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.

deadwenwalking: (tip)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-09-20 04:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Still kinda odd looking, but at least he's human shaped now. The bright blue hair is distracting. It would have been even more distracting if he hadn't seen several others with odd hair colors since his arrival here. All the same, his eyes linger on that hair a little longer than they probably should.]

Yes. Yes, it's my first time.

[He's seen "slime" in other, non-sentient forms, of course. Like on the edge of a pond or congealing in a bit of piping. But saying something like that is sure to be highly offensive in this situation.]

I'm still new.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-09-20 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ the dragon wings probably also don't help. But given this is the first time this person has seen a slime, that's most likely not a priority and Rimuru gets that ]

There is no easy way to say it or learn about it - but you will find many different beings while here. Many non-humans, some may look like monsters but some are not.

[ he points to himself ] Like me. I promise you I'm not a bad slime.
deadwenwalking: (wingman)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-09-21 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Do all slimes have wings in human form? We just don't know.]

You do look like a very friendly slime.

[Not that he's seen an evil slime to compare him to.

As for himself, he's not going to point out the questionable nature of his humanity. If he can pass for fully, or even mostly human, then he'll be happy for it.]


At the very least, I'm glad you weren't actually melting.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-09-25 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ rimuru is just that special

He laughs at the mention of "melting" ]
Righ, that would be scary.

I'm Rimuru Tempest, I'm one of the Five members of Krakoa council. What''s your name?
deadwenwalking: (proper)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-09-26 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
[He's a council member? And here Wen Ning has been acting ridiculous this whole time. He immediately straightens up and offers the slime a proper bow. Even if he's not from Krakoa himself, that doesn't mean he shouldn't respect the other leaders.]

Wen Ning, courtesy name Qionglin. It's an honor to meet you, young master.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-09-29 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
It's nice to meet you! Just Rimuru is fine. [ being called "master" is nice, but Wen Ning looks like a good person, so he can drop the formalities ]

Have you chosen your faction, Wen Ning?
deadwenwalking: (here)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-09-30 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Rimuru chooses the less formal version of his name, and that's fine. He's used to most people calling that anyway and the system of names he's used to doesn't seem to be familiar at all to most people here.

He nods once to the first comment, but the second nod comes a bit more hesitantly. He's chosen a faction, but it isn't the same one.]


Yes. Well, it wasn't much of a choice on my part. I don't know much about all the factions, but... someone important to me is in the House of M. So that's where I am.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-10-01 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ rimuru nods ] That's only normal, right? You want to be with the people you know.

You are very lucky, most people don't get to have friends from their homeworld here.
deadwenwalking: (follower)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-10-02 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
You think so?

[He's glad to have someone familiar here, and he's certainly glad that there are people who died who get a second chance here (especially since he's responsible for the death of one of them), but he also thinks it might be better if they could all be in their own world.]

Do you... do you like it here?

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-10-02 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Like? [ like? Well, there is so much he would change. There is so much that he avoids talking about and seeing because it'd cause him despair.

This is a broken world.

But he is a leader, and hopeful, thus he does what's in his nature to do: he is positive ]
I made my place enjoyable. My faction and my island are my paradise.

If you have friends and people who love you with you, then every place can be paradise, I think.
deadwenwalking: (basic)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-10-03 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[That... well, that's true. And it causes Wen Ning to smile, because he likes the sound of it.

He doesn't know how close Wei Wuxian considers him to be, but they're both here right now and they can look out for each other. He nods.]


That's a good way to look at it. You sound like a very kind leader, young master.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-10-04 08:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ rimuru grins ] Of course! I try to be, it's very important.

Don't confuse it with naivety, though. [ his grin turns into a smaller smile ] I want to help, but I will do my best to keep my people safe.
deadwenwalking: (converse)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-10-05 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
No, no. Of course not.

[Wen Ning is quick to shake his head.] I wouldn't call you that. I'm sure you're very responsible.

[Even though he looks like a blue-haired child and can turn into goo. Looks can certainly be deceiving.]

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-10-06 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ very deceiving indeed! Rimuru smiles wide once again ]

We are all doing our best here! I'm sure you will, too.
deadwenwalking: (smile)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-10-07 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Of course!

[For that, Rimuru gets a small grin and a nod.]

I will always do my best, young master.

[personal profile] rimuru 2020-10-07 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, that settles it ]

So, what you think of our world so far? Too different from what you are used to?
deadwenwalking: (tip)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2020-10-08 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
It's... it's different, certainly.

[He doesn't want to say it's too different, just in case that's considered an insult.]

Much more... advanced? I'm surrounded by many devices I don't understand.