veritati mods / the collector of 2685564 mottos ([personal profile] falsitates) wrote in [community profile] veritati2021-07-16 01:45 pm

mid-july event [tdm + fourth wall].

JULY 16 ~ 31

The fireworks and festivities are over. It's now the middle of July. Outside, it's dreadfully dark as the sun hides behind the clouds. Cold air fills the atmosphere and the sudden change of temperature may signify the start of something ominous. Along with the cold air and strange sensation, there's a white flakey substance lightly falling from the sky. It looks like snow from a glance, but upon further inspection, it's salt.

The city streets are quiet. Those who once inhabited the city of Vitae are no longer to be found anywhere. For seven full days, the citizens and authorities will be suspiciously missing. In their place are something new.

  NEW ARRIVALS
    In the distance, disfigured creature with a shadowlike body and golden eyes stands.

    It doesn't appear to be particularly fast or powerful, but as soon as it detects anyone nearby, it will begin hunting and pursuing. More and more appear as you run away, breaking through windows and jumping off rooftops. Heading towards the edges of the city only brings out a more powerful wave of monsters. These larger shadows, who are equipped with a variety of spells, fire a barrage of magical bullets at you, leaving you exhausted and weak.

    None of them make any attempt to communicate, and they don't seem to understand what you're saying. They attack without regard for who they are attacking and reach out with their long arms. They wrap themselves around you, holding on tighter and tighter until you start to feel weaker and weaker, your energy draining away as time goes on. Taking them out only seems to increase their numbers and force, but they can be killed in the same way that any other living being can die. With enough strength and persistence behind your attacks, they will fall, but before they vanish, red blood oozes from their bodies.

    Those with the ability to sense supernatural presences and entities can feel human souls lingering within the monsters.

  SURVIVAL
    There's no one left except for you, other holders of the app, and these monsters. Without anyone to run the city, things begin to quickly shut down.

    The first thing to go out is the electricity. Then there's the running water. In a city the size of Vitae, there is plenty of food and supplies, but it won't last forever. The monsters appear to recognize the value of food, that it is necessary for survival, and they go after it. They destroy perishables and lurk in grocery stores, waiting for anyone desperate enough to come by.

    The sun never does come back. The clouds continue to block it out, and the rain of salt never stops. It gets too cold to bear, and no explanation is given to newcomers to the app as to what is going on. They simply appear out of nowhere and are left to their own devices. They may enlist the assistance of current app users, but that depends on whether or not they are even capable of assisting themselves.

    Everyone (including the newcomers) has been strapped with a watch since waking up in this hell. The voting results have been released and they appear to directly correspond to it. They're visible in the app, showcasing who picked what and who. The number represents the number of betrayals you've experienced. If you've been chosen twice to be betrayed, the number will appear as two. It appears as zero if you haven't been betrayed at all.

    Those who have been fortunate enough to receive allies or no betrayals enjoy freedom and knowledge. Every hour, the display briefly transforms into a map, outlining the surrounding area and the exact locations of the monsters. It's useful for avoiding confrontations and sneaking into places, but for those who have been betrayed, they enjoy no such benefits.

    The screen changes to read 'punishment time' at random intervals. It's at these times when you receive painful electric shocks. The higher the number, the more excruciating it is. There is simply no rhyme or reason as to when it will happen. They appear at the worst of times and last for indefinite periods.

    There is no way of knowing when this hell will end. The app is unusually quiet, and no one can respond to your inquiries. So, what are your options? If you decide to travel, you will only find a clue to the end of your misery.

    Past the forest and the shrine, there's a castle.

  THE CASTLE
    At the front of the castle, there are two marble statues. In addition to this, there appears to be a magical seal preventing entry through the front door. The seal can be broken by finding the stone key hidden behind one of the statues. It's not too difficult to spot with the naked eye.

    When you go through the door the first thing you'll see is a long corridor. It's decorated with foliage and beautiful flowers. But wait. When you go to the end of the hallway it just loops you right back to the start. That can't be right. The only way to escape from this place is to speak with the doves chilling right next to the fountain.

    "To whom does the true form show itself? I ask: Why did humans disappear from the world? You must answer."

    Answering the question will grant you access to the next room.

    There's a large ballroom that gives off a strange feeling as soon as you enter. There are Shades here too but they only seem interested in dancing. The sound of a waltz might reach your ears. When you look outside the window you'll see an unfamiliar city. It doesn't look like Vitae or America. In fact, it might seem like a city from an entirely different world with how all the buildings lack colour. Off to the side, there's a spiral staircase.

    Going down that route will take you to a massive library. There's a ton of books that cover any topic you can think of. The older books have writing in them but contain illegible runic scriptures. Killing all the enemies in this room will open the door. They're tougher than the monsters outside of the castle.

    A strange figure stands within sight.
incompletely: (pic#14916676)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-19 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...He really just kicked a door down, didn't he. Anyway, it's pretty convenient that Tenn happens to be near the poor door when Giyu calls for him. He's pretty sure this is the guy who said he'd help him, so he comes out of hiding underneath a counter and runs up to him. ]

Yeah, just me.

[ As far as he knows, anyway. ]

I don't know what's going on.
deadcalms: (27)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-19 09:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Giyu's quick on his feet and he's faster than an average human. It allowed him to get here in a timely manner.]

So it's just you. I'll take care of this.

[ He swings his katana around effectively turning all the monsters into nothingness. Cutting these monsters is like slicing tofu to Giyu.]

Are you hurt?
incompletely: (tenn35)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-19 09:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ ...........holy shit. Okay. That happened, and for a moment, Tenn doesn't even react. He just blinks at Giyu, trying to comprehend how effortless he made that seem -- and then he finally shakes his head. ]

No, not really. I may be delicate, but I'm good at hiding.

[ This mall is really dark, though, and it's starting to get uncomfortable. However, he also does not want to get pelted by freezing cold salt pieces. ]

Should we stay here or leave?
deadcalms: (pic#15037102)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-19 10:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's way too salty outside. Giyu's been fighting for years. He has a duty to protect people like Tenn so it's all good! No one's dead and apparently Tenn isn't hurt too so that's a bonus. ]

We should stay here. There's more danger outside.

[ The last thing anyone wants is for them to starve. ]

I'm Tomioka Giyu a demon slayer. What's your name?
incompletely: (tenn71)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-19 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ The salt just never ends because Tenn's got a lot of it himself. Anyway, he'll nod and follow Giyu's lead on this. He's at a complete and total loss of what to do here. ]

Kujo Tenn. Thank you for your help, Tomioka-san.

[ "Demon slayer"? Is he a chuuni?

Whatever, he's not going to complain, the guy saved his life.
]

Where are we, anyway?
deadcalms: (pic#15039322)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-19 10:22 am (UTC)(link)
Who knows? Your guess is as good as mine.

[ He acted really cool and calm earlier but Giyu knows nothing. This place is an entire mystery to him. It's weird how there's nobody around.

The city streets should have more people. He sighs. ]


There's no need to thank me, Kujo. We have to focus on surviving and do nothing else.
incompletely: (tenn68)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-19 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ He sighs quietly. It's troublesome that they were brought here under these circumstances with no explanation whatsoever. He's pretty lost and confused and on his way to losing his mind, but having someone around makes it a little easier. ]

Yeah. Food sounds like a good place to start. Flashlights too.

[ Does...Giyu know what a flashlight is... ]
deadcalms: (pic#15039313)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-19 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
Right.

[ Around the time where Giyu comes from technology was advancing at its own rate. There's a lot of weird contraptions out there but flashlights just happen to be more new. He doesn't see them very often as a result. ]

Let me ask you a question. Do you know how to start a fire?

[ Fires are useful for a lot of things. It would keep them warm inside the building too. ]
Edited 2021-07-19 10:34 (UTC)
incompletely: (tenn70)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-29 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... ]

With a lighter, yeah.

[ Don't ask him about how to start it out in the wilderness, though... ]
deadcalms: (pic#15037097)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-29 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
How about with some rocks and flint? You just have to make a few sparks to get it going.

[ ROCKS AND WILDERNESS ......he sure asked about it. ]

Surviving should be your priority so naturally you'll need some survival skills. Better to start learning now.
incompletely: (tenn36)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-29 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Does he want to admit he doesn't know this? He doesn't, but the look on his face makes it pretty clear he has no idea what he's doing. ]

Then I look forward to learning under you, Tomioka-sensei.

[ Let's gooooo ]
deadcalms: (pic#15037107)

[personal profile] deadcalms 2021-07-29 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ oh my god. CALLING HIM SENSEI THREW HIM IN FOR A LOOP. Giyu just looks a little bit confused but then he leaves it be. ]

Do you see any dry leaves, twigs, or even wood around here? [Technically paper would work too.]

You need something to catch the spark. It's a big place so we might be able to find what we're looking for.
incompletely: (tenn45)

[personal profile] incompletely 2021-07-29 10:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ You're welcome! ]

Mm...let's see.

[ He can't really see very well, with how dark things are, so he takes out his phone and uses it as a makeshift light. He shines it on the ground beneath him, and thankfully, all the debris did bring in some leaves. He starts gathering the ones he finds lying around. ]

I see a lot of leaves, but I'll keep an eye out for any other things lying around, too.