Event: A Prelude

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 8, evening
Where: around

[It's a beautiful evening in the jungle tonight. It's warmer than usual, and some new plants have appeared, black vines that climb up the trees near the Aurora, opening hundreds of tiny white flowers that glow in the darkness. They let of a sweet smell that's soothing like a chamomile tea, and are filled with a dew that, if consumed, leaves characters feeling relaxed and just a little more likely to act on positive impulses.

However, the vines of this plant aren't so harmless. When broken they drip a milky white substance which irritates the skin, leaving red welts that burn and last anywhere from an hour to a full day, depending on how long the substance is in contact. Eating this won't kill you but it'll give you really intense heartburn and nausea for a few hours.

Additionally, if you're walking around in the nearby jungle, you might trip over one of the small cracks that have appeared in the forest floor. Mostly they're not visible underneath the grass and underbrush, but the bigger ones have caused a slight unevenness in the ground that can catch careless toes. There doesn't seem to be any particular pattern or origin to the cracks, nor do they have any other affect on their surroundings. They're just there, suddenly, in a roughly 100-foot radius from the train.

But there's plenty of reason to ignore these natural phenomenon, because there are some new teammates waking up in your carriages! In response to this new wave of arrivals, existing players will hear a cute jingling ringtone come from their Chain. Upon checking, the screen displays... a silly animation of balloons and confetti and the words "WELCOME NEW HEROES", which goes away on its own after a few seconds or when characters tap it. The same display is shown on the big screen in the lounge, in which trays full of colourful drinks have mysteriously appeared. The drinks taste like Kool-Aid and change some part of you the corresponding colour -- pink hair, blue skin, purple eyes, or maybe just a literal green thumb!]

[[OOC NOTE: Newbies can review the arrival scenario on the navigation page if necessary. The drinks in the lounge come in any colour you want, and cause colour shift in whatever and however large an area you want. It could just be a strand of hair or it could be your entire body, whatever you feel like playing with.]]

Comments

[thereisnowhy]

Yes, thank you! Sora is Sora Harukawa! It is nice to meet you, Mister Rufus. [He's giving the dog some tentative pats while looking over her at Rufus for a moment.] ...But Sora is sorry for intruding. Sora can leave and come back later if that is better?

[ruinatings]

No, it's alright.

[Just... a little stressful.]

This is your home now too, like it or not.

[thereisnowhy]

[hm. The patting slows.]

Sora... does not dislike it. But Sora's home is not here. [...] Mister Rufus said that we are to "save the world with feelings"? Construct and Conductor says that we are to "bring joy back to the stars"? It sounds like a game, so Sora can probably figure it out himself... but if Mister Rufus can tell Sora where to start Sora would appreciate it?

[ruinatings]

It does sound like a game, doesn't it?

[Shame it actually sucks! Also a shame the idea of "home" is so depressing.]

Unfortunately, it's quite real. We're meant to defeat evil with our social bonds, but all we've been given to do it is this train. We've been left in a land full of monsters, and we've been subject to several strange little games where we have to solve specific scenarios or risk personal injury and embarrassment.

[thereisnowhy]

So... Sora should watch out for monsters and try to make friends? Is this right?

[ruinatings]

Roughly, yes. We're one of several teams living on this train, so there are plenty of people to cooperate with.

[thereisnowhy]

Mm... okay! Sora is not very good at making lots of friends because Sora is bad at talking? And weird? But Sora will do his best.

[ruinatings]

My honest observation is that the majority of the residents are "weird". I'm sure you'll do fine despite your manner of speaking.

[thereisnowhy]

Then Sora will not worry.

Thank you for answering Sora's questions! Sora is to be grateful when someone is kind. Can Sora do anything for Mister Rufus while Sora is here?

[ruinatings]

Not particularly. I'll only request you clean up after yourself in the common area.

[thereisnowhy]

Sora can do that! Master says cleaning up is part of feng shui, so it can even be part of Sora's training? Hehe~

[ruinatings]

Training, is it? What is it you're training in?

[and can he use it--]

[thereisnowhy]

[...]

Sora is a witch? Sora is still an apprentice, though, so there are lots of things he cannot do yet.

[ruinatings]

--A witch?

[well that's a familiar concept at least]

Is that common in your world?

[thereisnowhy]

There are a lot of different kinds of "magic", so there are a lot of different kinds of "magic users"...? There may not be many people who call themselves "witches" like us, though? "Common" may not be a good word for it?

[ruinatings]

Well, that's different than I'm used to, but quite interesting.

[thereisnowhy]

May Sora ask what it is like where Mister Rufus is from? If Mister Rufus is not too tired for another question?

[ruinatings]

Oh, not at all. We do have witches in my homeland, but they're a very elusive little group. Most people can't use magic without the assistance of artificial conduits, which are most commonly used in military applications.

[thereisnowhy]

"Military"...? Is it like the magic in games? Magic that is like a weapon?