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

[startraveler]

[Aether laughs at that. It sure looked like neither of them were warriors or adventurers, but then again, Aether and his sister met plenty of people who could fight well while not looking like it.]

Sorry, I didn't want to assume anything.

[As for the question.]

The obvious is the tricky part. Lumine and I prefer using swords and we don't have that much experience with any other weapon, so when fighting a flying dragon we have to find a way to get it down first.

[manifestering]

[Octavian and his brother are a wasted Victorian sufferer and a moderately healthy academic, respectively, so no - they definitely aren't taking on any dragons anytime soon.

He waits a beat, then,] You are going to make me ask after every step. How do you get a dragon down?

[Wait, let him think about it, how about,] A harpoon gun. A ballista. Basically a large mechanism for shooting a spear. No?

[startraveler]

[Aether nods.]

All of those sound like a good idea. Sometimes a companion with a bow may help too, but a ballista is definitely more effective.

[He falls silent for a moment.]

Or... you can ask a god to help you fly up.

[He has vague memory that something like that happened to him in the past.]

[manifestering]

[Oh really, a ballista, are there just ballistas sitting around in this dragon world these two come from—]

I should think a ballista is faster than prayer.

[Guy who doesn't believe in god(s) voice: But that's just my opinion.]

Then? Do you tie it down?

[startraveler]

Not if said god is right by your side. I knew a few that fought dragons in the past, too. And others made friends with dragons.

[It's funny that he can't really remember names or faces to associate with those statements, yet he knows that this is exactly what really happened.]

Once you get it down, you make sure to defeat it. Simple.

[He talks as if anyone could do that.]

[manifestering]

[Again, he is a wasted Victorian noodle, he's not going to kill any dragons--]

You knew gods. Are you sure? Were they not simply powerful?

[Octavian has never met a god and certainly not one that would walk around with people, fighting dragons... Also they're probably not real... be reasonable!!]

[startraveler]

[Aether pauses for a moment.]

They were... very powerful, yes. But they were also worshipped by their people and live for hundreds of years. Isn't that what a god is?

[He guesses a definition of that can be different depending on the place. As far as he remembers, the gods he's met weren't too different from normal people despite the power they had.]

[manifestering]

[To his credit, Octavian does think about it-- but his ultimate answer doesn't change, so,]

That is a very old person with accumulated influence.

[Granted, he's never known anyone who's lived for hundreds of years, but also: being old doesn't make anyone more important, as far as he's concerned. It only makes them old.]

[startraveler]

[Aether laughs in response.]

I guess that's one way of putting it. What would be your definition of a "god" then?

[He looks at the other with curiosity shining in his eyes.]

[manifestering]

[oh boy]

A story. Humans love to have something to believe in. Something bigger than themselves. I believe the unflinching apathy of the universe is too frightening for many.

[Soooo, welllllll...]

[startraveler]

[He listens to those words, then looks to his sister. They both nod to one another and smile in a mysterious way. Then Aether turns to Octavian.]

The world, the universe... they're big and full of unknowns. It wouldn't be so strange to believe that there are gods out there that guide and protect their people or shape the fate of their world.

[He smiles a little more.]

Or at least that's what we think.

[manifestering]

I am sure a powerful enough being could exist. I will not ascribe "divinity" to any of them.

[Again: old, and powerful, and unknowable and whatever else— but "god" has so many connotations that he doesn't like very much, so! A line in the sand.]

You are welcome to believe whatever you like. Of course. Far be it from me to convince you.

[startraveler]

[He shakes his head.]

I'm not planning to change your mind either. I'm just really curious about your point of view.

[He looks around.]

Especially, when we're both here, admits the celebration for the local god.