un: white pawn; video

[chosenbylight]

[Anduin appears on the deck of the Pariah, toying with the blue amulet the priests have given him as he frowns in thought.]

As I am certain you are aware by now, both of our ships appear to be in the midst of a haunting.

The priests the captain has brought along with him have given their guidance as to how we might deal with these ghosts. They have also provided some of us with these.

[Anduin holds up his amulet.]

The amulets allow us to see and communicate with the spirits. I have used it to do so, and the conversation we had is why I come to you now.

The spirit I spoke to had much to say, but most notably — he claimed that there is something within the Pariah which is drawing them here. Something similar to whatever it is that is keeping them below, within the sea.

Earlier in our voyage, I had another conversation with a member of Captain Vane's group by the name of Mr Briggs. He had mentioned at the time that his position with the crew is transportation logistics of cargo, and that he is now on loan to Captain Quicksilver in that capacity. I did not think much of it at the time, but now...

[Anduin's expression is tight and drawn.]

Now I cannot help but wonder what it is that we are traveling with. And therefore I must ask of you —

Has anyone heard more about what it is we are carrying? In light of the news I have shared, what else have we learned of our voyage from members of the crew?

At the very least we may yet come to understand the dangers we are facing, here.

((ooc: dated to during the priest's plot; for the purposes of sharing any current plot information, feel free to threadjack away!!))

Comments

[beitangmoran]

It's not the first time we've had one of those on a ship.

When our second contingent arrived in Sa-Hareth, it was aboard a ship that was carrying such a mirror. And our new companions told us they were subjected to it and it made them lose their abilities and memories.

And come to think of it, that ship also was surrounded by rather aggressive mermaids.

[chosenbylight]

The mermaids near the lighthouse were also interested in the mirrors as well, as I recall.

Those that I have encountered thus far here in the Crossing seem mostly intent on enchanting us to walk the plank overboard, but that is not to say it might not be for want of any such a mirror on board as well. Particularly if we were to sink ourselves...

[beitangmoran]

And we know they tend to attract spirits as well. It makes sense.

[chosenbylight]

It does. A powerful item indeed, if it should hold that particular sort of hold over them.

[beitangmoran]

It always comes back to mirrors. Everything revolves around them.

[chosenbylight]

I cannot help but wonder if it is, as Hermione has pointed out, because of who it is that is guiding our party from area to area.

Or is it simply because such magic has so permeated this world?

[beitangmoran]

Unless the Merchant himself is some kind of immortal - which he very well could be - the emergence of these undead appears to not be extremely old. Older than a single man's life, but still in the realm of a story that could have been passed down.

So far, Anurr is the oldest one we have met, and he's probably 2 or 3 centuries old at the most. The other ones are younger. Young enough that some people alive remember life before them, or before they were turned.

[chosenbylight]

But the Merchant has a personal vendetta against the undead. Ellethia was his homeland, and the technicians of the Institute were known to him.

It would not be that much of a stretch to consider the idea that the Merchant may also be familiar with the mirrors as well. They had been experimenting broadly with them in Ellethia, before the city was destroyed.

[beitangmoran]

He might be, yes. The people of Ellethia did appear to be using them.

It might be because he knows their power that he is staking everything on getting us out. And we seme pretty good at breaking everything and setting it on fire on the way.