ALL FIGHTERS, RETURN TO CAER STELLA AT ONCE! AT ONCE, I SAY! WE HAVE ALL THE FUEL WE NEED! GET YOUR USELESS HIDES BACK HERE!

[clears throat]

Thank you so much for your generous gifts of energy! The children will be well-taken-care-of, I promise -- for the month! A child's life force is so plentiful, but it is far from limitless. A shame they don't last longer~

Maybe I'll be back for more, come Long Night! [laughs, and with that, the castle rises up into the upper atmosphere, headed for the mountains.]




[OOC NOTES: All of the attackers made it back to the ship, except for the captured kidnapper, who is now cooling his heels in the brig, and three dead bodies in the hallway outside the cabins. There will be an open log in a few days for professional and amateur interrogations.

Oh, and one more thing? There is a dead body hanging from the mast of the Winding Way. Upon closer inspection, you will realize that it is bleeding from a thin cut that goes most of the way around its neck.

It's Hughes.]

[a joyful, screeching voice echoes through the night]

HA HA HA HA HA!

YOU DIDN'T REALLY THINK YOU COULD STOP ME, COULD YOU? I, THE GREAT WITCH GRITA, HAVE STOLEN YOUR CHILDREN!

Ooooh, I can hear them crying right now. Boo, hoo, hoo~


[...there's a pause]

[voice is still screechy, but subdued] What do you mean you can't get us up in the air?!

No power?!

Preposterous! You'll get this castle moving, or I'll kill you myself and use what's left of you for coal!

Fine, fine, FINE! Send a couple of minions down and steal it from the ships! Send fighters, you imbecile! Do you think they're going to give it up without a fight?

[loudly again]

A-HEM. I HAVE STOLEN YOUR CHILDREN....AND YOUR SHIP'S FUEL! [laughs] Thank you so much for your assistance!

I hope the two of you are better suited to this little task than your predecessors. My last intelligence has them carrying around the Captain of the 4423 in a sedan chair and I would hate to see you two fall to such lows. I'd think it an easy task, but it seems that we're recruiting more incompetent screwups than I would like.

*chaotic background noise. His voice seems strained now*

Max Murphy, reporting once more from Bellcius. After hours combating the blaze, we finally have information on the fates of the MPs trapped inside. I'm afraid that it is very bad news. Ten members of parliament are dead, including Ben Johnson and Maryanne Clemens. A dozen other members of the House have been taken to hospital in critical condition, including Prime Minister Marius. The remaining MPs have been shuttled to a secure location, Where they will be kept safe from any further attempts on their lives.

As grievous as those losses are, though, they pale in comparison to another...one which has forced me to speak words that I hoped to never have to say. President Tolsade is dead. I repeat, the President is dead.

Vice-President Wilsborough has taken up his duties and office, and is currently under guard at an undisclosed location. He made a brief speech before leaving, saying that although this is not the way he would have wanted to become President, he swears to perform his new duties to the best of his abilities, and serve the people of this nation faithfully. He also swore to capture and and punish the individuals responsible for this attack to the full extent of the law.

Government spokespeople continue to urge calm. Please, remain indoors until this crisis has passed. This is a trying time for our nation, but we can endure it as we have endured others in the past. Parents are encouraged to speak to their children regarding what has occurred, to keep them from being unduly frightened by what they might hear from their friends.

Our hopes and prayers go out to you all. We will continue to report on new developments as they come in.

*chaotic background noise similar to the previous transmission's*

This...is Max Murphy, reporting again from the scene in Bellcius...for those of you only tuning in now, the Parliament Buildings were struck by a terrorist bombing. Two explosions detonated in the core of the building, and now a third has gone off, destroying the Parliament's famed clocktower. Fire crews are working tirelessly to put out the blaze and recover surviving Members of Parliament who may be trapped inside, but are having difficulty making headway against the inferno in this dry weather.

Government spokespeople are urging citizens not to panic, and to remain in their homes until such a time as this crisis has passed. They say that "chaos and disorder at this time can only serve to worsen the situation," and that "we must be united in this time of crisis if we are to overcome it." We here at BCS News couldn't agree more, and wish to reiterate: Do not panic. Remain indoors. Avoid public gathering places for the time being.

We will keep you apprised on any further developments.

*sounds of running, shouting, screaming, fire, etc*

This is Max Murphy reporting live from the scene outside the Ivonan Parliamentary Buildings, which have just become the site of a vicious terrorist attack. Just a half hour ago, a bomb of unknown origin detonated in the Chambers of Parliament. Details are unclear but reports indicate that a second explosive went off a few moments later, somewhere in the lower levels of the building.

Rescue crews are in motion as we speak, but information is scarce as to the status of the members of parliament, who were in session at the time of the explosion. Government spokespersons have assured us that all efforts are being made to recover the MPs, but are tight-lipped on how all of this happened or what their current status is...hang on, I'm receiving an update now--

*sounds of a third explosion, screaming, running, general chaos, and then the sound of a microphone hitting dirt and the transmission cuts out suddenly*

[Magentabeard starts shouting nearly as soon as the entry starts,]

CURSE YOU ALL FOR FLEA-BITTEN SONS OF GOATS!

You had better pray the next time you sail into Vohemaro skies! Finneas Magentabeard won't be defeated by a mere theatre ship! This color will haunt your nightmares, and your descendants!

Will the rest of my men get their arses here already?!


[OOC: The pirate plot is now over with! They've retreated from the ship and will very shortly be retreating from the air as well, since their attempts to capture the Way failed.]

[there's a faint click, and then Magentabeard himself starts to talk, sounding only faintly amused this time.]

I haven't heard your captain asking us for mercy yet. Not that I would have listened, but it's a nice gesture, aye?

Consider this your last warning. If you surrender, some of you might make it out of this alive. Otherwise, we'll be blowing you into a pile of fancy, sequined bits!

I urge you to think fast.

[The journal clicks on in the middle of what seems like a long-winded spate of laughing and goes on for at least a full thirty seconds while a full, rich and yet gravely voice continued to laugh and chuckle.]

It seems your little playship has managed to get itself into a bit of trouble, there. I hope you don't mind us coming to help ourselves to your valuables. That's how the girly ships do it, right? They ask so nicely. Maybe you can just put all of your valuables out on the side and we can scoop them up without a fight.

Or we can blow you to smithereens and pick through the wreckage.

When Finneas Magentabeard is through with you, you are going to wish you never landed here.

[Finneas continues to laugh before the journal finally, mercifully, clicks off]

[OOC: There is a large pirate ship looming on the horizon now, and several smaller planes are breaking away and heading towards the Way to attack and take out guns and any other defenses the Winding Way has. This plot will be done entirely over journals and there will be no logs unless players would like to start them. Have you characters report what they are seeing, what they are doing, damage to the ship, etc. Let's defend this ship! L and Vash are still away, currently, as is Ichigo. Everyone else is still on ship. This takes place approximately one or two days after the Winding Way lands]

4423, please unman your guns and surrender. You are hereby charged with the murder of the citizens of the town of Doma.

Once in port you will relinquish your weapons and be led to holding cells until further questioning. Please comply quietly and swiftly. Failure to do so will result in heavy penalties.

[ooc: There are ships flanking the 4423 to 'guide' them down. The 4423 will land and the crew will be transported to holding cells. A log for their imprisonment is forthcoming, for those who want to rp it out. More details to come!

Also note that journals will be confiscated. You can backdate to before they enter port, however.]

[ooc: The actual race won't be occurring in the current thread, so look here for the winners. Please see the ooc note on this post for a recap of the distribution of winnings.

Winners get the money in full, second place gets half, third place gets a third, and the other two get nothing! Sorry. That's how it goes~

Winners were chosen randomly 'out of a hat' with more 'slips of paper' for the birds more likely to win, thus making them more likely to be picked out of the hat.]

Hey folks! What an exciting race it was today. The results are coming in now! The judges are currently deliberating and--ah, wait, it looks like they've reached a decision! The results are as follows:

1. Golden Delight
2. Ebon Blitz
3. Starfire Sprinkles Fairytale Fancy
4. Speedy the Wonder Bird
5. The Feathered Rage

It sure was a close race, wasn't it. If your bird won, please come to the booth out front to collect your bets! Be sure to join us next time for another exciting chocobo race!

Another reminder that Doma's weekly chocobo race will take place tomorrow at noon. Place your bets now! The odds are as follows:

2-1 on Ebon Blitz
3-1 on Golden Delight
5-1 on The Feathered Rage
6-1 on Starfire Sprinkles Fairytale Fancy
8-1 on Speedy the Wonder Bird


[ooc: Ok folks, here's how this goes. Reply here for your characters to call in their bets. We're doing a really simplified system here.

Characters can bet using dubloons, the standard for Vohemar and the most likely currency they'll be carrying. For simplicity's sake, one dubloon is roughly equal to one US dollar. The numbers on the left correspond to how many times the bet you'll earn if your horse wins.

So, if your characters bets 10 dubloons on Starfire Sprinkles Fairytale Fancy and the chocobo wins, they'll win 10 x 6 = 60 dubloons. Simple, yes? And remember, the higher the number on the left, the LESS likely the chocobo is to win.

Even if your character isn't betting, you may want to have them show up at the races to watch, especially for what happens before the race. I promise it will be entertaining.]

[ooc: Sorry for those of you reading this from your flists, as this post is color coded to avoid confusion.

female voice
male voice]

Holly, turn it on already!

But Doc—

Just do it!

But Doc—

Are you listening to me?!

But Doc—it already is on!

Then give me the mic! [Sounds of some kind of scuffle in the background and a male voice wails, “Ow!”] Ahem!

Greetings and salutations, honored friends!
We are not here to help or make amends.
We are here to bear you ill will and grief.
Do not just sit and gape in disbelief!

Your precious creature we have now plundered!
But of course, it was you first who blundered.
So admit it, you made a huge mistake
And thus this tiny pink creature shall we take!

And now we give you our final couplet
We bid you farewell, We really must jet!

[Sounds of laughter from both of them, before shots ring out]

Doc, she's shooting at us!

Cut it out you little brat!

It's not just a symbol, it's a real gun!

I know that! Just start the burner already!

[Transmission cut off]

*sound of the journal being lifted and moved about. After a moment it stabilizes, and then Isako's voice can be heard, muffled, as though through a wall. It keeps fading in and out of audibility. She sounds pissed*

Seize the 4423?...if I can't pay up?

...

...would you call it? Not ...whole truth?

Like hell I'd.... like this!

*now a male voice can be heard, again muffled, and fading in and out of audibility*

What about...need your ship to find him?

*Isako's voice again, this time transcending pissed off and into full-on SCREAMING RAGE territory*

What do you know about him!? You know where he is! Tell me! Now!

*a pause, and then the male voice again, barely audible*

...won't have... very long... without...

*another pause, and then Isako's voice again*

Fine...stupid game...one hand on...kill you.

*sound of the journal being moved about again for several seconds. There's a pause, and then a male voice, this one clear and distinct but disguised beyond recognition, begins speaking*

Looks like a certain underaged Captain's biting off more than she can chew. Let's hope she's got more financial sense than she has tits!

*wild cackling until recording suddenly cuts out*

[[OOC: This post has been Clattered, meaning it is completely anonymous and untracable.]]

Admiral von Karma! The last of those rotted ba-monsters have gone down. We have one heckuva cleanup effort ahead of us, but the worst of it is over.

Troops, report in. We need to know who's still with us, and what the hell happened out there.

The conventional wisdom is that July was a malicious act carried out by Vash the Stampede with murderous intent.

(OOC: Message untraceable with no apparent originating journal.)

[filtered to the Victoria II] [There's a loud burst of static, that fades to a heavy screech before it settles into a low crackle] Testing, testing, one two-ah, there we go Do you read me? This is Colonel John Meijer of the Clairborne Ground Forces. Does anybody copy?

Did you know the people of July? Did they think you were a friend? Did they care? Did you care?

(OOC: Message untraceable with no apparent originating journal.)

Do you still think of July 21 in July?

(OOC: Message untraceable with no apparent originating journal.)