1.0 game launch log

[gamedevs]

1.0: Game Launch

Patch Update
Maybe you’ve been getting settled in for a little while now, maybe you just arrived yesterday. Either way, a big change is coming! All Dodo residents will receive a city-wide broadcast on their phones:

> Thank you for your patience with our construction, city-goers! As our month of pride celebration has wrapped, all our streets are once again open. Hope it sets your hearts aflutter for 🤍 White Day! 🤍

The streets of Crane City have opened, and what glorious streets they are! Decorated with gently blooming white flowers, ivory streamers hung from building to building, and floating snowy balloons, everything seems to be elevated with a touch of elegance. What’s that? It’s looking a little bridal? Now you’re getting in the spirit! The city is abuzz about an upcoming celebration...

Meanwhile, Duocaeli has also become the loveliest storm. It’s a tornado of silks, a cyclone of chiffon, ribbons as far as the eye can see - that’s right, it’s time for a parade of princesses. Avis Isle is tittering with gossip, airship after airship coming to land as royalty gets to enjoy the fresh air and roguish sights of a guild town. There’s princesses from faraway lands, kingdoms large and small, excited to rest before they depart soon to their next destination—some kind of royal slumber party? rich people—and they’re so excited to be here! Some are children, others as mature as their late 300's—once a princess, always a princess.

Avisle is excited for their business too! ♥ Looks like everything’s a little more expensive around these parts (know your audience) but there’s also better service and rumors of special treatment for those of blue blood pedigree, or their staff. Why don’t you slide on in? If anything, you might want to teach your friends how to pass for royalty, lest they get mistaken for a worker!

Speaking of roleplay, it seems like there’s an abandoned chest in one of the roadways, likely fallen off a carriage in the chaos… Inside, characters will find gorgeous adornments, including lovely gowns, crowns, etc. The criers looking for royal customers ring in the back of your mind – “Princess business welcome!!” – do you do the proper thing and look for the owner of the chest, and see if you can get a reward? Or is it time for royal cosplay? (Though should you return it, and the shopkeep may ask you to wear some garments as advertisement anyway...)

Alternatively, in your plain clothes, or... most clothes, it’s easy to be mistaken for a page. Well, they’re all awfully young ladies–have a sense of humor! Don’t let it rankle you too bad... or do?

Guild business is in high demand now especially, with most specialties being sought after by a monarch-to-be for one reason or another.

♔ Crafters are highly sought after, especially those who specialize in adornments. Won’t you make them some hair ornaments that bloom just like true roses?
♔ Warriors are being asked to fulfill more bodyguard roles. You know! Just like in their romance novels…
♔ Scholars are being asked to fulfill divinations—how good are you at fortune tellings? The future of their kingdoms are prosperous, aren’t they? Aren’t they?
♔ Wanderers are being requested as tour guides and escorts. They have a higher chance of being mistaken for pages. Sorry.
♔ Menders must clean up after everyone’s messes, as usual. Stained gowns, broken hairpins, the occasional sprain of a princess fallen out of a tree (we told her not to!)—you name it.

1. Questboard

The quest board at the guild hub has been updated with the latest patch! Excited players are gathered around to collect new bounties, which are open to all. The guild hub also provides a useful bestiary, which is readily accessible by guild members via crystals.

2. Dungeon Crawl - Guild Hub Catacombs

Welcome to your first limited time domain! Princess Andalina is the belle of the ball, and the one organizing the royal slumber party... when she's suddenly attacked by robed figures in the Guild Hub! It's your job to escort her safely through some secret underground catacombs so that she might be smuggled aboard an airship and escape–though naturally, there's a catch.

Task: Escort Princess Andalina Quartzrosen Pili Majesteria the Third
Reward: Daiya, diamond jewelry of choice.



Chamber 1: Once Upon a Time...
Right in front of your eyes, the exhausted Princess suddenly transforms… into a beautiful diamond? Housed in a necklace, it seems that this icy stone is her dormant form, and is entrusted to players for safekeeping. Dungeon party members will be given roles in the first chamber: knight or princess. Knights will be in charge of defeating foes; princesses will have to wear the enchanted stone and keep it intact. If princesses are hurt, the stone will be damaged. If they're grievously injured or killed, the stone will be destroyed outright.

Additionally, knights will find themselves buffed overall and invulnerable to damage. But it's not that convenient–princesses will sustain any injuries meant for their knights. In RPG terms, princesses serve as the HP for all members of their parties.

It's imperative to keep moving to avoid the incoming assassins, though that's easier said than done: some of the hallways are incredibly narrow, there's constant forks and uneven terrain, and the darkness is thick and suffocating. It'll be easier to stay close–or maybe even get a piggyback ride? A princess carry, if you will? It's easy mana!

Chamber 2: A Sticky Situation
The catacombs are damp and stale–and of course, in their neglect, they're teeming with danger. The pitch black corridors make it easy to stumble into giant spiderwebs, which are nearly impossible to escape alone, though they can be burned or otherwise destroyed with some help. The webbing itself is weaved with magic, and will quickly drain the mana of anyone trapped within.

But where there's spiderwebs, there's bound to be… spiders! Careless knights and princesses may find themselves kidnapped and carried away by these hunters, which can attack with sharp barbs and acid that lingers on every surface. Knights are invulnerable, but can still be incapacitated by webbing–be careful!

Chamber 3: Sins of our Daughters
The light is at the end of the literal tunnel, but one obstacle remains: the young leader of the assassins who introduces herself as Nina.

Nina doesn't attack outright, instead first explaining Andalina's crimes against her kingdom, and her desire for justice. Proudful and grieving, Nina will only accept Andalina's death, but nevertheless offers the players a choice:

Destroy Andalina: By deliberately injuring a party's princess, Andalina's crystal will be destroyed, and she'll be killed. Nina will thank the party and slip away without another word, looking wearied.
Save Andalina: Protecting Andalina will cause Nina to attack, leading to a boss battle.

BOSS: Nina the Emerald
HP: 10000
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
Weakness: Water, despots
Resistance: Earth

Attacks

• Crystal Cage: Summons giant, emerald shards to create walls, isolating party members.
  
• Shatter: Anything her knives touch turns temporarily into crystal, including limbs and portions of flesh. Nina will often throw these knives, though she can also be turned to stone using them. Payback's a bitch!

Nina is a talented assassin, and moreover, she's mad as hell. Basically a flurry of knives that lashes out from the dark corners of the room, she'll specifically target princesses.

Defeating her can be as "simple" as beating her in a fight before the party sustains too much damage, but there's also a large, deep lagoon in this chamber. If you can make Nina sink like a stone, the water might be enough to dispatch her permanently…

G̴̮͇̽ĺ̶̻͉̓͝i̷̜͓̙̊t̵̤̄́̏c̶̝̘̃̉̀h̶̯͓͘i̶̖͙̭͆ń̷̻̦̘g̶͐͒͜ͅ: Occasionally throughout the dungeon, including during this boss fight, the role between princesses and knights can switch without warning! Don't get too comfortable.

In the end, only one of the two girls can survive. While others may view this as just a cutscene in a game, to PCs, something about both these women feels quite real. Claim your reward, and step into the glowing portal that will teleport you back to the dungeon entrance. Players may thread any number of outcomes, but can only report one of their threads here for rewards!

OOC Notes

March's OOC Event Plotting Post is also here for your reference!

Please look forward to our next gamewide mingle for Dodo's Doki Doki White Day Auction on Friday, March 17th.

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Comments

[sanguinary]

ON - chamber 2;
[Maybe you've been stuck with Matsui from the start of the quest, and just lost sight after a tangle with some gnarly spiders. Or maybe you've been separated from your own princess or knight and just happened to bump into him! Literally?! It's quite easy to do, considering he's just. He's just lying on the floor face-down like a decorative mantle rug. He doesn't even make a sound if he's tripped over. Maybe it's the spiderweb draped across his back, being a reverse blanket of comfort and stealing his mana.

Anyone who trips and lands with him just gets a flat:] I see you have decided to join me. [HAVE THEY??

Meanwhile, those who manage to keep their balance get:] Please tell Buzen that I have carried out the mission to the extent that I can.

[And not the princess??? HE'S JUST GIVING UP.]

OFF - bird walk promenade;
[Matsui is standing on the sidewalk in front of a tiny little door with a sign propped in front that simply reads: Die Hard 3: Die The Hardest. The Best Escape Room In Town! Hm. He's also turning toward you as you walk by! Hm...]

Supposedly, a prize is available to any couple that completes their newest "escape room" in the set amount of time...

[And apparently he wants this prize, For Reasons. Join him?]

OFF - coastline;
[Maybe you're an early riser out here to enjoy the sunrise, which is only a few minutes away! Or maybe you're just a jock out for a morning run before things heat up too much and the busy workday overtakes you... In any case, though this swath of western beach is mostly empty, there's one (1) lone lad sitting on a log and staring out toward the sea. He seems content to keep to himself, but will offer a light little nod of greeting to anyone passing by, and an equally mild:]

Are you also waiting to be bathed in the bloody red of a new dawn?

[Wish he would be normal for five seconds.]

wildcard;
[If there's something else we plotted or you wanna just throw spaghetti at the wall with me, feel free! MY ARMS ARE OPEEEN here is my plotting comment for ref!! My inbox is also here in case you wanna drop anything there!]

on, i pray mobile doesn't curse me with a million typos this time

[lockedon]

[ He's used to kicking people when they're down but like, not like this?? This is just a sad body on the ground, cosplaying as some sort of professional napper in the middle of the dungeon.

He has so many questions right now. So many. Too bad he's not going to ask any of them just yet. ]

Tell him yourself.

[ WHY ARE YOU JUST ON THE FLOOR LIKE THIS ]

your typo struggles......

[sanguinary]

[HELP. He's not cosplaying as a professional napper, he is a professional napper, thanks. He will state very matter-of-factly from his prone position:]

I can't, unless he happens to come through the area.

[He's stuck... His mana is so drained... What is he supposed to DO, just try to rustle up some energy?? Absolutely not.]

[lockedon]

[ Yeah, actually, he should put a little more energy into this. It's just a few spiderwebs? Break out of them like a real sword(man)? Or not, because magical spiderwebs are not to be trifled with.

Which is probably why Eustace is standing slightly off to the side, doing his best not to run straight into a spiderweb of his own. A difficult task when he can barely see in here. (Seriously, who turned off all the lights?) ]

So you're just going to wait until he comes and finds you?

[ Sounds STUPID. Ugh. After another few seconds of consideration, he pulls out a small knife, crouches down, and.....slowly starts sawing away at the nearest bit of webbing. Is this even going to work, he doesn't know, but may as well try. ]

[sanguinary]

[Yeah he's going to wait until Buzen comes to find him!! He's fine on the ground, listen, it's his new home now. He has simply come to accept this.

Anyway funny thing about those spiderwebs, they're pretty much just as fragile and delicate as regular ones! This set, anyway. But as soon as he can feel Eustace moving closer, he is making a vague and very tired attempt to kind of wiggle away. This will likely not be very effective, but he sure did try.]

Wait, don't touch those—

[Because so much as coming into contact with these WEBS FROM HELL immediately start draining mana! Meaning it's like being socked in the gut by an energy-stealing fist of fury from the gods above.]

coastline

[humainity]

[ That's a strange way to ask if she wants to look at the sunrise, and mainly she's there to just continue grabbing onto the experiences that she's never had before as a phone-dwelling AI.

But Sophia merely tilts her head. ]

I want to see the sunrise and then I want to explore some of the breakfast items that restaurants are offering, so I can better recommend them.

[sanguinary]

[This is so funny help. Matsui, who genuinely does not know that he's got a strange way of talking (TO SAY THE LEAST), just gestures to the spot next to him on the log.]

If you would like, you could join me. Perhaps I can show you to the cafe that makes good fruit parfaits, as well.

[Nothing says a healthy breakfast like So Much Sugar.]

[humainity]

I would like that! Did you know there are parfaits that incorporate soy beans in some areas of Japan?

[ As she moves to join him on the log without further preamble. ]

[sanguinary]

[She is perfect, never change.]

I did. I have tried one before, myself... I can't say that I'm very much a fan of sweets, but some of the ones that use the whole bean or kinako have a more mild taste.

[It suits his palate much better! Then, a little curiously:]

What do you think of sweet things?

coastline

[prozaic]

[shalem does more than just pass by, when he notes just who is sitting down. he flicks his tail once as he comes to a stop by matsui's log.]

I wasn't considering it... but when you put it that way, I think I would like to, now.

[then he gestures to the log.] May I sit with you?

[sanguinary]

[Ah, there he is, Future Boy Band Member--

Matsui smiles - a small thing, but he does seem genuinely happy enough to find a familiar face out here. The question is met with a gentle nod, and he shifts a little to make more room even though there's already plenty of room on this dang log.]

Please do. You've made it in good time; it should be rising in just a few more minutes.

[The skyline is already starting to brighten significantly, leaving the world in another one of those strange in-between transitions.]

[prozaic]

[shalem perches his backside on the log, tail settling into his lap. this is comfortable, looking up at the sky and just waiting for nature's magic.]

Do you come out often to see this? The sun deigning to show us its grace?

[sanguinary]

[He glances away from the sky for a moment to look toward Shalem, seeming confident enough in knowing when the sun will rise to risk looking away.]

Not often... To be honest, I've normally just gone to sleep two or three hours before the sun rises, so I rarely ever have the chance to see it. But when I'm awake enough, I enjoy dawn-watching more than watching the sun set.

[Even if both certainly have their own beauty.]

What of yourself?

bird walk

[windsongs]

[ Let it be known that Hibiki Fujiwara is horrible at puzzles. Absolutely terrible. The worst. An escape room doesn't even fully register in her brain, given a brief "heh, nice name" as she stops and looks at the sign.

Until someone starts talking to her. The blonde turns her head toward the stranger, gets ready to disengage, until he brings up-- ]

...What kind of prize?

[ Interest piqued. How hard can it be, it's just an escape room. ]

[sanguinary]

[He'll hold out a little pamphlet at the question so she can take a gander! On it, along with the logo of this escape room, there's some message in terrible font about how any couple who manages to finish in the allotted time will get a free five course meal at a new, swanky restaurant in the Fancy Big Money district of the city.

There's also mention of another prize in the form of some sort of all expenses paid overnight stay at a resort in the stylings of an onsen, complete with pictures that are a little grainy and slightly off-centered. Someone really had a time trying to design these pamphlets... That said:]

There is someone I'd like to treat to one of these. If you would not mind teaming up, we could divide the prizes between us.

[Spoken with such unfounded confidence for a man who doesn't even know what an escape room IS...]

[windsongs]

[ Her eyes laser focus on the five-course meal prize, and that's all it takes to get her fired up. A fancy dinner at a fancy restaurant, it sounds like a dream. They have to win!

Never mind that this is her first escape room experience, it's probably fine. ]

Which one are you looking at specifically?

[ She's willing to take the onsen ticket too, even if she's technically worked at one in the past. ]

chamber 2

[floralistic]

[alfred trips, but manages to keep his balance after stumbling a bit. he'll crouch down to take a look at matsui, becoming one with the ground...]

You okay there, Matsui? Sorry I didn't see you!

[sanguinary]

[Oh it's his friend Alfred, nice! Whom he's just looking at at an uncomfortable angle because he doesn't even bother lifting his head up. Hi.]

I'm going to become one with the earth, I believe, so please don't worry about such things.

[HELP.]

[floralistic]

Howwww about we don't do that.

coastline.

[lackluster]

[ Childe is definitely one of those crazy people who wakes up early in the morning — like, really early. Think 4 AM or something along those lines. It's mostly because his morning routine takes forever that he needs more time to actually get through it, but now that he's run its course...

Someone's voice catches his attention. ]

Oh? Are you asking for a fight?

[ THAT'S WHAT MATSUI MEANT, RIGHT? About the bloody red of a new dawn!!! ]

[sanguinary]

[HIS 4AM ROUTINE the thought of it alone makes my entire soul wither...

Matsui, on the other hand, is just regarding this man like he's the one who said something strange??? The audacity. But eventually, he shakes his head.]

I was not. There isn't any need to fight.

[They aren't on a mission!!]

[lackluster]

[ Almost immediately, Childe deflates — all that energy raring to go is gone within a blink of an eye. ]

You aren't? Then why say something like that?

[ It's in the way Matsui put it: the bloody red of a new dawn. Isn't that something only people looking for a fight will say? Or so Childe likes to think. ]

Unless that's just the way you talk.

on, i need more event dungeon threads

[defendure]

[ Izuku trips over his leg? Largely as he stumbles into the chamber in a fit of poise and grace except actually the exact opposite of that. He manages to avoid the spiderwebs through sheer luck for the moment but then goes down like a dumbass after tripping over a - a person? Why is there a person lying there being deadpan! ]

Uhhh - [ Allow Izuku to sort of sit up and dust himself off, awkwardly. Not like it does much good - at this point in time he's just dust-covered and he's going to have to live with it. ] I mean, I don't mind if you'd like company! I lost my party anyway. Um, although you seem to be taking...a break?

[ Is this a break? Why would you take a break like this. Izuku doesn't want to judge. ]

[sanguinary]

[SWEET IZUKU... Matsui just watches him futilely try to dust himself off like they aren't all just cursebound to a dusty fate now that they've fallen in the dungeon levels.

At the question, though, he seems to genuinely be considering whether or not he wants to call this a break. Like. It kind of is?? It's close enough, probably!]

...I suppose you could say that. It seems that I have stumbled into a difficult situation, so now is as good a time as any to see if the earth will reclaim me.

[His break might turn into The Dirt Nap at any moment but that's fine, it's all vibes down here.]

[defendure]

[ ...This is just like talking to Tokoyomi-kun. This guy...could he be...chuunibyou...

Probably not. He's probably just really exasperated by the difficult situation, and cautious young guy that he is - when it comes to other people and not himself, anyway - Izuku peers closer at Matsui. ]

Uhhh - is there any way I can help? I mean, I bet there are plenty of people who would prefer the earth doesn't reclaim you!