Planar Crusade
The Internet Headquarters event was the launch of Planar Crusade, with new information and screenshots released over several days. This information has been archived here for posterity.
Partial transcript of a top secret meeting at the Internet Headquarters, 2011/07/19 09:30
Information is scarce at the moment. Our top analysts are busy trying to figure out what the system designated "PLANE" is supposed to accomplish. So far, they've discovered that it appears to be some kind of computer virus that has been spreading unnoticed for almost two decades, and which had existed in some other form even before that.
- And? Viruses are nothing new. Contact the exterminator guys, as usual.
Sir, we did. The virus seems to laugh at our attempts to quarantine it. It's... It's as if it was aware of our actions.
- Impossible!
Impossible or not, it still happened.
- So, what's this "PLANE" virus trying to accomplish? Just another bad-mannered hacker trying to ransom the internets?
"PLANE" appears to be some kind of world simulation, using the computing power of its infected hosts as a massive distributed processor. However, it appears that things are not going as planned: We've intercepted encoded transmissions mentioning "Chaos" and a "Corruption" that's destroying the system from within.
- If that's the case, why are we talking about this? It's going to destroy itself, why do we need to interfere?
This virus affects 89.6% of all systems connected to the internet. If the virus becomes corrupted, it may well bring these systems down along with it. The internet would effectively cease to be.
- That's madness! What can we do to prevent this disaster?
Well, it looks like we won't have to. The system seems to be trying to take care of the problem already, aided by a mysterious outside source. It is attempting to recruit humans to its cause by allowing them to manipulate its systems through a video game.
- Do we know anything about this "video game" interface?
Information is scarce at the moment. All we managed to recover at the moment are the key words "RPG", "MMO", "Turn-based" and "Management", as well as a couple of screen shots. Hopefully, "PLANE" will divulge more information before it is too late.
- Hey... this actually looks kind of fun. Erm, I mean, very serious business. Keep track of any developments, Stevens. We don't want to lose track of this game - erm - virus.
Understood, sir.
[End of Transcript]
Information is scarce at the moment. Our top analysts are busy trying to figure out what the system designated "PLANE" is supposed to accomplish. So far, they've discovered that it appears to be some kind of computer virus that has been spreading unnoticed for almost two decades, and which had existed in some other form even before that.
- And? Viruses are nothing new. Contact the exterminator guys, as usual.
Sir, we did. The virus seems to laugh at our attempts to quarantine it. It's... It's as if it was aware of our actions.
- Impossible!
Impossible or not, it still happened.
- So, what's this "PLANE" virus trying to accomplish? Just another bad-mannered hacker trying to ransom the internets?
"PLANE" appears to be some kind of world simulation, using the computing power of its infected hosts as a massive distributed processor. However, it appears that things are not going as planned: We've intercepted encoded transmissions mentioning "Chaos" and a "Corruption" that's destroying the system from within.
- If that's the case, why are we talking about this? It's going to destroy itself, why do we need to interfere?
This virus affects 89.6% of all systems connected to the internet. If the virus becomes corrupted, it may well bring these systems down along with it. The internet would effectively cease to be.
- That's madness! What can we do to prevent this disaster?
Well, it looks like we won't have to. The system seems to be trying to take care of the problem already, aided by a mysterious outside source. It is attempting to recruit humans to its cause by allowing them to manipulate its systems through a video game.
- Do we know anything about this "video game" interface?
Information is scarce at the moment. All we managed to recover at the moment are the key words "RPG", "MMO", "Turn-based" and "Management", as well as a couple of screen shots. Hopefully, "PLANE" will divulge more information before it is too late.
- Hey... this actually looks kind of fun. Erm, I mean, very serious business. Keep track of any developments, Stevens. We don't want to lose track of this game - erm - virus.
Understood, sir.
[End of Transcript]
Excerpt of a confidential "PLANE" report, Internet Headquarters, 2011/07/25 18:00
Over the past few days, additional information on the internal workings of "PLANE" and its interface software has been uncovered.
As we already suspected based on the screen captures intercepted last week, "PLANE" is a simulation of a vast twodimensional landscape and its inhabitants (hereafter known simply as the Plane). The system itself appears to be sentient to at least some extent, reacting to our investigation in entirely unpredictable ways. Its sentient nature may simply be an emergent pattern caused by the system's considerable processing power, or there may be some other, more insidious force at work here.
We can also confirm reports of a "Chaos" interfering with the system's proceedings. It appears that the network's capabilities - and with that the size of the Plane - slowly grew out of control, causing internal error checking mechanisms to fail with increasing regularity. This eventually allowed slight glitches in the simulation to accumulate into a consuming affliction, ripping holes in the Plane's simulation logic and replacing it with destructive entropy.
It appears that the Plane has mobilized a countermeasure in response to the Chaos, purging the corrupting influence outwards from a central point. However, the effects of the purge have not been uniform: Chaos holds a stronger foothold as one travels farther from the relatively safe center.
The Plane's inhabitants have been affected in varying ways. Most simply grew more aggressive, resulting in frenzied wildlife and fanatic cultists. Others were unfortunate enough to be caught near one of the many sources of Chaotic influence, imbuing them with incredible powers. These unlucky few fled to the safety of long-abandoned caverns and ruins, hoarding treasure and corrupted trinkets, and defending their new territory with no regard to their own safety.
It appears that the Plane's systems are focusing a number of their purification efforts on these Chaos-addled dungeon dwellers. Additional screen captures extracted from the Plane's secure communications, and included in this report, confirm this suspicion: Champions of the Plane are raiding these lairs of Chaos in an attempt to destroy the corruption's most powerful minions.
Additional information is scarce at the moment, and will be reported as soon as possible.
Over the past few days, additional information on the internal workings of "PLANE" and its interface software has been uncovered.
As we already suspected based on the screen captures intercepted last week, "PLANE" is a simulation of a vast twodimensional landscape and its inhabitants (hereafter known simply as the Plane). The system itself appears to be sentient to at least some extent, reacting to our investigation in entirely unpredictable ways. Its sentient nature may simply be an emergent pattern caused by the system's considerable processing power, or there may be some other, more insidious force at work here.
We can also confirm reports of a "Chaos" interfering with the system's proceedings. It appears that the network's capabilities - and with that the size of the Plane - slowly grew out of control, causing internal error checking mechanisms to fail with increasing regularity. This eventually allowed slight glitches in the simulation to accumulate into a consuming affliction, ripping holes in the Plane's simulation logic and replacing it with destructive entropy.
It appears that the Plane has mobilized a countermeasure in response to the Chaos, purging the corrupting influence outwards from a central point. However, the effects of the purge have not been uniform: Chaos holds a stronger foothold as one travels farther from the relatively safe center.
The Plane's inhabitants have been affected in varying ways. Most simply grew more aggressive, resulting in frenzied wildlife and fanatic cultists. Others were unfortunate enough to be caught near one of the many sources of Chaotic influence, imbuing them with incredible powers. These unlucky few fled to the safety of long-abandoned caverns and ruins, hoarding treasure and corrupted trinkets, and defending their new territory with no regard to their own safety.
It appears that the Plane's systems are focusing a number of their purification efforts on these Chaos-addled dungeon dwellers. Additional screen captures extracted from the Plane's secure communications, and included in this report, confirm this suspicion: Champions of the Plane are raiding these lairs of Chaos in an attempt to destroy the corruption's most powerful minions.
Additional information is scarce at the moment, and will be reported as soon as possible.
Intercepted "PLANE" inter-system communication, 2011/07/26 16:30
PROJECT "PLANAR CRUSADE" PROCEEDING AS PLANNED.
USER INTERFACE MODULE INSTALLED, ZERO ERRORS. FULL MODULE INITIALIZATION WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS.
SANCTUARY MODULE INSTALLED, ZERO ERRORS. INITIALIZATION COMPLETED, ZERO ERRORS. DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS ATTACHED.
USER INTERFACE MODULE INSTALLED, ZERO ERRORS. FULL MODULE INITIALIZATION WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY THREE DAYS.
SANCTUARY MODULE INSTALLED, ZERO ERRORS. INITIALIZATION COMPLETED, ZERO ERRORS. DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS ATTACHED.
Excerpt of a second "PLANE" report, Internet Headquarters, 2011/07/26 19:30
Our investigation into "PLANE" has continued, and we have uncovered important information pertaining to its current status.
It appears that the Plane's safeguarding methods are currently being executed by a triumvirate of Guardians: Shadow, Neutral and Light. Each of these Guardians seems to have been gifted with the power to manipulate the Plane's system to a great extent, and each has their own way of achieving the eradication of Chaos and the preservation of the Plane. However, disagreement among the Guardians has sown the seeds for civil war. At the moment, they are locked in a ferocious struggle for dominance, each attempting to gain territory and support for their personal crusade against the corruption.
Even as the Plane's systems prepare to recruit humans to aid in the battle against Chaos, the Guardians are plotting their next move. Each faction is looking to recruit these humans as well, enlisting them as generals in the Guardian's army in exchange for control over the Guardian's undying warriors. It appears that brother fighting against brother is going to be one of the cornerstones of the upcoming Planar Crusade...
Our investigation into "PLANE" has continued, and we have uncovered important information pertaining to its current status.
It appears that the Plane's safeguarding methods are currently being executed by a triumvirate of Guardians: Shadow, Neutral and Light. Each of these Guardians seems to have been gifted with the power to manipulate the Plane's system to a great extent, and each has their own way of achieving the eradication of Chaos and the preservation of the Plane. However, disagreement among the Guardians has sown the seeds for civil war. At the moment, they are locked in a ferocious struggle for dominance, each attempting to gain territory and support for their personal crusade against the corruption.
Even as the Plane's systems prepare to recruit humans to aid in the battle against Chaos, the Guardians are plotting their next move. Each faction is looking to recruit these humans as well, enlisting them as generals in the Guardian's army in exchange for control over the Guardian's undying warriors. It appears that brother fighting against brother is going to be one of the cornerstones of the upcoming Planar Crusade...
