[EVENT] Castle Exploration

[majorarc]

Who: Everyone
When: September 27, Early
Where: The Castle
What: Exploration
Warnings: None. We will be posting as maskedworld, should she get any comments.

The minions led the group in a line, not tending to the injured and allowing people to fend for themselves or help each other. It wasn’t good for anyone who was hurt, since the long trek to the castle meant they had to pass through the uneven ground of the forest. Justice and Judgment dealt with anyone out of line, punishing them with a whip crack. Justice often taunted them, laughing and calling them names, while her sister remained quiet and focused on the task at hand. Upon reaching the castle, the denizens to be notice that it is made from white marble, with ivy crawling up some of the walls. Gold lines the walls and a big wheel sits in the courtyard, seemingly unused given the amount of greenery taking over it.

“You will be brought before our kind and gracious Emperor and he will give you a fair trial. Though we are the jury, so don’t bet on being innocent.” Justices tells you, and opens the doors to the large foyer. In front of you is a stair case that goes to the left and right, leading to the deeper parts of the castle. However, once you are done looking, you notice a girl in all white robes and a white mask. Her brown hair falls around her in curls, and her golden eyes are the only thing visible.

Again, there is complete silence. The minions have stopped their random giggles, and the sisters look a little unnerved at the sight of this girl. She doesn’t appear to be older than sixteen or seventeen, so the fear is unwarranted.

However, when this girl speaks, everyone will understand why.

“You will leave this place, immediately. Go to the dungeon where you belong, Arcana, and do not come back to the castle.” She states, her voice commanding as she waves her arm. A wind blows through and the minions, as well as Justice and Judgment, disappear. The wind also heals your wounded, magically, as well as the shackles being removed. The girl stands alone, looking at the group with a suddenly sad expression, which is even displayed on her mask.

“I apologize for what they have done to you,” she states, her voice sounding young now, and full of regret, “I cannot send you home at the moment. It’s taking all of my power to keep them asleep in the dungeon, but you have free reign to look for your items within this castle. You may even speak to me, should you choose to. I regret to also inform you I will not be answering any questions regarding myself, but I will speak to you about this island, should you ask.”

She smiles now, and it’s gentle, familiar, like a mother speaking to her children.

“I am The World, and I welcome you Castle Fortuna.”

MOD NOTE: For reference, here are some larger pictures of The World, as drawn by our lovely G-mun, soulofaginger. We wanted to give you guys an idea of what she looked like with more then just descriptions, and we will be getting more pictures to you soon on the OOC community of the other Arcana and Rulers.

Picture One
Picture Two

Thank you, Dubs, for providing such beautiful pictures and keeping this under wraps for so long!

Comments

[maskedworld]

The World waits at the stairs, not moving a bit despite being tired from Using her powers. She decides after a bit to sit, summoning a lovely, plush couch for two people to sit on, just in case someone decided to speak to her.

[solitarynuvola]

He's quite thankful that the restraints around him are completely gone, and that his injuries have been healed - it certainly made moving around much easier. To have this much power, though, this woman would have to be another of the Rulers, though by her words, it sounded as if she didn't agree with what had been done to them.

Enough musing, though - Hibari may as well use this opportunity to ask about this domain, so he approaches The World fearlessly, folding himself neatly onto the other side of the couch and starting off with the most basic of questions.

"Is there a way to escape from this world?"

[waterformybath]

Howl seats himself near the bottom steps immediately, palms laid flat against the cool stone. Tilting his head back, he stares up at the ceiling for a time before leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. Blue eyes stare intently at the white-masked woman - the so-called 'World' - and he asks out of the blue:

"Where is this place? I mean, this island? Can it be found on a map?"

[selene]

Usagi was still half stuck in her surprise over everything, really - she hadn't expected something to come and save her despite her usual optimism, so to see this person.. 'The World'.. She couldn't help but step over, bowing a little towards the other girl, her expression still a bit surprised even now. She hadn't been hurt, but she had seen the others being healed, so.. what kind of powers did she even have?

No, that wasn't important right now, what was important was that she at least said-- "... Thank you."

[dreamsonwings]

She wasn't what Sora was expecting at all. Was she one of the Rulers as well? Whoever the World was, the acrobat was grateful that she freed them for the moment. While she did have a question, she had to at least give her thanks to the deity.

"Thank you, World-san. For this."

[invinciblespell]

While Sakura can't bring herself to distrust the person who helped them all, she knows that she should at least try to be wary... Then again, that was more or less the situation that happened with Mizuki-sensei, and in the end that turned out all fine. That's why Sakura wasn't too hesitant to take a seat on the couch when she could.

"Um... you said that you wouldn't talk about yourself. Can I ask why?"

[naltorian]

Nura's a little perturbed by The World, mostly by the lady's dubious name, but she figures that perhaps if she turned it into French or Spanish, it would make much more sense, thus preventing Nura from mentally launching into "We Are The World" chorus in her thoughts. Walking over, she raises a hand in greeting --"Hello, Le Monde" -- and stops right before The World's seat at the couch.

"Thanks for getting those goblins out of our hair."

[soulofaginger]

"Handy little talent you got there..." G spoke as he walked up to the women, rubbing his wrists where the shackles once were, "Bet you're a real popular one at parties."

It was about the best segway he could make into the conversation. Attempting to be civil never came easy, and being polite was just near out of the question. It was times like this he really ,issed the presense of the rain guardian or Giotto, they were better with polite words and far less awkward than he was.

But he had business to take care of...

"Are Lampo and Giotto still here somewhere?"

[get_the_win]

Domon approaches her after a while, but does not sit down. Instead, he stays standing, his posture polite and formal. His clothes were still ripped and bloodstained, evidence of the wounds he had had before arriving at the castle.

"Why were we brought here? Why us? What do they hope to gain by turning us into myths and fairytales?

[starofchaos]

Once his pride had been soothed, Louis approached her at last. His hands folded lightly behind him, he forced himself into the picture of calmness. The healing alone would have earned her his gratitude, but there was a much more important question. If this woman could not send them home, what would happen when they inevitably were released?

"Perhaps this may come under the blanket of things you cannot answer... but I find it pertinent. How long can you hold them?" he asked, quietly.

[femininetomboy]

Madoka stood in front of this woman, unsure what she even could say. After all the horrible things in the fight (she had been scared, so scared) The World seemed like a loving angel. Madoka wasn't sure if she had ever seen someone so impressive and beautiful.
But right... Staring wasn't what she was here for. She had waited so long for such a chance, so she should really ask her questions now. But where to start, she had so many!

"Uhm... I... thank you for earlier... I have a few questions, actually. Do you have a moment?"

[paysdelamour]

Francis had been listening quietly to all the questions the others had presented, and the answers provided by this woman, whom he vaguely remembered from a dream long ago, when he'd first appeared in Arcanarum. But he was tired from two nights of no rest, and it seemed like every one of his muscles ached - it felt so disturbingly human, to feel this tired.

But as he listened to her conversation with G, Francis' mood worsened with each second ticking by. Sent back? Sent back where? And hadn't she said something about sending them "back" as well? Her cryptic messages were starting to anger him. And her refusal to field questions about herself? Highly suspicious, regardless of her excuse.

So, when everyone else seemed to be done asking questions, Francis strode up but refused to sit, trying to disguise the annoyance on his face (and failing miserably, though he was too tired to really make a good effort). He really did attempt to soothe the tone of his voice so that he didn't seem too cruel approaching her, but he wanted straight answers. "The people who have disappeared from the houses. Where are they now? And who precisely is sending them there?" He was mostly asking for the sake of one person - and it was fairly obvious from the glint in his eyes that he was mostly asking for the whereabouts of Jeanne d'Arc.

[fools_journey]

"... ah, thank you for your help," is how Minato begins, when he approaches her, bowing a little in gratitude before watching her closely and curiously. He remains silent for a moment or two before asking, "If... you don't mind answering... is - there a reason everything here is themed according to the tarot deck?"

His purpose in asking this is multi-fold. He can ascertain if this sort of thing is too close to personal for her to be willing to speak about it, as well as possibly opening the door to seeing more patterns in this place and how it functions. He can also learn whether or not the natives to this place are even aware of the thing known as a tarot deck in his own world.

[awesomemich]

He looks at her a bit mistrusting, there is reason for this. "Why help us at all?" he asked. What was her motivation he wondered. "But you probably won't answer that. So, what happened to the beings we're supposed to replace?"

[bestamontillado]

After finding the Tarnhelm, he'd hovered around a while, done some poking around, and generally lurked to wait until Alaude and G wandered off - some of that spent invisible, just in case they were keeping an eye out for him.

He wasn't sure he entirely trusted their savior, but at the moment it was a bit of a gift horse scenario; she'd at least made a good show of being in conflict with the others, and even if she was playing false, the opportunity still might be worth something.

Once he was satisfied there wasn't anyone who'd be out for his blood around, he pulled up all his old usual courtly manners, came visible, and approached her with a formal bow. "Thank you for your help, milady."

LET'S POST THIS TO THE RIGHT PLACE THIS TIME

[maneless]

Alanna had been quite ready to chew steel and spit nails- she certainly had no problems voicing complaints. Justice and Judgment, Alanna was quite sure, were acceptable targets.

The World's display had Alanna surprised- even her own Great Mother Goddess rarely showed that much direct power, and the squire rubbed at her wrists as she looked at The World.

"Thank you." Alanna bowed low for a moment, then straightened. She had questions- but she wasn't sure what to ask first. "I- had an item, a token from a lady I care deeply about. Is there any way to get that back?" Alanna mentally crossed her fingers, hoping that The World wouldn't call her on the not-quite-lie in that question.

[bluesteelranger]

The chains...He'd wondered if they had been silver-infused whether they felt like it or not. The magic had...turned him a bit proverbially green. But he was alive and that was a start. Listening to the voice, the anomaly perks his ears.

He may not touch anything yet but he did have a question.

"Haow yeu make mah-gic noh do..."

Hells. How was he to word this? Once again, Renne Arc'err cursed his terrible English.

CASTLE EXPLORATION THREAD

[majorarc]

(open)

[starofchaos]

Louis could not claim to be anything less than completely humiliated. He was the devil, for crying out loud. And yet in this place he was powerless. As weak as a human. And to be treated in such a way... YHVH was surely laughing at him. So to distract himself, he explores. The castle has a slight chill to it here, but he ignores it as best he can.

...it really isn't helping his thoughts much. Stupid Arcana-based demons. If he'd been more in control of himself, he might have gone to speak with The World. But for now it was best that he composed himself. He never thought he'd find himself missing Amala.

Instead, he occasionally flickered back and listened to the ones that did approach her. Information was important, after all. Even if he couldn't bring himself to say anything right now.

open!

[selene]

[ After talking to The World Usagi doesn't linger too long near the rest of the group - part of her still ashamed that she couldn't even fight, couldn't even help. Even so, it's easy to run into her as she's looking through the castle, much more carefully than her usual clumsy habits. ]

Open! Let's trash some Ruler Rooms!

[dreamsonwings]

After her chat with the World, Sora decided to go further into the castle, trying to notice which rooms were safe to go in and which ones she should avoid.

And by safe rooms, she means the ones belonging to the Rulers of course.

[closed to France]

[unionjackoff]

England didn't know how to feel about being rescued. Of course, having his leg healed was wonderful, but he felt ashamed and weak for losing the battle. After being released, he quickly stormed off down the hall. England was excellent at finding treasure, so he'd just go do that and feel sorry for himself in peace.

After all, he was a lonely island.

Open

[get_the_win]

Domon was not going to let this opportunity pass by. Especially not after what he had been put through for his first attempt to get in here. He was disappointed that there was no machine in here that could send him home. But maybe he could find his things. Even if he was only able to find the photographs the Rulers had stolen what he had been put through would be worth it.

So he searched every single room in the castle, leaving no stone unturned and no inch unsearched.

open!

[hyahahacool]

[Oho! It's all so interesting how this ended up. First the minions all attacked them, and now some woman was helping them out. Amakusa didn't know which side was which here- and he was pretty curious about that...

....Actually he was pretty curious about this whole castle. So forgive him, he's just excited so he's walking a bit fast through the halls.]

OOC

[maskedworld]

is this a question for the world? If so, please put it in the thread above this one!! I get the emails to my personal email, and I don't want to miss any of the tags!