[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

private voice

[bythewaves]

Sabotage then. Which court, I wonder, would stand to gain the most. Alas, I fear that knowledge is beyond our discovering, now.

In war many things may be that are a grief and a sorrow, but there are nonetheless. And this one has been going a long time - enough to cause desperation, I would think. And the desperate may do terrible things indeed.

[ As did we agrees Caranthir ]

private voice

[fell_to_hell]

You're right about that. The trail is too cold for anyone to follow at this point. Not unless we could view the past.

[And even then that's not a guarantee that they'll know who did it.]

Probably too long, but...that's just from a mortal perspective. I don't know how long it might feel to someone immortal.

private voice

[bythewaves]

All wars are too long, even for those with a life of the span of the world itself. [ hello yes there's an immortal on this end ]

All lives taken are a life too many. But so it is, while evil still exists, that the sword must also. [ just for a moment, he lets his control slip, so that Nico can hear it, tired and bone weary, and then he controls it again, returning to the glacial calm of the Prince ]

Unless there is one here with such power from their own world (for I would not trust a gift from the courts with this) then I think that route will be unavailing. So we shall have to search in other locations, I suppose.

private voice

[fell_to_hell]

[He's talked to a wolf goddess, so he's pretty okay with talking to another immortal. Why not?]

It's...a struggle that seems to be in every world, and it's never limited to an outside force. Most have an internal battle, and that can be just as damaging as any physical weapon.

[Elysium knows that Nico has been struggling with his evils and demons for years.]

Good old fashioned conversing with people. I don't know if this is common knowledge yet, so we may need to be careful about it.

private voice

[bythewaves]

And so all worlds are marred. [ a quiet sigh ] I wish it were not so, but it seems that some roads are universal. The Long Defeat, I heard it once said, and I feel its weight as a dragging chain. And yet to stand aside is a sin grievous also.

[ But we wonder whispers the Ambarussa If it might have been better for us if we had? ]

If you broadcast across the lockets I do not doubt that the Rulers know, for I think them less secure than any would like. I suppose we shall have to see what becomes of it.