[un: The Duke]

[loupmorque]

WHO: Wriothesley
WHERE: Gemini.
WHEN: A few days after the gardemeks attack
WHAT: Wrio talking about the things he's seen
WARNINGS: None, as of yet!

[ it's pretty early in the morning when this comes onto Gemini's network, and it's, for now, wriothesley sitting among a pile of scrapped gardemeks. He's pulling them apart, a screwdriver in one hand, his usual coat pulled up around his shoulders as he looks... upset, visibly.

He's not looking at the camera. ]

I know what the things that attacked the city are.
They're gardemeks, the machines made in my home city back on Teyvat. They're made with a purpose, and that purpose is both to protect the innocent and to stand a non-stop vigil around the city of Fontaine to assure the security and safety of its people.
It's not unusual for the things to sometimes go rogue, or to be re-programmed to be used for ill means, but that's not what they were meant for.

The fact that they showed up here and attacked people means that they... are being used for ill means.
And maybe if someone had their hands on just a few wouldn't be an issue when they're... [ he gestures at the pile he'd collected from the siege on Leon's apartment. ]

Decommissioned, so to speak.

...

I went swimming in the harbour. The appearance of a couple of creatures down there from my homeland was also cause for concern, so I did a little investigating on my own.
And the worst has come to pass. Not only do the people who mean ill against some of the people on this app have a way to control the gardemeks, but they also, somehow, some way...

...Control the very factory that makes them.

The Fortress of Meropide has appeared in the harbour. [ there's a crunching sound as he tears something as he ... barely keeps a rage that's building in his veins out of his words, his expression.

He's The Duke, the chilling warden of the fortress under the sea.

He can't show how angry he is right now.

Even if he can feel the air around him fluctuating between hot and cold. ]

My Fortress of Meropide has appeared in the harbour.
And I mean to get it back.

Comments

video | UN: Thorn

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose doesn’t know much about Fontaine.]

[But she knows it’s somewhere dear to Furina and Wrio.]

[She may not be close to Wrio, but he’s important to both Veldora and Furina. And that means she cares.]

I’ll assist you. Whatever it takes, I’ll be there.

[loupmorque]

I haven't been commenting on any of the Black Order stuff with purpose, but it's likely they're using the fortress for their means.

Which means it'll be dangerous.

If you're sure you're fine with that.
I'll take any strong hand.

un: violetsmoke; video

[infezione]

I'll help.

[This is a bad month for him what with it being a water month, he's only talked to Wriothesley once, but come hell or high water, he's not staying out of this.]

[loupmorque]

I appreciate any strong hand. It just won't be easy to get in there. Not to mention the maze that it is; we won't know what sort of traps they'll have set up.

Prepare as much as you can, if you're determined to see it through.

voice | un: chaosraccoon

[actnormal]

Do you want help?

Re: voice | un: chaosraccoon

[loupmorque]

Given the size of the Fortress, and the maze that it is, one or even a handful of people going in won't be enough. The place will likely be crawling with guards as well as more gardemeks, so...

So long as you know the danger.
I would be happy to accept your aid.

text; un: tempestdragon

[soulreleaser]

My strength is yours to bring to bear, my friend.

[ fortresses, robots, fountains; all of it is irrelevant in the wake of Wriothesley's temper and his claim over whatever it is the villains have stolen from him--right or wrong, Wriothesley's desires are something he holds on his shoulders. ]

... some more of my form has returned to me, by the by. I can be bigger than before.

[loupmorque]

I know I can always count on you, Vel.

[ wait hold on now tho ]

--You were already big. How big are you now...??

un: ecraig | Voice

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot just sounds exhausted here]

Well... that certainly explains some things! [He sighs] At least the killer robots from the shady organization aren't designed to look like little girls this time.

[... Elliot's lived a life.]

You can count me in. Dismantling the Order was part of my plans in the first place anyway.

[loupmorque]

I've been living a life of 'stay in the shadows, help without getting too involved' sort of way until now. I'm not from this world, and I'm not exactly some powerful god-like being like a lot of my friends are.
So there's not been much I've been confident in doing so far.

But I know the fortress like I know my own back yard.
It's a maze in there--not to mention how it can be turned into a live trap.
If the Order is in control of it, I'm willing to help you guys take apart whatever mess they've made of My Home.

video

[ampersand_me]

Oh hey that sounded like that one guy! The one who was asking him about the weird notebook the other month. Knuckles remembered him... and all this talk of and showing the machines certainly had his attention.

"So these machines must be fought?"

Did he need to punch them? He had experience punching machines!

[loupmorque]

He IS that one guy! He's that one guy and he's very angry right now, on the verge of breaking some of the delicate machine parts he's trying to salvage for a friend of his.

"They must be fought. They're likely programmed to kill--so they need to be shut down.

They have a weak spot--a gearlike magik source on their shoulder. Normally, it takes an overloading of certain magics from my world to break it, but those powers aren't here. So just breaking the gear is likely effective..."

un: fairylights | video | private

[vanescere]

[Faye knows people will try to stop her if they can see this, so private it is. She may look delicate, but there's determination in her expression and voice both.]

If you're taking volunteers, I want to go with you. I can't -- won't let them get away with any of this.

[loupmorque]

As I've said to the others; I'm not too proud to ask for all the help that people are willing to give.

All I'll say is that the place will likely be rife with dangers--both magic and machine alike.
So long as you're prepared for that kind of a fight, I'll gladly have you along.

un: goldenrose

[twofoldfury]

[So that's where they've been coming from. No wonder he hasn't been able to get a head start, he'd been searching in the wrong place.

He was only passively familiar with Wriothesley but they didn't need to know each other at all for Diarmuid to be invested.]

You will have my swords by your side. If that is there these machines came from, it's likely that is were the Zealots are deploying from as well. And bringing them down will be a challenge.

[One Diarmuid is more than willing to take, admiration be damned.]

[loupmorque]

I've seen your swords in action before, and your help will be greatly appreciated.

There'll be a lot of danger; so I can only say be prepared to deal with whatever mess they have down there. It's already a maze, and what with the gardemek factory, there's no telling how many of the machines they'll have on hand to fight back with.

Not to mention there might be more of those zealots inside, waiting to ambush us.

action.

[majeste]

[ she waits until he has made the announcement to approach, coming up behind him to wrap her arms around his middle and rest her head on his back. he is angry, though that is putting it lightly, he's furious and there very little she can do but this. but offer her support in whatever way she possibly can. ]

We will get it back from them and I will help in whatever way I can.

[loupmorque]

[ he's absolutely shaking with anger, and curled up to him like this, Furina would be able to feel it; the rigidity to his muscles, the tenseness to his entire form. Like a string pulled taut, ready to snap. ]

You've already done a lot to help; without realising it.
Without your statue in the harbour, even getting there would be a task.

I fully believe you'll do more to help when we get down there too.

un: shroud | Voice

[whiteshroud]

[The fortress of meropide huh? He remember Wriothesley's stories...]

I'll be there.

[loupmorque]

I trust your skill. Doubtless there'll be enough fighting to keep all of us busy down there.

Thank you.

Video ✧ UN: dragonne

[connecteur]

[Man, things have escalated fast, haven't they? Alex would be lying if she said she didn't feel a little lost, but this isn't something she can just... ignore.]

You're going to storm the fortress?

[loupmorque]

An underwater one.
If you don't feel comfortable with that, I'd understand you not wanting to go.

However, if you're able to fight, or offer support of any sort, I'd accept any help I can get.

voice; un: luciferskylight

[scourgingstars]

Count me in. I hardly have any other choice, at this point.

[loupmorque]

Are you one of the members of Black Order?

We stopped your comrade Leon from getting hurt a few days ago; were you attacked as well?

video; un: midnightfishing

[illucesco]

I’ll come and help. I have a medical kit full of healing potions.

[A beat. Then, dryly:] That honestly might be all I can contribute, since the second I get wet I turn into a seal.

[loupmorque]

Well, at the very least, of all people, you'll have the easiest time getting down there.
Once we're in the fortress, it's pretty dry, so long as you stay away from the moon pools.

...But a healer is always important in any party, trust me.

video; un: photocutie

[trailblazingspirit]

I'm coming too! These guys messed with my friends even before all this, I won't let them get away with what they're doing.

[loupmorque]

I'll be happy to have your help. Whatever sort of aid you can offer. Just know it'll be a dangerous trip.

video: un: kore

[aslowburn]

I will be there. I have no time for obnoxious bullies, and I feel this Black Order have had enough time here. They continue to be a threat to this city and they must be removed from it. However many times it takes.

And then you can reclaim what is rightfully yours

[loupmorque]

Bullies is a good word for it. Despite my lack of reacting to their childish goadings on both the network and to those in the city, they strike me as a cult who thinks they're untouchable and so far above everyone else int he world that they're safe from mutiny.

But that's the thing about cults. Once you start pulling their strongest members down, the weaker ones are quick to fall apart and give up.

So it's just a matter of finding the cornerstone of this group to dismantle it. I've done it more than once back home, when groups of criminals who think they're smarter than they actually are try to make an uprising in my fortress to take it over for their own.

It never works.

And it won't work here either.

text, un: Gany

[ganymed]

[ He spots some of the comments here...some more familiar this time for sure. ]

I'll be there.

[ Ganymede doesn't consider himself a frontline fighter, but he thinks he can help in some ways. ]

[loupmorque]

Whatever sort of support you can bring, I would accept it. I'm not proud enough to say I don't need all the help I can get.