thenearshore | 38 - Power Palette Swap

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38 - Power Palette Swap

Who: Everyone!
What: Power Palette Swap Event!
When: April 15th - April 18th 2017 (March 1st - March 8th 2019)
Where: Throughout the Far Shore and Near Shore
Summary: A couple of intrepid magical investigators unknowingly trigger some mishaps among the New Gods and Shinki.

For two weeks, the Ama investigators have been combing the compound where Cultists were dealt a heavy blow by the New Gods and Shinki. Among them, two in particular had been looking to move the Crystal that the cultists had in their basement, the stand that it sat on, and the dolls nearby. Combined with Waver's analysis, Judar succeeds in using his magic to transport the Crystal out of the basement.

As they manage that, a ripple effect washes over the New Gods and Shinki. There is a slight sense of Vertigo for some, a stronger wave for others, and then things start to change...

As It Happens: April 15

Everyone was minding their own business. Perhaps they were on the Near Shore helping complete a prayer, or they were in the Far Shore attending to various godly duties. Regardless of where everyone was, it's around noon when some things start to change. A mild sense of vertigo happens to those who start to experience physical body changes, while a stronger wave seems to wash over the God or Shinki's skin if their powers are changing, or perhaps even a sudden stop-in-your-tracks deadening of feeling if being depowered entirely.

April 16

Later in the afternoon, through no extra effort of the Crystal-movers, a loud noise like a subwoofer kicking into effect issues from within the Crystal, knocking anyone away who was near it by several feet. The one-shot noise reverberates in the ears of all New Gods and Shinki, triggering another change for some. At the Crystal, the black color that appeared when the former Goddess entered the Crystal fills more of it.

April 17

Closer to 7pm, once more, the noise issues forth from the Crystal, louder and knocking people back several yards this time. The Crystal fills with black and grey. Some might swear they can see a face of the white-grey against all of the black, resembling an Inkblot / Rorschach test style picture.

Aftermath: April 18

Around 10am, the black coils from within the Crystal settle down into more of whispy smoke, much harder to see in it. There's a slight tug in the direction of the Crystal regardless of where New Gods and Shinki stand, and with that pull, the change effects go away and all are returned to as they were.

In Summary:

Swap powers with another character!
Gain or lose powers!
Swap physical appearances with another character!
Use or abuse the changes while you can!
Investigate who and what is responsible!
Have fun~

Questions? Leave us a question on the OOC Plotting Post and we'll do our best to answer ASAP.

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[ April 15th and onward ]

[ Berserker is running a couple of errands when the feeling hits him. Annoying, but he shrugs it off, much like anything else. Physical weakness is not his problem. He thinks nothing of the sensation until he passes by a window.

...

Oh, goddamn it. A familiar face gazes back at him, making him more and more annoyed. Well, there's a few things to do when in this kind of situation.

One: Test abilities (look! Caster has a horribly pointy spear!)
Two: ruin his relationships
Three: drink to forget this happened

Berserker can be found in various locations around the far and near shore in his new body, looking grumpy as ever. ]

((OOC: Berseker is spending the entirety of this event as Caster. He will be around different places. I can give a starter, if you want, or hit me up with a wildcard scenario. If you want to plot anything specific, PM this journal or hit me up on Discord at glitzkrieg#0673))

Edited 2019-03-07 15:51 (UTC)

Caster!

[Even in the middle of a crowded sidewalk in the Near Shore, Saber stands out. Though that may be partially due to him waving enthusiastically as people stream around him.]

You're looking quite out of sorts today. That's unusual!

[Quite the contrast to Saber, who's as obnoxiously cheerful as ever.]

Is that so?

[ Berserker just stares at him. Not a Servant he's seen around before...Interesting. ]

I feel fine.

Hm? Do you?

[It's not the sort of greeting he expected, so there's no way he can be satisfied with that answer.]

I know I'm not a particularly reliable confidante, but I'm more than willing to listen if something is troubling you! And I promise to only listen, as unbelievable as that may be. With the possibility of an eternal existence before me, I should make at least some attempt to better myself, should I not?

[He said he'd listen, but he's still talking.]

[ Oh my god, does he ever shut up??? "Caster" looks more and more annoyed the longer Saber talks. ]

You're talking a lot, but you're not saying anything. [ He straightens up and gives a dismissive wave. ] I said I'm fine. It means I'm fine.

Well, if you insist!

[It's a bit suspicious, but he'll roll with it.]

If nothing's amiss, that means we can go have a little fun, right? It may be a bit early in the day for drinking, though I don't believe that's ever stopped either of us, but there are so many other options! I know I generally suggest a movie or some karaoke, but I'm always open to suggestions. Did you know there's a goat cafe?

[ The answer seems to be "no" to his previous question. Drinking, day drinking sounds like a beautiful idea. Day drinking doesn't solve problems, it creates them, but at this point, Berserker doesn't care. ]

I don't know that, but I know there are bars. Let's go drinking. [ A beat. ] Does drinking make you talk more or less?

You know, I haven't the slightest idea.

[He tips his head to the side momentarily, racking his brain for an answer.]

No, I really can't remember at all. I do make some regrettable decisions for certain, but I generally don't remember a single thing I did that led to them. I would assume that includes talking, as I'm quite inclined to do that, but I would imagine I also start fights, seeing as I'm prone to doing that sober as well. There was this one time shortly before we arrived in Acre...or was it earlier than that? when --

[Oh no, he's gearing up to talk about the Crusades.]

[ See, Judar was ready to play things off like normal, and act like he definitely didn't get caught up in something that could've ruined the Near Shore... Or Far Shore. Or whichever, because that's how unpredictable things could get.

He was ready for that when seeing Caster. Except it's Caster with a spear, which Archer doesn't even tend to give him, and... He seems different. ]

My, how dark you seem to have gotten...

[ His immediate reaction is to point the spear at Judar. Someone he's vaguely familiar with -- they did fight together, after all. His memory of allies in battle tended to get fuzzy, especially when his Madness Enhancement was in play, as it was then. After a moment, Berserker lowers his spear. ]

Do you think so? I have been through a lot lately.

[ Something still sounds...off about his tone. ]

[ That did seem to be a running theme for Berseker- having Madness Enhancement in play. Strangely enough, Judar didn't seem to even flinch at the weapon being pointed at him. Instead he kept his hands casually in his coat pockets, watching the shift in body language. ]

Yeah? Apparently enough to switch your staff for a spear. You're gonna poke people you don't even aim for with that thing.

Yeah, well, that'd be their fault, wouldn't it?

[ A more casual manner of speaking, but there's something not quite right. None of the warmth is there. It's not a very good attempt at deception, let's be honest. ]

I've always wanted my spear back.

[ Yeah, no joking tone in all of that, and the whole spear thing might be true, but... It's all off. So far off, he didn't like it.

May as well see something... ]

Yeah, sure. You've said that enough, but after Archer gave you one, didn't you realize you had no luck or skill using it? It was something along those lines.

Ah, or maybe this is your weird way of asking for an energy boost to be able to maintain that for a while?

[ He'll even pull a hand back out to tap at his lips. It really wasn't that much of a stress, with how strong of a magician he already showed to be at that warehouse. ]

Even if I don't, I'd like to improve my use of it. Something let me have it, why not make sure I can use it?

[ Solid reasoning. ]

And no. I don't need your help with this, I want to manage it on my own.

[ Refusing help, the Berserker way. ]

'Something'?

[ So not Archer? Then again, he doesn't see that shinki vessel anywhere on Cu, and it's very hard to miss that pendant. Especially with the way those clothes were designed.

This was both in line with Cu, but so off as well. After everything... Well, he can tease, and if it's too far, he can be pulled into vessel form and tossed elsewhere. Or punched. Something like that. What's a little joke between magi and servant, right? Yet Judar's being very glib, or regular enough, that it sounds almost like a possibility. ]

... After how ready you usually are to take advantage of my body?

(no subject)

curruid_coinchenn - 2019-03-12 17:51 (UTC) - Expand

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kuroi_taiyo - 2019-03-18 19:23 (UTC) - Expand

[Of course with his esteemed E rank luck Archer has to run into "Caster". Of course he's wearing casual black clothes, it's not like he wears different colors.

Catching the sight of familiar blue he quickens his step to catch up to the proud owner of a blue mullet.]

You look out of sorts today.

[He has no idea that anything is going on.]

[ A familiar voice. Berserker stops in his tracks and looks back over his shoulder. Oh, now this is certainly an opportunity. He smiles and there's already something not quite right about it. He can't cover up his nature, apparently. ]

You think so? Maybe it's because you weren't with me.

[ Lightly teasing, but it sounds strange. Something's not quite right. ]

[Archer chuckles quietly, the curl of his lips lacking the edge of his usual smirk. It's mellowed and even reaches his eyes.]

Thank you for such high praise, I'm striving to do my best.

[He's keeping his tone light. While the oddity is noted and remembered, Archer has seen too many facets of Cu Chulainn to immediately pinpoint the possible reason. Moreover there has never been an event of swapping bodies, and Berserker is too buff to pull off such deception.]

[ Well, this is very different than their normal interactions already. A careful hand is needed to continue this, but Berserker's not the best at deception. He's not an Assassin, after all. The smile settles into something more natural as he puts an arm around Archer's shoulders without warning. ]

Yeah, yeah, you never let yourself relax for anything.

[ Drawing from what he knows, from what he's heard. It's not a very deep well, so this attempt at deception will likely go south very quickly. ]

But it looks like you're taking it easy today.

[ The teasing tone almost sounds forced... ]

[Fortunately words "Cú Chulainn" and "subtle" never belong in the same sentence. A good hint of Archer's feelings is the way he allows "Caster" to remain in his personal space, and even leans slightly towards him.]

I'm using your advice. [a beat] Sometimes.

[Or when Caster forces him to take a break.

From the look of things Caster could use a break himself. He seems to be kind of high strung but trying to keep a cheerful facade. Perhaps they both need a break. Perhaps they could spend some time together. Without thinking too much Archer wraps one arm around Caster's waist.]

I'm willing to join you if you have something in mind.

Well, good, at least you're listening to me.

[ Oh.

This is going further than he expected. How to keep up this charade without completely blowing it. He manages a smile, no real sign of how ill at ease he is with this situation. ]

It's a nice day, how about a little walk through a park?

[ A safe enough suggestion, he thinks. ]

Edited 2019-03-16 23:56 (UTC)

[Safe and understandable, for Archer has noticed that even if Caster got used to modern times he seems to enjoy spending time close to nature. He's still a bit uneasy, though. It must be because Caster has been looking so grim.]

How innocent of you.

[Agrias hasn't met "Caster" yet, but she was aware of their... similar identities.

Not entirely the same. Yet not entirely different.

Actually, it seemed as though they were very different.]

Ah, good day.

Caster, is it?

[ He knows this one. Caster doesn't.

Shit.

Berserker tilts his head slightly, a not-quite-right smile coming to his face. ]

That's me. I don't think we've met before. What can I call you, beautiful?

[ It felt very wrong to speak in this way, but he knows the way Caster tends to speak to people... ]

[Strange, she's getting Hibiki vibes already. But this isn't Hibiki.]

Agrias Oaks, merely a knight from the Kingdom of Ivalice.

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