∞ 01 24 ∞

[cruciblemods]

Good afternoon passen--if you can hear this--gers! This is C--ommander Orion--aptain Ganymede!

[how odd]

It's a beautiful day--don't know how long I can interrupt the trans--and with the ship functioning normally I thought we might enjoy a ship-wide celebration event.

[though the ship's intercom shows no one's image other than the captain's, it seems another voice is mixed in with his own]

We'll be using the h--I'm going to use a pulse package transmission and deliver it through the h--olo-suite technology to recreate an ancient Terran civilization! For any of you that would like to experience the glories of this long lost world, please visit the Enviro-dome any time during the coming w--my name, but the pulse will only last for a w-eek, where entertainment and food will all be provided!

I h--contain further instructions. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you before, but I h--ope to see you there!

This is Captain Ganymede, signing off!


Details

It seems that Commander Orion has made a reappearance. How? Why? To what end? Obtaining those answers is up to you, ladies and gentlemen. There's a task you and your characters must complete to progress further and you've only got a week to do it.

As of this announcement, the glitches all over the ship have disappeared. In fact, they disappeared the moment the commander's voice came over the intercom. Perhaps they were the result of his attempts to communicate? Either way, all ship levels have now returned to normal. The Enviro-dome, however, has taken on an entirely new appearance, that of Ancient Egypt. As all of you who experienced the winter wonderland that the dome became during the first cycle's last month, when unified as one environment the dome's interior is exceptionally massive. Good thing, as it now houses an incredibly realistic reproduction of the old city of Thebes. This isn't to say it's a very historically accurate reproduction, but it certainly feels real! The heat of the sun, the grit of sand, the rippling beauty of the Nile; if you hadn't used the door to the dome to get there, you'd think you'd gone back in time. In fact, it's so real it even smells and tastes real.

Yep, unlike the simulations up to this point, Thebes is fully interactive. Food and water are all the real deal and the throngs of people that inhabit the streets, markets, homes, temples, and palaces will look, sound, smell, and feel as solid as any of the passengers. Upon entering the simulation an automated voice will ask a passenger if they'd like any of the following: simulated funds to spend on food and entertainment, replicated costumes to wear to complete the experience, or a friendly Egyptian holo-person to pop up and give you a tour. Of course, even if passengers don't wear costumes or perfectly adhere to customs, the inhabitants won't notice. Despite the disturbing reality of Thebes, it remains an illusion controlled by the ship. Nevertheless, it's a massive, luxurious city with plenty to see and do; players are allowed to explore and experience with their characters as much as they'd like. For ideas, info, and so on, the Wiki article on Ancient Egypt is a good place to start. If reading's not your thing, there's a number of Hollywood and literary interpretations of Egyptian culture that would work just as well. ;D Like I said, it's not necessarily absolutely historically accurate, so you have some leeway.

So does this mean you can eat their food, sleep with their women, and kill a guy for fun? Why yes, yes it does. But a word of caution. Those committing crimes within Thebes will be automatically transported out of the simulation and back into their room on the ship. They will then be banned from Thebes for a day.

That's not a desirable state to be in, because somewhere within the simulated city, Commander Orion has managed to plant a message for passengers to find. Finding that message will be this plot's Quick-Time Event. The details:


• The message package is disguised as an ordinary item. I'm flexible as to what that item is, as long as the character in question has reached the right location. So if you'd like it to be a pot or a jewel, either is fine, as long as your character is in the right place!
• The message location has something to do with his name. Of course, it must be a location that can be found in an ancient Egyptian city (not necessarily just Thebes, seeing as it's not completely accurate to history).
• To obtain further clues as to the message's location, you - and your characters - may use any number of resources to do research. The ship's library does have books on Egypt!
• Attempts to enter and poke around a location you think might be right must be in an entry or log and labeled [Treasure Hunt]. You can make as many attempts as you'd like.
• The time limit is one week. On midnight CST next Friday (April 24), the simulation will end and the message will be lost.

I have faith in you guys, but in case we're having serious trouble, I'll post further clues within Riku's journal the day before the event ends, in case you'd like some sudden death guessing! In the event that someone gets the right location, I will comment to that entry or log with the mod journal with details as to what happens and where we go from there.

I wish all of you luck! If you have any questions about Thebes or the quick-time event, please ask them here!