[He thought he could handle this situation on his own, somehow. He thought he would sort it out eventually, that it wouldn't matter to anyone but him -- these were creatures designed for his torment, meant to make him suffer. Their harsh murmurs tear at him more deeply and specifically than anyone else; unlike the others, he feels their burning claws slice into his back, their eyes boring into him. The demons curl around his ankles like unwanted cats; they settle in the chinks of his armor and hiss, their whispers as corrosive as acid. They don't tell him anything he hasn't heard before, which is partly why he's taken so long to say anything. He feels sure that the problem was contained--confined, even, to Koltira alone.

But recent posts on the network suggest that this is not the case.

Koltira stands in the center of his lake, on his platform of ice. Byfrost is stuck into the platform beside him, its blade completely invisible beneath the thick, writhing mass of miasma that envelops it.]

I apologize. If you have heard cruel whispers recently, or seen the shadows emerge from the dark and give chase, then I am to blame. They are demons meant for me, released by the evolution of my runeblade.

[He pauses a moment before continuing. His usually inscrutable expression is pained: his eyes are half-closed, his lips are thin, and his long eyebrows are drawn together in frustration. He hates that he has to do this, but there's no other choice.]

I cannot defeat them. They are reaching out from their own plane of existence, a realm of shadows.

[Another pause. He's getting there. It's happening.]

I ... I am powerless to enter this place. But if any of you are willing, I can send you to it. You could clear them away.

[His fingers close into a clenched fist over his chest. He exhales.]

Please.

[The video is a little shaky when it first comes on before it's finally moved to display the user's face.]

Is it working...?

Um- hello! My name is Cheria Barnes, and I've been here for a few months now. I'd meant to do this sooner, but with everything that's happened... Well, it seems like as best a time as any now.

Back home on Ephinea I lead a relief organization to help with the aftereffects of war. We ran food drives, helped with building repairs, gave first aid-- pretty much anything people needed of us that we could help with, you know?

So... I was thinking that I could start something like that up here too. For people that can't fight but still want to help. I thought it would probably be a good way to get the people here to trust us again too... Anyway, if you'd be interested, please let me know!

Thank you.

[She bows, but it's a little lost in the view of the tablet.]

Um-- how did he say to turn it off again? [The feed is still live for a few minutes before she finally manages to turn it off.]

[Filtered from Seles]

[A rare video feed from Kaneis comes on, partly because one of his roommates had to turn on the tablet. It becomes quickly apparently why- it seems his hands and locks of his hair are tangled up with strips of brightly colored leopard print duct tape. Someone attempted to do home repairs when they knew absolutely nothing about home repair. The background shows one giant hole in the wall about six inches in diameter, just to give you an idea. Allen is next to him, trying to get some of the duct tape off]

Okay okay- I'll ask! Just get me outta this stuff!

[He gives a huff and looks at the camera. He looks rather disgruntled]

Say, does anyone out there know where a person can get a couch? Ours kinda...got wrecked the other day and we can't fix it.

Oh and, stuff to seal up holes in the wall? That'd be good too.

Thanks in- [And then he YELLS "OW" as Allen his roommate pulls a piece out of his hair not so gently]

ALLEN! THAT WAS MY HAIR!

[Transmission end!]

Okay, Cheria, don't worry about a thing! I've got this, everything's going to be just great until we can get your eyes all... Eye-ing again!

Um-- Pascal, I'm not so sure about this... I think I can do it on my own! ...Maybe...

Nuh-uh! I'm not letting you near the stove until you can read the dials. None of us want you on fire, you know!

T-then I'll just make a sandwich! I'm sure I can do that at least, right? If this is permanent I'm going to have to learn how to do this kind of stuff on my own again.

Don't think like that, Cheria. I'm sure this is temporary until we can get you all cured up or you sleep it all off! I mean, if they can revive the dead, fixing eyes has gotta be somewhere in the picture right?

[There's a short sigh and silence for a minute or two before Cheria speaks again.] I know that... But it's good to be prepared for anything, you know? I'm glad everyone wants to help out so much but I still want to be able to do stuff too.

No buts, Cheria! I'm going to make sure you're safely resting this off in bed, and that means I'm going to do the cooking! Now where are those bananas...

No, really, Pascal. You don't have to do all of this! And-- hold on a second, just what kind of meal are you planning to make!? Bananas aren't a proper diet!

Bah! I live off of 'em! What's good for the goose is good for the panda, right?

What?? That isn't how that goes, Pascal. Seriously just- I can cook for myself today!

Cheria? No. Seriously. I've got this. We'll start with a pie, those aren't too hard to make.

...Have you ever made a pie before?

Nope! But I've got notes!

It's not just as simple as that! Pascal? Pascal!

Mix the salt in with the... Wait, why do you need salt? We can drop that, right?

No, you can't!! Pascal, just make me a sandwich if you want to help!

But I can totally do better!

((Red is Pascal and Purple is Cheria. Comments may be responded to by either or both.))

--maybe... oh! I think I got it this time!

[The woman speaking carries an Australian accent and she sounds triumphant albiet a little tired.]

Technology like this really is useful, huh? [A pause and then a deep sigh.] I can't believe it. When I first got here all these people told me nothing happened here! It isn't nice to lie like that!

[She does see the irony in saying that, yes.

She sighs again.] I hope everyone is all right. I still don't understand all of this but I'm glad I was able to be useful and help heal people. If anyone still needs anything like that just let me know.

I don't really know what to expect from this place anymore but it sure does make me nervous.