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!

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Comments

[mugen]

[Satoru isn't used to be vulnerable in any sense of the word. He's been literally and consistently untouchable ever since he perfected his self-reverse technique as a teenager, and while he's still technically protected by his abilities, missing his eyes means missing more than just his sight. Not only can he not see, but his ability to sense cursed energy has been muted to such an extent that he's not able to sense where his eyes may be — let alone who or what he might be walking into during his attempt to search. Factor in the fact that his eyes are probably somewhere for the taking, and this is truly the first time that Satoru has been at a mild disadvantage in years.

But! Satoru also happens to be terminally chill, hence why he's meandering around seemingly without a care in the world, nearly taking out displays and people alike. He carries himself with the confidence of someone who isn't missing something incredibly vital, because he still has boundless conviction that he'd win a fight even in this condition, and because he still has a lot going for him.

What he doesn't have going for him: balance, especially after this unfortunate and rather forceful collision with someone kind enough to try to keep him from falling. He does end up tripping, and though he normally could more or less walk on air to prevent a fall, that ability has been missing since he first woke up on the train. Reflexively, he expands his Infinity, pushing it outward to both buffer himself and preemptively avoid what could be a counter attack from someone he can only hear and not see.

Hence: Satoru manages to regain his footing, but also manages to repel his would-be rescuer with what is essentially a barrier around his body.]

Nice try.

[In lieu of a thank you, since he isn't sure what the guy was up to...not to mention Satoru just lacks manners in general. The words aren't exactly kind, but he does grin as he says them.]

I can't be touched that easily.

[onlyhope]

Oh!

[ He verbalizes his surprise just as much as it shows on his face, though this is entirely reflex of genuine shock. The way his touch skates off this man like a deflector shield is like nothing he has experienced before. Just looking at him, it's impossible to see what it might have been. There's no obvious equipment that seems like it could generate such a thing, and Obi-Wan is not aware of such kind of technology even from the most advanced of civilizations. Obi-Wan's hands linger in the air a moment, coming down as an after thought. ]

That's fascinating. I've never encountered a personal shield like that before.

[ Caught up in this singular curiousity, the stranger's tone seems to either sail right over his head or go completely ignored as his hand comes up to his beard and he cocks his head. ]

Do you have a generator? Or, is this some inherent ability of yours?

[ Passing through to train cars by now, he's seen some very interesting things. ]

[mugen]

[At this point, Satoru has already graced a few people with a demonstration of his Infinity, and their responses ranged from disturbed to shocked. This is the first that someone has taken an intellectual interest in it — and definitely the first that someone has called it fascinating. This reaction is better than someone thinking they can pull a fast one on him given his situation with his eyes, and since this guy already knows he's untouchable, he shouldn't be angling for an attempt at taking advantage of him.

And Satoru's doesn't need to keep his techniques hidden for the sake of their success; it costs nothing to explain. But what does cost him is every second he's without his eyes, knowing that there are at least two people on this train who would be happy to take them — and destroy them.]

I'll tell you all about it...

[And he will! He'll talk about Infinity and Achilles and the Tortoise in as much detail as this guy wants.]

After you help me 'complete myself.'

[Less a request and more that Obi-wan has officially been volunteered for duty. Cut him a little slack, it's been over a decade since he was last in a position where he truly needed to ask for help for anything at all.]

[onlyhope]

[ That's — fair, and Obi-Wan seems to realize a touch belatedly that he's being rather rude just needling into this man's business. Still, he can't help himself when his curiousity gets the better of him at times, a habit he would absolutely deny if someone pointed it out to his face. What he does do is straighten up, dropping his hand down from his beard. ]

Right, of course. Where are my manners.

You were certainly much lighter on your feet before this car.

[ A comment that would seem off-hand, if someone with a keen ear didn't note this means Obi-Wan has clearly taken note of him before. He gestures with an open palm. ]

What is it you seem to have lost?

[mugen]

[It isn't easy, admitting to a vulnerability, especially one as big as this, regardless of how obvious it may be to those who happen to observe him in this car. And especially to a stranger. Even among friends, Satoru has always verged on arrogant, as both The Strongest and literally untouchable, nothing could harm him — let alone take something as vital as his eyes. And were he surrounded by friends instead of strangers and enemies, Satoru might treat this situation with as much pride as he might a fight, plopping down in front of his colleagues and framing it as a joke instead of a dangerous situation.

He can't do that now, but he can still treat this with a flippancy, to convey that while it's annoying that his eyes are missing, it's not terrible. That he hasn't been severed from something that has defined him since his birth.]

My eyes. They're blue. Kinda hard to miss.

[Because they aren't simply blue; they contain within them a depth reminiscent of the sky.

Satoru starts walking again, readopting his air of carelessness, though this time he manages to avoid colliding with Obi-Wan, since he now knows exactly where he is. Thankfully, he doesn't crash into the closest display case either.

He tries to sense his eyes, and feels nothing.]

You've been watching me, huh?

[He directs this question to where he expects Obi-Wan to be, following along in an effort to help. His tone is playful, but a little accusatory, as the implication of Obi-Wan's statement is not lost on him. He's been behaving similarly: keeping an eye on passengers and denizens alike. Satoru approves of his observation, though whether or not that marks Obi-Wan as a potential danger or someone worth keeping around remains to be seen.]