Gate of Memoirs/Ceulfan's Log

You hope that this isn't the end of the Orebus Inquiry. Wait... Why would you want to go back?
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Demon Slayers"	Music: "Demon Slayers"
 	
*Of course you couldn't find the last Revenants.
*They existed where no other dared to tread: in the deepest recesses of the earth, in its most shadowed corners.
*In a way, they might be the most affected by the psychic energies of Orebus.
*After all, the darkest parts of the psyche tend to sink deeper the further one tries to go.
 	
*Giselle: ?
*Giselle: Seriously. You look very out of it.
 	
*Noel: Just as well. Those were Dark Revenants.
*Noel: Light and Dark elements are different from traditional elements in the sense that they...are more than just forces of nature.
*Noel: It's hard to define them specifically, but broadly speaking, many people associate them with "life" and "death."
*Noel: Not true because any of the four elements can also have such connotations.
*Noel: In academia, they're categorized under the realm of metaphysical energy.
 	
*Giselle: So...You're saying it's definitely possible these could be the *actual* souls of the dead.
 	
*Noel: ... ...
 	
*Before Noel throws a fit, you present him with the Battle Logs you've recovered from the Revenants.
*Well, if they can pass for logs at all.They look very beat up.
 	
*Noel: Huh.
 	
*Giselle: Are these even usable...?
 	
*Noel: At a glance, no. But looks can be deceiving.
 	
*Giselle: Coming from you, no less.
 	
*You hastily follow up with a report on the Revenants before another verbal scuffle breaks out.
*No guarantees they won't go at each other's throats after you leave, but still.
*You find yourself seated back at one of the tables in the Inquiry after a few days.
*At least both Giselle and Noel are still here. You can't tell if anything happened in the interim.
 	
*Noel: So, it only took me twenty hours nonstop, but guess what?
*Noel: These are recordings. Battle Logs.
*Noel: And like we hypothesized, the Forshu are exceedingly careful with where they store their information.
*Noel: These aren't any different. They're made to pass off as junk or debris.
*Noel: Any infiltrator with a time limit on their heads is likely to overlook them real quick.
 	
*Giselle: Ooooh. Talk about hiding in plain sight.
*Giselle: Wonder if that's the case for the contents, too.
 	
*Noel: Let's find out.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Dark Pursuit"	Music: "Dark Pursuit"
 	
*The first thing you hear is some kind of gently humming equipment, perhaps in a laboratory.
*There is some movement, but it is very muted, as if whoever was responsible was either far away or simply trying to stay still.
*?: <... ... ...>
*Though soft, all of you hear this snippet of...alien tongue.
*Calling it a tongue would be a misnomer. It sounds like the clicking of insects.
*With wide eyes, Giselle leans closer in, almost putting her ear up to the speakers.
*?: <... ?... . ....! .. . ..>
*?: <. . ... .. .. ..... ......>
*Synthetic Voice: "I...I see."
*With its rasping, artificial quality, this should be...Ceulfan.
*Ceulfan: "Very well. I will inform the others."
*A shuffling of cloth and several footsteps, and the murmuring of several other human voices.
*Ceulfan: "The Vardket have orders for us, Forshu."
*Ceulfan: "Anomalies within the star system have been detected."
*Ceulfan: "They are approaching, and much sooner than expected."
*Ceulfan: "We are to remain and prepare for their assault immediately."
*Female Voice: "What of the other factions?"
*Ceulfan: "All must remain. There is no choice in this matter."
*Ceulfan: "We must delay their descent for our masters to complete the first stage of their evacuation."
*Grim mumbles ring out throughout the chamber.
*The Forshu are clearly upset about this, but perhaps out of duty, indoctrination, or both, they do not raise their concerns.
*Ceulfan: "We will convene again when our masters deem fit."
**bzzt*
Portrait	Dialogue
 	
*Voices tinged with panic ripple through this recording.
*Ceulfan: "Signal undetected? What do you mean?"
*Female Voice: "Exactly that, sir. We cannot establish a direct connection to either the Advisory Council nor our masters."
*Female Voice: "The Vardket are...unreachable."
*Ceulfan: "...Impossible. They wouldn't block all communications like this."
*Soft Voice: "What if...they have already—"
*Ceulfan: "Preposterous."
*Ceulfan: "We will do whatever we can in the meantime."
*Ceulfan: "Send teams to Sectors 4 through 10."
*Ceulfan: "Comb everything."
*Ceulfan: "*Especially* the research labs and defense facilities."
 	
*Giselle: So the Forshu aren't just assassins or spies...
*Giselle: They have actual contact with the Vardket!
 	
*Noel: That would explain whatever that sound was at the beginning.
*Noel: So...insectile.
*Noel: Those clicking noises are definitely *not* from my equipment.
 	
*Giselle: What master just ups and leaves their subjects like that?
*Giselle: They certainly sound cowardly. Or foolish.
 	
*Noel: Maybe it was a test, like Wannahon and Ceulfan believed.
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Overcome"	Music: "Overcome"
 	
*A muffled scream and thud opens this next recording.
*Sickening splotches of some liquid (of the sanguine variety, you imagine) can be heard in the background.
*Panicked Woman: "No! Please! I beg you!"
*Panicked Woman: *gurgle*
*Wannahon: "Hurry up! We don't have all day."
*Wannahon: "The faster we can fill the quota, the bigger the lead we'll have on those unbelieving idiots!"
*Ceulfan: "Patience, Wannahon. We must ensure that nothing is lost during transfer."
*Ceulfan: "The required resources are immense. We will need every last one."
*The sounds of slaughter are overshadowed by a terribly loud humming noise.
*Wannahon: "Hmph. Those shortsighted fools can't see beyond what's in front of them."
*Ceulfan: "In time, they will. Or if not..."
*Ceulfan: "In death."
*Gruff Voice: "Sir. The next batch is ready."
*Wannahon: "If I see any of you hesitate, I'll shoot you myself."
*Wannahon: "Now move!"
**click*
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Dead God's Law"	Music: "Dead God's Law"
 	
*This cacophony is jarringly familiar.
*It's similar to the recording where Zeis and Czorag were preparing to destroy the superweapon.
*As if things couldn't possibly get worse, you hear something most unexpected.
*Ceulfan's panicked screaming.
*Ceulfan: "THEY'RE LOOKING AT ME."
*Ceulfan: "THEY'RE—"
*Ceulfan: "...!"
*Ceulfan: "No...NO!"
*Ceulfan: "WHY?!"
*Ceulfan: "WHY WON'T IT WORK?!"
*An eerie silence falls over the recording.
*Zeis: "<Mih zmuw oury tdyilwy idd!>"
*Ceulfan: "What-"
*The Battle Log actually glitches out and begins emitting smoke.
Portrait 	Dialogue
 	
*Noel: Whoa.
*Noel handily puts it out with a small bucket of sand, and pats his hands clean.
 	
*Elise actually rushes over from her desk to make sure everything is all right.
*Elise: Are you all okay...?
Music: "Demon Slayers"	Music: "Demon Slayers"
 	
*Noel: Yeah. Thanks, Elise.
*Noel: That's the aftermath of the superweapon exploding, huh?
 	
*Giselle: That would be Zeis...with Czorag's help.
 	
*Giselle: So it's all come full circle.
*Giselle: The Vardket instruct the Forshu to keep the rest of the factions in Orebus.
*Giselle: Then, they leave in a massive hurry because their interstellar enemies are coming...
*Giselle: The fanatic Wannahon realizes his masters have left, and starts attacking those he deemed apostates.
*Giselle: Durumn's faction, the Ulnhann, are their first victims, but they don't take this lying down...
 	
*Giselle: At least, not until Keres stepped in.
 	
*Noel: By this time, Ceulfan had engaged Wannahon on reactivating the superweapon that could defend against the Vardket's enemies.
*Noel: Both believed that if these enemies were eliminated, their masters would return.
*Noel: From what we can deduce of the recordings, the superweapon required a massive number of sacrifices.
*Noel: Certainly didn't go down well with the other factions.
 	
*Giselle: Keres rallied the rest, Zeis contacted demons...
*Giselle: It sounds like Ceulfan managed to get a shot off, but it didn't work.
*Giselle: Finally, with Czorag's help, Zeis managed to evoke a much more powerful elemental fire to destroy the superweapon.
 	
*Giselle: I think we've got the big picture now!
 	
*For perhaps the first time, you see Noel and Giselle beaming at each other.
*Though their methods and personalities differ, both have always worked to uncover the whole truth.
*That's what the spirit of the Inquiry is about.
 	
*Giselle: Well! I think that's an excellent conclusion, don't you think?
 	
*Noel: Satisfactory by my standards.
 	
*Elise: Looks like the Inquiry has been a huge success! Congratulations!
 	
*Elise: Guess you'll be preparing to submit your first major report to the Summoners' Hall soon, right?
 	
*Noel: Yeah. I'll go over my notes and get cracking soon.
 	
*Noel: You've done amazing work out there, .
*Noel: Your name is going on this too.
 	
*Giselle: You deserve it, darling!
*Giselle: But we can't work on an empty stomach~
 	
*Giselle: Elise! Come give me a hand, won't you?
 	
*Noel: ... ...
 	
*Elise: Umm...
Portrait 	Dialogue
Music: "Scrap Stardust"	Music: "Scrap Stardust"
 	
*Several weeks later...
*You receive a letter from Elise informing you the report has been submitted for peer review,
*and that you have received commendations for your role in the Inquiry's operations.
*Additionally, Giselle has asked to meet with you again,
*so you find yourself waiting for her at the Summoners' Hall.
 	
*Giselle: It's been a while, !
 	
*Giselle: Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.
*Giselle: So, here's what I called you out for.
*Giselle: We now have a much clearer understanding of the Orebus Civil War.
*Giselle: But don't you think we're missing some...other people?
 	
*...That's right. The Seventh Circle Fiends.
 	
*Giselle: Bingo! ♥
 	
*Giselle: Remember what I said about "weird feelings" and what you said you experienced in the caverns?
*Giselle: If you're feeling up to it...could I trouble you to go look for more of those magic traces?
 	
*Giselle: The scouts report that ever since we've culled a large number of Revenants,
*Giselle: elemental energy concentration on Orebus has been...*increasing*.
*Giselle: It's frankly kind of worrying.
 	
*Giselle: You're our star Summoner, you know. So when we've got all the information for you...
*Giselle: Do give us another hand, won't you?
*Giselle: Au revoir!