Beginning

[thecastle]

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.

Comments

[miirai]

Mii~! [ That is her enthusiastic 'yes' right there. ] Most of the family heads of Hinamizawa are women. Mii is one of them.

[maddogs]

Where's that? In the sticks somewhere?

[ his sense of geography works like this: TOKYO (very important), KANSAI (osaka + kyoto + some other places ig), Okinawa (where kiryu lives), Hokkaido (crab), and ?????????? some other places ig??) ]

[miirai]

Mii. [ Well, he's not wrong. ] It's in Gifu.

[maddogs]

Ah, that makes sense.

[ as to why he's never heard of them. anyway aside from his plaque the fact his tattoos show under his jacket should be a pretty dead give away about the whole yakuza thing. ]

[miirai]

It's a small village anyway, so people who've been in that area wouldn't know unless they live nearby...

[maddogs]

But ya still got Yakuza running around. Incredible.

[miirai]

We do, but Mii's dad is a good member of society.

[ Even if he's yakuza. ]

[maddogs]

Who the fuck says ya can't be a productive member of society an' a yakuza?

[miirai]

Most people are normally scared of the yakuza, so they think they're really scary. It's okay, though. I know there are really nice yakuza out there.

[maddogs]

[ majima laughs. it's true though, they are scary and he prefers it that way. but that doesn't mean they aren't nice sometimes. ]

Ya got a good head on your shoulders, kid.

[miirai]

Mii~

[ Rika looks rather pleased by the compliment, to say the least. ]

I'm glad. I wouldn't want to have a bad head on my shoulders.

[maddogs]

Damn straight.

[ he likes her already ]

Are ya doin' okay with this shit? Need me ta help ya find some food or somethin'?

[ thats what kids like, right? food? ]

[miirai]

I'm doing fine. But it would be nice if we found food. Maybe I can even cook something.

[maddogs]

I'll show ya to the kitchen, let's go!

[ he's leading the way ]

[miirai]

Mii~!

[ She looks rather pleasant as she follows him, trying her best to match his footsteps as she does. ]

[maddogs]

[ once they get there he spreads his arms wide like ]

Ta-da. Now ya can be sure to eat.

[miirai]

Mii! There's a lot of food... we can make toooons of stuff with all of this!

[maddogs]

Ya know how ta cook, Furude-chan?

[miirai]

Mii. Hanyuu taught me how to cook. I'm one of the chefs back at home, after all.

[maddogs]

Oh, damn. Ain't ya pretty young ta be a chef?

[miirai]

Mii. I had to learn pretty quickly since me and Satoko take turns making meals.

[maddogs]

What's your favorite thing ta make?

[miirai]

Really spicy curry!

[maddogs]

Ah! That's awesome. I bet it tastes great.

[miirai]

It does. But Hanyuu gets really upset when I eat it.