THE GAME OF HOPE, THE HEROES OF DESPAIR

Sixteen students play a video game together. The world ends. Several people get plumbing fixtures launched towards them. Welcome to SBURB: Hope's Peak Edition. theme from baudelairedthemes

[schooltrapped]

Is dis alive

i wish, man

i wish

...maybe someday.

[schooltrapped]

========> Be the RED-HAIRED PUNK WANNABE

You do your best 'DON'T MESS WITH ME' glare. It's not very threatening.

========> ENTER NAME: LEON KUWATA

You're DAMN RIGHT.

Your name is LEON KUWATA. People know you as a BASEBALL ALL-STAR, but these days you’re more into PUNK ROCK. Trying to change your image and all. Maybe pick up a few CHICKS. One chick in particular. Whether it’s baseball, music, or ladykilling, you do everything in a BLAZE of passion! Yeah!

Anyway, video games are for NERDS, but Kirigiri seems pretty damn insistent about this one. Besides, it gives you a chance to talk to Maizono, which is always a plus.

Or it would be if she would ANSWER HER DAMN PHONE.

[schooltrapped]

Maizono: Annihilate the imps

With a smile, you take a deeeeeeeep breath and launch into MY SUMMER WITH YOU, the HOT NEW SINGLE from your group.

The imps cannot handle the level of PURE GIRL POWER emanating from you, and subsequently explode into piles of multicoloured GRIST. You're making a good start already!

For some reason, your mind turns to a certain RED-HAIRED PUNK WANNABE. You wonder what he's up to right now.

[schooltrapped]

Maizono: Go explore the outside world

========> LAND OF ZEPHYR AND ECHOES

Your first thought is that it is cold. A gentle breeze courses through the air, but even that chills you. You resolve to make some thicker clothes. The land is grey as far as you can see. There are trees, though, and you can see the distant shimmer of a lake - and around it, small raises that could be a village. You brighten at the thought.

Not for long, though, as another IMP, this one with a metallic sheen and buttons on its chest, comes bounding up to you. Then another, then another. Your voice is starting to strain and you add an amplifier to your growing list of needs.

-- terseConscript [TC] began pestering cherubicGlee [CG]! --

TC: good, you're in

CG: Mukuro? What's going on?

TC: doesn't matter. stay alive. that matters.

TC: also you need to talk to kuwata.

TC: sis is getting impatient

TC: you know what she's like

TC: hurry up

-- terseConscript [TC] ceased pestering cherubicGlee [CG]! --

You're beginning to think that no, you don't really know what Junko Enoshima is like at all. You also really, really don't want to talk to Leon. Mostly, you want to wake up and go to school, like you normally would.

[schooltrapped]

Maizono: answer naegi

-- austereCircumstance [AC] began pestering cherubicGlee [CG]! --

AC: sayaka??

CG: I'm here, Makoto!

CG: Mind you, I don't really know where 'here' is ...

AC: uh well

AC: your house is

AC: surrounded by these weird black monster things

AC: and is also not where your house should be

AC: i think

AC: i think you might not be on earth anymore

CG: Hold up, did you say 'monsters'?

AC: yeah i

AC: look out!

-- cherubicGlee [CG] is now an idle chum! --

========> Sayaka: Look out

Something small and black has crept up behind you. The word IMP comes to your mind, unbidden. It is a strangely formed thing, with a face like a wrestling mask and limbs that resemble noodles. It makes a strange beeping noise at you that reminds you of your PDA. It's also lunging at you.

You quickly equip the GLITTERMIC 3000 to your MICKIND specibus. A quick SHRIEK at high C blasts it into a pile of shiny candy-like objects. Satisfied, you collect them and turn your attention to the door.

[schooltrapped]

Maizono: Take a bite out of the apple.

========>

There is a sound outside, like some great terrible wind. Makoto is saying something, but before you answer him, you are struck with the sudden desire to BITE the apple. You sink your teeth into its strange, metallic flesh.

Something flashes, bright as wildfire, outside, and then there is nothing.

Carefully, you get up from your seat. The scene outside your window is different from a moment ago. You can GO EXPLORE, or ANSWER NAEGI, or any number of other things.

[schooltrapped]

Maizono: answer text from upperclassmen

Oh, she's online now. That makes it easier.

-- gibsonsCrescendo [GC] is pestering cherubicGlee [CG] --

GC: heyyyyy where are you????

CG: Sorry! Something weird's going on today.

CG: Has Junko said anything to you guys?

GC: junko-chan? she's here!

CG: Here ... at school?

GC: yup!!! we're all sitting here in the gym

GC: there aren't any teachers here, it's just us and junko-chan

GC: she says we gotta stay here until the game starts

GC: i think fuyuhiko-chan's about to blow his lid!!!

CG: Hahaha, that sounds like him.

CG: But, that's weird.

CG: I thought Junko was supposed to be playing with us.

GC: well she's on her laptop

GC: she's laughing a lot! ibuki wants to know what the joke is :^(

GC: it's not fairrrrrrr why don't we get to play?

CG: I...don't know. I'll ask her, maybe.

CG: Ugh, sorry, I've gotta get back to Makoto. I'll talk to you soon!

GC: ok sayaka-chan! have fun! :^)

-- gibsonsCrescendo [GC] ceased pestering cherubicGlee [CG] --

Weird. Well, she's usually weird, but you wonder why you had to be late to school while your upperclassmen are already there. Still, you do need to hurry up and start playing.

Makoto - at least, you assume it's Makoto - deposits a BLUE APPLE in front of you. It ... doesn't look tasty, but you pick it up anyway.

[schooltrapped]

Makoto: Pester Maizono

-- austereCircumstance [AC] is now pestering cherubicGlee [CG] --

AC: sorry i was trying to uh

AC: figure out what to do

CG: Aww, it's okay :)

AC: ehehe

AC: ok i'm gonna need to drop something on that thing

AC: get something ready to throw in

AC: there's going to be a weird floating thing

AC: also you don't have any pets do you

CG: No, why?

AC: ok good

AC: death tolls at 1 already today

AC: ok here i go!

CG: Oh, wait - hold on, Makoto, I have to deal with something - 

-- cherubicGlee [CG] is an idle chum! --

AC: oh no!!!

========> Sayaka: Be pestered

-- aceGrandstander [AG] began pestering cherubicGlee [CG] --CG: No.-- cherubicGlee [CG] has blocked aceGrandstander [AG] --AG: wtfAG: i didn’t even say anything that timeAG: ughAG: girls

========> Sayaka: Interact with kernelsprite

There is now a strange floating object in front of you. In a fit of frustration, you throw you PDA at it.

PDASPRITE: !!%$)**((^%!

...Darn it. You fetch your CELL PHONE from your PURSE MODUS. There are several MISSED CALLS. Most are from a certain GUY you really, really don't want to talk to. There's also a text from JUNKO consisting entirely of emoticons, and - oh, hey! One of your UPPERCLASSMEN!

[schooltrapped]

Peep through one of those keyholes.

========> Kyouko: Peek

You take a break from murdering imps to have a look through one of the KEYHOLES dotting your planet. They range in size, from standard door-sized to ones almost as big as you. The mechanisms inside are made of a tarnished silver metal. As for what's on the other side - 

DADMENSPRITE: Your quest will give you the tools you need to unlock these! You should try to find some of your consorts. I'm certain there are treasures inside.

...

========> Kyouko: Equip LOCKPICKS

All good detectives carry lockpicking equipment on them. You never know when you'll need to access a crime scene, and kicking in doors is not your style. You make short work of one of the smaller keyholes.

The stone groans as you pull the door open. Inside you find a set of LEATHER-BOUND books. There is a strange symbol on the cover - a pair of CROSSED KEYS.

You put the BOOKS away in your BRIEFCASE MODUS. You'll have time to go through them later, hopefully.

Someone is pestering you.

========> Answer

-- austereCircumstance [AC] began pestering guardedAnalysis [GA] --

AC: um i dont mean to bother you

GA: Then do not.

AC: it's just uh

AC: the meteor's getting a lot closer and

GA: Hatch the egg.

AC: excuse me

GA: The egg. Hatch it. And get Maizono in the game, otherwise we won't have time to save everyone.

AC: how the hell do i

-- guardedAnalysis [GA] is now an idle chum! --

[schooltrapped]

========> Asahina: Seek guidance

-- tastyAccomplishments began pestering gentleGiant --

TA: hey sakura-chan!

GG: Ah. Asahina, my girl.

GG: Are you well?

TA: ugh

TA: as well as i can be after seeing that

TA: anyway i was wondering

TA: uh

TA: what exactly am i meant to be doing?

GG: I cannot say I am entirely certain.

GG: Kirigiri is being reticent with information, as usual.

GG: Something is certainly amiss with Enoshima and Ikusaba, as well.

GG: For now, I believe it is best to continue setting up the game.

GG: Did you find the equipment I placed for you?

TA: yeah i did but

TA: now there's just a floating donut following me around?

TA: i'm so confused :(

GG: Hmm.

GG: The more technical aspects of this situation elude me, I'm afraid.

GG. My server has not contacted me recently.

GG: I have reason to believe there has been a ... break in the chain, so to speak.

GG: In the meantime, simply continue to set up Hagakure's equipment so that we can proceed.

GG: Ah, he has returned.

GG: Excuse me.

-- gentleGiant is an idle chum! --

... Aaaargh. Not helpful! You guess you'll just have to go back and try to help Hiro as best you can.

DONUTSPRITE: ☼ ☀ ☁ ☂☼ ☀☀ ☁☼ ☃ ☺!!!

[schooltrapped]

Kyouko: Be Asahina

========>

Your name is AOI ASAHINA. It’s been a BUSY MORNING today! You were meant to wake up early to get to SCHOOL on time, but you sort of overslept, and then there was your MORNING SWIM (you can’t do anything before that, of course!), and then a HEARTY BREAKFAST, then you’d been so excited you texted SAKURA-CHAN about twenty times, and THEN you’d gotten that weird package, and now you’re trying to get it working! Still, all things considered, you’re in pretty good FORM this morning!

… Well, you would be, if THIS GUY would wake up and answer your pestering.

— tastyAccomplishments began pestering tranquilGuidance —

TA: oh my god hiro wake UP

— tranquilGuidance is an idle chum! —

You’re still not really sure why you’re waking him up, exactly. Something about some game? You’ve had it loaded up for a while but it’s just showing a picture of Yasuhiro in bed which was really not an image you ever needed to see. You have, like, five pesterlogs open at once and you’re not really sure what’s going on at all but Junko seems pretty excited about something. Which is unusual for her.

— tranquilGuidance is online! —

TA: FINALLY oh my god!

TG: uh

TG: oh hey hina

TG: whats goin on

TA: get up get up!

TA: and put on some clothes!!!!

TG: do i have to

TA: yes!!!

TG: wait how do you know im not wearing clothes

TG: can you

TG: hina are you watching me

TA: yes!! look it’s complicated, get dressed and go to the front door!

TG: … how long have you been watching me exactly

TA: it doesn’t matter! go!

— tastyAccomplishments ceased pestering tranquilGuidance —

There has to be a better way of doing this.

[schooltrapped]

Be mikuro

========> Be Mukuro Ikusaba in the Land of Shells and Silence

It is very quiet here. You would go so far as to say that it is, in fact, completely silent, save for the crunch of broken metal beneath your boots. You haven't yet found any consorts, or really any sign of life here besides yourself and a series of unpleasant looking IMPS wearing WRESTLING MASKS. Perhaps when your classmates enter this place will become a little more lively.

Your name is MUKURO IKUSABA, and you are the first player to enter the medium.

-- candiedTerrorist began pestering terseConscript --

CT: Well?????

TC: well what

CT: What's it like? Is it desolate?

CT: Death-filled?

TC: don't say it

CT: DESPAIRING?

TC: ugh

TC: well ill give you desolate

TC: this place is totally empty

CT: Well ... it's a start!

CT: I'm, like, totally working on making things more EXCITING for you!

CT: For instance .... there's going to be a SURPRISE later!!

TC: are you going to prototype the bear

CT: ...

CT: :(

CT: C'mooooon!

CT: Nothing? Not even a LITTLE despair at the thought of fighting the most powerful being in the universe?

CT: Gimme something to work with here, sis :(

TC: is my lack of reaction causing you despair

CT: ...

CT: .......

-- candiedTerrorist is now an idle chum! --

You don't often get the upper hand on your little sister, but that just makes it more satisfying when you do.

From here there are several actions you could take. You could EXPLORE your LAND, CONTACT a CHUM, or even BE SOMEONE ELSE. What will you do?

[schooltrapped]

Kirigiri: Be Byakuya Togami

========> BYAKUYA TOGAMI

Your name is not BYAKUYA TOGAMI. Byakuya Togami’s name is Byakuya Togami. He needs no introduction. Whoever’s asking needs to MIND their own business.

Especially if 'whoever' happens to be one of your his classmates, since they all seem intent on pestering him this morning. As if it weren't bad enough that he has to actually be in their presence later today. Besides, Byakuya Togami doesn't play video games. What rubbish.

========> Kyouko: ...Come back later.

[schooltrapped]

Kirigiri: dispatch imps

========>

You grab your STANDARD-ISSUE PISTOL from your PISTOLKIND specibus. Time to go to work.

... These imps all smell really salty. Ugh. You resist the urge to retch as they explode into noodle-covered piles of grist. You really, really don't have time for this, especially with another, what, 14 students left to get into the game?

One of the imps suddenly sprouts FEATHERS.

DADMENSPRITE: Kyouko? Do you know what's going on? Also, why am I a skeleton? I think I recall some kind of ... rocket ... ?

You grit your teeth. This is going to be a long day.

========> Kyouko: Be someone else. Anyone else.

Please suggest a character.

[schooltrapped]

========> ((author: return)

[schooltrapped]

========> Kyouko: Talk to your new sprite

No. No, no, no. That's not happening.

DADMENSPRITE: Kyouko? Is that you?

No. You're not listening to this.

DADMENSPRITE: Kyouko, what's happening? Where's the school? Why do I suddenly know to tell you that that thing behind you is an 'imp', and that it's about to attack you?

...Thank the gods. You equip your DETECTIVE'S PISTOL in your GUNKIND specibus and spin around.

[schooltrapped]

========> Kyouko: Open present

...Oh. Oh god.

The RAMENSPRITE seems excited. In your surprise, you drop the PRESENT onto it.

Your RAMENSPRITE is evolving!