auroraexpress | Entries tagged with hlasoh

Who: trialgoers
When: Day 39, evening
Where: The Cat's Zone

[Have you enjoyed your day playing in your new train cars? Great! Because now it's Trial Time.

With the usual alert, the Cat's bar appears in the clearing. There's no "come hither" -- instead, just the pounding of bass from the speakers as the door cracks open. Inside there's flashing party lights, upbeat club music, and high-top tables surrounding a wide dance floor. The stage in the corner is empty except for a single microphone.

At the bar you can get free drinks, but you'll have to contend with the bartender -- a black cat curled up on the shelf between the bottles.

On the bar, and on every table, is a sign showing the rules of this game, titled:

Kiss or Dare

If you want to dress up for the club, or want costumes for daring purposes, there's a dressing room behind the stage with a magic closet. You'll find whatever you like in it, but when the trial ends you can only take home what you're wearing!

Good luck!]

RULES | TURN-IN | THE CAT / DISQUALIFICATION

hot_mess_express

Who: anyone
When: day 38, after noon
Where: in and around the train

[A gentle breeze keeps the afternoon cool. It seems peaceful around now, with the malice pushed back so far, unless you're heading to the island of concentrated malice of course.

It's a good day to relax and daydream.

Distantly you might sometimes hear the tick ticking of clockwork? Or it might be your imagination.

Speaking of imagination, if you think about things too hard you may find your thoughts and feelings shared with those nearby. Or even if you don't think hard at all.

At the mildest this might simply be like your thoughts and emotions being understood by others next to you, either in a vague or explicitly detailed way, but at the most extreme you might project shared delusions. Something like others getting to watch your own memories. Or fantasy sequences. Or inner monologues. Or maybe even blending you delusions with another's.

Whether it goes that far or remains a more telepathic/empathic thing is very random.]

trainmasters

Who: everyone
When: Day 35 morning
Where: the lounge car

[This morning, or whenever you wake up, you will find that there are delicious smells wafting from the lounge car. Upon investigation, one will discover a beautiful spread of hot cocoa and tea and coffee and many marshmallow animals, ideal for putting in your drinks or simply eating wholesale. It isn't just cats either, but many animals of a similar quality of marshmallow, whatever kinds you'd like. But you may find the warm fuzzies they impart might be a bit more than internal.

In a conspicuous place is a note in handwriting many of you may find quite familiar at this point:

Thanks for your help.

- Hazel

His signature isn't alone, either. There are a couple of others, though somehow they're far less readable? Some are definitely just little drawings. Weird.]

[[ooc notes: 10% furry event!! many marshmallows have no effect, but those that do will instill temporary animal parts up to a kemonomimi level! enjoy your ears and tails, folks. and your newbies.]]

trainmasters

Who: Everyone
When: Day 30, afternoon
Where: the Aurora

[Though the sun should be high in the air, just after noon the sky clouds over, and a steady drizzle begins. While gloomy, it's not particularly harsh, and the warm weather means you might even enjoy being out in it! In fact, the relatively thin and patchy clouds mean you may seem rainbows here and there. It's quite nice, really -- except, that is, that there are now tiny frogs everywhere. Near the train they're safe, but closer to the corrupt areas they're toxic.

At the same time, you hear the jingle associated with an official message from your Chain -- the usual "newbie time" balloon animation and text:]

WELCOME NEW HEROES

[This round's new blood are waking up in their rooms, in the usual nondescript undies or team pyjamas.

For the first hour or so, it seems that'll all that'll happen today. But then there's that all too familiar Trial feeling...

...Aaaand a flashy pink convertible has arrived in the clearing. It's followed up by another message:]

Hello, everyone. Your ever-grateful Prince speaking. It's been awhile and we've got some new faces, so I'm here to answer a few questions.

Buut to spare myself a little, I'm limiting it to one question per hero. I'll tell the truth, no matter what you ask, as long as it's at all reasonable! After that though, I reserve the right to cut you off -- but I won't, probably, if you play nice.

Sooo, how about you come outside and see me?

[Message sent, Cardamom gets out of his car and unfurls a big, incredibly sparkly silver umbrella. It looks like the most intensely holographic nail polish you can buy, and the raindrops only make it worse.]

[[OOC NOTES: As the monthly prompts, the rain and frogs will continue until next month's placements. You can find more info on them in the announcements over here!

If you want to tag Cardamom, there's a toplevel here. If you have any questions, please ping the mods via the q&a. Thank you!]]

hot_mess_express

Who: everybody
When: Day 22, starting bright and early
Where: the jackal zone

[What was it...ah, yes. Come hither, Heroes, prove thy worth.

The familiar tremor of a trial comes with a voice that's probably familiar to a lot of train denizens. Entering the door to the trial reveals that somehow, yes, it is in fact Naeva who's done this.

The game room is a beautiful tea garden with elegant, victorian-style tea tables set out throughout. Naturally, the tables all have tea, a variety of snacks, and flower arrangements featuring the herbs from each team. The garden is also full of crystalline jonquil, though they can't seem to be picked up normally.

There are baskets set out for everyone who arrives, and a sign explaining the rules of the game. Across the top it reads Bonding Game.

Cardamom, you've made a huge mistake.]

desirestruth

Who: Everybody
When: Day 19, afternoon
Where: Everywhere.

[Well. Some of us may have had entirely too exciting a morning, but this afternoon, anyone going through the train will find tables set up with piles of flower crowns on them and signs reading 'decorative bond, please take one'. There's a preposterous amount of them, more than enough for everyone on the train to have their own flower crown.

There are also baskets of flowers set out in the lounge, and instructions for making your own crown, if none of them suit your fancy. This is clearly harmless stress relief, Aurora, go for it.]

crimeboy

Who: Kiryuu and ANYONE
When: Day 19, Morning
Where: Licorice Cabin and into the Lounge Car/Dining Area

[ Kiryuu has been gone for just under a week, which... is probably alarming, but maybe not as alarming as when he comes out, demonic tail lashing anda sort of feral look on his face. He's not looking to talk, and he starts lurching toward the nearest person as soon as he sees them.

He starts out in Licorice's car but he's kinda slow to start, so he might have made it out! Either way, he begins to get a little better after a bite and can be found laying on the floor in the dining car, probably a little bloodier than anyone has a rightto be when there isn't a trauma game. ]

[ CW: Possible Cannibalism and Violence! ]

advisories

Who: everyone
When: Day 18, starting just after dawn
Where: The Hermit's Tent, and all around

[This morning as the sun begins to pour through the train's windows, there's the tremor that signals a Trial.]

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth. Or something like that!

[It's the same older man's voice from the sixth trial, and outside is the same fortune teller's stall. Today the front flap is lifted to show a normal interior -- there's a wooden table, carved with geometric patterns and painted in bright colours, lit by teal-coloured carved candles.

At the table sits a man of indeterminate age, somewhere between 30 and 60. He's wearing what appear to be monk's robes, teal with patterned trimming. In front of him is a crystal ball and a stack of bingo cards, along with a stand-up sign bearing the rules of this Trial.

Across the top in large font, it says:

Icebreaker Bingo

Good luck and have fun!]

hot_mess_express

Who: Heroes
When: Day 17, morning
Where: ~~the party zone~~ The Fairy Circle

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

Just like always, the train shudders in response to some foreign power. You’ve been here before, haven’t you? You know what will happen when you venture out of the train and into the dark forest beyond in search of some old house, or a tower, or whatever fresh nonsense awaits you.

But there’s no inexplicable new castle or what-have-you. Instead the air outside the train is filled with glittering bubbles floating lazily above what appears to be a collection of large white mushrooms grown in a circle.

Obviously there is no door, and touching any of the bubbles will simply cause them to burst. Should you step into the circle, however….

Foolish heroes, destined to be swallowed by the encroaching malice… can your hearts truly withstand the nightmare that is reality?

Darkness overtakes you.

( Welcome to The Nightmare )

RULES ☆ EFFECTS ☆ Q&A ☆ TURN-IN ☆ WINNERS & ENDGAME

joybound

Who: everybody!
When: Day 16, evening
Where: wherever you are

[As the sun sets and the new stars come out, there's a message on the ChainChat app. The username is new -- it's not The Construct, but it also doesn't have a profile attached, and doesn't accept private messages. It appears to be some different admin account.]

★: Hi everyone. Good news and bad news here. Good first: you should find your new train car attached as of this message! You guys wanted a garden, so hopefully you'll like this one.
★: As for the bad news: we're having a bit of a problem generating positive energy, so from now on we're adjusting the whole "sparks of light" thing. Starting tomorrow, you'll only get a payout when you consciously make a decision to increase your bonds. We're talking about increasing prices, too, but... one thing at a time.
★: Sorry for the bad timing.

[There's a pause, and then a follow-up.]

★: There are some things I ought to explain now, but I'm not sure where to start. Just be aware that things might get rougher in the future. And that Trials... I might've lied a little about those.
★: I'm sorry. This wasn't supposed to happen. Please try to hang in there.

[It's not a cheerful message, but on the upside, there is in fact a new train car at the end! On the outside it looks like one of the communal cars, with a stylized flower symbol on the door. Inside, however, it's a huge greenhouse. There are several different "rooms", each about 50 feet square, aligned to different climates. It also comes with various basic gardening tools - trowels, gloves, etc -- and enough seedlings to get started growing flowers and veggies. There's always (artificial) sunshine coming down through the glass roof, and the soil in the beds never loses fertility. There are even benches here and there -- it's not only a practical facility, but a nice place to relax!

More seeds and seedlings, equipment, and decor, can be bought via the sparks shop. You may in the meantime assume any simple plants you want are provided -- but they won't be re-issued for free if you kill them!]

[OOC: You can use this toplevel to reply to the prince's chat message. He'll respond for a limited time, but you can use this opportunity to uncover some major plot info! You're also more than welcome to talk to eachother -- it's a chat room and the conversations are public. The changes to the sparks system are outlined in this OOC comm announcement. Thank you!]

nihilmancy

Who: Heroes, possibly suffering
When: Day 16, Late Morning through Afternoon
Where: Aurora

[Well, that just happened! Many people on the train are now doubtlessly the worse for wear, physically and psychologically. How are you sorting all of that out?

Alternately, maybe you have enough Sparks for a memory and you're playing it on the big screen? Or you're testing out a new power?

Or maybe you have something else in mind? Mingle away!]

joybound

Who: everyone
When: Day 15, morning
Where: ChainChat

[This morning when you check your Chain, you're greeted by a new message from The Construct:

Thank you for your responses to our upgrade ideas poll. Your suggestions have been taken into account and compiled into this convenient poll. Votes will be tallied within a few days, so please reply promptly. Thank you very much!

Poll #21543

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

View Respondents

select your preferred upgrade

View Answers

a hospital upgrade / a lab
4 (26.7%)

a gym / a training area
4 (26.7%)

a bar
0 (0.0%)

a casino
1 (6.7%)

a community garden
6 (40.0%)

OOCly, the poll will close next Friday when the results are posted. ICly... feel free to use this post to argue in the chat rooms if you like!]

nihilmancy

Who: Anybody!
When: Day 14, Afternoon
Where: Outside mostly

[It's a lovely day out on the recently purified island! No point in staying cooped up in the train all the time, let's stretch those muscles!

The jungle around the train has given way to peaceful woods, full of the song of birds and pleasant dappled shade. The branches are heavy with ripe fruit, begging to picked and tasted. There's apple like fruit with a sweet and pleasant taste, a strangely savory and spicy fruit encased in a coconut-like shell, herbs and flowers that smell like they would be fine to cook or brew tea with (but are protected by sharp thorns, be careful!) and tart grape-like fruits on vines that produce a brief feeling of chatty euphoria. But maybe shoving exotic plants isn't your style. Maybe you'd just prefer a walk, or a jaunt through the caves?

Further afield there's a whole town to explore, still in the tainted regions of the island! Perhaps one wants to look around, or see if they can salvage some supplies from the buildings. But watch out for the giant reptiles! They have an awfully strong appetite!

Or maybe you'd like a trip to the beach? It's a fine day, with a nice breeze. Just be careful. High tide is coming, and the tainted water isn't too far off, waiting to drag you under...]

((ooc: an all purpose exploration/mingle post! Refer to this post for details about the town and whatever else on the island that one may wish to explore!))

desirestruth

Who: Everybody!
When: Day 14, morning
Where: Public Lounge

[Good morning, Aurora. Things seem peaceful, don't they? But, well, there is a terrible doom brought upon this train. Maybe you noticed it near your
car. Maybe you felt a terrible presence in the wee hours of the morning. Maybe you just wanted to get breakfast in peace. But anyone going through
the lounge today will find themselves presented with something strange and terrible.

Stickers.

They're bright. They're sparkly. Naeva has an inordinant amount of them and is sticking them on anyone and anything she can get close to. If you ask, she'll probably
let you pick one out. Or maybe just snatch a sheet from her when her back's turned.

And hey, if you're not here for stickernanigans, maybe you still have some memories to broadcast? It's a beautiful morning for a beautiful mingle!]

spectacularluck

Who: Everyone
When: Day 13, afternoon
Where: Public Lounge

[ Guess who's trying to earn as many Sparks as possible? This guy. So on Day 13, sometime during the day each Team may have received a quick visit from this guy, encouraging them to come to the public lounge during the afternoon to partecipate on a get to know each other exercise. For anyone who asks, he'll explain on very generic terms that it's just a game of truth or dare or kiss, and he's going to try his best to convince people to actually show up.

For those who do show up at the public lounge in the afternoon, he's going to explain the basic set up ]

All right, so, the whole thing is pretty simple. Usually, I guess there should be something to spin or help with randomly selecting people, but that's going to get complicated, so let's skip that one. You see someone you want to get to know, you partner up with 'em.

Here's the rules. You ask your partner to pick Truth or Dare, and ask or provide your challenge accordingly. As the person who's been asked or challenged, you will have the option to back out of it by kissing your partner instead. Doesn't have to be anywhere specific, there's kids here.

You won't win anything out of it except, huh, my gratitude for taking part, I guess.

trainmasters

Who: Everyone
When: Day 12, evening into night
Where: the Aurora

[As evening approaches, you hear the jingle associated with an official message from your Chain. It's the same balloons and confetti animation as the last time newbies arrived, and the same message as well:]

WELCOME NEW HEROES

[As anticipated, some newbies are waking up in their rooms, in the usual nondescript undies or team pyjamas.

Just after this, however, something much more startling happens...

Outisde, the bell tone gets all the louder, a beautiful resonating sound that fills the air. Then, suddenly, a flood of strange square-shaped sparkles appear, floating around like magical fireflies, bringing with them a pleasant warmth. They increase in size and volume until the air itself whites out with a bright but pleasant light. While you can't see, you can hear the bell, and the distant rumbling of stone.

Abruptly, the sound stops, and the bright light fades to reveal a sky painted in sunset hues. Where there was once a dark and hostile jungle with cracks in the ground, there's now a colourful rainforest environment and a floor thick with bright moss. The sounds of birds and insects and regular wildlife rise over the previous silence, and the aggressive plantlife is replaced by large flowers and succulent fruits. In one direction, a dirt path winds through the trees, and in the opposite, the brush gives way to a stone formation with a flat top and an opening flanked in carvings of water and plants.

If one were to enter the new cave entrance, they'd find the previous moon crystals replaced by rainbow ones that reflect sparkling light onto the floor, and feel soothingly warm to the touch. Further into the caves, there's a carved stone path that leads to the beach you initially arrived on. There stands the Prism: a large floating cube in the center of gyproscope-like concentric rings. Where it had been glowing black, it's now a royal purple, and the light and energy from it are significantly less malicious than before -- though still far from pure. The beach itself is now covered in fine white sand, and the sea no longer tries to pull you in -- provided you don't go out too far.

Because not all is well on this Star just yet. While the nearby water contains a reef of colourful fish, 100 meters or so out to sea the water turns black again. While under water in the safe area, you can occasionally see the shadows of great and terrible monsters deep in the dark.

Likewise, should you choose to follow the first path, after ~1km you'll find the forest fades back into the previous dense, dark jungle. At the edge of the darkness, there's something new -- the remains of what looks like a modern town. It's all overgrown, cottages twisted into ruins and streets covered in vines and prowled by tiger monsters and a new threat: towering reptilian creatures that climb the crumbling shells of apartment buildings and the empty City Hall, like geckos increased to dinosaur size. They're fast, and if they catch you they'll swallow you whole. On the one side, that makes it easier for someone to save you -- they could cut you out. On the other, those unable to be rescued will find their skin and muscles becoming slowly more transparent and stiff, the colour and feeling leaving them until their minds are trapped in a useless shell. Those found in that condition later must be saved via the healing pods -- but they'll remember their stay in their glass bodies, with their blood running and heart pumping like a living anatomical model of their organs.

On the Aurora, however, you're welcome to enjoy the first sight of the sun in 12 days. As the brilliant sunset moves into a night reigned over by a gentle moon, the Heartbeat Festival remains in full swing. So celebrate your victory with a glass of shimmery alcohol and a kiss, because you've done it -- your love has purified a part of this Star!]

[[OOC NOTES: CONGRATULATIONS on your first Prism purification, guys! There is a toplevel for ICly suggesting train upgrades here, so check it out! Next week we'll post a poll, and the week after the upgrade will be implemented.

The updates to the Setting page to reflect this post will be made soon, so keep an eye out!]]

trainmasters

Who: Everyone
When: Day 12, morning into afternoon
Where: the Aurora

[Morning today comes easily, the early stars of a false sunrise shining in with the same cool softness as usual. Though it remains the eternal darkness of the corrupted jungle, it's a little warmer than it's been so far, as if something somewhere is emitting a comforting heat. If you're outside you can hear a faint ringing like the chime of a bell, off in the direction of the beach. It's a bit far to walk through dangerous jungle, but you could try, if you're determined.

Back at the Aurora, however, things are also awfully... cheery. When you wake up in the morning and leave your carriages, you'll find the hallways and public areas lit with tiny pink, red, and golden hearts, shifting and glowing on the walls with no apparent source. On your Chain is a message that comes without any annoying jingle:

Good morning, heroes! You've had a hard time so far, so here's a little gift from me. Today is the Star Kingdom's most lovey-dovey holiday: Heartbeat Festival Day! First, let me tell you the local legend:

"Once upon a time, a beautiful girl lost her home to war. After wandering the universe for awhile, she noticed that the further she traveled, the more a certain pink constellation began to resemble a heart. With no destination in mind, she followed it until she arrived here, in the Star Kingdom. Stopping to warm her hands with a hot drink, by chance she bumped into a handsome young man at the same stall -- a man who happened to be the newly crowned Star King! Under the light of the Heartbeat constellation, the two fell in love at first sight. Their union was blessed by the universe, and when they had a child, she was born with twinkling stars in her hair and eyes. And that's where the royal line got their sparkles!"

The festival is a celebration of love -- for friends, lovers, family, and the whole universe. It's a time to show your appreciation with gifts, kisses, and a whole lotta drinking! We could use some love right now, so even though my kingdom can't celebrate today, you can do it for us.

To foster some affection, the drinks we've provided will give you a bit of a boost... but it's all harmless, I promise! So cozy up and show some affection. If you're lucky, you might stumble into the most heart-racing kind of love: romance!

In accordance with the message, the dining area in the lounge car has plates of various desserts in chocolate or strawberry flavours, and trays of champagne glasses full of drinks with several different colours of edible shimmer. Each one has a different effect, and is more alcoholic than the last:

☆ Gold: Those who drink this sweet, vanilla-flavoured concoction will find their hand gravitates towards the nearest person's. Once you're holding hands you're glued together, for an hour or until you're both having a good time. The drink has a star-shaped charm around the stem.

★ Pink: Strawberry champagne is ~~valentine's~~ Heartbeat Festival in a glass! Drinking it unfortunately roots you in place, along with the first person you see. You're stuck until you share a kiss -- any kind of kiss will do! This drink has a pursed lips charm around the stem.

☆ Red: A bright raspberry liquor, this drink is berry tasty, and makes your heart flutter. After drinking, you'll find your affection for other people enhanced. It's based on what you already feel, so you won't be attached to someone you dislike, but you'll feel extra adoring towards your friends, and any crush you might have will turn into true love! Effects last anywhere from one to four hours. This drink has a heart-shaped charm around the stem.

★ Brown: Though this drink smells and tastes like hot chocolate, it's actually very potent, both in its alcoholic effects and its nudge towards love. Drinking it enhances your desire for physical affection -- platonic or sexual is a real coin toss. Effects last anywhere from one to four hours. This drink has a rose-shaped charm around the stem.

Drinking multiple drinks will stack effects -- you can have all four at once if you like. This will go on til evening -- where something else magical might just happen!]

[[OOC NOTES: This is a harmless cute Valentine's post! It has the potential for NSFW threads, so please be aware, and remember to put a warning in the subject line or move such threads offcomm.

Placements are tomorrow: and with them comes a major IC update! Please look forward to it!]]

hot_mess_express

Who: unfortunate souls
When: out of time, slotted in with the event but put out of time so people can die/come back easy
Where: places

[ The ground rumbles and shakes - and then opens up. The earth swallows you whole, leaving you in front of . . . blobs . . . Oh they're a little cute, aren't they?

But the world is a bit dark, isn't it? It's a little scary . . . isn't it? ]

saddleclub

Who: Y'all
When: Day 8 noonish
Where: THE JUNGLE

[So there is a mostly unexplored jungle out there.

It seems like a good day to explore it, eh?

Please look out for:

Venomous snakes, the smaller ones will leave you fevered and nauseas, the larger may stop your heart.

Spores, inhaling them can leave you with mild to severe continuing hallucinations

Pollen, it may make you sneeze.

Dark shadows in the undergrowth, that seem to whisper as you pass. In familiar voices...? Or that's just the wind.

Vicious monsters. They want to eat you.

And look out, if you go exploring, because halfway through your adventure the sky seems to open up and pour on you, try to find a safe shelter--if that exists in the jungle.

For those of you not inclined to explore well, you may see lights in the jungle, little wisps, of light in the growth, or maybe it's your team colors you see? The more you look the more you feel practically compelled to follow those lights and flashes of something familiar....

Maybe you get caught by the jungle's dangers, trapped in a cave by the downpour, or maybe you make it to an odd break around a still pond, the surface so smooth it's almost like a mirror. If you look in, your reflection looks back. And it smiles at you.

And if you make it this far, if you look deep into your reflection and let it stare back, you might find yourself leaning down, towards it--hopefully you have a companion to pull you back before pale arms reach to pull you in and drown you.

Even if you're pulled back from the glass pool, a strange dread lingers with you for a while. And the urge to be near others is incredibly strong. Be it their presence or their touch you crave, you need reassurance.

((OOC: Explore, use this an excuse for wet huddling together in a cave while hallucinating, get cool new scars from fighting beasts, encounter the glassy pool, or whatever! Grab a buddy, have a good(?) time.))]

hot_mess_express

Who: Heroes
When: Day 8, morning
Where: Outer Space

[ A familiar silence takes hold of the jungle, and just as before the unsettling stillness erupts into a heavy gale, shaking the Aurora. Also familiar to most is the call, echoing in your mind:

Come hither, Heroes. Prove thy worth.

This time, instead of either the house or the tent, there’s a glittering void, points of light twinkling in the air. As you step into the space it expands, seeming to consume you, the Aurora, and all that exists in general. There’s a feeling of vertigo as this happens, frozen lights swirling all about you, an obnoxious giggling echoing from -- in front? -- behind? -- everywhere?

“Welcome, welcome, welcome!” rings a lilting, sing-song voice, mischievous and just a slight bit unsettling in cadence. “Darkness comes in many forms, so let’s see how good you are at sniffing it out~!”

The lights seem to dim, or maybe it’s just your vision --

“Oh, and remember, remember, remember! Everything that happens…

...happens because of you.”

-- and then it’s over, your vision returns, and you find yourself in the gilded foyer of what seems to be a manor. ]

PRE-GAME MINGLE ☆ GAME START ☆ IC RULES & ROOMS ☆ TURN-IN ☆ WINNERS ☆ ENDGAME

Aurora Express: A Panfandom RP

Entries tagged with hlasoh

The Seventeeth Trial

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Let's Play 20 Questions

the tenth trial?

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The Ninth Trial

The Eighth Trial

EVENT: A Certain Confession

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Upgrade Poll (1)

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Unlock! (1)

Love on the Railway!

Event: 8PM-10PM PST Run

welcome to the jungle we've got fun and games

The Third Trial

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