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

[ex_adept136]

I can elaborate, if that would be useful.

[And since Laedo has already asked...]

My rank as a ghoul investigator is First Class, the lowest rank of Senior Investigators. Typically, they're responsible for training a Junior Investigator in the field, however I was assigned a specialized squad. This was because they were given an experimental treatment that simulated my natural abilities.

[Having such a good time selectively doling out details right here, Haise. Others could read this, after all...]

As such I act as mentor to my squad, and as their immediate superior. My job was to help hone them into exemplary investigators like my mentor. I was answerable to my own superiors, and our assignments generally concerned researching reports or hunting down fugitive ghouls. So the job entailed both investigation and combat. Like I'd said before, policing in a sense.

Our organization is divided up by both rank and duties. For instance there are those who specialize in orchestrating large-scale operations, and would both formulate strategies and issue orders on the fly. In such cases, my job was to follow those instructions, or those of higher ranks. Such a person may have been more ideal than myself, but I'll do whatever I can to help.

[asscan]

Not unlike the structure of our Guard, though more specific in intention. [Laedo might elaborate another time, but for now he's fully intent on finding some path to action. All of this talk is making him antsy, especially after his near miss with a duel to the death with other less amicable team members. If he wants things to happen--and he does, he desperately wants to live up to his promise to Nalanni in a way that he might be projecting towards his earlier desperate wishes to please Aska, the goddess he was born to worship--he expects he will need others who are capable of performing if he is cut down in action one way or another.]

There are some Nalawi who have reportedly begun sacrificing their own to Ryba. We need to ensure that they do not take advantage of the chaos I expect to ensue. I am gathering others who will help to procure food and a safe zone for any of these little creatures to shelter, but if you would be amenable to guiding them in how to defend the innocent Nalawi... some are very new to the concept of working within a structure, or within dangerous environments, and some are not wholly convinced of their duties.

[He grumbles, a familiar sound by now.]

I'm not entirely certain that we will be able to flesh out a full plan before someone decides to be brash, so we not only work under a limited timeframe, we'll have to play things by ear.

[ex_adept136]

Sacrificing their own like that...what terrible desperation.

[Haise can only imagine such feelings drive them, though there is no solace in it. Those who died were killed by their countrymen, sacrificed for no purpose, where those deaths were truly needless.

Terrible isn't sufficient to describe it]

If some have gone that far already, I agree time is of the essence. They're seeing their world as a less stable and more frightening place, and conditions could well get worse if something isn't done.

I'll do my best, if you feel my experience in this area would be of use. Structure seems all the more necessary as the world around us feels less ordered, and it may return some confidence to the Nalawi.

Let's do all we can, then.

[asscan]

[Laedo inclines his head and gives a gentle chuff.]

You have my thanks, Haise Sasaki. If we come out of this on top, I will owe you more than one favour. Of all the people I have met here in our short time you have risen to the challenge admirably.

[ex_adept136]

If I can do some good, then I'm glad for it.

[The words are far too kind, he thinks, but rather than argue he settles with something else]

Your own efforts are admirable, as you've taken initiative where I haven't seen others do so. It's that first step forward that enables changes to happen.

[asscan]

[Laedo chuckles, muzzle puffing a little--enough to reveal some short whiskers, anyways--in a grin. If he has to keep anyone, Haise might be it. How rare to receive compliments from a human, or close enough to a human that he can't see the difference, when most of them have been demanding, querulous trouble-makers?]

ALASTAIR is lucky to have roped us in to their shoddy operation. It might just be spit-shined by the end of our unsavoury tenure. I hope to put this place to rights before anything else hideous can go awry.

[ex_adept136]

Where there's a will, there's a way, as they say. And I'm given to believe the most important step is someone speaking up - who knows, there may be others who feel similarly and themselves felt alone.

Sometimes, people just need to hear that first voice.

[Optimism can at times be a foolish thing, and he's aware of that. But in a case like this, with so many diverse individuals from all manner of worlds, it's easy to imagine that they're not the only ones who want to make things better.

Even if they've all been roped into this, he's sure others have similar sentiments]