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

[bakedapple]

[ That is pretty much the definition of nobility as far as Link understands it. As he marvels quietly at how similar their worlds seem to be, compared to so many of the other Shard-Bearers he's met so far —

the world around them begins to change. Link's steps slow and he turns his head left and right with contained alarm. What... what is this? Another illusion? When he looks to Voryn for some sign that he sees it too, there's no relief to be found. ]

Lord Dagoth? [ This is bad, right? This shouldn't be happening? This seems bad. As he collects himself, he catches back up to the other elf's side, but his polite demeanor has grown worried. What did he ask him again? ] I... I'm not nobility, I'm... I don't know the circumstances exactly, but my father was a member of the Royal Guard, and I followed in his footsteps. I served the Royal Family directly... [ But Link is clearly distracted as he speaks. With a huff, ] Are you seeing any of this, sir?

[sharmat]

(a member of the royal guard, serving his nobility directly. it seems that he's met another warrior who must be held in high esteem.

before he can comment however, link draws attention to their surroundings, which only makes them splinter between a mountainous vista of a great sea separating two separate parcels of land and the inside of an active volcano. the volcano churns and shakes, causing small ruptures in its main conduit to eject magma into sills—pockets within the rock.

they stand in the centre on a long walkway that ends where a giant brass and stone construct stands, one link should find familiar. for it is mechanical and alive, still unfinished but capable of invoking the feeling of being watched. a heart lies within the confines of its bone-like ribcage near the bend of its off-white spine.)

This is... (voryn is barely able to speak, afraid of this place and what it represents. the site of his death and the site of his imprisonment.) Red Mountain. I do not understand... I know this place, but it's impossible that we find ourselves here now—

Who are you?

(like the greeting that voryn once gave link, an exact duplicate of him but with tawny skin and gold eyes, dressed more richly and in proud battle attire, raises his sword to point in their direction. the doppelganger stands directly beside the heart, having been admiring it, and he is equipped with a strange gauntlet, hammer, and dagger.

each is able to be recognized on one look as something profane and incredibly dangerous.)

You were to attend Lord Nerevar and return with him when he bade you to, (the copy speaks directly with link, ignoring voryn as a lesser being unworthy of his attention.) I cannot risk this place and these tools to deceit. Answer me now and be truthful or I shall kill you.

[bakedapple]

[ Very few things manage to scare Link down to his core. The soul of the hero carries with it a courageous spirit, an unwavering determination in the face of impossible odds, which has delivered Hyrule from disaster time and time again, over many thousands of years. And this — both the incongruent, shapeshifting surroundings, and the authoritative voice coming from the unknown but familiar figure — they do not scare him either, not really, but they do fill him with a complex, uneasy feeling, a mix of alarm and confusion and concern for his companion.

It does not occur to him, not yet, of just how perilous this situation is for him. ]

What?

[ It's all he can say as he blinks at the tawny-skinned man, and then to the construct, and then to Voryn. He knows, in this moment, that this is some effect of the time pocket, a manifestation of its bizarre power fueled by something in Voryn's mind, but that knowledge does not help him know what to say. Still, he feels the pressure to say something, and as Link looks back to the well-armed stranger, his expression hardens from confusion to stalwart calm. ]

...I'm Link. I don't know you, sir, or your Lord Nerevar.

[ another glance to Voryn. some help here, please?? ]

[sharmat]

(the sounds of war rage outside. the heart chamber thrums with silent music. voryn's doppelganger looks between them without recognition, bearing arms in defence of himself and the ancient relic behind him.)

If you do not know me, then we are enemies, (says the doppelganger, advancing.

before voryn can speak to protect link, the slope up from the antechamber far below them bursts wide with a glowing knight leading the way higher. his chitinous spear is brandished, long and ribboned in blue, as he advances with the men and women in service to him. lord nerevar, king of resdayn, calls to him, wrathful, having already been told the lies that once turned them against one another. it is nearly impossible to look away from him.)

Do you not recognize me? Fool, (voryn cries, throwing an arm out. he tries to ignore the spectre of the one that he loved marching behind him, ears growing hot with shame and rage.) Those tools have robbed you of all sense!

(when the chimer forces reach the bridge they face voryn's clone on, the sorcerer turns his head. leaving his back to link when they are strangers to one another may be a mistake, but neither of them has another choice to make lest they decided to cast themselves into the magma below.)

Link, turn and fight. I must deal with myself. Hold them off if you are able; I should not be long.

[bakedapple]

[ The ground before them explodes, a violent and sudden development even in the context of being surrounded by glowing magma. Link braces himself, bending lower on his short lets to ground his center of gravity and weather any further rumblings from below. But neither lava nor earthquakes come their way. Instead, he finds a new threat advancing towards them — a mob, if one could call it that, being lead by a decorated knight. But, no, "decorated" does not even describe this person, does it. The holy glow emanating from his body gives Link the impression that this man's power is divine... or, at least, that Voryn's concept of him is so weighty that he manifests with that sort of vibe. ]

Are you crazy?

[ He spins around, putting himself and Voryn back-to-back in a defensive position. His sword and shield are already drawn, but he has been outnumbered and overpowered too many times to have any delusions about his chances in this situation. They are both in serious danger. ]

I'm not going to leave you behind. We've got to flee, both of us!