[ Ereshkigal was equally as unimpressed- But more annoyed than unimpressed. Arrogant, disrespectful and clearly lacking in a good sense of what her priorities should be. That's a goddess, alright. She hadn't expected anything else, and yet she still found herself disappointed.
Some things never change across worlds. ]
I am offering my knowledge for the creation of such a place and my services as overseer of the newly created land of the dead. I am also offering my experience and wisdom to train and prepare your chosen ones to take over once the time has come.
[ There is a pause there. Ereshkigal thought she should be the one being paid for all that. Avalon has whatsoever no death management, it's a disaster in the making. She's practically the one doing Morganna a favor there. At the very least, a thank you would be welcome.
... Maybe she's the slightest bit arrogant, too. ]
However, should the safety and ensured prosperity of your realm not be enough of a boon- [Another pause here, with the hope that Morganna feels a bit of shame at asking even more. That's quite literally Ishtar levels of greed...!] I am ready to hear your price.
That you should oversee a land you wanted created is a given, is it not? That hardly sounds like payment to me. Knowledge is all well and good, but it sounds like you're asking me to do all the hard work of creating it.
Besides, the realm seems to have managed just fine thus far.
[Avalon hadn't really needed an afterlife.]
But since you are ready to hear the price...[She pauses for dramatic effect, then holds a hand out, a flame igniting on it.] The deactivation of the stone giant and your creation of a land of the dead are two separate matters. Which will you like to hear about first?
I need you to create this land because I am deprived of my powers. And- [She waved to try and clear some of the smoke. Until they could see around a little bit. At which point, Ereshkigal angrily pointed at the sky.] That is not fine!
[ She specifically pointed at the calamity that was now visible. But she tried calming down. ]
That is all because the living are permitted to mess with the dead. And I need not remind you how many souls were lost to the stone giant.
[ If Morganna had been the first one to come up with "we've done just fine so far" argument, that'd be a thing. Arrogance and nothing more. But they were multiple people to have come up with that excuse... Even though because of the Fisher King the Calamity had progressed so much and the stone giant had eaten so many souls of the dead. Were they all insane?! Was she the only one who could see how disastrous the situation was?
Or was she the one who was deluded? An afterlife would have prevented the fisher king from being messed with and the souls from being devoured, right? She can't be wrong, that's... Impossible to imagine...! Is she going insane? ]
... I would hear the price for the land of the dead first.
Those asking for favours they cannot perform themselves should be less haughty about it.
[And oh, Morganna looked up for a moment and even seemed thoughtful.]
And yet, the Calamity is caused not by the lack of land of the dead, but by a sword. And the stone giant, unfortunate as the event was [And she drawls it, as if it were an even of little import.] Had been a result of the living messing with the imprisonment arrangement of the living--who then messed around with something more ancient and powerful than they realized.
[So please explain to her how any of that is her fault for not having a land of the dead? Or even her problem, honestly.]
A quest. [She says simply as she presses her palms together. The flame isn't snuffed out but licks out between her fingers.] To gather the materials for the ritual itself, some of which I will take as payment.
[ She was here to negotiate and she had to remain calm, but there was no way she could let an insult slide! Now was the time to just tell Morganna exactly every single thing she was wrong about! Which was, well, everything according to Ereshkigal.
Maybe Morganna had a point. ]
Wasn't the situation worsened when mortals messed with the Fisher King? That would not have happened if his soul had been safe in an afterlife. It only happened because you were too complacent and didn't realize the risks inherent to not having a land of the dead.
[ Ereshkigal took a step forward and pointed a finger at her. There was no deep voice or attempt at sounding charismatic any more. In fact she was quite agitated right now. ]
And do you not care for the souls that were lost? That easily could have been saved had they been beyond the reach of the stone giant?
[ That was the absolute worst! The way she behaved as if that wasn't important in the least! Ereshkigal had completely forgotten about her offer for now, the price. Which is a shame because that sounds like an actually very fair price. ]
I will not stand to be insulted by one who puts her own pride and selfish desires over the good of her realm! What kind of goddess are you? You should work for the better of your people, yet you behave like nothing more than a self-important child!!
Sorry for the late reply had to work out some details first.
Oh? Brave words, little goddess, for one who is so weak.
[Her gaze sharpens, no longer amused. The flames rise higher from between her fingers, like writhing snakes, then she opens her palms and inside it is...a tea kettle.
She drops it straight onto the floor.]
Here is a vessel. In the Forest of the Fisher King there is a plant that only blooms golden flowers under the light of the full moon at midnight. And in the Forest of the Felled, growing near the stone giant are similar flowers though they only bloom silver flowers during the highest of noon under the sun. Harvest six flowers from each and place them in the kettle. Add water and hold it over a flame made with dead wood from the edge of the Dusklight Woods. You will have your land of the dead, then.
[Spoiler: it will be inside the kettle. This is what happens when you anger Morganna.]
This much I had promised. As for the stone giant, since you are so displeased with how I do things, you can find someone else to help you.
[Even though she knows very well that no one else can. A wave of her hand and Morganna disappears, a gust of gale burst in the room toppling furniture and sending loose items flying.
There is only the kettle left that remains undisturbed. Even Ereshkigal will find a mark on the back of her hand, like a brand.
Any further attempts to summon Morganna will lead to a flame that rises high and then lashes out at her like a striking snake. She will also find that, should she go into the forests to complete the task she will hear whispers from all around her, telling her the wrong way to go or leading her astray and no fae or creature of Avalon will offer assistance to her, turning her away the moment they sense Morganna's mark on her.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
queenofkur) wrote2022-02-18 11:08 pm
no subject
Some things never change across worlds. ]
I am offering my knowledge for the creation of such a place and my services as overseer of the newly created land of the dead. I am also offering my experience and wisdom to train and prepare your chosen ones to take over once the time has come.
[ There is a pause there. Ereshkigal thought she should be the one being paid for all that. Avalon has whatsoever no death management, it's a disaster in the making. She's practically the one doing Morganna a favor there. At the very least, a thank you would be welcome.
... Maybe she's the slightest bit arrogant, too. ]
However, should the safety and ensured prosperity of your realm not be enough of a boon- [Another pause here, with the hope that Morganna feels a bit of shame at asking even more. That's quite literally Ishtar levels of greed...!] I am ready to hear your price.
no subject
Besides, the realm seems to have managed just fine thus far.
[Avalon hadn't really needed an afterlife.]
But since you are ready to hear the price...[She pauses for dramatic effect, then holds a hand out, a flame igniting on it.] The deactivation of the stone giant and your creation of a land of the dead are two separate matters. Which will you like to hear about first?
no subject
[ She specifically pointed at the calamity that was now visible. But she tried calming down. ]
That is all because the living are permitted to mess with the dead. And I need not remind you how many souls were lost to the stone giant.
[ If Morganna had been the first one to come up with "we've done just fine so far" argument, that'd be a thing. Arrogance and nothing more. But they were multiple people to have come up with that excuse... Even though because of the Fisher King the Calamity had progressed so much and the stone giant had eaten so many souls of the dead. Were they all insane?! Was she the only one who could see how disastrous the situation was?
Or was she the one who was deluded? An afterlife would have prevented the fisher king from being messed with and the souls from being devoured, right? She can't be wrong, that's... Impossible to imagine...! Is she going insane? ]
... I would hear the price for the land of the dead first.
no subject
[And oh, Morganna looked up for a moment and even seemed thoughtful.]
And yet, the Calamity is caused not by the lack of land of the dead, but by a sword. And the stone giant, unfortunate as the event was [And she drawls it, as if it were an even of little import.] Had been a result of the living messing with the imprisonment arrangement of the living--who then messed around with something more ancient and powerful than they realized.
[So please explain to her how any of that is her fault for not having a land of the dead? Or even her problem, honestly.]
A quest. [She says simply as she presses her palms together. The flame isn't snuffed out but licks out between her fingers.] To gather the materials for the ritual itself, some of which I will take as payment.
no subject
[ She was here to negotiate and she had to remain calm, but there was no way she could let an insult slide! Now was the time to just tell Morganna exactly every single thing she was wrong about! Which was, well, everything according to Ereshkigal.
Maybe Morganna had a point. ]
Wasn't the situation worsened when mortals messed with the Fisher King? That would not have happened if his soul had been safe in an afterlife. It only happened because you were too complacent and didn't realize the risks inherent to not having a land of the dead.
[ Ereshkigal took a step forward and pointed a finger at her. There was no deep voice or attempt at sounding charismatic any more. In fact she was quite agitated right now. ]
And do you not care for the souls that were lost? That easily could have been saved had they been beyond the reach of the stone giant?
[ That was the absolute worst! The way she behaved as if that wasn't important in the least! Ereshkigal had completely forgotten about her offer for now, the price. Which is a shame because that sounds like an actually very fair price. ]
I will not stand to be insulted by one who puts her own pride and selfish desires over the good of her realm! What kind of goddess are you? You should work for the better of your people, yet you behave like nothing more than a self-important child!!
Sorry for the late reply had to work out some details first.
[Her gaze sharpens, no longer amused. The flames rise higher from between her fingers, like writhing snakes, then she opens her palms and inside it is...a tea kettle.
She drops it straight onto the floor.]
Here is a vessel. In the Forest of the Fisher King there is a plant that only blooms golden flowers under the light of the full moon at midnight. And in the Forest of the Felled, growing near the stone giant are similar flowers though they only bloom silver flowers during the highest of noon under the sun. Harvest six flowers from each and place them in the kettle. Add water and hold it over a flame made with dead wood from the edge of the Dusklight Woods. You will have your land of the dead, then.
[Spoiler: it will be inside the kettle. This is what happens when you anger Morganna.]
This much I had promised. As for the stone giant, since you are so displeased with how I do things, you can find someone else to help you.
[Even though she knows very well that no one else can. A wave of her hand and Morganna disappears, a gust of gale burst in the room toppling furniture and sending loose items flying.
There is only the kettle left that remains undisturbed. Even Ereshkigal will find a mark on the back of her hand, like a brand.
Any further attempts to summon Morganna will lead to a flame that rises high and then lashes out at her like a striking snake. She will also find that, should she go into the forests to complete the task she will hear whispers from all around her, telling her the wrong way to go or leading her astray and no fae or creature of Avalon will offer assistance to her, turning her away the moment they sense Morganna's mark on her.]