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

[higanbana]

[Nothing like that! Just two innocent children wanting to make the world a better place for someone! All shall be well and all manner of things shall be well!]

...Maybe. If we can restore ourselves, perhaps we can figure out how to restore it, as well.

[unwittingking]

[sure...]

Restore ourselves...as in get us back to normal? Would that even be possible?

[He'd like to hope do, but...he has no idea how these powers work in the slightest.]

[higanbana]

It must be possible somehow. It may not be a pleasant reversal, but I refuse to believe that we have been so altered there is nothing that can be done.

[unwittingking]

Yeah, you probably have a point there.

[He holds up a paw and stares at it as he continues talking.]

Not sure if I'd be up for it, though. I didn't really have powers before all this, so there isn't anything to restore there, and it's something that won't really be a big deal for me in the long run, so I don't see the point in getting rid of it.

[I.E. He doesn't like it, but can deal with having it.]

[higanbana]

That's fair enough. Naturally, if we do find a way, I wouldn't force anyone into anything they weren't comfortable with.

For me, though, I would very much like back what I had. And I know there are others who feel the same.

[unwittingking]

And that's fair too. If I did have powers I'd probably want them back as well, and for the people that did lose them...I could see why they'd want them back.

[At this point he only knows of McBurn's situation, but his alone is almost proof that the people that gave them their powers hate them.]

[higanbana]

Right.

And as for the power they gave me here... it's interesting, I suppose, but I really don't think serving as a living mushroom garden is quite elegant enough for the titles I've been passed.

...It's a little gross, actually. If I'm honest.

[unwittingking]

[…whAT THE FU-]

Yeah, that's...kind of disturbing to hear.

To the point where I'd appreciate it if you didn't give me an example. Ever.

[Again, WHAT THE HE-]

[higanbana]

[whoops????]

Ehe, noted. I will refrain from ever doing so in front of you.

I cannot imagine a situation in which my power would prove useful in such a heated moment I could not duck behind a closed door, anyway.

[unwittingking]

[It's fine, he's just really grossed out now and wants to think about something else.

But he'll keep it up. For now.]

Yeah, sounds like it'd mainly be useful if...you ran out of food or something.

If...you can actually control what mushrooms you make.

[higanbana]

[She nods.]

I can control it. It's not as if I'm just randomly growing mushrooms beneath my clothing or anything. I actually have to consciously activate it, and plan what mushroom I want to create ahead of time, and where I'd like to grow it.

It's just that fungi aren't necessarily attractive, no matter how you look at it.

[unwittingking]

Alright, yeah, that makes sense.

[He's not randomly shapeshifting into cats right now so it sounds about right.]

Well, at least you don't have any baggage with mushrooms, right?

[Unlike other people that have a clear disdain for their powers, he doesn't think mushrooms would come up in her life and cause tragedy.]

[higanbana]

No, not particularly. So it isn't as bad as it could be, that's true.

[unwittingking]

Exactly. I won't be a jerk and say you got off easy, since you've gotten a serious downgrade from the sounds of it, but at least you can enjoy...that one emotion where you feel joy that you don't have it the worst.

[It was something in German, he's pretty sure. If only he could figure out what it was...]

[higanbana]

Oh, I know what you're speaking of... I can't recall the word for it myself, though. And even if I could, I doubt I would be able to pronounce it properly.

It's in another language, right?

[unwittingking]

Yeah, it's...German, I think? They have a lot of words that go into specific detail, don't they?

[They really do and I appreciate their creativity.]

[higanbana]

That sounds right. And they really do...

I've only ever read of them, though. I've never actually heard them pronounced. So I could guess, if I could remember it, but I'm sure it would be wrong.

[unwittingking]

Meanwhile I only remember hearing them once or twice, and not really paying attention enough to really remember what the word was specifically.

[He sighs.]

At least you know what I'm talking about here.

[higanbana]

Mm. It is better to at least be on the same page about these sorts of things.

[Sigh~!]

But, yes, you have a point. I could always be Zack.

[unwittingking]

Yeah.

[He shivers.]

I still don't like mine, but I'd still take it over a bunch of eyeballs all over my body.

[Zack deserves all the sympathy, as far as he's concerned.]

[higanbana]

Right. I think we've both dealt quite enough with eyes this trip without getting into that.

[unwittingking]

[Quick nodding]

Yeah-in fact, how about we just change the subject? To...anything actually nice to talk about?

[He'd like to have one lighthearted conversation, please]

[higanbana]

Um... certainly.

[Although, she has to pause.]

...I, ah. Admit nothing is coming to mind, now that you've sprung that. So... do you have any ideas?

[unwittingking]

[…now he feels bad that she can't think of anything!]

How about...we talk about my world? You got any questions about it?

[He doesn't mind whatever they are, so long as they don't go into too dark territory.]

[higanbana]

Hm~.

[Give her a moment to think.]

Do all animals talk?