[The message is not one of grave importance. An update on the monsters around Troia - they've begun to recover in number after the disease reduced them to nearly nothing and the dragons drove them away. And another message to Minwu, in case he's still here, that the princess is still safe.

A man walks past the inn's window. He's young, dressed in a yellow tunic and purple cape and giving the impression in his movement that he's much smaller and more fragile than his body is. Inside the inn, Scott freezes.]

-please excuse me.

[And with that he's running out into the street to meet his brother.]

Gordon!

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.

[Basch is standing outside of Troia's walls, staring at some of the dragons that had gathered. He's not quite sure what manner of beast they are. He's heard that they're called dragons, but that's pretty much it. He's very lineface about this all.]

Is it common for such beasts to gather like this? I would not ask if such creatures were native to Ivalice.

[He pauses for a moment.] Many have come to this place... is it possible for the dead to come as well?

[Kain is still a little pale and sick-looking, but... he's alive.]

I've returned from true death twice now. I wonder whether this makes my luck better than average... or far worse.

[Worse for the dying in the first place, but better because... well, twice now he's faced what he thought was an eternal end for him, and come back both times. Kain pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Going through death again reminds him though, of an important thing about what he saw.]

That dragon in the dream... I've encountered it before. All of Cosmos' warriors would have at the end of every cycle, whether they recall it or not. Its significance cannot be underestimated.

[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.

[ 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.

[When the dark-skinned man appears on the video feed, he appears to be in a good humor, despite how his white clothes appear to be wrapped around him extra-tight.]

There are worse places to be snowed in than a library. I confess, though, I am--not used to this level of snow. Is Mysidia usually like this? [He hopes not. Salamand was bad enough.]

In my time there, I found something of note--[And now his audience can see that he is holding a thick spellbook, old and worn, the pages covered in small, winding script.]--When I arrived in this world, they told me this spell did not exist, and accordingly I could not cast it. And yet--here it is. I wonder...what does this mean?

[Rydia opens the linkshell one more, her expression solemn. Her bright hair is streaming behind her as she moves to the best spot on the airship to be heard above the airship engine. There might be a slight redness around her eyes, but she's calm enough now and her voice is steady.]

So, we're on our way back from the Feymarch. I promised we'd give an update when we emerged, and here it is. Most of the Eidolons' homeland was empty, when we arrived...though I sensed Queen Asura's presence. When we reached the throne room, she was there to great us, although in a severely weakened state. I have Yuna, Hilda and Aerith to thank for providing her aid I could not.

What she told me was...not pleasant. The reason the Eidolons could not answer is because they were pulled from the point in time in which the Maenads arrived to control them. Hence, why they could not answer my call. Shiva, Ifrit, Ramuh and Titan had arrived as well, and Asura expended all her strength to free them. However, doing so destroyed their physical forms. They can be recreated using the crystals corresponding to their chosen element. However, something is something the Eidolons from leaving the crystals.

...and this is where I ask a favor. A great one. Asura told me humans can enter the crystals as well. What needs to be done in order to free the four is that someone must enter each crystal and free the trapped Eidolons within. I plan to enter the Water crystal, and will gladly accept any who will join me. I also request that the same be done of the remaining crystals. If you're able, please help us. You will have the queen's gratitude...and mine.

[Separate message to Golbez]

Can you do me a favor?

[ooc: OOC signups are here.]

The underworld is an inhospitable place to humans, unbearably hot with no visible sources of water, swarms of monsters and air that stinks of sulphur. Which makes it a little unfortunate that so many of them have suddenly shown up there, all things considered.

Some arrive before or after others but they all appear within the same two hours or so, stranded on a small island surrounded by the lava seas of the underworld. The monsters attack every so often if they walk around alone, especially on the outskirts of the area where they've been appearing, but they generally won't dare if they're in groups of two or more.

Luckily, they're not stuck there for too long. Just over two hours after the first people start showing up, there's the deafening sound of propellers. Help arrives quickly enough in the form of an airship piloted by a short woman with dark skin and red hair and a very small girl with red eyes and turquoise hair. The two of them will explain as best they can if anyone wants to ask they questions on the way to the dwarven city. There's also a small rabbit-like creature. At some point during the trip he'll be handing out what appear to be seashells, but the rest of the time he'll hang close to the girl.

Once at the dwarven city, the guests will be fed and offered shelter.