Prison World #3: Panultima (tw violence, torture, coercion)

[spoofer]

Characters: Ensemble Cast, maybe even you!
Summary: The third prison world in Xistentia is a terrifying subdimension where sentient people exploit each other in order to run technology that will fend off D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. The 'ruling' class, Primus, are bound to a system of coupling (see: fake dating!), legacy and nepotism, whereas the Servus are put through an elaborate media circus (see: Hunger Games). You're here to study this world. And perhaps even to free those captured.
Date(s): February 8-20
Warnings/Notes: Violence, torture, coercion

Panultima

You cursed your gods and died

The Primus Life

If you thought Earth was a tough neighborhood, welcome to Panultima. Here, life is sweet. At least, as long as you're one of the Primus class.

It's a sprawling city of wicked spires and elaborate canals, covered in a luminous, translucent shield. Rather than a circular planet resting in orbit, instead, it's a flat plane of matter suspended in space, the foundations of the buildings rooted in only a hundred feet of stone and unknown technology. But the vast majority of citizens care little for that. After all, the city has every amenity and experience one might desire.

Restaurants line the streets. Theater is at an apex in development, with a particular focus on integration of moral philosophical themes. Gondolas run the canals, whereas a railway races over the winding laser-track in the air. Fashion is diverse, colorful, characterized by wild shapes, patterns, and accessories. Food imported from worlds both thriving and dying across the multiverse. At the numerous colleges and institutes, premier technology and opera are under constant invention and reinvention.

COUPLE STUFF

Primus culture emphasizes couples. Trios. Larger groups of lovers than that, even. After all, with romantic love and loyalty to care for, and survival hanging on it... who has the time or energy to care about justice for all?

Not these guys!

In this world, the mission and pleasure roll together well. The implant picks up information, so your main job is to explore. Perhaps you and your partner might enjoy yourself a glow-in-the-dark cocktail in a smoky bar where a two-headed singer is providing the music, a tour of the massive shield generators in the sparkling complex. Or pick fruit from one of the hundreds of bonding trees in the city's central park— so named, because it requires successful completion of questions to "the newlywed game" for each before one of the luscious, sweet fruits is released from a vine.

THE SERVUS LIFE

But for the little guy, life is considerably shittier. Welcome to the arena, the fully manipulable bubble reality set up to torture the slave class. The emotions of pain, fear, anguish, and wild, adrenal victory.

Most days, it looks like a forest— incidentally, very much like Xistentia. There are dozens of hybrid creatures in it, most of which are edible, others toxic, several very dangerous. However, the ground below can change at any moment, turning into mud or belching acid baths. Or you might find yourself abruptly attacked by a bear with biological armor growing from its huge shoulders. The control room, operated by Primus, is concealed from view. Its role is to keep the environment challenging for those competing, shifting the settings of the place to advantage some and cripple others.

But the arena's programming isn't the only threat.

Instead, you have a motley host of macabre killers, other Servus locked up in here just like you. Some have survived in here for years, earning favor from audiences thanks to the amount of pure horror they squeezed out of their victims. Some of the better-known brands are the Bantam Butcher, a fallen angel whose first kills were those who took his wings, and now thrives on torture. The trapmaster seems to have control over environmental factors that rivals the control room. And the baker trio will eat the flesh from your bones if they catch you.

For infiltrators, the challenge is worse. Not only might you need to kill, survive, and explore the arena with your implant— but if you want to save the very same people who are out to murder you, how are you going to do that?

Breakout!

Several days into the mission, and that's when it happens-- the control room shuts down, under attack. And suddenly, there's pandemonium. Within the arena, some of the servus know immediately what this means— and they're willing to make a break for it, cutting each other down, crippling each other if it means that the Primus might have slower-moving people to contend with and allow them to escape. Others seem to have long since given up, failing to respond as the trees suddenly go dark and motionless, the birdsong dying into silence. After all, where is there to go? It's either D.E.S.T.I.N.Y., or to join the system that hates them, isn't it?

Are you inside the arena, or out? Are you there to help the fleeing Servus, or are you merely ready to scramble on home yourself and save your own skin?

Footnotes

1. Please ensure that threads are marked with appropriate content warnings!
2. The plotting post for this event can be found here, and the original announcement with some other details is here.

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ The blue, as always, catches his eye, causing a fain furrow in his brow which he dismisses quickly enough. The lines and swirls don't help either, reminding him of his own. ]

I would not mind trying the coffee.

[shadowblends]

Marvelous! [he notices the wrinkle of loki's brow, but makes no mention of it. instead, kurt shifts so he's standing next to him, one hand hovering near the other male's elbow while he gestures a ways down the sidewalk.]

There's a coffee shop just down the road here where we can go.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki gestures with his hand. ]

Lead the way.

[shadowblends]

[and so he does, guiding them both down the path with a bounce in his step, hands finding their way back into the pockets of coat.]

So, what do you think of this place?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki glances around, cocking an eyebrow. ]

The coffee shop or this location?

[shadowblends]

This location, of course. [he shakes his head, raising a hand to cup around his face and stifle a laugh.]

We haven't made it to the shop yet.

[dothelokimotion]

It is . . . [ Much like Sakaar without the constant junk falling from the sky. Similar rules, similar people. ] . . . nostalgic.

[shadowblends]

Familiar, then?

[kurt briefly strides ahead, grasping the door handle and pulling, motioning for loki to go ahead.]

[dothelokimotion]

Yes and no.

[ He shrugs loosely, a harmless gesture. ]

My world is nothing like this and yet . . . there are similar veins that run across the stars. I'd be blind not to notice the patterns.

[shadowblends]

[he cocks his head to the side, curiosity dancing in those brilliant eyes.]

Well, there has to be something that connect them all or else we wouldn't be here, right?

[dothelokimotion]

[ He nods. ]

All worlds are connected. I used to be able to travel from one to the next with ease.

[shadowblends]

Is that so?

[he leads them up to the counter, orders something sweet and blended, then turns back to loki.] You'll have to tell me about it, but first: what are you interested in trying?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki blinks, looking over the menu in confusion, his brow creasing. ]

I don't understand the sizes.

[shadowblends]

[kurt snorts, left hand raising to cup around his face, a pathetic attempt at stifling the noise.]

Nobody does, [he notes.] Just tell them small, medium, or large— they'll understand.

[dothelokimotion]

[ His frown deepens but he turns to the board once more before selecting a frappe in medium. His eyebrows go up as he finally sees the size of it. ]

It is larger than I expected.

[shadowblends]

[wow, loki really is new to all of this.]

It's okay. Whatever you don't finish, you can take with you. [a beat, because it's not like he really cares about germs?] Or I'll finish it.

[dothelokimotion]

That seems unwise.

[ Loki's nose scrunches up at the drink before smoothing over. ]

Shall we find a seat?

[shadowblends]

Taking it with you or having me finish it?

[with a nod, kurt motions toward the spread of tables.] We have that option, [he suggests first, then turns to a couple of oversized loungers.] Or those, if you prefer?

[dothelokimotion]

The latter, clearly.

[ Loki casts a critical eye at the place around them and nods to the lounge. ]

That will do.

[shadowblends]

Then throw it away if you don't finish.

[he rolls his eyes and raises his cup to take a pull from the straw, lips quirked as he leads the way. after unceremoniously plopping into one of the seats, kurt motions for loki to sit, waiting until he has before inquiring.] Hey, can I ask you something?

[dothelokimotion]

[ What a waste. Loki eyes the other people in shop before he sidles up to his seat. ]

You may.

[shadowblends]

[glancing back and forth, he waits until the area has cleared, takes another drink then locks his gaze on loki.]

Why do you look at me the way you do?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki stiffens immediately, his gaze sharp. ]

I don't follow.

[shadowblends]

[his lips fleetingly curve at loki's response, though downturn not long after once he locks his gaze on the god of mischief.]

Oh, but I think you do.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki restrains a hiss. ]

You resemble the Frost Giants.