[ A 16 does a fantastic job of that because the "king" does not even consider that someone might fight back once he has struck them! He's the king! They should lie down and die if he tells them to!
But, sadly, that isn't happening, so he is yanked forward, tripping on the leg, and goes flying away from the throne, down the stairs, and landing on his back away from the throne. The wind is knocked from his very lungs, and he gasps, left stunned and wheezing for the moment. ]
[ excellent! Ludger does love it when a combat encounter goes (mostly) according to plan. but just to be safe... ]
Tell me when you feel normal again.
[ the words are extremely nasally, barely comprehensible, his voice thick thanks to the blood pouring down his front. but Ludger steps over Childermass's stunned form, and reaches down to grab an ankle. and starts walking. wow, good thing these floors are glass, huh? he just sliiiiiiiides right across them. ]
[ The kingly version of Childermass kicks and struggles for a bit, but the further away he is dragged from the throne, the less he does, and soon, he's able to do something other than struggle and call for the guards. ]
I... yes. Yes, I do. [ He'll roll to one side to look back Ludger's way, looking a little sheepish about it all. ] I apologize for your nose.
[ again, with the thick nasal quality to his voice... Ludger is barely comprehensible. but he drops Childermass's leg obligingly and tilts his head forward, pinching to try and stem the blood. ugh... ]
Can you-
[ Ludger gestures vaguely at his face. "set his nose," is what he probably means. ]
[ That much he can do. You don't spend half your life as a street rat and not figure out how to set a nose after a brawl. Childermass is up on his feet and reaching out for Ludger's nose in a beat. ]
Hang on.
[ He'll use his other hand to steady his head and then, crack, there we go. ]
On the other hand, the people were definitely afraid of a bunch of things, like the outside world, and their "paradise" being ripped away from them. But they were especially afraid of someone with knowledge. It could be Fran, but I didn't get any specific names.
[ maybe the people didn't know who it was specifically, and instead were just Afraid. ]
Hm. What the people want and what a king wants are not always the same. I got the feeling that the king believed he'd be able to help Great Britain bring all its enemies to its knees with this knowledge...
If that is true, I could see it being just as terrifying as desired.
Do you think we'll get anything else from here? I didn't see any documents to look over, but there is another door. Which... also has some kind of requirement.
[ which is Great.
actually, looking down through the glass floor, what's below them anyways? ]
[ below them are just more of those pipes from earlier carrying what must be steam given from the muffled noise and the gentle warmth from the panels themselves. though, if ludger wants to use more of his eyes, then he might just see that there's nothing beneath those pipes.
[ well. the ceiling doesn't prove any extra insight to anything particular that could help further understand what is going on. what they could see is more of the extravagance of the painting and decor. the absolute lengths to make the place as lavish as possible.
now, of course, as they reach door 998, there is the matter of the requirement that they'll have to deal with. which will still require two people to open it, but with a bit extra now tied alongside it. the clarity of that will come once they put their hands on the knob.
[ the back of the card only has the image of aa erlenmeyer flask and two test tubes and nothing else. however, as they reach for the door, this is where they'll formally learn of what will be asked of them moving forward; that in order to open the door and proceed they'll need to:
open the door together
either leave "something" behind
bring "something" with them,
or take "something" from "someone" else.
and it's here that they'll learn the other bit of information needed moving forward:
the definition of what "something" is.
each door that they'll subsequently open will demand more from them
that there is no turning back
understandably, they're going to be given the time to process all of this...as well as decide on what it is that they'll want to do in order to move forward into the next room. ]
[ well. the king version of Childermass did spit out the name of the man. eventually. but... ]
Would that king even be willing to search for information? I guess he might have more context for things... But is it worth it? Besides, it kind of seemed like you hated the idea of royalty before.
I do not think he'd have much choice past the door... Though you are right. I have no desire to be royalty, but if not that, then what else? Leave something behind, or take something from you or me...?
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But, sadly, that isn't happening, so he is yanked forward, tripping on the leg, and goes flying away from the throne, down the stairs, and landing on his back away from the throne. The wind is knocked from his very lungs, and he gasps, left stunned and wheezing for the moment. ]
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Tell me when you feel normal again.
[ the words are extremely nasally, barely comprehensible, his voice thick thanks to the blood pouring down his front. but Ludger steps over Childermass's stunned form, and reaches down to grab an ankle. and starts walking. wow, good thing these floors are glass, huh? he just sliiiiiiiides right across them. ]
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I... yes. Yes, I do. [ He'll roll to one side to look back Ludger's way, looking a little sheepish about it all. ] I apologize for your nose.
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[ again, with the thick nasal quality to his voice... Ludger is barely comprehensible. but he drops Childermass's leg obligingly and tilts his head forward, pinching to try and stem the blood. ugh... ]
Can you-
[ Ludger gestures vaguely at his face. "set his nose," is what he probably means. ]
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Hang on.
[ He'll use his other hand to steady his head and then, crack, there we go. ]
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Fffffffffffffffffffffff-
[ he doubles over, hissing. it's fine. he doesn't need to swear. it's not like the ingrained habits would let him anyways. everything is fine.
... after a moment, he'll pat Childermass's shoulder and release his tight grip. thanks, man. ]
Good punch. [ ... ] So. Fran, huh?
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[ But anyway! ]
Yes... It seems we are somewhere related to the doctor. The king wants him for something. Something to help safeguard Great Britain.
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[ maybe the people didn't know who it was specifically, and instead were just Afraid. ]
Not a great climate to live in.
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If that is true, I could see it being just as terrifying as desired.
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[ figures ]
Do you think we'll get anything else from here? I didn't see any documents to look over, but there is another door. Which... also has some kind of requirement.
[ which is Great.
actually, looking down through the glass floor, what's below them anyways? ]
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simply nothing. black, empty, absolutely nothingness... ]
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[ He'll follow Ludger's gaze, looking down at the nothing, nothing, and more nothing beyond the pipes. ]
In which case, let us go and give the door a try.
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[ he'll lead the way to door 998, glancing up at the ceiling as he goes. any murals up there? guards? spiders? ]
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now, of course, as they reach door 998, there is the matter of the requirement that they'll have to deal with. which will still require two people to open it, but with a bit extra now tied alongside it. the clarity of that will come once they put their hands on the knob.
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Do we...?
[ If Ludger has no issue with it, then he will help open the door regardless of this wary feeling he has. ]
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[ he reads aloud from the note on the door, flipping it to check its back, but is otherwise prepared to go forward. he nods at Childermass. ]
The only way is through, it looks like.
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- open the door together
- either leave "something" behind
- bring "something" with them,
- or take "something" from "someone" else.
and it's here that they'll learn the other bit of information needed moving forward:
- the definition of what "something" is.
- each door that they'll subsequently open will demand more from them
- that there is no turning back
understandably, they're going to be given the time to process all of this...as well as decide on what it is that they'll want to do in order to move forward into the next room. ]no subject
[ It's charging them a fee, wow, what the fuck? ]
But what do we choose?
[ There is... a brief moment where Childermass looks back at the throne, lips pursed and brow furrowed. He does not like the idea, and yet? ]
I could try bringing the king with me...
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[ well. the king version of Childermass did spit out the name of the man. eventually. but... ]
Would that king even be willing to search for information? I guess he might have more context for things... But is it worth it? Besides, it kind of seemed like you hated the idea of royalty before.
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[ he'd like to believe the payments would start small. ]
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[ He's not so sure about any of this, haha, but he is going to try and take the king with him. ]
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Sure.
[ Ludger will attempt to leave behind a finger ]
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