INTRO EVENT: Dawn Of A New Age

[tamerunion]

The story which has begun to revolve at full speed
Dyes the earth red
The globe is an empty paradise
Let's save it with our hands...

A new day dawns in the Digital World. Technically, it's been a scant few since Tamers first appeared in the Digital World, but today... today is especially momentous. The reason for that is that today is the day that Tamer Union's mission fully begins in earnest. However, the path ahead will not be easy, and will be fraught with danger for human and Digimon alike.

But maybe, just maybe, these disparate people can work together to save their worlds.

Mission Start
The message is sent through on Tamers' digivices early in the morning. It comes from the leaders of Tamer Union, Sunflowmon and Nanomon, who give the directions to gather in the main assembly area of the HQ. When Tamers arrive, they'll find a group of allied Digimon there; essentially, TU's support staff, as well as Panjyamon, Mummymon, and Bitmon. The reason they give... is that it's time for Tamer Union's mission to begin in earnest.

Once everyone is assembled, it's Sunflowmon who speaks first. "Thank you for gathering here today, everyone," she said. "I apologize for the fact that it's taken this long to bring you all together, but we're ready to discuss Tamer Union's mission. Nanomon?"

Nanomon nods, and walks out in front of her. "Hello," he began. "You are all here because you chose to answer our call. All of your worlds are being plagued by some sort of phenomena, and we know that something in this world is the cause of it. We'd like to talk to you about what where we'd like to start focusing our attention."

He took a deep breath, and began explaining the matter of the strange phenomenon known as "Alias". A horrifying, frightful condition that drives Digimon to savagery, where they loose all sense of themselves and become ravenous monsters. He explains that the phenomenon first appeared on the mainland, and that Sunflowmon's master, Rosemon, sent her to restore Tamer Union in an attempt to solve what was truly behind Alias's sudden appearance.

Once Nanomon was finished, Sunflowmon stepped forward, and began to speak solemnly.

"Unfortunately, by the time we managed to bring you all here, Access Island lost contact with the mainland," she explained. "So our ability to pursue this mission is at present quite limited. What we can do right now is do our best to try and make sure that Alias doesn't spread and take over this island... which is why we need you Tamers to be vigilant and patrol the areas of the island that are open to us to determine if Alias has reached Access Island yet or not."

She frowned, and continued. "Furthermore... Tamers are not yet allowed into all areas of the island. The Digimon of each region aren't all sure they can trust you yet. For that reason, you may only be able to use the Trailmon to visit Panorama Plains, Material Jungle, and Pixel Coast.

"I'm sorry. I know after all this, you must all want to get down to business as quickly as we can. But right now, informing you and asking you to stay vigilant is all we can do. I would advise you all to also try and see what you can do to be helpful in the city... and if you want to try building a life here, you'll have our full support."

There looked to be so much more Sunflowmon wished to say. Unfortunately, she had run out of words, so she simply concluded with: "That's all we have for you. If you have any other questions, I'll do my best to answer them."

With that, the meeting was over. That left Tamers with a couple options: one, to approach Sunflowmon, or discuss the matter among themselves.

A Wonderful Day In Our Neighborhood
The inaugural meeting may have been somber, but the Tamers would find Access City bustling and ready to welcome them when they ventured out into the city proper. It turned out that there was something of an event going on, which seemed to be perfect for those still trying to acclimate themselves to their new surroundings: A massive sale in the business district.

All the shops were coordinating with one another. Stores had their wares at reduced prices, which would be a good way for one to spend the stipend they received from Tamer Union. Everything from food to furniture to entertainment was available, and best of all affordable. Others had free samples ready to give out, which were thankfully more palatable than the food served by Ebidramon at the welcome party.

That wasn't all. For those not concerned with buying up anything, there were shows being put on out in the streets by street performers: "human" pyramids, musicians, magicians, jugglers, just about anything you could imagine. And the Digimon putting it on? They would be quick to drag any observers into their performances, whether they technically agreed to it or not.

Even if the rest of the island wasn't ready to trust offworlders yet, it seemed Access City was more than willing to.

Rail Riders
Some time after the big meeting, Tamers would get yet another message on their Digivices, this time from Panjyamon:

Have you all taken a ride on the Trailmon yet? It's an ice way to get around!
Puns aside, he was right. The Trailmon of Console Station were more than willing to carry passengers to any of the available locations. Perhaps you want to get started on patrolling the island for signs of ALIAS. Or maybe you want to get the lay of the land. Or maybe you just want to go to the beach. In any case, your tickets are free, and the Digivice's version of the Handbook has more than enough information for you to read up on the areas before you go.

That being said, there's some goings on that might catch one's eye. A bunch of shifty looking Digimon are riding the Trailmon more than usual. Not only do they make a ruckus on the train, they're going in and out of cargo cars both prior to and upon exiting the train. Do they have permission to do that? And why are they off in such a hurry, and in such large groups?

In any case, this looks like an ample time to find out.

This prompt can be used one of two ways: players visiting the various areas to search for signs of Alias or just because they fancy doing so, or to pursue the Goblimon mystery. If you'd like to pursue the former, you can either NPC them yourself (the Goblimon would turn out to just be everyday troublemakers), or you can request an NPC below and possibly get involved with larger matters!

Comments

[chainsthatbind]

Erichthonios waits, cautiously, until he knows they're actually gone and not just peeking through a window to see what might happen next. Acts are important to maintain until it's certain there's no longer a need!

And then he heaves a long, slow sigh, as his partner hooks her claws into his robe and begins a methodical climb towards his shoulders. This causes a wince or two, apparently the claws are getting through. "With some luck they'll mind themselves for a little while and we're not just passing the trouble on to someone else."

"It's too bad we couldn't fight, we need more practice."

With the small crisis over though, his entire demeanor's thoroughly changed. Gone is the disapproving glower, the carefully wrought air of annoyed superiority, leaving something a lot more uncertain in its place. Digimon worlds are certainly a lot of learning curve! "But all's well that ends well, so far. Thank you for going along with it, I wasn't sure it'd work. Just because it works on unruly creations ... didn't mean it would here.."

[aetherweaver]

"Hopefully. And I'm sure we'll get the practice in soon. I need to keep up my training too." Botamon bounces again and Nara'a takes him into his arms. "And I'm sure you need practice, too."

Erichthonios' concern is a valid one, and he smiles up at the Ancient. "I'm sure there's a lot of things and people it works on. Sometimes people just need to be told when to knock it off... though most of the time it happens around me, it's just people taking a joke too far. Not like this."

Not without it devolving into violence, at the least.

[chainsthatbind]

There's a wince. He needs more than just practice, he simply wasn't likely to keep up with people actually experienced with fighting. Tying up unruly creations and putting them back in their cells was very different from what this place was like! "Dare I hope you're already used to this sort of situation?"

He claims a seat again, which jostles Guilmon around a bit until she reclaims a lap again and settles there to watch Nara'a with interest. When dealing with people a fraction his size, being a little closer to their level helped. Helped him anyway. "People causing problems simply to cause problems is ... a bit unusual back home." Which is putting it mildly.

"Goblimon aren't really great to be around unless you're a goblimon too," Guilmon adds helpfully. After a moment he reorients. Goblins aside..

"I'm Erichthonios. This is .. one of many Guilmon, she hasn't picked a different name yet."

[aetherweaver]

"A little bit." He sits down across from the other so he's at least not craning his neck up at the other quite so much. "Home can be messy and dangerous, but it's how home just... is." He doesn't seem bothered by it, though. It's what he's used to - and honestly it gives places some variety. Not that he doesn't wish people could live in peace like they used to... but it wasn't perfect then, either.

He pats the weapon at his side and nods. "I've got a lot of fighting experience, though. Not that I really want to fight anyone here if I don't have to..." It'd be nice for a break... but he's not so naive as to believe that he's getting one. "I'm Nara'a. This is Botamon. Who... also hasn't picked a name yet." "I wanna wait until I get big! I don't know what I'm gonna be yet."

Right... that digivolution thing. "That's okay. We'll see."

[chainsthatbind]

The warder actually brightens up a little bit when Nara'a pats his weapon. The idea of a place being dangerous and messy is .. alarming, but he can accept it pretty easily after seeing the chaotic mess the Digital world was! "That looks the sort of weapon certain magos favor, back home. A little scuffling in melee, a little spellcasting at range.."

Fighting is definitely going to happen, if rampaging digimon are involved, and they would be. But both names get a nod; it seemed common for Digimon to ... NOT ... pick a name, which was odd to him, how did they know when someone was calling them and not some other digimon of the same type? "But I suspect fighting will be inevitable, with how Alias has been described. Guilmon and I are out here to try to get a better idea of the land because of that.. I don't want to get caught flat footed somewhere unexpected by a creat-- er, digimon with a type advantage."

Guilmon studies Botamon for a long, looong moment. "If you become an agumon, want to see who's fire is hotter?" There's no focused malice at all in the request, just general cheerful interest, as if this is perfectly normal to ask.

[aetherweaver]

"That's about how it works. I also have some other weapons - a scythe and an axe. I can switch between them pretty easily." There's no point in hiding it - people are going to find out anyway! And he's not worried about the Ancient stealing his job stones - there'd be no point with what he can do. "Though I first fell in love with magic as a young man, I've found that different situations require different approaches."

"But you're very right that we need to get a better look at this land. We don't really know anything - that's both frustrating and exciting on its own." There's a lot to do and a lot to see, and he can't cover all of it alone. "We're going to need more information to fight this foe. I'm glad that there's a good number of us - it means that gathering information will go faster. Especially given the communication devices we've been given."

... He's going to have to look into it more. Technology isn't a weak point for him, but he's no scholar of such things like G'raha is.

Botamon considers the question for a bit, wobbling as the train rocks them. "O... okay! That sounds fun!"

[chainsthatbind]

Erichthonios taps his chin. As far as he knows, it couldn't be that hard to swap from one melee weapon to another. "Did you happen to bring them with you when you arrived here? I've not seen a great plethora of weapons available for trade. ..Or .. ah. ..."

"Sale,"Guilmon helpfully prompts, getting more comfortable.

"Sale, yes." Accursed currencies! Why not just give away useful things?! "If you'd like, you could come with us while we poke around. The more eyes the better, and it should be reasonably safe for your little friend." That stage, they can't really fight yet can they?

[aetherweaver]

"I did. They're stored in aetherial form in small stones that I have with me. I'm not much for crafting myself, so I've had to trade or buy my equipment." Or have a generous friend, in some cases. "The most I can do is a bit of weaving, though I don't have tools here with me for that. And I'm moderately okay at it, in any case."

He might be the savior of his star, but that doesn't mean he can do everything, unfortunately. "I'd like that, though. Traveling with other people is always more fun than traveling on your own." Plus, it'd give him more of a chance to get to know this person.

[chainsthatbind]

Crafting: not his line of work. It didn't mean he couldn't appreciate good craftsmanship, or the skill that doing it the manual way takes! "I can't do any of that. I tried now and again but ..." He shrugs. "It just isn't my thing. Best to leave that sort of creativity to those best at it."

"If you did, maybe you wouldn't have to learn how money worked." Guilmon curls her tail up a bit around herself, apparently fully intending to resume her previously disrupted nap.

"I'll pass," is the prompt, bright response. Of all the things that bothered him, crafting was not one that got on his self-doubts! "This train is headed for the jungle, right? We might as well start there. These stones that store your weapons, do you have any with you right now?" They were after all given housing, it would be reasonable to leave unneeded ones home!

[aetherweaver]

"It's all right." He smiles a bit. "I imagine currency is difficult to deal with if you're not used to it." He can see why they wouldn't need it... but he's going to have to learn fast, unfortunately. And if he's not much for crafting... huh. Nara'a's curious as to what this Ancient did at home in that case, but the conversation isn't heading that way right now.

He nods at the question. "Not all of them came with me, but I have a few." He digs a crystal out of his pocket and holds it for a moment, his gear changes. "This one is more melee-focused. And..." Another moment and another crystal comes out of his pocket, leading to another change of clothing and weapon. "And this one is for charging into the front lines of battle and has abilities connected to healing myself."

[chainsthatbind]

"There isn't much of a need for it. But this place works very differently." As Guilmon slits open one red eye and twists to look up at him, Erichthonios hurriedly adds, "It's not a bad thing, every star surely does things differently from every other one!"

Just in case. His vague dislike of the system didn't mean that it didn't work, or didn't have its uses!

And thank the stars for distractions, as the miqo'te suddenly changes outfits and weaponry twice over. As inept as he is with it, he recognizes aether manipulation when he sees it, and the methodology is actually a bit familiar. "Those almost look like the crystals my people use sometimes to inscribe memories and ideas upon," he muses, looking interested. "I never thought to store objects in them. But why not? It's just another matrix, right?"

Makes sense to him. He'd ask to handle it, but .. what would he even get out of such an examination? Such things were beyond his skill. "Sounds like you're a fair bit better prepared for saving worlds than most of us."

[aetherweaver]

"Of course. We can't expect that things are going to be familiar..." Even if some things are, a lot sure aren't. There seems to be a lot more technology and a lot less aetheric manipulation here, after all!

"Do they? They're similar to that theory in some respects - part of their function is to carry the memories and techniques of the previous bearers to the next one. The aetheric storage of weapons and armor is a handy side benefit. But you're right, in theory it's just another matrix to manipulate. Even with the aether of memories being caught in it, there's plenty of room -"

"You're getting technical again..." Botamon cuts in, and Nara'a flushes slightly. "Y... yeah. Sorry about that. But um... I guess I am more prepared. My star just went through a great deal of trouble and strife. Monsters everywhere... people thought it was going to be the end of the world."

[chainsthatbind]

If Nara's people could use them for item storage, and spare the aether needed to recreate them over and over and over again ... surely someone he knew could figure it out too, and then he wouldn't have to have pockets up his sleeves anymore!

... Something to be worked on later. Themis could probably figure it out, he figured out all of the warders' spells and bindings just by watching it once or twice. "Are you actively inscribing memory upon it for the next one to take up the crystal?" Get technical, apparently he doesn't mind at all, and the sound of chatter is working on lulling Guilmon right back to sleep. "What do you choose to imprint over-"

They ARE getting technical, or at least a bit nerdy for those who didn't really use magic much, and Erichthonios straightens up abit as if the admonishment had been to him and not Nara. "No apologies needed. But that does sound as if you're exactly what this place needs.. although it also sounds like maybe you could have used a bit more of a break." 'Just went through' could have been only decades ago! Time was always needed to recover, and outbreaks of monsters.. there'd be losses. "Jumping from one threat to your star right to another.. And this one too makes monsters."

[aetherweaver]

"I don't think there's any active inscribing, but the most important memories and muscle memory of techniques seems to be what carries over. Not that I really see someone else's memories with this." The Echo doesn't seem to want to work that way, apparently. "But by growing in power and technique, the crystal sort of... imprints the memory of a technique into the bearer's mind. It's up to the bearer to learn how to use it properly, though."

Botamon seems to be with Guilmon on this one. He closes his eyes and settles in, just letting the two talk. He has no idea what they're going on about.

Nara'a laughs a little bit. "No, you're right. I could have used a break - a low-stakes adventure or two. But this is... well, if I'm honest, sort of how my life has been the past few years. People... they call me a 'hero' even if I don't feel like one, but the fact reminds that I've helped save our star a number of times. As much as I keep telling people that I feel like just another adventurer... it's been a long few years."

[chainsthatbind]

If it did it on its own, it must be by the design of the crystal itself. Efficient! Then even if the user didn't quite know what they were doing, it would still work reasonably well. "That sounds terribly useful on more than one level." He raises one hand to his chin, looking thoughtful. "Though I've never used anything similar, I wonder if someone's come up with the idea already at home. I'll have to find out."

If not, he's absolutely going to jack that idea, and then leave it in far more skilled hands to actually make one. Or more. "If nothing else, when all is said and done, you'll have an impressive set of stories to pass along." What could one say, to comfort the idea of spending time running ragged desperately trying to save lives, and now having to do it more?

He's not really good at it but he'll make an effort. "And this time, though I know not the circumstances from which you come, there's others brought here for the same purpose. A handful now, but perhaps our numbers will grow. And there's much to be said about strength in groups. Hero or adventurer ... mayhap there's still a low-stakes adventure or two you can get up to in the meantime."

[aetherweaver]

"It is. I'm glad for it's design. I know there are new ones being made - there are new techniques in fighting that have started up." Machinists were very new, after all. "But only time will tell if they work the same."

"Maybe there is. It would be nice... that's part of why I decided to head to the jungle. I want to study the ruins that I've heard of there. But maybe some time I can tell you more stories of my adventures. Like the time I rescued a princess in a palace under the sea." Shisui of the Violet Tides sure was an experience!

[chainsthatbind]

Erichthonios nods, apparently confident that it would indeed work the same. Why wouldn't it, if the pattern's the same? A memory crystal shouldn't really vary just because it's new! "May you get one of the newer ones then, so you can try for a first impression upon it." He considers, leaning back a little. "Then give it to a friend and see if they notice it's yours."

Is that how it works? He hoped that's how it worked, it sounded like it could be fun. Just because something is a tool doesn't mean it can't be used for entertainment as well.

He had perishingly little time for entertainment of late. "Well, we've a bit of a ride ahead of us as far as I can tell. Why not now? Who was this princess?" There's a guileless sort of acceptance to the suggestion that not only did Nara'a meet a princess, that he saved her and it was beneath an ocean. Why would anyone lie?

Can probably fade out here!

[aetherweaver]

"I'll have to try that when I get back - or if I manage to get some more of them back. I'd like to know that as well... I've been able to push the equipment I have to its limits - for now. I'm curious just how deeply the memories imprinted." Is it like etching a pattern, or is it more akin to a natural process? He's never been able to tell, and job crystals are too valuable to crack open for analysis.

... The other has a point. He grins a bit - at least this one has an appetite for adventure! He'd been a bit worried, given some of the Ancients he'd met. "So there's an undersea city called Sui-no-Sato beneath the waters of the sea called the Bounty..."