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

[ 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.]

[whattaprick]

Sure it does. It gave a book to the bookworm.

[ He gestures at the large tome that's her weapon -- as far as he can tell. ]

And it turned my horse into a talking bike. Don't tell me your book talks too.

[anti_nonsense]

Don't be stupid. [She says, even though all of this is pretty stupid.]

...

...My cat does, though. [She glances to Francis, who's sitting curled up in a ball, seemingly trying to sleep. He hasn't said a word in front of Lambert, so far.]

[whattaprick]

[ Has it now? As Pig looks on indifferently, Lambert squats in front of Francis to squint at him and see if he's changed any... though it would be hard to top Pig, that's for sure. ]

So he doesn't turn into a weapon or anything like that?

[anti_nonsense]

I don't think so... [Rita doesn't sound sure. Because really, who the hell knows? Apparently this Star Guardian stuff isn't about logic.]

[Aside from wearing a collar bearing an orange jewel similar to the one set in the magic book's cover, Francis looks no different from usual. But while Lambert's squatted near him, the cat's whiskers twitch, and he cracks an eye open lazily... then bolts up, hisses, and runs behind Rita.]

[whattaprick]

Hm. And apparently being a magical cat now doesn't make him like witchers any better.

[ Lamber smirks, but its short-lived, as he stands and brushes himself off. ]

Starting to think I know why that Guardian doesn't know much about this. You'd think Creation would tell us more if it actually wanted to save everything.

[anti_nonsense]

Yeah... maybe. [Rita looks vaguely uncomfortable. Ugh. Now she's starting to empathize with Noa, after treating her like an idiot.]

Wish we could count on the Harbingers being just as ignorant, but it sounds like CY-Ren might actually know what she's doing. [There's bitterness in her tone.]

[whattaprick]

Just makes sense, doesn't it? Destroying things comes naturally.

[ Lambert shrugs. ]

Keeping them in one piece is harder.

[anti_nonsense]

That's true...

[Rita sighs. She knows this all too well. Building and fixing things... that's what she does. It's hard work, and usually, all it takes is an idiot or two to set her back or straight-up ruin things.]

What kind of powers did you get, anyway? Something to help you fight? [Her gaze drifts to the pony. He said his horse turned into a talking bike...!?]

[whattaprick]

[ Pig doesn't wait for a cue from Lambert. She takes a step forward, and in a flash of light and sparkles, her form coalesces into a form Rita might actually recognize: a sleek, red and gold motorcycle, bodywork chased with molded white flames down her sides. Lambert snorts. ]

Show off. [ He's all too fond when he says that, then nods at Rita, waving a hand at his transformed familiar. ]

I've got that. Not exactly a weapon, but ... she can run.

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita's eyes widen, and stay wide as she stares at the transformed pony.]

...You really weren't kidding. [He did say it could do this, but seeing it is completely different from hearing it. Still, after getting past that initial weirdness, she draws closer to the bike, examining it with curiosity. It must be powered entirely by magic...]

Been a while since I was up close with one of these. [If it wasn't also a living horse, she'd want to try taking it apart to see how it works... Too bad.]

[whattaprick]

Why would I lie about something that stupid? [ Lambert makes a face, but more importantly ... ] You have these where you come from?

[ Sorry, Rita -- Lambert had never interacted with her actually swanning around on a motorcycle in Wismuth, so this is news to him. Pig does fairly shimmer with magic to her vision -- the same bright gold that seems to wrap around Lambert now, lighting him up from within, even if he's largely oblivious to it. ]

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita shakes her head.] No... not in my world. In Portland. The other Rita there was in a biker gang.

[While some people may feel awkwardly about their Portland counterparts, Rita seems more or less indifferent about it. Lambert might not have seen her bike or her gang, but he might remember the leather jacket she always wore, with the name Renegades printed on the back. She still has it in her trailer, even if she hasn't been able to wear it since growing her wings.]

There's a lot I don't remember from then, but I could probably still drive one.

[whattaprick]

[ See, it would be easier to be into the whole 'other you' thing, except uncomfortable revelations from Childermass's conversations with the Ringmaster has pushed that into the forefront of Lambert's mind and it's honestly kind of uncomfortable to contemplate right now.

Anyway. ]

Well, you can't drive this one. She's mine -- and she mostly drives herself. [ Lambert looks wry, at first, but then he smirks. ]

But if you can find a bike of your own, you should show me what you can do sometime.