abraxasooc | EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

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EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

Event #12 - COORDINATION (1)

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ You're doing great, Istredd. ]

I found a charm, but it was after I spoke with her. She mentioned something about it being costly to open a door, but that prayer would bring offerings.

When I checked one of the shrines that hadn't been messed with already, I found this.

[ He digs out of his pocket a gold charm, holding it in a hand that's tarnished with a tooth-lined wound. ]

So I'm not sure if putting it in another shrine would do anything, but it seems like it must be for something.

[ He's been holding onto it for a few days now, uncertain of what it was for. ]

Yes, that's what it is.

[ Istredd pulls the same gold charm out of his pocket to show him. ]

These fit the notches in the shrine. I haven't used mine yet. But I am confident it will happen. Also he -- [ Istredd nods at Nero. ] confirmed he opened the first shrine with a charm.

[ It's the same one, or similar. Steve walks closer so that they can compare, if needed. ]

Huh. So move it from one to another...?

[ Steve doesn't quite see the logic in that, but he also isn't opposed to giving it a shot. ]

I get that it's a risk, but I think we're definitely at the point where we need to take them.

[ He reaches up to wipe a sheen of sweat from his forehead. Steve will never stay down for long, but he's shocked that some of his fellow captives are still upright. ]

I think the likely answer is that it's one per shrine. I don't know if you can remove it once it's in.

[ Istredd crosses his arms and sighs, considering for a moment. ]

You and I have one. I think I counted four shrines so far. Two are open. Arguably, one of us could open the third and see what happens, and hold off on the last one. That doesn't make it safe, but it may be whatever she's warning about would happen as a last move.

[ It's a compromise of sorts, and Steve figures that if one of the few people here who isn't running a fever and covered in festering wounds is suggesting it, that it's probably a safe bet. ]

... It's a gamble, but we don't really have the luxury of choice right now either.

[ He coughs around the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. Can't ever seem to get rid of it. ]

I can put mine in. You're more in your right mind right now, seems like a good idea for you to hold onto yours just in case.

[ And if the rest of them get worse, or become nonfunctional, Istredd can always make the call to put the last one in. ]

[ Istredd has a clear mind and it's a strange experience when surrounded by people openly suffering. It doesn't mean he's free from it, they could come for him at any moment. Best to try and get ahead of it. He nods solemnly to Steve. ]

I'll hold onto mine until it seems like there's no other choice.

[ That seems like the safest gamble here. Opening up the other two shrines did give them something. It's not ideal. But it's something. He looks at the others and then back at Steve.]

We can go now if you want.

[ It's their choice. If something bad does happen, it's for the best they're the first line of defense. Or whatever. ]

[ Until there's no other choice. They might get to that point, and while Steve doesn't want to think about what that might mean, he's glad that they have some sort of plan in place.

Even if it's a desperate one. ]

... Yeah. I don't see why we should wait.

[ Whether or not anyone is going to argue that point with them later, Steve breaks away from the group and toward one of the tunnels that will lead them to the shrines. He makes sure not to return to the one where he originally found the shard. Even now, he's taking the lead, his instinct to keep Istredd safe if at all possible. ]

I'm glad you've got a clear head, at least.

[ The amount he's sweating right now? It's gross. Steve lifts a hand to wipe at his forehead, clutching onto the charm with the other. ]

[ Istredd has a deep fear that there definitely will not be any other choice. This is a stop gap at most, although if it proves to be fruitful, who knows what that will tell either of them. He still doesn't know when that call will have to be made, but every day it's getting worse in there.

Istredd doesn't think anyone is going to stop them as they break off, and people know to blame him if anything goes wrong at this point. He'll accept that burden because it would be his fault. He really misses the days when he didn't have to talk to anyone, only do his research. ]

There are only two of us who haven't gone through the ritual. We may just end up being last.

[ Thus even more of a reason for them to consider this time wasted. Istredd thinks he has an idea of how to help the others, he heard from the natives who have been trapped longer, but he can't get to that yet. In a way, his deadpan and emotionally distant mindset has helped him stay a little saner in this situation than he thinks many would be. But only barely. ]

I've done the calculations with the rations and the deterioration of people. [ He's saying this now that they're separated from the others. Because Steve is the leader, in his mind. ] We're running out of time.

[ Why just two of them were overlooked for the ritual, Steve couldn't begin to say. He doesn't even know what these acolytes hope to get by doing this in the first place. Communing with the gods. Yeah, he's been seeing things, visions both when he's awake and asleep, but it's not like it means anything to him.

Nor has he heard any voices. He's thankful for that.

That next comment causes him to glance back over, though. His eyes are red-rimmed with exhaustion. ]

I know. At this rate, we're going to have to do something drastic. Whatever it takes to get people out of this pit.

[ If that means staging a group attack on their captors and forcing them to free them, or causing a more widespread cave-in, he doesn't know yet. But they'll see what the shrine has to offer, now that they're coming up on it. ]

I know our people on the outside are trying their best, but we can't wait to be rescued.

[ Istredd has no doubt in his mind that they're running every lead, talking to every person, fighting to get to the people they care for. It's what he would be doing on the other end of this. Lucifer's refused to go to the Horizon and see him because he has to focus on their investigations, and Istredd understands that. However it's more likely they'll end up martyrs if they wait around.

The best defense is an offense, or at least pushing it to the limit. Istredd is not the warrior here, not even close, but he was trained to fight in other ways. And everything in him is saying they have to get out. There's only so much longer before they start to kill each other. ]

I guess let's see how this goes.

[ As they round to the third shrine, it has changed like the others in the last one, to a different form, and there are candles lit up around them. The blood and the whispers are still going, making him cringe since those whispers keep getting into even his dreams at this point. They tell them to open it. And they're going to. Not the smartest idea, but they have limited choices. The notch where the charm goes into practically begs for what is missing.

Istredd sighs and much like with Castiel, all he can really do is back up Steve here, and hope for the best. ]

Yeah, I never intended to just wait around for them to come get us.

[ It's not that Steve doesn't trust that Sam, Natasha, Wanda, and Stephen are putting their all into this. That's what being an Avenger is all about, and not a single one of them would do anything other than one hundred and ten percent.

But he needs to do his part, too. If they can get the hell out of this cave, they can give them more information, enough for a rescue crew to be assembled and sent to get them.

The closer he gets to the shrine, the more he feels compelled toward it, like some invisible force is dragging him closer. He steps up almost like he's in a trance to place the charm into the notch meant for it, the blood and whispers somehow less important than just seeing this done.

And this time, the shrine starts to change, magically shifting in shape until it resembles an imposing armored figure with a shield topped by a carved head. Candles sits on the armor's shoulders, and it carries a weapon.

Then the rattling starts, violent, like something inside is fighting to get out. Steve quickly takes a few retreating steps. ]

That's...

[ Different. ]

It's not their fault if they can't, we've only experienced a small percentage of this entire continent. And there's magic teleportation anywhere by people who know how. It would be very difficult for anyone.

[ Meaning that Istredd doesn't know that he thinks they would ever be able to find them in time. It's possible they could show up any day, but it won't be as simple as storming in there, probably. The point is that the best defense is an offense in this situation, they need to get themselves out. He swore he would save the 'kids' and he plans on fulfilling that. ]

It did that the last time, the changing.

[ He explains, as he watches it anxiously. He was with Castiel as they all altered, so he'll have to look around and see if the others are mirroring this one as well. It feels like some kind of eerie puzzle. Istredd walks to the other side of the shrine to see what the full thing looks like, just in time for the rattling to start and he nearly jumps out of his skin. He stumbles back away from it.

Istredd has a few seconds when he thinks whatever that rattling is will bust out and attack them, but it sounds like it is still trapped. For now. Istredd tentatively goes back to being close to the shrine to see the differences. It's bleeding inside of it now, which is already unsettling, and he wracks his mind for any god he heard of that looks like this. But there isn't one. ]

Is there ... do you see that?

[ Something seems to be glinting but it's hard to tell in the candlelight if that's just a guess. ]

[ While the shrines may have changed before, Steve's going to guess that they didn't change quite like this, especially when Istredd reacts like that to the sudden thrashing from the inside of the suit of armor.

Yeah, he's pretty sure he would have heard if this had happened before, meaning the extra charm did make a difference.

There's no telling when whatever's in there might find the strength to break out, but maybe it will need the last charm to be offered first. Steve can only guess, but when Istredd notices something else about the shrine, he moves to his side to take a closer look. It does look like there's something glimmering even among all of the blood and guts, and he doesn't think they can just ignore it either.

Even if it does mean sticking his hand into a bunch of human viscera. He's been through worse, probably. ]

... Step back.

[ He reaches out with one hand, the one that's less littered with open wounds, and presses past cold, slippery flesh until his fingers brush against something metal. He frowns and grips onto it, but it seems to be attached to something within the armor, so it takes some maneuvering to unhook it. As he pulls the hook free, all of the entrails spill out onto the floor, causing him to stumble away for the second time. ]

Ugh...

[ But from the looks of things, the hook is attached to the mace that the statue's holding, meaning they could take it now. ]

[ Istredd almost instinctively made a shield for them, and it's possible it would have temporarily worked if something did pop out. His powers work so randomly in here, and occasionally more drastic than he wanted. It went from a little spark of fire that died out quickly to a huge and dangerous flame once. He is trying to be very careful about the use. It's a relief when whatever that is seems to stop.

Still, it doesn't bode well. But whatever they saw glinted within it appears to be real. The shroud was helpful, so this probably is too. He's just more concerned about Steve putting his hand in something that could be harmful. ]

Ohhhh. [ He winces. ] Sorry.

[ It looks very disgusting but he watches and is low key glad to be with someone who doesn't mind. At this point they really can't be squeamish though. With everything happening around them, what's one more thing to be coated in? Istredd almost offers to help get it out when it seems hooked, but it makes way. He follows his eyes to the mace.

Istredd reaches out to take it and carefully slides it away from the statue, before offering it over to Steve. There is no question that he is not going to be the person who wields something like that. ]

Whatever's in there ... it's concerning.

[ Once the weapon is fully free of the statue, Steve reaches out to take it from Istredd. Not that he's likely to be the one to use something like this either, and with the way that it's pulsating he wonders if it's safe to wield at all.

Still, there might be someone among the Summoned down here who could get use out of it, so he'll hold onto it for now. ]

... Yeah, you can say that again.

[ He lifts his free arm to wipe the his forehead with his forearm. Every part of him is gross and caked in something at this point, and he's daydreaming for the moment he gets to take a hot bath again. ]

If I end up septic, you'll know why. Should we head back?

[ It doesn't look like there's anything more to do here, and the presence inside of the shrine is caged for now. They'll just have to hope it stays that way. ]

I think it's for the best we keep our last one until the last minute, as we suspected.

[ Who knows what will come out of this? But if they're desperate, they will have to find out. Istredd doesn't know at this point how the monster will be let out, but it does seem inevitable that it will. He looks at the pulsing mace with curiosity and a little disgust. Everything they discover in here is something he will be fascinated about later, but tired of surprises for now.

He pauses and then shakes his head. ]

Listen, I'm a historian, I'm not a warrior. You are. There is a way to possibly cure you of some of the ailments from the ritual. I managed it with one of my students, Kell.

[ With some downfalls, but still. ]

I can't promise anything but I think it's worth trying it with you.

[ Steve's ready to head back now, for better or worse, but then Istredd chimes in with something else. He's a historian? Steve hadn't actually thought to ask anything about that until now, as focused as he's been on their current situation.

He's not sure he would call himself a warrior, but he won't be obtuse. He sees what Istredd's getting at and he has no reason to protest. ]

Hey, if there's even a chance it might work, I think it's worth a try. The less of us who are fighting off the ritual effects, the better.

[ He's been managing better than some, but it would be a lie if he said he wasn't feeling the toll. He takes a moment to turn toward Istredd, reaching out to give him a clap on the shoulder with his free hand. ]

Whatever happens, thanks for trying. Come on, let's head back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

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Maybe we can wrap here/on yours and assume the rest of the healing if that's okay!

yep, wrapping!