auroraexpress | EVENT: The Very Hungry Nightblossom FINALE

Entry tags:

EVENT: The Very Hungry Nightblossom FINALE

Who: everybody
When: Day 10, sunrise
Where: mainly outside

[Sometime early in the morning, there's a deep rumble, as the ground shakes. The vines previously grabbing at the Aurora and its heroes multiply rapidly, completely coating the train and shutting out starlight. For a moment everything creaks, as if the metal itself is about to cave in.

But then it stops. Somewhere far away something roars, and suddenly the vines retreat, leaving only a few remaining cracks in the ground. Below, the caves have only the harmless glowing mushrooms which, should you choose to attempt eating them, prove to quickly fill one's stomach and leave them with a burst of energy. You can follow the tunnels still, though -- now that they're free of monster plant, you'll find it's one big connected network. There are various small caves in which iridescent white crystals grow, letting off a faint light reminiscent of the moon. From them drips a translucent liquid which feels soft and cool on the skin, until it seeps in. Once it's in your bloodstream you'll find yourself caught in a euphoria that encourages acting on your every impulse. If you want to steal something, you will. If you want to kiss someone, you will. If you want to kill someone...

...Well. It's possible to overcome the compulsions, at least. You need only picture someone you care more about than yourself, and concentrate. Unfortunately the high that comes with it can be addictive, so one must take care when exploring the caves.

It's unlikely anyone will get much exploring done before sunrise, but if you're not in the deep dark where signal is poor, you'll be woken at dawn by a loud and cheerful jingle on your Chain. Even if you were previously dead, you're sure up now! Accompanying it is the slight shift in the train that usually comes with a trial, and a message that just says:

come outside

If you follow the summons, you'll see that rather than a scary tower or spooky house, there's what appears to be a really flashy convertible, painted a shimmering deep rose. Leaning against the hood is a man who appears just over twenty, with long hair and bright eyes, both quite literally twinkling with stars.

His voice might be familiar, if you were one of the first arrivals. But the tone, rather than sad and soft, is... frankly annoyingly full of energy. As is his smile as he waves at everyone coming out.]

"Good morning, my lovely heroes!"

[[OOC NOTES: Anyone who died will be revived at the time of the prince's arrival, even if it's earlier than the 1 day revival timeline. Injuries can still be there depending on your character's timeline, but there are a couple of hours between the plants leaving and the prince appearing, so everyone should have had time to catch their breath and take a shower at least.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

But I did come here to help out, so I'll answer you.

[He's counting the questions out on his fingers as he explains, rattling off responses in a way that makes it clear he's thought about them many times before.]

The universe has been taken over by Malice. Malice is a corrupt energy made of bad feelings, and the only thing that works against it is good feelings and close bonds between people. You're supposed to be purifying Prisms with your own energy. Prisms are on Stars, and if you can fix them they'll protect the whole sector of the universe around them.

I can't come help you because I'm special and the Malice really wants to eat me. We didn't have time to write a guide when we started, but you being confused and flailing around is why I came to explain.

I don't know why you're being given trials but I assume it's trying to wear you down so it can overcome you. You're all directly connected to and protected by the Prism inside the Aurora. That's why the Malice can't turn you into monsters unless you lose heart. You're on teams because we thought it'd foster a connection. That's also why the teams have themes. It's so you can form a group identity.

Also, I thought the costumes would be funny.

Change them. Immediately.

Not a chance.

Your taste is atrocious.

But never mind. If you could come here now, why not before? Does the train's prism not protect you as well?

Well... Not quite...

[ahahaha]

It has something to do with the "special" thing I mentioned. But that's not a subject I should get into.

Why not? Are you not here explicitly to answer questions for us?

Some things are best left secret~

I disagree. It only makes you look shady and irresponsible. But I suppose that's like most princes I know.

Oh, I'm sure you have things you don't like to talk about, too.

Yes but I don't play mysterious benefactor and or kidnapper at people either.

You make me sound like a big creep.

At the very least your aim is bad. There are people from my world who would benefit your cause far better.

Not to say I'm incompetent but if the aim is mushy good feelings and declarations of friendship you could at least of grabbed Rean Schwarzer and Prince Olivert. Instead you've bungled it entirely.

We can't choose who we're recovering. All we can do is search for strong souls. You're the ones who got caught in our net.

Ridiculous.

....

I have something to ask but not so openly. Step aside with me.

Okaaay...

[If he can trust you with the universe he can trust you not to murder him if you get him alone so. It's fine. He's not nervous!]

[Cardamom you are irresponsible with your life??

Anyway Jusis is just leading him away enough to be private.]

Ceylon and I--we died. I'm sure of it. How am I here?

Oh, that...

[hmm.]

We reconstructed you from the soul the same way we brought you here in the first place. Since your lives are connected to the Prism, your souls are recoverable if we move fast enough. But it takes a lot of energy to do that, so we do want to minimize death.

...Not to mention we'd just rather not put you through it if we can avoid it. But there's only so much we can do.

........

[He can't quite meet Cardamom's eyes, breath hitching but otherwise doing his best to maintain composure, to keep himself... From showing how fucked up he feels. He doesn't know how to feel at all.

Better just to move on than try to sort it out in front of a stranger.]

I see.

How were we supposed to win? Was laughing really the way? How are we supposed to tell what strange and random rules govern our survival?

Most things aren't as specific as laughter. And most can be killed. But killing them doesn't help their souls at all. You have to face them with the power of your bonds to purify them.

...Help their souls?

They were all normal living things before. Some of them might even have been people. They're just corrupted by Malice. Driving away the malice from these places and purifying Prisms ought to restore them to their original forms.

So every monster here used up be a person? Or at least, a normal creature?

That's right. Mostly, the souls of higher lifeforms won't become monsters. They just get lost, like all of you. But it's possible some of the most powerful monsters were people.

....How?

That's just what happens when you're overtaken. It's...

[hm Cardamom is looking especially sad right now]

It's the people with the most pain who are most likely to become monsters.

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE

Re: THE PRINCE