chasma | INTRO MINGLE

cittàgazze: week 0 intro

the city of magpies

40 Remain

Whatever you were doing previously, wherever you were, you come back into yourself very abruptly, after going through a haze. Quite literally, as it turns out. You and your daemon are left to wander through a thick, cloying fog, where sights and sounds are muffled. All attempts to call out don't result in much, and your voice is just swallowed up. At least you're not alone—no matter their form, you know who and what they are, and they stick close to you, just as without answers as you are. How unfortunate.

But your feet carry you until, finally, the actual fog clears—at least, enough to let you see the street you walk along—and now your surroundings are a little more apparent. Even if you're far from home, maybe in less than ideal condition at the moment, at least you're not alone in this? Turns out it isn't just the two of you. As if they've walked right out of the fog, themselves, there are others on this long boulevard lined with palm trees, breathing in the stormy sea air, just like you.

Hard to say where you've wound up, and just when in the day, with the storm overhead. It's not night, that's for sure, and it's some sort of city, though it looks a little... worn down. Abandoned. Weird. Where are all the people, besides you? There's movement, occasionally, but whoever it is skitters away and disappears before you have a chance to get a closer look—at first, anyways. Maybe you can catch them after exploring a bit?

... though, maybe you want to change, first? ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) Wow, you're really dressed up for... well, what sort of occasion would warrant this...

Some further walking on the boulevard leads you along storefronts of various kinds, but one in particular stands out. Looks like there's a message that's been posted up on a shop bulletin board, standing out due to intent. Just pinned in place, after the rest of it was obviously cleared out in a hurry, with some pages having been torn off and leaving corners and bits behind.

I hope you enjoy my gift!! And don't worry you're ALL beautiful. ;)

We'll try to get some answers for you guys, since I'm sure you have a lot of questions. For now, check out the shop for some bags! I'm sorry that it's not much, considering the situation, but if there's anything else you need—there's plenty of other shops around the city. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!!

I know it might be scary to find yourselves in a new place, but I promise that things will be okay. We'll make sure it's okay. Maybe there's something here that you can find out before we can get to you. Try to get along the meantime—we'll talk to you as soon as we can.

Sorry we can't welcome you in person yet, but we'll be there soon! We're trying to work out some things right now, like how to get your stuff back to you. You're in a safe place, though, so try to take it easy and stick together until we get there, okay? See you soon!

Inside the shop, it's as the message says: there are bags neatly lined up. There's something... enchanted about them, almost, that leads you to the one that is apparently yours, and prevents anyone else from picking up someone else's. (Literally, like they weigh a ton, even if you're normally capable of lifting said ton.) The enchantment wears off once you've claimed your bag. Each one contains:

★

Hotel Nido di Gazza

★

Attached to the side of each satchel is one of those small, single-person umbrellas that come in a variety of patterns and are prone to turning inside out in a stiff breeze or yeeting off the handle when the button is pressed when used too frequently or not just right. There's a note attached in that loopy but legible handwriting saying: sorry, there weren't any better ones in the city. :(

At present, a thick fog and threatening thunderclouds have encased the city. Rain is intermittent, as are the flashes of lightning, but it's a rather oppressive atmosphere to welcome you in with. Any attempts to leave the city walls, or to step off of the boulevard into the unknown (even if you can clearly see the sand of the beach, hear the waves beyond, see a beacon of light cutting through the thick fog), will be met with a feeling of dread and your steps turning you back around into the city proper again. Your daemons may even tug at your clothes with a self preservation instinct that kicks in for the both of you. Isn't it safer here?

welcome to cittàgazze

Hello, everybody! Welcome to the start of the game—please enjoy the weekend zero intro to the fullest, as we get everyone settled in, and feel free to explore the setting to your heart's contents. Additionally, please note two things of particular interest as your characters familiarize themselves with their new home away from home:

The first, of course, being that IC profiles are not ICly available yet. Once they are, we'll let you know. Just make sure you're filling them out this weekend!

The second is that your character does not have their item from home or canon changes of clothes yet. If you'd like to change out of the clothing that you've been so graciously given—why? They're nice, aren't they? Don't you appreciate them? But I guess you can raid the homes and shops of the city, if need be, until further notice. Clothing styles are 90s function over fashion you might find in a humid climate like this one, though there are some... outdated, if simple, trendier styles available.

Let the mods know if you need anything, and enjoy!

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well. That sure is a sentence you made us read, and have put in these children's eyeballs. They're looking at Sholmes like he's an absolute weirdo, and also seem to be confused by his general existence, but he's buttering him up. So. There's that. Do they know stranger danger? Who knows.

Sure we are. Ent nobody smarter.

But of course! I am more than humbled and gracious for your expertise.

[He seems to be nothing but sincere in this. God please practice stranger danger.]

I am but a stranger in a strange land, so I must ask you this: do you know why we are here? I trust our arrival out of the blue is quite bizarre, given your reactions...

Nope. No stranger danger. What do feral children need with stranger danger?

General consensus? Yeah, we ent seen so many people show up like this afore. 'specially not with the storm. Alla the adults in Cigazze cleared out when the fog came in, 'cause of the spectres, and then alla you showed up.

[feral children, please]

The storm and the spectres, you say...but you must be quite brave, given that you've all decided to stay behind! The spectres, they don't give any of you trouble? Or did they leave with the adults?

Spectres ent gonna go after kids! Ah yes, here comes the bragging and boasting. If I seent a spectre, I'd -

And a kid waves a stick around, like he's fighting something in the air. There's no form at all, just wild swinging, which some of the other kids lean away from.

You ent able to see the spectres, Lucio, you ent gonna fight nothin'! Only adults can see 'em, 'n that's why we leave 'n we stay, so if you ent seein' 'em, there's none here no more.

Still, Lucio certainly has the right idea! If there are such horrible things amongst our midst, one would need to fight for their life!

[But that last part is interesting. No spectres...well, lots of weird people in nun outfits, but nothing like a ghost.]

So these adults...did they move to another town?

Sometimes they do. Lotsa 'em just go stay out past the trees, but the storm's makin' it hard to see 'em.

While Lucio pouts, another kid points off into the far off distance to what is (presumably) the west of the city.

Then they come back if the spectres ain't got 'em, once the spectres are gone.

[He follows his gesture with a nod.]

Ah, so do correct me if I am wrong, which I seldom are - the adults will be returning shortly, if there are no spectres in sight? I suppose that must be exciting for the lot of you - or unwelcome, given all the rules that adults make children abide by.

Once the storm's cleared up, probly. Don't think they can see the city too good with it, 'specially since the fog was so bad afore. We couldn't barely see nothin', and we're down here!

There's a chorus of agreement, though, from a lot of kids. No adults, no adults, no adults!

A paradise indeed. No adults to tell you what to do, free from threats...

[STICK IT TO THE OLD PEOPLE]

Say. I noticed...you all don't have animals with you like we do. The adults, do they have animals with them?

Stick it to the old people!!

That question gets a variety of responses.

Ehh, no, ent none of the adults got animals like that.

My maman says that we can't get pets, neither, 'cause who'd take care of 'em if my parents couldn't take 'em with 'em when they left?

Some of 'em got cats! Ent no cats in Cigazze, alright! They bring in the devil!

Cats bring in the devil? They can be quite fickle creatures, yes. First time I've heard of their devilish nature. Have they brought the devil before?

[But it is interesting, these adults. He thinks he'd like to meet them.]

My daddy says they do! That's why we gotta get rid of 'em if we see 'em!

My gran says that they're why the spectres is here, 'cause they brought 'em to Cigazze, alright.

[Wow, the secret criminal life of cats.]

When was the last time you saw a cat here?

A pause of general children mumbling noises, as they try to put a timeframe together with their tiny, childhood peabrains.

Iunno. Probly a week? Iunno where it came from.

[Just a week? Hm.]

I see! How very interesting, and how very frightening, indeed.

[A pause.]

Anyways, my dear children. I do thank you for your intelligence and expertise in the matter! Would you like something in return? I could...acchem, "procure" some sweets from that cafe I saw down the road.

[herlock: GOING TO COMMIT CRIMES FOR CHILDREN]

We scared it off, though! It got away 'fore we could do anythin' else...

Hm, vague and bad sounding, actually.

But at least Sholmes is winning their favor via bribery, and the jostle each other to get closer to the weird slutty nun man. There's a chorus of different sweets, so, honestly, anything he brought them if he comes to find this group again would be fine.

Yes, yes. Donuts, yes, danishes...dear me, baklava? Is that a thing?

[AS IF A KID SAID BAKLAVA]

But yes! Indeed! I shall return...post-haste! Stay right there!

[A twirl, and he's off!!! Bye!!!!]

[No, he's a good cryptid and has brought back like. Ten pastries in his bag.]

Now, now, do take care to divide them evenly amongst yourselves.

What the fuck is a baklava.

But, no, the cryptid man has earned the favor of this particular group of children, and word always spreads when kids are involved. They make grabby hands and do, at least, take to heart the sharing thing, as they pass around the food with various dibs-calling amongst them.

Here you go, here you go, there you go, yes...

[Hands them all out! They're all going to get cavities. :)]

Anyways, thank you, my good fellows. The name's Herlock Sholmes. If you have any more information about the spectres or otherwise, don't hesitate to seek me out! I will gladly re-compensate you with such things.

[BAKER STREET IRREGULARS BACK IN PRACTICE, BABY]

You talk funny, one comments with a mouthful of danish, but. It's Sholmes, and also it's just a child, so we doubt this does anything to him.

But there's a resounding affirmative from the urchins, so. Congrats, I guess.

INTRO MINGLE

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