seasonsmods: (Default)
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
roundandaround: Pondering, holding a donut. (what if the world were made of donuts)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-15 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
But...

[Rinku's voice wavers, and she goes to help hold Inaba up. The second she touches her, she stops, her eyes going wide. She looks around, panic starting to build.]

Eh? What?
timeslip_up: (it's fine)

[personal profile] timeslip_up 2024-03-15 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
Oh good, then she's probably one of the relatively normal Homuras.

Yeah, that's usually what happens. When you live the life I do, you need to know how to differentiate yourselves.
freedomfighterhammer: (Default)

[personal profile] freedomfighterhammer 2024-03-15 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, very understandable!

[And she looks over to notice more monsters approaching.]

Wanna blow more frustrations out?
timeslip_up: (Menacing)

[personal profile] timeslip_up 2024-03-15 01:24 am (UTC)(link)
I'd love to.

[Mmm, delicious ultraviolence.]
goeswest: (prayer towards the night sky)

[personal profile] goeswest 2024-03-15 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Sanzang summons a burst of flame! -Way too close to her own face.]

Wah--!
freedomfighterhammer: (pic#16386949)

[personal profile] freedomfighterhammer 2024-03-15 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
C’mon, then!

[And Amy charges at the monsters, swinging her hammer and creating massive cutting windstorms.]
wild_romance: (pic#15716107)

Daigo Dojima | Yakuza | Current Character

[personal profile] wild_romance 2024-03-15 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
🐝 Bee (2) | itsabee @ discord | [plurk.com profile] gothbarbies
🐉 Out of metaverse
NO TERMS AND CONDITIONS
[ Since returning to Ellipsa, he has been thinking quite a lot about how to contribute meaningfully to their mission. He wants to live like he has nothing to return to. It's selfish, maybe, but he has given every moment of his own existence to a dying way of life. He can tell that's why Autumn is so comfortable for him. The steadiness of it all, but also the change in the wind.

He wants to live for himself for as long as Ellipsa will allow him to.

So he volunteers to help with tests. It will also give him a playground to learn about some of the mechanics of this world. His Tokyo is so mundane, with only a few ghosts or oddities, but very little magic it has always stymied him.

Which is why you will find him on the outskirts of Nightwake testing different abilities.

Earthquake shockwaves eminate from the area.]
ABILITIES
EARTH_WOOD_METAL MANIPULATION
[ He's worked hard for the aim and accuracy he has with his gun. He wonders how he can employ the skills in his arsenal to use that skill... He makes a selection of projectiles from stone, from wood, and repurposes some bullets he has on him for the metal set.

He starts by getting them to move at his whim, and then he works on getting them to spin around his defensively, and then finally he sends them shooting at various trees and rocks to see what penetrates. ]
TELEPATHY
Hello? Is anyone getting this message?
ANIMAL FAVORS
[ This particular skill in the tree makes him feel like a Disney princess, and it's weird, but he tries it on some nearby birds,]

Hey, could one of you guys go scout ahead beyond those trees?

[ He points up the road. He gets an affirmative chirp, and Daigo stands there in disbelief and watches until it is out of sight. ]

ANIMAL TRANSFORMATIONS
[ He tries a dog as an initial, simple attempt at this. He makes a very fine chocolate lab. The absolute familiarity of a dog makes this reasonably easy for him to return from, although he struggles at the end to shake off the ears and lolling tongue.

But he's back to human.

For his second attempt, however, he picks an eagle. A creature not as well known by him, and it comes in pieces and parts. First, however, is the extension of wing and brown feathers. It is a slow stretch into the right shape.

And then he is there on talons in the grass blinking curiously, ]


Think I can fly like this?
THE DARKNESS
[He does eventually set out into the Autumn segment to actually test some of these abilities in combat. He's grateful for the chance to just test them in peace, though, it's taught him a lot more about how things work around here.

He heads west towards the Airship Station and Abandoned Mansion, along the way managing well enough with the local oddities that are disturbed by the Darkness simulation. But he is near the Mushroom Sanctuary when the Darkness reaches him and provides him with his own boss battle.

So many yakuza from his past. Some of them dead, some of them alive. Some friend, some foe, and some in between-- but they are all coming for him now,]


Daigo-san.

[ He freezes, unwilling to fight many of these specters.

He needs help before he gets overrun. ]


[[ooc; if you need some quick visuals, here is a video with the yakuza boss battles. ]]
WILDCARD
Go for it! I'm game.
Edited 2024-03-15 01:47 (UTC)
timeslip_up: (Iron Chef ★ Tamura Magica!)

[personal profile] timeslip_up 2024-03-15 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
[The area stutters, and suddenly there's a hail of magic bullets flying at the monsters, all of them aimed to avoid any other combatants.]

Glad to actually be fighting something normal for once.
houndofmanchester: (A fine idea.)

[personal profile] houndofmanchester 2024-03-15 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Don't worry, you should be largely immune to your own fire.
freedomfighterhammer: (pic#16386950)

[personal profile] freedomfighterhammer 2024-03-15 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
Care to explain?

[She slams her hammer, unleashing a burst of wind.]
goeswest: (sanzang's teachings)

[personal profile] goeswest 2024-03-15 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank goodness... Wukong would laugh at me if I set myself on fire.

[He's not here or anything, as far as she knows, but he'd laugh anyway!]
outlivelf: <user name=malagraphic> (Default)

Frieren | Sousou no Frieren || visitor

[personal profile] outlivelf 2024-03-15 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[For someone who has been just transported to an unknown place, Frieren does not appear affected by her situation at all. The faint light that marks her as a creation of data is a symbol on her left hand resembling a typical magic circle, miniaturized to a size where no details are visible anymore.]

I. city

[She can be found wandering the city centre where she sticks out like a sore thumb or eventually in Amberfall, right next to the entrance of the library. She has borrowed a stack of books taller than herself (admittedly, not that big of an achievement) and is currently making it levitate with her magic. One of the books is currently in Frieren's hand and she is about to start reading.]

II. segments

[Frieren has barely made it out of the city. She can be found in the flower yard, studying the barrier spell and trying to reverse engineer how it was cast.

What she has not yet realized is that her magic staff has fallen victim to the omnipresent glitches in the Metaverse. It has become a stick for blowing soap bubbles and is only producing more and more every time Frieren attempts to use magic. The soap smells faintly of cherries and is suprisingly cold to the touch, an unpleasant surprise if the bubbles pop in your face!]


III. wildcard

[you know the drill!]
everpromisedthunder: (Let's confirm our next steps...)

Raiden Mei | Honkai Impact 3rd: A Post-Honkai Odyssey | Visitor

[personal profile] everpromisedthunder 2024-03-15 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
I

[--strange, that. This wasn't where those steps were supposed to lead.

It seems that somehow, she'd wandered into a whole new place entirely. How, she has to wonder -- did the remnant Honkai warp it? Was it these 'sky people' that did it? Or was it something else, like the Herrscher of Domination's handiwork from years ago...?

It was probably best if she went around and asked, but therein lies the question--]


Where do I even start...?

[Not having Carole around to scout things, or the squad's X-Member, for that matter, made things difficult. It wasn't that she couldn't do the legwork herself, but--

Having more eyes and ears was just better, for situations like this.]


II

[One might be in the middle of fighting something, or even on the verge of getting ambushed before suddenly--

A thunderbolt flickers into view, and the monster that would have struck suddenly falls where it stood, defeated by this lady's fine work with a katana and a flash of her lightning.]


...Phew. Seems I made it in time. [For once. She turns to whoever it was she bailed out.] Are you okay?

Wildcard

[Got other ideas? Just toss them at me.]
Edited (Added options) 2024-03-15 02:46 (UTC)
everpromisedthunder: (I guess this is how Himeko felt...)

Raiden Mei || Honkai Impact 3rd: A Post-Honkai Odyssey

[personal profile] everpromisedthunder 2024-03-15 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
everpromisedthunder: (Am I an aunt now?)

II

[personal profile] everpromisedthunder 2024-03-15 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
[--oh.

So that's why things suddenly felt really soapy. Mei has to raise her gloved hand to keep from getting any of it on her eyes or mouth, but--wow, that is cold. As soon as she's gotten that out of her hair, Mei turns to the person responsible.]


Not to be a bother, but--
Edited (WHOOPS FORMATTING) 2024-03-15 02:35 (UTC)
houndofmanchester: (A fine idea.)

[personal profile] houndofmanchester 2024-03-15 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[The wall of stone retracts back into the ground as Barghest steps forward again.]

My own powers largely have other uses, but controlling stone and earth does come in useful during battle.
timeslip_up: (Default)

[personal profile] timeslip_up 2024-03-15 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
We'd be here all week if I gave the full story, so I'll keep it short: I'm a time traveler, but I've got bad luck, so the timeflows I visit always turn out weird.

[No, it's not the title of a light novel.]
uncylion: (You can't understand)

Azure Lion | Lego Monkie Kid | Visitor

[personal profile] uncylion 2024-03-15 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
1 - City

This was not where Azure Lion thought he would awaken. The massive lion man with blue, gold, and black fur walked the streets. He searched for anyone he could see. Where was he? Why did he have some odd glowing mark on his right hang? He looked at it as he rounded a corner and spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Ah. Finally, someone. You there. Perhaps you can tell me where I am?"

2 - Segments

Azure drew his sword from a glowing magical glyph on his left hand. He drew the large buster sword from it and sliced through a monster. He growled as flames surrounded his blade and he unleashed blue energy waves covered in his new fire.

"These beasts refuse to die. Let us strike together!"

3 - Wildcard

[However you approach, find, or ambush Azure is up to you. I'm open to anything.]
outlivelf: <user name=malagraphic> (Default)

Frieren | Sousou no Frieren

[personal profile] outlivelf 2024-03-15 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
dereban: (pic#14190027)

[personal profile] dereban 2024-03-15 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
It's fine.

[ She brushes it off like it's nothing. ]

What a pain in the ass, really... you probably don't want to touch me.
poisontest: (pic#16826506)

ii

[personal profile] poisontest 2024-03-15 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
H-Hey...! Watch where you're doing with that!

[ Maomao is unfortunately not too familiar with technology to log out of the Metaverse, so if she's stuck here she's going to be grabbing supplies, hence why she wanted to go see the flowers... only to be met with this. ]
toymonsterhunter: (Oh dear)

Tobias McLauferty | Hunter the Vigil/Chronicles of Darkness/Changeling the Lost (OC) | Visitor

[personal profile] toymonsterhunter 2024-03-15 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
1 - City

A young man arrived in the city, confused, and rather disoriented. He was riding a large mechanical horse down the street. He looked this way and that. His left arm was obviously prosthetic in nature. It was blocky and seemed to be covered in rough dark metal. Iron, for those with the discerning eye. He observed the city and the night that hung overhead. He looked at his right forearm at the glowing mark on him.

"Hmm. Not sure I like that. But at least I don't feel them on it. Okay. Step one, find people. Step two, don't get shot, stabbed, or eaten. Step three, question mark. Step four, profit?" Tobias spoke aloud to himself. He stopped his horse and dismounted. He waved to someone passing by.

"Excuse me! Could you help me? I'm a little lost but not a Lost. Not sure that'll mean anything to you."

2 - Segments

With monsters about and some of them quite familiar, Tobias was out searching for people who were in danger. He will come riding up on a large black metal horse, a burning furnace in its stomach, and a pistol in his hand. Though when he fires, a grappling hook launched out and wrapped around your waist. With steam power, it pulled you back and onto the back of the horse.

"Gotcha! You alright?" He sent out the the iron pieces clinging to his left arm. They spun and rocketed off to slice through the following beasts, exposing colorful building blocks underneath the metal. Seemed his arm was actually made of large children's building blocks under that metal. Who knew?

3 - Wildcard

[Anything here you can think of.]
freedomfighterhammer: (Default)

[personal profile] freedomfighterhammer 2024-03-15 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
…wow, that’s some bad luck! Well, here it isn’t that bad at all!
goeswest: (dancing on lotus blossom)

city

[personal profile] goeswest 2024-03-15 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Wow, a blue lion! You don't see those every day, even in Chaldea. Sanzang only knows of one blue lion... but it'd be rude to assume there was a relation!

"I have no idea! I just showed up myself. But I'm glad I'm not alone here!"
goeswest: (bai long)

[personal profile] goeswest 2024-03-15 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
What else can you do?

[She's so curious now!!]