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| Action Id: 4727 | Crisis: | Participants: Medeia, Eirene, Mia, Tyrval, Vitalis, Caspian, Pasquale, Mabelle(RIP), Mirk, Raven, Thea, Galatea, Aconite and Patrizio | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: Nov. 15, 2023, 10:56 p.m. | Public: True | GM: Apostate |
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Action by Medeia
It's been years, now, since Medeia asked how one might even the field between the Arvani and the Skal'dajans - knowing that the Eurusi mages wouldn't suffer the poisoned primum as the people of Arvum did. The result of that inquiry was the Rite of Retribution. Ever since it successfully turned the mages' work against them - making them have to be more judicious in their magic use and allowing a reprieve for the Arvani, Medeia has been thinking about what else could be done.
As she researched magic and plants more broadly, she came to find useful information on plants with special properties. Things like Elfblight Orchids and Sundraw. Combined with her notes on previous attempts to clear Thornweave vines across the Lyceum and Crownlands, a (failed) attempt to create a new poison to act against the vines, successful efforts to help extract primum from plants under Blush's guidance, and some good old fashioned creativity, the lady has worked to secure the assistance of Prince Tyrval Ael'Noctis - whose writings formed part of her research - to create a new ritual. One which can be used to help against the Metallic Traitor. With others offering their help, even knowing the risks, she gathers materials and begins to focus her intent, inviting her companions to assist - whether that is through active participation in the experimentation or simply providing support by protecting the transport of materials, being on hand to observe and fetch help if something goes terribly wrong, or being a trusted confidante that might provide some other insight.
First, she needs a few elfblight orchids. Though most in the city were wiped out during that wretched storm (supposedly), in the wake of that storm, Medeia had gained permission from Lou to do some new propagation tests. Those tests never happened, but if Lou won't provide a few from the Grayson estate, the Saik lady hopes Tyrval might be able to supply a few. These plants are known to be useful against Legion, and if watered with blood, they will sicken Sylv'alfar. Second, Medeia turns to Thea for Sundraw. Having done some experimentation with the plant known to be effective against blight already, she knows that the countess has had success cultivating the plant in captivity. Third, she calls upon Mabelle to share just one of the precious plums from Artshall that are rumored to provide clarity of mind and free people from the Traitor's control. Finally, a malissite gem. This is meant to be the item which all the magical energy is stored within, a portable talisman. Why malissite? Black stones - like onyx and obsidian - are seen by some (especially Eurusi and mirrormasks) as representing strength over the "that which lies beyond" (the Abyss), and while they are often associated with demon summoning, Medeia believes that such strength over the Abyss could be important in turning Abyssal things, too. Also, malissite has some rumored trait of being like concentrated venom, weakening those in touch with it.
All together, Medeia settles into the work of the ritual with the singular purpose in mind of weakening Orichalcum so that someday the Dream can be free of his selfish, destructive terror. Her sacrifice? Her own blood - both to water the orchids and the fuel the magic.
Action by Aconite
Aconite is helping Medeia with the gardening aspects of the job. Helping in whatever way she can, transplanting, pruining, ect.
Action by Thea
Thea will be naturally supplying as much Sundraw as she's able to Medeia. She too has had success with the killing of vines, as was done in action 4380, to be able to make suggestions here and there. Thea will help mix and and show every note from journals she's written and collected over the years.
Action by Eirene
Eirene understands a lot about magic, more than most thanks to her years of research and study. She helps with the crafting of the ritual and the placement of the items to ensure the most effectiveness in this undertaking.
Action by Vitalis
Vitalis offers to participate in the Rite by making a sacrifice. He offers a ring that he had once given to the late Lord Cillian Blackwood that was representative of breaking the Traitor's chains. The ring:
a slim band tinted red embossed with links of a chain
A slim band of cupridium, carved with the links of a chain circling the wearer's finger. The links are seamless, save a single link, depicted broken, its ends twisted to form a setting, prongs lifting receive a small disc of red metal.
Action by Mabelle(RIP)
Mabelle apparently thinks she came to a picnic. There is a basket in her hand, within it lies a single plum (they are needed elsewhere), a preserved elfblight orchid from the Laurent garden (although being alchemically preserved, the effect might vary) and a small velvet bag containing an assortment of black stones like jet, onyx and malissite, an ingot of alaricite and an ingot of platinum. She's no foreign alchemical experiments and this is just how she views it, not a ritual, an experiment.
Action by Pasquale
Years ago when Pasquale and Sunaia were still courting Orichalchum taunted her with a dream and she came to him for comfort. Afterwards Sunaia gave him a ring of mirrored stygian decorated with a star-iron moon that Pasquale wore until after Sunaia's dissapearance. It's this ring, symbol of the hurts Orichalchum caused, that Pasquale offers as a sacrifice to this ritual along with his direct participation in the ritual.
Action by Galatea
Galatea is one of the foremost apothecaries and alchemists in the Compact. As such, she lends her expertise to the ritual preparations, particularly those having to do with the various exotic plant ingredients and making sure they are properly prepared and processed.
Action by Mirk
Mirk has made it clear that he will not participate in the ritual. His stance against blood magic prohibits it. He will, however, support Medeia indirectly: He combs his personal library, the Archives, and reach out to prodigals who might have stories from their tribes of anything remotely similar. He's not expecting to find or supply a fully-fledged ritual, but any scrap of insight or knowledge that he can provide might help them succeed. Despite his personal misgivings, he does believe the goal is worthy and he wants their efforts to succeed.
Action by Patrizio
Patrizio does /not/ know a great deal about magic - just drips and drabs really he's collected from others who know far more about these things than he. Though he has misgivings about the use of blood magic and may worry about how it could backfire, he recognizes that desperate times call for desperate measures, and he lends his assistance with the experimentation and protection to ensure the ritual goes off as much without a hitch as it can.
Action by Raven
Raven has offered to assist in preparation but NOT participation in this ritual. She will help vet aspects of the ritual and offer her opinion but is not present for the ritual
Action by Caspian
Caspian is here to provide all the field testing, manual labor, and any dangerous tasks that are required. Whether it be rushing into the woods to test some concoction against a infestation, hauling large bags of dirt, debris and other things round, or simply paying bait to nasty things to test efficacy.. he is there for it! He will also attempt to help with the ritual itself. Though he has no prior experience with it, he is familiar with the foundational elements and working of magic. his sacrifice, the collar he wore as a thrall for 19 years. He seeks freedom for all, to drive back the slaver.
Action by Mia
If there is one truly unique contribution that Mia can make to this Rite, it's a few drops of her own blood. Prince Tyrval has used Mia's blood before to lure Braxxus the Bloodsniffer and weaponize elfblight orchids against him (Action #2365) and based on comments that have been made by him about the blood connection with her father potentially flowing BOTH ways, well. What better way to build something like a sympathetic connection and ensure that this talisman weakens Orichalcum specifically than his own bloodline? It's as close to his own blood as they're likely to get.
Action by Tyrval
Tyrval finally offers his questionable assistance. On the positive side, he's the second most powerful blood mage and originally helped create some of the very things they are dealing with.
On the negative side, he's Tyrval.
Result
They do it, but it's not easy. They have to go through an extremely significant amount of elfblight orchids and sun draw, and numerous malissite gems are ruined in the attempt. It's often hard to tell what's going right or wrong, as the Crown Prince of the Nox'alfar just keeps saying, 'No.' 'Not yet.' 'Close but wouldn't quite do it.' 'Definitely not.' 'Terrible, this looks like something a Rex'alfar would fashion.' and so on until eventually there's one pendant that he holds up a hand and says, 'This should do it.'
The ritual is a process of taking elfblight orchids, sundraw, a carefully constructed talisman or pendant with arcane etchings, a ritual bowl, malissite, and then mixing it and submerging it all in a bowl of one's own blood. There's incantations and a precise method to follow, and there's nothing showy about it- there's no visible outward effect, as is the case with rituals described as 'low magic' by the Prince. Still, at the end, he's confident it provides significant protection against 'sylv'alfar magic in general, and Orichalcum in particular'. It does not, however, help with being stepped on by gargantuans or stabbed by his minions, though Tyrval suggests trying to carefully position the pendant in a way to absorb arrows.
((It's a stamina check at normal to imbue a talisman and not pass out from blood loss, and once created, on any defensive roll against sylv'alfar magic can @check twice and use the better result. Against The Horned God himself, can check twice at one tier lower difficulty- eg daunting becomes hard.))