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

[purrtagonist]

[tucks his chin into his hand in a thoughtful gesture]

Is it? Has anyone tried? At the very least, it’d be worth it to get everyone on the same page.

[crimeson]

Sorry, maybe I'm being a little defeatist. It's definitely worth a shot. Getting everyone on the same page is a great idea.

[purrtagonist]

[a small huff, expression turning sympathetic]

You’ve been here longer than I have, which means you’re in a better position to know what’s going on.

[holds up his Chain again]

What can you tell me about our situation that isn’t included in the welcome message?

[crimeson]

Let's see...

[reading the welcome message for good measure, then nodding.]

So every once in a while, a Trial happens. So far the pattern seems to be that we're grouped up in two groups of about half the passengers each, by team, and then we have to play some game set for us. Making the right moral choices, or solving a murder mystery. Stuff like that.

[purrtagonist]

“Right” moral choices.

[sssasounds a bit dubious, but. . . he moves on]

Who runs these “Trials?” The Construct?

[crimeson]

By the standards of the runner.

[he amends, casually.]

I don't think so. Not unless the Construct is putting on multiple personas to trick us for some reason. The last two trials were run by two different people, or at least it seemed that way.

[purrtagonist]

. . . ah. Comforting.

[EVEN MORE DUBIOUS]

Who were they run by, if not this Star Prince?

[crimeson]

We haven't seen them, I think, but... one voice was a man's, and seemed pretty serious, and there were feathers scattered everywhere? And the other was a lot more excited and kind of mischievous, and there weren't feathers.

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]

Got it.

[the more he hears the more he doesn’t liiiiiike]

[tapping his toes against the top of the train]

Does this thing ever move anywhere?

[crimeson]

Not while I've been here, but it's not like I've been here since the start. Judging by the look of things around here? It hasn't been here long.

[purrtagonist]

[rocks back again, hands going into his pockets as he stares up at the dark sky]

Right. Sounds like I’ll have to find someone who has been here since the start for more questions.

[ppppause]

My name is Kurusu Akira, by the way. Just Akira is fine.

[crimeson]

... Nice to meet you, Akira. Sorry I'm not more help on those sorts of questions.

[purrtagonist]

[offers him a sheepish smile]

That isn’t your fault. You know what you know, and I’m thankful you helped me out where you could.

[crimeson]

Well, hopefully I'll get more chances to be of help!

Ah, also, it can get pretty sketchy if you stray from the train, so take care.

[purrtagonist]

[his gaze flickers towards the jungle, almost thoughtfully]

Define "sketchy."

[crimeson]

There are a lot of aggressive snakes for one thing. Boars too. And... a lot of the stuff out there inflicts status effects. I would've fallen into a pond and probably drowned if I hadn't had company, earlier, just 'cause I saw my reflection. At the very least I wouldn't recommend going alone.

[purrtagonist]

[oh, now that's familiar. something in his expression sparks with sudden interest, but it's gone the very moment it appears. easily missed]

Noted. I'll keep the buddy system in mind.

[crimeson]

[Yeah, no, he caught that. But he only gives the barest impression of noticing.]

Good call. Were you lucky enough to find your weaponry in your closet?

[purrtagonist]

[gck. called out]

[but Akira plays it off casually]

Hm? Why are you assuming I know how to fight?

[crimeson]

[kind of. blinks. like why the fuck wouldn't you?

then laughs, embarrassed.]

Ah, habit, sorry-- I taught at a military academy until recently, so most of my recent experience with teenagers was with ones that know their way around a fight, or at least plan to learn their way around one.

If you don't, though, I'd really recommend you stick to the train as much as possible.

[purrtagonist]

[military. . .]

[filing that away for later as he holds up both hands, palms facing forward]

I'm sorry to report I'm not military in any form or fashion.

[but there's a touch of amusement in his tone, light and gentle]

Juuust a normal kid with normal kid worries. So I'll be extra careful.

[good. safe. for now, nobody has to know]

[crimeson]

Those kids have plenty of normal kid worries too. But definitely don't apologize for not being military, geez.

[he's sure built like a military man, even though his disposition seems kind of... sunny? relaxed?]

Buuut, good. Wouldn't want you getting hurt.

[purrtagonist]

[I can take it is the response he almost gives, but he does feel like that'll say too much. so he just nods]

Yeah, I don't really want to get hurt, either. I'm sure I'd just run away screaming if I came across a giant snake.

[crimeson]

That's the appropriate response, pretty sure. As long as you run toward the train, not away.

[purrtagonist]

I'll make sure to write that down on a post-it so I don't forget.

[just. . . a little dry]