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[lingeringhope]

Hello.

[A man is standing before a stone wall - the wall of the cave, probably, though there aren't any distinguishing marks to show where, exactly, he might be. He seems calm, and his face is kind. He looks directly into the camera with no artifice.]

I have no doubt you were all surprised to find yourselves here. I apologize for the rather abrupt arrival - as it turns out, we have no control over who or what is brought here.

[And there, that's the slightest sign of frustration, or possibly annoyance. His mouth tightens.]

In any case, I've tried to make things comfortable for you - humans, is that correct? That's what you call yourselves? And the other things are bears, and they were not sentient [he says, as if it might have taken him a bit to realize], so I've made sure to push them out of the main part of the city. I'd rather you all not get eaten.

You can be useful to us, as it turns out, thanks to your capacity for feeling emotion. Not quite so well as the last ones, but it'll do. You can call me Hope, if you'd like, and if you could all try very hard to feel appropriately hopeful at all times, it would be extremely convenient. I need the energy to keep you fed and the power running - and for other things.

[Hope pauses for a moment, considering.]

While you all seem to be sentient, I'm not certain of your capacity for higher thought, so I'm really not sure explaining things will be much use. I'd rather not waste time explaining things you're not capable of comprehending. But for those who might be curious and wish to try to understand - some time ago a number of my companions died. I'd like to bring them back. For that, I need power, and for power, I need the emotions that you can give me. Hope, specifically.

[And he sighs, annoyance crossing his face again.]

Much to my dismay, of all my fellow - what would your kind call us? Gods? - only one has survived. Fear is here as well, and if you could all try not to give him your fear, it would make my life significantly easier. Just - don't be scared of things. Ignore him.

I suppose if you have any questions, you can ask, but you're not guaranteed an answer. In any case, welcome to Hadriel. I hope the food is palatable.

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[closerift]

[ Cecily is still not great with the devices. After all, like a dozen of the others, she's never come across technology like this before and is mildly baffled by it. Still, this is too important not to respond, and she doubts a letter will find them... or, maybe it will, which is also concerning considering they're claiming to be gods. ]

What are these "other things" you intend to use our energy for? [ SOUNDS PRETTY FISHY, BUDDY. The brunette looks highly cynical, peering at Hope with all the discernment of a woman who thrives on moderate to high levels of distrust. ] And "don't be afraid of things" is rotten advice, considering it's all but out of our control.

[ As for the "gods" bit... she'll leave out that she and her companions had destroyed the last would-be god they'd come across, thankyouverymuch. ]

[lingeringhope]

Reviving the other gods, mainly, though it might be necessary for other things as well. You humans do seem to require a lot of tending.

[It's like getting a bunch of new, ungrateful pets that Hope absolutely did not ask for.]

You can't control your fear? I suppose I expected nothing else, but try your best. It's not going to get you anywhere, after all.

[closerift]

And what if we've had it with gods?

[ That is, with gods tugging good people left and right and wreaking havoc on their lives? ]

We don't need to be tended, we only want to go home.

[lingeringhope]

That isn't really my problem.

[Why are these humans all so grouchy?]

And would you rather I didn't tend you? You do need food and shelter to live, right?

[He doesn't say that like a threat, but rather as if he isn't actually sure.]

[closerift]

Yes, but you wouldn't need to do any of that if you'd only put us back where we came from.

[ She feels terribly like a child arguing with an infuriatingly patient parent. Is it that he can't return us? Or that he won't? ]

[lingeringhope]

I can't do that, so you might as well find a way to make do.

[closerift]

[ welp ]

Any other advice you have for us, besides "give us your hopes and fears?"

[lingeringhope]

[He thinks about that. Hmm.]

Try not to die.

[closerift]

[ There's another very thin, wry smile. ]

Fair enough. I'll take it to heart.