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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Comments

SHEEP HEAVENLY

[linkupmods]

[beautifulknight]

[ Let's check out this place... with this lovely roll (1) ]

Hopefully we'll find something useful.

[ Probably not from him?? ]

[bloodweapon]

[Off we go! Fray is probably not finding anything either because he is clearly still distracted by his bf. (6)]

Stay close, both of you. I imagine we'll find trouble soon enough.

[moodwrecker]

[She nods, her bat firmly in hand.]

I can help on the front lines.

[bloodweapon]

[A nod! He'd rather avoid getting the kids involved in combat, but they've easily proven they can take care of themselves, so...]

I'll be ready to heal you both, should you need it.

[beautifulknight]

[ Fray is valid to be distracted by him - but also. ]

Thank you. I shall depend upon your support!

[bloodweapon]

[d-doki...]

Of course. I won't let you down.

[beautifulknight]

[ ✨ Wink ✨ ]

I know you won't, my dear.

[bloodweapon]

[good thing he's wearing his helmet... again, this is just going to keep happening, isn't it...]

[moodwrecker]

[Hello she's still hanging out with our local knights and rolling pretty badly with a 8.

Still checking her phone...]

The timer's still going.

[linkupmods]

[ we love love ♥

sheep heavenly is... empty, for the most part, but it's obvious that this brand caters more to cutesy, bright girls' apparel, with clothes and accessories featuring vivid, contrasting colors or patterns, such as spots, hearts and stars.

there's plenty of storage racks and nooks and crannies around, though, and the store is fairly dark - dark enough that they're unlucky (avg of rolls 5) enough that they get ambushed by a level 34 bugbear, who immediately fires two marin karins, both at argenti and aubrey, although they both miss (5, 10), but fray gets hit with a pretty bad life drain (19).

better sort that out, quick. ]

[moodwrecker]

What the-

[Well, good thing it missed her, because she's going to try to bat it away - and totally fail with a 9]

[bloodweapon]

[Oww, rude?? Can't he have a moment to appreciate his bf in peace—

Anyway, Fray's going to cast a Diarama on himself to recover from that injury. Time to follow that up with a sword slash but it goes wide so rip. (7) Still distracted by Argenti, I guess...]

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti casts Dia on Fray.

Then swings at the bugbear, missing just barely (10)

...Damn. ]

[linkupmods]

[ looks at avrae and laugh tracks ]

[ the bugbear seems to be going kind of feral and it's striking harder to make up for its earlier misses, because it lunges at aubrey for a physical attack (19), catching fray in its periphery (11), and with a very loud roar, it launches a marin karin at argenti (18), although thankfully he's not brainwashed. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ This bugbear needs to be put down.

Argenti gets hit pretty hard with that Marin Karin, and everyone is pretty damn lucky he isn't brainwashed, yeah. Then he throws out a Media for the three of them.

Next, the red head instead decides it is time to attack with a Giant Slice immediately in retaliation, the amount of how hard he hits is like vengeance (18) ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Guess who's showing up like 15 minutes late with Starbucks.

Sunrise had ended up lagging behind because she got distracted looking at the other stores in the mall, before finding Sheep Heavenly and the group already engaged in battle. She immediately casts a Garula, but it's dark enough that it just outright misses (4). ]

[bloodweapon]

[Here's another Media for everyone, followed up by another sword slash that... also misses... (6) this is why you don't bring a greatsword to a mall, gang.]

[linkupmods]

[ this bugbear shadow is clearly operating on the principle of dishing out whatever it's been given because the giant slice from argenti hurts him quite badly, but the howl of pain and the counterattack that it dishes out isn't any joking matter either (20).

that said though, it seems to be focusing its attacks on argenti and mostly leaves fray (7) and sunrise (7) alone, so maybe now would be a good time to strike when it isn't looking and deal a final blow. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Oh ouch, that looks painful...]

Argenti!

[Here's a Diarama before his next sword slash..... that once again misses...... (10) at least this time he was distracted by being worried about his bf, I guess....]

[beautifulknight]

...thank you.

[ He appreciates the heal...so much.

Being distracted in worry is very valid too. ]

[bloodweapon]

[Always happy to help... now if only he could actually land a hit.........]

[beautifulknight]

[ The critical hits soundly Argenti and yes he takes it, but it hurts.

Argenti tries to strike back immediately, but the surprise from being hit unusually hard makes him miss (6) ]

[moodwrecker]

Ow!

[UGHHH someone get this stupid teddy bear out of her face!!

She summons Jade Rabbit to hit it with a giant slice (12) for its trouble.]

[linkupmods]

[ the giant slice does what it's supposed to do.

when aubrey and jade rabbit's attack connects, the shadow just... explodes into a shower of white feathers, and envelops the entire group in a field.

you know how this works, especially if you've been seeing other people's memories and dreams in the nekyia - plunged headfirst into someone else's perspective, except this time, you are just a silent observer: ]

set the scene. you find yourself in an area where it’s dark, and it’s cold, and it feels lonely. the probably ominous music you can hear in the background probably doesn’t help matters. you hear two indistinct figures talking, having an argument of some sort.

"I will end Shibuya. I've decided to wash my hands of it. It has no future value to me or anyone else. So, I'm shutting it down."

"But wait, Sir! Shibuya is still full of so many possibilities!"

"Yes, and people too dull and clouded to see them. Shibuya's influence is too strong. I have to end it now... before the other grounds are poisoned and all is lost."

“Then... the problem is the people? If they changed to something more suitable, You'd stay Your hand?.”

“Yes, but that’s clearly beyond them.”

"Sir...give me a chance to prove You wrong. I swear I'll remake Shibuya in a way that will please You."

there is a pause. the figure shrouded in light looks contemplative (or well, as contemplative as he can when his features are semi-obscured). when he finally speaks, there’s an undercurrent of interest, even if his tone is impassive at best.

"A Game, then. The rules will be simple. If you manage to fix Shibuya, you win. Shibuya stays."

"...And if I can't fix it?"

"Then you lose, Megumi. You and Shibuya will be Erased. You have thirty days."

[ the conversation cuts off abruptly there, the discordant music fading, the edges of the memory breaking back to reality. what's life without a little gamble, after all?

when the group emerges from the memory - they will all get a ping on the nekyia app. a hint, perhaps?

on opening the message, it is a picture of sunset city from the rooftop.

you know where to go now. ]