001 || written;

[workaphilic]

Comments

[longaevus]

Perhaps a more specific question might aide somewhat in that?

[workaphilic]

Can't.

[longaevus]

And why would that be?

[workaphilic]

[the journal picks up an unhappy sigh]

Because to narrow my field of questioning in an unfamiliar environment would exclude potentially important information.

Just give me facts. Anything. Everything.

[longaevus]

[ She sees his point but no doubt someone - even himself - would have been able to fill in the gaps ]

All right. There's the castle and the town around it, with areas further out. Much of that beyond the town hasn't been explored but there have been a number of trips out to see what can be found - to see what knowledge those whom lived here prior to use may be willing to share.

[workaphilic]

Lived prior to us where? In the castle, the town, or the world in general? Do they have settlements, or are we working merely off of archaeological findings? Is there a significant time gap between us and them, and if so, how long? Is there some form of compendium of the information gained from these trips?

[... what? you asked him to be specific.]

[longaevus]

All of the above - although we're all given rooms within the castle there is the option of living in the town.

Those that lived here then are known as a whole as the First Generations. I've only been here for a little over a month, I only know of the expeditions from what I've been told. From what I understand they live alone - each one that is left living somewhere unmarked in an area known as the Dead Zone.

[workaphilic]

[he underlines and circles the phrase "Dead Zone," apparently for his own reference.]

Are they natives?

[longaevus]

No. They were brought here like we were.

[workaphilic]

I see.

Any idea what prompted them to go? A magical, wish-granting castle is quite a thing to leave behind.

[longaevus]

There are many shall we say events that occur here - the first of which being when you arrive. By being brought to the castle you in turn lose something, either a memory, skill or item. It's known as a loss, although it may noe be the only loss you encounter. The castle can temporarily alter you or the world, changing things for a certain amount of time.

[workaphilic]

[he taps his pen impatiently as she talks -- these are all things he knows, and they're not really a good enough explanation.]

And yet you all are still here.

[longaevus]

It is possible to leave but not by our own doing - the castle often returns us to our home. This is my third time being here.

The 'First Generations' were here for a long time before we arrived. It took them a long time to pull away from the castle.

[workaphilic]

Yes, but you suffer abuse from the castle week after week, month after month.

[he's read about it, in places. Berserk, some particularly vicious losses.]

But as far as I can tell the vast majority of you haven't even moved to the town, much less made plans to shift farther outward.

[just observations. it's interesting, is all.]

[longaevus]

And it's more than likely that the First Generations were here for years before they severed their ties.

Living in the town doesn't prevent you from being affected by the castle - it still has a considerable amount of force there.

[workaphilic]

But still less than staying in the castle itself?