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Fear and Loathing in Excelsior
Who: Balthier ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
portolan and anyone else!
What: A mysterious object leads to a horrific week of fear and misery
When: May 21
Where: Excelsior
Content Warnings: death, violence, phobias, memories of characters worst traumas – this is fear based; please tag specifics for your threads.
CWs: death, violence, phobias, memories of characters worst traumas – this is fear based; please tag specifics for your threads.
OPT OUT OPTIONS: Don’t be in Excelsior or don’t be hit by a spell yourself. Players may also limit to smaller scale fears, or avoid specific fear topics they don’t want to play out.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW —
Afraid of being ignored? Day 1 you might notice more people are ignoring you. As the spell progresses, no one is returning your calls or texts, people are avoiding you, and you are having trouble being served at coffee shops. By the end of the week, congratulations, you are no one can see or hear you!
EXAMPLES: One day 1, you might be increasingly aware of your significant other's flaws or the health of the relationship. By midweek, you may find yourselves hitting each others buttons and fighting constantly. By the end of the week, you both may be compulsively playing out every flaw the other person perceives you to have.
If you have a nemesis from your past who haunts you, you may find yourself having more memories and dreams of them on Day 1. By Day 3 you might start seeing their face or signs of their work around town, or impacts of their presence. By the end of the week, they may full-on appear in this world, with all their powers, threatening to repeat that terrible memory if you don’t stop them.
EXAMPLES: You hate the cold and can't shake a chill. By midweek, the temperature around you is literally 10 degrees colder than everywhere else. By the end of the week, you are the eye of a blizzard.
AFTERMATH —
portolan and anyone else!What: A mysterious object leads to a horrific week of fear and misery
When: May 21
Where: Excelsior
Content Warnings: death, violence, phobias, memories of characters worst traumas – this is fear based; please tag specifics for your threads.
CWs: death, violence, phobias, memories of characters worst traumas – this is fear based; please tag specifics for your threads.
OPT OUT OPTIONS: Don’t be in Excelsior or don’t be hit by a spell yourself. Players may also limit to smaller scale fears, or avoid specific fear topics they don’t want to play out.
FEAR AND LOATHING IN EXCELSIOR
An ancient artifact releases three pixies intent on spreading as much fear and chaos as possible. When they hit someone with their spell, their fears manifest, with effects worsening the longer the pixies are free. To escape the spell, characters must face their fears or be trapped in the fear cauldron. Once the pixies are captured, the captured souls will be released and the manifestations will fade, though the damage caused will remain.
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW —
Downtown Excelsior may seem like an odd location to open an antiques store. One wouldn’t think that the chic youth of today would be interested in dusty relics of the past. Yet ask anyone and they will tell you this shop has been around for decades. Rue Moore once reported that it's particularly beloved by the Society and that was how it was able to stay afloat through the changing times, speculating that they use it to move black market goods.
Step inside the high end building and find yourself disoriented by the clash of differing time periods. French Rococo chandeliers, a pristine settee owned by John Adams, an honest-to-god suit of medieval armor, and a few framed sketches by Rembrandt and the like. There’s an electric thrill, as if you could reach out and touch history - though some of that may be the high number of protection magicks being employed.
Whatever you touch is probably worth more than your annual salary. You break it, you buy it.
Balthier is standing at an antique desk plucking away at a laptop as the first few volunteers arrive. He gestures for them to head to the classy bar tucked in the corner. You’re free to enjoy a glass of rich wine and high end appetizers, chatting amongst yourselves about the task at hand while the host finishes his work. As the crowd gathers he shuts his computer and ushers them into the back room, where even more antiques are carefully stacked. Among them are the offenders from the network post and a stack of additional concerning items.
Step inside the high end building and find yourself disoriented by the clash of differing time periods. French Rococo chandeliers, a pristine settee owned by John Adams, an honest-to-god suit of medieval armor, and a few framed sketches by Rembrandt and the like. There’s an electric thrill, as if you could reach out and touch history - though some of that may be the high number of protection magicks being employed.
Whatever you touch is probably worth more than your annual salary. You break it, you buy it.
Balthier is standing at an antique desk plucking away at a laptop as the first few volunteers arrive. He gestures for them to head to the classy bar tucked in the corner. You’re free to enjoy a glass of rich wine and high end appetizers, chatting amongst yourselves about the task at hand while the host finishes his work. As the crowd gathers he shuts his computer and ushers them into the back room, where even more antiques are carefully stacked. Among them are the offenders from the network post and a stack of additional concerning items.
A Little Bit Of Pixie Dust
The biggest puzzle of the night is a medieval cauldron. Intricate carvings depict great tales of monsters and magic. The most notable carving of all is three human faces engraved next to three creatures: a fae, a shade, and a troll.
Search as they might, there’s no record of this object in any database. At the end of the day this one is the only one left identified. As the last remaining investigation team members turn away to pack their things, they miss three small lights slowly rising from the carving’s open mouths. As the door shuts behind them, they may miss the sound of giggling. Or the soft swish of a tricky spell hitting you squarely in the back.
Pixie Magic is unfortunately difficult to detect, after all.
But the first spell cast is a sign these fickle spirits are picking up an old game. Who can create the most chaos? They're powered by human suffering. All fear that they collect returns to their cauldron, making them stronger and increasing the distance they can travel from it.
They are not discriminating and their targets are random. Anyone hit by their spells will become the victims of their fear manifestation spells. Each pixie specializes in a different kind of fear.
The first specializes in internal conflict. Think you have a face like a horse? Well now you might be Bojack Horseman. Worried you’re annoying? Well now you can’t stop doing every annoying habit you’ve ever had. Terrified you might be stone-cold and heartless? Congrats! You're turning into a statue.
Search as they might, there’s no record of this object in any database. At the end of the day this one is the only one left identified. As the last remaining investigation team members turn away to pack their things, they miss three small lights slowly rising from the carving’s open mouths. As the door shuts behind them, they may miss the sound of giggling. Or the soft swish of a tricky spell hitting you squarely in the back.
Pixie Magic is unfortunately difficult to detect, after all.
But the first spell cast is a sign these fickle spirits are picking up an old game. Who can create the most chaos? They're powered by human suffering. All fear that they collect returns to their cauldron, making them stronger and increasing the distance they can travel from it.
They are not discriminating and their targets are random. Anyone hit by their spells will become the victims of their fear manifestation spells. Each pixie specializes in a different kind of fear.
The first specializes in internal conflict. Think you have a face like a horse? Well now you might be Bojack Horseman. Worried you’re annoying? Well now you can’t stop doing every annoying habit you’ve ever had. Terrified you might be stone-cold and heartless? Congrats! You're turning into a statue.
Afraid of being ignored? Day 1 you might notice more people are ignoring you. As the spell progresses, no one is returning your calls or texts, people are avoiding you, and you are having trouble being served at coffee shops. By the end of the week, congratulations, you are no one can see or hear you!
These fear spells may be defeated by the character facing their fear or someone where someone helping them see they are still wanted or safe despite their flaws.
The Second Pixie specializes in interpersonal conflict. Maybe your love life explodes. Maybe your worst nemesis returns to harass and humiliate you. Whatever it is, you’re having trouble with others.
The Second Pixie specializes in interpersonal conflict. Maybe your love life explodes. Maybe your worst nemesis returns to harass and humiliate you. Whatever it is, you’re having trouble with others.
EXAMPLES: One day 1, you might be increasingly aware of your significant other's flaws or the health of the relationship. By midweek, you may find yourselves hitting each others buttons and fighting constantly. By the end of the week, you both may be compulsively playing out every flaw the other person perceives you to have.
If you have a nemesis from your past who haunts you, you may find yourself having more memories and dreams of them on Day 1. By Day 3 you might start seeing their face or signs of their work around town, or impacts of their presence. By the end of the week, they may full-on appear in this world, with all their powers, threatening to repeat that terrible memory if you don’t stop them.
These fear spells may be defeated by literally defeating the other person, or by reconciling with them. They could also be defeated by accepting reconciliation is not possible but removing the person's access to you (or to destroying the city, RIP).
The Third Pixie specializes in person versus environment conflict: packs of angry chihuahuas. The weather. The sidewalk opening up to swallow your ankles. Awakening dormant magical creatures. A super volcano going off.
The Third Pixie specializes in person versus environment conflict: packs of angry chihuahuas. The weather. The sidewalk opening up to swallow your ankles. Awakening dormant magical creatures. A super volcano going off.
EXAMPLES: You hate the cold and can't shake a chill. By midweek, the temperature around you is literally 10 degrees colder than everywhere else. By the end of the week, you are the eye of a blizzard.
These fear spells may be defeated by overcoming the physical obstacle through whatever means necessary.
Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter...
Perhaps you failed to overcome this challenge. Just as you succumb to your worst fears, your eyes open and you find yourself standing in an empty space. Others are there with you, looking equally as forlorn and lost.
And then it transforms.
You and your fellow victims are now trapped in a HELLISH LIMBO. You’re living out one fear after another – whether it’s yours, or that of one of the others who failed to overcome their fear in the world outside.
In this hell your very worst fears are realized. And there’s no way out. The pixie’s magic brings things in, but it doesn’t let them out.
Those who have not succumbed to their fears may be drawn to the back room of the antique shop, finding the cauldron abandoned but overflowing with power. The magically inclined may be able to find the seam on this pocket dimension and ATTEMPT A RESCUE.
But more concerningly, the carvings on the cauldron appear to be glowing. What was once a fanciful depiction of ancient battles now appears to be a warning that the worst is yet to come.
These powerful creatures need to be defeated and returned to the cauldron. They have fanned out across the city and will be encountered separately, so teams may wish to form. They cannot be killed, but wounding them will bleed out their power until they can be re-sealed on the cauldron.
The only trouble is you need to find them.
And then it transforms.
You and your fellow victims are now trapped in a HELLISH LIMBO. You’re living out one fear after another – whether it’s yours, or that of one of the others who failed to overcome their fear in the world outside.
In this hell your very worst fears are realized. And there’s no way out. The pixie’s magic brings things in, but it doesn’t let them out.
Those who have not succumbed to their fears may be drawn to the back room of the antique shop, finding the cauldron abandoned but overflowing with power. The magically inclined may be able to find the seam on this pocket dimension and ATTEMPT A RESCUE.
But more concerningly, the carvings on the cauldron appear to be glowing. What was once a fanciful depiction of ancient battles now appears to be a warning that the worst is yet to come.
These powerful creatures need to be defeated and returned to the cauldron. They have fanned out across the city and will be encountered separately, so teams may wish to form. They cannot be killed, but wounding them will bleed out their power until they can be re-sealed on the cauldron.
The only trouble is you need to find them.
Transformation
As the pixies amass more and more power from the fear they’re generating, the range they can travel from the cauldron increases. The further they can travel, the more fear they can inflict. And where better to feast than a city built upon consumerism, where fear isn’t dealt with but bought off. Perhaps you may spot the flickering light of a pixie out of the corner of your eye, but it’s gone in a flash.
Eventually though, they trade speed for power. As their power crescendos the pixies begin to change shape. By the seventh day, all three of them have shape shifted into much larger and more imposing forms.
The first pixie will become a beautiful and terrifying fae. They make themselves at home in the city’s enormous man-made park and offer fae bargains to those foolhardy enough to trust them. Strength won’t overcome them, but a quick thinking mind might.
The second becomes nothing but a shade. It slides under cars and along walls, hiding in people’s shadows and whispers their darkest fears. This entity can’t be held down or stopped with physical force, but it recoils from the light.
The third rampages throughout the business center in the form of an enormous troll. Like the other two, this entity cannot be stopped with force. Excelsior’s artificial weather systems may be needed to slow this beast down.
Eventually though, they trade speed for power. As their power crescendos the pixies begin to change shape. By the seventh day, all three of them have shape shifted into much larger and more imposing forms.
The first pixie will become a beautiful and terrifying fae. They make themselves at home in the city’s enormous man-made park and offer fae bargains to those foolhardy enough to trust them. Strength won’t overcome them, but a quick thinking mind might.
The second becomes nothing but a shade. It slides under cars and along walls, hiding in people’s shadows and whispers their darkest fears. This entity can’t be held down or stopped with physical force, but it recoils from the light.
The third rampages throughout the business center in the form of an enormous troll. Like the other two, this entity cannot be stopped with force. Excelsior’s artificial weather systems may be needed to slow this beast down.
AFTERMATH —
Once the pixies are restored to the cauldron, their fears in the city fade away and trapped characters are released, physically unharmed but mentally shaken. The damage any fear manifestations did to the city remain, but any people or objects they conjured fade away within the day.
The cauldron cannot be destroyed, so something will need to be done to keep it from wreaking havoc again.
The cauldron cannot be destroyed, so something will need to be done to keep it from wreaking havoc again.
IN SUMMARY...
- Balthier asks for help identifying magical objects. Characters interacting with one object in particular awakens sleeping magic inside.
- When the pixies first awaken, they must stay close to the cauldron to sustain their power.
- Each pixie's fear spell works on a different kind of conflict (though characters can be affected by more than one, or cured and then affected by another). As the week goes on, the manifested fears will worsen.
- Characters can defeat the fear spells by facing their fears or by someone else helping/interfering.
- The pixies must be defeated and returned to the cauldron.
- Comment HERE if you'd like to be involved in taking out the pixies!
no subject
he snorts at the comments on Vaan and Basch. ]
Vaan was a uniquely...rash individual. We needed to draw attention, and Basch was a known kingslayer. For such a wildly attractive man he had no personality to speak of and terrible taste in hair and fashion. Hated me on principal for being a pirate. Hated more when the princess, his sworn charge or some noble nonsense, was willing to work with me.
[ As David sits down, Balthier slides beside him, head going to his shoulder. His voice is quieter this time. ]
She did. I -- I'm glad there's a way for you to see her. I hadn't considered.
[ a pause. his chest entirely tight, his voice barely a whisper. ]
You still want to be with me? When I let you down? Knowing I don't know how to be vulnerable or supportive or trusting when it matters? That I can be as grand of an ass as my father? That I'm going to let you down again because I'm trying but Scions I'm a mess and I don't know how to be better but I want to be and I want so badly to make you feel loved and I'm terrified and ashamed that I couldn't do that when you needed me to be so much more.
[ you still love me, even though I'm human and flawed? ]
no subject
[With that he holds out the earrings.]
You should put these back in, when you don't need me to be a pillow. I think you deserve to look like yourself. Like Balthier. We're not going to touch that other name. It's a dead name.
no subject
especially because he's finally hearing it. that's his David, full of conviction and singleminded love. for Balthier.
he takes the earrings from David, head still on his shoulder, interlacing their fingers. ]
I don't hate him, you know. I don't even hate that I was him. I'm just terrified of being as trapped and powerless and he was. Of being left the way he was, over and over.
no subject
But you're not him, not anymore. This is you. Maybe those books are true in some degree. There's a chance some in some world there is a Balthier who never became Balthier, who wrote flights of fantasy. But that isn't you. You're the Sky Pirate Balthier, who has stolen my heart, so I swear the next time you try and break up with me by text I will smack you. Because you will deserve it.
But I hope you don't try and break up with me at all.
no subject
He even chuckles at David's threat. Not that it isn't deserved. David's right, though; Balthier wouldn't have done that. ]
Noted, though next time you try to tell me you are heartless I'm smacking you. Maybe it will get you to your senses faster.
[ He tightens his grip on David's hand, though. ]
Last week I would have told you that the only person I wasn't going to fight for your heart was you, but clearly I will. Even when I'm not myself and don't think I deserve to have you.
If I ever try to break up with you again, take me to Strange or Loki. Unless there's a spell afoot, there's no universe where I let you go.
no subject
[God that scares him. The ache in his chest that had been there, and then had been gone entirely.]
I hope you breaking me free means I don't have to worry about seeing Belasco out of the corner of my eye all the time anymore. It's been hell.
[The idea that there is no universe where Balthier would leave him is comforting. But he doesn't believe it.]
no subject
So long as that's true, Balthier is going to worry he's done something wrong.
But today he hears the hurt and fear in David's voice, and his mind is clear enough to really process how deeply miserable that had to have been for David. So he pulls his hand free only to wrap his arms around David, tilting the other man's head against his own even as he strokes David's back. ]
You know that isn't the real you anymore than that was the real me, don't you? Even if some other David in some other scenario could become heartless, that doesn't mean this one can.
no subject
I know. And yet I fear it with all of my heart. That I will become a man just like that. That...
Shit, I told the Kid Loki that I could take over the world if I wanted to, and that I had ideas. Because I was making them. Fuck.
no subject
[ He thinks to Ripley and Loki too. With his mind clear, it's fitting together better.
But David's still so scared, even with the spell released. ]
Having the capacity for something isn't the same as being fated to act on it. The fact that you fear it is everything. My father -- I have no memories of him ever considering the downsides to his ambitions to better the world. He was so sure he was right, and anyone else was a fool. Even when he was hurting the people he claimed to love, he didn't relent. Except he never loved them at all. That's not you.
no subject
I know. I... I know. You've seen your father's darkness and that helps you see it's not in me.
no subject
I'll remind you when you need to hear it. And that you're good and kind and brave. Making mistakes or being afraid doesn't change that.
[ his voice is gentle, and the hand not squeezing David comes to stroke his face. ]
You can't fool me. Even when I'm out of my mind and you're acting out the thing you're afraid of. I see you.
no subject
And I just see you. I promised. I promise.
no subject
I know. I believe you. [ A kiss against the top of his head, curling his arms around David and pulling him close. ] I'm sorry I wasn't able to immediately. It wasn't you. You're not the person who hurt me. [ and he's going to keep working to keep those things separated in his head. ]
no subject
[It's easy to curl in against Balthier. Because that's what he wants. What he needs. What, perhaps, they both need.]
no subject
Stay with me awhile?
no subject
[He probably needs to go out there at some point, reach out to the young Loki and try and figure out what the fuck is going on. But in the moment, he can't think of anything he wants more than to be here with Balthier.]
no subject
I'm going to change and get us water. [ these clothes are...permanently ruined and he's not thinking about that too hard right now. But they don't fit right and they don't feel like him. ] And then I just want to hold you.
no subject
I want to be held. I Need to be held.
no subject
Me too, dear one. [ He gives his love one more squeeze and another kiss on the head before untangling himself. The earrings go back in the jewelry box and this time he can see Ashe's ring. Well. They'll have to talk about whatever David saw at some point, but not today. He also briefly opens the closet and sure enough, the Ivalice clothes are back.
Those aren't for today, either, though. He pulls something soft and clean out, goes to rinse off, and comes back with water looking worn but very much Balthier. He even briefly scanned the living room and noticed the books were gone. That saves him having to handle them long enough to destroy them.
Setting the water down but in reach, he settles onto the bed, pillows behind him so David can curl up against his chest and Balthier can stroke his face and back, and with any luck, they'll both doze off. ]
My arms are disappointedly empty. Come fix that for me, beloved.
no subject
There, fixed. Fuck, I've missed this. And you. So much. How could I not see I had missed you so much?
no subject
It’s been a difficult week. Scions David I missed you too. [ he pulls him close, covering him in soft kisses. Twice now they’ve drifted apart for some reason or other and twice he’s hated it. ] I told you once you only needed to tell me and I’d give you space. I’m taking it back. I need you here. You’re stuck with me. [ it feels good to tease, and good to express a desire for not being that much apart again. ]
no subject
I don't want space. Still, be careful what you say, or I will think you are asking me to move in.
[Which clearly he is not.]
no subject
Careful putting ideas in my head.
no subject
Your head has plenty of things in it of your own.
no subject
You've found me out. This has all been an elaborate ruse to get you in my arms. I thought the also being miserable myself piece would make it particularly convincing. I am the greatest mastermind of all time.
(no subject)
Wrap this one?
Yep
Re: Yep