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

[ofnobleheart]

[ a. ]
[ this was not where she was before. in fact, this is not any where she has seen before.

natalia stands in the middle of the castle grounds with her arms folded. she's not at all impressed, having lived at a castle herself all her life. she's more confused and irritated that somehow she was brought to this castle and nothing around her is familiar. who dare did this without her consent??

in fact she'll flag down someone she sees in the vicinity. perhaps that have some sort of answer for her! ]

Excuse me! I have a few questions I would like to ask of you!

[ better not ignore her she will get you. ]

[ b. ]
[ eventually natalia starts to explore a bit more after sticking around the castle grounds for a time. no use standing around doing nothing. if she's going to be stuck in this castle she ought to figure her way around.

eventually she'll make her way to the great hall where the plaques catch her attention. alright. maybe this'll give her a little insight to the situation.

the moment she gets closer and sees Asch's Plaque she stops. ]

O-Oh... my...

[ he's here. why is he here oh god what does she do ]

[ c. ]

[ later on natalia finds the rules and c l e a r ly doesn't look pleased with them. Encouraged to fight? Excuse you? Okay maybe if this was a coliseum? And what's with the murder rule? Who dares suggests such an action! ]

These rules are revolting! Is this what the owner of this castle believe is right?

[ wildcard. ]
[ natalia will be around pretty much everywhere throughout the day. feel free to hit me up at demonfang for anything! ]

b

[originallutece]

[It would be impossible to miss the girl's reaction, and Rosalind glances up, trying to follow her line of sight and see which one has startled her so badly.]

. . . someone you know?

[ofnobleheart]

[ natalia nods her head. ]

Y-Yes. The one named Asch. I know him ... well.

[ ... ]

These plaques. These are the people who are here in the castle, is it not?

[ she wants to make absolute sure this is the case ]

c

[professionality]

[ Here's another person looking displeased by the rules, though in Rhoda's case that's just indicated by her pensively pressing her fingertips together. ]

And one can't become a warrior just like that to begin with, right?

[ofnobleheart]

[ good she's not alone!! although natalia is showing how much she's displeased a lot more than rhoda as she taps her foot and folds her arms ]

Absolutely not! Do they think that everyone here has had combat training? I find that hard to believe!

[ in fact rhoda looks like she's never seen combat. but looks can be deceiving ]

a

[coinflipped]

If you're wondering where we are and what's going on, I don't know either.

[He figured it best to just cut to the chase. He sounds kind of... angry... but it's not directed at her. Honestly, just irritated at everything in general right now.]

[ofnobleheart]

[ natalia frowns at the answer. what did she expect she doesn't know but wow so angry??? doesn't help with lessening her anger at all even if it's not directed at her ]

Well! I take it you have simply arrived here just moments prior, as well. Do you think there is anyone here who have been here and can tell us where we are? I don't have time to stay here in this castle!

A

[fedorascout]

Questions? Alright, say them, but don't be angry if I can't answer anything about this place.

[Because he's clueless about it all, yep]

[ofnobleheart]

[ yay for being clueless? well let's see... ]

Did you also arrive here without any prior knowledge?

[ just randomly whisked away without warning because that's what angers her the most right now ]

A

[miirai]

Mii?

[ That's it. That's all you're getting as Rika stares at Natalia with curious, blinking eyes. ]

[ofnobleheart]

[ oh no child why are you here... ]

Hm... ah. Are you alright?

[ forget the other questions she has maybe she'll ask those later ]

c.

[toubib]

Or what they believe is most entertaining. [ vanitas is sitting on a nearby table, and the languid flourish of his hand is his edgy way of saying he doesn't give a fuck. because he's an edgelord. ] You find rules in both schools and games. Perhaps we've been embroiled in the latter.

[ofnobleheart]

[ what.

a game?

oh hell no ]

There is nothing entertaining about murder! [ although combat? yeah sure coliseums and such but-- ] It's true that this cannot be a school but to think that this is a game is....

[ is actually what the rules sound like uh ]

It's cruel and inhumane. I will not stand to be someone's pawn!

b;

[maddogs]

[ matching names and faces and plaques is definitely going to take awhile but with natalia standing by the row of them thats EASY. he takes a look at at her and then her face and matches them up. nice.

wait ]

How the fuck can ya hate octopus?

[ofnobleheart]

[ what

what kind of question is that?? ]

Excuse me?

[ wow rude?? ]

Octopus are terrible and should never be prepared as a meal!

c

[deontological]

That does seem to be the case, unfortunately.

[Can we get an ugh over here? Because Sen's feeling it. She's seen enough death without getting tossed right into the middle of it and being expected to kill someone herself.]

...you are... Princess Natalia, are you not? Or do you prefer your full name?

[guess who's been reading the plaques]

[ofnobleheart]

What a despicable thing. And we are to actually follow these rules?

[ ugh all the way!! ]

Correct. Though you may simply call me Natalia. There is no need to call me by my full name here. You are a Princess as well, are you not? Princess Senhime, I believe?

[ she might have been mostly distracted by Asch's plaque but she did catch that she wasn't the only Princess around ]

How would you like me to address you?

b

[buddyoldpal]

[ Nishitani has a look at the plaque she's looking at. It helps that it's the first one, of course. ]

Damn, talk about a bad hair day. This yer boyfriend, or what?

[ He's asked everyone this, I'm sorry. ]

[ofnobleheart]

[ um wow??? ]

Look who is talking!

[ asch's hair is great ok!! ]

He's... he's my fiance.

[ or not!fiance? it's complicated ]

a

[irrationalities]

[Maybe if he had seen her around a little earlier he would've been more amenable to chatting but by this time, he's about ready to go and check out the castle instead of lingering around outside. So that's why his only reaction is to look back, stare for a second and then continue on with what he was doing, aka he's totally walking away from her.]

Go ask someone else.

[Bye Natalia?!]

[ofnobleheart]

[ uh wow no? one does not simply walk away from natalia! ]

I am asking you! If you have somewhere to be then you must know something!

[ so get back here so she can talk to you!!! ]

b. asch's plaque

[fallenember]

[ Asch draws quietly towards the plaques; it's unavoidable, seeing that there's a limited amount of places available for wandering and exploration. What he doesn't expect to find is Natalia standing there, looking intently at his. Hell, he doesn't expect Natalia's presence at all, and just for a moment, there's nothing he can manage.

Part of it has to do with the fact that he thought he'd be falling into death's embrace, not walking on his two feet. The other part might just be nerves, which he'd die before admitting. ]

You've been brought here too?

...Of course everything couldn't have gone according to plan.

[ofnobleheart]

Ah--

[ she didn't even realize that asch was right there until he spoke. quiet as always! she turns around and yep. there he is. right there. ]

Yes, it seems I have.

[ she tilts her head, both confused and a little concerned about what he had said next ]

According to plan? Do you have some idea of why we were brought here, Asch? Or how?

c

[browbeater]

[well, obviously. It's in the rules. Mako was, at first, worried. But now he's starting to think maybe he should have been a lot more worried, given how none of the people he's suddenly found himself trapped with know what's going on either.]

Probably? But we have more pressing problems than the rules.

[ofnobleheart]

[ although it shouldn't be, it's a little more comforting finding out you're not the only one confused about the situation? ]

Indeed. Before we can press about the rules I'd like to find who it is that brought us here. I'm certain that we all have a few questions to ask of them.

[ like why are they here and who the hell said they could do it without their permission ]