Round Six (Both Schools)

[musicalee]

By Sunday, the fog has gotten worse, with students barely able to see out of their windows. As usual, there's a message on the screens scattered around campus, but it might catch out a few sleepy students with the fact that it isn't the usual summoning to the main hall.

"All students will report to the Battle Arena at noon for assembly."

Anyone lost, confused or just contrary is led there by one or more of the prefects. Once they arrive and are seated in the well-lit arena - strangely untouched by the fog - they will notice that there is a raised dais in the centre. All six staff members are stood there; Mayor Mallorough and the shopkeeper Recette in the middle, with Day and Santana of Conquest on one side and Nanami and Dolorosa of Fortitude on the other. Unlike other assemblies, the rest of the prefects have been asked to sit with the others.

Dunleavy, the seldom-seen Mayor of Rakuen, steps forward towards her microphone.
"Citizens of Rakuen, today is a very important occasion." Despite the words she sounds almost bored, her tone flat.

"First of all, I would like to welcome those who arrived yesterday to our city and congratulate all who fought in this week's round. We're a little pushed for time, so I won't read out your individual results. Secondly, you might have noticed the fantastic weather we've been having this weekend... It seems we are about to see a particularly special round." She glances at the arena's clock tower, as the hands strike the hour, and then at the screens. Dutifully, they switch on to display a view of the lake.

Just in time, too. As the screens focus, the waters of the lake ripple - once, twice - and then surge upwards and outwards as a massive prow breaches the surface. Fabric snaps in a sudden breeze, and the creak of old, sodden wood echoes artificially through the arena. The lake isn't particularly deep - as several seated in the rows could tell you - but somehow it is now home to a galleon of considerable size. The fog seems to be emanating from it, curling from the deck outwards onto the shore, and its sails and sheets move as though caught by the wind even as it remains perfectly still upon the water.

The ship evidently settled, Dunleavy speaks once more.

"Every now and again, Rakuen is graced by a fragment of another world, marking the beginning of a different type of battle. Those whose names are read out have been chosen to take part in a quest. They will enter the ship, and explore its depths in search of battle and treasures. It will be dangerous, but I believe you are all capable." She still sounds detached and bored; it'ss difficult to tell if she's being sincere or not.

"If your name is called, please come and collect an extension for your glove here at the front. This allows you and two chosen Weapons to enter the ship. They are easy to use, speak the name of your Weapons and will yourself into the ship. Your Weapons will be brought with you, no matter where they are." She gestures to the two head prefects, who collect a set of boxes and move to the front of the stage.

"The device only allows you to take two Weapons into the ship at once, but you may enter and exit as many times as you wish during the week. Now, your ultimate goal is to reach the bottom and defeat the creature you find there, but there are other rewards to be found. Recette will now speak to you about collecting treasure during your quest."

She hands the microphone over to the young girl, who clasps it in front of her face with both hands.

"Um, yes! Because this is a dungeon, it's gonna be full of treasure... So if you find anything cool, you can bring it out with you! Sometimes monsters will leave behind items when you've killed them, too, and there are lots of items stashed away by pirates--" she pauses, "Eheh, I think so, anyway. It looks like a pirate ship. That's what pirates do, right? But even if it's not something you can use, I'll buy it off you or trade it for something you want, so if you take a bag, or ask your Weapons to carry things for you... Um, what was I gonna say... Please make sure to look everywhere!

"An' also, if you're having trouble finding Weapons, or you don't think you're strong enough, I'll sponsor you with equipment if you give me a share of your treasure at the end! If that's okay... So let's work together this week."

She bows, fumbles the microphone about three times, and eventually manages to hand it back to the Mayor. Once she's got it back, Dunleavy smiles at the audience.

"If you have any questions, do not hesitate to come and talk to me, or your headmistresses and head prefects. You will still receive raks for fighting inside the ship, and if you reach the bottom and defeat the creature there, you will have won the round.

Good luck, everybody."

With that the feed of the ship disappears from the screen and the list of Players replaces it. Dunleavy reads the names out loud.

Conquest

Indonesia
Prussia
Sis Strider
John Egbert [ou]
Cornelia li Britannia
Aradia Megido
Feferi Peixes
Aisha Clanclan
Sherlock Holmes
Rose Lalonde
Davesprite

Fortitude

Firifale
Belarus
Dahlia Hawthorne
Yuri Lowell
Sora Himoto
Reimi Hanamori
Sakuya Izayoi
Spain
Dave Strider
Daenerys Targaryen
Lelouch vi Britannia

Comments

attn jade and kanaya <3

[allurprincess]

[ A Player! She's a Player! Yes, this must be their acknowledgement that she's strong enough again. She stands up and barrels off in search of Jade, the only person she really knows from her school. ]

Jade! Jade, do you wan--

[ And then she manages to trip over the leg of a seated troll girl. Crash. ]

[fussyfanged]

[ And suddenly there is a very excited human tripping over her. ]

Um.
Are you alright?

[allurprincess]

Whoops. I'm okay! [ she pats herself down for injuries, finds none, and scrambles to her feet. ] Sorry, I wasn't looking where-- Ah! I haven't seen you around before!

[fussyfanged]

Probably not, I arrived just recently. [ Kanaya doesn't recognize her, though perhaps she glimpsed that fluorescent head of hair somewhere. ]

[allurprincess]

Me too! [ and she takes the other girl's hand to shake without asking, cheerfully unaware that it's pre' rude to do that. ] I'm Sora. Are you okay?

[fussyfanged]

[ She's a bit flummoxed and... lets her arm be shook about. A strange custom. ]

It's nice to meet you, Sora. I'm Kanaya.

Yes, I'm quite alright. [ She didn't really notice until Sora fell. ]

I think I've seen you around the Fortitude dorms.

[allurprincess]

[ uwah a pretty name for a pretty troll. ]

That's right! I'm in Black dorm, 2-A.

[fussyfanged]

No wonder. I'm in Black 1-B.

[ She doesn't remember if she saw her on the train. ]

[allurprincess]

[ Nope, Sora's been here a week longer. Which means-- ]

That's Jade's room, too! Have you met her?

[anotherpath]

[some time after Team Lesbian has formed, Yuki approaches Sora with a worried look on her face]

Be careful on the ship, okay?

[allurprincess]

Of course! You too, Yuki.

[anotherpath]

Really, be careful. I can't seem to remember a lot of medical things so I can't patch you up if you get hurt.

[allurprincess]

Don't worry! If it's something I can't handle, we'll get out. I'm not going to put Jade or Kanaya in danger.

[ speaking of, she notices the sword on Yuki's hand. ] Who did you team up with?

1/2

[anotherpath]

[sadface] You promise?

[anotherpath]

Oh! I teamed up with Sis again, she teaches sword fighting so she's very skilled with my Katana.

[allurprincess]

That's great, Yuki! And of course I promise.

[anotherpath]

I'm sure you and Jade will make a good team, but who is Kanaya?

[greenspaces]

[ Oh whoa. ]

Are you two okay?

[allurprincess]

[ nods nods! Don't mind Sora as she tugs Kanaya with her. THEY'RE ALL FRIENDS. HAND-HOLDING. ] Jade! Will you team up with me again?

[fussyfanged]

[ Still kind of perturbed by this human infatuation with hand-holding. But there was Jade! A small reprieve from having her arm tugged on. ]

[greenspaces]

[ SO MUCH HAND HOLDING she grins sorry i'm late ]

Yes! Is Kanaya with you, too?

[allurprincess]

[no worries no worries]

Yeah! We can explore as a team.

[savedbyasong]

[After the team was formed and Shion had paired up with Firifale Shion saw Sora] Sora! You're a Player this round?

[allurprincess]

[ OH hey it's that guy who knew the other her.

She still doesn't know his name. ] I am!

[savedbyasong]

[He smiled at her] Do you think you will be okay? [She was a lot more capable than him and seemed to have a lot of friends, so he was pretty sure she would be fine. But he didn't like the idea of the mysterious ship that had burst from the lake.]