Fourth Curse

[bondsofsuffering]

[Anonymous Text]

Subject: Notes
Attached file: amd.doc

For those of you who do not wish to stand in ignorance.

During the time Visitors have arrived, certain events have been observed relating to earth's Astrology, or the constellations found in the sky as they correspond with different times. During these events, changes in personalities as well as the appearance of powerful demons are common.

In order to prepare for more of these events in the future, the above document was made listing any information known about the signs themselves as well as the effects of the events on individual signs. If you are unsure of which sign you are, the city ID you were provided with should have this information.

This document is a work in progress. Anyone who has access to this document can also edit it with any corrections or other findings they may come across.

As with the previous time, this post may also be used as a forum for discussion. Newer arrivals who have questions about these events are encouraged to ask, and Visitors who have been here for some time are encouraged to provide whatever answers they know.

[Video; 4 hours later]

[After leaving the network alone for a while, he makes an unassuming post with his name attached and everything.]

Hey! So a while back, this demon gave me this sword...

[He pauses to hold up a sheathe, pulling a rather nice looking sword out a bit for the camera.]

...Buuut, I don't know how to use it at all. And it seems like a huge waste, considering how nice it is.

[And the fact that it lights itself on fire every thirteenth hour is also pretty spiffy in its own unique way.]

So anyway, I was wondering if anyone here has time to train a guy in swordsmanship! I heard about some people who had a school or something a while back, but I don't know if any of them are around.

[And then, a grin.]

But anyway, if you think you could teach me or know someone who could, drop me a line here! I can pay at least a little, and I'm a fast learner, too!

((OOC: As noted in the post itself, there is a section for forum discussion where characters can discuss, anonymously or not! Characters are free to make their own sub threads for topics and threadjack as they please.))

Comments

FORUM DISCUSSION

[bondsofsuffering]

[Your own little Q&A session for newbies and oldbies alike.]

Re: FORUM DISCUSSION

[terminally_clever]

I'd like to draw everyone's attention to a post made on the network early last month, immediately following the last incident.

[Fumi's not bothering with anon for this, but she does provide a helpful link to a relevant previous conversation.]

Going by this logic - which I currently have no terribly reason to discount - the next zodiac monster we can expect is Sagittarius. Assuming the pattern holds, this would mean we should prepare for an attack sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Considering that the first attack had effects that seemed to have something to do with the relationships between the signs, and the second focused more on elemental associations, it's very possible that the third will have something to do with the qualities of signs: cardinal, fixed, and mutable.

It's little more than speculation at this point, but for the sake of reference, Sagittarius is a mutable sign, along with Gemini, Virgo, and Pisces. This quality is typically associated with extroversion, adaptability, and understanding. What that means in the larger context of this phenomenon is anyone's guess, though.

text

[unbroken_chain]

So, here's a question - these things, do they effect people based on the signs from this world, or the ones from their own worlds? Because just from looking over that list, there are a lot of differences from what I know.

[terminally_clever]

This world's signs. Look up 'Western astrology' for more information on how the system is organized. Your own zodiac sign under this system should be listed on the government ID you received on the day you arrived.

[unbroken_chain]

I already know the equivalent - my card says Libra - it's just that back home my sign, Lampent, is a Fire sign and connected to Summer.

So there's no...overlap between any of the different traditions, then? It seems kind of weird for something as nebulous as astrology to be sticking to a single system.

...kotoha, those puns

anon text

[badluckhealer]

forgive me if i appear to be stating the obvious, but if this map is accurate then the entire city appears to be themed similarly. the virgo ward, the capricorn ward, etc.

correlation does not equal causation, but the fact that the correlation exists at all, could that be significant?

once again, i apologize if i appear to be stating the obvious.

[terminally_clever]

It certainly could. At the very least, both of the previous incidents ended with the appearance of a very strong zodiac-themed demon in the corresponding district of the city.

(video)

[heritors]

[ The mention of swordsmanship is enough to grab Lucina's attention, apparently. ] Swordsmanship requires a lot of discipline and training.

But if you're willing, I'd be willing to teach you.

(video)

[bondsofsuffering]

[He can be disciplined! ...Probably!]

Could you? I'd really appreciate it!

(video)

[heritors]

[ Nod. ] Of course. I often train in the morning, if that's a convenient time for you?

[ She's pretty sure she's got herself a wooden sword somewhere here... You know, for safety measures. ]

(video)

[bondsofsuffering]

Mornings would be good! I don't usually have work then.

[greyerrant]

You shouldn't take swords from demons.

[bondsofsuffering]

Why not? It isn't cursed or anything. Seems like it would be a shame to just get rid of it.

[greyerrant]

Consider for a moment what you are taking the blade from.

A DEMON.

[ Yeah Garviel isn't getting past that. ]

[bondsofsuffering]

...So? The demons here aren't all that bad. Most of the ones that hang around outside of the 13th hour even act a bit like humans.

And this one seemed to be rather, ah... infatuated with me, so I doubt it meant any harm.

[Video]

[justanoutsider]

[He's still nto used to technology yet, but he's getting it down.]

That does look like a nice sword, but if you want to learn you might want to start with something less lethal first.

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

Ah... that's true. It would be bad if I accidentally cut someone.

Hmm, maybe I should look into getting a wooden training sword? But I don't know enough about them to find one that's similar.

[Video]

[justanoutsider]

Something like that, if you can find one. Though there are some blunt blades usually used for decoration that work well enough. At least until you can get a handle on how it feels holding a sword—it's more than just an extension of your arm. Wood isn't quite like steel, but it's easier to learn how to control it if you have some form of reference.

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

Getting used to the weight differences would probably be the biggest problem if I went from wood to an actual blade...

Well, I'll do some looking around! I don't suppose you have any other good advice while we're at it?

video

[bladedskies]

Sword training, huh? Pretty sure I can help with that. Be safer to start off with practice swords though, that's how I did it.

[If the methods ain't broke, don't fix them, right?]

video

[bondsofsuffering]

Heeeh, we have a lot of sword users here, huh?

I confess I don't know a thing about swords aside from "use the sharp edge to cut". Think you could give me some tips on where to find a good practice sword instead?

[Video]

[capitalbackup]

[She looks at the sword carefully, noting the design on the screen. It'd be better to see it in person, but Miyako can see it's a good blade.]

It seems like you have quite a few people offering to teach you.

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

It sure does seem that way, doesn't it? It must be my charming personality!

[Video]

[capitalbackup]

You asked and people responded. I don't see how your "charming" personality factored into this.

[Video]

[bondsofsuffering]

People don't always respond to questions, though! The reason so many people replied is surely because of my excellent charisma.