!IMPORTANT! video; username: 82736775

[ricksybusiness]

[The video is from everyone's favorite camera-shy mad scientist, 82736775. This time, he's not even present in a carefully-framed way; he appears to just be using his jewellery as a Go-Pro.

The view is a large machine in the middle of the woods. It's crudely constructed, with loud, grinding gears and exhaust tubes belching smoke. There are three figures scurrying about -- Dipper, Shiki, and Hide, for those of you who would recognize them -- pulling levers and turning cranks and struggling to hear each other over the machine's groaning. Jars of fairy goop hang off the thing like lanterns in a coal mine.]

Listen uuuup, bitcheesss!

[The view jerks, then readjusts as the sky comes into focus.]

Thanks to my genius and everybody else's scrappy, can-do attitude, we're about to make scientific history. By which I mean w-we're about to blow this bullshit away.

[His hand enters the frame. He is flipping off the sky.]

Engage Operation: Fuck You, Magic!

[The frame stays centered on the sky, though the machine's groaning reaches almost deafening levels. Above the cacophony, there's a high-pitched whining: something is warming up. All over Chantes, the ground shakes.

Then bright green fills the screen and everything is so loud that it's almost silent. Those of you who are at a distance may see a gigantic green beam shooting into the sky just before everything turns bright white for a few long seconds.

And suddenly, there is light. Stars. Two moons. The sky is back.

82736775 is laughing maniacally. He swings the frame around to the giant machine, which has blasted wide open: smoking panels have fallen to the ground, exposing frayed wires. His assistants are also on the ground, looking dazed.]

Suck my dick, Narnia! Haha, yeah!

Now let's figure out what to do and get the hell off this rock! Team science, ouuuut!

[ ooc. IMPORTANT! the sun is now returned. from this point on, there are normal day-night cycles in chantes! be aware there are two moons, and the sun rises in the west. use this post to discuss what to do now! threadjacking encouraged. thank you to my fellow players and our modteam for making this plot so successful! i love you all.

UPDATE! check this thread for conversation on a peaceful option. ]

Comments

[invisiblade]

Without a doubt.

[people like Michel exist in all different eras and times, and they're always the same. he's already acted out once, what's to stop him from attempting to do it again?]

In his mind, he now has something to prove. He won't settle for allowing us to best him at his own game.

[defenceless]

If that's your honest instinct talking, Saber, I'm forced to accept it. [not many better sources from history out there than king arthur.] I haven't heard anything about Michel in a long time. It's troubling.

[invisiblade]

All the more reason to remain on guard.

[he's like a bug, pesky little things always show up when you're least expecting it.]

Silence is generally a sign that something else is brewing, just beyond the horizon.

[literally, in this case.]

You should keep Archer close to you in the coming days. No one is safe until all issues concerning the stability of the kingdom are put to rest.

[defenceless]

We can't really just leave him to Loki and Ahad forever, even if those two are gods. Putting out the sun is beyond some gods, after all.

[which makes her wonder, again, where michel is actually getting his powers. it's an interesting situation. drunk old man rick was able to disable the "blanketing" effect with science, but is it magic or science or something altogether sinister that michel's depending on?]

... I'm not an idiot, really. Don't worry about me. I don't need Archer at my side constantly. [except she does, sort of. where gilgamesh is involved.] That's not how we operate.

[invisiblade]

[she blinks, slightly taken aback for a brief moment.]

Forgive me, I did not mean to imply that you were incapable of handling yourself, Rin.

[she knows the young magus is far from weak, however...]

Given the fact we are unaware of precisely how powerful of an enemy we're dealing with, it is all but impossible not to worry.

[especially given the fact Rin is taking more initiative to get involved with negotiations and the political aspect of things. she would just feel better knowing Rin has added security for the time being!! but, Rin is a stubborn, independent girl- not entirely unlike herself.

clearly this means she'll just have to mention something to Archer privately behind her back instead.

fret fret fret!!!]

[defenceless]

Ah—

[she softens. saber didn't mean to offend her. no offense was taken. but rin's always direct and concise.

no problem, saber can join the crowd of servants conspiring behind her back. she's going to scold all of you]

Worrying is fine, but it helps no one to let it overtake us. We'll worry when we have to. [this is hilarious in retrospect.] Until then, I'll keep taking actions that I know I can handle. We do have a partial read on how powerful he is—the man's a loony who was somehow able to block the sun, and he babbles on about gods that are probably malicious entities, to say the least.

[invisiblade]

Wise words. I have faith in your ability to impact change among the people in your quest to urge them toward peace.

[as for Michel, they do have some insight but not knowing the full extent of his capabilities leaves them at a disadvantage. if he went as far as to block out the sun, who knows what he could be plotting next? and then there is the matter of these mystery 'gods'.]

Malicious entities... you believe he may conspire with demons and the like?

[defenceless]

It's not just me who should be working for change, Saber. We need you and the rest of ALASTAIR, too.

Demons. Evil spirits. Ghosts. Minor displaced gods. It's difficult to tell, but something isn't right. The goblins' main deity is a benevolent one.

[invisiblade]

By no means are you in this alone, Rin. I intend to see this mission through to it's completion. I want this land to prosper, same as you.

[though she's not certain it's possible under King Christophe's rule.]

We can't rule anything out, insanity breeds hand in hand with darkness. If Michel is consorting with dark forces then we really will have our work cut out for us.

[defenceless]

[that is a giant question mark. but she'll visit the king and make of it what she will.]

Would you be susceptible to them, you think? Or would they hold no sway over you?

[invisiblade]

It is difficult to say without having encountered them before.

[she glances away.]

Excalibur is a holy sword, as such, most demonics should prove weakened against it.

[defenceless]

... That's enough for me. Even if he tried to attack you or Archer, you would be strong against it. And your magic resistance is off the charts.

[invisiblade]

If it is a matter of magic then I am confident any spells cast against me would have no effect.

[demons are on an entirely different level, though.]

[defenceless]

It goes without saying that if Michel loses control again or runs free, you Servants are our best bet.

[sadly, that does include all of the servants.

gil among them, although if he helped anyone it'd be out of his own selfishness.]

I'm sure you can handle anything he has to throw at us single-handed, Saber. Or you could, if—

[you had a master.

she doesn't say it out loud, at least?]

[invisiblade]

[WOW NOPE TOO LATE. she picks up on that less than subtle insinuation and her eyes narrow as a result, displeased.]

If what, Rin.

[sorry there's no way they're not getting into this now.]

Finish your statement.

[SHE WANTS TO HEAR HER SAY IT TO HER FACE.]

i forgot i wrote this tag and now i'm just laughing

[defenceless]

[bring it, saber.]

You could if you had a Master.

[invisiblade]

[the fact of the matter is, Rin is the third person to nag her about this matter in a relatively short period of time. it's beginning to strike a nerve with her, which is why her mood suddenly seems to sour.]

With all due respect; howsoever I choose to go about my business is none of your concern.

[aka MIND UR OWN BEEZWAX RIN.

she doesn't need someone pointing out that she's far less capable on her own than she would be if she'd contracted. she knows that already, and for a legendary hero who is accustomed to standing on her own two feet and accomplishing great miracles on her strength alone, it's damaging to her pride to be told repeatedly that she's incapable of succeeding by herself.]

I am not so weak that I cannot function on my own without a Master to aid me in this quest.

[defenceless]

[that's exactly the point, though. it has nothing to do with saber's peerless strength and everything to do with the constraints placed on her as a servant. rin could puff up and retort with anger herself, but she feels she's justified in her statement and so she only flips her hair, crossing her arms, and says nothing more about it.]

Yeah, yeah. Whatever, whatever. Look, it's meaningless because Archer and I won't let you fend for yourself.

[invisiblade]

Understood. I appreciate your support, and know that I will do the same for you both, should the need arise.

[she bites her tongue on all the rest of it, she's not looking to get into an argument about it. it's a rather sensitive subject, so the less they dwell on it the better. it's bad enough she's got Gilgamesh breathing down her neck about it. she's a big girl, she can make her own decisions. so if choosing not to contract is what she feels will work best for the time being, then that's precisely what she's going to do.

she wants to be sure of her choice, she won't allow herself to feel rushed.]