❧ Off-Season 3 - Whispers Out of the Ether

[luministimods]

[Someone has been in the Luministi Research Labs.

To the untrained eye, everything is still in its place despite the undetected intrusion. Not a paper has stirred. No chairs have been pushed out of their original positions in the slightest. Not even a single blade of grass in the town square has bent or crushed. Yet something has changed.

Perhaps it's a slightly different tang in the air. One check of the life support systems, however, will tell one that the oxygen mix is the same as ever. The strange objects and rooms from the old citizens are still there as well, so still and untouched as the rest of the things in the town generally are. Even the remnants of the old Neptune sundial outside the library and the stone sundial in the park have been left alone.

The intruder smiles, knowing it is only the beginning. If the test goes as planned, then perhaps...

As quietly as the intruder came, the intruder now leaves without a trace. There are several observations to be done.

No sooner does the intruder leave, a video begins to play on all CAT units that shows a rather beautiful montage of the town while a kind gentleman's voice speaks. Some will recognize the voice as belonging to Mayor Caligin.]

Hello and good morning! It gives me great pleasure to be able to greet you and welcome you to the Town of Luministi. My name is Constantine Caligin, Mayor of Luministi. I am sorry I am unable to greet you in person, but there is always something to be done here in town hall! Surely you understand.

While I have a minute though, let me give you the highlights of our great and beautiful town.

Here in Luministi, we strive to maintain the integrity of our quiet small town life while slowly bringing in new blood and new technologies. One look at our fine, eclectic town square and you will see how well we are progressing! There are many new and exciting places in town for you to explore, like our fabulous restaurants, recently renovated cinema, and our famous library. We welcome any feedback about them, from convenience to pure aestheticism. Our latest additions are identical housing developments situated in the west and east of Luministi's town borders and we hope you enjoy the accommodations! They have been built with the ideas of comfort and ease in mind.

Unfortunately, that--[there is a slight disturbance in the audio, as if the original has been altered]--will be all for today. This has just been merely a test. Soon, you will see what joys your stay in Luministi will bring you. And it will bring you plenty of joy and happiness. So much so, you will never want to leave.

Not ever again.

[And on that note, the video ends on a rather ominous shot of the town hall, and unintelligible voices begin to whisper to fill the void the video broadcast has left...]



Plot Details: Off-Season 3

Welcome to Luministi's pre-season Fourth Wall event! If you have never participated in 4th wall with us before, the portion above the cut there is an IC continuation of the story that has been in the making for the past two seasons (a summary of which can be read here if you are curious, but it's not required reading!) But unlike past events, the majority of our in-game characters are off on different journeys or are even back home in their worlds! The town itself has been pretty empty for a while, so the video that was mysteriously broadcast just then will be everyone's view of the town.

Now, for those of you new to the game, the CATs, or Communications Audiovisual Transmitters, are personalized communication devices about the size of your palm, and for this day only, visiting characters will have this device. They'll have found it randomly on their person with no idea how it even got there. From a video broadcast standpoint, you'll be able to see the the immediate surroundings of the person you're talking to. More information about the CATs can be found on the FAQ page, which also has some handy tips about how the game is run and other questions about the game that aren't answered elsewhere in the mod journal. But if you don't see your question answered anywhere, please don't be afraid to ask!

In-game time, this event lasts a day, but you can tag for however long you want!

If visiting players do app into the game when applications and reserves open on April 14th, 12:01am EST, they will be able to remember the video of the town and everyone they meet the moment they show up in the town of Luministi for real. Yeah for ready-made CR, right?

And for returning players and those still in play in off-season shenanigans, here's the link to the most recent batch of updates, especially regarding things I'll need from you guys. I think I have just about everyone, but it's here again for your convenience! And character-wise, it's up to you what your character was up to when that somewhat familiar broadcast came over the CATs. Just when you thought you were safe from the town again, huh? Alas...

This event is merely a preview of what is to come in Luministi's third and final season. All of the storylines and mysteries introduced back in June 2010 when the game first opened will be brought to a close, and how it all does will be up to everyone involved. There are choices to be made and tasks that need to be accomplished--but only if you do it. Not doing something also will result in something, but whether it's for better or worse, well... You'll just have to come along for the ride and see, won't you?

luministi formally opens May 19th, 11:59am EST. I look forward to seeing everyone here! ♥

Now, let the fourth-walling commence! Have lots of fun~

Comments

[desertdaggers]

Mm… it's good they've got those chances, at least! That's not so bad, but for everyone who's happy enough where they are… [He shakes his head.]

Ah- [he lifts his hand, looking sheepish] I'm fine, just took a few bad hits. And Xan Bie was… well, explosive is probably the best word! [he chuckles]

[wind_of_reason]

[Well, if he's looking sheepish about it, it must not be too bad. Relief is clear on her face.]

I'm glad to hear you're fine. Explosive, ne? Sounds very exciting!

[desertdaggers]

[he comes from this area! he's supposed to be able to do well with the monsters from here. still, he's glad to see her worry lift.]

Haha… it was! Xan Bie went deep into the Valley of Flames- the better to gather its energy, you see, that's where they all start- so we ended up fighting it on a platform down there, surrounded by flame. And it had a small pit it could retreat to, a little way away- but we put that out. [gesturing as he talks, to try and give her a sense of the fight]

[wind_of_reason]

[Fuu listens intently, nodding.]

Ohh, sounds so hot! [It vaguely reminds her of Rayearth's volcano, which had been quite uncomfortable.]

Once you were able to take out its escape route it must have been much easier to deal with, even though it was near a source of energy?

[desertdaggers]

It was pretty uncomfortable…

[he nods] It was much easier after that! It could heal itself in there, too, so putting that out helped a lot.

[wind_of_reason]

Enemies that can heal themselves feels so unfair somehow, even though the hero's party gets all sorts of healing abilities.

[Part of that statement is from personal experience, and part is from gaming experience. She quickly continues-]

I'm glad that you were able to defeat it and move on. However, I hope that you will be able to fully heal before the next battle comes.

[Her fingers lightly tap against the CAT anxiously, wishing that somehow her healing magic could reach him.]

[desertdaggers]

Haha… well, we all want to live, after all. [wry smile]

Yeah. [He curls his fingers around the edges of the bowl.] We're going to take a day, maybe two… it'll be a pain when we get to the rest, but we've taken down four of the God-Beasts. We deserve a break.

[wind_of_reason]

Yes. [To all of the above- he'd better keep living, and she's sure he does deserve a break.]

Is the end in sight for you, then?

[desertdaggers]

[Oh, he absolutely intends to do that.]

Yes- well- we're at the halfway mark, so just about! The last might be tricky- no one's got any idea where the God-Beast of Darkness might be, but we'll find it.

[wind_of_reason]

I'm certain you'll find your way!

It's good to hear how things are going for you, Hawk. Every time I think we might not have another chance to talk, something strange like this happens!

[desertdaggers]

Mm, we will. Thanks, Fuu.

Yeah, I'm definitely glad for this. Even if it's a little inconvenient. [he'll get back to his stew before it goes completely cold, though] If we could keep talking…

[wind_of_reason]

Ah- of course! I'm very sorry to interrupt your meal.

Although, I suppose it's really whatever random force from Luministi that's doing this, but still.

[desertdaggers]

[snorts, and waves his hand] That broadcast interrupted it first, don't worry about it.

…mm. That's… more than a little troubling. If we can contact each other, that's good, of course, but then… it's not that far to assume they could reach us.

[wind_of_reason]

Not far to assume at all.

The people who stayed must still have time to find who is behind all this before we get stuck there again, though.

[...Right? She casts her eyes down to the pavement.]

I have every confidence in our friends. But that first note, and now Mayor Caligin practically threatening us like that- Although I suppose it can't reasonably be the real Mayor, but still...

[desertdaggers]

Jamie suggested they were being rather hindered, though…

Yeah. I can't think he'd do that at all- I'd have thought he'd still be staying as quiet as he could, not to get caught. But… that they're still using his image…

[wind_of_reason]

[She nodded in agreement - it did sound like the others were hardly getting anywhere with their investigations. She hoped Nathan was faring better.]

Exactly. Why bother using his image if we know he's not around, and there's no audience left to pander to?

As always, more questions than answers!

[desertdaggers]

… Well, it seems like there's some kind of audience…

Maybe they don't want to go to the bother of getting someone else to fill in. But I'm not sure how likely that is.

[he nods, and sighs] If we could pin down at least one of the people behind this…

[wind_of_reason]

[She sighs in return.]
If only! I guess it's a big universe to hide in though. The others really have their work cut out for them... I wish there was something more I could do to help from here.

[desertdaggers]

I know. [He turns the spoon over a few times, lips twisting.] I don't regret coming back, not much, but… I've no idea if anything I did here would reach them.

[wind_of_reason]

[She sighs in response, wishing she could reach out to him.]

I feel the same way. Let's... stay as healthy and happy as possible. So that those who stayed don't have to worry about us and- and if we get drawn back, then we will be ready to fight again.

[desertdaggers]

Mm, that's the spirit! Well, that might be a little difficult on my side, [gesturing to his arm] but I'll do my best!

[wind_of_reason]

Thank you! I'm sure you will!
I should let you finish eating, so you can regain your strength...

[desertdaggers]

Thanks, Fuu. [he grins, picking up the spoon, but then hesitates]

-ah. Before I go… what do you think of trying to stop them taking us?

[wind_of_reason]

It's a good idea, of course! I'm not sure how, but it is certainly worth a try.

[She gives him a questioning look. Has he found a clue about how it could be done? If so, it would be hard to share it over the CAT without it being intercepted.]

[desertdaggers]

[…h-haha, someone should probably have mentioned that to Natsuo and Hawk before…]

[He nods.] And hopefully it'll work! What do you know about barrier magic?