week zero: mingle

[cyclists]

Week Zero
32 in Competition

On Monday morning, the sun rises on the sleepy village, and when the first ray of light touches the gates at each corner of the village, the previously tightly sealed doors open.

The barriers around the village fall, and leave it entirely open. Each cardinal direction will have a path exiting the village, taking the curious explorers who follow it on an adventure to new territories to be explored. They’ll find that each location that they arrive in appears to be associated with one of the elements. As the Signs had explained the day before, each of the participants in the game possesses an elemental assignment, whether they are aware of it or not.

When they approach the elemental areas, they’ll find themselves more in tune with their new powerset, as if the location invites them to take them out for a spin. The new areas appear to be perfect for training and learning how to use the new skills, or maybe if you’re curious you can discover which of those listed powers you’ve been granted.

Just try not to hurt yourself while you’re out there.

In addition, it seems now that more pieces of the core are being revealed, the river that runs through the village will begin to be dotted with small lanterns floating on the water. Some of them seem to be holding small notes. Try as you might to grab one, they’ll always just barely float out of reach.

Perhaps try sending one yourself and see what results you might get?

Occasionally in the village, you might hear the sound of drums and flutes - is that festival music? - though no matter how you search, you can’t find the source… yet.



Welcome to your tutorial week mingle log! Please see all the links within the log to check out the new updates. In addition, your status page has been updated. In case you missed it, please report all item theft to this top-level where all comments are screened. Private conversations are also open and should be reported under the Week 0 top-level.

A mini-event will also be posted on Wednesday, June 5th, so please keep an eye out for that!

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FRIDAY - A THING;

[cyclists]

night falls.

Victim

The night falls and overtakes the village, all sources of light nearly drowned out. As participants sleep on Thursday evening, something not-so-pleasant comes upon them.

A man with white hair stands at the base of a tree, the angry roars of a wild beast echoing around him. The glint of metal flashes, temporarily blinding the creature before a large paw swipes. Despite the man's expertise, the fight begins to drain from him, all movements slowing down.

The man looks up into the tree, hands reaching forward to try and climb up. His grip slips then, and he falls to the ground.

The sounds of the man's screams are nearly as loud as the angry roars, and for a long while all that can be heard are intermingling sounds of violence.

Abruptly, everyone awakens. Though the darkness continues to loom, they are all compelled to make their way to the main meeting hall. Inside, the lanterns are lit with enough of a glow to see a scroll unfurled and draped over a glass box. Though the body may not be recognizable in the light, the scroll provides an answer.

Tsurumaru Kuninaga is dead.

✩★✩

Welcome to your first death announcement! As per game schedule, there will be no investigation for clues at this time and even if characters go to explore on their own, it seems that everything has been reverted to perfect condition.

As sunset on Friday approaches, the light will return to the village. With the vague outline of the sun high in the sky, this light will shine brightly for a full twenty-four hours.

Try to sleep through it while you can. Tomorrow's a big day, after all.

TALK TO LUNE;

[cyclists]

[Lune will sit quietly and contemplatively, their usual air of lightness gone. However, at some point they will conjure up two small sake cups, a sake bottle, and sit kneeling in front of Tsurumaru's coffin. They'll fill one cup to place by Tsurumaru and then sit there to drink their own, as if having a silent conversation with the deceased.

Then they will rise and resume availability for questions.]

[nonbelligerent]

[yo.

he glances at the the glass box, before turning to lune.

...]

Any explanation for what just happened?

[cyclists]

It would appear as though our tasks have even delivered to us.

[lune speaks calmly, as if reflecting on some new information]

Corruption has found a way to manifest in this world.

It sought fit to remove one of your number.

[nonbelligerent]

That's all rather vague-sounding, if I may.

So, what now?

[unfriendliest]

[ ookurikara immediately storms up to lune, drawing his sword as he walks to point at the darkness under their hood. he's not even trying to hide how furious he is as he speaks through gritted teeth. ]

What happened to him? Where is his sword?

[ there's no trace of it here, but ookurikara needs to see the sword to believe it. he needs to see for himself if tsuru's been broken. ]

[cyclists]

[lune will turn to ookurikara and compared to the rest of their chats, the lightness is removed from their voice. only somber reflection remains]

It is—

[a muffled noise comes from underneath their hood, as if suddenly interrupted

there is a pause that follows]

.... currently unavailable. You may collect it tomorrow, as you all discover more.

[compendiem]

[ Minato is going to talk to the right person this time; I triple checked that this is Lune's thread.

He doesn't say much the entire time they've filtered into the meeting hall, hanging around in the back while he watches everybody around him. Like always, he feels numb, silent as ripples of anger and fear pass through the crowd.

He walks up to Lune first, bows his head briefly in front of Tsuru's coffin, and then looks to Lune. ]

How do you feel?

[cyclists]

[minato is a good boy and lune is thoughtful at the question. in truth, they feel a great many things, but two feelings stand out in particular - ]

... as though as I have lost a friend. And had my first bout with failure.

[so not great. their tone seems as even as ever, though not without some effort this time.]

And yourself?

[autocatalysis]

[ He knows what the look of someone grieving is when he sees it, however quiet, so that enough would normally be sufficient for him to leave Lune to it.

... That said. He does end up making himself available, and there are other people asking already, and, well. ]

... Corruption, you said?

[ What does that mean. ]

[cyclists]

That is correct.

It would appear that the instability of this place has taken the form of corruption. Darkness. Malicious intent.

... you may pick whatever name for it that you wish.

[they had one in mind but they suppose it's not entirely universal]

[fujino]

... Oh. Someone's gone?

[The reality doesn't sink in yet; the fact that they could actually die here was now solidified by the passing of this individual who had been among them. Fujino eyes the coffin silently before talking to Lune.]

I heard screaming. Was this supposed to happen?

TALK TO SOL;

[cyclists]

[Sol remains at the head of the room, arms folded over their chest and head bowed. They seem to be waiting for Lune to complete their offering, pointedly glancing at anyone who tries to interrupt before they can finish. It's only when Lune rises to their feet that they push off away from where they're standing and face the small crowd that's gathered.

They don't speak and their stance otherwise doesn't change, but yeah. They're available for questions, too.]

[televised]

[AS SOON AS THEY'RE NOT BEING GIVEN THE STINK EYE FOR SPEAKING UP--]

Hey, quick question— What the fuck happened?

[cyclists]

[It's fine, Sol is sort of prepped for a fight and looks ready to volley themselves straight into the void. But even so, they remain still and speak up.]

I'd really like to know the same thing. This wasn't supposed to happen.

[omegathree]

[He doesn't really mind waiting, just watching the box and Lune's ceremony before approaching.]

Do you know what happens when people die here?

[cyclists]

We're going to ask tonight. [Are they? Sol's planning on it, apparently.] We weren't prepared for something like this.

[wildc4rd]

[The fact he's standing here is more than enough, so no interruption is necessary.]

I didn't know I would be a widower before we consummated our marriage.

[cyclists]

[Staring up at Hisoka...]

Are you worried? [What a strange question.]

[hashtaghelping]

[Well.

That was disturbing.]

So what happens now? That sounded like a bear. Are we going on a bear-hunt? [Swift Wind paws at the ground.] You have my ... horn! And my hooves.

[cyclists]

Uh. Thanks. [Reference: Lost.] Tomorrow will be the day that we can do anything to find out what happened. Will you be prepared by then?

[blackcoats]

[ despite it all, xion's voice is tinged with disbelief. ]

...

Sol, is he really...

[cyclists]

Yeah. [Their head is bowed just a bit. They're angry at this outcome, but it's saddening, too.] I'm sorry. Did you get to know him...?

[daibanana]

[For once, Nana isn't smiling.

She looks... shaken. And unnerved. Her arms wrap around her as if trying to keep the warmth inside.

She'll float over to Sol once it seems the other is done answering questions to the public, but well... Nana has some questions herself.]

... Is he really gone?

[cyclists]

Yeah. [It's fine, Sol likes Nana and will actually answer her because this is absolutely not okay? None of this is okay and none of them were prepared for it.]

...I have questions I want to ask them. [Them, of course, being the universe.] This isn't really fair, is it?