{ Player Event } What's true of all the evils in the world is true of the plague as well

[quizpersona]

Who: You. (Open to all)
Where: All over Aldrip.
What: This is the log for what we’ve been affectionately dubbing The Organ Player Plot. Various places around Aldrip are facing dangerous supernatural occurrences. It’s a scavenger hunt in some way.
Warnings: MANY SNAKES, Body Horror, Organ Trafficking, Horror Themes, Violence, and we will be updating this as we go along.



A waking scream in the darkness is the first unheard omen.

Snakes, hundreds if not thousands, slither forth from the depths of Lorentia Cave and swiftly invade Aldrip. They are the heralds of the terrible things to come, and there are no corners safe from their encroachment. The serpents come in all shape and sizes, venomous or not, and are quick to become agitated if approached. Their readiness to strike and unwillingness to back off once provoked indicates the lack of survival instinct to flee. They are on the search for what's missing, and they will put up a fight.

An invisible haze sets upon the city , filled with anguish and fury, afflicting residents as it washes through the air and buildings. Children, the elderly, and the sickly are the first to complain of ailment. Within the next few days, patients begin to flood the doors of any hospital or clinic with more serious conditions-- fevers burning from them inside out and excruciating phantom pains that make them writhe in bed.

The longer what's stolen is not returned, the worse things get. Who knows how many bodies will pile high from these plagues if nothing gets done...





ooc//
[ Dara is currently locked behind a barrier in Lorentia Cave to stave off the further spread of deadly miasma. Please retrieve a protection talisman from Seimei and retrieve what she’s lost (and hopefully return it…) !

How This Works–
To begin the search for the supernatural sources a participant can select a number that corresponds to one of the squares on the map (seen below). To go on a route head on down to the numbered top levels in the comments and reply to it. This is your character kicking off their investigation. Some routes will lead to nowhere, some to something, and others to ;)? You’ll find out.

During exploration you will receive responses from either quizpersona or cursegod. This is not an interaction with that particular character unless indicated otherwise.

This event will handwave wrap up by the 20th if no conclusion is reached before then because Dara needs her poor organs back. ]

The Map


Happy Belated Easter lol

Comments

[heartstopping]

[ oh what the fuck is this shit

Rolo pauses before stepping onto the docks as he's addressed.]

H-huh?

[He's all wide eyes and confusion, even as he's subtly drawing a hand close to the pocket carrying the switchblade he's continued to keep with him on instinct. He's glad to have it now.]

"That"? What are you talking about?

[Rolo does a good job of looking and sounding like a normal teen boy who's just stumbled upon this bizarre and unsettling scene. Better than he normally would have, even, because while seeming harmlessly ordinary has always been his M.O., there's a part of him right now that remembers actually being just that. It's a disorienting set of perspectives, but he's trying to ignore that right now.]

[quizpersona]

[ What he finds are two locals. One is knelt by the other's side while that second is crumpled to the floor in agony. These are victims of the miasma. At a closer glance this is a sickness that permeates all the way in the very soul.

The more conscious of the two regards Emet-Selch with dull eyes. It looks like they go through a great amount of pain to move their miasma racked body to look up at him imploringly. ]

Please— !

[ A mantle made of the hopes of others is cast upon the shoulders of Emet-Selch. What will he do with it? ]

...Please help!

[murderingjustice]

[So. In today's agenda there is some creep-ass weather, poisonous snakes and missing cursed organs? Ok. Stay classic, Aldrip. Well. If nothing else it does provide some distraction for The Chosen who are not dealing all that well with the aftermath of having their memories stolen and this all being part of fake reality whatsover.

The Chosen like Akechi, who very much will take monster hunting any day over existential crisis, thanks.

So, arming himself with his usual get up of handgun and breadknife sword he makes his way to get to the bottom of the current plague harassing the city. Both Robin Hood and Loki are alert, ready for battle -- all while a new voice, one that he hasn't awoken yet slumbers on. Luckily he doesn't need to wander aimlessly around the new city landscape for too long before the small clues and whatnot lead him to the docks. That's also where a pair of voices reaches his ears -- one that he could swear he knows from somewhere. So, he proceeds forward with caution, making sure not to make any additional noise as he hides in the shadows.

He ducks behind pile of crates, gun in hand and ready as he peeks behind it and---


Yeah. Of course it's the fucking Clown. Now, he can't be sure if he's the perpetrator or not. But if there's something that Akechi is certain about it's that Gogol is never good news. Especially not after his rather ominous declaration on the network.

He's still a bit too far away for his own liking, but he can't really get much closer without risking being seen by the pair. So, he shifts a little in his hiding spot, reaches his gun-arm out, takes aim and--

BANG.

Get rekt.]

1/2

[quizpersona]

[ Standing from the chair he folds it away with a flourish and smiles at Rolo. Whether that's truly an act or not doesn't matter: not when it reminds him of something he himself might do in those shoes. ]

To be honest there's no longer a reason to see this through. Naturally, any shred of morality left in me makes me not want to. It's because I don't want to that I —!!

[ BANG. ]

2/2 CW: description of injury obtained

[quizpersona]

[ A gun shot rings out. Instinct has him flinching to the side just quick enough for the bullet to take a bloody notch out of his ear. Flowing red sluices down Gogol's neck. ]

I will!

[ From Rolo's perspective the pupils in that mix matched gaze maintaining eye contact with him dilate, a sadistic grin curls on the clown's face, he is reaching back into his coat for something? A shimmering gold back lights him. How strange.

Akechi's perspective is different. Gogol grabs hold of the hand Akechi used to fire the gun and squeezes to turn it inwards. He twists it further to the side, more and more and more until the gun must be pointing inwards towards Akechi's torso. There's no lessening the pressure until there's an audible snap and tear of the triangular fibrocartilage complex.

With his thumb sliding down to apply pressure on Akechi's finger on the trigger it's a matter of time before the idea of making the youth shoot himself becomes a reality. ]

[heartstopping]

[Rolo's fully planning to play dumb and harmless for a bit first to gather information. He's not interested in this lunatic's motives or whatever, but the search for scattered organs would go faster if this guy let anything about them slip.

The sudden gunshot takes him by surprise, though.

He startles, head whipping around towards the source of the sound. It didn't come from the man on the docks, nor was it aimed at Rolo himself. But he doesn't have time to solve that mystery before his attention is pulled quickly back to the man reaching into his coat and the strange light. Some kind of magic? Just going for a gun of his own? Whatever it is, it's almost definitely bad.

So much for playing innocent.

A red glow seeps into Rolo's right eye as he activates his Geass, ignoring the screaming discomfort from the half of him that doesn't even want to accept that that's a real thing he can do. There's that familiar pain in his chest as the zone of it swells instantly to swallow the man on the docks, but he won't have to deal with it for long. He's already pulling out his switchblade and closing the distance.

It's something he's done countless times since he was six years old. A controlled use of his Geass, and then a swift slice or well-aimed bullet while the target isn't even aware of the flow of time. Enemies of the Order, those marked for assassination, his brother's enemies, anyone who could potentially pose a threat – all fell with ease. No one lives in his time. He gets right up in front of the man, can see the the soft pulse of a vein in his neck from a heart that continues to beat even while the mind is unaware, lifts the knife for a quick, clean slash–

And then the bile abruptly rises in his throat as a sick feeling overtakes him, the voice from that other part of him shrieking in horror at his own actions, how easily it comes to him, this thing he'd so badly wanted to believe wasn't real–

He hesitates a second too long, hand trembling where the blade is held ready to a defenseless throat. His chest feels tight and he's not sure if he's held the Geass for too long or if it's just the distress, but the effect of it falters. To Gogol and Akechi, both of them caught in its range, no time seems to have passed at all. Gogol is still actively snapping Akechi's wrist when Rolo is just suddenly there right in his face with a knife to his neck, like the boy had simply teleported without any kind of fanfare.]

[murderingjustice]

[Akechi knows he missed the moment his finger pulls on the trigger. He doesn't need to look, he just knows it. It's just like back in the shooting range a month ago, when he had missed hitting the perfect marks by just margin. Granted, Akira's anxiety about him wielding a gun had led him into neglecting his practice -- leaving him still out of shape. While the wildcard hadn't taken his blunders seriously, Akechi knew that a small mistakes like that would cost him dearly. Just like here.

He's already pulling back, lowering his arm and about to retreat when a golden circle opens in front of him. And before he even knows it a strong arm pushes through the circle and grabs his wrist, twisting it painfully. Akechi, of course, fights back, trying to pull free but it's no use. Since when has this clown be so strong?

It hurts like a hell and there's already tears gathering to his eyes as the wrist is bend into abnormal angle. And really, there's only so much that his bones could take before breaking. So, there is a sickening SNAP as the bone in his wrist dislocates, followed by a painful scream from Akechi. It's like his entire body is suddenly on fire, making him feel sick on his stomach and dizzy in the head.

There's not much time for him to think as his attacker doesn't seem to be stopping. So, as a desperate measure he raises his free hand, which is still gripping tightly on his swords handle, and lifts the weapon bringing the sharp ends at the hand crushing his own.]

CW: knee injury, drowning

[quizpersona]

[ The hairs stand up on the back of Gogol's neck before he even fully comprehends why. It feels like all he does is blink once and that pipsqueak of a brunette is far too close far too quickly. His eyes snap to the side to focus undivided attention away from Akechi in favor the glinting steel that's been aimed at his throat.

Both of them is it? Well then. That moment of hesitation is a big mistake. It's just as he feels the biting kiss of a sword scrap across his knuckles when Gogol finally lets go and retrieves his hand from the Overcoat. The gun now stolen away from dangerous teens who shouldn't have them. ]

Yikes, that's a really scary look in your eyes.

[ It can't be stored in the Overcoat the way it is. So simultaneously as he grabs Rolo by his collar Gogol chuckles that gun somewhere over his shoulder. It's to hold the youth in place when he places his heel against his knee to kick it in. Furthermore it's leverage to drop him carelessly to fall to the dock.

But that torment doesn't end there. Because Rolo has identified himself so immediately as a threat he'll feel a disembodied hand grab him around his good leg. ]

See ya!

[ Gogol pulls Rolo straight through the Overcoat; teleports him straight down into that murky water. It's murky down there. The water prickles unnaturally at bare skin. Gogol keeps Rolo held underwater with the help a hand held through the Overcoat as his eyes scan for what the other one is up to. ]

[heartstopping]

[That hesitation was definitely a mistake, as the pragmatic assassin part of him will definitely be reminding the other half until the end of time. There's no time to register just how bad it is, however, until he feels the sudden crack and tearing of his knee snapping the wrong way. He screams, but even that is abruptly cut off as he's manhandled and then–

–suddenly underwater??

That's a bad place to suddenly be when mid-scream. There's no chance to even hold his breath. Water floods his open mouth and he's choking on it, flailing for the surface and air but it's nowhere to be found. One leg is useless anyway, and the other is held tight somehow. It's hard to see in the murky water, but he reaches down with his free hand in an attempt to dislodge whatever's trapping him, and when he feels foreign flesh, he moves on instinct.

No hesitation this time. He stabs his knife into the hand gripping him in a desperate attempt to free himself.]

[murderingjustice]

[Akechi falls back the instant that the hand lets go off him. Screwing his eyes tightly shut to prevent any more of the hot tears slipping past his guard, he curls up on the ground. His breathing is abrupt as he keeps gasping for air while holding his injured arm close to his body.

The pain is almost too much, threatening to overwhelm all his senses. But then there is the distant scream, one that is cut short before it even properly begins, trashing sounds from water. Akechi can guess what is going on. And more importantly he knows what he needs to do, damned be the pain!

Taking a deep breath, Akechi grits his teeth together and clumsily pushes him up. The movement feels like sharp daggers on his wrist, radiating the sting all over his arm. Then, placing his left hand on top of the crate to gain some support, he jumps quickly from behind his hiding place to face Gogol properly. For a brief, yet heavey moment, the angry red eyes glare right at his opponent. The idiot was going to regret leaving his left hand working.]

Let's go, Loki! [He shouts and all of the sudden blue flames appear underneath his feet, snaking up along his body. And in the blink of an eye his usual attire changes, turning into a black and grey body suit, with a beak-like mask covering his face. From the flames a twisted looking figure morphs behind him. Sitting leisurely on top of his sword, grinning an ugly red smile down at the humans under him.

The pained grimace on Akechi's lips is gone, replaced by equally sadistic grin as what Gogol had worn just a moment ago.]

Get ready-- [Akechi growls, his healthy hand reaching to grab on the edge of his mask only to tear it off.] Laevatein!

[And with that command Loki moves, swiftly jumping up from his gigantic blade and turning it on Gogol. The sword swings in the air and is aiming to hit the opponent. Better move quickly, Clown! ]

[cursegod]

[Everything seems relatively fine in this area, aside from the whole snakes invasion. The only noticeable clue appears when they wander closer to the fish processing plants stationed close to the docks. It's a smell-- no, not low tide. A pungent, acidic odor permeates the air. It becomes stronger the closer they get to the large buildings.

Is it a blessing that the place seems deserted? It seems all the workers have called out sick, which Kotone and Scott can thank the plague for that.

Among all the buildings, one in particular appears to be the source of the smell...along with a metallic creaking sound coming from behind one of the large shutter doors. At least the lock on this one seems to be no problem, but approaching it reveals a spike in temperature. The metal exterior feels warm. Do they try to get inside?]

[orphne]

[Luckily, after having had several snake Personas in the past, Kotone's not even fazed by the little guys roaming around. They're doing their best, presumably, so she won't bother them. They're snakes with jobs!

It's kind of creepy how quiet and deserted everything is, though maybe that's a blessing. She doesn't cover her nose at the smell, but her face wrinkles with disgust as she glances back at Scott and tilts her head to indicate the door. Rather than use her hand to open it, she draws her naginata, intending to use that to pry it open. She doesn't have to look to know Scott's ready behind her with one hand on his glasses in case there's anything dangerous.]

[quizpersona]

[ Well. This is a problem. Because he hadn't come here with the intentions of killing anyone needlessly. These two sure are making it very difficult not to take that much easier route though, because they're starting to make it very needed. As if to punctuate the very thought as Gogol has it he feels the piercing of his own flesh through the Overcoat.

That's not good, that's not a good place to bleed from. A pained, shaky inhale through his teeth almost covers up the whimper of pain. Time enough to think is becoming a luxury. Speaking of— ]

Oh! No thank you.

[ There's just enough time for him to let go of his restraining grasp again to use the Overcoat for his own survival by whisking up into its depths with a sweep of his arm. A certified vanishing act, if only for a moment. Gogol can only go so far.

The next time the Overcoat opens it deposits Gogol partway along the wharf. When it opens again subsequently after during the confusion he's using it to dump a mini van's worth of the tainted ocean water overhead on Akechi. Scooped up within the square footage is Rolo–he expects the kid hasn't had the opportunity to drown just yet.]

Ehehehe!

[cursegod]

[With enough force, the lock breaks and the shutter door slides open. The two teens are immediately greeted by a blast of hot air and a dark haze. Unlike the outside, the miasma inside the building has concentrated to the point of becoming visible to even those without the aptitude for spiritual sight. The effect of the cursed energy would immediately disable anyone in range without a talisman-- wretching as if their insides were turned inside-out and set aflame.

The source of it all sits in the middle of the factory atop its self-made island while all other equipment shows signs of pitting. Dara's stomach lays inside the remains of what may have been a metal container, now barely hanging together with the corrosion that has occurred. The organ spews a greenish-brown acid that has eaten away at the floor to the point of creating its own moat. How lovely. And to make matters worse, the acid has spread to the point of reaching one of the metal support beams for the roof. So that's where all the creaking was coming from...

Is it worth the risk to venture inside?]

[laserguy]

[Scott's hand lowers from his glasses to his nose, pinching harshly as the full concentrated smell blasts through from the now open door. He barely has the thought to be thankful for having those talismans on them, not as his eyes focus on Dara's stomach just... lying there. Out in the open. Something surges up from his chest and nearly enters his throat, but he pushes it down, a grim and serious countenance to the mutant as he shoves his initial reaction down to focus on what's going on.

Okay, the organ's clearly been there for a while. It's corroding everything around it and they probably have to do something fast. He glances at Kotone-- frowning when he notices that she's just about ready to go in.]

Kotone, we can't just walk in there. For one thing, we don't have a way to transport her organ. [Because obviously they're not touching that!!]

[orphne]

[In a way, she's grateful that Scott's managing to keep himself together -- it smells awful, and it's like something out of a horror movie, but again, she's glad it was them who found something like this instead of somebody else who might not handle it quite as well.

A way to transport it- right. It's obvious they can't just pick it up with their bare hands or anything, but that creaking is really, really ominous.]

Maybe I could use one of my Personas...? [She straps her naginata to her back to instead draw her Evoker, her gaze going a little distant as she rotates each of them around in her mind to try to decide which one is the best for this kind of situation. Weirdly enough, "acidic miasmic organ" wasn't something either Igor or Theo had given her guidance for.] And carry it to the talisman-guy.

[Dripping acid the whole way... yeah... good plan...]

ROUTE ??? - SETTING: LORENTIA CAVE

[cursegod]

[[ WARNING: by tagging this prompt you opt in fully to a high probability of your character being afflicted with hallucinations of body horror/mutilation elements such as dismemberment, disembowelment, and flaying.

For the purposes of following through with the plot of this event, if your character engages in any physical altercations with Dara, they will be at an extreme disadvantage. Consider her as a unwinnable storyline boss battle in an RPG.

If your character aims to release Dara from her "prison", please PM this account directly.]]

[foxphorus]

Correct. At least two people have volunteered to investigate as a group for safety purposes, which I agree with.

[ He'll be moving two talismans a little bit away from the group, apparently already dry and now awaiting those brave little soldiers. ]

I know not their experience in demons and purification, so sending someone with the appropriate knowledge would set my mind at ease. At least for the moment.

RESONANCE

[cursegod]

[The source of all the chaos sits in the dark depths of the cave.

Anyone without Seimei's talisman will not be able to make it more than a few feet into the den before passing out from the wave of pain that washes over them. Thankfully, they do not meet their end there, but they may not enjoy waking up outside covered in a pile of snakes. For those who do follow appropriate procedure, they will be met at the cavern's mouth by a snake which all the others seem to avoid as they migrate towards the city. This one in particular stares at its guest before guiding them into the depths. Any light source struggles to pierce the unnatural darkness beyond a few feet, and the temperature drops with each step. Breathing feels like a slow smothering process; not outright suffocating but enough of a struggle that most people would start to feel the touch of panic. Following the snake feels like years passing by, but a turn in the tunnel reveals a distant light reflecting off the rock walls.

Along with the soft sound of a woman crying.

The source of the light is the curse god's prison. It does a far better job illuminating the cavern, but there's even a point inside the barrier where the black haze of miasma is too thick. And Dara lays at the edge of that darkness, whimpering. Her hair acting as a curtain for her face even as she lays on her stomach against the ground, the same ground that is splattered and drenched with tar-like blood. The snake guardian by the guest's side looks up at them expectantly, and the crying settles down before Dara lets out out a raspy plea:]

Help me...It hurts...Help me...I need to get out of here...

[cursegod]

[CREEEEEEEAAAAAAAKKKK...

Oh, it seems like the moat is spreading further towards the doorway. Does it seem like the acid is pumping out faster?]

[melnik]

[ Miller figured the announcement about an unknown organ thief leaving poisoned body parts all around the city was as good a time to check in with Toph as any, now that they're more or less back in their own heads. The two of them have settled on helping in the search together and, after receiving some talismans, have subsequently set out to the northern part of Aldrip. He isn't sure it will make any significant difference given the very supernatural feeling the whole issue exudes, but Miller has decided to make use of the few filters he arrived with and is wearing his gas mask just in case.

Here's hoping something useful comes of this—or at least that they're able to keep their minds clear. ]

( ooc: any tag order works for me! o/ )

[heartstopping]

[It's a miracle Rolo manages to keep a hold on his knife as the world suddenly spins wildly again, and then there's air again but he's falling–

The impact with another body is unavoidable in his state, and while it's better than drowning it's definitely not pleasant. His injured leg screams with pain. For a few moments, all he can do is cough up water and grope blindly with his free hand in an attempt to ground himself. This has gone so bad so quickly and the threat probably hasn't vanished in the past few seconds, but it's all happened too fast to keep up with–

Belatedly, he registers the feeling of another person beneath him, and he grips at them on instinct.]

Boss fight phase 2???

[drugsnotclubs]

[Of course he hadn't been able to sit still. Not at the news that Dara had been disemboweled and dismembered and planted as a catalyst for the sickness overtaking people. Again put into a position of harming others due to what she is, with no regard for her own will or feelings. It hadn't been more than a few weeks ago that send been on the verge of leaving and isolating herself out of fear of the threat she posed to others (to him)--

But at least he has the small snake that had slithered its way past all its brethren and sought him out. It acts as a ward, almost, keeping the rest of the serpents at arms-length, and stays coiled loosely around his fingers as he pauses at an intersection, pausing only to make sure Minato and Koromaru are still with him.]

C'mon, I think-

[Whatever he thought doesn't really matter, though. The sharp noise of a gunshot echos easily through the empty streets from the direction of the water– and then the screams (a few different voices? Familiar, maybe?) are all but a giant neon sign pointing at where the action is.

The huge Persona, one he doesn't recognize, is almost unnecessary at that point.]

This way!

[Sorry, leader- he doesn't wait for confirmation or orders, simply adjusting the axe in his non-snake holding hand and starting off at a run: a bit of impetuousness he doesn't typically display without a fair bit of goading. But it's a short dash to the dock, tucking that tiny snake friend away in the pocket with his talisman-- though arriving doesn't explain a whole lot.

Some dude in a catsuit with a sword. Wild. More likely to be their persona user than the kid on the ground coughing up the vile, oily mess of seawater. And then, decked out in white and flair as though the ringleader of this impromptu show–

Is some clown.

Goddamn this place is weird. And yet he's still dashing to get between the soaked and injured on the dock and who he can only assume is their aggressor– driven mad by the Miasma, maybe?]

The hell's going on?

[He doesn't even know who he's asking. Whoever wants to give them an answer??]

[memori3s]

[ Shinjiro's the one who's asked him to come along. That's why Minato didn't have any questions for him before agreeing to join in his investigation. And because it's Shinjiro who'd asked, Koromaru also accompanied them without hesitation.

He takes quick stock of the scene on the docks. There's a cheerful-looking man in a top hat, and is that -- Akechi? And Rolo?

It doesn't actually matter who it is. Minato's instinct is to save whoever's in front of him. He grabs his Evoker and pulls the trigger with the device's barrel against his temple. His Persona, Orpheus, manifests in a burst of energy and strums his lyre. The sound reverberates in the air, soothing Akechi's and Rolo's wounds while providing them and Shinjiro with the confidence to dodge out of future attacks. ]

Senpai, I'll back you up.

[ It's probably more efficient that way, and Minato wants Shinjiro to know he trusts his old teammate's judgment. It'll be fine, probably, and it looks like he might have his hands full making sure Akechi and Rolo are all right. Best to reassure Shinjiro he's free to let loose if necessary.

But just in case, he adds: ]

If something goes wrong, I'll handle it.

[ Koromaru springs into action too, howling and summoning Cerberus to his side. The canine Persona snarls, breathing fire in Gogol's direction.

[emet_sulk]

[ A sharp spike of anxiety lances through his chest. For a moment, he's frozen, recalling other times and other places. But then he forces his feet forward and comes to kneel beside the pair. He's already raising his hand to try and heal the fallen local - difficult when he's unable to perceive the exact way the miasma has taken hold of them.

The best he can do is cast generic, cleansing magic. ]