( video )

[heron]

[ when the feed turns on, there is a man with large white wings standing too close. he squints at it quizzically before moving back with a frown that barely mars his beauty. his wings flap erratically behind him. ]

My sister, Leanne, seems to be missing. I have searched everywhere but she cannot be found. I — [ reyson bites it off, frustrated before taking a deep breath. ] — I will assume she has returned home as I know there have been cases of people . . . leaving. And I have no reason to suspect foul play. The Gods have deemed it so.

[ but, oh, it is a bitter pill that for a moment his face cracks from the effort from it. but reyson has borne worse. ]

Perhaps . . . if you could, please share some words or prayer to your own Gods to watch over her. Or share me stories of your deities. Are they kind? Cruel? Are Gods strangers to you?

Comments

[heron]

The . . . Vanishing Disease?

How were your gods self-serving?

[original_is_best]

Apparently some people become transparent as if they are disappearing before they vanish.

Our gods nearly caused the extermination of humans. They then chose a certain family to rule over others, using divine power to establish their tyrants.

[heron]

I have not heard of such a thing. Did this happen here?

That seems rather cruel.

[original_is_best]

I have only been told of it. I have not yet seen it myself. It would seem Will's roommates suffered from this before they disappeared.

That is only the beginning of our gods' machinations. To be free, we need to become stronger than the gods.

[heron]

[ that is awful. ]

How does one rise above the gods?

[original_is_best]

Knowledge. When you understand how the world works, you can concoct ways to fight back. Even against magic.

[heron]

[ reyson supposes there is some truth to that. ]

Is that the purpose of your studies?

[original_is_best]

Yes, part of it.

[heron]

The Gods here are different to yours and mine. Is it wise?

[original_is_best]

I've no intention of blindly trusting nor blindly destroying. We do know these gods have removed us from our own worlds to use us for their own purposes, and that we have been deceived.

I will continue my work as always, because should the gods attempt to destroy us or even be incapable of protecting us, someone will need to be ready.

[heron]

[ fair enough. reyson can't refute that nor does he want to support the gods. not after leanne. ]

Good luck to your work.

[original_is_best]

Should you learn more information be sure to let me know. The more we can understand about these disappearances the better. We should not accept explanations too readily.

[heron]

Unfortunately, I do not have much. Just that she vanished suddenly and I could not sense her anywhere.

[original_is_best]

So usually you are able to sense her?

That is good. It gives us more to work with than her simply not being within our sight. How far would such a sense normally reach?

[heron]

To some degree. I can sense anyone's nature. It does not extend very far though.

[original_is_best]

Approximately how far would you say it extends? Depending on the area, it may be worth it to search the entire city in a grid in order to verify her absence.

Also, are there any barriers that prevent it from working?

[heron]

I have never known of any barriers, but that does not mean they cannot exist.

As for area . . . I can fly easily enough. Covering the city does not take me long.

[original_is_best]

I would suggest doing a thorough search of the city to verify the results. It is best not to jump to conclusions.

Beyond that, however, we have much yet to learn about these vanishings.

[heron]

[ he shakes his head. ]

I can sense nothing of her. And I have heard of other disappearances already.

[original_is_best]

Yes, but we have not solved any of the disappearances.

We are given explanations, but we cannot know that they are true at this point.

[heron]

I will not doubt without cause. Inviting paranoia can be just as dangerous.

[original_is_best]

Perhaps when it is not important I will let such things go. However, when it has already been shown that we've been deceived, I will not place my trust in the deceivers with anything of great import.

[heron]

How very . . . human of you.

[original_is_best]

I prefer to think of it as self-preservation. Should the worst happen, someone has to be prepared, else where leaving people to the whims of others.

[heron]

As I said. Human.