testrun_box | Just getting this handled in advance

1
[Somebody new has taken over one of the shooting ranges at base. A fairly small girl who looks to be in her mid to late teens wearing her hair in a pair of long braids and observing proper safety protocols by wearing earmuffs to block the sound is practicing shooting with handguns She's pretty clearly a complete beginner, though, not only firing does she have bad accuracy even at the short range she's shooting at, she's observing all proper stances with the kind of uncertain focus common to people who have only just had how to do something explained. Disturb her to give advice, figure out who she is or something else?]

2

[Using the tv in one of the common rooms, Alex is watching the World Cup. One of the teams just scored and from her reaction, it's pretty clearly not the one she was rooting for.]

What was he thinking? Leaving an opening like that?

3

[One of the tables in the cafeteria has been taken over for what looks like a major research project including a big, heavy and above all dry scholarly book in German, a notepad for writing down information that's so far conspicuously empty except for various random doodles, a phone, possibly used to look up dictionaries and an empty mug with dried coffee stains at the bottom. Alex is bent over it, starting to look rather tired of the whole thing.]

Why am I even trying?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Looking over the girls shoulder Alison reads briefly before responding.]

Kaufmann's research on Assyrian Mythology, that's pretty heavy reading for someone to have out for anything casual. Any particular reason you're needing to pull this up for reference?

[Alison is maintaining a friendly facade but knowing the potential danger in that line of research is wary of the girl's intentions.]

I'm an actual archaeologist...Well, a student but still.

The problem is that I don't really know German. Or ancient Sumerian and Akkadian, but there's a lot less of those here.

Oh, another student then! So nice to see people continuing their educations even in times like these. Archaeology too, that's a rare field to pursue in this day and age with so many finds already complete.

As for the issue with the German perhaps I can help, I have a passable fluency in the language. So what are we studying?

People need jobs in the future as well. And there are plenty of things to find, even if many of the biggest sites are explored. Of course there's all the analysis of finds to do as well.

And I'm trying to learn as much as I can about Sumerian mythology to be better prepared the next time it attacks me.

Well that's a very accurate view of the task at hand in that field.

Now what's this about Sumerian mythology attacking you? I've studied in that field a bit so perhaps I could provide some insight if you'll give some more background.

It's pretty weird. Basically, this pendant I got from my dad as a kid after it was determined to be a forgery when he tried to sell it, [she gestured towards the snake double helix hanging in a strap around her neck,] turned out to in some form be the Sumerian god Enki. Other Sumerians god or monsters apparently want to kill him and since I'm stuck with him, they're targeting me.

So the Sumerian gods and monsters want to slay the inheritor of the original creator who tried to wipe them all away before he was banished to the underworld and humanity was born? The only reason I can think of immediately is if they are displeased by the nature of man and wish to "cleanse" the world of humanity for some reason.

[Alison continues to look at the pendant with a more pensive look on her face.]

Of course a powerful ancient deity tied with life, water, wisdom and magic who resides in an underground ocean could have more sinister tones to it as well. Ea is a name common in certain supposed summoning chants and being a servant/child/successor to another deity who is a supposed creator of all the heavens and earth could tie in with any number of less pleasant entities written about in other lore.

[Pulling herself from her own reverie Alison quickly backtracks.]

Well, that is some of the danger in crossing mythologies though, you wind up with inaccurate and coincidental correlations or connections where there aren't any.

Though if you say that you've already been attacked by such entities perhaps you might be better served in researching wards over their direct heritage. Kaufmann was quite complete with his history and mythology tied to the entities but was not so focused on the protection angle. Nothing is going to be able to ward the Caduceus pendant you wear fully while allowing you to carry it and if you've carried it for long there would be a sympathetic connection between you.

I'm pretty sure most academics studying ancient religions focus more on the history and mythology than on protection. Mostly because they generally don't believe that ancient mythology was real or something to protect against. I mean, you wouldn't spend effort writing about protection against medieval agriculture or the Soviet Union either.

Well let's just say that most academics aren't as open to the way the world really is and leave it at that shall we?

For those of us with a bit more open minds there are resources that most others can't fully comprehend or use. I'll admit to being limited in my scope of abilities but they're at least useful for this.

[Alison begins pulling a few items from her bag and after laying out a silver pentagram on a chain, chalk and a bit of incense she pauses and looks over to the younger archaeologist.]

It occurs to me that we never introduced ourselves or discussed any potential compensation for the assistance. I know it sounds crass to come in and say something like this so suddenly but debts matter and without a name obscuring the connection will be more difficult.

My name is Allison Crusade and I would like to have your permission to write about the findings and events regarding your experiences in the book I hope to write.

Sure. It's gotta be interesting enough to tell others about.

I'm Alexandra de Witt.

Just getting this handled in advance

3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject