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[Barabas looks subdued. It's not long after they were all snapped back out of Akvos. Long enough that he's clean and dry, looking less put together than usual, but at least not like the half-drowned ginger that he'd been when he landed back home.]

So. That was horrific.

[To the point and just this side of blunt. His usual, really.] I'd ask if everyone is okay, but I think that answer is probably already obvious.

[He sighs and manages a terse, tense almost smile.] I know a lot of us are still reeling. And still taking stock of who is still here.

In that vein... while what happened is still sharp in our minds, if anyone would like to stop by the office that Maes and I have established in the Temple to record their experiences, it would be appreciated. If we want to prevent this history from repeating, we'll need to learn from it.

I'll likely be here more often than not for a while, if anyone would like to stop by.

[Even if they're all exhausted and physically and emotionally drained.

He's quiet a moment, as if he's not sure of what he says next.]

But more than that... we need to allow ourselves to mourn as well. Perhaps a small vigil by the lake? Silence, remembrance... maybe candles? These things aren't my strong suit, but it might be a start at closure.



(( ooc: barabas will be hanging out in the office if anyone would rather an action thread. and really, anyone who'd like to add some words to the chronicle for akvos or anything else, please hit it up! ))

[ Shortly after their return from Akvos - ]

Pardon the intrusion. For those who do not know me, my name is Lucina.

I think, considering the perilous nature of our return, it would be prudent to conduct a head count of our own.

[ As she's saying this, her voice is a bit grave - respectful of the circumstances, certainly, but not wasting any time tending to the here and the now.

What she doesn't say is that the erratic nature of Astoria's broadcast wasn't especially reassuring. ]

A quick reply with your status will suffice. Does anyone need aid? Is anyone you know of absent?

[A quick video update from the resident info-gathering nerds. Barabas and Maes appear in frame, in what looks to be the palace’s library. Barabas is the first to speak.]

It appears our communicators are working again. Everyone has seen the strange messages come through, I assume? Jumble of letters as they may be. [But by the grin that is threatening his face despite his best efforts to look serious.] I believe we’ve deciphered them, however.

[Maes, meanwhile, is also grinning. He’s relieved that the network is back up, but more importantly for once his research and library time has paid off. Of course, he has no idea what this message might MEAN, but it always feels good to be of use.]]

It wasn’t easy and figuring out what to DO with the message will probably be our next step. But, as we told you all back at the Temple, it’s important that we share information like this with everyone. [Maes glances at Barabas.] Do you want to tell them or should I?

[A quick nod of agreement, and Barabas glances down at where he’s clearly made some notes.] We’ve seen four separate messages, each a single line of letters. Thankfully, it seems all the letters were there, just not in the right order. Here they are, unscrambled:

[Quick flip to text.]

Do not kill him.
His people are dying.
They are the only hope we have.
Shatter the mirror and I can save him.

[And back to video.]

Anything else, Maes?

[Maes rubs at his chin thoughtfully]

Hmm. Well, while we’ve figured out what the scramble means, we have no way of knowing WHO this message was sent from….though I’m sure we could make a guess. After all, the Princess is still missing and she’s been described as pretty caring for others...but if it is her this just raises a whole slough of questions that we should consider carefully before we proceed with taking any actions.

[Namely any ‘killing’ or ‘shattering.’ After all, what information does this messenger have that they are giving warnings like this?]

Which means it’s also important to keep in mind that there are people who can access this network other than us.

[Barabas concludes on that comforting thought.] But it’s the best tool we have, so if anyone has any insight on the messages, let’s hear it.

[Maes nods. He knows all too well what can happen to someone sharing unwanted information on an unsecure line. Of course this memory elicits a frown instead of the feeling of victory of having solved the puzzle. So he adds.]

Or if you’re near the palace library we can always talk in person. Consider it our temporary HQ, since we’re no longer at the Temple with our office.

[Maes Hughes sits tilted back in a chair. There is a map pinned up on the wall behind him, it appears to be a map of the Temple itself and new paper has been pinned to it with labels that indicate a lake and caverns. Maes did this on purpose, wanting to show what they had been working on in their newly christened ‘office’, but of course, that’s not his only reason for starting this video post. He raises a hand in greeting, sitting forward and now getting a new figure in the frame: Barabas.]

Yo! Hope you guys weren’t getting too comfortable after our adventures in the caverns, because Barabas and I have one more favor to ask of everyone.

[Barabas offers the video a smile, hands folded in front of him before adding,]

Well. Maybe more than one. But they’re small favors. And they’ll be helpful, hopefully, in the long run. [A glance to the other man. Go ahead, Maes.]

[Maes nods, adjusting his glasses and then continuing by pulling out a new map. This one is labeled ‘Tunnel A - Right’. A lot of it is in blue, indicating the underwater parts, and a lot of those tunnels look extra small -- indicating the size of the space. He has also drawn helpful squiggles for the eels. It’s by no means a brilliant work of cartography, but it would certainly do in a pinch and considering it was based off memory...really not bad.]

I know we were already sharing information with each other based on what we encountered in the different tunnels. What we haven’t done is tried to compile that information for future use. What if we need to go down again? What if there’s more to find down there? If we’re going to be staying here between jumps to other worlds, I don’t know about you, but I’d kind of like to have more information on this place, stuff we can reference later. I know we didn’t go down there expecting to make a map of the routes we took, so I know these are going to be rough, but I’d really like to hear from those that took the center and left tunnels about the terrain, turns, and what not that you explored. I want to make some maps for future reference basically.

[He then nods, indicating it’s back to being Barabas’s turn to elaborate on the favors they are asking.]

In the spirit of compiling information for future use, we’re also hoping to have any other details you might have to offer -- about the caverns, about any of the worlds that Astoria has sent everyone, about anything of particular note here around the Temple. There’s likely to be another influx at some point, and even for those of us already here, it could prove useful.

[A brief pause before Barabas seems to remember, adding with a pleased smile, quite proud of their little makeshift office.] We’ve repurposed [...commandeered] an empty room as an office and central location for this information, and for people to visit as they need. Consider it a sort of miniature reference library, or a headquarters for information gathering. And sharing.

Was there anything else, Maes?

Yes…[Maes nods, his expression briefly becoming solemn, although the two people here who are left that know him very well will likely recognize it as a joke. He reaches into his jacket pocket and produces, of all things, a 3x5 photograph of a brightly smiling young girl. Three years old and wearing a sun hat. As soon as the picture is revealed he is smiling like an idiot.] Just that I’ll be leaving this picture of my beautiful baby girl in this office to help brighten up the place! Say hello to my Elysia~

[And he’s back to the serious face as he adds, the light glinting off his glasses] And if any of you take it out of here we’re going to have some serious conversations about messing with a precious memento.

[There’s a pause and then Maes “realizes” that’s probably not what Barabas meant.] Oh! You mean about our office here? No, I think that was about it. Everyone’s welcome to use this and we also figure this could be a good place to talk to any new members as they arrive. All you need to tell them about this place, especially if you’re not sure how to explain it to them or if you weren’t here when we visited some of these worlds.

Just come find one of us or send us a message if you have any questions.

 So, correct me if I'm wrong about this. 

[Hank doesn't bother with an intro, just starts right on in. The angle he's holding his wrist shows both his face and the stick he's dragging along the wall behind him, which has been in a fire at some point in the recent past and leaves a long black trail of ash over the wall as he walks.]

But when all you heroes trooped into the haunted caves under the mysterious freaky lake the communication plan was along the lines of, 'gee, if someone gets their feet ate off by some freaky bullshit I sure do hope they yell real loud so I can get there before they bleed out' right? I mean, I trust you guys know to make a post letting us all know if you need backup, but what if this- [Here the screen shakes as Hank wiggles his wrist, indicating the watch] -gets busted, or stolen, or whatever? 

I don't know, I was just thinking, next time a bunch of us, or just anyone, goes into something that might get bad there should be some kind of post stuck to the top of our feed that we could all check, just something like this-

[He stops walking, still talking as he starts to scratch a little list in ash onto the wall beside him.]

Hey, I wonder how little Suzy's doing. Oh, she checked in an hour ago, she's probably fine.

[He writes Suzy on the wall, and a checkmark next to her name.]

How about JimBob the Murder Bot? Oh, he hasn't checked in for about seven hours, I should take someone to go look for him.

[Next to JimBob the Murder Bot he doodles a little skull. Sorry Jimbo, it's hard out there for a figurative probably-dead robot. Better luck next time.]

Or maybe you guys would rather do some kinda daily role call like in school or, hell, maybe it's just more fun to lone wolf your way through all this world saving shit, what do I know. Decide amongst yourselves. I might be around, I might not. Just thought I'd throw this out there. I'm gonna go eat. 

[Barabas appears on the video -- fully clothed, thank you -- with a sedate expression, cordial enough. Bright red hair is less styled than he'd prefer it (his kingdom for decent hair product, really) but he still looks sharp, put together. He's set his watch somewhere so that he's in fame, seated at a table, from about the chest up, hands folded in front of him.]

Hello. I've already met some of you, but for those of you I haven't had the pleasure of encountering yet, my name is Barabas. Everyone seems fairly alive, which is better than the alternative. There's a new vacation spot in town, complete with an off-brand Loch Ness Monster. What more could anyone ask for?

[He spreads his hands.]

As... charming... as this place is, there is a disturbing lack of information infrastructure. Even Astoria doesn't quite seem to be able to keep track of who is coming and going at all times -- since the last bunch of us were apparently unexpected guests. I don't exactly find that reassuring. It does not make me feel warm and fuzzy.

[At all.]

In that vein, I think we should address this, put in place some way to keep track of who is here, who is no longer here, the abilities we each possess. [He ticks these items off on his fingers.] And a collection of information of the places that Astoria has sent us, and the general outcome of each trip. And really any other useful things to know, for all of us, and those who may be brought here in the future.

[A smile now, no teeth, but still pleasant.] Sadly, I'm only one man, so I suppose what I'm looking for is twofold:

First, would anyone be willing to help gather and compile this data?

Second, those of you who've been here longer than I have, perhaps we can chat about your experiences.

Due to Chelseamod's ineptness with Dreamwidth communities, the tag post is now awkwardly floating around amongst your entries.

VIEW IT, IN ALL OF ITS GLORY.