BACKDATED TO MID-WEEK DURING THE SECURITY SWEEPS: Psychic Livestream (CW: death)

[loyalrebel]

[The view that Malik sends out is from where he's laying on an office floor, a spilled wastepaper bin in view as well as the Manticore Knight Germain who's also known as Embargo.

Malik doesn't speak aloud, instead keeping it to the mental voice everyone's used to.]

Stop Manticore.

[Three gunshots ring out, and the stream ends. Malik is unavailable on the network afterwards.]

Comments

[awitchdidit]

Hello there, Shogun-sama...

Once you reappear, Malik, consider this thanks for the intelligence.

[claudiometer]

What the hell did you DO?!

[dreamingking]

For when you've returned: the warning is appreciated and I express my condolences on the death.

[There really isn't much more to say at this moment (who knows when the man will return) but Tybalt continues, essentially thinking 'aloud' for others to chime in if they wish. Better than directly asking for help.]

"Stop Manticore" is a very tall order, but I was half expecting it to come to something like that as it was. Very well, I accept.

[awitchdidit]

If you need any help with that, I've been gathering what information I can on the Solomon Ring. There's an Infiltrator that's been very helpful...

[dreamingking]

Is that so? Coming at him through his current project is certainly an option. I have an interest in the Ring itself, as well. Perhaps we can share what we’ve learned? Although I should say that my focus has been elsewhere until recently.

[awitchdidit]

The general gist of the idea is that it will be a permanent Spirit gateway, with its control entirely in the hands of the Manticore and his agents - he might give control over to the Crown, but I wouldn't count on it. The leading rumor is that Manticore would bring over all of his Spirit allies and use them to further increase his personal hegemon here, but I have no way of knowing that's the real motive without meeting the man.

They're going all out for sourcing their supplies, including gold from the original King Solomon's mines, and I have no doubt that whoever controls the device could do whatever they wanted with it.

Oh, and obviously, points to Malik here, the Knights will just straight-up murder any Traveler they find investigating it.

[dreamingking]

Most of the 'spirits' of this realm build cults of personality around themselves, based primarily on power. Manticore has a great deal of it, of course, but I could see expanding his power as a point of intimidation towards other spirits of similar or greater power. Holding a reliable and always open pathway between the spirit realm and this would be a boost to any spirit's power or fame.

My cats and I noticed the same when we poked through the shipping documents and crates, although I didn't catch the significance of origin at the time. The site of the Ring is also a sight of great spiritual power, although I haven't gotten a chance to poke around for myself.

[awitchdidit]

Someone was curious - is it ley lines? I can't tell using my own magic if we're not in my domain.

[dreamingking]

All stereotypes start from somewhere. As for the specifics, I'm not sure, which is why I plan to go looking around. Ley lines is possible. I am also worried that it might well be a Shallowing already--or this world's equivalent.

[awitchdidit]

Some sort of space where a magical realm and what we call 'reality' are closer than normal? Yes, I can see that. Or sympathetic magic related to borders or portals, being on the edge of an island that serves as a gateway in and out of a nation.

It'd be difficult to tell what it is exactly without checking in person, which I believe is something we'd need to do anyway. Any thoughts on how to do that?

[dreamingking]

Essentially. Because the space between has been hollowed out, it allows both realms to overlay each other, and makes it terribly easy to get in and out. But the other option is also something to consider; it sounds like you know more of magic than I.

For all their security, they are terrible at paying attention to the mere "pests" that inhabit their city. I intend to walk right in as a cat.

[awitchdidit]

Hmhm. Cats are the worst when you're attempting to plan around them. I'm glad one's going to happen to someone else this time.

If you have need of a distraction or illusion magic, let me know. Otherwise, be sure to share what you find out from your scouting.

[dreamingking]

One can never plan around cats. Any plan where cats are present must include them, or we get insulted and things go badly for you.

[He might even be joking. Possibly.]

I have some small skill in concealment for myself, but if I need to bring someone with the big guns, as the saying goes, I will know who to call for.