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[snowslip]

[ Marianne appears in the video looking more anxious than usual, perhaps because this is her first time addressing so many people at once and she's never liked drawing attention to herself, but also because of the news she's about to share. ]

Um, I wanted to warn everyone that monsters around Aldrip have become more aggressive lately. They've also been roaming closer and closer to town. Even where I usually take the horses out to graze isn't safe. Please be cautious when walking about, and I would avoid the outskirts. Um, those that can fight, it might be good to band together to try and drive them away...

[ ... ]

There's something else...

[ After an agonizing pause, she rolls back the sleeves of her dress to reveal her arm, black marks marring her fair skin. Her expression turns pained. ]

These marks appeared on me shortly after encountering the monsters. Healing doesn't seem to have any effect on it. Something like this happened once before and I...I'm afraid it could make me not myself.

If anyone knows anything about it, please...

[ She trails off, unable to conclude her announcement on an eloquent note. ]

Comments

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[geass]

[interesting...]

What gives you the fear that it won't make you feel like yourself? I'm no doctor, but I'm curious on the context.

[snowslip]

Oh, that's because...something similar happened a few seasons ago. Strange marks appeared on some of our bodies and eventually took hold of our thoughts and feelings.

[ It pains her to remember. She tugs at her sleeve self-consciously. ]

These marks look different from before, but I wonder if this is still...a curse of some sort.

[geass]

[he notes the self conscious movement of hers, his expression softening.]

Sorry if it brought up bad memories for you. I'm one of the newer arrivals here, so I'm afraid I haven't had so much time to find out what happened before my time.

Are you feeling any sort of physical effects from it at all so far?

[snowslip]

It's okay. You couldn't have known. I'm sorry you were brought here at such a turbulent time.

I feel...okay right now. [ Maybe more on edge, she certainly sounds anxious, but who wouldn't be? ] Last time I heard voices. Nothing like that has happened this time.

[geass]

It seems turbulent times are pretty common here, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[voices? hmm.]

Were you feverish? People with high enough fevers may become delusional... unless it was a supernatural happening.

[snowslip]

No, I didn't feel any fever. The voices grew louder and wanted to lead us away. A monster was responsible.

[ Monsters again...there seemed to be similarities as well as differences in the circumstances. What did that mean, though? She isn't great at conjectures. ]

It was a monster trying to control us to do its bidding.

[geass]

[hmmm...]

Have you experimented with the rocks from the caves at all? On the land at least, my initial findings are pointing to the fact that there's temporary relief from the corruption.

Is that a point synonymous with the last time as well?

[snowslip]

The rocks from the cave?

[ She hadn't gone on the expedition herself, having her hands full between the clinic and the farm, but she remembers hearing talk of a cave. ]

We weren't aware of the cave back then, and I didn't know the rocks were medicinal, but if you say they are...

[ She looks interested, maybe even a little hopeful. ]

[geass]

It's only a theory. I'm not sure if it'd be safe to consume or not.

[he's no doctor or healer, so he's not going to go so far as to say they're medicinal, exactly.]

It could be that being in the proximity to the rocks will alleviate some symptoms. I'm not afflicted with it so I haven't tested it, personally. They certainly haven't hurt anything so far.

[snowslip]

A theory is better than nothing. I'll see if I can obtain these rocks.

[ Like he said, it wouldn't hurt to try. ]

Have you been to the cave yourself?

[geass]

I have. I'd wandered in there when I first got here... I have some, if you'd like to borrow them from me.

[snowslip]

Oh, yes. Please. I'd be grateful.

[ The symptoms could set in at anytime and they're in a race against the clock. She'll take any generosity she's afforded. ]

[geass]

May I ask where you are? I'll go ahead and make the delivery to you right now.

[snowslip]

[ Astralin's farm is a bit out of the way...the trip could be dangerous for him. She thinks of what she has learned from Erichthonios and settles on a different location. ]

Could you meet me outside Willow Clinic?

[geass]

[yeah, and he's a weenie physically. so there's that.]

I can do that. I'll be on my way shortly.

[snowslip]

[ She manages a small smile. ]

I appreciate it. I'll see you there.