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. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
There are tales in literature of the wars of the Shang Dynasty, where gods and immortals assisted men on both sides of the succession war. But they are only that: tales.
Then again, in the other world, Orochi did manage to secure the loyalty of men. [including him ahaha...uh.] But he wasn't merely a spirit, he was completely corporeal.
no subject
I understand. In the case of my country, and the countries surrounding it, there is truth to those tales.
Many dungeons have appeared across the lands over the last fifteen years, each one ruled by a Great Spirit-- a Djinn, as we call them. Those who conquor said dungeons are granted extraordinary wealth and power... only if the Djinn specifically allows it. They are sentient and have their own will, after all. They choose those who could be King.
This is because the powers granted to the Dungeon Conquerors are the Djinn's own. So long as the Conqueror carries the seal that symbolizes their pact with the Djinn, they're able to allow their bodies to become a vessel for the Djinn's power. Since the Djinn themselves cannot exist without an anchor outside of their Dungeons, the Conqueror is able to maintain their free will as well-- thus, it's at once both the Djinn having a corporeal form and men being blessed by the gods.
no subject
Every bit as possible as a serpent demon being resurrected from the dead twice and turned into an eight-headed monster...
Still, Cao Pi can't help but look a little wary, as well as curious.]
I gather, then, that you tell me this because you have such a seal.
no subject
My three brothers and two of my sisters are also Dungeon Conquerors; one of my sisters also carries a fan into battle with her, although her skills are different from my own.
no subject
[he turns to continue walking, though more slowly, letting Koumei tell him of those powers when and if he wishes]
In Orochi's realm, several of the strategists who were in the demon's service learned sorcery. Both Sima Yi and the Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Liang were able to use their fans to cast spells. I have seen this before, so you need not be concerned that I will find it strange or unpleasant, or run from you.
no subject
[That was a very different art form in his world-- and those who were associated with the Metal Vessels of the Dungeon Conquerors tended to have poor magical affinity. The two systems clashed in such a way that it was impossible to manage both at once.]
And I cast no spells, either. Instead, what I do can be likened to playing a game of Go. I can move pieces on the board as I need to, with minimal interference.
no subject
[The comparison to Go just gives him a little twitch of eerie familiarity. Their kingdoms really are the same...]
That could be a considerable power. To move others without their will? I can see the potential for both great benefit and complete corruption. You'll warn me before it becomes necessary, I hope.
no subject
I always warn others if I transport them, and I've predominantly worked with my brothers and sisters in that regard. We have an understanding, so we know what to expect of eachother if we do go into battle together.
no subject
[there's a fleeting smile - blink and you'll miss it - before it's gone and he turns to go into the library. Ugh look at this place, where does one even start?]
Hm. This might be a waste of time, if people are in trouble.
no subject
no subject
Likewise, they're nothing more than superstition. It's a handy means of ensuring that the dead have been properly buried and mourned, but I see no benefit otherwise.
Let's see. If a dead man returns as a hungry ghost, popular belief is that either its descendants need to honor it, or it needs offerings of food and entertainment. Good wine, delicacies, and merriment.
no subject
That would work if any of us were direct descendents to these spirits. As none of us hail from this city, that restriction alone will prove to be a problem-- unless they're indiscriminant and don't mind anonymous offerings from strangers.
no subject
[he glances subtly over his shoulder at Koumei, then] ...you've heard their chant, haven't you?
no subject
He didn't wish for lectures either.]
...I have, [came the quiet reply, impassive and cold.] the accusation isn't new to my ears. After you've overwritten the government and culture of the many lands your country has conquered, such remarks lose some meaning.
Besides, my accusers can't see the larger picture. It's no fault of their own, so they can hardly be blamed for feeling that way.
no subject
Don't worry. I don't think our current crop of foes means you, when they say that. Or me, for that matter. But it is proof that they're vengeful; it's not clear who they want vengeance upon, but I have a guess or two.
no subject
What is your other guess?
no subject
...or even who, or what, they really are. [with a grunt of dissatisfaction, since these books are of no help at all]
no subject
[He sighed wearily.]
Do you think an offering of tea and rice will help?
no subject
[he turns and leans on the shelf, folding his arms]
We can try it, as an experiment, but I prefer to exhaust more realistic avenues before turning to superstition.
no subject
no subject
What if there are no casualties? What if they cannot actually harm us in their form? They would become nothing more than irritants. But at the moment I have very little evidence that they are enemies of ours. [he hasn't seen one manifest and lure people to their deaths, or possess dangerous technology] Attempting to communicate with them should be a priority, but if they have nothing to say or are incapable of saying more than 'murderers,' then it comes down to whether they actively pose a threat.
[he stops to fish out his CEREvice, looking at it. Silent.]
No one is crying for help. I find that very odd.
no subject
no subject
[but for the rest, he's so not worried about familiar phantoms. He cut down a phantom of his father, once; familiar faces won't be his downfall.]
no subject
That's where my own skills have come into play. I can redirect damage, but it's far more draining than it ought to be. I don't have the Magoi reserves to maintain that ability for long periods as it is, and that limit isn't something that I wish to test right now.
no subject
It sounds as though there isn't much to be done in terms of learning what these ghosts are or how to get rid of them. I feared as much. We may do better simply being on the streets, prepared for those whose magic is out of control.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)