abraxasnet | to: everyone

Hey there, everyone. My name is Steve Rogers and I'm one of the people most recently summoned to the Free Cities. I'm also a good friend of Sam Wilson's — we've worked together for a number of years. I know he's made quite the name for himself here.

I've only been here for a little over a month, but in that time I've noticed a sudden increase in military activity within Cadens. There's increased drills and training exercises, equipment moving in and out, that kind of thing. I went by Fort Wilbridge and tried to ask some questions, but all they really had to say was that they were acting out of an abundance of caution. Almost like they're expecting something.

It seems suspicious, so I was wondering if anyone else has noticed a change in how the factions are behaving, whether it's something I haven't picked up on in Cadens or something going on in Thorne or Solvunn. I figure it might be a good idea to compare notes so we won't be completely blindsided if something else is coming our way.

That's all I've got for now, but it's nice to meet you all. In a manner of speaking, anyway.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's more that his name is unnecessary, and she's not sure Sephiroth would appreciate her volunteering him to answer questions for people he doesn't know on top of her. He's a reserved person; it's courtesy, not secrecy.

Not that she bothers to explain. ]

Sure.

[ And that's that.

For a day or two. Eventually, and without preamble-- ]

The soldiers are being told to check for magical items being smuggled in. Though currently they seem to be relying on a random stop and search method, judging by all the disgruntled merchants complaining at me these days.

[ Steve almost isn't expecting any kind of update. He's aware that sometimes people will make promises, but follow-through isn't necessarily to be expected.

Ciri proves herself to be reliable by reaching out again. ]

Magical items? You would think there would be some sort of way that they could sense for that. [ Like a magical luggage scanner? Maybe? ] Anyway, I'm assuming they're worried that sort of thing is being smuggled in from Thorne. Or they just want to strip it all down for raw materials.

[ If Sephiroth hadn't been able to get any information, maybe-- but since she has it, and she gave her word, Ciri makes good on her promise. This is information she's already told Geralt anyway, and Sam will learn it soon enough as well, if he hasn't already. Steve is a new arrival, but considering how close he appears to be with Sam, Ciri's under no impression that he won't receive the same information any of them discover and choose to share with Sam. May as well just start including him. ]

Difficult to tell. My first thought was Thorne as well, but possibly both. For being so fond of technology over magic, I don't expect them to disregard powerful materials if they can be put to use.

My friend said the attitude among the soldiers carrying out these orders is that it's more for show than because they expect to confiscate anything particularly important. The idea is that everyone knows security is up at the gates. Traders will be more likely to think twice before smuggling anything they might get in trouble for.

So it's more about putting everyone on edge. I'd believe it.

Still, I think you're right that they're not going to just discard or destroy the magical items that they pick up along the way. If anything, it might be incorporated into their research somehow.

The Free Cities' method seems to be incorporating magic or alchemical components into machinery, or otherwise combining them with their scientific views. It's a different way of using the same raw materials, from what I can tell.

But I would believe they're being cautious about an attack from Thorne as well -- or simply the idea that such an attack might be imminent. The soldiers may not believe it's a pressing issue, but that sort of caution and tends to cause a ripple effect.

I just don't know if the idea is to make the citizens more tolerant of any fighting that breaks out, or if they have real cause to suspect threats.

Right, and that means they can probably make some use of the items they're confiscating.

From what I've heard from people who are in Thorne, they seemed to be taking a more defensive measure. Like they're preparing for an attack on the castle. If both factions just batten down the hatches, then it's still going to take a spark to kick things off.

Or they know something we do not.

Entirely possible. They don't seem all that eager to share information with us, which seems counterintuitive when they went to all the trouble of bringing us here.

[ Then again, SHIELD — and Hydra — had taken him out of the ice and then continually lied to him, so he shouldn't be surprised. ]

It doesn't seem counterintuitive to me. Cautious, more like.

They know we'll do exactly what most of us have already been doing: this. Collaborating, sometimes across borders. Why give us anything until we're needed?

For what it's worth, it seems my friend is receiving the same information as any other soldier his rank. I'll let you know if anything else worthwhile comes up.

Yeah, I figured they would be more forthcoming if we met them halfway, so to speak.

[ It's more than halfway, given that the average person brought here isn't going to jump to join the army. Maybe Ciri's friend is doing it for the same reasons that Viktor suggested, as a means to earn some of that trust, to get access to intel. ]

It's good we have at least one person on the inside. And I appreciate you sharing what he's learned.

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