❧ 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]

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?

[fortune_sought]

[at this point, Morgan grows bored of the hologram and turns to--stumblingly--chase a butterfly]

[Sophie ducks her head, considering] It could do. Perhaps I should approach them when they're sleeping, so that Morgan and I are quite close when they see me.

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie can't help but smile a little at Morgan's butterfly chasing, but most of his focus is on Sophie.]

Aye, that might do. Especially if they notice him first. Just...look, if ye are going to do that, be careful, aye?

[fortune_sought]

[she tilts her head up, giving him a look. she's trying very hard to be a good mother, after all, even under these rather unique circumstances] Of course, Jamie! If they cause any trouble, I'll just grow, claw them, and get away.

And I daresay I should be saying the same to you, if what I've heard from the others is anything to judge by. [that looks is rather pointed now]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Oh, yes, he can see that look.] Oh, aye? And what have they been telling ye, exactly?

[And how many words is he going to have to have with Xion later?]

[fortune_sought]

Mainly that the...erm...fans have been making it difficult for you all to pursue Resarci.

[not that she entirely understands this phenomenon, but she's starting to get some rather unpleasant ideas about it]

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye. [Right on cue, there goes his mouth off to the side.] There's been crowds of them about, no matter where ye are. It's been almost impossible to get most places. And forget about getting back to the TARDIS.

[fortune_sought]

[surprised] The Doctor's ship!? Do you mean they've done something to it?

[bonnypiperlad]

Och, no, not like you're thinking. They're just there, around it. All the time, so ye can't go near it without them noticing.

[fortune_sought]

[she wrinkles her nose] What? But what could possibly be the purpose of that?

[bonnypiperlad]

So they'll notice when we go near. They'll not turn down a chance to meet one of us, not if they can help it.

[fortune_sought]

My goodness, don't they have anything better to do?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well. From what I've seen it doesn't look like it much to me. Maybe they take shifts. I don't know. All I do know is that they're making it very difficult to get anything done with trying to track down Resarci.

[fortune_sought]

Gah, how utterly ridiculous! [Sophie ducks her head, sighing in exasperation] Yes, so I've heard. But have you found out anything more?

[bonnypiperlad]

At least you'll not have to worry about that. [He shakes his head.] Not so much, no. There was something that happened to some of the fans, but I'm not sure if it was related.

[fortune_sought]

[she glances at Morgan, who is trying to stalk the butterfly now that it's landed on a rock. she supposes that's one thing to be grateful for, at least. her current situation sounds like it might be better than being overrun by wild people]

[her ears perk up curiously at that] What exactly happened?

[bonnypiperlad]

Aye, well...a few of them vanished. And we found some statues that looked just like them.

[fortune_sought]

[she leans toward the CAT, interested] So you think they were turned into statues? [thoughtfully] I wonder why someone would do that--unless it's simply because the culprit is wicked, of course.

[bonnypiperlad]

There was a creature that we ran into once, the first time I was traveling with the Doctor. Or, well, I should say Zoe and the Doctor ran into it. Something called a medusa. It would turn ye to stone if ye looked directly at it, but I don't know if it meant to be wicked or not.