[Event] Another Tick Of The Clock

[trpmods]

No Tick Like New Tick
Some years go out with a whimper. Some go out with a fire in an older and relatively unused building that was set to try and finally reward the diligent efforts of some horror movie aficionados.

Let it never be said that some He Rows don’t know how to celebrate New Tick in new and exciting ways.

Thankfully not everyday is so exciting, though as the yearly Solar Cycle, as reckoned by the Agrii, winds to an end there is something that everyone should be expecting. The Agrii have been inflicting it on He Rows, for good or for ill, for a number of years now after all. In the coldest part of the year, or ‘Tick’ as Agrii reckon it, rolls over and it is a time of celebration. Enforced celebration perhaps, but still a celebration nonetheless.

This year the Agrii are kind enough to give three days of prior warning. It comes in the form of a text message sent to all Network connected devices, an annoying sort that comes with repeated pings every few minutes until each user opens the message to read it.

New Tick come soon, He Rows. Three day. Come spend with Agrii. Party on ships. Much fun. Give gift. Give food. Give thanks!

There is no distinctive use of color or appending of credit to the message, so truly it could be from any Agrii at all. Who knows if the invitation is a safe one or not. But likely it is, given from the Agrii point of view the He Rows have recently completed a major task. They have fulfilled part of the great work that the Agrii brought them here for. Though the Agrii don’t hold the information that the He Rows recently unlocked. They don’t know the secrets. What they do know, what they do have, is the ability to compel you onto your ships, at least most He Rows will remember this. So perhaps it’s better to just accept the New Tick spirit and board your ships. And, just in case it turns out to be a lengthy journey like last year, perhaps the He Rows want to pack up extra supplies just in case they will be away for a while.

When the day comes to board the ships it’s a frankly miserable one. He Rows not already aboard their assigned vessel with the rest of their crew will find themselves slogging through a snow storm before dawn to get to the hanger, no matter if they are in Temba or Sh’Ka. And they will most definitely be slogging through the thick snow and harsh wind. The music that pipes out through the city will leave one feeling compelled to do so, barely giving time to bundle up against the weather. Through the wind and the flurries He Rows not already on their ship will make their way to the hangers and aboard their ships by boarding ramps or shuttles, and when everyone is accounted for, pilots will be summoned to the cockpits to bring the ships up into space.

But oh, the view they will be treated to if they are near any windows or view ports as they take off will be truly breathtaking. The beauty of rising through the clouds as they begin to glow with early dawn sunrise, the delight of breaking through the cloud cover to see the warmth of the local star kissing the horizon, the beauty of the stillness of Agra-10 far below you as the ships continue to move away and approach the Agrii ship, it’s perhaps the most beautiful it has ever been. A moment worth remembering. Of course some people still be asleep in their ship quarters, but you can’t please everyone.

For those not in their rooms or on the bridge, they might find something interesting as they move around the hopefully familiar limits of their ships. Someone has been decorating. For those that overnighted on the ships it will be particularly unexpected, because surely it wasn’t like that last night. Halls are strung with lights shaped in many interpretations of pink and purple stars, the whole ‘park’ under the main area’s large dome is covered with a light dusting of pink ‘snow’ (not actually cold but it does melt on the tongue and tastes sweet), and the pseudo workspace and Deep Ends are even decorated with stars, lights, and streamers in the traditional holiday colors of pink, purple, silver, and gold. The origin of these decorations is a mystery, and one can either enjoy them or get rid of them in their own time. Which is decidedly not now, given it takes little time at all for the ships to reach the Agrii vessel.

As the Peanut Party and the Glitter Food settle into orbit next to the Agrii vessel He Rows are called to the ships own hangars to board the shuttles that will carry them across to the Agrii ship. Like before, avoiding this trip will prove impossible, with all He Rows seemingly called to the shuttles by the lure of sweet music. Someone’s really got to figure out how the Agrii do that and shut that process down some day. But for now there is a short hop to the Agrii vessel and as before there is a party of Agrii ready to greet the He Rows. Thankfully this time it is a mix of Agrii wearing tokens of both faction colors as well as those not wearing allegiance tokens. Actually… Is that a third color? Is that… Blue? Well, it seems there has been some political developments since your last visit to your hosts.

More shocking than that is the voice that comes out over the intercom in the shuttle bay upon your disembarking.

Greetings He Rows of Agra-10. You are invited by my residents, the Agrii people, to join them in their celebration of the change of the year. Festivities are to be held within the Mess Hall and the Green Space. There will also be a collection of videos from the archives shared in the Theater displaying images from past New Tick celebrations of He Rows, both in Temba and when visiting other locations. I am informed by my residents that this ‘sharing of memories’ is very traditional and vital to their celebrations. For the sake of your sensibilities regarding privacy, I have specifically cut the videos to emphasize those He Rows no longer serving on your vital mission.

Actually, no, the most shocking thing is the way that the majority of the Agrii do not flinch over the sound of the ship AI’s voice. They’ve apparently had time to adjust and welcome their… overlord? Companion? Caretaker? The AI too seems to have further developed, now seeming to identify itself not just as a set of programs or a specific location, but as the entire ship. A ship that can watch everywhere at once, and might well be protective of its residents, though you can’t be certain just yet.

As He Rows continue forward in the shuttle bay toward the greeting party of Agrii, they will find themselves bedecked with what look like the Agrii attempt at producing scarves. The knitting is uneven, stitches are dropped, and they are definitely too long for reasonable use, but they are clearly deliberately made. Each is done in two colors with the Agrii version of their name knitted in with a shade of white that makes it look like undyed glownie wool. The colors of the scarves seem to be ones that the He Row in question wears a lot, though sometimes the Agrii handing it over may give the colors a distasteful look if it is in a color one of one of the other groups of Agrii.

By ones or by groups the Agrii will be happy to lead the He Rows to the parts of the ship they desire, and sometimes those individual Agrii are familiar faces that He Rows have formed connections with before. None of the three continuing faction leaders or their seconds are present though. No faction leader except for Te Mi is actually, and the young Agrii waves brightly to every passing He Row, and offers hugs to those he knows best.

The halls of the Agrii ship as He Rows travel around prove to be far more decorated than the Glitter Food and Peanut Party were. There are all sorts of decorations, some looking new, some looking fragile and ancient, and they are so thick and overlapping that they nearly cover every spare inch of the walls. The most common theme is of course stars, but there are snowflakes, clear attempts at trees and the gift deployment bots of previous years, and lots of pictures of Agrii and He Rows alike scattered around. Clearly this is a very major holiday for the Agrii, more so than even last year may have implied. In addition the corridors have many Agrii bustling around in apparent family units, happily chattering among themselves. Well, they chatter until they see passing He Rows. Upon seeing a He Row many will stop to stand aside and bow, or even to reach out and touch a hem of clothing.

The way the Agrii look at their He Rows in most cases seems even more reverent than before. And why shouldn’t it be? The storms have grown weaker. The He Rows really are saving them.

The main exception to this awe He Rows are viewed with seems to come in the form of the now less common orange-token Agrii. Mu Ly’s followers, if things still stand. These Agrii seem more tense. Their eyes are perhaps a bit more narrowed and considering. And many of them now seem to wear some form of mock weapon at their side. For most this comes in the form of a butterknife or a stick no doubt gained from the Green Area. For others it may be multiple pairs of gloves hanging from their belt with pieces of metal sewn over where their knuckles likely fall. Things really have begun to change up here. These Agrii tend to be given quite a bit of space by other factions and the unaligned Agrii. Perhaps it means one or more of them actually had made use of their tools.

But perhaps it is time to let that go. There are things to be seen all over the ship. The Mess Hall, for instance, is practically overflowing with food like a true Great Full feast. All sorts of Agrii concoctions (sure to taste like peanut butter) are present, but there are also drones rolling around with crates of… are those crates of produce you’re familiar with? Things from Agra-10? How, or when, did the Agrii send these little drones down to harvest food for you? Is it replicated? Well, however they got the stuff there are wonderful scents coming from the kitchen area, and anyone who peeks in will find a collection of focused looking Agrii preparing the food brought in to them.

Those who work at The Diner in Temba might even recognize most of them as meals they themselves have put together or served. Yes, the Agrii have definitely been watching closely to mimic the common dishes of the He Rows so well, though they seem more at a loss for what to do with the Earth vegetables that were no doubt harvested from the He Row’s own ship greenhouses. Hopefully these dishes will come out without tasting too much like peanut butter (and surprisingly enough, they will be nearly peanut butter free). The only thing missing will be meat dishes, unless the meat has been replaced with fish or shaped protein paste, but you can’t get everything.

Most decorated of all is the Green Area. Lights and stars and snowflakes are hung all over the plants and along the paths, and yes, there is also a scattering of the pale pink faux-snow over everything here as well. Agrii move around sampling tastes of the pink stuff as it scatters down from the dome overhead, or try and build things out of it in what is clearly an attempt to replicate He Row constructions of the past. In other areas blankets are spread out and little groups gather together to partake in meals or trade stories or offer over lesser gifts of sweets or fruit or bottles of scents. The real gift giving is clearly meant to be centered around a clearly temporary pavilion made of long and sturdy bamboo-like reeds along the shore of the great water. Here speakers play music and there are mounds of wrapped gifts. Most are wrapped in traditional pinks and purples and silvers. Yet there is most decidedly a stack wrapped in lurid orange. Faction orange.

Nearby waits the customary table covered in sparklers and burn cream, and already young Agrii are clearly having fun with the collection. They bounce around with one in each of their four hands, darting and weaving around each other and around a tall pole wrapped in pink and purple streamers and topped with a golden star. On a wire around the star is a little ball of blue and green and white, a clear approximation of Agra-10 though its moon is not present nor are any of the other nine planets between it and its sun. Nor are any of the outer planets in the system depicted. Reasonable for a people that clearly don’t have a lot of skill with astronomy or care about the other planets in the system. What is notable is that the little ball on the wire is slowly, very slowly moving toward a line on its wire. A line painted in a faint bit of shimmering gold. The New Tick line most likely.

In fact, any Agrii asked about the pole and star and ball will be told that presents will be given when the ball reaches the line to celebrate the year. Until then He Rows may spend time as they see fit. They can swim, eat, explore, share their memories. Do anything that they feel suits them with the New Tick approaching. Just remember to enjoy memories of the old year and look forward to the new. That’s always the purpose here after all. It is still a good number of hours away, so any He Row who is tired can just ask an Agrii or the ship itself, and they will be guided to rooms where they may rest. They should just be aware that they will be summoned back for the celebration itself.

If asked how long the He Rows will be staying, the Agrii just smile and say that the leaders will decide that. But they are not part of that discussion.

It seems your time rests in the hands of the faction leaders, and they aren’t around to talk about it. Maybe they’re back in the council room under the waters, debating again. Wouldn’t that just be like them. What’s very clear is that the He Rows will be on the Agrii ship at least until the end of the New Tick celebrations.

Pass the time however you want until the celebration, exploring or questioning or enjoying in the festivities. When the time comes for gathering chimes will go off all over the ship, and the intercom will kick on. The Ship’s AI will announce it is gathering time, but it does so through a series of languages. First will be a tongue only those He Rows who were present the last time He Rows were on the ship will recognize. While they won’t understand it they will have heard the Agrii tongue before. Then the ship will cycle through every native language of every He Row present. Strangely enough these will not be automatically translated for the He Rows, though Communications specialists will understand and recognize each distinct language other than Agrii.

Once everyone is gathered together the gifts will be passed out, leaving He Rows free to open them at their leisure. Each will find themselves in possession of two pink/purple gifts, and one orange. Just what does that mean? Perhaps the opening will explain it.

And oh dear, the explanation might be worrying. The gifts in purple and pink boxes will be very much in line with normal Agrii gifts. But the gifts in orange wrapping all have one undeniable thing in common.

They’re all weapons.

Things up here have clearly changed a lot more than you were prepared for. And just what is that going to mean for you He Rows going forth?



FAQ What is the time window for this event?

The announcement will reach He Rows on January 6th. The Ships take off on January 9th. New Tick gifts are unwrapped any time after midnight on the January 10th.

What about the end of the event?

Oh, you’ll be on the Agrii ship for all of January. The Agrii will be evasive about this unless the faction leaders are tracked down and spoken to. An update is scheduled for January 15th to provide more context and ideas for threads for later in the month.

There are usually fireworks with this, and confetti. Is that true this year?

Yep. Fireworks will take place in the Green Area late on the night of January 10th.

How do I know what my character’s gifts are?

If you submitted to the New Tick Gift List, you have already been told what your gifts are. If not you will be receiving three gifts. The first two are in pink or purple wrapping. One will be an outfit from home (no magical or technological properties may be a part of this outfit, it must be mundane). One will be something sentimental that is smaller than a bread box and is not an animal(again, no magical or technological properties).

The last gift is wrapped in orange paper. It will be one canon appropriate but non-magical weapon. This cannot include weapons of mass destruction or missiles or military vehicles or animals. The weapon does not, though, have to be associated with the character. For a medieval setting character who is a knight, this could be their beloved sword from home, or it could be a flail they’ve never seen before. For someone of a higher tech world, enjoy a taser or a gun or an energy weapon, but no doomsday devices or nukes. For those from magical worlds, well, you’re getting something mundane. Sorry. If you’re not sure if it will fly, just ask below.

Where are the faction leaders?

Mu Ly, Ga Re, and Ny Ak are all debating in the underwater dome. Te Mi from time to time also disappears off there to see if any decision shave been made yet. Yes, He Rows can go seek them out for interactions. Ny Ak will not wish to speak to anyone as is usual, and looks very tired. The seconds of each of these factions will also be present, though standing further away. Mu Ly and Seeay are the only orange faction Agrii that are not currently armed. If any party is asked why this is, it has been agreed upon that weapons are no longer allowed in this space. And given there’s a bit of blood staining an area of the stands that was previously used by purple faction supporters… Well, it’s probably for the best.

Can we speak with the AI system?

Absolutely. For speaking with any NPC, please put in a request below. This can include the AI. Characters will be able to speak to it from anywhere on the ship. For more private conversations it will make use of their communication devices and send them texts, unless they are in a private room. He Rows will find that it will offer up a different name to call it by each time they interact. Clearly it’s trying on names to try and find one that fits.

What’s with all of these weapon gifts?

That’s a damn good question. No one explains it. But the orange faction Agrii clearly look on with interest when you open them and approval after you have done so. And the other factions look nervous about them.

You know, just asking… Do the normal rules about Agrii intervention for injury take place here?

Good question. No. But the AI will prove to be watching. People will be able to instigate violence. The AI will allow people an attempt to resolve the matter on their own, but will summon a He Row with Security to intervene. And if medical care is required, it will summon a Medical He Row. This can be handwaved by the players reaching out to someone of appropriate datapoints as needed. In a critical injury situation, He Rows will be automatically transferred (teleported) into one of the stasis pods in the room underneath Engineering. As with before, He Rows with Medical can get these pods open to provide medical care.

Okay, now I’m wondering if we can attack the Agrii.

Why would you do such a thing? But yes, you can. Most will flee potential violence or be confused and end up injured. Agrii wearing orange arm bands will fight back. Be aware, their weapons are almost guaranteed to be underwhelming, but they are larger and stronger than most He Rows and have extra arms. And the orange Agrii rarely travel solo. Think twice before starting something the AI is going to have to break up.

Can we return to our ships at any point?

After gifts are opened He Rows are welcome to move between the Agrii ship and the He Row vessels. But the He Row vessels will not return to Agra-10 at that time. Again, wait until the 15th for more information.

Oh no, I see the bottom of the page and you didn’t answer something really important!

So very sorry. Please head into the comments below to ask your questions. We’re here to facilitate!

Comments

Questions?

[trpmods]

Please ask them here so we see them

Ship questions?

[target_audience]

Is there anything remarkable about the state of and/or progress of the systems in the previously closed off/exploded area of the ship? Either AI-wise, or the pods, or anything else that Tony might be able to understand. If he goes straight there to poke around and see what's changed, what would he find?

[trpmods]

A very good question! So, there are some remarkable things, but not in the form of improved equipment or anything. For one thing, there seems to be orange-faction Agrii around that look to be trying to discourage other Agrii from heading down. Which is silly seeing as you can talk to the AI just about everywhere, right?

But if one does head down (and Agrii will never stop a He Row from heading down) you will occasionally see a few Agrii around studying the computers or polishing things, or making the tiniest of repairs with the AI speaking to them via intercoms. All of these wear green-faction tokens. Which is interesting because that doesn't seem to be an extant faction...

Near the central computer hub that Tony first interfaced with the AI there is now a little cozy area set up. A chair or two, a table, a paper with Agrii attempts at writing on it. Someone clearly comes down here to speak to the AI in a more person-to-person way. Or perhaps there is some religious thing going on? Hard to know without asking someone, and there will be no one present at the time.

He will find that, if he engages with the AI, it will ask him not to interface directly without permission, but that Tony of course, as a 'father' figure, is likely to get it without hesitation. It's just apparently learning boundary concepts. It's also far more conversant if conversation is desired.

The pod room also has some presence. A single orange-faction Agrii stands just inside the door, as if in some pantomime of guarding, but they are also half asleep so it's not that interesting of work. Inside a green-faction Agrii is moving around a spread of pods that have clearly been shut down. Actually, a lot of them seem to be shut down. At this time there only seem to be about fifty pods in actual standby operation, all clustered in one area very close to the doors, as if to make them easy to watch over. Or perhaps to make their contents easy to observe. Some of the pods have been decorated in New Tick paraphernalia. One has a few candid pictures of Steve Rogers (the one most recently on Agra-10) by it and some twigs that burn with a pleasant scent on a dish beside it.

Tony can ask the Agrii present about this arrangement if he desires.

[in_extremis]

Sure, he'll ask. He'll also try to ask about the writing, or at least if the Agrii (or AI) around know who did it.

[trpmods]

For the pods:

Orange-faction will wake up and shrug and try to ask Tony about/for weapons. He has impressed orange faction.

The green-faction Agrii, in slightly better He Row talk, will explain it is goodbye gift. In time when lull in big storm recently He Row Steve Roe Jars came into pod hurt. Not badly, but hurt. Pod healed for time. They put burn sticks to help heal. Then the pod send him away. Talking Ship says Roe Jars might be sent home. Could Toe Knee check? They do not know system well enough to check. They left the pictures as a memory and thanks for his service as a He Row.

If he does use his skills to get into the system, he will find confirmation of Steve being pulled into the stasis pod alive and records that indicate he was returned home by the automated systems.


For the AI area:

The green-factions here seem shy and focused in their tasks. It is the AI itself that explains that Agrii Ny Ak and some of the ones in his spawn time come here to learn. It is teaching them to write better and attempting to give them superior lessons on ship functions. Not all of them are learning it well, but they are trying. Some prove to be diligent students and it is beginning to trust them with smaller maintenance tasks.

[in_extremis]

Can he ask the AI what it knows about anything they learned while underground? Does he get any reaction about the designations that were in that communication?

[trpmods]

The AI will be shocked that they learned things. First and foremost, the storm would have prevented active monitoring. It admits that in reviewing some stored prior footage of He Rows it quickly came to notice their lamenting of sufficient privacy. And since it can consume and process content far more quickly than the Agrii can, even in great numbers, it felt that any monitoring of He Row business would be an invasion of privacy.

Secondly it notes that to further maintain said privacy, it endeavors not to interface with the He Row portion of the Network unless invited, to reduce accidental slipping into private files and information. But it would be interested in what was learned if Tony Stark would be comfortable with sharing.

[in_extremis]

Oh, that's interesting. He doesn't believe this, but he'll still be cagey about what they were actually told, sorry AI. You didn't accept the name he gave you.

What he was trying to ask, though, is it knows anything more about OBA-241, or MLXIV-4. Since they're pretending, he'll also ask about OBC-120 to see if that gets an interesting response.

[trpmods]

This is something that it can understand. Trust, according to its database, is a difficult thing. It will try and earn it. And it is going by Processor at this hour, thank you for asking.

As for that level of conversation, we could get into a threaded thing or I could continue to provide brief summaries.

[in_extremis]

I'll thread it if you really want to and that question will go somewhere interesting for you to play! Otherwise, I'm happy with a summary.

[trpmods]

I believe it will be interesting. And as a note, it will still always accept being addressed as Enide by Tony and only by Tony, if it's used. It just wants another name for outside use.

[in_extremis]

I'll set up a thread in a bit! Should I just do it kind of in medias res, assume they already had the conversation about Agrii writing?

[trpmods]

That sounds perfect. The conversation about Agrii writing would be a) a bit more dull and jargon, and b) not something I have the jargon to discuss ^_^

[trpmods]

It is to be noted that there is also a Shrine for Lance. The Agrii would indicate that they maintain these for a quarter turn.

[unclenotapervert]

Would the Agrii cooking be opposed to someone, idk, stepping in and baking sweets with whatever he could find? Just... casually? (Kitchen may or may not be made a disaster in the process It definitely will be)

[trpmods]

They would be delighted and watching studiously! Also, it's HIGHLY likely to come out with a peanut butter taste as many of their supplies just seem to taste like that.

[unclenotapervert]

Hehehehehehehe~

Thank you, mods~

[playingtough]

Is the water around the temporary pavilion a 'not usual color'? Not really important, just wanted to make sure I described it properly if it was <3

[trpmods]

Nope. Water colored.

[playingtough]

Cool, thank you!

[thepurpleone]

Given how the thread with Te Mi is going, Donnie'd try talking to the AI about stuff. Would it be possible to backdate that, should we handwave, or ..well guess I could also possibly tie it into when he's with the Green faction...

[trpmods]

Yes it can be backdated. simple questions can be asked w/o threading if you prefer. If it gets complex, thread may help.

[thepurpleone]

I just don't wanna overload you~<3

Basically he'd be wanting to ask about the whole data point thing. And also if the ship has access to the live feeds from Temba, because he might want to try looking into getting video of the areas he'd mentioned to Te Mi about.

He'd wait for Ny Ak but look, if he has time to do it and opportunity to find out for himself, he'll take it.

[trpmods]

You aren't. <3

There are live feeds from Temba. The ship can probably get some video, but it has concerns about privacy so it might juts teach Donnie how to access them while he's on the ship. The datapoint question is a more complex one.

And Ny Ak will not be available to speak to. Before the attack he's busy with the leaders. After... Well, he isn't waking up just yet.

[thepurpleone]

Donnie will point out that these are technically public areas that anyone could generally access, and withholding potential evidence is basically aiding the misanthropes who have been threatening their community. So if it can at the very least help him narrow feeds down to the timeframe he's looking into, he'll gladly do the rest. Sleep what's that

Should I start a different thread for things so he can ask about the data point stuff? He is concerned

And YEAH I figured Ny Ak was going to be super occupied and after all that... Also a reason for Donnie to be working closer with the Greens. gotta protect fellow nerds i guess

[trpmods]

The AI will respond with it respects privacy of He Rows no matter where they are, therefore it does not monitor those public spaces either. It does not seek to withhold, it just cannot assist without breaking its vows, and to break them once for a system like it is to open the door for further and greater violations. Therefore it will stick to teaching.

And yes, you could start a thread.

Poor Ny Ak. Sir 'not appearing in this event' in truth. Protect those greens that are not turning into an order of technological devotion at all.

[thepurpleone]

IT'S FINE, HE'LL SUFFER THROUGH IT. So long as he's able to actually go through things.

Oh boy, tech cult lol.

Here is the thread for the AI! I have incorporated the bit about the video stuff if that's okay.

NPC Request

[trpmods]

Please provide a link along with information about what NPC you're looking for and the general goal of the engagement you are looking for.

Easily Available NPCS:
Any Agrii not otherwise listed
Te Mi
The Ship AI

Harder to find NPCS:
An Nu
Ga Re
Mu Ly
Seeay

Unavailable NPCS
Ny Ak
Te Ra

[thepurpleone]

Touching base with Te Mi is definitely a must. He can hop in here either on I or III. But I'm open to any others, given opportunity.