In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 150):

He chuckles.  Or at least you hear him chuckle in your head.

"Simple.  You got a rider.  Someone's clinging to you.  I think they've hidden themselves in your psyche. Sorta like a mental tick.

"If my guess is right, they're planning on letting you gather up a bunch of flags and then snatching them from you.

"If you want, I can pop them off you."

I feel my eyebrow twitch.

Telepaths. A bunch of self-important midwits who always think they're better than they are. Their existence reminds me of my parents and their failure to give me some more direct method of dealing with those mentalic snakes.

Quietly, and frigid, "Who?" My icy stare and clipped commands make most peoples' blood run cold.

If Alec Johaness really can read auras, whatever that means, he'll surely be able to sense the hostility radiating from me. He doesn't need to be telepathic, but if he's like any other telepath I've ever met, he's socially stunted and relies entirely on his mind woojie to understand other people.

His arrogance, of course, has gotten the better of him. He's already broken school rules flagrantly by telepathically contacting me. Not that I care too much what the school rule is, because the law is clear enough: telepaths can, in fact, know for sure whether their targets consent, and so involuntarily telepathic contact is assault. When I find whoever did it, I will be fully justified in beating their face in until they wet themselves whenever they think about doing it again.

In that moment, I think I understand why I loathe telepaths. They have power, and can attack me, on vectors along which which I have limited defenses. It is a sort of helplessness that I do not like feeling. I am, however, not actually helpless, so what might be fear in a baseline becomes hatred in me. It is the same, I think, as the contempt I have for people who obey the letter of the rules but not the spirit in order to gain advantage over others: injustice and wickedness brought about by a lack of consequences.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Mon 07 Dec 2020.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 152):

If he can sense your hostility, Alec doesn't seem to mind it.

"If I had to guess, it's Tabitha.  Hey Tabby.  You been found out.  Might as well give it up."

There's a long moment.  Ahina suddenly starts.  She points at the ground.

"Your shadow!"

"Yeah yeah.  Don't make a federal case out of it."

Your shadow lengthens along the ground and then a large part of it peels itself up.  It seems to refocus and suddenly you're looking at the hazy image of a girl about your age.  She's translucent at the moment.  But she's not unattractive.  Her hair is a bit too frizzy and her chin a little sharp.

She studies you a moment, makes a noise like she's clicking her tongue, and then looks at Alex.

"Asshole.  I had a good racket goin' here.  Why'd you have to stick your nose into it?"

"Well, among other reasons, you're a self serving bitch and I hate your guts."

This 'Tabby' gives Alex the middle finger and then looks back at you.  "Look.  I tried playing you and it didn't work out.  Don't make a big deal outta it."  She puts her hands together.  They pass through each other.

"I'm still in phase.  You won't be able to touch me.  So just cool your jets, alright?"

Despite my anger, my composure is as unflappable as ever. I listen to them in silence.

After a few seconds, I force myself to adopt a neutral tone. I do have some grudging respect for her playing the game with a clever stratagem. "What is it, exactly, that you did, Tabitha? I've never seen a power like that."

I glance behind myself to look for my shadow.

I am undecided on how to react. Everything I've been taught, my instincts, my parents, all would tell me to crack some heads until they learned who to fear. I know why they would say that: the hierarchy exists because it does, and if it is not overtly enforced, evil and deceitful people will hide behind social niceties and face no consequences for wicked behavior.

I've seen so many shows and read so many manga with the same subject that I know it to be the case.

And yet, can I ever know if there is a better way than the tyranny of strength without actually trying something else?

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 154):

It's Alec that answers.

"She can turn her body into a visual effect.  Shadow.  Hologram. A rainbow.  She can change her form but, just like her personality, she won't have any substance."

Tabitha gives him another finger.  He continues with even more smug satisfaction oozing from his voice.

"She likes to ride around in people's eyeballs.  You look at her, and she rides the light waves back into your eye.  Then she just hitches a ride.  Ain't that right sweetie?"

Tabitha shrugs, but other wise ignores Alec.  She looks at you. "That is really the gist of it.  If I turn solid, are you gonna try to whallop me?"

I sigh and shake my head. "No, I won't try to wallop you."

I hear my mother's voice, remembered from lesson after lesson: Easy, girl. You are faster than her; faster than any person ever, because you move faster than time itself. But this is a game, nothing serious. Be cool and play your cards only when you absolutely have to.

I pointedly ignore Alec's smugness.

"I would like to ask you for a favor, though. Let's trade digits; I want to know if your phone works when you're phased out, so to speak. It shouldn't, since there's nothing to send or receive signals if you don't have any mass in that state, and if it doesn't, then something more sinister is going on than you being clever."

Was Tabitha the source of the duplicate GPS signal? On the one hand, it would make sense in that situation, since the duplicate signal only followed me around inside time. On the other hand, it wouldn't make sense, because if Tabitha was just a light wave, her phone shouldn't work. The physical circuitry shouldn't function without space between the wires or mass to carry the charges.

I'm already learning about some interesting powers and that there's a wider variety out there than I imagined.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:05, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 156):

Tabitha gives you an odd look, but shrugs and trades digits.  It is her number that's showing up as the dupe.  Or was.  Her signal is now showing from where she's standing.

"You mind if I ask about what's so sinister?"

"I think she found out about the satellite."

Alec sounds more serious now.

"It's an open secret they don't put in the brochure.  They track all the students.  You can hack into their tracker pretty easy.  Sometimes it tags the students by their phone numbers.  Sometimes by their student IDs.  Sometimes it's an anagram of your name or some kinda code."

"Oh yeah.  Those codes are a real pain."

"It can track you no matter what kinda state you're in.  When I seperate from my body, it tracks my spirit instead of my body for instance.  It's a real pain.

"No one knows how they do it.  Some say it's a satellite that stays in orbit over the school.  That doesn't really explain anything, but most everyone calls it the 'Satellite of Love' now."

"Really?  I always just heard it called the Satellite."

"Just tellin' you the story I heard is all."

Alec opens his eyes and yawns.  He stretches his arms over his head.  His voice now comes out of his mouth.  "Anyway.  That's the deal.  Welcome to Saint George.  They know more about you bein' naughty or nice than Santa does."

I've spent a minute and twelve seconds forcing myself to be calm now, so the need to force it melts away into genuine calm rather than icy self-control.

I still keep an ear open, giving the other two students my attention when they speak.

"Oh? An open secret, then. What happens if someone confronts the school big shots about it? Are they actually keeping it a secret or just not mentioning it without being asked?"

I start to formulate an experiment in my mind. I twirl the end of one of my braids around my fingers, and I look over my shoulder at my companion.

Friend? Yeah, friend. The thought makes me smile.

"Ahina, can you put that tracking app on your phone, too? I want to try something, if you don't mind."

I'll have us switch phones, leave time, and then see if the "satellite" tracks us outside time. It didn't seem like it was before, but I want to make sure. I also want to verify Alec's claim, that it somehow tracks the person rather than a device. I'll also leave my cord behind for just that reason. Outside time, of course; no need to test inside time just yet.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 158):

There's a lag.  But it seems to move with you.  Not the phone.

Alec shrugs when you pop back.  "I dunno if anyone's ever carried anything out about the tracking.  Or the 'honor system'..."

Tabitha waves a hand.  "St. George's is kinda weird in a lotta ways.  It's like they expect you to try to buck the system. And there have been people who  have tried to challenge this or that issue.  You hear different things about 'em.  Some leave the school.  Some go on to finish the program.  I've only ever heard of one person getting expelled."

Alec giggles.  "Why would they wanna expel their cash cows?  You have to really try to get expelled.  It's much easier just to go through the program.

"Course..."  He smirks as he finishes his stretching routine.  "Most people just finish the program and withdraw from the school.  Not many actually pass the graduation test.  At least that's what I hear."

Tabitha shrugs.  "I've heard somethin' like that too.  But who cares?  You can get work if you finish the program is what I hear.  One of the official teams.  The private security companies.  The Feds or the Spooks.  Hell, most of the big corporations like to keep a meta security force on payroll.  And Saint George's is where you get the connections."

She glances at you.  "What kinda gig are you angling for when you get outta here?"

To be clear, the idea is that no time passes at all for anyone else when Seraphina "goes outside;" it's not ultra super speed so much as a "cheat" that isn't obvious to someone without a way to sense space-time directly. Of course, if you don't want it to work that way, that's fine too; that's just how I was imaging that particular ability.

Does it track me outside of time as well, or does it only snap to me once I re-enter time?

I lean against the wall and tap my palms against it.

"I know you were just trying to win the game, Tabitha. Same for you, Alec. I just really don't like telepathic contact. I've...well, long story short, I've been trained my whole life to be paranoid and violent, so telepathy always feels like an attack, even when it isn't."

I tilt my head to the side. "You can finish the program without graduating but somehow have the program still 'count,' so to speak? That seems a little weird. What does graduating even mean, then?"

Beat.

"Me? To be honest, I just wanted to come here because it was away from my parents. I'm the daughter of the elite and have both of their powers, so the expectations were always overbearing and every little thing I did was managed and scrutinized." I smile winningly at them both. "It would be nice to change the world for the better, to be a real heroine, but I think I need to work on myself a bit first."

A long sigh.

"My dad is The Hammer and my mother is Clockstopper." At least my dad's hero identity makes sense; our last name means "The Hammer" in Old Frankish. On the other hand, the "Clockstopper" name always seemed cringy to me. A little too fake and sterile.

I look over at the other girl. "You gonna come in, Ahina? Hallway looks lonely."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 160):

I may have been thinking about your power in a different manner.  Sorry about that.  I'll adjust.  For now...

Tabitha shrugs.  "Didn't you use your power on some guys to snatch their flag a little while ago?  Powers are gonna get used.  When you signed up for the marathon, you kinda opened yourself up to these things you know."

Alec nods.  "As for me, when I'm detached from my body, I don't have any other way to communicate with someone standing beside my body other than telepathy.  And there's some here who head-talk all the time.  Afraid you're gonna have to get used to it if you wanna attend Saint George."  He seems to consider for a moment.  "There is a trick I can teach you.  Think of it as a way to set up a chat room in your head.  It also helps trip up anyone who wants to dive deep into your head from doing so.  Not sayin' it will stop someone who's determined to get into your mind.  But it will at least give you a way to set up a safe zone and set up an alarm to let you know someone's walking around your brain.  If you're interested, shoot me your digits.  We can set up some time to go over it."

Tabitha gives him an odd look.  "Aren't you being nice?"

He laughs.  "Not at all.  I'll want something in return eventually. I am a mercenary after all."

Tabitha rolls her eyes then listens to your question about graduation. "It is weird yeah.  But so is everything else about Saint George's.  When you finish your coursework, they give you a certificate.  Like you'd get if you had put in hours to become a plumber or a carpenter.  The only way to get a degree from Saint George's is to graduate as a normie or take the graduation test.  Which only a few ever do."

Alec nods. "Most companies treat that certificate like a college degree.  So just complete your coursework and you're set."  He scratches his chin.  "To be honest...not sure what passing the Final Exam really gets you.  Other than a fancier piece of paper."

They both listen to your answer about your future plans.  Tabitha raises an eyebrow and Alec chuckles when you mention your lineage.  "Wow.  You must be under a ton of pressure to perform."

Alec cackles.  "I knew you smelled like money.  Well I'll tell it to you straight.  I'll be happy to provide my services at any time.  And as long as I am compensated, I do not double cross.  Ever.  That is my motto."

"As weird as it sounds, he means that."  Tabitha looks at Alec with a mixture of admiration and disdain.  "He's an asshole.  But he is an asshole consistently and to everyone.  And I've never heard of him breaking a deal.  Hell.  I don't even wanna guess what all he's been involved with."

"You'll have to guess. Cos I'll never tell you."  He gives you a wink. "Complete client confidentiality is part of every package."

Ahina has been studying the phone. She starts when you speak to her, then nods and comes inside, waving the tracking record.  "There's a lag.  If you play back the tracking info you can tell.  I think what's happening is that the program loses you maybe when you...uh...'blip' out.  And then it snatches you back up when you 'blip' back in.  It might be worthwhile to see what happens by blipping out, going a long distance from your original spot, and blipping back in.  Until now, you haven't really covered much ground from your point of exit and point of reentry."

No problem! I just want to make sure we're on the same page.

"No, I used my power on myself," I answer Tabitha. "It might have looked like I was using it on them, though. I've only ever been myself, so I don't know what it looks like from the outside when I use my powers. Especially for you; I've never had anyone along for the ride in quite the way you were before.

"I'd appreciate that," I say to Alec, and I exchange numbers with him.

"So how's all that telepathy work then, when it's against the rules? Apparently we're expected to break the rules. Surely there are punishments for getting caught though, right? I wonder if the teachers or administrators can somehow track when we're using powers."

I tap my palms against the wall again, listening to Tabitha's and Alec's further explanations.

"Blech! Who'd want to finish as a normie?"

I emphatically do not want to be normal. Friends, yes. Social circle, why not. Normal though, definitely not. As much difficulty as they may have given me, I appreciate my parents and the powers they passed on to me and trained me to use well.

"I've been under pressure since I was old enough to remember. The bus ride here was the first time in my life I've had more than an hour at a stretch that wasn't planned and scheduled in advance by my parents to squeeze out every last bit of whatever they expected from me. I think the only reason they allowed me to come to St. George's at all is the sheer prestige of the place."

I smell my wrist. "What, doesn't everybody wear perfume?"

I think the subtle floral scent is nice. Fifty dollars seemed like a reasonable price for the bottle. Right? It occurs to me I have no actual idea what "expensive" means. I tend towards understated, elegant, high-quality materials and craftsmanship over conspicuous consumption, but that's just because Dad does too. Mom likes things a little fancier.

"I can respect that. The mercenary attitude. I appreciate people who are up-front and honest about their intentions. I've dealt with so many fake friends in my life that just straight-out telling me you want money and favors is return for help is kind of refreshing."

I'm genuinely interested in Ahina's discoveries, as my focused wonder watching her fingers fly over the screen probably shows. "How'd you get all that data so fast?" My admiration of her skill with technology, or at least, what seems like skill to me, comes with more emotion than I've overtly displayed in anything I've said yet today.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 162):

Tabitha giggles.  "Everything's legal if you don't get caught."

Alec nods.  "Look at it like this:  the only way I can talk to somebody when I'm out of body is by telepathy right?  So me using telepathy on you just then wasn't an attack so much as communication.  It's a loophole."

"The whole system is set up with loopholes.  Unless you're a monitor, you can make use of them."

Alec snorts.  "Or you just can't get caught.  But yeah, the professors and admin seem to have a pretty good idea about who's doing what."

Tabitha glances out the window.  "Enforcement is kinda random.  I've known a couple of people who get kicked out for this or that.  Others..." She shrugs.  "Just don't piss off the Rigney people and keep your head down."

Ahina blinks, surprised by the praise.  Her cheeks blush and she waves the phone.  "Well.  's not really hard.  The system is pretty much set up to do all that.  I'm just used to keepin' track of data for my research is all."

Any other questions for this peanut gallery?  If not you may move where you wish.  The festival awaits.

I don't like all of the scheming I've done already. I wanted to make something different. But it seems clear that, for the time being, I'll have to scheme. Is that what they're trying to teach me, here? Among other things, of course. Information is power, and the inattention of potential enemies is a weapon against them. My parents said that a lot. Said a lot of things...a lot.

Guh, I'm repeating myself in my own thoughts.

The plain truth is that the school rules say that telepathy isn't allowed. They do not, however, say anything about violence whatsoever, only bullying. Everyone I meet seems fixated on not solving disputes the straightforward way the whole rest of the world does.

What would Sailor Sun do?

Sailor Sun would lose and then come back later to win with the power of love. Sailor Sun was literally magical and had a literally magical talking dog that taught her new superpowers.

Tabitha parrots my own words back at me.

I thank Alec and Tabitha for their help and information, respectively. I keep my word not to take Alec's flag and I step out of time to draw

(=^‥^=)

on Tabitha's flag.

I make sure that Tabitha doesn't hitch a ride again.

While still outside of time, I grab Ahina and pull her out into the greyscale world between moments. I lead her away from the admin building to the next flag: the farthest blip from the admin building. Then I take stock of my new target. I don't say anything until we get there.

Then, while outside of time with Ahina and looking over my prey, I break the silence and say to the girl who's been helping me: "Thanks, Ahina. I know I can be cold. I appreciate you helping me, though."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 164):

Ahina starts at the sudden praise.  She pushes her glasses up on her nose and blushes, like you had just asked her to prom.

The farthest blip has actually taken you back out to the chess match.  A few students are in the stands.  They don't seem to be participating.  Just visiting with each other away from the crowds.  Among them are a couple.  They are sitting up at the top of one of the bleachers, hugging and kissing, lovely dovey.  They both wear flags, the guy having three flags on his arm band.

Just want to pop in and say how much I'm enjoying your game.  Any feedback thus far?  I will be working on plans for post-Festival day this weekend and wanted to ask.

Thanks

"I hope that I can do as much for you as you've done for me. It's hard for me to talk about, but I've been lonely most of my life. You're the first person I've had a real connection with in a long time."

I grin at her, trying to cover my embarrassment.

I go to sit next to the smoochers and drop back into standard time. Doing that brings Ahina back with me, as long as she's nearby, which she is. I don't actually know what happens if I leave the greyscale world between moments with someone else there; I just assume they'll be trapped forever, because time does not advance there and travel into the past is impossible.

As far as I know.

Though sometimes I wonder if time travel backwards could be accomplished. The only other person I know of to have ever had this power is my mother, and she says she's tried every way she could think of to go back. I've also tried many, many times, to no avail.

Ah, not the time to think about that. Even though I have all the time in the world.

"Hey you two, don't mind me. I'll just take those..."

I go for the steal. Even without my time manipulation powers, I've got my father's superhuman speed; pair them together and I've never been beaten by anyone in a contest of reflexes or quickness. Maybe Tabitha could, though, at least in the specific case of moving over distance. She has a very odd power.

Assuming I secure the flags, I am of course ready to immediately step outside of time again, grab Ahina, and retreat back to the games organizer lady so I can turn in the flags I have so far. But first I'll see if I actually get the love birds' flags!

Thank you! I'm really enjoying it as well. ^_^ As I've said before, you're doing a fantastic job of narrating.

The worst part is that there's only one update a day and sometimes no updates, at times I'm usually not online. Partially my fault though! =P

The world feels much more real and lived-in, and the characters more complete as people, than is usual for RPGs I've played. I get the impression that Seraphina is a person in a world rather than an avatar through which I impose myself on a series of puzzles.

The slight name changes to well-known businesses and movies are also great. Light-hearted, almost, to contrast with what feels like a morally complex game world where a lot more goes on that meets the eye but that isn't obsessed with being cynical.

Whether those impressions reflect reality of things you've planned or you're very good at making it seem like they're true, it's still really great. =D

As for negative things, nobody seems to care one way or another how anyone looks, positively or negatively, which is jarring because real people are very concerned with appearances almost all the time. Of course, I'd like my character to be praised for being pretty, but that's not the sum total of it. This isn't a big issue, though.

Many of the NPCs Seraphina has interacted with so far have had a "too cool for school" vibe to them, of smug superiority, which would ordinarily bother me if it was too common, but I think it makes sense given the circumstances. Real people also bluff and have arrogant attitudes.

So really, the negative aspects are minor. 10/10 would RPG again. =)

I edited this post to put the first block of Seraphina's speech in the proper color, periwinkle.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:22, Sat 19 Dec 2020.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 166):

They are in mid smooch when you pop back into real time.  The girl's eyes are completely silver in color.  He doesn't have any distinguishing features, other than his blonde hair is all poofy and real stupid looking.

They both barely manage to look surprised before you are out again.  Ahina gives a quick clap as you both step back into gray time.

"That is so cool!  It's really a different experience watching you operate in person as opposed to watching it on my computer.  And you don't have to do anything for me!  Just hangin' with someone as cool as you...I never thought I'd get the chance!"

Ahina is blushing again.

The lady at the table counts out your flags.  "Alright.  You have six flags thus far.  Still got plenty of time.  Not many have turned in flags thus far, so you're second place.

If you check your tracker, you can see lots of flags still out there.  The greatest concentration are around the games area.  There are more at the movie theater then there was before.  You realize the movies are about to start.

Thanks for the compliments.  I'll try to recall adding more physical character description as we continue. Also varying up the personalities some.  As I look back, I can see what you mean.  There is definitely a cynical vibe to them all.

Okay.  I'll work on next steps.  Hope you have a great weekend.  Thanks again.

I've watched videos of myself, especially in the Leagues. Watching myself is the key to doing better; if I don't watch myself, I can't know when I mess up or when I make the right move.

"Yeah, it probably just looks like stutter-teleporting around on video, huh?"

At least, that's what it looks like to me. I can slow down my perception of time as well as step out of it, but even viewing the world at 10,000 frames per second, my mother and I don't move around impossibly fast. We just skip from one place and position to another. Slowing down my temporal perception is one of the skills I have that my mother does not; since she doesn't have superhuman speed like Dad and I do, it's not useful to her.

Second place, huh? Well I guess that means I better pick it up.

I go for the greatest concentration then, to snatch up as many flags as possible before anyone beats me to the punch. I plan to win!

I didn't necessarily mean the physical descriptions. I think you've done fine with that so far. Rather, I meant that the NPCs don't seem to react to the way other characters look much, if at all.

Also, you're welcome, and thank you too. =)

Have I been giving you something fun to spring off of? Any comments, complaints, suggestions, complements, etc for me?


This message was last edited by the player at 10:22, Mon 21 Dec 2020.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 168):

You are in second place.  Not sixth.

No complaints or suggestions thus far.  I am looking forward to seeing how Seraphina handles some of the curve balls as she moves further into Saint George's.  I will be interested to see who she forms alliances with and who she won't.

Thanks for the good game. I am enjoying it.

You hit the game area, scooping up ten flags in the first ten minutes.  Ten minutes real time that is.

No one puts up much of a fuss.  They all seem too surprised by the sudden popping in.

Are you keeping the flags on you?  Or turning them in as you go?  Thanks

As you search for number eleven, you see Louise.  She spies you at the same time and waves, a crocodile smile on her mouth.

"Hey there!  Care to try your hand at a game with me?"

Oops! Fixed it.

Indeed, it's fun! A really great game thus far. =)

As I go, I turn in the flags in batches of five, or less if that's particularly convenient. I can cover whatever distance I feel like in an instant, so, from the perspective of everyone but myself, I'm going impossibly fast. Ahina probably discovers, as I bring her along with me, that I am almost never in a hurry, since I can pause time. The ten minutes of real time that passes between my popping in and out of real time conceals more than an hour outside time.

I wave back at Louise, merely lifting my hand, palm outward. The sort of lazy not-quite-wave that I'm used to giving. "Heya, Louise. I might be interested; but we're both trying to win the flag marathon, yeah?" I tap my armband.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 170):

Louise chuckles. "Sure!  But you'll probably win that, won't you?"

You notice now her flag is missing.  Alec must have already gotten to her.

She waves at some of the booths. "Why not try something a little more mundane.  Haven't you always been curious what Normie games are like?"

I shrug at her assertion that I'll win the flag game. I am very competitive; it's true. I am, however, also emotionally "flat" in most situations. Feeling anything but anger too strongly was always a weakness, according to my parents. Well, Mom at least feels the same about anger, though Dad has more of a temper.

I might lose the marathon. I don't want to, but I've lost before and will lose again.

"Gimme a minute," I reply, and then I pop back over to the desk to turn in my flags.

Am I winning? If I am, I might be willing to try a couple carny games with Louise, but I also want to ask Ahina's opinion.

In the greyscale space outside of time, I ask her, "What do you think Louise is up to? I'm guessing she's in cahoots with Alec."

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 172):

Ahina shrugs. "I dunno. She has it in for you, that's for sure.  Didn't that Alec guy say he wanted to be the one to capture her flag?  In any event, she's got some kinda trick up her sleeve here."

"Mhm, she does. She seems to think we're rivals." I smirk and flip my hair over my shoulder. I'm quite proud of how good I look in general and feel a sense of smug superiority that I'm both prettier and more powerful than Louise. I shouldn't, but I do.

At some point, I have to stop blaming my parents for my competitive streak.

I go ahead and turn in my flags to check my position in the ranks before deciding whether to "play" with Louise.

In reply to Seraphina Martel (msg # 174):

You have overtaken the one girl who was ahead of you.  But you both got overtaken in the last five minutes by someone turning in 34 flags in one go.

Adam Browoski.  Seems your fellow classmate with the halberd has decided to play the game as well.

A quick check of the scanner shows the movie theater clear of all flags.  He must have hit the largest concentration of students at one time.

By my estimate, you have 27 flags at the moment.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:09, Fri 25 Dec 2020.