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veritati2021-07-16 01:45 pm
falsitates) wrote in 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.
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.
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[ Noah comes a moment after, intending to meet up with Jun. His demeanour has changed subtly over the past week - he's still the gentle and graceful young man on the outside, but something within him has definitely snapped, producing a hidden cold steel in his eyes like moonlight.
He has a bow and his saint robes, though his role still remains supportive. He casts a silver barrier around Jun to protect him. ]
Don't kill him. Leave him within an inch of death, if you must. I can heal him after.
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He tries to move out of the way. He's not quite quick enough to dodge the full bolt- but Noah's shield goes up in time to block it, protecting him. That catches him by surprise, giving a very glance as Noah calls to him before looking back at Nier.
Don't kill him huh...]
I'll try, but I might not have a choice if he can't get back to his senses!
[He's moving in now for his own hit, swinging and trying to get close so Nier doesn't have a chance to cast another dark magic spell]
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Nier can try to parry the incoming blow with his spear and counter attack using a forceful kick. Maybe hearing the voices of his friends helped too. He opens his mouth for the first time since they've met like this. ]
...No! You have to run!
[ That's the only thing he can bring himself to say under these circumstances. There's a lot going on all at once. The possession is still strong and the fight might take longer.]
no subject
[ Noah says firmly, concentrating on replenishing Jun's shield. He knows that he'll only get in Jun's way if he tries to get close for combat, and sniping with his bow takes too long. He'll focus on defensives for now. ]
If you know how we can help you, tell us!
no subject
Jun's reflexes were good, so he jumps away from that kick, the foot only making contact with that shield. While in the air, he does his own spinning kick at Nier's chest - with the kind of force you'd expect if you were getting kicked by a horse rather than a small teenager]
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...above you.
[ Nier summons more dark magic and thorn-like spears erupt from the ground. There's more than one dark spear appearing as well.
At any rate, he mentioned looking above towards the sky. They'll notice a flying magical tome hovering directly over Nier. It has an overwhelming magical presence and looks like the real source of possession. ]
no subject
[ Noah looks up, seeing a dark book hovering o0above them. Maybe that was the key. ]
I'll try to shoot it!
[ He conjures the moon's bow in his hands, nocking a silver arrow to aim at the book. He's not particularly fast, but moonlight has always had healing purifying properties. Maybe it'll be effective? ]
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[He doesn't look to see how Noah is going to go about shooting it, instead focusing on Nier. The barrier is able to block the first spear, but the second manages to scrape against his leg. He lets out a pained sound on the hit, the injury both hurting and burning from the dark energy.
Elementally, he was at a disadvantage- but he wasn't going to let either of them know that. He bites back the pain and charges again. This time as he nears, he swings his sword in a horizontal arc and it lets out a shockwave of Light magic energy- intended to both hurt and knock back Nier.]
no subject
There's a lot of blood dripping from his head and chest. For some reason it looks like all the blood appears to be resonating with his magic empowering it further.
The book's pages start falling out when Noah shoots at it with magic. That also makes Nier stops moving but he seems to be focusing on recovering. There's an obvious opening. ]
no subject
Hang in there...!
[ Is he talking to Jun or Nier? Maybe both? ]
no subject
So he takes full advantage of that opening. He jumps back and raises his free hand up. Six arrows of light form around him, aimed directly at Nier. With a quick gesture, they go flying at him- even changing their path as if they can track their target. He's avoiding any vital organs- rather going for his limbs to pin him to an nearby wall. ]
no subject
Regardless, Nier gets pinned down easily by the arrows of light because it's his natural weakness. The arrows would eventually pierce his bones and flesh.
It's fortunate that the magical book just gets burned from all the arrows Noah's shooting. There's only a few pages left and a toasted cover but you still need to completely destroy what remains. ]
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Vanishing his bow, he summons a lance of moonlight to pierce through the book and hopefully destroy it once and for all. He prays that Nier would be free, that he can finally heal instead of harm. ]
no subject
Nn-
[He pulls himself back up, remaining ready in case Nier breaks from being pinned. He does glance up to watch Noah destroy the book. God, he prays that really works]
Good work, Noah! [He addresses Nier now. Battle posture is still there, but here's hoping...] Nier, can you hear us?
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...am I dying? Everything hurts like hell. I can still hear some voices. Who else is there?
[ The possession is gone and he's regained control at least. It sounds like Noah might still be with Jun but Nier can't look up and see for himself. ]
no subject
[ Noah doesn't drop the shield around Jun, but he rushes forward so he can kneel down next to Nier. Healing magic flows from his hands as easily as water, mending his wounds. ]
You won't die. Not on my watch.
[ It's a testament to Noah's tremendous healing power that he is able to knit together Nier's mortal wounds. It'll take some time, and at the same time he can feel the coldness creep into the center of his body, but he pays it no mind. ]
What happened? Do you remember anything?
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Also letting Noah do the talking because man if he can skip on that, he will]
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[This isn't the first time Nier has felt so close to death. It's a familiar feeling so it doesn't scare him. Does he remember anything though? ]
I remember trying to grow flowers. Then there was a voice. It sounded like mine but it wasn't me.
The more I tried to ignore it the louder it became. Shadows took over everything. I can't forgive them for hurting you. You're both my friends.
['Friends' meaning he includes Jun in that statement too despite everything that's happened. Any remains of dark magic should be dissipating by now. ]
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You couldn't tell where you were when you heard the voice? Maybe someone sabotaged you with that horrible book.
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[He clarifies that much, but allows Noah to continue to do most of the talking. Though honestly, he doesn't understand the fuss about himself getting hurt. But he never does.]
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[ If he's don't going to die then he will sleep. Nier needs rest. He's very tired. ]
No, I couldn't tell where that voice was coming from. It seemed like it was always close to me. You guys don't hear voices sometimes?
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[ Noah is able to muster enough emotion for this, at least. ]
The city's become some sort of winter wasteland. We can take you to shelter, then you can rest while we go out to figure out how to undo this thing.
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Not like what you're describing, no.
[He says it passively, like he doesn't actually think it's crazy or anything. Sometimes disembodied voices happen man. He has a few thoughts of what it could be, but he opts not to voice them. He needs more evidence first.
Instead he'll address Noah]
If Nier and the book were the source, the city should begin to return to normal soon. Once we get Nier to shelter, I'll do a patrol to make sure we didn't miss anything.
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[ He's been through a lot so there's no more energy left in his body. That's to be expected, but wait. It's concerning how Noah describes the city that way. ]
Please hold on a minute and listen to me. If you see shadows you mustn't kill them. They're... people. Humans.
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Well. ]
Why were they attacking us?
[ Noah doesn't sound shaken. He knows he should, but some part of him thinks it was only self-defense. He couldn't die here... not when he had a bigger mission to fulfil. ]
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