EVENT #11: ADVERSITY 4590683

[expiationmods]

EVENT #11: REMEMBER YOU ARE MORTAL

This event takes place in conjunction with a player plot that is open for participation! Participation in that plot is not needed to experience the world effects outlined in this log. You can find the log for the player event here!

THE STORY SO FAR (click to expand)

-Over time, characters have discovered that the world of Expiation is actually a large, elaborate simulation run by an AI that seems to be intent on helping them atone for their crimes. This news is well-known by the Chosen, enough so that any new character who wishes to handwave this knowledge is able to do so.

-In September 2024, that AI needed to be reset as a consequence of some catastrophic systems failures. So far, there has been no downside to this reset–but the AI has also been strangely absent since then.

-Things have been quiet in Aldrip since September, aside from the routine arrival of new Chosen. The locals seem less than happy with the Chosen, though, as if they have already branded them all criminals. As if they no longer trust them…

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11

The moon looms large and full over the buildings of Aldrip this morning.

… Wait. The moon?

It’s true: Aldrip seems to have settled into an eerie perpetual twilight, lit by the full moon and little else. The ambient lighting is dim, but not dark, still light enough to see by. Which is good, because nothing else seems to be serving as a source of light. No sun, no street lamps–nothing. How odd is that?

In fact, it seems that no electronics are working during this strange week. Tablets don’t turn on, computers won’t work, even the lights inside the houses are unresponsive. STEM club’s dark web devices remain capable of some rudimentary communication, however.

The Dark Hour permeates Aldrip entirely. Well. Almost entirely–more on that in a minute. But first: monsters of all kinds will be more prominent during this time. If you would like to add new monsters to the bestiary, you can do so here! Monsters will be more aggressive and enterprising, freely roaming the streets of the city and attacking more boldly than they otherwise would.

Now, all is not lost, here. Because some Chosen-owned spaces remain immune to its effects. Notably: the Inn, the Willow Clinic, and some other player-run businesses can serve as safe houses, as well as some storehouses that were constructed long ago. The lights will still go on in these locations, though the network restrictions above still remain in effect.

For the most part, monsters and other event happenings will avoid safe houses, though if you’d like to play around with that, we see no reason why you shouldn’t. Just remember that characters and players who choose to limit their participation in the event are making use of these spaces, and be respectful of that.

As for outside of the city…who knows? A thick, impenetrable mist surrounds Aldrip, keeping all characters within the city for the duration of the event. Anyone who may have been outside of Aldrip before the event began will mysteriously find themselves inside the city as the Dark Hour takes hold. Better make your way to a safe house…and good luck out there.

MY OWN WORST ENEMY

Who is the monster and who is the man?

It seems that monsters aren’t the only obstacle roaming the city. The Chosen may find themselves facing doppelgangers, of themselves or of fellow Chosen. In terms of appearance, they may be identical to the Chosen they reflect, to the point of being difficult to tell apart. Some may have minor changes–different eye color, different clothing, things like that. But in many cases, it may be impossible to tell which is real and which is not based on looks alone.

These doubles reveal a dark reflection of the characters they look like: their deepest fears and regrets, repressed desires they refuse to admit, feelings and experiences they’ve never told anyone about…all of these things and more will come to the surface with them. These doubles desperately want to see a character’s accused crime confronted, and they will do anything to make that happen, even resorting to violence if they must. The doubles have all the original powers and abilities of their real counterparts, making them extremely difficult (but not impossible!) to fight one-on-one.

Some characters may find themselves inexplicably drawn to their doppelgangers, as if called by some force. They may feel compelled to seek them out, as if they’re unable to rest so long as their double roams free. This is an optional effect, but should you be looking for an excuse to get your character out and about–please feel free to utilize it.

Doubles can be injured and incapacitated, but not killed; the only way to eliminate them is through acceptance and recognition. Characters do not have to do this alone; in fact, having some moral support or coaching may prove useful. Confronting the double and accepting or seriously reflecting upon the crime they’re charged with will make the doppelgangers first turn docile, and then disappear, leaving the original character feeling lighter and more sure of themselves.

A MINOR TECHNICALITY

What happens to a simulation when the electronics stop working?

Good question.

Occasionally, you may see what looks like a strange, thin line, just from the corner of your vision. Early in the week, trying to look at this line straight on reveals…nothing. It seems to vanish.

As the week continues, this strange happening seems to intensify, bit by bit. By midweek, Wednesday or so, you’re able to look at this line head-on. It seems to be a small crack, little more than a hairline fracture, outlined in light. As the weekend creeps closer, this crack seems to grow, bit by bit, becoming more pronounced, the gaps between it getting larger.

By the weekend, it’s wide enough that you can see through it.

What you see is difficult to describe. You seem to be looking into a large metallic structure, so large that the end seems to curve off into the horizon. How far does this go on? There’s a ceiling overhead, so high up that you can’t make out details. Much of this structure seems to be empty within, but you see a floor at foot level, made of metal.

The gap is wide enough that you can stick your hand right through it. When you do so, you begin to feel a strange tingling, starting at the tips of your fingers and extending to the part of your arm that goes into the crack. Nothing about your hand changes, really, but when the tingling subsides, you get the strange sensation that you’ve been unable to feel anything with that hand, up til now. Something about the air against your skin feels more real, here. As if your senses were muted before…

The crack never widens more than this. It is sometimes visible to just one person, and sometimes it can be visible to a group. This crack can appear in any surface, in any location, but it always looks the same and always reveals the same structure within.

Interesting…

ENDING

In conjunction with the conclusion of the player plot, the Dark Hour comes to an end one week later, on November 18. Monsters vacate the city, the sun reappears…this happens slowly, over the course of the day. By Tuesday, the network and electronic usage is restored. By Wednesday, the crack in the world seems to be gone for good. By the weekend after the event, all doppelgangers seem to have vanished.

This is fine, we always say. And it is! Everything is back to normal!

…

Or is it…?

WILDCARD

Make your own fun! Just because it’s not in the prompts doesn’t mean it’s not possible. Have at it! Go crazy! Try not to break anything (too much)!

♡

Comments

[cupidsammo]

one; be a big damn hero
[ On day one, the perpetual night is... concerning, but news of the real dangers have yet to reach Koharu. Still under the impression that creatures and wildlife rarely breach the town, she makes an attempt to go about her daily business.

Yet the attempt doesn't end successfully. Down the streets of the shopping district, Koharu witnesses a pack of core hounds suddenly rounding a corner at full speed, and they are on the hunt; it isn't long before a pair launches themselves at a man coming down the road, and another at the next nearest pedestrian. As they aggressively chase down others, it sends the people into a chaotic frenzy in a matter of seconds.

Unfortunately for Koharu, she gets swept up in the panicking crowds, shoved and bumped into until she trips and finally fumbles up against a storefront. But by the time she manages to regain her bearings, she looks up only to find another one of the hounds looming over her, hints of flames flickering from its mouths. And in that moment? She freezes, just barely managing to squeak out: ]

... H— help!

two; safehousing
[ So, the rest of the time after? Koharu is definitely staying inside—more notably within the inn, her current place of residence (and, most recently, place of employment). Within the lobby, she approaches a window, looking out; should anyone be nearby, she ventures into the silence: ]

It feels like it's never going to end...

wildcard
( Feel free to drop something else! Or if you'd like for me to write a starter, you can hit me up and we can work something out :|b )

one!

[computation]

[ This is her life now, or rather, her afterlife: saving random people. Root has no question what the Machine would want her to do here, and learning that the Machine took her voice after her death only makes her devotion that much tighter. And there's a strange stability and confidence to her actions now, to her moral position, that just wasn't present when she first started doing this a few years ago. It's become more than habit-- it's become who she is.

She doesn't need the Machine's voice in her ear to act as her interface anymore.

Today that looks like smashing a store window from the inside to protect a young woman being pursued by a rabid flame-breathing dog. Root stands on the wrecked store display in her sleek black boots and coat and looks down the sights of her shotgun, plants her feet and braces the stock against her shoulder, then fires.

The shotgun is modern and tactical, semi-automatic, one of her favorites. She'd lifted it from a police officer back home and requested to have it back here, just in time for this occasion. There's a gratifying splatter of gore, but she doesn't wait; she hops down through the broken glass neatly to her feet on the sidewalk and fires again from almost point-blank range at the second head even as the first is reeling.

Root watches closely as it stumbles and crumples to the ground, making sure it's dead before turning to Koharu. ]

Whoops. Hope you don't mind getting messy!

[ She's probably covered in blood and tissue now. Root has a healthy splatter covering her as well, but that's part of the reason she's wearing head-to-toe black. ]

[cupidsammo]

[ "Probably" is an understatement; currently sporting little else but whites and light greys, Koharu's attire... will, without a doubt, need to be replaced.

She remains frozen for a moment longer, her only movements being a flinch as the first round fired off, and then her eyes following as the body of the hound collapses to the ground with an unceremonious thud. Eventually, Koharu does manage to crane her head upwards toward her savior of the moment, hands trembling and a waver in her voice: ]

N... no.

[ Well, whether she actually means that is up to debate, responding more because it's all she can think to do right then. ]

What just—what was that?

[ Maybe it's a bad time for questions, though; there's still other stragglers trying to flee, and more ravenous hounds about. ]

[computation]

[ There's kind of a morbid charm to the affect, Root thinks, sparing a moment to take in the appearance of the person she'd saved. ]

No clue! But spooky season definitely isn't over yet.

[ Root pulls some shells from her pocket and reloads the shotgun one at a time, each bright-red shell making a satisfying mechanical shink noise as she levers it into the magazine. Of course, she makes sure she leaves one in the chamber, ready to fire. ]

How do you feel about guns? I can give you a pistol if you promise good behavior.

[ She's already turning to scan the chaos around them and look for an exit path. ]

[cupidsammo]

Um—

[ There’s a level of hesitation in her voice, partly in surprise of being offered a pistol in the first place, as Koharu decides she ought to take this opportunity to push herself back up upon her feet.

On one hand, she’s never actually hurt anyone or thing before; on the other, whatever is happening here, Koharu doesn’t think she wants to be totally defenseless here. ]

I can use one—I know how.

[ The juxtaposition of a young, scared girl with a timid disposition admitting she can fire off a gun is probably noticeable, but at least she seems like she means it. ]

[computation]

Really? Good for you!

[ Root is surprised by the answer, but effusively congratulatory. All young ladies should know how to shoot someone, in her opinion.

She balances her shotgun in one hand (pointed safely away) and pulls out her trusty Glock 17 from where it's stashed in her waistband at the small of her back. She offers it out handle-first to Koharu. ]

Stay behind me and try not to shoot me, please.

safehousing

[spiritualize]

[ even those who are out and about need a break to recover and check in on others. riku had been out nearly constantly since the dark hour fell, fighting off monsters and casting healing over those who needed it. exhaustion had finally caught up enough that he'd come back to the inn for a short rest.

he'd seen koharu around, but hadn't really approached her before. but he's the only one within earshot, sitting at a bench with his head in his hands. looking up at her, he pauses before deciding to respond. ]

It'll have to end eventually. We can't give up.

[cupidsammo]

[ Silence lingers for a moment. Then: ]

Do you think so? It's already been going on for so long...

[ Koharu stares out, as if expecting something to happen right outside the window... But it remains silent, and eerily so. It's a stark contrast to what she had already experienced out there. ]

Do you think something is responsible?

[spiritualize]

We have to believe it'll pass.

[ it's hard to do, with little communication and all the layers of danger outside. the appearance of the doppelgangers was disturbing, as well.

he sighs, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms. ]

Probably. Weird stuff happens here all the time, apparently, but this seems... deliberate.

[cupidsammo]

... Maybe. I wouldn't really know, to be honest.

[ It's simply—unreal. It doesn't feel like something that should be able to happen. ]

I'm not used to things like this.

[spiritualize]

[ riku watches her, concerned and a little sad. he was used to things like this, but wouldn't want that inflicted on anyone else.

after a moment, he pats the spot across from him at the table. ]

You should get away from the window. Come sit down.

two

[coolerjunpei]

[It's been a while since Junpei has been to the inn; he'd moved out into a proper house a few months back, so it's almost nostalgic to be back here—despite, you know. The monsters, and the coffin people, and the fucked up moon.

Besides all of that, it's almost nostalgic. He's been here a day now, so he's found himself recovered from how shaken he'd been when he arrived at the tail end of a monster fight he was not equipped to handle. Now he's making his way through the crowd in the lobby, a coffee in each hand and a little elderly dog at his heels.

But, ah, huh?—] I give it a week.

[Dryly, like, it's whatever. This is semi-coping. And these coffees were both for him, actually, but after a beat he holds one out to her with a tired half-smile.] Here.

[cupidsammo]

[ —Hm?

She stares for a short few seconds, the offer unexpected, but after a moment she does accept the cup into her hands. (And, of course, will appreciate the comforting sight of another adorable doggo.) ]

... Thank you.

[ She isn't the world's most enthusiastic coffee drinker, but maybe she could use something warming, anyway. ]

So... a week? You think this will blow over quickly?

[coolerjunpei]

[The little dog, Gab, is content to shuffle between them and settle down for a power nap right there on the floor; he knows once Junpei stops he's at least hanging around for a little while, so it's... Dog Nap Time.

Junpei hums, briefly considers mentioning he dumped a possibly illegal amount of sugar packets in the coffee, and decides against it. The point is that it's warm, right, so-- it's fine.]

Yeah, I mean, it's been a week... before. [At least one time in recent memory, which uh—it's something.] There's nonzero precedent for "over in a week."

[cupidsammo]

[ Her fingers curl around the cup as her brow furrows in thought. ]

I... see.

[ Odd as it sounds to her. ]

I heard that sometimes things happen around here, but I don't think anyone ever told me exactly what. Is this what it is? And it—comes and goes?

[coolerjunpei]

Honestly, I don't know.

[He glances past her to the window, the bizarre darkness outside; the network still being down has prevented anyone who might know what's going on from explaining what this is, like the last time a week-long thing happened. This feels marginally weirder than the last time, though, at least to him.]

I kind of thought resetting the AI thing would, like... fix this place? You know, stop the weirdest shit from happening? So, uh, best I can do is give you a solid maybe.

one

[garbagecanned]

Susano-o!

[the hound gets blasted away from its looming over Koharu, and the Persona makes it to the scene before the owner of the voice. Susano-o cuts through some of the other monsters with a sharp force of wind, and Yosuke finally makes an appearance beside Koharu.

he's out of breath, somewhat because of using so much of his abilities out here, and also because he's been running. but he'll hold his hand out to her all the same as he catches his breath.]

You okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?

[cupidsammo]

[ And right before her eyes, the beast looming over her is violently knocked away. Her eyes grow wide as she watches the... person(?????) fight back against the hounds, but she doesn't have long to wonder who it might be before another kneels at her side.

Koharu stares back at him, hands trembling, before managing a small shake of her head. ]

N- no, it didn't—hurt me.

[ A second longer, however... ]

[garbagecanned]

[Yosuke sighs in relief, still holding out his hand for her to take.]

Good. Let's get you to the Inn or somewhere safe, then. Susano-o can help make sure we don't get messed up on the way there.

[cupidsammo]

[ .... Susanoo?

She can't allow herself to grow puzzled about the name for long, though, not when they're in a literal danger zone. ]

Okay. Please.

[ Somewhere away from here first before anything else. Koharu takes his hand with her own, shaky as it is, and pulls herself up.

Meanwhile, there's a low growl from one of the hounds that weren't wholly taken out yet from somewhere. ]

[garbagecanned]

[Yosuke whirls to see if one of the hounds is making its approach, and then motions for her to follow him.]

C'mon. The Inn is pretty safe, it doesn't seem like the monsters are so interested in the people there.

[he's pretty tired, himself, from all of this... and he thinks he probably should rest up before running back into everything with his Persona.]

one!

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca doesn't like what is happening here and he would be more nervous if it wasn't for the monsters running around, chasing people. It's a good thing he has his broadsword with him and he tries to at least fight the hounds long enough to allow pedestrians to escape.

Then he hears a familiar voice.]

Miss Koharu!

[And he rushes as fast as he can, slowed down by the heavy sword, making it feel like moments last forever. Ruca then finally gets close enough and strikes with his blade as hard as he can, launching the monster away from the girl. Maybe it's not too far, but it's still good enough for now.]

Are you hurt? Please, hide behind me! I'll deal with this!

[It's troublesome that the monsters are of fire element, the same as Ruca's magic. He'll have to rely mainly on his sword, but it doesn't change much. He'll do whatever it takes to protect Koharu.]

[cupidsammo]

[ And by some miracle, her savior comes.

The hound goes flying, leaving Koharu in bewilderment as the large blade swings down. An answer isn't immediate, but she does manage to sputter out a shaky: ]

O- okay!

[ Instinctively, she scampers away from her spot against the wall and fumbles to an open area behind Ruca, and just in time—though the core hound landed roughly, emboldened by the effects of the Dark Hour, it regains its bearings and focuses its hunting instinct on him instead. Get ready, because it comes charging for him again. ]

[demonicbookworm]

[Once Koharu is safely behind Ruca, the boy focuses on the charging hound. Sword blocks the maw of the beast with a dull clang, but Ruca doesn't flinch. He pushes forward and the blunt side of the blade strikes the monster. This alone may not be enough, so the boy wastes no time to swing the broadsword horizontally first, then downwards, almost as if trying to pound the creature into the ground.

Considering Ruca's unimpressive appearance, it's almost comical how easily he fights with that heavy sword. To him though, it's natural by now.]

I hope that will do it... [He takes a deep breath in and out, watching the monster.]

[cupidsammo]

[ Koharu doesn't just scurry behind him, but hurries to a narrow pathway between buildings, hiding where the light of the moon doesn't reach. From there, she can't help but peek around the corner to watch, focused in awe as Ruca effortlessly swings the sword upon the beast once, twice, thrice; it's not a particularly resilient foe, and thus the hound goes down after taking one too many beatings.

For now, that does it—but its kin are still about, if they aren't careful. Nonetheless, once it goes still, Koharu breathes out from her hiding spot: ]

... That was incredible...