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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She snatches her blaster up as she moves and grimaces as she can feel his fear added to the pile.]
Why are you out of bed? You're supposed to be at home.
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I-I know but when I saw all the ghosts out? [Sniffle] I was really worried about my friends! And I didn't know if they were going to be safe or hurt or...if something bad might happen to them.
[Pause] ...You're mad at me aren't you?
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You have a CEREvice, or did you forget how to use it? [She knows he hasn't.]
Exponentially. You're ill. Go back home. Now.
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N-No but with so many ghosts around, I didn't think they would look through their CEREvice. They would be too busy and they could have gotten really hurt!
But what about you though? Are you going to be okay?
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Takeru, you're ill. The fact that you are out of the apartment means that Han is looking for you right now. Which means he might be in danger as well.
Stop worrying about me and take care of yourself. I'm a lot tougher than that girl in the movies we watched.
[And even then she's never been some shrinking violet.]
I will be easy and able to help others if I know that you're safe at home.
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Then we'll...you can try and find him right now? I don't think he'll be too far away from here! I wasn't running for too long anyway!
[Can you hear that? That's the sound of a young boy starting to panic a little.
Oh dear, what has he done now?] But all right, I'll go home if that will make you feel bet-
[Just then though? That's when he quickly turned around and saw a ghost coming after them! Now what?]
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I can try and find him, yes. I have a way.
[She touches his shoulder, shoving away his panic to try and stabilize him.][She looks up to see the ghost and lets out a low growl. Takeru's safety is the most important thing right now. Without a second thought, Leia picks the boy up and starts to run.]
When I get my hands on one of these CERES people, I'm going to strangle them. With the Force.
[FORCE NECK HUGS FOR EVERYONE!]
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Just a tad bit.
It was a little different when you see your not!mom fighting a bunch of ghosts! But he didn’t have to think for long! As he suddenly felt himself being picked up, he started to panic a little!]
W-Well, hopefully they'll make this all stop before you can! I don't want there to be a fight with so many ghosts around!
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Going inside won't help. They're spirits. They can go through walls. And if they're anything like Anakin's Force Ghost, it doesn't matter how secure the area is if they want to show up. No, she needs somewhere sacred to this place. A shrine.]
My hope in their assistance is less than nil, Takeru. Where's the nearest shrine?
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If they weren't in the middle of being chased, he really would have enjoyed seeing her being really cool! He really needed to ask her if she would be willing to do it again!
….Oh right, the ghosts!]
Uh...a shrine? I think it might be that way? [he pointed to the right] I can always quickly look for one on the CereVice though! But I’m pretty sure it’s that way the last time I checked! I don’t if Rei-san would pick up but I can always ask her!
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She looks over to the right and heads that way.]
We don't have time to ask. And if it's as thick by Rei as it is with us, she's probably having the same trouble I am. Maybe worse.
[Empath issues, man.]
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As he looking around, he continued to point to the same direction as before!]
T-Then we'll just have to go that way right? I don't think we have much of a choice! And especially if Rei-san is probably going to be really busy!
[Pause] But that is the way to the shrine...isn't it?
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Leia continues to run in the direction of the shrine with the boy tightly held to her side like a package. Her grip isn't the best but any time she'd try to use to make him climb onto her back would slow them down.]
We can't count on running into Rei before we reach a shrine. [She's not even sure the shrine will deter the spirits. She's just hoping it will.]
Hold on tight. [She pushes as hard as she can to get them to relative safety. But, Force, when this is all over, there is going to be a very angry princess out for blood.]
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But as she continued to carry the boy, Takeru made sure that his grip on her was tight. He didn't want to fall down in the middle of a ghost chase scene!]
O-Okay then! Just be careful though, those ghosts really don't look that friendly! [However, before he held on even more to her for safety?] ...But please don't stay mad?
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No, I don't think they're friendly at all. [In case the wails of "murdermurdermurder" were any indication.] We'll talk about me being mad when we're not in danger anymore.
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A-All right then but be careful! I think those ghosts are really mad!
[And not to mention they were gaining up on them pretty quick!]
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[She can feel them closing in as her own powers waver the closer she gets to the shrine. The moment her feet are over the threshold, she falls to her knees, breathing heavily and feeling weak.]
When this is all over, I'm going to strangle Mosley.
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But as they got to the shrine? He too fell on his knees and starting panting!]
Well d-don't hurt him too badly...? Because wouldn't we want to keep him happy so he can tell us what's going on...?
[Hmmmm....]
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[Leia takes a minute to check him over. He's not physically damaged, but signs of his illness are evident. She sighs and turns her attention back to the shrine's entrance.]
When we get home, you're not to leave your bed until you're completely well unless you're about to die.
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[He didn't dare to look at her straight in the eyes. He knew what he done and he nearly got him, Leia, and Patamon in danger because of it! As he began rubbing the side of his arm, he didn't even know what to say back to her.]
...But I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking was I? I just wanted to see if all my friends were safe but I didn’t mean to get you in danger though.
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I know you weren't. It'll be okay. I was serious about the grounded thing, so perhaps you'd like to contact your friends over the CEREvice now.
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Do you think they'll answer? I don't want them to get hurt because they were checking up on the device! I think...maybe I’ll use it after everything is over. That seems like a much safer thing to do right?
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[She's no longer scared for him, because it seems the shrines were little bubbles of safety, which made sense to her because of the way the Spirits of Tellus behaved before.]
See if you can contact Han. He's probably frantic.
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As he gave him a call, he just kept on mumbling. Man, he was in sooooo much trouble wasn't he?
Which was why he kept looking at Leia and then back at the device.]
...He said that he was coming really soon. [Pause] He sounded pretty mad too.
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At least that's what that book on childrearing she found said.]
Can you blame him for being upset? You're sick and you left on his watch.
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