graveyard.

[foxhounds]

You remember dying. In fact, you remember the exact feeling and fear of how you died, and yet in the next moment, you're suddenly standing in a cold room. You're not sure how you got here at all, but it's as if you were suddenly put here the moment after you died. As you look around, the first thing you'll notice is that you're standing in front of an open casket. And you're inside. The corpse inside the casket is definitely you, and it's also definitely dead, which certainly makes this confusing. Luckily, here's someone here to explain. When you wake up, there's footsteps walking closer, and then a familiar face appears. Iván is here, or someone that looks very much like her is. All she starts off with is two simple words— "You're dead." Which would seem obvious, but she explains that you have been before you ever arrived to the island. The shipwreck and the island are't real, after all. This is purgatory, and the Hunt is a way to judge the souls of the living. People show their true nature when they're put in a stressful situation, so it was deemed that this was the way that these judgements would be passed. She explains that you'll know your fate when the game ends, but if you really can't wait that long, you could always ask, but hope isn't lost. After all, the "killers" are on your side. If they can win the game, then everyone can come back to life. They know this, and it's why they're fighting so hard to win. It's a shame that the odds don't seem to be in their favor, but that's also part of the Hunt. — Exploring your new surroundings, you'll realize that you're likely at the bottom of that giant sinkhole, at least if that light far above you is any indication. You no longer feel the need to eat or sleep anymore (technically, you never did, but the habits of being alive are hard to break), so it's a good thing there's enough to do while the game continues. You can watch the proceedings of the Hunt in one room where there's plenty of comfortable couches to sit in and lounge, as well as a fully stocked bar, if you feel like indulging. Another room offers a game room with cards, billiards, and any other games you'd like to play in a group. If you ask your host nicely, she might provide more, but for now, there's not much to do other than to watch and wait for the Hunt to end.

Comments

[snackoosniper]

Right.

[ Huff huff. She isn't particularly surprised by any of Shijima's points -- it's become clear that this game is psychological above all else. She would agree more agreeably if she didn't just fling her drink all over the place. She sighs internally before getting up to clean up the mess. Lana raised her better than to leave it be for long... ]

And the part about Ivan? Was that really your win condition?

[liven]

It might free me. It might not. I haven't ever managed to do it, so I can't be sure.

[ Does she even have a clear-cut idea on how to win... ]

It was one option. The other was to make you lose. [ She means the village. A mafia win...might work out for her. ] ...Or kill until something new happened. In all honesty, though, I just dislike Overseers. They almost always hate me for my role.

[ PARTLY BECAUSE SHE'S GUNNING TO OVERTHROW THEM ADMITTEDLY BUT WOW ]

[snackoosniper]

[ A small part of Ema is starting to hate her too because JUST TALK STRAIGHT FOR ONCE, WOMAN, YES OR NO... ]

Ah, yes. Ivan mentioned that this is her first time as an Overseer. What were the previous ones like?

[liven]

[ JOIN THE HATE CLUB AND BECOME SHIJIMA'S FAVORITE, EMA... ]

They're all different. Some seem to enjoy the game. Some don't. They all universally hate the Zaroff when one is in play, apparently...

[ She waves her hand, as if gesturing to her life. ]

The first one I ever had was colder than this one. Smug. None of us liked him. [ But that could just be how she read the situation, couldn't it? Either way, she doesn't care for Overseers. ]

[snackoosniper]

[ She should be grateful that Ivan was so inoffensive, then. If anything, the woman seemed as much a victim as everyone else in the game. ]

What's so offensive about the Zaroff? It seems to wreak havoc on the players, certainly, but I don't see why the Overseers would be bothered by it.

[liven]

Getting the players to turn on the Overseer is one of my win options...supposedly.

[ WHO KNOWS IF THAT WOULD EVEN WORK half of the time she just attempts it out of spite these days. ]

Obviously, they're not a fan of that. [ She hesitates before adding: ] It may also have something to do with the fact that I haven't been judged. I wouldn't know how their minds work.

[snackoosniper]

[ SEE WAS THAT SO HARD TO SAY, SHIJIMA ]

That also raises the question: what happens to an Overseer if they happen to die? Presumably they aren't beings like us, who get to move on or come back to life once the game is done. But judging by their distaste for you, they must face some consequence if a Zaroff manages to get them voted off.

[liven]

They probably just get to stop existing.

[ the lucky bastards is super implied in the way she says that. god, shijima would kill to just die already. she does kill, every time around. ]

But I truly don't know. I don't think I actually care, either. [ SORRY, OVERSEERS, shijima hates you all and your stupid game too. ]

[snackoosniper]

[ ... She must be going crazy if she's actually starting to accept that Shijima just might be as old as her profile said... ]

Ever considered going into a coma? At the very least, it would be a nice, long nap.

[ Is she joking? Probably not. ]

[liven]

Unfortunately, I've got no choice in the matter.

[ A sigh. Shijima could actually prove she's a cat, too, since she can still shift...she's learned Tricks in her many replays of this game. ]

So do you think Jason is the gunsmith? [ An abrupt subject change, but. ] If Royce knows for sure that crazy sword got a gun, it's possible that guy is some manner of detective...he did, after all, kill a member of the opposition.

[ It's pointless speculation, but what else do they have to do? ]

[snackoosniper]

Jason? Would be really supply Crazy Sword?

[ Not that he was as crazy before today. At least, not on the surface. ]

I suppose it's possible, if a Fox was able to look into Crazy Sword early on and notify Jason, then check Orion afterward. And somewhere in there, Royce's investigator just happened to check on Crazy Sword as well. It's a tight series of coincidences, don't you think?

[ Some people really are that lucky, but best not lean on such an unscientific principle. ]

I'm more inclined to believe that a sword is the gunsmith.

[liven]

I find it hard to believe Royce would trust one of the swords.

[ so if someone he trusts told him...Jason had to find out somehow. Or Gi-ne... ]

I'm just trying to figure out who his "source" is, here. What do you think?

[snackoosniper]

[ She falls silent for a moment as she sweeps some shards of glass up. Who indeed would Royce trust...? ]

Jason might be the source, it's true. He's been quiet -- letting Royce speaking for him, maybe. But I could also see a number of people confiding in Royce because he's discreet. People listen to him.

[ For some... reason... Being a jerk is really captivating apparently?? ]

It could even be someone as good-willed as Max, who doesn't have a deceptive bone in her body. I know I'd be more inclined to believe her.

[liven]

Max could be a foxhound, you know.

[ Any of them could be...but she nods. ]

Whatever the case, hopefully Royce doesn't get offed by a majority sword vote.