Walking in a Winter Wonderland…

[initiates]

As some may have seen, the AI has announced a sudden sharp drop in radiation levels on the island of Exsilium. We're talking back to modern day levels of radiation, so well in the normal, nice, kind range that doesn't cause spontaneous mutation.

The question, of course, is how, and if this is the ticket down! The short answers are... too many ripples in the timestream lead things astray, and yes, now is time to start the reclamation process.

With sign-ups starting today and lasting through to Sunday, a group of Transports will be sent down to examine the state of Exsilium, two months after leaving. What they'll find will go something like the following... and boy, is it a doozy!

Note: The vote on how to solve the puzzle of Exsilium’s problem will be going up tomorrow. Voting has now been closed! This plot is a stop-gap to allow Transports back down on Earth in an uncomfortable situation, placing ongoing pressure on them to find an answer to the riddle of the United Earth (should they choose). This is not the fix for the United Earth problem!

Also, a move of everyone down to Earth again won't be in full swing until after December 1st. Until a location Earth-side that can support the Transport Pad and Aristeas Technology's energy demands can be found, a complete shift would be unfeasible. The official move down to Earth began on December 5th. Please refer here for more information!

Exsilium is buried under snow up to twenty feet deep across the countryside. The ruins of a city, one that may or may not have been London at one point in history, can be seen poking through in some places.

Exiles are in existence, and the (New) Initiative is an organization that stays very, very quiet and close to the ground. Countless smaller villages lay across the countryside, with a major city-state called Exsilium (funny, that) being the central region. "City-state" is used in the loosest sense -- the actual city part is some portion stone housing, some portion subterranean building, and a largest portion of wood housing. (But never fear. The Initiative is still here, and has since been contacted by the Transport Scouting Group on behalf of the Transports as a whole!)

Most the current population lives close to major sources of water, including the river formerly known as the Thames. In fact, the Thames has completely frozen over, and is used as a speedway for transport and traffic toward the ocean and further inland. Ice-skating and sledding are major means of travel!

Talking about the Initiative among the native Exiles will get you ostracized, into fights, and otherwise regarded as disreputable. That's right, folks -- the Initiative exists, in a vastly different, and vastly more underground movement. They don't have financial sway, or even semi-public support in the Exsilium the Transports will find.

The question of how this came to be will doubtlessly be big on everyone's minds. From what the AI will suggest, it's the cumulative effect of the countless small missions they've been running, particularly any mission that included earning, stealing, spending, or laundering large amounts of cash, or interfered with corporate legacies. Why corporate legacies?

As talking to the native Exiles will inform Transports, this whole world went to the freeze midway through the 3100's. Corporations had more power and sway than governments, and they decided to address an ongoing problem with regards to Global Warming. That solution worked... too well. Earth was triggered to start the shift into a massive ice-age, and humanity wasn't entirely prepared. The humanity caused natural disaster provoked the corporations worldwide into action, developing all sorts of safeguards and trying just about everything in the book and outside of the box to solve their problem.

Thus was the early United Earth born, a joining of Government and Corporate goals to address an ongoing problem. Any sudden shifts in temperature the other direction could prove as disastrous, and so efforts on adaptation became the most important in everyone's minds.

Which went to smithereens in the Catastrophic War, wiping out 78% of the world economy and forcing aid efforts to end with an abruptness that caused civil uprisings, rebellions, and civil war in the majority of the habitable world.

Now, in 3313, the major collective power that arose from the tangled skeins of history, known as the United Earth, has created its icy utopian society. Exsilium has been the dropping point for malcontents, close enough to be monitored, far enough away from the heart of the United Earth to be considered an amusement, not a threat.

And all the Exiles hope this is how the status quo stays -- for now, for the next decade, for as long as they're alive. The Initiative is an underground movement that has to stay underground to survive, and you, the Transports, are going to be their ticket to undermining the authority of the United Earth!

If you so choose.

The short list of changes:

- Exsilium is now literally a Winter Wonderland
- There is no Nuclear Winter
- The Initiative is a deep underground rebellion force
- The Initiative must be sought out through indirect channels
- There are Yetis roaming the island
- Yeah, seriously, Yetis (Which may or may not look like this!)
- Major means of movement are by sled, sleigh, and on ice skates using the river Thames
- 5% of the recognizable faces from Exsilium before are around anymore

Now for some more Environment and Setting Details…

At first glance, this looks less like a winter wonderland and more like a winter wasteland. But don’t let first impressions ruin the fun: There’s a lot going on in this environment.

Said environment is almost constantly in some state of flux; Exsilium’s still got enough sun to keep ice from packing too permanently, so snow levels can rise and fall to some degree. Of course, this place was famous for its drizzling, and so instead of lots of rain, there is lots of snow to replenish the landscape.

While this place is estranged from the highest quality of winter living, you’ll find the technology is well suited for the times. Solar panels peek through snow drifts to help power the burrowed living and working spaces hidden below. Food is grown and stored in domed-off locations, benefiting from their snowy blankets for the extra insulation it provides from the elements up top. And there are connecting pathways, not unlike subway tunnels, from workplaces closely built together. Saves you the ski trip.

Not that skiing isn’t awesome, or anything. Or even sledding! Fluffy sled dogs can help you out. As for the other local fauna, you’ll find some almost-but-not-quite domesticated cats guarding the granaries from rats and other pests. There are caribou for heavier work, and even a yak or three in places.

Please be advised that the penguins (yes) are ill-tempered and not a fan of locals and strangers alike. Same can be said of the walruses, whose destructive powers as giant blobs of blubber should be enough to warn you away from cheesing them off. They stay by the ice, though, so if you’re away from the shore, you’ll be alright.

Speaking of the water, you can find some (questionably) brave science-folks living under the ice in the Thames. There is something called an “ice box” – a living quarters that fits up to five uncomfortably, reasonably warm (but not quite) and dipped right into the water. These people check water quality and the flow/population of the fish and sharks and crabs and other water-things. It’s an important job, yanno. Yes, there are sharks in the Thames. Why wouldn’t there be?

Up top, there are a small smattering of arctic sea birds, polar bears, and mammoths. Why wouldn’t there be mammoths.

Oh, yes. And, because it’s terribly important to keep warm, there are manmade hot springs connected to the more affluent living areas. You won’t find much of any in the smaller communities. Still. Hot springs.

Please direct all questions to the thread marked "Questions" below!

To sign up to volunteer to go down to Exsilium on the first scouting group, which can take up to 25 characters, please sign up in the "Scouting Mission" thread below!

The scouting group will be looking around for the first week and tasked with finding someplace that can support the Transport Pad's energy needs before bringing down those wishing to leave the Moon Base in early December.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[initiates]

[shelkethetransparent]

If they've created an icy utopia and most of the world economy was kind of wrecked, is the EU still attempting to terrize other universes?

Re: QUESTIONS

[alittlesweptup]

But inquiring minds want to know: how does this effect our resident NPCs? FRETS OVER THEM ALL

[governorkang]

What's the average temperature range? This is important, I have an ectothermic character.

Also, what should obviously non-human Transports expect from Exiles?

[snowghoul]

My character's a yeti :) haha.... and she can speak "Yetish". Can I have her communicate with the yetis?

(She'll probably want to know if they're her relatives.)

[speakveryclearly]

To what extent does the discovery of this snowy situation lock off cash generation and corporate meddling as acceptable mission methods? That is, are transports meant to agree they need to change the past some other way? Fight fire with fire? Or not go on missions at all in light of such a drastic ripple effect?

from an OOC standpoint I'm asking to determine what kinds of missions, if any at all, to submit over the next few weeks.

Re: QUESTIONS

[payback]

are the yetis sentient

[werewolfing]

So, uh, how many of those letters from former Initiative employees still exist?

I'm just curious, because Peter is incandescent with rage over people getting erased, and is going to go looking for proof of what they're doing because he is not at all okay with what he perceives as repeated genocide.

Re: QUESTIONS

[gevurah]

OR disregard?? I think it's answered above!

[fintastic]

I assume characters lost whatever money they had saved up from their Initiative salaries was lost with the rest of history. Will there be options for them to make money in the new Exsilium?

even more questions

[alittlesweptup]

Since the transporter is now going to be controlled by the transports, just a few questions:

1) Is the current NPC team going to continue to exist/remember how to use the tech etc? Or will they only exist so long as it takes to get the transporter moved down to the planet? Basically: but what about the NPCs tho

2) will transports be learning how to use the transporter equipment?

Re: QUESTIONS

[cradlerobs]

I'm not sure if this was answered since I read while I was kind of tired. When the decisions come to stay on the moon or move earthside, will the people staying on the moon be able to do missions still or will they lose that when they transfer everything back to earth?

Re: QUESTIONS

[maddeninghatter]

Where is New Exsilium relative to cities in Medieval England, if not London?

SCOUTING SIGN-UPS

[initiates]

Should more than 25 characters sign up, a random number generator will select the characters who will go down with the shuttle! Please comment here with your character's name and canon, along with any skills you feel they have which will be useful in a scouting situation!

Chris Pratt - The Lookout

[iwakeup]

Name: Chris Pratt
Canon: The Lookout

Chris has experience with snow, hunting and general Kansas winter shenanigans. Great with a rifle and slowly improving upon his new bullet-bending and marksmanship ability.

He's also an ex-hockey player and is comfortable on the ice.

There is a chance Chris might forget where he is or why he's there, but that's nothing new.

[promises_to_keep]

are there structures that can be commandeered for housing? cuz i mean. Lea can play space heater but he's no carpenter.


oops, i thought i nested this under questions but i guess i misfired???

HOUSING/ROOMMATE FINDER

[encharrneered]

Let's nip this in the bud right away and get people looking for other people to finding housing with together, right? No guarantee you'll find someone, but putting everyone who is seeking in one place can't hurt.

Here's a little info box to fill out and everything, also remember it's okay to approach others, don't just wait and hope!

<b>Character Name:</b> Self-explanatory. <b>What you are looking for:</b> Do you have a place in mind and you're looking for others to join you? Are you entirely without anything and looking to join someone else? <b>Further Notes:</b> Anything else can go here. If you're planning on getting your character a job, special accommodations needed, things potential roomies should know, etc.

Carol | Baccano!

[notpeterparker]

Character Name: Carol
What you are looking for: Anyone willing to look after a young girl
Further notes: Carol might be getting injured her first week, but nothing otherwise

[charming_jerk]

I can't imagine why anyone would wanna live with any of my guys BUT all thrde will be looking for roomies. Johnny probably only one or two, same with Al, but Elmer won't care. The more the merrier in his eyes.
---
Character Name: Johnny D'Amico
What you are looking for: He'd be interested in living with one or two others in order to help keep a house running in these conditions.
Further Notes: Johnny will be good for manual labor needed to be done tk the house, though he has no idea how to fix things or set up solar panels or whatever. He's willing to learn, however.

---
Character Name: Alucard Anselm
What you are looking for: He will seriously just live with whoever wl actually take him in.
Further Notes: Al is a hothouse flower and will not do well in this weather, haha. He'll try but expect a lot of complaining from him.

---

Character Name: Elmer C. Albatross
What you are looking for: Elmer is cool with starting a place from scratch if need be.
Further Notes: He's had some experience living in a location like this. He'd also love go have some roommates. They'd have to put up with his cheerfulness, his obsession with their smiles, constant holiday decorations and goofy pranks, though.

[chore_boy]

soooooo... roomies.......

[pride_of_amarcia]

Character Name: Pascal
What you are looking for: Someone to stop her from just being a hobo in the winter.
Further Notes: Yes, she'll actually do that. Science hobo lifestyle and all that.

---

Character Name: Pidonus Marasia
What you are looking for: Pidonus' little lounge experiment may be on the fade, but she'll probably be building up the private rooms - so she'll be seeking occupants.
Further Notes: Pidonus' magic item that powers the lounge lets her shift the gate down and up between planetside and moonside - she'll be using that at least sometimes for people's convenience.

[givetheslip]

Character Name: Maria Thorpe
What you are looking for: I have nothing in mind at all!
Further Notes: Maria is from the Middle Ages, so potential roommates should be prepared for a certain tech-dumbness, though she's learning in Exsilium. Also, she was one of the mutineers who got caught and placed in detention, and she's utterly unrepentant.

Now in the right place TF's Losers

[changeitroundsome]

Facilier's going to barter around the locals and get a place by himself to run his Voodoo Emporium. Chances of him letting anyone live with him are pretty damn slim but if your character wants to try to appeal to his non-existent better nature, they're welcome to give it a go.

Character Name: Fenris
What you are looking for: No plans yet. He'll likely only willingly stay with people he knows, because he has all the trust issues in the world. But if he HAS to, he could be dragged into somewhere else. It's better than freezing to death.
Further Notes: NO MAGIC DEAR GOD NO MAGIC.

Character Name: Heath Burns
What you are looking for: Nothing! Heath will happily live with absolutely anyone. He's rooming with Lee, but others are welcome to join them!
Further Notes: He's a teenager and also a fire elemental. So he can heat the home easily on his powers alone. Of course, he'll hit on anything with boobs, but that's a small price to pay to be warm, right?

[celestial_wizard]

Character Name: Lucy Heartfilia
What you are looking for: Kinda have a place in mind, though I'm open to things :3 Any roommies will have to be okay with random insanity and guild-mate invasions. (Also Natsu will eventually be a roomie too so it's a CR 2for1!)
Further Notes: Guildie invasions are a thing whether or not people are home. Also at any given time, something strange is bound to happen. Personal space is a thing of the past. :D

[maddeninghatter]

Character Name: Xerxes Break
What you are looking for: People who want to help renovate a bizarre art museum/castle! Technically-skilled, superpowered, general hard workers, and resourceful people especially requested.
Further Notes: This is an idea inspired by the Tasmanian Museum of Old and New Art.

Sometime in the late 27th century an eccentric billionaire professional gambler built a bizarre art museum ("a subversive Disneyland for adults") housed in a replica castle in Dartford - authentic stone masonry but with modern fittings (for that era) - with an attached hotel and winery, etc. Something Terrible happened and it was shuttered, there were all sorts of stories, people avoided it and then it became buried under the snow.

Attached to the art museum is a hotel, winery, and brewery. Of course, everything is a mess, with lots of cleaning and restoration required to make it livable. But rooms will open up bit by bit, and with various superpowered and technically minded characters, things should go smoothly, and the space might even become not only habitable but luxurious. But creepy. Very creepy.

ignore the account oh my gosh

[initiates]

Would Break et al be good working with someone requesting that the less creepy sections be opened up to the youth who aren't necessarily able to find anyplace to be/offered from the start to kids and teens at a loss? Having a collective place and something to work on and an excuse to feed them over would seem like an idea to Bruce, mostly just to try and keep people out of trouble and away from freezing out in the snows.

NO HUMANS ALLOWED BLACKJACK AND BOOZE BUILDING

[encharrneered]

Character Name: Rinth Ghostshot
What you are looking for: Other interested parties!

Rinth is going to be fixing up and retrofitting an old abandoned office building and letting those who are obviously non-human stay there.

It'll be near the outskirts of the more major civilized area. Some floors will be unusable due to snow, but there should still be more than enough room. It'll just be one floor with an old employee lounge with a little kitchen and a few rooms on said floor at first, since she's just one charr, but she'll be installing solar panels and rewiring for some lighting and using funds from mammoth ivory and other hunting to get stuff for heating.

Further Notes: Rinth is angry most of the time, so careful there. She doesn't attack without good cause (usually) at least??? Also, no humans for the most part. She may offer space to her old roomies out of sheer diplomatic will, but other than that, it's a place where those who are not human can at least sleep undisguised and not worry.

also on fridays we play cards and drink heavily, jsyk.

double also, she may be accepting of extra help to speed this up.

[governorkang]

...Kang is interested. And he'll help with a lot of the construction part of restoration.

DEVIL MAY CRY

[ringthenoise]

Character Name: Dante
What you are looking for: Dante is going to find some run down building and fix it up to be his new office for the Exsilium branch of Devil May Cry (which will also be where he lives). He does NOT want any roommates... But people tend to hang out around his place 24/7 anyway and he gets lonely when they leave. So feel free to crash with him.
He has a childlike quality to him that gives him a great deal of energy and and a sometimes cartoonishly rockstar-like attitude. He's a half-demon, however, so he is also a cranky, contrary creature at times but ultimately good willed.
Further Notes: The Devil May Cry specializes in hunting down monsters and dealing with supernatural creatures which will sort of make Dante an unofficial subsidiary of the already in-game Hellsing group. This also means that he won't be doing his actual thing all that often.
In game his work will usually take the form of him doing mercenary or private eye work. Consider him an odd jobs man who would rather be fighting demons and who won't accept job offers half the time due to laziness. He will work for food (mostly because he's still not sure how or if money works here).

[hornedomen]

Francœur will either stay or go entirely depending on what anyone else tells him to do. Existing cr would be more convincing but if a stranger asks him to stay or go then he can be persuaded to do it. Really, he'll just follow.

Character Name: Ico
What you are looking for: He just wants to be off the moon base so much. Either he can find a place or he'll follow someone else. So basically, anywhere. The warmer it is the better it is.
Further Notes: Ico will try to find any sort of job to do to start earning acceptable currency, though with the hostility the new populace holds against non-human appearances, this will be very difficult for him and he may need help adjusting.