the truth is in the gallows

[inferus]

WHO: Wrath and YOU
WHEN: first half of August
WHERE: around Taravast especially Beacon/Necromancy District
WHAT: Learning about new magic, gaining disciples, plus whatever else.
WARNINGS: tbd. potential violence, dark emotions.

Necromancy District

Wrath spends much of the first half of August within the Necromancy District, interested in observing their more extreme methods of healing people, and especially interested in learning how to break a curse through magical methods according to what they know. Information is powerful, and he is well-informed about magic, which makes what he knows a commodity. Throughout the month, he slowly conducts lessons and gains three disciples within the district. Heard of his lessons? Want to join in on one?

If others are exploring the District, they may find him in any of the shops or rooms where healing/experimentation is happening that he has managed to trade his way into. He stays near a back corner, observing. Even with his mask on, he gives an aura of being off (otherworldly, angelically attractive, demonically predatory). He primarily observes, but sometimes asks questions, offers a hand in assisting if he has the chance.

He surveys the illicit potions, inquiring to the effects of each, hoping to find one that might cause incompetence. Emilia has many suitors, most of them hapless save for one. Wrath senses dark emotions that would make his brother Lust grin from ear-to-ear. Not trusting this suitor to know the meaning of a safe word, he is on a mission to find a potion that will take him out of the running and teach him a lesson. It is not murder he is looking to do. Yet.

Miscellaneous

You may find him at any of the following:

- Wrath spends time at the Beacon, visiting it several days, asking about it to locals, collecting information about it. It is warded and locked away like an ancient relic, like an item to be observed but never touched.

- Keeping an eye on Emilia di Carlo, but from an appropriate distance most of the time so as not to raise suspicion. Studying her suitors from afar and then being annoyed by their existence, especially when they are the ones who get to dance with her at the parties. Then being annoyed to find himself annoyed. This is fine, and he doesn't care at all.

- Wrath sometimes teleports into secure rooms within the two academies of magic when he thinks he can do so without being seen. This leaves the clear scent of fire and brimstone behind when he does so though he attempts to do so when no one else is around. Others might be sneaking into rooms that he teleports inside of. For the most part, he uses his influence and lessons of his own magic to study visions at the Attaryl school of magic, sitting in on lectures.

- He attends the parties with the air of someone who has been to many before. With ease, he speaks to the nobles around as if he has always been here, playing his role, performing miracles when asked to. These miracles include changing the temperature of the room, lighting fire with a few magic words, or even healing minor ailments. If he sees anyone struggling, he will assume they are part of the group and offer advice on how to keep up appearances if only so they will not be discovered. You are welcome.

[ ooc: hit me up with wild cards freely or simply contact me through pm/plotting post/plurk and I'd be happy to write something else. reminder there is always the potential for being near Wrath to increase angry feelings your character is having if you want to play with that. :) Wrath does not do this on purpose - it's just a side effect of being angry near him. ]

Comments

[inferus]

Wrath tilts his head to the side with the slightest of face himself at the grating noise. Well, it is a fine strategy to be certain they will not be overheard at the very least though he wonders why there's such a need for secrecy. The information she has must be the type she thinks others might be after.

His gaze narrows as she speaks.

...a separate object, an eye that held power of its own. It is certainly not unheard of. The Horn of Hades have their own magic power within them, separate from the one who wears them. He does not look like he thinks it's impossible despite only knowing a slight amount.

"What did he say exactly of Hatisse's part to play?" What part of the story made her come to the conclusion is what he is wondering. "...and why are you interested in finding her eye?"

[lancifolium]

Moving with a purposeful quickness Lily produced her notebook from the hidden pocket of her gown and flipped it open, thumbing through her makeshift tabs before arriving at the small section she had devoted to Izahad. Passing sketches of the young ghost that seemed to move on the page she stopped on a passage and read him the final interaction she had with her ghostly friend.

"It isn't much but, coupled with this–" Lily stopped speaking to flip to the next page she meant to show him, angling the book so he could see the drawing of the eye with the sun for a pupil.

"It was found on scraps of paper in another tomb along the Stairs of Sighs." It wasn't much to go on and had become something of a pet project mystery for Lily, but if she had the chance to get some answers, she would take them. Other business required finding Hatisse's grave too, but that didn't solely involve her, and thus she chose to refrain from mentioning it just yet.

"I'm interested in finding out if I'm right because if it is an object, it's better to know now, before one, or all of us end up with it pointed at them, and if I'm being perfectly candid, I became very well acquainted with the story of Hatisse and Arha along the trail. I'd like to see where it ends." Getting to the end of that tale's thread felt like a good way to honor Izahad too, but she wasn't going to get sentimental about a ghost in front of a stranger.

[inferus]

Wrath grows quiet as she explains, leaning forward to see the drawing she produces as well. The sun for the pupil is at least some evidence it could all be related. She has made good conclusions thus far. He leans back in the chair after a moment as she explains, and his gaze settles on her in thought, considering what she has said and her reasons for it.

"I will take you with me to the tombs. In exchange, I would like to hear all you have learned of the story of Hatisse and Arha. Whatever history may be related to this place. It does not have to be now." But he does have one final question about it. "This ghost... died more recently then? Do you know how recent these events occurred?"

It seems like the history of this place may be important. He doesn't have to hear it this moment. It can wait until he fulfills his end of the bargain, but if she has the information, there's no telling where it may come in handy. What the ghost spoke of, it must have left a mark upon this city, especially in a world where the dead do not stay dead.

In a world, where their souls are left in the mortal world to torment-

[lancifolium]

"Agreed. I have a packet of the letters they exchanged and I'll be glad to let you read them if you like, and tell you what I learned apart from that." The new pendants they received made going over the letters an easier task than it had been, and as long as they were returned to her, she was fine to share them.

At his question, however, Lily shook her head, flipping closer to the end of the Stairs of Sighs section in her notebook. "Izahad was one of Arha's soldiers, he died here, at the gates of the city with the rest of Arha's army - the event that began the truce between the Bessis and the Attaryl. However, there were other spirits in the Stairs of Sighs from many points in history, both before his army marched and after. Ours was not the first group to travel with Arha."

This plan was coming together rather tidily, but there was still the matter of–

"Have you any gift for communicating with the dead? I expect our search will not be without an encounter," though her tone was casual her mind was working. "There's one among our group that I trust implicitly who has some ability with spirits. For the sake of information gathering, I'd like to bring them along." There were other reasons to bring the person she had in mind, but again, no sense in spilling the beans if she didn't have to. "We have worked together in the past, I would not want to involve someone who wouldn't be an asset to our hunt."

[inferus]

Wrath nods, grateful for the agreement. He has no doubt knowing all of this information would be entirely useful going forward. The city holds its secrets, and if he wants to learn how to change things, he has to start learning these secrets and its history (of the city and the world).

"Do you know how long ago this truce was made, or when this event started?"

Her question gives him pause, but he appreciates her asking ahead of time instead of simply showing up with another person without warning. He thinks most within the group are all focused on the ultimate goal of returning home, taking care of the group. This is nothing Wrath is accustomed to. He is a demon after all.

"I have a... strong connection to the dead. In my own world, they do not usually linger with the living so I am unaccustomed to that aspect of this world," he says, but he is incredibly connected to the dead, to the souls of the damned, to the afterlife itself given his position as a Prince of Hell. "It's a good idea to bring along someone who is familiar with spirits specifically. I'd like to bring someone I trust as well who would equally be an asset. If the tomb is guarded, it is smartest to bring a small group."

His powers are not quite what they usually are without his connection to Hell present, and he would prefer not to take chances.

[lancifolium]

"The truce happened hundreds of years ago," she began, looking down at her notebook, seeking little pockets of relevant information.

"Before that, the Attaryl and Bessis were at war here in the city, Arha rallied his army because the council failed to intercede - from the sounds of it the Attaryl were on the losing side. Hatisse tried to dissuade him. I'm not sure if she betrayed him, or if her warnings were trying to make clear that her hands were tied." Lily cleared her throat, sparing another wary glance around the room. She hadn't yet formed an opinion of the witches of this city, but she was still wary.

"Either way, the killing of Arha's men was the first deed of the two factions as a united front, though even now I get the sense that the Attaryl aren't as prosperous as the Bessis. Perhaps they never recovered from it." Saying that made her consider taking a trip to the magic schools all over again - another thought for another time and one she filed away quickly.

While her experiences with everyone in the group haven't always been favorable, the idea of another person wasn't daunting so much as it was practical. "Of course, if I'm permitted to bring Wei Wuxian along it's only fair. He's wonderfully skilled when it comes to spirits and is very up on the history of his place as well."

[inferus]

Wrath grows quiet as she explains even as he notes the way she looks around warily. He does not look away from her at the moment. It would be fairly easy for him to know someone was watching or listening in on them given his heightened senses. The information is important to know regardless, especially when he later experiences the undead's residual feelings in the forest.

"They still appear to be at odds in some ways with how entry to one school means you cannot enter the other."

It's clear their history lingers with them.

He has never met Wei Wuxian before, but he is still getting to know everyone in the group. It's a rather large group, and they're currently separated by their roles and teams.

"I will be bringing Emilia." In general, he's been careful to mention Emilia to anyone he speaks to, because he knows- he knows his feelings for her means she is the one person who could be used against him. If someone wanted to hurt him, they would go to her first, but they're working together here, and he doesn't want to go into the tombs without her. "She is from my own world, and she's incredibly skilled in magic." And he trusts her more than anyone else.

[lancifolium]

Brightening when Emilia's name was mentioned Lily gave a cheerful nod. "Oh, she's marvelous, good choice." She had been quick to get to know the other witch when Emilia arrived and considered her a friend - an extremely talented friend.

Sitting back in her chair Lily carefully tugged her notebook back in front of her before flipping to the few notes she'd already taken on the mausoleum.

"We'll have to find a way to move freely, it's watched during the day and the wards on it at night are–" she wrinkled her nose distastefully. "I'm sure you've felt them."