WEEK THREE

[lesmodsalouette]

WEEK THREE

28 Guests

You awaken smothered in wonderfully soft blankets. If you are lucky, there is a warm body next to you, but... those are becoming shorter and shorter in supply, aren't they?

It's Monday at Château Ambregris, and you have just arrived here. Whatever clothes you are wearing, whatever injuries you are sporting... They are once again accurate to how you were before this tale began. Whether this leaves you with any urgent matters to take care of or relieved of ailing you had contracted in the 'last' week, the gong of the numerous clocks chimes out indifferently to the hour. Gone is the urgent summons of the past two weeks, with no Witch to greet you.

Rise and shine, and face your 'first' day in your 'new' home! And though you may now think yourself quite familiar with it, maybe another look around wouldn't hurt?

TIME LOOP:

-Characters wake up with the clothes they had with them at their canon point, like in the intro log.
-The state of their bodies is exactly the same as it was on the intro log (for better or worse).
-Any items they accumulated last week are also reset (sorry you'll need to build up your weapon cache again), except items that were given out as event rewards. Please note that the item uses are not reset.

LOCATIONS UPDATED:
- library, gardens
- mud bath → aquarium
- menagerie → photography studio
- grotto → greenhouse

WEEKLY EFFECT

This week every character will have a spirit animal that follows them around like a familiar. The choice of animal is up to you (natural or supernatural), but it should represent them in some way. The animal is restricted in size to that of a large dog and is incorporeal, though it can interact with other spirit animals. As the animal is a representation of their heart and inner self, it might be better at expressing itself than it's owner.

Yes, this is basically daemons. This palace clearly needs more animals for emotional support!

(OOC: Murder proposals and counter proposals are open! )

MONDAY • TUESDAY • WEDNESDAY • THURSDAY

Locations Proposals PCS Curfew Witch Contact Main Nav

Comments

QUESTIONS / THEORIES 🔎

[vivens]

[ dear god when will sabo shut up... ]

Finally, allow me recount and remind us of some of the theories that have been brought up and information that has been shared by others here. Starting with the most recent theory brought up by Chara the other day—

According to them, they believe that Ish is looking to extract emotions from us in order to save his mother by the means of making us participate in the games week after week—feeding off of our negative emotions. Each cycle fully repeating once, the cycle here being when our memories are wiped again, the game has been rendered "unplayable". They also theorized that the dead are located elsewhere... Perhaps behind the mirrors.

To which, Yoru made the counter argument of if Ish already had the magic that he was seeking then why bother with this in the first place? Where did the "miracle chance" come from? And who is the true villain here if Ish is just another player.

Then, back when we first realized that we were going through a time loop, Siffrin and Homura gave us insight to what accounts as a "time loop" using their personal experiences with Chara also offering some insight. At that time, they spoke about how Ish might be capable of "resetting" things willingly and that killing him might not break the cycle that we find ourselves trapped in. Of course, things have changed since then...

[ you know, like siffrin "killing" ish and then him coming back to life and all of that... ]

I won't judge or comment any of the previous theories or information shared, however, let me just add another one into the mix:

Whatever is happening now is new and different from all previous times that this has happened. We don't know the number of times we've been stuck in this loop and there's a chance that neither Ish is aware of it either given how he has gaps in his memory as well. The main reason why I think this is because of Ish's reaction once he realized that we were able to remember. It didn't seem as though he was expecting this.

Previously I also suspected that he was gathering "resources" to speed up the process of reawakening his mother and after learning about the Akashic Record, we are in the right to follow that thought. In addition, I suspected that the gold magic that had come from the tarot card and later seen again to bring Ish "back to life" was linked to some sort of memory magic... However, even if we now know that his spells outside of wish granting originally belonged to someone else, it doesn't mean that the gold magic is linked to memory.

[ sabo will sigh and cross his arms. ]

I'm not familiar with magic or time loops; both are completely foreign and only exist in fiction for me. However, if there's anything that I can compare this with is that if something is repeated enough times then something will change. Whether it is for the good or the bad remains to be spoken for.

I also theorize that even though Ish has taken other magic and spells previously and now, supposedly, has our abilities, it doesn't mean that he's able to use them as effectively as we are. If we can believe his fumble with teleportation was truth, then I suspect that it will be case if he should try out any of our's. And for abilities that come with obvious drawbacks, I suspect that we'd be able to exploit them if it ever came down to it.

[ give a man a moment to rest his voice and gather his thoughts. ]

...as where does all of this leave us? I'm not sure. It's why I brought this all to you.

TL;DR

Chara's theory:

• The games are the means of Ish to extract negative emotions for his plan.
  
• Our memories are only wiped when a cycle "resets".
  
• Cycles are only "reset" after the game has been deemed "unplayable".
  
• The dead are in our walls behind the mirrors.

Sabo's theory/theories:

• The reason why we're here is for Ish to extract(?) what he needs in order to speed up the process of "waking up" his goddess. Updated the theory to Ish is using them to open/access the Akashic Record.
  
• We are able to remember the loops because something has changed (possibly for the better).
  
• The change could have been due to our actions or something else. Things will change over time/eventually will mutate.
  
• The change is not something that Ish was expecting (uncertain if it's a positive) & should be pursued.
  
• Our abilities, if Ish uses them, will not be used flawlessly & we would be able to exploit weaknesses (if any).
  

[oncefallen]

I believe that your theory about the dead is correct-- that we are seeing only a part of this dimension, and that there are other parts we currently have no access to. The dead being in another part would follow that line of thought.

But perhaps more importantly, something is most definitely changing. The question is exactly what and why.

[baebladie]

...I have wondered the same. It could truly go back to our actions; though it's hard to know without our memories. And without knowing for certain.

[ Like having a shitty memory for him is just Tuesday but he is sure it would happen. ]

[distain]

Blade's right. It's hard to narrow down differences from a "before" we don't know.

Better to ask, maybe, if we break down our actions that first week if anything received an unexpected or unusual reaction.

[allrounder]

I agree with this approach. What, in particular, was different about that week? Did any of us make any unexpected decisions that deviated from the past? Did one small difference in routine cause a cascade that changed the rest of our behavior for the week?

[distain]

What about our heightened emotions? Most of us reported feeling or acting strangely.

[Hm. Written notes will go away, so she's doing a fairly solid job rotating this all in her memory.]

... Though if that were the catalyst, we'd have to question why he didn't subject us to the same the following week or this one.

[The magpie starts hopping up and down from one foot to the other. It bites her on the ear; she pinches back.]

Each week made what we're feeling more apparent than we'd like, though, didn't it.

[allrounder]

[ He smiles a little at the back and forth she has with the magpie, his own ruby carbuncle sitting patiently near his feet. ]

That it did, and likely so that we would need to confront those emotions. I imagine he would like for us to speak of them to one another.

[ Probably for their bonds. ]

[distain]

Then that can't be the difference. Besides, I felt normal by the end of each week... I can only imagine what feeling emotions more deeply would have done to our attempt to find the person who killed Tia.

[Well. Not normal. In fact, the absence of these deep pitting emotions, surrounding by people who still behave so strangely, she feels... Well. It's abnormal.]

[allrounder]

Mayhap... he is testing out different methods? I admit I cannot fathom his aim with these particular spells.

[ Though he thinks that they've found the connection here, being that they're all exposing their internal thoughts in one way or another. ]

[distain]

A means to show our true colors, perhaps? If the intent was honesty, then it's obviously failed.

[But also... why would it matter? Most people put up a facade. She'd said it herself to Hwylryn when he'd pressed her (though, ironically, she had been honest then): Most people here are surely hiding something.]

The outcomes of the two carnivals we recall were different. We've been asked to bare our souls and romp with animals. Surely people have spoken with Ish separately even if they can't remember it.

... It can't be something someone said to him, can it?

[allrounder]

It could very well have been a suggestion that we do not recall.

[ And try as he might, he knows he could never recall such a thing.

Hmmmm.

Hmmmmmmmm. ]

Or mayhap it has relevance to that Akashic Record? Filtering our emotions through magic that would feed into the resources he needs to access it.

can't wait for graha's townhall next week

[distain]

[She kind of makes a face at the term "Akashic Record" - this would be much easier if there weren't so many things involved that went over her head. None of this feels like it's sinking in at all. Even Herta explaining it to her might not fully fix it.]

Maybe ask the question from the other side and see where these things converge.

It's speculated the game "resets" when it's rendered "unplayable." Too few people remaining, or those remaining too desensitized to death and violence... but what could we do, even prematurely, to lock the progress of this game?

please

[allrounder]

[ Hm. He has to think about this, taking a moment... two moments, to give it some real thought. ]

Agree to forego killing one another. It would mean that we must trust that all of us will follow through with that, but that would lock the progress indefinitely.

[distain]

[She sits back, crossing her arms. The bird leaves her side to fly higher than the group, looking down at them from its literal birds-eye view.]

Impossible, I think, with our number. Almost everyone has their breaking point.

[She holds her fist to her chin in thought.]

... Which means we can't rule it out, since the question then becomes how we could reach that agreement. .

[allrounder]

[ His carbuncle, meanwhile, winds around Andrew's feet curiously. ]

A deal, mayhap? We divulge our most desperate wishes and work to ensure that they are resolved.

[distain]

That would require a very specific population of us - namely, though whose desires can be achieved without miraculous intervention.

And who could say who would tell the truth about that? [For all they know, even someone like Andrew could lie. She has never asked to be cured, but such a request would take a miracle.

Even if all seemed well and all seemed to agree, there'd be no telling who might hide their secret desire for a wish under the pretense of cooperation.]

Do you think we could ever reach a point where we were all so trusting?

[allrounder]

I would... hope that we could.

[ But that is not a direct answer to her question, not at all.

Because she's right. They can all divulge their wishes and work out solutions to getting them granted as a group, but not everything can come to fruition without specific wish magic.

It's why he eventually relents, shaking his head. ]

However, I do not think so.

[distain]

No... neither do I.

[Despite their best efforts and the teamwork that went into Sabo presenting his profile of the situation, it doesn't seem like an obvious answer will make itself clear right away.]

Is it impossible for us to work together? If we no longer gave a damn about one another, then perhaps then...that could also end the game.

[Does she give a damn about anyone, still, at all?]

[allrounder]

I think you may be onto something with that idea. However, there is a significant flaw in that plan.

[ One that she is probably aware of, he would think. ]

Take a look at your surroundings, Andrew. There is care in the movement of every individual here. Whether that be towards everyone they know or a select few... attachments have already formed, for better or worse.

[antemeridian]

... We are so certain that he has access to our abilities, and they would have the exact same repercussions on him, and not the one he is ... 'borrowing' them from?

[ hi, this is relevant to her because lmao. lmaaaaaaaoo if you know you know. ]

[vivens]

No, I'm not certain. I am only speculating based on the fact that he has access to spells and magic of others—from people who are not us.

Regardless of that, I feel that he would have only received them if we offered them to him for whatever reason. [ he frowns. ] ...not that I would have given up mine for anything.

[antemeridian]

I doubt I would have either. I certainly would not have given up my memory magic, or anything else that links me to ... her.

[ there's a stumble there, especially given that they know their memories are tampered with, and yesterday's fun event, but you know it's fine surely. ]

Though perhaps if I truly believed my time magic inert I may have given it up. I doubt it, especially given my experience with wishes and exchanges, but.

[vivens]

[ he doesn't have to know just how gay homura is being here to understand the implication behind the words because...well. same hat? different circumstances but same hat. ]

I am the same.

I went through great lengths to make sure that I was able to receive his fire. I wouldn't have allowed anyone else to get their hands on it. [ ... ] Well, there would be only one other person that I would give it to if it were possible in the first place.

[antemeridian]

You would trust someone else with such a thing? Something so precious?

[ or is he simply talking about the original owner himself? ]

[vivens]

[ a little bit of both but one is impossible. ]

Only my little brother; he's the only other person who could have any right to this.