Note: Read before joining. [spoiler]Notice 1: This RP is watched over by the Takamagahara System. If you perform any action that is considered to be god-modding, or otherwise not allowed, you will be issued a warning, and the T3 will rewrite time to undo your actions. Repeated warnings may get you banned from the RP. Remember to play nice! Notice 2: In order to participate in this RP your character cannot survive underwater. Whether it's from the extreme pressure, the lack of air, or both, leaving the city outside of official transport is not survivable. Notice 3: This is a pseudo shared RP, and talking with other players is recommended. However, to keep things organized, please do not just hop into another player's comment chain and start chatting them up. Instead, tell me you want to talk with them, and I will create a separate comment chain for the convo. (this is less an issue in part 1, but will be important later on) You will go through most events in the RP alone, but Key Encounters will be shared. If you have any questions, please contact your local RP admin! (that's me!)[/spoiler] Kokonoe stands at the edge of the water, looking over several different computers in a small mobile lab. A swarm of hundreds of small flying robots were swirling around a huge metal fortress floating out in the sea, assembling it piece by piece by her commands. The expression on her face was one of quiet concern, but she didn't let it get in the way of her progress. The city would be finished within a few minutes. Aifos walked up behind her, with a smile on his face as he stared out towards his pet project. It had been a long time coming, but it was finally here. Everything was going to be set right. Kokonoe glanced up at him. For a moment, she thought about just letting him live his fantasy, but she wasn't one to spare someone's feelings for the truth. The computer beeped, and she straightened her stance. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked. "I don't need to remind you what happened last time, do I?" "No, you don't. This isn't like last time, though, don't worry." "All I'm saying is that if something goes wrong down there, the consequences could be disastrous. This is your last chance to change your mind before we send it under." "You worry too much, Kokonoe. Nothing's going to go wrong. I promise." "For your sake, I hope you're right. Initializing descent." At the touch of a button, several large attachments released the fortress, and a small swarm of underwater transport vehicles began regulating its slow descent under the waves, and keeping everything held together. Things were quiet on the surface, and while Aifos was eagerly watching the ocean, Kokonoe was carefully watching the city through the cameras linked up to her computer. After a moment's silence, the computers gave confirmation. The city was at the bottom of the sea. "We're all green." Kokonoe said. "It'll take a bit to get the power on, but everything's in place." "I'm going to go check it out!" Aifos said. His cloak disappeared, and he began hovering a few inches above the ground. Eight floating blades appeared just behind his back, while his body became covered in a light suit of battle armor, complete with a visor with a single red eye covering the top half of his face. He dove into the water, going deeper, and deeper, until the light from the sun all but disappeared. He was about to activate his own lights from his visor, but it wasn't needed. Within a few seconds, a light appeared beneath him. Then another, and another. Before long, you could see his glowing metropolis shining down there on the sea floor. A wide grin came across his face. "It really worked.. Aria." ------ Fighting. War. Death. One of them fell, a single shot to the head. She reached out, but it was too late. A sword stabbed through her back, and it wasn't long before she was gone, too.. She opened her eyes. Where was she? A dark room? She could see a figure. A beast-folk in a lab coat. A trap! She tried to strike with her Murakumo, but it wasn't responding. Frantically, she scrambled to her feet, and tried to run, but her body was sluggish. She couldn't keep herself up for more than a few seconds. "Boundary Interface Prime Field Device Rho-17 online. Physical state is within acceptable parameters, testing mental stability, now. Rho? Can you hear me?" "Who are you!? Where am I!? What's going on!? Where are the others!?" "My name is Kokonoe, you're in an underwater city, I just saved your life, and they're all most likely dead." "What!? What do you mea-" "What's the last thing you remember?" "..A war.. They made us, th-the PFDs, androids, to explore the Boundary.. We found something there, a-a power.. We brought it back.. But our creators were scared of us.. They started trying to destroy us.. We.. What happened?" "Memories are intact, and she seems stable enough to hold a conversation.." Kokonoe said, writing down her results on a clipboard. "Alright, I'm only explaining this once, so listen up. You lost. The war, you were wiped out completely. That was years ago. My associate and I rounded up whatever PFDs were in a good enough condition to repair, and started bringing them back. There's only a few of you, though, along with a few newer models we're making ourselves. For now, we'd like you to stay in this city, while we make sure everything's alright for you up top. Now, I've got a few more of you to try and boot up, so you should go find Aifos. He'll get you settled in. For the time being, we've also disabled your weapons, so don't think of trying anything." Rho stood up, and a door slid open behind her. She briefly glanced at Kokonoe, before making her way outside. ------ -Several hours later- You arrive at the port, having heard of the open invitation from Aifos to visit the new city. A receptionist is waiting to take your ticket, and as soon as they confirm your information, you find yourself on a submarine heading below. If you were to glance out the window, you could see the city's glow among the dark long before you actually reached it. Eventually the craft pulled into a small chamber, which closed itself behind you. The water began to drain, a voice chimed in over an intercom. "Welcome to Aria. Pleases watch your step on your way inside." The submarine opened, as did the wall sitting in front of it. As light poured in, slowly a grand chamber came into view, decorated with reds and golds, tables filled with food, old-timey upbeat music playing, and if you were to look up you'd find a glass dome gazing out open the open ocean. Surprisingly there were already people there, even though you were on the first submarine. These people, however, didn't look entirely normal. Something seemed off about them, and they certainly didn't seem to be enjoying the party very much. Most of them eyed you, and the other guests suspiciously as you walked in, and the ones that didn't still seemed nervous. Whatever their suspicions were, though, it wasn't long before the gathering took off in full swing, as the bulk of the guests arrived. Eventually Aifos stepped into the room, on a high platform, along with Fukua who leaned on the railing next to him, and Vice President Blaze, who stood beside him. If you spied closely, you could barely make out Koknoe behind both, keeping to the shadows, and her massive bodyguard Tager behind her. Several screens turned on around the room, focusing in on the scene. "Welcome, everyone!" Aifos said. "I'm so glad you could make it! Welcome to Aria, my underwater city! Being here, you probably already know, but you are all welcome to stay here free of charge for a week, to enjoy the sights, and learn all about this wonderful place, in an all-expense-paid vacation! So what are you waiting for? Look around, have fun, and enjoy the party!" The screens turned off. Well? You heard him! Enjoy the party! [spoiler]This first part won't have too much of a plot. Your primary objective here is just to get to know the characters, and explore the city. All the important characters, and their locations will be listed below, just say which you want to visit. Of course, feel free to chat with random bystanders as well, or take off in a random direction.[/spoiler] Characters [spoiler]Aifos: Grand Hall Fukua: Grand Hall Kokonoe: Observation Deck Tager: Observation Deck Lambda-11: Grand Hall Rho-17: SAYU-Mart Theta-8: Grand Hall Fie-21: Gardens Joshua: Oceanview Aubrey: Le Restaurant Ellie: Grand Hall Aaron: The Towers[/spoilers]