WEEK 2 - CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

[maladied]

Let's retire in the countryside
Just as you wish it

Welcome to Hillbury

You come to in an intricately decorated dressing room. For those familiar with it, the style seems to be that of a Victorian manor house, and to those that aren't, even you can tell this is a stately room fit for the elite. In fact, you too, are decorated to match, fully dressed in luxurious suits or dresses, elegant and perfectly tailored, but still somewhat breezy and lightweight for the time period and class it belongs to. Looking outside, you get a view of a rolling and bright countryside. In the far distance, fields of crops and grazing cows can be barely spotted, but all of the nearby landmarks are elegant manors presumably similar to the one you stand in.

Comments

[vogelfrei]

We're to be introduced into the inner circle of this Lord van Zieks... So we'd best behave as befitting our new and unexpected station.

[divineth]

Agreed. Though not of noble lineage myself, I've some experience with gatherings such as these.

[vogelfrei]

I do count among the highest nobility of my world, so I am quite familiar with these events myself. I'm glad to not be the only one.

[divineth]

[Daaang, a high-ranking military man and noble.]

I spent a number of years visiting the estate of my late mentor whilst I was under his tutelage. His is one of the most influential families in Sharlayan.

My profession also occasionally bringeth me to political events, as I informed thee.

[So like, he wouldn't compare his socializing skills to McGillis's, but he's gotten pretty good at it.]

[hardyboys]

I think I'm more worried about whatever the "hunt" they – he? [ w-was it one dude all along? ] – was just talking about.

[vogelfrei]

A recreational hunt used to be a favored pastime for gathering of nobles.

[ Though no longer in McGillis' times, he only knows this one from books... ]

[divineth]

One must wonder if this hunt is truly recreational...

[hardyboys]

... Yeah, hopefully that's all it is.

[ She's not sure she wants to start bringing up the idea of what – or who – is meant to be hunted from seeing enough dystopian movies, but luckily Urianger seems to have that covered. ]

[taintedfayth]

I am both the leader of my tribe as well as a high-ranking official of my world's faith. I am no stranger to entertaining guests, nor to attending such functions.

[He honestly hates them, but at least he knows how to handle them.]

[divineth]

I have little cause to blame thee. [He's not huge on stuffy gatherings either.] But thine experience should prove valuable.

[rosietaintedglass]

I would call myself only adjacent to this type of society... I'm much more familiar with military hierarchy than this.

[And it's angelic military hierarchy so you know. Hit or miss in some ways.

But he does theoretically know details of Victorian England.]

But I believe we'll need to have some knowledge of the guests. The footman mentioned the Harker and Westenra households, which would have traveled farther to get here, and a certain Lord Barton as a problem among the nobles.

A lady in the house, Henrietta, is also said to be in bad health and here for recuperating. This may be connected to the rumors of illness as well...

[vogelfrei]

... two of these names are from classic literature.

[ So. Hm. ]

[rosietaintedglass]

I wonder if it's a coincidence, or merely a way for us to connect with the narrative. Or something different.

[He probably is familiar with classic literature but also, that's the entire world's classical literature to sift through, so he isn't sure if they're overthinking it.]