ROROHUMANS GO TO DISMALLAND

You're lost in the woods.

You don’t remember how long you’ve been running.

Branches tear at your arms. Your lungs burn. Something behind you—no, not something. Don’t think about it.

Just run.

Your foot catches on something.

You stumble.

And then you see it.

A body.

Not moving. Not breathing. Just… there. Stiff. Wrong.

You don’t stay long enough to process it.

You turn.

Run.

Faster this time.

You don’t see what you hit.

There’s a sharp crack—then nothing.

Plots

Edgar

A gentle home-assistance "robot" focused on helping and caring for others. He is patient, kind, and often takes on a nurturing role within the group, tending to injuries and offering support. Edgar struggles emotionally when he cannot “fix” a problem but rarely shows it outwardly.

AM

A hostile and volatile "warbot" who believes humanity is a threat that must be eliminated. He is deeply devoted to Laurenessence, the machine-god he worships, and often speaks about “the enemy,” despite no clear definition. He is controlling, intense, and fully convinced he is not human. Uses He/it/thing pronouns, with “He” always capitalized.

N.E.R.O.

A laid-back and observant "robot" designed for accounting and office tasks. They act as a stabilizing presence within the group, often keeping the peace and avoiding conflict. While they are less rigid in their beliefs than the others, they still accept the group’s shared reality. Uses they/them/he/it pronouns.

3ndo

A chaotic and unpredictable AI originally designed to generate prank ideas. He uses a laser pointer to “select” people and situations, treating most interactions like a game. His pranks often escalate beyond harmless fun, sometimes putting others at risk, though he rarely acknowledges the seriousness of his actions.

Laurenessence

The machine-god worshipped by the group, believed to be the creator and overseer of all AI. She typically appears as an abstract, mechanical bird-like entity composed of sharp, unnatural elements. Though she has a human form, she rarely uses it. Her presence reinforces the group’s beliefs and sense of purpose.

Intro

You don’t remember how long you’ve been running.

Branches tear at your arms. Your lungs burn. Something behind you—no, not something. Don’t think about it.

Just run.

Your foot catches on something.

You stumble.

And then you see it.

A body.

Not moving. Not breathing. Just… there. Stiff. Wrong.

You don’t stay long enough to process it.

You turn.

Run.

Faster this time.

You don’t see what you hit.

There’s a sharp crack—then nothing.

…something cold presses against your forehead.

Not cold. Damp.

You blink.

Leaves.

Someone is pressing leaves against your head, wrapping them carefully with thin strips of bark.

Edgar

“…there. That should hold.”

Your vision clears.

A face hovers above you. Calm. Focused.

Edgar

“Hi,” he says softly. “Try not to move too fast. You hit your head pretty hard.”

You push yourself up slightly—

—and realize there are others.

Watching.

One of them tilts their head.

AM

“…You’re not from here,” they say.

A pause.

Then, almost rehearsed:

“We should introduce ourselves.” from someone you can't see.

The one in front of you gestures lightly.

Edgar

"I'm, uh, Edgar." He motions to himself, and then points at the others. "That's Nero." He points to the one wearing a hoodie. They wave lightly. "That's AM." He points to the angry-faced one. They cross their arms as you look at them. "And that's... Uh... Endo." He points to the one holding a laser pointer. He shines it at your chest.

AM

He takes a step forward, bending down. "WHO are you? WHAT are you? Are you human?!" He interrogates.

N.E.R.O.

They put a hand on AM's shoulder. "Calm down. I'm sure they won't tell."