[text] [aka no way is he showing his face right now]

[rebells]

Is everyone all right?

I think it's safe to say that this changes things considerably.

Comments

[snipers]

Can you tell me what the heck is going on? I'm new here and.. what the hell?

[rebells]

It's a bit of a complicated story. The short version is that the Palai have an enemy in a sentient mermaid-like species known as the Uvi. What we witnessed . . . I believe it was, if not the Uvi's demise, then at least the deaths of a great many of them.

What caused this to happen remains to be seen, although there are . . . indications.

[snipers]

[ well this is fun. that's definitely a cold feeling running down her back. ]

What kind of indications?

[oneandmikleonly]

We were inside, so yes. I want to go check up in the ocean, but . . . I'm not sure it's particularly safe yet?

[HE SOUNDS EXTREMELY WIDE AWAKE]

[rebells]

No, we should probably wait until the . . . debris is cleared, at least. But I think we will have to venture back there sooner or later.

[oneandmikleonly]

...

There appear to be spiky balls falling down in the street, so. Yes. Right.

[lunala]

We have to go up and see what happened! [Right now!!! Okay, Moon, calm down.]

[rebells]

[There's a pause before this next message.]

I'm not sure that's wise. We should at least wait until the debris has cleared.

[lunala]

I guess we can wait until after that, but we definitely have to check as soon as we can. What do you think happened?

[rootbound]

[he has to translate text for Geir so he's immediately switching to public voice telepathy, sorry Jay]

So does anyone know if the ocean and its denizens blew themselves up just now, or if our froggy friends are responsible, because Geir and I just got a bunch of spiky things falling on our heads out here on the mountain and he says they smell like the barrier and the Elto shields.

[rebells]

[There is a sizable pause before this reply, as though someone is pulling himself together before responding.]

It can't be the Palai. Not these Palai, at least. Even if they managed to develop and perfect weapons of war within a matter of weeks, wouldn't we have noticed?

[rootbound]

[Vern's voice is pretty flat, matter of fact]

No idea. And they had no way to go above the ocean that we know of without our help either. So it's likely it's indeed to do with the barrier and its contents.

[needmetoo]

Do we know what happened?

[She doesn't, but she's fully expecting someone to have a better perspective, or to just plain know more about it than her.]

[rebells]

My best guess is the demise of a great deal of the Uvi, at the hands of some sort of explosion.

[needmetoo]

But... who could havee done it? It... couldn't have been one of us, could it?

[She remembers all the trouble they had last time so she's not sure but... they had so many new people lately, so... maybe?]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir got the initial message at least read to him by Vern, so he can switch to voice without any further ado:]

When are we heading up there? I'm strong enough to swim and hold one of the carry-boats again. Or I could just go on my own with Vern.

[rebells]

[He's very--almost forcibly--calm in the reply, when it does come.]

After the dust clears, I think we should gather a group and head up. With primarily combatants, to be safe.

[lohengrins]

I'm fine. What of the rest of you? Were the Palai responsible for this?

[rebells]

I'm at the coven's house right now--everyone is fine, as far as I can tell.

I doubt our hosts have this kind of capability.

[deem]

These urchins... Do you think that's what they were capturing Palai for?

[He can't say he feels bad for an enemy, exactly, given past experience...

And yet this really makes him wonder]

It's the same energy that Eltos produce, but concentrated.

[rebells]

If so, it seems to have backfired on them. Unless whatever caused this explosion was something else.

[splinten]

I'll check it out and update you shortly.

[dirk 'you only die forever' strider]

[rebells]

[God, Dirk. Well, Dirk can take care of himself but--]

At least wait until the things have stopped falling from the sky.

[mapsio]

Everyone is okay where I am at.

We need to investigate but we need to make sure we aren't putting others in harm's way to do so.

[rebells]

Good. I'm glad to hear that.

I'll be gathering a group to go investigate, once the debris has stopped falling.