The Digital Frontier.

[powersthatbe]

THE DIGITAL FRONTIER
April 5th-May 17th

Welcome to the Grid. Many cycles ago, the Grid was inhabited by Cryptos, a set of programs which lived in isolation, developing their own strange system architecture, rumors of which were the wonder of the Network. But something the Cryptos built took on a life of its own: a digital cancer, a virus which purged the Grid of all recognizable digital life-forms, leaving only ruins and terrifying monsters called Automata. For the good of the Network, the Grid was sealed off, locked away behind many firewalls.

But time went on, and other programs developed more advanced protocols. Curious about the knowledge of the Cryptos, they sent two groups of programs to try and recover any data they could from the Grid. The first group formed The Partition - a secure area, reformatted and isolated from the rest of the Grid by the finest security the Network can offer. The Partition guards all port access to the rest of the Network. If there’s a security risk, the programs there - Defenders - won’t hesitate to purge the whole Grid, no matter what data would be lost.

Outside the Partition, on the edge of the corrupted Waste Lands, are the recovery programs - Miners. They sift the code of the old Grid, looking for valuable data artifacts and reconstructing them, fighting Automata, risking the corrupting of their own data, or even de-resolution, in order to restore what the Cryptos lost.

Every program on the Grid has both Purpose and Priority - a function it’s meant to execute, and the authority to do it. But as the Miners working the Frontier recover more and more code, their Purpose - discovery - and the Defenders’ - protection - come into conflict. And the Defenders have the Priority - their root administrator has Priority 0, where the leader of the Miners has only Priority 1. A program of lower station is unable to deny or resist direct orders from a superior, and that’s where the trouble starts.

The paranoid Defenders have begun to refuse access to the network, except to those programs willing to risk the integrity of their code and show their ability to defend themselves in the ancient Games - lethal gladiatorial combat which tests the parameters of a program to destruction. The Defenders reason that any Miner who can defeat their security could stand firm against Automata intrusions as well… but although this keeps things secure, it also leaves the Miners trapped on the edge of the Waste Lands, and lately, a rebellion has been brewing, low-Priority programs willing to defy authority and take over the Partition themselves. Some say that attitude itself is proof of Automata corruption…

But then, at last, there’s a breakthrough. The Miners have found an intact data structure, unmistakably the system architecture of the Cryptos, hidden beneath loads of random junk data. And when they restored it, they found Cryptos waiting within, waiting in stasis for the chance to reclaim their system for themselves… and another group of programs, mysterious Variables without Purpose or Priority, totally unrecognized by the system. Even the Cryptos aren’t sure what they are…

The Partition claims they’re disguised Automata, and the rebel programs believe the Variables are free algorithms who might be the best hope to liberate the Miners from the Defenders’ restrictions. The future of everything the Miners have worked for hangs in the balance…

Exploration Mechanics | Glossary | Casting Call | Skills | Map | Calendar | Player Resources | Questions | Plotting

Comments

REVIVED CRYPTO

[morbirdinterest]

Shuu will be infiltrating as Isa, the Revived Crypto. Before the Cryptos entered their stasis, he preferred to wander the Grid alone in study and contemplation. He interfaced with other Cryptos very rarely, and tries to hide his Priority 1 status as much as possible. Because he was so solitary, his exact Purpose remains largely unknown. However, given his nature and explorations, it seems to have been to analyze, catalog, and archive every bit of the Grid. He had a particular interest in anomalies and experiments (the more dangerous the better), and was known for having a particular skill in coding quarantine structures and other barriers.

A stiff and formal personality, he is unused to interfacing with large groups of programs (really, other programs at all) and is not sure what to make of the Grid's current inhabitants. His interest in them is driven in small part by intellectual curiosity and in large part by a deep need to explore the upper right quadrant of the Waste Lands. Isa's aware that he's not able to fulfill that goal without aid, especially significantly more knowledge of the Waste Lands than he possesses.

As such, he'll be turning to the programs now living in the Grid for help. And the more he learns about their ways, the easier it will be for him to find the help he needs.

Miners: He is interested in what the Miners have learned about the Waste Land, as well as their methods of recovery. He is also interested in recruiting or persuading Miners to help him explore... Work that he'd be willing to pay for using his incredible coding abilities. (How do personal shields and armor sound?)

Defenders: He is wary of them but, for now, accepts their presence as part and parcel of the Grid's current strange state. As such, he's interested in the faction's origins, purposes, and practices...but considers himself beyond their authority.

Variables: They are abominations with neither right nor reason to exist. He wants to know everything there is to know about them.

[combattente_auditore]

Oooooooooooh? Colour me intrigued. :D

[stopinthenameofawe]

Yes! Can't tell you why exactly for her interest/general good feelings, but if they would let her be friends with them she's all for it.

Re: REVIVED CRYPTO

[willyousee]

Miner fascinated by Cryptos whose Purpose revolves around analysing Crypto and Animata artifacts checking in! He sort of probably comes as part of a package deal with his twin sister/female half, but I bet we could wrangle some small separations too. How would Shu like a shy fanboy with a thirst for knowledge and a good idea of some of the recovered Crypto artifacts?

[upcard]

oh my god yes.

THEY'LL BE SURE TO GRAB HIM AND MAKE LIFE HARD

[morbirdinterest]

Sounds like fun! Isa would...probably not really know how to handle having a fanboy, to be honest. |D But he'd love to pick ADM's brain about what he knows about the Automata, so they've definitely got reasons to interact and share knowledge. :>

I'm fine threading with ADM alone and with his sister, as Isa would be interested in their nature as a repurposed administrator for sure. Anomalies and experiments and strange things are his favorite.

[knightceties]

It's hard out here for a Priority 12 :'|

[betrayedblade]

1.) Can stealthy programs "turn off" their circuits to hide for a short amount of time? (example: Tron in the opening sequence Evolution)

2.) Along similar lines, can stealthy programs temporarily force a change of color upon their circuity? (example: Flynn in the original TRON film [though he's a User so...you know, idk]; Tron in Betrayal preforms a similar action that hides his appearance to be that of a red guard program though)

3.) And most importantly (for Giovanni anyway), can the Assassin hidden blade be present in the form of a gauntlet that creates a lightblade when activated? :'D

[detectivewonder]

Yes; not without specialized equipment; and yes.

[betrayedblade]

Awww yeaaah. Thank you!

Damian Wayne (Robin V)

[earlybird]

FIRST JAUNT! YEAH!

Damian's going to be an Investigator (Variable) this round, so that he can fully appreciate his first Robin Solo Title adventure and get a solid grasp of how Jaunts go.

Since he's a freshman to all this and unfamiliar with most of the playerbase (outside of whoever I throw him at in the newest mingle >:D), as well as being an arrogant little punk, he's going to be pretty determined to Do His Own Thing. He's not that interested in playing at being a native program to fit in under the radar, and will likely turn up his nose at initially joining a Faction.

As far as plotting goes, some ideas:

+ What Would Batman Do?

While he may not necessarily sympathize all that much with the Miners (at least at first), he would see the Defenders as a corrupt authority. ICly, once learning the situation, he'd be most motivated by any opportunity to get into the Partition and do a little spying (and maybe a little take-down! Because sneaking and stake-outs get boring, let's be real), and/or by protecting Miner programs from aggression (from Defenders, or Automata, etc.).

Potential CR:

- Breaking into the Partition somehow to collect information and/or give them a little hell (probably would hone right for the Prime Defender, since he's the big boss)
- Protecting a Miner from attack, or being convinced to act as escort/guard for a group searching the Wasteland
- Working (poorly) with a partner to do any variation of the above

+ The Games

I really, really want to find an excuse to toss him in the Games and let him wreak a little havoc on the competition (no killing, however), and to find out first-hand how Miners are essentially forced into deadly gladiator games just for the opportunity to win certain privileges and liberties. Nothing would put him solidly on the side of the Miners faster, I think. Kid don't put up with that kind of barbarism.

Potential CR:

- Going versus against another Program in the Games! Lightcycles and Disc Wars both right up his alley
- Potentially interrupting a Game to save a Program from being derezzed

I am also totally up for tossing around any other ideas!! And if you wanna have your peep hook up with my peep for some tag times but don't know how to get that rolling, o h m y g o s h let me know and I will brainstorm with you. I'm an ideas man. I have many ideas.

Edit: Also! I can be found at nevolition for more plotting -- go ahead and hit me up there!

[combattente_auditore]

All she has to do is butter up ADM - EV3 tends to just follow her twin and only step in if things are getting dicey/fishy.

[stopinthenameofawe]

She will certainly try!

[willyousee]

Oh yes. Very yes. Especially if that actually removes the corruption from the attack. That would save a lot of Programs from deresolution and he's sure both the miners and the defenders would love to know about that.

[willyousee]

If she's in an alliance with the Defenders, she must be good. The most gullible Program ever. He's a little shy until you get him talking about his finds, but depending on how she acts towards him he'll probably be fond of her. Maybe when he finds an automata remain, he brings it to her when he's done analyzing it?

[dalectable]

You can't get much stranger in experiments than this split program - one of whose halves would glitch horribly when kept too far from her male half. <3

EV3 will be wary as always of everyone but she will tag along with ADM in his fanboying to keep an eye on things and to make sure no funny business is going on.

[neverfeltthatway]

Hi, Rose! Meet your Lieutenant!

Priority 3, a very vocal and passionate voice for exploration and excavation, recruiting and leading others into the wasteland, and doing everything he can to learn from and protect the cryptos.

So it sounds like since Rose doesn't get out into the field as often as she'd like, Armin goes in her place.

[rosewater_path]

That sounds about right! She's grateful for a Lieutenant. For her, the thrill of the unknown seems to be more of a motivator than care for the Cryptos, but otherwise they seem to have similar attitude and outlook.

[willyousee]

I'd love to have them interact at least a little! ADM's purpose revolves around learning more about the Cryptos and Automata, so to meet a Crypto in person is kind of like meeting your favorite rock star. And he's never seen a function like Lady before - he'd love to analyze her - so he's fairly likely to at least trail around like a shy fanboy a little, if that's okay with you.

[neverfeltthatway]

Awesome.

Any thoughts for their relationship? Strictly professional? Or do they consider each other close friends (or whatever the program equivalent is)? Something else?

[thezerothlaw]

Yes.Yes totally I want all of this. <3

[rosewater_path]

Mentor-student?

[neverfeltthatway]

Sure!

[willyousee]

He also sort of comes with his twin, EV3, most of the time - is that okay?

[thezerothlaw]

It's totally fine. The more the merrier.