voice, un: endsoftheearth

[earthy]

[It takes Terra a little while to report to the network. He knows he needs to — he can't just keep this information to himself — but he's not really eager to talk about what happened.

He finally just forces himself to sit down and turn on the device.]

... Hello. I'm Terra. I've never put up one of these messages before. If I do something wrong, let me know.

[With a deep, steadying breath, he gets on with it.]

I tracked down another one of the... 'M' people. She told me a couple things that I think might be important.

Uh... For starters, this 'M' group is apparently pretty big. She claimed my catching her wasn't going to stop anything, that there are too many of them... out there somewhere, I guess, carrying on doing whatever it is they're trying to do. Maybe she was just bluffing. Or maybe we're going to be dealing with these people for a while...

Anyway, then she went on to mention their leader. 'The guy at the top of all this.' I thought it was that Shady Man... S-8, but no, it's someone else. She didn't know his name. Said he's really into birds, though? And that he looks like a... normal person.

She told me that this leader has a hideout but that it moves around a lot. Moves around constantly... is what she said. It was in the Theatre District here in Olympia last, but she was sure it had already been moved again...

[He trails off at that and keeps quiet a moment.]

That's about it. All she would tell me.

[Another pause, this one a bit longer than the last.]

Her name was Gnome.

Comments

[earthy]

... Yes. She's gone. It all happened so quick. I tried to heal her, but...

[He stops himself there. It's easy to get mired down in those thoughts, but they really aren't helping anything or anyone.]

I guess that's what we're going to have to do. Find their latest hideout, get to their leader before he can get out. Can't imagine it's going to be easy, though. Gnome made it sound like they really move around a lot... and to all different places. Olympia, Wyver... Who knows where else?

[wondie]

I'm sorry.

( watching a life slip from a body was an unsettling thing. Diana can tell it has him rattled, and she doesn't blame him. for all her training, watching life fade doesn't feel any easier. )

It sounds to me as if such a thing could only be done with magic. Perhaps we can use that as a lead, if we understand how this could even be accomplished.

[earthy]

[Terra's aware he's been a little out of it since his encounter with Gnome, but he doesn't realize just how distracted he's gotten until this woman suggests that magic is probably how they're able to move the hideout around so much.]

Right... Magic. I hadn't considered some kind of spellwork might be involved...

[Now it seems so obvious. Of course it might be magic... Some complicated cloaking spell or a portal or...]

Do you have much experience with magic, ah... Diana?

[He's about to ask if that's her name (or just another very name-like word she picked for a username), but then he remembers... The name, the voice, the face.]

You were the Guard member who offered to help train people in different fighting techniques?

[He pays attention to the network sometimes.]

[wondie]

No, not much.

( she is still very new to the odd abilities she has, and even those don't compare to the sort of magic she's seen in other displaced, not to mention around Olympia. )

Diana, yes. I have made such an offer, yes, though at present my focus has been on the attack instead of training, I confess.

[earthy]

I'd be surprised if anyone's found any time for training lately, with everything going on.

[He's tried to sneak in a short training session or two, but it just hasn't worked out. All he can seem to think about is the attack, the group responsible, all the people who have fallen ill, and now Gnome...]

Magic is fairly common where I'm from and I've been trained to use a lot of spells, but we'd be better off finding a mage or wizard. Someone who really knows their stuff. Even better if they're from this world and familiar with any unique magic they might have here.

[wondie]

I know one person I could ask, though I will look into others.

( there might be someone of magical prowess at the institute, and perhaps she can ask Tina what she thinks on the matter. )

[earthy]

Someone from your world? Or here?

[wondie]

Here. She has counseled me on magic in the past.

( will this be something Tina knows about? Diana isn't sure, but it is worth asking. )

[earthy]

Fingers crossed, then.

Everyone I can think to ask is either still sleeping or they're sick now. And none of them are from El Nysa. If it comes to it, if we can't find answers anywhere else, I could try and get in touch with the couple who are sick, but... I'd rather just let them rest if I can help it, you know?

[wondie]

Of course. If we can let them rest, we ought to.

I will see what I can find, and if I hear of anything, I will let you know.

[earthy]

Thanks, Diana.

[There's a brief pause and then he goes on, quieter but with a bit more steel in his voice.]

We've got to find this hideout and this leader of theirs. He can't just get away with hurting people and putting his followers in a situation where they feel like they have to take their own lives...

[wondie]

No, he can't. The actions of this man is truly despicable, and he must be stopped.

I will do whatever I can to aide you, Terra. Together we will surely find the answers, and I hope peace for those that were afflicted.

[earthy]

Peace for all this world. I thought this place was pretty peaceful before. Now that I know it isn't, I have to make it so.

I'm afraid it might not be as simple as just stopping this bird man and his group, though.

[wondie]

I doubt it will be so simple, either. It may be a start at the most, yet it will be hard to heal the damage left behind until the source of the attack is found.

[earthy]

Everything has to start somewhere, I guess. Will you stay with Olympia's Guard through this?

[wondie]

Yes. I don't agree with everything that has been done, far from it, but at a time like this I believe we need those willing to defend those in need.

I am still that, despite all this.

[earthy]

I understand. Just... maybe keep an eye on Ashti, if you could? As a favor, if nothing else. I'm curious... what she's really like.

[wondie]

I will.

Have you heard something I should keep in mind?

[earthy]

No. Or... not exactly.

Gnome was a different person before and after I told her I was taking her to Ashti and the Guard. Confident before, terrified to the point of madness after. And some of the locals seem to act kind of funny when Ashti's name comes up. They've never said anything while I've been around, but they do seem... bothered in some way.

Maybe it's all nothing, but I figure it can't hurt to pay a little more attention to her.

[wondie]

To frighten someone to madness is not a promising feature of a leader, it would be foolish to ignore the implications.

If there is something to learn, then I will keep my eyes open.

[earthy]

Yeah... Thanks again. If I ever catch the locals saying anything, I'll be sure to pass it on to you, too.

[wondie]

Thank you.

And thank you for sharing what you learned with us. Do not blame yourself for things you had no ability to control.

( she's watched a man kill himself with cyanide over answering her questions. it is true that she is regretful over his death yet she knows she couldn't have stopped him unless she'd known his intention in advance. Diana suspects it is much the same here. )

[earthy]

I'll... try not to.

[Diana's suspicion is correct, but Terra will keep her words with him as he works on coming to terms with what happened. She's probably right, after all.]

[wondie]

A task easier said than done, I know.

( she wishes she had a better reassurance for him. )

[earthy]

Easier said than done, but... necessary sometimes, right?