【fallen stars vs TREE】

[berriah]

Punch A Tree Log

SHRINES LORE DROP LOCATIONS FAQ NPC CONTACT MAY MINGLE MAID WEEK CLAIMS LIST

❤

A Twisted Rumor

It's the day after the Fallen Star Meeting regarding the recent rumor. As morning brightens the city's night, stories are making their way from the bottom level to the top.

"The cherry blossom tree isn't going to hurt us, is it? It looks so scary."

For those who have learned the truth about rumors, this may especially distressing to hear. There's no time to wait: If anything is going to be done to save the tree's spirit, it must be done now.

The current plan is to address the tree spirit's wish to be remembered and acknowledged by holding a picnic by the lonely cherry blossom tree. Fallen Stars hope to reenact the lively Reblooming parties that had been happening on the upper levels all month. This tree, though the origin of that tradition, exists at the bottom level of Starsand City: Where spirits and kami are still feared. The hope is that this party will soothe the raging spirit and bring it peace... and, ideally, bring back all of the people who have recently gone missing.

But the meeting also ended on a note of caution. If the spirit will not peacefully give up the missing people, then more drastic measures may need to be taken. And... Spoiler alert, but this log is titled tree FIGHT.

Timeline of Events

This log will operate a bit different from normal! It's also an experiment, so if it doesn't work then apologies in advanced! In order to maintain an easy-to-follow timeline of events, there will be a top-level for each stage of the encounter. As the encounter progresses, new top-levels will be added to reflect each stage of the Rumor.

Character top-levels are still welcome, but please try to use the top-levels for time sensitive threads. Threadjacking is welcomed & encouraged, though please be respectful of one another. And of course, make use of the feedback section!

Backtagging is also still welcome. Event stages will be staggered over the course of the next week & past threads still have time to make an impact. Please don't feel rushed!

!

Timeline of Toplevels

OOC Check-In - There will be IC consequences for participating!

Feedback - Yell at me

Questions - Ask questions, Get Answers

---

The Night Before - For preparation during the night.

The Morning Of - For preparations before heading out for the picnic.

Hanami on the First Level - The picnic that was planned at the meeting.

A Shift in Tone - Reacting to the battle start.

Battle Guidelines

• Battle A - VS Tree Spirit
  
• Battle B - VS Bread
  
• Battle C - VS ???
  
• Battles D - VS Lost Spirits
  

Aftermath - Victory Party!

code

Comments

and so, we off roadin'

[goldenmage]

[The timing is quite fortunate. Over by the tree, a flash of light signals the arrival of the kami of love. Her magic begins to feel the barrier, meant to provide a blessing for the combatants who are trying to bring peace. As a consequence, the barrier is rich enough with magic that it is perfect for a spirit contract.]



Loafy? Is that the name you've chosen?

[A young man walks up the field and crosses his arms over his chest. His eyes flash gold and the cape on his back flutters obnoxiously in the breeze created by the kami magic.

The bread spirit, meanwhile, blinks all of its eyes at Kokichi in utter confusion. Its form is quite cursed looking, isn't it? Even this spirit who wants to play seems aware of that much as it speaks up;]

"You'll play with me? You'll be my friend forever?"

[Sighing, the man (Shugo,) shakes his head and smiles.]

I thought I'd have to destroy it, [Loafy flinches at this insensitive comment!!] -- but this is better. Hey, kid! You got any trinkets in your pocket that you can use as a shrine?

[He gestures to Yor and Velda,] And you two. Can you be witnesses for this spirit contract?

[ai_nnihilate]

[Sensing the arrival of two targets, the slimey spirits bind together into one thick blob. It rushes at Battler and Hillis with the speed of a train, intending to knock them down or separate them. As it stops beyond them, it morphs into what appears to be a snake-like shape.]

"You... If I beat two of you, I'm more entertaining than if I beat one!"

[fallmushrooms]

Sure thing! [Velda salutes with the wrong hand, given the right one's holding her broom.] Presumably we just have to be here and watch? Or do we have to sign something?

[thesolitaryrose]

That's a lofty promise to make without a second thought.

[thesolitaryrose]

[Hillis sighs at Battler's unfounded confidence... but she doesn't abandon him either. To his words, she only gives a calm nod and reply;]

I can destroy and restrain- oh.

[And fly. She uses her petals to try to launch them both into the air and dodge the spirit's attack. Their descent would be slow and controlled, giving her time to ask,] What do you want for me to do?

[veileddreamer]

[Tau is awed at the display as it looks like the tree spirit is getting saved. She pauses at Satou's order, but wouldn't dare say no now. Especially since she trusts her.]

Understood.

[Tau dropped her illusion and dreamed up some fireballs to shoot at the lower half of the tree.]

[prismpalette]

The confused skelly named Ink reporting in

[aupologizes]

Maybe. But... I know what it's like. To not be seen, or remembered. And my existence is one that lasts for a long, long time. So I will not forget.

And I will do everything in my power so that it is remembered for many years to come. Whether that means to help write a book, or continue to tell the children of men about the events that transpired here in the past as well as today.

It's something that I will do.

[mothornly]

Huh?

[ Yor bristles slightly in surprise at the young man that walks on over. She doesn't know what's going on, but -- ]

If it means that nobody gets hurt, sure!

sanity roll: 7

[aupologizes]

[ Hanyuu hears the words and understands them, even if the fog in her brain can't exactly place who it's coming from right now.

Her grip around the spirit tightens, her sharp claws that have extended out digging into their body. There's an inhuman snarl that comes from her lips as she nods before closing her eyes to extend her power.

She needs this power.

She desperately needs it, because as she is, she's weak.

She's just a small-time kami from a small village. Insignificant, small, and weak. The static permeates her brain.

She's here for their sake, and that alone. That's the only coherent thought that she has left, that continues to ground her. ]

I won't let go. No matter what... if this means I can save you, then⁠—!

[ Don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go don't let go-- ]

[fifthdomonion]

--Hey, hey! It's Kevin! Ke-v-in!

[Look, he has to get one tsukkomi comeback in here! But it looks like they were given the green by the other kami in question. Tau was blasting away at the lower half of the tree, so he'd handle the upper half. And right now, Kevin felt like he could do anything... What better time than to use that. He never thought that he'd have to activate it in this place, but just as Hanyuu was tapping into great power. Kevin would also have to unveil his power. He turns to Soma for a moment with a determined expression.]

Soma, yeah? I'm gonna put this blade to good use! You couldn't had given me a better weapon!

[Lifting the sword into the air with both of his hands, Kevin takes a breath as he closes his eyes and an aura forms around his body. And a large blue seal blossoms out from his back like a pair of wings. The light radiating from it was very warm and protecting. This was the power of his Stigma... There were two sides to this power. One held despair and the other held hope. Both sides of his Stigma worked in an equilibrium for the perfect balance. Kevin, too, was afraid of this power. He was afraid of losing himself to the Stigma and creating another "sin" because of it.

But he couldn't forget the bonds that he's formed to walk onto the path of light. They were all here to save this kami from her suffering and loneliness. Resonating with the Stigma... Soma's blade will shine with a bright holy light. Then the knight opens his eyes with a chant as he dashes forward like a rocket.]

O blue seal carved within my soul's abyss, become a pillar of light upon this purgatory! Strike, sword of light...!

[Within his soul, he heard the name of the blade... Leaping into the air, Kevin cuts through the trunk with a flash of radiant cold steel.]

CLAIMH SOLAIS!!!

[violetlies]

[Kokichi's brows arch at the new voice. Then there's some guy in a cape - but Kokichi's response is immediate.]

Yeah. He's Loafy.

[He beams at the bread spirit, however. It's horrific. That's kind of what makes it cute in a way to him. It doesn't mean any harm. Kokichi, himself, is quite used to being seen as horrific by others. So he smiles, nodding.]

Of course, Loafy. I'll play with you and be your friend forever and ever!

[He also flinches at the comment of 'destroying it', but this is definitely better. He's asking for a trinket to be used as a shrine...and witnesses. He glances around at the other two women - the witch, and the woman who looks kind of like an older Maki in the face.

He fishes in his pocket, and pulls out a screw, his student ID from the Gifted Inmates Academy, and a small checkered bandanna much like his own. He tosses the screw aside.]

...Does either of these work? You can't really build a normal shrine out of 'em, but I don't habitually carry around wood or anything.

[goldenmage]

[Shugo chuckles,] A shrine is anything that the spirit can attach itself to. Doesn't have to be a building. So yes- [He points between the ID and bandanna,] Those are both fine.

[He nods to Velda and Yor,] Yes please. Witness his choice of a shrine and hear the spirit's name. That'll do perfectly.

[Since this is a spirit contract with a kami present, Shugo decides to go overboard. He takes a place next to Kokichi and in front of Loafy, hand raised in front of him. A circle of gold magic appears around the giant bread monster, whose eyes all widen with surprise. It seems intimidated by the magic and looks to Kokichi for reassurance.]

Hold up your shrine and say its name. And 'Loafy;' [He looks up at the nervous spirit,] You must prove this young man's offered shrine over your own.

[Should Kokichi go through with the ceremony, 'Loafy' turns gold and dissolves into stardust. All that remains is a tiny glow, the size of a firefly, which flies to the new shrine.

The bread monster is "defeated."]

[violetlies]

[Kokichi glances from the ID to the bandanna, before outstretching his ID. This'll do. He stuffs the bandanna into his pocket. He watches as the mysterious magic man in the cape takes a place next to him, and makes a golden magic circle.

Kokichi looks up at Loafy with a kind expression. It's okay, living bread spirit. You're safe. He holds up his ID.]

Loafy.

[There goes Loafy, and the tiny glow flies to his ID. First, he glances between the two ladies.]

Thanks for helping~

[Then,]

...He's in here now?

[He looks up to Shugo for reassurance. What does he do from here?]

[marshmallowpurgatory]

[As she hears a certain voice, Pidonus pieces together the solution. And soon after her song has, hopefully, empowered Fauna's strike...]

Wouldn't you like to know~?

[And then, the goo tries to wash over her and Atsushi. Simple burial tactic. Unfortunately for it... She suddenly takes wing, pulling Atsushi into the sky with her. Sure, it might try to pile up, but it's going to take a lot longer to reach either of them. Hopefully, buying Atsushi enough time to pull something himself.]

[fallmushrooms]

Hey, no problem! As long as it'll do, right? Besides, now you have a friend, so you're all happy!

[bluemackerel]

Maybe it's not best to say what we are out loud...

[Saying they're a distraction kind of defeats the point, doesn't it? Still, he looks down at the little creatures circling his feet. He pauses. And then he just reels back and kicks one like a football.]

I never do what I'm asked to do!

[You could ask Kunikida, were he here. He really doesn't.]

And even if I did. I'm above spilling my secrets to slime. Gross.

[undermoonlight]

[Though Atsushi is familiar with rage and fury tactics, he's not sure if Fauna will do much more than repeat the existing cycle. Every time they break the goo, it comes together again or decides to duplicate itself. They haven't managed to break that repetitive cycle by physically attacking it, but Atsushi isn't sure what other methods there are.

Gross thought, but would Akutagawa be able to 'eat' the slime with his stupid coat?

Before Atsushi can get mad that he thought about that asshole, Pidonus has thrown them both in the air. Well. As good a place as any to ask:]

Do you have any other abilities, miss?

Warning: description of killing blow

[notquitedracula]

[Okay, there is very definitely smoke rising from Soma's skin now. But he doesn't seem bothered by it. He smiles briefly at Kevin's much-belated introduction and watches the show as he and Tau set about destroying the tree. He has to give the guy credit - he's making extremely good use of both his power and the sword, and Tau is pulling off some pretty impressive fire magic. It's rare to see an illusionist who can dish out offense, too.[

[And Hanyuu... Hanyuu doesn't seem to be doing too well. There's a crazed edge to her that's giving Soma some 'oh no' vibes... but with Satou's arrival and the infusion of power, she does seem to be holding on, at least. Quite literally.]

[That just leaves... the spirit form Hanyuu is holding onto. With a sinking feeling, he realizes that Satou wasn't just talking about the tree. Quietly, he says to himself:] So... it falls to me to play the villain.

[It's with a heavy heart that he draws another blade from within his coat. This one is less flashy than Claimh, but no less storied - Kaladbolg. He raises the blade point up before himself and kisses the crossguard - a crusader's salute - and in a blur, rushes the spirit, impaling it through the chest from the side. The blade passes through the space that would contain both lungs and the heart, narrowly avoiding Hanyuu's arms.]

One life ends and another begins, kind spirit of the tree. Be reborn and know happiness and love unending. So long as we here gathered draw breath, you will neither be forgotten nor forsaken. Relinquish your pain and your sins unto us and tread the path of rebirth. In the name of life - in the name of love - be free of this curse.

[He quickly removes the blade from the spirit's side before it can begin to unravel, hot tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. The observant might notice they're tinged red.]

[Balanced on the flat of the blade is a seed, faintly glowing yellow. Soma takes hold of it gently, and holds it over his heart. Pricking his finger on its point, he utters an incantation under his breath, and between his fingers, the seed glows more brightly, turning a pure and vibrant red.]

[Kneeling, he uses his blade to dig a small hole, and deposits the seed inside before covering it. Finally, he infuses the soil with the power of Life... and those attuned to such things might notice that he, himself, is a little less alive afterwards. Might want to tone down that holy aura a bit, Kevin...]

cw: death

[ai_nnihilate]

[It's a spectacular sight. Upon first contact from Tau's magic, the entire tree turns white. The goo seeping from its trunk freezes, the roots slowly change colour, and it briefly looks like a marble statue. Then the trunk is split by Kevin's blade and the entire tree begins to crumble into cherry blossom petals. They fill the air like a great fog, blocking the public's view of Soma's attack against the spirit.

She cries out in surprise at first. Twitching in Hanyuu's arms, confused and scared-- Then, gasping lightly in surprise.]

"I'm... free..."



"That's right. You won't be burdened by this type of story any longer."

[Almost like an explosion, everything that the spirit had created bursts into cherry blossom petals. They hang in the air, which seems rose-tinted thanks to the kami's magic. The spirit's body dissolves much more slowly in Hanyuu's arms. Her body leans in, trying to return the embrace.]

"Thank... you..."

[When the body has vanished, a glowing light is left behind. It's absolutely tiny, easily missed among the cherry blossom petals, but it's free. The tree is gone, but the spirit remains.

The petals that had been held by the tree's branches begin to fall slowly to the ground. The barrier is dropped and they begin spreading through the city. Tiny petals, little pieces of the spirit's curse, distributed harmlessly and beautifully.]



... I'll be right back. [And Satou walks off towards Fight C.]

[ai_nnihilate]

[And then everything turns pink. The air within the barrier seems rose-tinted and smells faintly of roses. Those sensitive to magic may realize that it is the Love kami's power, so thick that it can be physically perceived.

The black goo creatures all freeze in surprise--] "How?! You can't come here--"

[... And easily take damage. They turn into puddles that do not rise, staying down even as cherry blossom petals begin to fill the air. In the distance, the tree can be seen turning into white marble and then exploding into cherry blossom petals. They fall in such thick clumps that it can be difficult to see very far across the field. But one form is approaching this battle. She walks calmly, but the air becomes heavier as she approaches and it gets hard to move.]


Thank goodness. You all look to be okay...

[Satou walks into the center of the puddles. They've been slowly seeping together. With a powerful step, Satou stomps one foot on the puddle. It shoots up in its human form, much like a broom being stepped on. Her sincere expression snaps away just as fast. The pink aura that surrounded her begins to turn black and she grabs the goo form by its presumed throat.]


You thought you could play dead and I'd let you go? After all that you've done? Did you really think I'd let you play down here, just because they don't love me?"

"Kukuku... Your aura is showing. They'll all see what you are--"

Cut it. If you wanted to control me through my reputation, then maybe you shouldn't have taken my DAUGHTER. Don't you know what mother bears do when you fuck with their cubs?!

I love THEM and that's all that I need to manifest-- Anywhere that I want!

[The goo explodes in her hands. But unlike the rest of the spirit's remains-- the tree, its body, its roots,-- this goo remains as a puddle at Satou's feet. It begins to seep into the grass, chuckling with a nervous tinge.]

"What a shame... and here I wanted to see what your Fallen Stars could do. You've ruined my experiments, Kuroneko... At least they were interesting for the moment."

[And with that, the strange creature seems to have disappeared. As announced in the tired voice of the Love kami;]


... Is everyone here okay?

[nightwild]

[As Fauna's rampage ends- Her lightning and sword cutting down every goo monster around her, leaving them destroyed under Satou's powers- she finally calms down, breathing heavily. Her changer ejects the Disc, but she doesn't replace it, letting the special armor fade, showing underneath her armor, just how broken her transformed state is.

But she stops dead as she hears that conversation.

Her daughter.

This is Chron's mother.

And Chron's disappearance was her fault.

Fauna goes very still, like a prey animal seeing a predator. Should she run? No, she should present herself for Satou to take revenge. Or should she simply attack, and let herself be taken out that way...

She's still, unable to move, unable to even answer as the guilt weighs down on her.]

[ai_nnihilate]

final notes

Thank you for participating in our first crazy event!

Backtagging battles is welcome until June 5th! If you missed the fights and would like to participate, please start one here! As long as battles start by June 5th, you can get IC consequences.

Please feel free to leave feedback over here!

I hope this first fight helped establish some themes & gives you plenty of mystery to investigate in June~!

[ai_nnihilate]

Consequences:

Due to being in contact with the Love kami's power, Kokichi will smell like roses until he takes 3 showers.

The clothes Kokichi was wearing have the Love kami's protection for the rest of the month. They will protect him as much as leather armor would.

Kokichi has become a Sacred Child! His spirit will benefit from a boost in faith due to the large number of people who witnessed the contract. The spirit will be settled by (IC) June 1st.

Spirits will be very curious about Kokichi for the next month.

Children call him The Bread Man and will curiously flock around him during June. They treat him like a superhero.

[ai_nnihilate]

Consequences:

Due to being in contact with the Love kami's power, Yor will smell like roses until she takes 3 showers.

The clothes Yor was wearing have the Love kami's protection for the rest of the month. They will protect her as much as leather armor would.

Spirits will be slightly frightened of Yor and don't want to touch her. This lasts about a week.

The people of the first level will treat Yor especially well.