purgastory | week six

week six

week six.

Once again, the fog moves, filling every nook and cranny of the blanket fort, letting it all slowly fade from view. As always, Heart locations remain, joined by a few new additions. You know the name of this game now. You know that choosing to stay behind is not the key to moving forward, and therefore, you must cross the border and plunge into the fog once again.

This time the fog has a bite of frost, the temperature dropping drastically as the cloud of fog peels back, revealing the shiny, glittering expanse of snow beyond. Shivers run through your no doubt unsuitable clothing, but luckily for you the luxurious resort beyond is just close enough to avoid the worst of the chill. (Your shoes will absolutely get wet though, sorry...) Once inside, the lobby is warm and toasty, filled with squat, comfortable couches and a minibar on the opposite corner. There is an elevator to take you to another floor, as well as signs for the ski slopes outlined on the walls opposite.

Welcome to your Wintry Wonderland! You may change into appropriate attire in one of the many changing rooms, but please be careful -- you will feel an urge to seek warmth as you explore this particular maze, whether by an embrace or through hand-holding. It will feel like second nature to you, and perhaps a godsend in this freezing landscape.

0. heart tasks

The notice board is still here this week, now with a new set of tasks written on it! Along the Akheron river, there's a fresh slew of boxes and containers along its bank. They're all locked up tight, but they have your names on them. They're also nicely decorated.

Mementos Mori Homesickness is a terrible thing. Complete one of these tasks and you may just find yourself with something to ease it.
✦ Bite someone with feeling and explain the feeling.
✦ Exchange thoughtful gifts with one other.
✦ Tell someone a secret, something you think that person should know about you.

Whether you intend to or not, if you complete one of the above tasks, you'll know that your box has been unlocked. Inside can be an item from home, it doesn't matter how big or small. It doesn't need to belong to your character or your character's Eurydice, as long as it's something they might want. The box will have your character's name on it though and written in small script Good luck! Almost there. The item may also be a pet. You do not need to report this to the mods; we'll go by honor system.

i. central ice rink

Once properly attired, you are free to venture outside. Here, the fields of snow seem endless, bright beneath the winter sunshine. All that clean snow, just begging for someone to make footprints, construct castles, or initiate snow fights! What fun! What joy!

A little further ahead is a large lake, completely frozen over. There is a stand nearby offering skates of all sizes, for those who would like to skate along on top of the ice. There are also convenient guard rails along one edge of the lake for our timid novices. Take a few turns and get comfortable. Or maybe not too comfortable...

As you make your loops, you may notice movement, and as you coast to a stop, you will realize that the movement is in fact an image, a memory being played in full view on the ice beneath you. No matter where you skate off to, the memory will follow, seemingly endless in every direction. Of course, you could still try to stop the memory, perhaps by smashing your skate through the ice if you're desperate enough, but that will only send you and whoever is with you beneath the ice and into the freezing lake, where you will be both submerged.

Whatever happens, the memory will have a specific theme of either greed or charity, such as:

✦ A memory where you experienced some form of desire, possession, greed, or experienced the consequences of such greed from another.
✦ A memory where you experienced some form of charity, whether positive or negative -- when you received something from another that you desperately needed at the time. Perhaps it was a hopeful plea, perhaps it was demeaning humiliation. Or perhaps you were the one who sought to give, your intentions kind or conceited.
✦ A fantasy of all that you ever wished to possess, or one of all the things you've given to see others thrive.

ii. santa's workshop

If you venture down to the resort's basement, you will what looks like a charming, rustic... workroom? Or perhaps a storage room? There are piles upon piles of objects, some wrapped neatly in boxes, others still needing some work done, because apparently, all of these objects are broken in some way. There are instruments that still need to be stringed, shoes missing their pairs, flashlights that don't turn on, paddles with only the letters "Y A O" carved into them. Whatever you can think to find, you will -- except in a state of repair.

Just on the table beyond are a few very basic tools: screwdrivers, hammers, wrenches, etc, but the supplies themselves seem to be missing...? Turns out that if you want to fix an object, you'll have to take apart something else to get what you need. Unfortunately, you'll have to apply a little bit of elbow grease to get what you want -- as the objects themselves don't feel like giving them up? Stuffed animals will take a swat at you, toasters will hit you with their cords, and sexy lingerie may even attempt to strangle you...

But they're just objects, and you can obviously fight back. Or if not, then feel free to try other more peaceful approaches: such as mentioning a time, object, concept, etc that you wish you could have or return to or telling someone what you wish you could give them. Once shared, the objects will go back to normal.

iii. the charity auction

Ascend the stairs from the lobby into the resort's magnificent ballroom, where apparently some kind of banquet is underway? There are crowds of shadowy figures seated at tables and milling about, holding sparkling glasses of champagne and eating little appetizers from large trays, but most of the activity is directed towards the stage, where a shadowy auctioneer thumps their mallet and calls out the name of the newest object.

A name that turns out to be... yours! Before you know it, you are ushered onto stage, squinting against the bright lights to see the crowd beyond. Distantly, you can hear the auctioneer announce your name, a fun fact, and why exactly you deserve to be taken out! Whether on a hot date or wiped from the surface of the earth. Or maybe both?

The only way to leave is if some merciful soul makes a bid for you. For those who find themselves in the crowd, desperate to save whoever's on stage -- you will feel the urge to make your bid (or don't, maybe you think this is funny). Of course, the bid has to be... substantial. Money can only go so far... We're looking for creative bids here, y'know?

Once your bid is accepted, you may escort your prize from the stage. Please know that whatever the bid is -- it must be paid on the spot. Maybe you promised an ear lick or a kiss -- maybe you promised to be their servant for an hour henceforth. Whatever it is, you have to do it in the Grand Charity Gala room in order to be set free.

iv. snowman sculpting

Maybe you decide to go back outside after the warmth of the resort, or maybe you'd like to keep playing in the snow... Nearby are several different snow figures, all in need of decoration. They are just so sad and naked without you...

🥕 Carrot Nose: You feel an intense curiosity to know everything you've yet to learn about the person you're with. What's their blood type? What's their dream wedding venue? If they were wooed by a shark or a pirate, then which would they choose? The questions can be completely nonsensical and unrelated to each other. It doesn't matter, because you need to know!!
⚫ Coal Smile: You feel the burden of your sins weighing upon you. Suddenly, you need for the person you're with to forgive you for what you've done to them, or for what you will do. Maybe you feel the urge to confess to a curse. Maybe you want to tell them that you thought they were really annoying once. Or maybe you want to apologize for thinking they're a great big degenerate.
🧣 Cute Scarf: Congratulations! You Are A Child Now. Feel free to keep your adult minds, or revert back to the mindset you had as a smol baby.
🎩 Snazzy Bowler: You are on the run from your creditors. You must hide now! Now! Take whoever's with you so they don't sell you out to the IRS, or because they clearly have crimes they're on the run from too. Go and hide in a cramped closet together.
❌ Naked: For some reason, you don't want to dress any of these snowmen. Boo, tomato, tomato! You will be haunted by three ghostly versions of yourself: past, present, and future, who will all talk about your faults and how you are not a good person and how you should turn it all around somehow.

mod notes.

✦ Hello again, darling clowns! This week's log features both the aforementioned maze and our central locations! Feel free to write central-specific or maze-specific prompts. Or both!
✦ For the Ice Rink, mods will not be policing what memories (trululus) or fantasies (delulus) you choose to have your character share, but please keep to the themes of greed/charity! Moreso, memories must have a canon basis, even if they’re headcanon. However, fantasies can be from alternate route paths (otome/visual novel/AU style) as long as they’re within the set parameters. There will be more opportunities for this in the future, so don’t worry about not being able to give out your lore. Have fun!
✦ Questions specific to this log can be directed to the #mod-questions channel in the discord!
✦ Maze Runs are available for this week!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ ... ]

Maybe I should let you off the ice first before I ask more questions.

[ she lets his sleeve go slowly, but her gaze briefly darts to his stomach. no blood.

anyway, she'll wait for him off to the side. ]

Do you like hot chocolate?

[carefully steps off the ice... he is looking a little pale now, a bit like illness is incoming, but he still seems calm otherwise.]

Yes.

[ oh no ]

Lucien... Maybe we should get you somewhere to sit or lie down. Can you make it inside?

I should be able to. I apologize for worrying you...

Don't worry about it.

[ she holds out her arm to him. let's get you to bed grandma. ]

You don't look like you're doing well. Let's head back together. Maybe some tea will be better for you.

You don't have to be too concerned. It's likely just an aftereffect from the river. [...] But I won't say no to tea.

Any kind?

[ adds this little thread about lucien's other self dying to everything she's experienced the past few days. it's stopped being overwhelming, which is the least she can ask for. ]

You also ended up in another maze outside of this place, right? You came back around the same time the rest of us did.

Edited 2025-12-23 06:11 (UTC)

I did, yes, with Hien and Sylus.

Are you okay now, aside from feeling sick?

Yes, the river healed me, so you needn't worry. What about you?

I'm fine. I've been healed aside from some scars.

[ ... ]

Are you... Is it okay if I ask about it?

I don't mind, though I don't know how much I'll be able to answer.

That's okay. You can just say so, or answer however you can.

Who was that in your reflection? Those people who were talking to you.

Edited 2025-12-23 23:18 (UTC)

[...]

Lady Anastasia is... an old friend of mine.

[fyi if fiammetta and lucien ever got around to opening boxes last week, his would've contained a cat whose name she would've heard as lady anastasia. and then lucien would've died of embarrassment. anyway,]

The man with her is Zenn—how we know each other is a bit more complicated, and would differ across timelines. I imagine that to the "me" of that life, he was a stranger.

Meanwhile, Lister is someone I know through work. [...] He was also an assassin who served my brother, though thankfully, he's cut off ties with him in my life, and based off what I know of that time, I doubt his presence there was related to my brother.

Just friends, huh...?

[ fia lets that thread go for now, though it's clear in her tone that she's doubtful. HOLDS MY HEAD I NEED HER TO MEET THIS CAT EVEN THOUGH SHE'S A BIRD. lucien unlocks some teasing older sister part of her and she would love this. ]

So you're familiar with that timeline we just saw already?

[just friends!!! anyhow, quietly,]

I didn't know much about it before. I was aware that Lady Anastasia was a Membrum in one life, and that she killed three people—a criminal, my brother, and his guard—and that I was a Sacrificium then. She and Zenn didn't speak much else of that time, though.

[for... perhaps obvious reasons... no one was happy in that route.]

Though I've seen the moments leading up to that incident, here in this place.

What's a "Membrum" and a "Sacrificium"?

[ they don't sound like anything good. ]

[...]

There is a witch plaguing our kingdom, who selects someone he corrupts into the Membrum—essentially, a human brainwashed to kill. Once the Membrum takes a life, a "Carnival" is held the next night by the witch, acting as a trial where the jurors must vote among the suspects also chosen by the witch, known as the Sacrificia.

If the Membrum isn't caught, they continue killing each night. The Carnivals end only when either the Membrum is executed in trial or they are the last Sacrificium standing.

So it's like a game?

[ a MURDER GAME? ]

They just pick people to kill and make the rest of you figure it out? For what?!

... We're not entirely clear on his motivations, but he seems to have a grudge against humans. [a beat] More specifically, he seems to be trying to induce despair in Lady Anastasia, in hopes that she'll destroy the kingdom.

Lady Anastasia is that powerful?

She herself isn't clear on this, but it does seem like it.

And I'm guessing there's no way to stop someone from becoming a Membrum or a Sacrificium?

... Preventing that was our plan. The witch's ability to corrupt isn't infallible, as so much that it preys on the darkness and weaknesses of one's heart, and twists them into letting the witch in.

[...]

My belief is that if people are led to truly believe that there's no benefit to becoming a Membrum, they can resist. Of course, it's more complicated than just knowing this rationally, as everyone knows that they shouldn't succumb to temptation, but we were arranging the necessary pieces. Credibility, folklore, and impact, as Lister put it.

[ quietly processing... lucien don't hurt your head while you're sick. ]

Is there some kind of benefit to becoming a Membrum?

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