[PUBLIC CHANNEL] Day 11

[npcarnival]

[ The first one to speak is the Ringmaster, sounding a bit guarded and reluctant, like she's not sure if she wants to deliver this message or not. ]

We have... a visitor at the carnival today, who is asking us for assistance. She comes from a group called the Star Guardians, who I've aided in the past, which is why I'm been sought out this time. They have this entire 'saving the universe' style gig going on.

It can be an enormous hassle, however, and I feel like we've had a few too many disasters as of late. So... I'm going to leave this up to you. You can help her as she asks, or you can stay in the safety of the carnival. I won't force your hand, either way. Just know that whatever she asks you to do will be dangerous, even if it's for a good cause.

Here. I'll let her explain herself.

[ The public channel of the radio clicks off and then on again, but there’s a few seconds' pause before anyone starts speaking. The young woman’s voice that comes across the radio won’t be familiar to anyone at the Carnival, but her voice is clear, with only the barest hint of a waver to it. ]

My name is Noa Minette. I’m from this world — from Wismuth — and I’m speaking to you now because I have something to ask you.

[ She takes a breath. ]

Wismuth needs your help. ...I need your help. [ She makes the more honest correction half a beat later, sounding a little more subdued, before she finds the strength in her voice again. ]

I’m a Star Guardian. The Ringmaster said she hadn’t met one in quite a while, and we usually come as a team, but here, it’s just me.

If you’ve seen the posters around the city, you know that CY-Ren is going to be holding a concert. No matter what happens, I have to stop that concert from happening. If not… [ She hesitates. ] I don’t think it’s going to be something this world can recover from. I don’t know exactly what she has planned, but I know it’s something Void's never tried before.

I can’t face CY-Ren, not on my own. I don’t expect people to help without knowing what they’re getting into, so I’ll try to answer what I can.

Comments

[exaomori]

[if something's lame enough, it might make it's way back around to cool.... maybe.... ]

[npcarnival]

Is that ... something that hides how a lot of you don't look human?

[ It's not an entirely unfamiliar concept for her, but ... ]

I can see you fine here, but I don't think I can see through them in Wismuth.

[genice]

That's what I've been given to understand. It's worth seeing if that holds true with your volunteers, to know just how visible they'll be in whatever approach you end up deciding on taking.

I'm not sure if this is a situation for wishing good luck, so instead, may this venture succeed in stopping what you fear may otherwise happen.

[dirthena]

Mind control and summoning. ( seems fairly simple, all things considered. but lavellan hasn't exactly had a normal past three years. ) I don't suppose there's anything that helps her? In my world, some powerful mages have items they use to aid in their magic -- destroying something similar may be easier than any other option we have currently.

But thank you for coming forward -- I think I can safely say that we'll do what we can to help.

[npcarnival]

We probably shouldn't do something that would attract her attention that easily ... but it sounds non-violent. Maybe it could help if the people sabotaging the show run into any guards?

[ It's definitely better than assassination. ]

[npcarnival]

She ...

[ Noa's quiet for a moment. And then-- ]

I don't think that would be possible. CY-Ren isn't surrounded by real people. Most of the people she surrounds herself with are actually just creatures from the Void. I think she'd notice pretty quickly if someone replaced them. [ Is she deeply uncomfortable saying that? She sure is! ]

Maybe impersonating one of the other acts at the festival could work ... ? At least you'd have access to the backstage, that way.

[npcarnival]

A familiar is ... you can think of them as spirit guides? They're connected to Creation, and they can sense when something's been disturbed.

In Con's case, he's also my weapon.

[npcarnival]

Con's my familiar. Because he's connected to Creation, he can sense when the Void's power is attacking it.

He doesn't know anything more specific than that. Just that CY-Ren's been expanding the reach of her magic, and this concert's the key to it. [ She pauses. ] I know that isn't much to go on.

[npcarnival]

I'm grateful you're willing to hear me out at all.

[ As for the question... ]

But no, I don't think she has anything like that -- nothing physical, anyway. She draws on the Void through her Spark, which is a part of her soul.

[npcarnival]

That's right.

It's a Pillar of Creation -- a focus for reality. Losing it affects more worlds across the multiverse.

[npcarnival]

Summoning monsters, or influencing people to act strangely ... it feels like she's been doing it more often, and like she's been doing it in more places, but I haven't really kept track.

[npcarnival]

She made it sound like it was some time ago, and it was different. She didn't have to worry about helping only one Guardian then.

I've told everyone as much as I know. [ She sounds apologetic. ] I know the time and day of the concert, and I know something's supposed to happen then ... but that's all.

[npcarnival]

... You're right.

[ Attempt to avoid picking her apart or not, she sounds slightly deflated. ]

Sorry. I'm just not used to working with other people.

[npcarnival]

That's a good idea. Thank you for the suggestion.

[ And the well-wishes, although it does sound like he'll be sitting out of this one. Still, she can't hold that against him. ]

Thank you for hearing me out, Mr. ...?

[npcarnival]

It seems like that's the idea so far. But I don't know how the power grid's laid out or anything like that, or what would be the best time to do it.

[npcarnival]

I don't know if she can. If it's a kind of magic that's not from our world, maybe not, but if there's a safer option, that's probably the better one.

[ If anything's really safe about facing off against a Harbinger of Void, but anyway. ]

You said you could get a group of people backstage? How?

[criticallyfucked]

[That's... an understatement, from Foster's understanding. But all right.]

I know.

It's called a pillar for a reason.

[What he doesn't know is:]

Is there a number of them, do you know?

Or if any have been lost before?

[Pardon his eagerness, but--well.]

[anti_nonsense]

Don't you think you should, you know, keep track of that sort of thing?

[dirthena]

A world in danger is still a world, even if it isn't one of our own. If we're all you've got, then we'll make do. ( a familiar feeling, in lavellan's case. but this would be the only time lavellan has ever wanted a templar around. )

I see. How have you fought the Void before, if you have?

( all she has is questions, but she's always been full of those. )

[genice]

Nikiforov, but Victor is fine. ( he smiles, to lift the tone of his voice. ) Come back out whole, Noa. Same for the rest.

( generally responsible adult or not, this isn't his field of knowledge, and each member of the carnival makes their own decisions. the Ringmaster opened the floor to Noa and each of the people working for her: what happens, happens. he just hopes for better, not worse. )

[destiny_key]

Okay. I'll definitely try my best to help.

[fortuneglass]

Mnhhh, right....attention would take away from the whole point of this-

Oh! That's true, it could~! And I could follow along in hummingbird form, to make things even easier to get around~!

[Less space to take up when one of you is the size of a grapefruit.]

[betheman]

Hmm! I, the man Gongenzaka, feel I understand what you are speaking of, then.... [It sounds a bit like a literal guardian spirit of some kind. Very impressive!]

Well-regardless, you have my word! I, the man Gongenzaka, shall do anything I can to help; you need only give the word!

[worldlyafflictions]

Well, it doesn't seem like you'll be short on gung-ho volunteers, so ya might as well take the chance ta practice, right? They say teamwork works best when ya trust everybody ta handle themselves instead of shouldering all the risk.

[This is rich coming from Shima of all people, while his classmates and teacher are on the line, but also hey, it's one of their earliest lessons from cram school so he's not wrong...]

[npcarnival]

Thank you.

[ She really is grateful. ]

I'll let you know where to meet before the concert.