//EVENT033.EXE

[reparator]

//event033.EXE

What new and wonderful and exciting ViViD level awaits you today? What fun time will you have in ViViD this time? Surely it will be a work of art that CERES has been working on for months and months -- Actually, wait, CERES isn't even around, are they? Uh oh. Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzt. Error: Files Not Found

//SCENARIOS.EXE

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! [ 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. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to Cerealia's September intro log! For your convenience, we have compiled the characters' arrival experience here, and should you have any questions, feel free to ask them here! You can also check the FAQ for more general inquiries. Should this event log hit Captcha, there is an all-purpose overflow here. Thank you!

Comments

[mombastic]

[ She does, with a little gasp and accidentally elbowing some poor not!body in the face in the process.

Sorry, Izumi. ]

[bulletfool]

[ Sorry, not!body.

With an abrupt yelp, Izumi tumbles down the pile. Fortunately, his head is cushioned by a body's hand and not the floor. Unfortunately, his head is where it is and he snaps into an upright position. ]

Ugh! [ He looks over his shoulder behind him. ] Did it work?

[mombastic]

Oof-- [ Yep, she's got enough room to get herself out completely now, awkwardly trying not to step on-- yeah, it's not gonna happen. ]

Thank you! Are you all right??

[bulletfool]

[ Gosh, stop disrespecting the fake dead with both of your shoes. Meanwhile, Izumi climbs onto his feet, noting the uneven feel of his feet due to the lack of one shoe. ]

I'm fine! What about you?

[mombastic]

[ She's sorry, fake dead, she didn't mean it. ]

Also fine, thanks to you.

... [ and then, as she glances around... ] This is... the Sanctuary?

[bulletfool]

[ It's all right. The fake dead take no offense. ]

"Sanctuary"?

[mombastic]

It was a place built by those who were pulled here... somewhere slightly safer where CERES couldn't monitor us.

... Or it used to be. [ It's kind of a mess right now. ]

[bulletfool]

It looks like we got pranked, but what's going on? I thought CERES isn't around anymore.

[ He looks around. The only thing that's out of place is the bodies, but who put them here? ]

[mombastic]

It isn't... but I wonder if something's happened to the code itself.

[ The destruction hadn't been this bad, even when the technology had gone haywire, but-- Otome sighs, quietly. ]

Well, if nothing else... this proves we're out of the game.

[bulletfool]

Yes . . . I can see, too.

[ Seeing nothing but darkness had been a little unnerving, in retrospect. With a triumphant crossing of his arms, Izumi looks to Otome. ]

Yanagiya-san, I didn't expect you to look so young! I thought you'd be older, because of your position.

[ He swears that's a compliment. ]

[mombastic]

... Thank you, I think! I tend to get that a lot, but I promise I'm more competent than I look.

[ Twenty-something doctors are helpful too! ]

[bulletfool]

I wouldn't expect otherwise. After all, getting to where you are now just means you're that good at your job.

[ Twenty-something is young, ish. Izumi is optimistic. ]

. . . We should probably get going, though. Those bodies are pretty distracting.

[mombastic]

[ among other things, like "concerning"... but Otome nods, moving towards the door. ]

I'll have to come back and figure this out later, but let's get you out into the sunlight first.

[bulletfool]

[ Izumi follows, not bothering to cast the bodies a second glance. ]

Figure it out, as in move them? If so, I wouldn't mind helping out.

[mombastic]

That's very sweet of you... but just adjusting to the colony is going to be enough work. I couldn't ask you for anything more just yet.

[bulletfool]

Well, if you're sure. I definitely owe you, so you can ask me for a favor anytime.

I've been in ViViD at least three times now, but it's my first time actually being in the colony.

[mombastic]

If it helps at all, the colony usually isn't as exciting as ViViD. Which isn't to say things don't occasionally get odd, but...

[ It should be slightly more merciful. ]

[bulletfool]

But at least I can open my eyes, right?

[ That's already more merciful. ]

As "refugees," what's there for us to do around here?

[mombastic]

Well, you already know you can get a job... you can also play ViViD, although I wouldn't recommend doing that anytime soon. There are different areas of the city dedicated to certain things, so I'd say give exploring a try. And of course, finding your apartment.

[bulletfool]

There's going to be a lot of walking, isn't there . . .

[ Otome mentioned something about transportation being broken. He pats his pockets before digging his hand into one and pulling out the residential card. ]

And I have to use this. It's like I'm a tourist.

[mombastic]

In a sense, you are! This is really just like... one large extended, occasionally dangerous vacation.

[ ... She puts it so lightly. ]

[bulletfool]

Some vacation!

[ Slipping the card back inside, this time he pulls out the CereVice. ]

This thing has a map of the colony installed, right? [ He fiddles with it, tapping his finger here and there on the screen. ] So if I can pull it up, I'll be able to find a suitable apartment building.

[mombastic]

That's right! And if you can't find one you like, I can show you mine.

[ It's fine, except people like to break her door. ]

[bulletfool]

[ As long as it's not his door . . . ]

Oh, that'd be good! What's the difference, though? The interior design?

[mombastic]

The location, actually. The interior design is largely your choice.