Lunar Interlude 5

[balancemod]

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]

[Kokichi did his best to look as though he was investigating properly, including touching or tugging on random objects as if searching for trap doors. But, of course, he finds nothing. And when Shuichi asks about it, he shakes his head.]

Not a thing...well. At least nothing that could be the hideout anyway. Follow me, I think I found a clue.

[diffidentive]

[Raising a brow, Shuichi follows after him. He can only assume he found a sign from his organization. Something Shuichi wouldn't be able to pick up on because he doesn't know Kokichi's underlings.]

[What is it? What did you find?]

[slieght]

[Kokichi leads him up a floor and moves to a window that's facing the street behind the building - on the opposite side from where they entered. There's no back exit however, only one door in and out of the building.

But he points down towards the street once they're at the window, and Shuichi should be able to see easily what he's trying to show him.

On the street itself is another piece of graffiti, featuring a clown. What is with his organization and clowns?]

I'm thinking we need to try and figure out how to get to this street, but also wanted to see what you thought of it. Any clues you can glean from it this time?

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi stares silently at the clown for a minute or so. Is there anything else he can glean from it? Not really...]

Um...that at least one person in your organization might have a slight obsession with clowns?

[That's all he's got. Seriously. Why all the clowns?]

[slieght]

Huh?

[He tilts his head.]

It's our organization's theme. You hadn't figured that out yet?

[diffidentive]

[What kind of theme is that?!]

It was a joke... [Maybe it was his delivery? He's not very good at jokes...] But...that's kind of an odd theme for an evil organization.

[Honestly, he's just curious about what Kokichi's explanation will be. He's long since realized that Kokichi's group is not quite all that he makes it out to be. What kind of evil group has a pacifist for a leader? Or mandatory daily tea time?]

[slieght]

Maybe, but I like clowns. And since I'm the leader, I get to pick our theme.

[It's...it's really as simple as that. He just likes clowns and no one was going to argue with him since he's the leader.]

[diffidentive]

Ah...

[Well that was anticlimactic. He was expecting a much more involved explanation.]

Well... [He peers back out the window, narrowing his eyes and looking around a little more before pointing down at the entrance to an alleyway.] It looks like we can get there if we go through that little alley over there. It's a bit of a walk but it's the most direct route from what I can tell...

[slieght]

[He glances over to where Shuichi's pointing, nodding.]

Okay, let's see if we can reach it.

[Backing away from the window, he starts moving towards the exit. Time to head towards their next destination...]

Hopefully the next one will be a winner.

[diffidentive]

Hopefully...

[Shuichi follows Kokichi out of the building and back out into the streets. Onward into the alley! Carefully, of course. Because murder is still a very real possibility if they don't proceed with caution. It'll take them a few minutes, but eventually they'll find themselves standing in front of the painted clown on the street.]

[Shuichi looks all around them, searching for some other clue to tell them where to go from here. More clown graffiti maybe? Or perhaps one of the buildings from the file? There has to be a reason Kokichi's underlings lead them this way...]

[slieght]

[Nothing like that, but they'll hear a soft sound at the end of the alley once they're there. Sounds sort of like someone tossed a pebble down there...Kokichi lifts his head, glancing down in that direction, before tugging on Shuichi's sleeve and carefully walking towards it.

It could be a murderer but...he's pretty sure it's a member of his group. Which ends up being true as, once they reach the corner, another member shows their face mask. He's tall, with long and loose sleeves and hair that would cover one eye if his mask wasn't already doing so. When Kokichi opens his mouth to say something, he's quickly shushed by this member, who points down towards the mouth of the alley. There are a few murderers wandering around out there. Don't speak you two. Just follow him as he leads you up a fire escape instead.

Kokichi, of course, follows him without question. And if they look up they'll see the fire escape doesn't go all the way up the building, but stops about halfway up. A door up there is open, and it kind of looks like someone is waiting for them...]

[diffidentive]

[That works too.]

[Shuichi doesn't need to be told twice. He follows Kokichi up the fire escape as quietly as he can, keeping his eyes on the shadowy figures below them. Please don't notice them, please don't notice them, please don't notice them...]

[slieght]

[Fortunately for Shuichi's heart, none of them notice. They can get quite a ways up without any issue. Unfortunately for him though...one of the innocent bystanders does. Which isn't a problem until they take their turn transforming into one of the murderers, taking after them up the fire escape. And it doesn't take him long to latch onto Shuichi's foot with a cackle. Come here you little shit, he has a fun, gruesome death with your name on it!!

Of course, when this bystander turned sinister, the others hiding with him screeched in fear, attracting the attention of others...it's a buffet of victims over here! Some of them chase after the faceless innocents on the ground while others crowd around the bottom of the ladder, waiting for the detective to be dragged down. Who doesn't love a group murder of someone so pathetic looking??]

[diffidentive]

[The other innocent bystanders aren't the only ones who scream. Shuichi does too, because suddenly having his ankle grabbed gave him a minor heart attack. And looking down to see the read eyes of a shadowy killer just made it worse. Where had he even come from!?]

[And good god, those muscles aren't just for show apparently. The thing has a very firm grip, and one of Shuichi's sweaty palms slips off the rung of the ladder as he attempts to pull his foot free. And the other hand looks like it isn't going to be able to keep its grip forever either. Though at least he's trying to re-establish his grip with both hands. He's really doing his best to stay on the ladder, but...Shuichi is weak and sweaty. He's gonna need some help here otherwise he's gonna get hella murdered by that crowd down there.]

[slieght]

Saihara-chan!

[The innocent screams didn't draw his attention nearly as much as Shuichi's had. Fuck, he should have gone last! Shuichi should have been between them! He grits his teeth, moving to climb down the back side of the ladder instead. He's going to start kicking at the asshole, trying to free the detective. It's not as effective, though, as a sudden barrage of water balloons and rocks from above them. Getting hit in the face once or twice with those water balloons does the job, getting the shady figure to let go and wipe in frustration at his eyes. And a few rocks help to knock him off balance, sending him into the group below.

Above them, a few other masked figures lean out windows of the building, the perpetrators behind the endless attack on the group of murderers below. Come on Shuichi, Kokichi's urging you to start moving again. He's going to follow you this time. And above him Ace has moved down a few rungs, leaning down to offer him a hand if he needs it.]

Go Saihara-chan, quick!

[diffidentive]

[Ack! Water balloons! Not that Shuichi is going complain too much about getting splashed. If it's between that and death, he'll take having a wet shirt.]

R-right...!

[Thank you, Ace, he does need a hand. And it's a good thing your sleeves are so long because his hands are even sweatier now than they were when the stranger first grabbed his ankle. Suffice it to say, he moves as fast as he can and once he's safely inside the room, he reaches out the window to offer his hand to Kokichi. Come on. Now you!]

[slieght]

[He quickly takes his hand, gladly accepting the help up and in. Ace is sure to shut the window tight behind him, while D.I.C.E. members in other rooms continue their barrage to keep the killers at bay. While Ace hangs back, letting the boys catch their breaths, Kokichi is immediately at Shuichi's side.]

Are you okay? He didn't break your ankle or anything, right?

[There's a look of genuine concern on his face, and he's pale from the fright from earlier.]

[diffidentive]

[Well that's...surprising. He certainly didn't expect Kokichi to come immediately to his side, or to look so worried. Yeah, it was scary, but it's not like...Kokichi was the one who'd been grabbed.]

N-no, I'm fine. [He looks over at Ace.] Thank you, by the way, um...

[he looks back at Kokichi. What's this one's name? He doesn't know it.]

[slieght]

[Surprise Shuichi. This is a boy who secretly cares. Who has secretly cared this whole time...

Said boy turns to Ace, then back to Shuichi.]

That's Ace.

[The taller boy nods politely before turning to walk down the hall now in front of them without a word. He doesn't get far though, wanting to make sure the other two are actually following. Kokichi isn't just yet, looking the detective over one more time just in case first...]

[diffidentive]

...Ace-san.

[Just had to finish his thank you, there. Now he's good to go. Except, no, he's not, because Kokichi is still looking him over. And it's weirding him out just a little bit. Why is he so concerned?]

Um...Oma-kun, I'm fine. Really. Your group hit him before he could do any actual damage...

[It just scared him a little, that's all!]

[...okay, it scared him a lot. But either way, no physical damage was done.]

[slieght]

[He's quiet for a few moments, then tilts his head.]

Do you want to take a rest? [It scared him a lot, so that'd probably be good for him, right? Right. And, just in case Shuichi says no...]

Really, I could probably use one after that whole ordeal. My ribs are pretending like they're all cracked and broken again, taha-! So let's sit down and catch our breath!

[diffidentive]

[How did you know he was going to say no? Because he was definitely going to say no. But since Kokichi says he needs a rest...he can't really do that. Even if he's pretty sure it's a lie.]

[Shuichi glances at the closed window.]

Okay, but...in the hallway. Let's put another lock between us and those people outside, just in case...

[Windows are easily broken, after all. Though if they come up and find the apartment empty...they may give up and leave to find easier victims.]

[slieght]

[He's just good like that.

But he seems to agree with moving to the hallway, seeing as he nods and turns to Ace.]

Okay simulated minion, lead the way!

[And Ace does as asked, taking them out into the hallway, locking the door behind them as they go. Once safely there, Kokichi takes a seat on the floor, leaning up against one of the walls.]

Much better. Nothing like relaxing when your body feels like it's just big meat bag about to be squished, right? Especially after that excitement.

[diffidentive]

[Shuichi slides down the wall to take a seat next to Kokichi on the floor. He winces just a little bit at Kokichi's wording. "Excitement" isn't how he would have described what just happened. And the comment about being squished makes him feel vaguely unsettled. For Kokichi to be alluding to his own death so carelessly...and so soon after it happened...]

A-ah...I guess.

[slieght]

[Sorry Shuichi. Making light of things is just the best method of coping he has. That and bottling up how he really feels. If he just pushes all of that down and down and down, eventually he'll finally die for real and never have to care about it again.]

It's a shame this is just a simulation. I could really go for some tea right now. But fake tea just isn't the same, y'know?