io will go ahead and situate the ship on standby a bit of a ways away. as you disembark, the atmosphere is thick and musty-smelling, even through the respirators on your helmet. while the air is survivable, there are strange motes along it, flecks of dark detritus carried along the breeze. if you choose to go without your helmet, you will soon find the air is rather awful to breathe in, so... best put that back on. just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.
as you take your first steps, you notice that your bodies feel heavy, dragging themselves with every footstep. hunger already begins to nibble at your stomach where it once wasn’t. thirst and exhaustion both lick at your senses faintly, like some kind of a warning. rustling grasses grab at boots, as though to keep you rooted in place, but it's too soft and weak to make you actually stay, always letting go no matter how long you choose to linger like a doctor bidding a terminal patient farewell.
however, as you walk along, you will notice an enormous hive made out of concrete. the building thrusts skywards, into dune-colored clouds and disappears, and as you observe it, you can see, this is the windowless prison, pictures of which were available to you during the briefing (as well as the missing persons reports mentioned during discussion). these people turn to look at you, newcomers, with a curiosity that newcomers tend to beget. ]
Alright, like we talked about. I'll take care of negotiating our way inside that eyesore. See if you can gather any information about town and meet me when you're done in...
[ your i.r.i.s.es all beep! you have been given a suitable meeting time. oocly, this means whenever you're done with the investigations you each select. ]
Hopefully... whatever that building is might be our ticket through this, and whatever's around town might help us too. Be careful, alright?
[ below, you will see that there are four investigation opportunities. decide amongst yourselves which one you'll each take. ]
[ there's a skinny blonde boy with a large cut on his forehead in the nearby grassy fields just beyond the town's various fences and buildings. he's walking about with a satchel strapped along his shoulder as he occasionally ducks down quickly and comes up with a soft "rats! that wasn't right at all!" as he continues to tromp along. he keeps having to adjust his make-shift mask over his face as he moves along his way, continuously plodding along. ]
[ well...he will fall into step, walking along side the boy. he's looking around at the ground to see if he can figure out what the boy's doing before he speaks up.
and uh. well. shoma's not exactly a normal child (being a genius does that to you.), so he thinks a little and skews himself to try and sound like an average twelve year old. ]
[ shoma can see with his detective eyes... nothing. but his ears can hear a very faint little buzzing noise. the boy seems to hear it too and lifts his head. ]
[ a large figure wearing what seems to be ostentatious furs and a decadent cloth mask with rebreather is stood with his arms folded over his chest. he looks impatient and furious all at once, occasionally checking an ornate pocket watch. there are two soldiers posted beside him, as though for protection. he does stare at the shuttle you've all exited from with a sort of... expectancy about him. ]
no actually it's just inquisitor time. temenos will approach the larger figure then, brusque and confident with all of the gravitas and authority of the inquisitor. ]
Good afternoon, and thank you for your patience, good sir. I'll be leading the investigation and survey. [ with a polite and brief bow of his head. ]
[ it is indeed the cusp of coercion o'clock, i see now why you asked me ♥
in any case the man turns to look down at him because he's unfortunately very tall and very big. the two soldiers who are wearing what look to be heavy duty gas masks and their own long, red coats stand with rifles at rest.
when the man speaks, it's with a deep, grumbly tone, his wet eyes looking over the mask at temenos. ]
[ a man that is dressed rather formally in a bright red military coat and can be seen directing a few soldiers here and there to various posts towards the concrete prison. mumbling to himself over and over again, the words indiscernible, he will fix you with a tired look behind his mask and rebreather and seems prepared to be approached, hand to his chest and giving you a brief bow of his head. ]
did you know that charles is actually capable of etiquette (and not just being like YO WASSUP HOMIE) when he really feels like it? it's very shocking because it's so fuckin rare but he does approach with some degree of formality, pressing his own hand to his chest and giving a bow of his head back.]
[ the thought that charles just charles up with his hat turned backwards saying WASSUP HOMIE to like anyone is killing me. stop that.
the general seems to appreciate this, however, his shoulders are postured straight, but his overall temperament shows he is... at ease for the time being. ]
[ there is a big, black bull in this field, not far off from the people. it's tail swishes docilely as it munches on the tall grass. around its neck is a string with a bell, and a loop of rope, like a leash. there's no one else around, but you get the sense that maybe... maybe there's a reason this bull is just vibing out here. he has a keeper who is just napping on a bench, blissfully unaware if you decide to approach. ]
[ keith is keeping an eye on the sleeping dude, while kosmo trots over to the bull. he is still small at the moment, so hopefully that works for not spooking the bull right away. (even if kosmo is blue…)
kosmo sniffs at the bull, trying to establish some kind of acknowledgment. he is friendly and not here to hurt bull. ]
[ the sleepy dude is sleepin'. he has a respirator over his mouth and his hands folded over his chest, he looks pretty worn out and tired actually, and his breathing's kind of ragged.
kosmo can sniff the bull, but it does kind of toss its head and give a little stomp and snort. the noise that leaves its throat is... odd. not exactly a moo? ]
[ io will finish his own work and will return to meet with you all when you are through with your own findings. he stands uncomfortably, with his arms folded, occasionally glancing back over their shoulder towards the concrete hive. ]
I spoke with the Foreman. He's the one who oversees the work in a more hands-on capacity. A prisoner who's... become trusted by the owner of the plant.
[ the dull tone makes it sound like he is not exactly in agreement. ]
I've managed to negotiate our way inside. We'll investigate, see where precisely the strange readings are coming from, and... we'll be able to clear things up and get the hell out of this place.
The owner of the plant is a rather vile person, so I would assume the Foreman is just as bad.
[ gross. temenos flips through his notes and reports the results of his inquisition: ]
He made no remark of any missing persons - at least not directly. The owner, or "Böss", employs approximately 1800 workers in the Fleisch Plant. His opinion of the workers is low - he considers the place to be both his temple and his barn. So quoted, "animals for keeping, animals for slaughter."
[ which!!! yuck!!! ] They've been here for several years now. He also noted that the prison is self contained, and they have no contact with outsiders or those who live away from it.
As for his missing son, the Boss seems to have a fairly low opinion of him - he called him weak chinned. He informed me that he tends to drop off in communications from time to time, and that was not particularly abnormal, though seeing as how there's a missing persons report bearing his moniker, I somehow doubt that's just the case.
He also had a hacking cough and oddly glassy eyes, and frequently scratched at his ear. His two guards coughed occasionally, though very quietly - I imagine they'd be in for a beating if they displeased him, somehow.
He certainly does not like that we're here, either, so we had best tread lightly.
I met with General Ashes. A bit about the state of affairs around here—usual prison rowdiness, so watch out for that, and there are the occasional raiders.
More relevant to the missing persons, the rumours through word of mouth are that the owner's son left for another moon weeks ago and the girl, who's the daughter of a friend of his, was sent to an off-planet boarding school. So, the reports that they're actually missing was quite worrying to him.
He said the reports were likely filed shortly before he returned here, and that he'd ask his men—the ones who remained on the base while he was away—for more details.
Sounds like a piece of work. Takes one to know one in a way, so that wouldn't surprise me. The foreman was tough to get through to, but it was managed.
[ listening to charles, his head tilts a little, a troubled look on his face. ]
Well we've got permission to enter at the very least. Guess we should keep our guard up while we're inside... permission doesn't mean that they're going to welcome us with open arms, however things are arranged in there.
Met with a kid named Sticks. Doctor's apprentice, he was out in the fields harvesting some plants. Which, by the way, may or may not be haunted. They kept...making these buzzing and rattling noises that led him to them, and they were dripping with brown and green sap. He said they were herbs he wanted to collect before they rotted that were used for medicines, but in the autumn their pollen starts spreading. Might be why people around here are masked, too. Said the season can kill you if you're not careful.
[ ... ] The town's doctor died a few weeks back. Some people say the guy was murdered, and going off of Sticks' description it's difficult to find a reason why. The new doctor arrived from one of the Capital moons but...he does a lot of research as a thantologololist. [ ...realizes that keith is the only person from earth. ] Um. Raising the dead.
When I asked him about our missing persons he seemed to think the Boss's son was sent off-planet recently, but when I pressed him about it his...eyes got kinda weird and glassy. Like he wasn't all there. As for the girl, seemed liked enough. He said she liked to play with the other kids, and that he thought maybe she was going to be sent to a boarding school. Suggested she might've run away before that happened, but he wasn't sure. So I asked where he thought she'd even go and...[ gestures to the plant. ] "Somewhere no one else would wanna go."
[ ... ]
He had a cut on his forehead he was scratching at, too. So that's a few instances now of those damages.
[ there's a little blip of blue, kosmo and keith appearing back with the group. hey. ]
So the bull spoke to me, but I couldn't understand anything it was saying. [ pulling his notebook out to try and read his own notes aloud. ]
Bide kharaan. Khator naada hoog-zhoya.
The rest I recorded, once I realized I could just do that... [ he struggled for longer than he needed. but anyways, he pulls up the recording log. ]
My I.R.I.S couldn't translate any of it, so I'm not really sure what it was trying to convey.
Kosmo was also really uneasy the whole time we were in that field, which I thought might have been because of the talking bull, but no. He zoned in on the plant. So whatever we need, it's likely in there.
Speaking of the bull, it was branded with the Fleisch Enterprises logo, along with a some kind of bite mark right beside it.
— ARRIVAL (there is no temple but the temple of labor)
INVESTIGATION.
io will go ahead and situate the ship on standby a bit of a ways away. as you disembark, the atmosphere is thick and musty-smelling, even through the respirators on your helmet. while the air is survivable, there are strange motes along it, flecks of dark detritus carried along the breeze. if you choose to go without your helmet, you will soon find the air is rather awful to breathe in, so... best put that back on. just because you can, doesn't always mean you should.
as you take your first steps, you notice that your bodies feel heavy, dragging themselves with every footstep. hunger already begins to nibble at your stomach where it once wasn’t. thirst and exhaustion both lick at your senses faintly, like some kind of a warning. rustling grasses grab at boots, as though to keep you rooted in place, but it's too soft and weak to make you actually stay, always letting go no matter how long you choose to linger like a doctor bidding a terminal patient farewell.
however, as you walk along, you will notice an enormous hive made out of concrete. the building thrusts skywards, into dune-colored clouds and disappears, and as you observe it, you can see, this is the windowless prison, pictures of which were available to you during the briefing (as well as the missing persons reports mentioned during discussion). these people turn to look at you, newcomers, with a curiosity that newcomers tend to beget. ]
[ your i.r.i.s.es all beep! you have been given a suitable meeting time. oocly, this means whenever you're done with the investigations you each select. ]
Hopefully... whatever that building is might be our ticket through this, and whatever's around town might help us too. Be careful, alright?
[ below, you will see that there are four investigation opportunities. decide amongst yourselves which one you'll each take. ]
CHOOSE YOUR CHARACTER . . .
> the boy
> the boss
> the general
> the bull
:thonk: ]
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CHOICE 1 — the boy
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and uh. well. shoma's not exactly a normal child (being a genius does that to you.), so he thinks a little and skews himself to try and sound like an average twelve year old. ]
Whatcha doin?
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Pickin'. What're you doing?
[ suspicious... ]
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CHOICE 2 — the boss
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no actually it's just inquisitor time. temenos will approach the larger figure then, brusque and confident with all of the gravitas and authority of the inquisitor. ]
Good afternoon, and thank you for your patience, good sir. I'll be leading the investigation and survey. [ with a polite and brief bow of his head. ]
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in any case the man turns to look down at him because he's unfortunately very tall and very big. the two soldiers who are wearing what look to be heavy duty gas masks and their own long, red coats stand with rifles at rest.
when the man speaks, it's with a deep, grumbly tone, his wet eyes looking over the mask at temenos. ]
What investigation would that be, exactly?
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CHOICE 3 — the general
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did you know that charles is actually capable of etiquette (and not just being like YO WASSUP HOMIE) when he really feels like it? it's very shocking because it's so fuckin rare but he does approach with some degree of formality, pressing his own hand to his chest and giving a bow of his head back.]
Hello. A busy day, sir?
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the general seems to appreciate this, however, his shoulders are postured straight, but his overall temperament shows he is... at ease for the time being. ]
Quite. General Ashes, at your service.
How can I assist?
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CHOICE 4 — the... bull?
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kosmo sniffs at the bull, trying to establish some kind of acknowledgment. he is friendly and not here to hurt bull. ]
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kosmo can sniff the bull, but it does kind of toss its head and give a little stomp and snort. the noise that leaves its throat is... odd. not exactly a moo? ]
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REGROUP.
I spoke with the Foreman. He's the one who oversees the work in a more hands-on capacity. A prisoner who's... become trusted by the owner of the plant.
[ the dull tone makes it sound like he is not exactly in agreement. ]
I've managed to negotiate our way inside. We'll investigate, see where precisely the strange readings are coming from, and... we'll be able to clear things up and get the hell out of this place.
Anyone find anything else before we head inside?
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[ gross. temenos flips through his notes and reports the results of his inquisition: ]
He made no remark of any missing persons - at least not directly. The owner, or "Böss", employs approximately 1800 workers in the Fleisch Plant. His opinion of the workers is low - he considers the place to be both his temple and his barn. So quoted, "animals for keeping, animals for slaughter."
[ which!!! yuck!!! ] They've been here for several years now. He also noted that the prison is self contained, and they have no contact with outsiders or those who live away from it.
As for his missing son, the Boss seems to have a fairly low opinion of him - he called him weak chinned. He informed me that he tends to drop off in communications from time to time, and that was not particularly abnormal, though seeing as how there's a missing persons report bearing his moniker, I somehow doubt that's just the case.
He also had a hacking cough and oddly glassy eyes, and frequently scratched at his ear. His two guards coughed occasionally, though very quietly - I imagine they'd be in for a beating if they displeased him, somehow.
He certainly does not like that we're here, either, so we had best tread lightly.
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More relevant to the missing persons, the rumours through word of mouth are that the owner's son left for another moon weeks ago and the girl, who's the daughter of a friend of his, was sent to an off-planet boarding school. So, the reports that they're actually missing was quite worrying to him.
He said the reports were likely filed shortly before he returned here, and that he'd ask his men—the ones who remained on the base while he was away—for more details.
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Sounds like a piece of work. Takes one to know one in a way, so that wouldn't surprise me. The foreman was tough to get through to, but it was managed.
[ listening to charles, his head tilts a little, a troubled look on his face. ]
Well we've got permission to enter at the very least. Guess we should keep our guard up while we're inside... permission doesn't mean that they're going to welcome us with open arms, however things are arranged in there.
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Met with a kid named Sticks. Doctor's apprentice, he was out in the fields harvesting some plants. Which, by the way, may or may not be haunted. They kept...making these buzzing and rattling noises that led him to them, and they were dripping with brown and green sap. He said they were herbs he wanted to collect before they rotted that were used for medicines, but in the autumn their pollen starts spreading. Might be why people around here are masked, too. Said the season can kill you if you're not careful.
[ ... ] The town's doctor died a few weeks back. Some people say the guy was murdered, and going off of Sticks' description it's difficult to find a reason why. The new doctor arrived from one of the Capital moons but...he does a lot of research as a thantologololist. [ ...realizes that keith is the only person from earth. ] Um. Raising the dead.
When I asked him about our missing persons he seemed to think the Boss's son was sent off-planet recently, but when I pressed him about it his...eyes got kinda weird and glassy. Like he wasn't all there. As for the girl, seemed liked enough. He said she liked to play with the other kids, and that he thought maybe she was going to be sent to a boarding school. Suggested she might've run away before that happened, but he wasn't sure. So I asked where he thought she'd even go and...[ gestures to the plant. ] "Somewhere no one else would wanna go."
[ ... ]
He had a cut on his forehead he was scratching at, too. So that's a few instances now of those damages.
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So the bull spoke to me, but I couldn't understand anything it was saying. [ pulling his notebook out to try and read his own notes aloud. ]
Bide kharaan. Khator naada hoog-zhoya.
The rest I recorded, once I realized I could just do that... [ he struggled for longer than he needed. but anyways, he pulls up the recording log. ]
My I.R.I.S couldn't translate any of it, so I'm not really sure what it was trying to convey.
Kosmo was also really uneasy the whole time we were in that field, which I thought might have been because of the talking bull, but no. He zoned in on the plant. So whatever we need, it's likely in there.
Speaking of the bull, it was branded with the Fleisch Enterprises logo, along with a some kind of bite mark right beside it.
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