(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

[repress]

...I do not think they will.

[ His voice is hoarse, and his emotions are heavy as his words—it seems doubtful they'll learn anything. ]

Even if the three of us were to focus our efforts on it, there will be others searching for Wang Lu's killer. [ Meaning they could be waylaid in the worst way, really. ]

[momming]

... Well, I suppose Summer will lose another member, then.

[ She's Exhausted. ]

[illuminance]

[ ........... ]

By the way, do either of you know who blinded me?

[repress]

[ he's about to protest what Otome says, but instead there's a sharp feeling of alarm. ]

Blinded you? When?

[ his confusion is genuine—he doesn't seem to know. ]

[momming]

[ yes good let her die ]

Blinded?!

[ Otome echoes on the heels of Dimitri's outcry, just as confused and alarmed. ]

[illuminance]

[ okay despite the overwhelming depression, there is a tiny bit of amusement? ]

... I suppose not, then.

Don't worry about it. I can still see, it's just very blurry. Has been since curfew, last night.

[repress]

[ That whole tangled mess of sadness in him does make way for some aggravation and worry, despite what Lux says. ]

...Was someone trying to prevent you from killing?

[ It's good they rotated, considering what happened to Byleth and Lux. ]

[momming]

So you are under suspicion...

[ the concern is high. ]

I... don't think it should fall on you this week, at least. But please let Dimitri escort you back, all right?

[illuminance]

I suspect so.

[ there's a swirl of guilt and worry here - because if it doesn't fall to her... it's going to be one of them. and she wants to live, and she wants to take responsibility for her actions, and she wants them to live, and not all of these things can happen.

but she's still weak enough to let things be what they will without more of a fight. so she nods. ]

... Alright...

[repress]

[ He nods in agreement. He'll walk her back!! ]

...Hopefully proving that you are innocent of this crime will dispel some of the doubt against you.

[ There is no good outcome to tomorrow, and even if Lux dodges an accusation... they'll all have to face retribution eventually. It's not like he expects to cover for each other forever. But this weekend he'd rather he and Otome come under fire, considering they actually did this. ]

[momming]

... It's going to be a long day tomorrow.

[ Regardless of what happens, they're all going to be exhausted. ]

[illuminance]

[ the idea of being proven innocent doesn't even feel like a comfort. ]

I'm not looking forward to it...

[ not that she ever did in previous weeks, but holy goddamn this is a rough one. ]

[repress]

[ An innocent man killed, one of their members half-blinded, the other dead. Rough doesn't even begin to cover it. ]

...We will have to play it by ear. [ ... ] Whatever may happen, I am here for you both.

[ Even if they can barely offer each other anything. ]

[momming]

...

[ She holds out both her hands to them. ]

[illuminance]

[ lux takes one of otome's hands. ]

I also want to do anything I can to help you both. If... There's anything I can do.

[ but yeah. this kind of sucks because there really isn't much that any of them can do for one another. ]

[repress]

[ He hesitates a moment, but takes one of Otome's hands too, giving it a light squeeze as he nods Lux's way.

Even if all they can do is offer each other understanding and a moment before the storm of tomorrow, it's something. ]

[momming]

[ Otome squeezes both of their hands and takes a deep breath. For a second, her wavering emotions, her trepidation and grief and guilt all settle into something like resolve. ]

... Yesterday, when I was on... that forced excursion, someone told me that my greatest wish was to not be alone. And she was right.

I may come to be hated tomorrow for what I've done and I'll accept that. But knowing that I have you two who care so very much despite us asking you to take on such a painful burden...

I think this is enough. I'll take my strength from this, no matter what happens.

[repress]

[ His loathing, grief, and regret weigh on him more than anything, but he lets it ease for just a moment. He isn't as strong as Otome, but there is a feeling of companionship there, a mote of comfort that he hopes can be shared.

No matter what happens to them, he doesn't regret joining and trying to help. ]

We'll weather through.

[ Whatever happens, whoever's head ends up on the chopping block, and however betrayed everyone may feel tomorrow, she won't be alone. ]