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

[ascends]

[the vagueness of satoru's response is not lost on suguru; he recognizes that this is as much a warning for himself as it is the mysterious "friend," but it still answers one of suguru's questions? provides him with another, potentially viable path, if he chooses to spurn satoru's offer—which is good. there are now two doors before him; he can open whichever one he pleases, at the cost of permanently closing the other.

...such a decision should not be made lightly, especially in a place as strange as this. there are far too many unknown variables; there is the knowledge that satoru may be the key to uncovering a majority of them, his weakened abilities still the perfect complement to suguru's weakened abilities.

(and there is also the knowledge that, if they both escape this train, satoru will once again pose the largest risk to suguru's family, suguru's goals. satoru once hesitated for a decade; he will not make that mistake twice.)

but satoru stands, somewhat clumsily, before suguru can speak, apparently calling an end to this temporary truce. to search for his eyes, suguru is sure—and as suguru can see, suguru could help. a gesture for a gesture. proof that suguru deserves the small amount of trust that satoru has offered him, and that maybe, just maybe, at least half of satoru's warning was unwarranted.

except that it wasn't, and thus suguru remains where he is? silently watches a blinded satoru almost knock over someone's something, his hand still resting over the charm that is now safely tucked away. fun.]

You would say that.

[spoken quietly, with an undercurrent of something that suguru couldn't hide if he tried, because even weakened and running on fumes—satoru would. but despite that—despite the charm he can just barely feel, hidden beneath layers of fabric—suguru thinks of all that he has yet to do.]

I look forward to learning more about your friend.

[whether it's information that satoru chooses to share—or information that suguru uncovers on his own. either way.]

[mugen]

[There is a moment, just before Satoru turns away, where he pauses. He hears those words, spoken in that tone, and he thinks of a time long ago, when he asked Suguru to explain himself — to tell him why. He wore nothing over his eyes back then — no blindfold, no shades. He looked at Suguru without anything between them, and searched for a reason.

He thinks about how, years later, he found Suguru in an alleyway, preparing for death. He wore nothing over his eyes then, either. He looked at Suguru without anything between them, and took his life.

Satoru hooks a finger in his blindfold and pulls it down.

He looks at Suguru without anything between them —

and sees nothing.

He smiles at the darkness before him, and with the weight of yet another parting on his shoulders, he finally turns.

With a wave, he says:]

Say hi to Ryomen Sukuna for me.

[And makes his way out of the hall.]