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[It's another beautiful, sunny day in █████████, the only home you've ever known. The skies are bright blue and the water near the shoreline is crystal clear, though it dives deep in many places and churns treacherously just out of sight, keeping all ships at bay.
You've lived here in isolation since birth, alongside a curse that snatches away every life by the age of twenty-three. No soul has visited your nation in hundreds of years. No one knows the origin of the curse or how to cure it. The only escape you have is through the use of Reliver technology, which provides a cloned body and an imperfect transfer of memory and emotion.
That said, though your home may be small with a population of only three thousand, it's certainly not without its problems. From an exhausting and absentee monarchy, to a cold and callous people who no longer understand how to respect death, to the newly expensive prices of bread at the market, you have a wide pick of daily horrors and horrors to last your entire short lifetime.
Despite being from all different walks of life, the six of you, through your various connections, have all crossed paths before. And today, you're here together to face one of those problems. You're here to investigate rumors of a murder.]
You've lived here in isolation since birth, alongside a curse that snatches away every life by the age of twenty-three. No soul has visited your nation in hundreds of years. No one knows the origin of the curse or how to cure it. The only escape you have is through the use of Reliver technology, which provides a cloned body and an imperfect transfer of memory and emotion.
That said, though your home may be small with a population of only three thousand, it's certainly not without its problems. From an exhausting and absentee monarchy, to a cold and callous people who no longer understand how to respect death, to the newly expensive prices of bread at the market, you have a wide pick of daily horrors and horrors to last your entire short lifetime.
Despite being from all different walks of life, the six of you, through your various connections, have all crossed paths before. And today, you're here together to face one of those problems. You're here to investigate rumors of a murder.]
[As for who you are, exactly... Well.
Aerith, you are a 21 year old florist and gardener living and working in Coene, after growing up in an orphanage here alongside Cloud and Tifa. Zack was a friend of your little group, once, but an investigation he led as a member of the Corps led to his murder some time ago; Cloud and Tifa, who currently work with Yuffie, were inspired to do so after his demise. The people of Coene are fond of you, although if you’ve ever taken an interest in the lycoris noirge flowers of the island, you’re well aware that nobody else cares to hear anything positive about the flowers of death.
Anisphia, you are the 17 year old Reliver daughter of a wealthy merchant family in Chedis, living with your Reliver parents and your maid Ilia in your manor. The family is relying on you and your ingenuity to boost their influence when you take over as head of household, and after being convinced by your close friend Euphyllia, a researcher in Cerneveaul, you agreed to have yourself backed up and become a Reliver despite your youth to ensure you would survive. You’re allowed to spend your days as you please, though, seeing as you’ve finished your basic education and don’t have to take over yet.
Tomizawa, you are a 22 year old driver living in Coene while working in Chedis during the day, serving as a chauffeur for various wealthy families of the district. You’re going to need to make a decision soon about whether you’ll use the money you’ve been working for in order to extend your life as a Reliver; the symptoms of the curse don’t affect you much now, but you are occasionally wracked with coughs that make it hard to breathe, and you know the time is coming. Ichiban, your close compatriot from your orphanage who encouraged your career, died without a backup of his own a couple of years ago, but you’ve gotten to know a friend of his from the Corps: Iwatooshi, an older Reliver who used to keep an eye on him and now does the same for you.
Izutsumi, you’re an 18 year old worker of odd jobs. You were raised under unpleasant circumstances in Cerneveaul, but managed to escape them and found a family in Lavi and Marcille, whom you run your little business with. You spend your days taking on various tasks for people across Coene, Chedis and Cerneveaul, repairing roofs, catching stray chickens, babysitting. Chilchuck and Senshi are two of your most frequent customers, and with a little time, you think you can convince them to join you on staff. Your prickly personality doesn’t net you much approval from the general populace, but they acknowledge that you get things done well.
Karlach, you’re a member of the Corps that protects the public’s peace, a rough-and-tumble 20 year old from the rural outskirts of Coene. Though your parents died while you were still very young, you adapted to your orphanage well and made lifelong friends there, including Boothill and Astarion, who joined the Corps with you once you were all old enough to do so. You made fast friends there, too - Gale and Vin, for one - because the people of the Corps are drawn to your charming, sunny personality. On the streets, you have a reputation for getting things done. The children are drawn to you and love your warmth and kindness, while adults tend to look at you with suspicion, untrusting of your vast strength.
Yuffie, you’re a 16 year old self-defense instructor, the youngest and only on the island. Ever since your orphanage burned down when you were young - leaving you and your foster sister Kate as the only survivors - you’ve wanted to dedicate your life to protecting others and helping the weak triumph in a world that favors the strong. Cloud and Tifa, friends from a neighboring orphanage, help you as co-instructors. Your endeavors are well-received by the general populace, though they often doubt you due to your young age.
You've gathered together at the marché. It's a bustling marketplace with street vendors selling all manners of goods and wares, though the general energy of the place seems a bit muted today, likely due in part to the whispers of a cold and callous murderer circulating through the people. As you're looking around, a few things may stand out to you.
• Lavi and Boothill are over at a fruit vendor and seem to be having a very serious discussion.
• There's a tall man in a white jacket that seems to be trying to keep an eye on them as subtly as possible, though a watchful eye can easily tell that he's following them from stall to stall.
• A child and mother hurry through the crowd, and you can hear the mother hastily and quietly telling the child: "You didn't see it. You didn't see anything, do you understand me?" as they rush past.
• Iwatooshi and Lucas are picking out a bunch of flowers at a florist stand and appear to be chatting amiably with the seller.
• Corps member Vin is standing near the mouth of an alley, appearing to be turning away people who try to go through it.
• Daan sits peacefully under a tree on a park bench, reading a book.
• A small fight appears to be starting between two men in front of a boutique selling lace.
• Ilia can be seen with a couple of others in maid uniforms, having a concerned-sounding conversation with a baker.
• A car is parked nearby, where a driver is engaged in an argument with a member of the Guard.
• One of the vegetable vendors’ stalls appears to be more short-handed than usual, the owner a little frantic.
The investigatory world is their oyster from here.
(Note: Please feel free to come up with your own AU backstories as to why your characters may or may not know others in the CYOA group! You can flesh out details as you'd like, too! It's also not necessary to investigate everything, just follow your lil hearts.)]
Aerith, you are a 21 year old florist and gardener living and working in Coene, after growing up in an orphanage here alongside Cloud and Tifa. Zack was a friend of your little group, once, but an investigation he led as a member of the Corps led to his murder some time ago; Cloud and Tifa, who currently work with Yuffie, were inspired to do so after his demise. The people of Coene are fond of you, although if you’ve ever taken an interest in the lycoris noirge flowers of the island, you’re well aware that nobody else cares to hear anything positive about the flowers of death.
Anisphia, you are the 17 year old Reliver daughter of a wealthy merchant family in Chedis, living with your Reliver parents and your maid Ilia in your manor. The family is relying on you and your ingenuity to boost their influence when you take over as head of household, and after being convinced by your close friend Euphyllia, a researcher in Cerneveaul, you agreed to have yourself backed up and become a Reliver despite your youth to ensure you would survive. You’re allowed to spend your days as you please, though, seeing as you’ve finished your basic education and don’t have to take over yet.
Tomizawa, you are a 22 year old driver living in Coene while working in Chedis during the day, serving as a chauffeur for various wealthy families of the district. You’re going to need to make a decision soon about whether you’ll use the money you’ve been working for in order to extend your life as a Reliver; the symptoms of the curse don’t affect you much now, but you are occasionally wracked with coughs that make it hard to breathe, and you know the time is coming. Ichiban, your close compatriot from your orphanage who encouraged your career, died without a backup of his own a couple of years ago, but you’ve gotten to know a friend of his from the Corps: Iwatooshi, an older Reliver who used to keep an eye on him and now does the same for you.
Izutsumi, you’re an 18 year old worker of odd jobs. You were raised under unpleasant circumstances in Cerneveaul, but managed to escape them and found a family in Lavi and Marcille, whom you run your little business with. You spend your days taking on various tasks for people across Coene, Chedis and Cerneveaul, repairing roofs, catching stray chickens, babysitting. Chilchuck and Senshi are two of your most frequent customers, and with a little time, you think you can convince them to join you on staff. Your prickly personality doesn’t net you much approval from the general populace, but they acknowledge that you get things done well.
Karlach, you’re a member of the Corps that protects the public’s peace, a rough-and-tumble 20 year old from the rural outskirts of Coene. Though your parents died while you were still very young, you adapted to your orphanage well and made lifelong friends there, including Boothill and Astarion, who joined the Corps with you once you were all old enough to do so. You made fast friends there, too - Gale and Vin, for one - because the people of the Corps are drawn to your charming, sunny personality. On the streets, you have a reputation for getting things done. The children are drawn to you and love your warmth and kindness, while adults tend to look at you with suspicion, untrusting of your vast strength.
Yuffie, you’re a 16 year old self-defense instructor, the youngest and only on the island. Ever since your orphanage burned down when you were young - leaving you and your foster sister Kate as the only survivors - you’ve wanted to dedicate your life to protecting others and helping the weak triumph in a world that favors the strong. Cloud and Tifa, friends from a neighboring orphanage, help you as co-instructors. Your endeavors are well-received by the general populace, though they often doubt you due to your young age.
You've gathered together at the marché. It's a bustling marketplace with street vendors selling all manners of goods and wares, though the general energy of the place seems a bit muted today, likely due in part to the whispers of a cold and callous murderer circulating through the people. As you're looking around, a few things may stand out to you.
• Lavi and Boothill are over at a fruit vendor and seem to be having a very serious discussion.
• There's a tall man in a white jacket that seems to be trying to keep an eye on them as subtly as possible, though a watchful eye can easily tell that he's following them from stall to stall.
• A child and mother hurry through the crowd, and you can hear the mother hastily and quietly telling the child: "You didn't see it. You didn't see anything, do you understand me?" as they rush past.
• Iwatooshi and Lucas are picking out a bunch of flowers at a florist stand and appear to be chatting amiably with the seller.
• Corps member Vin is standing near the mouth of an alley, appearing to be turning away people who try to go through it.
• Daan sits peacefully under a tree on a park bench, reading a book.
• A small fight appears to be starting between two men in front of a boutique selling lace.
• Ilia can be seen with a couple of others in maid uniforms, having a concerned-sounding conversation with a baker.
• A car is parked nearby, where a driver is engaged in an argument with a member of the Guard.
• One of the vegetable vendors’ stalls appears to be more short-handed than usual, the owner a little frantic.
The investigatory world is their oyster from here.
(Note: Please feel free to come up with your own AU backstories as to why your characters may or may not know others in the CYOA group! You can flesh out details as you'd like, too! It's also not necessary to investigate everything, just follow your lil hearts.)]
Edited 2024-07-15 20:13 (UTC)
[normal day, right? she's stepped away from her flowers for a moment and vibes near the others, twirling a lily between her fingers as she watches the life around the marketplace. her eyes are very much on the two gentlemen lingering near the florist stand.]
Seems like some people are touchier today than others... [there are a few fights going on, wild.]
Seems like some people are touchier today than others... [there are a few fights going on, wild.]
[ She's trying not to be suspicious as she looks over at the happenings of the market, before looking back at whomever is near her ]
Who do you think we should hit up first?
Who do you think we should hit up first?
[she was patrolling today, i think, just wandering around the area, but when the others start to converge, she folds her arms and hangs out. she's looking around as the others chat, keeping an eye out for disturbances.
she's particularly drawn to any other corps members that are in the area, wanting to pick up with them.
she gives a little nod and a smile to whoever approaches...]
she's particularly drawn to any other corps members that are in the area, wanting to pick up with them.
she gives a little nod and a smile to whoever approaches...]
[ don't spy on their date, aerith ]
Do you think we should try to calm them down? [ looking at the pair in front of the lace boutique ]
Do you think we should try to calm them down? [ looking at the pair in front of the lace boutique ]
Maybe. [she's still watching, but she lets her gaze flicker back to the boutique.] Between them and them—[a short nod to the driver and the guard.]—which do you think is best to de-escalate?
[gliding over, hands behind her back until she tucks a red flower behind karlach's ear. in this moment she's magically not seven feet tall.]
How's it lookin'?
How's it lookin'?
Hey, flower girl.
[i'm establishing backstory that aerith sold her a flower one time to give to fantasy boothill, and then they hit it off and karlach checks in with her all the time,
anyway. i will make her short, honestly, she can be normal height for the purposes of cyoa. she smiles, warm and easy, and tucks the flower in more firmly.]
People are restless today. Think anybody around here has seen anything in particular? [maybe they can tagteam with the mom and the kid?]
[i'm establishing backstory that aerith sold her a flower one time to give to fantasy boothill, and then they hit it off and karlach checks in with her all the time,
anyway. i will make her short, honestly, she can be normal height for the purposes of cyoa. she smiles, warm and easy, and tucks the flower in more firmly.]
People are restless today. Think anybody around here has seen anything in particular? [maybe they can tagteam with the mom and the kid?]
Hmm... [ tapping her chin ] It might be best to de-escalate the fight that's about to start. People are already pretty nervous, and that could tip people towards not being forthcoming with information.
However, I do think the driver may have seen something worth bothering the guard over. Unless it's actually just a petty dispute over parking.
However, I do think the driver may have seen something worth bothering the guard over. Unless it's actually just a petty dispute over parking.
[annoyingly solos without asking to go ask vin questions about what's in the alleyway]
[ izutsumi looks like she's taking a bit of a break, lounging on some bench nearby though she is curiously looking at what's going on around.
though her eye seems to be caught something that is probably not as noticeable to most people. but why are they being watched, it's weird wtf ]
though her eye seems to be caught something that is probably not as noticeable to most people. but why are they being watched, it's weird wtf ]
[flops down next to her on that bench.]
You see anything off that I'm not seeing?
You see anything off that I'm not seeing?
[standing here scanning the crowd.]
Don't know. Got contacts?
Don't know. Got contacts?
[that's 100% fair, karlach probably also knew zack/of zack as a member of the corps. we are all friends here, she's waiting for a wedding invite for yeehell.]
You mean like the mom trying to reassure her child? [a little dry, a little thoughtful.] Kids are always more aware than adults.
You mean like the mom trying to reassure her child? [a little dry, a little thoughtful.] Kids are always more aware than adults.
You're probably right about that. Right now, it looks like the driver and the guard aren't budging. But if we intervene at the boutique that might grab their attention, too. Could be worth the risk though.
[serious fruit discussions...
she wrinkles her nose at that. gross.]
Well, they get closer and I'll have something to say about it. [...] The fuck is your guy talking to Boots for, do you know? Some business thing?
she wrinkles her nose at that. gross.]
Well, they get closer and I'll have something to say about it. [...] The fuck is your guy talking to Boots for, do you know? Some business thing?
[izutsumi filled in as delivery cat when cloud was double-booked yeah.]
True. Doesn't help that tensions are a little high right now, too. People are starting to wonder how much they can trust, I think.
True. Doesn't help that tensions are a little high right now, too. People are starting to wonder how much they can trust, I think.
[zack... her good buddy zack who she was totally friends with in this real universe,]
Yeah, they sure are. [a beat.] You want to run interference with the mom and I'll ask the kid what's up?
[since karlach is Distrusted by adults but not kids]
Yeah, they sure are. [a beat.] You want to run interference with the mom and I'll ask the kid what's up?
[since karlach is Distrusted by adults but not kids]
[annoyingly solos iwatooshi and lucas at the flower stand. is this a florist she's at all friendly with? what are these clowns doing?]
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