Thieves

[beshackled]

Sender: Erichthonios
To: Everyone
Subject: Avaricious harriers

Pray tell, has anyone else been having trouble with small creatures attempting to make off with your belongings?

They are getting to be remarkably b----

[The b terminates in a long, curved line, as though the writer was startled in the middle of writing.

Sometime later...]

brazen.

Comments

[crouching_sin]

Heh. Indeed. He's strong. He can take it.

I think it's how he shows he cares. Probably again, my fault. But I'm sure he's picked up several bad habits from me.

[beshackled]

Pray try to share a good habit or two as well.

[a_sweet_little_peach]

I hope that that is not what is happening, but -- I suppose, we will see.

Do you have experience with dealing with such enthrallment? I don't know that there's anything I could do to stop them, other than physically restraining them. Which, I suppose, is one solution -- my dreamotion is over plants, vines in particular.

[There's a pause, as Ralsei considers other possible solutions. He doesn't know of any way to strip enchantments from people...]

I kind of hate being helpless. But at least they're not doing anything more dangerous to people than stealing their things.

[beshackled]

I have witnessed a form of enthrallment, as well as fallen under the influence of such a spell, though I fortunately managed to break free from it. Without knowing how the spell works, if it is indeed a spell at all, I cannot say for certain how I would go about attempting to break it.

Yet that does not leave you helpless. Binding one who is enthralled grants one the precious time needed to figure out how to save them.

[a_sweet_little_peach]

[He lets out a soft sigh and smiles down at the pages beneath him. Erichthonios sort of reminds him of a friend of his...]

You're right, of course. I'm uniquely well suited both to capturing and caring for them -- I usually have enough leftovers in food to pass out to neighbors. If it turns out to be some sort of ensorcellment at work here, it's better to leave that to those better suited to handle it, anyway.

Have you heard of any patterns to the thefts? If this is of more mundane causation, it could be of help in finding out who's responsible.

[crouching_sin]

If I can find any in myself, yes.

[beshackled]

I fear I shall have to start worrying about you.

[beshackled]

In the case of the goddess Ereshkigal and myself, the items they went after are of significant importance to us.

I know not if this is the case for others.

[crouching_sin]

You don't need to worry over me. I end up making it out somehow one way or another.

[Just not always the pleasant way.]

[beshackled]

[See that just makes him inclined to worry more.]

Pray do not lose sight of the good in yourself.

[crouching_sin]

[Unfortunately, he lost that long ago. It takes a minute for him to respond.]

The same to you.

[a_sweet_little_peach]

For me, they went after a frying pan I'm very fond of. It... seems suspect, a little, that they'd be able to target things that are of import to us. If it were just one or two, it would be one thing, but...

It's not.

[queenofkur]

Perhaps we could meet there then...

It does sound like your own occupation leads you to spend time in dark and lonely places.

sender: leo valdez

[morsecodes]

hey bro!!
ya same things happening to me
they stole my toolbelt!!
got it back but dude
then they got my zipper
rude am i right

[and it was from his special fire proof clothes too!! But at least sewing things back up isn't TOO different to metal work, right??]

[beshackled]

Exceedingly so. 'Tis terribly uncouth of them to steal away the pieces of your clothing. Have you need of a replacement, or have you already secured a new fastening?

[beshackled]

Which brings forth yet another question: how do they know? 'Tis not as though I frequently go on at length about the crystal my father gave me.

[beshackled]

'Tis true. The halls of Pandæmonium are on the dreary side. A proper garden would be a nice change, I think.

When would you like to meet?

[beshackled]

I shall try.

[A feat easier said than done until recently, but he will continue to work on it.]

'Tis time I get some rest.

Fare you well. May we write again soon.

[queenofkur]

[ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... S-She can't back down now, can she? She has to be brave. She can do it! ]

At your earliest convenience.

I am, after all, without a job in this deathless world.

[a_sweet_little_peach]

Yes, exactly! And while I might have been given my frying pan by the dragon whose child I rescued, it is not exactly a well known fact that I helped raise a dragon hatchling, He hopes, for their sake, if he's being targetted right now, Much less keep in contact with them.

[morsecodes]

right??
thats what im saying!!
guess cause it came from my magic fireproof clothes
but ya i got it handled
it isnt pretty but at least i dont have to worry about losing my pants

[he probably could've gotten an actual seamstress but yolo]

[soughtrevenge]

And these beings are simply coming into your home? Are they after aught in particular?

[leveillpier]

Tis may be the best option. It will be much more difficult to steal when it's hidden.

They already deserve to be caught for their schemes in blatant daylight. The nerve these thieves have.

[beshackled]

Aye. They are after a crystal my father gave to me when I was a child. After exchanging words with others here, we have arrived at a tentative hypothesis that the thieves are after items of significant personal importance.

[beshackled]

That they do. 'Twould at least give us the opportunity to find out why they seek to steal the items in question.