Induction.

[kingmakereffect]

There's a good amount of confusion, and rightfully so. After all, aside from the rules in purple listed on the wall, there isn't much to explain how you got here or why you're here. Don't worry though. It seems like you won't be left to your own devices for very long. There's a brief moment of static - not loud enough to be particularly grating, but enough to let you know that something's about to happen - before a voice addresses all of you from somewhere unseen. "Hello. I hope you all slept well. I was a bit worried after..." It sounds like it's coming from somewhere above you. There doesn't appear to be anything it's coming from, however. There's a brief pause before the voice resumes speaking. "I'm sure you all have a lot of questions for me. I don't mind answering them. Before you ask anything, I'd like you to examine the rules again. They're posted in every room." The voice is masculine, but there isn't anything to note about it otherwise. "I am the Kingmaker. Welcome to the Vault."

[OOC: You can be heard just fine through the PA system, so feel free to ask any questions your little heart desires; brackets are fine, you don't need to use prose!]

Comments

[wokeupdead]

I'll join you! That'll definitely get his attention!

[. . . ?]

What can we strike?

[capyper]

Strike from... killing people? I guess that doesn't work, I was already going to not do that.

[ ... ]

Well, I'll figure it out later. It's the thought that matters!!

[amygdalae]

I agree. [A nod.] As long as we stay cautious and keep our heads cool, I'm sure we'll find a way out.

[psychoh]

R-Really? So, you think he's, um... really short, or something?

[bloodisthicker]

We have a better chance if we do everything we can to remain vigilant, of course.

[lackinginfaith]

You say that like there's a choice.

[wokeupdead]

Hmm... I'll definitely have to think about it. I'm sure I can come up with something extra on top of the no playing by his rules. You're right! The thought is what's important for right now!

[captainobnoxious]

The worst is that nothing comes of it, but I'll let you assume it's second worst.

[bloodisthicker]

Alright, I think we're all done here. We should just pack up and leave.

[prismbloom]

[ well as long as you don't turn out to be actually a secret antagonist who's manipulating several teenagers-- oh. ]

Assumptions are dangerous to make in a place like this. We may need to write down what we come up with, so we can keep track.

[goodforsomething]

Sure you do! You can't just lay down like a wimp and let people kick ya around! You gotta fight back! Here, watch this.

[Stan cups a hand around his mouth and shouts at the ceiling.]

Hey, asshole! Get down here and face us like a man, you dirty coward!

[psychoh]

[WISHES HE WAS LITERALLY ANYWHERE BUT HERE RN oh my god]

[goodforsomething]

See? Nothing! The guy's a chicken!

[Stan is obviously so pleased with this]

[psychoh]

Y-You'll get us-- [MAYBE IF HE LOOKS THE OTHER WAY PEOPLE WON'T THINK HE'S INVOLVED IN THIS BULLSHIT]

[bloodisthicker]

Precisely. There's no point in panicking and giving up right away. I... really don't know what we're going to be looking for, but if this was going to be easy we'd probably have found the exit already.

[amygdalae]

We've only just arrived here. There's still much we have to figure out, I'm sure. There's no way we're going to be stuck here for the rest of our lives.

[For everyone's sake, rather than his own.]

[goodforsomething]

Naaaaaah, it's fine. We're all still kickin'!

He wants to save us so he can watch us kill each other for fun.

[bloodisthicker]

Yes, and with no presence whatsoever. Imagine the most stereotypical overworked clerk possible and you probably have the Kingmaker.

[bloodisthicker]

Sometimes, the illusion of choice can be a little more comforting than the reality.

[lackinginfaith]

Maybe. I just hope it's the best way out.

[bloodisthicker]

...it's the worst realistic possibility...?

[....??????????]

[bloodisthicker]

[that was just one teenager, okay]

I do like writing things down, so I'll do my best to come up with some ideas for courses of action we can take. There are a lot of options we simply don't have that I'd usually choose, though, unfortunately...

[captainobnoxious]

[............]

We get out. There's nothing but dry deserted wasteland. We have to either come back in and deal with an open hole in the structure that any beasts living outside can step into when they please, temperature discomfort to the point of possibly overheating and dying or freezing and dying, or we go into the unknown and probably die from a lack of food, drinkable water, or exhaustion.

[bloodisthicker]

That's right. As much as you all have proven to be pleasant company, I think we all have better places to be than here.

[bloodisthicker]

Well, there's no way it isn't better than the alternative.