001 | text (so sorry)

[murderingjustice]

Afternoon everyone.

Now that we've had time to recover and collect ourselves after the recent expedition I believe we ought to breakdown the events and our discoveries. Sharing our information might as well be the essential for us to figure out the true nature of this world and uncover the truth behind the events occurring here.



For those who decided to stay behind: during the expedition with the fairies we came across two types of 'creatures.' Let's call them group A and group B for time being. The group A were clearly humanoid and harmless at first. That being said, they did seem to be covered with set of markings, similarly to 'brands' that appeared among us 'The Chosen.' Group B were more mutated and only vaguely reminded human. They appeared from the shadows. They were actively hostile and aggressive towards the fairies -- and by the extension us. They also seemed to have some level of control over group A.

Some of us were able to 'save' them through either selfless acts or reuniting them with items from the deserted apartments. Group A seems to have returned back to their previous forms, even if their minds don't seem to be quite there yet. But group B simply faded away.

Now, what makes this interesting is the language fairies used to when addressing these creatures. At first, their leader called them 'people' before correcting himself and later used a word 'the infected' to describe group A. Honestly, this leads me to a following hypothesis:

The group B were once humans just like group A. They both were 'infected' with a similar if not the same ailment as the ones with the Brands did. If this is correct it seems like there are at least three stages to infection:
1. A contamination. This is where the brands/markings appear
2. Activation of the ailment. I believe that in this stage the infection has spread to a person's brain, causing them to act hostile.
3. Mutation. Rather self-explanatory. This is the last stage of the infection and the point where the person is beyond salvation.

If my hypothesis is correct it leaves the following questions: what is this 'infection' and where did it originate from? why were the shape of the brand extremely personal to its bearer? why is it the act of the kindness that seem to lift the ailments? are the other variations of the 'infection'?

The last question makes me think of the reported odd behavior of the locals living in Aldrip. If they are beginning to act strangely and similarly lose memories and traces of self we can't overlook the possibility of the whole branding-event occurring again.

That is all I have at the moment. If you have anything to do add I'm all ears.

Goro Akechi.

Comments

not here

[grappler]

he hates u so

[murderingjustice]

Text

[whatsamada]

That is generous of you to give all of this information to us.

Although, I wonder what does it have to do with us being here.

[murderingjustice]

there isn't much to be gained from withholding this information

but that still is a mystery. I can't help but think that our presence here is a test of some kind.

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[rebellions]

[ So here's a problem: Ragna wants to find out what the hell is really going on here, but he's... not that great at figuring shit like that out. His eyes glaze over as he goes over that wall of text, only feeling frustration as none of this makes much sense to him.

There is, however, one part that's caught his attention in particular. ]

hold the fucking phone. you mean people who came here, chosen or whatever they call us, have been infected like that before?

and that we could end up like group b?

[ He appreciates the naming, by the way. The less they're referred to as you-know-what, the better. ]

[murderingjustice]

[See. This is what happens when there's no records over the events!!]

Yes. Some of us "Chosen" we're plagued by sudden brands a few months ago. I'm not entirely sure of the details but it seems like they were spread by a group of cultists who were worshiping a some kind of.. eldritch monster who ended up having a control over those with the brands, making them act against their will.

The branded ones were all cured through a similar methods as the ones we met in the desert: by a selfless acts.

This whole event is the reason why the town and forest are in a bad shape.

And as for whether we'll face the same fate as group B.. I don't know. But it's a possibility.

[nullificates]

look at our kid detective, all taking lead and all!

[murderingjustice]

[SON OF A---]

did you have anything to add, dazai-san?

here but not here.

[opheliac]

( she doesn't know any of these people, but reading this long conversation about killing and fucking and bedmates is a fun read! it goes very well with snacks. )

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[darkdisgrace]

Thanks for all this. It's good to have everything written down in one place for future reference. And I don't think we can discount this shit happening more often in the future, considering the circumstances.

Also what do you need, just tell me you'll get it faster than trying to pry it out of Dazai. He's broke as shit and I don't just mean his morals.

[nullificates]

i fucking hate you absolutely not

[murderingjustice]

it's only my thoughts so far. but i do believe it would be highly benefiting to all of us to have some kind of documents regarding the past events and strange occurrences regarding our world.

he broke into my room last month and took all my painkillers. i need a refill.

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[grappler]

you get pissed off when i tell you you're a nerd.

but all i'm seeing and hearing is nerd shit. but i guess i'll read it.

[murderingjustice]

trying to figure out our situation is hardly "nerd shit"

text here comes someone with a braincell

[caregives]

I didn't get to examine many of the branded when the people among us were turned, but it didn't seem if I could heal them from their infection. I think it's something to be noted.

I wonder what was so different about our instance, that was the end result. I haven't noticed anyone ailing from it since then.

the mommy arrives

[murderingjustice]

yes, it seems like the ones among us have either been healed from the ailment or it has gone 'dormant.' i would still be wary. after all, we don't know what's currently affecting the locals.

you have healing abilities, i take it?

Video

[beshackled]

I, too, noticed the change in language used to address what are likely the infected. I asked him about it, and whether the beings he spoke of were once people. The answer I received was... inconclusive, neither a confirmation nor a denial.

I did not pick up any of the items, so I cannot offer anything but questions. The items given to those that were calmed... did they hold any significance, perhaps? Was there anything about those items that allowed them to pacify those infected to whom the items were returned? The fairy served as our primary guide did say items have power. That would suggest that there is more to the riddle of their situation than the presence or absence of acts of kindness.

[murderingjustice]

i did not converse with the fairies myself. they didn't really seem to be thrilled about sharing any information.

another person also pointed out that there could be more to it than just 'an act of kindness', after all -- now that we know the mechanic we could just place a performance without sincere intentions. this could be a sign that we are dealing with two different variations of the same illness.

text;

[bulleting]

I wasn't here when everyone encountered those branded the first time, but I was a part of the team that investigated this new place. Everything you said sounds very reasonable from what I experienced there. It's all very strange. Vi spoke of the creature that you all had to defeat, and the branded being freed afterwards. But I saw no signs of any creature like that, just that the city was nothing but dust and rubble. Which makes me wonder if it wasn't desert once. Perhaps it was like Aldrip, bursting with life, but something similar happened, where a creature branded those there and left it desecrated.

[murderingjustice]

I thought that too. A great amount of time must have passed since the events at the desert. The state of buildings and decor within the apartments did seem to have suffered from the passage of time.

Do you think it's possible for the creature to have affected the environment, too?

text;

[entreats]

It's the 'act of kindness' thing that bothers me the most, honestly.

[ Not that this entire story isn't kind of bothersome, especially since Ange has been considering some of its implications already ever since what happened out there in the first place..

But, you know. If she had to pick one thing. ]

That being what cures it seems so unrealistic. It's like something straight out of a fairytale, or a story for little kids. Kindness and friendship saving the day or whatever.

[murderingjustice]

that is rather cynical of you.

[but he's there right with you.]

isn't our situation like from a story already? Being spirited away to another world while being accused of arbitrary crimes, told to follow the fairies to deserted town and save lost souls with our love.

[baldrshand]

Selfless acts, again....

I wonder if that means the creature that attacked Aldrip made a successful attack on the desert town. Maybe it was fertile and pleasant like here... they just weren't capable of driving it back like we were.

[murderingjustice]

that could very well be it. it leaves us with another question, however: was this work of the same creature or are there several ones?

[breakin_ur_lore]

If that's what happens when the "infection" progresses, then I'm glad we were able to cure the Branded among us before it got to that point...

Maybe the cure has something to do with our...status as criminals?

[murderingjustice]

care to elaborate further on that thought?