april event, phase one: seeds of unrest 🌱

[beleos]

THE BEGINNING

Summertime in Springstar has been on its way out, heralding the arrival of fall; winter has likewise given way to spring in Highstorm - at least, according to the calendar. Yet there is an unseasonable bite on the breeze - one growing as frigid as the mood among Meris and Zenites in their cities. Between Alenroux’s occupation and talk of ‘the Blight,’ worries have been on the lips of the citizens with increasing frequency - and with good reason. The reports of plant life dying, of objects crumbling, of people whose bodies are deteriorating are dominating the rumor mills and local papers.

Everything comes to a head early in the second half of Pelu.

After an unusual pocket of commotion in the Seat of the Tribune and the courtyard of Yima’s manor, an urgent announcement is made on behalf of both cities: both Great Trees have been quarantined, and no one is permitted in either location without clearance. New rumors spread of an ‘incident’ that saw those in the immediate vicinity of the Trees rapidly demonstrating symptoms of an illness that was becoming all too easy to identify. It had stricken with frightening speed; not long afterward…

The unrest had spread into the streets, and it wasn’t just about the Blight anymore.

Cetina and Kathova wasted no time in reaching out to the Bearers via Communion to offer them guidance from their leaders and incite them to action.

SPRINGSTAR: THE ROOT OF THE ISSUE

Day by day, changes unfold that render the city increasingly dangerous...

ROOTS:

Vine-like roots have begun to thread the streets, creeping upon and over buildings, spreading outward from the Tree in Heliopolis. Over the next two weeks, they will continue to grow in size and become more troublesome, slowly blooming ice-like leaves that radiate a sickly glow.

• GROWTH: Contrary to the Blight’s normal behaviors, some people and things around clusters of vines or leaves can experience a burst of vitality, growth, and splendor as if transforming to beyond peak condition. In a normal citizen, this may result in an almost manic level of energy, reckless behaviors, and aggression. In objects, they become more durable and efficient, but dangerously so - for example, a stovetop cooks faster but burns uncontrollably hot. In plant life, this results in overgrowth that can overwhelm and choke nearby flora, objects, or even people. Then, they burn out an hour after exposure and immediately succumb to a dire state of Blighted.


• CHILL: The temperatures will continue to drop throughout the next two weeks. It will be coldest where vines have clustered and outright dangerously so near where flowers have budded or bloomed in great numbers. This will force some people from their homes.

TIME POCKETS:

In seemingly random parts of the city, areas referred to as ‘time pockets’ have populated. There is no way to identify a time pocket but to stumble into one.

• REGRESSION: NPC’s in these areas will appear to freeze in time once a Bearer has breached the pocket’s radius but appear normal from the outside. Time within has halted at the point the pocket manifested ( typically covering an area like a city street or inside a single large building that sees regular use ). Objects can be freely manipulated but will not fall if thrown, etc.
  • The pocket cannot be left until the Bearer has achieved their objective. Attempting to exit the way they entered, they’ll run into an unseen barrier that is painful to the touch, a sensation of frigidity that travels to their Shard.
  • Their goal will be to locate a past version of themselves hidden from immediate view. This past version of themselves can be from any point in their lives but must be from a moment when they felt extremely vulnerable, isolated, wounded, or fearful.
  • Once finding this past version, they will feel the compulsion to either find a way to reassure their past selves somehow or kill them. Whether it is the Bearer themselves who performs these acts or another Bearer in their company does it for them, as long as their past selves are pacified enough ( to player satisfaction ) or dead, they will gain immunity to the pocket and may leave. The immediate area will remain frozen, however, and the past version will be revealed to be made of roots that will shrivel and die.
  • Note: Bearers will be able to see other Bearer’s past selves, even after they have been freed. Whether the past reflections are capable of speech while functional is up to player discretion.

HIGHSTORM: THE ROOTS OF CHANGE

The snows continue to fall over the city, feeling brittle against your skin...

ROOTS:

Vine-like roots have begun to thread the streets, creeping upon and over buildings, spreading outward from the Great Tree in Yima’s manor. Over the next two weeks, they will continue to grow in size and become more troublesome, slowly blooming ice-like leaves that radiate a sickly glow.

• SACRIFICIAL: [ CW: self-harm ] Where the roots snake and gather throughout the city, NPC’s in several locations are falling victim to the quiet, slow pulse of the flowers and their buds. They will sit and stare at the flowers for hours, unblinkingly, as their body begins to succumb to the Blight. If they are disturbed in any way - a loud noise, an attempt to move their person, etc - they will calmly look up from their worship and crack off a piece of their brittle body before returning to their reverie.
• In order to save them, a pair (or more) of Bearers must sneak up on the NPC - one using a pacifying spell given by one of the faction leaders while the other crushes the flower. If the NPC is not pacified before the flower is crushed, they will become hysterical and the Blight will rapidly consume them, causing them to perish. If they are pacified and the flower is not crushed, the spell will wear off within ten seconds with the same result.

• CHILL: The temperatures will continue to drop throughout the next two weeks. It will be coldest where vines have clustered and outright dangerously so near where flowers have budded or bloomed in great numbers. This will force some people from their homes.

TIME POCKETS:

In seemingly random parts of the city, areas referred to as ‘time pockets’ have populated. There is no way to identify a time pocket but to stumble into one.

• REFLECTIONS: NPC’s in these pockets are moving in surreal blurs, pieces of them moving forward as others move backward, some changing as if time were rapidly passing as others remain frozen still. The Bearers’ surroundings are distorted as if reflecting multiple realities simultaneously.
  • Their goal will be to locate a tall standing mirror situated alone in the center of the time pocket’s radius. The Bearer who first touches their reflection ( henceforth called “mirror-Bearer” ) will cause the world inside the pocket to suddenly stop, reflecting a comforting environment they have fond or pleasant associations with. The mirror will be gone.
• Something or someone the mirror-Bearer highly values, deeply misses, or sees as imperative to their character, goals, or desires will be present. If they make contact with this object or person, the Time Pocket loops and sends them back to searching for the mirror - but they will have no memory of this occurring. Their partner, however, will recall everything.
• Both Bearers will be released if five loops occur without the mirror-Bearer being stopped from causing the loop or if the mirror-Bearer is stopped from reaching their goal for five minutes ( willingly or otherwise ). The longer they refuse to make contact with this object or person, the more tempting and dire the need becomes inside of them.
• Once the Bearers are released, the Time Pocket disappears. If they manage to avoid contact with the temptation inside the Pocket, the roots and flowers in this area will be withered and dying, buying the NPC’s and buildings in this location some time. Otherwise, they will be thriving and dangerously blooming.
• Note: the mirror will not respond to the non-mirror-Bearer once it has been touched the first time.

ENTREE-TING HELP

The Tree of Life is in danger, and you know it. Both Yima and Cyrus have directed all Bearers who might listen to increase visitation to the Tree and monitor it for signs of the Blight - of its leaves changing color, of any frostbitten bark, of its roots withering.

And then, during a moment in which you find your mind at ease, at rest... you dream, even if dreaming is unnatural for you. You dream of yourself sitting beneath the massive bows of the Tree's breadth, at peace. The perpetual dawn's glow warms your skin in a way that seeps into your bones, leaving you certain you are safe from harm. The Tree reaches out, and though it cannot speak to you in words, you feel it is trying to convey a message: one of urgency. One of plea.

But you cannot understand...

Soon, the branches of the Tree are reaching out to others. You cannot see them, but you know they're there; a spiritual tether connects your Shards together, bringing you all into a place of wordless unity. And once your fellows have been summoned, you know what you are here for.

You feel it rather than see it: some meager, barely-there brush of something cold in the warmth of the island's comfort. The Tree is already infected, and the clock is running down for all of you.

When you wake to yourself, a feeling of dread not entirely your own will chase you, and you will find a single violet leaf in your hand.

MISC NOTES

• Bearers start with immunity to the Blight. They will not succumb to the effects of the Blight even if they handle the vines and flowers directly without precautions or care.
• The above effects will occur in small clusters and are not yet spread city-wide during phase one. The escalation of frequency characters will come across problematic clusters or Time Pockets will be slow building.
• For context, it takes about a month from infection to death or dissolution for the average person or object to succumb to the Blight. By the 21st, it will be three days to a week.
• Bearers will be directed by Cetina or Kathova to make efforts to protect the civilians and investigate the manifesting changes around both cities. Both factions are working on their own methods to attempt to counteract the Blight, but neither has produced a failsafe solution.
• The roots will remain mostly outdoors, for the most part, these first two weeks.
• Tensions will slowly ramp up in Alenroux, and there are checkpoints for any non-PC visitors to screen for signs of infection.
• Player characters who die inside the Time Pockets are dead and need their Shards brought to the Tree of Life for revival.
• HAVE FUN!! ♥

CODING

Comments

for gavial

[bakedapple]

[ Link isn't prepared the first time it happens. He'd heard rumors about it, of course — bizarre moments where everything seems to stop, where the entire city goes completely silent — but with the Blight spreading and Springstar slowly starting to vibrate with barely contained panic, it is hard to know what to believe.

But looking around right now, it's impossible to deny that it's happening, right now, to him. The people around him have stopped, as if frozen by a Shiekah Slate. But, no... even this is beyond the Slate's power. Everything has stopped. The birds, the footsteps, the people clamoring for supplies from a passing Tribune cart, every distant sound that makes up the ambient background noise of the city... Everything and everyone is deathly quiet.

He doesn't know what to do. The rubber soles of his boots tap lightly on the pavement as he begins to wander the street, swiveling his head back and forth in a search for any movement at all. ]

Hello?

[ In this silence, his voice seems to loud. Even without yelling...

this time, he yells. ]

Is anyone here? Can anyone hear me?

[kinaesthesia]

[This is turning into one big mess.

Gavial wouldn’t be eager to admit it, but the increasing spread of the Blight and the pockets of chaos popping up around the city as the infected roots reach farther and farther from the Great Tree is getting worrying. Like, okay, worry is the normal reaction to this sort of stuff, but Gavial is typically the unflappable sort. But with the way things are ramping up, and the fact that this isn’t a problem she can just swing her fists at to solve, the longer it goes on, the worse it could get. It doesn’t help matters when anyone or anything might stumble into a pocket of frozen time completely by accident.

These time bubbles are so innocuous, it’s hard to tell where one might discover one before it’s too late. One moment there’s the buzz of a city full of worried people on the verge of panic, and the next it’s just… silence.

At least until a single voice comes ripping through the static air—a voice, Gavial realizes, that she somewhat recognizes.]

Yeah, I hear ya! Making my way over!

[No need for inside voices when a) they’re outside and b) no one else can hear them anyway.

So she turns on her heel to head in the direction Link is calling from. There’s finally a glimpse of him after bypassing a set of carts with a handful of people unloading them now locked in stasis. He provides the welcome sight of movement in this eerie, frozen landscape.

She flashes him a grin.]

You doing okay?

[bakedapple]

[ To his surprise, his desperate call is answered. He isn't sure why that surprises him — is it any more bizarre for someone to be in this frozen word with him than for him to be here alone? — but the surprise quickly fades, replaced by relief and gratitude. If the Goddess is still watching over him, then maybe this is one of Her blessings, bestowed onto him from the void he watched Hyrule descend into before eating up beneath the Tree.

...those are all thoughts for another time, of course. Almost without thinking, Link's feet start to move, eager to find the source of the voice and some solace in the process. When he spots the woman among the frozen crowd, he does not recognize her. Based on the rumors he heard about how these time pockets work, she must be a Shard-Bearer, at least. ]

I'm... I'm leagues better now.

[ After seeing her, he means. And he means it judging from his lopsided smile. Her odd features do not escape his attention — the tail, obviously, and her peculiar ears too — but there are so many strange people in Springstar that one can't get stuck on a person's unusual physical characteristics for long.

He stops once he reaches her and bends over sightly, out of breath. ]

I'm fine. I'm so thankful I'm not here alone. Miss...?

[kinaesthesia]

Gavial.

[Said with hands on her hips and another quick grin lighting up her face. But after that incredibly brief introduction, she’s distracted for a moment to give him a quick looking over as he catches his breath. The Medic Instinct is almost second nature for her at this point, but the young man seems pretty alright outside of needing a moment to collect himself. Good, good, maybe it means he hasn’t run into trouble around here yet.

The moment he straightens back up, she will give him a very hearty (and supportive, in her eyes) thump on the back.]

Yeah, I’m glad to have some company in here too. The city sure is spooky with everything frozen in place like this, isn’t it?

[She glances around at their surroundings, particularly the workers unloading their wares just off to the side. There’s definitely something haunting about people standing around, still as statues.]

[bakedapple]

[ He wasn't expecting that hearty slap on the back as he's righting himself. It's given with an unexpected amount of force, and Link has to take a half-step forward from the momentum it transfers into his body. Well, at least she's — friendly?

Wait. Something about her feels familiar. Link gazes at her for a moment. It's not accurate to say he's heard her voice before, but... ]

I know you. [ He looks her over again, taking in more of her overall presentation. ] You're... the woman with the Healing Arts. Who hadn't picked a side yet.

[kinaesthesia]

[If there’s one thing to be said about Gavial, it’s that she’ll never be concerned with moderating her strength. At least it’s good to see that he can roll with it. And when he looks her over and has himself a moment of recognition, it gets the gears turning in her own head as well.]

Still haven’t picked one. [Her own way of confirming the conclusion he’d drawn. She laughs, then tilts her head thoughtfully as she tries to figure out exactly who this guy is too. He does still sound kind of familiar, and if he’s one of the few she mentioned her Arts to so far…]

That must make you… Ah! The one with Meridian [a no-brainer, considering where they are] who’s got all those people depending on him back home.

[A beat.]

Y’know, don’t think I caught your name back then either.

[Funny, how you could have whole conversations with someone in each other’s heads and not even know a basic fact like that.]

[bakedapple]

[ So it is her. It might be strange, and it might be misplaced, but somehow he feels incredibly grateful to be trapped in this place with a person like her. She had struck him as, well... a capable person. Maybe that's just an assumption, but he'll cling to it for now, for the hope it's already giving him in finding their way out of this mess.

Smiling softly, he turns to face her properly and holds out his hand for a proper greeting. ]

I never did, did I? I'm Link.

[ Had she told him her name, back then? He can't remember. While he's pretty good with names, his memory isn't perfect, and —

the thought halts, cut short by a loud but distant noise. Link jerks his head instinctively in its direction. What was that? Another person, maybe, but what could have made that noise?

He glances back at the tailed woman, asking with his eyes. There's no way she didn't hear it too. ]

[kinaesthesia]

[She takes his hand and gives it a firm shake, a bright and boisterous smile on her face. Alright, good to have a name and a face to go with what has so far only been a voice in her head. Weird to think about, still!]

Nice to meetcha—for real, this time.

[And it’s then as she lets go that the sound echoes out to snag their attention. Gavial’s own gaze abruptly snaps to the direction it seems to be coming from, somewhere farther along this frozen street they’ve found themselves on. Guess they’re not alone here after all.

She meets Link’s gaze then, catches that unspoken question and nods. Her voice is slightly lower when she speaks.]

Last time I got stuck in one of these, there was some weird stuff going on. We should probably take a look.

[bakedapple]

[ His brow furrows. After a moment of hesitation, he says quietly, ] Last time?

[ But whatever conversation might be arising is cut short by another sharp noise. While it's still in the distance, it is noticeably closer than the first noise. And... Link recognized it, this time. A chillingly familiar sound of metal striking something decided not metal, but not something stone or wooden either. The sound of a very particular weapon colliding with the hull of a very particular line of ancient automatons.

The color drains from his face. He gives her another weighty look, saying more with his expression than he could with words. This is scaring him now. It's impossible, it should be impossible, but he heard it, plain as day. Alarmed and worried, he suddenly sprints off in the direction of the noise. As he hurriedly dodges around the people frozen mid-step in the street, he draws his bow from its spot on his back, tucked behind his Meridian army-issued shield and sword. ]

[kinaesthesia]

Yeah, I ended up—

[She pauses abruptly, not so much from the noise itself, but rather the reaction it seems to draw from Link. She has no idea what could be making that racket, but he clearly does—and it can’t be anything good, judging from the way he almost seems to pale the moment that realization hits him. She’s about to pivot to asking what’s got him so freaked out, but before she can so much as open her mouth, he’s taking off.

She curses under her breath, but wastes no time in running after him.]

Woah, wait up! What’s the rush?

[She’s got her eyes peeled for anything that might stand out as odd in this temporally-frozen space they’re in, sidestepping every unmoving civilian unfortunate enough to be trapped in here with them. One hand reaches back to unsheathe the knife that’s strapped to the base of her tail as she follows. Whatever it is, it's probably trouble.]

[bakedapple]

[ She shouldn't be following him. If Link's fears are true, if that noise was no hallucination, then they're both running into an extremely dangerous situation. But Link knows how to deal with said situation, having battled this particular threat dozens of times — Gavial, on the other hand, had described herself as a doctor... a medic. Capable in combat, yes, but Link is worried for her — will she know what to do? Will he have to protect her?

While he does not turn around to tell her to stay put, these worries flash through his mind as he runs. His left hand has an arrow notched as he turns a corner in the direction the noise had come from. And it's... just... another frozen street. With more frozen people, more motionless clouds of smoke above chimneys, more birds suspended in the air with wings spread wide.

Link's hurried steps slow to a stop. He does look back to Gavial now, but it's with a confused expression. She heard it too, he could tell she had. So how could this be possible?

He's about to say something more when the silence is interrupted again by an anguished cry. Down the street, partially obstructed by the crowd, is a man lying crumpled on the ground. His shoulders shiver with exertion as he tries to stand, but he can't.

It will be very obvious to them both who this is, as implausible as it is. That's Link. The same size, same body type, same color hair, in clothing not so different from the clothing he's wearing now. There's even a sword and shield scattered on the ground near his body. ]

[kinaesthesia]

[She follows in the wake of Link’s frantic press forward, knife held at the ready should trouble finally reveal itself. And judging from the way that he’s already got an arrow ready to go as they run, the likelihood of it is looking pretty high. Even so, Gavial doesn’t look terribly concerned about the potential of danger—in truth, the only thing she worries about is Link pushing too far ahead and getting himself into trouble before she reaches him.

But there’s ample time to catch up as they round that corner, and she meets his confused gaze with an eyebrow raised in silent question. Did they lose track of whatever it is that had spooked him?

The sudden cry from farther down the street partially answers that, at least. Her attention snaps toward it instantly, catching sight of the man on the ground who was nearly obscured by the frozen crowd. She takes a few steps forward before it hits her that she’s looking at another Link. Just like in the last weird time bubble she’d wandered into, where she had to come face-to-face with a younger version of herself. At least she’s feeling pretty certain that the Link struggling to pick himself back up won’t be spoiling for a fight with them, like her double had.

Gavial’s moving forward another few steps before she hesitates, as much as it goes against her instincts to do so; without access to her healing Arts right now, there’s not a lot she can do to help him even if she does rush in, and whatever did this to him is probably still around. So she glances back over to Link, clearly looking ready to take off again the moment he looks like he might move.]

Do you know what did this to him?

[bakedapple]

I...

[ The answer doesn't come. Yes, Link knows what did this to him — he'd know that sound from anywhere, of his sword striking the strange hull of a Guardian, he hears that sound in his sleep — but there's no Guardian in sight. If one were here, it definitely wouldn't have left its target without confirming that it had been terminated. So had that noise just been a hallucination of some kind? But that's impossible! Gavial heard it too!

He takes a deep breath. After sweeping the area with his eyes one more time, he looks to his companion. ]

I think so. But... it also can't be what I'm thinking, or else it would still be here, attacking us. [ He looks to the body warily again. His double is no longer trying to stand. It has collapsed on the ground, trembling in pain, as blood begins to collect and spread along the grout of the cobblestones. ]

What is this...? Evil magic...?

[kinaesthesia]

[So, if whatever it had been isn’t around now… then maybe the coast is clear? Unless it’s biding its time, in order to lure them out? Who knows. She’s flying blind here, but the possibility of whatever it was certainly seems to have her companion rattled. So, keep moving while keeping an eye out?

Ugh, this is way too much thinking and not enough doing for her. She casts a glance at Link.]

Definitely some kind of magic. Think it might have something to do with those roots starting to pop up around town, but…

[Her attention snaps back to Link #2, who is very clearly loosing some of the fight in him, laying there in a pool of his own blood. Shit, that looks real bad.]

Damn it, we can’t just leave him there.

[And there she goes to hurry off to the fallen Link’s side, possibility of danger be damned!]

[bakedapple]

[ Despite the serious possibility of danger arising if Gavial gets too close, she's able to reach the double's side without anything happening. Link lingers, but it's already too late to object to her getting so close. Anxiously, Link follows, if only to help protect her should something happen.

Now that they're closer and can get a better look at him, the severity of his wounds is heartwrenchingly apparent. Contusions and gashes litter the exposed skin on his body, and old bloodstains hint at even more serious wounds beneath the double's battered, torn clothing. The blood spill is spreading from the area of his abdomen, although the wound itself cannot be seen while the body is laying on its stomach. But the blackened, singed burn marks on the sides of his blue tunic hint at it being a severe burn of some kind. ]

...

[ He knows this. What this is. What they're seeing. But, how? Why...? ]

There's nothing we can do.