Fact Bubble: La Salle de Bal Royale

 

"The Royal Ballroom," as it's known in common parlance, is the remains of a grand palace structure that once dominated the area prior to the Emergence of the Empire City Bunker. Located in the midst of the business district of Lower Downtown, Empire City, The Royal Ballroom itself covers some 50 hectacres of land, much of which is decorated in the classic French Garden style perfected during the pre-Emergence Ancien Régime. Beyond the property, the Royal Ballroom is bordered by Chao Garden to the southwest, Old Town to the west, and the rest of Lower Downtown to the south, east, and north.

In 3203, the property was inscribed on the United Federation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Cultural Heritage List, and is now one of the most visited public sites in Empire City.

Asher Tero

 

"Geez, lunchtime's almost over already?"

Alexei Solus

 

Between Yo'chi's grappling and the strange twist of bizarre happenstance of overlapping dreams, Alexei didn't quite know what to do. The scientist in him scoffed, even curled a lip in abject disgust at this display. Psychology was never his field of study, but even he could certainly chalk up the random plot points tying the dreams together to paranoia and sensationalism.

And yet... something deep within him could almost be nudging him toward a conclusion he did not want to reach. It annoyed him, but perhaps by following this strange turn of events, the paranoia of these people could be disproven for the folly it was. It could do him some good to get out and about, away from the work that had kept him cloistered in the laboratories and computer labs like some modern monk.

Alexei sighed. "Alright, fine. I'm in. So which one of you backstage bandits am I going with?"

End of Scene One

 

Alexei Solus

 

“Yeah, great,” Alexei mumbled. As everyone said their goodbyes, Alexei had to summon a moment of his willpower to keep from shuffling away, still numb from the dream. It was folly, to be affected so. Never before in his life had anything affected so deeply. He could still feel the kiss of the metal saw on his flesh before the figure began his grisly work. It was so intense he could almost taste it…

Alexei shook his head, scowling as his anger spiked. No, this was nothing more than whimsy. And when the concert came and went, everyone would see what a folly it is to think that their dreams was anything more than fantasy and utter drivel.

Chapter One

Scene One - Experience Points Earned

This Scene will be a benchmark for all further experience points earned for the duration of the story, per scene. Each character will be graded on the following:

• 
  
• One point - Automatic: Each mage learns in spite of themselves and gains a little experience just for surviving.
  
• One point - Learning Curve: For those mages who truly learned something shocking, inspiring or new, an additional point is awarded to reflect the new vistas opening in their minds. The player should explain what the mage has grasped.
  
• One point - Roleplaying: Players who go above and beyond the call of normal roleplaying to portray a particular role, especially delving into the quirks and hindrances of their characters, may gain a bonus point as a reward for enhancing everyone’s game experience. The standards or such a reward will get successively higher.
  
• One point - Heroism: A player whose character bravely and selflessly puts life and enlightenment on the line may come out stronger from the experience. That which does not kill us, is worth extra experience points.
  
• One point - Lynchpin: One point will be awarded when a player’s character is absolutely instrumental to moving the story along, whether by action or conversation.

Since this is the first scene that sets the standard, all characters in the scenario have earned five points each.

Chapter One

Scene Two Opening

~The Herald: Serving the Federation in Soleanna, Station Square, and Empire City ~

Entertainment Section

Despite Furor, Eggman Empire Company To Provide Concert Security
-

Mina Mongoose is coming to town, and the political trouble she brings is not of her own making.

The young starlet who hails from the former Kingdom of Mobotropolis has long made it clear where she, and by extension her band, KalaRishi, stood as far as politics is concerned. This time, as her World Tour brings her to Empire City, she brings something entirely new in the form of a new security detail straight from the Eggman Empire, though not by her own wishes.

In addition to the standard Empire City police force, additional security is being provided by Emergent General Guardian Solutions, a Northamer private security company based in Mega Central. EGG Solutions has made the headlines more than once over the years, and despite allegations that they participated in the annexation of the Kingdom of Mobotropolis, evidence has remained strictly circumstantial, and representatives from EGG Solutions and the Eggman Empire have vehemently countered any vocal opposition.

“We are doing our best to run an ethical enterprise in the face of adversity,” Snively Kintobor, CEO of EGG Solutions, said in a recent interview. “We maintain that various assets and personnel went rogue during the annexation and we lost a lot of capital following the incident. They were not under my authority to hijack the city and they certainly were not following the orders of myself, or anyone in the Board of Directors, when the annexation took place. Let me also state that we are providing security for the Empire City event pro bono. Mina is a celebrity of Northamer and I feel that it would be inappropriate if we did not give her our proper due.”

Local G.U.N. representatives had no comment, but Chief Commander Hugo Brass said that G.U.N. would maintain appropriate levels of alertness during the event.

“We are well aware of the dangers of allowing EGG Solutions to provide security, but this is a music concert, not an invasion. Nonetheless, we will be monitoring the event for any irregularities.”

The Mobotropolis Royal Family could not be reached for comment, but their representative, Colonel (RET.) George Sommersby stressed the need for calm.

“His Highness the King Maximillian Acorn asks his subjects-in-exile to remain calm and conduct themselves with some dignity. It matters not if the Eggman Empire brought their stormtroopers for a public display and a PR stunt; people will needlessly risk their lives if a protest turns violent.”

So, the concert still plans to go forward, in spite of controversy. At least Mina is remaining true to form in that respect.

More About: KalaRishi, EGG Solutions, GUN

Copyright © 3237 The Herald

---

Elsewhere

 

"...So, we still on for the night?"
"Yes, we are. All our preparations have been made. Now, are you sure we're hitting the right spot?"
"'Course I am. I'd been researching quite intensely."
"Can you be sure you weren't tracked?"
"You insult me, mate. Of course I was thorough. Is everything in place?"
"Oh yes, you can be sure of that. Are we to have a plan for when we arrive? Or are we counting on serendipity to provide our providence once again?"
"Bloody never mind. And what about that 'Speaker?"
"She'll be off and about. Something about communing with the city."
"Ach. Blasted weirdos."
"Very well, we shall adjourn to our places, shall we? Unless there's more to be said."
"Try not to get injured again. You know I hate it when you let yourselves be so careless."
"No worries, love. I'll be sure to be careful."
"Not the first time I've heard that."
"And it's generally your fault as well, no thanks to your recklessness."
"'Ey! Do I get the job done, or do I get the job done? Anyway, we're killing time now, so let's be off."
"Fine."
"Luck and good fortune to us all, lady and gents. Let's be about it."

---

Radio Commercial: *BEEEEEEP* “Attention Station Employees. What if when it snows, all the snowmen go “HOLY CRAP. It’s raining FLESH………..?” *CLICK* “127.7 The Citadel.”
-
Radio Commercial: “127.7 Citadel Radio FM’s Battle of the Bands is all. Over.”
(Please watch from 13 seconds on, thanks.)
Radio Commercial: “Only one made it to the top of the ruinous heap of bodies and instruments.”
Andi: “Are you ready for this?!”
Radio Commercial: “The Paper Blue Roses. And here’s Anne Danlyn with the interview.”

Paper Blue Roses Interview

Anne Danlyn: "Ok guys, introduce yourselves."
Yo’chi Senza: "Hahaha, well anyone who can't tell that I'm Yo'chi Senza by now hasn't been listening to the EPIC music tonight! Music, of course, made possible by the very talented Vause and our implacable Andi. Give it up, folks."
Andi: “Make some noise for the Paper Blue Roses!”
Anne Danlyn: So, a few questions. What is your music style and your inspirations or influences?
Yo’chi Senza: "Well, no artist likes to box their work into any one genre. What I like best about our music is that we're experimental. Progressive. Everything we do has a sense of freshness and novelty. It keeps me young, you know? Haha, but I will say that Vause has a deep, secret love affair with Kraftwerk, so that might slip into our music a little. And I guess I find myself shooting for that '90's boy-band voice when I sing. I know, disgusting, right? But I love it. I can't help myself. So what does that make us? Progressive international indie pop folk rock 70's techno throwback? It's like genre bingo. We should do a country number and we'd have them all."
Vause: Y-yeah, them, they're good. I like that composer F-Fumie Kumatani too.
Andi: I like to spread out a bit when it comes to music. It ought to be something you can dance to, and I expect nothing less when it comes to what we can produce. Some of the bands that inspire me include Cash Cash and Young the Giant, to name a couple.
Anne Danlyn: A majority of the bands that you beat had a drumset, but you didn't. How does the absence of this instrument set you apart?
Yo’chi Senza: "Hahaha! Well I guess it forces us to figure out our own tempo! Seriously, sometimes I feel like bands use their drummers as a crutch so they don't have to know their own music. It makes us more creative. More intricate. We have to find ways to express rhythm through what we have. Like she said, Andi has to be able to dance, right? So we find ways, and it becomes something richer than just that.... rattatat tat. You feel me?"
Vause: Yeah. T-There's more than one w-way to make a b-beat.
Andi: Vause's expertise with his keyboard and Synthesizer is a big help, but in the heat of the moment, it helps to know our instruments. Instead of stepping to a beat of a drum like slaves on a ship, we step out - and it shows.
Anne Danlyn: Ok, one last question, guys. What is your band's goal?
Yo’chi Senza: "Well fudge, I don't know, how about we put together a big contest, and kick the musical butts of all the other bands. I heard that was a thing people do, right? Hahaha, but seriously, I'm just in this to have fun. I leave the big thinking in Andi's most capable and dexterous hands."
Andi: *smiles* We just want to be heard, and to do what we love, and I think I'm going to speak for all of us when I say that this is the beginning. This is the start of something huge. I want to see us touring. It's cool to play in clubs like this, but I hear we're picking up fans in different Cities. Lots of venues, different locations. Hell, I want to play a festival in the rain, just for the heck of it. Yeah, I'd like to play all over the world, just to see the world and sing to it. One piece at a time.
Vause: Y-yeah. True story.

Radio Commercial: Want to hear more? See them tonight at KalaRishi’s concert, starring Mina “the Songoose!”

Anne Danlyn: What’s up listeners, this is Anne Danlyn, coming to you live from the Ballroom. The concert is only hours away and already things are right kicking off over here. I’ll be down here for the duration with Pinky and Richie Bailey at the Citadel Radio booth, so if you want to hang out, drink and whatever, we’ll be here. And we better see you down here! It wouldn’t be the same without you. And you and you and you! All the you’s, all of them! I’m going to let you go for now, as we have another hour of uninterrupted music ahead of us, but we’ll be right back and enjoying the concert as it happens, here on 127.7 FM, The Citadel.

Radio Commercial: New music flamethrower. *FWOOOOOOOSH*
Voice: AAAAAGH!
Radio Commercial: Picked by music nerds on 127.7 The Citadel.
Voice: You singed my eyebrows.
Radio Commercial: Wuss.

---

Scene 2: Concerto Preludio

Schooners was packed to the gills with patrons. The din of conversation was punctuated by laughter, the occasional clinking of glasses, and the sound of the door chime sounding as patrons streamed hither and thither through the door. Far too packed for any sort of meeting, were it not for the sudden fame of the Paper Blue Roses. A word and a smile gave the trio and their friends one of the largest and best booths of the pub, and now they settled in to wait for everyone to arrive.

Well, unless they had all arrived already. Andi, a female mobian genet was sandwiched between Vause and Yo’chi, her hands cradling a stein of drink. Her dark auburn hair was draped over one shoulder, her bangs resting just over her eyebrow and coming to rest on the sleeve of her jeans jacket. Underneath this, she wore a strapless, red satin dress that hugged her lithe frame, coming to an end just above the knee. To her side, the mobian ibex was a contrast in size, bulky where Andi was slender, his fur coarse where hers was silky, and dressed like he had just gotten off work from a cubicle in the business district. Vause wore a white dress shirt that was unbuttoned near the top, and his red tie was worn more like a necklace. Over this he threw a cotton tweed vest, and his dress pants were tailored into shorts. He kept his calm well enough, but he couldn’t keep from fidgeting, twiddling his thumbs and glancing to and fro across the pub, trying to follow random conversation and movement.

Andi judged his arm gently. As Vause glanced down, Andi looked to Yo’chi. “Well, is this everyone? We can’t keep waiting for too much longer.”

Quote:

 

Each character has two options: Sitting in the booth, or arriving.

Alexei Solus

Outside Schooner's Pub

Alexei rubbed an arm absently as he looked up at the pub entrance. He was committed to the next few hours, to be sure. Still, he couldn't help but shake an underlying feeling of foreboding. It felt like he was stepping into the unknown and uncharted. He wondered if this was what those few human explorers felt like when they left The Bunker and emerged into the decadent heyday of the Ancien Regime all those centuries ago. He shook he head and sighed, scowling. This was completely unlike him. He was a scientist . He would face this challenge head on and as per usual, enlightenment would be his reward. He glanced behind him at the opposite side of the street. Two tall, robotic figures flanked the entranceway to the Ballroom's grounds, and they in turn were surrounded by uniformed gendarmes from Empire City's G.U.N. variant. A distance away, partially penned in by steel barricades, civilians waved signs and screamed slogans at the group, making their discontent known to news cameras in the area.

Alexei sighed. 'Yay, protesters, he thought. Rolling his eyes, he climbed the small set of stairs and entered the pub. Ht didn't have to search far, pushing his way through the reveling crowd to find the group he was looking for: Yo'chi and the rest of the Paper Blue Roses, along with Kao, the girl he had met during the earlier group meeting.

"Hey guys," he said. "I made it."

Fact Bubble: The GUN of Empire City

 

G.U.N. is short for the Guardian Unit of the Nation. It is the officially military force of the United Federation and consists of army, navy, and air force contingents. This terminology is standard for all affiliated units across the UF, except in Empire City, where G.U.N. stands for something quite different.

Empire City's G.U.N. is short for the Gibraltar Uniform Navy, and they trace their history back to a military naval, army, and air force garrison from southwest Eurish called the British Forces Gibraltar. Having sought refuge at the Empire City Bunker sometime after the Cataclysm, the GFB reclaimed their status as a naval force after the Bunker's re-emergence. Currently, the Gibraltar Uniform Navy are headquartered at The Rock, a small submerged mountain off the coast of Empire City.