plot roll | they walk among us

[groundrules]

Image source.

THEY WALK AMONG US | THE NEUTRAL ZONE

Neutral Zone bridges connect Eidris and Minaras in the two one-hour intervals of each day — 6:00-7:00 and 18:00-19:00 — when both citadel halves are overground. These are safe and shielded spaces — until protesters linked to the Remembrance resistance join the milling crowds.

Protestors rent ’eyes,’ paying exorbitantly to possess the bodies of willing strangers. They are difficult to spot until they’re right beside you, trying to lure or abduct you into the cause of forcibly reuniting Serthica. Both Eidris and Minaras offer bounties for Remembrance members. Remembrance lieutenants are meanwhile actively recruiting, asking an act of fealty to join their ranks.

✘ OBJECTIVE: capture Remembrance members or play spy within the group.

■ Shallow inquiries reveal Remembrance members have been infiltrating the Neutral Zone crowds for a week prior. The Eidris and Minaras administration offer 50,000 coin for every member of Remembrance brought in.

■ The job is encumbered by the use of ‘eyes’: Remembrance members make their getaway by abandoning their rented bodies when they face trouble. To avoid this, Minaras and Eidris loan out miniature hand-held body-lock gear that will keep someone’s awareness in the body they occupy for six hours. To activate the lock, touch the bracelet to the subject’s nape. Each body-lock gear can only be used five times.

■ Remembrance members typically wait until you’ve reached a narrow and crowded part of the bridges, before slipping beside you to whisper their pitch: ”Don’t you miss your family? Was only one citadel, once, our Serthica. Could walk free to our mines, then, to our factories, our dragons. What’s division done for you, except make rich people richer?”

■ They withdraw into the crowd at the first sign of hostility, but will entertain whispered conversation, if you appear interested. Some speak of their leader Chrichter — an allegedly honest, stalwart man of the people — as Serthica’s true hope for the future.

■ Remembrance members work in groups, with a scout alerting the others when constables walk by.

■ Characters sensitive to life forces might feel the ‘eyes’ have multiple spirits inside them, or the spirit that occupies the body is very blurred and undefined (because of regular substitution).

■ As Remembrance seeks political leverage, the easiest way for new conscripts to prove their loyalty is to bring a captive or coerced member of the Eidris or Minaras aristocracy or a person of passable standing — …who may be an unlucky NPC, or one of your allies, finally polishing their acting skills.

■ Keep up the act: Remembrance has zero tolerance for those who belittle or question the cause.

■ Some members of Remembrance might abduct you, using chloroform and brute force, and pretending you are their good friend who has taken drunk or ill in the crowd. If you have been kidnapped or are joining Remembrance freely, prepare to be blindfolded and led down a winding path through the Neutral Zone — and into the impoverished underworld of the Mouse House.

■ The headquarters of Remembrance is in a large, now destitute train station. It would have once served the coal train that traverses the Mouse House daily. High-standing Remembrance lieutenants access the station with large, peculiarly shaped keys.

■ Everyone in the group wears a mask — you receive one as you head in, both for privacy and to fend off the stench of pestilential wet and mould.

■ The Remembrance base is dusty, chaotic, brimming with scraps and random tech projects. Here and there, find dissected or repurposed droids, along with several man-sized burlap mannequins and mislaid toys. No child is ever present. On the walls, colourful graffiti writes, OPEN THE WALLS, PLAY WITH YOUR DOLLS, TWO PENCE A POP, WHERE HAVE YOUR DRAGONS GONE?, BRING OUT YOUR DEAD…

■ Remembrance reunites a motley crowd of desperate men and women. Their households were either destroyed by the ‘coal sickness,’ or divided when work obligations confined some to Eidris, others to Minaras. Several group members are tinkerers, devising new protest weapons and gear — including the terror bullets witnessed during the trade summit. Many members work honest jobs overground, with a minority serving the Neutral Zone. They have minimal interaction with the Mouse House.

■ Remembrance offers the train station as a crude, but functional shelter. Best avoid sleeping here overnight — in your wretched dreams, your dark-fingered hands go to your throat, and decay haunts your body, as you attempt to flee a sinister mountain at all costs.

■ Remembrance leader Chrichter is a frequent (masked) sight, seen speaking and planning with his lieutenants. There is word of a coming attack during the ‘Unwinding.’ It is unclear if Remembrance expects to attack or be attacked.

■ Now and then, the headquarters activity shuts down, and you should hide as overground constables conduct Mouse House raids .They never enter the train station — and Chrichter and his men often prepare bribes. But you’re fair game if you’re captured for your own negligence.

■ A locked back room in the Remembrance headquarters leaks rare rivulets of blood or blackened water. Sometimes, you hear fists banging on the door or animal-like howling for a scant few seconds. Everyone studiously ignores these incidents. The door only opens once — when a furious Chrichter exits, kicking a lifeless burlap mannequin off his clawed, bleeding back.

■ You can enter the headquarters freely if you supply the passcode, WAKE UP. You might want to release the forced Remembrance captives on your way out.

QUESTIONS

NPC ACCESS: CHRICHTER

Comments

[intermingled]

It's true that Spock feels the draw of the mystery of this locked door. While his own feelings do not control him, he finds that the curiosity he feels is backed by the very logical thread that they are here to learn as much as they can and that any place that is locked or hidden is most likely to contain the secrets that would be hidden from them.

"I concur that we should assume it is always possible we are being watched. We should behave as if we are exactly where we should be so as to avoid being questioned in the first place."

He may not be a clever spy, but he has kept his head down and finds no challenge to moving with purpose, which keeps most people from bothering with him in a place like this. Finn seems capable and though Spock does not know him well, he does believe that Jim is in fact a decent judge of character.

"Though if we are questioned, I will allow the two of you to do the talking."

[winscenario]

Spock's line of thinking makes perfect sense to him, and he nods in agreement. It's not like they can really know for sure that they aren't being watched in some way or other right now, so what they can and should do is act as though they are doing nothing wrong. If they try to be sneaky, it's only going to look more suspicious.

Silence lingers after Spock's last words, eyes darting from Spock to Finn, and then back to Spock. "I'll do the talking."

Sorry Finn, you're great and all but Jim's got a feeling you'd just bury them even deeper.

Anyway, onto the door— Jim just follows Spock's advice and heads right towards the door, applying a good amount of curiosity but being as casual as he can manage while he looks over the door, as if admiring a piece of art work.

[hatejakku]

No, Jim's absolutely right, and Finn's a little relieved that he says it. Finn can't talk his way out of a paper bag and knows this.

But just as he's about to agree, Jim just... walks over there. Yeah, he's acting like he owns the place and is doing a good job of it, but that doesn't change that Finn's heart is now in his throat. All of this is also why he's not the one that does the talking, though.

But, right, okay, yeah, here we go. After a beat of panic, Finn takes a deep breath and follows, focusing on the task at hand instead of the possibility of getting caught. His eyes are on the lock and hinges of the door, but the thing looks pretty secure.

... There is a keyhole, though.

[intermingled]

Spock moves closer in a manner that is casual for him, but likely looks very stiff by anyone else's standards as he comes to a rest with his arms behind his back.

"If required, a diversion may also be possible, though it seems a nuclear option if not required as it may result in apprehension."

He hadn't been able to bring his entire arsenal of cogsman's tools with him, but he does have a few tools hidden in a pouch on his belt and he reaches in to pull out something long and thin with a wooden handle as he moves closer to Jim, aiming to hand it over with minimal notice.

[winscenario]

Jim wouldn't expect nor ask Spock to act any more 'casual', knowing that this is what's normal for him. He's pretty sure if Spock tried to act any other way, he'd just look too weird and even more suspicious.

"Let's keep any potential distractions for our plan B, if things do go south. Finn, keep an eye out on the hallway," he shoots over his shoulder, casually reaching for Spock's hand and taking the lockpicking tool from him. Unsure how skilled he is with this, but he sure as hell is going to give it a decent try.

It's only when he's carefully moving the tool around inside the lock that a thought occurs to him. "... this might be a long shot, but I think I know which key opens this door. And I know who has it."

[hatejakku]

Finn knows and dreads that he can't subtly tell Spock to be... casual, but he does give the air that he's supposed to be here. That's more than effective, he figures.

But, uh-... Straight up lockpicking isn't his idea of inconspicuous. Yet, he says nothing. Just nods with wide eyes and moves towards the hall to act as lookout. Because they're really going to need it, at this point.

Still, he catches what Jim says and all but freezes while he glances into the hall. Thankfully, no one's around, but Jim's just bringing this up now? How could they even- "How can we be sure?"

[intermingled]

"I believe I may have an idea, as well."

There are no coincidences and the fact that they have had a key of some mystery and importance with no matching lock up until this point and they are now presented with a lock brings him to a logical hypothesis.

"It may be worth testing if we can bring it here as they've had no luck in finding its lock as far as I know."

[winscenario]

"We can't really be sure," he says to Finn's question. "But it's all we have to go on right now. At worst, we might have to wait until we can get our hands on the key, but I'm fairly sure Licyn was the last one with it. So who knows, he might be able to get here more or less quickly."

Sooner rather than later, he hopes. He's itching to unveil this mystery now, and he doesn't want to have to wait very long.

[hatejakku]

Licyn? Finn hasn't been on the network much, doesn't know a lot about this key business, but he has met a few people here and there.

"I can call him. Besides, I think he's here, too."

Which will be fortunate. Infiltrating (or leaving) isn't super easy.

"Hold on-"

[intermingled]

"If he is here and cannot get to us without raising suspicion, perhaps one of us can assist in a hand-off."

Not that Spock is volunteering, what with his casual lack of a casual demeanor. He is much better suited to keeping his head down in order to not be noticed at all.

[winscenario]

"Let's try and get in touch first, see what we can do."

He nods to Finn, so he can get to that. Meanwhile, they may as well step away from the door for a while, just so they don't stand there looking even more suspicious. Who knows how long until Licyn can make it over here with the key, after all?

lmk if you want smth different o7 i could just do it all in one tag

[hatejakku]

It only takes a minute or so of texting back and forth before Finn turns back to them with a little smile.

"He's here. I can go meet him and be back soon, unless one of you think you might have an easier time of it."

And if neither of them offer, Finn's going to trot off and return on his next tag in a few minutes. Just hold tight, guys. He's got this (probably).

[intermingled]

Spock follows them away from the door. Standing around it will only lead to more suspicion and Finn seems to have an idea of where the current holder of the key is.

He doesn't say anything, but he does find it heartening that so many people here are willing to work together. Of course it's something Starfleet has instilled in the officers, but he cannot expect the same from others without first observing them and though he says nothing, as they are waiting for Finn's return, Spock catches Jim's eye and gives him a gently amused look. Jim may truly have a skill for finding the people more likely to understand the logic of working together. Or perhaps the people who simply like to. Either way, he suspects this will not be the only time he works alongside Finn.

[winscenario]

Jim takes a deep breath, watching Finn go. Looking casual while just standing around isn't easy, but they're lucky enough that no one walks by, though Jim keeps looking up and down the corridor, just to make sure.

His eyes catch Spock's for a moment, a brow raised back with equal amusement. "What?"

Before Spock can answer, though, Finn comes around the corner again, and he stands upright again, nodding. "There he is."

[hatejakku]

Finn's been on a little adventure, the excitement mostly created in his mind since nothing about him is particularly smooth. Despite the low-key panic on the inside, he was almost composed looking while he find Licyn and got the key from him with a thankful smile.

The smile returns, this time a bit triumphant, when he spots James and Spock again. Once he's close enough, he procures the key from his sleeve, handing it to Jim.

"Didn't have any trouble." Miraculously.

[intermingled]

Spock hadn't intended to answer Jim, but Finn's return certainly saves him from trying to walk around it.

He watches in the direction Finn came from for a moment in case anyone had managed to quietly follow him, but when he sees and hears no movement, his focus comes back to them.

"It seems you are quite the courier, Finn."

[winscenario]

He smiles a little in relief when he sees that Finn doesn't seem to be rushed or concerned, and he catches Finn's hand to give it a squeeze as he passes him the key.

"Thank you," he says as he lets go, then straightens up. "Alright. Let's see if this'll work."

Checking again that no one's around, Jim approaches the door again, sliding the key into the hole. It clicks perfectly into place, unlocking the door with a small sound of victory coming from Jim, and he pushes it open so they can finally step into the room.

[hatejakku]

Considering who Finn is and all he's accomplished, maybe he shouldn't feel delighted and proud about Spock's remark. But here we are, and he's all smiles about it. Well, about that and Jim's quick squeeze of his hand.

Then comes the real challenge, though. Finn finds himself a little anxious when Jim approaches the door, almost sure that he won't work. But it does, the door swinging open, his anxiety remaining. It's not until he's inside the room that he freezes and realizes where those feelings of wrong are finally coming from.

"What is this?" His voice is quiet like he may wake something, yet serious and hardly even sounds like a question.

[intermingled]

Spock is the last to enter the room, eyes checking the area outside the door before he follows Finn through. It wouldn't do to be careless right now, but it seems they aren't being watched in any way that Spock can sense and that is what he will have to trust for now.

His brow furrows.

"Is this what we expected?"

[winscenario]

Walking ahead of them both, Jim still is cautious but far too curious not to venture further into the room, making a circle to take in all the details. He's still careful not to touch anything, at least not just yet, just in case something might set off an alarm or react weirdly in some way, as things tend to during these missions.

"I don't know about you, but I didn't know what I... expected."

His words trails off as he approaches the table in the center of the room, eyes landing on the burlap mannequin chained down to it.

"What the hell are they doing here?"

[hatejakku]

Even though practically every fiber of Finn's being is screaming at him to leave, he continues forward, slowly sweeping his eyes around the room. He makes note of the music box, mostly because it looks so out of place here. But it feels a little less out of place once he notices the picture sitting beside the mannequin.

What the hell are they doing here?

"It looks like... some sort of ritual... We should go." Before someone shows up and a picture of one of them ends up there instead. He does not like this.