[voice, ota]

[rebells]

Hello there.

This is Jay. If we haven't spoken yet, I've been with this "coven" more or less since its beginning, and I helped coordinate defense during the first Uvi raid. Feel free to ask me any questions you don't want to bother Genette or Brie with; a more informed group benefits us all, after all.

I'm talking to you all in interest of that, actually: a number of us have expressed that a comprehensive listing of everyone's abilities, particularly those granted us by Qri, would be useful to have. If you'll come talk to me about yours, either over telepathy or in person, that would be much appreciated. Genette should know about your Qri-granted power, if you don't.

I'll be in the house we're staying in for most of the day. Please do take care of yourselves, and be careful not to get shocked.

[Indeed, Jay can be found at a table near the entrance to the coven's house, with a stack of papers that read:

NAME:
CAN YOU FIGHT?:
QRI-GRANTED POWER:
OTHER POWERS:

He'll be handing them out to anyone who passes by, although what you do with yours is of course up to you.]




((a thing for you to fill out))

Comments

[spaceforged]

I agree. Whether it's my perception or not, getting used to these effects is important. I'll keep an eye on what I can do and how. If there's a pattern to what shapeshifters deal with...At least we'll know what advice to give on how to handle it.

[rebells]

Yes. And if you have trouble tracking down Mikleo or Tara-Fay, let me know. I can arrange something.

[spaceforged]

Thank you.

With that out of the way,

[He turns yellow eyes on Jay. If only he could make expressions like this. Ah well.]

What do you think about our situation with the Qri? Not just the bones. The whole thing.

[rebells]

[He smiles thinly.]

"I don't like it" would be the short version. [He's staked out that much of a position already; he might as well say it straight. He pauses, and says the next bit aloud.]

You might want to have this conversation in your other form. Provided you can, of course.

[spaceforged]

[It takes less time to return to his usual self than it did to swap. He doesn't get up from the ground. One hand comes up.]

I can. It's just disorienting for a minute. Go ahead, I'm listening.

[rebells]

First of all, were you at the meeting the other day?

[spaceforged]

I wasn't. I wanted to keep watch on the city just in case anything happened.

[rebells]

[How responsible.]

You would have heard something of my opinion if you'd been there. I don't trust Qri. She's kidnapped us, bound us to her in some fashion, and wants us to do her bidding, and she's not being terribly transparent about why. That would be enough to suspect her.

Although I suppose it is possible that she's telling the truth.

[He can see it. A powerful, desperate being, foreign enough from humanity not to understand certain norms and unable to communicate in a normal fashion. Yes, it's just plausible.]

[spaceforged]

Even if she's telling the truth. We weren't asked to help her. That story we're told seems a little too convenient. There are too many holes.

[He can't trust it. His left metal hand closes into a fist against the ground. It isn't as bad as his time as a prisoner. Not even by half. But he still feels like there are limited choices.]

We need more information. Starting with just how deep these bindings she's placed on us go. Anything we talk about could already be in her hands.

[rebells]

If she can hear us when we talk like this, there's not a lot we can do about it.

[A crooked, sideways sort of smile. He doesn't like this either.]

[spaceforged]

There's not but knowing would be better then wondering. [He shakes his head and sighs. Here he goes again, being tracked. His own smile is just as crooked.]

It's a mess but, I think we'll have chances to find out more about the Qri. Especially if she gets some benefit from taking in so many of us. From two to about seventy is a big jump.

[rebells]

Is that your recommended course of action? Stall for time?

[spaceforged]

No. [He leans back on his hands and shakes his head.] I recommend a varied approach. We just keep our eyes and ears open for any information Genette, Brie, and the Qri let slip.

We can search whatever world we're on for any sign the Qri has been there or something like her has. Without knowing more any plan is going to have to be flexible to adjust to whatever comes up. There's just too many unknowns.

[rebells]

[He nods, a smile working its way across his features.]

That seems like a good assessment for the moment. Our position isn't ideal, of course. At the meeting we discussed trying to get more information from Qri by using the bones as leverage, but ultimately, we weren't well-organized enough to do that. And it carries its own risks, of course.

[spaceforged]

[His brows furrow but he doesn't have much to say until Jay finishes.]

It does. ...where do we go when we leave a world? That wasn't explained to me.

[rebells]

Ah.

I've been assuming we return to the place we came here from. An island, seemingly abandoned, floating in the middle of space.

[Yes, he realizes that raises more questions than it answers.]

[spaceforged]

Can you tell me about it? Were we given any maps or left to scout the island ourselves?

[More than a few. Yet it answers at least one question.]

[rebells]

We're mapping the island ourselves. I get the impression that Brie and Genette don't know the area very well either.

[He steeples his fingers and considers how to describe the hub.]

The terrain is cool and forested, with a sandy beach along the coast. It seems like the kind of place that probably gets snow--your guess is as good as mine whether that'll actually happen, of course. There are wild boar and crabs and frogs. Presumably fish. We live in little shacks along the beach, and sleep in cots.

There are a couple of houses on the island, however. One mansion--Genette and Brie stay there--and one smaller house on the western side. It seems like people were living there fairly recently, but there's no sign of anyone else on the island.

[spaceforged]

What did they have to say about it? [He taps his fingers against the ground. The lack of anything useful from Genette and Brie seems odd in this case. It makes no sense.]

It doesn't make sense. If they have been staying there. Why wouldn't they know more about it?

[rebells]

There's only two of them, and the boars to worry about. Not to mention what else might be in the farther reaches of the island. [He hasn't been there yet.] And they may have spent most of their time going from world to world.

But it does seem odd that they haven't checked the place out more thoroughly. It's not as though there's a great deal to do there. --They didn't have much to say about it, like I said. Admittedly, I didn't ask--I was focused on other topics.

[spaceforged]

I'll ask next time I get the chance to talk. [He'd have to check out the old house at a later date. If that is where they're going back to.]

Whatever it is, thank you for what you've told me. If we go back there at least I'll have some idea of what I'll be dealing with. Can you tell me more about the boars?

[rebells]

It's not a problem--I did mean it when I said a more informed group benefited us all.

The boars are about this big [he motions] and rather aggressive. I believe it may have been birthing season when we left, so that may be why. They live up in the forest, a ways away from where Genette and Brie set up camp, and they're the main food source we've uncovered so far. Was that what you wanted to know?

[spaceforged]

Yes. [So they have a dangerous main food source. A camp that likely needs work. That's two things more than he expected.]

How much repair work do you think the camp needs? I think I can help move whatever materials we need as the Black Lion. ...eventually, be able to fly back and forth.

[rebells]

We have the basics -- shelter and beds, provided we don't overrun the shacks, and a source of water nearby. As of now, there isn't much else. There are certainly a number of things that could be built up or repaired to make things more comfortable for us.

[spaceforged]

We'll have to check what might have broken since the last time the team was there. ...if time is still moving there while everyone is away.

[That's actually a good question. Too bad neither of them can answer it yet.]