Fifty years ago the big city of Neptal was attacked by creatures that have become to be known as 'The Imiters'. No one knows where they came from or how they got here, all that's known is that when they did, all hell broke loose.
At first it started off slow. Humans were targeted first, before the beings got discovered. One day, they caught a fae, which when it was killed all its abilities got consumed by the imiter. That's when things really got bad. All supernatural beings became prey. They were hunted and drained of all their magic. The more beings they consumed, the more intelligent they grew. After 2 years, they started to shapeshift to blend in, until no one could tell human or being from monster.
People whose supernatural abilities presented after the massacre hid them for their own safety. Everyone in the city continues living their lives normally, whilst discreetly using their powers or not at all.
Jafir, a sorcerer, brought beings together who wanted to fight against this evil. His revolutionary group became known as the Whispercloaks amongst the citizen. One can only join once they explicitly say that they want too, after which they are contacted by him. Jafir has listening spells casted around the city for that purpose.
The Whispercloaks meet twice a week at locations rotated on a weekly basis. The locations appear on the members' wrists, where Jafir and a mage, Alezef, cast a rune appearing only when messages are sent.
Today is Monday and the first meeting of the week. The meeting is in an old pillow manufacturing factory that got shut down due to many of its workers being killed and no one really wanting to work here anymore.
"You're here early," Max, a djinn and also the youngest in the group says after he enters the building.
"I'm always early Max," Jafir returns flatly, not impressed by the comment the youngster always makes when he arrives.
Soon after, the rest of the group shows up. The number isn't that large, 16 at most.
"Thank you all for showing up once again. I know these days tensions are higher than ever with rumours spreading about the imiters being able to sense beings. Rest assured that is not true, not yet at least," Jafir starts, hands clasped behind his back.
"Where do we stand with our research?" A nymph asks. "Do we have any clues on how to identify these-, these things?" The question came out rushed, like it would scald his tongue if kept in any longer.
"As of right now, other than what we discovered 5 months ago, there's nothing yet," Jafir responds.
"I think that old lady by the outskirts of the river is one of them. She's always hissing and hushing everyone," Max interjects, with a face too serious for his words.
"Max," Alezef, who is also responsible for the group alongside Jafir warns with a sigh. "I don't think it's a good time to be making jokes right now."
"Actually, it's the perfect tim—" a glare silences him.
"We've been doing these meetings for 6 years now and the only progress we've made so far is that these things know how to differentiate human from supernatural being, but aren't able to actually pin point supernatural beings. Isn't that weird? If someone isn't a human than they are the other right?" One of the other members says.
Jafir looks a bit pensive, but before he can respond, Alezef beats him to it.
"That's what we've been trying to figure out. Jafir and I have been scouting the city to find any unusual behavior. We got something but as soon as we saw it, it was like it was never there at all."
The air in the room shifts. Everyone waits with bated breaths as Alezef takes a chair he was standing next too and sits just like everyone else is.
"There's something in the city that the imiters are trying to hide or find."
"What is it?" Lex, a werewolf, asks the question at the tip of everyone's tongue.
Jafir looks like he's contemplating the answer. A frown appears on his face, but disappears just as fast.
"We don't know yet." He finally settles on just that.
"Do we really think we'll get anything? Isn't time running out?" Zenaida, an esper questions. "These things have obviously come here for a reason right? Just because they haven't acted yet after the incident, doesn't mean they won't."
Everyone looks around the room. There's no denying that the longer it takes the group to find something, anything, the more dangerous it gets for everyone. Without any further information it's like going into a dark cave with no light. Hoping that whatever is in it isn't that dangerous.
That's how the rest of the meeting goes. People raising their concerns, providing ideas and offering a bit of reassurance here and there.
At the end of the meeting, Jafir informs everyone that they would be scouting the city for their next meeting.
"I think it's time to switch things up a little. Time isn't on our side, so for our next meeting, things will be different," he starts. "Our powers combined would be strong enough to locate if not one, but hopefully more imiters."
"If that was an option from the start then why didn't we just go with that!?" Alex huffs.
"Because, that increases our chances of getting caught, since the overpowering presence of magic in the city is hard to miss," Valric, a dwarve, responds.
The room fills with murmurs from the rest of the people not wanting to endanger themselves but also not having any other choice, if progress is to be made.
One by one the members start agreeing to the plan, albeit dangerous.
Just as everyone gets ready to leave, a clatter of a rolling can, is heard outside the window.
The whole room stills, no one blinks or breathes. After a moment of no other sounds, Jafir slowly starts walking towards the window, not too far from him. The rest of the people follow suit.
Just as they reach the the window, they see a hooded figure disappear and mingle into the busy street outside the building.
Everyone turns towards Jafir, too afraid to speak, out of fear of still being watched. With a silent and swift movement of his hands, Jafir teleports them all to a different location.
"What the hell!" Aren, an elemental exclaims, releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding. "I thought these meetings were for members only???"