03 [video]

[topslug]

Name: Yako Katsuragi (un: katsuragi)
Date: Septeril 1st, after Mhairi & Nessie's address and Sokie's post.
Format: Video

For those who are considering going to Dorchacht: someone brought up the idea of sharing what information we've been able to find out about how the compulsion to obey witches works in the city. From previous experience with these dreams, they don't often represent an accurate version of reality, so we should be cautious in our assumptions of what will actually be there.

From what I was able to find out, the enchantment to force Monsters to obey witches is built into the walls of the city itself -- along with a spell to keep the Cwyld out, though it's not the same as the one used by Aefenglom.

That being said ... if it works the way it does in the dream, then we know there are ways to protect ourselves. The resistance was distributing enchanted paper with runes that can be used to lift the compulsion. The witches were willing to teach me -- I assume I'm not the only one who learned. If there are enough of us willing to work on it, we could work together and take a look at that spell, see if we can strengthen it and distribute those spells to those who can't cast them. We don't have much time before we leave, but I think it's worth trying.

[ She pauses. Up to now, she hasn't looked very uncertain or worried, only concerned, but she's more tentative about what she says next. ]

One more thing ... we may still not know exactly where these dreams come from, or why, but I think it could be just as significant who isn't getting the dreams as much as who is. I spoke to some of the people who live outside Aefenglom's walls earlier last month -- and they told me they didn't experience anything like we did after Litha, that dream with the dragon and red skies.

But people who were infected by the Cwyld -- they did dream about something strange. They said they had the same nightmare of being trapped in darkness, hearing something or someone in pain, and a great heart beating in the distance. And they think they remember seeing some sort of cocoon, like a caterpillar's? It didn't seem like they were in the same place, but their accounts were very similar.

... I don't know if it has any significance, but if you're staying behind, please be careful, too.

[ ooc; Yako's referring to investigation results from here and here respectively, if you were curious. ]

Comments

video

[thisisamazing]

I'm willing to help, with the runes. I remember some of it from the dream. [Hiccup is looking a little sleepless but determined these days.] If we could perfect the spell, maybe it could be enchanted into armor or clothing for our Monsters so the protection would be constant. I'd be willing to work overtime on that until the trip.

[topslug]

Putting it in clothing ... I hadn’t thought of that. But that’s a good idea too, if it can be made to work.

It did seem like the tunes had to be deliberately activated rather than being constantly passively active. I wonder if that was to avoid detection by the local witches, or a limitation imposed by the way the spell around the city was constructed. Either way, we should be careful ... they emphasized maintaining secrecy in the dream.

[thisisamazing]

Who's to say we can't modify the spell, make it active all the time in a single-person radius? That could also help to change it up enough from the runes the resistance were using to keep from casting any suspicion on them, if we mirrorbound put our own signature on it.

threadjacking but i welcome u both (video)

[usurpers]

I have a favor to ask you guys.

[ hey yo older eren is here and lifting his arm wing to reveal— a lot of fresh tattoos, all rune-like symbols, though there’s still some space left if you squint. ]

These are for a dry charm, [ against cold, against the wetness rain or water could bring. ] can either of you draw that on me?

[thisisamazing]

[What in Thor's name- Eren is looking different these days. Hiccup has to stare at the screen for a minute before it registers in his insomniac brain.]

Yeah, of course. Who, uh, who did the originals?

[usurpers]

An artist in the city.

[ u look like a coon ]

Clothes could rip or come apart, especially if our bodies change. You don’t have to worry about losing anything with these, just reenchantments.

[thisisamazing]

[No u.]

Okay. Yeah, I can- probably recreate those. [Back to the matter at hand, he's studying what he can see of them through the watch.] They're to keep dry, you said? What kind of- of paint or ink should I use?

And do you want me to come to you or do you want to come by the forge?

[usurpers]

Any you want. I’ll ask someone to prick them after. [ unless hiccup knew how to give HELLA NORDIC TATS. ] I’ll swing by before then.

[thisisamazing]

Probably just ink, then, I'm- not great with a needle. [That is a no on hella nordic tats, sadly. It's not really a Hairy Hooligans thing.] Okay, sounds good. I'll see you then. [AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN DISCUSS WHY YOU LOOK DIFFERENT.]

[usurpers]

I wasn’t, either.

[ flashback to the time his dad stabbed him with a needle and he didn’t know why until . . . he figured out that he was the one who convinced his dad to stab his little self all along, it’s a ride.

so eren arrives a half hour or so after they spoke, lifting the curtain of hiccup’s forge tent, and while appearances may have changed, to older and all the more draconic, some things, well, don’t actually change. like headbobbing and dragon mumbling at the dragon and its human. permission to enter your territory!

he’s tall(er). the dragon leggies are responsible. ]

[thisisamazing]

[Hiccup actually stops hammering the piece he's working on when Eren comes to the wide, open door. The windows are all down to let in the breeze, because it's fairly hot with the fire burning; Toothless is curled up near it, occasionally firing a gentle blast into it to keep the flames going. He looks up when Eren enters as well, regally bobbing his head and then laying back down to nap.

He's gotten more sleep than Hiccup, lately. Hiccup lifts the goggles off his eyes, rests them on top of his head. There are dark circles under them, lack of sleep related and smudges of soot.] Wow. It's, uh. You're taller than me now. [Weren't they about the same height before? Geez.]

[usurpers]

[ more or less!!! and now he’s a literal giant, lmao. ]

Longer braids, too. [ a tongue flick; you see, that was supposed to be a funny, but awkwardly— eren can’t bring himself to smile, not even stupidly. it doesn’t take long to notice the detail under his eyes, either, so while wetting his lips, eren points it out. ] When was the last time you’ve slept?

[thisisamazing]

[Wow. Hiccup hasn't been the shorter person in at least a few years. This is wild. The comment about braids gets a wry smile out of him.] That too. The braids still suit you.

[Aaand there's a topic he'd rather not discuss.] I've slept. [For a couple hours, slumped over the workbench, seventeen hours ago.] C'mon, I've got ink, I'll get a brush and we'll get those runes painted.

[usurpers]

[ stares

though, he can’t say much. hiccup’s a man who could take care of himself, there’s no room for worried nagging. eren hates when people do that to him. the dragon agrees, sitting down on a nearby stool and spreading his legs so that he’s actually. not be uncomfortable when he sits. something tells him that he’ll be growing extra as the month goes by, if the growing pains in his feet and legs alarm him of anything. once seating, he kneads at the inside of his talons, pads— try to soothe the ache. ]

It’s hard to sleep much with the dreams.

[ especially one he’s almost certain they died in that i just realized gmail ate the notif and i’m so upset ]

[topslug]

[ Hiccup's got the magic part covered, so Yako's going to just go ahead and say it: ]

Eren? What happened to you?

[usurpers]

[ well he just did mention the tattoos, so, casually: ]

I grew a few inches.

[topslug]

[ And a few years, it looks like ... but it's probably not something he'd get into on a public post, anyway. So: ]

... I can see that. [ A beat. ] It looks like Mr. Hiccup's got the tattoos figured out for you, but is there anything else you needed?

[usurpers]

[ amazing how stress can make you look so much older!! ]

I wouldn’t mind talking with you.

[ it’s not that it’s needed— but, resources. ]

[topslug]

I'd like to see you, too.

Where do you want to meet?

[usurpers]

Where you gave me meat and cooked vegetables.

[ there’s something fondly said about that— and whenever yako’s ready, eren is already there. the coven’s garden, somewhere, where he quietly keeps to himself on a bench. ]

[topslug]

[ This time, sadly, Yako won't have food in hand when she turns up, looking a little tired and somber but still smiling when she catches sight of Eren. He's certainly changed, but she can still see the man she knows there. ]

Sorry to keep you waiting.

[usurpers]

[ eren’s got a different sort of somber to him— the type that doesn’t always leave so easily, and hangs on you when your thoughts run empty. he’s always been good at pushing through each and every time, though.

fear not, he’s got snacks. it’s: a crispy, rigid thing in the shape of a frog. there’re three, and he offers them out to her, palm up while eating legs himself. ]

I’ve got time. [ which is ironic af. oh, and his tats— he lifts his wingspan in the process, ] How’s it look?

[topslug]

[ Yako looks them over, not bothering to hide the astonishment on her face; even with as many monsters as she's seen in Aefenglom by now, there aren't that many dragons, so it's still surprising to see the different configurations bodies can take every time. ]

It's impressive. [ She answers, honestly, taking the offered frogs graciously. ] Do you keep them in your dragon form?

[ Assuming that's a real thing and not just the product of a dream... she takes a bite of the crispy frog thing, curious. ]

[topslug]

[ Yako nods. ]

I'd be happy to help work on that and test it, if you need any help with that. Runes aren't my specialty, but I could try.

Did you have much contact with the resistance witches and monsters, while you were dreaming?

[thisisamazing]

I'd love some help. I don't- remember all of it, very clearly, so it'd be good to put our heads together and figure it out. Maybe you can fill in what I'm not clear on and vice versa, and we can get this working in time. [Anything to provide some kind of protection for their monster friends on this trip.]

Some. I- [Got executed on a lonely side street for protesting.] I joined a couple of the protests. Tried to help dispel the compulsions on whoever I could.