balance_logs | Lunar Interlude 3

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Lunar Interlude 3

	What a mess.
	NAVIGATION

1. NEW RECLAIMERS

A. WELCOME WAGON

For the 14 of you who will be arriving today, the story is the same: though you may not remember it, there was a moment where you were living out your life, at home or wherever you were ... and then there was the moment the Hunger came. And amid the television static that is your memory of that moment, a hand reached out to you, beckoning your escape as the tendrils of darkness destroyed everything that ever existed about your world.

"Would you hurry this up, please? Your world no longer stands a chance. Come with me, we are the last bastions of hope for all universes everywhere. And we're going to need you."

And then, unceremoniously, you are dragged through the universal wringer and plopped down on the soft, though not quite cushioned, grass of the Moon Base Quad.

You're not alone, either. Along with the newest members of the Bureau, in a fashion probably not unlike this, there are people waiting here for you. People who wanted to see the heroes the Director has managed to bring in this time.

People who are excited to see what you're capable of.

You have a few minutes to talk with each other — or maybe lob a few questions at the impromptu welcoming committee, or any of the older Reclaimers who may happen to be nearby. But before long, you're whisked away to a different area of the Moon Base.

B. THE VOIDFISH

The 14 of you are quickly divided into three groups, and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed.

And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself.

After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding.

You may notice a melody, someone playing the violin. It's a bard, on his third round of introducing Reclaimers to the Voidfish.

When he's finished, he pulls out a few pieces of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it.

And suddenly, it seems you've forgotten everything that may have been ironic about that melody.

If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it.

"Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man."

You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite.

"Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way.

So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything."

The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip.

Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the song this bard played a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers.

Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it.

2. THE TEST OF INITIATION

With your new knowledge on the Bureau of Balance and your purpose here in tow, you are led without hesitation to the Arena, where the final phase of your initiation into the Bureau will be held. You are partnered up, whether it is with someone you drank the ichor of the Voidfish with, or perhaps even a veteran Reclaimer, who either stopped by to help, or simply out of curiosity.

After the proctor confiscates your weapons for the test, the room you are placed in is stark white — it sort of gives off the vibe that it was supposed to do something other than look so sterile once upon a time, but for whatever reason, that function is lost. With a sound similar to an airlock, the door is shut behind you, and the outline disappears, the lines of the door frame magically filled in with the rest of the wall.

Your task here is to escape. You are provided with the following tools:

○ A small flatware set from the café. Two forks, two spoons, two butter knives
○ A popular Faerun children's toy: "It's Elementary, My Dear Brewer: Chemist Set for the Discerning Beginner." It's essentially a simple chemistry set.
○ An inflatable hammer that plays one progressive note of a jingle a lot of you probably hate by now with every hit.
○ A wooden toy sword.
○ A plate of spaghetti — hear us out, though. Thanks to a Reclaimer who came before you, and thanks to the robot that's making your food, it's the kind of spaghetti that grants you extra strength for an hour after eating.
○ A crowbar, with a note attached to it: "DO NOT USE CROWBAR."

Seriously, don't use the crowbar — the purpose of this test is to assess your ability to find a solution outside of the most obvious one. The purpose of this test is to determine if you are capable of resisting the call of a Grand Relic.

Use your wits. Use the path actions granted to you when you arrived. Use any ideas your partner has. But do not use the crowbar.

3. NEWBIES AND VETERANS, AROUND THE MOONBASE

A. I'M YOUR BIGGEST FAN

The Reclaimers were already sort of elevated to a certain level in the Bureau, as The Director's chosen few, the ones who were ultimately tasked with saving everyone, and the ones the rest of the Moon base is charged with assisting. And now that the Reclaimers have successfully brought home two Grand Relics, they're ... starting to become something of household names. Moon Base names?

The next time you wander into town — an old Reclaimer veteran or a brand new face — you may very well be accosted by a well-meaning, if curious admirer. And they have questions: Did you get to hold the Grand Relic? Is it true that you took out a sandworm by tricking it into tying itself in a knot? Can they see your weapon? Would you spar with them sometime? Maybe they're not quite this annoying. But still annoying.

You may need the assistance of another Reclaimer to escape from this wholesome new Adoring Fan of yours.

B. MALFUNCTION

Resting on the Moon Base is your time to catch up. Maybe there's someone you didn't spend a lot of time with in the Netheril. Maybe you're new, and you're still working on meeting as many of your fellow Reclaimers as possible.

Which is fair. These are the people you will have to cooperate with for the foreseeable future, so it's best that you get to know them as well as possible, right?

And then, one day, your Bracer buzzes with a message:

Hello!

Not all that curiously, the message appears to come from a username that you recognize. Whoever it is, it's another Reclaimer — one that you know well.

Much more curiously, the message is followed by an odd beeping, and a perhaps familiar two-toned sound of something shutting down. And when you try to message your friend back, you may find that:

For the next 24 hours, your bracer's translator feature is broken. You will not be able to understand Common — and when you speak, you won't be translated into Common. Have fun with that!

And yeah, that probably wasn't actually your friend messaging you. Add another mystery to your list of weird phenomena that needs addressing.

C. POWERING DOWN

This is meant to be a few weeks of rest while the rest of the Bureau prepares for your next mission. The Director, however, believes that this free time should be used to better oneself however they might see fit, and she certainly won't stop anybody who'd like to spend time in the areas they've visited previously — and any new Reclaimers who would like to learn a little more about Faerun.

Grab a pal and try these options, both on the Moon Base and beyond, on for size:

○ Stop Dying 101: Also known as Fatalistic Fauna, and Danger Sense to channel your inner barbarian. This is a class that was introduced after the first field mission that offers instruction on basic survival strategies when up against the more inhospitable areas of Faerun. The class is open to everyone, but if you have died at least once during the course of Balance, attendance is mandatory (Unless you're an old bird who was talked into teaching a class instead). Yes, that means you, Komaeda!

Curiously, the simulators for this class seem to be working just fine. Neither the Director nor the instructor are going to question it. The monster of the month you'll be facing is the Tarrasque (scaled down to size, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying) — are you cunning enough to escape the simulation? Or are you going to go against the point of the class and try to fight it?

○ Winding down room: A small room filled with the kotatsus brought back from Vista Virs, board games, books, and other quiet activities for one of the days where you're feeling a little more restful. At the front of the room, a keyboard and other instruments are waiting — unnamed Bureau members will offer a few quiet, soothing performances throughout the day, but you're welcome to play as well.

○ Visiting New New Aspen: You may have noticed that there's an enormous tree (You say Christmas, we say Candlenights) jutting out past the atmosphere, nearly touching the Moon Base itself. This was the site of the first field mission, and the tree stands as a monument to the Reclaimers first success in recapturing a Grand Relic. At the bottom of the tree, a peaceful town that cherishes the ornaments it makes sits. The mayor of New New Aspen, Matthew, will greet you warmly, and invite you to any number of ornament carving classes, or to dinner with his Aunt Laurel (She's a giant spider, by the way), or to even just spend some time with the giant cats that protect the town.

Perhaps worringly, though, the cat captain of the guard, Bread, is missing.

○ Visiting Vista Virs: A town in the middle of an unforgiving desert that was left completely destroyed. If you choose to return, expect to be put to work — you'll be gathering supplies, helping rebuild homes, or just comforting the Needlers, a race of catcus people who inhabited the town, who have lost everything.

D. THE MOON IS YOUR SPACE OYSTER (WILDCARD)

There are plenty of other locations around the Moon Base that you can explore at your own discretion. Feel free to refer to the Settings page for more ideas on what shenanigans you can get into.

Additionally, we'll be fielding Bender rolls again this month! If a food item was destroyed in a failed roll previously, you may roll to try to fix it. Bear in mind, of course, that you may make it worse.

Successful food rolls will stay in place at this time, and can be utilized how you like. Keep in mind that only one magical effect can be in place at a time.

blurb code by photosynthesis

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[Aha, so a woman who prefers an intellectual fight to a physical one. That does sound fun.]

Oh, all sorts. In New Aspen, there were giant spiders, large vultures made of shadows a sort of owlbear like creature that could easily take on even the most talented exterminator. [Like Qrow. Poor Qrow.] And In our most recent venture, there were truly massive sandworms, venomous giant scorpions, and ghoulish spirits that drained the life from you.

[A beat passes before he smiles.] Ah, though truth be told, if you want an intellectual challenge here, coordinating many reckless, untrained fighters could be one. It's one we haven't mastered. I'm also available for debates if the subject matter falls into my interests.

( Franziska can't imagine a less fulfilling task than wrangling fools, but she has no doubt that she would be able to do it. She tilts her head to the side slightly as the boy suggests it, as though giving the matter the due consideration.

At the mention of debate, her eyes light up. )

And what subject matter might fall into your interests?

( Don't think she's forgotten about the creatures, by the way. She's merely... processing, for now. Yes, that's the word for it. )

[Oh, good. Someone who has brains and likes to use them.]

Philosophy and law are my two largest interests but I know a fair deal about Japanese literature, theatre, politics as well as political history and foreign politics. [He is very aware how useless some of that is now that the world is gone but whatever.] I also know a lot about food but I'm not sure how interesting that would be to debate.

[Like. He will. He will debate anything.]

You are from Japan, I take it? ( It is the most obvious assumption, but not necessarily accurate. She pauses slightly before asking her next question, eyes narrowing as though scrutinising him carefully. ) What drives your interest in the law?

[Ah. Now that really is complicated. It became muddled along the way, twisted and broken, but even now, he feels strongly about the same aspect of it. His hatred of that man will drive his views for a long time still, he thinks.]

To see the sickening adults who impose their corrupt will on those who can't fight back brought to justice.

( That is... a far more peculiar answer to the question than Franziska was expecting, but it nonetheless piques her interest. Her fascination with the monsters is put aside for now as she wonders where to even begin with her questions. Finally, she settles on: )

Why adults, specifically?

[It makes sense to ask but he struggles to think of a way of putting it that doesn't out his very personal reasons. Even without getting into them, it's impossible to cut them out entirely.]

I suppose... it's from firsthand knowledge of those sorts of people. It was born from something personal but I've seen enough to know that far too many have been able to position themselves out of reach of the law.

( Franziska frowns, not quite liking the implications of the boy's statement. )

In my experience, nobody is outside the reach of the law.

( And she'd make sure to see to that herself. )

[He tilts his head, curious now.]

Are you a prosecutor, ma'am?

( Is it that obvious? She makes an affirmative noise. )

Yes, I am.

[It isn't obvious so much as he can't help but be reminded of Sae.]

Haha, my friend was a public prosecutor, too. I learned a lot from her! I suppose seeing her work so hard was part of my inspiration as well.

( That makes sense. The explanation earns the boy an approving nod. )

Do you aspire to be a prosecutor yourself?

[The question shouldn't surprise him but it does for some reason. He had never put much thought into his future. For the longest time, he didn't dare dream of something he might not have. Sure, he wanted an education and knew he'd like to pursue something in a university but that was it.

Being around Sae, he had thought working with the law would be nice but he felt her frustrations with the limited abilities of her role and he, meanwhile, had firsthand experience with the corruption of the system. Still, it would be nice, wouldn't it?]

I hadn't decided on the specifics yet but I would like to go into law, yes. It is where my passions lie and I know it's where I would be most driven.

( Franziska continues to nod along approvingly. )

So long as you do not become a defense attorney.

[He can't help looking amused.]

Not fond of them?

That is an understatement. The majority of them defend criminals simply to support their own egos.

( The remaining few are... tolerable. )

I never worked with any but Sae-san didn't seem very fond of them, either. I do recall during a very public and terrible case overhearing a few of them playing hypotheticals about how interesting it would be to defend the criminal. It left a bad taste in my mouth.

[But he wasn't in the best state of mind at the time, so he wasn't thinking about it too deeply.]

Hmph. How typical. ( True to her word, Franziska does not sound surprised in the least. ) Of course defense attorneys would see people's lives as mere playthings.

( But she has another question now... )

What did you do for work?

Ah! I was a detective. [Accurate, even if it doesn't touch all the nastiness tied up in it.] But mostly I was Sae-san's assistant and something of an endearing mascot to parade on TV.

A detective and a mascot?

( Franziska had a sudden and frankly, disturbing, vision of the Blue Badger, mascot of the Los Angeles Police Department. )

Did you wear a costume?

Oh no, no definitely not. [That is where he draws the line.] I mean it more in a figurative way. It seemed to be soothing to the public to have someone like me explaining things on TV instead of the police. I assume because I'm not as threatening in comparison.

( Franziska frowns. )

The public were threatened by the presence of the police?

( That doesn't make any sense. )

Was it the uniforms?

( Seeing as the boy was a 'mascot detective' and all, it follows that he didn't wear one... )

I think it was a general distrust and a lack of faith in them more than anything. There was a strong belief that the police were lazy at best and corrupt at worst.

[Which. Was true, so he can't blame them.]

( While that doesn't sound out of the ordinary for Franziska... )

How on Earth is incompetence threatening?

( Perhaps they are hurting themselves in their own foolery? )

Perhaps threatening might not be the correct way of putting it... The distrust leads them to assume the police will invent charges or may target innocents. It's unfortunate but I suppose it's a worry of the past now.

[Even if all of those things were true.]

(no subject)

whippings - 2019-04-19 17:45 (UTC) - Expand

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