(ROLE) CULT 2.0

[dormheads]

cult.

On Monday at 10 PM, Rupert, Otome, and Byleth receive an encrypted e-mail.

d4rkness@Wiwaldi.edu

Come to classroom 1304; see attached map.

No one is in the halls as they creep to the abandoned classroom circled on the map. The normally locked door opens, revealing the room inside.

There are no windows and the lights are off, leaving the room cast in near darkness. Only a handful of candles, in what's probably a fire hazard, keep it illuminated; the fog being emitted from a personal fog machine doesn't help with visibility. What was once the teacher's desk has been pushed to the center of the room, with chairs seated around it. For some reason, there are cat decorations everywhere, mixed in with various (garish) occult items and patterns.

There is a cat-shaped bulletin board hanging on the wall, which reads:

» This world is trying to assimilate all of you, who started this year, into its setting. If it succeeds, you'll remain trapped in this school, your souls drained until you cease to exist.

» Each week, this place will make active efforts on a few select students. Once the weekend hits, they'll all be beyond saving. However, if any one of them is killed before then, they'll all be freed from the link, at least for the remainder of the week.

» Death isn't necessarily permanent. Those who died can potentially be saved. However, no such option exists for the fully assimilated.

» At the start of the week you'll be informed if you may recruit one person to join the cult. Provide a list of 3-4 people you want to recruit and you'll be told which one of them is approved. If you extend an invitation and they accept, they will join the cult the following week.

» Preventing the assimilation aside, even the original cult was meant to be a secret, so it's important that word doesn't spread. If anyone else learns about your involvement in the cult or your task, whether from your mouth or another's, this world may enact consequences. No guarantee on who they might affect, so it's up to you to decide if risking harm upon another is worth it.

Comments

[inaccordant]

Byleth.

If you want to call it that.

[divineimpulse]

It's an unfortunate situation, but I'm glad I can talk to you.

How did you get involved?

[inaccordant]

[he pauses for a bit, thinking.]

The way I've described it to the others is that this world still has an internal logic it must follow, and contradictions in that can result in the unexpected. That's why it can't just assimilate everyone in an instant—a drastic change like that would fail to last.

In my case, I agreed to take over the... cat cult [he sounds tired, because sorry, he's not a cat lover] but I doubt I was in my right mind when I did, as that's not a decision I would normally make. That dissonance, mixed with— [he gestures at the crystal ball] —allowed me to me realize, I think.

[divineimpulse]

...You were already mostly integrated when you took it over?

[inaccordant]

Integrated? What do you mean? [a beat] —Ah. I think you misunderstood. I'm not like you, who didn't ask to be here. I've always been from this world.

[he's quiet for a moment, looking thoughtful.]

Though I suppose it's not impossible that I've been assimilated in some capacity... but if that's the case, it wouldn't be the exact same threat facing all of you, or at least not as thorough. Otherwise, I doubt I'd be able to question this at all.

[divineimpulse]

[...]

In that case, I guess you would have no way to know.

[she's giving him a long, inscrutable look.]

Did I miss anything important information-wise from last week?

[inaccordant]

As far as my memories go, I only know of this world. That's all I can say on the matter.

[hmmmm]

... The people found outside on Friday—those seem to align with people that the world is trying to assimilate that week. Most likely, it's isolating them from the others to finalize the process.

[divineimpulse]

[...]

Was there someone other than Catra that was missed last week?

[inaccordant]

I don't know if the effects will always be visible in some manner. But Mabel was the other one being assimilated, alongside Lan Wangji.

[divineimpulse]

[oh. that explains a lot.]

Do they act on their own, then? A sort of sleepwalking?

[inaccordant]

You'd have to ask Rupert or Otome. I don't know the details of what goes on during Thursday night.

[divineimpulse]

...You don't?

[inaccordant]

I can make theories based off what I understand, but I'm unconscious during the night itself like everyone else.

[divineimpulse]

I'll ask the others, then.

[...]

Who did you take over this... group from?

[inaccordant]

Another student. They graduated last year—as did the other members, from my understanding.

... For what it's worth, though, I'm pretty sure this was just an actual cat cult in previous years, albeit one that might've actually gotten their hands on magical devices. Hence the... decor.

[chad just left it as is, apparently. not worth it to throw the cat decorations out.]

[divineimpulse]

[...]

It's a little bit...

[she trails off. the cat stuff.]

Could we... turn the lights on, maybe?

[inaccordant]

[a sigh]

They're not working, and I can't call maintenance for a classroom not in use anymore, but I can probably bring a lamp in.

[divineimpulse]

[she nods!! good idea!]

The flowers from the field might be a nice touch, too...

[inaccordant]

... Do as you please.

[divineimpulse]

[... :)]

Within reason, I will.

[inaccordant]

[hm concerning but it's too late to take back what he said]

[divineimpulse]

[later:]

Chad, I'd like to pre-purchase a healing item. Just in case.

[inaccordant]

[...

he nods.]

To confirm, that'd be the ability to heal a minor injury once a week, which will cost six vouchers. Is that fine?

[divineimpulse]

How much is it for larger healing abilities?

Can it be cheaper?

[inaccordant]

Six is the lowest possible price. The base cost is normally eight.

As for greater healing capabilities, it depends. Basically, the more vouchers you spend, the more powerful it'll become.