Second Dawn: Erin Clarkson

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This is a reference document for the LARP The Second Dawn.

Erin Clarkson Player: Lauren A El Dorado Ocean Idealist Age: 25

Additional information (read first): El Dorado

Background: You have lived all of your life in El Dorado. You have been told that it is a small community; that other places have far more people in them. But you are used to life here and can’t imagine living anywhere else. El Dorado is clean and safe. You know and like everyone in the community. And you have something that no other place in the world has – a benign artificial intelligence, whose superior knowledge keeps your community running. She is always fair, keeps the peace, and has innovative solutions to every problem. Your place in the community is to fish and help run the desalination pools. You’ve always liked the work, because you love being near the water. Many a night you have sat on the beach and stared across the sea, losing yourself in the vastness of water below, sky above, and both reflecting the other. Then there was a night, almost six months ago now, when it was different. It had been a hard day long day, hauling the nets, and you were exhausted. You lay down on your favorite rock on the beach and closed your eyes and just listened to the waves lap. As you started to drift off to sleep, you felt like the waves started forming a pattern. It seemed almost as if they were saying words….a repeated, “You, you, you, you.” You assumed you were just sleepy, and went off to bed. A few days later, you went down to the sea again, and it happened again. Definitely now you could hear syllables in the waves, if you closed your eyes and listened closely. You began to go down to the sea daily, and then more often – four, five, six times a day. Not every time when you closed your eyes could you hear the sea talking. But sometimes you definitely could. You started to take more frequent breaks when fishing, to sit and listen and see if the ocean had something to say. You transcribed every word you heard, and you started to see a pattern. The ocean had a message, a repeating pattern of sentences. It seemed to be aimed at any that could hear it, not at you specifically. It is difficult to properly convey, because some is lost in translation without the cyclical repetition. But the basic gist is this: Humans contain blood, blood is saltwater, we have the sea running through us. The ocean wishes this to be mirrored, to have humans running through it as we have ocean running through us, to have humans who are amphibious and live and swim in the water always. The ocean is not one entity – it is a network of information and life. Humanity was once like that, but now we live in isolated pockets. With the ocean’s help perhaps we can become one being, both multitudinous and one. The ocean also had a much shorter message, very easy to understand, interspersed between the longer ideas: “Thank You JD”. You wonder who or what JD is. What if it was another benign AI, like your White Rutledge? It would be wonderful to find another community who lived like you did, somewhere across the sea. You asked a few friends what they heard in the waves, but no one seems to be able to hear what you do. Nonetheless, you’re quite certain that you aren’t imagining this all. The message is far too complex to be something that you’ve just invented, and besides, you know you aren’t crazy. When White Rutledge announced that she was going to the far off Northeast to see the sailing of a space ship, you requested to come with her. This place she to which she’s going is also on the ocean – perhaps other people there have heard the message that you have. Also, these foreigners may know of a way humans can live underwater. Finally, although you love your home, you can’t help but be curious what the rest of the world is like.

Roleplaying notes: You’ve never met any strangers, and are slightly in awe of the sheer number of very different people at the Second Dawn launch. These politics are completely foreign to you – you don’t understand why people would want to have humans leading them when AIs are far smarter and more just. You are generally idealistic and cheerful.

Goals: 1) Find a way for humans to live underwater, through technology or otherwise. 2) Find and collaborate with other people who can hear the ocean. 3) Find out who this “JD” is, and give him or her the ocean’s message. 4) Tell others about your utopian way of life.

Opinions: Black Science: This stuff is bad, but thankfully you don’t have any of it in El Dorado. Maple Kingdom: You’ve heard they have lots of ancient technology. Appalachian Confederacy: Like you, this is a small community, so you may have more in common with these people. Eastern Union: Their politics are baffling, but the idea of sending a ship into space is grand and appealing. The Tinkers: These people know the most about technology, but do they have solar cells, gyroscopes, or Zeppelins? Religion: You are a Gaian – the earth is alive, and should be protected and loved.

Key Information: •Rutledge the White asked for you not to tell any of these foreigners that she is your benevolent AI. The cover story is that she is the leader and the AI’s high priestess, while the AI is still back in El Dorado. •You can hear the ocean giving you messages. This started about six months ago. You haven’t told anyone specifically about them, but you were hoping to tell Rutledge the White today. •The ocean wants to be one with people. For a first step, it wants people to permanently swim in its waters. •Many people in El Dorado have the family name Rutledge. •High tide will occur exactly 1 hour after the start of game. You must go to the lifeboat room to listen to the ocean at this time.

People (in approximate order of importance): Rutledge the White (Michelle B): Benevolent AI and leader of El Dorado. She has always been very kind to you, and makes time to listen to you. She would never lie to your people or lead you unwisely. Daniel Rutledge (Constantine H): One of the few community members your own age, you and he have long been friends, though not very close. He piloted the Zepplin from El Dorado, which you find very impressive. He’s seemed discontented lately. Beathag Tinker (Sue B), Artair Tinker (Jed S), Ceallach Tinker (David B), Malamhin Tinker (Abrihette Y), Niallghas Tinker (Aaron B): All Tinkers. One of them may know of a way for humans to become amphibious: to be able to breath underwater or swim all the time. Jean Archard (Isaac H), Donald Baxter (Jerry S): Both merchants. They may be able to sell you amphibious equipment. Raymond Latour (Adam K): Some sort of researcher from the Maple Kingdom. They are fairly high-tech, so he seems a likely candidate to know of a way for humans to become more able to live full time in the ocean. Julia Dyer (Serin H), Jill Deasey (Kendra T), Jackie Drake (Sheyna G): “JD”? Maybe one of them hears the ocean too?

Ratings: Pilot: 0 R: 0 D: 2 G: 1

Nametag Symbols: T, I

Attributes: Physical: Defense 2 Pool Rating 2 [] [] Mental: Defense 3 Pool Rating 3 [] [] [] Social: Defense 4 Pool Rating 4 [] [] [] []

Recoveries: -Explain the wonders of El Dorado’s benevolent governance (+1 point, 3/hour) -React to something at this party with obvious awe and wonder (+1 point, 3/hour) -Get uncharacteristically angry at something or someone (+3 points, once ever)

Abilities: Charm, penetrating insight, calm, convince, entice, commune with ocean, familiarity

Items: Gyroscope, vial of glittering sand, piece of jewelry

Commune with Ocean System: While the launch platform is quite noisy, you may be able to communicate with the ocean if you try. See a GM.

Familiarity System: Recognize a “Vial of glittering sand” item with the “N3” quality as being the seeds for your desalination pools. The pools are usually self-sufficient, but if you need to make a new one for some reason, you’d add this stuff.