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

[entreats]

Back there.

[ That's why she can't stay here. That's why the people here who care about her will have to suffer her loss - because she can't stay here, even though she's been here for so long now. Even though she's been trying to look for a way home this entire time. ]

It's why this place is just.. torture. [ She slowly breathes in a shaky breath. ] You keep losing people.. And go through.. all sorts of shitty things. Even though I should.. be back in my world.. doing what I have to do.

[individualized]

[Echo frowns. She feels bad for whatever it is that Ange's going through. And not just for the obvious problem.]

I see. That is a valid concern. There's something I really ought to be doing now, too, but...

[She doesn't want to talk about it, plus she remembers that Ange already knows about Noise. It may take her a bit longer to remember that this Ange doesn't.]

I've noticed that people who try not to thing about things outside of their control seem to be less troubled. I'm not sure how foolish that is, however.

[entreats]

[ The girl is quiet for a moment, seeming to contemplate Echo's words.

(Granted, in Ange's current state it might seem a little bit more concerning that she's being so quiet, but she's still alive, just--

Just thinking.) ]

If no one ever does anything, then nothing will ever change. [ She seems to settle on - saying it a little slowly, since she doesn't have much energy left.

But it feels important to say. Isn't that why she's been keeping going all this time, even though it feels futile when every single time she makes a connection here, that person just disappears? ]

Otherwise I'd just.. give up.

[individualized]

[As a quiet and still expert, Echo is luckily not overly concerned at the long pause. She uses the time to realize that she has no idea what to do with the severed arm she doesn't feel right just putting down.]

Yes, you're right. I know from my own experiences that just giving up and letting yourself vanish has no meaning.

[Not that she has any ground to stand on to promote self-preservation, but she's not thinking about that right now.]

Ultimately, it's important to simply stand up for what you believe and want.

[entreats]

... Are you saying you.. will do that?

[ Give her a moment to speak, Echo. It really isn't easy in her current state, even with dream logic still keeping her alive despite the amount of blood and body mass she already seems to have lost. ]

Will you stand up to whatever dumb thing is controlling us here..? After all.. [ She sucks in a slow breath. ] We both have things to do.. where we come from.

[individualized]

[It's not hard for Echo to let her finish; she was hoping for a bit more context before responding. She blinks and is quiet for a moment herself. She hadn't been thinking about that specifically when she said what she did, but considering it now...]

Yes.

[She nods and states this with upmost certainty. How much the dream is affecting that remains to be seen, however.]

I cannot allow anyone to merely use people while oppressing their will. And...I would like to help you.