JULY EVENT LOG 2.0

[recollecters]

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!

Comments

iii

[godcards]

[ Malik has to jump back to avoid being splattered with monster guts-- oh wait, there aren't any. Which renders his action moot, but look, what else is he supposed to expect. He might being belligerent in his own right, but he's a skinny beanpole. He isn't one to slay monsters in hand to hand combat.

Still, that doesn't mean he can't get upset for Literally No Reason. ]

Next time you might want to watch where you're going-- you almost hit me!

[ Except not really, but you know. Dramatics. ]

[cattack]

[She knows she didn't, but she doesn't even feel like calling him on it.]

Better me than a monster. Get on, I'll take you to the community center.

[godcards]

You mean where all the monsters could take their pick of who they want to eat? No thanks. I'd rather go somewhere else so I could stay alive.

[ this is not the time to argue yet HERE WE ARE!!! ]

[cattack]

Are you an idiot? There's safety in numbers! There will be those there who can protect you!

[STOP ARGUING YOU FUCKING WEENIE]

[godcards]

No! I'm not going! [ Of course, there could very well be a dragon flying overhead right about now to strengthen Cleo's point. ]

I don't need anyone to protect me! I can to that myself.

[cattack]

Then you can protect the others there.

[it takes all her willpower to not go 'WELL YOU CLEARLY FUCKING CAN'T' and then push him into a locker, but.]

But I can't just leave someone in danger here.

[godcards]

[ Malik is clearly bemused at the idea of protecting others, and he still doesn't seem too worried about the monsters. ]

Oh, how noble... but I don't remember ever asking for your help!

[ He snaps out those last few words, which is immediately followed by from rumbling from nearby monster damage. Because there are, in fact, still monsters nearby even with all of Malik's stupid posturing.

The nearby commotion actually causes him to startle. ]

-- If I allow you to take me, it can't be to the community center.

[cattack]

Why- We can discuss that later! For now, get on!

[She revs up the engine, ready to tear off once he's on.]

[godcards]

[ He hates following orders. HATES IT. But he has to relent if it means, you know, not getting crushed under falling cement pieces or something equally dramatic. ]

Fine!

[ He's... really unsure where to put his hands. This is more awkward than direly life-threatening. ]

[cattack]

[grab the catgirl u nerd

because she's just burning rubber to get the fuck out of there as fast as possible, Malik had better hold on tight.]

We're going to the community center first, you can go wherever you want from there!

[godcards]

[ He will immediately grab the catgirl because holy fuck Cleo ]

I told you no! Don't you listen!

[cattack]

I listen, and I refuse to be a part of your suicide!

[eat shit malik]

[godcards]

[ what the heck

that actually gets him to shut up for a moment: as easy as it would be to fire back that he wasn't planning on getting himself killed, he also remembered one of those god forsaken Retrospec-given memories. About how he WAS ready to die, although he doesn't have the context. Just the feeling of resignation to his fate.

He shakes it off. ]

If I wanted to kill myself it'd be over already!

[cattack]

Then what exactly do you plan to do to survive when the monsters come?!

[She's angry, but she doesn't want to see him die. No one should get hurt on her watch.

(No one except her.)]

[godcards]

Simple. Don't get eaten.

[ THAT'S NOT REALLY A PLAN but to him it is. Stop questioning him?? let him live. ]

[cattack]

How?

[The frustration is evident in her voice.]

[godcards]

First and foremost... By not getting stuck in a crowd of people. It's easier to evade when I'm alone. How do you think I can escape if I have to squeeze through the panicking masses? More people means more attention... It's just easier to do things on my own.

[cattack]

And when you're cornered, alone, with three monsters surrounding you?! What will you do then?!

[godcards]

[ He'd shrug, if he weren't holding on to her. Attempt to be passive - but instead he's quiet again while he thinks about it, and just maybe Cleo can feel the muscles in his arms tense up. ]

Then I guess I'll die.