reparator: (Default)
C E R E A L I A ★ M O D S。 ([personal profile] reparator) wrote in [community profile] estoria2014-09-14 10:25 pm

« 002 ⇢ event001.exe »

Who: Everyone ever.
When: 09/14-09/30 (ooc)
Where: Within ViViD/Entertainment District
What: Hardcore gaming.
Rating/Warning: PG-13

//event001.EXE

It's my party and I'll tank if I want to!
( Dates: 09/14 to 09/30 )

Welcome, new players, and old, alike. So, remember getting into the lovely little test drive that you found some new friends in? We hope you've been helping some of them out, it's good to make friends. But! Our lovely scientists have been hard at work, and they've finally released a proper, completed stage to help you all along into the world of Tellus.

Or just messed that up too.

Unfortunately for most people, with the release of the beta version of this new level of ViViD, the new arrivals will also be shoved right in (with all their received items in a special pouch they can transport out of the game with them) and have to be helped out until they can get to a logout portal, or risk being stuck in there for a while! Yes, friends, YOU will have to go into the game and help the newcomers get out, or risk certain dragony death.

On the 14th of September, signs and advertisements will start flashing for those in-game already.

Welcome to the world of Cadmus, a vaguely Greek-inspired fantasy-based land, covered in dragons, and we thank those who played in our beta stage. Players, you have done well- but the three guardian dragons (Ismen, Colchi and Nemeus) are still at large, and we need your assistance bringing them down! The adventure is within ViViD, and you'll bring their scales to the Queen, who needs them to survive.

Unfortunately, everyone can carry only one scale each because once a group defeats them, the dragons' bodies will vanish, but until this period of the game, they will keep reviving until the queen is healthy enough to help silence them for good. Do not fear, though! The land itself is filled with several mountains, waterfalls, and large castles/castle towns, a beautiful sight to see. Technology is very sparse inside, however, and players will be relying on their own abilities to carry out the mission to completion. Oh, and there may be people who need rescuing... can you get to them in time?
And the compulsion to participate will be strong. So, players, will you and your team be able to rescue the poor folk stuck in there , and defeat the dragons, and get the scales to rescue the queen? Well. Time will tell, of course!

The situation is simple:

For New Arrivals:

✩ New players will be part of the group of folk needing rescuing and escape. New players WON'T leave the game after their arrival briefing, and end up in this little glitch of a system. Those that weren't in the test drive will end up here post-arrival briefing!
✩ Once a character already in the game reaches a newcomer, an escape portal will open up instantly on a point on the map. Both parties can log out from there and enter the colony, or they can band together to keep playing. Note that once they find the portal (they may have to fight some enemies to get to it, but they'll have a map!) they can log in and log out normally.
✩ New Arrivals can escape/log out once they join a party with another newcomer as well if someone in-game hasn't found them, and find an escape portal which will appear in random, dangerous locations where they may have to fight enemies. They'll level up and their options to log out will appear when they find the portal (and they'll be led to it with a map!) But only if they join up with another newcomer! (this info will be revealed to them once they're in the vicinity of another new arrival)
✩ If your newly-arrived character goes solo, well... they'd better be ready to fight a dragon to escape, because that will be the only way they'll get out. If they reach GAME OVER through death, they'll wake up in CERES' Hospital and be inactive for a day.

You can log in and log out as many times as needed, and once a group of players has defeated all three dragons, they won't have to fight them again nor will they be compelled to join the game once more (but they can log in and help others who haven't defeated them yet!)

For Players Already In The Game:

✩ Compulsion to play will be high, and soon, you'll know why!
✩ Remember the details you have as well. There will be people who appear to look like people your characters know, and the virus will make them act erratically and attack your own. Be wary and be swift!
✩ Helping the new arrivals will allow them to log out easily, much more easily than they would going solo or with another newcomer. Your characters will get information on-screen telling them this, and it'll be nice to follow!
✩ Players already in-game can log in and out any time.

During this period of time, the dragons will respawn to fight those who haven't defeated them yet. Getting those scales to the queen is important, so make sure you get through to them!

Side Quests : Knights in Seed Buns
( Dates: 09/14 to 09/21 )


Remember those Knight Burgers? Yeah, hah hah ha... players who ate them during Cerealia Welcome Barbecue will be experiencing certain interesting side-effects that can only be fixed by either getting to the hospital- or performing a side quest in the Cadmus Event, to look for the Tree of Asclepius.. This will be pointed on the north of the map, guarded by the Priestess who was in the beta stage. She will however, be different and may attack those who try to steal- she will be more hesitant to let people delegated to fight for their friends take the fruit, but she'll give in once you fight her protector, The Talon. Don't worry, he's harmless... and will participate in a duel to defeat and kill him (he'll respawn after) to hand the fruit to the player from the tree. Players who don't delegate, and are feeling the ill effects and complete the mission while making it to the tree themselves will bypass the battle. This information will all appear on-screen!

This side-quest can be played on this log, with newcomers and old players alike! Also feel free to make your own logs through the week for the non-game parts!


//SCENARIOS.EXE
PHASE I
[ xx:xx ] You're logged in, you have your objective. Your character is exploring the world of Cadmus, meeting friends and enemies alike. The NPCs are kind enough, providing directions. There are even a few minor enemies to battle as you gear up to handle the big bosses. For the new arrivals, they will be waking up immersed in the game straight from being pulled from the nexus code. They won't know they're in a game for the most part, not until the peculiarities start to pile up. Hurry up and start asking questions. Team up where you can and get the hell out as fast as you can.
PHASE II
[ xx:xx ] While immersed and exploring the terrain, familiar faces start to appear, those from your world that you've been thinking of, missing, obsessing over. They seem sweet and cheery enough, a smile on their face as they spit out generic information. At first, it's strange, but then you start to notice their tone becoming more and more hostile.

Within moments, your weapon is in their hand, and they're attacking without warning, looking for the fastest way to send you into the dreaded game over by forcing you to fight against your own move set. These corrupted NPCs will continue to appear all over for the next few weeks, the result of a digital virus infecting the game, so beware of sudden death.
PHASE III
[ xx:xx ] The dragons are waiting for you to pluck scales off them, looking harmless enough. You think they're cute and cuddly and might go in for a bit of a petting. Then suddenly, they'll reveal their true forms to you, face delightfully splitting open to show off a black hole of teeth, teeth, and nothing but teeth. It's your choice whether you want to take them on or wet yourself a little, but they'll be coming after you regardless.
PHASE IV
[ xx:xx ] For those suffering from the horrid Knight Burgers, the end of the road is the Tree of Asclepius Quest. Look above for further information.

BONUS
[ why:o'clock ] Congratulations! You've won, and now, your character is able to log out successfully. With great success comes great prizes. As your character remains seated and hooked up to then ViViD console, they'll be approached by a robotic stripper of either sex. Yes, your prize (for completing, other prizes will come up later) is a CERES-sponsored lap dance, complete with a stripper scantily dressed in fabric stamped with the CERES logo on it. Within the nexus code, a delightful tune was recovered to accompany the scintillating gyrations of said stripper. You are now the Drake to their Nikki Minaj.

Run while you can.
[ You can choose to set your threads in the game or before/after if you'd like. Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//ETC.EXE
✩ Make your own top-level posts on any dates or a range of dates, and plunge into adventure! Open them up to newcomers or all, and post some starters to get going! You can post as many as you want, anywhere and all.
✩ Once dragons are defeated for a player and their party, they won't have to fight them again. They'll respawn for the duration of the event, but they'll be considered defeated by them unless they join a party where a group of players hasn't defeated them.
✩ Players already in the game can log in/log out at their leisure. Players newly arrived to the game will only be able to do so once they've found a portal, after which, they'll be able to log in and out as the others.
✩ At the end of the event, the Queen will be revived and she will destroy the dragon spawn core, freeing everyone from the compulsion of playing.
✩ Credits and Prizes will be rewarded at the end of the gaming period. We'll put up an OOC post then, and ask for whoever feels they accomplished the mission to reply.
✩ Defeat of the dragons if your character managed them all can be handwaved, however, if your character is physically incapable of doing so, please do not say that they did just to get the credits and prizes (15,000 credits per dragon for all players in the party!).
✩ All participants, whether they accomplished the missions or not, will get prizes, so go on and slay some dragons!

Also, remember our NPCs? They'll show up at random to help and assist those that need it. If an NPC's help is urgently required, please put in a thread titled "Open to NPCs" and set it at the city center fountain within the game, and they will show up there to reply!

... and Ceres Inc would like to apologize for this glitch in gaming for the New Arrivals, and hope you will continue to help their research.


insolvent: commissioned; dns (pic#8236171)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-18 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
We should probably leave the dragons to the others.

[ at least until he can get cured, anyway... and even then, he'd probably be in no state to go around fighting gignatic killer lizards. ]

Alright, deal. Just promise me if things get bad, you won't put yourself in any danger on my account.
duad: (not if you were the last junkie on earth)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-18 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
[ Mary looks conflicted. Her eyes fall to the ground, then flicker in a couple of different other places surrounding them. What if Kimber was the one asking that? Or one of the Misfits? Even Naoi or Jason... she can't just leave someone behind when the going gets tough. That isn't like a Misfit at all... or Mary herself. ]

I—I can't promise you I will, but I'll... try.

[ She takes a couple steps back, giving him more than enough room. ]
insolvent: (pic#8111305)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-18 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he smiles a bit at her answer, doing his best to summon up whatever strength he has left in him. he's been resting for more than enough now... if he wants to get out of this mess, he needs to keep going until they reach the tree. ]

Alright. That's good enough for me. I must look pretty sorry right now, huh?

[ cover in blood and scales... yeah, he doesn't make for a particularly dashing figure at the moment. ]
duad: (minnesoter)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-18 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, don't worry about it! [ She grins. ] Even I have my bad days that the tabloids try to make look even worse.

[ She decides to take the lead, but hovers close by just in case he needs to rest or something may happen to him. Mary grows silent for awhile, listening to their steps against the path and the wind blowing through the trees. It's hard for her to believe a place this calm and beautiful holds so much disaster within it.

She understands that it's a game, but... still. It's still an extremely dangerous; one that enjoys taunting her too. ]


Back there... did you— see anything or anyone... strange? Like... someone who isn't here?
insolvent: (pic#8111296)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-21 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
At least I don't have to worry about anything like that. I don't think I'm interesting enough for the media to go after...

[ ...admittedly back home he probably is, though his (in)famy hasn't really applied here thus far. no one thinks he's a terrorist, at least, which is probably a good thing.

he hesitates at her question, wondering how much he should say. ultimately he just nods a bit stiffly. ]


I saw my brother. I know he isn't really here, but... sometimes its hard to remember that. [ especially since the idea of his brother showing up here isn't really that farfetched. he has the same dimension hopping powers that he does, after all. ]
duad: (one ultra lame whiteboy)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-21 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She bows her head and nods, looking down at the ground beneath her. Her entire body aches from walking and the armor she's wearing, but she has to beat this — it's the only way it will help him and Jason. If they can't get to it, then she will. ]

Yeah... my band showed up and for a second it really seemed like them, even some of the insults! But then...

[ Mary briefly closes her eyes for a couple of seconds and reopens them. ]

Guess that isn't really important now. What is is getting you that antidote!
insolvent: (pic#8293547)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-22 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
...some of the insults?

[ he blinks at that, though he does kind of understand what she means. his own hallucinations weren't particularly pleasant either, or the... strange npcs he'd run into, for that matter ]

Yeah... I'm still getting the hang of this game though. It's kind of strange, it doesn't feel that different from being in the real world.

[ just... a bit more organized and mechanical, he supposes ]
duad: (just try)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-22 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Mary nods and falls into a lapse of silence, thinking it's not a good time to bring up the dynamic of her band in the middle of a simulation. Perhaps one day she will be able to talk about it without her chest hurting or feeling a hollowness within her entire body, but this is not the time nor place to consider that.

She flexes her fingers, looking down at them. It's her — wholly, completely, 100% her — but at the same time, it's still just a recreation of her. It holds all her traits, all her movement, the same speech patterns, and perhaps even her frame of thought. Even the rocky path beneath her, the textured bark against the trees, the feeling of the wind touching her cheeks all feels so real, but there's still something... disjointed about it all. What's underneath her skin if she's just a simulation? Is there any way that this can work for just more than playing games?

Her real self exists past all of this and she knows that's real, because she... ]


Yeah, me too, but... doesn't some of it just feel off to you? Not like in the sense that it's a game, but... it just doesn't feel like you no matter how much it looks and acts like you?
insolvent: (Default)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-24 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ admittedly, he'd probably have a better sense of what she meant if he could trust his senses right now... but considering everything seems a bit off to him for the time being, it's hard to really differentiate. ]

I think I get what you mean... but it's all a little weird, isn't it? Like how this game works in the first place.

[ perhaps part of his discomfort with his current condition is based on the fact that he's in a virtual world... and this body isn't real. ]

If you get hurt here, you get hurt in the real world too, don't you? [ at that point it doesn't even seem like a "game" anymore. ]
duad: (and then i dreamt of yes)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-25 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I think, yeah... which is why we've gotta be careful, because if anything else worse happens then...

[ She doesn't let that get to her and she shakes her head, looking determined. Now that he's here alongside her, she has the advantage of keeping an eye on him and directing him where to go. The armor makes it hard for her to hold her head up completely, but a sudden confidence in her tone makes an appearance. The reminder of being a Misfit, of not allowing herself to be used like some doll, fills her with a vigor she had when she first arrived at that camp.

She's not going to let Jenna or vengeful spirits take that away from her when they've already taken away so much else. ]


But that won't happen, because we're gonna beat this. [ She looks over at him with a grin. ] Right?
insolvent: commissioned; dns (pic#8236176)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-26 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he looks a bit taken aback at her confidence for a moment, before smiling and nodding. ] Right.

[ admittedly, he wasn't sure how things would go when he chose to enter the game looking for a cure... he'd always been the type to act first, think later. once he was in the game itself, so many problems had come up that he hadn't really had a chance to stop and think through what he was doing.

so, perhaps for the first time, he was actually beginning to feel optimistic about this entire excursion. ]


It's strange though, isn't it? This entire thing... why would the cure for something that happened outside the game be inside it? [ in fact, would ingesting something in a game really cure him outside of it? ]
duad: (all the money or the simple life honey)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-26 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
I—I'm not really sure myself, but I don't know how virtual reality works. If we get hurt in the game, then we're hurt in real life, so I guess... whatever else happens to us in the game happens is real life too?

I don't understand it all, but you came in here with everything... [ She motions to his scales, her voice full of strong compassion for his ailments. Her brows furrow, looking worried yet again though the confidence hasn't left her one bit. ] Maybe if you get that antidote and leave with nothing, then it'll be the same outside of this.
insolvent: (pic#8111296)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-26 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah... I guess even if it doesn't make sense, that's the way it is. A lot of this place is that way, now that I think of it.

[ ...he'll try not to think about it too much. he's used to things going over his level of understanding anyway. ] We'll just have to see. I don't know anyone else that's been cured yet... so right now all we can do is trust those messages.
duad: (lifestyle of a tortured artist for sale)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-26 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
They haven't let us down yet. Let's just hope that this isn't the time that they finally do...

[ There are tons of winding paths around this place that she has to wonder if they're even going in the right direction. She doesn't know what sort of markers to look for or places to reach that will give her some sign. The fear of being lost is one that prickles in the back of her mind, reminding her of horse rides and shipwrecks from times that now occur to her as dreams; cold sweat lies on her skin underneath the armor as she keeps herself standing steady with the weight of it protecting her.

When she looks up, she spots something in the distance: a large shadow... no, a silhouette that looks round and sturdy. Her eyes finally catch on that there are branches torquing through the golden sunlight. ]


Is that... a tree?
insolvent: (pic#8111310)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-27 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he nods, confirming her statement. on his own he wouldn't be sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him... but from a distance at least, that looks like a tree. ]

I think that's where we're supposed to go.

[ as usual, the npcs were rather vague about their instructions... but they had all mentioned something about a special tree. ]

We need the fruit from it... how do you think we should get it? [ no doubt there's some sort of test involved, but maybe they can bypass that entirely too. while he's usually not a fan of breaking the rules, he's pretty sure the current circumstances somewhat justify doing so. ]
duad: (every day should be a holiday)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-28 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She stops waling and looks over at it. The tree itself isn't very intimidating, but the mystery of what lies ahead of it makes her nervous. After all the dragons she's narrowly escaped and the people she's run into, the chance to be done with this and see everyone be safe is what keeps her goal of getting that antidote in the forefront of her mind.

It's the most she can do thanks to not being sick. ]


I doubt it's gonna be easy. We'll probably have to fight something, but maybe we'll get lucky and it'll be a puzzle instead...? Those usually show up in these kinds of things.
insolvent: (pic#8111343)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-09-29 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll definitely be a fight.

[ it's always a fight, as far his experience has gone. she might be right about that puzzle thing... but no, for whatever reason, he's pretty sure he's going to have to fight something. after all the hallucinations attacking him, at this point just having to fight something substantive shouldn't be a problem at all. ]

Don't worry... I might be out of it, but I should still be able to handle that much.
duad: (down like disco)

[personal profile] duad 2014-09-30 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She knows he's right, but there's still hope that maybe they will get lucky and it'll be something else instead. Mary is already weary of death and fighting, even if it's virtual this time. Compassion rises upon her expression, but her voice is firm — she's not going to let him fight alone and there's no argument to be had about it. ]

Even if I'm not much of a fighter, I'll be here anyway. You won't have to do it alone.
insolvent: (Default)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-10-01 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Right. [ he seems reassured by her words as they get closer to the tree, only to find its guardian waiting for them. it doesn't take long for the priestess to explain the terms of the challenge... a one on one battle against a mosnter. ]

It looks pretty tough, huh? [ though despite the seriousness of his words, ludger's tone remains rather light. even if it is strong... fighting this thing should still be far easier than dealing with the hallucinations up until this point. ]
duad: (now you love me)

[personal profile] duad 2014-10-04 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh y—yeah...

[ Even after running away from a dragon and running into Souji, she's still isn't confident that she can handle these sort of things on her own. At the same time, she wonders if she should really let Ludger handle this on his own with what he's dealing with. Even if he is a capable soldier, he's not doing well with everything else and on fatal move for either of them might...

Mary looks at him, conflicted. ]


What should we do...?
insolvent: (pic#8111333)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-10-05 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
We don't really have a choice.

[ from mary's background, he knows she isn't particularly well versed in combat... and even if she was, he wouldn't want her putting herself at risk for him. he might not be in ideal condition, but he should still be able to manage one last serious fight. ]

I'll have to get a little bit serious. [ he reaches for his pocketwatch, holding it in front of himself. he's never tried using his chromatus powers here before... and he's not sure they'll work without elle. but there's no time like the present to try... so he concentrates, and in an instant is enveloped in a bright white light. when it fades, his entire body is covered in grey and black armor, giving himself a slightly demonic appearance. ]

Ah... good. I guess it works here after all.
duad: (we used to be friends)

[personal profile] duad 2014-10-05 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Once the brightness dissipates, she lowers her arm to look at him. Mary doesn't know what she's expecting with that blinding light, but it's definitely not that. She looks at him in wonder, her eyes falling from head to toe to head again. She doesn't understand, but she doesn't feel the need to worry too much about it since he sounds to be used to it.

Her mouth hangs open until she can finally form the words. Even then, she's far too amazed to think of something coherent. ]


That's... what is that?
insolvent: (pic#8111323)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-10-06 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
It's... a little complicated.

[ but his time in this form is limited, so he might as well hurry this up and deal with the guardian monster first. so he hurries forward, materializing a spear as he runs and engaging the thing.

thankfully, the monster seems all too eager to fight as well, and soon enough they're exchanging blows. ludger isn't sure how long he has in chromatus form... but thankfully its enough, as a few well placed strikes are enough to put the creature down. the light fades quickly, returning him back to his normal form. just in time for him to fall to one knee, panting heavily from overexertion. ]


I... really hope that's the last part of this quest. [ if they have to do any more, he's pretty sure he's not going to make it. ]
Edited 2014-10-06 00:48 (UTC)
duad: (down like disco)

[personal profile] duad 2014-10-07 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Mary stands there watching and knowing she can't help him for this antidote to be his. She holds her breath focusing on his handle of control despite his condition, unable to rip her eyes away from all of his oddly graceful movements. Her fingers furl in fear as nervousness rises in her throat and flows through her veins.

The prospect of death has been playing out before her this entire game and now the artist paints yet another image of it but all she can think is that she can't stand it. She can't stand standing here helplessly watching someone else fight again.

When he defeats the creature, relief runs through her and sinks into her bones. The adrenaline is still there, but she's so happy that he's safe and she doesn't bother to think of why that's the case either. Mary makes her way over to him and kneels next to him with a hand on his shoulder. At first, all she can do is nod and stay silent. As she looks over his shoulder, she sees that the tree now has nothing blocking it and the fruit is ripe for the taking.

Mary half-chuckle, half-sighs. ]


I don't think you'll have to. Look.
insolvent: (pic#8111316)

[personal profile] insolvent 2014-10-08 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ for the first time in a long while, he looks genuinely relieved as he goes to retrieve his reward. ]

I hope this works.

[ ...they'd really been relying on npc messages this entire time, which by now they should have realized weren't always that trustworthy. but either way, he has little recourse but to take the antidote he's earned, then hope for the best.

thankfully it doesn't take long to start showing effects, as the scales covering his face begin to heal and disappear. ]

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