Unbinding of the Golden Witch Game Thread
Sept 12, 2017 5:50:52 GMT 12
Post by Yarn Witch on Sept 12, 2017 5:50:52 GMT 12
It is a hot, bright summer day on Rokkenjima. From his study in the top floor of the mansion, the patriarch of the Ushiromiya family stares out into the Rose Garden, his eyes following the tiny forms of his eldest son and his son’s wife, Krauss and Natsuhi. Natsuhi seems worried about something, looking over her shoulder as the two disappear under the gazebo.
Kinzo watches a few moments more, but when no new movements catch his eye, he sighs heavily.
“It’s true then?” He asks the servant standing behind him.
Genji nods, his movement unseen, “It appears so. Maria was correct. Your children plan to kill you at the family conference this year.
“Rudolf’s problems overseas were not imaginary, but it provided him a cover to make some black-market purchases. From what I’ve gathered, Rudolf and Eva strong-armed their other two siblings into agreeing to this plan. They’d already guessed Krauss was embezzling from you and threatened that he either go along with them, or they get their money by revealing his scheme in court. They’ve already bribed Gohda to poison your food.”
Kinzo bursts out laughing at this.
“How very interesting! I was beginning to think I would have to reveal Krauss’s little scheme, since no one else seemed to be noticing it! He’s getting off quite easy, though. And the Grandchildren?”
“I can only say for certain that Maria knows and Lady Jessica does not. I find it difficult to believe that this information would be divulged to George, Ange, or even Battler.”
“True, true. After all, if the grandchildren knew my own would become paranoid that they would be killed so their children could claim the inheritance instead. And in any case, it’d be wise for them to have some innocent to the plan if an investigation were to arise.”
He muses about this situation a few minutes more, and then begins to laugh again.
“Those fools! If they desired my fortune all they needed to do was solve the epitaph of my beloved witch! Instead they’ve decided to expose these ugly guts, expose that they never possessed the true genius, the true ability to become my successor! Fine then! I accept this assassination plot as their surrender! This next family conference, I shall return everything to Beatrice with interest, as promised!”
Genji listens to all of this without comment, and for a moment it seems that Kinzo has forgotten about him. But the next moment, the man turns to him.
“And you, will you stop me?”
Genji closes his eyes and bows his head. “The servants permitted the honor to adorn their clothing with the symbol of the one-winged eagle will remain loyal to the head of the Ushiromiya family, no matter what those choices may be.”
“Thank you, my friend. In all this family, the servants who bear my crest are certainly the ones who deserve the most to be granted the gifts of the Golden Land by the witch.”
Everything but Kinzo vanishes, leaving him alone in a hazy purple world. He turns and the Golden Land emerges from this world, sneering at those gathered under the arbor to challenge him.
“I see there are those of you who deny my tale,” he says. “Come then, and try to prove otherwise. It was I, Ushiromiya Kinzo who caused the events of that day. Come and watch as I return everything to Beatrice!”
The stage opens, as it always does, with the rest of the family arriving on Rokkenjima. The remaining siblings, Eva, Rudolf, and Rosa, and Eva and Rudolf’s spouses, Hideyoshi and Kyrie. Also on the boat are their children, George, Maria, and for the first time in six years, Battler. Battler’s younger half-sister, Ange, didn’t go with them, as she’d caught a stomach bug a few days earlier and wasn’t healthy enough to travel.
Awaiting them with some trepidation were Krauss and Natsuhi, with their daughter Jessica looking forward to seeing her cousins once again. Only five servants were scheduled for the conference, the cook, Gohda, the head butler, Genji, an old housekeeper, Kumasawa, and two young servants who went by the names Shannon and Kanon. The family doctor, Nanjo had coincidentally decided to pay a visit at this time, and watching over all of this was Kinzo.
The cousins willfully ignore their parents, believing the stressful, negative environment was created by their ugly fights over the inheritance. Even when they come back for lunch, the stress is still evident, even though normally, Kinzo’s refusal to come downstairs and eat with the rest of them would have freed the tension from the room.
So when Krauss comes back downstairs to report his failure, even they notice something wrong, even though the adults try and hide what they would only be able to describe as disappointment. Rudolf’s brow stays furrowed throughout all of lunch, and Eva her older brother from across the table with an accusing stare. Jessica glances at her mother, who is already fighting a headache.
The cousins make their own assumptions as to what this means, and quickly leave as soon as they’re done with lunch.
“Nii-san, I thought we decided how we were going to do this,” Eva says as they gather in the dining room.
“I- I tried to get father to come down, but he refused. You know how he gets.” Krauss said.
“You’re going to have to try harder. We all agreed there have to be witnesses who don’t know about this in case an investigation starts.” Rudolf tells him. “This typhoon is the perfect shot for us, it’ll give us enough time to be excused for ‘tampering’ if anyone outside decides they want an autopsy, but it won’t mean shit if you don’t get him down here for a meal right before we leave.”
“It’s too late to be getting cold feet. If you didn’t want to do this, you should have just let us go through with our case on embezzlement.” Kyrie says.
“If it’s too hard for you, why don’t I try next time?” Eva says. “As it is, I’m rather suspicious as to why we can’t even see father. I hope you don’t think trying to hide him from us will save you.”
“Th- The head is extremely busy at this time of the year! He’s instructed us not to allow anyone to interrupt him, so my husband is the one with the best chance at convincing him. I-if we were to do otherwise, we’d only make him suspicious!”
“Natsuhi, be quiet.” Krauss says. Hideyoshi hurries to the open parlor door and looks out into the hall. It is empty. “I gave father the space he requested this afternoon, so I can push harder tonight to get him downstairs. He clearly had no intention of coming downstairs for lunch, so if I’d pushed too much, I would have no chance tonight. I’ll definitely convince father tonight.”
They all gather for dinner, Jessica and Natsuhi arriving after the rest. As is typical for the two after any conversation there is a tense atmosphere between them. The only two people not there yet are Krauss and Kinzo. Natsuhi’s face is stiff. She sits up straight in her chair, not making eye contact with anyone.
Krauss returns downstairs alone.
He shifts uncomfortably, and coughs. “I’m sorry, but father still refuse to join us downstairs. He says that after what he overheard at last year’s conference, he still wants time to cool down.” The other siblings look ready to object or worse, and Krauss continues before that can happen. “But h-he did say, that since it is such a special occasion with Battler returning, that he’d like to have dinner with the grandchildren, and to send them upstairs.”
“Grandfather wants to see me?” Battler gulps. “That can’t be good. I think I wouldn’t mind staying down here.”
“No, you should go,” Rudolf says. “Doctor Nanjo tells me dad hasn’t been feeling well lately so you should take the chance to see him.”
“I’ll alert Gohda that your meals should be brought up there,” Kyrie says.
Jessica grunts a little, getting an annoyed look from her mother, and stands up. “Come on, it won’t be that bad.” She tells him. “Not going will really make him mad at you.”
“Uu- Uu-!” Maria says, hopping up. “Come on, lets go see grandpa!”
George shrugs and stands, and now completely outvoted, Battler follows suit. Genji is waiting for them and leads them upstairs to the waiting room across the hall from Kinzo’s study. A table only slightly less ornate than the one in the dining hall has been hastily set. Kinzo is already at the head of that table, waiting for them. He stands as the cousins enter the room.
“Uu- Uu-! Grandpa! Did Genji tell you? I used the phone all by myself!” Maria exclaims, running up to her grandfather.
“Yes, Maria, you did very good!” Kinzo says, taking the remaining cousins by surprise with his praise.
As Maria bounces to her seat, he looks at them, Battler in particular.
“G-Grandfather, I-“ Battler begins, fighting the instinct to run as Kinzo closes the few steps between them.
“I cannot say I approved of your decision to abandon your family name, but I am happy to see that you have returned. I hope though, that your anger has begun to lessen and the pain heal.”
For a few moments, Battler is shocked, unable to say anything. Eventually, he finds the ability to nod once. “Thank you, Grandfather.”
“And George,” Kinzo says, turning to his eldest grandson, “I’ve been hearing rumors about you proposing to Shannon, is this true?”
George stiffens, but there is resolve in his eyes, “yes, Grandfather. I did so this afternoon. Even if it means fighting everyone in this family, even if it means renouncing my family name like Battler did.“
“Then let me congratulate you!” Kinzo says, taking both of George’s hands. “Shannon is a hard worker, and deserves someone who works just as hard.”
In a dramatic change from the lunch earlier, the dinner is an unexpectedly lighthearted affair. Gohda carefully delivers the dishes, and Kumasawa stays behind to handle light clean-up and refill glasses. George eventually gives up his seat to Maria, who talks happily with Kinzo about all sorts of arcane symbols scribbled in her book.
“Ohho, what’s this?” Kinzo says after turning a page. “This is the epitaph I wrote. Tell me, have any of you tried to solve it?”
“I did, but it’s too hard for me, Uu-“
“Sorry grandfather, it’s not really my thing” George says.
“I’ve tried a few times when I was bored, but I never really got anywhere,” Jessica admits.
“Ihihi, sorry Grandfather, I’m with them.”
“Really? That’s too bad then.” Kinzo says, flipping to the next page.
“Grandfather, excuse me for asking, but you haven’t eaten anything.” George says.
Kinzo pauses, and places a napkin between the pages of the book as a bookmark. “That’s correct,” he says. “I’m afraid I can’t. You see, your parents, my children, are trying to kill me. They’ve hired Gohda to poison my food with something I’m sure will make it look like I died of some sort of natural condition.”
“What?”
“That’s terrible! Are you sure?”
“Uu- Uu- It’s true! I overheard Mama talking on the phone about it,” Maria says. “Mama thought I was asleep, but I wasn’t. So when Mama went on a trip for business, I called Genji and he told grandpa Kinzo.”
Battler’s face is grim. “Grandfather, do- do you know what you are going to do?”
Kinzo nods. “I’ve already decided,” he says. “I grew so annoyed with their fighting every year on the division of the inheritance and the successor that I decided to use the epitaph to solve both. Since they have decided on this route, I have accepted it as their surrender to my riddle, as you just have. I shall return everything to Beatrice.”
Maria suddenly falls from her chair. She still breathes, but doesn’t move.
“I am beginning my ceremony to revive Beatrice, as we agreed.” Kinzo says. Battler tries to stand, but stumbles, a sudden wave of dizziness coming over him. “I will see to it now that you will all suffer the least. I am sorry about this, George. But with any luck, the two of you will be reunited in the Golden Land.”
The cousins stare at him in horror, lacking the strength to say anything. All of them soon join Maria in unconsciousness.
Kumasawa, silent through all of this, lets out a sound of terror as Kinzo removes a sharp, sacrificial knife from inside his cloak. He glares at her. “Return downstairs. Tell my children,” he says in a challenging tone. “It’s too late for all of them.”
As Kumasawa flees, Kinzo slits the throat of each of the cousins with his knife. He returns to Maria’s Grimoire, looking at the page he left his napkin in.
“The 7th magic square of the sun. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate choice.”
Downstairs, the adults have long since finished with their meal, and have been impatiently milling about. For the time being, they have all gathered in the parlor. Natsuhi and Krauss are standing near a corner, as far away from the other siblings as they can, seeming to be the most tense of everyone in the room.
Kanon and Gohda are serving tea, with Kanon shooting annoyed looks at Gohda every once in a while for leaving Shannon with all of the dishes in the kitchen. Nanjo, reading the mood, elected to stay in the dining room to work on more chess strategies.
Every moment that passes the siblings loose a little more of their composures, looking more and more annoyed.
Kumasawa bursts into the room downstairs, and for only a second, the siblings mood brighten.
“Help! Someone help! It’s Master Kinzo- He’s about to murder the children!”
GM: Yarn Witch- Kinzo
1. Segaco- Nanjo/ Featherine
2. Nate- Eva
3. Zeus- Natsuhi
4. Tea- Rudolf/ Willard H. Wright
5. Shingro - Kyrie/ The Seven Stakes of Purgatory
The witch's tea room fades back into view for a short while.
"I understand there was a wager that my patron for this tale put forward. She wishes it to be known that, in accordance with that agreement, Eva is the Detective. Not that it will matter, in the end, of course."
Game Start!
Kinzo watches a few moments more, but when no new movements catch his eye, he sighs heavily.
“It’s true then?” He asks the servant standing behind him.
Genji nods, his movement unseen, “It appears so. Maria was correct. Your children plan to kill you at the family conference this year.
“Rudolf’s problems overseas were not imaginary, but it provided him a cover to make some black-market purchases. From what I’ve gathered, Rudolf and Eva strong-armed their other two siblings into agreeing to this plan. They’d already guessed Krauss was embezzling from you and threatened that he either go along with them, or they get their money by revealing his scheme in court. They’ve already bribed Gohda to poison your food.”
Kinzo bursts out laughing at this.
“How very interesting! I was beginning to think I would have to reveal Krauss’s little scheme, since no one else seemed to be noticing it! He’s getting off quite easy, though. And the Grandchildren?”
“I can only say for certain that Maria knows and Lady Jessica does not. I find it difficult to believe that this information would be divulged to George, Ange, or even Battler.”
“True, true. After all, if the grandchildren knew my own would become paranoid that they would be killed so their children could claim the inheritance instead. And in any case, it’d be wise for them to have some innocent to the plan if an investigation were to arise.”
He muses about this situation a few minutes more, and then begins to laugh again.
“Those fools! If they desired my fortune all they needed to do was solve the epitaph of my beloved witch! Instead they’ve decided to expose these ugly guts, expose that they never possessed the true genius, the true ability to become my successor! Fine then! I accept this assassination plot as their surrender! This next family conference, I shall return everything to Beatrice with interest, as promised!”
Genji listens to all of this without comment, and for a moment it seems that Kinzo has forgotten about him. But the next moment, the man turns to him.
“And you, will you stop me?”
Genji closes his eyes and bows his head. “The servants permitted the honor to adorn their clothing with the symbol of the one-winged eagle will remain loyal to the head of the Ushiromiya family, no matter what those choices may be.”
“Thank you, my friend. In all this family, the servants who bear my crest are certainly the ones who deserve the most to be granted the gifts of the Golden Land by the witch.”
Everything but Kinzo vanishes, leaving him alone in a hazy purple world. He turns and the Golden Land emerges from this world, sneering at those gathered under the arbor to challenge him.
“I see there are those of you who deny my tale,” he says. “Come then, and try to prove otherwise. It was I, Ushiromiya Kinzo who caused the events of that day. Come and watch as I return everything to Beatrice!”
The stage opens, as it always does, with the rest of the family arriving on Rokkenjima. The remaining siblings, Eva, Rudolf, and Rosa, and Eva and Rudolf’s spouses, Hideyoshi and Kyrie. Also on the boat are their children, George, Maria, and for the first time in six years, Battler. Battler’s younger half-sister, Ange, didn’t go with them, as she’d caught a stomach bug a few days earlier and wasn’t healthy enough to travel.
Awaiting them with some trepidation were Krauss and Natsuhi, with their daughter Jessica looking forward to seeing her cousins once again. Only five servants were scheduled for the conference, the cook, Gohda, the head butler, Genji, an old housekeeper, Kumasawa, and two young servants who went by the names Shannon and Kanon. The family doctor, Nanjo had coincidentally decided to pay a visit at this time, and watching over all of this was Kinzo.
The cousins willfully ignore their parents, believing the stressful, negative environment was created by their ugly fights over the inheritance. Even when they come back for lunch, the stress is still evident, even though normally, Kinzo’s refusal to come downstairs and eat with the rest of them would have freed the tension from the room.
So when Krauss comes back downstairs to report his failure, even they notice something wrong, even though the adults try and hide what they would only be able to describe as disappointment. Rudolf’s brow stays furrowed throughout all of lunch, and Eva her older brother from across the table with an accusing stare. Jessica glances at her mother, who is already fighting a headache.
The cousins make their own assumptions as to what this means, and quickly leave as soon as they’re done with lunch.
“Nii-san, I thought we decided how we were going to do this,” Eva says as they gather in the dining room.
“I- I tried to get father to come down, but he refused. You know how he gets.” Krauss said.
“You’re going to have to try harder. We all agreed there have to be witnesses who don’t know about this in case an investigation starts.” Rudolf tells him. “This typhoon is the perfect shot for us, it’ll give us enough time to be excused for ‘tampering’ if anyone outside decides they want an autopsy, but it won’t mean shit if you don’t get him down here for a meal right before we leave.”
“It’s too late to be getting cold feet. If you didn’t want to do this, you should have just let us go through with our case on embezzlement.” Kyrie says.
“If it’s too hard for you, why don’t I try next time?” Eva says. “As it is, I’m rather suspicious as to why we can’t even see father. I hope you don’t think trying to hide him from us will save you.”
“Th- The head is extremely busy at this time of the year! He’s instructed us not to allow anyone to interrupt him, so my husband is the one with the best chance at convincing him. I-if we were to do otherwise, we’d only make him suspicious!”
“Natsuhi, be quiet.” Krauss says. Hideyoshi hurries to the open parlor door and looks out into the hall. It is empty. “I gave father the space he requested this afternoon, so I can push harder tonight to get him downstairs. He clearly had no intention of coming downstairs for lunch, so if I’d pushed too much, I would have no chance tonight. I’ll definitely convince father tonight.”
They all gather for dinner, Jessica and Natsuhi arriving after the rest. As is typical for the two after any conversation there is a tense atmosphere between them. The only two people not there yet are Krauss and Kinzo. Natsuhi’s face is stiff. She sits up straight in her chair, not making eye contact with anyone.
Krauss returns downstairs alone.
He shifts uncomfortably, and coughs. “I’m sorry, but father still refuse to join us downstairs. He says that after what he overheard at last year’s conference, he still wants time to cool down.” The other siblings look ready to object or worse, and Krauss continues before that can happen. “But h-he did say, that since it is such a special occasion with Battler returning, that he’d like to have dinner with the grandchildren, and to send them upstairs.”
“Grandfather wants to see me?” Battler gulps. “That can’t be good. I think I wouldn’t mind staying down here.”
“No, you should go,” Rudolf says. “Doctor Nanjo tells me dad hasn’t been feeling well lately so you should take the chance to see him.”
“I’ll alert Gohda that your meals should be brought up there,” Kyrie says.
Jessica grunts a little, getting an annoyed look from her mother, and stands up. “Come on, it won’t be that bad.” She tells him. “Not going will really make him mad at you.”
“Uu- Uu-!” Maria says, hopping up. “Come on, lets go see grandpa!”
George shrugs and stands, and now completely outvoted, Battler follows suit. Genji is waiting for them and leads them upstairs to the waiting room across the hall from Kinzo’s study. A table only slightly less ornate than the one in the dining hall has been hastily set. Kinzo is already at the head of that table, waiting for them. He stands as the cousins enter the room.
“Uu- Uu-! Grandpa! Did Genji tell you? I used the phone all by myself!” Maria exclaims, running up to her grandfather.
“Yes, Maria, you did very good!” Kinzo says, taking the remaining cousins by surprise with his praise.
As Maria bounces to her seat, he looks at them, Battler in particular.
“G-Grandfather, I-“ Battler begins, fighting the instinct to run as Kinzo closes the few steps between them.
“I cannot say I approved of your decision to abandon your family name, but I am happy to see that you have returned. I hope though, that your anger has begun to lessen and the pain heal.”
For a few moments, Battler is shocked, unable to say anything. Eventually, he finds the ability to nod once. “Thank you, Grandfather.”
“And George,” Kinzo says, turning to his eldest grandson, “I’ve been hearing rumors about you proposing to Shannon, is this true?”
George stiffens, but there is resolve in his eyes, “yes, Grandfather. I did so this afternoon. Even if it means fighting everyone in this family, even if it means renouncing my family name like Battler did.“
“Then let me congratulate you!” Kinzo says, taking both of George’s hands. “Shannon is a hard worker, and deserves someone who works just as hard.”
In a dramatic change from the lunch earlier, the dinner is an unexpectedly lighthearted affair. Gohda carefully delivers the dishes, and Kumasawa stays behind to handle light clean-up and refill glasses. George eventually gives up his seat to Maria, who talks happily with Kinzo about all sorts of arcane symbols scribbled in her book.
“Ohho, what’s this?” Kinzo says after turning a page. “This is the epitaph I wrote. Tell me, have any of you tried to solve it?”
“I did, but it’s too hard for me, Uu-“
“Sorry grandfather, it’s not really my thing” George says.
“I’ve tried a few times when I was bored, but I never really got anywhere,” Jessica admits.
“Ihihi, sorry Grandfather, I’m with them.”
“Really? That’s too bad then.” Kinzo says, flipping to the next page.
“Grandfather, excuse me for asking, but you haven’t eaten anything.” George says.
Kinzo pauses, and places a napkin between the pages of the book as a bookmark. “That’s correct,” he says. “I’m afraid I can’t. You see, your parents, my children, are trying to kill me. They’ve hired Gohda to poison my food with something I’m sure will make it look like I died of some sort of natural condition.”
“What?”
“That’s terrible! Are you sure?”
“Uu- Uu- It’s true! I overheard Mama talking on the phone about it,” Maria says. “Mama thought I was asleep, but I wasn’t. So when Mama went on a trip for business, I called Genji and he told grandpa Kinzo.”
Battler’s face is grim. “Grandfather, do- do you know what you are going to do?”
Kinzo nods. “I’ve already decided,” he says. “I grew so annoyed with their fighting every year on the division of the inheritance and the successor that I decided to use the epitaph to solve both. Since they have decided on this route, I have accepted it as their surrender to my riddle, as you just have. I shall return everything to Beatrice.”
Maria suddenly falls from her chair. She still breathes, but doesn’t move.
“I am beginning my ceremony to revive Beatrice, as we agreed.” Kinzo says. Battler tries to stand, but stumbles, a sudden wave of dizziness coming over him. “I will see to it now that you will all suffer the least. I am sorry about this, George. But with any luck, the two of you will be reunited in the Golden Land.”
The cousins stare at him in horror, lacking the strength to say anything. All of them soon join Maria in unconsciousness.
Kumasawa, silent through all of this, lets out a sound of terror as Kinzo removes a sharp, sacrificial knife from inside his cloak. He glares at her. “Return downstairs. Tell my children,” he says in a challenging tone. “It’s too late for all of them.”
As Kumasawa flees, Kinzo slits the throat of each of the cousins with his knife. He returns to Maria’s Grimoire, looking at the page he left his napkin in.
“The 7th magic square of the sun. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate choice.”
Downstairs, the adults have long since finished with their meal, and have been impatiently milling about. For the time being, they have all gathered in the parlor. Natsuhi and Krauss are standing near a corner, as far away from the other siblings as they can, seeming to be the most tense of everyone in the room.
Kanon and Gohda are serving tea, with Kanon shooting annoyed looks at Gohda every once in a while for leaving Shannon with all of the dishes in the kitchen. Nanjo, reading the mood, elected to stay in the dining room to work on more chess strategies.
Every moment that passes the siblings loose a little more of their composures, looking more and more annoyed.
Kumasawa bursts into the room downstairs, and for only a second, the siblings mood brighten.
“Help! Someone help! It’s Master Kinzo- He’s about to murder the children!”
With you, I may look to the past
And try and learn your secrets to tell the future,
Of myself and of my own.
The one who obtains the key must journey to the Golden Land in accordance with these rules
On the first twilight, gather the fruit this tree has borne
On the second twilight, prune the errant branch
On the third twilight, the roots shall fall away
On the fourth twilight, gouge the head and kill.
On the fifth twilight, gouge the chest and kill.
On the sixth twilight, gouge the belly and kill.
On the seventh twilight, gouge the knee and kill.
On the eighth twilight, gouge the leg and kill.
On the ninth twilight, the witch shall revive, and none shall be left alive.
On the tenth twilight, the journey shall end, and you shall reach Country of Gold.
The witch will punish the foolish, and she shall praise the wise, and should bestow four treasures.
One shall be, all the gold from the Golden Land.
One shall be, the resurrection of the souls of all the dead.
One shall be, even the resurrection of the lost love.
One shall be, to put the witch to sleep for all time.
Sleep peacefully, my most beloved witch, Beatrice.
GM: Yarn Witch- Kinzo
1. Segaco- Nanjo/ Featherine
2. Nate- Eva
3. Zeus- Natsuhi
4. Tea- Rudolf/ Willard H. Wright
5. Shingro - Kyrie/ The Seven Stakes of Purgatory
The witch's tea room fades back into view for a short while.
"I understand there was a wager that my patron for this tale put forward. She wishes it to be known that, in accordance with that agreement, Eva is the Detective. Not that it will matter, in the end, of course."
Game Start!