Deer Country Network

[Maul's posts as of late had been a bit more lighthearted as he tried to set up his brother on a date and spoke of a memetastic grumpy batcat. But he'd been waiting for this day to come and so his face was as grim as if he was at a funeral during this post. His followers had been on the alert, watching for the signs, and had come to tell him that what he'd feared most had come to pass: Sidious was back at full strength and starting to possess people again in Trench. He couldn't put it off any longer. He had to warn people of what was coming.]

I come to you with the gravest of news. My former master, Darth Sidious, also known as Emperor Sheev Palpatine to some, has arrived in Trench. Many of you already know what that means, either through viewing my memories or listening to me talk about him. For those who do not, he was the man who raised me and turned me into....this. [The one word encompasses all of Maul, his psychopathic personality, the anger and pain he'd held onto for so long, his life being completely ruined by his master, getting turned from a person into a weapon and now spending the rest of his life trying to heal from that.] If you think I am dangerous, he is ten times as worse. He is pure evil. There is no reasoning with him, no way to appeal to any goodness that might reside within him, for he has none. All he has ever wanted in life is to gain power and he doesn't care how many people he must hurt or kill in order to do that. He's destroyed entire planets and every living thing that resided on them in order to do so. A city full of people is nothing to him if he wants to ascend to ultimate power.

Only his spirit has arrived rather than his physical body, so he is currently traveling from one body to the next as he tries to find a form he can take over for good. I have yet to discover a permanent way to banish him but I am open to suggestions. In the meantime, take whatever precautions you must in order to protect yourself and others. Trust me when I say if death is the only option, we must take it. You cannot afford to give him a chance, for he will brutally kill you if you give him one. Better to kill someone then allow him to remain and tear Trench apart at his whim.

His eyes look like this. [Maul closed his for a moment and channeled all the old anger he felt towards his master. When he reopened them, they had changed from the grey-brown color they had been holding steady as for the past three months and were back to the Sith yellow color they had remained for so many years.] They remain that color no matter who or what he is possessing, so it is a way to track whose form he is in. Please let me know if you spot a person or monster that has those eyes and I will deal with it.

[That euphemism of course meant that he would kill Sidious if he had to. Maul had gone over a year without killing anyone in Trench but he knew he couldn't afford to use kid gloves on his master. He'd need to be brutal and swift. He went to turn off the Omni and then paused, remembering one last thing he wanted to say.]

Oh, and Anakin? --The annoying whiny older one that is, not the annoying weird younger one-- if you try to interfere with this? I will stop you. That's not up for negotiation or debate. I'll kill you if I have to and keep you as a squid in the ocean to keep your idiotic devotion to this man from causing this situation to get worse. That is all.

[Then he does go and turn off the Omni for good this time.]

[OOC: This is the kickoff post for the Palpatine in Trench player plot! Feel free to interact with Maul, threadjack others to talk with them, or just head straight over to the log post to get started. As a reminder, Maul doesn't necessarily need to be involved in exorcising an NPC or character if you just want to do to something among two of you.]

[ It's been months since Jon Sims was on the network, and this time, he's in the frame alone. The alleviation of Corruption couldn't come a moment too soon for this guy, apparently: he still has the haggard, hollowed-out look of a man who hasn't had a real meal in months. There's something profoundly unsettling about his eyes, which are too deep and too green. He never seems to blink. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Jonathan Sims. I am a researcher of what might be called 'the paranormal,' and... a survivor of the place known as Deerington. I've been working with several others to maintain an archive of topics and artifacts relevant to Sleepers, kept beyond the control of the Pthumerian Never Mind.

[ He doesn't even try to mask his distrust: he clearly isn't a fan of the patrons. ]

We are developing a secure location to the north of Trench, though [ impatiently ] I cannot recommend visiting without the use of traveling Lamps. The walk back to town is... not ideal.

More to the point, I am making a request for information. [ This is where he gets cagey, tense in the way of a man hiding something. ] The Archive is now undertaking an effort to create a comprehensive catalogue— a bestiary, I suppose— of recurring threats in Trench. If you have had a particularly upsetting or perilous experience with any being in this city, we would like the written record of your experience. Please submit accounts via text to this network address.

[ It's the second time he's hit the network to ask for personal stories. Those who respond might find themselves writing (or speaking) more freely than they planned to, flashing back to the memory in detail— though in this low-Corruption month, the effect isn't too intense. ]

Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. I hope your February was relatively pleasant and uneventful!

The purpose of this post is to share information about the climate and odd events that happened last March, in order to help newcomers better prepare for the coming month. If you believe the information contained herein is inaccurate or incomplete in any way, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you!

March is the first month in the Season of Tears, or the Trenchian Spring. Because of this we can expect a sudden and calamitous thaw in the first week of the month, where all or nearly all of the snow will disappear and be replaced by explosive plant growth. I was unable to find any references to a flood in network posts published during this period last year, but it seems prudent to be on our guard nonetheless. Outreach still has a few sandbags left over from managing the snow, so if you are concerned with keeping your home or place of business safe please contact us! Additionally the Pthumerian called Moon Presence is known to be active during this month, and it may be possible to hear her weeping or singing over the sound of water. As she is not known to be hostile to Sleepers, it's probably safe to ignore her, so long as you do so respectfully.

The same unfortunately cannot be said of the Moss King! This Patron Pthumerian is associated with the month of March, and his portfolio includes unconquered nature, prophecy, precognition, and games of chance. Because of this the people local to Trench honor him by holding carnival games on the boardwalk during March, but with a sadistic twist: last year new Sleepers were required to play these games in order to obtain their welcoming bags and other objects from home. It's also mentioned in A Survivor's Guide to the Unknowns of Trench (multiple authors, can be checked out from the Archive for further perusal) that these games are haunted by a female-presenting Pthumerian, dubbed "the Lady of Luck" by the authors, who is able to pull Sleepers into more difficult and frequently bloody challenges through the issuance of tarot cards. These challenges vary from to year to year, but as the Lady is most frequently encountered on the board week it seems possible that she might be avoided by likewise refusing to take part in these games. If anyone has more information on this topic I once again entreat them to leave a comment below.

The Moss King himself also took part in the "fun" last year: it seems that he either built or obtained a "summer home," and took it upon himself to invite Sleepers to visit him therein. These invitations took the form of enchanted letter bombs with caused instantaneous and complete immolation upon opening; networks posts written at the time are clear that this process was very painful, although it did end in teleportation to the grounds of the house instead of death. Sleepers who braved the house were able to obtain powerful items from their homeworlds; I leave it up to the individual to determine whether this process was worth the pain involved or not.

Finally, a number of Sleepers have reported violent and disturbing encounters with a boardgame called Jumanji; this game possesses reality-warping powers, and pulled Sleepers into a sort of "pocket dimension" where they were forced to pass various challenges in order to escape. The game is clearly labeled as such, and I must suggest in the strongest possible terms that any Sleepers who encounter it both avoid it carefully and report its location to the network. To those who are familiar with the movies: I know it sounds fake, but just because it's a piece of fiction in other worlds doesn't mean it's not dangerous here. If you have trouble believing that, then I suggest you take it up with the Pthumerians, or possibly the Jedi and Sith. I'd be very interested to learn how that goes for you.

[it's sansa and lady, back to normal size and levels of composure, sitting on their usual couch with the direwolf-and-weirwood backdrop. does sansa have a name tag with an illegible palimpsest of names on her charcoal wool dress, embroidered with ravens and capped with the feathered collar madame generosity gave her? it's not important.]

Hallo, this is Sansa Stark. I was wondering if anybody had made any plans to do the ritual for sealing Riteoir away again this month, and if they needed any help. I made some small dark bloodstones we could use. I have heard some people were interested in building a road from the Outpost to the new city, and I think that could be very helpful.

[she hesitates a moment...something seems to be troubling her.]

The portal in the temple is a path for Riteoir to enter into our world. I don't think it would be very safe to leave it alone once we've sealed it. We should think about how we might hold the city, or the temple at the least. It may be that it's only Riteoir's power keeping dangerous creatures and Beasts away from the city, and that once he's gone it may be no different to any other wild place outside of Trench. I don't know that The Tower is capable of extending his protection to another city, or that he'd think it was a good use of magic. And I don't know if it would help to destroy the temple, or if that would only make it harder to find if he were to use that path again. I don't know if there is anything special to that place or if he might try it somewhere else, but I don't know if we can afford to abandon it.

[sansa knows that if this were the north, she'd send a garrison to look after it, but she doesn't have that power, or those numbers, here. one thing she can do is send ravens there, especially if the hostile presence leaves with riteoir.]

I could scout there sometimes with magic, if that would help, but I do think we would be wise to set up wards and perhaps guard it in person if we can. I should like very much to hear any ideas anyone else might have for how to keep it safe from Riteoir, so he can't use it to attack Trench again.

[Good day, Trench, and welcome to... whatever this is going to be. Here is one Palamedes, sitting at his desk in what may be broadly recognizable as his office in the Sanctuary, whether or not one has been in it before (it has, these days, a distressing worm-on-a-string curtain in place of a door). Palamedes shuffles through some papers, tsks, and gets up to simply walk off screen, although this is not an accidental post, for he does call back:]

Damn my filing system! Hold on, don't look away.

[So now: the sounds of shuffling, and also, footsteps on a ladder? Then the eventual soft thump as he hops back down, and finally his several layered cardigans masquerading as a torso coming back into view, before he sits back down in the chair with a hearty squeak of rusty metal.

He has even more papers now. A small pile of notebooks, actually, which he folds his hands atop before properly regarding the camera.]

So! I wrote a book. Are any of you in the publishing business? Here, locally, or otherwise? My wheelhouse is firmly the academic, and literature— while a passion project— is a field I know far less about. As such: publishing. Any tips welcome.

I am also in the market for some cover art, I think. My artistic talents leave a lot to be desired, but I've produced some helpful mock-ups, somewhere around here...

[Just kidding they're right here ready and waiting, and so he holds them up side by side:

( cut for Incredible Artwork )

...So, yes. His handwriting is, of course, perfectly legible.]

Like I said: I'm an academic, not an artist. I'll pay you in whatever you like, blood or stone or- [and he leans briefly off camera again, to mutter, then he's back] -or scones! Good ones, for people into that kind of thing.

[Yahoo... Draw him a horny squidmance cover page... This is ordinary.]

Obviously, children need not apply.

Oh, and the working title is Ceasefire of the Senses: A Treatise on the Juxtaposition of Passion and Reason, unless you happen to be my cruelest critic and dearest spouse, love of my life, in which case "that title is ridiculous" and it's actually called "that story in your fifty notebooks." Regardless.

[He pats the pile of notebooks, like, his title is good actually? This might be a thinly veiled opinion poll about the title.]

And as it's the season, again, if anyone needs a professional hand with their lockjoint, come down to the Lumenarium- or Sanctuary- and ask for Palamedes. I'll take care of it with a silk touch; you get to keep the stones. Drawings of squids entirely voluntary for that one.

[ The image is that of young man with longish white hair that's been pulled back in a low ponytail. Seventeen or eighteen maybe, with a bright red mark on his face that looks somewhere between a scar and a tattoo as much as it stems from a mark that's also halfway between a star or an inverted pentagram. Garishly out of place on an otherwise pale and muted complexion and gentle face. ]

With a lot of the city shut down because of the snow, if there's anyone having trouble finding food or shelter, Sanctuary in Crenshaw will be helping whoever it can. It might not be much, but it can be a meal or warm bed for the night. [ And hope everyone likes fish, because there's a lot of that that's been salted and stockpiled. But also a lot of baked things served with some of the corruption-cleansing jams from earlier in the year.

Which, anyone who already volunteers there... you can bet you were already cheerfully accosted and asked to help, soup kitchen style. ♥ It's a team effort. ✧ Either that or clearing snow; it's a big place... albeit warm itself this month, and shining like a jewel from the lunar lighting and heating within. The renovated Moon Presence monastery seems to be taking the blindingly bright bone moon and reflecting it back in a gentler manner for anyone inside. ]

There isn't a cost. Just try to help out however you can when you're able.

[ He pauses, about to leave it at that but hesitating. Expression still neutrally polite and composed, but... flickering for a moment. ]

...if anyone would like to help closer to when Christmas would normally be, it'd be nice to do something special for the orphanage as well. Maybe donate some presents for them. 

[ That's it. He'll just quietly leave it at that. ] 

[The man who appears on the screen almost looks reluctant to be doing so, allowing the shaggy blond hair and glasses to obscure much of his face.]

...Something strange happened at the place I'm told is called the "Sleeper Farm", recently. A...friend and I had been cornered by one of our captors, and I'd tried without much luck at first to reason with them. But the moment they tried to grab me again, something changed.

Suddenly, they became calmer and stopped attacking, telling us to hurry and run, because they wouldn't have long until their corruption returned.

[It's here that his expression wavers, slightly; he is still uncertain about this, about allowing himself to return among people. And yet -- there's a subtle press under his skin, a restlessness. He has to do this.]

I'm still not sure I entirely understand what that means, or what exactly I did, but I've heard people talk about it. It...happens to us, doesn't it? Over time here. If easing that is something I can do, even for a little while...I want to offer it to anyone who needs it.

[There is a slightly awkward silence that hangs after he's finished speaking, and then, after a few moments, the feed simply shuts off.]

[ her feed turns on and there's ahiru, a girl, not a duck. ]

Uhm, so . . . I've been here for a year. Which is really long and I was just thinking that . . . it's been so nice. To be here. And to meet new people and try new things. Also make so many friends.

So, uhm, to celebrate . . . I'll give you a compliment! To celebrate everyone. And if I don't know you, uhmmm, I'll give you my best first impression!

[ she bows lightly. ]

Good afternoon, Sleepers.

[ It's been a while since Ozpin was on the network! He stands now before the continuing construction site that is the Clockhouse, now in its final stretch of becoming livable. From behind him comes a crash and an I've got it! that sounds like it could be Ruby Rose. Ozpin winces through his smile but does not turn around.]

First, I would like to extend my welcome to those new to Trench... and my sincere thanks to those who have lent their assistance in repairing our home after its [ the smile goes strained again ] unfortunate destruction. It has been some time since I aided a project of this magnitude.

Which brings me to a proposition. As many of you know, my name is Professor Ozpin [ look at that, he's back to tacking 'Professor' on ] and I was headmaster of a renowned combat academy back upon the world of Remnant. I provide combat lessons to Sleepers when I'm able, and I led a team of talented young students in the [ All-Trench Karate Tournament ] combat tournament of this May.

As of September, I have been away from my original world for two full years. In celebration, I suppose... and from a deep and abiding respect for the strength and spirit I have seen among our number, here in Trench... I would like to propose a more formal institution in which Sleepers can teach and learn the skills of battle.

I would like to establish a combat academy in Prufrock, the Hunter's district. I believe I have found a space that will be suitable, and which may be of use even to Hunters with less of an... academic inclination. A gathering space and stronghold for adventurers in times of crisis. Those among us who still recall the dreamed town of Deerington might [ his smile tightens ] liken it to FEAR, albeit with a far more academic bent.

[ james ironwood get fucked it took him eighteen months but he stole your idea ]

To make this concept a reality, I will need help. I must call upon those with an interest and ability in exploration and the vanquishing of Beasts to help clear the space of its deadly hazards. If you are willing to undertake a dangerous task-- to risk your life, mind, and soul-- then I, and perhaps all of Trench, will thank you.

I will provide instructions and coordinates to those who inquire within. Perhaps together, we can continue to build something of value to this new world.

[[ This is the network post recruiting for the Academy Exploration player plot! You can tag here or handwave a conversation with Ozpin to participate in the expedition. ]]

( This question has felt like a long time coming. After everything that's happened, they can't help but want to be able to do more for themselves. The question they ask is something that they want to do purely for defensive purposes, not really for offensive ones. They've hurt others before to a lethal extent. They don't want to do that again.

They want to protect their friends, and themselves. They've been killed here once before as it is. )

There's a lot of people here that can fight really well.

Are there others here who can teach people how to do that?

[He debates for a while if he wants to post this anonymously or not. He very nearly does, for fear of making people worried.]

[But he's trying to be better about his mental health, and if he can put his face to this then others can feel more comfortable talking about their problems, too.]

I was just wondering...

A lot of us are 'heroes' in our home worlds, or maybe 'chosen ones' or... basically we're expected to save the world or do something amazing.

How do you change from that to going to an everyday life? I've been trying to for months, but I can't shake the habit if expecting to solve every problem by myself - or nearly by myself, at least. ... It's nice to be regarded as a 'normal' person, but it's difficult to stop trying to be a 'hero'.

It's getting to be a problem, not knowing how to not take on too much. Does anyone have any tips?

[Now to hope Gaia misses this post...]

[ Green = Midoriya | Blue = Murderbot | None = Locals ]

Beasts can be people. I had to see if there was a person in there. That's why I used a Moon Drop on the Bugge.

Waste of a Moon Drop... Just kill it like we all do, Deku. [ The voice comes from a grizzled Hunter with their hand on their hilt. ]

[ Midoriya isn't filming this. He and a group of farmers are the subject of this onlooker's stream. A few Hunters are interspersed with them, identifiable by the badges that match Midoriya's own. They know him by his Hero name, Deku. His green Hero gear is lightly stained with his own warmblood. He's bruised and exhausted, but anyone familiar with him knows that he'd be much more injured if he actually came off worse in a fight. ]

If there's a chance I can save someone without killing, I have to try.

These are my crops! The blood of the Bugge enriches them, don't you understand? I have to feed my children! [ A farmer brandishes their harvesting sickle. ]

I--I'm sorry. If you need help, I--Please, let me help. There has to be another way. There are other ways to make the soil better, just--we can figure this out together--

[ Several people in the crowd push forward, and Midoriya flinches with a step back in time with them. He can feel several stabs of alarm in his head. It evokes multiple memories of a group of people ganging up on him, and he's not good at using words to defend himself. He wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around his head and not look at them, but these are people he wants to protect. He has to face them. ]

Congratulations, you are being streamed live to DeerNet. Don't do anything you'd regret.

[ The voice is flat and even, near emotionless but with a slight edge to it. If anyone looks at their relic, it is streaming with a one second delay. ]

[ OOC: replies will come from Murderbot and Midoriya ]

Salutations!

My name is Tenya Iida and before my arrival here I was previously enrolled at the preeminent educational institution called UA, which is one of the premier schools meant to hone our techniques and enrich our education in not only the matter of Heroics but also the general enlightenment that most High Schools are required to provide. The reason for making this post is to have a single directive to look at instead of having to search various messages to answer my questions. I humbly ask for your patience and to answer a few questions. The first question of mine would be: where does one go when they wish to continue their education? The next question would be, where is the best place to find residence?

I have also come to an understanding that monetary remuneration has no value here, so I am also offering my services in lieu of payment. I am uniquely gifted with the special ability called a quirk and my quirk is named Engine. Engine is a mutant-based quirk, which means it is a permanent alteration on my body. In my case, my quirk provides my family along with myself with engine-like protrusions somewhere on our bodies that allow us to move at extraordinary speeds. I am offering to provide quick delivery services or to provide someone with a combat-trained guardian of sorts.

Is this thing on?

[ The camera opens on a man, but there is something horribly inhuman about his eyes: they are black from edge to edge, the iris burning with a ring of white light. He is flanked by two skeletons which stand at attention, each with a speck of glowing red in their shadowed eye sockets. ]

Been a while since I had to do this. Hey, hello, kia ora. You face the King Undying, the Necrolord Prime.

( cw: mild body horror (corruption); religious themes; topics of mass death, violent imperialism, human sacrifice likely )

[The video isn't of D, but instead a carefully drawn map of Trench and its close surrounding areas with rough lines indicating the tunnels. The video zooms back to show a rough outline of a path leading from Trenchwood further inland, denoted as '30 miles' and then a point circled and labeled as 'outpost lantern'.]

Earthquakes and underground tunnels last month, and severe storms this month. If this city sinks into the ground or is washed away, there's nowhere to go.

[D puts another sheet of paper down in front of the video, this one showing a rough outline of ruined building and some sketched in structures and a perimeter wall.]

Last month, Manabu Yuuki led an expedition, this lantern point is as far as we went before we had to return. The wilds are full of aggressive plants and animals, high levels of corruption, and even the plants that don't attack will probably kill people.

But this is a chance to make an outpost. Every time I've gone out there I've come under attack almost immediately, but if we made it that far, we can make this work too.

I'm looking for anyone who can and will fight, anyone who can aid in building fortifications to make defenses easier, and anyone with the ability or knowledge to provide magical protection and reduce corruption, or who can provide supplies and support.

I'll provide food and shelter or items for trade to anyone who works on turning this outpost into a haven.

My name is D. I'm setting up a staging point for people and supplies in the house near the Watch Tower with the red door and cloth banners. Contact me here, or look for me there between mid afternoon and sundown.

[OOC: Plotting post for this open and approved player plot here and location post and information here. An open log post will be going up sometime in the next week.]

How many people are familiar with a festival called "Tanabata"? And "wishing trees"?

Lady Amaterasu isn't here anymore, but her guardian trees still are. What she would have wished I think was for people to still enjoy them and find hope in them, to keep them strong, so a few of us were going to do a small festival to honor her at the Sanctuary tree. From what I've been told of the tradition, which would be taking place around now anyway, it's something that would suit her her wishes I think. It'd be nice if we could do something at the other trees as well-- turn them into "wishing trees" as well maybe.

It'd be good for people to have something happy to look forward to as well, with everything that's been going on. I don't think she would want anyone to be sad.

[ And we're going to pointedly ignore all the Actual and Avoidable Shit going on because he'll get mad and start lecturing, and that's not his place. Wars and revenge between humans never are, and it's why his tone is as sober as it is gentle. ]

Moon Presence appeared to Miss Luna and Lady Alayne. [ He pauses. ] Sanctuary has been blessed by her, so anyone suffering ill effects for the time being might find some added relief here. Anyone meaning harm to anyone or anything inside will be repelled as well, so people needing safe harbor should please seek us out. [ Which means any party crashing assholes... Try it. He'll deadpan from the door. Is it forever? No, just for "the Beast Moon." Is he going to let that on? heck no ]

We're clearing out some extra rooms if anyone needs a safe place to stay for a while. There's no cost-- just help out however you can.

[hey everyone it's princess alayne fancy satchel. but actually this post takes place about a week before vi's search efforts because I can never manage to make a network post on time.

sansa wears a blue-grey dress in light cotton with lightly belled, elbow-length sleeves, embroidered with silver leaping trout and muted greenery hiding silver-grey wolves. the buckle of her needle necklace glints with dark bloodstone. she looks tired, but excited. she sits in front of her customary raven-and-weirwood tapesty, and lady sits next to her in a matching embroidered collar, now the size of a grey wolf.]

Hallo, I'm called Alayne Stone. Most of you know me for the clothes I make, but I've also been studying with a jeweler for some time. I recently found my own blood gem tool in the tunnels, and I'm very glad to say I've learned to make all kinds of bloodstone with it. Of course I'm best with my own blood, so my pale bloodstone will be strongest, but I have found the other bloodstone I've made effective enough.

I'm very interested in making vile bloodstone that can be worn by Palebloods to help with the blood curses, and of course I'm glad to make pale bloodstone for Vilebloods to help prevent corruption. I've heard the coming season of blood might be a difficult one, and I should like to do what I can to help see us all through it.

[she pauses and looks down a little, somber. lady whines and rests her head in sansa's lap.]

I'm afraid I do have some bad news. Lady Amaterasu has returned to the sea, where she will no doubt look after our friends and family who remain there. She leaves us her heart [sanctuary] trees, and I've found some comfort in them. I hope those of you who knew her can do the same.

[private to adaine abernant]

Can you send this just to Adaine? Thank you.

[she grins.]

Hallo, Adaine. I should be very glad to replace the bloodstone on your jacket, whenever you have time.

Any chance that Princess Alayne Fancy Satchel's around to hear this? It's Lady Sturdy Rucksack.

[She has no idea how long it's been. But ...why the fuck not. And who on the network needs context? Pfft.]

[ The video starts out with a stoic looking Shouto staring at the camera. His omen isn't exactly the type to sit still these days thanks to a recent setback involving a nightmare demon, so he gets straight to the point while she's in one of her rare moods. ]

My name is Todoroki Shouto. I can generate ice. 

[ To demonstrate, he raises his right hand and - CHINK! - a pillar of ice bursts forth rising beyond the recording's view. Shaking off the frost from his hand, he continues. ]

Heatwaves in my country lead to many hospitalizations every summer. They're especially difficult for the elderly, so I'm offering ice to anyone who needs it, and ice shelters for those who can't get to a Cooling Center in Trench. 

[ The camera angle abruptly turns 90 degrees when his omen turns on her back, head tilting sideways, watching him curiously. ]

I'll be patrolling through the city during peak hours offering ice to local homes and businesses, and emergency aid to anyone who needs it. You can contact me through my Omni. 

[ He's ready to end the call there when a thought strikes him and he continues.  ] 

Any public centers offering a Cooling Center should advertise their hours of operation. A posted list in a public space would be best. 

[  Behind him a blue butterfly flutters by and the recording hones in on it. A few seconds later, his camera runs off, chasing after it. ] 


( Action )

[ The video opens to a young man with longish snow white hair tied back in a fluffy ponytail, dressed in a distinctive sort of black, red, and white uniform. He's sitting at an old Victorian desk, and there's an embroidered banner behind him, the same sort of one that can be seen hanging outside of Sanctuary. His pale eyes are clear and steady, and his gloved hands are folded neatly in front of him. ]

Hello. My name is Allen Walker, and I'm one of the persons who specialize in purifying and saving Beasts at Sanctuary in Crenshaw. If you haven't heard about us, we seek out those who have become Beasts in order to help purify and save them, as well as help people who might be struggling with corruption.

Beasts are not just monsters. Many of them were once humans or humanoid, natives of this place, and don't come back like we do. But they can still be made themselves once again. [ He speaks very gently, but clear and adamant. ]

Some of you may have noticed you've been having bad dreams -- nightmares, and more than usual. They aren't normal, and in fact seem to be caused by a certain kind of invisible Beast that attaches itself to a person, or something similar made of corruption itself. While they can be purified and that seems to work... they can't be saved, whatever they were before, and it can be dangerous to the person they're attached to.

[ He taps the left side of his face with a black-gloved finger, the one with the bright red scar that stems from what seems to be a star on his forehead, or a sort of solid, filled-in inverted pentagram. ] I can see them, so if you think you might be suffering from abnormal nightmares caused by such a thing I'd like to offer my services. I can attempt to purify them as well.

If they can't be purified in such a manner... [ he pauses, shifting a little restlessly ] It's possible for another person to enter their nightmares as well and try to confront it in that manner. It likewise purifies the Beast.

A number of people have mentioned apparitions or spirits haunting them as well, also abnormally all at once and apparently of people who haven't died here... Some of us here can calm the spirits with our abilities, but it doesn't seem to fully lay them to rest. There is a blood ritual of spiritual cleansing that can be done though? And that seems to stop them and let them be at peace.

That said... if there is anyone who needs any sort of assistance, or just a calming place to come and ease their thoughts for a while, Sanctuary always has its doors open. One of Lady Amaterasu's cherry blossom trees is here, which is comforting and can help ease someone's corruption. Even if you're just hungry, Miss Abigail and a number of other volunteers help provide a lunch and dinner to people in the area. And if you know anyone who has become a Beast, or who you're worried might... we can help.

Likewise, if there is anyone who would wish to help, we will always want to hear from you. Especially anyone with purification abilities, but even if it's just helping to calm someone's distress, tending to the wounded, or researching purification methods... even just making dinner sometimes, it all helps. Lady Alayne has also mentioned she'd like to organize a sort of "canning drive" or jam baking week soon, for any Palebloods who'd like to contribute their ability to make anti-corruptive jams. And any Hunter who wishes to find another way than killing... those ways exist.

[ Chin up, demeanor gentle. His pale grey eyes are steady though, and determined. Stern yet delicate. ]

Thank you, and good evening.

[ This much more polished and diplomatic broadcast was brought to you by Sansa Stark Alayne Stone, PR Consultant. ]


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[ ooc: Anyone who's contacted me before about their character being interested in Sanctuary/we had a thread go this way/who filled out their character info on the Info Page is welcome to presume they're included in the locked filter! Also if you haven't filled out your character's interested roles on said info page yet, I'd greatly appreciate it for my own sanity... And please feel free to use the member filter to chat with each other as much as anything. ]