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[umbralant]

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Good morning.

Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to say good evening instead, considering how it is moonlight that will rouse you into consciousness. And what a bright moon it is, half-full and clear without contest in the sky as it outshines the stars and galaxies in the backdrop. But it’s all the better to emphasize that the buildings that speckle the landscape before you are all completely devoid of any light. And by the way—do you always sleep outside?

The lack of light can be something to deal with later though, at least when you've properly gotten up from the cold, unyielding stone below you. And that chill down your spine—no doubt that probably has something to do with combination of cool temperatures and poor sleeping conditions, but it’s odd how it seems to linger.

Checking your person for any items that should be in your possession yields disappointing results, but it seems you're not empty handed (or pocketed) because you are now the proud owner of one (1) small bundle of black cloth. Unwrapping it reveals a key imprinted with a roman numeral, along with a simple note.

“Come at 6PM to the place circled on this map:”

“Don’t be tardy, dear Survivors, that’d be a bad first impression. If you don’t want your stay here to be more unpleasant than it’ll already be, you’ll want to avoid seeming careless or disrespectful. You’ll want to listen to my opening speech~!”

Finally, after an empty space that may be simulating an intense pause, there’s one last line:

“I know what you’re thinking, so I’ll say it straight: if you don’t come, you’re as good as dead.”

The news likely isn't welcome, but it's a start. And it seems you're not alone in your plight, though whether company is within arm's length or a stone’s throw away is up to fortune’s whims. For now, you're free to explore the town square and the surrounding areas as best you can in the dim light.

For some reason or another, Krakow, Poland is now your new home. That much is clear from the sign posts that you can inexplicably read, as red and white flag posts with "Święto Niepodległości" flutter lightly in the wind. While the storefronts are dark, the street lamps that scatter the town provide some measure of light, providing some solace against the layer of fog that's begun to creep in.

( OOC: Welcome to Antumbra! This intro log occurs ICly Sunday. Your MM's will be around at 6pm EST to hear your complaints. )

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Comments

[inordertobelieve]

Then, what is the purpose of all of this? I doubt people like you would find themselves happy with just watching us mill about.

[ 'People like you' is stated with the utmost disgust, even if he's seriously trying to be civil for the sake of argument. ]

[dominioned]

"People like us"? Whatever are you implying, prosecutor?

[inordertobelieve]

People who commit crimes of passion. The kind of sadists it would take to pull off a scheme like this.

[ .......... yeah, so much for civil. ]

[dominioned]

"Crimes of passion"... [ He plays with the frame of his glasses a moment, then smiles. ]

No, I'm afraid you're incorrect. But to the second...well I suppose denying it would do no good, hm? What a shame, usually I prefer to give a better first impression than this.

[inordertobelieve]

I shouldn't be surprised that you prefer to lie.

[ No good impression of you is ever going to be an accurate impression, sorry. ]

[soulspice]

My, someone is going for the big question. I was counting on you, Teru Mikami.

[The Lady raises her hands]

I'm aware this will sound dramatic, but what I want...is your lives! But us taking your lives right away is not going to work. Believe me, if it was that easy, you wouldn't be standing there right now.

So instead, I have engineered the setting for you all to take each other's lives. Don't worry, I'll make it worth your time...

[Her voice trails off, like she expects and wants everyone to ask for further details about her plans]

[inordertobelieve]

[ This is so unexpected, he can't even be shocked. There's just a meaningful look in Rembrandt's direction like 'that's the kind of person I mean', before he goes back to responding. ]

You make it sound as if this wasn't something you thought up for your own sick entertainment.

[soulspice]

Of course it isn't. [The Lady speaks with the practiced cadence of someone who believes in what she's saying] When you strive for a goal, your every action must be directed to achieve such a goal. I'm not inclined to forcing you all to kill each other for my own amusement -- it's all because it's vital for my plans.

Consider your lives as the cogs in the long chain of events that'll lead to something big and world-changing happening.

[inordertobelieve]

Playing God will serve you badly in the end.

[ Said the man in the false priest costume. ]

[baitless]

...

So we’re sacrifices for something, yet you’ve engineered it so you get to keep the blood off of your own hands. Good of you to notify us ahead of time, I suppose; were I not morally opposed to it in the first place, I would be refusing to play along with your game out of pure spite.

[wishuponazoi]

And are you willing to share what that goal is? [They've been pretty open about some other things, after all.]

[moonfang]

Aaand there it is.

[psychophant]

...Why.

[that doesn't even sound like a question...]

[soulspice]

Ahaha! Because I say so. That's as good of a reason. [She adjusts her half-mask] Look, I could go on and on about what I'm trying to do, but when you're going to dissect a frog, you don't give it a dissertation of everything you'll do. You just do it.

[...]

Calling you all frogs is just an example. Surely you get my point, no?

[Her reasons are not important. What she wants is the results she's looking for]

[psychophant]

[you're cramping his style, his half-mask is way cooler!!!]

Oh, I do. Personally, I'd be very interested in hearing more about what it is you're trying to do, but I'm assuming you have your reasons for not wanting to get into it.

[Not that it'll stop him from asking later, but that's not the point.]

I merely don't see why you'd go to all this trouble for something so... simple. You are the one who brought us here, correct?

[ortion]

[--what.]

This is absurd!

[Worse, Dist finds himself completely at a loss as to how he is supposed to deal with this. These two have the upper hand by a wide margin. He grits his teeth and clenches his fists. This is not what he wanted to be faced with today.]

Why us specifically?!

[soulspice]

Because you all have shown to be made of something truly special. You're the survivors, you're the ones I need.

I even decided to give you a little something, to show how special you are!

[ortion]

[As much as he likes being called special, he doesn't like anything else about this. And he definitely doesn't like the idea of his life being at stake, even if he apparently has some sort of power to work with.

Ugh.]

You said that you need our lives, but you're simply allowing us to kill and take our leave? Is it not all of us that you need, then?

[ordealia]

[Lysithea manages to look even more pale than she usually does. It’s one thing to fight a war. Taking someone’s life is awful in that situation, but at least there’s a reason.

She doesn’t realize that she’s shaking like a leaf when she stands up.]

No. You don’t get to play coy with your answers and your reasons and then tell us you brought us here to kill each other.

[Her hands curl into fists hard enough that her nails cut her palms, but she doesn’t seem to notice.]

So I am going to ask: what do you expect to get out of this situation?

[soulspice]

Success. Think of it as a war. You're all my soldiers, and the opponent and its army are...well, that's not any of your business.

And killing each other is your way to overcome the opposing army and give me the victory I seek. Does that make sense to you?

[The Lady seems to be somewhat clumsy in her attempt to connect with something Lysithea is familiar with]

[ordealia]

[It is a very good thing that Lysithea has enough pride not to actually cry in front of a bunch of people she barely knows. As it stands, she takes a deep breath before she speaks.]

Yes. There are wars and opposing armies, but it’s not fair combat to just go in and slaughter the enemy without even knowing who they are.

[p_q]

So you are the type of commander to pit your subjects against each other.

[There's still no change whatsoever in his expression nor the timbre of his voice; it's perfectly even, perhaps because this is something mundane, or expected, or he just has zero other gears than consummate lineface. All of these are possible.]

Normally, however, this type of thing is done as a test of strength, with the most worthy being allowed to live and thrive. I have my doubts that you have anything so useful in store.

[twoasone]

[The killing. Well. That isn't what's bothering him. If he didn't know better, he'd offer to slaughter every last one of these people himself and present his work as payment for his freedom.

But it can't be that easy.]

It can't be that simple. [He frowns as he humbly presents himself. As strange as she is, acting out towards her would be unwise... As much as he wants to.]

Surely there must be more to your little game than us killing each other, right?

[soulspice]

[The Lady gives him a rather innocent stare, wide-eyed and almost cute]

That'd be so duplicitous.

[And totally what's going on here]

[twoasone]

And yet, here we are. Pawns in a game that you refuse to explain to us.

[She is almost cute. That stare reminds him of a prison warden he met not too long ago...]

Look at some of these people. Ready to act but fearful of the consequences. What would happen if one of them decides to walk up to someone and strangle them right here and now?