graveyard pt ii

[productions]

the theatre



You awaken in a darkened theatre.

In front of you is an enormous cinema screen. On it plays everything that's currently happening in the castle, accompanied by appropriate sound effects and background instrumentals when fitting. The seat you're sitting on is large and plush, and while there's many of them, there's enough room in the theatre for you to fully recline the seat into a comfortable bed if you wish. Under each seat is a sleeping mask and noise-cancelling headphones, in case you'd like to take a break from watching the show.

Follow the stairs up and you'll reach what should be the projection room. There are no projectors in here, however; it is simply a large and well-lit room above the main seating area, and a good place to hang out with your fellow eliminated contestants if shouting at each other across the aisles proves too much to handle.

If you leave the theatre through the door in the back, you'll find yourself in a hall. On one end is a concession stand. It's stocked with standard movie snacks - popcorn, candy and the like - but if you're feeling the urge for something else, you'll be able to find it stocked somewhere in the back. On the other end is a table with thirty wrapped bags and a placard reading 'A star for our stars! Please accept these lovely giftbags as a token of appreciation for your hard work, sponsored by [illegible smudge]'. Each bag has a tag bearing the name of someone in the mansion; you will only be able to open the bag with your name on it. As soon as you open it, any memories that have been taken from you, including those of the other people in the mansion that you may have forgotten, will be returned in their entirety. Within the bag are also objects from your home that you may want for your stay here, though you will find no weapons.

Past the hall is another door, this one wooden and seemingly decayed. If you go inside, you'll find a fairly simple, wooden room, that is empty except for a very large machine. It is difficult to tell what the machine is for; it has a touch screen that appears to be a control panel, as well as a large open space that seems to be part of the machine, but the machine is dead and won't turn on no matter what you do.

Still, at least you aren't alone here. You have your fellow players, as well as a few guests to keep you company.

Oh, and one more thing. At midnight following each execution, once all those who've died that week have woken up, a video will begin to play on screen.

Comments

[throe]

I'll tend to the wizard to see if there's any wand that's powerful enough to handle my form of magic. I suppose I'll have to show some restraint, seeing as we don't want to physically harm any innocent bystanders.

[ladyofthehouse]

Juan Pablo will chat up the blacksmith. Ask her about her life. Her aspirations and dreams. Her family. What she's going to have for lunch later. Got a boyfriend? Maybe a girlfriend.

[This suddenly became less passive aggressive and more funny to her.]

[onethirdthesoul]

Ehh, the Wizardess will find a decent wand, but it's not like it's Gandalf's or something.

The blacksmith asks that Juan please keep his shirt on, and that if he wants to buy something, he should hurry up and do it! [The blacksmith is a no-funny-business sort of woman.]

[roadroller]

Oh, well Kei-chan goes to see what kind of food they have! This could be a long journey, gotta be responsible. But she wants to get a dagger at the smithy when Juan Pablo's done.

[psychup]

Sarah apologizes to the blacksmith for Juan Pablo's behavior! It's really rude, when she's clearly a dedicated career woman! The blacksmith is so talented, too. Sarah compliments her eye for detail!

Anyway, we'll take armors and swords and stuff like that for everyone. Whatever she thinks is best!

[onethirdthesoul]

The marketplace smells delicious! They have all sorts of meats both dried and fresh, fruits and veggies, bread, and even stews.

The blacksmith thanks Sarah for her kindness and gives the adventurers a 15% discount! Except for Juan, who has to pay 45% extra to compensate for the discount. Nothing in life is free, you know.

She hands them over a knife, a bow and arrows, and a sword as well as four different types of armor. Chainmail, heavy armor, light armor, and a fancy cloak for the Wizardess.

[throe]

Just in case anyone else wants to learn magic and isn't gifted with my family's bloodline to learn a specific magical trade, does the wizard have any scrolls he will part with?

[onethirdthesoul]

He has your basic elemental scrolls as well as some healing ones. There's a few that effect offense and defense but they're way out of the Wizardess's price range.

[psychup]

Fortunately, we can probably afford it with Sarah's grant from the university!

[onethirdthesoul]

[Athena..... Well, he can't argue with that.]

They can afford one with her grant. They're very expensive, after all.

[throe]

[ Wow she was gonna say that she'll just use the rest of someone else's money (Juan Pablo) but Athena has already swooped in and made things even easier. Rapture crosses her arms and leans back in her chair. ]

Excellent! I'll take a water elemental scroll, a healing scroll, and a defense scroll from the wizard then.

[roadroller]

Hmm. Hmm. I'll get a huge bag of oranges!! ♪

[Rin does not know how food actually works since this is how she normally eats oops. Hopefully perishables will not actually go bad in fantasyland.]

[ladyofthehouse]

Ay dios mio.

Juan Pablo cries, being surrounded by such intimidating women. Then gesticulates for forgiveness with his hands wildly while trying to rebutton his shirt. Then pays the Blacksmith.

Plus tip! For the trouble caused and because intimidating women are very attractive! Ay ay. [Wink.]

[onethirdthesoul]

The Wizardess gets her scrolls, Kei-chan receives a 20lb bag of oranges, and Juan Pablo has the marketplace cops called on him, forcing him and the other adventures to be shooed to the outskirts of town. [Good job, Juan!]

Luckily they already gathered everything. Now that they're here, they may notice a strange woman sitting by the border between the market's dirt road and the rough patches of grass that lead toward the swamp.

[Ryou places a game piece on the board, meant to represent this character.]

[psychup]

Let's talk to her! Excuse me! Me and my friends just wanted to say hello!

[onethirdthesoul]

The strange woman looks up to greet Sarah and the others. She's wearing a hooded cloak, so all they can see is her smile.

...Hello my fellow adventurers, where are you headed? To save the Princess, I presume?

[roadroller]

That's the plan... you wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would ya?

[onethirdthesoul]

[Ryou pretends to cover his mouth as if with a long and dangling sleeve.]

Ho ho ho... I may know something.

[throe]

But you're not going to tell us unless we say the right words. The exact way you want us to say them. Right?

[ She looks straight at Ryou, smirking. ]

[onethirdthesoul]

Ho ho! I see you're quite the savvy ones, but in this case you're wrong. I'll help you, and there's only one condition.

[roadroller]

That sounds too good to be true! But Kei-chan cautiously asks what that might be, anyway. ♪

[onethirdthesoul]

Oh ho ho~ Well you see, I am but a poor woman. [Throwing his arm over his eyes an generally hamming it up. It's what Rapture does.]

That reward for saving the Princess is quite high you know, I could finally be rid of this village, head to Paris or something.

[Returning to a normal position...] So I want to join you on your quest, and take half of the reward for myself. In exchange, I know the safest way through the swamp.