James

[quote name='Sandy']I made a mistake with Catherine, because I thought I knew what was planned for her. I should've asked her first. [/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]I agree with your overall point about not wanting to plan everything out - this is something I actually wholeheartedly subscribe to. [i]However[/i], it's important to understand that this entire RPG has been established in that way from the beginning. We were all given fairly strict guidance on where we could and couldn't take the story. So I think most people have logically continued that by making sure that they don't step on any toes. In general, I agree that one's own judgment is best used. However, if I'm planning to include another character in a [i]major[/i] way (i.e. somehow make them do something instrumental to the plot), then definitely, it should be discussed with the writer. On the other hand, nothing is ever so broken that it can't be fixed. If you make a mistake in your post - or if any of us do - it's as easy as a quick edit or, at worst, a deletion. Thus the reason I've urged everyone not to overreact to misunderstandings in an RPG - it's just not worth it. Anyway, I think we can all pat ourselves on the back for making The Almagest Legacy so strong. It's good to see that OB is still host to some really stellar RPGs.[/font]

[quote name='Aaryanna_Mom']I want to have fun, not get annoyed. All I ask is that when doing something that portrays one's character in such a profound manner... please talk to me first? I think that's reasonable to ask.[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]Yeah, agreed on both counts. I do think it's polite to ask when using someone else's character. For instance, I wanted to incorporate Jack...so I had a long discussion with Malkav about his plans first. And then we agreed on some ideas. It should work really well. That's ideally what people should be doing.[/font]

[quote name='Sandy']What's with the tone? ;D Since the Underdogs have an unnumbered amount of camps around Czenovia, it's your choice where Audrey is taken - it can be either of the two mentioned, or completely another one. Most of the kidnapped scientists are kept in Camp Rottweiler in the underground city, but that's not to say there aren't any captives elsewhere as well. I don't think we have any set plans on what will happen with Leonhart and Catherine, except of course we're all aiming on getting them out of there before the game ends. Right? ;D[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]What tone? I just meant that if my post clashes with anyone's plans (because I'm not sure what the plans are with Leonhart and such), then that's totally cool and I'm happy to make changes. Looks like it might be okay anyway. Now I just have to wait for Jack to arrive at the same camp - he can choose the camp if he likes. And guys, please...chill out. The frequent objections and outrage are really starting to wear thin. We're all adults here and this [i]is[/i] just an RPG. There's no reason why issues can't be raised in a completely calm and mature manner on all sides. And that, folks, was my public service announcement for today. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Okay, so my post will tie in with what's happening to some degree. I'm not sure which camp Audrey will go to (Doberman or Labrador or whatever), but she will need to be in the same camp that Jack ends up in. Malkav and I have something organized there, which should work out pretty well I hope. So I don't care if, for some reason, Audrey somehow can't or shouldn't end up in the same place as Leonhart.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/audrey-avatar.jpg[/img] [/center] Audrey dreamed for the first time in days. As she closed her eyes, her head became numb to the cold concrete beneath it. At first, images of home flooded into her mind. The broad blue vista of Cobalt Bay unfolded before her as she stood at the water?s edge. The wind came from the western ocean and its warmth enveloped her body and trickled through her hair. She could see small cottages dotted along the opposite shoreline; each one was lined with funny wooden wind chimes, which click-clacked playfully in the breeze. Nearby, an elderly woman was working in her garden. She was hunched over by a rosebush, wearing thick pink gloves. She stood up and noticed Audrey and her face brightened with a smile. She waved. Audrey waved back. Today was a perfect day. The woman approached her. She seemed to have something in her hand, which was now behind her back. A gift? A plate of freshly-baked cookies? She was like a grandmother, her face filled with warmth and kindness. What she produced from behind her back did not look like cookies at all, however. It looked like a long, black cylinder. Its metallic surface gleamed in the sunlight. The old woman?s expression hardened and her face became something else entirely; it was square and dark and menacing. She hated Audrey. She raised the metal cylinder into the air and then swiftly brought it down with tremendous force. It struck Audrey?s lower jaw and as she was thrown backwards, her eyes opened. Beads of sweat cascaded down Audrey?s face. Her hair was matted to her forehead. She brushed it aside hastily and looked around. It was the familiar concrete cell, shrouded in darkness, except for a thin thread of moonlight that pierced the blackness. Pepper was asleep. Audrey could hear her snoring. She sat up and ruffled her hair and shook her head. [i]I have to wake up, I can?t stand this any more![/i] But this was a dream she would never wake from. This prison did not just hold her captive, it also penetrated her mind. Now, even in her dreams, she could not find peace or respite. For a brief moment, Audrey propped herself up against the brick wall at the far side of the cell. She was curled into a tight ball and shrouded completely in darkness. In the corner of the room, she could feel both walls against her ? it was as close as she could get to an embrace at the moment and in some strange way, it comforted her. But then, a noise broke the silence. It was the sound of metal against metal but it was very subtle. It sounded like a single smooth movement, followed by a click. It had been enough to wake Pepper, who yawned and stretched. The door at the far end of the hall opened and quiet footsteps approached. One, two, four?perhaps six people, Audrey thought. Possibly there were more, but she couldn?t tell. Whoever had entered the hall was now standing at the entrance to their cell. Several silhouettes emerged from the darkness. The nearest figure was a tall man with square shoulders. Audrey could barely make out his face, but even in the dark, it looked suitably intimidating. The cell door rattled slightly and then began sliding open. The first man entered the room and as he stepped into the moonlight, Audrey noticed a prominent patch on his shoulder. It was a white wolf on a dark star. She knew what this symbol meant. Apparently, so did Pepper, who immediately began screaming at the top of her lungs. The sound startled Audrey and she covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut. Pepper knelt in front of the man and grabbed at his trousers. ?I?m sorry!? she pleaded, ?I?m so sorry! I couldn?t do it! They caught me! It wasn?t my fault! I got so close to the King, but it was too late! Please, give me another chance!? Her sudden desperate pleas made Audrey feel sick in the stomach again. Whoever this man and his friends were, they were obviously Underdogs supporters. Were they here to punish Pepper for failing to assassinate the King? Perhaps they wanted to make sure she didn?t talk? Audrey didn?t want to know. As Pepper screamed and sobbed, the man seemed to ignore her. Then, rather suddenly, he unsheathed a small silver dagger. With horrific speed, he reached down and grabbed Pepper by her hair. Her cries fell silent immediately. ?Another word and I swear I will cut your throat.? The man?s voice was deep and rhythmic. He did not speak loudly, only loud enough for Pepper and Audrey to hear. He spoke with a certain conviction and matter-of-factness that was sickeningly cold. He then let go of Pepper?s hair ? the way he did so was surprisingly gentle. She fell to the floor and began crying to herself quietly. He re-sheathed his dagger and faced Audrey. She swallowed hard. Perhaps he would not be so forgiving with her. The man approached and knelt down in front of Audrey. He gently took her chin and turned her head towards him. 'I'm not here to hurt you,' he whispered. Audrey was shaking, but she did not look away from the man's eyes. They were large and vivid, full of vitality. His eyelashes were long and his face had an oddly gentle air about it up close. 'I've seen you somewhere before,' replied Audrey quietly. She tried as hard as she could to keep the shaking out of her voice. 'Who are you?' A slight grin slipped across the man's face. 'Black is the name. And you are Audrey Bertrand. You were once the Assistant Commander's Personal Assistant, weren't you?' Audrey nodded slowly. [i]Hugo Black![/i] She could not understand why he was in the cell. Wasn't he supposed to be loyal to the royal family? Yet, he had an Underdogs logo emblazoned on his arm. Perhaps she had a link with Augustine; based on her short conversation with Audrey, it was clear that Augustine was not quite as above board as some of her family members. 'Why are you here?' Black's grin faded. 'You were close to the Guard. We need all the information we can get on how they work - especially about their internal security detail.' Audrey frowned. 'What makes you think I'd know that?!' 'Don't think you can play stupid,' retorted Black, 'you were working with the two most powerful men in the Guard. You may not [i]think[/i] you know anything of value, but I will be the judge of that.' It still didn't make a great deal of sense to Audrey. Why try to take her from the dungeon when they could be out there looking for Gaul Rosier? 'Why not just attack Gaul? His whereabouts are often not a secret,' said Audrey. Black laughed to himself. 'It's not quite that simple. Now that New Czenoble is under our control, RPG security has increased ten fold. Rosier is often surrounded by Guard Officers and his movements are now highly secretive. We need inside knowledge of RPG security protocol...' Audrey sighed. 'I don't know how anything I know can help you, but I don't have any choice do I?' Hugo Black shook his head. 'No. So you can come with me quietly, or we can do this the hard way.' On the one hand, Audrey was terrified at the prospect of being taken to one of the Underdogs' camps. On the other, she knew she'd likely never get out of the dungeon alive. At least the Underdogs camp may improve her chances.

[quote]User name: Vietnamese for peach blossom.[/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]That's pretty darn cool. :catgirl: Welcome to the boards, guys. Feel free to PM/IM me if you ever have any questions, or you can use the trusty Info Kiosk. Have fun![/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Actually I think that the way the film was still realistically jerky (I'm sorry, but when you're running frantically you aren't going to be thinking [i]too[/i] much about camera placement) while still offering necessary angles at key moments was well done. Having said that, a lot of people have trouble getting used to this style of film making. And generally I personally don't enjoy it. Cloverfield was the first movie of this style that I actually liked, really.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think Macey is suffering slightly from similar problems to Gadget at the moment. I feel that we are at risk of unreasonably shoe-horning Macey into various situations for no plot-based reason (i.e. the marriage with Gustave and so on). What Macey needs, I think, are more of her own motivations. Perhaps her research could be part of that. Considering that early on her research was portrayed as a major cornerstone of her life, it makes little sense that she'd pay so little attention to it throughout the RPG. So maybe the answer is to look at her motivations and make some changes there. As I said earlier it may be worth putting Macey and Gadget together again as a team. But that's entirely up to you...I can only really comment on what I observe, I don't know what you are or are not prepared to do with Macey.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Well, see how you go in terms of gathering members and stuff. On Version Vibrant, as far as I know, you'll be able to have Worlds that are controlled by groups of members - so it will be possible to set up your league site there. If you can set things up and gather some participants, we may be able to offer some sort of official support. [/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/victoriaann-chronicle.jpg[/img] [img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gustave-avatar.gif[/img] [/center] The afternoon sun began to sink overhead. Above them, Gustave and Victoria could see almost all of the south face of Mount Grail. The view going to High Czenoble from Gustave’s summer house was extraordinary. Catherine had already departed in her carriage, while Gustave and Victoria sat comfortably on Lucy’s back. Gustave held the reigns further down, while Victoria sat snugly in front of him, gripping the reigns near the top. Her smile broadened every time the pair rounded a new corner. Lucy, meanwhile, was behaving incredibly well; even Gustave was surprised at her calm demeanour. ‘I can’t believe Lucy is real,’ exclaimed Victoria excitedly, ‘thank you again Mr. Achard!’ ‘Please, call me Gustave. And you’re most welcome. The Almagest family has always been very good to my parents and a gift is only fitting.’ ‘Do you think I could ever become a [i]real[/i] Chimaera jockey?’ asked Victoria as she gripped the reigns determinedly. Gustave chuckled to himself. ‘Of course! If you want to become a Chimaera jockey, that’s what you shall be. A clever girl like you would have no trouble at all. And you obviously have a natural talent with Chimaera.’ Even from behind, Gustave could see that Victoria was beaming. ‘You come from a far away place, don’t you?’ ‘Not too far,’ replied Gustave. ‘On the other side of this great mountain is my home country. It is very beautiful. Have you ever been there?’ Victoria shook her head briskly. ‘No, I haven’t been anywhere! Mother says school is too important for me to go very far. But I [i]really[/i] want to see those tunnels…’ Her voice carried a distinctly mischievous tone. ‘Tunnels? What tunnels are those?’ asked Gustave, feigning ignorance. ‘Oh!’ Victoria seemed to hop on the spot, but did not turn around, ‘you didn’t know about them? They are secret tunnels underneath the city…they go all the way under the mountain too! I heard there is a giant in there somewhere. I want to find him, but I’m now allowed…’ Gustave nodded. ‘And for good reason, my dear! Your mother does not want you to come to harm. What would you ever do if you met a giant?’ Victoria paused. ‘Hm…I’m not sure…’ ‘Right,’ said Gustave, ‘I imagine he’d be very grumpy if you woke him. What do you think he’d do? He might try to put you in his cereal as punishment.’ ‘That’s awful!’ Victoria gasped. ‘I didn’t know giants ate little girls!’ ‘I don’t know if they usually do,’ said Gustave authoritatively, ‘but I’m sure the giant in Mount Grail would make an exception if a little girl woke him up during his nap. You never know.’ Victoria shivered, as her mind raced. She tried to picture the giant in her mind’s eye. How tall would he be? What would he be called? Would he have a wife? ‘Besides,’ continued Gustave, ‘what lies beneath Mount Grail is not nearly as fascinating as what lies beyond the continent. There are many strange things overseas.’ Victoria clapped her hands together while still holding the reigns. ‘Oh?! Like what?’ ‘Well,’ said Gustave, ‘the Old Globe contains many mysteries. And there’s only one race of people who know all about them.’ ‘Who?’ ‘The Al Ahmaris,’ said Gustave coolly. ‘They are the oldest people in this world. Their ancestors have seen many amazing and strange things. For instance, when I grew up, I heard rumors about a magical city just near the coast of Al Ahmar.’ Victoria gasped again. ‘Magical city? Really? Have you ever been?’ Gustave shook his head. ‘Oh, no. The city is gone now. Nobody knows where it is. It disappeared long ago…you can’t find it on any map.’ ‘Not on a map?!’ Victoria squeaked. ‘In class we are only told about places on the map. I thought [i]everything[/i] was on a map.’ ‘Not [i]everything[/i],’ said Gustave with a grin. ‘Hidden cities and ancient treasure are scarcely found on maps. After all, they wouldn’t be secret if everyone knew about them, would they?’ Victoria paused for a moment and then nodded enthusiastically. ‘Of course! But…’ ‘Mhm?’ ‘How can a whole city disappear?’ ‘That,’ said Gustave, ‘is an excellent question! My, my, you are far cleverer than I was at your age.’ Victoria blushed. ‘The truth is,’ continued Gustave, ‘nobody knows what happened to the city. Some say it sunk into the ocean. Others say it was destroyed in a war. There are even some who believe that its inhabitants found a way to travel into the heavens…and that they took their city with them.’ ‘How come I’ve never heard of these legends?’ ‘Well,’ said Gustave, ‘some of these stories are popular among Anovan children. Perhaps the stories just never made their way over here to your country.’ Victoria seemed only partially satisfied with this answer. Now her mind seemed to explode with images of beautiful cities and amazing treasures that lay far beyond the shores of Czenovia. ‘I heard that you are an explorer as well as a businessman,’ said Victoria as they came closer to High Czenoble. ‘At least, that’s what my mother said. Have you ever been to Al Ahmar?’ Gustave nodded. ‘Yes, several times.’ ‘Did you ever try to find that city?’ Gustave laughed. ‘No, I’m afraid not. But one day, before I die, I will go on an expedition. I’ll gather up an airship and a crew and we’ll go and find that city. I bet the treasures inside are priceless!’ Victoria giggled. ‘I wish I could explore,’ she sighed. ‘I think I’m still going to be in school when I’m old!’ They both laughed together. Gustave guided Lucy along the cobblestone turn-off that led directly to the Rosengard estate. They were both happily oblivious of the chaos that they would soon approach.

[font=franklin gothic medium]Yeah, I figure this might be a good discussion spot because it's hard to outright discuss things on myO. Maybe Desbreko has some ideas about getting your league started. Other than that, I could post an announcement to help promote your idea, but I don't know how much interest that would grab.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]So that this doesn't become spam, it might be a good idea to use this thread to discuss the league. I'm more than happy for you to use this thread as your official discussion area for the league, if you're interested.[/font]

[quote name='Sandy']Well, I'll figure out what to do with Gadget, but in the meantime I want that the Almagests get together and start to think of a way to get Leonhart back. Gadget could help them out with that, but that's just one option. ;D[/QUOTE] [font=franklin gothic medium]Like Shy, I think this is a great idea. And it serves a few purposes. One, it will give Gadget the chance to develop as a character. And two, it will make him [i]useful[/i] to the Almagest family - if only he knows where Leonhart is, then only he can lead the family there. I'm sure Bavaria and others would overlook any suspicions they have if Gadget helped them so directly. It would prove, after all, that Gadget isn't a dodgy Underdogs member.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Although I respect each person's right to do what they want with their body, I do think people have to be realistic. The fact of the matter is, there are circumstances where a full body tattoo just isn't going to be appropriate (at least if it's visible even when clothing is on). I used to have an eyebrow piercing, which I kept up until about the middle of last year. It was starting to grow out a bit and it was frustrating me, so I decided to just take it out. Although I never had any negative comments about it - mostly because I was otherwise very well presented - there was no question that I was lucky to be working in a more liberal office environment. And there's also no question that the presence of that eyebrow piercing could have hurt my chances at getting certain jobs. So although freedom and individual expression are important, I think it's also important to respect other people's views. I could go out into the city and walk around naked because it's "how I express myself", but there's no question that a lot of people around me would feel uncomfortable with that. It's not just a question of expressing yourself, it's also a question of paying due respect to those around you. Anyone can walk into a room with a million tattoos. Yet I think it takes a more enlightened person to retain certain limits, with the aim of making people around them feel comfortable. Ultimately you're right - what you wear and how you represent yourself also says a lot about who you are. But if you are perfectly willing to make people uncomfortable simply for the sake of individualism, what message does that send about you to others? It's definitely worth thinking about.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think part of the problem is that Gadget has spent nearly the entire RPG running and hiding - he has regularly played second-fiddle to other characters, rather than having his own defined story. This is probably why you're now finding that he has nothing to do, Sandy. If he's useful to the end-game, that's fine...but I get the feeling that he's sort of hanging around doing nothing until his important time arrives. And that's kind of a waste in some ways, because when Gadget's significant "end moment" arrives, it could inevitably feel shoe-horned in. This may be an opportunity to develop Gadget into a powerful, stand-alone character. My suggestion to join up with Macey was mostly based on the idea that at least, together, they are kind of symbiotic - they help to support each other. However, this doesn't mean Gadget can't spend some time exploring his past further before the end of the game...or something along those lines, anyway.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I think he should re-join with Macey. I mean, yes, she's slowly developing contact with Gustave but he doesn't need to take up 100% of her time. Besides, I'm sure she's worried about him and wonders where he is. She may be useful to him in the future. Macey as a character probably needs to get a bit more involved in the core of the story anyway. So this may be a good way to do it.[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/audrey-avatar.jpg[/img] [img] http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/maceyellen-chronicle.jpg[/img] [/center] Lunch was over. Audrey and Pepper’s plates had been cleared and now they sat in silence once again. They could hear the faint rattling of chains and the occasional cries of protest from rooms somewhere within the dungeon. Audrey curled into a ball and grabbed her knees. She was starting to feel cold. Lunch had calmed her stomach somewhat, but she felt a dull emptiness that refused go away. Pepper, meanwhile, was staring at the open gap near the ceiling. The sunlight flickered, as though people were walking past somewhere outside. ‘So now you know a lot about me,’ said Pepper, her glaze remaining squarely on the opening in the wall. ‘Tell me more about you. When did you come to Czenovia? Why would any Anovan bother coming to a country like this?’ Audrey opened her mouth, but instead of speaking, she coughed violently. Each cough hurt her stomach and made her wince. ‘I was born in Le Monde, but my family moved to Cobalt Bay when I was around ten.’ Audrey coughed again. Pepper walked over to her and rubbed her back firmly. It was the first sign of affection or real friendship she’d exhibited since the pair had met. ‘Go on,’ said Pepper. ‘Cobalt Bay is right near all of Anova’s silver mines. The mines are all run by Anovans, but the largest two mines are owned by the Dynasts here in Czenovia. It’s part of a peace agreement their ancestors signed with my country many generations ago.’ ‘They own your two largest mines?’ Pepper raised a suspicious eyebrow. ‘So they’re dominating people in other countries too?’ Audrey shook her head. ‘Kind of. Not really. The deal ensures peace and freedom. Besides, [i]most[/i] mines are still owned by Anova. It’s just that we export very large quantities of silver at almost no cost to Czenovia.’ ‘Anyway, my father became quite senior at one of the two Czenovian-owned mines. He made several friends there, including a businessman who travelled over from High Czenoble now and again. I’m not sure what the man’s name was, but I know he was some sort of supervisor or something; my father said he reported back to a Royal Committee in High Czenoble.’ ‘Probably to tell them how much money they were stealing from their neighbour each month,’ muttered Pepper with a scowl. Audrey shrugged. ‘He became good friends with my parents, anyway. I became interested in him; he sometimes brought gifts for the children. He also brought beautiful photography books full of big pictures of High Czenoble. It looked like such a grand place! At eleven years old, my only goal in life was to travel the world.’ Pepper smiled faintly. ‘I asked my parents if I could learn Czenovian, since I could only speak Anovan then. They agreed to pay for lessons and within a few years, I was fluent.’ ‘Eventually I grew up and moved back to Le Monde, where I learned about politics and diplomacy at the Le Monde University. I decided that I wanted to work as a foreign aide to Czenovia. And for a while, I worked in the Ambassador’s Department; they stationed me in High Czenoble several times.’ ‘Wow,’ remarked Pepper, ‘sounds like things moved quickly for you. So you decided to just stay in High Czenoble?’ Audrey nodded. ‘Yeah, I was tired of commuting back and forth by airship. I rented a small apartment in the city and stayed. Eventually I gained my citizenship and I began working for the Royal Police Guard. After a couple more years, I found myself working as the Personal Assistant to Vin-- to the Assistant Commander…’ At that moment, tears began to well in Audrey’s eyes. She blinked them away, determined not to let Vincent’s death get to her. She had to be strong while in the dungeon; she could save mourning for later, if there would ever be a later. ‘Didn’t you get bored working for the RPG?’ asked Pepper, attempting to move the conversation along (and perhaps, with hopes of distracting Audrey from her pain). ‘Oh, no,’ said Audrey quietly, ‘I enjoyed it. The Personal Assistants do most of the travelling. Gaul and Vincent would rarely leave High Czenoble; their assistants usually did the travelling and then reported back to them. So I visited all sorts of places on behalf of Vincent. I even went to Al Ahmar once.’ Pepper’s eyes widened. ‘Al Ahmar? I don’t know anyone who’s been that far west!’ Audrey tried to smile. Pepper’s sudden excitement amused her, especially considering she was a girl who had seen far more than most her age. ‘Yes, I did go once,’ replied Audrey. ‘It’s a very beautiful and mysterious country. I had great fun working for the RPG. But now…’ Audrey looked around her. The cell seemed to close in on them – it was possible, she thought, for someone to go mad in such a place. ‘Now I feel sick.’ And with that Audrey leaned over and vomited on the concrete floor. She did not even have the effort to vomit a great deal. There was barely anything to bring up; her body resisted violently, seemingly trying to hold on to every last ounce of food she’d eaten while in the dungeon. Her chest heaved and she gasped for air. Pepper leant over her. ‘Are you okay? Don’t feel bad, Audrey. It wasn’t your fault. What you told me about Gaul…it wasn’t your fault. How could you have known he’d do something so cruel? Don’t blame yourself.’ Audrey’s eyes closed for a moment. ‘It’s just hard,’ she said shakily, ‘it’s hard to think that I was part of that terrible machine. I was one of the cogs that kept it running efficiently…that allowed it to keep killing efficiently…’ Pepper stood up suddenly. She pointed a finger at Audrey. ‘I told you, don’t blame yourself! Gaul Rosier is less than a human being – how could you have known? You’ve never lived in New Czenoble. It’s not your fault. When you did find out, what did you do? You left! You went to Muldova instead of returning to your job! Those are not the actions of an accomplice!’ Audrey waved her hand and nodded weakly. ‘Okay, okay…you’re right,’ she sighed. ‘You’re right, but all I know is that I feel guilty. I can’t help it.’ ‘Well guilt will get you nowhere,’ said Pepper as she sat down opposite Audrey. ‘If I let it, guilt could completely devour me from the inside. I only survive in here because I [i]know[/i] that what I did was right. I’m not a criminal, I just care for my family and I’m willing to do anything to protect them.’ Just as Audrey went to speak, the door to the cell slid open with a heavy rumble. A Guard officer stood in the hallway, accompanied by a striking young woman wearing an elaborate dress. Her dark hair was pinned up and she wore a solemn expression. ‘Great, another rich person come to taunt us!’ cried Pepper. ‘First Augstine and now you, [i]whoever[/i] you are!’ Audrey shushed Pepper. ‘I know this woman,’ she said quietly. ‘This is Macey Ellen.’ Pepper paused mid-rant. ‘Macey? Oh, you mean, the wife of…’ They looked at each other. Pepper covered her mouth hastily. ‘Sorry. I’m sorry.’ ‘Don’t worry,’ said Macey airily. She stepped into the cell and sat down on a small wooden chair that the guard had provided for her. ‘How did you get in?’ asked Audrey as she watched the guard intently. ‘I raised a fuss,’ replied Macey casually. ‘I’m known for it.’ ‘Well don’t think that’ll work a second time,’ mumbled Pepper, ‘if Gaul thinks you’re nosing around, he’ll probably have you arrested too! Almagests are certainly not above the law.’ Macey ignored Pepper and focused her gaze on Audrey. ‘I received an anonymous letter, telling me you were here. I also heard,’ she paused and took a breath, ‘that Vincent has died. Is this true?’ Macey was blunt, but Audrey could understand why. She simply nodded; it would have been an insult to try to sugar-coat Vincent’s death in front of Macey. She was not a woman who seemed to appreciate anything other than outright honesty, whether it was good or bad. ‘I thought so,’ replied Macey. She had already done all her crying, although this stark confirmation shook her. Only days earlier she’d seen Audrey in Rosengard, dressed in a fine grey suit. Now, here she was, sitting on the floor of a filthy cell with marks all over her skin. ‘I just needed to hear it from you. I’m sure you can understand.’ ‘Of course,’ said Audrey. ‘I don’t think I can say much more about it, though. It’s still too fresh in my mind…’ Macey nodded. ‘I understand. You’ve been through so much in the last two days, so I don’t want to bring you any further heartache. I did bring you a small gift though. The guards allowed me to bring some food in for you; they will serve it to you at dinner.’ Audrey had to try not to stand up and cheer; she felt a sudden desperation in her stomach at the same time. Immediately almost all of her thoughts gravitated towards food. ‘Thank you,’ said Audrey as calmly as she could. ‘You have probably heard that a new Monarch will be appointed today,’ said Macey as she looked around the grimy walls. ‘Depending on who it is, your fates may change. I have heard that one of the heirs favours an amnesty for certain political prisoners, but it’s just a rumor. Still, I thought you may want to know.’ Audrey shook her head. ‘I don’t think I will ever get out, but thanks for the sentiment. We’ll see, I suppose.’ Macey simply nodded. She then stood up, reached into her purse and produced a small silk handkerchief. She leaned down and handed it to Audrey. The handkerchief was made of a brilliant Czenovian silk. The edges were embroidered with beautiful patterns. And, in one corner were the words “Vincent”. ‘It was one of his,’ said Macey, her voice weakening slightly. ‘Please keep it with you. I have felt better knowing that I still have some part of him with me, but I can not hold onto this forever. Please have it and keep it safe. I hope it might bring you some comfort.’ Audrey rolled the soft silk over in her fingers. She looked up at Macey. ‘Thank you. I promise I will look after it.’ And with that, Macey nodded and hailed the guard.

[quote]And before I forget, Catherine and Victoria are on their way to visit Gustave and Lucy. I left it open for either you James or for my daughter to follow up on that. [/quote] [font=franklin gothic medium]Cool. If I get to this post first I will make sure to include Catherine and Victoria - this should be a lot of fun. :catgirl: As for the sheet music...I've honestly forgotten how to read it. I never minded others working it out. I never did anything with the note because I wasn't given enough information to know what to include in the story. I couldn't work out what the poem meant in isolation, so it made little sense for Vincent to solve it or to be part of that - especially given what happened to him so suddenly. Still, I'm pretty proud of those who did solve it. ~_^[/font]

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/audrey-avatar.jpg[/img] [/center] Audrey and Pepper ate their lunch slowly. They did so for two reasons. First and foremost, their serves were painfully small and eating slowly gave one the sensation of being fuller. Secondly, the food was terrible. It was a strange, flat stew made from unidentifiable vegetables and thin pieces of fish. The entire meal was an odd grey color and it was accompanied by a slice of slightly-stale bread and a small glass of water. Pepper gripped her bread in both hands and chewed on the crust slowly and carefully. She was an expert with prison food; she knew how to make it last and how to enjoy it. Audrey was still learning as she awkwardly spooned a blob of stew into her mouth. At first, Pepper seemed completely focused on her meal. After a while, though, she slowed down and seemed to try to distract herself by talking to Audrey – it was another tactic for prolonging lunch. 'Tell me,' mumbled Audrey as she attempted to chew through a particularly tough chunk of meat, 'why did you try to go after the King? What did he ever do to you?' Pepper almost choked on her bread. For a moment Audrey wondered what, exactly, she'd said that was so upsetting. 'How can you ask me that?' cried Pepper. 'How is it possible to live under King Mideus and be so ignorant?' Audrey felt foolish. She realized that Pepper was obviously from New Czenoble. 'I-I'm sorry,' she stuttered, 'I'm just not sure why it's worth risking your freedom. I'm sure you heard the news that King Mideus died...' Flames seemed to dance in Pepper's eyes suddenly. 'That's not the point. He'll die and he'll choose a heir; the Dynast's cycle of tyranny will not stop!' Audrey shifted on the cold concrete floor uncomfortably. 'But, if you killed him...wouldn't they just choose a heir anyway?' Pepper slowly ate the last piece of her bread. She paused for a moment to savor it. 'Yes, they would choose a new heir I'm sure,' she said finally. 'But the message would have gotten through. It might have inspired others to do the same. We need to let them [i]know[/i] how we feel - that they can't just abuse a country and expect no retaliation.' Audrey had already finished her bread. She'd eaten it too fast and now she felt another surge of hunger pains in the pit of her stomach. She was certain that she'd lost weight, even though it had only been a couple of days. 'Well,' sighed Audrey finally, 'last I saw, the Underdogs had taken New Czenoble. Do you think they will try to take the capital?' Pepper shrugged. 'No idea,' she muttered. 'As long as they have New Czenoble, they can't be stopped.' 'Why?' 'That's where all the factories are, of course,' said Pepper with a tone of indignation. 'How are the rich in High Czenoble going to survive if they can no longer import goods from New Czenoble? They'll all choke on their expensive wine and then it'll run out and they will all starve.' Audrey was somewhat surprised that Pepper's hatred for the Dynast rulers also extended to the inhabitants of High Czenoble. She seemed to have a strong dislike for the [i]entire[/i] upper class. 'I lived in High Czenoble,' said Audrey cautiously. 'But I also visited New Czenoble regularly. I am not Czenovian by birth though.' 'I can tell by your accent,' chuckled Pepper. 'For a High Czenoble, you aren't half bad...' A weak smile crept across Audrey's face. 'Are you from New Czenoble?' asked Audrey. Her plate was now empty. Pepper shook her head. 'Actually, my family comes from Muldova. We moved to New Czenoble when I was little. At one time, my father owned a small watchworks store in the main street. He loved watches.' 'Why did he decide to move?' 'Things started to change in Muldova. People were having trouble finding work. A lot of people moved up to New Czenoble for jobs. I remember that big companies were starting up in New Czenoble and promising the world to workers; great pay, few working hours..."be your own boss and earn big money" the ads used to say.' Audrey nodded knowingly. 'I remember hearing vague comments about that from travelers. Back then I'd never been outside Anova.' Pepper continued eating her stew; Audrey was amazed that she hadn't finished it yet. She seemed more comfortable now that she was about halfway through. 'Our family was earning few Crownes each week,' continued Pepper, 'so my parents decided to move. My father accepted a factory job in New Czenoble. It was a far cry from what he loved doing, but he was promised promotions and big bonuses. And the excitement of living in a big city made it more attractive.' 'I think,' said Pepper as she took a breath between mouthfuls of stew, 'my mother was always worried about moving. We'd been in Muldova ever since I can remember. But she agreed. Then, when we moved, everything changed.' Audrey's eyes widened. 'How did things change?' 'Things got a lot worse for us,' Pepper replied flatly. 'We never saw father. He was sometimes away for days at a time. When he did come home, it was always late at night. He earned hardly any money and we began to struggle. But all the jobs in the city were the same; nobody was earning money, other than some lucky people who managed to get promoted. Very few people were ever promoted.' Audrey could not help but notice the utter disappointment in Pepper's tone. It was clear that she blamed the Dynasts and the Czenovian Government for the downfall of her entire family. 'My father became...someone else,' she continued slowly. 'The life disappeared from his eyes. And my mother did nothing but worry all the time. My family was destroyed as were so many others.' Audrey rubbed her chin. 'Did they ever consider leaving New Czenoble?' Pepper laughed to herself. 'Leave? Are you kidding? My father, like many workers, was bound to a very strict contract. It gave employers almost unlimited powers over their staff. And if a staff member stepped out of line or made a mistake?' Pepper shuddered. 'Sometimes the consequences were...well, you can imagine.' 'Are you saying that the King knew nothing about this?' 'Maybe, I don't know. How could he not? He's the King! How could he let thousands of people suffer like that?' Pepper almost spat her food out as she spoke. 'There's no excuse,' she murmured, 'no excuse at all.' 'Besides,' she continued as she finished off the last mouthful of stew, 'many of the biggest companies in New Czenoble are owned by those in High Czenoble. And many are unofficially backed by the Dynast family.' 'I see,' said Audrey quietly. She knew this to be true. She even knew that New Czenoble was known for being home to much of the country's working class. Yet she had no idea that the suffering was so bad as to cause a young woman to risk her life - and her freedom - just to get revenge. 'As long as the Dynasts are in power,' said Pepper resolutely, 'I don't care about leaving this prison. What's the use of freedom if you can't really be free?' Audrey simply nodded. She wondered, however, whether it was true that all of the Dynasts were like Mideus. Mideus, after all, was old - he was from a different generation. And he was likely surrounded by biased and corrupt advisers. If a [i]new[/i] family member took the throne, perhaps things would change. Perhaps the next ruler could negotiate with the Underdogs, or at least start to make things more equitable for Czenovians. In any case, Audrey began to wonder whether it all mattered. If she never escaped the dungeon, what difference would it make who was on the throne?

[center][img]http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/Runaway511/almagest/gustave-avatar.gif[/img] [/center] On the way home after a long morning ride, Gustave pondered the events of recent days. One of his Chimaera had won the cup and the other had been seriously injured. Thanks to Macey’s help, Lazarus was now in fighting form. The newspapers in High Czenoble were increasingly becoming more alarmist as the days went by. Gustave remembered reading one of the nightly editions when he first arrived; he noted that developments in New Czenoble were largely considered to be a passing phase and little more. The Guard seemed to suggest that only a small group of criminals were roaming the streets causing havoc. In reality, of course, the Underdogs were so much more – now their name adorned all the papers. After only a couple of days, everyone in Czenovia – and beyond – knew of their existence. Gustave at first wondered if he should just have his staff pack up his belongings and return to the safety of Anova. His home country had not seen a conflict in generations. Ever since Anova had signed a truce with Czenovia, things had been more or less peaceful. Old forts and guard stations still existed throughout the country, but there wasn’t a single citizen who took them seriously. Most Anovans viewed their larger neighbour as a political oddity; a relic of an Imperial past. This was despite the fact that Czenovia was obviously more technologically advanced. There was an old racist Anovan joke, which said that the average Czenovian man’s head was as full of clockwork as the watch her wore on his arm. Some of Gustave’s friends at home joked that he was a Czenovia-lover (which was intended as a derogatory remark). Some questioned what he could possibly see in the country. Yet, Gustave was very fond of travelling and he adored Czenovia. Although High Czenoble never failed to impress him with its imposing buildings and sheer size, he found that the quieter, out-of-the-way places in Czenovia were the most magical. It was only after his third flight to Czenovia that he decided to buy a summer house close to the foot of Mt. Grail (which was quite a treacherous drive along steep cliffs and winding roads if one were approaching from High Czenoble). The summer house was one of his favourite vacation spots. But now, everything was changing. The uprising in New Czenoble made him wonder how long it would take for the Underdogs to begin attacking surrounding cities. He feared he may never be able to see his summer house again. Gustave was also reminded of his respect and admiration for the Almagest family. He felt privileged to have been able to host them at the Chimaera Cup. In some ways, he had to admit that he had always been somewhat jealous of Vincent. While Gustave was building his airship business and travelling the world, Vincent had married and settled down; he had become part of one of the world’s most famous families. Gustave could not imagine that kind of security. Even his immediate family was spread thin; his parents had died years ago and his only sibling – a sister – was living somewhere on the great Western Continent. He had not spoken to her in years. What surprised Gustave most was that he had now become increasingly familiar with Macey Ellen. In the back of his mind, he could not stop thinking about Vincent; how would he feel to know that Gustave was starting to take a fancy to his ex-wife? On the other hand, he had discussed the marriage with Vincent many times since their divorce. He felt certain that Vincent would not mind. In fact, he remembered Vincent regularly talking about Macey finding happiness; Vincent seemed to want this, perhaps to ease any feelings of guilt he may have had about the marriage’s end. Nevertheless, Gustave wanted to be cautious. He had never been married – or even had a long term girlfriend – but he wanted a wife. He wanted a family. Now that his own parents were dead and now that Vincent had passed away, there were very few young males to carry on the Achard name. Gustave almost felt a duty to have a family; he thought it would make Olivier proud. He also knew that he enjoyed Macey’s company. And, unlike other young Almagest women, he felt she would be more likely to both move away and to also take on another family’s name. It helped that she was intelligent, wise and passionate. The gates of Gustave’s summer house loomed closer. As he passed through them and made his way towards the house, his mind filled with positive thoughts of the future for the first time in days.

[font=franklin gothic medium]The bottom line is that we do not require all posts on OB to be lengthy essays. Frankly, if that were the case, it'd annoy the hell out of me. Sometimes you just want to jump on, participate here and there, do some reading...and that's it. And there's nothing wrong with that. As long as posts are clearly worded and add something to the thread, there shouldn't be a problem. RPGs are a tiny bit different because of what they are (i.e. you probably need some sort of back story and an auditions/sign-up form, etc etc). Still, it doesn't mean your RPG has to be an epic or anything.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Giants in Mt. Grail? Hm... I'm lost. But I still have to work out how to get Audrey out of prison, so I have my work cut out for me regardless. :catgirl:[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]I would like a YouTube embed tag, for sure. I think there are a million great uses for it on OtakuBoards (even potentially in RPGs). So the usefulness would far outweigh any copyright concerns I have.[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]The ass raping part didn't exactly make me laugh, but I thought much of this was actually pretty funny. What it needs, in my opinion, is slightly more subtlely. If you make it a bit more subtle and emphasize the comedic parts, it will be significantly better. I guess I just wonder how it can stand on its own or whether it can be incorporated into a broader story or something. Maybe it's better left as a stand alone article/essay like this. *shrug*[/font]

[font=franklin gothic medium]Yeah, I knew that Sandy had to post about the new King. That's why I left it very early. I implied that Augustine was feeling flustered for this reason - she's about to find out her fate, really. I'll be very interested to see her reaction if she finds out that she's not to become Queen. ~_^[/font]