kenoslogs | april event, phase one: seeds of unrest 🌱

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april event, phase one: seeds of unrest 🌱

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There definitely hadn't been a whole ass horse attacking him on the list of things Dokja thought he'd have to deal with today.

His attention's fully drawn to the cluster of vines that he's stumbled upon, his inspection mainly focused on the flowers, so it really comes as a surprise when Slow Dancer suddenly appears, and Dokja's eyes widen in complete shock as the horse advances on him with some seriously aggressive intent. He hadn't even looked at the animal all the funny? Sorry his face just looks like this?

Gray's warning snaps him out of his mild horror and Dokja moves quickly. As much as he believes in defending himself, his sword would probably be overkill in this situation, so he does the next best thing and raises an arm.

An arm that has sprouted white, fur-like armor. While it looks soft, Slow Dancer's going to have a bit of tooth pain from biting down on something that's actually rather tough! But forget that, Dokja has so many questions running through his head right now. ]

What's going on?!

[ If it isn't Mr. Dokja, Gray's next-next-door neighbor. Slow Dancer has probably glimpsed him at some point as he was passing by, which seems to do nothing for her fondness for him. If anything, the hardness of his arm only seems to make her more determined. She lets go of his arm only to try to aggressively chomp on his hair instead.

By the time, Gray's run over in a panic. ]

Mr. Dokja! If you challenge her, she'll only get angrier!

[ The very act of living is challenging her, apparently. ]

[ NOT HIS HAIR??

This time, Slow Dancer does manage to get a solid bite of Dokja's hair and he's not at all happy about it as he reaches up to grab her by the mouth. He might be trying to pry her teeth apart so he can get free, and it looks extremely silly to anyone witnessing this catastrophe. ]

Challenge?

[ He sounds so disbelieving of what he's hearing. He's not challenging her?? He's literally just trying to exist!! GRAY HELP HIM IN AN ACTUALLY HELPFUL MANNER. ]

Am I just supposed to let her eat my hair, then?

[ Helping him would make Gray a challenger to Slow Dancer too?? Don't drag another innocent bystander into this geez!!

Anyway Gray isn't actually a horse expert, Slow Dancer being the only horse she's """taken care of""" (she's more like Slow Dancer's landlord), so she's at a bit of a loss too. But she will try to be helpful by offering from right next to him: ]

Um, ah, I think it's best if you play dead!

[ Meanwhile, Slow Dancer will aggressively keep her mouth chomped on Dokja's hair, shaking him a little as punishment for his rebellion. ]

[ HE'S THE INNOCENT ONE DRAGGED INTO THIS

But holy shit, oh my god, Dokja's going to end up scalped at this rate. He only has a second to process her advice, another second to think there's no way it's going to work, and then another second to put it into motion because he is out of options here that don't involve stabbing the horse.

So, with the most pained look on his face (not because of his hair but also partly because of his hair), Dokja goes entirely limp as he plays dead.

Gray, he's never forgiving you for this. ]

[ She's just trying to help??

Anyway, Slow Dancer keeps Dokja's precious hair in her toothy grasp for a moment longer, giving him an extra shake as she confirms that he's indeed given up all signs of resistance. She snorts a nice hot satisfied breath down the back of his neck before dropping him wholesale to the cold, hard ground. Now that he is but another subjugated human, Slow Dancer goes back to eyeing the general populace for the next contender (victim).

At the end of this, Gray quietly crouches next to Dokja's fallen body with an apologetic air. ]

I'm sorry, Mr. Dokja. Slow Dancer has been a little on edge lately.

[ oh my god.

Dokja has to fight back the urge to thrash around when Slow Dancer shakes him, then doesn't even get a moment to breathe before he's being dropped on the ground like a sack of potatoes. He just barely manages to catch himself from eating too much shit, propping himself up to a sit while one hand runs through his now spit-soaked hair to make sure his scalp is still attached to him. It's taking everything in him not to retaliate like a petty man. ]

Oh, only a little on edge, is she?

[ Because this feels more than a little!! ]

Did she escape? I can't imagine you decided to take her on a walk when she's [ lowers his voice ] like this.

[ She resists the urge to reach over and pat his hair down so that it looks neater. ]

Well... I was trying to take her to Alenroux so that she could get some exercise. She hasn't been doing very well in my backyard since the vines grew in.

[ She glances over to Slow Dancer, who's locked eyes on a man nearby who in turn has started to slowly back away with maximum alarm in his eyes. ]

Usually she's not this aggressive. [ Maybe. ] I'm a little worried about her...

[ Just ends up with cowlick because he misses a spot... Or is it a horselick now, badumtish.

Hopefully Gray doesn't take too much offense at the disbelieving stare that Dokja shoots her, because hello? And then he's immediately jerking his gaze to the man who is apparently going to be Slow Dancer's next target, and he slowly rises back to his feet, mindful not to catch the horse's ire a second time. ]

I don't think it's her you should be worried about.

[ Consider, instead, the man who is about to be stomped to death? ]

... Vines or not, you might want to take her back home.

[ Gray shakes her head, slowly but firmly. ]

I can't. She'll be miserable there.

[ And the situation will only get worse. The carnage, immeasurable. Is Dokja willing to have that blood on his hands?? ]

Besides, the Cornerstone is closer than my house now. We only have to manage the rest of the way...

[ Oh, if only she had a friend. A good Samaritan willing to lend a hand to a nice lass in distress............ ]

[ Gray, you're so lucky that Dokja is a weak man. Such a weak, weak man.

He closes his eyes, inhales, and then exhales very slowly. To think there would be an attempt on his life, only for him to lend a hand to his would-be killer not even that long after. But... he reasons that this isn't Gray's fault. It's the horse's fault. He would be helping out the person, not the horse. ]

Okay, [ he says, tone slightly exasperated, but also readily agreeable. ] Let's get her to the Cornerstone before she kills someone.

[ HAPPY NOW? ]

[ Gray is very happy now. She looks at him with surprise that gives way to a small, grateful smile. She really didn't expect him to want to help given that Slow Dancer made an attempt on his life, but it turns out that there are nice people in this cruel reality after all. ]

... Alright. Thank you, Mr. Dokja.

[ She will come by and see if he wants some eggs fresh from the chicken bum soon. Now that she has a ~~chump~~ friend, she feels like maybe things aren't so out of control after all. She refocuses and hurries to intercept Slow Dancer, breaking the horse's line of sight before she can fixate too badly on her next potential victim. ]

Slow Dancer, we should go... It'll be less crowded when we get to Alenroux.

[ The horse stares down at Gray fiercely, and for a moment it might look like the next victim will in fact be Gray instead, but an unspoken communication passes between them (literal magic) and Slow Dancer snorts loudly before leisurely clip-clopping away. But not before brutally slapping the man in the crowd with her tail as she turns.

With that crisis averted, Gray quickly tip-toes up to whisper to Dokja before Slow Dancer can get too far ahead. ]

I think it'll be best if we just keep everyone out of her way. Sometimes people are too slow for her... or they approach her because they want to be friendly with her.

[ With how energized the population has been lately, people are perhaps making decisions they otherwise might not. ]

[ Wait a minute, if she can talk to the horse, then why...

Nevermind. It's better not to question why he had to suffer in the way that he had. Dokja even winces sympathetically when he sees the man get slapped by Slow Dancer's tail, understanding the pain all too well even if his reckoning had been on the other end of the horse.

But with Gray's suggestion, a determined look crosses his face. He'll just treat this like a scenario? A very odd scenario, but he'd like to think it won't be too difficult to keep people away from a large animal with killer hooves. ]

Got it.

[ And just when he'd been optimistic, he sees a young woman with wide eyes starting to move in Slow Dancer's direction... Okay, maybe people's self-preservation skills really are that bad, and Dokja hurries toward her with a hand outstretched. ]

Please don't approach the horse, ma'am.

[ Wow, he's really doing security detail for a horse. ]

[ The woman attempts to navigate around Dokja and confidently proclaims that she's great with horses. For some reason she has a carrot, which she'll try to thwap Dokja with if he tries to get in her way. Presumably, she wants to give the carrot to Slow Dancer afterward to win her friendship.

A few yards away, Gray is doing damage control. A trio of children have appeared out of the blue, scampering at Slow Dancer with the clear intent to try to climb up on her. Gray quickly plucks them up one by one so that she's laden with laughing, flailing children. At the same time, she tries to keep charging forward to keep pace with the horse of the hour.

This and more they'll have to deal with for another ten minutes. At the end of it, the Cornerstone will loom into sight... ]

[ This is absolutely chaotic already.

In order to stop the woman from potentially losing her life or her hand to the maws of a supposedly domesticated beast, Dokja grabs the carrot straight from her grasp and chucks it in the opposite direction of where they're heading. First of all, she should know better than to feed an animal that doesn't belong to her. Second, there's no way Slow Dancer's going to be rewarded with a carrot after the hell that Dokja's day has become.

Anyway, with the woman hurrying to retrieve the carrot after shooting him a look of pure contempt, Dokja spends the rest of those ten minutes threatening people with bodily harm should they come too close to the horse.

Oh no... He's become the Slow Dancer. ]

[ Dokja is Slow Dancer. We are all Slow Dancer.

After their arduous ten minutes, they arrive at the Cornerstone. Gray is looking a little harried after getting pulled around by and yelled at by the parents of the children she unintentionally kidnapped. Slow Dancer, on the other hand, looks like she's done nothing wrong and is boredly milling aroung when Gray turns back to Dokja. ]

We made it... I think Slow Dancer and I should be okay from here. Thank you, Mr. Dokja.

[ Even though there are plenty more humans to get through on the other end of the Cornerstone. She's hoping the more open air will help Slow Dancer's temperament. ]

Um, I hope you'll let me thank you. If you like eggs, I always have plenty to share.

[ Those chickens just won't stop pooping them out. A small teenage girl can only consume so many eggs. ]

[ This was Such an escort quest. He's going to be haunted in his dreams by a rabid horse, he just knows this to be true.

But now that they've reached their destination, Dokja allows himself to relax a bit. Whatever happens here shouldn't be his problem, and he's looking forward to parting ways and never making eye contact with Slow Dancer again when Gray's offer has him pausing with a couple of blinks in surprise. ]

Eggs?

[ Well, yes, eggs are fine with him, but more importantly... ]

Have you started a farm?

[ First a horse, now chickens? ]

[ Gray smiles ruefully as if he's told a joke. ]

I was given a chicken egg that turned out to be fertile. So I raised the chick... but chickens get very depressed if they don't have a flock to be with, so I had to get a few more.

[ She was basically held at emotional gunpoint? She glances over at the horse of the hour. ]

And Slow Dancer came to me because Mr. Johnny doesn't seem to be around anymore. He was her rider.

[ Uncertainty slows her words. She knows that people sometimes come and go at the world's whims, but it makes things awfully confusing and open-ended for the people left behind. ]

[ Ah. Dokja falls a bit silent at that in some attempt at sympathy. He'd known Johnny... But he's also known too many people who have come and gone, each having etched a mark against his heart before departing. And sometimes, that's enough.

That's at least what he tells himself to get him past the goodbyes.

But he smiles now, slight understanding resting against the corners of his lips as he shakes his head in exasperation. ]

You're the type to care a little too much about others, aren't you?

[ Dokja's the same but like. He'd never admit it. ]

[ That's an unexpected evaluation of her, if only because no one's ever said it to her face. She doesn't think she cares too much... but she does worry too much. Maybe that's the same thing? ]

How should I put this... Um, I came from a very small village, so if we weren't considerate of each other, things became much more difficult. I was shocked the first time I went to a big city and everyone was rushing past each other.

[ In that vein: ]

So I'm glad you stopped to help me, Mr. Dokja. No one else did.

[ Do NOT be soft toward him...... He's so incapable of accepting kindness directed at him, and he quickly waves it aside.

This is probably the result of growing up in one of those big cities. It's incredible how quickly a person grows to be selfish in that kind of environment, with every man for himself if he wants to survive. Excuse him for not being used to receiving or giving gratitude. ]

Yeah, well. [ AHEM. ] Eustace would have lost his head if something happened to you, so.

[ A-anyway. ]

I'll take those eggs next time.

[ "You're welcome is really that hard, huh. Whatever the conceit, Gray is still grateful, so she gives him a little bow. ]

I'll be by tomorrow.

[ Assuming she doesn't perish in some horse-related disaster, the chances of which are nonzero. With that, she turns to head off with Slow Dancer and disappear through the Cornerstone. Adios... ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

april event, phase one: seeds of unrest 🌱

ROOTS:

TIME POCKETS:

ROOTS:

TIME POCKETS:

B!

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