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
[Now Hiro didn't exactly need to sleep as much anymore, but he felt that he was going to be napping for a while when everything was finished. Situations like this was practically second nature to him by now. While he was busy desperately hunting for any survivors who needed help or kicking some ghost ass... His power suddenly spiked up to access a new transformation. Hiro wasn't sure how it happened and where this rush of strength came from, but he was feeling great. The Administrator takes a second to look himself in the mirror. And compared to his nasty form changing experience in the volcano... This one was far more pleasing on the eyes.]
--C'mon now! These new powers really need to come with an instruction manual. I don't fully get it, but... [He couldn't help and strike a little pose.] Buuuut gotta admit that this freakin' beats being a blob of tentacles any day. ♪
[Now among those ghosts flying around in the streets will be a creature that might look similar to them, but has brighter colors and more transcendental form. It's up to you to decide if it's friend or foe... But it's certainly floating about and blasting some powerful wind spells to blow some of those ghosties away. He might be coming your way for an assist... Apologies if you're blown away in the strong gusts of wind!]
Phase IV
[If you're in the Shopping District, then there's bound to be tons of chaos happening in the shops and street with the ghosts learning how to possess technology.
But among them, some of the ghosts seemed to have learned to perform a mass possession on some TVs and formed up into a walking TV robot. Your mileage may vary on how honestly threatening this is, however... Our upbeat bunnyhood hero is looking completely sparkly eyed like a five year old. If there was any danger in the air, then Hiro was not reading the atmosphere at all.]
Uwaaaaaaah! That's the coolest thing ever! I'm naming you Teevee-kun! Do you have special attacks!? Please tell me that you can spout some drills from those arms!!
[Taking out a cellphone, he'll even take some photos on the walking behemoth. Give him a moment as he is completely focused on this one thing. P... priorities...]
Wildcard
[Anything goes if you wish to thread with Hiro while he's in his alien form or normal form.]
phase i
Oi, what the hell was that for?!
no subject
[Ah, a civilian... with fancy underwear! The ghosts disappear and Hiro floats to a stop as he notices Inaba in his direction. This might have been easier if he could speak to her in his human form... So he lands on his feet and white flames blaze up to revert him back to his human state. That rush of power was gone for now...]
Ahh... You aren't hurt, are you? It'd be a shame if something happened to you and your black lace underwear.
[Wait... what!?]
no subject
Do you want to die?
no subject
Nonono! No dying here today! Then I'd be joining our ghasty friends here!
no subject
[ She is 100% serious about this, ]
no subject
[This girl had strange priorities! Almost reminded him of Airi...]
no subject
[ She is seriously livid about this because ugh??? This is the second time, goddamn. ]
no subject
Ah, shit! Nevermind that already! [And he'll be taking Inaba's hand as he starts to run.] We gotta go! There's too many of those stupid ghosts!
no subject
[ Her voice reverberates a little in the area as she tries to yank his hand away from her own. ]
You don't need to grab me, you know!
no subject
[He couldn't help and snap right back. This situation was just hitting too close to him for a lot of things right now.]
no subject
A-Alright, alright-! I'll try. [ She's not a speedy runner in any sense of the word, but an Attempt is definitely made. ]
no subject
[And in a flash of light, there will be a giant white tiger running alongside next to him. And with that, Hiro just hops on and he'll be dragging Inaba along up.]
Get comfy! He's the fastest ride in the world!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
no subject
So excuse her if she's not the picture of poise and may be hurrying a bit faster than normal.]
It's not cool, it's creepy. And you're not naming it either because we're taking you somewhere safe.
no subject
[He's looking back at Shiho with a rather shocked expression. Almost like a kid who's being dragged away from an amusement park ride.]
But that's the epitome of cool! And where exactly are we going? I mean, it's kinda weird timing to take me out on a date...!
no subject
[That wasn't here. Meanwhile behind them the TVs are actually starting to slowly flicker to life and the robot is taking one step in their direction.]
And I'm not taking you out on a date!
[Shiho hasn't yet noticed that Hiro's robot is starting to come after them though.]
no subject
--Um, we might have to make this a three-way! Teevee-kun wants to come to!
[And he's got a cannon armed on him. Hiro notices that there's hints of flame pouring out from the tips of the cannon.]
no subject
[And why is the robot coming along?! Shiho glances back, seeing the flame and pulls Hiro hard over to the side, crashing into a wall. The thing was big at least, maybe it would have a hard time getting through corners. She can only hope that she's right as she pulls him along at a run.]
no subject
-Shit! That was cutting it too close! [Thankfully, Hiro was good at keeping up with running after dealing with certain traumatizing events. He'll be looking behind him to notice that it's looming as it decides the next move. At the same time, Hiro was multitasking as he was deciding on what to do next too.]
Oi! Do we seriously plan on running the whole time?! Why don't we destroy that thing?
no subject
[Because she's pretty sure that she just looks like a high-school girl. If Kaoru were here...she squashes that thought down.]
We'll get somewhere safe first. We need to re-group or we'll just die.
no subject
--But if that thing is following us, then we'll just be dragging others into danger. [...] If one of us stays put, then the other can leave safely.
no subject
Then you better start shouting so everyone knows there's danger coming. You're not staying here by yourself.
no subject
So there's a short pause as a cheeky smirk crosses his face as he lets Shiho drag him along!]
--Ah, spoken like a true heroine! We'll run and tell everyone to hide, then try and lead it somewhere! A place where I can destroy it!
no subject
If you're sure you can even destroy it then you're welcome to try. Now start pulling some of your own weight.
[Also because his TV monster is turning towards them again.]
no subject
EVERYONE! EVERYONE! PLEASE RUN AWAY FROM THE KILLER TV ROBOT AND FIND A SAFE PLACE TO HIDE! THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL! JUST DON'T PANIC!
[And as he's running, he'll do a last ditch attempt to reason with his beloved new friend...]
TEEVEE-KUN! I'M YOUR FRIEND! I KNOW YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO FIGHT! LET'S WATCH OUR FAVORITE SHOWS TOGETHER LIKE WE USED TO! [Quit talking like there were old times to be had, Hiro!!]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)