Backdated to 2 days into the second week of the month of the goat

[papacerberus]

As many of you already know, I retained the ability to discern the will of other creatures, and I have been employing that ability to gain knowledge of the Singer of the corrupted Song. It is a draining process, so I had to split it into two forays, and I reported the first a few days ago. I just finished the second one.

Just for the ease of listeners, this was what I discovered the first time: There were two wills, and one was dominating the other. The dominated will was bitter and anguished.

This time I focused my efforts more deeply on the dominated will. These are the results. The Singer has been...programed by that other will. There is room for disobedience to that programming, but the Singer shies away from contemplating it because of the painful consequences. The Singer also wills for an end, either for healing and freedom from the demands of the other will, or for death and the rest that brings, but does not strive towards those because the Singer believes both options to be impossible.

We can give the Singer hope for an end, and I believe we must. That anguish must be stopped, one way or another. Who is with me, and does anyone have ideas on how to undo programming of that kind?

Comments

[thornsofmalkav]

Oh Jesus fuck.

I'm in. I have no idea how to deprogram people, but I'm in.

[awitchdidit]

...the one the mermaids call an Empress is a real piece of work, even by my standards. Assuming this is her work.

[It almost makes her want to be nicer to her Goats, but then again, there's a difference between hurtful sarcasm and brainwashing.]

I don't have any experience with this, but I think I can help get people who do close. I seem to be somewhat more resistant to the Deepsong's effects than other non-mermaids, I just need the ability to breah underwater to reach it.

[papacerberus]

The more people we have, the better our chances at finding some solution. If it must be death, I will endeavor to find out the Singer's name and Sing them to the Deep Currents myself.

[thornsofmalkav]

There's a mermaid Song for that. I'm learning it.

[papacerberus]

I can Sing the Song of Breath for others easily enough. I'm just not sure I could sing it for myself...

[Lupa pauses for a moment, thinking over the admittedly a little bit absurd image.]

We may be able to convince the Singer to stay near enough to the surface long enough for what needs to be done, although we shouldn't rely on that.

[memoryandtheft]

Programmed how? Are we talking brainwashing, or some kind of magical binding?

[loyalrebel]

There is a chance that I may be able to change the programming in place.

I do not know how large of a chance it is however.

If not, well... Auriel is a being of thunder and may have enough power to do the deed quickly.

[papacerberus]

I'm not sure; I wasn't able to get that much detail. I'm sorry.

[A pause.]

If we have enough time, I could make another attempt in a few days, but I'm worried that time is something we're short on.

[thornsofmalkav]

... oh my god, you're going to Interface a giant zombie whale.





Do it.

[chalicejoker]

If you can't change the programming...

...I'll try to help you finish it as quickly as possible.

[memoryandtheft]

It could be important. I don't know if we can dismantle it either way, but magic might have failsafes brainwashing wouldn't.

[papacerberus]

If there is even a small chance, and it's possible to implement it, I am willing to take the risks. How are you suggesting to try it?

[A small pause, and Lupa sounds almost amused.]

A successful Dormina followed by Calm Death would also be an option for either of us, and less likely to interact badly with the water. I suspect my fire won't work at all under water. But if it comes down to Ziodyne, I will make that sacrifice to support you. Magic Repel might be enough to save others in the area.

[loyalrebel]

In order to try to use Convert on it, yes.

[loyalrebel]

...are you immune to being hit by lightning?

[papacerberus]

The programming I'm aware of and most familiar with is as much what others here would call 'magic' as it is computer code. That might be where I'm coming up short in determining the source? I don't truly perceive a difference between the two.

The magic that it sounds like you're familiar with, what failsafes does it have? If we can't discover the exact nature, preparing for all outcomes is the best we can do.

[chalicejoker]

Not really, but I could probably shake it off.

[memoryandtheft]

The kind that let the person who put the binding in place know when their victim steps too far out of bounds.

[papacerberus]

Which would incite reprisals.

[Lupa makes an attempt to convey his sigh over the network.]

I wouldn't be surprised if everything the Singer sees and hears is also transmitted back to the dominating will, so any attempt might end up with the same.

[someonetocarry]

Ain't gonna comment on the other thing, I don't know enough about it, but maybe we shouldn't be doing lightning stuff underwater. I may be from space, but I know that sorta thing spreads underwater. We don't wanna fry half the ocean on accident.

There's a dozen folk who've spoken up about being able to kill it if that's what we want. Think we can find a way to do it without electrocution.

[If all else fails, she's a giant with six arms and swords which don't require elemental magic to use, but she's not going to fall back on being an Atma demon just to kill a whale thing who wants to die, anyway.]

[thornsofmalkav]

... okay. Yes. Do it. I'll come along and Sing of Breath if you have to go Atma.

[memoryandtheft]

If it is, then this entire problem is just the tip of the iceberg. The person who sent it knows where these people are, and can come for them whenever they want.

[papacerberus]

That is why I suggested the other options, but if there are no other options left, I'm willing to make the sacrifice of myself to see it done, and the rest protected from the discharge.

[Lupa's tone goes musing, like he's talking through options out loud to invite input from others.]

I'm not certain how well the Earth spells I picked up in my dungeon will work offensively under water either. Gate of Hell might be an option. It has a decent chance of petrifying anything that doesn't resist or void death and curses.

[thornsofmalkav]

Ah shit, you're right.

Still. I think we can find a way to execute it anyway, even without that. I mean, we're got Hajime 'Apocalypse Bug' Aikawa here and a bunch of other people with monster forms.

[loyalrebel]

All I need to do is be able to initiate an Interface with it and hold it for a minute or so to use Convert.

We would need a way to evacuate as many people out of the water as possible as fast as possible if we need to resort to Atma power.

[someonetocarry]

There are lots of other options. Right down to takin' some swords or spears to it, whether my really big swords or a whole lot of merfolk spears or both.

[She sounds both amused and exasperated.]

Why you folk always seem to go for magic first, I'll never know.