the final week.

[polterguests]

the final week.

Once again, the fog moves, filling every nook and cranny of the resort, letting it all slowly fade from view. As always, Heart locations remain, joined by a few new additions. And what an addition it is. 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.

Until... this time... it clears.

The Akheron guides you forward, and you can follow its path to see where it might lead. Previously, it had somehow mysteriously disappeared or gone off-course before you made it to the maze, but this time it bends and curves until you arrive to the your destination: Maze End. Here, the rules and boundaries of all things begin to blend. You might even feel some phantom sensations from weeks past come to play again. That's right, you can have your mixes of emotionshare, thoughtshare, physical sensation-share, and warmth craving in optional, temporary doses.

Nearly there, sinners. Why not make this last week count for something?

0. heart tasks

The notice board is still here this final 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. There is a single note that says for those who need a final push.

Mementos Mori Homesickness is a terrible thing. Complete one of these tasks and you may just find yourself with something to ease it.
✦ Give away your present from the Mazekeepers to someone in Purgatory.
✦ Say goodbye to someone you wish you could keep.
✦ Weave a dream of what could've been, if you could just have a bit more time together.

Whether you intend to or not, if you complete one of the above tasks, you'll know that your box has been unlocked. Once unlocked and opened, your character will feel as though they have taken one step forward in the maze. In the final hour, you never know how much that could count for. You do not need to report this to the mods; we'll go by honor system.

(Also, if you've already given away your Mazekeeper gift, you can decide whether or not your box is still locked if you'd like to just do another task. Sorry, overachievers.)

i. compati lake

All water flows, as if it too has memory. An interesting thing happens as you approach the center of the mazes—the Akheron leads you right in. That dreaded river, with all that it's ever taken from you, has a home of its own. She guides you into the maze, this lush and perfectly warm place, and the first sight that greets you is this great, glimmering lake. It sprawls so far and wide that at first glance, you might think it's the ocean. Even though there is no proper sun here, it still sparkles as if reflecting its gentle rays.

Once you cross the threshold into the maze, the waters no longer take—they give and give and give.

As you walk along its shores, you may notice the island in the very center of the lake. More on that later. No one would blame you if you were to be distracted by the visions that play out in its cool reflection. The waves lap at your feet, and you might smell something that brings you right back home, or you'll hear a voice of someone you haven't had contact with in years. Yes, even the things that you've forgotten, Compati Lake will give back to you. When you make contact with the water, you might experience your memory, or someone else's—exactly as they experienced it. You feel all they felt, down to the rawest emotions.

And oh, the lake could give you anything at all.

It's a free for all, dears. You can give away any memory at all; no restraints on sins or virtues.
✦ All memories will also grant emotionshare and sensationshare. You will be temporarily submerged in the other person's memory and then come crashing back to yourself once the memory is done. The person will know what memory you saw.
✦ Of course, fantasies are also fair game. So are alternate universes. Want to write a fanfic where you and someone else in the game actually were a perfectly happy domestic couple? Do whatever you want. All things are real and possible in the Compati Lake.

ii. the wayferry

So about that island.

There are a few ways that you can get there. The easiest, and most reasonable, is a delightful little ferry. However, it would appear as though this boat requires currency to ride it. What the hell? Who has money in Purgatory? Do the reaches of capitalism have no end? Not to worry, though! They're also running a few specials on the ferry. In order to gain access to the main island, you only have to convince them of some kind of relationship between you and your fellow passenger. There's a Couples Special, for newlyweds or lovebirds celebrating an anniversary. A Family Special, for any sibling or parent-child pairs that are here for a fun little getaway together. Or... the Heated Rivalry Special? So you're supposed to pretend to be bitter rivals from opposing sports teams, testing your bond by... going on the boat ride? Sure, whatever, just go with it. Make it convincing.

However, if you decide you don't want to do a bit of larping in your last days of purgatory... there's some other forms of transportation that are free, just a little. Uh. Unideal?

There is also the jacuzzi tub boat. Or the classic swan boat, also in duck variant. There is also the gondola. However your shadowy gondola steerer is singing this the entire time. The Entire Time. You get spaghetti on the gondola though.

iii. eden's garden

When you step onto the isle itself, a vast meadow waits in front of you. Flowers of every color and type stretch out in front of you. Some might be recognizable from your home world, some aren't. They sway gently in the breeze, leading all the way up to a giant tree that stands tall in the center of the island. It stretches far, far, far up overhead—so tall that one might think that it can pierce all the way into the heavens. In its center, the hollowed out center of it is clear to see: an hourglass. Much of the sand in the hourglass is already pooled at the bottom, indicating a long time has already passed. The end is near.

With each grain, it brings you closer and closer to the conclusion of your time here in Purgatory.

Though as you wander through the flowers, you might notice... they look a bit familiar. Some species are just like what you see in your shard. Once you approach the base of the tree, you'll then begin to see them. Placed all around the roots, there they are—the Eurydice. Your loved one looks like they are doing nothing more than taking a pleasant nap beneath the shade of the guardian of the forest. However if you try to approach or touch them, you'll find your touch obstructed. Though you can't see it, the shape of the barrier is almost more like that of a coffin.

No matter how you might call out, your Eurydice doesn't wake. They continue to doze peacefully until the hour comes for your journey to end. Better keep an eye on that hourglass, huh?

(For those of you with... special situations in regards to your shards, you may adjust Eurydice accordingly to what you might see. However, of note, is that if your character's Eurydice is someone else in the game—their sleeping form will occasionally grow fuzzy or experience changes in transparency. Almost as if to indicate that they are simultaneously there and right next to you. Hm.)

iv. origin's orchard

What might stand out the most is simply the fact that this seems to actually be... something of a pleasant place. In the center of the maze, there is such calm. The lake, the flowers, the tree. Life boiled down to its roots. Of course, there is just a bit more left to explore. Whether it be beneath the tree's giant roots, or if you take a splash in the lake, you can suddenly find yourself fallen... underground.

A series of tunnels sprawl beneath the island itself. You may hear the occasional skittering of something in the darkness, but there are just enough lamps against the cave walls to illuminate your way inside. After some exploring, you might find yourself directly beneath the guardian tree. Its roots dig into this center chamber and sprout into trees in turn. And look, they're all bearing fruit. All this time, you haven't found yourself hungry but now... Now your mouth waters. You want to take one. You must take one. The only question is: which? Each of the fruits will amplify either the sin or virtue associated with. You may flip a coin to determine which it is, or your character can oscillate wildly back and forth. Good luck.

🍎 Red Apple: Envy/Kindness
🍏 Green Apple: Gluttony/Temperance
🥝 Kiwi: Wrath/Patience
🍓 Strawberry: Pride/Humility
🥭 Mango: Lust/Chastity
🍈 Melon: Sloth/Diligence
🍐 Pear: Greed/Charity
There is no option to not take a fruit this time. You've already come so far. Why not take a bite of original sin?

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 Compati Lake, mods will not be policing what memories (trululus) or fantasies (delulus) you choose to have your character share. It's a free for all, dears. 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!

Comments

[lucentia]

[he glances at the flower, before back at hien.]

... I don't know that I've ever thought about it before.

[selfconcept]

"It's fine. Most people don't."

[ He lowers his arm to his side while still holding the flower. ]

"But you can find out, if you get closer."

[lucentia]

... If you're all right with that, then.