Entry tags:

OCTOBER EVENT PT 1

OCTOBER EVENT PT1

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 10/3 Rain, rain, go away

As summer draws to a close and the season turns to autumn, the forest gradually starts to warm into golds and reds, starting from the mountains and working inwards towards the town. The first few drops of rain bring with them relief from the heat that had taken hold of the summer months, and the intermittent showers turn into constant downpours by the weekend. For the rest of the month, the rain is unrelenting, the sky cast in heavy grey clouds that refuse to part for the sun for even the briefest of moments, leaving October a month of constant darkness both night and day.

Without an ocean to drain into, the rainwater instead runs down the streets and drags dirt and debris from the forest along with it, ultimately collecting in the lake at the center of town and turning it muddy grey. The children have fun splashing in the puddles, until the worms and snails come crawling out and then there's more terrified shrieking than shouts of laughter, but it's kind of nice sitting by a window with a cup of hot tea while listening to the sound of pattering rain/screaming children outside. Only, the rain doesn't stop, worrying the townspeople enough that they start to talk about preparations for flooding. There really is no higher ground to move to, unless people want to trek all the way up to the mountains, so efforts are instead focused on keeping the water level controlled. Everybody is encouraged to pitch in filling and setting sandbags to build dams around the buildings to keep the water out, to donate non-perishable food and other emergency supplies to make sure there's enough to distribute to those who need them, and to take in what stray cats they're able to care for so that none of them are put in danger of the rushing water outside.

For the duration of the month, both the inn and the school are allowing people to stay in the second floor of the inn and the second story classrooms, free of charge. It's hard to say whether the ghosts in the inn are happy about all the extra company, with the wailing in between the walls getting louder as the month progresses, and some people say they hear giggling at times, which stops the moment they get closer. At the school, there are the Seven School Mysteries to contend with instead. They're all the typical things: the painting of the school founder whose eyes follow you around as you walk down the entrance hall, the bust in the art room that cries blood and stains the stone red, an anatomical model from the science lab that suddenly comes to life and chases people out of the room, the piano in the music room that plays by itself when nobody is in the room, a ghost haunting the bathrooms that locks all the doors when you really have to go, a goat man roaming the halls who chases and knocks anybody out cold if they aren't in a classroom between 4:00-4:05 PM, and ghostly hands that grab your wrists and ankles if you try to enter the gymnasium after sundown.

All these things are real. School's haunted.

→ 10/11-10/12 Paantu Festival

As the lake fills up, more water starts to slosh out of it than what drains in, contaminating the drinking water, causing the townspeople to fall ill, and sapping all the light and the heat from the days. It's never rained this hard and this long before, people are saying. The gods must be angry. Something must have happened or somebody must have done something to curse the town, and now everybody is suffering the consequences of it.

While some people sit around and hope for the best, others decide to take matters in their own hands and revive a forgotten tradition in an effort to save the town: the Paantu Festival. For these two days, several dozen Paantu are seen roaming the streets, humanoid forms covered in branches and leaves stuck onto their bodies with thick, sticky mud, wearing wooden masks over their faces and carrying walking sticks as they chase after anybody still wandering outside. The Paantu scoop mud off the ground and smear them on people's houses, the shops and the school and even the hospital doesn't get spared. It's difficult to get anywhere in town without being ambushed and having a handful of mud thrown at your face, especially with how wet and slippery the streets have become.

As the Paantu are meant to spread good luck and scare away evil spirits, it's ill advised to attack the creatures, although some little kids inadvertently do as they kick and scream and try to get away, and doing so causes a day of bad luck to befall the attacker. When unmasked, some of the Paantu are revealed to be villagers playing the roles, but other times, the Paantu transforms into a cackling demon that jumps out and tries to grab onto your body. These demons cannot be destroyed, but if you're able to remove them, either by force or by persuasion, they'll leave behind a gold coin as thanks for playing with them. Unfortunately, the townspeople aren't able to see the demon Paantu, so if mud hits them on the back of the head and you're the only one standing there, they can only blame one person and that person is you. Better run, punk.

Parents jokingly tell their kids that the Paantu will take them away if they misbehave, but as the last of the Paantu are caught and unmasked, it's found that some people have disappeared in the chaos, old and young alike. Even in the days after the festival, the mud gets washed away, but missing posters go up— including those for the owners of the occult shop so many of you rely on for income, and the shop is temporarily closed. So much for driving out bad luck.

→ 10/13-10/27 No, seriously, please go away

If anything, things just seem to get worse after the festival. With the lake saturated and nowhere else for the water to go, the town starts to flood, two feet by mid-month, with the water level rising exponentially higher until the town is drowning in eight feet of water by the end of the month, rendering all those sandbags useless. Although the water is largely still now instead of rushing towards the center of town, it's still mixed with the toxins from the lake and those who fall in or try to swim in it will eventually become ill, suffering chills and a fever and pressure in their chest that makes it difficult to breathe. Souji and Minato will be glad to have you over for tea any time to get rid of that poison, but unfortunately the tea doesn't help those who aren't Persona users. In order to make a tea that will help the townspeople, you'll have to help the Attendants gather the ingredients for it and fill their request.

On the 14th, the power goes out everywhere except the hospital, which has emergency generators, but those won't last forever either. In the following days, thunder roars in the distance, and lightning begins to flash across the sky, providing the only light now that both the sun and the moon are hidden above the clouds. By some miracle, the lightning never hits the town and electrocutes everybody in it, but it does hit the mountains from time to time, breaking the rock and causing avalanches to fall and smother the forest. At times, little pebbles of hail fall from the sky, and other times, it's frogs and fish that plop down into the water despite there being no ocean in Hirajiro.

Throughout the month, rain continues to fall even during Lockdown. The moon still cannot be seen, but in the area around the lake, faint blue light glows underwater to guide people towards the dungeon, and no Shadows leave this dungeon or the school dungeon to swim through town. For those taking shelter in the school, it still transforms into the previous dungeon during Lockdown, spitting people out onto a random floor and separating those who were together when midnight strikes. In these two dungeons, characters may find some reprieve from the rain, but none of the floors have a sun or a moon to provide light, and it becomes very humid. Yeah. You thought the fourth floor of the lake dungeon was hell already, but now it's 122°F/50°C with 100% humidity.

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ We're doing great, guys. In order to fight the lake dungeon boss, 2 more coin threads must be completed and submitted by 10/14.
⬥ To determine the outcome of the boss battle, a minimum of 10 threads across the entire player base from September's dungeon post is required, with a maximum of 2 threads turned in per player, containing at least 5 comments for each character. These threads may not overlap with coin threads but may be threads started in September or October. The deadline for defeating the boss is 10/31.
⬥ The raining and flooding will continue through the month until 10/27, with part 2 of the event going up on 10/28, but the pouring rain will noticeably lessen once the boss is defeated and the ofuda is returned to the castle. At the worst of the flooding, single story buildings in town will be almost fully submerged, but the water level does not extend as high in the forest and both the castle and shrine will be left untouched by the flood during the month, although they'll still get rained on.
⬥ This month, the full moon (despite not being visible) occurs on 10/12-10/14, and Personas may behave strangely and disobey orders. This is an optional mechanic.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... Another one was something about an art project, right? About how it cries blood or something.

[ At least he can verify if it's actually blood. Or smash the bust to see it's not an electric fountain or something. ]

Let's go. It shouldn't be too creepy.

[An electric fountain of red water... no thanks.]

I think I saw the art room down this way.

[He's pretty good at directions at least, leading them along to the art room. Peeking inside, it's full of the usual canvases, easels, and various plaster busts for drawing practice...]

[ Terry peeks in too, before stepping inside. It looks like a normal art room... well, at least that's what he assumes, since he's never really been in one before. Nothing looks really out of place except for that bust that has red stains on its face. It looks like someone tried to paint it white over the red stains, but was mostly unsuccessful. ]

I don't see anything like eye holes...

[Peeeeeering dubiously at that thing.]

Is it just paint?

[That's the most optimistic option here, honestly.]

[ It is, and Terry would say that too just for optimism, but he smells it. It's definitely blood, but there seems to be something... weird about it. Right when he's about to look closer, it suddenly starts crying red again.

...

Terry pokes the wet red tears and licks his own finger as if he's taste testing (he is). He can actually feel his lifespan lengthen a bit. That's such a strange feeling, but it's so salty... He makes a face. ]

Yeah, that's... definitely blood... Can't mistake it.

[ Also Terry can't go breaking this thing, or they'll have to stay behind to sculpt a new one. ]

[Sasuke watches with wide eyes as Terry just... licks the blood.

UM?]

Are you sure that's safe?

[It's a miracle he can keep his voice level when he asks.]

[ ...

Oh, right. Kido told him not to eat suspicious things. Oops... As if just remembering that, he only laughs awkwardly. ]

It won't affect me as easily as normal people, so... it's fine!

[ Yeah. He's not quite ready to blurt out that he's some kind of bloodsucker despite how this is Sasuke. It's more on Terry, because he's usually not comfortable telling anyone, regardless of who they are. ]

But don't drink it.

[>Doubt.]

Next time, it's probably enough to just smell it.

[Ingesting paint wouldn't have been much better.]

Well... I do smell it. And I can tell that it's blood just from the smell.

[ Despite how the smell isn't that strong, coming out a bust like that. ]

But it smelled kinda different, so I wanted to see if it was actually... yeah. I guess the mystery is true... this thing bleeds blood from its eyes. I can't really extract any useful info out of it either, other than the fact that it isn't some technological prank. There's nothing inside the thing that makes it bleed.

[ He takes his phone out to take a picture of the bust and puts it away in his pocket. ]

Let's go to the next one.

...So you're used to tasting blood?

[Terry that's just. That's so weird, he can't help but ask. But he'll let it drop in favor of continuing to investigate.

He also checks his watch. It's about 3:30.]

...How about the anatomical model? [That one should be... fairly obvious.]

[ Terry doesn't say anything about the blood part other than showing him an awkward smile until he brings up the anatomical model. ]

Yeah. The science lab isn't so far from here.

[ Though Terry seems to be thinking of something... ]

... Maybe the school was haunted from the beginning. These aren't mysteries if we just say that they're all possessed and other supernatural stuff.

[ He's getting haunted house flashbacks. ]

[Yeah...]

That goat man from the haunted house...

[Was that really just a student?]

[ Ugh. He never think he'd have to be wary about anything related to goats, of all things... ]

... To be honest, I've never seen an existence that buff in my life. Anyway, let's go. If the doll thing starts attacking us, I can punch it or something.

[ Always solve problems with violence. ]

[To be fair, it's a valid solution most of the time.]

There's... probably more problems than just its muscles.

[Onward to the science lab! It looks pretty clean and tidy for now, no spilt chemicals or anything.

There's also the anatomical statue standing patiently at the end of the room, positioned so it's facing anyone who happens to walk in.]

...Looks like it's already out.

[ It just goes to show how surreal it is, okay. ]

I dunno how they're usually positioned in classrooms, but isn't this normal?

[ It doesn't really seem all that conspicuous from what he thinks. But then again, he's never been to school other than the occasional college. And that wasn't even for learning. ]

It's just a little weird how it's facing us.

[When walking in, the statue is straight ahead, but the desks are all lined up facing to the right. But then again, maybe it's just in the back for storage?]

Does your power say anything weird about it?

Maybe it's the atmosphere that makes us think it's weird?

[ Since they're supposed to be spooky things, after all. Terry attempts his pinpointing, but the moment he needs to space out for five seconds as he usually does, the doll immediately flings itself to Sasuke instead of Terry. ]

[WELP THIS IS HAPPENING.

He reacts quickly, his knife slipping from his sleeve and into his hand, up by his face to try to keep it away.]

Terry!

[HELP.]

[ Terry snaps out of it, and not only did he get useless information, he sees that the doll is no longer where it's supposed to be and he looks to where Sasuke is and... oh.

The doll is pretty menacing, staring down at Sasuke and even cackling despite how it's not supposed to be talking. Instead of punching it, Terry grabs onto its shoulder and flings it to the wall. ]

... God, how did it move so fast...

I don't know, but shouldn't we get out of here?

[It just chases people out right? So as long as they leave it alone, it should be fine...

Though it is getting closer to four, so that might be a problem of its own eventually.

Anyway, since they're still around, it makes to charge at them again!]

I... think so--

[ The clattering sound it makes on the floor as the doll runs to them freaks Terry out for some reason and he immediately turns around to reflexively punch the doll back to the wall with a loud slam with an undignified short shriek.

... You heard nothing. Terry immediately bolts out the door, dragging Sasuke along. ]

[OUT WE GO. Sasuke will stop once they're out though, observing that the doll seems to have been satisfied with this, returning to just... being a regular, only slightly menacing figure in an empty lab.]

...That's three out of seven.

[Are they all seriously...]

Weren't some of them--

[ There's a loud thump in the hall. Oh. Oh no. It's the ridiculously buff goat man. Terry goes pale. He's... admittedly not frightened, but all of this is weird! WHY IS IT EVEN HERE?! ]

That's the fourth one!!

[ He drags Sasuke back into the lab where the doll springs forward at them again with some hideous screaming, but Terry kicks it off, sending it to the wall again. ]

Shut up!!!

[ ... He's the loudest one here. ]

[There's no chance to answer before he's once again dragged around like a ragdoll. He's still getting his bearings again as Terry kicks the doll into the wall.]

-Wait, aren't we stuck here for fifteen minutes?

[Do they just have to deal with this the whole time?!]

--Wait, it was for fifteen minutes?!

[ Oh my god. He doesn't want to be stuck here with a screaming anatomy doll for fifteen minutes that he would have to constantly kick away...

...

You know what. He calms down and when the doll comes over again, he grabs it, flips it upside down, and pops the legs off the doll. Then he chucks the body over several tables. It's unfortunate though, since now the legs are moving on their own, making Terry scream in surprise and throw it at a lab table while the doll crawls really fast towards them with its hands. ]

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 10/3 Rain, rain, go away

→ 10/11-10/12 Paantu Festival

→ 10/13-10/27 No, seriously, please go away

→ MOD NOTES

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject