wordsmithery: (Static)
The Wordsmith ([personal profile] wordsmithery) wrote in [community profile] trusthell2017-03-25 11:58 am

Taking Responsibility.

Despite the lack of a body, despite the fact that you've initiated the investigation today of your own volition rather than due to some sense of formality and obligation (to the dead, to the rules, to the session), it seems that the Wordsmith is aware of your activities regardless; as such, when you finally leave that hidden area on the seventh floor and move back toward the stairs, you'll find that the elevator is already waiting for you.

Perhaps it's unsettling, in its own way; perhaps it'll only serve to make you more determined.

Either way, the ride up is swift and smooth as always; when the door opens, however, it becomes immediately obvious that the courtroom itself has changed.

The podium circle is still standing in its spot toward the front of the room; three more have joined the ranks of the deceased since you were last here - Mikazuki, Watanuki, and Bruce Wayne's portraits have been set up on their podiums; however, theirs aren't the only ones that have been covered - all thirty podiums have been draped in black, the fabric spilling down over the wood, almost to the point of reaching the floor.

That isn't the only difference, either - Kageshirou is far more visibly present today, in a way that's impossible to ignore. The walls in here appear cracked, much like the one in the foyer, dark silt and shadow spilling down to pool on the floor like contaminated water, like blood. A fair amount of it seems to be emanating from the lectern high above, the one place in this room that doesn't seem to have taken damage like the walls have; regardless, the darkness of the shadow entity spills down heavily from there, constantly pouring down like some sort of waterfall, thick and ugly and thankfully dissipating into the floor before it can touch the circle where you'll be standing.

The circle is one of the few places in this room that's clear of it, actually.

As repulsive as this all may be, however, the lectern remains empty, standing cold and unaffected by any of this; once everyone has found their place in the circle, the Wordsmith's voice can be heard addressing everyone, as always.

"Welcome, Apprentices—I thought it likely you would want to find yourselves here today, and we have now gathered for what I am sure you need not be told may be one final time. Is there perhaps something you wished to discuss?"

There are only eight of you left, and it seems you've reached the end of the line. There isn't much else to do but try to win, in any way you can.

Best of luck to you.
sportadork: (our hard-working folks)

[personal profile] sportadork 2017-03-25 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
... Souls must be the energy source he found. He's renewing it through these games...

To... travel to different universes? Why?
iaspis: (◇ they point the finger at me again)

[personal profile] iaspis 2017-03-25 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
It sounds like a tremendous amount of effort.
elepe: (SHRUG ❇ I see no problems with this)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Really, if he's able to pull all of us through whatever...method it is he is using, [Lusamine waves her hand a little bit at it. She doesn't know what the method is but eugh.] would he not be able to achieve his goal by simply using the method for himself? I don't understand why we need to be involved in this equation.
sportadork: (and I'll be your dog)

[personal profile] sportadork 2017-03-25 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
It could be easier to take something than it is to put something. Less energy. Especially if it's just random.

... And sometimes, when you have magic, you're not able to use it on yourself. It can only work on others.
elepe: (TILT ❇ The fuck's a common sense)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[...well.]

You sound rather versed in such things.

[Just an observation, but you know. Lusamine nods her head.]

...Perhaps he is using us as a trade of sorts, then?
sportadork: (and I can't sleep)

[personal profile] sportadork 2017-03-25 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[just smiles vaguely]

Or a sacrifice.
oyashiromama: (so get up‚ shake the rust)

[personal profile] oyashiromama 2017-03-25 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The question remains for what. What are we powering? What...is his goal that he's kept so secret from us? Is it...something to do not with our souls, but his own?
sportadork: (forever I can hope)

[personal profile] sportadork 2017-03-25 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
... There are machines. That you can build and travel through time with.
elepe: (UNSURE ❇ That color is awful)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 04:55 pm (UTC)(link)
To possibly fuel his need to travel dimensions, or grant him the energy to do so...

[...]

But why? What reason would he have to attempt such a thing? Even if it would take a miracle to accomplish, one does not simply do these things because they can.
matchbreaker: (You no longer live as cattle)

[personal profile] matchbreaker 2017-03-25 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ... You know ]

You know, to take it a step forward, while "what is it powering" is a good question, another good one is "why this game?"

If souls are what power it, and time is as concern, why not just kill a few hundred people and be done with it, rather than twenty over two months?

[ He is religious, after all. ]
elepe: (GLANCE ❇ ...you have my attention)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[...well, that causes something unpleasant to be realized.]

He has separated us from the outside world while we are here, hasn't he? Perhaps we are all that is left.

[...maybe. It's only a theory, but...]
matchbreaker: (While u sleep)

[personal profile] matchbreaker 2017-03-25 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
... Wait, what? What does that even mean?
elepe: (STATE ❇ All eyes on me please)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Think about it for a moment. He has remained unimpeded throughout this entire process, and it is implied that he may have done this more than once.

I don't doubt that this world could have incompetent officers. [People who aren't as spirited as Judy.] But don't you think someone would have tried to stop him by now? Or that we may have seen someone else.

If something has happened to cause the population to decline rapidly, perhaps there is no one in this world left to sacrifice. And that is where we come in.
iaspis: (◇ instead of wondering why)

[personal profile] iaspis 2017-03-25 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
That.... would make sense.
matchbreaker: (tbh im not sure if the above is better)

[personal profile] matchbreaker 2017-03-25 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That... that is a truly horrifying idea, and Elda actually stumbles a bit, considering it ]

... But then why can't he just get gone himself?! Is sucking in that much harder than going out?!
elepe: (FLIP ❇ Try calling me an old hag again)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
...I wonder if he's worried about ending up like us, when he wakes up. We were missing many memories, after all.
matchbreaker: (I refuse to be forgotten)

[personal profile] matchbreaker 2017-03-25 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Right now, he's claiming her never lies.

But back when this started, he seemed surprised that I'd lost memories? As if the profiles had to be perfect.
elepe: (SHOCK ❇ Mind repeating that slowly)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
...Really?

[...she hadn't really spoken to the Wordsmith prior, so that's. Huh.]

Was it an unintentional side effect, then? Or...interference?
matchbreaker: (LOCK IT)

[personal profile] matchbreaker 2017-03-25 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
How should I know-

Want to answer, Wordsmith?
feistytrader: (capes are totally cool)

[personal profile] feistytrader 2017-03-25 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
And doing that is tough, which is why he wants to prime us up with all of this bullshit so our soul juice is more efficient.

[Or something like that.]
Edited 2017-03-25 17:18 (UTC)
elepe: (GROWL ❇ How awful of you)

[personal profile] elepe 2017-03-25 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
I would not put it past him, really.

[Then again, she's a spiteful sod.]

It's complete Tauros dung. He could have just killed us all and been done with it.
feistytrader: (listening in)

[personal profile] feistytrader 2017-03-25 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, it's too late for that now.

[Now they're going to kick his ass. That's the implication, anyway. Silver's having a hard time saying it confidently when they're absolutely surrounded by Kageshirou dripping gross shadowy stuff everywhere.]
oyashiromama: a howling beast hears us talk (somewhere deep in the dark)

[personal profile] oyashiromama 2017-03-25 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[...A hand on his shoulder.]

Far too late.