5/10 Thera & Ohtli LH Dev

[19:54] "When a magi dies, their soul goes to Purgatory, their soul in the stars. When a necromancer pierces the stars nebula, they connect the dead, and the star their soul resides in, and guide the soul back to the star. So- in theory, what your asking...should be possible, but that would mean connecting this room- to Purgatory."

Thera's gaze shifts towards Ohtli, giving her a firm nod. "I believe we could do this, although...it would involve Ohtli giving up her mirror."

Hums spill from her lips, the Oracle's features relaxing, now aware that Cal desires a connection to what may as well be her summer home.

"I don't personally care. I'd prefer to discuss this with Ohtli for a moment, but a few people won't be enough to distract me."

With Shai tugging at her circuits,and Enki within her mind, working with distractions is commonplace.

Hundreds, thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands of reflecting spirits lingering within that realm. Should they make even the slightest mistake...

Bah, worry is for cowards.

"If you don't want an audience, then this is fine with me. Whatever makes you more comfortable.

Whatever makes our chances of this being successful, increase."
(Thera Elisheva)
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[19:54] Thera Elisheva says, "I can explain my theory, regarding your mirror, unless you've another plan in mind."
[19:55] Calael Elisheva says, "We'll be down below."
[19:55] Calael Elisheva exclaims, "If you need something just shout!"
[19:55] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "Naturally. Thank you, Cal."
[19:55] Calael carries the telescope and some other pieces out of the room with him. He waves for the other two to follow.
(Calael Elisheva)
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[19:55] Luckily, he had a hold on his tongue.

His expressions, though, were far different. Turning on his heel, there's a momentary, misty and annoyed huff that leaves him as he makes his way down the stairs.
(Niklaus Rowan)
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[19:59] The Drakan gives an exaggerated roll of her eyes as the Rowan boy leaves in a huff.

"A shame that children can't handle the truth," she grumbles bitterly. She frowns and pats down her the pockets of her coat, retrieving the hold, worn mirror of hammered and polished soul steel. Ohtli regards it for a moment, lost in thought. Quickly she snaps back and to the task at hand.

"...No sense in holding onto something old when it can serve a greater purpose. What did you have in mind?"

The mirror. Her sons old mirror, to be more precise, before he'd left to do his 'academic' pursuits.
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[20:11] "He'll get over it." It's all she can muster, as her mind remains focused on the task at hand. Musing over theories, ideas, the best course of action to take.

Searching for the most sensible means of completely the task given to her, and her fellow Spiritmancer.

"If he wants to establish a connection between the undead, and their spirit, the most sensible thing to do is establish a connection between here, and Purgatory. This will only assist the magi undead, of course, but-

That's realistically going to be his target audience."

Thera then raises a finger.

"My theory, is this. We can use these mirrors to create an astral projection of ourselves in Purgatory. During my studies, I've discovered a means of attuning oneself to the realm of spirits, and your very own imprint- your essence. If traveling to Purgatory by turning oneself into a specter is possible, and astral projecting into the realm of spirits is a possibility-

If we established a powerful connection between Purgatory, using your mirror, then we could attune the mirror to Purgatory itself- on a permanent basis. To let spirits flow through it, rather than project ourselves into the realm of the dead.

If done correctly, spirits won't flow through freely. It'll merely serve as a gateway, and should something with a powerful tie to one of the spirit within, stand before the gateway, it's spirit will naturally find the path into our realm- to rejoin it's soul, or what have you.

Or- much how we appear before the spirit we seek to contact, the gateway will do the same for the undead.

Or, if this goes terribly wrong, we could unleash a number of angry spirits who didn't want to die- but. Considering that we're the ones working on this...I doubt that'll happen.

...very, highly doubt it.

Probably won't happen."
(Thera Elisheva)
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[20:12] Thera Elisheva says, "And, I've an idea on how we could do this, but I'd ah. Well. I'll expain once you let all that sink in."
[20:17] The Drakan listens patiently. Her methods might be unorthodox, her rituals appearing more mystical than founded in fact or reason, but she understand more than she typically lets on. She's been at this for years, after all.

Ohtli nods along as Thera expounds on what she seeks to achieve with the little disk of hammered soulsteel and looks between it and the younger spiritmancer thoughtfully.

"I'd imagine most necromancers only bother to raise magi anyhow. There wouldn't be much to raising a non-magi. At least I'd assume," she reasons, scratching her chin.

"So long as how you plan to do this has minimal risk of the gate going both ways? It sounds reasonable. I'd rather not have another incident centered here in the Hold of all places.

"Just how precisely do you suggest we make the connection?"
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[20:17] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "That souds like no small feat."
[20:25] "Making the connection is going to be the tricky part, as it'll also be the most dangerous. My plan is-" Thera braces herself, as even stating this is going to sound a bit absurd.

"I'll astral project, and head to Purgatory. You use the mirror to find my essence, and fall for me. I escape through the mirror, and return to my body- then, we try and maintain the bridge between Purgatory, and this room."
(Thera Elisheva)
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[20:27] Thera Elisheva says, "...essentially, you summon me, as you would a spirit, and then we- yeah."
[20:28] Absurd is right. Her brows fret almost immediately.

"And just how precisely do you suggest the bridge be maintained? Would it remain that way on its own?..."
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[20:29] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "This -hardly- sounds safe for you..."
[20:29] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "I don't like it."
[20:31] Thera Elisheva says, "Not very safe, but I'm sure I'll be fine."
[20:32] Thera Elisheva says, "As for how we maintain it-"
[20:34] Thera Elisheva says, "Well, truth be told, I'm hoping that by doing this, the bridge we create will sustain itself. As this absolutely isn't normal, conventional, or something that /should/ be done in any regular setting."
[20:34] Ohtli Tezcacoatl asks, "Nothing left to it but to try then...You go into purgatory then...I summon you through the mirror? Yes?"
[20:34] Thera Elisheva says, "I'm hoping it'll create a tear, a hole of some sorts, as my spirit is pulled from Purgatory, and back into my body."
[20:34] Thera Elisheva says, "Mhm."
[20:34] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "I do not -like- the idea...But set up the mirror and I will be ready."
[20:35] Thera Elisheva says, "I'll also say this- should Crafthold fall into the wrong hands, my first goal will be to destroy the mirror, as the connection could absolutely be used for horrible intentions- but I trust Cal, and Est."
[20:36] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "Let's pray then that this -doesn't- fall into the wrong hands."
[20:36] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "At least undoing it will be simple."
[20:36] Thera Elisheva says, "Honestly? I don't care for the idea, but I'm not coming up with any other, even remotely, feasible options."
[20:36] Thera Elisheva says, "Of course."
[20:37] Thera Elisheva says, "..hm. Maybe there is another option. With a higher success rate."
[20:37] Thera Elisheva says, "And a higher rate of risk, as well."
[20:38] Ohtli Tezcacoatl asks, "Meaning?"
[20:39] Thera Elisheva says, "I enter Purgatory in this form, and you find me, and pull me out. Essence, and physical body. That should absolutely tear open some kind of hole, as physical bodies shouldn't be in Purgatory, or the spiritual realm to begin with."
[20:39] Thera Elisheva says, "...and, the more I think about leaving my body behind, the more antsy I get."
[20:39] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "Whichever you are more comfortable with."
[20:39] Ohtli Tezcacoatl says, "...and whichever is safer for you."
[20:40] Thera Elisheva says, "Shai is sealed away properly, but without my spirit- hm. I doubt she could posses me, but I didn't even consider-"
[20:40] Thera Elisheva says, "I'll enter like this."
[20:40] Thera Elisheva says, "Once you're finished preparing, I'll depart."
[20:40] Thera Elisheva says, "..and like this, there will be two spirits attatched to this body, might make finding me easier."
[20:40] Thera Elisheva says, "Okay. Let's do this."
[20:42] The Drakan nods. 'Preparing' is a very loose word for what she does. It takes very little actual preparation at all. She rolls up one of her sleeves, exposing a heavily scarred forearm, and removes an old, primitive knife from her pockets.

"When you are ready, Thera."

Ohtli naturally has a more 'traditional' take on their shared craft.
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[20:53] Thera nods, closing her eyes. It's gotten easier to attain this form, with the amount of practice put in, and the constant switching from a physical, to ethereal state. Mana pulses through her circuits, and she searches deep within herself. Separating what should be her essence, her imprint, from her body and soul.

That very essence returns to her body in a millisecond, forcing the distortion of her features. Skin growing pale, then transparent, the woman takes the form of an apparition- a specter. One could see her mana circuit plain as day within this state. Eyes opened, those ghastly eyes can see this world, and the one that exists alongside it.

Granting her the power to exist within both realms.

"Normally when I enter the spirit realm, like this, I can only do it for a minutes on my lonesome. It's difficult to remain their, with my body still attached. I'll do what I can to stay there, for as long as I can, but our time frame, even while using the mirror, our maximum time allotted will be five minutes.

...but, since it's you, I doubt it'll take more than one."

Thera nods, counting down.

"Three, two, one..."

Thus, she jumps into the mirror, Presumably heading into Purgatory.


(Thera Elisheva)
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[21:01] The whole of Thera, now shifted into something that straddles the world of the spirit and the physical, hops up and plunges into the mirror as if it were a diving pool. She vanishes entirely from sight leaving only a ripple across the pristinely polished surface of the steel.

She's had plenty of experience in conjuring spirits, in summoning them, but in essence all of the younger Spiritmancer has just passed into purgatory. Conjuring her up again will be a little different, much less using the mirror to do it.

All the same the Elder wastes no time. With practiced, nearly ruthless efficiency she dashes the primitive knife over the underside of her exposed forearm. Old scars reopen and blood flows, a sacrifice of energy ready to be used for the task at hand.

Ohtli coats the claws of her opposing hand with it, flexing her fingers. Little tongues of blue flame dart around her nails, hissing and popping as if the fire were all too real.

Her flame-wreathed talons lift, then plunge down into the surface of the mirror; she shoves her entire arm in past her elbow and begins fishing around in Purgatory for her student's essence; thankfully she knows it well enough.

Once her claws catch on to something even passingly familiar she rises, heaving, and dragging whatever she's latched onto up and out of the realm beyond like a trophy fish from a river.
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[21:11] Passing through the mirrors surface, she finds herself in a place all too familiar. This place from which she freed Elayna, Amara, and Myst. All of the time's shed entered this hellish place, it was with a clear goal in mind. To find a spirit, and speak with it; to find as spirit, and conjure it.

Now? Thera looks around, seeing only boundless hues of azure. There is no ceiling, no walls, no flooring. Even worse? No spirits. Normally, it's as if she glides above them, looking down upon those that reflect. Now? It's as if she'd truly become one of them.

As if she died, and had begun this part of the natural cycle.

In the distance, something catches her eye. A hand, a hand that extends for her, a hand that she gazes upon with the utmost confusion. Refusing to take the skeletal claw, she looks up-

Only to be grasped, and yanked, feeling the entirety of her frame pulled upon. There is no screaming, no worry, fully believing that Ohtli is the one dragging her back into the realm of the living.


(Thera Elisheva)
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[21:16] Maybe she really -is- getting too old for this. The Drakan feels like she's about to twist something in her back with the sudden yanking motion. A tug, a heave, she stands and pulls Thera back into the realm of the living.

Good thing there's no screaming, which would only make this process more jarring as the young spiritmancer is pulled back to the mundane. A head, her shoulders, and at least her feet all pass through the mirror.

The mirror itself ripples like liquid again. And doesn't stop. It pulses like a puddle in response to a far-off earthquake, constantly undulating slightly.

She has questions. Plenty of them, but the matter at and a sense of decorum dictates which few need to come first.

"...Are you alright? Do you think it worked?"
(Ohtli Tezcacoatl)
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[21:32] As her head is pulled through the mirror, she looks around, taking in her surroundings. Even if her stay is brief, the sudden change in atmosphere is almost jarring. Shoulders, torso, legs, and finally her feet slip through, Thera can feel a connection between herself and the realm of the dead.

Her ghastly form shivers, body becoming corporeal once more. Solid feet hit the ground, and she stubbles, staggering, yet refusing to fall.

"Ah- ack!"

It's a bit much to take in, and takes a few seconds for her mind to wrap around the ordeal.

Thera's gaze his the mirror, before answering Ohtli's question, more concerned with whether or not this truly worked, than her own well being.

"I'm fine. Mostly." Stated once she assures that some sort of connection remained. "We could test how potent it is, but I think I've about done all I'm willing to do as far as- ahm. Using myself as an experiment goes."

There is a yearning to do a final test, but for now? She simply gazes at the mirror, praying that the ripples never cease.
(Thera Elisheva)