[open to Investigators]

[wholeheaded]

Oh, well this is... different.

[ the mental voice is light, American-accented, and at first hesitant but confidence builds as he goes on. ]

Hello new Travelers, and not-as-new ones I haven't met yet, looks like the Trumps have a new mission for us. If you can hear me, you're an Investigator and that means exactly what you'd think: we're gonna be putting our heads together to help solve some problem in this world. Thankfully that putting-our-heads-together bit's pretty easy because of this nifty telepathic thingy-- don't worry, no one can hear your thoughts if you don't want them to, but if you need help or find out stuff you think is important please share with the rest of the class.

[ it's funny because they're in a school, see. ]

You might have friends here, other Travelers, who don't remember you and think they've lived all their lives in this world. We call them Infiltrators and usually they're good sources of info, so try and blend in and stay close with them. That shouldn't be too hard since the folks here seem to have been expecting us, or a group like us and good Glinda can we please have every Jaunt start like this?

Ah... meanwhile let's try and coordinate and see who's still with us. My name's Ambrose, by the way, I'm that guy with the zipper on his head.


[ooc: Psychic network post for all your orientation needs. Remember that only investigators can use it, and feel free to threadjack around! ]

Comments

[deconsecrate]

In my experience, this is usually when there's an ambush.

...I'd really prefer it if there wasn't an ambush.

[wholeheaded]

Ditto. We'll keep our fingers crossed that it isn't and eyes peeled in case it is.

[ and all sorts of other nonsensical idioms probably. ]

[canbebrave]

An ambush?

[tireur]

Most of them are unnarmed. I would wager the ambush will at least wait until after the evening meal.

[itsananimalthing]

Glinda? Really?

[That is not an epithet this guy-- with the gravelly voice, that comes through loud and clear rather than just in thought-form-- has ever heard. And since he's actually unfamiliar with the Wizard of Oz, it means absolutely zilch to him. It's just kind of funny-sounding.]

Richard B. Riddick. Nice to meet ya.

[wholeheaded]

Yep, really.

[ look everyone's got their revered cultural figures/legendary semi-deities. ]

And, ah, you as well. [ hang on a sec-- ] Though you're sorta familiar, a little. This isn't your first Jaunt, is it?

[ Ambrose started in Belljar but didn't get too deeply integrated with folks until Brooklyn, so they've been sorta gliding past each other. ]

[thezerothlaw]

I am glad to report that I am still myself.

Lady, however, is not. I admit I did not expect this, but she seems unbothered by the experience.

[wholeheaded]

[ oh thank the stars. ]

Good, I'm glad too. So... what did they do to her?

[ because he's actually been sorta wondering about that. ]

[tireur]

The difference between the security and our reception can't bode well. It might be in our best interests to determine what enemies this enclave has, and quickly.

[Things Aramis understands: fortifications.

Things Aramis does not understand: what even is a radiation?]

[wholeheaded]

[ that's a good question because haha those clicky machines were nifty Ambrose wants one for a pet. and to find out what it does. and then get horrified yes in that order. ]

We can make that one of our priorities, helping defend this place could be a thing we need to do.

[flatteries]

What sort of enemies do you think there could be, though?

[ Inigo might seem like an idiot, but he's not dumb. He knows the differences between worlds, and that everything here seems unlike home - he doubts a bunch of bandits with axes could even think about taking on this place. And he doesn't entirely know what else to expect. ]

[liddellmisslost]

[This mental voice is a young woman's, British-accented.]

Hello, Ambrose. Thank you for the introduction. And hello to everyone else.

My name is Harmony. I was a Traveler for a while, then I went away, and now I'm back, so...if you're new, please don't hesitate to ask me any questions, and I'll help as much as I can.

That being said, it hasn't been a bad start to the Jaunt so far, I agree...

[wholeheaded]

Hello Harmony, good to meet you as well. This is my fourth Jaunt but my first time trying to help sort folks out, so any help you can give is really appreciated.

Though yeah, it does look like we're getting off pretty easy so far. Odds are I'm speaking too soon there.

[homemademolotov]

[A delicate snort at share with the rest of the class. Please.]

You should make up a pamphlet.

[wholeheaded]

Somebody should, probably someone more succinct than me. And with that thing where you get to keep stuff in liminal space.

[wayfaringwind]

Kind of crazy how many new people you miss when you only get lost for a couple jaunts!

I'm Bartz. This one seems pretty mellow so far, huh?

[wholeheaded]

[ Ambrose quietly frets about that whole getting-lost thing, it's a thing he'd like to avoid. still he's glad that when it happens folks do get found, even if it takes a while sometimes. ]

Heck, I've been around since Belljar and I still can't keep track of everyone. [ nevermind that he'd spent the past two months infiltrating and missed roughly a million new folks. ] So it's good to meet you, Bartz, and... yeah, mellow so far but I don't wanna count my chickens before they cross the road.

[vorpalstrike]

Oh, this is actually pretty helpful, though, the fact that you're asking that every Jaunts be like this isn't a good thing for a newcomer to hear, isn't it?

[ yeah... ]

[wholeheaded]

Pro...bably not. [ whoops. ] But folk needs honesty too, like this beats the heck out of my second Jaunt. That one we ended up immediately getting chucked in jail.

[maddeninghatter]

[ He'll never get used to the sensation of somebody else's voice being in his head. Particularly now with his memories of a completely different life muddling up the experiences he had immediately after his death, when he first appeared in Liminal space. ]

"Solve some problem"? Don't you mean, dance to the tune of our captors?

[wholeheaded]

...I've heard it both ways.

[ and he's honestly leaning more towards that second one, especially after Dolorosa, but-- ]

The problem-solving one's a little more motivating, is all.

[flatteries]

Uh.. thanks for the information! [ Despite his hesitance there for a moment, he does seem glad.. it's just that this whole telepathy thing takes some getting used to. Inigo wouldn't be Inigo though if he didn't try to throw himself into everything with a smile.

Besides, all of this is useful information. Although there's one thing that sticks out though.. ]

.. you have a what on your head though? [ Hi, medieval times are calling, what are zippers... ]

[wholeheaded]

You're welcome! [ hey, enthusiastic throwing-oneself-into-things is a lifestyle choice Ambrose fully supports!

and that question is one he really should have anticipated! ]

Uh... it's a closure. Thingy. Looks like a little metal strip.

[inexecution]

I don't think being greeted with hazmat suits and radiation detectors is how I want to start every Jaunt.

[Although it certainly explained why it was so... dead outside the walls]

They seem nice otherwise, and it does save us some trouble blending in. I'm not really sure about the rest, though. [Because what is formal schooling, really.]

[wholeheaded]

[ and here we run into A Thing. ]

Yeah, ah, that was all-- [ okay fine here we go. ] What was all that, if we weren't "clean" do you have an idea of what we'd be... "dirty" with?

[wantedittobeagame]

Not sure I want a guy that talks faster than that mail order show host back home in a hazmat suit poking and prodding at me every Jaunt...

[Well, no, there was no poking or prodding, but still.]

But man, is this really a school? It's... well, it's not like anything in Japan.

[wholeheaded]

I'm learning that was... a lot more worrying than I'd initially assumed.

[ see this is where the weaponized optimism fails him. ]

But, ah, yes it's a school, as far as I can tell.It's not quite like anything in the O.Z. either but some of the trappings are similar.

[vindico_mus]

Hello again, Cousin. [Yes, there's a touch of mocking in that one word, because Nezumi is still a little miffed at his previous trump-cursed role.] It seems this is the first time I've been graced with the ability to remain myself. So.

...That's it? We just blend in and play the part, and try to figure out what the hell is really fucked about this place?

[wholeheaded]

[ ...wait, what? ]

Hi, uh, sorry, didn't get a name. [ names, cuz they sure as heck ain't Cousins and Ambrose wants to be as well shot of (most of) that as possible.] But I am glad you're yourself, always good to have more help on these things and... you've basically got it. Figure it out and solve it and on to the next, thankfully this one's looking more straightforward than last time.

[timewitness]

Oh, um -- [She goes quiet, trying to figure this telepathy thing out. It's certainly new, but not more weird than most things.] Thank you for this. It's hard to know who to ask about this now.

[Since some people are undergoing what she did. Thinking they lived another life. Knowing they'd always been there. The memories are still heavy.] You've done this a couple of times, right?

sorry so late!

[wholeheaded]

You're welcome. Really there's a few folks who've been around for a while, so they can help with helping. [ when... they... are themselves again whoops. ]

And yeah, this'll be my fourth Jaunt. Gotta say I'm still getting used to it all. First for you or...