013. 💥 VIDEO; ANONYMOUS ⏩ FAST-FOWARD TO A DAY AFTER THE EVENT

[opheliac]

[ the video is out of focus when it starts, and whoever is holding the phone from the other side is trying to adjust its settings. but in time, the feed sharpens, and it displays an ominous graffitied exclusive room. leaning on each side of a wall are two masked mysterious figures. one on the left in a male build and wearing a gas mask, and a female figure on the right wearing an interesting (familiar to no one but a very selective few) designed disguise. the female one, with her arms cross over her chest, turns her head to the camera when a voice from behind the webcam (robotic and disjointed) says: ]

It's ready for you, Boss.

[ she shoves herself off the wall and stalks closer to view, saying nothing even after her body stills in position. and like the camera person, whenever this mystery individual chooses to speak, her voice is also filtered in a mechanical pitch. ]


Chosen of Aldrip, we are the Inx.


In simple terms, we are just a small group of thieves from the docks. And I'm sure many of you think our thievery around this city is cruel. Wrong. And unethical. Some of you may even call us criminals.

[ the speaker stops briefly, cocking her head to one side to mimic a crow's curiosity. ]

But who are the real criminals of Aldrip? Is it us, or is it the ones who are stopping us from tearing down this corrupted city?

[ she paces steadily from one direction and back again, the cameraman following along carefully and doing a pretty good job at it for being an amateur with devices. ]

Time and time again, the Council have used us as lab rats for their entertainment, promising us freedom if we just did our time and our sentences.

We do good for them, and what do we get in return? Mazes where the dead and the past haunts us, pinning ourselves against the people we love and care for, warped memories, bringing deadly infections, heartache, loneliness, and death. Jerry told me once we must go through these trials to be better ourselves. To learn how to behave.

[ the spokeswoman halts to face the camera again and yet in spite of wearing a mask to shield her identity, the fury is raging and tensing on her shoulders — her hands balling tight into boulders. ]

But this is not improving our spirits...! It's breaking us down, and ripping our minds apart to their satisfaction, to be in their image! Tell me, Chosen, do you feel in charge of your own life? Do you feel... independent?

You might be asking me now, so what we do about it? How do we break free when fighting and starting a war is not an option? When we can't see our enemy? ... I....

[ she stops for a moment as she fishes out for her next robust words, but can only hang her head in defeat, and says the truth of their dire circumstances: ]

I can't... give you that answer.

[ the entire room goes eerily quiet after that, but the male figure who had been in the background during this whole speech steps forward. he approaches the small chest behind her, and then drums his fists in a rhythm flow.

the feed wavers slightly, too, the cameraperson stomping their foot to beat along with their comrade. this brings the spokeswoman out of her beaten stance, and her head shifts to the associate behind her and then to the camera. feeling powerful again, her spine straightens, and she raises her chin to help her speak in clear volume: ]

But what I, the Inx and the eye of Zaun, can give you is a nation, support, care, and loyalty. You may see us as thieves who rob from the Councils' system, but we are a family. And family sticks together.... even if families say things that they don't mean out of hurt, frustration, and make mistakes because they are scared of change, loss, or being abandoned.

[ ... ]

But together, we will power through every hardship that the Council will throw at us, because we don't swim, or sink, we float.

Be my Zaunite, be my people, and you'll be protected. We will be there through your hard times, hand in hand, and wipe away any tear that were caused by them. We will feed the hunger, heal the sick, and when you can move again, you'll be like an earthquake rumble. You will never ever fall alone, or stand alone. You'll break down walls, just like when the City Hall crumbled.

[ quietly, her comrades chant while continuously beating their fists and feet in rhythm: ]

City Hall, City Hall,
Walls come down.
City Hall, City Hall,
Walls come down.

Walls come down, like City Hall.
Walls come down, like City Hall.

[ she gives her people a moment to shine with their carol, then adds to her final statement: ]

You're stronger than you think, and what makes you different makes you strong. Don't let the Council's betrayal break you, but let it forge you into something greater. And if they want this to be our home, then let's make it our home. No longer Aldrip, but the Nation of Zaun.

Comments

[murderingjustice]

[. . .]

do you take constructive criticism?

[opheliac]

[ but you suck, tho. ]

I do, I am willing to listen.

[murderingjustice]

while I do appreciate a classic rally advocating for dismantling the power structures I do think you are being a little too short sighted with your target, Inx.

[c'mon girl, at least try coming up with better code name]

we already know aiming at the council won't do as much as cause a ripple in the bigger picture. you might want to target the power behind the council.

[opheliac]

I am aware aiming at the Council as of now is impossible. In time and if we band together, we can think of a solution. Sometimes, reworking an equation can come out with a different result.

My main focus now is rebuild and shape this place to something new, something that is not created in the Council's image. If they want us to stay here, then we should be able to live freely, not like rats.

[murderingjustice]

[.........]

did you read anything I wrote?

[opheliac]

Yes. To target the power behind the Council, but we don't know who is the administrator is or how to hack into the system yet. Unless you have information that I'm not aware of. Jerry is just a husk they use, so it's not him, obviously. Ragna gave us a nudge to a direction, and the system wanting to learn gave us another clue.

[murderingjustice]

and yet you rally people up against the wrong enemy. ridiculous. in war you want to aim at the general, not the soldier.

but I suppose patience has never been your strongest suit so this course of action does not surprise me.

[opheliac]

[ so in order to prevent herself from tearing her own hair out, she is going to do the mature (in her mind) thing, and shove this conversation for ekko to reply and pretend to be her, before she rages the fuck out and blows this whole cause.

aka which will be later because ekko player is sleeping. so stay tuned. )8< ]

OHAI JENNI ^_^ Also Anonymous!

[howyouseit]

Unfortunately the ones holding all the cards have not been fleshed out and as such we must take action against those we know are immediately responsible for our suffering. If we can get to them perhaps their superiors will make themselves known to us in turn.

In the meantime our objective is to instill good faith with the Chosen and prove to you all that we can run things smoothly around here by comparison to our current overlords.

Hehe hello there

[murderingjustice]

you speak like you weren't there when the reality shifted around us and we were thrown into a pocket dimension, Inx.

Rather than riling people up against an enemy we can't defeat with brute force, you should send your merry band of misfits to do something more worthwhile like gather intel and try cooperate with those who have been working on the case for ages. Suddenly playing a leader like this will get us nowhere.

Vacation over we back to tagging!

[howyouseit]

If you are willing to share any important information in regards to our captors I would happily be willing to speak with you.

Someone has to take on a leadership position if we are to move forward, no one else has stepped up to willingly combat our situation and be the face of revolution against the Council.

[murderingjustice]

see, i would not mind sharing the information with you but so far you have not inspired trust within me.

[oh the irony. he would 100% infodumb here if it wasn't for the silly Phantom Thieves wannabe act.]

and why would that 'someone' be you?

[howyouseit]

Then perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement that would lead to trust between one another.

As for why we are capable? Not only do we have the means to overthrow any resistance met with our manpower but a multitude of skills amongst our ranks that would serve to better our lives here in Aldrip and overcome the adversity of the Council who continue to toy with us.

[Ekko and Jinx both being ingenious inventors in their own rites for starters along with him already having a plethora of experience leading a rebellion against tyrannical rulers.]

[murderingjustice]

oh, you might think that you are the biggest, strongest, meanest and most capable person out here. that would definitely fit right in to your previous performances and actions around the city, inx. but you know as well as i do that there is always someone who is stronger, more clever and overall more charismatic than you are.

so far you are only trying to spread chaos and violence through this manifestation. declaring a war on the council, while also potentially placing rest of us in more danger hardly does make me want to follow you nor trust you.

NOT HERE, BUT BEEN STALKING.

[opheliac]

GOD IF ONLY AKECHI KNEW. Also I pressed enter by accident whoops LMAO

[howyouseit]

Do not presume you know who I am for Inx is a collective entity.

Choices must be made in the sake of progress and sometimes that means getting your hands dirty. If I cannot earn your trust through words then our actions will have to speak for them.