to: everyone | forward dated to very very very early july 4

[ordinar]

[At some point, when he's exhausted down to his bones but knows he won't be able to sleep yet, it hits Wilhelm that the people who might normally take it upon themselves to make an announcement in this situation are, for the most part, sitting in jail or lying low in Nott. Then, tentatively, he arrives at the terrifying conclusion that he could actually qualify as a responsible adult.

So, here goes.]

Hey everyone.

Um.

Castle Thorne was bombed earlier tonight. Or, I don't know if they were bombs exactly, but there were huge flashes of light when they hit.

As far as I know, no Summoned were injured badly. A lot of soldiers were killed though. I think the wards around the castle protected it from the worst of the blast, but it did get damaged.

I don't know if anywhere else in Thorne was attacked. I haven't heard anything from Nott.

I saw one of the devices that was dropped, or what was left of it. It was metal and had an arcana sign engraved on it. I think we can assume it's from the Free Cities.

Anyway, that's...pretty much everything I know. If you have more info, go ahead and share it.

[Threadjacking encouraged, obviously. This message is sent a few hours after the attack.]

Comments

[ordinar]

Worse than, like, some cuts and bruises. Nothing that would put anyone out of commission.

Like I said, that's just what I've seen and heard.

[earthborn]

Hell, I'll take it. I'm glad none of you are too banged up.

But... By 'a lot' of soldiers, what do you mean? I get that it's a lot of chaos, but...

[ordinar]

I don't know the exact number. I saw a lot of bodies laid out and there might be more under the rubble still. I don't know.

[earthborn]

You know, the real shock here would be if they didn't expect it. Between what they blew in our faces a couple weeks ago, and the attack on Libertas, Thorne's been trying to pick a fight with the Free Cities for a while now.

This kind of retaliation should have been something they were prepared for.

[ordinar]

[The attack on Libertas, the memory of it, still has the power to tie his stomach into a knot.]

I think they expected that the wards would always protect the castle. They thought they couldn't be broken.

[earthborn]

There's no such thing as an unbreakable shield, or an unbeatable weapon: there's always something new coming along, that you have to account for.

So if you're right, and that's what they were banking on, then that tells you everything you need to know about whoever ordered the attacks.

[ordinar]

[...?]

What does it tell us?

[He's tired as fuck and maybe only half as smart as the people who usually take care of this.]

[earthborn]

Short version? That they shouldn't be in charge.

[ordinar]

Oh. Right.

I think relying on tradition has just been the way Thorne does things. But I think that was already going to change. The coup was just the beginning.]

[earthborn]

Yeah, wars have a way of shaking things up.