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

Comments

[avengement]

Who would they be?

[primrosella]

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]

The puppetmaster.

[primrosella]

Something like that, yes.

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[oshutup]

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.

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[primrosella]

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.

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[oshutup]

Considerably harder to dispatch, at any rate.

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

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[primrosella]

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]

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

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

[primrosella]

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]

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]

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]

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

[primrosella]

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]

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

[primrosella]

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

[valentineluke]

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]

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

[valentineluke]

Vultures' flight are followed by lions.

[primrosella]

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