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

[ledbythewind]

[AVRAE'S LEAST FAVORITE CHILD ROLLS A 3--]

[linkupmods]

[ i am crying.

the closest to anyone having eyes is shalem who has ears, because there's the sound of a door slamming in the distance and perhaps someone in the group who rolls at least one (1) success in the next round will notice that there's a shadowy figure darting out of one shop and heading upstairs. ]

[prozaic]

[He jolts a little because it's loud. That was a surprise!

Now he starts looking around and around for that door that was just slammed.]

[idealitas]

[ Success obtained (12). Yi Sang sees that figure, and is about to dash off like maybe Mafuyu or Sunrise...

Oh. Right. Be responsible. ]

I saw a figure head up the stairs.

[ Okay NOW he runs off. ]

[prozaic]

[ 💢

Why are people always like this!]

Don't just run off! Wait--!

[ledbythewind]

[FOLLOWING BOTH OF THEM because we're just going to ignore that 4 that I rolled--]

[linkupmods]

[ yi sang is truly attempting to be responsible, but i guess the wanderitis is truly too strong.

heading out of pegaso isn't difficult, there's nothing stopping them or ambushing them (thank god).

seems like everyone is going upstairs and chasing after the shadowy figure, which is surprisingly quick on its feet and seems to have vanished the moment they get onto the next floor.

there is, however, a faint light coming from the elevator door.

>investigate? ]

[idealitas]

[ Listen a discussion of whether or not following a shadowy figure is fine and all... But nyeh. Wanderitis explains everything (no it doesnt!)

The good news is Yi Sang stops for the rest because the shadow disappeared... But he looks towards the light from the elevator and is not hopping right in there. Because of how elevators work. ]

[ledbythewind]

[Richard is not far behind, hand on the hilt of his rapier just in case. He is from a fantasy world and absolutely does not trust elevators, so if someone is going to be the first person to step into it, it sure as heck won't be him. (And also I rolled a 4 again so. Y'know.)]

Did you see where it went?

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang shakes his head. ]

I was too slow, perhaps.

[prozaic]

[sigh... Shalem gets ahead of the rest, and draws his staff just in case.]

Do not touch the elevator until we're sure it's safe. [A sharp warning to everyone else, but especially those who don't know what an elevator is.

He will definitely investigate! But not with his hands. He will poke with his staff for buttons or anything loose, and keeps his eyes peeled for anything. (18)]

[linkupmods]

[ that's probably a good call to poke with his staff, but there's nothing dangerous that comes out of it!

maybe.

do you count a memory bubble swallowing up the group again as something dangerous? because that's what happens when shalem pokes the button that's supposed to send them up to the rooftop.

enjoy your rooftop elevator ride entertainment (?) in 4k-- no this is like the 2000s, the footage is grainy as fuck. ]

set the scene. two boys, facing each other, in a standoff.

this memory, however, is different from the others.

in this memory, you are joshua - and the boy in front of you is neku sakuraba, your proxy. He has a look of utter despair on his face, as joshua knows that he would. every timeline, every possibility over time and space, converging on this moment - there are some things that never change, moments of singularity, and this is one of them.

the look of desolation on neku’s face. the dawning horror that he was just a playing piece in joshua’s long term Game, that he was the Composer all along and that nothing was ever what it seemed, joshua pulling back the curtains to reveal an elaborate trap that neku had no idea he was in the entire time.

“It’s the truth.” and perhaps there is another universe where joshua apologises for his machinations, the manipulations that he has put neku through to get him to this point, but it is not this one, “And I need you to face it. Megumi and I were playing this Game to determine Shibuya’s continued existence.”

well. the closest thing to the truth, really.

and this is the moment that it has all been building up to, the penultimate move in joshua’s long Game, the one he has walked through in every permutation again and again, memorising the patterns and the denouement that he has written.

one last Game.

“If you win, you decide Shibuya’s fate. If I win, I’ll decide.” such a monumental decision, placed in the hand of a fifteen year old. neku’s never held a gun before, and his hands are shaking. joshua’s hands, on the contrary, are stable. “And I’ve already decided, my dear Neku. You could stop me, if you wanted.”

it’s almost at the end now, and every time joshua gets to this point he always feels relief - the final chance to halt the slow entropy of his city before he loses it to the flames entirely. the fitting end to a story, isn’t it - neku pulls the trigger, saves the city that he loves--–

“Life’s little crossroads are often as simple as the pull of a trigger.”

but then, ah, neku sakuraba does the one thing that joshua, for all his precognition, does not see, does not expect–

he drops the gun, collapses to his knees in grief-stricken defeat, chooses joshua over shibuya, and the world reshapes itself in an instant.

[ the elevator dings. you have arrived. ]

[prozaic]

[Well! They're... safe? No horrible deaths despite elevators being damned death trap of tiny steel boxes meant to squish people in like sardines. He just pushed the button when he noted that there wasn't any immediate danger.

But still. He's not fond of neither memory bubbles nor lifts.

He sighs, and flips his hair out of his face.]

So far, so well, but I feel we're getting to something much bigger than we anticipated.

[ledbythewind]

I wouldn't doubt we're being led right into a trap.

[He may be suspicious by nature, but even setting that aside, it's clear they're on someone else's wild ride. This is all far too scripted to be any sort of coincidence...]

[prozaic]

[Shalem sighs, and gives a nod. He came to this same conclusion, and he really doesn't want to deal with all of this.]

Should it come down to a fight, stay behind me.

[ledbythewind]

[... oh. That draws Richard up short for a moment, and he actually stops walking, surprised. Given that Shalem has no idea he's a king, that means the offer is a genuine one...]

... thank you, but please don't put yourself at risk for me. I'm more than capable of defending myself.

[prozaic]

Nevertheless, I would rather that our enemy concentrate on me rather than anyone else. [He gives a little smile.] I'm capable of handling several blows.

It's my duty to protect, and I've not stopped trying to do so here.

[ledbythewind]

[WHY U ALL OUT HERE MAKING HIM HEAL--

It's funny, though, how he almost hears those words in someone else's voice. He's not quite sure how to feel about that.]

You won't change your mind even if I insist it isn't necessary, will you?

[prozaic]

Even if people may insist that it is not necessary, it always will be.

[ledbythewind]

[Richard goes silent, weighing his thoughts for a moment. There's much he could say in response to that, but will he? Probably not, because it hits a little too close to home.]

... just make sure not to get yourself more injured than I'm able to heal.

[prozaic]

[Shalem can only give a nod, but not a proper, verbal acknowledgement. He knows he might just break any promise made.

Besides, he has a nice baseline for the man's personality now-- he doesn't want to show he cares, maybe. But... the fact that he does, right now? Yes, Shalem can tell he's just not good at it.]