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

[hauntedking]

...what happened? What truth did you tell?

[ That's a question for them both. Dimitri doesn't see a reason to just let that go unasked. ]

And why would it result in death?

[subsist]

[ Kaeya doesn't know whether or not he should tell Dimitri. After all, this is one of those things that he keeps close to his heart, swearing to never tell another soul or else he might face the consequences again. But that was back when Teyvat still existed, when it was possible that this truth could make others turn away from him.

Dimitri is someone he met here at Kenos. Someone who has repeatedly tried to reach out, just because he cares. It terrifies Kaeya to think about that sometimes, knowing full well what happened when he last tried to let someone in.

His younger self is the one who speaks, as though realizing Kaeya isn't going to do it.

I told Diluc about who I really was. My father left me in Mondstadt several years ago to be an agent of Khaenri'ah, placed in Mondstadt to serve their interests.

Diluc's family took me in, treating me as one of their own. When I told Diluc about this truth, he must have felt that everything we had between us was a lie, so he...

Well. Dimitri can see the price: his eye is a bleeding proof, after all. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Oh. That - well. It explains some of it. It makes things clear to Dimitri, at least for the moment. There's a sense of loss there - of betrayal. And he understands that, although perhaps from a different perspective. He frowns and he glances at thew younger apparition. While he speaks to him, the words are just as much meant for Kaeya. ]

...that isn't your fault. You were a child. Following the dictates of your father... that's what all children want to do. I cannot say you did anything wrong. You didn't deserve... this.

[subsist]

... I deserved more than what I got.

[ His words are hushed, heavy with a sense of defeat. He can feel his right eye throb from underneath his eyepatch but he tries to ignore it. Focuses on letting the sword disappear from his hand, because it's clear Dimitri isn't going to let him do what he wanted.

The younger one says nothing to deny what Kaeya said, seemingly in agreement. ]

I repaid their kindness with nothing but lies. It's no wonder I came face-to-face with his anger.

[hauntedking]

You were a child.

[ Dimitri's voice is coaxing. Gentle. He turns his gaze on the 'real' one. These words are intended for the both of them - but especially the Kaeya he knows now. In the future. ]

The sins of your father are not yours to bear with you. Nor did you deserve to be treated like some sort of... criminal. To be harmed like this.

[ He settles a hand on Kaeya's shoulder. ]

And even if none of that were true, a single action does not define your entire life.

[ He said, like a hypocrite. ]

[subsist]

[ The weight of Dimitri's hand on his shoulder is hardly a source of comfort, but it's a solid reminder that he isn't caught up in the past. Even if there is a ghost standing before him, he is far away from that one stormy night — far away from all the feelings of guilt and betrayal.

Or so he likes to tell himself.

His voice is brittle around the edges when he speaks again. ]

... Only those who have it easy would say something like that. [ He knows that isn't the case with Dimitri, because he remembers what the man said about the reason behind his eyepatch. ] Do you even believe it yourself?

[hauntedking]

I do.

[ Dimitri replies quietly. ]

For a long time I felt that I could have done something. That I was osmehow guilty for having lived where everyone died. And... a part of me still does. But that isn't fair to the child that I was. He was blameless; just as you were. You may have sins of your own to carry - the goddess knows I do - but not these.

[subsist]

[ For the longest time, Kaeya has nothing to say.

He remains silent as he considers what Dimitri is telling him, and the younger one does the same. It's difficult for him to separate himself from the guilt he's carried all his life even when he understands what Dimitri is trying to say here. After all, the lie he was forced to live with is what tore him apart from Diluc in the first place. That's something neither of them can truly repair, even if they're trying to now.

But maybe that small understanding is enough. Something changes in the younger one's demeanour, the way he looks at Dimitri now with a shred of hope in that starry eye.

... Can I truly be so blameless? Even though I've had to lie? ]

[hauntedking]

Whatever circumstances led you there... you're a child. I may not know everything, but I know that you cannot be held responsible for it. Not when you were set on the path by someone you trusted. And even if you hold some measure of blame... you must be able to forgive yourself. I... know what it is like to judge your own inner heart. To hate and fear it...

[ He trails off. He's a bit of a hypocrite, isn't he? He still loathes that part of him that has so much anger and pain. that part of him that lived. But he tries to do better every day. It's all he can do. ]

You cannot live in the past. Fight for your own present.

[subsist]

[ Kaeya can tell that Dimitri realizes his own hypocrisy. If it wasn't for their shared Aspects, this wouldn't have even been possible, but— despite it all, it appears to be enough for the younger one. All he's ever wanted to hear is to be told that it isn't his fault. That it was never his fault, despite who he is.

Maybe Kaeya himself doesn't believe in it at all, but he's at least considering the possibility. It'll do.

While the surrounding area remains frozen still, both Dimtiri and Kaeya will find that they can leave the time pocket now. Parts of the younger spectre are beginning to show themselves as a mess of roots, indicating that the conflicting feelings have been pacified enough.

Kaeya says nothing, but he does look toward Dimitri, waiting for him to come. ]

[hauntedking]

[ Dimitri exhales in a soft sigh and then turns to Kaeya with a nod. ]

...let's go.

[ They can leave this behind. At least for now. ]