Event #6: Doctor Why Instead of Who

[seasonsmods]

Doctor Why Instead of Who
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Sawyer's Return

Sawyer, the Autumn Guild Leader, addresses the network on noon on the 19th. He's back from wherever he has been since disappearing in November. The message goes as follows.

Click for a Gif

"This is Sawyer. I lead the Autumn Guild as the last Autumn Power Holder native to this world. I was accused of crimes relating to the portal mysteries and sabotage in the Research Center in November. Well, I guess I still am.

I managed to track down the real culprit, but couldn't capture them. Instead, I got the device they used just before they disappeared into yet another portal. The device still has the coordinates to the location they went to. Instead of pursuing them myself, I'm asking for everyone's help, since I got injured fighting them. I'm leaving the device to Olwen, along with a file on another incident, and letting Harrison put me in jail until the real culprit is captured. Hopefully after Jade looks me over.

Anyway, I'm counting on all of you to capture the bastard. They go by the name "The Doctor".

Harrison, I'm waiting behind the Amberfall Guild."

Any inquiries about the video will be met with a "We are forming a plan of action, please wait" for the first few days after. But everyone will be assures that Sawyer did get medical attention before taken away! (Handwaved) Visitations are permitted while he's in custody.

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Color Me Inked
(Duration: Whole month)

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Part 1

There is some really good news following the slightly worrying news from before: The Fairy Queen has reacquired all of her powers! That's why anyone who is interested is invited to Amberfall to gain an upgrade for their seasonal powers. This upgrade comes in the form of a magical tattoo. These tattoos not only give boosts but it can also move around one's body (for example, if someone's tattoo is a bird, the bird can fly around, especially when powers are activated).

These tattoos are permanent by default, but they can also be temporary should the person wish so. Temporary tattoos will wear out in a month (or earlier, if the tattoo is in constant use).

The basic effect of the tattoo is simple: seasonal powers stronger against the dark energy, meaning everyone will be able to fight creatures coated in it easier. That is, however, not the only effect; two more effects can be chosen when the tattoo is made, from a pool of choices provided.

Tattoo extra effects
• Danger Sense (gives an ability to sense danger in the surroundings)
• Door Creation (lets the user create a temporary fake door to pass through walls and other obstacles)
• Elemental Resistance (one element) (can be chosen twice)
• Enhanced Sense (choose one of the basic senses) (can be chosen twice)
• Guardian Spirit (summons an astral being to physically protect them, in the shape of something important to them - stays for an hour per summon)
• Mermaid Song (gives an ability to be able to heal minor injuries with singing)
• Minor Regeneration Powers (automatically heal minor injuries)
• New Element creation and manipulation (choose from electricity, light, neutral) (can be chosen twice)
• Retrocognition (able to see an item's past by touching it (does not work on living things))
• X-Ray Vision (lets user see through walls and other objects by touching them (does not work on living things))

All extra effects of the tattoo drain magical energy just like any other abilities do. If someone is low on magical powers, the tattoo will look like it's faded out (animal based tattoos may even start sleeping). No one automatically masters these abilities, so it might take some time to get used to them and properly use them in a fight.

Part 2

Various booths have been set all around Nightwake that let people test their new abilities. Most of the booths utilize just one ability (like being attacked by a water balloon with a blindfold on to test danger sense or test their enhanced senses) but some of them have several ways to complete them. They vary from obstacle courses to target shooting. These are mostly fun, harmless things

There's also just general fighting areas set up for people to just fight it out with their new abilities (they know by now that otherworlders love their fights). There are also robots that are installed with various martial arts to use as opponents, for those who prefer not to fight other people.

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Bigger on the Inside

(Duration: January 22nd -> 26th)

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Part 1

Olwen, the Winter Guild Leader, is the next one to address everyone through a message sent to all devices. It's an invitation to join him in tracking down and capturing The Doctor, but also for anyone who wishes to join the support side of things. The team will be gathering in Blossomcrown Park, on the 22nd of January at noon, where he will explain the plan.

The park has several tents set up. All of them are somehow related to aiding the fighters who will be entering the portals, so all non-combatants will be asked to man them. There are healing, food and even touch energy tents. After an analyzation done on the portal device, it seems that touch energy will drain faster inside the portals than they do normally.

Before the portal is opened, Olwen greets and thanks everyone for coming. He will explain that their primary goal is to find The Doctor, but also prevent monsters from entering Nightwake while the portal is open (it cannot be shut while someone is inside, unless you're someone like The Doctor). He explains that the nature of this portal is otherwise still unknown and he advises anyone who starts feeling bad in any way to return to Nightwake right away.

Once everyone is done with preparations Olwen activates the portal device and leads the way inside, holding a sword and shield in hand.

Part 2

When people first enter the portal they are met with a breathtaking view. It looks as if the water surface and the sky melt together, as the water reflects the starry sky. On the water there are several rowing boats. Once at least two people are inside a boat it will start moving across the surface of water and will eventually disappear into a mist (all except for Olwen, who disappears alone for some reason, who tells everyone to stay focused on the mission before the mist takes him).

The boats take people into sceneries that reflect their seasons. If there's more than one season on the same boat the scenery will be a mix of them.

• Winter is a cave of ice and water, filled with monsters named Glaciduets (Rock monsters with various animal bodies that shoot ice and rocks as weapons)
• Spring is a place among the clouds, filled with monsters named Galeduets (Birds that are partially fishes, that use sharp winds and icicles as weapons and dive among the clouds)
• Summer is a village that is burning, filled with monsters named Flameduets (Various dinosaurs with wings that use fire and wind as their weapons)
• Autumn is a rainy forest filled with monsters named Terraduets (Skeletons with fiery armor that use earth and fire as their weapons)

All of the monsters are far sturdier than they look and can provide to be difficult opponents. To proceed, they all (at least five monsters, can be more) have to be defeated and if any of them get past them into the mist the people entered from they will attempt to enter the portal into Nightwake. The mist is also the way to escape and return to regroup if needed.

Part 3

Defeating enough monsters will destroy the space they entered. Once enough spaces are destroyed, one final space is revealed (this will take a few days, there are a lot of these spaces). It's where Olwen can be seen fighting a masked, hooded person. Olwen is using his sword, water and ice - while the other figure uses force fields to protect themselves from magic and two swords. From the looks of it, the fight is rather even.

Those who try to help Olwen will be met with another force field around the area, preventing anyone from entering. Destroying the devices making the field will help Olwen get past the villain's defenses, but they're guarded by shadow monsters called Shadow Moths (This creature takes the shadows of people to become bigger and faster. It usually takes the form of a giant mothman that has shadowy vines as its weapons. If hit by the vines, characters would start doing everything backwards).

Once the devices have been destroyed, Olwen manages to encase the figure in ice before collapsing on the ground himself from exhaustion. All that's left now is to get both the ice covered villain and Olwen out of the portal and closing the portal - but with that, it's mission accomplished.

The masked villain (still frozen) will be taken by the Law Enforcement into custody to be questioned while Olwen gets Jade (Spring Guild Leader) to look after him right away. Olwen is tired, but thanks everyone who came to help with the mission (whether fighting or supporting) with a healthy sum of 20,000 Moon Coins.

Epilogue

With The Doctor in custody, Sawyer is free. Harrison makes a public apology, which Sawyer accepts and a viral video can be seen of all the guild leaders hugging him and telling him how they always believed in him. Are those tears in Sawyer's eyes? You must be seeing things!

Information about the villain will be given at a later date, once they manage to interrogate them. Meanwhile Sawyer will return to his guild duties. This time actually doing them without (as many) complaints.

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Waiting in the Shadows
(Duration: January 28th - 31st)

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Part 1

The Research Center Leader, Helene, and the Fairy Queen have been working on a project while the Portal fight has been going on. They send a message that there's another mission to take to those who are interested, with a 50,000 moon coins reward because of how dangerous and important this mission is.

Those who agree to take on the mission are asked to take at least a temporary magical tattoo. Those who already have a tattoo (permanent or temporary) will have theirs temporarily enhanced. This is the only requirement to participate in the mission. The enhancements for the tattoo are to protect the user from what they are about to face and make magic work against it - as well as work as an emergency exit if all else fails.

Explanation of what they are about to face is a dangerous entity once faced by two otherworlders. It has been named the All-Consuming Darkness: an experiment made by the Doctor that was meant to be unleashed to destroy the barriers around Ellipsa. Under normal circumstances it would eat any attacks delivered at it. But with the Fairy Queens magic tattoo boosts that danger will be out of the way.

After all the preparations and explanations, they are advised to take the new, temporary teleport crystal out to the Autumn Segment, straight to the Abandoned Mansion.

Part 2

The Abandoned Mansion is a creepy, old two story building that looks quite rundown. It's surrounded by mist that expands into the forest. There's not much to look at on the outside, other than two tombstones with the names of Kamisato Ayato and Kaveh on them. Anyone who has previously visited the mansion might remember they definitely weren't there before June, when the place was sealed.

Magical tattoos let everyone pass through the barrier and into the house. The strategy is simple: find all the arms of the monster, spread out to the mansions every room, and destroy them. With the boost from the tattoos all attacks can now deal damage, but the monster can still inflict status effects (silence, stun, burn, poison) and the air around it generally feels poisoned.

The being itself has no actual figure. It's a shapeless blob of mass that attacks people relentlessly with its arms. It will also try to capture anyone it can and eat them to make itself bigger, since it no longer can consume attacks to do so. Even with the magical tattoo boost it's still a difficult opponent to face.

Those that do get eaten will receive their own tombstone outside. It seems it appears automatically after death.

Everyone is also advised to retreat if they need to, which they can do by passing the barrier out of the house. With how many arms the being has the fight may take a while.

Part 3

Once all the arms are destroyed, the shadow blob will evaporate and the eerie feeling that was all over the place will vanish. The spirits that were guarding the doors will open the windows and doors, relieved that the danger was now gone. It's almost as if the nature was celebrating too, as sun beams start to fill the mansion as well.

The teleport crystals will take them back, but there's also a promise of a free luxury airship ride back for those who want to pamper themselves for a job well done. The airship is parked at the Autumn Airship Station.

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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!

• Characters are responsible for coming up with their designs for the tattoos or at least ideas for them (the fairies doing the tattoos can offer options). As a bonus, there's no healing time for the tattoos, as they are completely magical! It also doesn't hurt (unless the person is very sensitive to it, then it might. Player's choice). Everyone is also allowed to get temporary tattoos first before committing to a permanent one (the limit is one permanent tattoo per character).

• Those with special skin (mechanical or otherwise) will still be able to get a tattoo, as they are magical. Even those whose skin would normally regenerate (like titan shifters) can have a tattoo stay permanently. These tattoos will also be available as "aesthetic only" ones after the event.

• Neutral Element is what it says on the tin. It's a shapeless energy that usually takes a blank, white form (but can be different colored, too). No creature is super weak against the element, but none of them resist it either; it's the element that will always deal damage, no matter what.

• Reminder that this month does not have Activity Check-in!

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[essenceborn]

[ OH NO HAHA...thank you for your sacrifice this day.

There aren't a lot of foods Nen has tried to date that they Just Don't Like, but they tend to be of the bitter variety (grapefruit, coffee, etc). Pigeon isn't bitter, but it is...unique. Chewy. Very chewy. The flavour isn't bad, but it's not an easy thing to eat. ]

...Hard. I have to chew it a lot.

[dreamsofwings]

[ Eren looks a little surprised. Mikasa and Jean didn't get to go home at all, as far as he knows. Not that they'd want to. No matter when in time they're from, their world was still hell.

It just got worse.

Eren made it worse, but that's temporary. He'll die and the world will be less hell. Or so he hopes; he doesn't really have any way of knowing what happens afterwards. He just knows, thanks to Levi, that there are no more titans. It has to be enough.

He considers the question. ]

Uh…dunno. More than a year, I think. I don't really remember how long I was in Folkmore. Something like six months or so…

[ He lets himself look back at Hijikata, that practised blankness settled onto as face as much as he can manage these days. It's not as convincing as it once was. ]

I don't plan to ever go back. There's nothing there worth going back to. Everything I care about is here.

[ And he'll fight like hell to keep them, though he knows he can't possibly control all of it (see: Armin disappearing a couple months after this). ]

Do you think we can actually save this world, or is that just bullshit?

[dreamsofwings]

Eren shrugs.

"Who knows? I've felt static for a long time," he says, which is a strange sort of admission for a boy who experiences so much of time all at once.

"Your…blood…?" he asks, trying to follow along. What the fuck kind of world was Trench? It sounds like a nightmare world — and Eren comes from a nightmare world, so he would know.

"…Were you pulled into the desert last month? The one with the tree of light?"

He doesn't actually have a good word for it, the Paths. He doesn't know the word other than the Coordinate, but that's the tree itself. It's just a place, out of time and memory, that he knows and doesn't know.

No one else should have been there, certainly not non-Eldians. But he wants to know if Hakkai saw the terrible truth of their world, the looming omnicide that Eren will bring to it. He isn't acting differently, so maybe not.

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata answers without skipping a beat.]

We can. I'm sure of it. There's got to be a way to save this world. We people from all over the place were able to save Prismatica, which was encased in crystal just about as much as Ellipsa's covered in Darkness, and with Avalon as a base, we were able to harness enough magic to save the entire multiverse. I can't imagine that we'll fail here.

[Does he sound like a typical shounen manga hero or what? But his track record so far gives him confidence - and, more importantly, he wants to reassure Eren, who's hanging all his hopes on being able to stay in this world that has called in so many people he cares about.]

[kerontribution]

Oh... Oryou's teeth are probably stronger than yours. ...Oryou's sorry.

[She wanted them to like it, but she should have picked a softer meat, since they're delicate.]

[dreamsofwings]

"I've barely ever seen anyone with tattoos at home," Eren says. It wasn't like they had technology to do it. He actually has no idea how tattoos are done. He's seen them here and there, but it really isn't common.

He peers at the tattoo Aymeric shows him. That's a nice idea, matching with someone you love.

"What's the symbol at the top?" he asks.

"Oh. My friend Jean. He was a knight in a place called Avalon." He shrugs. "I don't know if it's anything like knights where you're from. I only knew about knights before from stories my friend liked."

And then, Eren only half listened. He isn't much of a reader, so he would zone out as a kid when Armin would go on about stuff like that.

"I'm a member of the Survey Corps," he says. "We only have one military, but different sections."

He chews on his lip, thinks how to explain this succinctly. No matter what he says, their world is a horror show.

"The Survey Corps goes out beyond the walls of our city to try to find…I don't know anymore. To try to find a way to defeat the titans. But there was so much we didn't know. In the end, we have to fight a war against people who hate us."

[knowsvinewhip]

"Perhaps that's a blessing, in a way. If you feel static... maybe there isn't much that needs to change." He laughs a bit, in his usual filling the silence sort of way, not because anything is actually funny.

A nod, while he looks down at his hands, idly - long fingers, short lifeline. "It was altered. To one of five different sorts, if I remember correctly. All with their own benefits and drawbacks." This time, the look on his face is close to a relieved one. "It seems to have reverted to normal, here."

the tree of light

His hands drop back to the rail. Tensing. "I... did," he admits, slowly. "It was an uncomfortable time. Did it delve into memories for yourself, as well?" A careful, almost guarded question.

[abnormalizes]

I guess I don't really want to argue that too much.

[It's probably not healthy.]

[roundandaround]

[Snuggle.]

You're an expert on fighting this kind of stuff. Do you think we're close to getting through it?

[essenceborn]

It's alright. I have never tried pigeon before... This is a precious new experience. Thank you, Oryou.

[ They will never forget her chewy meat!! ]

[kerontribution]

[!!! She perks up again.]

If you're happy then Oryou's happy too. But next time she'll hunt you softer prey.

dfajskl I SLOW TURTLE BACK IT'S OKAY.

[sultanofsquat]

Don't mention it.

[ Right now, however, his instincts are telling him that they need to run. Not permanently...but to gather their bearings. If the shadows that lurk beneath the floorboards were going to rise up, than they were sitting ducks if they just stood here. So while he still spots the front entrance, he's going to continue leading them away, giving their hand a gentle yet firm squeeze. Reassurance. ]

No "sorry"s allowed either.

[snekeyes]

I hope I am able to meet her, then.

[Of course, this manifestation would always favour her true Master, but she'd like to be able to meet the Master that the Chaldean Servants spoke so fondly of.

However, before she could ask anything else, Rider froze and moved quickly into a crouch. The darkness of the monster within the house was rapidly approaching!]

It's coming.

[houndofmanchester]

[Fairy Sword Galatine appears in her hand, and the protection of Foul Weather spreads across the area.]

I'm ready.

[snekeyes]

Now...!

[Medusa's own power rippled through her body as she called on her monstrous strength- and then, one shadowy arm crashed out a nearby doorway, aiming a sweep at the two Servants.

She leapt up quickly, aiming quick strikes with her chain weapons as she went.]

[houndofmanchester]

[Barghest simply meets the arm with her blade before it can reach her, sharp stone forming around the weapon to give it the strength to hurt the Darkness.]

[bratherine]

( Unfortunately, the curse of being a snotty brat of a teenager is that you can't help but make comments that you probably shouldn't. Even to ominouly cloaked women who speak in equally ominious words. )

Vague threats. Say what you mean or don't bother.

( None of this other means crap. )

[gleaner]

Hey.

[It was quiet, but firm. Laying down like this doesn't really lend to him being able to twist around, not with his wound, but he managed to turn his hand within E'kayan's grasp so he could cradle his chin and cheek.]

Do not think about what-if's. You are important to me as well, so much more than I ever realized. And I do not want you spiraling on what could have happened.

[Erenville didn't even want to think about it himself.]

Alright?

[essenceborn]

Like a frog?

[ Those are plenty soft. and squishy! ]

[kerontribution]

Did you like the last frog Oryou gave you?

[She likes frogs, but if Nenonen doesn't then she'll get them something else.]

[essenceborn]

Yes! Chipp made frog legs. We could not eat the rest of the frog though.. But I liked that part. It was crunch when fried.

[dreamsofwings]

Eren shakes his head slowly.

"No. I want to change, I'm just not sure I can," he answers. He means it, but he also…cops out somewhat. By saying he can't change, he doesn't have to try. (He is trying, he just gets fucked up in his head.)

"I don't think I understand this Trench place at all. Was it a bad place?"

It sounds like a bad place to Eren, but he came from a nightmare world. He's rarely encountered anyone whose world — their own or otherwise — was as horrific as his. But there must be others that were terrible.

A muscle tenses in his jaw. He doesn't look at Hakkai.

"Sort of," he answers. "It's what I was trying to do, but…it was only supposed to be me and Reiner. No one else should have been there." He tries so hard for honesty these days, even if he doesn't always say the whole truth.

[kerontribution]

Oryou will cook you a whole frog! The whole thing is delicious, not just the legs.

[knowsvinewhip]

"I think I once heard that trying counts for quite a bit." It's said after a few moments' quiet. "I'm not sure I believe it myself. But it's a nice thought, isn't it?"

It probably doesn't apply to people like him, though.

"Not all bad. It could be perilous, deadly. But the people who washed ashore were... it there was a sense of community. No matter where you came from, the Sleepers were your people." In that way, it was welcome. It felt like you belonged. And part of him does miss that.

He waits, patiently, until Eren speaks again. The inclusion of Reiner is a surprise, but no less than the rest of what he's told. When Hakkai looks over at Eren, it's with shock, instead of anger. "You were able to do something like that...?"

[itsmypower]

[One may guess he contained the moon the way his student looks up. His bright gaze sticks, and he can't help trailing him with his eyes, the flame-lit snow, light and sounds igniting the mist as orange smears pinks through the haze of it. He can't quite see, and flashed heat lightnings across his skin; and rime-webbed legs abandon frost, and spot he stands on, and patience. His running parallel leaves one glimpse—his teacher's suit, or flash of sword—and Shoto darts again, gliding, practically scrambling across his ice to watch as winds collide and flames disperse.

That there are golems in his way means their swift and coldly painless deaths.

Spikes like skewers sprout up blades confining their limbs in a frost-trap; floe-tips rapidly spearing a jaw or chipping away at rock and stone itself. He breaks up stone through force of speed, left hand's flames a string of lights; right hand shaping ice from nothing, winds. Without regard, his racing heart—clear mind balanced on just his goal—casts off fears displaced with joy in shapes of a small human blizzard; At your side; I'm here, I'm here. Disaster and Flowers in boy-sized palms—he coils ice to wrap a snake; buries a panther born of rocks in weight of his frost, shards and glaciers—"destroy one thing, destroy the next". Calamity raised, then repurposed: strength in frost as unbearable cold and slipstream winds where white confetti drifts. And, though he barely thinks it, moves, his season's spells enhance his right—spirit his Quirk to lift and reach and crust the shore foamed and white-glazed; charred-black village crushed with snow; leopard inking across his arm gifting winter where his ice exists.

It's not a third of what his ice can do; and swirling thoughts align, converge, blistering cold enriched with spells and magics twined with Quirk's presence: I am here, the boy's next thought; quiet, Yes, my power's mine. If you're here, then I can't lose... If you're flames, then I'll become that ice. Flame like lasers rip through shale to ribbon clean through an ice-quartz. Left hand blazing where fingers spread; molten rock and shrapnel-stone and shattering glass shards igniting; clouds of embers announcing its drop where massive weight and muscle rights itself.]

Onibi! [Pitched voice rising, words a chain and rushed breathless—] Darkest Lariat, and don't hold back...!

[And just as quick, his whirling hellcat cycles its flames demolishing ice in a flash-storm; a crystalled bear now scattered rocks; spun strings following from the boy, harsh frost seeping from skin to dirt while missing the swordsman's entirely. Smashed stone glittering where its ground in dust. And here, that too-sharp wind around him stills, and the snowy, white-out veil obscuring his narrowed sight dissipates. The frosted air between them lifts, and Shoto slows his steps, watches, student distantly so engrossed there's no attempts to tear his eyes away. His winter season lifts his pride; stirs his heart to skip its beats in all of his still-youth's excitement.

I'll fight like me to win like you.]

Go! Sensei!! Hinobuta!

[Is he cheering...? He tries.]

I'm watching you; don't back down!