[ AUDIENCE: LALLI HOTAKAINEN ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[silentscout]

[He leaves her on 'read' but he does show up at the library after a few minutes. If she's not already there, he'll wait for her.]

[azuta]

[She's there! She's very punctual. She waves hello to him when he approaches.]

Hello, Lalli. How can I help you?

[silentscout]

I want to stop the murders from happening, but I don't know what to do. All I can do is gather information and give that information to people who are better at putting the pieces together.

The murders happened on Thursdays. Is there a way for me to stay awake on Thursday and watch what happens?

[azuta]

[ . . . . she hums thoughtfully at that, thinking on it as her expression grows serious.]

... perhaps... Though if there were a way, it would be rather expensive and limited...

At present, I don't believe we can approve that kind of exchange - but perhaps in the future. We can look into it.

[silentscout]

[He nods.]

I can save up any vouchers I get until that time.

There's already people who are out at night, they just don't remember what happened. So if I could be one of those people but still remember what happened, it could work.

[azuta]

Mm, it could. I see your reasoning. It's true that the murders are the central problem and a way to prevent them will keep the rest of the traditions from triggering.

[she nods along]

Thank you for thinking of it.

[silentscout]

The traditions...

[...]

Is this all a ritual?

[azuta]

In what sense? "Ritual" has a few different definitions...

[silentscout]

When I pray to my gods to give me blessings of magic, there are rituals I have to follow. I have to say the right words and do the right actions to show I'm worthy of the blessing before they'll give it.

I don't worship the Norse gods, but I know about them through working with other mages. They sometimes demand animal sacrifices from Icelandic mages in rituals. And the method of sacrifice is a part of their rituals too.

[The rumors he has heard are. Greatly exaggerated. But technically it's a thing.]

Is this something like that? Are the deaths a part of some school-related ritual to summon up magic?

[azuta]

Hmm...

[interesting. she listens closely and tilts her head]

No, that shouldn't be the case. I'm not sure why deaths are occurring at all - but it's due to an old incident in the school's history that a trial and an expulsion must follow after a murder occurs. It's not meant to generate anything, though. It's simply protocol that we must follow.

[silentscout]

An old incident? What happened?

[azuta]

It's unclear... I've gone looking into it myself, but there's no record of it - simply what Principal Bear told us. But that incident is why trials and expulsions are required to follow. We can't break that tradition... even though I understand why people find them disquieting.

[silentscout]

I asked Luke if I could go looking for records about the trials, and he said he couldn't let me.

[azuta]

That's correct - it's rather restricted information.

I don't know if looking to the past would be what solves this mystery in this case...

[silentscout]

So we look to the future instead?

[That sounds sus but he's willing to listen to what Viola says.]

[azuta]

[she looks thoughtful at that too before nodding]

At least for now... I've received questions asking for people's applications, but we don't have clearance to get to all of yours - though I've heard the Dorm Heads have had theirs distributed. So perhaps to determine what that means, because there are annotations that I don't understand. I'm not even sure how people got their hands on them.

So rather than looking for things we don't have just yet, I think it's worth looking at what we do - or what we would like in the future. Ways to also minimize or prevent damage if we see it coming so people don't feel as though their spirits are broken.

At least, that's how I would opt to strategize in this situation.

[silentscout]

Mmm. Find people's applications, and keep their spirits up.

[Asking the guy with depression to help keep people's spirits up is probably a bad idea, but oh well.]

If you find anything, will you share it with everyone?

[azuta]

Well - look at the applications we have first. I think that's most important. You're all doing well communicating with each other, but I'd encourage even more of it. Knowledge is equivalent to power in many situations.

[but she nods easily]

Of course. I earn nothing by keeping things to myself. I aim to help as much as I'm able to.

[silentscout]

Mmm.

[He pauses, considering something.]

Luke stayed with us last week. Did you stay with your dorm last Thursday too?

[azuta]

I did.

[she rubs at her shoulder in memory, expression souring a bit]

I fell down the stairs thanks to that dratted costume... but I was with everyone during lockdown.

[silentscout]

Is that safe for all of you? If people are being let out to murder and get killed, you could get involved too.

[azuta]

[oh

that surprises her]

... are you worried about us? I think it's kind of you to look after Luke, and I agree, I wish he wouldn't be in harm's way.

[ . . . ]

But I can't stand the idea of people in my care being in danger while I get to be somewhere safe. How could I accept something like that? I have little interest in saving only myself.

[silentscout]

I don't want anyone to die. You four included.

[They're not just NPCs they're TEAMMATES.]

can you lock all of your dorm in your personal room? if each dorm head did that, nobody would be able to get out to kill, right?

[azuta]

Hmm... I don't know about that... My personal room was open this last time. I'm still not clear on how exactly people get moved or are able to escape overnight...

[silentscout]

DO you fall asleep too?