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[Not too long after the fall of the Lady's Good Men, UG members receive a video mail.]
Um...hello, everyone in the Unity Group.
...It has been some time since my last call to you, but the Foundation has been spread thin over the last few months. I also know that all of you have been having troubles of your own.
But today, I am sending this message as an invitation.
Among the members of the Foundation, there is an occasion held for members to celebrate their coming-of-age. On the date stated in this message is when my own takes place...
Normally, it would be a festive event with many attendees. But not this year.
So, the Foundation has agreed to open its doors to you...if you decide to come. This does not happen very often, and...I sincerely hope that you will be able to make it.
[She bows at the camera, and then looks around awkwardly for a while, before moving to turn it off.]
1. (Mingle/reactions - Frontdated to hours before the next mission)
[The Gloster Foundation HQ is located in the center of a vast woodland estate - nearly a half an hour's drive on a cobblestone path from the only road that connects to it. It is a compound of impressive-sized, linked buildings, all with a gothic, medieval look, complete with towers and tall walls.
At the center of these buildings is a mansion - the Administrative Building - in front of which a fleet of very expensive vehicles are parked.
For those of you who chose to accept Seta's invitation, it's pretty clear from the moment you arrive that if there's supposed to be some kind of celebration, you don't see anything related to it at first. Even the guards, who are all wearing dark blue long coats as uniforms, aren't saying anything beyond guiding you to the hall where you're supposed to be, if you need it.
In this hall however, there are a few 'people' already waiting, and dressed for the occasion. Their genders and apparent age differ, but one thing they share in common is white/silver hair. Of course, you'll get curious looks, some glares, and some complete aversions with your presence.
Probably worth noting that the event is moments away from starting, and Seta is nowhere in sight.]
---
2. (Actual prompt)
[Should you actually choose to explore nearby (the guards don't stop anyone), you'll discover the reason for the former UG member's absence. There is some rattling coming from an open store-room...
In this small room, a Seta dressed in a long, white, and almost bridal dress, is crouched down while reading a book, and she doesn't even realize you're there.]
This is impossible...how do I memorize it all in time...? Did they give me this so late on purpose...?
What should I do...?
---
3. (Locked to one doge)
[Despite some notable hiccups, the ceremony was completed.
But, while others enjoy themselves, Seta is contacted by one particular wolf-Kijin to meet alone, and finds herself wandering through corridors in the Administrative Building that she has never been in before.
She eventually (after getting lost) ends up in a vast, circular chamber that lies underground, where her red-clad acquaintance awaits...]
...Astara?
Um...hello, everyone in the Unity Group.
...It has been some time since my last call to you, but the Foundation has been spread thin over the last few months. I also know that all of you have been having troubles of your own.
But today, I am sending this message as an invitation.
Among the members of the Foundation, there is an occasion held for members to celebrate their coming-of-age. On the date stated in this message is when my own takes place...
Normally, it would be a festive event with many attendees. But not this year.
So, the Foundation has agreed to open its doors to you...if you decide to come. This does not happen very often, and...I sincerely hope that you will be able to make it.
[She bows at the camera, and then looks around awkwardly for a while, before moving to turn it off.]
1. (Mingle/reactions - Frontdated to hours before the next mission)
[The Gloster Foundation HQ is located in the center of a vast woodland estate - nearly a half an hour's drive on a cobblestone path from the only road that connects to it. It is a compound of impressive-sized, linked buildings, all with a gothic, medieval look, complete with towers and tall walls.
At the center of these buildings is a mansion - the Administrative Building - in front of which a fleet of very expensive vehicles are parked.
For those of you who chose to accept Seta's invitation, it's pretty clear from the moment you arrive that if there's supposed to be some kind of celebration, you don't see anything related to it at first. Even the guards, who are all wearing dark blue long coats as uniforms, aren't saying anything beyond guiding you to the hall where you're supposed to be, if you need it.
In this hall however, there are a few 'people' already waiting, and dressed for the occasion. Their genders and apparent age differ, but one thing they share in common is white/silver hair. Of course, you'll get curious looks, some glares, and some complete aversions with your presence.
Probably worth noting that the event is moments away from starting, and Seta is nowhere in sight.]
---
2. (Actual prompt)
[Should you actually choose to explore nearby (the guards don't stop anyone), you'll discover the reason for the former UG member's absence. There is some rattling coming from an open store-room...
In this small room, a Seta dressed in a long, white, and almost bridal dress, is crouched down while reading a book, and she doesn't even realize you're there.]
This is impossible...how do I memorize it all in time...? Did they give me this so late on purpose...?
What should I do...?
---
3. (Locked to one doge)
[Despite some notable hiccups, the ceremony was completed.
But, while others enjoy themselves, Seta is contacted by one particular wolf-Kijin to meet alone, and finds herself wandering through corridors in the Administrative Building that she has never been in before.
She eventually (after getting lost) ends up in a vast, circular chamber that lies underground, where her red-clad acquaintance awaits...]
...Astara?
Tags:
From:
no subject
This is...about what you said before, isn't it? The souls that instantly vanished...
But...why not tell us more about it? Why did you not return until now?
...I wanted to ask you; but you left too quickly the last time we met.
From:
no subject
[Her tone grows a lot more serious. Those feelings of concern should be getting stronger Seta.]
I wasn't sure if the Unity Group would blow my cover and...well you're the only one I can really trust right now and I had to be sure. It was hard enough to get back here without them noticing...
The souls weren't vanishing, they were being drawn to someone...
[Dramatic Pause.]
The Chairman is the one who's been absorbing the lesser Kijin Souls. When he found out I knew he sent Lady Grey to try to silence me, I only barely got out alive...
From:
no subject
Then...]
Ah...I know...
This is a...prank...isn't it?
It is right after the ceremony...so it cannot be a coincidence.
From:
no subject
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What can we do...?
I...cannot act against the Foundation so easily. There must be some other way...
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...you don't believe me, do you?
[With that single step Astara knew that she didn't.]
Seta...I saw him absorb the souls with my own eyes.
The entire Foundation has been fooled and Lady Grey is working for him.
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no subject
The Chairman has always been kind to me...
Madame may be far from the perfect person...but she is my teacher...
[She shakes her head, while trying to make sense of it all.]
You cannot tell me this and expect me to turn against everything I know!
From:
no subject
I thought that...out of everyone I knew, you would believe me.
[Astara looks completely crushed and seems to be holding back a lot of emotion. She closes her eyes, trying to regain some form of composure. Her fist is visibly shaking.]
Fine...it's fine...I'll do this by myself then.
[She didn't want to hear any more, arguing with Seta was pointless at this point and she knew it. If she wouldn't listen then there was only one course of action left for Astara. Fire erupt out from her right hand and her large sword is formed from the flames before she starts walking towards the exit of the chamber.]
From:
no subject
I...cannot let you do this.
[Seta stands with her silver gun in hand - pointed at Astara. She looks reluctant at first, but slowly straightens herself.]
This...is my home.
From:
no subject
[She seems to be calling your bluff Seta. In fact, she seems to be straight up ignoring you to continue on her merry way.]
From:
no subject
And neither do I.
From:
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When you get up from this, you're going to be thanking me.
[Without any warning Astara closes the distance between her and her (former?) friend with a dashing thrust of her blade. There is not any mercy being shown here.]
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Ngh...!
[But this is just as expected. Without warning, the large ribbon on the back of her very fancy dress unfurls, and lashes out in an attempt to wrap around her opponent's sword hand!]
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no subject
[That catches her by surprise, before she could do anything else with her blade, her arm is quickly covered up by the ribbon. However, the red Kijin doesn't look too bothered by it. In fact, she even pulls on the ribbon - and by extension Seta, to further skewer her along the blade. At the same time her left hand begins to burn brightly and the blazing fist is sent at the hand holding the silver handgun. Combat at this range was her expertise and she knew very well that she had the upper hand on Seta should they stay at this distance.]
From:
no subject
It will not be...so easy!
[But just as she gets pulled further by her own ribbon, Seta causes it to disappear by abruptly shifting to her battle dress.
The initial resistance Astara received is now suddenly gone. And injured as she is, Seta is now also free. She uses this moment to deliver a sudden side kick to Astara's midsection - hopefully knocking her back and putting some distance between them!]
From:
no subject
Somehow, Astara managed to handspring back into a standing position before she stabbed her broadsword into the ground and slowed her momentum down to a complete stop. Her grip on her broadsword is then switched to a reverse grip as a vortex of wind began to swirl around the blade. An instant later Astara began to swing at the air in front of her, releasing several large blades of wind towards Seta.]
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no subject
[The razor wind barrage is met by blasts of intense flame as Seta manifests, draws and swings the longer of the two Kazan blades in a single, fluid movement! The forces collide in a sizable explosion, forming a crater in the center of the room.
But not wasting time, Seta goes on the offensive. She draws her remaining handgun, Merlot, with her free hand, and fires through the smoke. More bullets scream toward Astara!]
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[Seta does try to defend herself - by attempting to cut that round apart. Sadly, being mentally occupied by how badly she's performing is enough of a distraction that she can't even raise the weapon in time.
There's a brief detonation as the blazing round makes contact with Seta's hand. The result isn't pretty: although Merlot is thrown away and hits the ground, said hand is gone.]
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2/2
[What happens next seems to be done on impulse. With a wide swing of her blade, she fires a much larger wave of flame in Astara's direction. Not a very wise thing to do, because...]
From:
Looks like you could use a hand
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Booooo
In its wake are a smoldering swath, black smoke, and dust rising from the remains of the statues.
Looks like you did it, Astara...or did you?]
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no subject
Of course, Astara knew very well how durable Kijin were and was keeping an eye on where Seta would have impacted into the wall. She knew better than to assume that she did enough to stop Seta.]
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As she approaches at a relaxed pace, one of her eyes glows a golden-red. It seems that a number of her injuries are already gone, but part of her face and body are still composed of a jet-black substance.]
From:
2/2
...You leave me no choice.
I hoped that I would not have to, but now...
[After sheathing her sword, Seta takes up a side-on stance: arms raised at an angle, feet slightly spaced. This happens as the familiar shape of RB's on-foot form, a pair of gauntlets and greaves, manifests around her forearms and legs. What's unusual, is that Kazan hasn't been dismissed as it normally would be - the blade is still there in its sheath on her waist!]
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