username: yiling laozu | video

[weifinder]

( a smile from the man on camera, and a wave of his fingers against the backdrop of an ice wall. )

To those who know me not at all, or less well than others of our number do, I'm Wei Wuxian.

( hands lifted, he offers a polite, perfunctory sort of bow, paired to the clasping of fingers over the other hand's set. they drop out of frame, and he looks a touch more serious, dark eyes fathomless. or maybe it's all in the lighting. (the lack of proper lighting. torchlight keeps him flickering in reds and oranges.) )

The king mentioned Irenia in passing, the dragon? She was thieved away from a lord of death our group knows of, and has run into several times. His name's Anurr, he's the, ah, very slightly less horrible option for being enslaved by death lords, and from Sa-Hareth. Trailing after us with his creatures or his shifting loyalties, never trust his kind voice, Eleven can tell you about that! Five, I'm sure, can tell you more, as can Xie Lian, or Xiao Xingchen. All members of our group, as it were. Anyway!

( he claps his hands, and grins. a little crinkling around his eyes makes him almost seem truly merry, instead of merrily dry. )

Irenia lured far enough west can be called back to Anurr's dubious graces. Far enough east, and with a different strong pull on her mind, maybe, maybe we can free her. Either way, I recommend we do one or the other, because space to crash a being who never asked to be used as she is is limited, and using the keep itself in poor taste, as it defends this world from hell. Apparently. Very exciting stuff!

( ball's in your court now, chaos crew! )

Comments

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

I'm sure she'd rather be free, and I certainly support removing her from people's control, but if she remains an undead dragon surely it is only a matter of time before she is harnessed and used as a weapon once more?

un: strange / video

[rehandle]

[ The view from this end opens up to the bitter elements whipping about in the open air as viewed from the Southern Tower. And this guy, standing in front of them, looking notably wry.

Nothing like a pair of unforgiving options to start their siege off with a bang. ]

Dr. Stephen Strange, new recruit. Southern Tower, dragon watch. Thank you for the information. I take it you've got a particular different strong pull in mind, if we were to go that route?

[ video; un: cat's cradle ]

[wantshappiness]

I think, it's important for her to be free.

[She feels strongly about this even if her voice is quiet as she speaks.]

If you need a way to lure her further east I might be able to help. [Pause.] Or, well. I mean. I know someone who could help?

[That someone is her. She thinks she's getting better at lying. (She's not.)]

[weifinder]

You do likewise, ah? No careless members of our group stay so for long.

[weifinder]

Two issues, truly. If her free choice is to return to him, what then?

[weifinder]

When I decide everything for someone else, or something else. When I presume I know all that is better, or that I alone see righteousness for what it is.

I'm probably drunk. Let me sleep it off.

[weifinder]

Alive is... relative, but we who've been here for longer had suffered alongside dragons as dead as she is, for months, in Serthica. Providing a chance gamble still removes her from this battle, and worse realised, we don't lack for the ability to kill.

As has been made very clear, time and again.

What solution do you suggest?

[weifinder]

He owes me one already, I went to him to ask after our current deathlord. The knowledge of Irenia came in his cold displeasured ranting, such as it was!

He holds long grudges. As we both know.

( why he suspects that Five is cursed at all related to the breaking of one very, very long grudge held on the bottom of that lake. )

[weifinder]

No one needs have the dragon, should we separate her enough and see if there's any mind left to make its own choice.

[weifinder]

In both cases, the answer would be found in trying. Dragons of her type are sentient enough, and speak differently than we do, but can make themselves understood. Wrathion would better communicate, or one of us who'd bonded close with a dragon made alive in the last citadel we stumbled through, Serthica.

[weifinder]

There's always that chance. Thus also asking, what does she prefer. Or if we can manage a type of resurrection that's more complete... or see if enough talismans can help ward her mind, from all but the greatest strength of lords.

Those too strong can take any of us touched too strongly by death. Not just those who've died.

[balancedwire]

Don't worry about me. I'll be fine and stay safe.

[weifinder]

A collaboration of sorts, between myself and Wrath if he's so interested or motivated. Of the people of our traveling band, I believe we're still those most strongly tied to death, who might have a chance of wresting control with distance.

Might. I won't make promise, though I have, ah, become responsible for dead here before.

[weifinder]

If you, or your friend, wish to help, we won't fail to listen to what you say, young miss, but we'd hardly be callous enough to allow you to do so alone. What did you have in mind? Or think your friend does?

( ... he's fairly sure she's the friend. but still, if she wants the pretense, she's equally allowed to have it, until it's not wise, right? )

[weifinder]

Yes, in the middle of a siege where we're distrusted and dealing with vastly superiors numbers, very easy! My admiration for your confidence runs high! I'd like not to see my husband's face in pain, ah, some consideration for an aged venerable soul here, good sir.

( a half smile, but he also thinks: he would not be the one to explain to the other man's wife of his injuries, even if she made it home last gateway, and he did not. she'll still know. it's the way of these things, he's fairly sure. )

[balancedwire]

Then keep your husband from feeling any pain.

[ He knows what Wei Wuxian means though. He is, however, confident no matter what was out there waiting for them. Just as superior numbers, thank you Disha, doesn't bother him too much. ]

You worry too much, I'll be fine.

[ A-Fei wasn't around long enough to tell people that whenever Xie Yun was serious it didn't seem that way. ]

[weifinder]

He's so inclined to find it, what can a man do?

( he wishes that were more of a joke than the way he makes it sound, also knowing lan zhan can, will, and certainly does hear this. )

Mah, who doesn't worry? I worry a healthy amount, it helps keep everyone alive and not, you know, working for Ruthless.

( ... the war deathlord being now, apparently, the one he refuses to remember the correct name for. )

[stephanivien]

I'm quite the designer and constructor of armaments, particularly in battles against dragons. [ Hometown advantage and all that. ] I have already designed and begun the manufacture something that we used to deal with the larger of the dragons encountered, and I think it could be modified quite nicely to suit a purpose for immobilization first, as opposed to damage.

Alike a ballista, if that is a weapon you are familiar with, though instead of a normal bolt or chained harpoon, something that could instead perhaps act as a claw at the head... [ There's even more frantic scribbling int he background. ] Think of it perhaps like fishing?

[balancedwire]

Trouble finds the likes of us.

[ Or one finds trouble thanks to Disha or both. ]

Do you? A healthy amount?

[ It's almost teasing, almost. ]

I don't plan to die any time soon. I've been at death's door before and I don't plan to be again.

[weifinder]

My friend, would you mind showing me? I'd love seeing your designs.

( the hint of true excitement, curiosity in his voice: the inventor, always curious, always wanting to know, to find different solutions. those are not the machines of war he knows, but these ideas breed possibilities in the moment, and his eyes light up with the thought of them all, radiant. )

I'm only familiar with them in passing from the ships we've passengered on months back, but one that can immobilise doesn't prevent damaging later if needed, either. Or could be repurposed in disrupting the flow of enemy commanders, such as... the concept ever applies, with the deathlords.

[weifinder]

You and me both, my friend. You and me both.

[balancedwire]

Then we avoid it as much as possible again.

[rehandle]

I'll take might over the alternative.

[ Trying to bring down a dragon without any collateral damage... No thank you. ]

If myself and any others can get her clear, I can provide a means of getting you and anyone else who might be able to interrupt her thrall to the area quickly if you don't have that ability yourselves.

[weifinder]

Not under my own power these days, though perhaps with assistance—yours is closer at hand than what I'd imagined calling upon, if not trusting to my husband's steel.

( said offhand, since he's already thinking forward: )

Specifics, details, what means have you in mind, ah?

[rehandle]

[ His husband's steel, huh? Clocking that one for later... ]

Of course.

[ Prepared for a demonstration, a wave of his hand sends the pendant slightly further off to hover in the air where it can get a better shot of him as he turns away and raises both hands. One remains poised as anchor, the other moving in a circle that in turn tears the air: bright amber sparks burn a large circle out of the open space in front of him, and as he turns back to summon the pendant closer Wei Wuxian will be able to see that what he's created is actually a window - or more aptly a door - to the bustle of the inside of the Keep. ]

Transport. Distance isn't a problem. As for getting Irenia where she needs to go, I've a friend who can help with my own journey.

[ Around his neck, the tall collar of his cloak folds and unfolds in what might best be described as a wave. ]