Purging Armor [11/07]

[17:01] Ohtli turns around as one of her troops salutes her. -Marvelous-. She looks to Zoldak.

"You said you had a plan of attack on this? I heard a little bit from you and Iosefka while I was meditating the other day. Let's hear it."
(Ohtli)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:01] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Ah. Yes."
[17:01] Zoldak Lelhua says, "...Actually, wait. Let me see the armor first."
[17:02] {Item} You drop Aegis Of The Deep (C).
[17:02] Windsor says, "Right, we might as well hash out our strategies here."
[17:02] {Item} You drop Aegis Of The Deep (L).
[17:02] Ohtli says, "That -is- what the blackboard is for."
[17:03] Zoldak crouches down, licks his finger, and touches the surface of the armor. For some reason, the saliva sizzles on contact.
(Zoldak Lelhua)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:03] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Alright. So it's corrupted."
[17:03] Ohtli says, "Very."
[17:03] Zoldak Lelhua says, "So we know how, or why."
[17:03] Ohtli says, "I don't know how. But I can make a few guesses."
[17:03] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Let's hear em."
[17:03] Windsor says, "Well, the notion is that its initial wearer either corrupted it, or... sure, go on, Caretaker."
[17:03] Ohtli says, "Think of it like Atl; sometimes things can become corrupt just by being in contact with a greater source of corruption."
[17:03] Ohtli says, "Like Windy says."
[17:03] Ohtli says, "It sort of leeches off of them."
[17:03] Zoldak Lelhua says, "...Makes sense."
[17:03] Windsor says, "Let's just say that the person who wore this probably didn't have a particularly amazing personality."
[17:04] Ohtli says, "Almost definitely not."
[17:04] Ohtli says, "Either that, or the armor was made with something innately corrupt. I don't...think that's the case though."
[17:04] Ohtli says, "If I had to guess."
[17:04] August asks, "Why don't you just find something ridiculously pure to un-corrupt it then?"
[17:05] August says, "If it absorbs and all."
[17:05] Windsor says, "Its whole mana absorption thing probably acts in the way of that. Though there /is/ something ridiculously pure right in front of us."
[17:05] August asks, "Zoldak?"
[17:06] Windsor says, "I mean... maybe? But, uh, not quite what I was thinking."
[17:15] Clapping his gloved hands together, Zoldak glances around at everyone present, the lamplight casting shadows across his golden veil as his signature false voice surrounds him.

"Well. Lucky for us, I am experienced in both manipulating the components of metal and chasing off corruption. Also, holiness. Any Arcane, really."

Pointing down at the horrifically tainted armor sitting on the wooden floor of the humble Frontier Co. tavern, the man continues his spiel.

"So. I will channel energy into the armor, forcing the chaotic influence out. Problem is, the way these things work, it will just become ambient energy. As soon as I stop channeling, it will just return to where its been nestled this entire time. It's been tied to the armor for so long, after all."

His attention is drawn towards Ohtli, a small nod being given to the drakanite woman as the game plan is further expanded upon.

"So. Someone is going to have to extinguish that vileness as soon as I push it out. I think we know who's job that will be."

Squatting down for a moment, the man draws his 'face' towards the armor once more, tapping the bottom of the mask thoughtfully for a bit before standing back up.

"Also, ehn-... I felt something else besides corruption from it. An underlay of purity. Seems like this used to be something Order-aligned, at one point."

A nonchalant shrug. After all, the super magi doesn't much care for such forces one way or the other.

"That will be expunged as well. My powers are kind of like paint thinner. Can't exactly be selective about it. But given its intended use, that's probably for the best."

Once more, the reflective veil turns towards the leader of this little project, as Zoldak seeks input on his idea.

"What are your thoughts, chief."
(Zoldak Lelhua)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:18] August says, "This seems a little... Not something I can something I can help with. I think I'll go bother a runecrafter."
[17:18] August says, "Sorry, broke a little there."
[17:19] Ohtli asks, "Iosefka wanted you to watch, didn't she?"
[17:21] August scratches the side of his face, glancing over to the tainted armour. "Yeah, but she doesn't know I figured out how to work with nyeshk now."
(August)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:23] "There's a lot to be said about how this armor's supposed to work, but... well, we already know it saps the user. Far as I'm concerned, its tendency to sap the wearer of their energy suggests that energy is going somewhere." The astrologian folded his arms across his chest, taking a few steps towards the armor himself. "If there's something vile dwelling in the armor as well, it's doubtless going to be fueled by all the energy that went into sapping it.

"I figure this is where I could come in." He draws out his astrolabe and spins it with a gesture, the concentric rings moving in its familiar circuits as it hovers over the chestplate and leggings. "Arcane magic or no, she'd be fighting an uphill battle if whatever's in this thing has been strengthened over years of who-knows-who wearing this stuff. I figure I could do something to either siphon away that energy,or reverse the flow."

Reversing the flow - that was Windsor's contribution to the project as far as ideas were concerned, and he'd be damned if he wasn't about to commit to it. "With Cosmic and Time magic in tandem, I should be able to figure something out that can make the mana-sapping effect turn around on itself, and therefore reduce the strain put on Ohtli here."

He smirked in the Drakanite's direction, more than willing to help free the weight from her shoulders. "As for you, August," he spoke, plainly having not forgotten his bosom buddy's presence. "...Uh. You can provide moral support, take notes, or you can help me out with my endeavor, because I suspect the draining effect's going to transfix itself on me as soon as I get my hands dirty with it."

That would be bad.

"I'll try not to get in your way in either case, Zoldak. It'd demand simultaneous work, no matterwhat."
(Windsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:30] The Drakan pensively scratches at her cheek, weighing the options presented.

"I can't say I'm a fan of cleansing any purity from it, as a general rule. But if it can't be helped...well, the corruption's more of a problem than what purity there is is a blessing.

"And...given who it's meant for, you're right. That might be for the best."

She's loathe to admit it, but ever practical is Ohtli.

"Windy's right in that, depending on what all it's been feeding on, it might be an issue. Between all of us here we should be able to handle it- and it's not as if I'm a slouch either. Still, better safe than sorry. We can do what we're able to weaken it when it comes out of the armor.

If you're talking about offering yourself up as some kind of bait though, Windy, I don't like that. But we're in agreement on the rest of it. That sit will with you, Zoldak?"
(Ohtli)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:31] Ohtli says, "I can do something similar to like I did with Ithaca's spear. It should help weaken and banish anything corrupting left in it."
[17:32] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Sure, your call chief."
[17:32] Ohtli says, "Auggie, I won't keep you here if you don't want to be here."
[17:32] Windsor says, "Heh. Chief. Not a bad fit."
[17:32] August says, "Well at least let me finish my descriptive stuff."
[17:33] August says, "Geez."
[17:38] Pulling himself up from the stairs, the blacksmith takes a few moments to dust himself off. "Yeah, I think you guys don't really need me around for your Evil Armour Ghost Fight™." He says, throwing Ohtli an apologetic smile.

"Not that it isn't interesting or anything." He quickly adds, hopping down from the few steps he'd climbed.

"I just have my own thing to work on and I'm a little hurt that Windo Supremo was the only one to try and give me a job." The pale man gave a swift thumbs up to his big kahuna, no amount of time could try destroy that sort of bond it seemed.

"Just come find me if it does turn out I'm the key to all of this, 'kay?"
(August)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:39] Windsor says, "I'll come running if it does, August. Count on that."
[17:40] Windsor shoots a thumbs-up back in his direction, as well as his winning smile, which apparently had a winning quality to it just now.
(Windsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:40] August retorts with a loser grin- Wait...
(August)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:41] August exclaims, "I won't wander too far this time so you shouldn't have trouble finding me~!"
[17:42] Ohtli sighs and scratches under her chin.

"...Better he gets to work on his own gear," she concedes. The Drakan pulls a simple knife from her bag-o-exorcism tricks.

"We're all ready for this then?"
(Ohtli)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[17:43] Windsor says, "It can't be helped. Even if we all gave him work, if he wanted to do his own thing? He'd do it."
[17:43] Windsor says, "But, yeah. I'm ready as I'll ever be."
[17:44] Ohtli says, "We'll wait for Zoldak to come back to reality, then we can start."
[17:44] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Wh-"
[17:44] Zoldak Lelhua says, "What'd I miss."
[17:45] Ohtli says, "Nothing, sir. Auggie decided to work on one of his own projects."
[17:46] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Right. So who's going first."
[17:46] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Wind, right."
[17:46] Windsor says, "Not a whole lot. You're gonna scare the bad stuff out, do some clean-up, I'm gonna be the bait, and Ohtli's gonna do the voodoo that she do."
[17:46] Windsor says, "And... yep."
[17:46] Zoldak Lelhua says, "Hey completely off-topic, but are you two married yet."
[17:47] Windsor says, "Oh, yeah, for some years now. We've got like two kids."
[17:47] Windsor says, "Unless you mean ring-wise, in which case... no, I still gotta ask Iosefka to make a couple."
[17:56] With their priorities straight and their tasks known, the course was clear for them to start on their work. Windsor was first at bat - in order to make the job easier on both of them, he'd throw himself wholeheartedly into trying to reverse the armor's most odious influx of mana. Considering the subject for which the plate itself would be dedicated, he had every intention of putting his all into the project.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered, before seating himself at the north side of the armor. Crossing his legs over one another, he let his floating astrolabe hover closely over the cursed pieces. Windsor removed his spectacles and shut his eyes, lifting off of the ground himself in a meditative position. The brazier in the back almost seemed to go out; the space around the man and his heavenly instrument dimmed.

Light was shedding weakly, localized entirely around the man. Miniature projections of stars began to dot the area, little lines of light jotted between the dots to form up constellations. The distinct sound of a clock ticking emanated from the center of the astrolabe as his work began, a tether of cosmic and temporal energy forming between himself and the armor.

The ill effects were felt almost immediately; interfacing so intimately with the tainted plates would cause no other result. In his seeming silence, the meditative astrologian's brow furrowed, his reserves being swiftly taxed. The energy laden within the armor, however, was gradually ebbing away from within and towards the man.

It didn't nourish him nor did it revitalize him - if anything, the enervating effect was only getting stronger. Regardless, he was doing his part; by engaging with the armor, he was weakening the corrupting entity bit by bit.
(Windsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:07] "I suppose that's my cue."

Pushing up his sleeves and removing his gloves, Zoldak crouches next to the suit of armor. The oppressive, sapping aura is far less intense thanks to Windsor's efforts, which will make the next part far easier.

The super magi's arms begin to exude an immense amount of pure, unadulterated mana. Gripping the greaves of the armor, the corruption within is forcefully expelled by the energy that is channeled into it. Rather than being altered or absorbed by the chaotic energy inherit within the tortured metals, the mana retains its state, seemingly refusing to change its properties.

Wisps of black smoke begin to stream off the armor as the man's hands work their way up along it surface, the excess energy emitted from his palms functioning like some sort of power washer. The suit begins to shake violently as power courses through it, and the surroundings begin to darken as more and more corrupt energy is evicted from its home.

The atmosphere starts to get constraining, breathing is difficult, yet still the merchant focuses on the task in front of him. He's up to the knee joints now, and already some of those dark clouds seem to be converging around the toes of the armored boots.

It's up to Ohtli now.
(Zoldak Lelhua)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:18] Ohtli waits patiently, though anxiously, for her to play her part. Knife in her prosthetic hand and the opposite arm's sleeve rolled up to expose the flesh beneath.

There might have been a better method that didn't involve blood, but it's the one she knows best. It had worked on everything else so far and there's no sense in fixing something that isn't broken. Besides, it's not as if she hasn't bled for far worse and more foolish causes.

The corruption, though weakened, now manifests into something more physical- the black, billowing fog that rises up from the armor. Windsor dampens it, Zoldak drives it from the plate, now it's up to her to drive it into oblivion.

It's dark and when she breathes it's more like water than air. The Order magi braces, spreads her wings wide, and draws the tip of the knife along the interior of her forearm. She casts it from the short blade, over the armor, and into the congealing fog.

Where the droplets hit the manifested corruption there's a hiss, like liquid on hot metal, and it leaves the lingering scent of ozone in its wake. It shrivels back from wherever blood falls, recoiling, shrinking.

Some of the darkness of the room ebbs, lit by a powdery blue aura from her feathers, and then the final blow is struck; an oppressive telekinetic force from above the fog pressed downward on it, smashing it with ruthless efficiency. If all goes according to plan? The corruption dissipates, the final curls of it rising like wafting steam.
(Ohtli)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:26] Continuing to work his way up the armor, Ohtli sprinkling her holy blood over the parts he had already expelled the darkness from to prevent it from roosting once more, Zoldak's palms finally completely their journey along the metal surface. With the last bit of corruption expelled from the gorget, a blast of telekinesis from the Order mage clears the surrounding vileness in one fell swoop.

Standing back up on shaky legs, the mana spilling from the merchant's flesh gradually dissipates. Unrolling his sleeves and reapplying the gloves over his pale, sickly skin, the man gives a weary nod to his companions in purification.

"...I think that's it. All we have to do now is wait and see if any of the corruption returns."

A slow, silent exhale escapes from the super magi, before the mask upon his face snaps to Ohtli and Windor in turn, one of them with blood flowing down their arm and the other having suffered the bulk of the corruption's influence.

"So. How is everyone feeling."
(Zoldak Lelhua)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:41] The astrologian was having a hell of a time dealing with the armor himself. Channeling his mana directly into it was not wont to have a very positive effect on him; rather, the corrupted mana ebbing from the armor and into him did a number on his circuits. Nothing that time could help him recover from, but the fact that he wasn't lilting gently off of the ground in meditative position probably told enough.

Rather, it looked like he was put through the proverbial wringer in all of an instant. His eyes were slightly glazed over, screwed open by the willful need to keep himself together despite weathering the worst of the armor's effects. The man's hair was toussled and disheveled, and a film of sweat covered his skin. Purifying artifacts in this way was not something to get used to easily, but he'd done it twice now.

Still, he looked alive, and that was what was important here. Momentarily discombobulated, Windsor managedto recover his senses in time to realize that their little ritual had come to a close. "Wha... yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he spoke, his words slightly slurred. He was in a fugue state for a time, and was only now managing to come to.

"Is it over?"
(Windsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:44] The ritual, such as it is, is no small effort. It takes concentration, pulling what she can from the lifestream to her call, and blood. Probably more blood than she might like. It takes all of their combined skillsets to see the task done- and consequently it takes a great deal out of all of them.

A sweaty, pale, and bedraggled Ohtli sloppily unrolls the sleeve over the gashes in her arm. One thing at a time. Her concern lies not in that injury but of the conditions of those near her.

With the work done she exhales, all of her slouching.

"Fine," she echoes dimly.

"That should be it. If there's anything left...I don't feel it. Zoldak?"
(Ohtli)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[18:45] Zoldak Lelhua says, "...Take it to Io. She'll figure out the next step."
[18:46] Zoldak Lelhua says, "I'll report her on everything."