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
Really? We wouldn't be speaking? Well, I guess we would be living in two different countries, for starters. [She's not so sure about that, only because she herself is involved in the military.] You...I am assuming German military? An organisation involved with them? Or is it global?
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But then again, his world doesn't exist here to get offended about him not being tight-lipped enough, huh. ]
The German military owns me. [ 'Owns'— not affiliated. That much is basically common knowledge among everyone he knows, so he's not bothered about saying it. ] But my most recent mission required cooperation with other nations, so you could count that as global.
[ 'Cooperation'... ]
no subject
Although she seems to be more disturbed by the fact that he's owned. How did he manage to live a life while being owned though? More questions!!!]
A-ah, owned...why they monitor you all the time, no? If you are working with other nations, then had we been in the same time and world, I could've found you. [Even if it was ~cooperation~]
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Is that right. How up-to-date are you nations about what goes on in your own country.
[ Because, uh.
Some shady shit goes on in his world, lbr. ]
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Theoretically? We have to be up-to-date. In order to efficiently help our countries too, no? Is that the case all the time? Not...quite. [Look at how they get pushed around about their bosses sometimes?! See: France getting forced to marry England by his boss and there were tears. Vietnam thought it was an amazing story :)]
I have influence, but I lack power. Our bosses, the world leaders, are the ones who command us.
no subject
But, well. Adolf doesn't know to what extent this is true, but Vietnam doesn't seem like someone who'd lie for the sake of her own reputation. And in a way, it's worse, that she wields no power over some of the truly Heinous Shit that goes on in the world, but. That's something he can't even begin to imagine, and he won't do Vietnam the disservice of assuming that he can.
So he relaxes his expression, falls back into a neutral zone that's only truly comforting for himself. ]
I see. If it's that way, then you really wouldn't have met me, back in my world. [ He doesn't fancy he lived in the same sphere that she did— and in a way, he's glad for it. ]
no subject
It's true, she can't complain, sometimes it just happens. She knows she was a little better off than most when it came to her bosses, she did hear rumour about how Japan disobeyed his own boss once for a friend (though she doesn't know which country it was.) But she would still try to do her best for the people, and she doesn't like certain injustices. See: Adolf's situation, she would have Words with Germany to see if he could do anything.
She doesn't get why he seems to be okay with not being met. But yes, who knows. Their time does not overlap.]
Oh? Was your operation kept secret? Then it would depend on which countries are involved yes. Should Vietnam be involved, then I may know. [She gestures to herself.] All of us nations, we are officers in our respective armies. I am a captain.
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[ And even then, the term 'value' is used loosely here; he even waves one hand to emphasize how little he's convinced of his own words. In his eyes, she's awfully candid, for being a nation.
...And awfully candid, for being a captain. He turns to look at her more properly, gives her another proper once-over. ]
...Captain, huh. You could pull rank on me, then.
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And wow, she's just lived a long...long time...]
Really? [HE'S BEEN BOSSING HER AROUND THE WHOLE TIME.] You are very strong and sharp, I can see you getting a promotion.
no subject
He shoots her a look here, one that's carefully flat— the same flatness that he employs for any and all situations— but a second later, he bends.
There's really no use in being rude to Vietnam. ]
I wouldn't want one. You shouldn't dish out those compliments so freely.
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Look at him being humble though. There's a reason for this--]
It is a compliment, but it's not freely given. You were giving me orders before I thought you would be my superior.
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...It wasn't my intention to make them sound like orders.
[ He breathes a soft 'sorry', before looking off to the side. ]
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It is fine, do what you wish. You've never lead me astray, and we were in dangerous situations.
[He barks out orders because he loves too much?! She knows...]
I still feel comfortable however you choose to speak.
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Releasing a long breath, he tips his head down and closes his eyes. ]
...You're relentless.
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Which is why she looks a little amused. But she's glad it's managed to get him to focus on something else so he can grumble over it.]
Again, one of my strongest qualities. Perhaps you should fight it a little more.
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[ HE'S BEEN FIGHTING YOU, VIETNAM?!
He just stares at her with the flattest "you've got to be kidding" look he can muster. ]
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Really? [No she totally knows. But look how refreshingly she looks at him?!] You let me get away with so much.
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[ Rude... what he means is, "why does my rudeness not faze you, this is so weird. ]
And you do and say too much. But you already knew that.
no subject
But ah...I don't do nearly as much as you.