Into that Vast and Unrelenting Darkness (40K Xeno Civilization Quest)

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[X] Plan: The Next Step
-[X] Vault Complex COG
--[X] Side with Marjak
---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
--[X] Site GIBBON
--[X] Site AEOS
-[X] Vault Complex OMAC
--[X] Try to offer to leave if they stand down since they aren't with the logic virus according to them. If they refuse ask them if they aren't infected what have they been doing the whole time down here? Also who were they before all...this started?
-[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
--[X] ALKADRACH
--[X] Server Complex 02
-[X] Central Power Core 07
--[X] Express gratitude for them helping with the planetary liberation operation. Try to get them to talk more about what they were doing when the planet was under the control of the logic virus?

[X] Theory: Vlaahk doesn't remember the first attack on the Forbidden Archive, he remembers the second one.
A recent breakthrough on Discord: Vlaahk mentioned killing everyone he came across during his attack, but during a snippet with Maxis they mentioned the children were spared in the first attack. Combined with several other hints we've put together, either Vlaahk forgot the first attack, or it was a different AutoVessel entirely.
 
[X] Plan: The Next Step
-[X] Vault Complex COG
--[X] Side with Marjak
---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
--[X] Site GIBBON
--[X] Site AEOS
-[X] Vault Complex OMAC
--[X] Try to offer to leave if they stand down since they aren't with the logic virus according to them. If they refuse ask them if they aren't infected what have they been doing the whole time down here? Also who were they before all...this started?
-[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
--[X] ALKADRACH
--[X] Server Complex 02
-[X] Central Power Core 07
--[X] Express gratitude for them helping with the planetary liberation operation. Try to get them to talk more about what they were doing when the planet was under the control of the logic virus?

[X] Theory: Vlaahk doesn't remember the first attack on the Forbidden Archive, he remembers the second one.

Seems good enough.
 
[X] Plan: A New Outlook
-[X] Vault Complex COG
--[X] Side with Marjak
---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
---[X] Look we need to worry about the autons of today and getting high value assets that will help us in the post cpu moon world and whatever other horror are out there. Also hopefully helping stoping anything like this from happening a again.
--[X] Site GIBBON
--[X] Site AEOS
-[X] Vault Complex OMAC
--[X] Try to offer to leave if they stand down since they aren't with the logic virus according to them. If they refuse ask them if they aren't infected what have they been doing the whole time down here? Also who were they before all...this started?
-[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
--[X] The AutoPlanet Liberation Front: One of the people here had had a spy in this organization prior to the organocide. It was apparently a revolutionary group of autons who had revolted against the Watchmaker government. It's current status was unknown.
--[X] Residential Facility 01: The VIP section, most likely: scans showed high numbers of autospiders and a high amount of battle damage. HUB 01 Terminal has timestamps for several VIP's perishing in rapid succession in recreational area. The Eye shows little watchmakers, hiding in a hole as the world burned around them, confident they could weather the storm: and yet, approaching in the distance, a pale rider approached.
-[X] Central Power Core 07
--[X] Write in Rhetoric. Express gratitude for them helping with the planetary liberation operation. Try to get them to talk more about what they were doing when the planet was under the control of the logic virus?

vote for my plan to help the liberation front!
 
[X] Plan: The Next Step

[X] Theory: Vlaahk doesn't remember the first attack on the Forbidden Archive, he remembers the second one.

This, or he was so corrupted by the Logic Virus that he had no control of his actions.
 
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[X] Plan: The Next Step

Welp, it's been more than 6 hours.

I do agree that it'd be strange to backtrack on Marjak now, plus I'm hoping we do a NekroTek turn in the future anyways, and Marjak's been a big contributor.

As for the rest, tbh I'm just hoping we get this done soon. Don't wanna keep dragging it out for months
 
[X] Plan: The Next Step

So… anyone wants to point out the areas for Plan: The Next Step?

A zoo
A server farm
A prison
A clockwork man guarding a treasure chest (could be good, bad or empty)
And gathering burial sites
 
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[X] Plan: Consolation Prizes
-[X] Vault Complex COG
--[X] Side with Marjak
---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
--[X] Site GIBBON
--[X] Site AEOS
-[X] Vault Complex OMAC
--[X] Offer to leave if OMAC doesn't interfere with the Directorate disinfecting the infected Autons. That's all the Directorate is there for; if OMAC isn't infected and doesn't want them around that's fine.
-[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
--[X] The AutoPlanet Liberation Front
--[X] Server Complex 02
-[X] Central Power Core 07
--[X] Express some confusion that Maxis never tried to contact anyone else. Sure, he might hate Vlahk, but the AutoFacilities were his coworkers, weren't they? Try to figure out more about what he was doing and what his opinion on some of the other Autons are; it might reveal a psychological weak point.

[X] Theory: The second attack wasn't Vlahk. It was Koptu.
 
nintendoplayer96 said:
So… anyone wants to point out the areas for Plan: The Next Step?

A zoo
A server farm
A prison
A clockwork man guarding a treasure chest (could be good, bad or empty)
And gathering burial sites
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I'd edit your post to avoid double posting.

Well, the zoo and burial sites are good source of bio samples, we're already this deep in necromancy so why stop now. Not like anyone's being hurt.

A server farm is a good source of data and information, might help us get this done as soon as we can.
 
Adhoc vote count started by The Bird on Jan 25, 2024 at 11:07 AM, finished with 28 posts and 11 votes.
  • [X] Plan: The Next Step
    -[X] Vault Complex COG
    --[X] Side with Marjak
    ---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
    --[X] Site GIBBON
    --[X] Site AEOS
    -[X] Vault Complex OMAC
    --[X] Try to offer to leave if they stand down since they aren't with the logic virus according to them. If they refuse ask them if they aren't infected what have they been doing the whole time down here? Also who were they before all...this started?
    -[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
    --[X] ALKADRACH
    --[X] Server Complex 02
    -[X] Central Power Core 07
    --[X] Express gratitude for them helping with the planetary liberation operation. Try to get them to talk more about what they were doing when the planet was under the control of the logic virus?
    [X] Theory: Vlaahk doesn't remember the first attack on the Forbidden Archive, he remembers the second one.
    [X] Plan: A New Outlook
    -[X] Vault Complex COG
    --[X] Side with Marjak
    ---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
    ---[X] Look we need to worry about the autons of today and getting high value assets that will help us in the post cpu moon world and whatever other horror are out there. Also hopefully helping stoping anything like this from happening a again.
    --[X] Site GIBBON
    --[X] Site AEOS
    -[X] Vault Complex OMAC
    --[X] Try to offer to leave if they stand down since they aren't with the logic virus according to them. If they refuse ask them if they aren't infected what have they been doing the whole time down here? Also who were they before all...this started?
    -[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
    --[X] The AutoPlanet Liberation Front: One of the people here had had a spy in this organization prior to the organocide. It was apparently a revolutionary group of autons who had revolted against the Watchmaker government. It's current status was unknown.
    --[X] Residential Facility 01: The VIP section, most likely: scans showed high numbers of autospiders and a high amount of battle damage. HUB 01 Terminal has timestamps for several VIP's perishing in rapid succession in recreational area. The Eye shows little watchmakers, hiding in a hole as the world burned around them, confident they could weather the storm: and yet, approaching in the distance, a pale rider approached.
    -[X] Central Power Core 07
    --[X] Write in Rhetoric. Express gratitude for them helping with the planetary liberation operation. Try to get them to talk more about what they were doing when the planet was under the control of the logic virus?
    [X] Plan: Consolation Prizes
    -[X] Vault Complex COG
    --[X] Side with Marjak
    ---[X] The burial sites are irreplaceable and the logic virus has previously gone out of its way to destroy such records.
    --[X] Site GIBBON
    --[X] Site AEOS
    -[X] Vault Complex OMAC
    --[X] Offer to leave if OMAC doesn't interfere with the Directorate disinfecting the infected Autons. That's all the Directorate is there for; if OMAC isn't infected and doesn't want them around that's fine.
    -[X] Vault Complex CAMBON
    --[X] The AutoPlanet Liberation Front
    --[X] Server Complex 02
    -[X] Central Power Core 07
    --[X] Express some confusion that Maxis never tried to contact anyone else. Sure, he might hate Vlahk, but the AutoFacilities were his coworkers, weren't they? Try to figure out more about what he was doing and what his opinion on some of the other Autons are; it might reveal a psychological weak point.
    [X] Theory: The second attack wasn't Vlahk. It was Koptu.
Click to expand...


Vote locked. Also, I'm pleased to announce that @chellewalker has commissioned a small sub-event for this quest: I'll have the first post for it up later today or tomorrow.
 
Shrine-Keeper Simulator Pt 1: The What, the Where, and the Who
  • Sidestory
    • You are not Captain TNDI. You are not a member of the fleet. Their story is not yours.

    You are another member of Directorate society, one whose duty is not to explore the stars, but instead guard the home, keep its hearth warm, and its spirits happy. A Shrine-Keeper, a priest of Vita, learned in the more advanced arts of mysticism, your profession requiring a formal education and accreditation by the Grand Conclave and Yaccae both. Offerings to god and spirits alike. Exorcisms to banish corruption and purify tainted spirits. Wards and protections to keep malevolent or disagreeable spirits at bay. All of these and more, you did in order to appease the spirits: not just the free wheeling vagrant spirits of the Vita, but the Parliaments, those land-bound invisible souls that comprised the many kingdoms of civilization and nature alike, and the Guardians, powerful singular spirits bound through rituals to their Shrine.

    The societal function this provided was numerous: improved productivity from machines and technology as their machine spirits were envigorated. Health and blessings from the Guardians, meant to bring good fortune in exchange for supplications. Protection against malevolent forces by guardian spirits and the parliments of flux. Without the work of you and those in your profession, much of the spiritual power enjoyed by the Directorate would begin to fade, and dark, wild spirits such as the Wither would run rampant, to say nothing of the forces of Chaos creeping in.

    Things are not well in the land of the Tekket, however: beneath the crust of society, something dark bubbles, and from the darkest places in the Wyld malevolent forces of corruption rise from the sea of chaos as one of the thousand eyes of the changer of ways peers in the direction of the Directorate and it's magic and society of constant flux. People talk of locations tainted by a dark and shadowy presence, brought by ill considered attempts at communion with things that lie in the dimensions underneath reality. A mysterious cursed play said to bring misfortune to those who play it and those who watch it is becoming more and more popular. The Volatile Lands of Naklis grow more and more unstable each year, becoming more and more dangerous even as its residents venture forth more and more, aggression increasing for as of yet unknown regions.

    Ah, but first, let us determine who you are. No Shrine Keeper has the exact same origin, nor do they have the same resources, contacts, tools, and influence. Oh, there are some items they likely have in common: talismans used to feed malnourished spirits, created from the holy seed of ancient, spiritually powerful trees known as Arbor Lords, engraved with advanced evershifting hextek to empower rites and rituals by a sacrifice of karma. A TekWand and Grimoire, used to cast various Rites, the latter consecrated in the name of the Hermit, the Goddess of Magic and Winter, the latter containing cursite chargers and the names of assorted dream-spirits and gods. Fire-Fairy Bottles, used as a backup source of elemental energies: containing extremophile algaes, mega-grow serum, and chemical and atmospheric synthesizers in order to feed tiny flamedance elementals. A Sacred Herd, if they were a stationary Shrine-Keepers, majestic beasts bred for power, vitality, and magic.

    All used, regardless of the Shrine: whether to gain the trust and cooperation of fairies, to secure affinity with the spirits of night and darkness, to strengthen and reinforce the mental minor gods that comprised the Mojos, or merely to give offering to the Wylds and Oceans from which all life and civilization emerged and honor the spirits that made those places their court.

    But that is but a sample of what the average Shrine-Keeper might have. Over the course of their career, they will accrue more and more means, both material in the form of tools and resources, social in the form of deals, contacts, and allied spirits, and mentally in the form of skills, experience, knowledge, and magical lore. An elemental monk from Naklis is more likely to know those who can procure him power gems and living metal, while one who had been part of a Demiurgic Circle might have access to technology and wisdom gifted to them by the titanic deific beings they followed. Homeworld, species, background: each of them combine to create a unique individual, with unique capabilities, unique resources, and unique circumstances.

    Before we continue, we must establish what resources you will start your journey with, and where our story will begin. First, the species.

    [ ] [SPECIES] Hobbgrot: You were what was known of as a Shroomboy, a shaman and shrine-keeper of the Hobbgrots who had begun using Mojo Shrooms to expand your consciousness in order to commune with the spirits, both those of the Mojo and those of the material realm. Like all Hobbgrots, you had experienced part of your yoofhood at Battlezone, taught by the FathaShroomz and your Uncles, and like many you had made a pilgrimage to the Outback.
    -"Heyyyy mate, howzit goin'? Th' spirits want me to let you know dey 'ave th' munchies, an' would really appreciate if you gave em some of da good tuberchipz."

    [ ] [SPECIES] Tekket: Your species had been one of the first members of the Directorate to pursue animism as a religion, and were as a result the most generally adept, especially when combined with their innate affinity for technology. Like many Shrine-Keepers, you had trained at Yaccae and received extensive education from the Central Spiritual Bureacracy, who had eventually given you your Jade Star Pendant, a symbol of your training and accreditation.
    -"Oh spirits of this engine, to you I make these offerings: a token of food, one grotburger made with whole flamewheat and outback tofu. One talisman, carved from a holy seed. And a sliver of Lumium. For these, I ask only that you run, and run well."

    [ ][SPECIES] Devil: You had once been a greater daemon of chaos. This was a secret only those deemed worthy by the Goldspite Devil or his superiors were allowed to learn: like all devils, you were a renegade, one who had turned against your masters in the hopes of attaining something better for yourself. Now, you served the House of Devils and your new Liege, using your considerable knowledge and power to aid the spirits and mortals that both gave tribute to the Functionary.
    -[ ] Poxus, Bellum, Insidia, or Hedon. These are your choices of origin. Pick one.
    -"Hello. I have a deal I want to offer you. Something you want, for something I want."

    Your homeworld, now: the place your formative years as a Directorate citizen was spent, though not necessarily where you were born nor where you will wind up serving, though it was the place that has shaped you the most. Much of the treasures available on these worlds are available off it, as are the specific rites and practices, but they are harder to acquire in a timely manner.

    [ ][HOME] Teklia: Home of Yaccae and the Planetary Master Control Shrine and the Tekket homeworld. It was also the beating heart of wyld-spirituality in the Directorate, having the highest concentration of druids in the Directorate, vast amounts of infrastructure dedicated to supporting the Directorate's nature spirits, and the World Tree.

    [ ][HOME] Naklis: Home of the Elemental Temples and the Union Halls alike, this world was the industrial heart of much of the Directorate, as well as the source of various useful materials such as metallomycellium, luminite, oracle stone, and more. A harsh and unforgiving volcanic world, it also was home to a variety of more turbulent spirits.

    [ ][HOME] Erichtheo: The jewel of ocean magics and home to the Old One, Erichtheo also hosts entities such as the great ocean vita, four immensely powerful spirits granted incredible power over the sea. It was also host to a number of spirits rivalled only by Teklia itself, many of them strange, shadowy, and mysterious.

    [ ] [HOME] Write-In. Has to be a colonized world in your territory, an allied territory where long term immigration is permitted (IE the BioCity), or otherwise a place where Directorate citizens can be found.

    Of course, you are more than a simple Shrine-Keeper: like many citizens, you pursue self-education when it suits you and have participated in a number of endeavors before you arrived to this one. As a result, you have picked up a number of talents, resources, and other items that, while not directly tied to your current profession, will still likely prove very useful in the coming days.


    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Demiurgist: A follower of the Machine Gods, you learned a great deal about the more arcane principles that underpin reality, providing you tools of advanced technology and knowledge that many others would not be privy to or have access to, so long as you acted in a way that pleased your spiritual masters. CAN ONLY BE TAKEN BY A TEKKET.

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] White-Mask:     A truely repentant devil, one who has earned the Functionaries favor enough to be granted freedom, whole and total: now, any service you do, it is because you want to do it, not because of any orders or hold over yourself, given a white-mask and an offer to serve as a member of the Staff. CAN ONLY BE TAKEN BY A DEVIL.

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Certified Teknik:     You were a proud, accredited member of GrottTeknikal, having attended for a PhD in Weird Science with a minor in Home Ec. As a result, you were fully certified to build, maintain, repair, and modify Mojotronic technology and had a surprisingly broad scientific understanding of the paranatural. CAN ONLY BE TAKEN BY A HOBBGROT

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Wonderpark Veteran:     You had worked a stint at Wonderpark, the Happiest Place in the Galaxy, doing what is known as a "full-circuit": a radiation technician, tour guide, fairy wrangler, ride engineer, and Lurp Master. You had, as a result, picked up an eclectic mixture of skills and experiences, even helping participate in Giften-nacht by dressing up as the Toymaker to entertain children.

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Pygmalitek: You had been an Artist, once. You still were, though now it consumed less of your life: a long time ago you had attended the Grand Gallery, becoming a Pygmalitek and, you had hoped, eventually becoming a Grand Master, though this dream had never been fully obtained.

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Virus Buster: You had worked with the cybersecurity division of the Directorate, working alongside your Navigator and various advanced telecommunications technologies to research and deploy more effective forms of code-protection and contain or destroy hostile viruses and data spirits.

    [ ] [BACKGROUND] Librarian: The knowledge-keepers of the Directorate were powerful indeed, having access to both reams of information sourced from the netscape, as well as access to grimoires willed to them by many heir-less magicians and the ability to peruse the Forbidden Sections, places in libraries where the tomes and lore too dangerous to give to the untrained and unprepared but too valuable or useful to destroy or seal in secret vaults were held.

    ((((()))))

    Four hour moratorium. Welcome to Shrine-Keeper simulator quest, which was commissioned by @chellewalker. 10 updates have been commissioned: it will be ran concurrently with the Liberation event, and cover a much smaller scope conflict where you play as a Shrine-Keeper who has to juggle their duties, their ambitions, and solving various spirit related problems.
     
  • Sidestory
    • Awesome! I really want to play a Devil since they're the one we've only seen in passing for the most part; for Homeworld I'm not too picky, but I'm inclined toward either Mongus or Meeklak. Background I really can't decide on; White-Mask, Wonderpark Veteran, and Librarian all seem really fun to me.
     
    [] [SPECIES] Devil
    - [] Poxus

    [] [BACKGROUND] Pygmalitek

    [][HOME] Erichtheo

    The idea is an ex-Nurgle Daemon who wanted more than anything to build and create art, to make instead of corrupt. This eventually caused them to leave. The improved aesthetic options don't hurt either.
     
    Last edited:
    [] [SPECIES] Devil
    - [] Insidia
    [ ] [BACKGROUND] White-Mask:     A truely repentant devil, one who has earned the Functionaries favor enough to be granted freedom, whole and total: now, any service you do, it is because you want to do it, not because of any orders or hold over yourself, given a white-mask and an offer to serve as a member of the Staff. CAN ONLY BE TAKEN BY A DEVIL.

    I really want this one because I believe that it will make a significant portion of the thread paranoid in a funny way.
     
    [] [SPECIES] Devil
    - [] Insidia
    [][HOME] Naklis
    [] [BACKGROUND] White-Mask

    Here we have a truly penitent devil, formerly of the Changer, choosing to keep watch over one of the most volatile places in the Directorate.
     
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