[Rydia stares into the linkshell worriedly, not wasting time in getting to the point.]

Has anyone heard from Ceodore? It's been too long, and---

[She abruptly stops, eyes widening as she stares at something out of view.]

...Mother?!?

[The linkshell closes and doesn't open for a while after that. When it does, Rydia is pale and disheveled, slumped to her knees by a river. Marks -similar to burns but not quite- can be seen all along her body. Her voice is soft, dazed.]

...what happened...?

[Aerith is in her usual Troia, seated beside the water and looking uncharacteristically worried, without a trace of her usual optimism. Her expression is almost pained, and she nervously tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear.]

Has anyone heard from Zack lately?

[She's almost ashamed to admit it, but...]

I haven't seen him since before the fever broke out. It's been awhile since then, I know. It's not unusual for him to run off now and then and throw himself headfirst into some kind of thrilling heroics, but it's been too long. Even with all the recent commotion, I feel like I should have heard something by now.

I think it's safest to assume that given what was learned, any of the cities possessing a Crystal are likely to be targets. Porom, I'll head to Mysidia right away. If anyone else is close to Damcyan, Fabul or Troia, please consider heading there. We don't know where they'll strike, but we can still try to be as prepared as possible.

( the linkshell clicks on as it falls to the ground, as a pair of white shoes and pink leggings come running out from the edge. it looks like -- she's running towards a pair of monsters, and as she gets further away from the communicator, the rest of her comes into view. long pink hair fasted into a ponytail on the side, bouncing back and forth with every stride )

I need your help! Let's go! ( she calls out; almost as though she's expecting someone -- or something to pop out of nowhere. but there's no sign of anything like that... ) Huh? What's going on? They won't answer me anymore?! ( whatever didn't happen... is apparently a cause for alarm. but as one of the goblins lunges forward to strike, she dodges at the last minute )

Well Mog... I'm not sure if you can hear me, but it looks like it's just you and me! ( that sword she was carrying a moment ago seems to shift seamlessly into a bow as she stops in her tracks, and pulls back on the string ) Let's show 'em what we've got!

This day just can't get possibly any better. First, we had some mystery disease attacking people, and now we have dragons all around. How lovely.

[The sarcasm is strong in the black mage today.]

Next thing you know, the goblins might form an alliance with the dragons and decide to declare war on humanity.

[She was going to make this a voice-only message, but her muddled mind doesn't bother to doublecheck. So, anyone can see her in her fully glory.

Rydia, to put it mildly, doesn't look well. Her cheeks are brightly flushed, her gaze somewhat unfocused, and dizziness has taken hold as well, evidenced by her heavy reliance on that wall as she wobbles over toward somewhere in her house. Hopefully her bed, though given her stubbornness, that's no guarantee.

When she speaks up, her voice is rather lacking its usual firm tone, fading in and out just like her coherence.]

Porom...I don't think can help. I'm sorry. I'd send someone, but...most of the town is affected--

[Sway. She manages to brace herself against the wall. That's better.

....

....

...what was she doing again? Oh, right. Messages.]

Golbez, you're [still irritating--no, wait, that wasn't the message]...I talked to Leviathan. There's something you'll want to know....

[...but it will have to wait. Rydia has become one with the wall...and then the floor. She slumps against it, nearly giving in to the urge to rest right there, but one thing stands out sharply enough for her to say it before she forgets.]

Cuore...please, someone watch her?

[She fumbles to turn the device off, only she ends up just dropping it to the ground instead. It shows it at an angle as she closes her eyes, shivering as her fever rises.]

[She's on an airship.]

...there are a lot of things I need to address, but I should start with the most important. An illness from another world is spreading through this world's monsters. Extended contact with monsters, especially with their blood, is likely to result in it spreading to humans. There's a few cases of it happening already.

I'll be searching for a treatment, with the aid of the scholars of other nations if they offer it, but for the moment there is no cure but keeping yourself in good health and allowing your body to combat it. Potions and Remedies can take the edge off the worst of the symptoms, but nothing more.

Greetingway should have explained how to contact the healers. If you feel unwell, let us know. Anyone who's arrived recently who is capable of using white magic and willing to help, this would be an opportune time to speak to me.

And if anyone wishes to know more of that dream from a few nights ago, I'll tell you all I know. I believe that's all.

[Filtered to the Healers and Talons]

I'm sorry to ask so much of you, but would any healers please move to the nearest town and stay there? I need to be able to know where everyone is, now more than ever.

Talons, I realize this isn't what you offered to provide aid with, but I have a request. Given the nature of this illness, it's very likely that healers are going to be called to aid people in areas where there are many monsters. I need volunteers to make sure they get to whoever needs them safely and to help the ill back to civilization.

This is...somewhat of an emergency. Thank you for your understading.

[Filtered to Terra]

I need to speak to you. Immediately.

OOC: Feel free to handwave that your characters joined the groups if they would have done so by now!

[Ugh! Today has been the worst training session ever. Pale, feverish and shaking, Kain is doing his best to ignore how he's feeling right now. This came on very suddenly, and he's sure if he ignores it, it'll just go away. He stares determinedly for a moment.]

The enemies here shouldn't be so difficult.

...obviously I must train harder.

[Because the best solution when you're feeling like hell is to push yourself to work harder, right?]

[Palom is dressed in his usual tunic and has a smirk on his face, sitting under a tree.]

I am pleased to say that I am now resuming my tutorial duties to those who want to learn black magic. If anyone inside the village is willing to learn from yours truly, you can find me outside the Hall of Prayers or inside.

[Pauses for a minute, then resumes.]

And I'm sure you heard about Leviathan's rampage in the sea. I'm sure he'll calm down and you'll be able to travel to Mysidia... In one way or another.

[It's the first time he's sent out a message using the device - after hiding from the Emperor for so long before the attack on Fynn, he's still in the habit of trying to let the world believe he's dead.

Which is a little ironic.

But it's something he doesn't need to do here. And, more relevant, he has something to ask which is more important than that. He's broadcasting confusion and worry.]

If anyone has managed to contact the white wizard Minwu recently, let me know.

[Terra snaps awake, shuddering as she detaches from Kain enough to sit up. That strange, dream has shaken her and she almost feels as though she's still trapped within it, such is the vividness of those images. It's going to take her a bit to calm down enough to focus.

Sometime later, she'll turn on the linkshell, visibly troubled. There's barely a need for the the device to transmit anything emotion-wise since hers are so blatant, but nonetheless anyone who sees her message will also feel her unease and confusion.]

Did anyone else dream about the crystals?

[Once again, Rydia is solemn and blunt.]

I'm going to get right to the point with this one; Leviathan, Lord of All Waters is returning within the next few days...and he is not happy. I strongly warn against travel by sea until he calms down, for the safety of all. Please don't test Leviathan's patience, because I'm sure it would not end well. Just stay out of his way, and this will pass soon.

[At first, it looks like the well-groomed man is unaware that his image is being broadcast, or if he is, he doesn’t much care. Rather, he looks delighted to be turning the linkshell over in his hands, treating the viewers to an extreme close-up as he examines it further. If he was at all concerned about being uprooted so suddenly, it certainly doesn’t show.]

This is a marvelous piece of work! No clue as to its inner workings, but I wonder if that little man has a spare I might pry apart… I’d love to see what makes this thing tick.

[It suddenly occurs to him that it’s very possible he’s being watch, given what he was told about the linkshell when it was handed to him, and he straightens up considerably, clearing his throat once and attempting to adopt a more regal air. It’s… somewhat effective, but he’s still clearly still boyishly enchanted by the device. His tone remains good-natured despite the situation, though it appears to take some effort.]

Hello. I was informed – by Greetingway, I think his name was? – that apparently there have been a number of people who have been brought here unexpectedly, like myself, and that I might even find someone I might know by using this – linkshell, is it? Fascinating thing, really! Communication across distances, instantly? That would have been useful when – I’m getting ahead of myself.

Whoever’s responsible for bringing me here, I’ll have you know, the consequences for kidnapping a king aren’t exactly trivial. Is there anyone here from the Returners? Locke, Terra?

[She takes a deep breath before speaking up, doing her best to sound steady and calm. Her effort only half-succeeds.]

I hate to be the bearer of such news, but...some are no longer in this world anymore. As in, they vanished.

[Pause.]

Yuna...and Edge. They were in Mist, when--

...anyway, I thought it should be known.

[What else is there to say? Closing the linkshell, Rydia sets it down and heads for the door. She needs to be outside for a little while, despite the cold.]

[ooc: Those who needed to be told first were reached, but this is her first public message.]

[ The woman is calm, or at least seemingly so, settled inside a tavern. There are people buzzing about inside, going about their business, and she has the linkshell set on the table in front of her.

She's absentmindedly rubbing the ring finger of her left hand. ]

It has been explained to me, and I think I am beginning to understand. My name is Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca, and I am newly arrived. Please, tell me -- is there any chance I might return to Ivalice? My people need me.

[ Enter one unhappy woman. There might be passing similarity to a certain fluffy chocobo headed SOLDIER, but really, it's only passing and hard to notice with the way she's scowling. The poor Namingway all but fled from her when he handed her the Linkshell with it's brief description of how to use it, and she's now got it flipped open, on video. She keeps glancing down -- probably looking at the map on the bottom screen, and she's walking fairly fast. ]

This had better not be some kind of sick joke. I have to get home.

[ A slight pause -- and she mutters to herself, barely audible. ] I think.

[She's dressed appropriately for the weather, at least. It doesn't seem to be doing her an awful lot of good against the storm, she's practically blown right off her feet a few times as she stumbles down the mountainside, finding a relatively sheltered spot and curling up. There's a large stone monument of some sort in the background at first, until her unsteady descent removes it from view.]

...the Lunar Whale is gone, I am certain now. The father of magic is absent, I can no longer sense his spirit. Sir Basch has vanished from the world completely, a day ago.

[That is an awful lot of bad news in one breath. But it's going to get worse. She fumbles with the linkpearls, tugging at a blue one she's wearing as an earring. It's not filtered, she's still speaking into the shell as well, but the message travels to anyone with a Talons linkpearl, whether they were paying attention to the shells or not.]

There is a monster with large green wings, one that has never been native to this area. I think it's causing the snowstorms - it's capable of using very strong ice magic and the storm is worse close to it.

...I don't think it's the only one of them, if it is causing the storms. It's strong, but it's not strong enough to affect the whole planet.

[Kain scowls and looks more annoyed than usual. He can't help it, he hates being snowed in. Being stuck indoors is bad enough, but they had to go to an inn rather than a tent. In civilization. Too used to camping and wars, he feels very out of place here... and he's had no chance to train for the past few days, either. Hmmph.]

Will there be no end to this? I don't recall anything like this ever happening here before...

[The feed turns on, showing a snow-covered Mysidia. Most of the buildings have light shining through their windows, but they are surrounded by snow. The rooftops are covered by snow as well. Then the camera moves away from the window and towards Palom, who is clad in some large robes instead of wearing his tunic, for once.]

Well, this is the strangest thing that's ever happened to this village. If it weren't snowing so hard, I'd might go outside and make a snowman.

[Then he speaks again, with a serious tone.]

All joking aside, anyone that is or has arrived in Mysidia who wants to get away from the cold, we have some warm and comfortable rooms for you. We also have warm milk and cookies. It's better than camping outside and freezing to death. Also, to those who wanted to learn black magic, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the snowstorm stops. Sorry for the inconvenience.  The same goes to the people who wanted to learn white magic from my sister. She stated that she'll head to Mt. Ordeals and I have no idea when she'll return.

[Then the feed ends.]

[ the feed turns on, panning around the area. she's made it to damcyan, though no one who isn't familiar with the castle's structure would know it based on the surroundings. the amount of... snow building up around the area, mixing with the sand, is absolutely unbelievable. in fact, harley wouldn't believe it if she wasn't currently witnessing it. eventually, she turns the camera onto herself, though the snowfall is still clear in the background. ]

My name is Harley, for those who have not yet spoken to me. I am the royal secretary to the King of Damcyan. [ not mentioning that he's currently missing. ] I am currently located in Damcyan, which is well-known for being a desert kingdom. As is clearly visible, this no longer seems to be the case. I cannot ascertain the cause, but I do know that as much as I can see from the castle is experiencing snowfall.

[ and it's awkward to say the least. ]

I am uncertain how far this is reaching; however, I do hope it ends soon. I cannot say what it may do to the overall climate of the area.

I would also like to propose a question of sorts. If I may presume to ask for clarification, I would like to ask for your individual names, whatever you wish to be called, where you are originally from - whether your particular world has a name or your hometown does not matter - and if you have visited one of the crystals, what your experience was. Also, perhaps, where you awoke. I awoke in Troia, whereas my current residence is Damcyan.

I thank you for your time.