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Seasons Mods ([personal profile] seasonsmods) wrote in [community profile] seasonsgreetings2024-03-15 12:11 am
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Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)



Knocking on the 4th Wall
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION





Prelude (Pre 4th Wall)


On March 14th, everyone received a message. The Research Center is ready to try another test to find ways to beat the Darkness. This time the test is not done with the robots that were previously used, but instead everyone who volunteers will be participating in a virtual reality simulator. They're asked to come over to the Center on March 15th.

The researchers will explain that the purpose of this simulation is to see how several fully powered power holders fair against the Darkness. They have gathered enough data on it and the dark energy in general to determine the effects it will have on nature, monsters and wildlife if the barrier is taken off. This is the only safe way to actually test their theories.

After all the necessary explanations, everyone is asked to log in to the metaverse. Anyone logging in may notice that there are a lot of glitches as they enter.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, anyone looking at any kind of a screen (their own device, television, a digital advertisement, etc.) will have their mind sucked into the metaverse, due to the virus residing in the program. Their bodies will be left in a sleep-like state wherever they may be.



Wrong Turn at Albuquerque


The Research Center staff intended for all otherworlders to start near the Research Center so they could get used to the metaverse in peace. There are no natives in the simulator, so testing out powers around the city would have been safe as well. However, because of the glitch, people can appear anywhere, either in the city or anywhere on the segments (save from the one closed off location).

Sometimes the scenery and items in the world glitch a little bit, reminding anyone that this is the metaverse. Except the glitches weren't meant to happen. Luckily they're all mostly aesthetical, but some items may work differently than they should. You have a spoon? It actually works like a fork.

Luckily, this doesn't mean they will be without any items. They can open a menu with the device on their wrist that lets them get anything at all from Riki's Rewards during the simulator without any cost. They can think of this as special opportunity to test out all kinds of items before buying them, as they work exactly the same as they would in normal space.

For some reason, the Shady Shop also appears in the menu. That was not anyone's intention as the items are, well, shady.

Other than the two shops there are basic potion and magical item menus that people can use where needed. Even vehicles, such as airships can be summoned through the menus for easier traveling in the segments.

Some might find the glitches concerning and wish to return and tell the researches about them. The problem with that is is that clicking "Log Off" won't do anything at all, even if it's supposed to boot someone out of the metaverse. But that's not the end of the strange things going on.


You're in the Metaverse Now


Along with the otherworlders that were participating in the test, others start to join in as well due to unforeseen circumstances. Luckily, they have the same "settings" as everyone else, so they're not completely without aid wherever they end up in. They also have all of their powers unlocked for the duration of their stay in the metaverse (including all animal transformations).

As part of the strange glitch going on everyone also has access to any powers from previous worlds, if they have experienced other places before. It would seem the powers can also be shared through the item inventory, should anyone want to temporary use another world's abilities. This is possible with even a person's native powers.

And as if that wasn't enough, people who weren't on Ellipsa start appearing as well. Anyone who doesn't currently have a body on Ellipsa has a mark somewhere on their body, signaling that they're just data. This mark is somehow related to the characters that has it and emits a faint light.

All of the people who are just visiting will also be able to enjoy the metaverse the same way as anyone else. They have been sorted into a Seasons and have access to full powers - and the same item inventory. All that's different from the others is that they have no physical body to return to in this world.


Communication is the key


During the metaverse adventures, people are able to communicate through their devices, but the messages will not go out to the "normal" network. So the messages are only between those in the metaverse, but at least the network works the same way as it would in the "normal world".

Happy communicating.




It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See


The goal of the metaverse is to have a safe environment to test powers against the Darkness. All of the barriers have been taken out, except for the one surrounding the city of Nightwake. The city acts as a safe haven to anyone who needs a break or doesn't want to fight.

Everyone is encouraged to go to where the barriers used to be and use their full, unlocked powers against everything and anything the darkness throws at them to see how well they can fight against it.

Thanks to all powers being unlocked, destroying enemies powered up by the Darkness is a lot easier, but pushing back the approaching darkness still needs something more than just raw power. Though with enough power holders of different seasons working together and crossing the different seasonal element streams fusing together different elements from each season in a single attack, it's possible to halt the advance, much like a barrier would, for 24 hours.

Due to the barriers being off, all creatures are stronger due to the Darkness's influence. Even creatures that normally have no danger level can now at least do Dark damage. Some Slime especially may seek vengeance.

Unfortunately, due to the weird glitch in the system, everyone inside the metaverse is able to feel pain when they originally weren't supposed to, to make the experience safe. It feels very real, and there's a chance any non-lethal wounds will appear on the person's real body.

Effects of "The Darkness"


The Darkness is slowly expanding from all sides. Very slowly, at a snail's pace. Everything it touches turns into black sand, before transforming into something different. Some may even recognize the things that rise from the sand, as they're monsters, fauna or people from their own world, made into more twisted forms. They may even be creatures from a popular media from back home... or at least, someone's home (players').

If a Power Holder walks into the Darkness, they won't immediately turn into anything. Instead the transformation is slow and painful. Leaving the area will stop the transformation, but any damage already done remains. If the person changes completely, they might lose their sense of self completely and attack anything in their sights.

What they turn into depends on the individual (player's choice) and the only way to reverse the changes is to die. Luckily that isn't permanent even in the metaverse. The person just gets booted out, but can re-enter anytime they want to (or in this case; is forced to). This was told to anyone before entering the program, so they could go all out and test limits as much as they want.




Wait... Did I Save?


A screen appears either when someone dies or gets forcefully booted out of the metaverse. It has two options: Remember or Forget.

Clicking "Remember" will automatically save everything that happened into a person's memory and proceed to boot them out. Clicking "Forget" will lead the person to a series of "Are you Sure" pop up windows. As the very last resort, the window suggests an option to only partially forget events that transpired in the metaverse. Choosing to still forget everything will make the person wake up from a long, dreamless sleep. The memories erased cannot be found later on, as they have been completely erased from their metaverse-selves. Even someone telling them what happened won't sound familiar.

This option is also available for any visitors during the time they're visiting. Whenever they die they get booted out and can be immediately returned to the metaverse (by the power of players) with or without their memories, depending on what they chose.

Of course, anyone can then tell the person about the very crazy stunts they made the last time they were in the metaverse. They could be complete lies, but they wouldn't have any solid proof, other than "I would never do that".

Time to Say Goodbye


Finally, on March 31st, a message comes from the outside. It's telling everyone stuck in the metaverse that they can finally leave out of their own will and stay out this time. People can then choose to leave immediately be pressing by pressing the "Log Off" button on their screen or take a moment to say goodbye to the temporary visitors of the metaverse.

The screen asking if someone wants to "Remember" or "Forget" appears, once again. This time the Forget option is even more insistent on asking if the person is sure about their choice, especially since the memories that are erased can't be taken back later.

Once everyone who exists on Ellipsa has returned to their bodies, the metaverse will be shut down. All visitors have been booted out and returned to where they came.



OOC TIPS


• Ask 4th Wall related questions here. Read the 4th wall FAQ before asking them.

• You don't need to comment on the plotting post to participate & anyone can participate in the 4th wall (there's no separate invitation needed). However, if you wish to app in later, you need an invite if you're not a friend of the mods.

• This post is open to tag and top-level by everyone! Those arriving for the 4th wall can write 4TH WALL or VISITOR on their post and/or link their top level here!

Check the Opt-in top-level if you're considering bringing in a character that already exists in the game.

• Smut is not allowed on the event post, so if your thread is heading that way, please move it to a separate entry (like to your musebox or characters' journal).

• Remember to content and spoiler warn as necessary!

• Reminder to players in the game that this month is Activity Check-in month and check-in ends on March 31th, at 23:59 PST.






code bases by tricklet
luckynumber13: (Sure Sure)

Re: City pt2

[personal profile] luckynumber13 2024-04-23 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Why stop at burgers?" Dick asked. "Have you tried cooking other things?"

"I have to admit. I'm not use to people having super powers." Dick rubbed the side of his neck, trying to avoid thinking about Skye's needles. "That stuff is just mean to be in the movies."
daydreamshimmer: (Yeah I can smile and nod)

[personal profile] daydreamshimmer 2024-04-24 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
Its cool, right?

Maybe I'll be able to finally figure out how magic works as a human like this. Its a lot more consistent and self fueled over friendship magic.

Which is great, of course.

But not the most convenient for this kind of study.
dreamsofwings: (12)

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2024-04-24 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Eren listens. He tries to imagine Erwin as a cadet, though he comes up short. He's only known Erwin as the commander, and though he can see basically everything through various memories, pinning something specific down isn't very easy. Maybe with the Founder's power activated, but just with Eren's nonsense jumble of time all at once? Not really.

But then again, he literally interacted with Levi as a kid and still can't imagine him as anything but the captain. So maybe it's just an Eren problem, a lack of imagination.

"Did you win a lot?" he settles for asking.

"If we have any kind of competition, Mikasa will still kick our asses. But we could try it."
im_pancake: (Default)

[personal profile] im_pancake 2024-04-24 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
It really is.

And hey, I'll help you figure out everything, too!
dreamsofwings: (73)

[personal profile] dreamsofwings 2024-04-24 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Eren's frown just deepens. Really, Kenny isn't in the way either, Eren's just annoyed at this in general.

His eyes follow Kenny's movements, firing at the worm as if it were a mere inconvenience and not a giant monster. Well, that kinda tracks from what he knows about the man. He knows more than he should, thanks to Levi's memories, but everything is always a jumble in his brain anyway.
]

You can't just shoot everything like that's gonna work.

[ He says as if he doesn't carry a gun. But his is loaded with magic bullets, at least.

Since he's already on fire, he turns to the worm and shoots a stream of fire at it. Cranking up the heat (easier in here than the real world) melts the sand, or starts to.
]

Ok, Mr. Adult, you wanna do something helpful?
daydreamshimmer: (Wink)

[personal profile] daydreamshimmer 2024-04-26 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
I'd like that. [For as long as she's here, anyway.]

Supposedly I can use the full power set here too, so that'll be good experience.
im_pancake: (9)

[personal profile] im_pancake 2024-04-26 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
Full power, huh? Seems like we have a small blessing here. In Crystallis, I had to relearn my magic.
daydreamshimmer: (What did she write?)

[personal profile] daydreamshimmer 2024-04-26 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
It's part of the Metaverse experiment. The full season power set is accessible here, as well as home magic.

Though I haven't noticed any problems with my unicorn magic, but I imagine it would be friendship magic that would be the actual stress test. But it's just been Rainbow Dash and I here, and I haven't had any great emotional battles here either.

Though if I haven't fully tested the empathy. I try to not use it without permission or a good reason. People can find it invasive, but mental powers have been known to go on the fritz in other places which is really curious. Mine could make sense since Earth is a low magic world so maybe the increased ambient magic might interfere, but that isn't the case for everyone else.
im_pancake: (4)

[personal profile] im_pancake 2024-04-26 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
Huh, that’s interesting. Though I’m glad you’re making sure everyone is okay if you use it on them. That is a power that can be a very big slippery slope.
offeredhearts: (strange how this journey's hurting)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2024-04-27 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Although Erwin knows that Kenny is talking about the coups, he can't help but find irony in the question more broadly. A wry smile crosses his face, twisting his lips into a not-quite grimace. So many opportunities stolen, so many bodies broken and strewn across the ground, a blood-soaked earth. All that he had sought had been true, but he hadn't gotten to see it for himself. Sometimes the bitterness of it all feels overwhelming. How close...how fucking close he'd been. But it all would have been for nothing if he hadn't been the one to lead the charge. ]

It did. [ It's the truth on that score, at least. ] More or less.

I'm sorry we never had the chance to meet.
idkillforthat: (15. 🗡️ just for the hell of it)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 07:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He has that uncanny ability to talk about several things at once. Mostly the coups, yes, but also the grander scheme of things. Someone willing to go this far would surely not stop at merely overthrowing the government, but that was the danger of ambition. It could turn into a gravestone really damn fast. ]

[ If it does, he wonders what's in store for his nephew. Would he take over the regiment? He's not really the type, not that Kenny can claim to know him all that well. Would he find someone else with a vision to follow? Would he stick it out for a dead man instead? Just what did he find in the Suicide Corps? ]


Ha! I'm not. [ He says, plenty casually, flicking the brim of his hat a bit so he can take a better look of Erwin's face, not bothering to get up. ] Probably would've put some lead in yer face if we did.
idkillforthat: (15. 🗡️ just for the hell of it)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Look at the mouth on this brat. Could almost be Levi's own, honestly. Kenny snorts, apparently unruffled by the blatant disregard. ]

Ya kinda stuck yer snouts into my business, so I say you've had it comin'. Go on then, don't let the boot hit yer ass on the way out!

[ He really has no investment in making him stay or leave, so he can do as he pleases. Kenny will just meld back into the shadows to wait for his next hapless victim. ]
idkillforthat: (15. 🗡️ just for the hell of it)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well too fuckin' bad, he can take a number. ]

'Nd why is that?

[ He absolutely can and he just did! And it even worked. Sort of. The worm is still gathering its bearings rather than crunching on their limbs by the time the brat shoots fucking fire at it. This is also when the whole thing about "seasons" finally clicks; people have different sets of abilities here. Good to know. ]

[ He watches the sand start turning into glass -- interesting -- but stays put, perhaps out of pettiness, waving the mouthy youngster off. ]


Oy, in case yer eyes just went for a walk, I stunned 'im. You can handle the rest, right? Gotta learn t'wipe yer own ass sooner or later!

[ Lovely. And, yes, this is pretty much what Levi had to deal with since the ripe age of (?). ]
idkillforthat: (12. 🗡️ fight for your life or die)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Survival of the fittest, lil' pretzel! Looks like it did ya some good.

[ It's definitely messed up, and Kenny's willing to humor her... to an extent, it seems, because his merry disposition shifts into a scoff right there. ]

Oi oi, don't even joke 'bout that. I told ya already.

[ He'd promised Kuchel to never buy somebody, and that extends to leaving unwanted surprises, as well. She'd known all that suffering firsthand, and she'd been able to sway him -- even though she was excited to have a child herself. ]

[ Lot of good it did for her. ]
idkillforthat: (12. 🗡️ fight for your life or die)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
The hell do ya--

[ His eyes widen slightly as Hijikata becomes gradually transparent before his eyes -- and of course his reflexes are just fast enough to intercept the teleportation before it fully goes off, gripping Hijikata by the lapels. ]

[ Which he promptly lets go of as the summer guild HQ materializes around them. Immediately, he's got both guns out and pointing at whoever happens to be around in the moment -- or just looking for someone, if they happen to be alone at the moment. ]


Oi oi oi. What the fuck was that? Ya can shadow travel, too?

[ But it was only supposed to work over short distances... ]
idkillforthat: (15. 🗡️ just for the hell of it)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-04-28 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, I will.

[ Have fun, or overdo it? Yes. ]

[ Kenny is not a sentimental man. Sentimentality gets you killed. He'd always been harsh, with sharp edges and a cold center. And yet, he lingers. Perhaps Frieda (or Uri) isn't the only one who wants to make this last a little longer. ]

[ Maybe sentimentality is just easier when you're already dead or dying. He'd felt some way when he handed the injection over to the runt, as well. ]


Ain't no rush, though. Been a while since I've seen ya.

[ Maybe they will take a walk to a lake, like in the old days... ]
urtitan: (The world is full of suffering.)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-04-28 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[Frieda smiles, truly appreciative of Kenny prioritising their reunion over the challenges to be found out there. As it happens, the park does have a lake...]

Then, let's sit by the water. It won't be long until sunset now.

[She half-raises her arm, expecting him to offer his own for her to take. Does she want to feel ladylike? Or is it a gesture brought forth by the pleasant memory of being supported on walks that got harder on an increasingly frail body? (Uri had his cane. He didn't need additional support. But maybe, it wasn't a matter of needing it.)

She still pushes away the most unpleasant topics, wanting to let their conversation naturally meander. Maybe Kenny'll want to tell her about his last battle, or maybe they'll end up debating what makes a paradise (she already knows that Kenny wouldn't want it to ever to completely peaceful, because that'd be boring). Maybe, they'll just sit in comfortable silence for a while. Maybe, this is a present she wants to give to the kind uncle who left her healing memories among the many painful ones.]
mayoninofukucho: (Again?)

[personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2024-04-28 10:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[This jackass is like a burdock!! On the upside, they are alone in the guild building. With no natives around whatsoever and the participating (voluntarily or not) otherworlders spread out across the map, it's actually possible to get some peace and quiet in even the usually most populated spaces... only not for Hijikata, apparently.]

It's teleportation!!

[He holds the crystal up in mounting frustration.]

This is a travel crystal. You can get it from the menu. Just swipe your hand right at eye level, like this.

[Why does he have to give Levi's shitty uncle a VR tutorial walkthrough?!]

Also put the damn guns away; we're in the city!! There are no monsters here!
ikissedaboyandlikedit: (2 + 2 = ?)

Re: City pt2

[personal profile] ikissedaboyandlikedit 2024-04-29 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean, yeah. I cook for me and my dad back home. I can cook other stuff but I have experience working in a burger joint. I could cook other things too. Find a job with more variety. Sure." Paulo nodded along.

"True dat. That's how it is back home too. But turns out nope. That shit's real in a bunch of other worlds and they think us cat people are weird or not having powers is weird."
daydreamshimmer: (Its fine its fine)

[personal profile] daydreamshimmer 2024-04-29 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The advantage of having been on the slippery slope is that you're pretty aware of when you look like when it happens. I'm not so concerned about that.

But I have seen a few people get upset, though its usually because they're afraid for me. So they can end up as a stone wall and then it doesn't really help them.
im_pancake: (12)

[personal profile] im_pancake 2024-04-29 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I hope they got to know you. You're a sweet person once they do.
feminae: (pic#16724363)

[personal profile] feminae 2024-04-29 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She raises an eyebrow at 'pretzel'. Really? Pretzel? ]

Touched a nerve there, did I? [ A beat. ] ...father.
offeredhearts: (smirky smirk amused)

[personal profile] offeredhearts 2024-04-30 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ The lingering irony seems to change to genuine amusement at that, and Erwin laughs. Clearly, he's all too accustomed to such talk - although Kenny likely means it more than Levi's scolding threats. ]

Perhaps. I've no doubt you would have tried.

[ Although he can't help but hear the roundabout sentiment, even if maybe unintended - maybe Kenny wouldn't have wanted to kill him, but it wouldn't have stopped him, either. Even so, the thought is a little heartening in an odd sort of way. ]

I'm not so skilled as you or your nephew, so I suppose it is fortunate for me that we did not.
idkillforthat: (15. 🗡️ just for the hell of it)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-05-03 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It probably depends who he's talking to, but in this case, yes. Nonetheless, Erwin isn't entirely wrong about the hidden sentiment. Kenny doesn't have anything personal against him now, and while he's quite sure Levi's goodness comes from Kuchel, this man has no doubt contributed to the way it flourished. ]

[ He'd never admit it, but he enjoyed hearing of the scouts' exploits at times. The runt really made a name for himself; that was more than Kenny could have wished for him. He'd just wanted the kid to survive. Just that. ]

[ He eyes the Commander for a few moments, expression unreadable. Your nephew. So he knows. He wonders if Levi told him. Must have; nobody else knew at that point. He bares his teeth in a crooked grin. ]


He told you about that, eh? Ya must be pretty chummy.

[ Yeah, fishing for info right there, he can't help it. At least he's dead and won't do anything with it? Probably. ]
idkillforthat: (08. 🗡️ know how to stay alive)

[personal profile] idkillforthat 2024-05-03 08:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The answer to both of those questions is "yes". Likewise, Kenny may not know where (or who) exactly it comes from, but he relents with a bitchy grumble and offers his arm to her. ]

[ He's willing to tell her what she asks; if she leaves it up for him, he's probably just going to ponder ways to kill monsters and maybe make some shit jokes, as one does. He doesn't think anything like a paradise is possible either, though he seems rather fascinated by Frieda's ability to believe it, just like he had been with Uri. He wonders if peace really does become clearer once you stand so far above everyone else... or maybe you're just looking down at the clouds blocking the atrocities from your view. ]

[ All the same, though, he'll sit with her a while, until they see the setting sun, and only then he will complain about his ass falling asleep and finally make to leave. ]