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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And she's cursing Luke, Anakin, Obi-Wan and just about anyone else she can remember while she's inundated with all of the negative emotions of everyone and thing in this Force-foresaken colony.
There's another set of emotions that aren't quite as negative coming her way, but the way that her headache is working, she can't really make out more than a woman-shape figure.]
The ghosts...There's too much fear.
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[Her eyes darted to the spirits, then back to the young woman. Shining with a vague understanding of the situation. Whoever she was...she must have had powers, to be able to sense emotions to the degree of causing her physical pain. Iris bit her lower lip. She would have offered her hood if she thought it would help, but a strong suspicion told her that wouldn't be the case here.]
Come on. We need to get you out of here. [Kneeling down, she placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.] If their presence is as strong as you're feeling...distance might be your only chance.
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Leia nods when the other woman mentions leaving, but the added touch makes her flinch and pull away. While Iris might not be throwing out emotions as strongly as the ghosts, touch was bad.]
You're right that leaving is a good idea, but touch makes it worse.
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Sorry.
[...did that mean the woman was sensing her emotions as well? Iris had never been all that good at keeping them buried inside, but she had her moments when she was able to prioritize. Set aside the fear and uncertainty and focus on what she knew she needed to do.]
I've never encountered someone with your sensitivity before. Is there anything I can do that wouldn't make it worse?
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It's alright. Normally, I can work around it, but the ghosts have mad that impossible right now. And there is one other person that I know is as sensitive as I am.
Just... please don't touch me for now.
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[She stood, subconsciously pulling at her hood. Making sure it was secure over her head as she glanced around the immediate area. The ghosts were moving fast, but there were noticeable areas where they were a heavier presence than others. And given where they were coming from....]
If we can get far away from the wall, there's a chance they might not follow; the hood I'm wearing is supposed to repel evil spirits. Right now, they can't touch me.
Hopefully, that means they won't go after you, either.
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The Earth Shrine isn't that far from here, right? I wonder if that's safe? The shrines are small, but it should hold two women.
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The one behind the shopping area. I think. You're right, it's close by.
[Though when Leia mentioned holding two women, she looked less sure. Adrenaline was still fueling her every move at the moment, along with a strong concern for those precious to her, but in any light, it would be clear that she was pale and her forehead shone with a thin layer of sweat.]
[Normally, it could have been attributed to a mixture of fear and physical exertion. In fact, that's exactly what Iris was hoping people would think.]
I'm not going to hide.
Like I said, they can't hurt me. Once I know you're alright, there are plenty of other people I can help. If nothing else, I can guide them away from the worst of it.
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You made an announcement over the devices not long ago. And you look sicker now than you did then.
[She takes the other woman's arm and is shocked by just how tired and ill she is. So much so that it's translating into a massive sort of tangled emotion. It makes Leia tired. So, in an effort to get the other woman to see reason, she speaks calmly and without any rebuke.]
While I don't like the thought of hiding either, you going out while you're this ill is irresponsible of you. What would you do if you fell and impeded someone escaping the spirits because you couldn't move?
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I would never do anything that would cause anyone else to get hurt. I swear.
At worst...if I did collapse...whoever I was with could still run, and I would remain protected, even if unconscious. And I can't just sit by and do nothing. Not when I actually have the chance to do something right for once....
[For once.]
[The look on her face...the emotions pouring out of her...waves of guilt, sadness, regret, and--most notably--fear. Though the fear wasn't for herself, but for those she had met in the city and come to care for in her own way. It wasn't as strong as the other emotions, but it was her primary motivator at the moment. What was driving her to keep going, despite her current physical condition.]
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Let me make myself clear. I don't intend to hide forever. I am regrouping. If there is a place that is clear of the ghosts, I aim to go there. However, being caught in the maelstrom this appears to be isn't in anyone's best interest.
While you might be protected from them somehow, someone would stop to check on you, and the murderous intent of these ghosts isn't distinguishing between those of us who've been kidnapped and the ones they feel are responsible for their deaths. Be logical right now, not emotional. Wanting to help is great, but you're ill and letting your pride guide you right now can only result in getting someone else hurt.
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[Instead, Iris took a deep breath and tried to get a feel for her current energy level. She knew she was surviving on little more than adrenaline. She knew how heavy her limbs felt, and how flushed her face felt. Though she had never once actually sprung a fever, the rest of the symptoms were there. Yet, until then...it had been like she were functioning on autopilot. Doing what she knew she "had" to because it felt like there was no other option.]
[And it made her remember of the last time she'd felt like that, albeit without the sickness weighing her down.]
We should get moving, then.
[It wasn't an agreement, but nor was she going to continue to protest. Just as the woman said, it wouldn't be logical. The longer they spent out here, the worse they would both end up feeling.]
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She starts in the opposite direction, which she's sure holds a shrine and at least a few other clear buildings as well.]
We're safer this way. We should try to stop others from heading towards the Research Tower just yet. The spirits seem to be focused in that direction for some reason.
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Why? What's in there?
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CERES Headquarters.
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Umm...what's that? ...exactly?
[She knew what a headquarters was...vaguely...but not what that meant. For her, or for the spirits who seemed drawn to it. Mostly because nobody had thought to tell her until now.]
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Mostly it houses the administration of CERES, the group "in charge" of this colony. I'm sure you've heard of Mosley, at least. He's their mouthpiece.
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Yes. That name, I recognize.
But...do you think that's who the spirits are really after? The people who...brought us here in the first place? If they're heading for that tower....
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I figured you would. He's tried to be the "kinder, gentler face of CERES". At least that's the gist of what he's spouting.
And, yes, that's exactly who I think they're after. And I'm not really sure that I blame them.
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[...anymore.]
Are they really that terrible, though? I mean...forgive me, I know I haven't been here long, but what's so terrible about this place that you would wish evil spirits upon them?
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Every word from them, as far as I can tell, has been a lie. Our worlds aren't destroyed, and if we are, indeed, only digital copies of ourselves, why do we still die and bleed and scar?
No, there are many lies they engage in and anything that lies and uses people the way that CERES does, deserves to have their past sins visited upon them.
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[A question she hadn't even thought to ask until that moment; Ema had previously insisted over and over that those games they played were nothing more than a virtual world with few real life consequences, but she hadn't been certain how much of that transferred over to this...world. And she didn't know enough about digital things and virtual worlds to know whether or not it was considered normal to bleed.]
[However, all that paled in comparison to:]
...are worlds aren't destroyed?
[It was enough to cause her to stop in her tracks. Sure, she knew that there as always the possibility. Phoenix and the others all seemed to come from different points in time, many of them from her relative future. But for someone to sound so certain of the fact...]
How do you know that for sure? I mean...I know you can't always believe what you're told. People lie. But...why would they lie about something like that? It's not like we know how to leave here, even if we wanted to.
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And no, they aren't destroyed. Many have infiltrated CERES's headquarters and brought us information back regarding their lies. The aliens they claim they're fighting?
They don't exist.
And I heard that from someone I know is trustworthy.
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[Sorry. Momentarily distracted. The tug was all Iris needed to continue on their path, however, though she still bore her wide-eyed expression.]
That's...
[Amazing. Incredible. She didn't even think to question, although this was a woman she had only just met. People lied, yes, but at the moment, this woman had no reason to. Not given their current situation. She would gain nothing but Iris' surprise. All the more reason to take her words to heart.]
But...I don't understand. If we're not here to fight, then why are we here? To play...those games of theirs?
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I think that's only part of it. I haven't gotten all of the information together, but I doubt they want us here for any good reasons.
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