tdm 18

[savmods]

test drive meme

Ingress travel can be disorienting, but there’s no need to worry! All side effects are temporary and lessen with each trip. Your body may experience several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You may have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. You notice that the area you are in is filled with a soft cerulean light and feels slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you. Regardless of your current state, however, the stress of initial Ingress travel forces your body into unconsciousness.

Waking up is another story. Or maybe it isn’t.

You find yourself in a nondescript room; sometimes with others who have found themselves in the same situation, sometimes alone. A medical tech is always present to explain what’s happened before giving you some clothes, a TAB, and a guide that discusses things in further detail. This entire process also consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health in order to obtain your signature—a specific frequency that will allow them to hone in on exactly where it is you’re from in order to get you back there.You spend your first week on the Ingress Complex while other accommodations and arrangements are made for you.

welcome to thisavrou

---

phanos

⋆ Phanos is classified as Exploration Class (EC) and is open to all travelers. The dry heat on the planet is overwhelming, but it's important that as many people as possible visit so that scientists can track down the origin of a strong signal pulsing somewhere on the planet. Its frequency indicates that if it is found, Ingress engineers may be able to hone in on people's signatures to send them home. However, frequent dust storms on the planet's surface are causing interference. It is strongly advised that investigators visit in groups—and keep their mouths closed!

⋆ Between dust storms, at the ege of the sandy plains, travelers will notice a series of pyramid-like structures. The smallest ones are just a few feet high, and the largest reach as high as ten-story buildings. Those who press on will find the terrain more difficult, as they must trek through increasingly dense clusters of pyramids of all sizes. Eventually, the pyramid 'forest' clears to reveal the largest pyramid of all, the size of a small mountain. Its peak is guarded by nests of griffin-like creatures which are no larger than a medium-sized dog. Those with combat skills should be in no danger, unless a whole nest attacks at once!

⋆ Multiple stone doors built into the top of the pyramid lead into a surprising space: a sleek lab, filled with incredibly advanced technology. Scientists, engineers and techies could happily spend years studying the equipment and deciphering the data it contains. But in the darkest corners, there's a quiet chittering...are the travelers really alone?

---

OUT OF CHARACTER INFO

FAQ | LOCATIONS | RESERVES | APPLICATIONS | NAVIGATION

For mature or graphic content, please label.For questions, please direct them to the FAQ or the Feedback page. Any scenarios listed (unless otherwise indicated) can be used as game canon. As always, be kind and have fun!

Comments

The Dragonborn | TES: V Skyrim

[fusrodaaaah]

INGRESS COMPOUND ; EXPLORE
[A bipedal reptile in golden armor, carting around a sword and shield is probably not the usual, even for this station. He's crouched, hood pulled up over his face in lieu of a helmet, attempting to stick to whatever shadows he can find.]

[And probably looks ridiculous.]

[This is like nothing he's ever seen before. Not even the dusty halls of Dwemer ruins can compare. He doesn't know how he got here -- one moment he was talking (or rather rambling) to Paarthurnax, with the old dragon listening patiently, occasionally interjecting. And the next he was here?]

[It's even more terrifying than that first conversation with Meridia, in the skies. More than the Falmer.]

[Smooth steel and lights too bright. Not made by any flame. Not made by any magic. Eventually, he finds a corner to duck into, golden eyes wide and uncertain. Breathe, just. Relax.]


PHANOS ; DUST STORM
[When the storm kicks up, the Argonian ducks his head down against his chest, pulling the hood from his head. Using it as a mask against the wind and flying grit. The shift exposes horns adorned with rings, and three ridges of old scars down the side of his face.]

[But he's got an idea. For himself, and any companion who might be nearby. His eyes dart to them. To you.]

H-hang on! Maybe ... Maybe I can do something!

[His voice is raspy, like all Argonians, but jittering. Unsure.]

[But when he turns his head back up to the sky, the voice coming from his chest shakes the world with power. Crackling up to the skies above, to the dust swirling all around.]

LOK. VAH. KOOR!

[It's like a cannon shot. Straight up through the storm. And, miraculously, the wind begins to die.]

DRAGON...!! ....I mean dust storm

[pubcrawl]

[ He sure as hell better be able to do something! The storm whipping past and around them is starting to grate on his nerves, along with the sand getting into his one eye and making it hard to focus and properly see. Bull brings up his arm to shield his face as best as he can, eye squinted into a sliver, greataxe gripped tight in his left hand. ]

Better make it quick!

[ The shot startles him, this eight foot or so horned man, imagine that. The Iron Bull feels himself jolt, a ringing in his ears. Holy— shit.

Well... At least the winds are tapering off. Damn.

He blinks at whatever sand has gotten in his eye, rubs it on an aggravated grunt, and blinks. His brows lift and he lets out a low whistle. ]

You did something. Which was what..?

phanos

[sketchycharacter]

[It's so sandy out that Nate can't remember why he decided to come on this little expedition. What was the reasoning behind such a dumb decision? Oh yeah, money and the spirit of exploration. Ugh. Screw the spirit of exploration when there's sand stuck between his teeth.

It's obscured his vision enough that he hasn't been able to tell up to now that his fellow traveler isn't exactly human, but he wouldn't care. Especially not when it begins to clear up.]

Holy shit! [He coughs, brushes sand away from his face but it's easier to see now, to breathe.] How did you do that?

david haller ( legion )

[measurelessly]

( ingress complex )
[ well, this has all been.. terrible. thankfully, though, he's already had his breakdown, and he hadn't destroyed anything, and he's positive that all of this is.. real. somehow. he's not making it, anyway, which was a legitimate concern, considering the occasional state of his head.

it's all kind of disorienting, though, especially for a man who's been so sick for so long, unable to trust his own mind or his abilities or anything he really knows. unsurprisingly, maybe, david spends the first couple of hours after being released from the medical facility just exploring the complex. he probably looks a little dazed, maybe a little suspicious, and he's quick to flinch back from physical contact right now. it's nothing personal, it's just that he's had a tough couple of days and he's exhausted and feeling a little vulnerable.

still, at some point--completely lost--he'll stop someone, expression awkward and a little apologetic. ] Uh, hi. Is there a.. map or something? I think I'm a little turned around.


( network )
Hey, David Haller here. Anyone around from home? Barring that, I'll take other mutants in general, I guess.

Anyone else have a hard time adjusting to this place? I'm 98% sure it's not a hallucination or one of my constructs, but that 2% is still nagging at me.


( wildcard )
[ or hmu with a scenario of your own. ]

network | GYM.GIF

[welcomeprofessor]

While I can assure you this is either not a hallucination or it's a very impressive shared one the likes of which I've never actually seen before, that 2% is unfortunately not likely going to stop nagging anytime soon.

[There's no recognition here, beyond the obvious. For Charles, that's enough.]

As to the salient part of this, that depends on how you define "home," but you're not alone, no.

ingress complex

[greyate]

[ There have been times since the incident at the outpost that Jean felt that maybe retracing her steps back to the Ingress Complex would help her remember more. What she did, why she went at all. Most days she shrugs off the feeling. It's only today that she gives in and makes the journey there.

Or most of the way. She ends up stopping and turning back, shaking her head and calling herself stupid for even thinking of going back there. Nothing good came of it last time. She doesn't need to do it again.

But David's voice stops her and she looks at him, confused at first. Her mind isn't really where it should be. When his words actually process, though, she asks, ]

Do you have your TAB with you?

someone used the "summon Magneto" magic word

[frankensteinian]

If mutants are what you're looking for, this seems to be a good place to find them.

[Just based on the number of them who keep showing up. Both ones who are familiar and ones who are not.]

[mindtricks]

You're a mutant? [ and admitting it so openly on a network here. this place is very different from mega-city one, anderson knows that. it still strikes her as a dangerous thing. ]

Aloy | Horizon Zero Dawn

[toservelife]

Ingress Compound

It's like she's been transported to a city of the ancient ones. Maybe the Elysium they spoke of, where survivors lived out their remaining days under a world that was ending. It's the inside of Gaia, it's the tiny lab where she found the ancient armour, but it's new. It thrums and whirrs around her and the metal glistens in the artificial light. The people scurrying around make it seem all the more alive around her.

"This is what it must have been like," she says to herself, awestruck, standing in the middle of the facility concourse and taking it all in. With the clothing she has on, armed to the hilt with a bow and arrows, spear and even what looks like a primitive shotgun, she sticks out like a sore thumb and doesn't even care.

Phanos: pyramid

Out there in the dust storms, with the air thrashing furious and gritty in her face and visibility at maybe a few Scrapper lengths, Aloy can almost pretend she's back in Carja territory, back in the deserts between the Sacred Land and Meridian. The fact that she is not in Carja land, not even in the same world as Carja land, can never truly escape her, though.

"Sand tastes the same wherever you are," she murmurs to herself with a tiny laugh, grains of it biting her lips.

Each of the storms is relatively short, though, sometimes blowing themselves out in mere minutes like a child having a temper tantrum - screaming itself into exhaustion, catching its breath and starting again. The breaks make it easier to climb the giant pyramid mountain, although as soon as the wind stops, the sand settles into the handholds, so she has to pause to find them.

Only near the top, as the peak narrows, does she see anyone - she ignored the recommendation to travel in groups, and it seems someone else did too. It would be easy to leave them be, at least until they reach the top - and she would rather do that, too - but the winged creature suddenly dive-bombing them puts a stopper in her anti-social tendencies.

"Watch out!" Before the words are out of her mouth, she's pulled her bow off her back and is nocking an arrow, taking careful aim.

Compound

[pubcrawl]

The Bull bumps into her by chance on his way out. The scientists had made a call earlier for anyone capable to collect samples and such, to do the odd security job and transporting. It's the glowing weave of her armor that catches his attention first, and then the look on her face.

She's new, obviously. And she's come armed— smart. And she's a redhead— even better.

"The what now?" he asks, overhearing her, head tilting as he looks down to her level.

phanos

[sketchycharacter]

"Shit!"

Nate drops to the ground immediately, instinctively recognizing the warning tone that means real danger is near. He'd seen (and shot) a few griffin-things on his way up here, but he'd thought he was in the clear now. Apparently not.
go!"
Rolling to the side to get up on a knee, he calls out—not to the woman with the bow, but to an unseen third figure. "Barkley, go!"

Through the sand charges a robotic dog, a German shepard made of smooth metal, launching forward to protect his master and anyone else from the pissy, beaked creatures.

revolver ocelot | metal gear

[shashka]

( ingress )

[ Ocelot is a man who takes great pride in being one step ahead of things. of planning everything out meticulously, and then having backup plans for those plans before he ever even knows that he needs them.

this... was the absolute last thing he'd ever planned for. and he was far from happy about it (how exactly would someone even plan for this? still, he isn't about to give any of that away, and when he walks down the halls, his stride is sure, like he has some sort of purpose. ]

Fantastic.

[ this was likely to not go down as one of his better days. but he was nothing if not adaptable. ]

( network )

[ now, gathering information had always been his specialty. but, as much as he loathed to admit it, he was completely out of his element. still, there were a few questions he could ask that were innocent enough. at least until he had better idea about what was going on. ]

A few decades ago, "speculative fiction" was all the rage. Or, at least it was where I come from. Some people even thought that by 2001, humanity would see itself into the stars. I never really believed it, myself.

I guess I was wrong. But, I suppose my point is: How many of you are from a place called "Earth"?

Sometimes, you just can't help but feel homesick.

[ that would at least start to narrow things down a little. ]

( wildcard )

[ for anything else ]

text; private.

[alterplex]

[ There has to be some poetic irony to this, somewhere: Venom Snake, armed with knowledge that Revolver Ocelot doesn't have? Venom Snake, being the one to guide Revolver Ocelot through awkward introductions in any capacity?

Whether or not Ocelot remembers his last stint here (unlikely, given the nature of his message) can be set aside for now, and despite the changing nature of Venom's autonomy in a place devoid of his duty, seeing a familiar name appear from his homeworld lends itself to perspective.

More importantly— despite everything, Venom can't help but quirk a half-smile to himself as he responds. Only after filtering their conversation to private, of course. ]

First time for everything.

[ The sender of this text is marked as 'Venom Snake', so that should give him away. ]

Michiko Malandro | Michiko to Hatchin

[sugaroutlaw]

INGRESS COMPOUND

[A loud, unusual sounds carry out through the room where new arrivals are. At first there's just shouting and clattering noises but then a sharp and piercing crash sound hits the floor as something, apparently important, falls on the floor and breaks. What follows is even loud and shrilling voices shouting on top of each other as more things are being thrown around. Among the screams there's a lower female voice that's like a thunder that cuts through even more high pitched sounds. If someone get's closer they should be able to hear actual words and threats like:

"Don't you fucker come anywhere near me with that" -- "bust your damn brains out!" -- "I'll send you to hell!"

The door is violently kicked open and a dark haired woman leaps out of the room, dashing across the hallways like an agitated animal.

It's barely been ten minutes since Michiko awoke in this unknown room far away from the place where she should be. At first she hadn't minded it that much really, as feeling the strange nausea and drowsiness upon waking made her even more lazier than usual. It had been the strange looking medical people that had set her off.

She's clutching on a small piece of broken glass, hand wrapped around a piece of clothing for protection from cuts, as she runs around the place while trying to find a way out. When she comes across someone, she doesn't hesitate to reach out and try grab them.]

Hey you! [She shouts and raises the piece of glass in her hand.] The fuck is place?!

WHAT SONG THIS IS?

[If there was an advice to wait until the dust storms have calmed down Michiko must have missed. Because she's right now trying to push her way through a storm, eyes covered with a pair of darkened goggles and jacket over her head. The attempt to move forward is pretty futile as anyone can see but she's still making a quite good effort as she's being able to keep standing and taking few heavy steps forward.

Oh, but pity for the partner who was assigned with her to this planet. Michiko's not giving anyone a break.]

DARUDE'S SANDSTORN

[In a way or another Michiko makes it through the obnoxious dust storm and reached the pyramids. But that still doesn't mean that the trouble ends there, of course not. Because as she ventures forward, crossing the largest pyramid she also manages to disturb one of the nesting Griffin, which naturally surges right towards at the intruder in order to protect its home.

Hair and head full off dust, Michiko can be found wrestling said the bird-hybrid. She's on the creature's back, both legs wrapped around its lower body, one arm under the peak as she uses the other one to pluck weathers out of its head while her attacker (and current victim) does best to struggle and toss her off using wings and claws. Neither of them are giving up but the victory seems to lean on Michiko's side as the griffin starts to scream and make razor sharp noises, like asking mercy in panic.

Or then not.

Animal's screams wake up the other griffins on top of the pyramid, who all raise up and spread their wings -- apparently ready to defend their a kin.]

WHAT SONG THIS IS?

[toothymctoothface]

[ Her assigned partner is a vampire looking fucker who is, frankly, having a great time in this desert storm. Niachi keeps darting up ahead before returning back to Michiko, fading in and out of the dust cloud. It's been going on since they've headed out and there's no sign of it stopping anytime soon.

Of course, eventually the Vorcha pops up again- right behind her. ]

Human! [ It's screeched deafeningly loud so that Michiko can hear it over the howling winds. It's a very amused sounding blood curdling screech though ]. Human! You too slow!

[ Niachi scurries away, disappearing into the murk momentarily. Than she comes dive rolling back into visibility with a cackle, scuttling around the woman on all fours. ]

Too slow!

isha devan // original // guess who's briefly back tell a friend

[diamondhack]

the ingress, again

[Isha knows what hangovers feel like. Pounding and brutal, dehydrated and quite frankly sometimes disorienting, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed.]

Bloody hell, I know what this is all about, go away.

[And it's... only halfway true. She stopped paying attention when she felt as if she were being pushed around. Some part of her suspects the scotch of last night has something to do with the inability to want to stare at the soft lights overhead.

The clothes are handed over, promptly ignored in favor of her favorite outfit: all black pants and sweatshirt, noiseless boots, black round sunglasses that obscure her eyes. It's a figure some may recognize, and others not so much. Despite the need for something greasy and spicy, she maintains her composure.]

Q?

[Her robotic greyhound takes a moment to whirr to life, gently nudging her calf.]

Looks like we're in trouble again, love.

[She pulls up the hood of her sweatshirt. Her hair piled into a braided mohawk makes the hood hang a little higher than usual, casting a more dramatic shadow across her face. Ah, what a normal-looking woman with a black and gold inlaid prosthetic left arm.

Time for assessments. Catch her being shady as she walks through the compound seeming as if she owns the entire place.]

grab a lab partner

Always the same thing.

[But it's comforting to know that tech will always be available, and that she has a certain penchant for it.]

You know, I'm starting to suspect aliens building our pyramids are a real thing.

[Q barks twice, glowing a gentle blue-green for half a moment.]

Really? Now that would be a lovely conspiracy theory.

[Clearly Isha is fluent in mechanical dog. If you're with her, sorry, you're being roped into something without your consent.]

Watch the doors will you? I'm not willing to trip an alarm and cause an Indiana Jones scenario while I'm here.

[And yes, she hears the chittering, she's just going to conveniently ignore it as she starts to work on whatever keyboard she can find.]

if only this were snapchat

If anyone would happen to have a miracle cure for the worst hangover of my life or perhaps some actual food that would force me to sit straight and focus, I would greatly appreciate it.

they'd make such good partners

[sketchycharacter]

[The person that appears around the corner of the strange lab is not, strictly speaking, a person, as his dual robotic and canine natures disqualify him from that category. There's a robotic "WOOF" as an artificial German shepard gallumphs over to Q and immediately begins sniffing at his robot butt.

A moment later, he's followed by his master.]

Barkley! Get back—oh, hey. [He blinks.] You're back? You're back.

cassandra anderson | dredd

[mindtricks]

PHANOS

[ anderson had been looking around more than seriously exploring when she feels someone's distress. the sensation of adrenaline pumping through someone's system, of fear and anger and the need to defend are all familiar; she's felt them often enough before. only sometimes have they been her own emotions or thoughts.

she breaks into a run, not trying to go as fast as she possibly can in the sandy terrain but pushing herself to make it to the pyramid and its top soon enough.

she's not surprised to find that at the top, someone is under attack — but she is surprised to find that it's by relatively small creatures. still, she joins the fray to help. ]

NETWORK (id: hoj)

If anyone needs self-defence lessons, let me know.
I'd like to make myself useful.

Mimi | DOGS: B&C

[infodealer]

[ A ] INGRESS
[Being a relatively tiny, non-threatening, and non-combatant type of girl, waking up in a weird sterile looking room with no memory of how she had gotten there was enough to make her think the worst. There was no shame in admitting she had panicked a little bit and had tried to run and hide ( which had been useless ). Even after the medical tech had explained to her what was happening ( several times ), she still didn't believe it. She'd seen far too many people sold off into slavery, killed just for the sake of being killed, or worse, experimented on.

Once it seemed like the medical tech assigned to her wasn't watching her, she leaned over to her closest neighbor, eyes narrowed.]

Hey. What do you think? This can't be real, right?




[ B : NETWORK ]
So the techs were pretty helpful in explaining some of the things about this place, but where's the best place to get more information? Stuff off the beaten path! Like where's the best food stall you've visited? Which stores give the best discounts to newcomers? And the most important: what are places to avoid?




[ C : WILDCARD ]
[None of these tickling your fancy? Choose your own adventure or feel free to poke me! I don't mind writing starters.]

[brokeassgoing]

you mean you aint interested in the best place to make $$$ or what political regimes winning at the polls?
theres this pizza place to avoid, it has tentacles on the menu and i dont mean on the pie.

diana prince | dceu | ota | probable ww spoilers!!

[monomachy]

PHANOS

The library on Themyscira had been full of all kinds of books. Had her mother allowed her to train in the open instead of in secret for so long, she might not have read so many of them and become so fascinated by the world outside Themyscira and the looming war. There had been pictures of the pyramids of Egypt in the books concerning the ancient history of mankind, along with descriptions of the tombs and mazes within. She had always thought it would be so exciting to visit them, to explore the ruins and disable the booby-traps. There had been mention of the country's climate, the heat and drought, but she had thought it was all an exaggeration.

She had been wrong.

Diana can hardly stand it. Themyscira, with its tropical clime, had been so comfortable and lovely. This place is dry and she feels as if she's burning up. Antiope had trained the Amazons in many forms of combat, but had never prepared them for a place such as this. Still, the scientist had said this was an important place to explore if they wanted to return to their own dimensions, and Diana is nothing if not determined. She presses on, climbing the rocks and dodging the cracks in the desert as she moves closer to the pyramids. She'd been lucky to arrive with the cloak Etta had picked for her, and even though it makes the heat worse, it at least keeps the sand away from her skin and out of her armor. Antiope had, at least, taught each and every one of her soldiers just how detrimental such a thing could be while training on the beaches of Themyscira.

When the dust finally clears and Diana sees the pyramids clearly for the first time, she cannot help but grin, throwing off her hood and extending an arm towards the structures. Her bracelet glints in the sunlight, attracting the attention of the griffin-like creatures. She pays no mind at first, too excited to have finally reached her destination. Her excitement (and relief) is directed at her traveling partner. "Look! They are just like the pictures in the books I read as a child!" She laughs, taking a deep breath. It is still so hot that Hades himself would start to sweat, but at least they have reached their destination.

She wishes Steve were here to see it with her.

Diana's smile fades at the thought, and she drops her arm. Despite her distraction, she catches sight of movement in the distance, high up on the tallest pyramid. Trying to clear her mind, she starts forward again. "Come, we must get closer. We must find out what is inside the tall one."

NETWORK

[diana is not used to this kind of technology.

there were books on technology on themyscira, but after leaving her homeland for mankind's world, she had realized that they were all sorely outdated. this device she has now fascinates her with its simplistic design and seemingly unending possibilities. she's figured out how to turn on the video, and turns it over and over in her hands. her dark hair cascades around her face as she hunches over the device, completely lost in her wonderment.

but eventually, she decides to address the "network." how intuitive, to link all of them together with something like this. these scientists surely knew what they were doing and would be able to return her to her own world soon. she holds the camera up towards her face, tiara absent from her head. it had not seemed necessary to don her armor for such a small thing as this.]

My name is Diana, prin-- [she pauses, brow furrowing, remembering the way steve had interrupted her in london and given her a new name. perhaps that is best for here as well. she does not know anyone, does not know if they would even know of her home. it may be best to keep things that way for now. themyscira had been hidden for a reason, after all. there were gods besides ares who would see her sisters fall. so, she begins again.]

My name is Diana Prince. I've just arrived from London. After the Great War.

[a start. the scientists said that some people came from different times--she doesn't quite understand what they'd meant, but the gods always worked in mysterious ways. besides, this sort of thing can only bring opportunity.]

If anyone is from... after that time, I would like to hear what has happened.

WILDCARD

[hit me with whatever tickles your fancy!!]

[ooc; diana's canonpoint is post-wwi, right after returning to london at the end of wonder woman.]

audio;

[a_shadow]

I was going to tell you what happened after the Great War in my time, but I just have this feeling we're talking about different wars. Unless the term 'Covenant' means anything to you.

psycho mantis • those sneaky snakey games

[controllerbug]

action; ghostbusters nightcore remix }

[ There's a feeling that comes over most people when Mantis is sifting through their minds — of sudden ripples in dark water, or the rustling of dead leaves. An unease, like the sensation of eyes on your back when you know you're completely alone. He could go in without a trace, he's long since perfected that, but he'd rather leave his victims jittery and looking over their shoulders, unable to quite trust themselves.

That's his story, at least. And anyway, there's no one around this place to accuse him of simply being too damned lazy for surgical precision, is there? It's for the best, probably; an unmotivated psychic is a less dangerous than usual psychic. So what if Mantis is doing the clairvoyant equivalent of channel surfing? There must be something here that can hold his interest. If not, he'll just have to provide his own entertainment.

So: you're all alone in this corridor in the Ingress Complex, but you swear you can almost hear the dry rasp of someone else's breathing. There's a nagging tug inside your head, and an old memory stirs — somewhere or someone that you haven't seen in a long time. And a silent whisper at the back of your mind, in a voice that could be your own: ]

You're a very long way from home.

network; goth ice breakers }

I've heard that space is a terrible place to die.
So few of us will ever be lucky enough to find out.

Show of hands: have any of you tested it?
(On others or on yourselves. I welcome all perspectives.)

wildcard }

[ ANYTHING GOES. What would be the most inconvenient possible time for a bored psychic asshole to go spelunking in your brain, because that's probably what's gonna happen. ]

(SQUEAKY VOICE) WHO YOU GONNA CALL

[saveyourserpent]

[It's a feeling that Liquid knows well, something that had never left his memory, that he thought he'd never experience again. Especially not after heading towards the complex to just take a look and see if anyone interesting has shown up.

Living in a tree can be boring sometimes, go figure.

And while he can't be one hundred percent sure it's not just his brain telling him what he wants to remember, he tries to keep it cool. He doesn't turn around, doesn't look, doesn't try to find a source for the voice. He stays where he is, takes a deep breath, and smirks.]

I could say the same for you, couldn't I?

Red || Transistor

[switchcircuit]

phanos

The explorers were a small group. Red hadn't said a word to anyone, only silently marveled at the expanse of sun blazed dunes, wind howled dust devils, and now the bleached forest of rock pyramids. Under her breath and surely too quiet for anyone to notice, she hummed to the tune of the wind whipping through the labyrinth of structures. Red wondered if someone made them, or if they were natural, or even a digital construction Process.

Not the later, she decided with a smile hidden behind the scarf covering her face from the nose down. They were too alive, too beautiful to be a Process.

Red was so busy internalizing the melody of the echoing wind that she didn't notice the others were scattering to seek shelter by the nearest pyramid. When she did notice, her eyes grew wide, for the size not of the modest pyramid they were huddled against but by the magnitude of the storm coming towards them. It was a behemoth. The breath of the world...

Luckily the nearest person to her was close enough that it distracted her, and she moved with them to also seek shelter.

network

[Red's used to technology but the technology here is so far different from that which she's used to. It's all so cold here, impersonal, separated from herself and everyone else like a metal chime unsettled by the wind rather than a warm breath joining a breeze. She spends a great deal of time thinking before she sends out a message. Red wonders, is she the chime, the wind, the breath, or the breeze?

And which will answer her?]

Bruised knuckles on wood shown
Why don't you look inside
You think it'll answer for you
Like we're meant to collide

My answers are my own
When the knocking dies out
That door will stay shut
Ringing echoes of doubt

Your fears tears in a downpour
I don't hear them anymore
You'll never look inside
Fearing bruises against the door

phanos

[flurryflame]

The storm came out of no where, in all honesty, he could have just been so deep in his own head that he didn't recognize the shifting winds. The possibility was high as Axel just didn't seem to have it together. He was wandering in this place for unknown reasons, following a group of unknown people, and got caught up in a maze of unknown corridors in which he couldn't rightly transport out of. Likely because in this world(s) he wasn't accustomed to and the world wasn't connected to any of the other worlds he's previously been, thus the gateway was closed to him until it was opened. Or, the keyhole was closed until the familiar wave of darkness wafted through space and busted the door wide open like some suspicious overreacting parent trying to catch their little Jimmy being naughty with the neighborhood cat.

Psychopaths were made from less traumatic circumstances. Or so he would argue.

In any case, he was suddenly being guided by a short blinding red-head woman into a nook for cover as a wash of dust threatened to bury them. Yet, in that moment, he had to focus on her hair than anything because in his experience only he could pull of that shade of red and he was threatened--

his unresolved identity issues was threatened by her shade of red. He didn't have much of an identity, honestly, outside his good looks. There just wasn't much inside of him to get past the superficial impressions. It took a few minutes before he put the hair-business to rest, for now, and focused then on his surroundings.

"Lame. Hasn't anyone got a broom in this world?"

Lup | The Adventure Zone

[chaoticluptral]

[Network]

Alright, so I hate to show up and run without wrecking any shit, but I've got to get to the plane of existence I was on before. This is kind of getting in the way of what I'm trying to do. Which is literally ONE JOB. I had one fucking job and this makes it look like I can't do one job. So for the sake of my resume and the universe, send me back.

Also some shitheel owes me 15 dollars and I need to collect. Priorities and all.

[Action]

[Showing up random places isn't really unusual. Actually that's sort of the name of the game in her life. Showing up randomly and not on the Starblaster, though? That's unusual. Or at least she knows it to be unusual. In her line of work the word sort of loses meaning.

But there's no Light of Creation here. Or at least as far as she can see or anyone's been able to tell her. That's not their mission here. In fact, no one seems to have a clear mission at all. They're all just a bunch of misfits running about the place trying to figure shit out.

Stupid. Charming, but stupid.

And to make matters worse lab here offers no answers or at least none that are easily accessible and she doesn't have the time. Nothing about what plane this is or the Light of Creation. Also that annoying chattering sound. Lup shrugs thing shoulders and adjusts her ridiculous wizard hat before turning to the person next to her.]

Do they really expect us to read all this just to know what's up? I've always been a fan of a quick diagram, myself. Faster, easier, universally understood.

action SAMEHAT.PNG

[seity]

[It takes him a moment to realize he's being spoken to. Just being in the lab is making him quite dizzy. He's never seen himself reflected in so many surfaces, and from so many angles! But he wants to get to know here better, even though here is many different places that seem to have nothing connecting them at all except the big door. Hm.

But, right. Words directed at him. He's just about to explain how hard it is to get letters to behave when he realizes the words came from underneath a very large hat.

A nice hat.

He smiles (just a little bit) and reaches out dirty fingers to touch it.]

I like your hat.

mariko yashida | the wolverine

[kiryoku]

| ingress complex |

[ The last thing Mariko remembers is walking out to her car at the end of her "day". Which was technically three in the morning. Running a corporation as massive as Yashida Corporation (on top of fixing all the messes her Grandfather and Father had left for her to clean up) was not an easy task. But she liked to think she was doing pretty good for a first time CEO.

The "push" happens as soon as she sees a message from Yukio on her phone, looking down as she continues to walk. She doesn't even have time to read the message before she's waking up somewhere completely different. Blinded and then regaining her sight, the first thing she does once she has her sight back is punch the person talking to her. She understands what they are saying but after all the previous kidnapping attempts, she is having none of this. She grabs the nearest article of clothing - some form of hospital gown - and get it on as she's leaving the room. She runs through several halls before she's finally apprehended by security. Mariko fights them, too. Until she is restrained and yells at them in Japanese as she's sedated into unconsciousness.

Because of this "incident", she is kept a little longer than the normal holding period for new arrivals. This time they talk to her through an intercom and Mariko still isn't sure she believes them. Though the TAB they give her starts to make her stomach sink. Not with the thought of this being some elaborate kidnapping job (though she hasn't entirely ruled this out) but that this is all really happening. She's been transported to another planet in another universe.

And she's stuck until they can find the signature that would allow her to go back. She listens to their excuse about "malfunctions" and can barely restrain herself from launching at them with another tirade. But her temper flares out quickly, realizing it's not worth the breath.

Once she's finally allowed to leave, she finds herself too stunned to feel much else. Eyes widening as she looks around, mouth agape. The only thing she can manage is a hushed "Arienaihodo" to herself as she slowly makes her way through the complex. ]


| phanos |

[ When she hears about the planet, and how it's possible the signal coming from it could help get people home, Mariko wants to go see it for herself. It doesn't matter if they can send her home or not. She wants to understand how this all works. And maybe a part of her wants to see another planet. This isn't even possible in her world. Passing it up now, when she's afforded the chance, is unthinkable.

Wrapping a scarf around her head and mouth, she only lifts her goggles up once she's passed all the other pyramids. She squints up at the top of it and can just make the creatures out. She turns to whoever is traveling with her and asks, voice muffled through the scarf, ]

Have you ever seen those before?


| wildcard |

[ what it says on the tin ]

Nicolas Brown | Gangsta.

[jerkofalltrades]

[ Network - Text ]

Looking for work if anyone's got some needs doing. Willing to do about anything if it pays. Protection, deliveries, repair, shit like that. Handyman work. Drop a message if you need something. Text only.

Won't respond to voice.

Looking for a guy named Worick. Long blonde hair, eyepatch, stupid look on his face.
Too nosy for his own good.

[ Contract owner. Though he won't mention that. Not when twilights aren't a thing around here. He stares at the message, debating with himself before he taps out another sentence. ]

And a woman named Alex. Might be with him.


[ Phanos ]

[ The vast desert is nothing he's ever seen, the sprawling edge of the horizon isn't something he's accustomed to seeing after so many years spent within the bounds of Ergastulum's walls. The city was dirty and rife with corruption and for too damn long it had been his entire world. Still is, really. He's half convinced this whole place is some fucked up dream.

At the great pyramid, Nic puts his skills to use. Leaping over ten feet at a time he manages to scale the pyramid absurdly fast, only pausing to deal with the griffin animals that were taking exception with a human invading their space. He doesn't engage, not liking the thought of killing a dumb animal. People were different, they knew when they were being fuckers.

He's a shitty traveling companion, hardly responding beyond grunts and a few hand gestures that the observant will realize are sign language. The more savvy might even realize he's deaf since he doesn't 'hear' anything said to him unless he's looking at someone. He won't mention it unless he's asked directly. Once the griffins start to swarm around his partner Nicolas actually does make himself useful by smacking several of the creatures away with the sheath of his sword before dragging his partner away from the swarm until they lose interest. And then he actually speaks, his voice rough. ]

Be more careful. Idiot.

[ He probably won't get paid if he brings back a corpse. ]


[ wildcard ]

[ for everything else ]

[brokencode]

Action, Region Two - Kauto.

[Once, the trees of region two had been like a home to Angel. Though Thisavrou was foreign to her, she had grown into herself in the few months she had spent there. How she was pulled from the land and the amount of time that had passed between her departure and second arrival, she either didn't know or simply couldn't remember.

What she did know was that she was lost. She waited outside the structure that had once served as her home, unsure of who remained within. Twice she attempted to approach the building, only to stop and quickly turn away.

Surely she was bound to look suspicious.]

Network, Text
Good... Honestly I am not sure what time it is meant to be.
Let me try that again. Good day, Thisavrou. Many of you may recognize me. I... hope that is the case, honestly, it means my friends are not as far gone as I thought they might be.

I was hoping to find some information. Particularly, how long I have been gone. Last I remember, we were in the midst of a mass-quarantine. Is this still the case? Or has the threat resolved itself?

And, most importantly... how long has it been since this occurred?

[gh0stamidstthec0mbat]

Not long, a few weeks. / Quarantine has been lifted, / Things got kinda weird.

Welcome back.

Pathfinder Raeka | Mass Effect: Andromeda

[salarianpathfinder]

[Ingress Complex]

[This, oddly enough, wasn't the first time that Raeka had woken up surrounded by strangers. This also wasn't the first time she'd been completely cut off from her SAM, but having experience did little to reassure her when she suddenly found herself dealing with it all over again. The only plus to the situation here was that there was no threat of Kett, no urgent need to leap into action immediately after waking.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to, though. She'd overcome the shock of the whole situation surprisingly quickly, processed everything the medical tech had told her on the spot. Whether she believed all of it or not was a different story, but all things considered, she was probably one of the chillest new arrivals to ever come through the Ingress. Not content to just sit around and accept that she's simply stuck here, though, Raeka sets off to investigate the Ingress Complex on her own as soon as her medical work is completed.

She may not have SAM, but her omni-tool seems to be functioning just fine. Good for simple scans, but not much else at the moment. It was a starting point, at least. Don't mind the tall, noodly alien poking around at the weird looking tech, it's totally not suspicious or anything.]


[Network: Text]

Good day. This is Pathfinder Raeka, with the Andromeda Initiative. I'm hoping to touch base with anyone from back home. Assuming anyone from back home is even here, that is. I can be reached at this frequency, please reply at your earliest convenience.

Additionally, if anyone has any advice or information that isn't already covered in the guide, I would very much like to hear it. Thank you in advance for your time.

Raeka, out.


[Phanos]

[Now this was more Raeka's speed. Exploring alien planets was pretty much at the top of a Pathfinder's to do list, and even with all the dust storms it was nice to get out and do something. The possibility of finding a way home out here was all the incentive she needed, but being able to stretch her legs was a nice bonus.

They may not be looking to settle this planet, but her training was bound to come in handy out here. It had already helped when it came to navigating the bizarre pyramid forest, aaaand it looked like it was about to help out again if those critters hanging out at the top of the bigass pyramid decided to turn aggressive. After taking a moment to assess the situation, Raeka turns to whoever decided to tag along with her. It's business time, kids.]

It looks like the only way in is at the top, past those creatures. We don't know if they're hostile, but be ready for a fight all the same. Make sure your weapons and equipment are all in order before we ascend, once we're up there we may not have a chance to make adjustments.

TEXT

[squadgoals]

[Andromeda Initiative, and a "Pathfinder". Isn't that who Vetra said she'd been working with? Nothing that said she couldn't be the welcome wagon and ask a few questions of her own.

Probably better to be completely forthright this time, though.]

Raeka,

Welcome to Thisavrou. I think I've already met another of your colleagues from the Initiative — are you familiar with Vetra Nyx?

Having been present for more than the duration of one Sol standard year, I feel well-equipped to answer any questions you might have. Let me know how I can help.

LCDR Shepard

sahlin lavellan | dragon age: inquisition.

[sulevin]

INGRESS.

[ Sahlin wakes with a start, eyes wide and wild, fingers curled tightly to whatever surface they can grasp. She is not one to enjoy waking up in strange places, too quick to jump to the worst possible conclusion, and this is no exception. It was horrible, disorientating, and she loathes every minute of it, quick to leave the room she found herself in and the stranger that greeted her.

She needed out, she felt like a concerned animal with no where to go, heart thundering in her veins. It's what has her pacing the halls, soft footfalls of bare feet her only real companion outside her racing pulse. Information, she needs to find more information, someone to confirm what she has already been told─ someone who can provide her with an advantage and, if possible, a way out.

The sooner she can leave this place the better.

With no real goal in mind the elf simply wanders the halls, green eyes bright as they glance about rapidly. A single hand reaches for a blade that is not there, and the other? Well, those who happen upon her might be quick to notice that she seems to be missing a hand as she reaches out to touch a wall, only to fall towards it hissing a curse between clenched teeth. ]

Damn it.

PHANOS.

[ Were it not for the dust storm she might have taken a moment to enjoy the fresh air and the gently feeling of sand between her toes, but it seems the storms had another plan for her entirely and instead she shield herself from it. It is frustrating, sand obscuring her vision, red hair whipping around her face, navigation is almost impossible though it doesn't make her any less determined.

She blinks and for a moment a shape appears in the distance, a shelter perhaps? ]

Over there!

[ Whatever it maybe be it is better than staying out in the storm, and she pushes forward without hesitation, weaving through the raging sands into the outcropping of a entrance to a smaller pyramid. ]

WILDCARD.

[ hit me up yo. ]

ingress

[lavelly]

[He doesn't think much of her, at first. He notices she's Dalish, of course, and months ago that would be enough for him to try and make some desperate connection with her, but more recently he couldn't care less. This place has worn him out. Any reminders of Thedas seem strange and unwanted.

Then he notices her stumble, and he freezes.

It was too much to be a coincidence. A Dalish elf, female, missing her left arm--how many of other people's Inquisitors did that description match? It had to be one of them. There was too much in common between them, and if the Ingress could be relied upon for anything, it's that it didn't seem interested in bringing in nobodies.

Months ago, the idea would be enough to make him turn and leave. But more recently he couldn't care less.

Maybe for the first time, he is unconditionally glad he let the asteroid restore his arm. It would make this much less potentially distressing.

He waits until she's stabilized herself before slipping by and settling himself against the opposite wall, arms crossed, like she's just an idle curiosity he happened across on his way past.]

You must be the Inquisitor.