Endless Road, Endless Dreams

A heavy-hearted announcement

2011-12-24T07:08:20Z

On November 14th, 2010, I was struck by a single idea for a game:

What if people were stuck in their own minds, in a place they couldn't get out of?

It had started with the idea of Inception, but with a twist of being a real realm. Then came the rulers, and with that, the differences in personality and characteristics. It developed, grew, stretched beyond my wildest imaginations, and then landed. When it was done, I knew I had to make it.

Thus, IlPromenade was born.

Originally, I had never intended to open this game, just allow for it to sit and dwell as a possibility. There were no NPCs to be made, no accounts to add, just something to stare at and be pretty. A memento. That didn't last long, and my curiosity got the better of me, having me put up an opening date. I wanted to see if anyone would want to apply.

What I got was three pages of reserves in five days. I would have never expected such a response, but I'm glad I received it.

The game opened on January 8th, 2011 (despite my lovely blunder of posting the opening log on the wrong journal at first), and at the time we had over 150 journals and almost 100 players. Now, almost a year later, I'm bringing the game to a close. It pains my heart to do this, but I believe it's time. My life has become crazy during this part of the season, and even after it's over, I've lost motivation to keep things moving. As a mod things are different, and it can take a toll on everyone as a result. It's not fair to keep dragging things along when none of us, as mods, have interest in proceeding with the plot.

I want to thank you all very dearly for being a part of this game. It's had its ups, it's had its downs, and we've survived past the three month mark that kills most games when they first start out. You are all wonderful, and I've made some really valuable and lasting friendships here. But the important thing is that you guys made the game what it was- a home. A place for others to feel welcome and like they belonged somewhere. I couldn't ask for anything more. All of you fulfilled my dream in loving the game as much as I have from the very start.

I'm sorry I couldn't be the head mod that everyone wanted. Being that this was my first time, there was a lot of room for improvement, but I couldn't rise to it. There were plans, there were ideas, but they were all a jumbled mess and I wasn't prepared. I wish I could have been better, or found someone who could have run the game better in my stead. You guys deserved that much, at least.

All in all, I can never thank you guys enough for everything you've done. After this post, all three main communities will be considered closed. It was an honor to host a game with you, and I will miss everything about this place so much.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Kyah

o21 | daytime | video

2011-12-22T22:14:48Z

[Yuuta comes on, and he looks a bit nervous. In the background, you can see glimpses of his place of solace, your typical Japanese garden with a zen rock garden, cultivated trees, and flowers growing in patches here and there.]

Um... I know it's been hard on us, a lot of us suddenly leaving, but if any of you want to come over, I have tea. I was thinking maybe we could discuss things and how to go from here. See what we can do to get answers without anyone else getting hurt.

If you want to. I'll be here for a while.

[video / day] little rabbit's Christmas wish

2011-12-21T16:38:03Z

It's been so quiet lately. People keep disappearing...

Santa, if you exist in this world, can you protect my friends and keep them safe?

[video] 001 | Night

2011-12-08T08:49:19Z

[When the feed clicks on, it simply shows an empty apartment, with a good view of the bed. Despite what it appears, there's some rustling around heard along with a couple of muttered curses. Eventually, a teen aged boy with dark hair appears on the feed, his hands giving off a light blue energy as he explores.]

o21 | night | text

2011-12-07T16:08:41Z

[LOCKED TO RAPUNZEL]

Rapunzel, it's Yuuta. I just wanted to check on you and see how you and Pascal were doing.
I hope you're alright.
Would you like to come down for some tea?

[A few minutes later, this

error: message not received

appeared on his screen.]

first hunt ⇝ teneka/video (night)

2011-12-03T17:41:40Z

['Lo and behold, Promenade. The camera is fuzzy at first, making out only a faint black hue before it focuses in on Dean in a navy blue shirt and a pair of boxer briefs with a bottle of Jim Beam in his left hand looped between two fingers at the knuckle.

Did he fall asleep that way?

~~Of course.~~ You decide.

When he comes to and realizes he can't talk he's pretty fucking aware of where he is.] Oh, sonuvabitch....

.o19 | video ; teneka | night

2011-12-03T04:51:29Z

They all left. All of them. They're gone. Mother was right.

[Right now Rapunzel isn't home. Well, the home that they gave her here. She was in her tower, in her room, on her bed. Not that that can be seen. Her PORTAL wasn't anywhere near her. It lied there, forgotten on the floor. Forgotten by her, but not Pascal. He sat beside it, looking at the book with a worried expression.]

I wasn't meant to have friends. I never want to be close with anyone ever again.

[This makes Pascal leave the book to go back to Rapunzel.]

You're the only one I need Pascal. You and mother. No one else.

o21 | day | video

2011-12-01T16:10:35Z

[Worried Yuuta is worried. There are bags under his eyes, it looks like he's been out all night, and hasn't stopped to really eat anything. His hands are shaking as he holds the camera up.]

Everyone, what is happening? Where have so many people gone?

[The camera shows the floor for a moment, and you can hear him trying to take deep breaths and calm down.]

Have they been kidnapped? Are they in the Unnatural?

oo4 ✧ (text) ✧ NIGHT.

2011-12-01T05:32:58Z

Does anyone else think there might have been a connection between the riots and this many disappearances? It's just a theory. I can't help but think of this as strange.

Also, my house is here. I'm moving into it. If anyone wants to come in, go ahead; there's a photo attached, so it isn't hard to find. I have a key for you, Nike.

[and sure enough, there is a PORTAL-captured picture of her house attached to the post for the curious.]

Video; Concerning the riots

2011-11-30T20:17:55Z

Was anyone truly surprised that it came down to this?

[There was always an uneasiness about the city all it took was for one dose of information to act as a catalyst. At least he wasn't alone in the city and managed not to get caught up in the whole mess.]

The uncivilized lot...

[there were other, more discrete methods for addressing such issues. Though he holds no great love for Prom or it's maintainers the rioters failed to impress him as well]

At least we can finally leave the apartments.

017. ☆ text/action ; day

2011-11-30T19:19:52Z

... looks like that apology's a bit too late. So much for that. I'm left to wing it. Fine. Challenge accepted. They're home, that's all that matters. We just need to see if there's any clues. Anyone needs me, I'm at the clearing.

[action]

[There's a pretty decent buildup of heat coming from the clearing today, mostly because instead of bawling her eyes out, Madsen's taking out her frustration on the trees, sometimes with flaming slashes, others with punches. Nithal is outside as well, in phoenix form, perched behind her with what looks to be concern.]

night; text.

2011-11-30T08:07:34Z

I think Claire's gone. Been looking for her...can't seem to find her anywhere. If you're still here, please let me know, Claire.

Please. I'm worried.

[ The following post has a fail lock to Alisha. In other words, it is very hackable. ]

Alisha...hey. I was wondering if you would like to go on a date. Soon... Maybe tomorrow, during the day?

[video / day]

2011-11-30T07:57:13Z

Dear Journal,

I'm so glad all the fighting's over. I wish I could've stopped it, but there was no way in.

Is everyone alright? I hope no one got hurt.

⇨ № 017 ₪ (accidental) video ❖ dαу ☼

2011-11-30T07:12:06Z

[The PORTAL turns on as Akito hands it to N, unbeknownst to either of them. It's just after the sun began to rise and their voices returned for the day.]

Look after it for me until we come back to get it, okay?

I will keep it with me and take good care of it. No harm will come to it while you are gone, I promise you.

[Akito is used to N's reactions at this point, but still finds the enthusiasm slightly misplaced.] Don't worry about it that much - if it breaks, it breaks. They aren't really hard to fix!

[N takes any task one of his friends entrusts him with very seriously. He would not want to let Akito down. He wishes he could do more to help.] I will not worry. [But he frowns. He's much more worried about Akito being harmed or captured.] Akito?

Hm? What is it? [He knows N is worried, but they've also discussed the risks already...]

Good luck.

[Zinc told him that kisses were for good luck, and though Touya spoke to him about it, he still believes the same. He leans forward and kisses Akito on the mouth.]

[Akito doesn't pull away, but he doesn't particularly respond to it either. It takes him a moment to realize that yes, N is actually kissing him. Badly, at that. It's all very confusing, and he jerks away quickly in delayed surprise.]

...E-Eh? What was that for? [He presses his fingers to his lips, sad that the last person to kiss them is no longer Ikki.]

[N is slightly confused by Akito's reaction.] As I said, it is for good luck.

[N's reaction confuses Akito more than just slightly.] Y-You don't need to kiss someone to wish them luck! Kisses are supposed to be more romantic and intimate than that. [He's thankful that Agito will be taking over once they leave N's Forest, since it's going to take him a while to recover from the shock. Though he figures since it's already too late to keep Ikki as his last kiss, he may as well give N some tips--] And you're a really bad kisser, too.

[And then Akito kisses N back, but with much more skill and more of a proper feeling put in. He doesn't like N romantically, so it's not exactly perfect, but it's at least enough to help him try to understand the difference between the first kiss and this one.

He pulls back a moment later, still startled, but a bit more amused. He picks up his bag and gets ready to leave.]

We have to get going before it gets too light out! Try and pinpoint the differences though, okay? Between a good kiss and a bad kiss! I can teach you more about kissing later is you're still confused then.

I heard that was what the gesture meant. [N's earlier query about romance didn't help him much, considering the many conflicting replies he received.]

Thank you for the advice, Akito. [He smiles. He doesn't mind the criticism, since there's still so much he doesn't know about human customs.] I will try to learn the difference.

[Akito waves as he begins leaving.] I'll see you later, ne? And if I'm not back by sundown make sure that Prima and Lampent stay with you!

[N waves back as Akito departs.] I will. We'll have fun together. Good bye, Akito.

[And the PORTAL cuts out.]

((ooc: replies will be ICly take place just before sunset/characters lose their voices for the night! Akito and/or N will reply.))

1ѕт reιgυn | vιdeo/acтιon | day

2011-11-30T00:36:11Z

[Urameshi's at a large Japanese temple, playing what looks to be arcade games out of boredom. Yup, there's arcade games in a temple complex. Genkai's a pretty cool old lady. And yes, no mask on. Why the hell would he worry about that when he's inside without anyone to bother him?

It had been a few days since he had discovered Genkai's temple, and honestly? He was glad for the distraction. He's not paying attention to the PORTAL feed, at the moment he's concentrating too much on his game of pinball anyway. He laughs at getting a particularly hard shot lined up, but he suddenly jolts as if receiving an electric shock and slumps to the ground. Once he hits the floor, though, it looks like there's a spot of red spreading from his chest, though there was no indication of him being attacked or injured in any way.

The feed shows Urameshi's prone form, and it's only after a few minutes of this utter dead silence (outside the "Game Over" music from the pinball machine, though it does congratulate him on reaching a high score, which still doesn't beat Genkai's) that there's a torrent of red energy coming from him, shooting through the ceiling and crashing through the temple and into the sky, a blood-red beacon of sorts. And the energy reading off this? Is enormous.

His fingers twitch, and he sits up groggily, a hand at his chest.

No heartbeat.]

What the hell...? That was -

I just -

[And the feed ends here.]

((Welp Chapter Black happened and now your not-so-friendly neighborhood (ex-) Spirit Detective has awakened to his youkai powers. :'| Feel free to react or try to make your way to Genkai's temple to check it out - the energy beacon he emitted should give a general direction, and for those of you that can feel that sort of thing, it's pretty easy to pick up on, considering he doesn't have much control over it at the moment.))

4th equation [day: accidental video; video]

2011-11-28T23:41:18Z

[The PORTAL shows N in his forest, in a clearing among the trees. He is playing, with what seem to be huge, animated bags of trash: Garbodor. There are three of them, and each of them is more than six feet tall and six feet wide, but N is roughhousing with them fearlessly, smiling.

He is also covered in trash and trash water, because of this game. When one of the Garbodor becomes a bit too rough, N rests a hand on its body and speaks gently.]

Careful, friend, you'll poison me. [But this possibility doesn't worry him.

Once the game is done and the Garbodor shuffle off to find some trash to eat, N, by now absolutely filthy, heads toward a nearby stream. Several Basculin leap up out of the water, each of them, in turn, striking N with jets of water, as N laughs happily.]

Thank you! That's enough. I think I'm clean now. [The Basculin, obviously understanding him, stop at once, and N leans down to nuzzle one of them, with another fond laugh.

Now, instead of streaked with grime, he's soaking wet. It's at this point he turns toward the PORTAL and realizes the it is recording. He smiles. When he speaks, his voice is much less warm than it was when he addressed the Pokémon. His tone lacks emotion, but isn't unfriendly.]

Hello. There's a question I've been meaning to ask you. [By you, he means all of the people who might be listening.] What is that you think sets humans apart from other animals? I have spoken to animals of all kinds here, and I've found them all capable of communication, reasoning, feeling, if in many different ways. [Animals are less different from humans than Pokémon are, he's come to understand.] I was wondering what other humans thought.

[Private filter to Akito; hackable by computer-types until it becomes action.]

There's something I want to discuss with you, my friend.

Video; Day

2011-11-28T06:24:15Z

[The feed switches on, Daenerys' mask covering her face.] I was wanting to speak with the young lady from Westeros. I-- [she begins but Drogon gets all up in her business and hisses gently at the dragon on her mask. She pushes at him gently.] It is not real, Drogon. Settle.

[She focuses back on the PORTAL.] Forgive me. The young lady from Winterfell, I was wondering if you would be willing to speak with me about our home.

video;

2011-11-28T03:20:43Z

If they were going to keep us in our Places of Solace, the least they could have done was give us company... Never have I felt so inclined to tidy up this flat before.

[Yes, she worries about the important things. Really, it was boring with no one to keep her company...]

.003 ← Text Files; Video || Untraceable Portal Signature || Soundwave discovers his Place of Solace

2011-11-28T00:18:39Z

[ There is no coordinates on the short video feed, but a timestamp does appear at the lower right hand corner. It's only the image of the Nemesis, though, just...floating. Yes, that's a fully capable Decepticon warship floating somewhere off the coast of Promenade. ]

[ End Video File ]

Text = Autobot presence neutralized, import/export procedures showing marked decline

[ End public transmission ]

[ ID: Knock Out || Private Ping ]

Autobot presence neutralized; ID Ratchet, ID First Aid
Mission objective addendum

Report Status

[ /End Message ]

o10｡ « day :: video :: fail filter »

2011-11-26T17:27:21Z

[ Private Filter to: AQUA ]

[ The video is turned on and from the view, it seems that it's sitting on the ground. If anyone's familiar with the surroundings in the background, they could probably tell that it's one of the training grounds in Land of Departure; otherwise anyone not so familiar would think it a very nice landscape. However, showing the view isn't the main reason for this post as a figure makes their way in view of the camera.

A very tiny figure. One that's about five inches tall. Who looks extremely embarrassed that something like this has happened.

Guess who was practicing magic spells without supervision. ]

Um, Aqua? I've uh.. got a problem.

[ Roxas is wearing what could possibly pass as a handkerchief or just some piece of cloth wrapped around him. He probably could have dreamed up clothes for himself if he had been in the right mind to but well. Trying to fix his initial problem became a priority. ]

Is there.. any way to reverse this? Right now?

[ He shuffles his feet, hoping that no one will catch him like this.

Little does he know that he failed to make a proper filter to the Keyblade Master, so now anyone looking through the network can see him.

w e l p. ]

o20 | day | video

2011-11-26T14:57:10Z

[Yuuta comes onto the screen, looking worried. It looks like he's been stuck in his place of solace and has just been listening to all the chaos. He has his ~~phobias~~ reasons.]

...everyone, I know the barriers have been taken down, but...

I'm not sure if it's safe. Still. For us.

Is everyone okay?

six - video/action

2011-11-26T02:17:08Z

[Apparently Christine has decided to continue the themes of civil disobedience... She's hauled a number of half-finished paintings out of Camelot, out onto one of the green lawns in Promenade city.

And then she's lit them on fire. She's holding her PORTAL up to record the experience faithfully, and as the canvases are eaten away she murmurs,]

You are right, papa, this is relaxing.

[As usual, she's talking to someone who is not apparently there.]

vi | video| day

2011-11-26T00:09:03Z

[The recent riots surprised Dexter -- especially since the Queen was a fraud. It hadn't ever occured to him that the authority figures could be fakes. He shouldn't have left that option out of his mind. And now with the masks -- the rules were harsher than last time. Well, he figured as much. Once fraud makes its way into the system, it's hard to get out. So, facing the PORTAL after a glance at someone, a blonde, beside him, he begins to speak,]

I'm not sure how I can help, but I worked with the police at home. I think I, along with Lumen, could be able to help with the investigation of the recent rioting and fraud.

[Yeah, he was a lab geek, but so what? He had more of a success with finding criminals than most of the workers around him.]

We've sort of done this kind of thing back home. [Not a total lie, right. She gives Dexter a look that says 'don't worry, I'm not going to spill it'. Although honestly, she could relate to the rioters. This whole being a prisoner and kidnapped thing didn't sit well with her.]

It's just an offer.

[Dexter nods.]

That's right. Just let us know.

[Plus this whole...righteous thing. It could help on keeping Dexter's suspicion meter low. So with that, he ends the feed.]

(ooc: the red is dexter, the purple is lumen.)

Pre-Riots/Day/Voice

2011-11-25T20:16:39Z

...Rebecca's gone.

[There's a long pause as Harry debates about leaving the message at that. A whine and the snuffling noise of something licking at Harry's face.]

...Not now, Ollie.

She has some piglets, umm, anyone want one?

007 || Night || Text

2011-11-25T10:56:40Z

:33 < *ac is bored and lonely*
:33 < *she cannot get out of her hive to make sure her friends are okay*
:33 < *or to bring them to her hive so she knows they are safe*
:33 < so um
:33 < if you could let me know if you're okay I'd appreciate that
:33 < or if someone just wants to talk
:33 < that would be fine too
:33 < and in case anyones worried
:33 < im safe in my cave so you dont n33d to be