eastbound | [video] un: a civil serpent. private network.

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[video] un: a civil serpent. private network.

( Wrath has learned a lot of shit recently after months of trying to understand and exploring many different avenues, the most important being Wen Qing's inspections of Vannozza and his own investigations. He knows he has to inform the rest of the group before he makes his next move. That is the difference between living on this mortal plane instead of within Hell itself where he has far more power. There is a group to take into consideration.

At first, the video opens with nothing but a visual of the locked, hidden room. The video lingers on the altar beds, the potions and goblets of opiates, and then the piles of servant clothing and bird feathers in the corner. )

I'm in a secret, locked room within Bonaccorso's library. The Attaryl have been lengthening the lives of the Doxe for some time. Now they work on transferring a spirit from one body to the next without killing the original body and destroying one spirit in the process, which is the current result of their experimentation.

( He is quiet, serious, jaw locked though the camera is not on him. This is an affront to Death itself - his other name. )

Their efforts have come with a clear cost. ( He keeps the video pointed toward the pile of clothing and bird feathers, and it does not change course for the remainder of the video- let them see the cost. ) Many have died in this room.

I believe they mean to transfer Bonaccorso's spirit into Vannozza's body. Her spirit feels as if it is peeling from her body. The question is what to do with this truth.

( Ultimately, Wrath is ancient and powerful, and he will go with what he feels is best because mortals are fallible, but he wants to know what the group thinks. )

Threaded | Flat

[Furious in a way he never is, matched only by a measure of heartbreak.

Something shatters]

How dare they!

Edited 2021-11-22 06:58 (UTC)

If we're taking a vote, put a stop to it of course. No one deserves to have their body stolen from them.

Ah.

It... do you know if she is aware of such plans?

[ That's...not...good...

This must be what Jon had to meet with him over, given the timing. She wants to ask if that is indeed the case, but is reluctant to admit to having any connection to Jon yet, and it doesn't matter much. This has been...quite a tiring day, and it likely shows in her weary and concerned expression when she turns on the video. He already knows who she is, and she's very keen on seeing more clues behind him if she can, even though it's entirely unpleasant. What she saw that night must have been a servant's body, after all...

She still isn't comfortable sharing her thoughts, or her face, where all can see. There are those more experienced than her who will likely know a sturdier path, but she doesn't want to be completely silent, either. ]

Would that not be akin to...dying? If what you say is true, then is there anything we can do? I suppose our path would depend on if she is a willing partner in this, or a victim.

[ The answer seems obvious. Alayne is aware that lunatics very much exist, but she's never known one with a death wish. ]

Since I cannot imagine anyone doing this by choice, then if it were made known to her, she might be willing to accept protection from whomever amongst us is able to defend her. If she is kept far from him, would that be enough?

Lady Vannozza seems to believe that she can be healed by my dragon.

He had no such powers in my world, but perhaps it is different here? It might help her?

Does Vannozza know this is happening to her? Did she agree to this?

[ That's one mystery solved; Wrath really has a talent for this. It's disgusting to do this to family, so he's betting most will want to run to Vannozza. ]

You've got to hand it to him, that's thinking outside the box. How did you find it? Did someone tip you off?

[ The Attaryl have been doing this... that's worse than anything he suspected. He's sick thinking he's been promoting them all this time. He should have dug deeper when he's been trying to pick out scant bits of their conversations.

He remembers something about birds singing strangely. How long are they going to wait to try it on people? ]

It looks like they're getting close. We don't have much time to act if we're going to prevent that from happening.

I knew it! I fucking knew it!

[that was literally the first paranoid thought he had, when Xunxian had first mentioned the birds]

Goddamn it!

I knew we should've taken the grimoires with us. Not that I trust them to not have the spells and rituals memorised, if they've practised them as often as you have found.

Gods - does Vannozza know? Surely if she does not, we tell her.

Oh, you don't need to believe it, it's exactly what they're intending. Lily and I could guess as much from what we've just learned the night before, but as it is—the Attaryl are paid well to do as they do, and they've been emptying Lady Vannozza for some time. She can't be refilled by her own missing parts, but we can attempt to strengthen her spirit's binding to her body, and to ward her against outside spirits invading.

Which, for better and worse, I do have experience with. She needs to be told, and I don't mind the telling, but she's possibly... going to take that less well, and I wonder if we shouldn't have someone with... a prettier face than ours to do the telling.

( Wen Qing, he thinks. )

Wen Qing, if only for being likewise asked and entrusted with Lady Vanozza's health... perhaps you both can tell her. Or I can, if you want a reincarnated fertility goddess delivering the news of her spiritual death and rebirth if she's not taking immediate action, ones that our ragtag group of world-upsetters can assist with.

They cannot transfer a dead man's spirit.

Then we were right, for better or for worse.

I believe you and Wen Qing are in a better pace to inform the lady, but if more interference need be run with the Attaryl, I will do what I can.

... I don't often let myself be taken by sentimentality where politics are concerned, but I truly do believe that tis city would do better with Lady Vannozza at the helm, and I do not wish to see her sacrificed against her will.

Why do people wish for immortality? It really is not all it's cracked up to be...

I am not sure of what help I can be. I can do talismans or lend some spiritual power, and Ruoye can act as a barrier for both magic and physical if needed, but I don't have enough knowledge of this type of magic to know how to reverse it or stop it.

Threaded | Flat

[un: sprite bulb] voice;

Un:???

un: xunxian; voice

un: lady mockingbird | private

un: stormborn

text; un: starkov

un: ut malum pluvia | text

un: eclipse | audio

audio | un:thewrench

un: man's greatest treasure (text) (private)

un: wei laozu

un: absterge

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (voice)

un : deft hand of little deaths (voice)