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

[howyouseit]

And sometimes they turn into nightmares which become a reality.

[Ekko was going to make sure of that one way or another in the coming days, just like he did back home the leader of the Firelights would bring oppression against Silco's influence here in Aldrip. Even if it meant compromising his unspoken deal made with Caitlyn upon initially arriving here as to avoid unnecessary trouble and potentially being sentenced by this Council who governed this world.

Rolling his eyes at the 'martyr' comment the boy cannot help but laugh under his breath harshly before developing into a coughing fit, vision beginning to shake as he clings to consciousness. This was definitely not good, completely at the mercy of his exhausted body after aiding too many victims of the Gnosia which ravaged the city limits. Such was the nature of the boy savior, living up to his appointed namesake by his beloved daughter.]

Not everyone in Zaun wants to start another war that will just cause more senseless bloodshed and I'll see to personally that it never comes to it. That much I can promise you.

[Unfortunately Jinx had not informed him exactly what transpired between Vi and the vile man standing before him only alluding to a rift cause between themselves with her older sister being the cause. In due time Ekko would surely find out they had been at each others throats quite literally in fact as they killed each other.]

Was never afraid of you before and I certainly am not now...

[A confident smirk forming over his features as he taunts the other egotistically.]

You know what they say right? Love conquers all.

[conflictresolution]

Are we discussing your childhood now?

[Silco was aware that with the scales tipping the favour of those against him from their world that his life would become a bit more difficult. He had done well to cover his tracks and put up a relatively pleasant front to the people of Aldrip. Certainly not everyone trusted him and the sister had done her best to slander him, but he had persisted. Now more than ever he had to keep things tight and close to the chest.

He resisted the urge to put a knife blade into the boy's throat for the coughing fit. Perhaps this one would simply die on his own and Silco could just roll the corpse over the side of the building and be done with it. If only he were so lucky.]

And how do you plan on avoiding the war that's coming, hmm? Murdering the Council will bring Piltover to crush the Undercity. We'll see how your hope for avoiding war will play out then.

[He noted that there were no details about what he had done to the sister. So, he didn't know because this one was too mouthy to understand restraint. Silly child with a few allies and a big stick to throw around.]

Good. I don't want you afraid yet. Soon.

[He shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head at the silly childish words. He actually turned and walked away, losing interest in such a topic. Love did not conquer all and never would.]

You sound like a Piltover philosopher. Perhaps you should join their city. You're as much a traitor to the Undercity as the sister.

A good place to wrap soon maybe next tag each?

[howyouseit]

Not everyone immediately resorts to violence to bring about more pain and suffering like you, Silco.

[There were innocents on both sides that would be brought into this without the desire for war, if there was even a slim chance they could resolve things between their nations Ekko would try it. He was a peacekeeper by default and tried not to involve bystanders who were just trying to live their lives.

When Silco moves to turn away from him the boy savior is tempted to take up the lead pipe he found during this affair to club the man over the head and be done with this once and for all. Unfortunately death did not work the same as back home and they would only be left with further issues and Jinx would be upset in the process. Despite his hatred unto her father figure he knew if any harm came to the other things between them would quickly turn south after all the progress they've made.

Rolling his eyes at the 'philosopher' bit, Ekko leans back against the edge of the flower shop's rooftop exterior, looking towards the area where he scaled up. Perhaps it was time to flee the scene before things took a turn for the worse.]

Keep telling yourself that. You don't know anything about how I operate or my motives so don't assume so much asshole.

[Shuffling over towards the spot where he crept up, Ekko makes ready for his escape, he couldn't listen to this toxic drivel any longer and would take his chances elsewhere.]

We couldn't be more different in our ideologies for Zaun and its citizens...This is getting us nowhere and I'd rather die out there than continue listening to your bullshit old man.

[conflictresolution]

Those who intend to keep power do. Would you not do violence on me to remove me from power?

[He knew there was intention to remove him; that's was the fate of a Chem-Baron eventually, especially if they experienced a pinch in profits or show weakness in front of the others. Staying in power required a certain finesse and brutality, even from those claiming to be freedom fighters.

He snorted, walking away from the boy who seemed about ready to make an escape. Good, he preferred to be alone for this anyway. Unwelcomed visitors would only complicate his plan for survival here.]

Off you go then, boy.