expiationnet

Entry tags:

video

[ 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])

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yu pauses a moment before answering that, a brief mental calculus going into his answer. He...hasn't really wanted to share his own status, but he knows it's safer if William knows, even if he's prepared to restrain someone. He holds up his hand, blackened up to the wrist. It's possible that the corruption goes further, but it's covered by his shirt sleeve.]

To keep you aware, my symptoms have been aggression and lapse of inhibitions. If that's alright with you, let's meet near the inn.

[ His expression turns grim when he sees Yu's hand. ]

I understand. I'll head out right away.

[ He ends the call there. No time to waste if it's affected someone. Even if the stones themselves have no effect (but by the gods he hopes they do), William hopes his own prayer can mitigate the corruption. ]

[ William arrives at the inn within a few minutes. He has brought three rocks with him, just to be safe. Their effect is compounded the more there are after all. ]

[Yu doesn't know much about William's abilities, has never really seen them in action, but he chooses to trust when the other says he's able to restrain someone. Ideally, it won't be needed, but...what has been ideal about any of this?

He arrives at the inn just a few moments before William, and waves a blackened hand in greeting. His expression looks like it's trying to be a smile, but -- he's mostly just worried.]

Hey. [Ah -- one thing he forgot to mention before.] ... I don't know if the condition can be spread, but just in case, I'm going to try to avoid physical contact.

Considering how it seems to be able to spread through the soil, that's probably for the best.

[ He says it kindly. It wouldn't help anyone if he became infected with this corruption as well, although he trusts in his innate protection from most poisons or miasma. ]

Do you want to find somewhere less public to test the stones? We'll stay within earshot of others just in case help is needed.

[Through the soil...of course. Between that and the corrupted monsters near Aldrip--] No wonder it's spread so quickly through town.

[That is going to make it so much harder to get rid of, isn't it? If the very ground is affected...how do you fix that? Well -- maybe they'll find a way for the stones to help. Assuming they really do help with any of it. He nods at the suggestion, gesturing down the street.]

There's a clearing nearby. I don't want to be too close to anything that could get damaged, just in case.

Of course. Let's go, then.

[ He will gesture for Yu to lead on. ]

Do you know anyone else who has been affected the same way? I don't want to cause a panic but they should seek treatment as soon as possible.

[Yu leads the way; it's not terribly far, but turning a corner does give him a second to pause before he answers that particularly difficult question.]

I do. He won't be easy to talk to, though. If this really works, I'll see if I can get through to him.

[He gestures up ahead at the clearing, little more than a space between buildings -- but large enough that they shouldn't be at risk of anything getting damaged, should the worst happen.]

Right.

[ He takes a quick glance around and nods to himself. As good a place as any. Clasping his hands together, he murmurs a quick prayer of protection just in case something does go wrong before returning his attention to Yu. ]

Okay. Ready?

[It's hard to tell exactly what William is doing from sight alone, but-- something definitely feels different. Yu doesn't linger on it too long, though. It's an interesting way to ask; he's not sure he is ready. But he needs to be. After a moment, he nods, holding out his hand. He assumes William brought one of the rocks for this experiment -- he hopes. He wasn't able to collect any before the symptoms set in.]

Let's do it.

[ William did indeed bring some with him. He takes them out of a pouch hanging from his waist now and starts to hold them out, intending to drop them into Yu's hand. Notably, he does this with his non-dominant hand in case he needs to quickly draw a weapon. ]

[He holds his breath as William drops the stones into his hand, as if something terrible might happen any second, as if he's expecting the worst. Maybe he is.

Instead, after a few moments, the corruption slowly begins to recede from his palm, first lightening and then fading altogether. It doesn't travel up his arm, and when he splits the stones between his hands, the effect becomes symmetrical on both.]

... I don't feel any different, but...maybe your hypothesis was right.

[ As soon as he sees the black veins begin to recede, William relaxes and breaks out into a relieved smile. So it doesn't matter what medium the rot travels through - these stones can hold it at bay and even chase it out. ]

Hold on to them a bit longer until it's almost gone. I want to see if it tries to spread again after you stop holding them.

[Yu feels like he's holding his breath, tense, nervous...what's the saying? "Waiting for the other shoe to drop." As if disaster is just around the corner. The blackness gets lighter and lighter and lighter...until even the marks on his arms fade. They don't disappear entirely, though. Just nearly.]

Does it only work with direct contact?

No, when we set them on the blighted fields in Rumpitur, the rot would recede. The effect was heightened the more stones there were placed together.

[ He deems it safe enough to approach Yu normally now, peering at the lingering marks on his arm. ]

Do you feel any different? Better?

[Yu holds out his hands, allowing easier observation. The marks are quite a bit lighter, and mostly gone on his hands. It's remarkable, really -- and more than a little unexpected.]

I guess we need a ball pit full of these.

[It's a thin attempt at a joke. As for the question...] A little, maybe. The feeling is still there, just -- easier to ignore. ... Do you know what'll happen if I let go of the stone?

[ He still smiles at the joke. It would be a pretty uncomfortable ballpit. ]

I would guess that the effects would slowly return. Like how a sickness can if you suddenly stop treatment. Do you want to try?

I think I'd better.

[It seems important...figuring out exactly how this treatment might work. Is it possible that he'd need to be in contact with this kind of stone for the rest of his life? That's a harrowing thought, but...

...

Hopefully it won't come to that. He nods at William, only once, and then cautiously transfers the rock into his other hand. It seems safer to try it that way, rather than putting it down altogether. For a few insane, incredible moments, the marks don't move at all...and then they surge forward, all the way back down to his fingertips. He grimaces, his blackened hand shaking very slightly.]

It's-- uncomfortable, [then, realizing that isn't exactly helpful, he adds--] I can't tell whether it's physical or mental, or both, but it's like my mind is on fire.

[ He bites his lip. That had been worringly quick. It seems they ought to treat this affliction as one to remove as soon as possible - and completely, too. ]

It doesn't purge it from you, it only keeps it at bay... We really do need to find a cure. Do you want to keep that rock with you for now?

[ It makes him worried for his plan to trap the octopus creature but at least that is something they can kill if need be. ]

[He nods, the expression short and to the point. Less of a cure and more of a stopgap.]

Maybe prolonged exposure helps. If these could be made into something wearable, it could help over time.

[Couldn't it? Either way, he offers William a grateful look.] I'd like that. Thanks.

Then keep it. We know where to find more now. I'll have to keep this in mind for everyone else. Maybe I can ask someone to make simple charms for everybody...

[ He lapses into thoughtful mutters for a bit before snapping back to the present. ]

Ah, you should go find a healer though. They might be able to help too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject