video. un: a_civil_serpent

[inferus]

This is what lies beyond the living-but-not walls in Chricter's secret room. ( The video starts with the sharpness of Wrath's voice in the dark cavern. Wrath and Fei continue forward with dim magical. Fei's sword is drawn, Wrath's serpent-dagger is in his hand. There are 20-25 mannequins in various states: burlap to human-like with defined features and soft skin.

A splash is heard as they step into dark water, and Wrath's jaw clenches at the realization they are being drained from the contact, but they have little choice but to push onward. Fei looks similarly displeased but determined. ) It is the dark water as it was in the volcano, as it was under the sea, infusing into the burlap sacks and making beings who are-

( Wrong. Unnatural. The video lands on the dog tags on the mannequins with a name on one, with a phrase on the other: hello, birdie, squirrel, eat your nuts!, the train goes, choo-choo on the other. ) Like the phrase left for Arabella.

( Before more can be said, chaos. The mannequins wake in a panic. They attack, rushing forward. Wrath and Fei work together to fight them off. She has been drained of stamina, and he has been drained of magic. They are worn from the waters, but they work in tandem - two experienced fighters, slashing through the burlap and false skin. It'll be difficult to tell what exactly is happening through the flurry of movement and sharp blades and burlap and skin and blood and features but not.

The mannequins rush out through the opening. Screams and shouts are heard from outside the room - distant. Fei and Wrath (bloody, torn, dripping dark water) step out of the wall. Fei spits out blood and wipes it from her chin, and then the video focuses on Magnus and Xingchen, waiting on the other side. The two were protected by Xingchen's talisman, which prevented the dark water from going any further. Magnus has his portal ready, and he speaks sharply: "Everyone into the safety hole now," and through it they go.

The echoes of chaos are left behind, and then there is darkness and silence. )

Comments

[inferus]

I don't know. I'm afraid there wasn't enough evidence to draw any clear conclusion. Kirk's music box is also involved in the process in some way but so was this flesh like room, and the phrases? What purpose do they serve?

Even when the mannequins pressed against the wall from the other side, they felt human at times. Alive.

[blackscales]

There are clearly trigger words, based on what we've seen, but we're missing some pieces. Method, motivation.

[inferus]

As well as what exactly is supposed to occur upon hearing the trigger. ( It's not like the attack against the one who said the trigger was difficult to avoid or hard to stop so that obviously was not the point. Is she under the Remembrance Group's control now entirely? Are there certain behaviors she's now going to follow because she had been activated? )

[blackscales]

More answers would be preferable, but more questions isn't a total loss. It gives us angles to investigate. My only concern is how to investigate safely, without causing more damage. No doubt Remembrance will move their base now that they have been discovered -- that damage will be visible to them and they'll know they've been infiltrated.

[inferus]

They would have known regardless when they returned to find their mannequin and music box missing. Hopefully, removing the music box will at least slow their progress in making a new room like that one. I doubt they would have been able to remove the room in its entirety as they escaped. It's unlikely they left anything of value in their wake there, but I would be curious what remains.

Do the walls return to normal walls now that the music is not being played?

[blackscales]

Exploring without having to leave quickly might turn up something new equally. With no concerns of being caught, there might be other clues in the area one might find if able to explore without limit.

The music box is of particular curiosity to me, as well. I have asked to investigate it, if they will allow me the time.

[inferus]

I agree. I plan to return when I am able to have a more careful look around the place and ensure no dark water remains to be used. Though I imagine they'll have taken most of it with them unless there is some other supply of it near.

Please, let me know if you learn anything of note about the music box.