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[Depicted in the projection is a man dressed in dark robes, their open collar framed by a hood laid back. A mask shaped much like a bird's face -- an owl, perhaps -- rests upon the front, lustrous white marked by silvery designs wrought upon the lower portion and sides.

Less readily interpretable are his hair and eye color, though they seem bright, standing out from the darkness of his skin.]

To all those of us who have been displaced into this remote environs, I extend to you my greetings. I am Erichthonios.

...'Tis come to my attention that there are a number of little ones here. [Someone clearly saw that transmission about a club for teenagers not too long ago. While he himself is not a teenager, he feels it would be remiss of him to not acknowledge their presence... or lend them what aid he can.]

Though I know not from where you hail, or what magicks you have come to master, know that you are not alone, and that if you should find yourself struggling, there are others who will help... among which I count myself.

Naturally, I do have questions of my own... Questions to which I would seek the answers, if others would be willing to share their knowledge. But they need not be answered now. For the moment, I would like to hear of your concerns instead.

If you would share them with me, I would hear them.

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[ ...

There's so much going on here, Ange thinks. When the girl speaks up to reply to the message, her voice is pretty even and deadpan. ]

Are you sure that's the kind of message to deliver when you're looking all mysterious?

[ You know, the dark robes? The mask?

At least his hood isn't up, she'll give him that. But the rest of it is kind of ominous. ]

...Mysterious?

[Such a statement to him is baffling. He'd even kept his mask off, as so many others had bare faces here...

Perplexed, Erichthonios goes so far as to give himself a look-over in attempt to understand her perspective.]

You mean... my robe? [That must be it. Not many people wear robes here, and he isn't wearing much else.] 'Tis the common attire of my people...

Really?

[ Ange, please. Don't be a Teenager. At least be a little more culturally sensitive here.

These are apparently the 'little ones' you have to deal with, Erichthonios. ]

Where I come from, most people who wear that kind of stuff are usually cultists of some kind. [ At least that part isn't exactly wrong, given the fact that she comes from a world that is - generally speaking - much more "normal" than most. ]

I have heard this word before, though I confess I do not have a full grasp of its meaning as it is likely intended.

[His experience with the idea of sinister cults is somewhat lacking.]

However, to answer your question, yes. There are some variations. Those who are of the Convocation of Fourteen have masks of red, and those trusted to have an impartial view wear robes of white. Yet most of our people wear black robes and white masks.

.. that does kind of sound like a cult.

[ Not that she's going off a whole lot here. But at the same time, it's why Ange isn't fully serious about it either, instead more just joking around in a very dry sort of way. It shows in the way she moves on from it relatively easily, instead asking: ]

Then is this the sort of thing you do where you come from too? Listening to people's concerns?

[He really is going to have to ask someone what a cult is at some point.]

Nay. My place is a much more secluded one. I serve as warder in Pandæmonium, looking after our most dangerous creations and seeing to it that they do not escape into the wider world. Still... I could not simply let things stand as they appear here, with so many little ones left to look after themselves.

[With little to no guidance to speak of, as far as he's been able to see. Then again, the most populated place he frequents is the infirmary...]

[ Honestly, what he's saying does sound sweet. There's something selfless about seeing kids by themselves and wanting to make sure they're alright.

.. except Ange has never encountered that sort of thing before. When you deal with enough crappy adults, you kind of start to think they're all that way - hence her dumb attitude here. She doesn't know how to approach this with anything other than distrust.

Well, distrust and dumb dry deadpan, anyway. ]

What would you do then? If I actually had some concern, I mean.

If there is aught I can do about it, save for bringing harm to another for a cause I find unreasonable, I would seek to allay it in some way, be it by sharing knowledge, seeking out answers, or helping to ensure your basic needs are met.

[Food and shelter are at the top of his mind in this instance. Especially given the... happenings at the inn as of late.]

[ There's a tiny pause.

She's thinking, really. ]

.. well, I'm pretty sure most people's main concern right now is the fact that we're all packed together in the inn like cattle. [ Look at Ange, so sneaky. Not ever wanting to admit to any personal problems, she's just packaging this as everyone else's problem..

Which, you know, it is. But it's definitely bothering her too. ]

But I'm sure you can't just magically make a bigger hotel suddenly rise up from the ground or something like that.

Indeed, though the creation magicks my people wield could easily manage such a feat, my own capacity is rather lacking...

[Ever the self-deprecating one is Erichthonios.]

And for all I know, the magicks that have reduced us in size may well have enervated us. I have been feeling more tired than usual...

[Ah, but he make the transmission to offer help, not discuss his own woes.]

But that is not to say all hope is lost. Even should we not be able the create a large structure in whole, were we to have a concept to work from, I am sure it would not take much time to construct enough shelter for us all.

.. you're saying we should all build an entire building together?

[ It's actually not that bad of an idea in theory - it's more just that Ange sure doesn't feel like doing as much after being dragged all the way here.

Her thoughts had been lingering on what he said before, trying to imagine what kind of magic his people could have, but her mind is snapped out of it entirely by having to consider this concept instead. ]

I don't even know if we have at least one person among all of us who understands the concept of structural integrity. [ .. unless this place happens to be found of bringing engineers to this place, anyway.

But this guy sounds way more like a wizard of sorts than an engineer, Ange thinks. ]

Oh, of that you need not be concerned. Though I would understand if you were. I would not fancy a building collapsing over my head due to poor design. That is one reason why concepts go through an approval process at the Bureau of the Architect.

...At least, such is the case where I am from.

[ You know, now Ange is thinking about it, she isn't sure how exactly they make sure buildings are up to code where she comes from. It's definitely not the sort of thing she'd ever bother to look into, after all.

So she thinks about it for a moment, but then discards the thought. ]

Do you think they have an organisation like that here? I mean, this place looks..

[ Ange's voice trails off. She's probably deciding whether she wants to be diplomatic here or not. She's leaning towards 'not', honestly, especially since it's not like she's speaking to a local, so-- ]

It's definitely medieval. You know, back when everyone just peed on the streets. [ ANGE...

Also, girl, please don't assume every world has the same historic progression as yours, okay. ]

I don't think any of the locals really care how anything is built.

'Tis true they... lack the organization to which I am accustomed. But there are others of my people here. I would confer with them on the matter... and anyone else like to have the knowledge we require.

[And as she has gone so far as to mention it, he's going to have to make certain that adequate facilities for relieving oneself are included in the design. Horror among horrors, on the streets...! His nose wrinkles a little at the very thought.]

[ Sorry, Erichthonios, to give you this very specific fear..

Though there's something else about what he's saying that draws Ange's attention. ]

How many of your people are here? [ She is - by now - at least aware that this world can draw in multiple people from the same place, or at least a similar place..

But she also isn't so sure how common it is, and in what number. Even if information like that might not seem to matter much, she's still determined to find out as much as she can in this place. ]

There are two here with whom I am personally acquainted and count as my friends, one of whom is remarkably adept in magicks... and another with whom I do not have a personal relationship, but who happens to be well-known for his prowess.

[So... three. He knows of three others from his world here.]

[ Ange hums. ]

I suppose that isn't too strange.

[ After all, including herself, there's also three people from her world - and worlds related to it - here. It'd take a much larger group than that to surprise her. ]

Though I guess it does make you wonder how this place decides who to pull in here and who to leave behind. [ Especially since Ange knows way more people from her world who have committed actual literal crimes and sure aren't here.. So is it just random which people it takes from any given world, she wonders? ]

That has been on my mind, though I fear I do not have an answer. Mayhap in time.

[He's definitely going to go digging around for information at some point. Not that he hasn't already begun asking questions... as some may already be able to attest.]

[ Darn. It really seems like no one here has some real information, huh? Though Ange also supposes it only makes sense. If she hasn't been able to find many answers yet - and she likes to think she's a pretty smart and thorough person when it matters - then probably no one else has.

Including this guy. ]

If you find any answers, surely you'll share them with everyone else over these things, right?

[ That's the one thing she's been able to at least do so far. Encourage the sharing of information. It's not much, but.. sometimes you have to just do what you can do. ]

Of course.

[Doing anything otherwise hadn't even occurred to him. He's more than a little befuddled that she even felt it necessary to ask.

Hopefully his answer provides some reassurance... though like as not genuine information would, he imagines, go quite a bit further.]

Good.

[ Sorry, Erichthonios.. This is what happens when you're as cynical and pessimistic as Ange. She's definitely assuming people are going to keep information to themselves here until she's proven wrong.

It's also why she isn't fully sure she trusts his answer, but.. on the other reason, there's no concrete reason she's gained from him to actually doubt his answer either.

So she'll see, she supposes. ]

I'll keep investigating then. Good luck with talking to people on here. [ Ange, please, don't say that last part as if it's something he'd actually need!! The people here aren't that bad.. ]

My thanks.

[He might... actually need that luck, as it turns out.]

Fare you well.

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