[Jaunt] Fear! Fire! Foes! Awake!

[willyousee]

[Usually Alcuin sticks to thoughts only on the Network, so his urgent voice live-streaming in Investigator's minds may be the first time they have ever heard him do this - but the message is more important than the method.]

The Sun Temple will be under attack within the day! Soldiers - Sentinels they are calling them - march on the Temple and are killing any they come across, villager or monk. Messages are being sent conventionally, but there is little hope they will get through. We're rallying all that we have, but I fear we will be too few with so many gone to the summit.

Please, someone carry word to the heads of the provinces at the summit and prepare them! I doubt they are meant to emerge from that place alive.

Comments

[venetianprince]

I'm in Nakumatou- in nearby, I'm coming! I can fight- I promise I'll help! I think I know where the Temple is... Just hold on a little longer!

[truerevelation]

We've got a few guys stompin' around near Mibu, but they ain't doin' anything except being assholes yet from what I've seen. Think it's likely they're gonna start shit down here too? Ugh...

If you need backup and healing, I can probably get over there while nothing's goin' on here.

[willyousee]

Be careful as you come, and move quietly! They are making good use of terrain and will likely have scouts out looking for any of the villagers they missed. I don't know if we'll be able to arrange a sally to come get you.

[willyousee]

They are gathering near you as well? Cassiel's blade, they've been planning this for a long time. A pre-emptive culling and quelling of rebellion, I'm sure of it.

We'll need healing later, but we do have some defenses and Claudia appears to be rallying the masters if the shouting is anything to go by. I should say hold for now - we may need you in reserve, and I do not trust those soldiers. If anyone speaks out against them it is likely to turn ugly.

[truerevelation]

[ And here he'd started finding authorities he liked. The new guys definitely don't fall into that category.

There's a lingering mental sigh, and his tone's heavy as he goes on: ]

Urgh. Alright: say the word, and I'll be there. I just don't like sittin' around waitin' to do something...

[venetianprince]

I can be fast- some say it's my only redeeming feature, aheh. If nothing else, I can outrun them until I'm in an advantageous area. Good thing all the rain has made it a perfect environment for me to fight... A-Ah... Even though I'm all pumped up, I'm still shaking.

I'll fight my way in.

[dino_zarf]

Blockades in Koroshima. Do you need supplies that we can portal over?

[amadine]

I can offer transport for any who can get themselves to Liminal Space.

...Alcuin. How many Sirens do we have? I know there's you, and me, and Raidou; do we have anyone else from the Chorus?

[willyousee]

[Alcuin's voice is tight and strained.]

I am no great military mind. But it may be worth it to organize the people to resist or an orderly retreat into the wilderness. They are far more likely to know the area than the soldiers, and may stand a better chance of protecting their loved ones there.

[leftbehindagain]

Motherfucker. [Naoki doesn't usually swear that strongly, but if anything merits it, this sure as hell does.]

If someone else can pass word along, I can get myself to Liminal Space soon. I'll need a little bit before I move on to the temple, but there's no point in leaving them hopelessly outnumbered, especially if you're likely to need a healer.

I really need to figure out the long-distance portal thing. Second time in three weeks it would really be handy.

[willyousee]

Blessed Elua, my lord, if you can simply make it to the temple unseen, we will take you in! There is no need to fight alone!

[willyousee]

We are not besieged, and not likely to be if the reports are true - supplies will come later. I suspect we will need people more than anything, but blockades, you said? How many troops does the Shogun have at his disposal?!

Information. I have no information!

[There's a short silence and the sound of pacing before he speaks up again.]

If they intend to keep the provinces from aiding one another, that will be the largest difficulty. Travel by conventional means would likely not bring help to us in time unless the groups are already on the roads. The distances are too great and the terrain too varied. But if the survivors are to continue on, they must band together or they will be overrun!

[failgoyle]

...and I'm just going to stay right here at the fortress because he's not going to attack his own guys, sounds good.

I'll keep an eye on things. Watch for more troops leaving, stuff like that.

[willyousee]

Sabetha, I...

[He cuts himself short and almost audibly reroutes, thinking.]

Phedre and Joscelin are... lost to us. They were the only two with us then. Phillip knows but the one Song, and he is not here. Leonardo... likewise. Lupa as well. I believe. I believe it is just we three.

I alone cannot do enough. Not unless I am in the midst of them.

[willyousee]

I have little idea how many healers we have, but the two strongest leaders left with the caravans. Armor is not common here, but the reports say that the soldiers wear it. I fear a healer will be very welcome indeed before the end.

[leftbehindagain]

Then I'll definitely need the stopover. Kanji's run my dreamcatcher down twice now, and I'll probably need as much as it can give me myself. This is going to be ugly.

What kind of armor?

[willyousee]

The others there may be in grave danger. If you can help them, please, please do. I fear they are walking into a trap.

[willyousee]

[There's a short, sudden silence.]

The dreamcatchers. Of course! I should be able to provide you with mine when you arrive, but I have no method by which to aid you in your travels, I'm sorry.

The reports are coming in mainly from panicked villagers. A coherent story is difficult to get. Some say there were a thousand, others only fifty, but they all agree that the soldiers wore black armor with a white circle crest upon it. That is the sign of the border wall Sentinels - the imperial troops stationed there. Metal armor seems rare here in large pieces, but they may wear smaller metal pieces or some other variety. I am sorry, I have no true military experience, and am unfamiliar with this technology...

[leftbehindagain]

I'm not going to take yours from you, Alcuin-san. Odds are I'd need to wait for someone who can portal me through to the temple to get through the wait cycle anyway, so I'll have time to refill mine.

It's all right. I was just thinking if it's wooden armor, then any fire elementalists hanging around should have a field day.

[truerevelation]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'll see what people're already doin', and see what I can do.

[amadine]

I knew your countrymen were lost, but so many absent...?

We can't match the Lictor's fate with just we three, but we might still sow some chaos in the Empire's ranks that the defenders could take advantage of.

[willyousee]

Please, you will make better use of it than I. Especially if you are assisting in healing. Save it for when yours runs dry.

If they can get close enough to find out, it will be a blessing. I can only hope that the dragons will aid us. This is their land, and their people.

[leftbehindagain]

...If you're sure.

That's assuming the dragons aren't completely spent from the last couple weeks. But we can always hope.

[willyousee]

Yes, I fear so. The Chorus has never been strong, and we've not had many choose to take up the Song. Many Travelers are not within reach. If they are here, no one has seen them and if not...

Chaos. Yes, that would be better than naught. I've another song not of the Sea which might sew dissension in their ranks if I am close enough. How many of the Songs do you remember?

[failgoyle]

If I can do anything...

...seriously, all I'm really set up for now is one of those living statue routines you'd see in a theme park. Distraction's all I got.

[Assuming he doesn't just bail at the first sign of trouble anyway.]