Video

[foolishjustice]

[Did anyone think Akechi might never show his face online again after that last post? Well, apparently that's not the case, and he's looking quite serious.]

By now, I'm sure a lot of people have heard about the upturn in missing persons cases involving children and teenagers. I know a lot of us try to help the Moon Knights out where we can, so I thought I'd put out a public call for information.

If you've found out anything that might help in solving this case, please, bring it here. This post can serve as a starting point for anyone trying to investigate, instead of making all of us individually interview people for information. I'm sure it'll make things easier on both sides if we don't have a dozen people independently looking for the same leads, after all.

And, don't worry about your contribution going unrewarded. I know the value of information, so if you tell me your name, I'll personally make sure the Moon Knights know if you provided any leads.

Comments

[despairing_hope]

I think she is equal opportunity personal and impersonal. She likes to cause despair in others and herself.

It’s completely disgusting.

[foolishjustice]

That's...quite a degree of masochism. Any idea on the reason for the sadistic bent, or is she just a sociopath who doesn't care that her enjoyment hurts others?

[despairing_hope]

She just wants to watch the world burn is my guess.

[the_archivist]

Bits of them. But that-

If it's what I think it is, there's a good chance everyone taken is... worse than dead. And if the people taken return on their own, you should be very suspicious of them.

[foolishjustice]

People like that usually have a reason, but...this doesn't sound like the sort of behavior that comes from anger.

[foolishjustice]

[Oh, that's...a dark look in his eyes, at that piece of advice. He thinks he has his ideas where this is going.]

What do you think is going on?

[despairing_hope]

Possibly boredom, but, I can’t say for sure. It’s not like I have ever been her confidant. She’s definitely not angry.

[the_archivist]

Well, when this happened in my world, the people taken were skinned and the skins were used to create new... servants, I guess. Creatures of skin and sawdust. Flesh puppets. Their skinned bodies were the choir for the ritual to attempt to end the world.

[foolishjustice]

So, simply a sadistic individual, who doesn't have the empathy to care about the damage her entertainment does.

[despairing_hope]

I would say the goal was the damage, since it’s completely self destructive, well, everyone destructive I suppose.

Really Queen of Despair is a perfect descriptor.

[foolishjustice]

It sounds like there must be some sort of psychological issues at play...though, I'm not really qualified to speculate on specifics. Mental health isn't something I really learned much about at all until recently.

[foolishjustice]

[.....Why do so many worlds seem to have people actively trying to cause the apocalypse?]

Well...I'm at least doubtful that something like that would work here. The natives' bodies crystalize when they die.

[despairing_hope]

Maybe, I don’t know if trying to have her see a therapist will help in anyway.

Some people are beyond help. Some things are just meant to be the way they are.

[foolishjustice]

You can't help someone who doesn't want to change. Not without methods that have their own questionable ethics.

[the_archivist]

I didn't say they were dead.

[foolishjustice]

...I'm hardly a trained doctor, but I'm pretty sure humans can't survive without the majority of their skin in place.

[the_archivist]

People can't generally survive for six months without breathing or heartbeat, no machines keeping them alive, but with off the charts brain function, but I'm here.

[foolishjustice]

That...is quite a long time for a brain to survive without oxygen, yes. I guess I really shouldn't underestimate what the supernatural is capable of...

[the_archivist]

That's definitely wise. There are many terrible supernatural things. None of them good.

[foolishjustice]

Hmm...I've found some supernatural things that have been helpful.

But at any rate, let's hope that nothing unreversable has been done to these victims. I can revive people from near death, but it won't do any good if they're already gone, or if they crystalize as soon as we stop the culprit.

[the_archivist]

Oh, some of them are helpful, but helpful isn't the same as good.

[Look at his own abilities and existence for example.]

If it is the Stranger, then death would probably be a mercy.

[foolishjustice]

That all depends on who controls it. Powers can be used for either good or evil, after all.

[At some point between messages, he's acquired a cup of coffee to drink from. Caffeine might make some people jittery, but it usually helps him think better.]

I don't think it's someone from off world...the owner of that shop appears to be a Prismal. Unless this Stranger you're talking about has snake-like features.

[the_archivist]

One thing I've learned, there are no powers of light and love and hope. Just fear. And even trying to use those powers for good... well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The Stranger isn't a who. It's a... what. An entity that exists outside reality and reaches manifestations of itself into the world. Creatures, people that serve it, particular books with immense power.

[necroyalty]

Alright. I should be able to scry on them from afar. It'd be more useful if I had something like a hair or some nail clippings, but good luck getting your hands on that on short notice.

[despairing_hope]

That's very true. Though, at least with some people, perhaps they just need the right people around them to start to think about those things.