What's the difference between a god and a devil?

[In the afternoon, the enclosure receives a message from none other than Mr. Catherine himself. He hasn't been heard from by the village since his death last June. Remarkably not only does he sound chipper and full of life, but the old raspiness that identified him as an old man is gone. In fact, he sounds quite full of life, like a young man high on life.]

Goodness gracious, how long has it been? Nearly a year, I should think, since we truly ever talked. Not counting that nasty business where I died. Best forgotten, that.

Now then, I suppose you've been beside yourselves with concern about my whereabouts. Well fret not, I've been hard at work! I'm not quite the CEO of the Malnosso, but I have made remarkable progress. You all have been quite helpful to that as well. We are quite a team, the lot of us! Wit and might mixed together for a remarkable combination of change. I suspect we could do most anything if we worked together!

In any case, to business. As you might guess, you will be undergoing an experiment soon. No doubt your more experienced 'old feathers' have enlightened most of you on what to expect. I realize this is all terribly frustrating. The heart strings are quite the delicate things, but it is very important. I won't be involved in running the experiment, but I've been assured that this will provide some absolutely astounding data in the future of Shift research. Your participation, willing or not, it is greatly appreciated.

Ahh- what else? Oh yes. I suppose you wonder what I'm up to? Well, it's quite exciting. I'm at Sirry Crags! The mountains, oh yes. The skies are perfectly clear. Blue skies abound! Not a single cultist dots the skies. Indeed, they haven't been spotted here in months. Mark that one for a victory. After hundreds of years, this mountain range is finally free from those nasty cultists. Exciting, isn't it?

( NPC Filters )

My goodness, has it really been so long since I've contacted all of you? Well, let's not be parted for so long again. I do miss our conversations, after all. You're all such terribly interesting people! But before all that, I'm going to have to ask you all to calm down first. I'm sure you all are fired up about that dreadful love business. Yes, yes, it's quite necessary, I'm afraid. I wasn't involved this time, but rest assured, the data collected will be of incredible value to those finding a way to increase the understanding of Shifts. The more we know, the less time you're here!

Now then! I do have exciting news. After all, I wouldn't prattle away about nothing, would I? Ho ho, of course not. Now then, I'm sure many of you have often wondered what becomes of people born in this world. After all, how can they return to their original world if they have none? Well the answer is: they can't! There's nowhere for them to go! Or at least, that's the problem that has stumped us all for decades! Well. That problem is no longer a concern. As some of you may recall, my last experiment of this nature was... ahem, disastrous. I do apologize for that, but I am absolutely certain it will work this time. After all, the Great One has been most generous in assisting me with my work.

Of course, I am not merely telling you all this for your own excitement. Now that I'm no longer the leader of the organization, I don't quite have the ah, resources I once had. I need volunteers to test it. Now, none of you were born in this world- save for our dear little Sophie, adorable little thing, but that doesn't matter! What I require is for pairs of people to volunteer. One person shall offer their own world as a destination. The second person shall be Shifted so that their 'anchor world' will be the same as their partners. The two will then be sent off to that world for a full day. It's not a permanent trip home, mind you. It's tricky business, that. But it shall be enough to ensure the project's success! And perhaps do a little sightseeing while you're there!

I do hope you'll be able to put behind you some of your unfortunate feelings towards me so that we might work together. This benefits more than just the many, many poor souls born to this world. There are, after all, many people within Luceti and the world outside that simply have no home to return to. Returning to be dead is dreadful business, wouldn't you say? Imagine the possibility of choosing a new life after death, in some other new and exciting world! It may very well be a reality some day! Perhaps not in our current lifetimes, but certainly within our next!

Ahem. In any case, trials shall begin next month. Please do consider it! If you remain interested, you shall be contacted then!

Ahem, I'm afraid I don't have much time to chit chat here, but you've all met the Commandant now, hm? She's not quite as bad as she seems, so you mustn't be too hard on her! But oh, that's not what I'm here to discuss.

You will all be deployed at 9AM. That is one hour from now. It's not much time, I fear, but I do have one handy bit of help I can give, that I was able to manage in the last minute. Do have a drink of the water. From the buildings, that is. I've applied a somewhat subtle Shift for those going to battle. I know it's a breach of our trust and I apologize! Please, don't think I'll go making a habit of tampering with your food or water. I wouldn't dream of it!

In any case, the water will allow you to retain any Filial Magic you have learned once outside the barrier. In fact, it shall be at twice its power out there, so it may prove quite handy! However, I caution you to be careful with it! Those beasts that were present a month ago are Shift Hunters. They are natural beasts in that forest and if they are near, they will be attracted by the use of your Filial Magic. Shifters can also disable it as well, so be wary! I'm afraid it's not much, but it's the only help I can give you this time.

Good luck! I'm afraid I must decline any questions about the battlefield or the Commandant. The former I know very little about and the Commandant... is not a subject for this network.

(ooc: forward dated to tomorrow, 2PM)

Hello everyone! I hope you've all had a wonderful week. I certainly hope you appreciated the Venerarian Willow Tree. It was quite a task Shifting it into the Enclosure for all of you! It's the very same one I planted when I first arrived in this world, some time ago. I had some concerns some of you might try to harm it, but I'm pleased to see you've all shown such extraordinary restraint. Even you, Mr. Yuber. It is, after all, one of my only mementos from my native reality. I would have been truly disheartened to see it damaged. The fruit was incredible, no?

Ahem, but on to business. Although we averted disaster at the underwater facility, your 'Third Party' has been quite active since their so called 'victory'. Our sources have indicated they are preparing a massive assault on one of our major population centers within a matter of weeks. Our security forces are already preparing for the onslaught, but what we really need is a key victory. This is where you come in, though I'm certain you all expected no less, being such clever folks that you are! The enemy has seized the southern farmlands, a major source of food for this entire world - your enclosure included. It seems it is their intend to starve us all out. Our spies indicate they are already working to undo the protective Shifts that prevent the crops and livestock from being destroyed. Should this happen, everything would be lost in a matter of moments.

Your task shall be a simple one - exterminate them all! Our own forces will attempt to hold back any reinforcements, but it will be up to you to prevent their Shifters from destroying the farmlands. These Shifters are of the like none of you have yet encountered. They possess incredible natural Shifting abilities, able to effortlessly perform Shifts that our scientists have only recently been able to replicate. Naturally the most dangerous of these Shifts is the very same kind used inside your own enclosure. Their ability to 'cancel' special abilities and magic is a potent one. They are not to be underestimated, good people!

Now then, I have appended a list of names to this message. You must report in on the 26th of your calendar to the tunnels beneath the village, where a teleporter will bring you to the battlefield. After the results at the underwater facility, Malnosso Security is requiring all compatible individuals to be brought to the battlefield. I'm afraid it's not optional, at all. It's better that you cooperate! The droids sent for collection are so impersonal and their hands, so cold to the touch! Yes... I'm terribly sorry for those of you who do not wish to be involved. My hands are tied in this matter.

((included with this post is the names on the draft seen here (if the mun has approved them for combat). Also included is a map of the farmlands, which will be included in a subsequent mod post. It shows the concentrations of Third Party soldiers. A rough estimate of one thousand warriors is noted on the map, with the possibility of Elites and Shifters being present in unknown numbers. The farmlands itself is not populated by sentients, although several structures are all around the map. The entire area is about fifty square miles.))

[ooc: If you haven't already, please read the mod post!]

Ahem! Hello everyone, it seems these messages are becoming quite frequent, hm? But there's no time to dilly dally, I'm afraid. This is very urgent business! This means there will be no requests this time around! We can handle that at a later date. Yes.

As many of you are aware, I am altogether against the dreadful kidnappings you people suffer so often! When I took over the organization, I issued an executive order that they were to be ceased! But as I soon discovered, this was not the case and people were being whisked away without my knowledge! A group of renegades, within the very company. Dreadful business. I've been on their tail this entire time. At last, I have a lead.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid I can't handle this internally. Even the walls have ears in the company. Some of you may recall that I asked if you would help to weed out this lot... well, ahem, now is the time for that! You see, we've narrowed down the location of one of their facilities at long last! Aha, yes, they made something of a mistake trying to kidnap people during that nasty earthquake business and now we've got them! Almost. I've discovered in a few days, quite a number of you are to be taken for experimentation. This will simply not do!

Two days from now... on the 9th by your calendar, I believe, the following people are going to be targeted by drones:

Kouki, Kyrie, Ion, Ezra, Yuan, Jack (oh ah... the samurai one, I believe), Saleh, Sheena, Guy, Sokka, Leonard, Luna, Jennifer, Noel, and Tsuzuki.

Please, do not panic! All is not lost. If you are among those number, it is best you do not resist! Oh, well, perhaps a token resistance. But getting yourself injured trying to escape is not advised! I will need you in top form, after all! What you may not know is that when captured for experimentation, your special powers are blocked at one hundred percent. However! The Great One, or... rather John, can provide you with an upgrade to your barcode. Not only will it negate your powers being blocked, but it will cancel the effects of the drugs administered during your stay there. However! This does not mean you should resist! You must bide your time, for you will not be alone!

Aha, you see, I need volunteers for a risky mission to infiltrate their facility. Albert, my boy! I hope I can count on you for this, hm? I'm certain you can pull this off quite handily. Masters of stealth are preferred, but any of you who are clever enough to avoid detection by posing as a member of the organization will suffice. You will be sent in on the morning of the 10th to determine the whereabouts of your comrades and disable all Shifting machinery within the facility. Again, John will meet with the infiltrators in the tunnels, the morning you are sent out. He will provide you with a Shift to disguise yourselves as organization members. A transport pad, the same as the ones used in the draft mind you, will be used to transport outside the facility for the morning work hours.

Once the infiltrators have freed those kidnapped, we shall take the building by force! We need volunteers to wait outside the building and attack and prevent any from escape. It will be dangerous! You will be facing not only their guards, but the drones as well. However, John can provide you all with barcode upgrades to ensure you will be at your maximum fighting potential! Those of you who will be on the front lines will be sent out the morning of the eleventh. With any luck, everything will be cleared up and you'll all be home by that evening!

Please note! Shifting is quite complicated! I'm afraid that if you volunteer, I will have to run a compatibility test. Just as it is with the draft, only those who can safely leave the enclosure can actually be sent. So we will simply have to make do with those who can safely be removed from the enclosure. Yes yes, I do believe that's everything. And do remember, it is imperative that you see the Great One about your barcode! And do pass on a hello for me when you do, sadly I never get to see him anymore!

[Locked to The Great One]

A word, please!

Oh ho! My, it's been some time, hasn't it?

As I'm sure you've all noticed, things have been going so smoothly. Hm, well, for you anyway. Things have been so busy here! I'd forget my hat were it not on my head. Oh, but yes, I do believe we'll have your population down to half in no time. Exceptionally good luck all around. Ah ha! If only I could take all the credit for myself.

Now then, I believe there was another order of business I had to- aha, here we are. Yes, the calculations have been run and we've determined a final list for who will be participating in the coming battle. You will all be scheduled to depart on the 25th, by your calendar. Hm, that should give you all a week to prepare. Very short notice, I do hope you can all forgive me! My, things have been so busy here. I had to replace my secretary after she too vanished.

I have the list for you here. I do believe that should be everyone. Why, with such fine and cunning fellows being sent, this 'Third Party' won't stand a chance. Best of luck to everyone! You have my eternal gratitude for volunteering yourselves such as you have.

Yes, I do believe we should all celebrate with a bit of tea once those rude fellows have been run off. Aha, but I don't suppose anyone has heard anymore from this mysterious "ANI" woman? I think we'd get along splendidly, given the chance.

Gracious!

What in the world are you doing out there?!