The Shimmer Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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theshimmer2020-08-21 01:45 am
shimmermods) wrote in theshimmer2020-08-21 01:45 am
Visions.
LANDSCAPES.
The further in you go, the thicker the calcification becomes.
The crystals on the walls are difficult to make out now, having been encased entirely by thick white growths encompassing the walls like spider veins, like roots; their energy, however, can still be felt if you wander too close to the walls, or if you spend too long recovering yourself after something sufficiently stressful has come into your line of view. This may be more for a problem for some of you than it is for others; some of you are holding up surprisingly well, all things considered.
It isn't a failing on your part, when it hits you.
It's hard to say precisely what "it" is - a sudden fatigue, a seizure, an abrupt swirling of the world beneath your feet; all you know is that you're here, and then you aren't anywhere, and it takes a moment to place what brought the feeling on, or even what the feeling itself is. It will come to you eventually, however, once your eyes refocus and the cavern comes into view again for you properly - it feels like that first week you were here. Like reawakening after a long stint asleep; like being disoriented after realizing that you're not where you should be.
The difference this time is that you are, for all intents and purposes, still where you should be.
You don't seem to have gone anywhere; it doesn't feel like you've lost that much time, even, if you've lost any at all. But the fact of the matter is that something feels different, and it feels wrong, and placing how proves to be difficult.
There's a bend in the path, and suddenly it becomes all too clear.
You aren't supposed to be here, are you?
This place can be anything and everything - the hallway in the upper floor of your house, the bar you frequent, that place where all your comrades are buried. What matters is that it's somewhere you weren't sure you would see again, but the fact of it is that you're seeing it here, and you're seeing it now, and perhaps some of the others with you are seeing it too. Perhaps there are others here, those that have been on your mind for the past few days; perhaps you're all alone outside of whomever is questionably fortunate enough to be experiencing this with you.
Whatever you're seeing, however, something remains present in your mind, driving you onward and encouraging you to move through this, and quickly.
You don't belong here.
You need to leave.
[OOC: Welcome to the first half of our week 5 event! For this portion of the event, the hallucinations you've experienced up until now have become far more thoroughly immersive, and can be seen or experienced by others in something akin to a shared dream-state. These visions are likely to delict something from your world that you would find familiar and would have some sort of attachment to, whether that attachment is positive or negative. Monsters or other people from your world can be present here and interacted with, to deal with as you see fit; fighting them or speaking to them are both fair game. Conversely, your personal experience may be exploring or revisiting an area of your world that may or may not be how you remember it...
Please note that the mods will not be NPCing any characters in your visions or answering questions specific to the environments that you create. However, you are free to create as you see fit; time and space have very little meaning here, and your only limitations to your character's personal illusion/dreamscapes are your own creativity. Feel free to post any prompts you may want to play with, and to tag out to others to experience whatever they want to show you. (However, it is worth noting that any physical items you find in the visions will not remain in their possession afterwards.) As always, if you have any more questions about how works, let us know!]
The crystals on the walls are difficult to make out now, having been encased entirely by thick white growths encompassing the walls like spider veins, like roots; their energy, however, can still be felt if you wander too close to the walls, or if you spend too long recovering yourself after something sufficiently stressful has come into your line of view. This may be more for a problem for some of you than it is for others; some of you are holding up surprisingly well, all things considered.
It isn't a failing on your part, when it hits you.
It's hard to say precisely what "it" is - a sudden fatigue, a seizure, an abrupt swirling of the world beneath your feet; all you know is that you're here, and then you aren't anywhere, and it takes a moment to place what brought the feeling on, or even what the feeling itself is. It will come to you eventually, however, once your eyes refocus and the cavern comes into view again for you properly - it feels like that first week you were here. Like reawakening after a long stint asleep; like being disoriented after realizing that you're not where you should be.
The difference this time is that you are, for all intents and purposes, still where you should be.
You don't seem to have gone anywhere; it doesn't feel like you've lost that much time, even, if you've lost any at all. But the fact of the matter is that something feels different, and it feels wrong, and placing how proves to be difficult.
There's a bend in the path, and suddenly it becomes all too clear.
You aren't supposed to be here, are you?
This place can be anything and everything - the hallway in the upper floor of your house, the bar you frequent, that place where all your comrades are buried. What matters is that it's somewhere you weren't sure you would see again, but the fact of it is that you're seeing it here, and you're seeing it now, and perhaps some of the others with you are seeing it too. Perhaps there are others here, those that have been on your mind for the past few days; perhaps you're all alone outside of whomever is questionably fortunate enough to be experiencing this with you.
Whatever you're seeing, however, something remains present in your mind, driving you onward and encouraging you to move through this, and quickly.
You don't belong here.
You need to leave.
[OOC: Welcome to the first half of our week 5 event! For this portion of the event, the hallucinations you've experienced up until now have become far more thoroughly immersive, and can be seen or experienced by others in something akin to a shared dream-state. These visions are likely to delict something from your world that you would find familiar and would have some sort of attachment to, whether that attachment is positive or negative. Monsters or other people from your world can be present here and interacted with, to deal with as you see fit; fighting them or speaking to them are both fair game. Conversely, your personal experience may be exploring or revisiting an area of your world that may or may not be how you remember it...
Please note that the mods will not be NPCing any characters in your visions or answering questions specific to the environments that you create. However, you are free to create as you see fit; time and space have very little meaning here, and your only limitations to your character's personal illusion/dreamscapes are your own creativity. Feel free to post any prompts you may want to play with, and to tag out to others to experience whatever they want to show you. (However, it is worth noting that any physical items you find in the visions will not remain in their possession afterwards.) As always, if you have any more questions about how works, let us know!]
no subject
Felicia? Wait.
[...Was Yeager just sort of hanging out behind one of those pillars?? Maybe. Don't ask questions.]
There's a rather dangerous monster beyond this point, I believe.
[Yeager's already got his weapon in scythe form and he really doesn't look happy to be here.]
no subject
Oh, Yeager! I...didn't see you there.
[Thank the gods there's someone here she recognizes. Either way, she'll nod her head and...honestly back off the door.]
You recognize this place, then? What is this place?
[...Should she get her weapons out too, this does not bode well honestly--let riffle through a bit to find something.]
no subject
[He's quiet for a moment, staring at the door like he's considering something.]
This place is a weapon of sorts. I was tasked with protecting the man who wished to use it; I was here before I was given the offer to join you all in destroying the Shimmer.
[Those are the basics, at least.]
no subject
...He must be a pretty awful person, then. If you decided to join us instead of staying here.
[Either way...]
Where should we go, if there's a monster this way?
no subject
[Not entirely the correct way, but not entirely wrong either.]
Well, there will be monsters regardless of which way we go. I don't know if this way will lead to an exit, however.
[From the sound of it, it may lead somewhere else, but...]
Though admittedly, I'm not entirely sure just how accurate this place will be to my memories of it.
[We... are still in the Shimmer, right? So maybe that will mess things up?? Honestly, he has no damn idea.]
Regardless of which way we go, we'll need to be careful.
no subject
Of course. Let's be on our guard, then--perhaps we should try the hallway instead. Shall we be off?
[Felicia's at least got her shuriken in hand, let's do this shit.]
no subject
[The hallway leads toward another door, and opening it will reveal... another even longer hallway. Yeager looks mildly perplexed by this and steps forward.]
Did Yuri and the others...? No, perhaps this is the Shimmer's doing.
[He shakes his head once that's out there.]
Some of my men were stationed out here, but it seems as though they're gone now.
no subject
Either way, Felicia perks at the words.]
Perhaps the Shimmer couldn't bring them in? Or maybe something else...it's hard to say.
[Let's keep going down the hall, then.]
Who are Yuri and the others, though? [...] Were you going to fight them?
no subject
A group of meddling teenagers and their dog. They were constantly getting themselves involved in my plans.
[He doesn't sound bothered by it, or even like he dislikes them at all.]
I know they were going to come here after Alexei - the man I was defending. This time they weren't meddling in my plans, at least.
[He shrugs a bit, like it doesn't really matter all that much.]
no subject
...They sound like an interesting group of people, at the very least!
[Seriously though, who brings their dogs fighting with them--]
They must have wanted to stop him from using this weapon. [Felicia definitely keeps looking around the place, trying to keep an eye out for anything that might jump at them.] ...What was Alexei even trying to do? Did he tell you?
no subject
From what I understand, the plan was to ensure he had total control over the Empire and the guilds.
[A threat, basically. Conquest isn't quite the right word for it, but total control is what he was seeking.]
I don't particularly know or care why he wanted that, or why he decided this was the best way to obtain it.
[Yeager's smiling, but there's nothing pleasant in the expression.
Anyway, here's yet another door! While the whole walk back has been peaceful and quiet, you can definitely hear the sound of something on the other side of this door. It sounds like clanking metal? Huh.]
no subject
Felicia's look goes the slightest bit icy at that, but it's directed elsewhere rather than at Yeager; it's upsetting, really, that people like this exist throughout all worlds.]
...I see. He really is despicable.
[Still, they get to the door before Felicia can go on further, and...huh. Felicia's never heard something like this...]
What on earth is making that noise?
[...Not that it's going to stop her from opening the door. What's behind door number 2, friend??]
no subject
[That sure is a machine! It's moving back and forth across the floor as if on patrol, clanking and making a racket the whole way. The top spins to point at Felicia as the door opens - and then it proceeds to start charging up an attack.]
Well, that's just rude. These things are supposed to recognize that I'm not a threat...
[C'mon, Felicia, Yeager's already tugging your arm so we can retreat. The door we've entered from is beneath a balcony; there are pillars holding it up, which is the safest place to hide for the time being.]
no subject
What the FUCK is this METAL GEAR BULLSHIT--okay, okay, okay this is happening now, this sure is happening--]
W-well, these things are awfully rude--!
[FELICIA IS GLADLY GOING TO RETREAT WITH HIM, FUCK THIS ABSOLUTE MALARKEY, please don't decide to shoot the pillars itself that would be very very bad--]
no subject
We'll have to be careful if we see any more of them. They won't chase us for long, but they can be a bit of a pain to fight, I'd imagine.
[From our vantage point here, you can see that we're in a large room. There's a staircase further down that leads up a floor - it isn't a particularly large staircase, and at the top of it, you can see two knights. There isn't a door anywhere over there, but the second floor wraps around and above, presumably leading up to the landing above us.
There are pillars to hide behind on this floor as well, and thankfully only one of the Perfect Murder machines. Yes, that's their name, I swear I didn't make that up. Anyway, shall we head on upstairs?]
no subject
At any rate, Felicia nods.]
I certainly wouldn't want to try to cross one of those things, especially so unprepared...let's be cautious.
[At any rate, it's a good thing we have those pillars, if nothing else; let's just do our best to stealth check our way through this entire place and...hope nobody falls flat on their face. Godspeed.]
no subject
Anyway, stealth mode is a go!! It's pretty easy to sneak around down here since the robot isn't exactly very good at telling where people are unless they're out in the open. That just leaves the short staircase leading to the next floor and the guards.]
I'm not entirely certain how they're going to react to us. Best be prepared for the worst, ja?
no subject
But anyway, good! Out of sight of the robot, and now they gotta deal with...the knights. Great, lovely. Alright, well...]
Of course. If worst does come to worst, I'm sure we can defeat them, but...hopefully these people don't think you're hostile as well. Let's get going.
[...Together, presumably, because lord knows Felicia is probably gonna be someone they see as hostile.]
no subject
[Are we just going to head on up the stairs or do you want to try to talk to the knights? Or catch them off guard and throw a shuriken first??]
no subject
Still, Felicia will clear her throat a bit as they come out, to get the knight's attention. Maybe a diplomacy roll will work here???]
Excuse me, sirs! Do you have a moment?
no subject
Who are you? How did you make it down here?
[The one with the spear nudges his companion and inclines his head a bit to indicate Yeager and the first one eases up.]
Oh. My apologies. I didn't see you there. Um... What is it, miss?
no subject
Oh, no, it's okay! You're all clearly doing a wonderful job of staying on your guard--I apologize for startling you.
[Alright, let's do this--]
Might I ask if you could let us through?
[...Is Alexei beyond here, Felicia just doesn't know, but--]
There's some information that we need to pass along, if that's quite alright.
no subject
[Well, now he sounds confused. The second one speaks up.]
If you're looking for the Commandant, you're going the wrong way. Why'd you lead her back this way?
[That's directed at Yeager and he shrugs in response. One of the knights sighs in frustration, like this is expected.]
This way just leads back through Zaude. Unless you're trying to leave, there's nothing out this way. And you [he nods at yeager] shouldn't be trying to leave at all.
no subject
Oh gosh, this really is a conundrum then, isn't it? I'm so, so sorry.
[...]
But I am afraid that if you won't let us go, then we will have to find our way past, one way or another. I'd greatly prefer that it didn't come to using force, but...
I take it that there's not going to be much choice, if we wish to leave?
[Well, Felicia was hoping not to have to do this, but she's ready none the less. It all depends on just what they do now.]
no subject
[Yeager takes that as his cue to swing that massive scythe around so he can get into position.] Seriously!
[Well, the knights aren't exactly here for that - the one with the spear goes after Yeager, and they'll be fighting over there in the background while the knight with the sword targets Felicia. He's not particularly fast, but he's definitely trying to come in and land a hit on her before she can dodge backwards and put some distance between them.]
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