[video, un: billy & un: clary] open to stars & moon

[driving]

- does this really go out to everyone? Okay. Anyways, hey, I'm Billy.

Sure does! ( Helpful, Clary! She turns to the video feed properly, giving a not-very-cool-at-all half wave. ) And I'm Clary. I know I've talked to some of you before, especially about the branded and what they're up to. And... there's seriously no good way to say this, but we have some updates on that.

They were involved in the attack last month, and probably the famine, too. At least, the monster that killed me had that same brand. [ And the whole 'it killed me' business is as good of a segue as any to the topic of Death itself. ]

I was brought back by Death. It told me that the branded had something to do with Temperance. Death used to have her soul, but it was stolen a few months ago.

Which is probably around when the branded started showing up during harvest. ( The takeover between them is smoother than it has any right to be; an easy back and forth as the information is shared. ) As some of you know, a few of us got blank tarot cards from a guy named Vuzor after he said 'balance comes for us all'. Well- ( Clary holds up her tarot card. Temperance is displayed across the front in all its glory with gold writing over it saying TEMPERANCE RETURNS. ) Temperance stands for balance, usually. Keeping it. Which is sort of the theme that the branded have been running with. ( As though needing another ominous piece, Clary turns the card around to the back where a countdown is happening. ) And now we might have a deadline.

Death says we need to prepare ourselves and from the sound of things, it was dead serious. [ Okay, he covers his mouth to stifle a laugh. He didn't mean to make a death pun, really. This is very important information. ] So we've got less than a month to get our shit together, find out what we can, and either try to stop this from happening or get ready to face something that makes everything else we've fought so far look easy.

So if you know anything, or find anything, you better cough it up. [ He stands with his fists clenched like he's about to steal everyone's lunch money, before he clears his throat and his stance relaxes a little. Maybe threats weren't the best way to go about this. He's still getting used to being nice. ] I mean, shit, this doesn't sound like something any of us can face on our own, so it'll be better if we work together.

( And Clary has to turn away from the screen to hide her dumb smile at the bad joke, gaining her composure back in time for Billy to finish. ) Which we've all been doing a lot already, so we should be getting pretty good at it! But like Billy said, if you know anything we haven't mentioned, or find anything out, please let everyone know.

( With that, Clary will reach forward in order to turn the video feed off. )

Comments

[pauldron]

With this kind of timeframe? We don't have the time.

[Prep takes time, gathering supplies takes time, figuring out what the hell to do takes time. Training people to fight gods? Oh boy.]

Even if we went with daily lessons until that clock runs out, we'd never get people ready in time. There's too many for just the two of us to train.

[And no time to bring in other trainers. How does it always come down to time?]

[notimefordreams]

[At that Sarah frowns gently and then sighs out, running a hand through her hair as she looks disgruntled.]

Yeah, of course, sorry. I guess less than a month really doesn't give enough time for much more than 'battening down the hatches' so to speak.

[She chews at the corner of her lower lip a moment as she thinks.]

Do you think the runes we got to deal with all of the creatures after the snowfall might help out here? They didn't do much more than protect smaller villages and homes but it's something. I mean the bigger cities might still be alright but just in case.

Either way I can help out with ferrying around supplies. I'm going to be going through Acubens and Kyst a lot the next few weeks so if there's anything specific I can bring back with me, let me know.

[pauldron]

I don't know if they'll be powerful enough. They held off the Spartae, but those weren't as powerful as a God. Last thing we need is them failing at the worst possible time.

[At least, not if this Temperance operates on the same levels as the fal'Cie back home. Comparing a Behemoth to a fal'Cie was no contest at all. The runes might have held the former back, but not the latter. Best not to rely on what they have and go get something stronger while they still can. Still, Sarah's offer is a good one. Lightning 'hmm's softly, then:]

Focus on supplies that are easy to carry. Prepared rations, jerky, hard tack. Things soldiers would use in the field. If we pack it right, we might be able to make go bags for people. Get them out of town faster.

[And more prepared. It's a long shot, but one they have to take.]