video;

[bearshermark]

[A wide-eyed Elliott appears on video suddenly, hair tousled like he's been running his fingers through it a lot. His voice holds a note of urgency]

Guys.

I've been looking at my notes, and there's stuff about- about all this. Like I don't fully understand everything, but I just--

The stones are- the gods-

[He reaches back for something and reads off of it]

Even the altar. Like. They're all malachite?? Malachite is 'a gift from Nevedomost'. The priest's name is Neved?? 16 recesses. But there's only 8 stones listed.. Oh, he's- he's unbalanced.

Even- even the palace guard Uspor- Usporiadat? Zmat in the market. What kind of--

The King being sick or possessed after he went out there. Anthony could sense it- the deities battling in the hills?? Are there really?

[He glances around, possessed by a growing frenetic energy]

This is- I can't- I need to do.. something with all this.


Edit:

My notes. Add stuff if you want?

Elliott N. would like to share a document with you.

Comments

[darkforcerising]

Huh [Anakin sounds kind of surprised. Like this is some novel idea.]

You went into the library?

...

What does the book say?

[bearshermark]

[Elliott meanwhile looks vaguely puzzled. Why would you not go into a library?]

Some stuff. About what the- you know what let me just convert these notes into something I can- instead of.. Hold on.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, I did. Hold on, let me make them more uh, accessible I guess.

[bearshermark]

[Drags both hands down his face]

Because Uspor has been talking to me about it when I visit the gardens. Said he's possessed by... Strach. Dunno if that's true or not, but anyway. Old deity person. Yeah. People are definitely possessed apparently, so I'm thinking it could be true.

[bearshermark]

Here, this should work.

Elliott N. would like to share a document with you.

I left it open, so if there's other stuff you noticed, maybe..

[bearshermark]

Here, this should work.

Elliott N. would like to share a document with you.

I left it open, so if there's other stuff you noticed..

I'll edit the post, too.

[smilingarmor]

I'll admit that there is certainly something weird going on over there, but there are a lot of things that can make people act strangely. Jumping right to saying they're possessed is a bit of a stretch, don't you think?

[bearshermark]

No. Anthony knew, before the bar fight started. The guy just.. attacked people suddenly.

[smilingarmor]

[OK, wasn't expecting that answer. Considers for a moment.]

Alright, say for a moment that you're correct and these people are indeed possessed. I'm not certain how us knowing this is going to help anyone. I mean, I don't know about you, honey, but I'm certainly not an exorcist. And I don't know if another world's spirits would even respond to bell, book, and candle.

[bearshermark]

I don't know anything about that. But... if the deities are unbalanced.. maybe? I mean I still don't know what to....... do...

[Elliott sits up in a flash, phone bouncing as he reaches back for his ipad.]

What if..... I wonder what would happen.. but it'd probably be dangerous to try.

[smilingarmor]

What would be dangerous to try?

And perhaps you'd better show me these notes of yours; I've spent most of my time in the other world enjoying myself rather than investigating.

[bearshermark]

Uh, well.. replacing the stones on the altar. But I don't really want to mess with that unless it's like the last option.

Converted my notes here though:

Elliott N. would like to share a document with you.

I don't feel like I've been investigating, just.. a lot of stuff hit me when I was reading my notes over tonight. I do want to help if I can.

[ashenscipher]

Elliott! This is wonderful.

You think Zmatok is actually possessing the king? But isn't he that talkative merchant that trades for anything?

[darkforcerising]

Okay. I guess this is better than actually going to the library.

But... uh, this is going to take me a while to read. I'll be back in like twenty minutes, maybe.

[bearshermark]

I don't know. Just guessing there. Chaos seems to fit what I saw of the one confirmed case of possession I experienced for myself.

Fear could work too, though I guess. It'd help if any of us had actually seen the King. Or maybe the fear is driven him to seclusion?

[bearshermark]

Okay.

Strongest case is in Neved I think.

[hardtoignore]

[Clarence gives Elliott a hard look, trying to discern how “okay“ is really okay. But he’s not a doctor or Elliott’s mom so he can’t ask for more details beyond... friend stuff. Still, he takes the invitation and comes in.]

[Once the door is closed, Clarence reaches out and grips Elliott in a hug. It’s not something he’s really done before for someone, not in a long time, but he feels like he has to do something to bring Elliott back down.]

... You’re scaring me, Elliott. Just settle down and breathe, okay?

[smilingarmor]

Yes, that likely would be dangerous, if only because I don't think the priests would be very pleased about a random foreigner meddling with it.

[Angry deities were a possibility, but angry and potentially well-connected priests were almost a certainty if that plan went through.

He does a splitscreen so he can look over the notes while they continue talking.]

Well there's certainly some interesting things here. Though if we're going to be getting mixed up some kind of supernatural business, we'll definitely need to get more information before we do anything. Especially if it's also going to involve this high priest fellow; he might have absolutely no taste in decor, but chances are he likely has more than a bit of political clout in the city, and we're simply visiting foreigners.

[bearshermark]

[Elliott leans into Clarence readily, the contact doing wonders for his heart rate.]

Sorry, sorry. I'm fine. Just feel like... I dunno, I something really important is happening. Like I only just noticed.

[bearshermark]

There's a portal to another dimension and I've got magical powers. We're already past supernatural.

[Although actually, Sylv didn't know that last bit, did he? Woops]

Uh, anyway, yeah. More information first.

[ashenscipher]

How much has anyone spoken to the man? He always seemed... jovial? To me.

Maybe we should talk to him more? Feel him out?

[smilingarmor]

[No he didn't so that gets a quirked eyebrow.]

You'll have to tell me a bit more about these magical powers a bit later, darling.

But yes, while I'll admit that our lives have gotten quite a bit stranger lately, potentially getting spirits or deities involved is quite another thing. We'll need to have a far better idea what we're dealing with, and if it's something we can or should be meddling in. Magic or not, if we truly are dealing with some sort of deities, we may be very much out of our league.

[bearshermark]

Chance and fortune.. hm. But yeah, I mean could be totally wrong there, but if Uspor seemed to laugh at the idea is was Strach. Order versus comformity, hm. I wonder if I could get Anthony to describe what he sensed in more detail..

[bearshermark]

Yeah. Neved himself isn't going to be any help for sure. I already tried. Could try asking the librarian again.. I can't remember her name and it's bothering me.

[hardtoignore]

So important you can’t form complete sentences? You realize how you probably sounded on the network, right?

[Coked up, if not worse. Clarence holds him tighter, taking a moment to breathe deep himself.]

[Once Elliott isn’t trembling quite so much Clarence finally pulls away, giving his face one more once-over.]

.... Now, show me what the heck you’re going on about.