kaisou | September Event Log

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September Event Log

September Event
Dominant Element: Wind
Waning Element: Earth

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It's autumn at long last. The summer heat finally ebbs away with cooler temperatures, with the first trees starting to change to bright hues of autumn colors. These cooler temperatures are made even more noticeable by the constant wind that blows throughout the month. Windy days are something of a regular this month. Be prepared for gusts of wind to blow things away that aren't weighed down. The town itself is getting decked out for the season change. Halloween costume shops are starting to open up in empty buildings, and just about every location has some variant of pumpkin spice.

Back to School

With the arrival of fall comes the new school year. Starting September 1st, classes begin at all the schools across the city. Whether you're in elementary, middle school, high school, or at the university - it's time to start the term off on the right foot! The halls and classes are abuzz with students reuniting and talking about what they did during the summer. As expected, most of the students don't seem to remember that dinosaurs walked the earth last month - instead treating those events as bad storms or gas leaks. But there's only so much time to dwell on that, as you're likely more busy with trying to find all your classes and getting a good spot in the cafeteria at lunch.

For those kids who somehow aren't getting enough schooling and wants more, Kaisou High will be holding their annual Spelling Bee competition halfway through the month! Students will go against kids their own age and grade level and asked to spell difficult words appropriate for their age in front of an audience that are abnormally engaged spectators. The spelling bee also has tournaments for elementary, middle school, and college too, so it's open for all ages! There's nothing truly noteworthy about winning the Spelling Bee - just a ribbon, a coupon for a free personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut, and an English teacher praising their accomplishments -- but sadly, we know for some of you this is more than enough of a prize, so best review how to spell "vicissitudes" just in case.

If you're an adult, or just looking for some education that covers topics not normally found at traditional school, the Enki Education center is launching their fall classes! You can enroll in these classes to learn more about magic, the Spirit Realm, and other related topics. The Enki Education Center is also proud to have their first puppet teacher! The Professor will be passionately teaching about various events in history, both the mundane and the paranormal. Professor Willow will also be continuing his lessons surrounding magical creatures and pokemon alike.

Up in the Air

With the winds being so strong this month, some have responded by doing some more daring hobbies. Throughout the month, a group is offering hang gliding lessons. This group has situated themselves up atop of Moghome, the floating island above the Kami State Park. They are trained professionals, and be happy to give anyone the ropes. Another group on the same island has also set up bungee jumping for anyone willing to take the plunge. Those those who are more physical minded than academic minded, this might be a great way to blow off some steam. You might want to be careful though, the moogles who live in Moghome might try to pull pranks on you, or at least try to get you to do work for them. They really are lazy and annoying guys.

Taking the train out to Stardew Valley you'll find the season has changed there as well. The trees are in full bright autumn colors and there's fall decorations such as jack-o-lanterns, haybales and scarecrows. It's almost an idyllic fall town, really. Pierre's shop is selling seeds for the autumn - pumpkins, cranberries, corn, yams and the like. If you head to the beach, while it's a bit too cold to swim, you might catch sight of a mermaid if you're patient. Fortunately, these guys are much more friendly than their siren cousins you met in July. While some will swim away at the sight of a human, some will come and chat.

If you want to be more productive and in ways that don't just benefit moogles, there's still clean up to be done from last month's disaster. Buildings that need to be repaired, streets repaved, debris to be picked up. It's a good way to get some volunteer hours in and help out your neighborhood. Every bit helps with getting the city back to normal.

Lost to the Muses

It'll happen with little fanfare. One morning in early September, characters with a creative streak will be struck with inspiration. Inspiration stronger and clearer than any inspiration strikes they've had before. Artists will paint or draw better than they have before, Musicians will think up a song destined to make the charts, cooks will develop new recipes, writers might actually write something-- the rush of inspiration and creative is truly miraculous.

However, there's a danger to this swell of miraculous inspiration. As characters indulge in this inspiration, they will find themselves forgetting other things. At first it'll be mild things, such as forgetting to eat dinner or the other tasks you had to do for the day. Things that are normal to forget when you're in the midst of the creative process, right? However if you keep going, the memory loss will grow more severe. You'll forget details about your life, or the names and faces of the people you know. And in truly worst case scenarios, the ones that truly can't pull themselves away, will find that they can't remember anything but the creative work they're working on. Just how much of yourself are you willing to give up in pursuit of creation?

The Muses

Within a week, it'll become pretty clear that something is amiss. And to confirm as such, on September 9th, Zodiac will send a message through the app.

ALERT: SHIFTING GATE LOCATED IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT.
Element Classification: Wind
Danger Level: Low
Designation: The Great Library of Alexandria
A new gate has been detected in the University district. We have reason to believe it's the Great Library of Alexandria, the realm of knowledge. We also believe it's connected to the incidents of memory loss, and should be investigated further. Anyone who goes to the library must bring a piece of knowledge to donate.

Visiting the Zodiac Office, visitors will notice that Professor Willow isn't here for once. According to the Zodiac member, he and the other members of POKEGO have already gone off to see the realm themselves- as of course professors can't resist the draw of knowledge.

When asked about the realm, the Zodiac member will explain that it was a library that once existed on Earth in ancient times built in honor of the Muses, nine sister goddesses that together are the gods of creativity, literature, science, and the arts. However it was famously set ablaze and in order to save it, the Muses recreated it in the Spirit Realm. The Zodiac member is confident that there should be relative little danger about visiting the library provided you make sure to follow the rules of the library. However, they do caution to avoid requesting inspiration from the Muses, and you should definitely not try to challenge their skills.

To find the gate, one simply has to head out to Kaisou University's main campus. Among all the class buildings and libraries, there's a new building front that seems to have appeared. White columns and stone stairs are hardly unusual among a college campus so it might be easy to overlook, except that the entryway is glowing with an bright energy. No doubt about it, this is the gate.

The Great Library of Alexandria

Stepping through the gate, characters will find themselves in a grand marble hall that would put most to shame. Around the hall are statues of the nine muses, posing in different fashions with objects associated with each one. There are signs with the rules of the library. Even though it's written in Ancient Greek, you find yourself able to read what it says like it was perfect English:

I. Take nothing out of the Great Library, leave it all as you found it.
II. Damage nothing in these halls.
III. To obtain knowledge, you must share knowledge.

In the center of the hall is a pedestal that stands four feet tall. It is here that you place the knowledge that you've brought to share. Books, movies, comics, art pieces, fact sheets, personal notes - anything that could technically be considered either knowledge or art are accepted. Once you place your item on the pedestal, it will disappear and a bracelet made of olive tree wood will appear around their wrist. This is their proof that they are allowed entrance into the rest of the library. Anyone who tries to go into the halls without donating a piece of knowledge will find the entryways into the other wings magically blocked.

Once the admission fee has been paid, it's off to explore the rest of the library! There are several wings to explore, each of them chock full of knowledge. A person could easily spend a lifetime in a single wing and not see everything there is to offer. Even though it offers works written and created in countless languages, you'll find yourself able to understand all of them as if they were written in your native language. That said, any cameras will not work while within the hall, so if you want to remember the things you read- you'll have to take notes. Any character with fire magic will find their fire powers do not work while in this realm either - the library has a bad history with fire okay.

The wings are as followed:

The Literature Wing

This wing is devoted entirely to any work of literature that's ever been written. Novels, poems, short stories, comics, fables - anything that counts as a story would be found within this wing. There's even a section devoted to fanfictions throughout the ages, if that's what you're really about. There are braille and audiobooks with headphones, for those who get their reading through that way. Throughout the wing, there are comfortable chairs and window seats to sit in. The wing is managed by a legion of cats, who are clever enough to understand human language. They will carry books to and from their shelves, bring book recommendations, bring snacks and drinks as refreshments on a little push cart, or just curl up on your lap as you read.

The Knowledge Wing

Next to the Literature Wing, the Knowledge wing contains any non-fiction texts or documents that have ever been written. Any topic of non-fiction is covered here: history, science, mathematics, cookbooks - the list goes on. Interestingly, there are more than just books about this Earth found in these halls. It's possible to find textbooks detailing events or information about other worlds as well - so long as it covers events already taken place (meaning before any OU's canon point). Unlike the literature wing, the seating are set up more as study tables and chairs, but are still comfortable enough to sit in for hours on end. This wing is managed by a bunch of owls, who will fly up and down the aisles with books in their talons. You might happen across the Professor or Professor Willow in this wing of the library, surrounded with books of their preferred subject and rambling on to anyone who will listen.

The Music Wing

A wing designed to have perfect acoustics no matter where you go within the hall. Here you can find every music piece ever composed as well as any type of instrument ever created. There's plenty of practice rooms for any size group (all of which are soundproofed). In the back of the wing, there is a concert hall where you can either perform your own shows, or watch astral recordings of any concert that's ever taken place. Want to see Beethoven perform his famous 9th symphony? You can do that! All the musicians past will appear as ghostly apparitions as they perform. Songbirds are the maintainer of these halls, who will fly by on errands or maybe even stop by to sing along with your performances.

The Theatre Wing

Next to the music wing, there is the theater wing. This area has play stages and movie theaters all set up. You can either watch any movie or show in existence (no worries about streaming rights here!), or rewatch any theater performance that's happened in history in the form of ghostly visages's. Find out how Hamlet was performed when Shakespeare was still alive, or see the first greek tragedy. Mice and Rats are the maintainers of this wing, they will help out pick out movies and also run a concession stand with any movie snacks you'd like to consume during the show.

Of course, not all shows are ones that we passively spectate. Besides the theaters, there is a room devoted to be a fighting simulator. Take any kind of weapon you'd like and choose to fight spectual foes from history and legend. Trade blows with the greatest samurai or battle a beast of legend. While it feels real, no actual injuries will come from these fights. And for those who prefer their battles to take place in the digital plane, there is a relatively newly added room with all the video games you could possibly want.

The Planetarium Wing

The planetarium is the wing devoted to astronomy and the heavens. While there's plenty of shelves of books here with information about space, the main event in this hall is a planetarium. A massive dome that can be set to display the night sky as it appeared at any time or day- and not just on Earth either. You can find out what the sky looks like on any number of worlds. All of them feel hyper-realistic, like you're looking at the real night sky. Bats help run this part of the library, the dark starry skies doing nothing to hinder their assistance with visitors.

The Museum Wing

The museum wing covers all artifacts that relate to knowledge but wouldn't quite fit in the other wings. Dinosaur fossils, vases, paintings, tapestries, all of them are carefully displayed with information about each item. These items have been collected across different worlds and throughout history, with all of them carefully preserved. One room of the museum is devoted to divine donations - donations given by deities when they came once came to visit and clearly the shining gem of the museum. Items such a Dharma Wheel, an apple from the Tree of Knowledge, an actual eye (thanks Odin), and other items relating to knowledge have all been carefully put on pedestals. While trying to steal from the other wings will have magic measures that simply prevent you from doing so, the consequences of trying to steal from this part of the library will lead to much more dire consequences. To reflect that, this wing are patrolled by crocodiles who will guide you to exhibits, but will also snap their jaws anytime they feel you're getting too close to an artifact.

The Mess Hall

With so much to see in this library, it'd be a shame if hunger got in the way. Just head down into the basement, where an expansive dining hall and kitchen await you. The goats that run this part of the library will be happy to cook you up any kind of meal that has ever existed. Or if you're the type to want to cook for yourself, you'll have free access to the kitchen which is full of any ingredients you could possibly want. The walls are lined with cooking tools and cookbooks to help you along as well. Cooking is a form of art, after all.

The Records Wing

The final wing contains records of every person who has ever lived and died. Each person's life is recorded in a hardcover book that is decorated in ways to reflect the person. The length of a book will depend on how long the person has lived, and it will cover events that happened throughout their lives. While you can access records of people that live in different worlds, you can only access records of people who have died (the permanent kind). Not only that, but the keepers of this wing (ghostly apparitions of scholars) will only allow you access to the records of people that are part of your family or somehow related to you.

Hauntingly, AU characters will be able to find books of their past selves among these shelves, as well as the records of their past selves relatives. It will detail their lives in their previous worlds, the events described lining up with memories you've experienced. The causes of death will vary. Some will go on to live long lives before dying of old age, while others will be killed abruptly by something either within or out of their control. But if these books say anything: it's that these memories you've been getting? They're coming from a past life.

Meeting the Muses

While the animal and apparitions do most of the running of the library, the true masters of this place are the Muses. Spend enough time in the library, and you may have a chance to come across any one of the nine sisters. While they are gracious hosts, they carry themselves with a pride that feels dangerous to step on. When asked about the memory loss suffered by some characters, they will explain that them or their sister simply wanted to give them the gift of inspiration and the memory loss is an unfortunate side effect mortals sometimes suffer from their divine gift. However, the damage isn't permanent! All one must do to return their forgotten memories is destroy anything they created while they were under that divine inspriation, and the Muses will return their memories. Doing just that will return their memories as promised, though some might find that their memories have been altered some - as if the Muses were inspired to tweak your past.

That said, the Muses really do love sharing inspiration, so anyone who is tempted to gain their divine inspiration may be offered to do just that. If you take the offer, the muses will draw upong your character's past and your character will gain a free regain that's worth up to 4 points - but in exchange they will permanently lose a memory of equal value (so if it's a 1 point regain, a small memory would be sufficient, meanwhile a four point regain might make them forget their most important person). Just how much are you willing to give up in order to gain?

Overall, the Muses will be happy to have the characters enjoying their library. That said, the Muses take great pride that they are the greatest at the arts and creation. Should you try to challenge them at their craft, expect them to not hold anything back. And whether you win or lose, they will be angry enough at your audacity that you might wind up cursed. So maybe be careful with these ladies.

Aftermath

With memories returned (or taken), the Great library will be available for the rest of the month. Take your time exploring and enjoy this great marvel. Zodiac will be willing to pay anyone who is willing to take notes on their findings in the library, as well as any notes copied from books they think will benefit them. Characters that attempt to take anything out of the library will find themselves unable to leave until they return the item, and anyone who causes damage to the library will find themselves removed from the library and forbidden to return. But all and all, it's shaping up to be a peaceful month.

You should probably enjoy it while it lasts.

OOC Notes

The dominant element this month is Wind! Anyone with an affinity to the wind 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 Earth 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.

Players can use this event to modify their AU histories if they so desire! If you decide to change AU histories, please comment with the changes here so the mod team is aware! As for people willing to take up the deal for losing memories in exchange for a regain, please comment detailing what memories you intend to lose.

The original OOC plotting post for this event can be found here. Another Zodiac Post will be going up September 15th to serve as an intro post for new characters and allow characters to react to developments over the network.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In stark contrast to Fern's sullenness, Varian is delighted. The alchemist coos excitedly as Fern hands over the Forbidden Knowledge. He flicks through the notebooks, occasionally exclaiming little things like "semiconductor electronics", "proton bombardment" and "X-rays". ]

Fern, these are amazing!!! I'm gonna love reading all of these.

[He might not be able to go to the library itself, but the hard-got contraband is a very welcome replacement. He drops the notebooks to take hold of Fern's hand, giving it a squeeze. ]

I really appreciate it. I know all this isn't really your...thing.

[Aw, Fern sits up and watches Varian as he flips through the notebooks. It's really cute, and seeing his utterly delighted reaction almost makes those hours of drudgery worthwhile.

At the hand squeeze he returns it, and his mouth starts moving before his brain can catch up, some flowers blooming on his hat.]

It's no big deal. I'll go back tomorrow and get more stuff for you, whatever you want.

[The flowers make Varian's heart flip-flop in his chest- as does the selfless offer. There's a temptation to take Fern up on it. After all, if he could go to the library himself, he'd be there all the time, learning as much as he could before the gate closed. He'd research non-stop.

But that's what he'd do and Fern isn't him.

His smile gentles a little as he reaches out to tap one of those flowers on his hat, his movements still a little awkward. He's still getting used to any level of romantic intimacy with another person. ]

A pretty noble offer, but I don't want to bore you to death. I was thinking maybe we could do something else tomorrow. Like...together?

[Fern flushes a little at the tap. He'd like to argue that it's no big deal, he can go back out to the library every day until it's gone... but it would suck a lot, so he doesn't. Besides, Varian is offering a way better alternative.]

Liiike a date? You wanna go on a date?

[He quickly realizes he shouldn't be so surprised about this, and adds:]

I mean, of course. That's what we should do, since we're dating. It's what people who're dating do.

[Varian's cheeks pinken and a breathy little laugh escapes him.]

Yeah, like a date. On account of us dating.

[It's not exactly something he's ever got to DO before. He doesn't quite know the right way to go about...asking. Or what to do during. God, he wishes Eugene were here so he could ask him. He'd have the best advice ever.]

I mean...you know, if you want to. I um- I don't really mind what we do. I'm open to suggestions.

[Luckily, Fern has experience with dating! Unfortunately, his experience comes from girls, and he isn't sure if any of it applies in this situation.]

Okay! Um, so back home when I dated girls we'd do stuff like playing video games, or going on dungeon crawls. Fun stuff like that.

[AKA things a total himbo would be into.]

[Ha ha, that sounds super dangerous and with a lot of physical exertion. Not Varian's usual go-to but he realises this means he might be able to see Fern fighting things and being tough and swinging his sword around-]

Are there any actual dungeons around for us to do that?

[Fern opens his mouth, then pauses. That is a very good question. The spirit realm is obviously out right now, so what's left?]

Human cities don't normally have that kind of thing, do they?

I...don't know. The only human city I knew before here was Corona and that definitely has dungeons in it.

[So logically, so must Kaisou, right?!]

Maybe there's catacombs that no one's found yet? I mean, it makes sense there might be, right? This place is full of anomalies.

[Huh, that definitely means Kaisou has to! Fern perks up a little.]

Then let's go find some! It'll be a great distraction!

[From the boringness of the library, and his own thoughts. Heck yeah!]

[This is absolutely going to end with them trudging through the sewers. Varian grins, moving up from his crouch to stand, offering his hand again to Fern. ]

Well~ I'm always willing to provide a distraction. You could call me the distraction king.

...

Because I'm so good at distractions.

[He ALMOST got a decent flirt out and then he flubbed it. He's trying his best here. ]

[Trudging around the sewers sounds like a grand time to Fern, and he grins too as he takes Varian's hand and stands up.

Oh Glob he just laughs at that attempt at flirting. His tries are so endearing.]

Hah, okay, Distraction King, let's go!

[Given Varian spent the last few months living in the catacombs under Corona, he'd probably find it weirdly homely.

He's going to take the laughter as a good sign, a pleased smile crossing his face. Heck yeah, he's great at this.]

Okay, let's go. I'm sure we can find an entrance or...something in the city. [His smile softens.] And then maybe later we can talk about what's bothering you? I-I mean if you want to. I'm here to listen.

[Excellent. Off they go! It's a short walk from the apartment down to the street, and Fern is trying very hard to focus on the quest in front of them, though Varian's words make him pause.]

Uh, yeah, sure. But it's just dumb stuff.

[Fern at least knows enough about normal cities to start scouting around for manholes when they reach the street.]

Stuff you don't need to deal with 'cause you're human and everything.

[Varian's brow furrows softly- thoughts of their little quest-date being very quickly replaced with concern. He slows his steps, focusing on Fern instead, his hand squeezing his boyfriend's a little more tightly. ]

Fern.

[It's said gently, worried.]

Nothing that's bothering you is dumb. And it- it doesn't matter if I'm a human or not. If something's upset you, I want to deal with it because - because you're my boyfriend and I care about you.

[Fern uffs and looks away. This is reminding him a little of Finn and how he acted like he cared - of course, the major difference being he knows Varian actually does care. They wouldn't be dating if he didn't.]

Geez, you're serious about this.

[He makes a noise like a sigh.]

It's just - d'ya ever think about me being made out of grass? And not having stuff like guts or a brain?

[Varian is absolutely serious and genuine about this. He finally stops, looking even more worried after a question like that. He spies a nearby bench and aborts their mission for a moment to lead Fern over to it, sitting down.]

I mean, only from a point of it being something that makes you... you. You're still alive, you're still a person even if you don't have the- the same physiological components as me. It's not exactly something that I factor in when I think about you. Why?

[Wow, either Varian is a really good liar, or he's sincere and the best person ever and making Fern feel all fluttery for considering him that normal. Whose luck did he steal to end up with someone so kind about his whole situation? Especially when he thinks about his whole nature and what he is and isn't regularly.

He sits down heavily on the bench next to Varian. He doesn't want to talk about what's going on inside his head, because it's a total mess and he doesn't want to burden his boyfriend with it, but he isn't seeing any way around it.]

Because... because I guess there's people around here who don't think like that. They think I'm more like a tree than a person, and... I don't know, it doesn't feel like they're wrong.

What?

[Geniue confusion slips into Varian's tone as Fern tells him that, but it's very quickly replaced with bubbling anger. His brows press together. ]

Who said that to you? Because they are wrong. You're a person- just- just because you're made differently doesn't make you any less of a person. No one should be making you feel less of a person.

[His hand tightens in Fern's a little, and it's probably a good thing he's chosen to sit down because his body is tense, ready to fight for Fern's honour here. ]

I want to believe you....

[There's a but hanging in the air for several moments, before he continues with a noise like a sigh.]

But I don't know. She thought I should be living out in the wilderness 'cause I'm like a tree, instead of being in the apartment. [He looks down at his free hand, opening and closing it.] I'm not the person I used to be, I can't be, no matter what you say. I'm just - this grass thing, even though I don't want to be.

[He glares down at his hand, curling it into a fist.]

If I could still be Finn things would be a lot easier. But I'm not, and I don't ever get to be.

[Varian makes a choked, angry sound in the back of his throat.]

Who's she? Because she's wrong. You're- you're not some wild thing. It- it doesn't matter if you're not who you used to be. Who you are now matters and you're a person. A really great person who- who should be treated with the same respect as- as you'd give anyone else. Who said that to you?

[The anger has not left his voice, his shoulders are shaking with the power of it. He can't believe anyone would say this to someone else. Even when he did his worst things, he never, ever made someone feel like they weren't a person.

Still, Fern's next comment does...ease the anger. A tiny bit.]

Look. I- I still don't know much about that whole...thing. But the offer's always there to talk about it if it helps? But...it doesn't matter to me, who you used to be. What matters is who you are now and who you are now is someone I care about very much who deserves to be treated like...like you matter. Because you do.

[Fern is quiet for several long moments. Those words are sinking in, but he still isn't sure if he fully believes what Varian is saying. Luz thought he was the same as a tree, and he certainly isn't Finn. He's just some pile of grass that starts wars.]

... Luz. Luz said all that stuff.

[He does, at least, appreciate Varian getting so mad on his behalf. It means he cares, which is a lot more than most people. It's more than practically everyone back in Ooo.

He looks down at their hands.]

You told me about all your bad stuff back home. I... I should do the same. It's only fair.

Luz?

[He knows her, of course. She seemed to be pretty enthusiastic and tended to overstep the line on the regular. Something hurt adds to the betrayal. He liked her- she seemed...okay. Clearly, he was wrong. He didn't know her as well as he thought he did, if she'd do something like this. ]

She's wrong. She's absolutely wrong. You're a person. And I'll keep telling you that until either you believe me or we get very, very old and die because I am not gonna stop believing it myself.

[He's so angry with her. How could she be this heartless? He sucks in a deep breath, trying to calm down. ]

Only if you want to. It...it doesn't have to be an exchange if you're not comfortable with it. I told you because I wanted to. I only want you to tell me if you want to. That's what's fair.

[Fern nods in confirmation. It seems like Varian knows her, and he supposes it's good that he doesn't have to explain who she is. He gives a little snort at all those affirmations, too.]

I think you might be more stubborn than me.

[He hesitates, looking down at their hands.]

I think I do. I think... if anyone's gonna understand, it'll be you.

I know I'm more stubborn than you. I'll be talking to her next time I see her.

[His tone suggests talking will involve a lot of yelling, actually.

He moves his fingers in Fern's hand, so they interlace together. He gives him an encouraging squeeze.]

There's nothing you can tell me that'll make me feel any differently towards you. I'm here.

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