Sept 8th - Divinations

[Nailah Weaver]

Nailah heads to the Lighthouse with Ryan in tow and leads him up to her room. Despite the somewhat grey weather outside the inside seems bright and warm, as if sun was flooding in through the big window along the curved wall. The room is filled with things that seem like useless trinkets and decorations (which, admittedly, some of them are). She leads him over to where a couple of pillows are arranged in a circle and motions for him to sit down as she does so herself.

"They called it the choral of the depth, you said. Did they mention anything else about it? Any impressions that you've gotten? You said it's resonating with your own powers..."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan took a seat with her. "I've only had a few glimpses... A little bit after it happened, I was flying, and it was like something was watching me. Something... big, something that I was so insignificant next to that I don't think it was even remotely its nature to notice me." He shuddered at the memory. "But a few minutes later Lemurians attacked me, so I don't know that that wasn't just something they did to find me. Then a few days ago, once I knew it was actually there I used my power to touch it, and it was like... everything became clearer, everything was more intense, I was more connected. I could touch everything and I could... take everything."

[Nailah Weaver]

She nods. "I'd like to try something here..." she says and grabs a pack of cards that seems to have various symbols on them, ranging from extremely simple like simple geometric shapes to more intricate designs. She shuffles them and spreads them on on the ground in a wide arc. Finally she places Melissa's drawing in the center.

"Focus on this, on how it feels, keep your mind focused on it and then draw a card. Don't try to think too hard about which one, just reach out and take one."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan looked at the drawing, focusing on it as she'd said. He didn't take his eyes off of it, not seeing the cards except in the periphery of his vision. He swept his hand slowly over the cards, then back, dipping down and picking one up on the return pass.

[Nailah Weaver]

Flipping it over reveals an elongated triangle next to a very simple depiction of a snake, causing Nailah to frown.

"That's not good... How did they ever get a hold of something like this?" she mumbles.

[Ryan Gabriel]

"And the translation for the unenlightened...?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"I believe it's... part of a spell. If you can even call something that ancient a simple 'spell'. You know how the supernatural is in many ways bound to our religions and beliefs? Without needing you to agree with me on the nature of gods and all that entails, we can agree that beliefs have power and can manifest in the Astral, yes?"

[Ryan Gabriel]

"...You make it sound like I'm some hyper-athiest or something."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I don't know what you believe, I only know I've offended people before by talking about things as fact that they disagree on."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"You have a much, much better grasp on what is and isn't than I do. I'm not going to be the tool that starts arguing with the experts."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Well, what I believe we have here is part of a very old, very... pervasive belief. And a very important one. It's the idea that the gods or god, no matter which one, can triumph over the snake, or more generally speaking, Evil."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan wrapped his head around that one, putting together all the parts of what she'd said. "This is part of that belief... and belief shapes magic... so that belief is what is keeping their snake demon locked away. And so... I'm guessing that sacrificing Mariuset would be to... break it?" He was a newbie, but he wasn't stupid.

[Nailah Weaver]

"Mariuset controls fire, which signifies life, sun, the gods that replaced Set. I don't know if it'd be enough to break it entirely but it would threaten to break one of the chains holding him and let him extend his influence. There are other 'symbols' like this, things imbued with power. They called it a choral and this drawing looks like words. Or at least like the 'concept' of scripture because I certainly can't read it."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"If this is... something opposed to their god, how were they using it? I found this in a priest of theirs that had turned into some Lovecraftian something-or-other."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Nothing is infallible and any tool can be twisted. A lot of how this is passed on through the ages took the shape of a spear of the gods. Odin Slaying Jörmungandr, St George slaying the Dragon, Apep being speared, Zeus' Lightning. But in the wrong hands this turns into a terrifying weapon. The Spear of Longinus is that idea given the shape of a weapon that can wound gods. Who knows what they might have done to a word, a hymn, to twist it for their own purposes."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Right. So... it's good until they somehow get ahold of it, then... not good. So definitely a good thing they don't have it anymore... and that's probably how I could get it without even realizing it. Just going out on a limb there."

"This isn't going to, like, burn my brain out or anything is it?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"I have no idea. Them having it is no doubt worse but I can't even begin to guess at how this might affect you..."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Well, it's been there for the better part of the year and I don't think I've felt my brain burning out," he reasoned. "And I haven't turned into some tentacle nightmare, either. So... Okay, I'm at a loss. The physical world is where I actually know what I'm doing. What do I do now?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"I'll... look into it." she says with bit of a cringe showing on her face. "The fact that the last one we know to let go of it was reduced to a melting carcass on the beach does not exactly help to determine how to deal with this..."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Yeah, I'd like to avoid that, too," he 'admitted' dryly. "I mean, if it's not some evil snake-thing that's going to come alive in my head and turn me into a minion of Set, I'm not as worried."

[Nailah Weaver]

Nailah gives him a forced smile that doesn't look particularly convincing. "Well you've done alright so far."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"...Your sign of obvious worry does not reassure me. Level with me, what are we looking at worst-case here?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"You turn into an evil snake-thing that melts into a puddle when we're forced to pull this thing out of your head probably gets pretty close."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan nods. "All right. And is there anything I can do to keep it from... going bad?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"Try not to attune yourself too much with it. If it has been tainted then calling upon it will only make it worse."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan nodded, trying to look calmer than he felt. He was briefly glad that he'd come to see Nailah and not a telepath, for reasons of the horrible terror he was shoving down in the back of his head. "I"ll try to keep from doing that," he agreed. Shit shit shit shit shit...

[Nailah Weaver]

"In the meantime I'll try to find a way to safely remove it."

[Ryan Gabriel]

Ryan nodded, trying to keep it cool. "Hurry. Please," he couldn't keep from saying, betraying his fear for a bit.

[Nailah Weaver]

"You did ask for the worst case scenario. More realistically you've been dealing with this just fine for several months and I don't think you're in any immediate danger."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"And if this was in your head, what would you be dwelling on right now?" Ryan asked.

[Nailah Weaver]

"I understand your concern. I'll do what I can, I promise."

[Ryan Gabriel]

"Thank you. I just..." He stopped himself, shaking his head. There wasn't really anything to say that wasn't blatantly obvious. "Thank you."