un: a civil serpent | video

[inferus]

( Emilia di Carlo's hair has seen better days.

It looks suspiciously nest-like, and one of her sleeves singed and torn. The further she and Wrath walk back into the village, the more she feels it: the mark of hollowed things. The withered trees and the dying river beds. ... To say they have missed out on recent developments is an understatement.

But they do not come without news of their own. )

We were able to go very deep into the volcano and discovered something in the process.

( For this rare moment, Wrath appears to be somewhat disheveled as well. His hair is out of place. There's light scratch marks upon his cheek. His suit is singed. His sleeve on the right sight has been entirely burned away, revealing a muscular arm. In his pocket, he carries with him a piece of what they found though he has little interest in mentioning that out loud just yet. He wants to understand what it is first, and so he glances at Emilia with a grim nod and then supplies further: )

At the center of the volcano, an apparent naturally made mirror is being used as a cork to hold back a mounting level of lava, a potent flow of magic, and an unimaginable number of spirits. The pressure appears to be mounting.

( ooc: vi and i had a hiatus in april, and this help explains the absence of emilia and wrath during that time. EDITED the following day when i realized i missed a detail about the volcano. it was naturally made from a large pool of dark water. )

Comments

un: vast & furious

[valeas]

Whatever eruption it has been holding back, we believe it's the earthquakes that have started to crack at this mirror-like surface.

( she thinks back to it, that large pool of dark water crystallized. )

[inferus]

( wrath slides a strand of hair back into place. )

It certainly will not last at this pace. The cracks made some of the mirror appear a bit loose around the edges.

[weifinder]

( he pauses, considering this with partly narrowed eyes. )

Do you believe the earthquakes unrelated to the pending eruption? Or to be caused by other than natural means?

Though I hate to say, should we seek to find a means to lessen the force with which things will pour past that mirror after the fractures become breaks?

[inferus]

It is difficult to say how the earthquakes are related, but I imagine a pending eruption would cause earthquakes.

If we are to stop the eruption, we would need a way to strengthen the mirror or lessen the force beyond. There are a great deal of spirits beyond the surface, but I did not have the opportunity to learn much about them. It is also incredibly hot there.

( thus the sleeve of his shirt having been burnt off... )

[weifinder]

More heat than I can handle, guaranteed, but if it's lessening, or even guiding, an incredible spiritual force... that's about what I can offer to try, and to keep them from...

( he gestures, vaguely. )

Certain interested parties, I suppose.

[inferus]

Even when this volcano explodes, it will be dangerous to get close to the mess of magic and spirits and lava. ( Something he assumes he does not need to say, but- ) It may be one of our only options. I would prefer being able to take a more preventative approach, but we may have run out of time for that. The mirror itself seemed to be naturally created - dark water crystallized some time ago.

[weifinder]

Ah... the same, would you say, as the various presentations we've run into out of the ground?

As it stands, I can only offer to try at the time where such is possible. More than that, I don't know.

[inferus]

It appears to be similar though crystallized into a mirror.

It is a valuable offer. I worry the Beastmaster or Huntress are already preparing to collect when the eruption occurs. ( and there will be little they can do to stop or divert it especially since they are both likely to withstand the volcano as Wrath can ) The spirits themselves feel fractured, eroded. These sacrifices were not fed to the volcano - rather they willingly welcomed the magic of the volcano inside of their bodies to relieve some of the pressure within, prevent an eruption.

The magic eventually kills its host, however, as it is too much for a body to be contained, and the spirit and magic return to the volcano, creating pressure all over again.

[weifinder]

Then in every likelihood they'd be willing to be sent on, knowing it relieves the very pressure they sought to contain. It's... laudable, but unhappy, that this cycle has continued as it is.

( and he... considers. )

You can still sense that pressure, or the mirror? Enough to give us any warning when the moment's about to crest?

[inferus]

Assuming you could communicate this to them as I mentioned they are fractured in a sense, one with the volcano's magic. It is worth attempting, and it is far better than doing nothing.

( but he wants to caution that )

I could only sense it while within unfortunately, but I could transvenio within regularly to keep track.

[weifinder]

The... means of my sway with spirits doesn't require their cognisance, fortunately or otherwise. Their link to the magic of the volcano is less predictable, though not... perhaps something unfamiliar to me in strength. Different, however, in origin.

( he takes a moment, rubbing one temple with his fingers. )

To what cost for yourself?

[inferus]

Then you may succeed assuming you can get close enough to the flow without being in too much danger.

( there's a pause at the question, perhaps surprised it is a question he thinks to ask. )

Little. This world limits the distance and the number of times in one singular day, but nothing more. ( he used to be able to travel as freely and as often as he wished from the mortal realm to Hell and back without issue. the limitation is frustrating, but he should still be able to do this with ease. )

[weifinder]

Close enough to be heard is all I'd need, from the sounds of it. These aren't spirits trying to hold back or stay in place.

( his hand falls away now, studying wrath through the pendant's connection. )

Convenient! Ah, my respect for the powerful. ( a wry twist of his lips: passing jealousy, too, in the way of the convenience of power to rely on, and his long parting from any such certainty. ) How fare you after this last month? As we've future, immediate directions to proceed in.

( namely, seeing how close they can get wei wuxian to this all, and what influence he can or can't exert. )

[inferus]

( wrath raises an eyebrow at the expression on wei wuxian's face. after all, wrath would recognize his brother, envy, anywhere - regardless of how brief. he cannot say he blames him, of course. princes of hell, the king of hell are gifted with power which would certainly aid anyone in a number of ways. )

I am fine.

However, I can only transvenio with Emilia. ( otherwise he dramatically teleports via shadows and brimstone alone ) If you are asking if I can get you closer to the flow or the core, I cannot.

Five could, but neither of you have any particular immunity to the heat. Correct?

[valeas]

I believe they are related, but we were unable to stay for longer.

( they have some fire immunity, wrath especially, but they're weaker in this realm. )

The force itself felt like ... a syrup of sheer magical power. All of it joined together in one potent flow, the spirits included. How do you lessen a force like this?

[weifinder]

Syrups are boiled down and added to, but apply enough of this or that, you can dilute them, ah? Spirits are about the only part I might have any help for, but given the location, there's no saying I'd be able to help anywhere near... the block. Only be able to potentially help guide once that mirror gives, unless there's another way to reach its other side, or to open an avenue, spiritually speaking, for those to siphon off and be moved onward.

[valeas]

( Emilia absorbs this, considers. )

Would it work the same if those spirits are now imbued to the magic in the volcano? It's what Wrath was able to sense. Not all of them gave the same impression, but enough of them: like they were overwhelmed with its power.

[weifinder]

To.... guide, perhaps, though it depends on what emotion or emotions have closest hold to their spirit. They can be sent on, as long as they don't wish otherwise, or at least guided... away from the gullet of other appetites. In theory. I won't claim to know for certain, but failing to try seems far more dangerous.

[valeas]

I agree.

Especially as Lan Wangi informed me, there are those who intend to make more sacrifices. Wrath already explained it, but unacceptable cruelty aside, the practice is a cycle that does not ultimately satiate any of these appetites.

( they are only left with more spirits, and this pressure. )

[weifinder]

It's attempting to bandage a wound that requires stitches, then noting it still bleeds through each time.

The... reasoning behind these tattered spirits might lend to sending them on, with the convictions of the pressure relieved and longer bought safety of the lands they sacrificed for.

( he doesn't sound or look happy about any of this. just drained. )

You're both well?

[valeas]

( it is right about now emilia is reminded of her current state. instinctively, she reaches out to smooth some of her untamed hair back, the torn sleeve of her uplifted arm revealing the bandage a healer secured over one of her minor burns. )

Well enough.

We went deep enough into the volcano we were not able to send word out sooner, though. Nor where we able to keep up with the ongoings outside of it. I'm only just now learning about the keys and — when it rains, it does pour, doesn't it?

( she looks somewhat weary, too. )

[weifinder]

The keys, the two ways in to that third village, the sacrifices being forcibly applied and freed out here, the purifying of fields and spirits... oh, we've been busy! Though be glad, you missed the nonsense of the Beastmaster's hunt. Truly, we didn't need that madness, but it is as we should ever expect here: endlessly surprising even when we're resolved to no longer be surprised.

( though this is in a way all further asides. he studies her further, and offers a smile. )

We're in the practice of standing with our mouths closed while we gaze upward into the storm. I'm glad you're both returned, and whole, such as it is.

What's your next?

[valeas]

( the smile she offers him in turn is wan, but sincere. )

In no certain order, I intend to look into a potential sealing spell if only to buy us some time. Aid in collecting what crops remain, as it both pertains to my ancestral curse and I've a green thumb, if nothing else. And...

( her resolve doesn't fade, but she does sober further. )

I mean to search for Lily.

( even if it's futile. even if everyone already did, several times over. she would not forgive herself if she didn't, just in case. )

[weifinder]

( a spasm of a smile, and half lidded eyes, at Lily's name. )

May you have better luck, though I suspect it's much the case as the mysterious nature of our coming, however summoned. At least I've yet to find evidence of any of our number going missing in a way that left a trail saying it was related to this world.

( no seized vessels, no lingering soul energy, no resentful spirits, no sudden blooms of death.

no answers, either, but a lack of certain evidences and the Merchant not throwing fits over them is indication of some possibilities. )

Assisting with the fields has been the task I've applied myself to likewise, and come this sealing spell, if what I know can assist, I offer.

[valeas]

( She blinks through a sting that threatens to scald her eyes, and nods in resolve. )

Thank you, Wei Wuxian. I shall endeavor to do the same. Don't hesitate to let me know.

( that she may assist him where it is possible. that she may acknowledge her limitations where it is not. Wrath once told her it is a sign of strength to know one's limits, and though she tends to agree, she struggles with hers. Lily may not be of her world, but they were bonded, and Emilia does not achieve closeness with others easily.

she made a vow if only to herself, besides: she would see no other witch harmed. she failed most grievously in Taravast, and would not want to fail her. even if Wei Wuxian is right and the outcome remains the same. she will have done everything she could, as Lily would (did) for them. )