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]

There's a moment of hesitation before the gigantic being shrugs. "I don't think the message was meant for me. There was someone else with me at the time, and he is absolutely the sort that would be useful here." He says it like it's facts, and seems rather untroubled by the thought.

It's a sentiment that draws bared teeth and a growl from his own partner, who fails to articulate anything more intelligible about the thought. Clearly she disagrees with his assessment. But he waves that off easily enough. "I'll do what I can of course, since I'm here now. And your knowledge with even a digital world is pretty useful, I'm going to have a lot of questions; I don't know what a Dukemon is either. Hells, I'm not even sure what I'm supposed to be feeding my little friend here, and you might since I think they're a related species."

"Everything. Guilmon eat everything!"

[dreamtamer]

This was a very important question that Guilmon considers with all the seriousness it deserves.

"Bread! Especially the bread Takato's parents make. And peanut butter. Fishing when we visited Takato's cousin was good too!"

He tilts his head curiously at the other Guilmon. "But Guilmon hasn't met many other Guilmon before. At home Guilmon was the only Guilmon."

Takato takes a moment to try and figure out what to explain. "Well, has anyone explained evolution to you yet? Dukemon is our ultimate level."

[chainsthatbind]

"Bread I can do." Peanut butter however has no immediate match to anything Ericthonios knows, though fishing is obvious - fish. The teeth of a Guilmon suggested something a bit more ... predatory than just fish and bread though.. "I think I heard something about it from one of the digimon more my size, but I admit I .. hadn't been paying much attention. Ultimate is .. their final growth?"

Erichthonios is easier distracted than one might think.

Very slowly, the other Guilmon leans out of her comfortable spot of Erichthonios' robes, sniffing, little headwings and jaw spines standing up straight. "Bread is okay," is allowed with great reluctance. "Don't know about fish. Rocks are okay."

"No eating rocks. Rocks are not food--"

"If you can eat it, it's food!"More importantly, there's another Guilmon, and one who's ...never met another. A bit more lean and another sniff. "There's all kinds of Guilmon. Red ones, black ones, orange ones. You're red. So am I." But they don't... quite look the same. He has markings she doesn't. "Red's better, it goes faster. Want to help take over the world?"

The Amaurotine sighs, with a sound that suggests this is an ongoing 'discussion'. "We're not taking over the world, we're saving the world."

[dreamtamer]

"Sort of, I guess. Some digimon have a mode change that lets them change further. But the thing is, digimon with partners can reach higher levels quicker. Its because we can share our strength with them."

Takato listen to the other Guilmon with interest. "We met a few other Guilmon when we arrived here, but I don't think they liked us very much."

But hearing about how many there were, he couldn't help but remember that strange dream or vision he'd had, with all the Guilmon that weren't Guilmon. Did that have anything to do with this? Had he really dreamed Guilmon or had he simply become aware of a Guilmon that already existed?

Guilmon looks interested."Rocks are good to eat?" That was the most important part, clearly. Takato looks a little alarmed at that.

He shakes his head. "Guilmon doesn't want to take over the world. I just want to play with Takato. Do you like playing games?"

[chainsthatbind]

Something in all of that draws a faint frown from Erichthonios. If Guilmon's power and growth depended on him.. he'd just be holding her back, wouldn't he? "And if there's no might to be shared? Do they stay small?"

Maybe on some level Takato was aware of all the different Guilmon out there, thanks to his connection to one of them. Maybe even the very first one. "They're crunchy," the somewhat less black-marked Guilmon says confidently. "And sometimes there's bugs. Maybe you didn't talk to them right. Usually you have to show your teeth and claws and look as big as you can so they know you're not a pushover, then you can talk." She demonstrates, baring a mouthful of sharp teeth and brandishing curved talons. It might even be a menacing display if she wasn't half-wrapped in Erichthonios' robe.

As it is, it somewhat fails at the goal. "Taking over the world is the best game-- hey!" Anything else she might have added to this declaration is cut off with an undignified squawk as her partner carefully loops hands around her torso and plucks her right off the ground, setting her on his lap like a gigantic scaly cat.

"We talked about this. If we don't save the world there isn't a world to take over, right?"

The other Guilmon visibly deflates. "Right."

"So we need to make friends with everyone else who wants to save the world, right?"

"Right."

Takato is given a brief apologetic look. He really is sorry about this. "And how do we make friends?"

One wing-ear perks slightly as she works on figuring out this current plan. "....Play with them?" Takato's partner seemed to like playing, it sounded like a good answer to her!

[dreamtamer]

"Of course you have strength to share!. It isn't about being good at fighting or anything about that. Its about care and trust for each other. As long as you have that, I'm sure you'll be able to evolve." This was one of the topics Takato was passionate about.

Guilmon looks confused. "That doesn't sound right. If you try to scare someone before you meet them, how are you supposed to become friends?" He tilts his head. "That doesn't sound like a very fun game. Maybe we could play tag instead!"

[chainsthatbind]

"If you don't, then they'll just want to fight," the second Guilmon points out matter-of-factly. "So if you don't look like easy pickings, they'll be more interested in being friendly instead. I bet you've come across a lot of digimon who go 'Oh you look weak and pathetic, this will be easy, let's fight!'" She leans forward, crimson eyes wide. "If they didn't think you looked pathetic, then they wouldn't have tried to fight and could have been friends instead right away. Unless it was a play-fight, those are different."

As far as Erichthonios knows, this could actually be true for digimon. It seemed to work well enough for beasts, once their hierarchies are established, more pleasant socializing can begin! "..Well she's certainly in my care, and I'll do my best." Time would tell if Takato was right, and what little he could offer would be enough. "Basic needs will have to come first before trust and so on. That takes time. I just hope there's enough time."

[dreamtamer]

Guilmon just looks confused.

"But if you just start fighting at the start, how will they know you want to be friends? That just makes you look mean."

Takato was both amused at this conversation... and slightly concerned for the other Guilmon.

"We'll have to make the time," Takato says worriedly. "I can't help but think that this Digital World needs something more than just fighting. That there's something that it needs from us."

Because if it was just power, it could have called the Legendary Heroes again.

[chainsthatbind]

Said other Guilmon heaves a very tremendous sigh, putting up one clawed forepaw. "Okay you have this backwards. You don't fight at the start. You're making sure they don't attack you. As soon as fighting is off their list of things to do because you seem too powerful, then it's much easier to make friends."

Erichthonios could interfere with this but he is very deliberately not doing so, looking thoroughly interested. Without any background to work off of, this is perfectly good natural observation!

But it doesn't mean he can't continue to speak to Takato. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it's the part that isn't fighting and subduing those Alias affected. We'll need to find a way to cure them, after all. And then fix the harm that's been done. Stopping them is just the start, and probably the easy part. ... So I guess it's good to do a little fighting, Guilmon. You need to stay strong."

Which Guilmon though?? His tips her head back to eye him upside down, looking thoughtful. "But not serious fighting, unless it helps take over the world, if everyone's gone then nobody's left to rule. Play fighting is just as good but nobody gets seriously hurt."

"That's called 'training' I think. Or 'sparring'."

[dreamtamer]

Guilmon remains confused.

"But what if they weren't trying to fight you? What if they just wanted to be friends to start? Wouldn't that scare new friends away?"

Takato nods and looks over at Guilmon. "In that case. I guess we probably were brought here to fight. Right, boy?"

Guilmon nods and grins.

"We just need to figure out how to be Dukemon. Guilmon wants to fight with Takato again."

[chainsthatbind]

"Oh! That's not for every digimon! Just the ones who start off trying to fight you because you're in the area. ...Which can a lot of times be our kind, some of us Guilmon are really hostile sometimes."In fairness that goes for a whole lot of digimon, and it might not be really a Guilmon thing at all. She rests a claw on her chin, looking thoughtful. "Being fierce is just for the ones who want to fight right away. You can be nice to the ones who are nice."

This business of Dukemon sounds like it's going to be something out of their reach for a bit, but it'll surely be worth working towards. "You two can't fight together as you are?"

Erichthonios does not in fact understand how digimon and tamer combat works. He makes a small fluttery gesture with one hand. "I mean, I'm coming to understand most of you don't have magic, but anyone can pick up a sword or a good sturdy stick, figuring out Dukemon isn't the only way to fight for you, right?"

Takato is also a LOT younger than he thinks. ... By a terrifying amount.

[dreamtamer]

Guilmon thinks very hard about this, remembering his encounters with digimon at home.

"Okay! That makes sense! Guilmon will fight the digimon who want to fight."He'd met lots of digimon in fights before in Takato's world.

Takato was slightly less impressed by the turn this conversation had taken.

"Just don't go around starting fights," he insists.

He turns to Erichthonios and shakes his head.

"We can fight together, but not together. If that makes sense." He pauses as he tries to figure out how to explain. "Dukemon... That's is Guilmon's highest level. And it is both of us together."

[chainsthatbind]

The other Guilmon finally seems to understand that her fellow doesn't seem to grasp the difference between intimidating away a fight, and just getting into one. She considers this for a long, long moment before waving one taloned 'hand' in an echo of Erichthonios' dismissive gestures. "It's mostly about not wasting time on digimon that aren't worth fighting,"she muses after a long moment, perhaps to reassure the human boy a little. "So really they'd be the ones starting a fight. But it's still good to get practice in too."

What Takato is describing in vague terms isn't something entirely unfamiliar, but by the expression that crosses his face, for Ericthonios it's also not really a good thing either. "That isn't required is it?"

Giving up oneself entirely to become a new whole isn't something he relished at this juncture in his life. Sure it might wind up like Hesperos, and he's fully in control, but ... what if he wasn't? "I'm .... it might make me a bad tamer, but I'm not interested in spending the rest of my existence as half of a digimon." And how did Takato separate from Guilmon afterward, too? If Dukemon was a Guilmon's final stage and required their partner in fusion--

[dreamtamer]

That gives Takato a moment of pause.

"Well, we never figured out another way to reach that level. But some digimon are able to reach through other ways, so maybe?"

He shakes his head. "I don't think it makes you a bad tamer at all. For me and Guilmon... I guess it kind of felt natural?" They'd already been sharing their energy and pain from injuries during a fight. Dukemon had felt like the final step.

Guilmon nods. "Guilmon and Takato have always been strongest together. But Guilmon likes fighting together as Duke,on the best."

[chainsthatbind]

It worked for them, and that's what's important to that bond. Erichthonios could understand it, even if it definitely wasn't for him if he could avoid it. How would he ever explain it to the other warders? "Do all Guilmon eventually become Dukemon with the right.. methods?"

Best to be prepared, if that was her future.

"I hope not,"is the other Guilmon's opinion. "If we all grew up to be the same thing, it wouldn't be as fun." But she doesn't sound really certain of that.. it's possible they did, she didn't run into a lot of digimon at that level. "But if it's right for you two, then it's right for you two and that's good, dukemon are neat. But I want to be a nidhoggmon, then I'll be big enough to carry around my tamer."

Erichthonios very obviously has no idea what that is either. "You're too little for now so you'll just have to get carried instead."

[dreamtamer]

"Well, before I came here Guilmon was the only Guilmon I know. But I know other digimon can evolve into lots of different digimon."

He... didn't really want to talk about the other Ultimate form he knew that Guilmon could evolve into.

He frowns.

"Nidhoggmon? Isn't that really scary looking?"

[chainsthatbind]

This is considered. "I suppose I'll have to ask other Guilmon then, if most become Dukemons eventually.." Then there's ways to do it without a partner! And that'd be fine.

At Takato's frown, the other Guilmon frowns back. "Not anywhere near as scary as all the cyborg digimon. And besides their wings are pretty."

"...What.. do nidhoggmon look like? Or cyborg digimon?" Now he's definitely out of the loop on this one, glancing around as if one might suddenly appear and be a decent example of both.

No such thing happens.

[dreamtamer]

Takato thinks. He didn't remember having a Nidhoggmon card. But then, idea!

He dives into his bag and retrieves his notebook, and quickly flips through it before holding it out.

"This is MegaloGrowmon! This is Guilmon's perfect form, and he's a cyborg type then!"

Guilmon peers at the drawing and cheers.

"Guilmon didn't know you drew that! Takato! You should be in the picture too!"

Takato laugh and pulls out some crayons to quickly scribble in a vaguely recognizable picture of himself.... the size of one of the digimon's claws.

Well, at least the size perspective was accurate.