recolle | APRIL 2018 EVENT LOG

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APRIL 2018 EVENT LOG

EVENT

THE WIND RISES
The city of Recollé. By now, several of you have probably heard of the regions just beyond the city and some of you may even plan to travel! With the world at your fingertips, there's nothing stopping you from exploring and learning about the world around you. On the other hand...well. When it rains, it pours.

I.
Pesgare is known for its rainy seasons and even while it storms the markets are ripe with wares, the townspeople are friendly and the little village remains profitable. However, as April continues onward the rain doesn't let up. In the early part of the month disaster strikes in the form of a tsunami. The waves crash and pull the whole city underwater, disrupting the lives of the villagers and the area at least 300 miles out including all fishing boats, islands and more. Strangely, you won't notice until you cross the appropriate nautical points, dragging you straight into the water.

Upon entering this region you'll find yourself unable to breathe at first, struggling until an air bubble fits itself over your head. The need to breathe is no longer a pressing issue and it allows you to get a clear view of the village.

The village itself is mostly intact and the citizens of the village have their own bubble-esque helmets helping them navigate the waters. Delighted by your presence, they'll ask for help with Pesgare's restoration process of rebuilding shops, fixing their wares and even breaking apart a dam a few miles out from the village to drain the water. Though draining will help, it will still take time for the village to dry out.

However, the longer you stay under water helping out or enjoying your stay, the stranger you may begin to feel. Your might find yourself gasping for air every now and then while being in the bubble. Perhaps your throat will remain dry and parched no matter how much water you drink. Or, perhaps, you'll look down and notice the bright shiny scales popping up in patches across your skin.

Do you continue to help or do you abandon ship? You may want to make your decision quickly. The more fish-like you become, the louder the sound of the sea becomes as it calls you home to drag you further into the abyss below.

II.

It starts out innocently enough. One day you're out in the city going about your day, and the next the earth begins to rumble and the ground near the subway splits. The tunnels underground collapse in on themselves as a large region made of chasms, caves and forges uproots itself and begins to float higher and higher into the sky right above Recollé. Anyone nearby can watch as Respatrum floats upward and they'll be able to catch the glimpses of the small fire spirits escaping their hearths, cackling all the way as they race through other parts of Respatrum and even down into Recollé.

These creatures will begin to inhabit large statues of varying kinds, aircraft, and appliances such as stoves, microwaves, televisions and more. The residents of Respatrum will extend a large bronze ladder down from the region in the sky to the city to allow citizens the chance to visit and return the spirits to their rightful hearths, but that's not always easy! While the fire won't burn your hands, the spirits are mischievous and having the time of their lives. Even if you manage to coax them out of their current hiding places, they'll be more than happy to hide inside of you instead.

Those possessed by fire spirits will feel warm and suddenly overconfident, brash and unruly as they do things they may not have felt brave enough to do before. The longer the spirits reside in you, however, the more likely it will be that they make themselves too comfortable. A change of heart alters your personality entirely to be more reckless and dark feathers begin to sprout as large raven-like wings appear. Though the wings will help you fly, the longer you're possessed the harder it will be purge the spirits and bring Respatrum back underground where it belongs.

Items from Respatrum cannot be brought to the city of Recollé and will immediately be possessed by fire spirits to jump back up into the sky. While it's easy to bribe the spirits with games, objects and promises, purging the spirits from these objects will take work and may require you to bring all items (or yourself) to the people of Respatrum to remove the pesky creatures.

III.
For those of you who want to get away from it all and take a vacation to Bosuma, you're in luck! The forest is bright and luminous as usual and the weird night pollen seems to have worn off. Your emotional state seems to be free from influence and you're able to enjoy a nice relaxing stroll through nature.

Strangely though when you try to leave you'll find yourself on a path you know you did not take on your way in. Your feet seem to be on autopilot as you wander further and further into the woods, away from bright flowers and happy animals and deeper into thickets of vines and marshy wetlands. Trying to backtrack leads you on a continuous loop deeper and deeper into the woods as you soon come across a bubbly swamp, lush greenery and a small stone house. As you approach the house (or even as you try to leave), you'll find yourself confused about how you got there and you may not even recognize the people you're with. Who are they? And better question, who are you? Your own name? How could you have possibly forgotten something such as that?

Fear not. While you ponder your name and your mere existence, the door to the house will open and a young woman will step out. Taking pity on you, she'll give you a glance and bestow a new name on you. It may be one with some significance to you or it may be one you've never heard of before. However, with a new name and a new identity comes a price. The witch has waited quite some time for new souls to enter this part of the woods.

Memories are tricky, aren't they? Surely you want your memories of your life back and not just memories of another life you may have lived. The witch is kind and benevolent enough to take you by the hand and make you a deal.

Complete one task for her in three days' time and you'll return to who you once were. If not…well. You'll find out.

Tasks may range from something as simple as being kind to a stranger, performing on stage, collecting half-priced Easter candy or anything that will challenge you. The witch knows your greatest fears and will push you into tasks that conflict with your comfort zones. You're free to return to the city, of course, but the countdown begins as soon as the witch seals the deal.

If the task is not completed in three days time, no matter where you are in the world, you'll find yourself pulled right back to the woods to take on a new appearance. Others will have to find you in the woods and identify you, giving your true identity back and helping you reclaim your rightful memories lest you lose yourself forever.

IV.
Perhaps you're feeling particularly brave and take a trip to Magatus. Known for its bright, colorful lights in the sky and its wintery atmosphere, it may surprise you to find that setting foot into the region sends you straight into total darkness. A dizzying sensation hits faster than you can blink and you'll find yourself knocked unconscious.

Minutes later (or perhaps hours, or maybe even days), you'll awaken thanks to the howl of a wolf nearby and find yourself in a hidden cave not far from the main town. The sky appears to be its same beautiful colors and no injuries are present. Upon closer examination, a new mark appears on your skin and seems to glow an eerie color not unlike the heart stones from February. The color may even be the same. This mark cannot be rubbed off and it glows even through layers of clothing.

Asking around the village will render little answers as the townspeople acknowledge it's a mark and think nothing of it. After some time though perhaps you'll get lucky and receive the answer you're looking for.

"A curse", they say, and they gesture to the forest at the base of the mountains and surrounding the town.

Wandering into the forest seeking an answer, you'll find yourself growing weak and fatigued, energy fading and the mark glowing even brighter as you hear the whispers of several voices around you. Coming from the trees, you'll hear them discussing your personal failures and things you regret, things you've been running away from or things you harbor guilt over. Maybe it's a lie you told your parents, or maybe it's something much, much larger.

Even when you return to the city the mark stays though it doesn't glow as bright. As you ignore the mark, or even as you puzzle out how to remove it, the mark will begin to spread over your skin as more time passes. Without breaking the curse the mark will begin to sting and act as a constant reminder that it's there, bringing forth physical ailments as well. Those who are cursed will begin to feel feverish and delirious, chills running through them and something akin to a particularly nasty case of the flu plaguing them. Nightmares begin to haunt them as well any time they close their eyes, the mark manifesting their failures into their dream-like state.

Whether by word of mouth, trial and error or simply talking it out, it becomes clear that the only way to break this curse is by admitting the failures the trees have brought forth and receiving forgiveness whether that's from who you've wronged, another party involved, or yourself. As the curse is broken, the mark simply dies down and all signs disappear into your skin, leaving you free to return to Magatus without fear of infection again.

V.

But what about those of you who decide to stay home this month? April is the beginning of spring and that includes Spring Break for all Recollé schools. Now seems like the perfect time to kick back and relax, right?

Think again.

At least once a week from April 3rd until April 30th, citizens of Recollé will hear the sudden flurry of papers and impact of boxes as piles and piles of undelivered mail falls straight from the sky (missing Respatrum, somehow) and into the streets below. There are letters and care packages, orders from Amazon.com and important documents and even some "FRAGILE, PLEASE DO NOT DROP" boxes that appear in these piles. As the wind picks up, the packages begin to dance through the street and scatter around the city and you may find yourself slapped in the face by a letter addressed to a friend. A stranger's package might appear on your doorstep. As citizens begin to sort through the mail it becomes clear that these are packages sent from all over the world from outside of the city to those living in Recollé, a backlog of undelivered mail from several months ago until now.

While there are no signs that the outside world is aware mail hasn't come through, the packages themselves are a bit…unusual. Seemingly normal on the outside, as you approach to pick something up some packages may take on a life of their own and transform. Envelopes will open up and reveal razorsharp teeth, shouting the contents of the letter to whomever it is addressed to. Packages will sprout legs and begin to run away to engage you in a game of tag. That pesky wind continues to be a nuisance as it blows heavily and creates a whirlwind of color and letters that trap you in place.

Good luck with your spring cleaning, Recollé! You're going to need it.

BONUS.
While all of this is going on, the cherry blossoms are blooming, the birds are singing, and sometime on April 4th, all Retrospec users will receive a message from Zee.

Jo already gave you the heads up, but we're working with some weird effects that are sweeping in as residual from other places. Kind of makes it hard to gauge just what's happening out there, but hey. At least Maury took a vacation finally. The city itself is mostly fine, but if you're heading out stay in touch as much as you can. That's the only advice I have for you at this point while we're working on tempering the storm and clearing out the effects. The RRI will be taking more volunteers for other assignments as things come up, but that's always the case. That's always going to be the case if this keeps up. Anyway…best of luck, Retrospecters.

Citizens will also find as spring rolls in, small rabbit-like creatures begin popping up...and multiplying...and will be more than content to follow Retrospec users around. They love being fed and exploring, but do take care not to follow them too much! They don't always notice where they're going and could very well lead characters right out of the city and toward one of the other regions.

Welcome to

recolle's April's log! The prompts are simply loose guidelines for you guys to play with and make up your own fun adventures for the entire month! You may also create your own logs or inbox threads based on these prompts.

For prompt 3: please do not give your characters their canonical name as their new fake name! If they do not already remember their canonical name, we ask that you come up with something else. Other characters who do not venture into the swamp will remember your character's name but they will be unable to speak it for the first three days, or until characters complete their tasks. Characters who fail and lose their identities will still have mannerisms of their former selves but will need to be identified by others to regain their true selves.

For prompt 4: the curse mark can be located anywhere and spread anywhere, and it can be any sort of failure your character would personally be affected by! You are also free to play with physical ailments and nightmares as much or as little as you'd like.

For prompt 5: this is only mail coming from the outside and addressed to characters in-game! This is not mail that is outgoing and after this mail will resume its usual "cannot be delivered" status. At this time, phone calls out are still unavailable.

FINALLY: Each prompt is eligible for one free memory! That is to say you are able to earn up to five extra free memories if you thread all five of these prompts. For freebies to qualify, we ask that the thread that you turn in working toward each objective is a minimum of 5 comments from you and shows clear intent to work toward each prompt's goal (i.e. helping in Pesgare, rounding up fire spirits in Respatrum, regaining your name/doing your task for Bosuma, breaking your curse in Magatus, and delivering mail in Recollé). Please note that we will not accept multiple threads for multiple freebies on the same prompt.

Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

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Apollo...!

[ he's not angry! and he's certainly not going to ask Apollo to fix it, even though the 'it' is really obvious right now. no, he quickly goes up to the door which causes the bunnies to become even more excited, and he peers through the glass with unabated joy! ]

Listen, we don't have much time. I need you to come to the window over here. I have a plan.

[ there's NO MALICE WHATSOEVER in that smile, in the gleam in his eye, or in the smirk that's hiding behind what looks to be a pure fondness for seeing Apollo in his time of need! ]

Come over and I'll give you what you need.

(WELL, AT LEAST HE DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING IN TROUBLE for absolutely making fun of his boss's new... accessories.

it's a challenge to step around the bunnies, making sure not to accidentally harm one in any way, but also be close enough to follow leon's instructions.

he does as he's told, hopping precariously over the army of bunnies currently blocking the store front over to the window leon directed him to.) What do you need me to do, Mr. Leon?

[ he holds up the white cat ears and tail with the most deadpan and most serious expression that he's ever had in his entire life. then, closing his eyes and sighing, he holds them toward the window--- not pushing the accessories out yet. ]

You must wear these and lure the bunnies away. Then, once you have done so, I can leave the cafe and help get their attention.

[ there's no humor in his voice.

internally, he's cackling. ]

(you know. apollo didn't really know what to expect with leon's "plan". but honestly, this should have been something he expected. this is his boss, after all, he'd never pass up an opportunity to make apollo's life just a little more embarrassing.

all he can do is glance between leon and the cat accessories with the most dead-inside stare he can possibly muster. does he care about his boss? of course! would he do almost anything he could to help him? naturally!

but emphasis on "almost". his gaze fixes on leon, and with little hesitation:) No.

[ darn. well, it was worth a shot. ]

Okay. I have another plan.

[ he bends down to pick up something--- a broom, one that would take a little angling to get out the window, but certainly something that could be used to take care of the bunnies. ]

Can you nudge them out of the way? I'm sure they'll just... move, if I also stand out of sight.

(he's not as stupid as he looks!!!

but now that it seems leon is coming up with an actual plan, apollo is listening more intently now, genuinely wanting to help his boss get out of a

harey

situation.

it's a challenge to reach through the window and grab the broom out carefully without smashing anything, but apollo manages.) I'll see what I can do without hurting them. I'll knock on the window if I can get them out of here.

(and so he sets to work, sort of... sweeping the army of bunnies away carefully.)

[ internal groan ]

Yes. Please be careful... I would assume that harming any of these rabbits may bring some kind of animal abuse charge, wouldn't it?

[ assuming they're actual animals and not bunny-shaped piles of sentient dust. he quietly moves back to the door, to provide a minor distraction as well as watch Apollo's progress. ]

You know... you don't look half bad in cat ears! Just saying.

[ this is coming from someone who now has NO CHOICE in the matter... ]

(you will put up with the shitty puns and like it.) I don't think gently brushing them away is going to have any animal rights activists burning down the shop. They'd first have to prove it was done with malicious intent, and that clear physical or mental trauma was caused.

(then again, apollo isn't sure these even count as real animals. he's content to continue his work, being mindful of the odd creatures as he sweeps them away...

until leon says that. and leon is greeted with a very unhappy look.) I could leave, you know. And just leave you to deal with these.

[ well. that's good. he's NOT going to court like this. he'd send someone else in his stead.

but he smirks and shakes his head at Apollo's threat. ]

I'm kidding. I really am. Besides, the way things are going, you won't need to worry about doing anything like that in the near future.

[ which makes Leon frown, as he watches the bunnies easily clump up into one pile of fur with many eyes and ears (terrifying). ]

But I am considering... perhaps, finding a cat for the cafe. Maybe not as many as the other cat cafe, but just one as company. Or a store mascot, because I'm not going to be it.

(there's a brief suspicious glare directed at leon before he goes back to the task of cleaning the area of bunnies.) With you, it can be really hard to tell what's a joke and what you're serious about. You could either give us all a huge raise, or say the new policy to end every sentence with "nya".

(the bunny amalgamation is certainly a sight, and apollo finally gets them to stop blocking the door, but not quite leave the front area of the cafe. this requires manpower, something apollo has maybe 2 ounces of.) I know there's a few strays in this area. Maybe we could take a few and domesticate them.

The raise was coming regardless.

[ since the application installed itself and the cat features slowly returned to a poor, helpless cafe owner like Leon, business has done better. everyone wants to see the cat-man work, watch his ears swivel and his tail knock EVERYTHING OVER ALL THE TIME and get slammed into doors because he's a big dummy. ]

'Nya' will not be involved in any policies, either. I have to watch out for myself too, you know.

[ nya-thing purrsonal or anything!

but he goes to the door and slowly opens it before slamming it behind him so the bunnies can't get inside. though the ones still remaining are... now very interested in Leon being outside of the safety of his cafe. ]

Do you need help?

Wait, you mean it? We're really getting raises? (suddenly he is far more okay with being stuck sweeping odd rabbits things out of the store front if it means more money is in his future!!!

apollo will make sure to write leon a lovely thank you note for all his hard work and also his suffering bringing them more money.) Yeah, how many customers have already asked you to pose and say some weird cat line?

(like that. something stupid like that.

but apollo is a bit stunned to see leon willfully come out of his safe haven and pit himself against the bunnies that so dearly want to be his friend!!! he's like them!!! cute and fluffy and an animal!!!) Uh, are you sure you should be out here? They might tackle you.

Of course. This is one thing I wouldn't trick you about, Apollo.

[ he's deadly serious, and this is when he turns on the Serious face. rarely does he put so much emphasis on being honest, but he is. no lies, no deceit, no cat face, no imitation cat-paw being raised... none of that.

his employees are his co-workers, and in essence a family as well. ]

Enough of them. I'm starting to think I should charge extra for noises of that nature.

[ and he huffs, staring down the bunnies with a look that would freeze ANYTHING in its track. call it the look of a tired, middle-aged cat-man with nothing to lose? or someone who possibly sees a quick snack.

even if he is cute and fluffy and an animal

also how dare you ]

I guess they've become too tired to fight. Come on in. I'll pour us some tea.

(apollo clenches one fist, shaking it in victory because thank god, now he might actually have a little spending money and won't just be making ends meet. best boss! BEST BOSS!!!

while leon's serious face might upset others, to apollo, it's a wonderful thing to see. it means no jokes!!) I mean, it'd be a good business move. You could become a mascot or something. Five bucks a pop for a picture with the cat man.

(is he joking, is he serious, this is apollo, he's partially serious, but also ready to say it was a joke to avoid that same glare directed at the bunnies turned on him. he ain't no fool, he's got self-preservation skills.

the bunnies soon begin hopping away on their own, abandoning the front of the tea kittle for some other poor business.) Don't we need to finish getting the store ready?

I will not be my cafe's mascot.

[ amused, but still serious. that's not the kind of press he wants, despite having approached his cat-pieces in a self-deprecating manner in public. privately, though... ]

I would have to charge one hundred dollars, plus require the customer to sign a non-disclosure agreement to keep my image as pristine as possible. Also, I'd make them sign it in blood. Their blood.

[ with a nod, he watches as the bunnies leave. clearly, they're smarter than the average pest... and though he wishes he could follow them to see where'd they go, he has business to attend to.

like, literal business. ]

Yes. We do... ah, I could use a slow day.

[ it would not be a slow day at all ]

(don't worry, leon, apollo has no intention of ever actually acting on that "boss is the mascot" joke. he'd rather the cafe not turn into some lame tourist spot.

the comment of signing in blood... definitely has apollo raise his eyebrows and look at leon as if he. well. didn't grow cat ears. but maybe a few extra heads.) In blood? Wouldn't the NDA itself be enough?

(and apollo, ever the killjoy, gives leon a sympathetic smile before returning his sorry ass to reality.) We've never had a slow day since you suddenly became ah... popular. (he's careful with his words, making note not to just randomly bring up the whole "hey you grew cat appendages" thing.)

Apollo, the blood would basically be a warning in and of itself. If I were to force someone to sign paperwork in their own blood, who knows what else I could get out of them?

[ granted if he were to actually do this, he'd probably just use some leftover red icing or something from the cookies or cupcakes as a figurative and metaphorical blood. not their actual blood.

maybe. ]

You're right. I suppose it would be nice to have a slightly less-than-fast day then, if not a slow one. Still... it could be worse, I could be alone today.

[ the cat smiles innocently, eyes narrowing from how wide the grin is. ]

Probably an unpleasant visit from the cops... (apollo respects leon... most of the time.

the sudden honesty is what surprises him the most, eyes going wide and stopped in his place as the words hit him.

it's always a little jarring, hearing how much people actually care about him, his own boss especially. he clears his throat, glancing away and clearly embarrassed.) We could always... just open a little later?

No, no. Consistency is key, no matter what day it is. Besides: closing earlier is a little better than opening later.

[ his smile stays friendly, though it's clear he's becoming distracted by business-related thoughts as his ears gently swivel toward ambient noises and his tail stays still. ]

I'm going to check inventory and get the menu updated. We're a little overdue on some change, and I think it would be nice to get a few opinions from others.

Yeah, that's true. Getting out early is probably one of the better feelings in the world. (this is something apollo relates to. but he's also trying very hard not to make any sort of laughter at the way leon's ears and tail move about.

keep it in, justice. keep it in.) What kind of new items were you thinking? Drinks or food or both?

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APRIL 2018 EVENT LOG

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