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.

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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)

Comments

[festiverogue]

[Madara looks absolutely sheepish, not like a guy trying to break in at all. Just... a lost guy. He looks around, from Fai to the door, then seems to see the nameplate. With a boisterous laugh, he points at it.]

Is that what's up? That's sure not my name, is it! Well doooon't worry, I don't have any reason to take whatever you've got! I do have some comfy shorts I borrowed, though, if you're needing any!

[partymagician]

[ Fai doesn't buy it, but only because he would do the exact same thing. He just laughs, though. ]

Don't worry about it! I'd be happy to help you test the rest of the doors, if you're having trouble with the nameplates.

[ Fai can't read them, after all. ]

And I think I'm covered when it comes to shorts.

[festiverogue]

No, it's not that...

[Madara waves the hand holding the key card with a grin, then puts it away in his jacket pocket.]

Would you believe I'm just so worked up I didn't even notice them yet? This place is suuuure weird!

[partymagician]

[ Actually... he would believe that. A stressful situation like this would make people forget about most things. ]

It is strange, isn't it? I have no idea where we are, to tell you the truth!

[festiverogue]

Thaaaat's the mood, isn't it? We're all pretty lost, huh!

[He looks a little thoughtful.]

We're bound to figure it out eventually, but I wonder if we're gonna like the answer... It's like a book or a movie or something!

[partymagician]

Like a detective novel! I hope you're good at solving mysteries!

[ Is he planning on taking a backseat to all of it? Maybe. ]

[festiverogue]

[Madara laughs.]

I catch on pretty fast, sometimes! We'll have to see how it goes!

[He claps his hands once.]

It's not like we can do an awful lot other than get settled in, right? Doubt we just got dumped here with half-working tablets for nothing!

[Wink.]

How's that for a conspiracy theory?

[partymagician]

[ He laughs. ]

Not bad at all! Whoever brought us clearly wants to restrict any information we gain. I've looked high and low, and I've found nothing of any real use.

[festiverogue]

Same, actually.

[Getting minor kindred spirit vibes in that department. Maybe...]

There's food, though. Not a ton, but enough to keep a handful of people fed for a few days. And clothes in the shop. And fully done-up rooms with our names on them, right?

[Another gesture to the nameplate.]

They were waiting for us, and I dooon't like that.

[partymagician]

Whatever they have planned, they want us healthy for it.

[ Which tracks, especially with his injuries being healed. ]

I hope it's not an endurance test.

[festiverogue]

I'm pretty suited for endurance, but who knows what it is, yet...

[Interesting comment, that.]

Sorry to ask, but were you injured before you got here?

[partymagician]

A little.

[ He laughs. ]

I suppose my comment gave it away! My back is quite sore.

[ His clothes tell a story too—the cloak in his arms looks like it's been singed by little flecks of acid all over. ]

[festiverogue]

[Now that Madara gets to looking... Hmmm.]

I'll be careful not to jostle you or surprise you, then!

[He grins.]

Injures are seeerious business. Especially when you've been... whatever's-going-on-here'd. Can't get a lot weirder than "suddenly not hurt", huh? Meanwhile, I feel like I just worked out for half a day, somehow.

[partymagician]

It can't. I have to admit, I was alarmed when I wasn't as injured as expected.

[ Or dripping wet, considering he was fighting underwater, but. Details.

At the mention of being sore, though, Fai raises an eyebrow. ]

Were you injured before waking up here yourself?

[festiverogue]

Yeah, that'd be real alarming. Kinda... reverse alarming, I guess? Surprise, you're doing great!

[A laugh.]

Nope, not a scratch on me. I was in rehearsal.

[partymagician]

Oh? For a play?

[ That's the only rehearsal that exists. ]

[festiverogue]

[He shakes his head.]

Mooore like music and dancing. I'm an idol! I've got a lot of stuff coming up, which is why it's understandably reeeeally inconvenient to be here!

[partymagician]

[ Music and dancing means idol, huh? He's never heard of that, but he'll roll with it. ]

I'm sure we'll get this all sorted out soon and we'll be on our way. There's quite a few of us here, so at least one of us can find a way back.

[festiverogue]

Thaaat's the hope, isn't it?

[And Madara is bound and determined to be one of the people who figures it out, or at least to help with it. Who knows if it's beyond him. Won't know til he tries!]

I'm keeping you from getting settled in, huh! My bad!

[partymagician]

[ Fai laughs, shaking his head. ]

It’s alright, don’t worry about it. [ Getting caught up in a chat is always fine with him. ] But I’m sure you have your actual dorm room to go check out, so why don’t you go do that?

[festiverogue]

[Madara shrugs and grins, a youthful sort of energy radiating.]

I'll probably end up causing my roommate trouble, but you've got a good point! It was nice to meet you, though. I'm Madara, but you can call me Mama if you want~ Down the hall in 11, if you need me.

[partymagician]

You can call me Fai.

[ He smiles, giving Madara a small wave. ]

Don't get into too much trouble.

[festiverogue]

I'll try not to let you down!

[Wink.]

Nice to meet you, Fai. I'll see you when I see you!