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

[thenicerone]

From what she could gather, there was nothing around them. That just made it all the more worse as she doesn't even know what to prepare for. She knows her brother is strong but even he has limits. This world already thrown them into some strange and bizarre situations. She doesn't want one where it would get the both of them serious injured.

"You don't think they're planning for a huge monster to fight us?"

With all the buildings around them gone, it just made it challenging. She didn't know why but she suddenly found her hand holding onto Hiei's shoulder. Yes, she was scared but she also wanted to know if her brother was truly there.

[jaganshi]

“If they are, I doubt there will be the show they are hoping for.” After all, the beasts that this place had so far hadn’t been much of a challenge for the fire apparition. In some ways Aldrip is very lucky he no longer kills as a way to simply entertain himself anymore, considering the damage he could’ve gotten up to already if it had so suited him.

His eyes find nothing, of course, no matter how many times he slowly or quickly scans the area around them for anything perhaps looking for some kind of fight. It’s.. unnerving to him, actually. In a way that he cannot place.

He attempts to make the Jagan fire to life, forehead glowing purple but.. strangely… only showing a blurry vision of.. a tree? Leaves and branches and nowhere near what he is currently looking at just for regular vision. The fire apparition stops for a moment, confused, looking around them again.

“Is this a dream?” Would explain a lot of things, considering most of his dreams are recurring nightmares.

[thenicerone]

She certainly hoped that there wouldn't be. They were in danger, but she really couldn't stand to see her brother fight any more than he should. At least for now, with limited monsters around, she could prepare herself for what was to come.

However, as she waited, it seems that there was nothing. Once again, she looked around the area but it was simply silent. So much so, it was starting to bother her.

"A dream? What makes you say that?" That would explain why there it felt as though everything was so empty. And yet, it certainly felt real. Pinching herself, she gave a wince. After all, one should do that if they found themselves dreaming. ...Right?