Blood from Stone [AU]

[Vigile]

"Well, it would not stop it wholesale, no, but it would be a grievous blow to its efforts. Killing an outsider on this level of existence simply banishes it for a mortal lifetime." That's a rather vague span of time... "It also puts them in a state of weakness and confusion but only for seventeen sunsets. Still, that is quite a bit of time as mortal events run. However, a devil capable of all this would likely have fail safes in place, as well as minions to oversee operations, albeit at reduced ability. So I would say that it would be a very helpful action, if possible, but is not a complete solution."

[Marian Hawke]

"So there's... so there's no hope, then. So we have to flee."

[Helene Dakesh]

A series of taps and knocks answers her -- something that bewilders the merikos, but is close to the series of taps and clicks that make up the D'ziriak language, or at least, the version speakable by non D'ziriak. If he assumes the knocks are clicks and the softer taps are various types of vocalizations, Varric can just about make out what's being said:

We can destroy the devil's true form. There are rituals, even without travel.

[Varric]

"Ritual..." Varric hums softly. "Summon, trap?"

[Vigile]

"I... I would normally be very against summoning a devil but... well, I suppose if it is as an ambush of some kind..." Despite his tepid agreement, the pavitra speaks with distaste.

[Marian Hawke]

"So if we can figure out what devil, maybe we can summon it and trap it here? So it can't work out the details?"

[Vigile]

"Ah, yes, of course. Perhaps I should translate?" Vigile clears his throat, the sound a touch flustered. "Seeker Helene suggests the possibility of a ritual that will destroy the devil in some fashion." He pauses then. "Wait, true form? What do you mean by that?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene taps out, As opposed to shell. 

[Vigile]

"As in... true destruction? I know such is possible even on this level of existence but no not how such can be done. You know such a method? Aside from direct and overwhelming divine intervention, of course."

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene taps out, three. Then, blushing despite knowing it's difficult to see nem, adds, but one is unsubstantiated.

[Varric]

A series of rapid taps from Varric follows, but is silted and unintelligible, even to Vigile. The tapping stops and the dwarf goes still for a long moment. Then a deep breath. "Antithesis. Neutralization. Contamination?" Or in other words: opening a conduit inside the outsider's metaphysical existence (as opposed to its shell) to a diametrically opposed Plane. A brute force erasure of all existence in a constrained area. And the last solution Varric knows, mingling of another concept with the outsider's concept, thus destroying it by remaking it into something new.

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene adds, via tapping, Antithesis is unproven. Neutralization would damage city. Contamination is possible.

[Varric]

"Weak. Proof." Varric counters. "Kineticist. Grafting in mortals." He shrugs a little, not seeing a point in pushing a theoretical solution if Helene has a better idea. "Contamination... components?"

[Marian Hawke]

"Contamination.... how? With what? I mean, are we talking about, sacrificing someone to it? Or, merging it with a mortal so it can die? Or how does it work?"

[Helene Dakesh]

Helene taps out, Contaminate with impure reagents. Good-aligned outsiders, mortals, pure essence of aberration.