Pandora startled, turning around with a gasp, eyes wide.

ATTENTION CITIZENS

Deputy Minister of Magic Earle Ibis has gone missing. Minister Bagnold is aware of his disappearance and is confident that, at this time, Mr. Ibis’s disappearance has nothing to do with foul play. The Ministry and the Department of Magic Law Enforcement are doing everything in their power to help locate Deputy Minister Ibis, but we are calling on you, our most vigilant citizens, to assist us in this search. Mr. Ibis’s family is quite concerned, and we would like to return Aldia and Briar’s father to them as soon as we can. 

Deputy Minister Ibis is, as many of you know, one and one eighth meters tall, with dark red hair, a thin mustache and beard, pale skin and bright blue eyes. He is thirty-eight years old and in good health. He has never exhibited any signs before of wanting to leave, run away or harm himself. That being said, again, Minister Bagnold’s office does not suspect foul play at this time. We are asking the public to keep a lookout for Mr. Ibis-if you see him, please send an emergency owl at once to the Department of Magic Law Enforcement ATTN: Alastor Moody.

If anyone has any information regarding the disappearance of Earle Ibris, please contact the Department of Magical Law Enforcement at once. Tips can remain anonymous, but you are strongly encouraged to come forward. 

Information leading to the safe return of Deputy Minister Ibis will result in a 10,000 Galleon reward. 

Citizens should remain alert, but not distressed. The Ministry will perform it’s due diligence to keep the public abreast of any and all updates.

Thank you all for your cooperation. Please keep the Ibis family in your thoughts during this trying time.

Sincerely,

Bartemius Crouch Sr.

Deputy, Magical Law Enforcement

Ministry of Magic

Where is Earle Ibis? YOU, the players, decide. 

Order Members and the Aurors can be investigating his disappearance-maybe you aren’t taking what Crouch has to say at face value, maybe you do. What happened to the Deputy Minister, really? If someone has him, why? Is this just a man who has had too much and run away? Is it something more? All of this begs the question: do you have faith in the system? 

Neutral Characters can be concerned for themselves and their family-or maybe they’re completely apathetic. What does someone this high up disappearing mean for me? Who cares anyway? Is this a coverup? Is the government being honest with us? It all begs the question: are any of us really safe?

The Death Eaters can be wondering if any among them are responsible for Ibis’s disappearance. Was this an order from the Dark Lord? What purpose does a Deputy Minister serve for them? If Ibis wasn’t taken by one of them, who took him and why? If he ran off on his own, why did he leave? What’s he hiding? It all begs the question: how is Earle Ibis valuable?

Through threads, independent plots, drabbles, and any other means of roleplay, Phoenixes will decide and solve the mystery of what happened to Earle Ibis. There is no ‘right’ way to go about this plot, through your threads and your work, the plot will change and transform. His fate, and the fate of our world, is in your hands.  

It’s of deep importance that if that is in fact, Earle Ibis in Cardiff, the two of you bring him to me.

Alive, Bellatrix. We don’t need a repetition of the incident from last summer. Unless of course, you truly are a glutton for punishment.

He could be quite useful to our cause. If nothing else, a bargaining chip.

Barty, now’s the time to prove that you’re actually worth something other than something to hold over your father. I’m sure you’ll disappoint me, but do try to be successful, a new concept for you, I’m sure.

Bring me Ibis, and I will reward you far beyond the meager 10,000 Galleons that the Ministry is offering.

Fail, and well....neither of you need to be reminded, I’m sure.

Go!

There’s an unconfirmed sighting of Richard Ibis in Cardiff, Wales. As it’s a major port city, I’d like to have someone over there as quickly as possible to see if they can track him down.

...if that's the truth, can I bloody kill him and take his place?

Enjoy your trip to Wales. We’ve arranged rooms for you on Betinia Periwinkle’s quite enchanting houseboat, though I fear you won’t have nearly enough time to enjoy it.

If you see the Deputy Minister, do your best to get close to him but don’t let on you know who he is. I’m sending Fawkes with you-if you locate Ibis, Fawkes will return to me at once and we will be sending back-up as quickly as possible. Do not engage in spells with the Minister unless it’s absolutely necessary, in which case, only use defensive magic in an attempt to apprehend him. You didn’t hear it from me but Earle has always favored his right side.

Fawkes is at the beginning of his life cycle, please do your best not to rush it forward. In the interest of discretion, I’ll be teaching both of you a glamour spell that makes Fawkes look like a barn owl with a broken wing. It makes him a bit cranky, but he’ll suck it up if you’ve got a few spare biscuits. 

Our goal in this is, of course, the safe return of the Deputy Minister, but if that isn’t possible, I hope this venture to Wales results in some information that can lead us to him.

Good luck, stay safe, and in the words of our friend Mr. Moody-Constant Vigilance. 

@axtonks

We’ll be taking advantage of your skills with children on this one. Take Fenwick ( @finestfenwick ) with you, he could learn from your compassion and he’ll stop bitching about only having desk duty. 

His daughter Aldia is seven years old and his son Briar is five. We aren’t expecting to get extremely useful information out of them, but often children see things adults don’t. Madeline Ibis will be observing the interview from another room, to ensure that her children won’t be questioned unfairly, but so they can give us as honest answers as possible.

Both of your discretion is an absolute must. The public will panic or assume the worst if they know we’re interviewing Ibis’s family in a formal setting. 

They’re expecting you for tomorrow afternoon tea, please use glamour spells to disguise yourselves on the journey but use your real identities when conducting the interview-we want the children to be as comfortable and as relaxed as possible.

There’s an unconfirmed sighting of Richard Ibis in Cardiff, Wales. We must send one or two of you at once to track him down before the other side can.