Beyond the Dome - [OPEN TO ALL]

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Who: Open to All (As of June 16th)
Where: OUTSIDE the city.
When: From the 9th until the early morning of the 23rd.
Summary: New arrivals find themselves in areas unexplored as the others search for them
Warnings: Depends on the players!
Music: This one | Map: Here | Additional Info: First mod post here | Second most post forthcoming.

FOR NEW VISITORS
You remember the words of the strange, butterfly-masked man. You can here to protect a city, correct? And yet... you seem to be nowhere near one. Perhaps he meant that city in the far off horizon, barely seen against a reflecting shield of glass?

Either way, you don't feel safe around here. Maybe it's a hunch, but you need to move and get somewhere safe. Before whatever is lurking around notices you.

The problem is... where should you go?

FOR THE RESCUERS DOWN UNDER
The teleporter worked!

...Except you're not exactly sure where you landed. Thankfully, you have a map that will update as you go, courtesy of the MAGI. It does appears to be working, so now its a question of snooping around....wait what was that noise?

Make sure you've noticed where the teleporters are located. You wouldn't want to get stuck in this strange outside world...

[☿ Mercury Zone]
NEW VISITORS ONLY
You have a feeling that the city you need to protect is not the one in ruins around you. Otherwise, it's already destroyed.

EVERYONE
The stench of death is everywhere, from the cracked buildings to the water-logged homes missing their ceilings. Still, it's some form or protection against the elements, and there's sure to be canned food around here.

The cold, chilly air at night gets to your bones, but during the day, the hot weather makes you seek shade.

[♀ Venus Zone]
EVERYONE
There is forest all around you, the trees hiding most of the sun. What you an see, the crystal-like shell of the barrier (not that you know it's a barrier) to Hinoto-Ri spans high into the sky. There's nothing to restrict your view here, otherwise. The climate is surprisingly warm if humid.

Maybe you should try to get out, or build a shelter. Either way, best not to stay too long before something finds you...

[♂ Mars Zone]
EVERYONE
It's hot. Way too hot. You look around, with nothing but sand and dry bones scattered around you. not to far the sand dips inward, cracks of shining crystals that turn out to be salt hinting that this may have been a bit of salt water before everything evaporated.

Perhaps it would be best not to stay here for long. Nothing looks edible. There seems to be water on one side, and on the far horizon, you can spot a cavern.

Hopefully it's not caused by the heat. Let's start walking.

[♃ Jupiter Zone]
EVERYONE
Giant mountain full of jagged sharp rocks that reach high into the sky rise in front of you. When you turn, you notice a city, but a crystal-like substance stops you from being able to go inside, no matter how hard you try pressing on it.

There's only on area you can go through. The metal and stone bridge that goes right through the middle is interesting, though. It looks like the remains of a rail system. Just be careful where you step, as the way down does not look in any way safe. Those crevices could kill a person if you fell down...

[♄ Saturn Zone]
EVERYONE
Snow. There's so much snow. The temperature is cold, maybe in the middle of winter, but it's the winds that snap at your skin, making you shiver. You need better covering. Yet despite the weather conditions, you spot a city in the far off horizon. Maybe you could make it in a few hours. It's better than just standing here, right?

[♅ Uranus Zone]
EVERYONE
You're surrounded by pieces of desolate abandoned city, the buildings crumbling but still standing. Skyscrapers, upturned cars, fallen road signs hint that this was once a bustling city but whatever happened to it must have hit hard...

Plants grow around each abandoned area, appearing to have become giants for several decades already... yet despite your worst fears, not a single remain of dead human skeletons can be found.

But something is off. Why is the plant floating in the air? There's a car flickering as if it's glitching. Things begin to whisper in your ear, laughing and giggling. Sometimes you swear you heard something move...

[♆ Neptune Zone]
EVERYONE
It's humid, but not unpleasant. A giant body of water as far as the eye can see gently rocks its waves upon the sandy beach. Plants are growing around you, and you can easily spot fruits that are edible such as apples and avocado.

Yet there's an odd urge to explore the water. Maybe you could go take a dip...

[♇ Pluto Zone]
EVERYONE
Rocky mountains greet you at your arrival The giant mountain range reaches into the sky, as high as the crystal-like barrier protecting the city, blocking you from being able to go inside.

You spot caverns farther down ahead, but it might take you a few hours to get there. Best be on alert...

[OOC: Hello new and returning characters alike! While characters will not know the zone names, we've provided you with a map to aid you moving around.

Keep in mind a few things:
▶ Pick the zone you want to appear in! It's entirely up to you.
▶ For newcomers coming into via this plot, each zone has a giant red X. This is where your character will appear in that zone. After that, they'll need to walk/fly/swim around. Maybe they'll get lucky and find tools to help them.
▶ For those using the teleporter, the blue summoning circles are where your charatcer appears. These lead back to the central MAGI building located under town hall.

▶ Monsters can show up during your posts from time to time
▶ The zones colors indicate how dangers the areas are. Also keep in mind that once your character hits an orange and red zone, persona and canon powers steadily begin to decline each hour. After a day, they are unable to use their powers until they return to the yellow and green zones, whereupon it will take an hour for all their powers to come back in full.
▶ Characters will be stuck here until at least the 15th, minimum, so feel free to have them move around! It takes about 5 to 12 hours to move from one zone to another in full, depending on the temperature and terrain.
▶ Your character may end up finding items and possessions from their world. Mods will be watching the threads and adding descriptions and items as we go along.
▶ Characters do NOT have their COMP system upon arrival, even if they were here before; everything is stuck inside the city right now! So you do not have a means of communication if you don't speak the same language for now, time to use those pantomiming skills you've been working on (probably).
▶ If a new character crosses someone who's already lived in the city, they will be able to share their watch with them for translation purposes until they return to the city.

▶ We suggest showing up in the same area as someone else to have a better chance of survival. Not that characters will die (as it is permadeath in this game) but the state of the characters until next week when rescue begins may be less... healthy than others if you throw caution in the wind.
▶ This being said, we won't make life too hard for you. If we see your character struggling, we'll provide them with something so they don't die two days into exploring either.
▶ There are surprises and clues waiting in certain areas.
▶ Please have fun, and enjoy the game!]

Comments

[rosacaerulea]

[Kachessa isn't a wimp. But she also has no idea what to do in this situation. So she'll step behind Michael. She's already reaching for what she wears around her neck, usually. It's a comfort thing, really, and she's not even sure she'd need to use it. This is a bad situation... But she feels slightly better with her hands on the gold key.]

Water Wheel (Water) Circles a group of enemies with a Water wall. (2 turns.)

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Perhaps...

[She seems about as convinced as the long tongue that's coming out of her mouth to lick her lips.]

...But nothing quite as delicious! Oh I can smell the fear on that blue one...I'll be feed for a few weeks with all three of you!

[She opens her hands, hissing, and water rises in a circle around all of them in a circle trapping them in.]

Attempt to launch a Seal Bomb is a-go then!

[attended]

I apologize, then, for my actions next.

[ ... This is bad. Really bad. While he can sense potential in the one, the other's Persona gives off a vibe of not being very suited to attack and he's not sure tarot cards alone will be enough.

But he's not going to let anyone else die on his watch. Not again. He promised he'd make sure not to make that mistake. He'd keep that pledge--the oath he'd made, to help the world...

It isn't long before the card in his hand begins emitting an incredibly bright light, settling on an Arcana... The World. Like he'd done with his training so very many times before to call forth Persona after Persona, the action of crushing said card is second-nature. ]

Come forth.

[ His voice is steady, quiet. Not a shout, but loud enough, and a Persona will materialize above him. It resembles a large winged man with a metal body and wings, cloaked in blues, a clock in his chest, a broken shackle on his right leg. One gloved hand holds a scroll. ]

Thou Art I, and I am thou. From the sea of thy soul I come... I am Sancus, guardian of promise and honesty... trust yourself to me, so that your promises are always true.

[ It's not Orpheus. Not quite. Indeed, he is someone else now, and so it reflects as much. But now is the time for action, and so he will direct Sancus to fire a Seal Bomb at their attacker, hoping to slow her down. He can only hope it'll have some sort of effect. This Persona is foreign to him, new, but it is also as intuitive as Orpheus was, almost. It isn't as focused on offensive power, like many Personas he'd had in the past. No, it's about protection--supporting his desire to aid others. ]

[rosacaerulea]

[Kachessa is on guard immediately. This is bad. The Key is in hand, but she's hesitant. She can't get at the beast anyway, so why reveal her trump card? But then, Michael is summoning something. A very large metal angel. And she is awe-stuck by it.]

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ Oh gods above, why did it have to be water? Water and fire were the two things he couldn't handle, and he sank down further, drawing his wings up around himself protectively. If it crashed on them, maybe his wings could repel at least some of it?

He wasn't even considering that he could just jump up out of the water wall, fly over it... no, that would've been sensible. And would require an instinct that involved getting airborn in the first place.

He tried to calm down, even though his wings' feathers were advertising his fear by floofing right up without his permission. What would any of his brothers do in this situation?

Right, they'd fight. And he wasn't his brothers. Sure, he could try to send a blast of telekinetic force at the demon threatening them... but what if it hit the wall of water and splashed him, or made it all come down on them?

He glanced up at Sancus... and honestly, it was a relief to see a winged, angelic figure appearing to try defending them. Just like at home, almost....

But did he dare try to do anything to it, or didn't he, just yet? Augh, what to do? Someone really needed to boss him around now and then. ]

Cascade (Mind) Doubles one target's agility. (2 turns.)

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[Rolled 5 for the 10% chance, did not hit.]

[The spell hits the demon, sending it spinning back into the sand. It shook its head, slithering back up, removing the blood that had formed next to her mouth.]

Ssoooo! You may have claws after all. Nothing like having to fight for your lunch!

[The demon appears to be even more excited by this prospect. A spell envelopes her, and suddenly her movements seem a lot more fluid than before. The watery circle continues to turn around them.]

[attended]

[ Oh, dammit. This is bad. Okay, what can he do... well, he'd always been good at ridiculous split-second decisions, and without anymore time to think, Michael has his Persona cast glide on Avitus. ]

Quick, get out of here. Take Kachess with you!

[ And after that, he's going to launch some summoned tarot cards in the demon's direction. ]

[rosacaerulea]

[She just nods numbly. She's not prepared for this. So she'll quietly reach for Avitus. There's nothing else she can do.

...She hates feeling helpless.]

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ Whatever it was that was cast on him, he felt it almost right away, a lightness of some sort-- except he was still on the ground, and then Kachess was grabbing onto him.

Get out of here, Michael had said? But--

He peeked around. There wasn't any way out! It was all around them! It-- ]

....

[ It was all around them.

He glanced up, and his wings dropped from around him a bit. Right... right, he could try going up. And if he couldn't make it over the wall of water... well, it would be painful, but he'd heal. As for the humans....

He wrapped his arm around Kachess, holding the human against him, his wings pulling back behind him, tucking them tightly against his spine. If Michael would let him, he'd grab him as well as he crouched... and then jumped.

He wasn't used to jumping, especially not so high. He wasn't used to jumping with extra weight, either. So to do both at once, he couldn't get all that high... but just high enough.

He tried heading away from the demon, spreading his wings at the top of his jump with a flap... and whatever it was that Michael had done to keep him from splashing right onto the top of the wall, it had been a good call; he slid over it with an alarmed squeak that sounded more like a bird chirp than any sound a human might be able to make. But he made it over, and with his wings out, the fall back to the ground was mercifully gentle. He set down again, shaken by nearly having dropped into the water like that, not folding his wings in yet.

What in the world had just happened? No, no, wrong question... Was that thing following them?

He turned to see, eyes wide, ready to dash away now that the idea of getting the heck out of there had been given to him. ]

ESCAPE

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[Rolled 1, with a 50% chance of escape. Characters have fled the combat!]

No!

[From behind, the demon is hit from the cards, distracting it enough as her food supply escapes, trying to absorb the water fast enough from the barrier, but it was too late. In her form she couldn't following them easily, so she let out a loud screech of frustration, tearing out its hair before retreating slowly back into the waters.]

[attended]

I--what?

[ His intent was to stay and fight, so you can imagine his surprise when he's picked up too--but he's lighter than he'd seem, so it ends up working out in the end. He won't even give them time to pause, just motion once he's sure Avitus is okay--and since he has a Persona now, fire off a Diarama, just in case, and suggest one thing: ]

... We need to keep moving. No stopping. Let's just go.

[ WHY are his powers so... blocked? Is this part of Philemon's (and perhaps Igor's, by extension) test for him to learn how to be a better attendant? It's like having Orpheus for the first time all over again, which feels like eons ago, now. Only this Persona is entirely new to him, and obviously isn't meant for attacking, like Orpheus had been. ... He must admit, as much as he can think on it while moving, it does suit his new role a lot better. ]

[rosacaerulea]

Agreed. We're lucky we got out of that mess.

[...She's calm now. Now that she's on the ground, now that Avitus isn't touching her, now that they're fine. Just keep moving, and stay as far from the water without losing sight of it as possible. That's a plan. But first, they need to get their bearings.]

...First we need to decide on a direction.

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ He peeked out from behind the trees at the lake, feathers still fluffed up even after they'd gotten away, and gave his wings a quick shiver to flick off the bit of water the tips' feathers had gotten on them when he'd crossed over the wall. He turned back to the other two, pulling those wings up around him to hide in them again, his fingers over their wrists, in front of his collar. ]

What about... ah... that way? Since... it looks as though we're... already somewhat headed that direction?

[ He took a hand off his wings, to point over his shoulder in the direction he meant: to keep the lake on their left. ]

Would that... be all right, perhaps?

[ If nothing else, it left the demon they'd just encountered further behind them. ]

[attendingtheending]

... That's more than acceptable.

[ He'll turn to Avitus--the concern is obvious. Michael is quiet for a moment. He just hopes that Diarama is enough to help. Urgh, why isn't his Compendium functioning...? He could easily fix this situation, if it were. ]

I saw some fruit trees earlier, so I think we'll be able to find more... but... more importantly, are you all right?

[rosacaerulea]

[Kachessa isn't too concerned, but she will stop to check him over momentarily. They can worry about him later--when they stop. Although... Food would be good.]

...Food's a good idea. And as much as moving is smart, we may eventually need to set up a camp...

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ He nodded a little, looking down a moment. He wasn't hurt yet, just shaken. He'd better in a minute, and his feathers would lie back down again as proof. Right. Just... take a deep breath -- and it was a large one, not that they could see well, with his wings surrounding him like they were. Take a deep breath, and resume walking with the rest of them. He'd be fine. ]

To sleep for the night, you mean?

[ He hadn't even considered it, but... Kachess was right. If they didn't make it back to the city somehow by night, they would need to rest.... ]

At least there's fruit for you....

[ He wasn't about to bring up his own diet. Not yet. They'd just have to get back to Hinoto-Ri, and he'd be fine then. Go to a grocery store, get more blood from the meat counter... he'd be fine. ]

[attendingtheending]

[ ... He considers it. Food? Eh. He'll be fine. He's part of the Room. Technically, he has no more need to eat or drink than any other ageless Shadow-thing. He LIKES doing it when possible, but he has to admit it helps in a survival situation... as long as that's still a thing, at least. This world seems to have imposed some limits on him, probably part of Philemon's... test. He doesn't doubt his Master (Masters?) would put him somewhere that he could help others, but no one ever said anything like this would be easy.

So maybe helping these two is what he HAS to do. So he will try his best to provide good service, even in a challenging environment. ]

Sir Avitus, forgive me for asking, but will you be all right without anything?

[ He can tell what Avitus is. He's not stupid. Dietary restrictions... a vampire would definitely have them. ]

As for the situation on shelter, getting off the ground is more important, yes. I won't get tired very easily, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be cautious. ... I apologize to you both, though. It seems this place has... limited my ability to protect you, somewhat. However, I can more than put my Persona's abilities to use for that, if nothing else.

[ Understatement. Of the century. It's more than "somewhat". ]

[rosacaerulea]

That's right. Something not human would eat something else...

[...That hadn't really occurred to her just yet. But it does leave her even more worried for how they're going to get by. Two humans and something not human, so dietary restrictions apply to at least one of them.]

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ He glanced from Michael to Kachess, at the latter's remark, pressing his wings tighter around himself and sinking down another inch. He looked away again, eyes on the ground. Something not human.... ]

I'll be fine for now. I fed before I went to bed... and I've gone without before anyway. I'm sure we can get back before I need anything again.

[ He didn't want to have either of them worried on his behalf -- or worried about him and whatever it was they thought he might do. He'd had quite enough of that from Hinoto-Ri's natives already. Not that it had been many of them to react badly, but it was enough for him to know that it was an option, and it was painful enough each time. He didn't want a repeat. Kachess was unfriendly enough toward him as it was.... ]

[attended]

[ He's going to pause a moment. They've walked far enough, and he really can't justify allowing this to go on--not when he can see Avitus' reactions to things. He doesn't know what Kachess went through, but whatever it was, it isn't fair for him to single out someone, intentionally or otherwise. ]

I presume he did not intend you any harm... all the same, I do want to point out that appearance or species alone does not automatically make you a horrible person. Behaving like that is another story. As far as food goes, I asked because I was concerned, Sir Avitus, not about what you may or may not eat, but about your condition. ... And anyway, I doubt my Master would be happy to know I was providing poor service even outside my workplace, especially to Persona users.

[ Kachess MUST have the potential. It's just... waiting to be awakened. He can feel it. ]

So, again, I apologize for the situation, but when we find a place that's sure to be good to set up camp, considering we don't know how much farther the city is... I will do my best to help with that.

[rosacaerulea]

Ah, my apologies. I didn't mean it in any negative way. It simply didn't occur to me until now you may have another diet. If you were to betray us, earlier would have been a good time.

[Indeed, he'd done just the opposite. He was only told to get her out of there, but grabbed Michael, too, and saved them both. She will bow slightly. She may not trust him fully, or want much to do with him beyond their current situation, but he doesn't seem like he'll betray them easily.]

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ He sighed, looking between them, and shook his head, looking to Michael first. ]

You've nothing to apologize to me for. I don't exactly frequent the Velvet Room as it is, and I... I'm not certain I need what the Room is there to give. No offense. ...And what I have to have isn't... something I want to burden you with.

[ Another form of the power they'd been granted here? He didn't have a want to use it in the first place. And he wasn't certain what else Michael might be referring to. He'd been set outside with them, hadn't he? And was apparently just as lost, so he couldn't have been assigned as their guide, so there wasn't any reason for guilt there, right?

He looked to Kachess. ]

And I'm sorry I didn't help much more earlier. [ A glance back to Michael; it's for him as well. ] I'm just... not... a fighter. My clan protects the humans, where I'm from. But I... I stay within the castle and... I make the stained glass, and the displays for the library. I've no idea why I was placed outside the City, if I'm to help it; I'd assumed they needed an architect again to help them strengthen it, like they did before, but....

[ He looked down again, fingers burying themselves further into his feathers. He's already feeling useless out here, and the idea that he needs them to protect him, while he knows it to be true, still makes him feel guilty. ]

But here I am....

[attendingtheending]

[ ... He might have a bit of a knowing smile, here. Oh, Avitus... ]

No offense taken. As you hold a Persona, what you choose to do--or not do--with it is your decision. And no one else's. Some do not ask for this power; it simply appears. ... Regardless, however, it is therefore my job to make sure anyone I come across, usual guests or no, is treated with the respect they deserve. ... And off the record, I would feel this way even if neither of you held the potential in your hearts. Because I believe everyone deserves as much.

[ That said... ]

But yes, here you are. Here we all are, really. You know, you're here saving both of us. Due to my own incompetence, no less. So I wouldn't worry that much. Things don't happen without reason.

[rosacaerulea]

...If you need to learn combat, I can at least take care of that.

[It's not out of kindness, but necessity. He can't freeze up again.]

[poorlittleblueburdie]

[ If he needed to learn combat....

He swallowed, trying not to let his nervousness show. If he needed to learn combat, there was the presumption he'd be seeing more combat. And as much as he couldn't deny that it was a possibility, it wasn't one he wanted to think on. ]

I'll... keep it in mind. Thank you.

[ He kept his voice quiet, and gave another glance to Michael, keeping his expression neutral again, like he'd done so many times before. ]

So you... think that that may be why I was sent out here? To assist the two of you?

[ A little look back at Kachess, still shy of the whole idea. Him, fighting? Him, taking a more active, direct role in protecting others in dangerous situations? He'd be lying if he said the thought didn't scare him a bit. He didn't have a whole lot of confidence in his ability to do that yet. ]