modormenace: (Default)
modormenace ([personal profile] modormenace) wrote in [community profile] f20202020-09-15 12:53 am

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.

vokrad: (pic#14290331)

son party allowed

[personal profile] vokrad 2020-09-18 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Man.

[an empty shot glass is loudly set on Rex's table, preceding the screeching of chair legs and the inevitable flop of Marty's body into the seat. there's been real no time nor need for training in party manners, and that absence sure is apparent in such a setting as he slumps forward, elbows on the table, himself looking more drifter than esteemed guest.]

This place sucks. When do we get to go again?
ct_7567: (pic#13886077)

[personal profile] ct_7567 2020-09-22 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Don't whine. We have to be here. It's important. We'd be slacking in our duties if we didn't attend the biggest imPort gathering of the year. You never know what we'll learn here, [ Rex says primly, rolling his eyes at Martin. He's usually the one who's the face of the operations if they need to talk to people, which is absolutely ridiculous when he has to think about it. He had never been a gifted liar, and he'd hardly ever been personable, but you pick up the skills you need to. Martin hadn't.

He looks at Martin slumped in his chair with a sigh, picking up the empty shot glass and raising it to his nose so he can smell what was in it. ]


I'd rather not be here either. How many of these have you had?
vokrad: (pic#14290335)

[personal profile] vokrad 2020-09-23 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[Marty's nose wrinkles. what's so important about fancy outfits and dancing around all night?

he gives the area a scowl with glazed, half-lidded eyes, his attention already drifting with that thought before he catches the tail-end of Rex's question.]


Muh? What? [he looks back and stares for a beat, processing that slower than usual.

eventually his eyes dip down to where his glass was...and finds it in Rex's possession.]


That one's mine. You gettem...uh... [he shifts to one side and looks around.] Uhhhh...

[he settles on just gesturing in a direction.]

Somewhere over there. Dunno. You want one?
ct_7567: (NO HELMET - very serious)

[personal profile] ct_7567 2020-10-02 08:46 am (UTC)(link)
It's empty. Unless you've gotten attached to a cup in the last hour or two, [ Rex grumbles, flipping the shot glass over and loudly setting it on the table. ] I don't care much if you drink. Some. But it sounds like you've already had your fill.

[ He rises to his feet, grabbing onto Martin's arm. ]

Come on. We're getting you some water. Before you offend some chief of a new rising faction. God knows we get a knew one every day, [ Rex mutters darkly.

Okay, maybe he's in a bad mood. But he can't help it; he largely shares Martin's sentiments. Affairs like this are bad news. ]
vokrad: (pic#14290331)

[personal profile] vokrad 2020-10-03 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[he groans a little, sinking down in his chair in protest, almost as a child would do.]

I just sat down, lemme sit! M'tired of walking around. [he scowls, scuffing the floor with the heel of his shoes to stop himself sinking to the point of bumping his chin on the table.

he sits up just a bit so he can start, patting his pockets, even while his captive arm lay limp in Rex's grasp.]


Where're my sunglasses? It's too bright in here...