PHASE I [ ?? ?? ] This time, ViViD is a deathtrap.
There is random magma everywhere, monsters will spawn at random, and at some points, the game is entirely unplayable. It’s like the dev team totally disappeared mid-constructing the level.
Oh wait, that’s exactly what happened.
Monsters may spawn on top of you, you may suddenly be standing in a poisonous bog, you may suddenly lose your powers, or your senses, or so many different things --
It’s time to get out of here, ASAP.
Thankfully, the exit is obvious. Like. Blindingly obvious. It’s got a big sign over it that says EXIT
And just like that, you’ll be out of ViViD and --
PHASE II [ 0830 ] When you wake up (and it’s strange, because you were sure that you were logging out just a second ago), it’s in a pile of bodies.
They’re cold, but not in the same sense that a dead body would be cold. While they are lifeless and look incredibly real, they don’t feel real. They feel like dolls, mannequins, empty models and nothing more. Their code doesn’t seem to be functioning right.
And what some characters may realize upon looking at this pile of bodies is that they are all of the characters who were sacrifices before. Any character that was dropped who had a high magical or spiritual affinity is there in that pile of bodies, lifeless and eyes blank and vacant. Even you might be there, staring at your own dead body -- but it isn’t real It can be touched, but it’s really nothing more than a lifeless body.
You’ll have to crawl out of that pile of bodies to get anywhere, and then you’ll realize -- you’re in the Sanctuary, a building built by the characters as a safe place from CERES. And it’s looking pretty run-down at this point. The technology in it no longer functions, there is no security on it whatsoever…
Oh, and now there’s a pile of bodies. Great.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] There’s also a robot.
It’s wandering from place to place, though it’s impossible to follow. One second it’s there, the next it’s just gone.
Also, it’s wearing this. Weird.
But even with that on its face, the robot seems focused on one thing in particular. In fact, it has a sign, and it says:
Down with CERES. Up with Robots.
That’s a happy, cheerful message. If you try to go up to it to talk to it, it will look at you before...bonking you on the head with the sign and running off. That’s incredibly rude.
Alternatively, you may be safe and sound in your home, but then the doorbell rings, and there’s the robot again. The duck mask is gone, but now instead it has a pin on his fake lapel, and then he’s shoving a pamphlet at you.
He tips his hat, and then he’s gone. Weird.
(Also, if you hold onto the pamphlet, it will lead you directly to the person whose picture is on it, and you’ll feel like you’ve known them and have loved them for years.)
PHASE IV [ 1245 ] But not all is fun and games and shenanigans. There is something...well, strange happening, and the first real realization of that will be when it starts to rain. More than just the localized rain that a few unfortunates have dealt with -- no, it’s raining completely and totally, and that’s when it might hit you.
For the first time in Cerealia, there’s weather.
It’ll rain for a few hours, and then it’ll stop and become hot and sunny. It may get humid, considering it’s a jungle planet. At night, it’ll get rather cold.
Seems like whatever was keeping Cerealia’s atmosphere stable is now gone -- which also means that characters may start to occasionally experience headaches, nausea and dizziness if they go too close to the walls. It seems safer in the center of the city, and the Residential District is still okay, but… there’s no doubt that the planet’s atmosphere is starting to encroach on the city.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] But who cares about all of that? More importantly, you are here in this… totally not shoddy city to have fun, and it’s still being advertised as a pleasure colony. Or, well, it would be if, you know, CERES was still around.
But close enough.
And as a pleasure colony, it would figure that the first robots to really get fixed are...well, the Pleasure District robots. Unfortunately, the Pleasure District is still a nice big mess, so now they’re wandering the entire colony, looking for people they can hug, massage or...try to drag into more explicit activities.
Welcome to Cerealia!
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no subject
That's not necessarily a good thing and so his hand immediately goes to the hilt of his sword - his actual form - just in case he needs to fight his way out of here. The thought is actually kind of a welcome one, something familiar in this den of uncertainty. Fighting is something he's good at, too.
But he doesn't attack when the person emerges from the body pile, instead he watches, waiting to see what he'll do.
(He forgets, for now, the faint tear tracks on his face.)]
Whoever's in charge obviously has a weird sense of humor.
[AKA he has no idea, dude.]
no subject
A weird sense of humor? If you ask me, it looks more like a weird fetish.
[He'll never forget this gross feeling of crawling over realistic mannequins as he finally deserts the pile. After rising to his feet and dusting himself off, Izumi turns his gaze to the stranger with a sword.
That's a pretty man if he ever saw one. ]
. . . Are you okay?
no subject
Whatever it is, it's something I don't wanna be around too long.
[He's got better stuff to do, like figure out what's actually going on because that PowerPoint presentation doesn't seem to be quite right in retrospect.
The other man's sudden concern reminds Kanesada of his current state and he immediately turns away, raising a hand to wipe his face. Pay no attention, he's fine, he's fine!]
Of course I am!
no subject
Well, then, let's get out of here. I have no idea where this is, but I'd rather not stick around longer than I have to. Are you coming?
[Izumi looks around in search of an exit. Unlike that ViViD level he just managed to escape from, the sanctuary is much more straightforward (and visible).]
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thanks broOnce he's recovered, Kanesada quickly looks around, noticing at least one hallway. And hallways usually lead outside. He starts walking toward it.]
I should be asking you if you're coming.
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Yes, yes, I'm coming.
[No bodies here? Great. Izumi focuses on Kanesada, attention drifting to the weapon.]
Is that a real sword?
no subject
And hey, what do you know? There's a door at the end of the hallway!
Ah, but that question. Kind of irritating.]
Of course it's a real sword.
[If it weren't, then he wouldn't be here at all.]
no subject
Wow, amazing! It's my first time seeing a real sword. What's it like to use one?
no subject
It's natural.
[Kanesada shrugs, not thinking much of it. It's natural to use a sword because he is a sword, so fighting with his vessel is the most fluid and right feeling in the world.
That's probably not a good enough answer for this kid, though, so Kanesada thinks on it as he opens the door.
(There's freedom on the other side! Or at least just more city.)]
Humans fight with their fists sometimes, right? It's like that for me.
no subject
Like that, huh . . . That's seriously cool. It sounds like something a samurai would say.
If it's all right with you, would you mind showing me sometime?
no subject
Ah, it's a tiny bright spot. Kanesada is not a samurai at all, just a samurai's weapon. A fake samurai, to some, but he doesn't care. Hijikata was a real samurai in all the ways that mattered, so it still counts.
And someone called him cool, which might be more important here.
His mood is still awful, but once he gets outside, he turns back to his companion and rests his hands on his hips. It's a bit of a confidence boost!]
Samurai are more poetic. I'm just honest.
If only there were something to cut, then I'd show you.
[Something that isn't a building or the kid himself (though people are, admittedly, prime candidates for cutting). Otherwise he'd just put himself at risk for getting damaged and that's not a thing he's up for right now.]
no subject
What's ideal? If I can find it around here, I'll gladly collect it for next time!
[Maybe they should go back and grab one of those fake bodies.]
no subject
Goza and bamboo is suitable, but I don't think you'll find it in this mess.
[Don't get a fake body. What if he tries to dig out that Kanesada body? No good, friend.]
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Maybe not here, but another area might have what we need. If not, I'll think of something.
[Worse comes to worst, Izumi will offer his own (not flesh) body . . . ! Anyway, for that to happen, they need to know each other.]
I'm Izumi Kohei.
no subject
Kanesada wrinkles his nose just looking at this place.]
It doesn't look promising.
[But introductions! He's good at those!]
Izuminokami Kanesada. I'm strong and cool!
[You remember how he sounded like a samurai earlier? Yeah. Yeah.]
no subject
I've heard that name before.
[But he's no sword guru and his interests are more geared toward bullets. His brow furrows slightly before he huffs.]
No good. I can't remember.
[Sorry, dude.]
no subject
And he's popular, so it's like a done deal that the name rings a bell - !
But then Kanesada deflates when Izumi just...gives up.]
Not even a little bit?
no subject
Ah – a swordsmith?
[There was definitely one with the title, right? It makes sense! He talked about the sword so poetically!
No, Izumi.]
no subject
Yes, yes, the Kanesada school made a lot of swords, the most desirable coming from the second generation.
[Quick history recap for you, Izumi. Then, Kanesada pulls his own sword, his vessel from his side, sheath and all, and holds it in front of himself.]
I, however, was made by the twelfth generation, but I have no regrets about it.
[He gives a resolute nod, then replaces the sword at his side. So what if he isn't the most sought-after sword ever made? He's still happy to have been made at all.]
no subject
His eyes, however, widen at Kanesada's meaningful gesture.]
Hold on – you're a sword? For real!?
[Second or twelfth, who cares? It's still a literal swordsman. Cerealia has done it again with the interesting types.]
no subject
Mmhmm. A tsukumogami, technically, but yes.
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Wow, I wouldn't have guessed! You look just like a regular person. [Only very pretty for a man?] But your real body must be the sword.