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Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsrpg2023-07-14 11:04 am

Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple



Can't Defeat the Temple
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION



Game Start



Part 1


A new message appears on everyone's smartphones. There's been a change in the Temple of Life: the door has finally opened! No one knows how or why, but the sensors left by quest goers alerted them to it suddenly being open. Preparations are made in each guild to finally explore what's inside it.

Those interested in helping are greeted by researchers in the guilds that will provide everyone with one single use item: Escape Rope: an item they found out about while investigating the temple. Should the Temple really prove to be a place "no one can return from" they should be able to use this rope to escape. It should teleport the person using it (just one) outside of the place they're in (can only be used indoors). Of course the rope can be saved for later use if it becomes unnecessary. Everyone also gets basic climbing and survival items, just in case. They have no idea what to expect inside, but better safe than sorry, right?

The new Teleport Crystal system will get you to the Temple of Life in a minute, but no one is forbidden to use a longer route if they want to travel rather than take the easy route. Once they get to the Temple (the teleport stones take them to the surroundings of the fountain in the courtyard) they will notice a lot of natives collecting various tropical fruits as the area is safe and the fruit are nice and nutritious. Anyone eating a fruit will notice a boost in stamina, too.

All that's left now is to climb the stairs and enter the Temple of Life.

Part 2


Inside the Temple of Life is a "lobby". It's actually just an empty room made with the same stone as the temple, but it has four different doors, each with a different symbol: lightning strike, snowflake, fire and a hurricane of sand.

Characters inside will notice that the door they walked in from is now gone (of course) and they may feel different as the temple has stripped them off of all their powers, including Seasonal ones. Instead they may feel like they're lighter (their jumping ability has increased to triple their normal one) and that they have three holographic hearts on top of their heads.

There's a holographic display near the doors and a shelf for laser guns. The display says the following:

This is the Gigaman simulator. Welcome, players. Each of you have been given three extra lives. Once all of your total of four lives have been used inside the levels you will get a Game Over. For native participants this unfortunately means you Die.

However, otherworlders! You are in luck. If you die four times inside the simulator you will be thrown out of the simulator, into the courtyard of the temple and you can try again! Dying is painless. Getting hit, unfortunately, is not. You have ten regular hits before you lose a life. Your lives are indicated by the hearts on top of your heads.

Things that will instantly kill you include: lava, falling into an endless pit and spikes.

Please take a laser gun and enter the level. You may bring any other items as well, but your powers will be gone and so will the special effects of the items. Except for the legendary "Escape Rope". That is something that can bypass our system. Keep the rope at hand if you get scared. If you lose your other items inside the levels, do not worry, they will appear outside. However, if you lose your laser gun it will reappear next to you.

Oh and you may keep the laser gun afterwards.

The question is: cAN yOu deFEAt [redacted]?


Well, the choice is yours. Do you enter one of the doors or use the escape rope to get out of the temple?

Part 3


All of the levels start with a normal room of just the environment of the level. But there, in the starting point of the place, there are natives of Ellipsa sitting around with a look of defeat and desperation on their faces. They're physically fine as the simulator grants you the ability to just ignore hunger and other basic needs, but they're also stuck here. It seems the simulator is just too hard for them to get past. Most of them have no holographic hearts over their head or just one: they're close to dying and don't want to take the risk.

Escape ropes are their only hope of getting out of the place and they promise anything if you give them the item and help them escape.

If you give away your Escape Rope, the only way to leave is to either Game Over or Finish the Level. Good luck, players.

(There are also some natives in various other parts of the game, too scared to go further or go back. They can also be saved by taking them with you to the end and defeating the boss monster together but if they die, they die, so there is a risk in that method.)

The Levels [ Click to Expand ]

All basic monsters and boss monsters are weak to the laser gun. Some can even be jumped on to decrease their health.

Electricity
Design: A factory with plenty of platforms and conveyor belts over bottomless pits (or spikes) that change directions occasionally. The main hazard of the level is the beams of electricity that will damage players. They can be switched around with buttons, but deactivating one beam will activate another.
Instant Deaths: Bottomless Pits, Spikes

Basic Monsters: Ufo Catcher (a claw with googly eyes that will try to drop characters into a pit or spikes), Small Robot (small robots that throw wrenches at players), Slinky (slinkys with googly eyes that won't stop for anything)

Final Boss: Squirmle: A slinky minion mass-producing machine (looks like one of those Worms on String with googly eyes, but mechanical). Occasionally fires electric shocks that stun players for 5 seconds while the minions attack them. Weak to Smokescreen as the sand jams its machinery and makes it temporarily lose the ability to produce minions.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Electric Shock (damages and has a chance to stun the opponent)

Snowflake
Design: A snowy mountain cave with active waterfalls. The ground is slippery (ice physics!) and some of the platforms have a limit as to how many times you can jump/walk on them (they reappear after a time). Occasionally, while on a normal platform, a strong stream of water will fall on it, intending to push players into a bottomless pit (it can be predicted by a few drops of water before it).
Instant Deaths: Bottomless pits

Basic Monsters: Snowmen (throw very sharp carrots at players), Skeletal Fish (fish that appear from the waterfalls and spit out lasers), Yeti (a monster that will try to stomp on players)

Final Boss: Frosty: A bipedal monster made of spiky ice (doesn't have a distinct form to refer to, just looks like a giant block of animated ice) that breathes a frosty breathe that both damages and makes players go slower. Tries to stomp players by jumping high in the air. Weak to Fire Bullets, as they will melt it little by little.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Ice Beam (damages and has a chance to slow down an opponent)

Flame
Design: Inside of a volcano where all bottomless pits are lava pits. Platforms are mostly normal, until a notorious section where the only way to get over a lava pit is to jump on disappearing blocks. Learn the pattern and follow it. Occasionally lava rocks will fall from the ceiling (but luckily not during the disappearing block section).
Instant Deaths: Lava

Basic Monsters: Demonic Fireballs (fireballs that jump around from spot a to spot b and hurt a lot when they hit), Lava Bomb (occasional lava rock with googly eyes that can move towards players like a homing missile), Fireman robot (a robot that will try to douse fires with scorching hot water).

Final Boss: Lavadoom: A volcano headed monster (a volcano with eyes, mouth, arms and legs) that shoots fire bullets and lava rocks at players. Occasionally makes part of the floor be literal lava that burns players health little by little. Weak to Electric Shock as it will stun the monster for long enough to turn off the volcano on its head and then you can jump on it.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Fire Bullets (damages and has a chance to cause burn damage over time)

Sandstorm
Design: A desert area full of bottomless pits and rocks with spikes. The floor is mostly quicksand that can only be crossed if you stay constantly in movement. Late in the level massive sandstorms will block players' view and push them towards the pits and spiked rocks, making movement during it very dangerous.
Instant Deaths: Bottomless Pits, Spikes

Basic Monsters: Walking Cacti (cactus that shoot spikes at players), Angry Missiles (ride the sandstorms and try to hit players), Sandworms (appear from the sand and try to bite the player)

Final Boss: Hurrisand: A bipedal sand monster (looks a bit like a it could be a human, but at the same time has animal features, not to be mixed with a certain Looney Tunes character) that will turn into a literal sandy hurricane that makes it hard to see anything and makes bullets miss. Weak to Ice Beam because it slows it down so that it can't turn into a hurricane.
Boss Loot: Laser Gun Upgrade: Smokescreen (enables easier escape from situations)



You're free to challenge all of the levels and gain all of the upgrades to the laser gun, which you can then use outside the temple as a weapon. Even after all of the natives are rescued or all of the levels have been beaten, you can re-enter the levels and do them again. You won't get the boss loot again, however.





When Your Heart's Not Open




Part 1


Back in the city, the weather is strangely cold in every district (except the central one that's safe due to the artificial weather there). Even the hottest of them, Solarpeak, is advising people to wear long-sleeved shirts, just in case, even if the temperature only drops to +10 Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit at worst.

The reason for the unexpectedly cold weather is simple: a cold breeze travels through the whole city. Sometimes the wind even appears white, as if it's laced with snow and ice. It's easy to tell that this is not a normal sort of wind, but a very magical one.

The wind indeed has a special effect: there's a chance of the wind freezing someone's heart. This doesn't instantly kill anyone, but instead it starts to freeze people from inside out. This effect especially targets people who either have secrets or have feelings that they hide. The freezing is a slow and painful process, taking two weeks to completely encase someone in ice. Once that happen they will end up breaking into pieces and die.

Somehow this wind doesn't affect the plant life or animals at all.

Part 2


Scientists are quick at work to work on a cure. They have found that there are certain ingredients in all four of the Segments that when mixed together into a potion will undo a frozen heart. So, to help those affected, there are some options that you can do.

Stay in the City to take care of the affected. The key to healing a frozen heart is not only the potion that they will make but also affection. So those brave enough to touch someone who feels cold as ice to touch are encouraged to hug and cuddle, tell them positive things about them and making sure they're comfortable. This will ease the pain and slow the spreading down.

Head to one of the Segments to find the ingredients. The guilds are helping with the preparations to go outside and providing anyone interested clear instructions and maps on where to find them:

• Winter Segment: Bottom of the Unfrozen Lake, a coral that can survive in cold temperatures
• Spring Segment: Breeze Hills, the eggs of a monstrous Firebird (a bird that has wings made of fire that spits out fireballs, not to be confused with a phoenix)
• Summer Segment: Deserter's Desert, a special cactus flower that only blooms during a sandstorm
• Autumn Segment: Mushroom Sanctuary, a special mushroom that only grows on top of the mushrooms that are a size of a house


Once all the necessary ingredients have been found and delivered, people can also participate in potion making. The more people helping with making potions, the quicker everyone affected can get their potions and be cured. The potion is successful if it smell like a warm fireplace during a winter night.





The Towering Jenga Heights




Part 1


The VR Arcade of the Underground is holding a special event: they have managed to come up with a technology where you can minimize yourself and enter board games! They're looking for volunteers to test this new way of gaming.

For example, there are games like Jenga, Monopoly, Chess, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Checkers, Scrabble and many, many more! The games are made to fit the tiny people, but are also very realistic. Oh and Monopoly has an actual jail, but the money is as fake as can be.

It seems Jenga in particular is at its regular size and people will have to climb to push pieces out. That definitely seems like a fun challenge? Everyone gets a safety rope that's attached to poles around the Jenga towers, that will act as sort of a safety bungee jump rope.

Usually the minimized effect wears off once you end the game and leave the game board, but occasionally the technology glitches and leaves players small. The unexpected side effect wears off between 2 to 12 hours.

Anyone who did participate in the experiment will either get a month of free VR gaming time or a handheld gaming console with classic 8-bit games like Tetris.

Part 2


Those stuck in a tiny form longer than expected may discover jumping platforms to the fairy mall. It's located in the ceiling of the Underground Mall and is fit for small people like fairies. Here the fairies are all visible as they go about shopping and relaxing. They're all friendly and will make sure you have a lovely time relaxing in this small fairy oasis. Be warned, however, that the food here is strictly for fairies so if you eat it, you might end up sprouting fairy wings for a week. And not necessarily on your back.

Don't worry, you can't turn back to your regular size in the middle of the fairy mall. The magic there prevents that for the duration. Once you return by jumping onto one of the cushions left below the mall, you will return to regular size.

For souvenirs, why not buy a little bit of fairy dust? It's useful for potions, as it gives them stronger magical capabilities but used as is will make anyone be able to fly for 24 hours. The problem is you cannot use it on yourself or else it will horribly backfire and turn you into a talking frog for 24 hours.





OOC TIPS


• Ask event related questions here.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a private entry of your own (your own entry or a new locked post on the comms).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• All of the prompts happen around the same time but you can get affected by the frozen wind after visiting the Temple of Life or the other way around.

• All natives will be rescued by the end of the month, but the Temple can be accessed later just for fun.

• The frozen hearts potion will be done by the end of the month as well.

Temple of Life
• More Escape ropes can be picked up from the guilds to save more natives, but there's no way to tell there's someone trapped inside until someone goes in, so they'd have to get back after the first visit.
• Smartphones do not work inside the Temple of Life.
• You are very much allowed to work together inside the temple.
• The boss door will only open once the previous group of players has defeated it and have been transported out of the Temple. Then the boss will respawn.
• No one will have basic human needs inside the temple. It's basically a simulator so it doesn't matter how long you spend in there. Once you get out you might need to refuel on touch energy and food as soon as possible, but other than that all one needs to worry is surviving the temple.
• We admit the inspiration for this came from "I can't defeat Airman" without shame.

Frozen Hearts
• The event can affect anyone, not just those with secrets and hidden feelings.
• At the same time, the event can completely miss people as well.
• Samples of the wind can be collected and analyzed but it will turn out as a classic "it's magic" explanation.

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



code bases by tricklet
quecheugy: (.... ¿Que?)

[personal profile] quecheugy 2023-08-21 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
Or a little too much thinking of things other than myself, perhaps.

[Stopping the apologies at least.

There was just a faint bemused chuckle, but it was farm warmer than how Clavell felt. Relaxed and letting himself rest against Nanu, sinking a little against his side simply because there was little to not point resisting. The man was going this far for him, no need to make it any more awkward than it likely was for him.

... Well, perhaps a bit of tension Clavell himself didn't notice melted away, because it certainly already felt warmer than wearing the cardigan already had.

The chuckle that followed was a little more of the usual that escaped him as well—]


Perhaps it could be disguising myself as an academy student to investigate why a certain group of students hadn't come to the academy for quite a while, and telling none of the staff. Only the leaders of the group, and the student who helped, know.

[Certainly far, far lighter than the newer secrets he carried with him.]
moonstriking: (smile; u ok yuri)

[personal profile] moonstriking 2023-08-21 10:15 am (UTC)(link)
[Have a mischievous smile]

You.

[A little more seriously, as she considers Night Sky's words.]

I'm thinking of Ba'ul. How warm it'll be in my bed.
embracingsun: (hurt; ooph)

[personal profile] embracingsun 2023-08-21 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Estelle moves before she's told, leaping backwards and uses her gun as melee weapon, knocks back some debris, even as she gets hit with another piece.

Down goes a heart, but that's fine]


I'm okay! It's entering the second stage. Get it now-!
wildwarden: (🍁079)

[personal profile] wildwarden 2023-08-21 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
( Well, if Judith hoped to leech at least some warmth from Night Sky, she certainly succeeded when she flushed red in the cheeks and felt her temperature spike. In a different scenario, she absolutely would have shot her shot after that.

Night Sky cleared her throat.)


Ba'ul?
moonstriking: (smile; sincere)

[personal profile] moonstriking 2023-08-21 11:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh? That's an interesting reaction. Also, the extra warmth is very welcome]

Ba'ul is my companion. A dragon, if you will.
wildwarden: (🍁075)

[personal profile] wildwarden 2023-08-21 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
( Stay focused, Night Sky. )

Ah. Did they come with you? Lying next to a dragon must feel like a furnace - which, in this case, would be incredible.
moonstriking: (smile; into the sky)

[personal profile] moonstriking 2023-08-21 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
[What's a bit of extra cuddling between friends? But maybe when Judith is a little less frosty to touch]

Oh, he is very warm...small though. He hasn't been this small since he was a baby.

[Horse sized baby]

He'll come soon.
wildwarden: (🍁072)

[personal profile] wildwarden 2023-08-21 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
( Clearly nothing to worry about from the touch starved elf who just recently learned how good physical affection is! )

Like. Come here?
moonstriking: (thinking; well this is a problem)

[personal profile] moonstriking 2023-08-21 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. [Nothing to worry about at all, everything is fine here] He's worried.

[And if Night Sky looks up...there sure is a dragon floating down from above]
mayoninofukucho: (A ghost?!)

CW: Attempted Monster Immolation

[personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2023-08-21 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[In this instance, he doesn't mind being used as a meat shield - honestly, if it were a ghost and he'd be unable to see it, he might be hiding behind Hange instead, but as it is he's ready to protect and attack!! He didn't hear Hange's question, but he sorts of figures what it was.]

A banshee!! It's a banshee! Its scream can-- oh, shit!!

[It's coming towards them! Visible or not, it still is way too spooky! Without any warning he sets the eeries creature ablaze - he's proficient enough with his fire magic by now to not need his hands to summon and direct his flames; he simply brings them to live them right in the enemy's hair and clothing.

While the banshee, supernatural being that it is, doesn't take the same kind of painful damage from the fire as most enemies would, it panics at the sudden heat engulfing it... and steers right towards the two humans at an even higher speed, now a living(?) torch.]


Oh shit, oh shit!! No!!
Edited 2023-08-21 15:10 (UTC)
kahunyaa: (pic#13675282)

[personal profile] kahunyaa 2023-08-21 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, how long has it even been since Nanu's done anything like this? As someone that values his personal space, he's pretty sure the only person he's really cuddled with in the last decade is Acerola—not that this this is cuddling, absolutely not. He's still giving Clavell whatever space he needs, letting the other man take only what he's comfortable with.]

[So when he feels Clavell start to sink against him and relax...]

[...maybe they're both a little more tense than they realized. And while Nanu may still be a bit stiff, he adjusts his hold, his arm wrapping around his companion a little more comfortably.]

[All while he looks dubiously over at Clavell, brow raised.]

You disguised yourself as a...

[A beat. And then:]

Clavell, how old are the students at your academy, exactly?
quecheugy: (That is a curious matter)

[personal profile] quecheugy 2023-08-21 04:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Comfortable as one could be- and far more aware of just where that chill had been emanating from. Easy to simply wave away when not so busy and, well. The warmth that was Nanu there against him. A rather poignant way to make it undeniably clear he was not well at all.

At least Houndoom finally settled to lay down by the couch, given they had.

He did wave a free hand in a small gesture—]


Age ranges from that of a child old enough to receive their first pokémon, to young adults who want to further their own education in whatever subject we have to offer. A few adults as well for that same reason, given the vast knowledge held within the Academy's library and various subjects taught.

[A brief pause-]

We do receive exchange students here and there, along with those who have moved and enrolled.

None of Team Star recognized me, nor did the head of operation Starfall when I joined in. Quite the surprise when I revealed myself in the end.
kahunyaa: (pic#16138999)

[personal profile] kahunyaa 2023-08-21 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Because your disguise fit right in, huh?

[...okay no, look, he can't help it. He laughs. It's a quiet and genuine little thing, something he's trying to stifle, but. He's clearly not trying very hard. He really can't help it, the mental image that conjures up of Clavell going around pretending to be some student is ridiculous.]

With that kind of talent I'm shocked Interpol wasn't beating down your door with a whole recruitment spiel ready to go.

[And just like that, whatever tension was lingering just...bleeds right out of him. He takes Clavell's weight against him more easily, and even leans in himself. Doesn't even chastise Persian when she brazenly takes more than one malasada for herself and lays herself down across their feet.]

I'm assuming you got the kids back into class, then?
Edited (Typosssssss) 2023-08-21 19:19 (UTC)
wildwarden: (🍁081)

[personal profile] wildwarden 2023-08-21 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you connected or so--holy shit. ( there's an instinctive flex of fingers into Judith's hip, Night Sky's body tensing at the sight of the dragon. Not nearly as intimidating as The White Prince that soared over the Sylvan forest more times than she ever cared to see, but still surprising. )
wayofthehousekeeper: (Into the sunset's colors.)

[personal profile] wayofthehousekeeper 2023-08-21 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
You're right. And it's better to hope for the best rather than fear the worst.

For now though...

[ He motions over toward the pot just as the timer goes off. ]

Let's ease your pain some. I don't like seeing such a good friend of mine turn into an ice statue.
startraveler: (there for you)

[personal profile] startraveler 2023-08-21 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[Aether nods.]

I don't like being like this either. [He says with a weak laugh, then tries to reach out. His fingers don't look like they can bend and hold anything.]

...Sorry. I'll need a bit more of your help.
acquirement: (I don't care it's been too long)

fhdsfhdfh we're doing well

[personal profile] acquirement 2023-08-21 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm glad to hear it. Ayaka has a very caring heart, she'll be good for you to learn from.

{ more so than himself, really.

though his head does quickly turn to the screech they hear from up ahead, hand tensing by his side ready to draw his weapon. }


It did. Are you ready?
essenceborn: (what's that now)

[personal profile] essenceborn 2023-08-22 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
Yes.

[ nen is READY TO RUMBLE with this firebird, by which I mean they're ready as they could possibly be with limited combat and wildlife experience.

They only need to go as far as the next clearing to find the source of the shrieks: the Firebird. Wings made of fire, it looks as though it's gone an made its nest partway up the side of a rock face. Which makes sense, Nen can't help but think. A tree would probably catch fire if it tried to make a nest there.

So firebird found, but from the looks of it....mama birb is not happy. It's continuing to shriek every few moments, fire spewing from its mouth. ]
glidinglight: (smile)

[personal profile] glidinglight 2023-08-22 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
No problem.

[ She wraps a lavender one, soft and thick, into a cocoon around herself before flopping down next to him. ]

So how long's it been bad for you?
glidinglight: (longing)

[personal profile] glidinglight 2023-08-22 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ Because of Ayato? They never did talk about that. She reaches out and rests her hand on top of Ayaka's, a gesture meant to convey concern as much as reassurance. ]

That's okay. We all have times when we need someone else to carry the load. Are you feeling any better now?
happydreamed: neutral (dass du zu mir kommst)

[personal profile] happydreamed 2023-08-22 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
A few days. [He leans into her side, and even that small contact helps a little.] ...At first I tried to continue to go to work at the clinic, but I should really have just stayed home.
glidinglight: (fume)

[personal profile] glidinglight 2023-08-22 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ She browses through the app for a bit before finally opting for an order of butter chicken. If it's anything like the recipe she learned in Sumeru, it would be rich, warm, and filling. She passes the phone back to him so he can make a choice for himself. ]

You need to eat something too. It's too awkward to eat by oneself.

[ Somehow, even in this predicament, she finds a way to be bossy. ]
glidinglight: (oh? conversation)

[personal profile] glidinglight 2023-08-22 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
That must have been difficult.

[ Working in the clinic would have required a lot of work with his fingers--in her experience, the extremities were the areas that started hurting first and worst. ]
meliorated: ajna (065)

[personal profile] meliorated 2023-08-22 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
You're a new arrival? ( Historia turns a little then. ) ... The weather is normally much lovelier than this. It feels like something is always happening -- but, not like this.

( Historia leads her to one of the nearby buildings. )

I'm sorry. I can't imagine how the cold has effected you... Let's get something to warm the both of us up. How does hot chocolate sound?
quecheugy: (And here we are once more)

[personal profile] quecheugy 2023-08-22 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Well enough! I had been studying the student culture- various bits of slang used and the like. I've a list made in effort to understand them better. [A list of all slang terms he heard, and their possible meanings..

There was a soft smile in place with that laughter, because he honestly could imagine the humor in it all in hindsight. He couldn't think of a better way to get to the bottom of the Team Star mystery- and in the end it worked, and was able to stop himself from making a huge mistake at the cost of those students.]


Fortunate it was a secret operation, I suppose? I found out quite a lot during it, including why all of the staff had resigned alongside my predecessor a year ago.

[Strange, in a good way, how far more pleasant this felt. Even with that lingering bit of pain in his chest the chill didn't seem so bad.]

I did, and created something so Team Star could continue to exist. Forcing that group to separate would have been a great disservice. They had managed to find their greatest treasures with each other- Including the friendships of the Big Boss and the various sub-groups' leaders.