ROUND 3 INTRO LOG

[foundationmods]

Welcome to The Island. The Witch extends her greetings to you on this fine day, and is pleased to finally begin the game. Please, take a seat.

Though this game may be more difficult than originally expected, there are high hopes placed upon you. Fight well against what awaits you in order to reach a truly sparkling end.

The difficulty level is challenging, but also depends on you. Think deeply on your moves as you play.

You wake with a start - even if you don't remember falling asleep in the first place - and find yourself standing on the dock of what looks like an island. There's a noise behind you - and if you turn to look, you'll see a plain white boat taking off and leaving you all behind, not stopping for a second if you try to flag them down or scream at them.

It doesn't look like you can swim to shore, either - there's nothing but sea in all directions, and something tells you trying to swim out will end up badly. However, a small dip, if you were so inclined, would be fine. It's not like the weather is bad for it - it feels like it's summer, despite it having been firmly springish at the Foundation.

...Speaking of, what happened? The last thing you remember is being...wherever you were, and then seeing a yellow bird come towards you. Perhaps it was in the corner of your eye, or landed on your shoulder...regardless, all of you saw the bird before you were whisked away to this strange island.

Is it a new SCP? Something like this isn't outside the realm of their abilities, after all.

And there's something else. Your abilities are blocked, beyond those natural to your body. Try as you might, you just can't use any of your more supernatural or superhuman skills - though all of your physical abilities are intact, of course.

There is also a...letter? on your person, as if it was there all along - in your pocket or in your hand. It is...a remarkably plain envelope, and even the letter itself is plain parchment.

It reads:

'To the players in this game,

First and foremost, let me begin with an apology: for many of you, this is not a good time to bring you here, and forcing you to play in this game instead of asking nicely is quite rude of me. For that, you have my apologies.

However, as you will soon find out, this game is quite necessary. I hand-picked all of you because I felt you were the best for this task, strange circumstances notwithstanding, and I am sure you will excel beyond even my expectations. Please give me some consideration and play this game to your best efforts. Success will be greatly rewarded.

I will be watching, and I will intervene if needed. But I think all of you are up to this task. I am in your debt for this.

- The Witch of ██████████'

...hm.

If you decide to head up the path, you'll find Goat....men? waiting for you near the doors to the mansion. Despite their bright red eyes, they merely bow politely and wordlessly bring you into the mansion, showing you your rooms and then stating that they will prepare food for you or anything else you should need whenever you want, in surprisingly deep voices.

As they leave, you can't help but wonder...

Where are you now?

Round Calendar!
Vote for investigation times for the round

Comments

[foundfate]

[Adding to the gaggle of teenage boys is a young man in the winter version of this uniform, standing there looking absolutely confused. He straightens his round glasses as he looks around, taking in the right of the dock, the island, and the people here.]

Eh? But I was just- huh?

[This feels like another wacky adventure he has been sent on without any regard for what he actually wants, and reading that letter just confirms it. Once he's read it, he frowns. ]

Oh come on! I've already gotten grief for being late with my work, I don't need to get in trouble again !

also trc/xxxholic spoilers already but this canon is 10 years old already

[excavated]

[ Syaoran hears the familiar voice and he just-

He freezes up in a way that causes him to tense up, dark eyes growing wide as he's unable to say anything, even as his lips move to form words. But eventually he does speak up, a rather obvious cracking to his voice. ]

Is that... really you?

[ A part of him doesn't want to believe. It isn't supposed to be possible, not with what he remembers.

Not with the price they paid to—

...

But in some ways, he can't help but be happy if it really is. ]

[foundfate]

[Watanuki also is caught off-guard, because he has been watching very very carefully for the arrival of anyone he knows. Both because he wants to protect them from the Foundation's darker aspects, and because they would be able to get him out of that mess. The orange jumpsuit fills in the blanks, though. If he had just arrived, then...

...]

I guess it was only a matter of time.

[Even if he's happy to see Syaoran, he's not happy at the same time. ]

[excavated]

[ "Only a matter of time," huh. That just raises even more questions, but then again, the flow of time wasn't normal to begin with. Especially not with the selfish wish that he made. The initial shock subsides, and he looks at Watanuki with a rather curious, but serious gaze. ] How long have you been in this world?

[foundfate]

It's never that easy, come on. If this is different from 'that place' then I just got here. If it's the same, though... a few months?

[He sounds unsure of the exact amount of time he's been at the Foundation. Then again, he has memory problems anyway, so. ]

[excavated]

That's true. [ He knows all too well. Although hearing the uncertainty in Watanuki's voice only causes Syaoran to worry even more. ] Especially with the situation as it is. [ 'As it is' referring to the letter. ] Regardless of that, though... [ Syaoran tries to tug a small smile onto his lips, but even then there's something about it that seems a little distant. ] I'm really glad to see you again. [ He means it. Truly. ]

[foundfate]

[Okay, that? That gets a warm smile out of Watanuki, though his is much more focused than Syaoran's is. ]

I'm glad to see you too. It feels like it's been ages since we last met.

[excavated]

It hasn't been as long for me.

[ Since they've last spoken, at least. The conversation is still extremely fresh in his mind as well, too. And his words...

"I hope you find much happiness in your journey."

He wishes for that, too. ]

At least we're not alone, though. [ That's the positive he can take out of all of this. ] And even if things might not be so easy, or simple... at least we can figure it out together.

[literalidiotball]

I thought we were working!

We are on some kind of mission, aren't we?

[foundfate]

That might work for you, but I'm a cook! I don't go on missions! Ever!

[The kitchens of his site take up all of his time. As does feeding both agents and SCPs. ]

[literalidiotball]

You are?! [Wheatley is a robot, he has no need for kitchens.] Then what are you doing out here with us?!

[foundfate]

I don't know! It's not like I got briefed before coming here!

[literalidiotball]

I don't remember getting briefed either! I thought this was one of those wipe-everyone's-memories missions!

[foundfate]

Well I remember working for the Foundation, so they failed at that part.

[rikuchi]

Late with your work? You got a desk job?

[ Hi Watanuki, don't mind this calm fellow talking you up now. ]

[foundfate]

Kitchen job.

[Which is almost worse, in terms of deadlines. ]

[rikuchi]

...That sounds rough.

[ He's heard stories of kitchen nightmares (pun entirely intended) but has never had to brave such things himself. ]

[foundfate]

It's not as bad as it could be, I'm grateful that they took one look at me and went "no, he's no good for field work." But remembering the dietary needs for over three hundred staff and friendly SCPs is not easy, let me tell you.

[rikuchi]

...Yeah, no thanks. I'd probably miss something up, big time.

[ No joking. ]

In fact, I don't know how you do it.

[foundfate]

Memorization is easy for me, just like how fighting is easy for others. It really is the best job for me, if I have to work at the Foundation.

[anonnomnomnom]

[Never fear, Anon is here!




He's waving a fish at him. There is seawater everywhere, and probably on Watanuki's glasses. Welcome to your local island paradise!]

Mm, I don't think they can punish us if we're all late, and I wasn't even scheduled for anything for the next week. If anybody asks, I can just tell them you're dead right now and can't come to the phone.

[That helps, right?]

[foundfate]

[Please no, he needs those glasses to see. Water on them is a serious pain, and he just sighs as he pulls off his glasses to clean.]

Unless you're providing a spare body, they're not going to believe that. I never get into that kind of trouble anyway.

[anonnomnomnom]

Is there always a spare body after missions?

[This got morbid real fast but it's entirely his fault. He doesn't seem repentant about any of it, though he at least stops waving the fish once initial greetings are done...?

Anyway Watanuki doesn't need to see yet, they haven't been ambushed by Witches or anything.]

Or do you mean you never go on missions? That sounds terrible.

[That is probably sympathetic.]

[foundfate]

There is after the ones people come back alive from.

[He may not go on missions, but he's heard Stories.]

It's not so bad. I guess you could call 'feeding SCPs' a mission? Some of them are really picky eaters, and I had to memorize their diets.

[anonnomnomnom]

I hope I get to go on one of those missions someday!

[He probably means the missions that people come back alive from, but possibly also the missions that create spare bodies...? Mystery. Confusion. Anon is just smiling excitedly......]

Ah, so you're some kind of chef, but for all kinds of monsters! That actually sounds pretty exciting. You've probably cooked some really cool stuff!

[Has he cooked people. Has he. Inquiring minds demand to know.]