I sit backwards and sigh. It's finished: the only game that I'll ever create and the last game that anyone ever makes. I had read every game that anyone wrote about my family previously, whether they had been written by the genuine Beatrice or by forgers attempting to imitate her games. I knew the style, setup, and format perfectly.

So, I decided to ignore them. If I'm going to create a game of my own, I decided, it would have to not only be a fitting tribute to my family, but original in design. A story that only the Witch of Truth could conjure using her magic. The dedication I put in crafting the tale had been painful at times—it's not a happy, saccharine tale like Battler's final game—but I feel proud of the ultimate result. It acts as the final game of Rokkenjima's story. A game that will, with any luck, finally put my family to rest.

“Ronove,” I say into the open air.

The demon butler wastes no time presenting himself. “You called, miss?”

“I just finished a gameboard,” I tell him.

“You did?” He seems surprised but, when I give him a simple nod, he doesn't inquire further into it. “How may I be of assistance?”

“I got so caught up telling my tale that I forgot to insert a detective into the story. I need you to find one. “

“Of course, miss. I will complete this task presently.”

“Hold on,” I stop him. “One more thing: don't tell my brother about this. This is something that I can only do by myself. That I need to do by myself.”

“As you say,” he says. “I shall return shortly.”

Ronove remains true to his word. He isn't gone for more than a few moments when he reappears with some green haired girl. Her height and stature make her resemble Erika. She's wearing some kind of dark clothing. I don't recognize the girl at all, but I also don't doubt Ronove's judgment.

I approach her. “Once you complete this game board, you are to tell me the solution in blue and I'll respond accordingly. I'll be more than plentiful with hints and clues, so this should be a breeze for you. Are we understood?”

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)22:19:14

I curtsy before the young woman in front of me.

"I understand."

Ange nods. Your form disappears from the tea party room and you feel water angrily lapping at your sides...

Amy disappears completely from the tea room. I move to make a comment to Ronove about the game board, but another voice fills the air in the room:

"You should fire your butler. That piece couldn't solve its way out of a cardboard box!"

I move into a defensive position, but Ronove just smiles.

"Lady Bernkastel," he says. "It's good to hear from you again. As I recall, that piece did an excellent job against you, did she not? What word do you use to refer to a witch that is even less successful than a cardboard box?"

The room stays quiet for a moment, but Bernkastel appears in the room a moment later without any flair or effect. She keeps as solemn of a face as ever.

"Evenfall was simply a test for a much larger picture," she says.

"Are you going to say the same thing about Antithesis?"

"That wasn't my game," she says. "But yes, now that you mention it, it served to be quite useful as well. That is, unless this farce of a board sees itself to completion."

"What are you talking about?" I ask. "If this game completes, /seacats/ will be shut down. Nobody will be able to create any mysteries. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"No, I want to control the mysteries. I want to hang on the guts of the Ushiromiya family and twirl them around as wear them as necklaces until I tire of them." Even as she said all of this, her tone didn't change at all. She could just as easily have been talking about tea.

My face contorts. "Get the hell out of here, Bernkastel. You aren't welcome here. Ronove, send her away."

"Is that any way to talk to your opponent, Ange?"

"What? Amy is my opponent!"

"She's also your piece. That hardly seems fair to me. I submit myself as a new challenger to your game. Once my piece wins, I'll stop just short of this game ending and it will hang in limbo for all of eternity."

"To hell with that!" I yell. "Get out of here. There's no way that I accept you as a challenger."

"Unfortunately, you must," says Ronove. "When you made the game, you did not limit it to one challenger. Anyone witch who sees fit may insert a piece onto your game board."

I glare at him. "Are you joking?"

"I'm just explaining, m'lady. There's no need to, as you put it, 'shoot the messenger'."

"Do what you want," I say. However, this changes things. I won't be able to just hand out hints so that Amy can win, now. I somehow have to make the game easy enough to be solved but difficult enough so that Bernkastel's piece can't solve it. "Who is your piece, anyway?"

"I don't believe he requires introduction," Bernkastel says. "He was my opponent in the last game. I'm pulling him from some other board at the moment, but he knows that my needs always come first. Let's take a look at him now..."

You wake up, startled. Lights are flashing around you and alarms invade your ears witch high pitched wails. Rain splatters the window of your plane at alarming rates and you can feel the entire vehicle being pulled down.

Yep. Your plane is about to crash.

>>13911
While trying to keep the plane from tumbling down I look around to see if there is a parachute and or any other items lying around.

I imagine its a slim chance but I look out the window to try and see anything outside.

I slowly awaken and try to get out. I'm in no hurry after all my situation is with peaceful waves lapping against my body. Upon standing I take in the sea breeze and look around.

You can't control the alarmingly decreasing height of the plane, but you do manage to equip yourself with a parachute. Here's hoping that it actually works. Heaven knows you don't have time to actually check.

You also find a handgun, a deck of playing cards, and a picture of Kinjo.

You don't see anything noticeable outside the plane. Just a lot of rain.

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)23:12:50

>>13915
Before I bail out of the plane I make sure to locate the strap in order to release the parachute properly. I make sure to take all the items I find and pocket them so they don't fall out.

Once all the preparations are complete I jump from the plane.

You take in the feeling of the harsh, violent winds against your wet, cold, and damaged body. You're on a shoreline. You see some trees and a path in the opposite direction of the ocean. You can hear the sound of a plane from far away.

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)23:37:02

I assume I'm on a beach or something I try to go further on land to escape the cold waves and wind.

Ozaki makes a heroic leap from the plane and into the sky. The storm quickly tenderizes Ozaki with cannonballs of wind and whips of rain knocking themselves against his supple flesh.

When he gets close enough the the ground, he pulls the strap of his parachute. Surprisingly, it works, and as he lowers he can see himself about to land on an island. What luck!

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)23:26:18

You walk up the shore, tracking wet sand all over your feet and legs. You continue moving inland until you reach a canopy of trees. You spot a staircase going up a long-winded path.

>>13921
As I presumably fly through the air I take a look at the island for anything notable. Landmarks, buildings or whathave you. I try to see where the plane lands, and also attempt to land in an open area opposed to any forested area.

I go up the pathway of stairs.

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)23:33:09

You look around. You can see three large structures on the island-- a large mansion, a smaller, two story building, and what appears to be a chapel.

You don't have to try very hard to see where your plane lands. It chucks itself straight into the two story building. It makes a deafening crunch as it hits. You had better hope that nobody was in there.

You try to land on a flat piece of land, but a gust of wind picks you up your parachute instead and flings your frail, human form straight towards the stained-glass window of the chapel.

Better brace for impact, captain.

Last edited at 14/03/08(Sat)23:46:51

>>13927
I tuck and roll, praying to god that I miss the shards of glass upon landing.

You walk up the steps, which seem needlessly windy. Couldn't someone have made a shorter path up these steps?

When you reach the top, you find a child and an older woman standing in a garden. The older woman holds an umbrella over the child.

Before I go into their line of sight I check out my body's condition, see if I have anything on my person as well as any injuries and so on.

You crash through the window. You have enough surging adrenaline to the point where you can't even feel any pain. Your parachute rips upon entry, however, and you plop to the ground.

You luckily manage to avoid the shards of glass and you can even manage to stand. You find yourself standing in the front of the chapel, right next to an open coffin.

And more than a dozen people stare at you from the pews.

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)00:01:43

>>13934
"Uh... sorry about that."

I stand there awkwardly waiting for them to do something.

You have a pocket knife in your pocket as well as a compass, a mini-flashlight, and a ticket stub to a cruise ship. You don't seem to be injured, but you feel weak from swimming.

I cry out "Help....me!" in a weak but loud voice, one filled with desperation. I pretend to struggle forward and once they notice my presence I take another few steps before collapsing to the ground.

The people in the pews appear flustered. This is probably just about the last thing they expected to happen.

"What was all a' that?" A large man stands up and yells at you. "And what was that sound just a second ago?"

Another man stands up. "Who in the world do you think you are? This is a private residence! I'm calling the police."

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)00:15:05

>>13940
"Woah look I'm sorry, I really didn't mean any of this to happen. My colleague and I were flying in a plane and the storm came out of no where, he fell from the plane while pushing the only parachute into my hands and the plane went out of control and I flew into this building after jumping from it. I dont even know where I am, who are you people?"

Obviously I'm freaking/panicking just as much as they are while I say all this.

Rosa scurries up to you. "Are you all right? Excuse me, miss?"

She turns to Maria. "Maria! Go and get Dr. Nanjo from the chapel! I think she's hurt."

"Uu." Maria turns and runs towards the direction of the chapel.

Rosa carries the young woman in her arms. "Can you hear me? Were you hurt in that plane crash?"

I weakly shake my head. "My...my... boat it sank...... Everyone's.... gone..." Tears start to well up in my eyes.

The men look embarrassed. "My apologies. I had no idea something like that happened."

"Who flies their planes in the middle of a typhoon?" asks Hideyoshi.

A woman approaches him. Krauss looks nervous as she does so, still being apprehensive about you.

"Are you hurt?" she asks. "My name is Natsuhi Ushiromiya. You are on the island of Rokkenjima, you're safe now. We'll do everything in our power find your co-pilot."

She turns from you. "Genji-san, Gohda-san, please go and phone the police. Tell them about the the crash. I know there's a storm so they may not be able to send men out, but they may be able to guide us."

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)00:47:35

"Something like that happened? I can't believe it. And modern technology is supposed to make boats so safe... I'm sorry. Everything will be all right. You're on Rokkenjima. You're safe, now."

She carries you inside the front door of the mansion.

>>13948
"Thank you, I think I'm fine, my head hurts a bit though" I check myself to double check for any wounds. Also check my clothing for any labels or name tags.

"I can't even begin to explain how sorry I am for this, I think the plane hit a building, and well..." I leave it at that while wearing a pained expression.

"Thank you so much.... you're so kind. I honestly thought I was a goner just like the rest of my family. I don't even know why I keep struggling despite seeing so many people sink in the water. It was so horrid..."

I try to take notice of the area around me as Rosa carries me.

You check your body for any wounds. You have a few cuts on your arm and legs, but you seem largely unscathed. Pretty good for a guy who just jumped out of a crashing plane and into a window. Miraculous, one might say.

You find some labels on the inside of your coat. When you tell the family that the plane crashed into a building there's an uproar.

"Eh? Didn't Rosa and Maria go to the mansion?"

"Which building was it?"

"We have to go make sure they're okay!"

>>13989
"I think it was a two story building if I recall..."
I wait to see if they all leave the chapel, hoping to be alone for a moment. If they usher me along with them though I'll follow them.

"That sounds absolutely..." Rosa's voice trails off when she enters the chapel. "What in the world?"

You strain to see what she's looking at. There's nothing there but a blank spot on the wall.

"Where is...Father's portrait?"

"Portrait?" I asked, pretending to not know at all what she is referring to, after all there is only a blank spot.

Some of the family members seem relieved, but they still seem intent on checking the status of their family member's.

"You," one of the men says. "Come with us while we sort this out!"

When he turns in the direction of the chapel exit, a little girl runs through the door. She's soaking wet.

"Uuu! Uu! Mama told Maria to get Dr. Nanjo. Mama found someone hurt."

Natsuhi looks at you. "Do you think that could be your co-pilot?"

"What do they look like, Maria?" one of the lager men asks.

"Uu. Maria doesn't know. Didn't get a good look."

"We should go as a family," says Natsuhi. "This will have to wait."

She glances at the casket while she says that, then one by one, the family leaves. They probably expected you to follow, but you appear to be alone for the moment.

>>13993
I would take a look in the casket before following the group.

"Father's portrait," she says. "There used to be..."

She shakes her head. "We need to get you some rest."

She escorts you into a room with a few sofas and a television. She wraps you up in an assortment of blankets.

"I'm going to go find our doctor," she says. "Please wait here until I return."

Rosa leaves the parlor.

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)21:29:39

You look inside the casket. The only thing inside is a beautiful assortment of different flowers. Compared to your stark surroundings, they jump with life and vibrancy.

You turn to leave, but you see someone in your path. A bulky man in a white labcoat. "You-- I know you!"

>>13998
"Are you mistaking me for someone else? Who are you?"

I leave the parlor and go to the broiler room.

"I couldn't be! Aren't you Ozaki-san? You studied under me some years ago. Yes, that must be you!"

You recognize him now: Dr. Nanjo. When you acted as him apprentice for a brief period of time, he made more false death proclamations than anyone else. Honestly, it's a wonder he still makes a living.

"What have you been doing, my boy?" he asks. He seems so overjoyed to see you that he's lost track of the situation.

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)22:10:12

After some stumbling around, you make your way to the boiler room. It's dark, dingy, and it smells like Gohda's armpit. Why would anyone want to come in here?

>>14002
"Ah Nanjo, its you. What a surprise to see you after all these years. I have to say I'm actually quite battered up, in case you couldn't tell I just crash landed on this island. Its a miracle that I'm alive really. What about you, are you working on some city on this island or something?"

I leave the broiler room and then try to find my way to the servants room.

"City?" He says. "My boy, this entire island is owned by the Ushiromiya family. I am the private physician of Kinzo Ushiromiya, the family head. It's a position I hold with high honor."

As you walk up the boiler steps, you hear a voice:

"Hello? Are you there?" It's the voice of the woman who brought you in. Many sets of footsteps follow her. You hear some mumbling.

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)22:38:27

>>14009
"Oh a private island? That explains why everyone was so surprised... well I guess anyone would be surprised by that really.

Were they having a funeral or something? I don't see a body, but I feel even worse about crashing in if so."

"Yes, I'm sorry for leaving the room. But I just wanted somewhere dark to let out my feelings."

I sniffle and pretend to be really upset. "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble."

Nanjo sighs. "Yes, we were. One of our servants recently passed away and we were holding a service to honor her. The Ushiromiya family held a public funeral, of course, but it turned out to be a media frenzy. 'The servant who took her life'. One reporter even asked Krauss-san if he thought that his working conditions caused her to commit suicide. It took three security guards to keep him off the reporter.

We thought that a service here would be more honorable, but it seems that fate has its own plans-- not that I'm blaming you, Ozaki-san. It's just that between you and the other injured party-- oh! I almost forgot. We have to go!"

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)22:54:11

>>14014
"Hmm? Other party you say? What is this now?"
I follow Nanjo, it is assumed we move as we talk I guess.

You walk up the steps. A large number of people fill up the hallway around you.

"Are you okay?" the woman from before asks. "Do you need our doctor to take a look at you?"

"Speaking of Doctor Nanjo," says another woman. "Where is he?"

"Eh?" says the man beside her. "He was right next to us before."

A brown haired woman approaches you. "What's your name?"

Last edited at 14/03/09(Sun)22:59:06

"I'm not really sure... I'm still in shock..." I tell the first woman (Rosa)

I curtsy. "My name is Amy." to 3rd woman (Natsuhi)

"Didn't you hear Natsuhi-san? It sounds like someone else is in need of medical attention. Perhaps this is your assistant."

Dr. Nanjo invites you under his umbrella and walks in the rain towards the mansion.

"My name is Kyrie," one of the women says.

"I am Natushi Ushiromiya," another one says. "Were you on that dreadful plane that crashed?"

Last edited at 14/03/10(Mon)23:07:44

My eyes go wide. "There was a plane crash too..? My fortune was right!" I cry out. "I really am a bad luck curse." Tears run down my face. "Mom, dad, sis..."

I try to compose myself. "I was on a cruise ship with my family... it sunk...."

Last edited at 14/03/10(Mon)23:18:00

>>14019
"Ah I see, let us hurry then."
I agree to follow Nanjo. Making sure to remember my surroundings and the pathways.

"Hey, don't say that." A man walks up to you. "My name is George. If I've learned anything... it's that bad things just happen. It's not because we're cursed or fortunes tell us our doom or anything. There doesn't have to be a rhyme or reason for them. Sometimes, things just are. Do you understand?"

"Yeah, great pep talk, George." Another man says. He looks at you next. "My name is Rudolf. You can call me Rudolf onii-chan if you'd like. Tears don't suit a cute girl like yourself. If you survived, then I'm sure the rest of your family is fine. The Coast Guard probably rescued them by the time you got here."

Last edited at 14/03/10(Mon)23:27:40

"You... you really think so?" I sniffle and try to smile.

You follow closely next to Nanjo, but contant streams of rain still hit the portion of your body not protected by the undersized, meager umbrella. The drops on your lips tastes an odd combination of sweet and bitter, almost like table salt sprinkled over the inside of a freshly picked green apple, as if two angry gods were fighting over the composition of even the water itself. For a single, brief moment, you feel infinitely small, as if not a single action you could possibly take on this gray, cold mass of sand of an island could matter in the slightest. Then you feel something worse: a chill separate from the rain and winds, one that wraps itself around your bones and tears the fabric of your muscles to the point of total expansion. You feel claws of ice dig into your spine and in that moment your pupils dilate and you see the island--the country--the world--for the shriveling shell of lies and deceit that it is. The hues of black and brown that surrounds the conscious of any ordinary man. The clarity is almost unable to bear, but you can't stop the torrent of disgust that invades your brain!

Then it stops, as if it has never began at all, and you follow the good Doctor inside the Ushiromiya mansion. You're on your merry way. You don't even remember that anything had happened. You don't pay attention to the nagging feeling of haven forgotten something. As far as your concerned, it hadn't even happened.

But it had, right, Ozaki?

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)14:22:53

You and Doctor Nanjo walk into the main hall. You hear some commotion comming from a hallway to your left, but Nanjo just stares at a blank spot on the wall.

"What in the world...?"

>>14064
"Hmm, what is wrong Nanjo?"

I examine the surrounding area.

"Of course," Rudolf says. "At least you didn't crash through a window like the other guy that just showed up.

He looks back at Rosa and whispers. "Uh, she didn't crash through a window, right? I'd sure sound like a jerk if she had."

Rosa shakes her head. A few of the adults had left to find their doctor, and from where they had stood, a young man with red hair steps up. He's wearing a white suit.

"You must have been really scared," he says.

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)17:40:00

"Kinzo-san's portrait," says Nanjo. That's all he says for a few seconds. He moves around the room, as if by shifting to a new position he'll be able to see it.

"He had a portrait of a witch on this wall. Why, it was there earlier today. What could have happened? Even the epitaph is missing."

You look around the area. A bright chandelier hangs from the ceiling and two vertical windows rest on both sides of the portrait. You see an indentation on the ground in front of the blank space on the wall. That's probably whether this 'epitaph' would have stood. Further to your right, you see a grandfather clock, but it appears to be broken. The time on the clock reads four hours and fifty-two minutes past twelve.

You notice the sky getting darker and darker outside, not that it was particularly bright to begin with.

Nothing else stands out of the ordinary.

From your left, you hear a few pairs of footsteps. You recognize a few of the faces from the chapel.

"Dr. Nanjo, where have you been?" asks a woman with red hair. A solemn looking servant stands beside her and a large man in a pink tie beside him. "We have a guest that could be in need of attention."

"M-my apologies. I'll come right away. Ozaki-san, if you would follow me, perhaps you could help. It would due to get those cuts disinfected as well. They don't look deep, but we can never be too careful. That's a motto of mine, you know."

Nanjo and the others walk down the hallway. He beckons you to follow.

>>14067
I follow Nanjo and help if needed.

I nodd

From around the corner of the hallway, a group of the adults return with two men wearing white medical coats. The younger one has rips on his sleeves and cuts on his arms.

Wait a minute. You know him.

It's been years, but you're sure that you recognize him. That's Ozaki! You both used to be in a murder mystery group a few years back. At first he had congratulated you on being so smart for your age, but with some time, a fierce rivalry broke out between you. Both of you had to be the one to solve the mystery. You could never let the other get even a little credit. You continued using manipulative tricks to one-up each other. One time, you remember that the group received a manuscript from a supposed 'mystery writer' only to later find out that Ozaki wrote the entire thing. Your rivalry continued until the group disbanded.

A few family members turn to acknowledge the men, but don't say anything.

People make way in the hall and the larger, older doctor walks up to you. "Hello, dear. My name is Dr. Nanjo. Could you come follow me to the parlor? There's more light in there."

Without waiting for an answer, Dr. Nanjo starts walking towards the parlor while holding your hand. "You too, Ozaki, if you would."

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)19:48:32

You recognize the girl at once. That's Amy. You never knew too much about her personal life, only that she was a smart girl who wanted to take away your win streak in the mystery club you both participated in. What was she doing here?

Dr. Nanjo starts walking towards the parlor while holding your hand. "You too, Ozaki, if you would."

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)19:41:34

"O-Okazki?! What are you doing here?" I stutter upon seeing someone I actually know.

>>14075
"I could say the same thing Amy, I for one just crashed onto the island. It's Ozaki btw, not that it matters, we should make sure you don't have any lasting damage before anything else... I should patch myself up too for that matter."

I proceed to help Amy to the parlor and assist Nanjo if he needs help(making sure he doesn't accidentally kill her or something). After I would patch myself up as well.

Night descended on the infinitesimal smudge of Rokkenjima island. Black and gray torrents of rain water splashed against windows and shutters, desperately hungry for chaos and discord. Humans: the lowliest and dumbest of all animals. They think themselves wise, but even the seagulls know to leave when a storm hits. Even they can spot hopelessness.

Seagulls, like other birds, fly in a group formation. Communications serves as an integral part of every decision and action the group should make. If one should miscommunicate or obfuscate his intent, the weight of the burden falls on his wings. He must recuperate and reinstate himself into the group. Humans, again, are a different kind of beast. Humans will blame each other. They will justify their own failings in more roundabout ways and consistently hurt themselves, and they they still believe they are at the top of that the world has to offer.

Nothing is as pitiful as a human except, perhaps, a human at night, when they believe they are hidden from sight and that I am not watching.

Doctor Nanjo takes you into the parlor. While he's sitting you down, you can hear some discussion from outside of the parlor door.

"Genji-san, Gohda-san, what did the police have to say?"

"My apologies, madame. We could not contact anyone outside of the island using the phone line or make any kind of communication using the radio, which only appears to be picking up short, unintelligible transmissions."

"I see," says Natushi. "Gohda, Genji, there may very well be another survivor of the plane crash on the island. I want you both to look outside. Kumasawa can handle food preparations for tonight."

You hear an audible whining.

Inside the parlor, the family has settled near the television, watching television while the servants serve snacks. A little girl, who you hear an older woman call Maria, rapidly flips through the channels.

"Mackerel! 30 percent off if you order within the next--"

"...typhoon appears to be continuing for at least the next--"

"...Carl's Crazy Condos! Rent is--"

"Toshiro, I've always loved--"

"...still frantically searching for recently escaped convict--"

"...what dark and strange mysteries lurk around every corner? there could even be--"

"...for the Magic Hour! With your host, Magic Greg!"

Eventually, she finally settles on something she wants to watch, much to everyone's relief. Doctor Nanjo quickly gets done examining you.

"Well, well, it looks like you're going to be just fine!" Nanjo smiles. "I hope swimming has earned you an appetite."

You disinfect yourself. It stings, but such minor pain doesn't bother you. You look around. Nanjo appears to be talking to Amy while everyone else absentmindedly watches TV. This would be a good time to formally introduce yourself, but the choice is yours.

>>14081
I check to see who is all in the room at the moment. I also get the layout of the room. I stay silent unless someone talks to me seeing how I probably caused millions of dollars worth of damage.

"Thank you." I try to smile at the kind doctor.

I stand up and try to get everyone's attention. "I'm sorry for troubling you but please allow me to stay the night."

Inside the room, you see Nanjo, Amy, Maria, a young man with red hair, a young man with black hair and glasses, a young woman with blonde hair, a man in a red suit, a woman with white hair and a tie, a man with slicked back hair and a white tie, a woman with medium length brown hair, a woman with red hair, and a larger man with a red shirt and pink tie.

Natushi is still outside the room, as well as the three servants you saw.

The parlor is a room that almost seems like two. One half of the room has several couches facing a television, as well as a window to the right. The other half is more like a casual conversation area, with couches and chairs around a small, wooden coffee table. That's the area that you, Amy, and Nanjo are in. The door is about in the middle of the room, away from the window. There are also some drawers and cabinets around the room.

You try to remain anonymous, but Amy speaks up.

"I'm sorry for troubling you," she says. "But please allow me to stay the night."

Most of the family looks back at you, except Maria.

"It looks like you'll have to," says the man with slicked back hair. "The storm isn't letting up and the phones are out."

To you, he adds: "I'm Rudolf, by the way."

"It looks like everyone might have to stay in the mansion tonight," say the blond haired girl. "Since, if the mansion is fine, then the plane must've flew into the guest house..."

"The guest house!" Krauss jumps up. He runs out of the room at the pace of Wile E. Cayote.

"I thought he was taking it a bit too well," says the red haired man. He looks at you. "My name is Battler. I don't think everyone's really introduced themselves yet."

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)21:35:56

"Did something happen to the guesthouse?"

"Ah, well..." Rudolf says. "Maybe Ozaki could explain. I'm kind of curious as to what happened as well."

"What were ya doin flyin' a plance during a typhoon?" the larger man with the pink tie asks.

Everyone stares expectantly at Ozaki.

>>14093
"I'm ashamed to admit that we had no idea there was a storm in-bound. We were headed to Niijima and at some point got completely turned around. By the time we had gotten back on course it was too late, and the storm hit. After that my friend... well, I was left alone in the plane at that point and keeping it under control proved impossible, so I jumped. You all know the rest, and I am completely distraught at the damage I have done. I'm so sorry."

"I can see why Krauss wouldn't be happy," says an orange haired woman. "Not that I'm blaming you or anything. He's put a lot into this place over the years, though. I can't help but feel bad for Nii-san."

She looks contemplative for a moment. "My name is Eva. This is my husband, Hideyoshi. You said that your name is Ozaki? And you're Amy? I'm sure you both must have questions."

"Where-where is this island? I honestly have no idea where I am."

>>14096
"Well, I've heard that this is a private island for the family. I don't suppose you all live here do you?"

"Rokkenjima is just off the coast of Niijima," says the blonde haired girl. "If you have a boat, it doesn't take long to get to shore at all."

"Me, live in a stuffy place like this?" Rudolf says. "Never."

"We visit once a year for the family conference," the white haired woman beside him finishes. "We're supposed to be leaving in the morning, but with the way the storm looks..."

You both hear running from outside of the parlor. The door opens and Natushi rushes in.

"Dr. Nanjo!" she says. Her hair and clothes are wet. She was likely running without an umbrella. "Your assistance is required immediately."

"Hey, did something happen?" Rudolf asks.

"I'll explain later. Dr. Nanjo, follow me, quickly."

"If the situation is all that serious, perhaps Ozaki should come with me," he says.

"Fine!" Her short fuse has already blown minutes prior, it seems. "Just hurry!"

Natsuhi disappears outside of the door. The adults start mumbling among themselves. Maria turns up the television.

>>14103
"Sure thing," I say as I hurry to follow Natsuhi and Nanjo to wherever they lead.

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)22:42:00

"Um if you don't mind, would you be willing to take me on a tour of your home? I love western buildings like these, and I would like to take my mind off what happened to my family."

You, Dr. Nanjo, and Natushi hurry outside the mansion, past the rose garden, and down the long set of stairs leading to the beach.

When you step on the shore, you see Gohda and Genji are standing in the rain. Genji is holding his umbrella over some dark shape laying on the ground. When you get closer, you see that it's a girl with blue hair. She appears to be dead.

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)22:55:39

>>14106
I crouch near the body and confirm her death.
I also examine any wounds to be found and check her clothing and pockets.
I estimate a time of death(assuming she is) because why not.

"This isn't anyone you know is it?" I ask of the group.

Last edited at 14/03/11(Tue)22:59:57

When nobody else responds, the blonde haired girl apparently remembers that she's the only one in the room that actually lives in the mansion.

"Oh yeah, I can do that," she says. "My name's Jessica."

Battler stands up. "I think I need to stretch my legs. I'll come with you guys."

"It would be nice to take my mind off of things as well," says the man in the green suit. "I'm George. It's a pleasure to meet you. Are you coming too, Maria?"

Maria looks split, but she decides to go with the cousins. You all exit the parlor and go out into the main hall.

"This is, well, the main hall," says Jessica. "Where Grandather has a... hey, where is that portrait, anyways?"

I thank Jessica for agreeing to show me around the mansion. "This is the second time I've heard about this portrait is it important?"

You check her body. The girl in front of you is definitely dead. She suffered some kind of blunt force to the head, but the thing that killed her was probably drowning.

You find a ticket stub in her pocket. It's for a cruise ship. Other than that, you don't find anything particularly noticeable about her.

"Is she...?" one of the servants, the green haired one, asks.

>>14110
"Hmm, are you familiar with this girl?" I ask the servant. "Judging from this ticket stub she was probably on some sort of cruise ship and the storm took her as well."

"It's supposed to be a painting of Grandfather's mistress," says Jessica. "Her name is Beatrice, and she's supposed to be this great witch who can do all kinds of magic. Supposedly, she made a contract with grandfather to give him a butt ton of gold."

"Beatrice?" Battler says. "Grandfather really believes in something like that?"

"Uu!" Maria pipes in. "Beatrice is real!"

"No, it's just...I...I've never seen a dead body before. Do you think she was on the same ship as Amy-san?"

"Do-do-do...do you think.... she could bring my family back?"

>>14114
"Amy was on a ship? Well, seeing how they both washed up here I'd say the chances are high."

I stand up now finished looking at the body.

"For the girl's sake I hope this isn't anyone she knows. That being said, it should be moved or buried someplace. The family will probably want to retrieve it once they are able to, but for now this is the best we can do."

"Uu!" Maria smiles. "Beatrice is awesome! She can do anything. If you respect her, reviving your family would be as easy to her as blinking."

Battler hits Maria on the head. "Stop that."

He looks at you. "We have no reason to think that anything bad happened to your family. Like my dad said, they were probably rescued."

"Could Beatrice really have a power like that?" George asks.

"Not you too, George!" Jessica says.

George gives a nervous laugh. "Sorry, I just got caught up in my head. Things have been..."

Jessica nods. "Yeah, I know. Hey, why don't I show you guys the kitchen? It's right this way."

Jessica leads the group down another hallway.

Your group completely agrees. Genji and Gohda carry the body up the stairs to the mansion. You and Natsuhi follow closely behind.

She walks beside you. "You and Amy-san seem to know each other. It would probably be best if she heard about the body from you."

Last edited at 14/03/12(Wed)18:18:28