001: accidental netbook post

[a_shadow]

[ There's really no reason for Tex to know offhand that writing in the notebook she has arrived with will transmit her notes to others. After her experience exploring the house she found herself in, though, she feels she needs to get her bearings. She doesn't need to do this, of course—as an AI she could remember all this easily on her own. But she's a visual person, and she likes checking things off of lists.

The post she makes opens with a crudely-drawn map, showing the place in the woods where she arrived and the path she took to get to the house she'd then explored. On the facing page, she writes the following notes: ]

inventory:
- UNSC BDE
- kukri knife

house:
- completely trashed
- claw marks on walls
- seems familiar in some way (?)
- portrait of Director's family on wall (?!)

clowns:
- flyers for Cyclamen circus
- easily escaped (transported away?)

voice samples used: Director, Carolina, York, North, myself

to do:
- get a compass
- find out current date
- distance to signs of civilization
- route back to house

from there:
- investigate who brought me here and how
- find out way to take notes electronically

Comments

[forwander]

[Hi, welcome to the Grove, where the notebooks are haunted (they're not haunted they're just connected). A very pretty, cursive script appears after she's finished writing everything down.]

...clowns?

[a_shadow]

[ Tex stares at the word that had just appeared. It seems to be in ink, or at least doesn't appear to be erasable.

So she scribbles it out.

That, also, doesn't appear to work.

Beneath the word, then, she writes: ]

Stuff showing up here I didn't write

[forwander]

Apologies, but it seems these notebooks weren't explained to you. If you got them from Ydalir, they're all connected, sort of like sending a text message (assuming you have phones or communicators where you're from).

My name is Passenger. I run the cafe by the river.

[a_shadow]

I kind of skipped that part. I was pretty pissed off to find myself here.

What's up with this place, then? What's up with the house?

[leggierissimo]

Quite the shopping list you've got there. I think my favorite part is the section for clowns. Very creative!

[a_shadow]

[ Tex has been alerted now that what she writes will be seen by others. ]

Oh, yeah, always on the lookout for more clowns and fucked-up houses.

Since everyone knows my business now is there someplace you know of to get that compass I'm looking for?

[leggierissimo]

Well then, this town sounds just right for you. You'll fit right in.

Oh, I'm sure there's one somewhere. I'm not sure how well it would work, though. I just don't bother.

[a_shadow]

I suppose that means there isn't just a map of the area available, either.

[leggierissimo]

Maybe, maybe not.

I'd ask Heimr or Ydalir. They're more likely to have the sort of things you're looking for.

[forwander]

You aren't alone in that regard.

I can't explain the house, I'm afraid. I've never been to it. In short, though, the creature in the forest (that we refer to as "The Forest", "The False God", "(Insert curse word string of your choice here)", or "The Creature") pulls us in and keeps us here.

I wouldn't count on getting home anytime soon, unfortunately.

[kingincognito]

Begging your pardon, but are you in the forest?

[a_shadow]

[ Someone has already let Tex know whatever she writes in this notebook gets broadcast to others, so she ignores the continuing irritation with that fact. ]

The house is in the forest, yeah.

[a_shadow]

I wouldn't expect to find much for me there, anyway.

[ As in, she wouldn't expect to exist. ]

[a_shadow]

I'll keep it in mind.

Who are you?

[leggierissimo]

Just your friendly neighborhood guardian angel. You can call me Joshua.

[kingincognito]

[ Oh dear. ]

Are you all right? The forest does not tend to be a safe place. I suggest finding your way back to the Grove as quickly as you can.

[a_shadow]

All right, thanks for letting me know. I'm Tex.

[a_shadow]

It's not.. far into the forest. Besides, I can handle myself.

[leggierissimo]

Howdy, Tex. American, by chance? Or just coincidentally American-themed?

You'll get your bearings sooner or later. A little tip from me to you, though: it's probably best if you try not to attract too much unwanted arboreal attention. The Forest is always watching.

Or, don't. I'm not your dad.

[kingincognito]

For your sake, I hope that you're right. Even a shallow excursion could end badly. Unfortunately, I cannot even begin to tell you which direction to go, not knowing where you are.

I am Joshua Rosfield, by the way. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I work at the clinic in town, so if you are in need of assistance or medical care when you find your way here, please feel free to stop by.

[a_shadow]

It's both, actually.

You afraid of trees?

[a_shadow]

Sure. Thanks for letting me know, I'll keep it in mind.

Someone else mentioned the Grove, is that the name for town? Or the location of town?

[leggierissimo]

Interesting.

Oh, hardly. But you can't say I didn't warn you.

[a_shadow]

I'll never say that. You're not the only one.

[kingincognito]

Aldric's Grove, yes. Or, more simply, the Grove. It is situated within a clearing in the Forest, and protected from it. For the most part, at any rate.