synopsychic | (no subject)

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Those of you aboard the Panlong, I have a request.

We met with a very strange fellow who should be arriving in your midst very shortly. He's covered in bandages and has a straggly dog with him. [Sort of hard to miss.] He's been stranded aboard the atolls for some time now. He can't tell us how long.

[But that's really not the point, is it?]

He's...a bit of a cryptic man [thing?]. Something is very, very odd about him. [Which is putting it mildly.] He mentioned something about leprosy as well, so I would be wary of touching him if you can help it. He's asked to come with us, but he hasn't specified to where.

With all that's going on with the Grasper and the mermaids, and the ships chasing us, I don't think his appearance is coincidence. It never is. We've seen some of the same people, time and time again [like Tobi] but...I've never seen him before. It's possible he's a native of this world, of course, but-- I just don't know. He might just be the key to ensuring the end of this Jaunt. We need to keep an eye on him.

[She's not certain what a sickly man in bandages can do, however, to keep them safe from the Grasper.]

...And speaking of trouble, what exactly are we doing to try to warn our fellow seafarers about what's coming for us? Has anyone had any luck in convincing the captains of the danger?

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I have spoken with a crewmate from the Panlong and from the Damsel, and spoken with the Harbinger first mate and captain myself. They are aware of the Grasper, though... I am not sure what any of them plan to do with this information. Of the few mermaids I have spoken to, I have tried to reassure them I am doing what I can to alert the crews to the danger.

I've been shouting a lot and pointing frantically in eighty directions at once.

[ No, he hasn't. ]

It doesn't seem to be helping much, but at least it's gotten me out of swabbing anything.

[ No. It hasn't. ]

I'm sorry, I think I missed your request in there. What exactly would you like us to do with the walking pile of contagion? Is it 'feed it to that thing with all the tentacles'?

The Damsel's captain doesn't need to be convinced of danger; she needs to be convinced that the proper response is anything but loft sail and hope for safer waters ahead. Or at least that's my read on it.

I think the harder part will be convincing them all not to just feed the mermaids to the thing and hope it passes them by. There isn't much love lost between them.

As for your half-corpse friend, what was the request?

Noted. He'll need to be watched. [He's not entirely familiar with leprosy, beyond knowing it's some kind of disfiguring human disease; illness is something that, as a shinigami, he has rather limited experience with overall.]

As to the Panlong's captain, I'm uncertain as to where his priority lies in regard to the Grasper; his focus appears to be elsewhere.

Has she any intention on offering safe harbor to the mermaids? Or does she intend to leave them behind?

That's my fear. It's too easy to cut and run at this junction. But these are our people, memories or no. They need to be kept safe too.

[Neria sighs, rubbing her forehead. She wishes things were easier.]

If anyone can keep an eye on him... Look for anything suspicious, see what he does. I've never seen him before now. He's an unnatural phenomena in this sort of situation, and I can't tell if that's a good or a bad thing.

I don't know what will happen with him aboard...but I know things have changed with his arrival.

[Whether it's good or ill remains to be seen. They might have just signed everyone's death warrant by agreeing to help him.]

Elsewhere?

General opinion on this ship is that they're all flesh-eating magic-users who lead sailors to their deaths. She doesn't seem too concerned with them, but we have a few.

Think it's possible we have seen him, and we just can't tell because of the bandages?

[He's not exactly married to this theory, but the possibility doesn't hurt to consider.]

Doubtless. I'll keep an eye on him myself and observe anything that changes. [He can probably convince the crew he can manage that, youngster or no.]

On more mundane matters, like the overall running of the ship. The Panlong seems to be where a good portion of us wound up and the influx of so many unexpected extra bodies would be a strain. And perhaps on whatever trouble the crew has been trying to escape from; I've been informed it's a ship of exiles.

Let's hope they keep their opinions to themselves, then. So far, none of the mermaids have given us any trouble.

[Well....]

Actually, do we even know why this monster is after them?

They've been coy about the details with me. I think they're a dissident group, and this thing is the secret police.

Eh... what a strange fellow you've found. Are you sure it's safe to let him on board? [ at least it's not his ship, anyway, but as for the other part of her question... ]

The Captain of the Damsel seems to have little care for dealing with the Grasper. She's more the kind of girl who just does as she pleases.

[ there would be a laugh here, but that's a little hard to convey in text ]

She's actually extremely hard to read.

[ which made her fascinating ]

With all of the distrust going around, I'm not certain what it will take in order to convince them that what we're doing will protect us all. They might think we are loyal to the mermaids.

[Which isn't hugely untrue, but still...]

Have any of the crew or captains asked about strategy?

Probably because they assume you're too far gone with trauma and heatstroke to be useful. That, or you're bad luck. You might want to take care about that.

[Is she teasing? Probably.]

No, I'm hoping we can keep an eye on him for the moment. If he needs to be killed... We'll see to that later. For now, he'll stay with us.

[She's not sorry for being ruthless. It's a necessary precaution.]

I think he's like Tobi... Someone important to the greater scheme of things.

Do you think we should be more wary of their intentions? I'm an advocate of wise rebellion but I don't want to take too many chances, considering our circumstances.

I think...

They helped a lot of us when we were in the water. They didn't have to. I'm not worried about their intentions.

It's entirely possible. I don't recognize his face or his voice...but that's not saying much. Their roles are so varied during these Jaunts that I wouldn't be able to tell you.

[But something seems different this time.]

I don't know enough about this world to be convinced that he's a native here.

Couple possibilities I can see, in that case:

Context can throw a lot off about recognizing someone. It's possible he's a familiar face we don't see around as much.

Or if we think he really doesn't seem native at all, in the same way that we don't - it's possible he's someone like us, not one of them. I'd like to think we're pretty good at keeping track of who pops up in Liminal Space before we're out of it again, but we're not infallible. Though in that case...it'd raise the question of why he didn't start out in the same place as the rest of us, too.

He looks like a plague victim, or one of the Darkspawn. In my experience, that's always a bad thing.

I would appreciate it, thank you.

[Under other circumstances, she would understand. But considering the situation they're in, the idea is more than a little surprising.]

Exiles? From where? Are they soldiers, like aboard the Harbinger?

He requested refuge from his island. He was without food or water. Frankly, I don't think we could, in any moral capacity, leave him there like that. Besides...I think he's important.

[A hunch, perhaps, but Leonardo had seemed drawn to him too. She can't deny it was a mutual decision.]

As captain, that would be her right.

[She remembers Isabela, wild and free.]

Do you know anything about her? Do you think you could convince her to aid us?

[Being laden with practical matters such as the running and supplies of the ship is certainly understandable, but the rest isn't. He's focused on problems that are nowhere near them; it does no one any good.]

En Zhenming. Matter of court politics, as I understand it. They've a small standing force, but generally, I wouldn't class them as soldiers, no.

Thankfully, Darkspawn he is not. I'd know.

[And she's quite grateful the Trumps haven't decided to introduce those creatures to the equation.]

At the moment, he just raises more questions. But I don't think we could have left him there, either.

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