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expiationlogs2023-10-23 02:25 pm
- !event,
- arcane: jinx,
- arcane: violet / vi,
- blazblue: ragna the bloodedge,
- bungo stray dogs: nikolai gogol,
- fh2 termina: levi,
- magia record: mitama yakumo,
- marvel comics (earth 616): quentin quire,
- persona 4: yu narukami,
- persona 5 royal: goro akechi,
- reiwa no dara-san: dara,
- umineko wtc: ange ushiromiya,
- x-men movieverse: scott summers
MINGLE LOG: OCTOBER
Aldrip locals are buzzing with excitement as the end of the month draws near. According to them, two beloved traditions are just around the corner: the gathering and the witch hunt!
Let's get started!
WE GATHER HERE
I. EVERYBODY MAKE A SCENE
Those who come from worlds with trick-or-treating will find that this sounds pretty familiar: dress in costume, get treats. Rather than going door-to-door, however, the locals have set up a whole line of booths in the bustling marketplace. Participating locations will have pumpkin-shaped lanterns over their stalls, and will hand out various items: candies are traditional, of course, but pastries, treats, and even savory foods may be available. Some booths may also offer drinks (alcoholic or not) or small trinkets like pins, stickers, or scarves.
What's the catch? You must be in costume, of course! Some Chosen may welcome this as a fun activity—costumes are available at Rin's Shop from now until the end of the month. A number of traditional costumes will be readily available, of course, but the Tresed locals who have taken over the shop also have some...let's call it "eclectic" original designs. They also take requests. And they seem even more excited than the Aldrip locals, if you can believe it. Some reluctant Chosen may find themselves bullied into participating, if they're not careful.
We leave these costumes entirely up to you: they could be generic costumes like "witch" or "ghost," or something from your character's world. The tailors currently operating Rin's shop are capable of making mostly anything.
At various points during the night, Chosen could discover that they've been either TRICKED or TREATED by participating in this tradition. Comment in the thread below if you'd like to participate, and we'll roll you a random effect.
A WITCH! A WITCH!
The Aldrip Witch Hunt is a symbolic tradition that, according to locals, goes back by countless generations. Local opinions seem to be mixed on whether there is a real witch to speak of: some claim that the Council has chosen someone to act as the witch every year since its inception. Others claim that it's all conceptual. Either way, with a small number of frightening fruits still on the loose, locals are willing to let the Chosen deal with any dangers.
Those intrepid Chosen who wish to seek out the witch are told to head into the forest, where small electric lanterns will show the way. These lanterns seem to be scattered across the forest, in some cases leading Chosen off course or off the beaten path. Some may end up lost in the woods. But some lanterns do seem to light the way to different locations. Visiting these locations may yield some…interesting results. If you’re interested in investigating these areas, leave a comment in the thread below to let us know which location(s) you visit, and we’ll roll something for you.
Following a stream in the woods eventually leads to a cave opening. The floor of the came is wet and a little slippery, so take care where you step. The cave is deep, and as explorers move through it, they're going at a gentle descent, the Chosen will uncover old cave paintings, faded and worn with age. Most of these are little more than marks upon the wall, but occasionally some may find images that look almost like worship, figures captivated by strange boxes, hands in the air as if in veneration.
Occasionally, items from other parts of Expiation can also be found. The odd tablet part, an old-looking shoe, a piece of rusted jewelry or a shell that looks like it belongs more on the beach…these don't seem like they should be here.
The Chosen who explore this cave ought to be wary of the time. As the tide comes in, water begins to slosh around their ankles, filling the bottom of the cave and rising quickly.
Those who took it upon themselves to investigate the strange chimera creatures from earlier in the month might have seen this weird little bunker before, but the turrets that seemed to protect it at the time are now powered down, allowing access inside.
That said, whomever was there seems to be long gone, leaving behind a flurry of documents, diagrams, and other miscellaneous work in their wake. The bunker has two levels, connected by stairs. The first level seems to house medical experiments, ranging from various herbal concoctions (if you get my drift) to precise surgical work. Things have been meticulously cleaned up on that front, so they won't be walking into a bloody mess. Everything has the faint smell of rubbing alcohol and bleach. Notes on this level are mostly medical in nature and quite rudimentary, some aspects bordering on pseudoscience or magic. Near the stairs, the Chosen will find cages, all empty. Strangely, even though the animals were only recently released, things are coated in a deep layer of dust, as if this place hasn't seen activity in a long, long time.
The second level seems to be comprised of mechanical experiments, builds, and engineering work. There's all sorts of different types of technology down here: some looks familiar, in a similar style to the tablets. Some is quite advanced, from the look of it…but it all seems to have been taken apart, cannibalized, and put back together in ways that make no sense. Glass screens drilled onto metal casings, keypads that don't seem to attach to anything, engines tied to attempted vehicles with rope. Most of these elements have been damaged beyond repair with hammers and staple guns.
Something interesting of note is that some areas within this bunker still seem to have power. Among them, a small block of video screens that seems to be used as surveillance. Most of these screens show areas just outside of the bunker or within the entry way. Other screens seem to flicker, occasionally showing static, but sometimes showing something that seems like faces within the static, figures moving in some way.
This abandoned house sits derelict at the edge of town. Has it been there this whole time? It certainly doesn't look new…
A graveyard stands just beyond its gate, in front of the house, warning away trespassers. These graves don't look terribly worn with age, and have no years carved into them, but have names and some even list cause of death. "Threatened the wrong scoundrel," "may Those Who Were There have mercy upon their soul," or "charged with a crime they did not commit" are not uncommon claims. There are dozens of them, daring intrepid Chosen to pass them and enter the house.
Said house is old, creaky, and creepy. Inside, the already-spooky effects of the forest seem to be more pronounced: one may occasionally hear voices or see visions from the corner of their eye, only to look and find nothing there. Peculiar things seem to happen in this house, though. Mirrors still hang in some rooms, and while they often show a true reflection of those who look at them, they occasionally show others as well: shadowy figures, strange people the Chosen have never seen before, even some faces of Aldrip locals, distorted and sometimes missing parts. The shadows within the house seem to shift, as if they can't quite decide what they should be hiding. Portraits also hang in the hallways, faded and dusty. Mostly they show unrecognized people in old-fashioned clothes, but occasionally one might think they see their own face, or the face of someone they knew from home.
The attic is of particular interest, containing among its many cobwebs a single large chest in the middle of the room. Opening this chest reveals an item of great importance to the person who first touches it, something sentimental or meaningful to them. Upon touching this item, it seems to crumble away into nothing.
Some lanterns lead past the forest, out to the meadows and fields where most of the Aldrip locals plant their crops. On a hill beyond those fields stands a circle of ancient-looking stones, their edges dulled with age, covered in moss and lichen. This stone circle stands within a large earthen barrier, little more than a hill beneath the grass. Opening doors within this barrier reveals what looks like ancient offerings: broken pieces of earthenware, bits of metalwork or broken pieces of armor, even the occasional rusted, useless weapon.
The stones themselves encircle a paved circle with markings at regular points. It almost looks like a clock or a sundial. Standing within the paved circle, one may imagine that they hear voices of people they don't recognize, along with a faint ringing in their ears. Within this circle, the sun always seems to be directly overhead, during the day. At night, the stars twinkle, but seem to move in their nightly pattern much faster than they normally would.
Go wild! If there's anything that you'd like to do in the Trick or Treating portion especially, go right on ahead! Other than that, anything else that you may think of may go!
A Note: The festival will be available every night, and the lanterns will be visible until the next State of the Game post.
ia
However, when he sees oddly familiar dark haired figure on the ground, making a scene, he can't can't help but stop on his track. Because is that.
Well.. He really shouldn't be surprised to see one of Akira's friends here. The place did have habit of dragging criminals periodically in here. Kotone had had part of her team show up, right? So really. It was only matter of a time. But still, he couldn't help but find himself to be taken a back seeing Yusuke Kitagawa kneeling on the ground, clearly having a moment.
(Well. At least it isn't Sakamoto.)
Akira will surely be thrilled about this discovery. For a quick second Akechi just stands there behind him, pursing his lips together. And just when he's about to approach the Phantom Thief he begins with his monologue of agony and yeah.. That's enough. He's just going to continue minding his own business]
no subject
What brazenness!]
Ah— wait! I must beg your aid, if you would—
[This as he's scrambling up from the ground, reaching beseechingly for this maid's wrist in true Yusuke No Boundaries fashion, and—
Ah?
One moment? Goro Akechi?]
You...?
[In this dress...?? Never mind; his jaw sets, brow slightly furrowed. You know, desperate is as desperate does, so here he goes:]
Give me just one minute of your time.
no subject
What do you want, Kitagawa-kun? [Please don't drag him into your scene.]
no subject
Sustenance.
[Give him... snacks. He looks down and away, gaze darkening.]
I am afraid I find myself teetering on the precipice of despair... Do you have anything to eat?
no subject
Suste-- [He groans in frustration, yanking his hand back to himself.]
What are you talking about? There is plenty of food to go around here. Most of it is even free of charge.
no subject
[He has it in him to pose about it, still, although not with as much gusto as usual. Woe, etc.]
So you see! I find myself forced to beg your aid, in the hopes that someone will have a morsel unsullied by my curse.
no subject
So, it's another ailment. Did you eat or drink something suspicious? There are several plants and fruits in this world that might cause such reaction.
no subject
[Breakfast was also terrible, see. Why doesn't Akechi carry snacks? He could have just grabbed a candy bar and been on his way, but now... Alas.]
no subject
[There's a light sneer in his tone.
Tbh, he really doubts that would've done so. So it must be part of this world's 'whims'. After their little adventures at the trauma center called The Maze Akechi has learned not to trust anything. So, it is most likely that Yusuke somehow managed to trigger some kind of 'curse' so to speak.]
I take it Akira doesn't know you're here, yet.
no subject
Anyway, weren't they talking about his desperate need for sustenance—]
We've yet to cross paths. [Kotone told him Akira is here already, and honestly she told him Akechi was here too but he immediately stopped thinking about that a minute later-] Do you intend to shuffle me along and wash your hands of this?
no subject
His eyes narrow a little at the statement. If he knew that Akira was around why hadn't he sought him out? That would have been one of his top priorities right after securing a roof above his head. Weren't they supposed to be friends?
Well anyway, the question makes him huff out dry air and roll his shoulders back.]
What do you expect me to do about your situation?
no subject
You? Nothing.
[Sorry.......this is just an honest response,]
You've given me a minute of your time, as I requested. I needn't trouble you any further.
no subject
Akechi just sighs, eyes sharpening.]
Well, I'm not done with you yet. I still have questions I need to ask from you.
no subject
...Alright. You may ask.
no subject
First, what is the last thing you remember from our world and when did you arrive here? Who all have you met here and how have the locals reacted to you. [He's more interested in the latter part, especially since the locals have changed their stance regarding to The Chosen who've been here for longer.] And lastly, can you summon your Persona?
no subject
We had just bid Akira farewell, and I have been here for a handful of weeks. The locals treat me with neutral indifference, and as we are not currently within Mementos, I have not tried.
[Did he skip one. Yes.]
no subject
But alright, so it seems they share a similar timeline. Good, that makes things simpler for them. His eye brows shoot up when Yusuke mentions being here for couple of weeks already. Because really? Is he truly just taking the situation as it is? How bewildering...]
But can you feel its presence?
no subject
As much as I might outside of Mementos back home, certainly.
no subject
But you failed to tell me who all you've met during these weeks you've stayed here
no subject
[Anyway,] Should the need for Personas arise, I daresay you will spot mine before I have the opportunity to bring it up, but alright. Understood.
no subject
Very well, then. I believe that is all, I need of you for now. Try not get yourself killed.
no subject
I see. Then I will let you resume your business.
[That is to say, he'll go beg someone else for good snacks, seeya guy.]