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

[theawfulaccount]

[ Violet exhales carefully, turning over the implications in her mind. ]

I suppose if one could only take one of us, I'm the most logical choice. I just hope they're alright.

[prescience]

You are? I suppose that's because you're the eldest from what I can tell.

They're probably worried about you, but I hope they are safe.

[After a moment, she bows. Since they've just emerged and not made their way to the portrait hall just yet, introductions still seem like a necessity.] My name is Oriko. I'm afraid I'm not particularly familiar with the experience of being kidnapped.

[theawfulaccount]

[ Ah yes, introductions. While not used to the same rules for them, Violet still at least nods. ]

Violet. I'm... much more familiar with it than I would like.

[prescience]

Hopefully not under circumstances like these. [She looks concerned, and a little surprised, at even the thought.]

... What would you say the first step to take after waking up kidnapped would be?

[theawfulaccount]

The game part of it is new.

[ And yet, it seems like the sort of thing some of the fire-starters might pull together. The man with a beard but no hair, or the woman with hair but no beard, if they had survived the fire... ]

First, as much as you're allowed, investigate where you are. Learn what you can.

[prescience]

I'm thankful for your expertise, though not the circumstances.

[At least they can start with what they know, and their captors were kind enough to leave them written evidence.]

I understand that kidnappers typically leave notes for ransom, not for their captives. Then again, I don't think I have ever been a target worthy of kidnapping, even when my father would have been around to extort.

[theawfulaccount]

Usually, yes. If you have something they want, they're much clearer about it.

[ As criminals go, a kidnapper is excellent at the start of the crime but being kidnapped, once the shock wears off, can be a very dull experience indeed if the kidnapper is inexperienced. ]

I would think it might be money, but my family fortune depends on my survival, if that's what our captor is after.

[prescience]

We have a little less than an hour to learn more, according to those little verses we received.

[Oh dear, certainly not money, then. Not just because of the survival implied, but because Oriko herself is worth so very little of it.]

What would happen to that fortune if they're not able to locate you?

[theawfulaccount]

Well... it would fall to my brother, when he comes of age. So you can imagine my concern.