veneration (cw: destruction by fire)

[ewestmarch]

[The communicator is propped up on a small kickstand, in what seems to be a dirt lot. In front of it is a crude straw doll, twice life-size, bound to a wooden fencepost.]

Can't believe it's taken this long for one of you to die.

[Emilia's voice is somewhere behind the camera, and her shadow falls over the doll. Flames crackle and streak like a projectile to strike the doll in the center of its chest. It catches immediately and begins to burn.

Emilia recites:]

We are the chill in a coward's spine. We are the instruments of an unyielding ire. We burn the wickerman as a symbol of victory against old enemies. Those who fear and revile us as monsters will be struck down. In the face of atrocities, we have only grown stronger. We are the Forsaken.

[She pauses. The doll is still burning, but has lost its shape - it is mostly sticks and ash now.]

Dark Lady watch over you.

[Optional Spam, open to all:

In the streets of Blackway, a huge, rotting creature shuffles, leaving pools of foul liquid in its wake. It's twice as tall as a human and three times as wide. Four, if you could the cloud of flies around it as part of its radius. The smell alone is overpowering.

It's carrying a durable plastic bag filthy with the same ichor, filled with sewing supplies and topped with a hand-written shopping list in thin, spidery penmanship.

If you own a shop, it might poke its head in there, too. Its sense of direction isn't very good.]

Comments

let me know if this is ok

[una_persson]

[Una, out and about, doesn't see the network post. What she does see is the flame along the fence line, and she picks up her pace in alarm. It doesn't seem to be spreading, and as she draws closer, she can make out a person standing nearby.]

Hello? Everything all right?

100%

[ewestmarch]

[Emilia turns, wand drawn, and steps between the newcomer and her pyre. She's scarcely more substance than the doll, mostly bones and fabric, but like hell is security going to interrupt her.

Unless it's not them.]

Oh, it's you.

[Her Standard is accented but passable.]

None of your business.

[una_persson]

[Una stops, holds up both hands, showing them empty. With Emilia backlit, she can't quite make out her features, but can see her angular shape and the fact that she has something in her hand.]

If you say so.

[ewestmarch]

Why are you over here, huh?

[She wishes she had her flesh golem. It's not too safe to have him around fire, though.]

[una_persson]

I was feeling restless and I needed a walk.

[She realises this sounds like the worst possible lie, but it's the actual truth. Una has a lot on her mind these days, and stretching her legs in solitude is the only way she can manage it. And she does go out armed; she's not a complete idiot, and she knows what dangers lurk. But this seems like a bad time to have her firearm out.]

[ewestmarch]

That's bullshit. I'm not doing anything illegal!

[una_persson]

Never said you were. [A wry smile.] I'm not security, you know.

[ewestmarch]

Yeah, you're new.

[Emilia drops her hand to her side, but doesn't sheathe her wand.]

Well, I'm still not doing anything.

[una_persson]

[She looks at the burning thing again, and an odd look passes over her face.]

It reminds me of—

[A pause, then she shakes her head.] Never mind. Something long ago and far away, I expect. Sorry to trouble you.