EMBER 3.0 - A Social App for Lost Souls! [September Substory]

[enterthe]

⬦ ⬦ ⬦


UPDATE EMBER 3.1 (OVERFLOW)


The EMBER Application icon flashes alive on the homescreen of all the Lost Soul devices across Jigoku-cho. Not a surprise if your character has been using it already, but perhaps unsettling to newbies or those who deleted it previously. It pops open on its own, welcoming the user and telling them that all Lost Souls has updated to the newest version!

Oh well, why think too hard about it? A lengthy and extremely technically worded Terms of Service appears, even if it's been gone through before, it has some updates. Again, why scroll up to read all that? There's a large ACCEPT button front and center! (There doesn't seem to be a Decline button. Closing out of the App is the only way to not agree... Might want to just delete the App to be safe.)

Accepting moves users forward to App Permissions! A Helpful Window says "Accept All and your profile will be quickly updated or auto-generated for you! Great for speeding set up along! (Recommended)". If that doesn't sway, then each Permission question can be prompted individually. The subsequent windows ask for a variety of totally standard and absolutely above board access prompts. Location Data, Photo/Video Access, etc etc etc- Yes or No! REMINDER: The app will function better if all access is granted!

It doesn't seem to matter what is pressed- all, some, or nothing- the App moves forward for users regardless.
Have fun connecting with your fellow Lost Souls!
⬦ ⬦ ⬦
WELCOME to EMBER
A Social Network for Lost Souls!
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EXAMPLE PROFILE

YDRIS (Immortal) SUTOKU ALLIANCE ☆☆☆☆☆ Creator

✓       ✕ FUCK | FIGHT

STAR RANK
EMBER profiles all have ☆'s denoting... something. The only clarity is that they come with a Title besides them. These are not, as it might first seem, faction star rankings. They're just ranks on some unknown scale. The example profile has the highest rank to be found, 5 stars and the title of Creator.

Everybody else gets between 1 and 4 stars with what seems like an algorithmically generated title. These could be anything from ☆ Stink Man up to more illustrious ☆☆☆☆ Faction Hero. If characters are not happy with their Rank and Titles, they can pay using their profile generated Dragon Coins to reroll. They might get a worse result, so watch out, spending on gatcha can get out of hand...

(OOC Note: Rank and Title cannot be edited or changed ICly by a character, but are fully an OOC choice of rank and title! Make up whatever funny, edgy, cool, silly thing you like and saddle your character with it as their profile title.)

Higher star ranks seem to be weighted in favor of getting Green Checkmarks via the algorithm. Hmm.

SWIPE ¹

Swipe Left or Right, accepting the green or red... proposals? Is that what they are? The App immediately starts a Live Chat between the two parties, complete with recommendations for either highly rated Love Hotels or nearby Fighting Gyms with arenas to use. These come with a variety of discount coupons for use, seems both of these places like to charge by the hour...

ALGORITHM
Stalling on the profile for more than a few seconds results in a loading graphic of a little dancing fire. **Calculating!** it says;

Ding! The In App Algorithm has decided for you! How convenient. The person whose profile was being looked at automatically gets sent a FUCK ✓ or FIGHT ✕, complete with that same live chat initiation mentioned above.

Rarely, there's a third option, essentially an algorithm fail state called CHILL, which still initiates the live chat. That means the system didn't find either of the other two options appropriate. Bummer. It generates completely random suggestions on where to meet, usually a cafe or eatery that is doing an EMBER promotion.

¹ [ DISCLAIMER: At the insistence of one Kim Kitsuragi, there is a link to an additional Terms and Conditions document for which the tl;dr is to "All Ember users engaging in matters of passion and/or violence are encouraged to practice such activities in a manner which remains safe, sane, and consensual.
Any injuries resulting from following through on an EMBER suggestion are not the responsibility of the application. ]

NEW FEATURES - SEPTEMBER
New EMBER, new features! The previous update centered largely around the addition of"EMBER Premium", an area of the app meant for use by Heavenly Celestials (and their wallets).

Lost Soul profiles can receive and cash out a digital currency called Dragon Coins. While Lost Souls cannot interact with the Celestials via the app, the Celestials have some functionality, namely they can donate Dragon Coins to their favorite Lost Souls. Dragon Coins can be turned into actual hell currency through the app- nothing much more than pocket money, but it's a little extra pay! Why not side hustle from your phone?

The big change this update is that Only Celestials seems to have been urolled into the upgraded "EMBER, Go!" a fully functional Augmented Reality Collection Game! Dragon Coins appear as an in-app currency and can be used and collected a variety of new ways, all gamified and presented with cute pixel graphics. Seems that the investment money Ydris hustled up at the Tanabata event went into this and the production value is on point.

EMBER Go!

-GATCHA BANNERS: The Celestials are very visual and they love little more than photos and pretty outfits. Seems they're willing to really whale for their favorites, whoever they may be among the Lost Souls. Those who upload photos of themselves in the current outfit "theme" get a large bonus for contributing to the current GATCHA BANNER running on the Celestials side of things.

September's Theme is "END OF SUMMER" and encourages either fun Beach Wear looks or cozy Autumn outfits. If your character puts in a lot of effort, they might even be the featured SSR for the banner, guaranteeing them a higher bonus pay out! (OOC Note: Character gatcha rate/success is completely at Player discretion!)

-QUESTS: Walking around Jigokucho, the App will buzz and alert of Quests! There are certain activities that when interacted with and posted to EMBER, result in Dragon Coin pay outs. Try out that new boba joint, you get 20% off and a Dragon Coin kick back- just remember to take a photo of your pretty drink.

These are very likely to be active at Character Owned or Managed Locations, so be sure to stop in a support your fellow Lost Souls!

-COLLECT 'EM ALL: The most game part of this phone game, all Lost Soul profiles have a cutesy sprite versions of themselves! They're even animated, how precious... Don't you want to collect the whole roster? These are scattered about the map, spawning characters largely in the areas their faction holds territory. Hopefully nobody walks into danger looking for that shiny variety of their significant other...

You can grab all your friends and enemies, rename them as you please, and play with them as little Tamagotchi-like critters. Level up your favs and play minigames, it's a fun distraction on your device, nothing too deep.

Sure, forgetting to feed them is grim, but why not enjoy loading up an enemy to languish in digital space uncared for. It's cathartic! Maybe be careful, other Lost Souls can absolutely look at your collection and see how you treat them in digital space!

-PRIVATE PROFILE: Don't want any of this? Profiles can be set to Private! This doesn't actually block off from other Lost Souls, but it's an easy way to opt-out of EMBER, Go! and the Celestials. The cost is "all Dragon Coins" currently on account. If you're not playing, they why bother with those?

(Due to some obtuse design choices, it might be difficult to find this option... Your character would be forgiven for not even realizing it's there!)

PROFILE HTML
(Use squared Image for best profile template fit!)
<center><table style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 2;"><tr><td width="260" align="center"><img src="IMG URL HERE" style="width: 245px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"><br /><b><big><big>CHARACTER NAME (CHARACTER AGE)</big></big></b><br> CHARACTER FACTION ☆ to ☆☆☆☆ CUSTOM TITLE <br><tr><td><center><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span>       <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span></div> </center></td></tr></td></tr></table></center>
FUCK ✓ / FIGHT ✕ / CHILL O HTML
✓ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span> ✕ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span> O <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#0000FF;">O</span>

-EMBER is a separate app on a character's phone which functions using the main network.
-This is fully canon to the game! Threads on this post or using the prompts above for Log Posts of your own both count as a SUBSTORY thread. Per mods, these can be used for (1) Point rewards, per qualifying thread!
-Post a profile below, engage with other Lost Souls or Ember Go! prompts, and/or tag around to other characters using the SWIPE, ALGORITHM, or just start a chat!
-Ydris' programing is actually on point by this update! They've grown.
-FOR CHARACTERS NEW TO THE GAME please post a link to your TL in the New Users header below! This is so new people aren't so easily lost in the shuffle. Keep in mind this post is active from September to end of October. If there is an Overflow, it will be linked here! The next full EMBER update goes up in November.
-Feel free to repost the Profile HTML provided for IC inboxes if you like, but please do not take these out of this post and make individual EMBER profiles on the Network, as that would clutter up the main network very fast.
-Check out Ydris' OPT-IN if you want them to have access to your character's information through this app. This is NOT required to play around with this. The ToS basically just applies normal network rules to this post, messages are public unless explicitly marked [private] in the header. (Ydris will not have access to Private Messages unless the player Opts-In!)

Comments

Mahito | Jujutsu Kaisen | Enma

[muitenpen]

MAHITO (??) ENMA ☆☆☆ PATCHWORK

✓       ✕ Let's try to make this interesting!

[For the newcomers, the new photo's only deception for the fun of it. Meaningless, really. But for those who've already met him, especially before arriving here, it might serve as something more like a warning.

His sprite is a little ominous, too, like allowing it to stay onscreen might lead to a game over...]

I can’t help it

[moondregs]

✕

What are you trying to pull with a picture like that?

[muitenpen]

[So they're speaking again?]

You're supposed to pick one you want to show off, right?

[moondregs]

And what exactly are you ‘showing off’?

[muitenpen]

Should I have tried another angle? Or pushed them together?

[... No, Junpei's one of the few humans Mahito could ever truly relax around. Pretending the focus of that feminine form had been its appearance is senseless when he's sure they both know his personality better.

It's that he can reshape himself at all. That he wants at least one sorcerer here to know his cursed technique has been returned.

But as if he's going to leave any trail of his intentions.]

It's rude to show any more than that. If you want to see, we should meet in person.

[moondregs]

Don’t play dumb with me. You’re trying to lure people in.

[muitenpen]

Isn't that what everyone's doing?

You made a profile, too. Were you hoping it would sit empty forever?

[heir_conditioned]

O

Hello, Mahito. Good to see you again. That looks good on you. There are a few stores in Tamamo with outfits like that if you'd like. I can give you their addresses.

[muitenpen]

[Focusing on the clothes, huh? Well, the change was subtle on purpose, a taunt directed more at Itadori than anyone. Still,]

Do I need them? If you like this one, it's enough. I don't get the appeal of buying things, so you should show me stores that you like, instead.

[heir_conditioned]

I don't mind what anyone wears. I like learning more about the people I know, so maybe we can do two things at once. You and I could go shopping and I can introduce you to some of the people around here. Maybe you'll see something you'd like. They're very friendly.

[muitenpen]

Everyone likes meeting new people. Are any of them your friends?

[heir_conditioned]

Not everyone, but most people. I guess they'd be my friends. I see them on my patrol routes every time. I don't think anyone here is my enemy.

[muitenpen]

You have patrol routes and you haven't made any enemies? They're pretty boring, then, aren't they? Or do you let people get away with anything they want because you're in the wrong faction to stop them?

If we take your route together, you'll have more authority.

[And a few of the areas being actively monitored might be revealed. Not a bad deal for either of them.]

[sweetsong]

✕

[ wow... robin's first X ]

[muitenpen]

I've never fought a vampire before! Do we need to go somewhere dark?

[sweetsong]

Doesn't matter to me.

You're a mean... something, aren't you?

[muitenpen]

[This.. isn't about the transfiguration, is it? Well. He did ask for interesting!]

You got me. I do enjoy teasing, but doesn't everyone?

[sweetsong]

I don't think I like your kind of teasing...!

Don't you... you're not human either!

[muitenpen]

That's right. I never said I was. Are you going to do something about it?

un: 333

[holeful]

✓

I didn't know you were into costumes like that, Mahito-san!

[muitenpen]

I thought my usual clothes would show off a little too much.

Is it a costume because I'm not a student? Maybe I should've put more effort into it.

[The meaning the app assigned to those check marks should honestly be the more important takeaway, here. And yet...]

[holeful]

[Mahito.....]

Well yeah! It's fine though. I think it looks cute on you.

[muitenpen]

If one of my senpai approves, it can't be helped. I'll keep it.

[Is he really still playing that angle? Why not.]

[holeful]

[Fukuda thinks it's cool he gets to be senpai now so it works.]

Yeah! Probably you shouldn't wear it to work but otherwise it's fine!

[muitenpen]

[Well. Obviously it's not an everyday thing. Considering...]

It wouldn't fit my normal body anyway.

I guess it makes sense, since gakuran aren't that intimidating, either. Do you think there's another uniform that's better at making people listen?