Chapter 1

[thenine]

Who: OTA
Where: Quad
When: Week 1, Day 1 - Week 2, Day 1
Summary: Game launch prompts!
Restrictions/Warnings: Violence, blood, et cetera. For anything surpassing 'R' on a rating scale, please create your own log.
Notes: Please title your subject line in the following format -- Open / Closed | Date. OOC event information can be found here.

Quick Navigation
The Nine
The Company
Leith
True Leithians
Westies
Resistance
The RAC

The Nine

Hushed whispers and conversations behind sealed doors spread throughout Qresh, carrying with them rumor of the Lady Derrish's illness. Poisoned, some say, as they speak their quiet murmurs and the news travels like wildfire. It lights up the nobility with a new cause - there is no heir to the Derrish name. At least, none that is known. A surrogate mother carries the only Derrish child to be related by blood. She dwells on Leith, though her location is obscured to everyone who seeks her - both those who wish to help and those who would do harm. Some wish to procure the heir - whether following the warrant for his retrieval or hoping to gain favor with the Nine by gift or by blackmail. Some wish the heir dead, seeking to cause a power vacuum that could lead to a bloody war as families of the Nine scramble to gobble up Derrish land. All have backring that can be traced back to the nobility, each family pursuing their own agenda. 'False' heirs, those who claim to be related, or bastard children, either rise up in hopes of fortune or hide in fear of those who would stamp out the family name for good. On Leith there is said to be a hotel staffed by the most beautiful woman, run by a man who no one has ever seen. Only those with money or influence may stay the night at Blessed Branches, though anyone seeking fine wine and good company may occupy its lounge. Many come hoping to spend time with the hostesses, though the girls aren't known for taking bribes or slipping away for a 'good time'. It is here, in one of the premium guestrooms, that the surrogate heir and his mother are housed. The other women are unaware of her status - simply taking care of her as one of their own - and how much the owner knows is as difficult to pin down as he is. Any display of violence is sure to be noticed, as Company officials and RAC agents alike guard the building for significant pay. Getting in may be simple for some, but getting out is far more difficult. The mother's room is on the 10th story, with its few windows locked and curtains closed. As she approaches her delivery date, help comes and goes with frequency, but on no specific schedule. Criminals and RAC agents alike chatter in the streets of Westerley and Leith over just who, and where, this woman could be. Many assume she lodges with the surrogate clusters hidden on Westerley - heavily guarded by men and treacherous landscape alike. Others seek beyond the Quad, and some assume she's already dead. No matter the cause, no matter its difficulty, the rush to find the woman and unborn baby only grows. Some may consult information brokers, some may attempt to find their way into the genetic databases, some may rely on word of mouth, and some may lay in wait for others to do the sleuthing work before closing in on their target.

The Company

"We need to send a message," every Company employee receives the same directive, "Loud and clear." Rules are rules, and there is no room for disobedience - neither within nor outside of the Company. The citizens of Westerley have become more unruly than usual, taking out their frustrations with their lot in life on the Company and on society. Or so the directive says. It is for the good of the Company, and for those loyal citizens who keep their heads down and do their duty, to expunge the corrosive minds from society and extinguish the flames of a foolish rebellion. From prisoner guards to those selected to string criminals up for execution, to those who stand watch over the sizzling corpses (or soon to be corpses) belonging to symbols of the rebellion left out in the rain to die, to those in charge of door-to-door or man-to-man ID checks, every bit of available manpower in the Company is being used to secure the city. Some may begrudge their work, while others delight in the lax restriction on violence towards citizens. All should keep their heads down, lest they become yet another target for the efforts to 'increase security' in the city. A heatwave that brings with it Black Rain makes the job difficult and treacherous - stay out too long and you could get caught in a storm. Just the same as the local Westies, all of whom are more or less stranded in their homes - or the bars they passed out in the night before - everyone is scrimping by with whatever provisions remain. Only those Company officials lucky enough to live on Company property, a compound of barracks that provides middling levels of comfort, don't worry for their necessities. Travel through the tunnels may afford the few who know of their existence more mobility - the ability to help others, to stockpile what they need, or to make an impressive capture - but comes with its own dangers. From the culture that lives there to the increased presence of resistance groups making their safe-houses in the vast, winding network, some may decide that the potential dangers aren't worth the trip, and others may wish they had.

Leith

Every season brings a new batch of harvest workers—old, young, adventurous, desperate. But it doesn’t matter whether a worker has tended to the same hokk farm for ten years: when the limits of a work visa are reached, they must return to their planet of origin or face severe penalties. Sometimes, though, people slip through the cracks. Sometimes people change their genetic records altogether to make sure it happens. Whether it’s an individual who refuses to return to the cage of Westerley or a merchant willing to look the other way for off-the-books labor, visa law enforcement is critical to the Quad. Targets identified as “high risk”—those individuals who have a profile of criminal behavior or have given the Company reason to take a second look at their credentials in the past—are being routinely rounded up to ensure their genetic identities and visa information still coincide. Killjoys and Company enforcers are being deployed in equal measure to address this potential security concern in the days leading up to “harvest week”, the seasonal break where workers return home and a new batch of hopefuls arrives on Leith. For some, this can be a minor inconvenience, taking DNA samples and conversing with understandably irritable workers—for others, this could be a potentially fatal encounter and lead into Leith’s darker underbelly. For whatever reason a target has chosen to stay or change their identity, they have done so at great and calculated risk. They will fight without discrimination to stay hidden and maintain their secret--as, at times, will their employers. Maybe they've decided to pursue a more lucrative line of work, using Leith's fertile soils to grow illicit substances, or perhaps they've simply decided that their fate should be in their own hands, and not that of a visa agency. Either way, they won't go quietly.

True Leithians

Gunfire is lost under the sound of the rain. The pitter-patter of acidic water beats in tandem to Company rifles and shouts, the flash of grenades like fireflies in the distance. The Family Registry Bureau, well-guarded and set on the outskirts of Old Town, shakes and shudders with each successive boom, debris falling as the battle escalates. “For Leith!” A single voice rises above the commotion and for a moment, the night is still, the incessant rain seeming to take heed, as if the clouds themselves have paused to see what will unfold. The building collapses. Fire billows out in violent plumes, snaking through the twisted metal and broken glass. Survivors on both sides disperse like scattered marbles. By morning, the dead have been dissolved to bone by the rain, and Company enforcers are out to ensure that scavengers don’t take their pick of the remaining materials. Officials are tight-lipped about what, if anything, was taken during the attack, but word on the street spreads fast—there’s a man hunt and hundreds of genetic identities are up for grabs. Criminal activity in Eulogy sees an all-time spike as bartered goods come in, though not everyone in Eulogy or the criminal world takes kindly to stealing from their own. Nor do they care for the sudden attention drawn to their illicit little den, making it a hot bed of Killjoy and undercover Company activity. But Eulogy isn't the only place to see unwelcome guests. On and off Westerley, news of the attack spreads, and agents of each organization race to come out on top. Whether it’s a Killjoy tasked with locating the perpetrators, a True Leithian conspirator on the run, a Westie out for revenge and securing their future in the Seventh Generation accord, or a Company Enforcer on orders of execution off planet—everyone has someone’s number, and time is quickly running out for each of them.

Westies

The heat hangs over Westerley like a blanket laid down over a fever, suffocating and addling. Sign posts flicker erratically between Company propaganda and storm advisory warnings. Old Town’s streets, normally buzzing and bursting with life, are like a ghost town. The few stragglers that remain move like worms, slowly and carefully, their bodies bowed over the carts they push as if the sun has melted away their will to walk. In the square of the town, a group of well-clad Company men and women hurriedly work, bolting modern day stocks into the concrete. Prisoners, red jumpsuits and heads covered in black shrouds, are roughly shuffled between the soldiers as they’re chained and bound to the stakes. Only once they’re secured are they allowed to see the light of day—for the first and last time in years. The squadron commander, a stalwart woman, takes up the intercom on her truck, her voice booming through each sign post in Old Town when she speaks. “Westerlens, for high treason and threats to the public good, these prisoners are hereby brought to this place of execution where they shall be exposed to the elements until dead. By order of the Company, serving the Quad.” Seconds later, the sirens start. The soldiers finish their work with haste and pile into their vehicle. The sky, moments before overbearingly bright, disappears under inky shadow, bruised green and red as violent clouds spread out like reaching fingers. The storm rolls in without mercy or pause, enveloping the light of the day by visible inches. Acidic rainfall begins to pelt down, not lightly, not drifting, but in a hard, unrelenting stream. Anyone caught within it has but hours to survive, and moments to escape disfiguring injury. The storms will rage for three days with few breaks in between. But the environment is hardly the only, or even the worst, thing Westies have to worry about.

Resistance

The rebellion suffered a crushing blow. Of course, rebellions in Old Town are used to that--but with key leaders gone, Resistance members are scattered like grains of sand across glass, rolling further and further apart. Some individuals seek to take the power vacuum as their own chance at power, but they're met with staunch rebuttal, splitting this already fragile organization into smaller and smaller cells. Under the cover of the acidic storms, the remaining members of the Resistance take to the undercity, whispering into the ears of the discontent and angry. Follow the branch that's extended to you, they say, and you'll find a new place to grow roots. And so those roots do grow, down walls, on pieces of passed paper, across the hands of those who harbor dissent. It's a symbol, a living, growing map, of a new haven. Innocuous to those who don't know what it means, symbolic and religious, but to those who seek out its meaning? They'll delve to the very deepest parts of the undercity, a place manned only by those wearing the yellow and gold of the Scarbacks. There, a secure military bunker is hidden beneath the layers of Old Town, lost to all but the original blueprints of the city. Its concrete walls hold the barest bones of supplies, but there's potential, a skeleton upon which the rebellion can build its strength and muster the will to stand again. Finding the bunker, though arduous, isn't the hardest part. Getting in? That will take connections, charisma. Trust. The Resistance is in awful short supply of that last right about now.

The RAC

The RAC, as ever, maintains its neutrality and follows its singular mandate: the warrant is all. But that isn't to say that there can't be a little fun in the process--between serving out warrants issued on behalf of the other factions and singular individuals, the top teams within the Quad will receive a special directive. Black Warrant For all teams, whether temporarily formed for the sake of pursuit or permanently aligned, this presents a unique opportunity to compete against their fellow RAC agents. All manner of subterfuge is encouraged, although directly attacking your fellow Killjoys will receive at least one bad review on social networking apps. But while killing your competition isn't allowed, making their life impossibly difficult and taking the prize for yourself? That's the very definition of the game. This is a competitive warrant, open to all Killjoy teams with a level 4 agent or higher. Your task is simple in description but far from it in nature: find and secure an heir for Land Derrish before your opponents. The catch (there's always a catch, isn't there?) -- you'll be fighting off more than your compatriot Killjoys. Criminals and mercenaries will be gunning for the same targets, and there's a mountain of bureaucracy standing in your way to figuring out who is a legitimate heir, if one exists at all. Your time is short* and your competition is fierce. May the best team win. *Week 1, Day 2 - Week 1, Day 5

Comments

[slotted]

[ leo's in the middle of boxing things, but he drops what he's doing to tend to the new customer. ]

You make it sound like this is a bar.

[ ... ah, whatever happened to "welcome to CRAFT, how may i help you today?" ]

[brickinthewall]

Anywhere's a bar if you try hard and believe.

[She saunters up to a high chair at the bar. She doesn't sit as so much leans on one leg and lets the other hang loose.

Well, the place is sort of stocked at least.]

Cheap, easy, bottled. What'dya got?

[slotted]

None of that here, I'm afraid.

[ that earns a chuckle out of him, though. the cafe is rather fancy and less like a pub, but they do serve alcoholic... coffees, if that's her style. ]

Whiskey with coffee, how's that sound?

[brickinthewall]

[She looks fancy, hell she was fancy once, but she's got cheaper tastes.

At least she can flash a bit of a grin at the... bartender? Sure.

Hanna shrugs off the off-black military jacket, oversized in all aspects, yet somehow, unequivocally hers. The faded patch on her shoulder reads KING in massive block letters.

Now she certainly looks even less like the sort of patron that could pay at this place, what with the tank top she wears that reveals her myriad of tattoos.]

More whiskey, less coffee?

[slotted]

[ you know, they're closing up soon anyway. why not? he'll just charge it as a regular coffee and just give her a glass of whiskey in a short glass. ]

On the house.

[brickinthewall]

[And just like that, he's pretty much off her shit list permanently. Not that he was on it but you know...]

You just want a nice tip, don't you?

[She's joking, obviously, what with the smirk and all.

Her hand curls around the whiskey. The glass feels cools for a moment underneath her overly warm hands.]

Anything good happen here or same old customer service hell?

[slotted]

[ the joke isn't lost on him, which is why he humours it. ]

They don't give tips to people like me.

[ being a westie and all... not to mention, being an elster. ]

And you'll have to tell me what good means to you first.

[brickinthewall]

Good thing I don't give a shit about that.

[She takes a swig of the scotch now. Killjoy rules: don't get attached.

King rules: fuck that.]

Spurned lovers, secret meetings. That sort of thing. Maybe a drug deal or two if that sort of thing happens.

[slotted]

[ that actually gets a laugh out of leo. ]

That stuff doesn't happen here.

[ which is a lie, but he hasn't been given any reason to tell the truth just yet. ]

[brickinthewall]

You're telling me this place is all saints?

[She scoffs before switching to take a swig of the coffee.]

Hard to argue a free drink.

[She knows it's shit. After all, she's the living proof of the cooked ways of Leith.]

[slotted]

[ ... yeah, alright. even as a joke, that isn't funny at all. ]

Guess my sense of humour isn't appreciated here.

[brickinthewall]

[She's struck a nerve and if she were the better version of herself, she'd attempt some kind apology.

Instead, she resorts to taking another drink of the coffee.]

Being appreciated isn't all it's cracked up to be.

[Green eyes focus on him, narrowing slightly.]

You can keep doing whatever you were doing if you want. Just needed some quiet from the riot out there.

[slotted]

[ no...... he wants to be appreciated, even for his awful sense of humour... it would be nice to feel accepted, even for a little while. ]

Well, if you need a conversation, I'll be right here.

[ he waggles his eyebrows once before turning to grab a cup and clean it up. some people up and leave now, that there's more silence in the cafe. it truly is quiet and peaceful, save for the fancy elevator music playing. you really wouldn't think some underground business happens here.

then again, it only happens when leo's around. ]

[brickinthewall]

[She chuckles shortly at his eyebrow waggle. Yeah, that's probably why he's a bartender.

The elevator music kind of irritates Hanna. They only thing that really put her mind at ease was playing an instrument. That's in short supply, sadly.

She stays quiet for a while, mulling over the day's events, what she already knew, what she hopes to find, so on. The coffee's drained by now, and she nurses the alcohol.]

You need better music.

[She finally says at length as she starts to rummage for a card.]

[slotted]

I can't change that, [ he looks up at one of the speakers in the cafe and laughs softly. it's more like a puff of breath than anything else, because showing an extravagant amount of emotion just isn't in him. ]

I'm stuck with it every day, you know.

[brickinthewall]

I thought I had a shit life.

[Ah, there it is. Card being a pesky little bitch. She slides the card on the bar.]

I might do you a favor and get you some real music. That's depressing me.

[slotted]

[ leo isn't one to curse, especially while on the job, but this time, he thinks it's okay. ]

You don't know what a shit life is.

[ it's more of a joke than anything else, because while leo's had a tough life being an elster and all, it's not something he wishes to talk about. ]

And... this is for?

[brickinthewall]

Mm, pretty sure I do.

[But she drops it, summarily. If she says too much, well. Eyes and ears. She can't let on to her true purpose, anywhere. She's just getting started on her long mission.]

Eye for an eye.

[There's not much else on it, outside of the word PROMETHEUS stamped in all caps. It's a name that's been thrown around, especially associated to violence, and death. A Killjoy too good at her job, but a rash streak to go with it.]

You need a Killjoy on your side, you look me up. First quiet I've gotten in a while. [A beat. Not a good person, but not one to leave debts unanswered either.] How much for the coffee?

[slotted]

[ he takes the card and holds it up in between his pointer and middle fingers before flipping it a couple of times, then putting it in his pocket. he doesn't read the card's contents just yet, as he feels it's rude to do so in front of her. ]

Appreciated. [ he doesn't look at her when he says it, too. ] And the drink is free. Think of it as a welcoming present.

[ by which he expects her to not be a stranger and show up every now and then from now on. ]

[brickinthewall]

A welcoming present? From Leith?

[She drinks a little more.]

I'm from here, you know. [She sniffles slightly. Kind of nice to have an actual conversation with someone she doesn't want to kill immediately.] One of those big fuckin' houses way out back. [She points in a general direction of... somewhere, she's not really up to thinking about the difference between north and south.] If it's still there. [She focuses on him again.] You got a name or do I gotta call you free drink man?

[slotted]

[ ah... he can't tell if that was a joke or not, but he chuckles either way. ]

Not from Leith, but think of it as "hey, that guy gave me free coffee. I should visit him again some time," kind of thing. [ then he realises what he just said probably sounds creepy, so he immediately takes a few steps back metaphorically. ] I'm not trying to pick you up or anything.

[ that was awkward. ]

Elster. [ force of habit, but he usually doesn't say his last name unless he really has to. ] I mean— Leo. Leo Elster.

[brickinthewall]

As long as we're clear that you're not trying to pick me up.

[She shakes her head, a little amused.]

King. [That's about all he'll get because that's about all she ever gives anyway.] Kinda like Seal, but not as great. [... What a weird reference, and yet, so immediate and obvious to her.] Good to meet you, Leo Elster.

[And she means it.]

[slotted]

[ he narrows his eyes and cants his head a bit, confused. ]

Seal...?

[brickinthewall]

Bad joke. Don't worry about it.

[She sighs shortly before draining the last of the glass.]

Hopefully I didn't keep you from anything after this.

[slotted]

You could at least explain.

[ he then lifts the plate that he's now wiping. ]

By all means, please distract me. This is boring.