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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ROUND THREE

[cirquedesang]

[Aaron's Agi may have missed, but only just barely, and since it is still a fire attack, it causes Celeste to yelp and scramble a bit to get out of the way - enabling both Argenti and McGillis's attacks to hit without issue.

However; the Majesty/Cleanse cycle is truly endless, it would seem, as the next round will hit Izou, Argenti, McGillis, Atem, Shalem, Haruka, Eli, and Mafuyu, while both Rutile (15) and Sunrise (11) are hit with a Vicious Strike of his own.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Now that Eli's head is back in the game, he's quick to track where Celeste is aiming, and he moves, throwing himself in the path of the Vicious Strike meant for Sunrise to shield her from it instead. ]

...gh. [ This can't keep going. They can't keep doing this! ] Celeste! Stop! Please!

[ He isn't attacking this turn. He doesn't want to! He wants everyone to stop! God damnit! ]

[cleansewithfire]

Eli...!

[ For once, her vocie is raising above its average volume. People need to stop taking hits for her! She's been through worse so this is honestly peanuts in comparison!

She casts Dia on him.]

[idealitas]

[ Yi Sang has a Diarama for Eli again, frowning. ]

...This is chaotic.

[townmusician]

[Haruka tenses as Majesty sweeps over him, fear gripping him for a moment.

He shakes it off, though, gathering his wits and sending a Diarahan towards Rutile. Don't die, new guy...!]

[speedingticket]

[ LIFE IS TRULY HARD AND IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT HIS PERSONAL BODYGUARD

The whiplash of getting hurt and then getting immediately healed up leaves him stunned for a bit, but at least he manages a look of gratitude. Thanks, new buddy. ]

[goei]

[Okay. Alright. He actually has to think for himself now. Celeste is attacking them. But also it's Celeste!! He shakes off the attempt to rethrall him (7).

He can't just do what he normally does, which is Apply Sword, because that's a recipe for giving Celeste the Jordi Sendoff. So instead, he's dashing over, grabbing Celeste, and smashing his head against Celeste's (20).]

Snap outta it already! You really gonna let that Conflict guy get the better of you!?

[vogelfrei]

[ Majesty hits McGillis with a vengeance and from one moment to another, his perception of the room shifts. McGillis had already been irritated with the way people are insistent on saving Celeste, but he'd had better judgement holding him back.

No more of that.

And since he doesn't do things by half measures that's a whole Garudyne being thrown at Haruka (13). ]

You all with your savior complex--!!

[prozaic]

[He was about to attack Celeste but-- goddamn it. He needs that kid, okay. If it was anyone but McGillis, Shalem would have let Haruka heal it off.

He takes a jump, spins in the air, and slams his most powerful limb into McGillis' face (16). It's his tail, it's always a snake's tail.]

If you don't wake up from that, you really don't deserve the cleanse you'll get.

[goei]

[He can't do anything about this because he's over here trying to shonen headbutt Celeste, but-]

McGillis!

[THAT'S HIS MAN]

Yer a dead man, you fuckin' snake!

[beautifulknight]

[ Wha- ]

He didn't do it on purpose!

Why are you hitting him back?!

[speedingticket]

[ Though he has absolutely no personal stake in this conflict, Rutile knows unnecessary friendly fire when he sees it. ]

Stop! [ He yells this, surprisingly loud for his generally demure demeanor, the kind of voice he'd use to leash a misbehaving Northern wizard. And he hopes everyone else violently jumping on him for it hear him, too (IZOU). ] That is not necessary and not the point! Use your words first!

[vogelfrei]

[ OW??? The hit does coincide fairly well with Mafuyu's energy shower, so McGillis is indeed free of brainwash now.

Unfortunately, he's not feeling entirely apologetic when Shalem is throwing those words at him. He rubs his cheek and scoffs. ]

Don't deserve it, huh? Yes, you all love to decide who is and isn't deserving, I know.

[townmusician]

[The hit isn't nearly as bad as it could be—if it were Eli or any of the other ice-aligned Haruka might be in trouble, but he's startled by Shalem retaliating.

It's not an attack aimed to kill as far as Haruka can tell—if it was, he'd be using the katana instead—but he really hopes they don't... escalate...]

[prozaic]

[Hm. Well nothing happened to him (crying why did he roll a 10, now he'll never face karma) so he'll just ignore that! Moving on!

And he had to go take aggro from Haruka.]

cw minor self harm

[beathollow]

( mafuyu once again is perfectly fine (8). she's just also stressed as hell and has rubbed her wrist red. but if she's right, someone's going to attack another, so she waits...

and then she casts energy shower on mcgillis- )

...

[imperiosity]

[Welp, he's not being targeted this time (although rip Haruka), so he's going to make the most of this opportunity!! Thank goodness Izou is also out there doing that headbutt, which makes it easy for Aaron to get behind the Shadow. After launching himself into the air with a jump (and a Garu for good measure), he does a diving kick right into Céleste's back (20).

if this also ends up initiating an impromptu 'hug' between Izou and Céleste... eh, not his problem.]

[goei]

[Yahoo]

[metagame]

[No better time than now to cast Matarunda on Celeste...

How can they stop turning on each other?]

[speedingticket]

[ What the hell is going on?!

The attack hurts, and despite being healed up almost immediately it still leaves Rutile a little stunned. He usually tries to stay out of harm's way, but

He sees the friendly fire, he sees the arguing, he sees the brainwashing, and... Oh, dear. This isn't going to be easy, is it?

Anyway, while Haruka gets hit again and everyone starts fighting over it, Rutile quietly casts Diarama on him again. Don't die, new friend? ]

[townmusician]

[He will do his best not to die, especially now as he's been leashed by a snake tail!!]

Thanks!

[yelling that over the fightingggg]

[supherb]

[Arven isn't struck by Majesty this time, so he's able to see the full scope of the chaos on display. It's disheartening, to say the least.

Calling upon Hestia, he uses Energy Shower on Argenti and Haruka to get rid of their effects.]

Come on, Celeste! Is this seriously what you want? To watch us fight each other like this?!

[beautifulknight]

Wait...

[ Argenti is...frightened of Céleste right about now. How can he not be (6)? But, perhaps the most scary aspect about him is what if he hurts the man because something that he does tears him apart? So, yes, horrifying in the literal and mental sense in so many respects - enough that it instills within him a strong reluctance to attack...he can't.

But, his dear companions are in need of assistance! Argenti turns his attention upon those he notices who get hit! Immediately, he casts Media on Eli, McGillis, and Haruka.

Fortunately, afterwards, Arven's clearing status effect washes over him. Maybe just in time to react properly to Chaos... ]

ROUND FOUR

[cirquedesang]

[Eli both taking the hit intended for Sunrise and not retaliating in return does actually give him pause - Eli is usually one of the first to get in the thick of a fight, after all!

...And then Izou happens. Between the headbutt and the shouting at him, one eye flickers from gold to violet and back again. Something, or some combination of somethings is getting through.

But something else is also keeping the shadow's hold tight around his heart.

And then Aaron's kick lands square on his back. Usually, he might be able to tumble forward and get back to his feet, even with the crit (and only take the damage in the process-) but. Izou is there.

Celeste is now in Izou's arms, hi, hello, how are you.

But also since Cleanses Keep Happening, you know what time it is.

Majesty for Mafuyu, Arven, Izou, Yi Sang, Aaron, Sunrise, Rutile, and McGillis.]

[beathollow]

( hey. hi. guess who's hit with brainwash (1)?

why, the devoted daughter, of course. which is why celeste gets healed with diarahan. )

Enough! All of you- do you even care? All you're doing is making everything worse! Just go away!