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Priority Log - Part 1

Log 02 Priority (Part I)
The Mine Car

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

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> OVERRIDE: TUTORIAL MODE DEACTIVATED.
> OBJECTIVE:

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NAME: The Mine Car
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT: Gothic era
DANGER LEVEL: High
GENERAL STINKINESS: High
COMMON DENIZENS: Humans, ornithrops, bearkin
CUISINE: Peasant gruel, bird seed

There is no sender. Or objective?

But that's fine, probably! The car itself is completely functional, and features a fully developed society.

Passengers will arrive in this car and be immediately greeted by a fog that chills them to their core. The car around them is vast, and yet deathly silent. They'll find themselves starting off in a forest of petrified wood, the ground hard and unyielding underneath their feet, with flora and fauna in various stages of decay around them. While the fog around them is thick, the lights of a nearby village can still be seen from a distance, and as they travel, the dirt road will give way to cobblestone.

Eventually they'll be greeted with a signpost, welcoming them to the town of MINECRAFTIA.

While Minecraftia's denizens are harrowed and distressed, they're quick to warn the passengers traveling through of the ailment, a mysterious illness that is plaguing their town. It's been leaving even healthy youths bedridden, and while the town mayor has passionately declared that he will find a solution, it appears that there's no cure in sight.

Locations

Minecraftia is a foreboding little town, even in the daylight, with murky skies above and fog blanketing the roads. Still, the denizens persist through their daily routines, and won't stop the passengers from exploring.

Clinic: The town's only clinic with the town's only doctor. It's a small, rickety building that operates all hours of the day. Between the rapid spread of sickness and the steady depletion of supplies, it's a grim place to be nowadays. Anyone healthy who visits might be roped in to help, and those who look ill will be quarantined with an uncomfortable bedroll and thin blanket.

Cemetery: Located on the outskirts of town, the cemetery is home to dead bodies, even deader earth, and a deadpan gravekeeper. The exit door is here in a flower-covered plot, but cannot be opened.

Chicken House: A barnyard building home to the town's chickens. Lately they've been more worked up than usual, and taken to flying the coop and finding refuge by digging their claws into the scalps of bystanders. Agitating one chicken may cause a whole flock to descend on you!

The Dark Woods: The village is surrounded by what was once lush woods, but the trees now stand dark and eerie, an unusually thick fog rolling between them. While there are some of the usual, woodland creatures chirruping in the dense silence, they're hard to find. Monsters, meanwhile, are much more common.

The Mines: In the heart of the woods are entrances to the town's expansive system of mines. Stepping inside shows that the dirt and stone is laced with beautiful gems and minerals, but passengers will be shooed away by miners if they try to explore any deeper. It seems there's several dangerous mine shafts underfoot, as well as past attacks by what seems to be mole monsters.

Mayor's Mansion: The largest building in Minecraftia, situated on a hill. While Mayor Chadsef's staff welcomes guests, they will be cautioned not to explore past the lobby, which just smells a little like cleaning chemicals thanks to a diligent maid crew.

Denizens

Players may use denizens as convenient in threads, as well as these NPCs, except for the Mayor. He's a very busy man!

Madam Vermeer: The Madam is a human extremely afraid that she'll die before seeing her son marry. Which means that she is hunting the streets for eligible men and women, and whisking them in droves away into her mansion to be made over, trained in the art of serving, etc. before presenting them to her son.

Cassy Cassatt: Cassy is an ornithrop and the owner of the chicken house. She's shorthanded nowadays, but business-savvy enough to prey on considerate bystanders. She'll rope anyone she sees into helping out, whether it's collecting eggs, feeding or breeding.

Turner: Turner is a bearkin, and one of the nurses at the clinic. He's taken to drinking his weight in mead whenever he's off the clock, and it's not uncommon for his body to be seen unconscious on the road. He'll try to flee or swat blindly if anyone tries to help him, but he really does need help getting home.

Chadsef: The mayor of Minecraftia, who is notably wealthier than the rest of the citizens. He's young and inexperienced, but carries a Birds of Economics degree, and is determined to bring jobs to the town. He'll just need to make sure people are alive to do them first!

Other

The longer that passengers remain in the car, the more they'll learn, and soon they'll realize the following:

They are not immune to the illness. They can't determine what it is that triggers it. At first it's a sense of fatigue, then hunger and irritability. Then, the numbness will begin, starting in their extremities and spreading up their limbs, until that numbness turns into pain. Eventually that pain will lead to madness, a state of delirium where they begin to behave erratically, endangering themselves and those around them.
There is something in the woods. Though the passengers saw nothing when they arrived in the woods, at night they can hear growling. Venturing outside will reveal grotesque creatures emerging from the fog, rampaging into the town and tearing flesh and stone with their massive claws. These creatures appear rabid, familiar but warped, and they swarm the town with no regard for their own safety or benefit. Examples: (1) (2) (3) (4)
Corpses are disappearing. Despite deaths, the cemetery isn't seeing any more business. Rumour has it that a certain wealthy denizen has been paying to have the corpses taken away. But to where, and why, remains unknown…

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.

As passengers enter this car, they'll notice that their numbers may begin to change in response to certain actions and decisions. The general rule is that numbers change as characters work through their issues. If they make a decision that serves to better themselves, their number will decrease. But if they make a decision that is ill-intentioned, their number will increase. Players can change their number as they see fit going forward.

OOC Notes

Exploration: Players may submit on-going threads here to get a short mod tag with further discoveries in any given location. Characters can potentially earn items or clues as to the car's objective this way. Please limit your explorations to one per player; we will let you all know if we have the capacity to do more!

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_{[ Rex is in the tent now and Mark is flitting about, dipping down and scooping up what they may need. There's a lot of resources out here so that's good. It's just easy to tune Rex out and listen to the whirl of wind against his ears. He can barely even hear Rex at this point.

What was that? A mosquito flying around?

Pretty soon, there's an impressive amount of firewood in a pile just begging to be set alight. Mark lands and shivers, still just in his undergarments cause his supersuit is really.. banged up and bloody. Needless to say he's dried off now but he's got goosebumps. ]}

.. Did you say something?

_{[ He heard "bed wetting" and not really sure if he should have asked. ]}

[Rex hates being ignored! Especially by people who can fly, something that he can almost do with all that acrobatic hipping and hopping, but not quite.]

Fuck you.

[He does notice the shivering, at least, when he bothers to peer out of the tent at this STUPID BUGGY EYED SUPER... He's like a fly, buzzing around like that... Only he's got super strength! It stinks. This is all just hell.]

Are you cold? You do realize I can heat stuff up with my hands, right? What are you even doing out there?

Come here, asshole!

_{[ just gonna ignore that fuck you too.. selective hearing.. ]}

Oh.. sorry. I was just making sure it's just right. You can set this on fire too and then we'll have a big fire, right?

_{[ But he trails inside the tent and goes to Rex, not really sure what to expect. His body still looks pretty banged up and bruised, but looks like all of the wounds have healed up to where he's not bleeding anymore. ]}

You should see what your app gives you if it's something like this or something else.

Yup! Yeah, that stockpile of firewood should be a piece of cake.

[Rex holds out a rock that he found laying around in the general vicinity, which is now alight with a neon yellow glow. He's charged it to the point that it will provide some heat for a small amount of time, at least until the fire starts going.]

Careful, it's hot! But I'm pretty sure it's not gonna burn you of all people. I was getting sick of seein' you shiver like a chihuahua out there. God, it's weird when those ratty-ass little yippety-yaps've got those tiny bodies and then some huge cajones. Crazy! For a few of 'em it's, like, why is the hell half your bod practically all testicle? Anyway.

[He sighs.]

Once we're done settin' up, I think I'm gonna head to the tavern and grab some booze if they'll let me in. You want anything?

_{[ Um. That's really sweet? Mark hadn't expected that and he just watches the glowing rock, blinking a few times. ]}

Wow. Thanks.

_{[ SUS.. he's sus.. like he knows they're bonding and kind of like.. forced to get along and he doesn't mind it! But he's just surprised. Rex has surprised him a lot within the last few hours.

He awkwardly just.. squats right there near the glowy rock and it is enough heat to feel pleasant for him and stop his shivering. ]}

I don't drink.
But.. something to eat would be nice.

... Wait, you're going to go and drink? When we're in a place that's unfamiliar? Are you going to be alright?

Edited 2021-09-07 05:31 (UTC)

Wow. I knew you were a nerd, Invincible? But I didn’t think you’d be this much of a buzzkill.

[He seems genuinely shocked.]

I’ll see if there’s any grub.

_{[ Mark thinks it’s interesting that Rex is still choosing to call him by his hero name which is fine! It’s just an interesting note. Maybe it’s cause he doesn’t really consider Mark his friend yet. He thinks that the reason. ]}

Cause I don’t drink? My mom would be so disappointed in me even though she does drink.

_{[ considering she’s like the only cool parent now, he really doesn’t want to disappoint her.. ]}

Just.. be careful. And if you see my dad just run and contact me.
I’ll find you.

[To call him Mark would imply that there was some sort of clear divide between his hero self and his spacey, naive persona. And perhaps there is. Off the battlefield, Rex can't say he's too impressed. Not only is this kid a total killjoy, he is clearly a child, and not the brightest tool in the shed. In a way, the incredible capacity of strength that he possesses seems almost wasted. Then again, it is probably better this way. The guy is well-meaning, too well-meaning. He is empathetic to a fault, and it will absolutely get him in trouble, but it is also makes him likable.

Which is what Rex despises most of all. He is not capable of that kind of trust or kindness, and why should he be? The world was cruel to Rex before he could do so much as open his mouth to ask for a glass of water.]

Haven't you been paying any attention? Like at all? Ohhhh, right! You showed up with your brains half-bashed in.

There's a directory, or some shit like that. I'm pretty sure if you wanna creep on the other losers who got stuck here or look around for Omni-Fucker, you can just do it online. Why waste your energy?

[One thing that Mark may or may notice is that, when it comes to technology, Rex is suspiciously proficient.

He crouches down to examine the firewood following his exit from the tent.]

Look it up before I head out. Although, I'm tellin' ya, it's lame as fuck! The user interface is just garbage. I wonder if it was cooked up by, like, aliens with jellybeans for eyes!

[hush!!!! the tech is cute af rex? not everybody is an ex-hacker who prefers cool coding tricks, u loser]

_{[ Mark and "paying attention" don't go well together? I'm sorry, Rex. It's probably obvious that he's just *like that*. But as Rex explains things, Mark is a little impressed, but then he thinks about it.. Rex has been a superhero longer than he has. He's not even sure how long? They're almost the same age but this guy is definitely a veteran when it comes to hero stuff in comparison to him. No wonder Rex is jealous of Mark and his OP abilities. He's super new and naive to all this business. ]}

Oh.. there.. is? Wow, I guess I hadn't thought to check that, but that's a good idea. Still.. it concerns me. What if there's a chance that he's here and not in the directory?

_{[ worry worry worry.. it just didn't make sense. He hit the train and ended up here. Shouldn't Nolan have the same outcome? ]}

I will though, thanks. Um. I guess send me a text message if you have trouble.. I'm just going to rest for the night so I can be better tomorrow.

_{[ A beat. ]}

Actually, yeah. It might be good if we text often.. I mean, at least until someone else we know shows up.. if that happens. I mean.. we kind of just have each other right now.

_{[ incels jumping through my window to murder me for being yaoi ]}

Aaaah, doubt it.

[Rex's brow furrows as he eyes the device.]

I mean, think about it. If he were here, wouldn't the first person he'd try to find be... Well, y-o-

[Rex points at Mark with a gloved index finger, his hand miming the shape of a gun.]

U? Ugh! I am so not sure how I feel about everything that's been listed on this stupid profile. And, double ugh? How the fuck do they know how much I weigh? That is personal information! I don't like it! But you know what? I'm gonna get to the bottom of this.

[He's not comfortable being traced, and good at deleting his digital footprint. This is a different dimension, though.

Which means he'll have to start learning, and god! That just sounds like too much work...]

But, first thing's first and most importantly? It's bottoms up, baby!

[Rex's hand hovers over a piece of firewood that lies in the center of the pile, sticking up conveniently. For a few seconds, he ceases speaking altogether, concentrating as his hand glows and sparks fly. By combusting that one, singular piece, the entire array of wood catches fire and Rex quickly draws back, observing the flames.]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll text you every day around sunset. If the sun ever sets in this hellhole! Just don't expect me to kiss you goodnight. I'm not your mom! Mustaches freak me the fuck out!

_{[ Mark's eyebrows climb to his hairline when Rex makes the gun gesture at him. Omniman was unstoppable enough; please don't make Mark think of his dad with a gun. Rex has got a point, though, a point that Mark hasn't completely thought of because, again, he's seasoned in this and Mark has been a superhero for a handful of months now. That's it. ]}

Yeah, that's fine.

_{[ Mark rakes a hand through his hair, feeling a little coy and awkward before his hand drops. ]}

Also text me if you've had too much and need me to come get you. I will. Thanks again for helping me and agreeing to stay with me.

_{[ poor lad has no idea it's probably cause Rex just wants to be protected and nothing else further from that HKSJHSKJD ]}

Whaaaat, you think I don't know my own limit by now? Pfuh!

[If anyone asks, Rex would say that he and Invincible aren't even friends. They are just two superpowered people who happen to work in the same city and for the same boss. But what Rex does know is that trust is hard to come by, and when you're stranded in a dangerous place without shelter or anything more than a shirt on your back, allies are important.

And this kid is just enough of a goob to be dicked around, no matter how mouthy Rex gets. It's perfect! He's also an idiot who can be talked into doing the shit that Rex is too lazy for, which is even more ideal. He'll just have to tug on all the right heartstrings to get what he fucking wants.]

Don't insult me.

[Deep down, however, Rex wonders.

Without all the bullshit, if they had met at a time and place where the city wasn't imploding and didn't have their eyes on the same, beautiful girl who realistically should be lightyears out of both of their leagues?

Could things have been different?

Rex begins to head over in the direction of the tavern, uttering the following words in place of a goodbye-]

Bitch, please.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Priority Log - Part 1

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