MOCK ROUND INTRO LOG

[foundationmods]

Welcome to Rokkenjima. This island may just be a copy in the middle of reformation, but the Witch extends her greetings all the same. Please, relax.

This game is just a trial run, but please do not think you can sleep through this. The Witch fully intends to put the system through its paces, so please put up a good fight.

The difficulty level depends on you. Think deeply on your moves during this short play time.

You wake with a start - even if you don't remember falling asleep in the first place - and find yourself standing on the dock of what looks like an island. There's a noise behind you - and if you turn to look, you'll see a plain white boat taking off and leaving you all behind, not stopping for a second if you try to flag them down or scream at them.

It doesn't look like you can swim to shore, either - there's nothing but sea in all directions, and something tells you trying to swim out will end up badly. However, a small dip, if you were so inclined, would be fine. It's not like the weather is bad for it - it feels like it's summer, despite whatever it was when you laid eyes on the envelope.

...Speaking of, Every last one of you have an envelope in your hands, with a gold letter 'L' on it. It's the same letter you were reading before you 'woke' up here, after all. More than that, those of you who had supernatural or magical abilities will feel...strange, as if your abilities are being forcibly blocked. Try as you might, you just can't use them - though all of your physical abilities are intact, of course.

If you decide to head up the path, you'll find Goat....men? waiting for you near the doors to the mansion. Despite their bright red eyes, they merely bow politely and wordlessly bring you into the mansion, showing you your rooms and then stating that they will prepare food for you or anything else you should need whenever you want, in surprisingly deep voices.

As they leave, you can't help but wonder...

What did you just get yourself into?


Mock Round Calendar!
The taken page still requires a little coding, but it should be done by sometime today.
Thank you for your patience!

Comments

[dawnwardspiral]

No, it wouldn't.

[ Right, introductions. ]

...Riku.

[curryparty]

It's nice to meet you, Riku!

[Not even circumstances can stop the friendliness, apparently. And then, after a small pause.]

Actually - weird question, but do you have the talent for magic?

[dawnwardspiral]

...Good to meet you.

[ Said a little awkwardly, but sure. He can try to be more friendly.

Though excessive friendliness does make him think of a certain someone. ]

I do. [ ... ] Let me guess, you do too, but can't use it right now?

[curryparty]

[He is not sure if he should be relieved or not to hear this.]

I'm still learning, but it definitely feels like something's... blocking it?

[Which is weird, because that has never been the case for it before.]

I don't think I could do the simplest spell right now.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Riku isn't exactly relieved to hear that the people brought here have had their powers sealed. It does make him wonder what exactly he's gotten himself into, but now he figures if there is something ominous going on here...well, he'll try to stop it, of course. ]

I feel the exact same.

[ And it's absolutely alarming all of his abilities could be blocked so soundly and effortlessly. ]

But I wouldn't even know where to begin thinking of how they're able to manage anything like this - especially for more than one person.

[curryparty]

Yeah. I mean, I'm not an expert or anything, but a spell to achieve that would have to be pretty powerful.

So that, plus mass teleportation... just what else does Lady Lambdadelta have up her sleeves?

[She must be an amazing witch indeed.]

[dawnwardspiral]

I don't know. I'm not going to pretend that I expected her to be some sort of benevolent witch, but I don't remember agreeing to have any of my abilities held back.

[ Riku had to wonder, what was the real purpose of the game, and the new letter insinuated that there'd be a "fight". Another question would be if this fight would be physical or perhaps something less than. ]

[curryparty]

Well, the only part I agreed to was trying to play for a wish... if you can call it an "agreement."

[It was almost more of an idle thought. A wish in and of itself.]

[dawnwardspiral]

Looks like it was enough for her to drag you - and anyone who'd agreed to it - here without any warning.

[ Honestly that in of itself is a big, red flag. ]

[curryparty]

Yeah...

I'm surprised just one person could pull it off. The sacrifice you'd need to make...

[He seems to droop a bit at the thought before he continues.]

...Well, it'd be immense for sure. It's hard to believe a single person could pay the price alone.

[dawnwardspiral]

Sacrifice?

[ He gave the word some thought. It'd definitely take a lot of MP, that's true. ]

... it would take a lot. I'm not sure if I'm even willing to believe it was just one person, but at the same time, it could be.

[curryparty]

A group makes more sense... Maybe she's just the "face" of it?

[Combining spells is possible, and very useful for dividing up the potentially heavy cost.]

[dawnwardspiral]

That's possible.

[ She could be using other people to help with casting the spell - that's something he can imagine. ]

We could always also ask how she's doing it. Whether or not she'll answer it at all is another question entirely.

[curryparty]

Hopefully we'll be able to meet her soon. Unless she's planning to make us find her, too.

[Who even knows, they're magically on an island now, anything could go really.]

[dawnwardspiral]

I'm not really in the mood to play hide-and-go-seek. So hopefully she doesn't.

[ He really isn't. ]

[curryparty]

I don't think I'd mind it too much. It's a chance to explore our new surroundings, too.

[Op...timism?]

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Boy that optimism... ]

...Looking on the bright side of things, huh?

[ Riku already expected to do some exploring, but. Yeah. ]

[curryparty]

Well, we kind of need to do it anyway, so... it just seems like a good chance to take, you know?

[They also have no idea if whatever game involved is going to require knowing good places to hide. It'll be good to take note of everything!]

[dawnwardspiral]

...Maybe you've got a point.

[ So he's seeing the light? Though he'd like to not be viewed as childish. He still has this idea that he has appearances to keep. ]

[curryparty]

[Just embrace your inner child Riku.]

She seemed really playful... You don't see too many magic users with this much power who talk about games.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ He'd like to leave his child self behind kthxbye. ]

No, not really. In my experience, the more powerful the magic user, the less playful they are.

[ See: Maleficent, Yen Sid, and countless others. Well, in his opinion anyway. ]

[curryparty]

Yeah, older magic users can be really stuffy!

[They're in agreement!]

But I like to have fun when I can. Maybe I'm just not serious enough about it, though.

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Does this mean he's turning into one of those stuffy magic users, he wonders... ]

No, it's fine. [ He smiles a little, actually. ] I have this friend back home who'd probably say something similar, and I think he's better off that way—knowing how to have fun when he can. And I believe that's something that shouldn't change, especially if it doesn't have to.

[curryparty]

[Absolutely. Hurry and change course, Riku! Be cheerful!]

Ehh, really? [Now he looks interested. The fact that Riku's smiling about it is a good sign!] What's he like?

[dawnwardspiral]

[ Gotta wait until DDD for him to get closer to cheerful.

At the question, however, something in his expression softens, in a far different way than even the smile that graced his lips could ever indicate. ]

He's the type of person who always reaches out to those who needs his help the most, and naturally looks out for his friends no matter how far away they are from him. He never hesitates to do what's right, and [ There's a light laugh, but a twinkle of something happy in his eyes. ] he's awfully good at lighting up the mood, and Sora can brighten the room just by walking right into it. He doesn't even need to say a word.

I'm honestly grateful we had the chance to meet each other.

...I'm sure you'd like him too—there aren't many people who can't get along with him.

[ It's clear that this Sora is...important to Riku. ]