005 | Video

[clickclickbang]

Name: Prompto Argentum
Date: 2/8
Format: video

[In the background of this video, there's the (relatively) hushed sounds of a certain Sun King's voice, trying to get someone to stop and rest, as she should. He's being met with growls of "I'm busy!" along with some pots and pans clanging and chopping as she’s clearly trying to make Something. It might be a stew? There's still the remains of a varied breakfast and food packages that were just set on the table. Pointing this out does not appear to be much of a deterrent.

While all that’s going on, Prompto just sort of. Gives the camera a Look.]

So, I was going to let everyone know that hey, I'm back, Insomniac Delivery is back up and running, please do not try to eat my chocobo, photos will be back soonish, et cetera et cetera, but Caren dropped some interesting information at breakfast this morning and that takes priority. So.

[Pause for effect. An effect that is likely somewhat spoiled as more extreme measures of putting things on higher shelves is met with highly vocal protests decrying it as an unfair move.]

Apparently Dorchacht used to be a monster city.

[Yet another pause for further effect. And also a drink of coffee because boy, does Prompto need the (sugary, creamy, mostly everything but coffee) caffeine this morning.]

So, according to Caren's...contact? Before Drummond or whoever came around, witches lived in a separate part of the city because they were considered the dangerous ones. They said they treated the witches fairly and I'm pretty sure it'd be hard to treat people worse than how Dorch was when we got there, but, uh, maybe take that part with a grain of salt?

[And of course, in the midst of Prompto trying to explain, he’s interrupted by the menace in the background.]

This also could have been centuries ago so- no, I don't want tea. I don't feel like being drugged today, thank you!

That's not what-- [He lets it go. It's not that important right now. He plucks a ladle away from Caren.] It sounds as though they avoided the consequences of full moons without Bonds, but still engaging with one another.

[Prompto is just gonna ignore all that going on in the background. This is important. And also Ozy can handle Caren better than he can, let’s be real.]

They also told Caren about where Monsters and Witches came from, according to Dorchacht's lore, and what the Cwyld is...sort of. At least why it's a thing.

It's different from what they tell us here. According to their story, the Sisters freed the monsters from the True Fae and...Ozymandias! Don't put my knives there!

[And there she goes, back into the background. Specifically, onto the counter to save her knives. Her efforts are near-immediately spoiled as Ozymandias loops an arm around her middle and tosses her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.]

You're only going to confuse everyone worrying about something like that right now. If you’re not going to rest, at least focus. [He brings Caren back into view, setting her down, but keeping a firm arm wrapped around her. It would probably be a very nice hug under other circumstances.] What Caren was trying to say is that the True Fae then angered the Sisters by teaching humans magic. Thus, they created the Cwyld as punishment for their insolence.

Prompto, I trust you can manage from here. I'm going to remove the temptation to continue trying to cook.

[He barely waits for an answer before opting this time to at least princess carry Caren.

Prompto, meanwhile, stares in utter bafflement as they go off because that sure is a Witch princess carrying a freaking Chimera. Just for a moment, though, before he turns back to the watch.]

Yeah, what Ozy said. Anyway, uh. That was a lot, but there were other things Caren’s contact mentioned, but this is already pretty nuts so...any questions?

[[Prompto, Ozymandias, Caren. All three are available for questions!]]

Comments

[fulgency]

Do gods and goddesses exist in your world?

[foundfamilies]

I know of one god. He gives divine power to the priests so they can heal people.

[While she doesn't have the video feature on, it's pretty clear from her tone of voice as she continues that she's embarrassed.]

I don't know if there are any other gods or -- goddesses? outside of the continent. My grasp of theology is...lacking, but I know that within the empire, there are only temples to him.

[fulgency]

Then you may think of the Sisters like him. When they speak of the Sisters, they are not only referring to the heavenly bodies above us.

[foundfamilies]

The people of Aefenglom don't seem to think there are any gods -- or goddesses here, though. I asked people around town why I didn't see any temples when I was exploring the city, and everyone I asked said that they were just stories. A few people still have some customs they follow that used to have a religious basis, but no one I talked to seemed to do them for anything more than because they always did it.

[fulgency]

That may be true, but Aefenglom is but one city.

[He also, quite frankly, has his doubts that there are zero people without any faith in something. Even belief in deities can persist in the modern era despite the Age of Gods having ended long before most were born, it seems likely that it still exists somewhere in this world.]

There is no telling what others might believe beyond the people here.

[foundfamilies]

That's true. I didn't think about it like that.

[Maybe she should ask people when Edelgard takes her to visit Dorchacht whether they have temples or beliefs (not realizing this might be an awkward question around Edelgard). Maybe they're not just stories.

...Or what if they are?]

Um, Mr. Ozymandias? This might be a stupid question, but are you sure they aren't talking about the moons? The stories say that the Sisters freed the monsters from the True Fae and that they punished the world for humans being taught magic. Monsters fully transform on the full moon. Would that make them stronger than they would be without the Sisters, as moons?

[fulgency]

Before I answer your question, Leslie, I must correct you. No question that you might ask is "stupid." One cannot acquire skill or knowledge without asking questions. It is only a fool who goes about mindlessly, or hoping that others might not notice their ignorance.

You do well to ask questions and I encourage you to ask as many as you must to acquire all the knowledge that you might need!

[What a shame it is that such a bright young girl would think anything different, but Ozymandias is glad to at least clarify that.]

The moons and the Sisters are likely one and the same. That is why I said they are not only referring to the moons above. The Sisters are the moons, but they are more than just the moons as well.

[foundfamilies]

[Leslie turns off the voice function on her watch for a few minutes to process this very direct addressing of an insecurity.

Okay she's back.]

Thank you. I'll remember that.

[Okay what were they talking about? Oh right.]

Would the Sisters really have wills of their own? If the Cwyld was supposed to punish the, um, True Fae, then it doesn't really make sense why it's still here. The story doesn't say anything about what the Sisters are supposed to feel about humans, but it's definitely hurting the monsters, who they're supposed to have liked enough to help, and it sounds like no one knows what a True Fae is. Wouldn't a pair of goddesses have given the monsters a way to deal with the Cwyld by now?

[She saw them in the dream, but they didn't exactly have a sign that said True Fae Camp and she didn't know what a regular Fae was at the time.]

[fulgency]

[He is quiet a moment as his thoughts drift to another era in another world. Even as the wrath of his brother's God struck blow after blow unto Egypt, the Hebrews were not without protection. It was only the Egyptians -- those remaining loyal and steadfast in their beliefs in Pharaoh -- that were assaulted time and time again.]

I do not presume to know their will, but I would have to agree with you that it is odd that Monsters would not be afforded protection. One would anticipate that they would be immune to the infection altogether, or at the very least, have some means of protecting themselves.

But we do not know how the True Fae responded to the Cwyld. [Beyond just the course of infection looking the same, different, or perhaps more intense within a True Fae.] If they were truly talented enough in magecraft to teach another species, they may very well have manipulated the Cwyld in attempts to cure themselves or to retaliate once more.

[foundfamilies]

You think that these True Fae might be powerful enough to change a punishment sent by a goddess?

[......yeah that shock is basically all she's got right now.]

[fulgency]

We do not know the extent of their powers. I would prefer not to rule anything out just yet.

[Ozymandias is not one to believe anyone more powerful than his own gods, but deities of another world? Eh!]

[foundfamilies]

That's.... [worrying.]

You're right. I ended up here because of a dream. I shouldn't expect that I can apply things I know from my world to this one.

But...thank you, for helping me to understand it this much, and for sharing this with everyone.

[fulgency]

Of course. I shall always answer any questions you might have.

[She is a child, but Ozymandias will not condescend to her over matters such as this. Now that she is here, it is better that she is armed with as much of the truth and fact that can be known.]