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Disclaimer: This is faded_dreams55's idea. She start an RP a long time ago, and then it died. I have her permission to try the idea in another RP. Original RP Link



Note: No magic in this RP!

One day, in the mail, you receive an invitation to the land's biggest masquerade ball of the year. The purpose? The princess is choosing a suitor, as her parents wish her to. So, why have you received an invitation? You could be a noble, special guest, possible suitors, and other likes from lands faraway and close by, with a chance to elevate your status or... Even if you didn't receive an invitation, the masquerade ball is sure to be the buzz of the town, so it is highly likely that you know if you're from the area. Who knows? You could sneak in. Or maybe you're a castle attendant, musician, or guard just keeping the flow.

Whether you're there for fun, to seek her hand, to watch the event, or something else, none of you (besides the murderer or maybe that person too) anticipates a murder! Yes, despite the castle's efforts to keep things safe and merry, the princess is murdered.

And it is up to you to figure out who do it!

1. Please don't use asterisks. Type like you would if you were actually writing a story.
2. Distinguish between thoughts, OOC, and speaking.
3. This is a medieval roleplay so there are no guns allowed.
4. Romance is allowed, but don't take it too far...
5. Don't god-mod and know everything or take over everyone's character.
6. Feel free to be creative when your character explores the castle.
7. No character application is needed, but at least describe your character in the first post. I'm going to try to keep a list of characters on the first page. If you'd like, tek tek what your character may look or wear...
8. Who can you be? Pretty much anyone, just not the princess because she's going to die. Yes, you can be the princess's brother or sister if you want to, but there can't be like 5 of you doing that...

[]Reserved[]

OPEN ! POST AWAY!

Galavinthian “the Fearless” Thorinagano sighed for no particular reason at all as his elder brother blabbed on and on about the life of a soldier. The blonde librarian and historian wondered if he should respond, even though he knew his brother, Brand, knew what he was thinking. The gray eyed historian was travelling with his brother's help to a masquerade ball. Being a historian and keeping track of events, Gal had believed that it was best for him to attend. In fact, it would be ridiculous to miss out on an event such as the princess finding a suitor. He, of course, was not remotely even interested in being a suitor and had absolutely no interest in the younger princess.

It was truly luck that he had even been able to acquire transportation. Luckily, the elder Brand had a mission, where he was headed through the kingdom. Gal had tagged along on a horse, though he was obviously not as fit as his well built brother.

"Gal, day dreamer, or should I say evening dreamer?"

Brand was unusually talkative today. Gal's brother was a man of few words, a man who took action instead of simply speaking of them. Gal didn't feel like figuring out why. Perhaps, Brand was interested in the mission or just thought Gal was hilarious for attending the masquerade ball. "What, Brand?" the skittish younger brother asked.

"We've arrived..."

"Oh..." He was early. Gal's mask was inside his knapsack of books. As a scholar of knowledge, he always had books with him no matter the occasion. He could take the extra time to prepare and read... in a tavern or check out the library.

"Enjoy yourself, Gal," Brand chuckled as he rode off into the night with Gal staring at his fading silhouette stupidly. Then, he went into a tavern.

From one of the many palace balconies, the young heir of the Runeius family watched the crowds gather below. Red and black set the theme of his outfit, with gold trimmings to match the elaborate yet elegant feathered mask Alto wore. Red eyes reflected thoughtfully, taking in the sea of equally elegant costumes and masked faces of the guests. Regardless, Alto could easily pick out the young men from the moving, mingling crowds.

'More suitors.' The raven haired youth sighed. Alto was resting his chin upon his elbows looking to all the world like a young man bored at a masquerade ball. It was just one big glorified pageant, with nobles near and far flaunting their riches trying to win the hand of the princess.

But then who was he to judge? He was one of the suitors after all. It wasn't a question of his feelings more than his duty as heir of the prestigious House of Runeius to try to woo Princess Claire. Though the thought of being a prince and then king someday was fun to muse about...

The young man hadn't even finished the thought before a chill ran up his back, causing the exotic white plumes in his feathered hat to quiver visibly.

Princess Claire was a feisty one and calling her a handful was just an understatement. It was probably wrong to think such a thing about his child hood friend in such a manner. But he couldn't imagine what it would be like to be married to her. Who ever married her would have to be made of stronger stuff than he.

On the flip side, no one knew Clair better than he and through the years Alto had learned how to deal with her. No one would be a better match.

Finally drawing his eyes away from ball room floor, Alto looked about wondering where Claire was. He had met with her yesterday like he usually did, and when their conversation brooked upon the masquerade ball, Claire seemed less than thrilled. Even if she didn't say so. What was she up to now? Was she already considering who to pick?

Alto straighten his posture almost subconsciously trying to make himself more presentable. His family would be angry if he didn't seem like he was trying. They had high hopes that both he and Claire would make a fine couple. But some how...He doubted it.

The young noble decided that it was time to disappear into the sea of masks, perhaps trying to mingle would distract him. If he remained alone with his thoughts any longer, he swear he'd go crazy. Besides, it was Princess Claire's party, she'll eventually show up, and when she does, everyone will know.

"You look positively feminine, my dear," drawled Aiden, in his best impression of a sleazy noble. It wasn't very good. "Sure to be the bell of the ball."

"Don't forget them jewels, Eva, huh?"

"I won't." She turned back to Aiden. "How am I getting there?"

"Ah." Aiden grimaced. "Well, see, we can't exactly afford a carriage."

"So... horseback, then?" God, she could only imagine riding a horse in one of these ridiculous gowns. She was quite a good rider when she was wearing real clothes, but in this skirt she was sure she'd have to ride sidesaddle like some ridiculous lady. Her notions of the upper class were more or less limited to the following: tea, dowries, lace, and women who couldn't ride horses right.

"Actually, we can't afford a horse, either."

She stared.

Aiden hurried to finish. "But I was thinking, since you're gonna have to take on a new identity anyway--"

"What?"

"--you could just say that, where you're from, it's a perfectly accepted form of transportation."

"Walking?" She hiked up her skirts in a decidedly unladylike manner that would have been deemed absolutely scandalous had there been anyone of any class around. "Have you seen these shoes, Aiden? It's miles to the castle. This is ridiculous. Forget--"

"Not walking," he interrupted her. "No. You're Lady Evangeline Grace, nobility from a neighboring nation, and we can't have you showing up in anything but the showiest of styles."

Evangeline was, if it was possible, more frightened than she'd been before.

---

This actually wasn't so bad, she amended half an hour later, as the castle came into view. "Hurry up, won't you?" she called, peering down at the band of thugs and attempting her own imitation of a rich noble. "It simply wouldn't do to be too late."

"You do that a little too well," muttered Aiden, but they picked up the pace.

The men were supporting what had once been a door. The handle and hinges had been removed, and the whole thing had been covered with a cozy bedspread that they'd stolen from the inn and beaten to get most the dust out. They'd managed to rig a sort of tent on the top of the whole thing, made of pilfered drapes that actually looked quite good when you got over the fact that the edges were a little frayed and torn. There was lace edging most of it, anyway, so the unevenness wasn't all that noticeable. Evangeline sat beneath this tent, hidden from the eyes of the people they passed; the men were below the door, mostly hidden from view by the cascading folds of the curtains.

She noticed, peering out from between the folds of the drapes, that they were passing less and less people now, probably because the castle was so close. There were carriages in front of and behind her, and she was fully aware that she was one of the few not in one, and probably the only one riding a makeshift palanquin.

Well, there was no room to be embarrassed, now. She was here, and if she wanted to keep her head attached to her shoulders she would have to do a tremendously good job pretending she was supposed to be here. This wouldn't be so bad, after all. It was just an evening of standing around, eating free food, filching a few bits of gold here and there, and trying not to drop a curse by accident if she stubbed her toe or knocked over something expensive-- which she inevitably would. Evangeline Grace. It was an ironic choice for a last name; grace was something she'd never possessed, for as long as she could remember. Not that she could remember that far back, of course. Her earliest memories were many years ago, out on the street, lost and confused, and if Aiden hadn't come along and found her, who knew what might have happened?

She could hear him below, telling the other men to keep a steady pace, keep the door even, don't shift anything about too much. He was doing this to get her out, she knew. Even though he'd seemed joking when he said it, she knew that his comment about finding some rich lord to marry hadn't been entirely in jest. He knew as well as she did that she hadn't been born out on those dark streets, that she hadn't been born to a life of thievery and hunger. The problem was, neither of them knew what sort of life she had been born to.

Well, she was good at surviving out there. It suited her. She couldn't imagine a life where things stayed the same every day, where to enjoy something as simple as a run in the fresh air would be frowned upon. No, she would steal the jewels and eat the food, but Evangeline was not going to put her efforts toward finding some rich bachelor.

The makeshift palanquin began to slow, and Evangeline peeked out from beneath the folds of lace and semi-sheer curtains to see that they were reaching the castle gates now. All right, she thought, time to see what I've got.