@everyone (cw: pit shrine related gore)

[unwings]

It’s time we address the behemoth released from the shrines.

For those who weren’t in the pit, we shared the cavern with 4 occult shrines that produced a steady flow of blood. When the exterior of each was removed, a second was beneath - an armored figure with a spiked halo knelt in prayer, bleeding from empty eye sockets. Save for one other - a standing, armored skeleton-like humanoid carrying the upper half of an iron maiden, and wielding a spiked ball at the end of what appeared to be a chain of its own small intestines.

When the last of these shrines were opened, pillars of writhing flesh struck through the pit’s ceiling. Later, it was apparent these were the monster’s legs, and some were crushed underfoot when it began to retreat from its cage.

Proximity to the shrines caused a flood of sinister whispering and visions of a shadowed figure, and those of us succumbed to the ritual’s effects felt a certain draw to them. It’s unclear if the acolytes were hoping we’d interact with these shrines, as they never intervened, but the monster’s escape caused the eventual collapse of the pit and did them no favors.

Did anyone in the rescue team see where it went, after it broke off from the cavern? Best we learn what this creature is and what it’s capable of before we encounter it again.

There will be a cross-faction book exchange and research effort hosted in Istredd's domain regularly. Please come by if you’re interested in helping with this, sharing books not available in your faction, or any other pursuit of this world’s knowledge.


And, if anyone’s seen Dean Winchester - in the Horizon or otherwise - Sam, Jo and I would appreciate a word.

Comments

[magicalarchaeologist]

I've found that the case as I've been writing all the details I have down. Trauma also has a way of leaving gaps in the memory, so I thought the sooner we get it down, the better to maintain the knowledge.

Of course, you know you're welcome any time in the library. Our magic is very different.

[unwings]

That's wise. I'll be by to record my own experience soon. Having a complete picture of the event, with details from all involved, may be more enlightening for research moving forward.

Was the research of your world's magic your occupation back home?

[magicalarchaeologist]

I thought so too. During our absence, the others put together quite a lot of information in Sam Wilson's Horizon, I was able to step in and gather what I could. There are still many things left uncovered, it's important for us to share information as our factions most likely will not.

No, I was raised by mages, we were found as youths and brought to train. All the knowledge and best texts about magic were there in the libraries. I was a historian and archaeologist studying the history of our sphere and the artifacts left over by an incident known as the Conjunction of Spheres, when many worlds crashed together.

I am of course absolutely fascinated by all of the magic here, but I had mastered ours, to the extent that I could by my age. I am still young by mage terms, not quite a century.

[unwings]

With a plot this involved, getting an idea of the bigger picture will be key. What was Josselyn Creed's goal in all this?

Was there a formal training facility for mages? The Conjunction of Spheres, I've heard that mentioned. Portals between worlds, I've known of, but never a colliding and crossover between two or more. It's fascinating.

I suppose the shrines might've been of great interest to you, if we'd had more time and better circumstances. Have you surmised any theories on the Singularity and it's purpose?

[magicalarchaeologist]

It sounds as if she is a religious fanatic of some kind. Some time ago, Thorne experimented on a Summoned to try and make our connection to the Singularity theirs, and it didn't work. I am wondering if she was testing out something similarly, to force the visions you all had to tap into that power we may have here simply by existing. This is all conjecture, of course. But instigating visions seems intentional and to an exact purpose.

Yes, we had a school for women and men, they were separate but connected. It is very intensive training, you live and breathe magic for a long time. And yes, we recently discovered that how we'd viewed the Conjunction was not correct. Coming here makes it only too clear there is much none of us know about the multiverse.

It is why I paid close attention to them while we were down there. I do have some ideas about the Singularity, but perhaps that is a better conversation in person. We are hoping to get more answers about Solvunn's magic too, as it is clearly very potent and yet Thorne and Free Cities scorned it all this time.

[unwings]

I wonder at how connected the altar was to the shrine creature, or if their proximity was simply coincidence. All of this is conjecture, of course, but an investigation goes no where without someone willing to start a theory and research it.

Magic in our world wasn't so formal, I believe more of an apprenticeship, or hosted in smaller communities and covens. "Witch" was the preferred term over "mage".

Certainly. I'll bring the Singularity up again next time we're in your domain together. Why is it, do you imagine, that Thorne and the Free Cities scorn Solvunn magic? Simply because it's old?

[magicalarchaeologist]

Those shrines were older than what they used it for. That's why putting their symbol on it was new. I believe the shrine creature and whoever it was originally to is someone else. They were trying to repurpose it for their own needs. They did find out what the god was, someone called Nikodaemus. It was apparently used to counter the illusions. I wasn't a part of that, but your brother was.

[ Sorry to both Lucifer and Castiel, but it's true. ]

Witch is a term used but it's slightly derogatory for trained mages. It tends to be those who haven't studied properly, perhaps they have some natural talent in magic, but they aren't magic users the way we are.

[ Trained mages are complete snobs. It's flat out the case. ]

Well Free Cities seems determined to be forward thinkers, not wanting to ever look backward even if it is logical. Thorne is egotistical, they lean heavily on the idea of their own power, that would require them acknowledge beings more powerful than them.

[unwings]

It's still so strange to imagine Lucifer helping anyone. Nikodaemus, thank you, that's good to know. We should pull all we can find on that deity, if for nothing else than understanding the acolytes' connection to it.

Then I shall endeavor never to call you a witch. My apologies.

What fantastic and senseless ways each nation cuts itself off at the knees. Well, everything involved in this disaster seems linked to things older than Thorne and the Free Cities. I suspect knowledge from Solvunn and Nocwich will be key to finding any more leads.

[magicalarchaeologist]

He helps out in Thorne. And I'm afraid Thorne is useless, it took forever for them to even identify the name. We are going to need someone in Solvunn to look into this closer. Michael lives there. If you three put your minds together you'd probably find out some answers.

[ Is he going to family-equivalent parent trap the three of them into working together? Maybe. ]

Really I am hoping we can convince multiple people in Solvunn to be willing to share information or press a little harder on the council or believers there. We're simply not equipped over here, it's frustrating to be sure.

[unwings]

[ just gonna stop you right there— ]

That's extremely unlikely.

[ nip that right in the bud. the only reason castiel hasn't been atomized, michael hasn't been re-molotoved, and lucifer hasn't been the focus of the collective hunter house's next plot to bury him, is that they're separated by factions. semi-civil conversation has only just begun between cas and michael, and isn't likely to ever occur with him and lucifer. ]

We made several acquaintances in the pit from Solvunn. Nero, perhaps, could have some skill in 'pressing a little harder'.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Fine. [ FINE. ] But yes, there are others. Like Nero. Wanda and Himeka as well. We can try to get as much information as possible from our respective factions, and we should, but it won't be the same as living in the culture itself.

I believe the Thorne books are mostly academic, describing the type of magic rather than as an example. Can you look in the Free Cities academies? I heard they are mostly practical science and medicine, but they must have something.

[unwings]

You're welcome to ask Michael yourself. You'll have more luck without me attached to the request.

I can look into the Free Cities libraries, but they've done their best as a culture to move far away from magic and old gods. But, I'll look.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Listen, at this point I'm going to take any information I can get. I've been a historian for sixty or seventy years now and only recently learned everything we thought we knew was incorrect. So you never know when a discovery could happen.

I don't know what Dean looks like, but if anyone wanders in the library I don't know I'll ask.

[unwings]

Your commitment to the pursuit of knowledge is admirable. I hope you manage to convince him to cooperate.

I can share a memory of him in the Horizon, if it helps.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Michael shared helpful information with me in the past, I hope that he will continue to.

[ Yes, Istredd apparently likes angels and they like tolerate him, go figure. ]

It would. If he is alive and I can help you find him, I will.

[unwings]

He’s typically values consistency. If there’s anything I can do, short of interactions with my brothers, please let me know.

[ that clause is even more cemented after their conversation at the execution. They simply don’t mix. ]

He’s alive. Thank you, Istredd, I appreciate it. I’ll come by soon to share the memories.

[magicalarchaeologist]

I'm glad, Castiel, that must be a relief.

[ Lucifer won't be glad and obviously this brings up the same concern about the danger level for both of them, but he is genuinely glad for Castiel. ]