[@Letter Bee]

"Very good Mik-I-el!" Siegfried would say with apparent pride in his squire, "you are a quick one. Targets, I am not so certain of yet. There are gang leaders, corporate heads, and much more in this city of- Serendipity. We can take them out, one by one, undermine them or defeat them and have their stocks added to ours. For provisions- there are still things to accrue, deals to be made, people you should meet. Trust them or not is your choice." He would think for a moment, choosing his next words with tact.

"There are many of us, the Catalysts of the Heart. As many as there are human emotions. There are courage and bravery, my brothers, love, happiness, some are even ideals- guile, self-righteousness, justice. Some will help you. Some may not. It is dependant on your actions, and if you can form bonds of trust with their champions and themselves. Some will never turn to help you- hate, fear, sadness, some are greater than others- ideals such as Cataclysm or totalities like Despair. These you must beware. They could easily be your downfall."

"There is something we can do- and it almost assures facing some of these forces. At This moment we stand on a gathering point, a Marker, a place where ley lines meet. Think of them as the magical veins of the earth. There are many throughout the city, a network, tied to these machines, to people, objects- focuses of great emotional energy that summons up the wild atheriel magic. There are ways to detect them. Find them out. If we can destroy some, rework others, create a different focus for them, we can find a way to banish the ather and all of the catalysts. It will be difficult but we can accomplish this. For a few days if you wish you should likely go about the compound. There are people to meet here that you may wish to know before they charge at your side. I will come up with a plan and then we will move into the city. I will go about procuring another base. You can also train with me and others. Hone your skills. Battle comes soon." He would pat your shoulder and stand, moving out of the room and about his business. 

Sarah would slowly get up and come over to the couch, coming around to sit as she spoke "I... I don't know what to think about here Mike. I just- what he said is a lot to take in. Ether beings and lay points. Fights. This is a lot of big stuff." She would take a big breath before looking at you, weighted with worry, "are you sure you can handle all this?"