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.

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[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.

[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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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!