[closed]

[wroughtiron]

Characters: An NPC (wroughtiron), Annabeth Chase (sophos), Hellboy (histruename), the Doctor (iwaspromisedtea) and Zatanna Zatara (backwordscompatible)
Date: November 25/28th.
Location: The Mainland.
Situation: These characters are tracked down by an NPC and given some information, as well as asked a few things in return. Individual scenarios are in the main body of the post itself.
Warnings/Rating: Shouldn't stray much above pg-13, but if it does I'll let you know.

Comments

[wroughtiron]

Magic. It's hard to do, especially since I never really had anyone to teach me. I just had to... fumble along and figure things out.

[Shrug.]

[sophos]

[Oh, learning. Annabeth's met more than a few demigods who had to learn how to survive on their own before reaching Camp Half-Blood. More then a few who had to learn all this while simultaneously not knowing why.] Learning things that way is always hard.

[She pauses, drains the last of her coffee at last.]

But you can do it now. That's the important part. How do you store it? If it's a kind of energy... I don't exactly have magic myself. But it must fuel other things, too, yeah?

[Stamina that had been weakened, yes, and she did notice her hat stopped working the further inland she got. She'd heard people talking about technology shorting out. But having a way to store it - that sounds useful.]

[wroughtiron]

It's a spell. It needs a vessel - I found little clay cubes work the best. Something about the magic likes... solid structures. It doesn't seem to sit as well in orbs.

[She shrugs.]

And yeah, it's a form of... biomechanical energy, I suppose. It used to power the cities as well as the magicians. They just use it in different ways. Like how plants need sunlight to grow, but lizards use it to warm themselves up.

[... okay maybe that's a little off the wall, but it's true. Both things need solar energy, but their use of it is different.]

[sophos]

Biomechanical... [She mutters it out loud as she churns it over in her brain. Well, it makes sense, more or less, and explains how some of the structures and things work back in Keeliai. Tu Vishan was a literal bundle of energy.]

[That from what everything else was telling her, Eshai couldn't control entirely - but wanted to.]

And Eshai can harness that energy on the turtle, thus making her more powerful than she'd normally be?

Is there anyway to harness it without a spell? Like - if I wanted to build something using it. [She actually has no plans to, really, it's just a quick example]

[wroughtiron]

[She nods in agreement to the 'more powerful' bit.]

You could, but I wouldn't have the first idea how. Lost art. Magic is the only thing I've ever been able to learn.

[Her tone is apologetic.]

[sophos]

[Annabeth shakes her head, shrugging it off. She's long accepted her lack of magic and prides herself on not needing it. It doesn't mean it's useful on occasion, of course, but as far as she's concerned, it's nothing Eva has to be apologetic for.]

It's not in my genetics. But it's not your fault. It's still good to know.

I wonder if a way exists - or existed - in the library.

The Emperor isn't a kedan - is she native to this world?

[wroughtiron]

In her library? If it did, I doubt it does now.

[Because the Emperor's a terrible person, that's why.]

I'm not sure. I mean... I think she's native to this world, but... most people don't live as long as she's supposed to have lived. Could be she's found a way to extend her lifespan beyond the pale.

[sophos]

The censorship always was just as telling as any actual information would have been.

How old is she?

[wroughtiron]

Not too rightly sure. Centuries, easy. Older than that... I haven't the first or faintest.

[Hey she's met her like twice, cut her some slack.]

[sophos]

And she's had control over Tu Vishan for that long?

[wroughtiron]

I reckon so? I'm no historian, but from everything I've heard... seems like the logical conclusion to come to.

[sophos]

[Annabeth nods in agreement.] It probably extends her longevity as long as she can harness that power. Given the location of her palace, I wonder if it's close to the center of the turtle's power itself?

[It's more of a rhetorical-thinking-out-loud question than directly addressed to Eva herself.]

[Because then she sort of gets lost in thought, considering and putting together everything she's heard so far; she finally and absently drains the last of her coffee, then runs a hand through her hair, sighing.]

[wroughtiron]

What, like... what's that called... Feng Shui? The organization of objects to harness energy, or some such?

[By her tone she hasn't really put much thought into it.]

[sophos]

Feng Shui. Yeah, it could be.

[And her tone implies she'll be giving that a lot of thought now.] I'll look into it when I get back on the turtle.

[She'll have to find out more about Feng Shui, too, since it's not exactly her strong point. Maybe she can find the turtle's focal point of power.]

[wroughtiron]

What are your plans?

[That, now, sounds just slightly cagey.]

[sophos]

My plans? For when I get back? [That slight cagey-ness doesn't go unnoticed] More investigation with what you've told me. There doesn't seem a lot more I can do right now.

[Though she is hoping something will yield - maybe a piece of information would make more sense now, potentially lead to something that would help everyone stuck here.]

[wroughtiron]

I'm going to be very frank with you, girl. I want to know what's going on over on the Turtle. I've got less love for the Emperor than any one of you Foreigners - the fact that she massacred my entire people is slightly more paramount in my mind than the fact that she's kidnapped you all here.

So. I propose a deal. I'll give you something from your home. Name it and - providing it's not organic - I can get it for you. In exchange, I want you to keep an eye on the Emperor for me. Because regardless of what you all do, I want to take her down.

[sophos]

[Spy. Eva wants her to spy on the Emperor. She hates the idea of it; it's treacherous, it's dishonest, it cost Silena her life.]

[But if the Emperor is truly as Eva describes - and if Annabeth's being honest with herself, the story fills in all the blank, secretive spots and makes sense. And she fights for no cause she doesn't believe in.]

What happens if she does get taken down?

[Annabeth considers herself one of the good guys. But she's a pragmatist. Things aren't always black and white. Life on the turtle has been far too stagnant. Regardless of the honesty in potentially agreeing to this, having the option to pass along information may end up working in everyone's favor.]

[wroughtiron]

The kedan get sent home, first and foremost. I think they deserve it, they've been here quite a bit longer than you.

[... a pause.]

If... they want to go, of course. Maybe they've been here too long, you know? And after that, you folks. I think I might be able to do it. I can move inorganic matter, as I said, between the worlds. It takes a great deal of effort, but...

[She gestures around her.]

This is what I have to work with. After that... who knows. I'd like to... rebuild this place. See if there's anyone else out there. But I'd let Tu Vishan go free.

[That part seems important to her, by the resolution to her tone.]

[sophos]

[It almost seems too easy a solution. And Annabeth highly doubts removing the Emperor from power would be easy or result in a clean shift. The vacuum sure to follow will be chaotic. But it's the first real possible opportunity to get home. She has to take a chance. And if something does go horribly wrong, she can fix it. She's Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena and Hero of Olympus.]

Something tells me Tu Vishan would like to go free, too.

[She pauses again. To say no and refuse this offer is a dead end. To say yes opens up potential. She has to take it. And Eva's been a lot more helpful than Eshai at this point. She can get back to the turtle and try to further confirm Eva's stories, keeping this window unlocked in the process.]

Okay. I'll help you. But how are we supposed to communicate?

[wroughtiron]

[That question sets her to motion a bit, and she moves through her collection of assembled items until she comes across -- aha. A small golden hourglass.]

Here you are, love.

[She tosses it at Annabeth in an easy underhand.]

That should do the trick.

[sophos]

[She catches it with ease, but sort of... stares at it. Because how do communicate with an hourglass.]

And what kind of trick is there to it?

[wroughtiron]

Oh, you know. Turn it a few times, the usual things.

[this should be obvious annabeth!!]

[sophos]

That's all? I mean, besides doing so obviously in a place I can't be overheard. Is it just some kind of audio vocal means?

[A pause.] Clever though. It just looks like jewelry.

[wroughtiron]

Audio only, you got it.

[She smiles.]

Don't you think that's the point, love?