seasonsgreetings | 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

[A - Power Drunk (city)]

[Having strange, new powers to explore isn't something new for the scrawny little seventeen year old having found himself in Nightwake. Not in the same way as others, of course - he's never been outside of his own world, beyond crossing planes to the land of the dead.
But becoming a Grim Reaper... it makes you special. It gives you power. Things he's already learned to master in the near-decade he's been dead.

This is new, though. Something he's never even considered possible! "Autumn" powers, or something like that. That's what he was told. Apparently it has some sort of connection to the earth? Dirt and the like?
What interested him the most, however, was the metal manipulation. Just how far can that go? Other Grim Reapers have that sort of ability, back where he's from - some are powerful enough to level entire city blocks if they want to.
(The Reaper who's already spent months in Ellipsa just so happens to be one of them, in fact.)

So with very little thought behind it, he turns toward one of the city's buildings beside him, lifts a hand toward it... and in one grasping motion, contorts the building's entire wall into a ball of metal filled with cement and broken glass.
The smile on his face thanks to those results is wicked. ... And its with that smile that he spots someone standing nearby.
After some thought, he lifts his hand toward them just has he had with the crumpled building --

-- But pulls it back with that horrid little grin dissipating into something a little friendlier.]

... Kidding.
Quite the power, though, isn't it?

It's amazing to think they would give such powers to just anyone... and without consequence.

[B - Poking Around (city)]

[Loupgarou. That's the name he uses, given to him by everyone's favorite microwave oven - a pretty fitting moniker, even he can agree with that. Those who have heard the story or seen the memories probably think of him exactly how he thinks of himself -
A heartless monster, something that exists purely to use and consume those around him. Nothing but metaphorical fangs and claws, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting for his own gain.
An abomination. A maneater. The wolf.

... Aaaand it's that very "wolf" that's currently standing on his tiptoes in front of the window to a pet shop, peering around to see if it's got any animals for him to maybe go in and play with.

Like, c'mon. No matter how terrible, how horrible someone may think he is - or he thinks he is! - Andy's still just a kid.
He may have horns and fiery orange, slit-pupil eyes, but there's still a childlike curiosity burning in them when he turns to the nearest person he can find.]

This city only lacks humans, right? Do you believe all of its animals have gone missing, too?
I have not had the chance to hold a cat in years... there were very, very few among the dead.

[...

Despite the moniker, yes. He's a cat person. Go figure.]

[OOC: I can't think of any other good prompts, so if you can, feel free to toss them my way!!
To sum this idiot up, he's the close childhood friend of Chipp (

nugrass) and the source of all of Chipp's childhood anguish. And like, a LOT of his scars. It's fine, probably.
CHIPP'S CR, COME GET Y'ALL'S JUICE]

[ There's something familiar about that little shit-eating grin. Something that fills Nen with a very peculiar urge. The longer they stare at this strangely-coloured kid, the more they

just

want

to

kick him.

His whole bratty routine with the building and the hand and the impish prank go right over Nen's head as they stand there, studying him like a memory they can't quite place. The hair, the horns... He looks kind of like a reaper if they had to decide. ]

[ ....................Wait. ]

[ Waiiiiiit. ]

[ Nen's seen this little bitch before??? Just once, only in a memory that didn't belong to them, but they know. They know and once they realize who they're staring at Nen can't help but suck in a breath.

It is him.

The Rival. ]

[ "--uite the power," he says, and Nen has already made up their mind on how to deal with Andy. He keeps talking and they just stares at his big dumb mouth and decide

You know what...he's immortal.

This is Fine^TM.

Enjoy the bubble of water forming right over your head Andy HE DESERVES A MOUTH FULL OF WATER TO SHUSH HIS STUPID RIVAL FACE ]

Edited 2024-03-16 17:55 (UTC)

[Kagami glances up from the window, not interested in any animals, but the mylar balls that lie on the floor. He's about to mention that those cats don't deserve them when the Grim Reaper speaks up first and Kagami realizes he's not alone.

Seeing that mark on his head squashes away any sentimental awww's or thoughts that the words coming out of Andy's mouth are sweet. It's with his typical saccharine smile that he approaches them and places a hand on their shoulder.]

Maybe not. Maybe you're the common denominator and they're all gone here. Oh well!

I hope not!

[Hi Andy, here is a fellow reaper peering into the window next to you.]

It's rare to see any cute little critters running around... I wanna hold a snake.

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

Andy (?) | Original | Visitor

DUMB drunk more like!!!! aka 1/idek how many

2

3

4

5 (the end)

2.

2