jikan_rpg | January | Event: Castle in the Snow

January | Event: Castle in the Snow

Castle in the Snow↲ OOC Plotting

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As winter rolls through Tokyo, some may find themselves longing for a little snowfall. While it certainly gets cold, there's very little snow in Tokyo proper, with the storm of last year having been something of a fluke.

But as it turns out, those looking for a little snow will get their wish, as the NRL announces an opportunity for refugees interested in traveling to visit the northern region of Hokkaido for a weeklong getaway.

A City Encased in Ice

Visiting Hokkaido is something of an undertaking. Well beyond the stretch of Kanto's flooded valleys and city ruins, the only realistic way to visit Hokkaido is by train. And once there, navigating it makes the train something of a requirement. This is because Hokkaido is home to a unique phenomenon known as the Everfrost, a frigid storm that perpetually blankets the region in snow and ice, no matter the season.

Following a lengthy train ride, the train enters a tunnel that sends it underground, before finally emerging into a station seemingly carved out of dark blue ice crystals. And yet the refugees won't feel a chill, as the unique properties of ice formed by the Everfrost prevents it from melting, even with the heat on. From there, it'll just be quick transfer, and they'll arrive in the Minami Ward of the city of Sapporo.

Earn Your Keep Minami, Sapporo
The refugees will be staying in Sapporo's famous Ice Princess Hotel, a luxury resort made entirely of Everfrost ice and located in the shadows of a massive castle. Ordinarily, the rooms here would be too expensive for even the wealthiest refugee. But seeing as this is the off-season (no one wants to visit a perpetual winter wonderland in the winter, obviously), they've arranged special accommodations that even the NRL can afford! The rooms are nothing grand, arranged in a suite style with multiple bedrooms connecting to a shared living area. And of course, while the rooms are still rather warm, the walls themselves are made of thick Everfrost, which is just as cold to the touch as ice ought to be. Make sure not to lean against it after a shower.

Unfortunately, these accommodations require each guest to work a minimum of one work shift at the resort. While it's not impossible to argue one's way out of working, seeing as they were not informed of this part of the deal, those willing to grin and bear it will find that the work available really isn't that bad. There's ordinary jobs, such as cleaning, managing the front desk, or helping out in the bar or kitchen. But most of them will be given opportunities to learn more about Hokkaido's Everfrost up close.

Those who can handle the cold will be invited to a workshop behind the resort where the Everfrost is processed into workable materials. Harvested from the eye of the storm in the center of Sapporo, these icy blocks are carved into shapes and then polished until they shine a brilliant blue. Walls, frames for furniture and decor, glasses and even plates used for cold desserts are all common uses for Everfrost. The ice is plentiful and can easily be frozen back together again, so there's no need to worry if your carving skills aren't up to par.

Those who assist here will also be given an item made of Everfrost of their choice, ranging from gemstones to be inlaid into jewelry, to an icy blade that never melts. Just remember, it is very cold, so try not to wear it anywhere it touches the skin.

Gourmet Tourism Ainosato, Sapporo
Due to the sheer cold of Sapporo's climate, the only way to travel through the city is by underground train, with only the locals brave enough to navigate the streets on foot. But the refugees are certainly welcome to try, and will even be offered snowshoes to make the trip easier.

Heading north to the Ainosato Ward, refugees will find a Beer Museum dedicated to all the brews made throughout Nippon, and including some rare international brands. Naturally, there's free samples, but do try not to get drunk until you reach the bar at the end of the guided tour. This is also the only bar in the East with a permit for selling imported Uki beer, which is almost cloyingly sweet and sure to be an acquired taste, even for those who normally enjoy Uki.

For those seeking Sapporo's signature snack as a souvenir to take back to Tokyo, they'll be sure to find no shortage of shops selling Snow White Lovers, which are said to invoke strong feelings of pure and innocent love when gifted to someone else. Which is very literal, because the gift boxes they arrive in are enchanted with a temporary love spell. At least the cookies are fine??

Nippon's Snow Level

While exploring the city is all fine and good, the real draw of Hokkaido is the sheer amount of outdoor activities visitors can do out in the snow! Naturally, winters in Hokkaido are even harsher than usual, so all refugees interested in exploring will be encouraged to take with them a special haori that can be worn over their clothes, imbued with a magi-tech heating element to keep the wearer nice and toasty.

The Ice Princess Hotel is connected to a large ski resort, and is a short distance from numerous hiking trails. But take note: the cold isn't the only threat out in the wilderness, and those without the ability to protect themselves may be joined a local Hunter Samurai just in case they get lost or encounter something dangerous.

Regardless, whether one is interested in renting some skis, sleds, or snowshoes, the ski resort is still sure to be a pleasant experience!

Crystal Tears Minami, Sapporo
Although Hokkaido is stuck in a perpetual winter, that doesn't mean nothing grows here. In fact, Hokkaido is the only place where crystalflowers can be found. As the name suggests, they're flowers with a crystal-like appearance, with jagged petals and a clear stem. And despite growing like flowers, attempting to handle the fragile petals will cause them to melt like ice.

These flowers can be found all across Hokkaido no matter the time of year, but the best place for viewing them is at the summit of the Ice Princess Ski Resort, where an elaborate garden showcasing different varieties can be found. Some grow on spiky vines like roses, while others grow straight from the ground like poppies.

But beautiful as they are, being surrounded by so many has an odd side effect. For those with an affinity for water or ice magic of any kind, be it local or from home, they may find themselves starting to cry when standing amongst the flowers. While they won't be able to understand why, they'll feel a certain sense of melancholy when looking upon them, as if reminded of someone dear they've lost in the past.

Thankfully, this effect will wear off after getting some distance from the flowers.

Remnants of a Goddess ???, Sapporo
But not everywhere in Sapporo is safe to explore. Those with a penchant for getting into danger may find themselves wandering into the eye of the storm at the very heart of Sapporo. The Everfrost is not a natural occurrence, and is in fact the result of a powerful Goddess who is said to have met her untimely demise at the hands of the people who once worshipped her. While the true history has been lost to time, there's no denying that the source of the storm pours out from a single region in Sapporo.

Although there are many signs warning visitors to keep their distance, should anyone press through the snow, they may hear the sound of someone screaming into the wind. Following it will lead them to a large chasm, with a single bridge of ice leading to a large crystal-like structure. The bridge is slippery, and the only way into the structure is to follow the winding staircase of ice that circles around the outside to an entrance at the top. The chasm is too dark to see the bottom of, so hikers best be careful not to slip and fall.

But once they reach the inside, they'll find no person waiting for them. Instead, they'll find the entire inside of the structure is carpeted with crystalflowers, and at the very center sits an absolutely massive flower, which begins to stir as if it were alive.

If the elaborate set up wasn't obvious enough: this is a boss fight.

The flower is capable of summoning icy phantoms, who take the form of beautiful young women. These phantoms will surround their opponents with cyclones of icy wind, causing a death by a thousand cuts if they aren't shattered. Only by shattering the first phantom will the flower once more return to dormancy. Attacking the flower directly is also an option, though it is far more dangerous, as the entire structure is filled with the flower's roots, capable of wrapping around opponents and stabbing them with icy thorns, sapping the heat from their bodies.

Defeating the flower will calm the storm down long enough for them to safely return to the city proper. But should they stay long enough to explore the inside of the structure, they'll find numerous riches and expensive offerings that no one is going to stop them from taking. Just don't take too long stuffing your pockets, or you'll have to fight the damn thing twice just to get out.

Icy Reflections

Just behind the Ice Princess Hotel sits a tall and imposing building within the castle complex. Believed to have once been the keep where an ancient goddess ruled over her subjects, this area isn't part of the main hotel. Instead, guests are welcome to explore the maze-like corridors on their own.

Unlike the hotel, the castle isn't heated, and the structure isn't entirely made with Everfrost. Instead, it appears as though the Everfrost simply blanketed every inch of the original wooden castle, with everyday objects and decor sometimes visible beneath the unpolished ice stone, forever frozen in time.

But for those who dare explore the highest levels of the keep comes an ominous warning: should you meet a phantom of ice, shatter it immediately, lest it assume your identity and replace you.

Mirror, Mirror Minami, Sapporo
Throughout the castle's keep, there's only one thing that hasn't been covered by the Everfrost. On each floor sits a large mirror, seemingly enshrined into the center of each room. And looking into these mirrors reveals a distorted image of oneself.

As they ascend to the higher floors, the images will become clearer, revealing the reflections to be glimpses of alternate timelines from their home worlds. Each floor will reveal more of a specific timeline, their altered reflection growing more and more detailed. And upon reaching the highest floor, looking into the mirror will cause them to trade places with this alternate version of themself.

These alternate versions are the result of a kouribake, the ice phantom ayakashi, and appear just as real as the ones they replace. They retain all memories of the original's life in Nippon, as well as any memories from the alternate timeline. However, they have a significantly lower body temperature, and their bodies will crack and shatter when injured.

But what do they want, exactly? It's hard to say. Some of the more peaceful ones will even admit to being reflections of alternate timelines, given solid form thanks to the ayakashi. But others will retain some shades of malice, intent on taking over the life of the original, and silencing anyone who finds out the truth.

Shatter Me Minami, Sapporo
Now some may be wondering why something so dangerous is open to the public. But that's just the thing: ordinarily, these ayakashi aren't dangerous at all, and their phantoms simply melt away after about an hour, freeing the original from the mirror. But things have changed. And the ice phantoms will exist indefinitely unless destroyed.

Is it Kizuna? For some reason, the locals and even the NRL don't believe that to be the case. But regardless, these phantoms need to be dealt with.

Thankfully, many phantoms can be convinced to leave peacefully. These phantoms may simply have a short list of things they want to experience or share, and will leave willingly once satisfied. It could be sharing their alternate past, finally confessing their feelings for someone they met in Nippon, indulging in sex or a specific kink, or just eating their favorite meal from home. Upon being satisfied, they will fade away until all that remains is a crystalflower.

But others will be more stubborn, and may need to be shattered entirely. Naturally, this is easier said than done when the phantoms share the face of someone you care about. These phantoms may have powerful new abilities from their respective timelines, or even ice-themed versions of their original's powers. While their bodies are constructs of ice and magic, wounds that would otherwise be fatal will still be fatal for the phantoms.

Of course, the fastest method is to simply destroy the ayakashi responsible for creating the phantoms. But by the week's end, any remaining phantoms will turn into crystalflowers, with the kouribake responsible nowhere to be found.

And perhaps the most troubling thing about all of this is that the original may receive memories of the phantom's time spent in Nippon, as well as vague memories of life in this alternate timeline. Was the alternate timeline real after all? Or was it just all an illusion conjured up by the ayakashi? Perhaps some things are better left unknown.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's January event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• Characters who won a trip in the TDM's ice skating contest will be upgraded to private, luxury rooms as per the contest's rewards. As there was no need to sign up for this, players who want their characters to have a fancier stay without needing to work for a day can just say they won a prize!

• As the Hi element concerns both high and low temperatures, characters who have mastered either Hi or Mizu can also be affected by the crystalflowers.

• The giant flower cannot be fully destroyed, nor will the structure melt if subjected to fire. That said, the crystalflowers can still melt, and will cause the chamber to fill with icy water if too much heat is applied.

• The treasure will not include modern day currency, but instead will include jewelry, gemstones, very old gold and silver coins, and ancient artifacts like vases, cutlery, and weapons. These can be sold in Sapporo to collectors for a high price (upwards of 500 thousand yen), or sold in Yokohama's Port Market for an extremely high price (upwards of 10 million yen). Only the weapons will not sell, as upon explaining where they were found, most collectors will presume the weapons to be cursed and will suggest they enshrine them instead.

• Ice Phantom AUs must be possible deviations from canon, but otherwise, can be as wild as you'd like. For example, you can't do an AU where Naruto is a Pokemon trainer, because Pokemon don't exist in Naruto's canon. But you can do an AU where Naruto is adopted by a canon villain and grows up evil, drastically altering his personality and past.

• AUs will still retain memories of their original's time in Nippon. Whether these memories are skewed to suit their new personality/backstory is up to you!

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[Far away, in the highest room of the Ice palace behind the resort, Aether suddenly finds himself kneeling on the floor after being ejected from the mirror. He's covered in a thin layer of ice, which quickly melts off as the Hi spell he affixed to his clothing takes effect. And for a few minutes, he doesn't move, as strange memories of his double running around Sapporo suddenly fill his mind.]

[But as soon as he does, he finds the nearest window and escapes, gliding down safely -- and hopefully, in the direction of Itto.]

[How long will it take him to get there? Will Itto still be there, in that cold and quiet place, mourning a friend who's alive and well? Processing the implications of his double's life take a backseat to finding Itto, and reassuring him that he's still alive.]

[At least with the flower in stasis, the storm around Hokkaido itself seems to have temporarily calmed. Still, even moving at top speed, it'll take nearly forty minutes to reach Itto -- will he still be there?]

[he stays there for . . . a while, he isn't sure how long. Letting his thoughts get the better of him until his body reminds him that it's too cold for him to be sat out here so long, especially now that the adrenaline has long since faded. His body is reminding him of that, too.

But it just - doesn't feel right, to just up and leave? But there's nothing to be done, either - and for all that there's anger mixed in with his grief, he isn't stupid enough to go take it out on the damned flower. If he did that he'd end up meeting Aether again much sooner.

By the time the real Aether reaches the area, Itto's finally dragged himself to his feet to start the trek back. He hasn't gotten that far, though]

[Using the power of electro and anemo, Aether practically propels himself across the ice and snow, not caring if he occasionally misses a turn and crashes into a snow bank or two. But he slows as he approaches the icy structure, just barely able to make out Itto's form descending from the top.]

[The urge to call out to him is there, but the last thing they need is an avalanche. So instead, he dashes out across the ice bridge as carefully as possible, not calling out until he's reached the other side.]

Itto!!

[he's almost to the bottom when he thinks he hears his name - but maybe he's hearing things, because that's impossible. It was just him and Aether out here, and he hadn't seen anyone approaching when he started making his way down.

But no, that's -

Hold on. Hearing things, and now seeing things? He must be, maybe the blood loss is finally getting to him, because that's the traveler and that should be impossible]

Aether?

[He slides to a stop in front of Itto, utterly breathless -- but his first priority is looking Itto over, noting all the cuts and blood. Nothing looks fatal, but he definitely needs a healer.]

I'm glad I found you! I saw-- through his eyes, where you were. I was afraid I'd miss you and end up walking in circles out here looking for you.

[no, wait, before he processes any of that he has to reach out and touch him, grasping his shoulders, lightly at first and then tighter when he realizes - oh he's definitely real and not just mind playing tricks]

You - [his hands might be shaking a little more than just because of the cold but don't mind that] What do you mean, through his eyes? I thought I watched you—you're okay?

[Not only is he real, he's warm to the touch. Even before his death, the previous Aether felt constantly cold. But this one, even his clothes have a warmth to them, despite the chill in the air.]

I'm okay. The Aether you were with before wasn't-- he wasn't me.

[To say he wasn't "real" just doesn't feel right. Perhaps in some way, in some alternate universe, he is real.]

I don't know if I understand the full details. But after I got trapped in some kind of enchanted mirror, I saw a strange monster create a duplicate of me with ice and snow. And he's been running around with my face for the past few days.

[some of it makes sense, why Aether was so cold to the touch, the cracks and him "turning" into a statue. Or reverting, because of whatever reason. If he'd known it might have been a little different, but even with the small, curious things building up to questions he meant to ask, it still felt like he'd been with Aether the entire time. He'd sounded so genuine, talking about his sister . . . ]

What the hell. [it comes out a little weakly. And you know - he's been through it today, and the relief that Aether is okay is hitting a lot harder than he thought, so it's only natural to lean over and hug him, just to you know, doubly make sure he's real] I really thought that was you.

[he really thought he was dead goes unsaid]

[It doesn't need to be said. He understands -- the memories he has are foggy, but still there. And he remembers the look on Itto's face, and the desperation in his voice, even as he realized there was nothing he could do to help him.]

[And so he hugs him back, mindful to be gentle given his injuries. He only hopes the memories of that pain won't linger too horribly. While he may not be able to heal him, having on just started studying the Tsuchi element, he can provide a little more warmth -- the Hi spell he uses to keep himself warm easily flowing into Itto, like a heated blanket drawing over him.]

It's okay. I'm here now, and I'm okay-- really. But we should really get you back to the city to see a healer.

[had it been anyone else, it wouldn't have gotten to him as bad. He may not have known Aether long, both here or back home, the impression he'd left when they last spoke was just as important to Itto. Maybe it's a little silly, but the list of people who would do what he did is very, very short.

He'd forgotten about the cold, though - again, though, and the warmth Aether is sharing only makes him hug him close for a moment or two]

It probably looks worse than it actually is. [mostly he's just kind of exhausted, both from the fight and the whirlwind of emotions the last hour has been]

Even so, it still hurts, doesn't it? I can keep us both warm using the Hi magic I've learned in this world. So we can take our time getting back.

[But there's no rush, and he won't move to pull away from the embrace until Itto does. He gentle smooths his hand up and down along Itto's back, hoping it's soothing to him.]

[But as his eyes trail back up at the structure, his mind can't help but turn back towards thoughts about his other self.]

...do you think we should leave something for him?

Is that why you're so warm? Is it like Pyro? [okay, Itto, there's no reason to be sad so pull yourself together. He's only a little embarrassed, but that's because hes never been shy about being open about how he feels. He takes a deep breath and lets it out, slow] It only stings a little bit.

[he pauses as he's about to finally give Aether his space back]

. . . can we? He might not have been you, but -

It's more like Pyro and Cryo mixed together. I can make things colder, too, but there's no need for that in a place like this.

[Itto can act big all he wants -- Aether was there. He saw what he's dealing with right now. Even if he decided to openly weep on Aether's shoulder, he wouldn't pay it any mind.]

[He nods thoughtfully, wondering what would be best.]

He wasn't me, but he was still someone. And I think maybe... he could have even been me from a different world.

The place where he appeared, in that strange castle... when I looked into the mirrors on each floor, I saw more and more of his life in what should have been my reflection. If different worlds are possible, why not different versions of the same one?

Or at least... it'd be nice to think that he just went home instead.

[He half wonders if he would still see him in his reflection if he checked the mirrors again... it might be worth the risk, though he'd hate to put the other-Aether through the same pain of shattering.]

Huh. Those aren't two I'd think could be mixed like that, but it seems pretty handy.

[it's easier to act tough over wounds rather than - well, the rest. And while he might try, it's all pretty muted compared to how he usually is]

A different world . . . if it's like that, then a lot of what he said or did wouldn't be as strange. [he would have asked about it all, eventually.

He finally draws back, enough to rub at his face quickly with both hands - and his face scrunches up in a wince at some of the cuts] Ow. It'd be nice to think he went back to his home . . . even if the way he got sent back isn't great. I don't know what we could leave behind, though. I don't even have anything that would be a good offering.

[What he said or did... Aether might have to ask about that later. The last thing he wants is for Itto to have some weird lingering misconceptions about who Aether really is ~~as if the crossdressing thing wasn't already bad enough~~. But first, it would be better to leave an offering while they're still here.]

Well, if he's some version of me, then... I think I have an idea.

[He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a flower barrette. His expression notably falls for a moment, but then shifts to something more determined.]

This belonged to my sister, so... I think he'd appreciate it. I have two of them, so I don't think she'd mind if I parted with one.

[oh . . . he doesn't miss the expression, but - had she been here? Or is it just that he misses her? Either way - while he may ask about the other stuff at some point, that's a little too personal for him to ask about without being invited to first.

But he does lift a hand to ruffle Aether's hair, managing a smile]

Yeah . . . I think he'd appreciate it, too. Where should we leave it? The start of the bridge, maybe?

[The hair ruffle brightens his smile up in turn, and he nods.]

That could work. I can use Hi magic to keep it frozen in place, so it won't just blow away.

[Walking to the bridge, he looks for a spot unlikely to be hit by foot traffic before kneeling down in the snow. He sets the flower in place, before resting his hands on either side of it and muttering a soft spell. The snow around his hands melts into warm water, and just as the flower begins to sink -- the water is abruptly frozen. The effect leaves the flower suspended in ice, now built into part of the bridge proper. As a memorial made for a being who was made of ice and snow, nothing else could be more proper.]

[But even after finishing, he doesn't stand right away, quietly looking down at the flower, briefly lost in his thoughts.]

Yeah? [he crouches down next to Aether to watch, eyebrows raising in surprise. he's only ever used Geo to fight - and, well, Ushi is a member of the gang so of course he appears even outside of fights, so seeing magic used for something far more delicate is fascinating to him, if sobering.

He doesn't stand up either; there's probably something proper he's supposed to say, but he hasn't done anything like this since he was a kid, and even then - but he puts his hands together and repeats what he promised about meeting again and looking out for Lumine quietly to the little memorial]

[He's quiet as he listens to Itto's short prayer, wondering whether it'd be right for him to say anything. There's something distinctly morbid about creating a memorial for yourself.]

[After a brief silence falls between them, Aether speaks up -- his voice soft and a little sad.]

...did he mention Lumine to you?

[with a grunt he pushes to his feet, once his little prayer is done. It is kind of morbid, even if he's trying to separate the two Aether's in his head somehow, so it's less - awkward]

Yeah. Your sister, right? [he scratches at his cheek] He asked me to be friends with her, if she showed up.

[He nods, thoughtfully noting that he must have not mentioned her to Itto prior. It's not an uncommon thing -- even Childe hadn't known about her prior to coming here. But it causes a certain ache in his chest all the same -- like a reminder of how far they've been separated, that someone could come to know one without knowing the other.]

[It's why he has a hard time standing and separating himself from the hair clip he's parted with. While he does have another, it's one of only a handful of things still here from when Lumine returned to Teyvat.]

We're twins. She and I were separated a long time ago... and the reason I've been traveling through Teyvat is to search for her.

She was... here, briefly. But she disappeared in December.

[If Itto was still wondering why Aether seemed a bit on edge at the Gala, deprived of sleep and haunted by nightmares -- there's the explanation for it.]

[him not knowing isn't much of a surprise, given that they didn't exactly sit down and get to know each other when they met, and even after he was shipped off for a few nights in jail.

He was an only child, though, so he can't even imagine how that would feel - let alone a twin. There isn't much he could say that would be close to comforting, but he still puts an arm around him]

I'm sorry she disappeared. [geez, he can't even picture traveling Teyvat to look for anyone, either. But if he were in that position, he'd probably do the same] You'll find here again, though - whether it's here or back in Teyvat.

[He easily leans against Itto, taking comfort in the gesture. There really isn't anything anyone could say to help, really, short of definitively telling him his sister is okay. Just knowing she's at least alive somewhere in Teyvat isn't as comforting as one might think, given the circumstances she's seemingly fallen into.]

...thanks. I hope so, too.

[From the structure nearby, the sound of the wind picking back up can be heard -- no doubt as the flower recovers from the earlier fight. Which is what finally pushes Aether to stand, offering his hand to Itto.]

Come on. Let's head back to the city.

[he glances up at the structure as the wind starts up again, face briefly scrunching up into a scowl. Had none of what went down with the other Aether happened, he'd think the flower was a decent challenge - but now he'll be happy to never see or hear about it again.

He takes the offered hand and gets to his feet with a grunt, then tilts his head from one side to the other, trying to work out some of the soreness that's come now that adrenaline has run low. He can't help but wince a little.

The memorial Aether set up gets one more look before he turns away]

Yeah, lead the way.

[Though he won't call attention to it, even once Itto is standing, Aether doesn't let go of his hand. If anything, his grip grows firmer, as if wanting to be sure they aren't separated. But on the plus side, this means the Hi spell keeping Aether warm will flow into Itto as well, making it easier to ignore the snowstorm around them.]

They should hopefully have a healer back at the hotel, but if they don't, I can always patch you up back in my room? At least, until you can see a proper one. Since there's no point in powering through the pain when healing magic exists.

[And even if there is a healer, he's planning to stick by Itto's side for a good while. Sorting out matters of identity theft can wait a few more hours at least.]

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