Video || 8/20

[higitus_figitus]

[The feed turns on and Merlin is looking at the pocket watch in his hand. He is counting under his breath and after exactly ten seconds he laughs and puts it away.]

Excellent, excellent! Well! It's good to see everyone has returned safely from this little sojourn. You all have our eternal thanks. The Dreamfinder and his spark, Figment, are resting well and soon will be right as rain. They are fine at the moment, a bit tired and a bit hungry but also, hopefully, a bit wiser.

[He ruffles off screen for a minute, a few books floating by as he tries to find something. One of them returns and none too gently taps him on the head.]

Oh! Of all the rid-oh. Oh! yes, thank you, you are just what I was looking for.

[The book falls in his hand and opens.]

Apprentices, this was your first taste of what our Kingdoms have become beyond the safety of Main Street. You have succeeded in returning The Dreamfinder, our only Kingdom Spirit. Now, I briefly spoke of them but time was not on our side-however. Now, I believe it is time to explain further.

[The feed wavers and a streak of blue lighting splits the screen. When it clears, a map of the Magic Kingdoms is shown. Merlin's voice comes over the feed.]

This is the Magic Kingdoms. A realm of imagination divided into six different lands, each one holding it's own special sort of inspiration. Each of these lands was guarded by a Kingdom Spirit, beings made by The Creator in order to help inspire the citizens living in each land.

[The feed wavers again and The Medallion is showing.]

Each one had a sigil, such as this Medallion, that was used to spread their power. Unfortunately, the Corrosion has stolen all magic from these sigils.

[The feed returns to Merlin, who has a rather dark look on his face.]

The Kingdom Spirits...are no more. This Medallion held the essence of the Jungle Spirit, Mara. But now it's no more than a dime store bauble, I'm afraid. Merely a reminder. I thank those of you who returned it so that we may give Mara a proper rest. Perhaps we may find the sigils of the others as well, they fought hard against the Corrosion-but, they fought alone.

[He clears his throat.]

But that does not mean we give up. The Dreamfinder has proven that those with a strong enough Spark can become Kingdom Spirits in these trying times. In order for that to happen, however, we must clear the lands of all the Corroded, to allow the new Kingdom Spirit to form. This is now our focus. I will be giving you your reward when the feed ends, so wait about for those. Use your time to rest up, training will begin again shortly.

The training course is open however, if you wish to make use of it. Miss Shellstrop and Miss Rosabelle, once The Dreamfinder is fully healed we will be having a proper training session for you both. I will let you know when that is.

[There is a sudden ringing sound and Merlin quickly scrambles to grab the watch falling out of his ebard.]

Oh! Is that the time! Well, mustn't let things drag on. Thank you again, Apprentices, we are, as always, grateful. Rest up, tend to yourself and I will see you all soon.

[Feed end.]
~~~~~~
As the video feed ends, a half dozen fireworks shoot up, exploding into a beautiful kaleidoscope of red, purple and blue sparks. For a moment the sparks seem to float, suspended in mid air before taking off towards any Apprentice, no matter where they are. Each Apprentice will have three sparks (one of each color) flutter around them. If an Apprentices touches them, they will get a small tingle of Adventure. That thrill that makes a heart race and a smile appear as thoughts of the next great exploration or discovery looms in their hearts.

Whatever tool, affinity token or weapon an Apprentice has will then begin to glow, pulling the Sparks deep into them and sending that thrill of Adventure towards the Apprentice in a rush. Enjoy the warmth of it for the next 3 hours.

Any Apprentice that has an element will have the nearest source of the element glow as well before the Sparks descend into the Apprentice's chests.

Tomorrow morning there will be a new announcement board right outside the castle. A list is posted on it of available missions for the Jungle. Missions are now Open!

Comments

[blessedarethebookmakers]

....Oh... I see.... [he's... well deflated, a bit. All that for what amounted to nothing] Good that he's safe. So glad. Might talk to him later. Cheerio...

[he doesn't really stay long enough for an answer]

Locked to Merlin

[mal_contented]

"I did something that may help." [A huge yawn.] "We need to," [another yawn.] "Talk."

[legacyofarose]

[She makes a note regarding training, because she knew she certainly needs it. But there's something else that really gets her attention.]

...Is there nothing else we can do? There's no way to restore the spirits at all?

[She's not even upset that they had essentially been sent to retrieve little more than an artifact. But the idea that it used to belong to a spirit that was just...gone was so...sad.]

[az_shrimp_horny]

[She's going to point out what Aziraphale was too polite to.]

Dime. Store. Bauble? Are you telling me we almost died for a fucking paperweight??

[strangeandunusual]

Thanks, Merlin. Two questions:

[she's keeping it brief, because she's got a drama-drained roomie to worry about and she, too, is exhausted. the color of those beautiful Sparks barely registers, even after thenreturn journey. She may have pushed herself a little too far healing her friend and mentor]

Is Archimedes okay now? I know he wasn't in the best mood when we left.

And what was the hourglass for? I still have it if you need it back.

Warning ~ Incoming upset demon

[serpentinthegarden]

That's it?? Thank you for your time but it was completely useless?! Why the hell did you even have them go after the damned medallion if it wasn't useful for anything?!

[ Aziraphale had nearly been killed for that thing! ]

Come to that why the hell did we even have to go after that idiot who got himself lost!? You know what, no... You, Dreamfinder, and Hades can all fuck off!

[beancounter]

Whaaaaaat? You mean we did all that for nothing? Azeer-- Aizphf-- ... Mr. Fell nearly got eaten by a fish, we all got soaked to the bone, a temple nearly collapsed on us, and... ...it was pointless? [Fenton didn't know whether to rage or to cry. His brows were knit and his frown was heavy in anger... then his brows lifted in pity at the knowledge that the spirit in the medallion was gone, it couldn't survive the corruption... that they failed, and his frown became sorrowful. Anger or sadness, either way, the emotion sat heavy in his heart.]

So. New Kingdom Spirits, huh? ... Don't know if I can handle an explanation on just how one becomes one right now...

[Fenton goes to the window as the fireworks go off, allowing himself to enjoy their beauty, to try to offset the upset he felt. He blinked in surprise and awe as the three coloured sparks danced around him, reaching out to touch one. He felt a small thrill of adventure, allowing him to see the excitement and fun that had been their recent trip, despite, well... pretty much everything. The thrill Mr. McDuck must feel all the time, on all of his adventures. The lamps around him start to glow brighter and a few of the electrical applicances give out a more audible hum, as if there was a sudden power surge, and an empty power socket or two even spark with a few quick flashes of electricity. A few pens, and an apple that had been sitting in a small bowl of fruit, jump and roll across the table, as if suddenly unable to keep still. This all startles Fenton, before the Sparks enter his chest, spreading a soothing warmth through him.]

....huh... [he said softly, almost distractedly.] Is... that my element, then? [He'd never really been able to narrow it down, before. He looks at the lights, now back to normal... the outlets, and the scattered pens, picking the apple up from where it had fallen on the floor.] Electricity, or... ...a sense of... energy, maybe? [He turned the apple over and over in his hands, contemplative.]