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

[inferus]

It would be difficult to do so especially given the heat as previously mentioned. Little could survive at such temperatures to make repair possible. If we had more time, as you've theorized, perhaps.

But time is running out.

( any venture back to the heart of the volcano is dangerous on its own, and no one wants to be down there when the seal finally gives way. )

[techmaturgy]

Something to mitigate the damage, then. A way to divert the eventual eruption? Magically or otherwise?

[Just spitballing, here]

[inferus]

A valuable idea.

I imagine the Undead Warlords are interested in the flow that is currently being held back. That is the other biggest obstacle ahead. I am uncertain if we can keep it from them. ( and that would spell disaster of another kind )

[techmaturgy]

What happens if they claim it?

[He can make a few guesses, but, you know. He's still new here.]

[inferus]

I imagine they lay greater waste to the area than they did to Taravast, which they invaded before this volcanic power was on offer. ( Though he knows both warlords have been growing weaker so perhaps this only restores them to their former power instead of giving them more. He prefers to not take a chance regardless. ) Undead hordes roaming city streets, beasts of various sizes and strengths around every corner, the pull of the warlords' thralls to anyone they desire to control.

[techmaturgy]

[Great. Awesome. He loves this (no).]

Simply venting the eruption may not be enough, then. Neutralization? Exorcism? [Hang on. The supernatural is not necessarily his thing.] Of. The ghosts.

[valeas]

( Hi hello it's the wife. Sort of. )

A friend and ally skilled in the realm of spirits believes he may be able to ... if not neutralize, lessen the force with which they may pour past the mirror surface when the fractures become breaks. ( When, not if. She is being pragmatic, not hopeful. )

[techmaturgy]

[hello wife. also, yes. this is definitely a 'when', not an 'if'.]

Anything we can do is better than nothing, at this point. Some of my work harnessing the arcane through technological means. In my experience the cooperation of magic and technology proves more effective than either of those things working on their own.

[valeas]

( the arcane part of his work is far more familiar to her. )

What sort of technology?

[techmaturgy]

Conduits for the arcane, primarily. Tools and equipment enhanced by magical power sources.

[valeas]

Like the volcano. It is what I felt the closer I reached the crystallized surface: that it was a potent source of magic.

[techmaturgy]

And could, potentially, be repaired with magic.

[valeas]

Potentially.

( she nods her agreement, and chew on this a bit. )

I have not wanted to speak with unearned certainty, but we must try and I can assist.

[techmaturgy]

Do you have magical ability?

[valeas]

I do.

( emilia's come a long way from keeping it a secret. but then, in her world she'd have been burned at the pyre for such a confession. )

Might we join forces?

[techmaturgy]

I was under the impression that all of this was to be a team effort.

[valeas]

That is indeed the plan. ( It can be difficult to get everyone on the same page. Some go rogue every now and then, and they've yet to leave a place better than they found it, but. Maybe they'll leave Viktor with a better impression? Maybe. )

[techmaturgy]

Then, yes, I will need your help. Can you tell me more about your abilities?

[valeas]

( this comes delayed, but only a bit. she still struggles with being open, and there are some answers she does not have, besides. )

In my world, magic users have a special connection to the earth. We channel its elements and its powers into our own.

[techmaturgy]

Well-suited for what we're trying to accomplish. [Well, depending. And he does sense some hesitancy, here, so he does his best not to be too invasive.] Are you attuned to a particular element?

[valeas]

I seem ( "seem" ) to favor fire, and can summon it at will. But I am not limited to this element, certainly not when channeling for spells. ( it's just that she has a temper, you know, and potentially an ancient magic inside of her that's been leashed for years.

it would be nice if she could remember how. )

[techmaturgy]

[Well, fire is not exactly what they need right now, but the good news is that she seems adaptable. Viktor is used to working with what he has.]

We need to keep the dark water cold. Do you have anything that might be useful, in that regard?

[valeas]

I believe I do, but I'll need to first verify. I'm without my grimoire, and so I'll need to work on the spells from memory. ( And ... thanks to an ancient curse, it's her memory that is the problem, more often than not. But this is doable. )

As soon as I've prepared the spells, I'll come to you.

[techmaturgy]

Ah, a book?

[Unfortunate, that it isn't here--Viktor might like to see such a thing.]

I'll look forward to hearing from you again. Once we're through this, I would be interested in discussing your magic further.

[valeas]

I would be open to that myself.

( She is skeptical by nature, and recent experiences have left her more suspicious than ever. But if she means to get anywhere, she has to make concessions even where it pains her. For now, though, she sets her curiosity aside in favor of her resolve. )

I'll be seeing you soon, Viktor.