The Fifteen Strangers Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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15strangers2019-08-04 10:27 pm
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2019-08-04 10:27 pm
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.))
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Ah, really? I would love to learn. I've always loved learning anything I could about the world outside the one I knew... even now, I think it's a nice escape.
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[She straightens up as she says that, and oh, wow, volume control seems to have gone offline for a moment. Maybe there's something to this drinking thing after all... something she definitely doesn't like.]
Sorry, that was louder than I meant to be... so, do you want to learn something quiet, or something I picked up traveling around a bunch of soldiers?
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...ehe. How about we go with something quiet, for now, and save the soldier's march for when there's someone we really want to annoy?
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Good idea.
"Red River Valley" is traditional, but... it's really sad, and somebody I know keeps insisting any time he hears it that "the girl in the song is gonna die", so even without him here, no. Hmm. Well, "I'll Walk Alone" is melancholy, but it's hopeful too - is that all right?
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That sounds wonderful to me.
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[Ris is a very charming young lady who should be aware of that fact! Just... maybe she shouldn't be made aware of it by someone who is drunk for Literally The First Time Ever. Charlotte's relieved she isn't getting questioned about blushing, at least.
In any case, she's got a song to remember and sing. A distraction!]
"I'll walk alone... because to tell you the truth, I'll be lonely...."
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[Even the person she's promised herself to hasn't said as much outright... but yes, it's probably best not to hear it from Ms. First Time Tipsy.
It takes a fair bit of doing to drill the song into Ris, but after several repetitions and several mistakes with words or notes, she manages to sing a full run-through of it alongside Charlotte, without messing up.]
Please walk alone,
But send your love and your kisses to guide me
'Til you're walking beside me, I'll walk alone
I'll walk alone~