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[choicely]

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[princess_of_ida]

Tell me about it.

How did it happen? How long were you gone? What did it feel like from loss to return? What did you see?

[choicely]

In terms of the actual memories, those are faint. It was a long time ago, before I made my ascent to sorceress. My existence at the time was cruel enough that I felt as though I no longer had the will to live.

If I died, it was slowly, like falling asleep or losing consciousness. When I awoke, it was to my wrists aching and wrapped in bandages, my rectoress standing over me preparing to scold me for being late to first lessons. I have no true recollection of the in-between.

cw: flatlining

[princess_of_ida]

[That was disappointing, but perhaps it was due to a lack of apopneumatic shock. When the body passes slow, the soul transitions without consequence and likely without awareness until a Speaker of the Dead recalled it.]

Your awareness now is far beyond what you would have had then. If you wish to experience it, as I have, I can take you there and ensure you return before your soul snaps its tether. A few minutes - no more.

[choicely]

Much as I appreciate the offer, I'm not as eager to venture into the space between life and death as you seem to be.

Should I take it you're somewhere similar now? [ instead of the two of them having this conversation face to face. ]

[princess_of_ida]

No, just wishing for the quiet.

I'm trudging through the forest toward the Void with the rest of the expedition. I'm incredibly tired of the buzzing in my head. I spent a month and a half with this; I'm not enjoying reliving it.

[choicely]

Do conversations like this help?

[ or do they only add to the noise, in other words?

she's tempted to ask about the morale of the expedition, but she doesn't; that question drifts across anyway, more of an impression of concern than anything posed outright. ]

[princess_of_ida]

Yeah. They show me to direct my thoughts to where I want to direct them, as opposed to where the Void wants them. The buzzing is so there, the urges are, but I can almost ignore them.

The Void posseses some form if sentience, by the way.

[choicely]

Is it even possible to discern the Void through our own consciousness, or is it too powerful to really be interpreted?

Regardless, getting close enough to sustain some kind of consequence, physical OR mental, feels unwise. [ it's why she had firmly informed the duchess's messenger that she wouldn't be going on the trip, not willing to risk herself for someone she swears no loyalties to. ]

[princess_of_ida]

I guess we'll find out. Assuming we get there; it's actively trying to stop us.

And unwise as it may be, we push ahead. At least we know what to expect. I'm sure some people will peel off and return, but I suspect most won't.

[choicely]

That's less of a surprise, although I'd be warier if the path was made smooth in any significant way.

Already starting to show some cracks in their heroic facade, are they?

[princess_of_ida]

The hubris would be funny if it didn't come with monsters.

No, wait. It's still funny.

[choicely]

And if the group's efforts fail?

[princess_of_ida]

The hubris will still be funny.

I'm not expecting us to be successful; if we do it'll be through dumb luck. Which is why I'm not going as myself into the fucking Void itself.

[choicely]

So you'll let yourself transform again.

[princess_of_ida]

Fuck no: I'm riding a corpse.

[choicely]

Is that like possessing it?

[princess_of_ida]

Yeah. It's the slang term.

My body will be staying outside of the Void behind layered protections while I send my consciousness into a corpse and puppet it.

[choicely]

That's certainly one way to guarantee safety.

Whose corpse?

[princess_of_ida]

[It's only because Yennefer asked directly and what they two of them have between each other that Ianthe doesn't deflect the question.]

Mateus. He volunteered to be my vessel when I approached him about using a potentially already available corpse. Saw it as an honor.

[choicely]

Mateus.

[ it takes a moment for yennefer to remember where she's heard the name. ] His lack of reticence wouldn't have anything to do with the Duchess's ability to resurrect people here, would it?

[ it's more of a rhetorical question since she thinks she already knows the answer. ]

[princess_of_ida]

He is the churchwarden for a reason. Of course, her Ressurection ability was a huge factor. Though it's possible he may have still volunteered without the guarantee that he'd be resurrected.

Cult fanatics tend to be willing to sacrifice for their god.

[choicely]

So you believe they're all just extremists?

[princess_of_ida]

Not at all. Some people are just living their lives here, but religion when people have a living God they can interact with, especially one that can bring the dead back to life will permeate everything they know.

I am intimately familiar with how what's going on here can grow in a myriad if given the opportunity and the propaganda to back it up. Every religion starts out as a cult, Yennefer.

[choicely]

In other words, the Duchess herself. Are they all loyal to her, then?

I always thought it was the other way around. Religion into fervor and blind devotion.

[princess_of_ida]

I believe so. They know no other way... until us.

You're not wrong, but neither am I. Two ends of the same thing. Fanaticism on both ends.