WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL (OVERFLOW)

[retellers]

WEEK ZERO: ARRIVAL (43 remain) Whatever each character was doing—chatting with friends, going to bed, saving the world—ceases. In fact, it's likely nothing more than a groggy memory now, as they open their eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. Apparently, they took a nap right in the middle of a small town, plopped outside on the paved road. Ow? Oh, but it looks like they've been given a goodie bag. Everyone likes gifts, right? Inside, it contains: - a single random one of the following headbands and sparklers - packets of tea - one unlabeled pill - a rock that resembles the galaxy - if they're of age, a mini bottle of alcohol; if they're underage, a can of Mountain D*w Baja Blast instead - a singular condom - a single random one of these pillows (how did this fit?) - a handheld device Should they boot up the device, the screen helpfully informs them that it's a Participant Help System (PHS). Not much on it, but it does have a few apps, including a memo one for taking notes. There's also a messaging system, though it's only capable of receiving messages, not sending any. As a matter of fact, there's an alert for a new message already. Maybe it'll explain what's going on. Good evening, everyone. Uh, how are we sure they’re arriving in the evening? Just say “hello”! Or “greetings”! Greetings is fancy, right? Oh that’s true. Greetings, everyone. That’s better? Yes! Except maybe we take out the that’s better part in the final version. Will do! We’re sorry that we’re not here jklk oh no how do i erase what i wrote. Where is the question mark. Help press backspace. What is a backspace it’s written on the keyboard. Do you even know how to read? right now. There are a lot of things happening that’s so vague? Could we maybe TRY to not be ominous, guys??, It’s going to be ominous no matter what we say, so who cares so we need time to best prepare for you all. We will greet you properly soon, so please make yourselves at home! There are a lot of places to explore, and the kitchen has a lot of delicious food. Please don’t be shy, but also, don’t damage anything. It’s a little inconvenient. They’re going to do it just because you sound so fucking whiny. I’m sorry oh this is how you write somewhere else. Please do not fight or do. We don’t control your life choices. No please do not fight how do i make an exclamation mark maybe we should’ve gotten someone else to write the draft of the message? No offense. I’m sorry Sorry stop apologizing. No one else volunteered. Maybe we’ll luck out and none of them know how to read Thank you for your time! We’ll see you soon. Also, we promise you haven’t been kidnapped or anything! Oh dear. I don’t know if this is going to be edited, so if it isn’t, then I do apologize to the participants for our lack of organization. We’re doing our best! Probably. Er, what? Unfortunately, it seems as though that's the only info they're given for now. In the meantime, why not explore the surrounding area? A number of buildings are locked, and the Planetarium appears to be closed, but there's enough to keep the characters occupied for a day or two. They might even want to get to know their fellow "participants" better, while they're at it.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

[frostythehitman]

If you want to help, you could get us out of here instead of sending crappy useless messages.

[retellers]

[ there's another bow. ]

You'll all get to leave, but um, it won't be until we finish everything here. It's impossible to leave any earlier than that.

[frostythehitman]

You're the ones running the show here, aren't you? If you could bring us here, what's so impossible about sending us back?

[retellers]

We weren't the ones who brought you here, it was the Realm. But now that you're here, you're all in our care.

[frostythehitman]

What the hell's that supposed to mean? The universe just decided to dump us here? And then put you in charge of keeping us here?

[retellers]

[ well, they just sound nervous now. ]

Um... we're not the ones keeping you here, we're just helping you. You were brought here to help restore the Realm's nova. It's like the memories that build up this place. But something's stealing nova away, and it's making the Realm unstable.

The problem is that the Realm is connected to many other places in the universe, so if the Realm collapses, it'll affect everything it's connect to, too.

[frostythehitman]

[ Jesus Christ why is it always some universe-threatening shit like this. He fucking hates space missions. ]

Fine. So if we make the Realm stable and get your nova back or whatever, you'll let us go home?

[retellers]

[ they nod. ]

Right now, there's not enough nova here to be able to send you back, but once there is...

[ the smallest of thumbs ups ]

[frostythehitman]

Great. So what the hell is nova and how do we get more of it?

[retellers]

Nova can have physical form, but... normally you don't get to see it? So we don't know what it looks like until we find it.

We'll have more information on what we have to do, though. Nothing like this has ever happened before, so there isn't much to go on as of now.

[frostythehitman]

[ Alright, now he's starting to get pissed again. ]

So if you're as clueless as the rest of us, then where the hell are you getting this information from?

[retellers]

The Realm itself. But... it's so destabilized by this point that it can't give us all the information that we need right away. It is losing memory.

[frostythehitman]

So the "Realm" [ yes, he does user fingerquotes ] is losing its memory, so it's not telling you everything about what we're supposed to do to fix it?

And we're just stuck here until it does?

[ Aside from how bullshit that is, it also sounds suspiciously convenient. ]