unknownseas | COMMENCE EXPERIMENT

Fun fact: Did you know that the Pacific Ocean has a surface area of 62.46 million miles? That's not even accounting for depth.

You awaken to a sharp jolt, like you've just hit the drop on a roller coaster. Then it passes, and you're in a bed, suddenly very clearly awake. Is that right? Were you asleep? Your memory is a little fuzzy as you come down off the adrenaline, but it puts itself into place soon enough. This is not, as one might say, your beautiful house. If you have a beautiful wife, she sure isn't here.

The positioning of the bed inside your new room gives you a very clear indication of where you are - or at least, where the building is. Above you is a decent-sized window looking out on... well, the ocean. But not in a fun beachside resort way, to say the least. Fish swim by pretty frequently, here to keep you company - but they cannot hear your screams, and do not seem particularly bothered if you tap on the glass unless they're right by it. It's thick, man.

On the bedside table, you'll find two things: a key card with a number between 1 and 25 on it (no points for guessing which one is on whose, unfortunately), and a small handheld device, a little like a smartphone but mostly like a blackberry? Remember those? Anyway, accessing it will reveal only a scarce few functions: a list of profiles, a map of the building, and a very ominous set of rules. You might try to ignore that last one! Unfortunately, you'll find them in a frame by your door. And in a frame somewhere in every room of the place, if you go out exploring at all. The tablet also has a message for you when you open it:

Greetings. Please take an hour to become accustomed to the facilities, then proceed to the meeting room north of your dormitories. Attendance is mandatory. - The Professor

But hey, it... it also lets you play Snake! Who doesn't love Snake, huh?

Anyway, head out into the halls! Make some new friends - or maybe enemies, wouldn't that be exciting? Look around a little! Just make sure to be back for whatever this meeting is - after all, you want a chance to face off with your captor, right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She fumes. Takes out her own device and flips to her own profile, then holds it out at him.]

Anna Fugo. Don't mind the title, they gave us all these ridiculous ones for some reason.

[He looks surprised when she turns the screen to him, but then he narrows his eyes as he reads her information--apparently for the first time.]

You're a mage. Is that why you were talking about illusions? You said this isn't one.

Obviously. At least you don't sound surprised. I can't detect a hint of magic anywhere in this place. It's not even sealed off, it's just gone.

[Well, better that for himself. He looks down and snaps his fingers experimentally. Nothing happens.]

Huh.

[His hand disappears under his cloak once more.]

I'm no scholar. Obviously. So what does it mean if magic's gone?

It means this isn't Magiaconatus, which is where I was, and it isn't the regular world unless something went very wrong. This "Professor" boasting about the fact that they kidnapped us isn't likely to tell us exactly where we've ended up or how.

[Magiawhat now?]

...I don't know. Academic types tend to go on and on about anything if you give them the right opportunity. Especially when they're occupied lording themselves over other people.

I don't suppose it'll be that easy, but I'm surprised you know the type.

I travel. You meet a lot of people that way.

Charming. You'll have plenty of opportunity to do it here, apparently, with this lot running around.

Hmm.

Fascinating as everyone might be, I'm more interested in meeting the way out--and back to what I was doing. Seems one might not lead directly to the other, given what you said before. Is that right?