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]

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.