Machinations of Light's Glory - death, decisions, doom

He carefully pins another two pieces of evidence to the board a promotional photo of Ozzo from the MEIDO academy and a more recent security camera picture of Sarkus struggling down a monastery corridor bleeding. Unfortunately, it appears the cameras caught no trace of his attacker. He stares at the board silently for a minute.

So it appears that our seal-breaking cultists are intent on winnowing our numbers with dark magic - I suspected as much. This mission was never going to be an easy one.

What do we know?

• Our enemies have, or had, the capability to kill or attempt to kill at least two of us a night.
• They targeted Ozzo and Sarkus. Could be random at this early stage - but perhaps not.
• The Raven School scry was successful.
• The Falcon school scry was successful.
• The Dove school scry was successful.
• The status of the phoenix school scry is unknown.
• The Phoenix school scry was successful.
• The Owl's did not scry and we are still conferring as to what to do about the attack on one of our members.

So, take heart in this. It's more than we knew yesterday.

Are we to take it that the Ravens, Falcons, and Doves all confirmed innocents and do not wish to reveal them as a safety precaution?

That is the only plausible reading of events.

The Phoenix scry was also successful, but no suspects. So we have four confirmed innocents or alternatively a whole school full of traitors. The latter seems somewhat implausible.

"What the hell just happened? WHAT THE HELL- ok, deep breaths. I'll be damned if I let some giant sushi use me as bait. Where'd that thing go? I need to let it know it's going on my ignore list."
As she stared at the opening in the ground, her back facing the group, a ;_; passed her visor. "Thank you MEIDO. May Doom embrace you and reward you for your bravery." She turned around. "Anyone else think Sarkus got stabbed with an artifact? Hopefully it was a one use type of thing which I'd say would make sense, but tentacles just came shooting from the ground. Who knows what these evil forces are capable of."

Could someone tell the Doves that I can still hear them and ask if they can hear me?! They don't appear to be replying to my telepathic messages and they aren't replying to me here and I know a lot has happened but I'm getting a little anxious that someone is trying to silence me, especially since I disagreed with something and I'm not sure I can talk any louder than I currently am THOUGH I CAN CERTAINLY TRY, HELLO!!! DOVES!!!!! ARE YOU HEARING THE MESSAGES THAT I'M SENDING?!?!?! HAS MY VOICE BEEN BLOCKED FOR YOU ON THIS LEVEL AS WELL?!?!?!

Quackers: This unit is still capable of interpreting your (exceptionally frequent) pressure wave communication. Your input on the private school channel is not being received, however.

This unit tentatively suggests that should no healer make their presence known, Sarkus be considered as the knife sacrifice. Assuming 4 members have been cleared of guilt by magic, there are 20 unknowns (supposing that Sarkus is most likely innocent). Based on this information, the probability of killing an innocent is 80% +/- 5%. Sarkus will die in 24 hours without intervention regardless.

If Sarkus agrees then I will second this plan. If he is doomed to die anyway then let it be for a reason.

For, despite our growing body of information, it appears we still don't have enough data among ourselves to be even half-certain of finding our enemies today.

Oh thank goodness! I was worried that you might not be able to hear me at all!!!!!!!!!!!

As to your inquiry: the first one. Since I have no way of communicating this to just one group, let me say it openly that while I have no real reason to doubt any of you and I'm sure you're all wonderful people on the inside, there apparently are a few that want to murder us all while we sleep and I worry that the Schools are not being honest with each other. And that's TOTALLY understandable if you have people you're protecting and it's awesome that people want to stick to close to home, but if we start getting numbers that are skewed--thinking that there are more cleared people than there are, it could lead to disaster. I'm sure you will all agree that math is the one constant we can all count on and so I would just suggest that while a School might not want to say what they ACTUALLY did in their circle, they be honest if they cannot contribute to a firm number count. We have enough to distrust, let us not muddy the waters, so to speak.

With the death last night and assuming one today and knowing that there are apparently people that cannot join into a circle, how many can we successfully make tonight? I know that there are others that might want to do other things too, so we should keep that in mind--are we to trust more to our own personal skills, whatever they may be, or trust in circles?

Also, as to what should happen today--I am not quite sure that Mister Sarkus should be the one to face the knife. I mean, he's already staring down death's door (and you should totally think of it as a really warm, inviting door maybe covered in hearts and sparkles and there's a robot unicorn!) but if he does die by the knife today, I don't know that me asking him who killed him would yield up a good answer. I mean, he might then be like "ALL YOU PEOPLE DID!" and that's not helpful at all if we really want to know who attacked him! However, I do not have any better ideas unless perhaps someone who cannot cast might want to offer themselves as our numbers for circles is going to get smaller and smaller.

Quackers, we can all hear you. Unfortunately.
Is there any connection between Ozzo and Sarkus that any know of? Or are the cultists simply trying to remove one member from every school so that we are forced to form circles with one or even all of them? Or are they just killing at random?

Let me see if I'm getting this right - someone could save Sarkus (assuming that the dead meido wasn't our only doctor) but folks are suggesting they not only let him die, but throw him onto the knife?

If Sarkus is volunteering, then fine. But I'd like to hear why Quantumbit thinks the healer should stay hidden.

"As far as the Falcon circle is concerned, we have proof that we did scry, succeed and found the target to be innocent - Mr. Q'Cigh... Mr. Lazy from the Owls will be able to confirm all of this. But I ask him not to reveal the identity of our target, for they might be in danger if he did."

If there is a healer among us, let him come forth. I am loathe to watch a man die if it can be prevented. I'm sure arrangements can be made within the circles to protect one with such a useful skill set.

If not. Well, I can see the grim logic in QuantumBit's plan.

The logic behind the proposed plan was laid out in the original suggestion and further explanation is deemed redundant. Should a healer come forward and take responsibility for reviving Sarkus, then this unit will retract its suggestion and be open to suggestions from others with regards to the daily knife sacrifice.

This unit is perplexed at the deliberate misinterpretation of this unit's original suggestion. There is a 75% probability of reading comprehension failure, and a 25% probability of an attempt to sow dissension.

I think you're just misinterpreting the honesty borne of long hours in the prison yard QB. I don't believe that the big guy here meant any harm.

There's a 100% probability you can shove your accusations up your [REDACTED DUE TO IMPOSSIBLE BIOLOGICAL AND THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS].

If you have reason to believe Sarkus is a cultist, then by all means give it to the group and we'll all happily watch him bleed out or stick him with the Knife just to make certain. But if you don't - then your only plan should be "save this guy's life".

You said it yourself, randomly killing someone has an 80% chance of killing an innocent. Letting Sarkus die is no different.

Okay, maybe a little harm.

Not every member of the Society notices it at once, but gradually they all fall silent. Something is calling to them, drawing them closer.

A somewhat stable path is found, down into the chasm in the island formed by the summoned horror's arrival, and you all proceed down it in single file. Some extra space has to be cleared to make room for the bulky body of the QuantumBit, and for the height of Fontaine.

Down there, below the now ruined foundations of the island's facilities, there is a cavern. Sunlight shines through the fresh wounds in the earth, and grass is somehow already growing. A small bubbling stream of blessed water flows through.



This is a holy place. The Knife lies suspended in the air above the water, watching you, waiting for your will to guide it. It wants blood.

This is where the sacrifice will take place, 9 hours from now.

So, the healer's to out him/herself on the oft chance of protection? Sounds win win there, mate.

What's Sarkus say-so in this? Why should he be saved? He ain't the technotheothingy is he? That'll be useful. Actually, yeah, what is Sarkus? What skills does he bring to this endeavour? If he's kept alive, are we sure he's on the side of the angels? and this ain't some possum plan to ferret out the healer? I'd be waiting for him to talk before any us decide his fate. Seems only right.

Good point, consultant. Did anyone scry Sarkus last night? The Ravens did not - we'll say that much. If anyone has information on him that would rationalize either saving him, knifing him, or letting him bleed out - I think we all need as much information as possible before casting a vote. If no one's coming forth, then Sarkus himself needs to speak up.

I'll say this much, from where I stand the sequence of events leading up to his attack are completely consistent with a cultist attack.

I'm reluctant to say more without the say so, or opinions, of the man himself.

"Zannen desu ga, Sarkus was not the target of the Falcon school's scry last night."

Mister G. Sides, I never said that Schools should out people, but I also don't think that they should be anything but honest about what they did the night before when at all possible. I, for one, would not hold it against any School if they decided to do a Protection spell instead of a Scry if they thought they had a good reason. I would hold it against them if they lied about it, thus leading the calculations of others into disarray. Especially early in the game when all information that can be provided is vital.

This is all going to be terribly confusing to people! You never realize how wonderful telepathic abilities within your School are until you suddenly can't use them anymore.So please, everyone tell your fellow Schoolmates how much you appreciate conversing with them!!

This kind of shit needs to end here, or else you're hanging a pretty big target on yourself. "I know more, but I'm not going to divulge any more information."

You're either not divulging it because it could harm you, or you're not divulging it because it could harm someone else, in which case all it takes is an enterprising cultist/enemy to kill you tonight and thereby seal away any of your knowledge, permanently.

That being said, I think we should definitely save Sarkus... unless we can't, which seems to be a possibility. No one's coming forward to save him, and I don't rightly know if I would either. We could always sacrifice him, considering he's going to die anyways, so that we hamper the impact that these attempted killings have on us.

"If'n ah understand correctly, the young missy heah has good reasons for not sacrificin' Sarkus." Chance leans against a pillar, looking speculatively at the knife floating in mid-air. "Thought tha blessed thing was lost last time? So the stories say. Good t'see it came back."

Please.

As if I would be so foolish. I remain silent for now out of respect for my schoolmate, and as I best understand his wishes. But all I know of Sarkus is common knowledge within the owls and not of enough significance, or salience, to merit betraying that trust - for now.

If there was the need, have no fear that I would pronounce what I know to you right now and without hesitation. As it is I expect Sarkus to be along shortly to make his own case before us and we can proceed from there in this matter.

The Baron has demonstrated (WARNING: PUN DETECTED) a greater understanding of this unit's suggestion than some particular other members. The one known as "Nute" has been noted to display rash aggressive behaviour, and a tendency to disregard logic in favour of censored personal attacks (N=2).

Aiyah. Look, those shields aren't getting any stronger. The best possible case right now would be for Sarkus to come forward with some useful information, but failing that...it doesn't escape me that all three schools parroted my language when it came to announcing their results. Come on, guys. Fess up. I find it very difficult to believe that everything went off without a hitch last night, except for Olivia's death and Sarkus' stabbing.

Falcons? Are you *sure* your cast went off? Was Lazy a replacement for the non-casting Olivia?

"No, Olivia was our leader. Mr. Lazy replaced another member unable to cast that night. I assume poor Olivia was killed after the scry was over."

SUPPOSITION: Results of night actions occur after the casting phase, other than actions which are specifically designed to disrupt casting. If this were the case, it would make casting in circles a much more reliable venture than the original assessment would have indicated.

I'm not very good at speaking in code, but I'd like to assure my fellow Doves that I would never disclose anything I did not have proper permission to and that my responses here have only been because--and I'm sure he didn't mean it--of someone misunderstanding what I was saying and me having no other way to defend myself. I was also directly asked a question and it's kind of hard to respond any other way although if you have any ideas I am all ears!!! Well not literally because clearly I have an entire body here, but telepathically I am all ears because I just cannot seem to get these implants to work correctly! I really hope that someone isn't doing this on purpose. While I'm sure they have their reasons and would like to explain them to me and for some reason don't feel comfortable probably because they're nefarious of course it is making it quite hard to communicate with people!

Ana's eyes start flickering rapidly.

"I would suggest you watch your language, Dazzler-sama - that could very well be construed as an insult towards the capabilities of a MEIDO. I will confirm on behalf of my gakkou that yes, the cast went off with the help of the yasashii Lazy-sama of the Owl School, and that your blatant attempt to get us to reveal the Falcon who did not cast last night has not gone unnoticed."

"Having said that, we of the Green will need the Owls-sama to support us again tonight. Two of them, to be precise, since MEIDO 0220 has very inconveniently and stupidly gotten herself koroshita by tentacles - perhaps I should change the anti-tentacle combat class to be compulsory for all trainees next term. Maybe even three Owls, depending on who we sacrifice to the katana today."

"Ah, I see, it was a misunderstanding then. Yes, MEIDO 0220 successfully led the circle but got killed afterwards. My gomens if I offended, Dazzler-sama."

The abilities of a MEIDO apparently do not include speaking in non-obfuscated code from dead barbarian languages. Feh.

"My sincerest gomens, NUTE-452-sama. My previous client was somewhat of a hobbyist historian of these languages, and he derived some amusement from listening to me speak in a mangled version of what I believe is a pre-Kyary traditional-style corruption variant of pseudo-Akihabara-ese. As I only aim to please, I will adjust my settei to make my speaking style more comfortable for the rest of you."

Her eyes flash red again as the rusty sound of a throat clearing sounds from behind her mask.

"この話し方はどうですか？あ、すみません、間違い設定を利用しました。ちょっとお待ちください。”

She coughs again.

“这样的说话方式如何呢？ 啊，又错了。请大人们稍等。“

After a few seconds of various incomprehensible dialects...

"其实, you know what，GOSHUJIN-SAMA たち、这个might take a while so おねがいexcuseMEforすこし操他妈的祖宗十八代I said that language settei were not a prioritybut that doesn't make it 大丈夫to send a BUGGED version into the FIELD。。。！！“

The corrupted noises shut off suddenly as Ana goes into silent, cloaked mode to deal with her language settings. Looks like it might take a while...

I also hope no one thinks I have some sort of imbalance, it's just when asked a question directly I think it's okay for me to respond as long as the context isn't exactly clear. I think. Perhaps I should just drown the answer in some random trivia like: my favorite color is cerulean blue! At least one. I hope only one. Actually I hope none, but I think most probably one. I talk to ghosts! I wish everyone could be super friends!!!

You know, once a MEIDO tried to take a cup of soycaf from me before I'd finished it.

ONCE.

Did they only ever take it after you were finished with it in all other cases? Soycaf is pretty amazing! I like mine with sugar. Like three, four cups of it!!! How do you like yours, Mister Patch?

I envy those who still need to drink coffee substitutes to stay awake all night. For me it's not the screams that stop me from sleeping but the... No. No-one wants to hear about ancient history. Well, at least not that kind of history.

In the here and now we still need a candidate for the knife and time is ticking.