un: civil serpent | video.

[inferus]

( The video opens on the largest fissure in the Room of Seals, revealing the stairs that lead into the dark. Black eyes dart into view and then fade. The imagery shifts to the many other cracks filling the room. Wrath speaks, voice hard and ancient in the way of war: )

This version of Hell grows more restless by the hour. The dark water we've encountered before infects it. Every act of violence and rage, every death and spirit feed it further.

( Wrath's hand dips into the largest fissure. The dark liquid smoke pouring out of it wraps around his palm and the length of his arm. As if greeting an old, almost-familiar friend. He spreads his palm out and the smoke obeys, skittering back in through the crack.

The temperature in the room dips then. Ice pours from him across and within the fissure, sealing it. The ice continues to spread from his point of contact across the floor and walls, spilling into the hallway. The ground quakes as he pushes back against the power attempting to shove its way out.

The video then turns to Wrath: his gold eyes flash with anger, with violence that he pulls back within himself. His jaw locks as he surveys the room. )

...this will not hold long. These fissures will split the room open, but we may buy them time to replenish their forces and allow for more of their people to escape.

If you have magic or power, if you are capable of guarding and sending messages in the days to come, go to the Room of Seals. I will be waiting.

Comments

[inferus]

It is more than ice magic or it would not last at all with the heat of this Hell beneath it, correct. However, this seal as it is will last perhaps two to three days at most but severely weaken as it goes. I would appreciate your assistance.

The issue is the siege feeding and powering Hell. There is no stopping this war nor the deaths and violence as a byproduct of it. The dark water adds another factor which is more difficult to account for, but is likely worsening the situation below.

[blackscales]

So as long as the fighting persists, the seals weaken? I suppose that might partly explain why our undead lord is dragging things out. Lengthening the war makes everything more likely to break free.

[inferus]

Correct. Death, violence, anger all power Hell.

Yes, it could be part of his strategy. I imagine he would win his siege quickly if Hell spills out into the castle or perhaps what he seeks something within Hell.

[blackscales]

I was thinking the latter. Perhaps even an agreement with something that wants to be free.

[inferus]

It could be. I sense demonic energy as is expected but nothing more specific.

This seal has been closed for some time so when the dark water become involved? Was it part of a deal made to aid in the opening of the seal, or has it been here for far longer?

[blackscales]

I do wonder. Everywhere we travel, it feels as though we have just missed the White Wanderer by a few years. That he has done something, left, and we are trailing after him unpicking the chaos in his wake.

[inferus]

He does appear to be connected to every location we have been at, and our group specifically goes to locations with beacons in them. I wonder if it isn't related in some way.

Unfortunately, there are still far more questions than answers about him, but I do feel learning about him is vital to understanding what is happening in this world.

[blackscales]

I would be entirely unsurprised to learn he had some hand in whatever happened here, especially given the presence of the dark water.

[inferus]

Interfering with Hell, with life and death itself, he certainly acts as if he is a god.

[blackscales]

I'd be curious to meet him, to understand the motive behind his actions -- genuine but misguided or a cruel sense of humour. I'm not certain how safe the encounter would be for us, however, after his previous actions.

[inferus]

In my experience, genuine but misguided is far more difficult to deal with especially if they do not acknowledge the damage they caused. It almost feels like a meeting will be inevitable should he still be around, but you're right - hardly safe.

[blackscales]

On both counts, we are agreed. Let us hope we can learn enough to be prepared for the encounter.