[The video starts with a woman typing away on a laptop only pausing to check her phone before resuming her work. It almost looks like she has no idea that she's being recorded until she looks straight into the camera.]

Is there any way to pull a video off the community so you can share it elsewhere? I've been trying for hours, but I'm hardly an expert. [She pauses a second, as if realizing something, and then laughs.] I'm sorry. I shouldn't be asking for help without a proper introduction first. My name is Miranda Tate. It's nice to meet all of you.

Hey all!

Just a quick question, while I have time.

If you were going to hire someone to transport something, what qualities would you like them to have, and what would you want to move?

Magic, enemies, weight, none of that matters. Just the best service!

Hello everyone! We're still traveling, though by coach now. Edgar's asleep right now. (I believe, it is difficult to tell sometimes.) I can't seem to tonight. It's better that one of us is awake anyway.

So I have a question for all of you: What is your experience with fairies in your world? Are there any popular fairy tales you know of or do you have personal experience?

Well, that was two, but I would appreciate your answers.

[At first the screen is dark, then you can hear some small scuffling sounds, followed by the some confused whimpers. A click then 11-12's face is illuminated and he looks frightened.]

Hello?

[ should you choose to play this video, you will find that it is nigh-impossible to see anything through a combination of static, darkness, and fog. eerily glowing fog. fog shouldn't be glowing a sickly shade of purple, right?

you can hear the sound of water sloshing against something. something very large. something-- oh dear god in heaven WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT.

whatever it is and however many nightmares it will soon be giving you, if you look past the writhing tentacles, you will see Saber in her full armour, somehow defying physics by standing on the water of the river itself to face the thing. compared to the grotesque mass in front of her, she is tiny. but the sword in her right hand glows with an impossibly brilliant light, gold and warm and seeming to carry every hope you have ever even half dreamed of becoming reality.

she raises the sword above her head with both hands and closes her eyes, concentrating. you may wish for some appropriate background music.

somehow, impossibly, the light from her sword gets brighter and brighter, gold motes rising like dust from the river, the grass, everywhere in the surrounding landscape to join the light from her sword until it is too blinding to look at. ]

[ and softly, whether though some will of the community or some other magic, the voice of a young woman can be heard. ]

"It shines. That sword is the dream all warriors, past, present, and future, hold as their deaths approach. A sad, exalted dream. She carries their will as her pride, bidding them to remain steadfast in their loyalty. Now, the undefeated King sings aloud the name of the miracle she holds in her hand."

[ as if on cue, Saber's eyes open, and she stares resolutely at the monster in front of her. the golden light - energy - flares around her, making waves in the river. she takes one, two steps forward, and-- ]

EXCALIBUR!

[ she brings the sword down, and the beam of light comes with it, displacing the water and the fog around it in a chaotic spray as it rushes towards its target, blinding--

the light flares, and the feed ends.

what the hell was she doing using that particular sword. ]

[ celty is standing on a rooftop with her motorbike beside her. you can't see what's happening beyond that - she's wearing her helmet, and facing the other way. suddenly, she turns, jumps on her motorbike - her horse, that shrieks and whinnies as always - materialises her enormous scythe out of shadows, and starts riding her bike down the side of the building at full speed.

anyone watching feels something strange, and then suddenly hears a young woman's voice. it might take a moment to realise that it's not audio - it's coming telepathically. it's not harmful apart from a mild headache, but with the raw emotion, volume and suddenness of it, it's almost intrusive.

it's celty's real voice. and she's pissed. ]

SCREW IT! [ the people on the ground hear her too, and start shouting in confusion. celty picks up speed. ] That's right, I have no head! I'm a monster! I have no mouth to speak my thoughts, or eyes to convey my emotions!

[ the confusion is getting louder on the ground. celty's scythe drags along the side of the building with a metallic shriek and a shower of sparks. ]

But so what! Who gives a damn! I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!

[ she reaches the end of the building, launches forwards with a few spins and lands on the ground, coming to a stop on squealing tires. she gets off her bike, scythe still in-hand. ]

I am here. And I am real. [ some men in suits lunge to attack her, and celty fights them off, slices through them with her scythe - but strangely, it appears to do them no damage. they just collapse, unconscious. ] If you say I have no eyes, then watch my actions very closely! Listen to the cries of those around you! The ones who've angered this monster!

[ a man comes at her with a knife, and knocks off her helmet. the crowd falls silent. everyone stares in horror at her and someone speaks: "it's... it's the headless rider."

and every single person starts to run away. ]

That's right, I'm here. Right in front of you. Take a look! Do you hear me screaming?! This is my moment! This is my time to be born! I am injecting my very existence into the veins of this city!

( and as if that wasn't enough already, the confusion and drama only becomes more of a convoluted clusterfuck... )

[ the scene itself is unimpressive and uninteresting. celty - wearing her helmet - is sitting in a park beside a blonde man who is smoking. they appear to be chatting. in the background, there's a young couple fighting, and the girl suddenly runs off, past celty and the man. (notably strange? the girl has a huge surgical scar that goes all the way around her neck.) what is interesting is this: celty jumps to her feet and grabs the girl's arm violently, pulling her to a stop.

the girl takes one look at celty and starts screaming in horror. ]

NO! STOP, GO AWAY!

[ she continues to shriek and flail around desperately even when the blonde man approaches. ] Alright, stop with the hysterics. Relax. We're not here to hurt you. [ the screaming crescendos and the girl slaps the man in the face. ] ... Did you hear what I just said? Ah—

[ a boy stabs the man in the leg with a pen, and again with another. meanwhile, the girl escapes, and celty runs after her, pauses for a moment to look back at the man - ]

Go on, don't worry about me. It doesn't hurt. Go. I don't know what this is all about, but you do what you gotta do. [ he slaps himself. ] Heh, I've always wanted to say this. Go on ahead and leave this one to me! Got it?

[ celty nods and jumps on her motorcycle - which whinnies like a horse - and goes tearing down the street after the girl that escaped. ]

Er. [head helmet tilt.] Did part of the community suddenly change for anyone else? It's a bit... odd. |