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the truth is in the gallows
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. ]
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. ]
no subject
His gaze moves over to her when she speaks, and he lingers for a moment, deciding what to say. If the rumors of this beacon are true, they should all want to restart it and use it to return where they've come from (should).
"It is." If she is researching it as well, perhaps she has come to conclusions of her own. He steps closer to her even as his dark gaze remains on the object itself. "For an object of great power, I cannot feel any of it even resting beneath the surface."
no subject
"I have hope that there's a library in this city somewhere that might contain a book with answers about this thing." If it had the power to get everyone home, then certainly it was an object of legend.
Turning to look at the gentleman she raised an eyebrow. "If there's no power to be sensed here, then where is it, and what makes it run?" It stood to reason if the man in charge of the city was the only one that could make it go, perhaps there was a key he had a lock to or a switch he could flip.
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"I have asked around to the locals, and they have some answers or at least what they believe to be the answers." A pause then. She has been studying this for some time as he has.
Before he decides how useful what he's found out would be to her, it's important to understand her current knowledge: "How familiar are you with magic?"
no subject
"Familiar," she said finally, settling on an answer that was both honest, and entirely noncommittal - he could always mistake her for a scholar of some kind - which made it the safe choice. "Familiar enough to know there's more to it than just this," Lily concluded, gesturing up at the Beacon.
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"From what I have heard from the locals, there is a code to turn the beacon's power on once more, but current leadership is not actually interested in doing so. Most of the people here seem accepting of that."
They have no interest in restarting the beacon.
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"It's difficult to say if the next person to take charge will share their feelings, which is why I think understanding it is rather important." Because if Macaluso or Vannozza failed to be willing, or even able to get them all home, a backup plan - or at least something to build one off of would be vital.
no subject
Since she is familiar with magic, he is curious.
He has seen a great deal many powerful objects, but in his world, travel across realms alone takes a great deal of power.
no subject
That sort of thing was probably locked up tight in the Department of Mysteries, never to be spoken of, if it existed at all.
Lily squinted at the beacon, speaking again more quietly. "I want to know how it gets turned on. Is it a spell? An object, like a key?" Pausing, on the verge of going on a bit of a tangent about the variables of the situation she turned back to him.
"Sorry, we haven't met before. I'm Lily." It would have probably been wise to find out who this person was before she started prattling speculatively about the beacon, but perhaps if he was the wrong sort she could play it off as an academic interest.
no subject
Words have power especially ancient ones infused with magic. A bargain alone within the Underworld is enough to be binding when it is made freely. He turns toward her at the introduction, nodding in her direction.
"Lily." He repeats it after her. "You can call me Wrath."
He has no interest in creating a fake name here so he doesn't despite the oddity for mortals to call someone by the name of an emotion- a sin.
no subject
Then again it was rather doubtful he hailed from the 1970s too.
Lily looked back to her notes, jotting down an observation regarding the possibility of a code, or some sort of password before returning her sights to the beacon above.
"If it's something spoken then someone else might be able to open it, don't you think? Surely there must be something of a backup should the person who knows the words unexpectedly killed - it's a tremendous amount of power and rather ancient magic to trust in the good health of one individual."
no subject
"No. I'm not."
Black Sabbath does not exist within his world sadly. He would appreciate music that channeled so much anger.
"You are right though I think those in power may prefer it remained off for the rest of time." So they might not care if only one person knows the words. He tilts his head, studying the artifact further. "It may be written down somewhere, but it is difficult to say where it may be written down or what protection that would have if this inactivated part of it is surrounded by so many wards."
no subject
The thought makes her raise an eyebrow, not certain she was bold enough to try and infiltrate a place like that no matter how appealing the wealth of information likely available within sound.
Turning back to Wrath she lowered her voice, "or in one of the magic schools. Perhaps in the tomb of the builder." She had seen something like that happen in a movie.
no subject
Even with teleportation powers, it may very well be as warded as this beacon happens to be. He turns to her at the lowered voice, nodding at the mention of the magic schools. he has been there, but-
His eyebrows lift, curious. "Tomb of the builder?"
no subject
"On the Stairs of Sighs in the tombs, there were carvings all over the walls and on the coffins themselves giving some context to what happened to who was buried there. In my world certainly, there are many tombs with the person's achievements and secrets all over the walls." If only Wrath knew about the pyramids perhaps this would sound less strange. "If someone was powerful and accomplished enough to create something like this beacon, I imagine they or their family would want to immortalize that."
no subject
To having the knowledge of centuries within a world. Now he's been ripped into an entirely new one. Some of it is familiar. Some of it isn't.
"Are the tombs free for anyone to go into?"
If people don't know what they are seeing, it may be a case of better hidden in plain sight.
no subject
"I've had some difficulty coming across older graves when I looked, and I wasn't looking for anyone as far back as the builder of that beacon must have been." Considering things she sat up a little straighter and looked at him.
"If you're going to search can I come?" Not suspicious at all.
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And so does he, but he can teleport on his own (not with another).
"...what is it you're looking for?"
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"A different grave, not as old as the one you're looking for if I had to guess," Lily began, careful and vague while she weighed out what she was and wasn't willing to share about who's grave and why. Tucking her notebook under her arm she stood suddenly, looking around them.
"I'll tell you more, but perhaps not here? There's a tavern that's frequently got a drunk lute player going for broke in it just across the closest eastern bridge."
no subject
He is always on the hunt for more information.
"Alright." He takes one last look at the beacon before he takes a step away from it, starting in the direction she has indicated. "... is the drunken lute player any good?"
no subject
The lute player could be heard as soon as they reached the other side of the bridge, and Lily winced before looking to Wrath with a pained shrug. It would certainly draw ample focus from their discussion, as questionable as it sounded.
Once she pushed open the door of the tavern she was grimacing but she led Wrath to a table in the far corner, trying to get away from the immediate proximity of the din.
"During our travels from Sa-Hareth, I became friends with one of our spectral escorts," she began, getting to the point in the hopes it would minimize their exposure to such aggressive heights of luting. "He was a young soldier in Arha's company who told me something of what it was like the day his army arrived here." Though her voice was nearly as quiet as it could be while still being audible she stopped, looking around them before continuing, speaking softer still.
"They were burned alive, but when he spoke of Hatisse's part to play he mentioned her eye as though it were something separate, like an object. If it was a thing, and not merely just her magic I imagine there would be evidence at her grave."
no subject
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?"
no subject
"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.
no subject
"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-
no subject
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."
no subject
"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.
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