☆TRACK V: I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE

[interdimanagers]

☆I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE

Party planning will start out innocuously enough. Naomi Rivers is cheerful and dedicated to the task, though as the days go on it will seem as if the stress of organization is wearing on her more and more. She pays attention to everyone’s recommendations (even if they are stupid) and seems capable of distilling even relative chaos into coherent plan of action. Generous refreshments are offered at all the planning meetings, especially ones that involve actual decorating. She does a lot of this work herself, expressing that the holidays wouldn’t be quite the same if you had someone else do the legwork for you.

If you try to investigate the reasons that this unusual cross-label party is happening in the first place, Naomi will reply with competently masked discomfort, and say that the execs are currently negotiating something of considerable importance, and that she’d offered her home as something resembling neutral territory to help facilitate that. When it comes to the point of physical decorating and you’re all taken over to her place, you’ll find that the home in question is a luxurious beach-front mansion.

Two nights before the party, those that are vigilant will have the opportunity to come upon Naomi mid-argument with another Virgo musician, who some may recognize as the solo R&B artist Anansi. Though the exact nature of the argument is unclear, it looks like Anansi is arguing against some part of Naomi’s plans. Clearly noticing people nearby, it will end with Naomi loudly declaring that if Anansi doesn’t like it, she is no longer invited.

Anansi will leave shortly after, giving any other Virgo members she passes critical looks. This outburst seems out of character for Naomi in general, and soon after she will return to her usual flurry of activity.

☆THE NIGHT BEFORE

The end plans for the party are a lot less formal than other ones have been. While the evening is centered around the performance stage of the in-house ballroom, guests will be given nearly free range of Naomi’s mansion during the event. All manners of chemical vices will be offered, even if a lot of them aren’t mentioned explicitly. Alcohol from beer to fine wine will be available for some, while under the table pills and power will be available for others. It’s the luxury evolution of a house party.

Unsurprisingly, there are going to be musical performances. Pretty much all Virgo parties include them. Any of the Virgo bands will be allowed to perform if they want to, and people will also be allowed to do solo performances, sort of like upscale karaoke. The night before the party, Naomi will give everyone a preview of a single from her upcoming album.

"Garbage - #1 Crush" (Watch on YouTube)

For those familiar with magical music influence, that’s what is happening here. Except, instead of merely the empathic control some might be learning, this is the straight up mind control version. As Naomi performs, everyone present will find themselves enraptured, and will be compelled to obey the unspoken demands of her spell. What are those orders?

At the holiday party, they will follow her lead and attempt the assassination of as many members of Pride Records as possible.

☆OFFICE PARTIES, AMIRITE

Of course, the hold this spell will have will be highly variable, but even if your character doesn’t end up making a real attempt, they’re not going to be able to interfere. That much is guaranteed.

If you would like an excuse to get mind controlled but didn’t sign up as a volunteer, you can assume your character got dragged along for last minute preparations when they wouldn’t have been coming for the rest of it. The spell will cause a feeling of hatred or contempt for Pride and a sense of particular duty to Virgo. Following Naomi’s plans will feel natural – entirely sensible.

Whether this lasts through execution is another thing, but there is a pretty good chance of it working. Of course, this is entirely up to player discretion. I’m not assuming that any Pride people are going to want to get straight up murdered (though you certainly can if you want to and thirst for Drama) because death is permanent and all, but there will be the opportunity to be brought back from near death fatal wounds so long as your exec doesn’t hate you.

Beyond that, any level of non-fatal damage can be done, according to player choice. The spell command is going to emphasize a desire for subtlety and subterfuge – there will be a poison provided by Naomi that will simulate an overdose/contaminated drug effect that will be the ideal, though it can resort to more overt physical violence like pushing people off a balconies or old fashioned stabbing if necessary. They key is not letting people catch on before they’ve had enough time to take some Prides out.

Below are sign up forms for people who want to do murders and people who would like to have an attempt on their lives. MP rewards will be given out for completed murder attempt threads as follows:

► Completed thread as a Virgo assassin making a serious attempt: 4 MP
► Completed thread as a Pride victim resulting in serious damage: 3 MP
► Completed thread as a Virgo assassin making a half assed/failed attempt: 3 MP
► Completed thread as a Pride victim resulting in no major effects: 2 MP
► Completed thread as a Virgo or Pride witness stopping an attempt: 2 MP
► Completed thread where you die forever: 0 MP because you're dead, silly.

As previously mentioned, the event is ICly on December 7th but OOC it will probably start a couple days in advance to help with threading time. It will be a 2 part event with the first log containing general mingling + murder and the second containing a major NPC reaction.

You can use this post to find matches between assassins and victims or whatever else you feel like.

Comments

QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[interdimanagers]

If you have any general questions about the plot or want to talk to an NPC about anything not specified, this is where you can ask about it.

[giglio_madonna]

So Anansi! Is there any way to follow after her and strike up conversation or inquire about what she's worked up about?

[interdimanagers]

Yes! She's willing to talk, but she's not inclined to overstay her welcome. You'll probably have to catch up with her once she's outside.

With a general question like that, she will say that Virgo politics are a real bitch sometimes, and that Luce should avoid getting caught in the crossfire if at all possible.

[giglio_madonna]

Expect lots of sympathetic nodding and oh yes, Luce has heard about things that have happened in Virgo re: politics.

She'll understand of course if Anansi has places to be and doesn't want to stick around just for a chat at Naomi's place considering, but if she wants to exchange phone numbers to talk about it or just vent...?

[faithfulflame]

Will there be memory regain opportunities during this event? There are some really significant canon parallels for Rei and I would love to play with them.

[interdimanagers]

Yes! Shoot. I forgot to mention specifically but the memory regain numbers will refresh this month, meaning people may take a max of 6 new memories and a minimum of 1 at any time of their choosing. (For usage over the entire month of December, with no mod restrictions.)

[stylistic_disloyalty]

So obviously most of these attempts are aiming for subterfuge and subtlety, but is it possible that eventually the evening would devolve into sheer chaos as the attempts get more and more violent/physical? Or is it going to be placid-murder all the way through due to the nature of the programming?

I mean... I imagine if someone starts screaming they were stabbed, general chaos would ensue. |D

[interdimanagers]

Yeah, like, it's pretty heavily supposed to steer away from general chaos because a house wide riot is the opposite of what the intent is. Which is the reason why physical violence is a secondary option only, and why even physical violence should be discreet in a "hide the bodies" kind of way.

The ideal would be if everything looked like it was an accident, but obviously that may not be attainable.

[nandemonai]

this might be a stupid question, and i might have skipped over the answer. but can people in Pride Records be Virgo assassins? or at least, have an allegiance to Virgo while under the mind control?

[interdimanagers]

Not in this circumstance! I mean, they could start assassinating Virgo people just because they felt like it but there is not going to be any compulsion for them to do anything. They are off limits that way.

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[variaboss]

Is Xanxus still in the Preditor Love Dungeon?

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[interdimanagers]

Is he sure he EVER wants to leave the Love Dungeon?

But yeah, he'll be out 3 days after what's going on there. So you have the general rundown: they are going to beat the piss out of him and possibly leave him with some sort of permanent mark (a brand new scar! or maybe some kind of even grosser thing like losing part of a finger, etc, if you are into that. choose your poison.).

Then he's going to get held in a private Pride medical area in the HQ and given a bit of treatment until he can stand and then he's going to get shuffled back to his penthouse.

It will be clear that Lesedi doesn't care that this happened.

[thelittlemerman]

Regarding memory regains, are they possible during the brainwashed state that Virgo people are in? For instance if I wanted to go for Maximum Drama and have Finnick regain a memory of being in the arena as he's attempting to kill someone at the party, would that be possible or does the mind control cancel that out?

[interdimanagers]

Absolutely! In fact, memory regains are an excellent way to get your characters to snap out of it if you don't want them to succeed. Otherwise, it's still a good opportunity to Dramatically Appropriate Parallels.

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[magic_to_do]

Just so I understand, Virgo people who aren't going to be brainwashed assassins still can't stop or interfere in an attempt someone else is making?

I'm just checking because this

'Of course, the hold this spell will have will be highly variable, but even if your character doesn’t end up making a real attempt, they’re not going to be able to interfere. That much is guaranteed.'

and this

► Completed thread as a Virgo or Pride witness stopping an attempt: 2 MP

seem to be saying different things? Or I could just be dumb.

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[interdimanagers]

It only blocks their capacity to interfere if they were there to hear the music! Having attended the preparations the night before was always optional, so Virgo who didn't will be totally unaffected.

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[variaboss]

Another question. Can Pride members try to get in on the assassinations? Like turning the tables? Or are they also mind controlled as well? If so would they also get assassination MP? As in... Pride member commits "murder" gets 4 MP... Virgo member gets "killed" they get 3 MP. or is it only as stated above?

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[interdimanagers]

That is a good question, to be honest. I mean, Pride members are not in any way mind controlled so they can react to things however they like, which includes potentially trying to hurt Virgo people back. They might get some kind of MP bonus (I'd have to think about it) but it wouldn't be as much as the 4 MP bonus on the Virgo side, since that MP is largely a reward for going along with the mind control.

[giglio_madonna]

Coming back again, but while helping out at Naomi's house and being a meddler offering a shoulder to cry on and talk about her love life troubles, is there anything suspicious or interesting to stumble upon?

Mysterious letters, open browsers to weird shit, etc, etc.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

SO SECOND QUESTION-- (silly one...)

Given some players have opted for the Bus to Nowhere, are Pride people able to text anybody on the outside to relay what's happening at the party? Or will there be some kind of convenient cellphone service disruption happening?

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[hanginginthere]

Is the MP bonus Per Completed Thread, or can you only get one type of bonus per event?

Eg- Shen's going to be making a total of three serious (although failed insomuch as the target survives) attempts. Assuming all three threads complete, will he get the bonus for each?

Re: QUESTIONS/INVESTIGATION

[interdimanagers]

No, you just get one - whichever completed thread is the greatest worth.

[blindfoldcode]

I have a really out there question that may or may not have been answered at another place in another time. I don't know if I asked it last night or dreamed asking it but now it's really bothering me.

When it comes to AC, right? There's bonus MP in this event. Would this raise the max MP you can gain in the month? Or can you still only get 30? So, with a successful nearly getting murdered under Kido's belt, does it mean that her MP limit is now raised to 33 for the month of December?

[hanginginthere]

One more!

Is there any chance that the mind control would reassert itself once shaken off- or is it broken once it's broken?

[interdimanagers]

It's unlikely - only if the way it was shaken off was fairly mild to begin with. Sorry for the late reply!