[WORLD TWO | INTRO LOG]

[spellbindmods]

Who: All coven members
Where: In and around the new world’s apartment building where the coven is staying
When: Day (the calendar isn’t syncing for me hELP)
Open/Closed: Open to All

You’re in a room. It’s pretty bright — blindingly so, even. There’s something very stark and very clean about the place, and also the person you’re sitting in front of. You’re sitting? You’re sitting. There’s also a pane of very powerful plexiglass separating you from the uniform-clad person who is now speaking to you. It’s impossible to transcribe what they say verbatim, but here’s the gist of it: - You’re being welcomed to a city called Shehui. Depending on who you are, the level of technology may be light years ahead of you or child’s play. - There’s a very strict policy about magic. While there are measures put in place to prevent magic from happening, this is still something that they reiterate over and over. They don’t want to take chances. - Crime is also frowned upon. Small infractions will result in credit deductions, while major crimes will get you banned. Antisocial behavior is also looked down upon. You’re locked in the city for your initial eight weeks. You can leave afterwards, but trying to break out of the city or cause social unrest will result in monitoring and a potential ban. - This city is supposed to be somewhat relaxing. Is it a free pleasure cruise? No. Is it a self-contained society that runs on community and indulgence? Yes. - You’re being given an allotment of credits in order to stay in the city, which is what the economy there runs on. This goes on for quite some time. - You’re being moved to a housing location. Despite the slotted speaker in the middle of the plexiglass, the only time you have a chance to ask questions is when a small slit opens in the bottom and a package is slid towards you. - What’s in the package? There’s a credit card-like apparatus that has apparently taken a picture of you. It contains a place to write your name, an identification number and barcode. It also has a thin strip near the top that has scrolling script floating by. It states “WELCOME TO SHEHUI. YOUR ID WILL UPDATE WITH COMMUNITY NOTICES AND PERSONAL PINGS FOR JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES RELATED TO YOUR INTEREST.” It’s a lot to take in, but that’s the long and short of it. Have questions? The person will reiterate a few times that there are information desks around the city. That’s all for now…now you’ll be traveling to your next destination: your new home. The floor slowly lowers as if you’ve been in an elevator the whole time. It connects to several other glass containers, much like your own, all suddenly clanking together in a chain. After a short wait, the chain begins to move — quickly. Faster, maybe, than you’ve ever gone before. It’s hard to even make out the scenery when you’re zipping past everything so quickly. Where does this trip lead you? The ground floor of your new apartment building. The plexiglass cases open up and you’re in a hotel lobby. There’s a flashing board on the wall — NEW ARRIVALS, COME HERE. A ▢ So now’s the time to get settled into your new digs. Your name is on the board, and there’s a promise that your things — which, by the way, were mysteriously taken — will be located in your room. No need to fight over bedrooms; those also hold name placards that are digitally installed. Maybe everyone else is already there. Maybe you’re the first person there and need to find a way to stake your claim on the fridge or a bathroom. B ▢ Maybe you don’t want to fuck with anybody right now and are busy exploring the apartment building. You may encounter some aliens, some strangers, some ice machines. There IS that floor that’s nothing but recreational stations. If you’re overwhelmed, the garden is a good place to start. The sport court is pretty empty right now, if you want to have any regrouping meetings.

The apartment building is locked up tight for three hours in order to let new arrivals get their bearings. After that, the ground floor lobby doors open into the city of Shehui. There’s a lot to take in, but let’s cover the biggest bases: C ▢ Right outside this communal apartment building is a large, digital job board. The list of available jobs and credit opportunities are constantly flashing by. Want to pick one out? Just hold up that ID card you were given and the instructions and location will be sent to the ID’s text scroller. D ▢ You’ve got 500 credits to blow on clothes, food, strippers…whatever you’d like? Right next to the apartment complex are tons of local businesses, from bistros to outlet malls. A movie theater, an arcade, a video game store…and the best thing about Shehui? Most everything is dirt cheap. Where are you shopping? What are you buying? Enquiring minds would like to know! E ▢ Right next to the shopping area is a wooded park. It’s akin to a nature trail that’s similar to Yellowstone in scenery and topography. If you’re more comfortable someplace less…tech or modern…then this may be exactly where you’d like to be. F ▢ Wildcard! How will your character interact with this new and unusual world?

Comments

F

[teratias]

[Library work was....finally up on the job board. Which, Waver didn't want to do anything, but at least picking up books left askew on tables was something he could accomplish with very little effort. Moreover and more importantly, it let him take a peek at what this city had in the way of literary interests, and maybe a bit of history.

Passing notes though? What was this, school?

Which means that Percival's note is met with verbal response.]

For some reason, the biography section is better stocked than the history one.

[It is a suggestion, really.]

[lohengrins]

[ noted. the suggestion is met with something akin to a look of appreciation, before he raises a brow and meets waver's gaze. ]

Hm. Why do you think that is?

[teratias]

[That gets a shrug. Or as close to a shrug as Waver can manage with a tall stack of books in his hands.]

An interest in the individual, maybe? If it's all people well known for pop-culture stuff, that'll say a lot too.

[lohengrins]

Hm. You'd be correct. It indicates a sense of secrecy — a desire to focus on the frivolity of life and push out any conflict.

[ he looks towards waver thoughtfully for a moment, only to then smirk. ]

Do you think there's something wrong with that?

[teratias]

When it's seemingly at the exclusion of everything else, it's a problem. Or at least it points to a bigger issue that needs to be explored and possibly dragged out into the open.

[The smirk goes over Waver's head. He's taken the question seriously, because to him, this is a fairly serious matter and nothing to make light about.]

[lohengrins]

[ fortunately enough for waver, it was a serious question — and the earnestness to his answer is notably appreciated. percival meets his gaze, canting his head. ]

Ha. You'd be right. That's why I'm still here.

[ and for a moment, his fingers drum along the book, eyes flitting up for a moment. ]

This city holds its fair share of secrets, it seems. If you had the choice of uncovering the truth, would you?

[ his eyes are alight as he says that — it's asked firmly and with purpose. ]

[teratias]

[That's actually a question that sends Waver quiet, forcing him to think.

In truth, his answer is that he doesn't know. Right now, he's gotten comfortable just being with the coven and hopping from place A to place B. For him? That's a massive step forward. He'd even dare to call one or two people friends, or close to it.

But moving beyond that...

...He's grown complacent, hasn't he? This from the person who wrote a thesis that spat in the face of accepted magecraft theories. The young man who stole from his own teacher in a fit of anger and probable, actual madness, and ran to Japan to be a part of the Holy Grail War.

But then again, what good is he if it comes to a fight?

All of this churns slowly, steadily in Waver's head, all the while feeling that gaze on him.

Finally, Waver gives an answer. It's the most truthful one.]

In...a capacity where I wouldn't be a burden, yes.

[lohengrins]

[ it's a very human answer — more earnest than most peoples' are. not ideal, but satisfying in its honesty.

percival's gaze doesn't falter. give it a moment, and there's a subtle shake of the head. ]

In my time here, I've learned that the good things in any world come from people trying. It was a theory at first — but after meeting the people I have...it's an absolute truth.

[ the corners of his lips quirk up into an unscrupulous smile. ]

Making an effort, regardless of the mistakes that may result from your labors, is far from a burden to those around you. It's the only pathway to change that we have and will ever know.

[teratias]

That's pretty idealistic.

[Gained from experience, clearly, but still idealistic. Waver can't imagine Rider saying something like that. Or Archer. Only Saber, and having bore witness to the three discussing kingship, even then he well, wavers.

That smile isn't something Waver trusts though. He's too used to having to look out for himself.]

Regardless of any of that stuff, you do need a place to start. Like...the observation that if magic didn't exist on this world, then they wouldn't ban it. And if it doesn't work, then there has to be a mechanism keeping it from working.

[lohengrins]

[ percival doesn't speak. he doesn't look particularly bothered, no, he instead opts to narrow his eyes and press his lips into a thin line. above all, he appears to be...looking towards him with determination?

wait for it. ]

Given what you asked me, it's easy to see as to how you would think that.

If you can hear this then we already have our answer, don't we?

People fear what they can't control. I can only wonder...

[teratias]

[...Hah, so that is working. Waver had only seen a few network discussions.]

So there's a mechanism but it isn't extending to this. That's information too.

A history book anywhere else would mention why there was a ban, if there was some kind of big, bad event that came before it.

[lohengrins]

Qri's signet is beyond their reach, it seems. Or perhaps they haven't detected it yet.

Precisely. It's as though they want to write out the existence of magic entirely — and when you rob your people of knowledge, you rob them of power.

[teratias]

Time will tell. I think it's worth trying to track any signal glitches though, just to be sure.

And that's what makes or breaks a government.


...Jeez, I hope the mission here isn't to start a revolution.

[lohengrins]

[ there's a low chuckle. ]

For someone who fears revolution, you certainly have the mind of a revolutionary.

[teratias]

[Waver's response is to glare. He isn't sure if he's being made fun of, but it sure feels like it.]

All I just said was logical extrapolation. And besides, with how Qri does things, I think it's pretty irresponsible to start something and then just leave, so that everyone else can deal with the fall out.

[lohengrins]

[ his glare is met with a shake of the head, and then a smirk. ]

You're right. But no one here has begun to even identify the problem to start with. If we don't do anything, they'll be left in a state of stagnancy, you know.

Do you intend on simply floating by? On hopping from world to world without doing a single thing?

[teratias]

For the time being. Who's to say it wouldn't change under their own steam?

[The questions don't get a response. That's because Waver has no response to them. He wants to huff up and yell but...Iskandar would probably be asking the same things if he was here.

So out of respect for that man, he stays quiet.]

[lohengrins]

It could. I wouldn't put it past them.

I don't intend on starting a revolution on their behalf. I want to make them acknowledge the feelings they have, lurking beneath the surface. The part of them that knows something is wrong.

They can take care of the rest themselves.

[teratias]

But what if they don't actually have them? I mean, it's a far fetched thought, but not out of the realm of possibility. If you start to try and turn a sentiment that isn't there, it could make a bad situation worse.

[lohengrins]

Anything is possible. Precaution is necessary, but a cycle of "what-if"s will only preserve the stagnancy of this city.

[teratias]

Most likely.

What do you intend to do, when you're done reading everything you can?