(ROLE) CULT 4.0

[dormheads]

cult.

On Monday at 10 PM, Otome, Byleth, Luxanna, and Dimitri 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.

As of Week 3, a lamp has been added to the room to give it some light.

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 4-8 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.

As of Week 3, more notes have been added.

A summary of what the others were told previously:

» This world is forced to act according to an internal logic. It isn't always aware of everything going on, and it can't break whatever rules it wishes. This would presumably be why you all arrived here with your minds intact, rather than already assimilated; it's possible that this defence mechanism has manifested in other ways as well, to try and correct things to how they should be.

Comments

TALK TO EACH OTHER

[dormheads]

[momming]

I would... really like to avoid someone from Summer unless that's absolutely necessary. And definitely not Alphinaud.

[illuminance]

[ lux doesn't say anything, but gives a tense nod. she doesn't want to volunteer anyone from her dorm, but understands the situation too well to argue against it.

the other two are younger than ichinose. and fall dorm hasn't lost many. ]

[repress]

[ he grimaces—having to deliberate from a pool is the worst, actually. ]

I do not know either Alphinaud or Wang Lu, so I cannot speak for either of them. [ Ichinose is, unfortunately, the one he's closest to. ] But I understand summer is in a difficult position.

[divineimpulse]

Fall dorm—Kuon's dormitory—only has one more person than Summer's dormitory.

But since Otome and Dimitri will be taking care of it, I'd like their opinions to weigh the heaviest.

[momming]

... I'd like everyone's opinions, ideally. We seem to be able to tell how we're all feeling and I don't want to make a solid choice without everyone's agreement.

[ Otome's feelings right now just run on tiredly sad. ]

[illuminance]

... It makes sense, to me, for it to be Ichinose.

I would rather it not be. But I will hold no grudge if I'm outweighed. I agree that more authority on this should go to Dimitri and Doctor Yanagiya.

[repress]

[ he runs a hand through his hair, emotions stuck in something somber and frustrated at this entire situation. ]

...Doctor, do you know the two from your dorm well? I'd just like to hear about everyone's circumstances being making a decision.

[divineimpulse]

[byleth's own feelings are... as muted as they appear on her face, rotating between concern for the other three, and a quiet determination.]

We have chosen adult men who are able to defend themselves. I'm not sure that Ichinose is capable of that.

Even though I belong to Summer dormitory, I think we should still be considering both of them.

[momming]

I'm more familiar with Alphinaud, who has been struggling to understand the truth behind this from the very beginning. He just has difficulty distinguishing the grey from the black and the white.

... I haven't spoken much to Wang Lu, but I told Sally I'd do my best to keep the remainder of our dorm safe. Be that as it may, I do also agree with Byleth that I'm not sure Ichinose-san is able to defend herself.

[ That sadness is deepening, but also slowly turning more resigned. ]

[illuminance]

... I did try to touch base with Alphinaud's feelings on all of what's been going on.

Diplomatic though he may be... [ you know what, she can't figure out a way of saying that he's kind of inconvenient that isn't cruel. she's not as cold and calculating as she sometimes would like to be. ] ... If not Ichinose, he would be my choice. Though I also know very little about Wang Lu.

[repress]

[ there's a spike of guilt when sally is brought up, but he tries to stay on task. ]

I do not know him either, though I think Wang Lu may be the most capable fighter. Ichinose is injured, and I do not think she knows combat, but I would not underestimate her.

[ he feels another twist of guilt at the idea of going after someone wounded, but even so, he sees why she is a logical choice.

... ]

So we have the eldest one, the one who struggles most with this place, and the one who could fight hardest.

[divineimpulse]

[...]

Wang Lu.

Alphinaud is most comfortable with magic, and is still injured. Ichinose is injured, and a non-combatant.

We've always made it a policy to choose the most able-bodied, and I don't think we should stray now.

[her emotions stay surprisingly even as she speaks, focus clear.]

[momming]

[ Otome just. Closes her eyes.

She looks (and feels) pained, but she speaks evenly enough. ]

I understand. I'll accept that choice.

[repress]

[ on another note, ]

Luxanna, I would be cautious. Some members of Winter dorm are quite sure you, Caleb, Yamato, or Taichi helped Byleth. And I do not think they would seriously doubt Caleb now that he is part of the dorm. We should be cautious not to leave anything that would implicate you.

[ since now that he's here, he can really see the need for deception, unfortunate as it is. ]

It was probably my item that made you look suspicious—I'm sorry.

[illuminance]

I don't intend to step forward unless accused - but we are responsible for the things we've done. Just... I would rather not let blame fall to anyone but me. Neither Taichi nor Yamato deserve that. [ or caleb, but. ]

Hopefully... With nothing new to implicate me that suspicion will fade, even if only temporarily.

[repress]

[ he nods. ]

The last thing I want is for an innocent person to be held accountable for something they did not do.

[ which makes their whole situation difficult, but in the end, it's more comfortable knowing that everyone here holds themselves accountable. ]

But along the same line, I do not want anyone implicating you for my actions. People may try to find a connection to you and Byleth this week, so Otome and I will need to act with caution.

[illuminance]

... I'm prepared for it.

If they draw that connection and push it, I don't mind if I'm the one who is chosen.

[ well, she obviously does mind, because for as confident and firm as she looks there's a buried nervousness. but she isn't necessarily lying, either. ]

[repress]

I would mind.

[ his feelings match his expression: frustrated, pained. ]

We will all be made responsible for whatever we do, eventually—but I could not sit back and watch you take the blame meant for me.

[illuminance]

[ there's a bit of frustration from her too, but not at him. ]

I think that we are all a part of this. Whichever of us does the act only takes a fragment more blame than the rest. It isn't as if I've played no role in hurting someone last week, anyway.

RECRUITS

[divineimpulse]

[she gestures to the other three.]

We need to choose our list to recruit. Dimitri, choose two people you think would be a good fit for our group.

My choices are... [she hesitates, and shakes her head, emotions wavering, then suddenly set in determination.] Claude again. And Caleb.

[momming]

[ She looks steadily at Byleth. ]

Lucretia and Mandricardo.

[illuminance]

Yamato and Taichi.

[ --don't just pick your friends? ]

[repress]

[ lux is valid. he considers for a bit. ]

Manwol and Sakyou.

[divineimpulse]

[she nods. all her backup picks are represented. approved.]

I think any of them would be good picks.