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

[neverfeltthatway]

[It may be that some part of him is remembering how Eren used to be, and worrying about it. But it's more likely that he's taking most of his cues from the current context only, and not from memory. That telling Eren not to focus on revenge was a pure response to Eren's comment about 'making the bastard pay,' and that statement was the entire source of his concern.]

I... I'm not focusing on revenge either, Eren. I can't, I... I... Is that what I'm like?

[bite_the_hand]

[Unfortunately, knowing how much Armin is only pretending to have himself together right now and having that really sink in are two different things. Especially when Eren's still a bit in shock and denial about everything.]

[He realizes his mistake the moment the words start getting smaller.]

What? No! I didn't-! That's not-!

[The faltering words stop completely for a moment as he realizes Armin hadn't switched to speaking to him privately. Eren knows that's as much of a warning sign as the shrinking letters or the question itself - maybe even more so. Armin would never let himself show that kind of weakness and uncertainty in public. Especially not when it could put the mission at risk. They can't afford to have the other Travelers start to doubt Armin's plan now. So Eren switches over to a private line for him. He doesn't have the ability to guard it the way Armin does, but hopefully his friend will do that reflexively.

[Private]

[Now that he's taken a moment to steady himself, Eren's able to organize his thoughts far more clearly.]

No, you're nothing like that. You've never cared about revenge. You're the one who's always focused on completing the mission while protecting as many people as possible. Taking revenge for yourself... That's just the way I'm thinking about it. It's how I'm talking myself into sticking to the plan, instead of trying to get revenge for you with my own hands. Because I... I'm the idiot that can't get all that hatred out of my head no matter how hard I try.

[As much as Eren hates how limiting the current state of the Network is, he's glad it at least lets him hide how close he is to tears again. Why does he keep failing his friend this badly!?]