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

[nightwild]

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

[hiss hiss....]

[chimericalclaw]

[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.]

[nightwild]

[Yesss. good. she wins this.

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

... Are you some kind of doctor?

[chimericalclaw]

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...]

[nightwild]

That so...

[The health insight he'd get from Fauna is... well, weird.

Aside from the one cut she took, her body doesn't quite seem right. The ears and tail aren't exactly part of her. They're merged into her body, but they're an external force that invaded and corrupted her. She's made it her own, in a way, but it's not her body's natural state.

Beyond that, she seems... weirdly healthy. She seems to go long periods without eating, then lots of overeating. But at the same time, she doesn't seem to have the normal health issues that would go with this...]

Sure, then. I guess.

[chimericalclaw]

[All of these things he learns as he wraps the bandage, practiced enough with the process to keep it in place without being too tight.

It's an interesting picture indeed. Even aside from the clearly supernatural aspects to her being, he would expect an entire day of fighting and her clear lack of knowledge of how to take care of herself to have taken its toll...

Well, well.

Once he's done, he lets go and gives her a faint smile.]

Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then, I hope. For now, why don't we go see what they've made in the kitchen?

[nightwild]

I hope it's meat.

[She rolls her shoulder a couple times... It's not exactly pleasant, but she can still move. Perfect.]

This won't get in the way while I fight... Good.

[chimericalclaw]

[Fauna you need your veggies too even if you have some kind of freaky inhuman metabolism??? His smile fades slightly when she remarks on her intent to fight, but he doesn't explain his hesitation immediately. Regardless, he'll lead her towards the smell of food...]

I'm sure I saw some kind of stew, at least.

[She certainly seems eager enough to eat, so he'll find a larger bowl for her—between the soups, starches and a side dish or two set out for those taking refuge, she'll have plenty to fill it with.]

[nightwild]

[Once she has her food, she sits down... on the floor, in the corner. She seems most comfortable with her back to the wall, where no one can get behind her...]

Stew, huh... Doesn't that take forever to make?

[chimericalclaw]

[On the floor... Altius thinks about protesting, but ultimately lets out a breath and takes a seat beside her.]

A few hours, generally. [He tilts his head with an unspoken question.] But you can make a large amount at once, which makes it the easier option if you have more people to feed. It's also a good way to make several meals for yourself, if you store it properly.

[does... does she know what a freezer is. should he warn her about botulism,]

[nightwild]

Store it, huh... No good, then.

[She sighs, staring down at her bowl.]

I miss the ramen joint from back in Seitei.

[chimericalclaw]

[Hmm. He watches her for a moment, seeming interested.]

What did you like about it?

[nightwild]

The old man let me have a tab, for one.

But I could get lots of meat on it. Tonkatsu ramen with a big pile of chashu... It was really filling, and tasted good. One bowl of that could keep me going for a whole day, when I didn't have any other way to get food.

[chimericalclaw]

[Limited access to food... he's never been quite so desperate himself, though times were occasionally hard when he was young. Did she ever pay off that tab? It's not a relevant question, so he keeps it to himself, but he wonders.

More to the present:]

Have you had any trouble getting meals here?

[nightwild]

... No. I've been lucky. People have been nice. Junpei gives me sandwiches sometimes, and I've been able to steal what I need from others. And now that I have a place to stay, I have food.

[Now that she's admitting all this, there's only one thought in her head.

It's... weird. To have consistent access to food. That she can just... eat, whenever she wants.]

[chimericalclaw]

[A troubled expression comes to his face, slow breath leaving his nose as his lips press together. It's good that she has somewhere to stay, a friend willing to help. But even so...]

Fauna. [It's not a scolding tone, but more of an earnest request.] If I were to offer to help you with what you might need... would you consider not stealing anything else?

[nightwild]

[Her ears flick. She seems... a bit more guarded suddenly.]

I don't make promises I don't know if I can keep.

[chimericalclaw]

[He's turned towards her, fingers threaded together and one arm resting against a raised knee.]

It would be alright if it just meant that you'd try. And I wouldn't ask you to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

[nightwild]

[... she sighs.]

I'm starting to try to work. And get money. And if I live at that mansion, then I'll have food. So I shouldn't need to steal anymore.

... It's not like I ever stole because I liked to. I'm not even very good at it. But it was that or starve for a long time.

[chimericalclaw]

[He dips his head in a single nod.] I understand.

[People do what they have to do. When they don't have resources, they have to find ways to get them, or they die. It's one of the horrid truths of the world, that anyone would be deprived of such basic needs.]

But if you ever have any trouble with making ends meet... [He shakes his head to dismiss his prior conditions.] Regardless of what you do or don't promise to me, I'll be glad to help.

[nightwild]

... I'll keep that in mind.

But maybe it won't matter anymore.

[She doesn't seem to believe it, though. Nothing good ever lasts.]

[chimericalclaw]

[With a faint but concerned smile, he places a hand on her closer shoulder.]

Maybe so.

[He keeps his hand there a moment longer in the hopes of reassuring her out of that pessimistic mood, but he removes it after a few more seconds. He already knows a simple platitude and a moment of comfort won't change a lifetime of suffering. These things take time, and reinforcement.]

Either way, we'll figure things out, won't we—Miss Night Wild?

[nightwild]

[... at the very least, that seems to draw her out of her funk. She laughs a little.]

Hey, don't use that name when I'm not transformed.

[chimericalclaw]

[He answers her laugh with a chuckle of his own.]

My mistake. Is that against the rules? I'm afraid I'm new to all of this superhero business.

[nightwild]

It's not against any rules... But it's better if I keep my identities separate.

... I'd rather keep the identity secret, but it's way too late for that.