@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

[ushiri]

[ Welp. That's dark, and he comes from a place that makes oracles out of living bones.

He doesn't have much to add on the topic at hand, but he writes: ]

It could be worth petitioning the factions for access to the island.

If anyone hasn't heard, I was told that they did a search for survivors and found none alive. The dead they've recovered have been all natives.

[ For whatever their word is worth to people here. Don't shoot the messenger. ]

[unwings]

Agreed. Perhaps a movement could be put forth from one of the factions, now that we have their ear.

Interesting. I don't imagine anything could've survived the cave in, but perhaps some of our missing are still out there.

[ushiri]

There was a Summoned from Thorne who called herself Hornet. She is small in height, insect-like appendages, was wearing a white horned helmet when I last saw her. She went missing around the same time as the others, if anyone in your group spotted her there. She hasn't returned.

I don't know if there are others.

[ Kahlil doesn't know if she ever created a Horizon, so he can't confirm what happened to her. She was very new, and he feels somewhat guilty. ]

Has anything happened to Dean's domain?

[unwings]

I'm sorry, I don't recall seeing her there. The pit was dark and crowded, I may have missed her.

No, Dean's domain remains the same.

[ushiri]

The domains of those who are gone fade over time.

[ In case he didn't know. ]

[unwings]

It hasn't begun to fade, but it is shared by several of us. I suppose that muddies any conclusion we could draw from it.

[ushiri]

I'm sorry.

What happened?

[unwings]

As we were helping the last of the lost aboard the back of the turtle, a leviathan came from the sea and took him. It swam off faster than any of us could pursue.

[ushiri]

But you have hope?

[unwings]

I do. Until there's a body or definitive proof, I'll hope.

Your tip, about the domains, will help. There must be something there he didn't share with anyone else.