Event #14: Locking Up the Sun and Moon

[seasonsmods]

Locking Up the Sun and Moon
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION

Keep it Clean

Part 1

All of the four guilds are hosting a spring cleaning weekend. There are plenty of things to do! Organizing tools, prepping ready-to-go adventure packages for future endeavors, throwing out old and used things that can't be repaired to give some examples. There's a lot of activity in the buildings and anyone who even glances at them will be pestered to join.

Everyone who participates in the event will get a free ready-to-go adventure package that they can take with them next time they're going questing. The package includes rations, barrier stones, enchanted ropes, emergency one-use travel crystals & as a set of segment-appropriate tools: ice axes & - picks made of crystals to pierce even tougher surfaces, gravity boots that keep someone down during any kind of wind, portable fans that keep someone nicely cool and a cape that turns into a full rain and thunder proof raincoat when the first drops fall.

All of it is, however, a coverup. On Friday, a message was sent to all otherworlders, telling them about the upcoming mission preparations being masqueraded as a spring cleaning event. They still haven't found whoever has been leaking information, so this is a way to keep them out of the loop. Further details of the mission will be given on Monday through the same method.

There's also a request to keep an eye on any of the guild staff in case they do something suspicious or ask too many questions.

Part 2

The message on Monday is cancelled. Instead, come Sunday evening all of the lights flicker and disappear from the city. Not long after most of the electricity in the city also gets cut off. Panic starts spreading in the city and locals start running around, bumping into each other in the darkness.

Some of the districts do have backup generators that they can use to maintain important devices. There are also movable generators that can be delivered to other locations as needed and otherworlders are asked to help move them more quickly.

Despite electricity being restored, the light sources still malfunction. Any lamps just stay dark, almost as if the lightbulbs have burned out. Yet changing them doesn't do anything. Even the tacky neon signs are out of order. The only sources of light are flashlights, candles and whatever magic and abilities can do at this point.

Because even the night sky seems to be entirely too dark.

When The Lights Go Out

Part 1

In the segments, the nights become even darker than before. The moon and the stars disappear from the sky, leaving behind only a blank black canvas. Creatures and plants with the ability to glow or otherwise provide light are the only things that can be seen in the distance.

Hours pass by and morning comes, but the sky is still pitch black. Even the sun has disappeared from the sky and it's impossible to tell the time of day. All of the creatures in the Segments are unpredictable due to this weird change - even aggressive.

Anyone with the ability to get to the skies will note that it's not that the objects of the sky have disappeared; it's like something is blocking them. It's a black veil that feels impossible to break and touching it will make someone suffer from burn damage (even if they'd be resistant to fire). The part of the body that touched the black veil will be stained with black curse energy that will start to spread across the body.

Following the black veil it looks like it's truly spread around the whole world. The dragons will inform anyone they find that there are mysterious black rods near the barriers that are sending energy towards the skies. They tried to get rid of them but they have the same effect as the black veil.

Part 2

Inside the city chaos worsens. Criminals start targeting locals and stores all over the places, robbing whatever they get their hands on. For some reason it seems that all of the criminals are able to see just fine. Anyone who is connected to the crime questboard will have received special contact lenses that will let them see normally in complete darkness.

To make matters worse the Nightwake Main Police Station is under attack as well. Criminals are escaping their jail cells and taking hostages. They range from petty thieves to serial killers. The police force is doing whatever they can to capture them again and protect the citizens. Many of the escapees won't go down without a fight, and some might force a lethal confrontation.

A group of the Nightshade gang is also headed to find the Doctor to release him, armed with weapons and bombs that contain poison. They are determined to free their 'Master' and bring him to safety.

Otherworlders are called to help with the situation. They're even offered all kinds of safety gear, including bulletproof vests and masks that protect from poison. Even all of the four guild leaders can be seen fighting criminals, both inside the police station and outside.

Part 3

Criminals aren't the only danger in the city during the darkness. Creatures of the night start appearing. A clan of vampires that has been hiding in the city's darkest corners take a step forward, targeting anyone for blood. These vampires look very much like humans, but it's all just a glamour and anyone who has the ability to see through them will see their true forms.

Vampires are humanoid creatures, but they're very monster-like otherwise. Their skin is pale and their eyes are blood red. In addition to their sharp fangs, they also have very long nails. Depending on how fed they are, their appearance will change. Those who have recently had blood will look 'healthy' and resemble humans more closely, while those starving look like they're about to wither away.

Being bit by a vampire doesn't necessarily turn anyone into one. However the risk gets higher the longer the vampire feeds on the person. Those left on the brink of death will turn into a vampire unless they die first. Those turned into vampires are likely to attack the first person they see due to hunger.

Vampires can't stand in the sun for long periods of time, otherwise they will burn. They also can't see their reflection on the mirror, which is also a way to identify one. All of the vampires also have superhuman strength and speed and can only be killed by either a stab to their heart or by decapitation.

Tied Up Solution

Part 1

The situation in Nightwake takes a positive turn as all the electricity and lights are fully restored by Wednesday. The skies, however, still continue to be pitch black.

Most of the criminals start retreating, attempting to flee back into their hideouts. Some, however, continue their crime sprees stubbornly and get more reckless without the cover of darkness. Some of them are even trying to destroy all of the streetlights to bring back their cover.

The worst of the chaos at the police station dies down by Thursday evening. There are still criminals on the run and the whole place is a mess, but the greatest dangers have been dealt with. What happened to the Doctor is still a mystery as the part of the building he was in collapsed during the fights. Until the debris has been cleared out they will assume the Doctor missing.

The guild leaders start figuring out a solution to what is happening with the sky, together with the Fairy Queen, the Dragon Lord, the Mermaid Queen and the Siren King.

Part 2

On Saturday the guild leaders contact all of the otherworlders. A solution to their problem has been found after investigation and analyzation. Everyone is asked to gather at the guilds as soon as possible.

Everyone is tasked to travel to one of the edges of the barrier, as marked on the map. They're the locations of the dark rods that are creating the black veil on the sky. The dragons will take anyone there quickly with their fast travel abilities.

There the otherworlders are tasked to work in pairs or groups and stand somewhere near the dark rod without touching it. They're provided with a special fairy ribbon that is tied around their hands.

Once everything is set up, the task is to channel both touch energy and magical energy into the ribbon. This will take time and concentration and all of the people connected to the ribbon have to achieve harmony. This may fail, but it can always be attempted again.

Only once the required energies are in the ribbon will it move and touch the dark rod, clearing a portion of the dark energy away from it. If someone's concentration fails at the last moment the spell will backfire and send them flying backwards. There's also a risk of getting a part of the corruption due to it.

After enough people have used the ribbon to clear the darkness from the rod it will turn white and break, leaving glittering particles in the air. A portion of the sky is freed from the veil. Once all of the rods are gone, the skies return to normal.

Those who have at any point gotten corrupted by the black veil or the dark rods will find that their corruption starts clearing in the sun- or moonlight. However, some may end up not healing properly, depending on how far the corruption has gone. They are invited to the Fairy Kingdom for some intense healing that will take 24 hours - and a lot of fairy dust.

Part 3

Once again the otherworlders are regarded as heroes. There would be a party, but the city is a huge mess after the chaos. However, they are promised a big feast once everything has been cleared out and made right again.

For now everyone receives a hefty prize of 10,000 Moon Coins and gift cards to either a nice spa weekend or a fancy restaurant.

OOC TIPS

Summary of the prompts [ Click to Expand ]

Keep it Clean
• Guilds are in the middle of spring cleaning
• The real reason for the cleaning is to secretly prepare for the next mission
• Characters are asked to keep an eye on anyone suspicious

• Light start suddenly flickering out
• Soon after all of the electricity gets shut off
• Locals panic and characters are asked to help distribute movable generators
• Even if electricity gets restored with generators, lights don't come back on
• Something is wrong with the sky

When The Lights Go Out
• The sun, the moon and the stars disappear from the sky
• There's a black veil made of cursed material blocking them
• The material will corrupt anyone who touches it
• The reason for the veil are black rods made of the same material

• Back in the city criminals start moving and causing chaos
• Criminals (and anyone connected to the criminal questboard) have contact lenses that let them see in the dark
• Nightwake Main Police Station is under attack
• Criminals of different danger range escape
• Nightshade is on the move to free the Doctor

• A clan of vampires emerges from the shadows
• They will target anyone they see for a meal
• The longer they feast on someone the higher the risk that they turn into a vampire
• Vampires can only be killed by either a stab to their heart or by decapitation

Tied Up Solution
• Electricity and lights are restored to the city by Wednesday (May 21st)
• Some criminals are trying to destroy light sources still
• Chaos at the Police Station calms down, but the Doctor is currently missing behind a wall of debri
• Guild leaders and the various leaders of other races start working on a solution

• On Saturday (May 24th) the guild leaders contact all of the otherworlders, asking them to gather at the guilds
• Everyone is tasked to travel to one of the edges of the barrier, as marked on a map
• Otherworlders are tasked to work in pairs or groups and stand somewhere near the dark rod
• Using a magical fairy ribbon tied to each of the group's hands, they will work together to destroy the dark rods bit by bit
• Losing concentration risks getting corrupted
• Sun-/Moonlight will cure the corruption, unless it has spread too far - in that case the Fairies will invite the person for some intense healing that will take 24 hours - and a lot of fairy dust

• Otherworlders are regarded as heroes
• ... but partying has to wait until the city is cleaned
• Everyone gets a prize of 10,000 Moon Coins and gift cards to either a nice spa weekend or a fancy restaurant

• Ask event related questions here

• Sign up for RNG on if your character catches a suspicious guild staff member.

• Please head to this thread to help us determine the Doctor's fate at the Police Station.

• Characters can avoid getting their electricity cut off, but lights will go out everywhere for a good while.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on May 31st, at 23:59 PST.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[starwill]

Apparently I found out I don't have a heart. Or blood.

[abnormalizes]

It's kind of a little of both? My neighborhood back home was rough, and the mortality rate at my job was really high, so if I didn't know how to fight I'd be dead several times over.

Here... I have the option not to fight if I don't want to - most of the time, the danger stays out in the Segments. But if I get out of practice, I start getting uneasy, just because I'm used to fighting all the time. So less like a hobby and more... habit, I guess?

[happydreamed]

Ah.

Is that... normal?

[starwill]

I don't know. Maybe? I have the Stellaron in my chest, so maybe I just have that instead of a heart?

[abnormalizes]

...Does Chipp drink blood?

[If he does, she has got to get him to take the helmet off more often, damn.]

[roundandaround]

I dunno, but Ren-san drinks blood now, so I was already gonna make some more blood cake, and you wanted to try some too, so I thought I should probably ask.

[Rinku logic.]

[abnormalizes]

Hmmm... I think food is pretty important to Chipp? So on the one hand he'd probably be happy you made him something, but on the other hand, maybe something other than blood cake would be better?

[roundandaround]

Huh, that makes sense... I should really keep working to get better, then. I still make a mess sometimes. At least it hasn't been as bad as Yuletide when I took a bunch of tries to make our fried chicken.

Re: When the Lights Go Out Part 2

[myeasterbest]

The portal opens and White Rabbit cannot escape the pull of gravity when Macaque puts the portal under him. He falls in is trapped at the waist. He grunts as he hangs in the air, nothing under his feet from what he feels. Like he's dangling in midair. An impressive and rather dangerous power. If his demon could seal that around him, he could slice him in half by closing it completely.

He turns his gaze to the demon and it hardens.

"I would make a slave of no one. Not even my own enemies. I do not know to whom you are referring. Or who you seem to have me confused with. Whoever they are, I would sooner kill someone doing such things than permit them to continue. Much like yourself, it would seem."

Re: When the Lights Go out Part 3

[myeasterbest]

[The rabbit doesn't advance, thankfully. He keeps a hold of the severed arm in one hand, his sword now at his side in the other. White Rabbit's smiles as Frieda gets in the way and holds out her arms. Then she uses the royal 'we' and it turns his smile into a grin.]

So. You are one of them as well.

Good. I was hoping to speak with a vampire capable of more rational thought.

Atem | Yu-Gi-Oh! | Autumn

[ancientgamer]

Keep It Clean - Part 1

Being harangued into assisting the Autumn Guild was not exactly on Atem's list of things to-do today. He rarely went out adventuring as he was content to simply work at a game shop in Nightwake and participate in Quests that kept him within the city limits for now. Atem knew how to fight, he had to learn in order to be a competent Pharaoh, after all. But an adventurer, he was not. None the less, he was now ironically in the weapons room dusting and cleaning and rearranging the training weapons for those who wished to learn more than just their seasonal abilities.

He sighed a little to himself, placing the last of the pile of arrows into the respective quiver to hang with the bow. Atem stood up and stretched, before heading over to hang it on the rack. Not before grabbing a step ladder because despite the way he carried himself, straightened back and dignified movements, he was still only five feet tall. And while he was up there...

"If you are done with your set, hand them to me and I will hang them up for you."

Honestly, it was almost worse that this was largely a ruse. Alas.

Keep It Clean - Part 2

Atem struck the match against the side of the box, the darkness illuminated finally after the sudden black out. He had been closing the store when it occurred and while he could have simply locked the doors and gone home, the panicking citizens outside told a different story. One by one, he lit candles throughout the store along with two lanterns near the door. Sometimes, keeping things old fashioned had its perks and as the warm, gentle glow filled the store, Atem felt content for a moment. Then, he opened the door and shoved a stopper against it to keep it there.

Should anyone need a well lit place to sit and rest, the game shop would offer such a place. The vending machines had just been filled with drinks and snacks as the game shop also frequently hosted all kinds of gaming nights. Of course, without the power, there was no way to pay for the food but Atem had simply unlocked the cabinets.

"Please, come on in, I'm sure the power will be back on shortly," He said to anyone coming in. Atem was likely seen as an oddity at the moment, dressed in modern day clothes but wore jewelry quite obviously from ancient Egypt, his eyes lined with kohl. Old habits died hard, even after 3,000 years and spending a good chunk of time in a teenage Japanese boy's body. "The drinks won't be cold but help yourself."

When The Lights Go Out - Part 2/3

It soon became obvious that he couldn't just keep the door open. Criminals had escaped jail and were taking to the streets as well as vampires taking advantage of the darkness. He summoned animated earth creations resembling the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl to stand guard. He gave them just enough sentience to know when to fight or when to stand down depending on who came to the store for aid or not.

Atem himself was not above fighting as well and he stood by the window keeping watch as well, arms crossed. He did not have any kind of night vision, so he could only see as far as his candles and lanterns let him, but he wasn't going to let that stop him from protecting those who sought refuge in the store or those on the outside.

Of course, it also helped that there's a nearly army sized amount of Kuribohs ready to launch at any criminal or vampire who got too close.

[OOC: Will match if you don't want to use prose. Feel free to DM if you want to wildcard something or hit my up on Discord at mossflowered.]

[hometown]

"I guess that makes sense."

Does it, though? Reiner is going with it either way!

"Do you have to worry about stuff you touch?"

[boombam]

[Cole's distraction is perfect. Just enough time for Katsuki to close the gap between him and the other vampire. He won't go for exploding this guy's head like he wanted to originally. Instead, Katsuki uses his Winter powers to summon a handful of water that he then manipulates into a sharp whip.

Using it quickly, and powerfully-- it slices clean through the arm of the vampire as it reaches out to grab at Katsuki. It screams in pain, and Katsuki cackles in response and uses an explosion to blast the vampire into the wall of the building next door. He then rushes over to Cole, to check if he's alright while the monster is K'O'd for at least a couple of minutes.]

Hey-- you alright? Did you get bit?

[tethered_roamer]

No, I'm alright. I just couldn't get enough space to do anything.

[Being this close, it's impossible to miss the fact that Bakugo's emotions are coming through like they're diluted in water. But he doesn't want to ask yet There is something more important first.

He looks at the stunned vampire.]

What do we do with him? He's still a threat.

[boombam]

[Katsuki will look him over just real quick-- checking his neck without caring if it makes Cole uncomfortable or not to have him suddenly pull his collar down to look. But now that he's satisfied after seeing no bite marks anywhere, he'll address the elephant in the room.]

I'm gonna kill 'im. A good boom should pop that head like a grape.

[He bares his teeth when he says that, an angry scowl showing fangs that surely weren't so pronounced before?]

If you have a problem with that, look away.

[tweelight]

[ A virgin demon, clearly. ]

I'm the Demon King.

[ He wishes he could be, like. Proud when he says that. The way he could be if he was meeting demons back home. But the title is basically 'the enemy of humanity' as far as history is concerned, and who even knows what people will make of it here... ]

[tethered_roamer]

[He does stiffen when his collar is grabbed, but he stays put and settles for watching Bakugo out of the corner of his eye. Thankfully, he didn't let the guy keep hold long enough to even attempt a bite so he's got nothing to hide.

Seeing that his feeling was correct though...that's a truly sobering felling and he gives a half-hearted shrug. Not so squeamish as to need to look away.]

Right now that's probably for the best. We're stretched to thin to try and keep every vampire acting out confined.

[boombam]

And you know this asshole would want some kinda revenge the moment he wakes up.

[Katsuki agrees, and is glad that Cole isn't telling him to hold back. He's completely uninterested in trying to take any vampires captor and try to throw them in jail and the whole proper Hero-shebang. These guys don't deserve the due process, he thinks.

Because Cole's suspicions are absolutely correct. And he was so angry.

And now that the two were on the same page, Katsuki walks over to the unconscious vampire and grabs hold onto it's head with his hand and pulls it out of the wall. Activating his Quirk to gather enough sweat that when he ignites-- it blows almost the entire torso off.]

Oops.

[He's grinning far too wide for that to be an "oops".]

[tethered_roamer]

Uh-huh. You'd be a menace to vampires back home, you know that?

[He's not judging, it's just facts.

Picking his way through the small chunks left behind, he steps up next to Bakugo and looks up at him. He almost hesitates but then he speaks up.]

I'm not going to ask if you're okay, because I can guess most of the answer...but do you want to talk about it?

[boombam]

[Katsuki will take it. He likes being called a menace of any kind.

When Cole walks up next to him, and then hesitantly asks if he wants to talk about "it", Katsuki's smile wanes until it's a thin, somber line. Does he want to talk about it? It's still so fresh, and he's already had a few conversations about it already. None that left him feeling particularly hopeful in the end...]

...yeah.

[But Cole is different than most people Katsuki talks to. He understands Katsuki a bit more, the blonde feels like. They're closer in age and similar in personality, and Katsuki still has this... stupid "big brother" idealization about Cole that makes him a bit biased towards him.

So yeah. He'd like to talk about it.]

But we should find somewhere safe, first. I can fend off most vampires, but I've only got the one arm. We're screwed if we're outnumbered.

[tethered_roamer]

Yeah, you're capable, but I'm getting close to tapped out so my options are pretty limited. We can use my room at the hotel. Just a second.

[Bakugo is similar to him in a surprising number of ways. It can be a little like talking to a taller, more assertive and openly headstrong version of himself sometimes. But still someone who gets what he's talking about more than most people not from his world...and maybe some from it too.

He wants to help him through this as much as he can. If he can. And if that involves talking, then good. If not, maybe some other way. But it's a lot like having a younger brother. Someone to look out for, even if he won't always need it. Which also tugs hard at that part of him that demands he protect.

It only takes a second, Cole opening the nearest door to reveal a fairly nice hotel room on the other side. He steps through the gate first, his Mask flickering into view in the instant between stepping forward and entering the room properly. Then he's the same as Bakugo always sees him.]

[urtitan]

Maybe so.

[She feels a pang of regret - she'd been working up her courage to reach out to Dr. Miyata after getting his contact details from Dr. Kantera, having meant to seek permanent employment as a healer, but now, that plan seems dashed. With how she just lost control of herself, how could she work in a place full of vulnerable people?

Getting up and supporting Rinku, she registers that she feels... fine, all things considered. There's no sense of exhaustion or weakness.]

Let's just briefly pass by the square to see if everyone there is alright.

[Hopefully, fellow otherworders - or even the locals themselves - have figured out a workaround for her missing light magic! If not, she'll attempt to leave a few fixtures in place, but she isn't experienced in "installing" elemental magic rather than just using it in the moment.]

[boombam]

[Katsuki's eyebrows raise a little when the mask flickers, but only just a bit. It didn't last long enough for him to get a good look at it, and he finds himself kind of curious but... he won't mention anything about it for now. He's not sure if it's something Cole's sensitive about or not.

He's also still surprised with all this gate stuff, too. But he tries not to show how hesitant he feels when he steps through. Maybe after the 100th gate, he'll finally be used to them...

Once they're both safely in Cole's hotel room, Katsuki will move to take a seat on the bed. Leaving room if Cole wants to sit next to him.]

...so I'm a vampire now.

[He'll just go ahead and start right there.]

[tethered_roamer]

[After making sure the gate's gone, because who knows what all could actually stop working right now, he does join Bakugo on the bed. He appreciates the lack of questions about his Mask, partly because he is a bit self-conscious about it, but mostly because he wants Bakugo to be able to work through this before they add anything onto it.

To his credit, he doesn't mention that he knows even though he looks entirely unsurprised by the statement. It would be a little cruel to respond with "Yeah, I noticed". So instead he just looks him in the eye and speaks up.]

I know it's soon, but how are you feeling about this? The change...but also what that means for you?

[mayoninofukucho]

[For what it's worth, Hijikata isn't intimidated! If anything, he perks right up.]

The Demon King? Will the local demons listen to you? We have a big demon problem in the Winter Segment, you know.

[After a moment, he adds:]

Well, I guess it's not as big anymore since we cleared a bunch of them out, but those bastards are persistent!