quietplacelogs | INTRO LOG #1

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INTRO LOG #1

INTRO LOG #1
Muzzle and Mute
Content Warnings: Disorientation, memory loss, confusion
Themes: Arrival, survival, exploration, horror

You wake, standing. A thick, muddy red dust coats your skin and clothes - it sticks to your tongue and blocks your vision. Inhale and it chokes you, exhale and your breath puffs out in front of your face in a transparent maroon cloud. It tastes of copper, tangy and harsh. Movement is difficult, every limb tingles and aches. Look to your left, your right. Evenly spaced in each direction stands another person indistinguishable in every way from the next. You're disoriented and lethargic, unable to grasp onto a single thought. A pinprick of light blooms ahead and grows steadily larger; a door has opened.

Hands grip your wrists, push at the small of your back and guide you out of the darkness into a room with four walls and a thin, sagging ceiling. The plaster is peeling, the air is musty, and the floor is slick. White plastic piping juts up from the center and curves into multiple spouts, clean water flowing in uneven streams. Those hands pull your clothes off and clear the dust from your body, redress you in handsewn jumpsuits. By the time they’re through, you will have begun to come back to yourself.

A finger is pressed to your lips. Kind eyes meet your own and a single word is whispered - hush.

Led out of the room in a line, you’re taken down a short hallway and into another, much larger room. There’s a woman waiting for you there, a child hugging her leg, and a cloth bag in her hands. She reaches in and pulls out a device, passes one to each of you. Once finished, she begins to move both hands in graceful gestures, a language. One of the people who helped you lifts their device and the screen lights up, tracks the woman’s hands. Letters appear on the screen and you understand the device’s purpose. She tells you what she knows and it’s not much.

This world is haunted. Noise attracts them, so it is not allowed. Communication is through body language, soundless writing, and the device. She tells you that your feet must be light and your mouth never used. There is a community outside these doors, where you can survive together, but only if you agree to one thing: complete and total silence. You'll have time to talk it over. You may ask one question and receive one answer.

Acceptance allows you to journey outside. The ground is marked in pathways of sand, lining the paths to each building and everywhere in-between. You notice that the locals hold their devices always, aloft and glance to it often. It will not vibrate or make a sound to signal a message. Notices appear. Rules. Guidelines. Feet on the sand and never anywhere else. To open a door you brush your fingers along the hinges - oiled and you may enter. If not, take the brush from the can sitting nearby and coat the metal with the dark liquid.

Now, you're to settle into your new home.

The Man in the Hat
Content Warnings: Heavy lifting, following the rules, alcoholism
Themes: Moving in, survival, exploration, horror

Once you’ve claimed a room for yourself, it’s time to acclimate to the community. Natives will ask what you need and take you along the sandpaths to different areas in the city to gather supplies - furniture and the like. Heavier items will require assistance and will take longer. Houses are mostly empty so if you and your housemates need something, you’ll have to carry it and put it inside the home. Do not make any noise or the natives will refuse to help you. Getting to know your housemates is key to a smooth transition. They are going through what you are right now; take the time to get to know them. Make house rules.

As the first day gives way to night, the natives can be seen moving at a faster pace outside. They’re hurried, though not frightened. Some even smile at you. When the sun sets behind the ruins of what was once picturesque Reims, your device will signal that it’s time to meet at the center of the community. There, natives will stop each person and give them a small gift - a trinket, a token to show that they are trying their best to make all the new arrivals feel at home. These are all items from the character’s home or from another character's home (they will not be anything that belongs to anyone else). Small, soundless and either something taken during the application process or something brand new. They will have no powers to speak of and are meant to be a momento. If asked, the natives found them the same way they found each of you.

Then the party starts. Sort of. A soundless, stitled kind of celebration. Fun is meant to be had, but it’s not an overly joyous occasion. The natives simply don’t know how to cut loose. There will be extra food in the form of one and two; Phillipa even brought some of her homemade bread. If you stumble across a man wearing a hat, the only man in town who does, and agree to go with him when he offers to show you his house - he’ll gift you with a jar of hooch; it’ll burn on the way down.

Sound Eaters
Content Warnings: Threat, danger
Themes: Survival, exploration, horror, game plot

It’s the second day of your stay, and the natives call for an emergency meeting at the Town Hall. Everyone is paired off (see below) and are asked to walk the perimeter looking for anything out of place and patching any areas that might have been affected by weather. Once finished, the same is done on the inside, and when the community leader is satisfied, the main hall is opened up so that everyone can congregate. Characters, during this time only, are allowed to make sound. This is so that the natives can explain why silence is so necessary...

The Sound Eaters.

In an effort not to frighten everyone, the natives won’t go into the history just yet, but they will warn that when someone makes a sound, it attracts them. They don’t know what they look like because they are so fast. If you’re too loud, then in the blink of an eye, you’ll go through a room reset. This is because either the natives ‘silenced’ you or the Sound Eaters have. They will explain that the room came at the same time the Sound Eaters did and that it doesn’t work for the natives. Sometimes, it doesn’t work on new arrivals. Death, for those born in this world, is permanent. If you attract them, you’ll get someone killed. Hence the need for no noise. During the meeting, the natives will tell each character of their own experiences. Their losses. The families they have left and how they’d do anything to keep them alive. They don’t know if you’ll be reset, but is that a risk you’re willing to take? The meeting will last a few hours and will end on a somber, ominous note - at the end of the month, they are taking everyone to meet them.

OOC
From your mods:

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NAVIGATION

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Right, I guess I got lucky this time. Any other time I get caught when trying to sneak around.

[ Especially when he runs into First Order stormtroopers. He at least tries a lot but plans don't go exactly as intended. And yes, it's not like he's going to call people their last names. Unless they happened to be a ranking officer that still wants to.

He looks at him with a raised eyebrow. ]

I couldn't tell if you were asleep or just laying out here for whatever reason. Anyone could have made a sound inside loud enough and you could have gotten attacked first just because you're out here. Are you really willing to take that risk?

If you put it that way, wouldn't I be more at risk being inside where the sound was made?

Considering sound is what draws them, I'll be in danger anywhere other people are. Out here, the wind could blow and something could rustle beside me.

Inside, there could be squeaky floorboards, something getting knocked over by accident, a dropped phone...

[ There's a dim smirk; something he very quickly works to reign back in. ]

The fact is, no matter where we are or how hard we fight to simply be quiet, the danger will always be there.

It won't go away until we find a way to destroy the Sound Eater problem from the inside out.

[ He shakes his head at the first comment. ]

The houses are equipped with soundproofing. You wouldn't want to make a whole lot of sound but you could get away with whispering. Low sounds would be my guess.

The risk is out here in the open. You're right to think that wind could blow, knock over something that would make sound.

If you have squeaky floorboards, mark them with something. There might be a way to tone down the sound. But again... minimal sound seems to be okay. I asked the question.

[ He gives a nod at Akira, smiling a bit. ]

We need a plan, one that could work, if we can see them, figure out their weakness. We might be able to do something. Someone suggested an ambush, away from town. I could come up with a plan, but those that join in, need to understand the risk. That risk being death. We don't know anything about the Sound Eaters but that's what the natives fear the most.

[ Well, it would seem dancing around is going to continue putting him in a circle here. He'll... let it go, then. Maybe the question of why he prefers being out here will fall by the wayside...! ]

I'll keep all of that in mind.

[ Sorry, Poe. He has rare moments of saying a lot, and then it's right back to one-line responses to the lengthiest of messages. ]

According to the natives, they can't be seen at all. I haven't decided how believable that sounds.

I don't know how useful I'd be, but count me in on helping either form a plan or execute it.

Unless you're a "why not both?" kind of guy.

[ Poe wasn't going to continue to press it. He goes for long night time walks. Mostly to clear his mind of thoughts he didn't want to think about. ]

I don't see how that is possible. There has to be a way to see them. They must show themselves somehow. I hope that we do see something to what the natives have been saying.

I do plan on running the plan by a few people first.

I could use both. If you want to be part of the execution of it. I plan to at least be the one in most danger of it.

[ There's a look of acknowledgment to the majority of what Poe's saying. But it's the last part that has Akira frowning... ]

So you're the reckless type...

Do you have a way to protect yourself, at least?

[ Don't frown at him! Poe gets it enough already for his plans and ideas. ]

I won't deny it.

Not really, I'm thinking up something though. I know people who have abilities. One that might be able to hold a Sound Eater in place. If it's at all possible. It's not a full plan yet. I need to see them before I can decide fully what might work.

I'm used to doing much worse missions but I don't want anyone getting hurt or killed because it's not a good enough plan. If it fails I'll take the consequences.

[ .... Mmmm. Some part of him wants to make it clear that this guy isn't the only one used to being reckless in missions, but like hell he's going to come out with that just yet. He doesn't trust anyone here enough for that. ]

I know some people with abilities, too.

Maybe they'd be willing to help.

And maybe you're not the only one here who's used to being reckless. It might work better for you if you make sure everyone is on board with their leader being willing to sacrifice himself for them. You might gain more cooperation and respect that way.

[ Poe would at least be clear about how he was going to do things. People needed to know that he would be the one to cause the most trouble in the situation. He would need to find out how others are too. That all takes time. ]

Do you?

If you want to ask them, you can. I'm not going to force people into something they don't want to do.

I know a few others that seem that they'll be reckless. A friend from where I come from can be. I do know there will be people who won't like that kind of plan. I am willing to sacrifice myself for them even if they may not do so for me. That's still up to them on who they want to follow.

[ He shakes his head. This is hitting a nerve for him, even if he's keeping a calm exterior... ]

Don't you think it's a little selfish to jump into sacrificing yourself?

There's no promise any of us can come back, so there's a chance you could leave all these people behind.

Why not focus on forming a plan where there's more emphasis on you living, just as well?

I've made some other selfish decisions before. Those decisions were bigger mistakes than what this can turn out to be. It means no one else has to die if it's just me.

I'm willing to take that chance than have someone like you or them not come back.

I have thought of it, but I'd rather do the more risky part of the plan. The part where I'll probably die if nothing can stop the Sound Eaters. I doubt I'll be able to run away. It's the only other option I have to survive.

Guess that makes two of us.

I guess, on one hand, I can't judge.

My own leadership skills could use plenty of work.

... I have healing and revival magic. If I'm still around whenever this plan goes into motion, let me know.

What kind of group do you lead?

I met someone the first day here who can heal as well. What does your healing abilities do?

I'll be sure to keep you on the list. If something more comes up though, the plan may end up becoming something entirely different.

[ There's so much hesitation... but... ]

The kind that rebels against a broken society.

My powers range, but my healing skills can restore health, recover ailments, and revive.

[ A small smirk splays after reading Akira's answer. ]

Rebels is something I'm used to. The Resistance felt more like home to me once I joined.

Powers? So you can do more than just healing, what else can you? All of the healing abilities sound really useful. Do you know if any of them actually work here?

I can relate to that.

[ The bit about them feeling more like home for him, that is. He shakes his head to the latter part, though. ]

I only managed to test it in a mundane situation, so I don't know if it has full power yet. I plan to test for the general power behind my skills later.

Aside from healing, I have some elemental magic, like fire, lightning, and ice...

[ ... curse, holy, almighty...

... the power to inflict potential radiation poisoning...

And that's not even getting into the regular abilities lurking inside his head. The full list is a secret... and long. Way too long to list off. Not to mention there's nowhere near enough trust here, what with him being an adult he's barely learned the name of. ]

Mixed crowd where you come from?

[ Home could be exactly like that. A place full of people that were joined in something long ago or a mixed group of people who didn't fit in a certain way. Poe had passion and foolishness when he was asked to join the Resistance. But the Resistance was a place he could do something, not have his hands tied. ]

There's a Force where I come from. Those that can sense it more than others typically call themselves something else. A Jedi or the opposite of that.

Do you call yourself something? How does your powers really work?

[ There's a wide smile on his face as if he's really interested in knowing. Poe's heard all sorts of stories about the Force. Grew up hearing tales about mystic powers that were in everything. They weren't just made out of stuff. There was more to it than that. ]

[ He blinks after hearing some of those terms: Jedi...

... Force? Sensing it?

It's all incredibly familiar to the movies he watched as a kid, but... Hm. They certainly weren't called Jedi. Akira's eyes rest on Poe for a moment; it might be visibly obvious he's trying to read him...

Then his gaze flicks back to his device. ]

My friends and I are as similar as we are different.

[ ... what to say... ]

I've sometimes thought of us as the Phantastic Eight.

The power comes from within.

Just thinking about which type of magic I'm going for usually does the trick.

[ Poe was being honest in his answers. He knows it sounds absolutely crazy but there's a lot that has been for the past couple of days. This can't seem all that bad, could it? Maybe he should keep certain things a secret but he didn't see a point.

The stories of their past can be slowly revealed in time. ]

Similar how?

[ He tilts his head at the other stuff. ]

Phantastic Eight is that what your group is called then?

Your type of power almost seems easy and simple.

[ He's still used to there being a ratio that favors the awful adults - the kind that see other people as nothing more than tools - rather than the good ones.

There's a calm, even expression as he responds to the first question. ]

We received more lessons on how to distrust, than how to trust.

[ hinthintnudge ]

The Phantoms is one name for us.

I guess it could be considered that, in theory.

[ Poe reads the message and does get the hint easily. He's been around corruption. Being ordered to not even bother with a threat. Sometimes it's not just adults but organizations. ]

Putting trust into someone is hard and believing in them is tougher than it seems. Sometimes all you need is to hear the right things. Be part of the bigger picture. All I want to do is the right thing. Not have to see hopelessness in the faces of the people.

[ Not get banned from trying to do things. ]

There's several names to your group. That is certainly interesting.

I feel as if there's more to this than what you're saying.

[ ... Something does flicker in his gaze right at the part about "wanting to do the right thing" and not seeing "hopelessness." But he's clearly not going to be responding to that, just yet. He's still trying to wrap his mind around all of this. ]

It fits well with the spirit of our group.

[ And yet he... still has it in him to drop a stealth pun. For his own amusement. ]

Maybe I'll tell you about it sometime.

I'll be interested in listening to it when you're ready to tell it.

I probably should get going. It was nice talking to you, Akira.

[ He's giving a small nod, waving gently before Poe gets up to leave.

... Frankly, he still doesn't know what to make of this guy, but he will admit he wasn't exactly boring. ]

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INTRO LOG #1

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