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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There's a hum of something in his chest spinning up. The Tesla coil high voltage discharger hasn't been put to use in decades, but as the violet crackle of high-powered electricity fills the air it's more than apparent that unused isn't the same as defunct.
Whether bad aim or a scare tactic, the possessed automaton takes a shot that goes wide, blasting a hole into the sidewalk.
The Spine is probably going to be fined for that. Thanks a lot, Casper.]
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Right. Time to think.
The weapon, whatever it is, is big. Can't get too close, until he can figure out how it works and how to stop it. Or can he? The other side seems clear to strike, but there's no point to slicing off an unarmed arm. How does this thing work, anyway? It wasn't a living human so going for the head or the heart might not have done anything. Zoro needs to figure a few more things out, so he goes on the offensive, pulling Kitetsu and charging in with both swords held low, testing to see how fast the robot could swing that thing around and zap at him again.]
MIGHT IF I CUT IN~?
It was supposed to be a lazy afternoon--like most of hers usually were--sprawled out along the couch and pretending to be asleep while The Spine tutted from here to there within their cramped apartment, picking up after her mess. But instead of her brother getting more and more fed up with her inactivity until he burst (his angry faces were some of her favorites to laugh at, hence why she tried so hard to push those particular buttons), the titanium automaton had done the smart thing and slipped out the front door into the city instead.
No no no no. Not cool. This ruined her plan completely!
Hopping to her feet with an unsteady wobble and chasing after him as any good sister would do (but not before changing her shoes and checking her appearance in the silvery side of her toaster), it hadn't taken long to track down the towering seven foot machine.
It also didn't take Rabbit long to realize something was very wrong.
The stranger (Zoro) arches gracefully forward with his swords swinging, but there's suddenly an obstacle blocking his path to the possessed robot. Stamping her booted foot between the boys, Rabbit's copper head jerks violently to the side with a CRACK to give one quick appraisal in The Spine's direction before she's glaring right back at Zoro, copper face scrunching up. Frighteningly sharp teeth are bared, the woman holding out her gloved arms to fruitlessly hide the other robot behind her slightly shorter build.]
D-d-d-don't touch my brother or I'll roast you! [It's an empty threat--for the most part, Rabbit just doesn't have it in her to hurt any living thing on purpose--but she's hoping that the intimidating display might be just enough to keep the human from advancing again.]
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Still looking pretty determined, on top of surprised as fuck.]
Your brother?! What the hell?
[ESPLAIN PLZ]
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Unforunately, Rabbit isn't given a chance to explain. A heavy booted foot slams into her back, the possessed automaton's firin' arm already drawing a bead on Zoro.
Someone call an exorcist.]
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HEY! [Rabbit's never had the best of balance, not in any of the various metal frames she'd had through the last century, but with how top heavy this particular body had been made to be, that simple kick was absolutely all she needed to start flailing, stumbling awkwardly right at Zoro.]
Huh-za-what?!?! [The copper lady tumbles forward, any hint of intimidation giving way to surprise instead, her lopsided mouth hanging open before she finally was crashing to the ground, face first.
She's not forgetting this, The Spine.]
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Zoro reaches the opposite sidewalk and lets go of her there, his eye still focused on the murderbot]
Who is that guy? What do you know about him?
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[The lady 'bot's head clicks to the side, staring at the other robot. Internally she knows it isn't The Spine's fault for what was happening to him, but at the same time, screw him for kicking her over like that!
Her mouth twists into a frown.]
Don't hurt 'em, okay? He ain't r-r-right in th' circuits right now. [Rabbit straightens upwards, making a show of smoothing out her skirt before she was shooting a fiery glare in The Spine's direction.] Hey! Knock it off, ya dummins! [she raises a fist threateningly, shaking it] Or I'll knock yer head right off of yer stupid body!
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Zoro straightens up to his full height and flicks his wrists to turn the swords just slightly, as if to put them out of lethal position]
All right, if you say so. But I got the feeling he's not exactly willing to cut us the same slack.
[hmmm...] ...can I at least slice that thing off his arm so he can't zap us? [:D]
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The ghost might not be able to work out how to make him run, but it makes up for its lack of speed with tenacity.]
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But Rabbit's glowing optics drop down, catching sight of the new rip in her favorite pair of tights.]
Shore, go for it. [a pause, before she rushes to add:] Just d-d-d-don't touch anything else!
[That's what you get for ruining her clothes, Spine.]
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[he shifts in front of her to shield her, and then goes in hard and fast, zig-zagging any further blasts from the electrical cannon arm thingy and looking to cut in as close as he can. The street may be mostly empty but there's still a lot around that can be considered collateral damage, so Zoro looks for his chance to do more than just block and dodge, staying close so he doesn't have to use a flying slash to disarm this troublemaker]
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And then Zoro comes in close. It's just the opportunity the ghost is looking for.
It draws back both arms and lurches forward, trying to catch him in a crushing hold--and, conveniently, leaving itself wide open.]
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You know, some fighting moves are just instinct. Zoro never stopped to consider that getting punched in the diaphragm is not anywhere near as effective on a metal man as it would be on someone flesh and blood.]
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Just keep distracting the big lug for a little bit longer, Zoro! You got this!]
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A superficial wound, unfortunately. One that The Spine will no doubt puzzle over later, when he's capable of thinking for himself.
Rattled but not dissuaded, the ghost attempts to use this opportunity to its advantage--it closes The Spine's arms as quickly as it can, seeking to pin Zoro. There's a surprising amount of power behind the hold, considering how thin the robot is.
Better move fast, Rabbit, he's going to start to squeeze if the ghost gets its way.]
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Oi! Get off me, I don't wanna dance.
[his arms are held to his sides, too low to fire off a flying slash with either sword. But Zoro is also stupidly muscled, so as the squeeze begins, he presses back, planting his feet and flexing his arms and chest.]
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Before that titanium grip can do too much damage to the squishy human trapped inside, Rabbit, moving as swift as her namesake, bounds forward from behind to plant both of her palms against the sides of The Spine's head, fingers covering his audio-receptors. Then, without wasting a second to give him the chance to retaliate, she's yanking his head upwards with all of her strength...]
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...be very effective, as it turns out. There's a strained moment where precisely nothing happens, and then everything does, all at once. A series of metallic popping sounds ring out from within The Spine's chassis as hard coded damage prevention protocols kick in--
And then his head pops off. It's like one of those gruesome fatalities in Mortal Kombat games, except without the blood and viscera. The grip on Zoro loosens and then falls away entirely, the headless body going into standby mode.
Rabbit, on the other hand, has a handful of angrily vocalizing possessed automaton head, The Spine's eponymous titanium alloy spine thrashing like a seriously peeved snake.
So... have fun with that, guys.]
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That's not something you see every day.
Excuse Zoro while he just stands there, dumbfounded, as the arms let go and he's free to stand and move again. Like holy shit man, give him a little warning before ripping heads off! Or not. He needs a moment to boggle.]
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As The Spine's titanium alloy spine went flailing around like a fish out of water in her hands, Rabbit shot a single glare over at his immobile body, knowing exactly how easy it would be for her to knock it over with just one tiny kick. And really, he would totally deserve it, after all of this trouble he put her through, but in the end, even she couldn't find it within herself to be that cruel.
Instead, the copper woman tucks The Spine's head under her elbow like a football and turns to shoot a lopsided, all too infectious grin Zoro's way.]
Guess no slicin' was n-n-needed, huh?
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If only it knew just how much power is housed in its titanium alloy construction, it might have been at least slightly mollified. If The Spine were in control (and gone completely off his rocker), he would've coiled it, snake-like, around Rabbit's arm and constricted until metal began to crunch.
The ghost, though. It just flails madly, too furious to even consider that it might have more weapons at its disposal.]
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[man, it's like a half-dead fish or something, still moving even though his head is off. Gross.]
Is he gonna be okay like that? I mean, you can fix it, right? You didn't just decapitate your own brother for nothing...
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Shore shore! [a copper hand comes down to awkwardly pat at The Spine's head, like he's nothing more than a whining child carefully pinned beneath her sharp elbow. this was all second nature by now.] He'll be just f-fine. Th' way we're built, we can handle a heck o' a lot more than bein' taken apart! Spine's head comes off alllllll th' time normally! Mine can too with a little m-more effort!
[then there's a pause, a pause so silent that the literal gears of Rabbit's brain could actually be heard while she contemplated something. Green and blue eyes flick over to Zoro's face, a hint of eagerness tugging at the automaton's lopsided mouth. What she says next comes out quickly, almost breathlessly if she had any breath in the first place.]
Wanna s-s-see me take off my face?
[no. you do not.]