[video]

[marmoron]

[The image on the feed is shaky and improperly focused at first on the ground.]

I need help. Medical and otherwise.

[Keith’s voice is terse, strained. The camera moves fo focus on an injured Steak. His coat has been tattered to shreds by their attackers, blood pouring from his ever exposed abdomen, puncture wounds bitten into his sides. Though he’s currently breathing, applying pressure to one of the wounds in his side, he’s several shades paler than he’d like to be and his horns — and this is the most offensive part of all — have been slightly chipped at the tips.]

We were attacked by some weird tentacled creatures -- didn’t look like anything I’ve seen around this planet before. They were… [A beat, a sharp breath as he tries to gather his thoughts.] Sneaking around the temples. Working together. Intelligent. Didn’t want to be seen.

Someone else was there, too. He disappeared, looked like he was in bad shape. Anyone know where he is?

[The camera moves away from Steak, now focusing on Keith who has a fairly deep, bloody gash across his face.]

Are these things the Null? Or .. does anyone know what these creatures are? Seemed like they might’ve been using the stampede as cover to do some recon. Might’ve been able to mess with some emotions, hard to say.

[Steak clears his throat, straightening up as he does so. Most importantly:]

Their attacks are powerful, despite their size. [They’re certainly not as large as some of the Fallen Angels he’s come across at home] No one should fight them alone. [Or, perhaps, at all.]

Comments

[coyoteking]

Alright, but did you see where they went? And what's "otherwise"?

[Yes hello he is very helpful.]

[marmoron]

No. We were lucky to get out of there alive as it was.

[And he realizes that would have been vital information; but... not at the expense of their lives. Nonetheless, he's grimacing]

The otherwise is asking whether or not anyone here knows what's going on.

when u think u sent a tag but u didn't

[coyoteking]

[Well, unfortunate, but he'll take what info he did get.]

Honestly? No. I have no fucking clue. But if I had to take an educated guess? You said they were using the stampede as cover. Create chaos and use the distraction, it's smart.

[And he'd admire it coming from squids, if it wasn't obviously against his best interests. It's not like he hasn't done this himself before. Which is kind of the bad news?]

My guess is they're planning something, like an invasion. You don't cause a fucking stampede and try to kill people unless you're plotting violence.

i know this feeling well

[marmoron]

[Great. So another existential threat, this time one nobody really knows shit about. That's exactly what he wanted to hear.]

These creatures... are they native to Hadriel or native to this planet, do you know?

[Maybe that distinction doesn't make much of a difference in the long run. But he hasn't been here long, and he doesn't have a solid idea of what things were already here vs what new things have shown up with the latest jump to the ice planet.]

And if they were scouting the temples... there a chance they're working with the Null?

[Again, working with limited information here. No clue what the Null are like -- whether they cooperate with other species and such.]

[coyoteking]

Yeah, still no clue. I've probably been here only a little longer than you if you're newer. I wasn't here for the planet vote, though I kinda wish I was. Would've tipped it for the fuckin' jungle.

[As much as he's used to the cold, he would still prefer tree cover and more plentiful food sources.]

They could be, or they could be another threat entirely. Think about it, we just show up on this alien planet one day, and these god folks haven't been here in who knows how long. I'd want to know who the hell was here, and if I was an asshole, I'd want to know how to fuck 'em up if they caused me problems.

[Not that he isn't an asshole, but he wouldn't jump straight to murder like these things have.]