Intro Log.

[awashmods]

Ding, dong, bell, Pussy's in the well. Who put her in? Little Johnny Thin. Who pulled her out? Little Tommy Stout. What a naughty boy was that, To try to drown poor pussy cat, Who never did him any harm, But killed all the mice in the farmer's barn.

ou wake in knee-deep water, cold as ice and stagnant, in a space that is far too echoey and spacious. It feels like a massive cave, but looking up... there's only one small, circular opening that shows grey sky and shines any sort of light. It looks like a long trip upwards, a small cylinder with walls of brick that's just a little too high to reach, even when jumping. Getting out is probably going to be a bit of a task, especially considering the water is more than cold enough to make limbs go numb. The dark makes it impossible to see much further, but the space seems large, all filled with water, but with no other way out, stone walls the only thing for an intrepid explorer to find. But most importantly of all... you're not alone. Welcome to Awash's first intro log, everyone! Please review the FAQ and rules before playing. Characters have all woken at the bottom of the well in the middle of the town (which seems a lot bigger on the inside, somehow), and it looks like they'll have to put in some work to get out. Once out, they'll be free to explore the various locations the Town has to offer at will. Just try not to die on any of the far-too-rickety walkways. Further information can be found here at the OOC post, and don't forget to greet your fellow players here!

Comments

[murdery]

[Rude, birds are friends, not food. Though Caramia is welcome to try it if he's willing to field Henry's attempts at bloody revenge.]

Not at all! Weird curse if I've ever seen one, though. And I've seen a lot of 'em. What's the point of randomly relocating a bunch of people when you can more easily kill them instead?

[Unless... they're here for some other purpose.]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Um??? No. He's... He's good on the bloody revenge part. Regardless, he wouldn't have touched Henry's birds, and not because he knew he'd have to face such a wrath, but rather because he'd feel horribly guilty for taking away Henry's friends like that. ]

Curse? [ Like, from a witch? ] So, then, this was the doing of someone?? Do you think it was someone who showed up in the well with us...? Or, is there something hiding in the town here?

[ There's also a mention of murder! Good job, Henry. Though, he has a point. Why poof a bunch of people into an abandoned town if you just wanted them to suffer? Caramia thought nothing of it. ]

[murdery]

No idea! I didn't sense any magic I'm familiar with in the well or anywhere else. It's a mystery to everyone. How cool is that?

[He really does seem delighted by this.]

We'll just have to figure it out the old-fashioned way!

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

You can sense magic, signore?? That's incredible!

[ That means he's a wizard, right? How cool. He thought he was lucky to just meet the one wizard. ]

But, ah, while the respect of a mystery might be fascinating, dropping a couple dozen people-- children included-- into a place where they're meant to fend for themselves without so much as resources... is kind of a damper on that.

[murdery]

[What's up with everyone always bringing up kids? Nobody gave a shit about Henry when he was a kid, when he was in this exact same kind of situation. What's so special about them, huh?

It's surely a trick of the light, if his expression seems a bit more brittle.]

It's not so bad once you get used to it. It's either that or die, yanno.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Henry, you're one of the children Caramia was referring to, geez. ]

...Certainly not if I have anything to say about it. I may not be magic, but I have a lot of confidence in my strength, so... if it comes down to it, I'll definitely do my best to provide and protect the lot of you. And I know there's a handful of others here who think the same. [ There's a brief pause. ] So... you don't have to worry about it, okay?

[murdery]

[Rude, he's like 17, that's old as fuck.

But at least his grin is back in full force.]

Wasn't all that worried in the first place, but sure, whatever you say.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ He's a baby.

Caramia, of course, is a little off mark as to why Henry's smile faltered in the first place. Silly lion, thinking Henry was worried about surviving. Of course, there is no telling what's going through his head, but... all Caramia knows is that, if these two were going to be sharing this dingy house, he'd do his best for this weird kid. And, he just thinks the poor boy is brushing it aside. He gives a sympathetic smile in response, followed quickly by (yet another) realization. ]

Ah, have you managed to get anything from the general stores here? [ Actually, don't answer that, Henry. Caramia's opening his guitar case and pulling one of the blankets he's procured from said general stores out from it to take over to him, anyway. ] Here! In case we don't make it out of this town soon-- it's much too cold here and I imagine it'll only get worse at night.

[murdery]

[Henry just... stares at the proffered blanket in utter confusion.]

Oh. Thanks, but you can keep it! I don't really feel the cold like other people do.

[See, he is 100% self-sufficient. Go worry about your kids.]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ Henry, you're grounded. ]

Really? Is that magic, too? Oh, but I have some spares... maybe you could make a nest of sorts for your birds with it? [ How did birds even work? what even ARE birds... ]

[murdery]

Nah! That's just nerve damage. But hey, that's a good idea! You're a regular bird friend yourself!

[Now Henry holds it up to the one perched on his head, which just looks at it dubiously. Shrugging, he crumples it up and sets it on the windowsill, for anyone's use should they want it.]

If they won't use it, somebody else will, probably.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ ...? For a second, he almost thought he misheard Henry. He had said it just so nonchalantly. However, there's definitely no way Caramia's hearing would fail him like that. The rest of what he said may have flown over Caramia's head, but? That's probably fine.

Being the open book that he was, there was almost no attempt at hiding the confusion/worry combo in his expression, but he didn't say anything. How could he?? It was none of his business, and... "What happened?", "Are you okay?", and "Does it hurt?" all sounded too invasive, personal, insensitive, or all of the above. ]

Sorry to hear that, signore... [ That was... better. Still not great. ] If... you need anything, feel free to ask me, okay?

[murdery]

[Henry just cocks his head--the crow flaps and hops off, cawing in protest--like he hasn't said anything out of the ordinary, and Caramia is the strange one.]

Uh, okay. It's not a big deal, though. It's genetic!

["""Genetic."""]

But sure. I guess if we're gonna be friends and stuff, the same goes for you!

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

[ "Genetic". Henry, please, let him worry about you. Caramia doesn't seem to buy this answer, but he can at least tell when someone doesn't want to talk about it. That's fine, they are just strangers. If he can help it at all, he'll do his best to be a good friend and just be there when he can!

He gives a laugh at his reply, anyway. ]

Thanks, [ Er, wait, what was his name again? Shit. Hope he doesn't mind a nickname. ] Corvo. At the very least, I'll be looking forward to your company.

[murdery]

[Henry just laughs, like Caramia's told the best joke in the world.]

Who's Corvo? I'm Henry!

[He hops up on the sill next to the crows, kicking his legs like he's ten years old.]

And you're pretty funny. Sure, we can be housemates. [As if the decision is up to him.]

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

Ah, "Corvo" means "crow". Scusa, it was a slip of the tongue there.

[ He gives a little tip forward of his head (but was there every a problem with him staying there? Guess he just assumed so...). ]

Henry, then, I'll remember that. I'm probably going to head out for now-- see if I can look around the town, but I'll be back.

[murdery]

[Well, there are worse things to be associated with.]

Do what ya want. It's not like this is really our house! [That's accompanied by a giggle.]

Never thought I'd see the day where I *finished* a thread.

[ifionlyhadthecourage]

Oh, absolutely, but... I'm probably going to leave my things here, [ Since it isn't like they are all that important. ] and would like to come back for them later.

[ He bows his head for a good-bye (oh so tempted to ruffle his hair if there wasn't a bird in the way), and turns on his heel to leave. As lovely as Henry's company was, he has another crow-themed boy to go fuss over. Hopefully, they'd either get out of this place and go home soon enough, oooooorrrr Caramia figures he'd be able to get to know this disaster child strange kid better a little later on. ]