avalononline | text; un: goddessofdeath

[ After being given a quest, Ereshkigal had decided to go ahead and do it on her own. It was very clear the quest was designed to be dangerous and she'd wanted to ensure none would get caught in her own personal feud with Morganna... Which had been a fatal mistake. ]

Greetings. I am in dire need of assistance and would be very grateful should any of you still listen to me.

[ It is a blessing nobody can hear her whine through text. ]

I am in the Forest of the Felled and I am lost. I came here after Morganna gave me a quest, but I believe my words angered her and she led me into a trap. It appears she placed upon me a curse that makes it impossible for me to find my way. I have been here for over twenty-four now and my strengths are waning as a result of dehydration and hunger.

Should you be afraid of facing Morganna's wrath for assisting me, I understand. I shall face my own death with dignity if so. I only ask someone come after the kettle in my possession to finish this quest and establish a land of the dead after I am gone. I will endeavor to write instructions on how to manage such a place with what time I have left.

[ Not overly dramatic at all, nope. ]

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[Oh God. He hadn't gotten any updates on how Ereshkigal's endeavour to summon Morganna had been going, and when there's finally some news it's this?!]

You went on your own?! Why didn't you tell me anything?!

[Luckily their fellow outworlders can be counted on to help someone in peril. She has a bunch of reliable, competent people offering her support already, including his squire Shoto, but hell, he'll add himself to the rescue committee if need be.]

I was considering to, but I did not want to risk you facing Morganna's wrath.

[ Half true. She was ashamed that she'd lost her temper and caused the negotiation to go south. If she'd been able to do this quest alone, no one would have had to ever know. Alas... ]

I'm sorry. I'm afraid the plans we discussed are in jeopardy because of my inadequacy.

[He quickly skims the other threads... damn, she went all the way on foot?! She must have had the most arduous journey (not to mention dangerous)! And the fae and other native beings avoiding her and the forest leading her around in circles does seem like a curse of Morganna's. Hijikata can only imagine that Ereshkigal got a little too fired up about her cause and managed to offend the other goddess-- and sure enough, there's her confirmation to others' inquiries.

On some level he wants to chew her out for not managing to keep up airs of diplomacy, but part of him feels bad for letting her summon Morganna all alone, all the more since she proceeded to leave him out of the loop to protect him.]

I don't care if I end up on her shitlist. I want nothing to do with her if I can help it. What did she say, though? What's all that about a kettle and a land of the dead? Didn't we want her help to get rid of the stone giant?

[Little does he know how much Ereshkigal developed the plan... that's what he gets for dipping out of the most crucial parts!]

I am supposed to collect flowers from two specific locations at a specific time and dead wood from a third place. I must then put the flowers and water into the kettle, use the wood to make fire and hold the kettle over it. She said I would have my land of the dead then.

I fear this, too, may be a trap. However, it is my duty to try regardless.

[ Yeah, she has whatsoever no clue the land of the dead she was promised would be... The kettle itself. It's too small to do anything. Maybe it's for the best she never completes the quest and never face the disappointment... As for the giant: ]

She refused to help me for the giant. By then we were already at odds. I'm sorry. Because of my inability to contain my emotions, the souls of the dead are at risk. Perhaps it is right for me to die here.

[And Morganna sent her all over the island for those tasks?! The Forest of the Felled is really far off the beaten track (even if he spent the last cold season there)! Yeah, Ereshkigal really pissed her off. Her resignation, though, kicks the Commander in Hijikata into gear. His tone gets more authoritative.]

Like hell it's OK! You'll survive! A bunch of people is mobilising to get you out of there, and at least one of us will accompany you the rest of the way - and with totems and mounts this time! Don't think we're afraid of Morganna!

[Sure, the outworlder community isn't a monolith, but he's fully convinced that the majority would aid even a curse-marked peer rather than shrink back at the risk of drawing Morganna's ire!]

Even if it's a sham and there won't be a realm of the dead here on Avalon, next month is the autumn equinox. The veil between worlds is thin then. If we collect as many lost souls as we can before that time we can get them to the ritual location and help them pass over!

[ She doesn't reply immediately. Mostly because reading that message is making her very emotional. She's not used to anyone outside of Ritsuka being so willing to help her or even caring for her life. After a while, she finally sends a simple: ]

Thank you.

[ Text messaging is both a curse and a blessing. A curse because the words don't convey the full extent of her gratitude. A blessing because no one can see her crying through text. She realizes as much, so she adds: ]

I realize words do not convey emotions very well and I do not have my kaomoji book with me. But I am truly very grateful for the kindness you show me. I will endeavor to do my best next month.

[Hijikata doesn't need grandiose words of gratitude or kaomoji. If he was able to perk her back up a little that's reward enough. Still, her message gives him the same small pang he felt when she told him about her underworld and her conflict with her sister. Once again he can't help but see a lonely girl, determined as she is, rather than a powerful goddess.]

That's right. Let's both do our best. I'll assign half my subordinates to the task of finding fading souls, too.

[The Yuureisengumi may be a quasi-militia, but it can apply itself to a charitable cause during the last month of its existence!]

I have no doubt that one or more of the people already on the way will get you out of the forest, but if you don't partner with any of them for the rest of the job, I'll be ready.

[She's seen his inventory, including the many totems he made (not that those would have made a worthy offering to Morganna). He has enough utensils to spare to ease her quest, and with his Wayfinder spell they should be able to find their way home no matter what. That said Ereshkigal may already find herself with enough offers on her hands!]

Thank you. It is highly likely the success of the quest is something Morganna accounted for. [She was a smart goddess, no way she hadn't anticipated Ereshkigal may survive and go through with it.] If so, I expect something terrible may happen upon completion.

[ Why go through with it if the odds the quest will result in nothing are overwhelming? Well, that 0.1% chance she will actually get a land of the dead are worth it in her eyes. ]

If you come with me, I ask you do not stay for the result. I refuse to risk anyone's life because of my own mistake.

[ She wouldn't forgive herself. Especially since he was one of the few people to have shown her kindness. ]

[This is tough for him... he's a Shounen JUMP hero, Ereshkigal!! Seeing shit through until the end together is what keeps him and his peers alive and allows them to become the best versions of themselves! But he decides to accept her decision, at least for now. Goddesses have their pride, and her sense of responsibility is strong enough that they could end up arguing for hours otherwise, and he'd prefer her to save what's left of her phone battery, just in case she needs it again later.]

Alright. But even in the worst case, I'll find you afterwards.

[That's the beauty of a death mage alliance: it lasts beyond death.]

Thanks for your understanding.

[ She is very thankful he doesn't try to argue because she hates arguing.

And besides his hunch is right, her battery just dipped to red. Goodness, it was fortunate she had recharged her phone before this whole ordeal or she'd have really been completely out of luck. ]

[He doesn't respond back, but he'll be checking AOL for updates from her (and if aren't any within 12 hours he'll ask Shoto, and if Shoto ends up beaten to the rescue he'll hassle the other volunteers!). He may come across as aloof (well, depending on whom you ask...), but he'll find it hard to concentrate on his usual activities as long as he doesn't get news of her being out of the Forest of the Felled at least.]

text; un: goddessofdeath

Text | UN: hijikata (... now in the right place!)

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