subdivided | WEEK ZERO TRIAL

Week Zero: Trial
31 in Competition

It may be difficult to sleep with the light shining so brightly throughout the night, but the participants can rest easy knowing they will not be plagued by unwanted, disturbing dreams. Early the next day, a bell chimes and all will feel compelled to enter the main meeting hall.

The hall looks mostly the same as it always has, the two thrones for Lune and Sol at the head of the room and scrolls hanging from the walls. The metal box sits on a table near the front, along with a glass box perfectly centered before the benches in the room. Now that the trial is in session, Tsurumaru's coffin is open, and his body will be available for examination.

Lune and Sol are seated in their thrones, patiently waiting for the last participant to settle. Before Lune gets a chance to speak, Sol draws everyone's attention.

"Yesterday…something really bad happened. The instability of the core has manifested into something bigger than we thought, and it's hidden among us. Today, it'll be your job to find it, and determine what to do with it."

They gesture to the open space between them and the participants then.

"Lune and I will help you as much as we can. But the final decision is yours and yours alone."

With that said, they settle back in their seat.

"Oh. And you have nine hours…let's get going."

Incidentally, anyone who did not dance with their partner during Wednesday's party will soon find that they are now sharing a new article of clothing. Congratulations.

✩★✩

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the first trial!

We'll go over a few notes briefly as we will be playing this trial a bit differently than other games.

As noted, there was no investigation period on Friday. However, today participants will have the chance to investigate areas in the game setting as they see fit! This can be done by providing the name of the location you want to visit to the host header comment. To help with the ease of the trial and for IC mechanics, only one location may be visited at a time. In addition, these locations can be manipulated and adjusted upon request to test theories and solve puzzles, so please feel free to ask if you're searching for clues! Your host will also be accompanying you on these visits.

Most importantly, before the trial is over, please place your character's vote over on the voting page. Voting will close at 9pm EST/6pm PST, and will serve as our activity check for the week, so please be sure you get your vote in before it ends unless you have contacted us previously.

If you have any questions at any time, please let do us know by pinging us on Discord! Dana and Ty will be in the chat and available for all questions. Thank you, and have fun!

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week 0 execution

As the morning rolls in, a quiet unsteady feeling fills the air of the village. The light around the Corrupted's confinements remains faint, keeping its power in tact for a bit longer.

The moment the sun reaches the highest point in the sky, a faint bell chimes and all will feel compelled to return to the main meeting hall.

When all are gathered, Lune and Sol will enter the room escorting Mary. The corruption slowly seeps from her as the Signs bring her to the front of the crowd.

Stepping aside, Sol leaves Lune to speak.

"On this day, we must cleanse the darkness that has manifested in Mary. As none volunteered to perform the execution, I will complete the task.

Child, please step forward."

Even if it's phrased as a gentle request, Mary will find herself without much choice as the light that encased her home will encourage her limbs forward if she does not comply.

[As Mary steps forward, she giggles and chatters. She does as she's told, or perhaps is forced to do as she's told, but regardless it seems almost as if she's not fully cognizant, any longer, of what her current position is. There's a mania in her eyes that makes her smile seem too sharp.]

Hey, you know? Hey! I realized that no matter what, you can't kill something that's already dead, so nothing can ever hurt me! Isn't that great? That means we can all play games together when this one is over. We'll laugh and say sorry, because we're polite people, and then we'll fly those kites, and then we'll dance again, and I'll draw all sorts of pretty pictures. What do you think? Will you dance with me, Sol? Will you dance with me, Lune?

[Lune observes the child as she walks up to them, stepping politely to the side so that she might have the center of the stage. She seems to command it, and they do not see it fit to step on her moment even now. There is a deep, tense quality to their posture, as if ready to snap if she changes her mind on her agreement, but otherwise serene as always.

They place a hand over their chest and give a polite bow beginning at their waist.]

I would be delighted to have a chance to dance with you, child. But I'm afraid that it cannot be in this time. Wait but a bit longer, and I will see you soon in another.

Have you said all you wish to the people here?

There's always more that I want to say! Because...because I love my friends so much!

[Laughing, still, she claps her hands together.]

Oh, but I have a favor! I want to share my book with everyone, so if you are having trouble making friends, please read it. It teaches you how to say things like "how do you do" and be very sweet to each other. Isn't that so nice? Lune, let's play a game now! A game with just the two of us!

Shall we keep the book in the library? Or would you like me to read it aloud when others appear troubled on your behalf?

[Story time is fine and appropriate.

Even still, Lune will reach out a gentle hand to place atop Mary's head, as if to console her for what they need to say.]

The game will need to wait just a few moments, Mary. We cannot play just yet. We must say farewell for now first. Your friends deserve a polite goodbye. I believe it would be best to tell them not to worry after you.

...goodbye isn't a word that I like to say. It means that someone is leaving.

[Her shoulders tense, and then droop, and she frowns, bowing her head just slightly. But then Mary looks back up again.]

I know! Somebody very special told me that we never leave each other, because we carry the people we love in our hearts. So I'll carry all of you, and you carry all of me, so if we have to go, we always know where we'll be!

[She beams wildly up at Lune.]

Was that good?

[Lune's voice is full of warmth as they regard her, giving praise to a good girl where it is due, regardless of the corruption that might have founds its way into her heart. They pat the top of her head once more.]

That was perfect, child.

Now repeat after me please. Once I am finished, I ask that you move as I do.

[They will retract their hand, placing it over their chest as they bow once deeply at the waist to her. For Mary, it would allow the head to be extended from the body, allowing a clean cut.

But from Lune, it is a sincere gesture of respect.]

Thank you for the time we have had together.

[And they'll rise, hand extended to the side as if waiting for something to appear in the palm, a flash of gold as the robes around their wrist move, Tsurumaru's necklace still neatly entwined on Lune's arm.]

Now you, if you would.

Thank you for all the time we have had together!

[Exuberant, unknowing, Mary bows.]

[Gently, Lune reaches out to press two fingers Mary's temple.

The last thing to appear in her mind's eye will be a flash of a lovely pond, covered in lotus flowers, calm and serene.

After that, it happens quickly.

The sudden glint of steel that appears to Lune's hand, a swing so fast that it's impossible to see the nature of the blade. It cuts through Mary's neck immediately and expertly, an utter lack of hesitation to ensure that Mary remains unknowing right into the end.

Her head is severed from her body, and the item in Lune's hand is suddenly a dark shroud, immediately covering her remains from sight.

Mary is dead.]

[Following the release of Mary's spirit, a swirl of darkness will begin to form, surrounding the execution area and seeming to encapsulate the Corrupted and the executioner. Characters staring into the darkness will find themselves staring into the face of bloodlust, chills running down their spine as the intensity of the corruption is laid bare in front of them.

Hisoka and Axelea in particular will find themselves called toward the blackness, their most negative and repulsive emotions brought to the forefront of their mind. Every vice of hatred, jealousy, contempt, beckoning them as their hearts are vulnerable without their partners -

Until a single light seems to be cast from above, brought into the very center of the darkness, and when the blinding nature of it clears, the bodies of both the Corrupted and the victim are gone, leaving only Sol and Lune. A light encases Hisoka and Axelea, protecting them from further temptation until the glow dims into nothing.

Sol speaks next:]

Without bonds, hearts are vulnerable to a great darkness. You have one of your own to thank for the formation of a new partnership, and the ability to be saved by the light.

[With that, both NPCs take their leave, but the lanterns continue to float peacefully if others wish to speak with them.

Peace returns to the village, if only for so long.]

[ He'd been holding it in the entire time-- barely, especially when Mary started speaking, but he had. He didn't want her to see him like that in her last moments.

But then there's that one moment, where all he is is furious, at Lune, at Sol, at everyone in this place-- at the entire world, again--

but it's just a moment and it fades, and it's such a shock that he can't hold the tears back anymore. He looks surprised to even be crying, lifting a hand up to his face and staring when his fingers come out wet.

He takes a shuddering breath, wipes his face and leaves. ]

[ despite their awareness of the reality of the situation, and a sensitivity towards it, they can't help making a bit of a face where they're standing, far removed from the group.

so much blood came out... gross... ]

[it's okay it's just paint]

WEEK ZERO TRIAL

EXECUTION;

CLEANSING: MARY;

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AFTERMATH;

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