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

[castaside]

He notes the injury, but believes her when she says that she's okay. Her vital signs are okay, for the most part.

"I see that you're okay. How did you get--" De-aged? What the fuck does one call this?

[bluediligence]

Whoa! That was a good one!

[ GOODBYE SEALGOON enjoy the lake! It's a one way trip via teleport express! ]

It'd be really nice if they could just ... not -

[ interrupted by a howl as she smashes yet another kneecap ]

[assent]

{ there's a flicker as sonia's eyes dip, eyes scanning across mukuro's body to check for anything obviously dangerous. as it stands, she knows from experience that anything can be hidden if you know where to hide it well. she'd kept a knife with her for a long time back with audentes, especially after it had been gifted to her for her own protection. }

I see. { her poise still doesn't change, head still held high with the air and authority of royalty even if all of that has crumbled to ash now. } Then I shall not keep you long. { the fact that mukuro's biting her lip though, gives her reason to give her the faintest of smiles and ask: } Was there something you wished to say?

{ it gives very little away about her own feelings or state of mind though. }

[bluediligence]

[ What little distance there was is soon crossed, and Korone —




Makes the universal grabby hands gesture for 'uppies, please' ]

It happened after that guy - [ she points to the wrecked wall she motorcycle-smashed'd Mr. Fedora through; Macaque can hear that whoever it is still alive ... ish, barely ] grazed me with a bullet. It must've been coated with a potion or something. I didn't recognise him, but he was working with those guys - [ she points again, this time to a heaping pile of beaten-to-hell assholes ] ... and they're from that gang.

[castaside]

He scoops her up and puts her on his shoulders.

"Well then, they got what they deserved. Should I portal them to the police station?" They seem pretty well incapable of hurting anyone else for now.

[emanation]

That makes sense, it helps to get some strength for using a weapon. Did you say you use a sword before? As at least with that you can make up for some of it with speed instead.

[bluediligence]

[ … Ah. Hm. ]

[ HM. ]

Gimme a sec —

[ Korone takes a breath and casts a large, spherical shield around the two of them. It's actually really pretty, shimmering blue and with a faint pattern like falling feathers. ]

There we go. They shouldn't be able to get through this … not without a few rocket launchers, at least. [ The wisps of steam are growing slowly but steadily. ] Do you have water and antiseptics? Let's see if cleaning it helps - I've got plenty of anaesthetics if you need more, but don't worry about them for me.

[emanation]

{ hopefully it means he'll manage the next steps for trying to use one of the actual skills from it, but at least now he's got the feeling of it down. }

How can we tell when it's ready?

{ it's a bit harder to keep the conversation going while keeping it up, there may be a faint wobble in how much he pours into it, but luckily it isn't enough to disrupt the flow now they've got this far. }

The answer to 'does Mukuro have weapons' is always yes

[corpsewarblade]

[Naturally, she had weapons on her. A basic combat knife and another made of dragon-fang at her thigh, a military-grade pistol at her waist, and judging from the mechanism of her prosthetic... that probably had something low-calibre built into it too. But Mukuro, whilst still on-guard, hadn't made a move to attack. Instead, she too was assessing Sonia for signs of weapons.

But the first approach would be to knock her off balance with Autumn Magic, if she needed it.]

...You know me, don't you?

[Answering the simple question with one of her own. That would tell her everything she needed to know.]

[emanation]

{ even without that some people are just like that--ezra could be stabbed all the way through and say he's fine so. y'know. it happens. }

If you don't take breaks as well, who will be there to heal people if you pass out? If you want I can take some of the burden for a bit--carry you or something?

[fauxbot]

[... Well. He'd actually planned to keep moving along, let Sonia figure herself out after all that...
But it'd be hard to hear the way she sniffs to herself, something he can only assume means she's on the edge of crying.

So, instead of continuing to trudge along and leave her be...]

- Hey. You good?

[He's not moving from his spot, but he will at least make it clear she isn't stuck all alone, right now.
Of course, he's near impossible to see - without his screen or his arm casting any light, they're both more-or-less plunged in darkness together - but... it's still clear he's there, a couple feet away from her.]

[bluediligence]

[ The moment she's off the ground, and even more importantly — most importantly — clinging like a baby monkey to her dad's shoulders, there's a subtle shift in her breathing that spells out relief.

She's used to this bullshit, sure. She can deal. She can roll with stupid punches better than most. But she is tiny, she's physically a child right now, and magic aside that makes her worrisomely vulnerable. ]

Yes please! ... Maybe that one to a hospital though?

[roundandaround]

Yeah! I use a sword normally, and it's one of my bond weapons too. Not all of them though. I get a scythe from Neechan.

[castaside]

"Sure thing, babygirl." Two portals open, a larger one for the scum who are going to be arrested and one for the scum who needs medical care. The latter one is tied with shadows along with a little note that says "treat, then call for the cops."

"How do you think we reverse it? Raid their HQ again?"

[roundandaround]

I think so! Lemme see.

[Rinku pulls out a bottle of water, a mostly stocked first aid kit even if she's running a little low on bandages, and some potions, including anaesthetic (there's barely any left, but it's a small bottle for emergencies) and a few different heals and antidotes. She gets out the rubbing alcohol and cotton swabs and fusses over Korone.]

I never thought I was gonna use half this stuff when I got it for Yuletide.

[bluediligence]

Thank you, you're the best. [ A gentle mwah on the top of his head. ]

Last time I got hit with something like this, back at the Temple, it was a dumb monster thing. I had to wait it out. [ For days. ] But these jerks … if they made magical de-aging bullets, it'd be logical for them to have made an antidote too.

Let's pay 'em a visit. ... And really, if they made this stuff with us in mind, it'd be rude not to take it all.

[emanation]

In that case, you should be fine. I heard about those 'bond weapons' from Jean actually. Pretty interesting, but I'm glad you have more options with it.

[castaside]

"I try." He pats her knee when she kisses his head, which is as much affection as he can give her at the moment.

"Okay, let's go. Need anything first?" Just to make sure she's as armed as a little kid can be.

[roundandaround]

Yeah, it's good when you need it! And even if you don't, it's good to have something that shows how close you are to someone.

B

[castaside]

Macaque is busy using his staff to fight one of the gang, because it's fun. Sure he could crush the guy instantly, but this is much more effective because he's scaring the shit out of the little twerp.

And then Evangeline is there, scything the creep.

"You can't possibly think I needed the help," he says, "though I approve of the thought."

i mean sonia is standing there with a katana on show so #yolo

[assent]

{ she doesn't have any of the spells she learned during her time in other worlds, which is a shame because having the option to run really fucking fast away would be great.

especially when the question comes with no further pretences.

'know me' isn't the exact words she'd choose, when her memories feel like watching a horror movie of your own life--where you want to scream for it to stop but nothing can stop the train wreck from happening.

she doesn't visibly react at first, as though she'd expected it. finally, her gaze shifts away, and this time her hand curls to grip the papers tighter. }

I believe it would be more accurate to say I recognise you, than anything more personal. I won't deny what has happened, but I do not wish to stand idly by and let it rule the rest of my life either.

[abnormalizes]

"Oh, definitely not! But it looked like you were having fun."

Another guy gets set on very much not harmless fire.

"Which ones are these guys, do we know or care?"

1/2

[assent]

{ she's caught up in her own world for a moment, trying to not breathe too hard so inhale the scent of blood that hangs in the air.

it means that when chipp speaks she yells in surprise } Jesus fucking Christ!

{ those are not the words of a lady :( }

2/2

[assent]

{ but since no attack follows, he's likely... an ally? it's hard to tell in the dark. }

A-ah! I apologise. I did not mean to yell so loudly. I was startled.

{ is she good? not really. but. }

I just arrived and everything seems to be going quite horribly. Are you able to see?

[bluediligence]

... Prob'ly some clothes that aren't ten gabilliondy sizes too big. And - [ HMMMMM ]

All my knives and stuff - [ which are tucked safe and sound in the hammerspace hip bag she's currently wearing like a weird sling ] - are kinda big as well. I've got plenty of energy left for magic, but it'd be best to have some mundane back-up just in case, right?