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[rekindlenpcs]

[For fourteen seconds, all any can hear is a faint static coming from all devices connected to the city network. Cellphones, terminals, communication devices of any kind... Perhaps a whisper or two in the background, but nothing that could be truly made out behind the din. However, fifteen seconds after midnight, the flames of the candles all mysteriously light themselves if they weren't already lit, and the voices become clear as crystal. It is all one: male, judging by the bass tone and, for those watching, dark silhouette amidst a blindingly white glare.]

Good evening, guests of our most... esteemed science division and citizenry. Many of you may question why it is that suddenly, a thin veil has overtaken parts of the town since the annual summer festival. I am here to answer that question and more.

[The figure bows deeply before raising to full height.]

Unfortunate as it may be, there are but few means to enter the walls when they have been closed. This much has been true since the days when the gates between districts were wide, and trade flourished. For all its talk of community and friendship, these traits the leaders have always kept exclusive to those within than those without. Therefore, we who remain in the wastes forced our way in.

[The figure lifts his arms, a pompous air about him as he speaks.]

Yes, it was those of our number a small band of you located three months prior. The young ones, who left the writings on the walls. I, who first successfully hacked into their networks. All for the sake of this day, that I might speak to you all freely without the censorship of our most esteemed scientists.

In the many months of our silent vigil outside these grand walls, we have come to realize a simple truth: the leaders and this society have little interest in educating any of its so-called "guests" in any means other than simply lengthening your lifespans as well as their own. A state of stagnation, rather than slow death. Those from the shrine, like your sweet High Priestess can do aught but leak that which they are "allowed" to by the heads of the different science divisions. Or perhaps none among you found it odd that rather than Rhea responding to our more zealous members, it was the one who wished to silence any attempt to speak out against their own agenda?

[he bows deeply once more.]

As the leader of this band of mischief makers, I do apologize for their disruption of your daily lives. However, we of the Rangar do not believe in stagnation, but in an active course against the pseudoscience these defectors and skeptics practice. With how many candles were lit of the listener's volition tonight, I need not ask what it is you seek.

The door is open for all. The seeker need only speak.

[The feed then ends, but so long as the candles are lit, there seems to be no reaction in order to silence this apparent leader.

But when the flames go out, only the following text can be seen:]

THIS ENTRY HAS BEEN FLAGGED AND BEEN REMOVED FOR FALSE INFORMATION AND SLANDER AGAINST THE RULING PARTIES OF THE CITY.

Comments

[rangarnpcs]

Most of us, yes. Though the reasons for the excursions into the city in a more pronounced means is because there is progress, and with it an opportunity to leave our vigil long enough to be sure newcomers like yourselves are not left in the dark.

[lightstrike]

We've been left in the dark for a while. [So clearly someone hasn't been doing their job. But there's no point in dwelling in that.]

So what do you know about this energy crisis? Or this miasma you're talking about? Is it in any way connected to your people and why you're not an official part of the city?

[rangarnpcs]

[Zeloph motions a little helplessly.] we can only work with what we have been given, and Cyntia and her team have been very good at thwarting our attempts.

[He straightens however, taking on a more serious air.]

We know it intimately as these marks we bear. [He motions to the blue-violet markings on his arms briefly.] The "energy crisis" as our most benevolent city leaders put it and the miasma are one in the same. The miasma is the effect, and the Unleashing of it and its source the cause.

One hundred years ago, I was the same as my sister. Young protectors of the people, warriors in our own right and religious figureheads. However not all recognized the balance between physical and ethereal, and the little experiment to harness the "power of gods" went awry in the worst scenario, nearly killing Ahilani in the process. Before you ask, Ahilani is the Goddess of Fire and Energy, and her weakening caused the miasma to leak from the other Plane to this one.

In order to be sure that it did not spread further, I and others were "gifted" with a power to absorb and channel the miasma itself. Those who survived and our sympathizers joined together to form our organization, though this only angered a people terrified of the "Carriers" that we used a term from the holy scriptures as our group's name.

[lightstrike]

[Religious figureheads? Lightning has to pause right there, because he mentions a sister, only once, but it's still enough to stick out in her mind.

It cant be the priestess, can it?]

Your sister is the priestess, isn't she? [It's a tangent, but she needs to get this out of the way immediately.]

[rangarnpcs]

[He gives one single nod in response.]

[lightstrike]

[She sighs-- she knew it. This has become something a lot more personal now, two family members on different sides. It's become more complicated, but at the same time very familiar, and because of that, she has the thought that she should really help the siblings in any way that she can. Throw in her lot with the Rangar.

She's in too deep now, so she's going through with this, but in a way that wont hurt all the other guests, because they're the people she'd pledged to help first and foremost.]

You have yourselves a mess here, then. [Lightning sits up straight, leaning back on one hand, and crosses her legs. The other one, the one holding the paper cup, is resting on her knee.] And we were caught right in the middle of it.

So what exactly do you want from all of us, aside from knowing what is going on? You wouldn't have just given us information if you didn't want the guests to use it in some capacity. Do you want us to help you?

[rangarnpcs]

For that, I must apologize.

[The man lowers his head slightly, shaking it.] This truly should have only been between us and those responsible. However despite all intentions, I cannot deny that the Fates have conspired against more than us.

[He sighs, looking to meet her gaze once more. For how dead his gaze had seemed before, a fire seems to be present in them now - even as he shakes off Mai's concerned touch to his shoulder.]

In short, yes. Too many lives have been lost for us to not want to recruit any who would know of our plight and support our cause. However silent the powers that be wish to keep the whisper of voices in the dark.

[lightstrike]

But what is your cause? No one will sympathize with you if you don't give them answers.

What many of us want is to go back to our home worlds, and people are willing to side with those who blatantly say that they will return people home, whether it's a lie or not, warring factions be damned.

[She purses her lips for a moment, and stares right back, almost as hard and as cold as she used to be during her early days as the Savior.] And I personally cant and wont help those who lie, or stay vague about their requests.

[rangarnpcs]

One should think it obvious. [A bit of a smile plays at the corner of his lips, though it's anything but arrogant as he would have anyone believe. Even in the shadows, one cannot fully disguise pain.]

We of Rangar have one purpose--to see the reconstruction of our world and assisting the recovery of our Goddess. As to what that entails largely depends on what we can find from our successful attempts at infiltrating. If we can get our hands on the blueprints to their plans, we should be able to find ways to sabotage further attempts to misuse the energy they are collecting that isn't being used for its said purpose.

Yes... As of now, the scientists may indeed hold the technology to send you all home... but I hardly doubt they would rather hold onto more subjects for study purposes than do so. That's all people really was to Cyntia growing up, and I doubt this fact has changed in the hundred years of her prolonged stasis. The fact they were messing with your fellow "guest's" memories, and the mishap with maintaining body temperatures last year was no coincidence or "accident" as they would have you believe.

[lightstrike]

[Lightning has half a mind to strangle him, but she resists the knee jerk reaction, and simply rolls her eyes while he's watching, so he knows how much she appreciates his smart remark.

Is he telling her everything? Doubtful. Leaders tend to do this quite a lot, they keep secrets, and she'd be a fool to take him at face value every time. But what Lightning is sure that what she has is the truth, or at least some of it.]

It's obvious that I'm thinking of lending some assistance-- but when and as I see fit. I wont be at your beck and call, the way the scientists expect me to be for them. I have my own set of goals, and it's obvious what they are.

[rangarnpcs]

That is all we could ask for.

[He almost sounds amused by the fact someone could think they could keep a grasp so tightly on one who named herself after a force of nature. Did they not know that would likely end up getting them shocked?]

In fact, I would offer a mutual agreement. You help us when you see fit, and we assist you when we are capable.

[lightstrike]

That's acceptable, as long as either of you [she nods in Mai's direction] specifically ask me for help. If it's anyone else, I don't know anything. The same goes on my end.

[It gives them both some breathing room, at least. They wont be falling over each other's feet when they're doing something important.]

[rekindlenpcs]

[Mai nods. She could agree with that.]

If you see a tawny owl around the city, feel free to approach. It is my alternate form.

[lightstrike]

Understood. I think we're done for the moment.

[Standing is an exercise in balance, but she's confident that the sedative is nearly out of her system, and stands confidently. Just in case though, she places her hand on her chest, casting an Esunada on herself.]

[rekindlenpcs]

[Zeloph nods once, before Mai rises from her seat.]

I'll help you out of here. It can be quite the maze.

[She raises the hood on her cloak, before motioning for Lightning to follow her to the door behind her.]