❧ 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

[painlessfighter]

[Nod nod!]

I bet they can only be so creative. Maybe they ran out after last time~

Mm! Hey, Hawk! Have you thought of a way to resist the pull yet? [He smiles, interested!]

[desertdaggers]

With any luck!

Ahhh… it's been a bit busy, around here. [he looks sheepish for a moment, rubbing the back of his head] But… perhaps a barrier spell might help.

[painlessfighter]

Busy is okay! We shouldn't have to think about the stupid Luministi people when we have our own things to do in our own worlds. [nodnod!]

A barrier spell! I should find one too. That can work!

[desertdaggers]

It's like they don't realise how much people have to deal with in just the one world.

[nods] Ah, so you guys have magic in your world, too?

[painlessfighter]

Mhm! Rude.

[Nodnod!] As long as we have words, we can use spells. Anything we want! [Creepy little smile~]

I could make a barrier. That shouldn't be hard! [His smile loses the creepy, though, and he beams at Hawk.] You're really smart to come up with that!

[desertdaggers]

Anything? [mm, that's a touch worrying.] That sounds very useful indeed!

[He laughs a little, making a demurring motion with his hand] You're really being very kind! It seems a fairly obvious place to start, honestly. [though the trouble would be he can't put one together himself, unfortunately.]

[painlessfighter]

Mhm! [Good thing that “anything” is an exaggeration, huh?]

But I wouldn’t have thought of a barrier! [His mind went straight to beating someone up. Are we surprised? No.]

[desertdaggers]

[very much so]

At all? So you're more on the offensive side?

[painlessfighter]

Mhm. [pause] Unless Youji’s in a lot of trouble. If that happens, sometimes I have to think harder about how to make sure he’s okay. Are you more defensive or something?

[desertdaggers]

Youji can't defend as well as you? Ah, not so much… I can utilise the tools for the barrier, but I took the offensive path.

…ah, maybe one of the others can help, too… [thinking aloud]

[painlessfighter]

[Natsuo shakes his head.] Youji is a Sacrifice. I'm his Fighter, so I have to fight for him and protect him.

Yeah! If they see the strange man, they should act fast!

[desertdaggers]

Is that right? [he raises his eyebrows a little, looking puzzled and curious] How does that work? Did you choose those roles?

[he nods] I'll be sure to tell them that. Someone like that, though… they probably wouldn't take to him at all!

[painlessfighter]

[He shakes his head.] No. That's just how it is. We didn't pick. But it's okay, I like being Youji's Fighter.

[desertdaggers]

[He nods, slowly.] I see… That's good. I imagine it wouldn't be as good to have someone you didn't like to partner with.

[painlessfighter]

Yeah. If you don't like your partner, there's no way you can win.

[desertdaggers]

Good teamwork's essential to any endeavour.

What is it you two fight, then?

[painlessfighter]

Other units. [a pause] There's actually a lot more going on. I can't really talk about it right now.

[desertdaggers]

Ah, other pairs? [tilts his head, curious, and after a few moments] Not even to someone not connected at all?

[painlessfighter]

Um... [Fidget!] That's part of what I can't really talk about. But hey! If someone's not connected at all, then they don't matter anyway. Why would we fight them?

[desertdaggers]

So it's like a society.

[he flashes a smile, and props his head up] If they were in the way of your goal, I suppose.

[painlessfighter]

A little, I guess.

[Natsuo returns the smile.] I guess. But that doesn’t really happen. If they’re not involved, they don’t know anything.

[desertdaggers]

Ah, well… that's a pretty good thing! I suppose it does only make sense.