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

code

Comments

[speedingticket]

No they won't! [ He dusts himself off and pumps a fist. ] I'll find you a sheep, just stay there!

[ And off he wanders...



A few minutes later, he returns, herding a sheep in front of him. Except just like Sunrise said, it startles when it gets close, kicks at the dirt, and then scurries away. ]

Oh—!

[ Rutile watches as it runs, and then looks at Sunrise. ]

Now why would it run...?

[cleansewithfire]

...I am scary to most animals.

[ The deflated balloon energy is back as she watches the sheep run off. ]

[speedingticket]

[ No...! Sunrise sad makes Rutile sad! He looks between the escaping sheep and the girl. ]

But you seem kind and gentle enough... [ The only reason he could think an animal would run from her was if she was evil, somehow, or absurdly powerful. And though he can't use his magic, he feels like he might have noticed something off (ignoring the fact that his magic is usually too weak to notice (which he is aware of) or that he has a pretty bad judge of character to begin with (which he is not aware of))... ]

Why is that?

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise tries to figure out how to answer this... ]

...I reek of death, so a lot of animals are afraid of me. [ This is technically true, even if she doesn't explain why this is so. ]

[speedingticket]

[ What does that mean... Is Sunrise actually a killer (*Northern style)?

After a moment of hesitation, Rutile approaches Sunrise and leans over her a little bit to sniff. He doesn't smell anything out of the ordinary...

He crouches in front of her. Maybe he doesn't have to talk to her like a child but here he is. ]

Could you tell me what that means, Sunrise? You don't smell bad to me.

[cleansewithfire]

[ Hilariously that would also sort of be correct, in a way. She mostly seems kind of confused when Rutile decides to check by smiling (thanks for the glamour, Braphine), but not at all put off when he crouches down to her level.

She pauses, trying to find words that she hopes aren't too alarming for him to hear. ]

...I think it might be easier to understand if I say this body is dead.

[ Not "my body", for some reason. ]

[speedingticket]

[ Huh...

Rutile catches the wording but doesn't comment on it, right away. His expression remains placid as he studies Sunrise, bright green eyes darting up and down her self. He really can't tell...

But what he does do is hold out his hand for Sunrise to take. Body temperature check! ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise stares at the hand for a moment before she realises what Rutile is trying to do. She takes the glove off her hand, revealing that it is bandaged entirely, fingers to wrist, and then places her hand in Rutile's.

She is indeed cold to the touch, like a corpse. ]

[speedingticket]

[ Oh wow, she is cold. Has Rutile touched Owen? She's like that.

His expression doesn't change, though. With a measured attitude he slowly turns her hand over in his, studying it like a professional might (he's not, but he's grown up around them and he's learned a thing or two). While he does, what she can't see, is him turning her words over in his head in careful thought. ]

This body... Does that mean it isn't yours?

[ Finally he looks up at her, expression curious, but not judgmental. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Rutile doesn't seem to be afraid of her, which is why her pause isn't so much due to hesitation as it is because she's thinking of how to answer. ]

...It is not.

[ It's true, as far as she's concerned. Getting a recycled body means it isn't really hers. ]

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile hums lightly as he minds one of Sunrise's fingers. At least she moves, right? No rigor mortis? ]

So, then..."you?" Your spirit? It still lives, right?

[ This feels like something dangerously close to forbidden magics, something he's only just barely brushed before.

He doesn't know how the rules work here, or in Sunrise's world, but there is a little hint of worry that creeps into his expression. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ At least she moves! In fact she's pretty limber for a self-confessed corpse. It's kind of like a body that's at least attempting to function like a living one, even if it doesn't strictly "need" to or isn't actually capable of it. ]

I suppose so?

[ She woke up one day and thus she exists, which...counts as her spirit living, she thinks. Maybe it’s because it lives that she could come back from most types of death too. She sees Rutile's worry, and isn't sure what she can say to assuage it. ]

"For some definition of living."

[ That was what Velvet had said when she tried to explain to Sunrise. ]

[speedingticket]

[ It does a bit to help. If Sunrise has survived this long like this without the...the terrible repercussions he's seen before, then it's probably fine. He looks up at her and offers a little smile. ]

I see... The animals must sense the disconnect between your soul and body, even if the sense of death itself doesn't frighten them.

[ Death itself isn't an evil thing, but.

He stands, pats her hand before letting go. ]

I could ask my friends to turn into animals for you to pet if we were at home. But! I think I have an idea that's just as good. Do you like arts and crafts, Sunrise?

[cleansewithfire]

[ When Rutile puts it that way, it makes sense. Maybe it explains why the carrion eaters get bold when she stays too still for too long. ]

I do.

[ Technically she does it for a living, even. But more importantly: ]

Your friends can turn into animals?

[speedingticket]

They can!

[ Rutile smiles!!! He misses his friends... ]

All my friends and I can use magic at home. Some are so good at what they do, you'd never know the cat you were petting was actually someone you had breakfast with that morning.

[ Hehe... ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Though Sunrise's expression doesn't change much, her eyes seem to sparkle a little at the idea of using magic to transform and at how happy Rutile sounds talking about his friends. ]

It sounds fun.

[speedingticket]

It is.

[ Because it is! And he wishes so badly he could share magic with Sunrise.

Ah, well.

Still, he smiles, and tilts his head. ]

But we have the next best thing. Do you mind hanging on for—oh, another hour or so? When I'm done working [ HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING OOPS ] we can go to the craft store and make our own animals. How does that sound?

[cleansewithfire]

I can wait, Mr. Rutile.

[ Even if she can't pet the animals, she can watch from a safe distance. That's enough to preoccupy her until Rutile's done. ]

[speedingticket]

Then I'll be right back!



[ Like he says, he finishes up his shift with the petting zoo before coming right back to Sunshine, smiling and waving! ]

Sunrise! Are you ready?!

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise has probably been observing the animals the entire time, perking up when she hears Rutile. ]

I am ready, Mr. Rutile.

[speedingticket]

Let's go!

[ Off they go, towards the shopping district! Hopefully it's not far because Rutile has quickly learned that walking is boring and he wants his broom back. ]

Do you have a favorite animal?

[cleansewithfire]

[ Godspeed, Rutile because there's a lot of walking to do in this city in general. ]

...Kitties. [ She is a simple girl. ]

[speedingticket]

Kitties!

[ Rutile claps her hands together and beams. Yes, Sunrise are correct, cats are extremely cute. ]

Then I have the perfect idea. [ rapidly shrinking the size of this city so the craft store is coming up soon ] Have you ever sewn before?

[cleansewithfire]

[ The cheer is apparently infectious, since Sunrise seems to be in a pretty good mood despite how low-key her expressions are. ]

I have helped sew costumes before.

[speedingticket]

Oh, good! Then this shouldn't be too hard.

[ Rutile has had all sorts of students, and even though Sunrise isn't too expressive, he can still sense the joy. He doesn't need magic for that!

Pushing open the door to the craft store, they're greeted by the familiar and comfortable waft of fabrics and wood. ]

What sort of costumes?