video;

[claritatis]

Name: Ignis Scientia
Date: Around the 20th/21st
Format: Video... sort of?

---

[The video opens on static, that fizzes loudly for a moment before settling into the standard static of an untuned television set. Ignis' voice comes through just clearly enough for those who know him to be able to identify it as him.]

Th--- best to try--- reach the surface somehow.

[His voice keeps cutting out, but he's going to try anyway.]

Any images-- n't go through. -- in a bad way down here. [He does wonder about the validity of these efforts. If it's even reaching the surface at all.]

Not sure how lo-- been gone? Hard to tell. Hoping everything's... [And the pause here is deliberate. He has to take a moment just to gather his mind together.]

Everyone's still all rig--- p there.

Comments

[fuelingfire]

Part of your message came through. The city so far remains intact.

[There's a pause. None of this is his business, he doesn't care, but.

But there's somewhere under the ground, his own bond. And the connection is so staticky he can't hope to ask and get a clear response..]

If you've left friends in the city, they are most likely alright.

[claritatis]

[He catches enough for it to make sense, and decides to stop moving in case he loses the connection entirely. The picture doesn't come through at all, but the static shifts around as if something is inside the screen itself.]

Good. Good, thank you.

[If they're still there, in any case... He's seen a lot of familiar faces down here.]

Is there someone I can find for you?

[fuelingfire]

...Ardbert. A brown haired witch with a big axe and a terrible tendency to throw himself into danger without warning to help people.

[He doesn't sound like he approves at all.]

If your message here is missed and you as well seek someone..

[claritatis]

Ardbert. I know him.

[As far more an intellectual type than Lahabrea describes, but somehow he isn't surprised...]

But no... I think everyone I might want to speak to is already here, somewhere. What would you want me to tell him?

[fuelingfire]

[Ignis will learn that once a Warrior of Light, always a Warrior of Light.. even if other, more important duties are being tended to!

And being heros is what they do. All of them.]

Not to do anything stupid. He will take mild offense to this. If he does not something is wrong, and he may bear watching.

[claritatis]

[It takes a moment amidst the crackling interference but Ignis manages to work out what is being asked of him and he can't quite help the quick chuckle that escapes.]

I see. [He does seem the type to take offence to being called out in such a way.] Then I'll tell him, and watch him if he doesn't seem offended.

[What feels like an eon ago now, he and Ardbert had talked over lunch and maps about various things, and he had mentioned...]

Would you be his contemporary?

[fuelingfire]

...At the least, he is my witch, and I will be cross if something permanent were to happen to him.

[Not.. that he'd blame Ignis for any such thing, probably he'd blame 'Ardbert' for doing something silly, like trying to help.]

I am sure you too, have associates who hurl themselves into danger. Mayhap they are there with you, getting ready to do just that.

[claritatis]

I imagine you would.

[He wonders how much of an understatement 'cross' is. He also wonders what the wrath of a dragon might look like. Nothing anyone wants to see, he's sure.]

I... understand the concern. [That is, he knows very well the kind of person that Lahabrea is talking about. He does have friends like that.]

Though I do think that jumping into danger is a somewhat collective thought for anyone who has volunteered to be down here.

[fuelingfire]

It is so. There are always those willing to risk much to preserve others.

[There is a gusty, irritated sigh.]

And were my kind not so quick to infection, I would be obligated to be there myself to keep mine own out of trouble. Adding a cwyld-mad dragon to the mix seems.. lethally unwise.

[claritatis]

The risk doesn't seem to have stopped all dragons... but I commend you for not taking the risk.

[Given, as he says, the increased risk of infection that comes along with dragons (or fae) he would have expected more of them to stay away, but many have come regardless.]

I don't think that any of us entirely expected... what is happening. [That it would be difficult, certainly, but this?]

There's no turning back from it now. It needs to be seen out to the end.

[fuelingfire]

Mayhap they are slightly more resistant. I do not know. Or merely foolish.

[He would be there if he felt it wise - and without the reluctance he professes. Knowing the sort of mess Elidibus is getting into, without reliable backup Lahabrea knows can be trusted..]

I trust you and your fellows will see it through. Things here have gotten.. strained, but it is tolerable for the moment. Should any die, endeavor to make others return their corpses, even if heavily tainted!

[claritatis]

[Resistant or foolish... it's hard to tell. People who throw themselves into these kinds of situations often have a healthy amount of foolishness and bravery in equal measure. Ignis supposes he's no different in that regard, as much as he'd like to put himself apart from anyone who might be called a fool for being here.

In the end he made a choice, just like everyone else did.]

I will. No one should be left down here. [In this infected, oppressive place. It wouldn't be a fit way to end a life.]

But we're reliant on those who stayed behind to keep the peace until we return. Rumours must be flying by now.

[fuelingfire]

The usual. The expedition has all been slaughtered, either by the cwyld, a big green dragon or the Undercity there. No-one's coming back, or you're all Shades, or that you're the CAUSE of the current problem because it's never happened before and so on.

[It's happened before, they all knew it, but people have short memories.]

Nay, think of it not as leaving them behind to a dark and unwelcome death but as bringing them back, to renewed life. The Coven may surely return them to their mortality, even if they are within a hair's breadth of becoming Shades.

[claritatis]

Ah, yes. Of course.

[All the rumours make sense in their way, regardless of how far-fetched and outright irritating some of them are. Communication has been difficult but surely he isn't the only one who has managed to find a spot down here where a connection can be made to the surface? He would prefer to be able to show an actual video, but this is the best he can do for now.]

I've heard of the Coven's ability to do that. All the more reason to leave no one behind even if they fall. No one has died or lost their mind yet, that I know of... though the various difficulties posed by being down here are becoming more trying by the hour.

[fuelingfire]

[It would probably do some comfort to some of those listening, to know that things haven't entirely gone to shit yet. Not entirely. That's still pending, isn't it?

But for now.. everyone's still in one piece.]

It may be best to turn your attention to them, then. We will manage on the surface, but you are far from reach of easy assistance.

[claritatis]

[It is a little comfort, though a small one admittedly, to know that despite everything happening down here the world above is still ticking along. He doubts they're going to be in much of a condition to do anything when they finally get out of here.]

You're right. Thank you for humouring me for a short while.