rubycity_ooc | State of the City

STATE OF THE CITY
August 2015

CR MEME AND TEST DRIVE INFO:

August is already upon us, and the test drive and plotting memes are up! Make good use of them, guys, and remember that the game's setting extends beyond the city walls! There's a lot of square footage for exploring, if anyone has a mind to, and if you're unsure of anything please drop the mods a message and we'll do our best to clear it up for you.

For those interested, the locations page can be found here, as well as which creatures might be most commonly encountered there.

METAPLOT INFO:
So what's going on with the city as a whole?

The Rumor War events have far-reaching consequences that aren't only restricted to the few days or weeks following their conclusions. Each event, and those NPCs whose influence over Ikaros and the city itself as a result, cause permanent alterations to the way that the city functions and its general appearance.

An early win in the first Rumor War event by the Virtue of Charity gave the city rations a boost. Everything from food and gardening supplies, to clothes and weapons were made more plentiful. Charity doesn't discriminate, after all. A later win by Wrath increased the amount of firearms, ammunition and other weaponry available in the city, piggybacking onto Charity's overall effect on the city. Additionally, victories by both Pride and Sloth restored part of the wall around the city and also supplied warmer, softer blankets and better quality materials for clothing (and stuffing pillows), giving an extra edge of comfort to the usual fare.

Most recently, a landslide win by Kindness has temporarily taken the edge off the ferocity of some of the more violent wildlife, as well as boosting the medical supplies in the clinic. For a time, there will also be an increase of stock at the hardware store to help with the rebuilding of the still partly-damaged northern quarter.

While several of the NPCs are still mistrustful of the people residing in the city, some are open to conversation and even questioning, up to a point. Some of those who are are being cooperative are making attempts to persuade others to do the same, with varied results. The benefits of success would, of course, be that the Virtues and Vices holding stronger and more reliable abilities will be more willing to be helpful. NPCs can be contacted using the NPC contact pages, but please be patient! Some of them take longer than others to answer their watches.

GAME FEEDBACK:

The mod team hopes that you enjoyed our Pokémon themed event! The next Rumour War event is scheduled for October and will be horror themed, so hang on to your butts.

If you have any suggestions or feedback for us, please don't hesitate to either PM the mod account or use the suggestions post to let us know! We are always open to ways that we can improve the game experience for all players, so please don't be shy. We don't bite!

EVENT LIST FOR THE MONTH:
A playbook for your PCs

AUGUST 9 - AUGUST 16: AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

This month, someone has got it into their head that the city residents really need to be reminded just how lucky they are to be exactly who they are. Beginning in the early morning on Sunday, August 9th, all those whose players opt them in will wake up either older or younger than their current canon point. Age events are simple, fun, and we know many of you have just been dying to see one, so here it is.

As ever, we revel in providing everyone with options, so here's what your choices are!

* Age Up/Down, no current memory loss: The individual is either older or younger than they were the night before, but their memory remains exactly the same as it was before. This would result in an older person being trapped in the body of their childhood self, or vice versa.

* Age Up/Down, memory loss: For this option, the character wakes up on the morning of the 8th as if they have either never been in the city before (age down) or they have returned after many years spent back in their home universes (age up). The latter may remember as much or as little about the city itself as the player desires.

* Age Up, RC memory: Only available for those who age their characters up, this option would offer the chance to speculate on years of life within Ruby City itself. Feel free to make up any future that you like within reason, since the one that your character's mind has been drawn from may be one of any number of possible time lines that the city could follow.

* Anything Else?: Do you have a suggestion? Any other alternative mix? Let us know and we'll see if we can include it!

On Thursday, August 13th, part way through the event, there will be an option to switch your character to another setting. You do not have to take this option, and you can also use it to either enter the event or ~~stop tormenting your character~~ decide to stop taking part. Please note, however, that if you decide to pull your character out of the event at this point, you will not be able to put them back into it! Make your decision carefully.

On Sunday, August 16th, everyone will be returned to their correct age. Unfortunately, they will remember everything that they did. Even the embarrassing parts.

For the purposes of this event we will not be accepting age-AU accounts into the comms. However, you are free to comment to posts/threads with them. Please use tags as you would normally, with your character name. We will also be providing a mingle log on both the 9th and the 13th, for general use.

AUGUST 16 - ?

As an unfortunate side-effect of the age event, a percentage of those who were affected will find their memories in varying states of disarray. It can be difficult to put things into focus when you have recollections of an older version of yourself in a younger body, or memories of a strange and frightening city blended into (perhaps happier) one of your childhood.

Lingering effects of this will be strange, vivid dreams, auditory and visual hallucinations, and an increased propensity to daydream. Talking it out might help, if you're the kind of person who likes to talk about themselves, but all of those mixed up memories are going to need to be sorted out one way or another.

Effects will be strongest immediately after the event for those affected, and will fade slowly over time. However, there is no definite end date, so feel free to draw it out.

STATE OF THE CITY:

Full Weather Report | Threat Report

WEATHER:

Starting out on a high for this month but quickly falling back into the hot, humid and unfortunately wet weather that this year's summer has been plagued with. Opening windows at night offers little relief from the heat, given that the movement of the air outside is at a minimum, but a trip to the beach should offer some temporary relief as the ocean breeze makes it at least seem cooler than it is. Taking a trip down to the river is also an option, and the waterfall lagoon to the north should you wish to make such a journey, but be mindful of the creatures that may already be residing in the water...

The full moon for August is known as the Sturgeon Moon.

ANIMALS AND BESTIARY INFO:

The native fauna is mostly recovered from the shock of leviathan's escape, and with the effects of Kindness' win in the last rumour war event keeping some of the more bloodthirsty ones a little calmer than usual, the patrol teams might actually be able to take stock and rearrange themselves without worrying about the constant threat of attack. Efforts to weed out the wendigo numbers has been successful for now, and it would appear that those remaining have fallen back to their usual haunts in the darker parts of the forests.

Buoyed by the calmed behaviour of those they usually spend so much of their energy hunting, the dryad and elven populations native to the landmass on which Ruby City sits can be found to be more conversational and friendly, as long as one minds their manners properly.

MOD CONTACT:

Fiona hardtostarboard || AIM@LittleBritTeacup
Kitten GrimmKitty || AIM@SilverCrusnik

Moderator Plurk: rubycitymods

PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Suggestions Post

Permanent Links
Phoenix Wright’s Records
Patrol Information Post
Spiral Training School Information

Anything to tell us? Let us know under QUESTIONS & COMMENTS below!

CLOSING:

Please remember that the Activity Check will commence on August 5th! Those who have apped into the game over the past month or have been on hiatus for two weeks or more since the start of the last activity check will be considered exempt from the check, but please check the lists given when the post goes up as sometimes people can be missed. We would hate to accidentally sweep somebody who didn't intend to leave.

Unfortunately, due to time restraints, the reshuffling of the death mechanic didn't get the attention that it needs last month, but it is on this month's to-do list as a priority. The playerbase will be updated when it has all been straightened out and clarified, but there will be no major changes to how it operates, so don't worry about any nasty surprises.

We have also been doing some restructuring of our shadow mod team behind the scenes. Things should run much more smoothly from here on out, and we all thank you for your patience while we've been moving a little more slowly than we would have liked.

Finally, the first mini-adventure will be rolled out within the next few days. Suggested by Badge, this will have places for three extra people and will take place in the catacombs. More information soon!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

kay. But they won't be as good as amil's.

Is that your mother's name? (She's okay being second best. He's too cute.) Amil?

No silly, Amil's name is Ner-da-nel. But Atar calls her all sorts of silly things and Nyelo and Cano call her amil.

So Amil means Mother. (Her fingers are working deftly, braiding his hair.) Nyelo is your brother? And Atar is...Father?

Yep! [ oh, that's nice, he likes that, have a sleepy, cuddly elfling ]

Uh huh. Atar's name is Feanaro. He's grandfather's haryon... um. heir? He has two amils, but we aren't allowed to call Aunt Indis that. She's just had a baby, so Cano has a uncle now too! Nyelo already had an uncle. But atar doesn't like them much.

(It's so nice to be around someone so innocent and sweet without worrying about ulterior motives. Sansa regrets not being a better older sister to her younger siblings. She could have done so much more for them.)

Two mothers? How is that possible? (Unless someone remarried?) I'm sorry to hear that. I hope you can get to know them anyway.

(Family is important and petty disputes just waste time. She finishes the braid with a soft ribbon.)

Grandmother Miriel died, after Atar was born. And Grandfather was lonely, he said, so he married Aunt Indis. But atar is very hurt and jealous, amil says, and so he doesn't like Aunt Indis at all, and he's always fighting with his brothers. But I like Uncle Nolo! He's only a bit older than Nyelo, and when he isn't fighting with atar he's kind. But he's a grown up, and so maybe I'll be able to be friends with Uncle Ara instead.

(She gives him a hug, resting her cheek on top of his head.)

Why would anyone be mean to you?

Don't know! [ He turns in her arms to hug her back happily ] No one is mean to Cano, or Nyelo will pound them.

But Cano likes you!

He sounds like a good brother. (She knows her brothers would have protected her just as fiercely.

Which just makes her heart ache. Her arms tighten around him a little.) I like you too, Cano. You remind me of my little brothers.

Nyelo is the bestest big brother ever! [ He grins up at her ]

Oh? Cano doesn't have any little brothers yet. What are they like? Will they play with me?

And he has lovely copper hair too. (Sansa can admire that!) They will look up to you and play with you when they are old enough. Little babies have to be watched closely.

He has amil's hair! [ He chirps at her ] Cano has atto's! One each, amil says. Ooooh. Maybe amil with have another baby one day and Cano can help her look after it!

[ And then Celegorm is born ]

(She smoothes over his hair gently, smiling at his little ears. He really is too cute.)

My mother always liked me helping her with my younger siblings. I cared for them the most when they were sick or hurt.

[ He leans trustingly against her ]

Cano will be a very good brother! [ He promises her ] And look after them when is sick.

Your siblings will love you very much. (She arranges her skirt to act as a cushion for him.) They will learn from you and play with you. Don't...ignore them. Make the most of the time you have together.

Cano hopes so. Nyelo is such a good big brother. Cano wants to be just as good as him!

(She opens her mouth and...no words come. But her tears do. They fall silently down her cheeks.)

[ D= ]

Lady don't cry, did Cano say something bad? [ He'll turn in her lap to reach up and pat her face and instinctively he'll start to croon, soft and sweet, the lullabies his parents sing him ]

N-No... (He's so sweet. Sansa gathers him close, pressing their cheeks together.) I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I lost my little brothers...

If I can protect you, I will.

[ He croons for her, little piping treble echoing the lullabies of Aman ]

Cano is sorry they are lost - he can help you look for them! And Cano is a big boy and he will look after you.

State of the City - AUGUST

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