[The image is of Equius, standing just outside of a gas station and garage. He's oiling one of a score of weapons that are hanging on the racks behind him. Almost all of them are medieval in style, but a few qualify as somewhat modern, in an early 20th century sense.]

As we have sent others to Utgard for supplies, it dawns upon me that we can expect final onslaughts within the next lunar cycle. Or, at least, i hope to see this war we have spoken so long about. As the last of the Alternians to remain behind, I would not wish to linger here this long and not rain a hailstorm of death upon my foes.

However, I have been stockpiling weapons, equipment and the like for this inevitability with the alchemization abilities that Freyr has graciously donated to my person. Some specific stores such as explosives are depleted entirely in the dealing with that massive ice fissure, and any medical supplies already in the hands of the medics. However, weapons have barely been touched. If you have not gotten weaponry from the armaments available through shrines to new arrivals, speak with me. I will find killing instruments comenserate to your skills. Nobody should be unarmed.

...and if anyone is interested, I wish to attempt one last exploit of note before this is all said and done. Members of Freyr, Heimdall and Freya houses only. I will require engineers, alchemizers and those who can transfer energy.

(OOC: Having inquired previously with the mods, Equius is going to try and build a howitzer, or something close to its equivalent. It's a bit of an undertaking and he doesn't know if he can get more than one, or even get one to work, but he's going to try and see if they can have something slightly more powerful to shell at the enemy on the last days than the ballista on the walls.)

[Freya is sitting, calm and regal, on an exquisitely carved chair of ancient wood, flowing blue tapestries hanging behind her. There's some kind of mutant rabbit in her lap, and she's holding it in place with gloved hands.] Travelers. You may have noticed a new addition to our fine city. It has fallen upon you to- [Her eyes dart away, and she turns her head to look with obvious worry at something off screen-] Freyr. Freyr, stop-

[ And Freyr's head comes into view, just at the edge of the screen. He is crouched down, touching the arm of Freya's chair to brace himself as he leans dangerously close to the animal. ] Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to get too close -- [ He's not looking at the bracelet, but the excitement in his tone seems to suggest he's addressing it, anyway. ] They're brand new creatures, really, truly new things, right from this world, so please be kind to them.... [ And he trails off, distracted, as he seems to try to line his face up with the animal's. Their noses are inches apart. Freyr wiggles his, delighted. ]

[Freya picks the rabbit up and moves it onto a nearby table, away from Freyr. She says, tone pointed,] Don't touch it. [And, looking back to her audience-] Them. The experience is highly- highly unrecommended.

[ Freyr's face falls into an expression of disappointment, before he stands and follows after her. ] I think most of you agreed on Longtoothed Reinhare, so: Miss Lovegood, thank you very much for that suggestion. [ Yeah, the disappointment is already gone. He simply seems brightly cheerful again now. ] Do you have any questions, or...? Please do ask.

[Freya continues:] Yes, please do ask, if- Freyr! Freyr, be careful- [And the video ends.]

[There are twelve dead scarab carcasses in view all around Equius. He's not completely visible, and in fact most of him is shrouded in low light in the basement. He's clearly been cleaning the basement, and a few blue welts are visible on his skin. He has a contemplative look in hsi face, shrouded in the darkness of the room's gloom.

In front of him is a robot of Aradia, cold, lifeless and statuesque. It doesn't move. It's not clear until he speaks that he intentionally turned the feed on.]

It is my duty to inform you collectively that my moirail Nepeta Lejion has left the city. [He sounds howllow.] Some of you have images that she drew. I will send them on as she would have wished.

[A scarab came into view on the robot's shoulder and he grunted, knocking the thing off. His fist raised and slammed into the ground. with a sickening crunch.]

I could use a sparring partner. Preferably a durable one.

Equius tapped at the device, grunting sourly. It wasn't that the dream was that disturbing, really. They'd known Alternia was destroyed when they'd ended up on the asteroid in the first place. There was nothing left for the two of them to weep over, and a highborn troll wasn't about to weep for the loss of the cultural heart of their people. Oh, he might bemoan it, but it was simply something to rebuild and make greater than ever, ignoring the whole small matter of the loss of the last egg of the mother grub... But all that was water under the proverbial bridge at this point.

He was irritated more than anything else. The nightmare had been a reminder of what had already happened, though something felt bigger about it. Had he seen other worlds die in the process? Was there the implication that all of the planets of the vast empire had been destroyed, all at once? It wasn't as if that hadn't been at least a remote possibility of the game, or was it? Ugh, he was getting a headache.

"Nepeta," he growled, looking over and not realizing that he'd sent the message to everyone on the network instead of just the few trolls that were present. "Are you certain that they will know anything to help comprehend the vision? It isn't exactly like that fool Ampora ever bothered to know anything worthwhile. Feferi, perhaps, but she hasn't been present for long..."

"I don't know!" Nepeta said, uncharacteristically subdued for her. "At the furry least purrhaps if they saw something similar then maybe we can make more sense of it together."

It wasn't even really the destruction of their own world that had gotten to her - she'd been through that once and had accepted it by now. But the reminder that even this place, their new home, might not be permanent, was very hard to take. She went over to her moirail and sat by him, leaning against his side. "We've got a better chance of making it if we're all working on it together, I think, right?" She sounded more hopeful than certain.

((ooc: responses may come from either or both of them!))

[They said it would be a good idea, they told him it was easy. They were so fucking wrong. There is John, on camera- if one were to have been tuned it thus far they would have seen him already reasoning with himself. Telling himself that this shouldn’t be hard.

Then he steps on the skateboard, takes off, and everything is going great until he literally just eats the ground. Good bye friends, he made a poor life decision listening to them. Them being Dirk and Dave Strider- who are currently off to the side laughing their asses off.]

Word of advice. [God he can’t believe he let himself be talked into this, and to leave the bracelet running while he did it.] When those two over there- [pointing the camera at the two behind him] try to tell you something will be easy, or a piece of cake. It probably isn’t true. They’re leading you down a dark and deceitful path that leads to nothing but knee scrapes and misery.

[After that, the feed shuts off, he is so embarrassed right now.]

[ Today, Sollux comes on with a friend. Not just any friend, but a fuzzy purple bee perched on his finger. Even by alien bee standards, it's pretty big-- a queen bee. He looks actually happy for once. Savor this rare moment. The bee, however, seems agitated, not unlike all the other animals lately... ]

Hey RX, look what I found. I guess you're not guilty of complete bee genocide. I don't know how the shit she survived, maybe she found somewhere warm? Don't know, don't care. This is fucking awesome, and my bees are fucking awesome. Alternia bees: 1. Regular bees: 0.

But, uh, does this mean anything to anyone?

[ He holds up a piece of paper that reads:

`QpD BaS WATQF CsqarS GAVQ T`Q `UqArG GsqQT`arS WFsrS PArSQF

...in careful but still awful handwriting. ]

I even wrote it down twice to make sure it wasn't wrong, fuck if I know where she got it from.

[For once, Loras looks quite pleased with himself. Despite the battles, the troubles going around with food shortages, supply issues, he seems optimistic.

Which, frankly, considering his normal demeanor at times, is probably a surprise. Still, he gives a smile, and a nod of his curly head to his wrist device.]

As some of you know, my King and [What is the word people use here?] partner, Renly Baratheon has been in Asgard for some time. Considering our...situation at home, and how society feels about us, we've decided to make the most of our stay here, and get married.

[He raises his chin, slightly, which is always a sign he's steeling himself, using his arrogance as a shield.]

I'm not about to let supply shortages, or some bloody war stop my wedding. [He doesn't care who he has to kill, he's getting married, damn it.] We haven't set a date, buy frankly, with everything going on here as of late, I suppose it should be sooner, rather than later.

You are all invited, of course; people always say good small events [It will have to be small, despite Renly's love of grand parties] help provide some relief during war.

[He's about to turn off his device, but feels the need to add--]

Oh and if a Stannis Baratheon shows up with no teeth tomorrow, you'll know that this is the reason.

( the video begins with doctor mccoy, sitting at a desk in his room in sigyn. he looks particularly business-like, hair combed and expression serious, hands folded in front of him. before he speaks, he clears his throat—it’s almost as if he’s still a little uncomfortable to be addressing so many people at once, but that’s the only sign of it. )

Figure it’s best to get this out of the way while we’ve got the time. ( before another disaster or attack happens, he means. ) I like having a frame of reference—makes it easier to deal with people, and treat ‘em too, when you have to. I know we’re all working off the same magical system, here, but it’s better to account for specifics all the same.

That being said, here’s a list. Fill it out if you want, don’t bother telling me why not if you don’t want to. You can be as specific, or as vague, as you want, or leave out questions entirely if they bother you. If it makes you feel better, you can secure it and have my word as a doctor that I’ll keep it confidential.

( attached is this text form: )

name:
age:
species:
location prior to asgard: planet, city, country, realm, etc.
is your world more familiar with magic, technology/science, or both?:
which power did you receive in asgard?:
did you have any skills, powers or abilities that you lost once here?:
are conditions here generally better, worse, or the same as your prior location?:

That’s about all. Not much else to do on a rainy day, is there.

( ooc / a textbox, for convenience: <tt><big><b>name:</b> <b>age:</b> <b>species:</b> <b>location prior to asgard:</b> planet, city, country, realm, etc. <b>is your world more familiar with magic, technology/science, or both?:</b> <b>which power did you receive in asgard?:</b> <b>did you have any skills, powers or abilities that you lost once here?:</b> <b>are conditions here generally better, worse, or the same as your prior location?:</b></tt> )

[Nepeta and Lilly are standing out in front of Freya's Welcome Hall, looking a bit tired out but - in Nepeta's case at least - very satisfied at a job well done.

There are crudely-drawn posters stuck not-quite-straight on the walls behind them, some of them depicting a blond little girl and the others a woman with masses of dark hair.

They've just finished sticking them in front of not only their god house, but every single one in Asgard, along with placing them on random walls along the way, so it's very likely that some Travelers have already run across them.

Yes, it took a while.]

Ahem. Attention efurrybody purrlease! This is really impurrtant!

These are Lilly's Mama and her sister Victoria.

[She points at the posters behind them.]

We don't know if they're here and we don't think they are yet, but if anyone sees them or meets them if they arrive, let them know Lilly is waiting for them! She'll be here at Freya house, okay?

Thank you!

((ooc: responses may come from either or both of them!))

[When Dave's feed turns on, nothing seems all that out of place. Dave's broken Royal Deringer is mounted on the wall and his bed is unmade. The table is littered with miscellaneous stuff. Probably things that Dave drew and brought to life.]

So, war is basically sitting at our doorstep. Oh boy.

[Moving on from the obvious. Dave's actually really nonchalant about this. But meteors aren't falling from the sky to destroy them, so maybe he's a little desensitized. You kind of get over sudden ice spikes and flying debris when it's not the size of a city.] Drawing life is pretty fun. I like it. But I'm also very aware how fucking useless it is at level one. I don't think I can count how many times I've tried drawing something and forgot that it comes out at the same size as I drew it at. I have an army of tiny, paper bags. They can't carry jack shit, but I can put them on my fingers. [He may or may not have drawn faces on them.] The whole size thing can be a real pain in the ass.

I also may or may not have swords the size of toothpicks and blankets the size of handkerchiefs. [Not that he needs a sword. He's got one propped against his bed.] I wouldn't really trust a sword that was drawn at level one anyways.

But more about what's happening outside the walls. Has anyone had trouble with the debr- [As Dave speaks, a flaming stone crashes through his window. He turns his head to regard it for a moment.] Anyone know how to fix a window?

[Recognize this elf? No? Oops. Though those who frequent the Library in Odin's domain might recall seeing him bent over book after book, scroll after scroll, throughout much of the last few weeks.

Elrond adjusts the image a little until he's satisfied, then tilts his head slightly in wordless greeting to all who might happen to be watching.]

Vedui' il'er, greetings to those of Asgard. Though my greeting you is rather delayed, it is no less earnestly meant. I am Elrond. I wish to extend what skill I have in the healing arts to those who might need them.

[Here on the network is Pitch and a Nightmare to keep him company. A flesh-and-blood horse that looks like one on the outside, that is, with glowing yellow eyes and midnight blue sandy coat of fur. It's as mortal as Pitch himself, which means somewhere there is probably a floor that needs to be cleaned.]

[Good chance that's why he's a bit irked right now.]

Happy as I am to see her, I'd love to let whoever is responsible know that horses don't belong around carpeted floors.

Where's the stable in this city?

[Having spent the night of the funeral at the Ice Rink with a sleepover, Alice was quite bright-eyed and chipper in the morning. And when she awoke to beautiful talking flowers? Why, it felt like home! Alice had been speaking with them all morning when she went home to her garden.

That wasn't of course why she was making her post. The funeral had got her to thinking about everything going on in Asgard. Marigold, her dragon was in her lap and seemed to be purring alongside some tiger lilies. Lady bell, her gryphon was napping not too far in the background.]

Shush now, please. [She said to the flowers first and they made soft noises of protest.] We'll continue our conversation in moment... [Alice assured them which seemed to placate most of the flowers.]

I know... a lot of people left not too long ago, not just that, but a lot of natives are getting hurt too. And now... with Mr. Odin asleep...

[Maybe she should have started this differently.]

What I mean to say is...

["Deep breaths," a poppy reached out with a leaf resting it on Alice's hand. Alice did just that.]

I should start over. What I'm trying to say is, with so many of us coming and going, and the gods always under attack alongside the rest of us, our allies in Vanaheim and Alfheim in the same situation, I thought, perhaps we should have allies who are a bit more...

Well... not a bit... who are quite a lot more terrifying.

Dragons, that is.

These dragons. [Here she held up a book from the grand library picturing one of the dragons of Yggdrasil to the bracelet.] This is a dragon of this world. And I've been studying what little there is written on them. They're incredibly intelligent and very powerful. Apparently, not too long ago, Surt and Thiazi had some as allies. I say had for a reason.

What if we could get them to become our allies? I'm sure if we made a convincing enough case, or plea, or... something they might join our side! Now, I know the books, and probably the gods, will even say that the dragons, the real ones and not ones we draw, are next to impossible to find.

That's why I propose a second idea! What if we drew dragons, dragons that looked exactly like the Yggdrasil dragons, same size and everything to go looking for the other dragons! With the way Yggdrasil is changing, nothing could survive better than a dragon! Plus, if it's another dragon, the real dragons will be easier to find! We could attach our messages to our drawn dragons and send them to every nook and cranny in Yggdrasil! One of them is bound to find at least one of them if we have enough!

And if nothing else, we'll have some very big, some very strong giant hand-drawn dragons on our side even if we can't get the real dragons to help us!

["You did very well, dear," the flowers all seemed to agree and Alice thanked them. She snapped her fingers, as if just remembering something]

OH! And I should mention, the flowers, they're harmless, talkative, but completely harmless! Or as harmless as most flowers actual are. They're very big on manners though, so please be polite to them. They're not fond of rudeness.



((OOC: SO! This is the official start of the Fierce Allies plot! The log for the making of the dragons will be in early April! Full details can be found here. You don't need to sign up if you want to participate, it's just a general idea of who might want to join in!))

[ Ame is sitting in his bed; he is currently residing over Heimdall Welcome Hall, since Euri left and he preferred to leave because he misses her. ]

Before I came here, I lived in a forest since I was a full wolf then. But I'm not a full wolf, here. And I'm small and I can't hunt and I don't have fur, so it's cold, and ... [ he pauses. It's lonely, too.

As a wolf living in a forest, he can be with animals and it's fine, but in a city it's completely different. He also misses his mother and sister - Ame always thought as a wolf, he really wouldn't miss living a "human life", but in Asgard he is back to live a "human life" again, and it makes him miss what he left behind even more ]

I have to live in a house, and I don't know how to do that. The nug won't even come here. [ yup, Ame kept a nug as a "pet". ANYWAY. He is rambling a bit. What he means to ask is- ]

What do you do when you miss home?

So, was that one hell of a week or what?

[The video shows Mikazuki by the lake, smiling brightly. If that “one hell of a week” had any effect on him, it certainly doesn’t show. He’s in good spirits like always.]

But that’s not what I’m posting for. In the spirit of recent network surveys, I’ve also been wondering about something and I'd love to hear from everyone.

If you had one wish to spend on anything you want, no consequences - what would you ask for?

[He already got his one wish back home and he'd like to know about others.]

Let’s say this war is won for sure and we all get to go home, so don’t ask for that, that’s not interesting. And no wishing for more wishes either. That's even less interesrting.

[ sup Asgard, here's an oracle looking particularly pleased, and it's because she's ..particularly pleased with herself. or maybe just in general. it's hard to tell. but she's sitting on the floor of a bedroom ( hers? probably. but who knows. ), her bracelet being held up for a moment when the feed first clicks on before it's put on the floor in front of her. then she's kind of stretching but kind of not, leaning forward a little, pretty much just to avoid the most unflattering camera angle in the world. but she's too jittery to actually hold the camera up, so- right. anyway. ]

So I've been thinking. [ there's a pause, like she's imagining someone going 'uh oh' ] And I think what this city really, really needs is an art club. Or an art- something. Club sounds too much like high school. And that's not what I'm thinking of. Not really a class, but just a time and place where people can get together and make- stuff. Make art. There's a really great space in the Freyr district that's open to the public to use, and I've been going there just to draw and paint on my own, but I just keep thinking that it might be really cool if there was a whole group of us. And I already know there's a few people here who like art as much as I do, so I figured I'd bring it up. Because why not.

We don't even have to work on any projects together, specifically, but sometimes it's kind of nice surrounding yourself with people just creating things, right?

[ there's a pause, and she sighs a little sigh ] I know that there are a lot of really scary things going on, and I've found myself more caught up in them than I ever thought I would be. But our purpose here isn't just about fighting and sweating and bleeding to try and save the worlds, right? It's about bringing the color back.

And... Isn't that what art is for?

[ oo, so insightful, she might have practiced that one. then she's grinning again, a little mischievous ]

So... Let me know if you want in, okay? Oh, and if anybody wants a live model to paint, I've got just the man for the job. [ she's looking up past the camera now, reaching to shut it off as she does. ] Hey, Stiles-!

[Turlough looks...well, slightly fidgety.]

I know this might be a stupid question. But what all do you give someone on Valentine's Day-either on your world or on Asgard? Dates are out of the question because of her...job, but I'd like to give her something anyway. I've had girlfriends before, but that was ages ago and we didn't really do Valentine's Day like you lot do it. [because whooo aliens!] And when I was on Earth, most of the time was spent in an English public school-not of my own choosing, mind you. [by the little scrunched up expression on his face, it's pretty obvious what Turlough thinks of English public school (it sucks.)]

So while I'm no stranger to the subject of love, I...sort of am to gifts. [it took him a lot of strength to admit that and now he's frowning a bit.] Any help would be appreciated.

[Nepeta stands behind a brightly decorated stall in one of the main areas of Freyr, looking bright and chipper and even more excited than usual.

"Black and Blue" is the name announced across the front of the stall, with lots of not-completely-professionally drawn pictures of the services offered at Equius’ and her shop.

She has a smile on her face as she cheerfully accosts passers-by, offering them a tray of cupcakes, and she seems to have enlisted Aurthour to do the same, while Pounce carries an open bag of sweets in her mouth to draw people in.

Nepeta and Pounce both have a cute black and blue ribbon tied above one ear, and Aurthour seems to have acquired the same as a bowtie. Oh! And it looks like a certain glowering moirail of Nepeta’s has been talked into wearing the same as he presides behind the stall.]

Come visit us at Black and Blue! The best service station in Asgard!

[The only one, actually, but shh. She’s having too much fun with this.]

[ When the video starts, Gunn is playing with a small battle-axe. It's not meant to be a threatening or imposing gesture - he's just restless, and this new toy here is enough to keep his hands busy. ]

So what is the general consensus on the gods, anyway? 'Cause I hear a lot of shit. Both ways, I mean, you know? But the other day it seemed for a second like a bunch of y'all were completely wigging out and getting ready to mutiny, and that's kinda the sort of thing I'd like to prepare for. I mean, just in case.

My two cents? Not really my first apocalypse, and I'm cool with being a hero. [ He pauses for a moment, before adding: ] And I seriously can't believe that I'm actually saying this, but: you guys seriously need to chill.

[Eridan addresses the video with a slight frown, running one clawed hand through his hair before he begins to speak.]

After all this excitement wwith the giants an' the attempt to conscript the city into Asgard's military forces, I'vve been thinkin', I knoww it's a dangerous prospect, but bear wwith me.  I'vve been thinkin' about motivvations.

[He pauses then, leaning heavily on one elbow.]

If you had nothin' in your wworld left wwaitin' for you, wwhy wwould you continue to fight just to benefit a bunch a' strangers? Especially ones wwho don't seem to be that grateful. And wwhat about those a' us wwho don't evven havve a wworld left. Please, tell me wwhy I should givve a damn about the rest a' them disappearin'.  An actual compellin' reason because I'm beginnin' to groww bored wwith this selfless "lovve thy neighbor" crap.

[Now for the actual reasoning behind this waxing philosophical. Eridan was lonely, even if he was the one who had driven away his friends. And surely making a scene on the network was the best way to get their attention again, right?]

...Wwho's evven left here, from my univverse? Besides Sol. Because if I evver hear your disgustin' lisp evver again, it'll be too soon.

[Except at this point, even Sollux's company would be welcome. As a reminder that no matter how much Eridan may feel like a stranger in a strange land, there are more of his kind here.]

[Private to Equius]

You got my commission done yet? I'm gettin' tired a' wwaitin'.