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

[getting_better]

Very well. Then let's move on back to Aefenglom, specifically to the Parliament.

[Now, how to ask this without being to obvious about his intentions.]

What are their intentions for Dorchacht?

[Or, you know, fuck it.]

[showsnopiety]

[And there right into the fray. She laughed quietly.]

Officially, they welcome the contact and the trade that Dorchacht provides. Nessie Bell, the rad of the Coven, has always been for further cooperation.

After all, they agreed to the teleport device and they considered them to a Sister city.

Unofficially...it's difficult to know how much meddling can be done between city states. They may still be watching to see if the Council will survive or not.

[getting_better]

[Not a lot on the surface he imagines. Maybe the odd donation here and there, the usual act of goodwill to sway a few desperate and naive souls to their favor. Underneath the table is probably another story, the kind where he'll have to step on a few toes to get answers for.]

And the members of the Parliament, how- [No, he doesn't need to know that, not now. He pauses to think, what does he need to know now?] -....I'm assuming that there is a Prime Minister or a speaker of the house, yes? What are they like?

[showsnopiety]

The ones I'm most familiar with is Nessie Bell, head of the coven, and her bond and mate, Mhairi Ainsley the monster representative.

Nessie is known as the most powerful witch in the city, and while I am aware she took over ten years ago and is very much in love with Mhairi...

I don't know them. Not truly. Nessie is cheerful usually, Mhairi aloof, but they're both seem too busy too truly get to know.

I don't even know what Nessie's magic specialty is. However...

I will say that Nessie is not to be underestimated.

[getting_better]

A witch and monster couple.

[He had a feeling that was the case when he saw them upon his arrival. He can only imagine what interest they have in keeping relations civil between the two, if they are that is.]

Would it be safe to assume that they...have the confidence of the populace?

[A round about way of asking if they're trust worthy.]

[showsnopiety]

Mm.

[Which the longer she's here, the more she realizes how unusual it is, what with the racial and class divide.]

I will say that the grumbles about bonds and such arose when Nessie left for another city for a month, and Mhairi stayed.

[getting_better]

[Imagine how he feels? He's been trained to shoot monsters on sight.]

She left for a month? For what reason?

[showsnopiety]

[He's not the only one either.]

She came with us to Dorchacht to help negotiate an apology or at least help keep Drummond busy. Or be the token babysitter. You mighy want to ask someone who went.

[getting_better]

[Maybe she isn't suspect as he might be thinking. Might. She's still on his list(although everyone is currently on that list), but at least she's leaning to more positive sides of his guage.]

And Drummond is?

[showsnopiety]

Morgana Drummond was the witch that took over the city somehow.

But it seems she was rather powerful, and was capable of dream divination.

Apparently she was run out of the city after the rebellion and is assumed dead by city residents.

[getting_better]

[So they could be alive, or is most likely alive. Someone powerful enough to take over a city doesn't just die from being chased out.]

Why assumed dead? Why not-

[Unless they chased her out somewhere where death was certain.]

Did they chase her into the cwyld?

[showsnopiety]

Chased her from the city, but unknown where exactly they chased her to.

Cwyld is more of a general term citing the infection. So yes, it's possible she could have gone somewhere covered in infections- it's nearly a promise, as they didn't have as much cleared out beyond the city compared to Aefenglom- but she's vanished.

With her bond snapped and it being impossible to scry her, she's assumed dead.

[getting_better]

Hmm I see.

[These terms are so confusing without someone taking time to go into detail about each one. Or a mission briefing. Hell, he'll take Tower's inability to shut the hell up at this point.]

But there's no body.

[showsnopiety]

Exactly.

[She made a gesture with her hand, vaguely half on screen.]

You see why there's some doubt among us Mirrorbound.

If I remember correctly from my reading about horror stories, there's a rule. And that rule is "They're not dead unless you see the body".

[getting_better]

[Or if you confirmed it dead yourself.]

What kind of character was or is this Drummond, and would their return cause us some manner of trouble or concern?

[showsnopiety]

You'd have to ask those who actually met her for a more accurate assessment, but I would say that she would be trouble to all of us.

Considering what one of her people did shortly after we came back, I would say she's vindictive.

[getting_better]

[Ah so she has cronies. He'd like to talk to them one day.]

And what did this person do, and who are they? Or maybe "were" they.

[He's assuming based on what happened so soon after he arrived.]

[showsnopiety]

They were arrested. I don't know her name, but I know that she was caught by a team of us.

She recruited some locals to make this strange...concoction that caused chaos for a few nights. People transformed- mirrorbound, locals, all- as well as went feral, or one or the other.

Even if they had bonds. It was a dangerous few days.

[getting_better]

Mmmm. I could only imagine. I also couldn't help to notice you said "arrested" which wasn't followed by "executed". Is this person still here? More importantly, are they a mirrorbound?

[showsnopiety]

As far as I know, they and the other troublemakers haven't gone to trial yet.

Mirrorbound tracked them down. We wouldn't help with something so stupid.

I don't think they will be executed, unless it's by public demand.

They caused property damage and trauma, injuries of course, but demanding life for this...

That seems excessive. Aefenglom doesn't think like we do.

[getting_better]

Hmmmm...the public, eh?

[That's a demand that can be easily manipulated. A rumor here, a suggestion there, a whisper in the ear of the right person, and you have yourself a public demand. Although what good would another execution serve? On that thought, even if the Rathmores deserved it, there's value in what they know unless all that was already taken in by the Parliament.

There's a sound in the background, a kind of metallic clicking sound, as Bishop remained silent.

It feels foolish to think no Mirrorbound would help with something deviant, but if those were the facts as she knows it then who is he to argue the point. Her notion of Aefenglom however, does return to questions he's asked himself since he arrived. How do the Mirrorbound think now? How do the natives think now? What is the Parliament and Coven thinking? This all felt like a lot of nothing but also a very subtle game someone is playing, but he can't tell or confirm that.]

[showsnopiety]

[She laughed quietly. It wasn't a kind laugh, or a nice one, even as she heard that metallic clicking noise. It could have been anything, but...

Still.]

You realize the public is a mix of humans, witches, and monsters, as well as the refugees that we brought with us?

And they are by and large people who have survived by keeping not only their Wall Intact, but by relying on each other. Life is a precious resource that is not spent lightly.

But of course, even as I'm saying this, things may be changing. I certainly know that what I was aware of with the Mirrorbound has changed simply by having the newest generation join us.

[getting_better]

[Of course their lives are important. Every number on some politician or businessman's spread sheet counts.

Curious that she mentioned it, almost like she knows what he's thinking about.]

I realize that. It'd be nice know what the public thinks but, well, I don't have the resources to do a survey.

[showsnopiety]

If you had the funds for it, you could have attempted to sponsor a quest.

People could have taken surveys for you, door to door.

[getting_better]

[Oh neat. He can ask for that kind of service. Interesting.]

I'd need funds though, and for that I'd need a job and I have yet to really feel this place out for one.