theafflicted | 00

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.

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( 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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[While she talks, he continues to treat her like something of an obstacle, maneuvering around her enough to get to the doorknob. His hand pauses right before he turns the knob when she mentions different worlds though, with a vaguely thoughtful expression crossing his face before it smooths out to its usual impassivity.

He pushes the door open, slipping past Miach on the way in and just surveying the furnishings from the doorway.]

Then what made you think we were all from different worlds?

[ By all means, continue largely ignoring her - it is actually very encouraging, she likes talking at people who could not care less about anything. ]

Have you not noticed it? Everyone I spoke to had a completely different standard of common knowledge from myself, the way the rooms are outfitted is totally anachronistic... Unless this is some elaborate lie in which everyone but me is an actor, it seems like an easy conclusion to draw.

[It might be a little unclear how much he's listening considering he's still got his back to her, and the silence that stretches on after she finishes talking would probably be long enough to be considered awkward, but he finally responds in a musing tone.]

...I guess I was just surprised people here were accepting it so readily. It'd probably be easier to believe this was an act like you said, or that no one else here but you is sane.

[ Miach is entirely unbothered by being seemingly ignored - she'd have waited a little longer and just walked off if there had been no more response, no offense taken. ]

I can imagine a reason why the people around me would want to put me into a simulated reality where it's an act, sure, but this? It has too many counterproductive elements.

It is far more likely and more interesting to make the leap and assume separate realities. You do not seem that shocked either.

[Okay, the simulated reality comment is an odd enough assertion that it earns her a glance over the shoulder along with a quirked brow, but no comment otherwise.]

I already had the sense that I was pretty far from where I was supposed to be... Hearing what some others said just helped narrow down the options. Even if it does sound like a theory out of some weird science fiction novel.

It's one of the more interesting visions of the future, I'd say. Though as far as I am concerned, the set-up here feels a lot more like the past.

[ Miach is something of a turn of the millenium era otaku so she's living her dream here. ]

Where are you supposed to be?

[Live your best life Miach... In contrast to her, what they’ve seen so far seems more or less in line with what he’s used to, so none of it stands out too much besides whatever technique they had that could grab people from other worlds.]

FOB 15, on the Federal Republic of Giad’s western front... although I’m guessing that doesn’t mean anything to you.

It doesn't!

[ That is punctuated by a delighted little clap of her hands. ]

You said front - are you at war?

[He's just the slightest bit weirded out by how excited she seems about this.]

Yeah. Since ten years ago.

Mhm. Some conflicts don't die easily.

[He shrugs in a gesture that could probably be interpreted as something akin to, "it is what it is". Still, there's something about how she says that.]

Is it the same for you?

In certain parts of the world, certainly. Some conflicts have been ongoing for over a century. It doesn't touch the place I currently live though.

[ She'll leave it for imagination if it affects anything else or how much she even moved. ]

[He closes his eyes for a bit, considering that scenario.]

...Is that really the case? Even distant wars have their own share of economic and diplomatic impacts... I don't think there's a country that would remain entirely unaffected unless they're completely isolated from the rest of the world.

[ That gets a faint smile out of her. ]

Isolating is very popular these days. But you're right - there is always going to be an impact. They're just doing the utmost to make sure that the average civilian is never going to hear about it.

[He breathes out a small sigh. There's a tinge of something that lingers between weariness and resignation there, but it vanishes like mist when he speaks, tone as detached as ever.]

There are places like that everywhere, I suppose.

00 - prologue

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