VIDEO | USERNAME: HAWKEYE | FORWARD-DATED TO DEC 4TH

[futurologists]

[The username suggests it should be Riza's face appearing in front of you, but it isn't. It's Arthur's — you may have spoken to him, if you attended the Order meeting, but if you haven't, he still looks very familiar. He's been at the scene of nearly every shocking event, decidedly un-shocked. There's a reason for that.]

Hello. My name is Arthur, and I speak to you today representing the Order of the Chimera. I've tracked down one of your own who has graciously allowed me to contact you all.

You're likely aware that some of your people are being detained by the guard on charges of treason. This is due in no small part to the Order meeting they were present at. My people have been taken, too. I understand you may oppose the Order, but in this instance, I believe it would benefit us all to work together to free them.

[He pauses for a moment.]

If freeing your companions isn't motivation enough, my brother is in custody as well. Although I hear the guard has invented a barrier to absorb magic, I have no doubts he will eventually escape. However, the longer he is kept, the greater his retribution will become. [Gravely:] If you value the safety of the people of Chantes, or even your own, I suggest you join the cause.

There is little time. We infiltrate the prison tomorrow, regardless of the risks. I assure you the damage will be much greater should Michel grow even angrier.

[OOC NOTES: Feel free to comment around, threadjack, etc. This is meant for characters to be able to plan! Thank you, strictdiscipline, for helping us!]

Comments

[grunehexe]

Deathly so.

[Sieglinde's own expression is taut, brow furrowed as she nods in answer.]

I cannot say for how long it has stood, but I have reason to believe it was not a spell created just to hold these current prisoners. I was able to use falsehoods to gain visitation with one within, but during my brief time there I could see nothing indicative of a spell on the inside.

[defenceless]

Right. If tensions have existed for quite a while, it wouldn't make sense for all of their defenses to be new.

[She seems slightly discouraged by Sieglinde's admission, if only because she trusts the girl's judgment and attention to things like this. If Sieglinde could find no signs of magic, they're searching for something way less obvious, most likely.]

... Let's hope luck is on our side. Does Arthur know more about the barrier? I find it hard to believe that man has told us everything.

[grunehexe]

Considering he is of this world, he would be the best authority on this world's particular brand of magic that we have available...

[As much as she hates not being able to rely on her own abilities... she knows when there's someone better for a job.]

If a cursory investigation turns up nothing outside of the prison ourselves, we will need him.

[defenceless]

[So does Rin.]

His brother. That Michel. Am I right in suspecting he possesses some use of magic, himself?

[grunehexe]

By word, the most powerful. It's claimed he is the one who extinguished the light of the sun in this land.

[By her estimate, a monumental spell indeed.]

[defenceless]

What—?!

[She can hardly believe it, and it shows. Her eyes open wide, and her lips press into a stern, cold frown, her teacup announcing an echoing clink as it hits the saucer.]

How... How is that possible? Isn't this world's sun beyond the influence of mages? Shouldn't it be out in space and unreachable?

[grunehexe]

I never would have considered it to be something a mortal could extinguish- no.

[Sieglinde's own expression is deadly serious, nodding with a tight expression.]

I have my theories... That perhaps the spell is a ruse, and he has only prevented the light from reaching the land under his influence... Or an illusion of some kind...

But either way, the area under his sway is great, and his power must be formidable to have accomplished it.

[defenceless]

He really is as dangerous as Arthur's warned us. At least, his potential is at a magnitude I've never known any magus in my world to possess. [That's the truth, apart from the great wizards or magicians, perhaps—who were never too common, anyway.

Rin seems to relax, if reluctantly. She almost wilts into the couch cushions.]

The loss of the sun's light, however it happened, must be messing up life here something terrible. I can't imagine there would be no consequences, aside from the people being thrown into an uproar. Even that could lead to their deaths.

... I'll tell you what, Sieglinde. Allow me to set a few familiars on the jail. One big one, and a bunch of small ones.

[grunehexe]

Precisely... I've harvested all the herbs I need for now, but if the plant life withers...

[Then next go the animals of field and farm, and then the humans and goblins...]

What form do your familiars take? Will they be able to move undetected?

[Best to ask- most mages' servants took different forms, after all.]

[defenceless]

They will be. My Servant, Archer, takes the form of a Heroic Spirit. He looks like a human man, but you'll know the difference once you meet him. Other than that, I build my familiars out of gem magic. Typically, they're in the shape of birds.

[grunehexe]

[Gem magic- fascinating! She'd used minerals in her own spells on more than one occasion, and-

... this was not the time to ask about comparing notes.]

Birds should be able to avoid suspicion, that will be most suited-

[... Hold the phone, she also had a familiar who materialized as a man? Surely she was a powerful practitioner then, to manage such a feat. It was a good thing to have her on their side.]

- As will your Servant.

[defenceless]

[That's the idea, on the birds! To be fair, Rin is a pretty well-educated magus, so her familiars are of a high quality for tracking.]

Yes, Archer won't mind. He'll be invisible when I send him out, so it's even less likely he'll be spotted unless the guards have been trained for this sort of thing.

[Even then, a Heroic Spirit is nothing to undermine.]

I'll release a few familiars immediately.

[grunehexe]

Invisible-

[She really is having trouble keeping her curiosity in check, the struggle is obvious, but she succeeds, stuffing her hands into her lap and nodding sternly.]

Very well. My magic is not suited to such things, so I will rely upon yours, Miss T-

Rin.

[defenceless]

[How cute. It's only here, at what she feels is the end of their conversation, that Rin offers a smile completely free of anything but... what kind smiles usually stand for.]

Please do, Sieglinde. Should we pick up anything of note, I'll be in touch.

[grunehexe]

[Without meaning to, (this situation was serious, after all, and she was scared for those imprisoned, nervous to trust this "Order", but), she smiles back.]

I'll await your word.