Merrion Priddy (merrymage) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-06-08 00:09:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, merrion priddy, peony min, toku matsudaira |
Who: Toku Matsudaira, Peony Min, Merrion Priddy
What: Meeting to discuss recent events and findings
Where: Meeting room in lower levels of the Tower
When: Backdated to 6/2
Rating: Tame
Status: Complete!
Merri clutched the tapestry to his chest as he made his way towards the agreed upon meeting room. The upper levels still were unfit for habitation (and Merri was thankful to Alec for letting him stay with him in his family’s house in the Commoners) and congregation, even for just three people, and so they’d had to reserve a room. He gave a small smile to all he passed, seasoned mages, scholars, and visitors alike, hoping that he did not betray any apprehension regarding the contents of the tapestry. For whatever the contents of the tapestry might actually be worth. The priests knew nothing of it, and all that Merri could say for certain was the chill that went down his back the first time he laid eyes upon it. There were memories within that he did not wish to remember, and that woman… But he was here now, so he drew in a deep breath, calming his mind, and pushed open the door to see Toku and Peony already waiting. “Hi,” he said as he closed the door behind him. If his mind was not so preoccupied with the tapestry, among other events (the ice woman from over a week ago still played upon his mind -- her words, her disappearance, and the too familiar stone), he might have began with pleasantries. Instead, he placed it on the table in the center of the room. “This is what we recovered from the monastery, aside from the scrolls. It’s…” He unrolled it, letting the image speak for itself. Peony looked down at the faded image woven meticulously into the cloth. Scale was difficult, but… “It looks large,” she mused. Then, “I believe I may have seen it before.” It had been shrouded in Mist, then, with Water heeding its command, but the line of the odd, cannon-like item -- or was it a jug, it was so difficult to tell -- sparked memory. “Yes,” she said, “I am almost certain I have seen it before -- the night the Tenements were destroyed.” Toku glanced at her, remembering the reports he had read upon his return to the Council the previous year (and what reports they had been, tales of giant beasts and unknown enemies wreaking havoc on an unprepared Emillion). "The beast that destroyed the Tenements," he repeated. "I believe the report mentioned a woman as well; it could safely be said she hosted the beast." It was the best word he could find to define it. "Like Vivian. And when the creator of the plague came to the city, we fought a hume man as well." It seemed as though the pieces were falling into place little by little, though there was so much they still didn't know. Merri nodded slowly, forcing himself to stay in the present instead of drifting into the memories of the past -- some more recent than others. “Yes,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He cleared his throat. “Yes. I asked the priests what they knew about this but they said they knew nothing. I wish I had more to say about this than that, but… hopefully, I don’t know, this is some sort of clue as to why all these attacks have been occurring, or… something.” That, and the latest attack on the city. Those words still played in Merri’s mind, too. “Maybe everything really is a lot bigger than we know,” he murmured. “It seems unlikely to be small,” Peony said. She did not sound happy about it. “These patterns of events seem to suggest something larger. The notes we found in the tenth floor, also.” Nothing she had read so far had given her any insight on the ritual Vivian had been studying. Was it a grab for power? A summoning? It was very hard to say. The symbology was not close enough to that utilized by the imprisoned necromancer to be certain of anything. “I wonder when this was made?” she asked. It looked very old -- no doubt the artist was long dead. But… “Do the priests know how it came to reside in the monastery, if not its original source? If not, perhaps there is an art expert somewhere in this city who might tell us more. It is a very lucky find, Merrion.” She turned her soft, gentle smile on her fellow councilor. "Perhaps you will give us the angle we have been missing to solve this.” "Indeed," Toku agreed. "Even if the priests know nothing of its origins, or the monster it depicts, that does not mean we may not be able to learn something from other sources. Art can be traced; if we can learn more about where this came from, we may find out more about the monster itself." He considered the tapestry again. "In fact, we may even find similar pieces." Merri returned Peony’s smile with a weak one of his own. Then he considered their words. More pieces, perhaps like the one that had come to the Tower and the one that Vivian had had… and more besides? He shuddered at the thought. “Maybe,” said Merri, slowly, thinking out loud, “someone at the university, or the museum might know? And no, the priests didn’t know how it came to be there. It was just...” Always there? Suddenly there? Something they never even looked at twice when it did arrive at the monastery? Merri couldn’t say. Interpreting the dismay on Merrion’s face, Peony said, “Better an enemy we know than one we do not. I would not wish to be taken by surprise again. Although this time, we suspected it would be Earth… that knowledge was not enough. And I had expected the threat to be brought in from outside, rather than fostered internally. Vivian turning on us changes much -- we must find out about these creatures so that we may better be able to to identify those who might host them.” What could be done after that was uncertain, but they had to take one step at a time for now. “I think the University may be a very good resource,” she agreed. “I also know someone who may know the city’s art dealers,” she added, thinking of Astrid, who seemingly had her fingers in nearly everything. “I can ask as well and see if we might be recommended to someone reputable. Regardless, whoever made this saw that creature, from which I must conclude that it is not gone -- most likely it lies dormant within one of the city’s citizens now. As, I must expect, do the others we have encountered.” A disquieting thought, but logical; if these beasts did not fall, vanquished, but instead disappeared as though they had never been, they would have to be going somewhere. A new host. "It is a reasonable assumption. Asura knew the beast that brought with it the plague, and there is also that record Sabina found." Indeed, in Toku's eyes, the evidence seemed to agree with Peony. "If the beasts are merely lying in wait until their next rampage, then the timing of their next attack would likely depend on the new host's ability, or willingness, to hold them back." Speculating on that was pointless, however; better to start with facts, as meager as they were. "To learn more about this, the University and Emillion's art dealers would be a good place to start. They should be contacted post-haste." He nodded to Peony. "As for our search for other hosts, if either of you have ideas on how to find them I will be glad to hear them. We may not expect to find symbols as those in Vivian's room, at least not in such detail; not many would have the knowledge of magic she did to investigate a ritual as seemingly complex." Merri pursed his lips as he thought again of the battle a few days ago, and he knew he had to speak up about what that ice woman had said, and what had transpired. “As I mentioned, there was a… woman… of sorts… behind the last attack. She disappeared like others had, like that Fire Bomb, like they say Asura did, like the serpent from a year ago, with a stone.” He paused. “And I saw who it went to. I don’t know if either of you know her, but she’s not a mage, and I don’t know if the others who were at that battle know anything about what had happened, and I haven’t said anything about it to anyone…” He took a deep breath; he was starting to ramble. “Maybe she knows. Maybe she doesn’t. I don’t know. But what that… woman… said… I feel as though we might get some answers there about the next attack.” He didn’t finish with an if this time. He hated knowing that another attack was likely inevitable. “And if not about the next attack, then at least why all this has been happening. Maybe,” he amended. Peony’s eyes narrowed very slightly, a small change in expression that nonetheless meant her interest had been piqued. “Another?” she asked. “They are becoming more frequent.” And no rhyme or reason, it seemed, as to how they were choosing their masters. Hippolyta had remained relatively unhelpful -- some information, it seemed Asura was unwilling or unable to share. As for the others she knew of, they were all out of reach now, in one way or another. “You mentioned there was a creature who spoke of the affairs of immortals and gods,” she mused. There was only one god deserving of such a name, she believed it absolutely, but something powerful enough might well fancy itself a deity… “They have not all expressed eloquence. I would certainly like to speak to the person who collected the stone. If for no other reason, then simply to warn her. I would not wish the woman to think herself mad.” "I agree." Toku nodded. "If this ice guardian you faced has more to say on the subject, we would do well to learn what it is." “It may be better,” said Merri, “if either of you spoke with her. I’m afraid I… well, I wouldn’t know how to approach her, or if… I don’t know.” He didn’t know Audrey too particularly well, but he liked her well enough, and possibly too much to be able to be of much use to gather the information. Plus, Peony and Toku would know better the right questions to ask, and they were better negotiators besides, and even if Merri felt he was up to par, what if that ice woman was not keen on communicating with someone who had faced her in battle directly? “But yes, it would be good to speak with her, I agree. I can give you her name, or if you’d rather, I can try to get in contact with her first, or… whatever you think is better.” Another thought crossed Merri’s mind. “And I can go to the libraries -- ours and St. Iocus’ -- to look up mythology books, see if there’s any mention of deities like the ones we’ve encountered.” He doubted he’d find anything, but maybe it’d be worth a look; he’d mostly been keeping to old magic texts and bestiaries until now, but the ice woman’s talk of gods and immortals inspired him. “Maybe there will be more hints there.” “Perhaps you ought to reach out to her first,” Peony said thoughtfully. “I would not wish to frighten her. But I would certainly like to speak with her if she is amenable. I can take the tapestry, if you like. You will find yourself well-occupied with the libraries.” "It would be better for the request to come from someone she knows," Toku said. "If you are not comfortable speaking to her about the guardian yourself, either myself or Peony will take care of it." His eyes focused on the tapestry again; he hoped it would lead to answers, or at least questions more easily solved. "For now, we must find out what we can about this. The libraries would be the best place to start; I will write to St Iocus and petition clearance for you to withdraw what texts you may need in your investigation." Then, turning from Merrion to Peony, "Any information we may be able to obtain from the city's art dealers will no doubt be of help as well." With those instructions, the meeting was adjourned. Perhaps they would not be able to solve all the mysteries threatening the city but, for the moment, they had their work cut out for them. |