Final Investigation

[thecastle]

Unless you're outside the change in the environment is subtle, a spike of electricity in the air that lasts only for a moment. And if you're outside, well, it's hard to miss the blossoms of the sakura tree as they fall in a flurry. It's rather beautiful, if not somewhat disturbing; sometime in the past few hours, they've changed color from a cheerful pink to a blood red.

Regardless of whether you see that as an omen or not, you'll hear what comes next through your pendants:

Third floor, there is little time left.

The Teishu's words are clipped and urgent, so you probably shouldn't tarry.

What awaits you when you climb the stairs are three new corridors and one ornate, black, wooden door directly opposite the solar. There's a keyhole here so you don't need to worry about trying to force it down (and you still have that key don't you?) but it would be wise to explore the rest of rooms first.

Best to be prepared and all.

Explore?

[♫]

Comments

[thecastle]

[ Kicking the door open reveals... a very well maintained room! There are tall bookshelves lining the walls, the wooden floorboards so clean they practically shine, and there's a strange object in the far corner covered with a white cloth.

Opposite of the three of you there's yet another ornate door, one that matches the doorway you just came through. This isn't the first time you've seen either though, and now that you're in an area with much better lighting you'll see both match the door found in the library.

Welcome to the archive room! ]

[originallutece]

[WELL WELL WELL.]

. . . I have to say, I was expecting something a bit grander.

[Let's check out that strange object, shall we?]

[maddogs]

No shit.

[ thats as good a place to start as any, i guess. ]

[blacksong]

[SIGHING so much for getting a fight. But she'll come along to look at the strange object too.]

[thecastle]

[ Ain't it just tragic, Zero? You all can stay together and peer at the strange object if you want but you can separate and look at the bookshelves too!

And, well, what you can tell of the shape under the cloth is that it's something with four sharp corners, a bit higher up there's a round shape. ]

[maddogs]

[ separate it is! majimas off to go look at the bookshelves - the ladies can handle this thing ]

[thecastle]

[ There are quite a few sections and all the books here are alphabetized by title! Finding anything here is going to be kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Are there any specific keywords he's looking for? As a note, most of the books here are non-fiction! ]

[maddogs]

[ guess we'll start with books on swords ]

[thecastle]

[ There are numerous books on swords! Mostly Japanese ones and none of the books here are newer than the 19th century. There are legends on famous smiths, famous people who wielded swords, and pictures of the blades themselves as well as their fate. It's all interesting information if you're looking to, say, learn a bunch of stuff to emotionally batter The Sage.

Unfortunately, it isn't so pertinent to the investigation. ]

[maddogs]

[ okay, are there any books that are particularly standing out the way teishu had left out books in the library? ]

[thecastle]

[ Only one! Over in one of the sections, there's a book that looks to have either been pulled forward or carelessly put back on the shelf. The spine isn't even with the other books on the same row so it stands out, even if just barely.

From the book title Majima can gather it's about the importance of names. Read? ]

[maddogs]

[ lets do it what does it say ]

[thecastle]

[ Opening it to the first chapter, the book begins with:

“By knowing one’s true name, you can control them. By throwing away your name for power, you can be invincible... until someone discovers it and exposes what has been hidden... “

Skipping ahead a few pages provides:

“By obscuring that which was given to you by your blood, one can render most curses ineffective over time. Of course, this comes with the risk of losing sight of oneself in return: what would a powerful man be without his identity?” ]

[maddogs]

Guess we'll finally have some proof for Narumu-kun.

[ guess he'll just jack this book. ]

[blacksong]

[She is so butthurt about this, you don't understand. But alright, no point in keeping this covered! Time to pull off the cloth.]

[thecastle]

[ Maybe she can fight whatever's under the cloth? Except, no, it's just a desk with a globe and some papers on it. Fantastic. ]

[blacksong]

[She'll fight this entire room if she has to!! For now she'll take a look at the papers.]

[thecastle]

[ Most of the writing is illegible thanks to general wear and age. The ink has started to fade and the paper is so crinkled it's obvious someone's sat here for hours upon hours obsessively rereading what was written. Despite this, there's one line Zero can make out that reads:

“Tennou is inconsolable.” ]

[blacksong]

[Wow this paper has seen better days, someone needs to chill out here.

But alright, "Tennou." She'll keep that in mind. Is there anything else of note at the desk, drawers to rifle through, etc?]

[thecastle]

[ Sure is! There are quite a lot of things to find here, should Ros and Zero want to double team it. In the first drawer Zero looks through she'll find a series of letters. Like the papers on the desk, four of them have aged to the point of being indecipherable.

Three others, however, can be partially read if she squints!

The first letter contains mention of congratulations from the Tennou himself for dispelling the corruption from around the kingdom and mention of appointment of the status as Master Sage to the addressee.

The second letter inquires about how useful the sword warriors are and if there’s been anything else of interest found upon the island the Sage was given.

The third letter isn’t from the Tennou, but from the person Tennou has been addressing. It’s written messily and hard to decipher. There’s a line that reads: “I think there may have been a problem. I may have gotten too close.” But after that there’s nothing else. ]

[originallutece]

[They sure are gonna double-team it. Let's check out some of the other drawers, hm?]

[thecastle]

[ Heck yeah!

Inside this drawer there are several really old rolled up scrolls. If Ros goes to open them up she'll see that they're all maps. There's nothing too detailed but the cartography is solid and done with a skilled hand. Each one is labeled with a name and number as well.

And, yes! Ros will recognize at least one of them, the one of Columbia. The rest of the maps come from the other Warrior's worlds are pretty accurate. ]

[originallutece]

[Oh, that . . . sure is a map of home, isn't it? Rosalind hisses softly, her eyes narrowing. She rerolls the map of Columbia after a moment-- she's sure taking them all with her, but that first and foremost-- and glances over towards her companions.]

I think you'll be able to find your homes here. There's a detailed map of mine.

[Next drawer?]

[blacksong]

[THE GIRLS ARE ON IT. But the Sage fucked up at something, who would've guessed. Here's hoping no one's gonna miss these letters because she'll be taking them along with the papers on the desk.

Time to move onto the next drawer?]

[thecastle]

[ This one is empty save one thing—part of a poem on a torn sheet of paper. Surely Zero's the perfect person to find this!

intertwining light
stagnating, constant darkness;
diminished balance

That's all there is to find in the desk! Good job! ]