#B90B3C

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

(Color)

Ciao. It’s Caramia.

I have news for everyone that, up until now, I have never found the right time to share. Though, with these new quests showing up, it’s never been a better time. Hopefully, it’ll serve as a reminder before anyone does anything too rash.

Kyrie and I entered the forest a while ago, and to spare the journey details, we eventually found a book. After some time, it allowed me to ask a question. So, I used the opportunity to ask it if there was any way we could prepare ourselves for the dangers of this town.

In return, the book read “Strengthen your bonds, positive or negative” and that “the greatest risk you face is losing sight of that.”

While I am not one to say that every book is telling the truth, this seems to be a pretty sound goal to keep track of, considering what we know of the town. Just remember to stay safe and look out for one another.

Comments

#90014

[doublecrowss]

[ The greatest risk you face is losing sight of bonds... SWEATS....... ]

I fail to see how negative bonds could help us against the dangers of this town; under normal circumstances, that would even be counterproductive. However, it would stand to reason that whoever rules this place would think and encourage otherwise, considering the sort of quests we have been assigned lately.

#00CCFF

[bittybat]

Potentially, it's a test. To see if we'll attempt them.

Though it could also be a test of bonds regardless. Balance. Tampering with the positive bonds we've made negatively - is the town trying to get us to reconcile, making the bonds stronger afterward?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

I was thinking something similar. Relationships can strengthen greatly if two people get through, say, a fight with each other, for example. However, I don’t condone the town for making anyone try it. Said relationships can easily strengthen in their own right, no fighting involved.

If anything, it might even hurt to know you’re doing something like it for something as silly as a quest…

That, or maybe the town is also fine if two people just absolutely loathe one another. It’s hard to tell for sure.

[bittybat]

Perhaps the town isn't searching for a specific answer then. It's giving us variables, and however we utilize them is a way, neither right or wrong. Both have the possibility of strengthening bonds.

[doublecrowss]

If it's a test, then it's one that has been met with positive reinforcement in the shape of rewards. At least as far as I know, no one has been punished for these negative quests.

However, if we're really meant to reconcile, I find it hard to believe this would be the most effective way to accomplish that. If anything, forcing people into serious disagreement so soon might be counterproductive. Unless rebuilding this Town isn't their primary concern, of course...

[ Unless forming bonds at all is more important than mutual cooperation. Why does he keep getting told this kind of bullshit, though............. ]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

I’m not so sure. While 00CCFF has a point, we should also remember the quest where we were meant to take color from one another. The rewards for that quest, if I recall, were not exactly fun for anyone. It might be the case here, too.

[doublecrowss]

That seems to have been the one exception for these quests, as least as far as I know-- and even then, taking color from someone instantly gave the culprit a boost in energy and confidence, so one could argue it wasn't an entirely negative experience.

[ But how does Akechi know about this, hmmm..... ]

#273299

[sirnyxalot]

Seems there's quite a bit of information being fed to us in pieces small enough to lose. I wonder if there's a way to bring this stuff up or gather it together somewhere it can be safe from the chaos of the presumed curse.

That being said, a lot of the quests so far have seemed focused on the bonds we've been building. It makes sense that our future would rely on not breaking them.

I wonder why things are different this month.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

The forum is definitely the best place for us to share, along with the bulletin. But any reasonable way to keep everything organized unfortunately died when the town meetings did. It’s something I’d like to fix somehow…

It did mention negative bonds as well, though I’m not sure what that means? I took that personally as ‘bonds made under negative pretense’, but it didn’t make that super clear. Maybe that’s what this month is for??

[sirnyxalot]

I just assumed that meant like...hatred and stuff like that. Even a bad relationship would technically be some kind of bond. Not that I want to willingly encourage those. I've had enough of that shit back home.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to start up the town meetings again. Use them as an opportunity to share what we've found or been given for doing the previous quests, and perhaps to discuss the current quests in a better way than the forum already allows. And it'd be nice to just have an excuse to get together as a town without some kind of disaster happening to force it.

#610B0B

[bisection]

Ah. Bonds, huh?

I wonder what losing bonds does to us individually.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

We’ve gotten punishments for less in the past. I don’t think it’s worth trying out.

[bisection]

Oh, no. I mean. With the people who have left.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

Ah...

Well, I... have seen some things lose their color again in the past. Pieces of the sky and such we’re most noticeable personally...

#27DEA9

[pyrafect]

Somehow, I doubt negative relationships would lend to anything helpful in the long-term, especially if two people were to completely distance themselves from each other.

Maybe the answer to that question meant something more like... rivalry, maybe?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

I could see that, I suppose. But I wouldn’t consider that negative in my opinion. I mean, I’ve found that rivals tend to also make the best of friends when they get down to it.

[pyrafect]

I suppose that's true. :) [ She can see that, if the rivalry is in the sense that the two are working to better themselves!

But what about genuine hate for another? That doesn't seem right.

#E5C76C

[decapitated]

[ color! ]

Bonds... they seem to be a driving theme of this town, aren't they? It's interesting that negative ones are just as encouraged as the positive.

[ she's also idly wondering if a goal to make bonds will somehow lessen their validity - if they're a means to an end, can they really be genuine?

it's a little too much of a downer to consider, so she doesn't ask. ]

Is it common to find mysterious objects like that in the forest?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

Oh, definitely. It seems that they often influence what is restored to the town as well. Sometimes, anyway.

And… yes, actually. There seem to be a lot things scattered in the forest. In my experience, it tends to change depending on the person you’re with, or the reason for exploring it to begin with.

[decapitated]

If only we were able to choose what gets restored... is it completely random, or are there any discernible patterns?

I see... I've been warned about the forest, but I can't help but be curious.

#1A2367

[nascere]

huh.
i wonder who's behind that book
so even with enemies, that'll help keep this town and everyone safe?

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

At this point, I think it’s less of a “who” and more of a “what”. Or maybe that’s just my personal thoughts?

Apparently? I’m not sure how that works, but I’m positive that the town doesn’t want any two people who are apathetic or don’t care about one another. In its own sense, even people who don’t like one another doesn’t mean they don’t care.

#EA0000

[theshowsover]

(color!)

I believe it is. Bonds are important, even negative ones.

But I hope we make more positive bonds.

I see u personas I’m onto u

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

Agreed. I just... wanted everyone to keep this in mind. This month has some quests that are bound to not end very well.

whistles innocently

[theshowsover]

Yeah. I think it's safe to say we should all stay away from that near-death experience one.