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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STOP...
--Sorry...! ( He's turning back but by then, Ima's grabbed onto him. Ima. It's Ima. That was who was calling him earlier. That was the sad and desperate voice. He's sorry. He's sorry but Gonbei would understand, wouldn't he? He was an older brother looking out for his younger so he'd understand if Mutsu stopped just for a moment. But wait... why was he following after him? Up here? When did he get to the bridge? The street below them sounds so loud and the buildings so close from the edge where they stand.
He shouldn't... Ah, he's so very confused right now, reality catching up to him, but the one thing he knows for sure is Ima is right there and Mutsu kneels down to the same height as the small tantou spirit, reaching out to place a reassuring hand on his head and another to hold one of Ima's hands. ) Ima-kun.
( Now he sees that Ima is crying too. Is he crying because of him? )
Sorry. ( He's still not 100% what's happened but he feels like he should apologize. ) I'm not. I'm not, I promise.
can't stop won't stop BRING ON THE PAIN
[ That's how Yoshitsune's death was understood by this tantou, how he copes with the tragedy, so he isn't ever tempted to change the past (he won't deny he was once, but he knows better now, a little bit). It had to happen, that's the way of going out with honor, before you lose it all. Even if it's sad. Even if it's unfair. The rules of the world were cruel at the time, to think that was proper. With the years, this Sanjou sword enjoys the passing of time that teaches you better things.
Good people should cherish their life. Swords too, Ima doesn't care if they're not even considered that. He wouldn't know if he's overreacting, but he doesn't see those ghosts that Mutsu chased... He doesn't see why... ]
Mutsu-kun... Are you unhappy? You looked really serious, running off like that... Running to here, of all places.
[ Such a noisy spot, with the bustle below, and usually this tantou would like heights like a little bird. Well, now Ima's still sobbing, but more quietly now. Those hands of Mutsu's, warm and comforting, calm him down a little, But his free hand clings to Mutsu's sleeve and won't let go. ]
I'VE BEEN GOOD THIS YEAR WHY
Nah, I'm not. It was a trick. Another bad trick.
( And to prove that he's fine, he'll move a little closer, arms now stretched out to pick up the smaller spirit. They're dangerously close to the edge of the bridge still but Mutsu is both careful and carefree as he lifts Ima high up into the air, turning him around, and flashing his brightest smile at the tantou. )
I'm the happiest sword in the world! It'll take more than a no good trick to get me! Especially with you around, right?
TOO GOOD FOR THIS EARTH THAT'S WHY
[ He did expect to get picked up like that, but he knows better than to squirm when there's an ominous edge of the bridge. Were he any bit more of a pessimist for a sword he'd be skeptical, but instead he's gone from crying to laughing because the thrill and Mutsu's spirits bring him up. ]
Hehe, yeah~! Mutsu's a happy sword!
[ What a pretty view, even if a bit blurry. Ima's still got tears, but they're leftovers. ]
No trick will get us, right?
UGH THROWS IMA OFF THE BRIDGE
That's right. ( And he reaches out to playfully ruffle Ima's hair, ) Thanks for looking out for me.
( Tantou spirits were so small but they realy are reliable ones, huh? Maybe that's why so many saniwa summon tantou early on... )
GOODBYE WORLD I AM NOW FREE FROM MY SINS- wait that's Sayo's kind of line
[ He missed the opportunity to pet Mutsu before he was set down, phooey. But he can run around and grab Mutsu's fake tail. The SOFTEST! ]
What did Mutsu see? No-good tricks don't just tell you that it's okay to run off like that, you know?
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Eh... ( He scratches his chin and laughs it off, but there's a sense of sadness still, ) Someone from a long time ago. Haha, I'm not really the type to go chasing around after the past but.... I dunno, once I saw 'em it was hard to say no...
It was like all of a sudden... I could only see him and I just...
( Didn't want to let him down again. )
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[ The person from the past who would grab your attention... It's obvious when you're a sword, isn’t it? He preks around from Mutsu's side, fur still between his fingers. ]
Mutsu-san moves forward, I get that... But Yamato-kun, Hori-kun, Kanesan-chan and Nagaphony-chan aren't here right now, so...
Tell me stories about him! I want to listen~
[ Pleeease Mutsu, tell him stories! Ima likes hearing about good owners. ]
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( Which Sakamoto is a mystery! Heh heh. He might have snorted at one of those nicknames (or two) but he can trust Ima to not tell, right? Right?! Quick, distract the tantou spirit with stories as requested. )
Alright, alright. Lessee... I ever tell ya how I ended up with Ryouma?
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[ The walk back is a good distance, so they have quite a good bit of time. One has to wonder though... Who's distracting who, here? Ima feels bad for thinking Mutsu was going to do an un-Mutsulike thing, so... Happy thoughts now?
...Actually, does it matter in the end? ]
Your master liked guns more, right? But he still carried you around.
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