What their Eyes See: Finale

[voidtreckermods]

It’s been a weird mission. The Voidtreckers have been busy investigating, making headway in mapping and saving citizens from the video games and strange illusionary creatures. Those in the fourth tier have made contacts, followed leads and gotten close to the high and mighty of the criminal underworld.

Yet what exactly is happening here is still unknown. Their new found ally Anan is as stumped as the rest of them, but even so, the hackers and technological knowledgeable voidtreckers have been successful in isolating the virus to study and make an anti-virus. A netpoint network has been set up across the city, and enough access data stolen that they can start throwing everything into the systems and networks across the city.

While the illusions remain a mystery and how they got there, finally the world is purged of the strange virus as the anomalies begin to clear up by noon of day ten. Spectura victims wake up in hospital beds, dazed and confused, while no more sightings of the impossible plague those on the other tiers.


On the morning of day eleven, the once housebound and terrified citizens leave their shelters with the first tendrils of light reaching through the fog surrounding the enclosed city. An exodus of people, from fighters of tier four to elites of tier one, are making their way into the streets...and heading down into lifts and outside, out into the smog-filled wasteland.

“It’s so beautiful,” is heard, a rumbling through the crowd as people smile, laugh or wave into the fog.

”I won.” Fighters from tier four look around in wonderment. Other exclamations, about a blue sky, a greeting to a friend fill the air.

There is a pull. The voidtreckers will feel it too, though to them the world looks and feels no different. This pull is easy to resist, or they can follow and investigate it, attempt to lead citizens back inside the city. It’s not safe in the smog, no one has canisters, but none will heed the warnings.

Nor is there time for better efforts when a crackling sounds in the air, light and colours flashing in the smog, everywhere at once and too quick to get a hold on.

“STOP THWARTING ME!” booms out, and a great force pushes them back while pulling the citizens farther into the wasteland, sand and dirt kicked up in a frenzied storm. The voidtreckers can hear the civilians in the smog, but getting to them will prove harder than they may like.

Grabbing an air canister is highly recommended for those who prefer life.



CIRCLE ONE: THE MAZE
No matter where one leaves the city from, they will find themselves in a maze of walls, of metal sheets, each blending into each other. It feels surreal, as if nothing is quite real, nothing quite solid.

But it is solid. For those voidtreckers who cannot see illusions it will look like they are merely stood in the wasteland of the world. But when they begin to move they will learn those walls are tangible, and those that look close enough will see the same almost-light as the creatures that purple team have been fighting as the source.

For those who are not immune to illusions it is a strange place indeed. No smog to be seen, just high unyielding barriers. The pathways are different colours giving off hues of brightest pink, red, purple, neon green, glowing white, darkest black. Sometimes there are symbols on the walls, Capsule Corp, royal insignia, ravager flames, HYDRA, marks of royalty. They are emblazoned on the walls, the floor, sometimes even in the sky. And the deeper in they get...

➤ WINDING ROADS
It's noisy as they move around. As well as the distant noise of the citizens in the distance they can hear an acoustic guitar, erratic piano playing, the sound of bamboo on stone. Or perhaps an eagles cry, a lullaby or a song is heard as they move their way through the maze.

Objects stand in their way, blocking paths and needing to be moved or destroyed. Larger than life playing cards, red apples, flowers. Spears and daggers hang in the air as does the moon and the sun. Water often cascades through routes, making it difficult to move through or fire creeps up walls, nonthreatening but ever present. There are clouds of butterflies and ravens perched on walls, watching their every move, and the smell of sugar often hangs in the air.

But it’s better to navigate these turbulent passages with perseverance than violence. Daggers and apples will shatter and slice apart to attacks, creating a way through to begin with - but those that try the method of destruction to solve their problems will find these walls crowding them tighter, rising higher, becoming all the harder to destroy than they were before. They will become trapped, and will need assistance from the outside to untangle them from webs or jails made from crystal.
➤ STALKING THE STREETS
It isn’t just the Voidtreckers or locals who wander the maze. Wolves, dogs, zombie sheep and ghost animals mostly mind their own business, sometimes inclined to growl or bahh, but easy to pass. But other times, you may sense that you’re being followed, a presence hovering over you...while another companion will see as well the large shadow shrouding you before a decaying hand grabs at you from above, threatening to send its victim to some other part of the maze if not stopped.

Monsters also stalk these paths from various realities. The dead will be met in robes of white while others in armours from medieval times. All are fast, unrelenting in their attacks, unconcerned with pain or stopping without being properly slain. Ghouls of all shapes and sizes search for prey, and many more seek victims.

How they act and how to defeat them may be known to some, but not all. Is it worth the effort to stay and fight illusions, however? Sometimes those illusions don’t give a choice, but in other instances, a person from the city may be found on the ground unconscious, the smog air getting to them. They’ll need help, and fast.

CIRCLE TWO: IS THIS HOME?
Voidtreckers will realise they’ve left the maze when they find themselves in an open field. It spreads out far with vineyards in the distance, a campsite, all of this leading into a forest of childrens board games. While the campsite is not a true campsite as many will realise, it is the first moment everyone will have to come together, to perhaps plan ahead. Air canisters are essential in this environment, and locals have been found needing, unconscious. Backtracking through the maze is a death wish for many, but with the talents of the voidtreckers, setting up a checkpoint here may not be that impossible before going on ahead.

And then, when they finally do…

➤ FAMILIAR
It is almost dream-like as they walk, areas changing without them fully crossing the distance needed. One moment they are in a shopping malls food court, the next the interior of a spaceship; streets of palaces, temples, and mansions line up as a mish-mash of glamour, while others offer more humble abodes, taverns, family homes, bakeries. Medieval structures blend into tech bases, maintenance bays and dark rooms. Beautiful gardens, beaches and dusty souks all share space. But as they move through it, they will be tempted towards what is theirs.

And these can be anything. Ships, palaces, home, and even singular rooms: all of these are seen, doors providing access, doors that draw your character towards it, as if they know what’s on the other side. Spaces personal to the viewer, and with the constant pressure of these illusions, somehow draining to be around, they will find it harder to doubt what they see. Even if their bedroom leads towards a volcano, a blacksmith housing hospital beds right beside it, it will not seem so bizarre to find these natural.
➤ DEARLY BELOVEDS
But it’s not only structures that exist in this labyrinth of streets: there are people, animals - family, friends and pets. Beloved mentors, a smiling loved one. The night sky will wash over, the ocean within view; your favourite plush rabbit, a worn jumper. Your favourite song playing, losing you inside this new reality.

Even people from the Voidtrecker Express are around, whether or not they’re still passengers. Feanor, Zetta, Noctis, Cassie Cage, Jin Ling; Elfnein, Link, Mami, Gyousou, Duo; Senku, Jiang Yanli, Olivia, Bucky Barnes. They walk this plane, friends and lovers of the voidtreckers, coaxing them further into the illusions. Assuring them everything is alright, offering reasons to give in.

Over all this though, they can still hear the citizens in the distance; their voices sounding more confused, frightened even. To push on the voidtreckers must walk away, ignore these temptations and push on to the third ring.

CIRCLE THREE: TWISTED HEART
For those who manage to get through the second circle, pushing away the temptations of home, they will find themselves back in the smog filled wasteland. But through the smog they will see more, always more. Once again the scenery blurs into impossibilities, from testing labs with padded beds, to other imagery associated with asylums of old, to dark cramped spaces, to hallways raging on fire. They sense fear itself, and even the most stoic will find apprehension digging into them as they make their way forward. Is this their fear? Or is it your own?

It may be hard to discern in this twisted reality.

➤ MISERY LOVES COMPANY
This time, as the scenery shifts around them, so does their own sense of self try to match what these places mean. The despair of being lost in darkness, the belief that they can’t be seen by others, all sound fading from their ears. They are on the moon, trapped there for years; at the edge of the vast ocean, on the bank of a river of lava, despair in their hearts. In a wrecked city, their own city destroyed almost beyond recognition. By opposing forces, by weapons of mass destruction.

They have lost everything. There’s no fixing this.

A Pandora box of fears have been unleashed, with seemingly no hope. Your worst enemy has been granted a second chance, family stumbling towards you on the verge of death before your eyes; forces that you were meant to be dealing with back home have found you, surely leaving your own world in ruins, from titans to ayakashis.

Or they might stumble upon a graveyard, stretched out as far as they can see where every name is someone they care about.

There are even voidtreckers of now and old opposing you: Danny Fenton, Lan Xichen, Darth Vader, Vegeta, Xue Yang. Kerry stands pointing a gun straight at a fellow passenger while shadowy ravens and terrifying dragons swirl in the sky.

All this emotional turmoil will do a number on the voidtreckers, but there is strength in numbers. More civilians have fallen unconscious at this point, and those willing to aid them can take them back to the city. But no matter how the voidtreckers move, they must keep their nerve and hold onto hope as they cross the final hurdles.

Comments

Jon Snow | OTA

[scaledwolf]

Circle 2

Jon blinks a little as some of the buildings look far too familiar, taking on the street of Winter town from his home as he finally founds his way out of the maze. It takes a while for him to trust himself to slowly make his way through, and is it his imagination or is Winterfell Keep in the distance just as it should be?

Even the sounds around him whisper of the hustle and bustle of people working and selling their wares. At first, he thinks that he can hear his brother Robb in the distance, but what gets his complete attention is a large white direwolf that runs up to him like he's been missed for far too long. He'll kneel a little to greet his companion, his heart missing Ghost since he'd ended up here. If someone doesn't stop him, he might let Ghost lead him away.

His mind knows this shouldn't be right, and yet it's hard to not give into that familiar feeling.

Wildcard
[ Interested in something else? Please feel free to throw something at us, or plot with us. ]

circle 2

[forceshadowed]

The illusions are relentless, and they're beginning to wear Jaisyn down some; she's been battling them for days, today more than ever with the rescue effort that just seems to have no end. She's already dragged scattered groups of civilians away from weird mazes and illusions of comfort, more often than not using the Force to counter with tricks of her own to snap them out, and in the process she's realized that not even the voidtreckers are immune to the conjured imagery all around them.

Well. First Casper, now the guy from the killer porg attack. What's with the wolf motif today?

"Hey." She takes in the illusion for a moment before she shakes her head and stalks toward him. "Jon. This isn't real."

[scaledwolf]

His fingers are already deep into the thick white fur as the direwolf's head rests against his chest and he's just taking in that feeling he's missed. His head turns slightly as he looks over at her, because something feels just the slightest bit hollow with the Ghost in front of him. "I know," he offers quietly.

The problem is he wants it to be real, even for just a moment.

With a sigh, he pushes up, though Ghost whines at Jon to continue petting him, to potentially follow him because he dances a couple steps away from Jane. "We were separated when I was brought to the train."

[forceshadowed]

She looks at Ghost again, pursing her lips together. Yeah, he definitely looks real. And wouldn't she like to pet him, with how large he is and how fluffy that white fur looks. But, not real.

"The longer you stay here, the harder it'll be to pull away," she tells Jon, though her voice is soft and understanding. She knows what it's like to have pets, to have companions. And to be parted from them. "Were you headed back to the city?" She's seen him fight so she knows he's formidable enough, but at the moment he seems just as lost as those she's rescued. "And do you still have enough air?"

[scaledwolf]

He's so fluffy Jane. You have no idea how soft his fur is. "I still have enough air," he confirms. And he can't help let his hand fall to stroke Ghost's ear to calm the whine from the companion. Real or not, the sound and feel of him gives the impression of very real. And he does start to find it harder and harder to start pulling away from Ghost.

"I was trying to find the way out, help as I can. Got a little distracted." It's clear distracted by what. The large white-furred beast that's leaning against his leg, not wanting to let Jon leave. Running a hand through his hair, he glances this way and that, "We have to go now, don't we."

[forceshadowed]

"We do, but..." Okay, she understands the feeling far too well. To miss someone, to long for someone you haven't seen in a while. And if she had a companion like that, well, she probably will want to stay a little longer too. Even with the full knowledge that the creature isn't real, that it's merely an illusion. "I'll keep watch if you want to hang around for a bit."

She steps back, sweeping a glance around them. Though seeing and sensing nothing else, she turns her eyes back to him and his wolf. "Is he a Loth-wolf?" The mission's been going so fast that, while they've met, they've not really gotten that acquainted. But Ghost looks far too large to be a regular wolf.

[scaledwolf]

It's a small comfort in the wake of having to go back and be separated from the companion again. He knows it's an illusion at least, he's not far gone or mislead, and he knows that he has to separate from Ghost soon enough. And her offer has him give her a soft smile for her kindness. But he also knows that if he takes too long she'll pull him away from everything. "Dire wolf," he answers easily.

Though his head tilts over at her as his hand sinks into the fur again and Ghost gives the softest purred rumble for the attention. It's so easy to see why someone could take this Ghost as real. "They're a breed that is near extinct back home, but they are the sigil for my house. Though, what is a Loth-wolf?" Because now he's curious.

[forceshadowed]

“He doesn’t look dire,” Jaisyn notes, and she has a stupid grin on her face that means she thinks she’s being funny. Or at least she’s thinking about something funny. “Do the people of your house look dire?” Because he does, though a little less so now that he’s petting his furred friend.

She glances up, hearing a voice behind her, but there’s no one in sight. Just more creepiness in general. “A wolf from the planet Lothal. I’ve never actually seen one, but they say they’re sentient, and Force-sensitive.”

[scaledwolf]

There’s a small moment, but it’s this gentle show on his features as he gets what she said. It starts as the lines of his face soften, and then his lips pull up in a grin. Because despite everything around them, he likes that. There’s even a soft chuckle as she follows it with that question. “They do tend to look so, but under the dire appearance we’re a wild and free people much like our wolf companions.” His voice sounds lighter too, and amusement warms it.

Though he notes her look around like that and as much as he doesn’t want to leave Ghost, he stands and moves to her. “Force-sensitive? Can you explain that to me while we get moving?” Because if she’s starting to hear something maybe they should get moving before they both get tangled in the illusions.

[forceshadowed]

Wild and free, but why does he look so miserable and serious? Cute, but broody. Or maybe he’s just like her warrior princess crush Tenel Ka... though he gets her jokes at least. But that’s a story for another time, because he agrees that they should get moving. Hey, at least he’s not as hard to convince as the others she’s encountered.

“I take it you’ve not heard of the Force,” she starts to say, taking the lead and steering them towards the direction of the voice she’s heard. Might be someone who needs help, but could be another illusion too. “My people believe that there’s some sort of life energy all around us. That’s the Force.”

She holds out an arm to stop him as she halts, eyes darting around warily for whatever danger it is she’s now sensing. Then her eyes widen and she shouts, “Duck!”

[scaledwolf]

There’s a story behind why he doesn’t look as free as he wishes he was, or to be far is kind of now. But that story may be best saved for once they’re done with the mission. Maybe over a bowl of ice cream.

His head tilts as he takes that in, easily keeping pace with her as they walk. And he tries to keep his eyes peeled for anyone that might need their help. “And being sensitive to it means,” there’s a small pause as he thinks about what it might mean, “that they can tap into that energy some how? Is that how you -“

He doesn’t get to finish the question, because there’s no questioning her command. When she yells, he ducks. His arm comes out to rest on her back, making sure she does too, for whatever she senses or sees that he’s missing.

circle 2

[darknessinzero]

The hubbub has that vague sense of familiarity, but is just different enough for Ansem to be able to move forwards. At least until he sees the large wolf, which immediately has him worried until the man who kneels next to it seems...completely at ease?

Curious.

"A friend of yours?" he ventures hesitantly, moving closer.

[scaledwolf]

The tail on the white beast thumps on the ground happily as Jon's fingers tease through the fur near his left ear, giving a soft scritch to his companion. And it's a good enough feeling for Jon to offer the man a smile as he nods.

"Aye. Vicious when I'm in danger but overall more like a giant puppy otherwise." Says the man with his hands in the white fur and treating him very much like a dog that he loves.

"I've had him since he was a pup back home." Back home, because the wolf is far too large to be able to come with him on the train when he'd been brought considering he stands at Jon's hip.

Circle 2

[nutkrusher]

Jon might not be familiar with the sound of a rifle being cocked. But he'll hear it loud and clear.

"Unless Fido came in here with, I'd stay back and out of my way."

[scaledwolf]

Jon's not familiar with the sound, because they don't have anything of the sort back home. Though his head turns at the strange sound, because he wants to see what it is. Not that it gives him any real indication of what it is.

A low growl leaves Ghost at the threat from her, because even if neither of them know what a gun is, it's clear she's being aggressive. A hand settles in Ghost's fur and the growl cuts off though there's a bare of fangs that says he's not going to show belly either. "I am unclear what your intentions are, but you have no business with him."

[nutkrusher]

"If you're with me on this mission I'm pretty sure I do," Cassie says.

"So I'm gonna ask you again. Did that dog come with you? Because if he didn't, that ain't a real dog."

[scaledwolf]

"It's not a dog, it's a wolf." Because clearly that's an important distinction to need to be made. He doesn't move from in front Ghost either, not even with the threat of violence.

"And no, he didn't arrive on the train with me." It's clear from how tall Ghost is, he'd never be allowed on the train either, far too big an animal. "But I'm also not going to let you shoot him when he's not doing anything but being good."

[nutkrusher]

"That thing's not a dog, a wolf, or anything," Cassie says. "It's an illusion created by whatever fuckin' magic's making this spookshow go. It's trying to lead you off the path.

"If you won't let me shoot it, then at least walk the fuck away from it."

[scaledwolf]

Jon's brow arches a little at her words, because she sounds angry though he's not entirely sure why she would be. Save for the situation they're all in. "Similar to the other illusions, but this one won't try to eat your face." He had a bad experience with tiny, vicious things.

There's just the slightest nod though, "There's no reason to sound so angry, but yes, I'll walk away from it."

[nutkrusher]

"Magic that fucks with your head isn't something you want to fuck around with," Cassie says.

"Trust me, I know. I'd rather come off like a bitch than take it too lightly."

[scaledwolf]

“I’m no expert in magic, I haven’t had much experience with it before now.” He motions for her to lead the way, that he’ll follow.

“But I wasn’t tangled in the illusion. More… just missing the real Ghost who I assume is still back home.” Just to be clear.

[nutkrusher]

"Fair enough," Cassie says. "But that's usually how it starts."

[scaledwolf]

"By just wanting to have a second with something or someone from home starts what?" Because he's curious how bad some of the others are if that's her comment.

"Did it try to tempt you?"

[nutkrusher]

"It tries to tempt you into either fighting or following it," Cassie says. "It's got powers of suggestion. I've dealt with that in my own world. You don't want to take even a little risk when it comes to your mind."

Beat.

"Not that it isn't a good wolf, but I'm in soldier mode right now, not dog-petting mode."