Welcome to Wanderer's tavern!~
OFFICIAL SIDEBLOG FOR THE 'WANDERER' GROUP VERSE Following this blog isn't a requirement, but if you'd like to stay updated on the verse all info will be found here!
Pilot is sitting on the bar, staring down at the ground, kicking her feet slowly, with her arms crossed. First time she’s been in the tavern in a while, having been wandering the halls and just watching people starve with a smile on her face.
And then sitting in Bridgette’s dorm room with her body, always humming some cheerful tune, like there wasn’t a body slowly decaying in the room.
But her stance holds no cheer now. Just barely restrained fury. She finally speaks when the last person enters the room, lifting her head, but not opening her eyes.
“You guys are pathetic.” Her voice is cold, angry, unlike the childish, friendly, and cheerful tone she’s always taken before.
Her eyes snap open, those green orbs blazing with fury and... disappointment.
“Even if one of you folks is a murderer, I thought most of you were decent people. People who would care that an innocent girl died, and would try to investigate it. A few of you did, but only a few. How callous. I never thought all of you would be so apathetic.” She lets out a bitter laugh. “It’s no fun for the killer to get away with it if you don’t investigate at all.”
She glares directly at almost every person in the room, her eyes only passing over a small handful of people.
“This death happened so you all could eat again, so I’m not going to take that away again. But! BUT you aren’t going to enjoy it. You don’t deserve to enjoy it. Her body ROTS in there and you do NOTHING.”
She jumps down from the counter walking through the crowd, with her arms crossed behind her back.
“From this point on, every bite- every little crumb of food will taste more and more like HOT ASH everyday that you don’t investigate. And maybe eventually, that’s all it’ll be, and you’ll end up starving anyway.”
She stops in the middles of the room.
“Well, except for a few of you. A few of you have at least tried.”
”Those few are still my friends!” Her friendly tone returns, and it’s almost impossible to believe that it’s the same person as a moment before. “Felix Agreste, Qrow Branwen, Zhu Li Moon, Chara Dreemur, and Ryouta Kawara are all excused from this. As will anyone who starts investigating soon, okay!”
She pulls five keys from a coat pocket, and hands one to each of the people she named.
“That’ll open up the dining hall for you, which will have plenty of non-ashy food for you. I’d advise against sharing any with those who haven’t earned keys, mmmkay?”
EXEMPTED MUSES:
Felix Agreste @badluckpersonified
Qrow Branwen @imyourbaduckcharm
Zhu Li Moon @assistaxt
Chara Dreemur @sxullesschild
Ryouta Kawara @redeyeddove
There will be consequences if any of those muses take food out of the dining hall to give to others.
Those who came to me about not being able to participate don’t need to worry about this; it’s not for you. And same goes for the muns of the exempted mused for their other muses.
Archist steps out of the Archive, and stares down the long hall with a scowl on her face.
“Everyone to the tavern now!” She shouts down the hall, her voice echoing, audible and each and every room in the place. “I warned you twits! Pilot is NOT happy!” With another huff, the blonde storms into the tavern herself.
The Radio Static sound returns yet again, though quickly fades to Arc’s voice, calling everyone to the archive
“Hey losers!” She snaps angrily at everyone once they’re all there. “A murder happened in my archive a few days ago and none of you twits are investigating it!” She huffs, glaring around at each and every person in the room. “If you don’t start looking into it soon Pilot won’t be happy. A murder happened in my archive! Got it!? ASK QUESTIONS PEOPLE! I’m here for a reason!”
Listen. Guys. I’m trying really hard to be patient, but no one is investigating. So there’s gonna have to be consequences if you don’t start soon.
I will give until Friday May 26 for the investigation to pick up until there’s actual IC consequences. Those few muses who have already investigated will be affected less, but it’s a group wide consequence, so please start investigating. You can talk to me on Discord, or send questions into the blog, this one or the NPC blog.
Mod muses (or at least Mod Kendall’s) are available to be questioned. At least one of them has evidence yet to be released.
The Radio Static sound returns yet again, and after a moment Pilot’s voice comes through.
“Wake up friends! A body has been found! Bet you’re ALL glad! I know you’re real hungry! Can everyone please make their way to DORM 3 ROOM 2! Hurry it up! There’s no time for dilly dally not when there’s a murderer to catch! Hurry up Friends! It’s time to play detective!”
CURRENT TIME: 3:30 AM
Your young warden stands next to the bed bouncing on her toes, smiling brightly at everyone as they crowd in and around the dorm room- the walls moved open so people can see better.
The girl is laying in bed almost looking like she’s sleeping, with bandages around her head, and bruises visible around the bandages.
But other than that she almost looks unharmed. It seems so peaceful. Were it not for the head wound, one might believe she died of the starvation, Or that she isn’t dead at all.
But she is. She’s very much dead, the Pilot seems far too cheerful about this.
“So Friends, it’s time for the game to proceed! It’s time to play to detective. Put on your deerstalker hats and smoke your pipes and solve this case, m’kay!” She claps her hands together, her grin widening. “There’s a new section in the back for your journal where all the information I’m gonna give you is at, and I highly suggest you all write whatever you figure out there too just for everyone’s convenience since it’ll copy over to everyone else’s! Investigate away!”
BODY DISCOVERED BY
Zhu Li (@assistaxt )
Leonardo Watch (@allseeingblue )
Gabe Agreste (@papillonhaineux )
VICTIM
Bridgette Cheng (@ladibugs )
PILOT’S INFO
Time of death was 1 AM
Cause of death was Intracerebral Hemorrhage.
The death was very slow, and no attention was drawn to it
She died in her sleep
INVESTIGATION PERIOD: START!
ABOUT THE CORPSE
There’s little in the way of injury, just the bandaged head wound and some bruises on her face and shoulders, as well as a bump on the back of her head, mostly hidden by her hair.
One of her earrings in missing.
ABOUT THE CRIME SCENE
If you didn’t know better you wouldn’t think anyone died here. There’s no sign of a struggle, and nothing is out of place.
The Archive had always had an odd design, with it’s deep inset cylinder, rimmed all the way down with floors and floors of all manner of books. But here, with all the Wanderers gathered, it displayed a whole new facet to its design: The fact that the whole of the room was set to draw the eye to a singular, solitary point. The desk of the Archivist, in the centre of the bottom floor.
She didn’t really react to everyone’s presence, at least not in the way anyone expected. Instead of outwardly addressing the people in the room, the first fifteen or so minutes of Arc’s gathering was spent with the petite blonde women filing through a MASSIVE stack of folders on her desk. Flitting through the many pages of each, as if she were preparing herself for some massive quiz. What may have unnerved certain observers, were they perceptive enough to catch it, was that, with each switch to a different folder, Archivist’s eyes immediately began to flit casually to a specific person in the room, in between glances at the file. The more astute and paranoid amongst them may have done some cursory counting, revealing that there were exactly as many files on the desk as there were people in this very room. The logical connection was worrisome enough. But what would stand to make it so much worse was that, in between glances around the room, and run-throughs of the pages in a file, one could swear, with only the barest shadow of the doubt, that they saw the Archivist smile.
Finally, and without so much as a slight warning, Arc slammed the last file on her desk shut, the sound reverberating throughout the circular hall with an almost unnatural force and finality. When she speaks, everyone can hear it, with her voice seemingly amplified as if by loudspeaker. A rational Wanderer might think it a trick of the room’s acoustics, centred around the Archivist’s central desk. A wizened Wanderer might dare to question further.
“Now then, I suppose you’re all wondering why you were brought here. And I’m sure quite a few of you are starting to develop theories. And, while I am never one to stifle haphazard guessing, if only because it’s immeasurably fun to watch, I am sadly here to put your rampant questioning to rest.” The woman’s gaze peers about the room, a warm, but oddly discomforting smile lightly drawn across her face.
“To make a long story short... I work for Pilot. I always have, and I always will.”
Arc gives her words time to set in, allowing the Wanderers to murmur amongst themselves for a good few seconds, before grabbing a gavel from on top of her desk, and slamming it onto the table, silencing everyone present with a cacophonous, resounding *SLAM*.
“Now, I’m sure you have questions. All manner of questions. What? Who? How? But I’d much rather answer the question that is most pertinent to what’s coming. Why? Why would I do this? Lay my cards out so plainly on the table, when I could easily play the fool? Well, that’s simple, really. I’m telling you now because it’s much, MUCH more fun to watch you fully comprehend what you’re up against.” The woman’s arguably gentle smile rises into a full-tilt sneer, the raw menace present in it almost impossible, in that it came from a face which, to all those present, was utterly non-threatening in its shape.
“You see, my name isn’t just some title. It is my purpose. My design. My entire reason for being. I EXIST now as I always have because it is my job to know every. Last. Single. SOLITARY detail in regards to all things pertinent to the Inn. And that includes all of you.”
“That’s right, friends! I know aaaaaall of your secrets. Every truth. Every secret. Every fact. Every lie. I know your lives better than some of you know them yourselves. And rest assured friends, I am not about to let my wellspring of knowledge go to waste. After all, what good is knowing everything if you can’t use that knowledge to have a little FUN?” Arc claps her hands together and giggles to herself, clearly enjoying this to a degree beyond measure.
“So, without further ado. I’d like to officially announce myself as Pilot’s chief advisor and informational authority! My knowledge is at her beck and call, so as to give every last one of your stays in the Inn that well and true personal touch.”
“Of course, you needn’t despair fully. After all, I know lots of things that don’t relate to undermining your mental fortitude on a personal level. I also have tons of little tidbits which may, on the off chance, benefit you if any of you are ever stumped on where to go at any given point in time. It might not even have anything to do with a murder! But, of course, the only person who gets a free ride with this is Pilot. And if any of you wish to seek my aid, know that it will cost you. And not in a way that can be paid off with coin. No, see, I deal in secrets, and the only way I’m ever going to give up some of mine...”
“Is if the lot of you are willing to give up yours.”
The air hangs quiet. The words sinking in. And it isn’t until a good thirty second have passed that Arc dares to break the silence she so carefully weaved.
“Now then, I assume I’ve made myself clear? Good! Then this meeting can be officially adjourned!” Archivist slams her gavel down once more, the crack of it’s impact reverberating throughout the chamber, and straight through the Wanderer’s very forms.
“Thank you for visiting the Archive! If the need to know more ever burns its way through your mind, we’ll be here. Ready, willing, and waiting.”
The crackling radio sound from when Pilot first revealed herself returns
Hunger is starting to get to all of you, though it’s affecting some more than others, and it seems like everyone is willing to just let this stretch on rather than killing someone.
The Radio Sound though... playing through throughout the whole place for a solid minute without any words...
It can only bring fear of what demented thing Pilot- who’s just been drifting from room to room since she revealed herself- is announcing this time.
...
But it’s not Pilot’s voice that comes through the static. Those that spend a lot of time in the Archive might recognise the voice as the girl who made herself the librarian there.
“Hey twits!” The voice snaps flippantly, the static fading out entirely. “Everyone get to the Archive 5 minutes ago!”
Static starts to return, then it all cuts out entirely, leaving an eerie silence in it’s place.
With everything going on, it’s understandable for people to feel stressed. Pilot has finally shown herself...
And she wants you all to kill each other.
Distrust is to be assumed, and it would be more than reasonable for Veterans to be... suspicious when they return to their dorms after she announced everything to find...
An envelope sitting innocuously on their pillows, their names signed neatly in the same handwriting that the previous note in their journal was in on the outside of the envelope.
Inside the envelope is a silver key on a chain, and a note.
On the note is a message, again penned in the same handwriting.
Hello again friends! I need you to wear this for my game. But don't talk about is to anyone, okay!
There’s no OR ELSE or anything of that sort, but one can practically feel it radiating off the objectively pleasant and friendly note, like an unsaid threat if you don’t comply with the request.
There’s a room between Dorm 2 and the Market Place. Its door is locked. There’s no sign outside of it like there is on most of the other rooms, even those with locked doors.
This door has always been locked, as far as even those veterans who’ve been here the longest times know.
A few days after Pilot tells you to kill each other something changes with it.
Loud noises start sounding from the room beyond the door. Bangs, growls, screeches, clatters, thumps... An absolute cacophony of noises sounding out from the door- though it can’t be heard in the neighbouring rooms.
Occasionally the doorknob rattles, but the door is still firmly locked.
Once everyone gathers in the tavern- the Barkeeper not knowing what this is about more than anyone else does- there’s an edge to the air, the anticipation for whatever this palpable.
A blonde teenager-Adrien- leans back against the counter with his arms crossed, scowling at the floor. “What could this be...” He mutters, clearly frustrated. He glances over at a dark haired girl, his expression sad for a split second, and quickly away. “I don’t like this at all... It said... Or else... That was a threat!” He whirls around, facing the barkeeper. “Are you sure you don’t know what’s going on!? You always know what’s going on!” Before the barkeeper can answer, the teenager turns away again, groaning and running his hands through his hair. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I just don’t like being threatened and I just want know what’s going on.”
“A reasonable thing to want to know.” The words are followed by a slight giggle, and Adrien freezes, recognizing- like most probably did- the voice the called them here. A voice that despite seeming small and almost childish commands attention.
Sitting behind him on the bar counter is a slight of a young teenage girl with short messy brown hair, aviator goggles on her head, and bright green eyes, with a wide grin on her face.
“Hiya!”
Certain that she now has everyone in the bar’s attention- the barkeeper staring at her, his eye wide as a saucer, clearly just as surprised as everyone else here- she jumps to her feet- standing on the counter.
“This is your Pilot speaking! And it’s a pleasure to finally meet all of you in person, friends!”
She looks around at everyone in the room, smiling brightly at everyone.
"Now, some of you I already know. Paige and Adrien- aren’t you two and your history gonna be fun here-” She pauses, letting out a giggle. “And Gabriel- don’t look at me like that, I brought your best friend in here just for you!”
“Just who the hell do you think you are!” The platinum blonde haired teen snaps back at her, then throws a glance at said best friend.
“I already said who I am.” The girl respond irritably. “I’m Pilot. THE Pilot. Ya know, the one mentioned in the rules, silly. What, think I wasn’t real? Well I AM! And I have a game for all of you!” She claps her hands together.
“As I was SAYING, there are some of ya I already know. Like my girl Zhu Li! How you doing?” ‘Pilot’ giggles into her hand before continuing.
“New faces too, of course, that I’m excited to get to know. Some of you ought to be particularly fun!” Her gaze sweeps across the room, lingering on each newcomer for an intense moment. “But I’m getting sidetacked, sorry, I’m just SO excited to finally meet all of you! I’ve been waiting SO LONG to do this!”
Why she waited so long to show herself isn’t a question that seems like it’s going to get an answer.
“See, just watching people live here gets really, really slow. Like. Super slow. After a few centuries you get sick of it, so I’m changing things up!” She hops down off the bar counter, and starts walking between the various people here, smiling at all of them, not even reacting when a rosy cheeked kid, Chara,- even younger than she appears- stomps on her foot as she walks past, just continuing to look between everyone.
“See, I bet aaaall you Wanderers want to go home, right? Well that door isn’t budging again until I make it move. But worry not, there’s a very simple to way to get me to take it to your home!”
She hops up to stand on one of the tables, as everyone goes quiet, waiting with baited breath for her to explain how they can go home.
“To get out, you have to kill one of your fellow Wanderers!” Her tone is bright and cheerful, like what she just said isn’t terrible at all. “But there’s a catch, you have to get away with it! And people, don’t just let them! If they do you all get in troooouble.”
She smiles serenely around the room, going quiet a moment to allow everyone to react to her words.
“Now, I know you all won’t do that just to leave, at least not most of you so I’m gonna give you a little extra... motivation.”
She pauses, resting her chin on clasped hands, and smiling excitedly around the room.
“It’s really simple for you guys. It’s your first time; don’t want to do anything too complicated just yet. No one gets to eat until someone dies. I mean, I’m sure my veteran friends already noticed that the kitchen is locked up now when it wasn’t before, but now, not only that, but no food will be given out here in the tavern. You all can still get drinks, but there will be no food- and don’t try to get around it with garden plants! They’re all poisonous until someone dies! So it’s best if someone kills someone before you all starve to death. And maybe I’ll even open the kitchen back up when that happens, who knows.”
The girl then giggles, and skips out of the tavern without another word.
MOTIVE: No food is available to eat until someone dies. Not even normally edible things elsewhere, such as in the garden, are edible, instead being poisonous. If someone dies food will once again be available at the tavern, and the kitchen may open up. So it’s a matter of waiting for someone to crack and kill to prevent starvation.
Please contact one of the Mods if you want to volunteer to be the Killer or Victim.
There’s a crackling heard everywhere, as if from an old radio.
You’ve all been here a few weeks now, and the door hasn’t changed from a barren wasteland for a few days now.
The barkeeper seems on edge, though anytime he’s been asked he’s just gruffly replied that he feels like somthin’ is comin’.
And with this noise playing through the infinite expanses of wanderer, it seems he was right.
After a moment, a voice comes through the static. A girl’s voice, and an awful young sounding one, but not one anyone here has heard before; not even the veterans.
“Hello wanderers!” The voice chirps cheerfully. “Could everyone please proceed to the tavern at once! I have an announcement to make!”
The sound cuts out for just a moment, before roaring back the crackling static louder than ever, but a dark distorted voice can just be made out.
Apps are officially closed (because the deadline is based on Mod Kendall and Cap’s timezone)! Chapter one intro going up in a minute, but first a note about future apps.
If you are already in the verse and you have a muse die, you may app a replacement muse once. If additional muses die you are not allowed to app any further muses.
These muses would be entering at the end of the chapter the muse they are replacing died in.
Just a reminder that apps close on Friday so time to join this verse/add additional muses is running out! Please, invite your friends, we still have room for more muses!
Apps officially have a close date! The last day muses can be apped is March 31st! I don’t know if apps will ever be reopened, but once they close chapter one will be starting! 17 more days to app muses! Invite your friends to join while there’s still time~
All you did was go through a door. It was just a door. You didn’t expect to be trapped in an alternate universe.
But here you are.
Welcome to Wanderer!
It almost seems like a joke, a friendly cheerful welcome to a place you never wanted to be, but one that gets repeated to you everywhere you go, whether earnestly from the Barkeeper offering you a drink “on the house” even though no one else seems to be paying either, sarcastically from the girl running the archive, or wistfully from those who’ve been here longer.
You hear it over and over.
Even the first page of the magic journal you were given says it, and anything you write gets no response.
But after a few days here, something else does appear- any text you wrote vanishing.
The veterans are friends of mine; will you be too?
Things are changing, and they’re changing fast for the world of Wanderer.
For Newcomers, they just find themselves stuck in a new world. It’s disorienting and confusing for them, certainly, but it’s completely different for Veterans.
It started with wanderer going to a lot of people’s homes. They were allowed to leave, but it never made it to your world. So many people you knew for so long managed to get home, but you didn’t, and now the door seems to be changing soon as someone comes in it.
This isn’t normal.
Long held weapons are missing. Powers are weakened or even gone. Everything seems to be getting worse and it seems like you’ll never get to go home.
But every Veteran… every single veteran has a note in the first page of their new journal.
Play my game and you get to finally go home friends, safe and sound ;)
Hey, Mod Kendall here, just a casual note that more veterans would be appreciated for future apps. The balance is sharply tilted towards Newcomers at the moment. I know it probably seems easier to be a newcomer, but any information needed as a veteran will be given to you.
I really mean this guys! This distinction matters in more than just what your muse knows! I can’t post the Chapter 0 events until we get a few more vets! So if you’re apping, please, please, please, consider apping as veteran.
