💡 ( radio unfree )

[niespodzianka]

Name: Geralt + Yuya Date: around the shift change between one dignitary visit and the second. Format: video! note that reception is wonky; as per the event post it's 'muffled' between Dorchacht and Aefenglom.

[ A grizzled old man and a plucky teen are huddled under an alcove in a dreary alley, having spent some time tragically re-creating a Sprint commercial looking for the right apex of decent reception in Dorchacht, and not being directly in front of the Coven stronghold. Geralt is still eyeing the watch like he's not sure how to address it. He's saved by Yuya, who gently reaches to tilt the watch his way, which doesn't give him a better indication on the quality of connection, but it looks clear.

So he waves.] Hey. [And keeps his voice down, because even if they're hiding he'd just rather not take chances.] So... the spell that forces monsters to obey isn't the only one that seems to be over the city. There's something else, a spell that's messing with their memories. Nobody remembers how things were really like before Morgana became leader. But that's only been about ten years, right? It didn't sound like anyone's figured out how to break that, yet. But some Witches I talked to seemed certain it was a spell on them making it hard to remember.

It's probably in the fucking wall, [ Geralt mutters. And, adding - ] I've been out a couple times to watch them poke holes in the monster compulsion. I don't know enough about the native magic to tell what else might be in it. If anyone wants to head out, we can go.

[Yuya interjects quickly.] But--has anyone learned anything else? I think we should share everything now, so the next group of us is ready. And so we're ready. I think there's more going on than just people thinking making monsters slaves is okay.

[Like Morgana subjugating the whole city to her will, because he has exactly one guess who's repressing the city's information based on her own rule.]

[ An awkward pause from the witcher before he continues. ] Try not to get lost. Whatever passes as prison here probably isn't fun. And they're weird about monster children.

Comments

voice;

[whattaprick]

[ The connection sounds a little staticky on Lambert's end as he responds, voice a laconic drawl. ]

Memory problems. Love those. Better make sure you're not the ones who start losing memories next.

[ He's helping! ]

[hippocarnival]

Uh--we'll try to. [He pauses.] But just in case, maybe someone who stayed behind should keep notes?

[whattaprick]

Well, I'm not volunteering.

[niespodzianka]

Feel free to ignore him. My baby brother has an unhelpful jackass disease and it's terminal.

voice;

[topslug]

[ In the meantime, here's someone who's actually more helpful. Yako's voice is also staticky and slightly faint due to the distance (or perhaps it's more than that?) but-- ]

Thank you for letting us know. I'll be there shortly, barring any unforeseen incidents, so I hope I'll be able to contribute to investigating. And I'd be interested in knowing what other people have found.

The way the Witches described the spell -- did it seem like they thought it was an enchantment that's suppressing their ability to recall certain memories, or just something that took away the memories completely?

If it's the former, then it's possible there's some kind of spell or mechanism actively drawing energy from the city's leyline to power it. Rather than tackling the spell directly, I'd look for a physical focus, but I get the sense they'd likely keep it somewhere well-guarded.

[hippocarnival]

The first one, I think. They described their memories as fuzzy. [He pauses.] It seems like the most important things like that are probably kept in the coven.

[topslug]

I don't know much about memory-altering magics on this scale, but it's almost certainly beyond what one witch could do alone. My best guess is that's an enchantment, but without knowing more details, that's only a guess.

Aren't the locals concerned about their memories at all? Pacifying them could be part of the spell itself.

video

[captenacious]

[ Judging by the background of the image, Steve is in the sewer system somewhere, but it's impossible to tell exactly where. He's not taking any chances that someone from Dorchacht might be able to hack the system somehow

But the man himself looks somewhat grimly unsurprised. ]

Memory modification, huh? That explains a few things. Do we know why it's not affecting us or have we just not been here long enough?

[niespodzianka]

[ HACKING THE SYSTEM is too savvy of a concern for Geralt to have. Alas. ]

Dunno. [ He shrugs. ] It's really just a guess. The fact that witches who live here can't dispel it might mean it's not a spell at all. Hopefully if it's in the water supply we don't all start forgetting shit.

[ His instinct says it's magic, but really, he's got no heckin clue. It's just the most probable lead, at the time. ]

[captenacious]

Or something too powerful for them.

[ Though he doesn't look all that surprised at the idea of mind control in the water supply. Wouldn't be the first time he's dealt with it. Ah, the superhero life. ]

I can see if I can get a few more folks looking into it. They might have a better idea of what to look for.

[hippocarnival]

I guess because we don't have any memories of Dorchacht or living around here that go back that far? [Also just a guess, but since it seems to target memories from before Morgana's reign it's a pretty sound one.]

[captenacious]

[ Steve can't help but smile just a little at the sight of a familiar face. Seems like they're all back on their nonsense. ]

That would make sense. But if it's strong enough to affect everyone in the city, you'd think we'd be feeling something.

audio;

[faithlikeaseed]

Are you lot in need of anything over there we could bring with us? Don't imagine they've got all the comforts of home, [dryly].

[hippocarnival]

They don't have a lot of fun in general. [This place is depressing.] But all the dignitaries are being taken care of.

[faithlikeaseed]

Yeah, well--there's having enough to keep body and soul together, and there's not going out of your mind from how dreary everything is. So if there's something you can't get over there you want from Aefenglom, say the word. I'm not above smuggling in candy and ribbons.

Is it exactly as bad as the dream?

[niespodzianka]

Sandwiches. Curse breakers.

[faithlikeaseed]

What kind? [Of sandwiches.

he'll even cut the crusts off if you like]

voice;

[atouts]

[ Yeah, he's getting three of very fours words out of this stupid watch thanks to the distance and, he must assume, magic that's between the cities, but one comment does stand out— ]

Did you say they're weird about monster children?

[niespodzianka]

I haven't seen any.

[ Did something something monster children? ]

[atouts]

[ something something purple monkey dishwasher ]

But you have seen human children?

[ Or witch children. Whatever. ]

[hippocarnival]

I haven't seen any, either. Not around the city at least. But... they have to exist, right?

[Ugh, they're probably locked up or something like the dragons and Yuya feels sick all over again, this place is evil.]

[activatingcombatmode]

[That's a pretty big and serious accusation.]

Are you guys sure of all this? It sounds plausible but we don't want to screw with whatever talks we've already done.

And what could this mean for our monsters that are here? Are we in danger?

[Hello, he doesn't want to be manipulated again?!]

We better stick close to our people until we can find out more.

[hippocarnival]

Yeah, everything from before Morgana Drummond became leader is gone. I don't think she'll do anything as long as we're here with Ms. Nessie. That's why the spell doesn't effect them like the monsters that live here, right? But for Dorchacht...

[Can't ruin talks, can't turn a blind eye that she's probably more deeply manipulating the whole city than they thought.]

[wordsinthesoul]

Less than a lifetime, certainly. [What in the actual hells.]. Witches here, I take it?

It would be a good thing to do, certainly.

When you say 'weird'- what does that entail?

[niespodzianka]

There are witches here, and humans, and monsters. The former are in charge and the latter are generally subservient. Or enslaved.

'Weird' because there don't seem to be any.