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

[lockedon]

[ In the presence of two people older than him - and thus, two people who must surely know better than him - there ends up being a small amount of comfort found. Sure, Gen's not exactly the pinnacle of ideal bedside manner but his earnestness nonetheless carries through. It helps that he'd grown in a place largely sheltered from the rest of the world, where everyone had been willing to led a name, where everyone knew each other's names. There'd been no reason for him to ever distrust someone and there's no reason for him to start now.

There's a little blip in the boy's step, a slowing of his pace as he mulls over the advice given to him. It's not bad advice per se, but reason and logic are two things hard to grab hold of when you're young and fearful. ]

But I....

[ He falls silent again, face tipped down as he stares at the ground, a tiny frown on his tiny face. But....? Whatever it is he's about to say is lost, pushed aside in favor of a new, apparently more important topic. ]

Do you have siblings too? Is that how you know?

[epiprocta]

[ Gen keeps a straight face at that, but the question does immediately earn a sharp prickle of irritation; Eustace must feel that little spike of distaste before Gen tries to tamp it down. ]

... yeah. [ Well. Half-sibling. But he's not about to go into that right now. ] A little sister. A bit younger than you.

[ His tail lashes tensely behind him before curling against his leg. A little venting of emotions so he can make sure it's properly done when he continues. ]

She never listens to me. But s'not like I blame her for it. She's still my sister.

[ It's mostly lies. Of course he resents her and her mother for how they treat him. What the fuck do they know, what gives them the right to look at him with fear and disdain, like they always do? -- but still. Gen keeps his gaze trained straight ahead as he delivers those lies, then gives a small exhale. At least it sounds like that small version of Eustace is calming down a bit, so he can keep this up a bit longer. His delivery's a bit flat, but it should be enough to fool a child, he thinks. ]

I'm sure your family'd be the same. They'd just be glad you're okay right now.

[lockedon]

[ There's a vague sense of unease from behind Gen - from Eustace the older and not the younger, the frown on his face twitching deeper. Though this time it's not from the shock of seeing himself less than ten feet away, but rather from what's being said, a string of words that he know isn't as truthful as Gen tries to force them to be.

It's not as though they've talked about Gen's family life in length, even if they have touched upon it every now and then. He doesn't know all the details. But he knows enough about the circumstances, and more importantly he isn't deaf, to know that what's being said isn't just an idle way to pass the time. It's for the sake of the nervous child in front of them, for his sake, when all's said and done.

So he keeps his mouth shut as their little group keeps ambling forward. The reassurance seems to work well enough on a child, in any case, the younger him's expression crinkling unhappily at first before smoothing out over this similarity. ]

I guess so... [ Families seem so complicated but they're really pretty similar deep down, huh? (Well, that's what he thinks, but.....) ] She always gets really angry but I guess it's because she worries about me and everyone else. Same with Mom and Dad.

[ His voice drops and his feet slow, then stop. His small frame stays where it is but his head twists around, just far enough so he can peep up at Gen. ]

You're pretty nice, huh.

[epiprocta]

[ Gen ignores that gentle prickle of unease he can feel coming from Eustace, because he doesn't want to think about it right now. Doesn't want to think about the fact that Eustace can probably also feel every emotion that he's trying so hard to squelch -- a little pang of heartache and resentment and envy when that smaller Eustace mumbles about his healthy, functional family, followed by a sharper jolt of self-disgust for thinking like that.

The self-loathing just boils hotter when he hears 'you're pretty nice,' so bitter the taste lingers on the tongue, before Gen swallows it back. His free hand clenches to a fist so tight his leather glove creaks. ]

I'm not. [ It comes out a little curt before Gen forces himself to exhale slowly. His voice is quiet once more when he continues. ] ... I'm just normal. There's plenty of people nicer than me out there.

[ The kid stops, so he does too. And while he doesn't know exactly what's brought that child version of Eustace to a halt, it doesn't feel right to just leave things off on an utter lie ('I'm just normal,' as if) like that. Before he can be interrupted, Gen speaks again; though he's not kind enough to bend down and save mini-Eustace the trouble of craning his neck up, he does keep his gaze steady on the kid. ]

I just happened to be here this time. But even if it was someone else, you would've been fine. There's plenty of people out there that'll help you.

[ 'Even if your family is gone,' is the unspoken implication. Because he knows that's probably the truth. Eustace had said before that there was nothing left for him back in his home. He gets it now. ]

[lockedon]

[ Gen may not think of himself as particularly nice or kind but his efforts, forced and stumbling though they are, appear to be enough. There's still lingering worry casting a shadow on the small boy's face and a tension in his wrists as as he folds his hands together, fingers wrapping around themselves, but he's a far cry from when he started, trembling in panic.

So at least he's been good for something! Good job, bud. ]

Yeah, but you still helped me anyway. You didn't have to.

[ Such blind optimism, a simple black-and-white view of the world that hasn't yet been tainted by the cruelties of life. (But rest assured, that'll come later.) For now, his optimism and youthful resilience result in a quick bounceback, the fumbling but serious words of a stranger enough to give him the boost he needs to progress forward. ]

I think....I'll be okay. I mean [ he rushes his next few words ] you're probably right, everyone will feel better if they know I'm okay too. So I have to get back. They'll be okay....they have to be okay if I'm okay too...

[ His words trail off into silence, determination and desperation mixing on his face for a few seconds before he shakes them away (quite literally, after giving his head a small shake). ]

Thanks though. If I find them, I'll be sure to let you know.

[ How? It doesn't really matter. This boy won't be returning any time soon, his small figure slowly coalescing into knotted branches and vines all snarled together. A little creepy, all things considered, but hey at least the two real people are free now. ]

[epiprocta]

[ It's probably for the best that that doppelganger takes its leave after saying its part, because -- how could he have responded to that blind optimism? Especially when he knows that it doesn't pay off? He's not stupid enough to think that Eustace's family might have miraculously survived whatever had happened, not when Eustace had described his own hometown in such bleak terms, and ... he's not sure he's a good enough liar that he could have kept that bleak knowledge out of his voice.

His expression is pained enough as he watches that smaller version of Eustace crumble into so much foliage, and traces of it still linger in the furrow of his brow and the thin press of his lips when he glances over his shoulder back towards Eustace. ]

Eustace -- ...

[ His voice trails off, because -- even now, what is he supposed to say? Expressing sympathy doesn't come easy to him in the first place, and he's not sure if Eustace even wants it, from him, and under these circumstances.

At least the sounds of the streets coming back to life gives him an excuse to avoid Eustace's gaze for a moment as he looks around, taking in the civilians walking by once more. It seems like whatever was keeping them trapped there has relinquished its hold on them, and Gen briefly considers simply leaving to avoid an awkward conversation.

But he doesn't, in the end. Eustace deserves more than that. He only wishes that someone else were here to give it to Eustace, instead of him. So after another moment of clearly-uneasy deliberating, he speaks awkwardly -- almost announcing, rather than speaking to Eustace: ]

I'll pretend I didn't see anything, if you want. Or ... if you wanna say anything, I'll listen. S'up to you.

[lockedon]

[ Even with his suspicions proved right, that the child in front of them had been something created by the disease spreading through the city rather than real flesh and blood, he can't fully quell the anxiety that still surges through his veins at the ugly reminder of his past dredged up for the world to see. Or in this case, just Gen, though he isn't sure whether it's better or worse that it's someone close to him that's had to deal with the spillover of his carefully concealed history. (Probably better, but the knowledge doesn't ease any of his misery.)

He finally pulls away from where he's been hanging back, closing the gap between them so he can stare down at the gnarled roots sprouting from the ground, distaste beginning to cloud his expression. If this is the sort of thing they're going to be continually subjected to the longer they stay here, then better to finish this ridiculous war as fast as possible.

But that's a long-term goal he can only begin to chip away at. For now, he has to address the elephant in the room. ]

It doesn't really matter. [ Or so he says, but there's a strained tone to his voice that at least the subject matter very much does. ] You [ noncon ] saw most of what happened. There's not much more to add.

[ That's a lie but it's not as though he knows where to start with all this, not when this is the first time it's been dredged up in too many years. ]