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

[manufactured]

[Unfortunately, it's a bit of a distance, seeing as he has a fair amount of land closer to the outskirts of town. Because he doesn't like having neighbors, and so required like an acre's worth of Extend-o Fuck You Shield around his property. ...He's also got walls, because the acre's worth of Extend-o Fuck You Shield was apparently not enough.

Fortunately, though, there are likely less monsters in the vicinity the further out we go, just because there's less people around for them to harass.

He'll be quiet for a while along the way; eventually he'll say something, though.]

...It's good of you to stay with me. It isn't as though you have to.

[And he's aware that what he did earlier was unnerving to you.]

[scythegun]

[It's definitely less fun walking out to Wesker's place than it is driving out, but this is what we're doing with ourselves today. Jaeger doesn't break the silence, but it doesn't feel uncomfortable either. What happened in the convention center still lingers in the back of his mind, but he's not here to think about that right now.

Besides, Wesker's got something to say and Jaeger's not really sure how to respond.]

Don't mention it! I'd prefer to stick by you through this, especially since you can shoot now!

[He also just likes Wesker and wants to make sure he'll be alright through this mess.]

[manufactured]

You decided on doing that before I could shoot.

[Just saying.]

[scythegun]

[You didn't have to say it!!]

Ja, that's true! I just wanted to keep an eye on you!

[manufactured]

That isn't necessary.

[He pauses for a moment, though.]

...Appreciated, granted. But not necessary.

[He tried.]

[scythegun]

[That gets him to settle a little, though he isn't sure when he ended up getting tense in the first place.]

Oh, I know it's not necessary! You can take care of yourself just fine, I know! But I'm along for the ride now and there's no getting rid of me!

[except for when we go to the next part of the event...]

[manufactured]

[well yeah but who's counting that]

It's difficult to tell how much you believe that I can, you know, given that you've decided that your role in my life is going to be making sure that I don't walk into something that's going to kill me somehow.

[scythegun]

Well, that's true. I worry about you, you know! But I do think when push comes to shove, you'll be able to take care of yourself, especially against monsters!

[manufactured]

[There are a lot of things he could say to that, really - that worrying about him isn't necessary, that there isn't anything to worry about, that it's wasting the sentiment, and he really isn't sure where that last one came from but it's a bit troubling anyway - but in the end he doesn't end up saying anything.

It's sort of an awkward topic, he supposes; as long as they both acknowledge that he can handle himself, that's...enough, maybe.]

[scythegun]

[Well, it's not exactly a surprise that Wesker's awkward about it, so Jaeger reaches out to pat his forearm lightly.]

Don't worry about it, I know the "thank you, Jaeger" is implied!

[...so of course he's going to be like this.]

[manufactured]

[He pulls away from it, the gesture strange and jittery; he isn't used to the contact, and he doesn't seem to have seen it coming.]

...As long as you acknowledge that I can handle myself, it's fine.

[scythegun]

[He doesn't pursue Wesker any and he doesn't try to reach out again.]

Ja, I do!

[...so anyway your property is huge, are we any closer to your house?]

[manufactured]

[We are, yes. Thankfully, because damn, we should have jacked a car or something. Not like driving is particularly safe with all the...everything about, granted, but still.

...God, and everyone thought he was crazy for erecting a goddamn wall around his property.]

[scythegun]

[on the other hand, running down a monster would be hilarious!!!

But thankfully you did erect a goddamn wall around your property because that'll keep the monsters out. Your dogs are still kind of a concern, but they're less of a concern than the monsters out here.

So here we go! How are we doing this, are we just going in the front door or do you want him to wait out here for a moment while you deal with the dogs or what?]

[manufactured]

[itt: spot the person who has never hit a deer with their car

That said, though, he is not leaving you out front while monsters are around because no?]

...Are you coming?

[scythegun]

[shhhh. shhhhhh.]

Ja, I suppose I am. They won't try to jump on me, will they?

[they're totally going to try to jump on him.]

[manufactured]

[..........jaeger.]

Tell them not to - it's not like it's difficult.

[scythegun]

They're not going to listen to me! They're big dogs, ja? They'll just knock me over!

[manufactured]

You have to be forceful about it without yelling at them. They'll listen eventually.

[...]

Honestly, the larger concern is probably with Apollo, given that he bites.

[scythegun]

[THANKS, ASSHOLE]

Why don't you just go deal with the dogs and I'll wait here?

[He'd rather deal with monsters, but at least we're inside now??]

[manufactured]

We really ought to acclimate you to my dogs.

[But fine, fine - they're already going mildly insane now that we're in here, in one of the areas of the house that's further back; just...stay here until he gets them to calm down, all right?]

[scythegun]

Maybe someday.

[Or never, actually. Never sounds good! He'll wait here near the door where he can easily escape if he needs to!!]

[manufactured]

[The dogs do seem to settle after Wesker's been back there for a while; they seem decidedly less loud, anyway, though they do still seem riled as fuck - and with good reason, given everything that's been going on. But this is one of the things Wesker is good at, probably because dogs are better than people as far as he's concerned, and it'll take him awhile but he'll deal with them, and when he returns he seems like he's calmed down a bit from the tension that's been coursing through his system all damn day.]

One of those rabbits got in the house. All five of them decided it would be amusing to corner it.

[They didn't harm it any, from the sound of it, but still.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger's content waiting for Wesker to get done with the dogs; he's more relaxed by the time Wesker returns since the dogs seem to have calmed down a bit.]

Oh dear. I'm absolutely not surprised, but I do feel a bit bad for the poor thing. Did you manage to get it out of the house?

[manufactured]

It managed.

[...Wesker, please.]

That said, do hurry up in getting dressed; don't think I've forgotten.