The clock strikes twelve. The gong of the grandfather clock in the foyer tolls out the time in slightly unnecessarily obnoxious loud noises. The ambiance of this old mansion demands respect, care, awe --
Okay, no, wait, why are you even in this stupid dusty house?
No reasons are forthcoming, because everyone knows that people just end up in places like this sometimes. That's just how the narrative device works. The hows and the whys don't matter -- all that matters is that you're all here, so you'd better get cracking and start exploring, because it's not like you can leave yet.
Or ever, maybe.
 Good day, sirs and madams. Might I interest you in a nice glass of blood...y mary?
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PHASE I [ 02 15 ] All you see is white. The crash of thunder hits your ears next, punctuated by the piercing pitch of white noise in the background. After a few blinks, your vision comes back to you. Oh good, glad that you’ve joined us in the land of the living. Unlike the nondescript corpse at your feet – it looks like… a butler? Oh dear. You’ve already killed Murder Suspect Number One in most situations. How terribly ironic.
After all, who could’ve killed him but you? You might not remember, but there is definitely a murder weapon in your hand. It’s probably a knife or a poisoned glass of wine or-
Wait, is that a toaster? A full on toaster? Or maybe it’s a taser. Maybe you bludgeoned this poor guy with an entire encyclopedia. Either way, it looks like your murder weapon is a little unconventional, whether it’s a stranger’s pair of underwear or a hair curler. Are you really supposed to believe you committed a murder with these? (Yes.)
That said in the next second the double doors will be opening up. It’s pretty clear you’re not alone. Think quick!
PHASE II [ 0600 ] Exploring more around the compound, you’ll find plenty of those tall, oil portraits of people hung around the walls. When you start walking, they’re all strangers. However by the time that you feel like you’re wandering around for an hour, two hours, they might start looking a little bit more… familiar? Mom? Is that you?
You don’t have time to think about that, though. You were clearly framed! You don't’ have a motive for killing some random NPC –
“Or do you?” a portrait will ask.
Oh. Holy shit. Well it’d just be rude to leave, right? Whether you stick around for conversation or not, you’ll find that was just the beginning. The portraits are going to start grilling you. Welcome to CERES Central’s Roast of You. What was your motive? Don’t you know you should respect the servants? How would you feel if you were caught like that? Careful turning your back on them though, because if you ignore them for too long, the subjects in the portraits may just reach out and snatch you to join them in their portrait world.
At that point, the only way to get out is to swap places with some other poor, unsuspecting soul wandering around.
PHASE III [ 1045 ] You know what makes me hungry? Murder.
What’s the point of making a mansion this big anyway? Who’s even here? Either way, whether you’re looking for the kitchen to make a fine post-homicide sandwich or just trying to escape, you’ll eventually make it to a stairwell. The most finicky stairwell ever. Is that a trail of bloody footprints leading up the steps? What? No. Stop it, just climb.
Or well – don’t climb too quickly now. The staircases apparently have a mind of their own, swapping from one doorway to another. You definitely haven’t seen this before. It would seem that these stairs might even be interested in keeping you in a circle forever, no concern for whether or not you’re hungry or, god forbid, need to use the restroom.
However the portraits in the stairwell will provide a little tip: “The stairs are gossips, you know. Why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself? Make it good!”
Weirdly enough, sound advice – that is, if you’re interested in shouting out your most embarrassing secrets into the void so a mansion can keep talking shit about you. Oh well. Your alternative is just being a stair golem. There are worse fates.
PHASE IV [ 1430 ] This hall is oddly quiet.
Well, until you hear it – the soft sniffles coming from down the hall, the broken sobs. It sounds like someone’s crying. For one reason or another, your footsteps take you forward – there’s really no point in going back now after all, right? Yet as you continue to walk… walk… walk… the crying becomes louder and louder. More desperate, more despaired. In time, it’s clear that this person is wailing, screaming, “How could this happen?!”
Within the span of a breath, all the lights in the hallway go out, leaving you in pitch black.
It occurs to you then that you hear a second set of steps. When did you stop walking? A cold chill runs down your spine and you find yourself running then, despite the fact that it feels like this pitch black hallway goes on forever. The other footsteps pick up, remind you that you’re not alone. No, certainly not.
Best hope that you find some assistance soon – otherwise it looks like the Butler Association is going to ignite some righteous vigilante justice on your ass.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] You’re in the grand ballroom now, ready to present your case. Armed with a cob pipe (don’t smoke inside, it’s rude), a detective hat, and a single spotlight aimed right at you, you now have to explain how you came to the conclusion about the True Killer that is Obviously Not You. Rather, it’ll just be the character of whoever tags into this prompt – yes, you are suddenly so very sure that they’re the ones who are the ultimate mastermind of this entire game and… you’re just going to have to bullshit the reason why even if you know virtually nothing about them. It’s a dog eat dog world out there, you know?
Sorry about that.
Should you actually provide enough of a compelling case or they take pity on you, having a villainous breakdown for the sake of the plot, you’ll be awarded with a coupon that’ll give you three free scoops at your local ice cream parlor! (Note: you must buy the first two scoops in order to qualify.) Of course, if you’re not able to nail them down as the killer, you are obviously the killer yourself (citation needed).
From there, you’ll be dragged off to face your punishment: for six grueling hours you will be tickled mercilessly.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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[After an attempt to shake the dust off his cape with his free hand (an attempt, as his success is only partial), he steps forward to where Leon is.]
Ah, I guess I should introduce myself, huh? [And because he suspects that this guy'll might tell him that he doesn't care about his name, or whatever, he'll just continue on his own first:] I'm Karl. And you?
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... Leon Magnus. Don't mistake this as any intent to be friendly with you whatsoever, though.
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Yeah, I got it.
[Things he won't say: Leon's intent doesn't particularly matter, and that Karl, on his part, has every intention of being friendly. Leon seems like he might be easier to deal with than Liomerg, at least.]
Have you been here long, Leon?
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Long enough.
[God.]
... It has been approximately four months, I suppose. It does not matter either way; the situation is the same, stagnant mess regardless of how long you have been here.
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Huh... Well, stagnant has its positives, I guess. Quick changes usually mean heavy casualties, but...
[Everything going back home was stressful enough; he's already dreading what he'll have to deal with in this world.
... Which is a sign that he needs to put it to the back of his mind and simply smile, as dread will get him nowhere, and so that's what he does.]
You still seem to have your head on straight, though. Good to know there's at least one person as dependable as you around here.
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He's too smiley.
So Leon responds with the safe bet--utterly inappropriate bravado.]
...Naturally. If I could not handle something like this, I could hardly call myself a knight.
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Admittedly, the equivalent of a knight in Elgaia nowadays would be the Imperial Army or some such, and in the end, they're more for show in comparison to the Summoners' Hall, but you do get soldiers like Paris, and so Karl still has nothing but respect for them—and then, of course, there are the knights of old, the heroes who fought in the war against the gods. Thus, Karl looks appropriately impressed.
(Though it registers as a bit worrying to him, too: Leon doesn't look like he's out of his teens, and from the way he's speaking, he must be rather high-ranking. Which, in turn, means he had to have started early. If Karl recalls correctly, he was probably still a rookie Summoner when he was Leon's age...)]
A knight, huh? That's really impressive! I'm... something akin to a soldier myself, actually—though my occupation might not sound quite as noteworthy as being a knight. I'd like to see what you could do, someday.
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Which...is like that, as well. Being thought of as impressive as a knight, instead of Karl bringing up his age or stature (even if he's thinking about it, he's subtle enough that Leon doesn't pick up on it)...that's new to him even now.]
...Y-yes well, of course it is. [A-AHEM....... ] But I suppose should the opportunity present itself, you may have that opportunity sooner than you would expect.
[ViViD does tend to get dangerous...... though Leon doesn't look too concerned as he continues to stalk his way through this mansion.]
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... Well, when you put it that way, it just sounds really ominous.
[But if Leon doesn't seem concerned, then Karl won't be overly so either.]
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[It isn't said flippantly, but it's still clear Leon's confident enough to feel as though they can handle it.]
Whether it be monsters, robots or something else entirely, there is nothing to be all too concerned about presuming you are even slightly competent as a soldier.
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[Well, he supposes he can't complain too much. He wouldn't have become a Summoner if he wasn't expecting a life of nonstop danger.]
I'd like to think I am, but I guess you can be the judge of that if we run into anything.
[If nothing else, after facing down dragons, demons, and gods, he can't imagine that much will especially surprise him here.]
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If nothing else, you seem confident enough.
This way. I believe the goal of this game must be to make our way through this house. [Ehh.... boring.] Whether there are monsters or not will likely depend on what we find here. Still, seeing as how it is virtual reality, do not expect it to make any shred of sense.
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[Because Leon seems pretty competent!]
Are most of their simulations like this?
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They're all very different, but they are all there to be irritating waste of times, if that is what you are asking.
[Helpful!!!
...And oh, yep, the stairs sure are moving.]
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[Heh. He's a little like Seria, isn't he? (Or Lugina—Karl's friends may or may not have similar attitudes...) At the very least, that's something he'd expect to come out of her mouth.
... And yeah, these stairs are, uh.]
Umm, Leon...?
[THE STAIRS??]
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[It's said tightly, even as Leon grips the bannister and keeps making his way up the stairs. They've committed now, so there's no going back. You can't win in ViViD by going back either way--so forward it is.]
Make for the top of this staircase and get off wherever possible.
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[Moving forward it is. He makes sure not to overcome Leon's pace, instead following behind him, grip still steady on his halberd.
Meanwhile, the portraits around them are whispering. "Do you think they'll figure it out?" "Who knows? They don't look very smart..."]
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He's.
Definitely steaming a bit as he stomps up the stairs.
And the stairs try to swing away from the nearest hallway but he's going to lightly make the jump to it anyway before they can completely swing away.]
Ugh!
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When Leon makes that jump, though:]
Le—!
[No. Don't think; just follow. Karl jumps after him, though perhaps with a heavier landing, given that he's kind of wearing a fair amount of armour, as he plants the blade somewhat in the floor to steady himself.]
Haha, you scared me there a bit, Leon! Good jump, though.
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They both made the jump, so what's the problem.]
... Don't be ridiculous.
Obviously, I am more than capable of something like this.
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Yeah, you're right. It sure seems like it! So that was my bad.
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...Yes, well. So long as you are aware, then keep that in mind. [Hmph!!!
Either way, as they go along, it seems like the hallway's going to start to darken.]
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Yeah, got it. Though I'm not sure if anything can really keep me from worrying on instinct...
[...
Well, this sure is ominous and making Karl wish he had a Glowy on him or something.]
Feels like something's about to happen, doesn't it?
[A slight chill forms in the air as well, though that's (probably) all Karl, as his grip tightens on his halberd.]
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Leon's going to go ahead and draw Chaltier then, expression flat and grim. It's true, after all; it feels like something's about to happen, and knowing this place--
He speaks quietly.]
Keep moving. Make for the end of the hall; it likely is only a segment of this game that has this threat.
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[Leon's the expert; Karl will trust his judgment here. He moves quickly, though still careful not to advance ahead of Leon.]
Should we run?
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