[ the video begins with a steady, clear shot of a man dressed in flowing white robes, buttoned up to his throat, half his hair done up in a high ponytail secured by a guan. he looks almost severe, and his tone when he starts talking is cool.

On his arm is a silver claw that laces up, and as the video continues, he clenches his fist and wriggles his fingers one by one. ]

This is an experimental piece of armor. It was originally designed to protect common people from demons. [ he glances down at the armor, a complicated look in his eyes for a split second before it disappears behind his usual cool neutrality. ] The demons here have proven deadly, and some people do not have spiritual powers that offer protection, so I have developed this.

[ perhaps one day, he can return to his original, grand idea of creating guardians for people, but it's impossible now, with the way items degrade. that's a future problem.

he finally looks back at the camera, still serious and reserved. ]

I am looking for individuals who are capable of fighting but do not possess spiritual power. It needs testing by someone else, and it is easy to find a demon or some beast in the Hinterlands. I'll be present for any fighting to observe the armor's behavior and provide assistance in any fight, should it be necessary. You will be compensated for your troubles.

[ he nods at the camera in dismissal and looks like he is going to turn it off before he recalls something and looks at the camera once again. ]

The armor is still experimental. While I have blueprints for an entire suit, I do not have the resources to create an entire suit of armor or more than a few of these. [ he holds his hand up, showing off the armor. ] Information would be appreciated on where to find more metal, leather, or scrap materials. And should anyone be interested in the armor after further testing, I will make note of it.

Good day.

[ with that, he turns off the camera, disappearing from view. ]

how many of you have soulmates?

did it stop you from getting sick?

⟪ on your screen, waves in the background, high and lapping at the seawall that surrounds most of stygia, threatening to spill over. it’s a relatively common sight when colder weather settles; what isn’t is the woman in the foreground, cheeks round and full as she slowly exhales an abundance of concerns she clearly struggles to voice. ⟫

I’m… so sorry. Where do I even begin… ⟪ she shakes her head, visibly contrite. when she raises her hand, as if to shush an invisible companion, the tempest behind her seemingly subsides. ⟫ There’s been a terrible mistake. Many... mistakes. Some of you have been inadvertently imprisoned, and I’ve reached out to Amun in the hopes of rectifying the situation as soon as possible. There will be compensation for those of you who were wrongly mistreated. ⟪ her eyes, red-rimmed, flash vehement for a fraction of a second. ⟫ Mark my words.

⟪ whether it’s a promise to you or a threat to the hierarchy remains to be seen, though the apologetic glint in her gaze seems genuine. briefly she bows her head, fingertips to her lips as she coughs and clears her throat, a pink petal flitting in the breeze. ⟫ In the meantime, please know that our Healers are actively working to find a cure to the Harvest’s Curse. It’s not much, but don’t despair just yet. If your symptoms worsen, seek Rosuv in Mirth, and tell him Assana’s sent you. ⟪ her mouth stretches, a forlorn smile. ⟫ Stay strong.

⟪ and the feed cuts. ⟫

⟪ OOC | assana is the npc with blueish hair that you might have run into before! i’ve decided to breathe some more life into her and chose daenerys as her pb. she’s available for semi-regular cr (slower, probably) even tho she’s still an npc, but cr =/= privileges. assana obviously has knowledge that PCs do not possess, but we'll always ensure that all characters have access to the same opportunities.

if you do seek rosuv, you'll find him in a nightclub in mirth; he's a bartender. he’ll give you a bottle of warm oil that you can apply to your throat and chest, for free! it’ll help you breathe easier for a few hours, and has similar effects to cannabis.

you can now reach amun the elusive asshole and ask him once question each! that's his deal for this month ⟫

Sooooooo. Fair ladies, good sirs, ghoulies, ghosties, dead and undead alike. Fellow whatever we think we are? [ eddie get to the point here? ] How many of you play instruments and would want to jam?

I'm in a band back home and missing shred sessions. I just found my guitar back -- [ a pause and then he might sound like he's devastated and talking about a lost love. ] Not my sweetheart but my acoustic.

[ and if you're thinking he's not gonna give you whiplash and then sound eager, excited as fuck at the drop of a hat then you're wrong. ] Anyway, I'm really jonesing to play. Anyone in?

If you're into metal or rock even better but all musicians welcome. The place I'm staying at isn't big but there's abandoned buildings near by and the acoustics are killer. [ and because there's some manners under there? ] And if you're in, I'm Eddie.

⟪ and bam. on your screen, a guy, white-haired and surprisingly jovial, which is a bit at odds with what he’s about to ask. is it genuine, or is it a façade?? who knows. you might recognize him as the fool who innocently swiped left on you—or the guy who told a really bad astronaut joke on the netherwork. either way, shiro’s gonna shiro, so he’ll introduce himself again—just in case—his mouth a polite curve. ⟫

Hello. I’m Shiro… How’re you all holding up?

⟪ don’t worry, there’s no pep talk this time. not unless you ask for it, anyway. ⟫

I’ve a… I’ve a favor to ask. For my arm… or lack thereof. ⟪ point in case; his gaze drifts a bit to his right side, where his sleeve hangs empty. ⟫ I had a prosthetic once, back home, but uhm… ⟪ and there it is. a chuckle. half-strangled, half-nervous as he cuts the camera another hesitant glance and clears his throat, stifling a wince. ⟫

If anyone with skills in finding alternatives to missing limbs is somehow looking for a great candidate, well… you’re looking right at him! No complaining, high pain tolerance… and I used to be a pilot, so I can sit for as long as you need me to. This is not an emergency. You can reach out when or if you ever have time to spare.

Thanks.

⟪ ooc | voice-to-text is 100% a thing and it’s probably what shiro will use to reply to you! ⟫