❧ 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

[bonnypiperlad]

Sophie? [That's definitely her voice - and he's staring at the cat in his CAT, not at all sure what to make of this.]

B-but...you're a cat!

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie sighs and says as patiently as she can manage (which isn't actually very patiently):] I'm under a spell.

[bonnypiperlad]

A spell? How did it happen? Are ye all right? Er...apart from being a cat, that is.

[fortune_sought]

[oh Jamie, so worried! Sophie at least is calm about her situation--but a little anxious when she mentions her husband] Yes, I'm fine! It really is a long story, but...well, Howl cast the spell. A djinn was stealing the castle, and he didn't want it to see me.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh. Aye, I suppose that makes sense, though, but what about the bairn? Is he all right too?

[fortune_sought]

Yes, he's fine! He's here. [and she shifts positions to show a tiny kitten behind her. he's old enough for his eyes to be open but probably no more than that. he mews at Jamie, and Sophie curls around him] This is Morgan. [she can't help but sound a bit proud]

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh! He's, ah... [It would probably be a bad idea to say 'a wee bit furry' right about now, given the situation. Luckily, Jamie realizes this and comes up with something else.]

...very handsome. So, er, why has Howl not changed ye back yet?

[fortune_sought]

Yes... [Sophie frowns uncertainly] I do wonder what he'll look like. But of course, being Howl's son, I'm sure he'll be handsome. [and she pauses for a moment to lick him clean]

[but at that question, Sophie looks uncomfortable] Ah...I'm afraid it's not as simple as that. You see, when the djinn stole the castle, I landed here alone. I don't know where Howl is now. [determined] But, most likely, he's gone to Kingsbury. He saw that the djinn was going after Princess Valeria, so he was planning to warn the king, and I'm sure the king will have wanted him to stay to protect her. And even if he's--[her voice catches]--elsewhere, Wizard Suliman is in Kingsbury. He'll be able to break the spell.

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye. I'm sure he'll be a bonny lad. [Especially if he has some of his mother's looks, too. But at her admission, he looks as uncomfortable as she. A little more, perhaps, since he's not a cat at the moment. That's not good news at all, no matter how you look at it.]

It's just the two of ye, then? What about that fire-demon of yours?

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie's expression is downcast] Unfortunately, I have no better idea of where he might be. The last thing I heard was Howl telling Calcifer that the djinn was too powerful for either of them, and then...well, then I was here in the mountains. Morgan was born about a week after that--perhaps two weeks ago now. [she's starting to lose track, which is unsettling as well]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Oh, Sophie. Jamie's own expression turns into a rather frustrated one - even if he doesn't realize that losing track of time is a bad thing, he certainly doesn't care for the idea of her and the bairn being out there unprotected.]

Och, if there were only some way I could get there, I'd make sure ye got to this Kingbury safely. Look, are ye very far from it?

[fortune_sought]

[she's surprised at his vehemence] It's quite all right, Jamie. I can take care of Morgan, and there are plenty of mice and birds to eat.

[but she looks a bit uncomfortable at that] I'm not certain. But I've just passed two travellers, so I must be going the right direction, at least.

[bonnypiperlad]

[His protectiveness towards women and his female friends extends to even when they're in cat form, it seems.]

Aye, but what if you're going the opposite way? Say, could ye talk to someone like you're talking with me and ask them?

[...he may not have thought that one all the way through.]

[fortune_sought]

[she ducks her head] Unfortunately, no. It seems the only way for me to speak is over the CAT. But really, there's nowhere else for them to be going. I'm not even certain where the next town might be.

[bonnypiperlad]

Oh. [That would have made everything much easier.] I suppose you've not got much of a choice but to keep going the way you have been, then. You'll at least be careful?

[fortune_sought]

Yes, of course. But... [she frowns thoughtfully] I suppose I could always approach the travellers. I may not be able to speak to them, but we would go a great deal faster with them carrying us.

[she's clearly hesitant, though. they're not even from Ingary, and she's not certain what to make of them]

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, that could work. But...ye don't seem like ye want to, so much. Why wouldn't ye try it?

[fortune_sought]

Well, because I don't know a thing about them! [and she may have clawed the soldier in the face for trying to come into her cave. in retrospect, this probably wasn't the best first impression to make] But you're probably right. It's best to at least try.

[Morgan, meanwhile, is now climbing over his mother so he can inspect the hologram projecting from the CAT. he wobbles as he moves, his stubby bottle-brush of a tail swishing back and forth as he tries to balance]

[bonnypiperlad]

Do ye think they'll... [Whatever it is Jamie's about to say cuts off at Morgan's appearance, and the faint worried cast to his mouth softens. A crooked smile appears in it's place.]

Well, hello there, lad. Having a wee bit of a look around?

[fortune_sought]

[apparently in response, Morgan stops in front of the hologram and starts pawing at it, watching in apparent fascination as his paw goes right through it. he gets both paws into the game then, probably filling Jamie's view for the moment]

[Sophie watches him as well, her tone slightly apologetic as she explains:] This is his first time seeing such a thing.

But Jamie, I don't know what those travellers will do. Though I imagine I could get us away quite easily if they did cause us any trouble...

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie doesn't actually seem to mind that his view's blocked. In fact, he seems slightly charmed by the whole thing - at least, until Sophie speaks. Then he frowns.]

Do ye think they mean to harm ye, then?

[fortune_sought]

Oh, not exactly. But we would be two wild cats attempting to travel with them. [she pauses, and after a moment admits with some degree of embarrassment:] And I'm afraid I clawed one of them quite badly when he entered the cave where we were staying and startled me.

[bonnypiperlad]

Hm. [He suspects it's because she was worried about the bairn being hurt. Still, if she did attack one of them, he could see where they might not be so inclined to let her come along.] Aye, that could be a wee bit tricky.

[He frowns thoughtfully.] The group of travelers...are they all men?

[fortune_sought]

It could be. But he may not realise it was me--I grew to about the size of a panther when I did it, so I would have looked quite different. But it is a bit of a risk.

[that's an odd question...] Why, yes. But there are only two. One looked like a Strangian, and the other...well, I'm not sure, but certainly from somewhere in the south.

[bonnypiperlad]

[There's a reason for it, actually.] Oh. Hm. It'd be a wee bit easier if one of them was a lass. Then ye could walk up with the bairn in your mouth and they'd not think ye dangerous at all.

[In fact, Jamie is pretty convinced a woman would think it adorable and want to help. But, maybe it still could work?]

What if ye did so anyway? Would that work, do ye think?