[semi-open] i reached out my hands and seized something shapeless but precious

[revolutionfalcon]

Who: Temple Nekhbet residents, visitors, and concerned parties after the event (basically anyone who Shun is on good enough terms with to feasibly be allowed into his temple. If you're not sure, ask!) There'll be a couple of closed prompts in toplevels too.
When: November 15th-17th
Where: Temple Nekhbet
What: Post-event temple mingle, for concerned parties, some in-temple problems, and the grand effort to actually get Shun to sit the fuck down for a few days.

[The vultures on the grounds of Shun's temple are a little calmer than usual in the wake of the recent incident, though perhaps that's courtesy of their usual meticulous care being taken over temporarily by Kotori, who is much more willing to keep them off people on the grounds than Shun is. In a slightly different, but equally carelessly-worn kimono to the one she was wearing in the video post, she's grooming a couple of the messier birds, who seem very attuned to her presence.

If anyone comes by intending to visit or at least look in on Shun after what happened, she'll invite in people she knows happily, or even those who responded helpfully to the network post and seem to know Shun well. However, she may tactfully suggest they not stray too much further than the well-lit visitor's room furnished in plain white linens until she can bring him in...or track him down, as the case may be. He's probably tried to sneak out of the temple at least once since he's been up to getting out of bed.

However, he's certainly not the only person about the temple, so feel free to take the opportunity to meet other residents or regular visitors as well.]

Comments

[revolutionfalcon]

[Kotori waves to Archer from her spot at the base of the tree, while Shun's eyes narrow slightly at Archer's approach. It's not really out of wariness, or the vultures would be bristling, but more the sense of how Archer usually is about Shun's overworking tendencies and how this conversation is probably going to go.]

Seems like this is the day everyone's picked to come check on me. [Shun says that with a faintly irritated tone. To him, it seems a little bit pointless when someone probably would've mentioned it if he was significantly harmed by the incident.]

[boneofsword]

[Archer chuckles quietly.]

It means they care. [he counters with a smirk. The fun fact is that he knows the feel, so he says nothing.] Although it's not the sole reason why I'm here. I've come to discuss the latest events.

[As well as possible leads on the cult. Archer prefers to share the information he got with those he trusts, which apparently includes Shun.]

[revolutionfalcon]

There's plenty of that coming from inside the temple. [Shun definitely sounds exasperated with it, though Kotori laughs quietly, like she knows something.

In any case, he's much more interested in what Archer has to say next, and he straightens up a bit on his branch.]

Have you found anything useful out since it happened? I would've been checking myself, except nobody's let me out of the temple grounds. [Pointed glance at Kotori.]

[boneofsword]

That's why I'm here, and why I'm bringing gifts. [Archer takes out a CD in plastic case.] I've gathered photos of wards, sigils and straw dolls those cultists used to power up the spell. Ther are also some leads on cultists themselves that I want to talk about.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Well, that's a considerable amount of information for such a short time after the incident, and Shun finally decides it's high time to drop out of the tree, landing in a neat crouch on the ground and straightening up.]

What kinds of leads? [He'll probably have to go inside to run the CD, but he can at least ask about that.]

[boneofsword]

None of those cultists had any IDs or phones, but I have a phone number and photos of one guy, as well as some receipts he forgot to throw out. Everything's on the CD. I've also had a nice chat with him about their goals. [Archer smirks sarcastically. It's even more sarcastic than his usual smug sarcasm.] "All of the old gods should be destroyed and new gods shall take their place. It will bring peace and happiness." That's the gist of it. Aside only chosen ones knowing the name of the new gods.

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shun lets out a long hiss of disgust as soon as Archer names their goal - while he's trying to temper his reaction a bit, it's obvious he has some kind of personal level of disdain for a goal like that.]

People need to stop thinking that war for their purposes is going to bring peace. It's just another excuse to put themselves above others. [And considering how they've behaved, they don't seem to be doing that good a job at their supposed goal anyway.] I wouldn't be surprised if we were their failed attempt at making these new gods, anyway. I've seen people in those black robes before the forest.

[boneofsword]

[All traces of amusement vanish from Archer's face in an instant. Humans usually follow such stupid ideals and find even stupider ways to obtain their goals. He'd be more surprised if it was war waged for the destruction it brings.]

When and where? [he asks sharply.]

[revolutionfalcon]

Not that long ago, but it wasn't in person. They were in some obscure part of Iceland. [Shun pulls his phone out of his pocket, flicks through to the videos, and plays the only one that's in that folder, holding the phone out and steady so Archer can see it.

The video is, quite frankly, garbage quality, but it does show a group of figures in those black, hooded robes, chanting some kind of spell. The audio is garbled enough that most of it is impossible to make out, but the words for "come", "god", and "create" are at least audible. It goes on for about thirty seconds before the camera appears to have been jarred and dropped, and the video cuts out.]

This was taken by some woman who saw them. She disappeared after she sent it on to a friend.

[boneofsword]

[Archer watches it without a comment, though he frowns.]

I wonder if it's possible to clear the audio from all the interferences to have a clean recording of their chant. It's risky, since it's a spell, but knowing the kind of spell will make a difference. [he wonders aloud, thinking who does have such skills. There's Futaba, who seems to know more about computers and scripting (from what he'd seen on the network) than both of them combined. Add is another option, but also is a risky one.]

I wonder if we can find anything about that blighted circle from the god's meeting. Cultist claimed that the new god is already here and now needs power, which they were gathering in the forest. Most interesting is that those guys had even more trouble than usual to notice any of us. Surprisingly well suited to guard the sigils without noticing the victims it drained. [Archer shrugs, his voice filling with disdain.] Draining life force is a quickest way to obtain more power that I know of.

[revolutionfalcon]

We could run it by someone skilled in that sort of thing. Can't hurt to at least check. [Most of the people with that kind of technological prowess here seem interested in finding a way out, or at least finding out more about what's going on, so chances are they wouldn't be wasting anyone's time.

As for the blighted circle, Shun nods a little.] I could definitely use more information about that. It reminded me of an incident that happened not long after I got here - nobody died that time, but a spell circle drained the energy of people from a town to fuel a demon summoning. And considering we had two energy-draining spells go up in quick succession, it seems like something they're focusing on now.

[Maybe those new gods only truly came here recently...which means they may have more enemies yet, or it could be several working together to the same ends.]

[boneofsword]

Futaba and Add are best suited, and can be persuaded to work together. She has more common sense than him and may stop him if he gets too far ahead. [Archer suggests as he considers the possibilities and skills that others do possess.] She could also check any of the surveillance cameras from the blighted area, and see if there's anything of relevance. That's one of things to investigate.

[He's not sure if such idea occured to others, though he's not going to blame them for not being familiar with how things on Near Shore work. They all come from different world and times.]

[revolutionfalcon]

I wouldn't give her too much benefit of the doubt on common sense, but I'll agree she has more than him. [Considering that conversation he had with her a while ago at the reception, he has some reservations, but he's not going to get any more specific than that.] Checking the surveillance is worth a shot, though it's going to be harder the more time we let pass. I'm surprised someone hasn't already done it.

[He personally doesn't have that kind of specialised knowledge, but the fact is that there are people here who do and should have done so in theory.]

[boneofsword]

I'll ask them to do so, if you send me a copy of that video. [Archer gestures at Shun's phone.] Asking them to report any findings to both of us shall suffice.

[At Shun's other remark Archer just shrugs.] How many here can hack?

[It's not a basic skill, and how many of them are from modern times, after all.]

[revolutionfalcon]

[Shrugging slightly, Shun starts tapping at his phone screen. A few moments later, Archer's phone will chime with the arrival of a copy of the video.]

Honestly, those two are the only ones I know of. There's probably others, but that's not the sort of skill everyone is open about having.

[Considering it's generally used for sneak purposes and things that aren't necessarily legal, it's probably force of habit for some people to avoid mentioning it.]

[boneofsword]

[Archer checks his phone and nods.]

Ginia knows some basics. We're planning to check the surveillance. [Archer narrows his eyes slightly, and adds.] Caster is still asleep.

[revolutionfalcon]

Makes sense. [If nobody had the forethought or ability to disable surveillance cameras beforehand, they might get at least something out of checking them.

Shun's head tilts slightly at the mention of Caster. He's hardly close to the guy, but he can imagine why he might still be down for the count.] That guy relies on other people's energy sometimes, right? He pulled some from me once for a spell.

[boneofsword]

Only when his own runs low. He's been heavily drained in the forest. If it took any longer- [Archer frowns.] Right now he needs rest, and I prefer that someone else knows what I'm up to.

[revolutionfalcon]

[That lines up with what had happened that last time, and Shun just inclines his head slightly to indicate he gets it.] If you want my help, you'll have to wait until everyone in my temple isn't trying to stop me from leaving it.

[Or until he gets enough energy back to reliably teleport without needing to come back right after.]

[boneofsword]

Right now I want your brain, not your legs. [Archer counters dryly.] Someone to bring findings to and someone to discuss it with. You're not familiar with magic; I may overlook something in favor of my knowledge.

[revolutionfalcon]

That's fine. [He's made his opinion on Archer and Caster's knowledge and resulting biases known before, so he figures it'd be a bit backwards to refuse to observe like that.] As soon as people stop fussing about what kind of shape I'm in, I can help with the investigation as well.