crystal. tell the world stop the war

[sprent]

FORM: Crystal
SENDER: Gela, Mobius, Benedict
RECIPIENT: All
NOTES: The time travel plot thickens...

Hello, [says a nervous little voice, with a small “really?” in the background, heralding what is to be a truly normal crystal message.]

This message is for the people who are en route to Granitefell: please stop. Now. [It is hard to strike a balance between calm and firm, here.] Or slow down. The orders have changed.

[Or: are currently changing? Will change? Gela glances helplessly at Mobius and Benedict in turn, and the meaning could not be more clear: one of you say something more convincing.]

Uh, [Benedict helpfully interjects.]

The orders are going to change as soon as possible because if you keep going the way you are, you’re gonna get attacked. [Very helpful, Mobius, that’s going to convince everyone. He tries to stay even, but there’s clearly an anxious strain in his voice.] A damned familiar team of dracolisks are on the way to intercept you there, and it’s not gonna be pretty if you end up having to fight them. [His turn to look at everyone. He can’t just rightly say we know this because future. Right? That would probably be bad.]

Timing’s gonna be pretty critical on this one.

That means you have to do it now.

Please. [Don't ask questions bye]

Comments

[foolsmakeitcolder]

Are the dracolisks going to attack us, or Granitefell?

[favoriteanalyst]

[Oh. Oh, it's so good (and strange) to hear that voice again that Mobius can't muster an answer for a second. But muster he must:]

Jude. You have to get out of there. Or get there faster and save as many as you can before-- [Take a breath. Take a few breaths.]

Both? It's an ambush. It's not just the dracolisks, it's...damn near everything, feels like. The dragon. Venatori. Um, there's-- There was something else, wasn't there? To attack you and what's left at Granitefell.

[bouchonne]

[ ??? Rather skeptically: ]

Who is that - Gela? And Mobius? Why are you two delivering this intelligence?

[sprent]

(Totally not ignoring that question,) Benedict is here too.

[youwonscience]

Did something happen?

[Both because Byerly's point about why these three are passing on the orders(?)/intelligence is valid and, perhaps more empathically, because they all sound shaken up to some degree. She's pretty sure if it was something bad enough to take out both Tony and Flint, they'd lead with that, but even so.]

[sprent]

(A breath in.

It's impossible not to sound upset, especially hearing the voices of those who were lost.)

Well, (she says—and stops abruptly, clearly struggling.)

[armd]

... We left hours ago. (What gives.)

[altusimperius]

Abby.

[The word comes out on an exhale, like he can't quite believe he just heard her speak.]

[favoriteanalyst]

Thank the Maker, Abby, hi. It wasn't supposed to go like this. [Unhelpful!] The whole plan has to change.

[cozen]

[ Prank seems unlikely—Benedict, at least, would absolutely not risk another stay in the dungeon, disrupting official operations for a joke. The most likely possibility that springs to Bastien's mind is that they've received some tip, the three of them. Why the three of them? Maybe they were all waiting for the ferry together and someone walked up.

But then, he just saw Benedict in the Diplomacy office, without nearly enough time for him to go ashore and get all worked up about a tip from a stranger.

How about— ]

Bad dreams again?

[altusimperius]

[With unusual gravitas,]

The worst you've ever had.

[laruetheday]

If there's going to be an attack, isn't that where we should be going?

[ Plus they already left, so. ]

[sprent]

Clarisse— (oh NO

That's all. She's overcome.)

[notathreat]

[Sus...]

Gela. If it's really you, then tell me what I'm supposed to be teaching you. And why.

It can be private.

private

[sprent]

(Instantly stepping away from the other two—she needs a moment to calm down anyway, she's quite worked up—she says, softly,)

You're teaching me how to use my brother's knife. Because I asked you to, and told you not to tell anybody else.

[luaithre]

[ After organising a ride, ]

What numbers are we facing and how far away are they from Granitefell?

[ Brisk, business-like. It won't be for him to decide if this is true or false, if it matters or not, but may as well shake down information in case it is true, if it matters. ]

[favoriteanalyst]

Greater numbers than you can handle. You could fight and give 'em more than they bargained for, but you guys aren't equipped to take on a red lyrium dragon, dracolisks, venatori, and other soldiers all at once.

[He's asking the good, pertinent questions a commander of forces should. But those are details the ambushed team didn't have, so it's details they don't have.]

I don't know the distance. Maybe half a day out if they're on the move and not simply lying in wait? But they were- this is planned; they didn't just happen to be in the same area at the same time and took a jaunty detour. But they won't be expecting the place to be emptied out if you manage to warn everyone ahead of time.

[hornswoggle]

[ hmmmm ]

And this information is coming from where, exactly?

[favoriteanalyst]

[Mobius is bad at lying, absolutely awful. He'd make a horrendous spy. So when he says:] Reputable sources. [Rest assured he knows how fucking sus he sounds.]

[pathlit]

[ --dracolisk?

Mind buffering, one second.

Listening to the responses, more seconds.

Then, deciding to continue listening, because he's just a little confused (--take this at face value? doubt?) and a lot more conflicted. There are still people at the end of their destination that they're meant to help. We left hours ago -- sure did. Then we have to be there. To get those people out -- absolutely. If there's going to be an attack, isn't that where we should be going? -- and here's the salt in the abrasion, because he agrees with the sentiment, but doubts his own ability to significantly impact it.

He's not a part of Forces. He's not a warrior.

Right now, he almost wishes he were. ]

[armd]

(She notices him staring into space, crystal in hand. Covering her own, slipping it back into her pocket (it's good to have an excuse not to listen to it for a moment, because she's never heard Benedict sound quite like that before, so uncertain, almost frightened), she attempts to catch Jayce's eye as she approaches.

Whether or not she's successful with that, she stills reaches to thump his arm with her fist.) You good?

(It's... all a little much. Abby's not sure what to think, but there's an odd, frantic air to the whole thing that makes her think it could be real.)

[thereneverwas]

Gela?

Mobius,

...what?

[favoriteanalyst]

Barrow! These are, uh.

Unusual circumstances, to be sure.

[elegiaque]

What the fuck are you talking about?

[sprent]

Oh, you know,

(LONG PAUSE)

[tender]

Gela? What do you mean?

[sprent]

We mean exactly what we said. I know it's hard to believe.