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

Entry tags:

!4th wall

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The fireball hit the lion and didn't do much. Paulo gulped.

"I guess I missed that part! Fucking sorry! How the hell do I do that?!" Paulo yelled as he ran. He tried to think of a stupid gull. He jumped and his body shifted. He suddenly had wings and webbed feet. He flew up and around fast.

"Holy shit! I did it! Please tell me these powers could turn me into something cooler!"

Edited 2024-03-16 03:48 (UTC)

"What will be really cool is if you focus and distract this thing for a little longer!" Nine ordered, all focus. "I can train you more once we're in the clear, but you needed mobility." The flame in his hands was changing color, shifting to green as it grew hotter. "Can you do that?"

"Lucky for you, I'm distracting as hell!" Paulo swooped around and zipped around the lion. It swiped and tried to give chase. Seemed it had some instincts, whatever it was. Paulo laughed as he spun around.

"Come on! That the best you got? I know middle schoolers scarier than you! Too slow! Close! Not cigar! HAHA! Come on! Come get me!"

Nine was inclined to agree, so it was a good thing that he wasn't easily distracted from where he wanted his attention to be. He focused more magic into the flame, turning it blue. Dropping back to the ground, his tail walked his quietly up to the lion. The flame flared into something like a large blowtorch, as he pressed it to an ungaurded hind foot.

The hot flame hit the unguarded hind food and suddenly the metal and stone started to melt. The lion roared in pain and spun around to try batting at Nine. Paulo came down fast and transformed back. He landed on it's face and hot flames right into its eyes.

"HEY! None of that, asshole!"

Nine hopped around with the motion, watching the limb turn into molten rock and metal, melting enough that it would snap if used. The roars of pain made it hard to hear Paulo though. Scooting under the monster, he clung onto the opposite forelegs with his tails and went to work on taking out that paw next.

Paulo kept shooting the flames until the lion shook and batted at him. Then it was back into a gull he became and flew up and around. He watched Nine on another leg. The lion put weight on the injured leg and it snapped. It faltered and shook as the other melted. It tried to kick out with the jagged stump, trying to scratch Nine off of its leg.

The nice thing flailing around on three legs...well in Nine's case anyway, was that it actually helped weaken the one Nine was currently weldinf through. He'd picked the left hind leg and moved to the right front specifically to make it hard to get at him and stay upright for the monster. His tails kept him securely clinging, moving just out of reach of the stump.

"I need a little more of a distraction to finish crippling this thing."

"Alright!" Paulo needed something bigger. He focused on an idea. What was better than fire? He formed a big glob of lava and threw it in the lion's face. The metal lion thrashed and Paulo yelped as he felt the heat of the lava splash on him. He fell off and scrambled away. Ow! Fuck!

"Fire doesn't burn but lava does?! What the fuck?!"

Normally that might have been a little funny, but that would need treatment, and they weren't done. But the flailing did finish the leg, it snapping off cleanly at the same time Nine was jolted loose. The lion staggered and fell, and the fox capitalized on the opening, jumping onto its side and channeling the flames into his four of his tails to bore through the tough hide and into something vital.

Perhaps it would be funny. Paulo focused on those flames and willed them stronger. Nine's flames became more concentrated and brighter as they easily melted through the metal and hit something. The lion thrashed and roared in agony before it went still. The darkness around it faded and it was dead.

"Eat shit, you asshole," Paulo grumbled as he looked at his arm. That fucking hurt.

"Alright, come with me. There's a pharmacy we can use nearby."

Nine hoppen off of the dead monster without a backwards glance and scuttled down the street. His brain was already turning over the bits of information he was gathering. This was all wrong and he didn't like it at all, mostly because he could already tell that the results of the simulation would be largely inconclusive.

Paulo would just have to keep up, but at least Nine hadn't opted to fly ahead.

Paulo got up and followed after Nine. The guy could scuttle pretty quick. At least Paulo could keep him in sight. He wasn't fast like Mike though so as long as Nine was going sprinter speed, he was fine.

"So...uh...this is worst case scenario stuff. Like how close is this place to worst case scenario?"

"The only way it could be closer to worst-case is for that barrier to be down," Nine explained, pointing just ahead to said barrier. It was thankfully only about a block away and getting closer as they ran. "That's the only one of the city segments that's safe, and the darkness spawning these monsters is supposed to grow closer to the city as a whole throughout the simulation. So this is basically meant to be a last stand, as though we've mastered the powers given to us."

Paulo looked at the barrier and back out at the darkness.

"Then why the fuck aren't people like all out here together doing something about it?" He asked and hoped nothing else attacked them before they could get into the barrier.

"For a start, something has gone wrong. The volunteers were supposed to spawn at the Research Center, but there was some kind of glitch and I spawned outside of the barrier. It's likely the others did as well. Secondly, there's you appearing here with no information whatsoever. You may not be the only anomaly here."

Slippig into the barrier, Nine took a right and ducked into an empty drugstore, holding the door open for Paulo to join him.

"When doesn't shit go wrong? Seriously. It's always goin' wrong," Paulo bitched as he moved into the drugstore and found a seat. He hissed and blew on the burn.

"Like, Lava hurts. I get that but fuck it hurts real bad. We can actually feel pain in this simulation thing? Whose fucked up idea was that?"

"Not to this extent, no. The idea is to test us, real pain wasn't part of this."

Finding the things to treat a burn was easy enough and Nine soon joined Paulo, one of his tails gently lifting the injured arm. "Let me take a look. It's a good thing you shook it off as quickly as you did, or there could have been serious harm done. Worse than you got."

Paulo groaned as his arm was lifted and he let Nine do his work.

"It mostly was the heat, I think? It didn't land on me but that shit was so hot, it still burned me. Which is dumb," Paulo said again and wiped way a few tears of pain.

"So this is supposed to be a test? That worst case scenario thing, right?"

"It was probably the heat, and the fact that it didn't come from fire. The flames I was using were technically hotter, but I could feel the heat from the lava you used more. Apparently the magic rules here are extremely strict."

Nine was at least gentle as he worked. "And this serves as a warning that we will need to actually be careful here. But yeah, this is a worst case scenario. We have access to all seasonal magic and some useful tools, but the only safety right now is here behind the Nightwake barrier. Things are more dangerous further out right now, but that won't remain the case and things will gradually get more dangerous closer to Nightwake."

"So like, what's the end goal? We beat the dangers? Wipe out all the monsters? What are we trying to do?" Paulo asked. He wasn't smart. He didn't get all this. If it was a video game, or like one, then killing the bad things would make things better. Right?

"Is there like a final boss out there or something?"

"Oh I don't expect that winning is the end goal here. This is a test after all so consider it like..." He paused to think on a simple explanation as he started to wrap Paulo's arm after laying a patch of aloe over the burn. "Like a test flight in a safe zone...just if someone trapped the course when no one was looking."

Paulo winced and made a noise as the wrap went on. God that fucking hurt. He groaned and dug his claws into the seat he was on.

"I mean...I guess I get that? Kinda. But now it's broken, we can get hurt, which means we can die. And dying is probably a really bad thing. I don't know about you but I don't wanna die in a shitty simulation thing."

"Agreed. Best case scenario is you're back in three days same as outside the simulation, but I don't plan to test that. Any more than I plan to die in Ellipsa."

Nine made sure to get it done quickly and efficiently.

"So if you plan to keep your life, stay inside the barrier. Practice your magic and keep an eye on the network. Self-defense and caution are the best things you'll have until this is over."

"Three days? Wait. Hold up. You mean if people die like outside this stupid game, they only stay dead three days and come back? That's wack shit. Last world I went do, dead was still dead. But dead here isn't dead? That's kinda fucked up."

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

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