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Beginning
One moment you were elsewhere, surely speaking to your friends, fighting in a battle of your life, dying, or even in a state of non-existence in its entirety. It doesn't matter now, since when you open your eyes it’s become clear that not only is everything around you foreign and unfamiliar, so is everyone. And there seems to be a fair lot of you, at that.
It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.
The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.
A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.
Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.
For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.
Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.
It's easy to discern a few things upon a cursory glance, once you pick yourself up from the field of grass you're resting on. The place you've awoken in seems to be fairly tranquil, for the first few moments at least, and the view of a newly budded sakura tree is among the first that will greet you. In the distance, is a towering castle that manages to look all at once both imposing and welcoming at the same time. There's also an odd pendant around your neck, which you'll find won't come off despite your best attempts. In your pocket you'll find a room key, engraved with a number.
The weather is currently cool, with the sun brightly shining in the sky, though there are a few too many clouds to make it a completely clear day. While most of them appear rather normal, every so often you might spot one that looks just a bit off— like a storm cloud that's completely lost it's way. Lucky for you, it doesn't seem like you're going to have to worry about any inclement weather anytime soon, as they'll vanish from your vision as quickly as they came.
A large stone wall surrounds the entirety of the castle, though it's anyone guess why that is— maybe it's for your safety, maybe it's to keep you trapped, or maybe it's for another reason entirely. The only breach in the wall is a single gate that looks like it certainly led to the outside at one point, but that too has been cordoned off by solid stone.
Fortunately, there's nothing to stop you from entering the castle itself, where you'll find it's pretty grand all things considered. The lighting inside is provided not by electricity, but by magical flame that adjusts to the time of day or night. Actually, if you're looking for anything electronic anywhere, or even a simple power outlet, you'll be sorely out of luck.
For now, it might be best to explore and make some sense of where you are and why you're here— maybe one of your fellow travelers might know something? There are some plaques in the Great Hall that might catch your interest given their focus, in addition to one ridiculously large golden one that seems to bear rules.
Welcome, fellow warriors, to your very long stay.
no subject
[NBD, NBD. But let's see . . . she isn't really all that good about Japanese history, truth be told, and she could hazard a guess, but best to just ask and be certain.]
I don't suppose you know the Western equivalent? When last I recall, it was 1912--
[Sort of.]
--and I was off the coast of Maine, in the United States. And yet assuredly this isn't that location, and I would assume, given the varying garb of the people around us, they come from different times and places as well.
[THAT'S KIND OF A LEAP, ROS, but then again she's been immersed in time travel and universe-hopping for years.]
no subject
Still, she's not overly familiar with the Western calendar, so the best she can give is an approximation.]
I believe I hail from before your time, then. There were a few documents indicating that the Westerners were numbering the year in the 1800s... [Her brows furrow as she tries to think back.] Eighteen sixty... something. I apologize, I don't recall the exact year.
[Maybe they can ask some of the modern-day Japanese people if they know!!
...time travel is indeed sort of a leap, but as they've managed to shift locations so thoroughly, and as she and Ros are both clearly from different times, it's a leap Sen is willing to make.]
That does seem as though it may be the case. And if it's so, then we should turn our attention to how and why our hosts managed to bring us here, I believe.
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[The 1860's aren't so far off from where she's from, after all, and Ros is quietly glad for that. It's a laughably false comfort at best, but still she's pleased.]
I can't imagine the reason is anything savory, not with all the talk of murder and warriors. And there's a fair few plaques on here that speak to talents in that direction-- subterfuge, fighting, medical skills, killing . . . I wonder if we're not all being gathered here for a bloody purpose.
no subject
[They can't confirm it for sure until they actually meet the Sage and the Teishu, but the implications seem rather clear to Sen. Shutting her eyes to it will do no good.]
Though there is little sense in gathering a group this large only to see blood spilt... furthermore, how do they intend on enforcing the rule that physical violence cannot be used against them? If it's only the two of them, those of us that are gathered here have the advantage of numbers... but then, they must have advantages of some kind over us, as we were brought here against our will in the first place.
no subject
[After all, much as she loathes being here (and she does loathe it, calm demeanor notwithstanding), she can't sneer at the efforts taken to bring them here. Someone had put in quite a bit of thought to bringing them here; surely they wouldn't be so stupid as to simply appear and be unable to defend themselves.]
Though I suppose we'll see precisely how only as time goes on. In the meantime . . . would you care to see what else this castle has to offer?
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[After all - they have to be acquainted with their surroundings before they can start making plans. Perhaps they'll meet others while doing that. Who knows?]
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Any preferences?
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[They can check out the bathhouse last. Depending on how long they wander for, a nice bath might be a good way to end what is objectively a terrible day.]
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[It's a nice day out and the grounds are pretty; one might enjoy themselves, if one forgot they were kidnapped and forcibly separated from their loved ones. At least her company is good.]
"Offerings accepted . . ." Offerings of what, precisely?
[She reaches down, picking up a pebble and tossing it into the water.]
no subject
Her expression goes a little flat, though, as she weighs what the sign might mean.]
I hope that I am wrong, but given the rules they've posted inside the castle, it may mean offerings of blood.
[quick who wants to test it out]
no subject
Carefully, her expression neutral, Rosalind presses her left pointer finger to one of the tines, grimacing as it pricks her finger.]
Let's see, now . . .
[She holds her open hand over the water. A few drops spill, and Ros waits expectantly.]
no subject
...
And blood is also not a coin, so. Nothing. Well, maybe they can get more answers tomorrow. For now, she drags her gaze from the water to Rosalind's hand.]
...I don't know whether to be relieved that it doesn't seem to want offerings of blood, or disappointed that you went to such trouble for nothing. Perhaps we should try to find something to bandage your finger...?
[It doesn't look like a terrible wound or anything of the sort, but better safe than sorry.]
no subject
[Though it's going to make braiding her hair back a pain. Rosalind sucks on it for a moment, then reaches back, attempting to gather her hair up. Her old updo is a loss, but she can at least pin it back a bit.]
And at least now we've learned something about our surroundings, hm?
no subject
Would you like some assistance...?
[She doubts she could recreate that same style, but pinning up hair seems like something that's easier to do for someone else than for yourself.]
We most certainly have! I must confess... I didn't expect you to spill your own blood right then and there. You're very brave, aren't you, Madam Lutece?
no subject
[She says it just a little awkwardly, but lets her hair fall around her shoulders once more, offering Sen the comb as she does.]
. . . I don't know about brave. But determined to solve a problem and a mystery, certainly. A few drops of blood are the least I've paid in my years as a scientist.
[Still, she's pleased by the compliment.]
no subject
There you are! I hope it is to your liking.
[She's pleased as punch that she got to help someone out with their hair. It's the little things in life...]
We're lucky to have someone like you here, then. As everything around us seems to fall under the header of "problem," "mystery," or both, I'm sure you'll be a driving force in finding a way out of this.
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. . . one can hope.
[WHAT DOES SHE DO, SHE ISN'T USED TO HAVING FRIENDS...]
Hopefully before all the murders start. Amiable as everyone seems to be here, I can't help wondering if we'll be prodded into action sooner or later.
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[Her hands fall back to her sides and she can't help but sigh lightly.]
Going to the trouble of bringing so many people here implies a certain amount of forethought behind their planning. I doubt that they don't have some sort of contingency plan to nudge us into acting the way they want us to, should we not take the initiative ourselves.
...of course, there's no reason why we shouldn't attempt to prevent any murder attempts, in spite of that.
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[She turns, nodding towards the other end of the courtyard. Time to explore the laundry hut and bathhouse, hm?]
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[Only the very bare minimum. She had a bodyguard to make up for what she didn't know. :( ]
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[Particularly if the would-be victim was a kid or something.]
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[Even if it is a child, in Rosalind's opinion. Heroics are all well and good, but not at the expense of one's own life.
But! There's bathhouses to explore, and Rosalind makes a soft hm as she opens the door.]
no subject
[And she has no intention of dying, so. There's that.
Buuut you know what's nicer than dying? Bathing. Sen's expression lightens up a bit as they step inside, and she surveys their immediate surroundings with some degree of approval.]
Ah... how quaint. [She can tell, just from the changing area, that the baths themselves are sure to be nice - it looks like most of the things here are good quality.] We'll have a place to relax, at the very least.