EVENT: Cast In Shadow (Plotting)

[thelostmods]

On the 17th of November, residents of the Meadous will wake to a note from Zephyr at their bedside. It's much shorter than it usually would be from the godling, and it's also much more direct.

Everyone,

I heard another voice across the planes. This one reached out to me, inviting me to visit. I don't know how to feel about that, but... I think we should go. I think she's in trouble and needs our help. That's the feeling I get.

Please meet me at the playground tomorrow at 3:00 PM. I know that's really early for some of you guys who are nocturnal, but this can't wait very long.

Love,
Zephyr


CAST IN SHADOW

The Events Calendar post for the plot is HERE

This event will be the Meadous' fourth world-hopping event.

In this instance, the realm is one that Zephyr found by invitation. On the morning of November 17th, the archway on the path next to the playground will become active in the Mirror Dimension. Those with senses related to space/time will get a reading that there is something 'off' about it. Looking at it through the silver kaleidoscope located in the playground will show that the archway is covered and absolutely roiling with Stardust. Stardust is usually associated with living things.

Zephyr will turn up at the appointed time and explain the following:

• The archway is a portal to another world.
  
• The only access to the proper archway is through the Mirror Dimension. (Zephyr doesn't want anyone accidentally stumbling in there.)
  
• The archway is a two-way connection to another realm. They DO NOT have control over that other realm. The only thing they can make sure of there is that there are no other connections. Characters can go to the new realm from the Meadous and come back to the Meadous from the new realm.
  
• THIS MEANS THAT INJURY AND DEATH IN THE OTHER REALM IS OUTSIDE THEIR DIRECT CONTROL.
  
• They're not sure who has reached out to contact them, but it sounded like a young woman. Her voice was warm and inviting, but held a note of trepidation, as if something dark was looming on the horizon.

As for the new realm...

Welcome to Valinta.

Valinta is a world loosely based on the Persona series. It is overseen by the Assistant, a subdued woman who appears to be in her late 20s. She wears a deep blue dress, trimmed in silver. Her long brown hair is tied back into a low bun, a few braids also woven in.

Valinta itself is split into three main realms:

• The Velvet Meadow is the realm that the characters will arrive in, and the realm that Agatha exists in. This will serve as their entry and exit point to Agatha's world. This realm is a large meadow area filled with grasses and flowers ranging from deep blue to violet. The border of the meadow is lined with trees whose trunks and leaves are also tinted in those same shades.
• Mensilvas is the forest beyond the meadow, where darker things seem to lurk. This is where the Shadows dwell and where the individual Palaces form. (For more information on these, please see the comments.) Brilliant blue butterflies that hold a strange power flit about, congregating on the ground and trunks of trees. Where they rest in clusters, the world seems to shimmer, as if a pathway were open.
• While the forest can be entered and explored from any location, there is a single cobblestone pathway that stretches through the trees... Leading into the Human World, where the humans inhabiting Valinta dwell. The passage seems to be visible only to the guests of the Velvet Meadow, who can use it to both enter and exit the human realm.

When the Guests arrive, Agatha greets them warmly and openly, welcoming them into her realm. She explains that she is the caretaker of this world; the meadow, the forest, and the realm beyond. However, her control over Valinta has been slipping. If the Guests are so inclined, she would welcome their assistance in figuring out what is going on. She will also explain that Mensilvas is a mysterious place that plays upon the subconscious mind. There are dark things there, brought about by the stirrings of the human heart. It is not a safe place to wander, but she will not stop anyone from entering. Indeed, entering the forest may be one of the places to search for answers.

Within Mensilvas, characters will come across Shadows--aspects of human subconsciousness that have taken on a tangible form. Most Shadows are naturally driven by instinct, and will attack any person that they come across. They can not be injured by normal people. Only a person in possession of a Persona will be able to fend them off. If a group has no Persona-user? Their best bet is to run. Fortunately, they do not travel very quickly, and in most cases are not very clever.

Also present in this event, characters will have the ability to create Palaces, Shadows, and/or Personas for their characters. The Palaces will appear in Mensilvas at random, where anyone will be able to explore their depths. Shadows will be played by the players that they belong to, and can also be encountered by anyone. Persona are not exactly playable, since they do not converse with the character to any great extent; but players will be free to design their own persona for their characters. More information about these three things will be found in the comments below.

The goal here is to find out what is depleting Agatha's control over the world, and discover a way to subvert it before Agatha loses control of this realm entirely. This may require some detective skills on the part of the characters, and the characters' actions within the world will help guide the choices that are ultimately made.

tl;dr version

• Valinta is world split between consciousness and subconsciousness; the Human realm and the realm of Shadows.
• There are three realms in Valinta: The Velvet Meadow, Mensilvas, and the Human World.
• The Velvet Meadow is the entry point from the Meadous.
• Mensilvas is inhabited by Shadows, which are aspects of human consciousness. The non-character Shadows will be hostile towards anyone they find.
• The goal is to find out why Agatha is losing her grip on Valinta. Updates will be provided as the characters investigate.
• While in Valinta, characters may or may not have Palaces, Shadows, and/or Persona created by the player.

More information is in the comments below:

• General Questions


• What are Palaces?


• What are Shadows?


• What are Persona?


• Plotting!