12/4 - Evening

[piercetheheart]

[A lot of you will recognize Gladio's voice, it's hard to miss and he's certainly loud enough at the parties. And as the first day of chaos begins to wind down with no sign of stopping things become much more dire, in Gladio's opinion. A certain Shield doesn't trust the Night. Surprise surprise.]

GUYS we're not going to be able to keep this up through the night, scattered like this. We need a place to regroup! If you're on the main island, Denny's the most defensible. If not... The light house on the farming island. If you can't defend yourself or just need a break, get there. Noct? You better have your ass in that building by sun down or so help me-

We need to stop these things from attacking the flocks. We just got all this shit from Harv we can't afford to let it all get eaten or washed out to sea now. Strength in numbers, right?

[It felt so familiar, like giving orders to the Glaives when he'd been helping Cor and Libertus over the years. Clear decisive action so those that are less experienced and scared have someone to look to. There's a moment where he abruptly wonders if this is why they made him king in the end. But this isn't Lucis, this isn't Insomnia. This place is far wilder than that-]

For Hearth... and Home!

Comments

[want_to_belong]

[He was glad to hear that voice. Prompto was not the leader. He'd just wanted to go search for a friend who might be there, and shit started going down.]

Gladio, Coco and the others are still on the islets. I haven't found Noct... [He hadn't known where to look, and Enso was big, okay?] What should I do? ...Six bullets left.

[He'd spent four protecting himself at time. He had his melee weapon, but that was not the ideal solution and he knew it.]

[piercetheheart]

I know, dude, I know. Been working out some of the boat stuff and keeping things away from the livestock. We're gonna get the birds over there so they can hole up in the lighthouse with us.

[And he's going to be throwing together a few more mattresses too so people have somewhere comfy to crash when they drag their asses in.]

[cacoethes_mori]

[That last bit honestly sounds like something Lambert would say.

And a crisis not of gradual unfolding? It's almost like being part of the Carnival again.

Which may or may not have something to do with Foster's apparent generosity--if it can be called generous, considering it's coming from him.]

If anyone needs a lift on Nuidan....

I, uh, haha. I seat two.

Mmm. Well. I can seat more.

But only for an hour.

[piercetheheart]

[He doesn't recognize the voice and the words don't make a lot of sense to him but... well there's some folks around here that are decidedly non-human.]

Anything you can do to help people stick together in defensible areas is gonna be a help.

[littlemhigan]

[Look, she's had a bad day, she wants to go home, and now this?! Castor doesn't know the man giving orders, but goddamn if he doesn't sound like he's worth listening to right now.]

I've hardly been here a day an' all this kicks off! 'S this shite normal 'round these parts?!

...Actually nevermind, I'm not sure I'd like the answer. Tell me how te help.

[piercetheheart]

Too normal.

[Muttered under his breath and then there's a sharp Kweh! from one of the chocobos he's trying to usher along the bridge.]

If you're on the main island, big, lotsa jungle, head east, follow the river up. There's a compound with some small buildings, one's been repaired into a sort of restaurant. Most defensible place there. Help people get inside before dark.

If you're on the little islands? Head North, there's a boat you can come across with me an we're trying to keep this shit from eating the livestock.

[shatteredlenses]

[For Hearth and Home. Doesn't that bring back memories, though it seems a little strange hearing it from Gladio. He must have picked it up from the few Glaives that made it out of the city. Of course, the Glaive that Ignis most strongly associates that with didn't make it out of the city...

Ah, but this isn't the time to be caught up in memories of those long gone.]

Gladio, I've secured the cottage the best that it can be, but I still don't think leaving it unprotected is a good idea. If these creatures do a fraction of the damage they did before, we're going to lose months of work.

[Months of your work, he might add.]

Ardyn just stopped by. Between the two of us, we should be able to keep them back.

[There is a familiar scree then and a ruffling of wings.]

Excuse me, three. Rory's quite excited to get out and spread her wings.

[piercetheheart]

They fuck up the cottages, I can fix that shit. They take out the fields or the livestock...

[He doesn't have to finish that sentence. Ignis knows as well as the rest of them that if they lose these food supplies they're fucked.]

Don't go off on your own, babe. Please. Your firestarter will keep you safe, I know that. You let me worry about getting people somewhere more reinforced than these little things and then I'll come back for you guys and the girls.

[warpstriking]

Yeah, yeah. [If it's not obvious, he's waving it off on the other end. You're implying he knows the way there, Gladio. Still, he sighs and is on the move.]

Not even here a day and you're already giving me a curfew? And here I thought you were trying not to sound like your dad.

[The chide has no bite to it. In fact, there's a teasing quality to his tone before he warps and it distorts his voice slightly.]

[piercetheheart]

You're probably on the main Island. Prom's looking for you.

[You can wave it off all you want Noct. He's in mission mode. No time for jokes or banter. Not anymore. This is what happens after 10 years working with Cor.]

Head East then follow the river up. There's a restaurant that's really well reinforced on the North side of the lake. Most defensible location on the island.

[thermalwind]

I'm at the beach, I'll direct anyone I find towards Denny's.

[He sighs but he's in business mode. No jokes, no pleasantries just the Black Paladin on the move.] I'll keep you updated on any progress. ...while I'm on the stone, ask me anything you want to know about these things you don't already know.

I can talk and move at the same time.

[piercetheheart]

Iggy gave me a basic rundown. Thanks, Keith.

Prom's gonna set up a signal fire out there so there should be a smoke trail to follow for the newbies.

[crosslaced]

Hey. Are you on Harv’s islet?

[piercetheheart]

Goin back and forth, getting people and animals across. Your horses are gonna have to share space with the Chocobos but we're doing our best to drive back anything that's trying to make a snack of the animals.

farstone speech to all

[postictal]

If you need directions to Denny, let me know. We have heat, light, and food. Mana pools aren't working, but I've got some flares to mark our position, if you need it.

These things don't like fire. They don't like bright light. If you need to get them off you, that's how you manage it.

[ladytakamaki]

I'm on the way to Denny right now. I'll stay there as long as I need to, so you've got backup!

[piercetheheart]

Prompto's headed your way, he's gonna help set up signal fires.

Been telling people to follow the river inland to get to you.

[promiselisting]

S-s-so, what about those of us who d-don't know where any of those are?

[ Not the politest or friendliest of introductions, but there's a definitely audible undercurrent of anxiety to her voice. If the quiver alone didn't give it away. She doesn't like being in this position, not knowing where she is, all but completely defenseless. ]

Got any landmarks?

[ At least she can figure out cardinal directions from the sun. She may be a city girl but she's not that clueless. ]

[piercetheheart]

Sorry, kiddo.

[Absent affection for anyone younger than him, oops. He doesn't mean it condescendingly Futaba, he's just a little distracted.]

head East, when you hit the river move inland. Denny's in a cluster of buildings between the East coast and the lake. Working on setting up signal fires now.

If you're on the smaller islands head North and I'll get you across on a boat ASAP.

[tuskenlancer]

[ CT doesn't respond to the message, but she can't deny the relief that washes over her when she hears Gladio's voice, vital and commanding and alive. ]

[piercetheheart]

[So remember how he apparently becomes King back home, Cee? Yeah this is why.

Still if he doesn't hear from her by sundown he will actively call her while he's getting the birds and horses to calm the hell down and share space peaceably.]

Cee? Head count. You and Wash okay?

also reply all

[yourattention]

[There's, uh. There's a considerable amount of clucking in the background of this message. It's entirely possible that Connor put his entire flock of Bludrocs onto the Jackdaw and they're Not Happy About It.]

So if you're not on that side of the island, don't fucking cross Ensō to get to the Denny. Go down until you get to the monkey compound. I set up torches, you can't fucking miss it but uh. More importantly, I can take you from Ensō to the islets in the Jackdaw if you're not a fighter. The, uh. They can only focus on one area at a time and I'm pretty sure they're after the Storyteller.

[He's about to try and explain, but actually? We don't have time for Connor's Conspiracy Theory Hour right now and he knows it.]

You'll be safer on the islets. Boat leaves at - if you hold your hand up under the sun, two hand widths to the horizon is when I'm leaving.

[Two hours before sunset, essentially.]

[piercetheheart]

The hell do you mean they're after Tory!?

[He'll thank you for the boat thing in a minute but that's his friend you're talking about.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet's voice is calm and steady, as professional as ever:]

They're repelled by heat and light. Fire is generally most useful as it provides both in abundance, but other light sources can and do work.

On that note, please notify me if there's any area that needs additional protection- my threads glow, and they last until I die or dismiss them. They've proven effective at discouraging these creatures in the past.

I have fortified my house on the islets and areas of the farming islet in this manner, get to those places if you can. If not, the Denny is open as Tim suggested. Currently, I am on Enso continuing to fight these creatures and searching for anyone in need of rescue. However you can do so, signal me if you are in need of help.

To anyone trapped in a hostile area: we are coming for you. You are not alone.

[piercetheheart]

Some day I'll be as collected as you, Muffet.

[Congrats, Muffet, you're the first one that's gotten a bit of a laugh out of him.]

The webs around the livestock are gonna be lifesavers. Thank you.

[savedbyasong]

[Gladio's alright, that's a relief.] I'm on Enso, I'm making my way to Denny. I can help anyone who is injured. I'll grab anyone who doesn't know how to get there on the way.

[piercetheheart]

Keep an eye out, Prompto and Noct should be headed that way too.

[devilstongue]

Finally something I can do!

[ Bring him a beast any day, farming is killing his soul. ]

[piercetheheart]

Where you at, Mols?

[Did he just.... shorten your nickname even more?

Maybe.]