Event Log #002

[caelumstaff]

EVENT LOG number 002 The hotel humbly hopes that you're settling in well and are taking advantage of the various pleasures on offer for your stay. In Mr Bennet's opinion, things have been going quite well and he doesn't think that the guests are unhappy at all. New guests have arrived, some have left, it's all going along perfectly. So, of course, this is when the next troublesome thing pops up. SHADOWS One morning, characters will find the hotel to be a little dimmer than usual, a little more shadowy. Yet if anyone asks Mr Bennet about it, he will claim to not have noticed anything different than usual. Either way, as the characters move on with their day, they'll start to notice a few odd things start to happen. PHASE ONE: Initially, characters will notice their shadow beginning to move a little out of sync with them. Discreetly at first until eventually, their shadow takes on a life of its own, mischievously playing with characters and enjoying their newfound freedom. Very Peter Pan, and completely harmless. PHASE TWO: Now, shadows might disappear entirely, roaming the hotel to their own discretion and ignoring the characters they belong to. As the shadow takes on this free will, characters will begin to feel slightly off balance and have a hard time feeling whole without their shadow around. The shadow may become slightly aggressive as well if told they should return to their characters, fighting back in their own way from knocking things over to outright attacking other characters. It's a little hard to fight back though when your opponent is a shadow, isn't it? PHASE THREE: The shadows have become fully aggressive now, fighting anyone who tries to get them to return to their original person. Characters will find themselves feeling weak and low energy as a result of losing their shadow. Eventually, the shadows will come back to their owners but the characters will find themselves sinking into their shadow, eventually changing places entirely with their shadow. The only way to rescue a character from this fate is for another character to pull them out of their shadow forcibly. The bright side is once a character is pulled out of their shadow, it all returns to normal and their shadow is no longer sentient. These phases will last over the course of the week and it is quite alright to stay in phase one/two/three. Not all shadows will become aggressive, not all shadows will be playful. Feel free to manipulate your character's shadow in the way that's most fun for you. NAV | PREMISE | RULES | FAQ | TAKEN hotelcaelum | caelumserver | caelumooc

Comments

[likesitruff]

[ I wish I could say it's going to be pleasant, making direct contact with a statuesque woman, but she is clad in armor right now and therefore, it's not going to feel great at all to bonk right into it. Sorry, Vincent.

All the same, it's perhaps better than being sucked fully into a shadow's grasp, whatever awaits those who cannot escape it, but when she glances down, the shadow is just that: a normal shadow.

Barghest takes a few seconds to acknowledge this, then releases Vincent's arm, though she is once again prepared to act if he's about to keel over again. She also has to brace herself against a wave of dizziness, widening her stance a bit to center herself. ]

We now have more information.

[ Delightful. ]

[encoffins]

[Yes, wonderful.

At least she's sturdy, and though it's a bit like falling against a brick wall, Vincent's had worse happen to him. Released as he is, he feels the loss of his balancing anchor -- but his strength is returning to him, slowly, slowly, and he manages not to keel over.

Still a bit wobbly on his feet, swaying slightly. But his eyes flick down to his shadow, which has gone back to normal, moving in-time with him.]

...I-

[Easy to make a dry remark about the nature of this information. What, pull someone out of their shadow, and if you can't manage it, then too bad for that person?

But she did just save him, and so-]

...Thank you. For that.

[likesitruff]

[ She could say he doesn't need to thank her, but he strikes her as the kind of person who is already aware of such a thing. If he's choosing to thank her, that is, indeed, a conscious choice.

So Barghest only nods once, slowly, carefully, a faint smile appearing. ]

I could have done very little for you, had you not reached out.

[ Thanks for not being stubborn, maybe?? ]

[encoffins]

I don't give up that easily. I have some sense of self-preservation.

[He has plenty to fight for, to make right. And barring that, he just arrived to this questionable hotel -- he wasn't about to be devoured by his own shadow in the first week.

He exhales, glancing away, reaching up a hand to adjust his collar.]

...Even so, it's time to return the favor. Have you spotted your shadow lately?

[likesitruff]

Not lately no, or I would have pursued. I imagine it might be difficult to miss something of its mass, however.

[ She, and her shadow by proxy, do kind of draw the eye in comparison to the more diminutive people here, she's aware. ]

I didn't assist you in order to have you feel obligated.

[encoffins]

I didn't say you did.

[ ... ]

But I'm already here. At least I'll be back at one-hundred percent to help you with your shadow if you find it. You can't say the same for yourself, can you?

[likesitruff]

Even in a weakened state, I don't intend to be a burden.

[ Like. She hardly thinks if their positions were reversed, he'd be able to hold her up easily. Probably. Maybe he'd surprise her. ]

However, your choices are your own. I intend to find my shadow. If you intend to accompany me, I can hardly order you to do otherwise. [ he's not one of hers. ]

[encoffins]

[He's stronger than he looks! But her frame would still be a difficult one to hold up, if her strength should give out... Yet it doesn't mean he wouldn't try.]

...Then I'll accompany you.

[Simple as that.]

Let's get moving.

[likesitruff]

[ They get moving! There's no sign of the shadow, not yet, but it's probably fairly obvious that Barghest's feeling its loss now that she no longer has to try to keep Vincent in one piece.

Or perhaps she always walks this slowly and deliberately, face set in a minute grimace? ]

[encoffins]

[Vincent may be a man of few words, but he's observant. He can tell those steps are deliberate and catch glances of a faint frown on her features.

...It's really none of his business if she wants to be stubborn about this, but maybe that's unfair. She can't help that her shadow is missing anymore than he could have, and eventually, Vincent feels as though he has to ask-]

Do you need to lean on me until we find it?

[An offer from someone who seems like a twig man.]

[likesitruff]

... With respect, your stature and your general build don't seem very, erm...

... Conducive to supporting a greater weight....

[encoffins]

[....wow....]

I'm stronger than I look. And it's not like you'd be leaning all your weight onto me.

[likesitruff]

I don't intend to, no...

... [ Ugh. She has her pride, but her shadow is running rampant. That needs to be tended to swiftly. ]

You're certain?

[encoffins]

[Hm.

Certain enough to just offer out his arm, brow quirking ever so faintly. Normally, he'd not be so generous, but she does need the help.]

[likesitruff]

[ Well. It's not a verbal answer, but it's good enough and even though she is definitely kind of awkward about this, she closes her eyes briefly and then rests a hand on his arm, mostly for balance. Chin up, Barghest. You have a shadow to hunt down. ]

... Thank you.

[ But she can be polite. ]

[encoffins]

[She's polite, and Vincent is distant, offering only a nod. But the gesture should at least speak for itself, his willingness to help her stay upright so she doesn't have to put in more effort than necessary just to walk down the hall. They might need that strength for later.

And, to his credit, he is strong enough to support whatever amount of weight she leans against him.]

Any surprises we might expect from your shadow?

[You know, like his turning into a beast and such.]

[likesitruff]

[ ... Whew. Great question! ]

I don't believe it will be capable of changing form, as yours did.

[ Because even Barghest can't willingly trigger that sort of thing without some kind of catalyst, she's sure of it. ]

But it will likely act as a predator. Which, I suppose, may not be too surprising, unfortunately....

[encoffins]

Is it not?

[Surprising, he means. His context is limited, given their equally limited interactions thus far.]

Why a predator, then?

[Because isn't she a knight?]

[likesitruff]

I hail from the Fang Clan. They're faeries specifically known for their ferocity and combat ability.

[ Surprise this woman who is three inches taller than you is also a faerie-- ]

[encoffins]

[Faerie?

This unexpected little tidbit of information is accompanied by a sideglance as they walk along, like a second assessment might allow him to see her in another light. One that aligns with what a "faerie" conjures in his mind -- magical. Delicate. Mischievous.

Maybe she's... the first. She doesn't seem to be the last two.]

You're not what I would have expected from a faerie. Are you a summoned entity?

[I'm sorry but this is a legitimately ffvii relevant question]

[likesitruff]

A Servant? No.

[ they continue to bewilder each other-- ]

What do you expect from a faerie, exactly?

[encoffins]

[...a servant? What?

A long pause.]

Someone... smaller. [help]

[likesitruff]

...

[ Her face flushes, faintly. ]

Faeries come in all sizes! I am more than an acceptable size for my clan!

[encoffins]

[Oh, he embarrassed her. Thankfully, any expression in response to that is covered quite fully by his high collar.]

...My experience with "faeries" is limited. I don't really have experience at all, actually, other than what I can glean from myth.

Clearly, things are different on your planet.

[likesitruff]

... That is... fair, I suppose.

[ But still. Gosh. "Smaller." ]

Faeries are, more or less, the extension of the planet. We are essentially immortal unless we are deliberately killed or if we lose our sense of purpose.