[open to Investigators] Roll call and IC welcome/infopost

[howexciting]

Is everyone all right? I think-- cazzo!-- I think a roll call is in order. Leonardo da Vinci, present.

We seem to have found ourselves in the Afterlife, or some form of it. But where precisely, I don't know. Angels and demons in the same place... it's unheard of, in the stories of my time.

For those new Travelers, welcome to your first Jaunt. I am sorry it is not more hospitable... if anyone needs better clothes or any supplies, I would be happy to assist, if only I can manage to disperse this crowd-- Dio mio, this crowd! This is ridiculous!

... please, if anyone has found a quiet spot where I may hide, tell me? I am having a bit of trouble, here.

Comments

[creativefool]

Crowd? What - where are you? I'll be over there as soon as I can...

...oh. Uh, yeah. Right. Kanji checkin' in. Afterlife, huh - yeah, I was ... startin' to get that picture.

[howexciting]

Oh, Kanji, grazie a Dio! I-- well, I don't know where I am, I only just got here, the same as you. There aren't exactly maps about.

[wholeheaded]

[ well, with help on the way for Leonardo, Ambrose can freely be intensely unhelpful. ]

Here I was thinking we'd landed in the Nome Kingdom in the middle of a Phanfasm gathering but.. okay. Angels, demons, and I'm gonna go ahead and call them ghosts. Lots and lots of ghosts.

If anybody comes up with a cover story, please share before we get incinerated or something. I've got the feeling Kansas isn't gonna fly here.

[shiroganeheir]

I have been telling people, Ambrose-san, that I have been cursed to someone else's afterlife. It certainly feels that way to me.

Kansas would possibly stick out a bit, yes. Perhaps you pleased someone who allowed you life after death? The locals seem to think we are some sort of immortal souls.

[shiroganeheir]

This is Naoto Shirogane, sensei. Do you need some assistance? I can attempt to find you, even though I am no intimidating figure.

I have found, through my questions, that we are in a town called Melasurei, in what can only be described as Purgatory, some land between seemingly Western Heaven and Hell. There are angels here, as well as demons, and some beings inbetween. We are believed to be what are called Immortali, which I can only deduce is some sort of immortal non-celestial soul. I apologize. I am completely out of my element when it comes to Western mythology.

The current situation is not good. The mail delivery has been stopped, and another sort of being, called the Peregrines, who recieve most of their sustenance that way are currently rioting over this. I have been warned that these Peregrines might attempt to actually drink our blood whether voluntarily on our part or not. I would caution everyone to be careful.

If you do have a moment on a more personal note, sensei, my usual clothing is currently much to warm for the climate. I have already passed out once.

Finally, I am wondering what the Trumps have against the mail. This is the second time in five Jaunts when we have arrived in a riot connected to mail.

[upcard]

Y-you passed out?!

[That's sure an alarmed squeak but Naoto why]

Are you okay, Shirogane-san?

[seestheworld]

Are you okay?

[tailforbrains]

Neeshka here. With Monkey. He's still a big gryphon, which is kind of neat. I haven't tried leaving this camp thing I showed up in yet. I mean, um. I don't really want to be running around somewhere where there's angels and demons, you know? It's not, um. Very comfortable.

Or safe, either, probably.

[howexciting]

Really? I had thought with your... ancestry, you could easily fit in, here. Perhaps even better than the rest of us.

[upcard]

U-um...this is...this is Mai.

[Yep, she sure is present.]

I don't really know what's going on, but... um, someone told me everyone in that crowd is sick with--with Wrath...? [She has no idea, okay, this sort of religious nonsense goes right over his head.]

Is...everyone okay?

[howexciting]

I am fine, if a little jostled. Good to hear from you, Mai.

[Not hear, but... you get the picture.]

Not in this crowd, thankfully. I seem to have quite a lot of fans in... wherever we've found ourselves.

[solvethepuzzle]

This is Near; I am well.

And yes, it appears to be some facsimile of the afterlife of the Christian mythos, though inexact, of course.

[howexciting]

[You can practically feel him pinching the bridge of his nose from here.] As most Jaunts are a facsimile, yes. My biblical and epic readings have not prepared me for this, I am afraid.

But I am glad to hear you're safe. Where did you appear?

[protect_and_serve]

Phedre and I are all right.

Have you seen Alcuin?

[howexciting]

No, I haven't, I--

[There's a pause, while he calls out to Alcuin alone psychically a few times. Then, dolefully:]

... he is probably an Infiltrator. He isn't responding over the Network...

[canbebrave]

You're both yourselves! [ Thank the Gods. ]

[canbebrave]

Sansa Stark, present and...well enough, I suppose.

Can we do anything about the heat? I'm starting to feel faint.

[howexciting]

Y-yes, of course, Sansa. As soon as I can pick my way out of this crowd - this damnable crowd - I will go to Liminal Space and see about outfitting us all with something more suitable, should we be able to meet there.

[closedcircuit]

Ky Kiske checking in. I don't like this place.

[howexciting]

... neither do I, in truth.

[hakodate]

It's hotter than shit here.

[Heat is a pain in the butt, for most people.

Heat makes Hijikata's bloodlust start growling a little louder.

He may not be explaining the source of his intense annoyance with the heat, because that's a story he doesn't enjoy telling, but damn, he is annoyed.]

Hijikata Toshizou checking in.

[howexciting]

Perhaps not in Liminal Space. Can you make it there? I can hopefully offer you some cooler clothes there, at least.

[tealeafs]

Um, I'm here-- Chizuru, that is. I'm still myself. [ Which is probably a relief, since this world seems pretty.. strange. The rioting and the heat - it carries a near kind of oppressive atmosphere to it.

But it's not the main reason she's speaking up, although she wouldn't want anyone to have to worry about her. No, what she's more concerned with is-- ]

.. are you okay by now though? Did someone already help you out..? [ Look, thanks to stuff at Harrogate stuff with Leonardo might still be a tinge Awkward, but that's not going to stop Chizuru's concern whatsoever. ]

[howexciting]

That is good to hear. Very good.

It is sweet of you to be worried about me, but I am unharmed, Chizuru. Thank you. [But surely helping out with planning and organizing your super kawaii wedding cancels out at least a little bit of Harrogate??]

Are you with Hijikata at the moment?

[mermaiding]

Eh, am here.

[And currently huddling in a corner somewhere hiding because what the fuck this is the worst intro to jaunts ever]

When do we go home? Want to go home. Now.

This is not request. [Please just put her out of her misery.]

And this-- place. It is human religion, yes? Do not understand any of this.

[howexciting]

We... can't go back home. Unless you mean Liminal Space? In which case, not yet. This is a Jaunt. I... apologize that it was not more pleasant.

Where are you? What can you see? I can bring you to Liminal Space for a while, if you wish.

It is... human religion of a sort, yes. Catholic, as far as I can tell. I am fairly well versed in that sort of knowledge, but there might be others represented here as well that I'm not seeing.

[seestheworld]

Minako Arisato checking in - okay, I'll tell them! stop pulling my hair; it's rude - er, Minako Arisato and Mothman checking in.

[There is a distinctly exasperated tone to that last part, although not without undertones of affection.]

...Has anyone else been told anything about Sins and Virtues? Because those and blood are apparently the standard currency around here.

[howexciting]

... Mothman?

[Someone's never met Mothman.]

I can tell you what I know from my world. Sin is a violation of God's will, whether consciously or unconsciously... at least, according to il Vaticano. If this is anything like Dante's Purgatorio, then the Seven Deadly Sins will be the likeliest choices. Pride, the most grave... Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony... and Lust, the least grave of the seven sins.

In contrast, there are also Seven Heavenly Virtues, these sins' opposites. Humility, linked to Pride... Kindness to Envy, Patience to Wrath, Diligence to Sloth, Charity to Greed, Temperance to Gluttony, and Chastity to Lust.

... but that they are considered currency here is worrisome. Be careful if someone asks for any of these. You could be offering more of yourself than you bargained for.