[voice] - First Ritual

[thegriffinofdeath]

[It's late in the evening when Anastasya addresses the network, and her voice is buffeted by the hum of machinery and cars in the background.]

So I have a question for others who have arrived here.

[There's a sudden squawk in the background, distinctly a large bird, though the tone seems tinted by something that makes it somewhat distorted, almost ephemeral.]

Oh right, yes Bluebeak. Sorry. Ah...my name is Anastasya Griffin. I'm...well, new. [A beat, and she almost sounds amused.] Hi.

[And moving on.]

Anyway. From what I've discerned, there are people here who have died wherever they came from, but they're alive here. Genuinely alive, not simply risen via magic.

So I understand that, but...has anyone else encountered a 'power', for lack of a better term, where you're...both?

Alive, yes. But then, at times, not. As though whatever force revived people in the first place just...keeps acting upon you?

[The bird in the background squawks again and Anastasya draws in a breath.] I'm not asking this right, am I. Mm. Okay.

Does anyone else have a power that involves death? In any form, I'm not feeling terribly picky. I'd just...like to discuss it with you.

Comments

[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

In a sense. The things that we manipulate as necromancers or vampires are very powerful and very dangerous.

It helps to be doing so in the benefit of a higher power. It used to keep the other schools of magic from worrying about us so much.

[Voice]

[inchesofevil]

["we". "us". is she a necromancer, then? he's not going to ask, because secrets and all, but that phrasing's as good as confirmation as far as he's concerned.]

"Used to"?

[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

Yes, used to. You know how politics can be.

They're annoying even with wizards.

[Voice]

[inchesofevil]

Ugh, tell me about it.

I'm not sure what's worse, the inter-guild politics or the internal politics. Either way I spend way more time than I'd like listening to bishops argue over shit.

[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

The politics within the cult are complicated enough, yes. But with the seven cities too...

[She sighs, realizing none of this means anything to him.]

It doesn't matter. I'm sure they're managing without me.

[Voice]

[inchesofevil]

"The cult", huh?

I take it you folks aren't given a whole lot of legitimacy by your fellow magic-users.

[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

That was what they used to call us, but we took the name for ourselves.

We are. We...were. [She hesitates.] I have to admit they choose a rather...awkward...time for me to be brought here.

[Voice]

[inchesofevil]

Same, to be honest.

But if it's any consolation I'm like ninety percent certain that time back home isn't actually passing without us.

[Voice]

[thegriffinofdeath]

I'm not...sure what you mean.

[Voice]

[inchesofevil]

If you go back home you'll probably end up there around the same time that you first left. So whatever political quagmire you've got going on won't have advanced without you.

That's the impression I get, anyway.