audio; un: hopscotch

[clavesregni]

I know who killed Vataz and the others. It's--

[Her voice is strained. She sounds as though she's in pain and out of breath.]

It's complicated. We need to be cautious not to worsen the situation any further. Someone else was killed. A woman. Her death is what started it all. There's someone else I need to question; I'll be able to share more once I have.

[There's the soft thud of someone's back hitting a wall.]

For now, young men should stay out of the Wards and the Keep, if at all possible. The killer can't distinguish between its true target and other men who appear similar. And don't go down into the glacial lakes. It isn't safe.

[Another pause, followed by a wince.]

If any medical personnel are able to spare supplies, I could do with a bandage.

Comments

voice | un: wooden sword

[vdovy]

I can patch you up if the medics are busy.

Is this related to the sirens?

[clavesregni]

Thank you.

Yes. But I don't have the whole story yet.

[vdovy]

Then let's get you patched up so you can find out the rest. Where are you?

voice

[reparo]

Yell if healing potions are needed, I might have Dittany left. Stay somewhere familiar and I can Apparate my way there.

[vdovy]

I can only stitch her up but something to help with pain or speed up healing would be welcome. We are in the Wards. [ Detailed directions follow. ]

[clavesregni]

Thank you, but I'll be alright, really. I'm sure there are a lot of people who need a potion more than I do.

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

Haiva.

[clavesregni]

I'm not comfortable sharing anyone's identity until I've had a chance to hear what they have to say.

Our focus now needs to be on preventing anyone else from falling victim to a murderous demon that can't tell the difference between the man it's meant to kill and every other young man in the vicinity.

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

Quite alright, I'm comfortable sharing.

voice; un: v

[techmaturgy]

Caitlyn, what happened? Are you all right?

private

[clavesregni]

I'm alright. I caught a siren trying to blend in with the refugees. She told me that she'd summoned something called a Jatharin from Hell to take revenge on Prince Haiva for killing one of her sisters. When I refused to kill Haiva on her behalf, she attacked me.

She also mentioned something about mirrored glass. It's possible Haiva stole it. I need-- [A moment of pained silence while she concentrates on not passing out from blood loss.]

I need to talk to Haiva. To see what he has to say for himself. And we have to keep anyone else from getting hurt. Our people or the sirens.

un: mansbane

[bravelyrunsaway]

We know who it is, love, and why Deimar has held his hand back. Not love, though he might love him. Haiva holds more of the people's hearts for a perception of what he is, not his reality. Have you never run into that before?

Let him face the sirens.

[clavesregni]

That would be murder. We've pieced together a story, and we may think we understand his character, but no one ought to die on the basis of a story.

And who's to say that those loyal to Haiva wouldn't try to get revenge on the sirens once he was killed? This could end in an all-out war between Haiva's people and the sirens. The only way to end the cycle of violence is to end the violence.

We need to convince Deimar to strip his brother of his titles and imprison him.

un: yiling laozu

[weifinder]

You're safe?

( that's most important to make sure of first. he heard yelena is going to assist: he has other concerns, but that takes care of one. )

[clavesregni]

I'm safe. As safe as possible, given the circumstances.

un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five has been so singularly focused on a looming apocalypse that he barely thought to follow up on the murders. What he hears from Wrathion is what ultimately gets his attention. ]

You’re protecting their target?

[clavesregni]

I'm trying to prevent any further bloodshed.

un: absterge

[downswing]

The Reaper now touched women?

private

[clavesregni]

The woman's name was Massarir. She was a siren. Haiva promised to marry her, and she gave him some of her people's mirrored glass to heal his illness. He murdered her.

The Reaper is the sirens' revenge, a demon from Hell sent to kill Haiva. Only it keeps killing innocents instead.

voice | un: oil change

[nachocheese]

Congrats. Now every young man who has something to prove is gonna head straight for the glacial lakes.

[He doesn't sound upset; more like he's joking. And he is! But it's a joke with some real intent behind it. He knows how young men think, being one and all, and he can imagine how he would have reacted to being told something like this when he was even younger.

She's doing the best she can though, and he appreciates her willingness to share, so he adds, as a sort of olive branch:]

Smart to wait to get more info before you start naming names.

[clavesregni]

Oh. [The joke of it sails over her head, and now she's worried about hypothetical foolhardy young men. Honestly, she should have known; she may be a Refined Young Lady rather than a young man, but she's been known to go places and do things just because she was warned not to.] Truly, it isn't safe. Anyone who goes down there would not only be in danger themselves, they could worsen the conflict between the people of Alem and the sirens.

un: magic wand | audio (private)

[faceblocker]

How bad?!

[ Every time she turns around she needs to pinch herself in gratitude that Cait and Powder are still alive.

Vi barely has time to skim other responses before she's moving, not bothering to waste time with the rest. Even if Yelena's looking after her, Vi needs to see for herself...in person. Hell is literally breaking loose, and in this kind of chaos she can't wait for the 'safest' moment. ]

Where are you?

[clavesregni]

I'm alright. [Well, she will be, once Yelena stitches her up. And she doesn't want Vi to worry about her.]

I'm in the Wards. [She gives a detailed enough description of where she is that Vi will be able to find her.]

un: daozhang | voice;

[binghua]

If your wound is not too serious I can help. If you do not mind a blind man doing so.

Do you know what the killer's target looks like? I am tall and thin and have dark hair, last I knew.

[clavesregni]

Someone else is already on their way, but thank you.

A younger man. Fair-haired. Your hair colour may protect you, but I can't guarantee that any man in that age range is safe.