genessia | ( video ) .001

[As the video feed clicks on, a perturbed Richard is seen, clearly annoyed with his communicator as its not positioned correctly and he has something important to say.]

Good morning. I haven't met many of you, and for that I apologize. My name is Richard Cypher and, for the foreseeable future, I call Fayren my home, as many others of you do as well.

[He takes a breath. He's clearly angry, but he's keeping it under control.]

Of the five cities, this is most like my home, and the recent events detailed in the...newspaper put into perspective how right I initially was with that comparison. [His jaw clenches for just a moment before he continues, his tone even and controlled.] In my world, there is a man who would rule all the lands. His name is Darken Rahl. He uses a lot of different tactics to get his way, but one of them is making the people believe that his way is the right way. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that letter from this "Hands of Decay" was a missive from him.

[He sets his jaw in a firm line.]

It's possible this man who was found dead launched the attack on Fayren, and it's possible that man was a wizard, but I've seen no signs of oppression in Fayren in the time I've been here except from this elusive group who seems to believe all magic is to blame for anything that goes wrong and should be eliminated. Magic doesn't work that way. Magic is a tool, and tools are only dangerous if they're used incorrectly. Magic doesn't have intent, it simply...is. Men have evil in their hearts, but many have more good than evil.

If anyone needs to be removed from Fayren, it's the Hands of Decay, because they would dictate how all men should live, and that isn't freedom, no matter what they call it. No one should have to live in fear of what they are, or what they can do, or worry that advertising their abilities could lead to their persecution.

I don't know how long this has been going on, but I think it's been long enough. Whatever information you have that could help stop them, I'd love to hear it.

[He pauses. He's not used to long speeches, and now he's not really certain how to close it.]

I appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you for your time.

[And he reaches out to disable the feed.]

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That was a really long speech.

[He didn't have any magic so he knew for the most part he would be left alone at least.]

But I haven't heard anything. But I'll keep my ears out since I work in Fayren everyday.

"Oh!" Maria gasps out, as she listens to this feed, growing more and more in "love" with this man upon her communicator, who is so sweetly rambling on and on, and ON! She grinned stupidly at her communicator,not daring to turn it on just yet, because of course, she could see her stupid little grin reflected in th blank lens . She finally decided to turn on her AUDIO functions alone, and thus...

Well. She does NOT turn on the audio function alone, but also the video function, and so she talks excitedly, showing off her excited stupid grin, of course. She was still grinning even though she suddenly realised that she was in fact, showing so bloody much of her stupid, grinning face. "Oh aye, indeed.... I totally agree with you, Monsieur Cypher, and I will do anything I can to help you track down and stop these Hands of Decay, for the only thing that is in "decay" is their sense of morality! [Realising that she's already showing off her stupid, grinning face, she reduces that to a small smirk as she adds:] You have my wand... And my bow, and my axe, and my sword, too, of course... Whatever I can conjure to help, really!

...I know. I'm sorry if it was boring.

[He smiles self-consciously.]

Be careful, Nagisa. I know you aren't a wizard, but these people will stop at nothing to blame wizards for everything. The fact that you don't have magic might make you more of a target.

Thank you.

[He nods.]

So you are a wizard.

[When they'd spoken previously, she'd never made that clear.]

What do you know about them, these "Hands of Decay"?

I don't have magic, but I've known those who do and it was always with good intentions. I know not everyone is a good person, but the ones who do magic that I've met were. I wish there was anything I could do to help. I recently moved to Fayren just before things started getting like this with the Hands of Decay so I don't have many contacts, but I'll try to keep an ear out..

It's better than some classes.

[While he can like classes, sometimes they can be boring as well.]

I know and I wished they wouldn't. Mostly because I don't get what exactly has got there goat about it since before they came...pretty sure nothing bad happened that was even caused by magic. Unless they were taking that fear thing into account. That was done by someone with magic... I think.

[He pondered on that only briefly.]

Might make me a target? But I don't know magic, so why? Unless I guess they find out I work for someone who does.

They have to be based somewhere, and there has to be a reason they're only targeting wizards in Fayren.

[He smiles.]

Then you've been here longer than I have, and surely have more contacts than I do. Any help would be appreciated.

"Oh aye, indeed, I am..." She grinned at Richard, looking-- almost flirtatious, even though she KNEW that he was taken by another woman. "I mean, a wizard, that is to say! I'm sorry... But still, I will help however I can...

"Including, possibly, moving to Fayren myself, to get the lay of the land. I mean, sorry but-- I don't know anything that hasn't been in the papers, given that I am currently based out of Everglade..." She grimaces apologetically, as she refers to her utter lack of knowledge of the damned "Hands of Decay"! "But hey, I am perfectly willing to give those bloody "Hands"-- pardon my language, mind you, sir!" she adds as she realises that she is still peppering her speech with quite a lot of "bloody"s and "damned"s, in spite of this man's obvious old-fashioned-ness. (Seriously, Richard? "Horseless carriages"? Ha ha...) "That is to say: well. Those ruddy "Hands" will no doubt have a reason to fear magic, by the time we're done with them, eh?"

That sounds like magic, but that doesn't mean all magic users should be punished.

[He takes a breath to collect himself before he starts losing his temper.]

Yes, it might, because these people are cowards who use scapegoats pretty regularly, at least it looks that way.

Well in Fayren.. [ She thinks, scratching her chin a little. ] I don't think anyone without pendants can move to different cities. It might be a resident of Fayren if it isn't someone with a pendant. But if it's someone with a pendant then it's definitely an intentional target.. right?

[ She's not exactly great at investigating things, but she's got a knack for problem solving at least... maybe talking through the problems can help bring something to like, or spark something for him. She's not really sure. ]

I agree, only the person who used it for not nice things.

[He wasn't use to magic, but even he knew how punishing worked.]

I guess if they do something we'll know for certain, but... I don't think we would want anything else to happen.

We could use all the help we can get, but no. I don't want to make them fear magic.

[He shakes his head.]

It has to stop. If we just attack them outright, it will only fuel their fire. People who bend an ear to them at all will start to think maybe they were right, and the cycle will start again.

Either way the targets are intentional.

[Richard looks thoughtful for a moment.]

So, what we need to learn is what could have sparked this, and that answer may lie in the past.

My goal is to keep anything else from happening.

[With their lack of information, though, Richard is well aware that might not actually be possible. That idea is pissing him off.]

Let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary. Anything. Even if it seems completely random.

Yes, sir!

[Which is his way of saying pretty much, he will be on alert whenever he goes to and from work at least.]

I will do my best.

[Richard nods, smiling.]

Good.

[And there's a brief pause.]

How's your dog?

Ai-chan is fine. She's at least learnt how to sit, which is good.

[He was currently on stay, which is taking a bit longer even with treats.]

Ai-chan is the name you chose? [He smiles.] I like it.

And good job. Training isn't easy, but it's worthwhile.

Yeah, it jut kind of came out the blue, so I stuck with it.

[He nodded slightly, he knew he had to train her either way. Make her a good puppy.]

I know it will take a while, but with training it makes her easy to handle.

[He nods.]

And I wish you the best of luck with her. If you need any help, you know where to find me.

Exactly. If you learn that caused something, you can predict what will happen next to try to stop the next goal!

Hopefully before it happens again.

[He nods.]

Is there a register of the people who are brought here, some way of knowing who's...been here the longest? Whoever they are, they may have the most information.

I think the Welcoming Company would probably be the one who knows.. or the City Guardians perhaps? I think some of the City Guardians have been here longer than anyone else.

[He nods. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a lot to go on, but it's a place to start.]

Thanks, I'll look into it.

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