Hijikata Toshirou (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mayoninofukucho) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ellipsanet2023-03-18 10:30 pm
mayoninofukucho) wrote in ellipsanet2023-03-18 10:30 pm
Video | Isekai Veteran Tips #1 (Blue Flash Quest)
[CW: Death on Livestream (but he'll be OK!)]
[While Ellipsa has been good to the otherworlders so far, it's still been a rough adjustment for Hijikata, and for one reason only: Nobody got power-nerfed!! Back in Edo, Lunatia, and Camelot he was considered a fearsome powerhouse of a swordsman, but here in Nightwake City... not so much.
He decides, however, to not let this break his stride, all the less once he takes notice of the 'Blue Flash' quest. At first the situation doesn't really ring a bell, but some research brings up previous similar incidents that saw people disappear in the same area, and the few blurry photos of the mysterious blue lights make a lightbulb go on in his head. He knows what these are!!
And so, a few days later, a stream goes live on the network. Despite the late hour and the creepy location (why does the airship station have to be in between the border to the cold Winter Segment, the Abandoned Mansion, and the Great Tree of Death?!) he looks confident as his phone floats in front of him (he got better at levitating things recently, and this way he'll have his hands free!).]
This is Hijikata, reporting in from the Autumn Segment. Some of you may have seen the 'Blue Flash' quest on the quest board. I'm here to confirm what happened.
[He wanders towards the dark forest behind him, still talking into the phone.]
I'm a bit of a veteran at being sent to other worlds, so I'm familiar with some creatures most of you may not have encountered before. When I looked into the case I noticed that the "blue flashes" can really only be one thing: will'o'wisps.
[As if on cue a couple of pale blue, flame-like wisps come into view, playfully circling around each other, and he makes the phone float past him to properly capture them.]
They're harmless fae beings that lead lost people out of the forest... ideally. I have an inkling that these might be spectral will'o'wisps. They're the corrupted version, if you will, and can create illusions to lure people to their doom. That's probably what happened to the missing individuals.
[The two wisps suddenly chase away into the distance, truly looking like mere blurs in the darkness. Another one, though, floats out from between the trees, so Hijikata heads towards it while keeping on talking into the phone.]
I'll confirm what kind they are! Even if it does throw an illusion at me, I'll be fine. I've seen it all by now.
[In the background the wisp moves towards him... and then a much larger thing made of the same pale blue flames bursts out from between the bushes, comes at him like a massive cannonball, opens enormous flaming maws before Hijikata even manages to turn towards it, and-- there's a tumble of night sky, trees, and then darkness as the phone lands on its face on the ground. A few moments later there'll be some clatter as the wisp spits out his swords and the other non-organic stuff, and then silence.
He sure got to the bottom of this!]
1) Who Can Do This Better?
[Hijikata can't take any calls right now, but he'll respond to messages and comments in 3 day's (in-game) time... and since that's a long while to wait, please feel free to tag out! Maybe based on this super professional research some better-prepared teams can assemble (Hijikata won't want to join, thank you very much)!]
2) Summer Flower Yard
[Anyone who knows that Hijikata is a summer power holder and wants to either congratulate him on solving the case (really?!) or is simply curious to see if the Flower Yards work as designed can of course stop by there. A blue iris will have popped up in the yard, emitting a strong cigarette smell. It'll spend a while budding, but on the 3rd day it'll bloom!]
[While Ellipsa has been good to the otherworlders so far, it's still been a rough adjustment for Hijikata, and for one reason only: Nobody got power-nerfed!! Back in Edo, Lunatia, and Camelot he was considered a fearsome powerhouse of a swordsman, but here in Nightwake City... not so much.
He decides, however, to not let this break his stride, all the less once he takes notice of the 'Blue Flash' quest. At first the situation doesn't really ring a bell, but some research brings up previous similar incidents that saw people disappear in the same area, and the few blurry photos of the mysterious blue lights make a lightbulb go on in his head. He knows what these are!!
And so, a few days later, a stream goes live on the network. Despite the late hour and the creepy location (why does the airship station have to be in between the border to the cold Winter Segment, the Abandoned Mansion, and the Great Tree of Death?!) he looks confident as his phone floats in front of him (he got better at levitating things recently, and this way he'll have his hands free!).]
This is Hijikata, reporting in from the Autumn Segment. Some of you may have seen the 'Blue Flash' quest on the quest board. I'm here to confirm what happened.
[He wanders towards the dark forest behind him, still talking into the phone.]
I'm a bit of a veteran at being sent to other worlds, so I'm familiar with some creatures most of you may not have encountered before. When I looked into the case I noticed that the "blue flashes" can really only be one thing: will'o'wisps.
[As if on cue a couple of pale blue, flame-like wisps come into view, playfully circling around each other, and he makes the phone float past him to properly capture them.]
They're harmless fae beings that lead lost people out of the forest... ideally. I have an inkling that these might be spectral will'o'wisps. They're the corrupted version, if you will, and can create illusions to lure people to their doom. That's probably what happened to the missing individuals.
[The two wisps suddenly chase away into the distance, truly looking like mere blurs in the darkness. Another one, though, floats out from between the trees, so Hijikata heads towards it while keeping on talking into the phone.]
I'll confirm what kind they are! Even if it does throw an illusion at me, I'll be fine. I've seen it all by now.
[In the background the wisp moves towards him... and then a much larger thing made of the same pale blue flames bursts out from between the bushes, comes at him like a massive cannonball, opens enormous flaming maws before Hijikata even manages to turn towards it, and-- there's a tumble of night sky, trees, and then darkness as the phone lands on its face on the ground. A few moments later there'll be some clatter as the wisp spits out his swords and the other non-organic stuff, and then silence.
He sure got to the bottom of this!]
1) Who Can Do This Better?
[Hijikata can't take any calls right now, but he'll respond to messages and comments in 3 day's (in-game) time... and since that's a long while to wait, please feel free to tag out! Maybe based on this super professional research some better-prepared teams can assemble (Hijikata won't want to join, thank you very much)!]
2) Summer Flower Yard
[Anyone who knows that Hijikata is a summer power holder and wants to either congratulate him on solving the case (really?!) or is simply curious to see if the Flower Yards work as designed can of course stop by there. A blue iris will have popped up in the yard, emitting a strong cigarette smell. It'll spend a while budding, but on the 3rd day it'll bloom!]
Text | UN: mayorinfan35
He feels similarly about Dojima's commentary that follows - his frank criticism raises Hijikata's blood pressure, but the man is absolutely right in every regard. He shouldn't have gone alone, he shouldn't have been so convinced that he had the right idea about the wisps, and he should have been a lot more vigilant. Damn it, he's really been slipping a lot, hasn't he? But he can dwell on that later. First he writes a short message to Eva.]
Hijikata here. Apologies for the video from earlier this week (the 'Blue Flash" quest). It didn't go as planned (as you saw). I was revived in the Flower Yard and am OK.
Text
...She was overthinking this. For now, she just let the relief settle the creeping unease inside her.]
Hijikata-san,
What were you thinking? Well, whatever. I'm glad you're not still dead. Thank you for letting me know.
Guessing fire wasn't gonna work on that thing after all in the end? Did someone go retrieve your stuff after?
I'm keeping safe. You should do the same. Let me know if you want me to bring you tea or something.
Ushiromiya Eva
no subject
That's right, fire didn't help at all. My belongings were at the lost-and-found in the city.
[Apparently teleporting faeries gather anything left behind in the Segments and bring it there, which he finds really hard to believe!!]
Thanks for the offer, but I'm more of a coffee person.
[And, more importantly, she should save her government-allocated pocket money!]
Do keep safe.
no subject
It sounds like everything's in order then, assuming there's no lasting side-effects.
It feels so strange, the idea that someone can die and just come back like nothing happened. As if we really are like pieces on someone else's gameboard. I don't like it.
no subject
They certainly had an agenda in calling us here, but at least they were upfront about it. Let's appreciate the second chances at life we get here. It'd be a pity if people died for good and were never able to go back home.
[Of course he's all pragmatic about it, isekai veteran that he is.]
no subject
Think there's a pattern to who they call to start with? Do you really think they're being honest with us?
no subject
It does seem to be random, just like on the other worlds I've visited so far. I believe Olwen that they have no control over who gets pulled in. It's always a mix of all sorts of people - adults and children, warriors and scholars, nobility and commoners, and from all kinds of words and eras too.
no subject
Random? I always assumed it called in from some of the most capable from each world. That's why it would have pulled me in, right?
[Then again, if Hijikata was the most capable from his world, and he died like that...well, she wondered what everyone else from there was like.
But right now, Eva was still a little worried over what had happened to him, and she couldn't help but add: ]
You sure you're not suffering any weird side effects from what happened?
no subject
No side effects at all, as far as I can tell. If I do notice anything I'll update you.
no subject
Well anyway, I'll let you rest up. You should come by the Magical Manor sometime so I can yell at you in person for that stunt.
[Or you know, maybe she could maliciously goad him into exploring a haunted mansion with her...]
no subject
But as chance would have it he probably will show up at the Magical Manor before long to get some guidance on his transformation magic... and one thing will lead to the other.]