WEEKS 5 & 6

[linkupmods]

WEEKS 5 & 6

THE CALM BEFORE...

The city has more or less bounced back after the disastrous Go-Kart race. While there are still some people recovering, no one’s hospitalized and there were thankfully no casualties - although there were more injuries than might have been expected, on accounts of some brawls that broke out among the competitors and the audience.

In spite of that, the Shopping District is feeling distinctly friendlier these days. Shopkeepers will take notice of repeat customers and be openly happy to see the better-behaved ones. They may even cut characters a discount on the sly for their patronship!

Perhaps as a result, the Nekyia Shopping District has become clear of haze much like the Nekyia dormitory started. While Shadows still lurk there, they are much fewer in number. Should characters choose to explore some more, they will find that the haze has become thinner in the Nekyia Entertainment District, allowing them to work on cleaning out the various Shadows that reside in that area.

WHAT THE FLUFF.

Meanwhile, back at the dormitory…

…trouble is amiss, but the fun kind of trouble.

On Sunday, September 1st, it seems like there's an event for pets being hosted at the parks near the dorm! That's fine and dandy, but the trouble comes from owners being careless and letting their animals run loose. That's right, some of them have been given free rein to explore, and a number of them have taken a liking to the dormitory!

You might be able to blame Dawn – that cat from the Nekyia who also appears to give you strange items! – because she's got bowls of cat food around her that she's feasting on. It's attracted some pet cats and strays alike. As for the dogs, well, they like people. Enough said.

Why not treat yourself to some animal therapy while you can? And if not, wrangling any animals that manage to get free works too!

SUMMER DAYS.

As summer break draws to a close, the Arcade is desperate to not only redeem its reputation, but also squeeze the last bit of pocket change out of people while they’re still on vacation. As a result, there is an ongoing discount on point cards allowing people to play competitive arcade games - Classics like Mirmo Kart and Street Slayer, as well as shinier rhythm games like Dancerun Stardom and LaiLai Universe Plus!

Of course, the hope is that characters drawn in by the arcade games will stick around for the other offerings - karaoke, bowling, ufo catchers, and even a bar (for those 21+!) And if none of these attractions are enough to catch a character’s eye, there’s plenty of other activities to be found in Carnation Court. Besides the restaurants and bars, there are many themed pop-up cafés and events, and even a few empty buildings with a very reasonable lease fee, should someone want to run an event of their own...

While the mood isn’t as open and friendly as the shopping district, it’s still worth a visit to relax and unwind a bit, preferably alongside Braphine’s other chosen. After all, there are Shadows looming on the horizon...

MESSAGE FROM YOUR RA!

Huh...? That's weird. It looks like a really big Shadow took up residence in the Nekyia. Hold on, I'll set things up so the app will give you the coordinates! Could you please check it out?

COMMISSIONS

NEKYIA COMMISSIONS

FETCH QUEST

I messed up…Mom's gonna be so mad at me for losing track of her dog at that event…

There's a shadow in the Nekyia that's taken the form of a Level 25 Nue. It seems to be growling in despair, and echoing the thoughts of this commissioner. Apparently this person lost his mother's dog at the event and hasn't made an effort to find it yet. Fight the Nue and try to knock some sense into this guy, either by shaking some sense into him or by defeating him; they've got a dog to find, after all.

YOU KNOW THAT WE'RE TOXIC

Leave, Braphine. Leave this world to the people. We don't need anyone. We've only got ourselves.

Seems like someone who might be involved with the vandalism incident might have a shadow here, too, in the form of a Level 24 Mokoi. She sounds like she's going to do something more extreme to the place if she isn't stopped. However, be careful… characters hit with Dazzler from this particular Shadow cannot be cured with magic, and must instead be healed by another person’s touch. It’s time to get cozy with your companions.

GET HEE OUTTA HERE

A powerful Shadow has appeared in the Nekyia and needs to be eliminated asap! Black Frost is a tenacious (if cute?) little guy, and can only be fought after taking down three Level 28 Jack Frosts beforehand. Make sure you ration out your spiritual energy and healing spells, this little Shadow can pack a real punch, being at Level 30! That said, for those who manage to defeat him, he should drop a mascot trading card. Turn this in to the priest or priestess at the temple to unlock a bonus new skill for your Persona!

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to unlock the new skill, which is separate from your leveling skillset! You may select one elemental skill for light damage to apply permanently to your character's persona. When turning in the skill will be effective immediately once rewarded.)

REAL WORLD COMMISSIONS

FINE DINING

Various restaurants, from fast food and fast casual grub to the fine dining establishments in Carnation Court are trying to outdo each other in terms of promotion, and as such are on the prowl for any free hands to help entice potential customers with free samples and food challenges galore. Grab a buddy and help hawk some bite-sized treats! Or maybe try to beat the record for the biggest burger ever eaten, if you dare.

ALL HANDS ON STAGE

A number of performers were involved in the Go-Kart incident and have yet to fully recover enough to do their parts for the show! For the next two weeks, the Sunset Grand Theater is looking for understudies for roles, as well as stage hands who are willing to ninja around and maneuver props and sets for the actors. The production is a fanciful tale of starcrossed lovers, evil stepmothers, political feuds, and for some reason, a dragon.

PREPARE THE PETS

The pet store in Vermillion Village is looking for some volunteers to help socialize the pets through playtime, as well as feed some of the more persnickety ones. Those who want to pet some adorable balls of fluff and energy can work with the kittens, puppies, and bunny rabbits, while those who are brave enough can try their hand at feeding the reptiles their meals of live crickets and frozen rats.

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 5 and 6! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks. There will be no log next week, but we will still be posting a small mini-event on Saturday.
For plotting, please feel free to head over to this post on the OOC comm to post your plotting top levels.
For Nekyia commissions, you can assume that the Shadows will respawn until they've been beaten enough times to go back to normal.
Palaces start this week! Please refer to the Palace schedule here and sign ups for this week's capped Palace here

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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Comments

[imperiosity]

1. all hands on stage

[Now this is what he's talking about. It's been some time since he's performed on the big stage, and while plays aren't part of his usual repertoire, the commission has piqued his interest enough that he's at least willing to give it a try. Even so, Aaron's own fickle nature means that he tends to turn down any roles he doesn't care for, which means he ends up cast as one of the evil stepmothers.

So here he is backstage, all dolled up in an elegant dress with his long hair tied up into a loose bun. The entire outfit is tailored pretty well, so you could almost mistake him for a demure lady... if he didn't open his mouth right this moment.]

This production's not bad and all, but what I'm really looking forward to is the afterparty. Even the sadsacks in this town oughta know how to live it up after a successful show, right?

2. nekyia commissions

[There's quite a few monsters to take down this time, and seeing as he does enjoy challenging himself against tough opponents, doing one (or all!) of these is an easy choice for him. With that said, he'll play it smart here, which means he's not going to try soloing these requests. Whether you were voluntold or elected to tag along doesn't much matter to him, but he doesn't have any particular inclination towards any of the foes, which is why he turns to you.]

So, which one of these suckers we gunning for?

3. post funeral and meeting

[Well, after that disastrous run through Jordi's palace, to say that Aaron was left battered and bruised would be an understatement. And although the lighter injuries are gone courtesy of many many healing spells, there's still some soreness lingering where his ribs took a hit and where he was stabbed in the leg. While taking it easy typically isn't in Aaron's vocabulary, today he can be found lying around on a couch in the common area, although he'll sit up slightly when he sees someone pass by.]

Hey, c'mere and make something with me.

[On the table next to the couch he's lounging on, there's some scattered construction paper along with other supplies such as scissors, tape and glue.]

2

[prozaic]

[Has Shalem slept much lately? As a matter of fact, he has managed some rest in the day or so that he's been here, which is something given he can rarely sleep a full night anymore. Okay, so he may look a little droopy, but that's how he always looks.]

I wonder... How much of a challenge are you seeking? [Meanwhile, Shalem, a newcomer who has only a quarterstaff, is not looking for much of one.

However, he's well aware that he has no experience against these monsters, thus it would be difficult to tell if anyone is lying to him about their perceived difficulty unless he could read them particularly well. He rarely has a handle on the personalities of strangers immediately.]

You're looking for a workout immediately I assume, given you brought only myself. [Which means Shalem will have to pull his weight.

Which means that he may or may not lose his mind if he exerts himself a bit too much. Ah... bollocks.]

[imperiosity]

[Droopy is fine as long as he's not actively falling asleep, probably...! Either way, Shalem isn't a face he's seen before this, but with the amount of turnover due to certain people dying or going into comas, Aaron has just come to accept that there's going to be an influx of newcomers whether he likes it or not. It also helps that he was effectively squatting in 302 until fairly recently, so he definitely noticed that the nameplate change happened a few days ago at most.]

Pretty much. But if you need me to show you the ropes, then we can take one of the easier ones. Oughta be a few smaller Shadows along the way, too.

[In case Shalem wants to get a bit of practice in, that is. But surely nothing will go wrong on this trip!!]

[prozaic]

No, no need. Combat is... not an unknown to me. [Even if he would prefer it to be. He genuinely looks sad to have to be fighting, but at least they won't be fighting against people.]

A warm-up would not go unappreciated, but such things can be a luxury at times. [Meaning, not needed at all.] So let's keep moving, mmh? I shall learn as I go.

[imperiosity]

[Aaron does eye Shalem a little like he's sizing him up and examining how he holds himself. Either way, that answer seems to satisfy him enough that he's willing to let it go, albeit with a shrug and small parting shot.]

Well, it's your ass on the line. Better not fall asleep on me though, or I'm kicking your ass to the curb.

[And then he starts walking, expecting Shalem to follow.]

[prozaic]

[Funny how he thinks Shalem is droopy because he's sleepy. Sleepy is a distant cousin to fatigued, but it's quite a distance.

It's a good thing Shalem is an actor, and can act sleepy simply to further the ruse. He can simply continue to make this man assume anything he wants, and play on what he already assumes. Best way to lie, in his opinion.]

Please bring me back to the dormitory if I fall asleep. [A bright comment, before he shakes himself. Of course he still looks tired, but on the inside? It's enough. It's enough for now.

Though his perception roll definitely does not reflect how alert he is (10)... Nevertheless, his tail tightens around his staff.]

[imperiosity]

Only if you treat me a few drinks after.

[But his tone is light and cavalier as he continues on, only stopping briefly to check the Nekyia app so he can confirm their proximity to the target. As he lowers his Xipha, he catches some slight movement at the corner of his eyes (17) and turns to one of the many alleyways along the street, gaze focused on a figure that's partially hidden by a large dumpster.

Turning to Shalem and lowering his voice a little:]

Hey. You seeing what I'm seeing?

[prozaic]

[Can he see something indeed. (13)]

Indeed, I am. [His tail tightens around his staff.] Shall we go after that one, then?

[He may ask that, but he's already casting Rakukaja, one spell for each of them.

If they manage this with little trouble, Shalem will indeed buy a drink for both of them. Large bottles, at that.]

[imperiosity]

[The Rakukaja is appreciated, but he's not saying thanks until the Mokoi is Shadow goop on the ground.]

Dunno, sounds like you made up your mind already. So show me what you got, new guy.

[Although he will step forward and try to go for a preemptive Garula at the Mokoi, but a (7) means it whiffs and it only gets the Shadow to run out from behind the dumpster. Oops??]

1/2

[prozaic]

[Another fucking Mokoi, he wants to lose his fucking mind--]

2/2

[prozaic]

[Actually he might be still experiencing some trauma from the previous Mokoi, because he whiffs too when he attempts a quick spell to catch it while it's running (8), and just decides to layer buffs on both of them.

On the other hand, the spell wasn't even strong enough to sap his energy.]

[imperiosity]

[Starting off great for both of them!! Fortunately, the Mokoi seems to be rather flustered with the near misses, sending over an attempted Dazzler at Aaron but also missing that (8) too. The kick he launches in retaliation (10) is also just barely dodged, and Aaron clicks his tongue at this whole fiasco.]

Son of a bitch...

[He's not going to get any drinks by the end of this, is he.]

[prozaic]

[Shalem shakes his hands to get them warm again. Okay, no magic for today, so he transfers his staff from his tail to his hand, and lunges (but not Lunges) at the Mokoi.

Which is apparently the right choice, because his strategic strikes to its joints, particularly the back of the knees, are pretty effective (16).]

Handle its arms, please! Don't let it cast any spells.

[imperiosity]

[The Mokoi is definitely not having a great time after Shalem's strikes, but decides it's time to buff itself with a Matarukaja so it can prepare for a counterattack. Aaron, for his part, does try to go for the arms with a roundhouse kick (1) but goddamn does that not work out for him because the only thing he's hitting is thin air.]

You fight this guy before or something?

2 - Commissions

[silentfury]

[Yuri was already eyeing the commissions board when Aaron made his way over. With a short huff, he points to the Black Frost one, then begins typing on his phone to show exactly what he wants to say to the lad.

If I remember correctly, Jack Frosts use ice magic. I should be able to handle direct hits from them with little issue. Even more if I use rakakajaja rakujaju rakalala

There's a visible look of annoyance on his face as he continues typing.

The one that lets me take hits more easily.

Then he finally holds the phone out.]

[imperiosity]

[omfg Yuri having a entire time...

Black Frost isn't a bad choice at all and he would have accepted it even without any particular rationale. With that said, Aaron does read the phone screen when prompted, although he is definitely cracking up by the time he gets to the end.]

Pffffft. You're a whole-ass wordsmith, aren'tcha? Backspace key's right there, y'know.

[Okay okay, dickery aside.]

Works for me, though. Let's get our asses over there so we can kick theirs.

[silentfury]

[Oh! Thanks for the tip, Aaron. Yuri now knows what a backspace is!

He gives Aaron a stern nod and moves to enter the Nekiya.]

[imperiosity]

[Oh. Okay well, he didn't actually expect Yuri to not know how to backspace, so it's not as funny as he thought but whatever!! They're here to kill Shadows anyhow, so he follows after Yuri.]

You know where we're going?

[silentfury]

[After putting on his helmet, Yuri nods once more and brings up the Nekiya app.

>ENTER.

The world warps around the duo, sending them into unsafe territory. But Yuri has spent a good amount of time here on his own and knows his way around for the most part.

Several twists and turns later, Yuri and Aaron arrive at the Nekiya's facsimile of Carnation Court's local ice skating rink. A perfect place for ice aligned demons to spawn, perhaps?]

[imperiosity]

[Perfect place indeed, but Aaron's not keen on fighting on a sheet of ice if he doesn't have to, because his loafers definitely do not have the treads to deal with this.]

Damn, this is gonna be a pain in the ass if we start slipping around on the ice. Think we can draw 'em away?

[silentfury]

[It's worth a try.

Upon entering the building, the duo come upon three Jack Frosts joyfully skating on the ice, hee-ing and ho-ing as they zoom around.

Standing at the edge of the rink, Yuri manifests Kimun Kamui and silently orders him to cast Mabufu on the Frosts. This might seem like a poor decision as the demons are ice aligned, but this attack isn't meant to deal damage... it's meant to be the magic equivalent of a slap across the face with a white glove.]

[imperiosity]

[Well, the ice certainly gets their attention if nothing else! The Jack Frosts instantly pivot in their direction, ready to close in on them, but Aaron isn’t about to let Yuri do all the work in luring them away.]

Come and get some, you frosty-ass freaks!

[So there’s a Magaru being tossed at them as well, which will actually do some damage.]

[silentfury]

[Aaron's Magaru seems to do a good chunk of damage, blasting the Jack Frosts back a bit! This doesn't deter them from continuing their advance however. One moves toward Aaron and the other two march toward Yuri - the big boy aggro seems to be working for the most part at least!

As soon as the Jack Frosts leave the rink, Yuri commands Kimun Kamui to advance, the big(ger) bear reeling back with a fist and landing a Lunge on one of them. The other one takes the opening to send a Bufu Yuri's way, which he tanks with aplomb.]

[imperiosity]

[Glancing over at the other man while he staggers one of the Jack Frosts, Aaron will trust that Yuri can handle those ones for the time being while he takes care of the one that decided to head his way. Avoiding a Bufu with a back handspring, he then closes the distance so he can slash at it with his swords.

Meanwhile, the one that got hit with the Lunge decides it wants to try and be smart, using a Marakunda to lower Aaron and Yuri's defense.]

[silentfury]

[Shit. Yuri can feel a bit of lethargy creep in as the debuff lands. Time to dodge rather than take hits. Speaking of which, a basic attack from the injured Jack Frost comes his way, which he manages to twist away from. With his opening established, he lands an uppercut as a retort, finishing the (hee) ho off!

Unfortunately, he isn't as lucky when it comes to an attack from the remaining Jack Frost, as he takes a critical hit from it! Yuri staggers back from the blow, his ears ringing. It'll take him a second or two to get back in the groove, that's for sure.]