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

[constrainer]

[ He's not sure what sets him on edge more - the sound of glass beneath their shoes, or the implication that something (or someone) else is in the room with them. Due to the whole needing to rely on his hearing, he doesn't immediately offer a verbal response, just scowling and trying (failing) to focus his senses.

Soon after, there's a scratchy, dragging sound across the floor, somewhere to the right of them— Kurapika reacts before he thinks about it, letting go of Claude's sleeve to lash out his chain at the source of the sound. ]

There's something—

[ A length of chain ejects from his hand, violently and with force that exceeds a natural amount, the metal ball at the end of the links striking what'd been dragging across the floor with a loud poff noise, the force of which knocks it into the light of the other displays... it's a some ancient pillow, stuffed with grasses and made with animal hide. Not that he has any clue, which is clear in how he looks like he's about to go up against a vicious bear instead of a cushion. Still, he'd expected whatever he struck to be bigger, and he loses the mystery item's general location in his mind's eye soon after his attack as a result.

The pillow, unperturbed, just rolls over and starts hopping towards them, cartwheeling quite cartoonishly in their direction (but probably still out for blood.) ]

[shaft]

Now, hold on—

[ He asked Kurapika to keep his ears open, not lash out at the first thing that moves.

But maybe he should let him do as he pleases, blinking as a chain shoots out from his hand, definitely longer than what is currently adorning his fingers, striking at an animated pillow and...

Well, not doing much.

The pillow slams back against another display, which rocks viciously in place but manages to keep from falling over. Claude whips his dagger out in the meanwhile, but he's not prepared for how the pillow just leaps off the ground and at his face. Where it plasters itself. ]

...!!

[ His shouts are muffled under the dusty fabric while he steadily suffocates. ]

[constrainer]

[ Even without his sight, Kurapika still has his nen— he can sense the faint outline of his companion's energy. No matter how muddy looking at just aura is, it's still vaguely.. person shaped. He'll have to make it work, since it sounds like whatever attacked them has him by the face - judging by those muffled sounds. There's no way for him to tell what has him suffocating like that, though.

Not without touching it.

Is this an impulsive and bad idea? Probably. But he assumes what's attacking them to be something small and wily— a big rodent, maybe? Or a possum? He's not sure. In either case, it's not like he wants Claude to have his face mauled off. So he has to act quickly!!

He yanks back violently once he gets a hand on the mystery item attacking his companion, which ultimately backfires, because the pillow is way lighter than he imagined. He only manages to whack himself in the face with the pillow by pulling with such force, startling with a yelp. At least they're both free?? ]

Are.... [ He clears his throat, somewhat embarrassed over smacking himself like that. ] Are you hurt?

[shaft]

[ Claude gasps for air when the pillow is pulled free, thankfully opening his eyes in time to see Kurapika getting a faceful of his own fist. He manages not to laugh—

Actually, that's a lie. He laughs, but it's mostly out of relief. ]

I mean, my ego's a little bruised at being beaten up by a pillow, but otherwise I'm all right.

[ Patting himself down, he does not slip his dagger back away because he never took it out in the first place because I forgot he doesn't have any hands. ]

Thanks for coming to my rescue. You really wanted to repay that debt, hm?

[constrainer]

A pillow?

[ Instinctively, he goes to squish what's still in his hands, confirming that yes, this is a weird pillow. Maybe the pillow was enchanted somehow... ]

I thought you were being mauled, [ He says, bluntly, tucking the cushion under one arm so he can use a hand to rub at the bridge of his nose, which still smarts from the fat punch it just took. And from being laughed at. ] And I wouldn't be able to find what I'm looking for without you.

[ Which is to say, it was equal parts self preservation and "I don't want the weight of letting someone be torn up by a rabid animal on my shoulders". ]

Let's just keep moving. [ and also he wants to change the subject of this embarrassing happening urgently. ] Unless there are more of them waiting to attack you?