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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[ Nanoha's been feeling awful the past three days or so, and this isn't helping. This definitely isn't helping. The pounding in her head has been replaced by a unceasing banshee's wail, the ghosts making their presence known to the mage in the most direct way possible. She's never met a ghost, didn't even really believe souls could linger after death without some serious ritual magic, but she knows what she's seeing. ]
Raising Heart, if you'd please? [ The gem hanging around her neck floats up to her lips, and she gives it a small kiss, starting what should have been her transformation sequence.
But less than a millisecond in, she knows something went wrong. Her magical power is always great, but she's never had trouble keeping it in check. Especially not for something as simple as putting on her Barrier Jacket. ]
GET DOWN!
[ That's the only warning she has for anyone in the vicinity when the surging mana in her body explodes outwards, a giant pink barrier rapidly growing forth and pushing everything inorganic away. Even the ground beneath her feet had to give way, a crater with Nanoha floating above it, desperately holding on to her Raising Heart which is shining like a miniature pink sun.
At least she's keeping the ghosts out and you in? Unless you're a robot, then whoops, hope you like being pinned to the ground. ]
Phase II
[ Nanoha's been through this song and dance before. Somebody pretends to be her lost family and tries to drag her into danger? Old hat. But it's not like you can just throw off magical hypnosis because you're used to it!
So she's caught for a while, following after the ghost with slow steps. However, she returns to her senses of her own volition... Just before a tram slams right into her side.
Poor tram.
Nanoha though, isn't exactly fine either, not having enough time to set up a proper barrier and relying only on her automatic defences means that she's lying on the ground, groaning in pain. This has been an abjectly awful day. ]
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But until then though? He'll be out and about trying to see if any of his friends need help despite him running a fever.
When he saw Nanoha nearby though? It was a good thing that he didn't happen to see a tram hitting her but he manage to hear her voice. So when he did?]
N-Nanoha-san? What are you doing there? [Sniffle] Um...h-here, take my hand, I'll try to get you somewhere safe!
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But no, she can't actually do that. ]
Uhhhh. Thanks, Takeru-kun. [ She takes his hand and slowly lifts herself to her feet. He's not actually tall enough to give her much of a boost, but she won't tell him that, okay? ] I got caught in an illusion again. How embarrassing, ha...
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Or at least, have her attempt to anyway]
It's not a problem! [Sniffle] But are you going to be okay though? Whatever happened, it doesn't seem like that illusion was being very nice!
[But then again, when has CERES ever been nice?]
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Nothing permanent, at least. What kind of hero would I be if something like this took me down, right? [ She didn't particularly think she was invincible, but it normally works to reassure children. Hopefully this could calm Takeru down too. ] It really hurts, but I'll live.
[ She sighs. ]
But if anything, I'd say it was being too nice. It pretended to be my family and lured me into the path of the tram. These ghosts aren't playing nice.
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Well, if you say so! Even if you are a superhero, it doesn't mean that you can't...you know? [Not that he didn't want to say that word but after what happened? It didn't seem like a good idea!] Especially when I know that you can get really really really badly hurt here!
Whoever these ghosts are, I wonder why are they hurting so many people. We didn’t do anything to them, that’s just not fair at all!
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As for these ghosts... Well, ghosts like this don't usually form without a grudge to anchor them to this world. [ Is she speaking from her studies in magic, or horror films? Both. ] And when people are filled with pain and hate, they have an unfortunate tendency to lash out at things that don't deserve it. Let's just get out of here, and we can figure things out slowly.
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ii!
AND THEN THERE'S NANOHA... Who seems to be in a great deal of pain, but isn't actually dead?! Now there's a surprise. Kashuu is quick to rush to her side anyway, sheathing his blade quickly so he can reach for her shoulders.]
Hey— Hey! Should I call an ambulance?! [How does one handle human injuries.]
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Oh. It's you. Can you get me off the track first? [ She's injured, but she's all business now. There's time for complaining about what happened later. First, make sure everything's safe. ]
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[Kashuu remembers hearing once that you're not supposed to move humans who have been severely injured. Something about neck injuries?! He's still not really sure... But if Nanoha's well enough to talk, he assumes... she's probably okay to be moved...
Besides, she really won't be having a great day if she gets whopped by another tram. So! He'll reach down, scooping her up bridal-style and quickly hopping his way off the tracks.]
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And just in time too, because once they're off the tracks, the sound of another tram approaching can be heard, the vehicle zooming past, nobody on it because like hell anybody wants to get closer to the ghosts, going far too fast because of those same ghosts. ]
I, hmm, nothing's broken, I think? Can you let me down now?
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—You're welcome. [This said somewhat distractedly. As for her request, he glances down at her, looking a little uncertain.]
Make sure you don't put too much weight on anything right away, okay? [Should he even be setting her down at all?? Possibly not, but it's not like he's just going to keep carrying her around if she says she's all right. After a second's hesitation he'll start lowering her closer to the ground, waiting for her to step down and test for any sprains or breaks.]
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I can take as much as I can give. I just got surprised so I didn't have time to properly defend myself. [ So she says, but she's not being completely honest. Being a mage means putting up strong barriers is important. Nothing's permanently broken, but that doesn't mean everything isn't in pain. ]
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phase i
But the second thing she does is pick herself up and head to Nanoha.]
Hey! Are you okay?!
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No, I'm not really okay! The only good part about this is that my clothes haven't disappeared!
[ Because... that's how magical girl transformations work. The clothes disappear and are replaced by whatever they wear into battle. ]
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What is this, some kind of fanservice-laden boss fight sequence??]
Wait, what are you holding on to?! Let go of that!
[Because Shiho had a guess that the pink gem might have something to do with all of this and Nanoha should definitely not be hanging onto anything that dangerous.]
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That's Raising Heart! It's my Device!
[ Which probably doesn't explain as much as she'd like, but those were the terms she's always used. ]
Uh, it becomes my staff and helps me use my magic. I can't have it flying off!
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Does it normally do that? [That as in the pink barrier or whatever it is that's happening.]
If it's yours, can't you just turn it off or something?
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I've lost control of my magic, and I don't know why!
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phase ii
Hak gasps, and "Yona" begins to fade away slowly. He'd been seconds from being hit himself--but he doesn't even consider it as he rushes over to the person's side.
He turns the body over. It's Nanoha. ]
Hey...hey! You alright? [ He gives her shoulders a light shake. She's breathing, but is she going to be okay? ]
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[ She's quite miraculously not bleeding everywhere. Actually, the miracle is that there's enough of Nanoha left to be called a body. She's lucky that she always has a layer of barriers that activate automatically, because any unshielded, ordinary human would be a smear on the ground. ]
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[ He carefully slides an arm under her upper back, using his other arm to support her legs. Before he rises, however, he does need to ask one thing of her. ]
Think you can carry that for me?
[ He tilts his head to gesture at his Hsu Quandao, lying a few feet behind him--he'd dropped it when he saw her go flying. Hak's going to do what he can to help her, but he needs to take his spear with him if he can help it. ]
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Is that okay? Am I not too heavy? Gosh, I'm normally the one carrying people...
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Trust me, you're far from the heaviest person I've had to carry. [ Some of his old comrades, lord knows how heavy they were-- ] I'll take you to the nearest hospital.
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