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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Raine knows well enough what it means, to be drawn to this world temporarily. All the changes, all the years passed, have not changed the Dreaming so much.

So: she has perhaps two weeks to catch up and make the most of those friends yet here.

...Science wins first. There's a shadow-creature tagging at her heels, and it isn't her husband's doing. Near the Dreaming Bridge, a little out of the way but near enough the main street, Raine hunkers down to prod at it. It grins at her; she frowns at it, and spins light out into testing probes.

The shadow grins less, but her light doesn't do much to it. "Fascinating," she murmurs, and tries a different approach.

"Miss Sage," Klaus greeted her with a customary bow. He was formal as ever, but there was warmth in his tone. One didn't forget a friend that got you mutually banned from Anton's kitchen.

"It's been quite some time. I'm glad to see you."

"Klaus." Raine had heard him coming, glanced back from her shadow-study; but only after he bows does she actually get up, stretching her legs and inclining her head. "I have heard that it's been some while; but I admit, I'm not sure of the exact number." An invitation for clarification, perhaps. She taps the butt of her staff on the ground thoughtfully. "It's a pleasure to see you again as well. Though of course, it hasn't been nearly so long for me."

"More than half a year from where I stand," Klaus said. Longer, if he included the time spent at home.

"Maybe closer to a year. Aifaran is quite a bit different than Keeliai - things have changed a great deal over the centuries since Tu Vishan took off."

How time flowed. Raine inclined her head to him. "I can only imagine. I haven't had the opportunity to do very much research yet." There had been some introduction, coupling things she knew with new facts, and she had been able to get more from other Dreamfolk, those who weren't startled or affrighted by the shadow tailing her heels. "...tell me, did the Hotel make it through?"

"Only the lucky spirit house and the coffee beans," Klaus said with a solemn shake of his head. He felt a pang of loss at the memory of Anton, Erskine, China, and Skulduggery. "It's probably still there on Tu Vishan's back, but that's well out of reach. And those we knew are... long gone. Home, or otherwise."

His expression softened. He was sure that was not the answer Raine had wanted.

"I've been keeping an eye out for them, though."

Not even the Spirit of Darkness had been able to unnerve Sheena the way the shadows attached to these new Dreamfolk could. As a result, her nerves are pretty strung and her senses on high as she moves through the city.

And perhaps it's because of this and a strong bond of friendship--that the ninja senses a very familiar mana signature.

Raine.

Smiling, she turns the corner and comes up behind the other woman. Crossing her arms, she shakes her head--her still long ponytail swaying from the action.

"Do you have to study everything"?

Sheena just can't "hello" like a normal person, can she?

"Yes, I do." Raine's smiling as she stands and turns to see Sheena, unsurprised. It is, after all, difficult to surprise a half-elf who has already been focusing on the local mana. "This is, after all, how I understand the world around me. Hello, Sheena. It's good to see you again."

Though for her it hasn't been all that long, she is well aware that some significant time has passed. She doesn't precisely lunge for a hug; but she ignores the thing she was just studying and takes a step toward Sheena, which is close enough.

Yeah, she didn't think Raine would miss her mana signature--focused on the local area or not. One day, she will surprise her.

"No, you don't," the ninja counters with an impish grin. "Because there are some things you don't have to understand; you only have to accept them." Her smile widens. "It's really good to see you again, too." She's missed the half-elf, but she's not going to let on just how much. Especially recently.

Sheena, on the other hand, goes in for a hug--after making a ball of light in her hand to show it to the shadow and keep it at bay. She had seen enough of Raine's test to know it won't hurt it--only keep it unhappy. Which is all the ninja really needs.

Three's a crowd, thank you very much.

Ordinarily Raine has no hate for shadows; but this one is strange, and does not herald who she would wish to see.

"Such things still need to be studied to know if they can be understood," Raine protests, and she has some more to that argument, but then Sheena is hugging her, and, well.

Raine knows what it is like, to see someone lost again. She subsides, delicately wrapping her arms around Sheena and resting her head on the ninja's shoulder. "...how long has it been? That you are conscious of?"

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."

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ruinsprofessor - 2018-08-03 02:26 (UTC) - Expand

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ninjainviolet - 2018-08-04 04:01 (UTC) - Expand

There's a sharp edge to the air, the sense of a soul so familiar she could sense it even from across the city. Raine. Valdis wastes no time with the shift, darting from her apartment and weaving through the streets, feeling the odd tug as she focused in on that single soul. How long had it been since she had felt joy?

The locals and other Dreamfolk moved out of her path, some chattering angrily about her passing others simply looking bewildered at the sight of the kirin-sized canine racing through the city. Raine.

She pulled up short at the edge of an alley, watching the light mage and ignoring the displeasure of her constant companion. The sight of the shadow didn't diminish how she felt about seeing the woman again. Even if it was only for a short time, it was nice to see someone who had experienced so much with her.

Ah, that's a mana signature she couldn't miss unless she'd gone human. Raine straightens from her examination, and when she turns there's a deep smile tucked into the corners of her mouth. "Valdis," she says, tilting her head at the hound. "I didn't expect you so quickly."

She had expected Valdis eventually, if she yet remained in this world, though Raine wasn't actually certain how far the reach of Valdis' sense for souls extended. "Are you well?"

There are some whom I will move heaven and earth to see, Valdis replies, striding across the street to drop her head over the woman's shoulder, tucking her chin in a hug.

I am...not certain, she continues, stepping back a moment later to look Raine in the eyes, I feel as if I no longer know who I am, a strange sensation for sure, but I am not unwell in any case.

It is the closest equivalent to a hug one can reasonably expect from a hound of this size. Raine lifts her free hand to rest gently over Valdis's neck for a moment, so long as Valdis is there. She lets go when Valdis steps back. "Then I consider myself fortunate."

Their relationship hasn't always been smooth; but Raine is glad they have come to this. "You aren't so far changed that I can't recognize you, at least," Raine says judiciously, thoughtful. "And your mana signature remains approximately the same, all in all. Would it help you to speak of the difficulty?"

That is reassuring, She snorted in amusement. Leave it to Raine to judge from a logical standpoint, though Valdis supposed she had missed the aspect. So many were left to the whims of emotions these days.

There is a mirror here, she began, A man who slept through my memories. It is...difficult to reconcile seeing myself reflected in his eyes. He has not expressed anything other than kindness, yet no one can taste the blood I have spilled and remain untainted by it."

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ruinsprofessor - 2018-08-03 02:42 (UTC) - Expand

Almost as soon as Pepper was alerted to the latest influx of temporary Dreamfolk, she made a point to visit the Dreaming Bridge daily to see if her father or anyone else she knew had returned. So far she hasn't seen Virgil, but today she spots a familiar orange coat out of the corner of her eye and does a double-take.

Pepper switches direction and jogs over to where her friend is prodding at the shadow attached to her. It's such a Raine thing to do it almost hurts.

"Raine!" She calls out, grinning. The smile falters momentarily when she realizes that there's no guarantee Raine will know her, and that stops Pepper from wrapping her in a hug. "...Please tell me you remember me."

Pepper. Raine is smiling as she stands and turns, and she shifts her staff from one hand to the other; and Pepper, looking for some sign of her friend, may note the wedding ring of wreathed leaves. Yes: this is the same Raine. "I do," she confirms, taking a few steps toward Pepper as the shadow bounces from side to side and grins, pale mockery of Raine's genuine smile. "I understand it's been too long. How have you been, Pepper?"

Pepper ignores the shadow's mockery; as soon as she knows it's her friend, Pepper gives Raine a strong, lingering hug. She's missed her terribly.

"I'm..." She pauses to consider this, which marks the enormous amount of change that she's undergone since her arrival in Keeliai. "Okay, mostly. Tony went home about a month ago, so Gene's been staying with us. Bakura and I got a townhouse together. Oh!" Pepper brightens. "You need to come home and see him, he'll be so happy to see you. They both will." It'll be bittersweet, since Raine clearly won't be staying, but it's better than nothing. "When did you get here? Are you hungry, can I buy you lunch?"

The breath goes out of Raine with the force of the hug, but she cares not at all.

Her face falls evidently at the mention of Tony's loss. "I'll have to see if there is anything I can do for Gene, while I'm here." She is well aware of how this sort of thing feels, and Gene... will likely take it harder than most.

A pause, then Raine shakes it off. She is here for now, and there is Pepper, and it is... better than it could be. "I've only been here a few hours. I'm not hungry yet, but more than likely I will be soon. You and Bakura are still doing well together, then?" That's pleasing; they are both close to her heart.

"I'm sure he'll appreciate that, even if he doesn't say it. You know how he is about this kind of stuff." Raine knows better than most, in fact. She was an incredible source of wisdom and care back in Keeliai on multiple occasions. "He disappeared for about a week, but he did agree to come home with me, so that's... sort of progress."

Things are not resolved on that front. Gene is still struggling, but at least he has people around him to give him support while he finds his way.

Pepper grins, and that should be answer enough to Raine's question. "Yeah. It's been really nice to find a place to live together that belongs to us both and make it ours, you know? I mean, Jade Dojo was definitely ours by the time we left, but it's different getting to build something from the ground up. He's still working out what he's doing here," she adds, gesturing to the city at large. "But yeah, we're good. Great, even. It's weirdly normal living with him."

It's possible she's talking a mile a minute again. She's excited!

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ruinsprofessor - 2018-08-03 02:36 (UTC) - Expand

People lost, people found.

The influx of new (and temporary) Dreamfolk has Gene on edge - if Howard shows up, what can he say? They're in a new place and Tony is suddenly lost? That would get Gene a punch at best, hours of awkwardly comforting his boyfriend's father about metaphysical issues at worst.

And much worse would be if Tony returned with one of those shadows. That's been keeping him up at night ever since this started. He wants to see Tony again, but not like this. Not when they know they'll have so little time together. (But at least, he'd thought bitterly, they'd have some sort of a clock on it. In his experience, it had usually lasted about a fortnight. Too short a time.)

It's in this morose state of mind, where he's avoiding all unusual shadows, when a shock of white hair catches his eye, and he stares in disbelief.

"Raine?"

Edited 2018-07-22 01:15 (UTC)

"Gene!" She looks immensely pleased to see him, as soon as face and voice and mana signature have all coalesced into the unmistakeable identity. Gene, and the Gene she has known, as much familiar and integral presence in this world as Bakura is.

She has crossed to him within seconds, the shadow tailing at her heels bouncing from side to side like a grinning child's toy. "It's been a while." Not for her; but for him, she's well aware. "Are you all right?"

There's no point in pretending she doesn't know about Tony.

"Ever the scholar," greets a familiar voice, or at least he hopes it will be familiar to her, though nothing in this place is certain. Still, Bakura hadn't wasted much time in tracking her down at the Bridge when he'd heard of someone matching her description.

"Welcome back, seba-rekhet."

"Always." Raine straightens smiling, the shadow dancing uncanny echo behind her, and she tilts her head to survey Bakura. She looks much the same as he might remember, from the ring on her finger to the way her hair is tucked behind one ear, exposing a point she never would have been comfortable showing even a year ago, by her time. "...you look well. It hasn't been all that long, for me, but-- nevertheless, it's still good to see you again."

He is a touchstone, a point of familiarity; he had been in Keeliai all the time she was there. This world would feel stranger and darker, more alien, without his presence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[EVENT] 4th Wall - SHADOW WALKERS

Raine Sage | Tales of Symphonia | Open [CRAU]

:')

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<3

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:D

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oh good someone to commiserate with

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