video

[strength_of_will]

[ The feed opens with William outdoors somewhere along the coastline. ]

Hello, everyone. I have some news regarding progress on our research of the corrupted creatures.

[ He shifts aside. Erichthonios can be seen in the background along with the corpses of some of the small octopi. One of them has been carefully dissected. ]

These creatures seem to be affected by the same sort of corruption that ruined Rumpitur's farmland. The glowing stones we've found appear to cause it to retreat so I can only assume they have some kind of magical or holy power. I think if we can find more, we can use them to fight and protect ourselves as well as the people of Expiation.

Once we've figured out how to incorporate the power of these stones into our weapons or armour, I plan to move against the creature which threatened us a month ago. The people of Rumpitur told me that it returns about once a month, so we must be ready soon.

Erichthonios here can answer more detailed questions about the corruption. Meanwhile, contact me if you would like to help fight. Thank you.


(ooc: This is an IC post related to the OOC callout here. If you've already responded to the OOC post you don't need to reply here.

Erichthonios' player will be making a top-level for people to tag shortly. [See below])

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Erichthonios the rambling researcher | Video | Charm

[beshackled]

[For a rarity, Erichthonios wears something over his normal attire, the bright-haired man having donned an apron and gloves in addition to his usual attire. Clearly he has been up close with the slain octopi, all of which... appear to be in an advanced state of decay for having been so freshly killed... though something about the decay itself clearly looks off even at this distance.]

The corrupting substance has notable effects upon flora and fauna. I have not fully confirmed the mechanism of its spread, though I do have a theory as to how it may have worked its way through the local ecosystem.

Direct contact should be avoided. This includes the consumption of any flora or fauna bearing signs of infestation, no matter how slight. People are not immune, I regret to say.

[He pauses, thinking of the blue-haired maiden he'd visited. He knew there were others, too.]

...As William has stated, the infection retreats when exposed to the stones, but the effect is a temporary one. When the stone is withdrawn, the deleterious effects return. Merely touching one will not cure one afflicted. 'Tis possible that embedding a stone within the living body will provide a more lasting effect... but that is a theory yet to be tested.

...As for bodies no longer living, as you can see here, they deteriorate with remarkable quickness. Of particular note, flora and fauna appear to decay in much the same way, the remnants crumbling into a substance bearing a strong resemblance to blackened ash.

[Here, he holds his charm a little closer, giving those watching a good look at the remains of the creature.]

The stone is one I picked up in the caves outside of Aldrip. Those of you who recall the maze we were unceremoniously transported to not long ago may find their appearance familiar...

[Such was the initial reason he had been drawn to them.]

That covers the main points. If you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them with the knowledge currently available to us.

[breakin_ur_lore]

...What do you think we should do with the ash? Is it still...uh. Active? In that state?

[beshackled]

That is a test I have yet to conduct. Though one simple enough to do... in fact, I can do so in a but a few moments, given the rate at which these creatures seem to be degrading.

[Hand returning to his chin, Erichthonios ponders aloud.]

We can test whether the ashen remains react to the stones first. If so, we can presume the ashes themselves are still active. If not, further tests would be possible... but with them would come the risk of infecting another. I hesitate to do this without a firm cure at hand.

I'd like to see what I can do to amplify the power of the stones first. Have you any ideas how we might do so...?

[breakin_ur_lore]

Amplifying the stones...[He trails off, before making a thoughtful hmmmm.]

Well, it'd be good to know if bigger stones, or bigger collections of stones, are more powerful. If that's not the case, then we could split them and each take a small piece. It's not a cure, but it would help, right?

...maybe we can...crush them, and put them in something? Like a...drink? [ :E ] Salt is a rock and it's edible...

[beshackled]

[They all sound like worthwhile ideas.]

Given the chance involved in finding larger stones, mayhap testing whether the presence of more in general would be the best to try first...

[As for the use-it-like-salt-and-drink-it method... mayhap it will be better for those already infected... unless... could it be sprinkled upon the earth? If the stones could be proven effective in smaller sizes...]

As for turning it into a powder... mayhap we can test for size that way. Take one rock, break it in half, and test whether its effects are diminished in its smaller state, which would also prove whether a larger rock might be more effective... and from there take a portion of the rock broken from that test to be ground into a powder...

video;

[izanagis]

The stones from the cave? That's an incredible discovery.

[A thoughtful pause, as he tries to figure out how to ask this next part as delicately as possible--]

Some people ["""some people,""" ha ha, couldn't be him--] have been affected, too. Do the stones work on them? Is the effect any different?

[strength_of_will]

We haven't tried yet on a living person. Is there someone you know who's been affected by the corruption? I could bring one of the stones by to see what effect it has on them.

[izanagis]

A few people. One of them... [What's a nice way to say "will kill on sight" ...] I'd avoid him unless you know for certain it works. Some people seem to be becoming more aggressive because of it.

[strength_of_will]

I see. I have a way of restraining someone if need be and my goddess grants me some protection against corruption like this, so you don't need to worry about harm coming to me. Where do you want me to meet you?

Voice | Tablet

[solitarysoul]

You think we could weaponize them? The stones.

[strength_of_will]

Against the creature who demands live sacrifice? I'm not sure how we'd go about using them as weapons unless it's throwing them at the thing. That seems like a waste though. They'd be better put to use in making a barrier to keep it out or contain it.

[solitarysoul]

Yes. Maybe turn them into projectiles or shrapnel in, um, [Probably not a mine] a bomb or something?

If it can do damage, or at least distract it enough, we can use them to take it down.

[The best defense is a good offense something something.]

There are a lot, right? We could use some for a barricade too. But considering we did almost nothing to it last time, I think weaponizing them would be the best use for them.

[He's still a soldier, after all. Even though he realizes that and isn't happy its followed him here too.]

[strength_of_will]

Ah... A shrapnel bomb.

[ He can't say he's enthusiastic about the idea. After all, it could just as easily hurt an ally as it would hurt the enemy. ]

I think using some for a barricade would still be a good idea. We need non-combatants to be somewhere safe while we fight so we can focus on the main target. But I'm not sure how many stones there are since there didn't seem to be a lot when I last checked the caves.

[ Granted, this is before efforts to mine said tunnels in earnest. ]

voice

[rebellions]

[ The more he hears about this "corruption" thing, the more convinced he is seithr is at fault. Not that anyone here knows what that is, apparently, so he sees no point in bringing it up. ]

Dunno anything about that stone crap, but it looks like the whole deal is simple, no? Kill the monster, problem solved.

[ After the past few months, he's very eager to kill something, even if it's an overgrown octopus. ]

[strength_of_will]

Well, yes. But it seems rather dangerous so I'd like to coordinate the effort to kill it. The last thing we want is for us to get in each other's way.

[rebellions]

That so? Great, then you know not to get in my way.

[strength_of_will]

[ sweatdrop.gif ]

I-I was hoping everyone could work together.

voice

[likethestars]

I'm not much of an armor or weaponsmith, but can the stones be melted down to be worked into something more manageable?

[ As opposed to what amounts to gluing stones to everything. Would they still work after melting? ]

[strength_of_will]

I didn't think about that. I'm not sure if melting them would preserve the efficacy but I suppose we could try with one.

I'm a little worried though since there don't seem to be too many.

[likethestars]

I have some if you'd like to use one of those as a test.

[ She'd collected a few of them because they were pretty neat. ]

[strength_of_will]

Are you sure? I mean, I'd be extremely grateful!

video

[garbagecanned]

[HA. you'd think that he wouldn't want to go up against the monster that fucking killed him a month ago but!! not this guy.]

Just point me in the direction of that bastard when the time comes, and me and Susano-o will be ready to kick some ass!

[strength_of_will]

[ He can't believe it's called Susano-o if he's quite honest. It might be weird if he seems to know that though, so-- ]

We'll need all the help we can get. What's your fighting style like? I need to plan everyone's roles.

[garbagecanned]

Hm... well, it's kinda like how we were in the maze. I summoned Susano-o then too.

[he shrugs.]

I can fight from a distance and up close. I have wind and physical attacks that I can use, so it just depends on where I'm needed and where Yu is.

[because there's no way that he's going to leave Yu's side if they do end up fighting this thing.]

[strength_of_will]

[ To be fair, William had been occupied with the dragon at the time--

After a moment's thought, realisation hits. ]

Oh! So that was Susano-o. Somehow I expected them to look, um...

[ More...god-like? Hm. ]