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

[jaganshi]

"No. Nothing moving, anyway." And that's more Hiei's concern than something like a building. If there were people moving in and out he would be making a more concentrated and likely violent effort to get over there and see what all of this was about. Instead, it's a passing curiosity more than anything else, a cat batting at something beyond the bottom of a door frame.

"I don't know how else to describe it. It's like beyond that crack I have gained back sensation even though I know I haven't lost it here."

[solitarysoul]

"That's...probably good." That nothing was moving in there. He's not sure he wants to imagine what might exist in a crack in reality, virtual or not. He leans over so he can peer inside it.

"Does it still feel that way or did it stop after you took your arm out?"

[jaganshi]

"If there was it would warrant more investigation." As it stood he was going to send Kurama a message. The fox understands this technology mess a lot better than he does, after all, and far be it from Hiei to not at least see what his partner thinks of it. He may have a better understanding of what the hell was happening here, anyway. But he isn't going to say as much here, just in case.

One can never be too paranoid in a new place.

"It fades quickly once I bring it back to this side. A lot like losing your nerve endings after a burn."

Don't ask him how he knows. It's gross.

[solitarysoul]

"Yeah, or...well, I don't really know how you'd set up defenses against something like that." He pokes the crack with a single finger, but doesn't try to get more inside than that.

"Hm. I don't think I've been burned that badly...but I've...uh, I guess I can sort of imagine it." He won't ask how Hiei knows, but he assumes its from experience.

[jaganshi]

"I don't think you do. Or can." Trying to control the effect seemed a more worthwhile pursuit than fighting against something like this, anyway. If there's nothing else he's learned since landing in this odd place with 3 of the most important people who put up with his bullshit, it's that. Rolling with the punches instead of trying to fight against it generally gives better results.

"A good thing, considering most burns that deep do not heal." Hell, his wouldn't have healed very quickly without Ruka's help, and he was a fire demon.

[solitarysoul]

"Just never let your guard down, I guess." Not that he ever fully lets his down.

"I've, um, I've seen some really bad burns. I'd be surprised if they could ever heal without magic or something."

[jaganshi]

"That is what you should do in enemy or unknown territory." What he had always done in the demon woods, though all of that was so much different than here. There are the occasional monsters, of course, things born of the darkness of this place as much as dealing with one another in facets that one would not normally.

"They are recoverable if you are a tougher species." Or fire itself, but that is an entirely different discussion to be had.

"I almost lost this arm to fire from the spirit world,-" Lifting his still bandaged (out of habit) right arm as if that proved anything. "- but healed."

[solitarysoul]

He nods. This who place was enemy territory, especially lately.

"I don't really know anything about non-humans, or medicine for humans, so I'll take your word for it. I'm, um, glad you didn't?" He's pretty sure he doesn't care, but what does he say here?

[jaganshi]

"I don't see how it matters to you." Hiei, ever unable to take other people's concerns, is immediately concerned why someone else gives a shit about what he is doing or why. He is used to Yusuke and Kurama fussing, of course, but Levi being an unknown so far as he is concerned unfortunately does not help.

"If it brings more power the risk was worth it."

[solitarysoul]

"N-no, but it would be rude to just say that..." He shakes his head; social interaction was confusing, but it really didn't need to be the focus here.

"You think the feeling you got from sticking your hand in might bring more power?"