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

[erschlagen]

[Rosen nearly does a double take when Zekarion defends him. He wasn't expecting the man to side with him in this situation, especially since he appeared to be so determined to defend this phony. However, he might be wrong about that, especially since this shadowy version of himself is quite displeased.]

Yes. [The shadow answers with a hoarse laugh.] But why would I want to be anything like you or others?

Where's the fun in that?

[The long tendrils trailing behind the shadow grow larger as it prepares to strike. Rosen wasn't kidding when he said this pathetic creature was a threat, especially with those sharp, dagger-like tendrils crashing down on them. Rosen knocks Zekarion out of harm's way, allowing himself to get impaled in the process.]

Get out of here! I-I can handle it!

[Trickles of blood slide down between his teeth as he coughs up specks of blood. Yeah, he's in pain. This shadowy best may appear to be a weak little pushover, but appearances can be deceiving. Thankfully, Rosen is no pushover either but he definitely needs some help here.]

[chimericalclaw]

[Altius has rarely been one to "take sides" for personal reasons; even though he's hardly fond of Rosenkrantz, considering things logically has been one of the ways he's earned the respect and gained the power he has in his own world.

Unfortunately, it's not working out so well with this creature. His attention turned to it as soon as it spoke, and he was prepared to dodge out of the way in this case, but then this absurd, aggravating idiot had to go and take a blow for him. It's enough to knock him out of his sharp focus for a brief moment.]

You fool—

[He makes a decision; Rosen has already seen his enhanced strength. He won't show his whole hand, or the aces he has up his sleeve, but this much he will do: He darts up from the ground, aiming a kick at the precise place where Rosenkrantz had attempted to crush the shadow moments before.

Without transforming, he's certainly not as strong as the arkana, but his magic nonetheless makes him much stronger and faster than any man could hope to be without it.]

[erschlagen]

[Fuck.

Rosen lets out a strangled gasp as the vicious tentacles slash through his flesh like searing hot knives. Despite all of his divine protections and supernatural abilities, this hurts. It hurts terribly. The arkana clenches his teeth in agony as those squirmy tentacles dig deeper and deeper into the bone. It's as if this shadowy entity is attempting to penetrate all the way into his soul. The sensation alone is enough to make him sick, but Rosen stays strong.]

Shit, that's the best you got?

[Rosen taunts as he attempts to move his arms. While the pain temporarily immobilized him, Rosen finds his second wind as he attempts to move forward. Ignoring pain is his specialty but thankfully, he doesn't have to put up this bravado for long.

Rosen's face lights up with surprise as Zekarion leaps from the ground and lands a powerful kick to the monster's spine. That was enough to bring the creature to its knees. This unexpected interference is all Rosen needs to break free from the shadow's ruthless grip. Rosen grits his teeth as he violently rips the tentacles from his body, not crying out in pain. He is pride personified; nothing, including his other self, will ever make him cry.

As the shadowy creature slowly rises to its feet again, it turns to face Zekarion, its white soulless gaze full of confusion.]

Do not interfere any further.

[The creature warns, then a dozen or so hand-like tentacles emerge from its back. These shadow hands suddenly shoot out toward Zekarion, hoping to stop him, but Rosen is faster. In a flash, red hot flames surround the monster as Rosen uses his magic to bind it. As the flames devour the shadow, it lets out a piercing scream.]

[chimericalclaw]

[All that remains in Zekarion's expression once he lands and darts back to give himself space is focus, devoid of any other emotion—no anger, no alarm, no concern, no ego. His posture is tightly controlled, wound like a spring, ready to move at any moment.

If this shadow had merely threatened him, he might bother with a verbal response, but he has nothing to say to anything that's directly attacked him. It does not command him, but it would learn that soon enough.

Then it tries again. Zekarion does actually go through a proper dodge now as he sees those tenebrous hands heading his way, but halfway through his movement, Rosen has it covered again—with a much, much better idea this time.

He watches, alert, as the thing screams. He's not letting his guard down until he sees it reduced to ash—but he does shoot a glance towards the true arkana, to assess the state of him.]

[erschlagen]

[ Rosen has seen better days. Droplets of blood fall from his lips as he coughs violently. One of those damn tentacles must have punctured a lung or something because he is having difficulty breathing. Fortunately, his regenerative factor is now kicking in. Rosen doubts he would be alive if it had not been for that.

He has deep punctures in his arms, chest, and torso. The shadow monster literally tore chunks out of Rosen, as if trying to rip him apart piece by piece with those shadowy limbs. It is a disturbing sight, especially with so much red-black blood pouring out of him. Zekarion, on the other hand, is sitting in the front row of Aldrip's most bizarre show right now. Every injured piece of skin, tissue, and bone is being reconstructed in real time like a jigsaw puzzle by what appears to be an eerie blue light pulsing through Rosen's body. It is rather miraculous to see because Rosen does not normally take this much damage, but fighting the equivalent of his other self is draining him.]

Ugh! [Rosen sighed as the creature continued to howl in pain.] Do you have to be this dramatic, dickhead?

[He unleashes another barrage of red-hot flames on the creature, flinching slightly as the shadowy entity continues to scream. Rosen continues to set the damn thing on fire without mercy. The creature tries to escape by leaping out of the flames, but Rosen simply summons another wall of fire around it. The fires become increasingly hotter with each cast, causing the flames to shift from red to blue. Despite this impressive display of power, the monster does not die.]

Just die already! [Based on his frustration, this is not going as planned.] How many times must I burn you alive before you finally die?!

[The distortion in his voice is noticeable. Rosen sounds less like himself and more like the very creature he is attempting to kill. They are one and the same. It appears that the creature was not lying about this, but why does Rosenkrantz refuse to accept the truth?]

[chimericalclaw]

[It's a gruesome sight, to be sure, but fascinating all the same, and he watches with an intent look only partly marred by disgust. Zekarion has never been forced to use his own healing to such an extent, as careful as he's been to separate himself from the worst of the danger involved in his crusade, and he has to wonder if he'd come anywhere near such levels of regeneration. But then—he is merely human, rather than whatever strange and ancient being an arkana must be.

The sounds of pain eventually draw his attention back to the subdued creature, however. He takes a few steps back to put space between him and the pathetic show. For all that power, it's ultimately done nothing but hold the shadow back, which is useful, don't get him wrong—but it's clearly not the effect Rosenkrantz is looking for, nor the one Zekarion would prefer.

Figures he's the only one with a functioning brain in this situation.]

Enough. [Rosen is wasting energy, even aside from whatever is going on in this absurd being's mind.] Your stubbornness alone won't destroy it.

[erschlagen]

Eh?!

[He was about to ignite this damn creature again when Zekarion abruptly ordered him to stop. There is no reason for him to stop, especially since the monster has not died yet. Rosen, on the other hand, can't help but appear a little curious. Just what Zekarion has in mind here? If his brand of magic isn't enough to kill this beast, then what hope does Zekarion have?]

Then what am I supposed to do with it?

[When it comes to the monster, the poor creature is lying on the ground, engulfed in fire. It was barely moving at this point, but its agonized wails proved it was still alive. Much like Rosen, the creature is enveloped in an odd blue light as the white flames vanish.

All of the damage it had sustained was being undone right in front of their eyes, proving that these two are identical. They have similar abilities, and they even sound alike. There's no denying it.]

I can't kill it or hurt it enough to make it go away!

[chimericalclaw]

[Zekarion himself may not have the capability—it's not his shadow they're facing—but he may very well have the method. He can do better than throwing more, hotter fire at the problem. When he throws fire at his problems he makes sure it's a one and done deal, thank you.]

You're capable of more than violence, [he says with some aggravation, like Rosen had better not prove him wrong. He gestures at the fallen shade and its wounds knitting together with that blue shine.]

Use your eyes and your ears. It wants your acknowledgement—to admit you're the same.

[And if it won't die—if you can't beat them, join them, as they say.]

We've already seen what your refusal has done.