001. video. okay, but cults tho.

[crofts]

Good evening.

( Said with all the politeness of someone raised with impeccable manners, rather than because there is anything remotely pleasant about the evening. She's not bothered to clean up very much from her arrival; still messy and smoky and bloody, though the smears would suggest she has at least attempted to make herself less alarming for the purpose of this message. )

My name is Lara Croft, of the Endurance. We were recently shipwrecked on the lost island of Yamatai. ( Simple, matter of fact. This was not so simple as keeping a diary in the hopes that someone would find it on her body, if she failed and if there was a body to be found. This was more like blogging, and when that occurs to her she's briefly at a loss for how to continue.

What would Sam do? )

I... appreciate that you must get a good many of these message broadcast so soon after arrivals come in, but it is imperative that I find my friends. A number of them were taken captive by a— madman called Mathias, acting as a figurehead for a cult who call themselves the Solarii. If any other survivors are here, I must find them. ( Lara's voice become a little quieter, more pensive, more like she's speaking to herself even as she continues to address the camera. ) They— try to burn women as a test for some sort of ritual, but I don't know what it all means, yet.


( She shakes her head, and her tone becomes more matter of fact. )

And I don't know what this means, either. Becoming open to the possibility that my father's fascination with myths and the mystical wasn't utter foolishness was onething, but.... this place is enough to make me wonder. Was something as bizarre as this the goal of the Solarii? Or perhaps I've finally lost my mind from exposure or blunt-force trauma, and this is simply the delusion that will make my demise a little less grim. Certainly it's a bit different from all those things people say about seeing you life flash before your eyes.

( There is a moment of quiet self-awareness, a very slight smile. ) If everything we see and hear is to be believed, I imagine that's a line of thought you're all rather familiar with, as well.

( The moment of softness is whisked away. )

Samantha Nishimura, Conrad Roth, Joslin Reyes, Jonah Maiava, Alex Weiss, and James Whitman. If those names are familiar to you, please advise me immediately.

Comments

video

[disguarded]

[If it helps, Twice doesn't find her appearance alarming in the least? In fact, she both looks and sounds quite bored, but hey, that's no reason not to be polite, right?!]

I can't really prove it, but this and those things are completely unrelated, and there's nothing you can do about whatever's happening back on that island for now. That's just the nature of this place.

As for your survivors, I don't know them but that doesn't necessarily mean they aren't here or won't also show up eventually.

permavideo.

[crofts]

After what I've seen, it's hard to take someone's word that it has nothing to do with present circumstances.

( Her tone might be one of gentle amusement, if she weren't having Such A Day. )

I've been told something is impossible before. Generally I've learned to have some doubts about it.

[video]

[couldbebeautiful]

[In contrast to Lara's impeccable manners, Veronica stifles a yawn. Even more in contrast with Lara's manners, Veronica says:]

These Solarii guys sound like dicks. [A beat.] Sorry, I don't sleep all that well, and my brain-to-mouth filter fails when I haven't slept great. [She rubs at her eyes, as if this explains just what she's doing responding to this post.

She gives the camera a lazy wave.]

Hi. This is all real, it's not a dying delusion or a video game or anything, even if it might seem like it.

[crofts]

( A quiet breath of laughter - or, almost. )

No, I don't think they deserve a filter. Dicks is a mild term for them.

( She likes to yell much more colourful things at them 8)... )

Video game, that's one I hadn't considered. ( Alex probably would, bless him. )

text: un: a.fink

[the_admin]

That's an awful lot of information to share with a large group of relative strangers.

permatext.

[crofts]

It is, but the truth has to come out. Furthermore, if I'm here then there's every risk some of the Solarii could be as well.

audio

[h2no]

[all this information is horrific and only gets worse, to the point that archie feels pretty bad for not recognising the names.]

I don't know those names, ma'am, but if ya need help with anythin' let me know, yeah? Do you need medical help?

permaaudio.

[crofts]

( strange man concealing his appearance, or a genuine concerned citizen? Lara frowns at the device, suspicious. )

I'm quite self-sufficient. ( In truth, the thought of being provided housing is already galling. ) It's nothing a good first aid kit can't deal with.

( SHE PROBABLY HAS TETANUS LARA GO GET SOME SHOTS )

[ret2go]

Haven't heard of 'em, sorry!

If it helps, they're probably not here? Like, you probably just had the whole "sorry, in the middle of something, oops I've been teleported to another world without anyone I know, I'll be sent back to the moment I left anyway so it doesn't really matter" shtick happen to you.

Pretty common. Don't worry about it.

[crofts]

Common? I—

( Well, hang on. She doesn't actually have anything in particular to say to that, because she's a little speechless. )

I'm not sure I can simply not worry. Goes against the grain. ( Something wry and something a little reprimanding at the same time. )

[video]

[glassfall]

[WHAT.]

They burn women?! How awful!

[Good thing they're not here, or she'd be sorely tempted to return the favor.]

I'm sorry, I don't recognize any of those names. But I'll be happy to keep a lookout for you.

permavideo.

[crofts]

Amongst other things.

( It is gratifying, at least, to have so many people confirm that it is screwed up. A few days on that island had changed her so much, sometimes she had to wonder if she'd actually lost her mind, if maybe things weren't as dire as she felt them to be. )

They're trying to test them in some way, invoking the spirit of an ancient Sun Queen. I'm still getting my head around it.

video;

[heckblazer]

[ He makes sure to let out his sigh of relief before he begins recording his reply. Thank fuck, someone else who speaks the Queen's English. Even if she is on the poshy side. ]

Sorry luv, but if I think your friends were here, something like a shipwreck would've been noticed by the news and such. Haven't heard o' the cult either, and I would know. [ A pause for thought. Or maybe for drama. Maybe both since he's a bastard. ] You might be surprised at what's out there, though.

permavideo.

[crofts]

( Listen, she may be on the poshy side, but she vastly prefers the non-poshy side. Bless the bloody minded Northmen, in particular. )

More surprises? ( how do feel ) I can't wait.

( Her tone suggests she really could, though. Please, let her wait. )

Any particular reason you'd know about the cult?

Private text - anonymous

[dirtyredneck]

You got pictures of them? If you do, I can tell you if they're here or not.

permatext/private.

[crofts]

No, unfortunately not. I had a camera with some footage of them, but it doesn't seem to have made the trip with me.

Why are you anonymous?

video;

[lempereur]

I am sorry, Miss Croft, I do not know any of those people. I am not aware of any woman-burning religious cults, either, if that helps.

[ But that panic, he knows all too well. He was taken from his world after the life or death struggle was over, but it's a shock to the system for anyone. ]

I was the first of my friends to arrive. More of them arrived about a month later.

permavideo.

[crofts]

A month?

( She's heard the time pausing thing, both here and from some of the good people at the Porter where she arrived. They were very informative. She pinches the bridge of her nose for a moment, and exhales. )

I've heard that time here and in our relative... worlds... ( seriously though, what the fuck ) are not consistent, but a month?

( she can barely leave them alone for five minutes without them needing rescuing, good God )

PermaText; UN: D33

[d33tached]

Is it typical for you to share such large amounts of information with a network of complete strangers?

What is to stop the Solarii from seeing this message should you find that they've followed you to this world?

[Coming from someone who is currently attempting to hide from the eyes of an oppressive cult himself. It's a little hypocritical - he's allowed plenty of important information to slip through the cracks since coming here himself. And yet, here he is, practically lecturing you for it.

[Not that he really cares all that much for your well-being (or anyone's for that matter).]

[crofts]

If my friends are here, finding them is my first priority. If the Solarii are, people should be aware of the dangers they pose.

Nothing would stop them seeing it, but it was worth the risk, and I can handle myself.

[ Video ]

[ghoulking]

[ burn women what....... is wrong with humans. More and more he feels like he needs to separate himself from them sometimes because what the hell ] I'm sorry you had to go through that.

While I haven't heard of Solarii, but I can at least assure you being here is most likely unrelated to that cult unless they knew Lachesis somehow. [ honestly, he doubts it. Lachesis is an AI and was related to other AIs, mostly. Why to get on with a cult solely to bring people from this one world? At the same time, it's impossible to be 100% sure, isn't it? ]

In any case, you can find who is here and ins't through the imPort list. Perhaps they are here as well.

permavideo.

[crofts]

Thank you.

( She appreciates the lack of lecturing; she can see the concern in people's questions, but she doesn't find herself terribly delighted with what could be condescension. )

ImPort list? Is that on the network?

( Doubling back, though— ) The Solarii are concerned with Himiko, an ancient Sun Queen hailed as a sorceress by some texts, a god by certain legends. Lachesis is... Greek, correct? One of the Fates?

video ;

[onlydoubts]

I'm sorry... I hope you're able to find your friends. I don't think those people are here either, though.

[ ...'blunt force trauma', also she just... doesn't look all that well. ]

Do you need any help? Medically?

permavideo.

[crofts]

I'm fine.

( that's a lie, and a bit dismissive. God knows how she hasn't succumbed to tetanus. Lara makes herself pause. )

Thank you. I've heard things intended to reassure, in the case of them not being here, but I'd sooner we were all together.

voice;

[uncledad]

This had better not be some sort of afterlife. The company isn't good enough.

[Or perhaps it's exactly what he deserves, but. Details.]

Your best hope of finding any of these people is to keep watch of this network. It's like a very bad spy. It will tell you everything, but only what others choose to put on it. Or you could hire your own spy.

permavoice!

[crofts]

( That actually gets a breath of amusement from her. )

Hiring a spy sounds like trusting a snake not to bite you. I might just resolve myself to becoming more adept at research that isn't historically skewed.

video

[burlyboy]

Hail, and well met! Bad news? Never heard of any of your friends.

[ That doesn't mean much. He doesn't know most people here. ]

Good news? Time's all fucked up here, so you're not missing anything back home.

1/2

[crofts]

( oh good god )

VIDEO.

[specialise]

[ raven's eyebrow is arched. ] They try to burn women?

[ man, if she could get her hands on them ... she doesn't even understand who lara's talking about, but she'll show them a good explosion! there's nothing she can do, however, and so raven continues calmly ... ]

You're not dead. Trust me. If you were dead, I'd be dead, and I don't do dead. You're just in some shithole where people don't actually try to burn women because they feel like it. [ she cocks her head to the side, brows furrowing in thought for a moment. ] Guess that'd be an improvement, right?

permavideo!!!

[crofts]

( A slight smile - very slight, just the barest quirking of the corner of her mouth. She has to admire someone with pluck. )

Less risk of being set alight,

( she agrees, weighing her hands, ) less chance of finding my friends. I think I'd take the risk of fire, personally.

slams in here late

[storyseeker]

I figure everyone's told you about the time thing, how things are standing still back home until you get back.

So I'll just offer my sympathies. I know what it's like to leave unfinished business behind. I'm sorry.

SLAMS BACK LATE we're doing good

[crofts]

Yes. Strangely being told repeatedly that the surreal is real makes it less likely to convince me of anything other than brainwashing.

( 8| cults, man. )

But— ( and she rubs her arm, trying to banish some of her relative frostiness, ) Thank you. Do you believe what people say about time?