Log - April 2025
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Previous event: Test Drive Meme - March 2025. Next event: Test Drive Meme - May 2025.
The Main Event event on 2025 April 4 posted here. This was the event for April 2025.
FAQ Pages
[edit source]Full questions here
Event headings
[edit source]A SORT OF WELCOME
[edit | edit source]A welcome gathering hosted by Celia for Karterians to meet the Augmented.
"THE WOODS"
[edit | edit source]Katalyth hunting in the woods.
RESONANCE OF SPRINGTIME
[edit | edit source]Frolic time for Augmented.
STUDY: IMPRINTING
[edit | edit source]ServiTons encouraging Imprinting.
NETWORK SURVEY
[edit | edit source]A survey about experiences with Imprinting.
FAQ Questions
[edit source]| Information | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| #1
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-29 |
sneaks in here at the very end in light of this, I'm wondering what lab equipment might be available to a pair of intrepid scientists who might want to do things like chemical analyses or look at stuff under a microscope. If they are allowed any equipment, how much leeway do they have? (i.e. is it on loan? is it for forest expeditions only or can they bring it back to the Valentia?) If they wanted to do actual experimentation out in the woods, would a makeshift field research station remain relatively undisturbed? |
As unhappy as Patho-Gen is with the Augmented as a whole... they haven't burned through all of their goodwill or patience, and accept that a number of the present issues are a natural part of the whole 'bringing a bunch of strangers into their world and giving them monster souls' deal. They certainly want to encourage the Augmented to go out and do science for them- so for characters who are the responsible and knowledgeable sorts (and who haven't been aggressively trouble-causing), the appropriate lab gear would be provided. It would be on loan, and they would want to keep tabs on who was using it, especially at first- but as long as they weren't borrowing anything too explosive (please don't burn down the Valentia somehow), they would be able to take it wherever it would be most useful to them. Being able to go out and do science in the outdoors is certainly encouraged- and apart from the local wildlife being curious about what they were setting up, research stations would be likely to survive unscathed. |
| #2
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-28 |
spreads out markers and maps hey mods hey this is effectively 'ok does he find anything noteworthy?' but in way too many words and with charts he'll be making about 2 excursions a week, one with felwinter and one with johann (probably ... if they can manage to focus on anything other than sex ... eventually), so let's say total 4 trips before the next event (TDM) he'll start with trying to head south as requested and quickly discovers that Patho-Gen can get fucked now a wolf can travel about 50 miles in a day and a tiger can ... travel ... somewhere between 10-40 miles in a day (no one's sure because they get bored or lazy or distracted ......... love this for them) and a felwinter can travel???? probably he can keep up with gojo so 10-40 miles it is. what's the scale on this map? (i don't expect you to have thought about this, i'm sorry, my autism kicked in.) anyway he's going to take approximately these routes <img src="https://mrblueeyes.dreamwidth.org/file/5550.png"> that is all. 'does he find anything cool on his longer ventures?' |
(apologies for the delay there was some shuffling) What, cat doesn't want to get his paws dirty with swamp water.... Route 1: After politely skirting away from the marshlands, the path is largely at the edge of the forest, and therefore considerably drier. Not dry, because nothing on Orexis is dry, but it's less squishy. Gojo and friends are also not the first ones to have ever trod this land, as there remain discernible paths tracing the line between impassable forest and unfortunate marsh. Animals avoid passing here, as if something about its design has made it unappealing to nature. Katalyth is remarkably, eerily absent along the trail, though its presence visibly returns only a few hundred meters away from it. It is otherwise unremarkable. Route 2: Gently rolling terrain, there's trees but not enough to obstruct the view of some lovely grassy fields. They still tend towards the moist, but lay just enough above sea level to avoid turning into marshland for now. Closer to the city, there's the beginnings of what might have been a proper road, but it's soon abandoned, and if there were any footpaths past that point they've since been completely reclaimed. This is actually a pretty peaceful route.... There's certainly enough Katalyth around to make things perpetually a bit uncomfortable. It really does grow everywhere, the rocks marring what would otherwise be an entirely congenial landscape (so long as one isn't there for the excitement). The coastal route is in a similar shape, but you also get a view of the ocean the whole time. There remains a negligible amount of sea life apparent close to shore, and no seabirds to speak of. Route 3: Gojo's party finds a luxurious blue cenote! (As might be expected, given the label 'cenote' on the map.) It's quite lovely, and would be a nice way to spend an afternoon- and certainly, there's signs that there had once been tourism here. Mostly because there's trash left behind, in the form of cans and bottles, decaying tents, plastics of unknown purpose, etc. Unfortunately, even getting close to the cenote is rough. Not because the terrain is particularly treacherous, but there is a lot of Katalyth in the area. Getting a start on marking that out might be a good idea. The water isn't immediately lethal, but it's... it's not going to be pleasant to be in for very long, though it is very pretty. The animals in the area are also... strange. They show more signs of mutations- extra antlers, malformed tails, legs bending the wrong way, too many eyes, etc.- than the wildlife does that lives further from the water. And while not aggressive towards visitors, they are also not afraid of them, lingering far closer than any wild animal should. Route 4: The densest route by far, when it comes to forest navigation. There's no sign of even old, abandoned hiking trails, as though humanity had just given up claiming this part of the island (or nature had been particularly aggressive in reclaiming them). And yet, close to the Western coast, there's a small cluster of cabins, in various stages of dilapidation (so depending on how forgiving you are in categorizing something as a cabin and not just a wreck, there's 3-5). The couple that still have roofs and most of their walls still don't have much more than that. Everything is covered over with greenery, as though nature had reclaimed the dead wood and made its own house out of it. There are unlabeled tins of food(?) lurking in things that may have once been cabinets. Some are have signs of being bitten, if not pierced through, but they're all arranged as though someone had taken care to keep things orderly. In one of the 'cabins' (lacks most of a roof, some walls, the structure having largely been dragged down by worryingly large tree roots), it wouldn't be too difficult to notice what looks like a mass grave. Or a mass... something, it's hard to tell if there had been any attempt to bury anything, or whether nature did that work for them. Only bones remain, picked clean and fragile, of a variety of species, tumbled together. For anyone who can discern these things, there's little sign of a pre-death struggle. Most of the bones are large-animal sized. The one towards the top is the most intact, and given the curl of its spine, could suggest that it had lain (or been lain) as though to wrap around the rest. It's hard tell what sort of creature it had been. Apart from an uncomfortable atmosphere, the rest of the campsite is peaceful. In terms of scale: uhh it's doable in a couple days given the capabilities of Gojo and company. |
| #3
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-25 |
Question that came up in a thread: since Arthropodia can sense intent, do they sense any intent from being in close proximity to Katalyth? From the Katalyth? I know it's a rock, but just in case rocks aren't a monolith. (heh) | That's an interesting one, and an aspect of Katalyth vs. Arthropoda we haven't considered. After discussing it: yes, there will be something. It'll be hard to discern it past all of the Badfeels (TM) that come with being near Katalyth... but there is no feeling of ill will, no intent to harm. No intent to help, either. But there is intent, after a fashion. The best way this intent can be described is wanting. Pure, absolute want. Wanting to be heard, known, seen, touched, or ignored—it's impossible to say precisely what it wants, but accompanying all of these feelings is some kind of yearning. |
| #4
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-19 |
OK mods, I'm sorry in advance because this is such a weird dumb question that's probably answered or implied somewhere if I look hard enough, but I figure it's just easier to ask directly: is there any reason at all why a deer wouldn't be able to wander it's way into Scintillant Park? Or to put it more broadly, what's the urban wildlife situation in general? I know there's a whole lot going on in the woods outside, but what about the city itself? Do the Karterians have a barrier so dang good, they've managed to do what no human in our world has done before? Have they found a way to keep deer from getting in and eating all their fucken plants? I need to know for impulsive dog boy chase reasons, thanks :') |
Overall, wildlife within the city is... faltering. It's not doing too well. Insect life in particular is the hardest hit, with populations dropping to less than a quarter of what they were half a century ago, when they began keeping records. Birds, and small mammals (squirrels and the like) are also in decline. Researchers don't have a clear answer for why, other than a general incompatibility with human-made cities and human-driven activities. Which is not to say you can't come across a deer in Scintillant Park. As you might expect, deer are spiteful, stubborn creatures- and why would they remain in the luscious and human-free spaces outside Karteria, when they can wander in and eat cultivated herbs and shrubs? Deer obey no laws, no borders. They may be freely chased. |
| #5
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-07 |
Power-related question that I think I probably know the answer to -- would Silver be able to move/lift the crystals with his psychokinesis? Or are they pretty solidly in the ground and/or would the mental stress be too much to handle? | While it might technically be possible, especially with smaller pieces, or ones with less of a good 'grasp' on whatever surface they're growing from- it's not easy. It's almost as bad as going up to it and just touching it. The mental stress would be considerable, and probably more of a deterrent than the whole 'being affixed to the ground' deal. Mental powers on a material that in itself creates significant mental strain just by being in its vicinity... it's not a great combination. He is, of course, welcome to try and have an awful time of it. |
| #6
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-07 |
Sorry if I've missed this somewhere, but how's the signal on the Syntrofos outside of the city? | The signal is nice and strong, surprisingly reliable! Whatever they're doing to maintain a functional network sure is working really well. |
| #7
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-07 |
Okay, a couple things: 1) Do the mental/emotional effects of the Katalyth differ when Augmented are shifted? Will characters become more resilient or feel stronger/more stable around the rocks in monster form? 2) Max likes making his own maps, to keep mental note of what might be useful to him and what he’s discovered. Is there a way to manually mark things on the Syntrofos map or would he have to make a physical copy if he wanted something customized? |
1. Characters could totally feel themselves respond somewhat differently to Katalyth when Shifted, compared to their natural state. If anything, they might be more drawn towards Shifting because of it, instinct telling them to throw up this defense, to wrap themself up in it for safety. While it doesn't protect completely by any means (getting close to it is still awful, please lick the rocks responsibly, etc.), being in a form closer to that of beast might make it feel more endurable. 2. Yes, the maps are freely customizable within the Syntrofos! He can use the touchscreen to draw little things on it, or tap it to add in text wherever he'd like. It's possible also to 'sync' his local maps with those of other characters, to better collect/share all that data. |
| #8
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-06 |
What happens if a character does some indirect touching of Katalyth? Like wrapping it in cloth, using tongs, or putting it in some kind of jar/container (for later private study)? Does this muffle the overbearing sense of dread in any way? Can medicinal andor Recreational Drug type plants/fungi be found/foraged in this forest? Are they affected by arcane radiation? Edited (we're also about wholesome medicine here too ) 2025-04-06 03:42 am (UTC)
|
Ooh, good question. It's a layer of protection from the concentration of Katalyth; it's at least some protection, but just imagine how close that is to the rock. Cloth would not offer much protection. However... Every once in a while, Katalyth is secretly smuggled into the city. This is done via very intensely walled jars... so it's doable. Small fragments at a time. Of course, if one gets caught smuggling it into the city they get in big trouble. Katalyth is contraband in the city nowadays. Recreational Drug/plants/fungi exist in The Woods. You may rightfully assume that any sort of extant plant or fungus that grows in the Olympic Mountains could be found. They are not impacted negatively by arcane radiation... but boy, they sure have had a chance to grow. Whether this growth is due to arcane radiation, or simply being uninterrupted by humans, it's difficult to say. (If one were to analyze samples under a microscope, samples would suggest that they do have a trait that causes it to grow and/or mutate at accelerated rates... In case this is relevant.) |
| #9
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-05 |
(Hopefully I didn't just miss this detail in the write-up somewhere but, sorry if I did,) Is going out into the woods "strongly suggested" (read: mandatory, actually) by Patho-Gen? Or are augmented allowed to hang back in the city if they prefer? Elan's had it up to here w/ being exposed to evil magical rocks and thus he'd probably be more likely to let others make the first excursions out into the woods before he gives it a try himself, but it'd be good to know if he'd get any flack for staying back, or if he winds up being voluntold to get his ass out there :') |
We are of the opinion that Patho-Gen can be as pushy or as lenient as you prefer! If you'd like for Patho-Gen to be aggressively pushy about Elan going out into The Woods up into making it mandatory (he could have been under the advisement under a very rigid staff member) because you want to deal with him having to go out there, we endorse this. We also endorse him getting a more lenient member of Patho-Gen coaching Elan who capitulates to Elan's discomfort. They will impress upon him the fact that they really need their help specifically, and they'll give him as much flack as you prefer. The justification for this is that members of Patho-Gen are each individuals with different mentalities and attitudes. He could just get a bad streak of really strict, callous members... or he could get a more understanding one. It is up to you. |
| #10
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-05 |
hello mods! i had some technical questions about imprinting (pre-emptive apology if this was already addressed elsewhere) i know a lot of it is ooc-ly organized between players, but apart from characters icly acknowledging "hey we're close, i guess we imprinted" is there anything in the game mechanics that would alert a pair of their status? since it's a new phenomenon for patho-gen too, i was just wondering how a character might know if they'd imprinted or not... or if that mechanic isn't yet accessible (like, if they participate in the study, would there be a time a staff member looks at the data and is like "oh yep you're imprinted") TLDR 1) is it feasible for a character in complete denial to carry on saying they haven't imprinted/bonded at all? and if so, 2) is there an ic mechanic available for a player to use when they decide to force said character to finally acknowledge it? ty mods! |
Developing definitive tests is something Patho-Gen will still need time to develop- as right now, their evidence would be largely observational (i.e., these characters become calmer when together), or obtained through blood draws or other monitoring (revealing upticks in various positive things). Which could also just mean the characters like each other anyway.... They're still working out the benefits themselves, but in the longer term they may well develop tests to definitively label characters as imprinted or not. For right now though: yes, it's entirely possible for a character to maintain their denial with nothing scientific available to prove otherwise. And in the future: also yes, that scientific option will probably turn up, but it's not out yet. |
| #11
Topics: Souls, Necromancy Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
hi I have another question about Pal doing stupid things to himself already SINCE he is a necromancer, and since he knows a) how to manipulate a soul as a moveable object and b) keep two souls separate from each other, IF he tried to do this upon sensing The Urges in the frolicking prompt-- would it do anything to him, would he get awful feedback. I know it's not going to work, ultimately, but would he necromance himself into a migraine, or like, simply not be able to "locate" the actual Natural Soul using necromancy? Basically how bad of a week is he going to have. tysm. |
Palamedes will find himself unable to keep the souls apart. They are... technically distinct, everybody's Natural Soul and their regular soul, and they remain as such—but there's no stopping the influence the Natural Soul has on everybody's bodies. You are free to have him try and necromance himself a hearty migraine, and the soul can absolutely give some wicked feedback if he attempts to get too cozy with him. ... There is another thing. There is an overwhelming... feeling coming from the Natural Souls. Something like a distinct NO any time someone might attempt (and fail) to keep it apart from the host's soul. This thing wants to live. It will not be denied. |
| #12
Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
a Like say, animals or something alive? Basically Infinite is trying to bring back a cool bug or two for someone he's okay with and I wanted to see if there was anything like that going on! |
Haha, that's cute... Infinite can bring a cool bug back! No harm in that. Security standing at the gates won't stop him from bringing in harmless things like that, but they might stop someone from trying to bring in an actual bear or something. |
| #13
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
if someone was going to, say, on their way to the woods snoop around the decaying village outside of Karteria itself, how reclusive or sparse would the people be there? Would they mostly outright flee an augmented, or could someone who's |
It's on the southwest edge that there would be any sort of life out there, and they're very, very reclusive. Hard to spot. For someone who can detect what a shoddy, makeshift habitation might look like... they're definitely there. And some of them watch. Seeing no signs of animal features on Silco (or anyone who approaches) doesn't seem to soothe them at all. Silco would theoretically find that these people are incredibly paranoid and agitated. Everyone out here is clearly infected with arcane radiation poisoning. They are coming up with weird trains of thought, saying something about how if they go in for treatment they'll be injected with poison and killed. They seem convinced that anyone who approaches them is sent by either Patho-Gen or the government to try to use them for something, and they're not taking the bait. They can't quite figure out what they're going to be used for, though. Experiments, or something. If asked why they'd think such a thing, some of them say they know someone who disappeared. Or they know someone who knows someone who disappeared. You get the picture. This is a doomed world, and it's easier to say that because they themselves are inevitably going to die. These people are of the jaded opinion that pretending like everything's normal is Karteria's problem, and they're sick of it. Edited (whoops, a part of a sentence was missing) 2025-04-04 04:28 (UTC)
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| #14
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
Quickly (hopefully!!) to clarify from the NPC thread - would Celia be able to facilitate access to Katalyth in Patho-Gen labs for them to help with attempts to stabilize the rocks, or is it a no-go until they all potentially build better rep |
Oh!! Sorry- but yeah, actual lab access is probably unlikely to be granted at this time. Have to get that reputation up first (especially with Patho-Gen, which the Augmented by and large... haven't), or otherwise try to build a |
| #15
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
Sooo, asking for a friend. How does the Katalyth react to fire? Just out of curiosity. Augmented have been instructed that it's a dangerous source of energy and all, but. I'm assuming it makes the radiation in the area... worse. |
Like many things, Katalyth does not particularly appreciate being on fire. Rather than being hurt by it, however- it's likely to cause an immediate flash fire in its vicinity, burning unnaturally hot and blindingly bright... and impossible to put out. Nothing will douse it, suffocate it. ...And yet, it will disappear on its own within a few minutes, with the Katalyth beneath it coming out not exactly smaller, or singed, but looking different all the same. All its odd nodules and crevices are in different places. And while it is on fire... the distress that's given off in its vicinity becomes vastly, vastly worse. If characters weren't hallucinating before, they probably are now; the agony they're in should be considerable, overwhelming, even scarring. |
| #16
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-04 |
So, the critters are thriving, but can you hunt and eat the animals in the woods? Also, given the survey quest my inner horse girl has to ask: are there horses in Karteria? 👀 |
Yes, the animals out there should be safe to eat! (Assuming they're not naturally toxic, anyway. Arcane radiation contamination from them is not an issue, though.) Levels of tastiness may vary. There are horses! The police/militia maintain a mounted guard, and that would be the most likely way to spot some equines. Recreational riding used to be a greater hobby, but since it's not safe to spend long outside the barrier... it's not, these days. Several farms still maintain their own horses as well. There may even be a few feral specimens, lurking the woods.... |
| #17
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-04-02 |
So how does arcane radiation compare to regular electromagnetic radiation? I've been learning wild shit about scorpions, like they're alarmingly resistant to nuclear radiation, glow fluorescently under concentrated UV light, and can seemingly feel/sense visible spectrum radiation even if they can't see. Would any of this apply with Katalyth? Would any of it be wildly different? |
While it's a different underlying principle... there are parallels enough for that to be thoroughly plausible (also, the Natural Souls are magic these are magic scorpions, arcane radiation is magic... it all fits together). Also it's neat as hell. A scorpion-based Natural Soul would have a higher resistance than normal to arcane radiation, and a character with one like Hubert would even be able to handle Katalyth directly for slightly longer periods (several minutes rather than one, could almost 'brush' off an incidental contact rather than be immediately stricken by it). He may also glow freely in its presence- and may find himself glowing quite a bit once outside the Karterian barrier. He could also have an easier time 'seeing' it in the landscape, feeling out the places that it's growing. The ability is likely further enhanced while Shifted. |
| #18
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-03-31 |
Would someone with a reptilia natural soul that allows them to taste the air like a snake be able to find the Katalyth easier? Also would tasting the chemicals released by the Katalyth have any extra effects on Harang? | While there are no chemicals for Katalyth to give off, being a rock... it is giving off something that Harang (and other Reptilia-types) might be able to 'taste' with their tongue. While all characters will feel a sort of dread/distress on being near Katalyth, tasting the air like a snake will allow him to pinpoint its location(s) more easily. In terms of extra effects from the tasting, as it's more of a 'sensing' tool rather than actually ingesting anything, he wouldn't feel any additional effects from doing this. Just the... increasing malaise of approaching Katalyth in the first place. (And hopefully he'll be able to keep from tripping over it... better bring a friend.) |
| #19
Topics: Edit question: edit
Answer date: 2025-03-31 |
Since the Katalyth gives off such Bad Vibes, could Pal path his way to it more quickly using psychometry? And also what happens if someone touches it directly... asking for a friend.... ALSO less event-y question, what kind of books are in the bibliotheque? Informative nonfiction? Romance novel slop? please can there be slop Edited 2025-03-31 11:25 am (UTC)
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Oh dear. His psychometry should be able to hone in easier on the bad feelings Katalyth gives off, yes. Should his 'friend' touch it... they will probably not enjoy it. For unaugmented humans, that contact would be lethal, and their death long enough to be agonizing. The Augmented- should they not keep hold, lick, or otherwise try to eat Katalyth- won't have a great time. There will be absolute mental agony, and it will only possibly be matched by the accompanying physical agony. They will develop some of the physical signs of arcane radiation poisoning such as blackened boils, blindness, paralysis, seizures- but they will pass if they don't continue touching the thing. Throughout it, they will be terrified, panicked, and possibly violent. But hey, they'll probably survive. Recovery from their injuries will take hours, at least- if not longer. Characters who are very good at healing themselves might recover faster (unless they have to do so consciously and are too incoherent to manage it). Terras are probably more sensitive, while Golems might have a marginally easier time (they still can't eat it). (If anyone does touch it for too long- longer than a minute or so- they will die and need to either be able to revive themself, or be brought back to Patho-Gen for resurrection.) The Valentia library is, in fact, largely slop. It's entertainment, intended for quick reads and quick returns, from the building's past as a hotel. It's possible someone has left an errant textbook behind, or dry historical novel... but it is by and large slop. If you want non-slop you'll have to visit one of the city's multitude of real libraries. |
