[Video; Open] 04 Shadows

[fell_to_hell]

[The video starts by looking on a rather sobering landscape. The remains of a leveled palace are all that can be seen, and scorch marks are visible on the stones. Rubble and bits of scattered parchment litter the landscape for a few miles out from the main husk of a grand building. A couple familiar people might be seen checking out the carnage for any hint of what may have happened to cause this in view of the Locket's "camera." The others may be shuffling off out of view.

Finally, it turns on to Nico, and he doesn't look at all pleased. His expression is grim and the muscles in his jaw are tight with tension. He's beyond caring about the bounty on his head at the moment.]

This is the remains of the Drabkeeper's Castle, a place said to have knowledge from the beginning of time in this world, and it was supposed to have been neutral territory. I can't say we can confirm that anymore.

[He pauses for a moment.]

From what we can tell, this magical attack took place weeks ago, maybe sometime in August. As far as we can tell, there are no survivors, and I can't confirm whether there are or not because their ghosts have moved on. There's no way to contact them to get the truth of what happened.

[He cuts the connection abruptly. He has an important call to make.]

[Private: Kaldur'ahm]

[It's only to Kaldur that Nico shows some of the weariness, frustration, and stress he's been feeling since finding this broken shell of a palace.]

I'm sorry, but I don't think we'll be getting any information to our questions, at least not from here. I'm still going to look for the Black Dog, but I need to talk to Elincia about her quest first.

{OOC: Here is a GDoc of what the mods have said on this subject! Also, anyone from the Travel Log can potentially be called in this post if you wish. Threadjacking is also encouraged. If you'd like a specific character, then please let us know! Also, as a side note, Soren and Nico responses will be on the slow side because I'm on hiatus until the end of the month.}

Comments

Text

[gordianknots]

I was there recently as a part of a different group, shortly before you I expect. I was able to gather some fragments, and am trying to see if any can be re-assembled. If I have any success, would you like me to get in touch?

Text

[fell_to_hell]

That would be appreciated, sir. There's nothing left that my group can find, honestly. It's been too long and the scavengers have picked this place clean.

[gordianknots]

Very least I can do. I am trying to find a way to preserve the items right now, since they're in a delicate state. They'll likely end up between panes of glass, to keep them from rolling up or otherwise crinkling away.

[Video]

[wildgift]

[He doesn't want to ask, but...he's a little morbidly curious. And even in a place like this, that can't be good. Not that he expects much of answer either.]

What happened? Why would someone attack a neutral party?

[Video]

[fell_to_hell]

[Nico scowls, though it's not directed at Stefen.]

Most popular theory we can come up with is that the Drabkeeper's Castle had information someone didn't want us to find, and they didn't care much about the people that had been inside. We just have no idea who that might have been. It's easy to point the finger at the Unseelie, but there's the possibility that a third party had a hand in it, which I'm hoping isn't the case.

Re: [Video]

[wildgift]

We sure as hellfire don't need it to be the case, anyway. Out of one set of intrigues and into another...

If I never see another courtier in my life, I'll die content.

private voice

[bythewaves]

[ a soft sharp hiss and a good deal of indignation ALL THOSE BOOKS but there is none of that in his voice ]

So not even the neutral territories are safe. Your pardon - is there anything that survived in terms of information?

[ and what of his kin, he wonders, what will they find in treun? ]

private voice

[fell_to_hell]

[He sighs softly.]

I wish. If anything survived, then it's already been taken by salvage groups. Most of what's strewn around is too charred for anyone to read.

[Even without dyslexia.]

private voice

[bythewaves]

[ on his end Maglor scowls, although he lets none of it bleed into his voice ]

So then the question becomes - was this done by one court or other, to prevent information being spread that they would rather not, or was this done by simple raiders. Considering the level of destruction you describe, this seems to me more deliberate.

[waterbearer]

[ Kaldur's face eases from its first battle-prepared rigidity to softened concern. He has sent word to Ridire and Solais, and now, as injured as he is, he can only wait. ]

The questions can wait. See what becomes of Elincia's plans with her quest. I hope to be able to aid you in your search for the Black Shuck, even if the first of that aid is only what shreds of mentions remain in the library here and the words of others who reside in this castle.

[ But, once he thinks of it, Kaldur remembers a message long-ago sent, and he may as well give means to try. ] There is one other avenue that I might be able to pursue, but only quietly.

Nevertheless, that can wait. How are you, Nico?

[ You don't look so hot, and that is coming from the guy sitting in a tub for the past few weeks because his burns are that bad. ]

[fell_to_hell]

[He manages a weak smile.]

That would be a big help. My visit with him is probably going to be delayed until Elincia is finished with her quest.

[Nico nods, and then pauses at the question. After a moment, the son of Hades rubs his face tiredly.]

Frustrated. Angry. Disappointed. We came all this way, and it looks like it was for nothing but bad news. I don't like what this means. If it was Unseelie, then we have a huge problem if they have this amount of magical power already. If it's not Unseelie doing...then I'm afraid we may just have a third party to be on guard against. The only thing we can think of as to why someone would want to do this is that there was information in the castle that they didn't want people to find.

Video

[wilder]

That's...

[Zelos stares at the video in shock and horror. The Drabkeeper's Castle- he remember hearing about that place. It was a place said to have information away from the courts- an unbiased source. He had wanted to go there for answers. So did other Shardholders.]

[...Was that why it was destroyed? To prevent them from getting those answers?]

[But first thing was first: the victims. He mentally kicks himself to think of them first]

How many people were there? Does anyone know?

Video

[fell_to_hell]

[Nico rubs his face, looking a little tired.]

I don't get the sense that a huge amount of people had been there when the attack happened, but I can't give an exact amount. It's too faint, and the ghosts didn't linger long enough to give any sense of what happened.

Video

[wilder]

Damn...

[No sense of huge amounts means it could be worse, but it's still bad. How many it was, it was too many.]

Here's hoping they moved on to somewhere better.

[He rubs his face, trying to think] And you're positive everything's been destroyed?

video; private

[boutant]

[ the most awkward. hi nico how's clifford...... ]

Waver already contacted you, but- we do have some bits of paper.

[ She rubs at her face. ]

I was kind of hesitant to say anything, after... last month. [ After what she did as a giant shadow creature. ] They threw me in the dungeon, you know.

video; private

[fell_to_hell]

[Clifford is having a grand ole time guarding the ship aka napping, thanks!

Nico has the grace to look embarrassed.]

I'm sorry about that. The dungeon thing, I mean. Are you alright?

[He feels bad for not checking in on her sooner.]

What bits do you have?

action/open to everyone at the scene

[devotedqueen]

[Elincia stares at the leveled palace, a mask of regal calm hiding the turmoil of emotions raging within. She does not think before picking her way through the rubble; searching for anything that could identify the victims--or anything that could lead them to the perpetrators. A little bit of dirt and rubble did not bother her.

She picks up the charred remains of a book, watching it fall apart in her hands and closes her eyes, breathing out slowly. Finally, she speaks]

Has anyone found anything?

[video]

[bird_brain]

You've confirmed what my party saw. I could only see that it had happened some time ago, but had no clear evidence of a magical attack. [He suspected it, though.] Did you find anything more? Our party picked up as much of the readable debris as we could.

[video]

[fell_to_hell]

No, anything useful has been salvaged or scavenged already. Honestly, I wouldn't have been sure of a magical attack if we hadn't had it confirmed by a mage. What about your party? Had you seen anything we might have missed?

[Video]

[vanyel_ashkevron]

I fear neutrality isn't an option. [Even feigned neutrality ends violently. He feels like he is back in the disputes between Valdemar and Karse all over again.] Be grateful the spirits have moved on. For them to be trapped in such a place with their memories would be cruel.

[Video]

[fell_to_hell]

[Nico looks down at that.]

If they had been, then I could've helped them move on. But at least they were able to move on. Not many ghosts are lucky enough to move on from this world to the next, so...that's one good thing, at least.

[His gaze comes back up, though.]

But you're right. I don't think neutrality is possible if this sort of thing goes unpunished. If it's not a play to get someone on one side or another, then it's to destroy them first so that they don't become an enemy later.

video;

[truesight]

You're absolutely positive everyone has moved on from the site?

[ INCLUDING THE PEOPLE THAT ATTACKED THE CASTLE GODS YOU GUYS BETTER BE SAFE OR- ]

video;

[fell_to_hell]

Yeah, the trail's cold, as far as we can tell. The only reason we were even able to tell this was magical in nature was because of this mage we're traveling with from Elincia's world.

[THEY'RE SAFE REALLY NOBODY'S TRIED TO KILL ANY OF THEM SINCE THE THREE ASSASSINS THAT ONE TIME]

Private video forever

[showmeyourwreath]

[She's seen more castles fall to ruin than she'd care to admit, but is not desensitised in the least and her face twists in horror at the scene laid before her.

She has questions, but so does he and with little means to answer them from the looks of things. Perhaps she can help with that, she really hopes she can.

Flora's voice is gentle, even, and concerned.]

I might be able to help you shed some light on what happened here.

[But, more importantly.]

Nico, are you alright?

[fell_to_hell]

[He sighs, and he's grateful to Flora for making this a private conversation.]

I'm frustrated, that's all.

[And a little guilty for wishing the ghosts had stayed to give him at least a clue as to what happened.]

...And worried, honestly. If it's Unseelie doing, then they're a lot stronger than we realized. On the other hand, if it's not the Unseelie, then...we've got a third party to be on guard against. I don't like that option at all, but....

[Nico shrugs slightly.]

What can you tell me?