CARNELIAN

[dramatispersonae]

You're standing together on what seems to be the main street of a small village, paved with cobblestones, with low buildings standing silent on either side. If you look in any of them, you'll find them dark and empty.

In contrast to the Ring, it's rather chilly. The sky is slate-grey, and it seems like there's snow falling, blanketing you and the village in pure white. On closer inspection, the snow turns out to be ash – but the bleaching is literal. Even when you brush it off, your skin, your hair, your clothes, and your keys remain ash-coloured.

A single, feeble light flickers further down the street.

Comments

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

In the middle of this room is . . . a knife, with a copper hilt and a very sharp blade. There is also a small pit; it smells vile and acidic. Dropping the knife into the pit just makes the knife reappear on the floor. The knife cannot leave the room.

You are aware that when you pick up the knife, you will experience a drilling headache, and feel like your memories of Aather and what came before it are being sucked out of your head – they're not actually being taken, but they feel like they're blurring, spotty, utterly uncertain, eroding . . . it is an extremely unpleasant experience, which will last the rest of the game.

Only one person may do this task.

Re: room

[bestest]

[...jiiii]

Well, it sounds annoying, but not awful...

Re: room

[performing]

It'd probably be worse than annoying, but if you want to ...

Re: room

[bestest]

I just don't want to do most of the other things. Compared to those it seems okay.

Re: room

[performing]

Only if you're sure. If you don't want to, I don't mind.

Re: room

[bestest]

I can do it!!

Re: room

[performing]

[gestures]

Go ahead, then.

Re: room

[bestest]

[huff! okay we're doing this!!]

Re: room

[dramatispersonae]

. . . well, that's terribly disorienting. What's happening what happened who are you what makes you -- you're Shuri -- you're -- you've got to get it together but it's so hard . . .

The pit closes up, and the knife falls apart into useless, tarnished flakes. Another match appears.

When you strike it, the little flame-girl steadies up. She straightens, more solid, less wispy-looking. Her basket is now one-third full.

She steps towards the back wall -- which crumbles, revealing a path yet deeper into the village – and walks outside, beckoning you once more.

Re: room

[performing]

[bending to pick up and strike that match, then looking at the others]

Next door?

Re: room

[gemuine]

. . . yeah . . .

Re: room

[bestest]

--What...

[KIND OF DISTRACTED NOW BUT OKAY... holding his head]