PHASE I [ 9 00 ] The peace of the morning in the Residential District shatters just as the wall caves through. It’s a small segment of wall -- no more than five feet across at most. And yet the crash and groan of the metal being stretched is ominously accompanied by the distinct piercing screech of metal and another sound. A raucous noise, a combination of ungodly wailing and sharp, victorious laughter spills forth from the hole left in the wall as a myriad of ghosts and spirits erupt from the newly created exit. Characters with any type of spiritual sense will find themselves nearly overwhelmed by the amount of negative ghostly energy that suddenly floods Cerealia and characters with no sense of preservation will find any attempt to enter the hole blocked by the fiercest of ghosts, met with deadly force if they try to pass, as the ghosts won’t hesitate to do things such as reach straight into your body to try to stop your heart.
These ghosts are out for blood, and they don’t seem to stop no matter how you try to talk to them -- they just hiss out, over and over again, “Murderersmurderersmurderers.”
From there, the ghosts move on. Their true target, after all, is CERES… but to them, there’s no difference between the character players and CERES. They’ll go for whoever gets in their way, phasing through walls and becoming tangible long enough to reach for characters before fading away again. Characters with special abilities will find themselves in a similar state. Their abilities may increase and decrease in power sporadically, or be completely gone. They may attempt to cast a spell only to find that the wrong spell is cast instead, or an attempt at healing may end up a more dangerous spell. Be careful with your own magical skills!
Those with items or powers specifically intended to ward off spirits will still fulfill their intended purposes when used – unless malicious spiritual energy gets to them first.
PHASE II [ 1400 ] It seems the ghosts have more tricks up their sleeves. It seems that a not-so-friendly ghost has decided to play a game with you. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you're doing, because a moment later a voice calls out -- Hey. Can you see me? -- and once you turn your head, you’ll come face to face with a surprise.
Who is it in this world (or your world, or any world) that you have managed to disappoint the most? A family member? A friend? Yourself? They face you now, eyes full of sadness, and they say, “I need you to do something for me.” Without another word, they’ll turn away and begin to walk. Your vision grows foggy, focused solely on the need to do whatever this person wants – they need you, after all. Your legs move to follow them, unless you manage to somehow resist.
But you apparently don’t seem to notice that you’re the only one who can see this person – or that they’re leading you stray toward that monorail track with the sound of the train coming closer, or that busy intersection, or right off the sky bridge.
PHASE III [ 600 ] Other ghosts don’t feel like borrowing faces in order to inflict damage. No, they’ll inflict their damage on a far more personal level. They manifest suddenly and without warning – then all it takes is a simple touch. A ghostly hand reaches out to you and it feels like the cold wraps around your heart, and your vision skews, and then... they leave just as suddenly as they came.
Those who have been around for awhile may very well recognize the ghosts, at that.
But the damage has already been done. Depending on a character’s assigned sense, they will feel one of the following changes:
Sight: Hopefully you aren’t in the habit of bending the truth. Dead men tell no tales, they say. But what happens to a living person unable to tell lies? Any attempt at telling any lie or falsehood will cause the character to feel as though their throat has closed off, and they can do nothing more than choke.
Smell: The cold passes, but in some way that it never really leaves. And then everything seems perfectly normal. Nothing has changed, right? You're fine -- except that in a short period of time with how crazy things are, it becomes apparent that you're unable to feel pain. The damage to your body is the same as ever, but dangerously, you can't feel a thing.
Taste: It would appear as though the ghosts have a sense of humor. From those who rest in eternal slumber, try a few days of being unable to sleep. Everything seems fine at first... but slowly but surely, that lack of sleep will start to take its toll.
Hearing: Most others would feel relief once the ghosts left, finally a moment of peace. But you? You don’t feel anything – nothing kind, anyway. Rather, you have been left unable to feel joy. Everything seems either bleak or as though it simply has no emotional impact at all.
Touch: How many deaths have been caused in the name of heroics? Apparently in an attempt to keep future casualties down (or perhaps for their own laughter), the ghosts have left you unable to be brave. Suddenly, a situation you'd face fearlessly is one that has sent you running, panic sharp in your chest.
These effects will last throughout the event, if a character is caught by them.
PHASE IV [ 1000 ] While chaos erupts throughout the city, some of the more misguided ghosts (but still bloodthirsty, so very bloodthirsty) just happened to run into the wrong part of town and don’t know how to give a proper scaring. One ghost seems to think that it was a great idea to possess a masseusebot from the Spa. You’re grabbed suddenly! You fight for your life but can’t seem to get yourself out of its metal grip! With expert precision that only a robot can mange, it finds your pressure points – and releases all that tension from this Incredibly Bad Day. The ghost inside the robot is confused, distressed -- why is this human suddenly so relaxed? It only wants to murder. But the only illegal thing happening here is how good this massage makes you feel.
Maybe later you’ll walk down the street and get stopped by the ghost that possessed a balloon dispenser. Perhaps a ghost has possessed the friendly McCERES mascot, and is now handing out coupons with murderous intent. And of course, there are always the hug bots...
Look, they tried really hard, okay.
Of course... they might end up possessing technology a little closer to home as well, at which point it's not so funny.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Hopefully you have friends who have ghost-fighting skills. Or ghost-taming skills. Or ghost-bellydancing skills, who knows, we won't judge them if you don't. But what of those poor people who come from worlds where the supernatural is some weird television show?
Worry not, poor souls, for CERES is here to provide! Some time after the ruckus begins, characters will find what looks to be a hand-held vacuum cleaner situated innocuously in their rooms (only one per person, you greedy gus). The logo on the side will helpfully inform you that this is of CERES make, because the paper pamphlet beside your new device? Well, it's more like a picture book. Observe Stick-Man Sully as he uses his vacuum cleaner to capture ghosts! Learn from his stellar example! Do not stick the hose in your mouth or attempt to give the vacuum CPR, there's a big X over that picture. Also of the one where Stick-Man Sully sets his captive ghosts free once more, we don't want that, do we?
Your new ghost vacuum should prove effective against any ghastly ghoul that shoots your way, but beware! Should you capture a ghost and not turn in your vacuum to CERES for weekly ghost disposal, your ghost will serenade you in the wee hours of the morning with its song of choice. If you capture a whole horde of ghosts, well, congratulations. You have a boy band living in your vacuum.
[ 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. ] |
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ota!
[she happens to be outside when part of the wall breaks apart; on instinct, she draws her sword, but sheathes it as soon as she gets a look at what's coming for her. it's a spirit, not a kind of monster she can recognize or defeat. she sheathes her sword and starts to run at that point, avoiding any ghosts she sees as best she can.
additionally, if she sees anyone or in trouble or in need of assistance as she tries to find the nearest source of shelter, she'll stop to help them. she can't do anything less.]
phase ii
[given that she's been on the lookout for people who could use a hand, she looks immediately when she hears the voice - then she freezes, completely unprepared for who it is. it's her sister. it's meryl, and she looks human and unchanged, a remnant from a time when everything was simpler. she parts her lips and draws in a breath in surprise, and of course, she follows. there's a voice inside her telling her to stop, that this must be a trick somehow, but... it's her sister. if there's even a chance it could really be her—
someone might want to stop her before she walks in front of that oncoming train.]
phase iii
[she tries to step away as soon as the spirit materializes in front of her, but of course she's too late. as soon as it touches her and she begins to feel that strange sensation, she closes her eyes and braces for the worst. after a few moments, though, she opens her eyes again, a bit surprised that she's well... or so she thinks.
she doesn't realize that she's affected in any way yet, but she does blink several times once she realizes the ghost is gone.]
What on Earth...?
ii
Hey, get out of there!
[he'll scoop her up and off to the other side as the deafening sound of the train looms ever closer, and even the wind feels different in the 2spoopy night]
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Let go of me this instant! She needs my help!
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She? She who? No one's there, no one but Thomas the Train about to run you over.
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What are you talking about?! She's right there, she needs me!
[she can't fail her again. she can't.]
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No one is there! What you need is to quit that and stand still. I don't plan on dyin' in a pretty girl's arms today.
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How can you not see her?! Let me go! She asked for my help!
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Dunno-- my eyes are open but I don't see any babes, and I'd know it! Somethin' weird is going on, with this whole place.
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ii
Adelina! Stop!
[Putting on an extra burst of speed, Korra finally catches her by the wrist and pulls her away from the tracks.]
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She needs me! Why are you stopping me?!
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There's no one there. [Korra catches Adelina's shoulder with her free hand, looking her in the eyes.] It's a trick. The spirits were trying to lure you into danger.
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still, she's not firmly back in reality yet. she continues struggling against korra's hands, desperate and angry, as she breaks eye contact.]
You're wrong! I heard her and I saw her, and she needs my... She needs my help.
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Whatever you saw, it's not real! [Making one last attempt to catch Adelina's gaze with hers.] Breathe in. Close your eyes. Don't let the spirits mess around with you like this.
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[but korra succeeds in holding her gaze for a moment. she does take a breath, and the vision starts to fade. she looks back towards the train tracks a final time, but it's out of a fleeting desperation that this, somehow, wasn't a trick - that meryl was really here.
when she doesn't see anyone, her eyes slide closed for a moment. this aches, but she doesn't want to let herself cry just yet. part of her also wants to scream, to find that creature and find a way to destroy it herself, maybe to be sick. it had taken her sister's form, and somehow, that's what makes her chest ache more than the fact that she was nearly killed.
when she opens her eyes, she stares at the ground for a few moments before she can find anything to say. she's managed to find some composure, but there's regret and sorrow written all over her face all the same.]
...Forgive me.
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C'mon, let's get away from here before whatever you saw comes back.
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phase iii
and there goes one trying to take its issues out on a poor girl. riku starts toward her and frowns moments after. shoot, she might be too far away to get to in time! even so, that doesn't stop him from rushing in, keyblade raised!!! ...only to have the ghost vanish?? well, way to be anticlimactic. can it really be that easy though? with keyblade still in hand and no longer running, he approaches.]
Looks like this one decided to play nice. [a beat.] You okay?
[did this ghost really give up this easy? can it actually be this easy for once? that would be so nice.]
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[her intention is to tell him that she's fine; with the creatures attacking the city, she's certain this boy doesn't need one more thing to be concerned with. as soon as she tries to say those words, though, they catch in her throat. she raises a hand to her neck after a moment, coughing deeply before shaking her head.]
I'm sorry, I... I don't know what came over me.
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Looks like that yes just turned into a no.
[and loudly, too. that cough was as pretty un-fine as it gets.]
Unless hacking up a lung is something normal for you.
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It certainly isn't normal, but I don't know what could have triggered it. Well, it was that spirit, that much is clear, but... It seemed better before I spoke to you, and it doesn't seem to be returning immediately.
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[considerate in the most painful way possible, too. maybe he's not the best stranger ever, but not one worth hacking up lung to warn about, either. joking aside...]
Do you feel anything else off?
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[she shakes her head]
Not particularly, no. It's very strange.
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[he hums thoughtfully while trying to figure out what that could've been about.]
And not unless you're one of those ghosts or whatever let them lose.
[not that he's that dangerous to them, either. turning them into teeny ghosts or making them run into balloons really doesn't rank that high on the scary and mean scale, sadly.]
ii
[and she's not hesitating to grab this girl's arm and tug it as hard as she can, away from the train]
Hey! Snap out of it!
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Release me this instant! She requires my help.
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It's a trick, lady! It's not really her!