The OOC comm for Fluxscape.

Things in Driftcrest are starting to get worse. More people are disappearing. More ice statues are appearing. The guards are cracking down on people breaking curfew (or trying to, we do have some incredibly smart people and wily super heroes running around). The Unseen are attacking more and more and there's something in the air that'd set of anyone's paranoia, whether they're prone to it or not.

And with that, the return of nightmares. But this time, we're not asking for volunteers to experience nightmares given in secret to one person at a time.

We're giving everyone the opportunity to have one shared bad dream. And by shared, we mean you'll see the others having this dream, too. Whether you're able to interact with them or not, we'll leave the plotting to you. Who knows? Could be fun.

But just understand that, unlike normal dreams, this one can't be controlled because someone or something is trying to tell you something. And please note that the first half of this dream is something the entire town is going to see, for good reason. Because things are about to get really bad for this sleepy mountain village.

These dreams start out rough. You'll find yourself alone, in the middle of a very dark and very cold cave. The same feelings of fear that the Unseen project when attacking practically permeate the environment. Should you happen to be one of the ones previously injured by the Unseen, those injuries will show up in the dreams. To what extent, that's up to you, but please mark for potential body horror. Will they be mild? Will they be far worse than they were before? That's up to you. Just be mindful of your tags.

The cave echoes with whispers. Scared. Calling for loved ones. Asking for help help help. And you'll want to follow those voices because some of them sound familiar.

Now, this is where things split off. Some of you will wake up, shake your head and go back to sleep.

Some of you will wake up and be so sure you still hear those voices.

Some of you will keep on sleeping.

For those of you that go back to sleep, you're fine. Nightmares over. Your dreams after will be whatever you want and you won't remember the nightmare you had before.

For those of you that still hear the voices, you're in danger, honey. Because those voices will pull at you and you'll be unable to resist trying to follow them. You're sure your loved ones are in danger and will find a way to sneak out of your house to find them. Following the voices will lead you to the Ice Statue Garden, where the Unseen will attack. But this attack will be different. Quick. Painless. You'll feel a sense of fading, everything slowing down, and then nothing. We're sorry to report that, for now, you're an ice statue.

For the ones that keep on sleeping. You'll find the source of the voices deep within the cave, and that cave is filled with the half-visible shadows of people from town. People you know from buying your morning coffee, friends you've made during your time in this ever-changing world. People you know from home who are in town. They'll all be standing motionless, facing the same direction. Mouths not really moving, but speaking all the same saying 'break it break it break it' over and over, and they'll be pointing to a large, ancient looking box in the middle of the cave.

There's something about the box that screams it's important. Should you try to break the box in your dream, you'll wake up with a start and that's about when news of tons of people vanishing from their homes will start spreading.


Now, with all this said, we just need people to decide a few things.

Are they going to wake up after the first part of the dream?

Are they going to follow the voices and get turned into an ice statue?

Are they going to see the dream through?

These dreams can be shared experiences, but remember what your decision was in regards to what your character will be doing, because once your character hits that point of waking up, their part in the shared dream is over.


We also want you to consider something vital: what item of great importance will be missing, once your character is an ice statue? Something they don't leave home without or something they value that holds a place of prominence at home. This is very relevant to the plot. We promise. This could also be something people swear they've never seen your character without, even if it's just a favorite hoodie or their glasses.

And for those of you who want to research the Unseen and hopefully get things rolling in saving the day, that plotting post is still here.

NIGHTMARES AND CHARACTER DISAPPEARANCES ARE ON THE 23RD! IF YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR CHARACTER HAVE THE NIGHTMARE MORE THAN ONCE, THEY'LL CONTINUE UNTIL THE 28TH! PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO MORE DISAPPEARANCES AFTER THE FIRST NIGHT OF NIGHTMARES. IT WILL BE A MASS VANISHING!

ALSO OF NOTE: ANYONE CAN HAVE A SPECIAL ITEM DISAPPEAR. WE WILL REVEAL WHY LATER.



And as usual: A plotting form to fill out.

<b>Character Name:</b> <b>How much of the dream will they see?</b> Are they going to wake up at the start? Halfway through and follow the voices? See the whole dream to the end? <b>What is their important item?</b> This will not be found until it really is time to wrap up the plot.

ladies and Gentlemen, we're getting closer to the end of the Unseen plot. First, however, we have some information for the people who have expressed an interest in researching Driftcrest and the Unseen.

So we have information that will prove useful!

First, there are quiet a few books on the history of Driftcrest, in books that look both old and current. The library has a whole section of them and the librarians are more than happy to bring you book after book while you're reading. They're just not going to let people take the books out. And in fact, any attempts to smuggle the books out of the library will be met with an interesting outcome.

The books will vanish, reappearing back on their own shelf as if they haven't been moved at all. You'll think you're carrying the book however you've decided to try to sneak it out. You'll feel the weight of it under your jacket, or in your backpack. But when you get to your destination, you'll discover the book is gone.

So it's probably best to take some pens and notebooks to the library to do your research there.

Another odd thing to note, because what is this place without some Severely Odd Shit going on;

The citizens of Driftcrest will tell you the town is over 200 years old. However, research won't show anything farther back than five years. Everything at the beginning references a great natural disaster, but it won't specify what. There'll be hints of a massive earthquake, a massive storm, a dangerous drought, all things that apparently wiped out a large portion of the population or that a large portion of the population is entirely missing. There'll be a list of names, but those names will not be readable. The page will be blurry and smudged and very hard to make out. It's very possible you'll see your name or the name of a loved one, but look away or even blink and the name vanishes.

As for the disaster, books won't specify which. And by that we mean it's like historians can't decide just which disaster it was. One book will mention a massive earthquake, one will mention a dangerous drought. You get the drift.

There's also very strange references to a lost cave that was once used for smuggling. What, we don't know. And there's hints of a great but cursed something inside, but everyone that's attempted to find it have gone missing. Items that belonged to the missing turn up a few days later in their homes, but with no easy way to track who they belong to, search parties are always reported to have given up within a week of searching.

And while most attempts at finding lost treasure are for glory and fame and riches, it seems as though people are convinced this lost object is in fact incredibly dangerous.


Oh, and don't worry. We haven't forgotten about the Unseen. There are references to malevolent spirits that come in the night and attack people. Spirits that can manipulate the cold, peoples emotions, and their own corporeal forms. And that can only be destroyed if they're tangible and visible. So that might explain why the guards have a time of even destroying these things. They can't be seen if they don't want to be, and they never leave tracks.

Delightful, no!

If you have questions, poke here. In the mean time, enjoy your research!

Bitter, Biting Cold.

Plot Dates: 02/07/21 - 02/28/21

It's already been noted that the monsters can and will affect a persons feelings. It'll push fear, panic, a desire to run and escape. And lets not forget how it affected the temperature around it's potential victims. It's also been noted that, try as the best of Driftcrest might, they just can't get a good look at them at all.

Now, it's time to flip the script. And for this, we need volunteers. People willing to have an encounter with the monsters. Whether that be a run-in, or something that leaves some manner of damage, just let us know in the Volunteers thread below. We'll take as many as we can get, and each person will be given the same general idea of what's going on. But these monsters are getting a bit brazen, or maybe they're getting sloppy.

Whatever the case, they're getting more and more dangerous, and it starts with more disappearances.

Over the next week, smaller stores will be closed until further notice. That coffee shop you loved to frequent in the morning? Closed because the owner disappeared, the only thing left of them being a beloved hat.

Your favorite book store? Also closed, and again, the only thing anyone found of theirs is a beloved copy of Princess Bride.

It'll happen throughout the week, and there'll be a thread below for people to suggest NPCs vanishing and what important item they leave behind. And over the weeks, more ice statue memorials will appear in the Ice Statue Garden, each one a perfect representation of the people that have vanished.

Speaking of that garden, it might be noted that the older statues will start to appear vandalized. They'll be fine one day, smashed to bits the next, creating anger within the community. NPCs won't blame the Fluxed-ins. They'll blame the guards. Don't worry. They won't start fights with the guards just yet? But don't be surprised if a guard walking by gets hit by a random snowball from an unknown source. NPCs are upset and lashing out at local authority-figures.

As for those volunteers, later on in the weeks, we'd like for people to have some more up close and personal issues with the monsters. Should you think your character would deeply hate such a thing (and you thoroughly enjoy it), please comment in the volunteers thread below and let us know if you'd like your character to take damage or not. We will also eventually be asking for people to vanish and be added to the Ice Statue Guardian, along with asking people to help with a Final Fight against the monsters, but for now, we just need volunteers for some Close Encounters of the Very Frigid and Very Supernatural Kind.

Warning: Expect this to be painful for your characters. We'll leave the level of damage and where to your own discretion, but we warn for lasting effects. Both physical and otherwise.

Since we've just passed the holiday season, and 2020 was just a gigantic nightmare in general, the mods have decided that this months AC check is just a check in.

We just need a comment with your name in it and which characters you play and the answer to the following question:

What is your favorite unusual animal and why?


Thanks!

The usual rules for time applies: You have until the 7th to check in. We won't be poking anyone to check in until the 5th.

During the next couple weeks, the weather will start to change. Up until this point, the weather has been decent! It's fall. There were some warm days, there were some not great days with a subtle chill in the air.

Now, the weather will start to get colder. A clear sign that winter is on it's way. At least once a day, there will be faint flurries in the afternoon or early evening. It'll be gone by morning, and it's not enough to make driving or walking treacherous. But winter is definitely on it's way.

As is our next setting.

Starting today, stores will be advertising ski-gear and winter wear. They'll be putting up posters about a local ski resort, and the name of the ski resort and the town it's in will be blurred out for now. For anyone who spares a moment to really look at the posters (and they aren't really the flashy LOOK AT ME OVER HERE type of advertising, they're very basic and not too eye catching) the blurred out section will appear to shift slightly, a faint bubbling or moving under the surface, like something moving just under the surface of water or a very soft fabric.


Don't stare too long. You'll get a headache, start feeling a sense of panic and, for those that stare too long...a deep sense of separation and loss that sticks with you for a few hours before it fades and is, temporarily, forgotten.


During the week of the thirteenth, this ski resort town is all the residents of Wechester can talk about. Oh, sure, they mention the name of the town and resort itself. But for what it's worth? It's garbled and trying to read the lips of the people that say it results in confusion. You won't be able to tell what's being said.

Also it should be noted that during that week, the daily snow flurries will turn into steady snow showers. The roads will become a bit more hazardous, anyone relying on the busses for anything will find they're late more often than not due to bad road conditions.

The schools will start encouraging students to study remotely, only to come in for clubs and the more hands-on classes like dance, musical instruments, and the arts.

On the 19th, the entire day will be one giant blizzard. You don't have to stay in if you don't want to, no one is encouraging this. But should you try to stop at any of your usual stores, you'll find they've closed early. Even everyone's beloved open-air market is closed. They'll still do deliveries, though. There's an app for that.

For anyone that does go out, there will be the occasional glimpses of what looks like mountains in the distance, the scent of hot cocoa in the air. People will walk by carrying ski's only to vanish when rounding a corner, and you might even see the occasional snow-mobile, too.

When everyone wakes up on the 20th, we'll be in our new setting.

Which is, as we're sure you've guessed, the ski town.

Welcome to Driftcrest Ski Resort and Village.

This place has it all, for a ski resort. There's skiing, obviously. You can also go snowtubing, ice skating at the large pond in the center of town. And all of the stores and restaurants you remember from Wechester are in there, too, so no one's losing jobs. Things are just changing some.

The main hotel/resort part of this place now houses not only tons of hotel rooms that are open for residents and Flux-Ins alike should they need a small vacation, but this is now where you'll find The Surf Board. It'll still have surfing, just indoors and in a huge waterpark setting. The waterpark isn't just for hotel guests. Anyone can come in to use it.

For all other jobs and employment locations, they've now all been put into a large mall. The mall is always busy, and things are still moving around occasionally, so no one will go without money.\The only place in town people seem to want to avoid, or seem saddened by, is an acre of land dedicated to highly detailed ice sculptures of various people. No one familiar, but residents seem to treat this place as a sort of memorial, and the sculptures all have small placards with names on them underneath the words "In Loving Memory."

There's just...something odd about Driftcrest. During the day, while the sun is out and the town is active, people seem happy. Overjoyed to be out in the sun, glad to wake up. Everyone is kind, friendly, people are always pleased to see each other, always so excited to see people they know.

But at around 7:25, when the sun starts going down, people tense up and suddenly seem to be in a hurry. Shops start to close at 7 PM and everyone rushes to be inside at 8, locked away behind closed doors, behind curtains that are designed to keep the light from shining through the window.

And everyone advises you to be inside and stay inside after eight, whether you're home or not.

Another odd thing or two to note: Driftcrest seems to be built inside a fort, with Wechester right in the middle. And it's not a fort designed to keep people in. After a while, people might start noticing that it's designed to keep something out. There are guards that patrol the walls of the fort. Armed, sure, but while the place feels modern, these guys are armed with incendiary weaponry. Arrows that can be lit on fire, napalm grenades. Nothing too major, but certainly something designed to set something on fire.

While there is no curfew in town, guards will advise people to head back home and stay inside, should they be caught wandering around after eight PM. Whether you do that or not is up to you.

Don't worry. We'll explain soon enough with the next event in Driftcrest.

The usual rules apply. It's always been Driftcrest. They don't know what Wechester is, other than the giant tower in the middle of town. Any attempts to cross the borders, the borders being the thirty foot tall walls of the fortress that surround the large town, will dump a person outside of where Jerry works the first couple times. The third time you try it, you'll be dumped back home. Right in the middle of your living room.

Jerry now works at an office near the front gate of the fort and is welcome to people coming to say hi.

Please also note your residences will chance in outward appearance. On the outside, they'll look like log cabins and will now have fireplaces inside and space outside for snow-mobiles. For anyone that procured vehicles in Wechester, they'll be stored in your new garage.

For anyone that had animals that lived outdoors, your barns will be heated and your animals comfortable during their stay in Driftcrest. Even the FluxedIn animals will find this place has them in mind. They'll find somewhere safe to stay within the walls of Driftcrest.


NOW FOR SOMETHING FUN! At least I hope the above is fun and exciting, or at least intriguing.

Now it's time to talk FluxMas.

The last time we did this, it was 'something from home'. Something that was specifically theirs.

This FluxMas, we're asking that what people choose is something there's a strong emotional attachment to. It might be theirs. It might belong to someone else. And the attachment might not even be a positive one. It's okay to bring in something that your character will react negatively to. But please remember, any attempt to get rid of said object will result in about the same thing that happens when one loses their fluxphone, whether it be on purpose or not.

It comes back.

Well...okay, fine. There is a way to get rid of it. Entrust it to someone you might not know that well. How this comes about, we'll let you figure this out. But if you don't want said negative object in your life, this is the best way to get rid of it.


You have until the 19th to decide what your character is getting for FluxMas. And as always, there's always the option to find yourself with a new pet.

This is it. This is the Real Deal AC. The last couple months have been a pass due to 1: the game being new and 2: life getting in the way.

But now? Now we really wanna see you guys put work in.

If you just have one character, you still need to make AC for them.

A quick reminder of how AC works:

If you have 2 Characters, if you make AC with 1, and show you've made effort with the other, you're good.

If you have 3 Characters, if you make AC with 2 and show effort with the 3rd you're good.

If you somehow have 4, if you make AC with 3 and show effort for the 4th, you're good.

If you just have one character, you still need to make AC for them.

And remember:

Our Activity check is very simple. We require that you have:
-Two threads with two different characters with five or more of your character's comments.
-You can also use one post on either the log or network comm as one thread so long as there is a clear effort to tag your tag ins.

If you have a new character that was brought in last month, just let us know who it is!


Hiatus List:

For anyone on this list, just check in with a quick hello!

Mouse
Hope
Elly
Kinz

You all have until the 7th to get AC for last month in. We won't start pinging people until the 5th.

Thanks!

REMINDER: PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF YOUR COMMENT! IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR US TO KEEP TRACK OF WHO COMMENTED AND WHO DIDN'T.

<b>Character Name:</b> <a href="ENTER LINK HERE">Thread? Log or Network Started by you? Erase all this and put it here!</a> <a href="ENTER LINK HERE">Thread? Log or Network Started by you? Erase all this and put it here!</a> <a href="ENTER LINK HERE">Thread? Log or Network Started by you? Erase all this and put it here!</a>

Hey, guys. We've been thinking about AC recently, along with character cap. These go hand in hand, so this is important.

We're changing AC up in a way that should make things a tiny bit easier on everyone. We've been considering this off and on for a few days and with how well you all are doing with branching out and tagging around, and tagging in general, this is what we've come up with.

We've done some thinking, first off, about the character cap. Currently, it's at three. But with how well the game is doing, we're upping it to four. If you're at three and you want a fourth, please consider how AC is going to go from here on out. It should make bringing a fourth in easier for people, not to mention AC in general, so to break it down simply:

You have 2 Characters, if you make AC with 1, and show you've made effort with the other, you're good.

If you have 3 Characters, if you make AC with 2 and show effort with the 3rd you're good.

If you somehow have 4, if you make AC with 3 and show effort for the 4th, you're good.

If you just have one character, you still need to make AC for them.

And remember:

Our Activity check is very simple. We require that you have:
-Two threads with two different characters with five or more of your character's comments.
-You can also use one post on either the log or network comm as one thread so long as there is a clear effort to tag your tag ins.

Basically, if you can meet this with the aforementioned changes above, you're good.

Cool?

If you've read this, link below with your favorite recipe. Just so we know it's been read. THanks!

This is it. This is the For Real Real Deal AC check. It's kinda nervewracking, we know, but AC is so simple, it's almost ridiculous.

What is needed to pass AC?
Our Activity check is very simple and rewarding! We require that you have:
-Two threads with two different characters with five or more of your character's comments per thread.
-You can also use one post on either the log or network comm as one thread so long as there is a clear effort to tag your tag ins.


What counts towards AC?
-Any thread (Action, Text, Audio) Posted to either the Network or Log Comm
-Any Threads on your IC Inbox that are SFW
-Any Thread (five of your comments) from the Current Month of AC. Back tags are allowed up to a month prior. (so if it is currently October you may submit back tags from a thread started in September but not August.)


Can I combine threads if I don't quite have five of my comments in one of them?
As long as it adds up to ten comments from you (per character), go for it, but we really want to see an effort made.

I don't have AC and forgot to hiatus:
Hey, life happens, we get you. You can take a save on your character and try again next month. However, you will need to bring your comment total for one character up to fifteen. Just one. Not more than that. The other characters will still just need ten.

How many saves do I get?
One at a time. If you use one on the current month you will not be able to take a save the following month. Although, if something has come up please contact the Mods. We are really a very understanding bunch and are happy to work with you! We just need you to communicate!

If you've been on hiatus for most of the month, just poke in and say hi.

Hiatus List:


Chicklet with Agatha Heterodyne


And remember: new characters are exempt from AC this month. But just check in with them, anyway, so we know if they're sticking around.

WHEN YOU POST TO AC, PLEASE PUT YOUR NAME IN THE COMMENT HEADER!!! It seriously helps us out greatly so we can keep track of who checked in with whom.

Thanks!

Actually, you know what? We as your mods have had a lot going on this month. New jobs, new situations at home, a medical emergency here and there, and that means we haven't really been on top of our game. For starters, Mod One (That's me) really really messed up by not creating tags for posts. So...as our apology to you...

Just check in with your characters names and your favorite gif of either them or favorite gif in general.


...i still need players names in comment headers, though. Not character names. Just player names. It makes things easier when it comes to checking AC and such. So please...PLEASE just player names in the subject headers and character names in the main part of the comments.
LOVE YOU ALL!

We warned you the setting was going to change, and so here it is. The first Big Change! With other exciting news! Before we get to the exciting news, however, we need your help.

As characters have noticed, there's a huge building in town that absolutely doesn't fit the setting of a vacation town. Amidst all of the nice hotels and cabanas and completely at odds with the general Beach Life Vibe of Beachville is Wechester Enterprises. While most of the setting seems to say 'have fun, yolo, enjoy your day!', the tower most certainly does not.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, was your first clue as to what the next setting is.

We're going to be shifting to a big city setting very, very soon, and while we have quite a few great locations in mind, we'd like to see others offered as well.

So! If you have any ideas for locations, let us know. Please remember places like hospitals, schools, fire stations, jails and police stations are automatically part of each setting unless otherwise stated, as ar pharmacies, libraries and post-offices. But should you think of anywhere else, just fill out the handy form below!

Also, that exciting news we mentioned? We hope you guys like it.

With this change of setting comes something OOCly known as Fluxmas and if you've read the name and think 'gee it sounds like christmas', you'd be right. Your mods have decided that with each Flux in Setting, characters get one surprise item from home. Whether it's something they need or not, that's up to you.

We will have more details the closer it comes to FluxDay, both what to expect for the lead-up to the new setting and what is and isn't acceptable as a Fluxmas surprise.

For now, just help us figure out some new locations, please and thanks.

<b>Business Name:</b> <b>Business Description:</b> (Please be detailed and thorough. If you can find a picture to represent it, now's the time to link it!)