Downtime Log - Intro

[locomodo]

Log 01 Downtime Intro
Maybe you were walking to class, or riding into battle, or at your father's funeral, or gazing into the abyss as you brush your teeth and think about your waning youth. Maybe you're from 1000 years ago, or the far-flung future. But it doesn't matter how different you are, because all passengers will wake up sprawled on the same floor of the same car...


The Perfectly Average Everyday Normal Train Car

As characters stir from their slumber, they'll notice their new(?) phones vibrating in their pockets. An unread message is waiting for them...

FROM: clownductor one

Welcome to the Existential Express, car #83045029342000001.

[CHARACTER NAME] is currently engaged in Tutorial Mode.

Objectives:
> Read the Existential Express (E2) brochure.
> Access the user directory and send a message.
> Ask one of the other passengers to be your friend.
> Find the exit door.

By completing car objectives, passengers may proceed through the exit and onto the next car.

Thank you for riding with the Existential Express. Please enjoy your journey into the great unknown.

>>>>SUBJECT: New Passengers
How is that? I attempted to make it sound welcoming.

The message, strangely, cuts off there. The brochure goes over all the basic 'what is a train' questions people may have, but nothing else.

However, characters may find that the exit door is locked until they complete the objectives, so it's icebreaker time! On the bright side, it seems this is a dining car, so there's a few nice plates of treats and a bar that magically serves beverages when people make orders. The exit door will be locked until the objectives are complete! (Please see OOC notes below for more details.)

In any case, when they unlock the door and move on through the exit, there is a walkway to the next car. Please watch your step, and check out the FAQ for more details on trying to leave the train!

Immediately proceeding the intro car is...


The Land of Corginia Car

As characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Lend a helping paw.



Because this historical city is occupied with... dogs! Mostly corgis. They are smart, verbal, and very good boys and girls. The dogs are happy to play with anyone, and will also help passengers get to anywhere they want to go. The car itself is basically Rome, with low doorways and ceilings.

And because corgis do have short legs and zero thumbs, they will sometimes need and ask for assistance. For example, you and a partner may need to help the corgis cross a river, give them belly rubs, or reach a ball on a high shelf. They are easily distracted, squirmy little babies and will make life very difficult, but they're just so darn cute!


The Museum Car

(tw: body horror)

As the characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Complete yourself.



As passengers enter this car, they'll find themselves feeling notably lighter. This might be because they're suddenly missing a leg, or perhaps an arm, or their eyes, or tongue. Whatever it may be, a part of them has been taken away. There's no pain, or danger to their lives from the missing part, it simply isn't there.

It's been whisked away and hidden somewhere in the musty old museum that they've found themselves in. Luckily, it's currently closed, so there's nothing stopping them from raiding everything in sight! The displays span all manner of topics, from history to biology to space. Passengers might even find displays on familiar historical events or persons from their home worlds as they search—the collection is seemingly endless! Just watch out, because sometimes objects (and body parts) will come to life and lunge through the glass at anyone who walks a little too close.

NOTE: Characters can snipe items from the display cases in the museum! However, they'll discover the items are actually toy replicas made of flimsy plastic. They're completely non-functional and will break if handled too roughly.


The Birth of the Wind Car

As the characters enter the car, their phones will notify them of a new objective…

> Collect all the korogu seeds.



The world that lies ahead of the passengers is vast and lush; a spectacle of nature that spans snow-capped mountains, dense forests, deserts, and lakes. Aside from unusually large and extremely territorial fauna (1, 2, 3), the car appears devoid of any signs of civilization, and passengers might think themselves completely alone…

… Until they hear the tinkling of a bell, and a cheery, "yahaha!" in the distance. Upon closer inspection, the car is in fact populated by small, wooden creatures known as korogus (here). They hide at the tops of trees and mountains, on lone islands in large lakes, and under rocks. Once a passenger stumbles across their hiding place—whether knowingly or otherwise—they'll appear in a puff of magic holding a golden korogu seed. Simply finding them isn't enough for them to hand over the precious item however, and they'll require passengers to offer up one truth in exchange for a seed. And don't bother lying, they'll give you a solid bonk on the head and disappear if you do!


Numbers

Numbers! Everyone starts with one that glows on their bodies — as a fun thread mechanic, we suggest they're somewhere visible, but it's up to you!



Because while this is not IC knowledge yet, numbers are determined by how troubled your character is. This may be based on their past actions and crimes, but also alienating habits, regrets, personality flaws, trauma, etc — a higher number does not necessarily mean they're a bad person, but it may signify a difficult time in their life, or substantial personal issues.

Numbers change as characters work through their issues... which we'll cover next time! However, for this log, please note that numbers will remain static. They may flicker or warp occasionally, but don't worry about them going up or down for the intro! As a bonus, numbers can glow in any color you would like.


OOC Notes

Car Order: While the cars are linear and in the order shown, characters can freely move between these four cars for the next three weeks — players may assume 1:1 IC:OOC time ratio.

Locks: Passengers may follow other characters out of cars after they've been unlocked — so in general, players can assume optional cars on downtime months are unlocked if they don't want to play in them. Likewise, if your character ICly would not participate in a car but you still want to play with those prompts, you can assume they're locked in and must complete objectives. Feel free to pick and choose what you'd like to play from any downtime log!

Update: We will also have a small update in the coming weeks — the setting won't change, but there will be a few more (optional!) aspects to play with later.

Feel free to direct questions to our Discord help channel. Welcome to Locomo, and have fun!

---

locomo e2 traincation

FAQ & Game Info / Calendar / Taken
Applications / Reserves / Hiatus & Drops



FULL NAVIGATION

Comments

[psychometries]

[ He's really not in any shape to protest her inspection, so he doesn't. Instead, when she's done, he very laboriously pushes himself up so that he's sitting with his back against the wall, his expression a rictus of pain. ]

I'm really hoping it doesn't come to that.

[ But even his weary tone makes it pretty clear that she's got him pegged, and he can admit that. Curiously, he eyes her and what she's doing with that book in her lap—she seems to be moving with purpose, even if he can't figure out what that purpose is yet. ]

Are you a medic?

[sulahnan]

[ Sorry for the hug, sir, but she needs both hands to do her own form of charades, holing up the index fingers of both hands to indicate a length of roughly six inches. ]

About this long, yeah? Kinda pointy, with earrings on 'em. [ Tessa looks down at the dangling trouser leg and points to it. ] D'ya think there are other legs we'll have to sort through? How'll we tell yours from any others?

[frostblooded]

[Kaeya gestures down the aisle, towards the case containing his floating eye.]

Oh, thank the Archons for you. If you could just skip on down over there and fetch my eye for me, I'd be ever so grateful.

[He makes no reference to anything else in the eye's vicinity; it's a museum, right? All harmless diplays, not worth mentioning.]

[neriticism]

[ No worries, it's a utility hug. Needs must. Well at least those should stand out, even if they're small compared to a leg. He nods, then follows her gaze down... and his stomach does a little flip. His shoe's gone. Shit, did they leave it behind? There was a lot going on at the time, lot of other stuff to focus on. He still kind of glances back the way they came, as far as he can turn his head anyway. ]

[ ... It's fine. They'll find his leg and if it's not there, then he can walk back. No one picks up an abandoned shoe. All they do is ponder the life choices that led to that moment. He sighs. ]

Well I mean if the shoe didn't go with it it's got a couple scars like a bullet wound and like [ He pauses, brow furrowed, trying to think of a way to continue. ] Like two rows of circles behind the knee if it took that much I don't know

[ It's weird trying to police sketch artist your own features, especially weird scars. ]

There can't be that many parts though right it's not taking everyone's leg or everyone's ears

[mugen]

nope

because the other person is

[Wait for it...]

the teacher!!!

[She did ask him point blank for an answer to the most important question, i.e. who is the really good looking, strong, funnest person by the name of Gojo Satoru...but really he's just being intentionally difficult.

Although, asking the teacher directly during a "test" maybe should have earned her some points for daring...hmm...]

1/2

[mugen]

[Well! Color Satoru officially impressed. An answer like that indicates that Anakin is reasonably intelligent and also potentially experienced with fights of his own. Take out the leader and you solve the overall problem; take out the tree or the volcano but neglect to account for the leader, and the head will still be there — will keep pulling strings until its overall plan comes to fruition. And then the small problem of two enemies will suddenly be much bigger.

But the answer also shows a little confidence in his ability to take out a strong opponent, or at least a certain disregard for his own well-being in face of a threat. Both of which are important qualities in the people that Satoru singles out as both students and allies.

And on a this mysterious train, having a few of those around could prove useful. So!]

you're a little crazy huh

[Coming from Satoru, who happens to be a little crazy himself and values that quality in others, this is actually a compliment. Hence the message that follows...]

[mugen]

✨ CONGRATULATIONS ✨

💯 YOU HAVE PASSED THE PERSONALITY TEST 💯

🐶 PLEASE PROCEED TO THE DOG CAR TO CLAIM YOUR REWARD 🐶

[Attached is a picture of one of the buildings in Corginia, resembling the Pantheon.

Didn't Satoru say this wasn't pass or fail? Well the parameters changed the second Anakin starting acing this made-up test!

Should Anakin choose to follow these directions, he will find Satoru leaning against one of the pillars, arms folded, having switched out his trademark blindfold for his blackout sunglasses. His eyes will remain closed until Anakin is within speaking distance, at which point he'll open them to glance over his shades and take a long look at him, attempting to see if he can pick up on any trace of power. He knows that his Six Eyes have their limitations here, and that most of the train's new inhabitants don't have cursed energy, but it's still worth checking.

He'll also offer a grin and a simple:]

Yo.

[sociably]

[ ........................




...........



............................................ ]

that doesn't make any sense
what does the teacher have anything to do with this?

[sociably]

maybe not
but you could be invisible!
or really small

[ or any number of possibilities that are now shrinking away the more she thinks about this



..................... ]

are you the blonde person sitting at the end of the car?

[sociably]

[ Hyperspace lanes.....? She's not gonna ask. Not yet at least. ]

yeah...
i mean, mahira's wanted to go for forever and she only got to go because she built her own rocket!
and even then it took a ton of work and effort
i don't think any normal person could just fly to the cosmos even if they wanted to

say, what's the most interesting planet you've been to?

[neriticism]

[ Considering it's the only real reliable source of food they've found so far, he hadn't really been expecting to be left alone at all, and definitely not for long. What he hadn't been expecting was to be straight Phoenix Wrighted from clear across the car by a teenage girl. Hold it! ]

Whoa, hon, [ As if that finger were a gun, he puts his hands up in surrender... To chest height, anyway, and the left's already struggling to make it that far. Although it's pretty clearly a very mock surrender, he keeps his tone earnest. He's really not in a position to be kidding around right now, and this kid looks twitchy as hell. ] I'm looking for something, all right? It's kinda important.

[psychometries]

[ He doesn't answer right away, the inner conflict over what to tell Anakin writ large on his face. For a split second, he wishes that he hadn't parted ways with Master Kenobi, and they could figure out what to do together. Is it better that Anakin knows, or not? It's probably too late now for Cal to pretend that he doesn't have some terrible knowledge, so would it only make things worse, if Anakin knows something awful happens in his future but not what it is?

But they must be here for a reason, a purpose. Nothing is a coincidence with the Force. What if this is part of Cal's purpose? Why else would they have arrived from different times? ]

It— [ He sighs, and it sounds like inevitability. Finally, he settles on: ] It didn't end how we hoped.

[ That much might be obvious from his shabby Guild uniform, the patchwork lightsaber clipped to his belt, the scars slashed across his face. He doesn't look like a Jedi at all—at least not one that would be recognizable to the Jedi as they were. He looks more like a fugitive.

Then he heaves another sigh, running a hand through his hair. ]

I can tell you, but I don't know if I should. This train... I don't know why it would bring us here like this.

[sociably]

[ She doesn't answer him right away, choosing instead to snap a picture of him all sprawled out on the grass. Heehee, he looks so cute! Surely he'll be happy to have this picture later, once he gets all the dogs off. ]

Oh, just a friend of mine. [ 'Friend' is stretching it a lot, but details. ] He loves dogs.

[ Now that she's got her incriminating evidence saved, she tucks her phone away and starts ambling over, crouching down to pet the dogs that flock around him. In some ways, she's helping get them off; a few of the dogs, interested in this new friend, clamber off him and race over. ]

And I took a picture! You looked so cute, I figured you'd want a picture for later to show all your friends.

[ Because he has friends....................right? ]

[mugen]

[Unfortunately, the teacher has everything to do with this....Sorry, Beatrix.]

i'll give you a hint but it'll cost you more points

[sociably]

you're just going to take away more points anyway
so you might as well just tell me

corginia

[soulshard]

[ When Aria and Ardbert exit the first car together only to be met by a land full of sentient dogs, it's hard not to feel like maybe this situation isn't so bad after all. Ardbert's got his body back, he's alive at least for the present moment, Aria is close at hand, and now there are dogs everywhere.

It's difficult to not wonder when the other shoe is going to drop.

Ardbert splits off from Aria so that they can both explore. He's already spoken with a few of the dogs, exchanging names and pleasantries, but he hasn't yet found any who need a helping paw. He is oddly at ease around the dogs, as this is hardly the first time he's come across intelligent, sentient creatures like this. The Nu Mou at least had opposable thumbs, however, doglike as they'd also been.

He's drawn toward a large group of the corgis all gathered together on the grass, and isn't sure what's caught their attention until he hears a voice yell out. Ardbert frowns and draws closer, stopping in his tracks when he spots the orb. It's not quite the same model or shape, but the first thing he can think of are the Allagan nodes which had been excavated out of the Crystal Tower. Usually they can float, however. This one might be broken.

They also tend to have much flatter, more monotone voices. Interesting... ]

Oh! Well, of course I can help. [ Ardbert glances over to the dog in question, who barks an excited hello before turning around to lead him to the bushes in question. ] Just a moment! [ He calls it back to the node and other corgis, just for good measure. ]

[mugen]

[Minus thirteen points for that self-defeating attitude! Points can always be earned back when it comes to arbitrary tests that don't matter at all!

But more importantly, the hint:]

the teacher is really cool
and good-looking

[fluxing]

_{[ Yes. Please touch the attention starved eyeless guy. He falls into the touch quiet naturally, wrapping his arm around Vanadi's and although they are near the same height, he leans into him. ]}

Ooooh. I'll have to do something to repay you for your kindness, mister..

_{[ mister... ]}

What is your name, sweetheart?

[fluxing]

_{[ Man. His world is so bizarre that even what Jinwoo is saying it's very likely something like that would happen. You know, some big brother kind of shit. Jack isn't going to overshare that he's killed his share of humans, but maybe if they weren't all so corrupt he wouldn't have to. ]}

Oooh, nooo. I want us all to get along. That's all. Where I'm from there are too many wars and disagreements between my kind and humans. Though I.. have made some mistakes in the past trying to make things right. Sometimes violence isn't the answer but it's almost impossible to avoid in my world if you're anyone who is fighting for the goal of utopia.

_{[ He shifts, slightly uncomfortable. ]}

I don't really give a shit about it anymore. I just want to live my life and try to pursue my passions even if it's unfair to my kind the way we're treated.

[neriticism]

[ That is the socially graceful plan, yes. But he's not going to change his mind. Mostly it's the whole stuck-in-a-weird-and-unfamiliar-situation business. And a bit of the motion-sickness-and-alcohol-don't-mix business. ]

Long red coat, white shirt, brown hair. Objectively identifiable details at a distance, you know. It all comes together so nicely in person I promise.

[ And in the meantime he's peeled himself upright and posted up with a hip against the nearest empty booth, staying on his feet for a little more visibility and glancing about for tall, rich, and especially nice... Half of this game is hot gachas do you have any idea how little that narrows it down, Vanadi. ]

iii

[soulshard]

[ Complete yourself, is the prompt that they're given this time.

This car is a stark, dark contrast from the one that came before. The museum exhibits are grisly more often than not, and the lighting is kept low and ominous, turning it into some sort of terrible maze. Ardbert's already spotted limbs and other body parts in his search, but not yet his own missing piece: his tongue.

It makes a sick sort of sense, doesn't it? For so long he'd been unable to communicate with a single other soul, living or dead. He'd had to watch the world continue on and distort what he and his comrades had done for the world, never once being able to speak up with a word of protest.

So to some extent, this is all dreadfully familiar. It means that Ardbert's able to swallow down any sense of panic and focus on the task at hand, but that's not necessarily the case for the others in this car.

Ardbert hears the thundering footsteps and the barked question, but there's nothing he can say or do to warn the person as he rounds the corner, meaning that the man crashes right into him. Ardbert's built sturdily enough that all he does is stumble back a few paces. He reaches out to grip the stranger's shoulders, an attempt to steady him, and registers that he looks to be an elf. Yet Ardbert can speak no words of explanation or ask any questions, and instead lets out a silent sigh.

One who cannot see, the other who cannot speak. It's quite a pair that they make. ]

1/i'm so sorry

[sociably]

[ ................... ]

[sociably]

[ ................... ]

[sociably]

[ ................... ]

[sociably]

[ ................................................. ]