lifeaftr | October Event: Crystal Clear

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October Event: Crystal Clear

OCTOBER EVENT: CRYSTAL CLEAR

Who: Everyone!
What: Your exploration takes a turn.
When: October 20th - 26th
Where: The caverns situated underneath Ensō
Warnings: Character death, body horror, descriptions of illness. Please mark any additional warnings as needed!

Part I: Attack, Attack!
Congratulations! You've successfully gone where no Storyteller has gone or can go, and woken up in the network of subterranean caves buried beneath the island's mass, along with your designated supplies: a miner's cap, a week's worth of food, and both your knapsacks and their collective contents. And the further along you go, the vaster and more sprawling these almost labyrinthian tunnels seem to get. There’s certainly evidence that civilization once thrived here - old buildings hewed from the rock of the cave walls may very well contain old tools, or even salvageable supplies. Careful examination of structures and cavern walls alike will reveal sigils resembling those carved on the doors, each of which will need to be destroyed entirely at the Storyteller's behest. Whatever was down here was advanced enough to dwell without sunlight. But that raises a rather pertinent question...

If there were once people here, where did they all go?

Fortunately, one will soon discover that there's plenty of natural light underground, exhibited by the crystalline growths on the walls. None of them appear to be dangerous, and those attracted to shiny things might even find them useful for picking up or chipping away in order to better light their way. The crystal has about the thickness and hardness of quartz, and bathes its surroundings in a luminous green glow.

The closer you come to the center of the mass, however, the denser the crystalline growths seem to become, until one has to be quite ingenious in navigating them. Eventually, they'll simply be too dense to be squeezed through, even by the smallest and most agile of your number.

That’s when they it will start to become apparent.

Something in the crystal is moving.

Huge chunks of crystal are starting to detach from the center and move slowly, inexorably, toward those unfortunate enough to have explored the caverns. Unmistakably humanoid silhouettes, distorted by awful crystalline growths, most of which have completely swallowed any recognizable features.

...most.

The good news is that the creatures can be shattered, and beaten back. The bad news? Well...

Part II: Retreat, Retreat!
Those who get close enough to the crystalized beasts to get a good look at them will soon make a horrifying discovery - the fact that, underneath those thick layers of luminescent quartz, there was once something that might have been recognizable as human. These quartz monsters aren't native to this region, or indeed, to any region of the island at all. They were formed.

Formed out of the very crystal that you explorers have been touching, picking up, sleeping on, and just generally remaining in prolonged contact with ever since you set foot down here.

Indeed, anyone who has been in contact with the crystal for extended periods of time - sleeping on it or getting dealt a swipe from one of the crystalized monsters, for example - will find that tiny, quartz-like growths have started to sprout on their skin as well. Once the virus has taken root, it will spread rapidly until it has swallowed you whole. Indeed, the unpleasant symptoms will reveal themselves within twenty-four hours of the initial exposure: in addition to clusters of crystalline growths pocking the affected areas, the inflicted will begin to experience intense stabbing pains all over as the crystal begins to grow - both inside and out.

The transformation is slow and arduous and painful, and vocalization tends to be one of the first things to go once the crystals sprout in the mouth and throat. Within the span of about three days since the initial exposure, the transformation will have sheathed most of the physical body in crystal entirely, sealing the victim in a humanoid cast of glasslike green.

It has not been confirmed if the inflicted are sentient and aware of their state of being once they are completely consumed. Whatever their intentions, those are easily overridden by the virus's innate desire to spread to as many organisms as possible.

As this is an event with a high risk of death, the Storyteller will impose death penalties for one week only. Additionally, deaths succumbed during the event count towards the character's total. There is no known cure to the virus, but that doesn't mean characters can't or shouldn't try!

Event Timeline

[ ♆ ] October 20th: Spelunking begins. Points of interest will be provided.
[ ♆ ] October 22nd: The Quartzalcoatl make their presence known.
[ ♆ ] October 24th: The final sigils are broken, and the Storyteller will return all uninfected to the Islets.
[ ♆ ] October 26th: All deceased will be returned at midday, suffering from a reduced death penalty.

Event Specifics

[ ♆ ] If your character perishes in this event, please let us know!
[ ♆ ] For those who opted out, please see the top-level below!
[ ♆ ] Item claims can be found on the OOC plotting post here!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm okay.

[The illness plaguing Ren doesn't come from a crystal and isn't contagious in the traditional sense. If Ignis was worried about her being sick, he doesn't need to. With all the talk of monsters and illnesses, she's more concerned about his state. She's been at the camp since the rumors first began to spread and this is the first she's seen of him. He must have been down below for a some time-maybe long enough to run into something awful.

There's an expression on his face that almost rivals the one he made the day they met. He might not be turning into a crystal, but he's clearly tired.

And if he is sick, she almost doesn't want to know. He made it back and that's more than she can say for the unfortunate few that remain in the caves. He's going to be okay now.

She takes a few steps closer and sits down about an arm's length away.

Do you want a blanket?

[It's nighty night peanut time for Iggy.]

[For better or for worse, Ignis is going to be okay. He has little choice in the matter. Too many people depend on him. He can't let them down.

Out of habit, he automatically begins to answer 'no' to her question. Ignis only has the word halfway out of his mouth when he shivers hard enough the rest of the word is lost in a hard intake of breath. Astrals, he's out of the colder, damper parts of the cave and he's not infected anymore. Why is he still so cold?

Eventually, he sighs softly and nods.]

A blanket would be wonderful if it's not too much trouble.

[He's cold because he knows a terrible child has the answer to all of life's problems at the bottom of her grubby little knapsack. A bag which she completely empties onto the cave ground, the sound of tin cans and marbles and rocks startling her nearby cat. She whispers a quick 'It's okay. Good boy' to him before rummaging through her garbage.

And what does she come up with? A dirty floral printed yukata she no longer wears and instead carries around as a blanket. It'll cover most of him...probably. It's fine.

What's also fine is the makeshift pillow she finds among the scattered items and not just any ordinary pillow either. No, my friend. It's a bag of cotton candy-the last one she has in fact. Feel honored.]

This will make you feel better.

[The dirty yukata goes over his body, with her trying to make sure it covers most of him, and she pushes the plastic wrapped candy towards his hand, hoping he'll take it.]

You can lay on this thing too. It's for your head.

[The cat isn't the only one who is startled by the suddenly clamor. It's only because he is so tired that Ignis doesn't flinch himself. He's about to ask her what exactly she's collecting in her little treasure bag when he hears her talking softly to someone. Some...thing? She hadn't mentioned anyone else, and honestly, the words sound more like what a person would say to a pet not a a fellow human. Did she finally find the cats she was so certain she would find before?

It's a question that's time hasn't come quite yet because soon he's being covered in a blanket that is most certainly not actually a blanket and being handed a pillow that smells more like something one would find at a carnival instead of in a bedroom. For a brief moment, Ignis wonders if he can get cavities via osmosis, but he soon pushes the absurd thought away and settles the 'pillow' behind his head.

He has to admit, despite the oddness of the situation, he does fell warmer already.]

My goodness, you are right. Thank you. I already feel better. Someone is quite the little nurse when she wants to be. And, does the nurse have an assistant? I heard you speaking to someone there for a moment. It would only be polite to thank them as well.

I'm not a nurse. I won't hurt you.

[A part of her knows the profession is meant to mend-heal-but her faded memories do little more than remind her of the ones who bustled around the lab. Who ushered the kids in and out for tests. In her own way, she's trying to assure him she won't do that. Her expertise in care begins and ends with dirty laundry and a pack of candy.

But at his request, she remembers the promise made to him all those months ago and her voice perks up. Yes, thank the biggest help. The best boy. It's easy to hear her moving around, since she manages to kick a few pebbles during her short journey.

Within moments though, she's back by Iggy's side with a cat in her lap.]

You can rest because he's here. He'll keep you safe too.

[Right, he can't see and she's quick to clarify, despite the low purr coming from her direction that likely solves the mystery on its own. ]

It's a cat.

[Ignis winces slightly at her response, cursing himself for forgetting how very odd what little he knows of her background is. He shouldn't have said that. Hopefully, it didn't bring back bad memories.

He's relieved when she very easily leaves his uncomfortable slip behind and instead moves to answer his question. Really, Ignis finds himself grateful to hear the pebbles she sends skittering around as she moves. It's comforting to know she's not going too far away.

While he waits for her to present her friend to him, Ignis lets his head rest back against his very sweet and crinkly pillow, a small smile crossing his face. He's going to have to ask someone what it really is. As it is, he's imagining some kind of fluffy pastry cloud, and the only thing saving his hair from an embarrassingly sticky end is the plastic wrapper.

It's the purr as well as Ren's voice that eventually draws his attention back to her. Slowly, he reaches one hand out in the direction of the rumbling sound.]

So you did find your cat friend! It seems I should not have doubted you. Does he have a name?

Another cat gave him to me. This one is ESP Kitty.

[The candy is essentially his now and in a moment, she will regale him with wondrous tales about how you can not only lay on it, you can eat with it! You can also make gloves with it. This is a valuable resource and the island needs to start on a cotton candy garden, stat.

But no, he shouldn't have doubted her and feline finding ways. There's a moment where she watches the cat look up at him, gently petting his back to prep him for the meeting. She said she would help Ignis get 'in' with the cats and not one to break a promise, she's going to do so now.

Eyes trained on her kitty companion, she raises his little body to meet his hand, careful to make sure no green shards are poking out of fingers. There's minimal concern in regards to her own health here, but she can't risk hurting the cat. Never a cat. Not after Murasaki trusted her with him.]

You can pet him until you fall asleep.

Edited (too tos is two too many tooty two toos) 2017-11-05 19:07 (UTC)

[Another cat gave him to her? How...strange. That's not how cats usually work in Ignis' experience, but there is nothing to say cats aren't a little different here.]

ESP Kitty? That is quite the unique name. How did he get it?

[Ignis isn't surprised at the comfort that slides through him the moment his crystal free fingers touch the cat's fur. He may not be as open as Noctis and Prompto are when it comes to his love of animals, but he does have a soft spot for them nonetheless.]

Once we're out of here and I'm feeling better, I will have to repay both of you for your assistance. I hope ESP Kitty likes fish as much as most other cats I've met do.

[Let him cook for you two in thanks. It's the least he can do.]

I don't know. It could be a-[What's the phrase Iggy used all those weeks ago?]-'term of endearment'. That kind of thing.

[It's a mystery.

Far be it from Ren to deny a meal, especially one for her precious cat friend. Iggy's offer to cook brings back a fond memory of him-of the first time they met. Of making her first friend. Learning about nicknames and bringing some warmth into those dark temple ruins.

She holds her purring friend up for another few seconds, only setting him back down when he starts to gently bat at Iggy's finger. Play time? Okay, that's fine. Who says cats can't have fun adventures in disease ridden caves? Not Ren, that's for sure. She rolls a marble his direction, watching him bat it between his paws.]

He likes fish. [A pause] You can eat your pillow if you're hungry. ESP kitty doesn't like that food.

[Since the cat doesn't, it's a free meal for him. How lucky!!!]

That it could be. Terms of endearment do tend to get strange sometimes. It's part of the fun.

[Ignis can't help but feel warm inside that she managed to remember such a complex concept. Especially since she had no idea what it was before they had their little chat. It's a bond between them and he can certainly use the comfort of those bonds right now.]

What are you rolling for him?

[It sounds too solid to be a ball. Unless it's made out of something other than rubber.]

The pillow is food? Well, that explains a fair bit.

[A sweet of some kind, no doubt. It seems his earlier thought was more accurate than he knew. No wonder the cat wouldn't like it.]

Do you know what the food is called by any chance?

A pretty marble.

[Since all her stuff is scattered across the cave floor, she easily finds another and if he allows her, she'll press it into his hand. It's just a typical marble with a beautiful design. Too bad he can't see it.

At the request, she stands up and ambles over to where he's sitting to get a better look at the package. The color and taste is easy enough to remember-she always forgets the name.]

It's called 'unicorn poop'. That's what it says.

[Thank you Storyteller.]

[Ignis folds his hand around the marble when it's handed to him, thumb running over the cool glass surface. He's about to ask her to describe it to him, when she moves near and reads off the name of the food in the package.

A startled sound that seems suspiciously like a laugh being disguised as a cough slips from Ignis' mouth.]

Oh dear. Who knew one could sell such a thing.

[What the heck is a 'unicorn?']

Do you mind telling me what such a...delicacy looks like?

[Ignis really hopes he doesn't regret asking that.]

[Don't worry, Iggy. She has no idea what a unicorn is either, but whatever it is-well, it makes some good treats.]

It's bright pink and-

[The package is opened, though she's careful to not jostle Ignis' head as best she can. She's just trying to give him the best description possible by holding it in her grubby little hands.]

It looks like string?

[Not quite right.]

Foam?

[Hm-]

A cloud.

[And then she shoves the piece she has in her hand into his own. Happy candy eating friend.]

It's like that. A pink cloud.

[Ignis' forehead wrinkles as he listens to her attempts to describe it to him, raising his head when he realizes she's pulling some of it out of the package. Foam? String? These are two very different things.

Of course, once she presses it into his hands, he can't help but make a soft 'ah' sound. Cloud, yes, that seems like an accurate description. Ignis carefully raises it to his nose so he can take a sniff.]

Sugar. It smells like pure sugar.

[And it's sticky, growing more so as his hands warm it. His teeth ache at the thought of eating it.]

It's candy. Not any kind I've encountered before, though.

The Storyteller found this thing.

[Because it's certainly not an item she ever found in the decaying ruins of her own world. Regular food was scare and finding anything more than random, untouched bags of rice was a rare occurrence.

And like the gross child she is, she fluffs out the little piece of cotton candy in his hand for Maximum Tastiness. Like that helps in any way.]

Unicorns-[Whatever the mcheck that is]-make good food. This will make you happy.

[Eat it punk]

Of course they did.

[Ignis can almost see the excited expression on her face. If she has puppy dog eyes, she's probably using them.

Astrals, how is he this doomed when he can't even see her expression?

With a sigh, Ignis raises the Unicorn...Fluff, it's Fluff now...to his mouth, letting it dissolve on his tongue and barely keeping from wincing at the overly sweet taste.

Definitely completely sugar. His teeth will never be the same.]

I believe I like it better as a pillow for the time being, though it is certainly a unique taste, and I'm always happy to try unique tastes.

[Once. And never again.]

[He may come to regret those words because the next time she tries something weird, he's going to be first on the list to share with. The next bin of caramel popcorn she gets is already dedicated to Ignis. Along with whatever future plants or foods she finds scattered on the ground. At least she'll take off the mold first. She's good like that.

But she watches him for now, gauging his reaction. It's good enough for her to hear the word 'happy' come out of his mouth. In a situation like this, surrounded by darkness and disease, it's enough.]

I'll find more 'unique tastes'. You can sit there. I'll come back.

[She hasn't left yet, but the clink of marbles and the sound of crushed leaves being shoved into somewhere indicates she's about to.

At least he gets a short reprieve from her. Enough time to actually rest with his cotton candy pillow and yukata blanket.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

October Event: Crystal Clear

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