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Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] repeter2018-10-17 05:34 pm
Entry tags:

OCTOBER TDM + EVENT PT 2

EVENT + TEST DRIVE
OCTOBER TEST DRIVE - EVENT EDITION
The city of Recollé... 

…is a mess. But that’s probably unsurprising to many of you who have been fighting back to cure the creatures of the night. The golden moon hangs high in the sky and casts its eerie glow over the city. Each day, more members of the Retrospec app fall victim to various strains of the monstrous viruses in the air. Though some of you have discovered temporary cures, they aren't working as well as you've hoped.

Even worse, on the evening of the 17th, the moon shifts and wavers in the sky, transitioning from its rich golden color to a deep blood red. The sky remains overcast, never quite dark but the sun refuses to appear.

Most importantly? The infection begins to spread further...better hurry.


I. - OTA

It starts with a rustle. A crinkle. A dry, crackling sort of noise and when you wake up on the morning of the 18th you'll find yourself surrounded by tall, towering cornstalks gently brushing against your window. While plenty of the stalks are healthy several others are dried out and intertwined.

The longer you stay in any sort of shelter the louder the rustling becomes and an increased sense of urgency grows, driving you outside and straight into the heart of a large cornmaze that's taken over the city. The stalks seem endless and stretch high into the sky, the tips seemingly touching the moon and providing very little in the way of direction. For those with the ability to fly, soaring up into the sky will lead to an aerial corn maze that's even harder to navigate. Digging your way under will lead you to mounds of roots, too tough to cut through no matter what you try.

You could use fire if you really wanted, but do keep in mind that dry stalks will ignite very easily and the flame will spread faster than expected. As for cutting the stalks down? When one's cut down, two more grow back. Work quickly and you can make some progress.

Wandering through the maze isn't as hopeless as it seems, at least. Sure, it's incredibly easy to get turned around and lost but as you keep walking you'll find buildings in their appropriate locations to act as landmarks. You might even run into a few friends as you're looking for an exit.

However, friends aren't the only creatures looming among the maze. Large, overgrown crows with beady red eyes caw as they linger above, attempting to peck you at every turn. The birds are prone to swarming in groups and will chase anyone who's out in the open for too long. Venturing further into the maze will cause the birds to grow suspicious though and as you walk away from the outer portions they'll stop following you just as something appears in your line of vision.

Another person? It may even look like someone you know, though they can't see you with their back toward you. As you approach them, the birds may caw a warning but it's too late. The figure turns around and you come across someone else. The same rustling noise as before becomes louder as the scarecrow advances on you, corn husks spilling from its hands to wrap around your limbs as other scarecrows come to join it.

Those who have been on the app for some time will find themselves dragged deep into the maze, disappearing between the stalks. As the scarecrows walk and pull you along, they bind you with their corn husk limbs and your muscles seem to relax against your will. The deeper into the maze you disappear, the less mobility you seem to have. Your clothes soon feel itchy and your hair feels brittle to the touch. A copy of your current outfit appears on the scarecrow that ambushed you as your own clothing fades away into well-worn flannel and patched denim. Hopefully you still have the strength to fight, or you may find yourself alone and abandoned.

Those who are brand new to the app, however, will find that the scarecrows have something different in mind. Rather than dragging you deep into the fields, they begin to march along the paths, gathering straw to stuff into your sleeves and the back of your shirt. Patches of mis-matched fabric are placed on your clothes and you find yourself hoisted six feet in the air, tied up onto a pole and looking out at the endless rows of corn.

Someone has to protect the crops from crows, don't they? Too bad the scarecrows will just leave you hanging.

II. - OTA

You would think that the problems would end there. It's bad enough with scarecrows and birds, but as the moon continues washing the city in a soft red glow the primal instincts of the infection take hold. Those who have been infected in the last few weeks will find that the monster side of your personality begin to take its toll. It becomes harder to fight off the instincts to infect and take control, humanity wearing thin even in the daylight hours.

On the other hand, at least your luck is better than those who aren't on the Retrospec app at all. In the previous days, your fellow citydwellers had hardly noticed that anything was amiss. Seeing truly is believing and while they could see the changes around them it was all in the Halloween spirit. Your physical changes and your abilities are smoke and mirrors, fun and games, and things they never quite took seriously.

Perhaps they should have though. Perhaps if they had, they would have been prepared for the changes brought on by the blood moon. Unlike those on the app, citizens around you will begin to shift and change without any signs of stopping. The monsters in them break through their skin and alter their physique, animal-like instincts immediately shutting down any signs of human life. Sprouting fur, teeth, claws and other tell-tale signs, the monsters around you are the final products of the infection. These are the end game, prime examples of what you can be.

And they want you to join them.

With their sights set on anyone who isn't like them, they'll be relentless in their attacks to try and change whoever they can reach. Vampires will drink blood, werewolves with bite, mummies will bind and merpeople will lure you in with their siren song. There's nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Everyone is at the risk of becoming infected should you get caught.

But you may be able to trick them into fighting their own kind. Monsters by nature want to control, and certain breeds of monsters will attempt to assert their dominance over one another. By leading them on and luring them out, you may be able to pit them against each other for a clean getaway. Traditional warding methods will have minimal success as well, but it's easy to become overwhelmed.

This sense of control will even reach those of you who have been infected in the last month. You may love your friends and your family, but if they're an opposing monster, tensions rise and tempers fly leading to fights you may regret if you aren't careful.

Don't be afraid to ask for back-up. You have to learn who to trust sometime.

III. - IN GAME CHARACTERS ONLY

The Retrospec mailbox sits proudly along the side of Wiffle-Waffle, completely untouched and surprisingly free of monsters and corn stalks. While several of you have approaches this place recently for assignments to help quell the infection, the mailbox seems to have a different idea today.

Plastered on the wall next to the mailbox is a chart divided into categories, and as you linger to read a small, wrapped bundle will vault itself out of the mailbox and straight into your arms (or, if you're not paying attention, your face.) While the item you have been gifted is randomized, it's easy to locate on this chart. The package begins to glow a soft blue, and in your head you'll hear a small, clear voice.

"Into the woods, it's time to go, I hate to leave, I have to, though. Into the woods, it's time, and so I must begin my journey…"

As you venture through the corn maze city and fight the night, the voice continues to repeat the phrase until you find your way out of the maze and into the line of trees. Untouched by the maze, the woods are dark but the path is clear. Following the wisps of light and the voice guiding you, it becomes hard to avoid stumbling upon a clearing with twelve stone pillars, each partially colored with a ring of light surrounding its base. For each pillar, there's also an emblem shaped like one of the varieties of monsters attached to the front. The red pillar is for harpy, red-violet is for vampire, purple for shade, blue-violet for werewolf, blue for ghost, blue-green for merpeople, green for slime, yellow-green for zombie, yellow for robot, yellow-orange for mummy, orange for golem and a red-orange for demon. The mouths of these twelve emblems hang open, small enough to fit something particular...like a vial.

Before you have time to wonder, a black wolf approaches from behind the trees. Some of you may recognize him as the wolf that's lingered around the cemetery this month, but to others he may be a stranger. As he looks at you, he woofs indignantly before he trots ahead toward the harpy, vampire, and golem pillars. The mouths of these emblems close, a sign that these vials have been found and must be returned to their rightful place. Though he cannot speak for himself, anyone in the woods will hear that same mysterious voice once again as the wolf begins to dig up nine empty vials to carry with him.

"Come what may, follow the path and never stray. Only you may draw out the power to light the pillars and drive out the darkness. Fight back."

As you look at the pillars, one of them lights up as someone in the city defeats a wayward creature. The ring inches upward, a sign of progress and an example of what you must do. With the collection of cure items on hand, you'll be able to combat anything that comes your way so long as you work together and create the right tools. Reach out to your friends and find those who have items to make yours stronger. Stun the creatures of the night, learn who you can trust, and work quickly to stop the infection from spreading even further.

IV. - TDM CHARACTERS ONLY

This may be old hat for everyone else by now, but this is very, very new to you, isn't it? Without pause, everything around you suddenly comes into clear focus. You’re not sure what you’ve missed or even what’s happening, but survival instinct kicks in the moment you set foot out of your home. With the city in a state of viral outbreak and several citizens succumbing to their disease, you'll find it hard to go very far without coming face to face with a creature of some kind. Just as this monster looms over you, ready to transform you into one of its own, a blinding white light wraps around you and you’ll find yourself in a brand new outfit. As the light fades, a magic wand materializes in your hand. With an "E" proudly embroidered in the hem of your skirt and a tiara on your head, the monsters begin to back away from you as they eye the wand nervously.

Adorning the top of the wand is a clear crystal radiating with power. As the wand meets the eye of a monster, the gem will change to the appropriate color and a powerful beam of light will begin to drive the darkness out in threads and waves. While these powerful wands seem to be the key to fully curing the outbreak, you can't work alone. It will take the combined efforts of residents with cure items from the mailbox and your magical skills to advance upon a creature and exorcise them.

As they're fought off with cure items and blinded by colorful hypnotizing light, creatures will begin to rapidly fade to their human selves. While those who are on the app will simply feel fatigued, the remaining citizens of Recollé will fall unconscious in a deep sleep. Nothing you do now can awaken them, but there's still an ample number of threats they face. It's…maybe a little suspicious to be found hovering over someone unconscious, isn't it?

A friend will help you move. But a true friend will help you move a body. Good luck, Retrospecters. You'll have to move them to safety, and fast.

BONUS. - OTA
As the days bleed into the nights and you fight to reverse the effects of infection, a few changes begin to take their toll. The corn stalks begin to dry and even rot as the month continues, the maze becoming easier to navigate toward the end of October. The scarecrows begin to back off, and the birds take a look at you and caw in panic as they fly away in the other direction. Nothing about your situation has changed, but the results begin to show.

On the 24th the corn maze begins to fall away in chunks. A winding golden path appears beneath your feet, outlining the roads of the city, and for the next week it becomes harder to walk smoothly. With each passing day, you sink into the ground inch by inch, never quite disappearing, but feeling yourself being pulled under until October 31st.

The sky lights up. A wolf howls as twelve beams of light rocket into the air and form one solid column, flooding the city with bright colors as the remaining monsters are quelled and the darkness fades away. As of this day, all monsters are reverted back to their human form. The nightmare seems to be over.

Creeping ever closer to Halloween night, you find yourself exhausted from the efforts put forth and as you glance down you notice your hands have begun to fade. Translucent and in some cases see-through, the process spreads slowly. Your body begins to fade away and transform, bursts of color appearing on your skin that light up the area around you including your semi-skeletal frame.

Weren't the monsters defeated? Why is this happening now? Asking around never hurts, but maybe a pair of gloves will help.

BONUS 2. - OTA

On the evening of Halloween, the moon changes to a soft blue and rises higher into the sky. Jack-o-lanterns and strings of light suddenly adorn every shopfront and the chill autumn air sends a breeze through the town. The first thing you think of this evening will materialize over your body becoming this year's Halloween costume. As you look around, piles of sweets, savory dishes, and drinks galore pop up on tables on the sidewalks seemingly out of thin air. Live music begins to play, and those who have fallen asleep rise again to partake.

It's...a party? It's a party. A Halloween party takes place on this evening to brighten the spirits of everyone. As everyone around you begins to mingle, you'll find that your phone beeps to notify you that the Retrospec app has entered Halloween Mode. Now decked out in cheerful Halloween colors, with userpics in a randomized (work safe) costume, Halloween Mode comes with a Trick or Treat function. When texting others over the app, users who are asked "Trick or treat?" will have the option to give a treat. If they do, a virtual candy will be gifted to the other user. If they do not, the user who asked the question will have the option to play a "trick" ranging from vandalizing someone's userpic with snap chat filters, choosing a new Halloween scheme for the other person's app, sending the other user into a round of a cutesy Halloween maze game or other light-hearted tricks only lasting up to 10 minutes. Go ahead, give it a try! Post a message and see what happens.

It's easier than thinking about how strange this whole month has been, or how it's even stranger that framed photographs of you begin to appear on some of the refreshment tables as well, surrounded by your favorite treats and objects.

Oh well. That sounds like tomorrow's problem. If there's ever a time for a celebration, today's the day.

Welcome to [community profile] recolle's October event pt 2 and our TDM! Please read these notes carefully.

-All characters who are TDMing will be begin in-game AU'd as Recollé residents. You may use any of the above prompts for ideas or make up your own depicting your Recollé AU! Prompts do not have to be set in the districts listed above. You can review our list of locations for what's available. Please note that TDM threads can be used as samples, can be kept as game canon, and can also be used for bonus points for future item regains. Share a few minor details of your AU, tag around, and have fun!

-While only current players may post top-levels using prompt three and TDM players may top-level with prompt four, all players may respond to others who post with these prompts!

-If you are TDMing this round, please indicate this by including TDM in your subject line! This will help the playerbase know who is who.

-As a reminder for current players, you may still claim multiple freebies! These include:
-One freebie for infecting (or being infected by) at least three different characters (this can be on the mod-posted log or in your own logs/inboxes.)
-One freebie for exploring with a partner or a group and finding items to begin creating protective gear to ward off the infection.
-One freebie for threading with a character that is test-driving.
All of these threads must have at least five comments from you to be eligible. To submit for your freebie memories, please link us the appropriate thread with the trigger explanation of "freebie."

-As a special note, we will also allow current players to use a thread from this event/TDM for their AC proofs! As this ties into a game-event, we are making an exception. However, your other proof(s) (at least ten comments) must come from sources outside of this log. Likewise, as this is an event log instead of just a standard TDM, you may use this log to trigger regains as normal.

-Please note: you will need a reserve to apply, and current characters must have full AC posted at the time of their reservation. This means for players reserving second characters you must link us your full October AC, and players reserving second and third characters must link us to your September and October AC!

Finally, you can visit October's AU workshop here! Any questions you have regarding this event/TDM may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for important information as well!
cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (no you don't even know me)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-21 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[He frowns slightly at the question, turning the remote over in his hands, trying to think of a way to reword it.]

Well... maybe 'worse' isn't the word. I think her energy just doubled ever since she got someone to play with. It's nice that she's not alone when we're away, but the two of them wind up going overboard when they're together. Xun Hui's still a puppy, too, so he's not as trained as she is.

[Though he's certainly been trying on that end, no doubt. It was just hard to do when the city kept drastically undergoing changes every month or so, which was a pain in the butt.

He nods at her suggestion, however, figuring that was going to be the case. He wasn't keen on scary movies himself (not because he was scared or anything, they just felt pointless. Really!!), and the last thing he ever wanted to do was terrify her. He scrolls through the options, scrutinizing which ones seemed appropriate but relatively harmless...]


Hmmm... Caroline, maybe? Or The Terror Before Christmas? There's Hocus Crocus and Jasper the Friendly Ghost, too.

[... Xiaolang please don't have her watch knock off Coraline, that movie is TERRIFYING]
keystaff: (With these hands)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-24 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
I haven't seen Jasper in a while. Or the Terror Before Christmas.

[Caroline is....probably only going to scare them even if it looks innocent because it's done with animation rather than live action. But still, there is some sort of nostalgia to be had in rewatching older favourites at least. Especially in sharing them with him like this.

And well, what Xiaolang says makes sense? Sakura figures, at least. In not having dogs herself in having to train them and deal with how two of them interact. So she probably shouldn't say much on that. She's simply content to curl up and watch something for the night together.]
cardcaptured: <user name=tanabata> (5)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-25 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[He was only vaguely familiar with the films, so the idea that Caroline would have been a bad idea didn't register with him. After all, how scary could an animated film be? Super scary, that's what-- Still, he was happy to go with whatever caught her eye, given it was Sakura and she was his guest and all.]

Do you want to watch both? I haven't seen either of them myself, so I don't really have a preference.

[He picks up the bowl of snacks, taking one before offering it over to her in case she wanted another.]

Weird that a Christmas movie is considered a Halloween one, though...
keystaff: (For a thousand more)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-26 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
I think this one could be both? Halloween and Christmas. But it isn't too late yet, so I guess we can do both of them if you haven't seen either.

[If so, that kind of makes this more fun. Given this would be his first time seeing them and her thus getting to share these films with him. Sakura gives a nod to the suggestion, reaching to take an offered snack.]

Which one first?
cardcaptured: <user name=tanabata> (22)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-28 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[He waits until she picks up a snack before placing the bowl back onto the table, starting to munch a little on the one he grabbed in the meantime. He's quiet for a moment as he considers her question, weighing the options before them. If she's already seen them, then it probably wouldn't matter what they saw first, and they both looked equally interesting...]

Hmm... maybe Jasper first, and then the Christmas one? That one's probably more light-hearted, right? If the Jasper is too heavy, at least that could be a nice follow-up.

[Nevermind that the Casper movie is goofy as hell and Nightmare Before Christmas can be horrifying, but he's never seen any of these, so?? Just making random stabs in the dark here.]

Unless you think it should be the other way around...?

[Meanwhile, Jasmine is returning from her romp around the house, energy clearing winding down, panting and trotting over to Sakura to place a paw on her leg. Let her sit up on the couch with you guys, pretty please??]
keystaff: (Sunshine)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-31 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
Neither of them are too heavy? Or, I don't think. But Jasper first sounds fine to me.

[She's okay with that. Sakura gives a nod to the idea of that order, settling herself in more comfortably as they munch on their snacks and start the movie. Or, she was comfortable and then Jasmine came over. Jasmine had to come over and look like that.]

But Xiaolang-kun said you weren't allowed on the couch.
cardcaptured: <user name=endlesseight site=plurk.com> (cause I can't ignore it)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-02-02 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
[He gives a small nod of his own in response, lifting his legs onto the couch as he gets the film ready to go. As the opening credits play across the screen, he half debates looking for a blanket or something to make things a little more cozier. Was she warm? Would it be enough? Was he sitting too close to her?

But all of his internal fretting comes to a halt as Jasmine approaches, using her tried and true puppy eyes on Sakura. There was even a little whine from her, to push the point-- she'd be a good girl, promise!!-- getting Xiaolang to sigh a bit helplessly.]


... it's fine. It's one thing if she jumps onto it without permission, but if she asks, it's okay. Leon usually lets her stay up here when he's playing games and stuff, anyway.

Xun Hui just has to learn the difference.
keystaff: (When you're fast asleep)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-02-03 08:01 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, okay. I just wanted to make sure, since you mentioned, before I let her up with us.

[And well. Xun Hui is still young and learning the rules of the house and all, probably. That was why it was useful to have Jasmine around to help teach him in being a role model for him. Still, she shifts and then lets Jasmine up between them, petting the couch to indicate to Jasmine she was allowed up with them.]

Up you come.
cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (But I don't even worry)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-02-06 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[He can't help but smile slightly at Sakura's consideration, the warm fuzzies beginning to bloom in his chest. Of course, she was probably just being a respectful house guest, but he couldn't help but feel a bit touched by it all.]

Yeah, it's alright. Maybe I should have explained it better before, but... it's nice that you asked, anyway.

[He scoots over a bit in the opposite direction, to give Jasmine a bit more space to jump, before patting the couch as well and giving a small whistle of encouragement. The little dog didn't need to be told twice, and she hops onto the cushions between them, her tail wagging excitedly. Not only does she get to be on the couch, but she gets to watch a movie with her two favorite humans too! How wonderful! She circles around the space a few times before settling down, snuggling herself close between them.

Xiaolang's smile only grows warmer as he gives a small pet to Jasmine's fluffy head, making sure to scritch at the particular spot between her ears. She was a spoiled little pup, but she was a good girl, through and through.]
keystaff: (Your happy ending)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-02-08 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
It's alright. I just figured I should check first. I mean, just because we let the cats on the couch back home, doesn't mean every pet gets to. And you did say.

[She has a handful of snacks, popping some in her mouth as they shift to allow Jasmine some space between them. Perhaps some would be more offput by this in having the dog seemingly interrupt their time together. But Sakura isn't bothered. There's plenty more nights like this to be had together.

So she's content enough to curl up next to Jasmine with some snacks, giggling as the dog initially circles a bit before settling down between them. That's before turning her gaze then to Xiaolang to note his smile before she glances back to the television.]


I think you'll like them though. Both the movies.

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