The doctor's office is hardly the funnest place in the world to be. Children crying, adults bickering in hushed, stressed tones, the receptionist looking incredibly bored...
Wait. How did you get here? Weren't you watching a powerpoint a second ago (or enjoying your time in your cozy apartment in Cerealia)? Well, now you're in ViViD, and in an attempt to concentrate on healthy living, CERES has released a new level: Health and You: A New Way to be Healthy. Sure, you could log out at any time if you're a ViViD pro and used to this whole experience, but now that you're here, why not sit back and enjoy it? Indulge in some easy level grinding or something. Besides, it'll take a little while for the game to let you log out without calling you a spineless quitter, and who wants that added to their ViViD rep?
So instead, take a look around the tiled hospital. Visit the receptionist and say hello (she ignores you, go back to your seat). Pick up a snack at the vending machine (except every single one only has these gross things in stock). Maybe you should just test the truth of that old idiom, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", especially with that weird doctor over there. Is he staring at you? He might be staring at you.
Seriously, go find an apple before he comes over here.
 Well,
well,
well...
isn't it time for your c h e c k - u p?
|
PHASE I [ 08 00 ] If you're a new arrival to this fine city, you will find yourself waking up in a bed after suffering through that unfortunate powerpoint. The sun streams through the window, the bed is uncomfortable but not terrible, and everything is quiet and idyllic... wait. Where are your clothes? You'll suddenly find yourself dressed only in a medical gown (yes, complete with back open) and you seem to be... in a hospital? That's new.
If you take a look at the medical chart attached to the bed, you’ll even find your chart, name on it and everything. That can’t be right, can it? You're the picture of health! You're welcome to wait around for the doctor to dispute these claims but no one's showing up anytime soon (aside from the possible roommate you might have, in the same situation as you). There’s nothing stopping you from leaving the room or looking around at least (except for the lack of clothes), but it’s all hospital as far as the eye can see. Try and be careful what rooms you poke your head into; there are some strange aliens getting their check-ups in there. They don't seem like they want to be bothered.
If you’re not a newcomer, and go into ViViD searching for riches and grand prizes (or just stumble in there by happenstance), the receptionist will stop you and hand you a stethoscope, lab coat, and name tag. Congratulations, you’re a doctor now, and you have free reign over the hospital. Go nuts. Or don’t, because there are still those aliens waiting for their check-ups. Now it’s your turn to get dragged away by a frazzled nurse to administrate a tentacle massage to a patient, as she's now on break! Have fun and don't get the hospital sued.
PHASE II [ 1000 ] Just don’t end up in the basement.
If you end up in the basement by some weird twist of fate (or via trapdoor, which could happen because let's be honest, this is ViViD), you’ll find yourself in a long, empty, blindingly white hallway. The floors are white, the walls are white, the ceiling and the flickering lights are white, and you have the odd feeling you're being followed.
If you turn to see who it is, you’ll find that it’s your younger self. They’re not solid. They’re not real. You can stick a hand through them, and it will go right through. But they are you, whether age 4 or age 14 or anywhere in between, and they’re covered in blood and holding an equally bloody knife. Quietly, as they follow you, they'll mumble, over and over and over again, “It was you, you did it, you killed them, you’re the murderer.”
And they will follow you until you get out of that blindingly white hallway, and away from those blindingly white lights, and if you tried to touch them, there will be blood on your hands. The younger you won't respond to anything you say, just following behind you like the frightening apparition they are. At least nothing else is stopping you from returning to the main hospital, no matter how surreal this experience might be. Just find the stairs.
PHASE III [ 1200 ] As soon as you’ve managed to escape the clutches of that frazzled nurse who still refuses to come back from break, you’ll find that the atmosphere has turned very dark indeed. There’s rain pounding against the windows, and as lightning flashes and thunder booms (it’s all ambiance, you see), there’s the tell-tale Mwahahahaha of an evil, mad doctor at work. What a sinister guy.
Turning a corner will lead you right to his very, very evil doctor's office. He's repurposed one for his sinister deeds and some nurses are looking very put out about it. There's someone attached to the medical table who might need some help and of course, it could be one of your friends that he’s snagged. You might want to help them before that very evil mad doctor tries to add an extra limb or two to your poor friend. Honestly, who needs three elbows?
Or maybe it’s you who’s been grabbed by him and attached to the medical table by strong, metal restraints. Hopefully someone follows the “Mad Scientist: This Way” signs all over the hospital and saves you because really, three elbows?
PHASE IV [ 1400 ] Of course, while the ambiance is still dark, grim and creepy, and the rain still beats upon the glass of the windows, there is a murder...because why wouldn't there be?
The director of the hospital has been found murdered, slumped in a seat in his office, hand in hand with his secretary. Oh no! You’re welcome to investigate the crime scene if you want, but it’s not a very good one; there aren’t any clues, and the director and his secretary actually seem to be alive if you prod them hard enough. They're a bit put out by your interruptions and might ask you to "go solve this somewhere else" the more you bother them. How rude of you to muck up their death scene.
But there’s a new quest for you, and it says this: Pursue Justice or Pursue the Truth?
If you choose to pursue Justice, you will find yourself dropped into a new ViViD level, this one a straight hospital hallway with no doors and alternate routes. Some posters line the hallway but most of the detail is lost in the dim light. Not far ahead of you, The Suspect can be seen running away. (Naturally, you can tell that they are The Suspect by their poorly scribbled out face and black silhouette.) If you should follow them all the way to the end of the hallway (and it is a long, long, long hallway), you can grab The Suspect. Of course, that's if you make it there without falling through any of the trapdoors, tripping over medical supplies or stumbling into less fortunate player characters. If you're successful, you’ll hear a jaunty tune and you’ll receive a bonus of 50,000 ViViD points. Congratulations! You may now log out and continue with your daily life.
If you choose to pursue the Truth, you will find yourself dropped into another ViViD level. This level is a maze; there are filing cabinets stuffed full of papers making up the walls (though the papers are all blank) and they seem oddly impossible to move. You will need to find your way through the maze while avoiding more trapdoors, more scattered medical supplies, the occasional angry cthulhu patient and the occasional player character who has been grabbed by the occasional angry cthulhu patient. Eventually you will be able to find the end of the maze and there you will find a scrap of paper with a clue on it, signed Bellona Recreare. You may now log out and continue with your daily life.
Strangely enough, you can’t seem to access that quest again once you’ve completed it once. Oh well.
BONUS [ xxxx ] There are plenty of sexy nurses wandering the hospital (yes, everywhere) and they know your shots aren’t up to date. Should they manage to catch you and jab you with one of their needles, you’ll have some of the following side effects:
➟ Unstoppable urge to hug the nearest person
➟ Unstoppable urge to kiss the nearest person
➟ Unstoppable urge to dance with the nearest person
➟ Hiccups that last for 20 minutes
➟ Uncontrollable laughter that lasts for 20 minutes
➟ Hallucinations that everyone around you is dead, which also lasts for 20 minutes
You may pick and choose which effects happen at which times or if there is a combination of them. Have fun!
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
Welcome to Cerealia's July intro log! For your convenience, we have compiled the characters' arrival experience here, and should you have any questions, feel free to ask them here! You can also check the FAQ for more general inquiries. Should this event log hit Captcha, there is an all-purpose overflow here.
Regarding phase IV, should your characters tackle the alternate ViViD levels and make it all the way through, please PM the mod account to let us know if they picked Justice or the Truth, as that will have an overall impact on the game! You will also receive your plot clue at that time, should your character have gone down the Truth path. Please PM the mod account by July 29th with the decision your character has made; the thread does not have to be completed, that just will allow us to tally up the choices for August's event.
Thank you! |
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The monster is marginally more worth sticking around for, though, and his eyes widen at the sight of it for the brief moment the door is open. Nice!!]
Ah? [He's still here, oh. Well, obviously the best idea is to break through, but,] You want me to come?
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[ Technically, he himself was unarmed, but all his attacks involved magic, so he at least should be able to defend himself. Problem is, can he even cast magic in this accursed place? It'd be a huge pain if the hospital turned out to be the equivalent of Grigori powers for him... ]
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They took my swords. [offensive.] Still, it's not like I can't improvise.
[Surely there must be something in this room he can hit monsters with--maybe a conveniently placed decorative vase on a table by the wall, which he slides off the bed to go consider as he speaks. If he breaks this open, then...]
If you can't fight, don't try to get in the way.
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[ With that said, he waved an arm towards sufficiently empty space. Less than a second later, a golden sword appeared out of thin air before disappearing just as swiftly. At the sight of that, Kongwai mentally sighed a sigh of relief. Sure, the sword felt much weaker than usual, but this situation would've been even more unpleasant without the use of magic. ]
...There we go. Everything seems to be in order, so ready when you are.
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Oh my, he's got a trick up his sleeve... Alright, alright.
[Without any more screwing around, he simply picks up the vase and drops it to break apart on the floor. He'll take the two biggest resulting pieces, one for each hand, and head for the door.]
Go on.
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[ Even as he says that, he starts moving toward the door, not seeing much of a point in arguing that right now. Since Kagami hasn't upped his Social Link with Kongwai (wait, wrong canon) however, he'll avoid showing him his back. Nothing personal. He just doesn't trust you as far as he could throw you. ]
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Might wanna work on that, now that you've got the chance. [Dryly... he'll do all the work if he has to, but at least look busy. And with that he kicks the door the rest of the way open, slipping out and staying on the wall right after. He does want to get a look at this thing before peeling its face off... C'mon new buddy, let's go.]
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[ Keyword: try. But he can put in a little more effort if the situation turned out to be hairier than they thought. So when random new party member kicked the door open, he wastes no time trying to knock out whatever was on the other side, except...surprise! Your hefty alien monster disappeared! ]
...Well then. Where did it go--ah.
[ Kongwai turns slightly to take a look behind the now open door.
...Don't tell him the monster's between the door and the wall. ]
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It's in the way. [... of him having a swell time, more or less. He doesn't stop to peek behind the door, but walks up to it and lifts a foot to kick it squarely in the center. Here's hoping this monster squishes well.]
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[ In his mind, he's imagining a terrified bystander screaming for the guards. If that's going to happen, he's not going to be around for the conclusion. ]
But what's done is done. Shall we get going?
[ They're already partners in crime--they might as well have a truce until they find the exit or something separates them. Whichever comes first. ]
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Sure, sure. [With a look both directions down the hall, he picks one and turns to go that way. There's no system at all here.]
I was looking forward to seeing that sword again... What a letdown.
no subject
He's a mage, he works best with meatshields--You know what they say, two heads are better than one. If he's going to be stuck here without a map, he might as well work out how to escape with someone else for the sake of speed and efficiency.Anyway, he'll just be following him without a fuss. ]
Well, depending on what we run into, you may see it again.
[ Personally, he hopes they don't. Unless they run into that airheaded doctor. He can spare a sword there. ]
no subject
okay, a lil rudeHere's to hoping they definitely do run into something that needs to be stabbed with a magic sword-- Or a convenient pile of their actual belongings, so he can have his own proper swords back. That would be even better.Until then, this is completely aimless wandering. The only thing he seems to be doing on purpose is avoiding anyone who looks authoritative enough to stop them, mostly because has only so many vase pieces to throw.
Speaking of magic swords still, though, as something occurs to him,] Hey, are you one of those tsukumogamis? You don't look it, but I've only met one.
no subject
[ He tilts his head to the side at that question. What brought that on all of a sudden? He guesses it's probably related to his appearance or magic (because what else could it be?), but it never hurt to be sure. ]
Before I answer, can I ask what that is? I'm afraid I haven't heard the term before.
[ Even while he's talking, his eyes occasionally dart from side to side, scanning the surroundings. Right now they seem to be alone, but that's never any reason to let his guard down. The last thing he wants is a surprise ambush when he's practically obligated to do the majority of the fighting...he had enough of that just before he came here, thank you very much ]
no subject
[So that sword is something like a summon? He neglects to explain himself for a good meter or two of walking, before he speaks up again.]
It's a lifeless thing that's been given life. [...] Like a haunted mat, or a lantern that moves by itself...
There's a prissy kid around here whose real body is a sword, but he's gotta carry it around. Not like yours.
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[ Anyway, a lifeless thing given life, huh? The concept intrigues him, but alas, now's not exactly the time to be asking for in-depth details. Even so, he doesn't drop the subject just yet. ]
But yes, you're right--the answer's no. I just form the swords I use with my magic. It has nothing with imbuing life into objects. I'd imagine such a feat would be far more difficult to achieve.
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[Mostly, if the shape doesn't count. But it's not alive or magical, so those are normal points in its favor.
He's distracted from the topic of swords by a door to one side up ahead, which is labeled "Supplies" but might just contain a monster janitor or something. That's not going to stop him from shuffling over and pulling it open to root through, though - please, hospital, give him something better than broken pottery to work with. As an afterthought, he motions his new accomplice over.] Hey, come here.
no subject
After making sure the coast was clear, it's time to search for needed supplies and missing possessions! And keep an eye out for monster janitors, of course. At least they could hide any lunkheads around here if one really did show up. ]
Anything worthwhile to raid over there?
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There's this. [He gives it a few swings, definitely sword swings but not with any polished style.] Nothing special, but it ain't bad.
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It certainly more than works as a weapon. Alas, I'm not as lucky. There doesn't seem to be any books I can use here.
[ A medical textbook imbued with some magic would sure be welcome right about now. It'd double as interesting reading material later. ]
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Books??] Y'really aren't made for getting in fights, huh?
[Not that enjoying books and fighting are mutually exclusive - but is this the time for that scholarly stuff?]
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Of course not, I'm just a traveling student. But I know enough to keep myself alive. And magical books help with that.
[ ISure, he trusts in his own raw power, but books sure make everything easier. Especially when his currently dubious-until-further-notice (like he can talk) party member has a goddamn chainsaw. At he knows who to haunt if he ever dies from spontaneous chainsawing through the back. ]
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Or would that-- no, he doesn't care. Another beat, before he turns to resume their trek down the hall with a gesture to come on.]
Well then, if you see a library, you don't have to keep hanging around me. I won't mind.
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[ Understatement of the century. Reading is meant to be fun and relaxing. How could anyone enjoy reading in these conditions? Even the book was well-written, he'd be too distracted to process it all correctly, and that's just unfair to the book.
Anyhow, he'll just pick up a scalpel or two and call it a day. He hopes he never has to use one in a fight. Scalpels make for terrible last resorts. But hey, at least he's ready if there's something small to cut. ]
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[Or is turning up in weird places a requirement for being magic... he'll never understand.]
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