(event) GHOSTS & HOSTS

[vestigemods]

GHOSTS & HOSTS

SEPTEMBER 22ND - 28TH

► WAS THERE ONE YOU SAW TOO CLEARLY? DID THEY FEEL TOO REAL TO YOU?

To some, the newfound territory within the containment zone is a blessing. Others, perhaps, worry that it may be a curse in disguise. The only way to find out which is true is, of course, to explore it for yourselves. But while the nature of the miles of new frontier remains ambiguous so far, one thing has quickly become apparent: You weren't the first to find it.

While every ounce of rationality (and all five or more of your senses) may tell you as you step into town or explore the farm's shady orchard that you're alone in this place, not a day has gone by since the barrier expanded that you haven't at some point felt a prickle along the back of your neck, or a subconscious tension inching through your body. Not a day has gone by that you haven't felt inexplicably watched.

Perhaps you told someone. Perhaps you kept it to yourself, for fear of sounding crazy. Either way, your suspicion is soundly validated on September 22nd as spirits begin to manifest all through the containment zone. Some are overtly hostile, utilizing their newfound traction on this mortal plane to wreak some form of harm. Others at first seem benign, but you'll quickly learn that no spirit here is truly harmless.

DID YOU TOUCH THEM, DID YOU HOLD THEM? DID THEY FOLLOW YOU TO TOWN?

You'll also learn quickly that very little that you do can stop them. Fists and blades sail through their intangible forms as if through fog, and unless you're actively working toward gaining them that which they seek (and even still then, sometimes), words do little against them either. So what can you do? Good news, research nerds: The answer lies in a book. A very familiar book, to those who were here when they and others rotted away or turned to glass. A copy appeared on the coffee-table of each cabin that month, and regardless of where it has gone or what has been done with it since, it does so again now with a formerly-blank space now filled in. The diagrams, it seems, depict what seems to be a spirit giving his heart to what seems to be a ramshackle beast. Below it, a figure seems to be waving an iron object through a spirit - insight on how to disperse one, even if not to kill it entirely.

But what are these ramshackle beasts they depict? The answer lies amongst the trees, stone-still and watchful. You may not even realize once you've spotted one - it hardly registers as a creature, a feral patchwork of skeleton and loose fur and misshapen flesh, limbs too long or too gangly, posture far too still to be canny. Very few still have eyes in the holes of their skeletal faces, yet there's no mistaking the way they watch you. It isn't predatory, for these aren't predators, but it's vigilant and unafraid.

It makes no move to attack. Instead, it offers acknowledgment - perhaps a less derelict creature might have offered a bow of its head, but all the beast can offer is a twitch-tilt of its skeletal head, a shift of weight from one forelimb to another. And from here, you may very well seal your fate. Should you choose to walk away, a halcyon truce falls between you and the beast, and it makes no move to threaten or hinder you as you make your way off through the trees. Should you try to approach or so much as flinch in the direction of your weapon, however, and the best is upon you in seconds, far more strong and fast and sharp than such a dilapidated creature has any right to be.

THEY WERE KIDS THAT I ONCE KNEW, NOW THEY'RE ALL DEAD HEARTS TO YOU

Whether you fall prey to your better nature and strive to help each damaged soul find peace or risk life and limb to carve out the beating heart within each beast, the war against the spirits is not an easy one, and few escape it mentally and physically unscathed. It lasts for nearly a week, at which point you may very well have begun to feel hopeless, wounded and sleepless and unable to see any end to it all.

And yet an end does come. As September 28th approaches sunset, the spirits have begun to retreat. Even those who have one of the living in their clutches may stop abruptly, appear to draw in a bracing breath, then turn and step into nothingness, fading from sight right before your eyes. What has drawn or sent them away, and where have they gone? These are questions for another day. For now, take a moment to bask in the first time you've felt truly alone and unwatched in weeks as, deep within the woods, an array of beasts clamber serenely back into the muck from which they emerged.

You've done it. Or... at least somebody has.

► MOD NOTES

• This is a catch-all log for top-levels pertaining to September's Ghosts & Hosts event. Go ahead and utilize vestigenet for any event-related network posts you'd like to make.
  
• This event takes place between the IC dates September 22nd and September 28th.
  
• All event information can be found on the Ghosts & Hosts Infopost! The logs are largely flavor-text to supplement the information offered in the infopost.
  
• Feel free to use my Example Spirits list to inspire your own ideas, or even steal spirits wholesale from that list if you'd like! You're also welcome to bring me a theme or desired effect/ability for the spirit and have me brainstorm up a spirit idea for you.
  
• Please take care to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location, so that others can see at a glance if their character can hop in!
  
• Also make sure to label content warnings for any troubling subject matter in the backgrounds or present behaviors of spirits you create. Possible CWs coming to mind are for self-harm or suicide, excessive/vivid gore, any sort of abuse, or animal harm/death - but even if I haven't listed it, if it feels like it might need it then slap one on there anyway!
  
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

[theprezident]

[ Float them up? Ugh. He grimaces, because he's still unsure about the magic thing, but maybe ... Although ... ]

Can't it also float?

[ Don't ghosts float? He doesn't know.

Argh, its wheezing is so loud, and maybe he should have more sympathy for someone who sounds like they can't breathe but also-- It's a ghost?? So ...? ]

[channellings]

[there's some ridiculous we all float here! comment to be made, but klaus holds his tongue, considering their options while they move. could he use his powers? he's seeing it, obviously, so that means it's there but...

he heaves a sigh, lurches them both to an abrupt stop then does a neat heel-turn to face the ghost, making sure rhys is safely behind him afterward.]

This is probably going to seem stupid, but I'm not sure what else we can do. [another huff then he finally addresses the spirit,] What do you want, man? Like, I know you're suffering and probably can't actually talk or whatever since it sounds like you got strangled to death, but help us out a little?

[theprezident]

[ And Rhys is happy enough to get behind Klaus too, but he keeps a firm hold on him because he is being an idiot.

Klaus won't have to wait long for an answer either, because the ghost will be reaching towards his throat this time. ]

I'm pretty sure it wants to kill us too!

[channellings]

[unfortunately, if killing them is what this spirit wants, there doesn't seem like any way they can help it. (not without dying, anyway? and klaus won't let that happen.)

he takes a step back, narrowly avoiding the ghostly hands while holding an arm out in front of himself.] If that's the case, then I guess there isn't much we can do to help? Because, I dunno about you, but I'm not looking to die yet.

[theprezident]

Yeah, me neither, so-- Come on, let's just run.

[ He tugs Klaus's arm a little, insistently. ]

[channellings]

[terrible as he feels about it, rhys has a point: no reason in sticking around if they can't really do anything to help the ghost and all it's going to do is try to kill or hurt them.

to the spirit,] Sorry, man. [then klaus lets himself be pulled, turns and continues leading them away again.]

[theprezident]

[ Thank god.

And this is how Rhys survived Pandora: He's a fast runner. Fast enough to get away from all kinds of bandits without too much trouble. Doesn't mean it wouldn't have been smarter for him to just learn to use a gun, but, well.

He's alive, so. ]

[channellings]

[klaus, of course, isn't too shabby with running himself. it's what he ordinarily does whenever confrontation arises, but he thought maybe – just maybe – there was something he could've done in this situation. seems like the ghost is more intent on killing them instead and even a weapon wouldn't help with that. one day, perhaps? but until then, being quick on their feet will keep them both alive.

boy, it'll be a hilarious moment once people learn klaus's fool-ass can fire a gun.]

[theprezident]

[ At least one of them can.

As soon as they start running, Rhys makes sure to have a tight hold of Klaus's hand and does not let go. Not until they're well out of the city and on the way to the gas station and he decides that it's hopefully all right to stop.

His lungs sure hope so, anyway, the way he's gasping for breath as he turns around to see if the ghost is still behind them. ]

[channellings]

[man, ain't that the truth, though?

he's well-aware of the hand gripping his own, just as he is clenching his fingers around rhys's in kind. this is the easiest way to keep the other male beside him and vice-versa, making sure they're side-by-side the whole run back toward the gas station. (which is likely quite the sprint, so kudos to them both.)

soon as they stop, klaus stumbles forward a couple steps, stoops forward, plants his free hand on a thigh to prop himself up while he tries catching his breath.] Holy shit, it burns...! Haven't run like that in a hot minute.

[theprezident]

[ Rhys mirrors Klaus's pose, his breath wheezing in a way that is definitely worrying for a few moments, but it doesn't take too long to calm down a little. But, god, everything burns - his throat, his chest, his legs. ]

As soon as I get home I'm gonna get a treadmill for my office.

[ Yes, he knows he won't remember deciding this, but he totally will. ]

[channellings]

[klaus watches rhys from beneath his arm, waiting until he's absolutely sure his friend is still going to be able to breathe before focusing on steadying his own almost hyperventilating state.

after he sounds somewhat normal again is when he finally manages,] Yeah? I dunno, something tells me you'd forget because you'll be too ecstatic about being home. Also: fuck cardio, it's a bitch and a half.

[theprezident]

Sure, but I was in much better shape when my best way of survival was running from everything. Now I have guards instead.

[ A pause. ]

Which I guess is better, actually. But what if something happens and I lost my money and company? Even if I learn to shoot I wouldn't stay alive very long if I can't sprint for five minutes straight. Or more.