Luceti Valley - The First Log

[lucetimods]

Who: Everyone
What: The start of a new experiment... or is it?
When: August 2nd - August 6th
Where: Luceti itself
Summary: Luceti has become an idyllic and peaceful 50s-esque village. The first few days are just business as usual, right?
Rating: Varies with thread. Please move explicit stuff to appointments post with appropriate warnings.

August 1st had seemed like an ordinary day in Luceti. But late in the evening, for those night owls who had not turned in yet, they were witness to strange fluctuations in the barrier. Beautiful, really, almost like Luceti had received its own 'Northern Lights', even though it seemed to come from the far east, across the ocean. This ominous light show lasted for all of fifteen minutes before it ceased all together. Skimming the ocean waters, a horde of cultists entered Luceti, cloaked by darkness. Upon reaching the entrance to the tunnels, their leader stepped inside and was followed one by one by his fellow cultists. When the last had entered, the tunnel entrance closed. Across the mountains, the entrance to the tunnels in the village did the same.

Midnight passed without incident, but by three in the morning, the change suddenly came. Minds were altered, forms were changed, and buildings sprang from nowhere.

Much later, on August 2nd, morning settled on a changed village, the new mayor made his way to his mansion with his pair of adorable dobermans at either side of him. The sun shined bright. It was a good day to be a Lucetian.

Note: There will be a stand alone log for the homecoming dance. There will be another log for the second stage of the event.

Comments

[ablankpage]

Or is entirely different.

[Too many worlds. Too many doors. He'd seen so many possibilities. And almost all of them were entirely closed off for him now.]

One change. One different decision, and the constants and variables shift dramatically.

[of_sablier]

[Like the Abyss, and what those who contracted with Chains desired: the chance to rewrite history. Yes, Jack knows that well.]

And sometimes such a tiny thing can shift so much.

[ablankpage]

It can make or break a man.

[To say the very least. It had made two men, broken two men. The first had been made then broken, the second broken then made. Because of one difference. One incredibly inconsequential action.

A dunk in a river.]

[of_sablier]

Or an entire world.

[After all, he'd made sure that history was written to place him in a favorable light, all for the sole purpose of being able to carry out his plans. Make Glen the scapegoat and lead everyone against the real hero by convincing them that he was in fact the villain... yes, how very simple it had been.]

[ablankpage]

Or several.

[Millions of millions of worlds, all doomed to destruction if Comstock were not stopped. And, in some of them, an Elizabeth who did not care about the destruction. An Elizabeth who knew the full scope of her powers, free of the siphon, and could strike out at other worlds, too.]

[of_sablier]

Indeed.

[What a fascinating topic of discussion this is. It's rare that Jack comes across someone whom he thinks could understand his goals... most people don't take very kindly to the idea of trying to lead the world to its eventual demise. Most people don't understand that sometimes, there are things more important than even the world.

How fascinating indeed.]

Ah, but I don't believe I ever asked your name-- I'm Jack.

[ablankpage]

Robert Lutece.

[His own goals had been quite different. Altering multiple worlds to fix a single, personal mistake and fix the ripples that would engulf everything.

...Even if he hadn't intended for the end to come the way it had.]

[of_sablier]

These may not be the best circumstances, but it's nice to meet you.

[Now he lowers his voice slightly, glancing around to make sure that no one is eavesdropping.]

Is everyone else here like us?

[ablankpage]

They haven't let me interact with many of the others.

[But he's been listening. Making mental notes about everything.]

[of_sablier]

Mmm... that would make sense, if they don't want us joining together and causing trouble for them. If they separate us and don't let us communicate, it would be easy for them to convince the people here that we really are insane.

[ablankpage]

It's possible.

[Robert shrugged his shoulders.]

They could also be preparing to kill us. Keep us isolated so we can't do anything when they move from electricity to more fatal means.

[of_sablier]

Wouldn't it be easier for them to just kill us outright? After all, we wouldn't be back for a week, when the experiment is over. I just don't see much purpose in keeping us captive here if they're only going to kill us in the end. It seems like a waste of effort.

[ablankpage]

Maybe they're figuring out a way to kill us where we don't come back.

[If death really does work the way the book said and this man is talking about... It wouldn't be a stretch to assume they'd want to make sure that those willing to argue couldn't do it.]

[of_sablier]

... that's a rather unpleasant thought. But what would they gain from that?

[He was pretty sure that was what the cultists wanted and what the Malnosso were trying to fight against.]

[ablankpage]

We'd be quiet, permanently.

[Malnosso. Cultists. He had no cause to see them as anything but different sides of the same coin. The Malnosso could certainly gain from it, if they were trying to rewrite history.]

Whatever they're trying to accomplish, we don't fit it. And if we're an inconvenience and can't be convinced, then why shouldn't they want to remove us from the equation?

[of_sablier]

So maybe this experiment is bigger than anything they've ever done before... something with a more crucial outcome. And if we got in their way, it would all be ruined.

[That much he could buy. If there's one thing he's learned, it's that the Malnosso are willing to do just about anything to achieve the results they want.]

[ablankpage]

Bigger or else just more permanent. Maybe they've orchestrated this how they want it, and that's that.

Whatever it is? They know that those who don't fit need to be removed.

[of_sablier]

Hmm, that won't do at all. Whether they do plan on killing us or not, I certainly don't plan on just sitting around and allowing it to happen. I've always disliked being told what to do...

[ablankpage]

And, let me guess, you intend to make a stand. Loud and obvious. [He knew enough men like that. One in particular...]

That will only get you watched that much more closely. That much nearer your death.

[of_sablier]

Not at all. What would that accomplish? You said yourself that they won't let us out, nor will they take kindly to us being rebellious.

Far better to do things quietly, out of their sight. Don't you agree?

[ablankpage]

And yet you keep talking.

Don't you think they can hear us?

[Warranted caution or paranoia either before this or because of the days he'd spent here... It was hard to say.]

[of_sablier]

I doubt they can, not all the way over here. Honestly, if they're spying on every conversation we have, there's a lot more to worry about than just getting caught for this.