dyspros | welcome to goldvale . intro post #1

welcome to goldvale . intro post #1

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

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

So, you've been left alone with the fellow captives for the time being. While you can't leave the castle just yet, that doesn't mean there are other doors that don't open. Characters are welcome to venture further into the castle, but remember that they're only armed with what they arrived with and even the most skilled warriors will finding passing through a floor a difficult trip. Please refresh yourself with the castle setting if this is something your character would be interested in doing.

Otherwise, why don't you talk to some of the strangers around you? Maybe they have some idea what just happened...

Ahem...

[ About a day after their arrival, the lobby suddenly fills with a voice. Out of one of the walls, a figure that seems to be made of some kind of smoke steps out. Though details are hard to make out, it's clear that he's an older man, and he's smiling rather pleasantly. But he's "here" to speak to those of you gathered here, so you might as well listen. ]

Oh, yes, yes, quiet down please... I'm sure you're quite perplexed as to why you're here! But first, please let me introduce myself and explain what I can.

[ He takes off his hat, setting it to his chest as he bows his head. ]

My name is Nicolas Hubble. I'm the mayor of this city. —Well, you have yet to see the city properly, but that is what I am here to explain. You have all found yourselves within Castle Dyspros, an ancient landmark at the center of our city of Goldvale. It's something of a relic, but going into the history is something I feel that you have little patience for. But goodness, with how you all appeared, you gave poor Beryl a fright! She's yet to calm down, the poor dear...

[ He replaces his hat on his head, nodding solemnly. ]

But, dear strangers, I cannot say any more than you can how you have arrived. —Ah, yes, we've been eavesdropping a bit to make sure that you're not something, well, worse, we can say. It is a mystery to us as much as it is to you, since the Castle is no more than a training grounds for our Guilds. It seems that has changed, in some measure. However, I am sympathetic to your plight, dear strangers. We will keep you within the castle no longer, but you will not be allowed free reign in our city either. We can give you nothing freely, but you may earn it, if you can contribute to our city.

Here in Goldvale, we have many organizations called "guilds." They are the training centers for warriors and scholars alike, where you can learn skills of the sword or the arcane, depending on which you prefer. We ask you, strangers, that you join one of these guilds. I have spoken to all of the guildmasters and they have agreed to this, so within the guilds, you will find a home, food, and the chance to make a life here as you hopefully forge a way home. If you do not join a guild, then I am afraid we will have to send you to jail, since we cannot have you wandering freely. It is not a quick decision to make, so you have a month. Please consider each guild equally, and choose one that you can give your unique skills.

And with that, the barrier we had placed is gone, so you are free to leave. Further questions I'm afraid I can't answer, since there's much to do to prepare! Please enjoy our city, and all I ask is that you not cause too much trouble.

[ He chuckles and waves, but just like that, the smoke dissipates. Characters are now free to leave the castle, and there will be no responses from the mayor on this thread. ]

Welcome to the city of Goldvale!

As the mayor said, you are free to wander through the streets, though you'll notice that NPCs are rather fearful, but rarely openly hostile to you. You are homeless and you have no currency that any merchant will accept, so you might as well hurry up and find a guild...

There are some NPCs that are friendly enough to answer questions, so by asking the locals, characters can find out the following:

They are in the city of Goldvale, the old capitol of the city of Vernesse. The world is named Reis Alurelia. They will not tell anyone the current capitol.
The current date is the 5th day of Rosefrucht, and the day of the week is called Terredi.
The names of all the guilds/what they specialize in, and where they're located.
The Castle has been there longer than the city has, but they're reluctant to say more.

GUILDS: The Salamander & Gold (Academics), Steelarm (Disciple), Seven Titans (Warrior)

The main entrance to Goldvale and the busiest district. Most shops are located here, but prices are much higher than the competing Nickelhollow marketplaces. However, it's much safer.

GUILDS: The Godlings Sect (Acolyte)

A modest section of the city that's mostly middle-class, with shops and offerings to reflect this. Contains several temples of worship and otherwise peaceful places.

GUILDS: Scarlett Dragons (Lancer)

The governmental district. One of the oldest sections of the city, and also the safest because of the presence of the lancers' guild. Members of the thieves guild will be arrested on sight.

GUILDS: Death's Toll (Thieves), The Ugly Jackal (Fighter)

The largest and roughest district, containing the slums and lower class options. Full of bustling marketplaces where you can find more unusual offerings, but pickpockets and crime are common.

NOTE: The Thieves Guild is not one that characters can simply waltz into. You are free to handwave them being recruited by an NPC, however.

GUILDS: The Spider & Herb (Mage), The Gazelle & Child (Archer)

The side entrance of the city which opens up directly into forests. Many large plots of land for growing herbs and vegetables, but are constantly guarded by mages or archers.

GUILDS: Twinwinds (Performer)

The entertainment district. Bars, clubs, and other nightlife options find their home here. Most shops are only open at night, and it's fairly quiet during the day.

[Lithuania lands with no grace--he vaguely wonders if he's sprained something, actually, though he finds he can get back to his feet without difficulty.

Not that he knows where he is. The hallways draw his attention, and the decorations on the walls, but it doesn't seem to quite match any culture he can think of off the top of his head.

Still, no matter where he is, there's a bit of a more important matter--]

E-ehh? What just happened?

[What's going on?]

[Mikado is looking around with very wide eyes, obviously both startled and having a hard time taking everything in. There's a bit of blood on his sleeve, and he looks rather worse for wear, with a few bandages on him and a stiffness to the way he's standing.

He clutches a schoolbag at his side and takes a step toward the nearest wall, trying to get himself out of the way.]

[Apart from a little scrape on her knee from falling in a weird sitting position, Koharu is in one piece. The people and their yelling and noise end before she can wrap her head around it. But one look around and it's clear that either she fell and knocked her head walking off the train or she's dreaming.]

I don't think I've ever dreamt this before. [She walks up to a wall and puts a hand on it. It feels real enough. Too real. Spinning to face the room properly, she sees a dozen people she's never seen before. There's no vague dream like quality of knowing who these people are or that they're simply background. They look and act real. She pulls out her cellphone. Nothing. It simply seems to be not working at all. She whispers to herself as she stares at the blank screen]

A-Alright I'm in a very very real dream. Okay. [A deep breath] With no way to wake up. And if it's not a dream, my cellphone is dead and I'm trapped in a cathedral. With strangers. In my school uniform.

[And now the people must think she's crazy because she's talking to herself. She hesitantly puts away her cellphone and walks towards the door that shouting had disappeared behind. It doesn't budge.]

Are we really trapped?

[it had been even more of a struggle for rion to find out information than some of the others, given his lack of... ability to speak, or anything like that. but by overhearing and listening and things, he'd found out the gist of what was going on here. they needed everyone to join guilds, they needed to keep everyone... safe?

rion didn't think of himself as really... dangerous. look at him, all tiny, all nottalking, all... well. but he'd gotten what he needed, and in some ways maybe he was approaching this differently from other people.

he missed home. a lot. but at the same time, it was sort of like a new chance - a chance where he could do something awesome. knights? wizards? all that sort of stuff? super cool. it was like he was really in one of those RPGs he played on the playbox!!!

... the short version of this is that there is a boy barely topping 5'0" signing on with the warriors guild. or maybe he's trying to get weapons and whatnot; he seems to understand that he has a sword, and which end of it goes into the training dummy, but that's about it.

how did he even get here???]

[The girl isn't quite sure what to expect or how to react at this arrival. She ghosts her fingers over her dress, kicking her legs around to ensure nothing was sprained. Looking around, she can't find a familiar face, but she does know she's not alone. That thought right there is actually quite relieving. Still, it's disconcerting how she suddenly arrived in such a place. She follows the figures to the doors, though once they close she realizes she's trapped inside, but once more, she realizes she's not alone.

Though due to her sociability, she has no qualms walking up to anyone -- someone who might actually know something and tap them on the arm.]

Excuse me. Can you tell me where we are?

[Just knowing her location would provide a massive comfort. For all she knows, she could have just fallen into a building. Yet that makes absolutely no sense. However she has been in underground ruins before, so this may be what it is?]

[ She wanted to be alone. She wanted to process what was going to happen. There was not a spell in the world that could bring her back to Ylisse or hell, even Plegia. So, with Tharja eyeing the crowd, she would grit her teeth when a cheery looking girl would approach her.

The cheery girl would pick the gloomiest girl, right? ]

You didn't get the memo? Of course you didn't, why else would you be bothering me?

[ There was a pause. ]

This isn't your home. Or my home.

That's all we need to know right now, I guess.

[ Her tone remained unimpressed and utterly bored of the situation. ]

[There's a moment where Estelle's taken aback by the woman's words, but in the end she answered her question. So really, that did bring a bit of a smile to the girl's face, even if the information was rather vague. So they weren't in Zaphias, nor were they in the city this other girl is from.]

I see. I suppose that would make sense. Well then, we'll just have to figure out where we are!

[Opposite of the other woman's reaction, Estelle is fired up, even if there is fear welling up in her stomach. Still, she wants to know the answers, and perhaps this woman could help her with that!]

Thank you for answering my question. My name is Estellise, and I do hope we can get along!

[Get along, you know... be friends.]

Edited 2013-05-06 05:07 (UTC)

[ Iceland has no time to contemplate culture, because he's a bit dazed and-- well, he hears Lithuania and in his mind, it's just 'ow, something weird happened,' but it doesn't cross his mind that he's completely, totally out of his element. Out of his world, even. Duh, Lithuania is right there. Like eight feet away!! ]

Something weird.

[ Oh my god a naked cat France better not pop out of one of those hallways. ]

[ Iceland was, in a word, overwhelmed.

There's so many people, bustling around in this particular district, no one paying attention or offering any idea to where the misplaced nation might be. Iceland thinks it a mistake, coming here to be jostled around, but it seemed more appealing that one of the other areas, that wasn't nearly a well kept...

He absentmindedly forges ahead, not sure where he's going, until he spies several people carrying books. Books! Something Iceland loves dearly-- reading would be a welcome distraction, since there was only so much he could figure out about his stressful situation. So, with a bit more energy, although still somewhat hesitant, he pokes around, trying to ask where those books came from.

Most people ignore him, but he ultimately still ends up at his desired destination: The Salamander & Gold.

But now he's too nervous to enter. ]

Haytham moved through the marketplace for the moment unaware that he was being stalked. He was new and clearly looked the part. Clothing like his, the colonial style jacket and tricorne hat, did draw attention especially since there was no crowd out to mingle with today. The light rain had driven most honest citizens indoors. Those that were left were either in serious need of fixings for dinner, a new arrival, or up to no good.

The Grand Master became aware of the three men who were tailing him when he stepped around the corner of a booth and caught the reflection of one of their number clearly looking in his direction and sneering in one of the tin pots the owner of the booth was displaying for sale. Really, it was not the most subtle approach. These men were the clumsiest thieves he had ever seen. Still maybe they could be useful for something.

A few more twists and turns saw Haytham exit the market area. He walked slowly yet deliberately towards what he had noticed earlier as a small deserted back lot, casually checking occasionally to make certain he had not lost his tail. If those men were to make their move this deserted location would give them the perfect opportunity.

"Hold it right there! We'll be taking those weapons from you!"

Just as expected, these men were predicable. Haytham turned towards the three thieves and inclined his head to one side as he answered their challenge.

"So that's what this is about, you want the weapons I arrived with?"

The gentle hiss of steel leaving its sheath was followed by several swishes as the air around the blade was swept aside during its dance through the space between him and the would-be thieves. A warm up exercise as so far no blood had been spilled.

"You should be careful what you ask for."

After showing those fellows how dangerous it was to attempt to steal from a highly skilled and battle tested Templar would be when he heard the slow clap from some where behind him. A higher up in the thieves guild looking to add some able recruits to his ranks.

[OOC: Feel free to hop in when he is at the marketplace or during the fight too. Anytime you want.]

[Instinctually Haytham tucked into a roll as the ground suddenly appeared back beneath him. He landed heavily but due to the roll was able to regain his footing a moment later with no damage done. The large open cathedral-like room was a good deal different than the quaint little inn he had been standing in before. He looked back over his shoulder to where the other members of his group should have been standing but now there was only a young girl there, babbling something to herself. Odd.
She was correct though. There did not appear to be an easy way to leave this place. ]

It would seem so.

[Still he walked over to the door and gave it a try, first using the handle... then his shoulder when it did not budge. Sadly picking the lock seemed pointless too. ]

Do you really think this a dream?

[He had overheard her earlier...]

[Unlike those who arrived at the same time with him, he lands rather well after catching himself into a roll as he did. He survives the fall without any injury, only a few minor scratches here and there. Waking up from the safety of Veda's digital space into such a strange place confuses him but he quickly regains his bearing. Pushing himself off the floor, he looks around, barely feeling the tinge of those scratches as he scrutinize his surrounding. A lobby of some sort, architecture that he isn't familiar with. He couldn't recognizes anything or anyone for that matter. People in various states of being has landed around him and are just as confused as he is with their current situation.]

What's going on? [He has a feeling he's not where he should be, because he could no longer access his connection to the quantum computer and neither could he calls out to Regene. Frowning to himself, he feels for the handgun he normally carries on his back, missing. Right. He's in a strange place, possibly kidnapped and unarmed. Instead of panicking, he huffs to himself and approaches the one closest to him and extends a hand to them. He might as well find out who these people are and where are they.]

Can you get up?

Huh?

[ Like Estelle, Kougyoku's just a princess who happened to fall into this castle. She doesn't know how or why, and these feelings of confusion and fright are leaving her very disoriented. And now a stranger is talking to her! ]

Me? Um... [ LOOKS AWAY!!! ] H-how should I know? I arrived in the same way you did, didn't I?

[ Kougyoku was looking around for a guild to join, but the one she was interested in, the Seven Titans, was quite a distance away from the castle. But then she got distracted by the boutique shops and pretty clothes and—ooh, are those scholars? There might be a school here for people her age...

Her curiosity brings her here at the Salamander & Gold. Wow, it looks so big and pretty— ]

[ Aaaand she trips on her robes. In front of Iceland. ]

Don't look!

[ It's hard not to look if she's bringing attention to herself. She's the only one in those elegant robes! ]

[ It takes a moment for Kougyoku to collect herself after the fall, especially when she sees and hears a man (man!?) in strange attire call out to her. ]

Yes! [ Although she hesitates, she takes his hand and pulls herself up. He may notice that she is in long robes fit for a member of royalty. A golden, jewel-encrusted hairpin keeps her rather archaic hairstyle in place. ] It appears that magic has brought us and many others here...

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 98

welcome to goldvale . intro post #1

ARRIVAL

ANNOUNCEMENT

INTO THE CITY

DISTRICT: Ironwall

DISTRICT: Tinwick

DISTRICT: Steelmount

DISTRICT: Nickelhollow

DISTRICT: Platmoor

DISTRICT: Silverbourne

no subject

no subject

no subject

open;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

OTA

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject