Psychic Bridge II to everyone jauntside

[neverfeltthatway]

It's Armin.

[The text is somehow bigger and bolder than usual when the network is like this, attracting your attention even if you'd usually try to filter it out or ignore it.]

Yes, I'm dead. Well and truly dead, not just a ghost, but I can still access the network. I'm not really sure how. I'm broadcasting to both sides right now, so this connection will only last about half an hour. But everyone, please listen - this is important. Before she tortured and killed me, I recognized the being inside Bernkastel.

It's Nyarlathotep.

Nyarlathotep, the Crawling Chaos. One of the outer gods. I think the ghost Bernkastel was in is essentially his overlay now - merging with her didn't give him access to the network, at least. Don't approach the lakebed - not yet. You don't stand a chance on your own, any more than I did.

But I have a plan.

I can teach the living to make talismans that will repel the god. If we have groups to distract and repel him, there's a brief ritual that can separate him from his host, and do to the witch what they've been doing to other ghosts, stripping and consuming will and power.

Doing that should leave him adrift - as long as he's being repelled, he'll have no choice but to return to where he came from. If he's not being repelled, he'll be free to do as he pleases. This is all if there's someone ghostside willing to lend me your form in order to perform the ritual.

It will be hard, and incredibly dangerous. We'll need to coordinate and work together, and I can't promise we'll all survive. But it can be - it must be done.


[ooc note: in game, this post takes place after Malik will have reported Armin's death to everyone lifeside, even though Bix hasn't thrown it up yet.]

Comments

[haremtrap]

I'm tired, I'm injured, and I'm scared.

But I'm in.

[neverfeltthatway]

Good. We're going to need everyone we can get.

[It may seem callous to ignore her initial comments. But he doesn't have the space to think about that right now, doesn't have the time to care. He's barely holding together as it is. Until this is over, defeating Nyarlathotep is all that matters to him.]

[helborn]

[... He'd ask if Armin is okay, but that's a stupid question, and they don't have time.]

What happens to the witch once we're done with that?

And I... well. I can run interference. I'll go up to him and distract him if need be. I can make protagonist speeches, punch him, or whatever.

I know this will be dangerous, but we can't let something like that stay around. I'm not afraid to die.

[Not when his mother isn't around.]

Let's do this.

[neverfeltthatway]

[He is so beyond not okay. But he doesn't have time to think about any of that right now. And the most important thing for him right now is making sure nobody else goes through what he has.]

Like I said, it would do the same to her as they've been doing to other ghosts. We can't afford to be merciful - if we don't discorporate her, he might have the chance to possess her again. And even if he doesn't, before we bind him, it's likely she would work to break the binding and bring him back again after we've left. That's not an option.

If you're going to be distracting him on the front lines, make sure to make a talisman to repel him. We shouldn't need any punching or direct contact, if everything goes to plan.

[Which it probably won't, but you know. Also, having experienced madness and death at Nyarlathotep's hands, he has to resist the urge to say that Casper should be afraid.]

[itsananimalthing]

Like Armin said. No getting close to it. Definitely no touching it. Dying will be the least of your worries if you do.

After her bridge post

[forcechanic]

Phillip says he'll kick your ass if you die.

[thornsofmalkav]

I will say it again: Of all the idiotic, reckless men in my life, you are the worst, Armin Arlert.




Also, while you have this connection open, we should, like, take advantage of it and how we can all see ghosts now to arrange an in-person meeting place for everyone, ghost and living, so we can still talk to each other.

Everybody? Come to my overlay's cottage in Burnbridge if you can. It'll be a little tight to fit us all, but it's reasonably warded. Enough to keep unfriendly stuff out, but not so much to make friendly ghosts uncomfortable.

[She'll just give an address now.]

[neverfeltthatway]

Someone had to confront him first. We had to know what we were up against before we could make a plan. If she'd still been connected to the network, I could have handled the witch. As it is, I might be the only one who would have recognized the god for what he is. And one of the only ones who could still tell you about it afterwards.

...At least nobody else had to go through that.

[There's a pause before the text continues.]

Right now I don't exist off the network, so I may have to borrow someone's eyes or form for that too.

[acapriciousthing]

If you can separate them, I'll probably be able to send Bernkastel on. Assuming this is what's been holding the spirits here.

[neverfeltthatway]

I can separate them, given a form to do the ritual. And good - we need to know there's no chance she can come back after we leave.

[awitchdidit]

Thank you for that. I'd much rather move her spirit on than bind it here. Less out of sympathy, and more because I'm concerned with what will happen both here and in our game with an evil spirit bound to this place.

[itsananimalthing]

You know I'm in. Can't help much with the form part, but I can protect whoever does it. I've been doing okay with keeping ghosts from getting tugged along to the trouble zone when I run into 'em.

[neverfeltthatway]

Good. I hope I don't have to get anyone killed.

[He will, if that's what it takes. But if he can prevent it, especially when he's in control...]

[loyalrebel]

why can you not teach someone the ritual

having multiple people knowing how to do something this suicidal may save more than just lives

[neverfeltthatway]

I plan to, if I can. But too much could go wrong for me not to try to do it myself.

I can try to teach the ritual, but there's no time to teach all the principles behind it - which would make them more vulnerable to eldritch influence anyway - so if forced to improvise they may not know how.

[happyhalloween]

I want to learn the magic to fight Bernthotep! I'm a ghost and I can teleport so I could get across the poltergeists really easy! And I'm good at magic!

[neverfeltthatway]

All right - when we're done talking with everyone here, I'll start teaching you how the rituals work.

[youandyoualone]

This entity, they dwell within the ring of restless ghosts, do they not? Would it then make sense to have all of us who lack the power to breach that ring or fight the entity carry the talismans as well as those fighting and distracting--and space ourselves around the ring of ghosts at even intervals? We might even presume upon our allies among this world's natives.

... I am still posing as Agent Delaney. I can get our group past the cordon when it is time.

[neverfeltthatway]

It wouldn't hurt - but it would be better if we could find you a way through. The talismans must be clearly visible to be of use, and the wall of poltergeists is thick. I suppose it might prove something of a barrier to him if all else fails.

That much is good, anyway. One less thing to worry about.

[eldritchwheelies]

...You're damned lucky to remember your name.

If there are parts of the ritual a living human can help with, teach them to me. I've got mre grounding in this than most from my homeworld's own eldritch best practices.

[neverfeltthatway]

...I didn't for a time. I don't know how long.

Unfortunately, to bind a ghost, you must be a ghost. The living side must keep the ghosts safe - for they're more vulnerable here - and use the talismans we can create against the Chaos to be repelling him when the ritual is complete.

[awitchdidit]

So she has a name. I never thought I'd meet someone more powerful than Bernkastel's patron in my world, but...

[Private, Protection II]

If you'll forgive me a quick question, Armin...who did we talk about when we danced?

[private, psychic protection ii]

[neverfeltthatway]

When we... danced.

[The answer comes slowly, as memory from before Harrogate is hazy and fleeting, at best. The general shape of things, the great events of his life - those have become clear. But the small details... they're harder to grasp, always slipping through his fingers.]

We spoke of... our patron. Magician. [Was that the name? He seems to recall another...] Rose.

What they needed from us, and why. How they interact with us, from within their spheres. [The text comes more quickly now, as the memory returns and becomes clearer. It's more than she asked for, but he can't stop, as it's giving him something to hold on to. A past. Context.] Whether I had asked my question. What her ideals are, and how she thinks, and what she wants.

Whether people should be able to return home. [And then, silence, as Armin realizes he doesn't even know what that is anymore.]

[bite_the_hand]

You know I'll be there. I want to make that bastard pay!

[He might not be able to do much against spirits, but there's no keeping Eren away from this even if someone tries.]

I'll find something I can use to protect everyone on this side from the ghosts before the mission starts. I don't know whet yet, but I'll figure it out. I refuse to stand there helplessly while the people I care about are killed right in front of me! I won't let that happen ever again, I WON'T!

[helborn]

Maybe we can find you a squirt gun of holy water or something, that seems to work okay.