01. video.

[feintofhart]

[ The video flicks on to show one Claude von Riegan, having dispensed with his usual fineries of billowing fabrics and elaborate capes to more simple fare, simply a loose white linen shirt and brown trousers, seated at the desk of what looks to be an incredibly cluttered shop. Herbs hang from strings from the ceilings, the dark, burnished wood of the shelves covered in various dusty jars filled with strange liquids and ground plants and all manner of things; what little table space is not covered in these mystery jars is instead covered in stacks of books and parchment strewn about. It is, as some may be able to recognize, Aldrip's apothecary. ]

Hey, everyone. For as long as I've been here, I don't think I've ever properly introduced myself... so allow me to make up for lost time. My name is Claude von Riegan, and I've been here for, oh... three, four months? Longer than I thought I'd be stuck here, to be honest. But I've got more than simple introductions on my mind today.

[ He reaches into one of the jars and plucks out a few herbs, adding it to whatever concoction is in his mortar and pestle, the grinding of stone against stone a low, pleasant sound. ]

I'm sure you've all noticed that our humble hosts have been disappearing, one after the other. [ He holds up a paper, noting a date and time that has already passed, an invitation to meet with Those Who Were. ] This seems to be the culprit -- someone sending them missives, telling them to meet with their gods, or holy figures, or whatever else you'd like to call them. Something worth investigating, I think.

[ He pauses, putting a pinch of some other spice into his bowl. ]

But in the meantime, they've left their businesses behind. So I've gone ahead and temporarily commandeered the apothecary until they return. It's too important an institution to leave empty, and besides, this place could do with some organization. And some good dusting. And, frankly, some revamped bookkeeping, because it's just in shambles.

The thing is, though, is that my own knowledge of herbalism is confined to my own world -- and it's specialized knowledge, at that. So if you know anything about it, or know of anything I ought to be stocking, that you might be needing, do me a favour and let me know. [ He licks the tip of his pinky, dips it into his concoction, and licks it off, only to shudder in revulsion. ] Eurgh, that's nasty.

[ He clears his throat. ]

Or, of course, you can help me search for our missing persons. I haven't had much luck, but hey! Maybe you will.

Comments

[drugsnotclubs]

...You went looking?

[Wow, Claude. That's going hard. He doesn't sound disapproving or anything, more just surprised. That's way more effort than Shinjiro would put into anything.]

And I dunno, faking a ceremony's a good way of getting people to come out, I guess? Past that, I got no clue. I'll take your word for it that they're just gone. So whose 'These That Was' all about?

[feintofhart]

Well, technically speaking, I went looking for them alive. But while I was searching, I certainly didn't rule out the possibility that they were dead too. Let's say I watched where I was stepping.

[ He's stepped on a dead body before. He did not enjoy the experience. ]

Those Who Were. I think. They're the gods of this place. Everyone in Aldrip worships them. According to them, they're the ones who brought us here in the first place. They're... [ How to say this without sounding judgmental? ] Very devout.

[drugsnotclubs]

See, you said you couldn't find bodies that like you went out looking for them dead [Or maybe Claude is just! Theatrical! Who knows. Anyway, time to learn a thing about this place!]

Is that why people call us 'Chosen' here? [it's so weirdly self-important....]

Huh... weird name for your gods. And so they're getting letters inviting them out to meet 'em, and then the people are just gone. What do you think the odds are the locals'd tell you if they got a letter next?

[feintofhart]

I've been known both for my ability to multitask and an open mind. In any manhunt, you go in prepared for either outcome, even if you're hoping for one.

[ Back when they had been desperately searching for Flayn... well, that turned out all right, he supposes. ]

I don't think the locals are interested in telling us much of anything, to be perfectly honest with you. When I first arrived, they loved us. Eerily so, all things considered. These days, they're getting more and more hostile. Trust isn't really in the equation. [ He hums. ] Who knows? But I have a feeling that openly questioning it is a good way to make them even more hostile.