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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THE MELANCHOLY AND THE CONDOLEMENT

[linkupmods]

[ A PG-13-Rated Historical Documentary ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ This is what she got a ticket for, so here she is. ]

[fullmoonmutt]

Why'd you have to pick this one?

[ Eli spotted Sunrise wandering off to this one alone and decided to join her, along with a massive bucket of popcorn. Yes, he is eating it. No, he doesn't care if it's Nekyia food. ]

[strawsandals]

Eli! Sunrise!

[ WAVING OVER TO THEM!! He was gonna go with the Vampire Clowns one but he'll join them. Why not. ]

[cleansewithfire]

Hello, Mr. Yoon.

[fullmoonmutt]

Hey! Yoon!

[ Welcome to the Boring Movie(tm). ]

[cleansewithfire]

I asked and this what what I was recommended.

[fullmoonmutt]

Huh. Fair enough. Popcorn?

[ He offers her some. ]

[linkupmods]

[ it's nekyia food and eli should be wary about it








because it tastes like ash. and terrible tasting ash, while he's at it, because that amount he's been eating is probably enough to send him to the bathroom or a trash can just before the advertisements start playing. ]

cw: vom time

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Wait, when did this popcorn taste like... LOOK, HE WAS JUST SHOVING STUFF INTO HIS MOUTH, OKAY? Excuse him while he has a vampire moment and drops the bucket of popcorn, racing away to find a trash can to upchuck all that food into. ]

[linkupmods]

[ it's a good thing that eli makes it back to his seat just as the advertisements start playing, after the unfortunate Popcorn Incident.

the cinema operates just like any cinema would in the real world would - there's some kitschy advertisements and warnings that are played before the movie, like the ones that talking is prohibited and to turn all mobile devices off or on silent mode, thank you! the main advertisement, however, seems to be for a c*rque de sole*l advertisement, although no dates seem to be mentioned anywhere or if at all.

weird,

anyway, once the movie starts playing - it's a high-budget, well made documentary film about the occupation - and collaboration - of a nation in the middle of a major conflict. its focus seems to be on a time of extreme conflict between nations, although characters who are trying to glean details about what it actually is about will find themselves struggling to remember specific details about the conflict itself. characters who try to actually watch this film will alternate between feeling bored to the point of zoning out and only half paying attention and anxious to the point of near-panic.

perfectly fun choice of a movie, guys!

periodically throughout the movie, the lights in the theater will go out all at once, including the light of the screen. The doors will creak open and formless shadows will start pacing the aisles.

you might want to try hiding. ]

( ooc: if you try to hide, roll a 1d20. )

[strawsandals]

Wh-?!

[ He's going to hide under his seat (6) upon seeing the shadows, given that he's incredibly anxious and not in a good mood to fight right now. He is shaking. This isn't what movies are supposed to be like, are they...? ]

[linkupmods]

[ hard to say what movies are actually supposed to be like when you've never experienced them before, yoon!

anyway, one of the shadows materialises in front of him even when he tries to hide under the seat, and it turns out to be a shiki-ouji, one that bops yoon on the nose but doesn't deal any damage (7).

yoon will get the urge to try and find a different hiding spot instead. ]

[strawsandals]

[ He has to stifle a scream because the shiki-ouji scares the shit out of him. He scrambles onto his feet and runs past Eli and Sunrise to hide in a row closer to the front (6). ]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli is not hiding but getting back up out of his seat to turn and face the formless shadows, stepping back out into the aisle and everything. Listen here... ]

Yo, you assholes got your tickets? 'cause if you don't, I'm going to have to throw you all out!

[linkupmods]

[ oh, someone that didn't bother trying to hide!

eli is getting ambushed by a trio of shadows - namely, a shiki-ouji that blasts a psio (12) at him, an incubus that follows it up with an eiga (14) and then finally a succubus that tries to agilao him but misses (7). ]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Well, fuck! He throws his arms up as a shield against the blasts. ]

Damnit... Garm! C'mon!

[ Eli's always ready for a fight, thankfully, and Garm bursts into existence to join them in the movie theater for good this time. There are no more flickers or moments here and there of seeing the red wolf before he vanishes again and no more Eli trying to ignore or hide him. ]

Bufudyne!

[ Together, they lash out with an icy attack at all three (12, 19, 6) ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ So the problem is Sunrise is insane and her reaction to many spooky, creepy things people should very rightfully be afraid of is: oh, I should probably exterminate it.

Which is why she's standing up instead, picking up her instrument-slash-weapon case with her. ]

[linkupmods]

[ yet another person who didn't try to hide,

which is why sunrise is also getting ambushed by the same trio of shadows: incubus with a life drain (14), succubus that hits her with a marin karin (11) but fails to brainwash (2) and the shiki-ouji that whiffs its psio attack (7) ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Oh this sucks. Sunrise ends up falling back into the seats, which might be why when Ushas appears and uses Vicious Strike, it mostly whiffs (7, 2, 17) ]

MOVIE CLEARED; cw: gore in memory

[linkupmods]

[ after yoon's tragic loss at hide and seek, and the ambush encounters end in the remaining shadows fleeing, the movie, which is still playing, will shudder out of existence with a film burn effect as the lights go out one last time.

characters will find themselves thrown into a memory, witnessing it from the owner's perspective: ]

[It's your birthday. You haven't celebrated in over a decade.

It's your deathday. Distantly, you think you should probably do something to celebrate that, at least. It means freedom. Power. Ascension. The shedding of the last vestiges of humanity.

And yet, you still feel so empty.

In the end, you can't leave behind what made you, can you? But now you have the power to disappear into the night without a trace. You have the power to become someone new. You have the power - the right - to finally rectify a wrong done to the last person you really, truly loved.

You feel empty as you walk a familiar path one last time, with a quickness to your step that's new.

You feel empty as you knock on a familiar door, as a familiar man answers, sleep clouding his eyes as well as his memory, unable to recognize the child left behind in the man standing before him.

You smile for him like you've smiled for so many others in the years since he murdered your mother in front of you, disarming but false, never reaching your eyes. The reaction is immediate - he's quick to fawn over this beautiful stranger, quick to welcome him into his home, quick to offer everything he could possibly want and more--

A hunger churns in your gut, the beast inside your mind urges you to take this supplicant as your first full meal in the whole time since you'd seen him leave your childhood home.

But you're used to ignoring the gnaw of hunger in your belly, and the thought of consuming this man, so full of vitriol he'd surely taste of nothing but rot makes your stomach turn.

No. You're here for another purpose, aren't you?

You allow the glamour to fall away and relish in his confusion as you close the distance between you.

You may be just a fledgling, but you can still instill deep, visceral fear in the man, and you drink deep of the horror painting his features.

You look to see what's at hand and it's cruel irony that a fire poker is within reach. As you snatch it and bring it to bear, finally, finally recognition dawns on his wretched features.]

"You're one of those whore collaborators' whelps-"

[So he'd done the same to others.

How many children were on the street with you because of this man?

cw: gore

The man's cheekbone makes the most satisfying crack as the iron poker whips across his face.

Of course you don't stop with just that. Again and again you swing the implement. Again and again, bone shatters under your blows. Distantly, you think he must be screaming, but there's a ringing in your ears that drowns out everything but the snapcrunchbreak of bone, the gurgling of blood in his throat.

And yet still he lives.

You shift the hold on the makeshift weapon, turn the hooked end on the man instead, and only then do the blows finally begin to allow him to die. A stabstrike, a crunch, the sucking squelch of viscera pulverized, the clatter of teeth on the ground, the splatter of blood on the floor, the wall, on you.

You don't stop until he's an unrecognizable, twitching lump of flesh. You don't stop until even that's gone still.

At the end of it, you're covered in viscera, and yet still you feel so empty.

What you've done won't bring her back, that much you know, and even if it did, she'd be disgusted to see what's become of her sweet child, who she'd tucked away in a closet to shield from the horrors he'd just replicated.

You let the fire poker fall from your hand as you leave the the home of the man who stole yours from you.

For the first time in years, you feel tears well in your eyes.]

[ when the memory ends, each character will find that they have a pair of dressmaking shears suddenly in their possession.

the doors are missing from the cinema hall.

weirdly, so is the screen. but what remains is a dark void with a pinprick of light in the distance.

looks like there's only one way to go. ]

[strawsandals]

[ If he could close his eyes, he would. He would probably feel more disgusted with himself after the memory if it weren't for the fact that he felt that need for vengeance after "his" mom was murdered. More importantly, though, the brutality that came with murdering that man...and the emptiness that follows...

Yoon is silent. He can't move. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise will follow after Eli later, but for now, she approaches Yoon. ]

...Mr. Yoon.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ There are only two undead people that Eli knows of here, and the second one is in this theater with him; the other—

As the memory fades, he realizes it. He knows who this belongs to. It freezes him to the core in terror. ]

Celeste...? Celeste!

[ While he does keep the shears in hand, he's already racing away from the others and towards the light in the distance. ]

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise watches the memory passively, perhaps even impassively. She doesn't flinch at the gore and violence, hardly blinks at the sensation that washes over here until right at the end. The only sign of what she might feel is in how her hands clench into fists, her fingers digging into her palms and the gloves she's wearing being their only saving grace.

(There are worldly passions and vengeance, and then there is emptiness. Not unlike the dead, in a way.)

...She goes to check on Yoon. ]