You're My Friend, They're My Friends (IC Intro)

[whimsicalism]

Whatever you were doing before, wherever you were before this moment it doesn't matter. The world seems to grow dark around you: an almost inaudible giggle floats to your year before you lose consciousness completely. Other it belonging to a child there's no defining characteristics of the voice. Maybe you just imagined it? Even if you did, one thing is clear when you wake up.

You're not where you were before. The bedroom you find yourself is plush and well decorated, almost like a fancy hotel or apartment. That might be little comfort considering that it's clear that you don't recognize it. Before you rush off to explore your surroundings there's a message pinned to the door to the hall.

From the desk of the Queen:

Hello, my friends dear.

I can only hope you enjoy your new life here. For those you stirring from sleep, this is my promise that I will keep: I will let you go if that is what you desire but the price for it will be quite dire.

For my rules are quite clear that I don't wish you to leave. Yet I will, if you can take the grief.

If you wish to know my name and the reasons to my game, meet in the audience hall for tea. Tea, yes, a grand tea party for my grand guests! Cake and sweets are what we need to meet. In an hour we both will be there, no peeking before!

Signed,

Instead of a signature, there's a small feline paw print underneath as well as some strange sort of heart crest?

There seems to be others moving outside your room. Perhaps it's time to explore, to see if anyone else knows what's going on. Don't slip on the playing card (an ace of hearts, with the heart shape replaced by the strange crest). That there's a scribbled phrase of 'dormez-vous? dormez-vous?' on the card but surely one of the others slipped it under your door.

This Castle seems like a strange place ot live in... yet for now it's quiet and peaceful, even if the Audience Hall is locked.

Comments

[caligulass]

...well, I don’t think I’ve heard about Earth or its variations outside of the dirt we stand on, but at least you know anything whatsoever about different worlds existing. That’s a start.

[immaculacies]

Hm, it's a basic principle, don't you think? Even if most people never see another world for themselves, the concept of parallel worlds is becoming mainstream even in mundane science nowadays.

Why? What world do you come from?

[caligulass]

Somebody did try to tell me it wasn’t possible, which I thought was strange. I’m from Embla, and we have contact with other worlds all the time.

[immaculacies]

Embla, hm... I haven't heard of it myself, but it must be an interesting place! Even I haven't been able to visit a parallel world anywhere but my dreams.

[caligulass]

Oh, it is. I find it interesting to visit the worlds of Heroes as well, but I’m usually not there for too long since I need them for the war effort.

[immaculacies]

Ah! It sounds really impressive, if you can reach other worlds so easily. How do you do that?

[ "war effort", whatever, that's just normal stuff, ]

[caligulass]

Oh, the royalty of the Askran Kingdom and the Emblian Empire have control over the gates to other worlds. Askr's royalty opens them, and we could close them if we wanted. We usually don't, though.

[immaculacies]

Ah, things must work really differently where you come from... Gates like that would be really impressive, in my world! But it sounds like they're just an everyday thing, for you. Do you know how they were made?

[caligulass]

Well, Embla is named after the dragon that aided our empire's founder. I presume the dragon's power must have something to do with it, but I don't know for sure.

[immaculacies]

Mmn, I can see it being something like that, yeah. Is that dragon still around to power them, then?

[caligulass]

I don't think so, but the Emblian royal family was gifted their blood, so we can still actually do things with the gates without them needing to be around.

[immaculacies]

Oh, I get it now! We have things a little like that where I come from, too. Special tools that will only activate for one family's magic crest... Stuff like that. Still, it's really impressive that you have something that can open up paths to other worlds!

[caligulass]

Ah, I'm glad you understand... though, unfortunately, I wish we were the ones who could open the gates. The royal family of the neighboring country are the ones who can do that. We can only close the gates.

[immaculacies]

Ah, is that so... Mm, yeah, that's much less convenient. [ Probably, at least?? ] Especially if you need them open for a war. Is that what you meant before?

[caligulass]

Yes, basically. I guess it's not too bad since we can get resources from all the worlds that already are open, but it'd be better if we could do both.