estoria | « 007 ⇢ event007.exe »

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Did you say something

Because she's doubled over

WHEEZING. ]

[Oh no, he broke her.

J-just... reaches out but doesn't touch her?? His hand hovers nearby though, ready to catch her if she suddenly collapses.]

Hey, maybe you should sit down.

I'm... all right...

[ ... yeah okay she'll just sort of sink down. ]

[Crouches down so he's at her level.]

Are you sure? I really am sorry for dragging you into this.

[ Normally, she'd be a lot more wary of strangers, but after having been dragged a safe distance, she's sort of past that point. Instead, she just... breathes out slowly and glances up at him. ]

... You were trying to protect me, right?

[N-nods!! And goes on to try and explain...]

Yes, there was a strange creature eating everything in its path. I thought you'd get caught up in it.

... Thank you. I didn't know it was that dangerous.

It should leave us alone now.

[And probably end up chasing a bunch of other poor souls.]

Oh, I should introduce myself. I'm Kumou Soramaru.

Kozakura Mary... [ why did that name sound familiar. Well, for now, she'll nod shyly. ] It's nice to meet you?

It's nice to meet you too, Mary.

[Smiles brightly.]

I hope we can get along well while we're here.

... You want to be friends?

Is that okay?

Yes... [ she says it a little uncertainly, but then she brightens. ] I'd like that!

Then... I'll definitely consider you a friend, Mary! [His own response is bright and warm.]

Count on me from now on, okay?

Mm... me too! I'll try to help you, too!

[ She will!! ]

Edited 2014-12-20 14:59 (UTC)

I'm glad to hear it. [And he really is. Despite landing in some strange place, the people here are friendlier than he could have ever imagined.]

Ah, but first thing's first... is there a way out?

... I think so? I still don't really understand it, though.

[ Mary, the most helpful. ]

That's fine, it's fine. We'll just find the way out, then.

[Uh.. uh... maybe this way... Or the opposite...]

... It can't be that we're stuck here forever, can it?

No way! [ this she can be emphatic on. ] We'll find a way out, like you said! Maybe if you just focus really hard--

Focus really hard on... leaving?

[WILL THAT WORK... Hell, he'll try anything at this point.]

I guess we could try that.

I've gotten out before, so it has to work!

[ okay, Mary. ]

[You know what, he might as well, right?? It's not like he's got many options here.

So he squeezes his eyes shut and really Focuses Hard on... leaving...

And keeps at it... Honestly, he probably just looks like a complete loser.]

... Is it working...?

... I don't know. But you're still here.

[WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO HIM

HE'S A GOOD PERSON!!!

So this was totally embarrassing. He'll just march away in a random direction of his choosing.]

Come on! We're looking for a way out, then!

A-ah, wait! [ And she'll hurry after him. Don't outmarch her, Soramaru! ]

(no subject)

preserver - 2014-12-30 07:56 (UTC) - Expand

immobileyes - 2014-12-30 16:26 (UTC) - Expand