UN: Zodiac | Happy August!

[kaisoumods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Libra App
WHEN: August 1st
WHAT: Zodiac Network Post
WARNINGS: None!

[The heavy storms of July give away to a hotter yet dryer heat as August rolls in. The sky itself is ablaze with the spirit vein taking on brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow as the fire element comes into effect. Everyone's devices will emit a soothing wind chime sound as a new Zodiac post appears. The chime will sound even if you have your phone turned off or on silent, and will not stop until you read their message and comment to it.]



Arjuna has joined the app. Say hi everyone!

[The post then continues on.]

Hello and thank you for using the Libra app.

Happy August everyone! The summer continues on, but at least we're done with the humidity! It's really such a nuisance. We'd also like to send our condolences to everyone who was also trapped in the Jumanji games. It truly was terrible wasn't it? Fortunately, the Black Order has stated that they will be looking into the matter personally. We at Zodiac just hope they are able to compensate everyone for all the emotional and physical turmoil it caused.

[Yeah they're already laying in the ground work to get something out of the Order. ]

In other news, a couple announcements! First this month is the annual Kaisou County Fair! It'll be taking place during the weekends at the fairgrounds! Zodiac has a booth there, so please check us out! It'll be next to the stall selling the fair famous Pickle Cheesecake on a stick! You can't miss it!

Our second announcement is Zodiac has detected some unusual spirit realm readings outside the gate. After investigation, we discovered that 차원의 문, translated in English as "Dungeon Gates", have appeared outside the city. Normally, these types of gates are only found in Korea, so it's rather noteworthy that they appeared here!

What is also noteworthy about them is that one of the "quirks" of these Dungeon Gates is that they have to be cleared out in a week from when they first manifest, or all the monsters within will break out into the city. But don't worry! The Seoul Branch of Zodiac has developed a rating system of their danger system (E, D, and C-ranks being the weakest, and S-rank being the strongest) - and so far all of the gates we've detected haven't gone above a C-rank! So I'm sure as long as you go about it carefully, you'll clear them out with no trouble!

Also, if you happen upon any special crystals from the monsters... Zodiac would be more than happy to pay money for them. They're excellent crafting materials after all!

That's all for now! Finally, our ever popular icebreaker question:


This post is sponsored by the Lazuzu! Collect all six elemental varieties (and a secret seventh one)! Available in blind boxes at the Seven Star Mall!

[Users will have the option to choose their own display names and userpics if they haven't already. If nothing is chosen, the app will use their real name and a quick photo taken of them from their camera's phone.

As of now, Dungeon Gates can be found outside of Kaisou's barrier! They appear as Blue vortexes. Notably, there is a D-Rank one in front of Big Donut, blocking entry. Otherwise, these can be anywhere outside the barrier, and will appear sporadically throughout the month (aka whenever players want to thread one out or handwave it). The gates will disappear about an hour after the boss monster is defeated within the gate.

Please note that there will be no city log this month, with the next event log being posted on the 15th. As such, players are free to make their own posts and mingles regarding city events. If you want more details on what's happening the city this month, it can be found here. ]

Comments

voice: un: arise.

[lowestclass]

[ as badly as he wants to respond to the above Vshojo fiasco, there's a certain huge chunk of this update that sets his teeth on edge and makes him feel cold as he reads on.

Dungeon gates. Ranked with letters... needing to be cleared out so they don't spill into reality? Ffffffuuuuck
He remembers having a conversation with Lapis not even two weeks ago about these very things from his memory, so now he's doing his Level Best not to have an anxiety attack. ]

I know these gates.
Rather, I've been in these gates before. Not in this life, but in the one before this. They were a part of my past life's self's world and reality and I have to warn you: even the C-rank ones can be dangerous. You cannot walk into these things without caution.

Even back home, a minimum group of eight was needed to go inside, just because of how dangerous the 'boss' at the end of the dungeon could be.

Zodiac doesn't seem to know about it, but. Even a low-rank dungeon has a chance of becoming even more dangerous than an S-rank one if certain parameters are met. We called them 'Red' Gates and they often ended with the party inside dying.

If you plan on going inside... please do not take the trip lightly. Pack food, water, bring a healer--always bring a healer.

UN: hikari-vi | Text

[whiteshroud]

[!]

A chance of becoming more dangerous than an S-rank, you say? How commonly does that happen?

[JUN THIS WAS MEANT TO DISSUADE PEOPLE NOT PIQUE INTEREST]

[lowestclass]

[ ........of course that's your response, Jun............ ]

It's... exceedingly rare, but thinking back on what memories I do have, it happened to me at least three times. I'm not sure what the parameters for it happening are, though.
It just... happens. Either the gate turns Red and traps the hunters inside, or it becomes a 'double' dungeon; where when the dungeon should reasonably end, it instead becomes another dungeon with creatures much more dangerous have spawned.

[whiteshroud]

A double dungeon....

In my past life, "double dungeons" would usually only occur if it's a case if there's a Grim Greed strong enough to have "kin". You would eliminate the kin, only to realize there's a connection with the Grim Greed- which in your worlds terms, would be considered a boss of probably A or S-Rank.

No wonder people consider them so dangerous, they could cause catastrophes if left uncheck. Of course the chances of a Grim Greed are incredibly rare, but those chances go up in places with unsettled spirit energy readings. Which Kaisou is nothing but that...

[ ... ✨]

un: petaltothemetal; voice

[blossominghopes]

[Hmm...]

Do you happen to recall any common hazards these gates may have had?

[Forewarned is forearmed and all.]

[lowestclass]

Yes. I have one particularly vivid memory--It's when I regained my shadow familiar, Tank. He's a big bear.

I remember he originally came from a Red Gate, that, when we went inside, it was a frozen wasteland. A forest filled with nothing but hostile magic beasts that were three times the size of a human, and intelligent creatures called Ice Slayers.

They're elves who rove and hunt in packs and picked off the weakest in your group from afar.

We went in with... thirteen, fourteen people.
And only five of us made it out alive.

[blossominghopes]

Oh. Fuck.

[That. Hm. Hey, she doesn't like that!]

Time to pray anything like that doesn't happen in the gates I go into, then... Still, it's sounding like we could benefit from setting something up to organize for people who want to go into these. Make sure everyone has a big enough team for it, plus resources for while they're in there.

action!!!

[crisantemo]

[ Of course Zodiac are making light of this - "and so far all of the gates we've detected haven't gone above a C-rank" - and she knows exactly what is going to happen. If not now, then certainly later.

It's hard not to worry, after what Jinwoo told her about them, but her concern is more focused on how her fiancé seems on the brink of an anxiety attack. She'll wait until Jinwoo has given his warning, frowning intensely at what her grandma has shared, before shifting over to sit next to him - leaning her arm against his. ]

We'll be able to handle this, Jinwoo. And when you go into these, I'll be right behind you.

[lowestclass]

[ its almost a natural reaction to press in a little closer against her when he feels even the slightest touch, even if his face has contorted into an expression of discomfort--his fingers doing their best not to shake as he stares down at his phone screen--reading the message from Zodiac over and over. ]

...I know you'll be there for me. And I know there are people in this world strong enough to fight the things inside these gates.

I just... worry.
What if one of them--no, I'm certain one of these gates are going to turn red. Or worse, one might be a double dungeon.

...I don't want to lose people again.

[crisantemo]

[ Her own frown deepens when she notices that expression, and she leans closer still to gently bump her head against his. ]

I know. [ She doesn't want to press or pry at what happened to him; in that life before, in that place. But she can make some good guesses. ]

You're right, one of them will probably turn red. But you won't lose anyone, neither we or anyone else will let that happen.

[ Her hand reaches to gently pull his phone from his hand, taking his into her free one. ]

[prunedworlds]

"You think one of those red gates will show up, then?"

Because knowing Kaisou, that seemed likely.

"The rest of that makes sense, though."

Heck, even the red gates part. It reminded her a lot of the way Singularities were ranked... And how sometimes, what they seemed to be at first didn't reflect what happened later.

[lowestclass]

"I know what Kaisou's track record is. Anything that can happen will happen--and at its worst. I would honestly bet my entire household that a Red Dungeon or a Double Dungeon will appear. I feel it's inevitable."

He's terrified, honestly. In his past life, the last time he'd been in a Double Dungeon, he'd watched nearly his entire party die. He was left to die as well--and survived on sheer luck alone.

[prunedworlds]

"Yeah, that sounds about right."

A pause, then:

"If one does show up and you need more help, I can probably can." Kaisou-granted abilities aside, she was pretty sure after the Douman Incident that she couldn't actually die. Not that she had any desire to put that to the test, but still. "But only if you need it. Someone I know just got here, and if I went he might try to go to, so..."

Sorry Arjuna, she both knew you well and knew you were absolutely not up to something like this at your current power level.

voice: un: kore

[aslowburn]

[She's taking note of all of this- she's had a bitch-ass month and she's very annoyed about the whole board game debacle. Even more so that she was denied her powers in the fight. She's itching to get back to it. To be able to get some aggression out. ]

I see, so you know these well. Is it true what they say? If the gates are not dealt with the demons inside will spill out into the city? Because I have no intention of standing idly by while there is a threat in the place I have been forced to call home. A threat like that simply cannot stand.

[lowestclass]

[ oh god someone else who's battle-hungry. he can feel it in her voice, and it almost makes the hairs along the back of his neck stand on end. This lady meant business. ]

It's 100% true. I have a memory of a place in my past life--Jeju Island. It's a place in this world's Korea, too. There was an S-Rank dungeon there that was so difficult, no hunters could clear it out. When it broke, Ants completely swarmed and took over the entire island, killing everyone and infesting the entire town that existed there. Because it was isolated, the monsters just... took control of the island and noone could do anything about it.

Lucky that it was an island so the ants couldn't ever continue their infestation of the rest of Korea, but. That incident alone claimed hundreds, thousands of people. I can't imagine the devastation that'd result if something like that happened here, in Kaisou...

[ just... an entire continent, overrun by giant insects... ]

[aslowburn]

[She absolutely means business. He is annoyed and wants to his something. MOr eto the point, Kaisou is part of her territory. She defended it from the Yokai invasion and she certainly aims to defend it again. As she listens to what Jinwoo has to say, the more determined she becomes to do just that.]

I see. Thank you for that information. We clearly cannot let that happen here. The danger must be quashed before it has even a chance of breaching the city.

...I admit, the ant part is a surprise, and I am so rarely surprised these days.

[advivo]

Hey, Perse, wanna come into one of these gates with me? I'd go on my own but pretty sure Vash and Nick would flip if I tried. It might go better if I tell them you're coming along.

text | UN: Thorn

[poisontippedcure]

Bring a healer, you say?

It’s a good thing I was already interested.

[lowestclass]

I would be too happy to have a good healer along. More than one.

Usually, in a gate, it isn't the monsters that kill the most people.
It's the lack of healers and people succumbing to even the smallest of wounds due to lack of care.

un:kesitakame

[hoshikiri]

[...

...

...

...

...]

I often fought and defeated large and nearly divine enemies along with seven others in my realm.

[poisontippedcure]

Good, it’ll make me feel much safer if we’re together.

I know you’ll have my back.

un: captainkenway

[jackdawvision]

[Did someone say danger—]

If you plan to head into one of those lower-ranked dungeons and you want more backup I can come and help out. [pls pls pls pls]

[lowestclass]

It sounds like this sort of thing is something you'll excel at, then.
Gather your party and head inside. Watch each others' backs.

I'll go along with you, too.

text; un: doordasher

[doublethumbsup]

uh question



can
people like
i guess teleport(?) out of them??
or like if theyre stuck can somebody go poof in and grab em?

[lowestclass]

Honestly and truthfully... I've never tried to teleport in or out of a gate.
I had the ability I just never tried...

However, in the case of a red gate, it's completely locked up both from the inside and out. So I don't think teleporting in is an option. It's like the gate traps you.

Being a quick exit for people inside normal gate, though...
That might be one of the most useful party members we could have.