Log:V4 Session 9 (Meta, no ontology)

May 24 21:05:42 <Hebizuka> [Session start!] May 24 21:05:50 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _After what seems like an eternity, you wake up. You have a bit of trouble understanding what happened... The last thing you remember, you're pretty sure you died, but here you are, slowly waking up from what seemed like a very long nap. The first thing you notice is that you're waking up in a hospital bedroom. It doesn't look like home or anywhere familiar._ May 24 21:05:55 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The next thing you notice is that there appears to be someone waiting for you at your bedside ; a fifty-something man, dressed in a lab coat, with a look of concern - or is it relief? - on his face. He observes you waking up, but doesn't say a thing, figuring you want the first word._ May 24 21:08:13 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo wakes up with a bit of a throbbing ache in her head. Aww, fuck, that little prick must have gotten her once good at the bar. Bastard... landing in a hospital again wasn't her idea of a perfect conclusion to a fun Saturday out drinking. The lapine lass sat up in her bed, sleep-deprived eyes glancing over to the old man... huffing out in an emotionless sigh, she speaks her first words:* "What the fuck are you looking at...?" May 24 21:11:42 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Medic]** Good morning, miss Chou. Please, I mean no harm, I am merely happy to see you are among the living again. I've been monitoring your vital signs for a while now, and they've all been stable. You probably feel confused, right now, and I understand, but first, I must ask you something; what is the last thing you remember? May 24 21:15:22 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *The lagomorph looks left and right along the hospital room. She scratches the back of her ears and returns her gaze to the doctor after a while.* **"Getting suckerpunched in the head by some mongoloid loser. Do I have a concussion or what? No...?"** *She noted, checking her head for any injuries. Fuck, even with her tumble down at the bar, she didn't have a scratch on her. She could have sworn she'd wake up with at least a bruise...* May 24 21:17:13 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Medic]** Interesting. You still have memories from before your... transition. I'd say that means you're okay. Let me explain myself ; this may come out as weird and sudden, but you have, effectively, died. However, my superior, the Administrator, saw fit to select you for what I can best describe as bringing you back from the dead. You are no longer at home, miss Chou, you are somewhere else entirely - this realm is called the Mazes. May 24 21:20:52 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *That sleepless gaze was exhausting to look at, yet, unwavering in its gaze. She felt alright. She looked alright. She didn't even feel a kink in her ears which usually meant she slept correctly for once. However, the task at hand, replying to this poor employees who was just doing his job:* **"I don't know what you believe in, but I'm not looking for a religious intervention. Thanks."** *She tossed the blankets off of her body and turned to stand up from the bed, stretching out her limbs as she warmed herself right up.* **"I don't have insurance, so before you ask, I ain't paying for shit until I call up a few friends."** May 24 21:21:51 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _And that's when the realization hits you like a truck: you have no clothing under the bedsheets. The good doctor instinctively looks away._ May 24 21:22:32 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo looks as if she's about to strangle the malpractice right out of this poor man's throat.* May 24 21:22:49 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Medic]** I was not joking, you are not where you might think you are... And with all of that, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Dr. Philip Gage, head of the Medical Science Team, chief of the Proving Grounds medical staff, and... how to put this. I'm the primary caretaker and creator of your body, so to speak. Along with my superior, the Administrator, we have... the best word to use here is "recreated" the body you're currently in. May 24 21:23:01 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Medic]** The Administrator and I worked to ensure that your... transition, would be as soft as possible, and feel like waking up. A rough night, so to speak. Judging by your reaction, it worked... May 24 21:25:10 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo balled her hands up into knuckles, glaring the doctor over.* **"How about you just get me my clothes and we'll talk about future developments in your career once I figure out just what kinda fucking hospital strips their patients ass-naked for treatment, hmm?"** May 24 21:26:02 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _A sigh. The doctor didn't expect Shizo to understand right away._ May 24 21:27:24 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Very well. There is equipment that was delivered for you, over on the other side of the room. This includes clothing and weapons. Since you don't want me to waste your time, I will give you the very short version. I worked on the Administrator's orders to bring you here. In exchange for your second chance at life, she wishes for you to know that you have an objective. May 24 21:30:00 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *The lapine was about to have herself a very thorough conversation with the doctor in a mere minute of so, but first, she stepped over to the pile of gear and began to clothe herself. Upon shuffling through the gear, she holds up unfamiliar clothing and weaponry in her hands... yet... she feels strangely comfortable grasping the pistol in her hand even though she hasn't fired anything but BB rifles at the neighbor's cats.* **"...and weapons? I didn't come here with no gun, I'll tell you that. But, I mean, while I have it...** *She looks with a sideways glance at the doctor, smirking rather... maliciously.* May 24 21:34:37 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The doctor looks nervous, but goes on with his explanations anyway._ May 24 21:35:00 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** The Admin is mostly responsible for bringing you here and that I'm just following her orders, she has told me to tell you what your role here is. You may be referred to hereon as the **Contestant**, a title that bears a certain amount of importance here. Your objective is to find four ancient artifacts, said to have been forged by deities - the Cardinal Amulets. May 24 21:35:07 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** These four objects will, if you find all four of them, allow you the possibility to return home, safe and sound. And I do not know much more, unfortunately, besides the fact that it's up to you to figure out where they are and how to acquire them. Why and how, I do not know either. She simply told me to say this is your primary objective. May 24 21:39:00 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Looking at the weapon from varying angles, the rabbit-girl oddly enough knew just where everything was. The safety, the magazines, hell she even knew what the ammunition for her piece looked like. Perhaps she was dreaming? Ahhh, sweet dreams, always full of ways for her to let loose some steam.* **"Alright, you dusty motherfucker, you want me to play a little game with you? Fine... but you're coming with me..."** *After getting the remainder of her gear on, getting comfortable in the ensemble, Shizo makes sure there's a bullet chambered in her piece before pointing it at the doctor.* **"You know the way out of this hospital, right? Show me the door then."** May 24 21:40:21 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** You'd be well advised not to point that at me, I am armed too, I'm just exceedingly reluctant to fight you. I haven't spent so long working on you to have your body punctured and damaged. I will show you the way out and leave you to your own devices... May 24 21:40:28 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Gage seems reluctant to fight._ May 24 21:42:14 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> **"Smart choice. They didn't give you that PhD for nothing I see."** *Making sure the weapon was trained on the poor doctor, Shizo motioned with a tilt of her head to show her the way out. The reality of the situation had not hit her quite yet, and for all intents and purposes, could you blame her? It certainly felt like a dream to her. Perhaps showing her a dose of reality would be the best medicine the threatened doctor could offer...* May 24 21:46:07 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Gage leads the way outside of the hospital room and the corridors leading right up to what seems to be the facility's entrance lobby, a room with another scientist doing lobby duty at the desk there, behind the computer._ May 24 21:46:24 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Upon seeing you entering, holding Gage at gunpoint, he immediately springs up from his chair, one hand reaching for the submachine gun at his hip, the same kind, it seemed, as the one Gage himself carries._ May 24 21:46:53 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Scientist]** Hey! What the hell! What are you doing?! Philip, isn't that your little experiment holding you up? I thought you said she wasn't going to be a problem! May 24 21:47:31 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Take it easy, Gar, she doesn't understand yet... She still thinks she's home. May 24 21:52:23 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo was starting to have a little bit of moral consequence dawn on her. The man did have all the right to blow her face off, yet she was holding his co-worker up dead to rights. If this was a dream, she'd be in bullet-time and half-way into a gunfight by now. This... felt oddly like potential homicide.* **"What's going to be a problem is if this guy's head pops like a jar of raspberry jelly, you'll be in deep shit. Why don't you just open the door and there won't be problems, you hear?"** *She was right there at the moment of truth, ready to walk home and tell her friends about the creepy hospital she was just in... right?* May 24 21:53:20 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Scientist]** If you don't put that weapon down, the entire Town Security will come for you if I don't get you first! May 24 21:53:39 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Garrett! You will not shoot her! Let her out of here, please! She'll see for herself where she is! May 24 21:54:01 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The atmosphere is tense. Gage seems more concerned with keeping you alive than anything, which is especially jarring._ May 24 21:55:03 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The situation is special. You are at the edge of entering combat, and if the lobby scientist has any further reasons to believe you're a threat, he will engage you - but he is hung onto Gage's words not to do so. You have the possibility to steer this either towards a fight, or away from one, depending on your actions._ May 24 21:57:57 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *The lapine tilts her head to the door, the gun still trained on Dr. Gage's skull.* **"Come on now, we're not ten feet from the exit. Listen to your boss, open the door, and you can both hug it out."** *Perhaps in her own odd show of solidarity, the gives the doctor a push forward while distancing himself from her, slowly moving towards the door. The Administrator sure had a strange taste in Contestants...* May 24 21:58:35 <Hebizuka> (( I get that a lot lately. :p May 24 21:58:45 <HashiBot> <Tempest> (( Snrk. May 24 21:59:44 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Reluctantly, the lobby scientist stands down and allows you to pass through. The way to the exit is south._ May 24 21:59:51 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Scientist]** Hope you know what you're doing, Phil. May 24 22:00:08 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Just relax, I'll be back for a coffee. May 24 22:01:51 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> **"Good to hear. Happy smiles all around, see?"** *And with her final turn to the door, she kicked the bar holding it shut action-movie style, walking out into the streets of...* ***not home??*** May 24 22:06:24 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _You do not know yet exactly where you are, but upon leaving the special facility in which you woke up in - which is, apparently, a biotechnology laboratory, you realize first and foremost that you appear to still be _inside_. When you look above yourself, you see a ceiling._ May 24 22:06:55 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Do you believe me now?... May 24 22:09:09 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo looks up to the bright lights, focusing in on them as... fluorescents. Shit.* **"Yeah, well..."** *She stammered out, lost in thought as she put the gun back into its holster. The lapine moves over to one of the table, leaning onto it, looking to take in her surroundings a lot more carefully now.* May 24 22:10:37 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Welcome to the town of Arnett... A remote city in the Eastern Zone. This is the small shopping hub. Over there is an old shop emplacement that is unused. If you walk forwards you'll see the weapon shop and the clothing store, and further ahead is the Social Square, the town center. May 24 22:11:10 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Now that you understand, I hope, a little better where you are, does the information I gave you start making sense now? May 24 22:14:16 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo looks flabbergasted. She takes a look over to the the stores and then to Gage, crossing her arms to regain her composure.* **"Not like I have any money to buy their chintzy garbage. And I want out of here, doc. Not out of there... here."** *She mentioned, pointing to the rather odd town they were situated in. Being on bare tiles and pavements was getting a little irritating now as the lapine looked to her feet. **"...you know where my shoes went?"** May 24 22:15:07 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Ah, er... No. I'm sorry. I don't know. There must have been a shipping mistake. May 24 22:18:11 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> **"Figures - you can clone my ass but forget to buy shoes."** *Though not accurate in the slightest, it was a... rather reasonable approach to waking up in the middle of this concrete prison.* **"So tell me again why the fuck I'm here? What, you guys need some old rocks for a science experiment?""** May 24 22:20:09 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Oh, no, no. You're here because the Admin wants you here. For what purpose, other than what she told me, I don't know. She said you're to find the Amulets, but I don't rightly know where they might be - if they exist at all. You might want to find someone who knows more about that. Speaking of which, would you care to follow me to the square center? May 24 22:22:02 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *The girl puts a finger into Gage's chest, then sticks her thumb out to the biotech facility properly behind her.* **"Then you got a map to take me to your President, Administrator, whoever she is? I bet she knows where they are. And sure, walk... but you're staying in front of me, got it?"** May 24 22:22:58 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** I regret, I won't be able to help you with finding her. She... Well.. We only communicate through messages. I have no idea where she is. As for that, follow me. May 24 22:23:37 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The good doctor remains in front, brisk pace leading the way through more rooms. A short distance later, and you find yourself at the center of the town, a large sort of town plaza called the Social Square Center, with four streets branching out in a plus shaped pattern. There, the inhabitants and visitors come and go, going about on their businesses._ May 24 22:24:02 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** So this is the center of Arnett. It's not much, but it's quiet. I hope you will be able to succeed in your mission and that you will stay alive. If I may, can I give you a few pieces of advice before I let you go? May 24 22:26:50 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo looks sideways once more to Dr. Gage, arching an eyebrow in her direction.* **"Sure thing, why not. Surprise me."** *Shizo is already surprised, so any more surprises will likely lose their surprise factor on her at this point. She feels like she's walking around in a factory made entirely out of cement as it is.* May 24 22:27:44 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** One, every town is more or less patterned the same way - they all have a social square, a center plaza like this one, and common features such as a hospital, a bank, some form of special facility, and whatnot. If you're ever lost, find the plaza of this town and look for the map - it will tell you where you are and where to go. May 24 22:27:54 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Two, you will probably want to find clues about where to go next for your primary objective. I advise you to ask around in town. May 24 22:28:03 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Three and last, the best place for information and the place you want to go to if you need money, is the Hiring Bureau. Think of it as a sort of combination of post office and job finding agency. If you're ever in need of something to do for cash, my advice is to ask there first. May 24 22:30:35 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Being broke doesn't quite interest Shizo, nor do finding ancient tablet or whatever. She shrugs her shoulders and looks to see just where the Hiring Agency is. It'll be good to make some money and start asking around there.* **"Works for me. Send me a cell phone if you need anything else from me."** May 24 22:31:14 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Dr. Gage]** Alright. Please stay safe out there. May 24 22:31:34 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The doctor turns heels, and returns towards the laboratory, leaving you free to go where you please, with a few objectives._ May 24 22:31:42 <HashiBot> <Tempest> <**M02: First Town** - Quest complete!> May 24 22:31:44 <HashiBot> <Tempest> <**M03: Take the Long Way Home** - Quest started.> May 24 22:31:52 <HashiBot> <Tempest> M03: Objectives May 24 22:31:57 <HashiBot> <Tempest> 1) Head to Arnett's Hiring Bureau to register yourself as a contractor: the Hiring Bureau is the place to go to find jobs and initiate sidequests, in order to earn money and acquire better gear. May 24 22:32:02 <HashiBot> <Tempest> 2) Ask around in Arnett and inquire about the closest Angelic town, to learn more about the Contestant Prophecy and the Cardinal Amulets' supposed whereabouts. May 24 22:32:10 <HashiBot> <Tempest> (( And from that point on you have full control and freedom to go where you please. May 24 22:34:21 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo watched the doctor plod off back to his office. Awesome. Now, onto the Bureau...* **"Fucking shit, stupid ass bar fight lands me in some fucking hospital on the other side of hell and now I'm looking for some old fuck's jewelry. Fuck that."** *Either way, she's curious enough to ask about them at the Bureau seeing as the doctor didn't have much of anything to say about it...* May 24 22:36:55 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _According to a quick glance at the town map, it is three rooms away from your location. Go there now?_ May 24 22:37:13 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> ( I do confirm this action to be correct ) May 24 22:39:35 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Three rooms later, and you find yourself passing the door announcing the Hiring Bureau. The place looks like a large office, where the walls are plastered with recruitment or advertisement posters. It is an otherwise very simple room - with only one large desk, a computer, a board of announcements and classifieds, and the only worker here, the Hirer, sitting at the desk._ May 24 22:40:56 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *She moves to the desk and puts her hands on it looking over the worker with her usual sleep-deprived gaze.* **"Hey, you. I'm looking for something... 'Cardinal Amulets', you heard of them?"** *The lapine impatiently thumped her foot on the floor waiting for an answer.* May 24 22:42:20 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** Hello! Cardinal Amulets? Yeah... That does ring a bell... Let me think about it for a second. _<beat>_ May 24 22:43:02 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** I think this is an Angelic thing. I recall a shrine maiden speaking about those in a seminar, a long time ago. I think your best bet might be to ask the shrine maidens in the town of Semitas, they'll probably chat your ear out about them. May 24 22:44:29 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shrine maidens? Like those stuffy, quiet ladies at temple? Bah... excellent. So it's one of those things.* **"Excellent, Semitas, right... and just what exactly do you have in the ways of making some money then? I just need a few bucks for the road."** May 24 22:45:06 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** _<Conniving smile.>_ Well, start by telling me your full name, so I can check the database. May 24 22:45:44 <HashiBot> <Tempest> <M03: Objective 2 is complete.> May 24 22:46:03 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Leaning off of the table, the lapine puts her hands on her hips and mutters out:* **"Shizo Zo Chou"** May 24 22:47:02 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Keyboard clatter._ May 24 22:47:46 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** Hmm. No results. Perhaps I can sign you up instead, then. While I do that and they run a background check... And since it's my understanding that you're new at the contractor business, do you care for a quick explanation or two? May 24 22:49:14 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo nods her head along with the explanation. This backpack on her is might comfy, she might jsut nap on this later.* May 24 22:49:57 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** OK, so, the way this works, is that we register people in two broad categories, Employers and Contractors. The former sign up to offer jobs and things to do for any Contractor available, and Contractors sign up to be offered jobs made available by the first category. May 24 22:50:03 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** We also rank people by veterancy, so that Employers who wish to get more or less experienced people, may only offer that job to the type of Contractor they want. Since you're new, you're starting at the bottom rung, so you might only get small stuff to do at first. May 24 22:51:15 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> *Shizo scoffs. Not like she'll be out here working for too long, just until she can piss off and get on going back home.* **"Of course, right. And just what do we have? Dishwashing, babysitting, what...?"** May 24 22:51:27 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The computer emits an audible notification noise._ May 24 22:52:37 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** ... Hmm. Weird. The check is complete, but... Hm. Option to add as Employer is greyed out. Oh, well. Contractor it is then. No, no, it's all sorts of jobs - delivering things, bodyguard work, security detail, personal help and services... It's really whatever Employers need at the time that they want someone to get done. May 24 22:52:52 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** Do you have a residence, and/or a phone number? May 24 22:54:37 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> **"Yeah, put me down as 8311 East Jiang Avenue, Zhizhou Providence... 344-751-1327"** *The rabbit prattles off, wondering if those numbers even mean anything here.* May 24 22:54:38 <HashiBot> <Gear> Level up! @Degenerate is now **level 7**. May 24 22:54:57 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _The Hirer stares at you, blinking twice._ May 24 22:55:18 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _He looks as though you just gave him alien coordinates. They very well might be to him!_ May 24 22:56:01 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** ...No phone and no residence, got it. It's fine, you'll just have to come back to a Bureau to check on jobs. And there, all signed up! Although, I have nothing for you at the moment. You'll want to come back later. May 24 22:56:07 <HashiBot> <Tempest> <M03: Objective 1 is complete.> May 24 22:56:46 <HashiBot> <Tempest> <M03: Received a new objective.> May 24 22:56:51 <HashiBot> <Tempest> 3) Ask the shrine maiden at Semitas about information regarding the Cardinal Amulets. May 24 22:57:09 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** Anything else I can do for you, miss Chou? May 24 22:58:25 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> **"Unless you got some work in Semitas that I can work on while I'm meandering over there, then no, that'll be it."** *Nodding her head, Zo stood up straight and hooked her thumbs into the straps of her rucksack.* May 24 22:59:26 <HashiBot> <Tempest> **[Hirer]** Alrighty then. Stay safe out there! May 24 22:59:32 <HashiBot> <Tempest> _Where to next?_ May 24 23:00:13 <HashiBot> <Degenerate> ( The exit, I suppose. Though this is a good time for me to call it quits, I got other things to sort out. ) May 24 23:00:30 <HashiBot> <Tempest> (( Fair enough! Can't wait to see the next episode of this! May 24 23:00:45 <Hebizuka> [Session end!]