La Fantasque
05-22-07, 02:21 PM
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Necathys/019_Favole.jpg
Artwork by Victoria Frances
Name: Sapna Sarasvati
Titles: Ex-heiress to the Barony of Salair
Age: Appears to be in her early twenties, but is almost a decade older
Race: Human
Hair: Flaming billows of florid vermilion
Eyes: Soft shade of beryl, tinted with emerald glaze
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 127 lbs
Occupation: Assassin
Personality
Sapna is a child at heart, merry and jovial, full of energy and verve for life; at least, she used to be. Ages do not change a vice everlasting, one that poisons the minds of avid men and far too lonesome hearts. Sapna was young when she was broken, broken upon the spears of her desecrators. What is left of her mind is a tainted innocence, stunted before its prime; she is like a lost child, wandering the tortuous paths of a torturous mind, plagued with the very images, the very sensations that had brought her dementia. The girl is disturbingly tacit; half her mind focused on a vista only she can observe and fear. Though she is capable of functioning, of communicating and carrying out orders, she seems to possess very little will, or at least she does not seem to give much import to the elements of reality, the sole exception being her sister. There are very few things that elicit in her ostensible liveliness, and her sister is among them. Some things she will still marvel at, as would a child, and in her more lucid moments, she seems to enjoy engaging conversations with random strangers, as though her mind has forgotten how scarred it truly is; and though she is subject to periods of clarity, so can she be drawn into a state of instability, where meld what is real and what is not.
Appearance
Sapna is a mirror to her twin sister, Sati. She bears the same distinguished, angular traits to her face, the same finely chiseled nose and peachy cheeks, as well as the same luscious lips. They are equally beautiful, but though she is the elder, she seems slightly more juvenile than her twin, and has a distinct characteristic that distinguishes her from her sister; the slightly less blue, slightly darker shade of emerald in her eyes, the right one hidden behind a cluster of fibrous fire.
Sapna often ties up her hair into a ponytail or a bun, not particularly fond of the whipping and lapping that occurs on blustery days. Besides dark silk gloves and leather, stapled-tip boots, she dons a finely embroidered corset, the hue of lilac and intricately laced at the front and a long skirt of black silk, with a tailored cut running up her left side, exposing the curves of a bare leg. Sapna usually wears a dark purple cloak, with a hood she can pull over her head when she does not feel like being seen. Around her neck is a lace choker, whose value is only sentimental and symbolic to her.
Her figure is as slender as that of her sister, though perhaps a bit more toned, due to her training. Around her waist hangs a belt of crimson laces, from which dangle her weapons, two dark-enameled stilettos in their ebon sheaths, and small satchel of her personal effects.
History
They’ve come again, sis.
Sapna had been walking under the rain for a few minutes now, twirling the haft of an umbrella between silk-slipped fingers, keeping watchful eyes on the delineation between the curbs of the sidewalk. She was careful to not step onto any of the stony grooves as part of a childish game, when the memory so suddenly reared itself from the deepest recesses of her mind. Lips yawned faintly and with a quaver, while her heart quickened to hectic pace. The world, everything around her was losing its familiarity. The air found itself thicker and staler, the edifices at her right and the paved street to her left had splintered, the broadening fissures giving way to musty walls covered in dirt and web cobs. The grainy stones underfoot had shifted to off-white blankets so noisome that they stung her nostrils.
“They’re everywhere, Sati. I can’t sleep.” Her mouth had moved on its own, but she was used to this feeling of helplessness, the sensation that she had no control over her reminiscences. So many times, these moments had come to her, so many times had she suffered through these reenactments of bygone days, days she knew were better left forgotten. Still, they came and unfurled before her eyes, barely allowing her any moment of reprieve. “They scare me, Sati. They really scare me.”
“I know, Sapna. I know, but I don’t know what to do,” a gentle voice came from the bedside, where swayed the flame of a guttering candle. It was a loving voice, saddened and laced with pain. The young girl sobbed, able only to hold her sister’s hand. Her arm felt cold, dampened with every drip and drop of Sati’s tears. “I can’t see them, Sapna. I wish I could, but I can’t. I just can’t.”
With painful effort, Sapna craned her neck to the side, wanting to see the face of the only one who mattered, the only person she wanted by her side. The ailing girl gave a tentative smile, the corner of her lips quavering as the strain became too great. They were so alike; it was like peering into a looking glass. “It’s okay, Sati. I’m just glad you’re here. I know everything will be fine, because you’re here.”
The younger sister wept, shaking her head as though she disagreed, but Sapna kept smiling, even though it hurt. But then, behind Sati loomed a dark cloud, and it dimmed even though it came closer and closer to the candlelight. Luminous crescents of red rolled in the murky shadow, and a purple hollow yawned open, its edges serrated and dripping a black ichor. Her gaze turned to stone, heart battering its ribcage as the thing came nearer, and though she opened her mouth, no word came, as if stifled within her very throat. “Sapna? What is it? Sapna, talk to me!”
It lurched over her, with its six spindly grey arms, eyeing her viciously as its forked tongues lashed out from a slit forehead, lapping viscously at her cheeks, cackling in the inhumane grit. She screamed, screamed out in horror, threshing her hands, hoping to catch one of her sister’s. It threw itself on her, fumbling about her face, her chest with its sloppy paws, its eyes gleaming with satisfaction as its tongues slipped around her neck into a glutinous noose. Sati cried out, afraid and confused. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t see this time.
Her skin, pelted with tears, and something else.
~
Crawling through the puddle, Sapna huffed, glad the feel the rain roll upon her body. She had fallen down and was soaked through and through, but it was cold, it was clean. There was no smell, no horrible smell. It was pure, it was good. Unable to rise, she lay idle in the shallow pool, feeling the gelid stones underneath with a trembling hand. A sickness suddenly took over her insides, and she splashed both hands onto her face, convulsing and sloshing about as she let the tears flow and meld with the purging downpour.
“No more. I don’t want to remember. Don’t make me remember!” she hollered in between sobs, addressing no one. Her long hair was sodden now, and it broke free from the hood, drooping sloppily into the water, floating and swirling like mists of blood. “I have to go back. I have to go back!” She sloshed about some more, weighed down by her sopping cloak, before wobbling to a stand. ‘It’s happening again… I have to get away, go back!”
What should we do with them?
Again, her world became a net of fissures, and slowly crumbled into shards and dust. She knew it all, the bare room, the crusted walls, the flagstones overrun by putrid mold; she knew it all too well. A round window opened on a snowy village, overlooking the white paths and green roofs from high above. She could feel the pressure on her bloodied knees, the pain that cinched her bound wrists. Fear, only fear did she feel. They gathered like a pack of wolves around a fallen prey, growling, but even wolves did Are not be so cruel, so depraved; at least they kill before they feast. So much pain, when they broke her innocence.
The sound of retching. Sapna struggled again, the image still vivid in her mind, though she was glad the memory had passed quickly, this time. But why was this happening? “Why can’t I ever completely forget?” There was so much chaos in her mind, chaos she had no choice but to live with. Her mind was a vast expanse of twisted images, of ravenous wraiths and forbidden worlds. The disorder, at least, allowed her to forget sometimes; it made her better. Moments like these were not exactly few and far between, but were seldom enough. “I still have time… It’s not dangerous, not yet.”
The world began to crack, but this time Sapna was prepared. She had rushed ahead in a maddened dash, hoping to reach the place where they had taken shelter, a few corners back in an abandoned building. It was safe there. The net was collapsing. Only a few dozen feet; she ran, weaving through the rain. She would be safe there. Five feet before finding refuge. Gone with the shattered glass, the town was no more.
Too late.
~
“I wish to join the Church, sir.”
Without a smile, he looked from above his rosewood desk, the morning shin seeping through the variegated mosaic behind him. Sati was looking up at the dark silhouette of the High Priest of Zarinsk, sapphire eyes dreadfully expectant, hopeful. Zarinsk was the only fiefdom where women could enter the clerical ranks, on par with the priests, due to the fact that the man in charge of the church was also in charge of the fiefdom itself. This was her only hope. This was their only hope.
“Do you know the priestesses require rigorous training, young one? In this church, they do not sit on their laurels, nor do they wait around to give wayward advice. Here, priests and priestesses alike must work to help those in need in many ways.” Still in the shadow, the High Priest spoke, his timbre low and composed.
“I’ve learned much about herbs already, and will continue learning all I can during the training. I have read much of the Ethereal Sway, and I know what is required of us to keep the people’s faith.” Sapna was hiding behind the door, small and weak, unable to look the man in the eye even from so far; but Sati had spoken with assurance, the cold fire of her eyes blazing gorgeous.
Only then did he evince an emotion, hidden behind a benevolent smile. “Welcome to the Church.”
Both had felt an unpleasant cold, shooting down their spines.
~
“Sati, have you seen Maria lately?” It was one of the priestesses, scuttling down the red carpet of the narthex, whispering her query with much nervousness.
“I heard she was… relieved of her duties two days ago. Didn’t you know?” Her voice had grown strong, elegant, and was heavy with sophistication, even as he spoke with such familiarity.
“Relieved of her duties? You mean she was excommunicated? What could she have possibly done to elicit such a ruthless punishment?”
In truth, Sati was wondering herself. Maria was a kind and caring priestess, never remiss of her duties and among the most skilled healers of their church as well. Of the many women who entered the establishment for security and livelihood, she was amongst the few true believers. Knowing this made her excommunication explicitly harder to digest. “I’ve only heard snippets of a conversation between the High Priest and brother Pietro.”
“Do you think you can find anymore about this? It makes so little sense that I’m feeling a bit queasy about this.” Sati nodded her agreement, and told her colleague that she would do so, before they both departed. Then, as if on cue, she heard the whirring of a chariot nearing closer to the front gate of the building.
It was a noble’s chariot, which itself was a rare sight on such a day. What piqued her interest was that the chariot bore the emblem of a family she knew was not from Zarinsk. “What is a noble from Salair doing here? Sapna? What’s your take on this?”
From the shadows, a faint outline came into light. “I don’t know. Do you want me to go eavesdrop?”
“If you don’t mind. I’m not exactly good the best at not being heard.” For a moment, they chuckled lightly. Then, without a sound, Sapna stepped back into the shadows, off to listen on the strange tryst that was to come. “Good luck.”
~
“If I may be so bold, may I enquire about the most recent excommunicate? Rumors are rising in Salair, and I would like to tame them with the words of the High Priest himself.” Sapna beamed with delight; he had gotten right to the point. With much eagerness, she peered through the interstice of the half-closed doors, though she kept one eye on the look for any passerby.
“Ah yes, don’t worry, my friend. Sadly, we have discovered that one of our priestesses has become pregnant. You do know about the rules of chastity, do you not? Such lewd behavior is condemned by the church, and is taken care of with zero tolerance.” The high Priest sighed, passing a decrepit hand over his wrinkled countenance. “It saddens me to know that Maria was not the first, either. Perhaps allowing women into our ranks was not a step in the right direction after all.”
Sapna could not believe her ears; Maria, as chaste and detached from her mortal needs as she was, pregnant? The news was disheartening, and she could only imagine how Sati would react upon hearing these ill tides.
“I believe it was a wise decision, sir. Only, the more extreme cases are apparent only with the priestesses. Hypothetically speaking, were the priests to do the same, there would be no way of knowing.”
“Perhaps, perhaps. How are things back in Salair?” The High Priest asked with apparent nonchalance, though Sapna could feel there was more to this seemingly harmless question. For one, why was he so interested in the state of affairs of another fiefdom?
“Perfect, for the lack of a better term, sir. We’ve built another Aeromancer Tower for the crop fields in the western outskirts, and the Lord is ruling as he should.” To that, the High Priest uttered a casual ‘excellent’, and Sapna could sense more and more how he faked detachment. “Everything is going as you planned.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“Your influence on Salair is optimal, sir. The Lord is but an obedient dog, and he awaits your next orders.”
She made a sharp intake of air, realizing what this entailed. The High Priest gave a cursory look to the door, but returned his graying eyes to his ambassador. “Tell him to do as always, for now.” His voice had become hoary, troubled. Had he seen her? I should leave before they do.
Footsteps neared the wooden ingress, and the door creaked open. The noble walked out, but Sapna was already gone
~
“You thought I didn’t hear you, did you?” The High Priest admonished, dusting off his red chasuble as he stared out the window. “Really, I didn’t expect you, one of our best, to be of such flawed morals.” He had seen through the narrow opening the waves of fiery red, hair that belonged to one and only one priestess. However, the man was never aware that Sati had a sister, who was kept in hiding for the past five years. It was for that reason that he had sent for Sati, to come to his quarters so that they could discourse on proper decorum with superiors.
“Now I know that what you have heard may have angered you, but believe me, I had no hand in the disappearance of your parents. I didn’t even know them, child, nor did I know of you until you came to my church. Do believe that this is all but a coincidence, young one.” Sati uttered not a word, an anticipated lack of reaction that made the High Priest smirk. Then, without warning, he doffed his chasuble, slowly, and removed his many articles of clothing, one by one, until the last of his undergarments was laid on the floor. “Little Sati, you’re the one forcing me to do this.”
Angling his graying eyes to the priestess, he cackled joyfully, whistling as he saw the sleeping beauty, splayed upon his bed, all prepared for him. He had loosened her clerical garbs, his desire being to discover her little by little. She was drugged with the first sip of her tea, and had fallen limp for him, all for him. “My, I’ve always wanted to see how that little girl of fifteen would grow up. Now is the time to know.”
Discarded, inch by inch. He shivered at the touch of her perfect breasts, which sprung when he pulled down the collar of her gown. Slowly, expectantly, his lips so skittish, he explored her chest, her stomach, the nascent curves of her hips, and finally, finally… “I can’t wait any more. I must have you, young one. You look far tastier than that Maria prude.”
However, as he was about to enter her, something horrible occurred. Her body changed, shriveled. What voluptuous mounds she had were withering up like flowers at the onset of winter, thinning until they bore a desiccated aspect, like that of a corpse freshly exhumed from the grave. The stench was too much to bear, and he rolled down his bed, pinching his nose so hard blood began to leak. “What in the hells is that thing?”
When he set his eyes upon Sati’s body, to see the parched corpse, her curvaceous forms had returned, fair and appetizing as they were the first time his eyes had laid upon her naked stupor. His surprise and confusion did not limit itself to the shape-shifting girl, though; he was rather perplexed at the cold and deathly sensation upon his throat. He was entirely flummoxed at the redheaded beauty he saw in the mirror, holding a dark knife to his throat. “No one touches my sister.”
“Please, spar– ” Rather than slitting his throat, she punched it hard, knocking all the air out of his windpipes, disallowing him the freedom of speech. No, she wouldn’t kill him. Not yet. Never before, never before had she harbored such hatred in her heart. To inflict pain was the sole desire that echoed in her head. The chaos had cleared away, leaving only a bright light, a white radiance, an immaculate rage she had never felt before. He was writhing, skeletal fingers wrapped around his obstructed throat, eyes red and in tears as he thrashed uncontrollably. She drew her second stiletto, drew nearer to the insidious mass of flesh and, in her mind, she felt the soft breeze of the wind, brushing all over her until it became a white gale.
~
A beast’s murderous bellow. Though she had broken from the illusion, though she was back in the rain-kissed streets of Radasanth, the rage had not dissipated, had not been relinquished to the memory. Five feet, only five feet. She rose to her feet and dashed to ram the door, but it had quickly swung open to let her in, and swung back to keep curious glares at bay.
“Sati! It’s happening, it’s happening!” Sapna cried through gritted teeth, so hard that they were tainted red.
“I know, Sapna! I know. And I know what to do, now.” Without wasting a moment, she pulled a dark drape off of a lump on the floor. Beneath it was a half-naked man, bound by ropes, tossing and turning to free himself, unable to comprehend the situation.
Sapna was shivering, her emerald eyes were pleading. “Is… Is he…”
“Yes, I lured him in myself. He’s rotten.” Sati said soothingly, patting her sister’s shoulder with one hand, removing one of her dark-enameled daggers with the other. “It’s okay, take it. You’ll feel better, just like the last time.”
Skills
Dagger Proficiency – Sapna never wanted Sati to take the burden of providing for both of them, and decided to take the most logical path that would help them in all aspects of their lives. Only, to her, the most logical path was assassination. She trained hard, becoming able to fend for herself, and was able to touch generous sums of money for her work. She has below average skill in manipulating both her weapons, but still did a decent job at getting rid of her employers’ enemies with decent speed and accuracy.
The Silent Step – A good assassin must now how to move without being heard, seen or sensed. Her skill in this field is not yet masterful, but she has effectively integrated it within her everyday walk, able to move about without making a sound. She, however, cannot run as silently, and is not yet capable of eluding the eyes of those slightly more skilled than the average man.
Abilities
Chimerical Ghost – Ever since the day she was broken, strange powers have begun arising from her meek body. These abilities seem to mimic her state of mind, twisted and chaotic, where reality is nigh indistinguishable from fiction. In such a manner, she is able to transpose the apparitions of her mind into existence, making anyone capable of perceiving the strange creatures of her dreams. She can only summon halfway into existence a single chimera at a time, and it is unable to directly interact with anyone or anything, and she may control it only to a certain extent, the being seemingly bearing individualistic behavior.
Sensory Chaos – Either activated by her will or triggered by intense emotions, this ability will allow Sapna to trifle with another’s senses, making her target see, hear, smell, taste or feel whatever she wishes. Though she can only affect one sense when in motion, and only for a short amount of time, she is capable of affecting multiple senses for prolonged durations as long as she remains focused and stationary. This ability is straining on her already unstable mind, and she requires an hour of resting after using this once, though a second use is possible with nearly eighty percent chances of failure.
Phantasmagoric Eye – For some reason, the mental trauma she has gone through in her childhood has awakened a second sight within her, which does not make her highly sensible to detail at times, but also grants her the ability to perceive that which hides from the common eye. Not only can she see through most illusions, but she is also capable of seeing entities such as ghosts and devils. However, she has no control on this Eye of hers, and these hellacious visions render her already weakened mind that much more brittle.
Equipment
Umbrella – As Sapna's health is rather fragile, prone to catch colds quite easily, Sati gave her a collapsible umbrella to use in rainy occasions. It is made from black metal, with a rounded handle at the tip, and the canopy is woven from black silk, made impermeable; it also has frills lining the edges that she finds quite endearing. Though she enjoys the brush of rain, Sapna uses it often, even on clear days, if only for sentimental purposes.
Leather Satchel – Used to carry her assassination gear, which consists of a spyglass, matches, steel wires, silk ropes, a thread and needle, a handful of caltrops and whetstone. She also carries in it two torches and a flask of oil, as well as five or so candles. On top of the standard traveler’s items, it is also used to carry her feminine articles and a change of clothes.
Stiletto (x2) – Hanging from her belt ebon sheaths in which she keeps her weapons of predilection, a pair of dark-enameled stilettos, as hard as steel, their foot long blades incredibly tapered for optimal penetration. The steel hilts are six inches long, thin and covered in shagreen leather, and the guards are stylishly curved down to protect her hands.
Other Notes
That's two out of two! Hopefully, I covered the history for both of them in this one. She can stand her ground in battle, but I made sure she wasn't skilled enough with her weapons to use them too efficiently just yet, so as to balance out her powers.
Artwork by Victoria Frances
Name: Sapna Sarasvati
Titles: Ex-heiress to the Barony of Salair
Age: Appears to be in her early twenties, but is almost a decade older
Race: Human
Hair: Flaming billows of florid vermilion
Eyes: Soft shade of beryl, tinted with emerald glaze
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 127 lbs
Occupation: Assassin
Personality
Sapna is a child at heart, merry and jovial, full of energy and verve for life; at least, she used to be. Ages do not change a vice everlasting, one that poisons the minds of avid men and far too lonesome hearts. Sapna was young when she was broken, broken upon the spears of her desecrators. What is left of her mind is a tainted innocence, stunted before its prime; she is like a lost child, wandering the tortuous paths of a torturous mind, plagued with the very images, the very sensations that had brought her dementia. The girl is disturbingly tacit; half her mind focused on a vista only she can observe and fear. Though she is capable of functioning, of communicating and carrying out orders, she seems to possess very little will, or at least she does not seem to give much import to the elements of reality, the sole exception being her sister. There are very few things that elicit in her ostensible liveliness, and her sister is among them. Some things she will still marvel at, as would a child, and in her more lucid moments, she seems to enjoy engaging conversations with random strangers, as though her mind has forgotten how scarred it truly is; and though she is subject to periods of clarity, so can she be drawn into a state of instability, where meld what is real and what is not.
Appearance
Sapna is a mirror to her twin sister, Sati. She bears the same distinguished, angular traits to her face, the same finely chiseled nose and peachy cheeks, as well as the same luscious lips. They are equally beautiful, but though she is the elder, she seems slightly more juvenile than her twin, and has a distinct characteristic that distinguishes her from her sister; the slightly less blue, slightly darker shade of emerald in her eyes, the right one hidden behind a cluster of fibrous fire.
Sapna often ties up her hair into a ponytail or a bun, not particularly fond of the whipping and lapping that occurs on blustery days. Besides dark silk gloves and leather, stapled-tip boots, she dons a finely embroidered corset, the hue of lilac and intricately laced at the front and a long skirt of black silk, with a tailored cut running up her left side, exposing the curves of a bare leg. Sapna usually wears a dark purple cloak, with a hood she can pull over her head when she does not feel like being seen. Around her neck is a lace choker, whose value is only sentimental and symbolic to her.
Her figure is as slender as that of her sister, though perhaps a bit more toned, due to her training. Around her waist hangs a belt of crimson laces, from which dangle her weapons, two dark-enameled stilettos in their ebon sheaths, and small satchel of her personal effects.
History
They’ve come again, sis.
Sapna had been walking under the rain for a few minutes now, twirling the haft of an umbrella between silk-slipped fingers, keeping watchful eyes on the delineation between the curbs of the sidewalk. She was careful to not step onto any of the stony grooves as part of a childish game, when the memory so suddenly reared itself from the deepest recesses of her mind. Lips yawned faintly and with a quaver, while her heart quickened to hectic pace. The world, everything around her was losing its familiarity. The air found itself thicker and staler, the edifices at her right and the paved street to her left had splintered, the broadening fissures giving way to musty walls covered in dirt and web cobs. The grainy stones underfoot had shifted to off-white blankets so noisome that they stung her nostrils.
“They’re everywhere, Sati. I can’t sleep.” Her mouth had moved on its own, but she was used to this feeling of helplessness, the sensation that she had no control over her reminiscences. So many times, these moments had come to her, so many times had she suffered through these reenactments of bygone days, days she knew were better left forgotten. Still, they came and unfurled before her eyes, barely allowing her any moment of reprieve. “They scare me, Sati. They really scare me.”
“I know, Sapna. I know, but I don’t know what to do,” a gentle voice came from the bedside, where swayed the flame of a guttering candle. It was a loving voice, saddened and laced with pain. The young girl sobbed, able only to hold her sister’s hand. Her arm felt cold, dampened with every drip and drop of Sati’s tears. “I can’t see them, Sapna. I wish I could, but I can’t. I just can’t.”
With painful effort, Sapna craned her neck to the side, wanting to see the face of the only one who mattered, the only person she wanted by her side. The ailing girl gave a tentative smile, the corner of her lips quavering as the strain became too great. They were so alike; it was like peering into a looking glass. “It’s okay, Sati. I’m just glad you’re here. I know everything will be fine, because you’re here.”
The younger sister wept, shaking her head as though she disagreed, but Sapna kept smiling, even though it hurt. But then, behind Sati loomed a dark cloud, and it dimmed even though it came closer and closer to the candlelight. Luminous crescents of red rolled in the murky shadow, and a purple hollow yawned open, its edges serrated and dripping a black ichor. Her gaze turned to stone, heart battering its ribcage as the thing came nearer, and though she opened her mouth, no word came, as if stifled within her very throat. “Sapna? What is it? Sapna, talk to me!”
It lurched over her, with its six spindly grey arms, eyeing her viciously as its forked tongues lashed out from a slit forehead, lapping viscously at her cheeks, cackling in the inhumane grit. She screamed, screamed out in horror, threshing her hands, hoping to catch one of her sister’s. It threw itself on her, fumbling about her face, her chest with its sloppy paws, its eyes gleaming with satisfaction as its tongues slipped around her neck into a glutinous noose. Sati cried out, afraid and confused. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t see this time.
Her skin, pelted with tears, and something else.
~
Crawling through the puddle, Sapna huffed, glad the feel the rain roll upon her body. She had fallen down and was soaked through and through, but it was cold, it was clean. There was no smell, no horrible smell. It was pure, it was good. Unable to rise, she lay idle in the shallow pool, feeling the gelid stones underneath with a trembling hand. A sickness suddenly took over her insides, and she splashed both hands onto her face, convulsing and sloshing about as she let the tears flow and meld with the purging downpour.
“No more. I don’t want to remember. Don’t make me remember!” she hollered in between sobs, addressing no one. Her long hair was sodden now, and it broke free from the hood, drooping sloppily into the water, floating and swirling like mists of blood. “I have to go back. I have to go back!” She sloshed about some more, weighed down by her sopping cloak, before wobbling to a stand. ‘It’s happening again… I have to get away, go back!”
What should we do with them?
Again, her world became a net of fissures, and slowly crumbled into shards and dust. She knew it all, the bare room, the crusted walls, the flagstones overrun by putrid mold; she knew it all too well. A round window opened on a snowy village, overlooking the white paths and green roofs from high above. She could feel the pressure on her bloodied knees, the pain that cinched her bound wrists. Fear, only fear did she feel. They gathered like a pack of wolves around a fallen prey, growling, but even wolves did Are not be so cruel, so depraved; at least they kill before they feast. So much pain, when they broke her innocence.
The sound of retching. Sapna struggled again, the image still vivid in her mind, though she was glad the memory had passed quickly, this time. But why was this happening? “Why can’t I ever completely forget?” There was so much chaos in her mind, chaos she had no choice but to live with. Her mind was a vast expanse of twisted images, of ravenous wraiths and forbidden worlds. The disorder, at least, allowed her to forget sometimes; it made her better. Moments like these were not exactly few and far between, but were seldom enough. “I still have time… It’s not dangerous, not yet.”
The world began to crack, but this time Sapna was prepared. She had rushed ahead in a maddened dash, hoping to reach the place where they had taken shelter, a few corners back in an abandoned building. It was safe there. The net was collapsing. Only a few dozen feet; she ran, weaving through the rain. She would be safe there. Five feet before finding refuge. Gone with the shattered glass, the town was no more.
Too late.
~
“I wish to join the Church, sir.”
Without a smile, he looked from above his rosewood desk, the morning shin seeping through the variegated mosaic behind him. Sati was looking up at the dark silhouette of the High Priest of Zarinsk, sapphire eyes dreadfully expectant, hopeful. Zarinsk was the only fiefdom where women could enter the clerical ranks, on par with the priests, due to the fact that the man in charge of the church was also in charge of the fiefdom itself. This was her only hope. This was their only hope.
“Do you know the priestesses require rigorous training, young one? In this church, they do not sit on their laurels, nor do they wait around to give wayward advice. Here, priests and priestesses alike must work to help those in need in many ways.” Still in the shadow, the High Priest spoke, his timbre low and composed.
“I’ve learned much about herbs already, and will continue learning all I can during the training. I have read much of the Ethereal Sway, and I know what is required of us to keep the people’s faith.” Sapna was hiding behind the door, small and weak, unable to look the man in the eye even from so far; but Sati had spoken with assurance, the cold fire of her eyes blazing gorgeous.
Only then did he evince an emotion, hidden behind a benevolent smile. “Welcome to the Church.”
Both had felt an unpleasant cold, shooting down their spines.
~
“Sati, have you seen Maria lately?” It was one of the priestesses, scuttling down the red carpet of the narthex, whispering her query with much nervousness.
“I heard she was… relieved of her duties two days ago. Didn’t you know?” Her voice had grown strong, elegant, and was heavy with sophistication, even as he spoke with such familiarity.
“Relieved of her duties? You mean she was excommunicated? What could she have possibly done to elicit such a ruthless punishment?”
In truth, Sati was wondering herself. Maria was a kind and caring priestess, never remiss of her duties and among the most skilled healers of their church as well. Of the many women who entered the establishment for security and livelihood, she was amongst the few true believers. Knowing this made her excommunication explicitly harder to digest. “I’ve only heard snippets of a conversation between the High Priest and brother Pietro.”
“Do you think you can find anymore about this? It makes so little sense that I’m feeling a bit queasy about this.” Sati nodded her agreement, and told her colleague that she would do so, before they both departed. Then, as if on cue, she heard the whirring of a chariot nearing closer to the front gate of the building.
It was a noble’s chariot, which itself was a rare sight on such a day. What piqued her interest was that the chariot bore the emblem of a family she knew was not from Zarinsk. “What is a noble from Salair doing here? Sapna? What’s your take on this?”
From the shadows, a faint outline came into light. “I don’t know. Do you want me to go eavesdrop?”
“If you don’t mind. I’m not exactly good the best at not being heard.” For a moment, they chuckled lightly. Then, without a sound, Sapna stepped back into the shadows, off to listen on the strange tryst that was to come. “Good luck.”
~
“If I may be so bold, may I enquire about the most recent excommunicate? Rumors are rising in Salair, and I would like to tame them with the words of the High Priest himself.” Sapna beamed with delight; he had gotten right to the point. With much eagerness, she peered through the interstice of the half-closed doors, though she kept one eye on the look for any passerby.
“Ah yes, don’t worry, my friend. Sadly, we have discovered that one of our priestesses has become pregnant. You do know about the rules of chastity, do you not? Such lewd behavior is condemned by the church, and is taken care of with zero tolerance.” The high Priest sighed, passing a decrepit hand over his wrinkled countenance. “It saddens me to know that Maria was not the first, either. Perhaps allowing women into our ranks was not a step in the right direction after all.”
Sapna could not believe her ears; Maria, as chaste and detached from her mortal needs as she was, pregnant? The news was disheartening, and she could only imagine how Sati would react upon hearing these ill tides.
“I believe it was a wise decision, sir. Only, the more extreme cases are apparent only with the priestesses. Hypothetically speaking, were the priests to do the same, there would be no way of knowing.”
“Perhaps, perhaps. How are things back in Salair?” The High Priest asked with apparent nonchalance, though Sapna could feel there was more to this seemingly harmless question. For one, why was he so interested in the state of affairs of another fiefdom?
“Perfect, for the lack of a better term, sir. We’ve built another Aeromancer Tower for the crop fields in the western outskirts, and the Lord is ruling as he should.” To that, the High Priest uttered a casual ‘excellent’, and Sapna could sense more and more how he faked detachment. “Everything is going as you planned.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“Your influence on Salair is optimal, sir. The Lord is but an obedient dog, and he awaits your next orders.”
She made a sharp intake of air, realizing what this entailed. The High Priest gave a cursory look to the door, but returned his graying eyes to his ambassador. “Tell him to do as always, for now.” His voice had become hoary, troubled. Had he seen her? I should leave before they do.
Footsteps neared the wooden ingress, and the door creaked open. The noble walked out, but Sapna was already gone
~
“You thought I didn’t hear you, did you?” The High Priest admonished, dusting off his red chasuble as he stared out the window. “Really, I didn’t expect you, one of our best, to be of such flawed morals.” He had seen through the narrow opening the waves of fiery red, hair that belonged to one and only one priestess. However, the man was never aware that Sati had a sister, who was kept in hiding for the past five years. It was for that reason that he had sent for Sati, to come to his quarters so that they could discourse on proper decorum with superiors.
“Now I know that what you have heard may have angered you, but believe me, I had no hand in the disappearance of your parents. I didn’t even know them, child, nor did I know of you until you came to my church. Do believe that this is all but a coincidence, young one.” Sati uttered not a word, an anticipated lack of reaction that made the High Priest smirk. Then, without warning, he doffed his chasuble, slowly, and removed his many articles of clothing, one by one, until the last of his undergarments was laid on the floor. “Little Sati, you’re the one forcing me to do this.”
Angling his graying eyes to the priestess, he cackled joyfully, whistling as he saw the sleeping beauty, splayed upon his bed, all prepared for him. He had loosened her clerical garbs, his desire being to discover her little by little. She was drugged with the first sip of her tea, and had fallen limp for him, all for him. “My, I’ve always wanted to see how that little girl of fifteen would grow up. Now is the time to know.”
Discarded, inch by inch. He shivered at the touch of her perfect breasts, which sprung when he pulled down the collar of her gown. Slowly, expectantly, his lips so skittish, he explored her chest, her stomach, the nascent curves of her hips, and finally, finally… “I can’t wait any more. I must have you, young one. You look far tastier than that Maria prude.”
However, as he was about to enter her, something horrible occurred. Her body changed, shriveled. What voluptuous mounds she had were withering up like flowers at the onset of winter, thinning until they bore a desiccated aspect, like that of a corpse freshly exhumed from the grave. The stench was too much to bear, and he rolled down his bed, pinching his nose so hard blood began to leak. “What in the hells is that thing?”
When he set his eyes upon Sati’s body, to see the parched corpse, her curvaceous forms had returned, fair and appetizing as they were the first time his eyes had laid upon her naked stupor. His surprise and confusion did not limit itself to the shape-shifting girl, though; he was rather perplexed at the cold and deathly sensation upon his throat. He was entirely flummoxed at the redheaded beauty he saw in the mirror, holding a dark knife to his throat. “No one touches my sister.”
“Please, spar– ” Rather than slitting his throat, she punched it hard, knocking all the air out of his windpipes, disallowing him the freedom of speech. No, she wouldn’t kill him. Not yet. Never before, never before had she harbored such hatred in her heart. To inflict pain was the sole desire that echoed in her head. The chaos had cleared away, leaving only a bright light, a white radiance, an immaculate rage she had never felt before. He was writhing, skeletal fingers wrapped around his obstructed throat, eyes red and in tears as he thrashed uncontrollably. She drew her second stiletto, drew nearer to the insidious mass of flesh and, in her mind, she felt the soft breeze of the wind, brushing all over her until it became a white gale.
~
A beast’s murderous bellow. Though she had broken from the illusion, though she was back in the rain-kissed streets of Radasanth, the rage had not dissipated, had not been relinquished to the memory. Five feet, only five feet. She rose to her feet and dashed to ram the door, but it had quickly swung open to let her in, and swung back to keep curious glares at bay.
“Sati! It’s happening, it’s happening!” Sapna cried through gritted teeth, so hard that they were tainted red.
“I know, Sapna! I know. And I know what to do, now.” Without wasting a moment, she pulled a dark drape off of a lump on the floor. Beneath it was a half-naked man, bound by ropes, tossing and turning to free himself, unable to comprehend the situation.
Sapna was shivering, her emerald eyes were pleading. “Is… Is he…”
“Yes, I lured him in myself. He’s rotten.” Sati said soothingly, patting her sister’s shoulder with one hand, removing one of her dark-enameled daggers with the other. “It’s okay, take it. You’ll feel better, just like the last time.”
Skills
Dagger Proficiency – Sapna never wanted Sati to take the burden of providing for both of them, and decided to take the most logical path that would help them in all aspects of their lives. Only, to her, the most logical path was assassination. She trained hard, becoming able to fend for herself, and was able to touch generous sums of money for her work. She has below average skill in manipulating both her weapons, but still did a decent job at getting rid of her employers’ enemies with decent speed and accuracy.
The Silent Step – A good assassin must now how to move without being heard, seen or sensed. Her skill in this field is not yet masterful, but she has effectively integrated it within her everyday walk, able to move about without making a sound. She, however, cannot run as silently, and is not yet capable of eluding the eyes of those slightly more skilled than the average man.
Abilities
Chimerical Ghost – Ever since the day she was broken, strange powers have begun arising from her meek body. These abilities seem to mimic her state of mind, twisted and chaotic, where reality is nigh indistinguishable from fiction. In such a manner, she is able to transpose the apparitions of her mind into existence, making anyone capable of perceiving the strange creatures of her dreams. She can only summon halfway into existence a single chimera at a time, and it is unable to directly interact with anyone or anything, and she may control it only to a certain extent, the being seemingly bearing individualistic behavior.
Sensory Chaos – Either activated by her will or triggered by intense emotions, this ability will allow Sapna to trifle with another’s senses, making her target see, hear, smell, taste or feel whatever she wishes. Though she can only affect one sense when in motion, and only for a short amount of time, she is capable of affecting multiple senses for prolonged durations as long as she remains focused and stationary. This ability is straining on her already unstable mind, and she requires an hour of resting after using this once, though a second use is possible with nearly eighty percent chances of failure.
Phantasmagoric Eye – For some reason, the mental trauma she has gone through in her childhood has awakened a second sight within her, which does not make her highly sensible to detail at times, but also grants her the ability to perceive that which hides from the common eye. Not only can she see through most illusions, but she is also capable of seeing entities such as ghosts and devils. However, she has no control on this Eye of hers, and these hellacious visions render her already weakened mind that much more brittle.
Equipment
Umbrella – As Sapna's health is rather fragile, prone to catch colds quite easily, Sati gave her a collapsible umbrella to use in rainy occasions. It is made from black metal, with a rounded handle at the tip, and the canopy is woven from black silk, made impermeable; it also has frills lining the edges that she finds quite endearing. Though she enjoys the brush of rain, Sapna uses it often, even on clear days, if only for sentimental purposes.
Leather Satchel – Used to carry her assassination gear, which consists of a spyglass, matches, steel wires, silk ropes, a thread and needle, a handful of caltrops and whetstone. She also carries in it two torches and a flask of oil, as well as five or so candles. On top of the standard traveler’s items, it is also used to carry her feminine articles and a change of clothes.
Stiletto (x2) – Hanging from her belt ebon sheaths in which she keeps her weapons of predilection, a pair of dark-enameled stilettos, as hard as steel, their foot long blades incredibly tapered for optimal penetration. The steel hilts are six inches long, thin and covered in shagreen leather, and the guards are stylishly curved down to protect her hands.
Other Notes
That's two out of two! Hopefully, I covered the history for both of them in this one. She can stand her ground in battle, but I made sure she wasn't skilled enough with her weapons to use them too efficiently just yet, so as to balance out her powers.