Event: Tutorial Boss

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 2, noon
Where: :)

[You've been here just over a day, and dawn hasn't come. The night remains, reigned over by the malevolent flickering of the Prism. The Prince's recording hasn't stopped at all -- perhaps it's driving you mad or perhaps it's become just part of the background noise, along with the waves, which have been getting gradually louder all morning. If you're outside, you may occasionally catch what seem to be soft lights in the distance, under the surface of the too-still sea. The only movement is the creeping edges of the water, still trying to snag you and pull you in.

But then, abruptly, those edges recede, as if in warning of a giant surge. Out in the jungle, everything goes silent, wildlife still and hunkered low against the ground. But instead of water, a creature bursts forth onto the shore with a sound not unlike some kind of distorted foghorn. It's shaped vaguely like a dolphin -- if that dolphin were barge-sized and crimson red, with bands of twinkling lights running down its side like something from the dark deep. It has no eyes. And yet it seems to see you perfectly well, snapping at anyone who gets close.

It can't reach the train. Not quite. But when it slides back into the water it only comes back again, diving and twisting to send water crashing up along the beach. The train rocks slightly with each wave, threatening to from the sand and wash into the water, where you'll all be taken in.

It's then that the recording stops. With a whir, the emergency lights in the clinic and lounge car are replaced by normal lighting, and the doors slide shut. It seems these two cars at least are functional. Even the big screen in the second-floor lounge room has come on. It begins to display text, matching the pleasant robotic voice that comes over the intercom -- the voice has no distinguishing features, ageless and sexless, but it has a kind of polite artificial cheer.]

Good Morning, Passengers.

We apologize for the delay in services. As of now, Prism capacity has reached: 30%. Power has been restored to communal facilities. Please be patient as we work to restore full operating capacity.

[A pause--]

Systems have detected imminent danger. We shall move to a safer landing point in: 6 hours. Please gather inside the train and prepare for travel. As Chain services are unavailable, please direct questions to the terminal located on the second floor Lounge.

Remember: Stay Positive! The fate of the universe depends on your healthy bonds.

[It's a mystery what the voice means by "terminal"... but if you yell at the screen you'll get an answer. It just might not be a satisfying one... And yet, the brief, robotic responses are occasionally interrupted by one that's lively and human-seeming. How odd.

Whether you have time to figure that out, however, depends on how you intend to handle your current situation. You could wait and pray the train will move before you're devoured by the sea monster... Or you could attempt to increase your chances of survival. How? That's where your teammates and fellow passengers come in. Hopefully between the lot of you, you can formulate a plan before you're all swallowed up.]

[[OOC NOTE: If you'd like a response from The Construct, please respond to the relevant toplevel. The mods will move this plot ahead again on Wednesday. At that time all services will be restored, so you won't have anything super exciting to keep track of while those in the US have a holiday. Any new posts til ten should be dated within the Day 2 noon-afternoon timeframe. In the meantime, team up ICly and OOCly and find a way to survive! Please note you have absolute permission to do what you want with this enemy. You don't need the mods' input to fight it, kill it, or get killed by it. Feel free to play it how you like in your threads!

Again, this is an Event post and you can take 300 points for participating! If you have questions hope over to last week's placements post here. If you haven't yet, you can post OOC intros there as well, but we'll aim to do some kind of friending meme over the weekend.]]

Comments

THE CONSTRUCT

[happybot]

[please comment here if you want to yell at the construct. remember everyone in the lounge can hear what you say and read the responses on the screen!]

[bowtiedbones]

[tapping on the screen, is this touch- or voice-activated? HELLO ALEXA??]

Thank gosh— Hi! Question! What's Prism? Is that the power? What does this thing run on?

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[nihilmancy]

What do you mean that the "fate of the universe depends on our healthy bonds?" How exactly does the Prince propose that we rectify this crisis that he alleges?

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[hissoff]

[ .... after everyone else is done shouting at this thing. he's going to approach it as casually as possible. also if his tone is dead it's because he hasn't actually slept since he got here, probably. ]

I only have one question. For what reason did your prince decide that we were to be these "Heroes of Distant Stars"?

[unaffective]

[ well if everyone else is doing it she could like, try. the things she really wants to know she's sure it couldn't answer but ]

Ah - yes, hello - there are among us some that have found the memory of their arrival here to be lacking, while others still exhibit greater degrees of time lost - would you happen to know why?

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[stakesthesame]

CAN I FIGHT THE WHALE

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[saddleclub]

You. Where is the rest of Class VII?

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[agoodnoe]

Hello, excuse me, could you please perhaps tell me who I am?

[voreaciously]

Where is my inventory and can I control that water?

[hm]

And is that creature edible?

[dragonheartedgirl]

What manner of creature is that?

Re: THE CONSTRUCT

[distained]

Rest assured, we will rescue you!!

[ please... kill me... ]

[ruinatings]

[Rufus has been out in the jungle for the last little while, trying to procure food. He's a bit scuffed up but mostly alright, given he has the means to cast annoying jRPG magic and has just been dropping giant metaphysical hands on things.

So he's carrying back one of those pig monsters when what the fuck is that.]

--Oh.

[Now. How do we get back to the train...?]

[unperturbed]

[yikes. Mr. Amnesia was at an open window to lean out and see while the monster is far-ish (he's planning on closing it after, okay) when he notices Rufus all the way >>>>>>>>>>>> over there.

Uh.

Wa...ves... gingerly... are you. are you okay out there bro.]

[obsidien]

[Why are people stupid, Sidurgu has to wonder.

And why does he give a damn?

He rushes out, unimpeded by the gigantic sword on his back, and grabs the shorter man by the collar. He will carry this person and maybe even his burden if he refuses to run for himself.]

Move your godsdamned feet!

[saddleclub]

[Seems like a late sleeper has been woken up by the rocking train, because stumbling out of a previously closed door in Clover's cabin is a blond young man in a unicorn kigurumi, looking. Alarmed? Especially as the message switches over.]

What in the world?

[Maybe he makes it all the way to the shared hallways and you find him there?]

[ruinatings]

[Hey so you might have met some people and you might have seen a monster, but-- As Jusis is walking around the hall a door opens and dead pig monster comes flying in and nearly hits him.

He doesn't get much time to react though because the pig is immediately followed by Rufus, who's dragging the door shut behind him just as a wave hits, the preliminary splash spraying salty water all over him and maybe a little bit on Jusis.]

[bowtiedbones]

[in the hallway, skittering out of Thyme's carriage and towards the front of the train]

We're under attack! Also, I love your onesie!

[these are EQUALLY IMPORTANT facts]

[magicmoment]

[HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO STAY POSITIVE WITH THIS GOING ON???

Hestia is hauling ass into the train, taking a few steps in before-- realizing something and whirling around, brandishing her staff as a glowing circle appears around her feet. At least she's in the relative safety of a train car, albeit like one step from the doors.

Please uh, don't let her fall over while she's casting?]

[saddleclub]

[Jusis is already wet and in a unicorn kigu and now here's Emma he'll just fucking, reach to balance her automatically while she casts.]

Careful.

[unperturbed]

[Planning and stuff is important and all but first off, this short guy is going to be skittering down halls and closing all the windows he finds open to prevent the train from getting too waterlogged. Hi and bye as he passes through.]

[saddleclub]

[Good uh, call...

Doesn't ask just joins him to take one half of things. Sorry he looks stupid while doing it.]

[stakesthesame]

What the plop is THAT

[ DOLPHIN????? THING ]

[nihilmancy]

Obviously not a fan of us.

[aimforthestars]

[This Clover arrives late with starbucks wherever most people seem to be standing around.

He's staring at everyone for a bit and the giant mess that seems to be unfolding.

And slowly...

Very slowly...

Tries to backpedal back into the clover carriage.

Byyyyyyyyeeeeeeeee...]

[unperturbed]

["Slowly" means other passerbys are gonna notice.]

...Are you not feeling well, sir?

[voreaciously]

[She tries to use any of her weapons BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE THEM. THANKS. CONSTRUCT OR PRINCE OR WHATEVER!!]

I do not have time for this.

[To anyone around.]

I am going to attempt to fight that monster and keep the water from damaging us.

[dragonheartedgirl]

How?!

[ that thing is HUGE and what can you do to WATER? ]

[distained]

[ Well he's already shucking his shirt and looking for some sort of weapon.

JUST IN CASE!!!!!!! ]

[hissoff]

[ he's not leaving the train but.

he's watching this happen from inside the train and why are you like this. ]

[friskmanagement]

...

[You look around on the beach for a weapon. You see something and walk over to it. You pick it up.
You acquired STICK.
You look at STICK. Then you look at the giant dolphin.
...
Okay, yeah, sure, go get 'em.

You take a couple steps towards the beach, holding STICK aloft.]

[bowtiedbones]

[hollering from a train window, oh my GOD]

Hey! Hey, no! Where are you going with that stick!?

[bowtiedbones]

[safely INSIDE the train, nose pressed against the glass and gawking out at the monster]

Pencil! Does anyone have a pencil? Paper?? I need a pencil!

[she could go look for one herself but listen there's people dropping suns on dolphins out there, she's not missing a second of the show]