WEEKS 9 & 10

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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

part the third, 2/2

[cirquedesang]

[By now, it's no surprise who it is.

It's probably not even a surprise that the spot of light in the darkness, the place the lowlit path was leading to is spotlighting the shadow you all came to see.

Well. Or not. Regardless, you're here, now.

Perhaps you're expecting a fight... but can he really attack you when he's bound up in ribbon as he is? Do you really wish to find out?

Because he is currently regarding you all placidly, waiting for you to make the first move. :)]

[beathollow]

Dad-

( what is she supposed to do?

... she approaches, but doesn't intrude. hi dad.

with her hands folded before her, she's making one thing clear: she will not fight him. )

[cirquedesang]

Child.

[What is she supposed to do, indeed.

She doesn't intend to fight him, though, and whether that's the correct choice or not, he does look down on her almost expectantly.

Unless otherwise provoked, he'll let her say her piece.]

[beathollow]

You've done so much for us, haven't you? And you've come to our rescue when needed. But it's still been hard, hasn't it?

... I don't want you to hurt. Or to stay under that man's control. Please... how do we help you?

[beautifulknight]

...Céleste?

[ What's happening here?

Well, it seems like they're facing down his shadow. But even so, he hasn't attacked, and if anything, seems more bound than anything.

Argenti is going to take a look at those ribbons. How sturdy do they look...? ]

[metagame]

[Atem decides to make himself useful by helping Argenti inspect the ribbons.

He has a bad feeling about this...]

[cirquedesang]

[For all that Argenti and Atem can tell, the ribbons seem to be made of silk.

(Which itself is a remarkably strong material, actually. Hmm.)]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Knowing Celeste? Yes? Yes, Eli's sure he can fight even with all that ribbon he's bound up in. That's hot??? no, focus, this is important. While Mafuyu might not step into the spotlight with him, Eli is of a different mind.

He's walking right up there, because that's what Elis do. It doesn't mean it's wise. It likely isn't. Regardless, he holds up the shears he found himself with after the theater. ]

Celeste... Come off of this Shadow bullshit. Let's go home already. I can cut you loose of all that.

[cirquedesang]

[Hopefully there will be time for Eli to reflect on whether or not Celeste being bound up like this is or is not hot later. Now, he's got a mission.

When Eli enters the spotlight with him, the shadow tilts his head to the side a bit, appearing curious, and then to the other side as Eli speaks. It's clearly somewhat exaggerated, theatrical. You've become part of the show, after all.]

You can. But should you?

[For all you know, they're all that's keeping him from killing you where you stand.

Or not.]

[fullmoonmutt]

Look, I'm not completely dense. I don't have the full experience of what vampires go through, but I know you got the same kind of beast to struggle with that I do.

[ It may not be completely the same between their worlds, but he can't imagine it's so much different. Regardless, he lifts the shears to cut a ribbon. ]

And if you've lost it, then I'll deal with you... the same way I asked you to deal with me, if I ever lost it. But. I don't think you really want to hurt anyone here.

[supherb]

[Arven can't lie, the whole display is dazzling. But that doesn't stop it from feeling off at the same time. That's how it always is with these palaces. Or pseudo ones. He stands close to Mafuyu, unable to ignore the similarities of their appearances. Mafuyu was tangled in strings, Celeste in ribbons.

He lets Eli move ahead. He's been forced to wait long enough, right? But he's keeping an eye out for any signs of a sneak attack.]

Please don't make us fight you. That's not what you want, right?

[cirquedesang]

[Smart boy!

There's no sneak attack - at least not yet, but as his attention swivels to Arven as he speaks, the close attention he's paying to the situation is duly noted.]

Are you certain that isn't what I want? How well do you know me?

[supherb]

[The shadow's words make him stop and think. His face falls slightly when he comes to a realization.]

...There's still so much I don't know. But I really don't wanna think that everything you've done for us has been some sort of act. If you really do want this, then I'd wanna know why.

[goei]

Listen to Eli, Celeste!

[He's in charge here. But also;]

Yer always the one supportin' and helpin' us! It was dumb 'a me ta think you were fine like that! Let us help you too!

[cirquedesang]

I am.

[Technically, he's listening to all of you right now. :D]

What makes you think I wasn't fine helping you all?

[goei]

That ain't- I mean, just cause you always act like yer fine doesn't mean we should expect you ta take care of all of us.

I didn't forget what I promised you. I'd still do it if I had to, but I don't wanna have to. You ain't a monster any more than I am, yer my family!

[strawsandals]

[ So it is Celeste...

Yoon, like Mafuyu and the others, will not fight him. Instead, he's standing and looking up at Celeste with sad eyes. He's not crying like one might expect, but he looks remorseful. ]

Celeste...if I knew...I would've taken you there, too.

[ But apologies are useless right now, so he'll save those for later. ]

What do you need from us?

[cirquedesang]

[Hey, +1 to the no fighty club! Look at you! Have a bitch!]

But you didn't know, did you?

[To be entirely fair to Yoon, wild rides don't get palace foreshadowing, but, like, he doesn't get to know that.]

Just like you don't know what to do now. Helpless as always.

[strawsandals]

You're right, I don't know for certain. But I'm here now, and I'm not about to leave.

[ He knows he's not helpless. He won't give the Shadow the time of day trying to refute that.

Instead, he'll follow Eli's lead and cut a ribbon, too. ]

[imperiosity]

[He can't say he knows Céleste particularly well, so he's mostly content with watching in case the situation makes a sudden turn for the worse. But everyone else seems dead set on talking things out or trying to cut the Shadow free, so he's not drawing his swords yet, but most of these encounters always seem to go a certain direction.

Oh well. If they've got time for a chat, then why not.]

You gonna settle down and make this easy for us, or are we doing this the hard way?

[cirquedesang]

[He can't say he knows Aaron particularly well, either. That's not to say he thinks ill of the man, but it also means his shadow self can't be as effectively bitchy towards him as he can for others. Lucky you?]

That depends entirely on you all, no?

[idealitas]

[ We do not perceive the chaos on the side, so...! Yi Sang approaches Celeste. Roseate Desire, my old friend... Except purple. ]

... I had thought your kindness was because it was your true self. A kind person who had plenty to give in his heart.

Was I mistaken?

[cirquedesang]

[Sliding back in here while yall tussle in the future and also while tusslin is paused--]

Ah, perhaps.

Or perhaps I've simply grown tired of only giving.

[cleansewithfire]

[ Sunrise is, once again, not much of a talker. While ^^^ all is happening, she will be using the shears to cut the ribbons, trying just one as an experiment. ]

[cirquedesang]

[Sunrise, the good helpful bean that she is, will be able to successfully prune away at them. They disappear as she cuts them!]