Dorms

The dorms used to be an area on the west side of the Metroplex U campus. Halloween parties were traditionally held there, but a (rumoured to be) Midgard experiment caused them to blow up in late 2012. They are currently under construction.

Currently (~June 13th 2015, onwards)

Returning Dorm
Workers move through the dorm, putting their finishing touches on the structure. It looks like they're actually taking it seriously. Someone probably threatened to cut off their contract.

Or, if one of the below applies:
Workers move slowly and cautiously through the dorm, putting their finishing touches on the structure.

And if you have zero HP:
It's said there are hundreds of dead left beneath this dorm. It's hard to believe, but you feel about ready to join them at the moment.

Otherwise, if you have Spectral Curse:
A terrible chill drives you back from the construction site. You've heard there are hundreds of dead buried beneath this dorm and it's easy to believe it.

Or, if you have some HP and do not have Spectral Curse, and have received the right etheric result from Shared Files:

As your thoughts wander, you can feel the dead beneath your feet pulling at you. There are… so many. As you pull yourself back, you can feel them clawing at you.

You take 13-17 damage.

You've gained 10 duration of Spectral Curse.

You learned a new Technique: Awaken Students
Or, if the damage above brings you to 0 HP, instead of the tech:
It's only through sheer force of will that they don't pull you down with them. So many… so many dead.

You've earned 4 XP in Will

Older messages

+ Before Oct 24, 2009

This dorm is locked up pretty tight. You'd need a student ID to get in.

+ October 24-30, 2009

The folks at the door ask for a student ID or a ticket.

A ticket? That's different.

(Leads to Halloween Setup if you have a halloween ticket)

+ October 31, 2009

There seems to be a fairly raucous Halloween party going on inside, but the students at the door turn you away. Apparently you need a ticket. Weird.

+ November 1, 2009 to December 1, 2009

On your first visit, receive Eclipse Plotter Rewards, Frat Rewards, or Volunteer Rewards, as appropriate. On subsequent visits, receive this message:

The dorm looks like the set from a disaster movie. Great stretches of one side are charred, leaving strange rivulets of melted stone trailing down like tears.

Midgard Security has the place on lockdown, but someone placed a few wreaths of flowers underneath the burned section.

+ December 1, 2009 to Mid October 2010

This dorm is locked up surprisingly tightly, with Midgard Security crawling everywhere. It's hard to say if you could get in even with a student ID.

The east side of the building has been recently repaired, including a lot of new brickwork. Several memorial wreaths, some of them even made from real flowers, have been placed reverently under that section.

+ October 31, 2010

See various results on the Halloween 2010 page

+ November, 2010 to October 16, 2011

This dorm is locked up tight. It's very much students-only, although you've heard of folks sneaking in for parties.

+ October 7-16, 2011

(first time per day only)

From the distance you see the woman you saw at the speech on the Quad badging herself into the building.

+ October 16, 2011 to October 30, 2011

See choice encounter at Lady With Clipboard

+ November 1, 2011

See encounter at Halloween Teardown

+ November 2011 to June 2012

You see the student council and the handful of remaining Halloween volunteers tidying up after the big party.

Periodically, the building groans, as though it's settling into the ground. Whenever it groans, the students nearest it freeze in their tracks.

And, with Etheric active:
During the moment of settling, you can see an eerie green light flickering out from the basement windows. Hmmm.

Otherwise:
You're not an architect but your apartment building makes noises like that all the time. It's definitely not in any immediate danger of collapsing, but they should have it looked at.

+ June to October 31, 2012

This dorm is locked up tight… tighter than you'd expect, actually. You don't usually need cameras on the roof and sensors at the windows to catch kids sneaking in kegs.

And after ~10 PM on Oct 27th:
The guys with MK9s and gas masks are probably overkill too, but they seem more panicked than the kids who want to get up to their dorm rooms.

Or, with Slags Poisoning or Broken World:

This dorm is locked up tight, which might be for the best… You can see strange shapes moving in the basement, shadows and light playing tricks on you.

Or, with Ocean Sight:

This dorm is locked up tight, which might be for the best… You can see strange shapes swimming through the basement, shadows and light playing tricks on you. You hear the distant chords of a familiar song, crystalline notes framing whispers you can't quite pick out.

Or, with Fae Sight:

This dorm is locked up tight, which might be for the best… You can see strange shapes fluttering through the basement, shadows and light playing tricks on you. You hear the distant sound of crystal horns, like a forgotten empire calling its heroes home to rest.

Or, with Muffled Sight:

This dorm is locked up tight, which might be for the best… You can see something moving in the basement, something you're mercifully unable to fully understand. You manage to tear yourself away before the pounding in your head gets too loud.

Or, on October 31st, briefly:

This dorm is locked up tight, which might be for the best… Some sort of brilliant green light swirls in the basement, somehow pushing through glass and stone alike.

Checking closer, you can hear a distant sound… you want to say it's the wind, but it sounds like thousands of smooth stones rubbing against each other… like an avalanche in slow motion.

+ October 31, 2012 (post explosion)

The name of this zone is now "Smoking Pit". (See Metroplex U page for changes to the area overview image.)

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with sliding earth and unnatural-looking green flames.

Wow.

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with sliding earth and unnatural-looking green flames.

+ November 1, 2012

The name of this zone is now "Smoking Pit".

Normally:

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with sliding earth and unnatural-looking green flames.

Wow.

One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Feel free to look, just don't breathe too deep or get close to the edge. There are still rockslides and nobody knows what these fumes'll do to you."

Or, last line is replaced with, in full containment:

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with sliding earth and unnatural-looking green flames.

Wow.

One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Look, we already talked about this with your managers. Nobody can go in until the ground settles a bit. We can't even get drones in there right now."

She sighs. "Look, I don't care how fancy your suit is. It just means the first rockslide will bury an expensive corpse."

Or, last line is replaced with, in doctor's getup:

One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Sorry, we still can't get in. We tried to send some of those new MD5 drones, the ones they deployed to Oldtown because they were freaking out about OmniTech building stuff, and they couldn't even get in. The ground's still too loose and who knows what's on fire to make it that color?"

"Well, good news is Corporate's sending in a special team to help us once the ground settles… Bad news is, they're from the Slags." She sighs and turns to look over the pit.

"Makes you wonder what the hell happened."

+ November 2-3, 2012

The name of this zone is now "Smoldering Pit".

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with rubble and plumes of green smoke.

Wow.

One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Feel free to look, just don't breathe too deep or get close to the edge. We've got it under control, but we can't guarantee anyone else's safety."

In a full containment suit (some First Aid also required?):

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with rubble and plumes of green smoke.

(And, if some survivors have been rescued?)
Paramedics and doctors buzz around the edge of the pit, tending to survivors and getting them ready to transport Downtown.

(Or, after some point on the 2nd):
Paramedics and doctors carefully skirt the edge of the pit, tending to survivors and getting them ready to transport Downtown.


One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Alright, the slides have mostly stopped so your team is good to go in. We're under orders from Corporate to stay put which, well… I'm not complaining, but if you find anyone alive bring them out here and we'll get them patched up."

(Enter Collapsed Dorm)

Or, in a doctor's outfit:

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with rubble and plumes of green smoke.

Wow.

Paramedics and doctors carefully skirt the edge of the pit, tending to survivors and getting them ready to transport Downtown.

One of the paramedics approaches you as you near the pit. "Sorry, we still can't get in. I mean, we've got people in there now and those MD5 drones that they deployed in Oldtown. But we're not allowed in without containment suits and training."

"Good news is Corporate's sent in a special team to help us get people out… Bad news is, they're from the Slags." She sighs and turns to look over the pit.

"Makes you wonder what the hell happened."

+ November 4-5, 2012

Same messages as Nov 2-3rd, but now start with:

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's a pit filled with rubble and pillars of eerie green light.

Paramedics and doctors stand far back from the edge of the pit, tending to survivors and getting them ready to transport Downtown.

+ November 6, 2012

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's nothing but rubble under a giant plume of dust.

Wow.

A small army of paramedics and doctors has set up camp a safe distance from the rubble, prepping the last rescued students for transport downtown.

One of the paramedics approaches you, shaking her head. "Well, that's it, I suppose. We got out everyone we could. Nothing to be ashamed of."She sounds more like she's trying to convince herself than convince you.

+ November 7 - December 12, 2012

One of Metroplex University's dorms used to be here… Now, there's nothing but rubble under a giant plume of dust.

Wow.

A small army of paramedics and doctors has set up camp a safe distance from the rubble, prepping the last rescued students for transport downtown.

One of the paramedics approaches you. "Ah, good! You made it out! You guys did great work! Great. We wouldn't have gotten 98 kids out without you!"

She invites you to sit down, have some coffee and swap some stories.

You found: X cups of paramedic coffee (proportional to number of students saved?)

As you finish comparing notes, experiences, and tall tales, she says "Oh, I almost forgot, I think someone left something for you!"

She comes back a moment later with a bulky package.

One or more of the following:
You received: paramedic eyepiece

You received: emerald tear

You received: corroded digging arm

+ December 12 - 18, 2012

Name of the zone is now "Collapsed Dorm".

Workers swarm in and out of the collapsed dorm, apparently trying to get an outer shell of the building up before the snows start. Between all the workers and the drones, you can almost believe they'll manage it.

+ December 18, 2012 - January 7, 2013

Workers swarm in and out of the collapsed dorm, apparently trying to get an outer shell of the building up before the snows start. It looks like they'll have it in time.

+ January 7, 2013 - October 21st, 2013

Workers swarm in and out of the dorm's outer shell, filling in its inner workings as fast as they can. Between the workers and the drones, it shouldn't take too long.

And, starting October 20, 2013:

Peering through the windows, you can see there are almost as many security guards as workers… and over half the drones are hound drones rather intended for construction. Huh.

And if you have zero HP:
It's said there are hundreds of dead left beneath this dorm. It's hard to believe, but you feel about ready to join them at the moment.

Otherwise, if you have Spectral Curse:
A terrible chill drives you back from the construction site. You've heard there are hundreds of dead buried beneath this dorm and it's easy to believe it.

+ October 22nd, 2013 - October 31st, 2013

A detachment of Midgard Security stand in front of the dorm. That doesn't seem like a good sign.

The students watching the spectacle mention they're here to "prevent a repeat of last year" when a party in the dorms lead to them collapsing.

Later on:

A detachment of Midgard Security stand in front of the dorm. That doesn't seem like a good sign.

The students watching the spectacle mention they're here to "prevent a repeat of last year" when a party in the dorms lead to them collapsing. As you get filled in on the details, you see the guards wave in workers and a hazardous materials team.

Later on:

A detachment of Midgard Security stand in front of the dorm. That doesn't seem like a good sign.

The students watching the spectacle mention they're here to "prevent a repeat of last year" when a party in the dorms lead to them collapsing. As you get filled in on the details, you see the guards wave in workers, more security officers, and a hazardous materials team.

Oct 31st:

A detachment of Midgard Security stand in front of the dorm. That doesn't seem like a good sign.

The students watching the spectacle helpfully explain the security officers are having some problems with a bunch of students having snuck in to have a Halloween party. But hopefully, once they have them rousted, they'll be able to leave. As you get filled in on the details, you see the guards wave in workers, more security officers, and a hazardous materials team.

If wearing a full Containment Suit, Midgard Security Outfit or Construction Worker outfit or Doctor Outfit:

Midgard Security:

Although the guards out front ask for your orders, they cave almost immediately when you say you don't have them. The one questioning you swipes a card to unlock the doors.

"Be careful, the drones have been getting antsy."

Containment Suit:

Although the guards out front ask for your orders, they cave almost immediately when you say you don't have them. The one questioning you swipes a card to unlock the doors.

"Get in there, you're scaring the kiddies. They don't want to know what you guys are protecting them from."

Or, at some point on October 31st:

The guards in front of the building look wired, but wave you in without comment.

Construction:

Although the guards out front ask for your contract, they cave almost immediately when you say you don't have it. The one questioning you swipes a card to unlock the doors.

"We're supposed to have this bad boy done in time for the new term and the drones are on the fritz, so you'd better get working." He makes a sweeping gesture inside, complete with a little mocking bow.

Doctor:

Although the guards out front ask you who called and strongly suggest there aren't any injured inside, you insist and they eventually swipe you in.

"Just be careful in there. It's not a place for one doctor." That doesn't sound much like a place where nobody's injured.

Third and Fourth paragraphs - all:

Inside, the building is barely a shell. There's scaffolding here and there, a few floors and halls, bundles of wires, but not even enough to really call a "skeleton."

Echoing through the vast, empty space, you can hear distant screams and the occasional gunshot.

Leads to Hollow Dorms, takes 1 energy

If out of energy

A detachment of Midgard Security stand in front of the dorm. That doesn't seem like a good sign, but you're too tired right now to investigate it.

+ November 1st, 2013 - October 21st, 2014

One time only, after halloween:

See Halloween 2013 Rewards.

After that:

Returning Dorm
Workers move slowly and cautiously through the dorm, putting their finishing touches on the structure.

And if you have zero HP:
It's said there are hundreds of dead left beneath this dorm. It's hard to believe, but you feel about ready to join them at the moment.

Otherwise, if you have Spectral Curse:
A terrible chill drives you back from the construction site. You've heard there are hundreds of dead buried beneath this dorm and it's easy to believe it.

Or: on January 25th, if you have some HP and do not have Spectral Curse, and have received the right etheric result from Shared Files:

Workers move slowly and cautiously through the dorm, putting their finishing touches on the structure.

As your thoughts wander, you can feel the dead beneath your feet pulling at you. There are… so many. As you pull yourself back, you can feel them clawing at you.

You take 13-17 damage.

You've gained 10 duration of Spectral Curse.

You learned a new Technique: Awaken Students
(Or, if the damage above brings you to 0 HP, instead of the tech:)
It's only through sheer force of will that they don't pull you down with them. So many… so many dead.

You've earned 4 XP in Will

+ Until sometime before June 13th, 2015

Workers move slowly and cautiously through the dorm, putting their finishing touches on the structure. You're pretty sure they're just milking the contract at this point. How long could it take?