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!week 1

Welcome.

It doesn't matter where you last were or what you were doing. What matters is that you're waking up in a decently comfortable bed in a room that's completely unfamiliar. You may feel a bit groggy, like you've slept for too long, but that will fade in time.

Welcome to Graceside Preparatory Academy.

You may want to pick up the key to your room before you leave, though don't worry. Your door won't lock automatically so you won't be locked out if you've forgotten to pick it up. The hallway outside your room is most likely full of other confused students by now and should you turn around to look at the door of the room you just left, you'll find a nameplate with your name printed on it. There's a single word underneath it with no explanation. This is your title, but don't worry about that right now.

Depending on when you left your room there may be a clock chiming in the foyer up ahead. It seems like it's seven, though it's difficult to tell if it's seven in the morning or seven at night. There aren't any windows, after all. Should you venture into the room with the clock, you'll find that the only exit is closed - there's absolutely no way to break down that steel bulkhead. It looks like you're stuck in here for the time being.

The foyer also holds some very interesting information. There's a bulletin board with twenty-nine pictures on it. Beside each picture is some very specific and very familiar information. Feel free to examine it. The bulletin board is large enough for plenty of you to gather around and gawk. Don't try to get at it though, that glass in front of it is very thick. If you try to break it, you'll find out the hard way that it's shatterproof. Sorry about that.

Perhaps even more of a concern than the glass is the list beside the profiles. It looks like a set of rules. You might want to examine those, though they're not providing much of an explanation for why you're here or how you got here.

So relax and get to know your fellow students. You might be stuck here for awhile.

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[Logan's already examined this room with Sol, but he's back in here because he figures it will be quieter. He needs some time to be alone to think and he doesn't want to return to his room, so--

Ah. Well. That's new.]

Are you alright?

[--And that was a dumb question, hang on, let him try again.]

I am Logan, the King of Albion. My duty is to protect my country and I will not stand for any of this.

[He approaches, though he's not going to get too close or reach out to touch her. His voice is surprisingly passionate despite the entirely-too-serious expression.]

We are going to find a way to leave. No one will be left here and no one will play by these rules. No one is going to die.

[Soothing isn't really something Logan can manage, but he's lowered his voice a bit and it's dipped into something even and almost calming.]

For the duration of our stay here, I will consider all of you subjects of Albion. I will not allow anything to happen to any of you. We will find a way out of here and we will all leave together.

What is your name?

[Ashley, right? He's pretty sure that's right. Still, it's best to try to give her something else to focus on. The words he's throwing at her are intended to get her to calm down instead of anything he really means, because panicking at a time like this will only set everyone else off and no one needs that. But hey, at least he's trying? That's got to count for something.]

[At the sound of a voice, Ashley starts.] Oh--!

[She turns, taking an instinctive step back toward...the wall, honestly, not a very good choice if she has to run. But the words wash over her, and she does listen to them, still trying not to tremble, eyes darting about.

Ashley has a hard time remembering all the profiles she'd seen, placing what with what. There were so many of them, after all! So she can't quite place a name to a face to everything on there, but some of them sounded so...so unsettling, and how does she know she can trust anyone?]

A-Ashley. [She still answers. It's almost automatic, despite how it trips from her mouth, getting caught on the ever-so-present lump in her throat.

...And jeez there is little else she can think of to say, hovering near the wall like a frightened animal.]

[Logan doesn't come any closer, but he spreads his hands in the most placating gesture he can manage. It's sort of difficult considering how stiff his expressions are.]

Ashley. I understand that you're frightened. Right now most people are more confused than scared, but given our situation this is a very normal reaction.

Right now we don't know the details of the situation. There are twenty-nine of us in here and most people are looking for a way to escape right now. With any luck we won't be in here for long.

[Alright, uh... let's see... He's not very good at this, so...]

Can you tell me about where you're from, Ashley?

[Getting her to talk is important and hopefully that will keep her calm.]

[Some kind of logical thinking, it's...actually reassuring right now? So you know, what Logan says does help, in a way, because it's like when she's getting herself worked up back home, and Chris reminds her hey that's stupid. ...A little less so right now, considering.]

C-California, um. LA. But I wasn't there, before, it was Alberta, Canada. I- i-it was an annual retreat with my friends, a big lodge.

[It's certainly not stupid. He knows what it's like to panic blindly like that, but he's the goddamn King of Albion and he's not about to lose his head over something like this.]

I've never heard of those places. What are they like?

[Talking about simple things like this seems to be okay, so let's try that.]

Y-you haven't? [Somewhat airily, but almost a little intrigued. Ah, it's a mystery. This whole situation is a mystery, but this a much nicer one and it catches Ashley's attention.] They're like, really common, but...Albion, I haven't heard of that either, so...

LA's hot, and Alberta's really cold, they're complete and total opposites. One's all buildings and cities and the lodge, it's out in the woods so far from...everything, really.

I see, that's very interesting. Do you and your friends go to the lodge to get away from the city?

[...Well, that's what his family did when he was a kid, though Bowerstone sounds like it has nothing on LA.]

It's...a yearly thing. Josh's family owns it, and the whole mountain. It's so we can all unwind and relax, but...

[Ashley trails off. Changes direction.]

You're a king, really? Like from a fantasy novel?

[...Not a pleasant topic then, got it.]

I am, yes, though I wouldn't compare it to a novel. It isn't nearly as glamorous and easy as fiction would lead one to believe.

[Except it's now all the rage to write about how awful kings are and that is hella rude.]

[just don't tell her you're a tyrant and we're sitting pretty]

Of course not, just, with horses and...magic, and elves and all of that? Like Tolkein? That'd be...that'd be amazing.

[This is, honestly, a much better thing to focus on. What a nice choice of topic.]

[Eh, you do what you've gotta do to keep your six and a half million idiots safe. Sometimes this involves making their lives miserable, but sacrifices have to be made!]

I don't know what Tolkein is and there aren't any elves, but there are certainly horses. Magic is nowhere near as common now, however. The last Hero capable of using it in Albion was my mother.

[There might be some others out there, but he would have heard of any Heroes in Albion.

Logan seems fairly pleased with the topic as well, but he could talk about the Hero Queen for hours and not get bored because he's a momma's boy like that.]

Oh my world, it really is like a fantasy novel! [And here's the first semblance of a smile Ashley's had since waking up in this nightmare. In fact she almost looks excited. You did a good thing, Logan.]

A Medieval kingdom! The son of the last great magic-user, the Noble King! [She seems to remember herself and- that is a little tiny bow] I-it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness!

...you know. Sort of.

Ah, I'm pleased you find it so fascinating.

["Noble"... hahahaha oh man, that's hilarious.]

Given the circumstances it is a bit odd to say that, but I'm pleased to make yours as well, Ashley. There's no need to bow, though.

[That. Might be the tiniest, most awkward smile imaginable. But hey, you've earned it.]

[Look, she. she's going to learn some things later, when she looks through the profiles again with a face and a name now.

With a sheepish smile, Ashley even lets the grip on her arms lessen, just a bit. She's still tense but not all ready to snap, like a rubber band.]

It was customary. I've never met royalty before. I, uh. Thank you. I've been really bad here, for awhile.

[She's honestly lost track of how much time she's spent just...reading and rereading these rules.]

You really meant what you said, about g-getting everyone out of here?

[...Please ignore the "likes: executions" thing, um.]

I do mean it. As the King of Albion it is my sworn duty to protect my citizens from harm and I will always do everything I can to uphold that. One of my citizens is here, but for the time being I will consider all of you citizens of Albion. I won't let anything happen to you.

[This is going to be hilarious in hindsight.]

[Buddy pal friend that's a hard thing to ignore.]

Okay. Okay! Good. Great, you've got experience doing that so...alright. That is about like a fifty percent increase in positive attitude right there.

[Wonder if "likes: executions" will still be a thing in a few weeks.]

I've been the ruler of Albion for quite some time, yes. It hasn't been easy, but I will always do everything in my power to protect Albion.

[Admittedly the beginning of his rule was "Logan fucks off to parts unknown to explore shit because he is a responsible king" but eventually he got his act together.

...Sort of.

And if you see "likes: executions" scratched out in a few weeks you'll know why...]

At least there's someone who knows what he's doing here. [BECAUSE SHE SURE AS HELL DOESN'T.] Reasonable authority. Didn't seem to be too many of those on that wall of weird...

H-have you uh, seen who...brought us here?

[Considering she saw a dude in a mask but the other running theory is ghosts.]

It might not be possible to tell from those profiles. Some of them are inaccurate.

[He's not 33. Also he doesn't like executions, that's just rude.]

...I haven't seen the person who brought us here, no. I'm not sure how we arrived at all. Our captors will most likely make an appearance at some point to tell us what they want.

[Because obviously they want something. That said, this topic is much heavier so Logan's words are a bit stilted while he tries to figure out if he's said anything that will make Ashley panic again, um.]

[She's quiet, considering. Bites her lip. Bites it so deep that it almost hurts.]

H-he had a cloth... Chloroform, probably, and a mask... It wasn't...he was so fast.

[It's not panic, per se. Just something distant. Something she never thought she'd have to say, or think about.]

[It's good that she's keeping her composure despite the... that. But Logan has no idea what chloroform is and perhaps more importantly, that isn't possible.]

...The last thing I remember was talking to my sister in the throne room. There were guards stationed at the doors and nearby. It would have been impossible for someone to slip in unnoticed and if they had, Sir Walter would have fought them off.

[Sure, Walter hates him, but Walter is a good person and wouldn't let him be kidnapped.

...Unless this was Walter's doing. But surely Walter wouldn't... Well, even if Walter would his sister would never go along with this willingly.]

I'm not sure how that would be possible.

[The words are still cautious. He can't dismiss them outright, unfortunately, because it would be possible for everyone to turn on him.]

Oh.

[Her gaze drops slowly. So this doesn't help anything, it just. Makes everything more confusing.]

I thought...everyone would've remembered something like that.

[Of course, Ashley doesn't remember getting presumably hit in the face so.]

I've spoken to a few of the others and they didn't mention anything of the sort. That doesn't mean it didn't happen to us, however.

[It's possible whatever magic was used on them to make them forget what happened wasn't as effective on her for... some reason. That's also assuming magic was used, though he's not sure what else could have caused something like this.]

I'm sure that information will be very helpful. Thank you.

[...Well, the last line is a little on the awkward side, but he's trying...]

[Absentmindedly, she nods it off. Yeah, you're welcome, sharing the details of her abduction, what a way to pass the time.]

I hope so. [It doesn't sound too optimistic, but there she is.] As long as we get out of here. Safe. Alive.

[As long as I get out of here.]

Of course. I will do everything in my power to ensure we all leave this place soon.

[...well this is gonna suck.]

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Welcome.

mail room

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WE ARE ON DAY ONE AND I ALREADY DID A SMALL TEXT ERROR, IT'S A NEW RECORD

YOU CANNOT ESCAPE it's okay I already screwed up posting the log YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY

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