WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[Awaken.

Fifteen strangers have been gathered to the Depths.

When the strangers awaken, they will feel nauseous in their stomachs. No doubt confused. Maybe a little sick, Perhaps, even terrified. And certainly, there is a good reason for it - they are not where they were before. If they had powers back where they came from, they seem to be all gone. And it appears that someone has left...guidelines for them. All of them addressed to a specific Title.

Their Title. Somehow, each person knows, upon seeing this, this is their Title, even if it seems to make no sense whatsoever. And its clear that whoever wrote these things knew it as well. Who was it?

Its uncertain. So far, there seems to be no one else save for them, and those who dare to venture out of their rooms - save, for some reason, the individuals in rooms 1, 8 and 7 - in this hot and stuffy place. No...'intercessor' to be seen yet, certainly. No outward signs that there's anyone else aside from the people with 'Titles'.


So, Titled: welcome.

There are fifteen strangers in this place.]

Comments

[kiddefender]

It looks more like a castle. I've only been in mess hall of one though. There aren't chains and the floors too clean.

[That doesn't stop her ears from flattening as she dips her head to check. No sand or bones or even blood here.]

[bythewaves]

It does, doesn't it? It reminds me a little of my brother's fort.

[ he reaches to brush a gentle hand over hers ]

Chains need not be physical, and bars can be unseen. [ He says softly, sadly ]

[kiddefender]

This part looks like the dungeons. There have to be stairs somewhere. Or a door to the outside so prisoners wouldn't have to go through the main building.

[She stills, then nods, her ears flattening.] Like my seal.

[bythewaves]

I am sure there are, but the doors are shut.

[ His eyes and voice are gentle ]

What seal is that, youngling?

[kiddefender]

My slave seal. It's still there but I haven't felt anything from it. [She looks down, absently straightening her shirt.]

I can't check my status either. Not matter what I try I can't see it.

[bythewaves]

[ He bites down the curse, the black rage that any would do this to a child! Controls the fury that wants to burn the world with a long-practiced hand, and only the silver flame in his eyes betrays him ]

I hope that you have your freedom here then.

Sorry, her series is terrible

[kiddefender]

[She cocks her head. And sounds as bored as someone whose already had this conversation before. For some reason, she feels she has.]

Why? I'm not sure where you're from. But in my home country being a heroes slave is one of the safest roles to have.

[Sure she has to fight hordes of monsters. But it's a better fate than the others.]

Mags wants to kill every adult in her world already XD

[bythewaves]

[ His mouth twists, something dark in his eyes, but his voice stays gentle ]

I am sure that is indeed so. Until you are no longer useful.

[ He looks away and his voice is low ]

Besides, I know full well what it is to have your will torn from you, to be forced to kill when you wish to withold, to fight when you wish to rest, to go when you would rather stay. I know what it can do to a soul. No child should have to know that grief.

[ Ambarussa, Ambarussa! My brothers, you were too young, why did we not leave you behind? ]

Her country is just terrible, the others aren't as bad...Except Faubley and it's 'Pig King'

[kiddefender]

[That sounds so familiar. She reels back snarling.]

Better to die helping others, than just be another skeleton in some noble's basement.

I've never been forced to do anything that I didn't want to!

pft an actual pig?

[bythewaves]

One can do that without slaves. [ He says bluntly ] If they are sending out children I think very little of them. For all my sins, this none can say of me, that I asked anything of my people that I was not willing to do myself. Any country that uses slaves - worse, that uses children is a slave to the Shadow itself and worthless.

And how would you know, child? A slave cannot refuse.

Nope but he likes snuff and might be a cannibal

[kiddefender]

[The tail bristles, and she's just as defiant.]

He can't. From the moment he was summoned the humans have tried to exile him or force him to die. They won't help him even when the world is at sake. Just because he isn't their hero.

That country hates my kind. It's own soldiers were the ones to sell me. Of all the human- no, people I have met, he is the kindest.

Never once I have been injured. When a monster nearly hit me he jumped in. When things looked bad, he told me to leave him and run.

He's a hero, one that will save the world. I know he is!

[Such conviction.]

ckjshcgkajshdgrakjhcg

[bythewaves]

"Kind"? [ Maglor raises an eyebrow at her ]

So instead of fighting for himself he slaves children to do his work for him. That is no hero's action. If he cared for you in truth, he would free you and ask you to stay. He does not trust you child, or he would have removed your seal already.

It's a shame she doesn't remember her seal being removed.

[kiddefender]

[Have you ever spoken to a zealot before? Because you aren't going to change her mind on this.]

He can't fight. He isn't able to use offensive magic, and the magic he welds stops him from wielding a weapon.

Are you saying I should die then? Cause that is what would happen to me if the seal was removed. I'm luckily he chose me, instead of leaving me in a cage.

lol

[bythewaves]

And what of the others? [ He points out ]

Why would you die, if your master chose to release you? That is what he should have done. He uses you as a weapon, child. He could just as easily have released you, and asked you to stay. As it is, you have no choice.

CW for fantasy racism? - She still has it because asks to have it put back.

[kiddefender]

What others? If it weren't for the fact that killing him would doom them all, they would have. Even though they know what will happen if he dies, they still won't help him.

I'd be killed by them out of spite. If he did that.

They wouldn't allow a filthy animal like me live unless it was in a cage or on a leash.

baby no

[bythewaves]

Then you should have gone.

[ He murmurs, and he lifts his head as if he hears something from a memory of long ago ]

He should have taken you and run.

[ And he remembers two boys with hair as red as his mother's, two smiles. They were too young. ]

[kiddefender]

Gone where? The magic that binds him would just teleport him back. We'd both end up in more trouble for running.

[The borders were blocked off. They wouldn't be able to make it to another countries dragon hourglass to change their teleportation point.]

[bythewaves]

Break them. [ He murmurs softly ]

There is always an exit, child. You just need to know how to find it.

[kiddefender]

What these things? [She fiddles for a moment. There's a click and one of the shackles is off, just like that... And the fabric of her glove flares out too.]

Not without money. We'd need a lot to get far enough away that the magic wouldn't work.

[bythewaves]

Not those. [ He blinks and focuses on her ]

The seal that binds you both. Break them.

[kiddefender]

I've already said it can't be. The magic is ancient. There's a reason it was only supposed to be used if there was no other option.

[bythewaves]

All chains can be broken - you just need to work out how. There's always a weak point - how else does one get it on or off? That is as true for a physical one as one less so.

[kiddefender]

...You don't? That's the point of it. The person whose blood was used in the seal can uses status magic to change it's affects, but even they can't remove it.

The only ones that can...Aren't nice about it.

[bythewaves]

[ The smile is sharp ]

What happens when they die?

[ Maglor NO ]

[kiddefender]

[SNORTS]

They have that covered, the seal can kill anyone connected to it if the master dies. To discourage rescues...