ioduanlogs | [EVENT] 4th Wall

Entry tags:

[EVENT] 4th Wall - SHADOW WALKERS

Characters: Everyone
Date: July 16-31, 2018
Location: Aifaran and the rest of the archipelago.
Situation: 4th Wall! Temporary Dreamfolk have begun appearing in Aifaran.
Warnings/Rating: None. Though please warn for things in the headers at your own discretion.

Khu Ioduan's first 4th wall event is here - so we'd first like to extend a warm welcome to anyone newcomers to the game. We're excited to have you here and hope you enjoy your time in Khu! For everyone, this is a great opportunity to try out new characters and bounce around ideas - we hope everyone has fun!

And the silence of short days, the silence of the year, the shadow...

ANOMALIES

July had already been a strange month for the inhabitants of Aifaran. The Narrakra returned with more questions than answers about its crew, and the thick fog and and the oppressive heat lingered like an awkward and unwanted houseguest who couldn't take a hint to leave. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, or perhaps it was just the torrid weather getting to people, but some could swear to seeing shadowy figures in the persistent haze.

By the 16th, the sanity of these individuals is no longer in question. The shadowy figures had become abundant for all to see, wandering the city as though in a daze before fading into obscurity.

ARRIVAL

The strange shadows that had appeared throughout the city have manifested… people. Perhaps even people other Dreamfolk recognize. As they step into existence, the obscure phantasms have taken on a sinister countenance. They peer at the world with blank, hollow eyes, and bare a mouth of invisible teeth with malevolent grins. They are otherwise indistinguishable from other shadows save for these alarming features, and they are attached to the newly-arrived Dreamfolk, marking them as somehow...different. Hovering at these visitors' heels, following them around at every step, impossible to banish.

The citizens give them a wide berth, some even crossing the street or outright fleeing in terror to avoid these new arrivals. There have been so many bad omens of late, none are keen to take any chances.

The shadows can't physically affect anything, but boy do they have personality; there's a lot of sinister grinning going on, and they tend to mimed mockery, sometimes going so far as to mimic the emotions of the person they're attached to -- sometimes even those emotions that person might not wish were shown. The extent of this is, of course, within your discretion to play with.

FESTIVAL

The arrival of these especially transient Dreamfolk is usually met with celebration, an impromptu festival that aims to give them a condensed experience of Aifaran in the short time that they're here. The grinning shadow companions that come attached to this particular batch of Dreamfolk has put a slight damper on the usual festivities, but some people are determined to make the best of it.

In order to help make the new Dreamfolk feel more at home, some enterprising individuals have taken it upon themselves to paint the town… greyscale. Instead of the usual riot of color, a small area around the Dreaming Bridge is quickly decorated in greys and blacks. An few enterprising confectioners start selling candied versions of the grinning phantasms; some of them are true to nasty form, but others have been made to look much cuter than the actual shadows attached to people. All, of course, are delicious. In the same fashion, some tailors have conspired to provide plushies in similar form.

It's not all fun and games. A theatrical troupe takes over a shopfront for rent and turns it into a haunted house featuring spooky legends from around the archipelago. The troupe makes a serious effort at being scary, including a convincing representation of the Night Fisher lurking in the building - although if anyone comments on this creature, the staff will only give them confused looks and insist that wasn't one of the attractions.

OOC Notes:

4th Wall visitors are going to be arriving with a maniacally grinning shadow dogging them for their stay in Aifaran. These specters cannot be banished or destroyed, but nor can they interact with anything physically, including the visitor themselves! They make up for it in BIG PERSONALITY though, because they're kind of shitheads.

* * *

Just a quick reminder that anyone is welcome to the 4th Wall event whether they play or have ever played in Khu Ioduan or not, and that both canon and original characters, as well as CRAU and canon OCs are allowed. If you are unsure whether your visiting character falls under these categories, check out our Application FAQ for more detail!

Please note that we do not accept AU characters like genderbends/Rule 63 characters, crack versions (like fandom Abridged series), etc. If you have any questions, please ask us!

The newcomers are Dreamfolk and will ICly be referred to as such by the native residents of Aifaran, but there are a couple of important differences between them and the Dreamfolk who live in the city long-term, namely:

Fourth-wall characters will not have Talent tattoos. In a nutshell: Dreamfolk usually get a magical tattoo with that provides them with a new ability upon arrival. This tattoo is also what keeps Dreamfolk anchored to Aifaran's world, Konryu.

Fourth-wall characters will be able to reply to network posts, but not create their own. This will be explained as a Dreaming glitch -- the consoles and yimos will register their names, but not let them make their own broadcasts, similar to how a real-life forum distinguishes between someone being logged-in and someone being logged-out while still labeling their replies with a nickname. Fourth-wall characters can also reply to character's IC inboxes using this same reasoning. Similarly, due to the way the community’s posting/membership allowances work, fourth-wall characters will not be able to make their own logs but are encouraged to make use of the mod-posted or catch-all posts made by members of the game. (Catch-all posts are essentially those made to cover a great length of time or a particular setting.)

We'd like to remind everyone that this is a "live" 4th wall, meaning that what happens during the event will be completely remembered after the event ends, and any setting impact/changes/decisions that occur because of the 4th wall characters will be upheld.

If you are bringing a character back that you've played during a previous 4th Wall event in our legacy game Tu Shanshu, you are welcome to have them remember that previous time! Or, if you'd prefer to bring them in "fresh", that's fine too. And of course, any characters who were previously played in game (either Tu Shanshu or Khu Ioduan) can retain those memories.

Don’t forget the Setting page is available here as well, for your setting-related needs as the event progresses. Please note that while powers are typically not nerfed in the Khu Ioduan setting, we do limit world-or-game breaking powers as a matter of course. We welcome everyone to try out the game’s setting, but characters who are brought in solely to disrupt or "break" the game will be asked to leave.

For organization purposes, we'd greatly appreciate it if logs and network posts involving 4th wall characters could be tagged with the %4th wall comm tags. Your mods thank you!

CHARACTER SIGNUPS & POSTING

Our 4TH WALL EVENT CHECK IN comment for characters wishing posting access for the duration of the event is open! Remember that you can request new characters to be added even after the beginning of the event, up until July 31st, the last day of the event and the day when the fourth-wall characters will ICly disappear from the city.

After that point, posting access will be maintained for any guest characters up until August 8th, to allow any threads still being played out to finish up. However, we do request that no 4th wall characters tag any posts dated August 1st and onward, as ICly their characters would have left the city by that point.

If you have any questions regarding these rules for the 4th wall, please ask them in the OOC Questions comment below.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Raphael arched a brow, noting the uncertainty and unexpected confusion, but he found himself unprepared for the answer. He glanced at his shadow, which stopped miming and waved at him. Then he shook his head. Raphael tried to remain open minded, yet the idea that there was one who knew him made him wary. This man seemed no threat, perhaps the man had even mistaken him for someone else.

"I see," he said, holding out his hand, "since you know who I am, may I also know your name?"

Valdis smiled back, though she wasn't entirely sure why it was time to smile.

"That's good at least," she replied, taking a seat "I have yet to come upon someone from a truly mundane world. They all seem to have some kind of magic in them."

Even if it was only a strong will.

"I haven't seen anything like these shadows in my time here, and I've been here for a time."

"Good to know," Nita said.

"Being the odd person out isn't exactly fun..."

Her eyebrows went up.

"Really? How long have you been here? Er," she amended, "I mean, what have you seen in your time here? What makes these shadows a different phenomenon?"

Reluctantly, the shadow backs away, but it bares its 'teeth' at Conan to show its annoyance.

Ivarr looks stumped at the question. "I... don't know." He turns his face towards the sky and at the already visible stars, frowning. "I don't recognize the stars, unfortunately." He takes a deep breath, trying to fight back the feeling of panic that's starting to take form.

Too bad, shadow. You're a shadow. Conan doesn't care.

"Its like that for a lot of people here. I'm from a city called Tokyo. Have you ever heard of it?"

Tokyo? "No. But... I haven't been to a lot of places outside the Apodeian archipelago." There's been talks of accompanying the queen to a visit to the kingdom of Galenaea, but that's as much geography as they've been taught.

He squints at Conan. "What do you mean, it's like that for the people here? And... here is where, exactly?"

Ilda, the excitable little thing that she is, only has more questions after Nita's sharing, and they come out of her with obvious interest and energy. "Wait, what's a junior in high school? And what's a florist?"

At the wizard reveal, the blonde girl actually calms down a little. She doesn't understand the terminologies, but she knows from the way Nita's dropped her tone that it's something important, and maybe even a secret. "And a wizard is like... a god?" she hedges. Her eyes widen at that realization, even if it's actually not confirmed yet.

"Well I'm not positive," Alice amended, giving the shadow a critical look. "But they haven't tried anything yet. Lots of newcomers have them."

It was shaping up to be a very interesting week.

"Alice Liddell," she introduced herself. "It's a pleasure, I'm sure."

Following Ilda's run in with Bishamon and Yato's order for her to get away, Yato grips his yimo tightly as he teleports instantly to her location.

Without a word, he grabs her hand and pulls her down the nearest alley, winding through streets like a maze until they're many blocks away from where they were and winded from the run.

"Are you okay?"

"Whether I have or haven't hardly matters," she said, pulling herself up onto a barrel and peeking into the warehouse they were stacked against. There didn't seem to be any Sentry inside.

"I wouldn't be here searching for information if my queries were satisfied when that rusted behemoth returned."

She was hopping down from the stack of crates just as the Sentry was looking up from her Yimo. But Alice seemed to be leaving.

"Give me the alias you go by on this device. I can send the photographs I took aboard."

If she wants, she can Summon Shadow for old times' sake, but the ninja would doubt that would go over very well with either the Spirit or Raine's new "friend".

"True, some things," and she nods towards the shadow, "should be looked at carefully. But not everything. I mean, you didn't study the emotion and concept of love did you before accepting it?" Contrary to what some people may think, Sheena actually likes their arguments--because they really aren't.

The ninja's impishness fades as the hug is returned, her eyes closing as the contact tells her that yes, Raine is really here--even if it is for a short while. Pulling back, she gives her friend a somewhat sad smile."

"From my point of view, it's only been a few months. In reality?" Big ol' sigh. "It's been 560 years in the Dreaming."

[That...sounds like a ridiculous amount, quite frankly, to the point Flame Princess almost laughs at the absurdity.]

That doesn't sound like a minority to me, but I guess if you say so. It's your universe.

[She's pretty sure Ooo doesn't even have a single million people put together, though it's hard to tell with how spread-out everyone is.]

[Bishamon returns an equally level, somewhat unimpressed look. This woman doesn't appear stupid, so the main other possibility is that she's being intentionally unhelpful for her own reasons.]

So shall I take it that you have no idea of how yourself or I ended up here and move on to someone else, then?

[This one may not have run away, but Bishamon highly doubts she's the only person in this world who wouldn't. There's no great need for her to waste her time on one particular person.]

N-No, nothing’s wrong! [ Ilda says that a little too hastily, and she resists wincing, because then she’ll be admitting that it’s a lie. She puts on a smile instead — kind of like how Bishamon’s shinki would pretend that everything’s alright. ] Something just came up, and I really have to look into it. I’m sorry.

[ She feels bad at the thought of just leaving Bishamon there, though, especially when she’s just arrived and still trying to figure things out. The goddess’ comment about Yato also gives her pause, so despite his orders to get away, Ilda actually lingers a while longer. ]

Well, I... I’ve told him you’re here, and he can actually appear wherever and whenever he wants, so he should come see you sooner or later... [ She’s taken a moment to text him back, asking why he’s telling her to run... but as soon as she sends the message, the strange feeling returns. She finds herself starting to step back again. ] Um... the Sentry should be able to help you, too. You can ask for someone named Valdis. I’m really sorry!

[ She finally turns and makes a run for it, Yato’s message repeating over and over in her mind like a steadily beating drum. ILDA GET AWAY FROM HER NOW. ]

“Yato!” His name escapes her in a half-shriek, but there’s no time for anything else as he sets off into a run, pulling her along. She does her best to keep up, and while she has so many questions, she can clearly feel his tension and urgency to get away, so she says nothing.

When he finally stops, she does as well, resting her hands on her knees as she struggles to catch her breath.

“I... I’m fine.” So many questions, but as she looks at him with confusion and worry, what she says instead is, “Yato, are you in trouble? I’m sorry I gave her your name, I thought...”

"Yes, two readings, ten of currency. You catch on quick." There might've been a note of sarcasm in his tone, but he doesn't pause long enough to make it obvious, instead giving her a quick, intent look before picking the deck back up. "Then we start with first question. Watch the cards. Keep your question at front of your mind." Tolunai cut and shuffled the deck twice over before placing four cards on the table in front of her, face down, each at a diagonal to the next. Once finished, he set the rest of the deck aside and hovered a hand over the four chosen cards.

"To know how to answer question, we start by looking at family's mood and energy. It matters more than you think." He flipped over the card to reveal the Five of Cups, illustrated with an elven man looking down upon three overturned cups, the other two still standing. "This is not good sign. It is showing that they struggle to accept what is happening. They start to grieve, though she is not yet gone. Your family begins to lose hope."

"The second card shows what you need to know at this moment." Tolunai flipped over the second card, which showed The Lovers - two goddesses in elaborate robes, facing each other with linked hands. "Eh. This is strange in reading for family, but the Lovers also show partnership. This partnership, it is important that you seek it out soon as possible. It is vital in some way to solving this problem."

"The next card shows what outside force is influencing problem." He flipped over the card to reveal to her the Wheel of Fortune, with strange winged creatures dancing around a wheel marked with symbols. "This card stands for cycles of inevitable change. This means more than a change in season - it is fate coming to call and it cannot be ignored."

"The final card is what you must not do, no matter what." Now Tolunai turns over The Hierophant. The image is of an aged elf with a long beard, sitting on a throne of cold stone. "Hmm. This is card for conforming to tradition or following rules. This reading says, don't do that. If there is way to save your sister, it won't be by ducking your head down and doing what others do."

Did that answer her question? Perhaps not, but Tolunai does add, "Seeing future in certain terms is difficult. These cards say, it is too early to know for sure when you can take these steps for better outcome."

He's scanning their surroundings, looking for any sign of pursuit, and only when he finds none does he turn back to Ilda. This whole scene is too fresh in his mind, having been such a short time before he arrived in Aifaran that this same thing had happened.

"That was Bishamonten, a Goddess of War. She and I have... history," Yato said, panting a little as he scanned the sky, even though he hadn't seen any trace of Kuraha either. "I've mostly managed to keep off her radar the last few centuries, but she tried to kill Yukine and I not long before I arrived here in Aifaran. She won't care that you're not from the Far Shore now that she knows you're associated with me, got it?"

Tolunai had dealt with skeptics before. Granted, there were far more of them when he had first started, but after becoming more well-known in Ul'dah he was more often left alone by the ones that didn't care for it. Of course, this was a new place, and doing readings here meant starting all over again. He couldn't say he was happy to do that.

Still, he keeps a smile frozen on his face behind the veil. "It could be my unwilling companion," Tolunai admitted, gesturing over to his shadow - which was making faces at her, sticking out its tongue and making its eyeballs bulge. "If I could tear it from me and throw it in garbage, I would. Little bastard does nothing to add to mood."

Nita blinked. "Uhh, what's public schooling like in your world? For us, it's about our eleventh year. And a florist is someone who works with flowers and other plants."

She would never get entirely used to how different some worlds were, would she?

Ilda's reaction to her real reveal is, if anything, relaxing, if not outright refreshing. Though she did snort at Ilda's question.

"No, no, far from it! We're the ones who get to know the worlds, talk to the universe and have it answer back. The Powers That Be made it, sure, but they trust us to handle it while it's running."

Which was sometimes overwhelming, but still.

... You wouldn't happen to be in contact with other planets back home, would you?

[Because that might explain the disparity; Nita's own 'verse has 'the billion homeworlds'. Not all places come like that - or even most.

Meanwhile, her shadow just indicates 'blah, blah, blah' as best it can.]

Like this, Bobby can only sense Kofuku as a girl, and not a god. There might be some little tug at the back of her mind, but no more than that. What she does notice is the kerfuffle at the register that starts almost as soon as the girl arrives. It's probably coincidental.

She has halfway decent taste in fashion, or at least what works for her. Bobby wanders closer, glancing over the racks as she examines a blouse.

"That's a lovely dress," Bobby comments lightly, smiling. "It compliments your hair. You should try it on and see how it fits."

Sassy little thing, wasn't he? Fascinating. Was that the cat in him, or just his nature? She laughed quietly and gave a slight nod.

"Quite a good point," the demon acknowledged. "If you really insist, my name is Bobby. Now it's your turn, unless you're going to be rude."

"That's not why I'm shouting!!"

Argh, why does this little punk make her even angrier?! Dairine tries, to little avail, to breathe deep and calm down. The only thing she manages is to focus her anger back on the original subject.

"Look at him! Something's completely changed his setup!! And model! And... everything!"

Bobby turns to glance at her shadow; it snarls silently at the Fool and mimes laughter. She scowls at it, and it isn't entirely faked. "Yeah, it seems like it doesn't really care about the impression it leaves on people," she laments, putting the dress back on the rack. "It's like I've been tagged like a wild animal. Everyone knows I don't belong."

A moment later she smiles apologetically. "Sorry, being here is very strange. I guess 'strange' is normal in a place like this, people coming and going at random. I don't mean to drag down your shopping."

X considered the angel, mulling the simple question over in his mind. He didn't yet know if all the new Dreamfolk with the attached shadow monsters were going to stay in Aifaran long-term, and couldn't bring himself to trust the previous stories saying they wouldn't. Then again, he'd already chosen not to lie, and a name -- even his own -- was harmless enough.

"X," he said, shaking Raphael's hand. The silence before he spoke might have given the wrong impression, so he followed it up with: "I know what that sounds like, but it's real."

A real placeholder, if not a real name.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 7 of 12

[EVENT] 4th Wall - SHADOW WALKERS

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

somewhere in Aifaran - closed to Ilda;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject