WEEK 1 MINGLE - KALMIA

[foundationmods]

All of the guests awoke in their rooms, just like they had before.

Yesterday had been a day of surprises.
First, they'd finally met the person who had brought them here - the Witch of Dimensions, Yuuko.
Secondly, they'd learned they were going to be playing a horrible game.
And most important, they learned that wishes could be granted if they won this game.🗈

Still, for now, it seemed like there wasn't much to do. Was the Witch already in talks with the 'Murderer'? Was the 'victim' already decided upon?

There was no way to know until some day later this week, apparently.

Still, it wasn't all bad. The island was beautiful and the climate just perfect for beachgoing, or taking a cosy walk in the garden. There were also board and card games which would be produced upon request - and the tv in the Sitting Room - to help ease the boredom of it all.

Though, perhaps the guests would prefer to get to know each other instead? On maybe get into some trouble as they roamed the island.

Despite being told someone will die, it...felt remarkably peaceful. Could one of their own really be able to kill someone?

...Or, maybe...this is just the silence that comes just before a massive storm breaks, and sweeps away everything...

MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

CALENDAR | LOCATIONS | PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS

Comments

Re: MEETING

[fullbodied]

What sort of notes did you manage to get, Ruler?

I got too pissed off to really dig... Sorry...

Re: MEETING

[improbablenotimpossible]

Well, I've been compiling everything Ms. Yuuko has said, and some of my observations.

[His expression softens as she apologizes]

It's all right - it is a rather vexing situation.

One thing I had noticed, she seemed quite familiar with the mechanics of how My sort of existence works, and I believe it might be safe to assume, unless otherwise shown that they know each and every one of us quite well.

Most 'games' operate on the idea that both players will know how every piece operates, to take the metaphor further.

Re: MEETING

[chaoscontrol]

Right. Like in a game of chess -- each piece moves a certain way and both players know how.

... But I suppose from the perspective of the Rook, how the Knight moves is a mystery.

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He smiles, giving a nod of agreement]

Or how a pawn could promote to Queen or whatever the most advantageous piece would be during the game. I don't believe there is a true pattern as to why we were selected, but "our" witch no doubt chose us because she believes our non-extraordinary abilities will prove effective in disproving Fantasy.

[fullbodied]

It'd be nice to get some actual answers for "why we were chosen" though, rather than extrapolating.

[she sets aside the "my existence" bit. Since she knows that that's important to him.]

And also... are they saying our abilities are inherently fantasy or something? 'Cause it feels like it's just a ploy to make us more helpless.

[chaoscontrol]

Well, I'm sure my usual ability to warp time and space would count to some as "magic". I suppose it was just a way to remove confounding factors.

... But if that's the case, why not just choose from the billions of normal humans living on the Foundation's Earth?

[fullbodied]

Why did the foundation choose any of us from the billions of possibilities?

Wait. No. Not billions, gazillions.

[chaoscontrol]

[gazillions isn't a real number, ann]

As far as I can tell, 6350 operates on some sort of algorithm that has yet to be discovered. The Foundation does not choose -- they just turn on the machine. It's far from random. And the Witch implied that our selection wasn't random, either. The real question is why us.

[fullbodied]

I wanna know! Y'think if we ask they might tell us?

Not sure if these are those kinds of villains. Maybe they'd monologue if we gave 'em the space?

[chaoscontrol]

They may tell us after. But by then we may all be dead.

[fullbodied]

... Yeah. I'm not dumb enough to assume someone won't take up the witch on her offer.

But I wish they wouldn't.

[improbablenotimpossible]

I prefer more solid answers myself, but at this point extrapolating and ruling out theories is what we can do.

[He mostly holds the baozi on a fork seeming to forget it's there]

As for why us. It could be a challenge, as we have experienced things that is considered fantastic, we may be more willing to accept such an explanation for what seems impossible. Alternatively, it is because we are familiar with such things that we are better able to pierce through the illusion.

[fullbodied]

Yeah, but fantastic things is pretty arbitrary. I was just a normal teen once, too. So it's not like someone totally normal can't learn to be amazing.

[improbablenotimpossible]

You're right. Unless our mysterious patron will reveal to us the why, all we can do is rule things out.

[There's a quiet little sigh, as he's been guessing, that filthy act]

[fullbodied]

Maybe we should ask them.

[she doesn't know, she's just here to offer suggestions, rather than lead any actual investigations.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

Well I do have a few questions for her, another one wouldn't hurt.

[kagamiimagak]

Supposedly they can hear everything we're saying. I wouldn't be surprised if they wait just to mess with people.

[Not here though. She can wait.]

[anonnomnomnom]

It would be pretty stupid if they got a bunch of pieces and didn't know how any of them moved. Of course, they've turned off all the extra moves, so it makes it way easier for them. Boring.

[There's teeth in that last word, but it's momentary. He perks up again, peering at Sherlock up and down... and up and down again.]

So what is your existence anyway? Are you Furniture too?

[It's not like they explained all that well yesterday.]

[improbablenotimpossible]

[He steeples his fingers, exhaling softly as he gathers his thoughts to sort and explain]

I am a Servant, so functionally yes, there seems to be quite a few similarities between Servants like myself and Furniture.

Under normal conditions, someone like I can only be summoned under special circumstances - A "Class" is set up as a template, and a Magus, a user of magic calls upon a spirit to fulfill it, becoming the servant's master.

The Master receives three Command Spells, which can - long as the command isn't impossible or incredibly vague - force the Servant to do whatever the Master wants. While we can resist some commands, it will make us weak and sick to do so.

The fact the Witch use that kind of compulsion on Watanuki here for a minor chore does suggest unlike a Servant-Master relationship, there may be no limits on the commands a Witch can use on the Furniture.

[anonnomnomnom]

Hmm, so there is a difference. That means that you're like me, you've been through a few worlds now! Does that mean you have a Master Magus in the Foundation, too?

[Since most of them seem to be Foundation buddies, he goes straight for that one. Is that relevant. Who knows. He's curious!]

And you can probably take some guesses at why Witches and Furniture are so different. Right?

[improbablenotimpossible]

I have no Master at the Foundation, the Ambient Mana in the world is so high I can actually manifest and sustain myself without requiring one. While there are benefits to having one... I have my reason for not making a contract.

As for Witches and Furniture - I'm afraid I do not have enough information to form a plausible theory.

[anonnomnomnom]

Oh, is Ambient Mana like the energy you use for your powers, or something you eat -- ah, but you probably wouldn't eat your Master...

[He stops chattering into the wild mass guessing beyond (not everyone is a vore hellbeast like you, Anon) to grin at Ruler.]

I bet you didn't want a Foundation Master because they're a total drag already, trying to contain all of us! Then you'd be double contained, wouldn't you? It sounds like it would be a real pain, even if you weren't Furniture.

Do Servants play games like this, too?

[improbablenotimpossible]

God no, I'm not a beast, and you're right - making such a contract does men I have to put myself in another person's hands and I do not trust any one in the Foundation that would be able to make such a contract.

[As for the last second, he mulls]

No - not like this, though a wish is the same end goal. Unless it turns out there's more similarities between this game and what Servants are, I think we might be getting sidetracked.

[anonnomnomnom]

Sidetracked, sidetracked...

[It's debatable if he actually realized what track they were on in the first place.

It takes him a moment or two to go back over his mental meeting minutes. Take notes? Him?]

Oh, right. Do you think the other witch is a bird, and the letters are to make us think she's a person?

[improbablenotimpossible]

It is possible she can change forms or she simply have trained cockatiels, but until we know more it is a touch early to start speculating on our "Patron". I think I'll be sending a few letters to her post-meeting.