vallo

[FILTERED TO VALLO PRIME, FLIPPED REBELS (THAT INCLUDES YOU ELI), & RESCUERS]

Testing, testing. Are you getting this? We're using my connection to the Black Lion and the quintessence tech in my arm to form a bridge between the networks. Basically, we're playing telephone through a giant sentient spaceship. Stop by and thank him for me? I'm sure he's stressed by all of this.

Anyway, assuming someone is reading this, on the other side of the portal is a parallel Vallo. We've made contact with a group of Outlanders here and confirmed that they are alternate versions of some of our lost people. Most of them have lived here for years and some have different memories of their home worlds. They've formed a rebellion against another group, made up of more of our lost people. They call themselves the Court of Revenants and they're the reason this message is filtered as best as I can get it.

Please be aware that Council members might look like someone you've lost, but they have apparently taken control of this Vallo through force and terror. There is a stalemate between the Council and the Rebels because any physical violence here creates what they call Echoes - spectral enemies that attack anyone close by and only stop when the fighting stops.

Now I'm sure you're wondering where our Outlanders are. I've been told the people here suffered a violent headache and a flash of memories that then faded when the portal opened on this side. It can't be a coincidence. I suspect our people are tangled up metaphysically with their counterparts. I have no idea how to separate them. If you have any theories, please don't be shy.

As for the rescue team, everyone is accounted for and safe. Our focus right now is planning a recovery mission. A few rebels were taken captive just before we arrived. Keith is We will get them back. In the meantime, please feel free to use this post to brainstorm and reconnect. Since I know it'll be a question on your minds, here is the list of the captured:

• Ashton Greymoore
• Dorian Storm
• Keith Kogane
• Luffy
• Nancy Wheeler
• Noctis Lucis Caelum

And a list of the Council and their allies:

• Caleb Widogast
• William Laurence
• Henry Townshend
• Kellach Donnallen
• Ostyia Rabalska
• Teddy Kaplan-Altman
• Billy Kaplan
• Abigail Blyg
• Lan Xichen
• Lee Thompkins
• Joshua Rosfield
• Julian Blackthorn
• Ronan Lynch
• Serefin Meleski
• Silas

Anyone not on either of these lists should be able to see and respond to this post. Okay, enough rambling. Time to see if this actually works.

Essek

I don't want you to even feel as those there is one single, solitary question, of course I will watch Kiri. Nothing will so much as look at her without my say so, I swear that to you.

Vax

You have my blessing to go, my love. I would never keep you from protecting your family, and I would never hold it against you for doing so. The children will be safe with me.

[ooc note: posted right after portal appears/disappearances happen]

Um uh

Hey, anyone else in the city see that? I'm at the bookstore and was talking to Caleb and saw what looked like some massive creature just disappear through a portal, I think? It's hard to see through the buildings, but there's something going on and--



And is anyone else suddenly missing?? Because Caleb and Frumpkin were right here and now they're both gone.



ETA: People are missing with no list, but I figure someone will want to have one to keep track? So I'll add to this as people make mention.

Abi Blyg
Alex Stern
Ashton Greymoore
Billy Kaplan
Bucky Barnes
Caleb Widogast
Chetney Pock O'Pea
Dorian Storm
Edwin Courcey
Eli Grimsbane
FCG
Joshua Rosfield
Julian Blackthorn
Keith Kogane
Kir Agrupnin-Widogast
Lan Xichen
Lance Alvarez
Lee Thompkins
Matthew Lynch
Mike Wheeler
Monkey D Luffy
Nancy Wheeler
Nebula
Noctis Lucis Caelum
Ostyia Rabalska
Ronan Lynch
Sanji
Serefin Meleski
Silas
Teddy Kaplan-Altman
Tommy Shepherd

After some initial coaching, I think I'm doing this right. Clever device, this. I'll take it over a Sending any day of the week.

Having been told that Tav and Astarion are here is good news as well. Sorry Astarion, I hear you only work nights or we would have already seen you.

I say we because Shadowheart is here with me, we're both marveling over Electri City. I'm also finding myself very fond of the lack of chamber pot smells.

Ah oh, yes, hello, Wyll Ravengard, formerly the Blade of Frontiers and more recently the Blade of Avernus. Perhaps you've heard a few stories?

A big thank you to everyone who attended the party last week and made bids and donations for the youth center. It always gives me a lot of feelings that I'm only just equipped with feeling when I see how generous you all are. Those kids deserve it, let me tell you.

Make sure you pick up your prizes soon, if you haven't already, please and thank you.

Also, might be addicted to cannolis now. This is my own fault.

((posted laaaaate tonight/eaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarly tomorrow morning))
((also this is a picspam and requires a lot of mental photoshop and theatre of the miiiind))

I went to that Critical Role Land with my moron friends and it is the best place I have ever been to in my entire life.

( I found Vax )

It's just an amazing likeness. Incredible. I'm looking at two Vaxs. Vaxes? Vaxii? Fuck.

WAIT I TAKE IT ALL BACK

( What the fuck is this nonsense )

WHO IS THAT REFERRING TO?

( Here are other pictures look at them or don't I don't care )

( Delivery for Gilmore at GGG )

My entire life in Faerûn, I only ever encountered two mimics and both times it was rather our own fault for snooping around and looting every chest we came across. (I make no apologies.)

Never would I have imagined an inflatable man of snow being one, therefore rendering me very surprised when admiring some of the festive twinkle lights outside of a home. I will admit that the Fireball was overkill, but I'll be paying the homeowner back for the destroyed decorations that weren't all tooth-y and pseudopod-y.

Does anyone have any toddler-friendly ideas for Christmas or Solstice celebrations? We've only been able to do things at home or with Julian and Emma in the past few years, because we've had to keep a low profile, but that isn't as much of a problem here and I'd like to take the opportunity for us to go a little overboard this year as a family.

Also any tips to get a "cool" teenager to wear a matching "decidedly uncool" family sweater.

FILTERED AWAY FROM TSC:

Has anyone experienced having ah- two spouses, here, from two separate times?

To explain a little further; Will and Jem were connected and shadowhunter partners before I met them. I had a connection with both of them, and ultimately became engaged to Jem. Circumstances out of our control separated us, but with his blessing, I later married Will. This was a hundred and fifty years ago. We had a full and happy and wonderful marriage with him, until he passed.

I'm immortal, so I continued on as I am now, but grieving. It took decades, but Jem was healed and we were able to be together again, we married a few years ago and now we have Mina.

They are both here, and I am very lucky, make no mistake, to be lucky enough to have them. Will is from the early days of our marriage, and Jem is from our current time - they're both very happy to be with each other again, as we've always loved all of each other, bonded as family. But it is becoming a little awkward and I haven't figured out how to breach the "who am I married to" topic in terms of intimacy with them.

I know this place is strange so if anyone has any advice, I welcome it.

Well, hi. Fancy being stuck here with all of you.

Any chance people know where I could find some board games or kid books? I thought I saw some in one of the lobbies, but stuff has been shuffled around with all of us here and I know my sister is going to get sick of my presence in the evenings when there isn't as much for her to do eventually and I thought maybe some distractions could delay the inevitable.

Or anyone else here with kids that an eleven-year-old could hang with?

SHAUN - can be viewed by Vallo onlookers

I don't know if it's okay for me to reach out or not or if you'd rather I just leave you be, but I

Hey, good morning. Is it still morning? I don't know. Not important, Vax

I am under stern orders to tell you that my mother says hello.

The camera pans to the exterior of a charming, warm, and heavily decorated Christmas goods store

Text to: Vax
--Hello, darling, Velora's found her way to the shop. She's fine, don't worry. She's currently examining tinsel offerings and knows she should stay put for you.
--I didn't know you were in town
--Why are you
--Ah, wait perhaps you deleted


--This is Shaun Gilmore by the way.
--That sound that could be heard for miles was my pride promptly leaving my person, how droll.
--Let us just thrust salt upon the wound shall we
--Do you remember where the store is?

Group text to: Caleb and Essek
--Darlings, surely you are aware of the esteem I hold you both in. Brilliant scholars, superb fathers, tremendous friends.
--I am well aware that I am asking for a lot but I am hopeful that the esteem you in turn hold me in may be sufficient to rally you in my moment of need.
--When one's ex has made a reappearance after five years.


--It's fine, this is fine!
--I'm fine.
--Pretend as though this entire experience has been but a blip of humor for your day.

I understand that there is a group that meets here for queer women that use various styles of weaponry. I love this for all of you and fully support the continued existence of such a place to hang out and have camaraderie.

However, I am useless with a weapon. I stabbed at an intellect devourer once and I think that I might have hurt myself more in the effort and only succeeded in tickling it, so I've since given up and rely entirely on my magic. Best for everyone, though apologies if you turn into cats again or, I don't know, summon a cambion. (Do cambions exist in this world? Perhaps we'll get lucky.)

Anyway, all of that to say that I'd like to suggest or create a sister group, if there isn't one already, for queer women that wield magic. I have no doubt that there will be crossover as I have to assume that there are others more skilled than myself that juggle both, but I am still fairly new here and I thought this may be a nice way to meet others and also just have some conversation, possible demonstration, and drinks, if you partake.

If there is interest, please let me know here and I'll organize a time and place and we can discuss the food and drink aspect to go with.

For those keeping track, this odd switching of alternate selves does indeed seem to be temporary as I have been informed that my bruised face is due to having been a different version of myself for several days.

Ongoing, of course, but temporary.

BLUE

I apologize for abandoning you. How are you holding up?

Now that my reign of tyranny has come to an end and things feel a bit more normal at home even though it's still, I'm here to do the work thing I was supposed to do days ago. As the kids may or may not say: my bad.

Last year we did a silent auction fundraiser benefiting the Youth Center on New Years Eve. It was a wild success and something that we're now doing again, because why not. I understand this is quite some time out before the holiday hits, but time moves quickly this time of year, or so I've noticed, so here I am. It will still be the optionally fancy affair, but this time we're doing a masquerade for full dramatic effect.

That being said, what I'm really here for is to once again look for donations from individuals and businesses alike to go toward the silent auction. Gift baskets, certificates, experiences, and so on. All of the proceeds do go back to the youth center, to fund facilities and programs. Our hope is to expand to add some additional classrooms and general space eventually.

Anyway. You can reach out at vvessar@vcyc.org or by approaching one of us at the youth center, if you're interested in contributing. Otherwise, clear your schedules and all that. It'll be a good night.

[OOC - You can find a spreadsheet here to put any items you'd like to include for the auction! I'll do another reminder closer to the event.]

It seems that I'm out of practice with the whole battle thing. You help take down one nether brain, take a handful of weeks off in a new world, and suddenly you forget that Misty Step is an option.

That said, I hope that everyone is doing and recovering well. That was something.

KARA DANVERS

I wanted to say thank you, for getting me to the clinic as quickly as you did. I really appreciate the assist, as I know I wouldn't have gotten there without you.

LEON KENNEDY

Thank you for helping Astarion the other day. I like him whole and unsinged, so again: thank you for helping him.

GILMORE

I heard about the shop. Are you all right?

It has been some time since I discussed the podcast, so here I am doing so.

The next installment will drop tonight and be available wherever you listen to podcasts and I will be discussing cantrip spells and their versatility if you think creatively, why Graviturgy is the best school of magic (something I am very balanced and not at all biased about), and a deep dive into the riveting fall-themed argument of Pumpkin Spice Latte vs. Apple Cider vs. Hot Chocolate. Where do I fall on such matters? I suppose you will have to listen and find out. Such mystery, such suspense.

Also, should anyone magically inclined or knowledgable in the area have a few hours to dedicate to a conversation on the topic and not mind being featured in said podcast, please let me (or Blue) know and we can discuss further. It is always nice to have others involved, so.

Unrelated, but I will be turning 123 next week. This feels like a potentially auspicious number.

Do you know what goes well with sadness? Looking good.

I realise everyone's in their feelings lately on account of the disappearances, but I've news: 'Reap What You Sew' is officially open for business. Want to add a little sparkle to your daily uniform? Is some adornment from home beginning to fray? I do alterations, enhancements, and repairs on demand.

Distract yourself from your misery! Light up the room with an Astarion original. Pay me gobs of this silly land's currency. There will be other children. But another opportunity to look better than your nemesis? It might not present itself again anytime soon. Who's to say?

(Open Tues, Thurs, and Saturday evenings; drop-off and pick-up is open whenever you want. And, of course, I work in DOA intake Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. So much work! Truly wild.)

BELLS HELLS

Calix made me that bank account and it has a bunch of money in it. I very highly doubt it's from him so I guess it's one of those Vallo money things, not fucking complaining. Am complaining that he's gone but

But, you know. Give me an itemized fucking receipt of whatever you're missing, Dorian, and I'll get you your money back.

After that, let's go out tonight. I can only handle trying to be so much responsible and it's been forfuckingever so let's get sloppy.

GILMORE

If you were given like some fucking potion or salve, would you be able to figure out what's in it that makes it tick?

Also uh pretty sure my kid went over to yours when he first got here and was all freaked out about it and me and us not knowing him so, I know you haven't done it yet or anything but a preemptive thanks or some shit for being a safe place for him to drop when he needs to in the future.

WIDOGAST

I've got a question for you when you've got the time.