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

[catarou]

[ Gentaro hasn't been to college, but he knows a classroom setup when he sees it, and he is absolutely not here for this. So, upon coming to, he takes the tablet, gets to his feet, and leaves the room without a word or a glance in anyone's direction. Maybe if he weren't in such a mood--a mingling of frustration, intense concern, confusion, and a dash of fear thrown in for good measure--he'd be more amiable to speaking with anyone else.

There's something that bothers him. It hadn't felt like anything Honobono could have done. As far as he can tell, he had been the only one affected. ... Regardless, Gentaro knows dwelling on it won't do a thing. So: time to look around.

Rather, once he sees the bookstore/gift shop across the way, he makes a beeline for it. What he expects is to see something familiar, but what he finds is all textbooks, books he's never heard of (which is troubling, really; Gentaro prides himself on being extremely well-read, so the probability of finding something he knows is very high), and standard college apparel. At least he finds something useful; Gentaro takes a few notebooks (meticulously selected, with covers in yellow, pink, purple, and green) and pens of various types.

Later on, he finds the kitchen, and scrounges up some tea. Unfortunately, it's the kind of tea that's an insult to the sort he drinks at home, but. Whatever. It'll do in a pinch, he supposes. Maybe he can annoy whoever's in charge here into providing them with better tea. Or, you know, a way home.

If anyone enters the kitchen, Gentaro glances their way and politely closes the notebook he's writing in. ]

I see your stomach has brought you to this place. Or perhaps it was fate? A fascinating question I shall ponder on for the rest of my existence.... Ahhh, is this divine punishment for my sins...?

kitchen

[partymagician]

Oh? Fate? Perhaps it is!

[ But he's very much thinking the same thing—this is punishment.

His gaze falls to the notebook and then to the tea. ]

What sort of tea is that?

[catarou]

Hoh, then perhaps it is not a complete disaster that we have been spirited away to a place I've no knowledge of.

[ Pointedly, Gentaro slips the notebook into his kosode. He's being more than a touch cautious, but it's worked out well for him in the past. ]

According to its packaging, green tea. Unfortunately, calling it such is an insult to actual tea.

[partymagician]

[ Fai can't help but be intrigued when he slips that notebook away. Whatever's written in there must be important... or maybe not.

Either way, his curiosity is piqued. ]

Lack of flavor?

[ Most bad teas tend to have no flavor at all, so that's his first guess. ]

bookstore/gift shop

[vivens]

[ gentaro isn't alone in making a beeline for the bookstore when he sees one, and it doesn't quite matter who was here first, but sabo raises his head a bit to acknowledge his presence. it's good to be aware of one's surroundings after all! at least, once gentaro starts loading himself up with notebooks of various colors and pens does sabo really start making note.

he'll have a small collection of various books under his arm as start speaking with a polite nod of his head. ]

Find anything interesting?

[catarou]

[ He glances toward him, then turns and fixes him with a polite smile. It sure looks sincere, at the very least! ]

Hmm. Quite a lot, actually. [ He looks at the books under his arm. ] Have you found anything interesting? Familiar, perhaps?

[ He isn't so arrogant to assume that someone else wouldn't recognize something in this place, but he wants to make sure it's not just him. ]

[vivens]

Unfortunately nothing seems familiar to me. [ he'll gesture to one of the books that he picked up. it looks like something pretraining to history or geography... probably both but the title is a bit obscured by his arm. ] There are plenty of subjects and stories that I've never come across before.

[ returning his attention to be fully towards gentaro now. ]

I assume it's the same for you?

kitchen

[selfconcept]

[ When Hien is tired of the convenience store food, he comes down to the kitchen. He wants to eat more, but then he comes across Gentaro. He stays silent as he listens to that whole spiel, slowly blinking his eyes with the weird checkerboard-pattern.

Most people have been receptive to his weird, distorted voice full of static, so he speaks up: ]

No, I'm just hungry. If you want divine punishment, cook something for me.

[catarou]

[ Honestly, Gentaro's seen weirder shit, so it doesn't bother him. He is, naturally, curious, but he's not about to be rude and start asking questions about things he likely can't help. Besides, Gentaro knows that differences in people only serve to make for a better, more enriching experience. He's not about to judge.

What he does choose to do is tease him a little for throwing caution to the wind. With a straight face and absolutely no indication that he's full of shit-- ]

Oh? You trust a stranger to cook for you? My, quite bold of you... I should warn you that I have the unfortunate ability to make everything I cook turn to fatal poison and taste like absolutely nothing. It is quite inconvenient.

[selfconcept]

It's okay. I'm resistant to poison, so I can eat it. Give it your best shot even if it'll taste like nothing, okay?

[ He speaks with utmost seriousness, but is he lying? Or does he sincerely mean it? Who knows. ]

kitchen;

[sicklysweet]

[Is it too late to turn back around...

No, so might as well play along.]

Not every sin is one to be punished for. Perhaps if you spill your secrets to me, you'll find salvation.

[And he won't use anything against him. Obviously.]

thanks i hate this already

[catarou]

Oh? How generous an offer. Salvation in return for my secrets... I wonder, is your "salvation" truly worth all of that?

[ Gentaro's having fun(???) at least. Terrible. ]

blows kiss

[sicklysweet]

Truly, is there a way to save your soul without letting those secrets go? Your secrets are what burden you, and you cannot find peace and acceptance beyond life without letting those burdens go.

[A match made in hell.]

You will feel better if you open up, and I won't judge. Everyone has something they regret, don't they? Don't you want to tell? To stop having it eat you up inside, wearing you away until you're just a shell of who you are?

[cheerfuldays]

Oh- are we allowed to take these?

( she had wanted to grab a book, but there's no cashier? and even if she were the petty sort, she has a reputation to keep in mind at almost all times- it would surely go poorly for an idol to steal. but... )

[catarou]

Oh, certainly.

[ He gives her a friendly, quiet little smile. ]

I haven't seen any workers here. Aside from us, it seems this place is quite uninhabited, yet well-maintained. I would be very surprised if we were to get into trouble for taking items.

[cheerfuldays]

I suppose that does make sense...

( but what if it's super illegal and ruins her image forever and ever. what then. she can't doom more more jump like that! )

... It really is strange that we're the only ones here. But I can't possibly begin to explain it.

( other than it being a SEKAI, which. no. she refuses to entertain the thought. SEKAI help. this is not helping. )

I saw several books, but I couldn't understand them at all... It wasn't a language I knew, that's for certain. What about you?

Kitchen

[herlocksholmes]

I bear no punishment for your sins, my dear fellow! If anything, this is a most fortunate encounter for you, for you have found yourself in my presence!

[It takes only a few words for Sholmes to show he has quite the self-esteem!]

[catarou]

[ Oh my. He gets a certain vibe from him.

But Gentaro's not going to not play along. He gasps, maybe a touch dramatically, and places a hand over his chest. ]

It is as if my prayers have been answered! After all these years of toiling away in the kitchen, fortune has smiled down upon me.... How could I possibly repay you?

[herlocksholmes]

Repay me with the solution to mankind's oldest problem. No reward could be greater than that.

[Says that and doesn't elaborate what's mankind's oldest problem]

kitchen

[cloudalike]

[ Uh. Hmm. Chongyun's only here to look for something cool to eat, but he answers as seriously as he can. Maybe this person is in distress? It wouldn't do to take their words lightly. That's just rude. ]

I'm not really sure the archons step in for any one person's sins, so I'm sure you're not being punished by any divine being. Do you have an overwhelming number of sins?

[catarou]

[ Oh, he's in the most distress. ]

Oh, far too many to count accurately. My heart and shoulders have grown weary from carrying the weight of them. Perhaps... could you offer this humble soul a piece of advice?

[cloudalike]

[ Oh oh oh, yes. ]

Do your best!

bookstore/gift shop

[unsinksyourship]

[... In the time since they left the lecture hall, Tamamori's somehow managed to get even more messy and rumpled than he already was -- but given how much of a disaster he was to start with it might not be super noticeable.

He sure is tracking mud into the bookstore, though. Oops.

Tamamori traipses through like he's not quite sure he's supposed to be in here, but he's quite sure he also wants some notebooks, though his pile is larger and considerably more haphazard, like he just nabbed whatever was at hand without consideration for colors or much else except that it was made of paper. Currently he's stuffing pens into his hakama like some kind of reading raccoon, pausing when he notices a compatriot(???).]

--You wouldn't happen to know where they keep the manuscript paper? This can't be all there is?

[Sometimes you are a hoarder but also complain about Free Stuff. That's the kind of man he is.]

[catarou]

[ Ah, a stationery gremlin. Gentaro watches, amused, as the other man shoves pens into the depths of his hakama. His question, though, undeniably intrigues him. He makes a note to strike up a conversation about writing, later. ]

So far, I've yet to find it. Not for a lack of looking, of course... perhaps it is simply hiding from us? If that is the case, it seems we may have to undertake a quest to locate and retrieve it.

[unsinksyourship]

[Possibly a stationery-and-everything-else gremlin, given he's finished with the penpocalypse and is now eyeing up the actual books with a distinct gleam in his eye. It looks like they've been rifled through to some degree already -- either by him or by whoever else came by, not many of them are especially polite when it comes to raiding -- but he shuffles over and starts getting his greedy fingers all over them anyways.]

Hmhmmm. All of the clothes are western style, and I can only read half of these-- [no, he can probably read even less than that but NOBODY KNOWS THIS OKAY he can hide under cover of Indecipherable Alien Language] --so I guess it makes sense I'd have to deal with this paper, but manuscript paper and proper pens are so much easier. I've never even seen these models before...?

[I can't believe he came from before ballpoint pens. He stops to scribble suspiciously in one of his notebooks, mumbles to himself about everything being inconvenient, looks up again.]

What was that?? What kind of weird quest is that robot and fake teacher cooking up this time?