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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he handles the stack carefully, slowly setting it down on the table and then burying his hands in his lap. ]
.. I'm okay. I don't know what it was, but.. it felt.. a little like concentrated vengeful spirit to me?
[ he glances back up, distress evident in his eyes, hands white-knuckled. ] I.. Maybe? It's.. never happened before, but.. [ but haru's picking all of this up a little at a time, mostly from doing research, from his few talks about it with sousei, and his very incomplete training from the organization. he does a lot of improvising. ]
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It felt dangerous. [It's his first observation and one of the most obvious ones - he has no doubt Haru drew the same conclusion - but he feels the need to say so aloud anyway. Whatever it is, it's dangerous.]
I think some of us are gonna go have a look outside to see what's going on, but if you can't summon shikigami... [Then how will they keep in contact? He doesn't want Haru out there with them in case it's as dangerous as it feels, but he doesn't want to leave him alone in the apartments either.]
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haru's not thrilled to hear about the plan to check it out, but he also knows that forbidding them would be wrong. if something's out there that they can take care of, then.. technically that's their job. that's haru's job, at its core: setting things right.
still, the worry shows itself in the faint line between his brows, in the pale gaze he levels on kashuu. ]
You'll be careful. None of you will go alone-- go at least in pairs. Keep your phones on you.. hopefully the network won't go down, and you can call me if you need me or if anyone's injured. [ his hands twist in his lap, nervous and worried. it's the first time he's potentially sent them into a fight in months. not that fights haven't happened here, but this is different. ] I.. [ he trails off faintly, teeth digging into the side of his cheek. ] Don't.. [ he uncurls his hands, then reaches for kashuu, tugging him in close enough that he can brush their noses together. ] Don't make me worry more than I have to, Kiyo-kun. Okay?
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Kashuu is used to the flux of battle, either way - the weeks (or sometimes months) of downtime in between fights, and then the periods where it seems like the fighting never ends. It's easy for him to slip back into the mentality that they're going off to battle, so what does surprise him is the fact that Haru seems even more worried than usual. It reminds him of being back home, of how the tension never seems to entirely leave Haru's shoulders when he sends a squad off no matter how many times he does it.
Well, he's always known his master has a soft heart. It's an inspiring thing, even if he thinks Haru probably hurts more than his fair share because of it. He still loves it though, because that heart is why he's pulled close and why Haru worries at all and why he can say something as small as a nickname and be able to make Kashuu smile. He tucks himself closer automatically.]
...I won't. Promise! I have my phone in my pocket and I'll be as careful as possible and make sure no one takes dumb risks or goes off on their own. [Or he'll do the best he can, anyway... Damn their extensive and hard-to-watch numbers.]
You're still not feeling good, right? I think a couple of us should stay behind to keep guard just in case.
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for a moment, his hands tighten against the spirit, almost desperate, before he takes a shaky breath and nods. ]
.. Okay. It's a promise. [ he tips his chin up to brush a quick, fond kiss over the end of kashuu's nose, gradually loosening his fingers. at the following question and comment, he hesitantly shakes his head. ] Probably just.. the other sick guys will be enough. Naki-san, Ishiki-san, Tarou-san.. [ kousetsu should be fine with sousei, tenka, and sayo. ] I think.. I can sort out a barrier if I need to.
1/2...
That's shoved to the side quickly, in any case. There are more important things to focus on now, and he leans forward to return that gesture with a kiss to Haru's cheek before he leans back and away and starts to stand again.]
Don't overexert yourself though, okay? And stick close to those guys. Even if they're sick, they'll be able to take good care of you. [And potentially purify anything that needs purification... Good work, holy swords.]
I'm gonna head out to get some others and scout. I'll be back soon!
[AND OFF HE GOES, TO DO HE SWORD THING--]
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Well.
Seems like one ghost has already nyoomed its way right on over to their apartment to possess the electronic lock on their front door. Tragically, Kashuu's dramatic exit is ruined as he tries to open the door once, twice - and then is reduced to just rattling the knob. WHAT KIND OF LOW BUDGET HORROR FILM IS THIS.]
Eh... Haruji? I think the door's broken.
[And the first wave of negative energy has disoriented him just a little, so he can't yet pinpoint that there's something being a rude shit in their door.]
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heaving himself off the couch in a bundle of blanket (and sweater and sweatpants beneath it), he shuffles over to the door and squints uncertainly down at the handle. for a few moments, he just continues to stare at it.. but then he slowly reaches out, touching one fingertip against the handle, and jerking it abruptly away again a second later with a tiny gasp. ]
Oh. [ oh? ] Um.. [ he glances back up at kashuu again. ] There's something.. there? [ haru r u sure or not. ]
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But he looks worried when Haru pulls his hand away so abruptly, shooting the doorknob a displeased stare like it's personally offended him. WHICH IT HAS.]
Is there? Seriously? I couldn't feel anything... [But when he reaches out to touch the knob again, it zaps his fingers with a jolt of static electricity.] Ow—!
[THIS DOOR GHOST IS RUDE.]
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he jumps as kashuu's shocked, a hand flying to his heart. don't scare him like that, ugh, you know haru's a frail rabbit sometimes. ]
Um... [ a slow glance back to the doorknob. ] I have to admit, I'm not sure what's going on here. [ he's never tried to exorcise a door?! he's never tried to exorcise anything, actually. he's never had to before???? ]
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He also shoots over an apologetic glance at that, like oops, sorry frail rabbit saniwa. THAT SAID, it feels pretty stupid to be wary of a door, but if Haru doesn't know what's going on and they both just felt a massive blast of negative energy... it's better safe than sorry?? Probably.]
...Should we just, like... remove the door for now?
[Ah, just what the apartment needs. More surprise renovations!]
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better safe than sorry, also haru doesn't actually trust his abilities right now? he might set it on fire again or something. or bring it to life. (they'll have a real door-man, then.) ]
I've never removed a door before. Maybe we can get my kitchen gloves and remove the knob instead..? That seems easier..
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We can just break it down or something, right? [Kashuu...] If this thing's inside, it probably won't let us remove the knob easily, anyway. I'll give it a shot, though.
[AND OFF HE TROTS TO THE KITCHEN to grab the gloves. He's not letting Haru touch their possessed door again, okay.]
...How do you take out a doorknob?
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at the question, he shuffles over to the kitchen again, pulling his little step-stool out and climbing carefully up onto it, reaching up for the small toolbox he has on top of the shelves.
he sets it down on the countertop, looking through it for a screwdriver, then stepping just as carefully down onto the floor again. ]
There are screws you have to take out.. It should just come apart, then. [ haru is pretty handy to have around the house, usually. he had to take care of his own childhood home, after all, so he's learned to do a lot of random repair work. ]
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Is it seriously that easy? This guy should've picked a more sturdy home.
[Now he's just giving rude ghosts unfortunate ideas!! But he'll crouch down after that so he's eyelevel with the knob.]
Mmm... So, just these? [Tapping the first screw! He'll even manage to unscrew it after he gets confirmation! And then he just kind of glances over his shoulder like he's waiting for Haru to say "good job!" or something, even though he doesn't say so...] Do all of the screws have to come out?
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.. Don't give it ideas..
[ next thing they know, it'll be possessing the microwave and burning all their food. (rude.) ]
Mm, just like that. .. I've never had to take a knob completely off, but you definitely have to remove both of the big screws.. and I think that's it. [ a beat. ] Though I'm not sure what we should do with it once it's off.
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If it could move to something better, it'd have probably already done that by now, right? [BUT NO instead it's passiveaggressively trying to shock Kashuu away.]
We can just put the knob up somewhere without any other things it could get into, right? Like inside a drawer or something, maybe. [He's working on the second screw as he talks, but when he moves to the third-- ah. The alarm system goes off...]
Huh—?! [HE DIDN'T EVEN DO ANYTHING WRONG THIS TIME.]