Entry 394; Day 481

[misterblackbird]

I've now seen five, six, or perhaps even seven attacks broadcast on the Network and I've heard tell of more--men, women, young and old alike, and what seemed to be a fight between two animals. No, this is no curse. There is certainly something more going on.

Now, in one instance some other creature was mistaken for one of these monsters, which is a peculiarity unto itself. But it's of no importance in this case, although it is interesting to hear that such creatures are in the City, and relatively harmless.

So here, then, is a series of unprovoked, vicious, and sometimes surprising attacks on citizens by creatures, monsters, with no other purpose than to terrify, to injure, and to kill. They are attacks, and little more than that--or so they appear at the moment.

Beyond that, all I know in this case is that this is almost certainly not a curse, that these monsters are vicious, that these monsters do not seem to come from either the Forest or the Underground. So that would point to someone or something else. A curse would be the first explanation one would assume, but this has gone on for far longer than the usual day, two days, or even three days. There have been curses going on simultaneously. Yes, Adrastus paid a call while curses went on once, but that was hardly a handful of scattered and apparently random attacks.

Perhaps the most peculiar part of all this is that no one has yet come forward to claim responsibility for it. So often, as soon as some crime or some disaster strikes, someone appears on the Network cackling and declaring victory. But no one has done so, even if I do have my suspicions. If it is someone, then I must congratulate him or her on keeping secrets and staying well out of sight. That is a difficult task.

There is a pattern here in these attacks, but I haven't yet found it. It may be some shared acquaintance among those attacked, or some similar possession, a shared world--if there is a pattern, there will be something shared between them, whatever it may be. There is a pattern or there is a point of origin for all these things. I don't yet know quite enough to see it yet.

Yes, it isn't at all impossible that this is something completely natural. Some unseen natural force could have bothered these animals. But it seems unlikely, somehow. Surely, we would have seen more than merely this.

I admit, I do suspect that someone may be behind all this. I've seen similar things happen here in the City before, but I've no proof, nor any evidence as to who that person--or persons--might be.

I would like to speak to anyone and everyone who has encountered these creatures. If you know anything about what has been going on of late, I would very much like to hear it. In that there will be a pattern, or at least the start of one.

I still need to collect my thoughts on this. I think I should like to know a little more before I begin to try and untangle this puzzle. It's been quite a while since last I put my mind to anything quite like this. But I think I've yet the cleverness for it. And I shall have to wait on my investigations of the City. I'm sure I'll be able to return to those soon enough.

I've investigated monsters before, but they were rather different from these. And I inevitably proved them to be nothing but mere humans.

I'm not sure that will be the ending here.

But there is an answer to all of this. And I want to find it.

~C.

[ooc: No, Cain will not figure out who or what is behind this. He's just attuned to this sort of stuff popping up on the Network and he's wondering wtf is going on here. SO he's going to muse and poke around a bit, but he won't get anywhere near a solution (though he might like to hear it when and if the truth comes out).]

Comments

[hweeeeeel.livejournal.com]

Meredy only ambushed while walking. But not know anything about it, just defended self.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

So it was a surprise attack, then.

[hweeeeeel.livejournal.com]

You bet. Monster just came from shadows and attacked suddenly.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I shouldn't go back and look at the place where you were attacked.

[hweeeeeel.livejournal.com]

Meredy was next to building 10.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'll go take a look.

[hweeeeeel.livejournal.com]

You bet-

Meredy hopes it is useful.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose we'll see once I get there.

[swordmastering.livejournal.com]

Tch. I encountered one, but there's no telling why I was attacked by it.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

No one seems to know why they were attacked. It wasn't as though you wandered into whatever it considered its territory, was it?

backdated forever /holds head

[swordmastering.livejournal.com]

Of course not. I was near the fountain. I hardly would consider that a monster's territory.

<3<3<3

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I certainly wouldn't--I think I ought to look at the place where you were attacked. It's been a little while, but there might be something left--footprints or something.

[swordmastering.livejournal.com]

I'll send you coordinates to where I was exactly if you want.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that would be helpful.

[swordmastering.livejournal.com]

[And he sends them!]

It would be useful if something was left over there.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

It would, and I'm sincerely hoping that there will be something. That would be as good a start as any in unraveling all of this.

[swordmastering.livejournal.com]

The sooner this is over, the better.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree.

[anti-buttons.livejournal.com]

It looks as though you have your answer.

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

Indeed, it does.

[anti-buttons.livejournal.com]

Your next move?

[misterblackbird.livejournal.com]

I suppose the first thing is to find out where he might be, or where these monsters might be coming from. We can't just keep trying to catch up and fend off these creatures. We'd do better to stop the source.