hadriel | [Video]

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[Not long after this.

At first glance, it appears to be Maketh holding the phone. It's her usual uniform, perfectly ironed, hair pinned up in a severe bun. She's standing outside the guardpost, rifle at her side. Everything looks as it ought to except for a single detail. The blue sash that all the guardsmen wear as a symbol of their position is nowhere to be seen.

Oh, and ignore the spray of blood across her chest. That's not important at all.]

Hello, citizens. I fear this experiment in democracy has gone on a little too long. It's high time to dispense with the nonsense and remember where we ought to stand. And what we are.

[She smiles.]

You needn't worry. The Empire loves all his children. All he asks is your loyalty.

[She pauses, glancing back at the guardpost.]

I'm terribly sorry about the mess, of course. But civilization always comes with a price. A gesture was necessary.

[Her tone hardens.]

Guardsmen, report in immediately. I want this under control.

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The Empire?

[The look he gives Maketh is one border-lining on contempt. His wrath is muted but can be felt tenfold by the intensity of his glare. Regis hadn't known Maketh well but he certainly knows well enough to doubt this brazen display of imperialistic fascism. The guardsman didn't come across as some filthy imperial when he met her. That's why Regis is honestly a tad baffled here.

Is this really Maketh? Regis noticed some of the replies claiming it isn't. If this woman isn't Maketh, then who in the hell is she? He plans to investigate.]

This travesty of a show is quite unbecoming.

[The double doesn't bother faking politeness for him.]

Surely someone in your position understands the need to prove a point.

[She sneers at him.]

I hope you weren't fond of that traitor. She forgot her place.

I know all too well of what horrors empires inflict upon sovereign nations. The order you preach is nothing short of a lie. Only death would follow if the people of this realm heed your call.

[Traitor? Wait does she mean the real Maketh? Oh...oh no.]

Where is the real Maketh Tua, impostor? What have you done--!

[He may not know Maketh well enough to consider her a 'friend' but she certainly wins his respect for aiding him the days before. Regis will not sit by idly and allow this insanity to brew without trying to stop it. That's simply how he is.]

They've already suffered from this pathetic leadership and an overabundance of ego. The only way to survive and grow is through unification behind a single, powerful banner.

[Anyone who dissents will be crushed underfoot. The double huffs out a laugh.]

Don't be naive, Regis. Use that imagination of yours.

Unity isn't accomplished through fear and intimidation.

[His gaze is focused and sharp like a tempered blade. This impostor will face judgment for this grevious crime against Maketh. He owes the guardswoman some sense of justice if she's truly gone from this world.

Her killer must be brought to heel.]

To announce your crime so brazenly is a show of arrogance. There's none who will let you live to make a mockery of Maketh.

Edited 2017-01-20 05:10 (UTC)

For a king, you seem to know shockingly little about the nature of politics. Do you really think people follow because they love you?

[The double just smiles. It's a sharp, mean expression.]

Oh, I'm sure they'll try to avenge that traitor. I had to draw out the sympathizers somehow, didn't I? They'll hardly be able to stop themselves once I put everything in place.

It's possible that this may be a diversion.

[A sigh of relief escapes Regis once Ikaruga's gentle form appears before him. He offers her a tense smile before glancing briefly at the spectacle happening over the network channels. He's at a loss for words here but eventually he speaks.]

Do you believe it to be so? Maketh Tua is nothing like the fiend that stands before us now.

[He turns his green gaze back towards Ikaruga with a hint of worry.]

Are the Gods at fault here?

Edited 2017-01-20 05:12 (UTC)

No, she is not. She's more sensible and far more concerned with protecting others.

[She pauses.]

If I am understanding things correctly...they do feed on our emotions. This is indeed something that would provoke a strong emotional response, especially from those who know her best.

[A sound of clear distaste follows. Regis hasn't met these deities yet formally and he already utterly loathes them. Talk about bad first impressions.]

They mean invoke emotions from us by toying with her life? [Regis scoffs once more.] Maketh Tua deserved so much better than a death by the hands of a mere shade!

This is one of many tragedies they must pay for.

I don't think hers is the only one being toyed with. Hers is only the most obvious.

[Regis, you are too honourable for your own good.]

It seems there are others who want to go and fight this delusional duplicate. I advise caution and observing others' behaviour. There could be more with similarly malicious intent around the community.

Then there's others? [He sighs in distress. If there's more doppelgangers running amuck, then Hadriel is no longer safe in general for the overall populace. Many more people are about to die.] Hunting these fakes is utmost important but I worry for the citizens here.

How many guards are there? I assume they must be scrambling to defend.

Edited 2017-01-21 07:48 (UTC)

I'm not certain of their numbers.

[Especially if their doubles might be plotting to murder the originals as they speak.]

The problem with dealing with these doubles is that neither of us have been here long enough to know what is characteristic for the people here and what is not. And even then, until a double does something vastly different than what the original would...well.

[She did make the arrangement with the original Maketh to provide aid during exceptional circumstances, so she possibly could be talked into trying to help. It's just a tricky situation.]

We are all confined within a relatively small community together. Dealing with threats is a good idea, but it would be irresponsible to strike unless absolutely certain.

[The king adopts a worried expression as he chews on the nail of his thumb. Just what are they suppose to do about this? These alleged doppelgangers are running amok here in Hadriel and the Gods have yet to do a thing about it. They're being killed left and right by these monsters and there's virtually no one who can stop it.]

Is this crisis not dire enough for the Gods to lend us their aid? Do they rejoice in all this chaos? I can't imagine so.

[Regis can't help but sigh when Ikaruga brings up the next point. Just how are they suppose to combat these doppelgangers when they know nothing about the people they're mimicking? Regis doesn't know a damn thing about Maketh besides her name and the pride she takes in her occupation. Beyond that---]

Then our hands are tied. [The king grumbles.] I know naught how to fight this battle. Handling beasts and fiends is one thing but this?

From what I understand, the gods feed on our emotions. There may very well be a god who is enjoying everyone's misery.

[Regis is far more benign than she is, though she appreciates him despite their differences. She has the pragmatism of someone who's lived a mercenary's life for over a decade.]

It might be best if we simply intervene when we see someone attacking someone else, and aim to disable but not kill. I can directly strike a person's nerves with my magic without damaging their clothes or skin. It causes temporary paralysis.

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