folklorist | ϡ - Chapter Forty-One; a new beginning [forward dated to the afternoon]

[ Anyone nearby the bridge by House 47 and House 35 will see the droids unceremoniously drop a rather disgruntled and startled blonde man into the river. Helios wasn’t awake fully at the time, but he sure is now! He is just going to sputter and flail a bit in the water before making his way towards dryer land. Helios is totally not amused by this guys, especially since it's kinda cold out. The water is also an odd shade of purple…and that grass is blue. He is just…really confused, because nothing is the right color and he’s slightly panicking from this revelation. It must be a side-effect…it has to be. And once he finally runs into people, he'll notice a strange and alarming aura around each individual person. It's a side-effect from John's tampering with his death penalty.

He’ll groggily get up and wring out his long sleeve shirt and jacket, huffing and mumbling under his breath. Not the graceful or nicest of re-entries to the enclosure. You can find Helios walking through the village, soaking wet and a bit miffed, back to his house. And once he gets there he’ll get settled, changed, and make a voice entry.]

[Voice]

I’m, ah, b-back. Thank you f-for whoever took care of the Library in my absence. Everything is well, aside from seeing things in c-color again. Surprisingly…strange and saying that is rather odd too. [ A laugh on his end. There’s a rattling noise from somewhere off in the distance. Luminair’s chirps get excited and happy as Helios gives a surprised gasp. ] Oh! Gods , is it really that time already? I-I didn’t even realize…though the time it takes is far less than your own.

[ Helios clears his throat, his tone slightly more jovial and happy than before. ] It’s a pleasure to meet all the new arrivals we’ve gotten these past few weeks. I hope everyone hasn’t had too much t-trouble settling in. The library is free to use for anyone who wants, and we also have a bookclub that meets once a month. Also if anyone has any questions about the spirits of this place, or m-magic in general, I ah wouldn’t mind assisting you in learning. There’s also a m-magic club that meets every once in awhile too! [ Some more rattling as Luminair chirps more emphatically. ]

Oh, dear, I-I wonder if it’ll last until tomorrow… [ A tapping noise as he taps a pencil on the table. ]

Ah. I-I was wondering…how many people would be interested in seeing a newborn dragon hatch? I-I think this calls for a little celebration, don’t you think Luminair? [ A happy chirp in reply is heard from somewhere off in the room. ]

If anyone wants to stop by tomorrow to see the hatching…I wouldn’t mind having a small little get together! I could make some food and-and a cake too. Anyone is welcome to come by house forty-four. We could all benefit from a little celebration once in awhile, hm?

((ooc; For Helios' return effect he is seeing people's auras, along with seeing the world in weird colors and shades. The auras that Helios are seeing, are just different facets to a person's personality. If you don't want him to see someone's aura just let me know and we can work around that! ))

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It was, unfortunately. But that's all in the past. [ A past he really doesn't want to think about, not with the happiness he's feeling right now. Even if his hand will always be a reminder of last Halloween. ]

Halloween was relaxed and surprisingly fun this time around, aside from the ghosts pulling pranks of course.

I wouldn't know. I was not here for the better part of it.

But I am glad to hear that Luceti itself was treated rather gently.

It is nice, knowing that the Malnosso can at least have...some compassion at times. Though I don't know what happened during the draft, aside from it being rather hard on people. [ And he still wishes he could have been there to help. ]

If you wish to know, I will tell you of it.

Compassion is not the word I'd use.

[ There's a pause as he thinks on that. Having someone relive that is hard enough. He knows how bad drafts can be, and he knows how hard it hits some people at times. ]

Only if you wished to. I...wouldn't want you to have to speak about it, if it's too much.

I am not terribly bothered by it.

Oh... [ hm. Helios isn't sure he believes that. But if Loki insists. ]

Well if you wouldn't mind, then I suppose I'd be more than willing to hear or, read.

In summary:

We were drafted initially to fight cultists within Vaskoth. About as interesting as you might think; their power was assuredly in their numbers. On the second day strange symptoms became evident in the number of our enemy. The disease spread quickly to encompass all those we fought as well as the remaining civilian population.

Those infected lost their will and ability to think, became insensible to pain, and developed an overwhelming hunger for human flesh. Transmission occurred upon contact with blood or being bitten, and potentially even from some water.

That was rather unpleasant. We went from fighting cultists to fighting what was effectively the walking dead. Some among our number began working toward a cure in the hopes one could be developed in time, whilst others were infected and had to be caged or simply put down for the safety of others.

Toward the end of the draft, an absolute limit was placed upon our powers. At that point I switched from hunting to lending my aid to those developing the cure. Biology is not my expertise, but I was able to provide help from the viewpoint of chemistry. First a partial cure was developed, in that it would arrest the mental ravages of the disease at least.

We were told a bomb would be set off within the enclosure if the cure was not developed in full. At that time we also heard of a potential "patient zero" who might be found, which would aid in the development of a full cure. Obi-wan Kenobi and myself found the person, one Korras Blake, and brought him back to the labs. Thereafter the cure was developed, and those surviving and newly cured were sent back to Luceti.

There is now a vaccine to act against the plague. If you haven't received it already I would suggest you do.

[...it sounds so much cleaner when written.]

Gods. I never knew so much had happened. [ He can understand the reasons for people being so exhausted... ] Zombies then...that's what that disease caused. Good lord and they made everyone fight it without having any knowledge on the matter. Korras Blake...he was mentioned before, when the Kin'coran's were in our enclosure.

[ A pause as he takes it all in. ] I'll definitely have to, ah, get that vaccine then. [ He vaguely wonders if it can affect animals and such as well. ]

I think people were rather bothered by it, so I am unsurprised that it hasn't been a topic for general gossip. A significant number of those on the draft died.

Korras Blake was, from my observation, quite a disagreeable fellow, but helpful enough. I would like to know more about the Kin'corans being in Luceti. I've heard rather conflicting things.

It's always hard discussing things like that for some people. It's dreadful enough that so many people...passed away during it. I wouldn't want to speak about it very much either.

[ Hm. The Kin'corans. ] They were moved from their own enclosure into ours, presumably their enclosure it like this one, only with less in it. Just like before we agreed to help the Malnosso. But they were hostile to an extent. But I can't even begin to imagine what it felt like being taken from their homes like that. [ He isn't condoning their behavior but the situation was very stressful for all parties involved. It didn't make things easy at all. ]

Hostile in what way? Just disagreeable attitudes?

That and the fact that they tried to take over the farmlands, among other places as well. It was just...very stressful for all persons involved. I suppose it's no surprise people reacted the way they did.

People don't take well to being invaded, I've heard.

No, not at all. Despite everything they tried to do here I can't help but feel a bit sorry for them. Going through something like that, especially here of all places, it...must have devastated many of them. Being forced out of your home is probably one of the worst things someone can go through. No one should be made to go through it. That's why our relations with the Kin'corans is a bit taxed...

[ And then you factor in what happened to Korras, a man many people in that enclosure seemed to cherish and idolize... ]

I don't find myself particularly sympathetic. Violating the laws of hospitality are a thing even I will not do.

You do have a point, but I can't help but feel that way. I mean something like that could happen to any enclosure, when you think about it. [ And Helios just keeps an open mind about these things. Sometimes he's a bit too nice for his own good. ]

It was a very trying experience for everyone. But thankfully no one got hurt, and they got to return to their own enclosure after about a week.

Hm. As angry as some have seemed, I would have thought someone had gotten hurt.

ϡ - Chapter Forty-One; a new beginning [forward dated to the afternoon]

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