recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] recolle2018-02-03 06:04 pm

CITY EVENT LOG

EVENT
The New Administration
Wait, what?
*[ooc: please be sure to read all mod notes at the bottom!]



The third is when everything seems to start with a bang. On the third day of February, several crashes and bangs are heard and the sound of creaky metal ripples through the air. Those who look outside will see a sight for sore eyes. The moon and the stars brighten the sky and the dome is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, anyone in Tisse will find yet another addition to the wonderful city of Recollé. At the very top of the Towers sits a penthouse with wide windows and an empty office building, soft lights glowing and illuminating the area.

The city goes silent after that, but at the top of the hour every single Retrospec user receives a text from a user named Zee Carlisle.

Nice city you've got here. They weren't kidding when they said I would fit right in. I've always wanted to live in a city like this.

Jo, Maury and the rest of the team have given you a little bit of a breakdown in preparation for our little project, but they recruited me to step in. Seems like a lot of you want a more personal experience here with us at Retrospec. So let's talk. Get to know each other. I'll go first.

Zee Carlisle, Hiring Manager. Nice to meet you, etc. I've been watching you for a while, Retrospecters. Kind of a unique group you've got going. I like it.

Here's the thing. We've been experiencing some problems out of our control for a while now. The director's been trying to keep things under wraps for the last year, but HR and R&D finally convinced the higher ups that we need help. So. You want the whole story? Here's your story.

The storms are getting worse. You might've noticed. Calls are down, mail's down, communication as a whole is down and isolating you into this teensy bubble of a city. It's why the dome went up, had to protect our resources and start isolating the sources. More areas and more people even outside of your little group here are being affected, but you guys are the only people who can help us. Some of you passed your assessments with flying colors and I've already sent messages. You'll leave for your assignments in the morning at 9am, congratulations.

As for the rest of you, welllll…consider this an interview.

You see...as a Hiring Manager, I'm looking for recruits for our new project. The Recollé Restoration Initiative (going forward known as the RRI) is a project we designed here to not only help us, but to help you help us help you. Make sense? Cool.

You may ask, "Why should we trust you?" which is a completely fair question to ask. And hey, you don't have to trust me or trust them. But I think you might be interested to know that you and I have more in common than you think.

As a user on the network, you can contact me via text, phone or email. I'll also have some office hours and more resources than you could ever dream of. But enough about me. Here's your first assignment.


I.

On the morning of the fourth, users going through their assessment period (i.e. those of you who are working inside the city) receive a diagram from Zee. In this diagram, a dot labelled "Recollé" sits in the center and in the four cardinal directions are different labelled dots. To the south is Pesgare. To the north is Magatus. To the east is Respatrum. And to the west is Bosuma.

Citizens will find that they are able to leave the city limits now and can explore the open areas leading to these four points. While they will not be able to visit them just yet, they will be instructed that they must work together to begin structuring paths, roads, or forms of transportation between the main city of Recollé and these four locations. Zee may take requests and provide items should users ask, but it's up to you to work together and start brainstorming the best ways to create maps and connect these points together.

But the best way to do that is to start exploring, right? Hit the road and grab a friend to begin getting a lay of the land. Southward leads residents to the beach while northward leads them through the forest, east and west giving way to desert and open field areas the further they travel. The expanse of directions seems endless, but eventually citizens will find that they will hit a point where they're unable to enter. An "ACCESS DENIED" notification will pop up on their phone, notifying them that they've reached the entry points of the special assignments volunteers have been sent on.

But even with restricted access, there's plenty to be done and plenty to take care of as part of the initiative. Flora in the area needs to be identified and the fauna may be a bit problematic if you aren't careful. Some of these plants and creatures may even look familiar to you, but many of them won't!

Off-roading and camping are encouraged and despite the fact it's February the weather seems to be amendable to these ventures. Clear as many of the monsters as possible to make way for the paths, report your findings to your hiring manager, and look out for each other as you start to shape the land.

II.

It's not just the outskirts of the city and open areas that need help. Some citizens who have lived here for a while may remember that February 3rd is traditionally known as Founder's Day, a holiday set up by the city to celebrate the foundation. In the days leading up to the third, banners, signs and all kinds of advertisements have gone up reminding everyone that this year is the 100th anniversary of the city's foundation. However, as the third approaches, Founder's Day comes and goes without any sort of large celebration. In fact, the annual parade is cancelled and instead citizens gather to discuss a more trying matter.

Breaking news hits the airwaves that Mayor Mayer, the entire city council, the head of police, the fire chief and other prominent figures of the city have disappeared overnight. As newscasters record TV footage in front of City Hall and the police station, Retrospec users will receive a new message.

Uh. Well, that was unexpected. I wasn't really counting on something like this coming up but let's roll with it and count it as part of your assessment. You want your city to keep running the way it did? Find your mayor and the others.

But hey...it's your city. What if you didn't?


Under your feet, blue pulses of light run under the streets and the sidewalks, energy thrumming beneath you as all lights lead back to the subway tunnels again. Will you be a hero and follow the lights to rescue these people? Or will you be a face of change and leave them to perish and redesign the city?

Those who do enter the tunnels will find that a new route has opened, a mouth to the left of the main entrance from the city. Unlike the other dirt-filled vine-and-rat-infested tunnels, this one is a sterile and bright silver path with floor to ceiling panels on one side of the tracks and floor to ceiling mirrors on the other. The path seems to stretch miles and miles under the city and the further you walk, the narrower the path becomes. The sound of wild animals echo through the tunnels from the other sides of the panels, and the mirrors to your left reflect skeletal forms of both people and animals alike. The closer you get to the end though, the louder the sounds grow and the panels to the right slide open to release several chimera-esque creatures who will do everything they can to guard the silver door at the end of the tunnel. These creatures can be defeated by normal means, and they will not hesitate to attack anyone who gets close.

Is it worth fighting to save these people? You decide. Those who defeat the creatures and find themselves at the silver door will receive yet another message.

Hang tight, I am grouping you with some of the others to finish this thing.


III.
Later on the fourth, no matter where you are, you may find something heavy resting in your pocket. A small colored stone shaped like a heart appears and even while tucked away safely it burns brightly. Holding it, the heart feels as though it's pulsating and you're flooded with an overwhelming sense of love for something special whether that's a person, an item, or an ideal. All users find themselves in possession of a stone, and soon another text comes through.

If you're anything like me, you're probably wondering what's up with the rocks. Had the techs run some tests on these. Don't freak out, but you might want to be careful with them? They're working as fast as they can but bits of your soul energy are tied directly to those stones. You break it or make it lose its shine, well, hard to say WHAT might happen.


Users who keep their stones on their person in their pockets or in a bag will find that whatever emotions they're dealing with will transfer to whomever they encounter. Feeling happy that the sun's back? Everyone around you will wear a smile. Stressed out that your loved ones volunteered for a mission and they're out who-knows-where? Everyone around you will pick up that same nervous energy. The stone's color will fade if you ignore these feelings and even worse, fissures may start to form if they continue to be ignored.

And though you may not know it yet, shattering the heart is the worst thing you could do: if the stone breaks, the thing that you love disappears from your mind completely. All memories and emotions associated with this heart will vanish without a second thought.

IV.
What's that smell in the air? Is it love? Close, it's cherry blossoms. It's a sickeningly sweet scent that occasionally blows through with the wind, strongest in the city and more faint the further you travel. However, citizens beware as invisible assailants appear to be on the prowl. Without warning, you may feel the prick of Cupid's arrow from behind. Though the effects only last two hours maximum, they're fairly inconvenient while on assignment. These effects include:

-Heart-shaped pupils
-A violent whirlwind of rose petals appearing any time you make eye contact with someone new
-Your emotions are intensified
-Your emotions are flipped. People you have a fondness for may now disgust you, or people you normally argue with may become your best friend


Inconvenient, yet manageable, right?

On February 14th though things become a bit harder. Yet another message comes through.

Hope you've been having an easier time with the residual effects than I am. You know what makes everything easier? Teamwork. And that's what today's assignment is all about. Happy Valentine's Day.


The first person that you see on this day may be a friend or a stranger, but soon you will find that a strangely magnetic force binds the two of you together. For the next 24 hours, you and your partner will be stuck together and must work together. Whether this is working on the road construction assignment, the rescue mission or just going about your everyday lives you'll have a built-in companion for the day. Who knows? You may even find yourself stuck with up to two additional people, too.

But what if you stray too far from your partner(s)? No worries. A red string will bind your hands together and ensure you're always connected, simply falling away once the 24 hours are up.

THE FUTURE.
So this is life now, isn't it? A year's gone by since Retrospec's impacted so many lives and it may feel as though you're nowhere closer to answering questions. Perhaps you're just starting your journey with the restoration company. Either way, your help is most appreciated and acknowledged. As you work toward the goals assigned to you, you will be rewarded. For an excellent show of teamwork, at the end of your assessment you will find yourself on the receiving end of a brand new memory or vision of a life lost. Some of you may also receive a ticket in the mail to pick up an item at the Retrospec mailbox by Wiffle-Waffle. A message will be sent not long after.

Congrats, you passed. Come to my office in March if you're ready for harder assignments.

Welcome to [community profile] recolle's February event!

Please read these notes carefully!

Prompt I may be played with however you want! There is really no right or wrong answer, and as mentioned Zee can be reached at his inbox to provide you with any tools your character may ask for to connect the four points to the city. You are free to make up plant names and what effects they have on the eco systems as well and report these back to the NPC if you wish. As of right now, the only monsters roaming the grounds are those in the above bestiary though other earthly wildlife may be found.

Prompt II will require some coordination! If you complete a thread with someone in which you defeat the monsters and get to the silver door before 2/16 at 9pm EST, please hit up Zee's inbox! ICly (and oocly) your character will be put in contact with the small group of others who have worked toward this endeavor and given the next step to save these important NPCs.

Prompt III will have set consequences! If your character breaks their heart, they will lose memories and feelings associated with something they love. Breaking the stone is entirely optional, and there will possibly be a way to regain these memories later down the line as a reward for the future, but please keep this in mind!

The Future will only be applicable once you've met your freebie requirements for this log! Remember, the requirements for one free memory are 15 comments spread across at least two threads (min. 5 consecutive comments each) using these prompts. For the free 10-20 point item, one of these threads must be with a character you haven't threaded with before!

A mod-posted Retrospec post may go up if necessary to connect city players with group players, dependent on player action!

As always, you may also create your own logs or inbox threads based on these prompts. Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

Happy anniversary, Recollé!
leaveittomother: (4)

[personal profile] leaveittomother 2018-02-13 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I didn't think I was.

[She was.]
livingimpaired: (Default)

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-14 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kei hopes that he'd run out of memories sooner rather than later. Hopefully, someone realizes what Kirei Kotomine is before he does anything. His gaze becomes clouded but refocuses as he hears Sakura's voice brighten. He turns his head slightly to look down at her to catch her smiling face.

It doesn't make him happy to see it; there is some relief in seeing it, however, as he realizes that he can actually do what he sets out to do. He said that it didn't matter she was happy, so if it didn't matter, why not have her be happy? But she abruptly cuts herself off just as he is settling in to listen to her talk. ]


A bit what? [ He decides to supply like she may be concerned about talking on such topics. But he feels the shift in the air as he lifts his head up. Kei pulls his eyes away from her to look at what she has already noticed. His arm comes out to act as a barrier, like that will do anything, and he takes a step back to have her more hidden behind him. ]

I see it. [ A beat. ] Have these always been in the woods? [ It is a rhetorical question -- not even an attempt at making a joke in such a situation. Did they ignore those that were not part of Retrospec? He wonders as he acts as a barrier between the creature and Sakura. If she dies, she'll come back, but I'd rather not have to see her die, if I can avoid it. ]

Sakura. This is a difficult request to give you, but could you run and not look back regardless of what you heard? [ He tilts his head slightly to listen to her response, and hopes she understands his meaning. ]
Edited 2018-02-14 00:21 (UTC)
evidentiary: (Default)

[personal profile] evidentiary 2018-02-14 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
In that case, trying to trap them behind the panels again may be the simplest way to win.
livens: (PEER ♪ what's that)

[personal profile] livens 2018-02-14 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
But look! There's a door behind them! If we can just get rid of them or get them to run off...
argone: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Sheepish)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-14 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Well. He asked.]

Biomechanical Engineering. Medical Cybernetics.
argone: (Hopeful)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-14 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Kara snorts a laugh and leans back, smiling much, much more genuinely. Congratulations, you got her to smile. Despite everything on her mind, and all your talk about not being seen as responsible, you...Kei Shiragaki...have earned that title today.]

You're right. Nothing to be down about. Despite how heavy today turned out to be.
imaginex: (♥ clap)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 01:37 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh--! It even has your name on it!

[Don't ask why that detail in particular seems to delight Sakura, but her hands give a clap in glee. And goodness, the size of it... admittedly she'd assumed something much smaller than what May had probably described, but there's no denying the ship's majesty in person. It's like they could invite all their friends and still have room left over.]
redarm: (11)

[personal profile] redarm 2018-02-14 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. You mean like prosthetics.
argone: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Another Smile)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-14 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. Though, not like peg legs. Integrating mechanical parts into the nervous system.

[Look she is proud of this.]
argone: (Happy)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-14 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Kara snorts and shakes her head, waving a hand almost dismissively.]

It won't. Nothing ever works out like that, but it's nice to think about.

[Turning, she flashes a grin.]

And what about you?
redarm: (5)

[personal profile] redarm 2018-02-14 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
I know. I wore a prosthetic for years. Couldn't afford that high end stuff though.

[But he's heard of the research, even read up on it some. Sure, lot of it went over his head, but it was relevant to him]

My arm won't put you outta business. It's more a weird anomaly than a game changer.
imaginex: (♥ open)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
[If Shuji gave Sakura a piggyback ride, she'd find it in her heart to accept it. That's just the kind of mood she's in now.

She also sighs in relief and gives Shuji's hand a happy squeeze, even swinging their arms a little bit]


It is! That's a wonderful idea.

[8D 8D 8D]
imaginex: (♦ intrigued)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Ah yes... I remember that text.

[Smoothing some hair over her shoulder, Sakura returns her gaze to the stone in her lap, rubbing a thumb over the top]

Something about being tied to our souls...? Though I can't imagine how.

[And she'd mention how alarming that sounds, but this is Recollé. Everything is alarming here. You get used to it after a while.]
imaginex: (♦ wonder)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
[This far out, Sakura hadn't expected an audience, and she's only halfway through nocking the arrow on her bow when she turns in faint surprise]

... Um... that might be true, yes...

[Turning back to the monkeys who appear far from perturbed by this newest addition. Don't worry, buddy, they've got projectiles and banana peels for you, too.]

Please be careful, they're fond of shooting.
argone: (Default)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-14 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Well my goal is to change that.

[Really, her intent was to make this widely available, even if it took her whole life.]

Both the costs, and special arms being anomalies. But that's not why we're out here. There's a hill coming up. Maybe you keep the monsters off my back while I survey?
imaginex: (♢ shocked)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[No, she's never even seen this type of beast in the woods before, and she's been here a number of times. If something this dangerous had been lurking about, she would've...

The thought abruptly dies once Sakura gives a sharp jerk in place, staring mutely as Kei takes a step, places himself between her and the creature, and then issues the one command she cannot follow. Leave me here, he seems to demand, and she ogles like he's gone mad. Her gaze bounces between him and the creature]
But--

[He can't be serious, no -- he'll be hurt, her father's friend. And wasn't he the one who suggested she stop hiding in the shadows like a weak-willed princess all the time? No. She refuses to run, she doesn't want to. It's her wish now, no matter how foolish, and Sakura does her best to steel her nerves in place while reaching behind her back, for her quiver and arrows--

... which aren't there.

Oh.

Frankly? She mutters a very unlady-like word before a scream bubbles in her throat. From the corner of her eye she sees the beast move, apparently tired of waiting for its prey to flee, and despite all her bravado and stubborn pride, Sakura's feet begin to stumble backwards. Coward, her mind sneers at her. That was two whole seconds she managed, what an embarrassment, if she dies in shame that's her own fault--

She's yet to realize that her arm is up, an automatic response, protect the face and neck and vital areas, except something shoots like an arrow from her hand in that moment, a purple shot that moves like a thrown dagger. It embeds itself into one of the creature's hind legs, and still blank-faced with shock and fear, Sakura watches the animal crumble to the ground with a sharp howl.]


embearass: (one time I made someone laugh.)

[personal profile] embearass 2018-02-14 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
[ did you pick one and pray leon??? because you'll need it. ]

--I'll take that chance for now!

[ frederick grits his teeth as he fends off another attack from the faceless, putting enough space between them so he can reach for the gun holstered at his side. ]

Catch!

[ and he throws the gun towards him. it's a standard issue police handgun, and the safety is on because safety first motherfuckers ]
embearass: tumblr: hamstr (My teddy bear wants to meet you.)

[personal profile] embearass 2018-02-14 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Yes; my family here in Recolle and... people from memories I've received.

[ He coughs, still not sure what to make of them appearing in the flashes he got with the stone. All he knows is that they were fighting together, so they must be close somehow...? ]

No, not normally. But I have only been on the app for a few short months, so I cannot confirm if this has happened previously.
embearass: tumblr: hamstr (Smarter than the average bear)

[personal profile] embearass 2018-02-14 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Stay focused, don't let the reflections distract you," Frederick calls out. This could be the "trap" that Yoon-sung mentioned earlier, something to distract other rescuers, trying to make them turn back. He's had enough of this, however, instead making it a point to pull out his ax so that it's at the ready.
livingimpaired: (Default)

taking page out of your book

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-14 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
[ His shoulders drop slightly as he sees the beast attempting to move. Even if he would call his form to be average, his height seems to intimidate the creature enough to decide Sakura's the better target. Only the easy prey, then? Kei wonders what it is that he could do to protect her. His mind runs through how fast a creature like this could move, how fast he could move. It doesn't make any sense; no amount of logic that he puts into it would help to ground the situation.

But it seems he didn't need to do anything -- ]


何?!

[ Because what is it that he can say? The memories that he has -- Kirei Kotomine talks often about magic, but Kei has not ever seen it. Spinning around, he looks to Sakura and is surprised to see that her expression is equally frozen in shock and fear. Right, but that doesn't kill it, does it? He breathes out slow as he looks over the wounded beast and straightens his posture. ]

You have to aim carefully. [ His voice doesn't quite sound like his own, but the situation requires a calm voice. If he panics, everything could deteriorate. He feels his heart beating fast but keeps his breathing as slow and even as he can. ] I don't have anything that can fight against it. You have to aim carefully. [ Can she shoot more than one? No. Don't make it difficult. Don't make it challenging. ]

It's large. It's hurt. It won't be able to move out of the way easily with the injury to the back leg. Aim for the side, if you could. The head might be too hard to hit straight on. It's fine, Sakura. You're fine. [ Because he doesn't know what else to do, but support her. Even if she misses, it might be enough to drive it off, but he doesn't want to worry her about missing. She'll hit it. She'll hit it. ]
imaginex: (♡ disbelief)

[personal profile] imaginex 2018-02-14 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[One shot isn't enough to kill it, no. In fact, the creature is still moving, hobbled on three paws but disoriented -- not from pain, though it might seem that way, but because it literally can't feel one of its legs. That hind leg might as well be frozen for all the good it will do.

And then it... gets worse, apparently, even as Sakura stares stiff and unmoving from behind Kei, her expression slowly coiling into agony despite how Kei tries to direct her focus. The creature's second back leg suddenly gives out on it.... then one of the front. It's dragging itself on one leg alone now, snarling in confusion and fright as its movements become slow, lethargic, no longer focused on either Sakura or Kei.

It's dying. Slow, agonized -- but certainly dying.

She doesn't realize her hand has extended forward, but finally she follows Kei's instruction -- another purple arrow straight at the head, an unconscious act that seems to be out of her control. There's no show of blood, either, just the creature shuddering before it completely falls still, body almost collapsing in on itself like it's been sucked dry.

And then Sakura just stands there with a hand covering her mouth, shaking slightly.]
livingimpaired: (Default)

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-14 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
You struck its head.

[ More a statement than an observation. He smiles despite himself as he wonders if she went for the head subconsciously because he said it was a difficult shot to make. Bowing his head, he feels his heartbeat continue to scream at is frantic pace. Magic. Kei repeats the word carefully over and over in his head. He clenches and unclenches his hands at his sides.

No, he doesn't want that sort of power. He doesn't feel any longing or jealousy for the ability. What he feels is more akin to interest. His eyes widen as he puts a name to the feeling. Don't chase it. If her happiness and unhappiness doesn't matter, she should be happy. He takes a deep breath in and lets it out slow. ]


You did well, Sakura. You saved my life. [ He breathes out slow as he turns to face her fully. The way that she's looking does not look any better than she did before. Could it be-- ] No, you saved both of our lives. [ His lips press together into a thin line. He decides to not ask her after the power that she has. The expression she wears tells him not to pry into it. She should be happy. He repeats the end of his last thought.

The words in his head are not spoken kindly. They are not felt with a soft, gentleness that he should have. It's cold and unfeeling. A statement. ]


You did well. [ Leaning down slightly, he repeats: ] You did well.
livingimpaired: (Default)

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-14 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Indeed. One need not feel dragged down by the world when there is something to look forward to in the future.

[ It doesn't make him happy to see her smile. It doesn't make him feel much of anything to see that she's no longer under a rain cloud. He still smiles in the usual wooden fashion that he does at her, because he has brought her to this state -- it isn't right to take it away. ]
thesettingsun: mad (to fall into your trap)

[personal profile] thesettingsun 2018-02-14 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
[Either he's cute or he looks like a hentai manga. Pick one.]

I can't really do anything about it, so trying to find a bright side helps me get through my day. I still have to get to classes and buy groceries like always, can't hide in my apartment forever.
thesettingsun: smile (to your deathbed you're on view so)

[personal profile] thesettingsun 2018-02-14 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
Chieko... I don't think we've met?

[There are a lot of people in Recolle, he can't know all of them.]