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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
[ There's a definite look of immediate concern that traces her features, eyes widening ever so slightly. But it's only turned into even more frustration that's just there due to her confusion. ]
What do you mean by that? Does that mean that somehow, I'm missing memories?! Or maybe--
[ She stops herself, shaking her head as she decides to get to the point. ]
What happened. Tell me.
no subject
[ Well uh. Except for when Rika's memories cut off because she dies, but you know what she means. ]
...I am sorry. You all put up a very commendable effort, but it--does not work out. We were leaving for the final fragment when I woke up here.
no subject
[ Rika's hands ball up into tight fists, shaking them in frustration. While Rika does think that it's strange that her memories cut off at a certain point prior to her death and not because it dies, that's not the important part here.
"The final fragment," Hanyuu says. That's rather concerning. She knew that Hanyuu's powers were waning, but... it's difficult for her to hold onto any hope she has if such a blessed fragment such as this, where all the dice rolled such high numbers, ended up in failure.
She swallows hard, her fingers trembling, as she tries to ask the next question. ]
Then... Hanyuu. Do you know who is the one who is trying to kill me without fail?!
[ She has to know. She knows, doesn't she? Otherwise, what's the point of going to the final fragment? It's just going to lead into a dead end without any answers and she will no longer be able to get out of this endless maze. She'll be trapped in death forever. ]
no subject
...it is Miyo Takano.
[ ... ]
The Yamainu are completely under her control, so...we were no match for their numbers.
no subject
[ That's less of a question and more of a statement. Although she does find herself rather confused. ]
Why?! Why would she want to kill me--
[ It doesn't make any sense. Isn't she, the guinea pig for all of the experimentation be murdered? She knows what will happen if she does die, after all. ]
no subject
[ Hanyuu shakes her head, trying to bat the tears out of her eyes. ]
But I...have no clue why. What she could possibly get out of murdering all of her research subjects, I just...don't know. I'm sorry, Rika.
no subject
[ There's definitely something about the way she says 'real' that's rather annoyed, but she gets the picture. ]
It honestly doesn't make any sense, though. Even if you can experiment on a corpse, there's no point if the whole village is dead. She doesn't gain anything out of it, not even being hailed as a 'god' because she faked her own death.
no subject
[ AU where takano just kills everyone because of her occult fetish ]
It doesn't, no. I was going to do some investigating [ aka snooping around Takano ] in the next fragment, but...here we are.
no subject
[ Rika quotes that, rather tiredly as she folds her arms about herself, tapping her foot several times. ]
Regardless, we should do some investigation on this place as well. We need to know where we are, when we are and... who brought us here, and for what purpose.
no subject
I don't know why I was locked into this form, but at least I am able to touch things, now. If we run into trouble, please let me take the lead.
[ She's sorely out of practice in combat, but at least she's sturdier as an adult. ]
Should we go inside?
no subject
[ She needs to know. ]
no subject
no subject
This place is unexpectedly large.
[ Okay, maybe not 'unexpectedly', but you get the picture, considering. You know. Kidnapping and all that jazz. ]
Hanyuu. Don't you think it's strange that the only tree we've seen was that sakura one?
no subject
Now that you mention it, yes. Perhaps it is a special tree?
no subject
no subject
[ ... ]
Though the question remains of, why is there only one tree, and not a field of them? An intentional decoration?
no subject
no subject
I'll see what I can find out, later. But for now--
[ She gestures towards the building. Let's do the easy investigating, first. ]
no subject
[ She'll take a slow step forward, ready to lead the way if she has to. ]