WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Awaken.

Fifteen strangers have been gathered to the Depths.

When the strangers awaken, they will feel nauseous in their stomachs. No doubt confused. Maybe a little sick, Perhaps, even terrified. And certainly, there is a good reason for it - they are not where they were before. If they had powers back where they came from, they seem to be all gone. And it appears that someone has left...guidelines for them. All of them addressed to a specific Title.

Their Title. Somehow, each person knows, upon seeing this, this is their Title, even if it seems to make no sense whatsoever. And its clear that whoever wrote these things knew it as well. Who was it?

Its uncertain. So far, there seems to be no one else save for them, and those who dare to venture out of their rooms - save, for some reason, the individuals in rooms 1, 8 and 7 - in this hot and stuffy place. No...'intercessor' to be seen yet, certainly. No outward signs that there's anyone else aside from the people with 'Titles'.


So, Titled: welcome.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

Cooking and then investigating!

[carries_war]

[Kitchen]

[So, since he hasn't gotten in trouble for the smaller bits of food he's taken from the kitchen so far, Rubedo's decided to get a bit more ambitious. Instead of the rabbits and squirrels he's been cooking, this time he's pulled down something a little...bigger and set about cutting it apart. He's removed his jacket and outer shirt first, which is fortunate, because his hands and forearms are completely covered in blood, along with the cleaver he's using to hack the meat apart. It...um...at least it matches the tattoo on his left arm?

Later, he can be found over a stew pot, cooking up something that smells, well, edible but bland. Odds are good he only put meat and vegetables in there, without even considering herbs and spices. He also seems to have made at least enough for six people, if the other five don't mind tasteless stew.]

[Study]

[Since someone mentioned the idea of different dimensions to him earlier, Rubedo is curious. After eating, he scurries off to the study and, after checking to see if the Intercessor is there (or at least doesn't mind him coming in), goes to take a look at the bookshelf. He reads a lot between training exercises, so are any of the titles familiar?]

[intercessing]

[The Intercessor's there, and with their own cup of what looks like soup as they sit on the couch.

They nod towards Rubedo.]

Good evening.

[carries_war]

Oh. Hello. I was wondering...um...can I take a look at these books?

[intercessing]

Of course.

[Taking a small slurp of soup.]

Are you a reader?

[carries_war]

Reading is fun. I...don't get to leave the Institute much, so I read a lot of books about places outside, and about ancient history.

[intercessing]

I see.

...I, too, enjoy reading. I learned when I was quite young. Perhaps that is why they granted me the mercy of a few books down here.

[carries_war]

[He tilts his head slightly after grabbing the first book he saw with a title he could read. To Kill a Mockingbird...he remembers that title.]

Are you stuck down here, too?

[intercessing]

I am. I may not be Titled as you are, Decayed, but as long as there is even one of you alive, I am to stay here.

[carries_war]

[Grabbing another book...this one he doesn't recognize, that goes at the top of his 'to read' list.]

My title is the Red Dragon. I don't know why that letter called me Decayed.

INVESTIGATION

[strangerpeople]

[Well, Rubedo, there are many, many books on the bookshelf, of many different types.

Take, for example, the book with the bright salmon book on the second shelf. The spine reads To Kill A Mockingbird.]

[carries_war]

[Oh hey, that is one he recognizes! It's honestly kind of exciting looking at so many real books, too, but like he's going to show it with the Intercessor sitting right behind him.

Since he's scanning the bookshelf anyway, and knows multiple languages, are all of them in his primary language?]

[strangerpeople]

[No. That book seems to be in a language Rubedo can understand, and several others are as well. However, the spines of other books also seem to indicate that they were written in different languages.

Care to look at a couple more?]

[carries_war]

[Sure! He'll look over for books he can understand first. He's totally not using this as an excuse to look for books to read later, what are you talking about?]

[strangerpeople]

[It gets a little strange as he keeps looking.

So far, its only that one, a book called The Bro Code and a book called Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, that are obvious at first glance. But only at first glance.

Keep looking?]

[carries_war]

[Yoink and yoink! Sure, he'll keep looking. If he's going to be down here for a while, he needs reading material...um, he means, these books might give him some insight into where he is! Yeah. Let's go with that.]

[strangerpeople]

[Indeed, keep looking. And as Rubedo does so he will notice something very odd happening.

One moment, its only three books. But the moment he blinks, it suddenly shifts, like someone rearranging flowers.

Now its five books he can easily understand the spines of. A book about someone named Daring Do and a book about cats.

...Keep looking?]

[carries_war]

[Woah, that is weird. Double checking to make sure he can still read the first three, grabbing those other two, and...this time he'll stare at a specific group of books and then blink. If he can read any of them, it'll eliminate the chance that he just missed something before.]

[bythewaves]

You may want to add some spices there, youngling.

[ Maglor comes up to watch him ]

I can smell that from here, and you will need to add a few more things, if you wish that to be well received.

[carries_war]

[He looks at Maglor, then at the soup, and shuffles his feet a little.]

I don't know what spices to use. I only know how to cook enough that I won't starve if I'm cut off from supplies.

[bythewaves]

[ So young

A quiet smile and Maglor points the ones they have out to him ]

Mint, Cummin, Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic, we have, as well as Salt and Pepper. Basic, but all very useful. I would suggest you start with garlic. Crush them with the knife and then remove the outer skins and dice them. Not too much, or the smell will be too strong.

[carries_war]

Okay!

[So young, but he follows instructions very well. He holds the knife more like a weapon than a tool at first, but he quickly sets about crushing, peeling and dicing the garlic with really very impressive dexterity.]

[bythewaves]

[ Maglor reaches across and corrects his grip ]

Careful now, or you'll hurt yourself, youngling. That's better. Now - the first rule of cooking is taste your own food - add it slowly, and taste it as you go.

[carries_war]

[His eyebrows furrow slightly in confusion.]

You hold a knife different when you're not using it to fight with?

[Weird. But he does as he's told...though he jumps when he tries to taste it.]

Ow!

[bythewaves]

[ Something flicks through Maglor's eyes, but he only smiles a little ]

Indeed so - you need to hold it a certain why to get the best position for use - this is true for all things!

[ Maglor tsks gently ]

Careful now! Blow on it first to let it cool.

[carries_war]

I keep forgetting human bodies are so fragile...

[He blows on it a bit, then tries again. It's already better than just the meat and vegetables, but...]

I think it needs more.