Day 4: Monster Arrival

[wizardseason]

Afternoon: 12:00noon - Evening

[ IRL Timeframe: July 17th - July 31st, 2019 ]

It's monster time.

The bright, glowing blue fissures are still open throughout the ground, they haven't gone anywhere. At last, social media has started buzzing about the source of the cracks. They're all originating from the mountain up the slope from Craydon! There are a ton of theories, including a non-negligible amount talking about a 'Wizard death machine'! Guess the heroes will have to find out for themselves.

As usual, though, social media is the fastest source of information. Do they have an inside man? Is one of the heroes actually the one feeding all the information to social media? Either way, there are numerous discussions going on about the "door on the mountain". Apparently satellite pictures have traced the cracks all the way up to a glowing door in the side of the mountain. It's absolutely not a manmade door and it's definitely magic in some way, but why is it there now?

Monster Arrival: Craydon: The Game Show.

---

The Weather

• Eerily still.
• 66°F / 19°C
• Is... is that... air conditioning?

---

Prompts:

• 12:00pm The Game Show, Craydon: Garrot, Rory, Joanna, Haizea, Olivia, Luka, Gyre, Seth, and Zafika will all find themselves teleported from wherever they were to a new and fantastical location. The room is dark, the stage is set, the hero is seated in a contestant's chair. Suddenly, the spotlight is on them and the curtains open: The crowd goes wild! In front of the hero is a big television screen with the words "Welcome!!" on it and, beside it, is the fourth monster. They're entirely humanoid, standing at roughly six feet tall, wearing a positively striking suit and tie. All four of their eyes look surprisingly normal on their face. They look like a regular person just with a second set of eyes where their upper cheeks are. They settle their yellow pupils on the hero in the chair as they smile wide and their mouth squishes as the space opens up into existence. Looks like the mouth isn't a permanent feature, but there's a soft bubbling sound that follows it and then their voice breaks the strange noises up. Their voice is high, eager, and unmistakably excited about the news they're about to share.
  
  "Are you ready for the show? Smile, you're on camera!" They say, hopping back and forth on their feet by the screen, barely able to contain their enthusiasm. Any hero who gives it even a moment of thought will realize two things: 1) Cameras don't work, and 2) That's not a real audience, this room is actually just dark and it's only them and the monster.
  
  Oh god, it's only them. Where are all the others? One on One monster fight? Great!


• 1:15pm Lounge Time, Bamborough: Social media is going bananas! That monster that was roaming around Far Haven's train station has made his way to Bamborough! The effects of the earthquake here may be less apparent, but there are still things to fix. But Ten won't be found fixing anything this time. Instead he's sitting on a beach chair, under an umbrella, on the oceanfront at the Bamborough Resort. On the little table to his right is a tall glass of tea and a portable USB charger. Because, in his hand, he's fiddling with a cell phone. Where did he get a cell phone? Who brought him tea? What on earth is happening?


• 4:00pm International Bungalo of Burgers, Bamborough: The social media war of "Crepes or Burgers" has begun, it's been set off by the Wizard arriving at IBoB for dinner. Just like the morning, she's asked for a group table in the restaurant. Gail, Terrence, and Matilda have all received special invitations right into their pocket (or their hand if they lack pockets). Enjoy a little card that says "One free burger!" with a stylized tiny Wizard face to the side looking very surprised!


• ??:00pm Mountain Door, Craydon: [Exploration] [Not yet revealed]

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Procedure:

Reply to the appropriate toplevel comments for events below. Indicate if a post is a private conversation with "Private" in the subject otherwise all threads should be open to interaction with others. Plan OOCly how you'd like to toss everyone around.

Important: 'Exploration' toplevels will unlock additional information as items in their descriptions are explored. If your character explores a feature, write [Character explores ____] at the end of your tag and send a ping on Discord to get a reply with further details regarding that item.

Comments

12:00pm The Game Show, Craydon:

[wizardseason]

Garrot, Rory, Joanna, Haizea, Olivia, Luka, Gyre, Seth, and Zafika will all find themselves teleported from wherever they were to a new and fantastical location. The room is dark, the stage is set, the hero is seated in a contestant's chair. Suddenly, the spotlight is on them and the curtains open: The crowd goes wild! In front of the hero is a big television screen with the words "Welcome!!" on it and, beside it, is the fourth monster. They're entirely humanoid, standing at roughly six feet tall, wearing a positively striking suit and tie. All four of their eyes look surprisingly normal on their face. They look like a regular person just with a second set of eyes where their upper cheeks are. They settle their yellow pupils on the hero in the chair as they smile wide and their mouth squishes as the space opens up into existence. Looks like the mouth isn't a permanent feature, but there's a soft bubbling sound that follows it and then their voice breaks the strange noises up. Their voice is high, eager, and unmistakably excited about the news they're about to share.

"Are you ready for the show? Smile, you're on camera!" They say, hopping back and forth on their feet by the screen, barely able to contain their enthusiasm. Any hero who gives it even a moment of thought will realize two things: 1) Cameras don't work, and 2) That's not a real audience, this room is actually just dark and it's only them and the monster.

Oh god, it's only them. Where are all the others? One on One monster fight? Great!

Seth

[silentwords]

Oh boy. Ohhh boy.
Seth absolutely blanches the moment the spotlight hits him. He did not like this. Not at all. He hated being in the spotlight, it made him uncomfortable.

And then the 4th monster makes it's appearance.
Oh fuck. What did he get himself into?

[wizardseason]

"No? No smile?" Four folds their arms, looking utterly perplexed. A moment later, they're back to being bubbly and excited.

"That's fine! So long as you're ready to play the game!" They unfold their arms, clasping their hands together and clearly waiting for an affirmative answer.

[eutychia]

Luka was finding that he definitely wasn't a fan of being suddenly teleported against his will, and this instance only further cemented that.

He's still, gripping the arms of the chair as he attempts to take in what he can of his surroundings. One thing's immediately obvious: the bright light and heat of a spotlight -- he must be on stage.

He hears the stranger's voice seconds later, and feels that familiar feeling of a monster's presence nearby. This certainly wasn't the type of battle he'd expected when they set off up the mountain. He wonders if Olivia and Gyre are still with him, but is quickly distracted by the immediate issue of... whatever this is.

Luka puts on his best smile and waves out to what he assumes is the audience, or a camera. If this is a game, it's the kind he's confident he can play along with.

[wizardseason]

"Fantastic, contestant!" Four answers, overjoyed at Luka's immediate acceptance of the position he's been put in.

"I would expect no less from the Princess, I'm so glad you could join us!" They continue, putting on their best game show voice. Most heroes were flabbergasted at the difference between Three and Four, but this was a pleasant change of pace! Luka's monster sense leaves no doubt that this, in fact, is the fourth monster. The pull is pointed directly in their direction.

"We're going to play an incredible game today, but first: Would you care to introduce yourself to our wonderful audience?"

But as they ask it, now that Luka has settled in, he'll start to feel something else rising up in the area. It's just like it was with the last monster, a bright and unmistakably powerful energy just beneath the ground. But instead of feeling like it's centered right under the monster, he'll be able to feel it right underneath himself. Whatever it is, he could tap into it. But is it a friend or a foe?

[roaryrory]

Rory spends her first moments in the room frantically looking around and trying see anything in the sudden darkness. Then, trying to adjust to the spotlight. God it's bright.

Not having been one of the lucky (unlucky?) knights to meet one of the speaking monsters previously, she's taken aback when this one greets her, although she knew from previous years they could speak. Maybe she just thought the voices were dubbed in...? She's not sure what she thought, only that it felt off to experience. She's also taken aback by just how... normal it looks? They? Is she really alone in here with this oddly dapper monster??

She tries to be stealthy as she summons a knife so that she at least has some protection in case this thing decides to abandon the formalities and lunge at her. Yet she doesn't move from her spot. Instead, she just glares at the monster. "What's going on here?"

[wizardseason]

Four's voice is anything but dubbed! If they knew just what Rory was thinking, they would immediately correct her! But as it stands, they have no idea and instead they just light up with a bright smile when she asks what's going on.

"Why, a game show of course! Welcome, welcome!" They bring their hands up, clasping them together.

"Won't you introduce yourself, knight? Our audience simply must know who's playing today!"

[daddykong]

While he would normally be a little shaken by what nonsense he just endured, Garrot is instead quite peeved. Time travel notwithstanding, the last time he got suddenly teleported was a fit of grief-fueled, anti-Wizard fury. So to have that oof on top of being in a monster's game show?

"Y'know..." A smirk plays at the corners of his lips, and suddenly he's grinning maliciously, toothy maw not unlike a bear trap. "If you wanna put on a real show..." Garrot chuckles, leaning forward in the chair as his clawed fingertips carve into the material.

"We could cut the crap and go a round in the ring." Subconsciously, Garrot is aware that there's no cameras, but there's no way he's passing up a chance to let The Marauder come out and play. And right now, he looks a split second away from pouncing like an apex predator.

This heel's ready to grind you into dust, Four.

[wizardseason]

See, Garrot, this is a game show stage and Four looks absolutely delighted at his energy-filled pose right there. They bring their hands up, clasping them together in front of them as they explain.

"Certainly! The ring sounds like a splendid show!" They sound too excited in this moment, they're clearly either confident in their ability to trounce him in the ring or they're talking about an entirely different ring.

"But won't you introduce yourself for our lovely lovely audience, knight? I'm sure everyone is dying to know who you are!"

[zafika]

Zafika hadn't expected to be teleported again like this, and definitely not to a, well, to them not a completely dark room, they can somewhat see what's around them. At least, until there's a spotlight on them that makes them hiss and cover their eyes with their arm so they won't go blind from the sudden change in lighting.

When they open their eyes again, they freeze in their chair, eyes on what's clearly the fourth monster, but they look entirely humanoid, unlike any of the other monsters. Then they properly register that this is a monster and they quickly look around in the room, but don't see any of the other Knights around. What the hell's going on?

They focus their attention back to the monster with the barest squint, as their hand wraps around the strap of their bag. They're not grabbing their Knight dagger from there yet, but they're ready for it. They'll amuse Fourth, for now, but they give no smiles, only a silent stare right to all four of those eyes. "Kind of rude to just snatch up someone without a warning, wouldn't you say?" Play for time, play for time and figure out what the hell is going on. It's something they're pretty sure they're capable of.

[wizardseason]

"The best surprises are the ones that happen without warning, dear contestant!" They reply immediately, practically radiating their happiness that Zafika has joined them. They clap their hands, bringing them up in front of them as they smile wide down at them.

"Now, won't you introduce yourself? The game is going to start soon and the audience must know who you are!"

[sustainer]

What! A! Nightmare! There are almost no worse places in the world for Gyre then on a stage with a spotlight on him, and a crowd cheering, and someone saying he's on camera. He doesn't even register who's speaking for a bit here, his reaction is so immediate and so visceral. He recoils back against the chair, baring his teeth and raising a hand up to block the light out of his eyes.

This does not make him feel any safer at all, and he rolls off his seat a second later, shrinking down onto the ground and shrinking back behind the chair. If he registers what the monster says beyond the bit about the camera, he doesn't indicate it at all. Instead he's scanning the dark, trying to find the nearest corner he can retreat into and hide. If there's a backstage, he'll bolt for it as soon as he sees it.

[wizardseason]

"Oh no, dear contestant, there's nothing to fear!" Four is immediately moving to calm their panicked guest. They hold both hands up, palms out in a pacifying gesture. They don't advance, instead waiting for Gyre to calm down.

Gyre's searching for a way out will result in absolutely nothing. The spotlight in the center reveals only this stage area and nothing more. The edges fade into an inky blackness that doesn't reveal the room beyond. It's like he's in the middle of an empty warehouse. If he goes running off into the darkness he'll find himself running right back into this same space like he'd been looped.

How cruddy.

[fauntofwisdom]

Joanna's first thought isn't that she's been teleported, but that she's coming to after losing time, like after a head injury. After all, the last thing she remembers is poking around those glowing rifts. She half-expects something to have come of that - like falling in.

But, she doesn't feel bruised. And this isn't rock under her, but a chair. And then everything else - the sudden lights in her face, the glowing screen, the cheer and the suited announcer - all put a rest to that idea.

"I... suppose I'll have to be," she says, forcing a smile as she shifts in her seat so she can jump and run if need be... And then glances around for hints of their surroundings. Thank goodness for all the interviews and encounters with supporters these last few days, getting her ready to be on camera at a moment's notice.

...Admittedly, if they're still on the island, they probably don't work. But it was getting on noon, and there's something about this person's extra eyes that says monster. Cameras don't work when ordinary news crews try recording anything, but who's to say the wizard - or her monsters - can't override that if they feel like it? Certainly not Joanna.

Either way, she's in a mysterious dark place, seemingly with another monster, at the time of day for fighting... and otherwise alone. Better play along, until she gets an idea what's going on.

[wizardseason]

"Splendid!" Four exclaims, starting to walk in a slow circle around the chair as they clap.

"We have a fantastic show in store!" They give a little twirl before stopping in place and motioning out towards the darkness.

"Won't you introduce yourself to our lovely audience, dear contestant? They're dying to know who you are!"

[disguiseself]

[It felt like the blink of an eye to Olivia, and suddenly she was in an entirely different place than she'd been a moment before. Having been teleported three times the previous day had not been nearly enough for her to get used to it, and the surprise of the sudden change in her surroundings makes her nearly fall off the chair. She stumbles and catches herself at the last moment, her eyes darting around the room as she tries to control her heavy, panicked breathing.

She can't see any audience members in the dark, despite the cheering she hears. She knows that's either a recording or an illusion, but that doesn't mean the rest of the room isn't real. The monster in front of her certainly seems to be!

This whole situation is so disconcerting - being alone, being quite literally put on the spot, the bright lights - she's going to need a few seconds to compose herself and remember that she has her weapon on her. For now, though, she bares her teeth at the monster, snarling like some wild thing. You're gonna need more than your enthusiasm for her to play along, Four.]

[wizardseason]

[ Would Olivia believe it if someone said the audience was actually real? They're in the darkness and there's no way to reach them, but they're absolutely there are holding up "go, Olivia, go!" signs. ]

[ But at the sight of Olivia's snarling, Four immediately has their hands up, palms out, in a pacifying gesture. ]

"Oh no, dear contestant, there's no need to look so angered! Welcome to the show, everyone's so very excited to see you!"

[tropicalstorm]

'Disoriented' is an understatement. One minute, she was helping to haul people out of the rubble of collapsed buildings, the next she's... on a TV show??? And is that a monster??? What the fuck???

"What the FUCK???" Haizea exclaims, voicing her inner thought stream. "How the- put me back, I was busy!"

[wizardseason]

"Oh no, dear contestant, we can't simply put you back!" They reply immediately, placing a hand over their chest.

"But our audience is moved by your desire to help others! What name should they be cheering for? They're excited for you!"

1:15pm Lounge Time, Bamborough:

[wizardseason]

Social media is going bananas! That monster that was roaming around Far Haven's train station has made his way to Bamborough! The effects of the earthquake here may be less apparent, but there are still things to fix. But Ten won't be found fixing anything this time. Instead he's sitting on a beach chair, under an umbrella, on the oceanfront at the Bamborough Resort. On the little table to his right is a tall glass of tea and a portable USB charger. Because, in his hand, he's fiddling with a cell phone. Where did he get a cell phone? Who brought him tea? What on earth is happening?

[scandeled]

It's the afternoon, which means it's time to fight monsters, right? It feels a little weird to do this without Zafika, honestly-- but social media's going nuts, and a knights job never ends!

So she's doing recon, with the help of social media-- prowling the scene from a safe distance. It's all very suspicious, with the cell phone, and the tea-- has the monster somehow enslaved the people of Bamborough into doing its bidding? It's the only thought Matilda can hold, and it's too awful to hold within her heart any longer.

She teleports before the monster, posed in half a lunge, the rapier she's summoned aimed straight before her and pointing at Ten. "Take your leave, and dispense yourself from the fair beings of Baborough!" She declares, though she's said something so ridiculous that her cheeks are beet red. That kind of thing sounds so much cooler in books!

[wizardseason]

As Matilda approaches, she'll find that there's one more strange thing about Ten's presence: He's wearing the ugliest most touristy button-up shirt with palm trees, boats, waves, and suns on it. So when she holds him at rapier-point, he just glances up at her and slowly blinks through all ten of his eyes one at a time.

There's a soft boop from the phone in his hand as a stylus moves around in his blob of a hand holding it. A moment later he turns the phone, holding it and the message on its screen up towards Matilda so she can read it:

"What are you talking about?"

Because, uh, Matilda, what are you talking about? Ten's just trying to relax and enjoy his tea.

4:00pm International Bungalo of Burgers, Bamborough:

[wizardseason]

The social media war of "Crepes or Burgers" has begun, it's been set off by the Wizard arriving at IBoB for dinner. Just like the morning, she's asked for a group table in the restaurant. Gail, Terrence, and Matilda have all received special invitations right into their pocket (or their hand if they lack pockets). Enjoy a little card that says "One free burger!" with a stylized tiny Wizard face to the side looking very surprised!

[fop_lop]

A surprisingly short time after the coupon invitations appear, Terrence is settled into a chair opposite the Wizard. While the rabbit is firmly in Camp Crepes, he's actually skipped both breakfast and lunch today, so a burger is remarkably tempting at the moment. Of course, the main reason he's here is just across the table. She's getting easier to approach, if still intimidating.

"Cute illustration," he observes with a cheeky grin, holding the card up between his index and middle finger so that the small picture of the Wizard is visible to its likeness. "Don't suppose I could get the real deal to make the same face?"

[wizardseason]

The Wizard greets Terrence's arrival with a nod, waiting for him to get settled in before she says anything. She eyes the card that he holds up and is fairly amused by his question even if she doesn't show it.

"Maybe." The Wizard responds, before bringing her hand up and holding a printed version of the tiny illustration up over her face. It's obviously magic that she had a big mask-sized version to hold up, but it still is the same face.

"Is this satisfactory?" She asks, from behind it.