Angels of Death - Rest, Relaxation and Revitalisation

[Ame]

[Source] Ktoasty said:

Naix ponders over the message. "So this letter implies we'll need to decide who among us is the imposter. Someone working against the group. If that is the case, perhaps this bracelet is intended to invoke distrust and suspicion." She looks away from the door, back to where she'd entered the hall from. She assumes Jupiter was not informed yet of the letter in the shed, but it is odd that this one was not signed by Defective, nor was the red truth used. "I'm inclined not to believe this letter's contents. Someone solved the puzzle to this door before anyone else did. Who's to say they didn't forge a letter here and leave the [21] bracelet along with it? That would be the easiest way to split the group into two factions."

"You raise a good point, you can't guarantee this is from Defective. But then..."



Jupiter stops to think for a moment

"I just can't see a cooperative person leaving this letter behind. Even if it is just a bluff, it just doesn't make sense."

"There are three possible senders. It could be the mastermind, Defective. It could also have been a traitor, or lastly, it could have been someone who's on our side."



"If we look at it from the perspective of Defective, then... the [21] bracelet arriving makes sense, as well as trying to split up the group and make us sus each other out, creating distrust. I can imagine that could be a reason to do this."

"However. I've never seen Defective before, and you're right, in that there's nothing here to indicate it's from him. No red text, no signature, no nothing. It's just written on a piece of paper."

"The next option is that this was the work of a traitor. It would explain the lack of red, and how... in-the-moment it feels."

"But then, it means that the [21] bracelet being here is just, so strange. For what reason would someone just, leave it here? Wouldn't it make more sense to have it on them?"

"And, all this would do is point more attention to the fact there is a traitor. Why would they willingly do that to themselves?"



She then makes a sour face

"That leaves, someone on our side. But that just creates more questions, why would they try and divide the group? How did they get this bracelet? Why would they hide it? Why would they solve this door and not tell anyone?"

"It's all so weird! I definitely don't like this."

[Source] Ktoasty said:

Naix cups Jupiter's hands in her own. "Jupiter, you are insightful, the way you question the unknown. That may be how you've survived so many trials in this facility. Then you must have had equally as many experiences where a drop of distrust within your group led to its downfall. I'm sure neither of us wishes for that to happen here."

"Um- Thank you! Distrust is something I've seen every round. Aside from solving each room, paranoia and suspicion is the next most important thing to manage."

"I like to think of it as a sheeps-verses-wolves situation. So long as there are twice as many non-traitors to traitors, there's probably nothing to worry about. They can't act when there are too many eyes on them, or else risk getting caught. It's only at times where they could be elusive, or if there are only a few players left, that I start to worry."

[Source] Ktoasty said:

Naix lets go of Jupiters hands. When she does, the two of them are now making the same hand sign of X's. "You mentioned April may recognize this. Let us consult her about the letter and bracelet before deciding on relaying either to our group."

"Yes, that's a good idea. It might also of benefit to ask around. Unfortunately, I don't know who this bracelet would have belonged to, so that could also be an important clue, depending on where the owner of it died... Wait, no. It must have been Room [3], right?"

"I had all the bracelets from the first room, and you took the ones from Room [6] right? So this must be from Room [3]."

[Ktoasty]

Naix nods. "That is correct. Sparrow's bracelet is from Room [3], and six players came out of that room as Worthy. Of those players, Joy is currently cooking breakfast, Emerald is waking up stragglers, and the remaining four are still asleep in their cottage." She gazes at the [21] bracelet. There should have been no way for it to be recovered, however, here it is. "Joy spoke to me last night about the spare bracelets from their side. He mentioned they could not save the bracelets. It may be worth our time to learn why they could not be retrieved."

[Ame]

[Source] Ktoasty said:

Naix nods. "That is correct. Sparrow's bracelet is from Room [3], and six players came out of that room as Worthy. Of those players, Joy is currently cooking breakfast, Emerald is waking up stragglers, and the remaining four are still asleep in their cottage." She gazes at the [21] bracelet. There should have been no way for it to be recovered, however, here it is. "Joy spoke to me last night about the spare bracelets from their side. He mentioned they could not save the bracelets. It may be worth our time to learn why they could not be retrieved."

"I see. Then we should move. There's nothing left here for us, so let's go talk to Joy and the others. We should also discuss groupings for these doors. With Hypnos asking to use the [∅] door, we could probably do two groups of six, but we should ask what everyone wants to do."

Naix and Jupiter return to the group, where they look for Joy

[Sachi]

Joy was still by the poolside, though he had pretty much finished with the cooking. It seemed a little odd to him to leave his cooking utensils unwashed, although quite frankly he couldn't think of anywhere decent enough to actually wash them. They'd be leaving this area shortly, anyway. Minorly inconveniencing the mastermind is something he could do to fight back at them, at least.

He stood silently overlooking the pool area with his arms folded.

[Ame]

"Ah! Joy!"

Jupiter rushes up to the poolside, with Naix following her

"Just the person we're looking for. You mentioned how you were unable to get Sparrow and Friends' bracelets? Could you let us know what happened in Door 3 at the end? We've- well, come across a letter, and well, were wondering what ever happened to them after they died?"

[Sachi]

Joy winces slightly at the question. "I'll tell you right now, it wasnae pretty," he clears his throat, probably uncomfortable having to relive this specific memory. "I've said before that behind the [3] door was a theatre of some sort. Involved watching through a play, that's actually an important piece of this. Emerald, Sparrow, Da Rat and Friend - they were involved in the play. But... eh, it's complicated. They werenae themselves from its start tae its end. Like their bodies were being controlled, like puppets.

Now, that may sound like nothing, but once everything was said and done, Defective revealed who was and wasnae worthy. We were all on the stage for this part. Us who were, we all left through a door, one by one. But Sparrow and Friend didnae follow.

I don't know if we were being puppeted to leave waeout them, or if they were being puppeted to just stay behind... But, well, that's what happened.

The door shut behind me when I left, and I got a wee bit of my senses back. I heard... awful sounds from the other side of that door. Went on for a wee while. After that, a huge crash, then nothing at all. Couldnae get that door back open tae find out what happened. Only way we could go was forward. After that, story's the same for both teams."

He looks at Jupiter and Naix in turn. "What's this about finding a letter, then?"

[Ame]

Jupiter looks at joy, horrified

"Oh... that must be, true tale of tragedy, huh. That room is..."

"I'm, so sorry. That room was really gruesome when I was in there. I'm glad that most of you got out. That room always seems to knock out half of those who enter."

She looks quite sad, thinking back on that room

"Ah- Now isn't the time for this. Well, I went and looked for the other door, which was in the basement. When I got there, the door that was locking it was already solved, and inside I found a letter."

She passes the letter to Joy

Before you lie the doors [2] and [5]. Venture forth in groups of 3 to 7.

After these doors, you will be forced to decide. Who among you is a traitor?

A final door exists after. Show me what you've got.

"The strange thing is, when I got there, not only did I find this letter, I also found the [21] bracelet on top of it as well."

[Sachi]

Joy reads the letter intensely. 

"They've moved the maximum people down by one," he comments halfheartedly. Doesn't really seem like he cares about that part. "And the traitor... Aye, expected something like that. Nae point sending them in if he doesnae want us tae sus them out."

He looks up from the letter at Jupiter, upon her mention of the 21 bracelet. He raises an eyebrow like a certain famous wrestler turned actor. Actually isn't it kind of weird that a lot of professional wrestlers end up becoming popular actors. It's almost as if they're trained in acting already or something. Weird right. Anyway.

"That's Sparrow's. But that doesnae make a lick of sense. Naebody could get back through that door. And hell, I can guarantee you he didnae up and walk out of there himself. And another thing..." Joy points to the text on the letter. "Not a word of this is written in red. What reason do we have to believe a word of it? If it were that important, surely they'd spare the wee bit of extra cash for some red ink?"

[Ame]

Jupiter nods

"Yeah, Naix and I came to the same conclusion."

"It just doesn't make any sense. That's why I think we've got a problem. I've never seen this before."

All of a sudden April and Aoi are spotted walking together by the barbecue, taking the kit that was used to cook breakfast inside to clean

"Hey, April! Can we borrow you for a minute? Got a question or two we'd like to ask you?"

April apprehensively nods and shouts back

"O'course, lemme chuck this in the kitchen and I'll be right there!"

After putting the kit inside, she heads to the pool

"So, what can I do for ya?"

"Well, have you ever seen the number of people through a door change, and a missing bracelet show up?"

She thinks for a moment

"Hmmm. Yeah. Once or twice. But not often. Why do you ask?"

Jupiter shows her the bracelet and letter, April takes it and reads it insensely

"...This..."

She hands back the letter

"...isn't Defective's handwriting."

"This is probably just bait. I don't even have a pen. So, it'd probably be hard to see who's writing this is. Not to mention how it could be faked."

"I don't think it matters, honestly. The next doors are [5] and [2], and there's what, 13 of us? We should be able to work this out without having 8 people to a door."

[Ktoasty]

Naix breathes.

[Ame]

"Alright! Are we ready?!"

"We've eaten, relaxed, and slept! We trust each other more than ever! Let's go show those bastards what we're made of!"

"Here's what I'm thinking. I'll be going through door [5]. I'd like Naix and Joy to accompany me. I have a sneaking feeling we'll find the Paradoxical Puzzle there! That'll give us a digital root of 5 exactly, so we'll also take 4 more people to add another 9, no 18 to our total! Rat! 01! You're with us! We'll also take Rei's and Brasska's bracelets. That'll bring us to 23, digital root of 5!"

"Hypnos! Emerald! I want you two going through the null set together. You've only been through those doors once before, so I can't have you dying due to a lack of understanding! I want you to take the bracelets belonging to Ray, Sparrow, Vampire and Werbell!"

"Everyone else! You'll be going through the [2] door! So that's Guertena, Jupiter, Aoi, Neo, Chief, and Oh-One! That should put you at... 24. Take along the Joker bracelet then! That'll get you to 29, digital root 2!"

"Any objections?! No? Then let's get a move on!"

"Naix, you grab the two bracelets we need, I'll guide everyone else to the [5] door!"

[Evie The Bat]

Da Rat, whos exhausted from doing da math last time, happily follows April's decision. She secretly hopes dat da upcoming room has a big deep fryer bath for her to relax in.

"Da Rat is here to help, sorry for da silence, Da Rat was dreaming of a big oil bath, bubbly and hot."

[Sachi]

"Nae problems fae me," Joy says. He makes sure he's gathered up all his personal belongings. He gets the stinging sensation he won't come back here for a while, if ever. It'd be a pain to leave something important behind. Thankfully, all he really has with him are his coat and his hat, which are pretty hard to miss. Looks like he's good to go.

"Right then, I'm good tae go. Yous going through the Null and 2 doors! Feels tae me like we're close tae the end. I don't want a single one of ye dying on me now! Think of how many rooms ye've gotten yerself through already! Bloody impressive stuff, aye? Let's keep up that momentum and blast through these bloody doors wae everybody still kicking! I wish ye luck. And I'll see ye - all of ye - on the other side."

Joy tips his hat to Team 2 and Team Null. He has a look of confidence on his face. Forced or not, it's clear that he wants everybody to get through this with their lives intact. With that goal in mind, he sets off, following Naix to the location of Door 5. 

[Peregrine]

Hearing his Name called, Chief rushes to the Source of the Noise. Quickly assessing the Situation, he nods and takes a Deep Breath.

Not wanting to complicate Affairs, he obediently scans his Bracelet at the Number [2] Door.