#theroomiscountingdown

[theroomiscountingdown]

What's the room situation like? Any food or drink supply?

It's weird.

We got a TV, but it only shows that damn timer. When we first showed up yesterday, there was a shelf full of food. We both kind of agreed not to waste the stuff, for obvious reasons.

Not much in the ways of entertainment either. Boring walls, no windows, barely a gap under the door.

Apparently, Evan spent his first hour without me here, just trying to kick the door down. That obviously didn't work.

-

> My fucking legs hurt.

> Don't go bangin' down doors then.

> You have any bright ideas then?

> Yeah, not being a reckless idiot.

> That's rich coming from you.

[sleeping-jayy]

Go check this out if you like puzzle ARGs.

(Someone in system started it 👍 Watching afar as it unfolds)

[theroomiscountingdown]

Hey again.

The last day hasn't been so eventful. Evan has barely spoken a word to me. I know he's mad, but if we're going to be stuck here, I'd at least like us to get along.

I can tell he hasn't slept. He looks so exhausted.

We did get a package today, though. An envelope slid under the door. No body knocked, or said anything. They just shoved it under the door and left.

> Oh hey, a package.

> Don't open that.

> Why not? It won't bite.

It read:

"You have five cards. How you take them from this package is how they are to be oriented. Put them in order and glue them to this page. What happens next is dependent on how you choose to order them."

> Hm, at least they're letting us choose our demise.

> How the hell are we supposed to know what they even mean!?

> Calm down, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal. What can a couple of cards do to us?

> Its not about the cards, it's what they mean!

> If you know so much then you order them.

> I don't know all of the meanings. Besides, two of them are upside down. What's that supposed to mean?

> I wonder why the faces are hidden.

> Thats what you're worried about?

> It's a valid question!

> You're impossible.

We've been trying to make sense of it since. If anyone knows anything about tarot cards, let us know.

[theroomiscountingdown]

Okay, fellas, this is what we've decided. We took both submissions into account and did what we thought was best.

> Hyde put the cards into a hat and picked them.

> I did not!

The Knight we put at the top, mostly because we were reckles in the past and that's what brought us here, ten of Swords at the left since we figure this is the worst it could get. The middle is four of pentacles, something about working our issues out? We'll work on it. Chariot is at the right since I'm sure we'll be confused for a while. And we set the Fool at the bottom since both submissions had that as our best bet of getting out of here alive.

We sort of mixed them up a bit to show both submissions, and we appreciate the help. Thanks, everyone.

We slid the sheet back under the door. Hope to hear that lock click, and we'll be outta here!

[theroomiscountingdown]

Excuse how long this is going to be

Tarot cards can’t be read at face value. They have to be interpreted based on intuition you have about the person or people in question. In this case there’s an advantage because you’re sharing the story but there is also unknown that you have to interpret. Looking at the meaning of cards and interpreting them is different.

The spread should be read like a book

1

2 3 4

5

Left to right but more importantly it’s top to bottom

1 would be the ten of swords. A painful ending or loss. When you entered that room, you were stripped of your freedom. A loss that is painful especially seeing as you two don’t seem too fond of eachother in there. It’s the ending and loss of your freedom and autonomy.

2 would be the Knight of swords reversed. Being impulsive and reckless. A depiction of when Evan first arrived and tried to start breaking things to get out, a fairly simpler interpretation.

3 is the chariot reversed. Losing control and feeling hesitant. The two of you either have or will slowly realize that you have little to no control over what’s happening in that room. You don’t know what to do because you know that whatever you do or don’t do, you hold no control over the outcome.

4 is funnily enough t the 4 of pentacles. Clinging onto the past and being guarded. You guys don’t want help from the other. You’re holding onto what you previously understand of this person (looking at you Evan) and refusing to learn about them and realize that you are in this shit show together. You need to move on from your previous knowledge or assumptions and let go of the past and let your guard down a bit so you can help eachother.

5th is the fool. Yes this is going to seem stupid to put past because it’s putting the beginnings at the end. The fool represents what happens after that room. Whatever you are met with after that room, that is your beginning. It’s a beginning where you hopefully trust each other and yourselves more. It’s your beginning after what you think is the end

Tarot cards aren’t what they say, it’s what you read.

Okay, targeted. Ouch. Thanks for the help, though. It's nice to have another perspective, especially since this is our life on the line. Wanna talk about reckless, Hyde is willing to put anything down just to be done with this.

Seems like the Fool is in the same spot for you and the other person who sent ideas. So we'll go with Fool on the bottom. I think you make a lot of good points, too. Both of you seem to have similar ideas as to what the cards objectively mean in our situation, too.

Up to down, left to right seems to make sense from a reading standpoint. The idea that we have no say in any of this is horrifying. It's either do this or sit here until the timer runs out. It's hard to get along with him after what he's done.

> No comment.

> You never had anything to say about it in the first place.

> And it'll stay that way.

> ...

We'll hear any more ideas you all have and make a decision by the end of the week.

[theroomiscountingdown]

After some thinking and help from a fellow pal of mine, we figured out something.

The middle row is the story, beginning, middle, end. However, the cards at the sides determine if the 'new beginning' will be good or bad. Think of them as optional objectives to get the good end

This is the layout we came up with. You're very free to discuss amongst yourselves -🐑 (sending with acc so I can put images)

HOHO! THANK YOU LITTLE SHEEP! For a minute there I was worried we'd just have to guess!

So, we've got our story, but can choose where we wanna go.

Looks like we get ten of Swords regardless, then, huh?

Let's strive for a good ending then!

> Somewhat a relief, I guess...

> Hell yeah! Let's get this on the sheet and be done with it!

> ...I dont know

[theroomiscountingdown]

Here's the idea. What if it's less about branching paths and more on the obstacles to overcome or plot points within a story?

There's a card for an ending and a beginning, and the Fool is 'new beginnings' so it doesn't necessarily have to be at the start. An ending can be seen as the start of something new.

If it relates to y'all in anyway, it's probably best to leave the Ten of Swords for the last card to be placed, incase that painful end is literal -🐑

Sounds like we should avoid Ten of Swords. I know it's all up for interpretation, but I would rather our ends not be painful. If we're still at the conclusion that The Fool is new beginnings, then maybe we put it at the end. So maybe that "new beginning" is us getting the hell out of here.

> If you were a tarot card, you'd be the Knight of Swords reversed.

> Oh yeah? Then you're Ten of Swords. Have fun with that painful end.

> Ooh, ouch, impulsive much?

Anyway, I'm wondering about this spread of cards. If it really is a story, how do we know where the start and end is? Usually, books are left to right, but who's to say the start isn't at the top and it ends at the bottom? I don't really trust whoever shoved us in here to make it easy.

[theroomiscountingdown]

I think I have the meanings of the rest of the cards + an idea! I'm not tarot person so take it with a grain of salt and anyone else can correct me

Reverse chariot means losing control or feeling hesitant in your actions. That you should be more confident in what you do.

Four of pentacles means clinging onto the past, or being overly guarded. That you should overcome and learn to let go of things even if its painful.

Knight of swords reversed means being impulsive and reckless. That you should slow down and think.

Ten of Swords is a painful ending or loss. A betrayal of some kind. Essentially a relationship that has hit its breaking point, in a past or present, that will end and it will hurt on a deep level.

I'll do another ask for my idea so this isnt a whole essay - 🐑

Huh. Interesting. Thanks for the info, little sheep.

> You know, a lot of that sounds like you.

> I could say the same thing. Clinging to the past and all that.

> Fuck you.

> Just saying.

A lot of this is weirdly accurate. Evan's said tarot can tell you things about a person? I'd say. Impulsive and reckless? Evan in a damn nutshell.

> Not like you're any better.

> Shove off.

[theroomiscountingdown]

I know this is Hyde's coping mechanism, but he's asleep. I need someone to talk to.

I doubt he's clueless. He's always been a damn liar. I have my suspicions that he's involved in whatever mess got us here. There has to be a reason that someone's past that door teasing us, taunting us. Being here isn't much different than home, only diffrence is him and this stupid puzzle.

There's been no ideas as to what the hell this all means. Aside from The Fool meaning 'New Beginnings'. Thanks to whoever sent that one in.

Still, if anyone's got any ideas, let us know.

[theroomiscountingdown]

Doesn't the fool mean new beginnings or something? I think that's a good thing.

Also, can you see anything under the gap in the door?

New beginnings? I guess that does sound nice.

We don't know where to put it, though.

-

> Huh, New beginnings? Should that go at the start, then?

> Okay, but where's the start?

> Uh, the left side? Maybe?

> It branches off in the middle then? Is it supposed to be a story?

> Why the hell would a story have branching parts that all end the same? That's not how a story works!

> I don't know!

-

As for the door? Nah, we can't. It's too dark. the floor is different though. This room is carpeted, and just outside the door it's hardwood. That's all we've got.

Evan think's we're in a house of some sort. But this room has no windows, and in order for this to be a bedroom, it's gotta have that I think.

[theroomiscountingdown]

Hello.

My name is Hyde, and I'm in a room that is counting down.

A year from now, something will happen to me, but I'm not sure what.

We were mysteriously brought here, I'm not sure by who. Or what.

I'm not alone, I have Evan here. Although I dont think he wants anything to do with me.

When I arrived, he was here, in the corner with an old piece of wood, ready to swing.

I managed to get him not to knock me upside the head with the nail ridden thing and to hear me out. We've been sitting here for an hour now. I have no clue what's supposed to happen next.

-

> Do you know why we're here?

> No.

> Dooo you remember who brought you here?

> No.

> Me neither. Do you-

> Are you going to keep asking questions?

> ...

> ...

> What's the timer for?

> [sigh] I don't know.

> I wonder what it's counting down to.

-

He hasn't answered me since. He's just been sitting on that bed in the corner.

It's weird that they gave us a laptop. Not that I'm complaining. At least I can talk to people here.

I'll update if anything happens.