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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no subject
The former princess still looked a little worse for wear but at least she was away from the thing's grasp for the time being. It was getting its balance back and Ishtar quickly made a grab for Takeru's arm so that they could leave as soon as possible. ]
Okay let's find a safer place to talk and hold onto my hand. If you can't run anymore, tell me. I'll carry you if I have to!
[ She's not any better but she's holding herself together pretty well for now just as Takeru was. She could tell that he looked really tired but Ishtar would let Takeru do what he wanted until he couldn't anymore. ]
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Not that he was going to tell Ishtar that but it was made apparent by the way he was slowing down. Even with her grabbing his arm, it didn't take long for him to start panting heavily!]
O-Okay, we'll just...run and find somewhere...safe. I don't think there should be a problem getting us a place we can hi-
[And whoops, there goes the boy as he tripped straight into the ground!]
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Y-Yea we co--- Takeru! Are you alright?
[ She stopped to help him up and looked back at the thing that was still chasing them. Well screw her life, really. Her magic wasn't working properly and there was no way she could take it on with Sidia alone. ]
C'mon, sweetie, here we go.
[ Whether Takeru was expecting it or not, Ishtar made a quick move to push him towards getting on her back so she could move for both of their safety. Strange enough, she had only seen Takeru. She wondered where Patamon was or did she miss him when she was running with Takeru. She hoped the creature was okay as well. ]
no subject
Y-Yeah, I'm okay! I think I'm just really tired...
[Not to mention really sleepy too with the lack of sleep. Although, he doesn't dare to mention that! Even though, he was trying to get up, he had to admit. He was a lot weaker than he thought. So when Ishtar told him to get on her back, he didn't question it.
He just quickly got on without hesitation.]
All right but be careful! If you're tired, let me know! Maybe we can take a break somewhere!
[At the same time though, there happened to be a certain digital creature looking around the place for a young blond boy. Oh Patamon knew he shouldn't have taken a nap when all of this happened!]
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Yeah me too, but we gotta keep going sweetheart.
[ She replied giving him a small, smile as he said that. He really needed his rest and she was right to assume that he wasn't feeling well. When he got himself on her back and secured, she was moving without giving a second glance at the robot. Any building would suffice for the time being.
She knew that would be their best choice, because they could lose them in the hallways, or in a room. She could also incapacitate it better if she had room to do so. ]
Don't worry about me okay. Just worry about yourself, Takeru and hang on tight okay?
[ She reassured him and they were back on track running again and oh Patamon. ]
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All right but...if you can find Patamon, let him know that I was looking for him too. I know I shouldn't have walked outside without him but I couldn't help it.
{The boy mumbled to himself] When I saw all those ghosts running around, I had to do something! It wouldn't be very fair of me to just leave my friends behind when I was in my room being safe!
Wouldn’t you do the same if you saw your friends in danger? [But in hindsight, he had a feeling he was going to regret this…]
I just hope Leia-san, Han-san, and Patamon aren’t mad at me later for this.
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I'll see if I can. I hope we run into him or find him. That poor thing. I bet he's super worried about you.
[ She replied with a nod of her head. ]
Yeah, I heard about the ghosts and saw them around too. Talk about harsh afterlives.
[ Ishtar was a bit sarcastic but she understood what he meant. ]
I get you. Honestly, I wouldn't be able to sit and wait either. You did a good job, Takeru.
[ She replied with a nod of her head. ]
I am sure they won't be and if they are, I can defend ya!
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You don't think he's mad at me? I know I shouldn't have ran off without him but I just wanted to see if my friends were okay!
[And in hindsight, he probably shouldn't have let Han behind too but that was for another time!]
Well, bad lives or not, it still doesn't mean they can hurt us however they want! It's still mean! That's why I had to do something! Even if the people I live might not like it.
[And until then?] But I know Han-san and Leia-san are probably going to ground me... [Even if he deserved it]
no subject
They might be a little upset about your well being but I'm sure they're more happy to see you safe than be mad at you. At least, I hope that's the case. It's important to make sure that your friends are okay. I can definitely understand that.
[ Probably not but there isn't much they can do right now. Eventually, Ishtar finds a safe enough building for the both of them and ran towards it as discreetly as possibly. She hoped that the thing would stop following by now. ]
I can vouch for you if anything. Grounding you in this kind of place is rather pointless.
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Then I'm glad you do! I know that I shouldn't have done that but I really just hope they'll forgive me. When everything is all over, I'm going to make sure that I make it up to them! Maybe I can make them a card or something and hopefully they'll be happy!
[Or at least he really hoped so!
However, as the both of them went straight to the building, Takeru couldn't help but look back at those robots]
Are you sure? Because I really don't want you to fight with Leia-san or Han-san! And especially when they're taking care of me!
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Sometimes there are things you gotta do that is against your own beliefs if ya don't do them. I don't blame you for it and I think it's a pretty good trait to have. It's good to listen to others, but at the same time it's also good to make your own choices. I am sure they will at least respect that. Cards are a definite good way to fix the problems, or you can possibly just give them hugs?
[ She replied with a small chuckle, when they were inside and Ishtar shuts the door to the building and slowly kicks a brick to it so that the door wouldn't budge. She carried the boy with her towards the stairs. It might be best to go up and wait for some help. That seemed better than wandering around downstairs. ]
Nah, I wouldn't fight. I'd tell them what you did and how awesome you did it. On top of that, as much of a child as you seem to be, you are pretty mature. I don't like fighting so that's definitely not what I want to do to your friends and guardians.
no subject
Maybe but I know that even if I give a card to them? I know that they won't be happy and I know that I probably won't go out of the house any time soon. I have a feeling they're probably going to ground me. I don't like it but I know deserve it.
[Even though he knew that going against other people's wishes in order to do the right thing was maybe a good thing to have? It's still kind of rude. Which was why he kept that small pout of his until they went into the building. The moment the doors were closed, he simply followed Ishtar up to the stars as fast as he could!]
Then thank you, Ishtar-san! That really means a lot to me! If I am going to be grounded, at least I know that I did a good thing by trying to see if my friends are okay right?
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Hey if you get in a little trouble for helping others, then that's not really right. Though, consequences are tough. You are living with someone else, so they probably make the ground rules and such for you.
[ At least he knew he would be in trouble. He admitted to that, and she found that extremely mature of him. Sometimes it's just what he needed to do much like. Ishtar always getting herself in a lot trouble for those she cared about. ]
Pretty much!
[ Ishtar finally heaved a sigh as she puts him down. She looked around for things to barricade the door with and looked around the premise for anything they could use as weapons. For time being, Ishtar at least had her magic sword. ]
Why don't you take a little nap or something? I'll keep guard for a bit and it's like you said, you're doing things to protect your precious friends.
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I think they already have. They told me that I should stay home until I get better and that I should help them out a lot. I don't mind, I don't think it's that much different from back home.
[For a moment or two, he stayed silent. He didn't really want to bring up his own issues with family but that might be for another time. Right now though?
As he looked around the place, it seemed to be safe but at the same time?]
Are you sure? Because there are a lot of ghosts around and it wouldn't be fair to let you do all the fighting! [Even if he was yawning here and there. He totally wasn't tired, what are you talking about??]
ooc