☆ A Strange Tale

[faileas]

Name: Sowilo (petaluridae)
Date: June 13
Format: Video

The face that comes over the video might be familiar to some: delicate-featured, red-haired, bearing the un-hidden features of a jewel-red dragonfly Fae. Sowilo is known to be brusque and haughty, but today he only looks serious, occasionally glancing off-screen, where the sounds of another couple of people in the office can be heard.

“Two Wilders came back from the Northern Outpost this morning. Apparently a dozen of them went missing a handful of days ago and the search party has only turned up these two. Overcurious meatheads that they are, they found trouble on a trip out. They are not seriously injured-” He holds a hand up. “-but they have the strangest story.”

“While exploring after a rockslide they came upon a tunnel, and like the geniuses they are, decided to follow it down. Very far down, to caverns where they were ambushed and captured handily.” There is a quiet protest in the background, and murmuring, but Sowilo pays it no mind. “The two who returned were purposefully released, and they’ve described to Theodore an underground city full of actual, living people. What in the world do you all know about this? Their leader sent a message that she will release the other ten Wilders safely if “only the travelers who have laid eyes upon her fair city before” accept her cordial invitation to her realm. Doesn’t take a scholar to assume she’s talking about you Mirrorbound. You have a way of attracting trouble, don’t you?”

“I’m sure you understand why this is a… delicate situation for the Coven, and for Aefenglom. We have no records of any city existing underground - we know absolutely nothing about these people, what they want, or what they are capable of. The message was very clear that representatives from the Coven or Aefenglom were not welcomed, so our hands are a bit tied. Their leader wishes to speak with some of you directly, even.” Glittering red eyes narrow.

“We leave on the 16th from the North Gate and will use the teleporter to the Northern Outpost. From there, Theodore and I will accompany you as far as we can, but I imagine it won’t be far at all.” There is a moment of hesitation here from the stuck-up Fae, and he looks a bit like he bit into a lemon. “I suppose we are relying on you all. Please know that this is an unprecedented situation and could turn dangerous for all of us. Not to mention, if they decide they don’t like us, we’ll likely have to abandon the Northern Outpost and all the progress made up there…

I suppose decide among yourselves what you’re willing to do. We will not force anyone's cooperation.”

This is the initial kick-off post for What Lies Beneath! Feel free to use this post to let characters discuss and react with each other as you want over the network or in-person. If you need an NPC reply, please say so in your comment header! NPC replies will come from the journal petaluridae. Otherwise, the event log itself will be up on the 16th. And one more reminder, you still have until 3PM EST on the 15th to sign up for a possible chat with the Matriarch!

Comments

[usurpers]

More or less.

It’s nothing concrete until we see it again, but it looked like the elders willingly feed themselves to the Moss to protect the city from infection.

[whomthebelltolls]

What a... queer ritual.

How old were these "elders"? Those already near the end of their lives, or...? [Does Maria have to worry? Cuz like. She's old. And should be dead. Except not of old age, but can the moss even tell......]

threadjack/ un: Caster

[futhark]

[ Welp, he and Yona managed to get some of the information on this matter, so he just jumps in, without asking ]

Yeah, from what we were told, it seems Witches choose to go out in such way there. And I quote "their great wish is to hold out long enough to return to the moss that gives their city protection, a way for their spirit to live on in the membranes", so I guess, pretty old. Withered even.

Not sure if I'm buying this, but the Monsters on the boat treated it as some great honour to accompany the Witch in her last trip.

[whomthebelltolls]

Well, I suppose so long as they choose it for a fate, though this doesn't assuage how the moss knows what is being offered as sacrifice.

Also, how moss even knows how to differentiate.

I'd go, but this seems just as great a way to lead us all into a trap. Especially if plants themselves can become dangerous enemies.

[futhark]

It won't let in anything or anyone infected with Cwyld. The veil is actively hostile to those. Everyone else though... just how many goes into it willingly is a good question.

Still, I don't think they're inviting us over just to feed us to their hedge— if that's what you're worried about.

[whomthebelltolls]

I'm less concerned about them immediately using it against us, and more what happens if there's an accident. Still, it's an unpleasant potential weapon to be used against us if they don't like what we have to say. And not a surprise I am entirely keen on.

[futhark]

Still, it makes for only defensive and stationary weapon. Unless the moss is as dangerous if ripped-off the main part and tossed at someone.

[ That's an attempt at a witty joke ]

So I take it, you're set on not going?

[whomthebelltolls]

But if we don't know about it, an effective trap. A spike pit could be just as dangerous.

And I am not sure what you're talking about. I never said I wasn't going, just that I don't like the idea of even a friendly city having a security system which could eat me for an arbitrary reason. We know not if they're even friendly. I'll be there.

[futhark]

Oho, glad to hear that then. With you bolstering the Witches ranks, maybe some of them will think once or twice about deeming Mirrorbounds weak.

As for the traps and surprises, moss at least sounds like something that should burn easily.

[whomthebelltolls]

Oh, now that I know about it, I will happily set it ablaze if it tries to deem me an "acceptable sacrifice." Otherwise, I'm mostly just curious as to how it works, in practice. If all anyone knows about it was simply a dream before.

We shall see if they behave themselves otherwise.

[futhark]

[ ...deem her an acceptable sacrifice?

... ]

Are you afraid of the moss because it specifically eats old people?

[whomthebelltolls]

I am not afraid of anything. [Can you feel how indignant she is, Caster? Feel it.] I do not like not knowing what it could do, and why.

[futhark]

[ Through text, stabbing him right there. And of course, he doesn't know where to stop. ]

But once again your age sounds to be an issue. Just how old are you again?

[whomthebelltolls]

Dead.

[usurpers]

Not to them.

I think it's the latter. Why?

[whomthebelltolls]

Because I do not feel like being consumed by plant life due to something as arbitrary as my age. But they may not appreciate me burning the moss to ash.

[usurpers]

You won't have to. Caster had better details, at least.

[whomthebelltolls]

Somewhat, but even still, it seems like an almost completely unknown variable. And one that could be unexpectedly dangerous to me for only the STRANGEST reasons.

I'll fight a thousand Beasts, but I don't like surprises like that.

Still, the details at least seem to be enough that you can count on my joining the expedition for now. Especially as they are a society not known to Aefenglom as a whole. [Information is useful when assessing potential threats. Also, she won't admit it, but she likes the Wilders, and them being kidnapped - which she's already had bad enough experiences with here - doesn't sit well.]

[usurpers]

Then we’ll see each other.

Isn’t that what makes a beast?

[whomthebelltolls]

I will see you there then.

And no. A Beast is no different than any other human. Just somewhat more... predictable.

[usurpers]

How long've you been around them?

[whomthebelltolls]

[She assumes he means beasts. Anything else would seem weird.] I began training as a knight about the time I was 14, though around Cainhurst, Beasts are less common and you rarely see them unless you go looking for them. It was college when I began Hunting, and saw the majority of them. So, for the majority of my adult life.

And beyond my death, as well.

[usurpers]

[ beyond death can mean two things at this point, in eren's experience: ]

Here or there?

[whomthebelltolls]

There.

[usurpers]

Beasts after death . . . Some people call that hell.

[ not that eren believes it. they all live certain hells far worse than beasts at some point. what he really is is simply curious. ]

It's no different from living though, is it?