Damian0358
Roleplaying Procrastinator From Elsewhere
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Fantasy Terrorchild: Awakening
- Thread starter Thread starter K0mori
- Start date Start date
Ask About Final Wishes
New
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 1: 1 Vote (11% - Range: 1-11)
Option 2: 1 Vote (11% - Range: 12-22)
Option 3: 7 Votes (78% - Range: 23-100)
Fae Roll: 38
"Gods! Really, Agranne?" Embryx laments. "Ever since last night, I've been trying so hard not to think about death, and here you go making sure I have a good, hard think on it right before we march in there..."
"Hey," Rheyah interrupts, "Raka and I are just trying to survive, you know? I've no doubt that you'll go through anyone at Edniewebotm to settle your score with the Eldest, but if it comes down to a fight against Syrith, then there's no way in the hells I'm getting involved. I'd rather not run afowl of the goddess who owns my afterlife, thank you," she adds annoyedly.
You shrug. "Suit yourself; by coming along and helping keep the other elders out of my way, you'll stay in the good graces of both of us."
"That being said," Rheyah says thoughtfully after an awkward moment passes in silence, "If I do die for whatever reason, just send a letter to the Mage's College in Pasheau and let them know that I met the Terrorchild... and then Syrith - bloody fucking Syrith herself... My father, you know, he thought I was an embarrassment, but he and the archmages will be ashamed of themselves when they realize that none of them will know the gods personally like I have!"
Of course, Raka speaks up next. "Ooh, good one!" she says. "Let'z zee... If I die, zend a caze of the mozt expenzive rum you can get your handz on to the zhipwrightz in Thandan harbor, and zay it'z from me. When I waz a little one, they took good care of me - zharing food and buying me shoez when I needed them. They probably ztill think of me, even though I've been gone for yearz now. It'd be nice if they thought I made it big in Athea zomehow."
You give them a smile. "That's easy enough to remember, although I hope we won't need to do either of those things."
Corrinth, meanwhile, comes to a stop with a heavy sigh. She fishes around in her pockets for a moment before producing something in the palm of her hand, which turns out to be an old brass key. "No, it's fine," she says, "I've been thinking about it, anyway. Guys, I've been carrying this around, I guess since my mom died," she explains, showing the memento to you and Embryx. "It's my key - the one to the tavern, back in Tashlaan... My home." She grips it tight a moment before putting it away again. "I always hoped that I'd go back and try to restart my life there, but if I die, I'd like someone to take it back there and bury it."
"What good would that do?" Embryx asks, her tone more gentle and open-minded than her words alone would suggest.
Corrinth hangs her head. "It's not like you're gonna cart my body all the way back there if I drop dead. The key's easy to carry. Anyway, I want someone to figure out where they buried my mom - it's probably an unmarked grave, to be honest - and just... leave it with her. Bury it in the topsoil, alright...? Nothing gross. I'll be alright in the afterlife, since I'll be with Veralt again, but I know my mom misses me wherever she's at, and I'd like to make sure something of mine stays with her."
It's truly beginning to fascinate you how different of a person Corrinth has become since she regained her sanity. Before, when she complained about all she had lost as a result of your involvement in her life, it only annoyed you, since so many of her misfortunes had been a result of her own lack of restraint and judgement. But she had been made to act that way by her very nature, and was placed into your path by the gods in a way which would inflict terrible suffering on the both of you, as well as many people around you. And now, somehow, she doesn't resent you at all; it's as if she's finally put away her adolescence and accepted that fate is far beyond her control.
"I promise... I'll do that for you," you say.
She gives you a sad smile as she puts the key back into her pocket. "Thank you."
"As for me," you say to the others, "just take care of yourselves and try to make the world a better place, wherever and however you can. I spent so much of the past few years just hurting people and burning stuff down when I should've been learning from someone like Kulka. Now we're right here at the end, and it's too late to think about what else I could've done, or what I could've done better."
"Let's be honest, Agranne," Corrinth replies. "If you die tonight, then there's not a whole lot of hope for me and Embryx; it's more likely that you'll be the only one to make it through."
You turn to Embryx, realizing that she hasn't said anything in a while. She's standing silently with her arms folded, eyes pointed downward at the muddy snow beneath her feet. She shakes her head, "...I'm not giving you anything," she says. "We're going to survive and live a life together, Agranne. That's all I want - fuck everyone and everything else. If I die, there's no silver lining to any of it. Same for you - I'm not planning to live a whole life knowing you're gone and I won't even see you in the afterlife."
Her answer strikes you through the heart. "...Please don't say that, Embryx. I know you only think of it as love, but you put too much of your self worth into the thought of being with me - and only me. If I'm gone, I want you to live, and find happiness somewhere. Other people will love and care about you, I promise," you tell her, trying your damnedest to make her realize that the lack of love she felt in childhood doesn't represent the whole world. You don't know if you're getting through to her. "But... regardless, tonight I'll do whatever I can to make sure we both survive, alright? No stupid mistakes."
She nods, numbly, and you both stare at each other for a moment before she suddenly seizes onto you in a tight embrace, and you stay there for a while in the setting sun, just holding each other and hoping beyond hope that you'll find a way through. You don't want to let her go and move on from this moment, or accept that any future could exist where you can't enjoy each other's company.
"...This is it," you say, plainly and quietly. You look back at the others, who each take a long look at the forgettable lump of land bulging from the ice. If they had been contemplating death since your earlier conversation, you could safely wager that they, like you, probably imagined a more picturesque place to face it. No one has any words, and so you take a breath and steel yourself, closing your eyes. You feel a hand touch yours and you interlock your fingers with hers, giving a gentle and reassuring squeeze... But when you open your eyes, the sensation has left you, and Embryx is beyond your reach.
Two years ago, crossed another river, many miles away. You learned that your sister, whom you watched be led to an untimely and undeserved death, wasn't truly beyond your reach, and as you grappled with the beginning of your journey, your mind raced beyond reason and the dark world became animated with all manner of phantoms. You didn't feel her then, but perhaps you weren't ready to. But Rigatte never stopped believing in you and your incredible potential. Even without the gods' unchecked, runaway mysticism, she still had a clear understanding of your heart, and faith in your ability to be something amazing.
The gods exploited her as they've exploited you, but it doesn't matter; had you been no one important - had you never left the farm in Ryggander and never cast a single spell, Rigatte would have believed in you.
You press on, stepping onto the icy surface of the river and carefully making your way across with your allies until you reach the island and trudge up the slope and into the skeletal brush of the leafless winter foliage. Between the trees, you cross deeper into the shadows until, at last, you reach a pile of stones with what appears to be an entrance with stairs leading downward, and atop it, her legs dangling idly, sits Syrith.
"...You're more resilient than I'd prefer sometimes, Agranne," she says, staring first at Embryx before turning to face you. "It's a shame that you couldn't put your talents to use for me beyond tonight. We could've been quite the team... Hello, Rheyah. Hello Raka. You're... rare to see at this time and place. That means that Swynnsall is a goblin now, and you, Corrinth, saved her life." She flashes the changeling a grin before doing the same to the newcomers. While the latter are scared, Corrinth holds her ground, which surprises you.
"Syrith," Corrinth replies, "you already know that things aren't going to work out the way you want them to, don't you?"
The goddess shrugs. "I've seen many futures, fae. There are still plenty where I win, although," she adds to your great shock, "there are far less than there were before you intervened to prevent me from taking up residence in Agranne's body. You're just the same as her - a coward at all the right moments, except the exact moment I need you to run and hide. How very unlucky for me."
"Let's get to the point," you speak up, knowing that it's only a matter of time before the insults and complaints turn into threats and violence. You have unanswered questions still, and you want to retain some semblance of control over this situation before it turns into another fight. "...I want my sister, and you want your divinity back. The Pantheon is also itching for me to keep it from you and leave you stranded here in Sharyx' body."
Syrith nods, blandly. "Yes, yes, of course. The Pantheon makes all sorts of demands... Agranne, have you given any thought to what the Pantheon will do to you if you leave this place with my divine power, but without my wisdom and protection? Or rather, let me ask you this: do you think you're the first mortal to become a demigod since the Pantheon's formation?"
"Of course I've thought about it," you reply. "But I'm trying to deal with one problem at a time, and it's the one in front of me. I don't sit around all day imagining all the things that might happen the way you do."
The goddess snickers at your reply. "That's a fair critique," she acknowledges. "I'll avoid wasting your time, then, and tell you only what you need to know: there have been thousands of demigods, Agranne - some great and powerful like you, and others... not so much. They form for whatever reasons, waste divinity as if it were daylight itself, and die with that power still caked onto their bones. This world is a graveyard of demigods, and the Pantheon always comes to collect... That is, once they've decided who among them is most deserving of reclaiming that unspent divinity. They're vultures, Agranne."
"And you aren't?" Embryx demands.
Syrith smiles, viciously. "As a matter of fact, I'm not."
1. From the Beginning - Syrith seems to revel in every mysterious detail that's half-shared about her origins and habits, and you've had enough of it - especially since she seems to recognize the anxiety you feel toward the other gods and their plans, as well. "Alright Syrith," you say, your frustration palpable. "Tell us, then - why are you so different from the other gods? What's your goal? ...What's this all about? You don't have Gallanis here competing for my attention, this time. I'm all ears."
2. Who Cares - You realize that Syrith is trying to entice you into negotiating again, and you don't have the patience for that again. "It doesn't really matter, in the end. I didn't set out to become a demigod, Syrith, you and the others put me on that road, and if you want to scrape it off my remains and continue your damned feud, then that's your problem. But I'm not leaving here without Rigatte and my friends intact, and a guarantee that your plans won't involve us ever again."
3. Yes, You Are - "That's all you are," you snap at her. "Sharyx is as good as dead, and you've taken her body and her life for your own. You'd have done the same to me, too, by your own admission, so what sort of distinction am I supposed to see, here?"
Option 2: 1 Vote (11% - Range: 12-22)
Option 3: 7 Votes (78% - Range: 23-100)
Fae Roll: 38
"Gods! Really, Agranne?" Embryx laments. "Ever since last night, I've been trying so hard not to think about death, and here you go making sure I have a good, hard think on it right before we march in there..."
"Hey," Rheyah interrupts, "Raka and I are just trying to survive, you know? I've no doubt that you'll go through anyone at Edniewebotm to settle your score with the Eldest, but if it comes down to a fight against Syrith, then there's no way in the hells I'm getting involved. I'd rather not run afowl of the goddess who owns my afterlife, thank you," she adds annoyedly.
You shrug. "Suit yourself; by coming along and helping keep the other elders out of my way, you'll stay in the good graces of both of us."
"That being said," Rheyah says thoughtfully after an awkward moment passes in silence, "If I do die for whatever reason, just send a letter to the Mage's College in Pasheau and let them know that I met the Terrorchild... and then Syrith - bloody fucking Syrith herself... My father, you know, he thought I was an embarrassment, but he and the archmages will be ashamed of themselves when they realize that none of them will know the gods personally like I have!"
Of course, Raka speaks up next. "Ooh, good one!" she says. "Let'z zee... If I die, zend a caze of the mozt expenzive rum you can get your handz on to the zhipwrightz in Thandan harbor, and zay it'z from me. When I waz a little one, they took good care of me - zharing food and buying me shoez when I needed them. They probably ztill think of me, even though I've been gone for yearz now. It'd be nice if they thought I made it big in Athea zomehow."
You give them a smile. "That's easy enough to remember, although I hope we won't need to do either of those things."
Corrinth, meanwhile, comes to a stop with a heavy sigh. She fishes around in her pockets for a moment before producing something in the palm of her hand, which turns out to be an old brass key. "No, it's fine," she says, "I've been thinking about it, anyway. Guys, I've been carrying this around, I guess since my mom died," she explains, showing the memento to you and Embryx. "It's my key - the one to the tavern, back in Tashlaan... My home." She grips it tight a moment before putting it away again. "I always hoped that I'd go back and try to restart my life there, but if I die, I'd like someone to take it back there and bury it."
"What good would that do?" Embryx asks, her tone more gentle and open-minded than her words alone would suggest.
Corrinth hangs her head. "It's not like you're gonna cart my body all the way back there if I drop dead. The key's easy to carry. Anyway, I want someone to figure out where they buried my mom - it's probably an unmarked grave, to be honest - and just... leave it with her. Bury it in the topsoil, alright...? Nothing gross. I'll be alright in the afterlife, since I'll be with Veralt again, but I know my mom misses me wherever she's at, and I'd like to make sure something of mine stays with her."
It's truly beginning to fascinate you how different of a person Corrinth has become since she regained her sanity. Before, when she complained about all she had lost as a result of your involvement in her life, it only annoyed you, since so many of her misfortunes had been a result of her own lack of restraint and judgement. But she had been made to act that way by her very nature, and was placed into your path by the gods in a way which would inflict terrible suffering on the both of you, as well as many people around you. And now, somehow, she doesn't resent you at all; it's as if she's finally put away her adolescence and accepted that fate is far beyond her control.
"I promise... I'll do that for you," you say.
She gives you a sad smile as she puts the key back into her pocket. "Thank you."
"As for me," you say to the others, "just take care of yourselves and try to make the world a better place, wherever and however you can. I spent so much of the past few years just hurting people and burning stuff down when I should've been learning from someone like Kulka. Now we're right here at the end, and it's too late to think about what else I could've done, or what I could've done better."
"Let's be honest, Agranne," Corrinth replies. "If you die tonight, then there's not a whole lot of hope for me and Embryx; it's more likely that you'll be the only one to make it through."
You turn to Embryx, realizing that she hasn't said anything in a while. She's standing silently with her arms folded, eyes pointed downward at the muddy snow beneath her feet. She shakes her head, "...I'm not giving you anything," she says. "We're going to survive and live a life together, Agranne. That's all I want - fuck everyone and everything else. If I die, there's no silver lining to any of it. Same for you - I'm not planning to live a whole life knowing you're gone and I won't even see you in the afterlife."
Her answer strikes you through the heart. "...Please don't say that, Embryx. I know you only think of it as love, but you put too much of your self worth into the thought of being with me - and only me. If I'm gone, I want you to live, and find happiness somewhere. Other people will love and care about you, I promise," you tell her, trying your damnedest to make her realize that the lack of love she felt in childhood doesn't represent the whole world. You don't know if you're getting through to her. "But... regardless, tonight I'll do whatever I can to make sure we both survive, alright? No stupid mistakes."
She nods, numbly, and you both stare at each other for a moment before she suddenly seizes onto you in a tight embrace, and you stay there for a while in the setting sun, just holding each other and hoping beyond hope that you'll find a way through. You don't want to let her go and move on from this moment, or accept that any future could exist where you can't enjoy each other's company.
---
An eerieness hangs in the air as you continue to trek down the bank of the river. Twilight falls over the Imperial countryside, the pink and orange sky giving way to dark blue and gloom as the distant shapes begin to melt into foreboding shadow. And, suddenly, you see something rising out of the icy surface of the river ahead - an island with a number of jagged, baren trees as well as stones - not so much columns, like Callypseae described them, but rather, as solid masses, like fingers of stone piercing through the earth below.
"...This is it," you say, plainly and quietly. You look back at the others, who each take a long look at the forgettable lump of land bulging from the ice. If they had been contemplating death since your earlier conversation, you could safely wager that they, like you, probably imagined a more picturesque place to face it. No one has any words, and so you take a breath and steel yourself, closing your eyes. You feel a hand touch yours and you interlock your fingers with hers, giving a gentle and reassuring squeeze... But when you open your eyes, the sensation has left you, and Embryx is beyond your reach.
Two years ago, crossed another river, many miles away. You learned that your sister, whom you watched be led to an untimely and undeserved death, wasn't truly beyond your reach, and as you grappled with the beginning of your journey, your mind raced beyond reason and the dark world became animated with all manner of phantoms. You didn't feel her then, but perhaps you weren't ready to. But Rigatte never stopped believing in you and your incredible potential. Even without the gods' unchecked, runaway mysticism, she still had a clear understanding of your heart, and faith in your ability to be something amazing.
The gods exploited her as they've exploited you, but it doesn't matter; had you been no one important - had you never left the farm in Ryggander and never cast a single spell, Rigatte would have believed in you.
You press on, stepping onto the icy surface of the river and carefully making your way across with your allies until you reach the island and trudge up the slope and into the skeletal brush of the leafless winter foliage. Between the trees, you cross deeper into the shadows until, at last, you reach a pile of stones with what appears to be an entrance with stairs leading downward, and atop it, her legs dangling idly, sits Syrith.
"...You're more resilient than I'd prefer sometimes, Agranne," she says, staring first at Embryx before turning to face you. "It's a shame that you couldn't put your talents to use for me beyond tonight. We could've been quite the team... Hello, Rheyah. Hello Raka. You're... rare to see at this time and place. That means that Swynnsall is a goblin now, and you, Corrinth, saved her life." She flashes the changeling a grin before doing the same to the newcomers. While the latter are scared, Corrinth holds her ground, which surprises you.
"Syrith," Corrinth replies, "you already know that things aren't going to work out the way you want them to, don't you?"
The goddess shrugs. "I've seen many futures, fae. There are still plenty where I win, although," she adds to your great shock, "there are far less than there were before you intervened to prevent me from taking up residence in Agranne's body. You're just the same as her - a coward at all the right moments, except the exact moment I need you to run and hide. How very unlucky for me."
"Let's get to the point," you speak up, knowing that it's only a matter of time before the insults and complaints turn into threats and violence. You have unanswered questions still, and you want to retain some semblance of control over this situation before it turns into another fight. "...I want my sister, and you want your divinity back. The Pantheon is also itching for me to keep it from you and leave you stranded here in Sharyx' body."
Syrith nods, blandly. "Yes, yes, of course. The Pantheon makes all sorts of demands... Agranne, have you given any thought to what the Pantheon will do to you if you leave this place with my divine power, but without my wisdom and protection? Or rather, let me ask you this: do you think you're the first mortal to become a demigod since the Pantheon's formation?"
"Of course I've thought about it," you reply. "But I'm trying to deal with one problem at a time, and it's the one in front of me. I don't sit around all day imagining all the things that might happen the way you do."
The goddess snickers at your reply. "That's a fair critique," she acknowledges. "I'll avoid wasting your time, then, and tell you only what you need to know: there have been thousands of demigods, Agranne - some great and powerful like you, and others... not so much. They form for whatever reasons, waste divinity as if it were daylight itself, and die with that power still caked onto their bones. This world is a graveyard of demigods, and the Pantheon always comes to collect... That is, once they've decided who among them is most deserving of reclaiming that unspent divinity. They're vultures, Agranne."
"And you aren't?" Embryx demands.
Syrith smiles, viciously. "As a matter of fact, I'm not."
1. From the Beginning - Syrith seems to revel in every mysterious detail that's half-shared about her origins and habits, and you've had enough of it - especially since she seems to recognize the anxiety you feel toward the other gods and their plans, as well. "Alright Syrith," you say, your frustration palpable. "Tell us, then - why are you so different from the other gods? What's your goal? ...What's this all about? You don't have Gallanis here competing for my attention, this time. I'm all ears."
2. Who Cares - You realize that Syrith is trying to entice you into negotiating again, and you don't have the patience for that again. "It doesn't really matter, in the end. I didn't set out to become a demigod, Syrith, you and the others put me on that road, and if you want to scrape it off my remains and continue your damned feud, then that's your problem. But I'm not leaving here without Rigatte and my friends intact, and a guarantee that your plans won't involve us ever again."
3. Yes, You Are - "That's all you are," you snap at her. "Sharyx is as good as dead, and you've taken her body and her life for your own. You'd have done the same to me, too, by your own admission, so what sort of distinction am I supposed to see, here?"
CHUUYAS_HAT
ᴏɴᴇ ᴋɪꜱꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ
- One on One
- Group
3
THEKAZUHA_ANEMO
𝐖𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝
- One on One
- Group
3
Infab
The Demon Fanatic
- Group
- Dice
3
hardcore.munchkin
Professional hater
3
demytra
the writer
3
Breadman
Big loaf supreme
2
turtwigwins
Member
2
Yes, You Are
New
K0mori
Servant Supreme
Option 2: 2 Votes (29% - Range: 1-29)
Option 3: 5 Votes (71% - Range: 30-100)
Fae Roll: 98
The goddess shakes her head dismissively, before dropping from her perch to land a short distance in front of you. You get a better look at her face and realize that she's been healed since you last saw her. She once again has both of her eyes, and her burned flesh has been fully mended.
"...First of all," she lectures smugly, "the vessel in which I spend the foreseeable future wasn't for me to choose; it was for you or Sharyx to inflict upon the other. You could've sent her away - or killed her - and you chose to keep her dangerously close, on the off-chance that you could somehow pry her away from her devotion. You read her mind; you should've known better."
"As if you didn't lead us both to the Door in the first place!" you argue.
Syrith shrugs and snickers at your anger. "Is it truly my fault that you couldn't think of a better way of handling your predicament in Mardenaal? You had the door, her guard was down, and all you had to do was grab the anima of her soul and tug and suddenly the whole problem would've gone away... All I did is predict that you'd be reckless and stupid when it mattered the most, Agranne, and I was correct."
Embryx isn't having it. "Sharyx wouldn't have been the end of it," she hisses. "You had others who would've kept fucking with us all the way here, and beyond tonight, if necessary! Don't pretend that it was all guessing - you'd have kept trying until the one time you get what you want, and then crow on and on about how smart you are."
"Ha!" the goddess laughs, utterly devoid of remorse. "Guilty as charged, I suppose. But you have to admit, opening the door is quite the undertaking. Agranne was the only one who could've done it, and she did it at a terrible time. I think the only healthy way to end this debate is to accept that we all had a hand in the outcome."
"Second?" you demand without acknowledging the supposed overture, knowing that Syrith had more than one point to raise.
Syrith rolls her head about on her neck and examines her hands, taking her time to answer. When she lifts her head, there's an undeniable mania that wasn't there before. "...Second, Sharyx isn't 'as good as dead,' Terrorchild. I'm still here, a guest in my own body along with the Eldest. I'm not sorry for what I tried to do, nor do I resent you for how you tricked me. In fact, this is... incredible. I... I've become the vessel for a goddess, and what remains of me is becoming Her!"
At once, her mannerisms have reverted to their original state, before the princess was possessed, and the stark change is utterly unnerving. You can only imagine that the feeling of displacement, of allowing the goddess to take control, is as pleasurable for her as it would be utterly revolting to you. Your disgust is plainly writ on your face, and quickly, Sharyx' nervous, manic control over her own body dissipates in favor of the goddess' more relaxed and confident stance once more. She snickers at you, but there's an underlying malice that you're quick to recognize.
"...So, Sharyx isn't fully gone, but she's happy to wait on the chopping block until you get your other half back, right? But what if I don't help with that? What if you're stuck with her for the next hundred years? Will your souls stay separate, or will one bleed into the other until you aren't sure who's who?"
Immediately, Syrith's expression is overtaken with rage. "I found a willing vessel among the mortal races, Agranne! Don't you understand how difficult that was!? If you think I'll sit here and allow my soul to be diluted with the memories and personality of my host, or that Sharyx would allow herself to become a burden to me, then we would happily drag this blade across our throat and let my divine soul find one new host after another... until my separation from myself is remedied. And those deaths would be on your hands for suggesting such a pig-headed idea!"
Your heart leaps as you suddenly take the advantage. "I thought you said you'd end my life if I refused to help. Did you forget?" you taunt her. "You must have more time than that witch we turned into Kulka's dog had, then. ...But not much more, if you're going to lose your temper that easily! You've wagered you can keep yourself intact until the comet arrives, but how much further could you last beyond then?"
Syrith draws her blade in a flash, teleporting forward into you and knocking you onto your back as she holds the tip of Sharyx' sword against your throat. Her eyes: manic, but only for a moment. "...You don't want to find out, Agranne."
Even though her tackle caught you off-guard, you can only contain your laughter through a supreme act of self-control. Even Embryx is in step with you, having not panicked when Syrith lunged forward, only gripping her war-scythe without brandishing it. "Get off of me, Syrith," you reply, relishing in this moment.
You recognize that the goddess' careful planning might be coming undone by the fallible influence of her ever-so-gracious host. It hadn't been Syrith who pulled the blade; it was Sharyx, and Syrith was forced to stay her hand. This can only mean one thing: the pair are on a very tight schedule to retrieve Syrith's other half, or else the goddess will be forever altered by her misadventure.
Her lip curls in murderous disgust for you before turning away, towards the entrance to Edniewebotm. "...Time is running out," she grumbles, voice dripping with hatred. "Follow me. Your sister is waiting."
You take Embryx and Corrinth's hands as they lift you back onto your feet, stunned by the exchange which just took place. Even Raka and Rheyah can't help but sense the goddess' weakness as they follow in your footsteps, into the open mouth of the ancient ruin. Although the entrance is dark, after only a few steps you begin to sense torches ahead - the smell of smoke and burning oil, the warmth of fire rising on the air, and the distant glow of a flickering light. Down you go, until you find yourself in a cave. You look around in the darkness and count over a dozen other witches, as well as Seith, who seems as carefree as ever.
"Well, there they are!" he announces. "Have a nice trip, ladies?"
"Go fuck yourself, voidsinger," Embryx replies indifferently.
You size up the others present, knowing that at any moment, Syrith might try to turn the tables once more and place you and your allies under compulsion or manipulation. You wonder just how many of them are still in control of their own actions, or whether they're under the direct control of Syrith or the Elder of Zuklanar.
1. Attack Now - If you attack the elders and their allies now, you'll have the element of, if not surprise, then aggression on your side, as you'll force them to react to you.
2. Take Control - There's probably already a few reading your thoughts. Rather than fall into whatever trap they're planning, you ask only a simple question, to all of them at once, just to set the tone: "Which of you means me harm? Speak no lies."
3. Remain Calm - Given that they outnumber you, you'll need to play things carefully. Rather than let everything go to shit immediately, you wait to see how the others will react to your appearance, knowing what they know of you. Of course, you'll read their minds as well...
Option 3: 5 Votes (71% - Range: 30-100)
Fae Roll: 98
The goddess shakes her head dismissively, before dropping from her perch to land a short distance in front of you. You get a better look at her face and realize that she's been healed since you last saw her. She once again has both of her eyes, and her burned flesh has been fully mended.
"...First of all," she lectures smugly, "the vessel in which I spend the foreseeable future wasn't for me to choose; it was for you or Sharyx to inflict upon the other. You could've sent her away - or killed her - and you chose to keep her dangerously close, on the off-chance that you could somehow pry her away from her devotion. You read her mind; you should've known better."
"As if you didn't lead us both to the Door in the first place!" you argue.
Syrith shrugs and snickers at your anger. "Is it truly my fault that you couldn't think of a better way of handling your predicament in Mardenaal? You had the door, her guard was down, and all you had to do was grab the anima of her soul and tug and suddenly the whole problem would've gone away... All I did is predict that you'd be reckless and stupid when it mattered the most, Agranne, and I was correct."
Embryx isn't having it. "Sharyx wouldn't have been the end of it," she hisses. "You had others who would've kept fucking with us all the way here, and beyond tonight, if necessary! Don't pretend that it was all guessing - you'd have kept trying until the one time you get what you want, and then crow on and on about how smart you are."
"Ha!" the goddess laughs, utterly devoid of remorse. "Guilty as charged, I suppose. But you have to admit, opening the door is quite the undertaking. Agranne was the only one who could've done it, and she did it at a terrible time. I think the only healthy way to end this debate is to accept that we all had a hand in the outcome."
"Second?" you demand without acknowledging the supposed overture, knowing that Syrith had more than one point to raise.
Syrith rolls her head about on her neck and examines her hands, taking her time to answer. When she lifts her head, there's an undeniable mania that wasn't there before. "...Second, Sharyx isn't 'as good as dead,' Terrorchild. I'm still here, a guest in my own body along with the Eldest. I'm not sorry for what I tried to do, nor do I resent you for how you tricked me. In fact, this is... incredible. I... I've become the vessel for a goddess, and what remains of me is becoming Her!"
At once, her mannerisms have reverted to their original state, before the princess was possessed, and the stark change is utterly unnerving. You can only imagine that the feeling of displacement, of allowing the goddess to take control, is as pleasurable for her as it would be utterly revolting to you. Your disgust is plainly writ on your face, and quickly, Sharyx' nervous, manic control over her own body dissipates in favor of the goddess' more relaxed and confident stance once more. She snickers at you, but there's an underlying malice that you're quick to recognize.
"...So, Sharyx isn't fully gone, but she's happy to wait on the chopping block until you get your other half back, right? But what if I don't help with that? What if you're stuck with her for the next hundred years? Will your souls stay separate, or will one bleed into the other until you aren't sure who's who?"
Immediately, Syrith's expression is overtaken with rage. "I found a willing vessel among the mortal races, Agranne! Don't you understand how difficult that was!? If you think I'll sit here and allow my soul to be diluted with the memories and personality of my host, or that Sharyx would allow herself to become a burden to me, then we would happily drag this blade across our throat and let my divine soul find one new host after another... until my separation from myself is remedied. And those deaths would be on your hands for suggesting such a pig-headed idea!"
Your heart leaps as you suddenly take the advantage. "I thought you said you'd end my life if I refused to help. Did you forget?" you taunt her. "You must have more time than that witch we turned into Kulka's dog had, then. ...But not much more, if you're going to lose your temper that easily! You've wagered you can keep yourself intact until the comet arrives, but how much further could you last beyond then?"
Syrith draws her blade in a flash, teleporting forward into you and knocking you onto your back as she holds the tip of Sharyx' sword against your throat. Her eyes: manic, but only for a moment. "...You don't want to find out, Agranne."
Even though her tackle caught you off-guard, you can only contain your laughter through a supreme act of self-control. Even Embryx is in step with you, having not panicked when Syrith lunged forward, only gripping her war-scythe without brandishing it. "Get off of me, Syrith," you reply, relishing in this moment.
You recognize that the goddess' careful planning might be coming undone by the fallible influence of her ever-so-gracious host. It hadn't been Syrith who pulled the blade; it was Sharyx, and Syrith was forced to stay her hand. This can only mean one thing: the pair are on a very tight schedule to retrieve Syrith's other half, or else the goddess will be forever altered by her misadventure.
Her lip curls in murderous disgust for you before turning away, towards the entrance to Edniewebotm. "...Time is running out," she grumbles, voice dripping with hatred. "Follow me. Your sister is waiting."
You take Embryx and Corrinth's hands as they lift you back onto your feet, stunned by the exchange which just took place. Even Raka and Rheyah can't help but sense the goddess' weakness as they follow in your footsteps, into the open mouth of the ancient ruin. Although the entrance is dark, after only a few steps you begin to sense torches ahead - the smell of smoke and burning oil, the warmth of fire rising on the air, and the distant glow of a flickering light. Down you go, until you find yourself in a cave. You look around in the darkness and count over a dozen other witches, as well as Seith, who seems as carefree as ever.
"Well, there they are!" he announces. "Have a nice trip, ladies?"
"Go fuck yourself, voidsinger," Embryx replies indifferently.
You size up the others present, knowing that at any moment, Syrith might try to turn the tables once more and place you and your allies under compulsion or manipulation. You wonder just how many of them are still in control of their own actions, or whether they're under the direct control of Syrith or the Elder of Zuklanar.
1. Attack Now - If you attack the elders and their allies now, you'll have the element of, if not surprise, then aggression on your side, as you'll force them to react to you.
2. Take Control - There's probably already a few reading your thoughts. Rather than fall into whatever trap they're planning, you ask only a simple question, to all of them at once, just to set the tone: "Which of you means me harm? Speak no lies."
3. Remain Calm - Given that they outnumber you, you'll need to play things carefully. Rather than let everything go to shit immediately, you wait to see how the others will react to your appearance, knowing what they know of you. Of course, you'll read their minds as well...
CHUUYAS_HAT
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The witches glance to one another, their expressions tense. Not one breaks the silence. Perhaps they had already decided not to challenge you out of fear, or they're merely being pragmatic - not wanting to break the fragile peace of the moment until they've witnessed your behavior. Or maybe they've already been compelled to such a degree that your demand was ineffective - as unlikely as that seems to be possible. While Embryx confronts the same uncertainty by pouring herself into telepathy, an extravagantly-dressed human steps forward from the crowd to address you.
She appears to be in her twenties, with black, shoulder-length hair, and her face is scarred across both of her eyes - in fact, as soon as you meet her gaze, you realize that she's blind in her right eye entirely. These being old scars, you recognize that she must be no stranger to fighting, and in the past, was forced to survive while actively running from the hunters. However, she now possesses a commanding aura - and wears the scars as pridefully as she does her jewelry. At one time, a witch like this would frighten you, but not anymore.
She looks to Syrith, who holds out her hands impatiently as if to denote that the human has the floor. The human nods and looks to you fiercely.
"I speak for all of us when I say that we'll stay our hands, for now," she declares. "...It's an honor to finally meet you, Agranne of Ryggander, although my enthusiasm is quite tempered compared to how I felt just yesterday. I am Venza of Revendal - Elder of Zuklanar, and had you not been preceded by our Eldest herself, then I would've begged you to join my inner circle."
You remain as stern as before, making no attempt to appear friendly. "...I'm flattered," you reply so coldly that it reads as sarcasm, "...but the only witch I would've accepted as my mentor is Kulka, and unfortunately, she's dead - just another sacrifice for the Grand Design, you see. Your death might still serve the Eldest some use, so I would be weary if I were you," you warn, eliciting a dark chuckle from Syrith, who shakes her head in dismissal.
"I have nothing to fear from my sister," Venza counters. "It's you that I can't trust."
"...Fine. I suppose it's true that I'm rather disinterested in the coven and its loyalties, these days, especially since there are far more important matters afoot."
Venza frowns deeply at your tone, but nonetheless keeps her response diplomatic: "Yes... As we've been told by Syrith: you get your beloved blood sister back, and she completes her manifestation within the body of Princess Sharyx Valghemora - to lead us into the future of her Grand Design, which you besmirch so arrogantly. You've stolen her divinity, Agranne, and thereby you've stolen from all of us. And so we await your decision to return what you've taken, so that you might have the mercy of leaving the coven without endangering yourself and your loved ones."
"You don't scare us," Embryx replies immediately, gripping her scythe tight enough that the leather of her gauntlet creaks under the stress. She's seen enough of everyone's thoughts to know what's true. "...Your pact, though? They're scared shitless of us... and they should be. You fuck with Agranne, and I'll cut you down, put my teeth right through your flesh, and chew your bones, you worms."
Corrinth speaks up as well, sneering at Venza as she derides her: "You shouldn't have bothered with the bluster; Agranne will go through you and Embryx will piss on your grave. And I'll be laughing at you the whole time."
Venza pauses a moment, clearly taken aback by the threats. She isn't used to facing this sort of open contempt, and she lets out a sigh while mulling a response to it all. "...What a shame that you've chosen this path, Agranne. Lythrefang is everywhere... But specifically, it's keeping watch over your remaining family - in Halax, on the north side of the Rycht River. If you continue playing this game, then you'll be trading all of their lives away for your unchecked ambition."
You remember the fury that gripped your heart when you learned that Corrinth had intended to threaten your father's life in exchange for your induction into the coven. While you've long since accepted your permanent separation from your family, you haven't forgotten them or felt any less desire to see them live well. To hear Venza casually threaten them like this - it doesn't flood your heart with despair as it would've when you first awoke to your abilities. That time of your life is behind you. Now, there can be only one answer from someone who has done what you've done, and who knows what you know.
"Fine... Kill them." You reply.
Not just the Venza and her allies, but yours as well, are shocked by the reply. Their mouths hang open. Syrith visibly flinches.
You grin, madly, knowing that the goddess is falling into an ever-deepening crisis, in which the only possible outcomes of her endless prognostication are ones in which her Grand Design is torn to shreds.
"...If that's what you believe will bend me to your will, then I have a wager of my own," you continue, ruthlessly twisting the knife. "Lythrefang is everywhere, but there will be no corner of this world where they'll be safe from me; I will burn you down, I will kill your pact sisters and their circles in kind, and I will travel Zuklanar and the planes of Gondia for a hundred years - or maybe beyond, if I should follow Kulka and become a lich - scouring out your faithful sorority and leaving nothing but death for your lot. Do it. I dare you."
"Enough!" Syrith intervenes. She's breathing heavily and looks as if she's coming completely unraveled. "I- I forbid you from harming her family... We cannot allow ourselves to walk this path, this... this leads to disaster - for all of us," she howls, imploring not just her allies, but you and yours as well. She begins to pace. "...The comet is coming, Agranne. Let's ready ourselves for Rigatte's arrival, shall we?"
You can't help but be amused by Syrith's desperate attempt to placate you. "Fine, lead the way."
Syrith beckons you to follow, and you proceed through the first chamber to an ornately carved archway in the cave wall. Your allies follow close behind, and behind them, Venza, Seith, and the other witches cautiously file in to avoid getting too close. Again, you pass down a flight of ancient steps until you emerge in the final chamber, and you immediately sense your closeness to the end of your journey.
The walls are adorned with ancient runes, not much different from what you see when you gaze upon the markings of divinity. This, you perceive, is the first language, recorded her by the ancient witches of Lythrefang long before the Empire came to exist atop this place. The cave floor is smooth, here, and gently slopes downward towards a ring in the middle of the chamber that seems to descend infinitely into darkness. A shaft of dim moonlight falls from a fissure in the ceiling above, and the ray fades away into the pit near the center.
"...In mere minutes, the comet will be at its closest point. Its sanguine light will open a passage to the land beyond death, allowing a thread of anima to pass through the sea of necros," Syrith explains. "I had devised this place only as a means of holding the fragments of my soul embedded within those of my sisters so that they wouldn't pass on to the afterlives of other gods, where they could be used as leverage against me. The promise of resurrection to one sister each century was both a tool for recruitment, as well as assurance that our enemies will never truly be safe from the most talented among us."
Syrith looks upwards at the fissure, longingly. "When the comet appears, my soul will sense its other piece. I'll need you to stand with me telekinetically in the center of the chamber, above the portal, so that we're both bathed in the comet's light. Your divinity will resonate - you'll be able to reach it with your magic. And then, you'll need to compel it."
"How? Isn't it a ball of fire?" you reply.
Syrith shakes her head. "No. It's the opposite, in fact. And it has a soul; you can compel it."
"...You want me to compel you?"
"I want you to guide me home. The stone and ice which comprises the comet will stay in the stars above, but my soul will return with its divinity, waiting to be absorbed into its new vessel. Once I've taken what's mine from that beam of light, I'll restore your sister to life. Then, we part ways."
You gaze at the pit and realize that you won't be getting Rigatte back without Syrith's help, since you don't know how to conduct the ritual. At the very least, she has apparently conceded that she can't get back the divinity that you absorbed from the door. But, as always, you know you can't trust her, and so your next decision is perhaps the most important one you will ever make.
1. Beneath the Devil's Limelight - "...Deal."
2. Like Clockwork - You decide that you'll agree to the plan, only to take the remaining divinity from the comet as well. There's no way you're letting Syrith touch that power until after you've finished ascending to godhood, and after you've got Rigatte back.
3. The Estrangement of Two Hands - You decide that if you can't kill Syrith, you'll do the next best thing - by using the divinity within the comet to gild what remains of Sharyx' soul, and dispersing the remainder of the goddess into every person in the room so that no pure fragment of Syrith will remain. Maybe, if you absorb enough, you'll learn how to conduct the ritual yourself.
4. Goodbye, Rigatte - You realize that you have the chance to compel the comet away from yourself, and away from the whole world, leaving Syrith permanently fragmented. You won't see Rigatte ever again if you do this, nor will it ever be possible for her, or any other witch, to return from Syrith's afterlife.
CHUUYAS_HAT
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