Event #14: Locking Up the Sun and Moon

[seasonsmods]

Locking Up the Sun and Moon
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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

[emanation]

I mean I haven't been able to do much with stuff here yet, only with the blessings I got from my patrons.

{ he sighs. } Honestly I haven't figured out how to do much with the powers we get here yet.

[hometown]

Reiner considers it for another moment, then nods. "Guess that makes sense."

As much sense as magic ever makes. Even after all his time in Ellipsa, and all the study he has put into it, it's still something of a mystery to Reiner.

[hometown]

Reiner groans and laughs simultaneously, putting a hand to his forehead.

"Ugh, don't remind me. I'd almost managed to forget about that stuff," he says lightheartedly, smiling at the ridiculousness of said merchandise.

[ancientgamer]

A non-believer? How so?

[Since Ezra corrected him, Atem was assuming the man wasn't of the devout. He only had limit experience with Christianity itself and virtually none with exorcism.

He looked behind him to the two duel monsters and lifted a shoulder.]

I only gained the ability this month. But these creations, their design, are much older than that. [He reached for the trading card holder he had attached to his belt and pulled out both the Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl cards. He used the light of his phone to show them to Exra.] The hard part wasn't the creation, but animating them.

[Although, it did help that he had been able to reunite with Mahad and Mana when he was able to finally enter the Field of Reeds.]

[emanation]

It's a long story, but essentially while I have blessings from angels and believe in them... uh God? Not so much.

{ it's complicated(tm) }

But that's pretty cool. You used those cards for the design then? { honestly by much he assumes a few years, not a millennia-- } Doesn't that take a lot of energy?

[boombam]

[Katsuki is really quiet when he listens to Cole. His anger slowly fading as he listens to his explanation of his thought process and why he's trying so hard to help. And the last thing he says? About how Katsuki was so excited to open a Hero agency and was so passionate about his dream? And how he doesn't want to see that dream damaged? It... really connects with him.

Because.. he is still Bakugo. Isn't he? Just... a different kind of Bakugo. And he's already come to terms with the fact that there's a billion different versions of him out there, so he'll just have to accept that he's a special flavour of Katsuki. The Limited Edition Halloween Version-- or something stupid like that.]

...you're right, Cole. I am still Bakugo Katsuki. And Bakugo Katsuki is known for being a Hero--- the best Hero. Without letting anything get in the way of that.

[Obviously it's going to be easy for him to sit here and say "I'm Bakugo and I'm going to make myself get over this", which is more or less what he's saying, but at the very least it's a start to him accepting this new life and adapting to it proper. Sometimes he just needs some radical acceptance, some forced ego, and he'll be good to go.]

I think... my biggest flaw right now is that I keep comparing myself to how I was before I got here. And holding myself to expectations and morals from home that don't really apply here.

I know we talked about how people with Villainous Quirks can be judged harshly for how they worked. There's... actually a Villain that's part of the group who kidnapped me with a vampire Quirk. I don't know much about her, but I do know people have judged her harshly because she needs to drink blood for her Quirk to work.

Hell... I judged her for it. I thought it was gross, and I thought that it fit a Villain perfectly. Like a T. And it didn't help that she was really violent and freaky about it.

[...now he's realizing this might be a big reason why he feels so much like a Villain.]

Maybe I've been scared to turn into her. ...I dunno.

[abnormalizes]

"Nope, sorry, you don't get to forget about it. Rinku bought every clean item of my merchandise, so I can't forget about it and I'm not letting you get away from it either."

At least she only bought the clean stuff.

cw: limb loss

[abnormalizes]

"Oh, that's a good idea."

Of course, Evangeline can't just sit back and let him do all the work, so she begins using her scythe to methodically slice off legs and arms. Nothing vital, just agonizingly painful.

[abnormalizes]

I will, I promise. You too, when you go out.

[She kisses Rinku's forehead gently.]

We've got this. Don't worry.

[roundandaround]

[Rinku lowers her head so Evangeline doesn't have to stand on her toes, given they're so close in height. She giggles and nods, holding Hina gently.]

Thanks, Neechan. I believe in you!

[She heads into the hotel, full of love and glowing like a beacon. Evangeline really is the greatest.]

[abnormalizes]

Do cooking manga show you all the initial failed attempts before you get something down?

[tweelight]

Me too...

[ With that he drifts off. Pretty unguarded, for how recently they met. ]

[abnormalizes]

[...Well, she can't move now, she'd wake him back up. She has difficulty falling asleep around people she doesn't know well, but this is her home, she has a bunch of protections in place... So it should be fine, right?

It takes a while, but eventually she falls asleep on top of him.]

[roundandaround]

Hm... sometimes? Like in Yumeiro Patissiere, they usually have to try something new a million times and pull all-nighters in the kitchen before a competition or something, and there was that one episode with the kiwi jelly that fell apart.

[abnormalizes]

Fire takes some practice, but it's... pretty straightforward, in terms of combat application? Figuring out what to do with wind or ice powers can be harder, I hear.

🔥 Diluc Ragnvindr

[phoenixblessed]

i. Keep it Clean

[He’s on his way home from the coffee shop when the lights go out. Having been hunting for those irritating bugs intent on knocking the power out of any electrical item they can cling to he doesn’t mark it for what it is immediately, but quickly realises that the outage is far more extensive than the ones he’s been dealing with before now.]

What in the world… [Diluc mutters to himself, and a curl of fire appears in the palm of his hand. He lifts his arm up, casting some light ahead of himself, and lets out a soft grunt of annoyance. In the main street he can hear a few people calling out in alarm and he heads for the noise with quick strides, stepping back almost immediately once he arrives to avoid accidentally setting someone alight as they hurriedly rush past him.]

Watch where you’re--! [Sigh. He shakes the flame out and frowns.] Now what.

ii. When The Lights Go Out

[Diluc doesn’t hang around close to the centre of Nightwake immediately after the lights go out. He makes his way out to the segments where the native creatures are unsettled by the sudden darkness and the dark void across the sky, turning several more persistent creatures back from the populated areas with flashes of fire and wide swings of a flaming sword.

On his return a couple of days later, finding the city still in complete darkness, Diluc returns to his vigilante roots and focuses mostly on the areas of the city centre where the police seem unable to keep a full patrol. Criminals would find themselves yanked off the street and threatened by someone who sounds very much like he will definitely set them alight if they don’t get out of his sight and stay that way before he sends them running, tripping over themselves to get away from him.

Though he does tend to prefer to work alone, under the circumstances… a partner wouldn’t be entirely unwelcome. Or just some company.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[The first thing to come out of Diluc’s mouth on hearing that the guild leaders have come up with a solution is ‘it took them long enough’, without even so much of a hint of embarrassment should he be overheard.

He chooses one of the rods to head to and claims a ribbon, but then finds himself looking up at the somewhat imposing thing with a frown that is more annoyance than any kind of concern.]

Achieve harmony. [He says out loud, and he glances around at the people milling about this particular area as he fiddles with the ribbon in his hands.] Just what is that supposed to mean…

[And later on, once the sky has returned, Diluc is perfectly fine with not feeling obligated to attend a party. He’ll be spending time tidying up the street in front of and around his coffee shop, where some fools decided that it would be a fantastic idea to break some windows.]

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

💮 Guizhong

[godofdust]

i. Keep it Clean

What are you just standing around for?

[With a bright smile and far too much enthusiasm for so early in the morning, Guizhong will flutter around the Spring Guild making sure that everyone has everything they need to get to sorting and organising the place. Does she know there’s an ulterior motive to all of this? Absolutely! But she also knows very well that it has to look real if they’re going to flush out the people they’re looking for.

So--!]

Time to get a move on, we have things to do.

[Wink.

Later on, she’s still at the guild when everything goes dark. She starts passing out candles immediately and sets up a few lanterns outside the guild door, making it a clear beacon for anyone coming by looking for somewhere safe to stop.]

ii. When The Lights Go Out

What you doing out in the dark all by yourself, little lady?

[Said ‘little lady’ is Guizhong, peering into the dark towards the voice speaking out to her with a full air of innocence and nothing about her to suggest she has any real means of self-defence.]

Little lady? [She replies, an almost playful little quiver in her voice.] Oh dear, am I about to be robbed?

[Someone may step in here, perhaps just passing by or looking to be a hero. Or… they might be a few minutes late, and find the would-be assailant lying flat on their back with a small woman’s foot planted firmly on their chest as her eyes shine with a golden light.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[Guizhong is one of those who stays behind to keep an eye on the city and those still in it while the local heroes go to the borders of the veil to fix the problem. She’s in the middle of Nightwake when the barrier begins to break and reveals a portion of the sky overhead, and in her excitement she grabs hold of someone’s arm and points--]

Look! It’s working!

[And maybe there is a small sense of missing out on something, but she has a feeling this isn’t going to be the end of these problems.]

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

💎 Edmond

[sapphireknight]

i. Keep it Clean

[In the Summer Guild, Edmond is hard at work from the early hours organising the various supplies and weaponry kept at the guild. He quickly becomes visibly vexed by the amount of broken and unusable items that he keeps finding, putting them in a steadily growing pile at one side of the guild’s training yard.]

This is unacceptable.

[Exasperated, he heads outside to toss another handful of splintered arrows on top of the dismayingly large pile.]

If every guild is like this it’s no wonder this place is in such disarray. [That might be overstating it a little, but..! It’s such a waste. And, speaking of…]

Perhaps there is another use for at least some of this.

[Anyone could be forgiven for thinking he has forgotten what they are actually supposed to be doing… At least until they spot him catching someone trying to smuggle zapperpillars into the building. He immediately pulls them aside for some very stern-sounding questioning, to the point it might even look like they need some help getting away from him..?]

ii. When The Lights Go Out

Barricade the doors if you have to!

[Edmond is not someone prone to losing his cool in situations that require him to keep a level head, and this occasion is no different. From the moment the lights go out and the people being held in the cells within Nightwake’s main police station begin what appears to be a coordinated attempt to escape, the young sergeant immediately jumps to coordinating the team assigned to him as well as anyone else who might be (un?)lucky enough to fall under his attention.

He doesn’t stray too far from the station but is quite quick to pin down any criminals he spots tearing away in the dark, using a mixture of practiced telekinesis and flashes of fire to confuse and trip them up. Unfortunately, in the total darkness, more get away than he manages to spot (much to his annoyance).

Anyone coming too close to the police station will be warned to keep their distance, unless they want to help round up some escapees or try to assist with locking the place down again.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[He wants to be with the groups heading out to remove the barrier, truly he does, but duty demands he stay exactly where he is and with the criminal element of Nightwake as well as the gang activity becoming an increasing problem as the days go by and the darkness remains, he simply doesn’t feel that abandoning his post is the correct thing to do.

There is more than enough going on in and around the station to keep him occupied even if his thoughts do occasionally stray off to what he might be doing had he chosen to go.

The return of the sky is more than a small relief either way, and he does venture outside to look up at the segments that are already cleared as if he’s making sure that it’s real.]

… If anything like this happens again, it will be far too soon.

[He’ll no doubt spend the next week or two in paperwork, sketching out several failsafes to ensure that something like this cannot result in the release of half the criminals in Nightwake again, to say nothing of the attempted abduction of a comatose prisoner…]

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

🌊 Neuvillette

[inexorablejudgment]

i. Keep it Clean

[Neuvillette is not at all fazed by the darkness that falls over the city as the electricity is sabotaged. The long horn-like tendrils sweeping out of his hair glow a soft blue as he makes his way through the streets in the cooler regions, checking for anyone who might have found themselves in trouble with the loss of light.

Some areas of Coldreach can be treacherous even with full light to see by, so hopefully nobody finds themselves slipping off a path and getting stuck in a snowdrift.

Anyone that he does find struggling - stuck, or slipping, or just looking like they’re lost - they’ll be offered a hand from a white-haired gentleman who is somehow glowing like a nightlight.]

ii. When The Lights Go Out

[It’s curiosity that drives him to take flight, a glowing figure rising upwards towards the strange barrier formed across the sky. He soon finds the veil, a more solid thing than he expected to discover, and…

And he quickly discovers his error in touching it.

Neuvillette barely makes it back to the ground without falling, stumbling as he lands and uttering a soft hiss of pain as the sting of the curse begins working its way across his hand and up his forearm. Well, that is likely to be troublesome…

He hides his discomfort well over the next few days, though anyone spending any amount of time around him might notice how he favours one side or winces slightly now and then. It isn’t that he’s ignoring the problem… more that he doesn’t want to worry anybody when they clearly have more important things to be concerned about.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[The progression of the curse slows him down but it doesn’t stop him, and Neuvillette determinedly makes his way to one of the rods to see what needs to be done to help rid Ellipsa of this new threat. Though the pain is constant and almost too overbearing he continues to act in the same calm, collected way as he usually does… for the most part, save for the occasional moment where it just becomes slightly too much as he has to pause and grip his arm for a few seconds. He was always pale, though perhaps not quite so pale.

When it comes to the task of finding harmony... well, he’s not sure how he’s going to achieve that with the way he’s feeling, but he’s definitely going to try. He didn’t come all the way out here to sit and watch.

The clearing of the sky, though, is an instant and visible relief as the pain in his arm and the side of his chest eases almost immediately. Not entirely, but enough to be fairly certain that the curse was somehow linked to the void barrier. He won’t linger around after everything is done (though he will answer messages), instead heading home to have some rest and think about taking a vacation.]

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

🐍 Baizhu

[physicianhealthyself]

i. Keep it Clean

[Though Baizhu doesn’t join in the spring cleaning and preparations efforts directly, he does put together a good number of herbal packs to be added to the adventure packages and brings them personally to each of the guilds over the course of the weekend. Each time he stops around for an hour or so before he leaves, answering any questions anybody might have about what he brought.

For the latter half of the weekend he remains close to his home and pharmacy, not thinking too much of it when the lights initially go out and bringing out some candles to light the inside of his home. As the darkness drags on, however, he does reach out to a few people to check if they’re having the same problems.]

((ooc: if your character has CR with Baizhu you can assume he might have sent them a message!))

ii. When The Lights Go Out

[The darkness drags on, and Baizhu eventually runs out of candles. This presents certain difficulties - having a snake’s eyes does not come along with the ability to sense things in the dark that some snakes have - though declining to open the shop during this time does not keep people from occasionally knocking on the door.

He does, of course, tell them politely to be on their way.

Save for… one or two more opportunistic individuals who see the chance to attempt to break into a shop they have noted as being run primarily by an individual who looks like a stiff wind might blow him over. Not one to be so easily bested, however, Baizhu sends any would-be thieves on their way with a blast of magic that lights the Sunwaning street up in a bright neon green and watches them run as a few glowing sprites circle around him.

Then, he leans against the door frame with a huff.]

I don’t think violence suits me. [Around his neck, Changsheng just lets out a little hum.] Oh, don’t be like that. I know you’d rather me see them on their way than sit back and allow them to rob me.

[Changsheng does not answer, but she might just be the smallest bit pleased that her doctor is so readily defending himself and his territory.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[They aren’t being asked to fight some legendary beast or go on a twenty-mile hike, so Baizhu doesn’t imagine that there’s anything that could keep him from going ahead and journeying out to one of the rods holding the barrier to the sky in place. He makes sure his shop is secure before he goes and, at her insistence, takes Changsheng along.

He isn’t sure if she counts as part of a group when it comes to harmonising and channelling energy into the darkness, but she does assure him that she’s going to do her best anyway.]

Are you all right?

[He approaches someone who looks nervous or distracted.]

It is rather foreboding, isn’t it.

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

🐈 E'kayan Tia

[orangebrained]

i. Keep it Clean

[This Miqo’te does enjoy the simpler things in life far more than he craves any kind of dramatic fight. He’s barely really thinking about looking out for anything strange going on as he rummages into the backs of supply cupboards and pulls out things that may not have seen the light of day for a year or two, tossing a few items over his shoulder as his tail flicks eagerly back and forth.

He hears a thud and straightens up, both ears briefly pinning backwards.]

Oh--

[And, peering out of the storage space that he was just elbows-deep in…]

I didn’t just hit somebody with that, did I?

[Hopefully it was just the wall and he did not just almost brain somebody with a wooden training sword.]

ii. When The Lights Go Out

Ah… that’s not good.

[He’s trying to look calm, but every short hair on his ears and tail is standing on end as he looks up at the dark void covering the sky. E’kayan doesn’t have to get near it to know that it’s unnatural and something about the whole situation sends a shiver over every nerve he has. He does not like it, at all.

A mixture of his winter abilities and naturally good night vision help him to find his way around, along with the persistently glowing carbuncle hopping along at his side. He heads into the Winter guild on and off but also makes his way around the local area and the centre of Nightwake city itself, looking out for anyone who might be in trouble.

Or… just anyone who might want some company on a patrol, because this whole thing is giving him a bad feeling that he just can’t shake off and he would much rather not be by himself.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

Harmony… harmony… right…

[So… it’s that easy? Probably not as easy as it seems. E’kayan looks up at the dark structure in front of them - somehow blacker than the darkness around it - and chews his lip with one pointed canine tooth.]

I hate it here.

[Siiiigh… He rubs a hand through his orange hair and tries to push his pinned-back ears into a position that doesn’t give away his discomfort. It doesn’t work. Rather than dwell on that too much he decides to approach someone else.]

Do you need someone to pair up with?

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

🌱 Alhaitham

[linguaphilia]

i. Keep it Clean

… This is inconvenient.

[Three words to summarise the situation as far as Alhaitham is concerned as he pokes his head out of his front door and looks up and down the darkened street. It doesn’t take a genius to realise that this issue is fairly far-reaching, if only because the sky is the clearest and brightest he has ever seen it inside populated areas, and he stands there for a long few moments before exhaling a sharp, irritated sigh.

Well, he’s going to have to go and see what’s going on, isn’t he?

It won’t take him long to get to higher ground so he can get a better view, and he can already tell that this is going to be annoying.]

Of course this place can’t stay quiet for more than a few weeks at a time.

ii. When The Lights Go Out

[At first, he does consider just going back home and letting everyone else deal with whatever fae-based nonsense has befallen the place now. It quickly becomes clear to him that this is not some new nuisance caused by the fae, though, and while he would often downplay his skills as a combatant Alhaitham is as competent a fighter as he is a scholar.

As anyone trying to harass him as he walks through Nightwake city centre would quickly realise.

He takes one such opportunist down with a single hit against the side of their head and promptly lifts them up by a handful of their coat, their face lit by the glassy green shards hovering behind him, and he studies their face as they stare at him in a mixture of confusion and fear.]

… Contact lenses. [Hmph. The would-be attacker gets unceremoniously tossed to one side.] Get to a hospital, you have a concussion.

iii. Tied Up Solution

[Alhaitham does not think that this needs to be as difficult as some people are making it. It’s a rather elegantly simple solution to the problem, all things considered, and the young scholar doesn’t waste any time dithering about what he’s supposed to do or how harmony is supposed to be achieved. The Research Centre has done similar experiments before now - he’s fairly sure he knows how it’s supposed to work.]

Take your time.

[He makes the suggestion to his partner without judgement, not even looking at them as he says it.]

I expect something unfortunate will happen if we don’t harmonise correctly.

[Probably nothing deadly... but then again, who knows.]

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

💀 Thanatos

[inevitablerest]

i. Keep it Clean

[Thanatos doesn’t give too much thought to the troubles that crop up in Ellipsa, usually only emerging to tackle the things that he views as worthy of note - that is, anything that goes against what should be a natural process of death. When the darkness falls he doesn’t really take note of it until he hears people close to his location growing alarmed, and even then his curiosity is only cursory.

But he isn’t heartless, even if his attitude towards many things might give that impression. He shows up in a few places, short-range teleporting across Nightwake, pausing if he finds somebody getting themselves into trouble in the dark.

… Somebody emerging from the darkness carrying a scythe and a sword and literally looking like death itself might just be enough to give some people the fright of their life, though.]

ii. When The Lights Go Out

Do not touch it.

[One does not simply fly up into the sky and touch strange dark energy and Thanatos will warn anyone of as much if they happen to pass by him as he’s floating at around a mid-point between the ground and the void barrier stretching out overhead. From this vantage point he can see what anchors it, and the darkness holds little concern for him when it comes to seeing across long distances.

He is made of this, after all.

Back on the ground the vampires are a clear and immediate target for his attention and he takes them down without mercy. When one is struck they don’t fall so much as vanish entirely, and perhaps it would be best to not ask where, exactly, he might have ‘sent’ them…

And if one of them happens to be attacking somebody at the time? You’re very welcome, though he didn’t do it for you.]

iii. Tied Up Solution

[It might be a surprise to see Thanatos at one of the barrier’s rods. It doesn’t particularly look like he’s planning to join in, rather that he’s just observing what’s going on and what people are doing about this, but… he’s definitely close enough to be approached, even if his overall air is (as ever) one of being borderline unapproachable.

Anyone who does approach him will get a decidedly sidelong look from seven feet and change above the ground, and a dryly uttered;]

What is it.

iv. Wildcard

[Something else? Go for it! Plotting can be found here!]

iii

[kerontribution]

[Oryou looks at Neuvillette's blackened hand. Then at her own blackened hand. They have the same one cursed, meaning that one of them is going to be using their cursed hand.]

Oryou will take the painful hand.

[ancientgamer]

Fair enough, but I will be upfront with you as well. I am an Egyptian Pharaoh, and I was pulled here from Aaru.

The Afterlife, as you call it. The Gods are quite real where I'm from.

[Among other things. It's Complicated[tm].]

It does, and I can only use this ability for short period. Currently, this is my limit and I hope to make them last until all this is over.

[Honestly, he was already feeling the drain as he had both do more than he had ever asked them to do before. Fighting vampires was not on the list of training sessions. He pocketed the trading cards.

He hadn't had much time to train, so this was the best he could do. After another moment's thought, he nodded to the Dark Magician Girl.]

You've done well, thank you. [She bowed with a hand over her chest, before dissolving into earth.] That should help save on energy for now. Currently, I don't sense any other vampires in the vicinity, but I can help you track more if you wish to continue fighting them, Ezra. Otherwise, the game store I work at isn't far from here, we can rest and recoup there, if you wish.