WEEKS 7 & 8

[linkupmods]

WEEKS 7 & 8

THE SEASONS TURN...

Time really passes, doesn't it? Before you know it, you're halfway through the time that the goddess Braphine has promised that you'll be here, your home away from home. You are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, maybe, even through all the challenges and eventful (!) twist and turns that have followed you through your stay here. Surely there can't be anything else lurking in the wings, right?

Through the efforts of all of Braphine's chosen, the city definitely is starting to feel a little bit cheerier, in contrast to the temperatures that are starting to cool as the seasons in Sunset City turn and the leaves change their colour. The Shopping District and the Entertainment District look and feel decidedly more warm, and a quick trip into the Nekyia also show that the haze has cleared from both districts, with the Shadows lurking much fewer in number.

Further exploration will find that the haze has thinned to explorable levels in the Nekyia Fashion District - there are Shadows to be cleared, after all. Maybe if you are lucky, they might drop you a little something in reward for your efforts.

DO YOUR PART FOR CHARITY!

On Saturday, there's a notice pinned in the lobby of the dormitory:

CHARITY EVENT FOR THE TEMPLE OF BRAPHINE
9/21
FLEA MARKET AM
FORMAL MASQUERADE BALL PM
Come and support the temple when we need it most!



Yes, you read that right: There will be a Charity Event for the Temple of Braphine, hosted by no one other than her devoted followers. They sent this over to the dorms to request the Chosens' assistance, it seems, and as the flyer says, this is an all-day event to take place on September 21st.

In the morning, there will be a Flea Market! There's a note from the hosts that they'd like the Chosens to either find a vendor to assist, provide entertainment, or participate as vendors in the Flea Market. At night, a ball will be held with live music, dinner, refreshments, and an open dance floor for all. They are not asking for your assistance with the ball, however; rather, you are automatically invited as esteemed guests and are encouraged to dress your finest for the occasion!

Given that this isn't for another week, however, it is highly encouraged that you shop around to find an outfit you'll look snazzy in for the ball. You can also start preparing merchandise to sell; or maybe, perhaps, you'd like to save that street performance for the Flea Market? Either way, you've got a long week ahead of you…

…but it won't be all rainbows and sunshine.

KEEP DREAMING.

Late into the night on Saturday, you will dream. What that dream consists of varies with each individual, but you will have one, even if you've never dreamed before. This dream could be a core memory, or perhaps about something you've always wanted, your worst fear...the list goes on.

The next day, anyone who enters the Nekyia will find that, aside from the strange "Palaces" that have popped up, things aren't right yet again…but for an entirely different reason. No matter where you are, you enter the Nekyia to a hallway full of dressing rooms. It's a fairly long hallway, because venturing down it will eventually lead you to a door that has your name on it.

Why don't you journey there and find out what awaits?

–

After seeing "Sayaka" and finding your door, you'll find something even more strange.

That dream you had last night? Well, it's here. Your dream may manifest as a small, contained landscape from your dream; a creature that you may have dreamt of might be scurrying around; another version of you, different from a Shadow; or you could be unlucky and have one of your memories on full display for everyone to see.

This phenomenon will last for the next two weeks, and dreamscapes will shift with the different dreams characters have. It won't be a one and done ordeal, unfortunately…but there is, perhaps, a way you can stop it.

(OOC: Sayaka's top level is NOT time sensitive, nor is it a mod-run event. This can be treated like a regular top level to be tagged at your own pace!

Please see the "A Dream Unraveled" commission for some details on what's causing the dreamscapes to appear! Welcome to your dreamwalking/memory share event!)

WEATHER FORECAST

Temperature: hot and humid, but gradually getting cooler! Surprise showers may occur during these two weeks when you least expect it, so stay sharp and don't get drenched!

Characters who journery into the Nekyia when it is raining may find HP-restoring items dropped during combat with Shadows.

COMMISSIONS

REAL WORLD COMMISSIONS

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS

Two boutiques on Amaranth Avenue have been at war with each other - figuratively, at least. The sweet lolita brand Cookies for Mice and the punk brand Panthera Punks started out merely vying for advertising space, but have now been taking rather pointed pot shots at each other in their marketing. As the shops are across from each other, it’s plain to see the owners are taking it personally as they can’t seem to stop glaring at each other from across the road. Won’t somebody help mediate before it escalates any further…?

AN ALTERNATIVE CANVAS

Up-and-coming makeup artists are looking to land a job with a new makeup brand in the area, and their final test: finding a model (or two) to model their work and prove their skill. Characters will find that these artists are on the prowl for willing (or not so willing) faces - but at least you’ll be compensated for your patience as they endeavor to make you look your best?

FISHY FUN FASHION

Saffron Street has been chosen to host a highly regarded fashion show! The theme: aquatic life. They need models of all sexes and sizes to walk the runway in ethereal clothing that brings to mind deep sea creatures like bioluminescent jellyfish, or even angler fish! For those who are not brave enough to walk the walk, volunteers are needed to help maintain the large, specially made tanks the city’s aquarium has generously lent out for the occasion. The tanks are full of friendly fish and plant life to create the perfect backdrop for the show! …You know how to use diving gear, don’t you?

NEKYIA COMMISSIONS

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

She thinks she’s so great… I’ll show her! We don’t need her prissy, holier-than-thou attitude around here! We’ll see how she behaves when her shop’s reduced to shreds…

It seems the owner of Panthera Punks having beef with the owner of Cookies for Mice isn’t just a real world problem - she has her very own Shadow in the form of a level 30 Narcissus. Take him on in battle and help to loosen its grip on her in reality before things get much, much worse.

HER HEART WON'T GO ON

How could he… After all I’ve done, after all the money I’ve spent… He leaves me behind for her?! I’ll make him pay… I’ll make them both pay!!

It seems one of the local models has had a rather nasty breakup, and the ex and other woman may end up suffering a rather harrowing fate if all these feelings of anger are left to fester… Characters who follow these angry rants will find themselves face to face with a Level 32 Leanan Sidhe, a jealous lover all too willing to enact a very real harm on those who wronged her. Fight back against the Shadow and teach her the value in moving on from a lover who was never worth her time to begin with.

A DREAM UNRAVELLED

Deep in the Nekyia, whispers and wails can be heard; a fashion designer bemoans their dearth of ideas, and hotly defends their choice to steal their designs instead. After all, this was their dream, and they can’t give it up now - no matter the cost.

Characters may find the Unfaithful Dream-King in a nest of collected dreams of the populace - including some of Braphine’s own chosen. He will be a powerful opponent for sure, but it seems solving this particular Shadow problem is the only way to ensure everyone can have a good night’s rest once more.

Once he is defeated, he will drop a rare item. Who knows, maybe this will help you in your journey ahead.

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to receive a stat boost item, valid for one time use during any battle.)

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 7 and 8! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks. There will be no log posted next week, but a top-level for the charity event will be posted instead on next 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.
Don't forget that the deadline for applications and character swaps is on September 28!

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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[cleansewithfire]

Backyard
[ Staring from early in the week, people might find Sunrise wheeling in materials and tools with a dolly cart. For the first couple of days, they're planks of wood and carpentry tools, and she spends the morning and afternoon cutting wood to assemble something shaped like a box, referring to a rough blueprint (though if anyone is looking to try reading the comments and measurements on it, they'll find it's in a language they don't know).

The day after, she wheels in bags of gravel, sand, and clay, and a bunch of firebricks. Then, she starts digging a pit in the ground, fills it with gravel and sand, and then lays down the bricks. By the time she's done in the evening, she's made a modestly sized forge, with a pipe connecting the box she made earlier to it through a small brick wall.

And then on the third day, she can be found pushing in an anvil on the dolly cart. ...Or trying to, anyway. It's slow-moving, and Sunrise just seems to be patiently taking the slow and steady approach to it.

The backyard is also at least a little noisy during this whole process, so who knows, maybe you've overheard her at work and came to check it out yourself? ]

Keep dreaming

[ One dressing room door has an interesting nameplate: there are two, with the second, smaller nameplate that is perhaps more fitting for a tombstone beneath the first: ]

Still Sunrise
Tabira
RY 746–763

[ Should you go in, you'll find yourself— ]

a. —in a broom closet. (CW: Heat exhaustion, dehydration/starvation, non-permadeath, references to abuse, potential body horror)

[ The room is almost pitch dark, save for what little light is coming from the threshold of the door behind you. It's cramped, stuffy and so uncomfortably hot and humid that you would be forgiven for thinking you stepped into a steamer instead. Chances are, you're already sweating as if you've been in here longer than you actually have.

Once your eyes adjust, you can see the interior more clearly. Judging from the broom and bucket in one corner, and the shelves carrying wicker baskets and rags, this seems to be a storage closet.

There is also the distinct smell of something dead in here. Maybe that gets your attention, or the noise does, so you happen to look down only to see a worryingly thin, sunken-eyed Sunrise sitting on the floor, stuffing a rag into her mouth and trying to chew. ]

b. —in a tent. (CW: Dismemberment, blood, surgery, body horror in a black comedy way)

[ As soon as you step in, you're greeted by two things: the stench of an open grave, and the smell of chemicals and blood.

The tent has been turned into a makeshift surgery room. On one table are some scalpels and other tools, including an impressive sewing kit, and on another sheet-covered table-turned-operating-table is Sunrise, also covered in a sheet…except for the part where you can see she's mising her entire left arm, and plenty of blood staining the sheets.

Perhaps more disconcertingly, you can see said left arm is currently being carried over by a pair of knee-high puppet dolls to a wan-looking woman by the "operating table". She's dressed like she's about to attend a funeral, though she's thrown on an apron and tied a handkerchief around her mouth and on her head. When she hears you walk in, there's an audible irritation in her voice as she turns around to see who it is. ]

Ugh, didn't I say not to come in until I'm done—

[ She pauses. Clearly, you are not who she was expecting. ]

Who the hell are you?

c. —in a city. (CW: Potential allusions to abuse)

[ You step out into a large plaza, right at the strike of dusk. In the centre of the plaza stands a tall clock tower, and with the toll of the evening bell throngs of people criss-cross the space. Some enter the stone buildings along the plaza perimeter, some turn into one of the many streets leading in and out, where the buildings start to be made more of mudbrick. The lamps that dot the streets and canals are being lit like hundreds of eyes opening to cast light upon the city.

They are not the only eyes on you. Some passers-by glance at you but lose interest when they notice something (or rather, a lack of it) about you. You can feel some people stare at you like you're a curiosity; for those of you who are a little wiser to certain tactics, there's a sense of being appraised that you might want to get away from. Everyone else is wearing colorful, patterned clothing, though if you're observant, you might notice how certain colours and patterns seem…recurrent.

At the crossing to one street, someone wearing a possibly familiar teal shawl pulled over their head is reading the road sign there. …Or more like staring at it, really. ]

Keep dreaming --> in a city;

[beautifulknight]

[ What's this about recurrent colors and patterns? Argenti has a good idea for watching out his surroundings and noticing unusual similarities. What are they going to be here?

Also, that teal shawl...that can only be Sunrise, can't it? If he crosses on over, and closer, does anything happen? ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ He'll notice that certain colours are always matched with certain patterns, and the people around wear those combinations with little variation. It seems that they're less fashion statements and more like identifiers.

As he approaches, Sunrise doesn't seem to have noticed he's coming...mainly because she seems to be trying (and failing) to read the sign. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Identifiers, huh? How strange.

Also, what's on the sign she's trying to read, anyway? ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ To be fair to Argenti, chances are he can't read it either because it's not a language he recognises, but he can probably guess it's giving directions to different places in the city.

As he approaches, Sunrise does seem to eventually notice him. There's the awkward shuffling of someone who is probably internally going "oh no" while also realizing they can't just bolt off without it causing a scene, which leads to further waffling. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Damn.

Okay then. Argenti should be able to hazard a guess as well.

He does also clear his throat. ]

...My apologies, I am a little lost here and I am new to this place. Do you know where I am?

[ None of which is untrue, so it stands to reason his inquiry does not have a hint of dishonesty in it. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ It takes a long moment for Sunrise to answer like she's trying to figure out if it's okay to talk to Argenti. When she speaks, her voice is hoarse, as though she hasn't spoken in a long time: ]

This...is the city of Urim.

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti blinks at that, the way her voice sounding quite odd with how hoarse it is. But all the same, he focuses on her answer, though he resolves to figure out the potential issue as well.

So, Urim, is it? ]

...I understand. I do wonder if there are certain elements about it I should be aware of...

Oh, and were you trying to get somewhere as well?

[ On a technicality this remains true for him - moving forward through this dreamscape, that is. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ There's another pause, and while Sunrise normally does take her time to answer when she feels she needs to think about it, this...seems more like she's being skittish rather than ponderous. ]

People here...might treat you differently, because you are a foreigner.

[ Which might explain why some of the reactions earlier. ]

I...am looking for some people. I think they are outside the city.

[beautifulknight]

[ ...Hm.

Well, her being skittish is probably natural if he too is a stranger in her eyes in this dream-memory scape. ]

That is good to know.

[ He takes further pause at hearing this. She's from this place and seems to be having trouble reading the sign still, though? Argenti has to wonder why. ]

...Are you as lost as I am in trying to find a way out, even if you are more familiar with this place?

[cleansewithfire]

[ Argenti will probably soon learn Sunrise, at least in this dream-memory, is pretty damn illiterate. ]

...I have never left the city before.

[ Which doesn't really explain how she seems uncertain about navigating the city itself. It's the unfamiliarity of someone who maybe vaguely knows or remembers places in the city, but hasn't actually seen much of it herself. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ ...It's truly only a matter of time, huh? ]

Why not? ...Is it difficult to leave?

[ Bears questioning since he appears as someone also unfamiliar to the area, so at least he hopes it works out, even if the inquiry is indeed genuine. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ She shakes her head. ]

I do not think so. I just...have not gone out much.

Keep dreaming - in a broom closet

[ledbythewind]

[It takes a few moments for Richard's eyes to adjust to the darkness, but the heat hits him right away, making his normal choice of several layers of clothing suddenly far too stifling. He's lifting a hand up to loosen his cravat slightly when the smell suddenly assails his nose and that hand changes course to cover his mouth and nose in an attempt to block some of the odor, his brow wrinkling in disgust.

So when something moves in front of him, it's all he can do not to jump back in the tiny space and reach for his weapon, his eyes still trying to adjust to the dim light enough for him to see just who or what it is.]

Who's there--?

[cleansewithfire]

[ Whoever s in front of him stills at his response, then tries to shuffle away from him as though afraidnir hurt. Not that there's much room to do that, though ]

[ledbythewind]

[Slowly, his vision begins to grow more clear, giving him a better idea of the size of whatever it is on the floor. A person...? Small, if that is what it is, but... a child, perhaps?]

It's all right-- I'm not going to hurt you.

[cleansewithfire]

...You are not angry with me?

[ The voice comes out raspy, and more like a whisper, but it's unmistakably Sunrise's voice. ]

[ledbythewind]

[That's what gets him to finally startle for real, the jerk of his shoulders visible should she be looking at him. He tries to kneel; then, realizing there's no space for it without the hilt of his sword hitting the door, he leans down a bit instead to get a better look as though the voice itself didn't make obvious just who he's speaking to.]

... Sunrise? Is that you?

[cleansewithfire]

Who is Sunrise?

[ This is absolutely Sunrise, but it seems she doesn't recognise the name... ]

[ledbythewind]

[This... is concerning in more ways than one, but he's not quite sure how to go about addressing it.]

Isn't that your name?

[cleansewithfire]

[ There's a long pause, though it's hard to say if it's due to hesitation or the typical "Sunrise contemplating answers and not saying anything until the thought has fully formed". ]

I do not have a name. ...Or I do, but it is not "mine".

[ledbythewind]

Whose is it, if it isn't yours?

[Then, remembering his manners, especially in light of the fact that he's getting the sense this may be a touchy subject:]

... I'm sorry, that was too forward of me. Please, forget I asked.

[He wants to know the answer, but if there's a chance that it might hurt her... he's not sure satisfying his curiosity is worth it.]

[cleansewithfire]

[ If it is a sensitive subject for her, then Sunrise doesn't seem to be aware of it herself. Slowly, she gestures to herself. ]

This girl's. [ As if it isn't confusing. ]

...Is Isara angry with you too?

[ledbythewind]

I'm afraid I don't know anyone named Isara.

[If Sunrise is volunteering this information willingly, then Richard will go along with it. Still, he wants to make sure that she's the one leading the conversation rather than him so that he's sure he isn't coercing anything out of her...]

Is she the one who put you in here?

[Because that's what he's assuming happened. He can't think of any other reason why she would be locked in a closet like this.]

[cleansewithfire]

...Yes. I am not sure how long I have been here.

[ And as Richard's eyes adjust to the darkness, it gets easier for him to see that Sunrise looks somewhat different from how he knows her. She looks much more gaunt, and there's an ashen undertone to her complexion, her lips even turning blue.

Notably, the grave-like stench seems to be coming from her. ]