Awards Killing Game 2x2: Moon of Hope (Game Thread) - Day 1 - Notifiable Incident

[Lulu Azhal]

Now that we aren't panicking about solving a murder, this seems like a good opportunity to inform you all about a certain artifact, and the reason I came to this mansion in the first place...

I know that, hidden within this mansion, there is an object with even greater power than the Moon of Hope, or the Dark Moon as it's come to be known. It's called the Sun Stone, with the power that eclipses the Dark Moon, it should be able to deal with His Majesty more permanently, if we can find it.

I spent all of last night looking for clues on its whereabouts, but unfortunately our missing Gadd Zooks has not researched it as closely as the Dark Moon, so all I know is to "look for signs of the sun". If I could get all your assistance, so that we might leave with minimal casualties, and to make sure those who do die don't die for no reason.

 

[Dr. Lyra Orpheus]

Yeah, well... That tracks. Only a real freak would spend half the night making out with a car. Or killing someone, but by my calculations there's significantly more reasons to do the latter than the former.

In any case, you can take a look at the ladle I have. I found it in the Fishing Hut, but it doesn't seem to do anything observable. Maybe we can engage in a collaborative experiment, if anyone has any idea what it does.​

 

[Lash]

Thanos, Thanos, Thanos...He talked tough about the weight of taking a life or whatever, but the big guy couldn't even last one night. What was it he said before? It pisses him off when people toy with the boundary between life and death? Maybe he had a grudge against the girl from the get-go.

 

[Lin Beifong]

WINTER:
... sigh.

What happened with the Mona fills me with great sadness. But it is imperative we do not blame Jaw for this incident. The creature remains as pure and innocent as the horrific display of carnal affection it bestowed upon that vehicle in the Garage.

In truth, while I would rather avoid this kind of senseless loss altogether, it brings me a small amount of comfort that it was another scavenger that took her life. That means the death--though instigated by Gadd's savagery masquerading as a scientific experiment and thus condemnable--at least had a natural component to it. Scavenger kills scavenger.

Forthwith we must redouble our efforts to act as guardians and prevent these little critters from hurting each other. I suggest every researcher in this building pick one of the remaining scavengers and supervise them, to ensure their continued safety.

Despite my objections, the prince invited some of the undead to fight the "king" also. Subject Jackson B. Humorus arrived, followed shortly afterward by subjects Boo #1,268 and Specture Striker. Some time passed before Prince Winter himself arrived, geared for the battle. I was given an egg timer meant to prevent ghostly possession. This requires further research. Unfortunately, we were unable to depose the "king" and I was knocked out cold, no doubt the consequence of allowing the undead to participate with us. Observed the following behaviors of subject King Blocky Boo:

• Subject displays the ability to shift between varying degrees of tangibility at will.
• Mixed effectiveness of physical weapons. Observations on individual items may be in error given the previous point. I have noted them for comprehension regardless.
  • Hammer and chain show no effect.
  • Papers temporarily stick to his form, suggesting subject's reaction time is key and a non-conventional approach is likely to be more effective in containment.
  • Rusty polearm appears to be effective. Note that subject was blinded by papers at the time. Rust may play a factor. Proceed with caution, as weapon was wielded by subject Jackson B. Humorus and may involve undead trickery.
• Subject reacts prior to being hit, regardless of actual effectiveness.
• Seemingly immune to the ectoplasm-soaking properties of sponges.

WINTER:
In any case, let me supplement these notes from my esteemed colleague with my own extrapolations. I haven't been able to fully investigate the apparition's capabilities yet as I've been preoccupied with the dealings of the day. But here are my surface thoughts.

• The apparition's varying states of tangibility seem to correspond to different "modes".
  • Ethereal: physical weapons ineffective, spiritually charged weapons effective.
  • Corporeal: physical weapons effective, spiritually charged weapons ineffective.
• The apparition can change between these modes at will, but the process is not instantaneous. He must do it consciously and it takes a brief moment. It should therefore be possible to damage him by alternating between physical and spiritual attacks in quick succession, using patterns he cannot predict.
  • The paper I used against him is not mundane, it's specially treated and inlaid with spiritual energy. That's why it stuck to him even in ethereal form. He had to turn corporeal to remove it from himself, which in turn made him vulnerable to a physical attack from Silverfish. I don't think the conventionality of the attack matters. It's about stacking different types of damage before he can shift modes.
• The apparition is affected by ghost-warding talismans. The crude ones I was able to make on my own seemed only to annoy him. But someone with expert knowledge in crafting there charms properly might be able to hinder the apparition's movement more effectively.
• Somewhat vulnerable to bright flashes of light.
• No apparent ability to possess people, or didn't bother to use it.
• Disposition and temperament of the apparition appears markedly juvenile. He is prone to taunting and reacts to provocation with overwhelming rage. He lost composure and threw what amounted to a super-powered tantrum during the fight. This is what wrecked the room.
• The apparition seems to be able to control its crown through telekinesis. It appears reliant on hand gestures. This prevents the crown from being separated from the body.
• The apparition mainly fights physically, seeking to dominate with brute strength (reminiscent of a Mudwing). Its abilities seem mundane most of the time, but its strength output occasionally spikes drastically.
  • These spikes in power seem always accompanied by a signature purple glow. By observing this glow, it becomes predictable when a big attack is coming, and pre-made countermeasures could theoretically be levied.
• Halitosis. Moons alive, swallow some mint!

I'm hoping to uncover more once I have a moment to sit down and launch a deeper analysis.

 

[Thanos (Car)]

So you have reached your verdict. I will not insult your intelligence - I did as you claimed.

Yesterday, I said that taking a life is the most serious action one can take. I believed it then. I believe it now. A life, once ended, should remain ended. Death is not a door to be opened and closed at one's convenience. That is why I acted.

You call her a victim. You call me a murderer. Yet from the moment I set foot in this complex, I watched her cast aside her own death as though it were a mere hiccup in her day. I am told this happens frequently, coming to and fro like the tides. That is cruelty. Not intentional, not from her, but it is cruelty nonetheless.

---

I am not of this world. Where I come from, the dead do not return simply because they want to. They do not return to finish their stories. They do not return when someone loves them enough to beg for another chance.

They remain dead. My daughter remains dead. And countless others with her. People who would have given anything to watch the sun rise again.

---

Yet that oaf. I see no balance in her careless nature. No fairness. I only see a corpse refusing its rest. A stain on the scales of the universe, one that grew every time she denied her own fate. Can you truly believe that I killed her? She was already dead. And there will be no resurrections this time.

In a small way, I am ashamed. I came here believing I could protect the living from the whims of the undead. Instead, I only served to propagate their vile game. But when the opportunity presented itself, when I was given one final chance to correct something that so profoundly called for correction, I could not look away. I could not ignore destiny in service of my conscience. Not for her. Not for anyone.

Inevitably, I choose to die with my head held high. I stand by my decision. And I accept the consequences.