⬣//SPREAD, CONTAMINATE, ERADICATE

[cccorp]

>>Famine // >>Death // >>War // >>Conquest

⬣//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?

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Comments

[gluttoning]

[He'll lead Ganymede up the stairs, unlocking one of the guild creator rooms and holding it open. It's not decorated outside bare minimum of furniture - a bed, a wardrobe, places for storage, places to hang his equipment while he sleeps. Two dog beds sit in one corner of the room next to a sturdy looking chair. Another has papers tacked up with numbers and dates scrawled in a messy list.

Barrett sets himself on the end of the bed, arms supporting his weight against his knees as he looks up at Ganymede.]

...I'm guessing I'm not coming back to any more meetings after this.

[ganymed]

[ 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. ]

[gluttoning]

...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?

[ganymed]

You should.

Also, promise you won't hurt him again.

[ He says with an intensive glare because yeah. He doesn't care how outlandish his words sound, he's still low-key furious.

He's seen enough of his family hurt or worse. He will do anything he can to not have a repeat of it all. ]

That's right, he is. Hani is my cousin, and he means a lot to me. [ Ganymede adds even if it is obvious because he's still kind of angy magpie hours: ] We've known each other since childhood.

[gluttoning]

You must be close. I'm glad they have a lot of people on their side.

[...

His eyes drift to his hands, brow tightening. ]

I've sent them a message already. They need to stay away from me. Hurting them or Vogel again is the last thing I want.

[ganymed]

I'm glad too.

[ Ganymede says, not exactly in a diplomatic tone, but one nonetheless. ]

But, yes, you're obviously right about us being close.

If you've sent them a message, then good. But, you need to keep it in mind even if you do happen to cross paths again. Got it?

[gluttoning]

I know. I'm not an idiot.

[There's an odd bite to the words.]

Why are you talking for them, anyway? Hani and Vogel can speak to me just fine.

[ganymed]

Good on you for that.

[ Then there is a glare in his direction to go as well that is just...outright nasty, like daggers capable of piercing stone, and a hint of something dark rising to the surface. ]

I'm speaking to you too, in case you feel like losing your mind around someone I care about again.

Don't act like I'm being unreasonable. As if you'd be willing to let it easily go if someone hurt somebody you care about.

Hani is my cousin. I will do anything to protect them. Remember that.

[ Ganymede also never closed the door either, but he feels like he's made his point, so he will move to leave. ]

[gluttoning]

[A normal Misteaks would bow his head to that. Take the blow and try to learn from it.

Now, he bristles, the words going straight to his temper regardless of the meaning.]

Don't talk to me like I'm some sort of animal when you don't sound like you'd be any better.

What do you think I was doing?

[Roughing up Sinclair for shits and giggles? Really?]

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede turns his head to look at the other male.

Then he just sneers. ]

I already answered that, didn't I? At least I could actually control myself.

Can you say you did that when you hurt two people? [ A brief, cold smile. ] No?

Maybe I would actually speak to you just fine if you didn't attack someone just for having a different opinion than you.

[gluttoning]

[He shoves up to his feet with enough force that the wood of the bedframe screeches against the floor.]

What do you expect? For me to just sit there and listen to all of you pick him apart? Do you want me to apologize that I can't fix problems that even Lily can't solve right now?

Did you expect someone NOT to get angry?

[ganymed]

[ Ganymede is facing the other man completely now, because this is apparently happening. ]

I expect AND want someone to control themselves, even if they DO get angry! Even when YES people are picking apart that Lily friend of yours because they don't have a reason to trust whoever they're supposed to be!

I didn't flip my damn lid when someone expressed distrust in Zelkova even if I didn't like it. So, why is it you can't do the same, hm? Because you think somehow you're special?

Is that what it is?! That you're entitled to hurt people for distrusting someone they aren't obligated to trust in the first place?!

[gluttoning]

[He should de-escalate. He should let Ganymede go and take the loss.

He doesn't want to.

He doesn't budge.]

Why don't you?

Why is this the only time you're getting mad? Why not earlier? Why not before I threw a punch?

Are you mad at me or are you just furious you didn't act any sooner?

[ganymed]

[ That sure is a reasonable reaction, huh!!

Ganymede is giving him a nasty glare for those words. ]

Don't be so obtuse. I'm angry because you got violent and hurt someone, that's what it boils down to.

[ ...Then, there is another pause, as he unfolds his arms. ]

Are you just unhappy somebody is taking you to task when they should? Acting like a child isn't helping your little friend...I thought you wanted to do that. Was I wrong about that too?

[gluttoning]

No-- that's not it-- [It's a frustrated mumbling at first, an inability to pull his words together, a snapping back into focus--

What a good look he gives him. What cold fury.

...]

You're too loud.

I already know what I'm doing to help. Even if I've messed up. Is your screaming helping anyone but you?

Are you really angry enough for Hani's sake, Ganymede?

[ganymed]

[ 'Listen well, Ganymede...don't you think life is quite dull?

But, hate makes for a wonderful way to pass time. Don't you agree?'

Ganymede recoils away from the other male, looking at him like he's an alien, stepping back, and away from him. Not just anger simmering underneath the surface but something between disgust and searching. This sounds like something Apollo would say. Not anyone with a right mind. ]

...What the hell is wrong with you?!

[gluttoning]

[It stings, it stings, and yet it's not the right reaction, fueling his own flame.]

Now you're backing off? After you spent all that effort insulting me?

I'm tired of words.

[He's closing the distance fast, intent on grabbing one of Gany's arms.

Do something, you coward.

]

[ganymed]

[ ... ]

Lily turned you into a freak.

[ Ganymede jumps back out of the way of the other's grasp, nimble and quick; he throws him another dirty look, tossing his hair. ]

I could give you what you'd like. But then, that would make you pretty happy, wouldn't it?

I guess you'll just have to deal with the fact I insulted you, like you deserved.

[ After that, he'll run off, making a quick get away. ]

[gluttoning]

[Ganymede will hear the crash of something in his wake, something breakable being smashed into a wall with a yell of rage.

But he will not be pursued.]