☆ Event Log: Snatched, Part Two

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Snatched - Part Two

I. A Great Escape (20th, Evening) It's been a miserable six days for the Mirrorbound and refugees kept locked away in a basement cell block, subject to all kinds of torment and experimentation. They're a resilient sort, though, and their efforts to organize and bolster each other are not in vain. As the time passes with no sign of the City Guard drawing close to their operations, the Rathmore family grows overconfident, and characters can hear them talking to each other about another mass-kidnapping in the works. The best opening comes late on the night of the 20th. A few of the family's numbers are out - notably, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother are attending an emergency meeting of Parliament, and Constance is making an appearance at the Coven. This leaves the more inexperienced cousins in charge, the lesser known Rathmores with no particular skill outside of cruelty. Changing of the guard begins as usual, a handful of Rathmores delivering some sparse rations and taking their time to choose a few prisoners to remove from their cells, but this time, the Mirrorbound bite back. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Daenerys and Asura, along with the prisoners preparing an organized revolt, a fire started in the torture room provides chaos and cover - and one dead Rathmore cousin, whose body gives up some of the keys to a handful cells. Time to play the cards you've held close to your chest over days of torture, your held-back spells, your tricks, your items that weren't confiscated. A mass escape isn't likely, with so many people still present in the building and so many of the captives injured and tired, but with enough of a distraction in the form of a prison riot, which may be enough to overpower the three Rathmores initially left in the cell block, a handful of scrappy Mirrorbound may make it out to safety before reinforcements arrive. a. The Escape Attempt There is one door out of the cell block, the main, heavy, warded door that the Rathmores enter and exit from every few hours. It's locked down tight - but it's possible to power through it, pick the lock, or charm it open. On the other side of the door, in the greater basement area, they'll find themselves free of the Bond dampening. Witch magic make take some time to return, depending on whether they were drugged or only charmed, but it'll be important to move quickly. The Rathmores' basement area is large - the size of the mansion above and the grounds put together, and they'll find themselves on the lower of two levels. The cellblock turns out to be a room within an even bigger room, with the stairs at the opposite end. The dangers are numerous: magical and mechanical traps set in areas marked off-limits, illusions intended to confuse and turn people around. There is only one completely safe path from the cellblock door to the stairs, unless they take the time to disarm the traps and illusions with their returning magic and abilities. That safe path is faster but more exposed, with two or three Rathmores in pursuit, and also the other people that could occasionally be heard outside the door - young aristocrats in on the kidnapping, who thought the Mirrorbound would be sent home. They're just as surprised to see you as you are them. In fact, it's not difficult to overpower these non-Rathmore kidnappers; they're obviously shocked to see Mirrorbound still here, in such states, and some are quite angry, or scared to learn what they've inadvertently gotten themselves into. A good handful flee instead of fight, but some others follow through on the shouted orders to go after you. Use the chaos your appearance causes to your advantage. Once escapees reach the upper basement level, up the stairs and through a hidden door, a few more traps remain, but up here, it looks more like a normal basement; servants' quarters, empty for some time now, storage rooms full of antiques, and winding hallways connecting them. It's easier to hide in this dusty maze to escape any pursuers, and eventually, they find the servants' exit out onto the back grounds. From there, freedom is just a run and a decorative, wrought-iron fence away. b. The Chaos Back in the cells, everything descends into chaos. The Rathmores are furious; while two or three of the cousins go after the escapees, the rest begin to gather down in the cell block, put out the fire, and the interrogations begin. They don't bother taking prisoners out to torment them now - they can't, with their torture room charred and smokey. Their main focus is forcing prisoners back in, and locking everything down with magic and heavy chains, to ensure no one else gets out. They grow more vicious now, and they begin speaking directly to the captives - they want to know which ones got free, how they managed it, who helped them, where they're going, who they're going to tell. Those who refuse to talk will be gagged or muzzled or simply beaten without finesse, and they'll move on to the next captive. Preying on the Mirrorbound's camaraderie with each other is the tactic they quickly turn to, hurting one to try and make another talk. The talk outside the main door grows louder in these few hours, angrier. Occasionally one of the Rathmore cousins will go out to spin some lies, or simply shout down any protesting. Some of the enchantments were damaged in the riot, though - they can hear you, just as well as you can hear them, muffled but still mostly clear. The more they hear from within, the more the confusion outside grows; all the better for the escaped Mirrorbound. ..."What's going on? Those were Mirrorbound that got out-" "We thought you were sending them home!" "You told us there was no risk, that this would make them leave-" "You don't need to worry about that! Go back upstairs!" "Someone needs to get a message to our Uncle Thomas immediately-"... They're all panicking as their grand plans, flimsy as they may have been, start to crumble around them. It's just a matter of time, now. The OOC post for the escape plotting is here if anyone needs to refer back to it! Eight characters will be escaping first thanks to a joint effort. The rescue will be underway within two hours of their escape, but those two hours are likely to be unpleasant for characters who remain in captivity. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

II. The Cavalry (21st, Very Early Morning) The City Guard is closer than the Rathmores think. Thanks to Mirrorbound investigative help, not always strictly legal but still appreciated nonetheless, they've all followed the clues back and determined a possible address. By the evening of the 20th, several members of the Guard and Witches from the Coven, along with any Mirrorbound who followed the trail, are camped out at a manse nearby, the home of a wealthy widow eager to see her nasty neighbors knocked down a peg. Without solid evidence, the Guard can't get a warrant cleared to search the property owned by a Mr. Barclay, assistant to Thomas Rathmore, but solid evidence comes as soon as eight Mirrorbound manage to fight their way out of captivity, returning to friends and Bonded. They are the last piece of the puzzle, and now legal action can be taken. Theodore Rosethorne, leading a small group from the Coven, sends out a magical message to just the Mirrorbound - they've been found. Anyone who wishes to help bring their missing fellows home, anyone who can help with much-needed healing, or anyone who wishes to bring their captors to justice needs to show up now, because time is of the essence. The Guard can't mobilize more men quickly enough in the middle of the night to be useful and they need all the hands they can get, without a floor plan of the mansion or solid ideas of the captors' numbers. They can barely wait an hour for more hands to arrive before it begins. a. The Rescue Sowilo, Theodore's Bonded Fae and a skilled hand at illusions (and seeing through such), leads the rescue efforts, along with some of Theodore's Witches from the Coven. With information from the escapees, they plan to go through the back, take the servants' exit, and make their way down to the basement levels, while Theodore's assault team will go through the front doors, making as much noise as possible. Sowilo's illusions will keep their presence masked at least until they get into the house. The aim is to get through as quietly as possible, find the cellblock, and secure a safe route to take the prisoners out without them getting hurt any worse than they are. It's easier said than done. Magical and mechanical traps of various types litter both basement floors, and heavy illusion work has been placed to obscure the way. Splitting into smaller groups to disarm the traps and deal with the illusions will be necessary, as the entire group will make its way down to the cellblock as quickly as possible. Sowilo hopes they face little to no resistance, with Theodore's group doing their job, but a few, Rathmores and otherwise, are bound to try and stop them; in that case, they will have to fight. "Make sure you can argue a case for self-defense, if you have to hurt them," Sowilo will tell the rescuers and later the freed prisoners on the way out, wings fluttering agitatedly. "Let them be arrested and publicly humiliated in court - ruin their whole family line for generations to come." He's not happy about it either, and will overlook some of the captors getting a taste of what they deserve, but deaths are not permitted on his or the Witches' watch: anyone who takes things too far will find that the person they're attacking has simply vanished - a convincing illusion - before they're handily knocked out with a spell. They face less resistance than the assault team, but less is not none; a few of the Rathmores are determined to salvage their efforts, and some of their unwitting aristocratic cronies have sided with them. Once they reach the cellblock, dismantling the enchantments that keep the prisoners restrained and addled is the first order of business for some. Others can start unlocking cells and helping people out of their restraints. Protection for the escapees on their way out will also be necessary, as well as medical attention back at the temporary base camp. The main focus has to be on those lost friends and loved ones, bringing them back out to freedom and making sure they're tended to - not on revenge. b. The Assault Theodore Rosethorne, along with some members of the City Guard and some Witches from the Coven, leads the assault. While the rescue team goes around the back, they plan to go through the front door, as loudly and conspicuously as possible. The mansion is large and needs to be swept from top to bottom for perpetrators and evidence that can be used in court. Those joining up with this team are warned that it needs to remain legal - the Mirrorbound and the refugees, all of them, have a very shaky, uncertain legal status within the city, and a mass murder could severely harm what good will they have from the locals as well as their status here. After all, many are still neutral to positive on the Mirrorbound, but that could change in an instant. The Coven will take as much responsibility as they can, but they cannot accept the blame for a senseless slaughter. Splitting into smaller groups will be necessary in order to cover more ground quickly. The aim is to locate, subdue, and arrest as many of the culprits inside as they can. The Guard provides magic-suppressing cuffs, and the Coven a basic knock-out spell, but since many will not go so willingly, some degree of force may be unavoidable. If there's one thing the rich fear, it's a legal black mark on their family name and reputation - the Rathmores will fight back harder than their underlings, but they're also the ones they need alive to face the justice system. Those outside the family, those who only knew about the kidnapping portion, are a mixed bag - some might fight back, siding with the Rathmores, but some might give themselves up once the realization of what happened in that basement sinks in. Once they make their entrance, things move quickly. Several wealthy aristocrats either flee or fight, but their attention is thankfully pulled away from the basement and toward the upper levels. There are dozens of rooms to search, and many are cluttered with an old hoarding family's antiques, furniture piled against doors and windows blocking access to some areas, hundreds of nooks and crannies among the sheer amount of stuff provide cover for culprits to hide in. It's going to be work to ferret them all out and bring them in. Worse still, the Rathmores have collected dozens of cursed or enchanted objects that may be used as weapons against the forces of justice. Some degree of force is expected, but still if anyone tries to take things too far, they might find themselves slapped into cuffs or knocked out with a spell themselves. Any NPC maimings or proposed deaths need to be reported on the City Tracker; please note that mass murder / killing NPCs will still have consequences and needs mod approval first, but we're happy to work with players however we can.

III. The After (21st On) Activity continues all through the night and late into the morning at the former Rathmore estate. All the Rathmores and a couple dozen other wealthy aristocrats are brought out in cuffs over the course of several hours, while all the prisoners are liberated to receive medical attention and reunite with their loved ones. The Guard take statements from everyone who will give one - what they witnessed, what happened to them, what they know - and all who were affected are told they will be invited to testify at trial. A gathering crowd forms at the end of the street, wealthy neighbors aghast at the horrors they're learning had occurred right in their District. Most are disgusted with the once-prominent family. On the steps of the Parliament building, Thomas Rathmore, his wife, and his mother, all sitting members of Parliament themselves, are publicly arrested in front of colleagues and on-lookers early in the morning. Constance Rathmore is taken out of the Coven roughly in magic-suppressing cuffs, surrounded by a small group of furious Witches, students of the Coven who spent the week trying to find the missing Mirrorbound and refugees with Divination. They escort her to the prison themselves. All who are arrested are transported to holding cells of their own within the City Guard - all except those requiring urgent medical attention, who will remain cuffed to their hospital beds until trial. Nessie and Mhairi make an appearance at one point to give the Mirrorbound their sincerest apologies for what happened, and Mhairi delivers the news that they're pushing for an expedited trial in Parliament, in order to keep Thomas Rathmore from bribing any contacts. They, along with Theodore and Sowilo, and the Guard, are all open and forthright with what will happen next: public trial and a certain conviction, followed by sentencing. They don't expect that the Rathmores will get away lightly; what they did is too public and too horrific for even the anti-Mirrorbound wealthy to stomach. Those others who were involved, who weren't aware of what was going on behind that metal door, they'll still face justice themselves, no doubt. In the meanwhile, those kept hostage will need all the help they can get to reach something resembling normal again. Hug your loved ones, nourish your Bonds with each other, and begin trying to heal together.

Welcome to Part Two of January's event log, Snatched! An aftermath summary of the trial and sentencing will go up on Feb. 4, the day after the City Tracker deadline, so get your submissions in if you have them! More politically-oriented characters may find an opening in the near future to enact change within Parliament and provide their own representation within the city...

And as a general reminder, please make sure to use content warnings where necessary in your headers!

Comments

ozymandias | rescue team

[fulgency]

i. rescue

a. rescue team

[Nothing about the pace of all this has been satisfactory to Ozymandias. That their people were left languishing in these conditions for nearly a week due to beauraucratic nonsense is unacceptable. But the pace that the rescue team has to take in its journey through the compound to the holding cells is not one that he completely disagrees with. The Rathmores have protected themselves well and rushing through this would only put more lives in danger.]

[He grabs the arm of one of the nearby members of the team, pulling them back suddenly.]

Hold on a moment. I believe that's a mark of one of their traps.

[It's possible that the trap has been moved from that spot, but Ozymandias would rather that his companion does not test this out foolishly with their own bodies.]

b. captives

You're growing quiet.

[Whether Ozymandias is in the process of removing restraints or helping someone walk, it seems paramount that those who have retained consciousness hold onto it. Although he's willing to spare a glance to their face, he doesn't pause in what he's doing.]

What were you saying?

[He was actually paying attention and listening, even if most of what was being said was inane or nonsensical. There's really no telling if something more meaningful might come out of them abruptly whether it is about their captors or any current discomfort, and Ozymandias doesn't want to miss it. But if it's too difficult for them to string together words for something new to say, he'd rather they focus on repetition and stay awake.]

((ooc: for the prompt involving fellow rescuers, limiting that to 2. will leave the captives prompt unlimited.))

ii. after

[At this point, Ozymandias' trust in Aefenglom and its natives has waned considerably. He cares very little for the offered apologies, but tolerates them. He has to exert what little remaining restraint, forcibly making himself bite back his anger until the conclusion of the impending trial, but he tolerates them.]

[What he is less tolerant of is seeing his fellow Mirrorbound not tending to their injuries, regardless of whether they were among those taken or not. When it comes to those he observes outright refusing the intervention of the Coven's healers, Ozymandias steps directly in the way of the Coven Witch. He holds up a hand, stepping around them, speaking to his fellow Mirrorbound instead. His tone is firm, clearly not inviting debate to the matter as it borders on command.]

Don't be foolish. Allow them to at least begin the process of healing.

[But for those that it's doesn't appear a matter of stubbornness that they neglect themselves, Ozymandias is gentler in his approach.]

I believe the Coven has called upon more healers. You may want to approach one of them before someone else takes your place.

iii. wildcard/closed starters

((ooc: if these aren't grabbing your attention, feel free to wildcard it! feel free to have something before, during, or after the rescue. i'm cool with hurt & comfort things or if you want more discussion-y things about the mirrorbound's place in aefenglom after all this. alternatively, if you'd like a closed/private starter, hmu. for questions about a potential wildcard or if you want a closed starter, i can be reached on plurk [rebreather] or with a pm this journal!))

i.

[blackbonded]

[ Beneath that hold is an arm made of metal. There's no give but for the clothing covering the limb. Thankfully, Shiro's instincts are quick enough not to retaliate the moment he was grabbed. He does come to a stop instead of pushing on. ]

What mark?

[ His eyes flick around the area, searching for the markings. ]

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias points as he releases Shiro's arm, indicating some claw marks.]

One of the escapees marked as many of the placement of traps as he could.

[blackbonded]

[ He zeroes in on one of the markings and steps toward it, tugging his hand free to touch the indentations. ]

What trap do you think it is?

[fulgency]

Off the top of my head, I'm not certain, [he says with a shake of his head.] He wasn't specific about what traps were placed, but even if he was, there's no reason to not assume the Rathmores might change things.

Give me a moment. I can perhaps at least see if anything magical has ever been placed here.

[When it comes to enchantments and the like, Ozymandias is not particularly adept. His focus of study has been far more into evocation and conjuration. But there were some universal spells that all Witches were taught and detecting magic is one of those basic spells. In silence, he concentrates and begins to feel first in the area near the marking as he assumes even if nothing is there anymore, there should likely still be a trace of what was. That sort of information is better than nothing.]

[After a few moments of this, as it takes a while to sift through the heavy amounts of magic throughout the Rathmore's compound, Ozymandias speaks again,]

Whatever trap was or might still be there, it doesn't appear to have a magical element to it.

[Which means there's likely a more physical trigger then. Ozymandias imagines this would make it more difficult to move, but he's not exactly willing to put anything past the Rathmores just yet. Not when they're cornered like this.]

[blackbonded]

[ Shiro steps back to give him some room and to watch him perform the spell. He watches his movements, even opens himself to sense the magic being manipulated. He can sense some of it, but not much. He began practicing the basics of magic since he woke up from a coma a month ago. The witches who gave him a rundown of the world including his powers warned him that his powers were chaotic and would need some time to control. Ever since Shiro has been working on control with little to show for his efforts. Seeing another witch perform a more complicated spell than he's capable of doesn't deter his own efforts and gives him a chance to see what he might be capable of if he keeps at it. ]

Then, it's a regular trap. [ He crouches on the ground to better scan the ground. ] The trigger should be somewhere we would most likely pass. Either on the ground or the walls, but we don't have time to look for it. [ He stands and turns his shoulders his way. ] We need to trigger it.

[fulgency]

I'm open to suggestions.

[Because while Shiro is correct -- they really don't have the luxury of time to carefully explore every inch of this space to identify the trigger -- it's fairly risky setting off a trap when you don't know what the effects will be. Especially since he cannot imagine the trigger will be easily set off without having something more identifiable as a target.]

ii

[integrous]

[ Asahi wasn't among the taken - which is obvious, really, since she doesn't look like she's doing nearly as bad as any of them - but she does seem to have sustained a wound to one of her wings while she was trying to help liberate the kidnapped people. She really looks like she's about to have a full on argument with the Coven healer until Ozymandias steps in.

At his words her nose immediately wrinkles, like she's ready to throw a fit anyway, but stops before she actually does it. It's not even just because the words sound like an order. It's since it's Ozymandias of all people who's stepped in, and she's always inclined to listen to what he's got to say.

So the frown instead turns into something closer to a pout. Like a child that was just told it really has to finish its plate of brussels sprouts before it can get a dessert and realises it has no choice but to give in. ]

Does it really have to be one of them?

[ Yes, she's just talking directly to Ozymandias as if the Coven healer isn't even present.. ]

[fulgency]

[The Coven Witch behind Ozymandias is a bit exasperated that they're being talked about rather than to and makes this known both in expression and sigh, but Ozymandias ignores it altogether.]

Yes.

[He doesn't elaborate on the fact he does not particularly like it either, but it perhaps goes without saying given his outright ignoring the Witch behind him. Were there more among the Mirrorbound capable of managing all of the various inflictions and injuries sustained by everyone throughout this ordeal, that would be his recommendation instead. But there aren't enough of those to go around, and so it is not.]

Don't argue with me about this, Asahi.

[integrous]

I'm not. [ You so are, Asahi. Just listen to what you said before!

But at least she's not continuing to do so, at least. Despite looking like an incredibly sulky child, she doesn't want to argue with him. So she instead just finally spares a glance at the Coven witch. ] .. Whatever, go ahead.

[ The healer is probably way past exasperated right now, but - maybe just to avoid having to deal with it at some later point - they start working on Asahi's wing anyway. The girl winces at a touch. ]

Ack..! Geez! [ She glances over to Ozymandias, trying to distract herself from it. ] .. did you even get hurt at all?

[fulgency]

[Ozymandias' expression softens somewhat once she accepts the healer's interventions, but not entirely as any further relaxing would likely be an invitation to exhaustion to set in. There's simply too much to do in making sure that everyone is seen to by a healer of some kind and checking in on those he cares for.]

[Ozymandias shakes his head a little.]

Not really. My injuries were minor enough that even my rudimentary skills with healing spells were enough.

[It's not stoicism either. Other than perhaps seeming a little tired now that the more critical portion of these events have come to pass, Ozymandias doesn't appear to be injured.]

How did this happen?

[He nods to her wing.]

[integrous]

As expected.. I guess something that simple couldn't take down a pharaoh.

[ She kind of sounds tired as she says it, but at the very least it doesn't sound sarcastic. Despite being kind of sulky and grumbly right now, she doesn't doubt Ozymandias' abilities. Otherwise she wouldn't have bothered to listen to him and let the Coven witch help her out to begin with.

His question makes her turn her head to glance at her wing for a moment before she looks back at him. ]

They must've missed a trap when we went in. [ And with how big Asahi's wings tend to grow when she gets agitated, they aren't exactly helpful to try and move stealthily. Hence why she got it caught in one of those traps. ] It's not that bad of a wound though. My wings are just sensitive.

[fulgency]

[Perhaps most telling of Ozymandias' overall mood is how he does not seem to even react to the praise. Regardless of how praise is presented, he reliably always expands upon it for some self-aggrandizing. But this time, Ozymandias allows it to pass by without any mention.]

[He can empathize a little, at least, with her wings' sensitivity. His temporary pair during the mists were likewise sensitive, putting him at a disadvantage when others were quick enough to figure it out.]

All the more reason it should be treated. [Lest she gets an infection and winds up with even more pain.] After this and after you've paid your visits to those you wish to see, you should get some rest.

Wildcard! (I hope this is okay!)

[enkidoh]

[Someone was talking to them, asking questions about their name and where they stayed. Apparently they had to return to the Coven to fix their fingers. That was true, yeah, a couple of fingers were gone and there was the matter with one of their hands as well.]

It would be difficult to practice magic without fingers, not?

[That is not their name and the person in front of them looks up and asks again.

It feels as if a lot of time has passed, as if they're summoned to another new version of the world they were getting acquainted with. And while they still haven't given their name they notice a familiar face.

For a long moment they just gaze at the pharaoh's back and they wonder if his mansion still exists. It could very well be that they've set it on fire as well.]

Ozymandias. [Their voice isn't loud when they speak. And perhaps it is a bit of a strange question to start a conversation with but...]

Does your house still stand?

[fulgency]

[With everyone recovered, Ozymandias leaves little room for himself to pause a moment. Simply because the immediate danger has passed does not mean he does not have a number of people to see and check upon. Especially given the degree to which so many that he knows are far too stubborn to allow anyone to tend to their injuries, regardless of whether they were among those stolen or not.]

[He turns upon hearing his name. He knows the source, but he has to take a moment spot where Enkidu is among all the people and activity. When he does spot Enkidu, there is a moment of relief in his expression before he walks over.]

It was unharmed.

[Perhaps the benefit of being so squarely in the aristocratic district. They did not want to run the risk of harming their own things in their various assaults. He glances to the city official, waving them off. Considering the difficulties they were having in getting Enkidu to focus on their questions, they merely sigh and say they will be back another time for further questions before stepping away to interview someone else. As far as they're concerned, at least someone seems to know this particular Mirrorbound.]

Are you allowing them to treat you or shall I lecture you as well?

[enkidoh]

[It is somewhat of a relief to see him looking more healthy. Perhaps they didn't manage to take him. But it could also be something where a couple of healers did a really good job.

Enkidu blinks as they look at him, the look on their face somewhat distant.]

No. I am not in the mood for a lecture, Ozymandias. [They shake their head slowly. Still, they have allowed the healers to patch them up a little. And they need to return to the Coven so they can take care of their missing fingers.] I want to get out of here. Away from this dreadful place.

[That, and they want to sleep in their bed.]

It is good to see you... You look well.

[fulgency]

[With the city official gone, Ozymandias takes up the nearby chair instead. The way he sits is a bit atypical. Where normally any chair he seems to occupy is thus transformed into a makeshift throne, Ozymandias's presence in this chair seems temporary. He sits with more reluctance, not because he does not wish to be near Enkidu, but slowing down seems an invitation for exhaustion to settle in. And he's quite adamantly against that right now.]

I should hope so, [he says with a slight huff that walks the line between a scoff and laugh. It is not as though he was injured in any significant way.] I am glad you have returned, Enkidu.

[It is not an insincere remark, but emotion does not color his words. He keeps all of that to himself right now as everything that he feels is quite honestly too much for the present moment. It will be something for later; when things have truly settled down.]

You should let me know when you are coming home from the Coven, so I know when to expect you.

[enkidoh]

[A ghost of a smile crosses Enkidu's face when Ozymandias says that.]

I would be concerned if you weren't. [They pause.] I am glad I still live, yet to have witnessed all of this...hmm...something has changed, yet it is difficult for me to determine what it is. I do not think it is good.

[A long sigh escapes their mouth when Ozymandias mentions home.]

I want to go right now. I want to sleep in my bed for a moment and see my plants. After that I will visit the forest. [It is difficult to explain what they feel. It is something negative and restless. It wiggles inside their head.] I do not trust this city.

[fulgency]

I do not believe there are any among the Mirrorbound who do.

[He will not say it quite as directly as Enkidu, not with this many people about and likely listening. But that is the difference between a king and others. They are always acutely aware of what might be overheard, how things can be interpreted. It seems entirely unwise to reveal too much of his true feelings right now, particularly when there is no telling just what direction the anger he feels will ultimately take.]

[It is also ultimately not about him, too. He was not among those taken and although he can feel everything from his Bonded and make assumptions based upon the expressions of others, he cannot truly say that what he feels comes remotely close to what it is those among the kidnapped are now having to walk with.]

But Enkidu, you've seen the illness that lies beyond the Wall. The forest is not particularly safe for you while you are still recovering. I would advise you not to go far if that is truly where you wish to be.

i.b

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ For how long the shackles were on Judar's forearms, and the fact that there were barbs firmly under the skin the entire time, it's likely that Ozymondias was getting those removed, as well as the reason why Judar was fading towards sleepiness as well. The horribly broken faun legs were a source of pain, as was the intentional poorly healed and still broken hands, but a potential infection was most likely for the sapped strength.

He'd been saying some nonsense about having the same air as someone else- A Sinbad, with little expectation for the name to seem familiar to anyone else. Then again, his world's Sinbad was quite different, and somehow even more Extra than the one in other worlds. Yet his awareness of those words were fading just as easily as his voice, until the guy caught his attention again.]

Saying... Ah. You're another I wouldn't mind making a King candidate. Bring you to a dungeon, and watch as you cause a new age in humanity as your Magi. You're the... Second one I've met with that feeling.

[ It certainly didn't sound like something he was continuing on with, but it linked a bit in Judar's mind. Sinbad was someone with that kind of presence as well. It's just now that the faun was getting those instinctual pings with actual kings from other worlds. ]

[fulgency]

[The particulars of what is said are lost upon Ozymandias, but he understands enough to capture the general sentiment that this Faun was able to recognize his kingliness even in this state. It's a little surprising not because Ozymandias doubts that he still exudes his regality, but given just how disoriented Judar seems to be, Ozymandias wouldn't have been surprised if he had a moment of panic and mistook Ozymandias to be among one of his captors or worse.]

I've no interest in something like that, [he says as the locking mechanism on one shackle finally breaks beneath his spell. He may be the King of Kings, but he has no interest in ushering in another era for humanity. He realized that he was not meant to be the one to save it quite so directly a while ago now. Ozymandias looks up at Judar.] This is going to hurt, but you need to keep still. Can you do that?

[kuroi_taiyo]

Surprise, surprise...

[ Said with a dull and unsurprised tone, even with how much his condition had drained most emotion from what he said or did. Most people with those kinds of potential had turned him down in the past, so he could only expect it to happen again in this new world. He'll likely forget the mutterings as quickly as it takes for the infection to be taken care of.

There's a huff of a silent laugh in thinking about that question. ]

Sure I could. I've been getting practice at not saying or doing anything when getting hurt.

[ He should probably warn about the barbs, and the likely reopening of wounds that closed around them, but... His mind isn't getting to that right now. At least Judar is good at mostly keeping still. A flinch might happen, but he's mostly still. Just not deathly so, with whatever was going to come next. ]

[fulgency]

[It's a morbid thing to say, but there is truth to it that neither Ozymandias nor Judar can deny. In these sorts of conditions, it can only be expected that one finds means of escape that are less physical when possible. Even if such methods do not lessen the damage or the pain felt, it... It is something. But Ozymandias does dwell on such a thought and instead focuses on removing the shackle.]

[For others, Ozymandias has seen how raw the skin was beneath. Whatever bindings were used were applied tightly and often with a material known to be poisonous to each specific Monster. There is no clean removal. Thus, even while he cannot predict the barbs that lie embedded in the Faun's skin, he is not surprised to see that even with swift removal, there is a flinch and there is harm still done. Ozymandias sets the shackle down, his attention focused on that blatant line of wounds where the shackle once was. He could have done with a warning about the barbs. He would have perhaps reconsidered removing the shackles now had he known, but there is nothing much that he can do other than tend to what is in front of him. So, he doesn't waste time with complaints.]

[Unlike with the removal of the shackle where he sees some consent, Ozymandias does not ask when it comes to stemming the bleeding. Having not extensively studied the healing arts as far as magic is concerned, Ozymandias does not rely upon it. Instead, he tears at cloth he has brought along with him and quickly sets about wrapping it. It doesn't appear to be bleeding quickly at the very least.]

The healers that are waiting for you will be able to do more, but this shall do until I am able to bring you to them. [He ties it tight.] I'll remove the other one, and then we'll go.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ The warning certainly would've been nice, but given the way Judar's looked since before Ozymandias reached the cell, it's easy to imagine and realize that there was a lot not quite to the front of Judar's mind. A lot of it was occupied by familiar distractions, where as the largest portion of the faun's focus was on everything he could hear. You never knew when something could suddenly go very wrong.

Not that he could really do anything about it.

Even with the one shackle free, when it came to movement, he just continued to watch the witch's hands. With him tearing the cloth and wrapping the first wrist. The only real sign of it being tender is the way a huff was breathed out. ]

Mm. They'd have to do more, with how much is a mess.

[ A moment passes with thought of the other shackle. He wasn't able to think about the barbs before, but now with something soft tightly around one wrist, it comes to mind a little better. ]

The other one... Might be worse. It's been feeling tighter than what the other one was.

[fulgency]

Is it?

[Despite the question, this does not slow Ozymandias down in setting to work with removing the lock on the second shackle. While he can't tell how accurate Judar's perceptions are right now -- if he's comparing it to the makeshift bandage or to the shackle that now lay on the floor -- there's really nothing else that can be done. The shackle needs to come off.]

If that's the case, I'll tie it tighter, but you'll need to try and keep firm pressure on it while we're leaving. [Ozymandias lifts his gaze from the shackle to Judar's face.] Do you think you can do that?

[Ozymandias could technically use his magic to cauterize the wounds, but that seems inadvisable for Judar to maintain consciousness.]