seasonsrpg | Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple

Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple

Can't Defeat the Temple
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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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah, I see. My apologies for distracting you, in that case.

[He smiles, as polite and contrite as can be. But man, this is just his luck, isn't it?]

I'm looking for a few locations, actually. I was told there was a large library, as well as a clinic?

Library?

[ He paused and thinks for a moment before - ]

Oh! Actually I know where that is. I stopped by there earlier. If you had kept going that way, you'd be going in the opposite direction, torch. Ummm...there!

[ He turns around and points to a building in the distance, tucked securly behind severa others but not quiet a speck in the distance. ]

That's it right there, just barely peeking over the rooftops. Bit of a distance, I'll admit, but not terribly far if you think your feet are up to the task. I could accompany you there if you'd like, be a good way for me to test if me mental mapping of the area is up to snuff!

Oh! Why thank you. I must have gotten turned around... I'm far more familiar with paper maps, it would seem.

[And a compass. And the fact they just had to head in one vague, general direction. Not to mention the fact this city is massive compared to what he's used to seeing anywhere.]

[He also turns, leaning slightly to follow the pointing finger.] Thank you! It does help to have a frame of reference, doesn't it? [He should be up to the hike. His ankle mostly healed from what happened back in Trench.]

If you're not busy, I wouldn't say no to the assistance, but please don't feel obligated on my account.

Aww, it's not any trouble. I'd be glad to lead you there.

[ He holds his hand, a bright smile on his face. ]

I'm Noah LeClair, friends just call me Noah.

Thank you, I'm in your debt haha.

[Sort of. Hakkai the drama king. After a moment of pause, he reaches out to take that hand.]

[He's still not entirely used to the whole handshake thing.]

A pleasure to meet you, Noah. Hakkai, if you please.

[ That's a name that sounds easier to pronounce, compared to some others out there he won't even try to name. Not that he can, which is the whole problem. ]

It's my pleasure. Right, we'll want to head this way. Follow me.

[ He sets off, immediately heading down the road and crossing to the otherside. ]

This place has got some nice streets, consistent for the most part, so as once you got the main roads pinned down getting around should be a breeze. I'm doing that meself, actually. It's why I'm getting myself well lost so I can find me way back home later.

Of course.

[He puts the phone away for the moment, falling into step with the young man. Really, he'd like to stop wandering into random places like this one. At least, this time, there didn't seem to be things like Blood Pollution or Corruption to worry about. On the other hand?]

[Being the only one here from his world was rough.]

That's a very good idea. Ah, minus the lost part. Are you sure that's entirely wise? Some have mentioned this city can be a bit overwhelming.

[And also turn people to stone?]

It's what works for me, you don't really have to copy it. I'm good with directions and navigating the urban jungle.

[ Having been raised in the lowest parts of his own world, it's no surprise he can get through more than just what's on the surface. ]

I'll admit it can be a lot, especially since I just learned that other worlds are realy thing not just some poorly written fiction novel, but once you peel back the layers of the city they'd all be the same. Just a different coat of paint is all.

Urban jungle - what a good name for it. This city certainly resembles a forest. Complete with the ability to lose yourself.

[It's so big. There are so many buildings. Even the phone device is pretty beyond what he's used to seeing.]

[The library will be a relief, frankly.]

Learning other worlds exist is truly a shock, I agree. But there's a lot to learn from unique worlds, isn't there?

Believe me, learning is all I've been doing.

[ He says exasperated. ]

From the moment I arrived, I've been walking around like me eyes didn't quite fit in me head. Wide as saucers there were. I nearly starved too, and if it weren't for someone's kindness I might have just as well done so.

[ Not that starving is anything new to him. ]

Here? You nearly starved?

[There's more important things, probably. But that's what sticks out to Hakkai in the moment.]

Is that a problem, here?

Oh, no! Not at all! I was just...

[ How does he say this?... ]

Well, the dishes here were all new to me, and I had absolutely no way of knowing if I could even them without messing myself up. Someone needed to metaphorically hold my hand before I tried to eat anything without concern.

Ah, I see. That can be a very difficult experience. But you're all right now?

[He has to ask. He's too much of the Mom Friend.]

What are you accustomed to, if I may ask?

Uhmmm...

[ Once more he is struggling to answer this. ]

Well, back in my world we hd synthetic meats and veg which he boil or fry. Every now and then we manage to save up and buy some real meat and oats. Mostly its the factory stuff we get. Did that make sense?

Synthetic... food?

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't quite understand. You hadn't had food before that wasn't this... synthetic?

[Yeah his world is nowhere near that level of science.]

Uhmmmmm....In a way synthetic foods are.....well, they're made in a factory out in the upper levels and distributed to the populace. It's meat remade from the items we get from the Deep, which is place Divers go to get resources and such.

...

Though I guess that doesn't really answer things does it? Sorry about that. There's just a lot to go into to explain it.

[ He pauses and thinks. ]

I guess the simplest way to put it is that it's "fake" meat? But that sounds horrid for something I eat ninety eight percent of the time, dunnit?

Mm, unfortunately no. Then again, I've become accustomed to my world being rather behind most others.

[He offers a smile, sympathetic and apologetic all at the same time.]

But I suppose "fake" is an apt description, from what I understand so far. So it stands to reason why you'd be confused on your arrival here.

Forgive my concern, haha - I can't help myself on occasion.

You're alright, torch! I appreciate the concern. We do have authentic meat back home, but the price is almost equivalent to one trimester of schooling.

[ They eventually get to one of the large intersections, a very busy walk way that looks like even the sligtest disruption would cause delay. ]

Right, so now we're entering...I think it's called Amberfall, where the Library is located. If we take this road down here, it'll take us straight to Nightwake, which means we want to be headed....that way. Across the street, and a few more blocks down. We're gonna be walking parallel this thoroughfare here. Just not sure what the name of that street is. Its one of them odds that change name as you enter another city

Goodness, that much? Does that price also apply to fish? You mentioned "divers" before.

[The intersection gives him pause. There are... so many people. So much going on. It dwarfs anything back home. Anything in Trench. The others' jaws would have hit the ground, wouldn't they?]

[With that realization, Hakkai suddenly feels very alone.]

Are all the streets this busy? I've never seen anything like this.

Not all, but there's a lot of stores and restaurants here it's got to be because of those.

[ Whatever the case the light at the crossing turns green and Noah continues to lead them forward through the hefty crowd until they've gotten to the right road to follow. The street being dotted by a mixture of delis, a few stores, and some apartment buildings. ]

Oh this place is pretty nice, innit? Looks a touch a pricey though. Anyway, about your earlier question. I only learned about fish recently and I can tell you we don't have that in my world, not that I know of at least. Divers are people who explore the Deep, get rid of fog monsters, and they also help with law enforcement.

[ A beat. ]

And I again I realize I may have to explain what the bloody hell the Deep is to explain what a Diver really does.

[ Which by the look on his face is....difficult. ]

I see... that would make sense as to why there's so much activity, wouldn't it?

[It's still overwhelming. So many people. So much hustle. A rare sight in his world. More people here than back there, or Trench, combined. He actually ducks around a shopper with huge purchases.]

I can't imagine living here... not yet. Maybe somewhere quieter. [If that even exists. He'd probably need somewhere more solitary as well, wouldn't he?] But ah, yes, please, continue.

Not to worry, I enjoy learning new things.

I kind of made that connection. People who go looking for libraries tend to be like that. Back home, whenever I could, I take the kids up to the classier part of the city so they can play in the park and such but I was gobsmacked. They all keep wanting to go the library! A bunch of ankle biters! Imagine that!

[ He laughed heartily. ]

They've read most if not all of the books at home so, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. Anyway, I got off track a bit. Right, the Deep. It's.....actually, I don't know what it is. No one does. It's a place of pure darkness, not unlike what's happening here but not the same either. The Deep is, well, the Deep. Hell on Earth. It makes monsters in the dark, ones that'll kill you and leave barely a trace of your body.

There was one time, I was in the Deep and stepped on something that cracked. I thought that was kind of odd so when I went to pick it up, I thought it was a stone. Small, smooth, but when I held it up to me face I realized it was human bone. The tip of a finger, stripped of all the flesh. Nasty bit of stuff.

Oh, you have children? That must be difficult... being here without them.

[Said in complete sympathy. He's here alone as well. But he can't think of how much more difficult it would be for someone to be parted from their children.]

That sounds horrifying. [And if he'd been fresh from his world, even more so. But after seeing everything of Deer Country, of Trench, it's somehow easier to picture a world shrouded in utter darkness.] Is it contained to a certain area? Or is this something you have to worry about spreading?

Ah... I can see why that would be disconcerting, to say the least.

Oh, well, they're not flesh and blood. I came from an orphanage, and while I don't live there anymore I help keep it afloat. Which naturally involves keeping them little squirts happy.

[ He laughs once more. ]

I don't look old enough to have kids of me own, do I?

Oh, what a coincidence, hah - I was brought up in one myself. Though, you sound as if you're doing them a great service. I'm sure the children appreciate it.

[Hakkai's smile doesn't waver. Though it turns a touch more apologetic.]

Well, one can never know! Someone might not look their age at all.

Event #3: Can't Defeat the Temple

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