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Post by SpringForest on Dec 23, 2016 12:42:56 GMT -6
What's with the mask? Come on, now, you all have a bunch of random tools you were using to solve puzzles. What do you think it's for? It's some kind of metal detector. Or a fish-reader. Long story. Do you all know how to get your helmets off? It's super-easy. Should probably say this first. |
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Post by Piomega on Dec 23, 2016 15:45:39 GMT -6
"Well," You say, after an awkward pause. "It was to solve a puzzle, where I had to find bits of keys in fish. Long story. Didn't you guys have to do stuff like that?"
"Well yeah," 6 says. "But you're obviously not wearing your helmet right now."
"I just took it off. Did it not say how to do that in any of your rooms?"
"Nope." 4 says. "How do you do it?"
"You have to press the indentation on the helmet with your ring finger. It's about... here. To put it back, press your wrist... here."
Number 4 reaches for the indentation, but 5 speaks up. "Stop."
"What?"
"We need to decide if we're going to have our helmets off or on. I think we should wait for the others."
The silence feels awkward, so you try to resuscitate the conversation. "So... What's up?"
Number 11 presses a flicks a switch on the box around his neck. "I have greatly injured my hand. I found a circle, and it gave me a power. But I could not read what it did, because it was in English. I hoped it would help me to get the key to the door. It did not." He then flips it back.
You realise that the box must be a translator of some kind, but don't want to address it immediately. "Yeah, I stuck my hand in acid three times. Lucky that ribbon thing was there, really."
"Heh. You fell for it just like them?" 6 sneers. "I did it without putting my hand in at all! I just stuck a wooden spoon in there, and when I saw the ice form on it, I just used the prongs to get the key. I knew 'Heat-touch' wouldn't protect me from coldness."
You stifle the feeling of indignation, and try to change the subject. "Ah. So, 11, what language do you speak?"
"German."
"I see."
"What was it about keys in fish? Did you kill the fish?"
"The moose head must let me see metal or something. I could see the pieces of key inside the fish. I had to kill the fish to get the key out."
"I am glad I did not have to do this also. I was in an office."
What do you talk about now?
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 23, 2016 15:54:24 GMT -6
We have not used our ribbon yet today. Can we heal 11's hand? "It sounds like we all had a similar first challenge, but the second was different for each of us. How did you all solve your puzzles?"
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Post by Piomega on Dec 24, 2016 4:52:06 GMT -6
You ask 11 if he wants his hand healed. He shakes his head.
"It is healed now. But thank-you. Also, the man in white said only my Vittalus works for me."
"It seems like we all had a similar first challenge, y'know, with the chest full of some liquid. A skill that wouldn't work for it, etc. But we all had different second challenges, right? How did you guys solve yours?"
"I was in a garden-like area, I had to find clues scratched onto the bark, and type things into paving stones."
"I was in the kitchen. I had to pour the correct spices into the sink."
"I was in..."
"Sorry," You say to 5. "But could you try talking in a deeper voice? Your voice is so high-pitched with the filter that it makes it hard to understand what you're saying."
"Is this better?"
"Yes, thanks."
"I was in a spa. I had to figure out the numbers I had to type into the cash register from putting bottles of conditioner and soap underneath the tanning bed, which also doubled as a UV scanner."
"And what about you?" You address 8.
"Allure does not simply recount his adventures!" 8 exclaims, in an offended tone, while picking up a corner of his 'cape', and holding it in front of him. "I am beyond mortal understanding!"
"He was in the art-room." 4 says in an offhand tone. "Me, 8, 2, 10 and 6 all searched around our rooms after we got out. 2 and 10 are still searching around now. They said they'll come and find us soon."
"VILE TEMPTRESS!" 8 spits. "How dare you reveal the secrets of our sacred bonds, and our momentous mission?"
"What's his deal?"
"Since we're in some kind of TV show or something, I think he thinks he'll do better if the audience likes him more."
"Couldn't hurt." 8 mutters quietly. "Allure does not simply perform his vital duties to curry favour! I am more, I am the defender of the weak, protector of the innocent, stopper of the... uh... jug of evil!"
You wander around the dodecagonal hall for a bit. Each wall has a door, that say things like "Pantry", "Study", "First Aid", etc. There is another dodecagon in the centre, with GOAL on every door, as well as having a keyhole on every door.
Is there another topic you wish to address now?
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Post by SummerCrow on Dec 24, 2016 9:09:20 GMT -6
Anyone else see that job-roulette thing?
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Post by Piomega on Dec 24, 2016 13:11:42 GMT -6
"Anyone else see that role-roulette thing?" You ask.
5's head quickly darts in your direction. "Yes. I'm willing to bet we all did. But nobody say any of the roles you might have seen, and definitely do not say what your role is. Your life might depend on it."
"But why?"
"I don't know. Apparently, the same applies to names. We should probably make codenames."
You are about to reply, but the others turn towards something behind you. You turn around, and see 2 and 10. 2 is tall, and gangly looking, probably male, while 10 looks like a man-mountain. He's bulky, but not fat, and is walking a careful distance away from 2, dripping with clear liquid.
"Who's this?" 10 asks, while facing you, and arching his neck slightly. "Why is he wearing a moose mask?"
"This is number 7." Says number 4. "He's wearing the moose mask because of some sort of puzzle involving fish, and hasn't taken it off. There was apparently a note that told him how to take off his helmet. You just press the indentation here, he says. Why are you all wet, 10?"
"I had an idea." 2 says. His voice, although distorted, sounds somewhat African, he's probably from, or at least spent some time, in southern Africa. "In his chest, he had disinfectant, and in mine, I had... water, with some sort of bacteria. Vibrio something. Anyway, my skill protected me from his chest, and vice versa. So, I decided that we should probably check, to see if there's anything else in there."
"Was there?"
"Yes. Some sort of tunnel."
"There was a fake bottom. I lifted it out, but didn't go far down. It's completely underwater, but the 'skill' apparently stops it getting into my helmet. I didn't want to go exploring before we get everyone together."
Do you talk about anything else, or just wait for the others to arrive?
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Post by SummerCrow on Dec 24, 2016 13:59:36 GMT -6
Plenty to talk about. Like whether everyone was randomly picked, or if there's something in common. And where we are, what's up with the dude, what's up with that (-1) guy being dead... But we should wait for the others. So, uh... How's everyone doing? Good? Y'know, considering? Ah, great. Man, how about... sports team. They really sportsed good or bad the other day, as appropriate. Also recent major event. That was certainly a thing that happened. Right?
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 24, 2016 16:03:46 GMT -6
Let's establish code names. Mine will be Moose. It seems that Mr. Hero over there has a name picked out already too.
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Post by Piomega on Dec 24, 2016 17:14:36 GMT -6
"Do you think we were randomly picked? Or do we all have something in common?"
Number 11 sighed, and rubs where the base of his nose would be if he could reach his face. "Honestly? The last thing I remember, was being in prison. My wife had been bullied for years as a kid by the same thug. Only, it didn't stop when she got older. The kid moved school, just to be with her, and torment her. Their parents were friends, and she didn't want to admit that she didn't like him. He made her do things that she... really didn't want to do. He forced her to give him her paper in her finals, and she had nothing to submit. Anyway, he mooched money off of her, and he would show up outside our house, and make faces at our children. I couldn't prove it, but I suspect it was him that left a syringe that had traces of heroin left in it. My daughter stood on it, and she got infected. I tolerated him for several years, but finally, I had enough. I told him in no uncertain terms to get out of our lives. He laughed in my face, and made a derogatory remark about Helen—about my wife. Something in me snapped. He ended up in a coma. I was arrested, and I probably would have got twelve years, maybe less. Except, his aunt was a powerful woman, and I ended up with a life sentence. Someone came into my cell, and offered me a way to see my wife and children again, a way to not spend the rest of my life in that bunny rabbit. I can't remember what it was, some parts are just blanked out. Anyway, next thing I knew, I woke up here."
There's a very long silence. After a while, other people start chiming in with similar stories. Number 2 says that he made some kind of deal with someone, but his memory is lacking what he what he agreed to do. He says that he agreed to do something, in exchange for providing his younger brother with the money to have a full education, so he could become a doctor. Number 11 apparently agreed to participate in exchange for his father's pharmaceutical company being given a large enough grant to pursue a new line of medicine, that he believed might cure diseases that had recently been the sources of massive epidemics. 6 mutters something along the lines of her boyfriend being convicted for something that he absolutely couldn't have done, and was doubtless framed for, and her participation would be the only way to reduce his sentence, and reach some semblance of justice. You can't remember, neither can 4 or 5, and if 8 knows, he sure isn't saying.
You're also unable to deduce why -1 is dead, although 4 suggests that it might be something to do with his name or role getting out. Though this was before you could all meet, and so the theory is debunked.
To your surprise, most of your memory is missing, and are unable to relate to anyone about any sort of sports team. Everyone seems to be from different backgrounds anyway.
"I think we should all have nicknames. I'll probably be Moose."
(To be continued tomorrow)
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Post by Piomega on Dec 25, 2016 14:24:08 GMT -6
"Vile fiend!" 8 exclaims, while pointing an accusatory finger towards you. "I've know your dastardly game! You planned to bring that moose mask, in the hopes of getting you a nickname you desire! Well I won't fall for your tricks, villain!"
"No, I just—"
"It's probably better if you pick a nickname that's easy to remember you by anyway," 4 states, glancing away slightly, so as to not seem like she's agreeing with 8. "I mean, at first glance. Unless you're going to wear the moose mask the entire time, it's probably best to choose a nickname based on your number, or your colour. 'Allure' is probably going to maintain this stupid hero facade the entire time, and will probably keep the cape on."
"Just let him be 'Moose' if he wants to. We don't want to have to think of three separate nicknames that mean 'green' anyway."
"I—"
"Look, what is it you actually want to be called?"
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Post by SummerCrow on Dec 25, 2016 16:07:58 GMT -6
"CURSES! The mighty Allure has seen through my brilliant ruse to deceive you all with the codename Moose! I've no recourse save to reveal my true identity: The Acrid Archfiend, MEGAMOOSE! BWAHAHAHAHA! ...But seriously, if we're trying to come up with names for each other to remember, shouldn't we all name each other, instead?"
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 26, 2016 20:51:02 GMT -6
"CURSES! The mighty Allure has seen through my brilliant ruse to deceive you all with the codename Moose! I've no recourse save to reveal my true identity: The Acrid Archfiend, MEGAMOOSE! BWAHAHAHAHA! ...But seriously, if we're trying to come up with names for each other to remember, shouldn't we all name each other, instead?" |
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Post by Piomega on Dec 27, 2016 10:46:18 GMT -6
"CURSES!" You yell out. "The mighty Allure has seen through my brilliant ruse to deceive you all with the codename Moose! I've no recourse save to reveal my true identity: The Acrid Archfiend, MEGAMOOSE! BWAHAHAHAHA!"
"I knew it from the start!" 8 proclaims triumphantly. "YOU VILE WRETCH! Your tricks are but pointless drivel under the unrivalled intuition of ALLURE!"
"Seven!" Number 4 shouts in mock outrage, while suppressing a giggle. "Don't encourage him!"
You and Allure suddenly burst out laughing, and soon most people join in. 10 looks away, and you can hear a slight snicker, though he conceals it masterfully. Number 6 lets out a snort that she obviously meant to be derisive. Number 11 laughs half-heartedly. Presumable, some of it is lost in translation.
"...But seriously, though," you say, trying to wipe away a tear, but failing because of the moose mask. "If we're trying to come up with names for each other to remember, shouldn't we all name each other, instead?"
"Maybe." Number 2 says. "But... then we end up with names that we might not like."
"It is simple." Says number 11, through the translating device. "Just allow us to veto—"
Something draws your eyes. Out of a door, came a furtive figure, head darting around, and settling on your group. His jumpsuit has magenta trimming and patterns, decorated with '1's.
"WHO ARE YOU?" He yells out, pointing an accusatory finger as the others turn to face him. "WHERE AM I?"
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 27, 2016 14:01:49 GMT -6
Well, we're playing a game. Not a very fun one, considering we could all die, but a game nonetheless. I'm assuming you're 1?
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Post by SummerCrow on Dec 29, 2016 15:49:53 GMT -6
As for who we are, we were just doing introductions. So get in here.
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Post by Piomega on Dec 29, 2016 16:09:06 GMT -6
"Well, we seem to be playing some sort of game. I think—"
"GAME? OH, well that's all right then. As long as it's all a 'game'! Let me ask you this: What kind of game kidnaps an upstanding member of the community, and forces them to stick their hand in Catharsis 9—"
"Look, something similar's happened to all of us too. Some of us made some kind of deal, but the rest of us have no idea why we're here." 4 says, while shifting in place, cocking her head, displaying blatant denunciation. "We're not responsible, we have no idea what's happening, and things are missing in our memory. I'm hoping this will all turn out to be some kind of prank. But it's probably not, and apparently, someone's dead, and we have no idea why."
There is dead silence. Number 1 seems lost for words, so you quickly interject for clarification. "Are you number 1 then?"
His head snaps towards you. "Why... why is he wearing a moose mask? Is he your leader, or some nonsense?"
You struggle to keep yourself shivering. If someone finds out your role, the man in the white mask, Zero, said you'd die.
"No, it was just for a puzzle. I just haven't bothered to take it off."
Number 5 spends the next few minutes relaying to him, in a cold and distant tone, the events. He listens, not politely, but attentively.
You've still got some time left. How do you spend it?
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 29, 2016 16:11:39 GMT -6
"Why are you so jumpy, Ace?" Directed at 1. Trying to discreetly set in some nicknames.
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Post by Piomega on Dec 30, 2016 11:01:43 GMT -6
"Oh, and as for who we are, we were just doing introductions." You say to Number 1.
"Introductions?" Number 6 scoffs. "How can you call those introductions, if we can't even tell each other our names?"
"Hah! I can tell you my name!" Number 1 exclaims. " I've got nothing to hide! Unlike some here, I daresay."
"I really wouldn't." 10 says, glancing away nonchalantly. "He – the guy with the white mask – said we could die."
"If he was going to kill us, he'd have done it already! He's bluffing."
"How brave of you! You're going to sacrifice yourself so that the rest of us will know the danger!"
"I didn't say that!" Number 1 says, recoiling in shock.
"Why so jumpy, Ace?" You say, trying to establish a nickname.
"Sev, I appreciate the effort. But in what way is he someone you could call an ace?"
"In quite a few ways, actually." Number 1 says, proudly. "I've been through so many body modifications, I'm basically superhuman. Magnetic implants, Ce6 injected into my eyes, you name it."
"Body modifications? Anyone see some kind of contradiction here?"
"What do the body alterations do?" Number 1
"I can tell where I am, sense powerful machinery, ferrous metals, high electric currents, and see in the dark."
"So... where are we now?" 4 demands. "If you can sense where we are—"
"If I had to guess, I'd say northern North America. But this base has more magnetic fields than New buttercup York. I swaddling hate this bootiful filter!"
About ten minutes later, an omnipresent voice calls out, "Fifteen minute warning. If you have not exited to the CORE hall before that time is up, the bands around your neck, wrists, and ankles will discharge a sedative, and you will have lost this game."
What now?
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Post by SpringForest on Dec 30, 2016 11:16:29 GMT -6
Well, I guess that's our cue to leave unless Birdy wanted something.
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Post by Piomega on Dec 30, 2016 11:32:25 GMT -6
Uh... who's Birdy?
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