welcome to goldvale . intro post #1

[powergamer]

It begins with a flash of blinding light.

No matter what they’re doing, the light is so stunning that they pause to shield their eyes. Logically, it seems like such a bright light would hurt their eyes, and yet somehow, it’s not painful at all. It’s strange, but stranger still, a moment later, the ground underneath them is gone. They’re falling, and it feels like they’re falling for a long time as their eyes adjust after that light.

Yet, it’s not long at all—they’re only falling five feet or so. But as they, and others, appear in the air, there’s a shriek of alarm.

“Beryl—Go!!”

A man’s voice shouts after the scream, and as their eyes adjust, they’ll see two blurry figures, the woman running away while the man briefly stands his ground with a dagger raised before he takes advantage of the confusion to flee as well and cover her. You, and all of the other disoriented strangers, have been left alone. There might be a few bruises from the fall, but otherwise, there are no new injuries. It’s a strange lobby, but nothing about it seems helpful to reveal where you are. Following the two figures is fruitless too, since the door at the end of that hallway is sealed shut with magic—no one will be able to pass through.

So, just where are you?

JUMP TO
arrival . announcement . into the city
DISTRICTS
ironwall . tinwick . steelmount
nickelhollow . platmoor . silverbourne

Comments

[orderispeace]

You should take more care. I've already had a run in with some from the local thieves guild. I understand they operate a great deal here.

[Haytham indicated the young man's bandages. ]

You're injured?

[totallysane]

It happened at home.

[Mikado offers a smile, trying to show he isn't concerned.]

You had a run-in? Did everything turn out okay?

[orderispeace]

[That was something. None of the people he had met here seemed to have suffered injury due to their kidnapping. ]

It turned out well enough for me, I doubt the three who thought to rob me enjoyed the experience as much.
And it did grant me entry into one of the local guilds, though why we should want to join one after being spirited away from our homes is still a mystery.

[totallysane]

[That causes Mikado to perk up quite a bit. Despite having the smattering of bandages about his form, he's perfectly capable of smiling and looking excited.]

You're saying that you joined a guild already? Which one?

[It's not that he wants to go along with what is expected from him, but... it's an interesting idea, a fresh start. For someone like him who made a mess of things at home, at least.]

[orderispeace]

[A glance is cast across the marketplace just to ensure there would be no natives to overhear this. The natives did seem a very suspicious lot, no reason to give them more cause for concern. ]

The Thieves Guild. Have you decided on one yet yourself?

[totallysane]

[Mikado glances around himself, looking embarrassed, and then reaches up to rub at the back of his head awkwardly.]

I've... been thinking about several of them. I know you can't really do anything here until you decide, but what I want and what is probably good for me...

[He leans in a little, lowers his voice.]

I'm hoping to join the Fighters guild.

[orderispeace]

Are you a fighter then?

[It was a touch difficult to believe what with the boy's injuries and his embarrassed mannerisms, but could be he had some skill in that area. ]

Is that how you were injured, while fighting on your world?

[totallysane]

[Mikado shakes his head.]

Do you think it matters?

[He's just met his person, so he's not going to explain everything, though he finds himself pausing and then speaking a little lower.]

I got hurt by not fighting.

[orderispeace]

No, it might not. If you are joining a guild then I assume they would teach you any skills that you were lacking.

[A desire to stand up for one's self sounds like a good reason to chose that guild over the others too. ]

Until such time as you can defend yourself you might want to be careful which districts you wander into. Some are rougher than others.

[totallysane]

Oh.

[Mikado laughs nervously.]

I guess when you put it that way, lurking around looking for it is probably more dangerous than joining it would be.

[orderispeace]

Then I should wish you success if that does end up becoming the guild of your choosing.

[totallysane]

Thank you.

[He gets an excited look.]

I wish you success too!

[Then he realizes what the man said he was doing, and pauses, like he's not sure he should have said it.]

[orderispeace]

[A noticeable stumble, but understandable given the likely nature of his future work. Perhaps he should be more careful about mentioning his guild to others... not that he held any true loyalty to them.]

Thank you. It should be interesting at least.

[totallysane]

[Mikado gives a thoughtful look.]

You know, it wouldn't do any good anyway. Targeting other new people, I mean. Since we don't have anything yet anyway.

[He steps a little closer, as he talks, since obviously this isn't something you just say aloud. He's good enough at secrets himself, considering how long he hid his identity as the founder of a gang.]

[orderispeace]

I haven't been targeting anyone.

[Except maybe those would-be thieves earlier.]

Well, at least not for more than a talk. Finding out more about the situation we find ourselves in and the kinds of people who have been brought here felt of more use.

Was the world you came from much like this one?

[totallysane]

[Mikado shakes his head.]

Nothing at all like it. The world I'm from is... far more focused on technology. The city I live in is very crowded, full of tall buildings and bright lights. This looks like something from the far past, to me.

[orderispeace]

[Really? This was old? Haytham couldn't help but wonder what did that say about him then since... ]

The style of buildings seems familiar to me, European even, but some of the technology seems far advanced to what I am more accustomed to.

[totallysane]

[Mikado nods.]

It does seem rather European in nature, though I only know that secondhand, from...

[He starts to say 'movies', then realizes that wouldn't mean anything to someone who found this technology advanced.]

Things like books. Since I've never left Japan before. But the technology definitely seems behind the times for me. And while... there is some evidence where I'm from that the supernatural exists, widespread use of magic like this... is very strange to me.

[orderispeace]

[A very good save. Movies would be confusing but books at least he has seen a great deal of. ]

For me as well. Though where I am from it is highly unlikely there is any real magic at all.
I wonder how they manage it here. It must have a more realistic explanation.

[totallysane]

I'm not sure.

[Mikado stops to seriously consider it for a moment.]

Are there faeries where you're from, sir?

[orderispeace]

Only in children's story books.

[And he finds the question entirely odd.]

You can't mean to imply there are actual faeries where you are from?

[totallysane]

I suppose it's a silly thing for a boy my age to believe in, isn't it?

[He doesn't bother to explain that he's sure about it, or that he knows a dullahan. It wouldn't do any good, probably. And if anyone from where he's from is here, it's probably best to try to fly under the radar.]

[orderispeace]

It does sound very naive.

[He will change his tune on this when he meets a few of the creatures around here, but for now that does seem terribly silly. ]

[totallysane]

Sometimes it's hard to explain to people what you've seen.

[He shrugs his shoulders.]

You'd probably say the same thing if I told you that at home, I can sit down at my desk and send and receive messages to anyone in the world, instantly, right?

[orderispeace]

Admittedly we do not have anything that could do that.

[Birds just do not fly fast enough to deliver mail instantaneously. ]

But you do? This is a means of communication that has been developed some time in the course of your world's history?