Induction.

[wordsmithery]

Today seems to have been an exercise in providing more questions than answers. After all, aside from the rules on the walls, it's not as though there's much here that's going to help you understand what's going on, or why you're here in the first place. Some of you are angry; some are more confused than anything. Some are dealing in the best way that they know how. But perhaps one question remains at the back of mind, regardless of what you choose to make of the situation, and rightly so: Who is responsible for this? It's a question that doesn't seem to have a ready answer; after a while, though, you will receive something. It's not a solution, and it's not a way out, but it's contact – the sound of the public address system crackling to life somewhere above your heads, an indication that someone, somewhere, is aware that you're here and has something to say. 'I trust that all of you had a good night's sleep. Now that you have hopefully familiarized yourselves with your fellow Apprentices, allow me to make a formal introduction myself.' The voice is male, that much is obvious; it isn't recognizable to anyone present, however. 'Welcome and congratulations, new Apprentices of Chronos University. You have been chosen for a valuable exercise of higher learning within these walls. Both the rules and a list of your fellow Apprentices have been provided for you in several locations, and I advise that you study both very carefully. Knowing them well can only serve to help you.' 'As for my own introduction, I am the equivalent of a headmaster to this educational institution. For our time together, you may refer to me as the Wordsmith. I do hope that you all endeavor to make the most of your time spent here, however you may choose.' [OOC: You can be heard just fine through the PA system, so feel free to ask/say anything your little heart desires!]

Comments

[officerhops]

I'm not threatening anyone. I'm just giving you the facts, that's all.

But you might want to start fixing up your attitude. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, right? I thought that was con-man rule #1.

[neverheardofhim]

Jasper. [He'd at least make an effort to remember it.]

Pleasure, then. The name is Varric Tethras. [Instinctively, he held a hand out. It took only one glance at her own, massive compared to his, for him to doubt his actions and pull his hand back to his side.]

[iaspis]

It's...a pleasure to meet you.

[She sounds awkward saying it, but it sounds sincere enough. She offers out her hand, apparently not bothered by him putting his to the side.

...She's used to shaking hands smaller than hers. It's no risk, really!]

If only it was in better circumstances. Instead of... whatever this shameless charade is.

[neverheardofhim]

Yeah, well... [Varric reached out, wrapping a hand around one of her fingers. His grip was just as firm as if it had been the full hand of any other person. He'd met enough Qunari souls for this to be something close to normal.]

Met some of my best friends in shitty situations. Maybe it's a sign.

[iaspis]

Maybe so.

[She frowns.]

I don't trust any of the "higher learning" this Wordsmith would have us do. It's best we all keep fairly close, when it comes to finding an exit.

[acherontiastyx]

...

Yeah, okay. Sounds good to me.

[sometimes he's easily satisfied.]

[ravagers]

[ Vanille looks sufficiently unsettled, but with a little shake of the head she clears any trace of that. ]

You can definitely trust me, Varric. I don't want anyone here to get hurt!

[officerwilde]

[That comment gets a scoff and a roll of the eyes, and he bends over with his hands on his knees so they can see eye-to-eye.]

In case your tiny little bunny brain forgot, we're all stuck here until someone keels over and I'm not going to become roadkill.

[As much as he thinks its all stupid, and he'd like to believe that no one would actually commit a murder.. he has to admit that it's still a possibility, and a nice little fox would make the perfect victim.]

Playing nice is fun and all, but I'm not going to become chummy with anyone looking to find an easy victim. And as the smallest animal in the room, I'd suggest you do the same.

[neverheardofhim]

Fine by me.

[Being buddy-buddy with the tallest person in the room seemed like a solid plan. Even if everyone decided to cooperate and not kill anyone, he could always a hand when it came to reaching those blighted high shelves.]

Now we just have to convince the rest of our flock. [Hopefully they were just as agreeable as Jasper was.]

[neverheardofhim]

Good. [Varric wasn't sure what the look he saw on her face was, but nevertheless, he softened the tone of his voice.] Stick close to me, and I'll keep you safe, okay?

[iaspis]

Agreed.

[She looks around the room, as though she's trying to figure something out.]

There must be a way out without being tempted to play by... those rules of his.

[neverheardofhim]

Could try boring him out of his mind. You think if we sat in our rooms, he'd let us go?

[Someone else had suggested as much before. It was a far-fetched plan, one he wasn't particularly fond of. He'd much rather find the Wordsmith and be more direct about it.]

[iaspis]

No, I don't think so. I believe if we all did that, he'd do something drastic.

He seems interested in watching what we do.

[neverheardofhim]

I don't know about you, but where I come from, we'd call that creepy.

[He was pretty sure it was a universal constant, but perhaps in Tall-Woman land, things were different.]

[iaspis]

It is creepy.

[no arguments there]

That's why we must find him, before he has a chance to try to convince someone to act on one of these rules.

[officerhops]

[Judy can feel her blood boil at the fox's words, but she knows she can't let him get to her head. He's not worth the effort.]

You would do well not to underestimate me, Wilde.

[neverheardofhim]

We better get to work then, huh?

[Which meant more questions, and more kicking around in various corners. Hopefully, something would come up. And if whatever that something was, was up high, he'd hope that Jasper would catch it.]

[iaspis]

[She nods.]

Of course.

i cant wait for nick to remember that they're friends

[officerwilde]

Yeah, uh-huh.

[He's not at all convinced.]

I'll remember that when I'm looking at your poor, stepped-on body.

[ravagers]

Aww, that's real nice of you! We'll watch each other's backs, how about that?

[neverheardofhim]

Sounds like a perfect plan, Bubbles.