Video; Election Message

[superficially_busy]

[The seven-coloured puppeteer appears on the screen. Her magic dolls busy at work tending to mundane chores in the background.]

Good evening, everyone. I am Alice Margatroid, candidate for the Fayren guardianship.

It's that time again for all to cast our ballots and choose who we want to safeguard our fair cities. Please follow your hearts and choose whom you believe to be the best choice. You are part of the voice that speaks for Fayren. Go on, and vote, and do so without regrets.

I am well aware that I tend to be... Introverted. Which is why I'm taking this opportunity to highlight many things I have done and can do for Fayren.

[A helper doll descends on screen and settles in Alice's hands.]

I am a magician youkai who specialises in doll magic. Manipulation of dolls. I am a puppeteer. Through my magic, I can have dolls that I made perform just about any task I have them do.

During the terms of Satori Komeiji's, I assisted the Fayren soldiers in protecting Fayren during a monster attack, as well as those red-robed creatures during Xander's term. And when the Hands of Decay were active, Satori asked me to design security dolls to be placed at business establishments to humanely capture criminals. This left the Hands unable to function.

We are recovering, still, from a breach in the barrier. Fayren, without Guardian Xander, was hit especially hard. I did what I could from the air and on the ground to protect the citizens as they retreated to safer locations.

Outside of crises, I made home-made sweets and handed them out to people and performed puppet shows for the populace.

And what more can I do? I want to help bridge the gap between mages and non-magical. I may be a magician youkai, but I was human once. I believe I can help build that bridge. Further more, I have a "Phantom Sight," where I can see through illusions.

That is all I wished to share. To my fellow candidates for Fayren's guardianship, good luck to you all, and may the best woman, and dragon, win.

Comments

[k2so]

Hello, Alice Margatroid. I have a few questions.

What is a youkai? And what's the level of sentience of your dolls?

[superficially_busy]

Ah~ A youkai is a "Mystic Apparition." It's what the Japanese call supernatural beings.

As for my dolls, they are as semi-autonomous. They can perform anything I task them to. Near identical behaviour of humans so long as I am in control.

[k2so]

Like a ghost?

[Sorry, Alice, he isn't all that versed in the supernatural.]

Interesting. And when you are not in control, they're free to do as they please?

[superficially_busy]

No, just any supernatural being. A monster, some might say.

And no, if I'm not in control, then they are just ordinary dolls that do nothing. I am trying to create a sentient doll, though.

[k2so]

I see. You are prettier than any monster I know, then.

[He ponders in silence about her explanation. Clearly magic in play here but maybe Kay can still offer some insight.] If you want that, you need to develop an A.I. for the doll first.

[superficially_busy]

[She makes no reaction to the compliment. She heard it enough for a few youkai life times.]

That is nice of you to say, but I'm not ready to experiment on mixing magic with technology.

[k2so]

[Well, it was the truth ad that's why he says it. Kay gains nothing from complimenting people.]

Hm On second though, that might be for the best.

Do you only use the dolls in Fayren or you would be willing to lend them to other cities that might need its help?

[superficially_busy]

You mean my security dolls? They are only in Fayren, yes. I could set up dolls in other cities, but there would be... complications.

[k2so]

Yes, those.

Oh? What sort of complications? They could go rogue, perhaps?

[superficially_busy]

No, that's impossible.

I control my dolls through magic strings. If the strings are cut, the dolls become useless.

[A pause...]

Forget I said anything about complications. I'll install security dolls in another city as a stress test.

Which city are we talking?

[k2so]

I see. Truly a puppeteer, as you said.

[Kay tilts his head, happy with that answer.] Thank you. Could you try them in Attleton? There's no formal police force there and more help to keep crimes or dangers at bay would be very helpful.

[superficially_busy]

Certainly. Though I will need the Guardian's approval. Which will have to wait until after the election.

[k2so]

Yes, of course. We need to do it by the rules.

But something tells me the future Guardian will be okay with it. Call it droid intuition.

[Video]

[youfool]

[That all sounds hunky-dory, except that one thing that claws at his curiosity. wtf?]

"Er, human once? What on earth compelled you to renege?"

Re: [Video]

[superficially_busy]

It just happened. I can't exactly remember how or when. It was a subtle change.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Oh...I see.

[He doesn't.]

Would you, er, change it back, if you could?

Re: [Video]

[superficially_busy]

No.

I'm no longer burdened by human limitations. I don't need to eat or sleep or rely on monetary wealth.

[Yet she does anyway out of habit.]

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Ah, I see. Well, ah, good afternoon.

[Rot in hell you traitor.]

[the_queen_of_thieves]

So these things are yours then. I've seen them around town a lot.

[ It's still creepy to her, like everything magical in Fayren, but she's trying not to be bothered by the overall weirdness of her new home. ]

[superficially_busy]

Indeed. What do you think of them?

[She tried making them look harmless, just like their purpose. Try saying hi them them. They'll wave back in a realistic manner.]

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Err... Awkward. ]

They are very different from the puppets I'm used to. They're smaller, and move on strings. I've never seen magic before coming to Fayren. For me it was children's tales.

I've been told there might still be spirits lingering, do they work against these?

[superficially_busy]

Unfortunately, no. Only my War Dolls are designed for true fighting.

The security dolls are a response to the Hands of Decay, a terrorist group that targeted mages and the schools of magic. They react to crimes in progress and detain the perpetrators as humanely as possible.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

[ Oh. That is... worrisome to someone planning to rebuild her less-than-legal business along with the legal one. ]

That sounds a little bit frightening. Is there a lot of crime for them to prevent in Fayren?

[superficially_busy]

Not anymore.

There are some who commit violent crimes out of sight of my dolls. That's when the bounty hunters come in.

[the_queen_of_thieves]

I've heard about them. What an interesting cooperation you have here.

Where I'm from the law doesn't like to rely on outlaws to help them.