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apocalypsehowcomm2023-01-16 11:08 am
- !event,
- cortana (halo),
- delloso de la rue (d20 fey and flowers),
- john sheppard (stargate: atlantis),
- kate cordello (original),
- kp hob (d20 fey and flowers),
- yelena belova (mcu),
- zz_caitlyn kiramman (arcane),
- zz_callisto (xena: warrior princess),
- zz_donatello hamato (rise of the tmnt),
- zz_malcolm bright (prodigal son),
- zz_methos (highlander),
- zz_misty quigley (yellowjackets),
- zz_peter parker (mcu),
- zz_steve harrington (stranger things)
Event - Connectivity
(cw: theft, home invasion, paranoia)
The years have gone missing. Something's taking the books and papers from homes and libraries, even shops. Tracking it headed your way. -CP
You might be one of those the cryptic message is delivered to directly if you met and worked with Cindy Parsons, a local newscaster from Wolf Pen, WV. They seem to be making good on a promise to help a select few out after the people of ADI stopped an apocalypse ritual on their doorstep. If you didn't get a direct message, you might hear murmurs of it from various sources around ADI HQ. Gossip has a way of spreading, especially when there's some potential supernatural threat in it.
Sure enough, for intrepid researchers, they'll be able to find news reports of a strange series of threats heading from West Virginia toward Gloucester, starting with Cindy's reporting about a town about 20 miles north of Wolf Pen. Every book and newspaper, whether physical or digital, that was published in the year 2020 seems to have disappeared within certain towns. Local police are flummoxed.
And then it hits Gloucester.
The public library puts out a request for any information on the missing materials as well as a request for donations to replace their books and other printed materials. Who would do this? While replacing digital items is time-consuming and costly, the physical copies of things are even harder to manage, especially with so many libraries in the region being hit by this effect. The year 2020 has been wiped out.
Everyone will find that their own personal libraries/information stores have been picked clean, as well. Homes that seem secure will always have some sort of evidence of potential breaking and entering. However safe you thought you were in your home, however safe your coveted knowledge, it can disappear in an instant.
The library has requested volunteers assist in raising money for them to replace everything as quickly as possible, in the event the knowledge fiends who did this can't be found. Community-minded individuals might defy ADI's guidance and take up their own volunteer efforts, interacting with locals to knock on doors, start a bake sale, or start some kind of money-making activity to assist the library.
Those with more caution in their step will be tasked by ADI with searching Dogtown for the missing materials. They have a hunch about this. Maybe it will prove fruitful.
(cw: cuts, wounds, foreign objects embedded in flesh, supernaturally-induced apathy)
un: gracefully
Everyone, this is Neil Grace, Head of Security. We have a problem on our hands. A field agent recently returned to Gloucester with a cursed artifact that shattered upon entry into town. This field agent failed to inform anyone for several days as they tried to fix the problem themselves. They are being dealt with.
What we know right now is that the artifact was a crystal, something associated with the Lonely. It may be responsible for the recent disappearance of printed materials from around Gloucester and elsewhere in the country. I've attached a location pin that should give you the point for where the crystal shattered. We're getting reports that people living in that area are displaying unusual behavior. Please work in teams of at least two. Be careful, and avoid touching crystal pieces where possible.
- Neil
It's easy enough to find the park where the shattering happened. There's an unnatural quiet and emptiness throughout the park with pockets of sound. Eagle-eyed (or just persistent) individuals will be able to track down shards of crystal that have embedded themselves into trees and along the ground. Given the distance they seem to be from the initial shatter point, it's clear some supernatural force was involved in flinging these things.
Anyone spending a decent amount of time at or around the park will begin to note that it's not just the environment that's off here, but some of the people, too. That guy you spotted on a bench, ostensibly watching some squirrels? He hasn't moved. It's hard to tell if he's even breathing, but approach him, and he'll glance up before looking away again. There's no affect on his face, no real engagement. Trying to talk to him will garner painfully slow and mono-syllabic responses. There's just no life or personality to him. And the longer you talk, the more the cold seeps in. It's getting harder to care about what you were doing. Maybe this guy has it right. Just do nothing. Stop trying.
You might still spot the wound on his neck and the glinting shard of crystal that seems to be embedded there. But do you even want to bother? It's hard to summon the will to do so when the important things stop mattering and thoughts of other people slip away.
(cw: socioeconomic disaster; scarcity)
There aren't further network communications regarding the state of the search for the crystal shards...because sometime in the afternoon after Neil's message goes out, there simply aren't any more network communications at all. As the day goes on, the initial assumption is that ADI's internet provider is falling down on the job, leaving headquarters, official housing, and ADI-networked devices without access. The same is true over at Bonnie's Flophouse, though, and local staff soon realize and reveal that their own home internet and phone services are no longer working. All internet, cell phone, and landline services are down for the count...making it a little difficult to immediately figure out just how widespread the problem is.
It's treated as a minor inconvenience around ADI for the first few days. Surely things will get back up and running soon, everyone will get a rote apology from their service providers, and it will turn out to be the result of vandals or some accident taking down a major fiber optic cable–it wouldn't be the first time that's happened in the USA. There's a lot of grumbling around the offices thanks to frustration over lack of access to electronic records and the need to tramp all over the building to track down a coworker and speak face to face instead of shooting off a quick message. Around Gloucester, businesses either close their doors or muddle through on a cash-only basis, reluctantly writing off a day or two of profits while they await the internet's return.
Except it simply...doesn't. Days turn into a week, and then two. What struck most as an inconvenience becomes a quiet, ongoing catastrophe. Hospitals and emergency services resort to whatever handheld radios they can get their hands on to deal with what patients they aren't able to reschedule or send out of town, with pharmacies and medical and veterinary offices scrambling to re-establish lines of communication via overworked staff physically relaying written messages across town. The supply chain all but grinds to a halt, so even after most local businesses reopen on a cash-only basis, shelves begin to go bare, leading to a panicked rush on what remains–mainly, over-the-counter medication and non-perishable food get bought up at accelerated rates and become increasingly scarce within Gloucester. Local banks are swarmed by residents attempting to withdraw what limited stores of cash are available, and even trusted customers who are able to access their accounts face days-long waiting periods. What's worse, the outage makes it impossible for ADI's off-worlders to access their salaries within Gloucester: the prepaid debit cards ADI uses to distribute payments can't be accepted by businesses and cash advance services have been toppled by the outage.
The outage includes Gloucester, Dogtown, and the surrounding small towns that rely on Gloucester for most of their services, but outside a certain radius it seems things are business as usual for the rest of the country (aside from national interest in Gloucester's strange ongoing disaster). It's possible to reach an area with internet and phone service within a day's drive in order to get cash and supplies from outside banks and businesses, but within a week the knock-on effects begin, with panic-buying and panic-withdrawals making supplies and cash increasingly hard to come by in the surrounding area. Within a week ADI begins doing their best to provide cash payment to staff in need, but the company and the banks on which it relies simply don't have enough cash on hand to pay out everyone's weekly salaries in full.
There are, indeed, apologies from service providers, their public statements provided both via the internet for the world at large, and via fliers within Gloucester. At first these apologies come alongside promises that services will be restored shortly, though there's a conspicuous lack of a promised timeline. As the outage drags on, though, the apologetic messages become more and more vague about what's being done to fix it, promising only that they are giving the matter their full attention.
There was a time when the world did not rely on the internet to function, and there are worlds where that's still the case. Here and now, though, it's becoming more and more clear how heavily everyone relies on those connections.
(cw: reality warping, memory loss, potential for gaslighting or misperceptions of self or reality)
Memory is such a delicate thing. It shapes everything from interactions to perception to sense of self, and yet can be malleable to all sorts of things: our conviction, another’s perception, or even injury.
It might not be noticeable at first, when the changes come. It might be little things here and there, barely worth commenting on like a misplaced pen. Maybe you don’t remember that restaurant being there….yet when you step inside, they greet you like you’ve been a regular for months. Maybe that coworker you’ve been chatting with daily is now a stranger. Maybe your best friend slowly fades out of thought and mind. Even if you knew them before arriving here.
Do you even remember the world you came from anymore? Do you truly?
For other people,it might be instantaneous. Waking up one morning reveals things aren’t as they should be, as friends and worlds simply vanish from your thoughts. There’s no rhyme or reason or promise that those who so adamantly claim to know you aren't simply lying. After all, everyone knows how insidious this place can be. Why….you’ve been here longer than most, haven’t you? You’d surely know better.
- GENERAL - Players are welcome to play background NPCs for themselves when they are needed in a thread. If you need more information on general behavior for these types of NPCs, please feel free to ask! In general, the information provided in the prompts should be sufficient and ordinary people will act like… ordinary people! Although, the people of Gloucester seem to be becoming more and more aware of supernatural phenomenon and they are frightened by it. You're welcome to make up any details beyond that for your specific scene. Also, please remember that character deaths are permanent and plan accordingly!
- MISINFORMED (16 January - Ongoing) - The books/newspapers/printed materials are simply gone from Gloucester. No amount of searching will dig them up, unfortunately. It's clearly some supernatural force that's removed them. The evidence of a break-in to their residence/wherever they're keeping their things will vary from very obvious to subtle, depending on what might invoke the most dread in a particular individual. ADI personnel will be particularly on alert at HQ as there seems to be evidence of a break-in there, as well, even if they can't trace the source.
Characters will need to reacquire things if they lost them from their personal library, and the Gloucester (and ADI) libraries being short on materials from 2020 will be an ongoing issue for the foreseeable future as replacements are tracked down. Characters who wish to volunteer are free to create whatever money-making endeavors they see fit. ADI leadership will be disapproving due to the potential danger associated with community outreach like that, but they're not going to actively stop anyone. Players are welcome to say their efforts are successful, but they should not be raising tens of thousands of dollars here. The locals of Gloucester are middle class for the most part, but they don't have that kind of spending money. Those who wish to investigate Dogtown, instead, are encouraged to submit search requests on the Dogtown Search page.
- MISPLACED (17-31 January) - The shards have been flung improbably far afield with characters able to find them all over the park. It's not just people in the park at the moment who seem to have been hit with the shards, either. Teams might find themselves knocking on doors after spotting shattered windows or the like, only to find people who can't seem to be bothered to do anything about the damage or their situation. The apathy effect vanishes once the shard is removed from a person, but holding it will produce a lower grade apathy as well as a sense of emptiness in the person holding it. Smashing the crystals into smaller pieces will just scatter low-grade apathy across the ground for anyone to track into their homes.
- MISSED CONNECTIONS (17-31 January) - Any access to internet or phone services during this period will require a long drive out of town to reach an area beyond the spread of the outage. There's no physical cause for the outage to be found–anyone who travels out to find out what's happening with the effects to restore the internet will find the service providers just as baffled and frustrated as anyone else.
- WITHOUT A TRACE (17-31 January) - Any memory can be lost, from the details of a person’s world, to their friends and family, or even lovers. How quickly the changes take is up to player discretion, but the changes can be reversed through reminders of attachments to other people, places, or things. Help from those close to people is encouraged! On the other hand, players are welcome to keep any memory losses they would like; however, any formative memories that are lost that would drastically change a character's personality from their canon presentation will be returned at the conclusion of the event. Permanent losses can be important memories, but please refer to Rule #4 in Apocalypse How's ruleset. "Characterization must be consistent with canon/the original story the character is from, when taking into account in-game developments. Characters should be recognizable as the character throughout their tenure in the game."
ii - cw: lost memories, mention of war, mind alteration, mild body horror throughout the thread
If that wasn't horrifying enough, he has no idea how or why he has cat claws. And with that, what he's suspecting are cat instincts. The claws appeared randomly when he was startled by a passing car and jumping way further than he should have been able to, and now he's trying to figure out how and why he has them. It would probably be easier if he remembered exactly who or what he is, and right now all he's got is a big jumbled mess. He remembers...fighting. A war. And then a city underwater, large round portals that take you to different worlds, and terrifying-looking creatures that hunt humans. He doesn't think he's one of those--he's sure he doesn't look like them, so. But from what he can guess is that he's from that pretty underwater city. He's not sure how he got here. This is earth, he knows that, and he's vaguely aware there is some kind of organization keeping them here, and that he lives in the apartments over there, but everything else escapes him. Was he lost? Did he get stuck here?
Equally lost in thought and trying to figure out where he can get more information from and figure this out, he bumps into the owlbear out in the grounds.
Oh. Wow. He looks up, staring. There's a prickle in the back of his neck that seems to correlate with how part of his mind immediately goes right to...feathers...feathers are the best, look at the way they floof, wouldn't it be fun to chase the being with the feathers--wait, he can't lose focus here--]
I'm sorry, I...
[Wait, what if they were an alien, too? Maybe they could help him!]
You're not...from the underwater city, are you?
gimmie *grabby hands*
O-oh. No, it was mistake. I sincerely apologize. My mind was elsewhere, I -
[Their large, dark eyes blink rapidly, thick lashes fluttering as they finally catch just what they've been asked. Rue's beak opens briefly, but they look absolutely taken back.]
No. I - Underwater city. I'm sorry, I don't have any idea to what you are referring?
:D
[Oh.
Oh no, those feathers are puffing up like that and that trilling sound is just too much. He had little defenses against the Entity-influenced instincts, now with his memory issues, those defenses are pretty much the equivalent of a fence made out of toothpicks.
His eyes are wide and he looks like he's struggling between the general, mild horror of not being able to remember, and sheer and utter delight of bird.]
I thought that maybe you might be from there, it's a different planet, after all. I don't think I'm from earth, either.
[As he's talking, he's focusing more on Rue's movements, ducking his head, shifting his stance. The cat-like claws on his hands are visible--he flexes them in and out, looking like he's about to bat at the nearest feather to him.]
no subject
You are missing pieces of your memory? I - [Rue's beak clacks together, anxiously, too focused on this new information to see the way that John is watching their feathers move.] I think I may be missing pieces of mine as well. Perhaps. I - Oh. Something feels so wrong, but I can't pinpoint what that could be.
[The confrontation with Hob is certainly on their mind, but there's the rest of things too, the way that time feels as if it's been frozen since they arrived. How could three months have possibly passed by?]
But I'm afraid I'm not from Atlantis or any other underwater city at all. [Rue waves a wing out, vaguely gesturing to nothing, feathers splaying just so in front of the man.] Truly, I've never even been to such a place before. Though even here feels quite unfamiliar to me at this moment in time.
no subject
[And that’s given him the first bit of hope all day. Maybe this thing is reversible, and they can get their memories back—
—oh. Oh, those feathers.
Moving like that, right in front of his face?
He is helpless.
His eyes widen and he immediately tries to bat at them. They must be defeated, see? Surely you understand.
Sorry, Rue.]
no subject
[And even if such an idea is absolutely frightening in how it could have possibly been executed, it does bring the slightest relief that it isn't just Rue's brain breaking under some unseen pressure.
But before they can even begin to feel the swell of relief in their chest, John is shifting in front of them, eyes going wide as he attempts to - attack their feathers?]
What? [Rue jumps back out of reach, looking absolutely lost.] What do you think you are doing?!
no subject
He jumps along with, trying to hop and bat at them again. His claws are visible now, and his movements and focus are so very much like a cat.
John, however, seems to retain the ability to at least explain himself—]
Sorry it’s—your feathers, they’re so…
[So…perfect? Pretty? Catchable? At least his mind isn’t focusing on trying to hunt Rue entirely, some measure of the cat in his brain acknowledges that Rue is Too Tall for proper hunting.]
I can’t help it, I don’t know what’s going on?!
no subject
Cease this! I am not - [Rue's feathers ruffle up around their neck and shoulders as they continue to step back, only making themself an even more enticing plaything for a cat-man. Their voice raises, firm and commanding, authoritative even without the weight of their former title behind them.] Stop! I am not some toy!
no subject
I'm sorry, I really--I can't stop it!
[John, possessing no memory of how he got these abilities in the first place, is utterly and completely baffled. He's just along for the ride. With every step back, he's stepping forward, trying to hop here and there to see if he can bat at another nearby feather.]
I think it's your movement!?
[At least he remembers basic facts about the world, and somewhere in there he's realizing how very catte he is and how to stop it.]
no subject
Honestly, to anyone wandering around the grounds and coming upon these two, it must be one of the funniest sights of their life. A tall, hulking owlbear being chased after by a much smaller man, batting and leaping like a cat after them.
Truly incredible.]
How am I to stop moving if you are pursing me?!
[But quite suddenly, Rue stretches to their full height, takes a quick step forward, and summons every bit of intimidation they can muster.]
Cease!
no subject
[He will hopefully remember this sometime later, and either laugh or apologize. Probably both.
Except the forceful cease is enough to startle him, he jumps up and makes quite the cat-like hissing noise, before falling flat on his butt.
And so he stops.
And stares.]
...that worked.
no subject
[Incredible intimidation roll!
Now that they aren't being batted at, Rue takes a moment to compose themself, to smooth out their ruffled feathers and dress, before tipping their chin up and addressing John.]
Well! Do you have anything to say for yourself, good sir?
no subject
[He looks down at his claws, up at Rue, down at his claws again, then up at Rue again, still sitting there on the ground, utterly baffled.]
I'm not sure why I did that?
...
I don't know why I have claws!
no subject
[Alright, so as far as Rue knows, humans do not normally have claws, so maybe the man is truly being sincere. They can't for the life of them remember if he possessed them the last time they met.]
I must admit, I do not know why you have them either, but that's hardly the point. You attacked me!
[Well. Batted gently at their feathers. Maybe attacked is too strong a word.]
no subject
[It just kind of feels like it makes sense? Sort of? It doesn't quite fit but he doesn't have anything else to go on except the mismatched memories that are fading.]
I didn't want to? I just--your feathers, they make my mind do this thing and--
[He points, suddenly realizing. He still has basic knowledge of some things, so--]
That's it! I'm some kind of cat...dude. That's what cats do, they love feathers, right?
no subject
[Oh.
Rue's ruffled, annoyed expression quickly softens, a paw rising up to gently smooth out the last of their askew feathers, slipping every one right back into place.]
I supposed I can't argue with such an assessment. [A... cat dude. Hm.] But you don't remember how you became this? Because of your memory, correct?
no subject
[Despite the small revelation, it only leaves him even more confused than before.
Is he not human? Are these just superpowers or is he an alien or something?]
Maybe I’m from…somewhere else. Like that underwater city. Maybe it’s Atlantis and Atlantis is this…alien or magical thing.
[It sounds impossible but there is an Owlbear in front of him and he’s a cat dude, so…]
no subject
If nothing else, Rue believes that John's words. He looks utterly confused and unsure of himself. The last of their irritation melts away, leaving a small, worried pinch between their feathery brows.]
Perhaps. I believe that most of those in this place come from elsewhere. Some from other worlds, some from other times. I do not know the rhyme or reason for how anyone ends up here.