WEEK FOUR

[shimmermods]

FOURTH WEEK

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The Shimmer may have left you physically, but it's always with you; it's something it had insisted on yesterday, and it's something that continues to be pervasive even now, both in thoughts and within you in other, perhaps more noticeable ways. The statements that have been made weigh heavily; your surroundings continue to be influenced by something or other - plants you recognize are still present here, even as the trees themselves continue to crystallize, growing glassy white and transparent around mechanical insides - and the changes to your physical bodies are becoming more evident and difficult to ignore.

Perhaps more disturbingly, when you went to sleep in the clearing there were sixteen of you.

When you wake up, there are fifteen.

No matter how many headcounts you take, you keep coming up one short; the fact of the matter is that Rean Schwarzer is no longer among you. There's no visible evidence of where he's gone, and all of his belongings are still here; perhaps in some part of your mind, the possibility registers itself - maybe he's not with you because he went to the Shimmer. Not in the same way the cultists went, and not in the same way the ring of bodies seems to have gone, but maybe...

The thought is difficult to shake; the fact of the matter is that he isn't here, and you probably don't want to stay here. After all, your options are currently either to do what you set out to do, to return to the base and very possibly be killed for your efforts, or to remain here with the corpses.

The hike uphill is steep; perhaps it's fortunate that you're no longer tiring out like you used to. It's easier to keep going nowadays, even if it feels somewhat mechanical in doing so; your limbs know what they're doing, even if there's some reason for your mind to disagree. You seem to be making good time in moving toward the site of the initial impact of the meteorite; perhaps it won't be much longer before you find your objective.

That is, if all goes according to plan.

SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY | FRIDAY

code by vuvuzela

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SUNDAY

[shimmermods]

[me_underfire]

[Grace is trying her hardest to keep up with her routine. Even though she lays awake all night and isn't the slightest bit exhausted when the sun rises. Even when she exits her tent to do her morning exercises but her body already feels stretched and warmed up. She just needs to keep her schedule.

That's why she's able to count everyone else when they also emerge in the morning.]

...We're missing someone.

[alchemicals]

[Good morning to you too- ]

...Shit. Are we?

[aokisouhei]

It's Rean. I haven't been able to find him anywhere.

[ It's bad, fam ]

MONDAY

[shimmermods]

mods

[planetary_bonds]

[The past few days have not been easy, for lack of a better description. Between the repeated blows to his own confidence, and the sudden disappearance of one of their party members (gone, gone, and yusei couldn't do anything to save him), Yusei's not feeling particularly cheery.

Then again, he rarely shows a cheery expression on his face to begin with, so he probably just looks more pensive than usual to everyone else.

As they hike, Yusei takes a closer look at the increasingly unnatural trees, becoming more and more like modern-day machines of stone and metal. He takes out the core device that he'd pulled out of a tree last week, and holds it up to a few of the clockwork trees, making comparisons. Are they the same? Have there been any changes?

Whether they have or not, he's going to try and take apart a few more to grab more samples to compare.

Later, when they stop to camp, Yusei has his tree samples laid out in front of him. The core device and the organic membrane that surrounds it, the crystalline shards from that strange corridor, and anything else he managed to get from the trees that day. He'd like the opinion of his fellow researchers on some of these, after all. All he can do is try and take apart the devices - which he's doing right now, actually.]

[shimmermods]

[They seem about the same, no real changes between them!]

[klematis]

[ Time is a strange thing. Quick and fleeting, slow and agonizing. Which of the two describes the past several weeks is up to interpretation, but as always, Hugh's view tends to be different than everyone else's. This applies to the missing individual too, naturally. At least it seems that way, but since Sunday morning Hugh can be seen flourishing his sword during the hike. It's rare to see him have anything in hand than writing instruments, but perhaps he can't be blamed.

At night by the campfire Hugh can be found with a journal overflowing with notes in a scrawly script. He'll close the book if company gets too close, but it's in some strange language in addition to being as messy as the shimmer is troubling. ]

Good evening. Were you in the mood for a story or companionship?

campfire;

[aokisouhei]

Eh...yeah, sure. You got a story in mind?

Campfire

[crestological]

[...it’s been a rough weekend and things have only gotten weirder, so like,]

Ah, well, both are fine, really.

[...but don’t think he didn’t see that book!!]

Perhaps... something from that book of yours would be interesting!

[TIME TO BE FUCKIN NOSY!!!]

TUESDAY

[shimmermods]

Stasis.

[shimmermods]

[If there's one thing you've learned about the Shimmer during your time here, it's that everything changes. The wildlife around you reflects it, and your group isn't immune either. Whether you're aware of the changes or not, everything in the Shimmer changes. Nothing stays the same.

Your path forward leads up a hill and into a town. It isn't an unusual sight by now - you're familiar with overgrown towns with almost no signs of human life, and this one is no different in that regard.

The changes are different, however. While the last towns you visited were certainly overgrown, this one has taken it to the extreme. What were once houses are now almost entirely consumed with vines and brush, some even have trees growing from within, breaking through what were once fairly solid roofs and reaching skyward. The buildings furthest from the center of town have long since been broken down and reclaimed by nature, but even those further in haven't seen the best of days.

Everything is still. Perhaps unnaturally so.

You've come this far, so only one question remains: will you enter?]

FIELD TRIP

[me_underfire]

[Once they're all gathered again, Grace will show everyone the map- very carefully, as it's crumbling in her hands.]

Whoever was here last went to take shelter in some nearby mines. I think we should check it out, just in case anyone's still alive.

WEDNESDAY

[shimmermods]

[It's dark.

The entrance to the mine itself provides some light for the very first part of the journey inwards; however, it's quick to wane behind you, leaving you in a state of darkness that's both complete and oppressive in how thoroughly it seems to press in. You have small lanterns and flashlights with a good amount of power behind them included in your camping supplies, so it isn't as though you're completely unable to see; just the same, it's possible you won't see sun for a while.

Maybe it will be worth it; the original site of the Shimmer's impact shouldn't be terribly far off. With any luck, maybe you can get there from here.

There are things that sparkle in the light of your beams, large crystal formations embedded in the walls, growing upwards like columns instead of outwards towards you. They shine iridescent, their cores shades of pink and white and blue; anyone scanning these - particularly Grace - will get no heat signatures but a very distinct rise in electromagnetic activity around them. They seem to pulse with an energy all their own, and approaching them too closely will send that energy crackling through you; it feels as though your body is vibrating around you.

It's strange, perhaps; when did you start thinking of your body and you as separate entities?

There's a sense of disconnect here, a feeling that this place is different somehow; it feels separate from the rest of the world, something that exists with it but is not part of it, something that is at once very old and completely new. The longer you're here, the more you start feeling a sort of rising energy - not in your surroundings, but something that's purely yours, something that builds and twists within you, something that feels like you know exactly where you're going, and while your body wants to resist moving toward it… Well.

To the you that exists separately from your body, whatever that may consist of - your mind, your consciousness, whatever exists within your body that you consider yourself - it feels like coming home.]

Mods! / also mingle?

[instrumentalized]

[ Garma misses the sunlight less than others might. In their own way, the mines remind him of the interior of a spaceship, cramped and with a darkness surrounding all the way. He could do with better lighting generally, but ah well... The state of his mind and body is a lot more concerning, and Garma feels increasingly torn apart inside.

They've had a lot of quiet evenings when they set up camp, all professional and focused on their missions, but inside the mines, Garma is starting to be unable to stand the silence. Silence means that he's being drawn further home, only he knows his home is with his family, so far far away. So in the evening, when everyone hasn't retreated to their tents yet, Garma is going to try and get a conversation going. ]

Let's talk about home for a little. Our real homes, back in our worlds. Share something you like and miss about your world, or something interesting that you don't think another world shares in common. We all come from such colorful backgrounds and yet we have barely exchanged stories. It's a waste, isn't it?

[ He sounds steady as he speaks, but he's twirling his fringe incessantly. Home... He wants to retain a sense of it that isn't here.

Later in his tent he is going to actually do a full body check of himself undressed, because he is starting to be freaked out about the mere concept of even being himself. How is his wound looking? Will shining a flashlight over his whole butt naked appearance unveil any other horrors? ]

((ooc: feel free to threadjack and reply to other people's stories at any time - we're all at the same campsite, listening to other is realistic, and group dynamic building is encouraged.))

mods!

[atrueheroine]

[Page is noticeably absent from the mingling; not so much in presence, but in contribution. She's lingering at the back of the group, staying closer to her tent than the communal area, staring at the ground. The last thing she wants to do - in general - is talk about home. Much less while forced to camp in...here.

It just had to be a bloody mine, didn't it?]

...at least this isn't as bad as the Bower Pits.

[That's said to herself, but it's audible enough; her expression changes sharply after she says it, shifting from resigned to a stark sort of grief.

....she really, really doesn't like mines.

Later, while alone in her tent, she'll vibe with Garma and similarly check her own body - any noteworthy changes?]

mods!!

[blunders]

[The mines are honestly a new sort of area that Felicia has really never been in before; it's kind of hard not to be at least somewhat awed by the crystal formations, and it's honestly all the more tempting to want to touch them, but that energy coursing when they get too close...well, it's enough of a deterrent for now. At least, for Felicia's body--mind-wise, she still wants to try, and yet it feels like her body is wanting to cooperate with her less and less...

It's all the more obvious on their hikes, which, after weeks of having decent luck at not tripping, she does manage to trip towards the back of the group--just kind of losing her footing and winding up on the ground in short order.]

Ow, ow, ow...

[Thaaaat's a few scrapes Felicia really didn't want to get. Though she's definitely having that moment of her body and mind not...cooperating, really. If anyone wants to give her a hand, that'd be swell...

But of course, once the evening rolls around, Felicia's going to be over by her camp, sitting outside of it, just kind of...a little dazed, but fine? Everything's fine. Even if someone comes up to her, which she'll just ask--]

Hey...do you feel strange, in this place?

[She needs to know if it's just her.

Of course, later on, she will go back into her tent for a bit, and that's when she's gonna check herself over--primarily on the scar on her chest, but she's got a few new scrapes on her arms and legs from today's trip (heh) that she's checking on too. And...probably just scanning her whole body for weird shit. What do we got here.]

THURSDAY

[shimmermods]

mods!

[notjustawriter]

[Welp. Another week, another reason for him to check himself over, just in case things have gotten weird with either his scar or anything else with his body.

Later on, he can be found wandering the mines. Never too far from the group, and he always has his flashlight on when he does.]

Sure is strange in here, innit?

[Anyone who either checks up on him or joins him in exploration will get Gabriel talking eventually.]

I spent a brief time as a werewolf. Even as a wolf, I didn't feel so... odd. Not like I do now.

[scythegun]

[Yeager's a little late to get started this morning, but he doesn't hold the group up for too long and he seems just as chipper as usual once he's ready to go.

That good mood doesn't last forever, though. As we're hiking, he tends to stay near the back of the group. Usually he's the sort to never be able to keep still and moves throughout the group to chat with people, but today he's far more subdued and fidgety. At least he's not transforming his weapon, that thing is a bit too big to be swinging about so freely in closer quarters like this. He doesn't mind being bothered, but he's definitely lost in thought right now.

Once we've settled for the night, Yeager's back to his usual job of guard duty. Sure, it doesn't seem like there's anything hostile here in the mines, but that doesn't mean Yeager's going to stop doing this. If the mine's actually haunted then maybe there are ghosts to fight!!

But guard duty's kind of boring, so eventually you can find him checking out the crystal formations and occasionally tapping on them, murmuring aloud as he considers.]

I wonder if enough force could break it...?

[Once he finally does retire to his tent, he isn't leaving, and he'll hold up everyone for a little while in the morning again tomorrow as well.]

yo mods let's party

[skelkro]

[So Emma has actually not been checking herself over as much as everyone else has for the last two weeks, but it seems today she finally bites the bullet and looks herself over to see if anything significant about her as changed. Though, regardless of whether anything did or not, she seems to handle it alright and continue going about her day.

Namely, continuing her interest in studying the plant life around here. Both making notes what had been growing outside of the mines when they had first entered, and any than can possibly be found within the mines themselves. She's... typically good about staying with the group, though sometimes she might linger in one spot for too long when others want to move on further ahead or back in another direction, so it would be best to make sure she doesn't get left behind.

Later that night, she can be found staying up, once again talking to her plant samples, except this time instead of wondering aloud about cougars...]

It's a shame you're not like Mr. Skelkro, my darlings. He was usually better at this "comforting" thing than you're capable of being... not that I fault you for it, of course, but... I suppose I can't help but miss him a little now. Not as much as my angel, naturally, but still...

[... Why she insists on talking to herself and her plants rather than sharing her feelings of loneliness with the rest of the group is a mystery, but that sure is a thing she's doing right now.]

[alchemicals]

[Kimbley has been in here for about 24 hours too long at this point; he's managed to get this far without being a tremendous liability, something we should all be grateful for, but this morning he's awake entirely too early and he's fidgety and he's spending way, way too much time checking and rechecking the gun he got off of that dead motherfucker he knew back in the clearing last weekend.]

So I haven't slept for almost a week and I am not feeling anywhere close to passing out yet. Do I want to know how you're holding up?

[...Good morning to you too, Kimbley.

He's mostly just having issues when he doesn't have anything specific to do, though - the hike itself is fine, the time spent afterwards is not; camping here just feels weird, and while he isn't wandering too far off he can definitely be found poking around somewhere a bit further in, just to do something with himself.

...The "something" seems to be pacing around obsessively, arms folded and staring at the ground as he does so; he's got the flashlight on the ground so he can see, but he seems to be really out of it, honestly.]

FRIDAY

[shimmermods]

mods

[crestological]

[The mine trek has... not been eventful, which is the best thing that can be said about it. The dark is getting to Hanneman, as has... a lot of the trek, really. It's not like he's a stranger to long stretches of time without adequate changes of clothes or anything like that, but uggggh. He feels so gross. Actually, whenever the group takes a break somewhere he should probably dip off privately and check himself out properly because the player forgot to make a toplevel where he's done that thus far and he should probably see whatever fuckin horror's going on there!

...also is there anything weird going on that would be specifically noticeable to someone who's fastidious about making sure their facial hair is well groomed and whatnot. He's still shaving out of habit regardless of whether he's experiencing new growth or not, although he keeps accumulating little nicks on his cheeks just because of how his mind and body aren't quite on the same wavelength at the moment.

In any case, after both the self checkup and the minor shaving mishap, he grumbles a bit afterwards about the whole thing when he rejoins the group, because at least he can focus on being kind of a neat freak instead of, you know, whatever else the fuck is going on. He's kind of doing it to himself, but also, he isn't exactly quiet about it, either.]

What I wouldn't give for a fresh change of clothes and a well-lit mirror...

mods!

[pr159]

[ First off -- have there been any changes over the course of the week when Rideaux has checked himself over? After noting last weekend that he'd changed in ways his other self apparently hadn't, and how generally Weird things have felt this week, he's definitely keeping track now.

Also, while it may be hard to tell in the dark, have there been any signs of anyone besides their group coming through here any time in the not-terribly-distant past? Because he's been thinking about that note at that entrance, and when and under what circumstances that might have been stuck there.

Whenever they stop for the night, he'll take some time to sharpen all his knives on a rocky surface nearby under the light of a camping lantern -- the three throwing knives he usually has at the ready, and the larger knife with the snake design that may now look a little familiar to more than just him. They've got to be getting closer to the bottom of the mine by this point, and as far as he's concerned, there's always some kind of boss monster near the end of these places, so it seems wise to do what he can to prepare while he has the chance.

(Also he's just really not tired, again, and would prefer to keep busy rather than lie down and stare at nothing and let his mind drift too far away.) ]