recolle | JULY EVENT LOG 2.0

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JULY EVENT LOG 2.0

EVENT

CRASH AND BURN
The last day of the ReConvention finds con-goers crowding the convention center for last-minute panels and purchases. The halls fill with attendees bartering for wares, attending autograph sessions and showing off their cosplays. But for a select number of people, time is of the essence.

Those who scanned their QR codes at the Retrospec booth will notice that their countdown clock draws closer to zero. With each second ticking closer and closer to the end, a sense of urgency settles around the crowd.

But, perhaps you’re one of the ones who will carry on as if nothing is happening. Or maybe you didn’t scan your code at all. It doesn’t matter though. There’s nothing stopping the clock from its descent backwards, and as the timer strikes zero a loud, piercing roar echoes off of every wall of the convention center.

I.
Those who were brave enough to scan their received QR codes (and even those who didn't but received one regardless) will find that their mobile devices shock them, a quick electric burst that leaves behind a white-hot sort of pain. When you open your eyes after the initial hit, a floating treasure chest appears. While there may be multiple chests surrounding you, it seems you may only open those with your name on them.

Another beam of light shines upon opening your prizes, orbs skyrocketing through the air as they circle briefly before settling around you. A surge of energy ignites within, and for some lucky few new companions and items have also been rewarded to those who played Jim's game. But…perhaps they aren't the ones you expected. Perhaps they make no sense at all. Why not give them a try?

II.
But seeing how the convention center continues to shake, it might be better to find out what’s up. The source of chaos can be traced back to Seto Kaiba's gaming booth as a projector in the wall releases monster after monster that pour out of the projection and come to life. Though the TV above Kaiba’s booth is shattered, the projector keeps rolling and the monsters appear while destroying the booth itself in their haste to be free. Among the rubble left behind the blue glow of the Retrospec symbol shines brightly from a side-panel of the projector.

For those in the convention center, there is the option to run and hide. With the building shifting due to the onslaught of attacks, piles of drywall, cracks and crevices and more provide for good hiding spots to give you time to make a new plan.

Of course, there's always the fight option. What will it take to bring these beasts down? Maybe it's best to lure them outside instead and away from civilians.

III.
Or perhaps that was a bad idea. Whether citizens manage to wrangle the monsters outside or not the beasts will make their way out on their own, fighting amongst themselves and chasing people through the city's streets. Even those who didn't attend the convention will find that the infestation spreads to every district of the city itself, and their QR-given items and abilities kick in. They aren't going for the kill, but they will follow any moving target including those who aren't on the Retrospec network. Though these citizens may run, hide or need rescuing, if asked they will simply remark that the city's always had a bit of a monster problem.

However, now that the fight's moved outside, it's easier to see the distinct red tint to the monsters' eyes every time they blink. A monster that has to forcibly change direction will flicker for a moment, like an image buffering and loading. Even when a monster unleashes an attack, some fighters may take the full impact while others get away with minor to no damage. In those moments, it's easier to bring them to a halt.

When a monster meets its demise though, something strange happens. The flickering is more rapid and faster, and the creature will dissolve into black blocks and spores that evaporate into thin air. What the hell was that? Now probably isn't the best time to ask questions.

IV.
The fighting rages on but with the sun still hanging in the sky it's impossible to tell what time it is. One of the monsters seems to have knocked out the nearby cell phone tower, too, taking down not only cell phone reception, but the entire Retrospec network as well.

It goes on for what feels like hours with the sun beating down from above. Retrospec users battle monsters and fight to reconnect while the network errors out any time someone tries to send a message about the city under attack. It seems as though a new wave of monsters appear just as the last one dies down.

It's with a sudden jolt that reception on your mobile device returns, but Retrospec appears to be in a maintenance mode where the network is still inaccessible. A quick glance at the date on your phone reveals that instead of the mere hours you thought, nearly five days have passed by and you realize the date is now August 3rd. Upon that realization everyone's devices begin to chime with several notifications and the monsters all seem to pause for one brief moment. Not long after, Retrospec members will also find themselves frozen in place no matter how hard they struggle. The spell on the monsters breaks as they swoop upon these unfortunate few, picking them up in their claws, hands or mouths. A large swirling portal opens not far away and one by one creatures dive straight through the portal with the Retrospec users.

These portals may spit you out anywhere in the city, but several of them send residents to Peach Beach. Strangely, the monsters are nowhere to be found, but way out in the distance appears to be a creature, swallowing up the ocean in a swirl of waves.

You can try to run out to fight it, but the moment your feet touch what used to be the ocean floor a forcefield throws you back to the sand allowing the ocean to slip away right before your eyes. The moment the last drop is drained, that monster disappears, too.

What happens next? To be continued…

And welcome to the wrap-up of the ReConvention! As Prompt IV says, monster attacks will continue through all five days (July 30th, 31st, August 1st, 2nd and 3rd) and the network will not be accessible to anyone in-game from now until August 3rd when a mod-posted Retrospec post goes live! Please feel free to play with the monster attacks as you wish! You can have your characters escape via glitches in the monsters, or you can fight the monsters and and your character can actually take damage for a real battle (though death is not an option at this time.) We leave that up to you!

Please do not post any threads in this log or in your inboxes set for after this log just yet! We will be setting up August's event via this log and for plot purposes we ask that you refrain from doing anything prior to our Retrospec post on 8/3.

Those who are in Group One or Group Two will learn more about their small-focus teams on August 3rd when your logs goes live.

Please direct questions about this log to the mod comment here. Thanks!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I. New Tricks

[Still in her costume and carrying her carved, oaken shillelagh, Penelope Raban lets out a loud scream of pain and surprise when her cell phone sends a jolt through her. It hurts, but the surprise of the treasure chest appearing in front of her takes some of that way. Opening the box, she marvels at a sudden blast of light and the shift of energy around her. The new creature that appears beside her is one thing, the long hunting knife another...but what really strikes her is the power she feels surging through her. Something twisted, dark, a malevolent energy coiling in the pit of her stomach and settling in like it'd always been there.

Marveling at the feeling, she begins inspecting herself for any real injury, and finds...her hand is glowing. Softly, yes, but a purplish light all the same.]

...What the hell...!?

[Now, nevermind that she's got her go-pro still going. This stuff can be fixed in edits later.]

II. Come My Minions (Bold marks 2nd prompt)

[The swarm of monsters pouring into the convention are one more thing Penelope is less than thrilled about, but at least she has the ability to do something about them. Her friends are in danger, after all. With a lurch, she fishes in her purse for the enspelled Zodiac Spear and clips it to her costume's belt. For now the shillelagh will do, and she rushes through the rapidly emptying convention hall with her weapon ready, seeking people in need.

It a matter of moments she's joined by two minions, the small creatures bouncing along after her and the weird jellyfish.

Top priority is securing an exit, so she rushes towards one of the staff exits and throws it open.]

Everyone! Here's another way out!

[This seems to attract monsters just as much as people though, and several of the flying Vampyrs peel off to start heading towards the exit!

Later, she finds herself and her minions barreling down a hallway with one of the Beowolf creatures rushing after her. The cane had been tucked into it's strap on her back and she's holding a cylinder of silvery metal in her now free hand.]

Run! [She shouts as she whizzes by you, tomato in tow.] We need to find some place that we can narrow the field a little!

III. Game Over, Man.

[Once she finally makes it outside, her hands glowing with a brackish light, Pen clutches her spear and moves to intercept any hostile. Her body moves differently now than before, harder and faster when she's faced with certain creatures. The Faceless and Vampyr bats in particular seem to have the most dramatic effects, enough so that even she's beginning to wonder just what it was that light is.

But no time to think...here comes more, right for someone.]

Get behind me!

[Surging forward, Pen snarls with savage intent and drives her spear towards the one of the Faceless's muscled stomach.]

I'll hold it off!

Wildcard

[If you want to do something with Penelope, and want a wild card? Write me a starter! Or plot with me so I can write one, over at

intercession]

Edited 2017-07-30 20:23 (UTC)

[Of course, when all of this goes down, there's only one objective on Freya's mind when she doesn't see anyone in immediate danger: find Penelope.]

[When those vampyrs sweep down towards the exit (and Pen), Freya leaps in from the side, twisting in some sort of horizontal axle and swing a metal broom handle around in a wide arc. It hits several of the winged creatures, though not solidly, and there's a hissing sound as the pole strikes flesh, as if struck with a hot iron.]

[She regains her footing and shoots an urgent, slightly worried glance at Pen before returning her attention to the whatever-they-are.]

You alright?

[There is a kangaroo with a lumpy sack hopping up to the scene.]

[Penelope blinks when Freya appears out of nowhere, her shillelagh held in both hands, ready to strike. She whirls over towards her girlfriend, dodging a diving bat-creature, her hands beginning to glow again...and her weird jellyfish floating beside her.]

Just fine. Better now that it's not just me and the beasties.

[Setting her weapon in a fencer's stance, she grins.]

You?

[Freya smiles, though her eyes remain on the things fluttering around them. She spins the metal broomshaft idly in one hand.]

Better, now that I know where you are. [Seriously, they part for half an hour so Pen can do video stuff, and this happens.] Any idea what this is about?

[Freya swifts to a two-handed grip, swatting one of the bat-things hard.]

[Pen swishes her weapon back and forth, swaying like a dancer in the motions of the fight. A vampyr darts down and she bats it aside, with...a little more force than she'd intended. It hits the ground with a squeak and she takes the opportunity to crush it with the tip of the cane.]

Nope. Just...suddenly fucking monsters, everywhere.

[Her hand snaps out again, sudden and forceful, catching a creature by the wing as it dove for Freya's back...]

Or did you mean the fucking crazy new creatures and powers?

Since when is that anything new? [At least, in the last six months or so. The thin pole's starting to turn a dim red now. The next time she strikes one of the bats, it produces the most awful burning flesh smell.]

Gotta say, I'm a touch offended by the roo.

[Pen's fist clenches, the purple aura growing brighter, and there's a snapping sound as the vampyr's bones shatter.]

Well my creatures are different, but I've never been able to do this before.

[She looks back at the kangaroo with a snort.]

And you know, I think it's cute.

[The that rippling crunch of bones does make a chill go up Freya's spine. Something about that purple glow was... unsettling. She couldn't pinpoint what.]

Foreigners always do. [Freya smacks back two more, starting to edge closer to the door.] I didn't labor through those stupid squares for a fucking roo.

[Pen's cane snaps down, batting aside another creature, but there's no end to the swarm, it seems...]

What? What's wrong with it?

[She really doesn't get it...]

Hey! Look out! Up top!

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