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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
roundandaround: Fangirling. (this is so cool)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-21 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah! I wanna do everything I can to help. After all, that way we'll save Ellipsa faster, and we'll get home faster too! Plus a lot of the missions and quests and stuff are lots of fun. Usually. Not all the time, but...
hadaeemadatawila: (pic#15623042)

1/2

[personal profile] hadaeemadatawila 2024-03-21 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
You're a very kind girl, however, for the purposes of rational conversation, I think I must insist that I'm not dead.
hadaeemadatawila: (pic#15435211)

2/2 ok have mercy XD f..freaudian slip? He might insist...

[personal profile] hadaeemadatawila 2024-03-21 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
D-dead tired. I mean, I'm not completely exhausted. Hopefully.
Edited 2024-03-21 02:38 (UTC)
roundandaround: Concern. (oh no)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-21 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
Uh... I didn't say you were dead? It's okay if you are! We have people whose worlds ended or who went to hell or other things too!
roundandaround: Embarrassed. (oh was i not supposed to)

C

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-21 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
I think so! There's no menu or anything, and a ton of locals and --

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

[That coming from Mecchan, who has climbed into Rinku's pod and is clinging to her for dear life, sobbing. Rinku immediately starts crying too and hugs him, disregarding the contagious tears.]

Sorry! I [hic] didn't know I'd need a petsitter...!
kaientai: (229)

[personal profile] kaientai 2024-03-21 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Wow! That's pretty impressive, but I'm not surprised you've managed to pull off something like that.

[ Ryouma has always believed in her!! ]

I hadn't realised it was arranged by seasons, though. So, the other three go with elements, too, right? [ Even though he could just ask, he thinks about it. ] Fire for Summer, I bet. That leaves Earth and... Air?

[ He looks at her to see if he's on the right track. ]

If so, it's a little harder to guess which is which.
wroughtandtempered: (the ticking of a bomb)

[personal profile] wroughtandtempered 2024-03-21 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ ohhhh no indeed. the snakey parts of her face (so, most of it) don't seem that expressive, but if "Sapphire" has ever seen a guilty dog there is more than a bit of a resemblance going on around the edges. whoops... ]

...okay. I've got a first aid kit on me, just let me— wait, fuck. ...How strong's your stomach? It'd be easier to slap a bandage on me if I'm not furry, but my shapeshifting's not that graceful.
hadaeemadatawila: all icons by me; not that they're anything much ('of gardens in the desert sand')

[personal profile] hadaeemadatawila 2024-03-21 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
I probably went to hell.

[He sounds a bit more genuine now]

I will be waiting for him there. To strangle him.

Enough about me. Surely the nice young miss like you is alive?
itsamoray: (24)

[personal profile] itsamoray 2024-03-21 09:07 am (UTC)(link)
[And while she's deliberating on safety concerns, Floyd just goes ahead and steps on the things aaaand, down he goes. His squeaky laughter growing more quiet the further down he went.

Fortunately there were, indeed, pillows to land on.
]
dereban: (pic#14189987)

[personal profile] dereban 2024-03-21 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
If you're hiding it, it's either in the hardest place to find or blending with a bunch of other things. And it might not even look like a physical door, either, which makes things difficult. Which means that seeing if there's an access to the code from this side would be optimal...
poisontest: (pic#16826499)

[personal profile] poisontest 2024-03-21 09:45 am (UTC)(link)
Medicine, mostly.

[ She has the sensibility not to mention poison, at least. ]
skyscrapes: (where the dust of all our horses)

[personal profile] skyscrapes 2024-03-21 10:07 am (UTC)(link)
His first thought is that that's so many Survey Corps members, compared to what sounds like two Warriors. His second is a wave of guilt - that's not that many. They - he killed a large amount of them in Shiganshina, and he agreed to let Zeke kill more. He has no idea if he succeeded - he must not have, if Levi and Erwin are still here to tell the tale.

He shouldn't be relieved, but he is, the tiniest bit.

It's very like Reiner to try and negotiate, trying to be the good leader. What kind of leverage did he have? Then again, in a place like this - what point is there to fighting? His father is still at home; if Reiner and Annie are here, as selfish as that is, he has almost all the people he needs to keep safe.

Bertholdt is quiet as he considers this before he slowly shakes his head. He still doesn't look friendly, of course, and that probably doesn't come as a surprise.

"I'm not here to fight you," he repeats, finally looking away from Jean and back to the fire that isn't providing any warmth. "And I'm not going to compromise what he's been working on." If it's the truth; but he loses nothing by waiting to find out if it's true.
skyscrapes: (no man owns the earth we're on)

shrimply never apologize

[personal profile] skyscrapes 2024-03-21 10:23 am (UTC)(link)
It's his voice. No matter what age Eren may be, there's something about his voice - even like this, flat, that has seared itself into Bertholdt's mind. Eren was their only chance at being able to go home for so long. If they could have just brought him over the wall, things would be so much simpler.

Less people would be dead, but what is nearly three hundred more in the face of thousands?

(It matters because, for a while, he knew those people. It was easy, comparatively, to knock down a wall; it was harder to live amongst the consequences.)

Still, he startles when he hears the voice, pulling his hand away from the brick. The wall is only half repaired; when he pulls his hand back, some of it falls down again, scattering at their feet.

He opens his eyes and when he looks at Eren, it's disconcerting. He knows it's Eren - he won't forget those eyes - but he's all wrong. Taller, longer hair, the way he holds himself is entirely different from the young man who called them murdering hypocrites.

His first thought is to run; his second is to fight. His third is the actual action he takes - there's no reason to fight here, he knows that. Not only is this place not real, but this isn't Paradis, and there's no Marley to return to; even if he defeated Eren here, and now, it changes nothing.

His hand closes into a fist, then deliberately unclenches.

"... It's not the weirdest thing I've done today," is what he settles on telling Eren. He looks ill at ease, but he keeps his gaze on Eren. He can hardly fault Eren for choosing to remind him of his (many) crimes.
daydreamshimmer: (That's just bizarre)

[personal profile] daydreamshimmer 2024-03-21 10:24 am (UTC)(link)
[She laughs a bit.] A few bad days does seem worth a lifelong friend.

Fighting is pretty bad. As well as the people who act like just because something is destiny, that there's no changing it. I still don't know if that's worse or better than people who think theirs is the only way. I know it can be a pretty dark spot when you think its the only way, but also doesn't involve the belief some cosmic force is gonna MAKE you do something.
skyscrapes: cheyanne anthem | kansas (Default)

annieeeee

[personal profile] skyscrapes 2024-03-21 10:30 am (UTC)(link)
For Bertholdt, it feels like staring into the surface of a great lake, using these powers. It's crystal clear, once he understands what he should be able to do; reaching out for it, though, is deeper than it looks at first, and his vision is distorted as he looks through it.

He's so focused on using the ability he doesn't realize he has an observer. More accurately, he doesn't realize who is observing him, with his eyes closed, so the punch his nose surprises him entirely. He yelps in pain, jerking away and coming up to cover his nose, to stop the flow of blood he worries will inevitably happen.

When he looks to see who it is, though, his heart leaps into his throat. It's her. She's not being tortured, she's not being hurt; she's here.

And she's angry, but he could care less.

"Annie," he says, his expression shocked but his voice happy. Steam bursts from between his fingers, his healing triggering now that he's not suppressing it intentionally. "Annie - you're okay -"

The irony is not missed; he knows he wasn't okay at the end.
mayoninofukucho: (Well-Rested for Once)

You're in the Metaverse Now

[personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2024-03-21 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Hijikata overhears Farlan's musings. He's from the titan world, isn't he? His uniform and gear gives it away. He approaches him.]

This isn't the afterlife, it's a virtual reality. Did you just arrive here from some titan situation?

[It's really incredible how many people from that world are showing up. Jean's wish keeps coming true!]
urtitan: (Family Gathering)

Later

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-03-21 11:50 am (UTC)(link)
[It took some effort and back-and-forth over the network, but eventually Frieda, having teleported to the Winter Guild via Travel Crystal and found a pair of horses to borrow, arrives at the cabin Moblit's found shelter in. Chances are he already stepped outside hearing the hoovebeats, and she stays in the saddle, holding the spare horse's reins out to him.]

Moblit Berner, I take it?
urtitan: (I'll do it!)

[personal profile] urtitan 2024-03-21 12:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well--! She can hardly take the long way around now, can she? She follow him, and it's a wild albeit short ride, ending in her landing in the same massive heap of pillows as him. She struggles a little to plow her way out.]

They really need to improve this..!

[The sight of the brightly lit yet empty mall somewhat stops her in her tracks. This is eerie, really! No customers, no employees... and yet the music is still playing! If they wanted to, they could rob every store in sight!]
im_pancake: (7)

[personal profile] im_pancake 2024-03-21 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It’s ridiculous, honestly. And selfish to think that way. Honestly, my only regret was that we couldn’t save her from herself.
captainfireball: (shitbird)

Re: 2

[personal profile] captainfireball 2024-03-21 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"If nothin' else, it'll slow 'em down long enough fer me to launch some kabooms. They go down pretty easily compared t'what I'm used to, I might not even need t'break out the big spells on 'em."

Why no, be doesn't consider the big fireball from a minute ago as a big spell, he's a madman.
roundandaround: Concern. (oh no)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-21 01:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Eh? Hell's not here, it's someplace else.

[Rinku reverts to human and scratches her head.]

Uh-huh! At least I'm pretty sure I'm alive. I don't know why I wouldn't be, anyway.
roundandaround: Confident and hungry. (this'll be great)

[personal profile] roundandaround 2024-03-21 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay! So then we just have to look for a code! That sounds easy, let's do it!
p51: (pic#17043671)

[personal profile] p51 2024-03-21 02:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you like it here? [ His tone is gentle, but his eyes narrow. She certainly seems to, which leads Mustang to wonder if she’s brainwashed or just the sort of person who can thrive wherever she might find herself. ]
rustyhonesty: (You need to decide)

[personal profile] rustyhonesty 2024-03-21 03:26 pm (UTC)(link)
The extra assurance and not being told to get out of Bertholdt's sight helps to steady Jean's emotions a little, turning the rain into just dark clouds hanging around. There are so many emotions going on in his head even the emotional magic isn't sure how to react, so dark cloud it is.

If this wasn't just an illusion made by the metaverse, he was glad for Reiner that Bertholdt was finally here. If he was just an illusion, it would just mean more hurt or the guy. In which case, it would just be better if Reiner never saw Bertholdt here.

But if he was actually here and Armin was sent back home, that was just cruel. In a way, it made sense. There couldn't be two Colossal titans running around back home (haha ha--). But there were so many situations they could co-exist in, since time was weird anyway.

He thinks back to why Armin had the Colossal in the first place. Of all the shit they were put through thanks to the Warriors invading Paradis. But that wasn't really their fault. As Galliard and Marco would put it, it was Marley that sent them. So they should get all the blame.

But that didn't mean he forgave them for breaking down Wall Maria. Or for attacking Trost. Or for the battle of Shiganshina. He could move past it, but couldn't forgive or forget. That's what he had been saying.

He especially couldn't forgive them about Marco.

There's actual warm flames around Jean's hand (that has formed into a fist while he traveled deep into his thoughts) for a bit. It's hard to say if it's his seasonal magic or something from Empatheias.

If he punched Reiner about it, he should just punch Bertholdt, too. Annie he hadn't, but that was more because he was afraid of her. He wasn't afraid or Reiner or Bert.

So, instead of saying anything, Jean aims a punch at Bertholdt's face. Much easier now that they were almost the same size. Sure, he just told him about the non-aggression pact, but this wasn't a murder attempt, just a honest, frustrated, punch.
mayoninofukucho: (Let me think.)

[personal profile] mayoninofukucho 2024-03-21 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[Those are solid arguments, and Hijikata feels reassured... only to also mildly tear up from his proximity to Mecchan.]

You didn't leave him in his pokéball?

[He still doesn't really understand what goes on inside those, but they seem to be suitable long-term storage for the creatures!]