[It's Lorelei. For those who haven't encountered him yet, he looks remarkably (one could say exactly!!) like an older, adult Asch or Luke. Right now he looks fairly sober.]

It might be easy, with how things have gone recently, to give into despair and believe none of us are ever getting out of this place. I have chosen to believe that we will, and that our recent efforts against one of our captors proves that where there is a will, there is a way.

We simply weren't prepared enough this time.

[He frowns faintly.]

But aside from that. There is very little I can offer anyone here as consolation. We made our effort, and we failed. ... But I can offer this. Should we ever escape this Tower, should we lose these collars and regain the power that belongs to us.. ... I can't save your worlds. I can't repair the loss of life that's happened there.

But I can repair mine.

[There's no sense of bragging here at all.]

If ... we can't find a way to restore all worlds lost, but find a way to escape, then Auldrant will be open to any and all survivors of the Tower. You don't have to take up the offer, I will not force you. There will be those who would prefer to have their native homes or nothing at all. But for those of you who feel otherwise ... I offer what I can. And I can offer my world. It won't be your first homes, but it will be a home, somewhere to return to that won't ask who you are or what you are or even what you did. Everyone deserves a home. Everyone.

We just have to survive long enough to get there. Don't give up.

[Van does not look happy. He is haggard and worn down. Injured, even, though he seems to have come out on top of a fight with whatever monster injured him if the hide slung over his shoulder is any accurate indication. There is a sort of grim determination in his eyes.]

A warning to whoever it was that placed a fon slot seal on me:

When I discover who you are, you will regret it.

[He pauses to catch his breath and then sighs.]

If there is a skilled healer around, I would appreciate your assistance. [Seeing as he can't use any of his own skills because someone cast something on him to keep him from using magic...]

*It's a recorded video. Enoch stands before the terminal. He eyes the screen before taking a breath and beginning to speak.*

Shall I tell you a tale, Animus?

In another world, there was a dark and foreboding tower with no name, ruled by seven Fallen Angels. Heaven sent a man to capture these rulers, but in the three hundred years this man searched for them, the Tower built its own story. Inside the Tower, people thrived, and enjoyed a life of luxury and abundance in beautiful, otherworldly lands. Each level was as its own world, and had beauty all its own. Even the land of cold steel and eternal lights was breathtaking in an eerie way. But all was not as wonderful as it seemed. The people lived luxurious lives surrounded by beauty and wonders, yes, but when they died, their souls did not ascend to Heaven. They were taken from their rightful course and sent to The Darkness, to sate the gluttony of the demon prince Belial. No one seemed to know this but Belial himself and a resident of the Tower named Ishtar. Ishtar heard the voice of God, and knew that the Fallen Angels were not to be trusted - she gathered followers. It meant severing their connection to the safe and the familiar, to spurn the luxury of trust and plenty and ease of life. It meant turning their rulers against them. But...

*Enoch pulls something from his pocket - something small. Those who look hard enough might be able to catch a faint green glow before he closes his fingers around it, and a strong female voice speaks.*

They became the Freemen. The Fallen Angels became angry and rebuked us. I knew then that God's Word was true.

*Enoch's fist lowers, and he continues.*

But the Freemen knew the truth. Ishtar died in battle against the children of the Fallen Angels, who were in such misery they ate one another to end their brothers' pain. But she left behind prophecies. Messages that outlived her, to aid the Freemen that had sworn to follow her. The prophecies promised Ishtar would return to save them, but until then, they had to work hard to survive when those who were as gods in the realm were against them. And then, when the time came, they surely would not stand by while the resurrected Ishtar fought alone.

That is the story of the Freemen, a story that I did not know of until my own intersected it. Do not forget, Animus, that there are always stories other than your own. Thank you for hearing me.

*The recording ends, showing Enoch sitting at the terminal, feed live to hear responses.*

[...Woooow there's a lot of posts on the network today. A lot of people sound really worried about a lot of crazy-sounding things...but what she's got to say doesn't sound that crazy, all things considered.

Worried as she is, Rise is still an idol at heart, and she smiles for the camera like a movie star.]

Hi hi! Rise Kujikawa here, bringing you all an important message!

I know things are kinda crazy today, and lots of people are saying really weird stuff, buuuut this is a little different, because this one's not that unbelievable.

So everyone, be really careful if you're eating the cafeteria food! There might be poisonous plants in it...and honestly, in a place like this, I'd say you're better off safe than sorry.


[Filtered to the Investigation Team + Nanako, Hidetoshi, Luke, Tohko, and (after a moment's debate) Asch, Ken, and Frederick + EDITED (at Luke's request) TO INCLUDE TEAR]

Even if it's not true, I don't think we should risk it, guys... So...who wants to go hunting and who wants to help me see what we can find to make in the kitchen? We should meet up for meals somewhere at least twice a day, and maybe we could invite more people, too.

[EDIT: brief additional video, filtered to the same crew as above]

Senpai says to meet up in the cafeteria, and we'll decide where to go from there!

Hello to those I have not met yet. My name is Tear Grants. I am the companion of the two Luke fon Fabres, Asch the Bloody and Guy Cecil that have resided in the tower for a while now. After some discussion, I have decided to offer healing and fighting lessons twice a week in the meadow on the twenty-fifth floor. The first time will be on the 17th at 8pm. The second will be the 20th at 8pm. All are welcome to join me to learn. I'm sure that there will be other magic users and fighters, if you are not interested in learning in how to heal.

Thank you for your time, fellow residents.

[Jade's finally awake, but he doesn't feel like he is. As the sleep paralysis wears off slowly, Jade becomes aware he's not in his own room. Nothing felt right, not to mention that he never slept in his uniform, even if it wasn't the complete thing. When he could move, Jade pushed himself up in the bed, wincing as his joints made complaints at the sudden movement. Seeing the notes, he picked up the first and glanced it over briefly, a frown crossing his face. Immediately concerned, Jade tried to get out of bed, only to have the lingering effects of the sleep paralysis turn him into a jumbled mess of blankets on the floor.

When he's finally back up, muttering to himself about the damn situation, he seems to search for something and finds the collar around his neck. After a few good minutes of attempting to remove it or find some sort of catch, Jade gives up and he's heading to the door. When he opens it, he leans on the doorframe and rubs his eyes before he surveys the area.

This was entirely abnormal and Jade did not like it one bit. There seemed to be people around, so he wasn't the only one who'd apparently been kidnapped. The Tower? Auldrant was destroyed..? No, there had to be some other explanation. He wasn't stopped, so he assumed the environment wasn't as hostile as he'd initially thought.

Jade finally spotted a Terminal in his searching. Being at least somewhat decent at technology, he approached it and began to fiddle with it, figuring out just what to do with it and how in a few minutes. He didn't have control of the system, so 'Corpse Hunt' was certainly not a command he could use. Too bad this wasn't the Tartarus.

When he did figure out the video function, Jade appeared over the network with a stern expression, the dishevelment from before smoothed out.]

This Commander Jade Curtiss requesting to be properly informed on the situation immediately.

[Even if this was going to result in setting off an alarm, he'd get some reaction from the place that would explain the situation a bit better. At the very least, he'd get some answers.]