DownWorld

"What happens in DownWorld stays in DownWorld" - Flight Lieutenant Idlewild.
'Downworld' was a virtual construct on the Pathfinder Ship Pegasus that allowed the ship's crew to escape the confines of the ship and enter a virtual environment. It was an evolution of the original virtual environments provided by the ship's builders to relieve boredom and provide training environments during the ship's long transits through hyperspace. 
Downworld was introduced in <a href="http://worldsapart.wikia.com/wiki/Book_11_-_Charlemagne"> Worlds Apart Book 11 - Charlemagne</a>
== Virtual Stimulations ==
Downworld was accessed via neural interface. Upon entry, the system linked directly to the brain of the visitor and activated sensory receptors to create a sort of lucid dreaming environment. It was controlled by a dedicated AI known as the 'Downworld Master Controller." 
Because of the "fractal nature of human consciousness," it was not possible to precisely replicate sensations within the virtual construct. Walking felt unnatural, the direction and quality of sound varied, tastes were often incorrect. Ale often taste weak and stale. Cherries tasted like tomatoes. Tactile simulations were similarly off; the texture of a woman's skin was said to be reminiscent of smooth paper. 
Nevertheless, the many environments within Downworld did provide a welcome respite for crews confined to the ship. 
== Avatars ==
Although most people in Downworld were represented by avatars that resembled their real-world selves, it was possible to choose or create a distinctive individual avatar. It was not uncommon for some male crew members to adopt busty, promiscuous female avatars in Downworld. The presence of ID Tags that appeared next to avatars tended to discourage this practice, although some of the more adept crew were able to generate anonymous avatars. 
== Downworld Environments ==
There were literally hundreds of environments in Downworld, from bucolic natural environments to recreations of visited colonies to combat gaming environments to virtual cities. Each was accessed via a portal within the virtual construct. Some notable environments included: 
* Downtown - A large virtual city that was the Nexus for all of the many virtual environments. Every door in Downtown was a portal to a different environment. 
* ‘Fight Club’ - A place where the crew coiuld engage in virtual fights. 
* ‘Club 34’ - A disreputable environment where many deviant sexual acts could be performed. Club 34 periodically had to be reset when the virtual environment became too virtually gross and sticky. 
* ‘Club Scum,’- A sort of disreputable music venue with donkey mud-wrestling and wet work-tunic contests.
* Small Attractive Magical Horsies Club - This environment was originally intended for children but was taken over and corrupted by a group of personnel who adopted horse and Centaur-like avatars and did unspeakable things to each other late at night. 
* The Watership Club - An environment that simulated a dive bar in the city of New Halifax on Sapphire. 
== Plot Point ==
Lt. Commander David Alkema used DownWorld to help plot his mutiny while Pegasus was docked at the Charlemagne Starlock in Book 11.