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

[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!

It's—[The protest dies at Pen's warning, and her weapon whips above to smacks one aside, but one slips through and latches onto her shoulder. Well, tries to; the vampyr gets a mouthful of worbla. Without hesitation, Freya slams herself into the nearby wall the smash the demon bat between her and the building.]

—probably unimportant right now.

[Pen snorts and twirls the cane in a wide arc, crushing another bat's wing and sending it careening into a trash can.]

We need to get out of the open. There's way too many of them!

[Freya grits her teeth, torn between insisting that they stay until they're sure non-combatants are out, and seeing Pen to a safer place—it was irrational, she knew, since Pen was just as capable of taking care of herself.]

Then we've got to go deeper in the building, unless you wanna hide in your car. [The wide open courtyard might be better to fight most of the bizarre things Freya's seen, but not these little bastards.]

[Penelope's jaw tightens as she hears those words. Hide. Deeper. Neither are particularly pleasant, and neither of them really sit well with her, but that's not what's bothering her. That sudden jerk of familiarity, like a leash being tugged around her neck, that's what has her drawn up short. Her posture stiffens and she hunches over, trying to make herself feel smaller, less noticeable, as a vampyr darts overhead.]

Deeper...? [Shaking her head, she clutches her weapon in a white-knuckled deathgrip, eyes darting wildly around, like they're looking for an escape...]

No...I have to get out. Not go deeper...!

[The shift in tone sends a jolt through Freya, and she shoots a worried glance over her shoulder. She desperately wants to draw Pen closer to her, seeing her curled in on herself like that, but now wasn't the time. It almost reminded her of their incident with those blue flowers.]

Pen! [Freya spins fully around, stabbing at the vampyr circling above and pinning it against the wall with the hot iron. The smell was awful.] Listen to me, Penelope. Focus on my voice.

[She whips around, makeshift staff with her, swinging at the monsters. Suddenly, there's two people's worth of work to do.]

[Shaking her head, dropping her weapon to clutch at it, Pen slowly starts waddling towards the island that is Freya. No vampyrs there, only something akin to safety, a chance to breathe and catch herself.]

Going in is bad. These things...they're just going to keep coming. They'll tear is to shreds if we don't get out.

[That's the most coherent thought she can put forth, though her voice is reedy with fear.]

It's like what happened to her...

[On one hand, Freya's glad to have Pen near. On the other, it gives her less room to work with her long weapon. The kangaroo, at least, seems to be kicking at the low-flying ones.]

[Between the adrenaline and concern it takes her moments longer than it should to recognize this as a hallucinomemory; one that apparently has a good grip on Pen. Freya can't keep this up, covering them both—not by herself, anyway. Her right shoulder starts burning, and Freya reaches over, smashing the fragile crystal on the ground the moment it touches her fingers.]

No one's gettin' torn to shreds! [Sigils form on the ceiling as Freya swats two more out of the air. When a familiar, purple hulking form materializes, she seizes Pen's shoulder, pulling her away, down the hallway.]

Keep 'em off us! [Bahamut complies with that fiery blue-white Ignis of his, dealing with the bats easier than they could with mere weapons.]

[Pen hardly bats an eyelash when the monster from the other day turns up. She's entirely too focused on Freya and the sound of that familiar voice. It's the only thing keeping her from freaking out and running, and she allows herself to be pulled along without any resistance.]

But...we have to get out! [Her only protest, but even that is weak, since she trusts her partner implicitly.

Once they're into the hallway, away from the screeching bats, Pen manages to find her feet and starts hauling herself along, still holding herself low but not quite so panicked. The visions have clearly faded a bit...enough that she ducks into an empty panel room...]

[Freya ducks in after her, lingering in the hallway for a moment to look for errant monsters. She leaves Bahamut with a quick mental command before shutting the door behind her.]

[It was almost quiet in here. The sound of destruction and screaming was muffled and distant, and Freya's breathing sounded loud in her own ears by comparison. She couldn't stay here long; she knew a lot of people here today and they were in danger. First, though... Freya has to make sure Pen's on her own feet.]

[The taller woman balances the heated pole in the half-full water pitcher before turning to her girlfriend.] You're safe here. ...What's goin' on?

[She didn't mean the monsters this time.]

[Pen shifts awkwardly, hopping up to sit on a table that'd been meant for panelists. Crossing her arms defensively, she looks down at the floor, the dim light of the room bringing back memories of that mine...]

I've seen those creatures before. Well. The other me has. She was trapped somewhere with them. I think...maybe it was a mineshaft. And she was sneaking along trying not to get noticed, so they wouldn't kill her.

[Looking up at Freya, she frowns deeply, seriously thinking this over.]

She was scared. Alone, unarmed. I know she was hurt, too. Bruised. Beaten. I...can kind of feel the bruises in my side, but I know they aren't there.

[Freya regards her as passively as she can, but it's hard not to frown; she found that posture of Pen's kind of alarming, for some reason. The taller woman steps closer to stand in front of Pen, and bringing what she hoped was a comforting hand up to Pen's cheek.]

You've got me, and you're armed to the teeth, so that's several up on her. [The reminders help, or so Freya thinks, since it's easy to lose oneself in the vivid illusions.] Still, sounds awful.

More than several. But...

[She shivers and leans forward into the touch.]

It felt so real. She was so scared...and I couldn't help but feel it too. I think...I know when it happened, too. Why she was there.

[Freya takes another half-step forward, as close as she can get without climbing onto the table, the table edge's digging into her legs. She remembers, distantly, the crippling fear she'd experienced back in the student union what felt like years ago—how the phantom fear settled into her bones, clinging to her even after the vision had passed. Her heart ached for Pen.]

Part of somethin' else you've seen?

[Pen leans against Freya, head resting against her chest, and she nods feebly.]

Yeah. [Shivering a little bit, phantom pain rolling up her back.] Ba'gamnan. The...person that kidnapped her. I heard him laughing at the memory started, and I'm pretty sure he gave her a parting kick as she ran.

[Freya's arm slips protectively around her back. Kidnapped, beaten, left to die, and... god knows what else.] What's he got against her to dump her in a mine full of those things?

I don't think it was because he had anything against her. [She draws a shuddering breath, utterly drained.]

He said something about using me as bait. And once he didn't have a use for me...? I think the only reason he let me go was he didn't want to waste the effort killing me. The monsters would do it for him.

You don't have anything to be scared of. [Freya dips her head, pressing her lips against Pen's hair.]

These monsters aren't gonna do a damn thing. I won't let that happen to you.

II

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