The Hope had been in pursuit of the I99 shard for three days.
While no one on the island itself could tell the difference, the Hope was engaged in a game of cat and mouse with the Nagadan AI, and it was starting to take a toll. Being a pursuit predator was exhausting, especially when your prey is running all over the Dreamworld, taking every opportunity to hide or lose their tail. But as opposed to normal pursuit hunting, this would come down to luck. Something needed to happen, or one of them needed to slip up in a way that allowed the other to take the advantage.
That opportunity presented itself to the Hope in the form of a massive sea serpent cresting over the mists of the unformed dreaming. The Hope saw the opportunity and acted before knowing how I99 would react. I99 had been shown to be conflict averse enough to not want to engage the creature. She would either move to the left or right to get around it. The Hope moved right in an attempt to cut I99 off. This was the moment of luck. Either the Hope would cut off I99’s movement, or it would have overextended its reach and given I99 an opportunity to escape.
I99 pivoted to the right and laid on as much speed as she could, sending her careening directly on an intercept course with the Hope. Quickly kicking in some extra juice to the engines, the Hope pushed to close the gap before I99 could react.
By the time I99 turned her attention to the path ahead, it was too late. She was already in the maintenance bay. The Faraday cage snapped shut, and I99 was captured. Now all that was left was the serpent.
Unluckily for the serpent, the Hope had just had real-time combat training against a mobile and antagonistic Cloudnet manufacturing island. After a few minutes of positioning and a few salvos, the serpent was driven off. Now all that was left was to finish the trip to Ellerus. The next few days were nothing but smooth sailing. The sun shone bright and welcoming overhead, the breeze always had a sweet smell to it, and the birds welcomed every morning with a song. Spring had settled into the Hope, and it was more than anyone could dream of.
Even the unformed dreaming seemed to cooperate over the last day of travel. As Ellerus appeared on the horizon, everything seemed right with the world. The nightmares were quiet, I99 was safely in the maintenance bay, and old friends were waiting on the island ahead. At last, everything was going smoothly.~
That opportunity presented itself to the Hope in the form of a massive sea serpent cresting over the mists of the unformed dreaming. The Hope saw the opportunity and acted before knowing how I99 would react. I99 had been shown to be conflict averse enough to not want to engage the creature. She would either move to the left or right to get around it. The Hope moved right in an attempt to cut I99 off. This was the moment of luck. Either the Hope would cut off I99’s movement, or it would have overextended its reach and given I99 an opportunity to escape.
I99 pivoted to the right and laid on as much speed as she could, sending her careening directly on an intercept course with the Hope. Quickly kicking in some extra juice to the engines, the Hope pushed to close the gap before I99 could react.
By the time I99 turned her attention to the path ahead, it was too late. She was already in the maintenance bay. The Faraday cage snapped shut, and I99 was captured. Now all that was left was the serpent.
Unluckily for the serpent, the Hope had just had real-time combat training against a mobile and antagonistic Cloudnet manufacturing island. After a few minutes of positioning and a few salvos, the serpent was driven off. Now all that was left was to finish the trip to Ellerus. The next few days were nothing but smooth sailing. The sun shone bright and welcoming overhead, the breeze always had a sweet smell to it, and the birds welcomed every morning with a song. Spring had settled into the Hope, and it was more than anyone could dream of.
Even the unformed dreaming seemed to cooperate over the last day of travel. As Ellerus appeared on the horizon, everything seemed right with the world. The nightmares were quiet, I99 was safely in the maintenance bay, and old friends were waiting on the island ahead. At last, everything was going smoothly.~
The vision takes you the top of a hill overlooking a vast green jungle that stretches far as the eye can see.
Aconite Bay, a quaint Ellerusian settlement, lies nestled in the distance. As you observe, two figures emerge from a nearby farmhouse and begin trudging towards a pond at the bottom of the hill. The two farmers are clad in roughspun smocks and carry sharp-looking shears. They are Afflicted, a species of werewolf whose feral nature had faded after many generations of being accepted into society. They reach the edge of the pond and begin calling out to a congregation of woolly alligators that are sunning themselves on the muddy banks.
"Come on, you big lugs!" the man exclaims. "It's time for your regular haircut!"
The alligators lazily turn their heads towards the farmers, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. The woman approaches one of them, a massive creature that must be at least twelve feet long. She lays her hand on its fuzzy back and whispers something in its ear. The alligator snorts, then lowers its head in acquiescence.
"Good boy," she murmurs, running the shears along its flank. The alligator closes its eyes in contentment, a low rumble escaping its throat.
As they work, the two farmers complain about the recent storm that has delayed the other workers at the shipping port in Humbolton. They grumble about the extra work they'll have to do themselves, and worry about the effect the delay will have on their harvest.
Suddenly, the man cries out in pain, dropping his shears. The woman rushes to his side, concern etched on her face.
"What happened?" she asks, inspecting his arm.
"I got bitten," he groans. "One of them must have gotten spooked."
The woman curses under her breath, then rummages in her bag for a vial of elixir. She administers it to the man, who visibly relaxes.
"Thanks," he says, giving her a lopsided grin. "Guess I owe you one."
She frowned and said, “It’s deep. We will need to go to town to get you stitched up and some antibiotics. Maybe we can find someone to help us with all this work while we are there.”~
"Come on, you big lugs!" the man exclaims. "It's time for your regular haircut!"
The alligators lazily turn their heads towards the farmers, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. The woman approaches one of them, a massive creature that must be at least twelve feet long. She lays her hand on its fuzzy back and whispers something in its ear. The alligator snorts, then lowers its head in acquiescence.
"Good boy," she murmurs, running the shears along its flank. The alligator closes its eyes in contentment, a low rumble escaping its throat.
As they work, the two farmers complain about the recent storm that has delayed the other workers at the shipping port in Humbolton. They grumble about the extra work they'll have to do themselves, and worry about the effect the delay will have on their harvest.
Suddenly, the man cries out in pain, dropping his shears. The woman rushes to his side, concern etched on her face.
"What happened?" she asks, inspecting his arm.
"I got bitten," he groans. "One of them must have gotten spooked."
The woman curses under her breath, then rummages in her bag for a vial of elixir. She administers it to the man, who visibly relaxes.
"Thanks," he says, giving her a lopsided grin. "Guess I owe you one."
She frowned and said, “It’s deep. We will need to go to town to get you stitched up and some antibiotics. Maybe we can find someone to help us with all this work while we are there.”~
Four Mersapiens swim in silence, their powerful tails propelling them through the water with ease.
The ocean stretches out endlessly around them, and they are alone in the vastness of it. They swim until they reach a stretch of coast that is known to be rich with the rare ingredients that their Ahku demands.
As they dive down, the Mersapiens feel a sense of exhilaration and fear. They are trespassing on land that is not theirs, and they are well aware of the danger they face if they are discovered. But the needs of their Ahku come before their own safety, and they are willing to risk everything to obtain the components that will appease him.
The water is murky and difficult to navigate, but the Mersapiens are skilled hunters and gatherers. They know where to look for the components they seek, and they dive deep, scouring the ocean floor for anything that might be of use.
As they work, the Mersapiens occasionally speak to one another in their own language, their voices echoing through the water. They talk of the risks they are taking and the importance of their mission. They discuss the sacrifices they must make to appease their god-king and the rewards that await them if they succeed.~
As they dive down, the Mersapiens feel a sense of exhilaration and fear. They are trespassing on land that is not theirs, and they are well aware of the danger they face if they are discovered. But the needs of their Ahku come before their own safety, and they are willing to risk everything to obtain the components that will appease him.
The water is murky and difficult to navigate, but the Mersapiens are skilled hunters and gatherers. They know where to look for the components they seek, and they dive deep, scouring the ocean floor for anything that might be of use.
As they work, the Mersapiens occasionally speak to one another in their own language, their voices echoing through the water. They talk of the risks they are taking and the importance of their mission. They discuss the sacrifices they must make to appease their god-king and the rewards that await them if they succeed.~
Your vision takes you to a sleepy little town in the middle of anytown, Wisconsin, Mundania Prime;
a place under siege by an invisible force.
Every night, the locals are plagued by horrific shadowy figures and nightmares invading their slumber. They feel the creatures' breath on their necks, their claws scratching their skin, and their cold, icy grip on their souls. The townspeople are helpless and exhausted in their waking hours, unable to escape their own minds. They try to fight back, to climb their way out of the darkness, but to no avail. They don't understand what's happening to them, only that it's getting worse.
Then one night, in the midst of the nightmares, a hero appears. He moves with a grace and fluidity that defies human ability, wielding a spear as if it were an extension of his own body. He speaks in riddles and ancient phrases, his words carrying a weight and power that sends shivers down the spines of shadows.
The hero fights back against the darkness, pushing it back bit by bit. The townspeople cling to his image, hoping and praying that he can save them from the horrors that lurk within their own minds.
But who is this hero? Some say he's the reincarnation of an ancient myth, while others believe he's a prophet sent from another world. They all agree on one thing, though: he's their only hope.
As the hero continues to battle the darkness, the townspeople can only watch and cling to the courage that he'll be enough to save them from the nothings and neverweres that threaten to consume them.~
Every night, the locals are plagued by horrific shadowy figures and nightmares invading their slumber. They feel the creatures' breath on their necks, their claws scratching their skin, and their cold, icy grip on their souls. The townspeople are helpless and exhausted in their waking hours, unable to escape their own minds. They try to fight back, to climb their way out of the darkness, but to no avail. They don't understand what's happening to them, only that it's getting worse.
Then one night, in the midst of the nightmares, a hero appears. He moves with a grace and fluidity that defies human ability, wielding a spear as if it were an extension of his own body. He speaks in riddles and ancient phrases, his words carrying a weight and power that sends shivers down the spines of shadows.
The hero fights back against the darkness, pushing it back bit by bit. The townspeople cling to his image, hoping and praying that he can save them from the horrors that lurk within their own minds.
But who is this hero? Some say he's the reincarnation of an ancient myth, while others believe he's a prophet sent from another world. They all agree on one thing, though: he's their only hope.
As the hero continues to battle the darkness, the townspeople can only watch and cling to the courage that he'll be enough to save them from the nothings and neverweres that threaten to consume them.~
Fawke the wizard was a notorious pirate, infamous for his wild exploits on the high seas.
He was always in search of adventure, and his latest quest had led him to the shores of Lucavia, a land filled with ancient ruins and lost treasures.
Fawke scoured the coastline for days, looking for any sign of the elusive wellspring. He had been told that it was somewhere in the vicinity of a giant stone foot, and he explored the ruins nearby, hoping to find some clues. As he wandered through the crumbling ruins, Fawke came across a pool of light. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and he was immediately drawn to it. But as he moved closer, a cold metallic hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the pool.
Suddenly, Fawke found himself falling through a strange, upside-down world. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. The colors and shapes around him blurred together as he fell deeper and deeper into the unknown.
Just as he was about to lose consciousness, Fawke saw a glimmer of light ahead. It was the wellspring, but something was off. It was unfinished, incomplete, and it seemed to be pulsing with an otherworldly energy. He tried to reach out to touch the wellspring, but he was too far away. And then, everything went black as he fell into the pool and lost consciousness.
What became of Fawke? Did he survive his journey into the unknown? Only time would tell.~
Fawke scoured the coastline for days, looking for any sign of the elusive wellspring. He had been told that it was somewhere in the vicinity of a giant stone foot, and he explored the ruins nearby, hoping to find some clues. As he wandered through the crumbling ruins, Fawke came across a pool of light. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and he was immediately drawn to it. But as he moved closer, a cold metallic hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him into the pool.
Suddenly, Fawke found himself falling through a strange, upside-down world. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. The colors and shapes around him blurred together as he fell deeper and deeper into the unknown.
Just as he was about to lose consciousness, Fawke saw a glimmer of light ahead. It was the wellspring, but something was off. It was unfinished, incomplete, and it seemed to be pulsing with an otherworldly energy. He tried to reach out to touch the wellspring, but he was too far away. And then, everything went black as he fell into the pool and lost consciousness.
What became of Fawke? Did he survive his journey into the unknown? Only time would tell.~
Smoke rose from an area that had been damaged during a recent conflict between Triple-Nine and armed rebels.
From out of the fire of a nearby hover-bike crash, there walked a suit-clad monochromatic Hikari with an Oni face-mod. They had the symbol of the Mora Syndicate emblazoned on their jacket -a purple lotus flower with six petals and Mukai City depicted in the center. The Mora was a shadowy group that had long been regarded as the ‘Sixth Mega-Corporation’ because of the power they wielded in the criminal underworld.
The Mora representative surveyed the scene with cold detachment before turning to a group of protestors and a security team that were in the midst of realizing that it was the corporations that had pitted them against each other. "Citizens of the One City, come with me," he said, his voice low and menacing. "There is a place where you can seek a better future without coercion and under no rulers on level 100."
The crowd looked at one another, uncertain of what to do. But then, with a sense of resolve, they picked up their things and followed the Mora representative into the shadows, unsure where the path would lead, but knowing it had to be better than this.
A young investigator with a squared tie and an implant chip jutting out of his head watched this event unfold from a nearby balcony.~
The Mora representative surveyed the scene with cold detachment before turning to a group of protestors and a security team that were in the midst of realizing that it was the corporations that had pitted them against each other. "Citizens of the One City, come with me," he said, his voice low and menacing. "There is a place where you can seek a better future without coercion and under no rulers on level 100."
The crowd looked at one another, uncertain of what to do. But then, with a sense of resolve, they picked up their things and followed the Mora representative into the shadows, unsure where the path would lead, but knowing it had to be better than this.
A young investigator with a squared tie and an implant chip jutting out of his head watched this event unfold from a nearby balcony.~
Your vision goes to static and cuts to a fixed camera pointed at the side of a building.
An upbeat drum solo plays before a catchy keyboard line cuts in. A man with short brown hair and a worn jacket jumps into frame and points at the camera.
"Do you have problems that need addressing?"
It cuts to a shot of an empty room with tables and chairs set up. The same man in a new jacket jumps into frame and points at the camera in exactly the same way.
"Do things just seem a little bit off to you?"
It cuts to a shot of some trees with a small clearing. The same man in a third jacket jumps into frame and points at the camera in exactly the same way.
"Are things just seeming too good to be true? Then I have a product for YOU!"
It cuts to the same man in yet another jacket walking down a gravel path talking directly to the camera.
"Hi, my name is Thenardier and you may know me from such places as" he checks his hand "selling you junk during the war that happened. Or..." he checks his other hand "being your Soulforge! And I have a product for YOU!" He says pointing at the camera again.
A star wipe shows Thenardier sitting at a table set up outside of a cabin.
"I'm here to introduce you to my brand new product! In stock for a limited time called Reality Check!"
Thenardier sweeps his hand to the side showing a beat up box of bandaids.
"Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, Thenardier! That's just a box of bandaids! How is that supposed to help us? And to that I say, you just need to stay a little bit longer and see for yourself! But first, let's go get some testimonials!"
Crossfade to Thenardier with a fake moustache on.
"Things around me just seemed a little too good to be true, but thanks to Reality Check, I KNOW what's real and what isn't!"
Cut to Reginald obviously reading words off of a cue card held off camera.
"I thought that everything was fine but after a reality check I could see that I was being played. How was that?"
Cut to Officer CJ.
"I'm telling you. Nothing is wrong. You're just paranoid. Now turn that thing off and let me get back to my lunch."
Wipe to Thenardier sitting at the table.
"And there you have it folks! Sometimes when things seem too good to be true, they are! So come on down and get your own Reality Check today!"
Thenardier points at the camera as the vision slowly fades out.~
"Do you have problems that need addressing?"
It cuts to a shot of an empty room with tables and chairs set up. The same man in a new jacket jumps into frame and points at the camera in exactly the same way.
"Do things just seem a little bit off to you?"
It cuts to a shot of some trees with a small clearing. The same man in a third jacket jumps into frame and points at the camera in exactly the same way.
"Are things just seeming too good to be true? Then I have a product for YOU!"
It cuts to the same man in yet another jacket walking down a gravel path talking directly to the camera.
"Hi, my name is Thenardier and you may know me from such places as" he checks his hand "selling you junk during the war that happened. Or..." he checks his other hand "being your Soulforge! And I have a product for YOU!" He says pointing at the camera again.
A star wipe shows Thenardier sitting at a table set up outside of a cabin.
"I'm here to introduce you to my brand new product! In stock for a limited time called Reality Check!"
Thenardier sweeps his hand to the side showing a beat up box of bandaids.
"Now I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, Thenardier! That's just a box of bandaids! How is that supposed to help us? And to that I say, you just need to stay a little bit longer and see for yourself! But first, let's go get some testimonials!"
Crossfade to Thenardier with a fake moustache on.
"Things around me just seemed a little too good to be true, but thanks to Reality Check, I KNOW what's real and what isn't!"
Cut to Reginald obviously reading words off of a cue card held off camera.
"I thought that everything was fine but after a reality check I could see that I was being played. How was that?"
Cut to Officer CJ.
"I'm telling you. Nothing is wrong. You're just paranoid. Now turn that thing off and let me get back to my lunch."
Wipe to Thenardier sitting at the table.
"And there you have it folks! Sometimes when things seem too good to be true, they are! So come on down and get your own Reality Check today!"
Thenardier points at the camera as the vision slowly fades out.~