knightsoflegend | atlantis ♔ bury anchors in our ghosts

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atlantis ♔ bury anchors in our ghosts

WHO || Amara, Zatanna, Lila, David, Emma, Hook
WHAT || The Knights head to the lost city of Atlantis to discover the truth about the curse of the Homo Magi
WHERE || Atlantis
WHEN || April 10th, 2015 [backdated].
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread.

It's been two years since a mission in the Bermuda Triangle led to the discovery of the hidden home of the race known as the Homo Magi - the original race of pure-blooded sorcerers. Inflicted with a curse that causes them to fall in love at first sight with any mortal they see, they had secluded themselves there, taking slaves of those who were lost in the Triangle to help defend their city. On that ill-fated mission, the Homo Magi Amara fell victim to the curse, falling in "love" with David Charming and defecting from her people in order to have the chance to be with him. Now a danger to herself and potentially others, the Knights have sought a way to free her of her curse, so far to no avail. Lila, however, has finally convinced Amara herself to help, convincing her that the only way to prove that her love for David is real is to prove that the curse has no bearing on it. Amara has uncovered the location of the Homo Magi's original home: the lost city of Atlantis, where she believes they can uncover the truth about the curse's origins, and in so doing, a way to reverse it, and free her people of it once and for all.

To this end, the Knights are drifting out into the Atlantic Ocean in Hook's ship, seeking the whirlpool that will supposedly take them to the underwater city.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ well, she deeply regrets not touching the thing. that is what her expression reads. damn i should have touched the thing. that is way better than benefit high beam, do you think it's easy looking this glowing and fresh faced with no sleep?

#teenagers. ]

I can't tell what she's casting. [ zee casts a worried look at the others. SHE'S NOT USED TO NOT RECOGNIZING MAGIC ]

[ Well Emma rolled the shittiest spellcraft check on Earth, so don't look at her. ]

Amara? [ Emma called out warily, her tone of voice prompting Amara to clue them in on what the fuck was happening. ]

[Killian steps forward, hand resting on the pommel of his sword, his shoulder bumping against Emma's. He doesn't know what's happening, and he doesn't like it. Amara was already far more powerful than he's comfortable with. He doesn't like her getting even more powerful.]

[David is doing the same for now - something Zee doesn't recognize and her being nervous about it definitely is not making him feel comfortable. It's possible it's just something that old, but at the same time, he doesn't want to take any chances.

His hand moves to the hilt of the sword behind his head, and for right now, he waits.]

[ that strange glow seems to center on her face, forming into another visage, human, male, that floats over her own. she speaks, but her voice seems to echo in their minds as her own and not her own, heard in their own native language: ]

What knowledge do you seek of the Altar?

Holy shit. [ lila flinches, wincing. she hates people in her head. she also doesn't know if she's supposed to answer the disembodied voice out loud or in her head, but if it's the latter that voice is treated to some irritated "i want to know how to break the curse so we can get the fuck out of here, i'm wearing a wool skirt!"

she looks to emma to answer though. lila may be the master wordsmith, but emma is the leader. ]

[ WhAT THE ACTUAL FUCK. Emma takes a half step back, staggered by the strangeness of it all, but she notices Lila looking at her and steps forward, putting herself a little bit between the danger and Lila and Hook. ]

We want to understand the Curse of the Homo Magi. [ Then, more firmly: ] We need a way to break it.

[ 'amara', controlled by this strange force, turns to glare at emma. for someone who might just be an ancient speaking library, she sure has a hateful look in her eyes. ]

YOU WOULD ATTEMPT TO UNDERMINE THE WILL OF POSEIDON?

[ ugh. it reminds her of shandra, making her skin crawl. which is why she answers sharply, ] Yes.

[Killian puts a hand on Lila's shoulder as he steps forward, smiling slightly. He has gone against the will of Poseidon before, but that was a different world, a different Poseidon. It's enough to make him halt for a moment, but only a moment (diplomacy ~~crit fail~~ NAT 20 in the best action point use ever. That's 37 total, unless Amara being sort of who they're talking to makes this count as talking to a girl, in which case it's 39). He gives the sort of charming smile only he can manage, innocent while still holding the promise of roguishness, as he addresses Amara and the voice coming from her.]

Perhaps if we knew Poseidon's reasoning for the curse, we could discuss if his will shouldn't change with the times.

Long ago, the homo magi were a race blessed by Poseidon's protection. [ as he/she speaks, the light stemming from her explodes above her head into images formed of green-blue light, that wisp from one scene to the next ] He drew the favor of the Lady of Magic, and she poured many secrets of the Weave into his ear, which he shared with his Chosen. Atlantis was a shrine to the power he granted them, a place for them to protect the secrets he had freely given.

[David's diplomacy roll was not as amazing but still pretty awesome, and he's just going to keep riding Hook's wave of awesome and hope for the best (diplomacy 27).]

What changed?

[He's guessing the secrets were betrayed somehow, but he's letting whatever's controlling Amara tell the story right now.]

One of these homo magi fell in love with a mortal from beyond our borders, and spilled these secrets to them. Magic spread through the world that should never have been made known to the masses, magic that could shape the world.

Enraged, the Lady of Magic spurned Poseidon, and in his anger and grief, he laid a curse upon the people, that would prevent them from ever making contact with these mortals again, forcing them to sequester themselves away.

Atlantis was taken from them, swallowed by the sea, too easily found by those to whom its location had been revealed.

[ seriously? anger sparks behind lila's sea colored eyes, fingers curling into fists. ]

They were punished for doing the exact same thing the Lady of Magic did! [ she doesn't ask how that is fair because she knows it isn't meant to be fair, curses never are. love curses, especially, are nothing but unnecessarily cruel. ] Why are they being cursed to fall in love with the mortals that they meet?

[ Dammit Lila, watch yourself. Emma puts an arm out, trying to slow her down. She gets how intense Lila is about this, and can imagine some of the reasons associated, but that doesn't mean she wants her to get smited by the will of Poseidon or something. ]

If they were being punished for falling in love and revealing the secrets of their magic, isn't it counterintuitive to curse them to ... fall in love and spill the secrets of their magic with the first mortal they meet? I've got news for you: they're not sequestered anymore.

Because it's no longer a choice. They either avoid Poseidon's wrath and say goodbye to the rest of the world, or they risk losing control of themselves.

[It's not entirely logical, but it's enough of a threat that would make him want to stay away from humans.]

Gods don't operate on actual logic. Poseidon probably figured that they would see all of their losses, and know that they can't just fall in love like they would want to, and they would do as they're told.

[And he glances up to the Amara Info Dome again.]

Emma's right - the Homo Magi are back in the world again. Is there another way to prevent them from sharing the Lady of Magic's secrets?

[It does make a certain amount of sense to Killian, who was raised in a world where nothing is stronger than True Love. When magic can grant you an infatuation strong enough, the possibility of experiencing the real thing becomes that much more unlikely. It seems a terrible punishment, especially since it means you never can know if a mortal lover could have been your true love. He would evade mortals entirely rather than risk it too, if he were in that position.

Unfortunately, knowing the why of it is hardly the same as knowing how to get rid of it. It depends a great deal on how willing the altar is to listen to them. And if it even has the capability to help.]

The other Homo Magi were punished for not better monitoring the actions of one of their kind. The curse forces all of them to be ever vigilant against coming in contact with mortals, placing harsh punishments upon those who turn an interested eye to the world beyond their own people, and their own secrets.

The Homo Magi will find a way to punish any who have transgressed upon that path, in due time.

Well, due time doesn't solve our problem. I don't care what Poseidon's reasons for enacting it were: we need a way to break the curse. If he's so worried about the Homo Magi spilling secrets, why not just take their knowledge of magic instead of their free will?

[ it's only emma's arm keeping her back that keeps lila's mouth shut as well, though she does let out an incomprehensible angry noise like a cat hissing. love curse free will issues, party of lila. ]

Because that's not big enough.

[Gods don't do anything small. David doesn't sound like he agrees, but more the tired stance of a person who's seen this one too many times before. But he also knows making demands isn't going to get them anywhere. This is like a library, not something they can negotiate with.]

Is there a way to atone for their mistakes? Appeal to the Lady of Magic or Poseidon to see if this could be forgiven? A quest or a trade?

Their punishment is eternal. The verdict stands. They will suffer until the God of the Waters feels satisfied, not bend to the whim of mortal man. So says Poseidon. [ with those words, the entire building around them seems to shake, and while amara keeps perfect balance, zatanna practically tumbles to the ground, grabbing onto a statue to keep from toppling over. the building continues to quake slowly, however... ]

No! [ the screamed word is one of furious anger and defeat, moving forward on incredibly steady legs even as the building shakes around them thanks to her uncanny cat grace. she slaps her hand down on the alter and reaches out with the other hand to curl her fingers around amara's wrist. ] Fuck Poseidon! He doesn't get to play with people like this, he has no right.

Lila ... [ Emma's tone starts out warning, but as the shaking continues and takes Zatanna off her feet, Emma widens her stance to steady herself and concern raises her voice. ] Lila! I don't think we're welcome here anymore. [ Which means they should maybe get going. Her first priority is to get them all safely out of here. They can find a way to appeal to Poseidon from somewhere that's not

under the sea during an earthquake. She reaches a hand out to steady on Lila's shoulder, trying to rein her in. ]

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