RE: Palace Caprae (Sburblike RP)
04-15-2013, 06:03 AM
Entry number 3, Emily Hunter/Connie Spires.
![[Image: connies_vervessels.png]](https://www.majhost.com/gallery/spacetimeCounselor/PSC-Misc/Palace-Caprae/connies_vervessels.png)
Oh, and I drew up a map of Larry's apartment, as a general sort of guide to how his world will be laid out:
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Spoiler01:15 Connie Spires hears a door shutting in the distance.
01:16 Connie Spires Okay, night janitor's gone. Finally. Time to do this.
01:16 Connie Spires crawls out from behind a bookcase and heads over to one of the computers.
01:17 Connie Spires takes out her notebook and starts reading over what she's "discovered" about the ice cream truck company.
01:20 GMedict >You receive a text message from your phone. Will you check it now, or is your current business more pressing?
01:20 GMedict ((what else would it be from. i should get some coffee or something))
01:20 Connie Spires Huh? Maybe it's a lead.
01:21 Connie Spires checks.
01:21 MrGuy ((From her fillings, obviously.))
01:22 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!"
01:23 Connie Spires Oh, great, it's spam... wait a minute.
01:24 Connie Spires flips through her notebook and finds a page with a complex diagrams with a bunch of names and arrows on it. "NEODYNIC" has an arrow on it pointing to "CREAMCO ICE CREAM".
01:25 GMedict >It's got to be connected. You're onto something, here!
01:25 Agenpetra ((now i want ice cream)
01:25 Connie Spires (No you don't, it's laced with mind-control nanites.)
01:26 MrGuy ((all anyone really wants is ice cream, in the end))
01:26 MrGuy ((because of the nanites of course))
01:26 Connie Spires This game must be part of the plan. I'd better take a closer look.
01:27 Connie Spires does whatever is involved in downloading the game.
01:27 MrGuy ((Do you have your tinfoil hat and/or brainwash-resistant sunglasses on?))
01:27 Connie Spires (Never leave home without them!)
01:28 GMedict ((It's a featured product on the nonspecifically branded smartphone digital download store.))
01:28 GMedict >You download the application and boot it up.
01:28 GMedict >You are initially greeted by a blue-grey screen.
01:28 GMedict >A face appears onscreen.
01:28 GMedict![[Image: phace_connie.png]](https://www.majhost.com/gallery/spacetimeCounselor/PSC-Misc/Palace-Caprae/phace_connie.png)
01:30 Connie Spires What is this, some kind of hypnosis interface?
01:30 GMedict >A tinny mechanical voice chirps "Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! Preparing for installation unstruction!"
01:31 GMedict >The onscreen eyes dart back and forth for a bit, and the face displays what looks like a concerned expression.
01:31 GMedict >"Calibration detects that you are in a public building after hours. Automatic installation unstruction not available."
01:32 GMedict >"Would you like to switch to MANUAL MODE?"
01:32 Connie Spires So I'm already doing something they didn't expect. Good.
01:32 Connie Spires Yeah, I'll go for manual mode.
01:33 GMedict >The interface seems to recognize your voice command.
01:33 GMedict >Its eyes close after the message "Please wait while Neodynic operatives engage MANUAL MODE."
01:33 Agenpetra ((also, it proves that they're tracking your location!))
01:33 GMedict >You begin to hear a faint, high-pitched noise.
01:34 GMedict >It's not from your phone.
01:34 Connie Spires What the?
01:34 Connie Spires tries to find the source of the noise.
01:35 GMedict >The noise grows slightly louder.
01:39 Connie Spires What's making that? Are they hiding something in the library?
01:39 GMedict >The noise has increased to a loud whine.
01:40 Connie Spires starts poking around the library.
01:41 Connie Spires Maybe it's some kind of transmitter?
01:41 GMedict >The face on your phone opens its eyes. "MANUAL MODE engaged. Please take cover."
01:41 Connie Spires Take cover? From what?
01:42 Connie Spires sneaks behind a bookcase and looks around nervously.
01:42 GMedict >Before you've come up with more than three wild ideas, you hear a loud crash upstairs, followed by a dull thud.
01:43 Connie Spires heads upstairs to investigate.
01:44 GMedict >In the middle of the room, next to a toppled bookshelf, lies some sort of object.
01:44 GMedict >It's giving off too much smoke to make out.
01:44 MrGuy ((Swamp gas!))
01:45 GMedict >Oh, and there's a hole in the ceiling, which would explain the rubble strewn around the room.
01:47 Connie Spires This is even bigger than I thought. The aliens are directly involved!
01:49 Connie Spires holds her coat over her mouth to keep the smoke out and approaches the object.
01:51 GMedict >The smoke is beginning to clear, but it's still smoldering significantly. It looks like it's a lump of heavy cloth- denim? About a meter in diameter.
01:52 Connie Spires tries to pick it up.
01:53 GMedict >It's pretty heavy- you're not sure you can lift it, even if you did put out the bits of it that are still burning.
01:54 Connie Spires Just what is this?
01:56 GMedict >It looks like you'll have to put your sleuthing skills to the test!
01:56 GMedict >There is very little that doesn't make it look like you'll have to put your sleuthing skills to the test.
01:56 Connie Spires takes out the magnifying glass she obviously always carries around and takes a closer look at the thingamajig.
01:58 GMedict >The thingamajig appears to be wrapped in multiple layers of this cloth stuff. Bits of it are still giving off smoke, but it doesn't seem to have been noticeably damaged by the fire.
01:58 GMedict >Nor, presumably, by its violent entry through the roof of the library.
01:58 Connie Spires tries to pull off the cloth stuff.
01:59 GMedict >You unfold layer after layer of the denim-feeling material, nearly scorching your hands a couple times.
02:00 GMedict >You manage not to choke on smoke, and uncover a cardboard box sealed with what appears to be ordinary packing tape.
02:00 Connie Spires opens the box.
02:01 GMedict >The box contains...
02:01 MrGuy ((FLUORIDATED WATER))
02:01 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.
02:01 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.
02:01 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet reading "Manual Installation Unstruction Manual".
02:02 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet identical in size, hand-written in familiar-looking handwriting, reading "DON'T TRUST IT".
02:03 GMedict >ONE (1) ordinary-looking camera.
02:03 Connie Spires Of course I don't trust it. Let's take a look here.
02:03 Connie Spires looks through the "DON'T TRUST IT" leaflet.
02:04 GMedict >The leaflet begins "Emily Hunter. Everything you know is wrong, but you are closer to the Truths than you realize."
02:04 GMedict >"The Truths are your quarry, and you must not give up the chase until you have found them."
02:05 GMedict >"The manual is probably full of lies, like everything else."
02:05 GMedict >"Let me tell you how to do this, not that thing."
02:05 GMedict >Continue reading the handwritten leaflet, or pick up the manual?
02:05 Connie Spires keeps reading.
02:06 GMedict >"There is a conspiracy, as you know. There's something controlling the world, and it has its hands in everything."
02:06 GMedict >"You've been following false leads, planted to distract you from the Truths."
02:07 GMedict >"But there's a conspiracy behind the conspiracy, and I have this opportunity to help you uncover it."
02:08 GMedict >"You need to trust me."
02:08 GMedict >"Your first task is to question the servants of the chessmaster- or the one who thinks he's the chessmaster."
02:09 GMedict >"Take the blue two-way device, and try to get information out of the person on the other end."
02:09 Connie Spires takes the device.
02:09 GMedict >"DO NOT USE THE RED DEVICE until the end."
02:10 GMedict >The blue radio has a single button on the top.
02:11 Connie Spires presses it.
02:11 GMedict >After a brief period of static, a soft voice plays.
02:12 GMedict >"Um... what is the weapon of... wait, no. What is the focus for..."
02:12 GMedict >The voice appears to be attempting to ask a question, but it sounds confused.
02:12 Connie Spires Who is this? What do you know?
02:13 GMedict >"I- I'm sorry, hold on. They changed the script, I need to find..."
02:13 GMedict >The voice trails off.
02:13 Connie Spires Who are you working for?!?
02:14 GMedict >"Okay, found it. I- working for? I..."
02:14 GMedict >"Well, I mean, it's supposed to be automatic in the final version, but I'm working for the templating script department."
02:14 GMedict >"Can we stay in character, please?"
02:17 Connie Spires I want answers!
02:19 GMedict >"Uh, right. So, imagine if you will- you have passed the test of wizardry, and must now choose a focus for your power. Like..."
02:19 GMedict >"Gosh, this is so inelegant. Sorry."
02:19 GMedict >"I don't see what was wrong with the original script."
02:21 GMedict >"You read the manual, right? Just pick what magic thing you want- we'll have this fixed at release."
02:23 Connie Spires What, you mean this sword, arrow, and staff?
02:24 MrGuy (hee hee)
02:25 GMedict >"No! Those! Those are supposed to be symbolic!" The voice seems frustrated for some reason.
02:25 Connie Spires glances at the manual, only so she knows what NOT to do.
02:26 GMedict >You flip to the section on TEMPLATING YOUR VERVESSEL.
02:27 GMedict >According to the manual, you must answer the Guardians of Strength, Guile and Magic to select the form of your in-game weaponry.
02:28 MrGuy (And with that, she was the first and hopefully only player to actually read the manual)
02:29 GMedict >The manual makes reference to a scripted riddle about the weapon of a bunch of synonyms for things. You're not sure why the voice went off-script.
02:30 Connie Spires This doesn't sound like much of a riddle to me.
02:30 GMedict >You could really care less about this half-assed nonsense at the moment. You need answers, damn it!
02:31 Connie Spires Who are you working for? Where did all this stuff even come from?
02:32 GMedict >"I- I'm not supposed to talk about the department. What's the problem, exactly?"
02:33 Connie Spires Not supposed to talk about it? What are you trying to hide?
02:34 GMedict >"It's just policy, we're supposed to stay in-character. Dave threw everything off after the first client got confused by the script, though, so... sorry about breaking the fourth wall, and stuff."
02:35 Connie Spires Who's Dave?
02:37 GMedict >"He's the guy who's supposed to do the melee weapon thing. Red comm. He threw a fit about the script after Fairfax and Duffe, so we're kind of frazzled at the moment."
02:38 Connie Spires Fairfax? Duffe? Who or what are those?
02:39 GMedict >"Just some of the other clients. I mean, testers. You know how playtesting can get."
02:40 Connie Spires What happened with them?
02:42 GMedict >"The writers didn't think things through, or something? Dave's the one yelling at management about it, I'm just a voice actor."
02:45 GMedict >"Can you just pick what you want to use for spellcasting? I have break coming up."
02:46 Connie Spires What's your name?
02:47 GMedict >"Wh- uh, Gwen."
02:47 Connie Spires takes notes on all of this.
02:49 Connie Spires then grabs a random book from a nearby shelf.
02:50 Connie Spires Well, Gwen. I'll use this copy of, uh... "Lord of the Flies"... for spellcasting.
01:32 GMedict >"Well, you don't need to... provide an object, but a spellbook... okay. Lord of the... got it."
01:32 GMedict >"Have fun!"
01:32 GMedict >The blue radio goes silent.
01:33 Connie Spires Just a low-ranking flunky, it seems. Barely knows anything. This "Dave" might know more, but I'm supposed to use the red one last.
01:33 Connie Spires presses the button on the green radio.
01:34 GMedict >Static starts up on the green radio, and a raspy voice answers.
01:35 GMedict >"What is... oh, you- hm. Gwen talk to you?"
01:35 Connie Spires Yes, she did. What's the deal here? Who are you working for?
01:36 GMedict >"Sorry, I can't talk to you until after you've achieved approximately one-third of your unstruction perimeter."
01:38 Connie Spires What does that mean? Are you trying to get me to do your dirty work?
01:38 GMedict >The green radio continues to emit static, but you hear no answer from the other end.
01:41 Connie Spires Hmm. This one's more cautious.
01:43 Connie Spires Don't think you're going to keep me away from the truth! I'm more resourceful than you think. I already know about...
01:43 Connie Spires looks at the overly complicated diagram in her notes.
01:44 Connie Spires About Microtech! I know all about your business with Microtech, pal. Especially what /you/ had to do with it.
01:45 GMedict >You think you might've heard a faint chuckle from the radio, but whoever's on the other end isn't talking.
01:50 Connie Spires Still not talking? Well, I'm not going away either. I know I'm getting close. I know you're worried about what I'll find out if I keep digging.
01:51 Connie Spires But if you cooperate, I can keep you mostly out of trouble when I uncover the whole thing.
01:51 GMedict >You're sure the guy on the other end is on the verge of cracking.
01:51 GMedict >Your interrogation skills are flawless.
01:52 GMedict >...yeah, he's still not saying anything.
01:53 Connie Spires starts tapping on the radio's speaker.
01:54 GMedict >He's going to crack any minute now. You can /smell/ it.
01:55 GMedict >You won't be fooled by something as trivial as a complete lack of response.
01:55 Connie Spires Listen, pal, I know there's a reason you're still on the line.
01:56 Connie Spires Or are you too stupid to figure out how to shut it off? I bet your boss would be real interested in knowing that.
01:57 GMedict >Suddenly the devious conspiracy operative on the other end buckles, and spills all the beans about total unresponsive silence.
02:08 GMedict >There's a bunch of stuff you haven't messed with yet! Maybe you should try to figure it out, or consult one of the manuals.
02:08 Connie Spires looks over the stuff again.
02:10 Connie Spires takes a closer look at the camera.
02:10 GMedict >It looks like a pretty upscale camera. Fancy zoom lens, lots of buttons, a digital display...
02:10 GMedict >Also a really oversized flash.
02:14 Connie Spires tries to take a picture of the hole in the ceiling.
02:15 GMedict >The flash goes off with an almost blinding light.
02:15 GMedict >Well, that's not quite accurate.
02:16 GMedict >The flash goes on, and then doesn't go off at all. The ceiling of the library is now brightly illuminated, with no apparent source.
02:16 GMedict >A photograph of the hole in the ceiling appears on the digital display.
02:18 Connie Spires picks up the green radio again.
02:19 Connie Spires Hey, you! Why's the ceiling here glowing after I took a picture? What kind of crazy camera is this?
02:20 GMedict >The only thing you hear is "Not done yet."
02:20 Connie Spires flips through the manual again to see if there's anything about the camera or the tiny plastic weapons.
02:23 GMedict >The manual features a number of bizarre headings such as "PERIMETRIC APPARATI", "REPLICA VERVESSELS", "TEMPLATE COMMS", and "INGRESSION".
02:23 GMedict >Which do you look under?
02:24 Connie Spires PERIMETRIC APPARATI
02:25 GMedict >"Your Manual Installation Unstruction Kit will provide you with one of a selection of many tools for establishing your Unstruction Perimeter."
02:26 GMedict >"In order to complete Installation Unstruction and proceed to Ingression, you must use your provided tool or tools to establish a defined perimeter around the play area."
02:26 GMedict >"We detect that you have been assigned: the camera."
02:27 GMedict >"The camera, rather than drawing a distinct line around the play area, marks the play area with a permanent illumination effect."
02:28 GMedict >"Simply light up the regions you'd like to select for Installation Unstruction, and proceed to PLANT YOUR VERVESSEL (see section D)."
02:28 GMedict >"Don't forget to stop and use the Template Comms to template your Vervessel options beforehand!"
02:31 Connie Spires Hmm. What did the other booklet say again?
02:31 Connie Spires reviews "DON'T TRUST IT".
02:32 GMedict 02:04 GMedict >"The Truths are your quarry, and you must not give up the chase until you have found them." 02:05 GMedict >"The manual is probably full of lies, like everything else." 02:05 GMedict >"Let me tell you how to do this, not that thing."
02:32 GMedict >Continue reading?
02:32 Connie Spires Yeah, I want to review this guy's instructions.
02:34 GMedict >"The camera is a tool of the conspiracy to destroy the world. I'm pretty sure it's a conspiracy to destroy the world. All the signs point that way."
02:34 GMedict >"The others don't seem to care. They think this is a game. They don't know what we're capable of."
02:34 GMedict >"I know you can use these tools of the conspiracy to take it down from the inside out."
02:35 GMedict >"Together, we can uncover the true mastermind."
02:35 GMedict >Truly, this guide is a font of highly specific and useful information.
02:36 Connie Spires checks the manual on "REPLICA VERVESSELS".
02:36 Connie Spires If they don't want me planting this before I use the radios, then maybe I should try doing that.
02:37 GMedict >"Once your Unstruction Perimeter has been established, select one of the replica Vervessels in the plastic packaging."
02:37 GMedict >"Be careful, as the arrowhead, sword tip, and staff hilt are all sharp, so that they can be planted."
02:38 GMedict >"Planting a replica Vervessel in the play area will set your spawn point in the corresponding game world."
02:39 GMedict >"Be sure to template your Vervessel using the Comms before initiating Ingression. Untemplated Vervessel functionality is not fully tested."
02:39 Connie Spires Then let's do some testing, I say.
02:39 Connie Spires takes pictures of the walls and floor.
02:40 GMedict >The walls of the second floor of the library become illuminated, as does the floor.
02:40 GMedict >The green radio begins shouting.
02:40 GMedict >"Wait! No! Not again!"
02:40 MrGuy (oh my fucking god, every one of us is going to break the game worse)
02:40 Connie Spires Oh, it seems someone wants to talk now.
02:41 Connie Spires All right, pal, what's the deal here? Who's in charge of this operation? Or at least, who have you been told is in charge?
02:42 GMedict >"Um- management? I just work here."
02:43 Connie Spires Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before.
02:44 GMedict >"No, really. I don't know the guys in management, Last Boss just put them there."
02:44 Connie Spires Last Boss?
02:44 GMedict >"Y'know, like, God? Do you-"
02:44 GMedict >You hear a soft thump from the radio.
02:45 GMedict >A gruff voice, different from the previous raspy voice, begins speaking.
02:45 GMedict >"Hey. What do you want your ranged weapon to be?"
02:46 Connie Spires The only weapon I need is the truth, pal! What's going on here?
02:46 GMedict >"What do you mean by "the truth"?"
02:46 Connie Spires What's your game here? What are you trying to do?
02:47 GMedict >"The game is Neodynic's Palace Championship. The game you're testing. You downloaded it, didn't you?"
02:47 GMedict >"Were you even at the info session?"
02:48 Connie Spires Please. This game's just a front. What are you really trying to do here?
02:49 GMedict >"It's just a game. There's nothing else to it."
02:49 GMedict >"Answer the goddamn question."
02:50 Connie Spires I'm in a room with glowing walls!
02:50 Connie Spires That's not just a game, pal.
02:50 GMedict >"It's a magic game. Who cares. It's not your problem, it's not my problem, and it doesn't need to be a problem."
02:50 Connie Spires This is alien technology, isn't it?
02:50 GMedict >"What? No."
02:51 Connie Spires Then where did it come from?
02:51 GMedict >"Aliens don't have technology."
02:51 GMedict >"Who do you think made it? Use your damn noggin, kid."
02:52 Connie Spires So there are aliens involved!
02:52 GMedict >"No, there's no aliens involved. Shut up."
02:52 Connie Spires Then how do you know they don't have technology?
02:52 GMedict >"I'm not your personal information booth, and neither is Gwen."
02:52 GMedict >"Answer the fucking question and get on with it."
02:54 Connie Spires How about this. You answer /my/ questions or I stick this arrowhead in the floor before I'm supposed to.
02:55 GMedict >"You want to play the game with slingshots and boxing gloves? Because that's what I've put in your defaults."
02:56 GMedict >"We already have a guy testing the blank functionality."
02:56 GMedict >"You don't want to get stuck with the weakest base types in the game."
02:59 GMedict >"Frankly, kid, you don't have a bargaining position here."
03:01 MrGuy (Clearly slingshots and boxing gloves are the only weapons without mind control chips inside)
03:01 Connie Spires I told you already, the only weapon I need is the truth!
03:01 Connie Spires takes the arrow out of the packaging.
03:02 GMedict >"All that's gonna do is start you off with slingshots and a single floor of the library."
03:02 GMedict >"If you don't want to have fun, be my guest."
03:05 Connie Spires What difference does it make?
03:06 GMedict >"Zilch. I'm just saying, all you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot."
03:08 Connie Spires What's the difference if I only have one floor, I mean?
03:09 GMedict >"Eh. You'll find out. Whatever."
03:10 GMedict >"Look, I was lying about the defaults being weak. Just do whatever. My shift's almost over and I've been hassling management all day."
03:10 Connie Spires Hassling management? What's going on over there?
03:12 GMedict >"Management's green, call staff is green, everyone's-- hey, listen. It's none of your business."
03:12 MrGuy (So they ARE aliens!)
03:13 Connie Spires So basically, what you're saying is no one over there has any idea what they're doing?
03:13 GMedict >"Nobody except me and Last- I mean, shut your hole! If you don't stop asking nosy questions, I'm gonna shut down green and stick you with slingshots."
03:14 Connie Spires Sounds to me like whoever's in charge of this operation doesn't want anyone being too informed.
03:15 GMedict >"No shit. Now pick a ranged weapon now or I'm shutting down the green comm."
03:18 Connie Spires Like I care. You can just put me down for whatever.
03:19 GMedict >The green comm goes dead.
03:20 Connie Spires Well, that was informative. That guy didn't know a lot about keeping his mouth shut.
03:20 Connie Spires Anyhow, I'm supposed to do red last.
03:20 Connie Spires presses the button on the red radio.
03:21 MrGuy (inb4 it's the same guy)
03:21 GMedict >"Okay, now melee. This is the one that's /supposed/ to be my job."
03:21 GMedict >"Fucking Hal."
03:21 Connie Spires So you must be this Dave guy.
03:22 GMedict >"Yeah, big whoop."
03:24 GMedict >"Don't think I don't know your game, Spires."
03:24 Connie Spires So what happened to the riddles, anyways? Gwen said you were complaining about the script for some reason.
03:25 GMedict >"The riddles were stupid and they didn't work and I had to yell at people to get them to change the system. What you're getting is the back end of just fucking picking a weapon instead of dealing with psychotherapy bullshit."
03:26 GMedict >"Speaking off bullshit, stop asking questions and pick a melee weapon. I don't have all day."
03:31 Connie Spires If you don't want me asking questions, maybe you shouldn't be involved in such a fishy operation.
03:31 GMedict >"Yeah, wouldn't I like that."
03:32 GMedict >"Let's just get on with it."
03:32 Connie Spires All this crazy stuff you sent me, nobody knows what's actually going on... you can't tell me there's nothing behind it.
03:32 GMedict >"There's nothing behind it."
03:33 GMedict >"It's just."
03:33 GMedict >"A goddamn."
03:33 GMedict >"Game."
03:34 Connie Spires There's a big hole in the ceiling and the walls are glowing.
03:35 GMedict >"It's a magic game. It's not important, and you can't do anything about it anyway."
03:36 GMedict >"Just shut up and pick what type of thing you want to bludgeon shit with."
03:36 Connie Spires You mean you don't want me doing anything about it.
03:36 GMedict >"No, I mean you literally can't do anything about it."
03:36 GMedict >"Besides play it, I mean."
03:43 GMedict >"Are we done here? I think we're done here."
03:44 Connie Spires Fine, then.
03:44 Connie Spires But I'm going to find out the truth, "Dave", if that's your real name.
03:45 GMedict >"Why would Dave not be my real name. You nosy brat."
03:45 GMedict >"You want to pick something, or...?"
03:46 Connie Spires Fine, toss me a sledgehammer or something. Doesn't make a difference to me.
03:46 GMedict >"Gotcha."
03:46 GMedict >The red radio goes silent.
03:46 GMedict >Now what?
03:48 Connie Spires takes one more look at "DON'T TRUST IT", maybe she skimmed over something relevant before.
03:49 GMedict >"They want you to play their game. It might be the way in, but it might be a trap. In fact, it's probably a trap. That's what the evidence says."
03:51 GMedict >"But we both know the evidence isn't as important as the truth."
03:52 GMedict >"Can you really find the truth from the outside? Or do you need to go inside to investigate?"
03:53 GMedict >"They'll offer you power inside. They'll try to distract you. But the truth, the Truths are what's important."
03:53 Connie Spires Yeah, I got it.
03:53 Connie Spires I'm going in.
03:54 Connie Spires grabs the plastic arrow.
03:54 GMedict >Where would you like to PLANT your REPLICA VERVESSEL?
03:55 Connie Spires Let's see. They want it to go someplace I've marked with the camera.
03:55 Connie Spires So I wonder what happens if I plant it somewhere else.
03:55 Connie Spires heads back downstairs.
03:58 GMedict >You are now downstairs. Some of the flash light has leaked onto one of the walls from the stairwell, but most surfaces remain dark.
03:59 Connie Spires sticks the arrow between some floorboards.
04:01 GMedict >A red beam of light shoots up from the shaft of the arrow.
04:01 GMedict >The beam of light expands into a cylinder, which rapidly moves out past the walls of the library.
04:02 GMedict >A disembodied voice announces "3D PERIMETER DETECTED. CONVERTING."
04:02 GMedict >The nighttime outside the windows disappears, replaced by a bright whiteness.
04:04 GMedict >You're not sure how worried you should be about all this, considering.
04:05 Connie Spires heads back upstairs to take a look.
04:06 GMedict >The illumination is gone. You look outside a window, and...
04:06 GMedict >Is it just you, or is the whiteness getting closer?
04:09 GMedict >Yeah, it's definitely getting closer.
04:09 GMedict >Without warning, the whiteness comes through the walls.
04:09 GMedict >You can't see the walls anymore. Just white.
04:11 Connie Spires tries to feel around for pretty much anything.
04:12 GMedict >You brush against the whiteness. Your hand, um.
04:12 GMedict >Well, I wouldn't say it begins turning to stone.
04:12 GMedict >Unless that was exactly what was happening.
04:12 GMedict >Which it is.
04:14 Connie Spires panics.
04:15 GMedict >You back away from the whiteness as it continues to close in.
04:15 GMedict >You find yourself backing towards the whiteness coming from the direction of the other wall, though.
04:15 Connie Spires looks around for anything that isn't whiteness.
04:16 GMedict >Well, there's the floor, and the hole in the ceiling.
04:16 GMedict >Plus the edges of some bookshelves, which are turning into black flakes and disappearing into the whiteness.
04:17 Connie Spires flips through the manual to the section on "INGRESSION", if I haven't lost it in all this mess and also if I can manage that with one hand turned to stone.
04:18 GMedict >"Once your Vervessel has been planted, Ingression will commence."
04:18 GMedict >"Don't panic! The unstruction of the installation should proceed smoothly, and it's important not to get injured in a panic."
04:19 GMedict >"We advise you to strike a dramatic pose before you participate in the Unstruction process."
04:20 GMedict >The whiteness has closed in, leaving you in a circle a few meters in radius.
04:23 Connie Spires just kind of stands there, staring nervously at the whiteness.
04:23 GMedict >You stand nervously as the whiteness closes in and swallows you up.
04:23 GMedict >You lose consciousness.
04:23 GMedict >Congratulations!
01:16 Connie Spires Okay, night janitor's gone. Finally. Time to do this.
01:16 Connie Spires crawls out from behind a bookcase and heads over to one of the computers.
01:17 Connie Spires takes out her notebook and starts reading over what she's "discovered" about the ice cream truck company.
01:20 GMedict >You receive a text message from your phone. Will you check it now, or is your current business more pressing?
01:20 GMedict ((what else would it be from. i should get some coffee or something))
01:20 Connie Spires Huh? Maybe it's a lead.
01:21 Connie Spires checks.
01:21 MrGuy ((From her fillings, obviously.))
01:22 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!"
01:23 Connie Spires Oh, great, it's spam... wait a minute.
01:24 Connie Spires flips through her notebook and finds a page with a complex diagrams with a bunch of names and arrows on it. "NEODYNIC" has an arrow on it pointing to "CREAMCO ICE CREAM".
01:25 GMedict >It's got to be connected. You're onto something, here!
01:25 Agenpetra ((now i want ice cream)
01:25 Connie Spires (No you don't, it's laced with mind-control nanites.)
01:26 MrGuy ((all anyone really wants is ice cream, in the end))
01:26 MrGuy ((because of the nanites of course))
01:26 Connie Spires This game must be part of the plan. I'd better take a closer look.
01:27 Connie Spires does whatever is involved in downloading the game.
01:27 MrGuy ((Do you have your tinfoil hat and/or brainwash-resistant sunglasses on?))
01:27 Connie Spires (Never leave home without them!)
01:28 GMedict ((It's a featured product on the nonspecifically branded smartphone digital download store.))
01:28 GMedict >You download the application and boot it up.
01:28 GMedict >You are initially greeted by a blue-grey screen.
01:28 GMedict >A face appears onscreen.
01:28 GMedict
![[Image: phace_connie.png]](https://www.majhost.com/gallery/spacetimeCounselor/PSC-Misc/Palace-Caprae/phace_connie.png)
01:30 Connie Spires What is this, some kind of hypnosis interface?
01:30 GMedict >A tinny mechanical voice chirps "Welcome to Neodynic's Palace Championship! Preparing for installation unstruction!"
01:31 GMedict >The onscreen eyes dart back and forth for a bit, and the face displays what looks like a concerned expression.
01:31 GMedict >"Calibration detects that you are in a public building after hours. Automatic installation unstruction not available."
01:32 GMedict >"Would you like to switch to MANUAL MODE?"
01:32 Connie Spires So I'm already doing something they didn't expect. Good.
01:32 Connie Spires Yeah, I'll go for manual mode.
01:33 GMedict >The interface seems to recognize your voice command.
01:33 GMedict >Its eyes close after the message "Please wait while Neodynic operatives engage MANUAL MODE."
01:33 Agenpetra ((also, it proves that they're tracking your location!))
01:33 GMedict >You begin to hear a faint, high-pitched noise.
01:34 GMedict >It's not from your phone.
01:34 Connie Spires What the?
01:34 Connie Spires tries to find the source of the noise.
01:35 GMedict >The noise grows slightly louder.
01:39 Connie Spires What's making that? Are they hiding something in the library?
01:39 GMedict >The noise has increased to a loud whine.
01:40 Connie Spires starts poking around the library.
01:41 Connie Spires Maybe it's some kind of transmitter?
01:41 GMedict >The face on your phone opens its eyes. "MANUAL MODE engaged. Please take cover."
01:41 Connie Spires Take cover? From what?
01:42 Connie Spires sneaks behind a bookcase and looks around nervously.
01:42 GMedict >Before you've come up with more than three wild ideas, you hear a loud crash upstairs, followed by a dull thud.
01:43 Connie Spires heads upstairs to investigate.
01:44 GMedict >In the middle of the room, next to a toppled bookshelf, lies some sort of object.
01:44 GMedict >It's giving off too much smoke to make out.
01:44 MrGuy ((Swamp gas!))
01:45 GMedict >Oh, and there's a hole in the ceiling, which would explain the rubble strewn around the room.
01:47 Connie Spires This is even bigger than I thought. The aliens are directly involved!
01:49 Connie Spires holds her coat over her mouth to keep the smoke out and approaches the object.
01:51 GMedict >The smoke is beginning to clear, but it's still smoldering significantly. It looks like it's a lump of heavy cloth- denim? About a meter in diameter.
01:52 Connie Spires tries to pick it up.
01:53 GMedict >It's pretty heavy- you're not sure you can lift it, even if you did put out the bits of it that are still burning.
01:54 Connie Spires Just what is this?
01:56 GMedict >It looks like you'll have to put your sleuthing skills to the test!
01:56 GMedict >There is very little that doesn't make it look like you'll have to put your sleuthing skills to the test.
01:56 Connie Spires takes out the magnifying glass she obviously always carries around and takes a closer look at the thingamajig.
01:58 GMedict >The thingamajig appears to be wrapped in multiple layers of this cloth stuff. Bits of it are still giving off smoke, but it doesn't seem to have been noticeably damaged by the fire.
01:58 GMedict >Nor, presumably, by its violent entry through the roof of the library.
01:58 Connie Spires tries to pull off the cloth stuff.
01:59 GMedict >You unfold layer after layer of the denim-feeling material, nearly scorching your hands a couple times.
02:00 GMedict >You manage not to choke on smoke, and uncover a cardboard box sealed with what appears to be ordinary packing tape.
02:00 Connie Spires opens the box.
02:01 GMedict >The box contains...
02:01 MrGuy ((FLUORIDATED WATER))
02:01 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.
02:01 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.
02:01 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet reading "Manual Installation Unstruction Manual".
02:02 GMedict >ONE (1) leaflet identical in size, hand-written in familiar-looking handwriting, reading "DON'T TRUST IT".
02:03 GMedict >ONE (1) ordinary-looking camera.
02:03 Connie Spires Of course I don't trust it. Let's take a look here.
02:03 Connie Spires looks through the "DON'T TRUST IT" leaflet.
02:04 GMedict >The leaflet begins "Emily Hunter. Everything you know is wrong, but you are closer to the Truths than you realize."
02:04 GMedict >"The Truths are your quarry, and you must not give up the chase until you have found them."
02:05 GMedict >"The manual is probably full of lies, like everything else."
02:05 GMedict >"Let me tell you how to do this, not that thing."
02:05 GMedict >Continue reading the handwritten leaflet, or pick up the manual?
02:05 Connie Spires keeps reading.
02:06 GMedict >"There is a conspiracy, as you know. There's something controlling the world, and it has its hands in everything."
02:06 GMedict >"You've been following false leads, planted to distract you from the Truths."
02:07 GMedict >"But there's a conspiracy behind the conspiracy, and I have this opportunity to help you uncover it."
02:08 GMedict >"You need to trust me."
02:08 GMedict >"Your first task is to question the servants of the chessmaster- or the one who thinks he's the chessmaster."
02:09 GMedict >"Take the blue two-way device, and try to get information out of the person on the other end."
02:09 Connie Spires takes the device.
02:09 GMedict >"DO NOT USE THE RED DEVICE until the end."
02:10 GMedict >The blue radio has a single button on the top.
02:11 Connie Spires presses it.
02:11 GMedict >After a brief period of static, a soft voice plays.
02:12 GMedict >"Um... what is the weapon of... wait, no. What is the focus for..."
02:12 GMedict >The voice appears to be attempting to ask a question, but it sounds confused.
02:12 Connie Spires Who is this? What do you know?
02:13 GMedict >"I- I'm sorry, hold on. They changed the script, I need to find..."
02:13 GMedict >The voice trails off.
02:13 Connie Spires Who are you working for?!?
02:14 GMedict >"Okay, found it. I- working for? I..."
02:14 GMedict >"Well, I mean, it's supposed to be automatic in the final version, but I'm working for the templating script department."
02:14 GMedict >"Can we stay in character, please?"
02:17 Connie Spires I want answers!
02:19 GMedict >"Uh, right. So, imagine if you will- you have passed the test of wizardry, and must now choose a focus for your power. Like..."
02:19 GMedict >"Gosh, this is so inelegant. Sorry."
02:19 GMedict >"I don't see what was wrong with the original script."
02:21 GMedict >"You read the manual, right? Just pick what magic thing you want- we'll have this fixed at release."
02:23 Connie Spires What, you mean this sword, arrow, and staff?
02:24 MrGuy (hee hee)
02:25 GMedict >"No! Those! Those are supposed to be symbolic!" The voice seems frustrated for some reason.
02:25 Connie Spires glances at the manual, only so she knows what NOT to do.
02:26 GMedict >You flip to the section on TEMPLATING YOUR VERVESSEL.
02:27 GMedict >According to the manual, you must answer the Guardians of Strength, Guile and Magic to select the form of your in-game weaponry.
02:28 MrGuy (And with that, she was the first and hopefully only player to actually read the manual)
02:29 GMedict >The manual makes reference to a scripted riddle about the weapon of a bunch of synonyms for things. You're not sure why the voice went off-script.
02:30 Connie Spires This doesn't sound like much of a riddle to me.
02:30 GMedict >You could really care less about this half-assed nonsense at the moment. You need answers, damn it!
02:31 Connie Spires Who are you working for? Where did all this stuff even come from?
02:32 GMedict >"I- I'm not supposed to talk about the department. What's the problem, exactly?"
02:33 Connie Spires Not supposed to talk about it? What are you trying to hide?
02:34 GMedict >"It's just policy, we're supposed to stay in-character. Dave threw everything off after the first client got confused by the script, though, so... sorry about breaking the fourth wall, and stuff."
02:35 Connie Spires Who's Dave?
02:37 GMedict >"He's the guy who's supposed to do the melee weapon thing. Red comm. He threw a fit about the script after Fairfax and Duffe, so we're kind of frazzled at the moment."
02:38 Connie Spires Fairfax? Duffe? Who or what are those?
02:39 GMedict >"Just some of the other clients. I mean, testers. You know how playtesting can get."
02:40 Connie Spires What happened with them?
02:42 GMedict >"The writers didn't think things through, or something? Dave's the one yelling at management about it, I'm just a voice actor."
02:45 GMedict >"Can you just pick what you want to use for spellcasting? I have break coming up."
02:46 Connie Spires What's your name?
02:47 GMedict >"Wh- uh, Gwen."
02:47 Connie Spires takes notes on all of this.
02:49 Connie Spires then grabs a random book from a nearby shelf.
02:50 Connie Spires Well, Gwen. I'll use this copy of, uh... "Lord of the Flies"... for spellcasting.
01:32 GMedict >"Well, you don't need to... provide an object, but a spellbook... okay. Lord of the... got it."
01:32 GMedict >"Have fun!"
01:32 GMedict >The blue radio goes silent.
01:33 Connie Spires Just a low-ranking flunky, it seems. Barely knows anything. This "Dave" might know more, but I'm supposed to use the red one last.
01:33 Connie Spires presses the button on the green radio.
01:34 GMedict >Static starts up on the green radio, and a raspy voice answers.
01:35 GMedict >"What is... oh, you- hm. Gwen talk to you?"
01:35 Connie Spires Yes, she did. What's the deal here? Who are you working for?
01:36 GMedict >"Sorry, I can't talk to you until after you've achieved approximately one-third of your unstruction perimeter."
01:38 Connie Spires What does that mean? Are you trying to get me to do your dirty work?
01:38 GMedict >The green radio continues to emit static, but you hear no answer from the other end.
01:41 Connie Spires Hmm. This one's more cautious.
01:43 Connie Spires Don't think you're going to keep me away from the truth! I'm more resourceful than you think. I already know about...
01:43 Connie Spires looks at the overly complicated diagram in her notes.
01:44 Connie Spires About Microtech! I know all about your business with Microtech, pal. Especially what /you/ had to do with it.
01:45 GMedict >You think you might've heard a faint chuckle from the radio, but whoever's on the other end isn't talking.
01:50 Connie Spires Still not talking? Well, I'm not going away either. I know I'm getting close. I know you're worried about what I'll find out if I keep digging.
01:51 Connie Spires But if you cooperate, I can keep you mostly out of trouble when I uncover the whole thing.
01:51 GMedict >You're sure the guy on the other end is on the verge of cracking.
01:51 GMedict >Your interrogation skills are flawless.
01:52 GMedict >...yeah, he's still not saying anything.
01:53 Connie Spires starts tapping on the radio's speaker.
01:54 GMedict >He's going to crack any minute now. You can /smell/ it.
01:55 GMedict >You won't be fooled by something as trivial as a complete lack of response.
01:55 Connie Spires Listen, pal, I know there's a reason you're still on the line.
01:56 Connie Spires Or are you too stupid to figure out how to shut it off? I bet your boss would be real interested in knowing that.
01:57 GMedict >Suddenly the devious conspiracy operative on the other end buckles, and spills all the beans about total unresponsive silence.
02:08 GMedict >There's a bunch of stuff you haven't messed with yet! Maybe you should try to figure it out, or consult one of the manuals.
02:08 Connie Spires looks over the stuff again.
02:10 Connie Spires takes a closer look at the camera.
02:10 GMedict >It looks like a pretty upscale camera. Fancy zoom lens, lots of buttons, a digital display...
02:10 GMedict >Also a really oversized flash.
02:14 Connie Spires tries to take a picture of the hole in the ceiling.
02:15 GMedict >The flash goes off with an almost blinding light.
02:15 GMedict >Well, that's not quite accurate.
02:16 GMedict >The flash goes on, and then doesn't go off at all. The ceiling of the library is now brightly illuminated, with no apparent source.
02:16 GMedict >A photograph of the hole in the ceiling appears on the digital display.
02:18 Connie Spires picks up the green radio again.
02:19 Connie Spires Hey, you! Why's the ceiling here glowing after I took a picture? What kind of crazy camera is this?
02:20 GMedict >The only thing you hear is "Not done yet."
02:20 Connie Spires flips through the manual again to see if there's anything about the camera or the tiny plastic weapons.
02:23 GMedict >The manual features a number of bizarre headings such as "PERIMETRIC APPARATI", "REPLICA VERVESSELS", "TEMPLATE COMMS", and "INGRESSION".
02:23 GMedict >Which do you look under?
02:24 Connie Spires PERIMETRIC APPARATI
02:25 GMedict >"Your Manual Installation Unstruction Kit will provide you with one of a selection of many tools for establishing your Unstruction Perimeter."
02:26 GMedict >"In order to complete Installation Unstruction and proceed to Ingression, you must use your provided tool or tools to establish a defined perimeter around the play area."
02:26 GMedict >"We detect that you have been assigned: the camera."
02:27 GMedict >"The camera, rather than drawing a distinct line around the play area, marks the play area with a permanent illumination effect."
02:28 GMedict >"Simply light up the regions you'd like to select for Installation Unstruction, and proceed to PLANT YOUR VERVESSEL (see section D)."
02:28 GMedict >"Don't forget to stop and use the Template Comms to template your Vervessel options beforehand!"
02:31 Connie Spires Hmm. What did the other booklet say again?
02:31 Connie Spires reviews "DON'T TRUST IT".
02:32 GMedict 02:04 GMedict >"The Truths are your quarry, and you must not give up the chase until you have found them." 02:05 GMedict >"The manual is probably full of lies, like everything else." 02:05 GMedict >"Let me tell you how to do this, not that thing."
02:32 GMedict >Continue reading?
02:32 Connie Spires Yeah, I want to review this guy's instructions.
02:34 GMedict >"The camera is a tool of the conspiracy to destroy the world. I'm pretty sure it's a conspiracy to destroy the world. All the signs point that way."
02:34 GMedict >"The others don't seem to care. They think this is a game. They don't know what we're capable of."
02:34 GMedict >"I know you can use these tools of the conspiracy to take it down from the inside out."
02:35 GMedict >"Together, we can uncover the true mastermind."
02:35 GMedict >Truly, this guide is a font of highly specific and useful information.
02:36 Connie Spires checks the manual on "REPLICA VERVESSELS".
02:36 Connie Spires If they don't want me planting this before I use the radios, then maybe I should try doing that.
02:37 GMedict >"Once your Unstruction Perimeter has been established, select one of the replica Vervessels in the plastic packaging."
02:37 GMedict >"Be careful, as the arrowhead, sword tip, and staff hilt are all sharp, so that they can be planted."
02:38 GMedict >"Planting a replica Vervessel in the play area will set your spawn point in the corresponding game world."
02:39 GMedict >"Be sure to template your Vervessel using the Comms before initiating Ingression. Untemplated Vervessel functionality is not fully tested."
02:39 Connie Spires Then let's do some testing, I say.
02:39 Connie Spires takes pictures of the walls and floor.
02:40 GMedict >The walls of the second floor of the library become illuminated, as does the floor.
02:40 GMedict >The green radio begins shouting.
02:40 GMedict >"Wait! No! Not again!"
02:40 MrGuy (oh my fucking god, every one of us is going to break the game worse)
02:40 Connie Spires Oh, it seems someone wants to talk now.
02:41 Connie Spires All right, pal, what's the deal here? Who's in charge of this operation? Or at least, who have you been told is in charge?
02:42 GMedict >"Um- management? I just work here."
02:43 Connie Spires Yeah, like I haven't heard that one before.
02:44 GMedict >"No, really. I don't know the guys in management, Last Boss just put them there."
02:44 Connie Spires Last Boss?
02:44 GMedict >"Y'know, like, God? Do you-"
02:44 GMedict >You hear a soft thump from the radio.
02:45 GMedict >A gruff voice, different from the previous raspy voice, begins speaking.
02:45 GMedict >"Hey. What do you want your ranged weapon to be?"
02:46 Connie Spires The only weapon I need is the truth, pal! What's going on here?
02:46 GMedict >"What do you mean by "the truth"?"
02:46 Connie Spires What's your game here? What are you trying to do?
02:47 GMedict >"The game is Neodynic's Palace Championship. The game you're testing. You downloaded it, didn't you?"
02:47 GMedict >"Were you even at the info session?"
02:48 Connie Spires Please. This game's just a front. What are you really trying to do here?
02:49 GMedict >"It's just a game. There's nothing else to it."
02:49 GMedict >"Answer the goddamn question."
02:50 Connie Spires I'm in a room with glowing walls!
02:50 Connie Spires That's not just a game, pal.
02:50 GMedict >"It's a magic game. Who cares. It's not your problem, it's not my problem, and it doesn't need to be a problem."
02:50 Connie Spires This is alien technology, isn't it?
02:50 GMedict >"What? No."
02:51 Connie Spires Then where did it come from?
02:51 GMedict >"Aliens don't have technology."
02:51 GMedict >"Who do you think made it? Use your damn noggin, kid."
02:52 Connie Spires So there are aliens involved!
02:52 GMedict >"No, there's no aliens involved. Shut up."
02:52 Connie Spires Then how do you know they don't have technology?
02:52 GMedict >"I'm not your personal information booth, and neither is Gwen."
02:52 GMedict >"Answer the fucking question and get on with it."
02:54 Connie Spires How about this. You answer /my/ questions or I stick this arrowhead in the floor before I'm supposed to.
02:55 GMedict >"You want to play the game with slingshots and boxing gloves? Because that's what I've put in your defaults."
02:56 GMedict >"We already have a guy testing the blank functionality."
02:56 GMedict >"You don't want to get stuck with the weakest base types in the game."
02:59 GMedict >"Frankly, kid, you don't have a bargaining position here."
03:01 MrGuy (Clearly slingshots and boxing gloves are the only weapons without mind control chips inside)
03:01 Connie Spires I told you already, the only weapon I need is the truth!
03:01 Connie Spires takes the arrow out of the packaging.
03:02 GMedict >"All that's gonna do is start you off with slingshots and a single floor of the library."
03:02 GMedict >"If you don't want to have fun, be my guest."
03:05 Connie Spires What difference does it make?
03:06 GMedict >"Zilch. I'm just saying, all you're doing is shooting yourself in the foot."
03:08 Connie Spires What's the difference if I only have one floor, I mean?
03:09 GMedict >"Eh. You'll find out. Whatever."
03:10 GMedict >"Look, I was lying about the defaults being weak. Just do whatever. My shift's almost over and I've been hassling management all day."
03:10 Connie Spires Hassling management? What's going on over there?
03:12 GMedict >"Management's green, call staff is green, everyone's-- hey, listen. It's none of your business."
03:12 MrGuy (So they ARE aliens!)
03:13 Connie Spires So basically, what you're saying is no one over there has any idea what they're doing?
03:13 GMedict >"Nobody except me and Last- I mean, shut your hole! If you don't stop asking nosy questions, I'm gonna shut down green and stick you with slingshots."
03:14 Connie Spires Sounds to me like whoever's in charge of this operation doesn't want anyone being too informed.
03:15 GMedict >"No shit. Now pick a ranged weapon now or I'm shutting down the green comm."
03:18 Connie Spires Like I care. You can just put me down for whatever.
03:19 GMedict >The green comm goes dead.
03:20 Connie Spires Well, that was informative. That guy didn't know a lot about keeping his mouth shut.
03:20 Connie Spires Anyhow, I'm supposed to do red last.
03:20 Connie Spires presses the button on the red radio.
03:21 MrGuy (inb4 it's the same guy)
03:21 GMedict >"Okay, now melee. This is the one that's /supposed/ to be my job."
03:21 GMedict >"Fucking Hal."
03:21 Connie Spires So you must be this Dave guy.
03:22 GMedict >"Yeah, big whoop."
03:24 GMedict >"Don't think I don't know your game, Spires."
03:24 Connie Spires So what happened to the riddles, anyways? Gwen said you were complaining about the script for some reason.
03:25 GMedict >"The riddles were stupid and they didn't work and I had to yell at people to get them to change the system. What you're getting is the back end of just fucking picking a weapon instead of dealing with psychotherapy bullshit."
03:26 GMedict >"Speaking off bullshit, stop asking questions and pick a melee weapon. I don't have all day."
03:31 Connie Spires If you don't want me asking questions, maybe you shouldn't be involved in such a fishy operation.
03:31 GMedict >"Yeah, wouldn't I like that."
03:32 GMedict >"Let's just get on with it."
03:32 Connie Spires All this crazy stuff you sent me, nobody knows what's actually going on... you can't tell me there's nothing behind it.
03:32 GMedict >"There's nothing behind it."
03:33 GMedict >"It's just."
03:33 GMedict >"A goddamn."
03:33 GMedict >"Game."
03:34 Connie Spires There's a big hole in the ceiling and the walls are glowing.
03:35 GMedict >"It's a magic game. It's not important, and you can't do anything about it anyway."
03:36 GMedict >"Just shut up and pick what type of thing you want to bludgeon shit with."
03:36 Connie Spires You mean you don't want me doing anything about it.
03:36 GMedict >"No, I mean you literally can't do anything about it."
03:36 GMedict >"Besides play it, I mean."
03:43 GMedict >"Are we done here? I think we're done here."
03:44 Connie Spires Fine, then.
03:44 Connie Spires But I'm going to find out the truth, "Dave", if that's your real name.
03:45 GMedict >"Why would Dave not be my real name. You nosy brat."
03:45 GMedict >"You want to pick something, or...?"
03:46 Connie Spires Fine, toss me a sledgehammer or something. Doesn't make a difference to me.
03:46 GMedict >"Gotcha."
03:46 GMedict >The red radio goes silent.
03:46 GMedict >Now what?
03:48 Connie Spires takes one more look at "DON'T TRUST IT", maybe she skimmed over something relevant before.
03:49 GMedict >"They want you to play their game. It might be the way in, but it might be a trap. In fact, it's probably a trap. That's what the evidence says."
03:51 GMedict >"But we both know the evidence isn't as important as the truth."
03:52 GMedict >"Can you really find the truth from the outside? Or do you need to go inside to investigate?"
03:53 GMedict >"They'll offer you power inside. They'll try to distract you. But the truth, the Truths are what's important."
03:53 Connie Spires Yeah, I got it.
03:53 Connie Spires I'm going in.
03:54 Connie Spires grabs the plastic arrow.
03:54 GMedict >Where would you like to PLANT your REPLICA VERVESSEL?
03:55 Connie Spires Let's see. They want it to go someplace I've marked with the camera.
03:55 Connie Spires So I wonder what happens if I plant it somewhere else.
03:55 Connie Spires heads back downstairs.
03:58 GMedict >You are now downstairs. Some of the flash light has leaked onto one of the walls from the stairwell, but most surfaces remain dark.
03:59 Connie Spires sticks the arrow between some floorboards.
04:01 GMedict >A red beam of light shoots up from the shaft of the arrow.
04:01 GMedict >The beam of light expands into a cylinder, which rapidly moves out past the walls of the library.
04:02 GMedict >A disembodied voice announces "3D PERIMETER DETECTED. CONVERTING."
04:02 GMedict >The nighttime outside the windows disappears, replaced by a bright whiteness.
04:04 GMedict >You're not sure how worried you should be about all this, considering.
04:05 Connie Spires heads back upstairs to take a look.
04:06 GMedict >The illumination is gone. You look outside a window, and...
04:06 GMedict >Is it just you, or is the whiteness getting closer?
04:09 GMedict >Yeah, it's definitely getting closer.
04:09 GMedict >Without warning, the whiteness comes through the walls.
04:09 GMedict >You can't see the walls anymore. Just white.
04:11 Connie Spires tries to feel around for pretty much anything.
04:12 GMedict >You brush against the whiteness. Your hand, um.
04:12 GMedict >Well, I wouldn't say it begins turning to stone.
04:12 GMedict >Unless that was exactly what was happening.
04:12 GMedict >Which it is.
04:14 Connie Spires panics.
04:15 GMedict >You back away from the whiteness as it continues to close in.
04:15 GMedict >You find yourself backing towards the whiteness coming from the direction of the other wall, though.
04:15 Connie Spires looks around for anything that isn't whiteness.
04:16 GMedict >Well, there's the floor, and the hole in the ceiling.
04:16 GMedict >Plus the edges of some bookshelves, which are turning into black flakes and disappearing into the whiteness.
04:17 Connie Spires flips through the manual to the section on "INGRESSION", if I haven't lost it in all this mess and also if I can manage that with one hand turned to stone.
04:18 GMedict >"Once your Vervessel has been planted, Ingression will commence."
04:18 GMedict >"Don't panic! The unstruction of the installation should proceed smoothly, and it's important not to get injured in a panic."
04:19 GMedict >"We advise you to strike a dramatic pose before you participate in the Unstruction process."
04:20 GMedict >The whiteness has closed in, leaving you in a circle a few meters in radius.
04:23 Connie Spires just kind of stands there, staring nervously at the whiteness.
04:23 GMedict >You stand nervously as the whiteness closes in and swallows you up.
04:23 GMedict >You lose consciousness.
04:23 GMedict >Congratulations!
![[Image: connies_vervessels.png]](https://www.majhost.com/gallery/spacetimeCounselor/PSC-Misc/Palace-Caprae/connies_vervessels.png)
Oh, and I drew up a map of Larry's apartment, as a general sort of guide to how his world will be laid out:
![[Image: larry_postentry.png]](https://www.majhost.com/gallery/spacetimeCounselor/PSC-Misc/Palace-Caprae/larry_postentry.png)