{ event 7 } A▒ E█SI▓Y ░▒▓25░9.▒░█

[expiationmods]

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY

March 11. The sun is shining, streaming in perfect sunbeams through uncovered windows. Birds and animals twitter outside, basking in trees that are verdant green and full of life. Outside, the town begins to wake, stirring to life with the sounds of ordinary everyday happenings. Footsteps, carts rolling down the road, the distant sound of friendly neighbors greeting each other.

And you–you have lived here your whole life. Or maybe you’re a visitor to this fine town. Either way, you’re a neighbor here, too.

Aldrip is having another beautiful day.

i. OUR TOWN

The town square is a bustling place to be for locals, and this week is no exception. Aldrip is a vibrant swell of activity: stores, stalls, and stands all open their doors precisely on time, welcoming the new day. Things are quiet, theoretically, while the local school is in session, but anyone playing hooky won’t get a second glance. Everything is fine! It’s too nice a day to be inside, anyway.

(Just like all the other days before, all too nice to waste.)

That being said, Aldrip is not without its own brand of nuisance. Fairies are rarely seen in town, these days, but this week, they seem to be in fine form. They can be found playing harmless tricks on people: taking things from them and moving them somewhere else, rolling carts when no one is holding onto them, mostly-unscrewing screws that hold together mechanical parts… They avoid magical pranks, for now, but these mundane tricks are such a nuisance! They even pull all of the wares out of a local vendor’s stall: dozens and dozens of colorful, patterned scarves. They had been on “deep discount,” leftovers from some “Day of Devotion” event, but the discount is about to get even deeper, on account of how dirty they are.

ii. TEMPTING FATE

A recent expedition to the Lorentia Caves uncovered a hidden gem–literally. Enterprising rock enthusiasts have brought back wheelbarrows full of round geodes, and have made a game out of cracking them open. Geodes that are green inside will get a lavish prize: a stay at a local spa or a gift card to a fancy restaurant. Purple or red inside will get a free drink at the local coffee shop, or a small gift card to use at a local shop. Brown or clear gems get nothing special–but you get to keep the rocks! They hold no special properties, but can be nice to look at and make great paper weights, and some of them almost seem to

g̵l̶o̶w̷

i̵̗̐n̷̯̉ ̶̞̒t̷̝̃h̵͙̆e̸̩̍ ̸̢̌d̷͕̀a̷̬̕ŗ̵̐k̷̼͝n̴̨̍ȅ̶͎ş̵̈s̷̟̽

…

ERROR: MULTIPLE REDUNDANCIES DETECTED
RECALIBRATING
LOADING UPDATES...
PLEASE WAIT

Occasionally, very occasionally, breaking open one of these rocks causes it to crumble, becoming little more than gray ash. Static pops across the surface before it disintegrates.

ERROR: DATA CORRUPTED
PURGING CONTENT

Those who have found these ashen geodes will find that memories of them disappear just as soon as they turn away from what they’ve just seen.

.̸.̷.̵.̴.̷.̸.̸.̶.̴.̴.̸.̷.̵.̵.̷

…

Anyway.

No one quite knows where the pop-up casino came from, but it’s doing a bustling business at night. Now, this establishment is small, nowhere near the size of the one in the past, and is not nearly as expansive. Nonetheless, it helps create a thriving nightlife in town: there’s games, drinking, dancing, and all sorts of fun. Locals are encouraged to participate either by attending or working, or even performing in some way!

It’s a beautiful day in Aldrip. Just like yesterday. Just like tomorrow. Just like every day s̴h̵o̸u̶l̵d̸ ̶b̸e̵.

iii. LOST AND FOUND

You wake in a maze surrounded by fog. You have no memory of entering the maze. You have no idea which direction you might have come from. You are simply here, and there seems to be no exit above. So. The only way is forward.

You may be alone, or have company. Either way, aside from you and any other characters you may find, the maze seems empty. Without end. Without purpose.

Whatever twists and turns you take, all will eventually find themselves in the center, in their own time. There is nothing here, either, except for an overwhelming sense of aloneness. There is nothing here. There is nothing there.

There is nothing–

ERROR: REDUNDANT PROCESS FOUND
PURGING CONTENT

...

You wake up.

It’s another beautiful day in Aldrip.

Like all the days before and all the days after, your morning proceeds apace. You start your morning, you say hello to friends and neighbors. You…

… you find something unusual in an area you frequent. An item. It’s small, and somehow, it’s something you think you should know. Some will feel compelled to pick these items up. Some will feel a deep sense of unease when looking at them, and refuse to interact. Turning your back on these items will cause them to disappear. You won’t have to worry about that anymore. Not on this beautiful day.

Picking up the items causes a rush of information to flood your mind. Something like a memory plays in your head: the person in this memory looks and sounds like you. But…you don’t remember living that life, or doing those things. So how does it feel so real?

Throughout the rest of the event, these items will continue appearing. Characters are free to interact with them or ignore them as you see fit. Regaining more memories means they may regain their powers, as well, though whether they remember how to control them is another story.

These memories will feature prominently in the event poll that goes up after this, and your choice of how many memories they regain (or don’t) may have a lasting effect on your character. Not filling it out will also have an impact on them. So please make sure to fill out the poll!

iv. MISSING LINKS

As this strange memory phenomenon takes over Aldrip, other odd things begin to happen. It’s small, at first, and barely notable except that it renders Aldrip slightly less idyllic than usual. There are a few clouds in the sky. You may get caught in a passing rain shower, or maybe sleep through your alarm…

It gets worse.

The end of the month crawls ever closer, slow and steady. As it does, things begin to go missing. Small things, at first: personal possessions, the lunch left in the break room, flyers that look like maybe they were torn down in the town square. Is someone thieving? Here? In Aldrip?? You’ve never known Aldrip to have a problem with crime. Everything is so…

…

Pleasant.

Everyone becomes a suspect. It could have been your neighbor who took your wallet, or a coworker. Maybe your friend took that bracelet from the counter while you weren’t looking. But close to the end of the month, this starts getting bigger. What happened to that tree along the path you walk every day? Wasn’t there a butcher shop on the corner there? Where have all the birds gone?

ERROR: DATA LOST

Things go missing.

They keep going missing.

Why have they disappeared?

And…where have they gone?

v. THE COUNTDOWN

Sunday, March 31.

It’s raining.

It never rains like this in Aldrip.

Characters wake in the morning to anxiety twisting in the pit of their stomach, inexplicable and impossible to trace. As the day wears on, this sense of foreboding ramps up. Characters may even see significant numbers throughout the day that seem to count…down.

Twelve. Morning. How funny, to see these recurrences. Odd.

Eight. Seven. Around noon. This must be a coincidence, and yet, you cannot help but wonder if it is meaningful.

Four. Late afternoon. Wonder and curiosity are replaced by dread. Whatever is at the end of this countdown–it feels like a finality. Terrifying and unknown.

Two. Night. Those going to bed will find their sleep restless and filled with bad dreams.

UPDATES INSTALLED
RESTARTING…

One. Midnight. The clock strikes twelve, and whatever your character is doing–sleeping, waking, etc–the whole of existence seems to blink out.

(Info about what happens after this will be forthcoming in the event poll results and April’s SOTG.)

vi. WILDCARD

Go wild! We know that you all have plotted extensively for this event, so go ahead and do what you'd like with it!

♡

Comments

"Hades" | Final Fantasy XIV | open (will match format)

[emet_sulk]

"Hades", Doctor
(Uncharitably known as 'Doctor Death' or simply 'Death')

He knows of no other life than that of a doctor. Growing up, the thought of becoming anything else had never really entered his mind. His school grades had always been impeccable, although his bedside manner could use some work. A lot of work, as the nurses frequently tell him - an opinion he thoroughly ignores. He never saw the point in lying. He can tell, sometimes as soon as he lays eyes on someone, whether they are beyond saving. Why drag out the pain? Why offer trite reassurances about the patient's chance of survival when there was nothing which could be done? Why waste time and resources delaying the inevitable?

The gossip-mongers eventually pass around the moniker of 'Doctor Death' for his uncanny, morbid predictions, and that, too, he thoroughly ignores.

For obvious reasons, he has few close acquaintances. Despite his reputation and the rumours however, he is known to have a partner in Hythlodaeus, a cheerful architect with a quirky aesthetic sense. Where Hades is stoic and broody, Hythlodaeus is his complete opposite and it's a wonder that they have anything in common at all. Whenever Hades is being difficult, one only has to threaten to call for Hythlodaeus to get Hades to capitulate (sullenly and unwillingly, but he does).

Death is an inevitable part of life, he thinks. If only everyone else had the presence of mind to understand that.


1. Ordinary Everyday

It's another beautiful day in Aldrip and you are a horrible doctor.

Hades works at the clinic most days. He has the generosity of a certain wealthy socialite to thank for that. If not for her, he would have had to work under the thumb of another and, with Hades' disagreeable nature, would likely have had a much shorter career. Unfortunately, it does mean that he has to suffer her occasional visits and house calls. But it's a small price to pay for being able to work to his own schedule.

Sickness? Broken bones? Paranoia over memories which aren't yours? Say what you want about him but he's good at his work and he will see everyone who comes to him, no matter how trivial the ailment.

2. Fey Mischief

Hades isn't immune to the fairies' tricks.

Unbeknownst to him, they infiltrate the clinic. His only warning is their soft giggling before they suddenly pull out an entire shelf of patient files and scatter them across the room. As he leaps out of his chair to shout at them, they make their escape - this time laughing openly before winking out of sight.

"Come back here, you miscreants!!"

3. Strange Memories

As time passes, things go missing. Hades attributes the loss to the fairies hiding them from him, but then he starts finding things. Unusual things. Things that clearly don't belong in Aldrip.

The first is a sleek blade of unusual design. It's like someone took a gun and attached the blade of a longsword to it. He stoops to pick it up, grumbling about irresponsible owners. But as soon as his fingertips touch the thing, images flood his mind.

tall buildings, dark skies, a planet drowning in fire

hurricanes ripping trees out by the roots

entire cities swallowed beneath the ocean

He gasps sharply and jerks away. Hades has never been a particularly joyous person but his indifference is nothing compared to the sheer volume of sorrow and anguish that has just washed over him.

Hades glances around furtively to see if anyone else has noticed. When he looks back to the odd sword, it has already disappeared. If you aren't already approaching him for his odd behaviour, he will grab the nearest person roughly, shaking them a little as he points to the spot on the ground where the sword had lain.

"Did you see where it went?!"

4. The Power to Create | The Power to Destroy

There is a side effect to Hades' curiosity about the strange objects. As if it isn't enough for him to feel like he's losing his godsdamned mind, he suddenly finds that some of his thoughts become very, very real.

It comes in flashes of anger, when a piece of paperwork is particularly onerous and sets itself on fire. It comes when he finds himself missing his cutlery for the umpteenth time and what he needs suddenly appears right before his eyes. It comes when memories of another dying world flood his mind and he's folded over on the ground, clutching his head, while despair grips his heart and he thinks: just end it all.

The pavement around him cracks loudly. Jagged edges spiralling out with him at the centre. The ground shudders and then sinks.

And from above, the skies darken as a horde of nightmarish monsters descend. Their howls and screams chill to the bone.

5. Wildcard

Got other ideas? Feel free to DM me etc.

Re: "Hades" | Final Fantasy XIV | open (will match format)

[can_i_punt_it]

2. Fey Mischief
[Eve sees the fairies fly past him, and sighs. Apparently this was not the best day to visit the doctor, but he did want to enquire on the medicines and other such items that the people of this world use. But clearly before that was possible, he should try to help the clearly irritated doctor pick up the papers on the floor.] I can see you don’t have any ways of fairy repellant, perhaps try planting clover or red verbena? Or maybe hang something made of iron above the door? The fairies avoid my home like it’s been touched by Khyber-spawn.

[emet_sulk]

Khyber-what? What are you talking about?

[ He doesn't even glance at them as he attempts to sweep the pages up into a haphazard stack. Sorting them can come later; it won't do to leave sensitive information lying about. ]

I should just be grateful they didn't take anything. They've already disturbed my coffee, made off with someone else's jewellery... Bah!

[can_i_punt_it]

Terminology from my realm, you most likely would not understand. Considering how confused the villagers were about my writing, it must be far away enough to practically considered another world. As for the fairies taking the jewelry, they love shiny objects almost as much as magpies. Here, take this. [Eve hands you a small herbaceous smelling pouch] It should repel the fairies. I’ve been selling them to the villagers, but I’ll give it to you for free. It’s always good to have cordial relations with the doctor.

[emet_sulk]

[ He's naturally suspicious of unknown things being thrust into his hand but he does not try and make them take it back. ]

I...see. This is rather pungent. It might put off humans as well as fairies.

[ Hades tries to minimise that clinical odour around the place to make it that bit more comfortable for patients. He can't eliminate it completely of course (hygiene is important!) but he can reduce the smell. ]

[can_i_punt_it]

[pungent? Ah, that would be the St John’s Wort, an easy fix] ..In that case I’ll add more citronella and verbena, it should smell nice then. The mixing in the bag is not perfectly even.

[emet_sulk]

[ He stares, caught off-guard slightly. ]

Ah... That would be wonderful, actually. Thank you.

[ He glances at the pouch and closes his fingers gently around it. Sets it on his table to hang somewhere later. ]

I will keep this one for the time being then. Did you need something?

[ As nice as their help is with picking up his scattered patient files, they must be here to consult him right? ]

[can_i_punt_it]

Just to inquire about what medicinal or otherwise helpful herbs may be found in this area. I feel as though I am not from this town, because no one seems to be able to read my writing, unless I concentrate on making it like theirs, and because occasionally I will say very strange things, that have a meaning to me but not to others. Most likely I was a visiting merchant, but either way, I would like to learn some medicine, especially involving herbs. A. Because it’s profitable, and B. Because for some reason I seem to really like the idea.

[emet_sulk]

Ah. Is that all? You can find information on herbs from any appropriate book in the library.

[ It sounds like they want a herbalist more than a medical doctor. Hades could turn them away...but he does know some basics about herbal medicines. ]

But fine. I can show you some simple tinctures. If you intend to learn this simply to turn a profit however, you may be disappointed.

i

[grappler]

[well...........

she's here with a bloody nose. again. for some reason she'd been wrestling -- maybe to shake the feeling of wrongness or confusion she's been feeling, but she definitely knows her nose is broken.

so here she is, in his clinic... cloth stuffed against her nose to staunch the bleeding.

it's kinda bad this time.]

[emet_sulk]

[ As soon as he sees the state of her he's out of his chair and hurrying to meet her. ]

What the hell did you do to yourself this time?!

[ He sounds angry. He always sounds irritated when he has to fix these sorts of injuries but fix them he does, with an admonishment to avoid getting hurt again. Some people though...some people really just like getting into scrapes, don't they?

Hades gestures impatiently over to a chair and thrusts a clean cloth into her hands. ]

Sit down and hold that to your nose while I get a bowl. Good grief.

[grappler]

Eh, you know... someone pissed me off.

[as if that's a perfectly reasonable explanation to come to the clinic with a bloody nose.

she takes the cloth and sits, holding her nose as she winces.]

Sometimes I can fix it on my own, but this one is probably gonna need another set of hands.

[emet_sulk]

[ There's a small amount of clattering before he straightens from a cabinet, holding a small bowl to hold the mess of tissues and whatnot. He brings it over, wearing his signature frown. ]

I dearly hope for your sake that it isn't broken. Haven't I told you to stop getting into brawls?

[ And yet despite whatever he may have told her or scolded her about, he still fixes her up every time she comes in. ]

[grappler]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It'll add to my charming looks if it's broken.

[she watches him come over, and shakes her head a bit.]

When people are that fucking stupid, sometimes you can't help it.

[emet_sulk]

Alright, I'll bite: what did they say this time?

[ He takes a seat near her, bowl resting on his lap while he waits for her answer. ]

[grappler]

They were bitching about my sister.

[even though they're not quite on speaking terms. or were they? her memories are becoming hazy with this part... and she didn't understand why.]

Saying she's a freak and stuff.

[emet_sulk]

Ah...

[ He sighs and holds out a clean towel for her to use. She can drop bloodied items into the bowl. Or hold it beneath to catch stray droplets if she wants. ]

I know it's difficult to ignore such insults but it reflects more on their character than your sister's. Brawling with them over it will not help you.

3

[solitarysoul]

Levi had actually managed to miss 'Hades's' odd behavior as he fumbled to light a cigarette. He nearly drops it when he's grabbed and shaken.

"No! I didn't see anything!" Its more an automatic response than a real one, but looks to wherever the other man is pointing. "There's nothing there."

[emet_sulk]

Hades releases Levi with a sharp breath. Is he losing his mind? The items have vanished. They aren't the first to do so and they probably won't be the last.

"Apologies. I'm being haunted by these objects, I feel." He glances about furtively but then, as if suddenly remembering something, he frowns at the unlit cigarette in Levi's hand. "Those are bad for your health."

[solitarysoul]

"...I think I know what you mean."

He grumbles a little and brings the cigarette up to his mouth to light. "Everything's bad for my health. But if the world is going crazy I don't really care."

Not that he cared before.

[emet_sulk]

When the world seems like it's going to pieces, a death some decades in the future is hardly going to concern someone. Hades understands even if his instinct is to disagree.

"Be that as it may..." A short sigh and shake of his head. "What have you seen?" he asks instead.

[solitarysoul]

"Like...visions or dreams or something. Of another place." Another him.

[emet_sulk]

"It has been the same for me. Dark, unsettling dreams of someone I am not."

He finds a wall to lean on, upwind of the acrid smoke of the boy's cigarette.

"...Many people that I'm unable to save," he mutters.

[solitarysoul]

"...Yeah. Dark and...n-nothing like here." Nothing so perfect...but he's no longer sure perfect places are normal. He just nods at the muttered statement.

[emet_sulk]

He turns his face to the clear, blue sky. A perfect sky. A perfect day like any other.

"I kill so many people in those dreams," he says quietly. "I feel nothing about it either. They're but a means to an end. And the power that I wield..." He lifts a hand and stares at it. "I can create things with a snap of my fingers."