synopsychic | Psychic Bridge II to everyone jauntside

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.]

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

But I'm in.

[... 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.

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.]

Edited 2017-09-13 04:01 (UTC)

[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.]

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.]

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

[She understood, and didn't blame him.]

We're...going to win, right?

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.

We have no choice. We have to.

As long as there's one ghost left, and they'll let me in, I can continue the ritual. And the talismans should ensure we don't get to that point.

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.

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

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

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...]

Anyone who has prestidigitation, for one.

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

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

If that's what it takes.

[Yeah, he has that thought, too. Riddick may not have the in-depth knowledge Armin does, but he knows enough. Besides, he's kept these fuckers out once, he's not going to let them ruin that record.]

But the longer whoever or whatever's workin' on your ritual thing, with less interruptions, the more likely we'll make it work. Might be a good idea to have more than just you know what you're doin', though. Just in case.

If the form I'm in dies, I can jump to a different one and continue. But I planned on telling at least a couple others, anyway. Just not until we're through with our half-hour here - since he's coming from a ghost's form, it has to be a ghost to bind him.

Not me, sorry.

[You know why.]

And you didn't have to do it alone. Even Malik had Matthew helping him and he was nearly as reckless as you were and got his legs huffed like a puppy for his dumbassery.

He saw her huff you up.

It couldn't be you anyway - like I said, I only have access to the lifeside network for maybe another twenty five minutes.

I didn't want to get anyone else killed.

And now is not the time for this conversation. You can yell at me all you want back in liminal space, assuming we're still around by then.

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

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

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