Event #14: Locking Up the Sun and Moon

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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

Re: When The Lights Go Out - Part 3

[castaside]

"Looks like you're being plenty useful where you are." Hardly in the way. "This hotel means a lot to Lucifer, I'm sure he's very glad for your help."

He nods. "Luckily I didn't touch it, apparently that corrupts you. I have no idea how we're going to fix it, but it's probably above my pay grade."

"I wanted to ask if you'd seen MK during all this. I heard Candid of all people stepping in to defend MK against a group of normal human fighters, and then MK ran off rather than help fight. It wasn't like him at all and I haven't been able to get in touch with him since. There's a lot of screaming and chaos so my hearing is a bit useless right now."

[tethered_roamer]

[There's something rewarding in helping a person, and knowing there's always something you can do for a person you care about is almost unmatched. At least for Cole. So seeing the way Bakugo's eyes sparkle helps him relax a little more. Not enough to not guess at what him rubbing his eyes implies.]

You okay?

[He takes an alcohol wipe and cleans the small puncture wounds while watching Bakugo closely.]

Re: When The Lights Go Out - Part 3

[tethered_roamer]

"I didn't know about any of that."

And that's concerning. MK just running off isn't like him. Not when people really need help. "I hope nothing's happened to him. I can try to reach out, but if you can't pick him out in this mess then I don't know what we can do. Have you found anyone else he's close with? Dick maybe?"

[boombam]

[Katsuki nods, but it's pretty obvious that something was bugging him. Obviously, it's the side effects of Cole's blood and Katsuki is thankful that he had a warning at least. Because as he tries to blink away the swirling, colours start to seep into his vision that weren't there before.]

...sh-shit. My vision's getting really weird.

[But he can still at the least hold the gauze for Cole, which he tries to focus on instead of the way the room was starting to warp. This was a way different high than he had experienced with Evangeline. And it's only just starting... he's in for a Ride.]

[tethered_roamer]

Try to stay focused on what's real.

[As far as he knows, vision going wonky is reality trying to slip away. And remembering that it isn't really there helps him...so maybe it can help Bakugo as well.

With the extra help, he's able to securely wrap his arm so the gauze stays put. Then he closes the kit and sets it aside.]

[boombam]

What's real... r-right.

[Katsuki tries to do just that. Focusing first on how it feels to hold the gauze, the texture of it and the tension as Cole wraps his arm. And then when it's done, he lifts his hand to play with his fluffy hair. Focusing on the texture of that instead. Spiky hair that looks like it's full of gel and must be painful to touch, but is actually just naturally fluffy and styled like that. It's extremely soft, and grounding while he starts to slowly feel weirder and weirder.]

Everything's turning this bright... gross pink and green. I don't like it Cole.

[He closes his eyes, but he can still see the colours shifting even behind his eyelids...]

[tethered_roamer]

What colors do you think of when you think of calm?

[Watching him for a moment, Cole scoots closer again, thinking on things that might help. Thinking back to when his Clarity was low this time last year. Seeing colors, hearing things that weren't there...nothing scary or alarming, but distracting things.

Grounding himself in what he knew helped. Especially with people he knew.]

Blues and silvers are what I think of, so tell me yours.

Re: When The Lights Go Out - Part 3

[castaside]

Macaque shakes his head. "I've been focusing on keeping my kids safe, mostly. Usually MK can take care of himself, so I didn't think anything of it until I saw that maybe right now he can't actually do that for some reason. And I honestly think you'd be better to find him and check on him than I would."

She is!

[ashenrose]

Of course I do!

[She may be little but she knows her directions! ...Don't mind her holding out her hands in front of her a moment to check she's got her left and right the right way around, muttering: ]

Left is the one I paint with so... mhm. That side.

[Then looking back up at the grown-up with a smile.]

Of course I know directions. Where do you need to take them to??

[boombam]

Calm?

[Katsuki thinks, as he continues to fiddle with his hair. His favourite colour was orange, but that wasn't exactly a calming colour. Just one that made him happy, which is decidedly different than calm.]

Purple and blue, I guess? Like the night.

[Katsuki opens his eyes for a second-- immediately shutting them closed again. The room barely looked like a room anymore. Walls and furniture distorted, in bright and disjointed colours and figures standing that weren't there before. He decides it's better to just let his imagination swirl and distort instead.]

...is that guy s'posed to be there?

[He points to an empty corner of the room. Just double checking he's hallucinating a dude standing there, rather than the alternative of someone slipping into the room somehow.]

Re: When The Lights Go Out - Part 3

[tethered_roamer]

"Seems like expecting anyone to be able to isn't really reasonable. There's always something that can make it unsafe for any of us."

Cole frowns thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll go see what I can find out. If I hear anything I'll message you as soon as I can. But you have to be careful too, okay? Don't spread yourself too thin." It's reasonable that Macaque is jumping around, but he's still only a single person even with clones.

[tethered_roamer]

It's only us here.

[Cole does doublecheck though, just to be safe. He can be a bit paranoid, but that usually also means it's hard to enter his space unnoticed. Usually.]

Anyone else you see isn't really here, and I'll let you know if someone is, okay? This is my room and no one who shouldn't be here will sneak up on us.

[Oh a minor thought he gets up again this time to turn off the light and on a small lamp instead.]

Spoilers ahoy

[onesurvived]

[Then... that blood wasn't his? He was actually okay?]

You'd better be...

[She worked quickly- even in her delirious state, she moved instinctively, spider legs catching red webbing from her spinneret and expertly weaving it around and around, binding the vampire thoroughly into a cocoon.

But even so... even as the bandages stopped the immediate bleeding, Eva's breathing had gotten shallow, shivering as much with cold as with fear. Leaning against Hijikata's shoulder was perhaps the only reason she'd been able to stay upright.

Everything was slipping away.

It was a small miracle she could still hold her weapon. Even as light-headedness started to set in.]

Damn... hey, come on, you little brat... do something!! I don't- I don't want to die-...!

[It wasn't even directed at Hijikata, that time. Instead, at the witch within her- but perhaps she knew, deep down, that EVA Beatrice's magic couldn't shield her from blood loss. The little witch's voice echoed.

"It'll be over, soon. Just accept that already. I don't know what you're so scared of, you've already died once. ...Oh. You're worried you'll go home again when you die, right?"]

I'm not ready- not to go back-... you know that...!

[hometown]

Automatically, Reiner follows Jean's gaze to the sky—but only briefly. He looks down again soon enough, turning his attention to untying and retying his boots. Securing them.

He doesn't like to look at the darkness that had descended above them. It makes him feel under siege. Not just from the criminals swarming, but from something bigger. Something worse.

It feels like he's strapped in a dark, enclosed area. Like he's failed. Like he's about to be devoured by his successor.

"How'd you fix it?" he asks, still looking at his boot.

[hometown]

[ Reiner goes still, the hair on his nape rising. Still as prey before a predator, hoping not to be noticed. Still as he was when a Titan burst from the ground, and Marcel paid the price.

It's the thought of Marcel that shakes him from that stillness. He swallows, cursing himself. ]

Tell me more. How often do you need to feed? When's the last time you did? How much blood would you need?

[ Questions asked half to help him feel less like a meal on legs. ]

[hometown]

At that, Reiner has to ask:

"Okay, but how much of it was dirty? Because I had a lot of questionable stuff."

[boombam]

Okay.

[Katsuki nods, and when Cole turns off the light it feels almost immediately better. He can still see in the dark, but when he opens his eyes it's harder to see how the room distorts. Which makes it a lot easier for him to ride this out.

His head was feeling fuzzy and dizzy, though. So he decides to lay down on his back on the bed, covering his eyes with his arm for now. The pressure feeling a little nice against his eyelids.]

...next time I need a snack? Remind me to never drink from you again.

[manifesthope]

Silver seemed oddly calm. This wasn't the first time he'd been covered in blood whether it was his own or someone else's. But perhaps it was a little bit of shock and blood loss too. He seemed almost dazed and confused as flames filled his vision and a body knelt next to him. This contact was gentle and supportive. He heard his name being spoken. Without any thought he automatically sagged into the other person's hold, quills drooping.

Golden eyes blinked as he stared dumbly at the flickering flames. The only light source around them. "Blaze?" He whispered, his expression shifting with sudden emotion. His pulse fluttered as he thought that it was his best friend. Finally here. But something tipped him off that it wasn't her. The voice. The body shape or even the height. This woman was taller and was not the feline princess from another dimension he so cared for.

His heart ached.

But wait, the voice was registering finally and he stirred a little. "Ev...Evangeline?" He sounded dazed still, but almost apologetic. He hoped in a distant corner of his mind that he wasn't getting blood on her. Thankfully, the wounds on his neck had slowed to a sluggish ooze that matted in his fur and he wasn't in danger of bleeding out. But he still held a hand gripped to his neck over the site of the wound just the same.

[manifesthope]

With Rinku's relaxed telekinetic hold on the door and the driver spilling out onto the pavement, the others that were in the car shoved themselves out as well. They were all masked and holding bags. Silver figured that if they had of been Otherworlders they would have given the smackdown with powers. But these folks didn't.

While one of the guys grabbed the driver and tugged him to his feet, one of the idiots behind the car that had gotten out of the back seat fired a weapon in Rinku's direction. Cyan energies flashed as Silver shielded her, though the guy was a (thankfully) bad shot.

"I don't think so!" Silver made a grabbing motion and the gun in the guy's hand got wrenched out of his hand. Then with a look of disdain, the hedgehog clenched his fist and the weapon was instantly crushed and rendered useless.

All the men started shouting and almost fell over each other as they started to move away from the car.


[[ooc: paused in case Rinku wants to do something bad ass! <3 ]]

[roundandaround]

"Stop that!" Rinku called out. "I don't wanna hurt you!"

One of the rioters from the car growled. "It's the people who want to who live!" He pulled out a potion jar with bullets floating in it and loaded his gun with them. She scanned them and flung a fireball, then hit the ground to try and dodge before he shot.

"Silver-kun!" Rinku called up to him. "There's a curse on those, don't let them hit you!"

[tethered_roamer]

At this point there's almost nothing that would let me give you my blood again. But I'm not the only one then. Mike's son Max might apply to the same rule, and his partner definitely counts.

[Settling beside him again, Cole leans back on his hands.]

On the other hand, it's best you find out now that this is a no for you...and there are only three that I know you shouldn't drink from.

[boombam]

Yeah... it's good to get this out of the way now I guess.

[Katsuki grumbles that. He's annoyed that there doesn't seem to be any other effects besides hallucinations. At least when he got high with Evangeline's enemy's poison he had the fun effect of feeling euphoric and like nothing bad could ever happen. This just sucks!!!]

I'm surprised Mike's blood ain't like this, too.

[tethered_roamer]

I'm not surprised.

[It does suck that this isn't even a little fun. Is this what they call a bad trip? He doesn't know and it's not worth testing again outside of a serious emergency.]

We're extremely different. I'm sure werewolves and demons are also really different. Especially since seeing them transform actually screws with people's minds and makes them freak out.

[boombam]

But ain't he Max's biological dad? Why is his blood different?

[There's still much for Katsuki to learn about Mike's world, it seems..]

Are they not the same species?

[assent]

{ thankfully most of her scars are hidden by the dress she's wearing, the long sleeves covering up any indication of anything she's been through. so the question is met with a smile. }

Indeedy. Though it was handled a little differently where I was before. We were brought on board to aid others when they are in need. With that team we would be sent on missions to different worlds to fix an issue that was happening there. Though I suppose 'issue' is quite a light way of referring to it.