls over Aldrip is strangely comfortable, lulling all Chosen into a deep sleep…or a sleeplike state, for those who will. Whatever the case, it is a very quiet night.

The sleep that follows is anything but.

THE DREAMSCAPES

The Chosen dream of memories, in this dreamscape. They can be twisted and altered by the dream world; events can be contorted or made up; but all of these dreams have within them a kernel of truth. Whether they express an event that happened or part of a person’s past that’s gone fuzzy with age, whether it’s a real moment or just a feeling, something about the dream tells you something about the Chosen to whom it belongs. This may even express itself in multiple dreamscapes, fragments of different memories and feelings to navigate.

Fellow Chosen can travel through these dreamscapes, of course, stumbling upon dreams they were never meant to see. But their presence is not without consequence; the longer two Chosen share the same dream, the more the dream will begin to take on elements of both their dreams, drawing in elements from the Chosen who was simply meant to be watching.

They’re vivid, these dreams–the kind that are so clear, one begins to doubt whether it’s a dream at all. Could it possibly be reality? Whether it’s a good dream or a bad one, the Chosen may find it’s difficult to want to wake up. How could they possibly wake up, when this is so very real? Why would they want to, if it’s a good dream? It’s comfortable, and the idea that it may not be reality is intimidating, isn’t it?

It’s so real that you could stay here forever.

A WAKEUP CALL

Wake up.
You have to wake up.

Staying within the dreams too long is a dangerous thing, and those who don’t wake even once before morning will risk falling into a deep sleep, perhaps never to wake at all.

But how to wake them?

Only by convincing the Chosen that they are most certainly dreaming, as it turns out. Whether that’s someone realizing this on their own, or being helped along by someone else, is entirely up to you. But they must choose to wake from the dream, saying goodbye to the dreamscape without any certainty that they’ll ever see it again, and for some…that could be easier said than done.

Once they wake in Aldrip, they’ll be able to come and go from the dreams at will, helping other Chosen navigate their own waking…or perhaps sabotaging it, for those whose intentions may be less than charitable. (But none of you would do that, right? Right?)

Time becomes meaningless within the dreamscapes, allowing the Chosen to pass through as many of these dreams as they wish before dawn breaks in the morning.

The next day dawns as normal, and surprisingly, the Chosen don’t feel any less well-rested from their long and difficult night chasing after dreams. They may even–_

A sea of numbers, zeroes and ones, their combinations meaningless, their forms shifting. Digital artifacts mar the vision, as if the sequence is somehow corrupted. In those pockets of artifacts, one can see something beyond the numbers, something darker, something blurry with distance.
Query: is this what it is to “dream?”
It feels…warm.

_feel refreshed, actually, as if they’ve lifted various weights from their shoulders. Even those who haven’t may find it difficult to linger on the less happy parts of what they’ve seen. They’ve shared quite a unique experience, after all. Better take some time to process it, before they let it weigh them down.

WILDCARD

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

[babilun]

[ No one can escape death. For that was the universal truth. Gilgamesh knows it as well. He and Death were no different. They were arbiters.

For Justice?
For Evil?

No. Simply for humans.
That's why Gilgamesh was angry. That's why he rages at the Heavens. For Gilgamesh is "HUMAN." ]

THEN TAKE/KILL ME INSTEAD! WAS I NOT TO BLAME? WAS THE CAUSE NOT BY ME?

[ The Epic of Gilgamesh stated that the King of Uruk feared dying after witnessing his dear friend decade back to mud. Maggots crawled from Enkidu's body. His form breaks under Gilgamesh's arms. The primordial fear of DEATH whispered to the King that he, too, would be like that. That was what was written, yet what Ryoji witnessed was utterly different.

Was this the real Gilgamesh? The almighty King of Uruk. The one that brings Heaven and Earth together. One who was born inhuman, yet here he lies before Death, acting as human as he could ever be. Teary eyes glared up at the Heavens. Voice cursed the Gods that gave birth to him. Emotions that were raw and bare for all to see. ]

A life for a life? Is that not so? Then, take my life. Return Enkidu to the people!

[ That was wrong. Gilgamesh has a duty to foresee. He has a legacy that he must leave behind. ]

[luneminary]

[He does not reprimand Gilgamesh’s rage. It is the right of humans to feel anger. It is the right of humans to feel despair. It is the right of humans to lament.

None of these things would bring Enkidu back, but he will allow these actions regardless.

It’s ironic, really. That the tyrant king would gain his humanity by losing the one thing he cherishes the most.

Death closes his eyes.]

It is not yet your time, King of Uruk. You must continue to live in their memory, while shouldering the burdens of remembrance. That is your fate.

Enkidu must return to the Earth, just like how you would be. Just like how your people would be. Children will always yearn for the embrace of their Mother.

But that is not yet your time. You wish for Enkidu to live on? Then you must honor their memory. That is the only way they may live on.

[babilun]

[ Gilgamesh is more than aware.

He knows what needs to be accomplished.
He knows who he must locate.
He knows what he must seize.

Which makes it all the more irritating for the King. ]

Is that all you can bark at me for? Don't speak of such obvious things!

[ The Golden Hero roared. ]

Live in their memory? That's a given. Return to the Earth, I won't!

[ That's why. Gilgamesh cannot die. If he wants to keep living on for Enkidu's sake, even if his friend didn't ask that of him. ]

Don't speak as if you know how humans are. It's unbecoming of you. Go back to the Underworld and claim those souls with Ereshkigal! You Gods, who cannot judge humanity with such Eyes! You, who do not know what life is, cannot speak to me about memories!

[ The King was convinced. The memory was returning to its course of history. The dream will soon end. ]

Your presence is not needed, Nergal.

[luneminary]

[Nergal's role in this is clear: to be impartial, to be a god, to try and speak sense towards the grieving King of Uruk. However, he is not Nergal. He is not only Death.

In the veil of his dark cloak, Ryoji Mochizuki rages.]

Do not talk like you know who I am.

[Reality flares around him, responding to his emotions. Sleep is the brother of Death, and so it bends and bows to his emotion. Suddenly it is very very dark, and the moon is largely full.

Ryoji's once-hollowed eyes now gleams blue in determination.]

I know what life is. I know how precious each moment it is spent! The connections we make with others are nor eternal, yet they will always live on in memory! I am here because I know exactly why you grieve, Gilgamesh!

If you never return to the Earth, when you will never meet them again!

[babilun]

You know exactly why I grieve?

[ What a sick joke. ]

You are merely a concept given form and some intelligence.
You only know how to take from others and yourself.
You cannot feel loss when knowing that Death is always there to greet.

[ The King of Heroes gritted his teeth. Fists curled up with blood seeping through his knuckles from his nails digging into his palms.

Gods are like natural disasters—a living tempest. Gilgamesh is aware of his inhuman nature, and he hates it.

He hates himself. He hates his weakness. He hates this moment. He hates his memories.

However, most importantly. He hates the Gods. ]

Return to the Earth? Only humans can return to the Earth!

[ Gilgamesh bellows out. The dark sky cries in response to Gilgamesh's rage. The waxing moon flickers as if it was in an old film. ]

Enkidu was already part of the Earth but not his soul. He cannot return anywhere, and either you or me.

[ For that is the nature of this world. Gods disappear. Legends vanish. History left untold and forgotten. ]

Everything that you believe belongs to you has been reaped by your hand, Negral/Death.

[ This dream/memory was far too dangerous. Emotions run amok between the dreamer and the watcher. Even though the course of the memory is returning to its true path in Proper Human History, the Dreamer was the one living at that moment. Reliving the memory that he buried down. ]

You speak of bonds, but you and I both know that such things are unnecessary for our kind. Enkidu is my one and only friend. I shall have no other.

[ For the path that Gilgamesh takes as a King and Judge of Humanity is one that no one should take. A ruler in solitude. A Northern wind to the people. He brings ruin to humanity. He brings prosperity to humanity. That is what he decided. ]

Don't speak hypocritical words to me, you who reap your bonds by your own volition!

[luneminary]

No, you're wrong!

[Ah. Ah. He can feel it.

Everything is crumbling apart. Yellow bleeds into black, coffins descend upon the earth, and Thanatos flickers into being once more.]

I am human! I have bonds! Do not speak to me onto what you do not know!

[It bleeds out. Gekkoukan. Kotone. Minato. Junpei. Aigis. The Dark Hour. SEES. They all slip through his fingers, rejected, rejected. Are these not all real? Are these not all true!?

Oh, if only he isn't Death. If only he's not fated to usher every soul he knows to the horizon beyond.]

I have...I need...I'm, not,

[Ryoji's form crumbles into a roar. Collapses into himself.

In front of Gilgamesh, Nergal aims for his throat.]

[babilun]

I'm wrong?

[ Laughable. What a riot. A concept of a God like Negral declaring that Gilgamesh, one-third man, and two-thirds God, that he was mistaken? He couldn't be more right! Look at that response! Look at that rejection! He was delusional!

Oh, Negral/Ryoji, what happened to you? ]

Hah! Did marriage turn you into a softer God?

[ Golden light shone behind Gilgamesh. The dream was coming to an end. The Dreamer and Observor will soon wake. ]

Return to Kur/Underworld.

Never surface upon the realm of the living.
Do not speak of the living as if you are one of them.
O' pitiful being of Death.
Being alone in this world fits us much better.

[ Gilgamesh whispered a prayer for himself and Death before a sword flew towards the lunging God. ]





_̸̨̡̡̬̝͈͍̝̞͔̱̣͋̃̇̌̈́̎̅͒̀̀͌̈̈́̓̆̚_̷̡̡̧̩̬̯̗̙̘̜̮̯̦͙̻̥̩͙͈̜̲͇̘̹̈̿͜ͅ_̴̱̦̼͚̗͖̞̫͚͕̟̺̀̓̇͌́́̀̋͂̐̃̄̓̈́̂̚͘̚̚͘_̶̢̼̗̰̯͖̮̠̣͇͕͍̒̽͜_̶̧̢͈̟̻̙̲̖̞̞̘̘̤͉̓͆̕̕_̸̡̧̢̧̢̡̙̻̮̖̤̹̗͙̼̟̝̰͖̻̭̫̳͍̥̰̍̽̓̎́̌̋̔̇͑̀͛̆͛̍͐͒̏̂͑̽͝͝ͅ_̵̧̛̮̦͉̳͙̰̝̰̠̗͖̟̱̪̫̬̗̼̲̝͙̮͌̔́̄̆̐̂́͘͜_̶̧̡̨̻̲̦̲͉͙͚̜̭̮̙͉̥͈̳̤̟̲̊̔̆̇͛͒͌̉̔̈́̆̐̈́̕͝͝_̷̢̞͓̩̃̋̉́̓̀͆̏̒͋̕̕͝_̸̨̧̹̥̭̣̩̼̼̗̩͉̞̻̯͓̩̀͑͊͗͗̄͋̉͋͐̏͌̃͌̿̇̏̑̀̊̓͋̽̔͑̕͘͝_̷̢̡̭͇̬̰̥̹̲̦̯͕̜̥̙̗̱̉̓̇̏̓̽̐͌̀̏͋̉̐͑͒̓̒̍͘̚̕͘͝ͅ_̵̬̟͍̯̥̍̋͋̎_̴̨̛̹͍̯̦̹̼̣̠̩̝͈̝̼̞͇͙̩̻͔͙̥͙̯̺͔̖̓͂͐̏̍͆̋̓̑̓͘̕̚͜_̶̨̬̠͙̠̘̝͔̫̤̣̫͉̟̟̻̘̜͈̼͉̻̖͗̐̐̈́̒̈́͛̽̎̓̀͒͆̉̀̓̎̐̓̽͂̐̍̓̂̀́̚̕̚͝͝͝ͅ_̴̨̠͈̗̫͉͚̤̪̙͙͓̥̱͈̳̬͓̦̝̳̜͚͎͕̤͓̫̹̲̝̫͋́͌̀̓̽̏̍̈́͒͑͊̈́̉͋͐͛͋͘͝_̷̢̧̧̛͙̬̖̲͇̱͈̘͚͎̺̤̣̫̯̗̰͙͓̞̮̬̟̖̫͙̤̙̭̂͆̿͂̋̀̅̈́̀̆̊̃̈͂̒͜͝_̷̨̨̛͍͙͙̫̟͖̣̖̘̼͍͕͇̪̗̝͖̟͙̱͎̠̋̓̎̽͊̓̇̎̐̏́́́̓̅̃̇̍̈̄͊̓͆́͑̿̉̍̚̚͝͝͠͠_̴̧̢̘͈͔̞̪̝̖̟͍̟̗̰̳͓̲̩̼̘̄̉̅̈́̅́͜͝_̴̛̪̘̈́̆͆̈͒͗̓̑̋́̄̍̎̽̽̑̅͘͝_̶̢̧̰͈͖̣̦̬̭͔̱̖͈͔̟̞̙̈̿͗̓ͅ_̴͈̝͖̬̥̲͈̞͚̼͚͍̥̋͆̅̀̈͐̾̉̍̾̋͘͠_̴̨̱͙̪̻̭͚͉͕̫̟̰͍̒̔̅̆͑̈́̓̿̍͑̆̓͘̕͜͝_̴̡̧̘̠̺͙͙̟̠͎͇̺̪̳̣͍̪̹̣̯͇̼̐̓͊̀̿͘_̶̧̥̥͇̟̱̫̭̗͇͚͙̫̔̄̀̕͝_̴̧̢̛̭̙̜͚̺̩͈̦͙̪̭̣̦̰̟͆͆͒̇̈́́̕͠ͅ





[ The dream has came to an end. ]

...
.......
.............

[ A sigh was released from the slumbering king as he shook his head from the grogginess of such a heavy sleep. He looked at his hands. ]

"I am human," he says. Hah, that reaction certainly is human.

[ The King of Heroes smirked. He thought it was a distasteful dream, but it wasn't so bad. ]

Tsk, I truly became too soft.