WEEK 4

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 4

[After the meeting, Lilac gives everyone a small vial of something red. Those who left the meeting receive it from the rats on the crew. She gives instructions as to how to take it. Take in a drink, preferably tea. Drink it slowly. Make sure you can get to your bed once you finish. The headache will come quickly.

Nevertheless, even as everyone slips into sleep, they are visited once more by the Conductor in what must have been a dream. Or was it? It's not clear.

She is quiet as she speaks, looking out the windows, even though the view is obscured by the glass.

"I know you think me as a monster. Maybe I am after all these years. I have no illusions. But I cannot regret the things I've done.

"Nor can I regret the Bazaar...it was so wonderful. It opened my eyes to the truth of things and opened doors I never could have seen on my own. It was the first time I felt true love for another. I wasn't the only one-my daughter, too, passed through the Wicket. Saw the sea more sunless within the Bazaar's body. Learned as I learned. She sought to rival me in symbols, in marking skin."

She closes her eyes.

"She is dead now, of course. Everyone I knew in the Neath-on our Earth-is. Well. Almost everyone. London endures, naturally. But the Echo Bazaar...it's beautiful promise...it's gone. The Seventh City will never fall, and it's Message will forever remain undelivered. Of all the creatures in the universe who might remember it, I am alone in honoring it.

"Perhaps it's noble. Perhaps it's foolish. In any case, maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe it's the thought that's important. As long as I am here, there is yet a possibility that the deed may be finished, somehow.

"Still, I wonder. Maybe you have the answer.

What happens to a Message, when neither the sender and receiver exist anymore?"




As the day dawns, everyone wakes up to the sound of howling winds and darkness. Their head hurts, but they do have a new memory to accompany the ache. They are also at a new port. It is a dark place, teetering on the edge of safe space and the unknown in between void, where those who enter rarely return. Or, so you have to assume, right? Either way, that blackness on the deep horizon doesn't look particularly fun to try to drive through.

There is a legitimate fear in Lilac's expression that betrays her for the first time, as she lets everyone disembark, including the unicorn and the young man, who quickly jump onto another train to get away from this place. She also refuses to leave the train. She does leave you with a fair warning.

The Synod of Carcels is dangerous, in its own way, and everyone can feel it. Everyone can feel something hanging in the air. It's not natural. It's bending reality. It's also not something that started with you or your arrival. Yet it threatens to become that way, to become part of you. You can feel the temptation gnaw at you. You can hear the winds whisper of it. There is a hunger here-and knowledge as well.

The question, of course, is whether the price to uncover those things is worth it-and what will be found here with the price that is paid. But as the Conductor said-a reckoning cannot be postponed. Not forever.


There are eleven strangers left in this place.]

((IMPORTANT OOC NOTE: This week and it's investigations involve major Fallen London spoilers, in particular spoilers regarding Seeking Mr. Eaten's Name and one of it's endings. If you, as a player here, are playing Fallen London and do not wish to be spoiled, let us know, and we will make sure you are not given any ending spoilers to the best of our ability. We will also be marking spoiler-filled comments with tags, and we request that our players do likewise, in consideration for those who might look through this post in the future.

With that said, have fun, and remember-all shall be well.))

Comments

INVESTIGATIONS

[strangerpeople]

HALLUCINATIONS...?

[strangerpeople]

[They say that those who Seek see and hear things that are not there. That never could be, or never will be again.



Even taking that into consideration, something isn't quite right with these.]

[zackthekiller]

[What kind of hallucinations exist for visitors who have just lost something important and aren't seeking anything philosophical in nature?]

1/2

[strangerpeople]

[There is a faint noise he can pick up on...the sound of tiny scurrying feet.

And it grows closer...]

2/2

[telecosmetic]

[...and a crowd of rats come scurrying around Zack's ankles, several gathering to look up at him. They start squeaking, their voices blending together into a familiar one.]

...Zack?

[katzenpfote]

[And those who seek forbidden knowledge are those at most risk.]

[So of course, the wizard seeks, even if he does not Seek.]

[awitchdidit]

[Caleb will find himself faced with an image traced in their air in glowing lines of Red, which then fade to Blue, then back again. Unless he's been learning local mythology, he likely doesn't recognize it, but he should know a Magic Circle when he sees one.]

should I just start putting CNTUAW, SHE DONE WENT FULL DRACULA, Y'ALL above these

[charmingheroine]

[She doesn't seek. But she does want to learn.

Charlotte wants to learn how to make eternal life a punishment. She wants the Conductor to witness the death of what's left of her world, and remain in the ruin, alone. Forever, without the gift of oblivion. She wants her gaoler to suffer exactly as she is now convinced will be her own fate, and she wants to know how it can be by her hand, though she doesn't know where to begin to look for instructions.

That isn't a safe yearning to have in this particular corner of hell, is it?]

[icanhearscreams]

[There's a brief flash of yellowish light, like a floating orb, before a voice calls out.]

- someone there?

[7_0_7]

dududu... dududu....

[another little attention-grabbing noise comes to Charlotte's ear, although this time nothing is before her eyes. Seems like this one's trying to pretend to be a ringing telephone, actually.

It totally just sounds like a guy, though.]

[otherworldlyking]

[ Originally he was seeking something - a great challenge, ever since it seems hardly anyone can match him truly.

But now, it's not only that.

Something that's been a part of him for awhile. What else could he be searching for but the power he lost? ]

[notthebreakman]

[There's a hiss of static, like someone left a radio tuned between stations. It goes on for a little while before a familiar voice starts to bleed into the sound, though it still sounds warped and distorted.]

...Tango? What are you doing--McBurn?!

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos ... seeks a few things. A way home so he can bring back what was lost to him. And, of course, a place to belong.

Does he seek more? Possibly. But those are the three biggest things he seeks. ]

[whitemoontiger]

[ At first, there's nothing...

Then after a moment, Mithos may be able to take note of what looks to be a elegant, white tiger walking along on it's own as it emerges from seemingly nowhere. It's yellow eyes seeming to glow faintly as it looks at Mithos.

Approach? ]

[7_0_7]

[These are all very strong reasons to search, so it's unsurprising that this would resonate with someone or something yet unknown to him. And yet, surprise is just what the voice on the wind expresses.]

OMG! [each letter painstakingly spoken out loud.] Look at what you found... and who is this? [oddly enough, it doesn't sound like this is being addressed to Mithos. It's talking near him.

At the dog?? Yep, that seems to be the case. It's asking the dog who he is.]

[dragonmouth]

["I've seen you die."

How many timelines had Amatai sacrificed herself in? How many existed where Tali herself did, or all of them did? Was the Maw truly what the people her mother had "dealt with" said it was - a swirling vortex of truth, an obstinate stain of reality in an otherwise immaculate veil?

Was there a way to save everyone?]

[awitchdidit]

You've done well to make it this far. Did you enjoy your stay on [the Eventide]?

The Golden Witch has granted you an invitation to her tea party. We hope that you choose to attend.

[Words whisper in Tali's ear, in the smug voice of someone making a reference to something only she has heard of.]

[zackthekiller]

[Going to Moss' Rump because that's the only place in this damned stop that's lit.]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[There is a weird yowling noise that keeps emanating from this place. Soon, as Zack stumbles across the bridge, he will find why.

There is a cat in Mog's Rump. It's thin, sinewy, and its golden eyes stare right at Zack as its tail lashes.]

[zackthekiller]

[... Uh. Yeah. Blaze is more frightened of the cat than Zack is.

Zack just sees something of himself in it and it's weirding him out.]

Uh... Hello? [He tries calling out to whoever's lurking in the room.] Is this your cat in here?

Seven Stations

[otherworldlyking]

[ So with the Seven Stations no light can penetrate? ...But eventually they could be guided by the light of the stations, right so it's probably not impossible right.

Either way he's going to take a stab at entering. If anyone wants to come along feel free. ]

EVIDENCE - FALLEN LONDON SPOILERS

[strangerpeople]

[The first station is insultingly easy to find. It's literally at the entrance. No one can miss it. No one can miss the candles that flank the tablet.]

STATION OF THE LAIR

There is betrayal above; so it is below. It is through betrayal that the Liberation stains the Wilderness; it is through betrayal that the Courtesy was forcibly born. It is through betrayal the Counsel of Peace was futilely sought.

It is through betrayal that the Drowned Man endures; it is through His faith in the Counsel that He was Himself betrayed. Thus it is through betrayal of grief that the First and Only at last came NORTH, and after her, the betrayal that is called Replacement.

From the bite to the banquet, betrayal is the beginning and the end of all Law. Let betrayal be your cynosure. Let its scent pull you down into the song of dark waters.

[otherworldlyking]

[ ...Well then.

Can he just take the tablet with him to pass to the others or something, though so he doesn't have to recite all of that... ]

Seven Stations

[katzenpfote]

[He does not like how dark it is here. He holds a hand out to create a flame, giving him a little light as he reaches the bottom of the ladder.]

[strangerpeople]

[After Caleb has seen the first Station, he will find himself in a maze of darkness. He can hear water lap, and somehow, he can hear someone shout, LUMPS! 5 ECHOES!]