video | un: Archer

[boneofsword]

Name: Cú Chulainn and Archer Date: 11/16 Format: video

[ View shows a small but cozy porch. The garden surrounding it seems a bit unruly, though a trained eye can tell it’s kept this way on a purpose. Here and there are signs of animal presence - it may be a hint of petalwolf in bushes, or flash of glowing eyes, perhaps it’s deep claw marks on the bark or even black tail hidden in the shadow. Despite it, the place looks cozy, and it’s accentuated by simple seating (with a blanket thrown over it) that Caster is currently sprawled on, and a low table that the Watch is set upon, as seen from the angle. His expression attentive but not focused on the Watch itself, eyes following someone moving behind it. Moments later a dragon — Archer — joins him and stays a bit behind, resting one hand on Caster’s shoulder in rather casual but tender gesture.

That’s the moment where they both turn to the Watch itself, and Caster has a brief “ah shit, so that was already on” realization cross his expression before turning serious. He’s the one who speaks first. ]

Hey, it’s been quite a while. Some of you might remember still those few feeds from Dorchacht— feels like it was so long ago and as if it was yesterday, huh? Not fun memories to return to, but there’s a reason I’m stirring them, so bear with me.

Back then, I made a little call to arms about seeking the way into the door under the Coven there, how together with a friend we’ve found out that whatever is beside those door, fuels the enchantments on the wall?

I never made a follow-up, so here it is.

[ It's been busy, it's been crazy. Maybe a bit of it was to get some distance too. And make sure everyone involved are on the same page. ]

Turns out, crazy thing, several of ours have been taken there. Fang, Myr and Arthur. [ Ursula and Eren as well, but that was agreed to be kept silent ] Whenever you’d get infected by Cwyld, they would take you there to help. To cleanse, albeit in a different way than how they do it here.

[ That’s where Archer interjects with his usual frown. ]

They use blood instead of fire, cutting the infected area first carefully to not damage any tendons and then pour blood from the healthier part into it. Apparently the process doesn’t leave any scars. And those who left the room found their memories to be fogged as if everything happening was just a dream.

[ Caster turns to him with a stare that is slightly exasperated at which Archer simply rolls his eyes. ]

Yeah, I was thinking of leaving out that detail. But that’s not all there it was.

With a bit of planning, clever workings and expertise of a few dedicated people like Sokie and Steve— [ And also Nel, Geralt, Everett, and Zelda again preferring to not having their names connected to this. Probably wise choice ] —this team managed to put two of us behind these doors again, with one clear goal. Learn everything that's possible.

[ Caster makes a pause, oh he made a plan how to tell about this, but going back to those events isn’t as easy-breezy as it was supposed to be. Archer squeezes his shoulder and continues instead. His voice is surprisingly calm and emotionless. ]

Inside resembled infirmary, with several heavily sedated Monsters on beds. Many of them had scars and bandages that could hide any number of burns or lacerations. Some of them, though, had a kind of blue glow beneath the bandages. Witches explained that it’s to keep the patients stable and safe. However, when they touched the walls from time to time the glow intensified for a moment.

That’s not all. [ Archer’s frown deepens, but the only hint of discomfort may be a slight narrowing of his eyes as he continues in the same voice. Despite the disturbing story neither his expression changes nor his voice wavers. ] Behind a curtain hid another door, leading to a locked room. Those inside were Witches, in a similar state to the Monsters - unconscious but without any marks of infection or injuries. Each had glowing runic tattoos. The whole place felt like a crypt and not the infirmary.

[ Kind of like these that cover Caster’s arms. ]

—batteries. [ Caster cuts into it, it might cut the description short, yes, but gets straight to the point. So it can get over with. ] They were used as batteries to power the enchantments on the Walls. Their magic slowly drained away as they slept there. One could guess that’s the fate of dissenting witches.

[ It’s very Dorchacht style, really. Waste no resources, efficient in its horrors. ]

Those who should have learned about all of this did. Time will show what comes out of it. [ Archer adds with a light shrug. Who knows what the gesture means, does he disagree with leaving it to Dorchacht resistance or does he prefer it off his hands. This means both Nessie and the Resistance were informed, but since they all agreed that maybe they don’t want their ties officially stated, it’s better to hint at it. It’s pretty obvious given the circumstances, but better safe than sorry as they say. ]

｢ OOC NOTE due to shuu hiatus, Caster's replies might be sparse. we welcome you to threadjack all around ｣

Comments

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[hippocarnival]

[... Well, doesn't that make Yuya just feel sick.]

thanks for telling us

theyd still have to be alive to be used like that right?

could you tell how many there were?

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[boneofsword]

They were alive, still breathing but comatose.

Report mentioned around eight beds but since it was dark we're not sure if they all were occupied.

[hippocarnival]

thats not a lot of people needed to make a spell that affects the whole city

maybe not a lot of people needed to start it either right?

[He wonders what records Aefenglom has about Dorchacht before Morgana got into power.]

[boneofsword]

You're forgetting to count everyone brought there for a check-up or to treat infection. If you take a bit from them, then you don't need many to act as a living conduit. This also ensures they won't burn out too fast.

A spell of this scale needs a lot of magic energy and those sustaining it, willingly or not.

[hippocarnival]

was there a lot of people being taken care of down there?

i thought it was just for cwyld

[boneofsword]

Every person that was there, no matter if they simply accompanied others, or wanted to ensure they weren't infected, was under the spell when they left. Their memories has been tampered with and they needed help of diviners to recover.

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[faithlikeaseed]

Maker's breath--

You really think they used us to power their spells?

[There WAS blood magic. He shouldn't be surprised or feel this much obvious horror but...here he is.]

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[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Honestly, Judar... Wasn't around, but couldn't be surprised about hearing this. Magical cities, using people for magical batteries to fuel whatever they needed done. While he couldn't do the active recollection he used to, Judar had a vague enough memory of things like this being the early days of Magnostadt. ]

Can't say it's something unique to this Dorchacht place. It wouldn't surprise me if they were using the monsters for materials. Especially if they were bonded to those witches.

[ Two for one deals, and all that. ]

Dissenters, prisoners, the lower class; With the right people in charge of a magical enough city, they can all be targeted as batteries. I've seen it so that if they were drained to the point of no return, they'd be used as fuel for another generator.

[ Well, sort of seen. Does it count when it's from someone else's memory? ]

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[boneofsword]

[Archer has seen the worst of humanity, and isn't surprised by such turn of events. Sorry, he's jaded.]

Power often goes hand in hand with greed. Humans rarely learn to not make the same mistakes as their precedessors.

[kuroi_taiyo]

[ Judar isn't exactly sounding surprised either. ]

And this is a world where everyone that's considered a person has this power, to some varying degree. Like I said, this whole thing isn't unique to the place you went to. Others might hide just it better.

[ Shit, it could be going on here. Why not, right? Though that's the thought of someone who only arrived recently. ]

[boneofsword]

[Archer chuckles dryly, amused by Judar stating the obvious. His tone, though, seems a bit weary. He'd seen it happen again and again, having to destroy the aberrant timelines.]

It's never unique to time or place. Wherever humanity exists, whatever age their timeline is in, they still follow their worst instincts. We've been lucky to appear here.

[kuroi_taiyo]

Is that what counts as luck?

[ Not that Judar would know what counts. Also, as someone who's seen where an age of humanity was about to end, he certainly couldn't disagree about the worst instincts stuff. ]

[boneofsword]

Not landing straight in Dorchacht definitely counts. [Archer delivers it with his usual veneer of sarcasm.]

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[scatmaam]

[ People being used as living fuel for a greater magical purpose. Boy didn't that sound familiar on some level. ]

You think they have any intentions for this work, beyond the obvious?

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[boneofsword]

[Entirely too familiar and quite disappointing. Not that Archer's been hoping to see the one timeline where humanity doesn't fail. Her question, though, is a whole can of worms.]

From purely technical standpoint - if magical energy can be harvested against one's will it gives a lot of possibilities for powering... well anything that could need power. [better to not give any kind of ideas out in the open. No need to inspire those less creative but still dedicated.] And we don't know to what extent it's used. The room was investigated only in relation to the enchantment in the walls around the city.

[Are there similar rooms that are powering different parts of the city? It's a chilling thought.]

[scatmaam]

It is unfortunately not a great leap to assume that with such technology existing, there is a school of thought that seeks to weaponize such things, if they have not already.

[boneofsword]

Humans always strive to find new ways to kill each other. I won't be surprised if someone is using it already. [a hint of distaste and bitterness is audible in his voice.]

[scatmaam]

That certainly complicates matters... A seemingly endless branching of chaotic possibilities, and we have to remain in ignorance for the time being.

[boneofsword]

It's impossible to know which path the future will follow or which choices will lead there. All we can do is to focus on what we're able to do and hope our choices will prove the right ones.

[hallucinogem]

wait
so it isn't just Monsters that they treat like that?
anyone who steps out of line gets enslaved or turned into a magical battery?

why aren't we doing more about this instead of waiting and seeing what happens
we already saw what happens and it's the entire city

[boneofsword]

I'm sure that resistance in Dorchacht is aware of those facts and has taken care of it already. Night before we left there's been a huge commotion which, I believe, was caused by resistance. As news don't travel fast, no one knows what the current situation is in Dorchacht.

We're not citizens of Dorchacht, so any public involvement in their internal affairs can be considered an attack coming from Aefenglom and have political consequences.

[hallucinogem]

they're making it an external affair, though
they're enslaving innocent people and if the Resistance didn't give them a strong enough message then it's still going on

that's not just politics anymore

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[faithlikeaseed]

[Myrobalan strongly approves. (+10)]

To say nothing of Dorchacht fielding their own agents to spread their views here. The mist might not be quite the level of disruption we caused them, but there's no denying they encouraged it.

[hallucinogem]

[of course the mist was their doing. it all comes back to Dorchacht.]

yeah, like
we aren't coming into their home and telling them that their way of life is wrong and trying to convert them to the way things are here
they shot first and we're already dealing with the consequences.
i already had to punch someone in the face for trying to say that Dorchacht has the right idea.

[boneofsword]

[Archer does approve of sentiment. He prefers peaceful arguments, though, even if he's not sure if he won't have to play devil's advocate.]

The situation has already escalated too far to think who started it. [it started with a shared Dream after all.]

Dorchacht has been an utopia that sooner or later would end in bloodshed. [there's an odd note of finality in his voice, like he'd seen it happen countless times.]