cccorp: (Default)
CyberConnect Corporation ([personal profile] cccorp) wrote in [community profile] altimit2023-10-06 12:54 pm
Entry tags:

⬣//SPREAD, CONTAMINATE, ERADICATE

//AN ILL OMEN

You've had a chance to adapt to your new circumstances and make peace with what your life has become… hopefully. If you haven't, don't expect life to get any easier.

A few things have changed in recent days. Healing no longer works as effectively as it did in the past. If you're in the habit of behaving recklessly, don't expect one of Fragment's few healers to pick up the slack. Broken bones will now remain broken no matter how many healing spells are cast on your shattered limbs. Damage to organs can't be repaired with the wave of a wand.

What's more, HP and SP restoring items have gotten harder and harder to come by. Potions are no longer available for purchase at generic NPC shops and gatherable items needed for crafting have become fewer and fewer in number, limiting your item making options. If you've gotten into the bad habit of injuring yourself heedless of the consequences, it's time to rethink your lifestyle. Playtime is over.

//PAY IT NO MIND

Think of the three core memories that have formed and shaped the person you are today. Some will think back fondly on family and friends while others have been jaded by the ill treatment they've received from important figures in their lives. In any case, it's of little concern to you now. One of those three precious memories has vacated your mind, taking with it a vital piece of you that you can no longer get back.

You may choose one of the three key memories listed on your application to be taken away from your character. Choices are limited to the memories supplied in your application and additional memories submitted for the previous memshare event or not eligible for convenient plot-induced memory loss. Choose wisely, because you aren't getting it back.

//GHOSTS AND GOBLINS

And Sky Fish, and Disco Knives, and Evil Armors…

Has anyone noticed the monsters around town lately? Which town, you may ask? The answer is all of them.

Monsters have invaded Root Towns in large waves, attacking anything and everything in sight. Any lovingly crafted signs or other furnishings you've erected around town are easily torn to shreds and destroyed by the monsters who have come to roost in your once safe Root Towns. On the plus side, PvE and PvP has now been enabled in all Root Towns, which is excellent news for those who wish to combat the monster invasion and those who can't seem to help hurting themselves and others.

These monsters range in level from 50 to 75, and while many of them can be defeated with a bit of ingenuity and teamwork, some of them boast impenetrable shields that no regular attacks or spells can break through. They are also immune to status/potion/armor effects.

When in doubt, turn to your fellow players for support. There may be some among you who know how to deal with these impossibly strong monsters, but there's no guarantee that they'll want to help you.

//WHISPERS ON THE WIND

A lilting, boyish voice sings to you in your sleep. His voice sounds familiar to you, tickling your heart like a call from an old friend, but this is no friend of yours.

"You had every chance to abandon this world and return to your own. What stopped you? Was it ego? Hubris? In any case, it's too late for regrets now.

They say the world is what you make of it. Doesn't the same hold true for reality?"

The voice will periodically visit you and your sleep, but the moral of his message never changes: you did this to yourself. You were trapped here because you chose to look the other way. If anyone is to blame for the current situation, it's you and you alone, but there is a̸̬̲͔̘͈͚̠̫̘̬̗̖̋͑̉̓̿͛̈́̋͐̃̾̈̕̕ͅń̵̩̱̠̫̖̬̲̻͉̝̈́̀̀̚͜͜o̴͍͎̣͔̤̝̲͍̺̿̒t̴̨͚͓͍̜̮̥͊͑̿̈́̉̂̐͜͠͝h̷̨̨̦͕͖̙̞͙̗̗͎̬͛̂̾̋̅͜͜͝ȩ̸͎̭̙̜̯͎̯̳̮̘̲͒ȑ̸̡̧̢͓̠̦͙͇͍͎̭͑̈́̓̿̓̅̑̅̌͑̈́̕͝͝ ̴̧̼͕̟̬̰̞̮̗͔͈̬̙͍̈́̀w̵̗̖̩̘͇͖̲̩̫̣̗̙̲̌͜a̷̛͎͋͑̃͛̆̈̋̑̋͠y̴̡̬͕͈̗̫̯̟̯͊͐̌̀̐͑͘͝͝.

Another h̶̦̘̤̘͐͑̿̂̏̎͋͝o̴̧͖͚̖̜͓͂̏́͒̑̈́͝͝p̶̡͙̏̉̿̎̀̑́̈̆͌̉e̷̡̡̦̣̯̘̺͍̟̰͍̤͛̀́̚͝͠. Will you heed that voice and call to it?

ganymed: (be that blind)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-10-15 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
I wish you could.

[ And Ganymede wishes he might be able to believe it, were Michel able to do exactly that. But alas, alas indeedy... ]

...I also wish I could know either which way.

I definitely believe CC Corp obviously trapped us here, but the other aspects like the monsters or whatever else, are more difficult to deal with. It's a pain in the ass.

[ He pauses because his brows furrow like wait. ]

You spoke to somebody named 'Lily'?
insinning: (neutral; brooding)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
[ This is one place where that vindictive and vengeful personality comes in handy.]

Together.

[Sinclair echoes, soft and strong. He nods, reaching for those memories, where he felt he had been Oria himself. ]

I saw it in the Hall of Mirrors. You were in a hospital room. It was quiet, empty. He--Lenore--he was suffering from cystic fibrosis. It was terminal. It made his skin taste salty. There were flowers. You snuck a fake one in there, I think. That was the only one that was still alive. He was in so much pain. And so were you.
insinning: (smile; this can be good)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
But I didn't think about the lilies.

[Hehehe]
ganymed: (And you'll break)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-10-15 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, and for good reason, from Ganymede's perspective. ]

I'd like to come along with whenever you do. They're going to need a lot of ass-kicking for what they've done.
insinning: (surprise; another fluster)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
[ Honestly, maybe. They deserve it though? At least it's not the friendly fugu ]

<< I know. I'm rusty. I only ever spoke to my executive manager like this. >>

[He'll fix it!!! They get a bit sharper as he remembers though. Sinclair leans to the side to get a better look at the cat]

<< Why would you name your cat that? >>

[The movements are sharper. Indignant. Poor cat?? Cat seems happy though]
ganymed: (How can I explain)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-10-15 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
I guess I can forgive you a little bit because you said 'it's uniquely you'.

Not anything else though, including the part about slow realizations.

[ Ganymede says in a deadpan manner. ]
dissimulative: (pic#15305390)

[personal profile] dissimulative 2023-10-15 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oria quietly breathes in... then out. He listens to every single word Sinclair says and he tries not to go overboard with his emotions, even though he said that he could let them free. Oria knows he shouldn't. Not right now. ]

... Ha.

[ He huffs out a lone laugh in its absurdity. ]

That sure sounds like me. What a lame pun too...
ganymed: (Can't get away from drama)

[personal profile] ganymed 2023-10-15 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ganymede is a little nosy when it comes to checking out his immediate surroundings, and it is a bit of a survivalist instinct that kicks in as he takes in every corner of the room.

After ascertaining where everything is, he crosses his arms, looking at the other with a tiny frown. ]


Fortunately for you, or maybe not, it'll probably be awhile before I gather everyone again for another meeting.

I don't know what the hell that was all about. But, I expect you to give apologies where they need to be given, starting with that.

You wouldn't be very happy if any of your close family members were harmed, right?

[ He has a brother and seems to care about him. Ganymede has noticed that much. Though he makes the distinction of 'close' due to people's histories. ]
dissimulative: (pic#16653592)

[personal profile] dissimulative 2023-10-15 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks!

[ Oria grins. ]

But seriously, don't overwork yourself. There are a lot of shielded monsters out there. The last thing we need is a man down when we already have so few in number.
Edited 2023-10-15 03:05 (UTC)
userunfriendly: (11)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-10-15 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
They certainly trapped us here. The conference was their own doing. The original logout bug might have been a simple trial run for that...

[ But the rest... He frowns a little and pushes the tea back towards Ganymede before glancing around again for monsters. But even though he's been in the habit of talking casually in Mac Anu, they need to be more vigilant now. ]

I did. Have you heard the voice recently? We should return to the guild if we're going to stand and talk.
gluttoning: (002)

[personal profile] gluttoning 2023-10-15 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
...No. I wouldn't. I guess I should be glad my family's safe on the other side of this.

[Still, it gets his eyes to soften with guilt and a flicker of compassion.]

...Is Hani a family member of yours?
tylorific: (well handled solutions)

do you say*

[personal profile] tylorific 2023-10-15 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
Oh not at all. I have plenty of stuff.

[ Tylor doesn't seem any more fazed than usual. ]

Great idea. [ And if they've still got a hand joined or not, they do now if Sinclair lets him take hold and step in the right direction. ]

Stress isn't very good for you, you know.
secondthoughts: (listening)

[personal profile] secondthoughts 2023-10-15 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
Who says I don't care about you?

[ People are complicated. Especially Hector. ]

C'mon. Let's get inside before more monsters come. [ He jerks his chin to a nearby building. An NPC home, probably. ] I need to see if I can help you with your head.
insinning: (thinking; not the worst thing)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Sinclair lets Tylor take his hand again. It's Tylor. It feels right]

...probably not. But this place is getting really stressful.
Edited 2023-10-15 03:19 (UTC)
rebelles: (Default)

[personal profile] rebelles 2023-10-15 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
...Very much the worst.

[ She admits after a breath. Wow, she can't believe she said that. She's felt suffocated for a long time but has only recently been able to admit it out loud. Haru's learning how to be a teenager, even if her rebellious phase comes a little late. ]

It's my last year of high school, so a mix of subjects to prepare for college.
userunfriendly: (2)

[personal profile] userunfriendly 2023-10-15 03:12 am (UTC)(link)
D-don't go making it sound like I'm trying to make a dramatic sacrifice!

[ Oria?! His luck is bad enough as it is without being jinxed. But he checks his equipment to make certain he's one piece shy of the set bonus, in case he needs to change it quickly. ]

It has a short radius effect that makes monsters lose the will to fight... except the sexton. [ Screw that guy. ] I'll only be in a bad position if you get caught up in it also.
alchemicalbirth: (17)

[personal profile] alchemicalbirth 2023-10-15 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
Hello.

...I see you were in deep thought about our situation.

[ He'll remark to make it clear that he doesn't think he was imagining things. ]
insinning: (neutral; look away)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[He rubs the back of Oria's shoulders. It was Oria all over.] There was a poem he shared with you. "Oed' und leer das Meer." You said he liked that line.

He was dreaming of becoming a pilot, wasn't he? But he couldn't. You wanted him to be...free from it. From his pain. But you stopped. [pause, this is where he wasn't sure what happened but]

Even so, people believed you pulled his life support. There was a court case over it but they judged you had nothing to do with it. But there were so many rumors afterwards. It was ugly. You weren't allowed to go to his funeral, or visit his grave. And, at the school meet, you looked so sad. That's why I tried talking to you then. And ate all that food even if I didn't want to. I wanted you to see there were people who didn't believe that.
tylorific: (trust more than words)

[personal profile] tylorific 2023-10-15 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ A shrug, his usual slouch in place as he walks them down like it's a casual stroll on a normal day in a normal place. ]

Sure, but all we can do is our best. The rest will take care of itself.
insinning: (thinking; that's a lot of money)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
Mmm, I think so. We need to figure out what's important and in short supply.

[Hmmm, he's got some paper from the shop so. He'll take it out]
ophidie: (⛎ 9)

ii.

[personal profile] ophidie 2023-10-15 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Despite her stated dislike of most animals, Miharu keeps finding herself back here now that the root towns are deadly to her. There's usually someone else in here who's more interesting to the creatures, so all she has to do is keep her distance.

Usually.
]

They aren't attacking you. Doesn't that count?

[Her tone is very mild.]

Actually, I think it could be reassuring - that they're all so excited to see you. You must have a way with them.
insinning: (thinking; hmmm idk)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
...is it really that case though?

[Hmmm. Lets dodge some of those green shielded monsters]
tylorific: (everything will be fine)

[personal profile] tylorific 2023-10-15 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I think so. Because if we did our best, then there's nothing else that could've been done anyway. So why worry so much about it?

[ Yes, normal place besides pointedly giving the shield monsters wide berth. But he's still too casual knowing another wave could cut their break short. ]
insinning: (smile; this can be good)

[personal profile] insinning 2023-10-15 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
...what if our best isn't based on the best information?

[Well, Sinclair will be Tylor's shield. Strong and determined, getting back to the guilds!!!]
tylorific: (just think of tomorrow)

[personal profile] tylorific 2023-10-15 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
You see, that's part of it too. We just have to do our best to make sure we have the best information possible.

[ He swings their arms gently, smiling. To the guilds! ]

But sometimes you can't know what you don't know. No one knows everything about everything.
Edited 2023-10-15 04:10 (UTC)