[ WEEK ONE – ARRIVAL ]

[sheriffexe]

ARRIVAL

It's a surprisingly quiet ride. The passenger cart is nothing more than wood and a bit of cotton to cushion the seats but for some reason, even as the train hurtles along down the track, the cart remains silent. It only starts filling with noise when the passengers begin to stir. There isn't any indication on how you got here. No grogginess, no injuries -- in fact, those who arrive with injuries might find them healed up completely (of course there are others who won't be so lucky) -- but in one blink and the next, you are here, on this train. Maybe you're even sitting next to a friend. Maybe a stranger. Won't be any time to talk either, the train suddenly slowing down with enough of a jerk to throw its passengers back into their seats. A few seconds later, it comes to a complete stop and with a whistle, the doors open and a voice calls from outside. It's male, with a slight mechanical twang behind it and anyone who looks out the window towards the station can just about spot the portly man out on the platform. "You might as well come on out, folks. You won't be getting any answers on the train." Once everyone is out on the platform, the man stands before them taking an assessing look at each person. There is something very off about him, though he looks human enough -- but his eyes are too white, his skin too dry, and his hair is doesn't shine quite right. He is dressed in a flannel shirt, suspenders, and jeans, a cowboy hat atop his head and a badge pinned to his shirt that reads "Sheriff". After a moment, he gives a gruff nod and speaks again. "Howdy. Real happy to see all of you. Explanations will come... Sunday morning, yeah. Give y'all a bit of time to meet each other. Settle in. Keys are on the table over there, hat and pistol in your room. Don't, er... Don't shoot each other right away but if you do, my office is over there. Go get some dinner, sun's about to set. Wouldn't want any coyote trouble." And that seems to be... it. The Sheriff tips his hat and turns to head to the building with the large "Sheriff" sign on the front. There is a table nearby, keys neatly laid out for everyone with nametags attached to each one. An owl hoots in the distance and a breeze passes through the group. It's quiet again. Welcome to game start! Characters will find their items in their hotel rooms and anyone who goes to visit the Sheriff after he leaves will find the station empty. On top of that, rulebooks will not be available to find until later. The Sheriff might be forcing it a little but it seems like the intent here really is to get everyone to interact with each other. If there are any questions, PM or hit up the plurk at robowest!

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Comments

[thatsthespirit]

[clicks her tongue together in irritation]

He's either hiding, or there's a hidden exit somewhere we can't see. [or maybe there's something supernatural going on here, she sure as heck doesn't know] Would you care to assist me in searching the building from top to bottom?

[moraled]

[Or... witchcraft.

Okay, no, he's not prepared to bring that up just yet.]

Certainly. If he is hiding somewhere within this building, any wasted time in finding him is time he may use to escape properly. I will begin on this side.

[thatsthespirit]

[~WITCHCRAFT~]

[careful Barnham you're talking to a lady who would be considered a witch by your standards]

[either way, Milla nods]

And I'll begin on the other side. Hopefully, he hasn't gone far. I have some stern questions for him.

[moraled]

[Burn the witch--

wait no that doesn't work

Good thing he's had a little bit of time to grow and improve as a person before coming here.]

As do I. Let us meet back at this point, then, regardless of our findings.

[thatsthespirit]

Very well.

[she nods in his direction]

Before we go-- my name is Milla Maxwell. And yours?

[introductions seem pretty apt right about now]

[moraled]

Zacharias Barnham. Though I wish the circumstances could be better, it is nonetheless a pleasure.

[He is certainly stiff and formal--though after that, he nods to her and sets off to search the place head to toe.]

[thatsthespirit]

Likewise. I'll rendezvous with you again soon.

[she she's off! scourging the entire building for anything important or informative. but unfortunately, she finds nothing, and the annoyance at coming up empty handed is obvious in her expression when they meet up again]

[moraled]

[He looks equally grumpy as he meets back up with her, brow furrowed.]

I can see of no place that he would have been able to escape from. By normal means, anyway.

[thatsthespirit]

Neither do I. And as much as I hate to admit it, I don't think we're going to find our answers in this building.

[taps her foot against the ground, slightly frustrated]

[moraled]

Nor do I. Though I do feel settled, at least, to know that we have searched. It tells me that there is something else at work here, beyond what is simply true before our eyes.

[thatsthespirit]

"Something else?" Such as?

[she has thoughts herself, but she wants to hear his, first]

[moraled]

[witchcraft.]

... Magic, or something similar, may also be at work here.

[thatsthespirit]

[surprisingly she doesn't seem bothered by this assertion]

Magic, hm? It's possible. Only someone with great power would be able to sever my connection to my own spirit artes.

[moraled]

... Pardon? Your...spirit artes?

[MILLA'S A WITCH]

[thatsthespirit]

[MILLA'S A WITCH!!]

My spirit artes. Or "magic," as you call it.

[moraled]

[... His kneejerk reaction is honestly that she should be put on trial.

He hesitates, eyebrows snapping together. But he's...learned a lot from his experiences with Sir Blue Knight.

If she is not causing harm then... then that is that, right? Besides, it's not like he can put her on trial here.

A beat.]

...Ah. I see.

[Awk...ward...]

I apologize. I was simply...surprised. But yes, I suppose that is one solution to this.

[thatsthespirit]

[arches both of her eyebrows, because she can read the hesitancy and uncertainty on his face like a book]

Is something wrong? You look surprised.

[moraled]

Yes.

[SOMETHING IS WRONG AND ALSO HE WAS SURPRISED]

Magic is...something unusual and somewhat secretive in my home. It would be a lie to say that did not surprise me.

[thatsthespirit]

I see.

It's the opposite where I come from. All humans and spirits on Rieze Maxia are capable of casting spirit artes.

[a beat]

Although it's different on Elympios, where humans lack the mana lobe necessary to cast spirit artes. Your home must be more like Elympios.

[not that she expects him to know wtf she means when she says "Rieze Maxia" and "Elympios"]

[moraled]

[Yeah he definitely has no idea what she's talking about.

But...]

... It has become clear this is a very different place to Labyrinthia.

[But...]

Even so, I do not believe I truly processed that fact until this very moment.

[thatsthespirit]

I'm glad I could help you come to that realization.

[. . .]

I. . . think.

[moraled]

Do not concern yourself with it. It was simply a surprise, as I have stated.

More importantly, do you believe it possible that something like magic was at fault for the sheriff's odd disappearance?

[thatsthespirit]

[she stops to think about it before she answers]

It's possible, yes. But admittedly I'm not aware of any spirit artes that allow one to teleport or make themselves invisible.

[moraled]

There have been spells documented that would allow such a thing in my home, but there is none of the evidence of such spells being used here.

[So... he's at a loss here.]

I must admit, I do not know the answer to this puzzle.

[thatsthespirit]

What sort of evidence would be left behind if someone used one of those spells?