【fallen stars vs TREE】

[berriah]

Punch A Tree Log

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

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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

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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

STAGE FOUR: the shift

[berriah]

s t a g e /// F O U R

The hanami viewing seems to be going well. With every hour that passes, more and more civilians are showing up to watch the unraveling events. Some stand on the sidelines and watch with concern, while others begin gathering on the empty picnic blankets. They still seem shy of the Fallen Stars, but people from the bottom and top level alike have begun to gather for the picnic. Some of them hold posters that told them to come, some bring their own baskets, and many of them fondly talk about the tree that started the reblooming tradition. The conversations wistfully twist to the same thought, over and over again:

"How could we forget about the tree that started it all?"

The sobbing of the spirit begins to quiet. Its bloom-filled branches, which tower to the sky like cumulus clouds, emit a warm, pink glow. For a few minutes around noon, the bleeding tree gives off a somehow happy aura. Watching over the people of the city one last time, it begins to shed the many petals it had artificially gathered. As the petals fall, Fallen Stars will briefly see a memory play through their minds like a daydream: It's one of the early hanami parties, from before the world knew about spirits. The tree's spirit warmly watches the people holding picnics, thinking in a mature voice; "I was happy to love this city."

... Until the peace is abruptly snapped. Those sensitive to spirits and magic will feel it first: A strong pulse of magic expands from the tree trunk. The spirit can be heard screaming apologies for having such a selfish wish, repeating over and over that they only wanted to love the city's people one more time. They don't want to hurt people-- Please, don't let them hurt people!

The petals turn into the black goo and rain down on the area surrounding the tree. The picnickers within the barrier will see them splash on an invisible roof, but those who are too close to the tree will feel the acidic rain lightly burn their skin. As the goo runs out of the tree, it leaves a dying husk behind. And gradually, the goo begins to take monstrous forms--

A familiar voice can be fainting heard under the cacophony of agonizing screams: "Remember my warning."

---

This is a reaction post for everything going to shit. There are different top-levels for the battles themselves. When engaging the tree in battle, please use one of the battle top-levels so that I can keep track of everything!

[melancholie]

[Dimitri had worried that it might come to this. And in a world of faith, he wonders if that means his doubt is partially responsible for this outcome. Did they not try hard enough? Or was this inevitable, faith or not?

His head is still ringing from the pulse of power when he sees the goo rain from the sky. It's like the canopy of blossoms is a popped balloon and it has disgusting consequences. At least the barrier is holding up, though who knows how long that can last.

Wincing, he tries to get a look at the rest of the 'team' that was formed.]

Is everyone alright?!

[nightwild]

Worry about yourself!

[Fauna's grabbing the strange device she always wears from her hip, and pulling a strange disc from the pouch at her side...]

Your sister said you can run away- Can you?

[melancholie]

[His rude response is to glare over at her, having perhaps caught the implication of her question:]

Not with other people. And I'm not leaving Tau!

[Dimitri moves his hand and it suddenly wielding a black rapier, presumably summoned with some sort of magic. His gaze briefly raises to the invisible roof of their barrier before he looks back at the tree.]

It was working. The spirit was definitely responding to Hanyuu's hanami, so why..?

1 / 3

[aupologizes]

[ In the briefest of moments Hanyuu finds herself smiling.

She was right. This child really wanted something so simple. It makes sense to someone as old as her, who comprehends the idea of a vast loneliness that expands out for centuries.

She can't help but think to herself, though --

What had caused people to forget?

Was it like she had said: that it was just simply a cherry blossom tree that bloomed every now and again, growing weaker over the years? Or was there something external to it?

However, Hanyuu isn't allowed to think much of it-- ]

2 / 3

[aupologizes]

[ --at least, not until a wave of something happens. There's a shift in the air, an uneasiness that's settled in the pit of her stomach.

Hanyuu's mouth moves, but the words die in her throat.

At least, at first, before she finally manages to scream out a singular word: ]

No!!

[ She immediately rushes over in front of the falling drops of goo, immediately concocting a barrier.

Of course, she is very much aware that her abilities, as they are right now are weak. Especially in this small, lithe form of hers. ]

[aupologizes]

I have no choice.

[ She speaks in a commanding tone, much more mature than usual as she takes out one of the starling. Thankfully, she had been saving most of it for moments like this, and well...

Now's the time, she supposes.

Even though she had vaguely alluded to the onigari-no-ryuuou when speaking about her abilities and spoke much about how she had the ability to manipulate time and even travelled through other worlds, she didn't speak about this.

Her eyes blaze scarlet, full of inhuman power as her form shifts.

No longer does she take on the form of a child, but a clear adult woman, and not one that is pleased with the current turn of events. ]

For those who wish to harm this land, I will not allow it. If it is a fight you want--

[ She bares her teeth, sharp and gets into a stance that she hadn't used in many, many years. Her nails shift into long, sharp claws. ]

--then prepare yourself!

[protectshope]

[When the black rain has stopped, Madoka hold out her hand and transforms into her magical girl form. She may be exuding her full power, but there is certainly a new heaviness around her as she summons her rose bow.

They've failed. It doesn't matter how or why, but they've failed that spirit. Seeing it morph into a monster hurts Madoka enough for her soul to feel the pain.]

I'm sorry... If only we'd noticed sooner.

[She whispers a sad prayer, then turns to the rest of the Fallen Stars. All traces of the timid girl from before have been replaced with the stern and serious look of a girl with a mission.]

How are we going to start? Fauna-chan, Hanyuu-chan had plans and I, too, can do something. But we have to start somewhere! They're suffering!

[nightwild]

[As Madoka changes, Fauna does as well- Though while Madoka transforms into a cute magical girl, Fauna's transformation is darker, like the sun going below the horizon, revealing a figure in broken armor.]

Don't call me -chan. My plan's already impossible- It's not going to wish for power like this, and it's already a monster.

[protectshope]

[nope you friends now.

She'll address that later:]

Then what were you going to do if they became a monster?

[markofthejedha]

They are. There's a change in plans. But that's the way it will be. I will have to get closer to the spirit myself.

[ Her voice reverberates, but she's not happy about it in the slightest bit, her claws digging into the skin of her palm. There's no use in making empty apologies now.

All she has to do now is act. ]

[naturalgreed]

[ While everyone is either in a panic or preparing themselves to fight, Echidna on the other hand is... still drinking some tea, her gaze flitting around her in clear amusement. ]

What a rude interruption. Although, at the very least, it keeps things from getting too boring.

[nightwild]

[As everything falls apart, despite herself, Fauna... grins. Of course it came to this. It always came to this.

Feelings, faith, abstract things like that are hard for her. But violence? She can do that. And she can hurt this monster, returning the hurt she feels.]

Wild Change.

[The light dims around her as she slides a disc into the strange device she always carries, like the sun going behind the horizon at night. As your eyes adjust, or maybe the light comes back, Fauna stands in broken armor.]

Finally. There was never any other way this could have gone, after all.

[fallmushrooms]

[have_hat_will_travel]

Okay, that's new to me.

[goldspecktacles]

[So this is how it ends?

Leo feels a pang of sympathy for the spirit as its wish falls apart around it. He's been thinking it for a while now, but this spirit reminds him of the cast of his own story: Lonely, forgotten, and desperate to keep those they love chained to them. He had decided that a life where they knew loneliness was better than a life without it, and yet...

Seeing the parallels, Leo recognizes that he's as responsible as anyone. Because he would not turn back time to change this fate. Not if it meant erasing the love for the city that the spirit had shown them.]

Jabberwock!

[A circle of light appears around Leo's feet. Behind him, a large dragon-like creature appears. Its no less horrific than the monstrous transformation of the tree, but Leo doesn't flinch at Jabberwock's arrival. His fist clenches at his side as he tries to formulate an answer that isn't murdering the spirit, but he's not coming up with anything.]

We can't let it hurt the civilians. Who here can lead everyone to safety, and who here can fight?

Re: STAGE FOUR: the shift

[notquitedracula]

[Soma had hoped against hope that there was something, anything he could do before this happened. He knew all about tortured spirits, and what could come about when they snapped. Few people in his world could possibly know better, all things considered. But now that it had come to pass... maybe, just maybe, there was something he could do.]

I have an idea. It's a long shot, but... if it works, I may be able to help this spirit. I'll need help to pull it off - anyone with containment or purification magic, I need your help.

[markofthejedha]

I wouldn't exactly call my abilities 'magic', but-- I can create barriers. You should speak your plan quickly, lest more people get hurt.

[ She speaks in an inhuman tone, her voice with a clear reverberating note to it. ]

[dereban]

Oh, if we're considering purification--having someone bless a water gun has worked on curses before.

[ She is 100% serious. ]

Re: STAGE FOUR: the shift

[have_hat_will_travel]

... Perhaps I should have known.

[Pidonus Marasia sighed a bit, as she felt the pressure form before the goo began to rise.]

Was it dead all along, or...?

[What completes the story, her reflexes as a Bard dictate. How do the assembled heroes attain the best ending they can?

... Is she - no, there can't be room for doubts. No time for doubts.]

Time for the next plan?

[protectshope]

It only wanted one last hanami with everyone.

[Madoka sounds heartbroken.]

This can't be how it ends. It's too sad like this!

[dereban]

What a pain in the ass. . .

[ She figured things would turn out this way. After all, there were signs that pointed that way. Anyway, she's gonna clear her throat before speaking out, loud and clear: ]

If anybody plans on going power-heavy, let me know! I can scruff people back if they go too far.

[melancholie]

Inaba!

[As long as she's offering! Dimitri appears next to her, having been teleporting around the place.]

Can you turn my brother off!? I'm taking over!

team "put it out of its mercy" has arrived

[thesolitaryrose]

[As the tree spirit is warped into a monster, emotion registers on Hillis' face. Ghosts of the past cloud her golden eyes and she feels her clenched hands beginning to tremble. She's been there. She knows what it's like to be twisted into something you're not meant to be. The pain, the humiliation, the betrayal...

Standing among her self-grown roses, Hillis tries to harden her heart again. There can be no space in her for pity nor sympathy, and yet...]

... I can destroy them and let them rest.

[checkmater]

Is that really all we can do?

[There's hesitation from the man nearby - one she's familiar with, obviously.]

...We maybe should explore out options before destroying them...?

[He's just. Got a merciful heart in these kinds of situations...]