locomodo: (light mode)
locomo mod acct ([personal profile] locomodo) wrote in [community profile] locomo2021-08-13 04:59 pm

Downtime Log - Intro


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!





[community profile] locomo [community profile] e2 [community profile] traincation


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



FULL NAVIGATION
sulahnan: (5)

[personal profile] sulahnan 2021-08-17 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Looks like we're just looking for the bottom half! That's... that doesn't really have any bearing on the difficulty of finding anything, I guess. But now I know what to look for! Let's get on it.

[ She takes a few steps, trying to coordinate her stride with his so it's a less awkward double-gait. It's not easy, but it works. After passing a few body parts in display cases, Tessa looks at her new pal with a slight, lopsided smile. ]

I'm Tessa, by the way.
neriticism: (13)

[personal profile] neriticism 2021-08-18 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, sounds good, [ he huffs, readjusting his grip around her neck before they set off, one-two-one-two-ing their way down the exhibit hall until they find a bit of a stride. Once he’s less focused on the footwork, it’s easier to scan the cases. Just a couple in and he’s already spying another leg… Well, it’s definitely too pale and petite to belong to him, but this is going to be a long search, isn’t it… ]

[ When she speaks up again, he glances back, gives her a little smile in return. ]

Rubén. We’ll shake hands all proper later when you can hear me ok

[ Back to cases, very diligent. At the very least, there does seem to be a wide spread of different parts. ]

You know not that I’m complaining but I don’t know if it’s weirder that they’re not all bloody or something at least it’d feel kinda Halloween then you know [ … and after a second, ] I feel like that ain’t as funny without tone of voice
sulahnan: (2)

[personal profile] sulahnan 2021-08-21 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, it's definitely weirder that they aren't bloody, like proper Weird with a capital-Wuh —

[ But of course she isn't complaining, either. The last thing she needs is to go into a frenzy at the smell of her only source of sustenance.

Tessa looks at the cases on her side of the walkway, announcing what they are as she passes. Hand. Foot. Nose. Eyeballs. The latter blink at her — like, actually blink, and she starts a little. The motion drives her shoulder a bit further into Ruben's armpit and throws them both temporarily off-balance. ]


Fucking eyeballs just blinked at me! Did you see that? I about shat myself with fright, it was proper spooky!

[ A beat. ]

What's Hollow-Een?
neriticism: (10)

[personal profile] neriticism 2021-08-27 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah feels like a dollhouse in here

[ At least she understands. On his side, he’s got... another foot, and some ears—small and round and unadorned, but he’s about to point out that someone is having just as bad a day as her when she lurches toward him, startled. Grip tightening, he hops a little frantically until he can prop himself up against a display long enough to find his bearings. ]

And we all thank you for your restraint, lady, [ he scoffs a laugh, patting her on the shoulder. No, he did not see it. But this place is creepy enough to embolden the imagination, he’s sure. ]

Holiday. And I’m gonna let holiday + bloody severed limbs percolate until you got your ears okay.

[ Because he doesn’t have time for a long answer before a thunk at his elbow jolts him right back her way, clinging tighter to steady himself again as he twists around to see… an unseated stand amid all the tastefully arranged limbs. And beneath it, a hand lying palm up, twitching slightly, like a bird that’s just struck a window. ]
sulahnan: (6)

[personal profile] sulahnan 2021-09-02 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tessa's reaction to Ruben's reaction is, for whatever reason, to pull the man away from whatever he's reacting to with intent to place herself between them, but halfway through the action she sees the twitching hand and stops to point an accusing finger at it. ]

Is that thing fucking moving by itself?! [ She doesn't wait for Ruben's response before hauling him back around to face the way they were going and resuming at a clip. ] I'm not gonna high-five it, I'm just gonna walk away and we're gonna find your leg and my ears and then we're gonna find some kind of intoxicating substance and imbibe a comfortable dosage of whatever it is.