//SCENARIOS.EXE
PHASE I [ 16 00 ] At 4:00 PM, the lightly falling snow will stop and no sounds will be heard.
What will be heard is faint sound of ‘hohoho’ and ‘sleigh bells’ faintly in the distance distinctly in one direction but when you turn that way it seems to disappear and you can’t pick up a trace of sound. It will keep occurring intermittently no matter where you are and each interval of 15 minutes, it will sound as if it’s gotten closer but the same things will occur.
by 6:00 pm, when it sounds really close (like right behind the character or next to them), when they turn they’ll hear the sound of laughter that comes from someone they greatly admire or care about to one side of them. However, unlike how everything else has disappeared, that person remains and even seems to recognize they are there. At first, it seems well enough as they will ask innocent questions such as “What are you looking around for?” and if told the truth, their important person will kindly brush them off as joking and tell them they are imagining it. If told ‘nothing’, the important person will prod them with curiosity (you can have it be annoying, whiny, friendly--however that character would most likely nag them to let them in, including things said such as “you can tell me”).
Regardless of choice from there, the person will eventually decide to assist in locating this sound, as your character will hear it once more and from the sudden surprise on the other person’s face it seems they may have heard it, too.
At 6:30pm, the person will give up, suggesting you guys go back (go home, go shop, go eat, whatever the character would suggest as something fun and interesting. if they are the type of character who would just simply part ways with the other and say they will meet them back somewhere else, that’s fine, too!) In the end, they will start to walk past the PC if they are in front of them, but as soon as they are behind him the PC will get a hand on the shoulder and pulled to be whispered to by that person in the ear (or any variant of it at the player’s discretion to sound more like said individual): “You always did have a habit of looking for the things you can never find. A trait of only the most worthless.” followed by a strong wind that drowns out laughter of the person when they came, but this time much crueler. The wind is gale force so the character will not in any way be able to turn around fast enough to see whether the person walks off or disappears.
Looking to the ground, there are footprints, though, that suggest that person was there. Unfortunately, the snow is light and not wet, so unless the character looks quickly they may miss the evidence. And with the wind starts the heavy wet snow, increasing until blizzard conditions are reached.
OOC NOTES:
- If doing this prompt, people who tag into other people’s top levels can choose if they also have an important person that’s come to them in the same way or they can simply be alone.
- Both characters can see each other’s important persons (assuming the individual tagging the top level has one), and they will treat the other PC polite enough but would do what they normally do with strangers while around their PC. Players might want to take the opportunity to do some simple ‘npcing’ of their character’s important person in relation to the tags their top levels receive or the tagged into, but it is by no means required. Just one more potential thing you can add to your threads if it helps or will be more fun/interesting ).
- If any player-characters would happen to have the same important person, the player-character entering the thread will have their version start to slow down in their movements until they are behind them and no longer keeping up. When they turn around to look for them, they won’t be there any longer, but they will be fully acknowledged by the spectre and act as if the newly arrived isn’t remembering correctly (they ran ahead to find the player they are with now or etc.)
- The spectre should at least be believable to be able to cause doubt on whether it is real or in their heads or some other type of trick. If directly asked, the NPC will never quite say one way or another, but sort of be sympathetic to their uncertainty or laugh it off or dismiss it… again, however that character’s NPC would react to being doubted.
- It doesn’t have to be their “MOST IMPORTANT” person. Just someone that they are close enough to that their opinions matter/the player character really misses/they would be bothered by them not finding them worth anything/etc.
PHASE II [ 1700 ] Now that blizzard conditions have suddenly come into play, including white outs, all that lighting doesn’t seem to be much help (and that’s before any lighting finally ends up blowing out due to the conditions). You might want to look for that person that was with you, because you swore you saw footprints in the dry snow before it was all erased with the force of the wind.
Traveling outside may be more dangerous than you intend, however, not because of the cold, but because you can’t see who’s (or what) coming at you nor who’s (or what) coming behind you… or from any other direction, either.
Pretty convenient for an accidental murder in the form of a hit and run by a moving vehicle.
...Or a sleigh speeding forward by the work of nine reindeer and equipped with saw-blades used for ice cutting in place of the normal runners. You will want to get out of the streets as fast as you can because, while you will not be consistently chased, increased attempts at various times will be made on your life the longer you stay out.
While your character is welcome to run into the nearest place they can or continue to stay outside despite being an intended murder victim, the combination of the disorienting whiteout along with the sleigh attacks will strategically attempt to push characters towards the large mall that has been now shut down for the evening. They will find the doors unlocked and most likely others there that have be also driven here by the same situation. Somethings not right, though. Because the mall suddenly doesn’t look the way it once did, especially if you were just there earlier in the day. You are about to find out that the lot of you aren’t much safer, inside, either. Be prepared to run or fight your way out.
PHASE III [ xxxx ]
Depending which side of the mall you enter from depends on the layout of the mall and what you’ll be finding. Please note Cerealia’s mall is incredibly large so it would be quite the effort to go from one end to the other. However, it is possible, and if you reach the middle of the mall, the two variations of the mall will collide with one another. Once you step over into the other version, whatever dangers you faced from the other side will cease. However, now you have the other sides dangers to face, as well.
3A: WARM
The mall looks as if it’s been abandoned suddenly—there are no guards or any sign of movement initially. Despite the power being out, you will actually be able to search if your characters want to and get the power to turn back on. Be aware that turning the power back on in the mall will result in a change noted below for both prompt 3A and 3B.**
Regardless of whether you turn the lights on first or stay in the dark, you will find the multi-levels of the mall scattered with various gifts, left for all of you as gratitude for complying with coming to the mall. These may or may not be your definition of a gift, however. Every package is addressed to someone who has shown up at the mall, yourself included. While wandering by a gift that doesn’t have your name on it will do nothing, doing the same for one that does… Merry Christmas to you! Santa’s elves will be busting out of the packages and will solely be focused on you and you alone. They’ll be sporting just about anything and everything you could think of they could use to harm you, but it’ll be in the form of a creepy toy or candy (to try and choke/suffocate you with if they manage to get close enough to you to do it)—basically anything that could be harmless but is now not, but they will avoid any direct death methods. Their intention is incapacitate you to the point they can eat you. Note they are not easy to kill, but they are killable. However, there will always be at least one elf out chasing you. You might want to team up to take these guys out. (think of them as the hardest normal enemy on a map for your level).
Whether you turned the lights on yourself or not, at some point the lights will come on and make your lives more festive: different elves will be appearing on the upper floors with just about and every possible projectile weapon. There is probably even a canon or two, as well, so watch out! But probably nothing bigger than a canon… and no rocket launchers because there would be no fun in that if everyone died too quickly during playtime. These types of elves are more numerous but they are easier to dispatch and do not have a specific target. They also don’t care if they kill you, but they are more likely to try and slow you down so they can watch you become dinner for one of the bigger ones.
3B: COLD
The other side of the mall looks like quite a bit different and in heavy disrepair.
It is also possible (although more difficult) from this side of the mall to turn on lights (even if the lights will be a lot less numerous than on the other side of the mall.) There are no christmas decorations here, just the snow littering the wrecked structure. Even though it is clear there is a hole in the roof, for some reason the blizzard outside is not through it. Instead it’s just a quiet and light snowfall.
But this is side of the mall where there are LESS, but quite a bit more dangerous enemies. The elves that appear are identical to the ones in packages on the other side of the mall, however, they do not sport weapons other than their sharp teeth and claws (despite pictures, these features aren’t super noticeable on the ones on the other side of the mall like this side until they get at your throat). They are also faster and while they also want to eat you, they don’t care if they rip you apart in the process before getting to eat. All-in-all this would be a lot more of a visually gruesome death to experience as well as watch as the victim will end up in pieces. Since these are a little stronger than their counterparts hiding in the presents, there also aren’t as many (probably 1 for every two characters at all times). They would be the strength of a small mini-boss.
But, it won’t be long because you hear some inhuman snorts and growls that don’t sound very animallike, either. looking up you’ll find that it looks like Santa’s let his 9 reindeer out for the hunt and they’re coming in after you.
There’s only 9 of them (you know dasher, dancer…etc. etc..), but they are each the strength of a harder mini-boss. They withstand a lot of damage and the more injury they take, the more aggressive/frenzied they become. They will eat you/tear you apart/trample you/impale you with their antlers, whatever. While you’ll see them come in from the roof, they act like predators and use the shadows and disrepair of the mall to their advantage to try and corner you and otherwise surprise you. Your best chance with them is to stick together as one of you alone won’t be able to kill one of them), but they will make every effort they possibly can to separate all of you to take you each out one by one (and, why yes, the reindeer will gang up on you once they separate you like a little lamb from its heard…).
This side of the mall is definitely a team-effort survival trip. Each reindeer is slightly different in its methods, but who can really tell the difference when things are at this stage? Rudolph IS THE BOSS OF THE PACK… taking him out first will help your characters greatly, although he’s also the most difficult (and your characters would have to icly figure out killing him will actually help them out, too).
***CONCERNING TURNING ON THE LIGHTS (PROMPTS 3A + 3B): If characters on either side end up turning the lights on manually, they will also end up releasing a creature that is unkillable and will stalk your characters until you are too far away from it and it gives chase to another (so you have to run away when it finds you). The trick to encountering it the least amount of times is to constantly keep moving, although this will make any strategic things difficult against other problems being faced. It is possible to stun it/slow it down temporarily to aid in characters escaping when it shows up if the character has the ability to do it (summons, magic weapons, superhuman strength characters, etc).
This monster is also the only one that will not cease its attacks and ignore you should you cross between the center of the mall. So, yes, if it’s chasing you and you run straight through… it’s gonna CHASE YOU STRAIGHT THROUGH into the other version/side of the mall, so don’t stop D: !!
PHASE IV [ xxxx ]
And if you didn’t run to the mall, or didn’t get chased by santa’s killer sleigh, or heck, maybe you stayed inside your apartment all day? Don’t feel too safe for too long. If you aren’t celebrating christmas properly, aka in an area (a building, an office, a bathroom stall, your apartment, your bed etc etc) that is lacking either a Christmas Tree or the proper milk and cookies for Santa to assist him while he is so busy this night, he’s not going to be happy. Which means, he’s going to come punish you for your lack of respect for the hardworking. It doesn’t pay to be impolite to your elders, you know. This is why we can’t have nice things.
The room/area has to have both the Christmas Tree and the milk & cookies in order to be safe. This is literally the only way to keep Santa from coming at you with a machete like a jolly serial-killer. He starts with a machete, but he can pull just about anything out of his toy sac (semi-automatic machine gun, you got it…). Because Santa is magical, he is unkillable and you can’t injure him, either. The best you can do is break his weapons to stall him and hide, but he’ll stalk around looking for you, telling you what a naughty boy/girl you’ve been and now you’re hiding from the consequences! You can hide from him under beds, in lockers, closets, etc, and while he won’t open any of those things unless you make noise to alert him, he will leave. Don’t stay in the hiding spot for too long, though, because he will come back and that time he will find you.
The trick to getting off of Santa’s murder list? While he disappears once he’s lost sight of you (maybe 15-20 minutes is the grace period that he’ll leave you alone), get a christmas tree and get those milk and cookies out. OR run to a place that has both of these things.
While Santa is chasing/stalking you, he will talk to you and give hints on what the characters need to do to be spared (things along the lines of “good little girls and boys always leave Santa milk and cookies for his long journey” and “where is your christmas spirit? not even a christmas tree for old santa to put his gifts under.” etc etc.).
Once you complete this, he will return and be planning to be murderous once more, but once he sees the tree and cookies he will immediately stop and be extremely jolly and forget you in favor of the cookies in milk as well as putting a couple presents under the tree like he didn’t just terrorize the living snot out of you with sharp objects. And then he’ll be heard with his trademark commentary for those familiar with the Santa Claus lore: “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL GOOD NIGHT…” and disappear without (anymore, or at least, yours) bloodshed.
BONUS [ whyo'clock ]
{ there isn't a bonus this event, apologies! but we will do our best to remedy this for you guys on the upcoming test drive by connecting it to something appropriately traumatizing for mental processing. Please stay with us :D! }
[ 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. ]
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[And Natalia winces herself as she watches her limp her way to the chair. Goodness gracious, this poor girl... it makes Natalia's blood boil to think that she was pulled into this trouble.
Then she breathes in and out once, calming herself so she can focus.]
Have you ever seen healing magic before?
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[ Well, more like alien hijinks than magic, but it's close enough! ]
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[Something to note... Though regardless, she just gives Athena a reassuring smile.]
I'll heal you and I'm rather practiced at it - so please don't be alarmed. That's all.
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[ If her friends don't have to see her look too ragged, then great! And if Natalia can heal broken bones and whatnot, then even better! ]
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Regardless, after a few seconds, the incantation leaves her lips:]
O divine embrace that fosters life... Cure!
[And just like that, a soft green light with a ribbon of yellow encompasses Athena. Admittedly, Natalia's not entirely sure how injured she is, but it should be enough to heal her broken bones -- though the soreness remains because even Natalia can't work miracles.
A soft breath leaves her as she tries to give Athena a smile.]
There... That should've taken care of most of it. Give me a bit longer to rest and I can make sure you're as good as new!
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[ She flexes her fingers, opening and closing her hands quickly. And as if proving a point, she even outstretches her legs. ]
You should just rest, and I'll go get you a cup of hot chocolate!
[ That Vietnam and the others stole, but even Athena doesn't know about it. ]
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Well... that does sound rather lovely.
[She supposes she can indulge in being pampered for just a brief moment - if hot chocolate can count as being pampered anyway.]
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She pulls the blanket on her back closer to her and hugs it for a bit before walking away to make some hot chocolate. They're rather lucky to have a supply of hot water considering the weather. Athena opens a packet of powdered chocolate and mixes it in with water. She brings the cup with her back to Natalia, only to stop by a small rack to pick up a blanket for her as well. ]
Here you go. [ And she offers the cup by the handle, and waits for Natalia to hold the drink properly before handing her the blanket. ] What's it like out there...? The mall doesn't seem like a mall anymore.
[ This all feels like the beginning of the apocalypse, really. ]
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I'm not sure what a mall is meant to seem like... but it's a shopping bazaar of sorts, is it not?
[And she sighs as she gently blows on the hot chocolate to cool it.]
However it is currently filled with monsters of varying strength... Some I could manage on my own -- others would require small teams to defeat. Elves and reindeer, I've heard them called? [She's not familiar, really.] It is troublesome, but given enough people willing to fight, it is not unmanageable.
[Probably weird to hear someone who was just hosting a ball less than a week ago suddenly talk of danger and monsters so nonchalantly, but that's Natalia for you.]
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She can't fight. She can only do so in ViVid... which isn't even that important since it's only a game. To actually be in danger from monsters just makes her feel so useless, because she can't be of any help. She clenches her fists tightly, yet her expression remains soft. ]
Are they just in here, or are they also outside?
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The elves and reindeer are in here but the blizzard is outside along with some more obstacles. A sleigh and more enemies.
But Athena... I understand your worry. [She's slowly realizing that a lot of what Athena says doesn't quite match up with how she feels.] Yet you must promise me that you won't do anything rash. Please, make sure that you stay where it's safe.
[Says the hypocrite who's probably going to go running off in like 10 minutes.]
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Natalia does have a point, and Athena knows she's right. But if she can't even help those whom she cares about when they need it most, then she'll continue to be useless. Her mother would be right, and she'd never please anybody.
She stays silent for a bit, considering what to tell Natalia. She definitely won't be doing what she's told, but she'd at least like to appease her now.]
I'll try to help out here, then. [ Athena, you liar!!! ] Everyone's helped me enough, so I should be returning the favour.
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But more seriously, she meets Athena's eyes and gives her another, more encouraging nod.]
It would be appreciated. Vietnam's working so hard here and could use all the help she can get. More injured will inevitably be coming in and they could use your cheer and determination.
[A pause and she sighs faintly.]
Though I'm unbearably mad that you were dragged into this mess in the first place, to be quite honest with you....
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There's no reason to be mad. We're all in the same position.
[ She takes a seat next to Natalia and draws her legs closer to hug her knees. The other girl may not know it, but when someone is "unbearably mad", Athena can hear such raging emotions and it affects her, too. Passionate feelings like that tend to be contagious in Athena's case, but since she's experiencing so much sadness, these two emotions just clash in her head and it hurts her inside.
It kind of sucks having the ability to hear emotions this way. But... ]
We should all just be glad that we're still here. This isn't the worst thing that's happened. And if we get affected too much by this now, we won't be able to handle the coming trials.
We just have to help each other out, and we'll all get through this!
[ No more negative thinking, Natalia! Turn that frown upside down and cheer up! ]
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So she nods once, slowly, calming vaguely. There's still some part of her that is only appeased for the moment, some part of her heart that is still angry that CERES would put civilians in danger like this, but otherwise she has regained her veneer of calm.
She sips her hot chocolate before she admits:]
.... That's what I mean exactly. [A nod.] Your cheer and determination, I mean -- you are very good at cooling the feverish hearts of others.
[ . . . . and Natalia turns so that she can face Athena with a smile.]
I still won't forgive them for hurting you. [Determined princess is determined--] However I am still relieved that you are at our side in this time.
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Heh heh! It's all okay, Natalia. [ She even flashes the princess a peace sign. ] Just rest up, and don't worry about me.
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I consider you a friend.
Of course I'll worry about you.... It's not something I can help - nor do I care to try to temper it.
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I appreciate it. Thank you.
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[Natalia trails off then, sipping some of her hot cocoa thoughtfully before she can't help but inquire:]
Regardless, you seem to be carrying yourself very well.... I hadn't thought civilians could be so level-headed during times of chaos.
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[ She smiles when she's asked the question, because the answer is so simple. She loves being a lawyer, and she'll take everything that will help her become better at it to heart. ]
My boss told me that the toughest of times is when a lawyer has to force their biggest smiles. I'm just doing what I should be doing.
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Forcing... yourself to smile?
[Is that healthy.]
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Yes. I've really taken what my boss said to heart.
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I suppose... if that's what you choose to do.
But I hope that soon you will find genuine reason to smile. Forcing yourself to hold it all together must be hard.
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Hey, I got this! But thanks, Natalia. [ She can get all sentimental right about now, but instead... ] You're great.