00 - prologue

[afflictionmods]

PROLOGUE

It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing – something strange begins to happen. There's a sudden burning sensation that wraps around your right wrist and part of your forearm. If you glance at the affected area, you'll find that it's...glowing.  The glow is pale blue, and it's so bright that it hurts to look at. The burn itself isn't so painful that you feel like keeling over just yet, but it does hurt nevertheless.

But before you have time to try to soothe the pain, you start to feel lightheaded, dizzy. Perhaps some of you may attribute this to any injuries you may currently be sustaining. For those who were previously unscathed, however, there's quite possibly no explanation for this other than the sudden appearance of the mysterious burn on your arm.

There is no time to mull it over, though, because it is the last thing that you see before the world suddenly fades to black.

-----

When you regain your senses, your vision is blurry; but when it starts to even out and you survey your surroundings, you find yourself sitting in a rather uncomfortable chair. Looking around you’ll see rows and rows of chairs, all facing the same way towards a desk, a podium, and an empty wall. A projector hangs from the ceiling and the lighting is bright and artificial... For some of you, it might be reminiscent of a college lecture hall. For others, you might have never seen anything like this before.

Your wrist, by the way, feels perfectly fine...though there’s now some kind of strange marking on it. It looks like a scar of some sort, and if you choose to touch it, it doesn’t feel inflamed or damaged in any way...but that doesn’t mean you don’t experience any pain. Perhaps the last thing some of you remember is a hard-fought battle, and the aches from your injuries still linger; some of you might not even remember getting hurt, and yet, your body aches like it has; for the lucky ones who feel fine, well. Pray that it lasts for a little while longer.

Because the moment someone gets hurt – emotionally or physically – there’s a small chance you’ll feel it, too. Where and who and what it’s coming from, though, is on you to figure out.

In front of you on the desk is some kind of device – a tablet, for those of you who are familiar. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be capable of doing much of anything right now, other than take photos and videos with the Camera app. There's also a translating app for those of you who need help reading some of the text around campus, as it is all in English. (Verbally, however, you can understand everyone in your own language. Tablets are also in characters' native languages.) It seems to be incredibly durable and hard to break, but you may want to be careful with it regardless.

Something shifts in your pocket (or...in your socks/shoe/what have you, if pockets aren't a thing) as you move around. Should you reach in and feel for it, you’ll find some kind of card – those who are familiar with modern technology will recognize that this is some kind of card you need to swipe. It has your name and a photo of you on one side, and the back of the card has the word "KEYCARD" on it.

There are also other people here, scattered throughout this mysterious classroom you’re in. In fact, there’re a bunch of you — 29 others, to be exact.

And now... you’re free to do whatever you want. Mostly anything, at least, given that once you step outside and explore, you’ll notice an ominous fog behind the various buildings within view. Still, this is a good time to get your bearings, check on what you have - and don’t have - and talk to the people around you until orientation starts.

-----

( OOC: Welcome to your Intro Log! The partner system is in effect for the Intro Log, meaning that yes, pain share is happening! For some notes regarding the partner system, your character will not know who their partner is upon arrival. It’s entirely possible that they find out now if their partner gets or is already injured, or if they can pick up on their mood. Otherwise, they’ll find out later today...!

Anyone who tries to leave campus grounds will have to enter through the fog, but no matter what, they will mysteriously wind up back onto campus grounds. And for clarification, the keycards are what characters need to gain access to their dorms!

Finally, we will have an NPC Reveal at 6pm EST today! )

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[magicam]

[So he's absolutely here in person, but with the flurry of questions whirling around and with how all the answers seem like cookie-cutter pamphlet responses...

Well. It's hard to be put at ease from that!!

Gotta keep up a happy face, though!!]

So, what are we gonna be doing in the course, anyway? Cay totes doesn't mind having a longer break, but if it's like super hard cram school, that's a no go!

[affligere]

I do not believe anything will be particularly difficult, so long as you have a willingness to participate.

[See? It's fine.]

[magicam]

Hey, hey, you just dodged the question! Cay doesn't know if he should be willing to participate or not with an answer like that!!

[It's not fine????]

[affligere]

[It's??? Fine???]

If you do not wish to fail, participate in the course.

[magicam]

[No?????]

...You still haven't said what kind of course it is! Cay isn't smart, you know, what if he fails even if he tries hard??

[affligere]

It's a course designed around self-improvement. Hopefully by the end you will have increased skills in regards to intra- and interpersonal communication, among other things. I am sure it will not be too difficult for you.

[magicam]

...That doesn't sound too difficult for Cay.

[He lied, like a liar.]

Why was he brought here if he's fine?

[affligere]

There is no one entirely incapable of improvement. I am sure you have some room for growth.

[magicam]

Mmm... well, yeah, but wouldn't this course be better suited to someone who, like, could get more use out of it?

[affligere]

I believe you can get as much use out of this course as anyone else. Perhaps you can help others cope with whatever pain they may experience.

[magicam]

Ehh? You think? Maybe...

But why does that sound like an excuse?? It's an excuse, right?

[affligere]

No, sharing pain is quite literal.

[magicam]

It is...! Yeah! Why is that, anyway???

[affligere]

It is a part of the course.

[Obviously????]

It will hopefully help you better understand others.

[magicam]

By... literally sharing pain...? H-how?

[affligere]

It is a simple and effective method to understand what people are going through, is it not? To feel what they feel, literally and completely?

[Besides...]

It goes beyond physical pain and ailments as well, so we believe that may also help foster greater empathy between partners that will develop into empathy for everyone around them.

[magicam]

It's spooky is what it is!!

[And, also, like, hey. Wait one second.]

Wh-what do you mean it goes beyond physical...?

[affligere]

There is more than one type of pain, is there not? Anger, grief, regret... There are many emotions that make a person hurt.

[They tilt their head, face as blank as ever.]

I am sure you are much more aware of the impacts feelings may have on a person and their wellbeing than I am.

[magicam]

Ehh? We share that kind of pain, too??

[Mildly panicked glance at Idia!!]

Isn't that like, way overboard??

[affligere]

Yes.

[So Idia can probably feel that mild panic...]

It would be foolish to ignore this aspect, don't you agree? There are many facets to the experiences of living creatures and you cannot prioritize one over the other.

[magicam]

[RIP Idia...]

No way! Absolutely not! Physical pain is already too much, yanno?

[affligere]

I do not know.

[Sorry, Cater.]

What is it about this that perturbs you so much?

[magicam]

You... don't? Then how can you be helping to run this course? Hey???

[Not answering that question, nope...!!]

[affligere]

I do not feel pain, so I would not know if or when it would qualify as too much.

[Sorry, Cater x2.]

However, I am equipped to provide medical assistance, on top of the fact I can maintain a record of student vitals, which is part of why I am here as the assistant.