metamods: (pic#14762392)
meta moderators ([personal profile] metamods) wrote in [community profile] metalogs2023-07-01 11:23 am

CONFLUENCE 020

Who: Everyone!
What: A Confluence! + Part II of the Downburst plot
When: The beginning of July
Where: Primarily Arcadia & Excelsior, Washington
Content Warnings: Just a little of Fantastic's fascist ideology

 
CONFLUENCE

A Confluence, capitalized, is the converging of one or more supernatural forces: it encompasses all occurrences that cause sudden, unnatural change in this world.

The Starfallen only arrive during Confluences. For this Confluence, the sky over Excelsior, Washington opens up after a ripple rolls through the clouds, seeming to cause a visual glitch for anyone who’s watching. The glitch itself looks more like an adjustment to reality than anything, and time – if but for a moment and nothing more – stops. Everything stops, and then it starts again.

It’s that stoppage in time that makes the arrival of the Starfallen easy and safe. Rather than forcing the people of Excelsior to contend with their new arrivals, they find them suddenly on the ground, standing as if they were there the entire time. How did that happen? How did they get here? It’s unclear.

The effects of this flicker in time won’t be immediately obvious. As the newly arrived Starfallen take in their surroundings, they’ll notice that the rather advanced city they’re in is experiencing a bit of trouble. Large, carnivorous plants walk the streets and people are chasing after them one by one. Moving in and out of the scene is a rather dashing-looking man – one they’ll soon learn is named Fantastic. He’ll stop by the Starfallen once or twice, flash a smile and offer some help, but he’ll otherwise be occupied.

Well, that aside, time for you – one of the many new Starfallen – to adjust to your new surroundings. Welcome to Excelsior and welcome to an era of political turmoil. Don’t worry about the time dilation that may have occurred. That’s the least of your worries.

EXCELSIOR

A safe “landing” of sorts means that the newly arrived Starfallen will need to look up to get the full scope of where they have arrived: a city with tall buildings, flying cars, and visuals that make it seem as if it’s further in the future than it is. Technological progress and prowess is the name of Excelsior’s game; it’s just too bad that this progress sometimes comes with its share of hiccups. In this case, those hiccups are the dangerous plants roaming the streets and causing problems. These plants had been a problem very recently, and it seems that any weed whacking only temporarily dealt with the issue at hand. That, or whoever made them in the first place wasn’t put off of their experiments.

Or … maybe something else is afoot?

After all, it’s rather surprising that someone as enterprising and industrious as Fantastic is roaming the streets to stop the problem at hand – but then again, these plants are rather troublesome!

Aside from his occasional greetings and offered help to the newly-arrived Starfallen, he’s otherwise occupied. In his stead, several rather official-looking individuals will be approaching the Starfallen once they recover from the time stoppage. They’ll offer the newcomers a mobile device as well as a teleporter, along with a place to stay in a state-of-the-art facility named Arcadia. After all, Arcadia is meant to be there for Starfallen – a safe haven when they might otherwise be caught up in the chaos around them.

No one is obligated to go to Arcadia, but it appears that anyone who’s newly arrived will be given their teleporter with the intention of forcing them there. Once they’re given freedom to move on their own, there is a good chance that they will be teleported right into Arcadia proper against their will. Upon arrival, they’ll find that their teleporter is now glitched. A guard, upon spotting their arrival, will greet them and apologize if they can’t go anywhere else. “Our system has been buggy lately.”

At least they’re trying to keep the Starfallen away from the plants?

➢ Everyone arriving during this Confluence will be given the same story: that Fantastic and the Alliance have been working hard to provide a safe home for all Starfallen because the world itself views them with a great deal of animosity. Just recently, a man hypnotized a number of Starfallen in order to force them to cause harm to others and themselves – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

➢ Once someone who’s been forcibly teleported to Arcadia either accepts their place there or manually leaves – by exiting through one of the gates on foot – they’ll find that their teleporter is working. Somewhat. From time to time, it’ll just drop them right back into Arcadia even if they intended to use it to go elsewhere. Like Dorothy always said: there’s no place like home.

➢ Despite the rather forcible welcome, Arcadia is … rather nice. Constructed in collaboration with the people of Excelsior, Arcadia is an odd mix of modern-day and historical architecture, leaving it to be a beautiful view for anyone to witness from a distance. All aspects of Arcadia are pristine, and it’s apparent that this structure is meant to be safe and protected. Each Starfallen who chooses to take a room will find that their quarters are designed to their liking: they’re allowed to choose anything and everything they want.

➢ There are a few … quirks when it comes to Arcadia. There are suns emblazoned throughout, as well as guards standing post. These guards are equipped with strong armor and power nullifiers if anyone tries to fight them. Finally, the entirety of Arcadia gives off a sense that it’s resonating with magic – with this being the strongest near its lowest level. That level is, of course, blocked off to anyone who may dare to enter.

➢ If Arcadia seems a little … empty, that’s because it’s been shunned by the current population of Starfallen. Thanks to their antics and ungrateful tendencies, they’ve decided that they’re too proud to take what’s been offered to them. Instead, they’re causing problems all over the country, and Fantastic is working tirelessly to stop their mayhem. Surely this is all there is to it, right? … Right?

DOWNBURST II

Right around this Confluence, Fantastic begins making frequent television appearances in order to try to assuage any worries that the people he’s promised to protect might have in the wake of the chaos following his rise to power. What does this mean? Well, a lot of bloated speeches that no one wants to listen to, as well as countless television programs interrupted so that he can ensure that everyone hears the sound of his voice.

Even with his frequent messages, his message largely remains the same – so here are some notes.

➢ Fantastic always apologizes for the chaos happening everywhere. While he hoped that he would be able to bring order to the Alliance and use his new opportunity to help others, it appears that some bad actors have attempted to frame him in a bad light. These bad actors are not limited to the Starfallen – while he doesn’t name Atomight or Mechanima, it’s apparent that he is likely referring to them.

➢ After all, Fantastic inherited Atomight and Mechanima's messes. The biggest and most recent "mess" is just about everything in Central City. Everything. But he mainly means Jinx's destruction of the city on Father's Day – which is an event that could only take place with Mechanima's intervention. Had the city not been placed under an unwanted quarantine, Fantastic would have been able to intervene and help.

➢ When it comes to Mechanima, he reassures the citizens of Central City that he is doing everything in his power to restore its autonomy so that Alliance processes can proceed as normal. Otherwise, it appears that all Alliance operations have been moved to Excelsior for the time being. He alludes to the “problem” being solved by some heroic Starfallen there, so there is no reason to keep it under quarantine … but some villains just can’t help themselves!

➢ Overall, Fantastic alludes to countless problems. Guards who are just trying to protect reticent Starfallen are being attacked without provocation. Many people are speaking out against Fantastic and even calling what he’s doing a “regime.”

➢ The more Fantastic appears, the more he seems desperate – frazzled. At first, it seems like an act: him appearing desperate to win viewers’ hearts and minds. But soon he’ll seem less calm and collected, like he’s aware that he’s lost control (or never had control in the first place). He won’t admit this outright. He’ll never admit it. No, he’ll always smile. Always seem pleased to help anyone, even the Starfallen who hate him for some reason. Always.

CLIFF NOTES.

➢ Welcome to the midway point for our Downburst event! This Confluence is meant to double as a means for all of our new players to integrate into the middle of an event. We reused some assets from the most recent TDM in order to help, but if you would like any additional help keeping your TDM threads canon, please hit us up below!

No players will be forced to place their character into Arcadia if they don't like the bizarre and not-at-all-biased intro to this world – their teleporters can merely glitch out if they so choose. After all, it doesn't seem like anything is going as planned.

➢ Even though this batch of Starfallen have just arrived, they will be followed by Guards as if they've been here all along. Isn't it fun to suddenly be under unwanted surveillance upon arrival?

➢ Incoming players can check our prior event log for more information about Arcadia and the Guards in detail.

WILDCARD.

Metaheroes takes inspiration from all walks of comics. Take a look at the CITIES to get an idea as to what day to day life is like in the other cities. Perhaps you've encountered a supervillain (or hero) who needs to be thwarted, or a metahuman with unusual powers creating bizarre effects.

faceguy: (got nothin to learn)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-06 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah. There’s only five of us, so I grew up hiding from most people.

[There are the yokai, but Leo doesn’t actually feel like part of them. He spent most of his life living in the human world, with them but not of them.]

My world is mostly humans, so I… stand out. [He laughs.]
unkindled_madness: (reading)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-06 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
...I see. It's not an entirely unfamiliar experience.

[Sephiroth only passed for human on his world because there weren't any other possibilities. People who come from these places with demons and shapeshifters and superpowers always single him out.

Only five... How does that come to be? Near extinction, or limited creation?]


There is a race like you on my Planet, but they don't have much to do with humans either.
faceguy: (for a first effort this)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-14 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah? Really?

[That gets Leo’s attention. He hasn’t heard many people say they see creatures like him, after all…]

Are they actually like turtles, or just big reptiles?
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-14 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
No, they look quite a bit like you, shell included.

[He considers a moment.]

...webbed fingers though. And tails.

Would you call yourself a turtle, then?
faceguy: (my poor heart)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-21 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
[Wow, that actually sounds... really close. That's pretty cool, actually...]

Yeah, that's what I am. I was a normal turtle until I got mutated with human DNA. Uh, like me but smaller and walking on four legs instead of two.

[Maybe this guy has no idea what a turtle even is, so Leo will explain.]

On my world there's only four of us... but if there's a whole race like us on your planet, that's pretty sweet!
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-22 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I am familiar with turtles.

[He saw them at a pet store once!]

...I thought you said there were five of you.
faceguy: (i dont give a damn)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-23 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah, my bad. My family has five people, but only four of us are turtles. My dad’s a rat.

[They’re a normal American family.]
unkindled_madness: (incredulous)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-23 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Now, rat people are a new one for him.]

...adoptive, I assume.
faceguy: (come round)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-23 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
You’d think that, huh?

[Actually, Leo thought that, too, for the first fourteen years of his life.]

But no, he was born human. His DNA was used to mutate me and my brothers, so he’s our real dad! Or, one of them.

[Leo surely has a turtle dad out there too, if he’s still alive.]
unkindled_madness: (command)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-23 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
...quite an odd turn of events.

[He hesitates.]

The people doing all of this... One hopes you all left them far behind.
faceguy: (show them what youre all about)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-24 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, if it were up to me we would, but my little brother decided the guy that did it is our other dad now. And he kinda gets his way... it's the younger brother privileges.

[Don't worry about it.]
unkindled_madness: (confused)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-25 08:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sephiroth does not understand this choice and it's very clear in his expression. He was already being reserved in not proposing murdering this person.]

...

I suppose that's his decision.
faceguy: (i carry the crown)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-27 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
[Leo gets it; not everyone is willing to forgive. He wasn't willing to forgive at first, either, but Mikey had a good point that without the man who created them, they wouldn't be a family.

It's a compelling counterpoint.]


Well, thanks to him we all have each other, so I guess my brother has a point there.

[Just to defend Mikey's decision making.]
unkindled_madness: (didn't want to be here)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-27 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sephiroth already did a patricide so forgiveness isn't happening.]

If you say so. I wouldn't give credit for the simple fact of existence.
faceguy: (a motherfucker)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-28 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Whoops.]

Easy for humans to say. You get born like this.

[And obviously Sephiroth is a normal human right? Right?]
unkindled_madness: (skeptical)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-28 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
[In the past, he wouldn't have admitted this so freely, but he's come to terms with it enough that:]

...I'm not human.
faceguy: (i guess this just)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-28 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. Oh, uh, shoot, sorry.

[That's right, maybe he shouldn't just assume that here, given... everything. He does look genuinely apologetic.]

Guess I should have known. Never seen a human with hair quite that long and flowing.
unkindled_madness: (reading)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-28 02:11 pm (UTC)(link)
...it's all right.

[See, he can be forgiving.]

You'd hardly be the first to make that mistake. But people aren't always what they seem.
faceguy: (for a first effort this)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-29 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[So kind, Sephiroth!]

Yeah, you're right. Should keep that in mind.

So, uh... what are you, if not human? If you don't mind me asking...
unkindled_madness: (curiosity)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-29 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[He pauses, then shrugs.]

There's only me. "Sephiroth" will do.
faceguy: (nothing can break me down)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-07-31 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Only him, huh? Leo has met others who were created as a lab experiment, like Leo was, and it makes him curious…

But more importantly…]


Nice to meet ya, Seph. I’m Leo!

[He decided that was too many syllables.]
unkindled_madness: (are you sure about this?)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-07-31 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh. He's one of those.

Seriously, it's only three syllables. How is that too many?]


...I prefer Sephiroth.
faceguy: (these desperate times)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-08-01 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[Too many is too many!]

Sure, if you say so.

[He will not remember that.]
unkindled_madness: (talking)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2023-08-01 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Sephiroth is getting that feeling... but he has to try.]

At any rate... It doesn't seem your stalker has any intention of leaving, but they aren't near enough to affect powers. I may be able to attempt something, if you'd like to lose them.
faceguy: (for a first effort this)

[personal profile] faceguy 2023-08-03 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
Attempt something? Like what?

[He's curious.]

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