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

[scythegun]

It does seem to be more than just a coincidence. I wouldn't put it past Retrospec to intentionally do all of this, but I still can't figure out why. There has to be some reason behind it all, ja?

[sivard]

I can't guess if it's malicious or not. Seems like they wouldn't be interested in helping people out, if it was malice.

[scythegun]

But are they really helping people out? Yes, they might have given us the ability to fight, but they're also sending monsters out for us to fight. It feels more like they're toying with us, or maybe preparing us for something.

[sivard]

Maybe they're planning on sending us into some sort of battle to the death with each other. Whoever wins becomes the new CEO.

[c:]

[scythegun]

Don't joke about that, Zaveid! They might start getting ideas!

[He's trying very hard not to laugh, though.]

[sivard]

Oh, c'mon!

I think my ideas are too great for them to steal!

[scythegun]

If anything that makes it more likely for them to steal them, ja?

[sivard]

Ahh, I don't know about that. They're nothing special, really.

[For all of his jokes... honestly, Zaveid is actually fairly humble.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger shakes his head and laughs.]

Well, regardless of how incredible your ideas may or may not be, we do have a bit of a crisis here and there is someone I want to check on.

[sivard]

Yeah? Who's that?

[if you think he isn't going to tag along...]

[scythegun]

Oh, just a friend of mine who is prone to getting himself into trouble. I'm not sure where he is right now.

[He waves a hand like it isn't a big deal, but of course it's a big deal. He wouldn't bring it up unless it was.]

[sivard]

[It's a good thing Zaveid isn't really the sort to call Jaeger out on something like that.]

Might as well look for him now, huh? There's a lot of chaos going on right now.

[scythegun]

Precisely! The last thing I'd want is for him to get trampled by a monster or eaten or something!

[He still sounds just as flippant as ever about it, though.]

[sivard]

[Boss, is this your boyfriend. Do you have a boyfriend you haven't told Zaveid about.]

Any idea where he might be?

[scythegun]

[What makes you think that????]

None! I'd check his house first but his dogs would probably kill me. He does have a tendency to get into trouble, so I'm sure I'll find him if I find some monsters!

[sivard]

[BECAUSE WHY ELSE WOULD YOU BE ACTING LIKE THIS...]

I'd rather not get attacked by dogs today, but I guess going back out into the fray wouldn't be too awful...

[scythegun]

[HE HAS ONE FRIEND LEAVE HIM ALONE]

You don't have to come with me, you know! It's dangerous out there and I can't guarantee that I can protect you.

[sivard]

Ahh, it's fine! I can take care of myself, you know!

[scythegun]

Against monsters? You really should be careful, Zaveid!

[WHY IS EVERYONE HE KNOWS LIKE THIS]

[sivard]

Yeah, of course!

I'll just punch one of 'em if they get too close.

[YOLO]

[scythegun]

...Do you even know how to fight?

[Jaeger's got hand-to-hand combat along with scythe skills, so he's set, but he can't imagine Zaveid throwing a punch and actually succeeding in hurting a monster.]

[sivard]

I've taken some martial arts classes here and there. Plus I work out.

[It's not like he's made of muscle or anything, but he's got this. Probably.]

[scythegun]

Nothing I say is going to convince you to stay here, is it?

[sivard]

Come ooon, I wouldn't do anything I didn't think I couldn't handle!

[this is a lie]

[scythegun]

Really, now? I'm not so sure about that...

[oh my god]