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

[memori3s]

[ In truth, any place within the kingdom would be full of intrigue to Minato. Everything was so new, all the way down to how strong the sun blazed overhead.

Minato will follow along obediently, trekking just a little ways behind Gilgamesh. ]

...is that a person?

[ It could be the name of the person who was in charge of said temple. Otherwise, there was another method in which temples were assigned their names. ]

Or is Rimat-Ninsun a god?

[ Teach him, sensei!! ]

[babilun]

[ Gil-kun-sensei is here to teach! Don't you worry about a thing, Minato-kun! ]

A god.

[ A rather straightforward answer, one that Gilgamesh didn't bat an eye to. ]

Who so happens to be my mother. I wish to obtain her insight on something, and of course, [ Scarlet eyes glanced back at his "visitor" that was so out of place in this world. ] about you as well, mongrel.

[memori3s]

[ Oh. This guy is a Big Deal then, huh. Minato continues to trail behind Gilgamesh, listening to his explanation. That last bit though -- it gives him pause. ]

Me?

[ That's a lot of pressure. In any event, it sounds like he won't find out what Gilgamesh wants to ask until they arrive at the temple. ]

[babilun]

Yes, you.

[ Gilgamesh couldn't help but smirk as they continued to the temple. Upon their arrival, Gilgamesh was greeted by the priests and priestesses and made his way to the sanctuary, but something was off.

The King placed his hands on his hips as he looked around. An annoyed expression. ]

Hah? I haven't seen my Mother in ages, and she's nowhere to be found...huh? Ages?

[ Something felt off about that statement he said. ]

[memori3s]

[ Minato minds his manners as the priests and priestesses greet them. He dips his head to say hello before catching up with Gilgamesh. The king stands within the temple, and though his posture exudes confidence, his expression seems rather troubled. ]

...did something happen?

[ Based on the statement alone, Minato can't tell whether or not something's amiss within the temple. ]

Maybe she's gone somewhere.

[ And maybe she'd been away for awhile. The King must be a busy man. Perhaps he'd forgotten that his mother was preoccupied with something else. ]

[babilun]

...

[ There was a slight silence from Gilgamesh. He felt uneasy, but something within his mind brushed that unease off. ]

Perhaps you are correct. Mother doesn't need to be here all the time.

[ Instead of asking one of the servants where the Goddess went, Gilgamesh decided to move on somewhere else. ]

I'm sure she'll pop up somewhere. There's no point loitering here. Let's go, Mongrel.

[ To the next location. A plaza with a fountain. Yet, why does it look like it belongs to a mall? ]

[memori3s]

[ Minato linters for a moment, as though half expecting Gilgamesh to inquire further about his mother's whereabouts. Still, it doesn't bode particularly well for the patron goddess to be missing from her temple.

He won't press further or comment on it though. This is Gilgamesh's domain. It's likely best to simply hang back and observe. So he trails after Gilgamesh until they reach the plaza.

This may be Uruk, but it looked distinctly modern. Did this plaza truly belong here? Or was it a splicing between Gilgamesh's dream of Uruk and his other memories of the past? ]

This fountain -- this is one of your favorite places?

[babilun]

I don't remember creating something so cheap-looking.

[ Was the first thing that Gilgamesh said. You would think that he would look offended, but no Gilgamesh looks like a kid who got 2nd place on a project. ]

In the first place, this fountain clashes with my grand architectural style of Uruk! It does not belong here! Who placed this here without my consent!?

[ He was back to normal now. ]

[memori3s]

[ Well, considering this is Gilgamesh's dream... ]

...are you sure it wasn't you?

[ Perhaps he'd forgotten about consenting to the construction of this plaza?

The comment, of course, is made with the bet that Gilgamesh wouldn't throw Minato out of Uruk for his insolence. But the construction of an entire section within the kingdom without Gilgamesh's knowledge... It feels a little far-fetched to Minato. ]