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Thread: Black Wings

  1. #11
    Senior Member

    EXP: 61,139, Level: 10
    Level completed: 65%, EXP required for next Level: 3,861
    Level completed: 65%,
    EXP required for next Level: 3,861


    Nevin's Avatar

    GP
    3,657

    Name
    Nevin Aimaparapoiitis
    Age
    22 / 37
    Race
    Human (Godling)
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Corone
    The redhead’s eyes went wide and the pupils shrank to tiny dots, the dark red irises swallowing up the black dots as surprise washed over him. He tried to take a drink of tea to buy himself a moment to think, not realizing that his grip had tightened so much the whites of his knuckles were showing through his skin, making the red lines that ran across him stand out in even sharper relief. Nevin had thought that all of the bastards had been been killed. That there was another one of the demonic mages alive…

    “Avis, I will gladly help you with those damnable Hunters and the Sabaziosians Any information this one might have about the corruption in my Church is incidental to me at this point - those bastards are the ones responsible for your torment, and I will gladly help you punish them for that. If you have any way I can help, please don't hesitate to tell me.”

    Stare blinked a couple of times at the terminology of ‘my Church’ but said nothing. Only a little bit of logic was required to understand that Nevin spoke about the Crimson Church and the cult his background was embroiled in. In a way she herself was part of a secretive, private religious group that though they did not worship had a genuine god at their centre.

    “Vitruvion has punished him greatly already,” she spoke soft and quiet, remembering those first hours of hearing the screams, “When we first captured him and later … then he fell into unconsciousness for weeks.” She looked a little uncomfortable. “That side has sort of been taken care of, but we still have not managed to get much information from him, despite … despite how powerful Vitruvion is. But you might have more luck, he might even be able to give you more information for your own purposes.”

    Looking right up at him she fixed Nevin the most trustworthy gaze she could summon. “Maybe you might have a way of breaking through to him. There are a couple of issues, but I can work them out. One being where we are having to hold him.” Wincing slightly she stared at him. “The one place you probably do not want to see in this city.”

    The one place in the city he did not want to see. It was easy enough to figure out where she meant - the place where she had been tortured, raped, and bound to Vitruvion’s will. But it was also where she had grown strong enough to - not to break free, but to become useful enough to be released from that hell. The Hollow. Nevin took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

    He only wanted to go there to see the place burning. But at this point, his personal desires mattered very little. Stare had asked him for his help, Nevin would give it however he could. He calmly picked up his tea cup and drained it before eating one of the little cakes, then he brushed off his fingers of the crumbs. Finally he met her gaze, and nodded.

    “That shall not be an issue. You're asking me, so I shall go down there. I also have an idea of how to get this fellow to share what he knows. And Sir Ellsmith’s protections should be enough to prevent a repeat of what happened last time we questioned one of these men. If not, well. Disposal of bodies from that place probably happen fairly regularly.” He clasped his hands together and set them on the table, meeting her eyes intently.
    - "We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood; Fear the old blood."

    Nevin: Formal, thoughtful, nurturing, bearer of tropey tentacles.

    "More threads! More! Threads for the Crimson Thread King!"
    A member of the NevCrew:
    Nevin: Thread count: please, don't try.
    Erik: Thread count: five or six. Maybe seven...
    Huntsman: seven. Maybe eight. Shhhhhhh.
    Telli' thread count: zero. I just can't get into writing the little hellion.
    Ronnel: Not even approved yet.

  2. #12
    Legend

    EXP: 59,606, Level: 10
    Level completed: 51%, EXP required for next Level: 5,394
    Level completed: 51%,
    EXP required for next Level: 5,394


    Stare's Avatar

    GP
    150

    Name
    Avis Tsakaka
    Age
    16
    Race
    Kenku / Tengu
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Corone
    “The best solution will be a tonic I can make. Not just a straight truth brew, that might be resisted. I'll need to either purchase the ingredients myself, or you can have an agent acquire them. He's going to think I'm on his side anyway, since I'm not one of his men, so I'll be making use of that. Which would work better, meeting you somewhere or me giving you a list?” It would be slightly risky to give her the list - if he had cared about that at all. No, her knowing the ingredients to the concoction wouldn't be dangerous to him - in fact, it might be useful for her to know he could make something like this. This probably wasn't the first person they’d had trouble questioning after all.

    Utterly surprised at his calm acceptance of the situation Stare sat there for a moment, still and wordless. His eyes seemed to betray an anger of what she expected, but else his body language remained as ordinary and sedated. She imagined he was desperately keeping control.

    As he spoke of the tonic her heart calmed a little in its manic fluttering. “You think a tonic would be enough?” She asked.

    His gift for alchemy was certainly useful. It also meant that he might not need his magic after all, which had been the second of her issues. With the Hollow there was a mighty enchantment, that stopped anyone of the Althanas planet in origin to be unable to do magic. Because she herself was tied to Vitruvion, and her race was originally of Ansaldo's planet, Stare had a rare ability to use magic within it - indeed, it had been one of the first reasons Vitruvion had taken an interest in her, beyond sex. Nevin, however, was of Althanas, and that meant the rules applied to him. Ensuring that he would have been able to use them within would have proved a tricky compromise with Vitruvion - not impossible, but difficult.

    “And you are probably better at getting your own plants, right? I'll probably get them wrong. I can give you the names of a couple of very good apothecaries in the city, and the money for them too,” she started to move her hands to her tunic, where a hidden pocket revealed a very heavy coin purse. “I can come with you or leave you to your own, I mean I do have things to do …” she left it open.

    Nevin drummed his fingers on the tabletop as he thought, one hand still curled up. “The tonic will be mildly by imbued with magic when I make it, but in truth the major components of it are natural. And unless the mage has a specific resistance against the plant that is the primary part, it will affect him. I'll also be combining it with a mild hallucinogenic, something to make him woozy and unstable. The result being, he'll think of me as someone on his side, an ally, and so won't pay attention enough to stop himself from answering my questions. The magic put in would just be to enhance the efficacy.”
    Crows: Old nursery rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a funeral, Four for birth, Five for heaven, Six for hell, Seven for the devil, his own self."

  3. #13
    Senior Member

    EXP: 61,139, Level: 10
    Level completed: 65%, EXP required for next Level: 3,861
    Level completed: 65%,
    EXP required for next Level: 3,861


    Nevin's Avatar

    GP
    3,657

    Name
    Nevin Aimaparapoiitis
    Age
    22 / 37
    Race
    Human (Godling)
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Corone
    He watched as she pulled the coin purse out, and counted out several of the coins before pushing them over to him. For a moment he stared at the gleaming gold before chuckling and shaking his head, pushing a pair back over to her. “Unless the herbal shops in this city charge outrageous fees, this should be enough for me to get what we will need. Now. While I would love your company on this trip, if you have other things you need to accomplish today, I would be a terrible friend to keep you from doing so.” He stood up, slowly unfolding himself from the bench and stretching out his arms and shoulders.

    “Though, if I go alone, I'll need to know where to meet you later. Else I'll be quite lost in this city.” This was said with a quiet chuckle as he raised an eyebrow at her.

    “I only ‘have’ to go and see the Offices, which is something I was planning to do, but it does not particularly have a time in my weekly schedule. It is entirely up to you. If you think I would get in the way and are better at negotiating by yourself, then that is fine. My presence could be either a benefit or a hindrance, depending on if the apothecaries you go to actually like SIr Elssmith or not.” She paused. “He is a good employer, so those with family in his businesses like him. Others who are employed by his rivals do not. There are other issues, such as internal politics, but then that is business for you,” she rolled her eyes. And grunted, looking around at the half uneaten meal.

    “Ansaldo’s cupcakes, I will come with you,” she eagerly stood, grabbing two sandwiches and stuffing them in her beak. After that was down she took a moment to shake down her feathers and preen some on her arm that she thought looked unsightly. With a briefly angled head and a tug of her beak on the offending plumage she ordered herself. Finally, she looked back up to Nevin and nodded. “Back to being proper.”

    Nevin watched her small ritual with a glimmer of amusement dancing in his eyes. When she had finished her tidying up, it took him a great deal of willpower to resist the urge to reach out and tweak her feathers. He settled for biting his lip to stifle his laugh and picked up his coat and pack, slinging them on and adjusting them so they sat properly on his shoulders and back. That done, he popped one of the sandwiches into his own mouth and shot her a grin before settling his face into a blankly polite expression. Now ready, he opened the door and held it for her.

    “As for who is beholden to who in this city, I shall rely upon your judgment my friend. I'm like a newborn child in this place - though thankfully I did not come here in my birthday suit. I think most would have an issue with that.” He coughed to hide his smile as they walked out to the streets, bowing to the ladies of the tea house as they left. It was probably not the first time those women had seen Stare making a business lunch here, and he doubted it would be the last. He cleared his throat and turned to look at her.
    - "We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood; Fear the old blood."

    Nevin: Formal, thoughtful, nurturing, bearer of tropey tentacles.

    "More threads! More! Threads for the Crimson Thread King!"
    A member of the NevCrew:
    Nevin: Thread count: please, don't try.
    Erik: Thread count: five or six. Maybe seven...
    Huntsman: seven. Maybe eight. Shhhhhhh.
    Telli' thread count: zero. I just can't get into writing the little hellion.
    Ronnel: Not even approved yet.

  4. #14
    Legend

    EXP: 59,606, Level: 10
    Level completed: 51%, EXP required for next Level: 5,394
    Level completed: 51%,
    EXP required for next Level: 5,394


    Stare's Avatar

    GP
    150

    Name
    Avis Tsakaka
    Age
    16
    Race
    Kenku / Tengu
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Corone
    “Now. What we need primarily are seaside herbs, though we will also need to visit a place that had herbs from hills or mountains. I know at least one of the first exist in this city, but I'm not sure of the latter.” Inwardly, Nevin was glad that she had decided to accompany him on this little jaunt. He enjoyed her company - even if he did see many frequent looks at the two of them, most of them judging him. Probably because she was dressed in fineries, and he in more working-class attire. Ah well.

    Happy that he was willing to let her come, Stare smiled even with the tiny corners of her beak, where it connected with her face in a solid line of dark grey flesh. After grumpily taking the coins back, she walked with her friend, one half of her wanting to offer him an elbow or something to escort - but he was the male here, and it would cause an undue amount of rumours were she seen to be with someone in a pose like that. Instead she ducked outside of the verandah front of the tea house, giving her goodbyes to the waitress. Then, she waved a hand to hail one of the taxi-buggies that was bumbling its way down the road.

    “I know of Roots and Foraging, which belongs to a Myles Jerkins. He has suppliers that apparently spread all across the western half of Raieara. I have gone there a few times with the cook from the house, Mrs Deerling, who says he is the best for herbs in the city, both for healing and cooking. Where have you heard of?”

    A buggy swerved in close to them and she told them where to head first.

    After helping her in an sitting across from her, Nevin listened and tilted his head to one side. That sounded like their best bet for the hills or mountainous herbs. He coughed slightly and scratched the side of his cheek before answering her question.

    “It was actually while I was trying to find someone to tell me where you were. I found a store that called itself the Salt-Crusted Flower. They seemed to know what they were doing in terms of herbs, though they kept giving me strange looks whenever I tried to talk about something other than shopping there.” He frowned as he looked out the street. That was something that had bothered him greatly as he went along - most of the people here seemed quite wary of him.

    Still. He had accomplished what he came here to do - he had found Stare, despite the unintended opposition from the city folks. So now it was just a matter of helping her get what she needed to know from the warlock, and then he could head on to the Red Forest.

    “Oh don’t worry, when I first came here I was basically a thing to be feared. I worked in a small bakery, and constantly had my hood drawn up. It is only because of the social status that I hold now that people do not throw manure at me. They are naturally wary because of the history and culture,” she lowered her voice and murmured, “It is Raiaera, and so most are elves. I have met far more xenophobic elves than I have genuinely welcoming ones. It took years for Vitruvion to be regarded well. It was only really when Raevin began properly working for him that ...” She tailed off, remembering the story she had been told about Raevin systematically working out the secret of Vitruvion’s godhood.
    Crows: Old nursery rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a funeral, Four for birth, Five for heaven, Six for hell, Seven for the devil, his own self."

  5. #15
    Senior Member

    EXP: 61,139, Level: 10
    Level completed: 65%, EXP required for next Level: 3,861
    Level completed: 65%,
    EXP required for next Level: 3,861


    Nevin's Avatar

    GP
    3,657

    Name
    Nevin Aimaparapoiitis
    Age
    22 / 37
    Race
    Human (Godling)
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Corone
    Her eyes glanced outside, watching the people they passed. They were entering one of the quieter areas of the city now, still part of the main residential area, but slower in pace than the governing district and the high streets. She absent-mindedly ran a claw through her feathers at the point where her arm went from plumage to scales and breathed in, nodding.

    “I do not know the Salt-Crusted Flower well, but I have heard of it. Hopefully it will serve your purpose.” She paused and looked back to him. “Either way it is good to see you again, Nevin.”


    “And it is good to see you, Stare. I'll have to make this journey more often. Though I'll have to find a way to deal with my seasickness.” He chuckled and shook his head before looking out the window to follow her gaze. It was hard to believe that people had been ostracizing her at one point - but then, he had to remember that many people feared things they didn't know, things that were different. And you didn't get much different from a human or an Elf than a bird woman. He let out a deep breath and sat back on the bench, focusing his gaze on her.

    Quite a lot had happened since the last time the two had had an opportunity to sit and talk - strangely enough, the first time they met. Each time since then they had been rather busy with something else coming up to prevent them from being able to talk without distractions. She had told him, in that twisted castle, about going on the hunt that he had run into her and Vitruvion during. It had given him another piece to the puzzle that was her Master - his brother had a church, or was now closely connected with the deity of a church.

    For a moment, a brief second, he thought about just laying his suspicion about that man out to Stare. She had to know, but the question was, would she answer him? He didn't think so - he didn't think she could answer him. If Vitruvion didn't want him knowing, then preventing Stare from talking about it would be the easiest way to deny that.

    As he was staring out the window lost in thought, the carriage pulled up to Roots and Foraging. The alchemist shook his head to disperse the somber thoughts, and climbed out before turning around to offer a hand to help his friend out of the carriage.

    She angled her body with practised movements as she descended after Nevin, thanking him with a quick smile but ignoring the hand. The thought of going with Nevin to the Red Forest came back to her as she saw the painted fresco of the wood above the door to Roots and Foraging. It was something she would need permission to do, but she did not see it being a difficult one to compromise on. Also she would technically need permission to bring Nevin into the Hollow, but she still did not search to make contact with the being-secretly-a-god at the back of her mind. Knowing where he was and likely what he was doing made her very reluctant to establish that communication until the last moment.
    - "We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood; Fear the old blood."

    Nevin: Formal, thoughtful, nurturing, bearer of tropey tentacles.

    "More threads! More! Threads for the Crimson Thread King!"
    A member of the NevCrew:
    Nevin: Thread count: please, don't try.
    Erik: Thread count: five or six. Maybe seven...
    Huntsman: seven. Maybe eight. Shhhhhhh.
    Telli' thread count: zero. I just can't get into writing the little hellion.
    Ronnel: Not even approved yet.

  6. #16
    Legend

    EXP: 59,606, Level: 10
    Level completed: 51%, EXP required for next Level: 5,394
    Level completed: 51%,
    EXP required for next Level: 5,394


    Stare's Avatar

    GP
    150

    Name
    Avis Tsakaka
    Age
    16
    Race
    Kenku / Tengu
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Corone
    Pushing open the door a light bell rang out. A cheery human greeted them from behind the counter and Stare nodded to her. Stepping aside the kenku let Nevin go forwards and discuss his wares, as she wandered deeper into the shop, eyes wandering over the hanging greenery. Succulent smells of rosemary and mint came to her nose and suddenly she felt hungry. But she remained silent and let the transactions take place.

    Nevin slipped up to the counter, having glanced over the shelves and not seen what he was looking for. The man at the counter tilted his head and smiled pleasantly at the customer, his eyes only briefly flicking to Stare for a moment. Nevin caught the way they widened at the sight of her - so the clerk recognized his friend. Well. He'd keep quiet on that unless he had to start to raise a scene to get what they needed from here. He cleared his throat to draw the clerk’s gaze back to him before speaking.

    “I'm in need of a couple of raw material herbs, and I heard you're the best to come to for inland plants.” Another flicker of the eyes. “I'm in need of two plants. I need caapi, and chacrona.” the clerk looked to Nevin, confusion on his face.

    “Uh. I think we have those, sir, but I'll have to talk with the journeyman in charge first. A moment.” He slipped into the back, out of sight, and Nevin raised an eyebrow. So the clerk didn't know what they were, or even if they had the plants in stock. Annoying, but not entirely unexpected. A few seconds passed before what had to be the burliest Elf Nevin had ever seen came out from the back - and that was even comparing him to the ones that Nevin had known who worked at the smithy in Stonevale. The Elf looked Nevin up and down slowly, his eyes never once leaving the redhead.

    “You know what those do together?” His voice was a low rumble, bland and steady as he stared at Nevin’s eyes. The Alchemist nodded slowly. “Hm. Fine, good enough. Demetrius.” A squeak from the back. “Bring up a few ounces of each of the two plants I pointed to. Now, you. I won't ask what you need this for, but I'd rather not hear about it from the constabulary. I'd hate to have to tell them who I saw you in the company of.” His voice was soft as he spoke, the words barely reaching Nevin’s ears. Nevin quirked an eyebrow as the clerk brought out two small bags stuffed with greenery and roots, and he paid for the plants without a word. A bow, and Nevin headed back to Stare.

    “I have what we need from here. Shall we?” He inclined his head to the door.

    With that Stare nodded, having heard the conversation and having expected nothing less. She gave the shop-worker a cautionary glance, warning her not to let it become a rumour. But then maybe Vitruvion already had that sort of reputation, to do things that were outside the law. Certainly he often walked a fine line, but there were various reasons why the government turned a blind eye to him. One was the taxes he paid, the other was his use. His private prison, the Hellhole, for instance, could make prior disappear well.
    Crows: Old nursery rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a funeral, Four for birth, Five for heaven, Six for hell, Seven for the devil, his own self."

  7. #17
    Senior Member

    EXP: 61,139, Level: 10
    Level completed: 65%, EXP required for next Level: 3,861
    Level completed: 65%,
    EXP required for next Level: 3,861


    Nevin's Avatar

    GP
    3,657

    Name
    Nevin Aimaparapoiitis
    Age
    22 / 37
    Race
    Human (Godling)
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Corone
    She started with Nevin down the street, in the direction of where she knew the Salt-Crusted Flower was. She gestured and spoke, and kept walking.

    “So,” she said eventually, “The ingredients are … taboo?”

    “Not taboo per se, but difficult. Without the other, they are largely useless aside from fancy salads. However, when blended together, they act as a mild hallucinogenic that puts the ingester into a suggestive state. Not strictly illegal, but usually frowned upon. If we had the time, I would have gone to a couple of different stores to obtain them instead of purchasing them together. Or, preferably, I would have gone to acquire them myself. Still, these look to be in good enough condition to suit our needs.” He shrugged one shoulder as he tucked the pouches into a coat pocket.

    “The last thing we need is a plant that contains the ingredient that can act as a truth serum. Again, on its own not taboo, but combined with the other two herbs, it is usually strictly regulated. In fact, the combination of the three is usually kept out of public knowledge, as together, and combined with some torture techniques, you can easily have someone spilling their life story to you.” His tone was quiet as they walked along, his voice pitched so his words were for her ears alone. To prevent anyone from overhearing them he was walking a little closer than he normally would, and vent over a bit more.

    “The first combination is sometimes used in vision quests for some people, as it let's the leader of the quest guide the listener and the o the intended destination.” Nevin straightened up with a shrug as they soon arrived the Salt-Crusted Flower.

    Stare nodded and gestured. “You go in and I will wait.” Certainly she did not want to get any deeper than it sounded like he was. With the mention that the next herb was dangerous she decided she would be better not dragging Sir Vitruvion Elssmith’s name that far through the muck.

    He shot her a slight smile before slipping inside, into the shop. Almost immediately he knew that this place would have what he needed. This store wasn't a bright and well lit place like the other Alchemy shop had been - this one had a decent veneer on the front but the interior was dark and dingy. It was definitely more in line with the store he usually ran in Radasanth than his Stonevale operation.

    “I need some alatin berries.” The man at the counter raised his eyebrow at the abrupt demand, then folded his arms across his chest. Nevin saw that the shop keeper was about to raise a fuss about it and spoke quickly to prevent that.

    “I'm an alchemist myself. I don't care either to raise any troubles, but I found a man who knows about a major problem that I've become embroiled in. I'll pay gold for the berries, and we both know they aren't normally worth it.” The offer of gold sold the herbalist. With a grunt, and a glance at the coins in Nevin’s hand, he went into the back of his store before returning with a bag containing grayish green berries. He snatched the gold from Nevin and tossed the bag at him, and the redhead left the store quickly before he could ask for more money - or worse his name.
    - "We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood; Fear the old blood."

    Nevin: Formal, thoughtful, nurturing, bearer of tropey tentacles.

    "More threads! More! Threads for the Crimson Thread King!"
    A member of the NevCrew:
    Nevin: Thread count: please, don't try.
    Erik: Thread count: five or six. Maybe seven...
    Huntsman: seven. Maybe eight. Shhhhhhh.
    Telli' thread count: zero. I just can't get into writing the little hellion.
    Ronnel: Not even approved yet.

  8. #18
    Legend

    EXP: 59,606, Level: 10
    Level completed: 51%, EXP required for next Level: 5,394
    Level completed: 51%,
    EXP required for next Level: 5,394


    Stare's Avatar

    GP
    150

    Name
    Avis Tsakaka
    Age
    16
    Race
    Kenku / Tengu
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Corone
    “I have what we need. Now I just need a pan, a heat source, and water.” Nevin spoke quietly. He didn't think she would judge him for knowing this formula, but at the same time it wasn't exactly a reputable thing to know. And this would be the first time Stare learned he knew of more - more unsavoury potions and tonics.

    She began walking with him, taking his elbow gently and briefly to begin their gain of distance away from the streets. For two blocks she said nothing, until they were in a quieter place, distant from retailers and now amongst residential housing.

    “You have two options,” she spoke quietly. “Either the mansion or we head straight to where we were going anyway. There are kitchens in it, as well as a sort of mess for the guards. I do not usually go there dressed as I am but it is not unknown.” In all honesty how she was clothed was the least of her worries right now. “I guess we …”

    Grumbling to herself she gave up putting the time off and shoved at the borders of her mind. It took time but a grunting voice replied, lined with annoyance.

    What? I am busy.

    I gathered you would be, she hastily replied, But I need something. I need … and she explained the entire situation as fast as she could, to an unimpressed, sarky noble. Everything from Nevin arriving in the city, to him making a tonic that could get them the information. Vitruvion listened with surprisingly few interruptions, one being a forced image of the rich red curtains of his bed, in his room at the Hollow, which she immediately dismissed. Please, she sighed. This might actually be a chance of what you yourself want.

    He was quiet for a while. Contemplative as the anger swept away. Minorly.

    Fine. But I am not permitting any use of his magic whilst he is down here, Stare. The liability is on you alone.

    Thank you, she said quickly, and then withdrew. He of course might still have been there, but as he could linger without her needing to feel his presence, it was no concern of hers. Instead she looked right at Nevin.

    “Sorry about that. Basically, I have permission to take you there.”

    “That makes sense, as it is his domain.” Nevin frowned and rubbed the back of his head as he thought. Creating the tonic would work at the house or down there. Normally he would have said to just work at the house and then go down there, but considering she had just gone through the effort to garner permission for him to go down there… He sighed, he wouldn't force her to go down there in her formal attire.

    “I can brew it easily enough down there. But if you want to stop by the house to change, I can make it there while you do so. I think the less time I spend down there, the happier he will be. And the less in need of some kind of outlet I will be. Going on an experimentation binge would be a bad idea, I think.” He smiled, trying to show that his last words were just a joke.

    “So then, my lady. Let us travel to your humble abode, shall we?”
    Crows: Old nursery rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a funeral, Four for birth, Five for heaven, Six for hell, Seven for the devil, his own self."

  9. #19
    Senior Member

    EXP: 61,139, Level: 10
    Level completed: 65%, EXP required for next Level: 3,861
    Level completed: 65%,
    EXP required for next Level: 3,861


    Nevin's Avatar

    GP
    3,657

    Name
    Nevin Aimaparapoiitis
    Age
    22 / 37
    Race
    Human (Godling)
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Corone
    The idea of going there rather than straight to the Hollow made her smile and nod, relief spreading through her body. “We can actually walk there from here,” she said, gesturing down a long winding road that was lined with a tall, long hedge on one side. Behind it the apexes of grand roofs could be seen that were architecturally promising.

    Starting off she showed herself visibly more relaxed, as she began through the familiar neighbourhood. It took only a short amount of time for them to come by the first elegant gate set into the hedgerow. A huge, ornate structure stood in view - a house of nearly thirty rooms and three floors that bore a terracotta roof and cream walls. Stare continued talking as they passed by it, hardly glancing at the wonder.

    “So how have you been since we last met? The castle was quite different to here, this is … well the other side of my life that no one ever sees. That is all I have been doing since that horror, and trust me it is a shock to compare them.”

    Nevin frowned rubbed the palm of one hand as he thought about her question. He swallowed and shrugged weakly, trying to figure out just where his friend lived that a structure like that didn't rate a second glance.
    “I did some exploring in the reaches of Corone. Heard rumors about a mage who was skilled in Alchemy. He was, past tense. He meddled with something he really should not have, and twisted reality around his tower. Not the same way as the Castle - this was more of a twisting of the fabric of reality, than twisting space and time. This is… The first time I've had a chance to relax since before the Castle.” He glanced down at his hand and his frown deepened.

    “I also learned that my body isn't quite normal anymore. And that there is more to my threads than I knew. Aside from that… Hm. Oh. I got proclaimed a messiah. That was weird.” He laughed a loud and shook his head, trying not to stare at the ornate structures that they were passing.

    Stare looked at him in utter surprise. “You are a messiah?” If she was not one who commonly was in company with a half-god at least - Vitruvion’s half sister, Ventrua - then Stare might have jumped out of her plumage. Being who she was she only stared, and thought about the implications. “Is that what you meant by ‘your church’? So the ceremony turned you … what, into some form of second coming?”

    Slipping into her aura sight she examined him for a moment. Checking his chakras she was astounded to see a new line threading through the deep crimson. Where there had once been a simple red, there was now a thin but still existent white thread weaving its way through. Her heart thudded as she looked closer, examining it to find a faint pink tinge to it, but else the line was a weave of actual divine-kind magic.
    - "We are born of the blood, made men by the blood, undone by the blood; Fear the old blood."

    Nevin: Formal, thoughtful, nurturing, bearer of tropey tentacles.

    "More threads! More! Threads for the Crimson Thread King!"
    A member of the NevCrew:
    Nevin: Thread count: please, don't try.
    Erik: Thread count: five or six. Maybe seven...
    Huntsman: seven. Maybe eight. Shhhhhhh.
    Telli' thread count: zero. I just can't get into writing the little hellion.
    Ronnel: Not even approved yet.

  10. #20
    Legend

    EXP: 59,606, Level: 10
    Level completed: 51%, EXP required for next Level: 5,394
    Level completed: 51%,
    EXP required for next Level: 5,394


    Stare's Avatar

    GP
    150

    Name
    Avis Tsakaka
    Age
    16
    Race
    Kenku / Tengu
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Corone
    “Ansaldo’s balls,” she whispered, “Nevin, you have … near divine magic flowing through you. You are growing in power.” Caution came into then, her eyes regarding him up and down. Knowing that he might not be listening, but just in case, she slipped Vitruvion the image of the swirling chakras from Nevin and left it at that.

    She received no answer.

    That made Nevin stop and stare at his friend, his eyes wide in disbelief. He looked down at his hands, then back at her, his jaw hanging open. The man tried to speak once, then again, but each time they came out a wordless croak that conveyed nothing other than sheer shock.

    Someone else might have disbelieved Stare when she said that. If someone else had told Nevin that, he would have laughed in their face. He had thought his threads and his magic were at best eldritch, from outside of this world - never would he have thought they were divine. He had thought that the name the Crimson Church gave him was just a title that they were calling him by in order to feel more legitimate about themselves.

    But. Nevin already knew that Stare’s eyes could see more than the real world, and could pierce into hidden secrets. That was how they had become friends after all, when she had seen the mess that was his soul. The alchemist swallowed, his throat suddenly painfully dry. He almost wanted it not to be true - wait. There was one question, a way out.

    “I… Uh. Are you sure? It's not like you've…. Seen a lot of divine magic, right?”

    Her brow rose and she looked directly at him, staring straight at him. Her look was so direct, so penetrating that if Nevin had not known her he might be fearful. Slowly one of her hands ground into a fist and she straightened, immediately switching into the mode of the old lie that had kept Vitruvion from breaking his promise to the Althanas pantheon.

    “I have seen plenty, Nevin,” she spoke carefully. “I have told you before that Vitruvion is a powerful mage. I also hinted at it once, but the truth is he is a partial celestial being. A form of angel, which is not as uncommon as you might think. Aasimars, half angels, appear in many tales, many armies. I have worked with them a few times.” And with her heart pounding against her chest she turned roughly away, the sort-of half-truth but also pain of lying burning at her throat.

    Marching away she came to a set of ornate black iron gates. Beyond them was a grand two floor house with a stone driveway and huge bay windows. The roof was terracotta like many others around the area and the walls a pale yellow. A sprawling orchard and vineyard fell away to one side of the lawn, where one man could be seen slowly pruning. Setting her hand on the latch of the gates Stare pushed her way through into the Elssmith manor estate, leaving her friend to make of what he would with her words. Her clawed feet scraped across the stone work as she made her way direct to the huge double doors.
    Crows: Old nursery rhyme "One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a funeral, Four for birth, Five for heaven, Six for hell, Seven for the devil, his own self."

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