f2020 | SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020: THE SYNOD IS CONVENING.

All fourteen Gates simultaneously reverse polarity. For the next seven days, and only these seven days, any imPort stepping through a Gate will arrive safely in the Porter building: the only place on this fractured planet that can safely contain the energy of the imPort community in its entirety.

SO IT BEGINS
THE SYNOD

THE

DEATH

TRAIN

While the Gates are the simplest form of transportation, those making the journey to the Synod from the White Tower have the option of travelling by train, if they wish. Despite the playfully grim moniker, there haven't been any recorded fatalities on board the Death Train in many years. Or ever, really. Raw, untamed entropy doesn't do anything as simple as kill.

For that delightful reason, passengers will be reminded at frequent intervals not to attempt to leave the train once it enters the active zone of the Porter's defenses, or to do anything that could jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

The journey is relatively comfortable and takes approximately two and a half hours. A limited menu of pastries and alcohol is available from the buffet car. The smallest tables seat two.

As the train passes through the entropy-saturated wasteland of the Deathdome, the view from the heavily tinted windows of each of the train's four-person cars is impossible to comprehend: every atom of the landscape is in a constant state of flux, scattered in endless possibilities across the multiverse.

WELCOME CARPET

Inside, you get the impression of three towers; no view from outside is possible. You're totally sealed inside for the week, by the same Fate-built tech that shields this place from the ravages of cosmic radiation— the train station is built into the structure, entrance tunnel hermetically sealed.

You're greeted by welcome robots, primitive little things full endless enthusiasm and covered in dents. What they lack in intelligence they make up for in persistence and durability. Each and every ImPort is assigned their own personal robutler.

Though they tend to hinder more than help.

Boop boop boop boop. They provide you with a complimentary swag bag. Inside is one (1) t-shirt, one (1) top of the line tablet (pre-loaded with this year's Agenda and a simple game app that looks suspiciously like 2048), a stress ball, personalised souvenir pen and eraser (but no pencil), and of course, a lanyard keycard for accessing the comfortably adequate accommodations provided for all attendees.

Given the week-long Synod, your room itself is a decent suite, furnished with dark colors, redolent with a smell you can't quite place. You may find yourself assigned an unexpected roommate, which may feel awkward considering you'll find arrayed on the beds, a half-dozen complimentary tickets to the spa, restaurants and the power gym, with its preternaturally durable equipment.

Robutlers constantly remind: do not attempt to leave the Porter facility or do anything to jeopardise the integrity of its shielding.

CONVENTION

Talks and panels take place in the convention area, which feels like a miniature city within the Porter's defenses, a hive with padded audience seats, wide stages, and complete with holographic audiovisual equipment that's curiously compatible with presentation software from every city.

Here, ImPorts will present and debate various topics regarded as major concerns for all. [OOCly, players are invited to suggest topics! Scroll down; they will be added below.]

This is also something of an expo, where cities practically demonstrate— or show off their good works. From the latest hovertechnology models to demonstrations of healing powers, playful duels in the forcefield-enclosed stages to magical books that temporarily transfer skills on touch, this is the place to pretend you're showing off your cards... while playing the most important ones close to your chest.

PANELS AND DEBATES

PRESENTERS

TOPIC

Joseph Kavinsky vs [N/PC]

White Tower ImPort Overpopulation and Dimensional Instability

Tony Stark and other technopaths

How Technology Will Save Us

Joshua Foley

The Mysteries and Intricacies of ImPort Physiology

Count Dooku and volunteers

ImPort Factions Must Align Against the Shared 'Resistance' Threat

Jin Bubaigawara (x3)

The Twin Cities are NOT Dimensionally Unstable No Matter What You Heard

Kang

Bridging Old and New: Maintaining Infrastructure with Limited Modern Resources

EVENING

EVENTS

Every night of the Synod, ImPorts gather to dine in a grand hall with a ballroom party. Each dinner is hosted by one ImPort city, gruntwork complete with robutlers-- which guarantees food safety, and complete with multiple cuisine options, cultural decor, and entertainment.

Given the range of cities represented, food options vary from greasy burgers to six courses of seafood and blue venison, and rarefied vegan fare.

When ImPorts aren't here eating, they're most often talking. Ergo, it's not uncommon for low-key drama to break out, but this year, the majority of Synod days seem to be passing uneventfully.

Fortunately, speeches are reserved for daytime. After dinner, it's time to dance.

The last song of the night is always obscure music no one can quite remember the words or melody to afterward. It's a slow dance song meant for two or more partners; the ballroom grows dark and the world seems to fade away. Or rather, it just fades back into one's hotel room.

THE BLACKOUT

On Monday, September 21st, shortly before the Gates are due to resume ordinary function and allow attendees to leave, the Porter building suffers a power cut.

Abruptly, all the lights cut out. Music stops. Your faithful robutler freezes in place, unresponsive— though its internal systems appear to be running, the centralised command hub that it relies on has fallen silent.

Though the robutlers are out of comission, technology-minded ImPorts and their tech drones hasten to reassure that systems analyses are underway. Within a few hours, repairs begin, the estimated time being two days.

In the meantime, thanks to the diversity of powers on hand, there is enough food and water. Candles start to circulate. It might even be a little romantic, if it weren't for the chaos outside. Characters might find themselves trapped in an elevator for a few hours, or compelled to seek comfort from one another.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Arrival

"Less junk than last year. Maybe there was a budget cut."

Kang is quick to ditch most of the items in the swag bag after going through it, only needing the tablet and lanyard. With a resigned sigh, he grudgingly decides not to destroy the annoying little robot (for now), and heads for his room. Last year, he'd had a surprise roommate, and he's hoping that it won't happen again this year.

Convention

He's dressed to impress in his linen kilts and tunics, leather belt, thick gold chain necklace, and woolen, black fur-trimmed cloak. Events like this are important, and he has to make as good an impression as possible given that he is the Master Engineer of the Seekers of the New Dawn and one of the handful of Spokespeople. Even with the clothing, he keeps his demeanor fairly casual, though he's able to quickly turn on the formal charm when needed.

Kang has worked with imPorts from other factions before, whether it be from an engineering project, an exchange of information, or a negotiation. He also recognizes a few from his time as a member of White Tower several years back, and will exchange a few words or a nod.

Evenings

Dinners are spent with him at a different table every night, chatting with anyone he hasn't seen in a while or anyone that seems like they might be interesting to talk to. Not wanting to be rude, he always politely asks, "May I sit here?" before joining other diners. As for dancing, he avoids that as much as he can, preferring to watch as everyone else takes to the floor. The few brave enough to ask him to dance will have to be very convincing (or persistent).

"Oh, no, I'm not much of a dancer. I'll end up stepping all over your feet."

[A new starter is pending, depending on mod acceptance of panel topic!]

It's the first time Rimuru came to the Synod, despite being part of the Krakoa Council; he never felt any need to come to such a thing (politics are not his forte and would leave that to other council members) and he is still not exactly... thrilled to be here. However, finally putting actual faces to names was interesting.

And being the magical being he is - a slime - he feels a lot more drawn to other non-humans (though he always says he doesn't make such difference!) and therefor Kang for sure caught his attention.

Since the Synod is to mingle and form alliances, why not? he approaches, while in his current human form and indeed does ask for a dance. "I wouldn't mind that, if you wish, I could always teach you?" he smiles wide, but he will not insist any further than this - he doesn't want to make the other uncomfortable, of course.

He shakes his head, "That may take all night, if not more than one, I'm afraid. Thank you, though, for the offer. There aren't many that are brave enough to approach me for such."

"That's a shame. Perhaps in the future - I have been praised for my dance skills" still, the slime is not going to insist, naturally. Just making conversation, unless Kang accepts the offer to have a teacher (which Rimuru doubts).

"Still, while I like to believe I'm quite brave, is there any reason why I should be wary of you?" in Rimuru's opinion, Kang is extremely interesting. Others should want to approach.

"Perhaps." He's grateful for that.

Snorting softly, he extends his wings just a few feet, but not far enough to show off the impressive eighteen foot span, and flashes his fangs in a smile. "I'm very well aware that my appearance is rather... intimidating to other races. I assure you, though, as long as you don't intend harm to me or mine, you have nothing to worry about."

He hums, amused. He has no fear of a dragon, that much is clear. "Appearances aren't everything. But I'm familiar with how humans judge the world around them." he is a slime, after all, and he often looks like a very cute blob because it is the form most people like.

"I have no interest in harming anyone, I'm a very good slime." as he says this, rimuru's hand starts melting before he reshapes it so it will look human once again.

"Some of you I've already met, and for the rest, hello. My name is Kang, and I am the Master Engineer for the Seekers of the New Dawn. In my world, I was the officer of an Engineering regiment. I'm used to getting by working with only the most basic tools, and wood and stone - things we're largely stuck with in our current situation. I've trained many people over the years who only knew modern methods and materials, and they have, in turn, trained me whenever possible. Access to modern materials has improved, allowing us to do some experimentation, mixing old techniques with new, and in this panel, I will share what works, and what doesn't work, and the why, so that you can avoid making the same mistakes we did."

It's not the most exciting of subjects, he knows, and he doesn't torture the audience by trying to make it fun beyond tossing in one or two engineering/construction jokes and going right back to the subject matter. A natural at public speaking, he keeps it as brief and informative as possible, answering any questions at the end clearly and concisely.

"I know that we don't always get along, but the entire purpose of the Synod is to help the factions find common ground and solve problems together. It is my hope that this information proves just as useful to yours as it did mine. Thank you for your time."

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2020: THE SYNOD IS CONVENING.

Kang ⧓ Seekers of the New Dawn

Evening/dancing

no subject

no subject

no subject

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Bridging Old and New: Maintaining Infrastructure with Limited Modern Resources