CAN CRY: TEST DRIVE... 2!

[cancrymods]

CAN CRY: SECOND TDM

Welcome back to Can Cry's second TDM! This is a quick refresher of the game's first test drive meme, in anticipation of the new opening date announcement. If you're unfamiliar with the game, then you can check out the interest check, FAQ, world & setting info page and the powers and abilities page to get up to speed! In order to not spoil the opening of the game for players, the TDM is not canon to Can Cry and will take place in a slightly wonky little AU just over to the left. Characters have awoken in Purgatory after their deaths and been conscripted as Executors by Rei, the sole other Executor in Purgatory. The population of dangerous spirits has gotten out of control and she needs some allies to help her keep things under control. Characters on the TDM will have access to all of their starter powers as outlined on the powers page as well as two unique abiliites to play around with as you please. Some prompts and location details have been provided below for you to play around with but please feel free to go hog wild and have fun!

LIMBO

Limbo is the Executor's main base of operations as it is the top level of Purgatory and the one most populated by non-violent spirits. Distorted by the cognition of all the human souls here, Limbo has taken on the form of a hazy, dream-like recollection of a town. It's full of winding paths that go up, down and all around and the geometries of the town and its surroundings don't always make much sense. Stairs might lead loop back around on themselves or a door to the outside might end up leading right back indoors. It's a bit of a headache, so it's usually best not to think about it too hard. The town is mostly functional, mostly thanks to all the human souls here. Players are free to invent any additions to the town that they would like for their threads, but here are some to get you started: ⚝ Conbini: A seemingly normal Japanese convenience store, full of the sort of fare you'd expect from a cheap 24-7 convenience store. There is a Spectre manning the counter and you can try and pay for anything you buy... but you'll quickly realize it's a little pointless, because they'll accept anything you try to pay with and even then, if you try and leave the store without paying, no one will stop you. As for the store itself, there are four aisles and everything's a bit clustered together, but it's not overly claustrophobic. Things start getting a bit weird when you try and go to the back of the store, though – no matter how long you look, there is always just one more aisle for you to browse and the further back you go, the stranger and more abstract the items on the shelf will look. If you walk too far or turn around you will suddenly find yourself back at the first aisle in the blink of an eye as if you were rubberbanded back there. ⚝ Coffee Bar: It's... a regular old coffee shop. There's nothing particularly weird about it, which might be the actually weird part here. It's also perfectly generic and there doesn't seem to be any kind of concrete branding. It's more like a number of people put their heads together and tried to imagine the platonic ideal of a coffee shop. Which, considering that this is Purgatory, is probably more-or-less what happened. Like the conbini, you don't really need to pay here, though Spectres will accept any old junk in exchange if you do try and pay with it. You can order up anything you'd like here and get it pretty intact, though on occasion, depending on who's serving, you may get an extremely odd drink – a black coffee that literally tastes like the colour black or a hot chocolate that's just molten liquid chocolate dumped into your cup. Sip with caution. ⚝ Movie Theater: Your standard-issue movie theater. The screenings right now appear to be, uh... anything and everything. Thanks to the nature of Purgatory, you can watch pretty much anything you'd like here and the theater itself will claim to be showing movies in line with your character's preferences when they pop into the building to see what's showing. Unlike many other places in Purgatory, the movie theater is not staffed. This is both a blessing and a curse because it means you can eat and drink as much as you want from the concession stands but you also have to work out how to operate them yourselves. The movie theater functions normally most of the time but on occasion, if you're watching a movie, you may find that the screen glitches itself our and you will see flashes of dreams and memories of other Specters in Limbo – perhaps even your fellow Executors or even yourself. These flashes are generally too quick and vague to really give any information though and a moment later, the screen will fix itself. ⚝ Hotel: A so-called luxury hotel that towers over the rest of the buildings in the area. Even if you don't have a reservation, all you have to do is approach the desk and the Spectre there will apparently recognize you and hand over a key to one of the rooms. Except... you can't quite read the number? It seems to fluctuate whenever you try. Not that it matters, because the key will open any of the hundreds of doors in the building, though no one door will ever open onto the same room twice. The layout of each room is subtly off in a number of ways, with the dimensions of the room not seeming quite right no matter how you try to work it out. The decor is luxurious through and the extravagant room service is free, so it's a nice place to relax. Be warned, though – if you misplace your key, you'll find yourself lost in the mazelike halls until you eventually stumble out into the reception with no way of knowing how you got there. ⚝ Bathhouse: An enormous Grecio-Roman styled bathhouse for you to relax in after a hard day's work of dealing with Revenants. There don't seem to be any workers here that you can see, so feel free to let yourself in and make yourself at home. Interestingly, even without anyone around, you'll find the water is always adjusted to a temperature and a fragrance that's most appealing to you and drinks, towels and anything else you need will appear within reach by the side of the baths whenever it occurs to you that you might need it. ⚝ Library: Ew, books. What are you, some kinda nerd?! ... Anyway, it's a pretty normal library. The same spacial distortions that exist in the conbini also happen here. While the library is a pretty decent size at first glance, it's entirely possible for you to end up wandering for hours among endless shelves of books. Thankfully, though, once you've made up your mind to go, the next turn of a corner will deliver you back to the front desk. Scattered everywhere are comfy chairs, beanbags and all sorts of nice, quiet nooks and crannies for you to curl up with a good book. As with the movie theater, Executors will be able to find any kinds of books they like here with no issue and they'll be able to freely borrow as many as they'd like for as long as they please. There's no late fees, but if you lose or destroy any of your books, then the Spectre at the front desk will be quietly disappointed at you with ENORMOUS force. It's honestly kind of devastating. ⚝ Wishing Fountain: An old, slightly worn fountain in the center of town that acts as a useful landmark if you ever find yourself getting turned around in the twisty turning streets of Limbo. While the fountain is always full of water somehow, it appears the mechanism inside is broken or rusted away due to lack of care and the fountain itself isn't functioning. Still, it's said that if you toss something in here and make a wish, it'll be granted. It doesn't work, but it's fun to try, anyway. There's a plaque on the front at has some kind of engraving, but it's so old that most of the writing has worn away and it's pretty hard to read. ⚝ Train Station: A lonely-seeming train station with just a single platform. Old-timey steam trains pass through here frequently and Executors are free to board them. They'll find, however, that regardless of the destination the train claims to travel to (which is random gibberish every time), the train will simply loop the town once and then return to the station. When in doubt: Just get weird with it!

QUESTS

Since it's up to Executors to maintain order in Purgatory, this also means they need to resolve any issues that crop up for the Spectres occupying it. You can come up with any sort of quest you like, but here are some ideas to get you started: ⚝ A lost child will request your help in reuniting with their mother. It's a bit of a struggle for them to communicate with you as they are a freshly-awakened Spectre and it's also not entirely clear if their mother is, in fact, in Purgatory with them. Eventually, careful questioning of the child Spectre and some of the other Spectres around Limbo will lead you to a bookshop where mother and child will be reunited. Happy end! ⚝ Two Spectres are causing a ruckus in town with a screaming-in-each-other's-face tier argument. Calming them both down is going to be a task all on its own, but if you manage to, it turns out the first Spectre is missing a precious object and has accused the other of stealing it. The second Spectre insists the precious object never existed in the first place. Uh... good luck with this. ⚝ A uncommunicative and kind of creepy Spectre is accused by others in the town of being a Revenant in disguise after some of their neighbors disappear in the night. Investigate and uncover the truth! ⚝ While you're out and about in town, a Spectre suddenly rushes past you, nearly knocking you aside in the process. When you look up, they're already speeding away. It's only then that you notice... aren't your pockets a little lighter? Hey! Thief! You've just been pickpocketed! Go after them and get your stuff back! ⚝ A handful of "younger" Specters (probably teenagers in life) have managed to sneak down onto the Underside and are in danger of being hurt or worse by the Revenants. Protect them and get them back to safety! Feel free to NPC Spectres as you need for this TDM!

THE UNDERSIDE OF LIMBO

Though it's the most peaceful level of Purgatory, Limbo is not without its dangers. Directly below Limbo is what's known as the Underside, a darkness cast by the city above where Revenants and malicious spirits linger. It appears as a dark, mirror-reversed version of Limbo, though the geography is much more twisted and confusing. If left unchecked, Revenents from the Underside would attack the town and consume any number of Spectres. It's up to the Executors to head down there and see to them! This is a general prompt for combat-oriented testing, to allow characters to experiment with their new powers as Executors! Because of that, and because combat will function slightly differently in-game, this section is pretty loosey goosey. Like previous posts, you are free to invent locations and NPC Revenants to make things more fun and exciting! You can also check out the Mid-Tier Combat Prompts below to test out how Combat will work in Can Cry before the game opens. Or, if you prefer to thread out your own fights, players are encouraged to invent their own Revenants to fight for this TDM. If you would like some ideas for what sort of Revenants to battle, you can check out this video to see what sort of enemies exist in the original game, but beware that it does contain spoilers for Crystar.

Comments

COMBAT PROMPT: RIGAUD

[cancrymods]

With a nasty attitude and even nastier teeth, this is a dangerous Revenant even for a tough and experienced Executor. They're weak individually, but this Revenant tends to attack in swarms, clustering around their prey and doing their level best to devour anything that gets in their way. Oh, and those nasty teeth – did I mention they're poisonous? Good job you can't die again!

Riguad is a heavy, dense Revenant that floats through the air, bobbing around as if it doesn't have a care in the world. It appears to be made out of a sharp metal, but that ball at the bottom will split open when it attacks, revealing endless rows of razor-sharp teeth and a gross, undulating throat opening. Though it has no eyes, Rigaud detects movement via sound and vibrations in the air and once it realizes prey is in range, it will swarm with other Revenants of this type to try and tear everything apart.

It's quick, speedy and worst of all, it's always hungry. Trying to take down a herd of these alone is a fool's gambit. Prioritize teamwork and you'll eventually come out on top!

Win conditions:


- At least 4 characters must show up to fight.
- At least 20 comments must be posted, over at least 2 threads.

[pride_of_amarcia]

[For those who know Pascal, her looking serious and intent would qualify as more than a little unusual. But with a swarm of creatures this large, she knows better than to dare get close alone, waiting for others to show up, backing away as the swarm floats in her direction, approaching a little as it moves away.

With her staff in hand, she's ready to try and pick one off if it gets far enough away to avoid her getting swarmed. But so far, she's found no opportunity. And she doesn't like the idea of just giving up and letting them run wild - but neither does she like the idea of experiencing those poisoned teeth from up close.]

let's get thread 2 going!

[herowalksalone]

[If you squint into the shadows, you may see a young man decked out in a suit of dark samurai armor that seems to swallow him whole. He does not move, but is instead quietly observing the swarm of floating Rigauds and the current battle against them by two others. They seem to be using distance attacks, magical in nature? At least that's what the eyepiece over his left eye is telling him.

The enemies are small but agile... They react strongly to sounds, it seems. If he's quiet enough, he may be able to get a jump on them and help the others out. He holds out his left wrist and it looks as if he's... typing on something that looks like a miniature keyboard? Then there's a quick zap, both in sound and in light, and a small figure materializes in front of him -- a tiny winged woman with short red hair and a blue outfit.

It doesn't seem that he was noticed... Wait, now the others are running away? That changes things. Now what?]

COMBAT PROMPT: HENRICUS

[cancrymods]

A moderately dangerous Revnant, powerful enough to engage Executors solo, rather than needing a group. Wispy and airy, Henricus is a tricksy Revenant to face, as it will flitter around the battlefield at top speed to avoid any blow that it can. Fortunately for you, it isn't smart enough to just run away either, so all you have to do is bide your time...

Despite all appearances, Henricus' body appears to be made out of cold steel, or at least a material that greatly resembles it. Its limbs are sturdy and they'll hurt quite a bit if you manage to take a blow from them. Henricus does not tend to come within melee range much, however, preferring to keep its distance and attack the Executors with fire controlled by the large staff that it wields. When about to attack, it chatters very fast and very loud, though it's impossible to work out exactly what it's going to say...

Henricus is about six feet tall and very fast and will prioritize trying to stay out of the Executors attacking range once it realizes it's under attack. Be patient, fight smart, and you'll figure it out.

Win conditions:


- At least 2 characters must show up to fight.
- At least 15 comments must be posted, over at least 2 threads.

[le_mat]

[Thankfully 'Take Your Time' is kinda a motto here, so Joker isn't attacking at all. In fact, he's hiding nearby, watching the Revenant carefully, waiting for the right time for an Ambush.

Thanks to his Power he knows he can close the distance quickly once he's ready, but for now, he Waits]

Ren Amamiya | Persona 5 (will avoid Royal spoilers)

[le_mat]

Limbo

[Ren always seems to be around in Limbo- it's easy to run into the young man randomly. You might see him at the coffee shop... working?? He's an Executor, he shouldn't need to work, but as soon as he comes in he grabs an apron and gets behind the counter. If asked why he looks... confused and shrugs. It just feels right.

Or you might see him at the movie theatre too, also behind the counter but not working. Instead, he's adding all the pops to one big cup, grinning]

Wanna try it?

[It's good for raising your Guts!]

Missions

[Normally he'd be willing to talk down the Specters arguing- but if you're already there trying to solve the problem you might see him sneaking up on the alleged 'thief'- what is he doing???]

Wildcard

[Come at me bro]

it's a groovy time for a movie time

[phantasmagorial]

[ Rei looks... more than a little perturbed by the offer. She likes soda just as much at the next girl but this mixture... it has a deeply evil energy to it. ]

Is... is this really safe to drink?

[ Guts rank: Milquetoast ]

missions

[beknights]

[ Their way of attempting to solve a problem that can't be immediately solved with rapid application of violence is to look between both parties as they rapidly escalate in clear worry, before attempting to gently but firmly drag one away from the other.

They do have a vague awareness of a fellow Executor sneaking up, but they figure that's some sort of battle...tactic thing, right? They're not the type of person to readily question what another Executor is doing at any point in time, or even indicate curiosity. It just doesn't seem necessary.

Keep doing what you're doing, Ren, it's fine. They think? ]

Movie Theater

[guffawsungraciously]

[Jasper looks up from picking out one box of each variety of candy and gives Ren... a very suspicious look... before shrugging and setting his candy stack down on the counter.]

Very well, I will participate in your experiment. I am certain it will be awful, but I am no coward.

The Hollow Knight | Hollow Knight

[beknights]

around and about

[ They have only a vague idea of what they're supposed to be doing when they're not strictly on duty, but the idea of a bath is appealing to them like nothing else. Even though they feel faintly guilty at the idea of taking time off, it doesn't stop them from relaxing in the water after hard fights.

Even though they don't need to keep their weapon manifested, they leave it leaning against the wall when they soak. It feels right.

If they're not half-asleep in the baths, they're wandering Limbo, their weapon always manifested at their side; a distinct figure with striking white horns that towers above many of the town's residents. It's rare to see them not going somewhere, with purpose, even if that purpose happens to be being tugged to and fro by smaller spirits on some minor quest or another. They seem exceptionally weak to being distracted by children, even if it's something as simple as offering a hand to hold while they go on an errand.

But if they're lingering in Limbo without any particular purpose, they're staring wistfully at the wishing fountain. It brings back a strange sense of nostalgia, though they're unable to communicate why this is; they don't know themselves, after all. ]

wildcard

[ Anything else?? ]

Wishing Fountain

[phantasmagorial]

– oh!

[ Well look who it is. Rei looks a little surprised to find anyone else here at all, and she stops short in her approach. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't think anyone else would be... Um, would you like me to leave? If I'm interrupting, I mean.

Aisha Clanclan | Outlaw Star

[herplaceinthesun]

[Besides the nagging at her brain, brought on by all the not know she's been doing, life isn't bad here. When a problem needs to be solved with her fists, she does it. When it doesn't she...

Well, the Conbini is here.

This time, she will go ALL. THE. WAY!]

Hey, where is the back anyway?

[She's grasping a pile of snacks tall enough to cover her face, so everything's effectively invisible to her. Could end badly.]

[phantasmagorial]

[ Oh lord... look at her go...

Rei's hurrying along after her, the living embodiment of Fuss. ]

I... I don't think there is a back. It just seems to keep going and going...

hubert von vestra | fire emblem: three houses

[edgevassal]

[ limbo - coffee shop ]

[When he's not on duty, he's often gravitating toward one of any generic cafes in the area. There's no real reason for it, except that he doesn't feel a pull toward any other vices--it must have been something he liked when he was alive. Apparently one of the very few things. No reason not to indulge now that he's dead.

He orders a single black coffee as always, and lounges against the counter like a gargoyle as he drinks it--before pulling it away with a grimace. He got unlucky this time: it tastes, bizarrely, like a bad night's sleep. With a soft sigh, he pours the whole thing down the sink in the back.

At least it hadn't actually cost anything.]

[ underside - generic OR quests - pick one ]

[When he is on duty, he's attentive as a hawk.

There's not much he knows about himself, but he does know that something deep within his soul responds to purpose. He's granted a weapon and told to use it, and so he does. Maybe all Executors take well to killing things; maybe it's just him.

Well. "Killing" in a certain sense. He shifts his grip on his axe, the weight of it now familiar. Time to get to work.]

[ wildcard ]

[throw whatever at me!!]

underside

[inconsequence]

[Chara's weapon is a scythe. It's almost comically overlarge, considering their own diminutive size, but they carry it well enough. If anyone thinks it laughable...well, no one ought to. Laughing at someone with a massive scythe rates up there with poking a sleeping dragon, as far as bad ideas go.]

[They've been on the hunt for Revenants, which also rates up there in terms of bad ideas, particularly as they're doing it more out of a need for something to do than anything else.]

[Naturally, there are others like them down here. The sound of someone approaching elicits a quick reaction: they swing their weapon up at the ready, brandish it, and call out in a firm, cold voice:]

Show yourself.

Skyler Veracruz | OC

[strikeraid]

i. conbini.

He's in the way. You want a drink from the cooler right in front of him, some bread from the baked goods aisle, some dental floss, a magazine, whatever. Whatever he's looking at, he's been lingering there far longer than a normal person stuck in a convenience store would be comfortable with. Which would be fine, except you need the thing really badly. Maybe speak up?

a. Can't he hear you? He can totally hear you. (Can he hear you?)

He takes a deep breath in, then steps, very deliberately and his back toward you, in your path. And continues to peruse. Oh, come on.

b. "What, this?" Skyler looks at the thing, takes it off its display, and stares at it for a moment. Then, he looks you in the eye. Without breaking eye-contact, he tosses it over his shoulder and into the next aisle.

ii. library.

So as it turns out, the book you were looking for is gone, alone with the books before it and after it. In fact, the entire bookshelf has been swept clean. Is someone else doing research on the exact same topic as you?

Nah. The answer comes around the corner: there is a whole wall of books around this beanbag area, and the builder of this impromptu KEEP OUT area is sprawled out over two beanbags, dead asleep. Why... didn't he just go to the hotel? This is absurd.

Anyway, the book you want is right there. Yup, it's that one, at the very, very bottom of a particularly large stack. Oh, brother. Maybe you could just... knock the whole thing down. Or yell at the guy. Or knock the whole thing down, then yell at the guy.

iii. a lost child.

Kid, use your words.

[ Skyler's squatted down in front of this kid, palm to his cheek, watching deadpan as this poor little ghost babbles out how bad they need to find, um, Mommy! They were looking for Mommy. Does big brother know where Mommy is? ]

I'm not your big brother. I don't know where your mom is.

[ After a moment, he looks up and spots someone passing by. Okay, pause. ]

Yo. Hey, you. Do you know where the shopping district is?

[ He's not doing a terrible job of calming the kid down, per se, but it's clear that his heart isn't in this. Maybe this person wants to play hero? ]

iv. wildcard.

Hi! I know it says "OC" up there, but Skyler is from a reincarnation AU game! He is in the process of turning into Sora of Kingdom Hearts, but feel free to treat him like he's an OC with some weird KH specific hangups. Will match format!

lost child

[phantasmagorial]

The shopping district? It's not too far from here, but...

[ Well, they've all been in Purgatory long enough now to know that getting from A to B isn't the simplest task in the world. ]

Why? Is there something wrong?

james bond | you know his name

[heroichearts]

quest/underside
[Some people have some very shiny or wild forms in battle. This guy's just got a suit. Like...it's a very nice suit, obviously expensive in the real and living world, but it's just a suit.

No, it's the cat ears and tail that stand out, sleek and blond as the rest of his hair. Make fun all you want (and really, why would you?), but that tail really helps his balance, elegantly dodging about. Like nya.

He also has a gun. A pistol materializes in his hand, popping off a few quick, precise shots. He seems trained. Professional. No, he's not sure what that means, either. But at least it's bloody helpful in a fight. He lands behind a bit of debris, not much, but enough to let him check his ammo. ...It's a magical gun, so, it doesn't really--it's not going to run out, and that makes him frown, whether at himself for doing the motion on instinct or at the gun for being magical weirdness, but either way, he has ammo, and these kids are going to be safe so help him god. (Or, y'know, whatever runs this place.)]

Someone want to lead these runts back home before they get themselves killed--again?

fountain
[There's something depressing about a decrepit old fountain that no longer works in the center of town. Surely someone here has to be able to fix it, however things...get fixed around here. Bond frowns (wow what a new expression) at the thing and crouches, running fingers over the inscription that's so weathered as to be unreadable. He can make out small bits and pieces, and it's obvious that people use it for wishes.

Normally he might scoff at the idea or find something romantic about it, but given the circumstances, he can't write it off entirely. What would it hurt?

Whether it was in his pocket and he reached for it automatically or whether it just materialized in his hand, there's something in it, and he reels his arm back to give it a toss. But he stops, brow furrowed, and instead opens his hand, lets the necklace fall until he catches it by the silver chain. It's a pretty little thing, a coil, a knot of silver. It means something. Does it mean something to him? He isn't sure.

Actually, he's pretty sure, and that makes him all the more wary of the trinket. If it means something, he should hold onto it. Because he knows so little about himself and his circumstances before here and now. It means something. Keep it. It means something.

He tosses it into the water like it burns him. Is that instinct, too, to find something repulsive about meaning, about connection, about whatever and whoever he was? He almost forgets to make a wish. It won't come true.

(Later, with time and with memory, he's back at the fountain splashing about, searching for the necklace, heedless of how silly he might look. It means something. And he wants it back.)]

conbini
Now this is all getting a bit silly.

[Really? What was your first clue? Was it the fact that the aisles just seem to keep going despite initial spacial dimensions concluding that to be impossible? Or is it the increasingly weird tea flavors like "baby's first steps" and "Switch cartridge with lemon twist"? Maybe it's the shelf full of cheap porcelain animals, except they're like if someone who had never seen an animal was going off a wikipedia description as filtered through a few language translations.

He shoves his hands in his pockets and mostly looks bemused.]

Has anyone considered why the dead need a convenience store in the first place?

wildcard
[please bother this english/scottish gentleman with all this magical afterlife nonsense he is so unsuited for this he was going to retire into death at last and then this shit happens]

Sawatari Makoto | Kanon | gluttony, sloth, or envy

[yes_im_kawaii]

[train station]

[When you first find Makoto, she's looking around and sniffing the air, apparently more confused than anything. When she sees you, she darts behind a sign and then cautiously peeks out.]

Auu! ...Auu?

[movie theatre]

[Who here likes romcoms? This girl, apparently, who has taken a veritable mountain of popcorn and chocolate bars and is getting really into Maid in Manhattan. In the middle of the fancy dinner sequence, the screen glitches, showing a few seconds of tall grass and bugs. Makoto stands up in her seat.]

Hey, what's the big idea? I was watching that!

[fight fight fight]

[Most of you, you know, know how to fight, right? So it would proably be safe to assume that the girl with you, whose Executor form gave her fox ears and a tail, must have also gotten some cool powers and weapons.

Unfortunately, she doesn't seem to know how to use any of that, immediately going to punch the nearest Revenant and not making a dent. It tosses her halfway across the area.]

Auu... Get back here!

Anna Fugo | GRANBELM | envy, pride, or wrath

[emberserker]

[hotel]

Ugh!

[You'll hear the slam of another door before you see a red-haired teenage girl storming down the hall to try the next one.]

Would it be so hard for this place to have doors go the same way all the time? There's something wrong about it.

[stolen object]

[The Spectres have been arguing for a while, and you might think to step in -- except this girl has already marched in and slapped the accused thief across the face.]

People like you are nothing but dirt on the ground. Obviously you're the one who's wrong, aren't you?

What? You can't seriously be saying you believe them! I didn't even --

I'm saying you're making a nuisance of yourself, so just give back whatever it is already!

[...apparently, listening to both sides is for squares.]

[underside]

[Anna has shown up in a dress that you would think would be terrible to fight in. Not to worry, she's apparently having the time of her life slicing into a particularly large Revenant with a two-handed axe.]

Yes! Ahahahaha, get out of my way! This is what I was made for!

[That laughing sounds a little concerning.]

hotel

[herowalksalone]

[Kazuya is woken up from his nap by the sound of a nearby door slamming. He doesn't think anything of it until he hears another door slam, this one even closer to his room, accompanied by a muffled yet obviously angry complaint that he can hear through the walls.

It's likely that this person will be visiting his room soon, so he gets off the bed with a sigh and peeks his head out the door to see who is causing this disruption. Maybe if they see the disapproving look on his face, they'll ignore him and move on to slamming the next room's door.]

[levelthreehooligan]

Limbo
There is a small child- no, when you look closer she is not as young as her height would give away... There is a small woman who wanders around Limbo, staring up at the sky that isn't and at the colours that change and swirl in no particular order.

She has already tried to think her way in circles around the circumstances she's in, and frankly her head is just starting to hurt.

She fondles the small Lyre she picked up from the Combini, not... entirely sure why a convenience store had a Lyre, but thankful about it all the same.

She picks out a repetitive tune absent-mindedly, trying to ease her worries. There is ample space to sit by her and listen, and she is more than happy to take requests.

Café
There is a familiarity here, and so Pinya spends a lot of her time in the Café with a large mug of dark and sweet coffee, as much as she can get actual coffee, at least. Sometimes there is a book, sometimes a sheaf of fresh manuscript paper with only titles and half a song penned if anything at all.

She always smiles, though, when people and Spectres approach her.

Those Pesky Teens!
She sighs as she takes on this duty. Not because she's bored, or because it seems trivial, but because it seems that this is perhaps the third time this has happened since she started her Executor work.

She wouldn't dream of leaving the Spectres to their fate, though, and prepares for her (hopefully brief) journey to the Underside.

[OOC: Hello! Pinya is from a Multi-WoL universe and is coming from another Pan-fandom game; I know the rules say that there are no duplicates of characters, but I'm not sure how you would treat this instance, as even in her own canon there are now multiple ways a Warrior of Light can manifest!]

Limbo | henlo Pinya, this is a Bliss Stage OC

[hurt_comforting]

Ah, hello.

[This young lady cannot have been older than 18 when she died... and was possibly a good year or two younger. Still. She carries herself with dignity, and with gravity.]

I don't suppose you know Night Sky? Or anything by Janelle Monae, really.

Pascal | Tales of Graces | Sloth, Pride, or Envy

[pride_of_amarcia]

[Conbini]

Oh, hey, this looks good! Oh, hey, that looks good too!

[Pascal has a small basket, which is utterly overflowing with various low-grade snack foods, some of which are in flavors such as 'MEAT' and 'LEGUME'.]

All no-prep stuff, too! This'll keep me going for a while. Oh hey!

[And then she's turning towards you.]

What'cha up to?

[Argument Resolution]

[Pascal is looking at two Spectres, screaming at each other over whether an object exists or was stolen. After some time, she tries to get a word in edgewise:]

Erm, what even is the thing you're talking about?

[One attempts to describe the thing, but before he can get anywhere he's shouted at by the second over how the thing never existed to describe in the first place, you're being ridiculous, why is the Executor trying to enable your stupidity, the Executor is obviously an idiot, etc. etc.]

Uh...

[... Yeah, she could use some help.]

[Enemies on the Underside]

[Pascal's usual underkempt, simple outfit with scarf has been traded out for a fancy school-uniform-like number as she goes to get to work protecting Limbo from its maze-like dark side. She's wielding a large staff with a heavy-looking end, but notably, seems to be staying away from monsters - instead spinning the staff into a gun-like position to blast away at floating, wyvern-esque Revenants, staying far enough away to easily see their attempts to breathe fire at her and jump clear.

At least, until one manages to get close - only to get straight-up bonked by a wild-looking swing of the staff's heavier end.]

Nope!

[She seems to be doing okay for now, but speeding things up would certainly be nice. She has to get tired eventually, after all! ... Right???]

Iroh | ATLA

[grandlotus]

i. coffee bar

[Ah! A...coffee...bar! Coffee itself does not feel familiar to him, but little enough does at the moment. More importantly, there is something attractive in the atmosphere of this establishment. It feels comfortable. Perhaps he enjoys coffee!

The soul orders (and pays for) a coffee, sits down to try a sip, and promptly sputters.]

Ugh! What is this?

[Later on, he appears to have located those tea bags you can get at most coffee shops, politely made his way behind the counter, and is now attempting to brew a pot of that. It feels like an attempt, anyway, but his hands seem to know what to do. This might be something.]

ii. bathhouse

[Now, this is the afterlife!

The old man is lounging in one of the baths, entirely content. You might think that he's fallen asleep, except that he cracks an eye open when he hears someone enter the room.]

Please, join me! The water is very relaxing.

[The water is steaming. It's like, really hot. Be warned!]

iii. rescue mission

[When he hears about the young Spectres who have gone missing, of course he agrees to go after them. It is only natural for youth to be brash, and in many ways he suspects that caution is a lesson they must learn for themselves. But it is up to their elders to make sure nothing terrible befalls them while they are still finding their way.

Though he is an old man, he feels no hesitation in stepping into the Underside. He knows already that he can handle himself. That doesn't mean he isn't pleased, however, to find some unexpected company.]

Hello there! Are you here to find our young friends as well?

iv. wildcard

[ hahahaha prompts don't matter nothing is real ]

bathhouse

[herowalksalone]

[Kazuya sighs internally when he enters the men's baths to see that he won't be alone this time. He momentarily hopes that the other man is asleep so he can pass by unnoticed, but once Iroh's eye opens and its gaze falls on him, he knows he's been caught. And then, instead of closing the eye and going back to relaxing, of course he invites Kazuya over to join him. There's no escaping now.

Without saying a word, Kazuya nods and enters the bath opposite Iroh, allowing the steaming water to wash over him in soothing waves. It's a little hotter than he's used to, but his body will numb itself towards the heat soon enough.

He considers continuing the silence, but eventually settles on a mere] Thanks. [Might as well be cordial to his bathmate.]

sayaka miki ☆ puella magi madoka magica

[seasharp]

fountain.

[She's been by the fountain for a while now. The story of the wishing fountain has been going around and it's found her ears as well. She wants to say it hasn't been bouncing around her head. But then she'd be lying.

Currently, she's sitting on the edge, just... staring into the water.

"Toss something in and make a wish! It'll come true!"]

...Is it really that simple, though?

lost child.

[Even if you don't spot them the first time, sooner or later you've probably noticed them. Possibly a few times! Sayaka's holding the hand of this little Spectre child, leading them around... well, mostly big circles, really. Her search hasn't really panned out so far.

Nevertheless, she has a big smile on her face the whole time, especially whenever she looks at the child.]

Don't worry, don't worry! We'll find her. Ah, maybe she's just around the corner!

[...If nothing else, she's optimistic.]

wildcard.

[w-w-w-wildcaaaaaard, hit me up with anything!]

fountain

[emberserker]

Hmph. I'm sure if it did work, someone would have wished to fix it, and it wouldn't be a stagnant pool.

[Anna wrinkles her nose at the rusty, broken fountain.]

Kazuya Takeda (the Hero) | Shin Megami Tensei

[herowalksalone]

coffee bar

[Something about this small hole-in-the-wall café hits Kazuya with a wave of some bittersweet feeling as soon as he walks in. He would describe it as similar to nostalgia, but there's no way it can be that, as he has no memories outside of Purgatory. Even so, something compels him to walk up to the barkeep and before he can stop himself, his words stumble out:]

A... Blue Mountain, please...?

[What is a Blue Mountain? At least the Spectre barkeep seems to know, as in a few moments Kazuya is presented with a steaming mug of what appears to be coffee. When the Spectre adds that it's on the house, Kazuya experiences a flash of that empty nostalgia again, which fades into a bit of confusion. He slinks into an empty chair at an empty table in a corner of the café and proceeds to try this Blue Mountain. His expression remains confused as he finishes his first sip. Is it the feeling, or is it the taste?]



hotel

[Even though he's dead, Kazuya is tired. If he could, he'd blame it on his life, but he can't remember any of it to verify his hypothesis or not. The hotel looks luxurious, and he's ready to hit the hay, but the key he was given is illegible. Kazuya stands just to the side of the front desk, holding the key and its tag up to the light, then over to the right, then down towards the ground, trying futilely to read its room number.

Eventually he sighs and grumbles,] I think I'll go to the bathhouse instead. [But then he starts investigating the tag some more, not quite giving up on it yet.]



quest

[It has been brought to Kazuya's attention that an odd Spectre may be a Revanant. In order to make a first step in this investigation, Kazuya has been observing the creepy spirit as it goes about its daily business. In other words, he's being a stalker. And at this point, he probably looks more suspicious than the Spectre.

Right now, he's ducked in an alleyway, often peeking his head out to see if the Spectre has finished its business and has moved on again. Nope, not yet.]



Help him fight Revenants! or wildcard it up. OTA; will match format.

Takashi Koizumi | Dungeon Nursery

[overlordad]

Coffee Bar

[So even though this fellow is called "Demon" he usually doesn't look it. Just some normal business man in a suit. Though today the name seems a little more fitting thanks to his lips and teeth being stained black. It's clear why though, as he's drinking the "black" coffee while having a very spirited discussion with a Spectre behind the counter. About business practices it seems.

Has he even noticed his coffee isn't normal?]

Listen, even just one specialty item would bring people in the door. And-

[The spectre is nodding along like they understand but... it's doubtful.]

Underside

[So... that Demon moniker makes way more sense in battle. Maybe you were out patrolling or maybe even working alongside him. But either way he is out of sight for a moment and-

- yeah he sure has his knees hooked under the armpits of some large Revenant and is choking it out with his tie. He's not even transformed or using an obvious weapon.

...he looks like he's having fun, at least?]

coffeeeeee

[phantasmagorial]

[ ... she came in here just to get like, a strawberry refresher or something but. this is weirdly fascinating?? She's sure as hell going to want her drink eventually but for now don't mind if she just hovers awkwardly and eavesdrops a bit. ]

Do you really think they'll actually take any of this on board...?

Bryn Pendragon / "Wagner" | OC

[draconite]

anywhere there's modern amenities, basically

[ The weird girl who goes by "Wagner" might not be the... smartest Executor, let's say, but at the very least you can't fault her enthusiasm. It's just not exactly always pointed in the right directions. Like today, where instead of whatever she was getting up to before, you'll stumble across her messing around with some of the fittings and fixtures of Purgatory – maybe she'll be in the theater, filling up cups of soda or watching the corn busily pop itself, maybe she's hopping in and out of the conbini just so she can watch the door open and close itself... there's a whole lot of nonsense, is what I'm saying.

Her response when caught, however, is the same – just a big cheery grin for her fellow Executors. ]

Isn't this all so amazing? I'm so glad I'm finally getting to experience it now!

mission (stolen object)

[ Now... Wagner's not exactly a born mediator, but for some ungodly reason, here she is listening to both sides of this angry argument. When she's got her mind made up, she lifts both her hands to silence. ]

Okay... I've definitely heard enough.

[ Then she beams at them. ]

It doesn't really matter whether or not this thing got stolen, right? You're both here in Purgatory anyway, so you should really forget about things like that!

[ Both the Specters just stare down her smile, each their own distinct flavour of gobsmacked. TRULY.... INCREDIBLE... Please provide backup. ]

underside (FIGHTIN TIME)

[ Thankfully for everyone involved, when it comes to actually fighting, that's where Wagner makes herself useful. Uh... a little too useful, in fact, if her undeniable glee at chasing down Revenants and putting an end to them is anything to go by. Right now, she's tearing through the Underside in hot pursuit of a Revenant that, despite lacking a face, still manages to convey the general emotion of "pants shitting terror". ]

Please don't bother running away! I'll catch you sooner or later, and I was having so much fun fighting you! Please get back here so I can finish the job!

[ there she fuckin goes, huh ]

Mission 1/2

[twibeast]

[ This guy’s also been here the whole time listening to the two spectres, just happening to come along the same time Wagner did. He’s a little surprised when she’s the first one to speak up, though that doesn’t compare to the surprise to what she’s saying.

Silence......

And then. ]

Mordred / "Kingslayer" | Fate/Apocrypha

[pioailurophobia]

i. movie theater
[The movie theater is one of the most-frequented amenities of Limbo. After all, books are for nerds, and where else is a Specter—or Executor—supposed to get high-quality trashy entertainment?

Which may make it something of a problem that the currently airing movie, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, has one very, very loud heckler in the back, throwing popcorn at the screen, and generally being a massive nuisance.

The hulking armored knight, lounging in their seat, cackles uproariously as the Frenchman insults King Arthur.]

AHAHAHAHAHA! You tell the idiot!

[Maybe... somebody should stop this Executor before everybody else gets fed up and leaves.]

ii. wishing fountain
[It happens quickly. One moment, Kingslayer is staring solemnly into the wishing fountain, twirling a coin between their gauntleted fingers. The next moment, a young Specter collides with Kingslayer fullspeed, and-

The knight's helmet goes flying off.

Revealing nothing beneath.

The kid doesn't seem to be perturbed, though. Quite the opposite; giggling, he picks up the stunned Kingslayer's helmet and runs off to his friends, where they proceed to play hacky-sack with it. Kingslayer runs after them, flailing after their helmet as they toss it back and forth.]

You little brats! I NEED THAT!

[Help a fellow Executor out, perhaps? If you aren't too busy screaming your head off at the lack of theirs.]

iii. underside quest
[The mission is, hypothetically, simple. Kill the Revenants, get the kids, get back to topside.

What isn't so simple is the massive Eudemus currently terrorizing the cowering teenagers. Or the fact that Kingslayer is charging full-tilt at the Revenant, yelling,] HEY, YOU BASTARD! I'M YOUR OPPONENT, NOT THEM!

[Red lightning gathers around Kingslayer in a storm as they leap forward like they're propelled by some demonic engine, moving faster than should be possible as they slash wildly at the Eudemus, cutting and cleaving and carving through the air with near-feral abandon. Their blade strokes aren't the absence of technique, but rather the lack of need of it, speed and strength far surpassing skill in this instance.

Kingslayer's foot lashes out, snapping through Eudemus's horns, and they dive down, raking their titanic blade through its body to slow their descent before zipping back, forth, and forward, flicking their sword free of glitter and...

The Revenant collapses.

And so does Kingslayer, directly into the nearest Executor's arms, panting as lightning continues to course through their armor and into their invisible body.]

...shit. Get the kids. I'll be fine.

[Kingslayer is very clearly not fine.]

i

[emberserker]

Oh, shut up!

[The girl a few rows in front turns and glares at the walking suit of armour.]

I know this is ridiculous, but you aren't making it any more entertaining. It's called cinema etiquette!

Meredith Baker | Children's Crusade OU/OC (see note at bottom) | Gluttony, Envy, Pride

[hurt_comforting]

Limbo Coffeeshop: If you fuck up the kitchen, than you should do the dishes
[The young lady swaddled in clothes of green, gold, and blue could not be much older that 17 when she died, and she's possibly a year or two younger; very dark skin, very curly dark hair, fat but otherwise athletic. And right now, she's trying to make something in a blender, taking all her concentration to do it - until she stops it, takes a taste, and is satisfied. She pours out her cup, and some others.]

Hot chocolate, anyone? Mexican style - it's a bit spicy from cinnamon. Now if we could get churros we're really in business. And call me the Anchor. I don't know why either.

Quest: Who Is This Sassy Lost Child? I will carry you and be your light; I will comfort you and show you the way
[A lost child causes her some distress - perhaps she's the Anchor because she prevented people from being at sea, metaphorically speaking, in life? She'd like to think so.

[She's leaping to tall heights, using her weapon - an anchor on a chain - as a grapnel to go even higher. Seeking a vantage point to use her Significance Sight, to determine the location of this significant child; it manifests as a mecha-like pair of VR goggles on her forehead. Then, she points to what looks like a bizzare warehouse, her smile slight but satisfied.]

There's our missing person. Follow me, and be ready for them to bolt in terror when they see us; we're a tad fearsome, aren't we?

Quest: Teenagers in Danger: Waiting, we're waiting for a superhero intervention
[A thrown anchor bisects the space between a fallen teenager with a broken ankle and one of the monsters facing it. Meredith reels herself in behind it, expression utterly furious. She gestures at the child with the anchor - and suddenly, his ankle no longer hurts.]

There! If you can walk, now go! I'll keep this busy!

[And the bizzare creature slams into her battlesuit - bluish metal with glowing green and gold lines - and sends her flying back; she only avoids the worst of it by dragging herself to a stop with her anchor, and even then she slams into a wall with a disconcerting crack.]

...that stung. Any time now, friends!

[OOC disclaimer: Meredith Baker was originally designed as a character from the tabletop game Bliss Stage. I'm filing off the serial numbers with the author's blessing to create a more traditional narrative with the same themes - but those themes are still about a postapocalypse with an abusive authority figure lording it over child soldiers, and as such, I will not be offended in the slightest if you don't tag with her because you can't deal with that. Thank you.]

Battle Time!

[pride_of_amarcia]

Got'cha!

[And from a nearby rooftop comes a blast of light - striking at the Revenant and knocking it down.

It's source, a woman whose outfit more resembled a school uniform than anything, dropped down near Meredith, trying to look dramatic as she spun what looked like a staff.]

You still good to fight?