POLL #4: RESULTS

[expiationmods]

The maze disappeared on Monday, September 18, and Aldrip returned to its usual state of mostly normal. Aldrip's locals do not seem to have any memory of the event, and if Chosen try to tell them about it, they'll laugh it off as a story or a dream. Surely that must be all it is. These Chosen, they have such wild imaginations!

Thanks to all who participated in the event and the poll! Here are some of the immediate changes after the end of the event:

Locals and the Chosen

As of today, September 20, Aldrip's locals become more wary of the Chosen as a whole. This is not a gradual change; it's as if their entire mindset has changed overnight. While they opened their businesses and lives to the Chosen before, now they regard them with a little more fear, keeping an eye on them in their shops, making sure to get payment for goods and services up front.

For those who have committed acts of violence or sabotage in the maze, like Saito, Akechi, and Fyodor, they will find that the locals are especially concerned, not just about them but about any other characters who are linked to them.

In addition, the locals become less tolerant of petty crime. This means that Chosen who are inclined to commit those crimes (or have in the past) may find themselves being watched more frequently in public. Hard to say how the Locals know this is coming; maybe they're just paying better attention? Or maybe they're forming some sort of neighborhood watch amongst themselves? Either way, they may find themselves asked to stop loitering, or to prove that they're not doing something nefarious.

The Council

Chosen may frequently hear the locals lamenting the uptick in crime, and talking about what they can do to feel safer. They throw around a variety of ideas, most frequently mentioning that they need someone to step in and deal with those unruly Chosen.

They may also hear whispers of "the Council," the mysterious force that seems to govern how crime in Aldrip is punished. While the Chosen may not have dealt with them directly, some locals mention them on occasion. Now, even moreso. Locals seem to be petitioning the Council to send more law enforcement to protect them and keep them safe. Some locals also suggest that they "need to seek the guidance of the Council" when dealing with the Chosen, such as when Chosen are seeking jobs and housing.

Local area effects

Local monsters have never been easy to deal with, but their numbers seem to have lessened after the maze disappeared, or maybe they've calmed down due to the change in seasons. Either way, monsters currently feel more wary of populated areas, and pose less of a threat than they did before.

We'll have more updates and changes in the SOTG post on October 1.