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CONFLUENCE 22
A Confluence, capitalized, is the converging of one or more supernatural forces.
Wherever you were, whatever you were getting up to back home—it doesn't matter anymore. One moment you're standing, laying down, sitting, getting shot at—the next, you're falling. Lightning crackles and thunder booms, and you grit your teeth and brace for impact.
Only it doesn't come.
Vines shoot up from the earth to catch you, gently grasping your limbs and gingerly lowering you to the ground. Above you the sky is a riot of light and color, purple lightning streaking across the sky. Everywhere it hits seems to come alive.
You may hear the FARMERS, catch some idea of the disaster that's striking in Little Love, but it won't be long before newcomers find themselves elsewhere between the blink of an eye - ARCADIA greets them warmly, with STARSTRUCK stepping out to offer a hand to those who may be confused on where they've ended up.
Whatever way you've arrived, you're here now. Welcome to the world of Metaheroes.
Upon arrival, all newcomers will eventually be directed to Arcadia, which is located near Excelsior. This community has an unusual history for some of the Starfallen, but for the wider world, it's simply an AI-generated, AI-run community put together to offer metahumans a place to call home. Unconditionally (for the most part). There are two ways to get to Arcadia: through a building designated as a transport/teleporting point in Excelsior, or through the front door off the outskirts of the city proper. Either way is acceptable.
All newcomers will be greeted by an AI named Virgil. Friendly and welcoming, Virgil will do everything they can to help someone adjust and feel comfortable. Their goal is to help metahumans and Starfallen alike have a place to stay, and their housing complex acts as that for many. Always adjusting and always changing, Arcadia is an important resource, and it's helped along by funding from Winters Industries.
Virgil will provide everyone the rundown they might need, as well as their new living quarters. These quarters are fully adaptable to the needs of its occupants — aesthetically and otherwise. If someone needs special conditions to live, Virgil will work alongside the AIs that directly run Arcadia to help someone find what they need.
Arcadia offers additional resources to its' Starfallen occupants. If anyone's eager to brush up on their knowledge of this world, they can sit through a bunch of (only a little boring) informational videos. For anyone unused to powers, Virgil has designated training centers. However, all training centers are unavailable to metas who aren't affiliated with a Guild. All newcomers are recommended to join a Guild as soon as possible to receive additional support beyond what Virgil themselves is able to offer.
After settling in, all Arcadia occupants receive a credit card to manage their expenses (this card is typically intended to help someone buy food, clothing, and other necessities). It's very apparent that these stipends are provided by Winters Industries and not Virgil.
Finally, all occupants are advised to say away from the dinosaur exhibit.
CLUB SHINDANExcelsior has always had a hell of a nightlife. There are constantly new clubs and parties popping up all over the city - and tonight is no different. Club Shindan is not a brick and mortar club, it's an open air party experience.
The owner and DJ, DJ Diagnosis, is a devoted member of the Dreamers of the Willow Maiden. He's all about people using their free time to embrace the chaotic good of the universe, and so he travels the country throwing these pop-up parties. Club Shindan events are always packed, people are turned away at the doors, and the chance to attend is highly sought after. Many people find themselves turned away at whatever serves for the doors, but given the DJ and owner's position as a metahuman himself, he makes sure that all his fellow metas get a fast pass inside. Younger metas are also welcomed - though they'll find the bartender seems to be able to detect their true age, regardless of any fake IDs or convincing they try to pull on them.
As for the owner? Well, his power is more...one of suggestion.
When partygoers step through the gates and enter Club Shindan's space, they'll find a paper mysteriously appearing inside their pocket. At random points throughout the night, DJ Diagnosis will call for people to check it. The paper, once unfolded, will list something it THINKS the holder NEEDS. This could be something deep, a reflection of where their life is at its' current point, or it could be complete nonsense. The paper is impossible to get rid of, and will reappear in pockets even if trashed, burned, or otherwise disposed of, and it will change throughout the night.
Whatever the "diagnosis", you're going to start feeling the urge to follow along with it. Did it demand a self care day? Time for some self-care. Is it asking you to let your walls down? Be ready for some public vulnerability. Is it suggesting meditation? The dance floor is a perfect place for that, isn't it?
Better hope it's something relatively normal.
MISSIONSThe headquarters of the Guardian Alliance are easy to find. It’s located in one of the taller and more ornate skyscrapers of Central City
The first floor is something of a public space. There’s a small museum dedicated to the Alliance’s most famous exploits, standees of famous heroes for tourists to snap selfies with, and even a little gift shop! For metas, though, the real business starts upstairs. You’ll have to check in with a receptionist, who will unlock the elevator to HQ proper. There’s not a lot of visible security beyond that, but you still get the feeling that any kind of trouble here wouldn’t end well for the troublemakers.
The Guardian’s Club is the central hub of the headquarters. It’s an open and sunny lounge area with shining white walls and floors. The furniture is modern, in bright primary colors, and there’s a high ceiling that allows for people of any size, or those who just want to fly around for fun. Off to one side is a large games area - the main attraction is the large pool table, but there’s also some board games, co-op video games, a snack bar, and even a DDR machine. Bonding with your fellow heroes is a great thing!
Outside of this area is where you’ll find the mission board. It’s a modern touchscreen display, on which Alliance members can tap their member ID, input mission preferences, how many they intend to take out with them, and receive a mission.
Where the Guardian Alliance’s headquarters gleams, The Society’s headquarters is much darker. The two buildings are actually quite close to each other. Entering here, you’ll find a similar reception desk where your credentials must be verified before going into the headquarters proper. Security here is far more visible, with clear cameras on the walls and buff guards, often with visible powers such as rocky skin or hands that crackle with lightning, posted nearby. You have to imagine, though, that the real safeguards here are the ones you can’t see.
Inside the Society Lounge, the furnishings are classy in a far more toned-down sense. The furnishings are dark wood, with chairs and long couches upholstered primarily in reds and violets. Here, there’s a full bar! According to the sign posted above it, however, any disorderly conduct within the Lounge will be swiftly dealt with.
The mission board is a sleek electronic display posted on the back wall of the lounge. It’s quite high-tech, updating itself regularly. You can use the touchscreen to request a job. After inputting one's member ID and the amount of people they intend to take along with them, it will assign out tasks based off of what it thinks they will be able to handle. But be careful; who gets assigned what is all public information, and it sure would be a shame to fail.
Please fill out the form and post it below our MISSION REQUESTS header.
CHARACTERS INVOLVED:
GUILD: What guilds are the characters affiliated with?
REQUESTED DIFFICULTY: Easy/Medium/Hard
REWARD REQUEST: Is your character after money, or a specific item?
LIMITATIONS: What do you not want your character to get assigned? Please note we are happy to offer new missions if our initial offer doesn't work!
➢ Welcome to the first Confluence after the world changes have settled! We've outlaid most of the changes on our STATE OF THE GAME for November.
➢ All Starfallen will be granted a place at Arcadia, though no one is required to take that spot. Everyone who decides to live there will be provided with a stipend, as well as fully customizable living quarters.
➢ The effects of the note provided in Club Shindan can last for up to 24 hours if it's their last prompt of the night. They can be as short-lived as wanted. Feel free to find or make your own fun diagnosis generator on https://en.shindanmaker.com/!
➢ Investigations into the owner will not yield any information beyond baseless rumors and the DJ Diagnosis moniker. His power is known, him organizing the event is, but his face, what he looks like, and where to find him when he's not spinning tables is not. He seems to simply disappear into the crowd when not being perceived.
➢ Guild members are expected to participate in missions at least once monthly. However, this does not have to be the missions offered on this post and can be handwaved. PCs are also welcome to switch missions between themselves for one that better suits, if their monthly assigned one won't work for them.
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No, it doesn't seem to have disrupted our plans. Some of my hobbies are simply a bit more illegal than they used to be.
[He assumes his arson friend will catch his meaning. The arson was already illegal but magic fireballs didn't used to be.]
And yourself?
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Nothing from the timeline changing... at least not yet, anyway.
Although once the confluence hit, I did get pulled back home, lived out a few months, and then got dropped back into Central City at about the same moment I left. [ He frows a bit. ] That was... disorienting.
But I think that was just a confluence thing, not a timeline thing.
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Did you... remember this world, when you returned to your home?
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Except... I did come back with some extra powers, and a katana. Stuff I gained on my old world and brought back with me.
[ He pauses, then eyes Sephiroth's katana. ]
Actually, I was kind of wondering if you'd teach me how to fight with it.
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[It lines up with what he's heard before. Hopefully a Confluence never sends him home.]
You gained a sword but don't know how to use it? Did it belong to someone else?
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[ That's the best way to explain it, anyway. ]
It was forged by my... my grandfather, a long time ago.
[ There's no fondness in his voice when he says this, and a hint of discomfort. Dylan has no pleasant memories of Knull. ]
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...perhaps congratulations are in order. One doesn't typically inherit from the living.
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There was definitely celebrating. He wasn't a popular guy.
So... how about it? Willing to show me how to use a katana? I know how to fight with a broadsword, but this is so different.
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[He shouldn't have been popular!]
...and certainly, I don't mind it. You wouldn't be the first student I've taken on here.
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[ He wouldn't mind some classmates somewhere besides Lofty Heights! ]
Who else are you teaching?
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David and I have a regular session.
And... Tina.
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That's cool. Only two... sounds pretty exclusive. Proud to make the cut.
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[Apart from... being seen carrying a sword. But that's just being armed!]
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[He didn't really... choose to be trained for it, but you could call it a job, ultimately.]
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[ Dylan never really thought about being a soldier before. Well, no, that's not true; He's played Call of Duty. But that's mostly shooting, not... swords. ]
Did you like being a soldier?
[ What kind of question is that?? He immediately regrets it. But he tries to keep his expression even. ]
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[He does like fighting. The physicality of it. The confidence that using his skills affords him.
Most of the other aspects were simply... things that go along with being treated like a person. As rigid as military life is, it was freeing compared to before.]
But I am glad to consider myself retired. I don't care to fight for others.