EVENT #9: ADVERSITY 6468468

[expiationmods]

EVENT #9: INFECTION

When characters wake, they’ll find a message splayed across the screens of their tablets; it reads clearly:

⚠️ GNOSIA INFECTION DETECTED

THE ERADICATION OF YOUR EXISTENCE IS IMMINENT; PLEASE TREAT THE INFECTION ACCORDINGLY. YOU HAVE 7 DAYS BEFORE YOUR PROJECTED DESTRUCTION.

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU ELIMINATE THE GNOSIA.

As their devices flicker to life, another message follows shortly thereafter, a single word, one of the following: GNOSIA, DOCTOR, GUARDIAN ANGEL, AC FOLLOWER, or CREW. The word fades as quickly as it appears — characters will know instinctively what they must do, whether they’d be typically predisposed to it or not. Some may know less about how their role functions than others.

The game has begun. The air has changed, as if time has slowed to a halt. Aldrip is perfectly static and still, and a sense of foreboding will soon come over the city.

DAYS 1-2

The borders surrounding Aldrip have been sealed off by an invisible barrier. It cannot be pierced or damaged in any way. This is the first sign that something has gone terribly awry. Chosen will notice it: the way the city closes in on itself, the buildings much closer knit to one another, as if trying to ensure everyone has as much proximity to each other as possible. NPCs are present, but “lagging,” so to speak, often glitching out or taking longer to “load”. A sense of uncanniness permeates within the city – as if everyone is caught in a waking dream.

CREW are hit with it first: an overwhelming instinct that allows them to tell the truth apart from lies. They won’t realize what it is initially, but when they interact with others, they will frequently be saddled with a nagging instinct that indicates how truthful a person is regardless of the context they’re speaking or acting within. This instinct does not apply to every single interaction and manifests differently for everyone. DOCTORS will feel more in tune with the body, more keenly aware of anatomical knowledge they may not usually possess. GUARDIAN ANGELS will feel an urge to protect someone – or conversely, find someone to protect. GNOSIA will begin their transformation and AC FOLLOWERS will be drawn towards GNOSIA. GNOSIA can recognize other GNOSIA, but not AC FOLLOWERS.

Much of the city still operates despite the Gnosia infection; the NPCs seem largely unaffected by it. And yet when you interact with them, they are visibly off kilter, as if programmed incorrectly. Some may even appear as people from home, only to then glitch back to their normal selves. There is still a sense of calm over the city, but the first 3 days are an opportune time to host and participate in meetings, begin witchhunts, find hiding places and either choose to travel in groups or by your lonesome. Beware of the night: that’s when the Gnosia are most likely to interfere with the space time continuum and make their kills. Anonymous channels will be opened up to cultivate discussion.

Days 3-5

The tension wraps around everyone in Aldrip. Shadows gnaw at every corner. The city is far quieter, the darkness imposing, contributing to the evergrowing sense of paranoia.

CREW will begin to experience prophecies of the immediate future. Visions of what’s to come. Whether or not they’re at liberty of disclosing this or if anyone will believe them is the real question.

GNOSIA will have a go of it: in dreams, your worst memories, regrets, fears, everything you’ve compartmentalized in the hopes of forgetting and letting go of, will play on repeat for the duration of these days. Other Gnosia and AC FOLLOWERS may even intrude on these dreams and catch a glimpse. It will bring out the most vulnerable and darkest parts of you, especially in the presence of other Gnosia. This may lead to friendly fire – or it may be a bonding experience.

The HUMAN SIDE will experience the opposite in these dreamwalking scenarios: you will dream of your loved ones from back home; the things you cherished and were forced to leave behind when you came to Aldrip. Wracked with homesickness, you may begin to wonder: how willing are you to turn on the people you’ve come to care for here? How far are you willing to go in pursuit of victory?

DOCTORS and GUARDIAN ANGELS will experience manic highs and adrenaline rushes when they successfully treat or protect people. Their energy levels will increase, but they will also become prone to reckless or stupidly happy behaviors they would not usually engage in.

On these days, an especially peculiar event will take place: Chosen will wake in the square outside of City Hall, facing each other with a screen dividing them. The screen will project a series of questions; if they answer untruthfully, it will flash red.

The questions are as follows:

01. DO YOU LIKE HURTING PEOPLE?
02. WHO HURT YOU THE MOST?
03. WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF?
04. HAVE YOU KILLED SOMEONE? HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT?
05. WHAT WILL YOU SACRIFICE TO BE HAPPY?
06. WHAT DO YOU HATE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF?
07. WHAT DO YOU HATE MOST ABOUT OTHERS?
08. WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED METHOD OF MURDER?
09. WOULD YOU HURT THE PERSON ACROSS FROM YOU?
10. WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR LIFE FOR THE PERSON ACROSS FROM YOU?

At the end of the questionnaire, characters must vote whether or not the person they’ve been matched with are Gnosia or Human. If both characters answer the same thing, they will find themselves “tethered” to one another, either mentally or physically, and will be forced to spend the rest of the night together. If both characters answer differently, they will be free to go. Will you be cruel enough to share what you learned with the others?

DAYS 6-7

As the population of the city thins and the NPCs grow more sparse, Aldrip begins to resemble a ghost town more than it does a metropolis. Desperation is potent. Buildings are blocked off. People have retreated into themselves, makeshift clinics to treat Gnosia infection have been created, and the typical liveliness of the city has whittled down to nothing.

GNOSIA will be more volatile than ever; their instincts to kill will extend to fellow GNOSIA. It doesn’t matter who they murder – so long as they’re able to find a victim, be it amongst their own or otherwise, they will gladly take it. The aggregate consciousness of the Gnosia will be stronger than ever. GNOSIA and HUMANS alike will hear each other’s internal voices in bursts, all at once, and be privy to things they shouldn’t be.

DOCTORS and GUARDIAN ANGELS will need more help than usual. Their abilities have slowly drained their energy reserves, and they will find themselves veering into deep emotional lows alongside being saddled with a physical exhaustion they cannot fight. Alliances with CREW and former Gnosia will be pivotal in their path to victory. In these final days, CREW and AC FOLLOWERS have heightened stealth that make it significantly harder for them to be detected by Gnosia. Use this to your advantage.

Eventually– the skies of the city darken and time skids to a halt.

The week has ended. Everything stops.

Who has claimed victory? The Gnos, or the Humans?

Wildcard

Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it can’t happen. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments below! Otherwise, get to tagging!

♡

Comments

[incorrigibles]

[ what the fuck. ]

Benefits to worry? That's — that's not the point of worry! I mean, you believe in them, great, but... [ but something about the way he says it all, clinical almost, doesn't sit well with him. ]

Never mind, [ he says then, because maybe it's just the way he's about to go crazy, feeling useless and worried as he is. he shouldn't, what did crystal call it? right, project his feelings on others. ] It's right good you're staying safe.

[conflictresolution]

You seem the excitable sort of fellow. My people are skilled at what they do, and my skill set doesn't fall in the same realm of theirs. [Did this one not realize that death wasn't permanent here? Or least not for most and certainly few during such wide-scale excitement.] Would it comfort you if I fretted?

[He tilted his head, not in his nature to worry over people he knew could handle themselves.] It's the least I can do for them. You're welcome to remain safe in the Flower Shop, but I expect you'll be heading after your own people soon enough.

[incorrigibles]

No, I...

[ he trails off, running a hand through his hair — what right does he have, to judge others for reacting differently than him? hell, for all he knows, this guy is doing a lot better, being a lot more useful by simply staying out of the way instead of trying to help without any real possibilities of doing that.

and yet, everything in charles protests against staying idle, leaving those he cares about alone. ]

Thanks, that's good of you to offer. Really. But... I can't just stay here. Not when I don't know how they're doing. It might be a bad move, but — [ a shrug; he doesn't really care. ]

[conflictresolution]

[Silco had no skin in the game keeping the boy here, and if anything, taking in other people could increase his own risk. However, he knew from the moment that he offered that Charles had no intention of staying here and would be running off in a matter of time to be injured or killed. Everyone had their choices to make.

Jinx was out there causing chaos. Richard had swung by and left again. Those two were honestly the only two that he cared for any manner of check up on, and even then, Jinx remained his priority. No one would take her down easily.]

I'm aware. I assure you that the Duke is doing just fine, but he did travel that way. He was carrying weapons, so use your own discretion for approach.

[incorrigibles]

Right, [ he says, uncomfortably aware that he doesn't have his cricket bat here, and even if he did, he already knows he'd never raise it against richard, no matter what.

he sighs, bouncing on the balls of his feet. ]

Right, [ he repeats, ] Well, maybe I'll... swing round to him later, then. If you say he's fine and all.

[ a pause. ] Oh, uh, what's your name?

[conflictresolution]

[Silco carried one weapon on him, and he wasn't about to give it up for anything or anyone. If someone was so keen to run around without taking precautions, he wasn't going to correct that. Perhaps it would teach a valuable lesson about risk.

He looked around from his higher advantage point to sight if there was any incoming danger.]

He's armed, but I can't say how he will react out there.

[He tilted his head.] Silco. Yours?

[incorrigibles]

[ he just nods — right now, who can say how anyone will react, to anything? so it's fine. it's a risk he's willing to take. ]

Charles Rowland. [ and because his mama raised him right, he holds out his hand for a shake. ] Nice to meet you, despite, you know. [ a shrug, indicating "this whole murder infection thing". and also despite the fact he's not entirely 100% it has been nice to meet him. ]

[conflictresolution]

[Silco viewed the offered hand; that was a good way to be pulled in for a knife to the belly where he came from. It was also the kind of action offered for business deals, alliances, and making promises upon.

Yet, he knew in other societies, the weight was far less heavy. It might have been the only reason he offered a hand in return.] Oh this kind of event is rather common, but you will get used to it. Do take care not to end up dead, Charles.

🎀

[incorrigibles]

Thanks —

[ he takes a few steps away, before whirling around, spreading his hands as he gives silco a grin, ] — But I'm dead already.

[ not that it means he can't die a second time! but sue him, he's got a dramatic flair (no doubt edwin's rubbed off on him) and so he just, you know, turns a bit translucent and walks straight through the nearest wall, disappearing from sight. you know what they say about making an impression, right? ... right. ]

Re: 🎀

[conflictresolution]

Ah well, welcome to the club.

[Silco shrugged his shoulders like the revelation was a piece of common knowledge. He did admire the dramatic flare to hold that one in for the length of their conversations after counselling the younger man on the threat of death in this place.

Well played. Suddenly, Charles was far more interesting.

Yet, he pushed off the rooftop and walked away from it, leaving the younger man to go on a suicide run.]