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[LP CYOA] Spiral
- Thread starter treave
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,370
Feeding
You tighten your grip on the ghost’s head and push him down, pinning the spirit to the ground. Fighting off the malice seems to have weakened him, making him corporeal enough for you to handle physically. Then, you – or rather, Ei, begins the process. A powerful tingling runs up your arm, and you see moving shadows imprinted onto your skin. They look like chains, anchoring your flesh to the black book.
Ei pipes up quickly, as if reading your thoughts:
The builder’s shade clutches his bloodied face, his jaw stretched as far as it can go in an unearthly wail. He bucks and struggles, writhing in agony underneath you as chunks of him are vanish; slowly at first, then more and more rapidly, as if he is being eaten piecemeal by some invisible monster. “Does it have to seem so… painful?” you mutter, half to yourself, and half to the book.
You can hear the pouting in Ei’s voice.
***
A. It does, but you let her do what she wants.
B. It does, and you tell her to be more gentle with the food.
C. It doesn’t, and you let her do what she wants.
D. It doesn’t, but you tell her to be more gentle with the food anyway.
***
As the last of the ghost fades away, it leaves behind a final, tormented scream that echoes around the dusty museum. The pages of the book flutter in satiation, and it now looks more alive than before.
“I… I would prefer if you didn’t shorten my name like that,” you complain to the chatty book.
Ei’s hardbound cover trembles slightly in your hand, a motion that translates an emotion through your fingers; one that you recognize as joy. You are not sure whether to fight this battle… it has become clear to you that Ei is a rather lively and independent being, though one still subject to your commands. It is unclear whether that is enforced through your mutual pact, or something she is doing of her own free will, for now. Regardless, it might be smarter if you considered her – despite her appearance as an entirely innocuous book – to be a living being with her own thoughts and feelings… something you can form a relationship with, even if you ultimately think of her only as a tool to be used.
Ei’s voice, tinged slightly with impatience, interrupts your thoughts.
“Well… what are my options?”
***
A. A spell to slow down the movements of spiritual entities.
B. An incantation that will briefly increase the user’s physical agility.
C. A ritual that will conjure a barrier ward against spirits.
***
Ei is humming happily by the time her pages fall shut.
On that, you agree with her. With the presence in the museum now vanquished, the door swings open with the slightest push. You walk out into the corridor. No one is there. The actor and the office lady are no longer around.
You see that there have been fresh prints made in the dust, above the ones that you followed here. From the length of the stride, it seems that Sawada and Kayano have ran back towards the main lobby in haste. That would not be surprising: you were locked in the room without responding to them, and there was no shortage of unearthly screams… hardly a situation which inspired confidence in your survival. They probably got spooked out and fled, for their own safety.
***
A. You track the footprints and try to find the two again.
B. You leave them be and venture deeper into the hospital by yourself.
You tighten your grip on the ghost’s head and push him down, pinning the spirit to the ground. Fighting off the malice seems to have weakened him, making him corporeal enough for you to handle physically. Then, you – or rather, Ei, begins the process. A powerful tingling runs up your arm, and you see moving shadows imprinted onto your skin. They look like chains, anchoring your flesh to the black book.
Ei pipes up quickly, as if reading your thoughts:
The builder’s shade clutches his bloodied face, his jaw stretched as far as it can go in an unearthly wail. He bucks and struggles, writhing in agony underneath you as chunks of him are vanish; slowly at first, then more and more rapidly, as if he is being eaten piecemeal by some invisible monster. “Does it have to seem so… painful?” you mutter, half to yourself, and half to the book.
You can hear the pouting in Ei’s voice.
***
A. It does, but you let her do what she wants.
B. It does, and you tell her to be more gentle with the food.
C. It doesn’t, and you let her do what she wants.
D. It doesn’t, but you tell her to be more gentle with the food anyway.
***
As the last of the ghost fades away, it leaves behind a final, tormented scream that echoes around the dusty museum. The pages of the book flutter in satiation, and it now looks more alive than before.
“I… I would prefer if you didn’t shorten my name like that,” you complain to the chatty book.
Ei’s hardbound cover trembles slightly in your hand, a motion that translates an emotion through your fingers; one that you recognize as joy. You are not sure whether to fight this battle… it has become clear to you that Ei is a rather lively and independent being, though one still subject to your commands. It is unclear whether that is enforced through your mutual pact, or something she is doing of her own free will, for now. Regardless, it might be smarter if you considered her – despite her appearance as an entirely innocuous book – to be a living being with her own thoughts and feelings… something you can form a relationship with, even if you ultimately think of her only as a tool to be used.
Ei’s voice, tinged slightly with impatience, interrupts your thoughts.
“Well… what are my options?”
***
A. A spell to slow down the movements of spiritual entities.
B. An incantation that will briefly increase the user’s physical agility.
C. A ritual that will conjure a barrier ward against spirits.
***
Ei is humming happily by the time her pages fall shut.
On that, you agree with her. With the presence in the museum now vanquished, the door swings open with the slightest push. You walk out into the corridor. No one is there. The actor and the office lady are no longer around.
You see that there have been fresh prints made in the dust, above the ones that you followed here. From the length of the stride, it seems that Sawada and Kayano have ran back towards the main lobby in haste. That would not be surprising: you were locked in the room without responding to them, and there was no shortage of unearthly screams… hardly a situation which inspired confidence in your survival. They probably got spooked out and fled, for their own safety.
***
A. You track the footprints and try to find the two again.
B. You leave them be and venture deeper into the hospital by yourself.
Last edited:
CCB
I'm reluctant about this whole book thing but we should be careful about how and when we maintain our authority over it. I'd also resist empowering it too much. As for the last choice, probably the two most boring characters in the game.
I'm reluctant about this whole book thing but we should be careful about how and when we maintain our authority over it. I'd also resist empowering it too much. As for the last choice, probably the two most boring characters in the game.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,370
Still would have preferred her to call us Sei-chan.
But... your name is Shinoseki Adachi.
Not directly. It needs to be prepped first, like, say, with an incantation that rips the soul from the body.
Speaking of which, the spells are arranged somewhat like skill trees. There's the spell line that affects your target(s), which could possibly lead to stuff like controlling ghosts and bringing down kingdoms with the power of necromancy. There's the spell line that affects yourself, which might culminate in the ability to turn into a true superman and/or a Shoggoth. Then there's the spell line that affects the environment, dimensional stuff which lets you go about opening gates to the cry of Ia! Ia! Yog Sothoth! if Ei's that sort of book, which she might not be. There's cross-over spells that require points in more than one spell line too.
Do you guys want relationship meters back?
Nevill
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2009
- Messages
- 11,211
There are whole skill trees?
No, Acchan. You are the Witch. Or is it the Sorceror?
Shinoseki Adachi, the Black Sorceror, Vanquisher of the Toilet Ghosts, Tamer of the Pool Lady, The NEET Onii-san and Fearless Rabbit-chan.
This will end up with a spectacular spell-duel with Uehara. On the rooftops. I just know it!!
Yes!
Wait, do you mean the meter of 'who do we feel comfortable around', or something else?
Does Ei know anything about the nature of the Abyss? Or the Witch? Or of whatever happens at midnight?
Last edited:
ABB
a cut of domestic sheep prime
Guest
DCA
Ei is the kawaii-est Necronomicon ever!
Ei is the kawaii-est Necronomicon ever!
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,370
Current tally:
A - 2
B - 4
C - 2
D - 3
A - 2
B - 2
C - 7
A - 7
B - 4
***
That would likely fall under the A line of spells.
It's tracking how others feel about you. Can be explained away as one of the mysterious powers of the book. The numbers have actually been part of the choices all along except hidden, but if you guys want to see it so you can meta-game your choices, I'm okay with that.
You would have to ask her about it. She might know, she might not know, she might not tell you even if she knows, she might lie to you regardless of whether she knows. Depends on the strength of your relationship with her.
A - 2
B - 4
C - 2
D - 3
A - 2
B - 2
C - 7
A - 7
B - 4
***
That would likely fall under the A line of spells.
It's tracking how others feel about you. Can be explained away as one of the mysterious powers of the book. The numbers have actually been part of the choices all along except hidden, but if you guys want to see it so you can meta-game your choices, I'm okay with that.
You would have to ask her about it. She might know, she might not know, she might not tell you even if she knows, she might lie to you regardless of whether she knows. Depends on the strength of your relationship with her.
Last edited:
Nevill
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2009
- Messages
- 11,211
Sure. Would she mind filling a quick form for us?
What's her favorite activity? What are her three sizes (lenght, width and height)? Was she in a relationship before? How did the last one end if she doesn't mind us asking?
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,370
Lobby Gathering
You travel back down the corridor of curtains, moving at an unhurried pace. The Juunimon is still gleaming faintly, unchanged from when you last saw it. That is a good thing… I suppose? Yes, it would definitely be more troublesome if there are any changes to it. You nod to yourself, turning your eyes away from the tree.
If they are, it would be too late for us to save them even if we run, wouldn’t it? You think at the book, hoping to get used to a mental conversation. Besides, I don’t hear any screaming. What you do hear, as you approach the lobby again, is the sound of people speaking. More than two people. By the lack of agonized shrieking, you think it is safe to assume that they are not currently being torn apart by vengeful ghosts.
You stop, weighing Ei’s request. Worried to be seen?
I…
After thinking it over, you decide to follow Ei’s suggestion. Regardless of whether her words turn out to be correct, it does not hurt you any to reveal the book later, should you decide to come clean. You hide the book, stuffing it down the back of your pants. The black leather squirms slightly: you feel a brief, mental pang of embarrassment from Ei. Hey, you asked for it, you remind her. Adjusting your clothes so that the back of your shirt hangs over the book, concealing it, you proceed.
Preoccupied with their conversation, the group of people present does not notice your arrival. You take the time to note who is there. To your mild surprise, there are those that you are familiar with, and those that you have seen only once before. The third night, you recall: that night had an oddity from the start, in that there was quite a lot more than the usual thirteen people who gathered in the lobby.
Among the participants of that night were Shiba Tsukimi and Kozaka Touma; Uehara’s classmates. They are here now. There is also a girl in a maid uniform and cat ears who looks like she could have just gotten off work from an Akibahara maid café, and a fresh-faced man in a security guard’s uniform.
Then, there are some of the ‘regulars’, as you have come to think of them. The self-proclaimed psychic, Amanozaki is here. Of course, so are Sawada and Kayano, who seem to have arrived not long ago – Sawada is retelling his experiences. And then you see Sakimura and Uehara.
Uehara is sitting on the floor, rocking on her haunches and biting at her thumb. Her short hair is unruly, giving her a slightly crazed appearance. She appears to be muttering something under her breath. Sakimura is trying to get her to calm down, but to no avail. You wonder what happened to the usually bright and cheery girl, and involuntarily shift your posture by just a centimeter.
The girl stops her rocking. She leans forward slowly, until her bangs obscure her face. Her head tilts slightly. Though you cannot see her eyes, or her expression, you get the sensation that she is staring right at you.
“H-Hey, Shinoseki-san!” Sawada finally notices you at the doorway and waves, a mixture of surprise and fear on his face. “You… you’re not dead, right?” he asks nervously. “I didn’t mean… we didn’t mean to leave you there, it was just…”
You wave off his concerns with a faint smile and walk into the room. The feeling of everyone’s eyes upon you is exceedingly uncomfortable, but you manage to successfully resist the urge to cower in the corner. “It’s okay,” you say. “I understand.”
“Oh.. oh, okay?” Sawada chuckles, slightly relieved. “Everyone, this is the Shinoseki-san that I was telling you about, Shinoseki Adachi-san.” He introduces you, gesturing around the lobby. “He opened the door to let us out… Kayano-san and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. I am really, really grateful for that.”
Ei snickers in your mind. Ignoring her, you look at the others in the lobby. They do not seem very convinced: their wariness of you is quite obvious. It is probably warranted too… there is no telling if you have been possessed by an evil spirit after all.
“So, what happened in there, Shinoseki-san?” asks Kayano suddenly. “I heard some horrible noises… are you sure you are alright?”
“Oh, I… er…” While you wonder if you should tell the truth, you spot Amanozaki circling around the lobby while hunched over. She seems to be drawing patterns with a piece of chalk on the floor as best as she can, weaving around the derelict benches and chairs still in the hall. You vaguely remember those patterns – you have seen them before in the cafeteria’s office in the third night, when you sheltered there with Amanozaki. Is she setting up a barrier?
“Shinoseki-san?” asks Kayano again.
“S-Sorry, I was just looking at-“ Amanozaki-san, you almost blurt out, but that would not do. You have not been introduced yet. You let the sentence break off into silence.
Amanozaki straightens herself and looks toward you, peering from behind those thick coke-bottle glasses. “Kukuku… are you interested in the mysteries of the supernatural? Do not fear. I am setting up a barrier that will protect against the machinations of the outer gods. Teleporting us into this hospital is surely their work…”
Ei snickers again, louder this time, and even more derisively. Though the others do not make the same noise, from their gaze they seem to share the same thoughts. Nobody believes in her, not even now, and as you spot the faint tremble in Amanozaki’s hands, you realize that she knows that herself. Perhaps she is drawing the circle for her own ease of mind.
“Well, Shinoseki-san? You were reading a book intensely right before the door shut, from what Sawada said. Could you tell us what happened in there afterwards?” asks Kayano a third time. She is looking at you with a strange calm, as if she could wait all the time in the world as long as you answered her question. “For the record,” she adds, smiling, “I was in favour of staying and trying to get you out, but Sawada-san was unfortunately reluctant.”
“H-Hey!” Sawada protests quickly. “I didn’t… it wasn’t like that!”
***
A. “Actually, there was something about that book…” You tell the truth about what you experienced in the museum, along with Ei’s existence. How can they trust you if you do not trust them first? Opening up and being honest is the first step towards establishing a trustworthy relationship with them. Purity of heart is the most important weapon you can have against the darkness lurking within these halls. Good is how you triumph over evil.
B. “After the door slammed shut, I encountered a spirit…” You talk thoroughly about the ghostly encounter you had in the museum, but spin the tale in such a way that you leave out everything about Ei. You do not feel comfortable revealing her existence to them. She is right at least on one part, even if it is borne of her own grandiose sense of self-importance: you cannot trust these people.
C. “It’s really none of your business, is it, Kayano-san?” It is about time you asserted yourself a bit more. You tell them to fuck off with their badgering – though perhaps in not such a rude manner – and demonstrate your displeasure at their impertinent questioning. Regardless of what they might say now, they did abandon you back there. They have no right to ask for any answers now.
You travel back down the corridor of curtains, moving at an unhurried pace. The Juunimon is still gleaming faintly, unchanged from when you last saw it. That is a good thing… I suppose? Yes, it would definitely be more troublesome if there are any changes to it. You nod to yourself, turning your eyes away from the tree.
If they are, it would be too late for us to save them even if we run, wouldn’t it? You think at the book, hoping to get used to a mental conversation. Besides, I don’t hear any screaming. What you do hear, as you approach the lobby again, is the sound of people speaking. More than two people. By the lack of agonized shrieking, you think it is safe to assume that they are not currently being torn apart by vengeful ghosts.
You stop, weighing Ei’s request. Worried to be seen?
I…
After thinking it over, you decide to follow Ei’s suggestion. Regardless of whether her words turn out to be correct, it does not hurt you any to reveal the book later, should you decide to come clean. You hide the book, stuffing it down the back of your pants. The black leather squirms slightly: you feel a brief, mental pang of embarrassment from Ei. Hey, you asked for it, you remind her. Adjusting your clothes so that the back of your shirt hangs over the book, concealing it, you proceed.
Preoccupied with their conversation, the group of people present does not notice your arrival. You take the time to note who is there. To your mild surprise, there are those that you are familiar with, and those that you have seen only once before. The third night, you recall: that night had an oddity from the start, in that there was quite a lot more than the usual thirteen people who gathered in the lobby.
Among the participants of that night were Shiba Tsukimi and Kozaka Touma; Uehara’s classmates. They are here now. There is also a girl in a maid uniform and cat ears who looks like she could have just gotten off work from an Akibahara maid café, and a fresh-faced man in a security guard’s uniform.
Then, there are some of the ‘regulars’, as you have come to think of them. The self-proclaimed psychic, Amanozaki is here. Of course, so are Sawada and Kayano, who seem to have arrived not long ago – Sawada is retelling his experiences. And then you see Sakimura and Uehara.
Uehara is sitting on the floor, rocking on her haunches and biting at her thumb. Her short hair is unruly, giving her a slightly crazed appearance. She appears to be muttering something under her breath. Sakimura is trying to get her to calm down, but to no avail. You wonder what happened to the usually bright and cheery girl, and involuntarily shift your posture by just a centimeter.
The girl stops her rocking. She leans forward slowly, until her bangs obscure her face. Her head tilts slightly. Though you cannot see her eyes, or her expression, you get the sensation that she is staring right at you.
“H-Hey, Shinoseki-san!” Sawada finally notices you at the doorway and waves, a mixture of surprise and fear on his face. “You… you’re not dead, right?” he asks nervously. “I didn’t mean… we didn’t mean to leave you there, it was just…”
You wave off his concerns with a faint smile and walk into the room. The feeling of everyone’s eyes upon you is exceedingly uncomfortable, but you manage to successfully resist the urge to cower in the corner. “It’s okay,” you say. “I understand.”
“Oh.. oh, okay?” Sawada chuckles, slightly relieved. “Everyone, this is the Shinoseki-san that I was telling you about, Shinoseki Adachi-san.” He introduces you, gesturing around the lobby. “He opened the door to let us out… Kayano-san and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. I am really, really grateful for that.”
Ei snickers in your mind. Ignoring her, you look at the others in the lobby. They do not seem very convinced: their wariness of you is quite obvious. It is probably warranted too… there is no telling if you have been possessed by an evil spirit after all.
“So, what happened in there, Shinoseki-san?” asks Kayano suddenly. “I heard some horrible noises… are you sure you are alright?”
“Oh, I… er…” While you wonder if you should tell the truth, you spot Amanozaki circling around the lobby while hunched over. She seems to be drawing patterns with a piece of chalk on the floor as best as she can, weaving around the derelict benches and chairs still in the hall. You vaguely remember those patterns – you have seen them before in the cafeteria’s office in the third night, when you sheltered there with Amanozaki. Is she setting up a barrier?
“Shinoseki-san?” asks Kayano again.
“S-Sorry, I was just looking at-“ Amanozaki-san, you almost blurt out, but that would not do. You have not been introduced yet. You let the sentence break off into silence.
Amanozaki straightens herself and looks toward you, peering from behind those thick coke-bottle glasses. “Kukuku… are you interested in the mysteries of the supernatural? Do not fear. I am setting up a barrier that will protect against the machinations of the outer gods. Teleporting us into this hospital is surely their work…”
Ei snickers again, louder this time, and even more derisively. Though the others do not make the same noise, from their gaze they seem to share the same thoughts. Nobody believes in her, not even now, and as you spot the faint tremble in Amanozaki’s hands, you realize that she knows that herself. Perhaps she is drawing the circle for her own ease of mind.
“Well, Shinoseki-san? You were reading a book intensely right before the door shut, from what Sawada said. Could you tell us what happened in there afterwards?” asks Kayano a third time. She is looking at you with a strange calm, as if she could wait all the time in the world as long as you answered her question. “For the record,” she adds, smiling, “I was in favour of staying and trying to get you out, but Sawada-san was unfortunately reluctant.”
“H-Hey!” Sawada protests quickly. “I didn’t… it wasn’t like that!”
Ei chortles gleefully, demonstrating an uncultured uncouthness unbefitting of a book.
***
A. “Actually, there was something about that book…” You tell the truth about what you experienced in the museum, along with Ei’s existence. How can they trust you if you do not trust them first? Opening up and being honest is the first step towards establishing a trustworthy relationship with them. Purity of heart is the most important weapon you can have against the darkness lurking within these halls. Good is how you triumph over evil.
B. “After the door slammed shut, I encountered a spirit…” You talk thoroughly about the ghostly encounter you had in the museum, but spin the tale in such a way that you leave out everything about Ei. You do not feel comfortable revealing her existence to them. She is right at least on one part, even if it is borne of her own grandiose sense of self-importance: you cannot trust these people.
C. “It’s really none of your business, is it, Kayano-san?” It is about time you asserted yourself a bit more. You tell them to fuck off with their badgering – though perhaps in not such a rude manner – and demonstrate your displeasure at their impertinent questioning. Regardless of what they might say now, they did abandon you back there. They have no right to ask for any answers now.
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2008
- Messages
- 11,370
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