princess maker - Heart Soldier Senshi

[idolpro]

[ When you insert the key and open the door, you'll find yourself in a humble cottage, in what seems to be the living room specifically. There are several doors, but a specific one catches your eye: simple in its decoration, the door has a cute little wooden plaque with flowers carved into it. Though the door is closed, you can see through it—as if it's somewhat transparent.

A wooden cradle sits in the room beyond, which is otherwise plain. Inside, a baby sleeps peacefully. When she stirs, calling for her parent, you are there to cradle her back to sleep. ]

-

[ Slowly, the scene changes, fading in and out with various silent scenes—the baby coos pleasantly, giggling jovially when you (presumably) make faces at her; she tries to pick herself up and falls over, but she does not cry; a disagreement between you and her lead to a thoughtful discussion; the young girl carries a large laundry basket to do chores; she buys a pet bird, looking so proud for having earned the money all by herself; then the wall becomes opaque. ]

[ In the middle of the open doorway, a young girl the age of 10 stands, smiling at you. A bird with beautiful plumage rests on her shoulder.

This is your daughter. You tried your best to rear her, and she's been good to you. You know she is capable of anything if she puts her mind to it - even becoming a princess. But you also know it's not easy to become a princess - she'll have to work hard, and she's capable of it but you'll have to guide her hand, most certainly. Better she become a princess than go off to war, though; you could not stand to see your baby girl die on the battlefield. Whether she actually becomes a princess or not . . . well, that's up to fate, isn't it? All you can do is try your best. ]

Comments

ROUND 2 MORAL DILEMMA

[idolpro]

4

[idolpro]

Well . . . How are you going to save them?

DECISION

[idolpro]

Re: DECISION

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

How are we doing Joy?

Re: DECISION

[idolpro]

"Uhm - we're doing. I think? We're doing!"

Like, she's doing her best. Is it okay to say good right now???

Re: DECISION

[crossmyheartandhope]

[We're planning to get moving and head for the capital. Along the way, we'll info-gather while in disguise (and ask our allies to info-gather, as well) to try and pick up information on the smuggling ring and where they took Hiryuu and King.]

Re: DECISION

[idolpro]

No one really knows the answer, but most people guess that their friends would be monarchy property if they're still alive.

Best case scenario, they've been put into indentured servitude - most likely the military.

Worst case scenario . . . they're dead.

You travel to the Capital. Through your careful means, it takes about a week. Joy is a pretty good sport about this. She is perhaps actually stealthy, in comparison to her parents.

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

We need to make our way to the capital. And we should listen out for any clues of the smuggling ring, if they travel too then maybe we can figure out where they took Hiryuu-san and King-san.

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah, for sure. We gotta get moving, and the faster we get there, the better.

Once we get there, we're gonna need info more than anything, or we won't even know where to start.

5

[idolpro]

You arrive at the Capital. One would think that this place is bustling, lively - and it is, but only a very very sectioned off portion of it. You know that much; after all, you were part of the King's guard. The public portion of the Capital is more of a tourist trap than anything, but go into the alleyways and you'll find it's less than happy; the walls beyond are government-owned housing complexes, filled to the brim with those who would have the Plague.

You can't reach them. They're beyond a transparent wall of . . . magic, it looks like? Some sort of enchantment - military grade, it's obviously endorsed by the monarchy. What's the purpose of this?

Maybe the purpose of this can be found in the human protesters that stand at the wall, with signs that say things like "THE CAPITAL IS INFESTED", with "INFECTED" written above it, or "PROTECT OUR CHILDREN", or "THE KING IS A COWARD". There are always the dissenters, after all.

This might have nothing to do with you, but maybe . . . it does? Maybe you could figure out what's going on here - or maybe you can seek out some information.

What do you do?

DECISION

[idolpro]

Re: DECISION

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

Mori will be taking Joy to investigate the royal family and their politics, and will talk with her about what they learn and ask what she thinks about the whole thing.

Eclipse and Abi are going to investigate the slave traders and see where they were last spotted, if they've been through the capital or if there are any upcoming auctions. We want to know what we can about their movements.

Hurricane is investigating the magic wall and the Plague Bearer housing, he wants to know if there's any way to take down the wall, we're looking for any weak points or times someone may enter. He'll also investigate the protestors and what their agenda is.

Re: DECISION

[idolpro]

The royal family is like this: the King is a man who follows tradition, but only at the behest of his council. He seems to be a soft man, one who does not actually care all that much for discrimination - but it's deeply ingrained in the people; after all, this is the entire basis on which the monarchy is allowed to rule. You learn that the King is why there is a barrier on over half the town now, however - it's because he's created a sort of quarantined living space for Plague Bearers to live.

However, it's something of an experiment, and not everyone can join it. Hurricane investigates the wall and finds that on another end is a long line of disabled people: Plague Bearers who are not fit to join the military and therefore have nowhere to go. This is their refuge, and so they wait for admittance at the gate. It's hardly ever opened, however; the line is less of a line and more a long protest, a plea to open the gates and let them live a better life. Hurricane learns that the barrier exists, not to keep Plague Bearers in, but to keep those who would discriminate them out.

The protesters think of the King as too soft - he should be like their old King, who simply executed the sickly. Their taxes are being used to fund an infestation, a sickness, a disease - and it's only going to get worse and worse! It's unfair, it's unsafe, and it's unwise - the King must stop. Even if he is descended from the Great Liberator, this must be wrong!

Fortunately, a line of military guards protect the sickly from the protesters as an immovable wall, though they don't do anything to harm the protesters either - however, that doesn't prevent protesters from trying to do something anyway, and Hurricane is privy to at least a few attempted stonings of someone who can't fight back.

It seems the slave traders avoided the Capital entirely. It makes sense - after all, this seems to legitimately be more a refuge for Plague Bearers than a place of death.

Joy thinks . . . this is all complicated. She doesn't know whether she wants to believe the King or not - but she does want to think that someone who would stay this way in the face of people being unhappy with him like this . . . must not be a horrible person, right?

What about the Prince. . . ?

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

Infected, huh? You think there're Plague Bearers behind the wall?

Might be where we're looking for.

Re: DISCUSSION

[ferociousfuckingnerd]

...Huh.

6

[idolpro]

Uh oh. Your daughter had been speaking to you about how she found this to be all incredibly complicated, an issue that isn't exactly black and white - but while she was learning, and while you were investigating, she . . . disappeared.

Where . . . did she go?

DECISION

[idolpro]

Re: DECISION

[crossmyheartandhope]

[We're going to search for Joy, beginning near the castle and castle grounds, but carrying out a broader search, as well. While we're at it, we're going to keep looking for information on where Hiryuu and King are.]

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[inspiteful]

[ You know he was about to try and talk about the Politics (TM), but -- ]

W-where's Joy!

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

Hey, uh. Has anyone seen Joy?

Re: DISCUSSION

[bluemoonlight]

[wtf, looking for joy]

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

[After the info-gathering:]

Okay... okay.

We gotta think this through. There's gotta be a way to find em all.