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

[seasonsmods]

Knocking on the 4th Wall
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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

[freedomfighterhammer]

Mmn! Right!

[And Amy’ll use her hammer to launch more gusts of wind at that.]

[roundandaround]

[Some are driven back or fizzle, but more start mounting in layers. Rinku thinks back. She takes a deep breath and breathes out fire to match the wall.]

[freedomfighterhammer]

Woah!

[Amy leaps back, surprised at what Rinku did.]

Wow, that’s so cool!

[roundandaround]

Evangeline-neechan taught me! She's been showing me all kinds of stuff I should do to fight better.

[Rinku says as she starts waving and snapping the light stick again like one would use a whip to drive off coyotes or something.]

[freedomfighterhammer]

She’s really awesome, isn’t she?

[She says as she starts to whip up a tornado, leaping into the fray and spinning around with her hammer as she does.]

[roundandaround]

Yeah! You get it!

[Rinku cheers as Amy knocks slimes flying. She cuts a swath through them and switches back to fire, where she forms a sword out of it.]

Because she works so hard, and she makes people happy who feel left out or lonely, even though her home's messed up too. I want to do the same kind of thing!

[freedomfighterhammer]

How would you do that? I’m curious!

[And Amy fires up another breeze as she does.]

Evangeline’s situation is so unique… then again, a lot of ours are!

[roundandaround]

I dunno!

[She slices through a slime with the fire sword.]

But helping out here's a start, right? I just figure having fun every day will help!

[freedomfighterhammer]

Ha! That’s a good start!

[And an idea crosses her mind.]

Rinku, how about we combine our powers? Let’s see what they do!

[And she’ll hold out her hand.]

[roundandaround]

Okay!

[Rinku grabs Amy's hand and focuses on the power granted by the simulation. The slimes start gathering in front of them -- no, being pulled into one place, ripe for the targeting, thanks to Summer telekinesis.]

Come on, come on!

[freedomfighterhammer]

It’s working!

[And Amy helps out by using her winds to gather them closer.]

How close?

[roundandaround]

Enough that we can hit them! Now!

[She throws her flame sword and follows it up with a spray of fireballs, drawing from the pull of touch energy.]

[freedomfighterhammer]

Right behind you!

[And Amy throws her hammer while unleashing razor sharp winds, watching as their combined magics blast the slimes apart, whatever’s left scampering away.]

Ha ha! We did it!

[roundandaround]

[Rinku throws her arms around Amy and rubs her face on her.]

Yeah! You're great at this, Amy-chan! Thanks a lot!

[freedomfighterhammer]

[Amy giggled at that and returned the affection!]

So are you, Rinku-Chan!

[She’ll use her magic to hover up so Rinku won’t have to lean over then gives her a kiss on the forehead.]

We worked wonderful as a team!

[roundandaround]

[Rinku giggles and hugs her tightly.]

Yeah, yeah! And now we don't have to go back to recharge if we're out here together anyway. It's great!

[freedomfighterhammer]

You’re right! We should do something fun, huh? Enjoy what we got!

[roundandaround]

Hmm... Yeah, that's true! We basically have everything open if we wanna go back to the city or something. Probably no lines.

[freedomfighterhammer]

We can roll at the Gacha Restaurant without having to worry about wasting our money!

[roundandaround]

Yeah, yeah! Until we get something really good! 「Happy Around!」

[She lets go of Amy just to spin in a circle and point in the air, then grabs her wrist and starts running toward the city.]

[freedomfighterhammer]

Woah!

[Amy laughs as she lets Rinku drag her back to the city, just letting her magic hover her in the air so it’s easier on them.]

[roundandaround]

[Rinku happily runs forward, pulling her travel crystal out of her pocket.]

Uh... Nightwake!

[With that, and Rinku putting focus in, they vanish and reappear in front of the nearest teleport crystal to the city centre. Rinku stumbles to a stop and looks around in awe.]

That's great, it still works!

[freedomfighterhammer]

Oh! That’s so neat!

[She hovered over to Rinku’s hand to look at the Crystal.]

I guess you got it from the store?

[roundandaround]

Yeah! Just last month. I got it because I keep using up all my power and then don't have enough for the crystal, so I have to walk or take the bus.

[freedomfighterhammer]

Oh! You need help with that. The magic bit, I mean. Are you still living alone?