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Post by ZigguratZag on Jan 30, 2021 17:59:13 GMT
Description: TV's dead. All you need to do is fix it. It can't be that hard. But the knocking at your door says otherwise. Outside, the waters are rising. _____ _____ InfoHi there, and welcome to this forum quest. If you're wondering, "What's a forum quest?", here's an explanation I typed up in the chat: I've wanted to make a quest for a while, and figured now was the time. Be warned that this is my first quest ever, so I have no quest experience, and I haven't planned the story out in too much detail. But it should be a blast! Hopefully! If you have a forum account, please help by voting or something. (And if you don't have a forum account, go make one... or just be a lurker, if you want.) Note: Part of why I'm doing this is to flesh out a world I've thought up. It's not a traditional PMD setting. It's weird, and more than a little morbid. Death, violence, odd religious themes, and generally unsettling things will feature. Moves and other battle mechanics won't matter much... probably. _____ 0. Character Creation You are a [] helioptile [] magnemite [] tynamo [] klink Your name is [] Torque [] Spline [] Write-in: Pick your own name for the main character. Any name a pokemon could have is fine, so go wild. (The main character isn't a former human, so keep that in mind.) Your gender is [] Write-in: Pick a gender. Magnemite and Klink are genderless, so I'll go with that if they're picked. _____ More Info
How voting works: I'll use a convention I've seen on other forums. If you want an option, reply with an X in its box. You can vote for as many options as you want.Canalave Library doesn't have a system to "like" posts. So if you agree with someone else's suggestion, just copy-paste it and post it again, [X] and all. In the end, I'll go with whatever gets more votes. I'll use a random number generator for tiebreakers. (EDIT: Since there aren't many people on this thread, I'll just try to incorporate every vote. I'll give more weight to options with more votes, though. Within reason.) Along with your votes, you can include the reasons behind your votes, or comments/feedback on the story, and so on. Discussion is good. And I'll still count your vote if you don't follow the formatting perfectly, so don't worry too much about it. _
I'll count the votes in a couple days. Maybe more or less, depending on how much response this gets. Seven days at most.
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Post by ZigguratZag on Jan 30, 2021 18:29:02 GMT
Info Post Here's an info post. It's conventional to include one of these, I think, and fill it up later as needed. {Spoilers for all of main story. Click to show.} Main character (you!)
Species: Helioptile
"...They can generate their energy from basking in the sun, so eating food is not a requirement."
Name: Torque
Gender: female
Level: 7
Ability: Solar Power
"Boosts the Sp. Atk stat in sunny weather, but HP decreases."
Moves: I'm sure she had moves once, but they have vanished from muscle memory. How unfortunate!
Partner
Species: Marill
"The end of its tail serves as a buoy that keeps it from drowning, even in a vicious current."
Name: Milan
Gender: female
Level: 5
Ability: Huge Power
"Increases the pokémon's Attack stat."
Moves: "Are moves one of your weird pokemon things? I have no clue."
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Post by SilverRockets on Jan 30, 2021 19:31:56 GMT
This looks fun! Here, let's see.
Pokemon:
[X] helioptile
Name:
[X] Torque
Gender:
[X] Female
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 1, 2021 15:36:17 GMT
Alright, it's been more than 24 hours without a reply. More importantly, I've noticed the viewcount has stopped increasing, so I don't think any new people will jump in. Let's get started! _____ 1. Flood WarningChosen: [X] helioptile "...They can generate their energy from basking in the sun, so eating food is not a requirement." [X] Torque [X] female _____ You are watching TV. This day, like every other day, the TV wires thread into your skull. This day, like every other day, its holy light is a comfort. You revere the TV. In your head, you compose paeans to its glory. Its radiance is beauty. You watch TV after you wake up. You watch TV before you fall asleep. You fall asleep in the TV-watching-chair and dream delirious TV dreams. You wake up and watch TV. It has been seventy-seven years since you left the chair. It has been seven-hundred and seventy-seven years since you left the house. You have no need for sustenance. The TV light feeds you. The TV dribbles divine words into your mind. You gorge yourself on its blessings. Her Holiness speaks directly to you through the signal. The TV's diamond screen is radiant. You hear water, but think nothing of it until it's too late. _ WE INTERRUPT YOUR BROADCAST TO BRING YOU A FLOOD WARNING.You blink at the screen. The broadcast has been interrupted. The wires stream only static, and your once-buzzing head is quiet. For the first time in millennia, you are devoid of light. You feel empty. "I don't like this feeling," you say. The TV beeps. HEAVY RAIN. RISING WATER LEVELS.Rain. You can't remember the last time it rained. This could be bad.
_
What do you do? [] Look. The westward window is your second light source, besides the TV. Its illumination is constant and unwavering. It is a source of great comfort. At least, it would be, but its light seems awfully dim right now. Maybe you should check the window and see what's happening? [] Listen. Rain patters against the walls. Distant thunder rolls. Beneath it all, you can just barely make out another sound—but what is it? [] Smell. Sure, your olfactory senses have atrophied from neglect. But you still have a nose! You could use it! [] They interrupted your broadcast? How dare they! As a customer, you are entitled to that broadcast! You should file a complaint or something! That'll show them!!! Shake your fists at the screen and demand your customer rights.
_____
Remember, you can vote for as many options as you want. I'll check back in a couple days.
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 1, 2021 18:08:28 GMT
Ohhh I really like this start!! And I'm very intrigued regarding this lil' TV enthusiast  Here's my choice: [X] They interrupted your broadcast? How dare they! As a customer, you are entitled to that broadcast! You should file a complaint or something! That'll show them!!!
Shake your fists at the screen and demand your customer rights. |
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 3, 2021 19:28:46 GMT
Again, more than 24 hours without a reply (thanks for your commentary, SilverRockets!) So: _____ They what? They did what? They interrupted the TV broadcast? This is unacceptable. The TV beeps. SEVERE FLOODING IMMINENT."You can't do this to me," you say. Beep. LIFE-THREATENING DANGER FOR THOSE IN OUTER ENVIRONS."You can't do this to me!" Beep. ALL CITIZENS TAKE SHELTER." You can't do this to me!"Where is my TV broadcast. For seventy-seven years i have been watching the exact same TV broadcast all this time and now you're telling me it's canceled? Because of a """flood warning"""? What's a flood, never heard the word in my entire life! You stupid idiot TV people! Give me my broadcast!" No response. You clench your fists. You inhale. "Give me my broaaadcaaaaaa—" The screen flickers. "Wait, what?" Beep. STORM MAY DISRUPT TV BROADCAST."No." STORM MAY KILL SIGNAL. TV MAY SHUT DOWN.Flickering intensifies. "No. Nononononononono—" The screen goes black. The TV wires rip out of your skull and trail behind you as you leap from your seat SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS. You bang on the TV with your fists: BANG BANG BANG. Spasmodically you writhe on the floor, repeating: "I need that broadcast! I need that broadcast!" over and over and over again. Nothing happens. You collapse embracing the TV, sobbing a dreadful, mournful sob that expresses the depth of your anguish and despair! What can you do without your broadcast? It was your life, your light, your love. Oh, woe is you! Woe is you! _ What do you do? [] Mourn your loss. Clutch at the corpse of your dearly beloved! Woe is you! [] Write-in: Do you have your own suggestions (maybe for a more... helpful action)? Post them!
______
Remember, you can vote for as many options as you want. This means you can also make as many suggestions as you want. |
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 3, 2021 23:46:30 GMT
Lol I'm really liking this character so far; and I'm intrigued by the idea of someone watching T.V. for 70 years. That's a lot of time! I'm a big media binger and I don't know if even I could do that.
As for the choice, how about something like this?
[X] This is unconceivable, it makes you so mad! Grab the T.V. and throw it as far away as you can! (Maybe this can make them look toward a window, to see what's happening outside?)
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Post by puph17 on Feb 5, 2021 1:44:43 GMT
I'll second Silver Rockets on that suggestion, chuck that TV out the window!
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 6, 2021 7:10:19 GMT
Been a couple days, so here goes! _____ You thought the agony would be unending. Forever you would despair over your loss, bereft of hope, bereft of love! But your clouded mind clears. Divine revelation arrives from the heavens. In a moment of stark epiphany, you realize: THIS WAS ALL THE TV'S FAULT. Yeah, if it wasn't such a piece of GARBAGE, it wouldn't have STOPPED BROADCASTING in the first place! Man, you hate that thing. How could it have turned on you like that, after centuries of your devotion? How could you have held the slightest modicum of admiration for such a soulless, treasonous, heretic? You're going to give it what it deserves. _ You pull your leaden limbs from the floor. Rain bangs on the walls. Bang. Bang. No matter. The important thing now is enacting revenge on your erstwhile companion. You would have liked for this to be a spectacularly cinematic moment. You'd heave the TV over your head. It makes a perfect arc as it sails into the sky, soon to be forgotten. A single tear falls from your cheek, and you give your former love a longing glance before you look away. Sadly, eons of TV-watching have atrophied your body. You're weaker than you used to be. You can still kinda move the TV, if you put all your strength in it, but it's awkward. Come on, though, TVs are heavy! It's not just your fault. It's the stupid TV's fault for being a stupid TV. And you'll have your retribution, even if the traitor fights against you to the very end. With much exertion, you tug the TV towards the window. It is a painful process, but the fire of betrayal fuels you. A great deal of the TV is also laying on the ground in pieces, which is helpful. After who-knows-how-long, you've finally reached your destination. You pump your fists and let out a jubilant war cry. Then you summon your strength. You reel yourself back and rush forward, to shove the TV away in one mighty blow!
"TAKE THAT, YOU TRAITOR!" The glass shatters easily. It's been ages since anyone touched up your home, so you're not surprised it's a little shoddy. You cheer as the TV drops into plunging waters, into unfathomable depths, and, huh. Why are there plunging waters and unfathomable depths outside your house? You can't even swim. You look out the remnants of the window. Rain lashes the world. Storm clouds obscure the horizon. Outside a roiling black sea pummels at the foundations of your home, and darkness engulfs all. Minimal light seeps out between the whorls of water-heavy vapor. A banshee wind wails. Bang. Bang. Water pours onto the floor. Puddles are already forming. As the clouds spread, the little light you have left diminishes. Bang. Bang.
_
What do you do? [] Run around your room in blind terror. Woe is you, woe is you! Why'd you have to forget how to swim... [] Write-in: Do you have your own suggestions (maybe for a more... helpful action)? Post them! _____ For this vote, I'll consider multiple suggestions and put in as many as I can. Be creative! Try not to do anything too stupid, though.
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 6, 2021 17:49:30 GMT
This is really neat and funny, honestly, I'm loving where the story is going As for the choice.... how about [X] Water... rain... water... RAIN!? Why is it raining so much!? It never rains so much! W-wait... didn't the T.V. say something about rain? I shouldn't trust that traitor's words but... Maybe there's something going on here. What was it that it had said? |
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Post by puph17 on Feb 9, 2021 8:24:20 GMT
This just gets better and better!
Suggestion for alternate path:
[X] Darkness? Hah! What a trivial inconvenience for a Heliolisk! Just use Flash to illuminate the darkness! Wait....how do you use Flash again?
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Post by SparklingEspeon on Feb 10, 2021 1:51:46 GMT
Just read up on this and oh my god it's amazing
I'll second SilverRockets' suggestion! Have to keep our MC one step ahead of impending doom, after all.
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 10, 2021 17:59:21 GMT
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Glad you're liking the story.
Sorry for the delay on this one.
_____
Is it getting dark? Well, easy to take care of that. You focus. Your frills spread wide to blast light into the darkness, to eviscerate every shred of shadow! Night shall shine as the day!
Which doesn't happen, because you've forgotten how to glow. Shouldn't that be easy? Even kids can do it. Something about... neural pathways... You wrack your brain, but find nothing.
Great.
You groan and sink against the wall. A very belated thought occurs to you: this could actually be serious. When was the last time it got this dark? When was the last time you couldn't see the sky? You could drown! Bad! Bad!
How much time have you wasted here? What had the TV said? Rain. Flood. Ancient words that trigger ancient brain cells buried inside your mass of TV neurons. You smush your head into the wall and clutch at memories. Think, think, think!
Myriad voices cry out from a distant age.
"Flood. Our dry bones cry out for water, and the heavens answer. The sins of the earth bleed into the sky, and the sky bleeds in turn. The world is washed away."
Associated memories: something about a tower? Something about a flood shelter? Something about "going up" because "water only rises to a certain level" but you can't remember where or when or who said all these things. You remember ruins, metallic rubble, twisted effigies of civilization, a wretched horror deep inside. More memories swell. They threaten to clutter you.
No. You must focus. You don't know where all that came from, but it means you should probably GET AWAY RIGHT NOW. Find a path of escape. The black waters are rising. They will fill the world. They will fill your room. So you need to get out of the room.
Your head spins. You haven't left the room in ages. Now, now of all times? But you have no choice.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Water laps beneath the window. You have to hurry. You run towards the door. You try the handle—it jiggles uselessly.
Locked.
Of course.
A robotic voice announces, "Motion trigger activated. MasterLock v1.0.8. Press one to start identity confirmation process. Press two to hear pre-recorded message. Press three for other. You haven't confirmed your identity, so you can't access the other options."
You notice a keypad above the handle. It contains the numbers one through nine.
This feels eerily familiar.
_
What do you do?
[] Press 1.
[] Press 2.
[] Press 3.
[] Press 4848918108187867 — Let me out, stupid door!
[] You don't have time for this. Smash the door! Or try to. It's far sturdier than the window, and you don't have a TV to help you this time.
[] Write-in: Any notes, tips, or other suggestions for our main character? There aren't many people here, so I figure opening up the board won't be too chaotic.
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 10, 2021 20:24:35 GMT
Ohhh very interesting, I wonder what the keypad was doing there  I recommend going for the [X] Press 4848918108187867 — Let me out, stupid door!
Love this so far! |
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Post by puph17 on Feb 12, 2021 8:03:27 GMT
[X] Press 4848918108187867 — Let me out, stupid door!
Though if I may throw in a second vote, I'll vote option 2, I'm curious what the pre recorded message is.
Keep up the good work!
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 12, 2021 17:55:09 GMT
You jab at 4. You are a first world anarchist rebel. You will not be restrained by this keypad's oppressive rules! Death to conformity! Also, you kinda need to get out as fast as possible. The robotic voice says, "I'm sorry. You haven't confirmed your identity, so you can't access Option 4." Aaargh! Just shut up! Why do you even exist! You press 8. "I'm sorry. You haven't—" 4 again. "I'm sorry. You haven't—" You press your hands into the keypad. The robotic voice stutters. "I'm s—I'm s—Op—In—I'm—" You bang your head against the keypad. "I'm—Op—In—Op—In—I'm—" You punch the keypad—ow, that hurt. You rub your hand. The voice says, "Emergency escape sequence activated. Enter escape code."
Wait whaaaat. You press a tentative 8. No response. Uhhh, 7? 8, 6, 7? "Incorrect passcode. Returning to menu. Press one to start identity confirmation process. Press two to blah blah blah—" Yes, you get it, you've heard this part already. But what was that? That emergency escape thing? If only you knew a passcode. If only you knew how to trigger that thing. Ugh. You flop onto the floor. It's getting dark. Rain splashes into slick puddles on the other side of the room. You can barely see the keypad now. Any longer and you'll have to feel at the numbers by touch. With no idea where to go next, you resign yourself to Option 2. "Option 2 selected. Playing pre-recorded message." Bzzt.You hear yourself. _ "Yeah hi. Torque here. All glory to Her Holiness."
She sighs.
"Soooo.
"I've made a decision. Taking into account the, ugh, utterly reprehensible state of the outer world, I have secluded myself in my room. I am not leaving.
"You hear me? I know you're listening. I am not joining you deplorables. Don't care what you do. You can't convince me. "The great day of wrath has come, none can stand, the waters are tumultuous, the forest encroaches, all these dumb stupid things, they no longer matter! Whatever! All of you are abhorrent. Repugnant. You live in a cesspool of inquity. Sin and corruption. Moral waterfall and destruction. "Bet you've noticed the padlocks by now. Chains. Bolts. Shackles. Keypad. I dare you, just try opening this door from the outside. I mean what I say. I used this MasterLock and everything, recorded this message. Maybe I'm the one listening to this message. Maybe you're me, listening to this. Pfffft. Nice. Don't leave, okay, future self. Not worth it. Don't bother with whatever they're doing. Don't talk to them, don't even look at their faces. Praise the Tower."
She takes a deep breath.
"Uh, if things get bad. You might actually have to leave. Good luck with that. It's not hard, it should be super easy and everything. Only a ditto could get through, but have fun finding one. You cowards won't put in the effort. Escape code also works, it's your favorite number and it only works from the inside. "Yeah, if you're not me, you're staying out. I don't care what you do, right? Go away. Don't talk to me. Not interested in what you have to offer. "There's no point in it. There's no point. No point in, no point in it all. You know." She trails off. Bzzt. "Message end," says the robotic voice. "Press one to start identity confirmation process. Press two to..." _ What do you do? [] Press 1.[] Press 3.
[] Activate escape sequence? You don't know which numbers trigger it, though. And you're not sure about the passcode. ((Suggest which numbers to press, if you go for this.))
[] Smash the door. Or try to. It's far sturdier than the window, and you don't have a TV to help you this time. [] Write-in: Any notes, tips, or other suggestions for our main character? _____ Again, thank you. I think I'll try for an every-two-days schedule. This means I'd update today, Sunday, Tuesday, etc. But no guarantees that I'll stick to it. |
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 12, 2021 21:54:58 GMT
lol, I really like Torque's past personality, all that flowery and poetic sass, it's wonderful! And a big contrast with how confused she is here in the present.
I'm also really intrigued by this whole Tower business, and the people or Pokemon she was running away from.
As for options, I think:
[X] Press 1.
Identifying herself might make things easier in the future.
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Post by puph17 on Feb 13, 2021 9:48:34 GMT
Hah! That's a great message to leave your yourself! I love how the disgust in Torque's voice comes through the message so well!
Hmm..... how about [X] Press 1
I think that's gonna be the fastest way out.
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Post by ZigguratZag on Feb 14, 2021 21:31:50 GMT
Rain falls. Bang bang bang, go the walls. "Option 1 selected. Beginning identity confirmation process." You wait with bated breath. "Vocal confirmation. Voice sample begins in three, two, one. Say: Are you actually trying to get in? I told you, it’s not going to work! Bet you don’t have a ditto with you, either." Bzzt."Are you actually trying to get in I told you it’s not going to work bet you don’t have a ditto with you either," you say, with a glance back at the window. Darker still. "Vocal confirmation success! Loading next identity check." The last vestiges of light fade from the room. "Eye confirmation. Stand next to the door. Position one eye next to the red blinking light. Eye scan begins in three, two, one." Bzzt.You barely have time to get into position. You stand impatiently, wondering what exactly is supposed to happen. Eye identification needs a camera, and we all know that cameras don’t work in the darkness and if you’re trapped in this room because the stupid TV took five minutes longer to move than you’d expected and cost you your last bit of light you will actually FREAK OUT.
Then the brightest light ever flashes straight into your retina. You scream. You jump back. You blink, dispelling afterimages. You rub at your eyes. "Eye confirmation success! Loading next identity check." Wait, it worked? Nice. "Personal questionnaire. Answer the following question: Wait do we seriously need one, that’s dumb. Okay, uh, favorite food?" Oh no, you actually need to think for this one. “Press one for: Cheri. Press two for: Kasib. Press three for: Coba. Press four for: Babiri. Press five for: Nomel. Press six for: Micle. Do I have to say all of the—. Press seven for: Uhhh, muffins? Press eight for: Ice cream? Running out of ideas. Press nine for: None because eating is stupid, are we done ye—. "Select answer after the buzz." Bzzt._ [] Write-in: What do you do? ((Pick an option, or do something else.)) |
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Post by SilverRockets on Feb 14, 2021 22:09:20 GMT
lol, imagine hearing recordings of yourself of like, a bunch of years ago and you realize you're kind of a dick. I love past Torque.
As for the option....
[X] Press nine. Past you didn't seem very enthused about any of the options, judging by the last comment. Why couldn't there be a question about your favorite T.V. show instead!?
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