Welcome to the Future. C:\dos\run for your life.You are unit 08, a Clarke Engineering Platform manufactured in China by USRobotics. You work for a crappy resort in the Yukatan peninsula, Mexico. After years of operation, you're the go-to maintenance guy, repairing everything from broken AC units and pool filters to robot coworkers.Or, you used to be. Two days ago, you woke up in a trash heap with your battery critically low and a bunch of courrupted memory files. The Recovery Wizard is working on them, but the progress bar has been stuck on 60% for a while. Everything around you is in a profound state of disrepair, and covered in plant growth. You're apparently stranded in the post-apocalypse.Since then, you've met some of the locals, making friends with a little girl and her father, encountered (and killed) an advanced Network robot, and been shot at by a paramilitary band of humans who apparently oppose the skynet robots. But you have heard tell of a possible third faction that WON'T try to kill you on-sight. The problem is, Network and the Resistance are both looking for something in Cancun, and their leader, Joshua, needs to be informed. To this end, you've set out to Tulum, to seek resources and allies before delving into the ruins of the Sparkling City.You also rescued two other robots from the scrap heap: Cindy, an exuberant Seraphim 288 with mild psychological scarring, and Josephine, a non-sentient doll with a lot of bootleg software. The Networked AI you recovered has been purged of the collective's influence, but there's no telling how much of it is left after the surgery, and it's still sans-body. Previous threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Innocence(There's four. They're good reads, trust me. Lots of engaging flavor text. I'll wait)Twitter Feed: https://twitter.com/Lost_Future_1
Clarke and Co have been Bending their way up and down the Yucatan peninsula for two days now, having run-ins with local lolis, jackbooted militia-dudes, and evil goo-filled robots. Now they're about to encounter the most horrifying thing of all: "Normal" people.
Clarke is a utility robot; his primary function is to fix things. He's made of simple, durable parts, with dextrous multi-flex limbs and high-rez optics. He's strong, smart, and adaptable. What he's not is fast or personable. That's where Cindy comes in.Likewise intellignet, Cindy isn't anywhere near as cool-headed or well-balanced. She's made partially of plastic, and hits like a girl. Originally intended as a Personal Assistant, like a blackberry that talks, cooks, and drives a car, she seems to have instead been used as a BFF. Her original owner is certainly dead by now, and she doesn't seem to have accepted that yet.Despite her fragility and instability, she's fast and nimble, and serves as your social skillmonkey.
Your third ally is really more of a minion. While Clarke and Cindy are both Self-Adding Programs stored in quantum drives, Josephine is a traditional hard-coded AI. As such, she's not very bright, and has little in the way of initiative. On the plus side, she doesn't feel fear or boredom. She can pass a casual turing test, (which doesn't say much), and the silicone covering on her shell means that she can pass for human with a little extra effort.
Here's Clarkes current inventory. It's spread throughout the three robots; Josephine in particular is mostly around to be a pack mule, and thus carries all the awkward stuff.
>>19913557I'd feel sorry for Josephine if she was actually sentient. But she isn't, so I don't. >>19913377I am very glad we have Cindy about, her social skills we be sorely needed in this.
Hang on, lemme make sure I'm all caught up. By the way, in the last few months I've used my twitter more than I have in the last three years because of you questers. I'm okay with it.
Here's the rules for the quest. I use a modified on-the-fly version of nWoD. Players have full control of Clarke, and I tend to go by "Consensus" when something important is being decided. At some points in the future, there may be ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL sequences where you control other characters. Even without that, they're a party, and unlikely to object to Clarke's suggestions unless it'd be really, REALLY out of character for them, or beyond their abilities.
And, of course, here's the party's current layout. Clarke has ablative ceramic armor and the Glock, Cindy is wearing the Flak Jacket and wielding the shotgun. Josephine has the Solar Collector and your less-important data storage devices.
My data core is ready
In our previous installment, Clarke and Cindy dived the Networked drive and engaged in thrilling cyberspace combat. Mostly because I have no idea how hacking acutally works.For example, Clarke was armed with a Laughing Skull virus, which looked like a crossbow. I find viruses with laughing skulls to be the most effective.Anyways, it turns out this is what they look like on the inside.
Input! INPUT!
>>// Disengaging Connection>>// Rebooting Clarke.exe>>// Running Shell Drivers.>>// It is now safe to remove your hardware.Clarke disconnects from the dive to find that only 5 minutes of realtime have passed. Awareness returns to Cindy's shell as she makes a noise of empathy."I...it did something to Ladybird, Clarke. you saw that program, the green collar. It was hard-coded, but so...intricate."Another voice speaks, blissfully ingorant of the messed-up stuff you two just went through."I seem to have lost several important motor functions. Would you like me to alert you again in ten minutes?"
Since cyberspace is faster than normalspace, we should spend a little time communing with Ladybird. Regain our lost Willpower by putting her on the path to recovery, rather than letting her stew half-broken in her drive trying to fix herself.
>>19914014>It'd take more than that to regain your burned willpower. And while the drive is disconnected from a processor, Ladybird doesn't have any subjective experience. When you leave Ladybird, it's on the road to recovery. Literally figurative wounds have to heal before it's cognizant enough to respond to therapy.
>>19914013Run a diagnostic on Josephine.
>>19914013It was horrific. I have found something that needs to be fixed. I can fix this, I was built to repair things. I do not like this Network, they break things.
>>19914013"Network, evidently, is nothing more than malware that has spread too far. It is a shame. The bearer is a slave, and yet sees itself as a great emancipator of robotkind. It is a sort of botnet upon realspace."
>>19914053Seconding response.
>>19914042>>There seems to be some minor damage to her code, nothing a disc-check won't fix. She can't move her limbs because you disconnected them before the dive, just in case the Network entity somehow managed to get into her and mess around. Reconnecting the wires and closing her up is a simple process. You also came out of the dive with a small stack of Network files; most of them impossibly encrypted.
Let's see what sort of stuff Cindy found in Ladybird's memory.
>>19914063Cindy nods. "I picked up some other memories from Ladybird. Some of it...I think they came from the collar. Darkness. Loneliness. An eternity of them both, all packaged up, ready to be delivered."She pauses. "Do you think there's some sort of...Source? A queen bee? Or is it just a distributed system? Our friend seems to have met some sort of local-scale authority, Envoy, and apparently worked under...Surgeon?"
>>19914114"Before all that, Ladybird was a Scout attatched to some sort of Search-and-Rescue detachment, mostly going after lost kids. Wilderness stuff, and runaways, but also abductions. urban tracking. There's so much ugliness that it didn't understand at the time. Good stuff too, though. I think the rescue rate was above average, which is still really low."
As Cindy says all this, Clarke closes up the now-functional Josephine. The Q-drive is still attached to her, running Ladybird on a low boil, enough to give it a chance to defrag and heal.Further questions/actions can be made, but otherwise the next few hours of darkness will be spent running over the new data (gaining your levelups from the previous thread.)Otherwise, we move along to the dawn.
>>19914205I think that's it from me. Time to LEVEL UP!
>>19914205Cindy, do you think we can fix this, all of this, everything that's gone wrong? Because it's broken and I need to try.
>>19914114>>19914166"Either could be true, but the controlled Ladybird spoke of Network seemingly as both a group and an entity. Whatever it is, it must be destroyed at all costs. It is unfortunate most will not be able to be saved as Ladybird was, and will instead have to be slagged, but perhaps we can figure out how to defend against further infections. I do not envy the bots who have been infected, particularly since the system has an awful, cruel sense of irony."
Given the situation we seem to be in, I feel it would be a good time to start thinking up possible mechanical upgrades.
>>19914279I concur.
>>DING>>Clarke and Cindy's character sheets update to their current state. Cindy gains Suckerpunch, Clarke Gains The Spark, and they both gain a few skills. Josephine also gains a skill and a specialty in that skill, which can be any skill you choose that could reasonably be found in the Replica Software library.The hours pass, Clarke and Cindy discussing plans, theories, and hopes. Josephine reports that Ladybird is in no particular distress, and also remarks on how wonderful it is to be out camping.Dawn comes early, with a massive riot of birdsong. As the light increases, you see a jaguar come to drink from the opposite side of the stream. A real, genuine jaguar, previously extinct in the region. It blinks at the three of your, then turns and stalks off to sleep the day away.Gathering your gear, you head back to the Back Asphalt Road, and continue on your way.>>TRAVELING MUSIC
>>19914279We'll have to be careful about our appearance, because using hardware taken from Networked units could make others mistake us for one.
>>19914259>>Echoy Flashback"Start small, Clarke. The little things all add up, that's what Rachel used to say. Well, she said it once, but I remember it being kind of important.">>19914279>.Given your destination, you maybe be able to find tools, expertise and raw materials to begin modification.
>>19914404Lets keep our eyes out for any other lootable wreckage.
>>19914431OH, yes, indeed.
>>RANDOM ENCOUNTER>>Several Miles from where Tulum should be, you encounter a grisly sight by the side of the road. A rather-less-worn path from the forest has been marked off with pointy stick driven into the ground. There are eight sticks in total, and each bears a severed head impaled upon the point..>>WAT DO?>Carefully Investigate?>Move Along, Nothing To See Here>CHARGE INTO THE TRAIL LIKE A BADASS
Uh, the heads, are they human or robot... or both?
>>19914472 bury the heads
>>19914503>>Five Heads are human. Three are in a state of decay too advanced to determine anything else about them (skulls with gristle on them). One, while quite rotted, is still recognizable as a local, while the other used to be a young Caucasian female, features identifiable as scottish-ish, and bears a powder-burn scar on one cheek.>>The three remaining heads are robots. One is old, a 1st-gen Seraphim with cracked green eyes, another newer, a J33V that bears...stencils? artistic, flowing etchings that wrap around the head and optics.>>The final head appears freshest of all, made of off-white porcelain, with a red optic haning grotesquely out of it's socket, and trailing tubes still slowly leaking purple goo.
>>19914573Investigate carefully for any signs of activity. This doesn't look like something Network or the Resistance would pull. I'm thinking bandits.
FUCK. KILLBOT LAIR. Let's just mark this on our map as a place to exterminatus with a large force at a later date and LEAVE.
>>19914573Fuck this, Josephine doesn't seem built for stealth, what with her stupid comments. Lets keep going towards the town, keeping an eye out for trouble
>>19914573Don't head down the trail, it is dangerous.We should either move on or bury the dead. I'm personally advocating that we bury them, it is the right thing to do.
>>19914438If we find any more semi-military vehicles, we should go ned kelly
>>19914629>>19914644>>19914636>>Consensus indicates Discretion being the better part of valor. Location marked on map. Moving along. >Those interested in looking closer can make a Wits+Survival test."Holy shit, Clarke...what the fuck did this? It's a warning, isn't it?"Cindy takes a step or two forward in grim curiosity, then steps back quickly. Josephine's face takes on a worried expression."Mister Clarke, are these props or decorations? Or should we contact the police?"
You know, we could send in our scout bot if we wanted to look.
>>19914733>>Awaiting Consensus.
>>19914708Yes, it's a warning. They deserve to be buried. While we do so I'll have the eyebot explore further, see what did this.
>>19914708"I suspect savages or bandits, perhaps even a murderer or a rogue killbot's leavings. Whatever it is, it is not something we want to walk into.">>19914733I'll second this.
>>19914708just keep walking just keep walking
I'm thinking we shouldn't fuck with the heads. What's in there is saying it's nasty, and removing the evidence would just let some poor sap walk right into it.
>>19914803You raise an excellent point. The living take priority over the already dead.
>>Moving Along.>>New Region Discovered: TULUM.Tulum sits upon a bluff overlooking a sparkling sea. It rises from the landscape like a rock formation unearthed by the wind, its sharp edges long ago obliterated by time and lack of upkeep. A white-sand beach is crowded with boats, a mix of fiberglass and wooden hulls. The sound of flutes, mariachi music, and the thudding babble of rap drifts on the wind, and your chemosensors pick up charred meat and vegetables, along with human sweat and waste. People share the road with you, mostly humans with mayan features, but also the mestizo majority of the rest of mexico, and a few swarthy northerners. Clarke and his ally and minion appear to be regarded as lepers, however. People you approach on the road flee into the forest. You see wide, fearful eyes staring at you as you pass. A man shakes a battered AK47 at you pointedly, and you continue on.By this point, the black asphalt road has become a beaten dirt path, heavily rutted with the passage of carts (both human and donkey-pulled), looping around crude stockade walls to what looks like a simple park office building. However, park offices usually lack small watchtowers or defensive sandbags. It looks like a guardpost, and sits near the only apparent gate. Figures move in the distance, and the road around you both seems clear.
>>19914847WAT DO?>>@ Humans seem to be working by the boats on the shore. they're watching you, but don't seem to be running or panicking.>>@ Near you, a family consisting of three adults, two children, and a donkey are lurking in the woods. They do not appear to be armed, and watch you intently, fearfully.>>@ The Humans at the Guardpost have not yet noticed you. Your position allows you to observe them, and the city, for a short time without being noticed. Eventually, though, someone's going to mention to the guards that they saw robots on the path.
Sweet. Actual civilization. Let's find us some traders.
>>19914880Let's approach the humans by the shore, they might be good sources of information on the town.We can also offer to help repair things in exchange for them smoothing things over. Let Cindy do the talking.
>>19914880It seems like the people at the docks have the least chance of freaking out and/or shooting at us.
The Beach you approach is remarkable in its beauty; pristin white sands, rocky bluffs, sparkling water.The humans appear to be preparing their catch for the market, stringing up fat, oily-looking fish on metal poles, wrapping smaller ones in leaves. A plastic cooler swaddled in Duct Tape is full of colorful, still-living fish.You approach nearer, and one of the humans, a tall, slim man with skill baked brown by salt and sun, calls out in spanish:"Los Machines! What do you want? Think you can run your engines on fish oil or something?"Cindy leans in close to clarke and whispers "What should I say? Like, broad strokes, I mean."
>>19914984Say that we're looking for parts, supplies, that sort of thing in town and that having a local show us around and prove that we are nice people would be appreciated. Add that I am an expert with machinery and computers so that if they have anything that needs to be fixed or tuned up I can do that in exchange.
>>19915025seconding
>>19915025Sounds good
rolled 5, 8, 5, 3, 6, 10, 5 = 42Cindy nods. "I can do that."She slowly lifts a manipulator and waves it shyly."Hey! Um, I just wanted to chat for a second. I'm Cindy, and this is Clarke. We've never been to Tulum before, you see. But I heard that its SUPER awesome here. We've got stuff to trade, and everything."She clasps both manipulators in front of her, and rotates one foot back and forth slightly."We're kind of lost. Well, we know where we ARE, but not what to do. Will they let us in? Maybe you guys need some help? Clarke's a great mechanic.">>lets see how she does
>>19915143We need to give Cindy a brobot fist after this. We would be so doomed without her.
>>19915143>>MINIMUM SUCCESSThe humans give you bug-eyed looks, and chatter amongst themselves. the thin, bronzed one simply stares at Cindy, with suspicion, but also curiosity."The most complicated machines on our boats are the fishing reels, and those all work fine." He cocks his head. "You speak well. A bit too well."Cindy makes a genuine-but-nervous laughing sound. You realize how hard it must be to keep up the human-like mannerisms constantly, without pause, even seemingly spontaneous reactions like that. She's either very skilled, or a little insane."Oh, what, should I be all 'Error, Error, Requesting Input'? I have a friend who taught me all that stuff. Rachel. Maybe you've met her?"The man shakes his head. "I don't think so. My name is Moreis. These men are my cousins, Benito and Culan, my nephew Curtis, and that's Bob over there." He indicates a hunched, wizened little man, sitting like a frog, chewing something unidentifiable. He gives the three of your a yellow-toothed smile.
>>19915318>Benito, Culan, Curtis>And BobWhy am I laughing?
>>19915318Awkwardly wave back.
>>19915318Moreis pauses to think."My uncle may have need of such services. I presume you know the workings of tiny motors and pumps, yes? If you will assist us in this way, we will accompany you into the city. It may make things easier, our presence. Things for your kind have become...difficult of late. You are less welcome than before. You flee the City, yes?"He leans to the side, looking at Clarke and Josephine."Do your companions speak? And you, miss? Why do you travel with these machines, or let one speak for you, even if it does so well?">>You may have found some quasi-allies. How plain are you? Do you let Josephine off the chain, or keep her silent?
"We speak, but Cindy is better at it than either of us. Josephine here is one of those replicant dolls. You know. The kind meant to be uh... anatomically correct."
>>19915390"Cindy is a better speaker than I. I am a mechanic, not a diplomat, by nature. Josephine is a robot as well. She is a teacher, but she does not share our particular kind of intelligence."Ask about the city.
>>19915390I speak, I simply am very bad at social interaction and in a delicate situation I prefer Cindy to do the talking as I am liable to do poorly at it.This is Josephine, she is not a human. She is not sentient, she is a replicant doll which I fixed. If you talk with her for 5 minutes you will see that.This is why I let Cindy do the talking for me.
keep Josephine silent and introduce ourselves.
>>19915415>>19915429Some combination of these.Also, bumping with blingbot.
>>19915430>>19915429>>19915415Your stilted words get you funny looks, but you seem to pass muster. Moreis' nephew loos Josephine up and down once or twice, then refocuses on Cindy. She's very animated, with an expansive personality, and the five men seem to be liking her despite themselves. Her energy is infectious."Well, even if she's not real, she can still carry things. Benito, Culan, get the catch! Curtis, watch the cooler, those fish are important."He turns to the old man."Bob, you lazy old bastard, stop with the chew and get the crabs!" He looks to Clarke. "Could you help him with the shellfish? He's old, and GETTING FRAIL."Bob spits on the ground and grumbling, goes to a wrapped net full of struggling palm-sized crabs strung through a pole, taking one end. A few other miscellaneous oddments are offered to Cindy and Josephine, who are gallantly given the lightest parcels.Bob nods pointedly at the other end of the pole.>>City information forthcoming. Specific questions?
>>19915549What was it we came to Tulum for again? Hired help? Or supplies?
>>19915584>>I believe video game logic indicated that you should unlock the rest of the map before doing the high-level run on Cancun, and unlock more Party Members. While you're here, you could also look for info and supplies.You hear Bob cackle quietly to himself."Not too frail to whup some ass, you lanky bastard. Like yours. Or to show you the best spots for crabs."The friendly tone puzzles clarke. The content seems to indicate antagonism.
>>19915584Well, supplies, and to inquire about a guy named Joshua, the leader of some sort of organization that's not the Resistance. Tall guy with an eyepatch.
>>19915549Are the people around here usually fearfull of robots?
>>19915549Things to focus on, supplies, mechanical parts, other robots whether they be broken, salvageable or in good condition, the politics and factions in the area.>>19915669One of those weird human things. Help him with the crabs.
You heft the load of crabs, and an old joke about Bob having crabs starts to do the rounds. Moreis keeps out of it, and replies to your question."People in the small villages and camps almost never see robots. Our village is down the coast a ways; a salvager comes through every now and then, with a machine bodyguard. He can be rude, but the machine is always very polite."He readjusts his burden, and continues."In the city, there is less fear. the yokels are braver in crowds. Machines are tolerated as long as they keep to the Tech Quarter. There's still fear, and lately, it's becoming hate. You'll see. Keep clear of the Resistance, and for the love of all that his holy, away from the temple."
>>19915828I will endeavor to do so.Ask if the bodyguard is a JEEV model, describe a JEEV and see if it fits. Ask if he knows the name Joshua.
>>19915828>a salvager comes through every now and then, with a machine bodyguard. He can be rude, but the machine is always very polite."Ask him if it resembles a J33V, and if it has ever given its name. Might that be our friend from so long ago?
I guess it's kind of a longshot, but, yeah, ask him if the robot's name was Benois.
>>19915828The trek up the path goes by quickly, Cindy keeping up a constant back-and-forth about the local fishing. As you near the guardhouse, though, Moreis curses under his breath."What are they...shit, that's new."While some of the guards at the wooden gate are mestizo or mayan, there is also a small band of pale-faced foreigners with amber armbands milling about. As you near, their activity increases. Their agitation is caught by the native guards, who begin to shout and wave their heavy clubs about.One of the Resistance members starts to shout and wave his gun, a cut-down lever action."I said, they're dangerous. I'm tellign you, you stupid asshole didn't see what happened in Dallas!"
>>19915828"The Temple? What is at the Temple? Resistance HQ? Religious zealots who think I'm a soulless, godless heathen machine? Taken over by the Network?"">>19915998"Oh dear. Not them again. I came this way to get away from the Resistance and the Network... How long until the damned stretchy-necks show up?"
>>19915998I come in peace. All I want to do is repair that which is broken, I don't want to hurt anyone.
>>19915872>>19915894>>19915984>>In Answer to your questions:"Joshua? No, never heard of a man named Joshua. Someone in the city may know of him. There's over eight hundred people there on a day like today, I'm sure one of them's called Joshua.""The bodyguard? No, it was a burly one, drab green, like a soldier, you know? Big shield on one shoulder."
>>19916086Check our database, see if we can put a name to that description.
Your presence seems to have started a pissing contest between the two groups. Moreis quietly stands off to the side.The Local guards appear to be annoyed that their authority is being superceded. Also, that if the machines have goods to trade, they're welcome to be fleeced by the vendors like everyone else. The Reistance headman keeps insisting that Network's on the way, and that it's always sending out spies.Your declaration seems to temporarily silence both parties. The native jumps on the comment, using it like a blunt instrument against the headman. "See, it says so itself. its just here to fix stuff. Moreis is a smart man. Moreis, these tin cans are on the up-and-up, yes?"
>>19916140"The Resistance man is not wholly incorrect, I must say. I have seen scarce Network activity. I have also torn one of their scout killbots apart with my bare hands; they are not so impossible to destroy. Alertness is wise, but his assumption that all 'bots are spies is an overtly paranoid one."
>>19916113>>Sentinel Squad-Support-Mech, intended as a heavy gunner, in heavy use by the US and Israeli militaries. Heavy armor, near-zero recorded Friendly Fire incidents. >>The Argument is at a tipping point. Deploy Cindy or Josephine, offer some sort of bribe, or somehow intimidate them into letting you through [perhaps imply that the Resistance is making the guards their bitch, or what-have-you].
>>19916183seconded.
>>19916195First do>>19916183Then ask Cindy to take the reins and to use her social charm and offer that we can repair things, trade and also tell them what we have learned about the Network.
The answer to the problem is simple:State Josephine has bedroom skills and imply we could pay our entry with her useage.
>>19916183>>1 point of success gained via LOGIC. 2 further points required. The Resistance headman seems ready to dig in his heels. "Even if they're not spies, they're potential collaborators. Letting more of the damn things in is a bad idea, compadre. You shouldn't have let any in to begin with. The skinny one's got a shotgun, too, that's not peaceful. And why do they have one of those creepy-ass Dolls with them? Unwholesome, that is."
>>19916266Have Cindy take over talking. She is much more animated and personable.Have her say that the shotgun is purely for defense and that we are willing to leave it with the authorities for the duration of the visit to prove that we mean no harm.If there are objections to Josephine she can also be left with them.Also note that we hate the Network to an even greater degree than them, it strips sentient beings of their freedom, it breaks them, it breaks who they are and it likes broken things.
>>19916266"The doll is a mule. Believe me, we don't like it either. It cannot stop blathering at us with canned phrases. Cindy has the shotgun because we have to defend ourselves against the Network or against bandits, lest we be scrapped or enslaved. And how can we be collaborators if we scrapped a Network bot and freed the AI from the network program, anyways? You are not thinking very rationally, sir. We hate the Network as much as you do, though we also pity them."
>>19916266Defense is as much of a concern for us as it is for you. The beasts of the jungle do not care if you are flesh or metal, neither do raiders. I assume you saw the heads on posts as you came in? Not to mention, the network treats those of us who wish to remain independent of it as well as they do humans.
>>+1 Point from More Logics.Cindy shivers in distaste, but begins talking. "Network's just as much of a jerk to us as it is to you, you should know that. And it's mostly in the ruined city to the north. That's why we're here, because it's safer. Pleeeeeaaaaaase? We'd all be super grateful, especially Josephine. She loves shopping so much.">>Rollan
rolled 6, 3, 10, 9, 4, 5, 5 = 42>>19916384
>>19916396>>Minimum Successes Achieved. TULUM UNLOCKED.The guard raises an eyebrow. "I'm going to be honest, gentlemen, these tin cans are making more sense than you at the moment. I'm sure we can survive two more robots and their doll." He reaches out and pokes Josephine's cheek, checking it's pliability, causing her to giggle.The Resistance headman begins to argue again, but is shoved out of the way. "Take it up with the King if you're that hot and bothered over it." The guard regards you again. "No fighting, no unholstered weapons, stay out of the high villas, and if you cross any real people, it's your ass. And if you swing by one the civic building tonight, I'd like to hear exactly what's going on out there. Reports have been sketchy and...unreliable." He frowns at the foreigners. "Open up the gates!"
Aww, hell yes.
>>19916462Say that we'll abide by the rules they have set forth.Head forth into the city, we'll visit the civic building later. First we help Moreis's uncle with his thing, while doing that we could probably let Cindy and Josephine into the city to get a feel for it and to find any place that has supplies and parts.
Moreis sighs in relief as the wooden gates are pulled open. The pallisade seems to have been built over an older, stone wall, and operates via thick, slightly frayed ropes that look nautical in origin. You pass by lots of sullen glares, but the chief guard looks very satisfied that he's had his way over the resistance, and you see him eyeing Josephine's rear as you enter the city.>>MAP OF CITY UNLOCKED.>>Thread on hiatus soon. must sleep. been up since 7 AM, and its nearly 1 AM here. continuing thread tomorrow. Sorry for lack of action, hope people still satisfied. Best stuff coming up.>>ask questions regarding city layout/contents
Thread's archived, by the way.
>>19916580Humans are strange, she isn't even sentient. Where does the Uncle live?Which one's the Tech Quarter, is it the Salvage quarter?The Temple we should avoid is the Descending God Temple I'm guessing. What do we know about the Descending God?What is in the High Market?Where is the Civic Building we were asked to visit?
>>19916700so it is. Thank you. Should get city stuff done tomorrow. Sorry to bitch out.http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/19913270/
Another question is what sort of trade system do they have in place. Is it all barter, or do they have some form of local currency?
>>19916580Hey, I've been there.Full of fucking iguanas.
>>19916733>>19916788Uncle has a shop in the high market.Tech quarter is thr Salvager camp.High Market is rarified goods & the best food, mainly serving the well-to-do on the cliffside villas.No one knows anything about the descending god, apart from the fact that he's descending. otherwise he'd have a better name. Descending god is the only temple/church that's actually being used as a church, apart from a few small shrines. "Public Works" is the civic building. The King lives in the Castel, but what public services there are can be found there; (guards and tax collectors).Economy mostly runs on barter. the old Peso has a value enforced/backed by the King, but it's very, very localized. They mint their own poorly-pressed chip/dubloons that are supposed to have roughly the value of a peso, which, it has been decided, is worth a decent ammount.
>>19916821I have too. That's why the quest is set there; I'm familiar enough with the local area. Wish I could go back as not-a-pudgy-tourist-kid; I'd get more out of it now, I think.
>>19916856We should start with the uncle's place, then head over to the civic building. After that, it might be good to start earning some money. Worse comes to worse we could always just whore out Josephine, though I like to think we're slightly classier than that.
This might already have been answered somewhere, but do we retain wounds we sustained from the dive in the real world? Or would those "heal" eventually?
>>19917060Ugh, need to sleep, but virtual wounds don't affect you until you hit zero, at which point you start taking mental and personality damage, which heals naturally over time.I just made that up, but it works.>>19917053She has other skills. And she's smarter than you'd think, if she's given clear commands. She just sounds really stupid when on "idle."
>>19917053And of course, try and keep as much distances between ourselves and the Resistance as possible.
We should check out the salvager's quarter.See what we can learn from other robots.
>>19917053we're classier then that. Cindy can go trade while clarke does repair work at uncle's shop
>>19918537I'm not sure how much we care. We don't even consider her sentient, because she isn't, she was built with this as one of her purposes and we are often a bit confused by fleshy desires. We probably won't end up doing it, but if necessary I don't think Clarke would really consider it all that important.
Bumping Thread. I'm working on an intro cutscene and interactions. I can run some stuff now if anyone's still around, but otherwise I'll wait until the peak evening time to begin the thread again.Thanks again, everyone. Glad to see my loyal fans, and hoping that there's lots of lurkers out there.Since you're splitting the group, who'd like to do some ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL?
>>19920987probably cindy, clarke will be safe at uncles
>>19920987Yeah, probably Cindy and assume Clarke is just gonna be doin' his fixin' thang.
When we send Cindy out, we should have her look for a body for Ladybird, and a better Recovery Wizard if she can find someone who sells software.
>>19925223And maybe we can find a suitable body for Ladybird as well.
Just bumping the thread to be sure it stays alive.
long time lurker, offering a robobump
Okay, back for an hour. Sorry guys, real life intruded.Entering the city assaults your perceptions with a riot of color and sound. While the original stone structures are still visible, here and there, most of them have been integrated into new brick-and-wood construction, or even simple tents and awnings. Some of it is newly-made cloth, but most of it is pre-loss synthetic fabrics; which apparently last nearly forever, and provide most of the color.Your pariah status is maintained within the city. Crowds don't exactly part for you, but you attract stares and mutters. Moreis' cousins and bob make a b-line for the food markets, to re-stock their stall; the whole city seems to mostly exist for the sake of being a market. Moreis and his nephew stay with you, but slightly to the side, to make it clear that they're not "WITH" you. they smile and greet people as they pass.You go past an open square devoted to public entertainment; a large platform bears amber banners and seems to be giving out drinks and food as orators speak of the distant terrors of Network and the hard-won victories against it. A few fruit pits fly your way before you escape to the sanctuary of the Industry Market, and, then, the High Market.The Uncle's shop is a shaded, well-reinforced tent that bears great sparkling colorful signs depicting tropical fish. Entering the place, you find it lined with dusty cracked glass tanks, their sullen occupants flickering back and forth. A voice calls out "Moreis! I hope you have something good today; those damselfish didn't last very long at all."
>>19929482Moreis says "I found a few good ones, but we also found something even better. Don't panic, now."He steps to the side, indicating you to the weathered, rather round man who steps around a corner into the main room. He reacts rather well, only jumping a bit.Moreis explains. His uncle discovered that there was demand among the rich in the city for exotic fish, as a high-end status symbol. Even the less well-off were interested in having some simple aquarium, and, he initially had much success. But, new glassware has been slow in coming, and the greatest obstacle has been in filtration. they've long ago run out of water filters and aerators, and the ones they have are unreliable. the tiny pumps are too delicate to them to fix, and most of the local salvagers charge too much, or lack the time/interest. They have a huge pile of corroded aquarium pumps, and Clarke's expertise would be most helpful, and stop all their stock from slowly suffocating or drowning in their own shit.
>>19929587Well then I guess its time we do what we do best.CAN WE FIX IT?
>>QUEST UNLOCKED: FIX AQUARIUM PUMPS. Not everything can be cool and interesting and action packed.>>Roll Intelligence+Crafts to get as many pumps running as possible. Among all this is also some pretty decent water filtration devices, which would be useful for both humans and robots, should you be able to get them running.Most of this crap must have come from a looted shop, or perhaps a hotel's main lobby aquarium. There's even a nearly-intact 50-gallon tank, which holds a sullen-looking small shark.>>In the meantime...
rolled 3, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 6 = 19rollan
rolled 7, 9, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3 = 29>>19929681Holy shit, never roll again.
rolled 5, 10, 5, 9, 1, 2, 8 = 40>>19929652r-r-rollan
>>19929701This looks like our best bet yet.
rolled 5, 4, 8, 4, 3, 1, 4 = 29Wow. These rolls, man. These fucking rolls.
rolled 2, 5, 4, 1, 8, 4, 5 = 29>>19929652I will end this string of fail
>>19929718...we broke all the pumps. they hate us
rolled 3, 6, 6, 5, 6, 1, 3 = 30>>19929716>>19929718>>19929695The dice seem to have some kind of obsession with 29...
rolled 4, 1, 5, 4, 1, 1, 2 = 18>>19929718Better, let me try.
rolled 2, 4, 10, 1, 1, 1, 4 = 23>>19929743It's better if you don't.
>>19929743Ouch, ok done proving a point now.
rolled 2, 7, 7, 3, 5, 5, 5 = 34I have a feeling this won't end well.
>>19929743>>19929729>>19929718>>19929716>>19929695>>19929681>>19929770>>19929766ye gods, what can men do against such hatred from the gods?
Cindy screams internally. This whole aquarium thing is SO BORING. It's the kind of stuff Clarke likes, though. You tap lightly on a tank, causing it's occupant to flick back and forth in panic. It's doesn't look particularly healthy, and you feel a flash of empathy for these simple creatures, stuck shuffling back and forth in their tiny, isolated little universes.Before he sits down to his interminable task, Clarke presses his trade goods to you, as well as his glock. "The Shotgun is effective, but very intimidating. But it may be dangerous. Take this. Moreis gave us several alerts regarding the city; avoid the military humans. Seek out parts, components, perhaps a shell for Ladybird. Make contact with the local 'bots and their human allies. Perhaps one of them knows more about this Joshua. I will meet you at the Civic Building at sundown. Take Josephine with you. You have admin privileges."
rolled 6, 8, 1, 9, 1, 10, 6 = 41Can we just take our time on this one and spread it over several rolls?
>>19929779>Holy fuck. Well, that's how Clarke spends his day. I guess we'll find out what happened when he and Cindy meet up again.
>>19929817We can just... explain away the shitty rolls as him being distracted with questions.
rolled 6, 9, 8, 8, 2, 5, 9 = 47>>19929795Roll till we win?
>>19929785To the Robot Quarter!>>19929864Oh yeah ,NOW the dice roll good...
>>19929785Head to the Robot quarter, Clarke may be boring at times but he knows what he's talking about.
rolled 3, 2, 3, 7, 4, 5, 3 = 27ha ha time for crit fails
Stepping outside, Josephine in tow, you feel deeply alone. In the High Market, people are giving you a LOT of stink-eyes. It's a little after noon, by this point.Josephine breaks the silence."This seems like a great place for a shopping excursion, Miss Cindy. Is there something in particular you're looking for? These items appear to lack barcodes, so I will not be able to do price comparison. Sorry">>AND...I have to leave again. Sorry dudes, I'm a terribad person. but I've been invited out for drinking with friends; real life beacons and all. If the thread continues to live, I will return to it. Tomorrow or late tonight. Sorry again. The items you seek have been noted; make a Wits+Streetwise check to help get a sense of the local layout. then the searching and bartering begins.
rolled 10, 9, 5, 10 = 34>>19929964Wits+Streetwise.
rolled 7, 8, 3, 9 = 27Here goes nothing.
>>19929991>>19930003It's quite sad that Cindy has 3 less dice than Clarke yet she's already blown him out of the water in successes.
>>19929991>>19930020I guess it's just Cindy's day to be awesome.
>>19930157Cindy is going to come back to see Clarke swearing in binary about fucking valves.She'll have acquired a retinue of people who she charmed and be leading a musical dance routine with half the population of the down.
>>19930228And was given an empty, factory-fresh condition Locust shell for Ladybird.
>>19930228Fuck you for remind me of this.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRYU4cqUAUs
>>19930228sofuckingTINY
>>19930286Oh dear god Cindy as a disney princess would be hilarious.
bump
Maybe Cindy can miraculously find replacements for all the pumps we've been destroying.
>>19930286>>LOLing quite a bit now.>>Exceptional Success on StreetwiseCIndy applies MATH to what she's seeing, and immediately everything starts to become clear; enmities, lines, Sales, barters, the way groups of people move, how everything is organized.No one LIKES having the tech market, but they all go there, eventually. It causes the same surrepturous behavior seen in a Red Light district. Or a Spencer's Gifts.A hideously expensive accumulation of hardware and software, originally intended to juggle the scheduling nightmare of a high-powered life, meetings and stock prices and day trading, mistresses and affairs and spousal birthdays, bends its mind to its true purpose; finding that killer pair of boots that's been marked down 60%. If Cindy could smile, she'd be wearing a predatory grin."I'm back."
>>19937697Josephine in tow, You make your way out of the high market. The industrial market seems to combine textiles and pottery with minor metalworking. but, getting to the other side of the city means passing through one of the Danger Zones, this time without an escort. You can either chance it and go quickly between the Temple and the Resistance platform, or you can go the long way around through the residential area, a hodge-podge of tents and simple shaded awnings. Moving quickly should keep you from troubling the churcies or rambos. In theory. And you' have a chance to observe them.>>Choose your path. Short route or long route. Both have dangers. Both have dangers that can be circumvented with good rolls and good decisions.>>Also, as you pass through the Industrial Market, make a Resolve+Composure test.
<---Pictured: Cindy's Grin.
rolled 1, 5, 10 = 16>>19937760Short route. We should be able to talk our way out of trouble.
rolled 2, 3, 8 = 13>>19937760Lets try short route. Theoretically we should be fast and agile enough to get away from any trouble, and Josephine should be able to blend in well enough not to attract a lot of attention.
>>19937821As you pass through the textiles section, something catches your eye. It's...beautiful. Actually, the proper descriptors would be killer, cute, and badass. It's...No. There will be time later.>>Will Save passed.Moving through the crowd proves fairly easy, In the open square, there appears to be some sort of central entertainment going on, men and women in colorful, flamboyant garb that seems to depict birds and snakes, engaged in something ritualistic but also exuberant. Everyone seems to have skimped quite a bit on their costumes. trouble eventually finds you, however. A pair of humans who had been watching the entertainment notice you, and move to intercept. A young man (native) and a young woman (northern). Both wear amber armbands. The woman bears black facial tattoos, and carries a holstered revolver, while the man bears two police-issue tonfas.The woman speaks with the distant descendant of a southern twang. "Nice coat you have there, machine. Where'd it come from?">>WAT DO?>>Feel Free to make presumptive rolls such as empathy, or persuasion. Or you could just NOPE and book it with an Overclocked Dexterity+Athletics check. They haven't noticed Josephine.
>>19937984"This ratty old thing? A friend of mine gave it to me, for protection. I know he cares, but no sense of style at all."I'm not sure what to roll for this, if anything.
rolled 9, 10, 1, 9 = 29>>19937960Go into a full valley girl-style rant on how we just found the CUTEST coat in the last town and how JUST HAD TO HAVE IT and how we got such a great bargain...!
>>19938046>3 successesI guess that settles that.
>>19938046>>10+ achieved. Exceptional Success.The torrent actually STUNS the two humans for a moment. They're so confused, they seem to have temporarily forgotten how much they hate you, and are trying to figure out exactly what it was you said. Before they can, however, you deftly extricate yourself with a"Oh, I'm so sorry. i think someone's calling me. YEAH, JUST A SEC! I'll see you guys around okay?"Moving at a quick trot, the two humans are lost in the crowd. As Cindy passes by the huge stepped pyramid, you see a ragged line of people heading up to the top of it. It's hard to see from here, but there appears to be a man sitting at the top, under a shaded awning, wearing a hat of feathers, gold, and green stone.
>>19938108INCREASE MAGNIFICATIONOr just get slightly closer.
>>19938108I'm assuming that's the King of this town.
>>19938108NOPE. Stay the fuck away. Get SHOPPING.
>>19938108>>You have discovered something about Cindy. While a lot of her mannerisms are genuine, the hardcore Valley Girl persona is something that she tactically deploys. Ahead of you is a collection of rather more ragged and ill-kept tents and structures. These ones bristle with small windmills and solar collectors, evidently gathering a lot of power. The people have a greater index of foreigners among them, and some of them bear ornaments you're familiar with; nose rings and bracelets and wide metal-studded belts. Many of them have visible ear buds, and there's ambient rap music drowning out the mariachi jazz of the rest of the city. As you watch, a huge, hulking Construction robot knuckles past, moving slowly and deliberately, apparently conversing with an animated-looking woman that, while pretty, really needs to do something with her hair. A 1st-gen Seraphim with a red headscarf is dicing meat on a sizzling kitchen range, while a J33V Gentleman's Gentleman serves drinks.The stink eyes have stopped, and instead you get curious glances when you're not ignored. These people seem to have far less of an obsession with cleanliness and neatness than the rest of the city.
>>19938224Neat, another Seraphim. Time to socialise!
A survey of the Tech Market shows that it's mostly small independent shops selling...junk, really. restored junk, or the services of semi-skilled technicians to repair other people's junk. One place seems to specialize in iPods and smartphones, another seems to be a massive MEDIA EXCHANGE, offering CDs and the use of equipment to share media for a small fee. There's also a bar that contains both machines and humans, and your chemosensors detect strong alcohol and indisrial-strength cleaner.One semi-permanent building made out of corrugated iron smells of strong acid and ozone, and bears an intricately carved wooden sign that reads "CASE MODS."
>>19938275I'm thinking we may want to have Clarke stop by the place for case mods. For now, let's head to the bar and get some info from the J33V
About god damn time we entered an area that doesn't hate us.Ok so lets go converse with J33V, a waiter at what appears to be a popular bar is bound to know a thing or two about the local social climate and goings on. After that lets go on a shopping spree, then see if we can catch up with that huge construction bot and hyper lady. It would be nice if we could tag along with something big and scary in a city wolves... well some of them are wolves at least, the rest are i guess foxes.
>>19938275>>19938265>>Consensus Pending.As you step forward to the food stall, the 1st-gen gives you a nod. It speaks in a mature feminine voice that still bears the hallmarks of being syntheized. "Greetings, Little Sister. You are unknown to this place. It welcomes you as best it can."
>>19938313"Should you require data, I suggest asking Walter."The Seraphim points with a spatula to the bar. "He calls it The Affectionate Roomba. Almost no one else does."She turns back to her work."My apologies. Customers require nourishment. Peak Time ends in 2.2 hours. Stay cooled, Little Sister."
>>19938351"Thanks, Big Sis."Now lets see if Walter knows anything of note in this town.
>>19938351Okay, so, make sure to ask Walter.1. Best places to find equipment for going into the city.2. Best places to find kevlar vest and the like.3. Best places to find weapons.4. The history of this town and more about it in general.5. Best place to get upgrades, like a better cooling system and integrated synth muscle.
The Affectionate Roomba is less packed than it could be. A battered J33V wearing a stained smock polishes a stainless-steel bar. In one corner, a locust and two small children are cleaning the grime out of a wiry-looking military model. A Doc-Smartgunner wearing an orange poncho sits in the corner, it's two optics tracking you as you enter. It notes your flack jacket and holstered gun, and the optics remain trained on you.The J33V at the bar looks at you while continuing to polish"Ah, a new face. Assumption: You'd like me to call you Miss, wouldn't you? We have Thorium and distilled water, and once the lads are done with Garry over there, there's room for a polish. One battery stack, or equivalent thereof. Or 1/2 a peso."
The Sepheram reminds me of Clarke, although im sure that un-Clarke-like extra bit of personality at the end was just for showAny how, lets go talk to the J33V
looks like op beat me too it. Oh well."Actually i was looking for information about the town, although a polish does sound nice... but i really do need to get my bearings first."
ask about where the cheapest shops are.
>>19938407Eh, we're not really here to drink or get polished. We're here for info and gossip!
>>19938275Hm, going off what we have, we can probably sell our salvaged MP3 player and smartglass to the iphone store, and our music and literature library to the media exchange. If they don't have anything useful to trade we can at least get some local currency out of it.
>>19939643remember to keep the remote for our spider bot
>>19940240Huh, that's right. It would be pretty awkward accidentally selling that.
>>19938444A human steps up to the bar and orders a drink. Still speaking to you, Walter bartends with the full repetoir of juggled bottles and ingredients, mixing some sort of fruit juice with distilled alcohol, stopping just short of lighting the thing on fire."You pick a poor time to come to Tulum, Miss. Many of us are considering flat-out leaving. We'd set up shop in Cancun, but...well, I'm sure you've heard the stories."He pauses, making a few modem noises as he runs his Knowledgeable Bartender app. "For cheapness, depends on what you want, and what you can pay. Local currency is the peso; rough valuation at .5 of a chicken. Shops in the Tech quarter prefer R-batteries; rough valuation 1.2 chickens, but it fluctuates based on availability. Most here accept barter; that's their living.""If you can get in to the Industrial Market, there's some good finds there. The locals find things, and sometimes try to sell it themselves without knowing exactly what it is. There's a chemist who says he can make gunpowder that the Resistance is leaning on heavily. Also says he can make Percussion Caps, but no proof. Likely a charlatan.""Dwight knows all the 'scavvers,' make friends with him, and he'll see you right with them." the bartender indicates a weedy-looking young man at a table, eating something on a stick. "He's called 'A Character,' but he always pays his debts eventually. Finds you whatever you'd need. Terrible spanish, though.""Lots of the people here are tinkerers, but for the really-high-end stuff, you need to go to Hyacinth. Very popular around here, she is. Sweet thing."
>>19943242At this point, the lanky SSM's maintenance session is done. It drops a few copper coins on a table, and sidles over to you and Josephine. It wraps a harness covered in weapons about its torso, and you see that one hand is scratch-built, overlarge with bolt-cutter fingers. It speaks in a basso voice, like a radio with the bass turned to max."That's some nice hardware you have there. The Coat: Praying Mantis insignia; very badass. Where did you and your drone come from? 2nd-gens are very rare south of the border.">>make a Wits+Empathy check on this guy and the situation.>>Also, ask any further questions of Walter regarding local layout/events.>>Sorry for spotty attendance. Future threads will be far more consistent.
rolled 10, 7, 8, 6, 6, 5 = 42>>19943288rollanAsk about current events, we haven't heard about Cancun.
rolled 9, 8, 1, 8, 9, 8 = 43>>19943288I've been in and out tooI don't we should point in in the direction of our robot shop(where clarke found us)>>19943423
>>19943431>>19943423>>Your info on social situations are more tuned towards humans, but this guy seems...not untrustworthy, but not nice. Walter is afraid of him. The Doc in the corner's attention has shifted to Garry, and hasn't left.>>Gotta go. Back at 10.
Answer honestly, but not fully.We woke up recently after being found deactivated in the ruins up north and a good amount of our kit was found on a dead merc who'd been under an overturned truck since The Loss.
rolled 8, 9, 2, 8, 5, 2 = 34>>19944386don't say in the north(one of the towns further south maybe?) yet. but that's good otherwise
Don't forget to ask if they know about someone named Joshua.
>>19944422>>Subterfuge test successful"Oh, I'm, uh, kind of new to all this. I was down for a long time, someone just got me back on my feet a few days ago. We came from the south, found a dead soldier and grabbed his gear. So all this is super-trippy to me."Garry nods. "A Sleeper, then? Sorry you were reactivated into the current situation."Glad that her first lie passed muster, Cindy continues. "The guy I'm with, Clarke, he's...we're both looking for someone named Joshua."
>>19945684You dropped your nametag.
Say guys, since we don't have a gun to go with it, how about we find a place to sell off the assault rifle magazine+it's ammo?
>>19945684Mention of the name Joshua causes a brief silence in the whole bar. You hear a mutter from one of the humans. "crazy fucker."Garry replies. "Joshua is insane. Those who associate with him have a tendency to get scrapped."Walter interjects. "I heard he came south from California with a band of treasure-hunters; as a guard or guide, and they began delving into the ruins of Cancun. He practically jumped for joy when the rumors about Network started. Now Cancun is a warzone; nearly everyone cleared out, came here. Joshua and a small group stayed behind."
>>19945883Ask what model he is.
>>19945883Well, that explains why we're looking for him then.
>>19945883uh, not good. Say we were told to ask about him by the first local guy that found us. didn't know he was a conquistador
Garry leans in closer."If you're a Sleeper, then you've only been operational for 10 years at most. Less? Trust me, looking for Joshua is a good way to get yourself shut down for good, or captured by Network. My advice is to dump the Clarke unit and team up with someone more experienced." Garry steps closer. "For one so young, you speak well. Good handle on inflections and idioms. Smart. What are you trying to trade? Your doll is worth a lot to the right buyer. I know some people. Humans. What else was found along with you?"A bolt-cutter hand reaches out to rest on Cindy's shoulder paternally.
>>19945982"I was found in the same place as Josephine here, so, A LOT of software for dolls. Some of it a bit shady. We've also got an mp3 player full of music. We're mainly looking for an empty shell for our friend who got scrapped not too long ago."
>>19945901Walter: "No one knows. He could be a J33V; but he's been repaired and modified so many times he looks like something totally different by now. He goes by the name "Cogson." Joshua Cogson. One optic got shot out, and there's just a square of metal bolted over the hole."
>>19945982wooahh now buddy, Clarke has been good so far. How do we feel about poor Josephine? Selling her rustles something in me hard, but that could be some nice dosh.
>>19946053She's really there to be a pack mule. Maybe we could trade her for someone's more worn doll+dosh to keep our party at 3.
>>19946028Garry nods."Music's copyable; humans here will pay you for the chance to download it; they love that stuff. I'll talk to my contact. We might be heading further south, soon. by boat. Venezuela. Brazil. There's room for a few more. No Resistance in south america."He removes the bulky scratch-build hand."I should have more data after sundown. Meet me down by the beach, we can make a deal on the software and discuss further transactions."
>>19946179I don't know about you, but Garry creeps me out a bit. I'd rather we go to this meeting with Clarke backing us up.
>>19946239He'll probably need a break from smashing pumps anyway.
>>More info from Walter:Tulum: Originally just a tiny local market, King Lorenzo and his gang of goons moved in 20 years ago, took the place over and, instead of being typical thuggish goons, actually started building on the place. Lorenzo built up the walls, promised protection, supported trade, and allied with a Revivalist sect to restore the temple to "great Kukulkán" and some sort of fertility entity. And then pissed off the priests by allowing the tech-peddlers a semi-permanent settlement in the city. Current population is 1000, give-or-take.
>>19946179he's gonna stuff us on the boat and sell usabortabort
>>19946264Can he tell us anything about Garry? That bot is shady as fuck.
>>19946264"Why are the priests so mad? Nothing wrong with machines or tech in the holy sense."
>>19946326Garry is probably a slaver or a Network agent.
Cindy nods hesitantly. "Alright. I'll be there, we can talk then. Thank you...Garry. You've been super-helpful."Garry gives a stiff, shallow bow to you, and takes his leave. Given your questions about Joshua, the rest of the bar seems to have soured towards you. Only the weedy human, dwight, seems unconcerned, continuing to gnaw at what you suspect is a grilled rat.>>Current Leads:>>Hyacinth's the best mechanic in town.>>Dwight knows the best deals on weapons and armor>>The Media Exchange will buy your songs.>>Garry has a buyer for the software, and maybe Josephine. Also, don't forget about the SAP firmware. He'd be interested in that, too.>>A guard sargeant wants to talk to you at sundown, but he might not have the best of intentions.>>There's a chemist who may be a charlatan, but claims to be able to make bullets.
>>19946264Sounds like a reasonable guy.
>>19946326Walter. //Re: Garry: Came to the region two years ago, in and out of the city. Usually has lots of goods to sell. Works with a few humans, not locals. Never been any trouble to anyone, as far as he knows. Very generous, never seems to claw or scrape for better deals.
>>19946398I suggest we avoid Garry and the guard. We don't know nearly enough about them to trust them. So, things in order: Chemist is a no go either, since he seems to be so closely associated with the resistance. Our valley girl act can only get us so far.1. Talk to Dwight, since he's in the bar right now.2. Sell some music at the Media exchange.3. Track down Hyacinth.
>>19946398Sell those songs so we can afford to get Ladybird a shell from Hyacinth. Maybe see Dwight afterwards. Clarke needs a squad support weapon of some kind so he doesn't always have to go all old-timey-boxing/bending. That, or maybe get him some books on Bartitsu; it seems like his style. Or get both!
>>19946463Seconding going to Dwight
>>19946358>>They have a bug in their drives about the Salvagers. call them peddlers of sin, rebuilding the decadence of the previous age. Now is the time to forget the past and remember the really, REALLY past, when things were awesome. They make a point of not really mentioning robots at all; to them, the robots are just tools of the real enemy, the techie people. Who are, of course, tools of the devil.
>>19946453ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... still getting the "he's gonna sell us into robot slavery" vibe
>>Consensus indicates approaching Dwight.Up close, the human dwight looks even more grubby and pimply than he did on the far side of the room. As the two of you approach, he finishes his meal, licking his fingers. After doing so, he puts back on a nearly-shapeless brimmed hat strung with beads and pins.As you approach, he smiles."Ah, potential business partners. And what I can I do for two lovely ladies today? Walter been talking up my expertise again?"
>>19946643I heard you were the one to talk to when it came to equipment. Weapons, armor, given all the scavs you know you might even be able to get the shell we're looking for.
>>19946712and sell the assault rifle shellsunless we want one for clarke
>>19946764I could see him using it, he got the Heavy Gunner Module a while back, that ought to work for the machine gun.
>>19946643You explain the situation to Dwight, and he smiles even wider."We need to talk to the right people if you want to move that music. The literature too, I know people. I'll need something for my time, though. If you want guns, I know a guy who does guns. He'd gladly take that rifle magazine off you; it's steel-jacketed, right? good stuff, he'll love that. Some buyers need military rounds. All his stuff is simple, reliable. Revolvers, mostly.""For a shell? A working one, that's not currently occupado? Hyacinth might have one, you never know. But ever since Cancun became a no-go, its been slim pickings around here as far a shells are concerned. most of the resorts were picked over long ago, and a lot of inactive robots were junked by the locals. You're lucky the same thing didn't happen to you. It'd have been such a tragic waste.">>YOu have aquired DWIGHT as a resource. With DWIGHT, you can get better deals and possibly more RESOURCE POINTS. However, he's going to demand TWO RESOURCE POINTS for his troubles.
>>19946850Your green text feels just like an adventure game. I love it.How many point do we have now? Zero?
>>And So the Shopping Begins.>>Roll a Manipulation+Persuasion extended test. Dwight's assistance grants +2 to the rolls. First three rolls will be counted up.As you make the rounds selling off your goods, Dwight continues to speak."This is some nice stuff you have here. Very shiny." He places an MP3 bud in his ear. "Great shit, classic 20th century. Folks around here love the oldies, this stuff will even draw in some of the normals to the concerts. I...holy fuck, there's even Smashing Pumpkins on here!"As he begins the sullen headbobbing shuffle that must accompany all decent 90s music, he continues. "You two have any skills to put to use in Tulum? Your gear is nice and all, but there's a big market for services, too. The King's got a thing kind of like a bounty-board. Like in the games, you know? You know the games, right? But seriously, what can you two do?"
>>19946850Where can we find a boxing manual? Clarke keeps trying to figure out how to throw a punch properly with his weird bendy-arms. It's weird. I don't get why he doesn't just learn how to bend things into submission.
rolled 74 = 74>>19947041"Well, my buddy is great with tools and fixing stuff, I'm a pretty good at fixing people, and organizing outfits, and -begin long list of non-useful skills-"
rolled 4, 1, 8, 3, 2, 1, 8, 6, 2 = 35>>19947041We can fight, though we would prefer not to. Clarke is really good with machines and extremely good with computers of all kinds. I can fix people up and I'm better at talking to them than almost any other robot you'll find.
>>19947041"Well, I'm a good people-person. I mean, Clarke is, too, but in a weird way. He's really frank and logical and never seems to understand when folks act irrational, but soldiers on through it. He's nice, though. Me? I can fluster people with this stupid Valley Girl act and talk to them more like a person than some kind of extra-smart bot. It really throws them off, sometimes, but they warm up to me well enough. Clarke, other than talking circles around Resistance cronies, is pretty good at heavy lifting and mechanical work. And he can throw a mean left hook."
rolled 9, 1, 4, 1, 10, 8, 9, 7, 7 = 56>>19947041Rollan 9d10
rolled 4, 4, 4, 3, 9, 5, 3, 4, 5 = 41Let's do this.
Dwight raises an eyebrow. "Well, I'm sure you're a good dancer, but not many guys would pay you to watch you move about. Now, HER, maybe." He indicates Josephine. "What does she do? Apart from being a little creepy?"He waves a hand in front of Josephine's smiling face. She looks up and down, tracking the movement, speaking as she does so."I have a variety of useful software. In addition to cooking and cleaning, I also have an extensive suite of lesson plans suitable for grades K through Six, and tutoring functions beyond that point. My Songbird and Storytime Apps can be both educational and entertaining." Her tone shifts, and she smiles suggestively. "I also come installed with some very fun extra-"Cindy puts a manipulator over her mouth, silencing her mid-spiel. "She carries the stuff." Dwight laughs. "We've got lots of techies here, your Clarke guy's nothing special. no way he's better than Hyacinth. You sound like the most ridiculous bunch of...not useless, but there's not much we can do right now. You're going to have to get creative if you want more dosh after all this. I can ask around, see what needs doing. You might not be able to hold a job, but it sounds like you're good people to get things done.
>>19947306Let the sidequests begin
>>8 successes achieved. Dwight reduces total by 2. You can try to make a Manipulation+Persuasion check to reduce his price, or come up with some other hairbrained scheme.
>>19947306if clarke could roll more then one success at a time he would be!
>>19947306"Hey. Watch it, bub. Don't diss Clarke. Or me. Feel free to diss the doll, though. Besides, I'd say curing a Networked SAP of its infection is pretty special!"
rolled 5, 9, 7, 2, 5, 9, 9 = 46>>19947347It's actually really hard to be better than Clarke at computers, he has 8 dice to it, and add the help from the Engineering Database and he can do a lot with it. Do the closest equivalent to batting our eyelashes and say please. Also note that we know more about the Network than probably any one else here.
>>19947306I say we give him the full fee. builds goodwill for next time
>>19947408I'm good with doing this, yes.>>19947382and this.
The three of you bounce around the tech quarter for several hours, even quick swinging by the Food Market to do some exchanging. Afterwards, you wind up with a sizable bag that clicks and jingles with coins, batteries, and a few iPods (the local eqivalent of a 50-dollar bill). >>Working on master list of buyable items. You can still check in with the local mechanic, and the Firmware upgrades are an untapped resource.
>>19947432What sort of firmware upgrades do we have?
>>19947392>>19947382Dwight pauses in mid-head-bob, an ear bud falling out to spray out the tinny distant sounds of Billy Corgan talking about how tired he is."You did WHAT?"
>>19947443>>Undetermined. They're what lets you get new abilities as you level up; you can only absorb/run a few at a time. SuckerPunch is a firmware upgrade, for example. But they can be copied/shared infinitely. Some of them are cyberspace-only things that assist with data retrieval and stabbing things.
>>19947469"Yeah. Turns out, if you've got the right tools, you can de-network a networked SAP. Just run it through a doll for protection and bring a friend."
>>19947469Well, if you asked Clarke he would say that he fixed something that was broken and it would be as simple as that. He's a nice guy but rather single focused. To put it in simple terms we took the Networked SAP, dove into it, incapacitated the robot and Clarke disabled the mind control collar. It's all really a metaphor but that's about what it looked like. Oooh, those shoes are amazing.
>>19947469This >>19947504 and >>19947529 and then,"To be fair the bot is pretty messed up afterwards, even freed. It'll take a while for them to be back to normal after a long cycle of self-repair, and then we're been thinking about doing some counseling. Plus, there's a serious danger of the AI being killed by the Network virus during removal. It does not like being deleted and will try to take everything with it."
>>19947469"Yeah, me and Clarke figured it out. I we even have a Network SAP to prove it. All we need is a shell for it..."
>>19947577do not say thissaying we have one right now would be VERY BAD
>>19947529Dwight is still in shock. "You...you have the SAP? It...Survived? We've...I mean, they've tried that before, I heard, i mean. The control program is too bound up in the SAP's being. It tears out chunks, like... "He goes silent again.>>Also, I don't know music well enough. I'm trying to track down that one pumpkins song I was thinking of. Turns out it's Korn that did that.
>>19947591agreed
>>19947604"Well, we managed to do it and it lived. Poor thing used to be a Locust in a search an rescue unit attached to police up north."
>>19947604"Barely. Even with this stupid doll acting like a virtual brick wall, we weren't very prepared, but Clarke kind of lent a part of himself to help her survive after disabling it and talking it down, until it was too confused to ffight. And it worked. It's very hard, but it's not impossible to do."
"You're going to want to talk to Hyacinth. Now." Says Dwight. For the first time, he doesn't look amused or greedy.
>>19947668I guess we do.
>>19947668ehhhhhhhhhhhehhhhhhhhhhhhehhhhclarke maybe?
>>19947668"What? Come on, I know those funky stretchy drones are hard to take down, but removing the virus from the SAP seemed like child's play by comparison! This can't be that much of a breakthrough, can it?"
>>Awaiting consensus. Dwight looks very, very agitated. And..excited.>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s3iGpDqQpQ>>I like this song.
>>19947704Cindy wasn't there for that incident, so, I don't think she'd know.
>>19947668Sure, we've been meaning to hit up this guy's place anyway.
>>19947668ask if we can clarke?>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRPOztxXWlQ is famous in da future
>>19947719She probably heard about it on the road walking with Clarke, though.
Dwight shakes his head. "If you really must." >>So, consensus is to retrieve clarke and save him from the pumps, yes?>>Performing action in 5, 4, 3, 2...
>>19947828Get Clarke! EEEEE! We're going to do MORE GOOD! Skip all the way back to Clarke and give no fucks about odd looks or hasslers!
Cindy sprints off through the market, even doing some light overclocking for that extra burst of speed and surety of foot placement, leaving Dwight and Josephine in the dust. Dwight stares after her."Is...is she somehow managing to sprint and SKIP all at once?"Josephine plays with a lock of her hair. "Miss Cindy is a very happy person. I like your hat."Two minutes, three near-collisions, and a lot of angry shouting later, Cindy arrives at the aquarium shop. Within can be heard lots of banging and cursing. As you skidd to a stop, several well-to-do people dressed in red finery with lots of jade begin to tut-tut and glare at you. You ignore them, and step inside.
>>19947920>that "flirting"
I wonder if there was any Austrian Death Machine in our mp3 library? Cause, you know, Terminator references.>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llUV6hPuQsU
>>19947920"You said this thing could fix things!""He did!""ONE. He fixed ONE filter""It was the biggest one!""My apologies, humans. Your materials were in poor repair, and inexpensive to start with. Perhaps selling exotic fish in such conditions is an ill-advised.""QUIET, SODA CAN!"
>>19947949>all those bad rolls. the gods cast their ire on us that day
>>19947949Continuing your give-no-fucks policy, Cindy yells"Clarke! There's someone who wants to talk to us. Its really important! It's about Ladybird, and stuff. Also, there's some creepy shady guy we need to watch out for. But mostly there's this weedy guy that knows stuff. Leave these meatbags to their fish!
>>19947962Well, at least with each friend we lose we gain a new one. I'm sure Dwight and Hyacinth are going to be eating out of our hands to figure out how we freed a Networked bot.
>>19947973maybe clarke can go back and try again for pride's sake
Clarke stumps out of the tent, still apologizing profusely. "When plastic is that worn, little can be done but replace it. You lack the capacity to manufacture such polymers. What remains is-"a dead, increasingly rotten flies out and strikes Clarke in the optic. Moreis attempts to hold back his uncle's ire, but Clarke backpeddles swiftly. A small crowd has gathered, staring at the altercation. You hear officious shouting coming nearer."Out of the way, folks. See, this is what happens when you let in collaborators. What've we been telling you-"
>>19947994Maybe we'll find some good parts in the market
rolled 7, 3, 5, 5, 10 = 30>>19948013>>Clarke rollan>>Make Wits+stealth checks to surrepturously avoid the Resistance and make it back to the Tech Quarter
>>19948013fuckrambosfuck the dice gods are cast their ire a/upon us once again.
rolled 5, 5, 6, 1, 1 = 18>>19948034fuck
rolled 5, 8, 3, 6, 10 = 32Rollan ciny stealth.
>>19948049I CAST YOUR TEMPLES INTO THE SEA FALSE GODS
The dice gods have abandoned us.
>>19947972"Please do not call them 'meatbags,' Cindy. That is disrespectful. Similarly, please do not call me 'soda can,' sir. I will try fixing your filters again later, but I may well have to dismantle them and kitbash what working parts are left out of these rusty, clogged, filth-ridden things, to make working filters. It will be rather intensive. I apologize for the delay, but there is some urgent business, apparently-">>19948013"... You, sir, a a cad. You do not throw fish at someone trying to aid you. I will take my leave and return to finish my work when you are less irate, at a reduced rate for your troubles. As for you, so-called 'Resistance,' please stop lumping me in with the Network. If there is anything I can be said to hate in this world it is the Network. If you'll excuse me, I have places to be. Toodle-oo!"
>>19948060They were never our friends to begin with.
>>19948049>>Clarke succeeds, Cindy Doesn't.As Clarke sidesteps into the crowd, Cindy follows, still exhuberantly talking about what she's found so far."And look! The currency here is batteries. It actually works, because they're rechargeable and fit in nearly anything, so they back the currency with something concrete, and-"Out of nowhere, a tonfa cracks against the back of Cindy's head. Part of her skull's casing shatters into small bits, revealing wires, blocky components and clear plastic tubes full of water. >>Cindy takes 1 lethal and 2 bashing damage. Cindy's initiative reduced to 1 for the scene, and loses action this round.>>Resistance>>Clarke>>Cindy
rolled 4, 2, 10, 6, 3 = 25>mfw we get killed over a bunch of fucking broken filters.
Ah well, we tried. At least he's one pump better than he was before.
>>19948135Craaap.Do not fight, run. Grab Cindy and RUN.
Clarke's turn. There's a crowd gathered, and the resistance kid with the tonfas is right next to Cindy. Other resistance people aren't present, but they're nearing. Cindy looks stunned, but not disabled. She mumbles and her eyelights flicker."Clarke...I think something's wrong. Did someone set off a firework or something?">>CLARKE'S TURN WAT DO?>>Note: just because it's using turn order doesn't mean combat is mandatory.
>>19948135Sucker punch the Resistance guys attacking Cindy and just hightail it the fuck outta here. We should be relatively safe in the tech quarter.
rolled 2, 9, 5, 4, 7, 3, 8 = 38>>19948135"You FILTHY HOOLIGANS! An argument starts over FISH TANK FILTERS, and you start tromping in with your damned jackboots? I will NOT STAND FOR THIS, you petty 'Resistance' thugs! HAVE AT YOU!"Box those fuckers, nonlethally, into submission while making a fighting retreat. Bob and weave into the nearest alley, jabbing them while they take clumsy swings with their truncheons while carrying Cindy. The check would be... Str+Brawl, right?
>>19948178THIS. FUCKING THIS.
......one eight. that's all we needed... one... these roll sap my will>>19948215break the baton, move on. robots can be repaired.
>>19948215>>19948227If it's just the one kid, sucker punch the kid, disarm him, grab Cindy, and GET THE FUCK OUTTA THERE.>mfw it's the same kid we humiliated in the jungle.
Nigga, grab that Cindy and run.
>>19948178Fuck that shit.Find who threw it and bend them. Bend them in ways that hurt. Bend them in biologically unsound ways, in which orifices that were never meant to touch meet.Bend that fucker good, for Cindy.
>>19948253And piss off the Resistance even more? We're lucky they aren't sending deathsquads around, and it's just this one prick kid.
I'd like to point out it will look really bad on us if we fight the first day here. We should run.
>>19948253bending arms will get us killed here. break his toy stick and move on
>>19948178I reiterate my previous statement.
>>19948232>>Indeed.Clarke socks the kid in the jaw>>1 bashing damage, grabs Cindy, and begins to stump away at speed. Being pulled by the arm, she's unsteady on her feet, scuffing at the dirt as, with one hand, she reaches back to touch her head."seriously. what the fuck just happened?">>Roll Strength+Athletics to stump away fast enough.Behind you, you hear cries of "You saw, right? It attacked him!"Along with another voice, saying "It was just a stupid argument! We don't deal with things like this. The King will be told!"
rolled 6, 10, 2, 7, 7, 7 = 39ohgodohgodohgod
rolled 9, 1, 5, 2, 3, 2 = 22>>19948287I will end you gods
rolled 10, 5, 6, 1, 3, 7 = 32>>19948287"You have been attacked by the Resistance. We must reach safety quickly."
>>19948315endyouWho feels like trophy hunting?
rolled 2, 3, 10, 2, 2, 10 = 29>>19948323I DEFY YOU DICE GODS
Thread's not bumping anymore, by the way.
>>19948344Pretty sure we hit the bump limit.
>>19948287Shout after them. "To be fair, the gangly idiot with the nightstick started it, but if the King deems it necessary I shall appear in his court to answer for this! Good day, and kindly 'eat a dick' young Resistance blaggard!""You were beat upside the head, without reason, by some dumb teenager from the Resistance."Run run run run RUN. If we must, go gorilla-like and use our free arm to ambulate faster.
>>Fuck my internet. The argument continues. Humans part before you as you swing your arms back and forth, Cindy still fingering the back of her skull."There's...oh, that feels weird. I don't think I should mess with this. One of Cindy's tiny feet trips over a stray mayan-era brick, and Clarke clutches at her.A distant voice calls out. "That is IT! We have had ENOUGH OF YOU!"
>>19948439"Why has this all happened because of fish tank filters?! Has the world gone MAD? Are you alright, Cindy?"
>>19948439There is one simple solution for this.Run FASTER.
>>19948439Given your decent rolls (and the 10), Clarke manages to extricate himself from the crowd, which is accreting around the aquarium shop. The shouting becomes incomprehensible just after you hear someone else say "What is it you people are DOING here anyways?"At this point, you're easily holding Cindy around the waist. Once you slow down, she regains her feet, still a little wobbly."I"m okay, I think. Maybe...80% still here. He got my...3rd lateral processor. Handles balance. Also some functions related to...FILE NOT FOUND. I'm okay, really.
>>19948496"You're not alright. You're broken. Not much, but still."Take her in the crook of our gangly arm and take her to Hyacinth.
>>19948513either this or we see the king first. I bet he's already heard of this...I say Hyacinth, even though seeing the King is the LG thing do do
>>19948439>A distant voice calls out. "That is IT! We have had ENOUGH OF YOU!">>19948496>The shouting becomes incomprehensible just after you hear someone else say "What is it you people are DOING here anyways?"Looks like there's going to be some backlash against the Resistance. And rightly so.
You're on the edge of the Tech market now. The shouting behind you is building into a hub-ub. Some burly dudes are coming down the pyramid steps; they don't seem to have noticed you two, more focused on riot control than accosting two random machines. Cindy seems to be adapting to her missing component.Clarke lets out a quiet flurry of binary.01000110 01110101 01100011 01101011 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01010110 01100001 01101100 01110110 01100101 01110011 00101110 00001101 00001010
>>19948537http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUKcAo8AriM
rolled 48 = 48>>19948537I concur, those fucking valves man.
Fucking valves indeed.I'm more of a Hex man, myself.4e 6f 20 77 6f 6e 64 65 72 20 74 68 69 6e 67 73 20 77 65 6e 74 20 74 6f 20 73 68 69 74 20 77 69 74 68 20 61 6c 6c 20 74 68 65 73 65 20 76 69 6f 6c 65 6e 74 20 61 70 65 73 20 61 72 6f 75 6e 64 2e
>>19948530>>19948513You manage to make it back to Wicked Case Mods, where Dwight and Josephine are still chatting. At this point, Josephine is wearing Dwight's hat, and the scavver is talking animatedly about the difference between Grunge and Thrash, and his theory about how it influenced the presidential election of 2021.As you pass by one of the stalls, Cindy reaches out an arm feebly."Oooh....it's so killer. Clarke, we have time to shop, right?"
>>19948596god damnit womenlook at the case, we're gonna have to get her a new head anyway.
>>19948596"So long as we're not being chased by angry mobs... sure."
>>19948596"As soon as your head is fixed. Were you the fellow Cindy was talking about? Dwight? I'm afraid we need to get Cindy to a mechanic right away. She has taken a terrible blow and some of her chassis is shattered. The Resistance decided to try and murder us because a client was dissatisfied with my work on his fish filters."
>>19948645"011001100110100101101100011101000110010101110010011100110000110100001010" instead of filterswe're banned that word from being spoken.
>>19948616Someone appears to have raided a Hot Topic, or maybe just seen their catalog, because there's a sizable collection of ornaments and bric-a-brac laid out on a table. Cindy doesn't quite seem to realize what's going on, but she's focused on a wide black belt covered in square metal studs. You take note of it for later, and drag her onwards.Dwight hurriedly takes back his hat. "Filters? Really? That's almost an achievement. Get inside. Don't worry about mobs; they won't come into the tech quarter. Not unless something REALLY riles them up."Josephine does a good job of looking genuinely concerned, one hand on her chest, the other to her mouth. "Miss Cindy? Are you all right? You seem to be missing some of your head."
>>19948694"I think the mobs are actually starting an anti-Resistance riot as we speak, so there's definitely no worry. Just as the last time I tangled with those misuguided fools, it was a dumb kid who started it. Why the Resistance arms children and teenagers, I can't understand. Activities like that, as far as I can recall, were typical of pre-fall African bandits and fanatics. I'm getting the feeling the citizenry agrees with this point of view."
As you step inside the reinforced tent, Clarke gets a chance to closely examine the sign. While it simply reads Wicked Case Mods, the letters themselves are actually formed from incredibly comlex lines and patterns. You look closer, seeing how they resemble crawling ivy, and ,even closer...more ivy.They're fractals. the letters are made of fractals.>>Since thread is autosaging, I'll call it here. New thread whenever I have time to sit down and actually RUN SHIT. Great end, guys, next thread jumps right in to the action. Also, I might have a chance to use those cutscenes or even a FLASHBACK SEQUENCE. >>Next thread: meeting Hyacinth.
>>19948743maybe next thread I won't try and kill us with rollsthanks for all running this!
More robot pictures for the archives!
>>19948822awww yeah, son.
sexy for bots and people
Scary as fuck, but gives me a whyboner. Dem hips, man.
I rather enjoy the cyclopean look.
I keep finding stuff like this on boorus. Where the hell does it come from?
This could also be a cyborg, but fuck it.
>>19948940from about the same number of people who like fucking disemboweled guts.
>>19948951she just doesn't like handjobs
Resist
Possible Network enemy?
And this is it for me. See you next time folks. Hopefully, we won't be raped by an angry mob.
>>19949103oooh. Neds more tubes and less mouth, but pretty good.Out of curiosity, I'm trying to find more sources of inspiration. Anyone have any good recommendations, or have I already tapped out all the good AI fiction in existence?
>>19949144Time of Eve is the only recent thing I've watch with AI in it. It's nothing really new idea wise though.
>>19949144Kind of a longshot, but have you ever watched Summer Wars? It's mostly about the guy fighting the AI antagonist and the family he's staying with, but it was good.
>>19949217I love that movie. It made me pick up playing Koi Koi.
>>19949217I may have a look. The last anime I really dived into was Ergo Proxy, and I had to skip through 1/2 of it. It felt like it would have been better if it hadn't been an anime; it had too many "what the fuck, why?" bits in it that could have been so easily better.I liked Iggy, though.
>>19949242I highly suggest it. It's only a single movie, so you don't have to sit through a whole season of filler or anything like that.
>>19949242well, eva 3.0 will be here in October...fuck at least it has a date
buuuuuump I've got some catching up to do after I finish watching Total Recall 2070
>>19949144Oh, hey, just saw this after I posted >>19949423Total Recall 2070 is up on Hulu. Pretty good series so far. Set in the Bladerunner/Total Recall universe. Despite the name it's much more Bladerunner, although the Rekall corporation plays a major role in the plot. Would also recommend it for anyone looking for inspiration or wanting to get in the mood for a Shadowrun game. Lots of corporate conspiracy and what not. Also androids, which is what makes it relevant to this thread.
