un: moonage daydream (audio)

[lancifolium]

[ In a whisper: ] Wei Wuxian? Wrath? Can either of you hear me? I think I've found Hatisse. She's very far back, past the previous Doxes.


[ note: this is taking place pre-lockdown, centering around the outing sketched out here in the royal mausoleums. since these conversations are happening on the closed network, characters can eavesdrop and commentate. ]

Comments

[lancifolium]

What did you find?

[ Lily had startled slightly, her posture stiffening when Wrath reappeared, but she was hardly put off enough not to turn to him curiously. She had been following this trail of details after Hatisse for too long not to be just a bit excited about what he had seen. ]

[inferus]

A body- I would assume hers though I have no frame of reference for what she looks like. The body itself was strangely conserved as if she passed recently. ( They are both aware that isn't true. The dustiness within the tomb itself is proof of that. ) But she is missing body parts.

( Don't ask how he learned about that. )

[lancifolium]

Her eyes?

[ The whole business sounded utterly grim and ghastly, and while she would have normally been repulsed by Wrath having gained this rather ghoulish bit of knowledge, it was far too intriguing. ]

[inferus]

( Wrath knows what she must be thinking of. Body parts have power especially the body parts of someone who is already full of magic. He lists the body parts out methodically like one might list out a grocery list: )

Eyes, tongue, left ear, and right hand.

[lancifolium]

Kept in the Attaryl tower, maybe.

[ Lily paused and considered the list of missing parts before giving Wrath an odd look. ]

Left ear, I can't figure that one out.

[inferus]

I am not certain how magic works in this world, however-

( He is intimately aware of how magic works within his own world, and that is enough to give him hints as to why her body parts may be currently missing. )

Her body is full of magic, which means any of her parts would be... a powerful ingredient.

[lancifolium]

[ While her thoughts had turned towards the possibility that the pieces of Hatisse were being used as powerful items, making them into ingredients drew a grimace from Lily. ]

Full enough to preserve her, or is that something else at work? The magic of her Attaryl sisters?

[inferus]

It's difficult to say.

( He can't pull apart the pieces of it well enough. )

I would bet on something else at work. There is a reason her body would be preserved like this, body parts missing. If it were the Attaryl, they must have some method of opening the tomb to fetch the parts of her they want - all without being discovered.

[lancifolium]

[ As Wrath spoke of the Attaryl being able to retrieve pieces of Hattis without disturbing her tomb Lily looked back at Hatisse's grave, frowning thoughtfully, her mind returning to the dead woman's missing eyes. ]

I don't suppose you recall if any of the undead witches we've encountered are missing parts of themselves. You know, if it wasn't utterly gruesome business I'd almost wish there was another Attaryl interred around here to look in on as comparison but–

[ Lily glanced back to Wrath and shrugged before her eyes fell to a bit of dust still clinging to his shoulder. She smiled apologetically before lifting her wand subtly, using a wordless vanishing spell to remove the last few specks. He had already been very generous with his time, she didn't think she could ask more of him in good conscience. ]

[inferus]

I do not remember seeing another with missing parts nor one so perfectly preserved. Is there another near?

( Wrath does not mind seeking, but it was also difficult to actually fit in the tomb he'd just been in. His gaze drops to the wand as she casts her spell, and his mouth parts briefly. Inwardly, he is cursing his own magic for being so damned powerful and then being utterly useless in terms of something simple like cleaning or mending a tear in the fabric of his clothing. As it is, he appreciates it. He may no longer be near Hell where any problem with his clothing would reflect poorly on him and the power he wields, but it is difficult to shake what has become instinct. He feels more comfortable like this. )

...Thank you, Lily.

[lancifolium]

I think I saw a few tombs with similar sigils a few sections away in the eastern part of the building if you think it's worth looking into.

[ Concealing her wand again Lily shook her head, smiling politely. ]

No need. Thank you for indulging me this little trip. I hope one day to return the favor.

[inferus]

I expect one day you will.

( Wrath is aware the group shares information with one another freely, openly. However, he comes from a place where such favors are not given freely. Everything, including knowledge itself (especially that), has its cost. )

It is important to test the theory instead of making assumptions. Evidence is required for that. Give me a moment.

( And then he is gone again in the same way he had left before. )

[lancifolium]

[ Well, he wasn't wrong, and his blunt observation got a little chuckle and a nod out of her, though before she had the chance to respond Wrath was off again.

Blinking in his wake Lily looked back to the tomb of Hatisse, studying the carvings until Wrath returned to tell her what he found out. ]

[inferus]

( It is not long before he returns with the shadow and gold surrounding him again before it falls away. )

They are not preserved in the same way. They are decaying as one would normally expect of corpses based on the time they have been dead. It appears Hatisse was a special case.

[lancifolium]

I can't say that's surprising.

[ After another look around she uses her wand to dust off his other shoulder. ]

Thank you for checking. I fear I have more questions than answers now.