seasonsmods: (Default)
Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsrpg2024-01-19 12:11 am

Event #6: Doctor Why Instead of Who



Doctor Why Instead of Who
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION



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.





Color Me Inked

(Duration: Whole month)


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.






Bigger on the Inside


(Duration: January 22nd -> 26th)



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.




Waiting in the Shadows

(Duration: January 28th - 31st)



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.





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
ideel: (49)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-22 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
An interesting point, but not all individuals are afflicted by such things, and much of those traits are taught, not something inherited. If you are scolded for stealing as a child then it only makes sense that doing so would cause some anxiety even as an adult.

I would also argue that paranoia and fear are natural- if you do make a living out of being a thief then you should be wary. That is how you will survive while inevitably being hunted. Fear is the most primitive of emotions, and all creatures experience it.

[She’s making stronger points, but his experience with both humans and nonhumans has him at an advantage. ]

Humans are social animals, so it’s not surprising that they receive positive feedback from cooperation with their kind- but that’s not a marvel of morality, but rather another inherent instinct ingrained for your survival. There are merfolk, beastmen, and fae with similar instincts. They tend to be quite social, and function better in a group, but unlike your world, there are also those with inclinations of being loners and relying solely on themselves. You have merely not encountered them- it does not make them morally lesser, only not native to your world.

[The bit about Azul though, that gets him laughing. Like Azul would even need his help. And imagining the disaster of letting Azul stay for free- give him a moment he actually needs to collect himself after that.]

I would offer, but there would be an exchange or agreement of some sort. “Free is the most expensive price” or so he says. If he did accept it, he’d no doubt take advantage of it to my detriment. You will not meet a more shrewd and cunning individual than him, but he’s also remarkably intelligent. You simply need to know how to deal with him- though I may be biased in that assessment. He’s one of my brother and I’s oldest friends, and we have yet to see a dull day in his company.
urtitan: (Concerned)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Frieda, as an individual, would at some point agree to disagree with the other person if neither will budge in the argument. The first King of the Walls, however, the ancestor who caused the most profound change in her views of the world, would never tire of trying to preach peace and compassion, and as a result she won't either.]

Again you are not wrong. If a human society propagates the principle of 'might makes right' and rewards its members for selfish behaviour, it shapes that group of humans, and they may become more beast-like than any other species.

[Who would know that better than him her, who witnessed the Great Titan Wars and the incredible suffering of those oppressed under the Eldian Empire?]

But that's the very loss of what we like to think of as our humanity - our ability to go against our self-interest and show others kindness and mercy. Those who steal and kill with impunity and feel no regret are the lowest manifestation of humankind. After all you told me, I will not extend that judgement to the other species from your world, but you cannot change my mind when it comes to my own kind.

[My own kind, not our own kind, because clearly something went in a different direction in Jade's world. Perhaps his humankind, surrounded by species living by the rules of 'survival of the fittest', forced them to adopt their values or else go extinct? Frieda is still sorting out how to feel about that.]

If Azul, shaped by his people's values, will not accept your generosity, nor mine, I feel like his life is poorer for it. Being shown kindness is a beautiful experience that, as I said before, brings forth a person's own best self.
ideel: (50)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-23 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
Again, you may wish to refrain from using "beast-like" as synonymous as something amoral and savage. Regardless of what you're used to, humans aren't the only individuals here, and I have no doubts some will take offense.

[He was ready to poke more holes in her argument, or even forsake it to poke more fun at Azul- but her words "my own kind" had a dangerous implication that she had caught onto him. He'd admittedly grown lax in hiding it, even going as far as enjoying throwing out hints go see if she'd catch on, but with their current talk he was beginning to think it would be for the better to keep it quiet for a while longer. He did not think she was ready to have to face a non-human, and he needed to gauge how much he could trust her with it.

There was also the possibility she was not human, though given her drivel of self-righteousness, he doubted that. No one who believed their kind to be that important would want to associate their ideals with any other species.

He let the cheery facade fade for something more... honest. Something leveled and calculating as he held her gaze in a rare moment of seriousness- or perhaps it had always been there, that vigilant and cunning gaze discretely masked behind a smile.
]

So in your eyes, I no longer qualify as human?

[He was lucky that such a claim would be as insulting to a human as it was a threat to his deception, his shift in tone would be understandable, or perhaps the gaze of one of the more dangerous predators of the deep would be the final piece for her to figure it out herself.

Either way, he needed an answer from her.
]
urtitan: (Gloom)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
[The conversation must have been quite the rollercoaster for Jade. Frieda, as an individual, loves her people and will defend their morality, however 2,000 years of human history say otherwise. As such, conflicting information arises depending on which perspective she's speaking from. We're all sinners. But if we try to be kind to each other, we can attain happiness and a paradise on earth, at least until our judgement day.

She merely holds his gaze at his gentle admonishment, not arguing but also not offering an apology as she might have if she hadn't allowed her inherited memories to flood her mind. As for his question, however...]


Are you human, Jade?

[At first, she believed he was, despite his strange hair- and eye colour and sharp teeth - humans might look different on other worlds, right? But between his wealth of knowledge of the sea below the surface, his peculiar merman form that's so different from hers, and the way he's been arguing "on behalf of" the merpeople during this debate, she finds her doubts solidifying.]

Or are you a merman who's taken the sea witch's potion to live on the land?

[There's no fear, apprehension, or judgement in her voice, but her unwavering gaze may be a bit eerie... but then again she's been wearing that expression for a while already.]
ideel: (85)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-23 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
[So she figured it out, and refused to affirm any “humanity“ about him. A shame.

He only shifted back to a smile, that ever present smile that rarely seemed to reach his eyes. Admitting what he was would still be a risk, even if she had already gathered it for herself. It was nothing personal, it was as he’d explained before; all things are an exchange. This was a risk that he did not believe would have a fair payoff as it stood.
]

That’s quite the accusation. Is it really so strange that I might worry how an old friend would be treated, should he arrive here?

I’m merely a human who grew up by the sea with my brother.

[This was the first outright lie he’d told as well. He’d never claimed to be human before. Everything thus far has been a mix of half-truths and clever lies of omission.

He wanted her to know it was a lie this time. A very deliberate lie.
]
urtitan: (Morose)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Her eyelids lower a bit, stopping the stare-down between them, but her expression shows no clear emotion - no disappointment in being lied to, in his trust not being great enough to confide in her, no guilt over having "falsely" accused him, no confirmation of whether she believes him or not. Instead, she gets up from the couch after a glance at the clock on the wall.]

I should go home. It got late; Historia will be waiting for me.

[Whether it's a punishment for his lie, a physical acknowledgement of the boundary he set, or a way to hide any embarrassment or discomfort with her own actions that she might be feeling - who knows? Maybe it's none of those things. Maybe she just doesn't understand why a merman who argued so tirelessly about everything being a give and take would want his humanity affirmed.

On her way to the door she briefly stops, albeit without turning back to him.]


I told you that I'll extend my unconditional support to Azul if he does arrive and finds himself in need of help. It's a shame that I couldn't alleviate your worries.
ideel: (27)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-23 07:11 am (UTC)(link)
Of course. Thank you for your company, I do hope we get the chance to finish watching Annika together at some point.

[He says shifting back to his he normally is. Calm and cheerful as though nothing had ever happened.

At her last words however, he looked up at her, and with his expression still friendly, posted her an explanation. An elaboration on the terms of the exchange that wound up falling through.
]

When a person holds another group of people to a different ethical standard, it opens some very dangerous possibilities. That’s not something anyone should be subject to, don’t you believe?

[She had admitted that much herself, so he suspended she would understand that much- it just turned it that she couldn’t reconcile a compromise on the matter.

He took a casual sip of his tea.
]

I don’t believe in taking such things terribly personally. I find it’s people’s flaws that make them interesting.

But I would not willingly put Azul in any sort of danger brought up by such a point of view. When you’re the only one of your kind in an unfamiliar and unnatural environment, one subtle mistake can turn into a death sentence, you understand.

[So he holds nothing against her, it’s just a matter of protecting himself. If he wasn’t to be considered on the same level as a human, then it would be foolish to be so open about the part of him that wasn’t human. Simple as that.]
Edited 2024-01-23 07:13 (UTC)
urtitan: (Hm?)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
[She does turn around at that and politely inclines her head. She will continue watching Annika with him! While her smile doesn't return as fast as his, her sense of identity gradually does. She's becoming herself once more, existing only in this moment as Frieda Reiss.

She listens as Jade continues speaking, not sure what to make of his words. How is she supposed to hold merpeople to the same standards as humans when they operate in such different ways? How can she expect other species to strive for kindness and compassion when they haven't committed the same sins that humans - specifically her race - need to atone for? Despite his friendly tone, it feels like a reproach that she can't abandon her higher expectations of her own people.

"I find it’s people’s flaws that make them interesting"... given the context, that feels like an outright insult. Granted, he has no way of knowing the gravity of her feelings about humanity's need to strive for compassion, and so she, too, decides to not take it too personally. Regarding her stance putting Azul in danger, though...]


I simply can't follow your logic. How would I endanger Azul simply by expecting no reciprocation of any support I might offer him?

[How do I endanger you?]
ideel: (49)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-23 10:11 am (UTC)(link)
[He noted a difference in her demeanor again, curious. He could fish for more information easily if he wanted. She knew his secret, even if he didn’t admit to it. It wasn’t like she had any inherent resistance to magic… but that would be too easy. Maybe someday, but not today.

Mostly because she was stuck asking the wrong question and he felt compelled to set her back on the right path. She has gotten so close to understanding earlier too. Since phrasing it “people tend to kill things they believe to be imposters” was going to drag them back into the nature debate, he’d phrase it closer to her own terms.
]

Holding people to two different standards of morality rarely ends well.

If a human is condemned for a wrongdoing that a merperson is not, then it will breed resentment in one species, and boldness in the other.

Merfolk are far from being a flawless people. There have been times when Azul has taken things too far, and admittedly, my brother and I were rather caught up in our own amusement to notice and stop him before he came to harm. He was held accountable of course, as is fair. No favoritism granted.

[He’s not infallible, and there is some very fine line of ethics in there… somewhere. Probably like a pirate code: not written down, and more of a suggestion.]

To put it simply, to hold the two people to separate standards, one will get… well, “dehumanized” for lack of better word.

[If she was going to be self-righteous to the point of hypocrisy, she should at least be equal with it. He wouldn’t aim for her high standards, but he would respect her more for trying to hold him to them.

In fact that actually sounded hilarious, and he hoped that’s how things panned out.
]

So either accept my friend as a villain by your standards and act accordingly, or accept that “your people” are simply another group at the mercy of their environment.
Edited 2024-01-23 10:14 (UTC)
urtitan: (We must accept our fate.)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 10:45 am (UTC)(link)
[If he knew that, in her worldview, she is the monster, rightfully resented by the rest of humanity along with her people, but trying to atone for her ancestors' sins rather than emboldened to continue perpetrating them, he might understand her inability to see herself as a threat to another one deemed dangerous and inhuman. But she'll keep that secret close to her heart.

Faced with the 2 options he suggests, she can't find either one agreeable. She certainly won't accept the second choice - circumstances may make her people want to justify acting in cruel or selfish ways, but in Frieda's view, they always can choose to do otherwise. Treating Azul as a villain, meanwhile, would necessitate treating Jade as a villain, given their shared nature, and after all the kindnesses he's shown her, she can't bring herself to accept that choice either.]


I won't do either thing, Jade. You may not understand my point of view, but I'd like you to accept it, like I have to accept yours. At least for the moment.

[They certainly will keep clashing and tangling on the matter, but they won't be able to resolve it tonight.]
ideel: (35)

[personal profile] ideel 2024-01-23 11:17 am (UTC)(link)
Then it would seem that we are at an impasse for the time being. Which is a shame, but not entirely unexpected.

[He didn’t sounded particularly bothered by this, he simply accepted it. Because, while yes it was something of a backhanded insult, he did mean what he said about enjoying people for their flaws. She was interesting, this only made her more interesting- just not safe enough to come clean about himself yet.

The exchange was unequal.
]

I do enjoy our time together though, and I hope this doesn’t change that.

[And because he does want to make her aware that he knows she’s keeping her own secret too (because why not keep stirring the pot tonight?), he adds on:]

And I do hope your headaches get better.
urtitan: (Coy)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-01-23 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Again, Frieda agreeably inclines her head - she, too, hopes that the argument doesn't negatively affect their friendship -, but at Jade's last sentence, she gives him a brief curious glance. Why is he bringing up her headaches at this time? While she allowed her inherited memories to affect her line of arguing, she doesn't think that anything could have seemed amiss from his perspective. Is he suspecting something nonetheless? Given how implausible her situation must be to anyone from a world without titans, she can hardly imagine what he may be guessing at.]

...

Thank you. Good night, Jade. I'll come by in the morning.

[She'll continue to care for him while he recovers from his injury - she'll bring fresh breakfast and sing her Mermaid Song for him again. Hopefully, they'll be able to talk and laugh as always, even if something isn't like it was before.]