@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

[unwings]

No. I'm hoping others have.

[itookashot]

Sam told me what happened. I thought that was the end of it.

[ He doesn't want to shout HE'S DEAD on the network, alright, but also, he's dead. (OR IS HE.) ]

[unwings]

Death does not tend to stick to Dean. He'll be back.

[itookashot]

[ There is a long pause as he considers this. ]

I hope you're right, but at a point, remember it's cruel to give false hope to people grieving.

[unwings]

I am the people grieving.

[ he and his household, and they all know What We Do when someone appears to have died. if there's not a body, they aren't dead. if there is a body, we're doing a spell or making a deal. frankly, he couldn't give less of a shit what others think about false hope. dean's coming back, if cas has to drag him up from the bowels of this place's underworld too. ]

Dean's died more times than most humans have lived years.

Just tell me if you see him.

[itookashot]

[ He messages Sam to give him a head's up. ]

Look around places with water, since that's where you saw him last. Beaches. Lakes. Fishermen can be helpful, don't know if there are any in that area, but you should ask.

[unwings]

I intend to travel out towards the shore with Jo soon. We'll be investigating some disruptions at local taverns as well.

[itookashot]

If there are people out there, ask them if the beast was native. Seems like the wrong animals and kelp kept showing up in unusual places, almost like they were teleported. When I went sea-diving in Aquila with Sam the ship was thought sunk there wasn't found where it should be.

[unwings]

I can't imagine something like that being native anywhere outside nightmares, but certainly, I'll ask.

The issue of the misplaced ship, flora and fauna is intriguingly bizarre. Do you have any theories what might've caused it?

[itookashot]

I think someone theorized that they were doing something with teleporting, using a kind of spell that was changing the earth around where it happened. It would make sense, they'd have to teleport everyone they captured very fast to where they woke up, they wouldn't want to waste time moving anyone. Since they were using High Magic in all their spells, it might have been related to that.

I'm not sure how misplaced ships and underwater aspects came into play, but it did. Maybe they put people on ships before they moved them? Maybe they entirely transported a ship to the island there and it left some weirdness behind. Hard to say, maybe they'll give us some answers when they're questioned.

The point is that if the sea creature didn't belong in that water, maybe it went back to where it's from. So you might want to consider that when questioning what it was.

[unwings]

None of us were awake for the transportation, unfortunately. I don't know nearly enough about this world's magic, but if perhaps there were some means of tracing spells, that may help. Did the abduction sights show any sign of magic recently used?

With any luck, interrogations will glean more answers from the captured acolytes and Josselyn Creed.

I'll keep it in mind. I can't imagine a creature that size would go unnoticed on land, so I suppose the only logical conclusion would be it left for the water. Or, somehow went underground, or travels between layers of reality. Regardless, an investigation of the island for any sign of where it might've gone would be prudent.

[itookashot]

No, they seemed to have hired some in-betweens. We attacked some bandits in the Badlands here and their leader admitted to having brought natives to a spot for the kidnappers. She said they didn't take the Summoned, but she brought us to the place she met up with them. That's where we found the weird kelp that wasn't supposed to be in the middle of the desert, and why me and Sam went to Aquila.

I mean, they'd have to be using some magic on you lot to win those fights. But I think they moved you around once they had you.

This isn't really my forte, but yeah, ask around about the creature. If they say it isn't native to those parts, you might want to look somewhere else. I hope you do find Dean.

[ Or at least his body. ]

[unwings]

Were the in-betweens you hired able to tell you anything more about the acolytes? Did they say anything about why they needed us, for what purpose?

Yes, magic was used, I can confirm that much. They cast intense illusions within the pit as well.

I'll ask about the creature, thank you for your advice. When I do find Dean, I'll let you know.

[itookashot]

No, they had no idea what they were doing with their captives. We killed most of them after that, Dean and I weren't in the mood for mercy at that point.

As I told Sam, look for something in Horizon that only Dean could have made. It's one of the ways you know when someone is gone here.

[unwings]

So I heard. I’m afraid Dean won’t be in the mood for mercy for a long while now.

Thank you, I will. His domain is shared with a lot of us, but there must be something that’s only his.

[itookashot]

Let me know if you find anything.