[When the audio starts, the tune is charming, upbeat, happy. Is this really something Dr. Grinch Hotstud is playing? He'll even sing for it, and he's not bad on vocals. When he gets to poisoning pigeons... it may be clearer why he has this song memorized.

His audience will get to... enjoy the sick humor as he rounds off before speaking. There's a quiet, jazzier tune going in the background as he talks, just something improvised to do with his hands.]

So, funny thing about this piano. If you play a song you've heard here, you get a little kid whispering to you. Exciting. Anybody else been somewhere with incessant humming or music? I'll be taking requests for good Earth music from 2005 or earlier, as well.

Also - [and here the music does stop and mn_poisoning.txt is uploaded as a spreadsheet of data] - got a table going with the MN poisoning data provided. [The tune starts up again.] So far we know monster encounters, injuries, and death raise MN levels. Notable: Blondie and the Fashionista had their levels rise more than mine after our little run in with an anomaly. Guessing it's because I have my beacon on, but we need more data to confirm that.

[It's been a while since anyone has heard from Emmanellain, maybe because of his increasing paranoia he's been hiding a bit more than normal. Whatever the case may be, he's here now, looking a bit scruffy, but even more tired and worn.]

One does have to wonder what the bloody point is anymore.

[He doesn't sound like his normal bubbly self, not at all.]

Between the monsters—some of which mocking that which is far too close to home—the cold, the apparent public executions between ourselves, and now these—[he gestures with a hand as he tries to even find the words]—shadow beings skulking about...

It all seems a little pointless, does it not? Why do we have to struggle so? And what fruits will our labor produce?

[He lets out a long suffering sigh.]

I have tried to stay optimistic in this all, truly I have. But between all the death, snow, and other suchlike horrors, it does little to keep one's spirits high, nor does it inspire hope that there will be an end to all of this.

How do any of you find the will to face each day as if there is any hope at all to leave this hell when we have naught to show for aught we have done?

Characters: House, Haurchefant, Dorian, and Emmanellain
Location Building 19
Date: Days 68 - 70
Summary: The event happens and at least three of these people are hallucinating. This will get interesting.
Warnings: House is his own warning, but general spoilers for Dragon Age and Final Fantasy online are likely.

( Ain't no doubt about it... )

A: Network (Audio); Morning; Open to All

Hey, everyone, it's Alphonse here.

[He clears his throat a little awkwardly. He hates having to open the wounds of Clarke's death, but it's necessary to touch on it when discussing the guide she made.]

Clarke hasn't-- she's still gone, but her work and the efforts she made to try and help everyone here aren't something that we should let fade away. I've taken over maintaining the survival guide that she made. I've done some editing to make sure the information is as up to date as possible, but a lot of the people who offered to be listed there in order to help aren't-- they're not here any longer.

[Which is a nice way of saying dead. Well over half the contacts on there, not to mention the two original authors, are all dead and gone.]

So I'm asking for anyone who has useful skills, knowledge, or just a desire to help to come forwards so that we can make sure there's always someone to turn to if they're needed.

Thanks.

[And a link to the survival guide will be put up for general perusal.]

B: Network (Audio); Evening; Open to All

[As night has fallen and Al is faced with another long evening of being trapped inside, his mind turns to how to keep morale up here. It worries him that people like Zack, who had once been so full of hope and fire, is now so drawn and subdued. This place is rough on them all, the losses and injuries of dear friends take their toll on everyone, and it's easy to lose hope.

It scares him that eventually people will simply stop fighting, and he can't let that happen.

Maybe he can make a slight difference just by breaking up the serious discussion over the network with something lighter, something to help people ease their troubles just for a short while and remember how to smile or laugh. But he doesn't really know any jokes or funny stories, or-- or does he? Tim has, after all, taught him one joke from his home.

A self conscious throat clearing echoes over the tablets, before Al pipes up.]

I think I might have found something important, but I'm not sure what it means. Could you help me?

[This link is sent publicly out to everyone. The man playing in the clip is Tim Wright. Al still isn't sure why this is supposed to be funny, but he hopes he executed the joke right based on what he was taught.]

Characters: House, Dorian, Haurchefant, Emmanellain, Stein, Brian, Tim, and Jay
Location: Building 50, Building 130, and Building 131
Date: Days 58 - 60
Summary: Trekking to the hospital, losing Ellana along the way, gaining Emmanellain and Brian, and meeting up with Tim and Jay.
Warnings: House and all of the acerbic wit and lack of PC that comes with that, along with Stein and all the potential sadism and mad scientist that goes with that.

( Another freaking Zubat... )