flipped a coin to see if they ran away or stood their ground. felt like i should keep it honest.

~~

RUN AWAY==>

You briefly consider staring down the quartet of cultists closing in on you. But that would be insane. That would be crazy. 

Instead, you decide to run. In the only direction that makes any sense. The one the music is coming from. Ryan is over there. So is Alex, and Kessler, you guess. So that is the only direction that makes any sense to go. Diana, thankfully, also gets the memo, running alongside you. You grab her arm, because she's not going to be able to keep up. 

Diana: Wren, I ask this on principle, though it should be noted that I provide no alternative.

YOU: Understood. Proceed.

Diana: Do you have a plan?

YOU: I do not.

Diana: Okay.

You don't have a plan. This is true. You mull over that sentiment, and you can see how that might be a worrying thing. You have, however, rarely had a plan, and in the few cases where you have, it has utterly collapsed. So nothing new there, at least. 

There is a clearing in the woods, where a drainage ditch is carved into the ground. For some inexplicable reason, this is the area that has been co-opted for "teenagers acting like idiots." That bunny kid is doing an ollie with someone else's skateboard, on one of those large concrete boxes with the metal grates. There is a crowd of your peers. You can pick out Zeppo using a lighter to absentmindedly burn a bundle of little twigs, and Casey desperately trying to talk her down. You also see that Bill appears to be playing the music, via a speaker and an aux cord. Car Seat Headrest. Valid choice. Sam would appreciate it. 

That actually isn't important right now, you realize, because you cannot see Alex, Ryan, or-

Kessler.

He's out of his robe now, standing menacingly in the shadow of a large pine tree. And then he's gone.

Diana: Did you just see Principal Kessler... Flash step? 

YOU: Yeah, um, I think so.

Diana: I presume that is one of the "gifts" Apophis gave him?

YOU: Maybe? Uh, let's just... Find Alex. 

That proves to be a bit of an undertaking. Half of the people back here don't go to your school, and there are even a couple of those creeeepy twenty year olds who still go to high school parties. And you're pretty sure you see Cameron. You are not going to make eye contact. 

Trying not to look directly at anyone makes it really hard to find someone. But you find them eventually, and they're even nearby Ryan

Ryan: Okay. So, I assume I'm on the job now? 

YOU: Yes. We need to make sure nobody , you know... Dies? But, uh, there is a slightly more pressing concern now, and that's-

A cold hands grabs your bare shoulder.

AAHHH WHAT DO YOU DO AAAH

top 

FIGHT==>

You instinctively turn around, fists blazing, and manage to land a solid hit straight in the face of your attacker, who happens to be Kessler.

Ryan: Dude, you just hit the principal! Hardcore!

Kessler coughs, rubbing his face right where you punched him, and then he's gone again. He reappears right behind you, leaving no doubt in your mind: he is flash stepping. 

YOU: Okay, to be clear, I generally would not hit the principal, he's a cultist though... So, uh, can I have a hand? 

Alex nods, clearly feeling guilty about their perceived lack of helpfulness prior to today, and they fling themself at Kessler, who disappears again, reappearing behind Ryan. Alex falls to the ground, lying face down on their belly. They groan audibly, and slowly drag themself up. Kessler, meanwhile, grabs Ryan, lifting him up by his armpits, with his own elbows locked over his shoulders. It looks uncomfortable.

Kessler: I'll be honest, kids. I'm... A little surprised to see you hanging out with this delinquent. Doesn't seem like your style.

Ryan kicks his legs, trying to free himself from Kesslers grip. 

Kessler: This is how it's going to work: we are all going back in the school. We are all going to patiently wait while The Acolyte that Apophis sent does whatever work is necessary to feed you kids to the giant snake monster. You think you can overpower me, well, you might be right. But while you've been focused exclusively on me, like a bunch of idiots, a couple dozen of my friends in the Seventh Tongue made their way over here. 

You turn, and see that he's right. More hooded cultists are spilling out from the trees. The other kids back here are panicking, and most of them are running. Straight... Toward.... The school. Well, of course they are. They have no idea what's happening, so of course they think they'll be safe there. 

Diana: I still do not know why you're doing this.

Kessler: Well, you keep wondering. That should keep your mind occupied, while we march on back to the school.

YOU: We're not doing that. You might have your weird flash steppy thing, but we have numbers. 

Kessler: And I have a rather firm grip on your friend.

Ryan: ... "Friend" might be overselling it.

Kessler: Regardless. You've seen my little power, I take it. Moving quickly enough that I appear to teleport. Something interesting: other people's bodies can't survive that little journey. We're I to go on such an excursion while holding Ryan, I do believe his bones would explode in his body. So, we are going back to the school, or, I will go on a stroll with Ryan.

He could be bluffing.... But...

What do you do?

(you can also switch characters, if you desire)

hey! this project sort of ebbs and flows, in terms of how many people are playing. which is fine,  but it does have the affect of frustrating me, slightly, because my normal state of being is BE SUPER PRODUCTIVE OR YOU ARE A FAILURE . it's almost like i have an anxiety disorder or something!

(i do have an anxiety disorder, actually. womp womp.)

anyway uh that took a turn. i wish i could communicate like an ordinary human being. uhhhh it's too late for that isn't it. 

okay. i am instituting a temporary rule, until we are out of this plateau. if three days pass without a command, ill put up a post anyway. not being productive is making me kind of nuts. i'm not trying to end the interactive part of this project, in fact, id rather never have to do this, but i think it might be necessary. and i'm definitely not upset about the recent lack of interaction, again, this is normal for how this project works! everybody has stuff, i get it! 

oh, exciting news, this is the 500th post! have some digital cake! eat some confetti! and i might have a boyfriend, incidentally. we need to work out the details. huh.

~~

ASSUME HE ISN'T BLUFFING==>

Hmm. You decide that Ryan's bones exploding, or rather, the possibility of Ryan's bones exploding, outweighs the possibility of Kessler bluffing. You turn to Diana, who has that distinct look she gets when she's riding purely on adrenaline. 

YOU: Stand down, Deen,

Diana: B-but... I mean... It is just Ryan.

Ryan: What?!

Alex: We probably need his help, in the long run. I mean, he's a human being, so we should try to save him anyway, but even from a purely pragmatic perspective, uhh...

Kessler: I thought you would see reason.

Diana: "i ThOuGhT yOu WoUlD sEe ReAsOn."

Kessler snaps an irritated look at her, but shakes his head, and walks away, still holding Ryan, with the implication that you should follow him. 

You look around. It looks like the cultists have successfully driven the majority of the student body back into the gymnasium. Unfortunate, yes, but at least it means that you won't have to try to save two groups of people at the same time. They're all in the same area, that's good. Putting... Putting a good spin on this. You decide to try to ply Kessler.

YOU: So, you're seriously not going to even tell us why you're doing this to us? 

Kessler : Correct.

YOU: Well, I mean, why not? It's, uh, not like you have anything to lose by not telling us. I'd like to know why I have to die, you know?

Kessler: Apophis is, probably, the closest thing to god, at least that we can observe. If He wants you dead, why would I disagree? The other members of his cult are short-sighted. They want power, or protection. But I understand what is superior to me, and I wish to ensure it's happiness. He is the authority on everything he surveys, and if he deems you worthy of hate, well, chances are you deserve it. 

YOU: Dude, we've met Apophis. He pretty much hates everything, it seems like. So, uh-

He snorts derisively.

Kessler: You met Apophis? A bunch of high school kids? I doubt that, somehow.

YOU: Yeah, uh, He deadnamed me, and just yelled a bunch of insults. He kinda sucked. Your god sucks, you know that?

Kessler: I won't be swayed by your temptation. 

Okay. Talking to this guy is like talking to a brick wall of crazy. It's probably a waste of time. You're at the back of the school anyway. The crossbow wielding cultist, who is evidently some sort of guard, nods at Kessler.

Kessler: These three must have... Gotten past you?

The guard is evidently nervous. He clears his throat, only for Kessler to interrupt him.

Kessler: No matter. Let us in.

The guard does so.

The gym is packed with students now, and hooded cultists patrol the room. The DJ is still here, and playing music, for some unfathomable reason. Your peers look absolutely freaked out, and for good reason. You see Will, and he sees you. He makes an over the top gesture, half indignant shrug, and half challenge, you can only second the sentiment. You also see Mr. Aberdeen, who looks scuffed up, at the side of the room. Two cultists are guarding him. Finally, "Chuck," the greaser demon, is sitting at the front of the building, near the exit, on a stacked pile of chairs. What.

What do you do?

COUNSEL WITH YOUR ALLIES==>

You look at  Diana and Alex. You are fresh out of ideas. You are in a predicament. At first you feel that being quiet would be a good idea, but just by observing the packed, noisy room, with shouting, panicked teenagers and INCREDIBLY IRRITATING club remixes of pop songs blaring, you realize that it doesn't matter how loud you are. Your captors are observing the doors, not you. You are packed like cattle, and they are not concerned with you. 

In short, you can speak freely.

YOU: Okay, team. What... What do we do? 

You look forward , and watch as Kessler hurls Ryan to the floor like a sack of bony potatoes. He grunts, standing up, wobbling with pain.

Diana: Hmm... That is an excellent question... To answer truthfully, I would very much like to punch that demon in the face. He ruined a perfectly good romantic night! However, that would likely be a bad idea. I guess. 

YOU: Probably, yeah.

Diana: So, I would say our best bet is likely calling Sam again, hoping he will pick up, and we can get some backup. If not, we may as well try to get as much support from our peers as possible! Margaret would likely be good in a fight, and Will looks like he could tear the head off of a full grown man!

You look at Will.

... He just looks overstimulated. 

YOU: Yyyyeah. Okay, noted. That's plan number one, okay. Alex, uh, any alternative you have, I'm all ears, man. Uh, using "man" as a gender neutral term. Which, is, that's how I use it. I'll stop if you want me to. But. Uh...

Alex: ...

YOU: Okay, wow, I have been on estrogen for years, and I'm still fumbling with the whole talking about this stuff thing. It never gets better, does it.

Alex: Look, I wouldn't have even noticed if you hadn't talked about it at length. Not everything needs to be a federal issue all the time.

YOU: Okay, yeah. My bad. This... I wonder who thought teenagers were a good option for "prophesied heroes." You'd think that they would choose someone a bit more stable.

Alex: Okay, circling back to the point, which you appear to have left, coughing vehemently, in the proverbial dust...

Diana: That was an absolutely fire segue, Alex.

Alex: Thank you. Ahem. We should definitely call Sam, and on that Diana and I agree. From there however, our opinions differ.

Diana: Hence, we are mortal enemies.

Alex: Okay.  Uh, I think we should focus on freeing mayor Aberdeen. Supernatural things have a tendency to... Mop the floor with us? We've yet to come across a normal victory against one, anyway. Hastur runs laps around us, we had to negotiate our way through all that with the Old Voice, and the Janitor... Blew up? But we didn't... We didn't do that. 

Diana: ... You are our anti-hype patrol, Alex >:(

Alex: Not my intent! It's a side effect of me being me. But, you know, my point is, the guys guarding Aberdeen are at least ostensibly human? Like, I dunno if we can take them, but it at least feels within the range of possibility. And then when we actually try to fight the big guy, we might have a swords guy on our side. 

That's a decent plan, you think, but it does have some leaps in logic that you aren't necessarily comfortable taking. It assumes, for one, that mayor Aberdeen would be willing to help you... And you're not sure about that. Diana's is pretty good too, if a little vague. At least they both agreed that you ought to call Sam again. So you decide to go ahead and do that.

Call three (of five)

YOU: You're... Still not picking up. Okay, man. This isn't like you, so I guess whatever's going on must be pretty important. Uh... We're not sure what to do over here. It'd be good to have your help. Um, so, our principal is in the cult, by the way, and they've taken your dad hostage, so... Just get whatever you're doing done, and once you've heard these messages, get your scrawny butt over here. And good luck with Tracy, really.

You disconnect , and you guess you have a choice to make now. Alex's plan, or Diana's?

@azalea: thank you, i love hearing nice things about myself, but i genuinely cannot claim responsibility for most of the dialogue. my characters sort of...their dialogue writes itself? nothing else about my writing works that way, but it feels like they speak for themselves. most lines pop into my head fully formed, and they make me giggle.

~~

ALEX'S PLAN ==>

You think it over for a while, and eventually decide that Alex's plan is better. You're not sure how much is due to the plan itself, and how much is because despite yourself, you can't stop thinking of Mayor Aberdeen as the nice guy who's your best friends dad.

YOU:  Okay guys. I have come to a decision. Uh, not that I'm the final authority or anything.

Alex: Nah, you are, pretty much. You're the deciding vote. And basically our unofficial leader.

YOU: What? I'm not the leader!

Diana: No, they are right. You are, at a minimum, the closest thing to a leader we have.

YOU: Wow... Okay. Cool. Uh.  That's a lot of power. That's kind of stressful.

Alex: The fact that you take a randomly assigned role so seriously is another reason why you're our leader.

YOU: Okay, sorry Deen, but I decided on Alex's plan. If Mayor Aberdeen won't help us, we'll do your idea, it was pretty good. Alright, first off- Holy crap, Ryan, how long have you been standing in earshot and listening to us like a creep.

(Ryan is standing in earshot, listening to you like a creep.)

Ryan: Honestly? I wasn't sure if I was welcome in your planning party. I kind of default to thinking people dislike me. Since, uh, most people have good reasons to.

YOU: Well, that's stupid. 

Ryan: ..what?

YOU: way to be a defeatist, dude. Fun fact: being creepy and distant isn't gonna make people like you. You gotta, uh, put some work in. So, c'mon and help us out, huh?

Ryan: Okay. Thanks. 

You cut through the crowd, who are, for the most part, panicking. People are trying to reassure you, you hear frantic conversations with parents on cell phones. (From the kids with cell phones. And parents. Culture is... A couple years delayed on the island. Also there are a lot of homeless teenagers.) It's mass hysteria, and it's making you freak out a little, if you're being honest. Some of the cultists are trying to calm down the students, but it turns out that's difficult when you've proven to them that adults aren't necessarily trustworthy, and might be waiting to feed you to a snake god. 

Behind yourself, you hear Diana and Wren bickering.

Diana: To be perfectly clear, I still do not like you. At all. However, Wren seems to be pretty convinced that this redemption arc is serious, so I am willing to hold a temporary truce. For her sake. 

Ryan: Look, I get it. I was pretty much a huge jerk. I was, uh... I was attracted to her, pretty much. And, you know she wasn't publicly a chick yet, so that made me, um, act really awful, because I was afraid of-

Diana: Fun fact!  Wren came out to me when we were both about ten! And so I was attracted to a person of the same gender as me for even longer than you, which I had no context for! But I didn't demonstrate that by constantly belittling and beating her, like a kindergartner! The problem was you! 

Okay, she's getting really riled up. Now might be a good time to break out some of that leadery magic you apparently have. You clap twice, for their attention, and everyone immediately looks to you. This power... You only hope you can control yourself. 

YOU: Okay! Guys , do you like violence?

A long pause.

Alex: Not really?

Ryan: Yeah? Uh-

Diana: You know I do...

YOU: Okay, uh, there's four of us... And two guys guarding Mayor Aberdeen. So... Hold on, sorry, let me take a closer look?

You look at the guys guarding the Mayor. There are two, yes. He's sitting, and he looks absolutely done with this. It almost looks like... Yeah, they're both handcuffed to his arms. Which is probably a good way of restraining him, but that, combined with the fact that they appear unarmed, means your job might be a little easier than you expected.

Hmm. You're not sure. Just attacking them might work... Or should you come up with a more specific plan? 

(players: if the latter, please specify a plan!)

@moon wolf: thank you, that is very nice to hear. i love my characters too! even Ryan. although, to be sure, if any of my characters ever met me, they would probably beat me to death with sticks. i sure do like making them suffer!

aside: it's kind of upsetting to realize that we are approaching the end of act two. the story still won't end for a WHILE, given that even once this chapter ends, we still have an entire third act to get through... but realizing that this project will, you know, evetually end... geez. my first attempt at writing a story set in Emerald Springs was three years ago. this is bonkers.

fun fact: i rolled actual d10s to determine the outcomes of every step of this plan, hence it going completely off the rails.

~~~

ALEX'S PLAN, VERSION TWO: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO ==>

You think long and hard. You decide that there's a time and place for rushing in blindly, and that this is not one of those times. You put together a plan, still a little barebones, but serviceable, you hope. 

YOU: Okay, rain check on the violence, sorry. I have a plan. There are two guards, two sets of handcuffs,  and four of us. As such... Diana and Ryan, you should each distract one guard. Try not to, uh, fight them, but if you have to... That's okay too. Alex, there's gotta be a key for the handcuffs. We're gonna try to pickpocket the guards and unlock the handcuffs. Any questions?

Alex: ... This is gonna end really badly, huh?

YOU: Yeah. 

Diana: This is going to be awesome :D

You and Diana both head toward the left guard. He's wearing a hood, so it's hard to tell, but you think he doesn't notice you.

Diana: Do not worry, honey! I have an incredibly good plan to distract him.

YOU: ...oh no. 

Diana: No, you will see! I am very proud of it.

Diana forges her face into a mask of mingling terror and sorrow. She walks right up to the cultist, and, whimpering, looks him dead in the eyes.

Diana: D....Dad?

What.

That... That does get his attention. She... You sometimes wonder if she has a problem. She's really got a hold on you. 

Remarkably , her plan is working. She's obviously distressed the guard, and he's desperately trying to explain that he can't possibly be her father. He's not paying any sort of attention to you. There's a keyring with just one key on it, and you snag it. No problem. Diana, meanwhile, is riffing like never before, choking out some tear filled story about how her mom is sick, and how her little sister just wants to see him again.

Guard: Kid, I am white! How could I possibly be your father? 

Now all you need to do is somehow unlock the handcuffs without him seeing... Huh. Probably should have thought that through... Oh well, let's see what Ryan and Alex are doing.

Ah.

Ryan is repeatedly punching the other guard in the face. The guard is passed out. Ryan does not have to still be punching him, but he is. Alex is trying to tear a key off of the ring.

Mr. Aberdeen: You are very bad at this. 

YOU: Yeah, uh, well, you're a bad... Person. So.

Diana's guard looks over to the chaos on his right. He is about to walk over, but Diana jumps in front of him, and improvises, desperately.

Diana: Uh... We are a biker gang! We are going to kill you!

... She could have done better. 

Guard: ... Where's my key? I... You.

She throws a violent punch at him, and... And he passes out, collapsing to the ground.

YOU: Huh. Good job, Deen.

Diana: Haha! Yes! I am a goddess among man! Nothing can go wrong now-

She collapses to the ground, unconscious.

(hey, no command necessary. part will be up later.)

WAKE UP==>

Familiar restraints on your wrists and ankles. Familiar table beneath you. Familiar machine making quiet gurgling noises. The poster to your side is also familiar, though the words have changed. The door is metal, and the walls are white.

Your name is Diana Zhu, and you know exactly where you are.

YOU: Hello? I know that you are hiding behind the door, waiting to make an entrance! 

Sure enough , you hear muttered profanity behind the door. Then it swings open, and that little freak walks in. 

Hastur: You kids are anathema to drama, you know? I had that albino guy up here, he spent the whole time asking me these stupid questions while I tried to monologue. You kids watch too many movies. Little... Genre-savvy brats.

YOU: I... Have not seen you since the...

Hastur: The cringe compilation bit? Ha! Some of my finest work!

YOU: It was... It was an ironic place worthy of Dante Alligheri's praise. It utterly broke my spirit.

Hastur: The bit with the director's chair was funny though, right? 

YOU: ...

YOU: no 

Hastur: Well, hey, enough about you. Let's hear about what I need from you in this particular instance. Look. I've been cloning your friends. 

YOU: Yeah. And me. We... We have one of your clones.

Hastur: Wait, really? Can I have it back?

YOU: No. She is now in a polyamorous relationship with myself and Wren.

Hastur: ...of course she is. Okay. Keep her, whatever. I don't really care, she probably would have died anyway. Because wow, these clones just keep dying! Haha, anyway, I've gotten clones of all your friends, you know? Uh, Sam, Tracy, Alex didn't notice, busy with some stress dream I guess, and even that Ryan guy. Idiot thought it was just a dream, as if anything is ever "just a dream."  But, uh, there's one of your friends I... Haven't gotten around to seeing.

His hesitation is surprising to you. He doesn't seem the type. His dumb helmet with the reflective visor makes it difficult to tell, but you think he might be... Afraid? Huh. He speaks again.

Hastur: Look, my sources say that she was pretty pissed about the whole, um, sending innumerable clones of her significant other to die like sacrificial lambs in a perpetual motion machine of carnage designed to imprison an unkillable god thing.  And also that she's, like, ripped. So what I really wanted to ask you is, you know, would she kill me? If I tried to, uh, extract her genetic information?

Well, you won't even have to lie, this will be easy.

YOU: Yes, she absolutely would. When Sam told her, she flipped.

Hastur: Aw man. I guess that what I have will have to do. It's preloaded, but I'm not sure how long the defenses will hold. A couple years at best. But they'll break.

YOU: Yes, okay, I do not exactly get why you are helping us? I mean, obviously the way you are helping us is horrible and unethical, but still, it seems too altruistic.

Hastur: Look, I've got a nice business going here, and the apocalypse would stop that. Besides, I'm old. I remember the Fourth Era. War is bad for everyone, and avoiding that sounds good to me.

YOU: Huh. Okay.

Hastur: Hey, kid, stay safe out there. You'd be even less useful dead. These clones aren't picking up the slack any time soon, I can tell ya that. Useless mayflies. And, I might not see you again. No reason for me to. Try not to miss me too much.

YOU: I will not miss you at all. 

Hastur: Ah, you'll always remember the times we shared! Unless I remove your memories again, for funsies. Like that time I removed your vacation to Portland.

YOU: ...I have never been to Portland. 

Hastur: Yep, it's funny every time! Bye, kid!

You snap awake. Wren is inches away from your face.

YOU: Hi there! :)

Would you like to continue being Diana, or would you rather be Wren or Alex?