At the very beginning of the Majesty's Jaunt

[bigbookofd]

This is Ringabel, and I seem to be quite myself. Who else is in possession of their true memories?

I've found myself outside of the curtain wall of a castle on a floating isle. I smell brimstone and saltpeter, and there's a fleet of airships here coming from the direction of the rising sun.

Yet we're among cheering and laughing children barely old enough to lift a sword, and the mood is jovial. What have we stepped into this time?

I'd like to know what I can so as to avoid drawing undue attention to myself. Fortunately, a Black Mage's robes seem to be in fashionable style here, so my first mistake was not fatal.

Comments

[grimjeaper]

Oh, uh-- I'm... myself. I'm Barry.

So. Hi.

Um.

I've got a cowboy hat now? A-and a, uh. I guess it's a student ID card, for uh. Sydney Hallwinter. Because I got turned... fifteen, apparently, I-I guess that's probably something I should mention.

[wolvering]

This is Pod! Kiga and I are ourselves and we actually look like ourselves this time. I have a very large hat on, and a sensible pack and what I think is some kind of uniform?

[There is a psychic growl that's clearly not Pod, followed by:] Too many strangers. Get it off!

[Pod chimes back in.] Kiga has a collar on and he hates it. Also, we have ID! Well, I do. Who can tell me about Canada? I really need to know because it says I'm supposed to be from there.

[bigbookofd]

A student. You've become a student.

Making this a school festival in a world swimming with magic, if those airships are any indication. Machina couldn't hold those materials and forms aloft on their own.

[bigbookofd]

I'm as ignorant as you about Canada, but you're the second one to make note of being young. (That's what he assumes you meant about looking like yourself, he's seen her around.)

How curious that I didn't become a schoolchild as well, but this is some manner of school.

[grimjeaper]

Welp.

Yeah, no, this is definitely magic. Those fish are well beyond what engineered physics is capable of. Even in my own world something like that would require some kind of visible engine, or at least, well. Magic. I know the guy who helped invent elevators and even this would be beyond him.

If this is a school, though, it's gotta have a library. I'm definitely gonna try and scope that out.

[wolvering]

I don't think I'm any younger this time! I mean, lot of my overlays are younger but I don't notice any changes. So I'm about 15 or 16 right now. Er... Actually it says I'm 17? It made me older? That's never happened before!

[Pod gives the impression of being fondly exasperated.] But most worlds are stupid about ages. I'm a Journeywoman and I've earned it but they don't let their young men and woman even consider things like that until they're much older than me! Imagine starting learning your craft at 18 or older! You wouldn't finish until you were in your thirties! That's ridiculous to me.

But if you're not coming as a student, and yes, I think this is a school, maybe you're supposed to be seen as a teacher instead?

[starshaper]

Hi hi~!! Usagi Tsukino here, still myself and wooooooooooooow, my new sailor fuku looks like Rei-chan's school uniform from home, THAT'S SO COOL!! But but I'm not even nearly as cool as she would be on this...

If this is gonna be like anything in Liminal then this will be really, really amaziiiiiing place to study for a whole jaunt! I hope we'll be here for weeks instead of just days!!

... though it feels really weird to be excited to be in school again, I should be more like wake me up when this jaunt is over.

[bigbookofd]

If you're a student, best to ask a teacher after formal introductions. They'll probably be delighted that you're being so serious about learning.

Do report what you find - I don't have any similar identification on me, and am the proper age to be a teacher. Or more likely one of the people sweeping confetti off the grounds.

[likescats]

THIS IS DEATH. I HAVE MY MEMORIES.

THOUGH I'M GOING BY BILL DOOR TO AVOID...AWKWARD QUESTIONS. MOST PEOPLE THINK I LOOK HUMAN, THAT HELPS.

[bigbookofd]

If I was dressed in school colors with papers saying so, I'd agree. But I lack anything like that. I think finding work as a freelancer is my highest priority.

And congratulations, by the by. What field of study have you graduated from your 'prenticeship in?

[bigbookofd]

...not to be confused with the 13th Arcana, one assumes, unless you've taken a more active interest.

Pseudonyms. That's a concern. Ringabel might be quite out of place; Bill Door is a bit less on the nose than I'm used to from home and my first Jaunt.

Perhaps something euphonious rather than literal? Hmn.

[grimjeaper]

I'll make sure to, don't worry. Researching new worlds is kind of my thing.

Not used to having so little time for it, but I think I'll manage.

[Which means no sleeping for this bird.]

[likescats]

NOT AT ALL. I ASSURE YOU. I RECENTLY ARRIVED MYSELF.

BILL DOOR WAS A NAME I'VE USED IN THE PAST. IT HELPS IF YOU KNOW WHAT TO ANSWER TO IF SOMEONE CALLS YOU.

[fruitknife]

This is Shinji. Gonna find a kitchen and stick with it. [Aaaaaaand this surprises exactly no one.]

Far as what's goin' on, your guess is as good as mine.

[carbonatedscientist]

This is Sento Kiryu.

I'm also a teenager for...whatever reason...and I'm with the Japanese school.

Apparently.

[uzoda]

Kenzaki here! I am really not sure what's going on, but it seems... nice, at least?

Uh... my Pogemon partner looks like his regular self, and he's here with me! That seems like a hint to the kind of place we are, right?

[photonicfighter]

Oh, oh! I know this! I'm from Canada! [There is a slight pause.] The... the person I'm infiltrating as is from Canada, at least!

...and come to think of it, I'm not sure where to start. It's, er... it's a very large country located above the United States of America and it has ten provinces and three territories and the winters tend to be long and the summers tend to be short and there's a lot of... nature?

[photonicfighter]

Dakki Sigal, checking in! Only, actually, I'm Lizzy Speigel! I'm myself but I'm infiltrated at the same time! This is so exciting!

...oh, it's a tournament between magic schools! That's what this all is.

[whydoyoushine]

You guys don't need to worry--I'm still myself.

[Zed isn't even bothering to say who this is.]

And some kid at the same time, but the important thing is, I'm here to help.

[bigbookofd]

If your uniform is similar to a friends, there may be other points of similarity. Adjacent cultures, similar circumstances. So you're a student here as well?

...what do you think they'll be studying here, if you're excited to be learning it instead of, say, the driest of national mythologies?

[bigbookofd]

We're at some sort of school festival, I've gathered. In a world that uses magic as casually as mine does. I'm neither student or staff, and have the papers for neither, but you may have some on your person.

There's always work that needs doing in a tavern. There's an idea. And with a Chemist's Asterisk I can offer services as a brewer.

[bigbookofd]

You have the memories of your echo?

...tell us everything you can. Your insight may be critical.

[bigbookofd]

(He is filled with a sense of terrible foreboding.)

Good to know. If you've also memories of your echo here, please share what you can.

[bigbookofd]

Japan. That's a point of similarity. Similar to the Japan of your world, then?

[bigbookofd]

I'm not entirely sure what's appropriate. I'll let everyone know when I've settled on a nom de guerre; likely it will preserve the pun, as long as you're using Door as a patronym.