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

A. Campfire Stories

[boundarykey]

There, within the confines of her tent, sits a little girl! Looking no more than 12 winters and with the smile of 12 summers. She seems to be kicking back and forth, her feet on a spot that could be transformed easily into a seat. With her backside pressed down upon its surface, and her hands holding her up on either side, "Hi!!! I didn't want to interrupt so I decided to wait here in your tent - I hope that is okay?"

[elfsplaining]

Was there a child traveling with them? She pauses on the threshold of the door-whatever counts as a door in a tent--looking at Abigail with a curious, cautious expression.

"...'Tis fine," she mutters, stepping in and lowering to one knee as the tent closes behind her. Gradually she's starting to think this isn't real, which is unfortunate. She'd rather enjoyed being back with them all, even if she would never say so out loud.

"What are you doing here?"

[boundarykey]

"I wanted to wait for you a bit more! You seemed to be having so much fun with everyone else, and I didn't want to interrupt." Is how she interprets this dream, having heard idle mentions of mothers and chit-chats between one another, "I only heard briefly, something about mothers? I didn't hear much else, because I was looking at how many cool items you have in your tent! Sorry, I got nosey; I promise I didn't touch anything, though! I made sure to be good."

Her shoes clatter together as they cease their swinging, eyes promptly looking up at Morrigan considering whether or not she wanted to say anything more, "You might not remember me, and that's ok."

[elfsplaining]

"Fun?" She echoes, one eyebrow raising. She certainly wouldn't have called it fun, but then, what did she know of what a seemingly normal child would call fun?

For a moment Morrigan doesn't move, but then at length she at least takes a seat, watching Abigail curiously. There is something vaguely familiar about her, like someone she knows that she should know. The questions swirl, but she pushes them away. "If you were brave enough to sneak into a witch's tent, I shan't besmirch it by ordering your removal right away. Where is your mother?"

She looks too young to be out on her own, but Morrigan is sure there's plenty of orphans running around since the darkspawn have been sweeping through the countryside now.