01

[ex_diplomacy861]

Who: Shelly and anyone
Location: Plaza
Time: Afternoon
Style: Either
Status: Open

[Standing before the coral with a hand perched on her hip and a megaphone in the other, Shelly, still damp but drier from her sodden arrival, begins her announcement in a firm, less-than-pleased tone as the fairy beside her flutters about quietly.]

Attention [ -- the rest is drowned out by a high-pitched screech as the megaphone adjusts -- ] !

What you have committed is a severely punishable offense that will not go unheard by the Republic's Senate. However, before you respond to the matter of your crime, I demand an explanation.

[She lowers the megaphone, waiting.]

Comments

I'm actually a ninja

[messianic]

[: |b

He offers a Welcoming Committee pamphlet.]

I can try to explain, if you'd like.

I thought you were a pirate.

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Eyeing the pamphlet, she takes it. Since he's being civil, she'll return the gesture.]

That would be excellent. All I've heard is that this place is called Vatheon.

...I...am both. (yea)

[messianic]

[: |b He just straightens a little (though his hands remain in his pockets).]

This is Vatheon, yes. It's another world that draws people into it who are from different times and worlds themselves. We are brought here by means of the coral, which the native says houses their god. We also power the barrier, so that Vatheon can continue to persist.

Do you have any questions so far?

Im . . . pressive. (aha)

[ex_diplomacy861]

Their god . . . of course.

[Funny how gods seem to be the center of everything. They can make anything happen.]

How do we power the barrier?

[messianic]

[.../shrug.]

I'm not entirely sure, to be honest. It seems to be some sort of symbiotic relationship--the coral heals us and revitalizes us when we're tired. In return, we keep the barrier up...which might be why we're tired without touching the coral, now that I think about it.

[ex_diplomacy861]

I see . . . so it's a cyclical event.

Is the barrier what allows the city to prosper beneath the sea's surface?

[messianic]

Yes, that's right. Without the barrier, the city would likely be unable to exist.

We could take refuge now on the island above, but Vatheon is the safer of the two.

[ex_diplomacy861]

Why's that?

[messianic]

When the island was first reached, there was a curse of sorts that caused a few people to...for lack of better term, to go insane.

It hasn't done anything similar since, but I'm a little wary of it.

[ex_diplomacy861]

[Insane. That sounds backwards.]

. . . have they recovered?

[messianic]

[He nods.]

With some help...everyone made full recoveries.

[ex_diplomacy861]

Good . . . I suppose that rules out the surface for the time being.

[messianic]

..It makes it a little more dangerous, yes. I'm sorry--the chances are you'll be here for at least a few weeks, so you should get settled first.

[ex_diplomacy861]

. . . All right. If I must endure this for a little longer in order to get somewhere, then I'll play the waiting game.