Welcome to the Kingdom!

[thequestgiver]

You've found a book.

Where you've found it depends. The library? At the bottom of an old wooden trunk from an estate sale? Grandma's attic? The seat beside yours on the bus?

It doesn't matter. What does matter is that something about it draws your attention. You pick it up and run a hand over its blue-dyed leather cover, trace the silver thorns embossed along the edges. The spine and cover bear no title, but it hardly matters. You take it home with you because you know it's just the kind of book you want, just what you need. And after all, you can return it later. Right?

When you finally open the book, it falls open on an illustrated page. A detailed ink drawing of a solitary figure standing before a wall of thorns. Who is this person?

A wizard in flowing robes?

A knight in gleaming armor?

A princess in a tattered gown?

Or a wicked person, glorying in the thorns' presence?

Like the book's location, it depends.

As you look closely at the illustration, your sense of balance leaves you. You stagger, look down, and are met with a white void that soon surrounds you. The book snaps shut and disappears in a shower of sparks.

You black out.

When you come around, you're warm and safe, though your surroundings are unfamiliar. The room you're in looks like a guest room in a castle; the walls are stone with a crackling fireplace and an ornately framed glassless window and the bed has an utterly impractical canopy that if you're not careful, you may just wind up getting tangled in as you sit up.

When you look around the room, you see two bells set out on a small table, both with signs in front of them. One says "Ring for attendant" the other had "Ring for King's Introduction" on it, but it was crossed out, with a handwritten "Help me, Hero WanKenobie! I'm just a dope!"

Ringing the first bell will (eventually. Hopefully) bring someone up to the room to answer your questions. The second bell has no clapper, but it covering a small round, red stone.

Comments

The first bell

[thequestgiver]

"Ring once for a fellow Hero, Ring twice for an NPC."

A hand written addition to the card reads: "Ring more than that to be an annoying twit"

The King's Greeting

[offyougonow]

The stone begins to glow the moment it's touched, and a moment later, the image of the King appears, hovering over it in a small projected illusion.

"Greetings, all mighty hero! You have been Summoned to our Great Kingdom in order to save us all from the Peril of the Thorns; that which threatens the very existence of our Kingdom!"

The King sits back, the illusion showing the edges of what... looks to be a recliner? Done up in royal colors, but that really looks like a recliner.

The King blinks, looking over off frame. "What? Something more? What more do they need, they're Heros, right? They know what to do!"

Another pause. "Oh! Right! The pamphlet!" He clears his throat, beaming at the camera once more. "Our great Scholars have compiled a Pamphlet with what will serve to be Useful Information to you on our Quest. I look forward to hearing of your Great Success on your return. Off you go now!"

With a wave of his hand, he again sits back in his easy chair thone, grinning widely. There's a long, awkward pause before he looks off screen. "I'm done now, you can end the spell. Was that good? I think it was good." He leans back again, letting out a sigh. "Think the Kitchen is done with--"

The image finally fades and vanishes from view.

The Pamphlet

[thequestgiver]

The pamphlet (pardon, Pamphlet, the capitalization is important,) is not too far behind the bells and looks.... oddly modern, considering the rest of your surroundings...

In it is a copy of what the King's recording said (minus the parts that should have been edited out if the mage doing the illusion recording knew how,) with some additional information.

Welcome, Brave Hero, to the Kingdom! As part of the Summoning Spell that's brought you here, you have been gifted with a few bonus items, courtesy of the Kingdom's Mages.

First is the Hero's Pockets of Holding (tm)! Now, no matter what you may be wearing, you will find you have pockets of infinite capacity! Yes, even you Ladies with the skirts and dresses where pockets would just be unseamly, you too have been gifted with Hero's Pockets of Holding (tm)! These pockets are invisible, and are able to fit anything you could want. Except a horse. Please do not put your horse in your Hero's Pockets of Holding (tm). They get very upset being put in there, it's just not a nice thing to do.

Included in your Hero's Pockets of Holding (tm) is one Apple Eye-Crystal (tm)! An Amazing Invention of one of the earliest of Heroes! This Crystal allows you to keep in contact with your fellow Heroes without bringing a Mage with you on your adventures! (Please do not put a Mage in your Hero's Pockets of Holding. Much like horses, Mages do not like being put in pockets.)

Please take care with your Apple Eye-Crystal (tm), however, as our dear First Hero was captivated by it and spent many hours simply staring into it, muttering about crushing candy and angering birds.

[finalizes]

Saffron isn't particularly perturbed by all this new place business. She's had that happen around her more or less since she was born.

Which means that she's wandering around with big eyes, prodding at everything and eventually ending up with the Pamphlet. She's standing there, concentrating hard, and reading through it.

"...that's bru...ouhget....brought you here you have been git... gifted with a few bonus items.

Cohurthesee," at this she frowns and turns her head to the next person who isn't her dad. It's not like her dad isn't nice, but he's not really someone to turn to with reading problems. "What is that?" She points at the word.

[thequestgiver]

A young maid who had been spending far too long dusting a small statue in the hall while not even subtly watching the new arrivals blinked once at Saffron before carefully crouching down to look at where she was pointing.

"That would be `courtesy`," she explained, tone warm. "It's saying that it's thanks to the Kingdom's Mages. Still learning, are you, hon?"

[finalizes]

"I started learning some time ago!" the girl declares proudly. "Alpha daddy is teaching me! He's very good at reading."

Because of course he is. Alpha Daddy is great at all kinds of book things.

[thequestgiver]

The maid raised an eyebrow "Alpha Daddy?" she repeated, tone curious.

[finalizes]

"Yes! He's the pack's alpha! And my daddy." Clearly that is an excellent explanation that will just make everything so much clearer.

Welcome, Oh Great Heroes!

[thequestgiver]

[[Post here to summon an NPC or fellow hero to do your intro thread. Note in the subject which you'd prefer. If you have a friend already in game that you'd like to do the intro, put their character in the subject line and link them]]

Stone of Indigo Cloud | Books of the Raksura | Player pls? :D

[scarsolderthanyou]

Passing out is not something Stone really does. Ever. Not unless grievously injured. So this? This is weird and alarming to wake up with that particular memory, and he sits up with an audible growl and rolls immediately off the bed and onto his feet. The canopy does in fact startle him enough into getting tangled in it, so it winds up on the floor rent in two pieces.

As do the bells and the little stone, so something is ringing even if he doesn't mean for it to.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren peers timidly into the room, clinging slightly to the door frame, slightly scared by all the crashing.

Until he sees just who it is making all the ruckus and he all but runs into the room, waving happily. Story-telling grandpa!

[scarsolderthanyou]

The sound of the door creaking open makes him pause and glare at the door. There isn't any recognition at the sight of the small... person... thing. Whatever Garren actually is. But it does break the moment of rage, at least, and the growl subsides. "Where is this?" he demands, hoping the little one knows. "How did shitting I get here this time?"

He'd really hoped he was done with this teleporting around nonsense!

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren hesitated, timidness returning. He'd had story time in his normal pog form a bunch of times with the version of Stone he had known... did that mean this was a different one...?

His shoulders drooped slightly before he clasped his hands to his chest nervously swaying back and forth before starting to timidly sign: first making the form of a book with his hands, then having one hand hop onto it before pulling both of them away. Next he pulled an invisible wand out from nowhere, waving it around before tapping at the air and then making a little "paaa!" sound, his gloved hands going from fists to fingers spread in mimic the sound.

It's a hard thing to sign, really, and he hesitates before holding up a finger and reaching into the Hammerspace he shared with his Slammer, pulling out a piece of paper and a red crayon that was small enough for his tiny hands to use.

Setting the paper on the floor, every inch of him was determined focus as he very carefully scrawled the words "magic book" on the paper before holding it up for Stone to read.

[scarsolderthanyou]

Little magic children. What will this world come up with next. Stone waits impatiently, then squints at the words with a frown. "There was a book. But the books in my court aren't magic. The mentors would have known and not left them lying around."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren put a gloved hand to the chin of his mask, head tilting this way, then that as he pondered. Making a book shape with his hands, he held them on onside of his body before moving it to the other, the two hands making the book shape making flapping motions as if the cover of the book were the source of it's movement. If people and Pogs could Travel, why not books?

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone runs a hand down his face in a kind of weary exasperation. "So a magic book appeared in my court to take me here. I suppose that's not any stranger than portals or rifts...." He visibly gathers the remains of his temper back under control and adds, "And who might you be?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren outlined the diamond shape on his armor with a smile that could be seen in his posture before reaching into his hammerspace and pulling out a small stack of index cards. A moment of shuffling of cards later before he holds one out for Stone to take.

Written in an adult's handwriting reads: "My name is Garren. I don't speak, but I can understand what you say just fine."

Dakki Sigal (Warrior of Light OC) | Final Fantasy XIV | A player if you please!

[castcure]

One moment Dakki had gone for a nap in an inn room in Limsa Lominsa, and the next she was... not in an inn room. Nor in Limsa, just going by the smell of it all. Not enough salt air and lingering fish scent. It's not bad, but not where she fell asleep, and anyone would find such a thing curious and strange... but her life had been full of enough curious and strange things, that she doesn't hesitate to roll from the bed, pat herself down, and take some comfort that her staff and her sword are both propped up against the nightstand. If she has those, then everything else ought to come together just fine. With that settled, she spies the bells, and steps over to them. Aah, to summon a retainer, perhaps...?

She goes for the King's Introduction, and frowns. She reads the pamphlet, and does not stop frowning. This is... so strange. Yes, she wants to go and ask someone some questions, so the other bell is properly rung, with a firm enough shake that it's sure to be heard by... whoever is supposed to hear, she presumes.

[triggerhappytraitor]

It doesn't take too long before there's the sound of footsteps. ... of a sort. Small booted footsteps running down the hall before a small armored figure peeks into the room. A moment later he lets out a small Gasp! gloved hands moving to cover the mouth of his mask before he runs into the room to get a closer look.

His head tilts one way, then the other before he crosses his hands, linking his thumbs and stretching his fingers to make a bird like shape, head tilting curiously.

[castcure]

By the pattering of small feet, she wonders if it's a Lalafell that's coming to explain things. But the armored figure that enters is even smaller, and she's not quite sure what to make of him. Nor the gasping, nor the mask...

...the sign that he's making with his hands, though. That, she understands on a soul-deep level. Bird. That's a bird. A particular one, for a particular someone. And he's asking a question. "Is... is that supposed to be me?" She speaks in a soft voice, much more hesitant than that of the artificial girl that he once knew. She also kneels, to better be on the little fellow's level. "Who are you?" No apprehension, no fear... just a soft and kind curiosity.

[triggerhappytraitor]

..oh. Another one who was almost someone Garren knew, but wasn't. The little armored shoulders sag slightly before he puffs his chest up slightly, outlining the shape of the diamond on his armor.

[castcure]

"...oh! I'm sorry." He's sad. He'd expected her to know something, and she hadn't. And she truly didn't want to make someone sad. "You're... Garren, is that right?" And she confirms her question with a mirror of his sign, fingers forming that same diamond shape at her chest level. The Echo that she was blessed with made so many kinds of communication possible, and she'd had it long enough to not even second-guess the knowledge it gave her. "I'm Dakki." ..and this is where her hands fall away, palms open and fingers lightly curled, unsure about what to sign in return... until she thinks to ball her right hand into a fist, and gently enclose it with her left in a very light punching motion.

It was that or a 'stoic nod', as Thancred had once called it, and... and she really was trying to leave those behind as much as possible.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Again, the pogs hands went to cover the mouth of his mask in a happy gasp. She had known his name! Just from the sign! Did that mean she really was the Dakki he knew? Even if she didn't recognize him? There's a very rapid flurry of signs as he asks, all but bouncing hopefully on the toes of his boots.

[castcure]

Oh, that is a lot of ideas all at once. They don't escape her, but they are a bit overwhelming, and the words of a response catch in her throat. "A-ah, I... oh..." She needs to stop a moment, and breathe, and maybe let a bit of all that enthusiasm dissipate. She doesn't want to disappoint Garren and this can only disappoint him.

"You... had a friend called Dakki? But I'm not her, I'm sorry. We've... we've only just met!" She bows her head briefly, in an effort at apology. "But... I'm glad we've met! If... if you're wondering how I can understand... that's the Echo. It's a gift I have. I can understand anyone's language." And she dips a little lower, a little closer, smiling warmly. "Even yours, it seems."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Garren debates this a moment, then nods with a small "heeee" sound, smiling behind his mask in such a way that it's expressed in his entire body before starting to swiftly sign again. Another world's Dakki! He'd met a few of those too! And she could understand his sign! His Slammer, Blade and Ryo were the only ones who understood all of his signs! There's a moment of his happy silent applause as he waved his hands back and forth.