tushanshu | Video

[From the moment the feed began, Zatanna's surroundings were a little more visible than usual. The Welcome Center, with her leaning slightly back. Clearly prepared to get comfortable if necessary. As if she planned on sitting there for a while.]

Hey, everyone.

[And to start, she waved at the camera. Master of showmanship, this one.]

Okay, so, most of you probably at least recognize my face by now. Because if not, I'm so not doing my job properly.

I'm Zatanna. I run the Welcome Center, and...well, let's just say there's a reason for that. I've kind of been here a while. Like, a really long while. Including that year we all spent in the Dreaming Realm...probably more than five years by now. Man, time sure does fly when you adjust to your kidnapping, huh?

[Jokes aside...]

A lot's happened in that time. I mean, we're talking everything from zombies to ghost possessions to baby turtles dream-hopping to people's powers getting all messed up. We used to have Emperors, you know. Like an actual monarchy. Oh, and that whole thing with the shell starting to glow? Yeah, that's definitely not new, though I haven't seen it since Ast--I mean, the Great Turtle was busy not being in a coma.

So, yeah, I guess if anybody has any questions on that sort of thing, I'm here to answer them as best as I can. I mean, I figured, share the wealth, you know? Since you all deserve to know what kind of place you were brought to, and how this whole thing all started in the first place.

((ooc: As I mentioned here, I did recently put together a basic list of plot-relevant events of the past for newcomers to check out. But here's a chance for your characters to get in on the story IC. Not ALL of it, of course, and these stories will be told from Zatanna's IC perspective, which can sometimes be a bit misleading or even missing information...but fellow Turtle Veterans are also welcome to join in on conversations. Mix and mingle and possibly threadjack at will!))

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[Aya, huh?]

[Zatanna didn't know the little robot personally, but she had to assume that Aya had at least given him the basics. From her own, slightly more logic-based, perspective.]

Well...the short version is that he was an awful son of a bitch who took over the mind of the Great Turtle, killed a bunch of the turtle babies, killed our second Emperor, caused a lot of pain and suffering for the local people, and then tried to kill a bunch of us.

As for his followers...I don't know. I want to say it was more brainwashing, but there are some who probably believed he was doing a good thing. Somehow. Either that, or they really don't like Turtles.

[ Kylo looks somewhat entertained by her colorful language. ]

You're very opinionated, aren't you? Everyone I talked to has spoken passionately about that war. I wish I hadn't missed it, it must have been quite the sight.

[ He would have liked to see Malicant's full power, and basked in it, learned from him if he could have. From all he has heard, this was a Master worth serving. ]

But why did his followers think it was a good thing? Aya wasn't able to give me a satisfactory answer to this. What did Malicant truly want? I was told you fought him because it was the right thing, to fight for the freedom of the kedan. Did Malicant seek to kill the Great Turtle, or submit it to his will? What would he have gained?

[She has very colorful opinions of the last few years.]

I doubt he would have tried to kill the Great Turtle, or he would've already done it. I think he just wanted its power. Only magic like that, you can't exactly take from someone.

It would be like someone trying to take my magic away from me. You can't. It's just as much a part of me as my blood. Without me, it doesn't work.

I... see.

[ No, he doesn't, not really. He understands the Force, but the magic of other worlds is a mystery to him, too. Not that he's all too eager to admit that. ]

So then you believe that Tu Vishan has powerful magic, to be coveted by Malicant? I don't think I have heard much about the magical properties of the great turtle yet.

That's probably because not a lot of people here know exactly what he's capable of.

[Not even Zatanna, herself. Though...she did have a few ideas based on what she'd seen in the past.]

I mean, I know it's his energy that sort of fuels our powers. Which is how I was so sure he wasn't dead all this time, even after people kept insisting.

See...a few years back...he got sick. Like, really sick. Worse than in a coma sick, apparently, because we all started feeling the effects. Those of us with powers, especially, and those of us whose very existences relied on those powers more than anyone else.

What do you mean, Tu Vishan's power fuels our powers? And that you felt the effects when it weakened? [ This is news, and very alarming news at that. ] I know of the soul gems, I have witnessed the effect of separation myself, but nobody has told me that we must ensure the survival of the turtle for our own.

[ This, more than anything else he has been told so far by various people, makes sense to him in regards to fighting Malicant. Nothing is quite as powerful a motivator as self-interest. ]

How bad can it get?

[It was...hard to explain, especially to someone who hadn't been there to witness it first hand.]

I really, really hope we never have to find out.

My ex-boyfriend...he nearly died. [Again] He got so weak, and there was nothing I could do to help him. I didn't feel much of anything aside from this emptiness inside me where I usually feel my magic. This was before we had soul gems, mind you--another long story--but...yeah. We owe a lot more to him than most people here realize.

[ Yes, hard to explain he can get, and he'd love to take a peek into her mind for the full story, alas... Gotta play in this place, for now. ]

That sounds very worrisome. I didn't realize... I would ask if the soul gems would prevent this from happening again, but I assume we won't know till it happens again. [ And here, for the first time, is a good reason to get out of here as quickly as possible. ] I don't intend to die weak and in pain, leeched of all my strength.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure we're all in agreement there.

[Not dying at all would be pretty great.]

But I take it there is nothing that can be done about it for now. [ Not so much a question as a statement. It's never as easy a simple three-steps plan. ]

Do you know how our souls were transferred into the gems, or if it is reversible?

[It wasn't like he was wrong; there wasn't anything they could do. Beyond deal with the cultists and do their best to help wake the Great Turtle up again.]

Nope.

I wouldn't worry too much about that, though. As long as you keep them with you, there's really no harm. I haven't felt any different than I did before they appeared.

But it's a weakness. An enemy can easily take them from you and, incapacitate or even kill you this way. I'm not saying that the same can't be achieved through other weapons and means, but the soul gem is an additional weakness.

[ One which he has seen in action when Hux took Poe Dameron's soul gem. It's nothing he wants to experience first-hand. ]

[Okay. That was...a reasonable concern. Somewhat. Maybe a little dramatic, from where she was sitting, but she could get how somebody might think the worst.]

Oh, relax.

Somebody who was that out to get me would get me way before they managed to destroy my gem. They're not as delicate as you think.

Actually, it could be used to torture someone from afar, without having to show your face and thus revealing your identity to your victim.

[ Not that he has ever thought about that or anything... ]

But I'll try to worry less.

[Oh, no, of course not. It's perfectly normal for someone to hypothesize something so...morbid. And specific.]

...yeah. You do that.

I'm sure your blood pressure will thank you for it later.

I've been told there is little left to do to salvage my blood pressure, but it's worth a try anyway.

[ Nope. Morbid and specific hypothesis are to be expected from normal, law-abiding citizens. ]

I'll keep you informed.

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