Those of you who know April Sinclair may want to know that she has left the tower. I searched the graveyard and found her tombstone today.

-Aleph Sinclair

[Those who want to console Aleph in person can find him in one corner of the third floor library. He's looking pretty miserable.]

It's my birthday today. I'm two years old.

There's not many supplies, so I was wondering how other people celebrate things here? It's hard to make any day different from the others.

If you want, you can come by at dinner and have some cake with me. It'll have to be carrot cake, that's all we've got.

[Lysandre found the whole concept the the video network to be rather interesting, as the technology was very similar to the Holocaster. Something he had developed himself within Lysandre labs. Right now, he was facing the screen, whilst running his hand through Pyroar's mane. If anyone catches a glimpse of the Pokémon, he comes across as a large lion, with a similar mane of hair to his master. Lysandre values freedom and had allowed his Pokémon free, after finding his Pokeball within a case close to his bed, on arrival. Lysandre never liked keeping his Pokémon within Pokeballs for too long. He had questions and wondered who else dwelled within the prison.]

Can anyone answer me some questions, for I am new to this tower. My name is Lysandre and I come from a world known as Kalos, where people and Pokémon exist with one another. [He pauses, thinking on his next question.]

The collar around our necks; what is the function for these devices? Is there any way to remove them? If so, are there consequences? [He turns to Pyroar to see the Pokémon's concerned face. He could tell that Pyroar didn't like being within the Tower, just as his master didn't.]

Also, does anyone else know why we are here and if there is any way to escape from this place? Escape might be a rather strong word, but this whole tower feels to me as if were are prisoners here. I have not been long but I have made several studies of this tower. If anyone can help me out, it will be most welcome to me.

Hello, tower! The Principality of Sealand here, smallest nation in the world! I hope everyone is okay! I have a few things I was wondering about and I'd be grateful if you could help me at all.

The first thing is about weapons! Does anybody have a spare sword? One that'd be a good size for me? See, my friend Aleph said he'll teach me to sword fight, but I'll need a sword that's my size first. Me and Aleph tried to get one from an Orc monster, but it... didn't work out very good. Um. [Aleph died, but Sealand doesn't really want to talk about that.] So, we're still looking, and would appreciate any spares on offer! If not, does anyone know anything about making swords? Like, uh-- blacksmith stuff. I'll be at the workshop later, if anyone would be willing to help! I'd really appreciate it a lot!

Ah, and thing number two! Does anyone here play football? Wouldn't it be really cool to have a football team here?! I think we should make one. Sealand has a really great football team, so I'm practically an expert at it. I think it could be good fun!

Okay, that's all! Thank you for listening.


( Action option - Workshop )

I know we have a captive-created guide to the floors of the tower. Do we have a bestiary of any kind? It would be helpful to be able to learn what we can about the monsters of the tower, even if it's spotty.

I'll start. Does anyone know of a monster that can summon people's fears? Because there is one.

Hello, Tower. I've been away for a while, so I apologize for that. I'm not here to speak about myself, however.

People come and go here as a fact of life. [ Had this been delivered verbally, this statement would have been entirely matter-of-fact. ]

Rather than dwell on that...

I would like to hear of them. Those who are here, those who aren't. Those who've arrived recently and those who've left.

Whatever you'd like to say.

If you please.

I know nobody feels like a party, but it's important to keep spirits up.

The Tower is a sack of shit like always, but the bombings are out of the norm even for this place. It's about time the people of the Tower got together to discuss these developments or just hang out, like we used to.

Cafeteria at Noon, Thursday. Bring your friends. If we could get music down there, that'd be great.


[OOC: Copies of this message can be found in the mailbox if your character doesn't network instead, except for Sephiroth and Ganondorf.]

Well, I was going to ask about giant cakes that women jump out of, since that came up in conversation and I really don't understand the concept, but maybe that's too narrow a question to be a good network post.

So, that's question one. Question two:

Meeting all the people from other worlds in this tower... The best part of this bad experience is the way people you meet can change you and your way of thinking. If you don't mind - you can be anonymous if you want - could you share some things about the people you've met and the friendships you've formed?

-Aleph Sinclair

[The one good thing about Lucifer not being here is that he can't mock Aleph for this sappy post.]

Last month, I posted to the Network asking for those who would be willing teach others how to fight--both with and without powers--to contact me. Many of you were willing to share your talents with those who needed them, and I thank you very much for that.

[Diarmuid smiles and bows his head for a moment before continuing.]

However, aside from a few people who I have already helped find teachers, I haven't really heard from anyone who would like to take advantage of the skills that have been offered. I understand that many of you have probably already found teachers amongst those who you know. For those who still might be looking, I thought that I would post a list of those who offered their services so you can take advantage of them should you ever wish to.

I will warn you, though, that most of these people are battle-hardened warriors and do not pull their punches. If you take them up on their offers, please be prepared to work your hardest. They will expect no less and those who you are fighting for deserve no less.

Here is the list. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Since I know most of the people on the list, if you are unsure who you should contact, I will be glad to direct you to a teacher.

( Teacher List )

If anyone would like to be added to the list, please feel free to let me know. Also, let me know if you would like the information listed by your names altered in anyway or wish to be removed from the list.  This list isn't a static thing by any means.

On a sadder note, for any of you who knew Mami Tomoe, it has come to my attention that she has been sent home. I know she was close to many people. She left me a cookie recipe and since Riki has given us such a good selection of food this month, I can think of no better way to honor her memory than to bake some of the sweets she made so well. Anyone who would like to join me is welcome, though, I cannot guarantee my cookies will be anywhere near as good as the ones she made.  I--

[For a moment it seems like Diarmuid will continue, but after a few seconds, he just shakes his head and ends the feed.]


----

(OOC: If anyone would like to meet up with Diarmuid in the kitchen to try making those cookies, feel free to tag your response with Action, Kitchen and cooking shenanigans can be had!)

[ Sealand’s face can be seen, very close to the screen, his expression bewildered yet somewhat excited. He's on the terminal closest to room 1-20, and he might seem familiar to anyone in the tower who knows England. The only real differences between the two are his somewhat tamer hair, his blue eyes, and the fact that he looks no older than twelve years old.

Oh and guess who totally hasn't read either of those important letters by his bed yet? Who needs to read when it's finally his birthday. He's pretty proud of himself for having figured out how to use the terminal without any help. Technology can help him out here! ]

Hellooooo?!

This is the weirdest birthday surprise I’ve ever had and I don’t know if I like it yet. It’s for a party, uh, right? A surprise party? …Here, for me? This is a strange place for a party, but it’s okay, there must be some reason for it!

I bet my dad organised it! Is he here? And Fin and Wy and everybody? Is this like a game? Is there a cake?! And why did you change me into this suit thing? It's weird.

Anyway, I’m forty-six years old now, you know, I'm practically ancient and more than ready for true nationhood! I hope I have lots of presents and you’ll all take the opportunity to realise how much I’ve grown!

Oh, also, I think this computer’s broken. I can’t find the internet link and I need to get on facebook! I should have lots of birthday messages!

[It's roughly mid-afternoon when Rick is revived--the first floor dorms will be alerted to his presence as he bursts out of 1-16 and runs to the bathrooms, then dry-heaves for an alarming amount of time.]

[He's not taken his death well. To be fair, it's not just dying that's troubling him. The administrators have removed the monster from his mind, but they didn't remove the memories of when it possessed him; he might not recall the exact words he used, or the motivations he had, but the pained expressions of those he targeted remain, and they are agonizing. If only Enoch had killed him for good! If only he never had to look at them again!]

[Of course the Tower won't go easy on him there. Dragging his feet, disheveled and shuddering with occasional sobs, Rick staggers to a terminal while the words are still fresh in his head and bashes out a quick notice: ]

This is Patrick Dawn. Some of you might have met me over the past few days...I need to let you know that the person you met wasn't me.

I'm a shapeshifter--I can take the forms of other creatures if I find them...in a certain condition. I had an idea to try and bond with a monster this way, and...well, it worked...but I couldn't control it. The monsters aren't what they appear to be. I'm not quite sure what they are, exactly...Please, if you have abilities similar to mine, don't follow my lead. For the amount of pain and suffering I've put everyone through, it's not worth it.

For the people that I encountered...I can't even begin to express how sorry I am. I would ask for your forgiveness, but this whole thing was my fault--I don't deserve your sympathies. If there's any possible way for me to make up for the horrible things I've said and done, I will be more than willing to follow through...but I also understand if that's an impossible request. I would take everything back if I could, but...I can't, so...I need to learn to live with my mistakes.

I know it's not enough...I'm so sorry.

[Rick immediately abandons the terminal after he posts to go hide in his room. He'll reply to people, but only after a few hours of collecting his thoughts again.]

[Aleph looks remarkably pleased.]

So, does anyone know if their homes have non-religious marriages and wedding ceremonies? My girlfriend April - fiancee April now - proposed to me, and... well, we're both from post-apocalyptic worlds, hers doesn't have much in the way of traditions and mine had people who would gut you for trying to pervert a holy ceremony. I've never actually attended a wedding, either, so any help here would be nice.

Also nutrition bars are a terrible substitute for cake. At least I'm sure there's no connection between nutrition bars and Him.

I hope you all have a great day, Animus.

*Enoch is holding a sheet of paper - thin plastic, really - in front of him.*

This is what started this, I'm sure you've all seen them now and know what I mean.

*He lets out a breath and lowers the paper.* And if the red-collared brute somewhere behind me doesn't see fit to attack me for this just yet, I'd like to say something. An apology. To our current administrator, for the trouble this could cause on his undeserving watch, but most importantly, to all of you. To everyone who was here at the beginning of last month.

*There's a pause while he takes a breath, steeling himself and preparing for possible attack. When he speaks, he doesn't look up at the screen, playing with the sheet of plastic in his hands.*

...I've had over seventy names in my lifetime, and I've somehow found myself with yet another alias in this tower, and I'm certain all of you have seen it. I am one who would call himself Pandora.

It was never my intent to bring harm to anyone, but if not for that incident, we would not have been able to find this, it was hidden in the glamours. I am so, so sorry for everything...true enough to my newest name, the demons must be released before we can find hope...

*He looks up at the camera again.* So let us find it together. Let us all stand strong. There is no need to be an enemy...no need to be an opponent to anyone. Ruana is a danger to us all, here and at home. Above and below.

*He glances back for sign of his retrieval unit...and warily turns back to the camera, allowing his feet to rest after the efforts to put up all those pieces of paper.*

[There's an audible chime, like a cheery voicemail tone, from every terminal simultaneously, before text appears on the screen.]

Good afternoon, Tower of Animus. My name is The Observer. I've got a special message for you today, direct from one of our beloved administrators. Please read, listen to, and memorize this message, and reproduce it wherever you can!

( Cut for long but very important message. )

Wasn't that a special little message? Now, copy it down in your notes so you don't forget it! No matter whom you're allied with, be it Pandora, Ganondorf, your friends from home, or just yourself! There will be a test on this.

And the first section of the test is this - I want you to place at least one copy of this message somewhere in the tower. No points for hiding it! It has to be visible to everyone! In a few days I'll tell you all how you did, and I'll repeat this message for you lazy people who didn't see or hear this today.

That's all for now!

- The Observer

[All characters with mailboxes will find a copy of the message in their mail as of this evening.]

Since my anniversary of being in the tower for a year is in three days or so...

How many other people have spent more time in the tower than in their own worlds?

Your rooms are still the safest place to stay during the night. I would suggest getting the door shut as soon as night hits and not opening it until day.

As far as boogeymen go - yes, I saw the writing on the wall - I'll be limiting my patrols to the dormitory levels and patrolling them throughout the entire night. Don't be afraid to scream for help or to start running.

Please be cautious. Thank you.