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

[wolof]

[ Her mouth open, about to answer, but her eyes followed his ear flick, a motion that caught her attention, and she lowered her voice, even as she turned, as if she were going to follow him.

She was, after all, not exactly a front liner, despite what her training with Mamoru would suggest. ]

I am. [ She said, her voice low, to answer his question. ]

Though I doubt the Zenith have done this. The connection to the Blight seems to suggest that it's more likely a side-effect of its spread.

[ That was the only thing she could think of in the moment. The Blight had been slowly encroaching on them all, after all. It had started to get more and more dangerous, and it had been one of the reasons that they had all converged on Alenroux, had it not?

Her eyes flicked to the man, curious. The ears and tail reminded her of Eustace, or Ernesto, though they had not interacted. She had seen him, from time to time, recognized his face vaguely from the incidents thus far in the Scorching Isles -- and she did not remember him from Horos. Perhaps they had never crossed paths, but it was difficult to say, so she didn't fret over it at the moment. ]

I suppose we'll want to investigate.

[ She says but does not step forward. Look at her, Gen. Does she look like she's gonna fight? ]

[epiprocta]

The Blight ... [ His frown deepens as he echoes those words, trying to ignore the way they sound oddly muffled in this frozen air. If he thinks about how the effects of the Blight have been cropping up thus far in Springstar -- ] So, what ... we gotta deal with an overgrowth or something to get out of here?

[ It should be manageable, he thinks.

And while Gen hardly seems impressed at Akua's unsubtle insinuation that he should lead this investigation, he also doesn't argue with it. He knows his probably role within the Meridian is as the vanguard-slash-dumb-muscle, so. Whatever. There's the clink of metal as he withdraws his lighter from his pocket in case they're going to have to deal with plant growth, flicking it open and shut with one hand as he rests the other at the handle of his mace. ]

If you fall behind, you're on your own.

[ With that delightfully well-mannered quip, he heads off towards that sound of muffled movements up ahead. His canine ears are canted forward, carefully listening for any additional noise, and his shoulders are squared as they round a corner once the noises are just up ahead. -- then he stops so abruptly that Akua will have to follow suit to avoid running into him.

He's frozen stock-still, only the faint movements of his shoulders indicating quickening breaths. And if Akua peeks around him, she might spot what's gotten him to shocked: a child, splattered in blood and looking dazed as he wanders the alleyway up ahead. Clutching a bloodied kitchen knife in one hand. ]

[wolof]

Could be that, or something else. It will be difficult to tell what, before we figure out what is causing this... [ She sucked in a sharp breath of air through her teeth. ] Interference.

[ Though at the statement, she only nodded to Gen, and followed. Not hot on his heels, though she hardly struggled with keeping up. Though she was not a martial type, she clearly was used to being on the move, though her eyes flicked to the metal in his hand. Some sort of odd... She'd seen them in shops, equated them with firestarters, though she'd never tried one herself.

If the boy thought that they would need something like that to deal with the roots...She would have laughed, had there been space for levity.

When he stopped, she nearly did skid into his back, but stopped herself, and looked around him -- she had to look around, and not over due to his height -- at what was before them. A child? Well, he had a knife, but -- ]

It's just a child, surely we can fend it off, right?

[epiprocta]

[ He gives a visible start when Akua speaks up, clearly jolted out of his thoughts. Even when he does look over his shoulder at her, his face is a touch pale, eyes wide, and there's a pause before he gives a stiff nod. ]

-- right.

[ It's not like what she's saying doesn't make sense. And -- it does feel right, he thinks. Already, his hand itches with the urge to hurt, to kill, and Gen looks back towards that child as he pockets his lighter to instead yank his mace from its holder at his belt. The leather of its handle squeaks from how hard he grips at it, and Gen shifts his weight on his feet to look towards that child once more.

But he hesitates visibly instead of lunging in for the attack, cold sweat beaded at his brow, and there's a moment's silence before he mutters, ]

... I think that's me. [ 'I think,' he says, but there's too much conviction in his voice for that. He knows. That deathgrip he maintains on his mace doesn't loosen at all, but he definitely sounds shaken when he repeats, ] It's me, when I -- ... when I was younger.

[ That definitely wasn't what he was initially thinking of saying. ]

[wolof]

Oh? Did you take your first life at that young, or just indulge in a little light stabbing?

[ She asked, her tone held no judgement. If anything, she sounded impressed. The boy was small, and scared -- unsurprising, really -- but there was plenty of blood, and that knife looked used. Sure, it could have been something else, but if she were guessing, she would say the kid looked... stunned. Nobody looked like that unless they'd seen something truly jarring for the first time in their life. Well, at least anyone who wasn't Praesi, at least. ]

Do you think he will attack us? [ A pause, as she considered their options. ] I am uncertain if we need to kill him, or...

[ Or something else? If it was a younger version of Gen, then they had to do something, right? It was like the maze on the Scorching Isles, though she wondered if the boy would require elimination? ]

[epiprocta]

[ Akua lays those questions out like they're the most reasonable things in the world, and Gen fixes a flat stare on her for a long moment before snapping, ]

The hell's wrong with you, lady?

[ Though -- maybe he should be a little grateful. Her reaction is so out of left-field that it paradoxically helps ground him, and Gen takes a deep breath. Then another one. Doing his best to forcibly suppress the sickly feeling that's been rising in the pit of his stomach ... though he only manages to get partway there. ]

... he's dead. The person I had to kill then. [ This, he's sure of. That man is long gone and rotting in the earth. Gen swallows thickly before adding more hoarsely, ] -- I think we gotta kill it. Whatever it is that's pretending to be me.

[ There's no logic there, Akua might note. No path from point A to point B. And Gen would be hard-pressed to explain why, but he just knows -- ] I have to do it.

[wolof]

[ The hell's wrong with her? she almost wants to ask? She's Akua Sahelian, there is nothing wrong with her -- well, not much wrong with her. To be fair, she'd also murdered for the first time at that age, at her mother's order. It was perhaps a little traumatizing for a young girl, but she came out just fine. Right?

Right?

Discounting the genocide, or whatever, of course.

She ignored the question, though, because she thought it was rhetorical, and she shrugged at Gen, curious as to why he thought with such certainty that he had to kill it? Though... what other option is there? ]

Is it because of the Doppelgangers we'd encountered? It's certainly the best option.

[ Yeah. She doesn't care if he kills his younger self. ] I won't exactly stop you, if you think it is best.

[ In fact, her tone said, she'd encourage it. ]

[epiprocta]

The Doppelgangers? [ Visibly confused, he needs a moment to even remember what she's talking about. Ah, right. Those. He's grown so used to this place throwing some flavor of bullshit or the other at him that keeping track of each and every one is growing exhausting. ] No -- nothing to do with that. It's not that.

[ His expression scrunches as he tries to think, tries to find words. And while he wouldn't call himself eloquent under normal circumstances ... it feels especially difficult right now to articulate why -- other than his own very specific, personal reasons, which he sure isn't about to elaborate on -- violence is the answer. ]

... it's a gut feeling. That thing needs to die.

[ It's the best answer he can give. Which he knows sounds stupid, but. Well. What else is there to say? Especially if she has no further complaint about his suggested course of action. ]

And it doesn't sound like you have any other bright ideas to suggest, anyway.

[wolof]

Hm?

[ Her tone was half a question, half a thought, as she considered the prospect. There were a number of things they could do to the child version of him. Banish it, perhaps even rip it from this reality, but what would that do that killing could not? At the very least, it would mean that they eradicated the easier of the options first, if Gen is left to kill the thing.

Though, she wonders, if he wants to because he feels shame for a death? Or does he truly believe that it must be destroyed? ]

I will hardly stop you, dear. Please, feel free. [ She gestured toward the boy. ] It is you, yes? You should decide what to do with it, and if it must be killed... who better?

[epiprocta]

[ He hates that tone of voice she employs.

'Dear,' she calls him, and all he can read in that is condescension and belittlement; it makes his nerves flare with irritation. Not exactly a subtle sentiment, given the way his expression darkens visibly, shoulders tensing and pointy ears canting back. And with what she's saying -- what, does she think he isn't capable of it? It's practically a challenge, isn't it? ]

Real helpful, aren't you.

[ Said with open resentment before he gives a loud click of the tongue.

To his meager credit, Gen doesn't hesitate any further before following through on his words. It takes only a split second to tighten his grip on his weapon, then another split second to round the corner to confront that child. That younger version of him looks up with a startled little yelp, but barely has the chance to voice a soft 'W-what --' before the mace's heavy head cracks him square in the temple with a heavy, resounding crunch. ]

[wolof]

[ Her eyes remain fixed on the child, as he swung his mace, to crunch the boy's head with his weapon and power, and Akua Sahelian does not flinch. She does not quiver. She watches, as if this was a normal thing to witness.

Then again... ]

I think we should all have agency, in deciding how we deal with our past. If you told me that comforting yourself would be for the best, then that would be your prerogative. I would slaughter the me who I once was as well.

[ A small, delicate curve of her lips. ]

Did you think I would stop you?

[epiprocta]

[ At least he doesn’t have to look at the corpse for long. Death must have been nigh-instantaneous, because Gen is still standing over the small body — chest heaving with ragged breaths, hand gripping at his mace so hard that he’s starting to lose feeling in his fingertips — when it crumbles into a pile of tree roots. The only sign of violence that lingers is in the sensory fingers that still tingles through his palm, and the image stamped into his brain.

He tries to ignore those things as he whirls around to face Akua once more. ]

Yeah, I did. [ His voice is ragged, words spat out between too-harsh breaths, and Gen’s lip is curled in a look of disdain. ] Not ‘cause I wanted it. But because that’s what most sane people would do.

[ That smile she’s wearing makes his nerves flare, especially hot on the heels of what he’s just done; he isn’t aware of it, but the fur of his ears is standing on end in clear caution when he narrows his eyes at her. ]

The hell’s your fucking damage? Or d’you just think it’s fun pretending to be some crazy bitch?

[wolof]

[ Akua blinked.

Once. Twice. Three times. Her head tipped, and her brows furrowed, as if she was asking: what? ]

My dear, I'm Praesi. That may mean little to you, but we do not stop our contemporaries from violence if they deem it necessary.

[ A beat. ] Well, unless they get in my way. [ A shrug. ]

I suppose you could say, that... "being a crazy bitch" is merely cultural, for me.

[ Gen, she really is just like this. ]