A few hours into the Jaunt

[rustyhonesty]

I've never done this before, but there's a first time for everything.

It's about time to do a check-in to see who are investigating - or at least have an infiltrator persona. My name is Jean Kirstein and... I don't investigate very often.

Apparently, I arrived with an ID that says I'm 21. So I guess age up, or down, is normal in this Jaunt. I also got a surprise guitar and seem to know how to play it...? Anyone else had something like that happen to them?

I won't ask if anyone has an idea of what we're supposed to do, since it's so early on the Jaunt... but it's good to keep your eyes open for any information that seems important.

Comments

[ayiyiyi]

Eye Dee, huh. So that's what this shiny little thing is? What exactly is it's purpose? If someone wants my name I can tell them. This thing doesn't even get my name right.

My name being Xena, before you ask.

[rustyhonesty]

Don't worry, they got my name wrong too. I guess even our names are made to fit the year we're in and not just our clothes.

In Newport, the police forces and shops would ask for your ID to confirm who you were or what your age is. If you wanted to buy alcohol or porn you needed to be a certain age.

[goestoextremes]

Ohhh, is that what I'm supposed to do with these --- drums? Hi, I'm Korra [ Jean knows it, obviously, but saying it anyway for anyone else out there.] here with my usually giant polar bear dog, Naga, who is a really adorable little white, fluffy puppy now.

[rustyhonesty]

You got drums? Any idea how to play them? I know what they are, thanks to Orion, but he never played those.

[fruitknife]

This is Shinji. First investigation since that thing with the mermaids.

Looks like this concert thing's way understaffed, but I doubt that's the only reason we're here - sounds more like a handy cover-up than anything.

[rustyhonesty]

Looks that way, yeah. At least we don't need to worry about that. They're likely more relieved about a newbie influx than weirded out...

[thornsofmalkav]

Hey Jean. Thorne here. I've managed to investigate two and three-quarter times before--Sarmatia, second Shoals, and the three-quarter times are for when I died in Newport and Nova Venezia.

Anyway, we're somewhere I know! Sort of. I mean, some of the names of places are wrong and we're here about five years before my family moved to the area--if the calendar at the information kiosk is right, I was literally born yesterday, like there's a baby in San Diego that's this world's me--but this place is pretty close to where I grew up.

Basically, we're at the top of the central coast region of California, on the northside of the Monterey Bay. Santa Carlita County here--it's Santa Carla in my world. So, uh, if people want suggestions for stuff to do in the area, I can do that. The Mystery Shack is somewhere around here, I know, and the Boardwalk's down the hill at the beach.

Anyway, despite all that, I really have no clue what we're supposed to do. According to the calendar I saw, the big massacre of the local vampire happened nearly three years ago in '86 and Loma Prieta's not due until, like, mid-October and those are the two big events from the 80s here that I know about. And the first might not have even happened in this world.

[rustyhonesty]

Okay, then I've investigated more than you, at least. This is my fifth time now.

[One of them is a Jaunt he'd like to just scratch off the list, but anyway.]

It's good to know we have someone with a lot of information about this place... and happy belated birthday as well? Quite a present you got.

[claudiometer]

Claudia Donovan here, somehow investigating twice in a row, currently regretting everything the '80s chose to be.

Funny thing, this festival feels like our usual schtick in lots of ways... except for how short it is. So if you're looking for local sleeping arrangements or something, you might not wanna book out more than a week or so.

Also, I can't find Helena anywhere. We got anyone who can punch through the network and see if there's anything on the other side?

[rustyhonesty]

Hmm. It was the same in Doki Expo. The event lasted for only a few days... and so did the walkabout, even if the guys is Space were gone for weeks, according to them.

I can't sense Naoto through our bond, so she's likely gone somewhere else too. Others I can sense, whether through bonds or marks...

[otomechapilot]

Sara Smith, I was a Spartan last jaunt, and this place looks a lot like - well, not like home home, but just south of where it would be!

I would, uh, appreciate any help anyone can give me fitting in because I'm guessing things are REALLY DIFFERENT here 30 years before the war even if the war is the only difference.

Also stuff is super cheap here.

[rustyhonesty]

Thorne is pretty knowledgeable, at least. I'm sure she'd like to explain things to you.

There's going to be a war in thirty years?

[wolvering]

Oh! I'm still myself! This is--

Um. I'm Pod and I've always ended up as an overlay before, so I hope you all can forgive my excitement. Kiga is with me and he's a ferret. He's only grumbling a little about it.

[Somebody is happy.]

I remember some things from Newport, but I don't think it will work really well. The money is very different, for starters, and the clothes are... bright.

[rustyhonesty]

It's fine. Congratulations on your first investigation and let us know if you need support or advice.

The money really is different from there, but someone said that it's worth at least ten meals... even more as things are cheap here?

[naturaltwohands]

My ID says I am Drizzt Do'Urden-Thropp. [He is quite pleased by this.] I asked the date, and it seems I am officially 18 as of today. Guenhwyvar is a house cat again and is quite vexed about being so small again.

I do not know what we are meant to do, but I believe I will enjoy the music!

[rustyhonesty]

I wonder if I'm the only one who got a complete make over on their name even without infiltrating...

I have good memories of music from January, which is why I'm also looking forward to hearing what this festival has to offer.

[whydoyoushine]

I'm still just Zed--my overlay used to be a musician before he blew out his voice, he legally changed his name to just Zed. Can't say I blame him.

Anyway, I'm the manager for one of the bands here, Audio Outcast, they're clearly the best one.

[rustyhonesty]

It has to be the best with a manager like you or something like that?

[set_your_watches_for_fun]

Pip pip, darling, Colonel Tick-Tock here! What a terribly American place we've landed. I do seem to be a fair bit younger than I'm used to, though, which might take some getting used to.

Also, I suspect we're meant to get involved in this festival somehow, there are a great deal of mysterious openings.

[rustyhonesty]

As far as I've seen, anyone can be roped into helping out the festival staff. Which might be a good way to start, at least...

[wickedestwitch]

Elphaba, I'm me but I'm....


I'm not green. Nobody's looking at me weird, well they are because I have a monkey but that's different weirdlooking.

I can sing, if we need someone to do that.

[rustyhonesty]

So I did sense you again... Welcome back, Elphaba.

That must feel weird. I've never changed my form as an invest-- no wait, that's not true, but it was a long, long time ago, so I don't remember how it felt.

[And nowadays it's natural for him to shift between forms...]

[meanballerina]

This is Natasha, investigating. No instruments, but I've got a fake ID that says 21. Nice of the Arcana to oblige.

[rustyhonesty]

I wonder if 21 is a significant age for something here or just a random age thrown at us.

[truerevelation]

Hey. This is Case- damn, Kanji. Looks like the whole 'stayin' awake Infiltrating' thing stuck...

Came here to watch the show. I'm a singer, but I ain't with any of the acts on stage. And - uh, I think I can confirm that Maria's Infiltrating too. She's [is that a tiny pause?] Casey's little sister.

[rustyhonesty]

Anything you can tell us about the show from your overlay's point of view?

Private x 2

Is everything alright?

[starshaper]

[ Well, she's got that food chain up there but she should probably say something uh, less about food and more about herself now when she's less busy worrying that she's not going to survive here... ]

Tsukino Usagi checking in! [ and excuse her while she still likes saying her name in that order, when it means something. ] I'm still 16, I think, how does it work since my birthday was yesterday but we weren't here yet?? But it's also what this ID says, so I'll go with that too... [ boooo for missing her birthday though! :< ]

Ah, I don't have any surprise instruments nor singing talent unless that could be a surprise talent here too... So anyway, I'll go help them as staff and you all let me know if you need anything~!

[rustyhonesty]

Thorne's birthday was yesterday too, according to the calendar... maybe you guys can celebrate it belatedly together? Seems like a good chance, with the festival and all.

[cloudpotter]

Yakumo 'Cloud' Katou, still myself in every aspect.

[22 must be the perfect age, who knew!]

Kinji, Tachibana, and the other Riders all seem to be Infiltrating. I'm not certain what the Riders are getting up to [aside from questionable clothing choices], but Kinji's in a management position of some sort. From what he's told me an entire band has gone missing along with a senior manager, they have approximately one quarter of the volunteers they need for the upcoming event, and said event is due to begin tomorrow.

It seems for now that our focus should be on contributing our efforts to ensure the event is able to run on time, and find out what we can regarding the missing persons. If anyone hears of any suspicious activities occurring nearby, they should let us all know so we can investigate it immediately.

[rustyhonesty]

[No wonder it was all quiet without familiar cowboy ninja around.]

That sounds like the right course of action. I'll see if I can help out. For some reason, having a guitar has made me immune from being asked...

[Likely they think he's in a band. Ha haha.... ha. Which is true sooner than he thinks.]

[jokerofhearts]

My name is Kurusu Akira. Everything is new for me, so I would appreciate any help that anyone is willing to share.

Is there a procedure these "Jaunts" follow?

[rustyhonesty]

The main thing is to try and blend in while trying to get information what we're going to be doing. Come up with a believable backstory so that they won't be suspicious.

There are two Arcana competing. I'm not sure which of them they are this time, but depending on our actions, one of them wins and the others' out of the game. Usually we have a goal to accomplish...

[photonicfighter]

Dakki here! I'm myself for a change! This is wonderful! I've never had this happen before! I haven't had too much of a chance to look around, yet... but I'll let you all know what I find!

[rustyhonesty]

Some of us tend to infiltrate more often than not. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We're all here to help.


Also, I never got a chance to thank you for saving Markos in Greece. So thank you. He recovered well afterwards.

[awitchdidit]

No musical instrument for me...then again, I specialize in organ compositions, so that would be a tad impractical. The ID is a nice touch that I'm surprised we didn't get in Newport. At least it got my proper first name, but I'll probably have to just suck up Americans mispronouncing it for the whole Jaunt.

[rustyhonesty]

Organ? Like the ones they have in churches?

[From what he's seen at least. He's never visited their churches back home.]

[forcechanic]

Jaina Solo. I seem to end up investigating on a lot of the later Earth ones which is kinda weird since I'm not from Earth and keep worrying about whether my family history has shown up in popular media here...

I have something with the right name and I have no idea about my age in this calendar but it says it's a "learner's permit".

[rustyhonesty]

If I remember right, you talked to the network about someone being a famous "movie villain"? It's possible that the movie's being shown in one of the Jaunts?

[That must be awkward. For her and the person she was talking about.]

I wonder what that means. What are you permitted to learn?

[unconventionalelf]

It's not as horrible as the last one... But I don't like the clothing I'm stuck in. It's impractical. It doesn't even give you proper protection. I fell earlier and skinned my knee. And these shoes are horrible. They're some sort of material like soft glass, but not. I can see through them though, why would anyone want to wear shoes that allow you to feel everything on the ground.

Tal here though. And... Jean? What's a guitar? Is it anything like a lyre or fiddle?

[otomechapilot]

A guitar is like both! You play it with your hands or a little pick, and you put your fingers over the strings at the top to get different chords.

You're probably not going to need, like, armor clothes. But I hear you on how impractical it is. Why aren't there pockets. Why do I just have a bag.

[reallymean]

My name is Allura. And I'd appreciate a primer on how to blend in on Earth, if anyone's willing to offer one.

[rustyhonesty]

I think someone from Earth would be better at explaining this one, though in a place like this any odd behavior could be considered tourism.

[fantasy_heaven]

Is that how this works? We show up, wait until some kind of incident happens, then deal with it?

[ Just like her old job, kind of. ]

I've been here for a few hours and I'm already so confused. Are those things going up and down all the streets 'cars'? I always thought they'd be bigger.

[rustyhonesty]

I think whatever is going on is usually already happening and we just need to figure out what it is... but basically we're on an information gathering stage right now.

Yeah, they're cars. I was confused to see a transporter on land that didn't use horses when I first saw them.

[willyousee]

I have no guitar, but I could play one - and also the bass variant if I am looking at this properly. The 1980s in California, in the United States of America, I believe we are. At least, a version thereof. This is fascinating!

[rustyhonesty]

I think I remember seeing America on maps in Newport, across a big ocean. I wonder if the two could be connected.