recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] recolle2018-12-17 03:59 pm

(no subject)

EVENT
Re:Joice
The city of Recollé...it just doesn't end, does it?

PROLOGUE.
The trials and tribulations of winter seem to know no bounds. Those things in the city can almost pass as fine, with the snowflake portals and Jack Frost abound it's hard for citizens to truly relax during the most "wonderful" time of the year.

The snow seems to have let up just enough that the city is a beautiful winter wonderland rather than an icy, endless tundra. The streets are cleared, the sidewalks aren't as crowded, and on the 14th day of December a loud trumpet seems to blare out of nowhere.

It's one loud note that seems to dissipate immediately. Life moves on, but everywhere you go you seem to be followed by a familiar little tune…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

The coos, clucks and warbles of French hens, turtle doves and partridges join the song and as the days count down toward Christmas, these birds can be found on the rooftops of buildings in all districts. Their beady red eyes seem to follow as they chirp along in tune, a constant reminder of the Christmas countdown.

…but that's not so bad, right? They're just birds, after all.
I.
Perhaps you've figured out the pattern by the time the 17th rolls around. Or maybe you just know how the song goes and you've braced yourself for it. But is it truly possibly to prepare for anything that happens in this city? As the days count toward the 12th day of Christmas, several things about the city around you draw your attention.

Calling birds will swoop in on the fourth day, immediately diving for your phone and lifting it away to fly off across the city. These birds will make prank calls and may even update statuses for you on your social media accounts, leaving everyone you know with a lot of questions about you. You may wish to hunt them down quickly.

On the fifth day of Christmas, five golden teleportation rings will appear among the districts, zooming under your feet to send you crashing right into the nearest department store, the middle of the park or even your neighbor's bathtub. The rings have zero limits, but you will find yourself transported anywhere people seem to linger.

This pattern continues as the other lines seemingly come to life and come out of order; golden goose eggs roll down the sidewalk as geese chase after them, new eggs appearing each day as the geese bite anyone who get close enough. Swans begin to flock to all bodies of water including swimming pools, fountains, and your kitchen sinks. Pyramids of milkshakes appear in your way as eight women in skates work hard to keep up with the demand of flavors and distribute drinks whether you want one or not.

At one point in time, you may find yourself walking through town and suddenly pulled right into the middle of a flashmob with nine ladies surrounding you. Sidewalks crumble and chasms appear, forcing citizens to leap over the cracks to get to where they need to go and led on by ten men in each direction. The sound of bagpipes fill the air, transfixing you and everyone around you to follow their lead. Do be careful! They may just lead you somewhere you don't wish to go if you don't learn to break the spell with another song.

Good thing there's dozens of bongos around the city to make up your own tunes, isn't it? The twelve drummers will teach you to play any beat you want to reverse these effects.

The manifestations of this song seemingly won't disappear until you find a way to "receive" and undo the giving of these gifts. You can round up the birds to release them in the wild, stump the milkshake-makers by requesting a flavor they cannot provide, ice over the chasms to prevent people from falling...it seems as though whoever's responsible for this brand of magic is testing you and your ability to think quickly, Retrospecters. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all.
II.
At best the 12 Days of Christmas are a minor inconvenience, and at worst they're outright obnoxious. Christmas carols are perhaps best left on paper but it's easy enough to sidestep the events leading up to Christmas.

On the other hand, it seems as though someone other than Jack Frost is hard at work making sure the holidays are present in your lives.

With the days growing shorter and the nights growing longer, it becomes increasingly obvious that the city's growing quieter as the sound of traffic begins to come to a low din. No longer will citizens hear the roar and rumble of cars on the roads or the honking of angry drivers blocking the way. The bright headlights won't shine through the dark and exhaust won't be released into the air mingling with the chilly fog.

For anyone who ventures out after the sun sets, the city transforms before your eyes as the streets are lit with more lampposts than you remember and the sound of bells jingling can be heard from all directions. Rather than vehicles hustling and bustling along it's the clopping of hooves on paved rows as horse-drawn sleighs make their way slipping and sliding down the roads.

Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, up on the sidewalks they go and look you're in the way.

Try as they might, the drivers will find that the sleighs have minds of their own, invisible engines revving as they zip up onto the sidewalks and out of the street jingling intensely at anyone nearby. Perhaps you weren't moving fast enough, or maybe you were just in the way. But these sleighs will make sure you get to where you need to go as they chase after you, mowing you down and volleying you up into the next empty seat. As the sleighs travel, you'll find yourself unable to get up from your seat and surrounded by several people you may or may not know.

But judging by the look the driver gives you and the cheery little whistle, the only way out is to start singing along...

III.
The elves tried to warn you. The elves really, truly tried to warn you about being good for goodness's sake. As they scramble around for last minute preparations, the curious types will find that the elves seem to be pooling right back toward Wiffle-Waffle. The waffle house stands proudly in Tisse featuring their new Christmas-flavored batter, but most importantly of all citizens will notice an extra wing added just to the left of the Retrospec mailbox, right behind the wafflehouse. The scent of sugar cookies and milk waft from the open doors and windows, and as elves dart in and out the scene before you unfurls.

A large, seven-story workshop stands before you despite the fact that from the outside it appears to be all on one floor. Crammed from head to toe with elves building toys, running quality control checks, browsing Amazon and more, they will invite all who have made Santa's nice list inside.

Exploring the floors, you'll find more of the snowglobes that have appeared across the city and more importantly you'll start to come across special toys and gifts from Christmases past. Things you've outgrown or things you've lost or broken will appear, yours for the taking and sharing.

Loitering too much will wind up with fussy elves moving you out of the way. Lingering too much will be taken as an invitation as well and the elves will drag you down, pulling you along and putting you to work in the workshops to sort presents, assemble gifts and more. Of course, you're free to volunteer as well. Maybe you're a giving type who would love to spread some holiday cheer. (Or maybe you just don't have anything better to do.)

For those who are especially antsy, the elves will share secretive looks with one another before they herd you to the middle of the workshop where a large, red and white Christmas-themed dunk tank sits before you. Milk rests at the bottom in the tank, and seated on the chair tied up in tinsel and a too-small elf outfit is one James Barnes. A large sign is plastered to the front of the tank next to a basket of toys and another basket of baseballs.

"Dunk the Tough Cookie for a free gift!"


If asked, they'll only reply that James is on the naughty list before giggling and scampering off. Well. That's weird, but sure.

Most importantly of all, as the days go by, the elves begin to twitter with excitement and on December 21st, the jolly old man in red will appear. Santa will enter the workshop with his sack of toys and a ho-ho-ho, making his rounds through the shop and asking his happy elves (and you, the elf apprentices) what they would like for Christmas.

Be careful what you wish for though…Santa has that gleam in his eye and a bag full of tricks. You never know what you'll truly get.

IV.
Somehow the tree wasn't enough. Somehow the giant tree in Tribunal Terrace wasn't enough and Mayor Mayer takes it upon himself to open a reindeer farm and petting zoo for the city. Though the decorating stations are still open and the tree can be decked out until Christmas Day, a pen full of creatures sits off to the right for all to enjoy.

The reindeer seem content to mingle with strangers, allowing themselves to be pet and adored. But there's something about these reindeer that seems a bit…off. Several of them have a golden glow to their fur and one, the ringleader, has a red tint to his nose. The red-nosed reindeer (Comet, strangely enough) will draw the attention of the other reindeer and nudge you closer, surrounding you as the creatures appraise what to do next.

Non-app citizens will find the behavior strange and remarkable, but for those who possess the Retrospec app, a new message will come to your phone. A map of the city appears and asks you where you'd like to go. Upon selection, however, things get a little hairy.

The reindeer help one another to throw you onto the back of their friends, encouraging brays and noises to each other before it's up, up and away! Soaring over the city, these flying reindeer will take you high into the frosty clouds and low toward the snowy banks. The map will guide them to wherever you wish, but don't encourage them too much…the reindeer were born to fly free, and you may just find yourself stuck in the clouds for a little too long. Give them a job or give them a treat; these methods will help guide you home and send the deer on their merry way.

BONUS.
Do you wanna build a snowman? How unfortunate if you don't. Just when you think you've seen everything this season has to offer, you'll find large snowballs around the city decorated with corncob pipes, a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. When you walk past these fixtures, you'll hear a voice behind you.

"Hey! Down here!"

The snowman's eyes follow you from its place on the ground, expression animated and alive. If that doesn't send you running and screaming, the snowman will ask for your help in recreating its body so it can move and be out of the way of the ever-impending snowplow.

Helping the snowman will earn you a new friend! This snowman will come to life and befriend you, following you for the rest of the month until the winter magic disappears. Perhaps it's best not to bring them inside though. They are still snowmen.

As for those of you who tell the snowman you have no interest in helping them, well, that's maybe not the right answer. Unhappy by the refusal, the snowman's expression will turn angry before the mouth opens wide and begins spitting out icicles. You can try to outrun them, but they will begin to roll and follow you on your way out, only giving up when an icicle makes contact or you outpace them.

Heads up.

NOTES.
Welcome to [community profile] recolle's December event, part 2!

You can claim two freebies on this log!
-Players may claim one freebie for exploring Santa's workshop with another character. This must be at least 5 comments from you.
-Players may claim one freebie by undoing one of the effects of 12 Days of Christmas. This can range from removing swans from bodies of water, beating one of the dancing ladies in a dance-off, figuring out a way to close one of the lords a'leaping chasms or more. Be creative with this one! This thread should be five comments from you for the freebie.

-If you would like to RNG the gift your character gets from Santa, please comment here!

Finally, any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for additional information as well!
psykick: (Default)

Re: IA

[personal profile] psykick 2019-01-04 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)

Birds can be very intelligent. Crows for instance are ridiculously smart.

psykick: (Default)

Re: I

[personal profile] psykick 2019-01-04 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)

[Rinka crosses her arms and gives Derek a scowl. She could argue with him further, but she really needs to get to school.]

My name is Rinka. And we've already talked on the app, so you can find me there. Now can I please leave so I can go to school?

flametheif40: http://magiicons.tumblr.com/ (Default)

[personal profile] flametheif40 2019-01-04 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Since Al can't feel heat since gaining his powers, Al wasn't aware of how hot the knife was...he assumed really hot but when James protests Al quickly pulls the knife out.]

Sorry man, looks like there is some intense magic behind that shit.
thisloveisjustice: (Default)

[personal profile] thisloveisjustice 2019-01-04 08:17 pm (UTC)(link)

He almost feels bad, he really does. But that doesn't stop him from pulling back his arm and chucking the baseball at the target. It hits dead center the first time, setting off the mechanism that drops James's seat out from under him.

"Now we're even."

psykick: (Default)

[personal profile] psykick 2019-01-04 08:22 pm (UTC)(link)

"Oh, so you think I'd get in a fight with an elf, do you?"

Rinka tilts her head slightly to the side and raises an eyebrow.

"And really, I doubt any elf could measure up to my mother when she's disappointed in me."

keystaff: (There's no need to worry)

[personal profile] keystaff 2019-01-05 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
A-alright.....

[While she might be aware that, yes, his family is Important and wealthy, that doesn't mean to say that Sakura wants to cost them that money if she can avoid the bird getting his phone too. Still, she gives a nod at his reassurance, seeming to feel a little more encouraged by it.

She bites her lip, and when he removes his hand from hers with the phone, she waits for him to give some sort of signal or say when he is ready before holding it up like he suggested.]
blondferret: (tired)

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-05 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek shrugs.]

I could try setting it on fire... there isn't a door on this thing I can magically unlock is there?
blondferret: (Default)

Re: IA

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-05 06:47 am (UTC)(link)
Crows are not as smart as my Eagle Owl. Bronte can deliver mail you know.
blondferret: (serious)

Re: I

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-05 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Wow, is this girl impatient. Derek's voice comes out in sarcastic monotone.]

Hi Rinka. The name's Derek. Nice to meet you. Please don't forget to pay me back for my table.

[He motions towards the door.]

Now you may leave.

[Blaise starts to retract his claws and clime off of Rinka.]
frostythehitman: (why the hell should you care?)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-05 08:49 am (UTC)(link)
If there's a door on this thing, I don't know about it.
psykick: (Default)

Re: IA

[personal profile] psykick 2019-01-05 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)

So can pigeons.

psykick: (Default)

Re: I

[personal profile] psykick 2019-01-05 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)

[She has school to get to? You know, high school, where you get in trouble if you're late? Even if it's no fault of your own?]

Thank you.

[said it the most stickily sweet sarcastic tone she can manage as she heads for the door]

You'll have the money by the end of the week.

[and he will, in a plain white envelope dropped through his mail slot a couple days later]

cardcaptured: <user name=fleeting> | DNS (oh my)

[personal profile] cardcaptured 2019-01-06 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, ideally, he wouldn't want to lose his phone either-- especially since it'd involve trying to explain it all to Leon, who wouldn't get it-- but he was willing to put whatever he had on the line to help her out. And since it looked like kidnapping phones were these birds' sort of gimmick, using his as bait seemed like a no brainer.

After giving Sakura one more smile, a warmer one this time, he lets go of her hand and makes his way to the nearest bush to hide. There's a quick nod of the head towards the bird, a silent indicator to let her know to go ahead, before he ducks down to the ground. Quietly, he summons his sword (though there's still the glowing lights and flames behind it, much to his annoyance), and he creeps closer to the fence, making sure not to make a sound. The plan was to sneak up on the bird and use his wind talisman as a cage to trap it, but he had to make absolutely sure it didn't notice him.

His hand emerges for a moment from the bushes, giving her a quick wave, signaling her to move in a bit closer. Keeping an eye on both the bird's reactions and on Sakura was tough, but they were going to manage it... somehow.]
blondferret: (wand)

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-06 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Well shit, that's not helpful.]

I'll try reducto again...

[Derek raises his wand and waves it.]

REDUCTO!

[Another wave.]

REDUCTO!

[Another wave.]

REDUCTO!

[James, you can't say Derek didn't try.]
Edited 2019-01-06 07:30 (UTC)
blondferret: (amused)

Re: IA

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-06 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
Actually, pigeons can be trained to return to one location. My owl, Bronte, can travel to anywhere, from anywhere without any instructions except, "Please deliver this to [insert name here]. Without fail, he finds them. As long as it is in the city anyway since Retrospec makes it hard for anything to leave the city.
blacksong: (octa wants to fuck a black hole??)

[personal profile] blacksong 2019-01-06 10:48 am (UTC)(link)
[Why Rose decides to tag along still is anyone's guess, but she follows Yuu regardless.]

Why don't try setting up a trap or something? Or run it into a corner. You keep scaring it off into every direction.
frostythehitman: (fine but I WON'T LIKE IT)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-06 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think anyone could've gotten in a fight with an elf who had that kind of attitude," he mumbles. "And it's not about the level of disappointment, it's that it's coming from some stranger who doesn't know jack about your or your life."
frostythehitman: (fine but I WON'T LIKE IT)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-06 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Ugh, of course. Figures. I guess the dunk tank is where I live now.
frostythehitman: (this rock of ours is just)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-06 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He knew the dunk was coming, so he was able to hold his breath and prepare for it. All in all, not that bad, as far as getting submerged in milk goes. When he comes back up, he looks a little confused. ]

Wait, really? Just like that? That's it?
frostythehitman: (god ur such a pain)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-06 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Is that the only magic you know?
flametheif40: http://magiicons.tumblr.com/ (disappointed/indiffrent)

[personal profile] flametheif40 2019-01-06 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Which seriously, I thought getting a lump of coal was supposed to be what people on the naughty list were supposed to get.

Did you waste an elf or something?
blondferret: (why)

[personal profile] blondferret 2019-01-07 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek rolls his eyes.]

What do you expect me to do? TICKLE IT TO DEATH? 'Cause I got a spell for that!

[Derek runs his left had through his hair, but suddenly stops mid swipe. His eyes still for a second for before blinking again. Yup... just remembered another spell.]

I got a spell that supposedly is able to cut through anything? Think that might work?
frostythehitman: (they both melt)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-07 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ He gives Derek a flat look. ]

I don't know, man, you think I have all the tank construction specs? Just...try it, and let's hope it doesn't backfire somehow and kill me again. Or kill you.
frostythehitman: (fine but I WON'T LIKE IT)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2019-01-07 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
No, I just beat one up real good.
flametheif40: http://magiicons.tumblr.com/ (Default)

[personal profile] flametheif40 2019-01-07 08:21 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. Well, better then wasting one...but I can see why they are pissed...

[At that moment, Al was getting another impulse...should he just kick james down the tank?

Cuase it would be SUPPER easy to do...
]

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