Introduction

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You wake up in a bed.

A rather comfy bed, but as you open your eyes, you realize that this room is not one you’ve ever been in before. And even the most villainous of you should notice that something is immediately very off by how morbid your room looks. While generally clean, it looked dark and like it was a part of a very old house.

And that “Rest in Peace” throw pillow really isn’t doing the room any favors.

Meanwhile, on the dresser on top of your new notebook, there is also a message:]

When the clock strikes 13 o’clock. You must all meet in the stretching room for a special announcement.

[Well, it would be rude to refuse an invitation, right?

As soon as you leave your room, you notice a stark difference between the bedroom and the rest of the building. It looked like it hadn’t been kept up in ages, and it shows with how everything is caked in dust or covered in cobwebs. But judging by the other bedroom doors, possibly with other people peering out at the same time you, at least you’re not alone in this strange situation.

As you explore the rest of the first floor of the mansion, you’ll come to realize that, besides the bedrooms, the whole place is rather decrepit and dimly lit. While all rooms may provide a great interest in you, the the bios of all your foolish mortals might be useful to you, especially if you enjoy finding out how much your new captor has learned about you.]

Comments

[wannagetsmote]

["Goodbye, Moana."

Why he was dreaming about that of all things was unknown to the demi-god. He'd left her, the mission and all of that blindingly hopeless optimism behind. He'd nearly gotten killed, and certainly had his most treasured possession damaged beyond repair.

If Moana had taught him one thing, it was that he'd stretched himself thin for the sake of his "precious" mortals for too long.

His bitterness was quickly forgotten upon rousing himself. He didn't remember much about where he finally landed, but it certainly wasn't this place. Was this some kind of joke, then? Had Moana tracked him down and subjected him to some other form of misery and servitude?

He wasted no time throwing the door open (and only a little trying to get out of the narrow doorway. In the hall, Maui turned to the nearest person.]

Hey, you. Small fry. What's going on here?

[As he moved through the building, so too did the tattoo on his chest. While the man himself held himself steady, the tattoo in his likeness chewed its nails nervously and comically. Every now and again, he muttered to it.

Eventually, Maui found himself in the so-called stretching room. He looked around the room, waiting only a few minutes before launching in a tirade.]

Hello? Are you really trying to keep a demi-god waiting? If I get my hands on you? There's gonna be problems. Big problems. Problems you're gonna pay for.

[sentadaughter]

[Well, Mulan certainly is a small fry, especially when compared to Maui. But she still looks around behind her, expecting someone else to be standing there and that person is who Maui is addressing. But there is no one else, so Mulan looks back to Maui, then points to herself.]

You mean me?

[wannagetsmote]

Uh. Yeah.

[The tattoo on his chest nodded emphatically, going along with his partner's words.]

Do I need to sign it? Write it out? What. Is. Going. On?

[sentadaughter]

[Oh boy look at that moving tattoo. Mulan is just going to stare at it for a moment before looking back up to Maui's face, and then back down to the tattoo.]

I...haven't figured that out yet. Is that thing moving?

[wannagetsmote]

Yeah, he does that. Eyes up here, I'm talking. [His tone was dismissive, as if he'd answered the question a lot.]

So, you're saying you have no idea what's going on? That's great. Real helpful.

[heartofold]

That's what I'd like to know.

[He may be big, but Sophie doesn't appear intimidated. She does, however, still look a little worried about their situation. Still-- she's never met a demi-god. She really hopes this doesn't become another thing she should be worried about.]

...shouldn't a demi-god be the one with all the answers? I'm just the cleaning lady. At the very least you should be looking for a witch or a wizard...

[Basically not her. But even so, she's kind of curious.]

...are you really a demi-god?

[wannagetsmote]

[To be entirely honest... Maui sounded out about three quarters of what the woman was saying. It was only once his identity was called into question that the man really seemed to take note.]

Uh. Yeah. [He motioned to himself, as if that might actually answer the question, or somehow prove his identity.]

If I had my hook, I could show you. But someone thought it would be a great idea to take that away.

[heartofold]

[Incredible. She's not sure yet if she should be relieved or more worried.]

Witches, demons, demi-gods... Sophie, how do you keep getting yourself into these messes?

[It's a mystery. But somehow she's still alive, so--]

I see... so even if I could use magic, it probably wouldn't be any use here.

[She's kind of glad Howl's not here. If he couldn't use magic, who knows what kind of fuss he'd make.]

Still... if they took something from you, it has to be here somewhere, right?

[wannagetsmote]

I 'unno. Mini-Maui here still works, and he's pretty magic. [The tattoo on his chest waved to the woman, even offered her a flirtatious little wink. Come on dude.]

Maybe whoever did this just has really good taste, though.

[The woman had a point though, enough to make him bounce on his toes. He peered around, as if his hook might just be hanging over a door, or just around a corner.]

You think so?

[strangerslikeme]

Gonna pay for.

[Maui's tattoos are weird. Really weird. Tarzan is sort of closing in on the demigod, completely ignoring personal space, curious about them.]

[wannagetsmote]

Uh. [Maui placed his rather large hand against the man's head, making a face at his approach.]

How about no? No touching.

[strangerslikeme]

[maui you're built like a jungle gym, dude, he's literally gonna try climbing up your arm and try to get at you. thanks for that.]

[wannagetsmote]

[Well. Cue some frantic arm flailing? Get off of him? Please?]

Whoa, come on. This is... really not cool dude. [Prying attempt no. 1 is a go.]

hall

[kindaruledatit]

What? You think I know?

[But, whoa. Ya big, guy, but Wendy's used to giant guys. Her father is one of them. She's barely nonplussed for a few seconds.]

I dunno. [shrug.] Feels kinda like we're kidnapped or something.

[wannagetsmote]

Kidnapped? [He snorted, the motioned to himself. Not only was he, you know, big, but the demi-god thing. That made it a bit hard for the average joe to kidnap him. Really, he should have been a bit more worried but.

Maui didn't do worry.]

Do I look like the kind of guy that gets kidnapped?

[kindaruledatit]

[Looks at him. Looks at this wall that speaks and moves.]

You look like the kinda guy that could eat the kidnapper.

Hall

[chainbroke]

[ She jumps a little because... Well, wouldn't you? And she's not supposed to be here. Kairi needs her... ]

... Me? I'm... not sure what this all is.

[wannagetsmote]

Yeah, well -- [A sharp quip clung to the tip of Maui's tongue, but it died the second he looked at the girl. He knew that he should have been just a little bit more wary of cute little girls -- Moana had scared him off of that.

But the yellow-haired girl... It wasn't as if she was showing up, demanding he do things and then getting his most cherished possessions destroyed. She didn't even look like she could raise her voice over a soft whisper.]

Uh. Never mind.

[chainbroke]

[ She frowns, sensing his irritation--a year after Castle Oblivion and she's still wary around people who start getting a little touchy. But... at the same time, she doesn't think he'd hurt her.

And the way he stops himself solidifies that. ]

It's confusing, isn't it? Being taken from your home and put into a place unknown. [ She speaks quietly, calmly, in the hopes that maybe it'll help him, too. ] I understand why you might be agitated.

[folkscallmewander]

["Small fry" could never apply better to Wander. He look up at the largest non-Sylvia alien he's met.]

I'm a guest, same as you! Sorry I don't got an invitation, me and my pal woke up here without knowin' how. Must've been picked right out of danger and taken to the nearest safe place!

[Maui certainly is impressive. The tattoos really help with helping him look like an important figure of a faraway planet, and mansion owners tend to be friends with important figures.]

[wannagetsmote]

[Maui's squinted down at the... thing at his feet. It didn't look all that edible, but then... desperate times often called for desperate measures. Of course, eating things that talked?

That was a little weird.]

I wasn't in danger, though.

[Well, maybe in danger of having an emotion or two, but that... probably wasn't what the thing was getting at.

And Maui wasn't letting himself think about Moana's claims that "the world was in danger."]

[folkscallmewander]

I don't think most of us were! Likely me and Sylvia are the only non-invited guests here.

[And now that he's gotten a better look at Maui's appearance:] That's a lotta tattoos for a big guy. How long did it take?

hall

[whistlenotchirp]

[Jiminy was already pretty overwhelmed by this entire place. This wasn't Italy, it wasn't clean, and it certainly wasn't any place he'd ever been to before. He wasn't prepared for a giant(er) man yelling at him.

The solution here is to focus on the insult to his pride.]

Now who are you calling small fry?!

[wannagetsmote]

[You know... Maui is really high up, and Jiminy is really small. He squints toward the floor, confusion very obviously lining his face.]

Someone talking to me?

[whistlenotchirp]

[don't u dare ignore his Righteous Fury. He hops angrily to make his point.]

Right here, ya darn so-and-so! The nerve of folks today...