RE: Palace Caprae (Sburblike RP)
04-07-2013, 05:46 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-07-2013, 05:54 PM by Benedict.)
All right, we've got our first entry session down!
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Spoiler02:54 Laissez_Armstrong sighs and leans on the balcony railing
02:54 Laissez_Armstrong Well. Lessee here.
02:54 Laissez_Armstrong Sick of practice. Already ate.
02:56 Laissez_Armstrong fiddles around with his phone, sighing
02:59 GMedict >The phone lights up, emitting a tone you don't recognize. Did you change your ringtone and forget about it?
02:59 Laissez_Armstrong Huh, a text?
02:59 Laissez_Armstrong checks it out
03:02 GMedict >The screen displays the an automatic notification. According to the sender, identified as NEODYNIC_NOREPLY, "The public test version of Neodynic's Palace Championship is now available for download!"
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, cool.
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong Wondering when that'd come out.
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong downloads it and promptly boots it up
03:04 GMedict >You are met with a light blue screen and a brief jingle. After a couple seconds of loading, the following appears:
03:04 Laissez_Armstrong ...Huh.
03:04 Laissez_Armstrong presses the trapezoid
03:05 GMedict >The mechnical voice eagerly chirps, "Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! Preparing for installation unstruction!"
03:05 Laissez_Armstrong blinks
03:05 Laissez_Armstrong ...'kay.
03:05 GMedict >The trapezoid appears to be the mouth of some sort of guide character.
03:06 GMedict >The face on-screen displays a worried expression.
03:06 GMedict >"Apologies. Automatic digital installation unstruction is currently unavailable. Would you like to switch to MANUAL MODE?"
03:07 Laissez_Armstrong Sure thing.
03:07 Laissez_Armstrong ...Uh, yes.
03:07 GMedict >The face appears to respond your your voice commands! "Please wait while Neodynic operatives engage MANUAL MODE."
03:08 GMedict >Its eyes close, and a loading icon bounces back and forth at the bottom of the screen.
03:09 GMedict >You begin to hear a faint, high-pitched noise. It's not coming from the phone.
03:09 Laissez_Armstrong drums his fingers against the railing, sighing
03:10 GMedict >The noise begins to pick up in volume. It's starting to sound like a loud whine, but you're still not sure where it's originating from.
03:11 GMedict >The on-screen face continues to display a loading icon.
03:11 Laissez_Armstrong frowns and enters his apartment, searching for the whine.
03:11 Laissez_Armstrong ((The balcony is connected to his bedroom, which is neither especially neat nor especially tidy.))
03:12 GMedict >The face opens its eyes. "MANUAL MODE engaged. Please take cover."
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ((His guitar case leans up against a wall; a half-full laundry basket is in the corner, and a large, smudged free-standing mirror is near the window))
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, what?
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong panics and dives onto his bed, covering himself with a blanket
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, this is stupid. It's just a game.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong pokes his head out, then slowly removes the blanket entirely
03:13 GMedict >With a deafening crash, a large object smashes through the ceiling.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong returns to hiding under the blanket
03:13 GMedict >It lands on the floor with a thud, smoking heavily.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong You! Face thing.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong What the hell was that?
03:14 GMedict >The face thing responds eagerly. "MANUAL MODE has been engaged. Phace unit no longer integral. Please consult the provided Manual Installation Unstruction Manual for further assistance."
03:15 GMedict >The face closes its eyes, and the phone goes dark.
03:15 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:15 Laissez_Armstrong attempts to locate the manual
03:16 GMedict >The dense smoke billowing from the object begins to clear.
03:16 Laissez_Armstrong peers out at the object
03:16 GMedict >It doesn't do so fast enough, however, to avoid setting off the smoke alarm.
03:17 GMedict >A piercing wail fills the room. It's really annoying.
03:17 Laissez_Armstrong Oh for god's sakes.
03:17 Laissez_Armstrong runs to the bathroom, grabs a towel, and starts waving it frantically by the fire alarm to clear the smoke away
03:18 GMedict >The smoke clears, revealing a large bundle of heavy cloth, about a meter in diameter. The cloth wrappings gently smolder.
03:19 Laissez_Armstrong goes to the kitchen to grab some water.
03:20 Laissez_Armstrong ((The kitchen consists of a mostly-empty fridge, cabinets mainly full of cheap snacks, an oven that is pretty much never used, a sink and various counter space. There's some stools set up on the non-kitchen side of the counter, which is more part of the living room))
03:20 Laissez_Armstrong returns and pours the water on the smoldering parts.
03:20 GMedict >The cloth, while soaked, is probably safe to touch now.
03:21 Laissez_Armstrong ...Well, I can't just leave this stuff lying around on my bedroom floor, I guess.
03:21 Laissez_Armstrong removes the cloth, mildly anxious about what might be under it
03:21 GMedict >You unfold several layers of cloth, revealing... a cardboard box! Just what you always wanted.
03:22 GMedict >The box is sealed with what appears to be ordinary packing tape.
03:22 Laissez_Armstrong goes back to the kitchen, grabs a steak knife, and goes to town on the tape
03:23 GMedict >You slice through the packing tape, and open the box. It contains...
03:24 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet reading "Manual Installation Unstruction Manual".
03:24 GMedict >ONE (1) plastic frame containing tiny white plastic weapons. You know, like one of those things that come in craft kits where you have to twist off the plastic nubs? It holds a sword, an arrow, and a staff, each of which are about an inch in length.
03:24 GMedict >THREE (3) color-coded rectangular devices, about the size of a soda can, each of which features a speaker and a button. Radios, perhaps? They come in red, green, and blue.
03:24 GMedict >A BUNCH OF (a bunch of) lengths of wire, bent into U shapes and sharpened on the ends.
03:25 GMedict >ONE (1) (probably) bundle of tangled strings.
03:25 Laissez_Armstrong Huh.
03:25 Laissez_Armstrong reads the Unstruction Manual
03:26 GMedict >The first page tries to be reassuring. In large, bold letters, it reads "DON'T PANIC". It then reads the same message in various different fonts and colors. Is that Comic Sans?
03:27 GMedict >The second page contains something more substantial.
03:27 Laissez_Armstrong Yeah, yeah, I've read Adams t- oh, okay.
03:27 Laissez_Armstrong peruses
03:28 GMedict >"Larry Fairfax! Try not to panic! The manual package probably just fell from the sky or something, and hopefully you weren't inside at the time."
03:28 Laissez_Armstrong glares at the manual, but continues
03:28 GMedict >"Well, let's face it, you probably were. But regardless! You didn't expect the game to do this! Obviously this is pretty suspicious."
03:29 GMedict >"But listen, you can trust me. I'm with someone I know you're very close to, and this manual should help you get into the game properly."
03:29 GMedict >"The important thing is not to panic- just go with the flow, and everything will work out."
03:30 GMedict >The message ends, signed by somebody with the initials C.M.O.
03:30 Laissez_Armstrong scratches his head
03:30 GMedict >Would you like to turn the page?
03:31 Laissez_Armstrong Not even sure who he's talking about. Doubt it's my dad.
03:31 GMedict >The next page features a handy diagram, which is unfortunately not directly visible to anybody who may be controlling Larry's every move. He can see it fine, though.
03:31 Laissez_Armstrong ...God dammit, I bet this is some dumb thing Jeff's pulling.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong ((Ha, do I get any description of what the diagram is or describes?))
03:32 GMedict >The diagram shows a happy cartoon man with a resemblance to Larry pressing the buttons on the three colored devices.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong Huh.
03:32 GMedict >The cartoon depicts the man speaking in empty speech bubbles to the devices.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong picks up the green device and presses the button.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong Um... let's see here.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong So do I talk, or... uh.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong clears his throat.
03:33 GMedict >The radio-like object crackles to life, and the speaker begins emitting static.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, great, no, I was hoping for something to replace the whines.
03:33 GMedict >You begin to hear a voice through the static. It seems to be asking some sort of question.
03:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...The hell?
03:34 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the sneak, the thief, the cutpurse, the rogue, the assassin, the archer, the ranger?"
03:34 GMedict >"What is the arrow?"
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong I dunno, man, those first four or five sounded more like knife guys but okay. Uh...
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong S'a pointy thing that you fire out of a bow?
03:35 GMedict >"What is the weapon? Speak of that which embodies the form."
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong removes the plastic arrow from its frame and experimentally taps it against the green thingy
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong Uh, well.
03:36 GMedict >"Choose an emblem of all ne'er-do-wells".
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong It's... a rod, I guess?
03:36 GMedict >The radio does not respond to the tapping.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong With a pointy bit attached.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong But it's not a spear.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong The proportions are different, the rod bit's way smaller.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong And I guess there's feathers, or something?
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong To... stabilize it? I dunno aerodynamics, man.
03:37 GMedict >The voice chuckles, and the radio goes silent.
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong And you can... use it fro- oh.
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs and presses the red device's button
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong Sword, right?
03:38 GMedict >The red device, after a brief period of static, begins shouting unintelligibly about "THE RIGHT TIME".
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong JESUS CHRIST.
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING STABBED I GUESS.
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong WHEN GUYS ARE CLOSE AND YOU NEED THEM TO STEP OFF AAAAAHHH STOP YELLING
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong throws it at the wall
03:39 GMedict >The red device stops for a moment after being thrown, then resumes screaming.
03:40 GMedict >"SHUT UP! YOU GET TO PICK ME LATER!"
03:40 GMedict >"WAIT! WAIT! FOR THE RIGHT TIME!"
03:40 GMedict >The red device goes silent.
03:40 Laissez_Armstrong ...Oh. Okay?
03:41 Laissez_Armstrong tries the blue device.
03:41 Laissez_Armstrong quite deliberately holds it away from his face
03:42 GMedict >The blue device speaks in a softer voice- more feminine, that is, not any less loud. It screeches about whether you were listening.
03:42 GMedict >It yammers on about THE RIGHT TIME for a minute, then goes silent.
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong Okay. So.
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong turns to the next page in the manual
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong I'm pretty sure I just screwed myself over.
03:43 Laissez_Armstrong Also, the game thinks I'm a crook.
03:43 GMedict >The manual shows a simple map. Some sort of floor plan is encircled by a wobbly circle.
03:43 GMedict >Underneath the map, the cartoon man is laying the wire bits in the ground.
03:44 GMedict >He appears to be stapling down that string stuff.
03:44 GMedict >Below the diagrams, a caption appears in small print.
03:45 Laissez_Armstrong squints at the caption
03:46 GMedict >"For non-pictoral instructions, turn to the next page."
03:46 Laissez_Armstrong rolls his eyes and turns the page
03:46 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, so, insultingly simple or totally impenetrable?
03:47 GMedict >"Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! We regret that automatic installation has failed, but by following these simple steps, you can be on your way to the greatest augmented reality experience on Earth or otherwise!"
03:49 GMedict >"To complete manual installation unstruction, you must a) DELINEATE AN UNSTRUCTION PERIMETER, b) TEMPLATE YOUR VERVESSELS, and c) PLANT A VERVESSEL FOR INGRESSON."
03:50 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, I... think I get the second two, maybe possibly.
03:51 GMedict >"You may TEMPLATE one VERVESSEL at the beginning of installation unstruction, and template the rest after completing sections of DELINEATION."
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, okay, so clearly the green one's the one I templated...
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong looks for specific instructions on delineating the perimeter
03:52 GMedict >"To delineate your perimeter, employ the provided marking tools! Depending on certain player variables, your tools may take various forms. The object, however, is to use them to draw an unbroken shape around your play area."
03:53 Laissez_Armstrong I... guess that's the strings?
03:53 GMedict >"You might use a paint roller to draw a line in paint, or leave a trail of powder around your Unstruction Perimeter."
03:53 Laissez_Armstrong uses the strings to form an outline around as much of his apartment as possible (starting with the balcony, moving through the bedroom, kitchen and living room if possible)
03:54 GMedict >After laying a length of string, the blue and red radios begin crackling.
03:56 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, hey.
03:56 Laissez_Armstrong goes over to give them a listen
03:57 GMedict >After about a minute of silence, the red radio gives a moan and says "Psst. Push one of the buttons."
03:57 Laissez_Armstrong Rrrrright.
03:57 Laissez_Armstrong pushes the red radio's button
03:58 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the warrior? The brawler, the barbarian, the soldier, the fighter? What is the tool of he who stands against his foes with strength in his heart?"
03:58 GMedict >"What is the sword?"
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong Right okay I got this.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong The sword's a weapon of direct confrontation and stuff.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong It means that you aren't going to screw around. You're taking things head on and you expect your enemy to do the same.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong ...Was, uh, was that one better?
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Oh! Also it's a pointy thing with a handle.
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Or sometimes less pointy and more sharp.
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Like, edged sharp I mean. Usually that way actually.
04:00 GMedict >The blue radio groans, and the red radio asks "No, like... Jesus. I'm not literally asking- you-". It sighs.
04:01 GMedict >The red radio says "Fine, whatever. What were you saying?"
04:01 Laissez_Armstrong The thing about direct confrontation and stuff!
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong I guess there's like, some sorta honor thing?
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Uh, also, it's simpler.
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Magic and archery needs a lot more practice, but you can pick up swinging a sword around pretty easily.
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong But not... necessarily master it?
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Uh...
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong coughs
04:03 GMedict >The red radio asks "Fine. You want a sword? Just a boring goddamn sword? Fine. What do I care?" It goes silent.
04:03 Laissez_Armstrong OH!
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, okay, I got this. I got this.
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Hey, blue guy, can I use you yet? Because I'm gonna kick ass on the staff thing.
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Or should I do more string-laying?
04:04 GMedict >The blue radio is silent for a bit, then whispers "The second thing."
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong Okay okay I got it.
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong goes back to laying string
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong lays this one in the kitchen, by the stove
04:06 GMedict >On your way to lay some string, you snag your foot on a length and pull it out of position.
04:06 Laissez_Armstrong Nyeh!
04:06 Laissez_Armstrong flails his leg around, trying to detach it
04:06 GMedict >You successfully disentangle yourself.
04:08 Laissez_Armstrong returns to laying string in the kitchen
04:09 GMedict >After laying yet more string, the blue radio crackles to life.
04:09 Laissez_Armstrong rushes to it and presses the button
04:09 Laissez_Armstrong then gets his guitar out, hastily tunes it, and sits on the edge of his bed
04:09 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the scholar? The wizard, the mage, the acolyte, the cleric, the one that channels the forces of magic?"
04:10 GMedict >"What is the staff?"
04:10 Laissez_Armstrong begins improvising a tune
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong The staff is, at first glance, simple and unhelpful. It cannot strike with the force of a sword, nor from the range of an arrow.
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong All that makes a staff what it is is the details.
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong Intricate carvings, laid out in every inch!
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong Gems and silver filigree - enough to be noticed, never so much as to be gaudy!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong It is long, an extension of the wielder's reach, just as it extends their powers beyond the mundane!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong It is thick and sturdy, protecting them from the harshness of the world outside them!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong And it is the only one of the three that can be used for more than its primary use!
04:12 GMedict >The blue radio sighs.
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong A walking stick, a lever - oh, what!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong stops playing
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong I'm trying really hard you dumb radio!
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong whacks it with his guitar
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong It's got a fucking dragon head on it!
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong Which spews big ol' flames and has a long-ass tongue lolling out!
04:13 GMedict >"Look, can you... can you read the manual, please? I'm clearly the best one, and I don't want you spoiling m-"
04:13 GMedict >It stops.
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong glares and reads the manual
04:14 GMedict >You turn to the section on TEMPLATING. A handy graphic is provided, showing a sword in the center of a circle surrounded by various weapons.
04:15 GMedict >A gun, a battleaxe, a lance, a flail, a baseball bat...
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong Awww, man, I could've had a flail?
04:15 GMedict >The caption simply reads "The possibilities are endless!"
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong I wouldn't have fucked that one up.
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong ...oh.
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong wait, okay, shit. Shitshitshitshitshit.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong I should've read this all the way through.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong Dammit, now I'm gonna have a dumb arrow which flies really stupid and a staff that's ugly and sucks and probably has a guitar dent in it.
04:16 GMedict >The blue radio speaks up and asks "Are you ready to choose?"
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong Uh.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong What are my choices?
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong And are any of them good?
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong flops on his bed
04:17 GMedict >"You can choose anything. You- that's the point. The riddles are just to establish a theme, you know? What kind of thing it is?"
04:18 GMedict >"I'm not supposed to make suggestions."
04:18 Laissez_Armstrong Oh.
04:19 Laissez_Armstrong I, uh...
04:19 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, sorry about that.
04:19 GMedict >"God, we've got to get some real QA one of these days."
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Hey, man, this is a real problem you guys are going to have on release!
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong You're lucky I read the manual at-
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong chuckles
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Oh god, that Ice guy is so fucked.
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Hahaha, oh man, you have to tell me how that goes.
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Anyway, uh, how about a guitar that's sort of a cross between a spear and a shield, or something?
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Like, the head is pointed and metal and stuff, and then the body is sturdy or whatever.
04:21 GMedict >"That's... hang on. That's more a Sword kind of thing. Let me..."
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Oh! Sure thing, man.
04:21 GMedict >It pauses for a moment, and then speaks up.
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Well, hrm. Actually, wait.
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong No, I'll make it a staff instead. I like the blue guy better.
04:22 GMedict >"Okay, I don't think the bosses are listening. I'm not supposed to, you know, help."
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong Keep the shield bit but make it more, uh, bardy. And the head can be all fancy, with carvings and a gem and stuff.
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong Nah, it's cool! I really appreciate it.
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong And I'm sorry about the whole, uh, thing, but I guess that's playtesting for you, y'know?
04:23 GMedict >"So, the guitar thing? That works. Just not like, a shieldy weapon guitar. More like a bard guitar, right? You could cast spells with music?"
04:23 Laissez_Armstrong Yeah!
04:23 Laissez_Armstrong I'm already okay at that anyway.
04:24 GMedict >"Okay, um- oh crap, they're coming by again. Uh..."
04:24 GMedict >It's quiet for a moment, and then resumes.
04:24 GMedict >"Hast thou prepared a choice, chosen hero? Who I have not suggested anything to?"
04:25 Laissez_Armstrong Yes, uh, mysterious mentor guy that is aloof and pissed at my idiocy, or whatever!
04:25 Laissez_Armstrong A guitar!
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong That which I've wielded before tonight, I shall continue, and, uh...
04:26 GMedict >The radio goes silent.
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong weave magic from harmony, or... oh. Right okay.
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong lays out any remaining strings, then sees if the manual has specific instructions on what to do with the plastic bits
04:26 GMedict >The bundle of string doesn't seem close to running out, but you've laid most of the perimeter.
04:27 GMedict >The staples sit in the box unused.
04:27 GMedict >You turn to the manual page on PLANTING YOUR VERVESSEL FOR INGRESSION.
04:28 GMedict >The graphic shows the cartoon man surveying his surroundings, seemingly searching for some place.
04:28 Laissez_Armstrong looks for the text instructions
04:29 GMedict >"When your UNSTRUCTION PERIMETER is complete, you are ready to prepare your Vervessel for Ingression. Make sure you have templated all three Vervessels!"
04:30 Laissez_Armstrong laughs
04:30 GMedict >"Select a model Vervessel, and insert the sharp end into anything stationary."
04:30 Laissez_Armstrong Well, I sure as hell did that...
04:31 GMedict >"Be careful! Your selection of initial Vervessel is important!"
04:31 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs, takes the staff, and gently pokes it into the side of his guitar
04:32 GMedict >"As is your selection of-" You drop the manual, and your guitar, as it delivers an electric shock. It falls to the floor, with the sharp plastic staff sticking out.
04:32 GMedict >Your guitar continues to spark.
04:32 Laissez_Armstrong SHIT!
04:32 Laissez_Armstrong Dammit, that thing's probably wrecked!
04:33 GMedict >The manual doesn't appear to be giving off electricity.
04:33 Laissez_Armstrong I'll have to spend all my savings just to get a new one... dad's gonna kill me...
04:33 Laissez_Armstrong picks the manual back up, shuffling away from the guitar
04:33 GMedict >You resume reading the manual. "As is your selection of insertion location, as it will serve as your initial spawn point in-game."
04:34 GMedict >"Once you have planted your Vervessel, Ingression will begin."
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...Huh, okay.
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...I wonder...
04:34 GMedict >"Congratulations! You have completed manual installation unstruction! Please refer to page 1, quickly."
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong takes the sword and stabs it into the red radio, then hastily turns to page 1
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, that's just... the one that says don't panic a bunch of times, isn't it...
04:35 GMedict >"DON'T PANIC. DON'T PANIC. DON'T PANIC."
04:35 Laissez_Armstrong takes a deep breath and promptly locks himself in the bathroom
04:35 GMedict >You enter the bathroom and see the string you've laid around the edge of the room starting to glow.
04:36 GMedict >Suddenly, the space behind the perimeter becomes pure white, concealing the walls.
04:36 Laissez_Armstrong ...
04:37 GMedict >The white walls that have appeared along the edges of your perimeter start to close in.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong pokes the whitespace
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong ...uh.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong hastily opens the bathroom door and runs back to his bedroom
04:37 GMedict >Your finger begins dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong OH GOD AUGH
04:37 GMedict >The toilet begins dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 GMedict >The edges of your apartment begin dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong yanks the sword out of the red radio
04:38 GMedict >Nothing happens.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong FINE, then.
04:38 GMedict >Your finger seems to have reconstituted itself.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong stabs it back in. And the arrow too for good measure. Fuck the red guy.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong ...Hm.
04:38 GMedict >The walls continue to close in.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong Don't panic, huh?
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs, casually strolls up to the wall of what used to be the balcony, and hops in.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong immediately panics.
04:39 GMedict >The wall is solid!
04:39 GMedict >The parts of your body that make contact with the wall begin to turn not to black flakes, but to stone.
04:39 Laissez_Armstrong ...Uh.
04:39 GMedict >They do not begin reconstituting themselves.
04:39 Laissez_Armstrong backs away
04:40 Laissez_Armstrong attempts to shove the stone bits into the dissolvey parts
04:40 GMedict >The walls have closed in all around. You're left in the center of a small circle of floor.
04:40 GMedict >There is a sudden flash, and you feel your body begin to petrify as the world turns white.
04:41 Laissez_Armstrong ...
04:41 GMedict >You lose consciousness.
04:41 GMedict >Congratulations!
02:54 Laissez_Armstrong Well. Lessee here.
02:54 Laissez_Armstrong Sick of practice. Already ate.
02:56 Laissez_Armstrong fiddles around with his phone, sighing
02:59 GMedict >The phone lights up, emitting a tone you don't recognize. Did you change your ringtone and forget about it?
02:59 Laissez_Armstrong Huh, a text?
02:59 Laissez_Armstrong checks it out
03:02 GMedict >The screen displays the an automatic notification. According to the sender, identified as NEODYNIC_NOREPLY, "The public test version of Neodynic's Palace Championship is now available for download!"
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, cool.
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong Wondering when that'd come out.
03:03 Laissez_Armstrong downloads it and promptly boots it up
03:04 GMedict >You are met with a light blue screen and a brief jingle. After a couple seconds of loading, the following appears:
03:04 Laissez_Armstrong ...Huh.
03:04 Laissez_Armstrong presses the trapezoid
03:05 GMedict >The mechnical voice eagerly chirps, "Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! Preparing for installation unstruction!"
03:05 Laissez_Armstrong blinks
03:05 Laissez_Armstrong ...'kay.
03:05 GMedict >The trapezoid appears to be the mouth of some sort of guide character.
03:06 GMedict >The face on-screen displays a worried expression.
03:06 GMedict >"Apologies. Automatic digital installation unstruction is currently unavailable. Would you like to switch to MANUAL MODE?"
03:07 Laissez_Armstrong Sure thing.
03:07 Laissez_Armstrong ...Uh, yes.
03:07 GMedict >The face appears to respond your your voice commands! "Please wait while Neodynic operatives engage MANUAL MODE."
03:08 GMedict >Its eyes close, and a loading icon bounces back and forth at the bottom of the screen.
03:09 GMedict >You begin to hear a faint, high-pitched noise. It's not coming from the phone.
03:09 Laissez_Armstrong drums his fingers against the railing, sighing
03:10 GMedict >The noise begins to pick up in volume. It's starting to sound like a loud whine, but you're still not sure where it's originating from.
03:11 GMedict >The on-screen face continues to display a loading icon.
03:11 Laissez_Armstrong frowns and enters his apartment, searching for the whine.
03:11 Laissez_Armstrong ((The balcony is connected to his bedroom, which is neither especially neat nor especially tidy.))
03:12 GMedict >The face opens its eyes. "MANUAL MODE engaged. Please take cover."
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ((His guitar case leans up against a wall; a half-full laundry basket is in the corner, and a large, smudged free-standing mirror is near the window))
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, what?
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong panics and dives onto his bed, covering himself with a blanket
03:12 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, this is stupid. It's just a game.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong pokes his head out, then slowly removes the blanket entirely
03:13 GMedict >With a deafening crash, a large object smashes through the ceiling.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong returns to hiding under the blanket
03:13 GMedict >It lands on the floor with a thud, smoking heavily.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong You! Face thing.
03:13 Laissez_Armstrong What the hell was that?
03:14 GMedict >The face thing responds eagerly. "MANUAL MODE has been engaged. Phace unit no longer integral. Please consult the provided Manual Installation Unstruction Manual for further assistance."
03:15 GMedict >The face closes its eyes, and the phone goes dark.
03:15 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:15 Laissez_Armstrong attempts to locate the manual
03:16 GMedict >The dense smoke billowing from the object begins to clear.
03:16 Laissez_Armstrong peers out at the object
03:16 GMedict >It doesn't do so fast enough, however, to avoid setting off the smoke alarm.
03:17 GMedict >A piercing wail fills the room. It's really annoying.
03:17 Laissez_Armstrong Oh for god's sakes.
03:17 Laissez_Armstrong runs to the bathroom, grabs a towel, and starts waving it frantically by the fire alarm to clear the smoke away
03:18 GMedict >The smoke clears, revealing a large bundle of heavy cloth, about a meter in diameter. The cloth wrappings gently smolder.
03:19 Laissez_Armstrong goes to the kitchen to grab some water.
03:20 Laissez_Armstrong ((The kitchen consists of a mostly-empty fridge, cabinets mainly full of cheap snacks, an oven that is pretty much never used, a sink and various counter space. There's some stools set up on the non-kitchen side of the counter, which is more part of the living room))
03:20 Laissez_Armstrong returns and pours the water on the smoldering parts.
03:20 GMedict >The cloth, while soaked, is probably safe to touch now.
03:21 Laissez_Armstrong ...Well, I can't just leave this stuff lying around on my bedroom floor, I guess.
03:21 Laissez_Armstrong removes the cloth, mildly anxious about what might be under it
03:21 GMedict >You unfold several layers of cloth, revealing... a cardboard box! Just what you always wanted.
03:22 GMedict >The box is sealed with what appears to be ordinary packing tape.
03:22 Laissez_Armstrong goes back to the kitchen, grabs a steak knife, and goes to town on the tape
03:23 GMedict >You slice through the packing tape, and open the box. It contains...
03:24 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet reading "Manual Installation Unstruction Manual".
03:24 GMedict >ONE (1) plastic frame containing tiny white plastic weapons. You know, like one of those things that come in craft kits where you have to twist off the plastic nubs? It holds a sword, an arrow, and a staff, each of which are about an inch in length.
03:24 GMedict >THREE (3) color-coded rectangular devices, about the size of a soda can, each of which features a speaker and a button. Radios, perhaps? They come in red, green, and blue.
03:24 GMedict >A BUNCH OF (a bunch of) lengths of wire, bent into U shapes and sharpened on the ends.
03:25 GMedict >ONE (1) (probably) bundle of tangled strings.
03:25 Laissez_Armstrong Huh.
03:25 Laissez_Armstrong reads the Unstruction Manual
03:26 GMedict >The first page tries to be reassuring. In large, bold letters, it reads "DON'T PANIC". It then reads the same message in various different fonts and colors. Is that Comic Sans?
03:27 GMedict >The second page contains something more substantial.
03:27 Laissez_Armstrong Yeah, yeah, I've read Adams t- oh, okay.
03:27 Laissez_Armstrong peruses
03:28 GMedict >"Larry Fairfax! Try not to panic! The manual package probably just fell from the sky or something, and hopefully you weren't inside at the time."
03:28 Laissez_Armstrong glares at the manual, but continues
03:28 GMedict >"Well, let's face it, you probably were. But regardless! You didn't expect the game to do this! Obviously this is pretty suspicious."
03:29 GMedict >"But listen, you can trust me. I'm with someone I know you're very close to, and this manual should help you get into the game properly."
03:29 GMedict >"The important thing is not to panic- just go with the flow, and everything will work out."
03:30 GMedict >The message ends, signed by somebody with the initials C.M.O.
03:30 Laissez_Armstrong scratches his head
03:30 GMedict >Would you like to turn the page?
03:31 Laissez_Armstrong Not even sure who he's talking about. Doubt it's my dad.
03:31 GMedict >The next page features a handy diagram, which is unfortunately not directly visible to anybody who may be controlling Larry's every move. He can see it fine, though.
03:31 Laissez_Armstrong ...God dammit, I bet this is some dumb thing Jeff's pulling.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong ((Ha, do I get any description of what the diagram is or describes?))
03:32 GMedict >The diagram shows a happy cartoon man with a resemblance to Larry pressing the buttons on the three colored devices.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong Huh.
03:32 GMedict >The cartoon depicts the man speaking in empty speech bubbles to the devices.
03:32 Laissez_Armstrong picks up the green device and presses the button.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong Um... let's see here.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong So do I talk, or... uh.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong clears his throat.
03:33 GMedict >The radio-like object crackles to life, and the speaker begins emitting static.
03:33 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, great, no, I was hoping for something to replace the whines.
03:33 GMedict >You begin to hear a voice through the static. It seems to be asking some sort of question.
03:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...The hell?
03:34 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the sneak, the thief, the cutpurse, the rogue, the assassin, the archer, the ranger?"
03:34 GMedict >"What is the arrow?"
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong I dunno, man, those first four or five sounded more like knife guys but okay. Uh...
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong S'a pointy thing that you fire out of a bow?
03:35 GMedict >"What is the weapon? Speak of that which embodies the form."
03:35 Laissez_Armstrong removes the plastic arrow from its frame and experimentally taps it against the green thingy
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong Uh, well.
03:36 GMedict >"Choose an emblem of all ne'er-do-wells".
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong It's... a rod, I guess?
03:36 GMedict >The radio does not respond to the tapping.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong With a pointy bit attached.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong But it's not a spear.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong The proportions are different, the rod bit's way smaller.
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong And I guess there's feathers, or something?
03:36 Laissez_Armstrong To... stabilize it? I dunno aerodynamics, man.
03:37 GMedict >The voice chuckles, and the radio goes silent.
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong And you can... use it fro- oh.
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs and presses the red device's button
03:37 Laissez_Armstrong Sword, right?
03:38 GMedict >The red device, after a brief period of static, begins shouting unintelligibly about "THE RIGHT TIME".
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong JESUS CHRIST.
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong WHEN YOU NEED SOMETHING STABBED I GUESS.
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong WHEN GUYS ARE CLOSE AND YOU NEED THEM TO STEP OFF AAAAAHHH STOP YELLING
03:39 Laissez_Armstrong throws it at the wall
03:39 GMedict >The red device stops for a moment after being thrown, then resumes screaming.
03:40 GMedict >"SHUT UP! YOU GET TO PICK ME LATER!"
03:40 GMedict >"WAIT! WAIT! FOR THE RIGHT TIME!"
03:40 GMedict >The red device goes silent.
03:40 Laissez_Armstrong ...Oh. Okay?
03:41 Laissez_Armstrong tries the blue device.
03:41 Laissez_Armstrong quite deliberately holds it away from his face
03:42 GMedict >The blue device speaks in a softer voice- more feminine, that is, not any less loud. It screeches about whether you were listening.
03:42 GMedict >It yammers on about THE RIGHT TIME for a minute, then goes silent.
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong Okay. So.
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong turns to the next page in the manual
03:42 Laissez_Armstrong I'm pretty sure I just screwed myself over.
03:43 Laissez_Armstrong Also, the game thinks I'm a crook.
03:43 GMedict >The manual shows a simple map. Some sort of floor plan is encircled by a wobbly circle.
03:43 GMedict >Underneath the map, the cartoon man is laying the wire bits in the ground.
03:44 GMedict >He appears to be stapling down that string stuff.
03:44 GMedict >Below the diagrams, a caption appears in small print.
03:45 Laissez_Armstrong squints at the caption
03:46 GMedict >"For non-pictoral instructions, turn to the next page."
03:46 Laissez_Armstrong rolls his eyes and turns the page
03:46 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, so, insultingly simple or totally impenetrable?
03:47 GMedict >"Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! We regret that automatic installation has failed, but by following these simple steps, you can be on your way to the greatest augmented reality experience on Earth or otherwise!"
03:49 GMedict >"To complete manual installation unstruction, you must a) DELINEATE AN UNSTRUCTION PERIMETER, b) TEMPLATE YOUR VERVESSELS, and c) PLANT A VERVESSEL FOR INGRESSON."
03:50 Laissez_Armstrong ...
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, I... think I get the second two, maybe possibly.
03:51 GMedict >"You may TEMPLATE one VERVESSEL at the beginning of installation unstruction, and template the rest after completing sections of DELINEATION."
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, okay, so clearly the green one's the one I templated...
03:51 Laissez_Armstrong looks for specific instructions on delineating the perimeter
03:52 GMedict >"To delineate your perimeter, employ the provided marking tools! Depending on certain player variables, your tools may take various forms. The object, however, is to use them to draw an unbroken shape around your play area."
03:53 Laissez_Armstrong I... guess that's the strings?
03:53 GMedict >"You might use a paint roller to draw a line in paint, or leave a trail of powder around your Unstruction Perimeter."
03:53 Laissez_Armstrong uses the strings to form an outline around as much of his apartment as possible (starting with the balcony, moving through the bedroom, kitchen and living room if possible)
03:54 GMedict >After laying a length of string, the blue and red radios begin crackling.
03:56 Laissez_Armstrong Oh, hey.
03:56 Laissez_Armstrong goes over to give them a listen
03:57 GMedict >After about a minute of silence, the red radio gives a moan and says "Psst. Push one of the buttons."
03:57 Laissez_Armstrong Rrrrright.
03:57 Laissez_Armstrong pushes the red radio's button
03:58 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the warrior? The brawler, the barbarian, the soldier, the fighter? What is the tool of he who stands against his foes with strength in his heart?"
03:58 GMedict >"What is the sword?"
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong Right okay I got this.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong The sword's a weapon of direct confrontation and stuff.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong It means that you aren't going to screw around. You're taking things head on and you expect your enemy to do the same.
03:59 Laissez_Armstrong ...Was, uh, was that one better?
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Oh! Also it's a pointy thing with a handle.
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Or sometimes less pointy and more sharp.
04:00 Laissez_Armstrong Like, edged sharp I mean. Usually that way actually.
04:00 GMedict >The blue radio groans, and the red radio asks "No, like... Jesus. I'm not literally asking- you-". It sighs.
04:01 GMedict >The red radio says "Fine, whatever. What were you saying?"
04:01 Laissez_Armstrong The thing about direct confrontation and stuff!
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong I guess there's like, some sorta honor thing?
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Uh, also, it's simpler.
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Magic and archery needs a lot more practice, but you can pick up swinging a sword around pretty easily.
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong But not... necessarily master it?
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong Uh...
04:02 Laissez_Armstrong coughs
04:03 GMedict >The red radio asks "Fine. You want a sword? Just a boring goddamn sword? Fine. What do I care?" It goes silent.
04:03 Laissez_Armstrong OH!
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, okay, I got this. I got this.
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Hey, blue guy, can I use you yet? Because I'm gonna kick ass on the staff thing.
04:04 Laissez_Armstrong Or should I do more string-laying?
04:04 GMedict >The blue radio is silent for a bit, then whispers "The second thing."
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong Okay okay I got it.
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong goes back to laying string
04:05 Laissez_Armstrong lays this one in the kitchen, by the stove
04:06 GMedict >On your way to lay some string, you snag your foot on a length and pull it out of position.
04:06 Laissez_Armstrong Nyeh!
04:06 Laissez_Armstrong flails his leg around, trying to detach it
04:06 GMedict >You successfully disentangle yourself.
04:08 Laissez_Armstrong returns to laying string in the kitchen
04:09 GMedict >After laying yet more string, the blue radio crackles to life.
04:09 Laissez_Armstrong rushes to it and presses the button
04:09 Laissez_Armstrong then gets his guitar out, hastily tunes it, and sits on the edge of his bed
04:09 GMedict >"What is the weapon of the scholar? The wizard, the mage, the acolyte, the cleric, the one that channels the forces of magic?"
04:10 GMedict >"What is the staff?"
04:10 Laissez_Armstrong begins improvising a tune
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong The staff is, at first glance, simple and unhelpful. It cannot strike with the force of a sword, nor from the range of an arrow.
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong All that makes a staff what it is is the details.
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong Intricate carvings, laid out in every inch!
04:11 Laissez_Armstrong Gems and silver filigree - enough to be noticed, never so much as to be gaudy!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong It is long, an extension of the wielder's reach, just as it extends their powers beyond the mundane!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong It is thick and sturdy, protecting them from the harshness of the world outside them!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong And it is the only one of the three that can be used for more than its primary use!
04:12 GMedict >The blue radio sighs.
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong A walking stick, a lever - oh, what!
04:12 Laissez_Armstrong stops playing
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong I'm trying really hard you dumb radio!
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong whacks it with his guitar
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong It's got a fucking dragon head on it!
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong Which spews big ol' flames and has a long-ass tongue lolling out!
04:13 GMedict >"Look, can you... can you read the manual, please? I'm clearly the best one, and I don't want you spoiling m-"
04:13 GMedict >It stops.
04:13 Laissez_Armstrong glares and reads the manual
04:14 GMedict >You turn to the section on TEMPLATING. A handy graphic is provided, showing a sword in the center of a circle surrounded by various weapons.
04:15 GMedict >A gun, a battleaxe, a lance, a flail, a baseball bat...
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong Awww, man, I could've had a flail?
04:15 GMedict >The caption simply reads "The possibilities are endless!"
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong I wouldn't have fucked that one up.
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong ...oh.
04:15 Laissez_Armstrong wait, okay, shit. Shitshitshitshitshit.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong I should've read this all the way through.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong Dammit, now I'm gonna have a dumb arrow which flies really stupid and a staff that's ugly and sucks and probably has a guitar dent in it.
04:16 GMedict >The blue radio speaks up and asks "Are you ready to choose?"
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong Uh.
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong What are my choices?
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong And are any of them good?
04:16 Laissez_Armstrong flops on his bed
04:17 GMedict >"You can choose anything. You- that's the point. The riddles are just to establish a theme, you know? What kind of thing it is?"
04:18 GMedict >"I'm not supposed to make suggestions."
04:18 Laissez_Armstrong Oh.
04:19 Laissez_Armstrong I, uh...
04:19 Laissez_Armstrong Okay, sorry about that.
04:19 GMedict >"God, we've got to get some real QA one of these days."
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Hey, man, this is a real problem you guys are going to have on release!
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong You're lucky I read the manual at-
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong chuckles
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Oh god, that Ice guy is so fucked.
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Hahaha, oh man, you have to tell me how that goes.
04:20 Laissez_Armstrong Anyway, uh, how about a guitar that's sort of a cross between a spear and a shield, or something?
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Like, the head is pointed and metal and stuff, and then the body is sturdy or whatever.
04:21 GMedict >"That's... hang on. That's more a Sword kind of thing. Let me..."
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Oh! Sure thing, man.
04:21 GMedict >It pauses for a moment, and then speaks up.
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong Well, hrm. Actually, wait.
04:21 Laissez_Armstrong No, I'll make it a staff instead. I like the blue guy better.
04:22 GMedict >"Okay, I don't think the bosses are listening. I'm not supposed to, you know, help."
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong Keep the shield bit but make it more, uh, bardy. And the head can be all fancy, with carvings and a gem and stuff.
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong Nah, it's cool! I really appreciate it.
04:22 Laissez_Armstrong And I'm sorry about the whole, uh, thing, but I guess that's playtesting for you, y'know?
04:23 GMedict >"So, the guitar thing? That works. Just not like, a shieldy weapon guitar. More like a bard guitar, right? You could cast spells with music?"
04:23 Laissez_Armstrong Yeah!
04:23 Laissez_Armstrong I'm already okay at that anyway.
04:24 GMedict >"Okay, um- oh crap, they're coming by again. Uh..."
04:24 GMedict >It's quiet for a moment, and then resumes.
04:24 GMedict >"Hast thou prepared a choice, chosen hero? Who I have not suggested anything to?"
04:25 Laissez_Armstrong Yes, uh, mysterious mentor guy that is aloof and pissed at my idiocy, or whatever!
04:25 Laissez_Armstrong A guitar!
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong That which I've wielded before tonight, I shall continue, and, uh...
04:26 GMedict >The radio goes silent.
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong weave magic from harmony, or... oh. Right okay.
04:26 Laissez_Armstrong lays out any remaining strings, then sees if the manual has specific instructions on what to do with the plastic bits
04:26 GMedict >The bundle of string doesn't seem close to running out, but you've laid most of the perimeter.
04:27 GMedict >The staples sit in the box unused.
04:27 GMedict >You turn to the manual page on PLANTING YOUR VERVESSEL FOR INGRESSION.
04:28 GMedict >The graphic shows the cartoon man surveying his surroundings, seemingly searching for some place.
04:28 Laissez_Armstrong looks for the text instructions
04:29 GMedict >"When your UNSTRUCTION PERIMETER is complete, you are ready to prepare your Vervessel for Ingression. Make sure you have templated all three Vervessels!"
04:30 Laissez_Armstrong laughs
04:30 GMedict >"Select a model Vervessel, and insert the sharp end into anything stationary."
04:30 Laissez_Armstrong Well, I sure as hell did that...
04:31 GMedict >"Be careful! Your selection of initial Vervessel is important!"
04:31 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs, takes the staff, and gently pokes it into the side of his guitar
04:32 GMedict >"As is your selection of-" You drop the manual, and your guitar, as it delivers an electric shock. It falls to the floor, with the sharp plastic staff sticking out.
04:32 GMedict >Your guitar continues to spark.
04:32 Laissez_Armstrong SHIT!
04:32 Laissez_Armstrong Dammit, that thing's probably wrecked!
04:33 GMedict >The manual doesn't appear to be giving off electricity.
04:33 Laissez_Armstrong I'll have to spend all my savings just to get a new one... dad's gonna kill me...
04:33 Laissez_Armstrong picks the manual back up, shuffling away from the guitar
04:33 GMedict >You resume reading the manual. "As is your selection of insertion location, as it will serve as your initial spawn point in-game."
04:34 GMedict >"Once you have planted your Vervessel, Ingression will begin."
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...Huh, okay.
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...I wonder...
04:34 GMedict >"Congratulations! You have completed manual installation unstruction! Please refer to page 1, quickly."
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong takes the sword and stabs it into the red radio, then hastily turns to page 1
04:34 Laissez_Armstrong ...Wait, that's just... the one that says don't panic a bunch of times, isn't it...
04:35 GMedict >"DON'T PANIC. DON'T PANIC. DON'T PANIC."
04:35 Laissez_Armstrong takes a deep breath and promptly locks himself in the bathroom
04:35 GMedict >You enter the bathroom and see the string you've laid around the edge of the room starting to glow.
04:36 GMedict >Suddenly, the space behind the perimeter becomes pure white, concealing the walls.
04:36 Laissez_Armstrong ...
04:37 GMedict >The white walls that have appeared along the edges of your perimeter start to close in.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong pokes the whitespace
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong ...uh.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong hastily opens the bathroom door and runs back to his bedroom
04:37 GMedict >Your finger begins dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong OH GOD AUGH
04:37 GMedict >The toilet begins dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 GMedict >The edges of your apartment begin dissolving into black flakes.
04:37 Laissez_Armstrong yanks the sword out of the red radio
04:38 GMedict >Nothing happens.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong FINE, then.
04:38 GMedict >Your finger seems to have reconstituted itself.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong stabs it back in. And the arrow too for good measure. Fuck the red guy.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong ...Hm.
04:38 GMedict >The walls continue to close in.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong Don't panic, huh?
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong shrugs, casually strolls up to the wall of what used to be the balcony, and hops in.
04:38 Laissez_Armstrong immediately panics.
04:39 GMedict >The wall is solid!
04:39 GMedict >The parts of your body that make contact with the wall begin to turn not to black flakes, but to stone.
04:39 Laissez_Armstrong ...Uh.
04:39 GMedict >They do not begin reconstituting themselves.
04:39 Laissez_Armstrong backs away
04:40 Laissez_Armstrong attempts to shove the stone bits into the dissolvey parts
04:40 GMedict >The walls have closed in all around. You're left in the center of a small circle of floor.
04:40 GMedict >There is a sudden flash, and you feel your body begin to petrify as the world turns white.
04:41 Laissez_Armstrong ...
04:41 GMedict >You lose consciousness.
04:41 GMedict >Congratulations!