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!

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Comments

[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.

[beautifulknight]

I see, so even reading the sign does not help because it is just confusing?

[ Argenti assumes that the sign is just hard to read and not due to you any lacking in skills in that area.

But even better, he comes up with an extraordinary idea. ]

I know...how about we both try to find our way out together?

[cleansewithfire]

[ She shuffles her feet. On the one hand, this is a stranger to her, and she's not supposed to talk to anyone at all, let alone accompany one, but... Then again, she's not supposed to be out of the house either, so it's probably too late to be worrying about that.

She slowly nods. ]

Okay. [ A beat, before she asks like she had forgotten about it until this point: ] You are...?

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti is most certainly glad he got Sunrise to agree to his words! So, sparkling, he readily introduces himself - ]

I am Argenti! It is certainly a pleasure to speak with you.

[ He can't say 'meet you' since he's already met her, so this is at least words he can utter while they are the true without it being a lie.

He prefers to avoid that level of dishonesty, after all. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ She...honestly seems pleasantly surprised that he said that, judging by how she looks at him. ]

...I do not have a name to give you. [ ??? ]

Let us go, Mr. Argenti.

[ She...will simply pick a path, yes. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ He wonders why she looks so surprised, but...he attributes it to the possible current surroundings? Yes, this must be it. ]

...A name? What do you mean by that?

[ Argenti will question as he follows Sunrise down this path. Surely this will lead somewhere nice. They have to start somewhere, after all! ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Oh, Argenti...

Notably, she sticks close to Argentina quite literally keeps her head down. Her shawl is wrapped like a headscarf to keep passersby from seeing her face, it seems. ]

I do not have a name.

...Or rather, the only name I have is not mine to use.

[ Sunrise, you're not making this any clearer. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti allows her to do so, noticing the way her shawl is wrapped around like a headscarf. He looks at the passerby out of a sense of curiosity as well, however. ]

Why are you saying that?

I don't understand. If you don't have a name, and it isn't yours to use, then why would you use it?

[ He's trying to make sense of it, even so. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ For most of the part, the passersby don't seem to take much notice of Sunrise...though that's likely because she's a local and hasn't done anything too suspicious yet. A few of them raise an eyebrow at Argenti, but since Sunrise is his company, he apparently reads as legit. ]

I do not have any other name, so...for a while, I had to use it for myself. But I do not want to, anymore. [ Because it isn't really hers, one might presume. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ Well, that's good! Argenti will continue to hope that remains the case too! He won't be rude to the passerby, either. He's a polite knight, after all. ]

Because you would rather have a unique name of your own, yes?

[ It is exactly what Argenti presumes! It sounds like it makes quite a bit of sense to him, in fact. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ The fact that she doesn't answer immediately probably says she's never actually thought of it that way until Argenti brought it up. Finally, she says, ]

A name that would not make anyone unhappy.

[beautifulknight]

[ It certainly does. ]

Pardon my asking, but are you saying the name you use now makes someone unhappy?

[ This is just a normal conversation to have in a strange place, walking...to their destination?? Hopefully. It's fine. ]

And if that's the case, have you had the chance to consider other ones? One that would make your heart sing?

[cleansewithfire]

[ For some reason, the scenery is sort of blurry, in the way of like...vaguely knowing there are buildings here, but not remembering what those buildings actually were. Apparently, Sunrise doesn't remember it all clearly.

The other thing that is consistent is that these roads don't seem to make sense—from the way the paths branch and the road bends sharply you can tell the city has a geometric layout, but it may as well be in an esoteric pattern.

Sunrise nods in response. ]

...What does it feel like to have my heart sing?

[ Help. ]

[beautifulknight]

[ It...is kind of strange, yes. Argenti will examine the odd fuzziness to the scenery with a critical eye, but then turn his attention back to Sunrise.

...And then back to their surroundings. What the...

...He's momentarily distracted by Sunrise's words, though. Oops. ]

It feels like you have taken a breath of the morning air, allowing the warmth of the sun to shine upon your very being! It feels as if joy has welled up in your throat, cheer in your chest, and an incredibly but wonderful beautiful sensation deep inside of you that can be felt acutely in your heart. Like birdsong, like every single word you speak will be in melody from the happiness that has filled your entire being...

[ Why is he like this. Anyway, Sunrise has her answer!! ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Those are a lot of words, but at least they help Sunrise imagine, even if it seems like A Lot. ]

...I do not know what name would make me feel like that. [ In fact, she isn't sure if she's ever felt like that period. ]

[beautifulknight]

That's alright. There's still time to find out.

And, I do think it's something worth looking into in earnest, once you have the opportunity.

[ Argenti simply says. He doesn't think it impossible...she just has to search for something that resonates deeply within her. ]