Epilogue

Nov. 24th, 2018 11:34 pm
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Welcome to Cartesio!
You open your eyes and see the ceiling of the lodge. There is no real sensation of having slept, but you're still feeling rested. Sitting up, you can see that the building around you is in ruins. Dust and dirt dominate your environment. Around you, there are familiar people - some of them you've been with up until now, some of them you have been brutally forced to part with weeks ago. They all look alright, a little confusion aside.

From a corner of the room, you can hear the soft whirring of a machine. Upon examination, you can see that it's 3D-printing more gelatinous bodies like you've seen earlier today. Every body that is dispensed from the machine is a safe haven for another mind from the simulation, another mind to join your ranks as real people.

After you've adjusted to the new situation and left the lodge, you find yourself greeted with perfect sunshine. There's a town welcoming you, friendly and peaceful. Though it is more modern than what you are used to, there is no mistaking it.

Cartesio, Nevada, welcomes you.

You're new people, in a new world. Every chance it has to offer is open for you.

cartesio: (Sergeant)
[personal profile] cartesio


Final Trial
It takes a few minutes after everyone talks with the generic mannequin. The easygoing conversation, the bragging from Gant, Keith's exasperation, it all stops when a very heavy and ominous presence fills the room.
"I think it's about time this circus stopped"


It's the Sergeant. He's standing on the doorway, arms crossed. The shadows on his face wriggle, he seems to be rather furious, but is restraining himself from lashing out
"I should have guessed you bunch would take advantage of all that noise and ruckus to sneak in here. I was careless, I admit. 'Oh, this is over in like four hours, it will be okay if I step away to deal with that'. Careless."


Slowly the Sergeant enters the workshop. Behind him, the door slowly disappears, fading away, until where the door was now there's only a smooth wall. The Sergeant raises an arm, the entire room shakes.

All the mannequins fly up to the ceiling, the one that was now Damon Gant turned back into the empty husk the mannequin was before. The one with a t-pose has the same fate. Once all the mannequins are up on the ceiling, the operation tables are uprooted, bolts and screws flying around. The tables are twisted in the air, formed into knots, disassembled and assembled all over again, until several rustic podiums are formed and deposited on the ground.

Seven podiums, with him at the center. The Sergeant crosses his arms and speaks:
"Get on those spots. Tell me... ...how much do you know?"


Is it a rhetorical question? Who knows. You still have to answer, though


cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Final Investigation
It's Friday. It's the last day marked in your calendar. Presumably, the few without medals will leave at some point today, and the rest...you're not sure what'll happen to you, but it'll be what the Sergeant wants.

How to defy him when you have so little time left?

Whatever plan you had today, it's guaranteed it won't go like expected. Early in the morning, the ground rumble slightly, and something pops in the sky. Fireworks! One after another, blasts from firework spread through the sky. Many of the residents of Cartesio come to the street, gathering and making all the noise they can.

It's a very radical change of behavior, compared to the once peaceful demeanor they had, and then the hostile behavior showed towards the visitors, but now they're making hubbub and causing disorder. Everyone does it spontaneously, and nobody's approaching the motel at all.

At least none of the townspeople.

Not long after that started, you may hear the noise of horns and whistles from vehicles, right outside the motel. Go take a look?

Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio

Last Week
With the weekend's latest tragedy, a strange mood has descended over Cartesio. What happened was unprecedented, and perhaps that's why the already decreasing hostility from the townsfolk comes to a complete halt. Could it be the strange circumstances? Bolin's desperate plea? Last week's peaceful Wednesday? Some combination? Whatever the reason, it's clear that the Sergeant's iron fist around the town has loosened. While the residents aren't jumping to interact with you, there's no graffiti, no new broken windows.

Cartesio is confused...but open to explanation, for perhaps the first time.

Still, while the town seems amiable, almost accepting again, there's little to chase away the knowledge that the Sergeant's tasks for you are near their end, and that means those without medals are doomed to their fate.

Or does it? After everything that's turned around, is it possible for you to claw your way out of here as well?

Links
[Welcome to the final week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]
clearities: (pic#12014205)
[personal profile] clearities
[ so how is everyone doing today? pretty badly, I'd assume, but there's so little of them left, not to mention that Bolin is going to get executed because of an accident. on top of that, there's the confusion coming from the public.

so what's going on.

today's going to be a little different - as Sakura seeks everyone out. she knows it's tough, but given the circumstances, she wants to invite everyone to meet her in front of the police station.

yeah.

we're having a jail cell afterparty, apparently. oh, and she's brought pancakes because... you all probably need that after. All of This. of course people can always ignore her request and just go somewhere else, but where are you tonight? ]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 7: Trial


   
Just like last week, the pile of votes appear in front of the Sergeant, who counts them with practiced ease. He stands up as soon as he's done, pausing for only a moment, before making his announcement.

The results are in.


Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 7: Trial


When everyone arrives at the trial room, the tribunes are already filled with townspeople. Until now, the public had been so angry, waiting to see what the outsiders would do. Now they're calmer. Not indifferent, just waiting to see what will happen.

There are so few of you left. So few people, surrounded by a town that once hated you, and now don't know what to think. Will this trial change their opinions of you again?

Maybe that doesn't matter. You're here to solve a murder, after all.
"Today the victim is Kinzie Kensington. This may be the last chance any of you get the chance to earn a medal. Let's see if this culprit gets away with it successfully."

You receive your list of suspects. Five small photos appear on the podiums.

            

"When it's time, you shall cast your vote. It has been a while since there was one culprit."

The trial room went completely silent, all the visitors can feel the attentive stares of the townspeople gathered to watch. It's up to them now to find the culprit.

Let the trial begin.


Links

[Welcome to the trial! Please remember to cash your votes here!. Your deadline is 8:00 PM EST. Good luck!]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 7: Investigation
The night comes and goes. Whether it's quiet is anyone's guess, but the sun rises as usual, though blocked partially by cloud.

The Sergeant's weekly endeavor destroy your reputation seems to have backfired. Another ghostly communication resulted in some emotional catharsis, for some of you. Perhaps there's the sense that things may be improving...

...But the threat to keep your loved ones here still hangs heavy in the air. It's not just your lives on the line, not anymore. That must be on everyone's minds. By sunset today, Cartesio's set to have a whole bunch of new residents, if the Sergeant has anything to say about it. On top of that, your deadline to receive a medal's almost up.

For that reason, despite the steps forward you've made this week, Friday's sunrise brings dread. What chances are there that all of you are still alive? Do you even want that, with the Sergeant's over your heads?

Whatever your feelings are, the town still beckons to you. Investigate, if you feel up to it.

Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio

Seventh Week
The tense truce that had covered Cartesio was over. The town, feeling betrayed after having given a chance to the outsiders, pushed back. Enraged, they started getting even more daring, starting to get into the tourists' only safe haven: their motel rooms. They don't manage to break in, but it's not unusual to hear thumping on the doors, someone trying to get in. The windows are almost perpetually broken, there's so much graffiti on the ground floor of the motel, both inside and outside, it's hard to know what each one is saying. Can't be anything good, that's the only thing that's certain. The lounge's furniture has been tore to pieces, the lobby only has the guestbook intact, and the planters in middle of the motel are broken, the soil and plants strewn around.

The residents of Cartesio are near their breaking point. The despair, fury, and desire to get rid of the outsiders so everyone can return to their peaceful lives, have covered the town. It won't take long before they reach their breaking point, and if they do...what will happen to the visitors?

The Sergeant's grip on the town is total, and next week is the one marked as END. It seems like there's no way out, like the Sergeant won.

But you can't lose hope. You have to remember: now that you're on your darkest hour, the only way lef to go is upwards. Things can get better, you have to make it happen!

In the lobby of the motel there's a few more brochures, and the maps have been updated once again. Don't mind that some of them have been damaged in one of the attacks on the motel.

Links
[Welcome to the seventh week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]
robitussin: (pic#12583096)
[personal profile] robitussin
[Their numbers keep falling. Three people have died already this week, with two more on the way tomorrow. With the outburst the townspeople gave them once the results came through... If anyone were feeling downhearted, it's to be expected at this point. Things continuing at their current pace is a frightening thought, after all. Like last week, the offer to spend time together or meet in a central location doesn't come.

Hawks and Dabi wait for the morning in their cells, but the rest of the tourists are free to wander about the town as they please; free to rest, to talk with each other, and to try to gather strength wherever they can. So, where does the evening find you, Cartesio?]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 6: Trial


       
Everything is deadly silent while the Sergeant counts the votes. It's a foregone conclusion, but he does it slowly and calmly.

The results are in.


Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 6: Trial


   
The atmosphere at the courtroom is different this time. Although people are filling the tribunes, not everyone seems to be furious with the outsiders. Some are scowling and looking at them with outrage, others are cautiously wary of them. Unhappy, but not about to snap anyone's neck.

The Sergeant waited until everyone was at their spots, and counted them:
"Our numbers are dwindling. It's surprising, I admit. I thought there'd be more of you at this point"

Not that it's inconvenient. It's just surprising. The number of podiums belonging to the deceased prove just how many have perished. Several of you may be feeling a bit lonely in the sea of black velvet.

"Wayne Uedera, Osamu Dazai. They're the victims this time. Good luck, everybody. Here's my help to you all, like last time, vote for as many as you consider necessary:


            


Let the trial begin.


Links

[Welcome to the trial! Please remember to cast your votes here!. Your deadline is 8:00 PM EST. Good luck!]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 6: Investigation
At around 2 in the morning, a steady rain of hail started to cover the town of Cartesio. The night continued, however, with the motel unbothered, aside from the plink-plink on the roof and windows.

This morning, you'll find the weather's started to let up, though the streets are still blanketed by hail. Mercifully, that's all that's outside the motel this morning. No corpses, no robot remains. That alone should make you feel better, right?

But no. It seems...the town's very alert this morning. There's a strange energy in the air, not just from the Sergeant's horrible threat. Something's off in Cartesio, and you probably recognize that feeling. This has happened four times before, after all.

Investigate?

Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio

Sixth Week
Killers and victims, killers and victims. Three of your own have fallen prey to murderous intent last week. Your numbers keep shrinking. Azura has fallen prey to Franciscus in the same night that Olympia betrayed her friend Millium and killed Cian who wound up in the crossfire. At this rate, is there anyone you can trust?

The townspeople's anger burns hotter than ever. Wherever they go, must they live in fear of stumbling on a corpse? They can't live like this. More than ever, the visitors are being shown that they are unwelcome.

Walking outdoors, cold looks are the norm. Shouted profanity isn't unexpected. Barely anybody is willing to still hold a conversation with any visitors.

Even within the motel, there is no feeling of safety any longer. Not only have two people died in this very place, no, now the townspeople also lost their fear of coming inside. While they don't enter private rooms, the daring among them vent their hatred of you by vandalizing the common rooms.

Cartesio has become a menacing place.

In the lobby of the motel there's a few more brochures, and the maps have been updated once again. Don't mind that some of them have been damaged in one of the attacks on the motel.

Links
[Welcome to the sixth week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]
robitussin: (Default)
[personal profile] robitussin
[Another week draws to a close, but as more culprits are led away, something is different all the same. After this particular trial, perhaps it's not a surprise that there's no note or offer to meet in a specific place tonight. Can any of them say they have any energy or desire to do something like that at a time like this? The place they regrouped last Saturday evening stands there, burned nearly beyond recognition, and the townspeople look at them with the distrust that's been steadily building. Not to mention... Those are the least of the losses they've faced in the last few days.

Of course, even as so much changes day by day, the town remains, with plenty of places for people to go if they don't want to stay inside the motel. Where can you be found tonight?]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 5: Trial


               
The bailiffs enter the courtroom back while the Sergeant counts the votes. None of the townspeople are in the room right now, it's just the visitors and the Sergeant.

The results are in.


Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 5: Trial


      
Last time it was at dawn. Now it's at sunset. The Sergeant gave everyone plenty of time to investigate and gather evidence, and now that everyone entered the courtroom, he slammed his gavel.
"I can sense a few of you are feeling rather hostile. Remember you're in a courtroom, and you're being watched by everyone in town"

People's opinions of the visitors are already very low, but there's no need to feed them further with a brawl in the courtroom -- or so the Sergeant thinks. There are more podiums draped in black now. Five more people died, seventeen people are alive. How many will be left once the trial is over?

"This time we have three victims in total. Millium Orion, Cian Reikado, and Azura were the unfortunate victims last night, and now you shall debate and decide who is responsible for this.

These are your suspects. Vote for as many as you think are responsible for these crimes"


            


Let the trial begin.


Links

[Welcome to the trial! Please remember to cast your votes here!. Your deadline is 8:00 PM EST. Good luck!]
cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Week 5: Investigation
You wake to the heat breaking in the morning. It's actually morning, bright. Sunny. Probably all of you are pleased to have gotten through the night with sleep, or at least with no sudden gunshots and impromptu investigation.

Cherish that brief bliss. Enjoy your morning routine, as long as it's in the motel. Once you leave the motel, you see, it's obvious something awful's happened again. Someone has taken the Sergeant's bait.

Because, right outside the very door of the building you sleep in, there's a broken body to greet you.

Links

cartesio: (Default)
[personal profile] cartesio


Fifth Week
Everything's getting worse. Rose Nylund and Frasier Crane murdered Jughead Jones during the event Jughead worked so hard to organize. Given some of the townspeople were in attendance, it didn't give a good impression -- if the visitors did this when trying to be good people and get along with Cartesio, then how will they behave once they get into destroying everything? The cruel method of Jughead's death also left everyone quite horrified, too.

That may be why it's no surprise the town's quiet unrest is slowly turning into real, tangible fury.

During the week, from time to time stones break some of the windows of the motel, looking outside shows a random passerby running away. Graffiti is left on the walls: 'SEE IF YOU LIKE THIS' 'MURDERERS' 'YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY US ALL', and other similar messages. Some of the store owners hesitate when the visitors approach, but they don't refuse service because money is always nice.

The Sergeant's pervasive influence is starting to cover not only you, but also the entire town of Cartesio. After all, everything that's happening to you and the motel? It's the result of what you and the other visitors have done.

In the lobby of the motel there's a few more brochures, and the maps have been updated once again.

Links
[Welcome to the fifth week! If you want to contact the Sergeant, please post here!. Also please remember to submit your activity check!]
odasaku: (49)
[personal profile] odasaku
[ well, that was definitely A Trial.

however, oda understands that everyone must be feeling a little heavy, considering the death of someone like jughead and whatever bullshit dazai said earlier.

so, at everyone's door is a note that says the following:

If you don't want to be alone, come to the diner.

There's food.


oda himself is at the diner, although there's no food on his table, nor is he being a very good host of a party. he's just sitting alone at a table next to a window, staring out of it in deep thought. ]