The service door stands open behind Yuki as the group regathers at the stairwell landing. Aya, Rin, Mika, and the blond woman have all left the office; no one remains behind.
The alarm continues somewhere above, muffled by walls and distance. A bundled communications cable follows the stairwell downward, its sheath marked with the same identifier as the tampered red panel.
Mika
That route feeds the mansion's security infrastructure. Cameras, door controls, maybe the central alarm board. I was told never to follow it.
A small speaker mounted beneath the landing rail clicks on before anyone descends. Static whispers through it, then settles into a measured electronic hum.
Aya
Everyone stop. That speaker was not active when we passed this landing.
the speaker voice
Yuki Sorimachi. You have made the expected progress. Continue downward, and the others receive the next instruction.
Rin
It knows her name. Nobody moves until we decide whether that is an invitation or a threat.
✓ Quest Accepted
Reach the mansion's central security board.
“I lead everyone downward, following the marked communications cable.”
SUCCESS (Great Agility, rolled +1)
Yuki takes the lead down the stairwell, following the marked communications cable. Aya, Rin, Mika, and the blond woman keep close behind as the speaker's hum fades above.
Aya
Stay together. Watch the steps, but do not lose that cable.
The cable descends through two dusty landings and disappears beneath a service hatch. Yuki opens it, revealing a narrow concrete passage lit by steady maintenance lamps.
Mika
This level was never on the layout I received. Daniel Voss kept it out of the briefing.
They follow the cable without resistance. It leads them into a low communications room where patch panels, camera feeds, and alarm controls cover three walls.
Rin
We made it to the infrastructure. Now we can see what this place is actually doing.
the speaker voice
Correct. You have reached the control level. The next instruction is waiting on the central console.
“I inspect the central console for surveillance evidence”
SUCCESS (Good Investigation, rolled +1)
Yuki crosses to the central console and lifts its dusty access cover. She borrows a small inspection light from the console tray, then studies the active surveillance feeds.
The screens show the mansion's entrance, security office, stairwell, and service corridor. Several feeds are live, while others replay timed loops with matching control timestamps.
Yuki Sorimachi
The office feed is live. They watched Mika reveal Voss's name.
Yuki opens the console's event log and finds stored clips from the landing, the red access panel, and the group's descent. Each file carries a current session marker.
the speaker voice
Surveillance evidence is available because you demonstrated sufficient access. Removing or copying it will alter the session record.
A warning tone sounds as Yuki exports the relevant clips to the console's removable storage. The process completes, but the room's ceiling camera pivots toward her.
Aya
The camera moved. Whatever you found, we need to use it before they decide to cut the lights.
✓ Quest Accepted
Secure a route that bypasses active surveillance.
Quest Complete
Determine whether the game runner is monitoring the survivors.
Attribute Upgrade: Agility Great→Superb
+ New Item Acquired
Inspection Light
− Scene Quest Removed
Reach the mansion's central security board.
“I map the camera loops and mark a route through their blind spots.”
FAILURE (Good Investigation, rolled -1)
Yuki compares the live feeds against the looping timestamps, tracing camera refreshes and blind spots across the visible floor plan. She marks the route with removable tape from the console tray.
The markings begin clearly, but the central console rejects her route overlay. Its map remains read-only, and the removable storage contains evidence rather than a writable floor plan.
Yuki Sorimachi
The loop timing changes when the system records tampering.
Yuki reaches the stairwell segment just as two feeds synchronize. A ceiling camera pivots, catching the tape line and exposing the route before she can complete it.
Aya
The marked path is compromised. Do not follow it as drawn.
The failed map still reveals a useful discrepancy: one maintenance corridor camera reports a twelve-second loop while its paired door sensor remains live. That route can bypass the exposed line.
the speaker voice
Manual annotation is not authorized. Your partial route has been entered into the session record.
“I use the console to disable the paired camera”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +1)
Yuki steps to the central console and places both hands on its controls, borrowing the room's access rather than treating the equipment as her own. The paired camera feed remains live beside the twelve-second loop.
She selects the maintenance corridor, confirms the linked door sensor, and forces the camera control into manual mode. A red authorization prompt flashes, then the paired camera feed cuts to black.
The live door sensor stays active, giving the group a clear blind route. At the same moment, the console emits a sharp confirmation tone that echoes through the communications room.
Aya
That camera is down. Move before the system restores it.
A warning banner spreads across the console: MANUAL DISABLE RECORDED. The ceiling camera pivots toward Yuki, and the room's surveillance indicator changes from amber to red.
the speaker voice
Unauthorized control access has been logged. Your corridor remains visible through the door sensor.
Rin
Then we use the opening now. No one waits for another instruction.
Quest Complete
Secure a route that bypasses active surveillance.
Skill Upgrade: Investigation Good→Great