EVENT: Witch Attack on the City!

[soul_mods]

Characters: Everyone and anyone
Location: Anywhere in Death City!
Rating: PG-13
Time: August 23
Description: There's a Witch attack on the city and, to make matters worse, there's a dangerous individuals while Meister powers go completely out of control



The evening before there had been a PSA going around the network and the radio to watch out for an individual causing trouble in the city and a reminder to please stay indoors if possible.

Then around midnight something distinctly...strange happens. At first, Weapons probably won't notice, because it's only Meisters who suddenly find their powers flaring up for no apparent reason even when they're not trying to use them.

There's a two hour window where the abilities become stronger until it's practically impossible to control before the alarms in the city sound.

Kishin Eggs have been spotted entering the city in droves and this time they haven't come alone...


((OOC: Please put [Character | Location | OPEN/CLOSED ] in your subject header. Also, please specify in the subject header if you've signed up for a Witch encounter!))

Comments

[loveanddreams]

Even if it's more popular in Asia, it seems a bit strange that she hasn't heard of incense.

"That's correct. Incense is plant based material burned for fragrance. Some cultures use it for religious purposes but other people simply use it as fragrance for their homes."

Meanwhile, something else had appeared down the street, a creature that once might have been human but now had distorted limbs and grotesque features with a face that almost looked melted.

"You're a doctor, Miss Rosalia?" And your desire is to protect your patients? Perhaps, the butterflies might help..." He wasn't sure why but the incense seemed as if it somehow poisoned that moose earlier. The butterflies, nearly a dozen now, fluttered in the air as if waiting for something.

[bloodinbloom]

"Oh. So, it's like a candle, but without wax."

Rosalia looked ahead, spotting the creature and gripped the incense burner harder.

"I'm still in training compared to my brother and others, but I study and do what I can to help everyone." Somewhat fearful at the butterflies, she was fortunately more determined to keep the Kishin egg away.

[loveanddreams]

"Yes, you can think of it that way." But D's incense back home had been capable of much more back home, helping his customers to see their exotic pets' human forms.

The kishin egg was drawing closer, hungry for souls, and what better targets than the injured, unable to put up a proper fight? In anticipation, it licked its lips with a freakishly long tongue.

D made an expression of distaste at the creature's crude behavior. "The butterflies seem to be waiting. Why not try commanding them?" As he had unleashed his pets on those who crossed him back home...

[bloodinbloom]

Rosalia watched the eggs come closer and steeled herself. She planted her feet as she learned at least shoulder-width apart and narrowed her eyes... as best she could. Her knees were still shaking a bit.

"Y-Yeah. I'll do that." Chewing on her bottom lip, she kept her eyes on the egg. With the butterflies at her side, she yelled. "Don't let it come any closer!"

[loveanddreams]

D could sense her nerves. It reminded him a little of Chris when he told the little boy he was the only one capable of taming Honlon the three-headed dragon. "You should be more confident, Miss Rosalia." If these butterflies were anything like his pets back home, that creature would soon be devoured.

The butterflies no longer hovered waiting but fluttered towards the creature, trying to block its path. Perhaps not the most intimidating considering their small size, the kishin egg swatted at them and walked through them, destroying a few as it came into contact.

[bloodinbloom]

"I know. I'm still working on that."

Rosalia, though unnerved, held her ground as the kishin egg walked through. With all the butterflies swatted and walked through, the exact number of flower bruises appeared. So many at once, the edges immediately began to bleed.

[loveanddreams]

Perhaps not quite the same as his pets tearing into the flesh of enemies and feasting on it but the butterflies seemed to be working in their own way, causing the kishin egg to bruise and bleed as the virus quickly worked through its system. Interesting... He wondered if he could summon some of his other pets this way.

More smoke had gathered in the air around Rosalia but still lacked definition. "Why don't you try summoning more butterflies from the smoke?"

They would need them if the approaching screams were any indication. Still a couple of blocks away, some locals were running from a pack of kishin eggs.

[bloodinbloom]

The egg was crumpling to the ground before it could touch them, blood pouring from eyes, mouth, and nose as it tried clawing to the clinic, Rosalia, and D. It was so sad, there was a pang of regret beneath resolve. They had once been human after all.

The screams caught her attention shortly after D spoke to her again and she nodded hard. Looking at the smoke, she willed it purposefully this time to become butterflies. She pointed at the kishin eggs. "Stop them, please!"

[loveanddreams]

Was that regret? Although she claimed such creatures killed and devoured souls? Did she not wish to punish them for their crimes? D had little love for humans who acted in violent, selfish ways and cared little about how the creature thrashed on the ground, bleeding to death.

The smoke swirled into the shape of butterflies and flew down the street towards the approaching group of kishin eggs and their would-be victims.

[bloodinbloom]

Rosalia did want them defeated, but curing or making their death swift would be far kinder. The kishin before them stopped moving shortly and shriveled, a red soul with black tar left in its stay.

Watching the butterflies go to 'attack' the other eggs, she became scared. They we really close to the unturned. "Don't hurt the civilians!"

[loveanddreams]

"So, this is a soul?" he asked, observing the glowing red sphere left floating in the air.

The butterflies tried to change course but it was too late. The panicked citizens ran with little regard for a few insects in their path, brushing against some or outright crashing into a couple. The butterflies that made it past landed on the monsters, creating more of those strange bruises. As they dissipated, more smoke curled into butterflies around Rosalia.

[bloodinbloom]

"Yes. That's what a kishin's soul looks like."

There would be more explained were it not for the people running into the butterflies. "No! Don't touch them!" The eggs were still up; she couldn't not make more butterflies to attack them, but the same bruises were appearing on the citizens.

[loveanddreams]

Like how monarch butterflies knew how to fly south from the time they were born even without guidance, the new butterflies swarmed towards the kishin eggs even as the locals continued to flee.

"Miss Rosalia, do you know something about those strange bruises?" She seemed frightened by those oddly shaped markings somehow and now they were beginning to appear on normal people too...

[bloodinbloom]

"Yes! T-They have to be closed off in the clinic. They can't spread it!"

But she wasn't helping, nor were the new butterflies. In their panic, more locals were contacting the butterflies just as the eggs. However, it was only the eggs hitting the later stage fast, their black blood spilling onto the ground before they too became souls.

More butterflies, more bruises, more blood. "Everyone! Come into the clinic!" But it was only more butterflies and blood and bruises. One of the civilians hit the ground.

[loveanddreams]

"But bruises aren't normally contagious..." Although it was obvious these weren't ordinary bruises. "Do you know the treatment for them?" He remained relatively calm despite the chaotic scene developing before them, blood staining the pavement as more of the creatures fell and turned to glowing red souls.

Smoke continued to form into butterflies and left without kishin eggs to target, they fluttered aimlessly around the area among the frightened citizens.

[prosecutory]

The trickle of panicked locals instantly caught Edgeworth's attention. He was breathing heavily, stopping every so often to catch his breath, and trying not to speak up unless he needed to, such as when there were panicked citizens who had to be told to get to safety in an orderly manner.

But instead of taking his own advice, he sprinted toward wherever the citizens had come from, pausing as the feeling of exhaustion continued to wash over him, and sprinting again. Rinse and repeat, until he came to the scene where Rosalia was holding a ceramic bowl of some sort. Edgeworth was still some distance away that he could not properly identify it.

He did not need to identify the bowl, because what was more important were the butterflies. Creatures that looked like a harmless magic trick, or a manifestation of someone's power, were everywhere. They came from the bowl and the girl, and when they touched people, they left bruises. Anyone touched by the butterflies was afflicted with some sort of disease. Edgeworth gasped, and he quickly covered his mouth to keep from saying anything. His words were dangerous.

Still, those butterflies were dangerous too. Why weren't the Weapon and the Meister doing anything to stop them? Maybe they underestimated the strength of Meister abilities today? Whatever the case, despite heaving as if he had just run a marathon, Edgeworth leaned against the building, took a deep breath, and cried out, "Stop! Those butterflies are causing some sort of plague!"

And as soon as the words left his mouth, he dropped to his knees, clutching his throat. He had never felt so exhausted in his life. The fearful citizens froze in place the moment he had said, "stop".

[bloodinbloom]

That was the thing: Rosalia didn't know. The whole point of living in isolation was helping her dad find a cure by enduring his exams. At least, he wanted the cure-all, turning the destructiveness of the virus against all other invading diseases. It was happening again though...

"Please stop..." But she couldn't stop resonating and couldn't stop making butterflies. Kishin eggs easily fell to the disease. Bleeding, going mad and attacking their own allies before finally bleeding out. The street was a mess, red and black blood. Without eggs or familiars, the butterflies just hovered, but people still connected with them.

The sudden yell made her jump and she almost dropped D. The smoke dissipated and any formed butterflies disappeared. The citizens had stopped panicking and somehow, she had stopped making more infectious insects. Red souls hovered around and her pink eyes just watched everyone, bleeding.

"... I'm sorry..." This mess here was completely her fault. People needed to get into the clinic, but she couldn't order them like that man could. Shaking and trying not to make any more butterflies, she called out. "C-Can you tell them to go into the clinic? They need to be treated."

[loveanddreams]

The man suddenly appearing and yelling for them to stop caused something to happen, it almost felt like a slap in the face as the resonance broke off and D could no longer hear Rosalia in his mind. Their connection severed, all of the butterflies and smoke had disappeared too. And then she nearly dropped him! It all happened within a second and left him slightly rattled.

"Ah! What happened?" It was as if he felt compelled to obey that man in the red suit...

[prosecutory]

Edgeworth opened his mouth to answer Rosalia - or perhaps D, or both of them - but he shut it as quickly. He pulled himself back onto his feet, took his communicator out from his jacket pocket, and walked over to Rosalia and D. His fingers hurriedly typed out a message, which he showed to both of them.

I will bring these people inside, but both of you must cover your ears, lest you end up marching along with them. Anyone who hears what I say will be compelled to obey.

[bloodinbloom]

"... Oh, so that's what happened."

She looked up at Edgeworth with wide eyes. How strange. Why would that suddenly be happening? No one should have the power of being that persuasive. Her attention turned back to the incense burner in hand. "D, can you cover your ears?

[loveanddreams]

D also wondered how this man had such power. That was beyond mere suggestion, even if there was magic behind it.

"Cover my ears? I suppose." How did this work anyway? Rosalia said he was an incense burner and they didn't normally have ears. But he held his hands up to his ears within the soul space as directed.

[prosecutory]

Now, Edgeworth could have ordered Rosalia and D to cover their ears without resorting to typing, but he didn't want to impose his ability on them, and using it was draining him of energy. Once he was satisfied that they were doing what he had typed out, he faced the citizens.

"Remain calm," he said, raising his voice to be heard, but not yelling. "Enter the clinic in single file, and don't panic. The doctors will treat your condition, so please cooperate with them."

Edgeworth then stepped away as the people snapped into formation, falling into a neat line. They said nothing as they marched mechanically into the clinic. He watched them in case someone actually managed to break away from his ability, but not a soul got away. Once they were all inside, he typed out another message onto his communicator and held it up for Rosalia and D.

Meister abilities have been amplified to dangerous levels. I assume that is why those butterflies began to inflict people with a plague. This is also why I cannot speak to anyone without bending them to my will instantly.

[bloodinbloom]

Rosalia just had to temporarily pocket D when Edgeworth began to talk. Everything he said was muffled, but that was a good thing. As she watched the people automatically follow orders, she looked back at the cobblestone street and bit the inside of her lip. She'll have to clean that up.

Turning to Edgeworth when everyone had entered the clinic, she noticed him typing. Her hands lowered and she held D out again so he could read too.

"... They've been amplified?" That's why she made people sick? Because her abilities were beyond her usual control? That also explained why she was tired. She was biting her lip at the word 'plague'. "Oh... I didn't know there was a Meister Ability like that..."

[loveanddreams]

"What's going on?" D frowned at the darkness, slightly put out at being placed in Rosalia's pocket. Between the absence of his clothes and being placed in someone's pocket, this Weapon business was quite undignified!

But thankfully that didn't last long and he was soon in the open again although the people who had been in the street were now gone. The new message on the communicator might have explained some things but not all to a brand new Weapon. "What is a Meister ability?"

[prosecutory]

Edgeworth nodded in response to Rosalia's question. His fingers moved quickly as he completed another message; he had been in Death City long enough to be adept at using it. And explaining things to a new arrival was no problem either. He had been part of the welcoming committee a few times.

There are many different kinds of Meister abilities, considering the various people brought here by BREW. I haven't witnessed anything like this one until today.

A Meister ability is a power granted to people BREW has designated as Meisters, such as myself and the young woman clutching you. It tends to be related to abilities and skills we have back home. Weapons have their own abilities as well, which they can use in their weapon forms.