« 007 ⇢ event007.exe »

[reparator]

Who: CERES & you
When: IC: 10/19 | OOC: 12/16
Where: ViViD
What: Intro Log
Rating/Warning: PG-13

//event007.EXE The Haunting II: Haunt Harder ViViD has opened up a new world that new arrivals will be pulled into while frequent players will be invited to check out. This particular setting is the new beta world that CERES is constructing in time for the Hallow's Eve celebrations and festivals. It's a world inhabited by the undead and several ghouls and monsters of typical horror lore. Inside, one will encounter werewolves, lichens, vampires, succubi, incubi, specters, mummies, and so on. They will be on the prowl and eager to attack, but players need only concern themselves with getting through and getting out. At first, players will awaken outside of a large manor supposedly owned by a wealthy noble who is rumored to be practicing strange alchemic experiments within. Many know him simply as The Count. New arrivals and those logging into ViViD will first find themselves being greeted by their guide at the start screen: "F̳̰̘̝̭͚̙̝̺̅̀͋̊̑͐̎͜͝͝͝Ü͎͉̗̬͍̫̤̳̳̓̉͌͛͒́̔̎͝ͅÇ̢͎̳̰̫̝̝̮̣̈̓̽̂͒̌̾͊̊̓K̯̺͎̬̟̠̳̤̙̥̍͊͒̐͌̏̍̂̚̚!̧̛̹̲͎͕̥͓̥̻̟̿͐̔̑̈͗̕͘͠-ɯǝɥʇ ʇɐǝq oʇ ʍoɥ sı ǝɹǝɥ ¡ǝuo lɐuıɟ ǝɥʇ ʇǝǝɯ noʎ ǝɹoɟǝq sʇsoɥƃ ɹnoɟ ǝlʇʇɐq oʇ pǝǝu llıʍ noʎ ʎɐpoʇ suoıʇɔnɹʇsuı ɹnoʎ ƃuıʌıƃ ǝq llıʍ ı ɹouɐɯ ɐıɔoɹʇɐ oʇ ǝɯoɔlǝʍ slɐʌıɹɹɐ ʍǝu ollǝɥ"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Yes, those are all the directions you get. Welcome, indeed, to Atrocia Manor. On the outside, you'll notice a faint howling in the distance. You better start running. That howling is only going to get louder as the werewolves start approaching. They roam in packs and will approach you from all sides, leveling a menacing stare at you before-!!! -licking your hand. They'll all suddenly surround your character and start licking and lavishing attention on you as their tails wag from side to side happily. They may even roll over and show you their bellies for belly rubs. Please give them a treat and lots of love. PHASE II [ xxxx ] Once you survive that grueling challenge, it's on to the next part. This is where things start to heat up. The inner atrium of the mansion is dark, only lit by faint torches. In the center are three of the four ghosts that were spoken of, slowly moving in circles around a shrouded figure. Before you can glimpse at the figure, it disappears and the ghosts turn to you and start approaching from every side. They block you in, leaving you in the center and slowly looming around you. Their howls are prolonged and deep, piercing your ears, and they seem to want to lead you into a room. You can choose to run from their frightful faces or you can follow them. They will seat you down at the dinner table then slowly pull forth a power point presentation. This is your love and/or sex life. Yes, you have a sad one. How dare you? The ghosts will guilt you for this, and somewhere in the midst of their lecture, you notice a faint figure moving along the windows. It's only for a flicker of a second that it appears, but the impression it leaves on you remains. PHASE III [ xxxx ] Feeling tired already? Well, don't stop and rest now! The challenges will only get worse. As you escape the three ghosts, you will ascend the stairs to the second level. Awaiting you is a vicious vampire …panda. Does it want your blood? Nope. It wants to talk to you about how to properly file your tax forms for a successful tax return. It will then lecture you on the EVILS of tax evasion. Be prepared for a scary ride with this one. It's not letting you out of the room until you listen to everything it has to say. For those who attempt to escape, it will… do absolutely nothing. It will sit there and watch you run. PHASE IV [ xxxx ] You escape the horrors of both the first floor and the second floor only to arrive at the basement. The mysterious fourth ghost awaits with its back turned to you. It's covered in a shroud, and you are sure it's going to talk about diversifying your stock profile next. Oh, how wrong you are. Because this one legitimately wants you dead, and it will wear the face of your worst enemy or your least favorite person while swiping down a scythe to reap away your life quickly. It won't be easy to kill, but once you whittle down its life halfway, it will finally reveal its true form. That's when the entire dungeon will start to glitch, and the ghost will cradle you between its hands before warning you: sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ sn ǝɹǝʌǝɹ sn ɹɐǝɟ It will then fade away, and congratulations! You won! Sort of... BONUS [ whyo'clock ] Congratulations on surviving Atrocia Manor! Here's your complimentary coupon for 35% off on your next Vidia's Secret purchase. Wasn't that a fun ride? But wait. There's more! The final final boss awaits you outside in the courtyard. It's the most gruesome of them all. The worst ghost you can encounter because it's one that has known great suffering and is out for vengeance. It will follow you around and try to eat you basically. One floating dot at the time until it can reach you. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest intro post. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's usual arrival experience (which is not entirely applicable this round for reasons stated above^) and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Comments

open!

[poised]

[ PHASE I ]

Prepare yourself!!

[Honestly, Natalia's not interested in really letting any monsters get close to her to find out if they're friendly or not. With a practiced motion, she moves to notch one of her arrows into her bow, moving into a stance to properly aim-

And her heel gets caught on an uprooted piece of tile. Ah. So she's off-balance for a moment, glancing behind her, and that's when one of the werewolves pounces on her without hesitation and-

There she goes. Her squeal of surprise is quickly followed by a noise of confusion though as the werewolf then proceeds to... lick her face.

There is now a princess in a werewolf pup pile. Your move.]

[ PHASE III ]

[It's like the start of a joke. A princess and a panda walk into a manor. The Panda says, "This is how you should file your taxes!" The Princess says,]

I understand what you're saying, but that seems like a very complicated system for the sole purpose of collecting revenue for a government. It's no wonder that people wouldn't wish to pay their dues!

[Natalia is.... actually talking politics with the Panda.... and doesn't seem to be making any motion to leave.

Uh. She might not make progress in the manor at this rate....]

[ PHASE IV ]

[Well that was... an experience. Natalia is brushing herself off afterward and glancing about before making a waving motion to the person nearest to her to come closer still.

Did you get a little scuffed up during your trials? Whether it's a cut or even a quickly forming bruise, that simply won't do. Perhaps this is a game, but Natalia does worry about your well-being regardless and so she tilts her head-]

Come here. Let me see your wound.

[Wow lady, didn't you ever learn to say please?]

I

[sewayaku]

[ see, he's sort of been trained to fear wolves back home after a select handful of events, and even though he technically knows better now, he can't help but feel a shiver run down his spine when he hears all the howling. And even if he technically knows better, he also knows they're still dangerous! When he sees a figure being assaulted by the silhouettes of the beasts in the distance, he's quick to begin running in that direction, eager to help!!

Or... he was eager to help. Zara goes from worrying he's gotten there too late to slowly coming to a stop nearby and staring down, sword drawn, at the girl covered in adorable round wolves, looking somewhat confused. ]

... Do you... need help, young miss?

[poised]

[Honestly this is frightfully embarrassing. Regardless, Natalia is now currently being swarmed by the little werewolf pups and struggling rather valiantly to get them off her long enough to stand. It's not quite working on her own, so when she hears the offer, she's so very, very relieved.]

Goodness - please, sir!

[She's feeling awfully unproductive sitting here in a pile of round werewolves, as sweet as they are. So she extends a hand in his direction, waiting for it to be taken.]

iii...

[subvert]

I suspect we could simply remove him by force.

[yes, delita is threatening violence. fortunately, he doesn't appear to actually be acting on it... and seems to be more interested in reading the tax code. whether he is actually interested or an expert at feigning interest is hard to tell.

maybe he's just trying to look good for her. or maybe he has something else up his sleeve. he's not even certain about the point of a tax code in a virtual reality, but... hey, you can never be sure. education is important, he's found, and there is a lot of stuff he should know about but doesn't.

also "literally lecturing people to sleep" is an attack in final fantasy tactics. he's seen this before if THAT'S what it is.]

[poised]

[That much manages to earn Natalia's attention and also her surprise. Immediately, she brings up a hand in a motion for him to stay his hand, should he actually grow tempted to use violence against the creature. Ah, princess habits die hard.]

That's unnecessary, Sir Delita. If this is the form of taxation that this world utilizes, then I'm very curious about it! Certainly there are ways to improve upon it - it's a problem that swords would be unhelpful for in the long run.

[ . . . ]

And besides, it doesn't appear to be a violent creature.

[So as far as she's concerned, there's no need to attack!]

IV!!!

[amemory]

[totsuka has a stupid bruise on his face!! also the front of his coat is noticeably bloody, but his skin doesn't seem pale enough for a person bleeding to death thank goodness]

Eh? This? [his hand goes instinctively up to his face before he smiles and waves it] Oh, it's nothing! I'm a-okay!

[poised]

[ . . . so noticeably bloody. If she hadn't been on the battlefield as long as she has, her nose would wrinkle in distaste. Instead, she's merely sighing as she wanders closer to him, a hand still extended.]

Simply allow me. I'm uncertain as to whether we have truly defeated that creature, so it would be best for you to be in top form for fighting regardless, sir.

phase i;

[insolvent]

[ ludger has never really been sure what to make of... well... anything that happens in vivid, but at this point he's at least learned that things usually aren't what they seem. so while his immediate reaction to the sight of werewolves is concern, he's not... entirely surprised to find them behaving more like excited puppies than dangerous beasts.

at the same time, he wouldn't be entirely surprised if they suddenly reverted to the latter, either. ]

Um... [ either way, he'll at least try to lift some of the wolves off of natalia, because that can't be comfortable. not that he has much success in doing so, since they go right back to her once he's gotten them off. ] I almost wish they'd just attack us instead.

[ that'd make this easier to deal with. ]

[poised]

It'd certainly be simpler if they would.

[She's sounding rather grumpy for someone who's currently trapped under a bunch of excited, cute werewolves.... but regardless, she can find her patience with them wearing thin. Regardless, she's holding onto her grace with a death grip as this young man is clearly trying to help her... She'd rather not repay him with a poor attitude.

So after she's only got maybe two pups on her now as opposed to the pile earlier, she's immediately reaching a hand out for him to take. Kind of clearly expecting him to help her up.]

If I may request your hand, sir?

phase iv;

[blacksong]

[yeah for real, zero doesn't take orders from anyone!! even if adding please really wouldn't change anything, because zero's just the type of person where even if help is offered, she's instantly suspicious and wary.]

No thanks. I don't need your help. [except she probably sure does look like she needs it, what with being somewhat splattered in blood, never mind a few actual wounds.]

[poised]

[??? Natalia frowns at that, putting her hands in her hips rather firmly.]

What good would it do you to remain injured? Honestly. Don't be stubborn for no reason.

[So she's approaching regardless. Sorry about that, Zero-]

I

[sunshade]

((s........ince I think you said you were ok with oz remembering her from their previous game so I'm going off of that, but if not just lemme know and I can write something different fdljhgladh))

[ well, Patchouli can't say it's entirely unexpected to see her here. After all, with Ciel and Oz showing up with her, there's bound to be others pulled from the park. Of course, because Ciel and Oz very clearly remembered their experiences, Patchouli isn't even considering the fact that Natalia might not. ]

Er... [ she frowns for a moment before approaching and picking up a babby werewolf by its scruff ] Natalia? [ She's not really sure what to say, memories or not. They hadn't really spoken, and she might have been one of the few people they didn't supermurder thank you mafia games, but that fact still made things...awkward for casual conversation. ] Do you require some sort of assistance?

[ asking because, well...it's obvious that she can fight and she wouldn't want to undermine someone's combat potential, actually, but at the same time...werewolf puppy pile ]

[poised]

[It's a werewolf puppy pile that Natalia doesn't even really have the heart to harm, so yes, some assistance would honestly be appreciated. Except as she looks up - past a bunch of furballs - at the sound of her name, she finds that she doesn't quite.... recognize the person there.... hm?]

I do. If you wouldn't mind, miss.

[And then she holds her hand out expectantly and well, she might continue to be tilting her head at Patchouli's face. Her own people don't really know what she looks like, so how does this young lady.....?]

iii!

[harepiece]

[IN OZ GOES and out Oz goes pretty much as soon as the words "tax evasion" are heard, but wait—!! That's a familiar head of hair in there!

Oz at least has some experience with the weird memory shenanigans of jamjars (with him being on the amnesiac end, funny enough), but it also doesn't occur to him that he might run into the same issue here. So he takes one, two hesitant steps into the room, and...

YEP, that sure is someone he recognizes!! Rudely ignoring the vampanda to bowl the rest of the way in aw yeah.]

Oh—! Miss Natalia, I thought it was you! So you've been brought here too, now? That makes four... [That last bit seems to be more to himself than her, and he's quickly following it up with:] How was your arrival? No problems so far?

[poised]

[ . . . . . that's a lot of questions and none of them are about taxes, hence why she's rather confused. She's also increasingly confused because who.... is this young man? As far as she can recall, she's never met him in her life but well, she'll slowly nod for now.]

Indeed it is I. [That's a start.] It's been simple enough thus far, if rather lacking in hospitality. [Tossed from one game into another? Jeeze. But honestly-] At least nothing too drastic has happened.

[ . . . . and she pauses now, tilting her head as she looks at Oz.]

I don't mean to be rude, but have we met before?

phase iv;

[flaredo]

Nothing too bad! [ Aura had helped with most of the minor stuff, and Yang's still bright and cheerful, one hand resting over a slash on her arm. All the same, she'll wander closer out of curiosity. ]

iv

[redsea]

Huh?

[ Weird. It's always been her attendant doing all the healing. Kougyoku's used to this, though, so she obediently lets Natalia see the wound on her hand. ]

It isn't so bad, but...

phase iv

[shivered]

[Elsa's not accustomed to fighting, so she is banged up -- though it's fairly fortunate really, a few bruises, a scratch down the side of her neck from a blow that got too close for comfort, but really nothing worse than the bumps and bruises she'd gotten when she was a child, back when she and her sister would actually play like children are supposed to.

But even so, she looks up startled at the words, arms wrapping around herself.] No... Thank you, but. It's not a good idea. [To touch her. Or to be near her. Even now she can feel her powers on the cusp of spiraling from her control, driven by the fear and adrenaline still coursing through her.]

iv;

[tanacious]

[She did get a little scuffed up, thank you for noticing--but she's also very familiar with the idea of healers. And princesses. And healer princesses.

So she doesn't hesitate to come closer, lance tucked under her arm to keep it out of the way, as she tries to keep blood from getting on her clothes from the gash in her upper arm.]

Oh, thank you very much, miss! The things healers can do are truly incredible.

phase iv

[puerilely]

[ Wow, what do you want, lady? Shuu just eyes Natalia warily when he's called over - in fact, he doesn't even.. come closer... he just stands there looking a little annoyed. That fight with the final ghost wasn't even that bad, honestly, he's been playing ViViD for a bit already now so he's used to the battles in here, not to mention he's pretty strong to begin with.

But it still managed to scratch him across the arm - a big enough wound for Natalia to spot, and probably to even spot the blood pouring out from, but by the time she says that and actually approaches him, she'll be able to see the cut closing under her eyes, the bloodstains on Shuu's clothes and on the ground the only visible remainders of the wound to begin with. ]

What do you want..? [ DON'T MIND HIM BEING SO WARY.. he's just not used to humans being tolerable or helpful in any way, so he's just figuring Natalia's up to something. Maybe stab him in the back while he seemed vulnerable for a moment there or something. ]

phase IV

[dielectrics]

Huh? It's fine, doesn't even hurt.

[ Says the kid who took a direct swipe from the scythe before promptly being slammed into the wall hard enough to leave cracks in the plaster. He blinks up at Natalia, like he has absolutely no idea why someone would want to be fussing over him after a fight in the first place. ]

iii

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth makes a mental note to himself: Never let Ruby and Yang drag him into ViViD ever again and let them run off by themselves, leaving him to stumble around in this blasted game. But he never expected...a lecture on tax returns and tax evasion, two things he already knows not just because he's an upstanding citizen but because he's a lawyer despite not being a tax lawyer per se. Tax wasn't really his law jam, that's why he's a prosecutor.

At first he humors the panda, listening to everything, in awe because so far, he has seen no need to correct it. But that awe quickly turns to impatience and annoyance. He did not enter ViViD for this! In fact, they weren't even paying taxes here in CERES, were they?]

As civilization evolves, so do the laws...and more often than not, they become more complex. [That's where lawyers come in. Gotta know the difference between your run-of-the-mill homicide and a true-blue murder, right? From the way Natalia is commenting, Edgeworth can tell this isn't how taxes work where she comes from.] Throughout the ages, people have found a myriad of reasons to impose taxes on the people, and the needs of society have become greater, hence the need for funds has likewise become greater.

iv!

[allfortheclan]

[ The opponent had looked like the the ninth Fuuma clan head, at first, and had taken advantage of Shirasu's moments of confusion. But the spirit wearing the old man's face apparently didn't know that the former leader wouldn't be enough to stay Shirasu's hand.

It has been a while since he fought something that seriously intended to kill him, so he's breathing a little heavily. And he has several cuts on his face and shoulder he hasn't even noticed.

He regards the woman with wariness. ] Wound?

Phase I

[abovedogs]

[ Kazama walked into the room and immediately gave the werewolves a rather disdainful look and a rather forward one a kick to the stomach when it approached. ]

Disgusting... I'm surprised you can stand the stench.

[ because let's face it. In a haunted mansion full of ghosts, those werewolves probably haven't had a bath in a century. And Natalie's letting them lick her. ]

phase iii

[projections]

I don't think arguing with a panda will get you anywhere. [He frowns once and then sighs. Natalia seems stubborn about this though. Send help.] Have you considered ignoring it?

[Shirou crosses his arms and thinks about this objectively. They're gonna be here all day please no.]