Quest 262

[primrosella]

[Filtered AWAY from the Deities | Attempted Unhackable]

The word "harpy", it's Greek--it comes from a word I can't quite recall, harpa-something, I think, but it means "to snatch", and that's where "harpy" comes from: it means "that which snatches". Which I suppose means they're scavengers of a sort, and rather a bit like vultures in their own way, too. When things go missing suddenly and mysteriously, it's often said to be the fault of harpies. They're also often linked to storm winds, somehow, which I imagine is likely because they're both noisy, fierce, and generally harmful. Their talons are made of bronze, their wings of steel; they're always depicted as ugly, they live in filth and squalor, and their purpose, for the most part, is to torment.

I think, from what we've seen of the harpies, most all of that fits with the ones we've been encountering here. They're different in some ways--I think there's more metal to these ones than just talons and wings, to begin with--but they're certainly noisy and fierce, and there's no doubt that they've been tormenting us ever since they arrived.

The part about snatching things away and living in squalor seems to fit, too. It seems a great group of them have taken up residence in the remains of the fallen tower; I didn't dare get close enough to really look at it, but there's certainly some sort of structure there now, in bits and scraps of metal all put together, and I saw quite a cluster of harpies circling around it, as well.

I suppose it's both good and bad news, if they are settling in. Bad because the last thing we want is for them to get comfortable and entrench themselves here, but good because if they're mostly all in one place, then it's somewhat easier to avoid them. Or to deal with them all at once, as the case may be.

Or leave, but we can't--the storms outside the barrier, they're too awful, and yet I can't seem to get the thought out of my head, that we could just leave...

Still, there's something that I can't--that is, as odd a question as this may seem to ask, has anyone noticed a...stranger on the Network lately? Someone urging people to leave, perhaps, or claiming responsibility for the harpies? It seems as though there ought to...

...Well. In any case, if you have seen someone like that, please do let me know.

[Filtered to Iacho | Attempted Unhackable]

Have you been playing again, Iacho? Do you still have the professor's shoe?

[/Filtered]

Comments

[avengement.livejournal.com]

Who would they be?

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

The stranger? I...don't know, exactly. Someone unusual, who...seems to know to much, despite the fact that no one has ever seen them before.

...Or a black dog, perhaps.

[avengement.livejournal.com]

The puppetmaster.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Something like that, yes.

[avengement.livejournal.com]

And when we find them?

audio ][

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

The metal presents a particularly troublesome difference even if it is, mostly, only the one.

As to the stranger - I haven't, but then I admit I don't keep as close of an eye on the network as others.

audio ][

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It does make things quite a bit more difficult, it's true. And they seem to like metal well enough, besides, if they're building themselves nests of it.

Do keep an eye out, won't you? It...seems as though there ought to be one, somehow, and I can't help but keep checking to see if there is.

audio ][

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

Considerably harder to dispatch, at any rate.

I will. Though, why is it you think there ought to be one in the first place?

audio ][

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

But sooner or later we'll have to. Something's got to be done about it; we can't just let them alone forever.

The last time the barrier came down, there was someone--an architect. And last year when we had the trouble with the sheep, there was a shepherdess. And now there are harpies and it just seems like...there ought to be someone behind it. But if there were, they ought to have shown themselves by now, oughtn't they?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Has anyone tried to do anything about all this as yet?

Our floundering about in that boat hardly counts as 'anything'.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I haven't seen any calls to arms, myself, but that doesn't mean that there haven't been any. And I know some people have been out trying to handle the harpies, at least, if nothing else.

Harpies and storm winds. Do you suppose they go together?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose they might. I'm more interested in how to set the City's barriers up again. But at least some people are trying to deal with the harpies.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

I'm about at the point of going out to try brown paper and plaster again, myself. More for the sake of going out than-- But we can't just go on like this. Something has to be done, and soon.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

It's 'harpazein', the word you're looking for.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Harpazein! That's it, yes, thank you. My Greek isn't very good at all, I'm afraid, but I do still recall bits and pieces of it.

[cry-reaper.livejournal.com]

It was part of my studies. The Order of Themis back home looks to the Greeks for their inspiration.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Themis...the same Themis who was among the original twelve Titans?

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

The ones below aren't at all metallic or messier than the common bird and before you ask, no, they won't be of any assistance.

The last paragraph is actually noteworthy; I'm no longer alone in wondering about something beyond the flock.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

It seems as though there ought to be more to it, doesn't it? That there's still something worse coming, besides.

[valentineluke.livejournal.com]

Vultures' flight are followed by lions.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

That's how it's been before, at least.

sadly no filter, because he can't manage one | video

[iacho.livejournal.com]

[ crawling on the leg of a table, climbing up, up... then stopping to wave at the camera ]

Iaaaaccccchho. Has... a call?

no filter | video

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

[Aw, Iacho. Fidgety though she is, she manages a smile and a wave back.]

Is that all right? I haven't talked to you lately, so I thought I'd call and say hello.

video

[iacho.livejournal.com]

Yesss, but.

[ it frowns, somewhat sulking ]

You... caaaaaaaaan't. Have. The pppro -...puhro... professor's shoe.

video

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

No, of course not. Have you been playing with it?