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.

chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-09-20 11:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"They might not have the space. Even a building this big must have limited rooms available. And there does seem to be quite a lot gathered here."

Every year it just seems like there are more and more imPorts. Wei Wuxian has even encountered another from his world recently. Of which he is thankful for because it gives me an ally in a difficult world.

He leads the way to his room and unlocks the door with the key he removes from his robes, holding the door open for the other man as he enters.
drivesadesk: (Default)

[personal profile] drivesadesk 2020-09-22 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"That makes sense. Still, they could at least let us pick our roommates. I got lucky, though. Mine's pretty okay."

He follows Wei Wuxian into the room, waiting until the door's completely closed before speaking, keeping his voice in a low tone as he does so.

"So, I've been talking to the Prime Minister of the Northwestern Imperium, and she wants to help us."
chenqing_player: (Confused)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-09-22 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Wei Wuxian beckons the man further into the room, not feeling safe next to the door since anyone could try to listen through it. He walks over to the couch and sits down, quirking an eyebrow at the mention of the Prime Minister.

"Really? Why is she so willing to assist us? Are we sure it isn't a trap?"

Wei Wuxian has a hard time trusting people as the years go by so the fact that someone high up wants to help them all of a sudden seems a little sketchy until he has proof.
drivesadesk: (Default)

[personal profile] drivesadesk 2020-09-24 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
"In the short term, it doesn't seem to be. In the long term...I plan to keep an eye on things and adjust as needed. Basically she wants us to wipe out the White Tower. I assume it's a case of taking out a competitor. I mean, think about it. If she wanted to take over White Tower territory, she'd have to go to war. If she secretly funds another group that just wants to topple them, but doesn't want to take over...well, then she can come in and do what she wants after that, right? I mean, I don't know that's her reasoning, and I figure if we succeed we might have to turn things around and deal with the Northwestern Imperium at that point, but at the moment...we do have a common enemy."

And she does seem to be telling the truth.

"I also hacked some things to verify several things she told me, and it all seems to check out."
Edited 2020-09-24 01:24 (UTC)
chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-09-24 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
Wei wuxian nods as he listens. In their business it pays to be cautious but you also have to take risks so finding the balance can be hard. For now it seems he has no choice but to trust that she won't immediately betray them.

"What do you need me to do?" Because he will do whatever is asked of him even if he has his doubts.
drivesadesk: (Explaining)

[personal profile] drivesadesk 2020-09-27 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
"I should be clear, I don't know that's what it is. She claims to have a more idealistic plan in mind. I just figure it's clear she wants the White Tower out of the way. If she wants land and power...we'll deal with that when it comes. If she really is more sympathetic to our long term goals...awesome."

He doesn't want to just slander her blindly, but he doesn't want people trusting her blindly, either.

"And I don't need you to do much. But she gave me information on where we're free to set up a base of operations, how we can get weapons, how we can get supplies, everything. I have some information printed out on how to get in contact with the right people to get what you need. They can even smuggle people into the Northwestern Imperium if we need a safe place to operate from." He hands Wei Wuxian a folded up piece of paper. There's contact information on it, but no context to give anyone else who comes across it any clue on what it is or who it's for. "Bring it to your cell. Decide for yourselves what you want to do with the information."
chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-09-27 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
He nods as he takes the piece of paper, unfolding it and glancing across it before tucking it away in his robes until later. "Sounds like this will be a good boost in the direction we need." And they definitely could use it.

"Let's just hope nothing gets in the way to slow us back down."
drivesadesk: (Default)

[personal profile] drivesadesk 2020-09-27 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I hope so, too. She also told me something that might be useful. The White Tower is less stable than they seem. If we strike, we should do it soon."

He doesn't have a plan, but he figures if enough cells are planning to strike, something is bound to happen. Jonathan, however, is not a leader or a planner. His role in the Rebellion is mostly to get and disseminate intel. It's up to others what they do with it.
chenqing_player: (Default)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-09-27 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll see what I can coordinate. Our cell specializes in stealth and infiltration so I'm sure we can come up with a good plan of attack." And silent assassination. When one has spirits at their disposal to attack with, it's easy to get in and attack without one ever seeing their attacker.
drivesadesk: (Smile)

[personal profile] drivesadesk 2020-09-30 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Great! Glad to hear it. Hope you're able to come up with something exciting."

Of course, he has no interest in knowing what the plan was. Jonathan's job was to deliver information to those who needed it. That job was done. The less he knows about what's done with that information the better, since it means there's less he'd be useful for if he's ever captured.

"So...any other questions, concerns, comments? Want me to stick around and actually have a drink with you? Want me to get out of your hair?"
chenqing_player: (Teasing smile)

[personal profile] chenqing_player 2020-10-01 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
He laughs and points towards the mini-bar. "You are welcome to stay and enjoy some of the very tiny bottles of alcohol that this place has provided."

Wei Wuxian is not one to just kick someone out if they want to enjoy a drink. Drinking is better with company anyway. But the man is also free to go if he has more information to deliver.