day zero

[guestcontrol]

dreamland day zero 42 players remaining. [You wake up in a temporary barracks set up behind an amusement park. The weather is chilly but pleasant, and there aren't any lines for the rides - in fact, it seems you have this place to yourself. The entire park appears to have been abandoned some years ago, and though everything is in working order, it is overgrown with plants and seems rusted and unsafe. As for you, something has happened, though you aren't sure what. There's a throbbing pain in your head, and you can't focus, as though you're coming off heavy pain medications. However you think you should look, you look like a human now. Under the bandages wrapped around your temple, old and smelling like blood, you'll find a recently stitched up scar wound and the inability to focus on your memories. You have no knowledge of how you came to be here; you may even have forgotten certain aspects of your life, or feel confused about them. The fact of your missing memories is obvious, a dark blank spot. Under the bandages around your wrist, you'll find a brightly colored bracelet, decorated with the face of the smiling cartoon animal on your wall, embedded into your flesh. It beeps a merry tune and welcomes you to DreamLand Fun Park. Just then, a voice comes over the loudspeaker.] "Good morning to all of our new guests! The park is now open! We'll get started later, but for now, have a magical day with your new friends! Oh, and there may be a few nasty side effects to your medical condition. If you meet someone having trouble adjusting to reality, please be polite!" [In your room, you'll find a small box containing several personal items - no weapons, magical items, or technology advanced beyond the early 21st century, and nothing dangerous, but otherwise anything you would ordinarily find on your person is there. Of course, nothing with cell reception or internet connectivity can manage to pick up a signal. If you swipe your bracelet against the steel door, it unlocks. You may now explore your accommodations, or venture out into the park.] profiles character statuses setting This is an IC mingle covering the first day! Night roles will go up Monday at 4 PM EST, but you are welcome to continue to thread here once that happens. Make sure to follow any updates on plurk!

Comments

[shoutoku_administrator]

If we're here to be tortured, then why would we be allowed to walk freely about in such a large area?

[edealistical]

It's the psychology of it. The illusion of freedom will be all the more crushing once we realize it's exactly that. A prison with a large common area is still a prison.

Our best chance is to escape before they actually 'get started', but it's all so unfamiliar right now...

[shoutoku_administrator]

There appears to be a fence surrounding the area, but I haven't checked its full length for weaknesses.

[edealistical]

This beeps whenever I get close.

[She points to her bracelet.]

It's some sort of tracker, I'm sure. It would be useless to flee with them - no doubt that's why they've embedded it inside our flesh.

[ewch]

[shoutoku_administrator]

[Miko looks at her own. Ewch, indeed.]

Is it supposed to control us, somehow? And if so, why would they need a fence at all?

[edealistical]

Well...

[Technology isn't really her strong suit.]

At the very least, I think it means they can find us wherever we go. There might be some sort of black magic woven inside, too.

[shoutoku_administrator]

Indeed. It could also be Technology of some sort.

['Technology' spoken as if a word she's only heard in passing.]

[edealistical]

Right.

The technology used by my country is... powered by magic still. I hear that's not the case elsewhere, so I'm not so sure I understand how this might work.

[a pause]

But the important thing is that we have to work together to get out of here! My friends need me - and I'm sure that's the same for everyone.

[shoutoku_administrator]

I agree. Giving this many people freedom is dangerous, regardless of our enemy's capabilities. If I were orchestrating something like... whatever this is, my next move would be to turn my captives against one another to keep them from organizing against me.

[edealistical]

Hmm...

[It's a good point.]

So many of us in this large, open prison. Perhaps you're right. ...Perhaps the point is to manipulate us into punishing ourselves.

...Then I'll swear that no matter what happens, I won't lose sight of the truth. Black is black and white is white - And I won't forget the blackest fiends of all. On my honor as an Eternian knight.

[shoutoku_administrator]

Black is black, and white is white...

Tell me, how will you avoid losing sight of a truth that you haven't even seen?

[edealistical]

The truth is always there! You just have to figure it out for yourself - and act.

And right now, the truth I know is that most - if not everyone here - is blameless for this crime.

[shoutoku_administrator]

It's just a thought from a conversation I had earlier. The mastermind behind all this could easily be among us, disguised as a victim.

[edealistical]

Yes, I've thought of that, too, to be honest - that's why I said 'most'. The person behind this could be disguised as one of us. It'd be the easiest way to observe us without arousing ire...

But until that's clear, I can't forsake so many for fear of the one enemy.

[shoutoku_administrator]

Indeed. Even if one or more of us are enemy spies, treating each other as if we were all spies is no doubt exactly what they would like to see us do.

[edealistical]

Right!

I mean, I'm not going to be sleeping with my back turned to anyone, but I never do, anyway.

Besides, there are little kids here, and they definitely need us to look after them. I can't believe they would stoop to taking children!

[though she wouldn't be saying that if she actually knew ciel or anise or others]

[shoutoku_administrator]

...It may make me unpopular to say it, but I wouldn't let anyone be wholly free of suspicion just because they are children.

[edealistical]

...

Well. Actually, I understand where you're coming from since the nastiest piece of work I know is something like a 7 year old, but I always thought she was a special case.

[shoutoku_administrator]

Children are capable of cruelty surpassing that of most adults. Furthermore, they can easily be tricked into serving an unsavory cause, particularly if they don't understand the implications of their actions.

[edealistical]

Mm. It's not so pleasant to think about that kind of thing... but it would be foolish to deny.

Children have less restraint - and a not-so-developed sense of right and wrong, it's true. And if you're right about this place appealing to a child...

[...]

Well, that's getting a little too far ahead of myself.

[shoutoku_administrator]

Nothing but speculation.

I expect we'll learn more soon, but for now, we should stay on good terms with one another.

[edealistical]

I agree.

[...]

Oh - but it would probably help if we learned each other's names. I'm Edea - Edea Lee.

[shoutoku_administrator]

We could always tell by checking the bracelets, but a direct introduction feels better, doesn't it? My name is Miko Toyosatomimi.

[edealistical]

[....how many syllables is that]

It's nice to meet you, Miko.

...But Toyosatomimi? That sounds almost like a northern Eternian name. I've had enough conversations to know that we're not all from the same place, but - I guess you don't know a Master Kamiizumi?

[shoutoku_administrator]

[Only eight all together GOD]

I hate to disappoint, but I'm not familiar with the name or the nation.