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[arithmethodical]

[ She debates for a bit whether or not to do this with voice or audio, but she feels too shaky for either, and eventually loses patience with herself and the debate. ]

I've been asked by some friends of his to share information that Vision found about the ritual and how it might go. Might have to go.

I'm pretty sure we're all familiar with the prophecy by now, but if not, you can look at it here.

Vision found three things. First is that this thing, the ritual, the 12th of November kept coming up as the most significant time to do it.

Second is that the more imPorts who are there, the better chance it has of working. So show up if you can.

The third is the bell. There are two in Jeopardy it could apply to. The first one is the most obvious choice, the bell in the cathedral of the spider cult church. The other one is the Justice Building, which is apparently pretty much decorative. He wasn't sure if we're supposed to ring the bell at 3am on the night of the full moon, or if we ring the bell to get things started.

I did some of my own research, too.

[ There's a pause here, while she puts together her thoughts. ]

The rock known as the Altar out in the National Park near Jeopardy has no apparent connection to anything. No important myths, no significant legends. There's whispers about it being a place where people used to be sacrificed to guarantee crop growth, but I couldn't find anything else tying it to the prophecy.

The other thing. The twins. I tried to find out what I could about them. Their names are Layla and Sally Clapp. They aren't mystical. They're just two ordinary little girls. They dress differently so people will tell them apart, even though their parents want them to dress the same. They like spiders. They read books about them. They play kid games and have kid imaginations.

So who knows if they actually saw something or not. Who knows if they have some mystical connection to what's happening. They're a convenient fit to the prophecy. That's all.

Comments

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[melodramagic]

has anyone tried contacting the parents of these kids?

[roughworkdone]

do you think they'll hand them over faster if we do?

[melodramagic]

they deserve to know the truth about what might happen to their children

[roughworkdone]

will it make a difference if something bad happens?they will still be grieving parents. there is nothing you can possibly say before or after to make that easier.

[melodramagic]

how do you know that for sure?
we're accepting this bit far too easily

[roughworkdone]

you're right. maybe they'll be thrilled.

All I see is people trying to come up with alternatives rather than discussing that this just might be the way it has to happen.

[melodramagic]

we don't KNOW that
we're just making assumptions
how do we know one of us can't take the place of the twins? we have considerable power as a group and we're okay with someone powerless dying in our spot?

[ Hi, she is a 17 year old baby. ]

[roughworkdone]

Are any of us twins? I don't see anyone speaking up that might actually be useful in taking their place.

how do YOU know that not following this prophecy or whatever to letter will be okay? Are you all really okay with risking EVERY world? Including yours?

Because I'm not

[Hi, he's an 18 year old hard ass.]

[melodramagic]

no of course not!
and I'll gladly take their place if needed

[ She doesn't want to die a third time, but Satan damn it, she might just do it. ]

we still don't even know who sent the prophecy to us after all this time
so forgive me for being a LITTLE skeptical

[roughworkdone]

that's an admirable bit of posturing but it still doesn't help

there are plenty of heroes here willing to go in place of these girls and that might just be the point
maybe that choice has been taken away because making hard decisions is hard

be skeptical all you want. I'm new here. But the girls should be at the ritual.

[melodramagic]

it's not posturing
I'm not a hero. I'm just a witch who thinks sacrificing innocent mortal lives is wrong
satan forgive me for having some morals!
and I think they should be protected and we're at an impasse

[roughworkdone]

didn't expect a witch to be so squeamish about child sacrifice.

[melodramagic]

[ Her aunt would say the same thing, honestly. ]

I'm not one for tradition or baseless murder

[roughworkdone]

it wouldn't be baseless or murder
it'd be a sacrifice

are we sure they're going to die?

[melodramagic]

the prophecy says something about hosts
if they're ordinary mortals I don't know if their bodies can contain something like a fate

[ Which is why it makes more sense to her for an imPort to do it. ]

[roughworkdone]

seems like a bad idea to give a fate a body that has power in it

[melodramagic]

maybe atropos
but lachesis and clotho might be on our side
lachesis has to be at least given how many times she chooses to save imports
clotho I'll find out eventually

[arithmethodical]

We will.

[melodramagic]

what will you say?

[arithmethodical]

[ A long pause. ]

I'm not sure.

[melodramagic]

but
you have a plan or something don't you?

[arithmethodical]

Yes. It's just hard to figure out how to explain it to them. Hard to see if they'll even be willing to let us look for an alternative.

[melodramagic]

they deserve the truth
and the option to say NO
these are their children!

[arithmethodical]

I know that, and I agree with you.

But I also screwed up. I gave their names, their full names. Sure, people could have done a little digging and found them out, but I made it easy. Someone could be on the way to them right now to make sure they don't have a choice.

[melodramagic]

what
no
we have to move now then