WEEKS 11 & 12

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WEEKS 11 & 12

YOU CAN'T GET OFF THE RIDE...

The dream king has been vanquished, and with it, everyone’s dreams have returned to normal. For those who have had trouble sleeping in the past few weeks, that’s a relief, right?

You know what they say - one step forward, two steps back.

The border between the Nekyia and the real world is thinning - watch your step, Chosen. With your Shadows still haunting you at every opportunity, turn the corner and you may find yourself suddenly in the Nekyia, tendrils of dark fog curling around your feet even though you’ve spent so much effort trying to clear the previous districts of fog and shadows. Blink, and you’ll find yourself back where you were in the real world, with everyone looking at you quizzically because for a moment, you disappeared.

Braphine’s temple is oddly silent. Where there were once priests and priestesses around the courtyards and the main building, now, when you visit, there is nobody around to attend to you. Walking through the halls of the temple now feels fraught with danger, almost - look into a mirror for too long, and your Shadow may end up looking back at you.

Speaking of attendants – maybe you should check in on your local priestess.

Thanks to everyone’s help with the Business District, it is now... actually, it’s more or less the way it always has been. People are still standoffish, and there’s a tension in the air - it feels like just one little spark is all that’s needed to start an argument or a fight.

In fact, it isn’t even only the Business District suffering these effects. Though specific individuals may retain a fondness for characters who helped them, the population overall seems to have regained its old vitriol towards each other. The Chosen saw for themselves the positive impact they were able to have on the City - what in the world could have reversed it all...?

TEMPTATION TOUCHED MY TONGUE...

You blink, and it’s there. Blink again, and it vanishes.

Perhaps your eyes are playing tricks on you, but where there used to be a park just outside the dorms, now lies a large orange grove. It does, however, look a little shadowy around the edges, like it’s not supposed to be there - and the strange thing is that it can only be seen by Braphine’s chosen. Asking any of the passers by will just net you bewildered looks.

Despite the roiling storm and the grey clouds outside, the sky in the orange grove is clear when you enter into it.

You are surrounded by the smell of orange blossoms, and as the scent envelops you, a strange feeling of unsettlement starts to build.

The oranges are in the right season for harvesting, and somehow you get an irresistible urge to pick one and bite into it. But biting into it comes at a price– you start to forget. It could be a memory, a part of you, or worse, one of the bonds you have made here.

The more of the oranges you eat, the deeper you fall into the grove, and perhaps, just perhaps, you might come into contact with a familiar face that gives you a warning before you fall too deep into it. Keep eating and you won't just forget. You’ll start wanting to eat things that aren’t meant to be eaten too.

After meeting with “Schneider”, you realise there’s only one way out of this hazy mess: help others to help yourself. It could be collecting little memories that glitter like “stars” amongst the trees, and walking people back to the scattered fragments of themselves.

Or it could be helping the shadowy farm workers, who look at you with disdain and ask:

“You city folk here to do some real work for once? Hurry up.”

They ask you to do a number of chores: chopping up firewood, cleaning stables, harvesting the oranges (but don’t you dare eat them without permission) and planting new trees. There’s also a church that you could help clean up and donate your funds towards which makes the shadowy figures very happy. Schneider will not be.

Each successful chore completed is another “part” of yourself returned, and the better equipped you are to help the people around you. Better start working.

It’s odd though. When you look outside the orange grove, it’s almost like the raindrops are moving in reverse.

(OOC: Schneider's top level is NOT time sensitive, nor is it a mod-run event. This can be treated like a regular top level to be tagged at your own pace! Welcome to your memloss event!)

WEATHER FORECAST

Gloomy. Grey skies about, and the sun seems to have hidden itself away for some reason. When it isn’t raining or storming, there somehow seems to always be the sound of thunder rolling in the distance. Eagle-eyed characters may even notice a metallic glint through the clouds, every now and then...

Characters that venture into the Nekyia during these two weeks will find themselves occasionally being afflicted with Dizzy during combat. Watch your step.

COMMISSIONS

TREASURE THE TEMPLE

Without the Priest or Priestess to care for the temple, it continues to grow dustier and more dismal by the day. Characters who work together to help with upkeep - dusting, sweeping, wiping down surfaces, even airing it out by opening up the windows - will not only receive the regular rewards, but also find themselves imbued with a gentle desire to spend some time taking care of those they care about, too.

MASTERS OF THEIR ELEMENT

There are Level 50 Shadows to be found in the Nekyia, though thankfully they are not on the prowl. One can be found in each cardinal and intercardinal direction: Garuda in the East, Surt in the South, Scathach in the West, and Fafnir to the North, as well as Dionysus in the North East, Michael in the North West, Alitat in the South West, and Belial in the South East. Each of these enemies has punishing attacks, and will need to be taken on by groups of three or more characters. However, upon defeat they will drop a stone that glows with a soft light that corresponds to an element colour (e.g. pink for Psy, red for Fire); offer these to Braphine’s temple to give the goddess strength, and receive a Magatama in that particular element.

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to receive an Elemental Magatama which deals medium damage to one target in one specific element, and is valid for one time use during any battle. This is only valid for the first turn in of the commission.)

BONDS AND CONNECTIONS

”My connection to Sunset City has been interrupted... I no longer have the strength to support you as I did before. Look out for each other, and keep forging new bonds; they will protect you when I cannot.”

While characters have gained strength from the bonds they’ve forged, there are still those who are freshly arrived with no such defenses; characters who make the effort to establish relationships with faces they have not interacted with much so far will be rewarded. If the character has not been used for a Social Link writeup, they are fair game! Characters may choose what activities they partake in at their own leisure, whether that’s battling alongside one another in the Nekyia or using one of those coupons for a free dinner at a fancy restaurant. They should, however, have a focus on getting to know each other during the activity.

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 11 and 12! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks.
Please note that there will be no log next week BUT there will be a network post going up for endgame plot purposes going up once Week 11's palaces are complete!
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 Haruka's palace are underway and will start later today, and our Clover (capped) and Moon (FFA) palaces will be going up later this weekend!
Don't forget to check in with AC to get your endgame unlocks and submit your rewards/Rank 10 social links before 20 October, 11:59PM EST!

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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Comments

[speedingticket]

[ He won't mind talking about it, but maybe further into the conversation. That would be one doozy of an opener.

Rutile passes Shalem his cup before lifting his to his lips. He smiles over the rim. ]

Did you see the commissions? There's one about getting to know everyone better. [ Sip... Mm, that's nice. ] Now that things have calmed a bit, I thought it would be a good idea to sit and chat with anyone that happens to be in today.

We can talk about anything you like.

[prozaic]

I see. [Very fortunate, then, that Rutile asked for something low-stakes like this rather than something like hunting down those massive shadows. Even Shalem doesn't feel like doing that right now.]

Allow me to me selfish and drive the conversation, then.

[He takes up his own cup but doesn't drink yet.]

Have you experienced the art of this place, yet?

[speedingticket]

[ Not selfish at all! Rutile likes the initiative.

He'll just tilt his head, though. ]

Do you mean...visual art? Performance art, that sort of thing? Or something else.

[prozaic]

Or music. Or literature. It all depends on the sort of art you find appealing...

But I'd wager that one of the two you mentioned are what indeed what appeal to you the most. They were what came to mind, after all.

[speedingticket]

Oh yes, of course! All of the above. [ Music generally falls under performance art, in his mind. Things Westerners do. ] I love it all and I love the stories all art tells. I like music, dance, plays, puppet shows, food...

[ He appreciates it all, at least that's what his tone of voice suggests. He brightens. ]

But I love visual art the best. I love drawing and painting. [ It is his favorite... ] I haven't gotten a chance to experience any of the art here, though. What do you suggest?

[prozaic]

[The genuine joy in Rutile's tone is exactly what Shalem was looking for, and he knows he's in the presence of a kindred spirit. Not many appreciate art for one reason or another.

Shalem may be a performer, but he knows how to appreciate the visual arts as well.]

There are small galleries here and there, primarily at Carnation Court.

[And it should be fairly obvious from his tone that he knows where exactly they are.]

The pieces they sell are expensive, but still worth visitng, solely for the experience.

[speedingticket]

Carnation Court...

[ Rutile looks around, as though looking for something. Ah, the one time he doesn't bring his sketchbook with him is the one time he wants to write something down.

Oh well! He'll look at Shalem again and nod. He can always ask if he forgets. It's a lovely name, though, so that's unlikely. ]

Gosh, I don't think I could afford any of the art, but I would love to take a look around. Museums are so cool.

[ He'll grab a cookie! ]

I take it you like art yourself, Shalem.

[prozaic]

I do. Perhaps I'm not well-versed in the visual arts...

[A pause to take a sip of tea to wet his throat, because he knows he will be rambling for too long once he gets started.]

However, I enjoy theatre, music, dance. The feeling of slipping into a costume as the beginning of a new role, stepping out onto the stage as an entirely different person, dancing as your muscles ache and your bones creak with the music welling up in your ears... There's nothing like it. [Oh, wait, he's getting ahead of himself.] I was once a performer, but perhaps one day, I can return to the stage.

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile takes the chance to bite into his cookie...

And soon his chewing slows as he stares with wide-eyed wonder at Shalem. Most people he knows have a general appreciation for the arts. Wizards are universally drawn to music and dance, and Rutile himself likes art and storytelling in particular. There's a particular joy he gets when he's proud of a certain picture, or the looks on children's faces as they're exposed to new and wider worlds through stories. That, he loves.

But this. This is Western wizard stuff. And it goes a little beyond the way Rutile sees things. He looks at his tea party buddy, reevaluating and readjusting the way he looks at him. ]

Wow... [ A soft smile finally blooms over his face. ] That's an incredibly beautiful way to put it. I know a good handful of people who would be so happy to hear you say that.

[ He can see the chaos now... ]

I would love to see you perform someday, though. What's stopping you from going back to the stage?

cw: illness talk

[prozaic]

Our current circumstances. [which is a silly thing to say... but it's still a reason!] Perhaps when this is all over, I'll see about working on my second debut...

[But he puts his cup down and waits for a pause in Rutile's eating and drinking just so he doesn't choke when Shalem delivers his next lines.]

But the heart of the matter is that I'm ill. [With a finger, the serpent draws a line down the left side of his neck, drawing into focus the scattered black crystals growing on it, and disappearing down underneath his shirt.] This will be difficult to hide even with make-up and costumes, and it affects me in daily life. I'd like my health in order before I try.

[Which is a bit of a white lie-- he's not going to get better. He can only feel better on a good day.

But it's also a lie with layers, because it's not the true reason why he quit. It's simply... why he's staying away even after he's gotten over the issues that made him quit.]

cw: illness talk

[speedingticket]

[ That would be a good reason not to do it. Rutile smiles a little bit at that.

...But it slowly dissolves when Shalem points out the crystals on his neck, and his eyes widen. He...does have a vague memory of Shalem collapsing into stone moments after he did the same, but he blinks it away. ]

Oh, gosh... [ He gives a small gasp, and his brows raise in sympathy. That's an illness?

Still, he doesn't know it's terminal. His mind is torn between wanting to help but knowing that, without his magic, he can't. Slowly, he lifts himself from his seat and reaches out. ]

May I see?

cw: body horror

[prozaic]

[Shalem can almost hear the medics back at Rhodes Island, yelling at him to be mindful of his health, as he pulls his collar down and presents his neck for Rutile to see.

Yes, those are indeed dark crystals growing out of his skin, and not on top of it. His skin has managed to heal at least, so it does not look like a terrible mess.]

Go ahead. Mind you, the skin between them may become sensitive at random. [Unpleasantly so.] But I'm not infectious.

cw: body horror

[speedingticket]

[ Mindful not to knock any of the snacks over, Rutile leans over to touch the crystals.

Oh. Well, before he does, he realizes he hadn't even thought about it being infectious (since he assumes he still has his natural fortitude), so he pauses. Anyway—

He gently glides his finger over the edge of one crystal, studying the array and the surrounding skin with equal parts concern and curiosity. ]

Does it hurt?

[ Like, in general. ]

cw: body horror

[prozaic]

It does not. [Now that is, surprisingly, the truth! It doesn't hurt... at the moment. He's just vaguely aware that his neck is a bit sensitive around the area today, but no pain. Today is a decent day, possibly because he's well-rested and hasn't had to fight since rescuing Shin.]

I'm usually only in pain after a strenuous battle, especially if I used a lot of magic during it. But since I've held off on performing magic lately, my condition is good.

cw: body horror

[speedingticket]

[ A bit Rutile's tension evaporates at that; he still looks at the crystals, eyes doing more studying than his hands seem to be.

But the relief doesn't last long. His gaze snaps up to Shalem, and despite the placid expression on his face, his eyes are sharp. ]

Then, does that mean you're putting yourself at risk whenever you fight here?

[ A genuine question, but also. Since he was definitely at Shin's palace.

Scolding: ] Shalem.

[prozaic]

[Unfortunately, Shalem is immune to this. He simply shakes his head.]

I'm not the sort to let people fight for me, not when my power can help turn the tides in our favour.

I also know how to minimize the risk, as I use magic only sparingly nowadays.

[Then a sip of tea, casual as you please.]

[speedingticket]

I know. But even if you don't want people fighting for you, think of the people who will worry for you instead. The people who care about you won't want to see you in pain, regardless.

[ He'll still nag, though. At least he can have a regular conversation with Shalem, so he has hope that what he says will get through. ]

But, I suppose if you know how to manage it...

[ He sits back down in his chair with a sigh, not pressing it any further. If Shalem insists, then.

Rutile's gaze still rests on his hands. ]

If only I had my magic... Maybe I'd be able to help you.

[prozaic]

I know that Haruka worries about it, even if he doesn't say so. Perhaps if you two were to put your heads together... ah, well. Who knows. [That's accompanied by a smile that's almost apologetic, even if he doesn't feel guilty. He does, but not for this. It feels... nice, to be fussed over by Haruka, a spoiled brat who he keeps on spoiling solely because it's fun.]

But as I said, magic is the catalyst for these crystals, and if I avoid casting as much as possible, no one needs to worry as much.

[Then he picks up one of the biscuits and sniffs it. It's clear from his casual demeanour that he'd come to terms with his own mortality a long time ago, that his illness is barely a blip in his priorities.]

[speedingticket]

[ Talk to Haruka. Noted. Rutile knows that his favorite doctor in the whoooole wide world could probably help Shalem, but he's not here. Ah, well.

He'll pick up a sandwich but not bite into it quite yet. ]

All right, I trust you to manage it, then. But please tell someone if you do end up using too much magic and it hurts, okay?

[ He doesn't have to suffer alone!

Rutile bites into his sandwich when a thought immediately comes to him. His eyes widen with excitement, he covers his mouth with his hand because he knows he's about to show some pretty bad manners by talking with his mouth full. ]

There's an acting troupe here. Did you join that?

[prozaic]

No, I did not. I did some work for them weeks back, but I would rather help them from backstage rather than act for them.

I prefer the opera, or at the very least musicals. [And that troupe performs neither!]

Besides, I would rather concentrate on getting stronger, in preparation for the inevitable... And spending time those I care for in the meantime.