Zenith : In Character → Threads, Logs, Events

Who: Jesse and Scotty
Where: the theater
When: early evening

( unwinding )

Who: Felix, Ivy, Audrey, Ettie and OPEN
Where: First Floor
When: Right after this

( And so it begins )

Day 3.

Weather: In the pre-dawn hours it begins snowing lightly, huge wet flakes that are very pretty to look at. It snows through-out the day with a light accumulation on the cleared roads, but nothing major. Temperatures remain more or less the same.

Events: Once again, anyone who fell asleep anywhere but their own room will wake up in their bed. People who took their bracelets off? They're back on. Are you getting the picture yet?

The computers are blinking again in the morning. Once checked, a message will be waiting for them. It reads:

Greetings.

We have two requirements of you today. First of all, upon closing this message, a program will automatically launch on your computer. It contains several tests and puzzles. You will be required to complete these before your bathroom door unlocks. To unlock your bedroom door, you must complete another simple task for us. You must engage with the people here with you.

After you have done your business in the bathroom, we ask that you post on the network and introduce yourself properly. We realize your instincts are to use the network to demand answers or rant at us, and your protests are duly noted. We require you to use the network to communicate with each other. Post your name, perhaps your hometown or where you were taken from, an occupation or a hobby... whatever basic information you feel best. Then, we require you to comment on at least one other subject's post. That is all.

So let's tackle this in two parts. First, the puzzles. Bathroom doors won't unlock until they're completed. They're all pretty standard, if a bit random. Standard logic puzzles and math problems, as well as everything from word jumbles to mazes. It's worth noting that no one has to get perfect answers. On the questions and puzzles, it doesn't matter if they're answered or completed incorrectly. If a character truly dedicates themselves to answering everything correctly (or trying to), it should take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, whereas blowing through keysmashing it can be done in less than ten. Once they're done they simply disappear, and the bathroom door audibly unlocks.

It is actually the second request that requires a bit more effort, believe it or not. If an individual does not submit a network post with at least some sort of introduction, something kind of random happens immediately after. They're attacked. By an earworm. No, really.

Please, allow me to explain. It will be my pleasure. Let's say subject Joe Blow posts an entry to the network, reading simply, "Fuck you, you fucking fucks." The exact second he posts, whatever song he finds most annoying in the entire world (in this case, let's say We've Got the Beat by the Go-Gos) will begin playing loudly in his room and bathroom, on repeat, from an unseen source. And his door will not unlock. His earworm will not stop playing until he fulfills the requirements. Now, for the sake of conversation, let's say Joe Blow is as stubborn as he is stupid and generic, and he posts again to the network. This time he tries to get away with fulfilling some of the requirements, in the loosest way possible. He posts, "My name is Joe and I'm from my mom's vagina." While not technically inaccurate, it's not exactly what he was told to do, so the door still won't unlock - and the song will begin playing louder, and at different tempos. At times slowing down, at others speeding up Chipmunks style.

Only a real introduction with at least some information will make the song stop, and the door unlock. And yes, somehow TPTB know exactly what song would annoy each person most. That's not weird or creepy at all, right?

Note: Experiment B is not immune to this treatment.