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

[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.]

[helborn]

I know you're right, the idea just makes me uncomfortable. But it doesn't matter if it does, if it's what has to happen.

I'll try to work on a talisman. Just... holy crap. Nyarlathotep. Guess that's not the worst we could have got, but still... not something we want to mess with.

... Also if Zed's around, he might start trying to kill me as soon as he sees my face. We've been having... issues with that.

[neverfeltthatway]

I'm sorry - I don't have the ability to care about her right now.

If Zed's a problem, find someone with the ability to disguise you. There are cantrips that could work to that end.

[helborn]

Really? Huh. I might have to look into that. Thanks.

Once your time is up with the network, where are you going to be?

[neverfeltthatway]

Anyone who has prestidigitation, for one.

I'll find someone ghostside to ride with. Ask any of them, and they can relay a message.

[helborn]

Good. Let me know if you need anything. I can help getting materials or something if you need.

[neverfeltthatway]

I'll let you know, as I can.

[helborn]

Okay. ... It might be a little too late to say it, but at least try to take care of yourself? You're already stuck like this, so...

[Don't get yourself triple killed or whatever, Armin. :( ]

[neverfeltthatway]

At the moment, I'm don't know I have a self to take care of.

[itsananimalthing]

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

[helborn]

Gibbering madness and all that? ... Yeah, point.

I can keep the ghosts clear as much as possible, though. And if she's a ghost... no, but if he's in her ghostly form it would still be a problem. Ugh. I can still try to deflect anything she throws at us physically, though.

[itsananimalthing]

Sounds like a better plan than tryin' to hit an outsider, yeah. We'll probably need a lot of us doing that.

[helborn]

One of the places where a baseball bat comes in handy. I might actually get to use it close to its intended use.

[itsananimalthing]

Baseball bat?

[Too bad there's no tone on the network anymore, or it'd be a bit more obvious that he means that skeptically, rather than as if he was stating he didn't know what that was. (Though the only reason he does know what that is, would be infiltrator knowledge.)]

[helborn]

It's what I fight with. ... It helps me channel my ice abilities. Not all relics make sense.

[Most of them don't, from what he's seen.]

[itsananimalthing]

Guess not. At least it's useful for hitting things with, too. Could it've been a piece of paper or a spoon or somethin'?

[He's curious, so sue him. And conversations with Casper aren't limited by this bridge, so he might as well ask.]

[helborn]

I know someone who flies using a pencil. It's weird.

[itsananimalthing]

Flying pencil. Okay. Glad I come from a universe that at least kinda makes sense.

[helborn]

My necklace helps me see in the dark, and helps with my ghost powers. ... And if I take my leg off I can use location-based powers.

It doesn't make a lot of sense, yeah.

[itsananimalthing]

[It's a good thing, this time, there's no tone, or his skepticism would be very clear.]

Where do you come from again?

After her bridge post

[forcechanic]

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

[helborn]

[He's laughing, though she can't hear it now.]

Thanks, Phillip.

... Though I don't actually know what would happen if I died. My situation's weird. I don't really want to find out, though I accept the possibility.

[forcechanic]

Yeah... let's avoid testing it. The way things are going, I have a bad feeling that any weird situation will mean the outcome's worse.

[helborn]

Probably. Besides, there's too much to do.