prof | Let's Play Umineko, Episode 1 Scene 2: The Boat

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Ushiromiya Battler

The son of Rudolf and his first wife, Asumu. When his father married a second wife shortly after Asumu's death, Battler rebelled and went to live with his grandparents on his mother's side. However, both of these grandparents passed away, and he has now returned to the Ushiromiya family after six years.

This family conference is a chance for him to renew his friendship with his cousins after a six year gap.

And so the first chapter of our story begins.

Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, Episode 1: Legend of the Golden Witch.

Nothing will be asked of you, dear readers, in this episode. Simply follow along, and accept events as they unfold.

Battler miraculously managed to survive the entire plane ride.

His family is handling it about as well as could be expected, considering the family in question.

Of course, Battler isn't so fortunate as to be able to avoid boats, either. The airport and the place where the conference is being held are not on the same island.

Another familiar face waits at the boat!

Ushiromiya Jessica
Age: 18
Battler's cousin
Relation to the patriarch: Daughter of the first child

It's been a long time since Battler and Jessica last saw each other. Battler, as is his way, handles this in the most elegant way possible:

By aggressively hitting on his cousin.

Stay classy, Battler.

These two have always done a lot of squabbling, and it's always gone Jessica's direction. As Battler emerges from puberty, though, that's changing a little.

The hard part's over. Soon, the six years of absence will be made up for, and Battler will return to the family conference. Just a nice, quiet boat ride left.

Chiyo Kumasawa
Age: Old as balls
Mackerel Expert
Relation to the patriarch: Servant

Things proceed to get weird almost immediately.

Kumasawa has decades of experience, but her time as a servant may be running low. Her body is starting to wear out with age. Her back occasionally seems to act up, coincidentally only when people tell her to do hard work.

Antics continue.

But enough fun! Now, to take the slow, subdued boat ride to--

Oh.

Well, then. How bad could it be?

That bad.

Battler and his relatives head to the island at approximately mach seven.

There is no safe haven for Battler in this high-speed nightmare adventure.

Eventually, Rosa is gracious enough to ask the captain to slow down for Battler's sake.

Now going at a speed only slightly removed from Stop, Battler is able to breathe again. His family continues to mock him relentlessly.

You didn't think we were done introducing characters, did you? There are still three family members, four servants, and one other person left to introduce!

Jessica's got some strict parents, apparently. Expectations of her success are high.

Uncomfortable questions come from Maria. As it turns out, Battler's home life has been pretty complicated.

Remember that mysterious six year gap? That's because Battler's been gone from the family. He was living with his maternal grandparents, having nothing to do with the Ushiromiya family. They recently died, forcing Battler to come back.

Battler still hasn't fully forgiven Rudolf for betraying his birth mother.

The awkward moment has passed! And now, our destination finally comes into view.

There aren't many people who know about the tiny island of Rokkenjima. Nobody ever comes here beyond those associated with the Ushiromiya family.

Most of the island is covered by uncultivated forest. The only noteworthy additions are a harbor and a single mansion.

Nobody is really clear on how the Ushiromiya head made his fortune, but it's an absurdly huge fortune, and the rest of the family is rich, too.

Now, something's wrong. Maria is insistent that something isn't there that should be, but can't say what.

Shortly, the others figure out what.

A torii stands at an outcropping near the way to the Rokkenjima harbor. It has for as long as anyone can remember.

It's gone now.

Kumasawa jokes, and Battler and Jessica don't seem too perturbed, but Maria's fixated on the missing torii. A sign of misfortune.

Maria repeats those words over and over. Misfortune is coming.

Where from?

From above.

They did say a typhoon was coming. The clouds suggest they were right.

Maria is still trying to convey something, but she's stumbling on what, and going back to her uu-uu- default.

Kumasawa seems to know something that might be related to what Maria's worried about. Jessica cuts her off before she can go into any detail.

Battler's curious about what that was about, but this isn't the time to go into it. Maria is still upset.

Hideyoshi swoops in to shift the mood of the scene, like the reliable uncle he is.

Finally, George is able to get Maria to calm down. And it's true, too.

There's nothing to be afraid of, as long as we're all together.

Crisis averted!

And not a moment too soon. We're almost to the harbor.

Rokkenjima awaits.

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