Color Island, Carmagh

General » Side Role Plays » Color Island, Carmagh http://www.muralis.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=siderp&action=display&thread=6 Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 7:26pm

Good Evening!

The following has not been incorporated AT ALL as cannon to the main RP, thus why it is in the side boards. It is a product of Areyums, Sael, and my own boredom waiting for the main RP to be finished.

At this point in progress for the forum, Carmagh has not yet been fleshed out. The only info we have is that Carmagh is: "An island nation separated from the mainland, moving at its own slackened pace. The Fool's Path religion holds sway."

Neither Areyu nor I know what the Fool's Path Religion is, we know they follow the Fool's Script. So with a little creative freedom I've devised my own little island with a side plot. I hope anyone who intends to be entertained will be entertained by either participating or reading this~

On a completely random and last OOC note, when I read Carmagh I think of Caramel for some reason. ENJOY; Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 7:30pm

Rules:

At this point in development we have no set of rules, so we'll make our own, because we love being grammar-naz.. --nevermind.

SO RULES

1) Don't talk about fight club.

2) No Godmodding, unless you're god.

3) Spell check, always.

4) If you're going to post OOC somehow reference it.

5) If you're going to post OOC the only acceptable means of a greeting to fellow Roleplayists and guests is Good Evening.

Happy Trailing~ Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 7:41pm

Color Island, Carmagh:

A small island farther to sea from the larger island nation Carmagh. Its residents have lived under tale and story passed down throughout the island from generation to generation. Color Island is one of the farthest offset islands from the mainland, as such they have been relatively untouched by Ghalea and their circle of trade. They have survived for so long under fierce passive aggressive ruler ship and the blessing of basic necessities provided by the island. The island is none the less large, but not larger than their neighbor Carmagh.

Her Highness Rei Rainbow is the monarch which governs the island kingdom. She comes from a line of nobility which owned the land which is now Color Island when it was more.. Color Land.. It was only two years ago the queen's husband died, suddenly; an investigation is still pending into the slums. The Royals had one son, who is next in line to inherit the title of King, but is mysteriously distraught as of late.

A Brief Story:

"In the twilit dusk the key that overturns all did appear and cogs of fate did turn to flux all the land. Monsters, their shadows had grown big. Light, cowering beyond the roads. Civilization crumbled to its knees: hatred, betrayal, sin. But that was when our savior appeared; though he did not know it.

He stood before the light, yet he cast no shadow, and all the world to him seem anew. Like a newborn child he so desperately wanted to reach out and touch, learn, all that was. So he did, never to return to the shadow one. By luck's hand and own naivety, allowed to ascend the black city and he made for the oceans; though a fool could not have known his own luck.

Most curious is the road to nowhere, searching for all, searching for somewhere, searching where? Ascent of the black city was a wise man's folly. The black city, at the center where the shadow of death does hide. The fool did not fear the coming of the shadow of death, ignorant to his existence. From him was forged a new world at the center of all. At the end of the journey there were fond memories.

Baroque rider, the shadow of death did chase he without shadow. None can fathom the black King's anger that a subject took his own freedom. Yet the memories could not be found anywhere. Not even darkness can pry to where nowhere is. With frustrated hand the shadow of death was done; one swing was enough to sever the direction of the shadowless one. Banished never to return the shadowed one.

And the land of light was born; shielded by the water they would never again see the land of shadows again.

It was in his unknowing that he was allowed to live out all his peace, and the world was born anew.

So we named this place Color Island, where all but blackness rules. It is where you were born, your mother and father were born, and where everyone who shall continue to be pure will live under her highness Rei Rainbow. And we will follow The Fool's Path..."

- The Tale of the Fool propagated by the residents of Color Island over the many years. It has been passed down for generations only by word of mouth. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 8:33pm

Summer had freshly passed, behind it dragged a cool autumn breeze which crept over summer and produced the populous from their huts. It was no longer scorching and tonight, a cool autumn night, wrapped a group campfire on the south western shore of Color Island. These were common among those who lived in the slums of the island, nothing better to keep themselves entertained than smash coconuts against rocks on the beach, and of course listen and tell stories.

One of the adults had recounted the tale of the fool, one of the oldest stories passed down throughout the island. It was still fresh in all of our minds as we danced about under the setting sun in and between the large rocks the lined the shore.

Liliane grabbed me and pinned me against a rock,

"Have you heard the latest about the King?"

I hadn't, but I was sure Liliane was about to tell me. She let go now that she had my attention and swiped the hair out from over her shoulders, just for the effect.

"Well, you know how they suspect the King's murderer came from the slums. Well, they think they found the guy. and well,--"

Liliane paused, I decided to put my two cents in,

"I seriously doubt they actually caught someone, maybe they're blaming someone."

"Well thats the thing! They think it was Prince Mattius now."

"No way, I thought it was the queen," I muttered sarcastically.

Liliane and I decided to go question some of our fellow comrades on the beach about if they actually believed that bullshit, or at least I was going to make fun of anyone who did. To myself of course.

((OOC: Good evening friends! Feel free to join me on the beach~)) Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 6, 2011, 9:10pm

The sigh of the heavy sea as it drifted in and out of the weathered coastline, droned on about old days gone by. A simpler time. On this night, the breath of the wind was a fresh one that smelled of winter's coming, yet it lifted the spirit as it cut through what was left of the day's late summer haze.

"Oh, for the Moon's beginning. The shepard of dreams with two faces..."

She recited a line from one of her favorite old songs under her breath as she watched the stars blink into existence in absence of the sun. The sand beneath her body felt cool and slightly damp as she idly dug her heels into it whilst laying on her back; her arms folded under her head. She was alone, but not far from civilization. The inland horizon was dotted with the glow of many bonfires, as was the tradition of this particular time of year. Occasionally the sound of merriment and laughter drifted down to where she lay, and she wondered what exciting tale was being told, though it never ignited enough of a desire in her to seek out the answer. For her, this night was a quiet, solitary one. One where many a serious matter was to be thought of and examined carefully and thoroughly. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 9:24pm

Liliane and I went back and forth between a couple of the kids on the beach. As of so far a handful had heard the rumor, but many had not, and most thought it was stupid. Liliane and I found ourselves tied, when we heard someone reciting a line from an old song. Liliane blurted out,

"I bet she'll believe me,"

"Yeah, sure."

We made our way over to the girl when Liliane said commandingly,

"Hey, you!"

Liliane brushed her auburn hair out from under her shoulders again.

"Have you heard about Prince Mattius, everyone is saying he killed the King, you heard that right?"

I let out a deep sigh, Liliane was desperate on this one. To follow on with my sigh I coughed into my hand, I was feeling a little weak from all the excitement, much unlike the rest of the kids. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 6, 2011, 10:08pm

Brought out of her thoughts by a surprise, but inevitable, intrusion, the girl sat up and gave them a polite smile; an automatic reaction to meeting anyone, as it was something she had been well programed to do. The bored look in her plain brown eyes hinted at her true feelings, however. She listened to the statement the brash girl presented to her, as the other... one, hung back with an air of skepticism.

She took a moment before she replied.

"The prince? But I was under the impression that the culprit was thought to have come from the slums? Of course, then again, it's been rumored that the prince has been acting strangely."

She wasn't entirely sure why she was so willing to answer the obnoxious girl's question, and with such raw honesty, especially since she rarely cared for rumors anyway, but on this night, she felt no reason not to. Also, being that the mystery behind the King's murder was such a hot topic among everyone on the island, it was hard not to find oneself involved in such matters, intentionally or otherwise.

The girl brushed the sand off her elbows and tucked her untidy brown hair behind her ears. She never cared much for her appearance, due to not being much to look at in the first place, but she was always clean. Her thin, curve-less body, had only the basic shape of a young woman, fresh out of her teens, and her face was plain and homely. Her clothes were ordinary, and baggy, and didn't quite fit her properly, being that they were ones normally only warn by the male working class. She only wore them on her days off, while working around the house. In fact, she had just finished airing out the dining room rugs when she had been invited down to the beach to join in on the festivities. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 6, 2011, 11:12pm

"So which do you believe?"

Liliane was intent on cornering the girl into believing what she was spouting out. The girl looked like she was being bothered, so I apologized,

"Sorry we didn't mean to burst in on whatever you were doing."

I shrugged, I didn't know what else to say. Liliane turned around almost red in the face spouting off,

"Don't apologize for me! You're trying to make me look stupid so that she believes you! Well don't worry I'll get ten more people just you watch!"

Liliane stormed off, I was kind of thankful. Now I was left staring at the girl by the beach, I decided to sit down and watch the waves come in and out. I was very tired, my body was not like everyone elses, frail. I looked up to the girl who was near,

"So do you actually believe that crap?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 9:54am

She calmly blinked as the crazy girl flew off in a rage after her companion stepped in to apologize for her behavior. They were left alone in the quiet of the night, interrupted only by the breath of the ocean; the tide carrying out the moon's bidding. The child sat down beside her, and she noticed that (s)he looked rather tired. But before her curiosity got the best of her, (s)he spoke, asking her if she believed what was being said before.

"To be honest," she paused for a moment, thinking. "...I really don't care much for such things. If a murderer must be brought to justice, then so be it, but it's out of my hands."

Silence fell again for a moment, before she unthinkingly added: "It really doesn't matter now, anyway. I don't plan to stay here for long."

She sat up straight, a little shocked by her sudden confession. It had been brewing in her mind ever since she left the house earlier in the evening, and now it seemed to overflow out of her, like a swelling emotion.

Her mother had been working tirelessly to find her a husband, because it was only proper for a girl her age to be married, but it wasn't easy to marry off such an unfortunate thing as herself (as her mother continuously pointed out). When she was born, she was given a name that meant "beauty" in the high hope that she'd grow out of her homeliness; however, as she grew, she remained the same, much to her family's disappointment. She wasn't necessarily and unsightly girl, just a mildly unattractive one, which was something she herself rarely paid any mind to anyway. Other then that trait, she was quite skilled at cooking, and was always a hard worker. Her best talent by far, however, was her voice. When she sang, it rivaled that of angels and the most beautiful of songbirds all put together. A treasure she kept only to herself and those select few souls whom she felt worthy of hearing it. She was happy with her life how it was, and had no problem with being labeled an old maid and living out her days alone in her own little cottage surrounded by a large, beautiful garden, where no one would tell her how to live her life.

Today changed everything, however.

Just after she had finished taking down the dining room carpets and was moving them back inside, her Uncle Clark called her down to join them by the campfires. Her mother was there with the rest of her uncles and her grandparents. They were all laughing and drinking cider as her younger cousins roasted chestnuts and ate sweets. It was just how it was every year, only.... this time, a man was with them. An older gentlemen, well-dressed with a crooked smile and a sharp mustache. Something about this man gave her the worst feeling, like when you eat something sour that doesn't settle well in your stomach. She couldn't tell why he gave her this unpleasant sensation, but it only intensified when he turned and smiled at her upon her arrival. He had been conversing with her mother, but now they both were looking at her, expectantly...

It wasn't long after that, that she came down to this beach to think...

"I'm sorry," she finally said out loud to the kid sitting next to her. "That's really more than you need to know. Just... forget I said anything. Why aren't you with your family by the fire?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 10:10am

I made an annoyed sound,

"Fft, my parents told us that stupid story again then they told us all to go play so they could drink that booze that came off the Ghalean vessel."

Just days ago one of the proud Ghalean traders had come to Color Island. It had been years since the island saw her last trader and all the village was in an uproar trying to pawn off all they had to trade for goods off the ship. The adults especially were fixated on the foreign alcohol. None the less expected when all anyone had the drink was the same old traditional stuff produced by the island. The queen herself had come out to greet the merchants and were offered to stay in her home, a makeshift castle paradise out on this little island. I had only seen it from the outside on my frequents to the shaman, who could do nothing for me.

"Hey I bet you're planning on stowing away on the Ghalean ship aren't you!" I asked enthusiastically. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 10:42am

"Oh yeah, I forgot about that thing..." she murmured to herself.

Indeed with the night's events, she had almost completely forgotten about the Ghalean trades ship that had arrived a few days ago. It was the buzz of everyone's morning gossip ...other than the King's death, of course. And all kinds of new goods were coming in as many trades were made. The small bakery shop she worked at even contributed it's share and gained a few new recipes to try. In fact, now that she thought about it... That man who was talking with her mother, he seemed like he wasn't from the island at all. His skin was rather soft and pale, unlike any islander who had worked out under the sun, and his clothes and features were rather strange as well.

"It seems it's my only choice now, doesn't it?" she said aloud. "That wretched ship..." She turned to look at the child beside her. "Why does it matter to you? Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 11:00am

"It seems your only choice now?" I asked whipped into a cruel smile

"Why did you kill the king," I asked sarcastically.

Liliane stalked up from behind me and jumped on my back. I jumped, she scared the fool out of me.

"No, the Prince killed the King I'm sure of it!" she announced.

"Well what proof do you have," I said still frustrated that she had snuck up on me.

"Well if you don't have anything to disprove me, it must be true."

"Thats the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

"WELL THEN, prove me wrong!"

"Fine, maybe I will."

The childish bicker echoed back and forth between the two. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 11:18am

She threw her head back and laughed at that statement.

"Me? Kill the king? How would I have possibly managed that?!"

Her companion didn't seem to hear her, however, for just then his(her) friend returned and began bickering with him(her) about the matter once again. She seemed fiercely insistent upon the idea that the King's own son was the one who took his life.

"While that does seem like a logical answer, it's a little too simple, don't you think?" she mused over the matter. "I mean, consider why the King was killed in the first place. If the prince did it, what reason would he have? To gain the thrown? That's a little silly being that his mother is the one ruling right now. Wouldn't he need to kill her too? And also..."

She trailed off, realizing that she was reciting all the gossip she had heard since it first was discovered that the King had been murdered. There was just so much of it that it had found a permanent place in her normally-apathetic mind. She was a bit disturbed by this and ceased to say anything more on the subject. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 12:41pm

"So she's with you," Liliane sneered to me.

She began to pout and crossed her arms, which was good because she was finally off my back.

"Well then you both better find the real killer than," she lulled.

She skipped off, finally, hopefully this was the last time we were gonna see her for the rest of the evening. I looked up to the girl next to me.

"Well," I started, "shall we go be detectives or what?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 1:25pm

She laughed. "Detectives? Sounds like kids stuff, but I don't have anything better to do. I don't suppose you know where to start? And how are we to find someone that everyone else has been looking for for ages?"

She stood up and dusted the sand from her pants. "Well, where do you want to go first? Also, my name is Belle, by the way." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 2:48pm

"Its nice to meet you Belle, I look forward to working with you," I announced.

Belle was right about the fact that the two of them had no leads. It was a two year old cold case, with an investigation pending into the slums, but why the slums? Maybe because the lower class had something to gain, no it didn't make any sense because the lower class gained nothing. The prince was a suspect, but only because Liliane had heard a rumor, but where was that rumor founded?

"We could start by finding the source of the rumor that Prince Mattius is responsible," I suggested. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 3:08pm

Belle nodded lazily. "Yeah, that's a good start, I suppose. Still, I don't see how far this is going to go, being that the queen's own personal detectives have been on the case, and unless they are extremely incompetent and we're extremely lucky, I doubt we'll find much."

She thought of the girl with the fiery passion against the prince. It was strange. Most little girls these days dreamed of marrying a prince, not convicting one of family homicide.

"Where did you hear about that rumor?" She asked. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 3:16pm

Damnit all, Belle asked where I had heard the rumor, and in that moment I knew the unfortunate; I was going to have to go talk to Liliane, again. I coughed after taking a deep breath that was going to be a sigh.

"Well, I heard it from my friend, Liliane. You've met, unfortunately."

I pointed over to the girl skipping away on the beach without a care in the world. I got that last sigh out and began trailing after her, sluggishly. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 3:25pm

Belle followed her new, nameless, friend to where the girl Liliane was searching along the beach for more people to listen to her rant. When they caught up to her, Belle went straight to the point.

"Your name is Liliane, correct? I wanted to ask you were you heard that rumor about the prince." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 4:13pm

Liliane turned around, yep her name was Liliane. She flipped her hair out from over her shoulder fawning herself. She smiled.

"Well since I have the upper hand at the moment, I don't mind giving you guys a hint," Liliane replied a tone of superiority in her voice.

"I heard the rumor from Garth Ixes--"

"Garth Ixes is a rumor whore too," I told Belle.

"Sure whatever, but thats where I heard it," Liliane answered, "well best of luck," Liliane chuckled.

Liliane waved goodbye and skipped off back toward the campfires. I coughed. Garth was probably somewhere on the beach too, if we found a large group of boys we'd find him.

"Hey, I think I know where to find him," I told Belle, "this way."

I began to escort Belle toward a large group of boys. They began to snicker as I approached. I coughed.

"Oh great, its Corona, careful you might get sick."

"You know its not contageous," I retorted. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 4:36pm

Belle nodded and listened. The name Garth rang a bell, but she couldn't quite place a face. It was pretty common around here for everyone to know everyone, being that this island was fairly small, though it was large enough to still have classes and there were always new faces to be found on 'the other side of town'.

When they approached the group of boys, Belle hung back a bit. These were obvious acquaintances of her new friend--whom she learned went by Corona--though, they didn't seem all that friendly.

"Garth, Garth Ixes," she interrupted their teasing. "Which one of you goes by that name?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 4:57pm

"Hey Garth, they want you I guess," one boy rang

"Ooooo," the rest chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, whats up," Garth asked.

Garth was a stout little boy. He worked outside all day with his father, and when he had breaks he'd always be out chatting with anyone who'd listen or talk. As such he didn't mind the intrusion, for he loved to run his mouth.

"Hey Liliane said you said that Prince Mattius killed he King," Corona rang.

"Yeah, I heard a bunch of adults talking about it near the bakery a week ago when my mom sent me to get some bread," Garth replied.

"Ah, cool, thanks," Corona finished.

Corona looked back to Belle, "Well that's it, lets head to the market."

Corona began to walk off on the beach at a 90 degree angle from the marketplace. Corona looked back to Belle and waited patiently for her to catch up and follow. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 5:31pm

Now that he stood before her, Belle remembered seeing that boy before. He came into the bakery on occasions and was the first one to notify her family about the incoming trade ship. She remembered the excitement on his little round face as he ran about the town, popping in and out of each shop to spread the word.

"'A bunch of adults' isn't going to be of much help to us unless you can give me a name or two of anyone that was there in that group. I doubt they'd still be standing around by the bakery now anyway." She inwardly chuckled to herself. That sure would be convenient.

However, she soon realized her companion had already left for the marketplace.

"Wait a second!" She called after Corona as she chased after him(her) before she was able to get an answer from Garth. "How do you know where to find the people we're looking for?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 5:57pm

"Um, I think one of the ladies was Agith Tots, she's married to one of the guys who sell fish by the market. Hey wai--"

Belle left, but Garth had spit all the required knowledge behind her. Truth be told, Corona had no idea how to get to the marketplace, at least by ones own self. Corona stopped and Belle caught up. In haste Corona realized too only Garth knew who they were looking for.

"Oh yeah, we better go ask if Garth knows who was in that group," Corona mused.

"Also, um, I honestly have no idea how to get to the marketplace. I don't leave home much, because I'm sick. That's why I asked you to come along."

Corona smiled, followed by a cough. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 6:29pm

Lucky for them, Belle was able to hear the last snatches of Garths reply as she was catching up to Corona.

"Agith Tots," she stated simply, more as a mental note spoken out loud. "Anyway, it's okay, I know the way to the marketplace, though I'm not sure the fish family will be there."

She gave a concerned frown to Corona. "Shouldn't you be at home in bed if you're sick? Being out like this might make it worse..." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 7, 2011, 6:35pm

Corona sighed, "I've spent enough time home in bed. I'm already 9 years old and I've spent the majority of my life at home. I wanna go out and have fun like a normal kid."

"Anyways thats besides the point, we got our lead, Agith Tots lets go find her," Corona smiled. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 7, 2011, 7:16pm

Belle shrugged. "Alright, just don't keel over on me, kid. I'm not much of a doctor..."

With that, they were off toward the marketplace. The moon was reaching for the zenith of the sky when they arrived there. It was much more eerie being there at night, with all the shops closed up tight and the usual hustle and bustle of the wide, cobblestone streets completely silenced. There were a few street lanterns lit, as well as a candle in a window or two, but otherwise all they had were the moon and the stars to light their path. Light bulbs and electricity were an entirely new discovery that only the wealthiest of families could afford, and even then, they had very few.

A shiver ran up Belle's spine as they passed by another narrow alleyway, shrouded in absolute darkness, that lead off from the main street. She readjusted her misshapen gray hat on her head and stepped out into the market square, where the sound of the central water fountain cut through the quiet night.

"We're almost to the fish vender's stall," she whispered, though there was no reason to do so. "It's across the square, on the left hand side of North Ohlm Street. I believe the Tots family lives somewhere above one of those shops, but I'm not quite sure which one..." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 4:41am

"Actually its kind of dark out, do you think they'll even be open," Corona asked negatively.

The sun had set and the moon shine down over he hush market. Corona had never been out to the market after dark, but found it much more appealing with no people and a cool evening breeze. Corona's mind drifted back to home where Corona was not after dark, though her parents were probably still on the beach by the campfires. I could get in serious trouble for this were Corona's thoughts.

"I wish the market was this easy every day!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 11:23am

Belle chuckled. "No, for sure they won't be open, but they live nearby." She smiled at Corona's perception of the dark market streets. "You're right, it is a lot easier to get around when no one's here."

As they crossed the square, they curved around the fountain and made for North Ohlm Street, however, a voice made Belle stop in her tracks.

"Where might two young kids such as yourselves be going at this time of night, in this deserted place?"

A man's voice; soft spoken and calm. Belle held her breath and spun around, her heart racing. The voice belonged to Doctor Shishky, a strange gentleman who lived just outside the slums where his small shack of a house served as his office. He didn't get too many patients, since his reputation of being a little strange proceeded him, even though anyone who's ever gone to see him claimed that he was nothing short of a miracle worker. Mostly, the sort of folks who came to him for any medical needs, were the desperate kind or the extremely poor; often hand in hand.

His thin, gangly frame was silhouetted against the shimmer of the water in the fountain, where he sat just on the edge of the pool wall. Belle could see the reflection of the moon in his pale eyes as he looked at the two of them standing there. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 3:04pm

Corona brightened, "Ahhh, hey how do you know they live nearby anyways?"

Doctor, Doctor? Corona froze up, as the voice was instantly recognized.

"Doctor! Hi Doctor, its me Corona, Corona Garland." Corona shouted.

Dr. Shishky happened to be the doctor that often saw Corona, strange as he was. Corona's family lived in the slums and was not well off, for Corona to be born sickly was, unfortunate. However even the doctor was unaware as to what Corona had or how to cure it. Corona coughed and then waved happily. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 4:00pm

"Ah, the youngest Garland child. Should you be out wondering in your condition?" His soft voice had a very soothing affect when he spoke. Belle relaxed a bit. "Of course on a night like this, it shouldn't have too much of an impact. In fact, a little fresh air does wonders. However, why the marketplace? I'm ever so curious..."

His eyes twinkled as he smiled, though the affect wasn't as charming as he may have meant it to be. Belle bit her lip and looked down at the ground for a moment, then answered.

"We're searching for a source to the rumor about the King's murder..."

"Oh?" His expression changed to a more serious one. "Which one? There are so many..."

"The one about the Prince being the one responsible."

"Ah." He was quiet for some time before continuing. "There is such a thing as being too curious, you know."

Belle was unsure what to think of this statement, she looked at Corona, then back to the doctor. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 4:19pm

Corona met Belle's gaze and then looked back to the doctor. The doctor, his dull gray eyes were vibrant; the moon reflected off the deep pools. Insanity, perhaps, for:

"I spread the rumor," the doctor stated flat out.

The square by the fountain was an easy place to spread a rumor, plenty of hustle and bustle. The locality could visit a variety of shops that circled the square, one specifically, the bakery was located just before North Ohmn street where the fountain met the road. Right where the three stood now.

As if queued the man with the Sharpe mustache opened the door bidding those in the bakery goodnight. He looked to the doctor, then to Belle, he waved then departed toward the castle a package in tow; after all the traders were guests of the queen, but a midnight snack might be a little hard on the cooks.

This of course was of little significance to Corona who bust out, "So, is it true, or do I win," asked happily. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 4:59pm

The appearance of the man with the sharp mustache gave Belle quite the unpleasant shock. The way his eyes twinkled knowingly when he caught her gaze caused her stomach to do a few unpleasant flip flops as all the color drained from her face. It took all she had to keep her dinner down. Then he was gone, without a word. Just a nod of the head and a wave.

He was too calm. Even though her mother promised him her hand in marriage, he was making no attempts to woo her, or even speak one word to her. Not that Belle would accept him anyway, even if he did make any effort. She wanted nothing to do with that man, and she felt that way from the very moment she first saw him, even before her mother mentioned anything about marriage. However, the way he carried himself about, she felt as if he thought he owned her and needed not to bother with such frivolous formalities anyway. This greatly disturbed her.

"I..." Belle's hushed words gave away her discomfort. "I shouldn't stay..."

The lights above the bakery began to go out one by one as her uncle's family settled down for the night. Her mother undoubtedly was waiting for her to come home as well, but home was the last place she wanted to go. Already her mind was formulating an escape plan--she would wait until after everyone was asleep, then sneak in for a few supplies and some food. She would waste no time making her way down to the docks to find a small fishing boat she could untie. She'd make for Carmagh and hide out somewhere in it's largest city... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 5:13pm

"Hey you're probably right, we should all be getting home," Corona stated dully, and I mean dull, almost disappoint.

The doctor seemed to agree, "You are right, two kids shouldn't be wandering around on their own in the dark, especially not with strangers around. Hey Corona why don't I walk you home, I'm sure your parents are worried about you. Hey, I'll even tell you about the rumor on the way."

"Fine, I guess, as long I get to rub it in Liliane's face later," Corona said.

"Hey, thanks for playing with me today Belle. We should do it again, that is, if you don't mind playing with kids," Corona suggested to Belle.

With that Corona marched off in a direction waving goodbye. The doctor looked puzzled then turned to Belle and asked, "Does," he paused, "thats the wrong way," he said laughing. The doctor hurried after Corona, a few coughs could be heard as they departed. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 5:29pm

Belle snapped out of her flight state of mind and focused on what was happening now. The doctor was walking Corona home. She wasn't entirely sure if that was the best idea; to let them alone. It would be awhile before everyone in her household was asleep, so she took off after them to hear more about the rumor and to see Corona safely home.

"Wait up, I'm coming along!" She called to them. "So why did you start the rumor about the prince, Doctor Shishky?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 5:40pm

The doctor stopped his step, "Oh I've just realized I have an appointment that I can't miss, I should have remembered, hey Belle actually would you mind walking little Corona here home?"

Corona said unenthused, "I'm not little."

"--But you are weak," the doctor chuckled giving Corona a small playful shove which nearly knocked Corona over.

"Hey, but you said you'd tell me about the rumor," Corona complained.

"Well then," the doctor started, "you'll just have to actually come get a checkup tomorrow."

With that the doctor walked off, toward the southern slum docks. Corona stared at Belle and sighed.

"So you know, I don't actually know how to get home from here right," Corona said with rolling eyes.

The doctor's step was quick, he wouldn't want to be late, for his appointment. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 5:54pm

"Sorry about that," Belle mumbled when she caught up to Corona. "I just had the sudden urge to run away before. No idea where it came from. Anyway, where do you live? Landmarks? Street names? Neighbors?"

She stuck her hands in her pockets in a casual gesture. She hated it when she couldn't do that while wearing a corset and a dress.

"It was fun, today." She stated awkwardly, though she was being honest. "Maybe we can find the answer some other time."

Inwardly, she sighed, feeling a little guilty at saying such a thing when she had every intention of leaving the island this night. She'd miss her new friend, but it had to be done if she wanted to keep her freedom and possibly her exsistance. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 6:00pm

"Oh, I know how you feel, sometimes I wish I was the fool and I could just leave it all behind for some big grand adventure," Corona stated dreamily.

"OH, and I live in the world's most beautiful cottage on the southern most tip of the island," Corona said mildly sarcastically.

"It's in the slums," Corona added. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 6:29pm

"Alright, I've been down there before."

Belle led the way back out of the marketplace and toward where a few bonfires still blazed. There was a considerable amount of loud laughter and hollering drifting up from the beach due to the affects of too much alcohol as the night had wore on.

"It's, er... best we avoid the campfires by the beach." Belle mentioned, taking a detour that lead away from the sounds of indulgence. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 8, 2011, 6:42pm

"I'm sleepy," Corona complained.

Once Corona found a familiarity in the surroundings Corona led Belle the rest of the way home. Corona ran up and collapsed on a fluffy looking mat type object in front of a weathered old door declaring a safe gesture. The cabin looked run down, as were many of the homes in the slums, but it was still home for Corona.

"Well thanks for walking home with me," Corona croaked tiredly, "I really need to sleep, I hope you forgive me rudeness. Bye!" Corona waved and then disappeared into the unlit cabin.

The sky started to drip every so often with a rain drop dabbled here and there, a storm was brewing, the fun on the beach would soon end. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 8, 2011, 7:26pm

Belle smiled warmly. "Sleep well and perhaps I will see you later!" She waved goodbye to Corona, then headed back toward where her own home was located.

She felt a drop of rain hit her face, then another. Ah, it's raining, she thought. Perfect cover!

It didn't take her long to reach the small, two-story house owned by her mother on the outside of the middle class area, close by the slums. The Maplewinds weren't the wealthiest family, but as merchants, they did live a little more comfortably. Something Belle always thought was a bit unfair; for one thing, her favorite uncle and his family lived in the slums. Due to some futile family disputes, they never received a single pence from her branch of the family, though that never stopped Belle from helping them out here and there.

She snuck around the back side of the house to one of the kitchen windows that she knew to be loose, and carefully pried it open. The rain was coming down harder now, so the slight creak of it giving way was easily covered. Dripping slightly, she climbed through the open window into the dark kitchen and crept out into the hallway. She nearly lost it when she almost ran into her mother slouched over in a chair in the waiting room at the bottom of the stairs. Undoubtedly she had fallen asleep while waiting for Belle to come home.

Sneaking through the house, she collected a change of clothes, some money, a few personal affects, some food, and a canteen of water in a worn out travel bag before heading back to the kitchen. Venture successful, she breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her good fortune as she slipped back out into the rain and headed toward the docks for step two of her plan.

She pulled the visor of her hat down a bit to shield her eyes against the heavy drops as the scent of salt and fresh fish reached her nostrils on the breeze. The docks were just ahead! Now all she needed to do was locate a small rowboat of some sort to accomplish her goal. It wasn't uncommon for such boats to be left tied up, unattended, to the docks, for they were rarely disturbed by anyone other than their owners. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 9, 2011, 1:26pm

Something was off at the docks, for one there were lit lanterns that could be viewed off the horizon to visitors. Normally these docks, the southern docks, were unattended. The northern dock by the market where the trade ship lay moored would be a different story. We assume Belle arrived at the southern docks, and that's where our little scene takes place.

The queen had under her payroll some goon islanders that called themselves the guards. Usually physical large, they made their way proudly and arrogantly patrolling the island and guarding the castle. A few lay moaning outside the dock, as if they had bad stomach aches. At the end half untied was a small fishing vessel and doctor Shisky bound by rope being taken by two more guards.

Captain Weligro saw Belle from off the distance.

"Look at the commotion you have caused," he chastised at the doc.

Captain Weligro was not the average goon guard, in fact he was the boy fantasy of every knight's tale. The captain, younger brother to the late king, had sworn devotion to the royal family and stake his honor on protecting them. It was a known fact he had no intentions of relieving as king, and that he desired for Mattius to succeed.

"You will apologize for disturbing the peace, starting now," the captain commanded as he now made his way towards Belle. As he passed the two moaning guards he ordered, "you two watch the crime scene until the inquisitor arrives to inspect." The two goons managed something among yes sir, and then went back to rubbing their bellies. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 9, 2011, 3:41pm

Belle stopped in her tracks when she finally came up over the small hill that lead down to where the south docks began. At this time of night, on any other given day, these docks would have been left completely unattended, but the sight of the glowing lanterns and the handful of men down below proved otherwise.

Why are there guards here?! And why...

Belle could see the doctor tied up in the boat. What was going on here? Her mind hesitated, what should she do? The captain of the guard was drawing closer, yet running away would put her in possibly more trouble. And then there was Doctor Shishky... What were they doing with him? She remained where she was, undecided. As Captain Weligro drew near, she did her best to look as confused and inconspicuous as possible.

"I-I'm sorry sir... wh-what's going on?" She asked timidly. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 9, 2011, 3:55pm

Captain Weligro frowned under wrinkled cold eyes. His pace remained steady as Belle had asked what was going on. He stopped a mere 3 ft from her, stopping on the dime so that Dr. Shisky would not be able to look upon Belle without spraining his neck to turn around. The doctor just hung his head in shame.

"Slander and lies against our future King's name, and I caught him stealing, trying to take off with someone's hard built boat," Captain Weligro belted as if he was reading Doctor Shisky's execution order.

He looked back to the doctor momentarily and then lead him forward leaving Belle. The guard that was with the captain looked at the captain then Belle then back to the captain and followed. The rain began to pick up. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 9, 2011, 5:29pm

Stealing a boat? Why would the doctor steal a... Wait, did he read my mind?!

Belle wasn't sure what was going on, but as she watched them lead the doctor off, Cornona's face came to mind.

"Excuse me, sir!" She followed after them, tugging on the Captain's sleeve to gain his attention. "Please let the doctor go! There are people who need him that can't afford a regular physician! I'm sure whatever's happened is merely a misunderstanding! Please... think of those in need."

She didn't like to think what would happen to Corona and her family if they weren't able to see the doctor regularly. The concern was written on her face as she bravely looked the Captain in the eyes. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 9, 2011, 6:23pm

The captain's head jarred around slowly a glare in his eye. He stopped and held his prisoner tight. The doctor bobbed his head up slightly, but it was still down, a smile lit his face. The captain stared at the girl for a second and he looked like he was about to speak when--

"I don't suppose you'd give a man his last request would you Captain," the doctor said.

"Quiet you," the Captain sneered at the doctor; he turned his head back to Belle and was about to speak again when--

"I had a very important appointment tomorrow with a gravely sick child, you should know how sad it will make this girl if that child dies. You do know what it is like to lo--" the doctor ranted, but he was interrupted.

"Silence," the Captain ordered.

"Now," he began calmly, "I'm sure we can arrange something from your cell."

"Well thank yo-" the doctor started, but was interrupted again by Captain Weligro putting him into the ground. The grunt who was escorting brandished his blade, but halt as the captain raised his hand.

"It shall be done. Tomorrow young girl bring this child to the castle, it shall be seen in the dungeon."

The captain picked the doctor up and marched him forward without another word. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 9, 2011, 7:04pm

"Eh, I shoulda known it wouldn't work!" Belle kicked a puddle on her way back home in the pouring rain. She was now soaked through to her undergarments and was starting to notice just how cutting the new breath of winter on the early autumn breeze was.

She had merely nodded to the captain and stood there as they took the odd doctor away; watching them long after they were out of her sight. Tomorrow she would keep to her word and take Corona down to the castle to see him.

"How do I get mixed up in these things?" She wondered aloud as she stomped up to the front door and carelessly flung it open, not bothering to mind the sleeping occupants of the house. Her mother started in her chair as Belle shut the door behind her with a bit of a bang, aided by the wind, and squelched into the room, tracking mud and water as she went.

"Belle, my goodness!" Her mother exclaimed, fixing her glasses on her face. "Where in heaven's name have you been?! I've been worried sick and-"

"Not now mother," Belle interrupted. "I'm a grown woman and can take care of myself."

Her mother's angry words followed her all the way up the stairs until she shut them out with a slam of the door to her own room. Belle tore her sopping clothes off her shapeless frame and threw them in a corner. She knew she should have hung them up, but right now she couldn't care less if they got moldy. She ignored her mother's pounding on her door as she sloppily threw a night shirt on and flung herself down on her bed.

What started off as a normal day, ended very differently, and she couldn't stop thinking about all that had happened. Even though her plans to escape had been thwarted, she wasn't about to leave her new friend Corona hanging, but she also knew that she was running out of time. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 10, 2011, 3:33pm

Night gave way to day, and the sun shined brilliantly through the rocks. It was a cool day, a heavy dew lay upon all the foliage from the rain the night before. Small spurts of downpour were common on islands with the large bodies of water that encompassed them. A relatively large tropical storm lay dormant in the distance off the coast, it was making its way towards Color Island. The Ghalean traders had plans to cast off in the late afternoon, this would most likely be postponed one more night.

Corona slept in late today, it wasn't as if there was some grand adventure waiting. Corona did not go to school; Corona was deemed far too fragile by Corona's parents to make it through a school day. Though Corona was taught things as every islander was traditionally, and Corona had an uncanny knack to learn things from sheer dumb luck.

Corona had an apple for breakfast before leaving out the front door outside. Corona's father was outside repairing a piece of the house that had fallen off the night before in the rain, such things were common. He questioned Corona as to where the kid might be going, but Corona explained that there was a pending doctor's appointment that demanded Corona's attention. Of course Corona's father was busy fixing the roof, and deemed it was fine that Corona went on to the doctor by Corona's self, as Corona's mom and possibly younger sister were out running the family business: collecting fruit to sell.

So Corona began walking towards where Doctor Shisky dwelled, at least Corona knew where that was. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 10, 2011, 5:19pm

The dawn broke before Belle had even closed her eyes. She had tried to sleep, but gave up when her mind ceased to relent it's constant plague of thoughts.

At last, as the songbirds woke and filled the air with their calls, she rose to her feet and dressed herself in an ordinary day-gown. She didn't bother to tie her corset to it's proper tightness, nor did she care if her hair looked messy pinned up; she just wanted to leave as soon as she could.

Grabbing the half-dampened bag she had left on the floor the night before, she unlocked her room and headed out into the hallway and down the stairs. The house was still and silent. Could her mother still be sleeping? That was rather unlike her, if that was the case... Perhaps she had left the house altogether, though what she would be doing out this early, Belle could only guess.

The damp smell of rain soaked ground filled the air as Belle made her way through the worn streets toward the slums. She met very few other people on her journey, as it was still fairly early with the sun still low to the horizon.

She reached Corona's house without incident, but they were all still asleep, so she walked a little ways down to the ocean front where the rocky cliffs met the constant pounding of the sea. She sat down on a large, weathered boulder and watched the horizon, where storm clouds gathered far off in the distance. Undoubtedly it would delay the trade ship's departure, but for how long?

The sounds of the island awaking, slowly began to fill the air as time passed. Belle finally got to her feet and walked back to Corona's. It seemed she was just in time too, for the sickly child was already headed up the street. Belle ran to catch up to Corona.

"Hey, Corona!" She called. "There's been a change of plan... You won't find the doctor in his office." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 10, 2011, 5:43pm

"Woah," Corona said as Belle ran up on her, "Oh hey, you're Belle from yesterday."

Corona tried to put two and two together, "Hey is the reason you know the doctor so well because you're like his assistant or something, are you coming to tell me where he is so he can tell me about the rumor like he promised?"

Corona's mind began to spin with all the conspiracy theories, obviously intrigued. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 10, 2011, 5:51pm

Belle fell in step with Corona.

"Uhh... No. I'm not his assistant, but I know him because he's my uncle's family doctor as well. I was told by a guard to come get you and take you to the castle where he's being held. He was arrested last night, I saw them take him... er, as I was heading home."

Why she decided to twist the truth, she wasn't entirely sure, but she supposed Corona would be hurt to hear of her escape attempt. Also, the fewer people that knew about it, the better.

"Well, shall I take you to the castle then?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 10, 2011, 5:58pm

"Woah, the castle, I don't think I've ever been to the castle," Corona said wide eyed.

Corona's eyes narrowed, "But why was the doctor arrested, and why do I get to see him?"

Corona's imagination was going wild. Corona fell in step with Belle.

This situation demanded answers! Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 10, 2011, 6:16pm

"It's not hard to miss, though I've never been there myself." Belle replied. "As for the doctor, I have no idea why they were arresting him, and when I told them that there were people who needed him, he said he had an appointment with you tomorrow so the guard told me to take you there to the castle. I find it pretty suspicious myself, so lets be on our guard."

Belle was indeed suspicious of the whole ordeal. It was just too strange and coincidental to not be. There were so many questions she had herself.

"...Now I'm starting to wonder about that rumor too. What's going on?!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 10, 2011, 6:34pm

Corona could hardly contain the excitement built up, "Well lets go solve whatever we're in for!"

---

Known to royalty exclusively, and servants to a small part, the castle was known to have many secret passages, hidden chambers, strange things and of the such. On that note, it was not uncommon for the prince to appear wherever he pleased unnoticed by anyone. He was a master of the secrets contained within the castle.

One such passage led down to the cell block, locked away in the basement of the castle, it had been remodeled by the residents of the island, its original purpose had seemed to be a shelter against harsh weather. Of course this is why the castle had a secret stair that led down into it, so that in the panic the royalty would not be trampled on trying to come down from the cellar door outside the castle.

This is a island mind you, not fort Knox, staffing was a little undermanned, and its not as if you could say there were guards patrolling outside and a fancy parameter. The sentry who stood guard over the castle dungeon merely sat on the locked cellar door which led down to Color Island Prison. This made it easy for the Prince to do his interrogation without anyone noticing except the local residents of the prison, exclusively the doctor; not often was it that someone was worthy of being locked up.

---

Corona and Belle made their way to the cellar door, which was to the side of the port castle wall. There the guard sat bored twirling the key chain, he looked up as Corona and Belle approached, he even whistled at Belle. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 10, 2011, 6:58pm

Belle would have been a bit taken aback by the guard's crude gesture, had she not mistaken it as something else. She had never been whistled or cat-called at, but on one occasion by a few severely drunken sailors that haunted the local bar downtown on late nights. She certainly didn't look her best--unkempt hair, messily pinned up atop her head, unpainted, homely face, loose-fitting dress that merely looked sloppy and not even intentionally suggestive--besides that she had almost no feminine figure at all and a rather flat chest; not exactly the ideal woman of the century's standards. That being noted, his whistle was lost to her, if not completely unnoticed.

"Excuse me sir," she addressed him politely. "I was told to escort this child here to the castle to see Doctor Shishky, who is being held currently in the castle dungeon. Could you please escort us to his cell?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 10, 2011, 7:22pm

The guard bolted up and said to no one in particular, "Oh yeah, the captain said something about guests today," he was probably talking to himself, "One minute please!"

---

"Why hello there, our lovely prince," Doctor Shisky snared at Prince Mattius as the strange part of a wall fastened open and he stepped out, "I didn't think I'd be seeing you so soon."

"Well doctor," the prince said condescending, "I didn't think you would cross me."

The bolt began to rattle that held the cellar door back.

"It looks like we have company," the doctor noted.

"I do not want to be disturbed for this," The prince retorted looking at the cellar door before returning his gaze to his prisoner.

"I guess its only the guard coming to make sure I haven't escaped," the doctor pointed out.

The guard had not checked on the doctor all day, only his visitor would be the reason the door was to open. He need only to distract the proud prince.

---

"Open!" the guard yelled as he finally got the lock off, like a triumphant victory cry.

"After you ladies," the guard added as he opened up the cellar door.

Corona entered.

---

The prince did not even look the guard in the eye as he heard the door swing open.

"Leave us," the prince commanded loudly.

"Oh, hello Prince sir," the guard saluted.

"Didn't you hear, leave us all alone," the prince said more angry.

"But, sir there are-" the guard started, he was cut off.

"Silence! Close the goddamned door at once, that is an order from your King."

The guard looked to Corona and Belle confused, Corona didn't budge, ready to see the doctor. He shrugged and close the cellar door, the lock fitting on with a tight click. Corona didn't make a sound, after all the prince's commanding voice was scary, and Corona was not about to interrupt.

"Our King huh," the doctor continued, "When did you crown that title?"

"Hmph, its tradition isn't it in some places. You kill the king and he is overthrown, you are now in charge. You told me these tales of lands far away," the prince mocked at the doctor.

Corona whispered to Belle, "Woah this is getting good."

The prince heard, he drew the small family heirloom sword he has at his side and turned about, "Who is there," he shouted.

"My guests, the guard tried to tell you, but you were too busy telling him to shut up," the doctor snickered and told the prince. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 10, 2011, 7:36pm

This... was not good. Belle stepped in front of Corona, shielding her from the prince's furious gaze. They were in deep trouble now. Not only did they stumble upon the truth behind the rumors, but they were the only witnesses, other than the doctor, to hear the confession.

"What have you done?!" she cried in shock, her brown eyes moving from the doctor, to the prince in disbelief. "Corona is just a child! Don't you dare hurt her!"

Belle stood her ground bravely, meeting the prince's eyes with a sort of forced defiance. There wasn't much she could do; she had no weapon or combat skills to speak. The situation was very serious indeed. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 14, 2011, 3:34pm

Prince Mattius let out an exasperated sigh as he realized the intruders were two of the islanders. He shrugged pulling the sword up which he realized was still out he then put it back in it's casing at his side. He held his hand out firmly like he was going to help Belle down from a ledge or kiss her.

"My deepest apologies miss and guest," the prince bellowed out. "I was just sorting out this madman," he explained.

Corona came out from behind Belle and let the prince help corona down the stairs that led to the base level. The prince's face contorted slightly, this wasn't the lady he had hoped to help; Corona smiled barely containing a snicker.

The doctor made an annoyed noise followed by, "Don't trust him."

The prince glanced back then back to Belle, "I owe an explanation, do accompany me out of this dungeon and I will account for all questions!"

The prince swung open a side of the wall revealing a stone staircase, "ladies first," he gestured to Belle. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 14, 2011, 8:24pm

Belle hesitated a moment, knowing full well this could easily be a trap. The most intelligent thing to do was to turn around and march back up the stairs, but it seemed Corona had already taken the initiative, and Belle wasn't about to leave Corona alone with the homicidal, power hungry prince.

Slowly, she stepped down off the stairs and moved toward the dark, narrow passageway he had opened in the wall. She stopped, standing defiant to his gesture, just outside of it; repositioning herself between him and Corona. Once again, the thought of having no weapon or combat skills of any sort weighed against her. What were they going to do? She had to protect Corona and get them out of this sticky situation, but how?

"Doctor, you were the one who summoned us here. Shouldn't you do your checkup on Corona and we be on our way?" She turned and spoke to the prince. "I would hate to impose, your Highness! I'm hardly fit to present myself to royalty and was not prepared for such an occasion!"

She blushed slightly, realizing that she was indeed a bit of a mess; knowing her mother would be ashamed to have seen her only daughter standing there in company of the prince, looking as she did. Belle looked down at her feet, feeling very aware of the mud spatters around the brim of her day-gown.

She quickly dismissed these trivial thoughts however, coming back to the situation at hand. "If it would please your Majesty, we should best be on our way and perhaps can return at a later time in proper attire?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 15, 2011, 5:56pm

The doctor looked as if he was going to open his mouth and agree, but he was cut off as Belle continuing talking. Anything available opportunity of escape came as a new blessing to the doctor, and with Corona he might have the capability; he was now caught intent.

The prince rolled his eyes, the girl was being stubborn, and Mattius did so obviously need her on his side in this. He could simply not afford to have the villagers realized what he had done. They would not understand and listen to reason.

He decided to be flat out honest will Belle, "You must understand, I simply cannot allow you to leave. You have only a small view of something that is much larger. Please allow me to explain myself. You see that doctor there, well, I will explain when we get above."

Prince Mattius looked over Belle checking her out, she did look a little shabby especially around the edges of her simple gown.

"If it is the clothes you are worried about, I shall have someone attend to you straight away, you will be elegant. Then we will talk, when you are all calmed down."

Corona coughed, this one was especially bad, perhaps slightly on purpose to break up the Prince's goo-goo eyes. The prince had been distraught lately and rarely left his chambers, the same old people came to check on him, and too many were worried about him to allow him to go out and town on his own. So lonely. He rolled his eyes over to Corona whom he was starting to be slightly agitated at.

"If you are worried about your friend, I will allow the kid to stay here with the doctor, that way no harm can come; that is, as you will learn, if the crazy bastard doesn't do anything."

"You watch your tongue," the doctor shouted.

The prince snickered for a second, "that is something someone in power should say."

The prince presented a key to Belle, it was the key that locked the doctor's cell. He was still chained down of course, and the key was not to the shackles, but Belle did not know this. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 15, 2011, 6:58pm

Belle took the key, looking a bit confused. Perhaps there was more to this than it appeared, though her instincts whispered otherwise. There was something unsettling about both the prince and the doctor, but it seemed there was no way out of this mess, except to see to the bottom of the matter.

"Alright," she said, finally. "Why don't you explain yourself here and now, in front of both of us?"

She looked at Corona, not wanting to let [Corona] out of her sight. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 15, 2011, 7:10pm

"Because he wants to fill your mind with lies," the doctor shrieked.

"No," the prince retorted, "because I cannot get my version of the story out in front of this madman."

The doctor began to settle down, obviously growing tired from his ordeal. He reasoned, "I will watch Corona, I give you my word, and as I promised I will reaccount for the tale between the Prince and I. He can even give Belle his version then Corona and Belle can compare versions to sort it all out."

The prince gave off an exasperated sigh, "Fine, just don't eat the midget in your cage."

Corona's eyes blazed with rage at the midget joke. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 15, 2011, 7:16pm

It seemed there was no other way but to go with the prince. She wished they could all just settle this here, but his stubbornness was ebbing away at hers. So long as she knew Corona was safe...

"Alright, I'll go with you..." she replied. "However, could you be sure a guard is with them? I would feel better leaving Corona with that at least..." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 15, 2011, 7:19pm

"I'll be fine, you're not my mom or anything," Corona mused.

"There is a guard at the only normal exit, no one will be able to come in or out except for him, and the doctor is shackled in, plus I want this to stay private; no guards." the prince added. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 15, 2011, 7:23pm

"Very well." Belle had run out of arguments.

She stepped forward into the dark passageway, feeling an overlaying gloom and an unsettling wrenching in her stomach. She doubted life would go back to normal after this, if they even survived. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 15, 2011, 7:36pm

Belle stepped past the prince, he gave one last icy glare towards the doctor before follow beginning to close the stone opening in the wall behind him.

He said lightly to Belle, "It might be a little dark don't be afraid, here take my hand."

As the stone door swung shut everything went black, no light penetrated the cool stone walls. The Prince felt his way to Belle's wrist and slid down to her hand sweeping past her up the first few steps. The staircase followed a small spiral pattern, the prince led Belle up to a point, then he stopped after some time feeling around.

He removed a brick from part of the wall a beam of light shot through into the darkness. It revealed a small peephole which peered into one of the many rooms of the castle. After scanning to make sure no one was around the Prince simply pushed into the wall with some strength and the wall moved revealing a pleasant little guest room.

'Welcome to my home," the prince gestured stepping out into the room.

"Marlomi," the prince called out, "will you please present the young maiden who has accompanied me to my quarters after she is presentable?"

An old maid knitting in the corner was not alarmed that the prince had just come through a wall, as she had seen it time and time again. Marlomi was one of the oldest vassals of the castle, she served the queen when she was a young girl and princess in line to inherit the throne. Marlomi nodded and the prince left out the guest door, not bothering to close the wall behind him. Marlomi looked over Belle quickly.

"Well, lets get you out of those clothes first I suppose," she croaked with a pleasant smile.

---

Corona frowned and coughed, very upset Belle forgot to leave the key. Corona looked to the doctor-- Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 15, 2011, 7:55pm

The door closed and Belle froze where she stood, feeling very uncomfortable in the dark, but the prince took her hand and lead her up the stairs, then into a room where an older servant woman sat knitting.

"Oh, a-alright then," Belle stammered, much relieved to be out of the dark passageway.

After the prince left, Belle undressed, nervously, and adjusted her corset to it's proper tightness, then selected the simplest dress available to slip into. She then straightened out her hair, pinning it up as neatly as was possible, and washed her face. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 15, 2011, 8:10pm

The room was very well kept. On the bed there happened to be a rather simple black dress with a small pattern. The room did have a small sink below a window that was intent off the castle side in a wall.

As Belle began to undress the Marlomi the maid wasted no time. Though she was old, and looked very fragile, she moved very swiftly almost unnaturally. She creaked open a closet and looked to be rummaging through something, but she turned around to notice Belle was intent on doing things on her own instead of allowing the old maid to assist. She smiled pleasantly again and let Belle finish, crossing the room and shutting the wall back into place.

Belle looked better, but Malomi was not satisfied, "Well," she creaked, "You certainly look the part of a house maiden."

The maid began to rant, friendly of course, in no way condescending.

"The dress on the bed there was one of the younger maid's, she spilled something on it, so we had her change out of it while I washed it. I look after everyone here, I really do enjoy my job even at my old age. I am 72 years old and my name is Marlomi Wihzit."

Wihzit was a name of a what was considered wealthy upper class family on the island.

"I don't mean to be rude, please forgive me, but I think the young Prince wanted you to be dressed as a guest, not a maid," she laughed.

She turned around and crept back over to the closet opening it up slowly. She quickly darted to the dress that was third from the right. It was a pretty blue dress deep but baby blue. Small patterns accented it, frilly in nature. It was a medium dress, the lower portion was lazily pleaded like a sun dress. The maid put it over her arm and started to descend on Belle.

"If it isn't too," she paused, "oh whats the word, alarming? No thats a little strong. Oh blast it, if you don't mind, I can help you get ready my angel." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 15, 2011, 8:58pm

"I.... Oh, I suppose I can't wear a maid's outfit. That would be silly." She stated awkwardly, blushing with embarrassment.

Feeling uncomfortable again, she took off the black dress and held out her hand for the blue one. It was a bit fancier than she could really pull off, but it seemed she had no choice in the matter and it would be rude to insist otherwise.

"You must be proud to have served the royal family for so long," Belle commented after the woman introduced herself. "My name is Belle Maplewind. My family runs the little bakery down in the market square."

She allowed Marlomi to help her dress, though it was definitely not something she was used to. When she was finally done putting on the dress, she couldn't help but feel slightly beautiful in the elegant baby blue. Belle had never had a dress as fancy as this, and she couldn't help but give it a little twirl when she saw herself in the mirror. She only wished her dull brown eyes matched it's vibrant hue, and if her plain face only...

If it wasn't for the ideal image of the time calling for women to be as pale as snow, her soft tan skin would be considered one of her best features, as it was quite flawless and even-toned. However, the paleness of a womans skin at that time was also an indicator of how well-off her family was.

She stepped away from the mirror and stopped thinking about her appearance. It was then that she realized she no longer had the key the prince had given her to the cell. It must have come off the bit of worn rope it was attached to and dropped on the floor somewhere in the dungeon while she was distracted by the situation. She hoped Corona would find it, for she would hate to tell the prince she lost the key he had entrusted to her. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 16, 2011, 2:52pm

Assisting Belle in donning the dress was indeed awkward. The old lady had no idea of a personal bubble shoving everything anywhere to make Belle look more fit to the dress, and in a hurry. She stepped back and was proud of her work, but she wanted to do something about the hair. Unfortunately Marlomi was at a loss, there was only so much she could do to accent Belle. Marlomi hurried back to the closet and pulled out a rather poofy looking tan hat, it looked unlike anything else on the island in the fact that it was so well made, like something inhuman had assembled it, though it was not important. Marlomi crossed back over the room and stuck the hat square on Belle's head.

"Well, we're short on time to fix your hair, but it'll do," Marlomi said between a smile, "We must hurry along now dear."

Marlomi crossed back over the room to the door and open it waving her hand gesturing to the hall. She wasted no time with unnecessary pleasantries like the small talk about serving the royal family. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 16, 2011, 3:01pm

The hat was odd indeed, but it didn't look terrible with the dress and Belle's ensemble. Her hair would be fine pinned up as it was underneath it. She didn't quite understand the old woman's fussing, though her mother had done the same before.

"Alright, take me to the prince." Belle replied and followed Marlomi. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 16, 2011, 5:02pm

Marlomi led the way through some corridors and up some stairs finally arriving to a large door. Through the door the prince sat his hand furled into his hair as if awaiting his death sentence. The room was a large room with many bookshelves containing a vast amount of old books collected ages ago: a family library. The study was generally kept closed, even servants were not allowed to wander in and clean. Marlomi knew the young prince would be there, as the prince often found his way there when he was nowhere else to be found. On the way Marlomi had twisted through the castle's corridors past the prince's room, and several other places; if Belle had paid attention she might get a feel for the castle's layout especially with the many windows that lined it.

Marlomi knocked on the door; the prince bolt upright fixing his hair and answering, "Let my guest in, that will be all."

Marlomi opened the door a crack, then stepped back and smiled before departing. The prince sat poised looking madly at the cracked door, a chair had been pulled out the opposite side from Mattius from the desk serving as a welcome. Light crept in through shabby white clothe curtains, though it was low and shone dull through the dust. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 16, 2011, 5:54pm

Belle became more and more confused as they wove throughout the castle. She wasn't so good at memorizing a place she had never been before, but she supposed if she wandered around enough, she'd be able to find her way back. Maybe. When they finally came to the dusty old library, Belle was nearly exhausted, but she caught her breath and made herself presentable before walking through the door, into the dim room.

"Here I am, your Highness." She curtsied as she entered the room, but did not sit down in the chair. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 16, 2011, 6:03pm

The door clicked behind Belle, probably Marlomi. The prince scanned over Belle, her outfit had changed delightfully. The dust began to settle, the prince offered his hand up gesturing for Belle to sit down. He dropped an elbow to the table and propped his head up on his hand. His other hand came and cycled in and out of his hair nervously.

"Where, do I begin, you probably have so many questions. How about I ask one, and then you ask one. I will go first. It is a pleasure to meet you; you what is your name?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 16, 2011, 6:32pm

Belle hesitated a moment, then sat down, placing her hands in her lap, her brown eyes fixed on the prince. Her nervous glance was hardly a fearless one, try as she may to convey it to be so.

"My name is Belle Maplewind, your Highness," she replied. "And my question is why did you kill your father, the king?"

She took a deep breath, feeling that first dive into the seriousness of the matter. It felt quite strange to be here, in this dusty room speaking to the prince himself about the most serious event to take place on Color Island in over a decade. She was hardly qualified to be a detective or any sort of investigator, yet here she was. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 17, 2011, 4:23pm

"I killed my father because it was necessary to maintain the peace and tranquility of our civilization. Such things you cannot understand without taking in the big picture. So Belle, I will start from the beginning."

---

"They're gone," the doctor sighed in relief looking at Corona. He observed the key fall off of Belle and ordered, "Corona bring that key over here and unlock the cell, we'll make out escape now."

Corona looked around once more and said, "But Belle took the key with her."

"No no," the doctor corrected, "it fell off her, its right there." the doctor pointed.

Corona looked where the doctor had pointed and found the key, "Oh awesome," Corona said.

"So?" the doctor asked.

Corona picked up the key and twirled it around the finger that had picked it up. Corona had little intention of doing anything more unless Corona got the fair knowledge Corona was entitled to.

"So, whats going on," Corona asked and had a seat on a mound of dirt still twirling the key.

The doctor sighed for he knew what he had to tell Corona.

---

The beginning of the story takes place two generations ago. Both Shisky and Mattius will tell the truth to Belle and Corona, however their views are entirely different; though the story is the same.

It was a cold dark stormy night on Color Island, especially black and overcast to blot out of the sky. The waves crashed against the land and swept out just as viciously. Though a small boat seemed to brave the seas where no others would go on their own. Professor Skyshi sailed for Color island hot on the trail of a great power.

The professor had devoted the later end of his life obsessively with chasing his dream, to have his deepest wish granted. Professor Skyshi had made a long living in his life in the study of magic chemistry, art and science hand in hand, alchemy. Though when he stumbled across a strange rumor his curiosity was piqued and he left everything behind and made this his new life's purpose.

The power to grant a wish, and a piece of the puzzle lay on an ancient island.

Color Island was not supposed to be the final destination of the professor, just a stopping point for the next clue. A golem lay deep underneath the ground buried as far to the east as an ancient civilization could be rid of it. Etched into the golem were runes which the professor could assess and make new assumptions in the mystery of wishes.

The professor moored to the southern eastern tip of Color Island tying off against a large rock; such rocks lined the coast of Color Island. He had every intention of mooring to a dock, but the storm had blown him off course. Off the distance the professor could see a castle and several unkempt living quarters. It was late, no one was out, and the professor assumed the island was long since abandoned having never heard of the island himself.

Weeks ago the doctor had boarded a trading vessel of Godrin, which was doing some shady business beyond Carmagh where no one would suspect a thing. A little coin and a few parlor tricks were exchanged and the doctor found himself a VIP of the outer sea beyond Carmagh. Though the trading vessel had filled and was now inbound back to Godrin, the doctor would not follow. He took it upon himself in a small boat to jump from island to island in quest to find the golem. Color Island was one of those small islands, and with an ancient castle in the middle of it, it seemed spot on.

Security was lacking that night. The guard at the gate to the castle had fallen asleep with it open and the professor had not noticed him as he slipped in right through the front door of the castle. He was startled when he met the "then" princess, her Highness Rei Rainbow; the village was inhabited.

The professor was an old sea-withered man over a hundred years old. He had only lived for so long of the blessings of alchemy and the wonders it did preserving his body. Though at sea his supplies were short and he had become again an old man, not far from death. He met with the present King that night and told him that he, and his assistant were looking for an ancient relic and begged the King to take him in, if just till the storm passed. The King agreed and professor Skyshi went back to where his boat had moored. Professor Skyshi died that night on Color Island.

Before returning he had raided the castle for supplies and fixed his body with his amazing alchemy, he returned to the castle as doctor Shisky, the caretaker and assistant to the old professor, a farce the old man had played on many to make places feel bad and take him in longer. Alchemy after all could be applied as a medical practice in a way. This was how doctor Shisky came to reside on Color Island, and for two generations the doctor searched the island for the Golem. He found all sorts of pieces chipped from it, but never could find the exact location of the Golem.

Princess Rei eventually became Queen Rei Rainbow, marrying Marlomi's son who would become king. King Elky and her highness Rei Rainbow had a beautiful baby boy who became Prince Mattius. Mattius, he was a curious one, and deep within the catacombs of secret passages beneath the castle one day he found the Golem.

Her highness Rei Rainbow was not a benevolent queen, ruler of Color Island, as her father King Matticus Rainbow had been before her. She was tyrannical and to the point of a spoiled brat. Therefore of course only a pure soul like Elky Wihzit could ever look past that and still find love in a person who was as much of a snob.

The lineage of Rainbow came with a secret though, a secret which would shake the foundation of the Island were anyone to find out. The Rainbow family were smart and knew the only way to rule an island was to keep the island under their control. So eons ago the family had slowly over time changed the story of the fool to their liking to control the villagers. For generations Color Island was not following the true Fool's Path religion, but a sect designed to brainwash the villagers into being obedient little ants for the Rainbow Kingdom to thrive.

Of course all the true texts and accounts over the many years were locked away in the study, in the same library Belle and Prince Mattius sat now. When Mattius started to become of age, her highness Rei Rainbow thought it was only natural that the boy be taught their lineage and that the prince naturally continue to control the island. The King, an outsider, but still her highness' husband wanted to be indoctrinated with their son and learn the family history.

The King was outraged at the fact that the entire Island for generations had been brainwashed. He felt so wronged, and he would not allow this to continue. The queen of course would not stand to be overthrown by her husband and did everything she could to keep the king from spreading the truth. Even as going so far as to make her own son kill the king, to hide the truth.

Prince Mattius wouldn't just kill the king on his mom's behalf. In fact for several months it was a battle between the queen's reason and the king's reason. His parents both wanted something different from the prince. Mattius did not know what to do. He grew sick from all the pressure and developped a small ulcer. The normal higher class doctor to the Island could not cure the prince, so he was taken to our story's doctor, Doctor Shisky.

The pressure was too much, he spilled everything on the table to the doctor in private sessions where the doctor would play therapist while giving the prince small doses of medicine homemade medical and treatment for the ulcer. In time the prince saw the doctor as a mentor and told him about everything in his life, even how when he really wanted to be alone and think he'd go deep under the castle and talk to a giant statue.

The golem the professor had been searching for all these years, the prince had found it. Though tensions were high and it was not as if the doctor could just barge into the castle when he wanted. Also from what the prince said it was only a matter of time before the King released the truth into the village, which would cause hysteria and panic. The prince thought the castle might even be burnt to the ground by the Islander's in rage. The professor needed time.

The professor told the truth to the prince that he was really an outsider and that over two generations people had come to believe the doctor had always been there, when he was secretly searching for the golem, and that there was a way to grant a wish out in the world. He told the prince he needed time to study the golem and that if he helped him that he would let the prince have a wish too. The professor could only agree with her highness Rei Rainbow and that the king had to be silenced in order to suppress a panic, so that the professor could achieve his goal.

So with a poison crafted from the doctor that was odorless, tasteless, and almost impossible to track to save an alchemist. The Prince slipped it into the King's drink, and all the queen's problems went away that day. The prince knew his wish would be to change history and make Color Island's version of all stories reality.

The queen went mad not knowing who had done the deed to finish her husband, though it was a welcome surprise. To defend her own intent she sent investigators all throughout the island. No one suspected the royal family at all, though the queen had intent and the prince had done the deed with the help of the professor. The prince began to regret his decision of murdering his father, who was only trying to do the right thing; it ate away at him. He confronted his mother and told her what he had done. His mother continued to tell her son he had done the right thing, the bloodthirsty fiend. Everyone was happy, except for the prince and of course his dead father.

The professor was allowed to study the Golem. Then one day he finished and he was ready to leave the island. He knew that if he found the great power, it was probably only limited to one wish; he knew he could never keep his promise to the prince. So he spread the rumor, the truth actually, that the prince had killed the king; and he was ready to make his escape of the island and continue his journey.

Though he was caught...

((The Professor told the story to Corona and the Prince told the story to Belle)) Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 17, 2011, 6:56pm

Belle sad in silence, trying to take it all in as he explained. There were so many things she did not understand! The Fool's religion? How was it wrong? There was another version of it? How could he have been so driven to kill his own father? Wouldn't there have been another way to inform the people....? All this for a hint to some object that grants wishes? She agreed that the doctor was wrong to promise something to the prince and then not keep it. And the fact that he told everyone what the prince had done just to escape wasn't right either. The more she thought about it, the more she found herself sympathizing with the prince, however, he did kill the king, even if it was to stop widespread chaos. But the king wouldn't have just stupidly went about telling the people the secret about the lie without thinking it through first, would he? Would he?

Belle just didn't know what to think. It was so much to contemplate and reason with, it was beyond her. At long last, however, she came to a conclusion.

"Sometimes it's better that we don't know the truth," she said, not meeting his gaze anymore. "If it was for the good of the people, then who's to say it was wrong to keep them in the dark, but..." She looked at him, sternly, "I'm sure there could have been another way to make the king see that and perhaps he had his own solution to the problem. Maybe he could have found a way to make it work so that everyone could know the truth. I don't think it was right for you to kill him and I don't think what the doctor did was right too, though I'm not sure I entirely understand his motives." She paused for a moment, "What do you plan to do now? What are you going to do now that Corona and I know the truth... And what will you do with the doctor?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 3:04pm

"I really cannot speak for what I will do, you see, if any of this gets out who knows exactly how the Island would react. What would you do as prince of Color Island," the prince asked.

---

Several fits of coughs later the doctor finished reciting his tale to Corona. Corona could hardly sit through the whole thing; Corona was bored to death. Corona's eyes rolled and asked the questions that was on Corona's mind ever since the doctor had over spoken how much of an accomplished alchemist he was.

"So if you're so good at all this magic and junk, lived forever, and are so awesome; how is it you couldn't even cure one simple little kid? Isn't that like a plot hole or something?"

The doctor was taken by surprise. Here Corona sat through the entire truth, and still didn't care too much.

"Do you not care that all of your life that you've been lied to, had, and wronged?" the doctor asked.

"Not really," Corona stated nonchalantly.

"Ironic, maybe the King had the right idea after all."

Corona smiled wickedly, "How about I unlock your cell and you use some of your fantastic magic to escape, and of course in exchange," Corona coughed, "fix me."

Corona was sick of being sick. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 19, 2011, 6:30pm

"Well, I..." Belle bit her lip in regret for what she had said earlier, realizing now that she hadn't thought about what it was like for someone in his position. "...I can promise I won't be the one to tell the island your great secret, however... if you think it's wrong to keep silent, then find a way to tell them without causing mass panic. If you think it's right, then don't say anything. Maybe your father had a way, maybe he didn't.... You should dig a little deeper into the matter, perhaps?"

She breathed a heavy sigh. She, herself, had no idea what it all meant. She didn't know what the "other" version of the Fool was, or how the one they knew now affected them in such a way that it was controlling. Nor did she quite understand the doctor's story, but in all this madness, there had to be some logical choice. She just didn't know enough about it to be the one advising the prince.

"I can't say your actions against the king were right, but I can't say there were wrong either. I won't be the one to judge you."

She hoped that she hadn't gone too far in saying these things. He had asked her what her opinion was, but she had spoken only of the confused thoughts that dowsed her logic. She hadn't even really given him a solid answer. But this is also why she wasn't the queen of Color Island, after all. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 7:13pm

The doctor and Corona muttered back and forth for a bit, what about is only important between the doctor and Corona. You know what doctors always say, "patient confidentiality." What is more important, or rather more interesting, is that the wall swung open again. The stage is set, and so the next chapter begins!

Enter stage hidden doorway Mr. Mustache.

Corona's head snapped back and jumped to a strong stance holding the key like it was a defensive weapon. He was slender and the way he walked was proud and cocky; like the man owned the ground he walked on. Never trust a man with a mustache, especially a confident one.

"Well all sorts of interesting characters keep popping outta the walls today huh doc, are you sure that I'm not just crazy?" Corona blabbed.

The doctor analyzed the new target that had entered the room, something about him was familiar, but off. The man looked at Corona and saw the key, then his eyes perused over to the lock, and finally he set his sights on the doctor.

"Good afternoon, Professor," his mouth slithered out and bit at the air.

The man made even the air stuffy with his larger than life attitude, and of course his pointed mustache. It was comical to Corona and hardly suppressed a laugh, which instead came out as a cough.

The doctor was about to speak when Corona out staged him, "Good afternoon creepy guy with the mustache."

The mustached man set his sights on Corona again and cracked a smile, "You're sick little one," he noted. He then dug deep into a pocket on his person producing a vial of sorts opening it and letting a gray gaseous substance permeate the room. "Lets see if we can't make it a little worse."

"You're not him, but you know his art, or are you him, and a this is a charade put on like I have," the doctor madly spoke to himself.

Corona's senses started to dull out and could barely stand up straight. Fits of coughs and dizziness overcame Corona and Corona began to retreat backwards towards the cell. The mysterious man began his descent on the cell door.

"No, stay away, what have you come here for," the doctor cowered.

"I am here to collect you see, I'll be taking what I want now," daggers of words flew from the man's mouth.

Corona blanked for a second, in the next second Corona was on the ground. The cell door was open and the doctor's hands were strung out as far as his shackles would allow around the man's neck. Corona mustered all strength left and ran for the cell door pounding as hard as Corona could.

"Help," "Stop you fiend," "Stay away from me," "Help," "What, is going on here," "Ahh," "Get back,"

A cacophony of sound danced around the room as it interrupted in a fit of chaos. Lets explain: Corona was overcome by a mysterious smoke which strengthened the symptoms Corona commonly experienced causing Corona to become disoriented. Swiftly the mustached man snatched the key from Corona and opened the cell door. The doctor put up a struggle sensing danger and lunged at the man. The man pretended to be in trouble and let the doctor frame himself to look like the bad guy. Corona ran for the door and pound on it making the guard check the situation. The guard entered saw Corona cry for help and saw the doctor strangling the man. The man shouted things like get back incriminating the doctor only more, the man then drew a strange dagger and cut through the doctor's throat. The doctor spewed blood out his neck and the man backed up, the guard came in and broke the two up kicking the doctor to the ground. Corona scared made a run for it. The man with the mustache got up and dusted himself off and put on a show to the guard.

"I had to stop the mad man he was attacking that child," the man cried.

The guard made a report. Of course the doctor was framed: guilty. The commotion was little noticed, word had only traveled between guards.

---

"Well in the meantime atleast I know my secret is safe. Well that is unless you're just going through the motions and are really just looking for a way to escape."

Footsteps were heard outside the door. The prince shot out of his seat and waited for just a moment before proceeding to open the door. He watched a servant dart across the passageway.

The prince had enough time to command, "Hey stop, what is the hurry,"

"Oh, young lord, my deepest apologies," a male servant said, "its just that crazy doctor, you know the one who spread, rumors, he's dead."

The prince's eyes narrowed, "very well," he said trying to sound official.

He shut the door and reentered the room sitting back down in his chair to face Belle once more.

"It seems the rumor has already spread far enough for people to start to suspect me on the Island, damn the doctor. If you didn't hear, he is dead. I will probably be suspected of trying to silence him, this is highly incriminating. I think someone is pulling the strings, probably her Highness." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 19, 2011, 8:00pm

"Well, actually," Belle began after the prince questioned her motives. "I do have one request... I want to leave the isl-"

Just then, they were interrupted by hurried footsteps. The prince acquired news of the doctor's misfortune and immediately flew into paranoia over conspiracy against him. While she couldn't save the prince from his poor tormented mind anyway, she had something else on her conscience at that point.

"CORONA!"

Belle stood up so quickly, she nearly knocked her chair over. It was all her fault, she should have never left the child alone with the doctor! What could have happened?! Who killed the doctor and what have they done with Corona?!

"Please, your highness! Forgive me, but I must see to it that Corona is alright! We left her alone down there with the doctor!"

Belle rushed toward the door, determined to find her way back to the dungeon... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 8:21pm

Corona's lungs were in a fit of rage and coughed a ways up the road; which by the way Corona was lost. Corona sat down to catch breath.

---

In running through the corridors Belle ran into Marlomi who stared at her darkly, "Forgive me, I eavesdropped," she said fiercely.

The prince was trying to keep up with Belle. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 19, 2011, 8:41pm

Belle found herself a bit lost as well, as she darted down one grande hallway and up the next. She hadn't been searching for too long, however, before she ran into the same woman who had so cheerfully helped her dress earlier. Now, any traces of that kindly smile had vanished, as it was clear to see in her dark, cold eyes what she was thinking.

"I'm.... I'm sorry," was all Belle could muster.

A more urgent matter pressed on her mind, yet here was another dilemma standing before her. This woman's son was dead, by her grandson's own hands. It was wrong of her to have eavesdropped, but she had lived in the castle for so long, it was strange that she didn't already know what had happened. Surely, she knew all along the secrets. Surely, she had eavesdropped on the queen and her family before. Surely, her own son, the king, had to have told her something...

"The child.... The one I came with, Corona. She was with the doctor... I need to know if she's alright." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 8:48pm

The prince came from around the corner and caught his breath for a second seeing Marlomi had stopped Belle. Excellent, he thought, Marlomi must have seen her take off running and told her not to run in the castle. Wrong:

"Y-you killed my son you abomination. Cursed prince," the woman muttered choking back anguish and tears.

Marlomi lost all control and charged at the prince who now saw danger he could only do one thing; the prince stepped back and drew his sword thrusting it through Marlomi' chest. The commotion had drawn guards who had been trying to cover all the servants running about and running their mouths. Two guards saw the prince stab his grandmother, they looked at each other and took down the prince taking his sword away from him. The prince struggled, but then he calmed down. A third guard took Belle out, harshly, putting a bag over her head. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 19, 2011, 9:00pm

Belle watched in horror as the scene unfurled before her. Everything seemed to move in slow motion, yet there was nothing she could have possibly done to stop it. Marlomi charged the prince in her rage; the prince defaulted to defend himself by delivering a fatal blow with his sword. The poetic way they crimson blood cascaded to the floor and spattered the walls; the screams of horror, shock, pain, and confusion, coming from everywhere, though Belle was hardly aware of her own cry of anguish, yet it resounded as loud as any other.

The shock of it all left her completely froze to the spot, and it wasn't until everything went dark, as a guard threw a burlap sack over her head, that she made any move to escape. She flailed wildly against her captor, clawing, hitting, kicking anything she came into contact with, screaming wildly like some feral beast. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 9:07pm

A swift knee to the gut was what followed and then a couple of other blows to put Belle to the ground. The prince would follow.

---

Voices of questioning circled about in and out of consciousness.

---

The prince opened his eyes to find only darkness, a sack covering his head too he struggled to get free though he was bound to a chair. A guard took the burlap sack off the top of his head and one off of Belle who was sitting next to him bound tightly to a chair. In front of the two was the queen and the captain of the guard, who was holding the prince's sword.

Captain Weligro bellowed out, "You sit before her highness Rei Rainbow queen of Color Island." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 19, 2011, 9:38pm

Pain. A knee to the gut, knocking the wind out of her. A few blows to the head, and then... nothing. Black out.

Belle came to, gasping for breath as the sack was lifted off her head and light flooded into her expanded pupils, causing them to dilate painfully in reaction. Her head was throbbing, she ached everywhere, and her hands had gone completely numb from being bound so tightly to the chair she now sat in. It was then that everything flooded into reality as she realized the prince was also tied to a chair next to her. Though Belle had done nothing wrong, she knew, almost instinctively, that this wasn't going to end well. Then the captain proclaimed Her Highness's presence. Belle dared to look up, her eyes slowly focusing on the figure standing before her... The queen.

They were now at her mercy. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 19, 2011, 10:47pm

Her Highness Rei Rainbow's eyes a deep pool of pale green stared between her son and guest not choosing to meet either's gaze directly. Her upturned nose and sensuous mouth were two very distinct features of the queen's face. At first glance her long, blond hair, rose skin, and slender body gave her the air of Majesty. Delicate yet fierce, angry but cool, disappointed and grim. She looked young; highly photogenic, one could have painted a picture of her highness and royal knight staring down upon their subject. That was after all what the queen thought of the Island, like cogs in a well oiled machine.

She was dressed casual by queen standard. A small flower adorned to an ornament accented her hair. A sleeveless summer dress form fit to the upper portion of the queen flowed out beneath her. Pristine artisan bracers made of silver twirled around the queen's lower arms which came down around one finger. On her other hand a ring with a small red stone encased by metal that spired sideways to protect it. A loose silver chain held another larger ring around the queen's neck; it belonged to the late king. A small frilly band that matched the queen's dress was affixed to her left upper arm, and on the right was the royal crest inked in as was tradition. Perhaps the most peculiar was the fact the queen was not wearing any shoes, her dainty feet wriggled out from under the layered bottom of her dress.

"You will leave us now my Captain Weligro," she stated authoritatively yet respectfully.

The Captain gave some kind of strange salute followed by passing Belle and the Prince on the Prince's side, sword away from him. He stared down the Prince until the moment he passed him where his two guards that had removed the sacks followed behind. They were in a small garden of sorts, yet it appeared to be higher than the ground level, a raised courtyard. The queen was standing before an elegant looking wooden chair with flowers and vines that seemed to compliment the queen's attire. When the Captain and the two guards returned to the inside of the castle the Queen sat down and folded one leg over the other.

She was holding a strange tome in her off hand, it looked plenty old. She opened it perusing the pages and then closed the book silently. Her highness Rei Rainbow now turned to look Belle in square in the eyes and then the Prince.

"You both know why you are here," she began, "because you two are wrapped up in something that has been handed down secret from generation to generation. My son Mattius knows this well, but it must be knew to you my dear, tell me what have you heard."

The queen waited patiently for Belle to respond choosing to rest her head to one side propped up by one arm supported by the arm of the garden chair. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 20, 2011, 2:32pm

Belle released a long shaky breath, then answered as truthfully as she dared, knowing that it could very well mean her life.

"I know about the professor and what he was after. I know about who killed the King and why. I know about the secrets the royal family has kept from it's subjects regarding the Fool's religion, though I don't understand how it's different, being that I've never heard another version other than what I've been taught."

She stopped there, short; almost as if she wanted to say more, but thought otherwise at the last second. She did indeed have more to say, but she took a moment to think over her words carefully.

"Your Majesty, if I could have one request before I am inevitably silenced for this knowledge I have had the misfortune to stumble upon." She met the queen's deep gaze and held it. "The child I came with... Corona was left with the doctor! Please, could you make sure s(he) is alright? S(he)'s only a child!"

Her eyes were wide in desperation to convey to the Queen her deep concern. It had been the Captain, after all, who had ordered her to bring Corona to the castle. There was no reason for them to put an innocent child to death for something like this, when it was Belle fault for bringing Corona here in the first place. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 20, 2011, 3:13pm

Her Highness Rei Rainbow let her eyes rest lazily watching Belle's mouth move. She looked bored and she had already made up her mind what she was going to do with the two. Although curious was the fact that there had been a child that had escaped the dungeon as well, they would have to look for it.

"I have decided your fates as of now," the queen stated.

The prince burst out, "Mother, don't I get to say anything!"

Her highness cast the words aside and retorted, "You have failed as the prince of this kingdom and you shall be punished accordingly." The prince was silent.

"You fate," the queen began, "is a curious one. For my son, there is no way I can deny that you have killed your father, though it was for the good of the kingdom. I will have to banish you."

"And you young girl," her highness commanded, "I am sorry that you have become mixed up in this. I must have you leave the Island too, however,"

The queen paused and lifted her arm flexing it out and waving her hand down as if ushering for someone to come closer. From behind Belle and the Prince the doors opened once more. The captain returned and the man with the pointed mustache, he bowed before the queen.

"Come closer merchant," the queen called the man to her side, "this man of the Ghalean's had taken an interest in you young lady. He even asked your mother for you hand in marriage. It just so happens that he discovered that the doctor was the one who had spread the rumors and informed the guards. He also defended a small sick child whom the doctor was trying to strangle. I have decided I will allow it, and you will leave with this man as you might have anyways."

The man bowed to the queen a ripe smile on his face. Her highness turned and looked to the Captain who nodded and pointed his arm towards the door. The man took a hint and they departed again the doors shutting behind them.

"So I am banished," the Prince asked forlorn.

"There is nothing more I can do for you save have you executed," the queen muttered, "you are my child, this is the only way I can save you."

Her highness looked to Belle once more, "So, if it is the same child we are talking about, it is fine. Though I will look further into it of course, I must know if the child knows forbidden knowledge."

The queen held up the dusty tome once more, "These are the true teachings of the Fool's Path," the queen muttered. "I will save the Island in my own way, any truth to the real tale will be taken to the grave with me."

Her Highness Rei Rainbow swiped the ring she wore against the cover of the tome and it burst into flames, she tossed it over to a clear part of the courtyard to let it burn out.

"Will you two go peacefully?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 20, 2011, 3:33pm

Belle's face paled in horror when the man with the sharp mustache entered the courtyard, smiling his serpent-like smile. She highly doubted he was the one who "saved" Corona from the professor, but she did feel a tiny ray of hope knowing that Corona was alive and managed to escape. There was nothing more Belle could do for the child. She also felt a twinge of pity for the prince as well, having to be banished, but at least he wasn't to be put to death. Belle watched as the queen lit the tome of truth and cast it aside to burn to nothing but a pile of ashes. This was the end of the matter. She now faced the inevitable. She got her wish, to leave the island; however, it was the very reason why she wanted to leave that had caught her up in his web.

"I..." she began answering the queen's question. "I.... don't want to go with that man! Please send me with the prince! Anything, but that man...." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 20, 2011, 5:23pm

The queen looked confused, "O-okay, but," she muttered shocked, "the prince was leaving with the Ghalean's too."

Her Highness Rei Rainbow stood from her seat and strut over to her son and let her hand go through her son's hair for the final time. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and departed into the castle. The door did not click closed for the Captain came out with his two guards and the man with the mustache. He ordered something and bags were placed back over Belle and the Prince's head. They were taken somewhere familiar, but it smelled like murder.

---

Corona made an escape home. The sun set. Corona could hardly sleep through fits of sickness. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 20, 2011, 6:02pm

Again, the darkness... Belle was lead, roughly, to some place where the sent of death surrounded her, mixed with the musty smell of the burlap sack over her head. She stood in silence. Where was she now? What was going on? Her head ached too much to think, as blood ran down her face from being hit on the head at some point.

She tried to speak, but her voice cracked. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 21, 2011, 2:31pm

The burlap sack was loose enough to shake off Belle's head if she had tried to get it off. She was bound by some ropes, those wouldn't probably come off easily. Belle was again in the dungeon in the cell block across from where the doctor had died, and the prince was in a separate cell adjacent to where the doctor's had been. The prince laid his head propped against the cell's walls, he had already gotten his bag off his head. It was dark, the guard was obviously sitting on the cellar type door that led out of the prison, the only other way of course were the secret passageways the prince knew about. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 21, 2011, 3:03pm

Her head was spinning. She bent forward and the bag slipped off. The smell of fresh blood was strong, as her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness of the dungeon. Once again, her hands were numb from the tightness of the ropes binding her. As soon as her sight came into focus, she instantly recognized where she was. She reeled back in horror when she saw what was left behind in the cell across from hers, where only a few short hours ago, she had been standing nearby, talking to the doctor with Corona. Her own cell was dank, and smelled of old straw, mold, and feces. The bars were a little rusted, but they held firm. She sat, the blue dress she had borrowed from the castle now torn and spattered with mud as well as a few dark crimson stains, her legs folded beneath her; she leaned against one dirty cell wall. It seemed she had lost one of her worn, old brown shoes somewhere during all the chaos as well, but she hardly took notice. Her whole body shook with fear and shock from all that had happened, still trying to take it all in and understand what it meant. She wasn't going home. The realization just didn't set it yet. The defiant, bold nature she hid deep inside her mind whispered of a determination to live. Survive. Get free. This tiny flame slowly began to warm her as she came to her senses, now realizing that she had been sobbing softly all the while. Swallowing the bitter lump in her throat, she ceased her tears and began to think of a way out of this...

"He-" her voice cracked, and she took a moment to clear it. "Hey..."

She spoke softly, trying her best to keep her voice steady, as she attempted to get the prince's attention. "...Any ideas?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 21, 2011, 3:30pm

Unlike Belle the prince wasn't just tied up with a few ropes, he was actually chained inside shackles made of metal to the ground, he wouldn't be escaping so easily. In fact the farthest he could stretch would be allowing his feet to just pass through the gate of his cell. The bars were spread enough to get a link through, but not ones whole body.

Most curious was the fact that the key Corona once had that the mustached man used to open the doctor's cell was just outside of the prince's cell, he hadn't noticed yet. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 21, 2011, 4:02pm

Belle squirmed, trying to wriggle free of the ropes, but they were tied extremely well. She slowly slid closer to the door to her cell, pressing her face up against the cold iron bars; bits of rust crumbling off and sticking to her cheeks.

She squinted in the Prince's direction, his cell was only kitty corner to hers. Something on the ground there caught her attention.

"Hey, is that the key?" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 21, 2011, 5:21pm

The prince looked over to where Belle ushered, there was a key! He popped to and made a mad dash for it only to be caught by the length of his chain and swung back to the ground. It was too far for him to reach.

"I can't reach it," he stated sadly, for the small hope was now lost. "Wait," he said, "I have an idea."

This time more patiently he crept up on the key with the tip of his foot and to the best of his ability kicked it. It landed square in Belle's cell. Luckily for Belle only her hands and arms were bound behind her with rope.

"Hey if you get the key you could unlock the cell behind your back, maybe, just maybe, we cant get of here," the Prince said trying to keep silent to the guard above, although he was most likely sleeping. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 21, 2011, 6:09pm

"I don't know if it'll work, but I'll give it a try."

She turned around and carefully picked up the key with her swollen fingers. She would need to unlock the door from the outside, which would require her to reach through the bars. Simple enough, if you're hands and arms weren't tied together.

Filled with a burning determination, she positioned herself with her back against the cell door, feeling to make sure she was properly aligned with the lock. Calmly, she began to side her hands up through the bars, bending forward as she stood on her tippy toes. The back of her palms touched the bottom of the lock, but it was about at the limit to how far she could stretch her arms in that way. She needed to get higher. Quickly, she scanned the cell for anything she could use to stand on. Her eyes came to rest on the dirty old bucket that was used as a toilet. She walked over to it and kicked it over. Thankfully, it was empty for the most part, but it wouldn't have mattered either way. Using her feet, she turned it over and pushed it toward the door to stand on.

Now with the bucket under her feet, Belle could reach the lock and pull her hands up over it, sliding them through the bars again so that they hung, with the key, right in front of it. Carefully, she pushed the key into the lock and turned it. It took some effort with her cold, numb hands, but before long, there was a CLICK, and the cell door creaked open, pulling Belle painfully along with it, knocking her off the bucket and nearly tearing her over-stretched muscles. She stifled a scream by biting down on her lower lip, and squirmed to pull her arms out of the bars, dropping the key in the process. Her shoulders throbbed with pain, but she was able to ignore it with the rush of adrenaline. Again, she picked up the key and made her way over to the prince's cell, sliding the bucket over to the door with her foot. She unlocked his cell with less difficulty, opening the door and dropping the key in front of him.

"If you can get those shackles off, I'm going to go find a way to cut this rope." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 21, 2011, 6:40pm

"Congratulations Belle," the Prince said smiling coldly to himself, "unfortunately you'll have to make the escape on your own. You see the key might open the doors, but as I should have told you with the doctor, it doesn't open the shackles." The prince let out a sigh before continuing. He pointed over to the wall that usually opened. "Just kick near the bottom of the wall and it should slide out a little, then just pull from the little indent and it'll lead you to the secret passages. I don't see anything that could really cut the rope in here, but if you go all the way to the bottom of the stairway you'll find the room with the golem, there are all sorts of neat ancient instruments down there, among weapons of course. It'll be dark, but I'm sure you'll manage. When you're done there should be another passageway in the same room as the golem, not the one you came from, it will lead you out toward the eastern end of the Island out through a cave. From there whatever you want to do." The prince sat back down casually. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 21, 2011, 7:17pm

Belle turned around upon hearing what the prince had to say.

"Well, I can't very easily just leave you here. You must know where the key to the shackles can be found? Or maybe I can find something to break the chains down in that room with the golum."

She walked over to the wall and kicked it as he instructed, then glanced back in his direction. "I will be back."

Once again, Belle found herself in the dark, narrow passageway. She made her way over to the spiral staircase and carefully went down them instead of up. It seemed to take forever. Every little noise seemed cause for alarm: a rat scurrying, muffled voices from a passing room, the dripping of water, the creak of the ancient staircase, her own shaky breath; it was hard to keep moving when she felt at any second someone would discover her. Finally, she reached the bottom of the stairs, where the catacombs began. It was still impossibly dark, as there were no windows or torches lit. No one had been down here for quite awhile, accept for the prince and the doctor perhaps.

In fact, Belle was having a very hard time getting her barrings in these immense, lengthy passageways. She knew the further she went, the more lost she would become. As her eyes adjusted, she could barely make out the walls and the arched ceiling. When she came to a cross section, she stopped, trying to determine which way was the best to go. The prince had forgotten to give her instructions as to where the room with the golum and the weapons was located. It had been hidden well, after all. Well, if he found it wandering around down here, so shall I! she thought, determined, and decided to keep going straight... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 21, 2011, 7:40pm

The cross section was just the place Belle needed to go, at the center and bottom of all the catacombs. What Belle could not see in the dark was that the room was littered with relics from the past, she had avoided stepping on these going forward by sheer luck. However in the middle of the room was the Golem. Maybe 15 to 20 paces Belle was from the Golem, when it activated. Pitch black, that is what you get when you add all the colors of the rainbow.

Two caliginous grand purple eyes steamed out from a mass tall indeed. Then steam of all the colors of the rainbow lit up the room violently. After the room was dim lit by the strange runes covering the Golem from head to toe.

The golem seemed to take a deep breath as the oxygen around the room flew to his center of mass. Next it enveloped Belle in a cloud of mute warm steam. On the damp clouds followed a low metallic rustic voice.

"Finally one who shares my taste for the darkness. You silly humans have brought your distasteful light down here for eons. Not one has come through into my realm, welcome to the darkness. Tell me, what is your wish."

For a moment all the light in the room seemed to be broken and opaque into the word wish before becoming solid again. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 21, 2011, 8:11pm

In the sudden illumination of the gigantic room, despite the light being dim compared to that of a torch, Belle let out a small scream in surprise and fell over. Unable to catch herself, she landed on her back, or her arms more likely, being that they were tied behind her. The wind knocked out of her for a moment, she shut her eyes tightly against the light. Her heart pounded in fear when she heard the voice. The Golem was speaking! No one said anything about it being alive! Panicked, she scurried back as fast as she could without her arms, smacking right into an ancient suit of armor, causing it to tumble down on top of her, shattering the dark with even more clamorous sound. She bolted up again, humorously strewn with armor parts, the blood pounding in her ears, waiting for the Golem to strike, but then she realized it hadn't moved. The room, now filled with steam and dim, iridescent colors, seemed to calm her as she allowed his words to sink in.

Wish?

Now it all came back to her... The story the prince told of the professor and his relentless pursuit of an object that granted wishes; thinking that this Golem had some clue written on it that would lead him to it. But for some reason, it had awoken to her presence, and now was asking her for her wish? Could it be....?

"I...."

She had only one thing in mind; a strong desire that had been growing in the back of her mind since this day began. Though, selfish as it may be, she knew that if she thought too long on what to ask for, it would only drive her insane. She couldn't solve all the world's problems with just one wish after all...

"I wish to go back in time, to yesterday, if I can..." she said, hesitantly, "...or this morning at least, if it's not too much trouble, and with all the knowledge I know now. I want to change what happened today."

She took a deep breath, feeling a little foolish, for it was rather silly to believe in such fairy tales as an object that grants any one wish one would ask of it, but it was worth a shot. After all, a Golem did just talk to her, though she had a suspicion that it was only some strange machine from a foreign land. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 22, 2011, 3:25pm

The golem let out another puff of steam. When the heavy substance eventually mixed into the air and the atmosphere stabilized the runes vanished. The light left from once it came and the golem was silent.

It activated once more violently, "Not enough power," it muttered cranky, "there is no way I can grant a wish like that."

Gears and mechanics ticked back and forth between slight puffs of steam. The ground quaked as the golem sprung to its feet robotically. It seemed to be struggling in the tight quarters, but it was maneuvering well enough for a golem. It turned its head to face Belle on its own hinge.

"However, if I can't even grant my creators their desires what kind of a golem would I be?"It questioned itself with another gale of steam. "I will assist you in finding the other way to have your wish granted, I've been sleeping for too long," it finalized offering Belle its large hand of mixed soft stone and metal. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 22, 2011, 7:39pm

Slowly, Belle got to her feet, which was quite difficult without her hands to support or assist her.

"Oh... I'm sorry." Was all she said in reply.

She felt a little disappointed that her wish could not be granted. Then again, it was kind of silly for her to have put hope in such a fairy tale concept. Besides, it would require bringing the dead back to life and that feat alone has eluded mankind since the beginning of time; there's no way that this Golem could have been able to accomplish something like that!

She glanced at the giant hand being offered to her, then wriggled her nearly-dead fingers, remembering that she was bound rather tightly.

"Er, one moment," she told it, then quickly looked around. Spotting a large scythe-like weapon, she dashed over to it and began rubbing the ropes on her wrists against the blade. Soon, they were cut and she repeated the action for the ropes on her elbows. Finally, she was free of her bonds! The blood began to rush back into her fingers as she shrugged her aching shoulders a few times.

"Oh, that's so much better!" She exclaimed, then picked up a small short-sword and carefully climbed into the Golem's broad hand. The concept was quite strange, for she had never ridden anything other than a horse. Hopefully, this thing could at least help herself and the prince escape.

"Alright, the prince is above in the dungeon..." She gestured back toward the direction she came from. "If you could please help me set him free? I owe him at least that much for helping me escape..." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 22, 2011, 8:38pm

There are no awkward moments for a machine. When told to wait the Golem simply sat frozen in place for its new master to climb aboard. When Belle was set in the machine's hand it let out another big puff of steam. Then Belle was surrounded by a strange magic. It swelled around Belle like a big bubble in the palm of the Golem's hand with Belle in the center. The sensation was like being submerged in water without the fact you could not breathe and that if you opened your eyes the chlorine or filth would corrupt them. No it was like swimming in thickened oxygen.

"Hang on," the Golem rasped.

It was only now that Belle was in the palm of the Golem's hand that she would notice just how big the golem was, MASSIVE. In fact it was squatting just to fit in the room. It used the momentum of standing up to actually jump into the air crashing into the ceiling. Belle felt no pull or push suspended happily in her own little bubble, rocks being propelled off the outer surface all around her. The golem by sheer force crumbled through rock and dirt out of the catacombs and climbed onto bare land just outside the castle and in front of where the cellar door was that led down to the cells.

The guard there of course was now screaming that a big giant golem had come out of the ground. The golem didn't like the screaming one bit and he punched through the guard and through the cellar door right into the castle's cell block prison. With just its fingers it bend the cell bars and broke the chains that shackled the prince down. Of course this was with the hand that wasn't holding Belle. It formed a similar bubble encapsulating the prince and pulling him out.

"Now that I can see the moon I may have the power to send you back a day," the golem said cheerfully.

The prince chanted, "Oh wow, this is just like MAGIC!"

Then the great Golem said his final words, "Belle Maplewind your wish is granted!"

There was a bright light. The kind of bright light you see when you've been dreaming for a long time and just open your eyes in the middle of the day.

- Day 3 -

Belle had been dreaming, she woke up still bound by ropes, however the bag was removed from her head. The prince was in the cell kitty corner from her eating something that had been brought down by the guard.

"Good afternoon, your head trauma must have been severe, you slept all night and through almost all today," the Prince rang.

"Oh," he said on another note, "and we leave in just an hour."

Goddamned Golem sent her a day ahead, what a terrible nightmare. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 22, 2011, 9:08pm

Belle uttered a few words that her mother would have been highly ashamed to have heard her speak, under her breath, as the realization that it was all just some horrible dream sunk in. It had felt so real, yet was so obviously a dream, she could not believe her gullibility in her desperation.

"The Key...." she said aloud to the prince, searching around on the ground by his cell for any sign of it. "...is it there?"

She dared to hope, but knew the probability. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 23, 2011, 3:01pm

Maybe there was some truth to the dream after all, for near the edge of the Prince's cell indeed laid the key in the same place it have been in Belle's dreamscape.

"What Key," The prince asked curiously. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 23, 2011, 4:13pm

"That one, right there!" she answered, excitedly; nodding her head in the direction of the key laying in front of his cell. "Hurry and grab it, we don't have much time!"

Though she wondered why he hadn't noticed it in all the time they have been locked up, she figured he wasn't really the observant type and didn't question it further. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 23, 2011, 4:22pm

The prince sat up and got to his feet quickly bolting as far as his chains would allow.

"Woah there is a key, why didn't I see that earlier," he observed.

"I don't think I can reach it though," he stated, "looks like we aren't very lucky after all." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 23, 2011, 4:28pm

Belle made a frustrated sound. "There has to be some way! Fling it over to me somehow?"

(Shortest post EVER, btw) Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 23, 2011, 4:34pm

"Even if I do somehow get it, only you could escape, that key if I'm correct is the same one I left to open the doctor's cell. it doesn't work on the shackles. That's a different key."

The prince stretched one leg as far as it could and it touched the key. At first he played with it trying to get it to come closer to him. To no avail, it almost even slipped out of reach being lost forever. Finally frustrated he made a disgusted noise following by an angry kick. The key landed in the cell next to Belle's near the wall that the two cells shared.

"Well its up to you now." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 23, 2011, 5:05pm

Belle looked at him in disbelief. What was he playing at?! It wasn't like she'd just leave him there, and anyway what a selfis- Her train of thought was then interrupted by his effort to move the key. It spun across the hall and into the cell across from hers. I suppose I could be wrong, she thought to herself, rebuking her earlier thoughts. However, it was going to prove impossible for her to get the key using her hands, being that they were still tightly bound.

She wasn't about to give up that easily.

She positioned herself next to the bars, facing the wall between the two cells, and slipped her shoe-less left foot out through them. Ignoring the fact that she would be exposing most of her leg, she hooked her knee around the wall and tried to feel around for the key with her toes. After almost kicking it out of reach, she found it and slowly pulled it back through the bars. She pushed herself back and dragged the key the final distance into her own cell. With a small triumphant sigh, she turned around to pick it up with her hands.... Her hands! They were swollen and numb to the point where she could barely move them. The ropes were too tight in efforts to prevent her from slipping out of them. Still, she tried as hard as she could to pick up the key, but time and time again, she dropped it, unable to feel it or her fingers. She began to get more and more frustrated in her desperation. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 24, 2011, 7:41pm

"Stop dropping the key," the prince exclaimed nervously.

In the market harbor the merchant ship was busy preparing to get underway. A small partition of the market had been blocked off for the merchants to make their last few trades. Odd enough several women were also kissing their families goodbye. It seemed as though quite a number of the younger female Island's parents had been persuaded to do the same as Belle's.

---

Liliana approached Corona's home indifferent in her step. She was greeted by Corona's father whom was still working on repairing the small house. Liliana waved and came a little closer, Corona's father looked to his high left as if pondering what he was going to say.

"Oh, hello Liliana," Corona's father greeted, "I'm sorry, but today would probably not be a good day for Corona to go play."

Liliana made a whining noise followed by asking, "Why not?"

"Oh, you know, that condition really flared up yesterday. Corona wandered off and got lost and barely made it home."

"Is that so," Liliana asked disappointedly.

Corona had heard voices from outside and was peeping through a small hole that was apart of the not very well built wall. When Corona saw it was Liliana the door was flung open smacking hard against the wall led by the hinge. Corona marched out triumphantly giving an over exaggerated wave to Liliana before quickly cupping hand over mouth to block one rather violent cough.

"Corona," Liliana exclaimed when she saw Corona appear in the doorway. She paused when Corona coughed and then followed with, "Oh wow, you really are sick."

"Yeah, you wouldn't believe what I went through to disprove that rumor," Corona said casually, "but," Corona paused, Liliana took it from there, "Hah, I was right," she threw in Corona's face. "No way, you don't have to be so mean about it," Corona said defensively. Liliana's victory cry was laughter. "So is that all you came here for," Corona asked hesitantly. "Well its not like you can come play or anything," Liliana said dubiously.

Corona coughed, then gazed over to the one Corona called dad. Corona's father looked back at Corona expectantly awaiting Corona to tell Liliana that Corona could not come and play. Corona did just the opposite, choosing to misinterpret dad's body language.

"I guess we could atleast play inside or something," Corona said matter of factly.

Corona's father facepalmed. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 25, 2011, 3:46pm

"I'm trying not to!" Belle retorted crossly, frustration and desperation elevated in her voice.

She flexed her numb fingers, willing them to obey her commands. Finally, she was able to hold the key without dropping it... Now to unlock the door. This also proved more difficult than in her dream. She stood on the up-turned bucket, her hands hooked over the lock, through the bars, trying to turn the key. At last, after many attempts and dropping the key twice, it clicked open and she was free of the cell!

"Alright," she told the prince, as she carefully unlocked his door after dropping the key again. "Do you know where the key to the shackles is?"

Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 25, 2011, 4:02pm

As the door clicked open to the Prince's cell he came forward congratulating Belle on setting herself free, and getting him partially there.

"Alright we're almost out of this, Belle. Here let me untie you."

The Prince turned Belle around and reversed all the knots that were binding up Belle. She was free of the ropes.

"Kay, so I have a plan, theres a master set of keys that is kept in the captain's private quarters. The best part about it is that if you go through the wall again and go all the way up and push the wall in at the end, you'll be in the exact hallway the captain resides in. Then you just have to find his room, I don't remember exactly which one, but its in that hallway. If you kick the wall and pull out in the little intent, you'll find the passageway. Good luck Belle. If you hurry we can both make our escape out the catacombs." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 25, 2011, 5:50pm

Belle waved her arms to get the blood back flowing through them. She was so distracted by how nice it felt to have those tight ropes off that she almost missed what the prince said.

"All the way to the top?" she confirmed. "Got it. I'll be back."

Just like in her dream, she kicked the bottom of the secret door and pulled it open. This time, instead of going down the stairs, she went up, as instructed. She was a little confused as to how far up she should go, but he had said all the way, so she ran straight to the top, feeling quite out of breath by the time she reached it. It was a bit higher than she expected, but perhaps she was in a tower. Pausing to listen for any footsteps on the other side of the wall, she pushed it open, as he had told her to, and stepped into an empty, circular, hallway. Straight across from her was a window, which showed her that she was indeed in one of the castle's towers, and quite high up. The wall she came out of continued on either side of her, curving out of sight. It would be tricky if there was someone lurking around the bend, so she stepped cautiously; choosing to go right first, in search of the Captain's room. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 26, 2011, 1:59pm

The wall opening hinged open to the left in the circular hallway, so it was only natural to go right. However as Belle stepped out cautiously the wall swung half closed behind her. Intrigued the Captain's face peeked from behind to the left.

"I was looking for a rat scurrying between the walls, and look who you are, oh dear, you are in trouble."

The captain was at this moment unarmed, but he stepped forward authoritatively toward Belle in a hurry. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 26, 2011, 2:42pm

The captain's appearance nearly caused Belle to fall over in surprise. Her heart leaped into her throat and her stomach did flip flops, almost like how it is when one's in love, except this was entirely different~

Three choices came to mind in the split second she had to decide what action to take: One was to fight; as weak as she was against the muscular, combat-trained Captain, if she struggled hard enough, she could do some damage at least. Second, was to run for it; there were two directions she could take- back where she came from or around to the right in the hopes that it didn't end at a dead end. And lastly, the advice of the scandalous Madam LeDerre who often visited the market square for the daily gossip, popped into her head for a flash moment: "...When it comes to men, you can get away with just about anything using your feminine charms, lovely~" Of course, Belle quickly dismissed this last one, and it would have been quite laughable to consider had the situation not been so dire.

In the amount of time that it took the captain to take two steps toward her, the fugitive girl slipped past him, back into the passageway, using all her might to pull the door shut behind her. It wasn't that the captain was clumsy, it was just that Belle had the combination of luck, a small frame, and a very high adrenalin rush on her side. Not taking a moment to look up behind her, she raced down the spiral stairs, nearly falling on a few occasions.

After passing a few floors, putting distance between herself and the captain, she pushed another wall open and stepped through, slamming the door shut behind her; then turning to face whatever room/hallway she had stumbled into.... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 26, 2011, 2:49pm

Success, Belle slammed the wall completely shut behind her and slipped past the captain. He was not happy though trying to pry open the wall a bit, but failing. He left toward his room and returned with a maul of significant size starting to smack loudly shaking the foundation of the upper castle. He managed to knock a part of the wall out into the passageway. Then he proceeded to reach in and pull the wall open. He went back to his room muttering again. Two guards at this point had joined the captain.

"Spread alarm of this disturbance," the captain ordered brandishing his sword. He disappeared into the spiral down.

---

Belle arrived on the ground level of the castle, opening up the wall into the grand entrance of the castle. Score, she could escape into the town as she pleased. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 9:25am

What luck! The grande hall! And no one was around, not a single guard in sight! After pushing the wall shut behind her, Belle quickly and cautiously made her way toward the entrance, though she hadn't forgotten about the prince. There had to be another key specifically for the shackles, and she was pretty sure the dungeon guard would have it. She squinted from the brightness of the sun as she stepped out into the daylight, and headed down the grande steps. She knew her way around to the to the cellar door, though she had no idea how she was going to convince the guard to give up his keys and let her go through to free the prince. Still, she had to try; or face the captain again. She kicked herself, mentally, for revealing to him the secret passageway. No doubt, he'll find out it goes all they way down to the dungeons and beyond. Perhaps, if there was a way she could show up in disguise as some guest come to see the prisoners... There wasn't enough time for that. She had to think of another way. Belle snuck up to the cellar by hiding behind a few of the castles well manicured shrubs. The last thing she wanted was to be spotted by the guard and have to fight him off somehow, but she would think of a plan, once she could see what he was doing. Peeking over the bush, she observed the cellar door... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 10:18am

The guard felt it was perfectly fine to take a little nap; his body weight would surely hold the cellar door down. He was laying on top the cellar door completely passed out. A sword hung on his belt and a cudgel had slipped from his fingers and was now easily accessible on the ground adjacent to the cellar door.

---

Corona and Liliana were busy chatting about this and that- Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 10:44am

Ah perfect, the guard was asleep! Now was a time where Belle would have to be more daring than she had ever been in her life. Her time was nearly up, she had to act fast. Rushing quickly but silently forward, she grabbed the club up off the ground and swung it at the sleeping guard's head, with the intention of knocking him off the door and keeping him unconscious. The blunt, heavy object (which she had difficulty picking up), connected with the side of his head and she felt instantly guilty. He had done her no harm, and though he was slacking, he was still just doing his job. She had taken advantage of him while he was unsuspecting and vulnerable. He let out a loud yelp as he was sent rolling off the door, landing face down on the ground, groaning and in shock. She hadn't quite KO'd him, but he was stunned for the time being. Apologizing sincerely, she grabbed the keys and- after a quick second of thought- the sword off his belt, she tugged the doors open (once again with difficulty, though she wasn't completely weak) and ran down the stairs into the dungeon.

"I got them!" she exclaimed to the prince, tossing the keys down in front of him. "I'm not sure which one it is, but hurry and get yourself free!" Sword in hand, Belle stood guard as the prince worked on loosing his shackles. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 11:28am

The prince hurried sticking a key into the shackles, turning, then removing the key and repeating the process with a new one. On key 3 of 4 the shackles clicked off.

"We're free!" the prince yelled.

The Captain had been hurrying down the staircase. He was beginning to wonder if the stairs ever ended, perhaps just like the wall swung open in the tower it swung open along the passageway in other places. He tested the theory stopping and pushing apart of the wall with all his force; the wall did not move. He continued to run down the stairs when he heard a familiar voice, the prince's voice. It was now that the dark staircase started to light a little, and then the Captain could see an open part of the wall, he rushed through it.

The prince's shackles were now off, he stepped out, he was so celebratory, until the Captain came out staring at Belle and the Prince. The Prince eyed the sword Belle carried and snatched it up from her pointing it at the Captain.

"We'll be taking our leave now Captain Weligro."

He started to back up sword at the ready with one hand and the other reaching out to push Belle back a bit. From behind Belle a very upset guard was climbing up from his feet. He trailed in from the top of the entryway from the cellar door, cudgel in hand.

"What is going on here you dumb bitch," he cried, but then he straightened up, "Oh Captain!"

"You are going nowhere," The captain retorted casually, "You're boxed in."

The prince nudged Belle and the lunged in at the Captain with his sword aggressively pushing him aside from the doorway as the captain attempted to block and parry. It left an opening for the secret doorway in the wall. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 12:39pm

Now without a sword and without any means to fight, Belle had no choice but to slip into the not-so-secret-anymore passageway. She hoped that the prince could hold up against the two guards; she would return to help fight with him as soon as she could find her own weapon. This time Belle went down the stairs, knowing that there had to be more weapons in the "room with the golem". It was also the only route of escape, so if the prince was able to get past the captain, that's where he would head next.

Belle came to the bottom of the stairs in the absolute darkness. She could no longer hear the fight going on in the dungeon, as the silence began to press in on her with an overwhelming feeling of calm, empty sadness. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, she could see that this had to be the crypt, where the ancestors of the royal family laid to rest, undisturbed. Dusty old skeletons slept in niches along the walls, dawned with jewels and crowns; much to the delight of any looter if ever discovered by such. Belle had no interest in these things, and in fact was completely repulsed by the musty smell of the ancient tunnel and the presence of the dead; trying hard not to lose her wits and her stomach.

There was only one hall and it lead forward, branching off here and there to a few dead ends (quite literally). Belle followed it until it opened up into a larger hall with a very high ceiling and several great pillars supporting it. She could not see beyond a few feet in either direction, so she wasn't sure just how vast this new hallway was, but a light scent of fresh air told her she was heading in the right direction... Time was pressing on her mind with a suffocating grip; forcing her to move forward without hesitation. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 12:54pm

The man with the mustache had arrived to pick up the prince and Belle, escorted by two guards. When the two guards had noticed that the cellar door was open and the guard was nowhere to be found they rushed toward the prison entrance. The man with the mustache followed quickly.

The Captain parried the Prince off of him, not quite quick enough to stop Belle from proceeding down the stairs. The prince found himself between the passageway and the captain. He chose to escape as well turning to run. The other guard and two more rushed to the captain. Captain Weligro chose to stop for a second and catch his breath turning to the three guards and was explaining he situation to them, when the man with the mustache came in. He eavesdropped and was not pleased.

"I apologize sir, but those two have decided to not go in peace. We will take them down now full force."

The man with the mustache was not going to let the Captain kill whom he wanted. He had other plans for Belle, that she was feisty was all the more interesting to the man. He would give chase and would reward his master with a specimen of intense willpower. He stepped back a master glyph appearing. The blood spilled by the doctor which had dried on the cell floor reacted.

The man with the mustache entered the staircase. Captain Weligro and three guards were plastered about the walls and floor behind him. The wall shut behind him ominously..

---

The prince caught up to Belle, he had been running silently behind her trying to catch her lead. He shouted ahead now, "Keep going we're almost to the golem actually, I can take the lead from there!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 2:14pm

Belle froze where she was as a loud echo resounded around the cathedral-sized hall. The prince was close behind her, though she couldn't quite hear what he was saying due to his voice being lost in the amplification of the echoing. She waiting for him to catch up to her before they moved on. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 4:09pm

The prince caught up and asked between breaths, "Why'd you stop?" he continued, "the golem is just up ahead. On the other side there's apart of the wall that opens up to a hillside on the eastern end of the island. Though finding where the wall is in the dark could prove troublesome. I wish we had a torch or something. This way, I believe."

The Prince led Belle to the golem.

Pitch black, that is what you get when you add all the colors of the rainbow. Color Island was aptly name, even its greatest residents were black at their cores. Gluttony of wine, Murder for gain, Lies and slander in Wrath.

Two caliginous grand purple eyes steamed out in the darkness. Then steam of all the colors of the rainbow lit up the room violently. Moments later the flash subsided and left the room eerily dim lit.

"Amazing, I've never seen it do this," the prince muttered.

The steam circled around the room: a pale rainbow hurricane. The Golem was at the center looking aggressively at Belle and the prince. The golem seemed to take a deep breath as the oxygen around the room flew to his center of mass eating the steam color. All was black with the exception of the two malignant gems towering above Belle. Next it enveloped the room in a cloud of mute warm steam, colorless. On the damp clouds followed a low metallic rustic voice.

"Finally one who shares my taste for the darkness. You silly humans have brought your distasteful light down here for eons. Not one has come through into my realm."

"Why are you alive now," the prince asked.

"Not one has come through into my realm. You silly humans have brought your distasteful light down here for eons," the golem rang again like a broken record.

The prince turned to Belle, "It must only activate in the dark, but its still broken I think, I wonder how we control it." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 4:51pm

"Like my dream...." Belle whispered to herself. "Except..."

As she looked into the golem's glowing purple eyes, she could feel something tug at her soul. Darkness... we were all filled with it... but at the same time, we contained every color. Every beautiful one. Is that what makes us human? Or is that what makes us the people of Color Island....

"In my dream, this golem granted wishes," she told the prince. "I don't know if that's what it'll do now, but maybe we could try. Tell it what your wish is."

Belle's own wish still remained in her mind; to change what had all happened... bring back those who are dead. Or was it really what she truly wanted? Perhaps in a deeper part of her wanted something more selfish... Something from the darkness of her soul....

((Cliche dramatic post.... FAILURE)) Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 4:57pm

"So we just wish it to do something?" The prince asked, "well thats easy."

The Prince bellowed out to the golem, "Golem, I wish for you to take us out of here and knock out that entire wall."

The prince pointed to the wall on the other side of the golem.

The golem did not acknowledge it just put its hand down as if waiting for the two to climb aboard. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 5:20pm

The golem lowered his massive hands, seeming to indicate for them to climb on. Belle remember it had done this in her dream, but she was still unsure if it would work exactly as it did then.

"Get on," she told the prince, then grabbed an old rusty sword off the ground before climbing into the creature's gargantuan outstretched palm. Her expression was impassive, but her mind was hopeful. Surely no one would think to try and apprehend them with a ten story golem on their side. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 5:56pm

The prince followed suit and climbed onto the Golem's hand. It lifted up slightly now that they were on board. The Golem began to activate and runes of all colors glittered across the Golem. Again like in Belle's dream it created a magic bubble that the two floated opposite from one another in a yin and yang fashion. In the Golem's other hand it created another bubble and threw it at the wall. It crumbled to bits creating a loud noise that shook the Island. The golem proceeded out of the wall and into the fresh air and afternoon sun.

In the daylight the runes began to start to fade slowly.

"My light is now fading," the Golem puffed out.

The golem continued to walk past the hill into the sand and then out to sea.

The prince began to scream, "Hey stop, no you have to go back ashore, you aren't supposed to keep going afterward."

It was too late the Golem ran out of energy a few hundred yards out to sea. The water was a third up the Golem's height, deep by human standards. The bubble of energy seized to hold and the Golem became a solid rock mass. Belle landed on the Golem's cold stone hands where the prince slipped from the bubble and off several stories to the water below. He swam and began to hold on the best he could to the Golem's leg below.

---

Though Belle and the Prince had run far to reach the Golem out walked through the hole left by the Golem was the man with the mustache. He stared as the Golem walked out to sea. He looked completely unwinded, as if he had simply walked the entire way and still kept up with the two prisoners fleeing. His mustache brilliantly glowed in the afternoon sun. He began to walk back towards the marketplace, to the merchant ship. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 6:44pm

This wasn't right! Now they were trapped; the golem for some reason had taken them out to sea and fallen asleep again. What's worse, was that the prince had fallen in and was now struggling to hold on, down below in the tides. There was nothing Belle could do to help him. She had no rope to throw to him, no useful item to help him stay afloat, and jumping down herself would only put them both in peril, if not make things worse. She was useless. Practical Belle. Clever Belle. Resourceful Belle. Insightful Belle. She was none of these things now. There was no way she could save the day; all she could do was sit helplessly watching.

"Hold on," Belle called down to him, hopelessly. "Unless you can swim to shore!"

It would be a dangerous thing to attempt, but it seemed to be his only hope. If he could float really well, all he'd have to do is let the tides carry him back, but it would still be very tiering. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 6:50pm

"I can't go ashore," the prince said to himself, he then followed by shouting this to Belle.

---

Not but a few minutes after the man with the mustache had begun left for the ship he arrived. It was fully prepared to get underway now. A bell rang twice as the man arrived and crossed the brow on board. One of the men shouted all aboard, and the boat departed. The man with the mustache went into the Captain's cabin. Soon after the captain himself came out shouting that their course was going to be altered and that they would sail to the other side of the Island to the Golem. The ship set sail.. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 7:22pm

"Why not?" Belle called back. "Can you not swim?"

That was silly. What islander didn't know how to swim?! Surely, the prince had been taught that. It was as basic as putting on clothes or eating dinner or reciting prayers... Why wouldn't the prince have been taught this? Then again, maybe he was afraid to go back to shore... But what choice did he have? Come to think of it, what choice did Belle have? If she stayed there, she would only die of exposure, or get hauled back to the island only to be bound and thrown in prison again. Her best chance was to swim back as well and hope to escape by boat like she had planned.

She made up her mind and decided to jump, but first, she was obligated to unhook the pretty blue dress that she had borrowed from Marlomi, and leave it behind, lest it cause her to be dragged down by the current. Now down to her corset and undergarments, she gave the dress one last farewell glance in morning for the kind old woman who had given it to her, and took the exhilarating plunge into the sea below. She dove in, headfirst, and looped toward the surface, coming up near the other leg of the golem, opposite the prince.

"You alright?" She called over to him. "I'm going to swim...." Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 7:32pm

The ship sailed quickly it had already reached around the Island in sight of the Golem.

"The merchant ship, do you think they are coming for us," the prince shouted over to Belle.

It closed in between the Island and the Golem sailing at an angle southeast to cut a diagonal between the Golem and the Island. It anchored maybe 100 yards from the Golem and 300 from the Island. It repelled a rope ladder down the side, a few men yelling to swim aboard. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 7:36pm

Belle narrowed her eyes in disgust of that ship, but said nothing. She cast off from the leg of the Golem, making way toward the ship. About halfway there, she change course in attempt to swim around it. She was determined to make it to shore. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 7:44pm

Prince saw Belle make a swim for it. He too cast off and began to swim toward the boat. Belle seemed to be drifting off, but there was nothing the Prince could do except swim toward the boat. He made it and began to climb up the rope ladder finally coming aboard. Several of the merchants eyed him sizing him up.

The man with the mustache came out when he heard calls that someone had come aboard. He ventured out to look at his new specimen, but she wasn't there. The Captain was yelling something about how their client wanted the girl, the boatsmen scurried about. Preparing a small boat and casting it into the water, a few jumped in after it and climbed aboard. They began rowing toward Belle. The man with the mustache observed from the starboard side of the large ship at Belle already past the ship.

The boat was gaining on Belle one of the sailors yelled, "Hey lady let us help you out of the water!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 7:48pm

"No thank you, gentlemen!" Belle called back to them, breathlessly, for it was hard to shout and swim at the same time. She didn't stop for a moment, but pressed onward toward the shore with all her might. It would have been wiser to float on the currents, but she was being pursued. Inevitably she would be caught, but she wasn't going to give up just yet. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 7:50pm

"You're going to drown," the men shouted as they came along side of her. One man yelled, "Swim over we'll bring you ashore, we're here to rescue you." Another said, "Just grab the damn bitch." As they came aside another jumped in and grabbed at her taking her under the water for a second and then forcing her toward the boat. The others dragged her in. Now that she was on board they punched Belle straight in the stomach and then bashed her over the head, which was still sore from being knocked out the last time. Another one was preparing to put on ropes, again. KO

---

The Prince was gone from the deck by the time the sailors brought her back on board. The man with the mustache had turned and left after he watched the men capture Belle. He await in his room after telling the Captain to bring Belle at once when she was his.

---

Belle awoke laying untied in a strange bed in a room in the cabin of the ship. Across from the bed sitting at a desk looking through a journal of sorts was the man with the mustache. His back was turned at the moment fascinated in what was all the research notes of the late Professor Skyshi, Doctor Shisky. Belle was naked, her undergarments were still drying on a coat rack in the corner. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 8:13pm

Belle sat up quickly, immediately regretting it, as her head pounded and her body fell exposed. She furiously covered herself with the blanket, tears of anger and fear burning in her eyes.

"W-what have you done to me?! What are you going to do?!" She shouted at the man, anxiety cracking her voice. "How dare you take me from my home! How dare you remove my clothes! I demand you take me back at once!"

She was powerless, helpless. It was the most horrible feeling she had ever felt in her life. She was also highly exhausted and in much pain from the trauma to her head and body during the day's events. Again, her adrenalin surged through her veins, preparing to fight to the death if need be. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 8:17pm

She was awake, the man with the mustache turned ominously. "Welcome, Belle, didn't your parents tell you, we're going to be married," he stated matter of factly. He stood crossed the room over to the coat rack, "You were really wet when we fetched you from the water, I had to dry you off and let your clothes dry." He crossed back towards the door, "Don't worry you're safe right here with me, rest easy we're sailing for your new home after a brief stop in Regius!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 8:27pm

"Wait-!" she bellowed furiously, "You can't-!" She wrapped the blanket around her body and got up from the bed. "I never consented to this!"

She started to move toward the door, determined to find a way off the ship. She stopped in front of the man who stood blocking the doorway.

"Let me go!" Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 8:40pm

The man could do little to stop from curving his face into a smile. She still had the willpower to be defiant, excellent. He held his hand up and snapped his fingers, a glyph appeared shielding the man from Belle. The blankets tightened bounding up Belle and they began to drag her back to the bed magically. The man sat back in the chair looking at Belle now wrapped up on the bed.

"I am Romius Sidth Chaskellor apprentice only to my master in Ghalea. I am an alchemist and you will be my master's masterpiece."

The blankets tightened and then fell over Belle's head, her senses were nulled.

---

After some time the blankets lost their tightness and then fell loose all together. Belle found herself in a cell in the hold of the ship. Around her caged were atleast 30 or so woman most were recognizable from the Island. They were also all naked, half of them looked as if they had been defiled. Two were sitting in the cell looking particularly grim. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 8:56pm

Belle had never seen an alchemist before, or alchemy for that matter, so when the blankets magically enveloped her, she panicked, screaming. This man was a demon! What unholy horror was this?! As it wrapped around her head, everything went white, and she knew no more until they loosed her again in a cell. She had not felt that she had been moved, nor did she know how much time had passed. She held the blanket gingerly over her front, feeling a bit wary of it, but not enough to sit exposed. Finally, having gained back all her senses, she looked around at the girls in the cell. She knew most of them, but she had nothing to say. What had happened to them? Why were they here? She wanted to save them all, but how? She felt a bit of hopelessness in her own heart. They could commandeer the ship and turn it around, but it seemed impossible. They were locked up, their dignity taken away, their spirits gone... Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 9:15pm

"You know my sister is gonna get married or something with one of those merchants," Liliana said half heartily to Corona.

"Thats weird," Corona stated.

"Yeah, my mom and dad decided on it while they were drunk on the beach that one night."

"Is that so," Corona asked.

"I don't want my sister to go away," Liliana cried, "its strange that she'd just get up and leave."

"Well does she even want to go," Corona questioned.

"Thats the thing, I don't think she does, but we all live in the slums, and my parents think its the best thing for her."

"You know I really don't trust those guys," Corona said with shifting eyes.

"Why not," Liliana asked.

Corona confided in Liliana, inbetween fits of coughs Corona recounted for the tale that took place the day before.

"Well that settles it," Liliana shouted, "we have to stop my sister!"

Corona stood and coughed out, "Yes we do, for the sake of juuuustice!"

"Actually you're sick," Liliana said holding Corona's head down.

"You're right, I don't wanna go out and do something that troublesome anyways," Corona retorted.

"But-" Liliana said with fake choked back tears, "I'm too scared to do it by myself!"

"Cut the crap," Corona cut her off.

"Then shall we go," Liliana asked.

"Fine," Corona sighed.

--- Cough, Cough ---

Liliana and Corona pushed open the lid of a large shipping box they had been hiding in. The ship had unfortunately got underway in an emergency after the man with the mustache had got onboard to fetch Belle, of course Corona did not know that.

"We're in so much trouble," Liliana squirmed as she saw out of the corner of her eye one of the crew.

"They don't look like any regular merchants," Corona said as if Corona knew what merchants commonly looked like. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by sael on Aug 27, 2011, 9:24pm

Some time passed, as the ship rocked back and forth in the waves. The girls remained silent for the most part. Any words spoken were in whispers. Belle slowly collected her wits; that tiny flame of will power warming her, though her body was beyond the point of exhaustion. She was starting to feel it too, as she wound down. There was still a lot of fear and uncertainty keeping her alert however, and she would need it to push onward.

"Excuse me," Belle voiced to the crowd. "But what are you all doing here? Did they take you too?"

The answer was obvious, but she wanted to see who would speak up and what they would say. Re: Color Island, Carmagh Post by milk50tea on Aug 27, 2011, 9:40pm

A girl from next to Belle who was unrecognizable turned to speak to Belle, her voice quivered, "We we're tricked, we thought we'd be marrying into wealthy Ghalean men. B-but these men are not merchants at all, they're Pirates from Godrin who pretend to be merchants and kidnap young children and woman and sell them into slavery. We're especially lucky, I hear we're gonna be sold off to some creepy old man who is gonna run experiments on us or something."

( To be continued in The Outer Sea ... )