This is what I’m thinking so far (apologies for a Big Hulking Post):
The Lead Up
-Balthier’s mentor dies. There’s something shady about it, and there are rumors it was a hit because of giving the business over to a newbie, or some unresolved past grudge. -A mysterious object (either a chalice, cauldron, or box) shows up. There’s no log of it. It’s suspicious. But it’s worth /a lot/ of money. It’s a real early medieval antique in great condition. -Balthier pulls in support [PC opportunity to interact] for it. They either don’t turn anything up, or can tell it’s magic but not quite what -In investigating it, it gets activated -All PC and NPCs in the shop or involved in the investigation when it’s tripped will be hit with a day 1 fear spell (see below). They can be hit by additional spells during the event.
The Fear Manifestations
-The object had three sprites/pixies sealed on it. They have been released and now are competing to see who can wreak the most havoc via their themed conflict spells. -They grow in power depending on how much fear they collect, which is stored in the object itself. -They begin weak and must stay relatively close to the object. As they get stronger, they have a larger range. This keeps the event in Excelsior, originally near the shop and reaching the suburbs by the end of the weak. Hypothetically it could keep growing. -They must actually hit you with a spell for you to be affected. You can be affected multiple times by the same pixie, or multiple pixies. You can technically be in Excelsior and never be hit with a spell yourself. They’re pixies so they aren’t super methodical. -They begin as specks of light, become regular pixies by midweek, and by the full height of the spell are full on horror creatures (hag, troll, banshee, etc.) -A fear will manifest in the real world until confronted or defeated, or the overall spell is turned off again (examples below) -Spells cast later in the week are larger in magnitude than early in the week (more details below) -Because fear manifestations are real, other characters may interact with them -NPCs will also have fear manifestations happening
Pixie 1 – Person versus Self
-This pixie specializes in internal fears and conflicts. This could be anything from thinking you are stupid and suddenly finding yourself cognitively impaired to feeling guilt over failing to save your loved one and now they are here dying again while you can’t do anything. -Below are examples of the same fear manifested on Day 1 versus Day 3 versus Day 6 -EX 1: Anxiety that you come off as stupid increases -> It seems like you have done every possible stupid thing you could have -> Your IQ has literally dropped?? You feel compelled to make bad decisions and say dumb shit -Ex 2: You’re feeling really sensitive that you have a “face like a horse” -> You keep seeing yourself with a horse’s head in mirrors and there’s a weird smell and you seem like you keep finding horse hair on your bed and you neighed instead of laughed -> Oh my god you have a horse head. You are Bojack Horseman. Except like you also want to eat alfalfa and run naked through the night. -Ex 3: You just feel like no one is hearing you seeing you -> Are people seriously ignoring you this much? Why is no one texting back? Why can’t I get my order at the coffee shop? And I keep dropping things. -> Congrats you’re a ghost! No one can see or hear you and you can no longer interact with the physical world! You probably never could – you can’t remember.
Pixie 2 – Person versus Person
-This pixie specializes in causing problems between you and others – whether they exist on this plane or not. These spells can conjure people you don’t want to see, like exes, or even villains (or heroes) from other planes. These spells can potentially impact both the character hit and real people (NPCs, PCs) around them. For PC it would be opt in from both parites. -Ex 1: You find yourself sensitive and picking fights with your SO -> Okay you’re having blown out arguments with your SO, especially on shit you thought was okay -> You or your SO does The Thing that will ruin the relationship – and then keeps going. And it’s all your fault. -Ex 2: You can’t shake the memory of a nemesis from your past; bad dreams, memories, and a preoccupation they’re going to reappear -> You see your nemesis. Here. They know something about you that you don’t want anyone to, and they’re threatening to use it if you don’t comply. They’re going to ruin everything -> God fucking damn it your supervillain nemesis is HERE and has their worst weapons and powers and is DEFINITELY GOING TO DESTROY THE WORLD
Pixie 3 – Person Versus Nature
-This pixie specializes in the natural world. So like. Packs of dogs. The weather. The sidewalk opening up to swallow your ankles. Awakening dormant magical creatures. -Ex 1: You feel chilly, like, all the time -> Okay there’s literally a 20 degree drop in the area around you. -> You are a walking blizzard. It’s ruining electronics and killing plants. -Ex 2: Are there always this many…bugs this time of year? -> Ew ew ew there are bugs in your house, clothes, and/or food. -> I am sorry friend somehow you literally ended up in a room full of bugs.
Resolution
-Individually, characters may resolve their fear spells by facing the fear, defeating the fear, or otherwise confronting the fear. If resolved, a manifestation may become powerless, turn into something silly and harmless, or disappear entirely. -If a character entirely succumbs to the fear, they will be transported inside the cursed object to a “fear” plane, which is a nightmarish hellscape where multiple fears may manifest. They cannot die, but the pixies are essentially mining their terror. They may interact with other characters stuck in the fear plane, but very much may not be themselves. They cannot die here, and cannot get out themselves. A magically tethered character can rescue them by convincing them to confront a fear, or they will be released when the spell is defeated. -To stop the spell, PCs need to daze and trap the three pixies, depower them, and seal them on the object again. They also need to release people from the object. -I’m a little fuzzier on the defeat mechanics, but I’m thinking this would allow different groups to tackle the three pixies and the nightmare plane. -The object needs to be resealed and/or destroyed -Upon destruction/sealing, all fear manifestations will disappear. However, any effects caused by those fears are real and still here.
no subject
This is what I’m thinking so far (apologies for a Big Hulking Post):
The Lead Up
-Balthier’s mentor dies. There’s something shady about it, and there are rumors it was a hit because of giving the business over to a newbie, or some unresolved past grudge.
-A mysterious object (either a chalice, cauldron, or box) shows up. There’s no log of it. It’s suspicious. But it’s worth /a lot/ of money. It’s a real early medieval antique in great condition.
-Balthier pulls in support [PC opportunity to interact] for it. They either don’t turn anything up, or can tell it’s magic but not quite what
-In investigating it, it gets activated
-All PC and NPCs in the shop or involved in the investigation when it’s tripped will be hit with a day 1 fear spell (see below). They can be hit by additional spells during the event.
The Fear Manifestations
-The object had three sprites/pixies sealed on it. They have been released and now are competing to see who can wreak the most havoc via their themed conflict spells.
-They grow in power depending on how much fear they collect, which is stored in the object itself.
-They begin weak and must stay relatively close to the object. As they get stronger, they have a larger range. This keeps the event in Excelsior, originally near the shop and reaching the suburbs by the end of the weak. Hypothetically it could keep growing.
-They must actually hit you with a spell for you to be affected. You can be affected multiple times by the same pixie, or multiple pixies. You can technically be in Excelsior and never be hit with a spell yourself. They’re pixies so they aren’t super methodical.
-They begin as specks of light, become regular pixies by midweek, and by the full height of the spell are full on horror creatures (hag, troll, banshee, etc.)
-A fear will manifest in the real world until confronted or defeated, or the overall spell is turned off again (examples below)
-Spells cast later in the week are larger in magnitude than early in the week (more details below)
-Because fear manifestations are real, other characters may interact with them
-NPCs will also have fear manifestations happening
Pixie 1 – Person versus Self
-This pixie specializes in internal fears and conflicts. This could be anything from thinking you are stupid and suddenly finding yourself cognitively impaired to feeling guilt over failing to save your loved one and now they are here dying again while you can’t do anything.
-Below are examples of the same fear manifested on Day 1 versus Day 3 versus Day 6
-EX 1: Anxiety that you come off as stupid increases -> It seems like you have done every possible stupid thing you could have -> Your IQ has literally dropped?? You feel compelled to make bad decisions and say dumb shit
-Ex 2: You’re feeling really sensitive that you have a “face like a horse” -> You keep seeing yourself with a horse’s head in mirrors and there’s a weird smell and you seem like you keep finding horse hair on your bed and you neighed instead of laughed -> Oh my god you have a horse head. You are Bojack Horseman. Except like you also want to eat alfalfa and run naked through the night.
-Ex 3: You just feel like no one is hearing you seeing you -> Are people seriously ignoring you this much? Why is no one texting back? Why can’t I get my order at the coffee shop? And I keep dropping things. -> Congrats you’re a ghost! No one can see or hear you and you can no longer interact with the physical world! You probably never could – you can’t remember.
Pixie 2 – Person versus Person
-This pixie specializes in causing problems between you and others – whether they exist on this plane or not. These spells can conjure people you don’t want to see, like exes, or even villains (or heroes) from other planes. These spells can potentially impact both the character hit and real people (NPCs, PCs) around them. For PC it would be opt in from both parites.
-Ex 1: You find yourself sensitive and picking fights with your SO -> Okay you’re having blown out arguments with your SO, especially on shit you thought was okay -> You or your SO does The Thing that will ruin the relationship – and then keeps going. And it’s all your fault.
-Ex 2: You can’t shake the memory of a nemesis from your past; bad dreams, memories, and a preoccupation they’re going to reappear -> You see your nemesis. Here. They know something about you that you don’t want anyone to, and they’re threatening to use it if you don’t comply. They’re going to ruin everything -> God fucking damn it your supervillain nemesis is HERE and has their worst weapons and powers and is DEFINITELY GOING TO DESTROY THE WORLD
Pixie 3 – Person Versus Nature
-This pixie specializes in the natural world. So like. Packs of dogs. The weather. The sidewalk opening up to swallow your ankles. Awakening dormant magical creatures.
-Ex 1: You feel chilly, like, all the time -> Okay there’s literally a 20 degree drop in the area around you. -> You are a walking blizzard. It’s ruining electronics and killing plants.
-Ex 2: Are there always this many…bugs this time of year? -> Ew ew ew there are bugs in your house, clothes, and/or food. -> I am sorry friend somehow you literally ended up in a room full of bugs.
Resolution
-Individually, characters may resolve their fear spells by facing the fear, defeating the fear, or otherwise confronting the fear. If resolved, a manifestation may become powerless, turn into something silly and harmless, or disappear entirely.
-If a character entirely succumbs to the fear, they will be transported inside the cursed object to a “fear” plane, which is a nightmarish hellscape where multiple fears may manifest. They cannot die, but the pixies are essentially mining their terror. They may interact with other characters stuck in the fear plane, but very much may not be themselves. They cannot die here, and cannot get out themselves. A magically tethered character can rescue them by convincing them to confront a fear, or they will be released when the spell is defeated.
-To stop the spell, PCs need to daze and trap the three pixies, depower them, and seal them on the object again. They also need to release people from the object.
-I’m a little fuzzier on the defeat mechanics, but I’m thinking this would allow different groups to tackle the three pixies and the nightmare plane.
-The object needs to be resealed and/or destroyed
-Upon destruction/sealing, all fear manifestations will disappear. However, any effects caused by those fears are real and still here.