AU Event Plotting Post: Somatheon - Part 1

[somarium_lords]

Okay guys, we're getting close to the AU event! Details of the original proposal can be read here, but here's a brief refresher for those of you who may have forgotten or recently joined.

We are doing a game cross over event with vatheon but it's a two part event. The whole event will run during the week of the full moon—Sunday, April 22 thru Monday April 30. On the whole we are taking Vatheon's setting and incorporating it into our event. However Part 1 is only a setting change. No character crossovers happen at this time. The only characters involved are Somarium's. Part 2 is when both game characters can meet and interact. This occurs from April 27 thru April 29. Those three days are the only times characters from both games meet. Otherwise, for the bulk of the event the only thing from Vatheon is the premise. With some tweaks, of course.

This plot post is only for Part 1. The plotting post for Part 2 will go up later this week and will allow players from both games to plot with one another. That post will also include additional details as to how the crossover will work.

Note: Unfortunately there is no opt-out option for the main portion of the event. The actual character crossover is optional, but the main part, Part 1, is not. All characters will find themselves in the altered setting.

• Part 1: 4/22-4/26—Dreaming Underwater. (Note: This setting is actually available through the 29th since those who do not participate in the crossover event will still be in this setting). For the bulk of the week, all characters will find themselves waking up not in Somarium, but in a strange city set underwater. In truth they are in an expansive dreamfield, but they will not realize this or at least know for certain. After all, it wouldn't be the first time Somarium just changed its looks.
  
  Everything seems to be made out of coral and yes, those are fish swimming amongst you. Wait, amongst? Isn't there supposed to be a bubble barrier?
  
  • The city of Vatheon is in your dreams. Before we answer that question, we need to explain a little about how Vatheon's city looks like. Unlike Somarium, Vatheon's city is in three tiers: Upper, Middle, and Lower. These tiers are connected by stairs and hills. In addition there are four quadrants, but we're only carrying over two of them: the South-East and South-West. Since this whole area is open for exploration, this is what you need to know about each place:
    
    • Upper District. The fancy higher living of the city. This is also where Vatheon's trademark church can be found, yet for some reason no one can really enter it. It's the floating castle all over again! There are also some underwater caves, but be careful. There are dangerous, shadowy creatures lurking within. In fact they look a lot like the noctaere...
      
      
    • Middle District. Where most of the shops, restaurants, and basic city life is. It's also where the central plaza is located. To the east of the plaza is a nice park, and to the west if the library. However the only books available seem to be for entertainment than information.
      
      
    • Lower District. Where most of the actual houses are. At the very bottom there are some warehouses.
      
      
    • South-East Quadrant. A forest. Just a big huge forest with a big huge lake.
      
      
    • South-West Quadrant. It's a shipwrecked pirate ship! Now this one is exciting. Not only is it a labyrinth of traps, but it's also inhabited pirate skeletons. Thar be treasure in that hull—will you dare to claim it? Fortunately the skeletons don't stray far from the ship but they can be seen roaming around.
    
    Now usually all of this is protected by a bubble barrier dome. So what about that talk of fishes?
    
    
  • The city's all wet. That bubble burst—for the most part, anyway.
    
    • Outer Zone. A majority of the city is completely underwater: the Upper District, the Lower District, and the South-West Quadrant. However despite that, the coral buildings and furniture somehow magically comport to function just as well. The ocean wildlife will also be swimming through: fish, dolphins, manta rays, crabs, even sharks and possibly a whale or two. So watch out for the traffic.
      
      
    • Inner Zone. This encompasses all of the Middle District and the South-East Quadrant. These two areas are protected by what is left of the original bubble barrier and are still nice and dry. There are even beaches around the edges. The buildings are also made of coral and characters can walk and breathe freely. There is even a small clear tunnel that connects the Middle District to the forest in the South-East Quadrant. Tunnels from the Outer Zone also connect into the city that lead to large pools. Some of these pools can be found in the middle of houses and other buildings.
      
      
    • No NPCs. As a quick note, there are no NPC locals around. It's a completely deserted ghost town. Even creepier is that it looks like as if people did used to live there and things are still running. It's as if they just disappeared...
      
      
    • Invisible walls. There is a boundary in terms of how far characters can go and explore. They will hit invisible barriers so they will not be able to go out that far from the city limits, which is about as large as our native Somarium. So no breaching the water's surface or going down to the ocean's deepest depths!
    
    So how can characters explore the Outer Zone?
    
    
  • Something's fishy about this. SURPRISE. Your character will find themselves a little...different upon waking. Everyone will wake up drenched, but depending on your preference, your character may also undergo a strange transformation.
    
    • Merfolk. Fish tails, fins on arms, and seashell tops included. That's right, for the main week characters can turn into mermaids or mermen. Don't worry ladies, you'll be properly clothed and accessorized—well mostly. Guys? You're just gonna have to bare it all unless you really want some kind of shirt or underwater jacket. Characters found in this form will automatically appear within the Outer Zone. In fact they may be so surprised they might think they're drowning at first before they realize that, hey! They can breathe! Swimming on the other hand...well there's no better way than to have a crash course introductory lesson, right?
      
      Ah, but fret not. The Outer Zone is not your only place of exploration. Even the Merfolk can enter the Inner Zone. The catch is they can't stay out for too long without needing some water. An hour or two tops. So that's what those pools and water tunnels are for! If they don't get water, not even a drink, then the character will start "drowning." However, instead of dying they will pass out into a coma until they are dumped into the water. Just a little splash won't rejuvenate them.
      
      But upon reaching land the tail fin will automatically transform into legs. For some reason the first couple of tries to walk will feel weird, but one will adjust fairly quickly. Oh and for those curious, the bottom half will be clothed, too. So no fear of running around pantsless (unless that's what you really want...). The only thing that will mark the walking Merfolk from everyone else will be the small fins on the arms. Those will stay.
      
      
    • Normal human. Perhaps being one of the Merfolk is a bit too much for your tastes. That's okay, your character can remain exactly the same with no bodily changes. However, they will have scuba gear available to them so they can join their fishy friends out in the deep blue ocean. The tanks will give them about five hours worth of oxygen and will be automatically replenished when taken off and put to rest on land. All characters who remain human will wake up in the Inner Zone and soaked through.
    
    Once you choose a form, you can't switch. There are advantages and disadvantages to being either, but they can also help each other out. In addition, all of your character's abilities such as magical abilities will remain intact. Weapons will also come along with them. It does not matter which form the character is. Of course you are free to adapt them to fit the setting, but we leave that up to you.
    
    As a final note, no one can die here. Instead all fatal injuries and incidents will send the character into a coma. Touching the coral and a little time will revive the character. If the character is in an isolated area or unable to get help, they will "respawn" at the plaza. They will feel incredibly weak and will need to stay by the coral for a while before they will feel back to their normal selves.
    
    
  • Starfish Communicators. Or "SFC" for short. These will replace the standard Dreamberries and let's just say, they're definitely not as cool as ours. But they will work both on land and underwater.
    
    
  • No dreams. For some strange reason characters won't be able to dream while in this strange city. Sleep yes. Dreams? Not a thing. Perhaps it's because they're already dreaming...or maybe it's because the SFC is lame is incapable of broadcasting dreams.
    
    
  • Magic coral. At least on a daily basis, characters will feel drained and need to touch this special coral called the "lamufao". Yes, that is what it's called. The main cluster can be found in the central plaza, but there are also other pockets and clusters in both the Outer and Inner zones. The reason why they must touch it is because their dream energy is actually be sucked away. By touching the coral characters will be replenished with dream energy to continue on. If they do not touch it within three days, they risk falling unconscious and will even look translucent. At this point the character's body will try to find the nearest coral and drag itself over. Of course characters will not realize why they need to touch the coral, but they will have some help to explain things upon waking—perhaps more help than they want.
    
    
  • Fairies. A weird little fairy will be ever present around the character hovering (or swimming) around them. Some may be helpful, some may be chatty, some may be pesky, and some are just there. They seem harmless...or...are they? At any rate, these fairies will blabber all about the city: the coral, how to get to the city, how the Merfolk can walk on land and the normal humans can use scuba gear. They are basically the little aids that help infomod the characters by giving them the basic instructions. However, they can't say how or why they are there. They won't even reveal that this is a dream. If asked, the fairies will tell the characters that they are in the "an amazing underwater city!" Try as a character might, they will not be able to be rid or even destroy the fairy, either. They are indestructible and will just giggle and call the character a silly head. They'll also gladly point out that lovely tattoo that would have otherwise been missed.
    
    Wait, tattoo?
    
    
  • Tattoos. And last but not least, somewhere on their body characters will have a tattoo mark on them. It looks like this (this is the original Vatheon mark). Usually on the hands, but they're known to appear in other places. These marks cannot be removed.
    
    These tattoos will work a little differently than in the original premise. Remember how we mentioned dream energy is being sucked away? We kind of lied. Rather, the tattoos are gathering the dream energy. Characters will actually be able to utilize this dream energy as an extra ability. What that ability is we leave up to you, but consider it like a special move. Whenever there is enough dream energy, the tattoo will brighten and will glow once activated. It will otherwise remain dull and mundane. The color can vary, so feel free to make it pretty.
  
  Yeeeah that was a lot. Downside of bringing in a whole new setting! But here's a very short list summary of that tl;dr up there:
  
  • Everyone is in an expansive dreamfield but do not know it
    
  • Part of the city is underwater and part of the city is dry, both of which are accessible
    
  • Characters can either be fish people or normal humans
    
  • Characters have lame SFC instead of Dreamberries and cannot dream
    
  • Tattoos gather dream energy to store for additional abilities
    
  • Characters must touch the coral, the lamufao, to replenish their dream energy
    
  • Characters cannot die
    
  • There are little fairies that act like little annoying guides
  
  As for what characters can do in their newfound setting, it's mostly for them to explore and have fun. We're packing a lot into this setting so everyone can find something to interact with throughout the week. There may even be a "surprise encounter."
  
  But that's basically it for the main week. Use this post to plot away with other players and you're free to come up with your own plots. Remember, the crossover plotting post will go up later.
  
  If you have any questions, feel free to throw them at us in this designated thread.