main plot The Taste of Death

[I think I am here. he/him]

1 minute ago, Ark's Boyfriend said:

Seom cocked her head at the creature and called to Mike, "Um, bro? A rat flew out of the Vortex when I threw a metalmind in." @Sorana

“So, it’s like a converter?” Wes asked. “It needs Investiture to make stuff.” Something rumbled ahead, and Wes looked up. The AlleyStorm was quite a while away, but it was coming. “And with all the Investiture the AlleyStorm will give it,,,”

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Just now, I think I am here. said:

“So, it’s like a converter?” Wes asked. “It needs Investiture to make stuff.” Something rumbled ahead, and Wes looked up. The AlleyStorm was quite a while away, but it was coming. “And with all the Investiture the AlleyStorm will give it,,,”

"So the only thing we can do is shut it off somehow," Seom said. "We need to find someone who can shut it off, or figure out how to do it ourselves."

[Silva]

3 hours ago, Ark's Boyfriend said:

"So the only thing we can do is shut it off somehow," Seom said. "We need to find someone who can shut it off, or figure out how to do it ourselves."

"The guys who worked on it had no idea how to shut it down. I don't think in a few minutes we'll figure out how," Freedom said.

She bit her lip in thought. Who in this place would know what to do with this? 

That Ajax figure likely knew how to shut it down--then again, he'd be more likely to make things worse. 

The only other possibility that immediately came to mind was also a group that might want to take advantage of it. Except, the Alleystorm was coming like the man said and there wasn't a ton a ton of time.

"What about the DA, though?" 

Freedom didn't think about the guilds like most people did. They weren't end all be all walls that couldn't overlap in her head, rather specializations. The GBs were experts in assassination, the DA was the best with science, and TUBA had a focus on baking. They bickered and fought, sure, but it was very similar to what siblings did.

Even the closest ones, she thought of Precious and their many arguments before she'd left. 

At the end of the day, they needed one another to not fall apart, despite what they would claim.

She also knew that most people didn't think about it that way and that her suggestion would likely be shot down as lunacy. Oh, well.

Edited July 1, 2019 by Silva
Grammar

[kenod]

5 minutes ago, Silva said:

"What about the DA, though?" 

Freedom didn't think about the guilds like most people did. They weren't end all be all walls that couldn't overlap in her head, rather specializations. The GBs were experts in assassination, the DA was the best with science, and TUBA had a focus on baking. They bickered and fought, sure, but it was very similar to what siblings did.

Even the closest ones, she thought of Precious and there many arguments before she'd left. 

At the end of the day, they needed one another to not fall apart, despite what they would claim.

She also knew that most people didn't think about it that way and that her suggestion would likely be shot down as lunacy. Oh, well.

Quote

I somehow have a feeling you won't really have choice there though.

Also, there's already a DA member in the room, just hidden.

 

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

30 minutes ago, Silva said:

"The guys who worked on it had no idea how to shut it down. I don't think in a few minutes we'll figure out how," Freedom said.

She bit her lip in thought. Who in this place would know what to do with this? 

That Ajax figure likely knew how to shut it down--then again, he'd be just as likely to make things worse. 

The only other possibility that immediately came to mind was also a group that might want to take advantage of it. Except, the Alleystorm was coming like the man said and there wasn't a ton a ton of time.

"What about the DA, though?" 

Freedom didn't think about the guilds like most people did. They weren't end all be all walls that couldn't overlap in her head, rather specializations. The GBs were experts in assassination, the DA was the best with science, and TUBA had a focus on baking. They bickered and fought, sure, but it was very similar to what siblings did.

Even the closest ones, she thought of Precious and there many arguments before she'd left. 

At the end of the day, they needed one another to not fall apart, despite what they would claim.

She also knew that most people didn't think about it that way and that her suggestion would likely be shot down as lunacy. Oh, well.

"I don't know much about the DA," Seom said.

[AonEne he/him]

Deteca nodded absently.

13 hours ago, I think I am here. said:

“We all understand our jobs?” He asked to the group, just to get confirmation.

Quote

What's TUBA doing, besides continuing the evacuation?

 

[Voidus]

Laurelai took the cue from Lita and began walking forwards, she tried to appear impassive and as non offensive as possible as she crossed the short distance that separated them before stopping in front of Voidus. But then she hesitated over how to proceed. Did she nod? Curtsy? Bow? Why did the DA never give correct protocol on things like this?

She eventually settled for directing her gaze slightly downward as she spoke.

"Sir."

It was just for an instant but she saw a slight twitch in Voidus' wrist muscles as she spoke. Was he trying to restrain himself from hitting her? Or wishing he could clench his fist in frustration? She instinctively applied a familiar Forgery to herself, feeling her years of studying people become over a decade, no longer focused on purely their history but their present as well, reading body language, accent, speech patterns.

She would need all the help she could get in navigating what was about to come.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Voidus fought to keep his expression neutral as the three approached, he tried not to focus too much or too little on any of them, calmly moving his gaze past each of them in turn. Idly he wondered what the relationship between the three of them was like. Laurelai had been the one to recruit Lita if he recalled correctly, had they gotten close in that time? It would probably be best if she was kept safe for now as well, perhaps an assignment that could keep all three of them together?

"Sir." Laurelai said, looking towards the ground.

Voidus felt his chest constrict at the word, the coldness of it, the distance. A reminder of their respective positions right now. He felt his fist begin to clench in frustration at himself but managed to quell the motion before more than a tremor past through the muscle.

I know so little of what she'd become. He lamented silently. And she knows even less of me.

His gaze shifted towards Lita as an idea occurred to him. She was recruited into Mac's department as a spy, admittedly he didn't know much about her capabilities yet but even if all she could uncover was basic information...

Perhaps an assignment phrased as an internal investigation? To compile a report on Laurelai's history, skills, hobbies, likes and dislikes, things of that nature. Maybe add in a few other subjects to investigate so it doesn't seem too suspicious? But then it might seem a little invasive, and if they are friends it might drive them apart.

He shelved the thought for later, it would need some additional considerations before it could be practical. For now the safest thing to do would be simply to keep them with him, barring any world-ending devastation he should be able to keep the three of them protected.

"Well done." He said, making sure again to shift his gaze between the three of them. "We may need you for something else but for now let's move this conversation somewhere a little more private."

He grabbed hold of the space around them and shifted it. Transporting them first towards a nearby Alley and then beginning to fold the Alleys around them to begin the process of Alleytravelling.

"I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on those events." He began.

[+Sorana she/her]

Mike grabbed a cookie and nodded at Wes. The storm was nearing, they had to find a solution quickly.

“What if we find something that uses Investiture as well? That sucks it up or that is able to block it somehow? Another metalmind, or maybe a motivator.”

He asked and fearfully glanced at the sky, when the girl proposed to contact the DA for help.

“Do you really want to call the DA?”

He was unable to hide the fear crawling into his voice his hands shaking slightly.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

@I think I am here.

@Silva

@Ark's Boyfriend

===================================

Zokora took her folder from the Underling and leafed through the pages. It helped, as usual it was an anchor to push back the hallucinations, made them unreal. It had been Althea’s idea, Zokora wasn’t one for lists and structure, but surprisingly it helped. Because she knew that it was real, because she knew she wouldn’t mess up things, if she followed it. Usually she just had it with her, but when things got back, then she would look through it, read the familiar words again and again, until things calmed down. She took another breath and then grabbed a micro, reached out for one of her troops. The man had her repeat her order several times and then finally agreed.

He put his weapon aside and lifted his hands, walked towards some TUBA troops.
“I’m to ask who is your commanding officer. My commanding officer would like to discuss a way to combine our efforts in order to make the evacuation more effective.”
He loudly called out to them.

@AonEne

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

"We don't appear to have anything else to try," Seom said.

[kenod]

Aylitha walked out of the alley, looking at the empty city. It seemed like this area had already been evacuated, judging by the lack of corpses. Pity, she thought. A few corpses would have been useful as raw material. Looking around she spotted a larger butchery shop, and walked in. Thin tentacles lashed out from her body, stabbing into the nearest pieces of meat, and slowly the meat turned black, before dissolving into a black goop that got absorbed by the tentacles. More of them lashed out, spreading further and further through the store, absorbing every piece of meat they could find. At the same time a thin layer of black moss started growing around her feet, spreading out onto the street, as well as the floor of the store.

After a few minutes, the smell of burned and decaying wood started to spread, together with the smell of acid. A counter collapsed, as did a table. Outside, a few of the bird-headed monsters walked towards the shop. As soon as they stepped on the moss tentacles lashed out though, spearing through them. Aylitha looked up, walking towards them, and even more tentacles erupted from the moss, cocooning them, leaving only their heads free. Curious Aylitha examined them, ignoring their screams. "Do you have a name?" She asked. Hearing just screeching and screaming she shrugged. "Guess not," she muttered. "Still, a species needs a name, you know." She tapped her chin thinking, until she suddenly looked up, smiling. "Homo Aves," She said, nodding to herself. That name seemed to suit them, even if it wasn't that original. She looked around. It seemed the screams worked well, drawing more of the creatures towards her. She smiled, happy about having more raw material to work with.

Ten minutes later, Aylitha looked around at the area around her. A thick black moss was covering the ground and the buildings near her. Some of the buildings had collapsed, all organic material in them consumed, while tall black growths surrounded her. Further out were the creatures that hadn't yet been converted, still screaming as their skin and organs dissolved and mutated. Some of the closer ones fell silent as their longs got too damaged to work. She snapped her fingers, getting annoyed by the sound, and the tentacles covered the heads of the remaining creatures, and the area fell silent. Thirty seconds passed, then a minute. Aylitha sat down on the ground, and closed her eyes. At that moment, the pillars suddenly burst open, millions of bugs flying out of them, while the moss further away from her started moving, turning into swarms of bugs as well. Quickly the bugs spread out, flying away, swarming across the region.

Aylitha's eyes opened, unfocused. "Fly my pretties, fly," she muttered, sounding as if she was dreaming.

[+ZincAboutIt she/her]

19 hours ago, Voidus said:

"I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on those events." He began.

Lita started slightly as Voidus began to bend the world around them, trying to focus on the immediate, not looking upward or around. Instead, she focused on the man before her, trying to understand what she had discovered. It was terribly subtle, but Lita could see him looking at Laurelai just a fraction longer, his gaze taking in more, his eyes both thoughtful and penetrating. 

The familiarity in that look was like a blade in her stomach, and she forced herself to look away, expression still blank, neutral. It had been years since anyone had looked at Lita that way.

Affection. Lita cast backwards for it, the last time she had spoken to her own father, expecting to find the memory polished, bright. Instead, it arose sluggishly, its surface marred with dust. It had only been a few years; she should have been able to recall it more clearly. How long had it been since she had taken out this memory and looked at it? How long since she had thought of her father in anything more than vague terms, always thankful for his safety, his unspoiled life. And yet, had she not already begun to bury him? She had carved away the pieces of her last name that tied her to him - for his own good.

As if he'd ever had a choice in the matter. She had left, a whisper in the night. No goodbye - there hadn't been time. Lita hadn't made time. Her left hand tightened around the Coin. 

Sacrifice. She cleared her throat, pushing the heat away from the corners of her eyes. Professional, controlled.

"Well, Sir," she began, inclining her head to him respectfully, "I'm honestly surprised that TUBA has managed to evacuate as much as they have with the threat of those invisible spren. How many are already beneath the city in their tunnels, mapping out the locations of survivors? I can't believe they waited to report this knowledge so far into the meeting. It would have been the first order of business in my own report."

[AonEne he/him]

17 hours ago, Sorana said:

“I’m to ask who is your commanding officer. My commanding officer would like to discuss a way to combine our efforts in order to make the evacuation more effective.”

Quote

At last I have my chance!

Twevle glanced up at the Ghostblood man. Utterly unworried, he called back, "We report to Baker Pi. He's down in the tunnels, helping refugees settle in until this is all over."

Edited July 2, 2019 by AonEne

[+Sorana she/her]

Quote

Stepping in for Ark.

The bugs scurried over the ground, vanished between houses, their feelers touching the ground, smelling the air. They flew over the cobbles this way and that way, turning around, leaving a place and returning yet another time. They searched. Now and then one got stomped on by somebody running along a street, but there were many, and loosing one or two didn’t mean much to their number.

Their feet touched the earth outside of the city, until one paused, its feelers repeatedly pressing against the ground. It turned its head and then change its direction, towards a place with an unusual amount of vibrations. The building itself had no meaning to the bug, it didn’t know what a factory was, or the purpose of a warehouse, it was nothing more, but a huge place with few windows. It felt the vibrations of the creatures when they walked, it felt the air resonating when they talked and screamed. And so it moved closer, slipped into the building and followed the trail to a ramp leading down into the ground to a former warehouse, with massive doors blocking the entrance. The closer it came to the doors the quieter it became, until it was eerily silent, but it tasted the distinct taste of fresh chalk in the air. The doors opened and two figures slipped out of them, their voices silenced to a faint whisper about standing watch and it quickly rushed through. It passed two doors, quickly ran through the small rooms, some tables and an old kitchen, and then followed the hallway until reached a larger room. The ground still showed the marks where the storage racks had been standing, some of them pushed against the walls. The room was confusing, there was so much noise, so many smells, so many creatures stomping around. Most of them seemed to be the same, moving this way and that way. They smelled like the ones the bug had smelled in the city, those that killed and were killed. One of them was different, shouting loudly, his voice angry, and it paused, looked up at that two legged-being. Its eyes were bad and the two-legged ones looked the same anyway. But it seemed to be the leader.

@kenod

===================

4 hours ago, AonEne said:

Twevle glanced up at the Ghostblood man. Utterly unworried, he called back, "We report to Baker Pi. He's down in the tunnels, helping refugees settle in until this is all over."

"Is it possible for him to confer with my commanding officer?"

The man asked uncomfortably, glancing over the shoulders. He expected a trap, he was alone per his orders. He knew, that  was probably observed by the rest of his squad, but here, right now he was alone and his weapon out of reach.

==================

Mike nodded his agreement.

"Then let's get the prisoner out, secure him and seal the room. All in favor?"

[Silva]

13 hours ago, AonEne said:

Twevle glanced up at the Ghostblood man. Utterly unworried, he called back, "We report to Baker Pi. He's down in the tunnels, helping refugees settle in until this is all over."

Quote

Yay! Twevle, baker of everything by the dzoen! And Pi, baker of everything by the 3.1415926535...

Eiran was already below ground once more and on his way back to Joe when the next vision hit him. 

No. It couldn't be. 

It made perfect sense, though. Nothing else would make the Vortex expand so large and let so much out and into the tunnels. He'd thought it would be Ajax himself, but even that felt far-fetched.

The Alleystorm on the other hand...it could do it. It could be the push necessary. Never mind could, it would. 

And the storm--that they couldn't stop. There were only two things left to do.

Tell DA get someone to Vortex asap. Also might need use emergency evac to Bass. Underground could get breached if Alleystorm reach Vortex and citizens=sitting ducks. he sent to Deteca, barely two minutes since he'd left DIDGERIDOO. The typos, poor format, and messed up grammar hurt his head to look at. Their existence would only increase the feeling of urgency.

It was possible that this wasn't what the future held. He really hoped it wasn't--that the things leading up to what he had seen would change and make that future obsolete. But he'd been an actuary before adjusting the tactic to work for TUBA and an actuary, even one who could see the future on occassion, always had to plan for the worst.

---

8 hours ago, Sorana said:

Mike nodded his agreement.

"Then let's get the prisoner out, secure him and seal the room. All in favor?"

Freedom nodded. Given that the Vortex absorbed the things it touched, sealing the room wouldn't do anything. The thought of not being in the same room as it was a nice one, though. Out of sight, out of mind concept. 

[kenod]

8 hours ago, Sorana said:

The bugs scurried over the ground, vanished between houses, their feelers touching the ground, smelling the air. They flew over the cobbles this way and that way, turning around, leaving a place and returning yet another time. They searched. Now and then one got stomped on by somebody running along a street, but there were many, and loosing one or two didn’t mean much to their number.

Their feet touched the earth outside of the city, until one paused, its feelers repeatedly pressing against the ground. It turned its head and then change its direction, towards a place with an unusual amount of vibrations. The building itself had no meaning to the bug, it didn’t know what a factory was, or the purpose of a warehouse, it was nothing more, but a huge place with few windows. It felt the vibrations of the creatures when they walked, it felt the air resonating when they talked and screamed. And so it moved closer, slipped into the building and followed the trail to a ramp leading down into the ground to a former warehouse, with massive doors blocking the entrance. The closer it came to the doors the quieter it became, until it was eerily silent, but it tasted the distinct taste of fresh chalk in the air. The doors opened and two figures slipped out of them, their voices silenced to a faint whisper about standing watch and it quickly rushed through. It passed two doors, quickly ran through the small rooms, some tables and an old kitchen, and then followed the hallway until reached a larger room. The ground still showed the marks where the storage racks had been standing, some of them pushed against the walls. The room was confusing, there was so much noise, so many smells, so many creatures stomping around. Most of them seemed to be the same, moving this way and that way. They smelled like the ones the bug had smelled in the city, those that killed and were killed. One of them was different, shouting loudly, his voice angry, and it paused, looked up at that two legged-being. Its eyes were bad and the two-legged ones looked the same anyway. But it seemed to be the leader.

Suddenly, the bug stopped moving, and it seemed as if some form of focus came over it. Unconsciously, Aylitha smiled, focusing on the bug, and taking direct control. Focusing, she tracked the path the bug had taken, trying to determine it's position, and vectored more bugs over to the general area. Meanwhile, the bug itself sat down on the ceiling, and a small patch of black moss spread from its legs. Lifting up again, it flew closer to the man. The wings changed, becoming more sensitive to vibrations, and Aylitha started listening in on the conversation. Meanwhile, an eye opened on the black patch, looking into the room.

Outside the building hundreds of bugs flew or crawled towards it, entering and exploring the building, each of them directly controlled by Aylitha. The remaining bugs slowly started moving in the same direction as well.

[xinoehp512 he/him]

Edahs nearly howled in frustration. The prisoner knew nothing! How was he supposed to do anything when no-one knew anything?

He shot a dark look at the strange thing in the center of the room. He flicked a few drops of shadow-acid at it angrily.

@Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

„… be sure you have enough guards posted outside. The guilds will be preoccupied with the Vortex, but I don’t want any of these creatures to leave the area before we are ready to attack.”

The man gestured towards the entrance.

“You promised me an army of useful creatures, half of them are too dumb to know which side of a gun to grab, not even talking about shooting. Their bodily features make up for that, but still, I expected you to do better.”

The white clad people around him lifted their hands apologetically, try to reply, to defend themselves, but he waved their words away.

“I don’t care for your explanations. They will do. The guilds are still bickering among themselves; our assessment of this world seems to be accurate. I will wait until this strange storm hits the city, then the Vortex is out of control and then we can start chapter four of our plan and attack them. Between my forces and the Vortex they will perish for sure. Go. Prepare. Hand out the weapons. We have enough time left for the final preparations, there’s no need to hurry – yet.”

Quote

To make it easier some drawings what the eye/ the bugs see

Spoiler

 

@kenod

==========

Mika nodded, grabbed the arm of the scientist and led him out of the room. The man followed meekly, not even trying anymore to get away. He seemed to have given up. The strange shadow-like-thing hissed at the Vortex some drops of his figure flying towards it and vanishing. Mike’s eyes followed the drops and he paused, turned to his friends and the girl.

“When we prepared for our earlier task, we thought about the power of the one we planned to fight. And then how to neutralize them.”

Excitedly he gestured towards the Vortex.

“That thing takes Investiture, so it has to be able to absorb it. And it absorbs everything we throw at it. And it can create things.”

His thoughts fled him, when he looked back at the Vortex, a fin touched its surface again, and vanished in its depts. Mike swallowed and forced himself to focus again.

“So we have three powers. Absorbing and more importantly needing Investiture, absorbing things and creating monsters.”

@I think I am here.

@xinoehp512

@Silva

@Vargo Seldon

@Ark's Boyfriend

Quote

Xino, I'm not sure if your post indicates your frustration, or your character's. So, if you feel like you need more information, then you can try to get more. There is a whole building to explore.

Apart from that, maybe something general for everybody: the Vortex can be stopped/ destroyed by a character without any investiture at all in their skill set. The cosmere offers different possibilities to block/ disable Investiture, most of them we use regularly in the AV. It's greatest weakness is known, but I summed everything up using Mike. I can have him solve the situation, but I'd prefer if it wasn't me or Itiah or Ark, no matter which solution you choose in the end.

 

Edited July 3, 2019 by Sorana

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

Seom nodded. "Yeah. Makes sense." @Sorana

[xinoehp512 he/him]

8 hours ago, Sorana said:

Xino, I'm not sure if your post indicates your frustration, or your character's. So, if you feel like you need more information, then you can try to get more. There is a whole building to explore.

Apart from that, maybe something general for everybody: the Vortex can be stopped/ destroyed by a character without any investiture at all in their skill set. The cosmere offers different possibilities to block Investiture, most of them we use regularly in the AV. It's greatest weakness is known, but I summed everything up using Mike. I can have him solve the situation, but I'd prefer if it wasn't me or Itiah or Ark, no matter which solution you choose in the end.

Quote

I have written myself into a corner, I'm afraid. My character's goals are completely unaligned with the goals of the others. My character can't communicate with anyone else- which, on hindsight, was a pretty grave mistake- and nobody seems to even notice that he's there. He could search the building, but so what if he finds something? He has no reason to try and destroy the Vortex- he's just trying to find one man, Nekorb, who got taken by PlasmaCore while visiting this building. He can't tell anyone, because he can't speak- if anyone were asking him questions anyways.

The other character- Neil - is more promising, but I've lost of track of where he is. He supposedly met up and joined with the TUBA soldiers, but I have no idea of what they've been doing for the past five minutes.

Adding to the confusion is that I really don't know which characters are at which locations, so I don't know which posts are applying to me.

That post is expressing my character's frustration. I'm just curious as to what would happen, honestly, which ought to be... interesting.

 

[+Sorana she/her]

Quote

So at the Vortex are:

Freedom (Silva), Mike (Sorana), Wes (Itiah), Seom (Ax), plus several inactive charaters.

The others are working on finding Lord Ajax (which Aylitha (kenod) managed). What they will do next, I don't know.

Regarding interacting with your character: I tried with Zokora, but as she can't interact with him, I have to admit I was a bit at a loss as to how to include him. I mean you could do some flying back and forth, communicate via your actions, instead of talking, but otherwise, it's hard.

Where Neil is, I don't know. The meeting dissolved, and most TUBA characters returned to the tunnels/ hideouts (iirc)

@xinoehp512

 

Mike turned to Seom.

"It sounds great. But I'm not sure what to do now."

@Ark's Boyfriend

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

"Uh, um," Seom said, trying to think. "Um." She was silent for a minute, then she thought about how the Guns N Ninjas had tried to assassinate Syndicate. "What if we used aluminum? Like, threw aluminum at the Vortex until it stopped working. But, first and most importantly..." She grabbed Mike and dragged him next to her, then took her phone out and took a selfie of her and Mike with the Vortex behind them, sticking her tongue out and winking at the camera. @Sorana

Edited July 3, 2019 by Ark's Boyfriend
Ninjas > roses

[+Sorana she/her]

2 minutes ago, Ark's Boyfriend said:

"Uh, um," Seom said, trying to think. "Um." She was silent for a minute, then she thought about how the Guns N Roses had tried to assassinate Syndicate. "What if we used aluminum? Like, threw aluminum at the Vortex until it stopped working. But, first and most importantly..." She grabbed Mike and dragged him next to her, then took her phone out and took a selfie of her and Mike with the Vortex behind them, sticking her tongue out and winking at the camera. @Sorana

Surprised Mike showed the camera a thumbs up and hoped his grin looked only half wrong.

"We can give it a try, I suppose."

He nodded at her.

"You don't happen to have some with you?"

[Sherlock Holmes he/him]

"I do not," Seom said, checking the quality of the photo and finding it to be good. @Sorana

[+Sorana she/her]

"Send it to me, please?"

Mike asked and texted Zokora, who contacted Lusk to send them a squad with some aluminum.
@I think I am here.

[Silva]

Freedom watched the Vortex. 

Aluminum, that might work. After the kidnapping she'd done research into other forms of Investiture. It seemed aluminum could prevent stormlight in some ways--a shardblade couldn't cut it magically--and in general, it protected a person from Allomancy. Soothing parlors for instance. She'd never been in one, but she'd walked past many times and never felt the Push on her emotions. 

So if aluminum could keep Investiture in there was no reason it couldn't keep it out. 

There were two possibilities of what they could do. Toss aluminum in and see what would happen, or simply prevent Investiture from entering.

The second sounded less risky, but either way they'd need aluminum.

She looked at the man who'd sent a text. "Can you ask for some of that to be in foil form? Surrounding it might be just as effective."