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

[cloudalike]

[ Once upon a time, a Little Master told Chongyun, "If you can't reduce the effects of your yang energy, what if you sought out an evil spirit that is immune to it?" But wow, who would have thought it'd happened like this? And he didn't even have to seek it out himself this time. It found him!

Because that's what this is, right? Clearly, this evil spirit overpowered his pure yang his its incredibly foul yin. What else could explain how he suddenly got here? The lightheadedness from before; the cursed mark on his arm; this feeling of otherness...

Speaking of, he feels really weird. He's nervous, confused and excited. Just a tad bitter. (BECAUSE. Hey... don't tell him he wasted all his time traveling around for nothing... ) Maybe on the edge of hyperventilation. Actually, probably gonna hyperventilate any second now. But what's stopping him is - this strange sense of calm, some lingering edge of confusion, but nothing at all like what Chongyun is feeling. Then again, if this isn't what he's feeling, then what - ugh.

He turns and faces the nearest corner in the lecture hall, resting his forehead against the cool wall. He just needs to give himself a moment or two to breathe. Calm down. Still his core, be as cool as stone. In between deep, deep breaths, he mutters to himself about evil spirits and how the ancient tomes never described the nonphysical realm as such a studious-looking place - did he miss something during his studies?? He needs to really do better about that. ]

At least the next time I see Xingqiu, I can tell him something interesting. Xingqiu... I think I've been spirited away.

[ Later, much later, after he's half convinced himself that they haven't been spirited away - while also being 150% certain they have - Chongyun will settle himself on the exam table in the health room, waiting for a doctor that will probably never come. He'd like something to help with the nerves, please. After that, he can be found wandering around looking for cooling items. Probably standing in the cafeteria's walk-in freezer. Or carrying around a bag of ice from the convenience store. ]

lecture hall

[totaltrashfire]

[Mae is in the middle of her own freakout (seriously, what the hell, why is she waking up in a weird place like this!?), but somehow the sight of someone getting up and leaning into the wall like his life depends on it catches her attention and gives her something to focus on other than panicking.

Maybe panicking together is a good thing?]

Hey, are you gonna be sick? I can grab a trashcan. Hold your hair back.

[His hair's too short to need it but it's the thought that counts, right?]

[cloudalike]

[ It's rare for someone else to panic with him. ]

No, I'm - ah, huh? A trashcan? There's one here? [ He closes his eyes and takes in a shaky breath. ] I - I see. So even spirits need a place to throw away their trash. I've truly been slacking in my studies.

[ Ever the earnest student, the focus on making up for what he lacks gets him to calm down a little. She sounds relatively non-evil, so he can assume she's not the spirit that pulled him here. Maybe she can tell him a little more about this place then. ]

Kind spirit, if you could grant me your wisdom: what kind of trash do spirits throw out?

[totaltrashfire]

[Kind spirit? What? Does this guy think she's a ghost?]

...Empty booooottles.

[Boo. Like a ghost. Get it? You get it.]

[cloudalike]

I see...

[ He doesn't get it. He takes it very seriously; he will seriously add it to his collection of serious spirit knowledge and seriously ponder what could have once been in those empty bottles. ]

Empty bottles, hm. Mundane, and at once, mysterious.

[ And with that thought to distract him from his panic, he finally turns from the wall and - blinks. ]

... A cat spirit?

[totaltrashfire]

[How could he not get her wonderful and hilarious pun!?]

I'm not a cat or a spirit. I'm a person!

[Is that not obvious? She can talk! Cats don't talk!

(Her ears wiggle when she says it.)]

A very alive person. I think. I hope...

cafeteria

[selfconcept]

[ Hien was just here to get some more food, so he opens the cafeteria's walk-in freezer and sees. A boy. He looks very unimpressed. ]

Are there good popsicles in here?

[ A weird-looking weirdo asks a weird question, considering the situation. His checkerboard-patterned eyes stare at Chongyun and his voice sounds full of static and distorted.

Maybe he's a demon that Chongyun can finally exorcise. ]

[cloudalike]

[ Chongyun did not expect to see another person in this convenient Cryo room. His eyes and voice are kind of weird, but... Hu Tao exists, so there are weirder beings out there for sure. ]

I haven't seen any, at least not here. [ Chongyun isn't sure who this man is or why he's Not Quite Right, but........ do demons desire popsicles? Probably not. ] Are you looking to cool down, too? Please, come in and be at ease. There's room enough for the both of us.

[selfconcept]

It's not... that cold outside.

[ He looks at Chongyun and thinks... the boy's just white and blue, huh. He fits the freezer perfectly with his color scheme. Not like Hien looks any better with his black t-shirt and pants. ]

But it's cold in here. You might die, you know.

[cloudalike]

The cold helps me, you see. And don't worry - this time I have my clothes on.

[ More than just a shirt, so this is improvement, honestly. ]

[selfconcept]

... Do you just walk into freezers naked?

[ Chongyun?? What the fuck???? ]

How are you still alive? Are you like... a winter snow spirit?

lecture hall;

[fabulation]

[ What a strange thing it is indeed to feel the conflagration of emotions stirring within himself that isn't his own—the nervousness, bitterness, and anxiety—which has been steadily at the back of his mind. Initially he has figured that maybe it is a result of being thrown into a land like this without much warning, and with no way to escape it for the moment.

But, the fact remains that it doesn't seem to originate from him, in a way. Since it is not something he tends to feel, though coming to that sort of conclusion doesn't make any sense.

...It just adds to his own feelings of confusion, to say the least.

As Xingqiu is mulling over this, his footsteps halt and he finds himself glancing across at Chongyun, hearing him saying what he's said. ]

Oh. Yes, it really has been interesting, hasn't it?

[cloudalike]

[ The sound of Xingqiu's voice gets him to turn around so fast, he staggers from the whiplash. ]

Xing - Xingqiu!? I thought you were on a trip to Inazuma?

[fabulation]

[ Is the fact that Xingqiu has surprised him doing better for Chongyun's mental state at all? Important questions, naturally. ]

Well, I was getting ready for that, yes.

But, I don't think that matters to whoever or whatever has kidnapped us.

[ ...There's a considering pause, and then he does decide to roll back one of his sleeves, unveiling the strange mark on his wrist to Chongyun. ]

Does this look familiar to you in any way?

[cloudalike]

[ Well, for one: Chongyun is relieved and distressed to see his friend. Probably more relieved than distressed because Xingqiu has always been his ever capable friend. If it's the two of them together, they'll be alright. ]

Not at all. It's nothing I've seen from my studies. There are similar symbols, but overall, it's not a character native to thaumaturgy.

[ And if Xingqiu doesn't recognize it either... He sighs and rubs his neck. ]

You think we've been kidnapped? By spirits, right?

[fabulation]

[ Xingqiu himself is also feeling incredibly relieved to see a familiar face as well. He isn't too concerned about the fact that both of them are in the same situation, even if there is admittedly some apprehension that both of them have been taken off-guard. A very mild bit. ]

It's possible.

[ Or... ]

If it isn't spirits, then we're dealing with at least a formidable group of people. But, I can't think of any normal person who'd be able to cause a mark like this to appear on anyone. Can you?

Health Room

[herlocksholmes]

Ah, I was looking for the person in charge of this infirmary, and here you are.

[Herlock Sholmes barely bothers to look at Chonguyn and see that no, this is not a doctor or anything like that, and squares himself in front of him]

Mind answering a few questions, good sir? First and foremost, why is this place so badly equipped? There's nary anything that could be used for medicinal purposes!

[Can you imagine how this would be like if you really were the doctor in charge? This man bursts into your office uninvited, demands you answer questions, and proceeds to criticize how you do things. Perhaps it's best you're not the doctor after all, Chongyun]

[cloudalike]

Whoa, I'm not a healer or a doctor or anything of the sort. I'm an exorcist - but uh... This place isn't that bad. There are a lot of bandages over there.

[ Isn't that all you need? ]

[herlocksholmes]

[Sholmes at least directs a look at where the bandages are at]

True, true. However that won't do if, for example, someone suffers of consumption!

[Tuberculosis, he means. Sholmes, that probably won't be a worry...and he says this more to be contrarian than because he's truly passionate about a well stocked infirmary anyway]

[cloudalike]

Consumption... of... ? [ Too much food??? ]

[herlocksholmes]

.......

[Sholmes faces Chongyun]

When I entered this room, I noticed: you're in need of guidance and assistance. That's why you're waiting here, are you not?

[Correct! Here was Chongyun waiting for a doctor and all, to give him something for the nerves! Having said that, and let such a statement float in the air for a second or two, Sholmes throws his hands exasperated in the air]

For an exorcist of the ills of the body such as yourself to not know about consumption! Your need for guidance is urgent indeed! Fortunately for you, I used to be a hospital lab technician, before my days as a consulting detective began! If you're in need of help then I, Herlock Sholmes, will lend my knowledge to you!

[Even though he already said he's no doctor or healer and called himself an exorcist Sholmes still insists, haha -- but hey, the intentions are there. Whether he really thinks Chongyun is some sort of ignorant medical student or not, is unclear and probably a mystery for the ages, but there's no mistake this was an offer to help if he needs help with anything]

convenience store

[cheerfuldays]

Eh-? Isn't that uncomfortable to carry?

( not to mention it'll melt...!!! oh no!! maybe there's a cooler or something? shizuku pauses in her browsing the cold drinks, looking around instead. )

[cloudalike]

Oh, no, I'm fine, miss. I was trying to find some water-flavored popsicles, but they didn't have any, so I thought... I thought this would be the next best thing.

[cheerfuldays]

( wouldn't water-flavored popsicles just be ice...? man, there must be so much she doesn't know yet. )

I see... I don't think I saw that particular flavor? I'm sure there's other types though, like strawberry!

[cloudalike]

What is a… “strawberry”?

[ Straw-flavored doesn’t seem nearly as appealing as water-flavored… ]