You're probably woken up by the explosion first. A loud, deafening boom comes from behind the walls of the residential district. When you look outside your window towards the darker, more secretive area of the city, you might see the structure around it... crumbling, the land falling in on itself slowly but surely. That might be what wakes you up first. If it doesn't, you may be awoken instead by the sudden jerking feeling behind your navel pulling you from where you are to somewhere... else.
It's dark. The first thing you notice is that it's dark -- and then come the scrabbling sounds of creatures in the dark, like metal being dragged across metal, a chilling, sharp sound. The first thing that becomes clear, as your vision adjusts, is that you're on a rickety pathway, metal and rusting and frail, above what appears to be yawning blackness. Far, far below, there's the faint sound of rushing water, a ways away.
The second thing that becomes clear is that you are very much not alone. Something is out there with you, and from the screeching metallic noises that come ever closer, it seems to be stalking you.
Thankfully, you're not alone -- right?  ...
...........
................
:)
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PHASE I [ ??? ] It’s drafty here. You’re below ground, that’s for certain from the echoes of the wind in the darkness. If you continue on forwards along the rickety, metal railing that serves as a walkway, the skittering noises of creatures in the dark follow -- but they don’t appear.
It seems everyone has been dumped along this pathway at random; you may be with friends, with enemies or with someone you’ve never met before, but either way, it soon becomes clear. There are only two ways to go along this path: up or down.
If you choose to take the path that follows a gradual slope down, the sounds of water lapping against a surface increase bit by bit, the air growing heavier and danker, until finally, the metallic platform gives way very suddenly (watch your step!) to a muddy bank. Down here, everything is darker, and not far away there’s the water. It’s cold and frigid and there are unfriendly creatures that await if you choose to delve into it. However, if you brave those creatures, and dive deeply enough, there is a mask. It rests half-buried by silt and rocks, but it’s there, and can be found by any intrepid explorers.
Somehow, it feels a little familiar.
And if you carry on in the cave system underground, eventually you will come across what appears to be an altar. There is blood on it -- not fresh, but not more than a month old -- and pieces of trinkets. Old bits of cloth, locks of hair, and some of them may even be familiar. Any dropped character who has a reasonably large amount of spiritual or magical power may have left scraps, such as pieces of clothing, trinkets, hair, or the sort behind at the altar.
Maybe that's why they weren't in the Nexus Code.
PHASE II [ ??? ] If you go up, you will eventually make your way above ground. It takes some time, and some luck -- you’ll have to avoid rusty railing and pathways, the path crumbling under you and that creeping sensation that something is following and watching you -- and then you’ll suddenly be in fresh air.
Well. It’s not so fresh, really.
The landscape is broken down and crumbled. It may have once been part of the city of Cerealia, but now it is in utter disrepair and decay. Buildings have crumbled, and debris is everywhere. There are signs of the same level of technology that Cerealia has -- but it is all broken down and utterly inaccessible.
And you’re not alone.
It seems the technology and metal and broken down destruction has gained sentience over its time sitting alone, waiting. And it is not happy to be disturbed. The creatures are made of pieces of everything around them, and when cut down, they’ll just slowly rebuild themselves from the debris.
It might be time to run.
They aren't happy about being disturbed, and you're in their way.
PHASE III [ ??? ] Above ground, there are a lot of broken down buildings.
Some can’t be accessed at all; some are too broken, too reduced to rubble. For those looking for shelter, they'll be able to find buildings where the doors can be forced open and they can camp out on the inside to various degrees of stability. Though the ceiling may cave in or the floor fall out from under you at a moment's notice, it's better than being out there. Be careful, because none of the architecture here can be trusted anymore.
And other buildings... are even less trustworthy than that.
There is a series of buildings in the midst of the wasteland, somehow still standing. They stand there silently, towering over the rest of the rubble in their two-story glory, and if the doors are forced open, it soon becomes clear that the building itself is full of mirrors.
Once, the mirrors had perhaps covered the walls and ceiling. Once, this building might have been akin to something of a ballet studio, somewhere to express yourself creatively. But now the mirrors are shattered and broken into pieces and the building lacks the joy it might have once held. Shards of mirror cover the floor, some big, some not so big, but they still hang from the walls as well and everywhere you look, you can see yourself.
And then, the reflection changes. From one blink to the next, you see a memory playing in the mirrors. Your memory. You’ll see a glimpse of one of your most traumatic or life-changing moments, broken up but clear in the shards. Blink and look away, and it’s gone, only to show up again in the next mirror a few moments later. Surely it’s just a trick of the light, right?
Except if someone else is with you, they’ll see it too -- and you might end up seeing a bit of their own past as well. Hope you're fond of sharing.
PHASE IV [ ??? ] If you survive the monsters, the crumbling landscape and the untrustworthy buildings, you may eventually find a terminal. It is buried deep among the rubble. One turn around a corner, one stumble into a hole, and you will find it. It sits there, out in the middle of nowhere; the building in which it used to be housed is apparently long gone, reduced to nothing but rubble.
And if you turn it on, there is a brief message.
Transmission Broadcasting.
Transmission Connected.
And then, there is a face.
BONUS [ ??? ] For those who have been wearing their masks a little too much, they might also start to notice that there are some strange effects attached, which worsen the more they’ve been wearing said masks. How badly they worsen is up to your discretion.
➝ Broken Mask: An intense feeling of paranoia, focused on whoever your character is with. They might also begin to remember fabricated memories of being betrayed by those people.
➝ Barcode Mask: Everything will begin to have value to them. There will be whispers in the back of their mind of the worth of their friends, the worth of a monster, the worth of everything around them. An intense need to own and consume as much as possible and as quickly as possible.
➝ Dripping Blood Mask: An intense lack of self-worth, a hollow feeling and thoughts of being weak and empty. Feeling as disposable as possible and an intense listless along with it.
➝ :( Mask: A need to prove yourself, to show everyone how strong you are as quickly as possible. You can do things, you can be of worth to everyone around you. Why won't they see that? Why?
➝ Ivy Mask: A choking sort of terror from all things metal and technology based, and a need to lash out against it. An intense distrust for anything that they feel is against the laws of nature.
➝ Grey Mask: More personable than normal, more emotional, more empathetic. An intense feeling of kindness and gratitude to those around you and a renewed love of life.
➝ Feather Mask: A dulled, lack of emotion. A detached feeling to everything around you. A sort of bland curiosity towards things without any empathetic reaction.
➝ Bloody Fingerprints Mask: They'll feel absolutely fine. No change.
The effects of the broken mask can stack on top of the others, if they chose to break their mask after the other effects began to appear. No other effects can be stacked, as no other changes can be stacked.
PENALTY [ ??? ] For characters who die while in the dark parts of the city, things will get... a little strange. They will die as normal, but they will wake up almost immediately after their death -- in the Nexus Code. They will have a few surreal moments to be there, to see their friends who have left Cerealia hanging lifelessly from odd, glimmering strands (though there are some faces, of course, that are missing, anyone who was spiritual, or magical, seems strangely absent) and then --
They’re back to being dead.
When characters revive in Cerealia, anywhere from one IC day to three or four IC days later, they will find that things are… not quite right with their code. They’re glitching, for a lack of a better word. Sometimes, their fingers will phase right through an object, their own limbs registering as cold and lifeless. Sometimes, they will see a face watching them -- but when they turn around to try to see who it is, the face will be gone.
These effects will last an IC week, before slowly things go back to normal.
That was strange.
[ 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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[ If you’ve ever seen anyone on edge Shigeru is the epitome of it right this very moment. His sword is drawn and the faint glow of purple light illuminates what little available light their might be in this place. The crossroads give him pause as he turns to whoever is near him, taking out his phone to type something up to you. ]
Should we go up or down?
[ Whichever you choose Shigeru will be right behind you. ]
Phase 2
[ He’s trying to attack and destroy whatever monsters come his way. His gate is fully activated now and he’s slowly disintegrating the monsters piece by piece. But really it’s hard when it’s just him. He’ll slice at the creature again, sword breaking down the things arm or leg with relative ease.
It’s only when the buildings around them start to groan and shift that signals they should leave. ]
We have to go!
[ He can only do so much with his power after all. ]
Phase 2b
[ And for anyone who is in need of a medical assist Shigeru will definitely be there to help as much as possible. His own expression dismayed should he come across anyone with injuries. His phone is taken out immediately as he types furiously on it. ]
Are you okay?! I'm here to help!
Phase 3
[ Seeking shelter from the creatures means taking advantage of anything available. But perhaps the creatures were a better hell then this. This place with its mirrors and horrible memories. Inside his there’s a terrifying looking man with black sclera and red irises, similar to Shigeru’s own eyes which are black and purple. There’s a person pinned beneath him, a person crying for Shigeru to run away to escape, but from his position on the floor it’s hard to breathe. Jern and Shuu he remembers this all too well, as well as the dead body of his comrade, Klein.
The memory replays over and over the part where Shigeru’s hand is dragged towards the dead body of his friend by Jern, as he tortures him with his own phobia. At the same time the man watching his own terrible memories is white as a ghost. His hands wringing the hem of his shirt as his shallow breathing is the only thing heard in the silence.
Stop it. Stop it. This is not what he wants to see... ]
Wildcard!
[ Choose your adventure! ]
2a!
So-- well, he doesn't actually notice the text at first since that would require stopping Too Long (in Kashuu terms) to read it, but he's apparently on the same page, since as soon as he spots Shigeru he shouts:]
There's no way we're gonna beat this stupid thing if this is what it can do. Let's call a retreat!
let's do this!!
YEAAA
[Probably not a great question to hear while on the run, but unfortunately the path they've chosen is blocked by rubble! Of course it is. The machine creature behind them is slow, at least...]
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He nods solemnly and then motions for Kashuu to lead the way. ]
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phase 3
so it's frankly a little surprising when he only finds a familiar figure, standing alone, seemingly frozen in place. ]
... Mr. Miyata? [ a tentative call, sounding a little nervous because he can't tell why shigeru's standing in place like that. ] Um, is something wrong?
[ he draws closer, though his footsteps slow noticeably as he nears enough to realize shigeru is looking into ... a wall of mirrors. mirrors that seem to be showing some sort of video? lop's footsteps finally stop as he squints at the mirrors, trying to make sense of what he's seeing; bit by bit, his expression seems to tinge with worry. ]
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His hands are shaking as he tries the move away from those mirrors. Please don't look. He doesn't want anyone to see this sort of terror and horror, especially not when he's just met them. It's too personal and somewhat of an open wound, Klein's death always was for him, it's not fair for people to see it like this. ]
Fine. [ That's all he manages to type before he drops his phone on the floor. His hands still shaking and his expression still mortified. ]
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Ah -- ... Um. It might -- be best not to stay here.
[ his gaze lingers only briefly on that image before he looks back to shigeru; he doesn't really want to look at any of the myriad mirrors around them any more, and that doesn't leave him many places to look other than at shigeru himself. padding forward, he fetches the phone before holding it out, firmly keeping his gazed fixed on shigeru's face. ]
I -- think. I think -- there's a quiet area over there?
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Right. Yes. They shouldn't stay here, either of them. His thoughts are interrupted by that sudden offering of his phone by Lop. He flinches away at first mostly out of habit and being shaken up. He hates it when people touch his things...
No. Lop was just being helpful. Don't think those things...
Instead he looks apologetic and takes his phone with shaky hands then, his eyes conveying his gratitude, even if his actions might not say so. ]
Okay. Yes that is probably best [ His hands are still shaking but they're a lot steadier than they previously were. ]
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2b
Get out of my way.
[ The better answer would be to say that he's unharmed. Because that's the truth of it. He is unharmed. Being a monster has never been more handy until now. His speedy regeneration has taken care of the wounds already, though not the stains. ]
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But you were bleeding! [ Souji please. He just wanted to help?! ]
I don't just want to leave you if you need help!
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Shouldn't you be more worried about yourself?
[ Shigeru doesn't particularly strike Souji as a competent warrior type, but that's because he's only ever been around warrior samurai or fifteen year old girls. ]
It doesn't matter. There's nothing you can do for me.
[ Sounding really dismissive there, sooj ]
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My body heals itself pretty quickly. I don't have to worry about things like that! [ It's everyone else he tends to put first as a result, whoops. ]
If you tell me what's wrong I know I'll be able to do something. I can heal all sorts of things, so please don't think you're being a bother!
[ Shigeru isn't letting you off that easily?! He's dealt with your types before Sooj. There is no brushing him off. ]
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phase 2a
Why? [ Pascal chirps frantically in her ear for her to do what he (his device, at least!) says while she narrows her eyes. ] We only met once.
[ Unfortunately her mask - lined with cracks and the subtle imprint of feathers - is overruling Pascal's ideas for cooperation. ]
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Monsterthe way nto safe! have torun!
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We might as well fight them. [ She pulls a makeshift spear and shield from the strap across her ridiculously pyjama'd back, gripping the former tightly in her left hand and hooking the latter around the same arm. ] If there are two of us.
[ And with that, she takes off at a running start and... jumps out the window!!!! YES LET'S DO IT URBAN PARKOUR. ]
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2b!
Got any antibiotics? Didn't expect to be doing cartwheels and mine just [he mimics the motion of something dropping to the floor with his uninjured arm] fell right out.
[And he felt like an idiot for it. Oh, well.]
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I don't. But my powers should be able to heal that really quickly. [ Ah but he might not be comfortable with it?! ]
Only if you're comfortable with that sort of thing! Otherwise I can give you some first aid so it doesn't get infected.
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But he shrugs. He got over brain damage after being dunked in a magic booger lake. It takes a lot of breach his comfort zone.]
Nah, lay it on me. Let's see what you can do.
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2a -> 3 aka a sort of wildcard
How are you holding up?
[ While Shigeru is slice 'n' dicing, he'll use his own magic to add another attack to the hot mess, leaving a storm of fire working its way over the gross building bot. His entire body feels heavy, but his heart is a little lighter now. ]
Let's do this
Until the other uses his magic, which gives them both a moment of reprieve. Shigeru looks amazed mostly and relieved to see the other not hurt. ]
I'm doing better now. Thank you for that, Merlin! [ Have a warm smile as he's still on guard and focused, but not as much as he was prior to this. ]
We should find somewhere to take shelter. You're not hurt or anything, are you?
(gym) i'm ready!!!!!!!
At least it gives Shigeru the time he needs. Not like he should be even trying that right now. Merlin even reaches up to tap him on the side of his head. ] Forgetting something?
[ Even if he shouldn't be pushing both of them in a situation like this, it's better than Shigeru's hands being focused on the CereVice instead. ] But I'm fine. Never better. Well, definitely better. But oh am I glad to see you. [ He laughs, because it really is relief. ] There are plenty of places out here, though we have to be careful. I already fell through the ground once.
[ That sure is how it sounds............ ]
i'm slow /som
phase i
If they could find her incredibly powerful, psychokinetic best friend, everything would be fine. It had to be.]
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We should be careful. There's no knowing what might be up there...
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