WEEKS 9 & 10

[linkupmods]

WEEKS 9 & 10

AS YOUR BONDS DEEPEN...

The charity event and the dreamscapes have come to an end... and the Fashion District seems a little better than it once was. Your efforts are being recognized, acknowledged by the environment and by Braphine herself. There's still work to be done - the thinning fog allows you to venture even further into the Office District, where there are stronger foes lurking around the corner and in dark alleyways.

Speaking of Braphine, she is pleased by your progress as a group thus far, and has given characters a little blessing: If there is something you've always wanted to tell someone – whether it be how you feel about someone else here, someone at home, a secret you've been holding in, or something else entirely – but have lacked the courage to do so, you may find the strength to say it now. While the God of Conflict forced ugly truths out of you, Braphine would like ones that come from a place of willingness without fear. This sensation will last until the end of your stay here.

How nice, isn't it? To feel like you're finally starting to get somewhere with your fellow Chosen.

The God of Conflict, however, thinks otherwise.

A LOOK IN THE MIRROR...

The world around you has seen a few changes. There are the positives, thanks to your efforts in completing commissions and forming connections, both of which aid Braphine.

However…

If you look in any sort of mirror, window, puddle that will give you your reflection, The God of Conflict is there, looking back at you, gazing at you eerily, freezing you and holding you in place.

"Well, well, well. Fancy running into you here, Chosen. Tell me…do you really believe that you're aiding Braphine in her mission? Do you really think any of the bonds that you've made here matter all that much, so much that it'll stop me, in the end? Don't make me laugh. We'll see how much your flimsy little chains hold up in time."

And then, just like that, he's gone…not without another little gift, though. You will be surrounded by 2-3 Nekyia Shadows once he disappears…in the real world. The Shadows, notably, will not attack unless provoked, and the locals will not be able to see them. As always, the only way you can attack them is through using your Personas; as soon as you engage in combat, you will also disappear to the locals like the Shadows.

For those who decide not to fight them, they will simply stare at you as you leave... but they will each briefly flicker into another form: The God of Conflict. But before you can say a word, they’ll disappear.

However, should you choose to engage in battle with them, any harm done to the environment or the locals themselves through the battle will be tangible. If you slam a Jack Frost into a building, it will leave a dent, in other words. The locals will not be able to see the actual fight, but they will notice the weird explosions and damages happening to them and around them. An important thing to note is that, being outside of the Nekyia, you will drain energy faster as you fight them, but you can defeat them with your Personas as usual otherwise.

THE DARKEST BEFORE DAWN.

So, maybe you didn't spawn a Palace, or even create a weird Nekyia environment like Soujuurou and Joshua have. That, however, does not mean you are free of your Shadow selves.

However, you are trapped with them. If you venture into the Nekyia, every so often when you look over your shoulder, they may be there, watching you, taunting you, following you around, even interacting with people (yourself or others) as if they were corporeal-- blink and you may miss them hovering over your shoulder, and turn the corner and you may just see them in the distance.

What follows your Shadow selves even after you return back to the safety of the dorms are the nightmares... which you find yourself having a little more often than normal. If you happen to stumble into a shared dreamscape, it looks... slightly different from when you last saw it. The nightmares always end the same way, though, even if the dreams are different: your Shadow self is staring back at you, haunting you before you wake up.

For anyone who has already confronted their Shadow selves, however, there is a glimmer of hope. In the Shadow's place is the best version of yourself, reminding you that although this is a nightmare, it does not have to continue forever. You have changed thanks to the people around you. Perhaps this is Braphine's reminder to you that she is still here, and despite her quiet, she's still watching.

Speaking of quiet, though…

…Has anyone checked on Mina lately?

And why does a certain brown cat keep on pacing in the dormitory hallways?

( OOC: A few limitations to keep in mind regarding this prompt:
• Shadows can now appear exclusively in nightmares, in the Nekyia, OR BOTH.
• Since the Dream King has not been vanquished yet, those who want to continue the dreamscape prompt as your nightmares are free to do so (this is optional though). Your Shadows are going to be here regardless!
• In this prompt, Shadows are NOT going to possess any characters. They are haunting you in the Nekyia (and may engage with other player characters, should you desire to go that route)!
• On that note, you can let your Shadows manifest however you'd like – they can yap, they can be completely quiet and stand menacingly, they can appear in quick glimpses and jumpscare you or linger for as long as you're in the Nekyia. They can stick to you or talk to others. Either way, everyone will see each other's Shadows.
• At this time, Shadows cannot be defeated outside of Palaces and mod-run mini-events.
• The same limitations apply to those seeing their best selves over their Shadows. )

WEATHER FORECAST

Balmy weather with a light breeze. Weather looks fair and comfortable for the next two weeks but don't forget to wrap up warmly or risk catching a chill! You wouldn't want to fall sick, would you?

Characters who journey into the Nekyia when it is getting chilly may find that Shadows in combat may be randomly afflicted with Freeze during combat.

COMMISSIONS

REAL WORLD COMMISSIONS

NO HORSING AROUND

The zoo is looking for volunteers! They need hands available to feed and clean up after the petting zoo animals in particular. You won’t be dealing with lions on this job, but you will be face to face with goat kids with a penchant for headbutting, so do take care while you work!

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

A new writer is in town to promote their book at the library! The problem is... very few people signed up for the meet and greet. Library workers are looking for volunteers or, really, anyone off the street who can be convinced to at least attend the poor author’s reading and fill out the room a little. Those who do end up attending will be treated to a reading of a high fantasy tale with romance, trysts, and a surprising number of werewolves, but those who manage to stay attentive may just notice a suspicious individual slipping in partway through... A disgruntled netizen has decided to make a mess of the author’s first meet and greet, and will get violent unless someone stops them.

DABBLING IN DELINQUENCY

Some of the students on the island have decided not to return to the classroom after all - instead roaming in packs around the city and causing general mischief. Try to turn them back on the path of decency! Especially when the boldest of them decide you’re a prime pickpocketing target...

NEKYIA COMMISSIONS

FANDOM WARS

“Disgusting... Anyone could pick up that slop and read all kinds of depraved things... People who write that stuff should just die.”

It seems someone got a little too into fights online about books - because their gripes about today’s tales has created a Shadow in the form of level 39 Thoth in the Nekyia. Worse yet, those who are inflicted by Rage by this Shadow cannot be cured with a simple spell - instead, those afflicted will find themselves venting out their frustrations for their battle companion to hear. The effect ends once the battle is completed, or they finish getting everything off their chest, whichever comes first.

KILL THE LIGHTS

“Don’t they see? There’s so much money to be made! If we just expanded our influence...”

A crooked politician trying to drum up support for military activity has generated quite the shadow. A level 40 Eligor can be found deep in the Nekyia’s business district, muttering to himself about all the profits to be had with a little conflict. Needless to say, things will get very, very bad if he goes through with it - take him down before he can start anything!

HORSING AROUND

The Nekyia business district is overrun with Unicorns teaming up with Ganesha to make quite the formidable team of a fierce fighter and a powerful support. That said, those who defeat the pair may just find that their foes have dropped quite a useful healing item...

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to receive a Bead Chain, which fully restores HP to all allies (maximum 4 including the user) and is valid for one time use during any battle. This is only valid for the first turn in of the commission.)

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 9 and 10! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks. There will be no log next week.
We're heading into endgame and AC is due 30 September, Monday, at 2359 EST! The boon for this month's AC has been updated as well - please have a look!
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 are still going strong - sign ups for Atem (here) and Kirumi's (here) capped palaces are still open, and sign ups for our FFA palace will be going up later today.

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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Comments

yes horsing around

[idealitas]

[ RIP wanting to get a guy stabbed, but Rng said be nice to rutile and pick a different prompt. This one has a reward too, at least!

So quietly, without even announcing his presence to the guy doing his best to be pumped for a fight against the shadows, Yi Sang gives out a Marakukaja to Rutile to help his defense. He finally got a buff skill from his levels, he's so happy... ]

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile is not so totally oblivious that he doesn't notice the buff that settles on him. Just before the threshold of battle, he stops in his tracks and whirls around.

Well. He didn't notice someone was there. With his bright green eyes widened, he asks the stranger: ]

Was that you? [ You know. That did the thing. ] Will you be joining me?

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang nods. ]

You seemed very excited to take them on.

[ Maybe to reassure himself that he's got this even when he might not have the levels, but still! To be able to do nice things and help others in his free time... It's nice! He ever had that and had to just watch as chaos unfolded until he had to protect himself...

Yi Sang uses Maeiha on the Unicorns and Ganesha (12, 4). Lucky for them, the unicorn(s) are weak to curse damage! The Ganesha dodges though, maybe he did a funny dance. ]

Go ahead and make use of this opportunity. I will provide support as needed.

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile takes a deep breath, and pumps his fist again. ] Okay!

[ He looks between Ganesha and the weakened Unicorns, and...well. This isn't usually his wheelhouse, so he's not sure who to attack next. He marches his little twinky ass into the fray and stabs one of the Unicorns with his dagger (12), before hopping back out of range (or what he thinks is range). One hit and he'll definitely go down...

The Unicorn, however, doesn't like Yi Sang attacking it, so it retaliates with a Kougaon (5) but whiffs it. Phew! Ganesha on the other hand, stares down at Rutile while he casts Charge on itself. This bodes ill... ]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang is blessed to have been missed, because Bless is his weakness. It's probably because he's running up to Rutile that he dodged? Maybe

Does that charge bode ill... Yes it does! Yi Sang casts a Masukunda on the Unicorn and Ganesha in the hope it lowers their accuracy, but still, he's going to grab Rutile. ]

He's preparing a stronger attack. Please move!

[ Flying brooms would be so nice here...! Alas, they just hope they can be fast enough. ]

[speedingticket]

[ If only Rutile could fly... They'd never have to worry about being hit.

Rutile grabs onto Yi Sang and runs as fast as he can (oh, how frustrating it is to walk everywhere—), except it's not fast enough. While both the other Unicorns miss their attacks, Ganesha doesn't. His Miracle Punch collides with Rutile, ripping him from Yi Sang and sending him flying. The one saving grace is that it wasn't a crit (12).

Rutile sputters, his arms shake as he tries to push himself up off the ground. Excuse me, what are you doing? He can hear Mithra scolding him in the back of his mind. ]

M-Mitis, help...

[ His cute persona guy leaps into being, and he weakly casts Media. At least he's still alive... ]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang gives him a hand to help him up! Does this cost him his "turn" to get back to him? Yeah, but fuck it he rolled a (2). He'll give Rutile a bigger heal with Diarama. Mitis is cute... Yeoubi isn't quite as cute but sleepily curls around them before vanishing. ]

Can you stand?

[speedingticket]

[ Oh, the relief of good healing... Rutile lets out a gasp as the greater healing soothes his wounds, and he staggers to his feet. ]

I-I can, thank you.

[ It's a nice moment, but Ganesha will offer no peace. The moment Rutile stands, he throws a Miracle Punch at Rutile again, but whiffs it bad (6).

Both of the Unicorns look at Yi Sang and choose to Assault Dive him, but one misses (8). And the other misses so bad (1) its horn collides into the torso of the other (16). Is friendly fire possible? It is now!

Rutile sees that and it inspires him to do more! With Yi Sang targeted, he traces his outline for Draw With friends, sending a lightning bolt towards one of the Unicorn, but it misses also (5).

He huffs. ]

Please be careful.

[idealitas]

[ We appreciate a good slapstick comedy, so friendly fire is a-okay! Yi Sang hears that huff and buddy, he understands with a look of sympathy. Buddy these dice are so ass sometimes... But Yi Sang hopefully can take out the unicorns now with a Maeiha, bonking them for their neighsayer crimes (17, 11) with super-effective curse damage (it missed the Ganesha (7) but shh). ]

These skills can be woefully inaccurate. But the practice is worthwhile, perhaps.

[speedingticket]

[ It is worthwhile! At least he's getting practice, even if it's a little rougher than he thought it would be.

Once the Unicorns fizzle, Rutile sets his sights on Ganesha again. Once again, he outlines Yi Sang for a Draw With Friends, and the jolt of lightning crashes triumphantly against him (19!!!!). ]

Yes!

[ That's so satisfying!

Ganesha, however, takes a moment to cast Charge on himself. Uh oh... ]

Finish it off!

[idealitas]

Gladly...!

[ Yi Sang feels pretty motivated now (even if it's not visibly obvious)! They need to kill this bastard now before he can land a powered up skill, so he rushes in for the final hit.

Yi Sang, like Rutile, isn't allowed to fly (metaphorically for him). But Rain in Motion gives an illusion he has wings for a moment, just before he lands a good hit (14) on the Ganesha to take him down. ]

[speedingticket]

[ And once it connects, Ganesha himself fizzles out of existence.

When silence finally falls over the battlefield, Rutile breathes a sigh of relief, letting the tension evaporate from his shoulders. ]

That was so close. I thought I was finished...

[ He puts his hand on his chest, like trying to calm the pounding of his heart still. ]

Thank you. I'm not sure what I was thinking, trying to face them alone. [ He smiles. ] What's your name?

[idealitas]

You can call me Yi Sang.

[ Hello? He's so polite??? That's actually kind of rare here so he's a little caught off guard. But the experienced Utility guy here understands and doesn't fault Rutile at for it, shaking his head. ]

I have met more reckless here, you ate not alone. The fitting phrase might be "you're in good company," so long as someone can heal.

[ and roll decently. ]

[speedingticket]

I'm Rutile! It's nice to meet you, Yi Sang.

[ Holds out a hand for Yi Sang to shake! ]

I usually prefer to hang back and heal, myself. I can handle the reckless!

[ Said in a way that makes it sound like he's planning on leashing them, or something, ]

[idealitas]

[ You can have his hand then, Rutile!

Buddy you sound very southern wizard country. Even with the leash idea, we know the disasters. ]

I've heard a change of pace can be welcome when the rest ckless have stepped out for the moment. You did fine.