hotelcaelum | Event Log #002

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...

Then perhaps we ought to lure it to you. You won't have to chase it and should be able to rest and once it arrives, I can contend with it.

[ Okay but how does one brawl with a shadow?? ]

You're suggesting I be bait.

[ It's not a question, and he looks none too happy about the idea, despite knowing full well it's the most logical one — even if he weren't actively trying to lure it out, it would still target him anyway. ]

Do you have some kind of means to fight shadows? I couldn't lay a finger on it, though maybe that's just because it's my shadow.

[ A shrug. He doesn't know how any of this works, and the idea of something he can't physically punch specifically tormenting him? Well, that tracks. ]

I do have a blade and I'm capable of creating flames, so perhaps that much might make some form of impact. But I suppose we won't know if I'll fare any better without trying.

I can understand why it would be frustrating to have an opponent you can't touch.

Hm. [ Save for the quiet hum, he's quiet for a moment as he thinks it over. ] Flames might do something, they're "magic" I'd assume, and that could be the key to making any real progress against these things…

Alright, but not here, I'd rather limit the risk of collateral.

[ Without bothering to wait for an answer, he turns to head back down the hallway, and towards the nearest door — he hopes it's not occupied. ]

Understood.

[ Well. He's already moving, so maybe she didn't have to say that, but as he does, she'll stride after him. Ideally they can find a safer spot for this. Or at the very least, a more convenient one. ]

[ The first door he reaches, gets a short knock before he opens it up and finds himself staring at… trees? Some kind of broad-leafed tree, plants aren't his area of expertise, but he knows one thing about them — looking back towards the woman, he quietly shuts the door and moves on. ]

I don't think we should be burning down the building somehow.

[ Is that even possible? He'd rather not find out. He nods towards a door on the opposite side of the hallway. ]

Maybe that one next.

I would not have suspected so many fire hazards to exist... or at least not in a place like this.

[ But let's go check out the other door, surely it won't lead to... a lake.

... That looks like a lake. ]

...

Edited 2023-11-27 04:20 (UTC)

I'm surprised there aren't more, frankly.

[ Glancing past the door, he can't hide the surprise clear on his face. A room of trees is one thing, but an entire lake? It's like an extreme version of stepping into the turtle. ]

This… should work fine as long as we don't get too close to the water.

I think that can be managed. Will it know to look for you here, or do you need to lead it?

[ A game of shadow tag? ]

I think it knows. Even when I can't see it, I suspect it's there.

[ Call it a hunch, or maybe paranoia. He wanders away from her, enough so that they're not too close, and glances around at the surroundings. If the shadow wanted to push him down a flight of stairs, and has otherwise been trying to do the most harm… He groans. ]

Don't tell me I have to go near the water.

[ It's said more to himself than anything, and he huffs at the concept. The singular thing he doesn't want to do. ]

... Is something wrong with the water?

[ Can he not swim? Did water kill his family? ]

… I don't want to get wet.

[ Translation: his makeup will run. ]

...

[ Her sigh runs deep. ]

I will position myself closest to the water, then.

No, it's—

[ Can a sigh be outmatched? He'll certainly try. ]

The shadow is targeting me, and I get the feeling that by trying to do me harm, it'd love to see me drown or something.

[ This sighing duo over here-- ]

All the more reason to keep you away from the water, then. So long as you're in the same room, that should be enough to lure it.

[ A proverbial wind tunnel at this rate… ]

Well, there's only one way to find out then, isn't there?

[ In spite of his protests, and her offer that she should be the one standing closest, he does still move towards the water — not right up towards the edge, but close enough that a good shove could knock him off balance and towards soggy peril. ]

... If this is what you have decided on, I will not speak to dissuade you.

[ HE CHOSE THIS. ]

[ He nods stiffly as he takes up his spot, folding his arms across his chest, and waits.

And waits.

And waits. ]

Maybe this isn't going to work.

[ There's a shadow forming slowly behind him, foot raised, and poised to slam right into his tail bone. ]

--!

[ She catches the flicker out of the corner of her eye, and the sword is out, flames flickering on the blade. NOT TODAY, SHADOW ASSHOLE. ]

Move!

[ When she said she had a blade and could create flame, he didn't think she'd meant together. The sight of it should probably be alarming, and maybe to anyone else it would be. Instead, he looks taken aback more by the sudden shout, but he does exactly as told and ducks to the side — away from the water. The shadow lurches, missing Abbacchio and stumbling forward with a staticky sound of frustration.

Another sound of static fills the air, with a final click as Abbacchio's Stand manifests and springs into action, shoving the shadow closer to Barghest. ]

[ What the hell is that--

Seriously, what is that??

She can't even ask, she's currently trying to use the flaming sword to pin the shadow down with no ounce of mercy, sorry shadow. ]

[ Don't worry about it, whatever it is, it's too busy swerving out of the way of Barghest's sword lest it be impaled. It might not work on the shadow, but Stands probably aren't exempt from grievous wounds caused by flaming swords. ]

Now!

[ Unconcerned with (or perhaps used to) whatever is transpiring, Abbacchio calls for her to make her move. ]

Event Log #002

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