DragonHeir

Owen looks at the pigeon, which probably wasn’t the best example to create indoors. “Interesting. Do you have to do anything special?”

She leads you up the stairs and through several rooms. The floors on the higher level are a bit springy, like they could be used as a trampoline. Some researchers walk by with small sample containers, often going down stairs with them, but otherwise the area feels rather empty. Dr. Warren shows them to three doors, all next to each other. “They’re a bit small right now, but these can be your rooms. I’ll get you each an interface, but actual manufacturing takes time. For now, just ask the room what you want and it will grow that. For privacy reasons, it can’t hear very well, so you’ll need to speak up. If you two” - Pyre and Kal, of course - “want to share a room, I can repurpose one of them. We have a dining hall out and to the left, and if you need me, I’ll likely be down those stairs. Feel free to ask any staff for help - you quite honestly got the rudest person here to pick you up, although he’s quite dedicated to his job.” She beckons to Adtae. “If you’d like to do interviews and testing now, you can come with me. Actually, that applies to all three of you.”

Rebus turns up a slider called “excessiveness of fireworks”, then moves “safety of fireworks” up to maximum. He reconsiders, moving it down again a little. “Should I do it, do you think? These sliders go up pretty high.” Owen nods, intrigued. “I know a little about Narrators - I think someone I met earlier told me about them, but I didn’t know they had special blades.” The buzzing noise starts up, and he frowns at it, but decides it’s probably cicadas or something. He’s gotten more vague, actually, having lost every detail except the fluffy hair Tam mentioned.

Rebus, for his part, creates more utility fog. It fills the air, making the music come from all around. Though transparent and people-avoiding in most places, in some areas it lights up to the music. Clouds of glowing nanomachines dance around, locking together into tangibility when it seems relevant. Drinks are poured, step are formed, an elevated dance floor launches people into the air and catches them again, and guests dance with whirling clouds of light. “This was more fun than I expected.” Rebus comments, fingers dancing across his over complicated board of switches. Most of his changes don’t do very much, or at least don’t seem relevant to the party - the sliders have labels like “dark energy”, “plot holes”, and “recursive reverb”. Owen hears Tam’s breathing patterns change, and smiles at her. Hopefully the invisible person was friendly - even if they for some reason felt the need to conceal themself. Owen is understandably a bit startled, but quickly regains his composure. “Are you ok? Do you need help? I’m Owen, and you’re - actually, I’m not sure where here is. There’s a lot of teleportation going around. Regardless, I think you’re safe now.”

Rebus flashes a smirk. “It’s one of the benefits of using science fiction aesthetics rather than fantasy. Do you want any song in particular?” Owen smiles back (which seems to be all he does. That may change, though). He’s just got really good hearing. Really really good - like hear heartbeats from across a room good. Owen sits confusedly as Shoe’s pulse rises in embarrassment (it seems - perhaps not) and Beosta blushes. Ah, the stoat is letting them talk. He considers asking to be looped into the conversation, but decides against it. Far away, in a field now full of walls, towers, ditches, and artful stacks of rocks, the Render continues passing its time by building things. When will the mage come back? I need to bring balance. I need to kill him.

Rebus takes something from his pocket and tosses it into the nearest trash container, whatever form that may take. Walking smoothly away, he reaches a wall as a swarm of silver dust - which had formally been trash - leaps from the trash can and collects in front of him, forming a DJ booth. He begins remixing any already present music, modifying it with nanotech speakers and wave cancellations. Owen nods. “I wonder if anybody knows. Honestly, I wonder if anyone knows why silver stars are silver.” He takes a cookie, and bites into it. “These are really good! I can’t even remember the last time I had a homemade cookie. Thank you.” He can hear Tam, for reasons, but Beosta described out loud the destination. He thought that she was responsible - and I suppose she was, though Tam did the teleporting.

Dr. Warren shrugs. “Infrared radiation is a kind of light, but I suppose we can test it.” She begins to walk up the stairs.

Cole smiles brightly. “Great! Then I won’t get lost!” He turns to the others and slightly discreetly announces. “We have more things to do! And this time Intellect told me to do them - so they’re probably good ideas for fighting Rage.”

Rebus shrugs. “I can’t help you, then. I think it makes characters feel more alive and independent, or at least my Author does. But if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to send a particularly aggressive letter.” @Ookla the Cookie Collector, Rebus sends a physical letter to the Emperor and his staff through whatever packages would be sent through. “Wiping your own memories or directly lying about them isn’t helpful, either, but ok. Perhaps someone is impersonating you. Are there any guests at this party?” Owen takes both the teleporting and the stars with about the same amount of surprise. “Cool, how’d you do that? Do you know why the stars are colorful?” Owen had been mostly just following along, but when Eva comes in, he smiles at her kindly. “Thank you, I’d love one. I’m Owen.”

Rebus shrugs. “I’m real to my Author, so I’m real to me. I’m a piece of him, so my emotions and personality are real. Sometimes they are directly his emotions, and sometimes they are what he imagine the part of him I represent would feel. But my Author uses method acting, or method writing, I suppose, so the emotions and the things I feel are real feelings. And truly, I don’t care. Fictionality means I can do essentially whatever I want, which is nice. For instance, once you’re done interviewing me, I’m going to mail a Vonn Neumann machine to that Emperor person, because I find him haughty and annoying. That’s not something an Author could get away with in ‘real life’.” He doesn’t seem to notice that he also could be considered haughty and annoying, at least until the description points it out. He glowers at it. Owen shrugs back. “What? I like sandcastles.”

Owen continues smiling. Rebus looks at Lady Bug. “This is why I try not to make a bunch of copies of me. It’s not really important.” I thought I’d been quoted in there somewhere, but ok. That is the people I know of there. Owen sits down on the beach, and begins building a sandcastle next to the previous one, assuming it’s still intact. Rebus nods. “I can wait. It will probably take a long time for anything new to crop up, anyway.”

“Indeed!” The drone says in Rebus’s voice. “I’m Rebus - the drone makes it easier to be in several places at once, keep myself safe, and enter with style.” And then, with a whump and a completely unnecessary guitar riff, the drone sends out a bubble of force fields and Rebus teleports into it. Owen smiles at everyone - including the sand person - and shakes Beosta’s hand. “I’d love to travel with you all, if you would have me.” Rebus looks around, wondering how many people might be at this party. “Template, of course. My Author forbid me from manipulating their plot, unfortunately, but I’m watching with interest, for now at least.”

The drone looks around to figure out where elsewhere is, but Rebus's heart isn't really in it. Nobody lets me have fun. he thinks to himself.

Updated as of 1/17/25 (more to come, most likely - I’ll write out longer bios in their own pages, if people want them) Nick Bryer (Teleportations RP, although he hails from a story I’m writing). Nick is a creative xenoengineer from a futuristic world. As is his job, he solves problems with his own toolbox of biotechnology and anything strange he finds and can put to use. Veer (Insanity Clinic). Veer is a powerful telekinetic who entered the clinic because someone had turned his powers unpredictable. Having been cured, he is trying to decide whether to stay and what to make of the magical metal that now serves as his arm. Alvar (Bodyguards Wanted). A several generation hybrid with a strange combination of innate magic, Alvar is a mercenary who typically only looks out for himself. He’s combined his magic and athleticism to form a unique combat style using frozen blades he reshapes and sacrifices when they’re no longer useful, though he wishes he had the money to train his sorcery further. Cole (Great Spirits RP). Originally a simple carpenter with minor trauma from a ship fire, Cole has been connected to an entity known as Madness. Madness (or Freedom, as Cole prefers) has granted him wind magic, but also made Cole increasingly erratic and socially oblivious. Only his fellow travelers, the last vestiges of reason, and Madness’s instructions prevent him from wandering off into the wilderness or wantonly attacking people. Another Spirit called Calm has connected to him, potentially solving his problems. Dr. Warren (RP Ideas RP). An IISC diplomat and manager of the Ferria research station, Dr. Warren wants to make sure everyone is comfortable and everything is running smoothly. She truly loves her job, and is intrigued by the inexplicable visitors, and wants to learn as much as possible from them, and to establish contact with wherever they originated from. Kion (TLT). A mage with an odd magic - for TLT, not for his world - every spell Kion casts also strengthens a monster known as a Render, which hunts him always. Although willing to use magic for the greater good, eventually dying because of it, Kion is having an identity crisis due to the existence of Narrators, who make such a sacrifice unneeded. Rebus (TLT). A Narrator, Rebus utilizes advanced technology at every opportunity and embodies - exaggerates, really - his Author’s creativity, fascination with Sci-Fi, and cleverness, as well as flair for the dramatic and lack of attention span. He altered his own personality to suit his goals, and currently has several parallel machinations running. Template (TLT). Template is something odd, and still somewhat of a mystery. They have no details or identity unless it is given to them. Either mundane description or Narration can change them, but over time, changes evaporate. They can also steal or accidentally become affected by Narration. Mess with them, please; the whole point of the character is to make me better at improvisation. Sagerian (TLT). Nicknamed Sagerian for his scholarly tendencies, he’s travelled to the main area of TLT to write a book of all the wonderful things he finds, then bring it back to his almost-industrial homeland. He knows some advanced science from travelers from other realms, but wants to know more. Meat the Minstrel (TLT). Some of Bacon’s lost memories made contact with a terrible idea, and Meat was born. He’s a walking fever dream, making everything around him absurd and somewhat disturbing. He can be summoned by saying “drab eht nocab” three times. Capt’n Exposition (TLT). A strange man who rides around on a frost whale, explaining lore and context to all the lubber, land or otherwise. The Mysterious Ball of Darkness (TLT). Nobody has talked to it yet, but it’s interesting. The other mysterious ball of darkness (TLT). Rebus performed an ill-advised experiment with Nullite, and made a floating ball of nanotechnology and Ennulling energy. Lightning arcs towards it, for as of yet unexplained reasons. Fourth (Drominad Hunger Games). After the former GM Third died, Fourth has taken up the mantle of wildlife coordinator. He’s inherited his predecessor’s job, Aviar, drastic change in attitude upon becoming a GM, and uncanny ability to manage all the wild animals. He’s dedicated to seeing which tribute should survive, and envies his fellow GMs for their own control over the Games.

“If you know where you are, I’m not lost any more. I’ve been traveling to no destination in particular - I wanted an adventure, to see the world. I can come with you, if you’d like.” Rebus raises an eyebrow at the inexplicably conveyed message. Co-opting Lady Bug’s bug, he sends back his reply. “Very well - it will be more interesting than being here, at least.” A drone zips up to Lady Bug, force fields emanating from it with a whump. The way thus cleared, Rebus is teleported into the resulting vacuum. “Is the party here, or am I early?” he says, snatching the drone (which he is controlling, but such a move looks cool) from the air, having his nanotechnology glove dissemble and store it. “At least I get a longer description than our mutual friend.”

Owen shrugs. “I’ve moved around a lot over my life, and regardless, you wouldn’t recognize any of the places I’ve lived. This place is beautiful, though. What are you four doing here?” Watching through the Thread, Rebus fumes. Why does the new person get to do everything? I’m supposed to be my Author’s face character. I’ve been talking to three or four people, but not one of them has done anything.

Owen shakes it firmly. “I’m Owen. It’s nice to meet you too.” He smiles back at Bat.

@Ookla the Inconclusive and @oOklA thE shInyYyy A young man walks out of the jungle, his face lighting up as he sees Shoe, Beosta, Gaioh, and Bat. He walks over. “You wouldn’t believe how happy I am to see other people! I’m lost, you see.” He chuckles wryly. “Not that I had anything important to do, of course.”

She doesn’t press the issue. Even if a human was used to the durable mechanical technology of the inner stars, they’d still know the capabilities of the more flexible and temporary biotechnology of the frontier. The man probably just needed something that the station couldn’t manufacture.

Dr. Warren blinks. “You don’t need to sleep? That’s odd, but not unheard of. But the shadows being prevented by light, but not heat - which is light - or any sort of high energy electromagnetic waves - which are invisible forms of light that are everywhere - is odd. We’ll do some tests, if you would be willing.”

Dr. Warren continues getting more excited. “So you’re a ghost? And heat destroys these shadows, which are made from you? Regardless, you likely need rest. We can get you a room - one is growing as we speak - and I or another researcher will interview you after our sleep cycle - tomorrow is difficult to quantify on a planet that spends months as day and then months as night.” Dr. Warren withdraws the hand she had held out to the bird, noting its compassionate behavior towards the human man. She’d have to get the bird to at least interact with a researcher eventually, but there was no need to frighten or anger it now by trying too hard. The floor of the hallway is soft, made from organic fabric just like everything else seems to be. Dr. Warren kneels down next to him, having noticed his distress. “Are you ok? I’m here to help, if you need anything.”

Owen nods again. “I will, don’t worry. I will not fail you.” The ant device slips from his mind, as does the memory of being instructed. He prepares to be teleported to somewhere he can learn things.

Template smiles. “I will learn, and I will forget being told my identity. Shall I have a way to send you my discoveries, even if I will not know you?” Owen smiles again, the memories of his directives fading away, though their results still stand as his being.

Dr. Warren’s brow furrows in confusion, but her eyes light up with interest. “I’ve read about this sort of thing - self-propagating electromagnetic structures more complex than light. Is it harder for you to create these shadow structures when it is dark and cold around them? The darkness could be an effect of changing light into other forms of energy. And what do you mean by not being here? Can you pass through things, as an energy construct? I could probably spend two or three decades studying just this one capability - although of course I could also spend two or three decades studying one human capability.” She tries to alleviate Pyre’s suspicion, though truly, this is a very difficult task even with two way communication. “If so, do you need anything? Do you have a name?” She reaches out a hand close to Pyre, but not quite able to touch the bird. Such a thing is a common sign of friendship and acknowledgment for many cultures and animals, and should hopefully help.

Dr. Warren looks at Pyre with genuine warmth and interest. “Hello there, little one. You can understand me, correct?” Dr. Warren jumps slightly when Adtae appears, but quickly regains her composure. “Hello, my name is Dr. Warren. I am the head researcher here and a licensed diplomat for the IISC. I’m sorry, but we need to avoid any contamination, as this is a very special planet. Does your darkness serve that function? I’d be interested in studying it; if you would be willing, on behalf of your planet and species, to join or consider joining the IISC, we can share our respective technologies and resources to our mutual benefit. I’ll see if I can find people to interview all three of you, but first you’re likely exhausted, so we’ll get you rooms.”