Event #7: Knocking on the 4th Wall (Inside the Metaverse)

[seasonsmods]

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

Comments

Going Gorgon - Part 1

[mayoninofukucho]

[Hijikata knows better than anyone how serious her warning is, but he also owes it to her more than anyone to support her in this. As such, he steadfastly braces himself for the mana drain he's about to experience.]

Go for it, Medusa. Whatever happens, it'll be alright.

[If she petrifies him again... well, so be it. Hopefully, his real body outside the metaverse will be unaffected. Even so, he'd by lying if he said that he wasn't a little afraid. This simulation isn't like the real world - what if he can still think and feel after being turned to stone?

But he can't let concerns like that hold him back from lending strength to his Servant. It was him who forced her into her Gorgon form, inadvertently or not, so how to better repay her than by helping her to take control of that version of herself?]

[outlivelf]

I see...

[Frieren makes another attempt at casting magic, only to have a bubble burst in front of her face again]

Seems like it's usage of magic that causes it to act like this... You said it is something that happens often in this place?

[marvelloussky]

I don't think it's exactly normal here either, it looks like it's a problem unique to this simulation we're in. I heard that someone has interfered with the original plans for this space and is making things go wrong.

[outlivelf]

Simulation? So this place we are currently in... it is not real world, is it?

[Simulations, virtual worlds, technology, you name it, Frieren has never seen it before in her long life. But she doesn't need to, she gets the gist of it.]<.small>

I still need to figure out how I ended up here... I have no previous experience with this place or anyhting of its sort. Could it be connected to these errors you are talking about?

[marvelloussky]

I think so. I met someone who said it's not unusual for people to suddenly show up in the real version of this world, but they normally arrive in a designated location with a full explanation. Neither of those applied to us, so it's likely us being here is another glitch.

[urtitan]

[He really hates mushrooms!! The intensity of his feelings bewilders her, but she decides to just accept it and not try and convince him otherwise. It'd probably be a losing battle. Instead, she points at the hole in the ground.]

This is the fastest way to the underground mall. I just... I just hope that the pillow heaps are still there in this simulation. But everything else is as usual, so they should be.

[Still, she suddenly has doubts! Maybe they should walk to the nearest proper, walkable entrance instead? Then again, the researchers said that they couldn't get hurt or die in this virtual world...]

Toshirou Hijikata | Gintama (Prismatica & Isle of Avalon CRAU) | Summer | In-Game

[mayoninofukucho]

A) Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

[Hijikata volunteered for the experiment. After all, fighting the Darkness is what they all were called to Ellipsa for, right? At this point, many otherworlders who've been around for a long time have achieved full mastery of their magic, and the simulation should be safe enough for even those who are still beginners. What could possibly go wrong?

A lot! And he should've known, really, going by his past experiences! Regardless, he's pretty damn confused when he finds himself at the ass-end of the Spring Segment, amidst the endless blooming trees of the Cherry Blossom Park, all too close to where the barrier used to keep the Darkness at bay. From where he's standing, he can see the all-devouring blackness, incrementally crawling forward and turning the green leaves and pink petals to ashes.]

...

[Normally, he's good at keeping a cool head, but maybe his exploration encounter with a strange cocoon that flashed him endless visions of loves ones' gruesome deaths a few weeks ago left his mind a tad more shaken than he anticipated. He steps away backwards, as if the Darkness could suddenly move in on him faster if it wanted to - only to let out a startled shout as he walks into something goopy. A slime! He quickly draws his sword and chops it into blocks, but he's a lot less collected about it than usual.]

Shit-- seriously, you damned thing--

[Is he all alone out here?]

B) It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See

[Once he has, whether on his own or with some emotional support, regained his composure a little, he gets his head in the game. They can fight monsters until the cows come home, but what they really want to accomplish is to make a dent in the Darkness itself! He observes it from where he and his companion are standing (whether this is still the Spring Segment or a completely different spot on the map much later - they're in here for a good while, and Hijikata definitely will be - or has been - map-hopping with the Travel Crystal from the shop.]

Any new and innovative ideas? I just eats my fireballs, even ones shot from the fire bazooka.

C) Wait... Did I Save?

[Hijikata immediately chose the 'Remember' option when they were finally given the option to log out for good. Why would he want to forget? He's always remembered everything - Prismatica, Avalon, all the people and experiences.

Waking up back in the Research Centre feels surreal... and maybe he's not alone! Maybe there's someone who's been putting a hand on his shoulder or something so he doesn't turn to stone over the long testing period! They couldn't have done it without those volunteers, after all. But if no volunteer is present, he's in no way above chatting up his likewise newly awakened VR chair neighbour.]

This is the real Ellipsa, isn't it? After a while, you kind of forget how many layers of metaverse you're on.

Frieda Reiss | Attack on Titan | Spring | In-Game

[urtitan]

A) Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

[Frieda didn't volunteer for the experiment. She did attend the briefing at the Research Centre, but even with the researchers explaining that everyone would have access to all powers of their assigned season, she simply couldn't muster the self-confidence to think she'd be able to make a valuable contribution. Her mood has been ebbing and flowing over the last weeks - most often, she's been able to focus on the here and now and enjoy herself in the moment, but ever so often, she recalled her meeting with her successor Eren, and her mind would endlessly wander.

Ultimately, it seems like the simulation doesn't care about her opt-out. One moment Frieda's looking at her phone screen in bed, the next she finds herself at the Autumn Segment's Mushroom Sanctuary.]

..?

[Is this a dream? It feels so real... given that this is the wilderness, the lack of natives isn't readily apparent to her, but once she discovers the virtual menu options, she realises that she must've accidentally entered the experiment. At first, she's frustrated, but then, she decides to make the most of the situation and explore this place in relative safety (after all, she can't be hurt or killed here... right?).

As she walks among the enormous mushrooms, an intrusive thought gradually gets louder and louder in her mind. With nobody else here, what if I practised my titan powers? It's something she knows she's not supposed to do - or at least, that's how she felt before seeing the Coordinate. There's something about Eren, something about what he said... "I didn't mean to bring us here." Why did he think it was his doing? He shouldn't be able to use the Founding Titan's powers at all, and yet... something feels wrong. He should never have gotten involved in its succession, nor should Historia. But if Frieda stays as she is, it's bound to occur, isn't it?

Anyone who passes by, be it a little later or much later, may notice her sitting on the leaf-covered ground, holding her head in her hands. As they approach, she startles a little before hurriedly getting up.]

Ah! I'm sorry, did I-- did I worry you?

[She probably looked like something was wrong with her! But rest assured, this is normal.]

B) It's Getting Dark, Too Dark to See

[In the end, only the local seasonal powers can stand a chance against the Darkness, isn't that right? Wielding new-found motivation (it truly does ebb and flow), along with her spring magic and a number of helpful items from the virtual shops, Frieda faces the former barrier area with her current companion, floating in the air (in whichever Segment they ended up in at this point in the experiment).]

Let's try combining our abilities. I'll create a whirlstorm to cut through it, and I'll carry your element along - unless you'd like to take another approach?

[It's unnerving to see creatures rising up from the black sands like out of a swamp, and the shapes they take - large, misshapen, and humanoid - are disturbing. Maybe those aren't the only ones, either, depending on what monsters populate her companion's world.]

C) Wait... Did I Save?

[Frieda already has more than enough memories overwhelming her mind even at the best of time, but regardless, she doesn't want to let these new ones go. Her time in Ellipsa overall is valuable to her - it's allowed her to experience things neither she nor her predecessors ever got to in their homeworld. As such, she selects 'Remember' before the final log-out.

Waking up back in her familiar bedroom in the apartment she lives in with Historia doesn't feel different enough at first, but a look through her phone proves that her contacts are back in place and their usernames are back to normal! She was asleep for so long..! Historia must have ensured that she didn't turn to stone - maybe along with Jade, who can visit via Mirror Path. She'd be surprised if anyone else had noticed her missing... but if she has any missed messages, she will respond!]

Noriaki Kakyoin | JJBA

[hadaeemadatawila]

[Here: https://seasonsgreetings.dreamwidth.org/12469.html?thread=8432821#cmt8432821 ] /

A) Wrong Turn at Albuquerque

[angerintomiracles]

[At least the slime cubes fall harmlessly by the wayside into a pile of goop, right? Sure would be bad if there were another two slimes who had started shuffling into his direction at speed (probably absorbing the cubes of their dead brethren as they went with a gross squelching sound).

Sadly for Hijikata, that was exactly what was happening!

But a familiar, piercing cackle washed over the landscape. A sea of glowing golden butterflies swarmed in from all around, forming into a sharp tornado- one that sliced into the incoming slimes with a blistering display of powerful magic.]

Kikiki~~ stay down and die won't you? Before I mince you up and turn you into jelly myself!!

[And with that, the butterflies came together in the storm- manifesting a young witch in a gown that billowed around as she floated some way above Hijikata. The golden staff- and the golden head's ring- gleamed in the light.

EVA Beatrice was more than ready to fight- but not without shooting her companion a somewhat unhinged smirk.]

What's wrong, you're just gonna stumble around and wait for them to kill you? You're a stronger piece than that, riiiiight?

[roundandaround]

[She doesn't seem to mind! Snug snug.]

There's way stronger ones! I bet you're gonna want to meet them too. I don't know how many season power holders are still here, I lost count around a couple hundred last time.

[conceptheart]

[Hmmm good question! He has to think about it for a moment. All he knew is that he was strong and had little to fret about from the outside world.]

I was built as a prototype vessel for a god- my mother. So I was designed with the goal to surpass her original form- however I am unaware how successful she was as I was put to sleep and discarded shortly after creation.

[hadaeemadatawila]

[Y..yay?]

's a lot.

Elise | Little Goody Two Shoes | Visitor

[rubyslippersmirage]

Wrong Turn at Albuquerque: Segments

What...is this?

[It seemed the Witching Hour was not done with Elise just yet.

Although she'd expected to wake up in her bed, all ready to rush to the village festival- she instead found herself in the Forest of Courage. And to make matters worse, she didn't even have her trusty lantern with her. Well, she wasn't going to let that stop her! She was on a roll tonight, after all!

Taking a deep breath and steeling herself, she started picking her way through the fog; ]

For goodness sake! From one creepy woodland to another. Fine, I can handle this, you just watch. ...Ah! And there's my lantern! How did it even get over there??

[A light in the trees not too far away caught her attention. It must had gotten stuck on that branch when she woke up here, right?

So she quickly headed that way- not realising that it was, in fact, the dangling light of an Angler Will-o'-the-wisp.]

You're in the Metaverse Now: City

[Once out of the immediate danger and escorted back to the City proper, Elise realised one small issue- the very obvious new marking that had popped up on her wrist. A thorny vine twisted into a knot, by the look of it. Naturally, she knew she had to hide it as soon as possible. If anyone here saw something on her they thought was a witch's mark, then she would be in serious trouble...!

And so after removing her hair ribbon and hastily tying it around her wrist as if it were a makeshift bandage, she strode into a shop to look around. She'd worry about how to pay for it later.]

Excuse me, I need some work gloves!

[...But without the usual shopkeepers around, the shop was strangely quiet. There was another customer or two but that was it; ]

What's going on with this place... Hey, you, do you know who owns this shop? Every shop I've looked in has been empty like this.

Unlimited Reward Store

What do you mean we can just take whatever we want?? It's not even going to make us do anything to earn it?

[As soon as someone had pointed out the reward store, she was delighted! All the same, it felt a little strange... they didn't need to pay? Or do hard work or other tasks to earn the store's gifts? That all felt rather odd, but she certainly wasn't going to question the world finally giving her a break.

...No one tell her, as she's excitedly ordering a pile of Nostalgia Breads, that those were usually free anyway.]

This is amazing...! I guess I won't have to worry too much whilst I'm here, then.

Wildcard
[ooc: Feel free to wildcard your own prompt, or Disco/PM me if you have other ideas. She's a new muse, be gentle~]

Elise | Little Goody Two Shoes

[rubyslippersmirage]

One idiot disaster girl

Re: 2

[toymonsterhunter]

"Oh. Well that's the usual fairy shit back home," Fun how the multiverse had a whole bunch of different versions of terrible things. (Totally play Changeling the Lost 2nd Edition for more.)

"I've been here a couple of days so far. I wanted to make sure I had a good safe place to retreat to. Not sure how good these will work against those beasts but they should slow them down."

[roundandaround]

Are you okay? [headtilt] You look... tired? Confused? I dunno. I don't get it.

Liar, liar, pants on fire

[hadaeemadatawila]

I'm not tired at all, miss. It's not as if I've done anything, after all. In the end, nobody probably noticed, with my lack of luck, and so... well, anyway.
Tired, hm? No. Perhaps you are?

[p51]

[ It’s something of a relief, seeing someone he knows, even if it isn’t someone he knows well. Winry Rockbell had always been in Mustang’s periphery, Fullmetal’s childhood friend and automail mechanic. He knows of her, knows her name and face and the bits and pieces of information Ed has let slip over the years, but he doesn’t know her as a person.

She’s an ally, though. Or at least an ally to Fullmetal. His smile shifts into something a little more genuine, and he inclines his head in greeting.

Immediately, she proves herself useful, since she clearly knows more about this place than he does. The city is Nightwake, and the world — the world, which is something that definitely warrants more investigation, and maybe a mental breakdown — is called Ellipsa. Etymologically related to ‘ellipse’, or something completely different? He isn’t sure, and decides that it isn’t worth asking about.

Ah, but she’s asked him a question, and it’s only polite to respond. ]

I arrived…oh, three minutes or so ago. [ And then: ] Would you mind going back to that bit about this being a version of a different world?

[ It’s phrased as a question, but something in his tone makes it clear that he’s giving an order. ]

[p51]

[ Mustang schools his expression, leaving it blankly befuddled. Which, to be fair, is a rather accurate expression of how he feels. ]

I’m not entirely sure what you mean. [ He says it carefully, still polite, but nonetheless guarded. Aimoto seems nice enough, but he knows better than to let down his guard around a complete stranger. ] I arrived here only recently — [ by which he means ‘a few minutes ago ] — and I’m afraid I don’t know very much about this place.

[roundandaround]

Eh? No. I'm not even out of energy! Although I guess I do run out a lot and then I have to walk home instead of take the teleporter.

[Clearly because she uses all her magic on stupid stuff like this.]

It's okay to be tired! You can just rest on a bench or something. I guess the bus wouldn't be running if there's no one to drive it.

[roundandaround]

Eh? So you didn't volunteer for the simulation? That makes sense, but... [She scratches her head.] Did you just show up here in Nightwake? Not someplace else? Come to think of it, I wonder if the simulation even has the arrival areas anyway, huh. I don't get it, but maybe I can help you figure stuff out!

[p51]

No. I didn’t volunteer for the…simulation, was it? [ He doesn’t like the sound of that. ] One moment I was doing paperwork, and the next moment I was standing here.

[ He can guess at what the arrival areas are, and assumes that here — Nightwake, that is — isn’t one of them. That combined with the little bit Aimoto had said about volunteering for this makes him think that something has gone wrong. Maybe the higher-ups of this place didn’t intend for him to be here.

Somehow, that isn’t a comforting thought. ]

Oh — where are my manners? I forgot to introduce myself. You’ll have to excuse me. Colonel Roy Mustang, at your service.

[ He watches her carefully, searching for any hint of recognition at the name. ]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku doesn't seem to recognize him because her fourth walling is opt-in and full-cast but she bows and smiles.]

Oh, like from the military from someplace! That's interesting! [nod nod nod] Yeah, the people who were already in the real Nightwake were asked to volunteer to test this out. It's weird people would start coming in through here instead of the usual places to enter... but it's also weird we can't log out, either, huh.

[p51]

[ Not a hint of recognition. If that’s the case, then she definitely isn’t from Amestris. She’s probably not from any of the neighboring countries either, which doesn’t bode well for Mustang being able to easily get back home. ]

That does seem strange. [ Agreeing is probably the right strategy here, he decides. Besides, this girl can clearly talk enough to carry the conversation by herself. ]

You were one of the volunteers, then?