EVENT #008 AFTERMATH LOG

[larkers]

WHO: The Displaced!
WHERE: Lots of places—potentially? Mostly New Amsterdam as the focus.
WHEN: March 4, 2512
WHAT: Unlocking of the gates and the game's fast travel network.
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Uninvited visions.

> EVENT #008 AFTERMATH LOG

The vision itself is almost instantaneous once the last of the four gates activates, hitting the Displaced no matter where they are. It doesn't matter where that individual Displaced is: if they're in New Amsterdam, at one of the gates, or sleeping, they'll see the same vision. A flash of seven colors (red, blue, black, gold, orange, red, and white) followed by an image of a nomadic people heading up a long, stone bridge that appears to be naturally occurring. At the end of the bridge is an open, lit-up triangle that acts as a gateway, inviting them inside. Then there is another flash, followed by the nomads walking through the gate and ending up in a different, new location. And then another.

Any understanding of this vision isn't immediate. The answers won't be apparent until later, when there is an innate understanding of what they've learned and what they've unlocked for themselves. The world has opened up to the Displaced, and in some ways, it's there for them to access and even take for themselves if they so choose.

After the vision ends, any of the Displaced located at the four ruins will immediately begin to glow in all blue before they fade out of view and find themselves crammed into a new location. The relocation is immediate, and if anyone checks a map via their neural implant to see where they are geolocation wise, they'll be able to tell that they're underneath New Amsterdam. For anyone who's been in the underground cave system of New Amsterdam, they may think their surroundings are familiar, if not the same. After all, this area has been locked away for a very long time.

One more thing is apparent: they've landed on another form of gate that needs to be unlocked. After the numerous trials and puzzles the Displaced have faced, what's one more?

◉ The puzzle to solve is right beneath the feet of the Displaced on a bronze-colored mechanism. At the center of the mechanism are multiple overlapping triangles, and on the outside, there are five separated triangles that sit individually.

◉ Solving the puzzle involves connecting a daisychain of Displaced and having five key focal points step on the triangles at once.

◉ Once the puzzle unlocks, there will be another understanding: that what they saw in the vision belongs to them. Any of the Displaced outside of the caves will know what it means.

◉ With that work done, it's time to explore. The underground cave system of New Amsterdam is half-inhabited by the sprawling megacity, and half-uninhabited and untouched. This part of the cave system was locked away for centuries, and just like the other ruins, there are some relics and lost items from the past. The eras vary: some are early medieval burial sites with items like brittle, forgotten swords and shields, while others are crosses and manuscripts that refer to this location as the center of the Holy Roman Empire.

◉ The manuscripts are a mix of imagery from Catholicism and the same, omnipresent geometric imagery.

◉ The way out of the cave system involves touching a hand to a handprint alongside what appears to be a door. This print will only appear to the Displaced, so they will be able to move in and away from this location largely unobserved.

> ON THE JOB FROM 9 TO 5

Now that the gates trip is done and the Displaced have new answers—if potentially unhelpful ones, depending on their perspective—it's time to return to their lives. Surprisingly, New Amsterdam has no festivals going on, as if it's time to now be hungover from a February that involved nonstop partying. The city has been cleaned up and everyone's returning to their jobs as if the city around them is not in a constant state of revelry.

◉ Ah, it's time to return to work! No one is required to lose their jobs, but it might take a bit of groveling for the Displaced to return to where they were working before. (With the exception of the Red Wings bar. Poor Mister Doctor Stephen Strange.) El will have sent along any excuses to any bosses who might need an explanation. Ze's used to this gig by now.

◉ What about those cities left behind? No one planned on abandoning those gates at that exact moment. They will remain open to the Displaced. Anyone who had a hotel room in New Oslo or even kept stuff stored at New Beijing will find that they can just teleport back via this new fast travel system.

◉ Though for anyone who's been dealing with tampered food, maybe it's time to go take a break. You know where's a good place to do it? The Displaced-run Red Wings bar. Ah, poor Mister Doctor Strange, at least the people coming in out of nowhere are all Displaced looking for proper food and a drink. It's time to mingle, share notes, and see what's what. Might as well get to seeing where there's overlap—and what to do next.

◉ Or it's time to explore! The world is finally open and available to one and all. Well, to one Displaced and all.

◉ The information on these gates and what they do won't immediately be available to El and Gaby. It's up to the Displaced if they decide to share with their NPC friends. (Of course, if it's mentioned via the Morningstar network, then they'll know!)

> FINAL OOC NOTES

This is meant primarily as a laid back, return to life log for the Displaced after their exciting trips around the world (and trips-to-be, most likely). Any questions about the aftermath should be directed to our aftermath questions thread!

Our CR meme will be posted on February 14th (Happy Valentine's Day!), and our arrival log for all newbies will be going up on February 15th.

Thanks again for making this a great event!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

[interminably]

( Funny, he's seen him around - but he's never made any kind of impression. )

Not all fights end the same. If they did, why fight at all? I hope you didn't lose any credits on my account.

[kgbs]

I don't tend to bet on fights.

( that was more daisy's thing than his. he earned his money by winning. )

And no, you are right. Not all fights end the same but you seemed especially off tonight. Just an observation from an outside source.

[interminably]

An observation I will take under advisement. Perhaps, I shall consult with my coach. Or, perhaps my agent. Change up my workout regimen as it were and come back stronger than ever to properly take the title, shall I?

( You do seem to be so very interested in how well he'd once done. Something clicks, however. )

You were in the hotel in New Beijing.

[kgbs]

It might be beneficial.

( he knows you're being sarcastic, klaus, but he's going to answer literally anyway because that's what he does. )

I have been a lot of places including the hotel in New Beijing. You remember me?

[interminably]

I do. We came to an impasse in a hallway. It may be the most childish moment I have ever shared. With anyone. Possibly in my lifetime. But, I do admit I respect a man who doesn't back down. ( He is lucky Klaus didn't feel like biting or drawing real attention to himself. Ilya really pissed him the fuck off. )

[kgbs]

What is there to be gained from backing down?

( if you back down, you do not find out if you could have beaten the other person or not. it shows cowardice and the inability to stand up to a challenge. )

I have found nothing good come from it.

[interminably]

Not learning what is to come if one doesn't. Which is not a retroactive threat.

( He'd like to change the subject. )

You fight here, as well.

[kgbs]

All the time.

( well, not all the time. but, he's a regular at this point. he's been coming here since the beginning and he won't be stopping now. )

It's a bit of a hobby.

[interminably]

No wonder you critique me. Any tips, then? Pointers, even? Was I telegraphing?

[kgbs]

You are a good fighter. I have seen you before. But this...

( it was not a good showing. )

Are you ill?

[interminably]

No, I am not. But, the power I was granted ( He starts, deciding if he does want to disclose this. With a sigh, he knows he's been more forthcoming about what he is-slash-can do with certain individuals. And it's clear he isn't the only one in this time with such power. ) has been diminished considerably. It is not that I've been struck with an illness, but that something we did as our fledgling group - it effected me. And what I can do.

[kgbs]

Your power's been taken?

( he hasn't used his own power in a little while so he doesn't know if that's happened to him as well. he hasn't had the need to get so angry to call upon that power in some time. )

When did you realize that?

[interminably]

Upon appearing in those caves below this city. Which, stands to reason that whatever suppressed the power of the gates, now has the opposite effect on me. It's as if too much power can't sustain in the same world. Something had to give.

[kgbs]

Well, that is something I haven't heard before.

( but it is curious and almost understandable. if this place had the ability to give people powers, it stood to reason that it could take them back as well. )

When did you realize this happened?

[interminably]

... The moment we all reappeared under the city, brought back from our respective missions. Some without our consent. I knew - everything felt different.

[kgbs]

That's...troubling.

( he hadn't gone out of the city this time so he wonders if that was the trigger. )

Did something happen while you were out of the city?

[interminably]

Just our collective trip to Everest. And might I add, other I know in my position in other parts of the globe had the very same thing happen to them. So, it's not something that happened to the one. Only the many.

[kgbs]

I did not go to these other places and I do not think I was stripped of anything.

( but he hasn't gotten angry lately to see if that ability was still there or not. )

So, perhaps New Amsterdam has some sort of...protection.

[interminably]

Was anything of yours worth stripping bestowed upon you here or before coming here? Here being of course, this reality we have all collectively found ourselves in.

[kgbs]

You mean did I have some sort of ability before I came to this place?

( did being a super cool and really talented spy count? )

No.

[interminably]

( He does mean that, yes. )

What I had before has been taken from me. Not this excuse for an ability given to me here.

[kgbs]

Ah.

( that makes a little more sense. )

What sort of ability did you have before?

[interminably]

Not just one, my friend.

( He says that as he lifts his glass, his pointer finger extending. If he's going to elaborate, he gives no indication of it. Preferring to use the silence between them to sip from his whiskey. )

[kgbs]

Ah, one of those.

( illya doesn't ask for an elaboration. he just assumes it's something like the superheroes he's spoken to before. )

And you are having trouble adapting?

[interminably]

( They can get back to his trouble adapting. His bruises and one cut is probably making it how clear it is the trouble he's experiencing "adapting." )

If I may, one of what exactly?