[Plot: Sour Times] [Phase Three] Charred Earth
Hi, guys. We're moving towards the finale of the plot at last, but it won't be happening until after Thanksgiving - some people have family, and some people will be busy or otherwise away (Such as Miyu, who will be in Missouri the day of and the day after), and there's not really enough time between now and then to give everyone ample time to react fully and whatnot.
In the meantime, the Mephisto are still up to their tricks as described previously, though they no longer react unless directly touched, at which point you cannot escape them. At this point, when they catch you, they'll grab you and whisper in your ear about your impending doom, and how you must repent. Being grabbed by one feels like being wrapped in cold, wet sheets, an effect that lingers once they've finished with you (at which point they disappear). Characters will stumble away to find this shape cut into their chest; whether it fades into an intricate scar or heals entirely is up to you. But it will hurt and will be capable of infection.
Tomorrow morning, it will begin to snow on both levels. But these are no ordinary snowflakes - they're sulphur, not frozen water. At two in the afternoon, a fire will start somewhere in the upper level and eventually. At first it'll be a violent blaze, destroying what remains of the bush and rubble; it will seem almost concious, avoiding currently occupied buildings (if you're not home, your house can still catch fire), and darting and playing, almost dancing with and around anyone in its path. Instead of crackling, it seems to laugh. Squinting into it, one may see the shape of dancing children.
The fire will end as suddenly as it began at four in the afternoon (Central time), leaving behind plenty of black earth, but a sickly-sweet smell along with the usual scent of burning.
Purgatorium is now to be considered haunted.
There are six children within Purgatorium at this point, one for each sin, which is written across their foreheads, with the pointed exception of wrath. They look like ordinary children of about twelve, nonsexed, with skin tones and hair that will match those of the person seeing them, and are wearing red hospital gowns. Anyone may encounter or interact with them and should feel free to use them as they wish. Their entire purpose is to speak about the effects of a character's sin (either the direct result of a character's pre-Purgatorium act or their sin in general); they will not leave them alone until the character accepts, vocally, that they have done wrong and will make an effort to repair it. If a character wishes it, they will stick around and become a sort of silent watcher.
In the meantime, they follow characters like a familiar, and tend to have this odd little habit of walking through walls despite being solid. Beyond all this, they have no names, no personality traits beyond 'doleful' and 'reproving', cannot be harmed, and do not generally carry out conversations about anything other than sin. They cannot be recorded by the communication consoles, photographed, or otherwise depicted. There are multiple instances of each child at the same time. Showing them kindness and care will have a positive effect - a character will feel somewhat relieved from Mephisto effects as well as hunger. Caring for the respective child, however, will not take the place of actually repenting. Showing them violence or mistreatment will increase the severity of of a character's pain, and they will disappear if it is attempted to harm or abuse them. They will vanish after five days, repented or not.
Characters affected solely with wrath will feel constantly that something is 'missing' and lost.
The seventh stills sleeps, after all.
Please add mastermephisto to your journal.
The fortresses have been closed again, and the sound of someone moaning and crying can be heard from both of them.
There is a strange air, in Purgatorium, a constant feeling of something is going to happen.
There's a good reason for that.
As always, all of this is opt-in and completely non-compulsory! All comments and questions should be directed towards whichever one of us is around at the time.
In the meantime, the Mephisto are still up to their tricks as described previously, though they no longer react unless directly touched, at which point you cannot escape them. At this point, when they catch you, they'll grab you and whisper in your ear about your impending doom, and how you must repent. Being grabbed by one feels like being wrapped in cold, wet sheets, an effect that lingers once they've finished with you (at which point they disappear). Characters will stumble away to find this shape cut into their chest; whether it fades into an intricate scar or heals entirely is up to you. But it will hurt and will be capable of infection.
Tomorrow morning, it will begin to snow on both levels. But these are no ordinary snowflakes - they're sulphur, not frozen water. At two in the afternoon, a fire will start somewhere in the upper level and eventually. At first it'll be a violent blaze, destroying what remains of the bush and rubble; it will seem almost concious, avoiding currently occupied buildings (if you're not home, your house can still catch fire), and darting and playing, almost dancing with and around anyone in its path. Instead of crackling, it seems to laugh. Squinting into it, one may see the shape of dancing children.
The fire will end as suddenly as it began at four in the afternoon (Central time), leaving behind plenty of black earth, but a sickly-sweet smell along with the usual scent of burning.
Purgatorium is now to be considered haunted.
There are six children within Purgatorium at this point, one for each sin, which is written across their foreheads, with the pointed exception of wrath. They look like ordinary children of about twelve, nonsexed, with skin tones and hair that will match those of the person seeing them, and are wearing red hospital gowns. Anyone may encounter or interact with them and should feel free to use them as they wish. Their entire purpose is to speak about the effects of a character's sin (either the direct result of a character's pre-Purgatorium act or their sin in general); they will not leave them alone until the character accepts, vocally, that they have done wrong and will make an effort to repair it. If a character wishes it, they will stick around and become a sort of silent watcher.
In the meantime, they follow characters like a familiar, and tend to have this odd little habit of walking through walls despite being solid. Beyond all this, they have no names, no personality traits beyond 'doleful' and 'reproving', cannot be harmed, and do not generally carry out conversations about anything other than sin. They cannot be recorded by the communication consoles, photographed, or otherwise depicted. There are multiple instances of each child at the same time. Showing them kindness and care will have a positive effect - a character will feel somewhat relieved from Mephisto effects as well as hunger. Caring for the respective child, however, will not take the place of actually repenting. Showing them violence or mistreatment will increase the severity of of a character's pain, and they will disappear if it is attempted to harm or abuse them. They will vanish after five days, repented or not.
Characters affected solely with wrath will feel constantly that something is 'missing' and lost.
The seventh stills sleeps, after all.
Please add mastermephisto to your journal.
The fortresses have been closed again, and the sound of someone moaning and crying can be heard from both of them.
There is a strange air, in Purgatorium, a constant feeling of something is going to happen.
There's a good reason for that.
As always, all of this is opt-in and completely non-compulsory! All comments and questions should be directed towards whichever one of us is around at the time.