general murdergame catch-all!!

[finalsay]

[You wake up in the cold room of a beautiful, opulent castle. Despite it's beauty, the bed that your in is uncomfortable, perhaps even left you a little stiff as you awaken. You'll find that there are many others like you, if you step outside of your quarters. You might even be tempted to sneak a look out of the window to your room, only for the guards stationed there to raise their weapons in warning.

It would seem that escape is not exactly possible from this place you've awoken from.

Some of you might recognize the castle who's walls you inhabit, but even knowing that much isn't going to be enough to save you from what's to come. Of the game afoot, and the shrill and haughty tone of your game mistress.

May as well get used to your new life. Seems you're going to be stuck here for quite a while.]

Comments

[kowtowcleave]

[Geeta isn't unused to waking up stiff; when one braves the wilds like she does on a near constant basis, they get used to comfort being a luxury. One that Geeta rarely affords anyone but her Pokemon, nowadays, but when she wakes, she positively aches. And yet...

Geeta doesn't recognize anything about this place. As she reaches for her Poke Balls, she realizes they aren't there, and she forces herself to close her eyes. Fidgets with the sleeve on her right hand--at least they had the basic decency to not rob her of everything, she notes inwardly, as if anything about this situation is a semblance of normal. She was once a Champion hopeful, she should at least act like it.

As the woman exits her room, her steps are careful and measured--she's used to these kind of walks, but there isn't any authority in it. No, if anything it's almost menacing, despite the calm look that Geeta keeps on her face as she looks everyone over. Talks to a few of them, as they try to find their bearings in this unusual place. But gathering around like that isn't for Geeta, not nowadays, and she elects to sneak away to properly size up the security of the building that they're in. As she walks around, one might be able to hear her talk...]

Guards stationed all about, practically no ground uncovered...well. Whoever has done this is thorough, indeed.

[It's through one of the doors that the guards actually let her through, that she enters what seems to be a large foyer--there doesn't seem to be too many people here, but what is interesting, is the large wall of information that seems to be plastered all over the wall--something Geeta is quick to waltz her way over to, like she owns the establishment, carefully eying the information on display.]

Name: "Lobera". | Illimitable.
Age: 34. | Species: Human. | Occupation: Traveling Pokemon Trainer.
Likes: Strength, battle, winning, competent trainers, her partners, her godson's cooking.
Dislikes: Losing, emptiness, being without purpose, Clavell, Professor Sada, Area Zero, keeping secrets.
Trivia: Lobera was once a Science Teacher for the Naranja Academy, but disappeared one day and took a new name.

...Well. Isn't this interesting? Now I wonder where they could have gotten this information.

[Geeta--or Lobera, as she calls herself, finds her gaze flicking over to the first person she spies nearby, and she walks with that collected yet calculating energy that she wants to exude, and she'll get his attention--]

Pardon me. Hello. What do you make of what they have written about us on these walls?

[morgrim]

[Needless to say, Shigure's not exactly happy to be waking up here, when he was getting ready for a really important battle. He's even less happy about finding a certain malakhim is mysteriously missing, and it seems like their bond is strained - not outright severed, but like she isn't anywhere around here, as though such a thing could be possible.

Morgrim should be nearby, because she's always nearby. That's more irritating than the fact that Stormhowl is missing, and that's what gets him to leave the room in search of her.

Unfortunately, his attempts to locate either his sword or his malakhim have turned up nothing whatsoever, and the guards stationed around aren't much help. There's something off with them, but he can't place exactly what it is - but whatever it is, it'd be best not to pick a fight until he has a weapon.

For now, he's found his way to the foyer, where he's frowning at the information listed.]

Name: Shigure Rangetsu | Relentless
Age: 31 | Species: Human | Occupation: Legate Exorcist
Likes: Fighting, tenacity, strength, Morgrim, his family, cats
Dislikes: Convoluted plans, being lonely, boredom, magic
Trivia: Shigure has defeated his younger brother in battle 1,012 times.

[It's setting him on edge - whoever the hell's responsible for this knows way too much about him. The woman beside him speaks up and Shigure glances her over before locating her information. What the hell's a Pokemon...]

Seems like they went to a lotta trouble to get this info, but I'm not sure what the point is.

[He lifts his shoulders a bit in a shrug; while this information isn't exactly pleasant, it certainly could be worse. It's not like Shigure's ever been one to keep secrets in the first place, after all.]

You got any idea what all of this is for?

[kowtowcleave]

[At that, Lobera's eyes flick over and study Shigure's profile; that certainly is quite a bit of personal information, and her brow briefly furrows at it. It's one thing to know about a new name, but the amount of battles won down to the exact number...]

...Nor am I, all be told. [Her arms cross, briefly for a moment, while she seems to contemplate.] If I had to make an educated guess, it's likely a matter of intimidation; whoever brought us in must have learned much about us, in some manner or another. They must intend to make us fearful of them, or perhaps of ourselves.

[Still, Lobera straightens, arms falling back to her sides easily.]

Though for what reason, I cannot ascertain. [Lobera tips her head.] Have you found anything else of interest, out of curiosity...?

[morgrim]

Hah, they're gonna have to try harder than that.

[Though given Shigure has never once been afraid a day in his life, they certainly have their work cut out for them...]

Not yet. Seems no one else knows what the hell any of this is either...

[He trails off when he notices the plaque next to the profiles and inclines his head as he indicates it. Let's see what this says, maybe this is important—

Oh, it's your typical murdergame rules. Shigure reads in silence for a moment before reaching a certain rule, where he stops and just laughs.]

Really. That's cute.

[kowtowcleave]

[...Okay, Lobera finds herself chuckling despite everything--he's really a confident one, isn't he? She can't say she doesn't approve at least slightly. She'll follow easily when Shigure inclines his head, hand going up underneath her chin in contemplation as she looks at...

...Well.]

...They simply cannot hope to be serious.

[What the actual fuck is this "only way to earn freedom is to kill someone" bullshit. The fuck. Lobera sounds more amused than anything.]

They cannot even come down here and do the deed themselves? Really. Whoever is running this must be a pathetic specimen.

[morgrim]

They probably know I'd kick their ass, Stormhowl or not.

[It's stated like a fact, like there's not even a doubt in his mind that he could take the person responsible for keeping them here. Because really, who actually can stand a chance against him, aside from Artorius on a good day?]

But I'm guessin' they've got some reason for all this setup. Probably a stupid reason, but some reason they can't just kill us themselves and be done with it.

[Exactly what that reason could be is a bit beyond him. Sadism probably??]

[kowtowcleave]

Hmm. [Lobera pauses for a moment, considering.] I could propose several theories, indeed. Perhaps they simply cannot. Perhaps they are bound to some similar rules that we, too, are.

...Or, our captor has a sadistic sense of humor. Neither of these would surprise me.

[Still, Lobera looks to Shigure, considering for a moment. But she finds herself smiling, just a bit.]

If you will permit me some curiousity...is this Stormhowl a partner of yours, then? Someone you seek strength alongside?

[morgrim]

[Shigure inclines his head a bit, listening and considering those possibilities. They're certainly good things to consider, but without much info right now, it seems they won't find an answer to that immediately.

The question earns a shrug, though.]

I wouldn't go that far, but Stormhowl is my blade. I earned the right to use it and it never leaves my side - but obviously it ain't here, since I guess that'd just make this too easy.

[He doesn't sound all that bothered by it, all things considered.]

Kind of a specific thing to ask, though? You got a partner like that or somethin'?

[kowtowcleave]

[Lobera chuckles a bit; what an astute man. She can't help but like that, but she fixes him with a smile.]

I do, indeed. My partner is known as a Kingambit; a rather impressive and daunting looking creature who stands above all others of his kind. He and I fight alongside one another, and watch each other's backs.

I suspect that I have lost him and my other partners for a similar reason.

[The smile doesn't leave her, even for a brief moment.]

You simply seem like you would be an interesting opponent for us, in better circumstances.

[morgrim]

Hah! Well, I like the sound of that! Tell you what, once we get outta here, I'll give you all that fight you're lookin' for.

[Shigure grins at that, clearly pleased with the idea - and likewise confident that they will get out of here.]

Though I guess I've got someone kinda similar - Morgrim, a cat-like bein' that's usually with me. She's missing though, first time that's ever happened.

[He folds his arms behind his head, glancing back over the profiles as he continues speaking.]

She doesn't fight, though; that's all me. She's just there to help me get stronger.

[Like everything else he's said, it's pretty dismissive and even, like he isn't bothered at all... but things are a little different when it comes to Morgrim.]