001 (How does one formalities?)

[acceptedlife]

[Takeshi has been... very careful. Since the last time he replied to something on the linkshell. However, he can't help but have a feeling of dread as August rolled in. Maybe he's just paranoid. But in the middle of the night, there is a text appearing on the list from him.]

Out of curiosity, what does everyone think of this invitation to the Empire? (Also what does someone wear to those kinds of things?)

Locked to [AU] Reno
Found something interesting in the 'Width. Be visiting soon.

Locked to Nagito Komaeda
Said I'd message you when I had something. I finished the map, so I'm sending you that now. Expect the other thing before some of us accept that most gracious invitation.

[Attached is crystallismap.jpeg and wor.jpeg. It's far rougher than what the official images look like, more like outlines that have been erased and redrawn until it seemed right and then redrawn over with ink. He's no ultimate artist (or any artist, for that matter), but it's passable and isn't inaccurate.]

Locked to Kenichi Nakagawa
Hey dad. Found something of interest you should see. I'll be between Arito and Yun'Ashia for most of the month working on adding to it, but lmk when'd be good to visit.

Comments

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[piume]

I would exercise caution. Given the suddenness of the invitation, I would understand it if some decided not to participate.

[ ... He’s gonna skip the dresscode nonsense over matters of higher urgency. ]

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[acceptedlife]

Pretty sure most with any sort of common sense will agree, there.

Is there any sort of precedence for this happening? Or is it out of place for you guys as much as it seems for us newcomers?

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[piume]

It has been ten years since they closed their borders, and we’re unfamiliar with any developments that might have taken place during that time.

So yes, it is an unusual situation - but I wouldn’t go as far as to suspect a malicious intent without knowing anything more.

Re: text

[acceptedlife]

Any idea what led to them doing so in the first place?

Note: I'm not saying this solely because of paranoia, but we don't know much about your world's history. Any information we have might help smooth out some ruffled feathers.

[...He remembers what the Herans, specifically Kalki, did to his girlfriend.]

[piume]

Of course.

Sylvarie managed to explain this below in greater detail, but Sen Devadatta’s decision to close off the borders coincided with their transformation from a democratic state into an empire.

[acceptedlife]

Just saw that, thanks.

[He's gonna have to make sure to bring something for them the next time he visits the center.]

Politics isn't my thing, but that reaction seems a bit extreme.

[piume]

It is. I was living on the same continent at the time, but even on this scale, news do not always reach smaller towns such as Nakagawa, and I was able to learn about this only after the fact.

Perhaps the mentions of military aggression were merely a cover-up for a different conflict that might have been taking place behind the curtains. As civilians, we are bound to receive only a part of the truth.

1/2

[acceptedlife]

I guess we'll get to see a glimpse of whatever happened in a couple weeks, then.

[If there really were terrorist attacks, then it's most likely that the damage has been repaired, if they haven't gone ahead and abandoned the area(s). Like Aqures Tosf.]

private text;

[acceptedlife]

[A second response comes moments later.]

Thanks for being forthcoming about this. Hopefully soon I can return the favor.

A friend said you were curious about studying the "warriors of light". I retrieved something from the Dream Width you might be interested in. Where can I send it to that it'll reach you, or would you like to meet in person?

private text;

[piume]

It’s all right. It was not my intention to spread panic, in any case. The Center representatives have all decided to accept the invitation, which I doubt would have happened if they had serious safety concerns.

[ ... Futaba, huh? ]

Is that sensitive information? If Mognet doesn’t seem fit, I travel between the Center and Arito regularly. Whichever suits you more.

[ And though Lean won’t admit it, he definitely has his curiosity. ]

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[immortalmarshal]

Do you know why it became an Empire in the first place? You don't take away that kind of power from people that lightly, from what I recall about democracies.

Text 1/2??

[piume]

I believe my coworker will be more suited to answer your question, please give me a moment.

[ ... He knows Sylvarie is itching to respond to any Empire-related queries. ]

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[alborada]

[ Lean, thank you for being so kind... ]

Sen Devadatta was formerly a democracy, but from what I recall they began to fear the military might of Safer Osu and shifted their government accordingly, and while there is no confirmation Safer Osu had plans regarding Sen Devadatta, a series of terrorist attacks in succession seemed to justify the shift.

The President, now Empress, closed the borders to try to recover and restablish order following those attacks, which carried repercussions given Sen Devadatta was vital when it came to trade. For many years we have been left speculating what has become of it, but recently trade began to pick up again.

It’s possible that the Empress came to know of everything regarding the outworlders through those means. However, please keep in mind everything I have said may very well be outdated, as it has been ten years and quite a number of us were children when everything occurred.

[ Even if that made her remember all the details even more instead. ]

Text, also sorry for these questions...

[chefbayardee]

Were they a COOL democracy?
What kind of military did Sen Devadatta have that made them worry?
Any idea why they closed off so hard that they weren't even really supporting the Curti Center?

All your stuff is real helpful, even if you can't answer my questions. Thanks!
Also next time I'm in your neck of the woods you're getting more sugary baked goods.
Just as a warning. ＼(・ω・)/

[alborada]

[ ‘Cool?’ ]

I visited fewer than a handful of times, and was very young so my perception may not be accurate. Many seemed... rigid, but I remember the beauty and architecture quite well, there is no other city more radiant than Sen Riqeaux.

[ Which might be saying something, given how proud and biased she already is about Myste Aura’s beauty. ]

As for military, I don’t recall the exact details regarding Sen Devadatta, even the Jobs that we’re available, but Safer Osu’s military is well known. They have to be in order to endure the harsh weather and accompanying monsters to the north. Why that would halt their cooperation can be anyone’s guess, but the last time we had outworlders arrive was around the same time the attacks occurred. Biggs and Wedge.

... What sorts of baked goods?

[chefbayardee]

Sen Devadatta closed its walls after a terror attack, and they weren't on good terms with Safer Osu.
But Safer Osu's leadership got an invite too. All the world leaders did.
Maybe whatever happened in the last ten years made stuff... smooth out?
Do we know what the attack was, or just that it happened about a decade ago?

I'm thinking something with fruit this time.
Any favorites? (*^▽^*)

[piume]

[ He’s going to... disregard their shady sugar exchange, ok, there’s just something he figures is worth pointing out. ]

Not including the leaders of every nation in their invitation would cast a bad light on their diplomatic attempts. If anything, mending their relations with Safer Osu should logically be their first step if they wish to upkeep peace.

[alborada]

Berries are fine.
As are apples. (*´-`)

[ Look Lean, the sugar exchange is very important. It even got Sylvarie to use an emogi for the first time ever. ]

Or it could simply be a show for publicity’s sake, to leave out one of the other four major nations would hardly reflect well on their foreign relations and affairs after ten years, considering the four have managed to still cooperate peacefully while they were closed.

Maybe it is the opportunity for a summit, and I don’t believe they would want to mar their national festival with blatant violence. There would still be survivors of the attacks ten years ago to remember, so it could also have evolved into a memorial since then. This is of course all speculation.

We don’t know what the nature of the attacks were, photographs I saw then were few, but through those implications, the destruction and casualties were... severe. Perhaps thousands, there is no way for us to know for certain until we are there and only if they allow us that information.

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[regisrex]

I apologize for also chiming in with questions, and I understand that it was a while ago and you might not recall, but if Safer Osu's military might is tempered by the harsh weather and its monsters, then they would have been an approximately constant level of threat for a long time. And, yet, the former President's fears peaked around the time when otherworlders arrive. Am I understanding what you are saying correctly?

Since that might raise the level of alert we all should be at - both those who accept the invitation and those who do not.

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[alborada]

There is no need to apologise, we want everyone as informed of the situation as possible should they choose to go, though our information may unfortunately be outdated.

And you would be correct, that is the only event I am aware of that occurred around that time which would possibly explain the paranoia of the former President. It was already unusual that two outworlders would appear at once, and to have that happen soon after would give anyone pause. Not all outworlders have been benevolent, unfortunately. However, I believe Biggs and Wedge had nothing to do with it, unless somehow the energy of the Interdimensional Cloud was harnessed by whatever organisations could have been responsible.

Also of note is the rise in monster populations and strength around that time. Simply put, it was a tumultuous time all around amongst governments.

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[regisrex]

That makes sense - still, it's a little uncomfortable when asked about things you don't fully recollect.

The monsters... leveled up? Did anyone find the reason why *that* happened, at the time?

Is there a record of such other outworlders, if I may ask?

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[immortalmarshal]

I can see why they would close the borders for a little while, considering that kind of attacks. However, their leader's response to utterly change the governing structure like that seems rather extreme even in those kind kf circumstances. Stricter laws on owning weapons and better investigations into potential terrorist cells seem to me the better response

[There's a few minutes before the next reply goes thru]

Just how bad were those attacks? Would the library at the center have any copies of newspapers and photographs from that point of time?

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[suigojin]

Arito might have both, if they havent been pulled or destroyed somehow.

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[piume]

I agree, Arito might be your best source of information. Given the vicinity to Sen Devadatta, it’s bound to have a wider selection of local press, plus the Center doesn’t have the facilities to store everything.

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[alborada]

You’re right, it does seem extreme. Perhaps unused to such violence, the Empress overreacted in wanting to protect her people—I can’t make any claims, as I can hardly recall what she even looked like, and the only person from the Empire I know who is currently outside of it would happen to be Sir Chandius. I have never made the attempt, nor has he spoken of it in a forum I have heard of. He is rather private about the entire matter of his inability to return.

Other nations did attempt to send relief efforts and investigations for who could have been responsible, but the change was either too abrupt or they were refused. Various individuals went to provide help on their own, but a number of them may have been unable to leave once the borders were closed.

Regardless, we have heard nothing from within the Empire until this invitation.