Walkabout > Jaunt, psychic bridge 2; shortly after the network blanks

[leftbehindagain]

This is Naoki. I'm on the walkabout. Does anyone over there know why the network just went into shutdown mode? I really doubt exploring a space moon is enough to do it.

[Please help him keep Eren from immediately bolting to the jaunt to fight eldritch horrors that may or may not even be there.]

(OOC: Naoki's psychic bridge can cover up to 13 additional people from the walkabout, which I think is more than are on the wallaby total. So basically anyone walkabout-side who wants to hop on can do so.)

Comments

[otomechapilot]

Bluntly, to keep the Fair Folk from the Jaunt from learning our True Names or messing with us.

We're at a University built in the middle of Spring and Autumn Court territories. They hand out iron washers and salt to the freshmen.

(She signs with her heraldry, rather than her name.)

[leftbehindagain]

...Yeah, okay, after the total mess Misericordia turned into I can't say I blame them.

[bite_the_hand]

Eren here. How bad are things Jauntside? Last time this happened I was still able to portal across, so I should be able to now. Once I know what to be ready for on the other side I can be there in under a minute.

[Speaking of Eren being ready to bolt... At least it seems someone got him to pause long enough to make any needed preparations first. That alone might be a little surprising to anyone that knows him.]

[youandyoualone]

As noted before, it's because of, ah, certain folk who are associated with this University. I am half-Infiltrating, it seems, and the man whose body I share was their 'guest' for centuries in his very long youth. From his memories I know that while very powerful inside their territory, outside of it they are not quite as much.

Unfortunately we are in their territory.

I also have the impression from him that while some of them are quite malicious, as a group they are nowhere near as horrific as those entities we faced in Harrogate.

[leftbehindagain]

Considering the last time we dealt with entities on a similar scale to what this sounds like, they broke into Liminal, I find I can't really take issue with the precautions.

...It isn't Dolorosa, is it?

[leftbehindagain]

So far it doesn't sound bad, as such. Just... preventative. [But otherwise he's going to leave reassuring Eren to the people who are on the jaunt.]

[youandyoualone]

... not Dolorosa. Somewhere called 'Elsewhere University,' in a country called New England.

[leftbehindagain]

[Okay good. That's one less immediate concern.]

I think New England's usually a region of America.

[youandyoualone]

Here it is its own country.

[leftbehindagain]

That at least sounds like some variation of Earth, as a starting point. Who knows which.

[youandyoualone]

True. But Earth variations can be very different from each other--for example, our own respective worlds.

[leftbehindagain]

Very true.

[youandyoualone]

I think you are right that we are in what would otherwise be America. I have consulted an atlas. We are definitely on a continent unknown in my time.

[leftbehindagain]

That does narrow the options down somewhat.

[bite_the_hand]

It was just preventative at first the last time too.

[leftbehindagain]

I know. Let's see what people have to say about the situation.

[youandyoualone]

It is connected to another continent by way of a land-bridge.

[leftbehindagain]

That would be the creatively named South America, at least on most variations of Earth.

[youandyoualone]

It does seem to be South of this one.

[leftbehindagain]

And I don't remember the Illuminants' stomping grounds looking all that similar to Earth, so that's a definite positive point.

[If the network shutdown is to prevent more fae entities from breaking into Liminal, Naoki will gladly put up with it.]

[youandyoualone]

[That reminds him off something he's been told by Alcuin.]

... and Bando? I have never been there. Was its geography anything like Earth's?

[leftbehindagain]

Not that I can think of. [It'd be somewhere around China anyway, and Naoki doesn't think China has a peninsula in anything like the right spot.]

[private, double protected]

Why do you ask?

private protected

[youandyoualone]

Back during when Liminal Space showed us those visions through the doorways, Alcuin saw the Yellow Illuminant in Bando. Or, rather, saw a vision that indicated his presence.

double-protected 5ever

[leftbehindagain]

Oh, great. There's a team-up we need approximately never. Two sets of powerful beings with a grudge against the Arcana, what could possibly go wrong.

I do think a return to either of those spots would have some kind of obvious sign in Liminal Space for those of us who've been there before to pick up on, at least.

Re: double-protected 5ever

[youandyoualone]

It may not come about. I do not think many of those visions did--and the only one I know for certain might have happened was very soon after the visions.

And you are almost certainly right, but the knowledge has been preying on me since Bando became involved with the timeline reordering itself.

[leftbehindagain]

I can't say I blame you for worrying. If that one does happen, it's going to be a giant mess.

[youandyoualone]

I am not altogether sure if 'giant mess' isn't a charming understatement.

[leftbehindagain]

The last time we had any dealings with the Illuminants, they broke into Liminal Space to challenge the Arcana directly. The dragons had to cope with Tower and Judgement - and maybe some of the others, I'm not sure, but those two were the prime offenders - throwing them out of their shrines at random. They weren't terribly pleased.

If we're lucky, it'll stop at 'giant mess.'

[youandyoualone]

I think I have heard of this breaking-in. It happened shortly before the Empress fully de-infiltrated the Travelers from them, yes?

[leftbehindagain]

That was the reason she separated them out.

[youandyoualone]

Still. 'Tis intriguing that we can take their skills for our own.



... Naoki, may I ask you to look out for Alcuin if he is there with you? He has not checked in here, but he may be Infiltrating. I do not know.

[Is he being a bit of a mother hen? Oh, probably. But given how he got Alcuin killed...]

[leftbehindagain]

I will if I see him. [Which... he hasn't, so far, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.]

[youandyoualone]

Thank you. He may be a Hecatite? He has recently gained that form as well as that of a cat who walks upright and wears boots.

[leftbehindagain]

Yensid? [That's at least an amusing mental image, in the middle of all this doom and gloom.]

All right. I haven't seen him so far, but that doesn't mean he's not here, and the same goes for your side.

[Or there's the third option, which doesn't bear contemplating when they can't do anything about it.]

[youandyoualone]

Yensid, [he confirms wryly--not that tone can carry now, annoyingly.]

I am told by his lady that every mastermind requires a cat. He is mine now.

[And yes, the third option really does not bear contemplating.]

[leftbehindagain]

[Naoki is not asking how that works in practice. He's pretty sure he doesn't want to think about it that closely.]

I feel like an actual cat might be more agreeable, if not as helpful.

[youandyoualone]

Mm. Mayhap.

[Sorry he's like this, Naoki.]

I am surprised, actually, considering how often Alcuin has been given another form that all I have is retained in my year here is the ability to go to my age from Questing Country if I choose and betimes to become a woman. But then, I do not think I have had my species changed in any Jaunt.

[leftbehindagain]

It'll probably happen sooner or later. Fortunately, the only one that's stuck for me so far is the Gorgon, and that's occasionally useful.

He's not counting the temporary werefox thing

[youandyoualone]

Oh? Howso?

[leftbehindagain]

Extra sensory input, which makes getting around dark places easier, and as a bonus, if you ever need anything petrified...

[youandyoualone]

I shall surely come to you.

[leftbehindagain]

I don't doubt that you will.