RECORDING 10: THE FOURTH WEEK.

[foundationmods]

A fourth week in this place begins, with less of your number among you. The last trial took it's toll, along with the death of an innocent person - executed at behest of the rules of this game.

When you wake up - it's clear the Miasma has yet again gotten thicker. Everyone, including those who were divinely protected until this week, are now even more deeply affected by the curse - though those who possess nullification powers are still safe. Arguments will be flaring up more, along with negative thoughts and feelings...and even more worrying is now that occasional flashes of bad memories will come to the forefront.

Any magic that touches the house itself will corrode over time, just like last week. If a barrier is put in place and touches the floor, walls, or ceiling, in half a day it will be completely consumed by the miasma and fizzle out. Spells or seals will also corrode, and now healing has been drastically reduced to even the most powerful of spells only healing minor injuries.

You will not be able to save a grievously injured person from death through spells anymore.

The Temperature still remains in about the 60's, thankfully - though it is staying on the 'lower' end of the scale. As before, the rooms have changed, so hopefully you kept anything essential in the static area.

21 of your number still remain.

...What new horrors await you this week?


WARNING: Some investigations of new areas will contain traps that may be harmful or even lethal.
MIASMA LEVEL: 3
Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday - Thursday
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Comments

[impyroverished]

[As soon as he had seen Haku and Flayn's ghosts, he had turned his head. All he did was listen. Alright, the same old song and dance, no big deal.

It's the memory flashes what get him.

During the day, you may find Emil walking around. The last three weeks he was careful, but he wasn't exactly paranoid. This time? He always has a hand on his dagger, as if he was ready to take it out. He looks tired, like he's under a great deal of stress -- how to blame him, when what he sees are these second-long flashes of trolls and giants about to kill him? Claws, hands, and teeth descending onto him right in front of his face. It has him jumpy, but at least he's not telling anyone to go away. If anyone talks to him, he'll listen.

Later in the ballroom, though, he's lying on the floor, facing upwards. The rifle is on one hand, but that's just because lying on it is really uncomfortable]

So this is it. It took me one month to lose my mind. That's disappointing.

[He mumbles that, still pretty sane, but it's hard to remember that when you have been seeing those flashes the whole day. Even now, while he's looking at the ceiling, he can see a troll spiralling down towards him, that moment imposed over the place. It's like he really is seeing that coming and, because it's all in his head, he can't do a thing about it.

This is really starting to take a toll on him]

Ballroom

[boardreversal]

...Emil-kun?

[At least through the visions of Trolls, there's someone who's leaning over him, looking concerned.

...he's also distinctly not wearing his agent uniform, wearing instead the outfit he had in canon, along with the suit jacket with the One-winged eagle.]

You - ah, you need some help getting up?

[impyroverished]

[Red hair! For just a brief moment it looks like the troll descending has red hair, before it vanishes and instead there's Battler. Oh, thank goodness, a friendly face instead of something trying to kill him. Emil blinks, trying to not sound as affected as he actually was]

No, I'm fine, I'm just resting a little. Today has been a hard day.

I only just now got this notif, wtf

[boardreversal]

Aaah, I see...

[There's a moment....

Before he just. Also sits down on the ground, nearby.]

Already, huh...? ...I guess I can understand that.

No problem, that happens! DW can be like that

[impyroverished]

Haven't you ever had a day that makes you so tired you just want to lie down and sleep for a week straight? It's been like that.

[Still, he lifts his head]

You seem to be holding far better than me, at least.

ballroom;

[sageking]

[ Well, that was a pitiful sight. ]

...Compared to some of these mongrels, I would truly wonder if you're the one who has lost his mind.

[impyroverished]

What? There are others doing worse than I am?

[Emil sounds surprised and somewhat annoyed. Here's Gil, hitting him with a sledgehammer of truth. The right move, really, the self-pity Emil is in can't be good for him]

[sageking]

[ Gilgamesh wasn't surprised. He was definitely here to call it out in a very none-so-gentle manner. ]

Of course there'll be. Perhaps they're not showing it and hiding it well, or they're already acting a fool, allowing the miasma take over their mind with little resistance. Then there are the ghosts.

In comparison, you're sitting here, stating that you've already gone mad. It's doubtless the corruption's affecting you, but it could always be worse. Your time's better spent finding an activity to occupy yourself with rather then sitting here, bemoaning your fate.

[impyroverished]

I have way too much free time in my hands now. I don't know what to fill it with most of the time.

[He would like to fill it with ways to get out of this place, but at the same time he has lost any will to explore and investigate. He doesn't want to die, after all. The miasma is turning his cautious nature into outright fear]

[sageking]

There's plenty to do around here instead of act like a fool on the floor.

[ As to be expected. ]

Exploring. Or if not that, reading some books if you thought ahead and brought some with you. Then there's also keeping track and checking what information we've discovered to familiarize yourself with discussion topics for the next meeting.

The possibilities are endless, but become only limited when you make them so.

[impyroverished]

...fine. That was motivational in some weird way.

[Emil sits up, rubbing his eyes. There's no memory flash now, he idly wonders when it'll happen again]

Sissel was right, you'd be a good leader for the group.

ballroom

[notbymyside]

I would say you haven't completely lost your mind, if you can tell something is wrong.

[Hi Emil. Ango is going to be sitting down on the floor right next to him. He won't lay down though, he's just going to sit seiza-style.]

[impyroverished]

[He has to admit there's some sense in that, really. Emil blinks, the memory flash disappearing. Instead there's Ango sitting aside]

So this is just a temporary slump?

[He hopes so! If it means tomorrow will be better than today, then great!

As if tomorrow will be better, hah]

[notbymyside]

It is one of two things: a temporary slump, or a plateau before things get worse.

If it's the former, then you just need to ride this out until things get better.

If it's the latter, well. Making plans for what to do when it's worse would be wise.

[impyroverished]

Make plans...

[That's not a bad idea. Emil sits up, rubbing the back of his head]

I guess trying to ignore them will have to do? It's not like it's real, if I can just ignore them and go on then I'll be okay.

[He doesn't sound too certain about it. If they get worse than this, will he be able to do that?]

[notbymyside]

[Probably not, but a positive attitude helps, right?]

That is what I have been doing. Ignore the memories, focus on the present.

[impyroverished]

Besides, if it's memories then we already went through them once and we got through them just fine. As long as it's not memories of we being here in this weird mansion, we may be fine.

[He's...trying hard to find a silver lining]

Ballroom

[eyeforai]

[Well, it's certainly hard to miss Emil lying on the floor like that. There's a glance over at the rifle before he... well, more or less ends up looming over Emil.]

Really? You sound pretty sane to me.

[impyroverished]

Would a sane guy be lying on the floor like this?

[As if this is the telltale indication he's lost his marbles, hah]

[eyeforai]

Maybe you were just completely floored by something.

[Said in the deadest of deadpans. This is absolutely the most useless commentary ever, sorry Emil.]

[impyroverished]

Oh shut up.

[Oh god he has been ambushed with a pun. This truly is the worst day ever]

How can you keep a straight face while saying that?

[eyeforai]

[Wow, not even a chuckle huh. Why did he even try.]

Because I can. Besides, I've had plenty of time to polish my skills.

[There's a slight squeak from the smooth floor when he shifts one of his feet.]

[impyroverished]

[English is a dumb language and its puns are dumb, he refuses to laugh at them]

I thought you were supposed to be a cop, not a stand-up comedian.

[dreamshielder]

[And while Emil is busy talking to himself in the ballroom and worrying about trolls and giants that aren't there, he'll feel an icy breeze that gently shakes the chandelier and ses the glass clinking.

It only lasts a handful of seconds, but when it's gone, he'll find a small figurine that could fit into his palm made of ice next to his rifle. It's one he'll recognize because as crude as it is, it's made to resemble him. Him with an open mouthed scream.

That's it. Enjoy your new friend.]

[impyroverished]

[The sudden chill gets his attention. Looking up from where he is, he finds the figurine]

Huh?

[He takes it, looking at it for a couple seconds before he realizes what it is. Oh god it's screaming, it's him and he's screaming!]

Nooaagh!

[That scream definitely didn't come from the doll, it was from him when he stood up quickly and threw the figurine against the wall with all his strength, the ice shattering in large pieces. Spooked, Emil grabs his rifle and aims around. Nothing...

This has been the worst day ever.]