are we actually living? or are we being kept alive?

[finalring]

After the execution, the survivors are dismissed to rest in preparation for the next week. The miasma curls and turns into each room, letting fall a cold and oppressive atmosphere that fills every corner of the place.

And yet, even in a place that has caused so much grief, life must go on. Thirteen has always been considered to be an unlucky number, but that is the number of people that are left--what will you do, in this false calm?

Comments

[finalring]

What--?

[ subete's powers? certainly, romani remembers clearly the map that date had created, about that strange bricked place that not even he could get through. was that what he was-- ]

So you're saying that we make our own door out? [ well, gilgamesh is right about following the rules of this place--that would just be like sitting and waiting for death. ] The vessel is not allowing group meetings of more than 8 people, if that's the problem--we're 13 now. Dividing the group into two and explaining twice could be possible.

[ he feels his heart drumming rapidly in his chest, and the sheer anxiety making his head spin. however, he keeps himself grounded. ]

Maintaining secrecy is practically impossible at this point, aside from not saying anything besides something vague. If you talk to any ghost, what they say is essentially the same thing, after all. That this is forever and that there's no way out. So if we say something like 'we have found a way out', the ghosts might not even take us seriously. The question is how many of the living will rally behind us?

[sageking]

...In a way it's tied into making our own way out, but it's not as simple that either.

[ He'll head over to reach out and hand over this to the other male. ]

If we focus the brunt of our attacks in the direction of where the center lies, I surmise we could do enough damage that attempting an escape right after won't be impossible. Especially if it's what is keeping us in this place to start with.

Naturally, it's not a matter of the ghosts taking us seriously, however, but more or less that they'll be obstacles because they're likely be forced to align with the creature.

As for those still living...hmph, who could say? I suppose I'll just have to find out today when we decide to hold a meeting.

[finalring]

[ romani has to read the text a couple times. the first time, he feels like he must have misread. the second time, however, he feels like that final piece clicked.

he stares at it in shock, running his hand through his hair. ]

Aah....of course. Of course that's how it is. If this entire house is a spider's web, then of course it will all trace it back to the center!

[ he looks back at the note, reading it over a couple more times. there's nothing more to get from that note alone, but it's as the realizations are dawning on him one after the other. ]

But if we break free, then everything will break free. Us, the ghosts, and the miasma will be able to escape. [ ... ] Which explains the barrier that's built up. We can't defeat this with the power that we have-- all we can do is contain it. And even then...the chances of any of us living will be slim to none.

[sageking]

[ It's possible that Romani's correct. No, not just merely possible...it's almost guaranteed. ]

For a barrier to be put in place for twenty years also suggests that our limitations have been freed for a time in order to manage such a thing at all.

[ Or he could've pulled something out of his ass last minute or something to help with the shielding but whatever he didn't know they were just spitballing right now. ]

But, I suppose you're not wrong. Even so, it's something to consider, and we may as well discuss it with the others.

Because depending on what we do here...I have reason to believe that this creature will grow beyond the threat you've stated it will be.

[finalring]

It's likely that the reason for all the limitations is because of the magical structure of the house. As soon as we break out, it's possible that we will be back to full power. But there's no way to know unless we try.

[ it's a high stakes game that they're playing. if they manage to be back to full power, then it's possible that they'll be able to stand a chance against the ghosts.

if not, then it'll be a slaughter.

or maybe it'll be a slaughter one way or another. ]

[sageking]

That's the spirit, Doctor.

We'll put forward this gamble in pursuing such a course of action and see what will result from it after giving our all.

[ Regardless of their odds, Gilgamesh had no intentions of just twiddling his fingers and subscribing himself to a fate full of despair. Even though he himself had been feeling the strain just like everyone else, he refused to give up or give in.

It really wasn't something in his nature, even in spite of the information he's relayed and the future he's seen. ]