1st Vision | [Video]

[autumnthunder]

[Caelestis had been in this place for a short while now, but had never made himself known to the public over the network. He decides to change that only after seeing the various reactions to the recent news articles regarding Everglade, to which he couldn't help but roll his eyes. Perhaps it was because he hadn't been there long enough to fully grasp the situation, but it almost seemed like people only care about Everglade now that there's a target painted on someone's back thanks to the newspaper. So, a uniformed man with short blue hair, feathers on the side of his head and small gold feather markings on his face appears on the network, his posture giving him a very militaristic air.]

Many people seem to be quick to grabbing for pitchforks now that Everglade's mysterious 'vigilante' had a name and a face placed on him recently. They aim to damn him, and seem to choose to do so by becoming a vigilante just as he.

Instead of wasting your efforts hunting one man, I would advise those of you with that mentality to shift your intentions to considering enlisting with the Everglade Rangers. That is, if it's truly the city that you're wishing to aid and not running on the sole desire to hunt a man down with your own self-proclaimed brand of 'justice' or whatever reasoning you choose for it is. Speaking solely as a Ranger, we could use all the help we can get in order to keep the place safe while maintaining balance.

[Because honestly, this is ridiculous. Everyone is up in arms about one guy while there's so many other issues present in the city. He has no idea how the Guardian and Deputy are capable of coping with this ludicrous mindset of others.]

That said, if there are others who seek aid in traversing through Everglade safely after nightfall, I am here to offer my aid at any time.

[He tips his hat slightly, and moves on to a different subject. He doesn't wish for this message solely to be business oriented.]

And perhaps I could be directed to an establishment that serves fine teas in any of the cities? I have been so focused with business and securing employment since my arrival here that I'm afraid I haven't had the chance to properly seek out such places for leisure.

[And he needs a good cup of tea so he can think better. This is very important information.]

Comments

[azaleafae]

I'm not quite petty enough to go after him, but I would like to see him feel what it's like to be treated like a criminal. His narrow-minded thinking is just unbelievable.

[Okay, maybe she sounds a bit bitter.]

private video;

[autumnthunder]

[He debates answering her for a few moments before he decides to opt for the private route, changing the video's settings.]

It seems that you have more experience with this man. Could you perhaps tell me about him? I don't know the truth behind the story in the paper, and I won't yet write it off, but I do want to keep an eye out for this man and his actions if he returns to Everglade. If you would be willing to oblige me.

private video;

[azaleafae]

The vigilante had actually recently revealed his identity, a man called Theodore Satchel. He also goes by the name "Ted." He was once the Guardian of Everglade before Fai took over. During his time as Guardian, Ted had placed a ban on necromancy, which, from what I understand, some of the residents in Everglade need to survive.

I may not go so far as to call him a bad person, but his views on what is considered "evil" are questionable.

private video;

[autumnthunder]

[He does recall Fai's message regarding the vigilante and the previous Guardian's necromancy ban. That was something that easily rubbed Caeli the wrong way.]

Necromancy seems to be subject to varied opinions throughout the realms, but to completely steal the very livelyhood of an entire culture of a foreign realm is overstepping one's bounds.

Do you know what the motives to his actions are? Given his history and his actions in Everglade, I don't know if he swears against the undead or if he wishes to target any manner of inhuman beings.

['Inhuman' being a term that he could easily fall under. Despite his mostly human appearance, he still isn't actually one.]

private video;

[azaleafae]

It looks like he was just trying to be a hero...but again, he was going about it the wrong way. He even told me that the only reason he ran for Guardian was to oppose the other candidate...someone named Dracula. He insisted that Dracula is pure evil. I haven't actually seen Dracula do anything evil, though, but a number of people said they have.

The biggest case I have heard is when the barrier around this world cracked, and some spirits leaked in from outside, attacking everyone. It's been said that Dracula had done something to make the crack worse by attacking the spirit that protects Everglade.

...Of course, all of this happened before I arrived more than a year ago, so I can't really vouch for or against Dracula...

Did someone say vigilante? [Video]

[youfool]

I've been to Maribelle's establishment, once upon a time. Her teas and confections are very fine. Who's in charge of the rangers, anyway? I mean, who does the hiring? What are the hours?

Ew vigilantes are gross [Video]

[autumnthunder]

Maribelle's? I will have to investigate. What would the name of her place be?

[Because he definitely needs tea and confectionaries in his life. Not that he'll openly admit to the latter. Even if his sister knows the truth.]

Guardian Flourite is the one in charge, and as such we would report directly to him. You would have to discuss with him about the hours, as I spend a great majority of my time here of my own accord, protecting man and beast alike.

Come on you haven't even tried them

[youfool]

[Ah, so much for that then. Oh well, not joining the club will make him stand out that much more, daring iconoclast rebel that he is]

The Tea Time Cafe, over in Genessia City. Speaking of cities, thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping out that one. Even if the men and beasts alike act a little beastly, now and again.

They smell funny, that's bad enough

[autumnthunder]

[Rebelling in such a way would certainly earn a few dirty looks from Caeli as result. But at least Caeli also freely gives away dirty looks for nothing, so it's at least normal.]

I will have to keep that place in mind, thank you.

[He may have to go there after these conversations to get his sanity back.]

I am simply trying to handle matters as diplomatically as I can without adding more fuel to the fires. Everglade seems to be the city of misunderstandings.

video;

[imalooter]

[The bright-eyed Ukrainian is very interested in what he has to say.]

Private protective services, people needing an escort after nightfall, something about a vigilante taking this place into his own hands? Something tells me the brochure on this Everglade left a few things out. I just showed up. Think you can give me the juicy details? Maybe tell me about these Rangers?

video;

[autumnthunder]

[Caelestis is very willing to enlighten him where he can. He nods slightly.]

The brochure did not cover most of the city's recent politics - of which I'm only vaguely familiar with since I have not been here terribly long, but spending time in both the city and researching at the Schnee Company helped clear up the details.

There was formerly a curfew in place for humans in the city, which meant they waved their rights at nightfall and if they were attacked by so-called "creatures of the night" then they could not get assistance from the local law enforcement. The has since been overturned, but the attacks are still common from both sides, though all attacks are punishable should they be for sport as opposed to hunting for survival.

[Everglade really was the smaller, more complicated version of an entire continent in the world Caelestis comes from. What a mess.]

The purpose of the Rangers is to keep the city safe, for both human and monster alike. If they're all expected to coexist, then they need to know that all species have the same rights as others. I have aided a number of people from indiscriminate attacks since I joined with them.

[And that's not even getting into the whole 'criminals had their record wiped clean' thing yet. He had no idea how Fai was still sane right now.]

video;

[imalooter]

[As Caelestis' explanation continues, Fet's expression darkens.]

What sort of "creatures of the night"?

video;

[autumnthunder]

Werewolves, vampires, wraiths, creatures of those sorts. Some sentient, some otherwise. Everglade seems to be the home of these types of creatures, where Fayren seems to house those of the more 'magical' variety. If those creatures wished to attack humans at night when the curfew was in place, they could do so without penalty.

[But he certainly won't damn all of those creatures. He understood it was nothing more than nature for some of them, and others of the sentient types may choose to avoid hunting humans entirely.]

But now that they can be punished for those illegitimate actions and that they don't have special treatment anymore. They still deserve protection all the same from humans should they be attacked, but humans have that right just as they do.

video

[tsukihito]

[Tsukihito has given this issue much thought since learning about the issues that plague the Everglades. He's tempted to take up action as well but he's curious see what others will do. So far the Network isn't short on opinions as of late.]

How do you plan to maintain balance when some lives are worth more than others?

[The fox questions with a polite smile.]

Is it not true that the beasts of the Everglades feed off of human flesh? To defend the monsters is to denounce your own humanity but you are not human. This is why you cannot understand the reasoning behind this vigilante. He deems himself as moral and just but he is just amoral as the beasts themselves.

[He leans forward a little.]

Therefore, which side will you pick in all this? If the vigilante is stopped, then the beasts will feast upon the humans there. If he is not stopped, then the vigilante will kill anyone and anything that is deemed inhuman.

video

[autumnthunder]

[This man certainly can make Caelestis think, although he couldn't help but find it a bit bizarre. Still, it's almost nice to even have someone around that can get into the details like that.]

It does not come down to what lives are 'worth more' as all lives are worth the same, regardless of their race.

[He's been on the receiving end of racism for being a kashia, but even then he doesn't hold grudges for it.]

The politics of the situation are complicated, which is why I choose to remain on neutral ground. I do not know where the vigilante currently stands at this stage, but what I am well aware of is to defend anyone who may fall victim to indiscriminate attacks - whether they be a human towards an inhuman, or with their roles reversed. My duty in this matter is as such, and not to side with one being or another.

video

[tsukihito]

[The kitsune rests his chin within his hands and just listens with a look of dull fascination upon his face.

It's uncertain as of what Tsukihito finds so amusing about all this. It's almost as if he's hoping something exciting will happen.]

Neutrality is a luxury uncounted to those who find themselves in the middle of a problem. Can you truly remain 'neutral' in all this?

video

[autumnthunder]

[He shakes his head. That was a good question to hover over him, and he knows he's still prone to err. That's just the nature of living creatures. But that's why he looks into problems as much as he can before making judgments.]

I will do all that I can in order to do so, but I will still refuse to fall into this 'man versus beast' mentality that many others carry. I have been in the middle of similar debates before, and they all amount to nothing. Such ignorance will not aid Everglade in the slightest.

[Video]

[shy_mage]

[He prefers to stay away from Everglade as much as possible. Still...]

I-It's really nice of you to p-protect people.

[Video]

[autumnthunder]

[Staying away from Everglade was certainly a smart move. Caelestis sure doesn't blame anyone for staying away. He nods slightly.]

It's what I've been trained to do my whole life, and I fully intend to make use of my experience where I can here.

[Video]

[shy_mage]

[He nodded.]

I-I'm glad there's brave people to p-protect everyone else. It's... It's still really brave.

[He still wanted to stay away from Everglade, though.]

[Video]

[autumnthunder]

It's simply a shame that it's such a necessity. But I suppose that a world without conflict would be too perfect.

[If nothing else, at least Everglade enables him to still act similarly to his duties back in his own world. He would probably go crazy if he couldn't do that.]

[Video]

[theonewithsixeyes]

[Wait. On any other day, he probably would have ignored a post like this, and gone about his way. The politics of this world were not his business, after all. But he knew this voice. He knew that face too. In fact, he simply knew this person, which was both a blessing, and... a mystery, he supposed. It was nice to see someone he knew, for once. But at the same time, he did not want others to get snatched from their worlds as he had for his own convenience. Even so, there was no point in dallying.]

Last person I expected to see here. I doubt the Hazaethian military is exactly established here, but you're still playing at being a military man, huh?

[Video]

[autumnthunder]

[There was a moment's hesitation from the man. To think that there would actually be someone he recognized in this place. It sure as hell wasn't anything he expected. Still, before he took to pleasantries, he frowned.]

It's what I was trained to do for twenty years. I'm not about to easily let go of that.

[Once that was out of his system, he seemed to relax slightly.]

I didn't expect to see you either, Allen. It's somewhat of a relief to see a familiar face in this place.

[Video]

[theonewithsixeyes]

I could say the same. Making friends has not come easily here, as I've tried to keep my presence mostly to a minimum. You're looking to be incapable of that, though. Still, I've done my best. I see you're already off to work too. Everglade Rangers, huh?

[Video]

[autumnthunder]

Well, I doubt I need to say that you and I are nothing alike. We've had plenty of time for us both to easily come to that conclusion on our own.

[Though he does wish that he could get out of political drivel as easily as someone like Allen could. But he's just so used to it at this point that it almost feels wrong to not get involved in things. It doesn't help that Mobius was always piling the political work onto him instead of doing it himself. Jerk.]

It's something I could do where I can easily put my experience into practice. Given what I've been reading about this city, I don't know how the Guardian and Deputy stay sane.