tornheart | AWAKENING

Who: Everyone
When: Midnight, June 6th
Where: Green Valley Orchids
What: It is time.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

The subway stop near the orchards was not the type of place that most people liked to be when darkness fell. The orchards near the school were set up almost like a public park, which wasn’t so bad in and of itself, but it’s also the area where over half of the murders happened before the curfew was first put in place. It was a place people didn't go unless absolutely necessary and most had started taking alternate routes to avoid the stop. As one of the first subway stations built in the city, its architecture didn't really mesh with those that came after it. It had jagged corners where the smell of wet earth lingered, making it unpleasant even for those brave enough to continue to use it, and there had even been talk of closing it permanently once routes and nearby stations had been revamped to be better able to take care of the traffic.

Due to this, it only has the bare-bones of a shelter, fallen into disrepair as the curfew was enforced city-wide, and a couple of night guards, (probably already asleep due to the lack of activity they’re expecting), so characters arriving there will be mostly unnoticed. For a place that had such a bad history, most people rightfully avoid it.

For most of them it will be their first meeting with each other. There will be a bit of time to talk before their phones display a zero. Plenty of time to talk about what they suspect and what might just happen...and that horrible vision they had shared. Then there’s that countdown on their phones...ticking away the last few minutes.

ZERO UNTIL MIDNIGHT

The lights go out when the countdown ends. The lack of sound is, for lack of better word, worrying. Very soon, only the light of the phones serves as makeshift flashlights for the small group. But soon, even as words get displayed, a deep male voice echoes, which could be much more worrying.

FINALLY! Ahahahahah! Ahhh, damn does it feel nice to be able to speak and not
just write. Hey lambs, are you all ready?

Considering the choice of words, that might be Luci.

It's time. Can you feel your heartbeats increasing? Your mind about to explode? Questions swirling in your mind? Just make sure you don't go alone. Groups are
best, go all together and you'll never find the answers.

The voice laughs again.

Not that you have much of a choice at this point! Have fun, give them hell, and tell
them I sent you! I'll be taking care of that pesky guard problem for you.
...Let's go for a night stroll."

Communication ends just as abruptly as it started. No time to back down now, as the door where the guards are staying is quickly locked on its own before the subway system itself appears to be taken over by a virus that flashes on every available screen. With a click, the locked doors to the outside are swung open.

A voice in your mind warns you this might be the biggest mistake you'll be making in your entire life...and yet your heart feels like it's going to burst from your body from the joy you feel...

AWAKENING

It begins with a scream nearby. The same noise that they heard during the vision. The trees begin to turn grey as the sounds of hundred of creatures moving can be heard from all sides. The application opens, displaying them all in real time.

The group is surrounded.

By all logic, they should be running, but their legs feel bolted to the ground. They can't move.

The creatures begin to get closer. The trees start to rot nearby.

Breathing begins to increase. The sound of voices and memories quickly flashing before their eyes that might cause some to clutch at their head...exactly the same thing that the man had been doing back in the vision. If they look down at their hands, they will see them fading, see-through.

Yet for them, something is different. Just as the creatures are about to attack, they stop. A vision of the Velvet Room flashes before the eyes of those gathered as the two attendants silently nod. Then a return to reality as a light of color pierces the night from their hearts. A single voice can be heard, drowning out anything they might be hearing.

The time is now. I am thou, thou art I! Your mind is trapped, but I can set your soul free! My other self, will you die, or fight back?

Accept me for who I am! Forge this contract by letting go of your fears! Revolt against this world, and TEAR OUT YOUR HEART!

It laughs and fades, as time quickly returns to this world. There's only a few seconds to react before it all goes to hell. A faded hand to reach into your chest.

The choice is yours. Death...or Awakening.

THE BATTLE IN APPLE GROVE

It’s a feeling unlike they have ever felt. Never have their bodies been so alive. Their minds fill with lost memories, their bodies adapting into tools to defeat the creatures before them.

Defeat...destroy...unlock the skills of your heart and show them what it means
to cross you."

The voice is encouraging, almost. To those with navigator skills, the voice speaks up once more as well.

Lead them into battle. Hone their skills into true annihilation!"

It’s time to reclaim the night.

[OOC: For the purpose of this battle, the shadows all have 1HP and are strong against nothing. That means any attack will be able to kill them, weapons and guns included. For this log only, CHARACTERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMBINE SPELLS, as knowledge of this will be unlocked later on. There are about a HUNDRED shadows to be defeated, so there are as many needed for your characters to enjoy killing off. You are free to NPC them and to create situations and close calls.

An OOC PLANNING POST can be used to ask questions or to form teams.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

John still doesn't really get it. But, then again, he's usually pretty thick when it comes to things like that. He does remember having some exchanges with a Chikusa on the app -- the most recent one probably being the harshest. Not that John could really blame him...they'd all been freaking out in their own ways.

John reaches around and pulls his backpack off his shoulder, brushing any previous hard feelings aside, "Well, I brought more than just the stuff I mentioned on the app." He opened his bag and showed the contents to Ciro or Chikusa. Inside was a change of clothes, first aid kit, flash light, and resting on the very top was a freezer ziplock bag full of cookies. He looked back up, smiling sheepishly, "So...if you still want some. I know it's pretty ridiculous...but I'd feel bad if you missed out."

Even if John has left it under the bridge, Ciro couldn't help but feel the sheepish guilt bearing down on the back of his neck. It had been one thing to lose his temper at a stranger. After all, they were all in this together, whether they knew each other or not. There wasn't any point in starting friction when there were more important things to worry about. But that it's someone he knows...

Curious as John opened his backpack, he leaned a little closer. He was expecting the usual things that a lot of other people had brought- flashlights, maybe an improvised weapon- but the cookies had him pause, blinking. "Oh," he said after a second, going a little pink and ducking his head as he smiled. "Thanks.... I guess if there's a time to have them, it's now, right?"

John doesn't notice the blush or the awkwardness--he's never been keen on picking up on those sorts of things. Instead he just busies himself with his backpack, pulling out some of the treats from the bag and offering them up. "Yeah, that's what I thought," John says as he holds them out for Ciro to take.

"It probably isn't very practical...but I figured it was better than fighting on a completely empty stomach," John admit.

Accepting the bag, Ciro huffs out a laugh. "You know, that reminds me." Straightening, he glances around, but it's no use. It's not like he knows exactly who he's looking for anyway.

"A guy on the app said that he would bring some burgers by, and I offered to pay for my share if he'd get it. I have no idea if he really did what he said he would."

John must have missed that comment in all the craziness. He shakes his head, "Not sure who that was...I guess you could just look for someone with a bunch of take-out bags." If he was bringing burgers for several people he would need quite a few bags.

His own stomach growled as he considered food. He'd thrown up earlier and in his rush hadn't really thought about food since then. A burger sounded pretty good--he wondered if he should help himself to his own supply or see if he could barter for a burger too.

"A person with a bunch of takeout bags with the kind of face 'Guts' might fit," he mused, shaking his head. It wasn't much for a source of amusement but he'd take what he could get. Anything that might help ease up the nervousness tearing his stomach in two.

As John growls, he blinks in surprise before understanding. Right- this was something that caught everyone by surprise. Opening the bag, he offers a cookie to him with a wry smile. "Here. I think you could use one of these a little more than I could right now."

"Hmmmm....with a name like that I'd be looking for someone that's buff," John guessed. The name certainly sounded like it belonged to some kind of macho guy. Of course, he could be wrong and it could be one of those opposite things--but whatever. There were only so many people here he could ask.

John laughed sheepishly. He probably should have thought about that beforehand. He takes one of his own cookies, "Yeah...no sense facing this on an empty stomach." John just hoped he didn't throw up again.

No point indeed. Nibbling on one just because- it gives him something to do that isn't dying of anxiety as they all wait- Ciro glances around again. "I wonder how many other people were so nervous they couldn't eat.... Gen and I were lucky."

Asher and Ariel, along with their father, are nearby, so Ciro nods over to them. "We were staying at a friend of mine's house after we realized we had the same problem.... So we had someone who was already watching over us." Nothing makes sure teenagers eat like an actual parent.

John shrugged. He didn't have a good answer for that. He imagined everyone was nervous, but he knew that some people were nervous eaters, just as he was a stress baker. It was why he had thought to bring food but not necessarily thought about eating for himself. It didn't help that he'd thrown up earlier, but his stomach and nerves had settled a lot since then.

"Yeah...I'm glad I found out Haruka and Mako were in on this too...I felt pretty alone for awhile, despite everyone on the network." After all, it was one thing to know the people on the network were dealing with similar issues, but he hadn't known they were people he already knew and was familiar with. Somehow the people not being strangers helped him a lot and gave him a little more confidence that at least he didn't have to face this by himself. He still worried about his family though. He knew his mom wasn't involved, but Harper had been acting weird lately and he had started to wonder if it was really just school related or app related. It was too hard to tell and he really didn't want to confirm his own suspicions.

Alone, huh...? Ciro glances to where Gen is standing nearby, always vigilant and ever protective. He can't say he doesn't know how that feels. What would he have done if he didn't have Gen to go to, just a couple of floors down? It's not a pleasant thought; he knows how his own emotions go.

"Well," he manages, tearing his gaze away from his brother, "at least we're all here now. So whatever happens.... There's that."

John managed a smile, "Yeah...there is that." He knew it could probably be worse somehow, but it probably didn't do to dwell on that kind of mindset. He finished eating the cookie and looked out at the gathered individuals.

"I need to see if I can find anyone else...I still haven't figured out who the other Eligor is yet," he said, feeling too anxious to stay in one place for too long. He looked back to Ciro, he hesitated and then decided to just say it, "I know we're both in this together...but be careful out there tonight, okay?"

"Good luck.... and don't worry." His smile isn't much but it's something. "Gen won't let anything happen to me. Good luck finding the other Eligor."

Will it really do anything? He's not sure what knowing each other's usernames will really accomplish, besides identifying each other on the app. And that assumes that they'll be making it out of here... Shaking his head, he goes to stand back by his brother, and sends off one last wave to John.

He'll just have to hope for the best. That's all he can do.

AWAKENING

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maybe wrap up?

sounds good