expiationlogs | EVENT #11: ADVERSITY 4590683

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EVENT #11: ADVERSITY 4590683

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)!

♡

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[A simple matter for her, is it.

He jolts somewhat at the swift execution of the beast and raises his arm almost defensively, as his violence-averse facade demands. Not that having this animal's corpse simply lying there in the alley is pleasant, but at least he doesn't have to stick around for long.

Unfortunately, his previous concern about attracting other beasts has been validated; he glances over his shoulder to see the stalking approach of another two creatures in the unnatural light of the moon. Are there more around he's unaware of? Not all of them have a magic signature he can track.

He takes a step closer to her as he gets her attention with a cautious:]

Fauna.

[... It died? She seems... uneasy.

For all her bluster, she's never killed before. Not really. Monsters either reverted back to humans afterwards, or when they were just summoned, faded away into nothing. Leaving a corpse behind...

She's unsettled. She turns her head back to him... and looks past him, to see the approaching monsters.]

There's a lot... They're swarming all over, from the sounds of it. We need a safe space...

[Zekarion's sharp gaze doesn't miss that shift of weight, the change of posture. Despite her obvious strength and the success of her attack, this is far from a celebratory demeanor. Interesting...

Swarming, though, isn't good for them. It would be annoying even if he were willing to utilize his powers. He'll trust her senses to be accurate.]

They've been avoiding the inn, [he says as he puts a hand on her shoulder to display his intent to stay close, voice low even though that won't do much to avoid the attention they've already attracted. He was hoping to gather more supplies before returning, but sometimes it's better to retreat.] People are taking refuge there.

Tch... Be monitored or be monster food, huh? Fine.

[She... doesn't seem to have a high opinion of the inn. She may have made a few assumptions about it, but. She glances at him, then glances around at the monsters...

No choice. This is a hand she doesn't like to show, but... This guy seems harmless. And more importantly, if she doesn't do something, he's going to end up killed.

She lifts the sleeve of her armor, showing her changer, and taps the buttons on it. As she does, its display lights up, showing a map of the area... with the monsters highlighted as red dots. She stares at it for a second, then looks around.]

I've got the route. How fast can you run?

[Any preconceptions she may have of the inn, he can potentially correct later, if it seems relevant. For now, he splits his focus between the approaching threats and that map she's consulting. Useful, indeed.]

I keep in shape, [he offers; while his tone implies he doesn't expect to keep up with Fauna's best, he's not calling himself slow, either. Even unpowered he'd have enough stamina to stay out of trouble as long as he had a head start, especially considering the advantage of his long legs. But he waits to see what this girl is planning before offering any suggestions of his own.]

All right.

[She waits... and then, as the monsters look like they're about to pounce.... She throws more ofuda, and pillars of ice form a wall. The monsters crash into the ice, and Night Wild grabs Zek's arm.]

Now! Move it!

[She starts running towards a nearby alley...]

[There's no resistance as Night Wild pulls him; he was already prepared to move as soon as she suggested the idea of running, only waiting for her signal. It's admittedly a level of trust he's having to put in her that he wouldn't normally approve of.

She's earning it for now, at least.]

I'm with you.

[As promised, he's agile for a man of his size. He won't have any trouble turning corners suddenly or following her directions. It's clear, at least, that he doesn't spend all his time sitting at a desk.]

[That's good news for her. She didn't want to have to try to carry this guy.

Zek will also notice she's... well, very good at navigating. She didn't look long at that map she made, but she's making the twists and turns through back alleys and across roads with practiced ease, keeping to the route perfectly. And true to her words, after a few roundabout moves to avoid monsters, the two of them are standing in front of the inn.]

There... That was easy enough.

[Slumped slightly, Altius takes a few moments to make a show of catching his breath now that they're within the glow cast out of the windows by the inn's still-lit interior. So, they've made it without incident. She's certainly useful in a crisis, it seems...

After a few breaths, he turns his attention towards her, some concern in his face.]

How is your injury?

[Now that the danger has passed, she releases her transformation- A cloud of darkness, which fades as though the sun is coming up. Fauna rolls her shoulder... and internally, she winces, but externally, she keeps a strong facade.]

I've had worse. I'll just get something to wrap it up and I'll be fine.

[The furrow in his brow and the way he straightens up says he's not happy to accept that answer.]

Will you not come inside and let me bandage it properly? We have plenty of food, as well, if you're hungry.

[Whether or not she's hungry... Her life has taught her one thing. If there's food, eat as much as you can before it gets taken away.]

... Fine. I need food if I'm gonna keep fighting, anyway.

[Though there's some relief in how he lets out a breath and gestures for her to go ahead of him inside, there's yet further concern in his response:]

Have you been fighting all day?

Well... Since about dawn, but dawn is late now.

[the... "perks"? of winter. She heads on inside, at least...]

The place is covered in monsters, I can't just do nothing.

[Zekarion can't call himself a great judge of time passing when all there is in the sky is a constant moon, but the expensive-looking watch on his wrist tells him all he needs to know about that. He frowns, closing the door behind him and guiding her to the small area where the medical supplies have been set out for the injured.]

Resting properly isn't doing nothing. If you wear yourself out, you won't be able to defend against them.

[She sits down obediently, but...]

Please. They're weak. I haven't even had to use a finisher yet today.

[Stubborn, stubborn... Altius returns with the requisite materials and sits, holding his hand out for her to offer her injured arm.]

Even if it's only a jog rather than a sprint for you, there's only so long any one person can travel without pause.

Travel? I guess I'm patrolling the city, but it's not that big. Tokyo's way bigger.

[...... have i mentioned that she tends to be very. literal minded.]

[Alright, he'll cut down on the comparisons... and here he's used to them making things easier to understand.]

It's a metaphor, my dear. Fighting is fighting, and it still takes energy to keep up for so long. Show me your arm, please?

[Her reward if she does will be antiseptic! Who knows what those nasty monsters had in their claws.]

[She holds out her arm! But then as soon as he starts dabbing at her...]

Ow-! Owowow- Hey, the hell is that stuff?!

[ARE YOU POISONING HER. local girl has literally never had anyone use antiseptic on her before.]

[He blinks at the reaction, but the strongest emotion that remains in his expression after that is a bit of confusion.]

It's to prevent infection, so the wound won't get worse before it gets better. I'm sorry for not warning you, I suppose I thought you were familiar...

[He thought maybe she was used to being patched up... by someone who had maybe five minutes of medical training, at least? Good gracious, if she doesn't even know what this is...]

Why's it sting like that-?! I don't need it, just a bandage is fine!

[hiss hiss....]

[There is NO way she'd understand a real explanation. His smile is a little exasperated.]

I promise it's harmless to you, aside from the momentary annoyance. But... alright. Just this time. [He knows he needs to pick his battles, so he puts the chemical to the side and prepares the gauze and wrapping.]

Would you be willing to come back here to let me check on it?

[It's a good excuse to keep an eye on her... if he can get her to agree.]

[Yesss. good. she wins this.

But her ears flick at his question. Check on the wound...?]

... Are you some kind of doctor?

Not quite, but I work with a lot of doctors.

[...' bosses.]

I've picked up a few things from them along the way, so I like to use that to help where I can.

[Not to mention his healing powers grant him a much greater insight into a person's health simply by touching them...]

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