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A PSYCHIC FEELING THAT TOUCHES ALL OF DRAEGA
[At sundown, twin blasts of Opal and Rose slam through a wall in the Queen's Residence. Those living in the Residence and those nearby hear cries of alarm. Smoke is visible above the buildings throughout the city. Everyone in the city feels a sudden, sharp punch of power: one of the Blood shooting downward into the abyss with startling ferocity.

Moments later, three ripples of power expand outward from the Queen's Residence. One is shallow and superficial. The Blood recognize it as a blast of power just above the level of the White; the landens feel it only as a vague sense of unease.

The second comes at the level of the Rose, and the final at the Opal.

Shortly after, those who reside in the Old Town Bazaar begin to hear a haunting dirge. A woman's voice, sad and full of mourning, fills the still air. Night darkens the city, and the song spreads with it. From Old Town to the Guild Halls, up into River North and the slums, and from there to River East. The melody echoes through the docks, curling around warehouses and ships and reverberating strangely over the water.

Long into the early hours of the morning, the echoes of the song linger.]

A PSYCHIC LINK, FAYURA TO THE STRANGERS
[The quiet, psychic contact comes with the dawn. For those who have felt Fayura's psychic presence before, this touch feels much more distant. For those who haven't, she brushes against your mind with great caution and respect as though knocking softly at a door for fear of causing a disturbance. When she speaks, her mental voice has a hollow, tiny tone, much like that of an old telephone call for those who understand the analogy.

She is tired. She sounds tired. Grief makes her voice rough.]

Thank you. For finding the coven, I thank you.

The witches Amanita Nissa, Harrin, and Little Blue are dead. They have become whispers in the darkness. This is no easy thing. I know many of you will be displeased to hear they have been executed, but this is our way. Shattering the mind of a young Queen—of anyone who wears a Jewel… there is no greater crime.

The streets are safer without them.

Specific thanks to Guts, Daylight, and Mordred, who were each responsible for bringing in one of these witches.

THE MORNING NEWS
[Garret and Wilt are the perpetual news anchors. Their broadcast begins when most people are sitting down to breakfast or have just come in from morning chores on the farm.

Garret:] An official announcement from the Queen of Hayll confirms the executions of the Black Widows Amanita Nissa, Harrin, and Little Blue early this morning. Per the announcement and in accordance with ancient tradition, their Jewels have been shattered and their minds… burned out?

[Wilt, speaking slowly for once:] This is, of course, in reference to the old mythology that the Blood can become demon-dead. The body dies but the mind lives on, resulting in a kind of undeath driven by the power of the Jewels.

[Garret, cringing:] The Queen has declared that she will hold court between the hours of six and nine at night to accommodate those whose work hours are less flexible should anyone wish to inquire after the decision to execute these three witches.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mordred's kind of quiet here, which isn't entirely normal for her. She's trying to actually get her thoughts in order before talking. Which shows what a mess this all was.]

...yeah, I'm fine. Just pissed off about the whole thing.

I am too, but I'm glad you and the others were able to put a stop to this madness before it could go on.

[ because she didn't trust the idea of the black widows stopping at just the girl. no doubt they would have struck again and again and again. a show of power like that would have been hard to stay away from.

something she's learned and something she keeps to herself, keeping those thoughts wrapped under heavy layers and thoughts.

now... to something important- ] No doubt the groups of the city will feel like they're in your debt, Mordred. You were a great aid to them, after all.

Just wish it could've been stopped before it even started.

[Though she's not really sure how that could've been done, honestly. But still, she's glad it wasn't worse, but still pretty furious that it happened at all.]

Edited 2019-05-11 05:22 (UTC)

[ zita does her best to sound gentle, knowing that this has been a heavy event for everyone involved. ] Perhaps we can avoid this in the future. We couldn't stop this event, but we can avoid the event repeating down the line.

The Council and the Courts- [ zita pauses, trying to arrange her thoughts (and feelings) into something confident and sensible. ] They're best equipped to prevent this, I believe.

Yeah, I think so too. I don't want this happening again, but they seem like the best ones to mobilize and handle it.

[ zita is definitely in agreement, if the thrum of relief on her end of the link could be believed. ]

Who do you feel more confident in approaching then, if- [ here, she gives her words some more thought. the queen is holding up these string of links and connections, after all, so best to be careful with her words. ] -If we had to turn to aide or help in these sort of matters?

Both groups have their strengths and weaknesses, in a way.

[She'll think about that one for a moment. She's not really worried about who's in charge of the connection, that's not going to stop her from speaking, or thinking her mind on matters.]

The court, probably. I've worked with them more than the others.

The court, hmm? [ zita thinks over what mordred said, and why she said it, before nodding to herself. it makes and zita has stayed in the residence long enough to know the people working in it are trying their best, in their own way.

so they have her willingness to help. there's that. ]

That's a good choice. [ another pause because one can never be too careful. ] Maybe it wouldn't hurt to let them know about your feelings or stance on this?

I'm sure they'll be grateful to know they have your backing. Especially in light of what has happened.

Yeah, I will.

[Once she's in a slightly better mood, anyways. And now she'll ask something she probably should've asked before, but she's at still not great at this whole checking up on people thing.]

Were you okay during all of this?

[Feels kind of awkward to be asking after the fact and not thinking to check on it during that debacle, but she figures better late than never, probably.]

[ zita seems to be thrown off the turn of the subject- and the fact the subject is about her well-being. ]

I've- [ she needs a moment to collect herself, because there's no way to deny the indignation and the anger on her end of the psychic link she's holding with mordred, the frustration and the helplessness she feels when she looks back on the events.

thankfully, she manages to temper her emotions to something more neutral and mild. ] I was alright, more or less. I focused primarily on dealing with the webs found throughout the city and helping others caught in the webs.

I thought it'll be better to let the professionals handle the situation with the Widows and- [ here, she tries to smile through the line or tries to convey it, at least. ] -it seems I was right in that assessment, with you and the others involved.

Smart move.

[It's not visible, but she's nodding in approval of Zita's choices. Mordred's a firm believer of if you aren't cut out for fighting big terrible things, you probably shouldn't run out and do it.]

Still, you need help or anything like that if...no, probably when crap like this happens again, let me know.

Thank you. That means a lot to me.

[ it does. it honestly does mean a lot to zita, since it's a comfort to know who you could turn to in situations like these.

and... now that she thinks about it- ]

Actually- I was wondering if I could ask a favour from you, Mordred. If you don't mind.

Yeah, what is it?

[She's going to accept either way, but still wants to know what it is first.]

Would you be willing to teach me how to defend myself better?

[ while zita has been undergoing the drills that everyone in the courts must partake, she hasn't been faring well in it.

she's no longer fumbling with her practice weapon, of course, but she wants to get better faster thanks to the turns of events. who better to turn to than someone she knows she can trust? ] I know I won't be a great fighter, or be able to join in the more taxing encounters, but- I would like to at least put up a proper fight if something happens.

[She's kind of quiet for a moment, thinking about that one.]

Just as some advance warning, I've never really taught anyone before.

[She can do it though. Probably. Just ignore the uncertainty in her voice. And that as she continues talking, she sounds like she's trying to psych herself up for it just as much as she's agreeing to it.]

But yeah, I can definitely show you some things. Probably better cut out for it than most of the others.

[Not that she's bragging or anything. But of course a former knight of the Round Table can teach some defense stuff. They'd have to be a complete failure not to be able to do something like that.]

It's alright. I'm willing to do whatever I can to learn by your side.

[ this is where zita pauses in her speaking, unsure of how to word what she wants to say next.

not because what she has to say next is harsh or aggressive. the exact opposite, really. ]

... Much as I try to do my best to learn under the tutelage with the guards, I know I'll learn more when I learn from a friend. [ she adds, a little more quietly. ] If you consider us friends, of course.

[Mordred has no idea what to do with the friend word because she doesn't have those. Or at least never did. She didn't have any in Camelot and as a Servant, she's got her Master. If she gave it more thought, he'd probably count, but she doesn't give things like friendship thought because she assumes she doesn't have any.

She's not angry about it, just confused. She has no clue what to do with this. But she thinks it's closer to the truth then not, so she'll say as much with her answer.]

Don't know, not really something I've had experience with. But it sounds about right.

[Or at least she thinks so.]