robowest | [ WEEK ONE

Entry tags:

game: start

[ WEEK ONE – ARRIVAL ]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's a good question. [ Good, he's a smart kid. ]

But either most of us are lying, or they figured out a way to drag a bunch of people from different places without any of us sensing something up.

[A finger traces over the rim of the glass then.] But why would we all need to lie to each other when we're all in the same situation? [Percy doesn't count his own withholding of information as lying, really.] We won't get any answers without everyone giving up what they know. I...maybe it's possible but someone has to remember. It can't be all of us that're clueless.

[Percy's had his fair share of people lying to him, too. It's not something he likes much.]

Well, it could. But for now, asking around to see what everyone knows is probably our best bet. We're not going to learn a whole lot from the town itself, except that they definitely don't want us dying of starvation or dehydration.

How generous of them. [Its said flatly but he takes a drink anyway, a larger gulp this time. Real food and real drinks are still a blessing, considering.] I've been trying to see what everybody remembers before the train and so far a lot of the stories don't match up at all. Did you see some of the buildings are boarded up? Another girl told me there's a farm out there, too.

Did she say anything about signs of life over there? People milking cows or chasing chickens or whatever?

[ She can dream. ]

I asked the same thing. She said it was just the animals and a ton of flowers. She brought some back and they were all fresh. [Which is weird since everything else is like a ghost town.]

... Okay, so obviously we do have people behind the scenes.

[ AND THEY'RE PROBABLY ASSHOLES. ]

Usually the case. [Hes not happy about that either.] Wanna bet they're hiding in the buildings we can't get in?

I wonder how much force it'd take to get in...

[ SHE COULD DO THAT. ]

You mean break it down? [HE'S NOT OPPOSED BUT.] maybe it's worth a try...if he doesn't show up and open the doors to everything tomorrow, that is.

[Like. What if it's a trap to distract them? Lots of possibilities...]

... I guess that would save us some effort. But if he doesn't, I say we try a little healthy investigation.

[ Investigations are totally legal. ]

Count me in. The more people we have investigating, the better. [And also Percy's find with attacking stuff to get answers, that's sort of a default.

There's a short pause.] I'm Percy. Might be good to know if we're going to start an investigation team.

Nice to meetcha, Percy. I'm Sara Valestein.

[ That's step number one, at least. ]

Likewise. [He's more comfortable now at least, feeling a little better with the idea that someone might be on his side.] So can I ask what the last you remember was?

... [ how to explain this... ]

I was in an old schoolhouse fighting monsters. And they weren't even hard monsters, honestly--

[ So it's not like one could have knocked her out. ]

[...hold on.]

Monsters? [It's not a repetition out of not believing her. It's one out of wanting an explanation because what monsters?]

Monsters. A lot of them make their home in that schoolhouse, ranging from killer giant bugs to flaming spirits and the occasional Lucifuge.

[ NO BIG. ]

[...yeah he's suddenly sitting up a little taller and giving her a very skeptical look. The last giant bug he killed was named Arachne and he has zero clue what a Lucifuge would be (but somehow he always finds new things in Greek mythology he hasn't killed yet), but this is a little unnerving.]

What are you?

Percy. [ very firmly. ]

Asking a lady what she is won't usually end well.

[ Seriously, what kind of question is that?? ]

That still doesn't answer the question. [Said just as firmly. Like that, the calm demeanor's slowly being replaced by something like suspicion and maybe a little bit of paranoia. This was definitely way too good to last, why did he think he could go a day without maybe dying? But then again she said fighting so maybe she's on the good guy side? He seems to be debating for a moment.

(Sorry, Sara.)] Why were you fighting monsters?

[ Oh boy, she's holding up a finger. ]

Like I said, the schoolhouse is full of 'em, and they don't just clean out themselves and I don't always make my students do everything themselves. [ A second finger. ] Where I'm from is also full of them, out in the wild, and they tend to cause problems for people who can't defend themselves.

[ And a third finger. ]

It's also kind of my job to fight them. [ Well, it used to be, but she won't go into details there. ]

Also, I'm human. But seriously, never ask a lady that if you don't want to get slapped.

[...well. On the one hand, that shuts him up. He falls quiet and he stares at her again for a few minutes while he processes that. So. Not a demigod, but someone who fights monsters anyway. Someone who can see monsters and not be a demigod isn't uncommon (like his own mother), but at the same time...either way, his shoulders hunch a little and he looks at the countertop instead.]

Yeah, got it. [Which is sort of like "I'm sorry." At least he looks apologetic.] ...where I'm from not many people can see past the Mist, so they don't recognize monsters at all. Even fewer people can really fight them.

[ Ah, yes... the posture of Awkwardly Apologetic and Highly Uncomfortable Teen. Sara can't help but grin a little, reaching out to ruffle his hair. ]

Do your monsters usually hide in the... Mist, then? Are we talking actual mist or... [ she lowers her voice dramatically-- ] Mist?

[His head ducks further when she touches his hair, but at the same time he doesn't push her away at all. Actually all this is doing is reminding him that he hasn't seen his mom for almost eight months so thanks, Sara. But he's carefully figuring out how to answer anyway.]

Mist, capital M. It's a magical kind of shield that changes what people see. Usually they can be staring right at a monster and see something else that their brain can process like...seeing a giant hellhound as a poodle instead. [THAT WAS A REALLY BAD EXAMPLE. Please ignore the very subtle glance at Mrs. O'Leary who is, decidedly, not a poodle currently.] Like I said most people can't see through it.

[ She's a cool big sister, don't get maternal vibes from her, Percy!!! ]

... So is Mrs. O'Leary a hellhound?

[ This is clearly the most important question to ask, and she's apparently just accepting that explanation without bothering to ask anything further about it.

Well, she's seen magic at work, who's to say there isn't mist that can make people see monsters as mice? ]

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