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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You would do well to find a priest, for the Light is stronger than arcane against the undead. [ For Kael, it's simply a matter of education. Sorcery (particularly enchanting) is near and dear to his heart.]
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A priest of what? A Taoist? Buddhist? Some other?
You seem powerful enough in your own right, yet your usual magics and such may not work here like you think. Even if someone were to be found, who's to say their sorcery will stick to my blades?
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His eyes narrow at the implication that his spells would be ineffective.]
My sorcery works just fine.[Even if the ghosts are making it erratic, details.]
A permanent enchantment might not be possible, but I have never seen a sword that could not be bestowed with a temporary one. [ He would know, he's enchanted a whole lot of weapons, and his tone speaks to it.]
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At a time like this, I suppose beggars cannot be choosers. Where might I find this priestess, in the event I get tired of trying diplomacy and want to put my swords through these vengeful ghosts?
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However, I am more than capable of common enchantments. [ But as much as Kael dislikes humans, this was a matter of pride.]
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[Cao Pi's pride is just as powerful, he hates to have to ask for or accept help if he can go it alone. But he's curious, now, and might as well look into it.]
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Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Shadow. In addition to advanced enchants such as greater healing, potency, and agility, among other things. [ Though the more advanced ones would require proper catalysts and regiments.]
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Healing or agility are of no use to me, in this circumstance. Which of the elements you described would be even remotely useful against spirits with no bodies to take damage from a sword?
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Does it, now.
Then, I wonder. Is it the enchantment, or the fire itself? It sounds like something worth experimenting with.
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But, as I say. An experiment. And I should be far more interested to go hunting for a ghost with a torch in hand than stand around here wondering if they're interested in my offering.
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All you need now is a torch. [ He's almost amused at the thought of going after a ghost with something so crude as a torch.]
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Cao Pi has to think for a moment, but then he recalls seeing a stack of thick magazines in the shop where he bought the food, and holds up a finger to ask the stranger to wait for him. He dashes in and comes back rolling a few magazines together. That should do.]
Let's give this a try, then. We shall see. [FWOOSH]
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You are fortunate, for a pair of ghosts are approaching from the left. [ He leaves a small mote of fire in his hand, though he doesn't step forward to attack the ghosts. He would intervene if he needed to, but he wanted to see how the other would fair.]
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[without even the slightest twitch of hesitation, Cao Pi strides towards them, brandishing his magazine-torch like a sword in one hand. Predictably, they veer toward him as if to try to sate their bloodthirst using his blood, but they're still intangible, mere phantoms gliding down the street.]
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Kael frowns, and absentmindedly conjures a fireball in one hand, which then splits into a barrage of flames. The fire seeks out the two ghosts, bombarding them until they disappear in a puff of smoke.]
Was that more effective than when you tried before?
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Only slightly more effective than slashing through them with my swords. As yet, though, they're not really doing me any harm. Magical fire seems a bit overkill for trying to drive off an annoyance.
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He raises a hand to his face, thinking.]
It's highly probably that a true enchantment might have a greater effect. Pure elemental fire is less controlled than a shaped flame.
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That is, if you intend to unleash a wildfire to engulf not only ghosts but everything else in its path. Perhaps it's best to save such measures for if these spirits prove to be more than just a noisy nuisance.
[he's aware that eradication could become necessary...later.]
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[always taking stock of his assets!]
I will consider such power if it becomes necessary. It would be better in the hands of an expert, rather than my own. Who, then, should I contact if I find myself in need of elemental fire?
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And you are?
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Lord Cao Pi, ruler of Wei. Well met, your highness.
[see? he can be respectful once in a while...]
It would do well to stay in contact, in case either of us learn anything useful in our experiments.
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Likewise.
That is fine by me, but if it is important, I ask that you use the sound function to contact me. I do not trust the artifacts here. [ Aka elves and texting don't mix.]
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