Lunar Interlude 5

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looks like i'm in charge now NAVIGATION Click here for the RNG thread! 1. FROM THERE TO HERE AND THERE IS GONE A. YOUR ARRIVAL For those of you who were just casually (or not so casually) pulled between the universes, depending on how you viewed your home world, your day just got a whole lot worse. You can't really remember what happened, but the grass beneath you is plush and comfortable, and out in the well manicured field of trees you're sitting in are ... well, a fairly sizeable crowd of people. The Director has pulled in new Reclaimers so often by this point that it's become something of an event. And quite frankly, according to the murmurs of other members of the Bureau, she's become pretty adept at picking some real weirdos. The Director, standing before you dressed in regal robes, clears her throat and begins to speak. She doesn't appear to be wearing any mics, but her voice is somehow amplified so that it booms through the Quad, and onto the Bracers of those who aren't in the Quad. When she's done, there's silence. In the distance, trains. No, really, you most definitely heard the sound of a train just now. That's probably normal. In any case, you have a few minutes to gather your bearings before you're taken to your initiation. You can talk with other newbies who are sitting there with you, or if you happen to spot somebody you know among the crowd watching, now's your chance to reunite with them. And maybe one of those people out there will be able to relay a fact to you, even if you can't remember exactly how: Your world, and the people who were there and are not here, are now gone. B. THE VOIDFISH Once you have your bearings, you are divided into small groups of three or four and brought to the easternmost geodesic dome, to an elevator in a well maintained, but sparsely landscaped field. There's nothing particularly ominous feeling about the space — in fact, the two guards who greet you at the elevator entrance seem pleased with your arrival. You are, after all, one of the few chosen by the Director, the few who will reclaim what the Hunger has destroyed. And in a few moments, you're about to find that out for yourself. After a tightly packed elevator ride, your group is ushered out to a rather grand looking hall, banners of the Bureau of Balance adorn both sides of smooth metal walls. And inside the Voidfish's chamber stands a tank — impossibly tall, and soaked in a black ink that obscures whatever the tank may be holding. Standing by the tank is a bard, who happens to be reciting the lyrics to a song. Considering what he's about to do with the sheets of paper in his hands, the lyrics might be apt enough. When he's finished, he takes the sheets of paper — sheet music — opens a drawer at the bottom of the tank, drops the papers in, and shuts it. And swiftly, you feel as if there's something you can't just shake off about the melody you just heard. If you seem alarmed, the bard takes notice of it. "Yeah, man, like... don't think too hard about it, it's like that every time. I'm guessing you're here to be inoculated? Just a heads up, you might want to, like, seriously, hold your nose while you drink it down. It tastes wicked gross, man." You sort of get the sense that he's said this speech once or twice in the past. It's well rehearsed, much like the stories you'd expect a bard to be able to recite. "Anyway, I'm supposed to tell you that you have a choice. If you drink the black stuff, you'll be able to hear through the, uh... Huh, how do I describe it? Through the [TSHCSCHTSHCHSC] sound. You guys like, hear that? Anyway, it's all about knowledge or something. I don't know, I'm just here to, like, feed the thing. We call it the [TSCHHSCHSCH], by the way. So, like. You get a choice. You can drink it and understand stuff, or not drink it and then hear that crackling noise all day every day. If I were you, I'd drink it. But, hey man, I'm not like, your dad or anything." The bard takes five cups and draws liquid from a spigot connected directly to the basin of the large tank. Stormy, muddy looking ichor is drawn into them, one by one. He offers each of you a sip. Drink it (he wasn't kidding about what it tasted like), and you're inoculated to the wisdom of the Voidfish. You try to remember the song this bard sang a few moments ago and the melody, the meter, every octave, all come back to you. And if you think back to your arrival, some of the things you may have heard other people in the Quad say, that simply sounded like static, are suddenly clear. Bureau of Balance. Grand Relic. Reclaimers. Yet you still can't remember the Hunger or what it had done to your world. And as you look back to the tank in front of you, the water has become clear. There's a jellyfish, as tall as a building, floating within. You look into the body of the creature and you can almost make out a beautiful, tiny universe floating within it. 2. TEST OF INITIATION You are immediately divided into pairs and brought to the Arena, a large building that is capable of running several simulations for combat training, events, or, in this case, your Test of Initiation. When you and your partner walk into the Arena, the simulators switch to Initiation Mode, the scenery shifts, and your test begins. The experience is wildly different for each group — that's because the test will be drawing from both of your experiences back home. Initiation Mode replicates an amalgam of thoughts, metaphors, and ideas between the two people who signed up in order to make an obstacle course suited to appropriately test their ability to stay focused. This is a good opportunity to introduce new CR to some of the thoughts and feelings that your character has going on through their mind, their preferences, or give away a piece of information about themselves that might not be on the surface level. For example, let's say that your character was born on a ship, and spent their entire childhood growing up at sea. Your partner's life involves a lifetime of academic research (setting aside our dearth of smart archetypes for a sec here). An amalgamation suited for the Test of Initiation may involve navigating a ship through choppy seas with flying book monsters that breathe fire. Be as creative as you want! The design is 100% left up to you. All tests will eventually lead toward a room with a relic locked within it. What that looks like is up also up to you! If you need a few ideas, though, it could be: A bright red pair of gloves that can manipulate matter, or a ball of yarn that can roll up pretty much anything. Regardless of what the relic looks like, all you have to do to pass is retrieve the relic without using it. 3. AROUND THE MOON BASE The Director's sudden absence isn't particularly anything new, given she spent the majority of her time on Lyrabar, leaving the Moon Base to manage itself. It is the first time Lucas has been left entirely in charge of it though. Controlled chaos becomes something of a much less controlled chaos. The sound of trains in the distance, though nobody can seem to pinpoint where they're coming from, isn't helping. Though, that isn't necessarily Lucas' fault It's largely the fault of a technomancer supposedly stuck on a different plane and infecting the Moon Base's tech. She's figured out where the Director went, and she's going to be using the next two weeks to her advantage. It's hard to say what her motives are here. But then, Miss Zarves has always been a little bit inexplicable. C. WHAT A CRUMMY WEEKEND THIS HAS BEEN Oh man, Miss Zarves has been wanting to try this thing she wrote for ages, and for a few weeks at least, she's figured out how to override the Director's simulation settings. Did you know the Moon Base has an arcade? You're about to find out if not: If you happen to wander into the Arena, you'll find yourself inexplicably trapped in a simulation based off of an arcade game — and no, you're not going to get out until you win. As a note, you can't die in these simulations, but you can be busted up a bit. You can repeatedly get game overs until you win. You can run with any game on the conveniently copyright infringement free list linked above however you like, but here are a few settings to get you started: ○ Mesozoic Park: The Lost Chult. You and a friend find yourselves in a lush jungle, with no clear path to the escape helicopter. Using your wits and path actions, you are going to need to clear one for yourselves. And thanks to not wanting to be sued by Michael Crichton's estate, the T-Rex that's chasing you down in this game is actually in the correct era. Once both you and your friend are safely strapped into the helicopter, the simulation will end. (As a side note, Lucretia would actually approve of this one — there are many very powerful monsters out there in Faerun, and learning to outrun/outwit/defeat them is a vital ability.) ○ Immortal Wombat: Actually becoming a wombat is optional. You and a friend will be situated in the middle of the arena, with a very loud and very rowdy simulated crowd surrounding you. As the name of the game implies, this simulation will not end until one of you is KO'd. Again, these are just a few examples! Feel free to use any of the games listed as you see fit. E. THERE'S NO ESCAPE The town, though it might not rely as heavily on Moon Base tech as the rest of the Bureau does, isn't exactly escaping unscathed either. It's more like, Miss Zarves find you Reclaimers a lot more entertaining than a bunch of shopkeepers who have had to put up with a deals warlock's shenanigans long enough that it's hard to surprise them. That said, if shopping or the occasional dining is on your agenda in town, then you'll find that you'll be able to do so largely unhindered. Shopping at Fantasy Costco is normal, too, if Garfield being himself falls under your usual definition of normal. There is one exception, though: It's a small alleyway that leads to the back entrance of Madame Frione's Tea Kettle. Step into it, and weirdly, you'll find that something unseen is blocking your exit. And then, a message appears on your bracer. From: Zarves♥Scarves hello!!!! since madam in charge is off tryin to fix something i thought id help out a bit you know like a team building exercise so you can do the bureau thing better sounds fun right??? anyway what would u say is your least favorite thing about yourself go on dont be shy You won't get a response from Miss Zarves, but you will find that you won't be able to leave until you respond to her text with something. And you'll also find that whatever you answer? It's automatically sent to the entire network. FYI: If you lie in your response, whatever's blocking you in will suddenly give way — you'll be able to move about three feet before there's suddenly another one blocking your escape. Unfortunately, it looks like if you want to escape this, you're going to have to be honest with yourself. And the network, as it were! E. LET'S JUST ESCAPE There is a very easy way to avoid anything a technomancer tries to do to mess with you, of course: Avoid the tech she's using to mess with you. And after the sort of messed up mission that Lyrabar was, and after the sort of screwed up ordeal that is being initiated into the Bureau to begin with, some of you will probably want to just chill out for a bit, too. Here are a few suggestions! ○ Another small art studio with a supply of magic paintbrushes has been set up in the Academy. Previously, the paintbrushes had painted in a color that represented the energy you're giving off. Nowadays, it's a bit more versatile: You can now change the color you're painting with by simply thinking about it. ○ Speaking of the Academy, there are a few new classes available: "Logic and Puzzles for the Easily Puzzled," led by a rather intelligent chemist who tends to speak in riddles herself; "Charmed, I'm Sure," led by a warlock who seems to have an uncanny sort of charisma, and knitting. What? You guys don't want to knit? Additionally, if you are interested in reading up on some of the advanced paths unlocked so far, the materials unlocked have been made available in the Artificer's Office. If there's an advanced path your character wants to reach someday, now's a good time as any for them to start studying it. ○ Before leaving, the Director set up a comfortable pile of large pillows and blankets out by the Whomping Willow in the Quad. Feel free to have as many sleepovers as you want. The Whomping Willow will also offer advice if you ask it, though it's particularly good at dispensing love advice. ○ WILDCARD: This is, of course, your time to rest as you see fit. Please feel free to use the setting however you wish!

Comments

[slieght]

You guess?

[Frowning, he drops his arms to his side again, one moving to rest on his hip.]

Is that really all you have to say about it?

[diffidentive]

Yeah. [No. But Kokichi won't care about anything he has to say and he doesn't care enough to say it so it's gonna remain unsaid.] Let's just keep moving...

[He walks right past Kokichi without another word and turns around the bend in the alleyway. He probably should have stopped to look around it cautiously first, just in case there's a crazy murderer on the other side, but he doesn't. He does come to another stop almost immediately, though.]

[slieght]

Hey, don't just turn corners carelessly like that!

[It's almost a panicked shout, the leader following after him quickly. He comes to stand beside him, almost ready to throw fists with whatever's made him stop.]

What is it?

[What do you see? Should they run??]

[diffidentive]

[It's a dead end, which presumably Shuichi doesn't need to elaborate on since Kokichi should be able to see it now that he's standing next to him. It's a completely unscalable wall of dingy brick with some rude graffiti on it.]

We're going to have to go back and try that other street, I guess...

[Were those gunshots in the distance? Those sure were gunshots in the distance. Ominous.]

[slieght]

[Ah...a dead end. Frowning, he glances back towards the open mouth of the alley at the sound of gunshots, tensing.]

...yeah. Shit.

[He turns back to his partner instead of the direction to leave though.]

Be more careful, would you? You don't have to follow me if you don't want to but at least look before you just turn corners into unknown areas. What if there'd been a murderer waiting down here?

[diffidentive]

[He shrugs.]

Then they would have killed me, I guess.

[He seems supremely unbothered by this prospect.]

[slieght]

[Kokichi furrows his brows, frowning becoming a bit more irritated than before.]

Saihara-chan, seriously, what's wrong? I'd think you'd care a little bit more about living than this.

cw: suicidal ideation

[diffidentive]

[Kokichi isn't the only one who's irritated. This is the second time he's now asked something that he SHOULD know the answer to, and that stirs up just enough irritation in Shuichi for him to address it this time.]

Well I don't, and you should know full well why I don't. [Because, again, it's all your fault "Mr. Mastermind".] We all should have died a long time ago! There's no point in being alive anymore, when the entire planet was wiped out centuries ago.

[Angry tears well up in the corners of his eyes. It's like a dam has broken, now that he's let that little bit of irritation affect him. Instead of feeling nothing, he's suddenly feeling everything. Or at least, a whole lot of sadness and anger. And along with those emotions, a memory comes floating to the forefront of his mind. A recent one, of that mysterious woman reaching out her hand to him in the dorm. And he can remember what she said this time, and what she'd said again in the quad. About them being "the last bastions of hope" who would be able to "save us all". And it just incenses him further, some of the tears actually spilling out of his eyes and falling to the ground.]

What's the point in passing this stupid test or doing whatever it is these people want, for a world that's dead and gone!? It's well past the point of "being saved" and you know that just as well as I.

[slieght]

[Well at least that's somewhat better than just mindlessly following him around, feeling apparently nothing. But so much had happened since he'd had that entire conversation with them, he'd forgotten about the more mind breaking aspects of it. Sure, of course he'd remember the whole "they should hate me" bit, but...

He's silent for a few moments, just staring at Shuichi with a blank expression.]

...that was a lie, Saihara-chan. The world isn't dead and gone, I was just lying to you. And so was the mastermind with that wasteland you saw.

[diffidentive]

[He wipes his eyes on his sleeve as Kokichi stares at him, unable to bring himself to look at the leader. Feelings, please turn off again. He liked you a lot better that way, it was so much nicer and easier not to care...]

You can't fake something like that...besides, you're the mastermind, aren't you?

[Not that...he had believed Kokichi when he'd said so. And he's still not sure he does, but...all the evidence does seem to point that way. The exisals and that stone in the courtyard and the fact that Kokichi knew everything about what had happened to them...]

[Sorry, Kokichi. But just saying "that was a lie" isn't going to be enough to undo the damage you did to Shuichi with that lie. You're going to have to explain it in more detail than that.]

[slieght]

Are you kidding me right now? It was a simulation, Saihara-chan, just like this stupid test. You can fake anything with the right technology. And did you seriously believe me? You? Well if you actually did, that was just a lie too.

[Come on, use your brain! You have it for a reason!]

I just wanted everyone to stop killing each other for two goddamn seconds, and don't you think, "Oh, the world is gone so there's no point and also the mastermind is bored and says we don't have to anymore," is a good way to accomplish that? What's the point in murdering anymore if there's nothing to escape to? If, supposedly, all of our friends and family are dead, and whatever the mastermind promises in their motives are lies? The world is just fine. Nothing got destroyed centuries ago.

[diffidentive]

[And now it's Shuichi's turn to stare blankly. Kokichi may as well have slapped him across the face just now, judging by the detective's expression. It...makes sense, parts of it. But dare he believe it? Kokichi likes watching them suffer, he said it himself. How does he know that this isn't meant to be a small bit of hope to prop him up for a few moments before he just sends him crashing into despair once again?]

[But after a few minutes of blank, dumbfounded staring, he finally manages a very quiet and weak:]

Wh-what?

[slieght]

The world is fine. And so are all the people on it. We weren't some special program to save the world. But we are now, so we have to work hard to make sure that happens.

[No crashing into despair going on here. His expression remains stern and serious, not once twisting into something cruel. He's telling the truth Shuichi.]

[diffidentive]

...how. How do you know. If...if you really aren't the mastermind, then...

[He smells a lie in here somewhere. A trademark "it's a lie!" in the offing...]

[slieght]

It's just common sense. Killing games are made to be watched and Monokuma definitely wanted to make sure ours was entertaining. Meaning someone was watching it. And with how much of a stickler for the rules it was and how much it cared about adding thrill to the game, I'm betting it was not just a tiny handful of people.

[Didn't you ever consider that Shuichi? Even once?]

[diffidentive]

[No? Why would he assume killing games are supposed to be watched, where does that logic come from?]

[The detective continues to stare blankly, seemingly processing Kokichi's words though the brain gears are kinda thunking along instead of doing their usual smooth whirring. Probably because they haven't been used at all in at least a day and now they're suddenly being put into overdrive. Please continue to be patient and give him a few more minutes, even though there are more screams and gunshots and any other number of unpleasant noises in the distance. Some closer than others.]

But...you're just guessing. You don't know for sure....

[slieght]

[He'll wait, even if he's a little uneasy about doing so with those shots and screams. But it's better to give the detective time to process everything and start using his head than just drag him off in the state he was in before.]

Do you know for sure that everything the mastermind has been feeding us is true? We don't remember anything about how we got there and we have absolutely no access to the outside world beyond what they're telling us. How do you know that literally anything they've showed us is true? Why are you so willing to trust the word of someone who wants us to play in their cruel game? Doesn't it make more sense that they're lying, rather than that the world ended in some fantastical, b-rated disaster film manner?

[diffidentive]

Well...y-yes, of course I would rather believe that but it...it looked so real. It felt so real...

[That's really the thing that bothers him more. He can see how you could easily fake a disaster set like what they saw...they do that in movies all the time, but...the lack of oxygen in the air... The way none of them had been able to breathe...]

[slieght]

Hey, hey, did you know you can simulate a lack of oxygen? There are lots of ways to do it! They needed to develop ways to simulate that to figure out how to pressurize air planes and space ships, and learn when to advise people to use oxygen masks...all kinds of good things came out of figuring out how to deprive you of oxygen safely, in a way that wouldn't kill you.

[Tilting his head, he taps at his chin as he continues.]

I wonder if simulations like that could be used in other ways...?

[diffidentive]

...you've made your point.

[Wow, there was a much less dickish way to point that out, you know! You didn;t need to make him feel stupid.]

So...this really isn't a lie? You really...aren't the mastermind and that whole story about...the academy being a spaceship and the world being destroyed...you made all that up?

[slieght]

I really did make all of that up. Wanna know how I controlled the Exisals? I used an invention Iruma-chan made for me. I also didn't start the graffiti in the courtyard, I just added to what was already there. It was a really elaborate set up! I was pouring everything I had into that act!

[diffidentive]

Act...? What, pretending to be the mastermind? [Yeah, there's no way ALL of his behavior during the game was just an act...it has to just be certain parts of it.] Why? What did you have to gain by pretending to be the mastermind?

[At least he's asking questions again...this is an improvement.]

[slieght]

Yeah! And stopping the killing game, duh. Or at least, that was the best chance I had at it without having to resort to something more extreme.

[Which...unfortunately failed, and the more extreme option had to be used.]

[diffidentive]

...yeah, because cooperating with the rest of us like a normal person would have been too extreme, right?

[Sorry, Kokichi. He can't help but say that a little resentfully. You DID kill Miu and Gonta after all, as part of this "less extreme" plan of yours.]

But why did you want to stop it...I thought you liked the killing game.

[Or are you going to tell him THAT was a lie too?]

[slieght]

Ah, yes, cooperating like a normal person. Because that stopped everyone from killing each other with great success. So many motives were ignored and people were saved thanks to everyone being friends and cooperating.

[If you're going to be resentful, he can be equally so. After all, it was your girlfriend who talked the most about working together and being friends that kicked off the killing game in the first place.]

I wanted to stop it because I hated the killing game.

[Yup. That was a lie too...]