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kaisou2022-01-09 09:01 am
JANUARY EVENT LOG
WHERE: Kaisou + First Gate
WHEN: The Month of January
WHAT: January Event Log
WARNINGS: Psychological danger, death mention, noots
January Event
Dominant Element: Water
Waning Element: Fire
※
After a idyllic holiday season, the full depths of winter has reached Kaisou. Throughout the month, temperatures will remain stubborn in a deep cold. Every few days, snow falls and adds a few more inches to the ever growing snowdrifts.
Winter Carnival: January 9th - 16th The holidays may be over, but that doesn't mean this is a month without celebration! Over in Blue Fish Lake Park, Kaisou's Annual Winter Carnival is in full swing! Scattered across the snowy park, magnificent ice sculptures have been set up as part of the yearly sculpture competition. The crown jewel of the ice sculptures is an extensive ice castle maze, which visitors are welcomed to venture through. Different games and activities will be found throughout the maze, most of them typical carnival stuff like aiming snowballs at a target or answering trivia questions about snow. The prizes for completing these events range from candy to small toys to winter-themed plushies. Fun for the whole family or a date, really!
The winter carnival is more than just ice sculptures of course. A section of the lake has been set up with holes to do ice fishing, while another section is reserved for any ice skating you want to do with a ice skate rental plate included. The skateboard park has been converted into a spot for snowboarding and cross-country skiing. The park restaurant is serving lots of warm foods and drinks to help stave off the cold. Hot chocolate, funnel cake, fried cheese curds, poutine, mulled ciders, and a whole host of other items. And of course, one of the soccer fields has been converted into a full on battlefield for snowball fights. Build a fort and trench and hunker down, it's gonna be a long war.
However the most famous part of the carnival is the medallion hunt. Every year, the Winter Carnival medallion is hidden somewhere in the city. Traditionally, the person who finds the medallion will be rewarded $10,000 (if a group finds it, the prize is split among the group). With a prize like that, it's no wonder so many people try to find it. However as the festival draws to a close halfway through the month, there's still no sign of the medallion. You'd think with this many people looking, it'd turn up by now. Right?
Penguin ResolveRemember that question about New Years Resolutions on the network a few days ago? Seems like it was more than just an icebreaker question. Throughout the month whenever you're doing an action related to your resolution, you will be sporadically visited by a group of penguins. If you're keeping to your resolution? This group of penguins will cheer you on, clapping their wings and rewarding you with fresh fish. If you're breaking your resolution, the penguins will be quite displeased and begin to throw snowballs at you until you apologize or try to amend your behavior. Didn't make a resolution? Don't think you'll get off easy. The penguins will then act as your lifecoach and try to push you into doing what THEY think you need to do to improve your life. Go run some laps, call your mother more, catch some fish -- it's a new year so it's time for a new you!
When the penguins are satisfied with your progress, they will waddle on to find the next person to check on. Any attempts to harm the penguins will magically fail, and likely result in more snowballs being thrown at you.
Helheim: The Frozen HellOn January 17th, a new message from Zodiac is sent out.
SHIFTING GATE IDENTIFIED IN KAMI STATE PARK.
Element Classification: Water
Danger Level: B, Environmental and Psychological Hazards
Designation: Helheim
A new shifting gate has been located in Kami State Park. It's been linked to the freezing of at least four civilians. If you plan to investigate, bring winter clothing and means to defend yourself. You will be compensated if you bring the plant Hel's Bramble to the Zodiac office in Undertown. Supplies necessary for gathering will be loaned upon request.
Going to the Zodiac Office will yield only an little additional information from the customer service representative. A potentially dangerous gate to the Spirit Realm has been identified in Kami State Park. It's been linked with the freezing of at least four civilians who stumbled across it. Zodiac won't force anyone to go, but if you decide to investigate it yourself to see if you can figure out what's going on or gather resources for them? They'd be happy to compensate you with a generous sum of money. A bag's worth of Hel's bramble, a type of plant found in this particular realm, will yield about a week's worth of pay at a full time job - with an even higher bonus if you deal with the source of the gate's appearance. For those of you who need supplies for a dangerous mission, Zodiac is willing to loan some out to you, with an understanding that they should be returned once the mission is complete. Weapons made of silver and/or spirit tree wood, infused with elemental energy. There's a variety to choose from, so characters can pick whatever type of weapon they'd be most comfortable with.
Once one is geared up and ready to go (or you skip visiting Zodiac altogether), it's off to the park. When you arrive, the Libra app will act as a navigator, leading the way. Deep in the forest and near a pond, a large stone gate stands erect. This gate was never here before this week, anyone whose been to this park before can verify that. A deep cold emanates from the glowing portal that stands open within the gate. Around the portal, you can find the four civilians the text messaged mentioned; all thoroughly encased in ice. Studying them it'll look like it was a group of male hikers somewhere in their twenties, all who look like they were in personal anguish as they froze.
Once inside the gate, you'll find yourself in a completely different landscape. A frozen and desolate landscape, with a cold so sharp it cuts through the bone. It's a dreary land, with no sign of sunlight and a persistent veil of fog. Scattered across the landscape are more frozen figures, but these ones appear much older with clothes and braided hairstyles that indicate the Viking era. All of them appear to have spent their final moments in torment and agony. In the distance, characters can make out an impossibly large tree, one so large that it'd dwarf the skyscrapers of Kaisou. You cannot see the top of the tree, as it's grown so high that it vanishes in the foggy clouds above. Built into the tree is an entire city's worth of buildings, all of which stand empty and falling into ruin. Habitant wise, there's almost nothing but flocks of ravens that fly around the scenery. You get the sense they are watching you, as if it was their duty. And if you weren't feeling watched enough, on one of the tree's large branches sits a bird-like creature the size of a ten-story building. It watches over this land, monitoring for any disturbances. Harming the ravens will draw its attention further, and continuing to do so will eventually cause the large bird to spread its wings and swoop in for an attack. Be warned, trying to fight it would be nothing short of suicide.
Thickets of Hel's Bramble can be found scattered around this desolate landscape, overgrown and wild with no one around to tend it. It's a tough plant, only harvestable by using elemental powers or an enchanted blade (better hope you stopped by Zodiac). Touching it without any gloves will result in pain from the sharp thorns, and prolong contact could cause painful rashes and potential poisoning. Eating it is definitely not recommended. The thickets become more plentiful the deeper you go into the realm, so if you want to get that bag full as Zodiac requested, you'll won't be able to loiter around the entrance. Best that you be dressed for the cold, as the persistent cold and icy winds could prove deadly if you went in unprepared.
However the characters will soon discover it's not the cold or the Hel's Brambles that are the real threat of this realm. On occasion, the fog will condense and play out echoes of one's past regrets and sins, from this life and the one before. Anywhere from a great atrocity to an embarrassing moment you hate to think about. They are visible to anyone around and have sound, the words holding a distant echo to them. Even memories that you have yet to recall are fair game to the fog, adding an extra level of confusion and distress to the situation. These echoes don't last long, but they appear frequently enough that they can torment a soul if one lets them. But the more someone gets lost in the echoes, the deeper the realm's chill will become. An unfortunate soul who gets too lost in them will have ice start to form on their body, as the realm attempts to entrap them here forever.
The ValkyrieIf one makes it halfway to the tree, they'll hear a woman's voice, calling out in a haunting melody that's being carried on the wind. Following it will lead them to the city built into a tree. Most of the buildings have been abandoned and are in total ruin, much like most of this realm, save for a single light that's flickering from the city's arena. Inside the arena is a winged woman with full battle Viking battle garb: a Valkyrie. You best prepare for a fight before you get too close to her, as that's exactly what you'll get. She does not speak, but draws her scythe and lunges in for an attack. With superhuman speed and strength, she's a formidable foe. She unleashes brutal ice attacks and even her feathers can cut flesh. It'll take skill, determination, and teamwork to bring her down.
Nothing short of a fatal blow will stop her onslaught. Should one managed, she'll choke out a single word of gratitude, before disappearing into light. On the ground where she fell is the medallion from the Winter Carnival. After her defeat, the conditions of the realm will become less severe, making it easier to gather any Hel's Bramble you wish to collect.
With the Valkyrie defeated, the gate to the Spirit Realm will close by January 31st. The four civilians will be thawed out, still alive but with no memory of what happened to them. Interestingly, anyone who pays attention to police reports might notice a missing persons report of a woman in her early twenties who went missing around the same time as the gate's appearance. There's been no leads on her case.
Zodiac will pay for up to four bags of Hel's Bramble, for those who want to spend that much time harvesting. Failure to return their loaned out weapons will result in being sent a bill of $2000 and a mild curse so anyone who uses your name will call you "THIEF" instead. The curse will last until either pay your bill or set up a payment plan with their office. Returning the weapon after this point will get the bill reduced down to $500 (a late fee, they explain). As for the medallion, you're welcome to turn it in-- but since you found it well after the carnival ended- that grand prize has been reduced down to $100 and a free meal voucher to the Cheesecake Factory to anyone who helped find the medallion (aka fought the Valkyrie). Great!
The dominant element this month is water! Anyone with an affinity to the water element will find themselves boosted throughout the month. This could mean a boost to their power, having more energy, feeling more inspired with creativity, having better luck on different attempts -- the boost can manifest in all sorts of different ways. By contrast, anyone with an affinity for fire will be experiencing the opposite. Perhaps their powers will be weaker, they have less energy, they're having a creative block or general worse luck - again it can manifest in all sorts of way and players are free to play with this mechanic as they'd like.
Any fights or interactions with NPCs will be handled by the players! Feel free to thread out things however you'd like! If you have any questions, please ask them on the plot questions thread below!
no subject
Mm...good call.
[In general it was dangerous to linger too long in the Spirit Realm. This region seemed to really echo that sentiment.
....]
...Right. Judging by those outfits, they've likely been frozen here for centuries.
no subject
...Yeah. Yeah, you're right.
[If he says out loud, that'll make it real, right? That will make the feeling in the pit of his stomach that he should be doing something go away?
...Please?]
All right. I'll take up the lead, so stay close and let me know if you find anything.
[And out into the frozen wasteland they go! Rean's not going to try to stray too far off of a straight line— he'd like to remember how to get back. But he'll keep his eyes peeled, just in case he spots something worth examining.]
no subject
Understood.
[He follows behind him carefully, keeping his eyes peeled for any dangers. There's so many ravens in this place, you'd think they were at Julian's family reunion. Eventually, his eyes catch sight on the big bird]
What is that?
[He still sounds calm, but also UH. THAT'S BIG.]
no subject
It... looks like a gigantic raven...?
[Rean doesn't sound as calm, but lord help him, he is trying.]
Is it just me, or do you get the feeling that it's watching us?
no subject
Mm, I think it is...it's probably unusual for people to wander in here, after all.
[At least, that's what he imagines based on all the bodies being super old and what not]
...Let's avoid doing anything that might make it mad.
no subject
[And it's not like Rean really wants to cause trouble, here! Sure, they both have swords and probably some knowledge as to how to use them, but even so!]
I don't think harvesting should count as causing trouble...
no subject
[Because really who knows with creatures of the spirit realm. He looks around one more, finally spotting a bushel of bramble in the distance. He points]
There. I think that's the plant we need.
no subject
I think you're right. Let's go check it out.
[Thankfully, as the bramble is not the ravens, Big Bird probably does not care. But the next problem is going to be harvesting this stuff.]
Let's see, how are we going to get this out of here...? There's no way we're going to be able to rip this stuff out of the ground, so...
[Hesitantly going toward the sword? Is it time?]
1/2
Don't.
no subject
Zodiac said the stuff needs to be harvested with elemental energy. The knife they loaned me should be enough to do it.
[He'll kneel down and carefully start cutting at the bramble. The stuff is tough, but there's a sizzle as it starts to cut through]
1/2
Yeah... that makes sense...
[He is trying so hard not to sound disappointed. Is it working? Please tell him it's working.]
2/2
Which, as it turns out, is a good idea, because as Jun works, something does start to happen. The fog around them grows thick, which by itself sets Rean's nerves ill at ease, but then it starts taking form.
The closest thing Rean can think to compare it to is a bear, but it's not, quite. It's something different, something altogether monstrous, and it seems to have its eyes set on them as its lips pull back into a snarl.
Immediately, Rean is moving to get between this thing and Jun, without so much as a thought as to what might happen next.]
Jun, look out! We've got company!
no subject
His eyes go wide and he scrambles back]
A bear?!
[It must be some kind of spirit monster right? He moves quickly to his feet. There's no time to pull out his sword, so he's just got his knife to arm him with-- though Rean is now much closer to the beast]
Rean be careful!
no subject
At the exact same moment that a small figure runs out of the fog, looking very much like what Jun might imagine Rean would have looked like a decade prior, and stands between the present Rean and the bear. He throws his arms out to either side, like a tiny wall of defense, a small and worn machete clutched in his hand. He and Rean speak in unison.]
You go on and run! I'll hold it off and catch up—!
[The tiny Rean's voice is... odd. It's clear, and yet somehow distant all at once. Like he's not really here, although he plainly is.]
no subject
Before he could protest, the child startles him. Why is there a younger version of Rean showing up? Just what is going on? Why does he sound so different?
-- Nnngh, there was no time for this. he'll try to reach out to grab for Rean]
No! I'm not leaving you here! We don't know its abilities, we should retreat!
no subject
"No! I'm not leaving you behind, Rean!"
Well, that confirms the identity of the child. Rean, for his part, looks absolutely bewildered, and almost like he's about to question it out loud before the child version of himself calls back to the girl.
"Elise, just go—"
And it's at that point that Jun grabs Rean's arm and yanks him back, and safely out of the way of the fog-bear's claws as they slash at the child Rean. Naturally, the child goes flying, not unlike a ragdoll being tossed aside by a bored child, and crumples into a heap in the thick snow.
The little girl screams his name, tears rolling down her cheeks, but doesn't move, frozen in terror.]
no subject
Is- Is this a memory...?
no subject
Just what the hell is going on?]
If it is, it's not one of my memories... but...
[But the child is him? He was sure of it, even before the name was called.
The bear-monster stalks past the two of them, heading for the sobbing little girl. She tries to scramble away, but the fear and general disorientation is catching up to her, and she's stumbling in the snow.
For a while, the child Rean's body just lays still in the snow, and either Rean or Jun would be forgiven for thinking he was dead. But as the monster closes in on Elise, he finally begins to stir, ever-so-slowly pushing himself back to his feet.]
no subject
[Jun glances at him in slight disbelief. What do you mean it's not one of yours? Jun may not have known Rean as a child, but that child was called Rean and he looks like a mini version of the guy now!
Was this like one of those visions he keeps seeming to get? Just what is going on.
Still, even if reason says he should look away, he doesn't. He's practically half clinging onto Rean's arm (when you're raised by Abel, you get a little touchy ok). He's worried about that younger Rean for a moment, as well as that girl, but--]
Look, he's getting up.
[Maybe the kids will get away and they won't have to watch two children get mauled by a bear??? wouldn't that be nice???]
3000 years later
It's not. My parents barely let my sister and I out of their sight when we were that age, much less anywhere where we could run into— whatever that thing is—
[That's not important right now, though, is it? The tiny version of him(?) is getting up, like Jun said, and that seems far more important, here. It seems hopeful, even.
The problem is, once the child Rean is back to his feet, it's very clear that something is wrong with him. Not physically, per se, although he does look unsurprisingly worse for the wear after that hit, but there's just this unexplainable change in atmosphere around him. The unshakable feeling of something that should not be.
When the small boy whirls around, there is a visible change in him— in an instant, his hair goes snow white, and his eyes blood red. His lips pull back in a snarl as he growls, something closer to bestial than human and certainly not a sound a child should be making.
The child launches himself forward toward the bear, the brush machete gripped tightly in his hand.
Rean and Jun will not have to watch two children get mauled by a bear today. But they will have to watch a bear get mauled by a child.]
no subject
Jun doesn't have much time to dwell on this, as what's going on in front of them is quickly escalating. He's taken aback when the kid's form changes, and he becomes feral. ]
What the-
[And then it only gets worse as the child lunges at the bear, tearing it from limb to limb with a basic machete. Even for Jun, it's a little much to see. It reminds him of the horror stories he'd hear about Krusnik experiments going wrong-
Yeah, Rean shouldn't see this. He shouldn't be privy to this side of things. He'll tug on his arm, insistent. It was time to go.]
We should get out of here.
no subject
The child stands there, coated in the monster's blood and viscera, panting for breath.
Finally, Rean seems to snap out of it, nodding weakly. He doesn't know what he's witnessing, why he's in this vision or why it feels so familiar when it isn't, it can't be, but he wants no more of it.]
...Y-yeah. Let's go.
[As they both turn to go, the child drops the machete, his form changing back to normal as he looks down, eyes widening in horror as it dawns on him what he's done.
The fog begins to dissipate, the last sounds being only the sobbing of the little girl.]
no subject
And Jun can't even work out fully what they saw. A type of vision of Rean's past? But one he doesn't remember? Or was it a repressed?
Well. First thing is first. Getting Rean out of the spirit realm. He continues holding onto his arm as he pulls him away from the fog and back towards the gate, wanting to keep Rean grounded to something. ]
We're almost there. Keep an eye out ok?
[he rather not get ambushed by anything as they try to leave.]
no subject
Jun's younger than him. Shouldn't he be the one looking out for Jun?]
Right.
[He's at least able to answer Jun's request sounding more or less like he's pulled together, even if they both know that's not entirely the case.
Thankfully, there's not really anything that comes after them. Just the cawing of ravens overhead, and the constant stare of the giant raven in the distance.]
no subject
Fortunately they hadn't strayed too far from the gate. It's not long until they're crossing the threshold once more. The cold, desolate atmosphere leaves them behind. Even if it's still cold in Kaisou, it's much warmer than where we were before]
...We should be safe now. [He lets go of Rean] Are you okay?
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