Will somebody please think of the children

[asscan]

[The stars are out and the moon is bright overhead. Laedo's bulk is mostly hidden from view in this video broadcast, just an inhuman face with long ears, a spray of arcing horns rolling down his spine, and a countenance like a big, sullen cat. Good luck getting rest, if you've finally managed to get to sleep. His voice doesn't rumble with the same resonance as it would have in person, but it's bigger than a human's, and deeper. There's a bit of an abrasive guttural rumble like a motorcycle in idle behind the sharper of his words.]

Who among you have spoken to the goddesses in question to be put on the gallows?

[Evan, if he winds up getting flayed for outing himself here, he's taking you with him.]

Comments

text | un: archer

[anti_altruisms]

Have you?

[asscan]

[Laedo pauses for a moment or two, narrowing his eyes as he finally resolves himself.]

Yes... and she has been made aware of the circumstances.

[anti_altruisms]

[ ...well. He wasn't actually expecting a 'yes'. He's curious how that came about, but there are more important things to ask. ]

Nalanni or Ryba?

[asscan]

Do I look like a gill-guzzling sea-dweller to you?

[In other words, Nalanni.]

Voice | UN: ANIKI

[dokyuu]

Talked with one of 'em. What about it?

[Motochika's voice is a brusque grumble, with a definite edge of irritation to it. He's pretty sure he knows what's up, but he's being... patient. For him, anyway.]

[asscan]

What did she tell you?

[Enjoy having that patience stretched like delicious taffy, Motochika.]

[dokyuu]

A whole lotta nothing good, really. One of 'em likes to throw nasty temper tantrums, and the price for the other one's help is nothing anyone should be handing over, but it looks like the natives are trying anyway. Wish I'd have known, I could have told them Ryba wasn't the giving sort.

[asscan]

One gives destruction and one takes it. Common fare for goddesses.

Do you have connections with the Nalawi rank and file, or have they decided to turn their coats entirely?

text | un: Sasaki

[ex_adept136]

I still can't believe those are our marching orders...

But I spoke with her, when we were in those tunnels. Nalanni.

[asscan]

I'm glad that you were able to survive the tempest, too.

[Laedo's voice relents; he's not as on his guard with the make-shift navigator.]

She gave me orders that trump ALASTAIR's, as far as I am concerned; I gave my service to the organization only because I was entrapped by their rules. Nalanni asked freely. She wants her children protected whatever the outcome, and I intend to fulfill that obligation one way or another.

[ex_adept136]

It's good to know you're safe as well.

[Amid everything else, he's grateful for that much]

Nalanni made a similar request when I spoke with her, and I gave her my word.

Like you, I'd rather do what I can for the people here than participate in ALASTAIR's directive. I lack the power to change the course others are on, but at the least, I hope I can do some good here.

voice, @TARANTO

[heavyhitter]

Whoa, hang on, what are you?

[ truly the important matter at hand ]

[asscan]

An askan asandus, not a dragon. I intend on eating nobody here--unless they do something particularly fool-hardy.

[Part of that is true and part of it is a lie, but Laedo holds a thumb delicately to the opal he was gifted, banked fury causing him to hackle at the thought of Nalanni being murdered.]

Let me guess, you are a human?

[heavyhitter]

Oh, sorry, a dragon-looking askan asandus, got it.

I'm human-plus, personally.

video; un: king

[agrizzlysin]

Neither has seen fit to "honor" me with their presence. [Is that a sarcastic snort? Yes, that is a sarcastic snort. King is just sour enough about this to pause his preparations and reply.] Apparently, I was only useful as a sacrifice to Ryba.

Which one did you speak to?

Re: video; un: king

[asscan]

[Laedo perks his ears forward at that. A sacrifice, as in a human sacrifice?! And from one so young-sounding? No wonder Nalanni was worried about her children.]

The other one.

[He's growling now.]

What happened? With Ryba?

[agrizzlysin]

[If Laedo knew King's real age, he may feel less sympathetic, but then again, Laedo is obviously not human. Maybe his view of time is more akin to King's than to a human's. Either way, King sees no reason not to explain.]

A group of Nalawi began sacrificing their own to her. When we found their camp, they decided we were next.

audio; un: hound

[ofobedience]

Oh, hullo again.

[His voice is oddly chipper, and it's a lightly-accented Germanic voice you may (unhappily) recognise from before.]

I spoke with one of them, briefly.

Re: audio; un: hound

[asscan]

[Dragon sighs are not unlike human ones, if not more gusty.]

Oh, yes. Let me guess who you found your way to.

I'm surprised you survived to tell the tale.

[ofobedience]

[He just laughs, a dry susurration like the falling of dead leaves.]

I could say the same for you.

[You're the one he found trapped and flailing, need he remind you?]

video | un: RHY5-W1NZ

[dbag]

Does it even matter? They're not getting killed because they weren't [ airquotes ] 'nice enough.'

Re: video | un: RHY5-W1NZ

[asscan]

Yes, it matters, you imbecile. Parity of politics is not on the stand here. Stop clogging the communications network if you have nothing useful to say.

[dbag]

Hah. Holy crap. I definitely have someone you need to meet here, you'd get along really well, you're both weirdly aggressive.

[ futuro's new otp, founded entirely on disliking rhys ]

But all right, I'll bite. Why does it matter, exactly? Because you haven't given a reason yet.

(Text | UN: Courtesy)

[stonebird]

(She makes a point of ignoring his appearance - it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Her goal is answers.)

Please, ser, will you share the information you have gathered? I would like to know what they have said - if anything.

(She is not comfortable putting goddesses on trial or executing them. It all feels very...sacrilegious.)

So courteous! :Dc

[asscan]

[This is perhaps the first 'sir' (or ser, though he won't hash semantics) that Laedo has gotten in weeks, or maybe months. It's like a drop of rain in a desert, really. He listens to the translated message and flicks his ears in thought.]

The one that I spoke with, the one responsible for the safety of the Nalawi, only wishes to keep her children safe. She's aware that she may very well be in mortal peril, and she accepts the risks, the consequences. Her children, on the other hand, are at dire risk of being caught in the cross-fire of the incompetents who wish to start a fight they cannot finish and the goddess below the sea who has been sapping Nalanni of all her strength.