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.

[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.

[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]

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! ]

[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. ]

[dressedtothe]

Well, yeah. But did it have to come with awful shoes?

...Are you saying I should test it on you?

[whattaprick]

Might as well. Or test it on a familiar. If it can't hold one of those, it's not going to have much chance holding a Harbinger.

[ Though... ]

What's wrong with your shoes?

[dressedtothe]

A familiar? What's that?

[Grumble grumble]

My shoes have heels

[hippocarnival]

[It really doesn't sound like them, but that oddly gives Yuya more hope.] If we can remind them who they really are, maybe they can shake off what she did to them.

Oh--yeah! [There's a slight fluster at that. This seems like a big deal, so...] Did you become a Guardian too?

[hippocarnival]

I can make bubbles that... do things. [He realizes how inane that sounds.] I was able to calm Steven's fruit animals with them! You know, it's probably just easier if I show you?

[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.]

[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.]

[anti_nonsense]

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

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita wants to think so, too... Maybe it'll be easier to bring them to their senses, when what they're doing goes so strongly against who they really are.]

Yeah. Apparently, I possess a powerful Spark of Knowledge.

... Suits me well enough, I guess.

[She's kind of happy about it. But she doesn't want to sound too happy.]

[hippocarnival]

Spark of Knowledge? Yeah, that definitely suits you.

[Obviously, since their sparks are their souls.] What does yours do?

[whattaprick]

[ Bubbles????? ]

'Doing stuff' isn't very specific. It would probably be easier to show it -- Rita might make sense of it.

[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]

I can summon a magic book, which gives me access to a variety of offensive spells and can enhance my analysis technique. Seems like it can be used in other ways, too... I'll have to do some more experimenting with it.

[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.]

[hippocarnival]

Well, it's hard to explain... [He honestly doesn't even have a full grasp of what he's doing with it. More he kind of wishes he had a talking familiar to explain it.]

I can meet you in the training yard, if you want.

[hippocarnival]

[That's a pretty non traditional weapon as well.] Did you just... know what to do with it when you got it? I don't think we have a lot of time to practice.

[People whose existing magic is enhanced probably have a leg up, but Yuya doesn't want to be useless either.]

[anti_nonsense]

Hmm... some of it was intuitive, almost weirdly so. But some things I had explained to me... by my familiar. [There’s a mild uncertainty in her tone.]