It's all happened before...

[grimgrinningghosts]

[You wake up in a plush bed, well rested but very confused. As you become more conscious, one thing becomes abundantly clear: this is not your room, nor does this look like any bedroom you’ve ever been in before. It’s relatively clean room, but immediately something feels… off about all of this.

When you start exploring, a thing you’ll soon notice is that on the bedside table, there is a room key sitting ontop of a neatly typed note.]

Dear hotel guests,

We cordially invite you to come to the downstairs library at noon for an important meeting regarding your stay in the Hollywood Tower Hotel. Before then, we invite you to make full use of the amenities this hotel has provided for you.

On behalf of the hotel staff, we dearly hope you enjoy your stay in this marvelous hotel.

-HTH Management

[But, as you leave the comfort of your new bedroom, any hope that you somehow booked a hotel room the previous night and just forgot is immediately dashed. It looks like this hotel hasn’t been cleaned in decades, and despite the mention of hotel staff in your note, there doesn’t appear to be anyone working here.

Not to say that you’re alone, however. As you explore the hotel, you’ll soon find that there are 23 others in the exact same situation as you: confused and with no memory of how they got here. And to make matters worse, if the bios you stumble upon in the dining area is anything to go by, this clearly isn't just a freak accident.

Get comfy, because you are all in for a wild ride.]

Comments

[audentiae]

Gods, that's... [ Her fists clench at her sides. ] I expected ten at most for something like this.

[ Speaking of, though. ]

Did others like you get taken too?

[theduck]

Well, I mean, not anybody I know, but... sort of?

[The redheaded girl from earlier certainly looked like she could be from Duckburg. That's what she means, right?]

What about you? Any other... um... gladiators...?

[Question mark? He's kind of hopeful though because armor doesn't seem like a bad thing to have in excess in a situation like this.]

[audentiae]

I haven't run into any other demigods, Roman or otherwise.

[ That's what he means, right?? Since he's clearly a monster or a spirit or something, if a less aggressive one. ]

If they've kidnapped nonhuman beings too, that says something about our... hosts.

[theduck]

Demigods? You're joking, right?

[Sounds fake but okay. On the other hand, it would explain the weird armor... kind of.]

You know, I don't think they cared much who they brought here.

[Seems more like your typical random mass-murder scenario to him. He certainly can't see any connections.]

[audentiae]

[ ...

And in the same tone, but more deadpan: ]

A talking duck. You're joking, right?

[ She frowns. ]

That certainly implies something more than your average monster.

[theduck]

Don't be ridiculous! All ducks can talk!

[Or at least he's never met one who couldn't?]

Monsters?!

...Well, I did run into a zombie earlier...

[She wasn't part of the management here, but she did vaguely threaten to eat him. Which makes her more suspicious than everyone else.]

[audentiae]

[ Honey... ]

A zombie? That's... unexpected. Good to know, though.

[theduck]

Of course! I've been keeping an eye out for all sorts of weird stuff.

[That's a lie but he can pretend to be good at scouting if he wants.]

[audentiae]

I imagine whatever this place is, we're going to run into plenty of strange things. Like whoever or whatever took us all in the first place.

[theduck]

I don't suppose you have any swords lying around...?

[He is Absolutely Not afraid. He's just. Curious. For other reasons, of course.]

[audentiae]

Unfortunately, I've been disarmed.

[ USUALLY SHE HAS LIKE THREE BLADED WEAPONS ON HER AT ALL TIMES, SO. ]

[theduck]

Some demigod.

Don't you have powers or something? Godly powers?

[audentiae]

Certainly, if you want to fight me. Even without weapons, I'd be just fine.

[theduck]

Great!

I-I mean, I don't want to fight you! But if the staff turn out to be jerks...

[He just wants to know someone can beat them up?]

[audentiae]

Don't worry, I plan to confront them when they show their faces, whoever or whatever they are.

[theduck]

I guess we'll find out at noon.

[Not that he WANTS to go to a creepy meeting in the no-doubt creepy library, but if it's the only way to get answers, then there isn't really any other choice.]