Did you inquire with Goat shortly afterward? [also - ] He may have warned you this already, but don't give your team out to more than three people each week. This makes you my second and it caught me off-guard, so it's safer if you prepare for surprises.
I did. Ah... my apologies. [ his apology is very sincere, and he gives a brief bow. ] Brother Goat had mentioned that they are only allowed to give out one hint or so about teammates in a week, and you were the answer to the hint I was given... I didn't want to waste it.
I've picked out three people to tell, but you're the first one I've gotten the chance to speak to so far. [ gestures in notifs are broken i swear i asked on sunday, ] Else the realm could possibly be destabilized, right?
You needn't apologize, simply be more cautious about putting people in situations where they must confirm their team.
[but soo-won was very cautious so he doesn't seem to mind so long as xl's careful in the future.]
But that's correct. So you've spoken to him and know that he's gotten his memories back, correct? Did you have a conversation about the people who might be 'removed'?
[ he echoes the wording from before, with a little smile. ] I learned what happens to them when they are 'removed', if that's what you are trying to get to. That they are not as gone as death would lend us to believe.
[ . . . . . . he hums thoughtfully at that, before proceeding onward:]
That's information that all the current Leaders possess, I believe. However what I'm seeking to confirm is whether all Leaders know the next portion - which is that it's possible to bring them back, though it may come at a price. Hikaru came running to me on Sunday with this information and I haven't asked her to confirm, but I believe she's Goat as well for this reason. While I respect her trust in me, I also think that we need to exercise caution in spreading the information that it's possible to bring people back. Even if it's a marker of hope, it's also one that could encourage others to kill because they believe it impermanent.
But since we do not yet know the trials we need to go through in order to bring others back, I'd like to retrieve that information first.
Goat confirmed for me that the blinking icon means that they had memories returned to them - which may be tied to murder. My next search is for someone on a different team who may have had their icons blinking as well.
At present, I know someone on each team - so I need to confirm with them whether their icon was blinking this past Sunday or not. If not, then I believe we can begin working on a theory where the killers we missed - whether that be one or two - are on Goat's team. At present, Swan and Rabbit's icons were not behaving oddly on Sunday. I need to confirm with Tiger, Wolf, and Fox if that was the same for them.
Finally, Wolf's team receives items each week - though lately they seem largely for decoration rather than function. Thus I believe that if a team is at the top ranked spot, they will gain the same prize benefit.
Thus if you hear about any of these pieces, you can get an idea of which team someone may be on, but not require them to confirm.
[xie lian confirmed that soo-won was a king
so now he's going full king and strategist i'm sorry]
[ xie lian listens closely, nodding along with everything soo won says. he has many questions of his own. ]
I agree. [ about the death thing, especially. ] I spoke with Miss Hikaru about it as well - she was distraught, and I had cautioned her of the same thing. I haven't told anyone about it yet, short of that conversation, and now this one... and I was seeking out to confirm the blinking icons as well, but I haven't found out any information that you haven't, unfortunately. I'll do my best to keep my ear to the ground for any further information, though, and see if we can't start to get an idea of who goes where.
[ it's heartening to know someone else is working on it, though. the prize thing is new - he taps his chin, thoughtfully. ]
.... are you sure that the items are only decorative? Could they be perhaps related to memories? Or... perhaps an item with a lengthened time limit, similar to what we received for participating in that simulation last week? The item that I received for that only functions for 24 hours, for example, when used, but... I know someone who may have been affected by something similar, and it's now been longer than 24 hours since it started.
I also confirmed that you and I had a large boon on the raising of Goat's position last week as well, because of our encounter with the monsters, but I came to the same conclusion that you did, though... because we were unable to learn of it until Sunday, I wanted to include Miss Jeanne as possibly a member of Goat's team, as well.
[ he says the last bit, and his mouth pulls a little, unhappily. ] ...Because, even if she was not a killer on Thursday night, she still would've participated in creating a burst of nova, even though it was not by choice.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU TELL he looks quietly exhausted at this]
... did she just ignore Goat's request....
[to keep it hush hush he hates this.
anyway that's going to make him sigh for a bit - ]
Ah, the first week was decorative, the second week included an item related to memories. But you mention that someone might've been... affected by something? Could you tell me more? The reason being - I've found myself sharing more about myself this week, often out of character for me. It's largely innocuous, but it's something that I've noticed as an oddity about myself.
[he listens along, before adding:]
Goat clarified to me that whatever nova is generated by killings is likely less than we think, even if you do believe Jeanne might be part of our team. They said that primarily it's created by trials and what happens on Wednesdays, given the strong amounts of emotion. Though we generated less nova this past given Saturday because we were incorrect in our choice for who committed the murder.
If you'd like me to ask Jeanne, I can. I believe she'd tell me.
[ it's okay, he also looks gently exhausted. he rubs briefly between his eyebrows with two fingers. ]
...I scolded her for it, a little. She did agree with me that it would be best not to tell others who might use it as an advantage, so...
[ so...hopefully...that was it... sighs.
anyway! as they continue, xie lian nods again, but that gently exhausted feeling doesn't go away. ] ...Two people who have gotten along very, very well up until Tuesday evening are suddenly not getting along at all. It's been more than 24 hours - and the mere mention of the name of one in front of the other causes... well, if it continues to last like I think it will, it will become quite obvious what it causes.
[ scratch "gently exhausted". he is so tired. ] I expect I will have to work with someone else to keep them separated on Saturday, if it continues in the direction that is going. [ SIGHS. ] I don't think any drastic actions will come of it, but it will certainly be distracting.
...As for Miss Jeanne, I trust your judgement well - if it becomes important, we can try to find out, so I leave that up to you if you'd like to or not. [ a pause. ] Though, on that same note, for emotions at the trial... I wonder if that would apply to emotions at the execution as well? Executing someone innocent is a traumatic event to say the least, and watching the ensuing fight...
...Well, it may be good, just in case. Like you, I'd like to narrow down the field of the last week as soon as possible - success can be emboldening.
he doesn't say this because he's a good and polite boy so he moves on. rather he listens curiously at that, raising a brow.]
.... if I may, who are they? I'll assist where I can, and can pretend as though I'm not familiar with the situation if that helps. However being prepared for this might allow us to keep from getting distracted. It may also help prevent them from painting targets on one another's backs.
[he doesn't want any shitty shitty surprises wow]
Mm, that's possible. I think that's when more nova is generated, though Goat mentioned that Saturdays and Wednesdays are typically the highest points of generating nova. Though there's a chance that bonds between ourselves and with our Leaders may also contribute to certain points being created for the scoreboard.
[at the mention of narrowing down the field, he nods his head]
We'll determine exactly what has to be done based on how many bodies we find - though my hope is that it goes back down to only one. Two made it difficult for us to focus last week, but if it is two, we need to divide ourselves quickly in terms of responsibilities so that we don't get muddled.
Claude and San La - erm. Hua Cheng. It's really quite odd - they were as thick as thieves last week, and San Lang's not really one to make friends, so I thought... [ he's so fussy over the both of them, actually, but that's besides the point. ] ...well, anyway. He is also not likely to suddenly despise someone, especially with no reason. I tried to speak with them both, and I can handle distracting him, but any help with Claude would be appreciated, too... I was going to ask Miss Hilda as well, today.
...Actually, Claude was acting strangely last week, as well. Almost as if someone had placed a spell on him.
[ the divide and conquer stuff we will get to but this is more important atm ]
[ . . . . . ah. he blinks at this before huffing out a breath.]
Mm. Hilda and Claude are familiar with one another, yes? That girl likes to make play as though she isn't reliable, but that should be effective enough this week. Though that does make me wonder what the purpose of this could be....
[why bother with something so early? is it to create distractions during trial and divide them? his emotions turn contemplative, analytical, and ready to consider worst case scenarios but that will continue to thrum in the background in a steady flow]
Interesting... We'll have to look into it and consider the possibility of either Leader powers at play or that those among us have special abilities that they aren't disclosing freely.
Leader powers... [ xie lian taps his chin. ] Goat told me that they had an ability, but it was one they had before this place. I also did learn that they have the can use the Realm to gift certain abilities, although I don't know much about it.
...If that's the case, then there are three at least that I'm aware of. This power to make people dislike each other, the one that affected you and caused you to share, and then, the power to give someone short term memory loss. I think they wear off on Sunday, as well, compared to our items, which I believe only last for a day. What happened to Kano, both times, was directly related to an item - I know both of those things for sure.
I wonder if they have a time limit. [ because he's thinking of the purpose, too... ] Again, a bit like the item - that perhaps it has to be used before a certain time, or else it loses its effectiveness? That is entirely speculation, of course...
Goat possesses more than one ability - they can summon ice, enter dreams, control space in the sense of teleportation, and reduce anything to ashes. None of them seem to be abilities that can tamper with one's mind - and most of those abilities also existed before the Realm. However to make things even, the Realm also granted abilities to Leaders who did not possess them before. It's confirmed that they all have an element - Wolf has fire and I believe that Fox has wind, based on what I saw yesterday.
I've asked those on other teams to inquire about their leaders' powers and report back to me.
[SOO-WON your INFORMATION NETWORK
anyway]
Mm, that's harder to clarify. At the very least, the powers that last longer than a day aren't related to teams, given that nothing's been granted to Wolf's team or us and we're in the top three spots. So it may be something else that allows them to have access to greater abilities.
It may have something to do with the stones that we were granted last week, but we'd need to perform a complete inventory of what they can do at trial and also trust that no one is opting to lie about theirs.
Mm, I knew about the dreams-- Goat is really a very impressive person!
[ xie lian loves goat, actually, if that is not blatantly obvious. they get along very well, for a whole lot of reasons. it's gross. ] That does seem fair, though.
I agree with you, though, that they may not be team related. Or... if they are, maybe the Leaders could only grant a certain number of them per team? And also, I wonder if the people who are using such abilities know necessarily who to target, in terms of the team-based nature of this place. [ he hums, tapping his nose again. ] It's hard to really know when we're only just laying the frameworks of knowledge down.
I can confirm at least four of the stones from last week, on the other hand, and that each of them was supposed to only last for a day. That does include my own, and they're from reliable sources... though with so many of us, I don't know if four is enough for a pattern.
But... it does seem that these... they remind me of curses, from my own land. Each one could be detrimental to someone, or act as a type of sabotage. And... it does seem to fall in line with another theory I've heard, about why murders are being committed in the first place.
[soo-won laughs a little bit at that and doesn't even bother to hide - ]
I think they're more cute than impressive, but I do like them very much.
[HE LOVES THIS DAMN GOAT SO MUCH. the idea of goat overhearing this conversation only seems to add to soo-won's amusement]
But that seems correct. Tomorrow we should do an open request to see what all the stones do regardless, and then we'll determine whether any of their effects could be traced to people's behavior just to eliminate it. Once that truth is discerned, we can move on to other ideas such as it being a Leader's power or a participant's power.
Mine seems... rather purposeful, given the weekend and how people seem to be rather cross with me for not sharing my condition - but it's hard for me to discern a reason as to why Hua Cheng and Claude are beginning to oppose one another.
Perhaps because they both seem rather insightful, and thus they could pin the blame on one another? Or would it be to pull away from those very same accusations when there could be truth to them come Saturday?
It's hard to say until we know what might pass this week.
[ i hope that goat is watching them and knows that they are very loved. we stan you, goat! the comment makes xie lian smile. ] I do, too.
[ anyway beyond goat stanning ] Hm... do you think perhaps yours was by an ally, and not by someone who saw you as an enemy? [ thoughtfully. ] That's sweet, if a bit misguided. [ let soo-won have his pride 2k20... ] We could probably safely eliminate anyone who was in our group. It would be good to find out which leaders they were with, if possible, since you said the Wednesdays tended to be the peak of nova...? Although I wouldn't be surprised if you'd already learned such information, Soo-won.
[ that was praise, 100%. ] I agree with you, though. Perhaps it would be best if we tried to find out such things individually, instead of in the setting of a large group, so that we might be able to discern the truth by checking the pairs. For instance, if I told you what mine did, and Miss Lup told you something different, you would know at least one of us was lying.
[ and... considering the last part makes xie lian frown. for a moment, his emotions read as... just a flicker of softly present fear. ]
San Lang did make his presence very visible, when he stepped up at the beginning of the week, and was quite forceful in getting things done at the trial, as well. Claude was ill this past weekend, and...as you've said, they're both very insightful.
I do think that someone--or, really, at least two someones, are targeting Claude, for one reason or another, but... I also know that in our land, San Lang has a reputation. He is one of the most widely feared beings in all of the three realms, and many gods especially find him an easy target because of it. There are many things that I know for a fact that he has not done, that have been pinned to him, simply because the name "Crimson Rain Sought Flower" is one that is seen as the scourge of the Heavens.
[ xie lian glances down at his hands, for a moment, folding his fingers together. ]
...but, I know what kind of person he is. If... if there was reasonable evidence that San Lang had done something wrong, then I would be the first person to step up and say so, and I would ask him to do the same for me. I like to think that the person that I am can stand for my own dedication to what is right, and what is wrong. I am more than willing to admit my own biases towards San Lang, but they come from the fact that I know him.
[ a pause, and his emotions go quiet, for a moment. vulnerable; worried. ] ...but, I would hate for someone to use him as a target for something he has not done here, too, simply because he looked like an easy person to pin a crime on.
[ and he admits to that little pulse of fearful emotion easily, honest. ] That is my biggest fear with what comes with these strange curses, this weekend.
Ah... [he shakes his head at that] I'm not interested in gathering many more alignments, in truth. I think that people should be allowed their secrets. I'm willing to perform trades, but given that I've gathered at least one person on every team thus far that I believe I can trust, that's all I need in order to search for what I desire.
[so he's completely swiveled around in terms of his priorities and focus, but he's not against information sharing at all! so there's that
that said soo-won listens, and he listens closely, before speaking - ]
Do you believe that those who have taken life here deserve death, and that their actions stems from malicious sentiments? There is a chance that perhaps some of them due, driven by a desire to regain what was important to them, if they noticed a memory that was gone.
That is where I'd like to begin questioning - we don't know this for certain, given that there is currently a theory that Virid was directed to kill. If he was ordered to do so and didn't see a reason to disagree, he implied that it was due to the fact that we have a greater enemy lurking than each other.
I understand what you're saying, and the belief that someone would willingly volunteer themselves for removal if they took a life. However I also think that we don't need to immediately condemn all acts of killing here as one driven by selfish motivations.
At the very least, not yet. So perhaps... that is my gentle challenge to you.
Someone may try to frame him, or he may take an action himself. We won't know until we actually end up in trial - but regardless even if I wish to find the truth of what happens....
I also don't think that those people deserve to die anymore than the rest of us, when none asked to be brought here.
...That is the theory that I have heard too, yes, with Virid. [ but. xie lian nods along, listening very carefully... and at the gentle challenge, he gives him a small smile, ducking his head. ]
I understand... I suppose it's hard not to be defensive. [ after all, he'd rather the whole world blame him for something, over hua cheng being blamed for doing nothing wrong. xie lian would sooner leap on a blade himself before he'd be the reason for san lang to be falsely accused of anything. ] If anything, I think both you and I can speak to what it feels like, when circumstances like those are out of our control.
[ considering. last week's entire fiasco. he doesn't mean that directly, of course; goat has informed him their situation was unique, in terms of revival, and he's sure soo-won already knows that, so. ] -- but, I don't disagree with you, either. I do think, ultimately, the loss of memory and the chance to gain it back is going to be what will motivate someone to act. Whether... whether that's from participant to participant, or from a leader to a participant, as well.
I won't make rash decisions when it comes to the fate of this place, nor the people here, whether that is inside a trial or outside of it. [ despite being A Protagonist, xie lian does have a good head on his shoulders, and he likes soo-won, and his take on the world. he must truly be a good king. (i'm ready for yona spoilers prove this assumption of mine deadass wrong.)
so, the words he says are just as candid, as honest. ] My only goal is to save as many people as possible - to find a way to restore the Realm as quickly as we can, and unravel the mysteries of this place for the good of us all. We cannot control our circumstances, or the actions of others: we can only control ourselves.
[ a pause. ] I do want to try to find out what's going on with Claude. For him to be targeted two weeks in a row by an item, or a curse, or whatever it may be -- that is worrying to me, San Lang aside.
Then our goals are in alignment. All that matters to me is ensuring the safety of everyone's homes, including my kingdom, and then allowing those here to be revived and also seek to go home however they can. I don't particularly have much interest in mysteries past that. The only reason why I consider it important to find whoever killed on any given week is that getting the answer right generates more nova than getting wrong.
[soo-won is at the end of the day someone who is practical. he likes all people, and he tries his hardest to understand them. in most cases, he succeeds. and so it's why it's hard for him to be blinded by idealism or black and white definitions of right and wrong.
rather, he'll just continue - ] It may be that Claude was accidentally targeted, unless someone truly has it out for him. It's worth investigating whether he's made any enemies, or perhaps even allies that don't know what the effects might be and are willing to believe he'll survive through whatever is thrown at him.
It's worth seeing where these powers even come from, and who holds them. I believe that the effect I carry is rather.... purposeful and intentional - but it's hard to say if others are the same.
[ there is a part of that that xie lian probably will never agree with - he will always care for finding the truth when it comes to the harm that even one person could face - but, he can see the big picture, too. his own hopes come with hundreds of years of experience, but his heart is still the same.
willing enough, maybe. or soft. either way. listening to soo-won, xie lian's mouth crooks up a little in a smile. ]
So we do. I'm happy to share anything I learn if it's helpful - and as such, if you learn of anything towards that goal that I might not have, I'd hope you would share it with me as well. I'll do my best to help where I can.
[ a beat. ] You know...your kingdom is very lucky to have you, Soo-won.
I hope you understand if I'm a bit slow to share all things at once with everyone - especially in cases where it might encourage people to take advantage of the circumstances and have more chances to harm others. There is also the way in which information circulates in this place.
All Leaders are aware of conversations that their members have - and so if I were to broadly share information immediately, then it would go against the intention of discovering what information the Leaders get on their own. We know what Goat told us, but I would rather see if one of Tiger's members could go to them and receive the same information first, or if it's truly exclusive to us.
But once I get a better grasp on that, then I think it'll be easier to share information. And between the two of us, there's nothing that Goat would want or care to hide anyway.
[he means well - he's someone who wants the happiness and safety of everyone involved here. but given his role, he's not someone who believes that the constant freedom of information is the way to do it, not when they're all still essentially strangers.
but to this much, he can agree]
But fufu, that's nice of you to say. I'm afraid I'm just one person making the best of what I have. That can go for anyone here.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[he seems to accept this! but he'll proceed on with questioning]
Did your PHS do anything strange on Sunday?
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It did. The symbol was blinking, right?
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Did you inquire with Goat shortly afterward? [also - ] He may have warned you this already, but don't give your team out to more than three people each week. This makes you my second and it caught me off-guard, so it's safer if you prepare for surprises.
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I did. Ah... my apologies. [ his apology is very sincere, and he gives a brief bow. ] Brother Goat had mentioned that they are only allowed to give out one hint or so about teammates in a week, and you were the answer to the hint I was given... I didn't want to waste it.
I've picked out three people to tell, but you're the first one I've gotten the chance to speak to so far. [ gestures in notifs are broken i swear i asked on sunday, ] Else the realm could possibly be destabilized, right?
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[but soo-won was very cautious so he doesn't seem to mind so long as xl's careful in the future.]
But that's correct. So you've spoken to him and know that he's gotten his memories back, correct? Did you have a conversation about the people who might be 'removed'?
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onto business. ] I have - about if those two events were related, right?
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Pardon my vagueness, but there's something I'm seeking to confirm about information that we receive.
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[ he echoes the wording from before, with a little smile. ] I learned what happens to them when they are 'removed', if that's what you are trying to get to. That they are not as gone as death would lend us to believe.
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That's information that all the current Leaders possess, I believe. However what I'm seeking to confirm is whether all Leaders know the next portion - which is that it's possible to bring them back, though it may come at a price. Hikaru came running to me on Sunday with this information and I haven't asked her to confirm, but I believe she's Goat as well for this reason. While I respect her trust in me, I also think that we need to exercise caution in spreading the information that it's possible to bring people back. Even if it's a marker of hope, it's also one that could encourage others to kill because they believe it impermanent.
But since we do not yet know the trials we need to go through in order to bring others back, I'd like to retrieve that information first.
Goat confirmed for me that the blinking icon means that they had memories returned to them - which may be tied to murder. My next search is for someone on a different team who may have had their icons blinking as well.
At present, I know someone on each team - so I need to confirm with them whether their icon was blinking this past Sunday or not. If not, then I believe we can begin working on a theory where the killers we missed - whether that be one or two - are on Goat's team. At present, Swan and Rabbit's icons were not behaving oddly on Sunday. I need to confirm with Tiger, Wolf, and Fox if that was the same for them.
Finally, Wolf's team receives items each week - though lately they seem largely for decoration rather than function. Thus I believe that if a team is at the top ranked spot, they will gain the same prize benefit.
Thus if you hear about any of these pieces, you can get an idea of which team someone may be on, but not require them to confirm.
[xie lian confirmed that soo-won was a king
so now he's going full king and strategist i'm sorry]
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I agree. [ about the death thing, especially. ] I spoke with Miss Hikaru about it as well - she was distraught, and I had cautioned her of the same thing. I haven't told anyone about it yet, short of that conversation, and now this one... and I was seeking out to confirm the blinking icons as well, but I haven't found out any information that you haven't, unfortunately. I'll do my best to keep my ear to the ground for any further information, though, and see if we can't start to get an idea of who goes where.
[ it's heartening to know someone else is working on it, though. the prize thing is new - he taps his chin, thoughtfully. ]
.... are you sure that the items are only decorative? Could they be perhaps related to memories? Or... perhaps an item with a lengthened time limit, similar to what we received for participating in that simulation last week? The item that I received for that only functions for 24 hours, for example, when used, but... I know someone who may have been affected by something similar, and it's now been longer than 24 hours since it started.
I also confirmed that you and I had a large boon on the raising of Goat's position last week as well, because of our encounter with the monsters, but I came to the same conclusion that you did, though... because we were unable to learn of it until Sunday, I wanted to include Miss Jeanne as possibly a member of Goat's team, as well.
[ he says the last bit, and his mouth pulls a little, unhappily. ] ...Because, even if she was not a killer on Thursday night, she still would've participated in creating a burst of nova, even though it was not by choice.
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HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU TELL he looks quietly exhausted at this]
... did she just ignore Goat's request....
[to keep it hush hush he hates this.
anyway that's going to make him sigh for a bit - ]
Ah, the first week was decorative, the second week included an item related to memories. But you mention that someone might've been... affected by something? Could you tell me more? The reason being - I've found myself sharing more about myself this week, often out of character for me. It's largely innocuous, but it's something that I've noticed as an oddity about myself.
[he listens along, before adding:]
Goat clarified to me that whatever nova is generated by killings is likely less than we think, even if you do believe Jeanne might be part of our team. They said that primarily it's created by trials and what happens on Wednesdays, given the strong amounts of emotion. Though we generated less nova this past given Saturday because we were incorrect in our choice for who committed the murder.
If you'd like me to ask Jeanne, I can. I believe she'd tell me.
[they get along well]
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...I scolded her for it, a little. She did agree with me that it would be best not to tell others who might use it as an advantage, so...
[ so...hopefully...that was it... sighs.
anyway! as they continue, xie lian nods again, but that gently exhausted feeling doesn't go away. ] ...Two people who have gotten along very, very well up until Tuesday evening are suddenly not getting along at all. It's been more than 24 hours - and the mere mention of the name of one in front of the other causes... well, if it continues to last like I think it will, it will become quite obvious what it causes.
[ scratch "gently exhausted". he is so tired. ] I expect I will have to work with someone else to keep them separated on Saturday, if it continues in the direction that is going. [ SIGHS. ] I don't think any drastic actions will come of it, but it will certainly be distracting.
...As for Miss Jeanne, I trust your judgement well - if it becomes important, we can try to find out, so I leave that up to you if you'd like to or not. [ a pause. ] Though, on that same note, for emotions at the trial... I wonder if that would apply to emotions at the execution as well? Executing someone innocent is a traumatic event to say the least, and watching the ensuing fight...
...Well, it may be good, just in case. Like you, I'd like to narrow down the field of the last week as soon as possible - success can be emboldening.
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he doesn't say this because he's a good and polite boy so he moves on. rather he listens curiously at that, raising a brow.]
.... if I may, who are they? I'll assist where I can, and can pretend as though I'm not familiar with the situation if that helps. However being prepared for this might allow us to keep from getting distracted. It may also help prevent them from painting targets on one another's backs.
[he doesn't want any shitty shitty surprises wow]
Mm, that's possible. I think that's when more nova is generated, though Goat mentioned that Saturdays and Wednesdays are typically the highest points of generating nova. Though there's a chance that bonds between ourselves and with our Leaders may also contribute to certain points being created for the scoreboard.
[at the mention of narrowing down the field, he nods his head]
We'll determine exactly what has to be done based on how many bodies we find - though my hope is that it goes back down to only one. Two made it difficult for us to focus last week, but if it is two, we need to divide ourselves quickly in terms of responsibilities so that we don't get muddled.
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Claude and San La - erm. Hua Cheng. It's really quite odd - they were as thick as thieves last week, and San Lang's not really one to make friends, so I thought... [ he's so fussy over the both of them, actually, but that's besides the point. ] ...well, anyway. He is also not likely to suddenly despise someone, especially with no reason. I tried to speak with them both, and I can handle distracting him, but any help with Claude would be appreciated, too... I was going to ask Miss Hilda as well, today.
...Actually, Claude was acting strangely last week, as well. Almost as if someone had placed a spell on him.
[ the divide and conquer stuff we will get to but this is more important atm ]
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Mm. Hilda and Claude are familiar with one another, yes? That girl likes to make play as though she isn't reliable, but that should be effective enough this week. Though that does make me wonder what the purpose of this could be....
[why bother with something so early? is it to create distractions during trial and divide them? his emotions turn contemplative, analytical, and ready to consider worst case scenarios but that will continue to thrum in the background in a steady flow]
Interesting... We'll have to look into it and consider the possibility of either Leader powers at play or that those among us have special abilities that they aren't disclosing freely.
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...If that's the case, then there are three at least that I'm aware of. This power to make people dislike each other, the one that affected you and caused you to share, and then, the power to give someone short term memory loss. I think they wear off on Sunday, as well, compared to our items, which I believe only last for a day. What happened to Kano, both times, was directly related to an item - I know both of those things for sure.
I wonder if they have a time limit. [ because he's thinking of the purpose, too... ] Again, a bit like the item - that perhaps it has to be used before a certain time, or else it loses its effectiveness? That is entirely speculation, of course...
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I've asked those on other teams to inquire about their leaders' powers and report back to me.
[SOO-WON your INFORMATION NETWORK
anyway]
Mm, that's harder to clarify. At the very least, the powers that last longer than a day aren't related to teams, given that nothing's been granted to Wolf's team or us and we're in the top three spots. So it may be something else that allows them to have access to greater abilities.
It may have something to do with the stones that we were granted last week, but we'd need to perform a complete inventory of what they can do at trial and also trust that no one is opting to lie about theirs.
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[ xie lian loves goat, actually, if that is not blatantly obvious. they get along very well, for a whole lot of reasons. it's gross. ] That does seem fair, though.
I agree with you, though, that they may not be team related. Or... if they are, maybe the Leaders could only grant a certain number of them per team? And also, I wonder if the people who are using such abilities know necessarily who to target, in terms of the team-based nature of this place. [ he hums, tapping his nose again. ] It's hard to really know when we're only just laying the frameworks of knowledge down.
I can confirm at least four of the stones from last week, on the other hand, and that each of them was supposed to only last for a day. That does include my own, and they're from reliable sources... though with so many of us, I don't know if four is enough for a pattern.
But... it does seem that these... they remind me of curses, from my own land. Each one could be detrimental to someone, or act as a type of sabotage. And... it does seem to fall in line with another theory I've heard, about why murders are being committed in the first place.
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I think they're more cute than impressive, but I do like them very much.
[HE LOVES THIS DAMN GOAT SO MUCH. the idea of goat overhearing this conversation only seems to add to soo-won's amusement]
But that seems correct. Tomorrow we should do an open request to see what all the stones do regardless, and then we'll determine whether any of their effects could be traced to people's behavior just to eliminate it. Once that truth is discerned, we can move on to other ideas such as it being a Leader's power or a participant's power.
Mine seems... rather purposeful, given the weekend and how people seem to be rather cross with me for not sharing my condition - but it's hard for me to discern a reason as to why Hua Cheng and Claude are beginning to oppose one another.
Perhaps because they both seem rather insightful, and thus they could pin the blame on one another? Or would it be to pull away from those very same accusations when there could be truth to them come Saturday?
It's hard to say until we know what might pass this week.
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[ anyway beyond goat stanning ] Hm... do you think perhaps yours was by an ally, and not by someone who saw you as an enemy? [ thoughtfully. ] That's sweet, if a bit misguided. [ let soo-won have his pride 2k20... ] We could probably safely eliminate anyone who was in our group. It would be good to find out which leaders they were with, if possible, since you said the Wednesdays tended to be the peak of nova...? Although I wouldn't be surprised if you'd already learned such information, Soo-won.
[ that was praise, 100%. ] I agree with you, though. Perhaps it would be best if we tried to find out such things individually, instead of in the setting of a large group, so that we might be able to discern the truth by checking the pairs. For instance, if I told you what mine did, and Miss Lup told you something different, you would know at least one of us was lying.
[ and... considering the last part makes xie lian frown. for a moment, his emotions read as... just a flicker of softly present fear. ]
San Lang did make his presence very visible, when he stepped up at the beginning of the week, and was quite forceful in getting things done at the trial, as well. Claude was ill this past weekend, and...as you've said, they're both very insightful.
I do think that someone--or, really, at least two someones, are targeting Claude, for one reason or another, but... I also know that in our land, San Lang has a reputation. He is one of the most widely feared beings in all of the three realms, and many gods especially find him an easy target because of it. There are many things that I know for a fact that he has not done, that have been pinned to him, simply because the name "Crimson Rain Sought Flower" is one that is seen as the scourge of the Heavens.
[ xie lian glances down at his hands, for a moment, folding his fingers together. ]
...but, I know what kind of person he is. If... if there was reasonable evidence that San Lang had done something wrong, then I would be the first person to step up and say so, and I would ask him to do the same for me. I like to think that the person that I am can stand for my own dedication to what is right, and what is wrong. I am more than willing to admit my own biases towards San Lang, but they come from the fact that I know him.
[ a pause, and his emotions go quiet, for a moment. vulnerable; worried. ] ...but, I would hate for someone to use him as a target for something he has not done here, too, simply because he looked like an easy person to pin a crime on.
[ and he admits to that little pulse of fearful emotion easily, honest. ] That is my biggest fear with what comes with these strange curses, this weekend.
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[so he's completely swiveled around in terms of his priorities and focus, but he's not against information sharing at all! so there's that
that said soo-won listens, and he listens closely, before speaking - ]
Do you believe that those who have taken life here deserve death, and that their actions stems from malicious sentiments? There is a chance that perhaps some of them due, driven by a desire to regain what was important to them, if they noticed a memory that was gone.
That is where I'd like to begin questioning - we don't know this for certain, given that there is currently a theory that Virid was directed to kill. If he was ordered to do so and didn't see a reason to disagree, he implied that it was due to the fact that we have a greater enemy lurking than each other.
I understand what you're saying, and the belief that someone would willingly volunteer themselves for removal if they took a life. However I also think that we don't need to immediately condemn all acts of killing here as one driven by selfish motivations.
At the very least, not yet. So perhaps... that is my gentle challenge to you.
Someone may try to frame him, or he may take an action himself. We won't know until we actually end up in trial - but regardless even if I wish to find the truth of what happens....
I also don't think that those people deserve to die anymore than the rest of us, when none asked to be brought here.
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I understand... I suppose it's hard not to be defensive. [ after all, he'd rather the whole world blame him for something, over hua cheng being blamed for doing nothing wrong. xie lian would sooner leap on a blade himself before he'd be the reason for san lang to be falsely accused of anything. ] If anything, I think both you and I can speak to what it feels like, when circumstances like those are out of our control.
[ considering. last week's entire fiasco. he doesn't mean that directly, of course; goat has informed him their situation was unique, in terms of revival, and he's sure soo-won already knows that, so. ] -- but, I don't disagree with you, either. I do think, ultimately, the loss of memory and the chance to gain it back is going to be what will motivate someone to act. Whether... whether that's from participant to participant, or from a leader to a participant, as well.
I won't make rash decisions when it comes to the fate of this place, nor the people here, whether that is inside a trial or outside of it. [ despite being A Protagonist, xie lian does have a good head on his shoulders, and he likes soo-won, and his take on the world. he must truly be a good king. (i'm ready for yona spoilers prove this assumption of mine deadass wrong.)
so, the words he says are just as candid, as honest. ] My only goal is to save as many people as possible - to find a way to restore the Realm as quickly as we can, and unravel the mysteries of this place for the good of us all. We cannot control our circumstances, or the actions of others: we can only control ourselves.
[ a pause. ] I do want to try to find out what's going on with Claude. For him to be targeted two weeks in a row by an item, or a curse, or whatever it may be -- that is worrying to me, San Lang aside.
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Then our goals are in alignment. All that matters to me is ensuring the safety of everyone's homes, including my kingdom, and then allowing those here to be revived and also seek to go home however they can. I don't particularly have much interest in mysteries past that. The only reason why I consider it important to find whoever killed on any given week is that getting the answer right generates more nova than getting wrong.
[soo-won is at the end of the day someone who is practical. he likes all people, and he tries his hardest to understand them. in most cases, he succeeds. and so it's why it's hard for him to be blinded by idealism or black and white definitions of right and wrong.
rather, he'll just continue - ] It may be that Claude was accidentally targeted, unless someone truly has it out for him. It's worth investigating whether he's made any enemies, or perhaps even allies that don't know what the effects might be and are willing to believe he'll survive through whatever is thrown at him.
It's worth seeing where these powers even come from, and who holds them. I believe that the effect I carry is rather.... purposeful and intentional - but it's hard to say if others are the same.
And so, we have our next steps.
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willing enough, maybe. or soft. either way. listening to soo-won, xie lian's mouth crooks up a little in a smile. ]
So we do. I'm happy to share anything I learn if it's helpful - and as such, if you learn of anything towards that goal that I might not have, I'd hope you would share it with me as well. I'll do my best to help where I can.
[ a beat. ] You know...your kingdom is very lucky to have you, Soo-won.
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I hope you understand if I'm a bit slow to share all things at once with everyone - especially in cases where it might encourage people to take advantage of the circumstances and have more chances to harm others. There is also the way in which information circulates in this place.
All Leaders are aware of conversations that their members have - and so if I were to broadly share information immediately, then it would go against the intention of discovering what information the Leaders get on their own. We know what Goat told us, but I would rather see if one of Tiger's members could go to them and receive the same information first, or if it's truly exclusive to us.
But once I get a better grasp on that, then I think it'll be easier to share information. And between the two of us, there's nothing that Goat would want or care to hide anyway.
[he means well - he's someone who wants the happiness and safety of everyone involved here. but given his role, he's not someone who believes that the constant freedom of information is the way to do it, not when they're all still essentially strangers.
but to this much, he can agree]
But fufu, that's nice of you to say. I'm afraid I'm just one person making the best of what I have. That can go for anyone here.
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