⬣//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?

>>Navigation

Comments

[fluorite]

[ He holds back a laugh when he's handed the blue set. ]

For my eyes, right?

[ They're red-rimmed and tired, but still very much blue. ]

Do I need to give you instructions on how to play this game, or do you think you've seen enough golf to get it?

[trollophoroi]

I thought it suitable.

[ That or it was the pink ones, which, honestly, probably also suitable, but Fandaniel's already strolling on into the little indoor course by the time he thinks to laugh and mention that, too. ]

I know you hit the ball into the hole and that this sort has all the weird decor and moving parts to block you.

[ Case in point, the first one has the generic windmill between them and the hole. ]

[fluorite]

[ He glances over at the windmill and then back at Fandaniel and smiles. ]

Yep. Lots of obstacles.

[ Fai twirls his club in his hands. ]

I'll let you go first and point out everything you're doing wrong~

[trollophoroi]

Oh? Such as if I simply walk around the windmill and put the ball in the hole?

[ Fandaniel, that's cheating, ah, but he won't do that. He'll put his ball down on the tee and make a grand show of lining it up and testing the wind (which doesn't exist as this is indoors) before... putting it. Tiny little putt noise. It rolls along the bright green fake grass only to be clipped by one of the passing windmill blades, knocking it into the gutter. ]

Hmm. Maybe I should be resorting to cheating after all.

[fluorite]

[ Making a whole show of it is already funny enough for Fai, but it's when the ball immediately gets sent to the shadow realm that he starts laughing. It's been days upon days since he last laughed, and it hurts his stomach.

But, he doesn't care much. ]

Wow! You know, I was going to suggest we add stakes to this, but maybe we shouldn't!

[ lol lmao rofl ]

[trollophoroi]

[ That laughter is contagious and Fandaniel, too, joins in. Ah, whatever had Fai looking so hollow, it's good to know he can still offer his friend some mirth, however temporary it may end up being. ]

Ha, why don't we still?

[ He asks once the laughter trails off and he straightens up again. He goes to retrieve his ball as he goes on. ]

Who knows? Maybe I will have a miraculous comeback midway through the game.

[fluorite]

Hmmm, if you're sure!

[ He saunters over to the tee, placing his ball down on it gently before practically tapping it with his club. Off it goes... right past the windmill obstacle and near the hole. ]

Since you'll probably lose, I'll let you decide on the stakes.

[trollophoroi]

Mm, no. You suggested it. You must have had something in mind.

[ Right, Fai would be the one to nearly get a hole-in-one. Psh, well, Fandaniel has to set his ball back down just outside the gutter where it ended up and take another whack at it. This time he times it so it does bypass the windmill obstacle, going under it and towards the hole. ]

[fluorite]

[ Good work, Fandaniel! Fai gives him a little round of applause, though his smile is sheepish. ]

I did, but... I didn't really have anything in mind.

[ Usually, he would have an idea or two on the tip of his tongue, but now? His thoughts are too muddled, to filled with grief to think of much else. It's a miracle that this little game is able to penetrate through that cloud hanging over his mind. ]

If I win, you'll owe me a round of drinks when we get back to the real world.

[ When, not if. If he doesn't hang onto this possibility, he'll have nothing left. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel pauses to look at Fai for a time, considering how to answer that. He has no intention of returning and yet... with how upset Fai seems to be, would now be the time to tell him? It is the want to be kind to his friend that he holds his tongue.

If he knew, if he knew the plan had always been to remain here... ]

Of course. A round of drinks in the real world.

[ All he can do is agree. Anything less would cause further upset and he would see his friend happy. In any case, he gestures towards Fai's ball. ]

Your turn. You're so close to the hole, it won't take more than a tap.

[fluorite]

[ He's surprised Fandaniel agreed so readily, but all it tells Fai is that the agreement isn't a real one.

He knows it isn't, but for right now? Fai will pretend that it is. He has to. ]

You're right~ But the tap has to be well-timed and extremely precise anyway.

[ So Fai takes his time of making a show of it, grinning up at Fandaniel before tapping the ball and watching it go into the hole.

While many of his smiles are false, this one is especially so. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Such a fake smile. It just... irks him. Typically, Fandaniel would let it go. He, too, has worn many fake smiles in the past, but right now? ]

Fai. Do you want me to simply pretend like you are enjoying yourself, for your sake?

[ Or is it more for Fandaniel's own sake? ]

[fluorite]

[ His brows furrow at the usage of "Fai" when they're alone, but he doesn't say anything about it. ]

...Whatever is easier for you.

[ It's a copout and he's well aware of it, but he doesn't know if he can muster up the energy to talk about everything going on either. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Because Fai is Fai's name, right? (: ]

Fine. [ A word that comes with a sigh. ] Pretending it is...

[ Whatever is wrong, he isn't saying, for whatever reason, and so he takes his turn putting his own ball into the hole. He does it, sure enough, though that still technically puts him one... stroke? Behind? Or however it is they score this game. ]

[fluorite]

[ He wants to keep pretending, but somehow Fandaniel pretending only makes it more difficult to do it himself. Funny how that works, isn't it?

Fai watches as he makes his ball into the hole, his brows furrowed as he stares at it for longer than he really needs to. ]

...Yael's dead.

[ No point in pretending. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ That brings with it a strange mix of emotions. Angry that Fai lost someone important and yet... and yet? Fandaniel won't turn toward him, instead opting to crouch down and retrieve both golf balls from the hole, if only to safeguard the series of feelings that flitted across his face. ]

Good. He was terrible for you. I imagine whatever happened was his own fault, in any case.

[fluorite]

[ He should have expected this reaction, in all honesty. Yet he's taken aback all the same, drawing in a soft breath as he watches Fandaniel retrieve the balls. ]

He wasn't terrible for me.

[ His grip tightens on his club as he makes a few steps towards the next hole. ]

[trollophoroi]

He was.

[ Fandaniel is adamant. ]

That man only drives people away. He would see you isolated and alone by driving not only me but everyone else you call a friend away, as far as away as they can get.

[fluorite]

He wouldn’t. I have plenty of friends he never drove away, and he resolved to keep his distance when it comes to you so that we could remain friends.

[ Fai narrows his eyes, his knuckles turning white as he grips the club in his hand tighter. ]

If anything, I’d say you’re trying to drive yourself away from me right now by speaking of him this way.

[ After all, this isn’t the first time Fandaniel has crossed the line in an attempt to push Fai away. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ He did claim Fai would hate him by the end, did he not? And the end feels so near, creeping in close and wrapping its fingers around his neck to— ]

Do you? Really? And who would those friends be? How many of them were on good terms with the man?

[ Fandaniel follows after Fai, club and balls in hand, although whether or not they get to the next hole is questionable at this point. ]

[fluorite]

[ Not many, because Yael makes it difficult to be on good terms with him at all. Fandaniel is right about that much, but just because he's right doesn't mean Fai wants to hear any of it. ]

Shut it.

[ That'll be the only warning Fandaniel gets. ]

I know you didn't like him, but I'd rather not hear questions like that right now. The least you can do is honor my request. You won't change my mind about him, so this conversation is moot.

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel pauses to watch Fai a moment, considering, but... ]

As you wish. [ He strolls on again, passing Fai by to the next course and placing his ball down for him on the green. ] In that case, 'tis your turn again, Fai.

[fluorite]

Your attempts to drive me away aren't going to work.

[ He readies the ball and taps it with his club, sending it off towards the hole. Hm. Just two more hits and he should get it in. ]

[trollophoroi]

[ Fandaniel's turn and... putt! Putt right into a frog's fake lilypad pond, set up as a sloping trap that he'll have to try and knock the ball back out of. Ah, so he is bad at golf. Noted.

Good thing he had no plans to climb to executive levels of the... the... the what? Well, it probably didn't matter. ]

No? Am I not putting in enough effort? What if I began flirting with you, knowing what has happened?

[fluorite]

I won’t reciprocate.

[ So Fandaniel would be flirting to no avail. He stares at the pond where the ball had disappeared, wondering if Fandaniel will go after it. ]