April Plot (Part 3)
Pirate Group:
Pirates and gentlemen, we hope you're enjoying your stay in Spero, now that you're actually there! But the fun times aren't quite over yet, so we have some more goodies for you.
The Observatory
A little ways away from the university lies an observatory, up on a hilltop.
The observatory in Spero is a little bigger than the one seen in Dissimulo, definitely more spacious though lacking in decoration. It is dome-shaped like most observatories familiar to the characters. The walls are completely bare, a solid metallic gray. They're wide enough where even the smallest sound will echo. The building itself is separated into two "floors" or tiers, rather: the bottom level is where all the data-recording seems to be done, various desks with computers, shelves with books, all mushed in together. Up the small, spiral staircase in the center of the observatory is the second level where the large telescope rests. The ceiling of the observatory is still opened up, showing the sky, the building's only source of lighting. The electricity seems to be out and none of the computers will work.
...Or will they?
A small screen at the base of the telescope emits a dim, flickering glow. It's a simple device: a box with a viewscreen and several dials. Turning the dials makes a picture appear, grainy, fuzzy, grayscale but unmistakably there.
The picture you see, whether you recognize it or not, is Tokyo. People move along the streets, cars fight for space in rush-hour traffic, lights flicker on buildings. You can't hear the noises of the city, but it's clearly a video.
Turn the dial, and you may see another world...maybe it'll be familiar. What you're looking at is the home world of any person that has been brought to Discedo, and you can flip between them the same way a person might flip through channels on an old television set.
On the bottom level, there's a strange-looking machine against the wall, covered in a large cloth to keep the dust away. When you pull the sheet away, you can't recognize it by its appearance. The interface of it is strange. You can't tell what the screen is for, since there's no electricity to light it up. Various buttons are placed here and there, indicating its various functions, you presume. It looks broken and old. It doesn't look like any sort of machinery you'd see back home.
Conveniently, there's a folder in the shelf nearby that talks about it:
(Date is illegible)
This machine is able to traverse between worlds. Not only does it find them, it can interact with the environment of them. It can see both the past and present of a world, able to bend time at its will. We extracted various items for research. The first notable thing was, despite some slight differences and exceptions, how similar our world is compared to theirs. Almost like a parallel dimension. With some exceptions, our appearances or everyday items are not so different in the end. Or how we speak, or how we feel, how we express. Why we live and why we die.
If it's true, then maybe we can find a suitable cure for this virus. Something we can't find here. And we can discover more about what's been around us for who knows how long. Is it even possible? In any case, Spero will be working with Discedo's research team for some sort of answer. Both teams have already collaborated to create this machine.
Maybe not just items, but also people could travel back and forth.
Well, it may be more possible than we previously thought.
(the rest is illegible)
Among the shelf, you can also find a blueprint for some sort of... vehicle? By simple design, it looks like a modified spaceship of some sort, similar to a Gummi Ship.
Stuffed on the bottom shelf is a huge binder. It's teeming with pages, hastily pushed in as if at the last minute.
The Binder
If you care to open it, you'll find among the pages the following information:
Miles Edgeworth & Phoenix Wright (Picture of the courtroom. Phoenix is on one side with Pearl (channeling Mia), and on the other side is Miles. A radio communicator is on the witness stand. Phoenix and Miles are both circled in black ink. There are two post-it-notes stuck to the picture:)
“Phoenix Wright, defense lawyer, 26, ability to see lies (??)” “Miles Edgeworth, prosecution, 26, excellent deduction skills”
Azula (There’s a blurry photo of her lightning bending pasted to a piece of paper)
“Royalty. Ability to control fire and lightning element. Mentally unsound. Extremely dangerous, approach with caution!!”
America (?) (A picture of his face is next to a map of America, connected by an equals sign. There are question marks everywhere, but no notes.)
Charles (An old, faded brown photo.)
“Vampire. Need to drink blood, unknown. Immortality, unknown. Oriental descent.”
Harry Mason (A straight-on photo of him holding a flashlight in the fog. It's almost too blurry to make out his face)
“What is “Silent Hill?” Deceased - can the dead be brought back to life...??”
The Doctor (There’s a photo of him running into the TARDIS… And all the notes are TARDIS related. It seems like he’s been overlooked in the light of a working time traveling machine. Ridiculous mathematical functions are scattered about the page.)
“It's bigger on the inside?”
Haine (The photo is of him fighting something. His spine has been traced over in red.)
“re-enforced spinal column ‘Cerberus‘, super strength, healing factor. Highly Dangerous.”
Nill (A fuzzy picture of her from behind, to show her wings.)
“Nonfunctioning wings. Mute?? World is inhospitable. Possible prostitution.”
Kadaj (His page is accompanied by pictures of Loz, Yazoo, and Sephiroth. The three siblings form a triangle, Sephiroth is in the middle. Any notes are too faded to read.)
Reno (He’s… running from something. Probably big and scary, judging by the ridiculous look on his face. Somebody has wrote “lol” in the corner of the photo.)
Zack (The picture where he, Cloud, Tifa and Sephiroth all posed in front of the Nibelhiem mansion. The edges are slightly burnt. He and Cloud are both circled in blue.)
“Brothers? Second subject displays identical behaviors to the first in further observation. Possible mental illness.”
River Tam
“Extraordinary mental powers. Reads minds? Sees the future? Is this even possible??”
Edward & Alphonse Elric (Both on an old-fashioned train; Edward is asleep and Alphonse is looking through the train car at something.)
“Alchemists. Can transform base substance into higher substance at will. Further research on this subject is needed. The truth behind the Truth?”
Yorda (Sitting on what looks like a chair made of stone.)
“Unidentified non-human being. Ghost? Substance of light?? Displays powers of unknown origin.”
Axel & Roxas (The both of them in an unidentified location, decked in their Organization outfits.)
“’Nobodies.’ A being in human shape, after the ‘heart’ is stolen the ‘shell’ is left behind. Without a ‘heart,’ they are very dangerous. Further observation necessary.”
Riku Replica (A picture of him, next to a picture of Riku, connected by an equal sign.)
“Replicated human. Made to look, think and act exactly like the original. However, the replica shows some tendency to self-thought that deviates from the original. The replication process must not be entirely foolproof.”
Hihara Kazuki (A blurry picture of him smiling in some direction, trumpet in hands.)
“Human of an origin very much like our own world. Surprisingly normal and mentally well. Musician. Moral boost??”
Link (A picture of him in his normal stance, as well as in his wolf form, being ridden by Midna.)
“Known as a savior or hero in many alternate universes. Has an innate power from something called the “Triforce.” He holds one section, “Courage”, while two other beings in the universe hold the remaining ones. Always inclined to good or kind deeds.”
Ryuuzaki Umi (Alone, while casting a powerful water spell.)
“Traverses two worlds, one much like our own and another that is full of “magic.” Destiny apparently has chosen her and two others to be some kind of savior in the magic world. Can control water and ice.”
Ryou Naruse (Only his back shows, in a blackroom, obscuring a collage of pictures.)
“Uses the name, ‘Ryou Naruse,’ for unknown reasons. Life motivations unknown. Brilliant defense lawyer.”
Ari (A picture that shows his elongated shadow, possessed by a pair of yellow eyes)
“World controlled by a system of ranking and role giving that is absolute and controlled by an unknown entity. Shadow possessed by some evil presence. Otherwise lacking noteworthy qualities.”
Strawhat Pirates (Together in a photo on the Merry-go.)
“World dominated by seafarers. Much of the land is treacherous and uninhabitable. Subjects are ‘pirates,’ the term used loosely. Mostly they acquire money (berries) by defeating other pirates.”
“Subject 1 (Hat) has obtained inhuman powers through consuming a ‘devil fruit,’ specifically a ‘gum gum fruit.’ The fruit enables the subject to bend and stretch far beyond the normal limits of a human being, as if his body were made of rubber. However, in exchange for this power, the subject cannot swim. There are said to be many different kinds of “devil fruit“ with different effects. More research into this subject is highly encouraged.”
Seta Souji (With glasses on, and the picture look as though it has been taken in fog) & Arisato Minato (Evoker in hand, pressed to his temple.)
“Both subjects exhibit the same power, “Persona,” an ability to summon any vast number of creatures at will to attack, heal, defend, and et cetera. For these two subjects the “Persona” is unknown in origin, as they seem to contain a myriad that can be summoned at will. However, the following subjects:”
Aragaki Shinjiro, Iori Junpei & Shirogane Naoto (Nondescript mug shots)
“Show the ability to only summon one ‘persona,’ that seems personal to the exact subject. There also seems to be some form of connection between the mental state of the subject and the power of the ‘persona.’ End of notes.”
Professor Hershel Layton (A shot while teaching in his university.)
“Archeological professor. Incredible puzzle/problem solving abilities and organizational skills. Highly renowned for his abilities and often travels to remote locations at request for his services.”
Chris Redfield (Dressed for combat, reloading a handgun)
“A former member of S.T.A.R.S., the pointman. His marksmanship was the best on his team. Familiar with viral outbreak, a survivor. Plenty of battle experience.”
Death the Kid (Holding both “guns” in his usually upside-down stance. A note is scribbled in: “Liz and Patty Thompson??”)
“’Meister,’ son of ‘Shinigami-sama’ (death?), wields ‘weapons,’ humans who transform in to various types of armaments at call of the ‘meister‘ to collect souls of corrupt beings. Preventing some looming disaster. Goes to a school that teaches ’weapons’ and ’meisters’ together.”
Raphael (With his brothers, in their underground pad)
“A mutated turtle by some unknown substance, displays humanlike behaviors and tendencies. Not innately dangerous. Work together in their world to stop crime.”
Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Sunglasses on with the Punisher in hand)
“Priest or assassin? Unusual gun - unusual technology. Rocket launcher?”
Vash the Stampede (Traveling through the desert alone)
“The Humanoid Typhoon. (Wanted for...??) Somehow tied to an energy source.”
Fay D. Flourite, Kurogane, Sakura, Syaoran, & Mokona (All together in a walking shot.)
“A group of dimension travelers, looking for ‘feathers’ belonging to subject A, apparently memories and/or pieces of the soul. Subject B is also from the world of subject A and wishes to assist her, but subjects C and D are not directly connected to subject A and merely seem to be helping out of convenience. Subject F is a creature of unknown origin that enables their traveling through dimensions. Subject F is a subject of priority interest and should continue to be observed at all times. More replicating technology...?”
Sho Minamimoto (Sitting on one of his junk piles)
“A ‘reaper’, a being that exists between the alive and the dead in a space called the ‘underground.’ The ‘reaper’s’ job is to test the souls in this purgatory-like dimension to give them a chance to come back to life. This subject is a high-level ‘reaper’ and is allowed to orchestrate the tasks given to the souls in different ‘games.’ The subject is slightly maniacal, highly intelligent and very powerful, approach with greatest caution.”
Yuuko Ichihara (…Who is curiously void of picture.)
“Known as the ‘Time Space Witch’ or the ‘Dimension Witch,’ this subject is a person of High Interest. Subject has the power to send others into other dimensions at a price of whatever is most important to the client. Suspected creator of Subect F from File 22. This subject should be watched at all times!!”
In addition to these notes, there are some photos in the book, too. They're grainy and fuzzy, just like the screen you looked at earlier.
(Linked because there are a ton)
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-one.
Outside of the City
Several trailers sit at the edge of town, large structures, big enough to house four or five people for more than just a few days at a time. They don't look the same as the rest of the buildings in the city: they're smaller, more compact. Simpler. They also seem utterly abandoned.
Inside there are papers strewn about, and devices line the walls. None of them work, but they look startlingly like observational equipment, or transmitting devices. Maybe that would explain the antenna on the roof.
The accomodations aren't bad: the sheets, towels and clothes inside are all in good condition, as are the supply cabinets. Some emergency food supplies in the kitchenette, and in the bathrooms, several medical kits filled with bandages, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory pill bottles, several empty --but sterile-- syringes. There should be about three or four of these first-aid kits. Under the cabinets are several flashlights and battery packs.
These things might not last for long, but they're a start.
There's a metallic cabinet on one wall of each of these trailers: it looks like it was once equipped with at least a dozen large firearms. Most of these are empty.
In the first trailer you come to --the one with the transmission antenna-- there is a red binder. There's only one paper within; the rest have been torn out. All except for the cover page:
Tactical strategy: Accedian occupation of Spero.
Going Home(...?)
After everything has been explored, when you're all going back to your pleasant little boat, you might notice something. Spero, Dissimulo, Discedo...the thing that ties them together is the quiet. They're abandoned, silent, still; as if even the wind, even an animal or a falling leaf, could disturb that quiet and break it. The streets are empty, the buildings boarded up, the subways all silent. Not a soul has been in sight in any of these places; not one that wasn't brought here just the same as you were.
That, however, changes in seconds.
They emerge from the darkened subway entrance, six or seven men that look like they might have once been strong. Now they're thin, absolutely bone-thin, dirty, covered in sweat and foul, in bloodied sores and boils. Teeth dark with rot and hair matted with neglect, they seem more like desperate, twitchy animals than human beings.
Whatever they might be, they take the pirates by surprise; or, at least, enough so that they can grab five or six of your crew...and vanish once more into the subway.
So.
>Rescue your crew?
>Fuck them, I'm on a boat!
>Ewww that's gross, screw this.
...>Rescue your crew?
Let's go with that.
The Subway
Subway Tunnel
Those flashlights may come in handy, because the subway is dark. You may still be able to hear the shouts of your friends --and those strange humans-- in the distance. Following that sound takes you along the main tracks for a while until you come to a large, clear area.
Subway Main
Maybe it used to be a subway stop. It's hard to say, though, because whatever it was...now it looks more like a nest. Torches line the walls, filthy "nests" are all over the area --piles of cloth, newspaper, maybe an animal skin or two. You probably don't want to know what the leathery skins are from-- and in the corner, surrounded by at least two dozen of the filthy creatures: a makeshift cage, containing your friends.
This is what's left of Spero's native population. What was once a thriving city has been reduced to this: a ragged and dirty populace that barely seems sane, let alone literate. Most of them don't speak, not in full sentences at least, but if you try to take back your friends, they will fight you. They're not strong, nor are they armed, but they attack with the viciousness of wild animals, scratching, clawing, biting, whatever they can. Kill, capture, subdue, run the hell away: when the choice is yours, what will you do?
Whatever you choose, you'll only be able to rescue your friends when they're all dealt with. And when that happens, you find that all of your friends are more or less unharmed.
They're also not alone.
The girl crouched in the cage with them is small, seemingly a little frail, with dark hair and bright green eyes. She greets you pleasantly, but somehow she doesn't seem all there. Like she's distracted, maybe.
"Hello," she says, with a smile. "I fell down the rabbit hole. Can I come with you?"
We'll be putting up a log for everyone that will encompass this entire section of the plot, from the kidnapping up to meeting Green and going back to the ship. Green will also be making a plot-oriented post upon getting to the ship, so be on the lookout for that! This is the last bit of plot for the ship-plot before an uneventful three-day trip home, at which point the communicators should be working again, and all will be right with the world.
You'll have up until the 18th to explore the entirety of Spero, and it's up to you guys when you want to leave, whether it's the 18th or before that. The encounter with Spero's natives will be the very last thing to happen within the city.
There will be a post made shortly in discedo_ooc for plotting purposes! We're leaving it up to you guys to choose who gets involved with the Spero natives, what you do with them, who takes what home, all of that; all of those will be up for discussion in the post. I'll link that OOC post in this one once it goes up!
→ OOC plotting post!
For one last resource, we have a rough map of the area of Spero they will be able to explore. You can find it here! The X's on the map are impassable areas.
Since this post ended up being so long, the in-city plot will be getting its own post, which will be going up shortly!
Pirates and gentlemen, we hope you're enjoying your stay in Spero, now that you're actually there! But the fun times aren't quite over yet, so we have some more goodies for you.
The Observatory
A little ways away from the university lies an observatory, up on a hilltop.
The observatory in Spero is a little bigger than the one seen in Dissimulo, definitely more spacious though lacking in decoration. It is dome-shaped like most observatories familiar to the characters. The walls are completely bare, a solid metallic gray. They're wide enough where even the smallest sound will echo. The building itself is separated into two "floors" or tiers, rather: the bottom level is where all the data-recording seems to be done, various desks with computers, shelves with books, all mushed in together. Up the small, spiral staircase in the center of the observatory is the second level where the large telescope rests. The ceiling of the observatory is still opened up, showing the sky, the building's only source of lighting. The electricity seems to be out and none of the computers will work.
...Or will they?
A small screen at the base of the telescope emits a dim, flickering glow. It's a simple device: a box with a viewscreen and several dials. Turning the dials makes a picture appear, grainy, fuzzy, grayscale but unmistakably there.
The picture you see, whether you recognize it or not, is Tokyo. People move along the streets, cars fight for space in rush-hour traffic, lights flicker on buildings. You can't hear the noises of the city, but it's clearly a video.
Turn the dial, and you may see another world...maybe it'll be familiar. What you're looking at is the home world of any person that has been brought to Discedo, and you can flip between them the same way a person might flip through channels on an old television set.
On the bottom level, there's a strange-looking machine against the wall, covered in a large cloth to keep the dust away. When you pull the sheet away, you can't recognize it by its appearance. The interface of it is strange. You can't tell what the screen is for, since there's no electricity to light it up. Various buttons are placed here and there, indicating its various functions, you presume. It looks broken and old. It doesn't look like any sort of machinery you'd see back home.
Conveniently, there's a folder in the shelf nearby that talks about it:
(Date is illegible)
This machine is able to traverse between worlds. Not only does it find them, it can interact with the environment of them. It can see both the past and present of a world, able to bend time at its will. We extracted various items for research. The first notable thing was, despite some slight differences and exceptions, how similar our world is compared to theirs. Almost like a parallel dimension. With some exceptions, our appearances or everyday items are not so different in the end. Or how we speak, or how we feel, how we express. Why we live and why we die.
If it's true, then maybe we can find a suitable cure for this virus. Something we can't find here. And we can discover more about what's been around us for who knows how long. Is it even possible? In any case, Spero will be working with Discedo's research team for some sort of answer. Both teams have already collaborated to create this machine.
Maybe not just items, but also people could travel back and forth.
Well, it may be more possible than we previously thought.
(the rest is illegible)
Among the shelf, you can also find a blueprint for some sort of... vehicle? By simple design, it looks like a modified spaceship of some sort, similar to a Gummi Ship.
Stuffed on the bottom shelf is a huge binder. It's teeming with pages, hastily pushed in as if at the last minute.
The Binder
If you care to open it, you'll find among the pages the following information:
Miles Edgeworth & Phoenix Wright (Picture of the courtroom. Phoenix is on one side with Pearl (channeling Mia), and on the other side is Miles. A radio communicator is on the witness stand. Phoenix and Miles are both circled in black ink. There are two post-it-notes stuck to the picture:)
“Phoenix Wright, defense lawyer, 26, ability to see lies (??)” “Miles Edgeworth, prosecution, 26, excellent deduction skills”
Azula (There’s a blurry photo of her lightning bending pasted to a piece of paper)
“Royalty. Ability to control fire and lightning element. Mentally unsound. Extremely dangerous, approach with caution!!”
America (?) (A picture of his face is next to a map of America, connected by an equals sign. There are question marks everywhere, but no notes.)
Charles (An old, faded brown photo.)
“Vampire. Need to drink blood, unknown. Immortality, unknown. Oriental descent.”
Harry Mason (A straight-on photo of him holding a flashlight in the fog. It's almost too blurry to make out his face)
“What is “Silent Hill?” Deceased - can the dead be brought back to life...??”
The Doctor (There’s a photo of him running into the TARDIS… And all the notes are TARDIS related. It seems like he’s been overlooked in the light of a working time traveling machine. Ridiculous mathematical functions are scattered about the page.)
“It's bigger on the inside?”
Haine (The photo is of him fighting something. His spine has been traced over in red.)
“re-enforced spinal column ‘Cerberus‘, super strength, healing factor. Highly Dangerous.”
Nill (A fuzzy picture of her from behind, to show her wings.)
“Nonfunctioning wings. Mute?? World is inhospitable. Possible prostitution.”
Kadaj (His page is accompanied by pictures of Loz, Yazoo, and Sephiroth. The three siblings form a triangle, Sephiroth is in the middle. Any notes are too faded to read.)
Reno (He’s… running from something. Probably big and scary, judging by the ridiculous look on his face. Somebody has wrote “lol” in the corner of the photo.)
Zack (The picture where he, Cloud, Tifa and Sephiroth all posed in front of the Nibelhiem mansion. The edges are slightly burnt. He and Cloud are both circled in blue.)
“Brothers? Second subject displays identical behaviors to the first in further observation. Possible mental illness.”
River Tam
“Extraordinary mental powers. Reads minds? Sees the future? Is this even possible??”
Edward & Alphonse Elric (Both on an old-fashioned train; Edward is asleep and Alphonse is looking through the train car at something.)
“Alchemists. Can transform base substance into higher substance at will. Further research on this subject is needed. The truth behind the Truth?”
Yorda (Sitting on what looks like a chair made of stone.)
“Unidentified non-human being. Ghost? Substance of light?? Displays powers of unknown origin.”
Axel & Roxas (The both of them in an unidentified location, decked in their Organization outfits.)
“’Nobodies.’ A being in human shape, after the ‘heart’ is stolen the ‘shell’ is left behind. Without a ‘heart,’ they are very dangerous. Further observation necessary.”
Riku Replica (A picture of him, next to a picture of Riku, connected by an equal sign.)
“Replicated human. Made to look, think and act exactly like the original. However, the replica shows some tendency to self-thought that deviates from the original. The replication process must not be entirely foolproof.”
Hihara Kazuki (A blurry picture of him smiling in some direction, trumpet in hands.)
“Human of an origin very much like our own world. Surprisingly normal and mentally well. Musician. Moral boost??”
Link (A picture of him in his normal stance, as well as in his wolf form, being ridden by Midna.)
“Known as a savior or hero in many alternate universes. Has an innate power from something called the “Triforce.” He holds one section, “Courage”, while two other beings in the universe hold the remaining ones. Always inclined to good or kind deeds.”
Ryuuzaki Umi (Alone, while casting a powerful water spell.)
“Traverses two worlds, one much like our own and another that is full of “magic.” Destiny apparently has chosen her and two others to be some kind of savior in the magic world. Can control water and ice.”
Ryou Naruse (Only his back shows, in a blackroom, obscuring a collage of pictures.)
“Uses the name, ‘Ryou Naruse,’ for unknown reasons. Life motivations unknown. Brilliant defense lawyer.”
Ari (A picture that shows his elongated shadow, possessed by a pair of yellow eyes)
“World controlled by a system of ranking and role giving that is absolute and controlled by an unknown entity. Shadow possessed by some evil presence. Otherwise lacking noteworthy qualities.”
Strawhat Pirates (Together in a photo on the Merry-go.)
“World dominated by seafarers. Much of the land is treacherous and uninhabitable. Subjects are ‘pirates,’ the term used loosely. Mostly they acquire money (berries) by defeating other pirates.”
“Subject 1 (Hat) has obtained inhuman powers through consuming a ‘devil fruit,’ specifically a ‘gum gum fruit.’ The fruit enables the subject to bend and stretch far beyond the normal limits of a human being, as if his body were made of rubber. However, in exchange for this power, the subject cannot swim. There are said to be many different kinds of “devil fruit“ with different effects. More research into this subject is highly encouraged.”
Seta Souji (With glasses on, and the picture look as though it has been taken in fog) & Arisato Minato (Evoker in hand, pressed to his temple.)
“Both subjects exhibit the same power, “Persona,” an ability to summon any vast number of creatures at will to attack, heal, defend, and et cetera. For these two subjects the “Persona” is unknown in origin, as they seem to contain a myriad that can be summoned at will. However, the following subjects:”
Aragaki Shinjiro, Iori Junpei & Shirogane Naoto (Nondescript mug shots)
“Show the ability to only summon one ‘persona,’ that seems personal to the exact subject. There also seems to be some form of connection between the mental state of the subject and the power of the ‘persona.’ End of notes.”
Professor Hershel Layton (A shot while teaching in his university.)
“Archeological professor. Incredible puzzle/problem solving abilities and organizational skills. Highly renowned for his abilities and often travels to remote locations at request for his services.”
Chris Redfield (Dressed for combat, reloading a handgun)
“A former member of S.T.A.R.S., the pointman. His marksmanship was the best on his team. Familiar with viral outbreak, a survivor. Plenty of battle experience.”
Death the Kid (Holding both “guns” in his usually upside-down stance. A note is scribbled in: “Liz and Patty Thompson??”)
“’Meister,’ son of ‘Shinigami-sama’ (death?), wields ‘weapons,’ humans who transform in to various types of armaments at call of the ‘meister‘ to collect souls of corrupt beings. Preventing some looming disaster. Goes to a school that teaches ’weapons’ and ’meisters’ together.”
Raphael (With his brothers, in their underground pad)
“A mutated turtle by some unknown substance, displays humanlike behaviors and tendencies. Not innately dangerous. Work together in their world to stop crime.”
Nicholas D. Wolfwood (Sunglasses on with the Punisher in hand)
“Priest or assassin? Unusual gun - unusual technology. Rocket launcher?”
Vash the Stampede (Traveling through the desert alone)
“The Humanoid Typhoon. (Wanted for...??) Somehow tied to an energy source.”
Fay D. Flourite, Kurogane, Sakura, Syaoran, & Mokona (All together in a walking shot.)
“A group of dimension travelers, looking for ‘feathers’ belonging to subject A, apparently memories and/or pieces of the soul. Subject B is also from the world of subject A and wishes to assist her, but subjects C and D are not directly connected to subject A and merely seem to be helping out of convenience. Subject F is a creature of unknown origin that enables their traveling through dimensions. Subject F is a subject of priority interest and should continue to be observed at all times. More replicating technology...?”
Sho Minamimoto (Sitting on one of his junk piles)
“A ‘reaper’, a being that exists between the alive and the dead in a space called the ‘underground.’ The ‘reaper’s’ job is to test the souls in this purgatory-like dimension to give them a chance to come back to life. This subject is a high-level ‘reaper’ and is allowed to orchestrate the tasks given to the souls in different ‘games.’ The subject is slightly maniacal, highly intelligent and very powerful, approach with greatest caution.”
Yuuko Ichihara (…Who is curiously void of picture.)
“Known as the ‘Time Space Witch’ or the ‘Dimension Witch,’ this subject is a person of High Interest. Subject has the power to send others into other dimensions at a price of whatever is most important to the client. Suspected creator of Subect F from File 22. This subject should be watched at all times!!”
In addition to these notes, there are some photos in the book, too. They're grainy and fuzzy, just like the screen you looked at earlier.
(Linked because there are a ton)
One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen, Sixteen, Seventeen, Eighteen, Nineteen, Twenty, Twenty-one.
Outside of the City
Several trailers sit at the edge of town, large structures, big enough to house four or five people for more than just a few days at a time. They don't look the same as the rest of the buildings in the city: they're smaller, more compact. Simpler. They also seem utterly abandoned.
Inside there are papers strewn about, and devices line the walls. None of them work, but they look startlingly like observational equipment, or transmitting devices. Maybe that would explain the antenna on the roof.
The accomodations aren't bad: the sheets, towels and clothes inside are all in good condition, as are the supply cabinets. Some emergency food supplies in the kitchenette, and in the bathrooms, several medical kits filled with bandages, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory pill bottles, several empty --but sterile-- syringes. There should be about three or four of these first-aid kits. Under the cabinets are several flashlights and battery packs.
These things might not last for long, but they're a start.
There's a metallic cabinet on one wall of each of these trailers: it looks like it was once equipped with at least a dozen large firearms. Most of these are empty.
In the first trailer you come to --the one with the transmission antenna-- there is a red binder. There's only one paper within; the rest have been torn out. All except for the cover page:
Tactical strategy: Accedian occupation of Spero.
Going Home(...?)
After everything has been explored, when you're all going back to your pleasant little boat, you might notice something. Spero, Dissimulo, Discedo...the thing that ties them together is the quiet. They're abandoned, silent, still; as if even the wind, even an animal or a falling leaf, could disturb that quiet and break it. The streets are empty, the buildings boarded up, the subways all silent. Not a soul has been in sight in any of these places; not one that wasn't brought here just the same as you were.
That, however, changes in seconds.
They emerge from the darkened subway entrance, six or seven men that look like they might have once been strong. Now they're thin, absolutely bone-thin, dirty, covered in sweat and foul, in bloodied sores and boils. Teeth dark with rot and hair matted with neglect, they seem more like desperate, twitchy animals than human beings.
Whatever they might be, they take the pirates by surprise; or, at least, enough so that they can grab five or six of your crew...and vanish once more into the subway.
So.
>Rescue your crew?
>Fuck them, I'm on a boat!
>Ewww that's gross, screw this.
...>Rescue your crew?
Let's go with that.
The Subway
Subway Tunnel
Those flashlights may come in handy, because the subway is dark. You may still be able to hear the shouts of your friends --and those strange humans-- in the distance. Following that sound takes you along the main tracks for a while until you come to a large, clear area.
Subway Main
Maybe it used to be a subway stop. It's hard to say, though, because whatever it was...now it looks more like a nest. Torches line the walls, filthy "nests" are all over the area --piles of cloth, newspaper, maybe an animal skin or two. You probably don't want to know what the leathery skins are from-- and in the corner, surrounded by at least two dozen of the filthy creatures: a makeshift cage, containing your friends.
This is what's left of Spero's native population. What was once a thriving city has been reduced to this: a ragged and dirty populace that barely seems sane, let alone literate. Most of them don't speak, not in full sentences at least, but if you try to take back your friends, they will fight you. They're not strong, nor are they armed, but they attack with the viciousness of wild animals, scratching, clawing, biting, whatever they can. Kill, capture, subdue, run the hell away: when the choice is yours, what will you do?
Whatever you choose, you'll only be able to rescue your friends when they're all dealt with. And when that happens, you find that all of your friends are more or less unharmed.
They're also not alone.
The girl crouched in the cage with them is small, seemingly a little frail, with dark hair and bright green eyes. She greets you pleasantly, but somehow she doesn't seem all there. Like she's distracted, maybe.
"Hello," she says, with a smile. "I fell down the rabbit hole. Can I come with you?"
We'll be putting up a log for everyone that will encompass this entire section of the plot, from the kidnapping up to meeting Green and going back to the ship. Green will also be making a plot-oriented post upon getting to the ship, so be on the lookout for that! This is the last bit of plot for the ship-plot before an uneventful three-day trip home, at which point the communicators should be working again, and all will be right with the world.
You'll have up until the 18th to explore the entirety of Spero, and it's up to you guys when you want to leave, whether it's the 18th or before that. The encounter with Spero's natives will be the very last thing to happen within the city.
There will be a post made shortly in discedo_ooc for plotting purposes! We're leaving it up to you guys to choose who gets involved with the Spero natives, what you do with them, who takes what home, all of that; all of those will be up for discussion in the post. I'll link that OOC post in this one once it goes up!
→ OOC plotting post!
For one last resource, we have a rough map of the area of Spero they will be able to explore. You can find it here! The X's on the map are impassable areas.
Since this post ended up being so long, the in-city plot will be getting its own post, which will be going up shortly!