[This time, Loki addresses the network from perched on a bit of the wall around the castle plaza. He's as relaxed as always, though he looks just a tad irritated as well this time. People near the gate between the castle plaza and Loki district should be able to interact in person, but first he has something to say.]

You know guys, I like you. I really do. But sometimes I think you're all a little dumb.

See, we set this network up. We know what's said. For that matter, we can easily find out anything you're up to if we decide to take the time to check on you. But we don't even have to do much ferreting. You're really obvious with your displeasure, and I'm sure if I looked a little deeper I might find out some of you are making plans to do something about it.

Now the boss man, he's not too interested in whatever you're doing. I, on the other hand, thought I'd run through a few things to get you up to speed. If you're going to rebel, you're going to want to do it smart. So here we go.

[He holds up a finger, clearly intending to count visually all the way through.]

One. We're gods. You don't know how to kill gods, do you? So before you start any plans, you might want to be sure you'll actually be able to do anything other than irritate us.

Two. Say you did take us out. You've all been really hostile against the idea of governments. If you're all determined to never have anyone tell you what to do, you're going to have anarchy. What do you expect will happen then? No regulations, no network, no bracelets to keep you from getting sick, no barriers to keep the monsters out, no one to keep up alliances and trade agreements. You'll have a bunch of armies on your doorstep in weeks and no organization to help you deal with them.

Three. Say you beat us and find a way to get sent home. You're all happy - 'cept the ones who're going home to being dead -- and you can forget all about our crap. And then every world in existence gets wiped out and remade and everyone you love dies along with you. You can take a bet that we're lying about this whole thing, but do you really want that kind of risk?

Four. If you can't beat us, no one's stopping you from running off and joining someone else. But out there in the world you're either going to our allies, who'll send you back, or our enemies, who'll either kill you or take you in and let you fight for them. And they're going to let everyone you love die too. That or you end up with my brother, and he doesn't care what you do as long as you entertain him. He'll make you a lord one day and a slave the next, just to see you get angry.

So here's the conclusion. You'd better be thinking of how to deal with all of those things before you start. After that, who knows. Maybe you'll get to take over a whole city and all its naive, loyal subjects...

In the meantime, how about you guys tell me what you'd want us to do if we decided to follow your orders. I'm pretty sure number one is quit messing with you, but if that's it how about you propose some plans for how you'll generate your own emotional energy? What will you guys do yourselves to make sure things get fixed as soon as possible? I'm sure you could get that bleeding heart Freyr to argue for you... but who says the big guy's going to favor the opinion of Hostage #1?

Oh well. Might as well try, hey?

[ good afternoon, asgard! visiting the carnival? enjoying the day? according to the schedule, the weather is pleasant enough! the weather, though, in a needle in a haystack is much less so... today, the auditores present together in a sparse, simple room. the decor is, distinctly, arabian — syrian, if one can guess. they don't suit it, not quite, but the auditores exude an air, make everything bend to them. (somewhere, altaïr and malik are frowning.) that air appearing to be more steel than usual, today. for all the warmth she has spoken with of her brother, claudia is contained, rigid.

she almost frowns, as she motions one hand forward. "what are you waiting for, ezio?" ]

( italian classes, go! )

Ne -- This Olympics thing. It's kind of weird, right? We've got all sorts of talented people here in Asgard. Until the Spelling Contest, I had no idea we had so many smart types! And the competition in the Obstacle Course was pretty fierce too! We've got lots of athletes, lots of talent, lots of fighters ... The weird thing is that it's taken us until now to find out.

[Conan pauses here to frown seriously at the feed of his watch. He's sitting in the park, the sun just starting to fade behind him. He must look pretty incongruous, a skinny Japanese kid, all glasses and childish voice at odds with his tone.]

I don't think that's good enough! I know that being away from home and everything you're used to is pretty disorientating -- but I don't want to hear people saying there's nothing they can do about it! There's plenty to do -- and thinking otherwise is playing into the gods' hands. I want to prove that -- and show the gods that we don't need to be forced to do big things! Where I'm from, we have festivals to show what a school or community is proud of. There are performances, food, stalls about local businesses and groups people can join. I want a Traveller Festival to show Asgard what we're capable of.

I'll need lots of help though! So if you're angry about how the gods have treated us, or being forced to do things against your will for their private games, this is for you. If you feel frustrated or homesick, away from the things you're best at going, this is for you. If you have plans for the coming war but you're not sure how to start, this is for you.

Most importantly, if you don't know what to think and aren't sure -- this is for you. Working together, we're going to send a message to the gods, show them what we're capable of. Just what that message ends up being is going to depend on all of us. So far, I don't think we've said much.

Let's change that.

((ooc: thread-jacking welcomed! Please use this as general IC organisation/idea-sharing as I am being 'borrowed' for a 3 day excursion from tomorrow, and may be sporadic.))

I trust all are having fun dancing to the tune of the gods. [ loki's voice can be heard before he can be seen, and when the video is turned towards him, it's clear that loki is away from the festivities of the olympics — he'd observed the first day and reached the conclusion that it was all he needed to see. at present, he's sat in a café; it's quiet, and primarily unoccupied if the noise (or lack thereof) is anything to go by.

his gaze flickers briefly to the glass just to one side of him — water, presumably — before turning back to the bracelet; his features are set in a primarily detached expression of mild entertainment. ]

Apparent satisfaction aside, I admit to curiosity on several matters: passage into Utgard has been granted, has it not? And the [ the briefest of pauses, a small quirk of his lips — private amusement, a joke only he knows the punchline to. ] king of the giants, Loki, he shares an uneasy truce with Odin, yes? I wish to know more of Utgard, and if there are any who would travel with me to the realm — be it for curiosity's sake or something more — I would be a fool to refuse company.

[ he doesn't truly mean anyone, of course; through a mixture of conversation and observation, there are only a few that loki would even come close to trusting, but the term is used out of a want for the appearance of inclusion, and curiosity as to who would offer. he pauses again, attention sliding from the bracelet to the table ground for several moments, expression shifting to a pointed (deliberate) look of thought and recollection. ]

Queen Thiazi. [ the name is uttered with a degree of deliberation and a hinted lack of familiarity, and after a few moments, he raises his gaze back to the bracelet. ] Ruler of Jötunheim or — I believe they call it Thrymheim here, do they not? [ beat. ] None are aware of a previous king, are they? A Laufey, perhaps, and what his fate may have been? [ a beat, and a genial smile. ] Idle curiosity and nothing more; I shan't mind if an answer is unforthcoming. [ it'd be preferred, in truth; for as much as he detests the majority of the differences between 'his' asgard and this one, the presence of laufey — or more specifically, the death of laufey — would be a particular hindrance. ] But on the matter of Jötunheim, have any been there? Or if not, have any held discourse with her or her kind, be it in person or through these— [ he waves a hand towards his bracelet dismissively. ] toys?

[ a beat, and he sits up a little straighter, leans forward a little more, and his tone gains a touch of earnestness. ] I find myself wondering: if we are here as mere cannon fodder and warriors for gods that care little for our plights, should we not be seeking to avoid the eventuality altogether? Are you all so content to sit and wait for whatever the fates bring you and [ a twitch of his lips. ] Asgard?

[She paused on the video before speaking, looking uncommonly serious for someone usually so full of laughter, drawing a slow breath in. Trying to find words that were... discreet, not completely applicable to her. She was, at times, capable of such things.

There has been just the one thing on her mind, for all she was trying to remake her friendship with Bess. A quiet niggling, but it was more then that, it was a deep seated anxiety, and for once, it showed. Before it had been a case of out of sight, out of mind. But now? Now it was different.]

Tell me... has anyone every had someone appear that they... they came from the same place, so to speak? And... if they were bound in some way...

[she chewed on her lip for a second.]

... would you still be expected to honour that bond? Even in your heart you did not want to, and you were loathe to be in that persons presence even a little? 

[she didn't hate her husband, necessarily, but she knew, it was a mistake for her to ever be around him. Nor could she forgive him, and she was just starting to enjoy herself here.] 

[ he may as well use this damn network for research. ]

If you were to take loyalties to a king, what kind of king would you want them to be? Would you think better if they were harsh or if they were wise? What sort of person would you lend your allegiances too?

[ It's a general topic. he's curious to hear the opinions of people around him. he seems less rigid than when he first arrived. the break from all the battles has done well on him. he's not uneasy and robb speaks with a warm confidence. ]

[Castiel has his voice back! This means it's time to go over several things, many of which are recent developments anyway, and he looks a little harried. He's had a busy day. First on the agenda...]

I am attempting to collect information on how many here have which abilities, as well as what level of power they are at, specifically for those who have experienced more than one increase in strength. Those of us at what would essentially be 'level three' seem few, and it is both out of curiosity and practical application that collecting such information would be warranted.

Therefore, if there are those who are willing to share this information, it would be appreciated. Anonymous answers are also of academic use, if you are concerned about revealing too much about your power.

<b>House</b>: <b>Power</b>: <b>Level</b>:

[Alright, mission one accomplished. Objective two...]

There was discussion recently about a system of representatives and of emergency response. The latter seems a decent idea, and there has been discussion for some time of organizing a group specifically for action in times of crisis, such as attacks on the city. This would, however, not be a group with a leader or a hierarchy, but simply a team of individuals with experience and powers that are of use in such a situation, so that those who are unaccustomed to battle need not take part or be at risk.

Ideally, this group would know of all the individuals involved in it for reference, and to be able to contact each other when necessary. Training and practice could be coordination internally as well, so that those involved are used to fighting or working together. Those who have interest in such a group, or insight into this idea, are encouraged to speak. I will compile a listing of those who would like to take part.

[And an awkward pause, before something completely different. He sets up a minor filter.]

[Filtered away from Daphne Allen]

My... My wife recently arrived here.

[Another pause. He has no idea what he's doing.]

I do not have my ring here, but there must be somewhere to procure one, or someone with the knowledge of how to create one.

[Someone help him out on this?]

[After having spent the last month or so doing research on her own, Keine's work has produced results sufficient for her to go on and introduce a governmental-esque system that she has decided would likely work, considering how people might end up disappearing in this city. She'll show up this midday on the feed, her amiable personality outstanding as ever.]

Good afternoon, fellow Travellers of Asgard, new and experienced. To those that might not recognize myself, I am Keine Kamishirasawa, a Healer from House Sigyn, and formerly a historian from Gensokyo's Hitozato, should you know of it.

I speak to each and every one of you today with a purpose, ladies and gentlemen. After my previous post about a month and a half ago, with my proposal for an election of representatives and leaders from amongst us. Now, for such a system to exist albeit the possibility of such elected representatives being sent home at any given time, research and other countermeasures would have to be drawn up to ensure that it would run smoothly. I have done just that, and have drafted up a system which will allow us to do just that.

( Cut for length! But recommended reading! )

(( ooc: So there's that. This is her proposal for a Traveller-run governmental-esque system so it will be important for your characters to know what's happening. Additionally, tags will come at a later time, but I'll be sure to get to them! ))

[someone seems to be up someplace high; a roof, if you're clever enough to guess. Crouched on that roof is Yusuf, freshly awoken from having been stuck amongst the gray natives. He's more than glad to be really awake again, and greets the strange communicating device with a wave of his left hand--

--few should be able to tell except the particularly observant, very few--but that casual and almost instantaneous flash of his hand is remarkable only because his ring finger is bent down.

But who cares about that? A handsome Turk is smiling at the network and he's already speaking--]

This city... [He shakes his head.] It is very remarkable, but... I never thought blending into a crowd would be so boring, eh?

Let us say that perhaps my desire to bring color to this place has been renewed. Where might I find some honest work? [and by h o n e s t he means "work that pays."]

[ooc: those in Heimdall District, feel free to run into him on the streets or ogle at him sitting on a rooftop. C: ]

[ well, this certainly reeked of the involvement of templars or, at the very least, the malfunction of the apple or some other piece of eden. surely there were other explanations available, but niccolò will prefer the one he understands until a better one is presented to him. and, as such, he will be cautious. after checking out the city and a bit of fiddling, his bracelet begins broadcasting. ]

Ah, mi scusi. Such technology is foreign to me. [ for all his apologies, he still looks almost dour. ] While this is on, however, perhaps you may be so kind as to sate my curiosity. I am only just arrived, and the maid is informative only to a certain, frustrating, point.

[ a pause before he barrels on. ] How many of us have found ourselves here, apart from those that were here before us? And to what ends are we to accomplish the task which we were brought here for? 'To bring life,' yes, but that is too vague an instruction to be very useful, sì? It seems buckets would be a greater help.

Also... Is there any certainty about what goes on in our homes while we are in residence here? It is concerning to me that they imply it will be affected by our time in Asgard, yet give us no explanation as to how.

[ machiavelli appreciates specifics, though he's... very obviously leaving all of his own specifics out by the time he's done with his questions. too bad he doesn't know how to do 'anonymous' yet. ]