A Complete Waste of Time [Thread 2] ::: Beneath the waves...

[clandestineTechie]

A Complete Waste of Time

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What is A Complete Waste of Time?

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CWoT is the story of sixteen trolls who play a mutually managed organized reality producing game called META. As they continue to play, they all begin to realize the game has even bigger implications on themselves, an alien species, and even their entire universe.

Extended Synopsis (4srs spoilerz):

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I've been asked on several occasions to provide a "TL;DR". This covers the gigantic details:

Several trolls play a strange reality producing game called META. It quickly becomes evident that it is no ordinary game, but rather a test of meddle. Failure deems your species unfit to exist, annihilating your planet. Victory elevates your planet to a utopia, governed by an all-powerful god, but also a single wish. Things go wrong, and the trolls accidentally wish for META to never exist. This creates a paradox that causes a hole in spacetime. The trolls now utilize extensive timetravel, a partnership with an alien race, and shenanigans to correct their mistakes, fight destiny, and of course, completely waste each other's time.

The trolls heavily exploit the game's mechanics in their endeavors, ultimately breaking it down to its origins: a test given to gods to deem their worth. One fateful test, the victory wish was used to reverse the goal of the test: rather than testing gods to watch over civilizations, the people would be tested for worthiness.

There are also several sub-plots: a struggles of an alien planet that barely succeeded, the lives of another set of trolls that heavily documented their failure, and the back-stories of the main cast, the gods, and how they are intertwined with META. These are all part of CWoT's heavy focus on world-building. The events of the story aren't always shown in sequence, but rather to show information as it becomes important.

Character Guide (Spoiler Warning):

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Main Cast


Lorrex Kobol / aegisMason / VANQUISHER OF TRAPS
Lorrex is a cyber-security expert who is all kinds of paranoid. His weapon of choice is the tower shield that he brandishes as a blunt weapon.
Actions of Note: First character, keeps Vera's rationality in check, attempts to foil Lyanne's various attempts at cheating.


Viridian Nox / migrantMorality / SURVIVOR OF TIDES
Viridian is a nature-loving troll that is a bit of a loner. Her strife specibus is planetKind, where she uses her psychic control over nature to attack her enemies.
Actions of Note: "Best Friends" with Virulent, immense hatred of Vera, Commands STEELMOLAR


Chad Saturn / entertainingAmmo / PILFERER OF POSSESSIONS
Chad is basically the coolest guy ever, or so he thinks. His weapon of choice is the yo-yo, with which he does all kinds of crazy tricks.
Actions of Note: Commands the NPCs with insane "pizzazz" stats, is insanely rich in-game, captains a flying pirate ship


Rick Derringer / mishapEngineer / SURVIVOR OF HEAT
Rick is a capricious inventor that is perpetually bored, and builds things designed to break. In combat, Rick uses shotguns, specifically a heavily modified version of his favorite shotgun named "Ol' Bucky".
Actions of Note: Commands the DUST WURM, Interrupted Virulent's sleep in the gamma session, Studied ithican biology


Moira Launas / patienceEngine / DEFENDER OF HOPE
Moira is a whimsical girl with a fascination with the legends of the "winged arbiters" and the ability to slow her perception of time. She uses battle axes in combat to execute the impure.
Actions of Note: Obeyed Virulent's commands to smite Mizanian players, has been betrayed by just about everyone, attempted suicide after realizing her hypocrisy


Layla Kisme / ethicalProxy / CONJURER OF LAW
Actions of Note:


Plato Alfacci / equitableMasochist / VANQUISHER OF ILLUSION
Actions of Note:


Camille Sireen / aphoticPuppeteer / PILFERER OF SHADOWS
Actions of Note:


Lyanne Kythera / automaticEnd / PILFERER OF CURSE
Actions of Note:


Cerana Foral / prolixAntiphon / ENTERTAINER OF LIGHT
Actions of Note:


Felis Fyrson / aimlessAlchemist / SURVIVOR OF LIFE
Actions of Note:


Gabe Allister / muteAspersion / CONJURER OF SILENCE
Actions of Note:


Milo Multon / mindProspector / CONJURER OF TIME
Actions of Note:


Noel Turing / enigmaEducator / SORCERER OF PROPHECY
Actions of Note:


Graves Monskay / percolatedPlasma / DEFENDER OF CHAOS
Actions of Note:


Vera Zenith / prescriptionMiasma / MENDER OF HATE
Actions of Note: Central connection factor for the main cast, Server player for alpha, gamma sessions. Able to bring back players from the dead.

[clandestineTechie]

Fan Art

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slooth:

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Rick: East to Victory

You think you have this MINECRAFT nonsense down.

This post

???:

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jasperkf:

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Pokolo:

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Laddo D:

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JordanTH:

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Metaflare:

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Bonus Content

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[B] Viridian: Be best friends with PM:

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[B] Future Gabe: Check on SHIP LIST:

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Holy shit this thing is outdated.

You immediately begin drafting a new one.



Yesssss.

[slooth]

Yeaaaah! aCWoT Thread 2!

Everyone: Cheers

[ArchmageFestus]

I claim this first page post as a trophy of my enduring devotion to this adventure! Now all who come to this thread will see this mark of glory! Victory is mine!
…
> an mutually managed organized reality producing game
Pfft, just noticed that it's a MMORPG. XD
(Also that should be "a mutually".)

[clandestineTechie]

===>



The besssst part about the future vissssionssss issss that they are theoretical~



All anyone can ssssay about the future issss basssed on patternssss and likely outcomessss of current eventssss~



Sssso, Noel, one could fixssss the future assss they ssssee fit~

>

[JordanTH]

wow

what

GRAVES HAS NORMAL EYES.

THIS IS HIGHLY UNEXPECTED.

[Pokolo]

==>!==>!

[I'm]

wow

what

GRAVES HAS NORMAL EYES.

THIS IS HIGHLY UNEXPECTED.

I wouldn't go too far with that theory.
After all, this whole setting is Noel's dream.
Dreams tend to not pay attention on little details like reality, even prophetic ones.

> Noel: Consult with Moira.

[jasperkf]

So Neg-Karma Moira has blood eyes, while Pos-Karma Graves has normal eyes.

That would seem to indicate that defender's eyes work just like their wings.

But if that's the case, then why did Graves have evil-eyes before he even started playing?

[Metaflare]

So Neg-Karma Moira has blood eyes, while Pos-Karma Graves has normal eyes.

That would seem to indicate that defender's eyes work just like their wings.

But if that's the case, then why did Graves have evil-eyes before he even started playing?

I think that their alternate reality roles changed them. There's a reasy why everyone has their roles they have, because if they were different, they'd be completely different people.

ALSO SKY, IF YOURE READING THIS, YOU SAID THERE'D BE FANART. I really wanna see it

[Skyrius]

A+)FK$_KJG#(JGT#($J A#)FK@)_KJG#$JG$#(J

NEEEWWWWW THREEEEEEEEAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD

And Metaflare reminds me once again to stop forgetting about that XD BUT THIS NEW SCENE IS SO FREAKING AWESOME. I'mma go draw now and flip out and squee and MOIRA/GRAVES ////!!!

EDIT: CTTTT!!! Can you possibly really quickly doodle up what Positive!Graves! outfit looks like from the back????

[clandestineTechie]

Noel: Consult with Moira

Dialog:

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EE: Are you okay?
PE: ...
EE: Mo!ra.
EE: Look at me.
PE: ...I can'''t...
PE: ...I need to get away from here...
PE: ...for a very long time...
PE: ...I'''m sorry...
EE: Where are you go!ng?
PE: ...I don'''t know,,, anywhere...
EE: Well you don't have a whole lot of opt!on????
EE: Al????o ????orry about the ac????ent, ! know !t make???? you uncomfortable.
PE: ...Noel really I'''m fine...
PE: ...Just don't tell anyone that I'''m leaving okay???
PE: ...I'''ll be back before they even notice I am gone,,, okay???
EE: That !???? a l!e.
PE: ...Hmmm???
EE: You are ly!ng. You plan to d!e.
PE: ...
PE: ...Noel,,, what is it like to know the future???
EE: ! don't know the future, ! read m!nd????. ! make educated gue??e? ba?ed on the data pre?ented.
EE: But th!? !?n't even a gue??. You plan to k!ll your?elf. Your rea?on? don't even make ????en-- ?en?e.
EE: Ughhh Nagendra plea?e go away for a m!nute.
SS: :(
EE: U?ually ! can follow ?omeone'? log!c tra!l back to ?ome ?emblance of log!cal thought.
PE: ...Maybe everything isn'''t logical!!!
PE: ...Did you ever think about that???
EE: What exactly !? !t you are try!ng to prove by do!ng th!??
PE: ...
PE: ...I don'''t want to prove anything...
PE: ...I am just trying to give myself the punishment that I deserve...
PE: ...The punishment that no one else here has the heart to do!!!
PE: ...So,,, Noel,,, unless you are willing to help me in that regard.........
EE: ! w!ll do no ?uch th!ng.
PE: ...Then don'''t try to stop me!!!
EE: Let me a?k you one more que?t!on.
EE: !f you make !t back...
EE: What w!ll you do w!th your?elf?
PE: ...
PE: ...If I was to be saved...
PE: ...It would mean I could no longer trust you,,, Noel...
PE: ...Or anyone else...
PE: ...You would be a liar... a trickster...
PE: ...and I would have to punish you......... all of you...
PE: ...as my only chance at redemption...
EE: ...
PE: ...Get out of my way... I will ask you not one more time...

This is your chance to fix the future. You are quite sure if this Moira survives, the prophecy from your dungeon will most certainly occur.

You react in time for past Cerana to make the right choice.



Noel.



The future issss not a plaything~



You are not the sole contributor to our desssstiniessss~

>

[Pokolo]

I love the way he sleeps XD
So cool he SLEEPS with his sunglasses on.

[clandestineTechie]

Authorlog:

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A+)FK$_KJG#(JGT#($J A#)FK@)_KJG#$JG$#(J

NEEEWWWWW THREEEEEEEEAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD

And Metaflare reminds me once again to stop forgetting about that XD BUT THIS NEW SCENE IS SO FREAKING AWESOME. I'mma go draw now and flip out and squee and MOIRA/GRAVES ////!!!

EDIT: CTTTT!!! Can you possibly really quickly doodle up what Positive!Graves! outfit looks like from the back????

Now I feel like a fashion designer.

[Skyrius]

Yesssssss

Wait, quick, someone find me a panel with Moira's full outfit @_@ The ones I keep rummaging through all have something blocking the view.

And CT, you would be the best fashion designer.

EDIT: Never mind, I'm good.

DOUBLE EDIT: Wait, CT, are those braids in Positive!Grave's hair? *can't tell*

[jasperkf]

DOUBLE EDIT: Wait, CT, are those braids in Positive!Grave's hair? *can't tell*

I think they're called dreadlocks.

[clandestineTechie]

Authorlog:

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DOUBLE EDIT: Wait, CT, are those braids in Positive!Grave's hair? *can't tell*

Yes.

[Renegade Electron]

Noel: Get mass pacified and go to sleep. Have another prophetic dream.

[Mirdini]

(Yay Thread 2, may it be as awesome as the last (what am I saying of course it will be)).

> Zzzzzzzzzzz.

[ArchmageFestus]

Ok…
Let me make sure I understand the chronology here.
1. Graves blasts a hole in Vera's wall, flies off.
2. Moira tells Noel that she's leaving and wanders around in the middle of the desert for a while (presumably during time freeze)
3. Future-Graves eats Past-Graves, has a tea party with Past-Cerana.
4. Noel remembers his prophecy where Moira goes evil, and messages Past-Cerana in an attempt to prevent Graves from bringing Moira back.
5. Future-Cerana… puts people to sleep for some reason?
6. Past-Cerana is messaged by Moira, Moira spills her heart out.
7. Graves reads Moira's confessions over Cerana's shoulder, spilling some tea in his rush to leave.
8. Graves gains positive Karma, and rescues Moira.
9. Moira hugs what I think is her past self?
Am I right about this at all or what?

[clandestineTechie]

Noel: Be past Noel



You become past you, who is not sleeping right now, and is in fact very, very bored.

Your best friend has been telling you all about this super awesome game that she wants her friends to play, yourself included. A game that you might play eventually? Who knows. It's not like you are a SORCERER. Or have powers OF PROPHECY. That'd be dumb and highly improbable.

Some jackass has been trolling you, which is sadly the highlight of the morning.

Trollog:

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EE: and that !? why you no longer matter.
EE: Okay.
EE: There'? ?everal th!ng? wrong w!th your log!c "?ORCERER".
EE: !f you are me from the future, how d!d you get here?
EE: Mag!c yoyo
EE: Okay yeah ! th!nk we are done here.
EE: ! can prove !t!
EE: Okay.
EE: Hold on Cerana !? doiiiiiiiiiiiijnhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj jjjjjjjjjjjj
EE: What.
EE: You fall a?leep or ?ometh!ng?
EE: Whatever.

Like anyone, you enjoy a good trolling, even if it is pitiful. But enough is enough, someone you actually care about wants to talk to you too.

Trollog:

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AE: // hey noel!
AE: // I heard you were bored!
EE: Really? ! am, but how d!d you know?
AE: // well you are a really boring guy
AE: // so I figured that is basically all you ever are.
AE: it = contagious;
AE: true; //?
EE: Hah. Good one.
EE: Let me add that to my l!ttle book of th!ng? to pull !f ! ?uddenly need to act half my age.
EE: ?o are you go!ng to heckle me further or do you have ?ome cure for my pl!ght?
AE: // :{
AE: // you are no fun
AE: // always business
AE: // chill!
AE: // I happened to get my.hands on this fantastic game
AE: // and for some reason I thought you might want to play
AE: // SORCERER.
AE: // ;}
EE: Okay what.
EE: Everyone keep? call!ng me that.
EE: Are you !n cahoot? w!th "future me"?
AE: // not directly no
AE: // but yeah we definitely have had contact.
AE: // hahahahah
AE: // yeah that is one way to put it
EE: What do you
EE: No
EE: You?
AE: // lmao
AE: // noel you are way too easy to trick
AE: // honestly why would anyone want to get with you
EE: ?o META.
AE: // right, that.
EE: Vera ?a!d ?he'd be ?ett!ng up a game a few day? ago
AE: true;
AE: // BUT, note if you will, that was several DAYS ago.
AE: // she is slower than slime in the cold season
AE: // some of us are RESPONSIBLE, and know what we are doing.
AE: // does Vera strike you as the responsible type?
EE: Not once.
AE: see(); //?
AE: // so here is the short of it.
AE: // I've gotta start a game with you losers
AE: // real fast
AE: // and then win it
AE: // again, real fast
AE: // cause if I don't well then we are all royally fucked
AE: // did you see what I did there?
EE: !'m not royalty.
AE: // psssssh details.
AE: // I got this under control
AE: // okay so the final boss right
AE: // the longer it hangs around before summoned, the stronger it gets
AE: // let's just say I read about it on a FAQ
EE: FAQ? are for newb?
AE: fuck(you);

Trollog:

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AE: // so I'm going to summon it early
AE: // really, really early
AE: // so early
AE: // it won't even be like, level 2
EE: How do you plan to do th!??
AE: // cheating
AE: // duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Trollog:

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AE: // I've been paying close attention to item IDs
AE: // I've even spawned items in games on the fly
AE: // it is really easy hell even you could do it
AE: // as long as I have one of the mcguffins needed to summon the thing I can guess the IDs of the others

Trollog:

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AE: // once we got those, then we summon it.
AE: // EASY.

Trollog:

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EE: ! can't ?hake the feeling you've made a huge m!?calculat!on ?omewhere.

Trollog:

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AE: // me?
AE: // HAH.
AE: // THAT IS FUNNY NOEL YOU ARE A FUNNY GUY.
AE: // I still don't like you. ;}

Trollog:

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AE: // now let's play.

>

[Metaflare]

GOD
DAMMIT
LYANNE

[Anitar]

1. Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooa.

2. Why is it that Lyanne always looks so much better in Hero Mode?

3. We got to Act 4?

4. Whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooa. Again.

5. ===>

[Restless Roamer]

Ah yes... datamining. If you have one Item ID, similar items and/or set items would be placed as the next numbers. XD

Wait, doesn't the enemies scale with player level? If so, does this guy count as well? I'm just recalling the fight I had with Diablos in FFVIII where if you summon him while still a low level, he's a pushover, but facing him at level cap would be quite difficult, even with blind spamming him.

Nonetheless, depending on one's PoV, this may be a good thing or a bad thing.

[Skyrius]

W)FK$#KF#$(J_($#J YOU'D THINK CHEATING ONCE AND HAVING IT BACKFIRE WOULD BE ENOUGH >________<

Ok…
Let me make sure I understand the chronology here.
1. Graves blasts a hole in Vera's wall, flies off.
2. Moira tells Noel that she's leaving and wanders around in the middle of the desert for a while (presumably during time freeze)
3. Future-Graves eats Past-Graves, has a tea party with Past-Cerana.
4. Noel remembers his prophecy where Moira goes evil, and messages Past-Cerana in an attempt to prevent Graves from bringing Moira back.
5. Future-Cerana… puts people to sleep for some reason?
6. Past-Cerana is messaged by Moira, Moira spills her heart out.
7. Graves reads Moira's confessions over Cerana's shoulder, spilling some tea in his rush to leave.
8. Graves gains positive Karma, and rescues Moira.
9. Moira hugs what I think is her past self?
Am I right about this at all or what?

As far as I can tell, the positive!Graves who saved Moira isn't necessarily the same Graves that was talking to Cerena. It might be even further in the future (kinda like how there are 12 Lyanne's running around or something @_@) but other that that, I think that's about right.