Round 5!

[utopiamods]

You're falling, and you can't remember why. It's a sickening feeling that makes your insides lurch; the darkness and the vertigo combine, and all you can think of is a story you heard once, somewhere.

I remember now. It's a simple story that everyone knows. A legend of a Princess, the Demon Lord who kidnapped her, and the Knight who fought to save her.

The Demon Lord had kidnapped the Princess countless times, but every time the Knight bested his challenges and rescued the Princess.

No matter what tricks and ploys the Demon Lord used, the Knight would always triumph in the end. This was because...

The world tilts on its axis one last time, and the dream slips from your mind as easily as it arrived. A new voice intrudes on your sleep.

"Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. This tramline terminates here; all change. Next stop: Academy Main Entrance. All change."

Sunlight streams through the windows of the long carriage, making the seats almost uncomfortably warm beneath its waking passengers. The air is muggy and thick, the atmosphere deeply tired. Your nausea settles, slowly. The last of the dream fades.

"We have arrived at Utopia. Repeat, we have arrived at Utopia Academy. Could all passengers please leave the tram, as it is terminating here."

The tram pulls to a stop outside the academy station, and anyone onboard is ushered off and directed to the front lobby of the school. You can't miss it; there are signs up pointing toward the main entrance, reading "New student orientation" in big, bright letters. If anyone should care to move off the path, try exploring somewhere else, a teacher will conveniently appear to shoo them back toward the lobby, assuring them that "all your questions will be answered inside".

The lobby is big and spacious, looking more like a university or perhaps a fancy international hotel than a high school. Stood around are any number of students in the uniform of the school. Some of them even look awake. There are several receptionists at the desk towards the back of the lobby, but for now they seem busy with paperwork.

Anyway, the many screens are far more interesting. Once a good number of students are gathered inside the building, they all activate at once to show a cheerful, almost cavity-inducing woman in the school uniform. She smiles, waves, and launches into her speech without further ado.

"Good afternoon to our new students here at Utopia Academy! Thank you for choosing to enroll with us for this, our first semester of the new year. Our battle system is the best in the world, set up for you, our students! I hope that you all had a fun journey here, and that you've all made some new friends! You're going to need them soon, so keep them close, okay?

"Now, I'm going to explain the rules for you. Make sure to listen carefully, and remember, you can find all of this and more in the Exaclan manual!"

She outlines the battle system for the newbies as she has every round previous, then claps her hands. The screen goes blank, and the following appears:

Players for Round 5

Saber
Huashi Sun
Gaara
Excalibur
Xingke Li
Edgar Roni Figaro
Russel Tringham
Vriska Serket
Mikoto Minagi

((OOC: Also we have out first ever activity check! Here it is!))

Comments

[bitofafiction]

Sherlock scans the player list twice, thoughtfully, from his customary place leaning against a pillar in an out-of-the-way corner of the room.

Some new names, some old. He is not sure, on balance, whether it would be better to go with someone he trusts in hopes of being left alone the way he has every previous round or take a chance on a stranger in hopes of advancing in the system. Unfortunately, he does not believe that any of them share his new goal.

[ergaleomancer]

Theta saw Sherlock there, all but hiding behind a pillar. She chuckled softly and limped over to him. "Neither of us players this round...shall we both find a player to work with?" She asked partially because she hoped he could introduce her to someone, and partially simply because she enjoyed his company. She agreed with him about what ought to be done about the school and its horrible ideas on 'punishment', so she trusted him to pick a good player for them both, if he didn't mind her tagging along.

[bitofafiction]

"I've worked with Edgar before. He was tolerable. He gave me this," Sherlock reports, tapping at one of the memory charms on his left wrist—the third. "I am debating whether to approach him or take a risk on someone new."

[ergaleomancer]

She nods quietly, considering that for a moment before speaking. "Finding yourself stuck with an intolerable player is going to wreak havoc on your stress levels. Which you don't need given...the general plan. I've already noticed how little you sleep. If tolerable is good enough, I think I'd go for that if I were you. Do you mind if I tag at your heels?"

[bitofafiction]

"Not at all. And I have been sleeping rather well of late, as it happens."

Comparatively, anyway.

"But you are right; it would likely be a setback. Edgar it is, assuming he is amenable."

[ergaleomancer]

"I can't imagine a player turning down two weapons that have sought him out specifically~," she answered. She moved to stand on his left, assuming he had some idea of where Edgar was and would lead.

"Oh!" She smacked herself in the forehead and chuckled softly. "I'm following you, and Romeo's following me. Where did I leave him..."

[myblueskies]

Theta could walk fast when she wanted to, even though she needed to use a stick to help her. Romeo had soon got lost in the crowd but he was catching up now. He drew closer to Sherlock and Theta, "Sorry sir, there was lots of people to get through!"

He grinned up at Sherlock though it was still hard to feel happy today. "Hello mister Sherlock, how are you?"