public channel | d17

[anti_nonsense]

[ With the Ringmaster cutting off the kidnappee’s radios, it seems as good a time as any to use them again -- particularly since some particularly concerning developments have come to light. ]

As you’ve probably heard, some of our people got kidnapped at CY-Ren’s concert. [ If Lambert sounds incredibly reluctant to talk about this, it’s because he is. ] She’s also apparently managed to turn some -- maybe all of them -- into Harbingers like her.

[ Rita, on the other hand, shows no hesitation as she barrels ahead into an explanation. ]

For those not aware, Guardians and Harbingers both draw power from something called a 'Spark'... a physical manifestation of one's greatest passion or desire. For Harbingers, that passion has been inverted and twisted to serve the purpose of the Void... to destroy all living things. In other words, they've been brainwashed, and with their Sparks awakened, they're also incredibly powerful.

And now they’re using those powers to… [ Lambert pauses again. This is the part that sounds really stupid to him: ] … cause trouble around the city. Funny thing is, can’t say we’ve seen CY-Ren around at all. Can’t be a coincidence.

...Right. I don't know what their goal is, but maybe they can tell us, if we manage to recapture them. There has to be a way to get them back to normal, too.

As they are now, they're too strong to take down with normal means, but we have one new tool at our disposal. Through some sort of awakening, some among us are now able to manifest our own Sparks and fight back using the power of Creation. This should give us the edge we need to beat the Harbingers... and CY-Ren.

[ ‘Some sort’ of awakening is one way to put it. To wrap it up before this goes on too long, Lambert finishes: ]

But first we need to know how many of us there actually are. So speak up. That goes for anyone who’s run into the Harbingers too -- if we can figure out their movements or catch one of them, maybe we can figure out what this next ‘concert’ of hers is going to do this time.

Comments

[hippocarnival]

I did. Become a Star Guardian, I mean. [Because if they're calling their brainwashed coworkers Harbingers, they might as well own their own title. He just hopes this won't mean that Creation expects them to stay...]

I ran into Yugo and Steven, too. But I didn't learn much more than that they want to end everything. They don't sound like themselves at all.

[anti_nonsense]

Seriously? I mean, it fits with everything we know, but it's hard to imagine those idiots buying into the Void's crap. [It really doesn't sound like them...]

Hm... you're a Guardian, though? [There's a thoughtful pause.] ...I guess I'm not that surprised.

[whattaprick]

What can you do?

[ As ever, Lambert's interested in practicalities. ]

[ action ]

[whattaprick]

[ In between waiting on replies, Lambert ends up sort of staring distastefully down at his own outfit. The worst part, probably, is that he's actually getting used to wearing it. He just doesn't like it, and he plucks at it desultorily. Beside him, a tiny, miniaturized pony is plopped down in the grass. ]

You'd think for something called "guardian" there'd be more actual armor.

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita turns back to him, looking his uniform up and down with a raised eyebrow. The first time she saw that outfit, she definitely thought it was a joke. Her own outfit, after all, is perfectly sensible in comparison.]

Seems to me like Creation has a sense of humor.

[Rita doesn't laugh, or even really smile, but the look in her eyes suggests she's deriving some kind of amusement from this.]

[dressedtothe]

This is 9S. I'm a Guardian, I guess.

[He sounds kind of unimpressed.]

I ran into Lavellan but I couldn't defeat her.

Fighting's not my forte, but I could support someone trying to catch a Harbinger. I have five lasers at my disposal and can make hard light projections. They have a variety of uses, like creating floating platforms or barriers. I could, in theory, trap someone.

[whattaprick]

You 'guess'? It's pretty hard to miss.

We're gonna need better than a theory. [ The way he says that, though, is a challenge and an invitation in one. Prove it to him, Nines! ]

[anti_nonsense]

That's perfect! If you can get one of those Harbingers to hold still, I should be able to use my magic analysis to try and tackle whatever's influencing them.

[This too, is just in theory. But Rita can be quite optimistic when it comes to her own abilities.]

[everybodypanic]

So let's say that I was a Star Guardian before I even got here. What then?

Also I shoot things and blow stuff up.

It's pretty awesome.

[Thanks, Jinx. Thanks a lot.]

[whattaprick]

Then you should tell us whatever you know about Harbingers, and you should have told us sooner. Could have used that before the concert.

[ Someone's still not up to speed that this world's guardians and wherever Jinx comes from aren't the same thing. ]

[anti_nonsense]

Wait... what!? We had another Guardian here all along!?

[stillwinningthehardway]

There's me, I guess. It makes my lightsaber look like some kind of prop, though.

Scout was chosen. Definitely. [That's her dæmon Tràkata's low, quiet voice. He doesn't talk openly often.]

[whattaprick]

Had the chance to use it against anyone yet?

[anti_nonsense]

Like a prop...? It's still effective, though, right?

[Rita doesn't know exactly what a lightsaber is, but she can guess. Most of all, the purpose of these transformations is to make them better fighters, isn't it? It'd be counter-intuitive if any of them ended up disadvantaged because of it.]

[kingsroads]

If you run into Childermass, punch him for me. That idiot stole something of mine and I want it back.

[ Strange, that is nothing close to an answer ]

[whattaprick]

Lemme guess: the wife rock?

[ Because process of elimination, the intersection of "things Childermass in any state of mind would take" and "things Strange would be pissed about getting taken from him" is tiny as hell. ]

[periphrasing]

Um, yeah, so far, I haven't heard anything from Creation? Which is obviously some kind of mistake. Does anyone have any like... tips, on how to become a guardian?

[whattaprick]

Get attacked by a Harbinger and be really against dying?

[anti_nonsense]

Wish I could say I knew a better way, or a consistent one... but no, it was the same for me. Got in a dire situation, Creation bailed me out. I wouldn't recommend testing it.

[criticallyfucked]

[Foster is.... incredibly uncertain about announcing himself to Lambert specifically.

Fortunately, he's got an excuse for asking.]

Are you only interested in a count of Guardians and Harbingers? Or do you also want their familiars?

[whattaprick]

[ A deep sigh. ]

Familiars too, if you've got 'em.

[textsfromhotland]

Me! I'm a Guardian now, too! I can fly and everything!

[She sounds super jazzed about it]

[whattaprick]

[ Has he ever spoken to Alphys before? Lambert's drawing a blank, but ... ]

Anything else you can do? 'Everything' isn't exactly specific.

[moonfang]

So, what...? Those of us not chosen just get ta sit around with our thumbs up our asses? How powerful are we talkin'?

[whattaprick]

You think it's fun, cleaning up after these idiots? If that's what you want to do, maybe you should sign up for the Ringmaster to turn you into a familiar too.

We still don't know what CY-Ren's up to. Far as I can tell, none of them are as strong as she is, but it's like that concert again. Shit doesn't work against them the way it's supposed to.

[reflash]

This is Okumura Yukio, and I am a Guardian. [Yukio says, trying to stay professional after having been transformed into a magical girl... boy? magical boy, with all the cute weapons and talking animal familiars and frills and bows and thigh-high high heeled leather boots that that entails.]

My abilities appear to be entirely support-based, with no offensive skills. If you need healing or plan on hunting down any Harbingers, please contact me immediately.

[anti_nonsense]

Support, huh... [Seems like they've got a few of those on the Guardian side. Rita's just glad she's not one of them. Support magic always bored her, even though she knows how useful it can be.]

So you can heal injuries? What else can you do?

Super late to the party - please pretend Nui was only like an hour later or so

[shearmadness]

I'm a Star Guardian! I've got mostly defensive powers, but I can blast stuff with a big huge heart shaped beam, too!

[anti_nonsense]

Another support type, huh...

[Does Creation actually want them to beat the Void, or what? Feels like they're being set up to be the Harbingers' punching bags.]

I guess a beam's better than nothing. Does it have to be heart-shaped, though...?