eerongal
Yeah, maybe there were some federation issues or something with a particular instance or two. I think Lemmy reaches out on demand to cache the thumbnail the first time it’s requested, but posts get federated over independently.
So if no one has viewed a post in the UI that’s been federated over, and the instance and ours developed communication issues between then, it’s possible that it fails to grab the thumbnail when someone is browsing in the UI
So my immediate thought given this context would be to make the new strain/miracle drug/whatever be something that combats the existing evil virus as a counteragent. So it would provide some amount of resistance/immunity to it, but i like the idea of a (probably unknown) drawback. Something like cordyceps maybe that slowly takes over and/or controls the person like you mentioned.
This could easily be told to the players through the NPC you mentioned who has control of the new strain/drug; he can slowly become more erratic/out of control, and his actions can start to get more suspect (along with any potential physical signs).
So basic idea for a campaign would be:
- Players run into NPC that has new miracle drug that provides resistance/immunity to super evil virus
- NPC is being hunted by the AI because of it
- Players try to protect and help NPC get to somewhere safe to begin process of creating/manufacturing/growing new drug at scale (current supply must be protected because it’s so low, so player’s can’t have any, but they know the NPC has tried it on himself)
- Over their time with the NPC, his motivation and actions begin to turn more sinister as the effects of the drug set in
- Player’s need to eventually make a choice as to if the current situation with the virus or the new threat from the miracle drug is the lesser evil.
