'This is how these sort of things start, don't they? First a sudden change in leaders, then monitoring, then Willow and a lot of others are supposedly being sent home, and now there's gossip going around the Mudcap about how the Council is going to start pushing various sanctions and such on us. Now Haruki is in jail for just trying to speak to an official--although to be fair I could see him getting pushy enough to warrant it. Just not for how long they intend to keep him there.

I wish there was a way I could meet with people in person to talk about this, but if we're really being monitored then it's a moot point. Sooner or later someone has to step up and didn't I decide I'd look out for Haruki more after the last time I got dragged someplace unfamiliar? This isn't home. What is there here that I have to lose?'

[Video]
Hey, uhhh, my name is //////, but most people call me Kyonko and does anyone else want to do something about these light balls following us around?

Because it feels like there's something really shady going on in general lately and i'd like to get to the bottom of it. Only, I can't do this myself. I don't even know where to start. If anyone has ideas or would like to help me could you let me know?

'That didn't sound so lame in my head. I wonder how long it'll be before I get thrown in jail or mysteriously get sick, too, for bringing this up.'

[this network post wobbles a bit until it focuses some orange... things? oh, perhaps legs? that can't be right, can it? a voice is heard, but no face is seen talking]

--Can't get this fancy-fangled... [a dog barks] Oh! There it is! It's on!

[here is where things get weird. instead of the mirror moving to be picked up, it looks like it stays flat on the ground. and then a head leans down over it. it's... not human. whatever it is smiles cheerfully]

Howdy! Y'all can call me Applejack! An' Ah'm here t'help! [and then a little dog leans over and barks at whoever's listening too] Oh, right! An' this here's Winona! We promise we're not gonna let y'all down!

Also, can someone tell me what this little light thing is? It keeps followin' me. It won't hurt me, right?

[Lancer sat out in the middle of one of the streets of the Industrial District, one hand holding his mirror as the other held a carrot, which a grey-coated stallion with glowing red eyes was eating out of his hand. He didn't seem to really notice the horse biting close to his fingers as he spoke.]

I'm lackin' in terms of entertainment as of late. As interestin' as the game is, I miss huntin' in deep forests. I'm not sure if it's just kids playin', but I bet there're good games around, sport or not. Know any?

[A black horse suddenly shifted in front of the mirror, reaching over to try and get the rest of the carrot, one red eye passing in view before Lancer moved the mirror away.]

...If you two can't share, I'm dismissin' you. You don't need to eat.

[The horses ignored him, suddenly butting heads and making deep snorting noises just before Lancer overturned and hit the floor, his mirror falling aside.]

Shit! I told you two--! [Just in view of the mirror, the grey and black horse butted heads and raised their hooves, beginning to fight. Lancer glowered up at them, muttering.]

Shouldn't have summoned you idiots...

[Voice]

( introspection )

Hey, everyone, throw some products at me. Even just random things you're seeing at the marketplace, and I'll see if I can give you retail value.

[as approved here Because yes, he does have a new scheme in mind. Ever since he saw a certain broadcast program in a store window and figured out how to get it on his compact mirror's it's been bubbling. So he sounds disproportionately pleased as he asks this]

Aside from that though, in terms of foreigners, I've got a survey. How old are you, and what species are you?

[...Okay so doing all this work makes him bored. Sue him]

Um, so... there's been a lot of new people lately that I haven't met, and I thought I'd say hi? I'm Willow Rosenberg, and I'm the official government-flavored newcomer liaison. I was brought here like everyone else, but I'm on the local payroll and it's my job to make sure everyone gets settled in okay.

If you have any problems with-- with housing or employment or anything, let me know? I like to help. That's me. Help girl.

And if anyone wants to... I don't know, go hang out or something, I could use a distraction. [She smiles wryly.] Everything feels all slow when there isn't a siege going on. [She was used to a lot more mayhem and demon attacks than this.]

Oh, and if anyone knows anything about meditation, I could use the practice.

[Simultaneously, all of the city's mirrors activate. At the same time, billboards, video screens, and all of the city's television-equivalent do the same. Each shows the same view of an attractive chocolina with raven-black feathers standing at a podium. There is a live audience, obviously press, though they're keeping a respectful silence.

She smiles politely]

For those who aren't already familiar with me through my successful corporation and public service, my name is Yakisha. Through Emergency Measure 203, just passed in Parliament hours ago, I have been elected interim Speaker until the current crisis has passed and there is an opportunity for a full election. I thank you all for your faith in me, and I promise to do my best to guide the city through this difficult time.

[She brushes long fingernails through her feathery hair and then grips the podium, sadness flooding her features.]

No one was more saddened to see Lorriswarkin pass than I am. Though he and I differed on many issues, I have nothing but the greatest of respect for him, and my heart goes out to his grieving family and friends. He held the city together through the worst disaster our world has experienced, and I can only hope to live up to his legacy.

I would like to take this opportunity to reassure the public that there is no clear confirmation that Lorriswarkin died of Catarrhalic Fever, though all appropriate quarantine measures have been taken. If this is evidence of a new outbreak, it will be contained.

Also, any rumours of a connection between the arrival of an influx of Outsiders from other worlds, and the recent attack, are unsubstantiated and should not be repeated. [Smile] It was the vision of the previous Speaker that the Outsider program was the best hope for our world, and that should be respected. Nevertheless, security is our highest priority, as is determining whether there are any Outsiders who constitute a threat.

[At this moment, all player characters may notice that a gold ball of light has appeared in the air, bobbing just behind and above them.]

For the moment, we have determined that Outsiders will be monitored to ensure their health and security. If an Outsider engages in antisocial behaviour, we will be able to respond quickly, while those who prove themselves will more quickly be able to join the ranks as true citizens of Darstone. The spell is unobtrusive and I ask all citizens to assist our newcomers with reasonable requests. You Outsiders are, of course, welcome and we wish you to integrate as quickly as possible.

Inquiries will be forwarded to my public relations office for response. I thank you all again for your cooperation and faith. Together, we will get through this.

[OOC Note: Yakisha will respond to some (though possibly not all) replies to this post. Feel free to threadjack as well and have discussions in a forum style.

The ball of light cannot be touched or damaged physically. If you try to touch it, your fingers just pass through it. Attempting to contain the ball would be more effective - for example, placing it withing a magical containment field of some kind. However, it will cause crippling pain! Quests are going up momentarily relating to the event, and we're more than happy to accommodate attempts to learn about and/or remove the ball]

So. Not all of you know me. In fact I think that most of you don't. [Her voice is brisk; if the Speaker's death or what she's about to say is affecting her, she's not showing it.] I'm Police Chief A'aladash Kadra, one of the dreaded locals, and the reason you get my charming face instead of Xiuh is because today's news is under my jurisdiction.

We've received reports-- or rather I've received reports-- that there's a force moving on Darstone. They'll be here, at the outside, in a few days. We have some city defense forces, and the police, but I thought I'd give you all an opportunity to live up to your purpose here instead of just being dead weight.

[Oh, is she betraying her mixed feelings on the newcomers? Whoops. Usually she tries to play at being more political than that. She really must be stressed.]

So who wants to volunteer to play city defense with me? I'm not going to egg sit you, so if you can't hold your own, don't bother applying.

... Thank you.

'Two months. Almost two months since I first came here and unlike the last time I found myself trapped in another world--sort of--this isn't the case of a handful of things being different. Everything is. We're stuck underground to avoid a plague, humans are in the minority, and even the one person here I know from home is completely different. He's been stuck in an alternate world for way longer than I've ever been and seems to have mellowed out to a certain degree because of it.

Is it strange I'm starting to not be shocked my boss is a giant frog? And that I've been getting used to having to keep a work schedule and saving up to pay rent and buy groceries? These are things I rarely had to help with back home and it definitely gives me more appreciation for the things my parents did. I guess it is true what they say: you don't know what you're missing until you wake up one day and it's gone.'

[Text]

Hey. How do you guys deal with the homesickness?

Hey, has anyone seen the quest on the board about going down to ...uh, Deepground? Anyone thinking of taking that up? I kind of want to chart the caverns around here, so... I'd like to go if you do.

[The fact there might be treasure down there has nothing to do with it, of course.]

<small>[Eddward steadies his hat. Several more gadgets are on his person--some sort of magnifying monocle, some rings on his fingers, and he appears to have a belt with various tools in them. Several books are scattered throughout his personal space.]<big>

Greetings again, fellow Otherworlders! This is Eddward speaking, your astute local paperboy!

( Ramble ramble ramble! )

 

[And here's another new face, but unlike the last one, this one appears to be reading the screen, just unaware that the video feed is already running. LOW TECH ISLANDS ARE LOW TECH,K.]

Help... with what?



I better find out what's going on here, first.

[The view suddenly shifts to the ceiling of his room-- apparently our young antihero expects to leave his mirror behind. There's a soft chirp off-screen, though, and a very colorful blur.]


Heh. Of course. I won't leave you behind.

[Hi, network. Meet a very unhappy teenage girl. She's not impressed by any of this at all.]

So if anyone wants to get outta here super quick you should come to me. I'm all about quests and junk, and the sooner I get back to Cake the better.

I'm Fionna, and this thing says I'm rooming with some dudes named Fran and Dolorosa. Hey, I guess.

Also, if Prince Gumball, Marshall Lee, LSP or anybody else from Ooo is here, I'd really like to know. Even if it's the Ice Queen. [A pause, then...] Actually, I really need to know if she's here. Somebody's gotta keep her from predatoring on dudes.

[Voice]

Oi! Oi, Kyonko! Sokka! [He doesn't know Sokka's been dropped yet...] ...Anyone else?! Estelle, I guess, you oughta come too.... Did you see that diplomatic mission on the quest board?! I dunno if you can link on this thing but... [He means this one] we oughta be doing that, right?! Right?! How often is it that you're sent out and an ambassador to a native tribe! I've never even done that before!

So. Who wants to come watch me kick butt in the local fighting tournament?

This is an open invitation -- knowing who I am not required.

[The video feed flickered on as the close up of a rather curious face came straight to view. Switching the camera around from one direction to the next, as if doing his best to get a full understanding of it.]

This' thing is on right? Um, test, test. So on, so fourth. And all that sort of stuff that people say when they're trying to figure these things out.

Well! If it's not working I'm just making myself look like an idiot and talking to no one here! But I thought it was about time I figured this shit out, right?

I mean, of course it's probably working. So far nobody else seemed to be having any trouble with these things.

...Been kinda hesitant about using this though... AHEM!

Alright! Listen up peeps! This is a direct message dedicated to whoever it is that's in control of this freaking place!

Yeah! You know who you are! And if that's the case then you probably know who I am too since you brought me here some weird way where I thought I was dead but apparently I am not. I'm filin' a direct complaint as it were in regards to the initial living conditions which we were set up with!

Okay. You still with me? Good.

[He placed the mirror down, showing the interior to his assigned housing quarters mainly pointing down the direction of the long narrow hallway.]

You see this right? This little area right here? Yeah. This is that place that's supposed to lead to most of the respiteblocks and stuff.

Now.

Look at me.

[The complaint was extremely apparent actually. In fact most would probably wonder how he got into the apartment to begin with with his horns roughly size and shape of an american football goal.]

Right. You see the problem here yeah? Except. There's more to it. You all know what's down there right? Two other respiteblocks which heck if I care to go in 'em. AND THE ABLUTIONBLOCK.

Do you have any idea what I have been having to do these days without a proper ablution chamber or load gaper. Beleive me. You don' wanna know.

I am requesting a serious change be made here for all us horned folk you who you all quite obviously did not take into consideration when laying out these things!

[The video feed flickers on, showing an upside down view of small reptiles skittering away from the owner of the mirror. There's a flicker disturbance, and what sounds to be a roar of some sort, of frustration. That's what it sounded like at least.

But soon the feed shuts off for a moment before it flickers back on to show a young man, sitting in what looks to be a cave. He rubs his face, the opening of a cave visible, leading outside into Darstone, just over his shoulder. Derek sits on a large rock inside the cave, a lot on his mind as he rubs his face, which has a thin layer of sweat on it.

He purses his lips before he looks straight at the mirror. This thing always threw him in a loop. The Alpha was talking to a mirror.]

If anyone has met an Isaac, Erica, or a Boyd, let me know. Or even a Scott for that matter. They're people from home, and I wanted to see if they were here. And if they aren't... that's probably a good thing.

[He's straight and to the point and looks away from the mirror, sighing heavily, his shoulders heaving with it before the feed flickers out again.]

[ the face that appears on the screen looks more concerned than anything, though the video itself is filmed with a steady hand.

a few moments pass. there's a faint tapping and

-- oh. startled, he blinks at the mirror. ]

Ah-- hello. [ he looks faintly embarrassed, but that clears quickly. ] Hello. My name is Ky Kiske, and -- if I understand things correctly -- you have been deposited here in the same manner that I was. Prior to this I was working in the International Police Force -- [ the smile he shows doesn't quite reach his eyes. ] -- but I do not believe that holds any weight here.

I have familiarized myself with the guide provided, but if anyone has any further information, I would be grateful if you shared it.

[ another pause. ]

Please. Thank you for your time.

[ and the feed switches off. ]

[The video clicks on to reveal a small, slender, nervous-looking redhead. She has a frilly white blouse on covered with a leather bomber jacket, more stylish than functional, and she's fidgeting in her seat.

She takes a visible breath and says, somewhat stilted,] Hi. Willow. --That's me, Willow, my name, and. You should call me that. And you should email me?

Wait, sorry, I'm doing this in the wrong order. [She looks embarrassed, but then shakes her head and starts over, calmer now that she's getting into the rhythm.]

I'm Willow Rosenberg and I'm the official Darstone liaison to the newcomers. That means you, cause, if you're on this network, you're a newcomer-- a dimensional kidnap-ee. It's probably not government approved to say kidnap-ee, but that's okay because I work for them so I'm allowed to be especially disgruntled. Actually, even though I work for them, I'm in more or less the same position as you, I just got here earlier. When they needed someone for the job about a month ago I said yes.

Anyway... [Pause as she tries to recover her conversational thread.] Being the liaison means you should come to me if you have problems settling into the city, or if you need to talk to someone official and don't know how to reach them. I can get you in touch. I'm not responsible for deciding who gets to go home, so don't bug me about that or you'll make me cranky and mildly disapproving, and I don't like to be cranky.

But you really should email me if you need something. That's what I'm here for. I also do emergency response sometimes if something goes wrong with one of us, and trust me, I can handle it. So don't cause problems or you'll have to deal with me. [This is half bluffing and half honest confidence.] That means whoever sent those shadow things around during the festival, I better not see that happen again or I'm going to track you down, and there will be consequences.

[Her eyebrows go up in open evaluation.] Got it? Oh, and whoever's sending out the spying snakes, that's just creepy, but not illegal. So keep it not illegal or I'll sic the police chief on you, and she's scary.

... Any questions? About me or about what's going on? It's really mostly answered in the guide on your mirror, but I am answer girl if you have something else.