INTRO LOG #2

[bequiet]

INTRO LOG #2
Put a Sock in It
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 – with or without the help of those who have come before you.

The Place Inside
Content Warnings: Disorientation, hallucinations, body horror
Themes: Plot, exploration

Have you been to hell. And more importantly, have you been back. We all know this pain but are too scared to recall. This horror controls us, pulls at our strings to ensure how our life plays out. So, let me rephrase my question: have you been to Ile Lacrox. And more importantly, can you come back.

In the community, if you hear something you're not supposed to hear, you learn to look the other way. If you see something you're not supposed to see, you pretend it never happened. If you feel disappointed, you learn to never ask for more. So, through good times and bad, famine and feast, the natives held fast to their rules until one common day a sly wind blew in from the south...

That same red dust twists through the streets, curling up in faint, little plumes of familiarity. The farther south you go, the thicker it becomes. Those willing to explore far enough will find it coming from an island in the middle of the river. Once there, doting every available surface is the evidence of Sound Eater births, and the closer you are to the island, the harder it is to avoid being coated in red. Even if it's not rubbed into the skin, it doesn't take long for the effects to take over. Every sound is amplified. Your breaths are deafening, the slightest step echoes. But no Sound Eater attacks. Your vision blurs, and it's as if your mouth is sealing itself shut. Those you traveled with seem to be similarly affected, and you know you have to be quiet. Anyone who brought supplies with them might discover that a drink of water subdues the symptoms.

OOC: Only characters who entirely submerge themselves in water will be free of the dust effects. Just remember that noise will attract Sound Eaters.


Liplocked
Content Warnings: Violent tendencies, mind alteration
Themes: Love, romance, obsession, sex

The natives are of French origin, and with that comes a love of romance. Residents will find treats and valentines at their doors. That same night, there will be a small, red-glowing fire built near the fountain. There will be jars pressed into the dirt and filled with a sweet, red liquid. Some natives can be seen drinking it and being very affectionate with one another. Anyone who drinks this is inspired to show endearment or lust to others, and it will wear off after sleeping.

There's also the noticeable addition of a new arrival. They came through the Reset Room just like everybody else. They understand the rules and follow them to a tee. They are the perfect example of what the natives want in their residents. They are charming and captivating. They say nothing, and they don't have to. When your eyes meet, you feel seduced. There's a nervous flutter in your stomach. You can feel your heartbeat in your throat. Pounding, constricting. They smile and then turn away.

As they're walking, you notice you're not the only one looking at them, and in their expression, you see your own mirrored. What started as sweet infatuation and longing dissolves into a jealousy unlike any you've ever known. All you understand now is that to win their affections you have to come out on top—so you're the only one they see. Your actions are not your own, but they're still yours.

OOC: There are two ways to break the "spell". Your character fights it out with someone else who is feeling the same way OR they're approached and physically touched by someone who isn't affected by the newcomer. A third of the community will be completely unaffected (everyone else is affected unless the player is uncomfortable with playing out the scenarios). The newcomer can be of any gender the player wishes. For those partaking in drinking, the players can choose what effects it has; it can inspire feelings of lust or boost paternal/maternal instincts or devotion towards friends.

OOC
From your mods:

Please be mindful of content - if something triggery comes up or if it goes up a rating to say, something sexy, mark your threads in the subject line. We're very flexible and allow any material; we just want our players to be respectful of each other. If you have questions, pp the mod account, use the faq or comment to the appropriate post below. Have fun!

NAVIGATION

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Comments

[warfares]

It will take time to reach, [ he says of the map point, still bending to mark it all the same. ]

Sand. [ Still, it's a promising start and he's already considering just how he can slowly steer the pathways in that direction.

He's still new, will need time to build up trustㅡand stockpile sand. ]

Perhaps, we should look at smaller checkpoints, [ a finger drifts to a point on the map just outside the current reach of the paths: Palais de Justice. ] Less likely to draw notice that way.

[cronusian]

[Hux has found it's the small noises that are harder to keep from indulging in, more than words. The little, almost meaningless communication noises that came almost without thought and had to be stopped. He stops himself from a sound of agreement, following Ren's finger to the place suggested instead. It isn't far from existing sand paths, and the name makes it seem like a place that could prove useful.

He opens the math on his device, placing a note on the location, and traces the nearest streets back to the current sand paths.]

It should not take too long to collect enough sand for that trip. [He agrees, tracing the roads beyond it. One of the existing paths ended practically at the building according to the maps. It would not be difficult to extend it and then it was just a matter of getting into the building silently.]

We will need to work fast when we have enough sand for the further locations. If the last rain is anything to go on, the paths will not last for long and could be washed away at any moment. I would rather not see our work erased before it is completed.

[If they were going to collect enough sand to make the trip, they would need somewhere to store it. Hux's jaw locks together as he considers the options. Even with the assurance of his room and the work he had done to better sound proof it, he did not trust that things would remain untouched when he left the room. He would have to try and angle for more private quarters once he had built up more trust with the natives. An irritating task but not beyond his abilities.]

[warfares]

[ A brief nod of agreement, then: ] I can keep it in my room. It's unlikely to draw much notice.

[ No more than a stockpile of sand is liable to. ] If pressed I have my new position to offer as an excuse. [ Though, given his bedroom door locks, it's unlikely that anyone but the most determined person would attempt to snoop. ]

[cronusian]

Very well.

[Hux sends the map to Ren's device and continues to pour over the rest of the labelled locations, looking for other areas of interest. He is getting ahead of himself and he knows it. They will need time as Ren had said, and Hux was no closer to figuring out the best angle to attempt to ...endear himself to the natives. Teaching the children Dejarik had only managed to catch the eye of a few of the adults, and had drawn suspicion from the others. He had not gathered nearly as much intel as he had hoped to, either.

The app, too, was only useful in as far as other people actually used it. It had failed to provide any diplomatic leverage. Not all had been lost though. He had used the rain to better search local buildings, and had even made himself a glass dagger, fragile but deadly, should he ever need it.]

We need to work toward a more sustainable system. The sand is useless to us if it washes away. There are methods I would test with the proper volunteer. I have one in mind that might suit the task.

[warfares]

[ He switches over to the inbox, opening the image and comparing the two maps. ]

Who? [ He wonders if they are aware of what it might mean for them, involving themselves in this project. If Hux would bother to inform them. Still, he is more curious than concerned for the moment. These people are not his people, and death is still impermanent. ]

[cronusian]

An informant. He has already died and returned twice and has been very cooperative with sharing information on the subject.

[Hux doesn't particularly care whether or not that translates into a willingness to risk life for an experiment. Better the dog than either of them.

He measures out the distance to their next goal with a curious spread of his forefinger and thumb, trying to compare the distance visually. He isn't sure he fully trusts the measurement system used by this planet's people. It isn't standard.]

I do not doubt he'll make a good first trial for testing it out. In either case the information gained will be worth it.

[warfares]

Convenient.

[ He mentally runs through the (admittedly small; he would have to remedy that later) list of people he knows to have died, in an effort to figure out just who Hux's informant may be, and just why they are so willing to share this information. ]

A long-term study, then?

[cronusian]

As long as it takes to find an alternative solution.

[The inefficiency of the sand paths bothers him more than anything else. There needs to be a more reliable method available to them. He doesn't even question whether or not Ren will take issue with his choice.

The animal is a soldier, more so than anyone Hux has had a lasting conversation with. It's not as if the sacrifice would not be without merits if it did work, and he's willing to attempt multiple experiments at the expense of the dog's life if it means finding the answer that works.]

We may need a few trials to find the right materials.

[warfares]

Somewhere discreet, in that case.

[ Leaning over the table, again, he searches for an area just out of the way enough to escape notice. ]

A pity we can't use the island, [ once the interest has died down (which, admittedly, might take awhile) it was removed enough to suit their purpose. ]

[cronusian]

I need to make some preparations first. We'll see what is available when they are complete.

[Really, his experiment would end up benefiting the rest of the city if it worked, not by choice but by the nature of it. He frowns to himself, tracing the sand paths on his map that already existed.]

If it works, we will need a lot of materials before it makes much of an impact.

[warfares]

[ How very like Hux, to not be content with anything less than effecting them on a grand-scale.

Ren looks to the map again, expression impassive. ]I'll start scouting for locations.

[cronusian]

[The former general was tired of having to deal with limited paths. If it meant some extra labor, fine, he could deal with that, but the pointless repetitive effort of repairing washed away paths, especially once they started trying to create their own? That he could not stand.

This city needed better direction, a more established order. The natives seemed to make attempts, but they were a sad attempt in his mind. If he could just dig his fingers in deeper he could start making the changes he wanted to see.]

I will get in contact with my informant and see if he can assist us in gathering supplies as well. We will need fabric that doesn't make much noise, needles, thread.

[His glass dagger would work for cutting that was necessary until he could find a better, more efficient tool or weapon.]

[warfares]

Whoever makes the jumpsuits would have access to to much, if not all, of those.

[ Finding someone would be another matter entirely, of course. He adds it to the growing list of things in his head.

Whatever Hux's plan is, it had better be worth the effort. As it stands he is focusing on the direction this gives him, something to stave off the growing unease. ]

[cronusian]

Then we work toward finding a sympathetic or easily directed individual with that task. Until then, on a smaller scale we need those resources of our own.

[He isn't risking pulling others in before he has it figured out. He opens up a list on his device, adding the other supplies to it.]

How did the switch go? Did they give you any trouble over it?

[warfares]

No.

[ Not that he would have given them the option to refuse. He was wasted in the kitchens, had initially found the assignment an insult (even if it had given him access to knives, and had allowed him a chance to become familiar with the layout of the several food stores) but had bit his tongue, offering as compelling an argument as he could muster, and had been re-assigned. ]

I made a compelling argument and there are more than enough of us in the kitchens.

[cronusian]

[Hux makes a face at the mention of the kitchens. He fully intends to shift his own career as well, barely present for his current one as it was.]

Good to know they can be made to see logic from time to time. It spells promise for the outcome, if this experiment goes well.

[warfares]

[ One had to wonder what went through the head of whoever decided the job assignments--if indeed any thought had gone into it at all.

Much of what he had seen of the community so far (and the absence of anything resembling law enforcement had been a pretty significant red flag) had lead him to conclude that more than just living under the constant fear of death these people had no real idea of how to govern themselves. ]

It's in their interest to be accommodating, [ he points out, ] and I doubt they care where we are as long as we contribute in some meaningful way.

[cronusian]

They need to learn to organize themselves and conduct their affairs in a more efficient manner.

[Hux would put more energy into making that happen if he had any desire to remain on this planet or in charge of these people. As it is, he doesn't want to govern their disorganized and frightened hermitage. He just wants to endear himself to them enough to more concretely ensure his own survival until he could get back to the First Order]

Stay here, keep working on the maps. I am going to make arrangements.

[Said as he quietly packs up his things. He has a dog to locate, and materials to gather.]