Fantasy Hunter's Moon: The Sin & Sentence [IC] [CLOSED]

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"There isn't some kind of return policy to these, I'm assuming..."

Leakhena makes her way back to the rest of the group just in time to catch Hudson say this. She’s wondering the same thing herself, ironically. As necessary as all this is or might be, she hopes they’ll return what they’re using. None of these weapons or whatever else they’re taking belongs to them, and considering how time is currently being affected in the mortal realm, the presence of these weapons and other belongings of her land’s former leaders will only damage things further.

“I certainly hope there is. This is borderline theft, and the mortal realm doesn’t need any more upsets than what it’s going through already.” she chimes in. “Had it not been for Vixas sanctioning this, I would’ve attempted to kill you for this flagrant desecration.”

Not a smile or a laugh comes out to show she might be joking.

 

[K0mori]

"'Attempted' being the key word," Mariette snarked. However, she then grew serious as she implored the others: "...But I do agree that you all should avoid bringing any souvenirs with you into the mortal realm. In my studies of the dark arts, I have received a litany of warnings against seeking or keeping things which come from the Abyss. They can be... how do you say? Hazardous to your health- mental as well as physical, mes amis. As soon as the immediate threat is vanquished, I urge you all to discard what you have acquired here. I'm sure that there will be someone available to return them to their proper resting places as you cross back into the land of the living."

A brief daydream plays out in Mariette's mind. She crosses through the doorway into some secluded neck of the Daristeinian woods, guided by Cassandra's hand into the moonlight. She turns to look over her shoulder, at the gleaming red pearl eyes embedded in the armor she left behind, carelessly, in the offal drenched passage beyond the gate. As the stone doors shut and block the desolate view, Mariette snaps back to reality, bristling at the imagery. No, she thinks, that cannot be. ...I'll return this relic myself.

The thought does not bring her peace.

 

[Infab]

Vixas nodded. "When you return to the Abyssal Gate, Tariun will retrieve the items from you. It is best that they stay here in this realm...Abyssal material in the mortal realm leads to rather unfortunate situations and incidents." he stated, looking to the items the group had gathered. "I believe however that the angelic sword should be returned to Heaven...It is, after all, Heaven's property. You should hand it over to Cassiel once you have crossed the threshold back into the mortal realm. He will see that it is returned to Heaven."

He then turned his head towards Leakhena. "Tariun also supports this action. In the event you encounter an Icon, you will need something to slay said Icon. Sazak fought a Living Saint during the Age of Darkness, and practically won as the Saint died from the wounds he inflicted shortly after he was banished. Saints are powerful entities, filled with an extraordinary power made manifest by Heaven itself. That should give you a general idea of how dangerous they are. Sazak has only grown in power since then, as have the other Icons, so you all need gear to fight them with. Should it come to that."

 

[joshuadim]

Seeing the body of Kaizen was a rather humbling experience for Venextos as he viewed the titan of a being imprisoned and long dead in a wall. Such a being of incredible power to have been deposed by Taranoch and thus bringing about such misery and death over these centuries. How inconsequentially powerful he was compared to this being, even when its dead, made Venextos feel rather small in the grand scheme of things. The wizard wondered how things would have gone had Kaizen never been usurped, how different would much of the world's history be? He had no particular connection to the former King of the Abyss, yet he felt a feeling of respect to the deceased as he bowed his head slightly as he viewed it before moving on with the rest of the group.

Now in these tombs of Icons and servants of them and former kings, Venextos felt somewhat uncomfortable at the prospect of disturbing resting places and essentially graverobbing but Vixas spoke of it being sanctioned by Tariun which helped to ease his mind. One by one members of the company collected items of interest to them and used them in their own arsenals. As Venextos looked around, a rather ornate entrance to a tomb that, when compared to others, looked grandiose and regal. His interest piqued, he looked about to find Vixas and spoke up: "Vixas, I found a rather ornate entrance... is there anyone of significance that lays inside?"

 

[Infab]

Vixas moved to where Venextos was, looking up at the fancy regal archway. "Ah, the tomb of Jolvan. He was an Icon of Vainglory during the reign of the Mad King, Joron. He was one of the figures that kicked off Joron's purge of his Icons, and was the first to die. Rather self-absorbed, honestly. You will see, should you venture into his tomb. He had a necklace which granted him exceptional magical power. A mage like yourself could use such an item."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson nodded his head at Vixas' explanation of what to do with the sword he had just procured, not acknowledging Leakhena's threat of killing the others to return the artifacts. At the very least she seemed to do so out of the sentiment for the mortal realm, which did count for something. He found that unusual, to say the least.

"Right. I'll get this back to Cassiel when I'm done. Guess that tomb will have to do with my old sword from now on since I sure as hell won't be coming back to this place. So long as I'm still alive, that is." the hunter stated with a bitter chuckle.

"I don't doubt that Sazak's gotten more powerful with time, but now more than ever I am certain that the bastard doesn't stand a chance. Not against us."

 

[joshuadim]

The idea of a item related to the arts of sorcery further increased Venextos' curiosity as he nodded to Vixas before entering the tomb of the former Icon of Vainglory. Inside, he saw just how pompous and gaudy the entire thing was as it was lined with all sorts of precious metals and gemstones for even the most insignificant of aspects of the tomb such as the torch holders. Yet nothing compared at all to the actual resting place of Jolvan himself, whose sarcophagus seemed to be plucked straight from a painting with all sorts of intricately crafted carvings and embedded gems lining the entire length and width of the thing. The wizard gave off an audible scoff as he approached the sarcophagus and took a closer look at the carvings, realizing that it essentially detailed nearly every aspect of Vixas' life in the most grandiose way possible.

"Could give the current Icon a run for his money." Venextos muttered as he then took the time to look over the precious stones, many of whom were brilliant and flawless in their cutting and craftwork and could easily eclipse monarchical gemstones back in the mortal world. After enough time, Venextos extended a hand out towards the top of the sarcophagus and flicked it outwards. This caused the top to lift upwards and away from the tomb in a rather gentle manner as Venextos then looked inside to be greeted with the corpse of the Icon as well as several treasures that littered the inside.

Much like the outside, the interior was lavishly decorated as nearly every corner was plated in gold and the Icon's remains clad in precious silks. And the necklace that Vixas spoke lay around the dead neck of Jolvan. The necklace itself had a singular large piece at its center that was held by a platinum chain yet the former is what intrigued Venextos the most. As he cupped his hand underneath to hold it he felt an immense power radiate from it that, when placed around his neck, made him feel as though he was revitalized and full of energy and egged him along to investigate further as he took a closer look.

The construct itself was made of a black metal that seemed to have mechanisms for movement and was rather sparse in its actual decor which was odd given the nature of the Icon that wore it. Venextos attempted to see if it opened by phyiscal means but to no avail as it didn't budge even for the slightest distance. That was when he realized that the answer was rather simple given the nature of such an artifact hinted at by Jolvan. Venextos let it hang from his neck as he brought his hand together by the fingertips and, channeling some magic as he did so, spread them apart at level with the necklace. This caused it to open slowly to reveal its inside, an orange crystal that radiated such power that the sorcerer felt as though he could set entire continents ablaze as streams of orange magic went out from the pendent and into his hands and chest.

"Fascinating..." Venextos muttered as he observed what the artifact was doing to him before quickly closing it once more. As he stepped out from the tomb he looked at Vixas with a smirk and nodded: "Indeed, this necklace holds mighty power... if only I had the opportunity to study its intricacies on my own time."

 

[Doomevil]

Senya didn't partake in any of the regular tombs around, but observed the structures across the graveyard. This Trig'dranuuch sounds like he could have started a worse Age of Darkness than Taranoch did. How Adriel managed to slay such a powerful figure baffled her. Her senses threw her in a tangle, as she could still feel auras wandering the place. Unlike the others who took weapons and armor, she waited until they reached further deep.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Sazak fought a Living Saint during the Age of Darkness, and practically won as the Saint died from the wounds he inflicted shortly after he was banished."

“Sazak had actually fought someone directly? That doesn’t seem like him at all!” responds a surprised and confused Leakhena. To engage in open combat with another opponent just doesn’t seem like something he’d do. Working from the shadows, sneaking behind backs, relegating the dirty work to ‘the filthy lesser masses’ just to keep his hands clean is more the style of those of Vainglory and Pride. Whoever it was he fought, it must’ve been someone craftier than him, braver than him, or someone he really hated. “... Who was it?”

 

[Infab]

Vixas nodded, looking back to Leakhena. "Indeed. He fought Ethraeil first, slaughtering his undead army almost singlehandedly for Taranoch. As for the Living Saint, it was a Knight Paladin of the Vigilant Order by the name of...Rebecca Witlocke." he explained, pausing only for a moment to recall the Saint's name.

Cassandra paused nearby, cocking her head and looking to Vixas. "...Witlocke?" she said. Vixas nodded. "Yes...Perhaps she is related to your Valeria Witlock?" Cassandra shook her head. "I've never heard of a Saint named Witlocke, and you know how the Church revere their Saints." she said, letting her new sword's blade rest at her side.

"Perhaps it is because they stripped her name from Church history? After all, the Knight Paladin was one of the five responsible for banishing Taranoch back to the Abyss, and binding him along with all of demon kind to this place...Their existence was likely cleansed from the records to prevent vengeful demons from exacting revenge on their descendants." replied Vixas. Cassandra cocked an eyebrow. "...Perhaps." she muttered, "...It'd explain Sazak's fascination with her and why he'd want to keep her locked away in a pit for eternity."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

”Their existence was likely cleansed from the records to prevent vengeful demons from exacting revenge on their descendants."

“Clearly it hasn’t worked since he’s come after her descendants. But at this point, it would be a miracle if we find Valeria intact.” she responds. “... And not just her body.”

A curious thought comes to her mind now that they’re amongst the tombs of dead icons and talking about one of the current ones. She was educated in school about the new icons and how benevolent they were, while at home her parents taught her the real truth about them. Yet she wonders, what were they like before?

“Though if I may ask now we’ve spoken about Sazak... was he always the petty creature he is now? Actually, were the icons of now always like this even before they stole the title? My parents told me as much as they could while they still lived, but what do you say, Sir Vixas?”

 

[Infab]

“Though if I may ask now we’ve spoken about Sazak... was he always the petty creature he is now? Actually, were the icons of now always like this even before they stole the title? My parents told me as much as they could while they still lived, but what do you say, Sir Vixas?"

"Sazak has always been this way, even before he was an Icon just before Taranoch's rebellion against Kaizen. Some say that Sazak even helped orchestrate Taranoch's rise to power, while just a lieutenant in the Icon of Vainglory's service at the time." replied Vixas, with a nod. "Once Taranoch overthrew Kaizen, he killed the Icons and replaced them with ones of his choosing. Sazak was a perfect choice for the new Icon of Vainglory. The rest were chosen by Taranoch with Sazak's assistance. You can see why Taranoch favors Sazak in some matters. He is still just as harsh on Sazak as he is on the other Icons, however."

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

"Once Taranoch overthrew Kaizen, he killed the Icons and replaced them with ones of his choosing."

A look of sadness comes across Leakhena’s face as he mentions the death of the previous icons. Kaizen and his chosen weren’t the only ones her father served in his castle. Whenever Kaizen called for a meeting between himself and the icons, her father catered to them as well according to their tastes. He had fond stories to tell about them whenever they visited, but of Lord Tastrin especially. Her father would always add a extra portions to his plate for him during dinner time, not because he enjoyed eating that much, but as a show of gratitude; thanking him the best way he knew how for helping reform her mother from her ways, and achieve demonhood and ascendency later. Had he not done that, her mother likely would’ve turned hollow, and she wouldn’t be standing here today.

She scratches her head, thinking out loud. “Huh... well that should’ve been obvious. I’m surprised the previous icons got burials at all... I say we bury the new ones inside of Thorgran’s commode.”

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson was also rather unfamiliar with a Saint by the name of Witlocke, though really his all-consuming apathy during his indoctrination in Velin's Order left little room for historical retention. Once the explanation of her name being stripped from history was brought up, things made a little more sense. Even in a slight victory through self-sacrifice spiteful demons managed to find a way to muck things up.

"There are few things I hate more than a cocky demon bastard." The hunter had his arms crossed and now leaned against the door to the tomb he had just liberated the sword from. "Sazak's been on an upward climb and clearly Witlocke didbn't humble him nearly enough. He won't stop spreading misery until he's dead. Both him and that monster of a king he fancies so much."

 

[SniperComZero]

Gwen remained silent on the trip further into the realm of kings. She had little else that she wished to say, frankly. Something felt wrong about entering the tunnel to rob graves, but... given the consequences, anything should be done to prevent the failure of the group. Many of the doors interested her little, until she came upon one. A sliver of amber peeked out from its seam, illuminating its engravings.

Atop the door was an engraving that didn't look especially... demonic, to her. Three lillies, arranged in a triangle, and held within the outline of a shield. It was so strange to find a symbol like that in the deepest catacombs of the Abyss. It reminded her of her own lands, really. Her glove knocked upon the stone, before uttering the magic phrase. "Ackteh Nirucht Mortian." The words hung uncomfortably in her throat, as she tried her best to emulate the demon's cantation, but, lo and behold, the tomb's covering slid to the side to allow her entry.

The tomb itself was... not what she expected. When she entered, there was no grand tapestry that adorned the walls, and neither was there engravings that covered them. Instead, every wall was carved deep, only for the shelves to be lined with rows upon rows of books. They were all snugly bound in place, to the point where there wasn't even enough space to hold all of the writings that particular icon had. More boxes lined the floor, holding everything from journals to heavy, well-bound pieces that Gwen figured were the width of her arm. Out of her own curiosity, she had decided to lift up some of the books to see what they contained. To her disappointment, though, from what she could make out within the dim, amber lighting, they were illegible to her. All sorts of different languages. Some put a pain into her head as she tried to read them, which must've been indicative of their Abyssal writing. Many others, though, didn't.

The most curious of these books was one that rest atop a table, in front of the sarcophagus which was, almost disappointingly, blasé. A simple coffin of dark, polished wood. Gwen figured it was ebony, it seemed very dark. On top of the table, however, was a suspiciously inconspicuous book, bound in leather, that bore the same seal that had caught her eye upon the door. Only this time, the inside of the emblem was a light, faded blue, and the lillies were white. The whole emblem had been chipped and stressed out a hundred times, from how she looked at it. An inkwell, long since dried, also sat beside the book. Once Gwen picked it up however, she turned it to some random page, and this one she found that she could... well, actually read.

The handwriting was somewhat messy, and the language held within was archaic, but with her own effort, she could easily understand what was being written. It seemed like instructions for something. She turned the page within the front cover, to see if there was a title.

[A Comprehensive Compendium of Mortal Magicks]

. . .Interesting. She flipped until finding something interesting. Telepathy sounded good to her. All the instructions were clear, concise, and a part of Gwen thought that it'd simply be too good to be true. Focusing her mind upon the inkwell, she muttered something beneath her breath, taking a stance, before it began to levitate up, into the air. Not for very long, as her surprise broke the concentration that she required to lift any sort of object. She doubled back upon the book, as the inkwell clattered to the ground, the dried puck of ink within clattering around.

This would be... more than handy. Gwen slotted the book within her bag, a satisfied look upon her face as she rejoined with the rest of the group. "Ah, Vixas? Out of a simple curiosity, was there any icon that had a proclivity for collecting knowledge?"

 

[Viper Actual]

Grave robbing, good intentions or not, didn't exactly sit right Seriphine and while she didn't speak out about it aloud the thought of invoking the rage of some long-dead demonic icon made her tense up. While she viewed most demons with hate and saw them as pests she wasn't foolish enough to ignore the power they held- nor the horrible things a demonic curse or spell could cause.

But then she came upon a small tomb tucked away separately from the others. Her best guess? Some disgraced high-ranking demon or a lieutenant of some sort. At the center of the room laid a surprisingly simplistic coffin adorned with only simple symbols and engravings. By comparison to the other tombs this one was surprisingly spartan overall with only a single war-banner up on the far wall.

Tattered and worn the banner was black with three white spikes on it. It almost looked like a crown of some sort, though knowing demons it might as well mean anything. On the far end of the coffin laid a crown of similar design.

Resting her hands on the hilts of her two blades she looked over at Vincent and nodded towards the tomb. "Who do you think this was? A warrior? A king?"

Seriphine narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps a warlord like myself."

 

[Damian0358]

Earlier, as the group traveled through the Canyon of Kings
Oni Village
The Land of Dead Kings




Takato couldn't believe his eyes, as his uncle rushed towards him and gave him a big hug. Abahai stepped to the side, and just smiled.

"[B-boy! It's been so long!]" the elder oni said in Upper Redonian, having heard Takato respond with such, "[I, I can't believe you're here!]"

"[Y-yeah...]" Takato could barely muster. His uncle was his guardian, the one whom he remembered taking care of him, before the incident... before he could continue that thought, he felt his uncle tugging at his robe.

"[Come, come! I'll prepare you and Abahai some tea, and we can then talk!]" his uncle said, eager to bring him within. Takato nodded, and the three went inside.

The inside of the home was basic enough, having the usual furniture that'd you see in the homes of southern Oni, a mix of native and Upper Redonian. The two oni were brought to the living room table, where they sat down as the uncle rushed towards the kitchen. Abahai maintained a grin, as Takato looked around from his sitting position, still in a bit of shock himself.

"[Sooo, what do you think?]" Abahai asked her younger counterpart.

"[...still processing,]" Takato responded, noting that his uncle's aura wasn't the only one in the home. There was someone upstairs too, they were sleeping, in deep enough that noise won't wake them up. Must be nice, he thought. He also felt that someone was in what was likely the backyard, but their aura was... entrancing. He found himself concentrating on it far more than he thought was necessary, and was only broken out of his trance when his uncle reemerged, tea at the ready.

"[I hope you won't mind local tea, boy! It's not as good as the stuff down in Yinjian, but it works...]" his uncle remarked, pouring the three of them some tea.

The uncle joined the two at the table, and raised his tea bowl; "Umicki!" he cheered, Abahai and Takato responding in kind.

"[So, boy... how have things been back home?]" the uncle asked, Takato looking a tad nervous, before remembering he can actually divert this.

"[O-oh, I wouldn't know. I've been... traveling, yes, traveling.]"

"[Oh, traveling! Where have you gone?]"

"[A-Adonia...]"

The uncle nearly leapt from his seat; "[A-Adonia?! That continent that's easier to get to from the east than the west?! That continent where the Five Immortals fought against the Great Demon Emperor Taranoch?! That continent?!]" he said in shock.

"[H-heh, y-yeah,]" Takato responded.

"[A-ah, well, that explains why you're down here then. Some of the Adonians I've worked with down here tell me about how awful things can be. So, how'd you die?]" the uncle asked, eager to see a response. He just received a blank expression from Takato.

Abahai decided it would probably be better to jump in before Takato said something improper: "[Have you tried comparing your nephew's aura to mine?]

"[Oh, no, why would I?]"

"[Well, ehm, try it now!]"

"[A-alright...]" the uncle responded, seeming to concentrate heavily on his own aura, Abahai's and Takato's. As he looked down at himself, he slowly raised his head at the two, looking even further shocked.

"[YOU'RE ALIVE?!]" the uncle yelled, Takato only able to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment, "[WHY ARE YOU DOWN HERE?!]"

"[H-he's got important business! He's-]"

"[A-and why do you feel so... Douean? You're reminding me of my weirder cousins!]" the uncle interrupted Abahai.

"[The Dou brought me to this point...]" Takato managed to get a word in. His uncle slumped back a bit, before taking a sip from his tea.

"[Yeah, but my cousins never felt that Douean! What have you been up to?!]" his uncle asked, now more curious than shocked.

Takato looked over at Abahai, wanting to see if she wanted to maybe leave the room, to give them some privacy. She merely shook her head and laid back.

"[...well, do you want me to go from the start?]"

"[How far back does this go?]" the uncle responded, before seeing Takato gulp in reaction.

"[...after your death.]"

The room, at that moment, fell silent. His uncle didn't expect to hear such a thing, and Abahai was just guessing earlier that the oni had been practicing since youth. Afterwards, Takato continued.

"[...news spread quickly of your death. Even then, no one else from the family came to my side, as if they didn't know about me,]" the uncle's eyes widened as Takato mentioned that detail, "[I found himself among those my age, as I tried to understand why it happened, why the humans killed you. The others, they mocked me, saying that they would never try to understand us. While some of the older folk were enraged that one of our kind had been slain, I was just... a frustrated young kid. And because no one wanted to listen to me, I left the mountain. I asked for directions and went to confront the humans myself-]"

"[What, no, no-]" the uncle tried to say, but was cut off by Takato raising his hand. The hermit closed his eyes, before continuing.

"[I arrived at the village where you were apparently killed. I still remember that day, it was... maybe after noon. I remember the staring eyes of the villagers as they saw me, a small oni boy, confront them. They ran and grabbed the beans... and began beating me to death with them,]" he commented, almost cringing at the mention of the beans, which are meant to purify the soul, "[I likely would've died then and there... if someone didn't stop the crowd.]"

Abahai was now leaning in, to listen to the story more closely. She was really curious to hear him spill the beans.

"[An elderly human, yelling at the crowd to stop, saying how I hadn't even done anything aggressive, only defending myself poorly. He approached me and asked me what I wanted. He nodded understandingly, and then began arguing with the crowd. He argued in your name, uncle, and in mine...]" he said, his uncle nodding intently, "[...at some point, someone in the crowd made themselves more apparent... I, I thought it was the man who killed you. In fury, I yelled at him, and in response, he knocked me out with a direct bean strike...]"

"[...later, I woke up, resting under covers, in a home I didn't recognize. Looking around, I saw him, the elderly man, watching over me. He told me he had stopped the man from hurting me any further, and that he had brought me to safety, nursing me back to health. We talked for a bit, and then, he asked me if I wanted him to guide me back home, from his home atop the mountain, back to its foot...]" both Abahai and the uncle squinted at the mention of the mountain top home, before slowly realizing who exactly Takato was referring to, ["...but I remembered how things were back home for me... I was reluctant, and wished for something different. So, he offered me a different way, he offered to teach me the Dou, and stay with him instead. And I accepted...]"

"[...I had become Shan Douzhou's pupil.]"

The uncle nearly dropped his tea bowl in shock, while Abahai howled in surprise. The Great Hermit of Butoo Mountain took him in?! One of the oldest hermits known in all Upper Redonia?!

"[I... I hardly looked back since. He taught me ways to hide my complexion and look more human, as to allow me to join him in village visits. He educated me as best as he could in what he knew of oni. He cared for me as though I were his own. Whatever clan name I might've had before, mattered not, for I was Gaá Xiaòzhou to him, and Ka Takato to the rest of humanity...]"

The uncle looked incredibly saddened at hearing that. While he was glad that his nephew survived all that, and had found someone like Douzhou to watch over him, to hear that in the process he had at least partially sacrificed his heritage, even if his surname (賈) references his mercantile profession...

"[H-have you been to the underground, at least?]" he asked.

"[I have, but... only a handful of times. One time, I was curious to find my past, but, I knew too little for it to work, so I left it be.]"

"[T-then you wouldn't know...]"

"[Know what?]" Takato quickly responded, making his uncle realize that he had just blurted out something he shouldn't have.

"[N-nothing! Well, ehm, uh, are you a hermit then?!]" his uncle tried to change the subject, and while Abahai would've pushed onward and pressured him, Takato let him off with a nod.

"[Y-yes...]"

"[D-Douzhou must've been very proud of you when it happened, right...?]" the uncle asked, before once again getting a blank expression, "[D-don't tell me...]"

It would be Abahai that would ask in shock this time; "[DOUZHOU IS DEAD?!]"

Takato gulped; "[Y-yeah... an assassin struck at the dead of night, as it rained, during my third-to-fourth century... a danmaku-wielding assassin fought against the both of us, and he initially fought fair, but he caught the both of us off-guard. He pushed me to the wayside, and as my master tried to protect me, the assassin drew a short blade... and stabbed him in the gut-]"

"[Of course it was a damnable short blade! I bet it was laced too!]" Abahai yelled in response.

"[Y-yeah... the blade had struck deep, and the sight enraged me. I would manage to struck down the assassin, with his demented look, but it was too late... he was fading. With the rain dissipating, he asked me to move him to the large door of his home, so that he could see the stars and the moon one last time... I laid him on his sheets, and cried. I still remember what he told me, as he neared his end... 'I will pass on with no regrets in this life of mine, I've done all that I could, and too raised a kind soul to take my place...']"

"[He faded into mist, this body dissipating into the night sky, becoming one with the mist which protected our home, and the clouds that adorned the sky... he was one with the Dou now,] Takato concluded, everyone looked sad now.

After a moment of silence, his uncle spoke up: "[...what happened then?]"

"[...well, a century later, disaster struck once more. In his last attempts to defeat me, an assassin would set alight my home, and burned it down to the ground in an attempt to kill me. I survived, but most of what I had left of master didn't. I buried that which was still worth protecting, and left... becoming a wandering hermit. A century afterward, in my attempts to protect a village, an intense blast of qi would surge in me, and result in my horns resprouting, and for the proceeding century, I fled as I tried to continue to do good, stories of the 'False Hermit' spreading, culminating in my confrontation... with the head of Shouki Shrine.]"

"[No way!]" Abahai yelled, "[How'd it go?]"

Takato rolled up his sleeve, fully revealing his bandaged arm, before carefully and gently taking it off. He tossed it onto the table. The other two are speechless.

"[...I was spared due to proving to him that I was indeed a hermit, and that night, spoke and saw plenty, up to the break of dawn. It was then he offered me his opinion, that I could not live peacefully until this 'False Hermit' had fallen out of memory, and that could only happen with my death. People knew how I looked like, so I had to go. He suggested I head eastward, to Adonia, and while the decision was hard, I ultimately left. We hugged it out, as he used my cut-off arm as proof of my death. And for the last century, I had been in Adonia, doing my best...]"

The uncle had become speechless at that point, while Abahai grabbed the artificial arm to examine it and its inside, made out of dark mist.

"[...and now, here I am, part of a party filled with the damned, sent down by one of the Five Immortals to do their work for them-]"

"[...wait, the Five Immortals are alive?]" the uncle finally asked something.

"[One, at least,]" Takato responded. The uncle slumped back, hardly able to finish his tea, while Takato looked over to Abahai, wanting his arm back.

As Takato re-attached the bandaged-formed arm, he could tell his uncle was deep in thought. He wasn't sure what was going through his mind, he didn't blame him. He had gone through a lot since his death.

At that point, his uncle stood up from the table, looking serious, but still struck by everything he's heard; "[Boy- I, I... ehm, Xiaòzhou,]" he corrected himself, "[I, I can't help but feel responsible for this,]" he finally stammered out.

"[Uncle, don't say that-]"

"[No! If I didn't intentionally keep you away from the family, then maybe-]"

"[You did what?]"

"[I had no choice!]" his uncle yelled out in response, "[I, I, I just...]" he tried to stammer something out, but he found it too difficult to say. Takato was nearly in shock, and Abahai realized she found herself in an awkward position.

"[I, I just didn't have one. It was forced upon me...]"

"[W-what happened?]"

"[You did...]"

Takato didn't know how to respond to what his uncle just said. He stood up himself, as to look at him from an equal view.

"[It... it might be better if you spoke to her instead...]" the uncle remarked, "[...she'd be able to tell you far better than I...]", motioning his nephew to follow him. Takato looked down at Abahai, who motioned him to follow. And so he did.

His uncle lead him to the door of the backyard, and once Takato was at the door, he opened it to reveal a decent enough looking garden, as best as one could look in the area, at least. Way in the back, however, there stood an instrument... it was a guzheng. Near the guzheng, sat someone. Dressed in loose clothes, long unkempt hair falling down her shoulders, and horns pointing skyward. She seemed to be meditating, enjoying the quiet of the land. It appeared she hardly paid notice to the noise inside.

Takato noticed that her aura was the one he had his eyes on earlier. He felt something... different, from her. Looking over to his uncle, he motioned him to step out.

"[...just be careful not to surprise her. Use your aura to alert her. And be sure to tell her that it's not me either...]" he told his nephew, the last point seeming rather odd to him, but he nodded regardless.

Takato stepped into the backyard, with the lightest of footsteps, as he observed the tranquility of the area. Slowly, but steadily, he approached the woman on the other side. Seeing her closer, she seemed at peace, but he could tell she was slowly noticing his presence. As instructed, he slowly made his oni aura more apparent.

She turned her head, and spoke in oni; "[...oh, Algin, is that you?]" she asked, "[...I didn't think you'd visit from Yinjian so soon...]"

"[...no,]" Takato responded after a bit, in Upper Redonian, wondering if that's his uncle's name, "[I'm not Algin.]"

"[...o-oh...]" she said back in Upper Redonian, "[...I hadn't heard your voice before... could you step closer?]"

Takato did as she asked, now standing in front of the female oni; "[...could you please sit down, and put your hand forward?]" she said, eyes closed still.

As Takato sat down as she did, he asked; "[...which one?]"

"[...heh... the one on your left, silly... your right isn't there anymore physically...]" she replied, surprising Takato, before realizing she must be observing his aura. Well, he's going to give her a surprise. He sticks out his left hand, though wondering what's going to happen next. He could feel a connection to her, and she likely feels the same, so perhaps...



She placed her right hand atop his left, and her left beneath it, as she seemed to try and figure out what their relation is. In the moments after, the two could feel something... a far greater connection than either anticipated. Takato wasn't sure if he could believe it, but the shock causes her to open her eyes...

Takato saw her eyes, finding her to have been blind this whole time. She tried to look at him directly, relying on his aura, but she was ever so off.

"[...you... it... it-t can't be...]" she said, her voice starting to tremble.

Takato began to slowly realize that, yes, it was as he was feeling it...

"...haha jui...?!" she called him son in oni. He couldn't believe it.

"Eniye...?!" Takato responded by calling her mother in oni, placing his artificial right hand on hers, prompting a little shock from her in addition.

"Jui...!"

"E-Eniye!"

The two responded to one another, before she pulled him in for a motherly hug.

"[...s-son! T-to think, after a-all this t-time...]" she embraced him, as the hermit tried to process the situation, "[...I-I finally get to h-hold you like so...]" she remarked to the oni's surprise, as she moved her hands across his back, to be able to properly hug him.

"[...m-mother, I...]"

"[...I, I'm s-so happy...]" she muttered out, as he could hear her struggling to hold back her tears. He tried to hold steady too, but hearing her struggle is pushing him to join her.

She pulled away from her son, as her hands moved from his back up his neck, as to allow her to examine his face. Takato, with his mother's hands on his face, and being able to see her tears across her face, was pushed to his point of tears.

"[...I, I can f-feel so much of y-your fa-father and I-I... y-you really are my boy...]" her tears only intensified, Takato catching up.

Soon, her hands reached his skullcap, and as she touched it, she felt the material before checking what's underneath. Finding Takato's shaven horns, she began slowly sliding her fingers over them.

"[...y-your horns...]" she said, in a saddened tone.

"[...d-don't worry, mother...] he responded, placing his hands on her forearms for reassurance.

She continued her examination, and found Takato's slightly flattened zhuāngzi jīn cap, and the string that kept it on his head. Her expression seemed to be one of partial surprise.

"[...a-are you a D-Douean like y-you distant cousins?]" she asked.

"[...y-yes... and far more than that too,]" he responded, before pulling her in for another hug, "[...I never thought I'd see the day either...]"

The two embraced for a bit longer, as the two tried to calm their tears. He could feel that his mother had so many questions.

Slowly releasing their respective hugs, the two 'looked' at one another as best as they could.

"[...y-you feel physically more l-like Abahai than you d-do Algin...]" she remarked, "[...are you alive?]"

"[...I am...]"

"[...why are you here?]" she asked, worriedly.

"[...to help the world the best I can...]" he answered with the best thing he could. His mother seemed to nod, in some sort of understanding.

"[...if it is like your cousins, t-then I understand... b-but you wear a] garša..." she responded, remarking on his hermit garb, "[...are you a hermit?]"

"[Y-yes... much happened after...]" Takato tried to remark before being cut off.

"[A-Algin's death...?]"

"[Y-yes...]"

His mother looked down, with some sadness, before Takato was forced to awkwardly ask.

"[...A-Algin told me that he was forced to keep me away from the family... what did he mean...?"

She looked away in silence, as though embarrassed by the question; "[...what do you know of our clan?]"

"[...nothing but Algin's aura...]" he responded, saddening her more.

"[...A-Algin remained silent for m-many years after he arrived, d-due to not wanting to tell m-me what happened, b-but he has since...]"

"[...and what did he tell you?]"

She turned back to Takato; "[...m-my clan, Kanggili, a-and your father's, Turge... t-they weren't on the best of terms...]" she began explaining to her son, "[...his was a mercantile clan, providing for itself with trade with humans... mine was more creative, providing art to our kin... they viewed each other with such dislike due to their spheres... b-but then, one day, I met him... Enggule...

"[...your father watched me perform, a-and he wished to meet m-me after... oh, how sweet he was... us two, we fell for one another, and soon... we asked if we could stay together... your clans tried to stop us, but caring for us more, they relented...

"[...oh, how happy he was... 'Nari... I don't care what my clan says about your appearance... I'll be here for you...']" she told Takato, putting her hands on her face as if emulating what his father did as he told her that. Takato didn't realize appearance was much of a factor...

"[...but after... I began to lose sight... though I could still play, he had to help me more and more... my clan resented him for it, saying he was the cause for it, angering his clan... before I lost sight fully, he promised me we would try for a child... and we did...]" she tried to look directly as Takato as she said that, who looked embarrassed to hear that.

"[...but as the months passed, I grew more and more ill... we held hope that you would come safely... your father wanted you to be the one to name yourself, while I wished for a name such as Niohe... but...]" Nari tried to continue, but struggled to find the words, "[...on that day... I wasn't able to be there for you...]"

Takato was in shock to hear her say this. Is... is that what his uncle meant?

"[...Algin would later tell me how hate rose between the clans, and how Enggule was beside himself... he handed you over to him, asked him to keep you away from them, and left... he told me that was the last time he saw him...]"

"[...father...]" Takato couldn't believe what he was hearing, "[...how have things been here then?]"

"[...they've put aside their differences here, which is why they're fine with me being with your father's brother... but I haven't seen Enggule since...]" she revealed, with great sadness.

Takato tried to bring some levity; "[...perhaps my prayers to you all did somehow reach you...

"[...I remember when I first found out that maybe oni don't go to heaven... I grew worried none of us had heard me, years of filial piety as the humans did... but hearing you've put aside your differences...]"

His mother looked up at him, with a weak smile; "[...heh... maybe... I'm glad to hear that, even with you not knowing your family... you still wished us the best...]"

Takato smiled back at her, before being a bit embarrassed. She noted the change in aura; "[...what is the matter?]" she tilted her head.

"[...I feel some shame... I was ultimately raised by a human hermit, and yet I feel as though I had failed him... I am an oni, and yet it is thought I'm not one at all... and I care for family, yet don't know them in the slightest...]" Takato responded, looking down, before finding himself embraced by his mother once more.

"[...no, don't say that...!]" she raised her voice slightly, not wanting her son to feel sad, "[...whatever happened, happened. You're as oni as Algin and I... you cared for us as much as you could've... and that human was family for you too... whatever troubles you face, I'm sure he knows you can beat them...!]"

Takato didn't know how to feel about her encouragement... he felt that he hadn't detached himself enough from the world, and still knew not his family truly... and yet, Tariun confirmed he bore not enough sin to pass through the gate otherwise, and his mother seemed happy enough knowing he still cared.

"[...that human likely bore his own troubles too... just as Enggule and I did... and he managed to persevere to take care of you...]" she continued on, "[...and it matters not to me if you're a hermit, or an oni... you're you, my child...]" pulling him into a tighter hug, "[...the fact you live is all I care about...]"

Takato tried to avoid crying again as the weight of everything made itself present once more, but she soon released her hug.

"[...in times like these, I like to relax by playing music... and I wished to have you sing with me as I played... could you fulfill this one wish for me?]" she asked, to which he responded by taking her hand to help her up.

He guided her to the nearby guzheng; "[...you speak more Upper Redonian, so perhaps you know 'A Moonlit Night On The Spring River'?]" she asked him.

"[I know the poem, yes...]"

"[...then let us sing...]" she said, as she slowly placed her hands on the guzheng.



Nari began pulling the strings of the guzheng, and playing an Upper Redonian piece that was popular among the southern Oni. And soon enough, Takato and Nari began singing the poem the piece was based on.

The echoes of the guzheng and their voices reverberated in that part of the village, as everyone noted the addition of a new voice alongside her usual playing. Takato watched as his mother masterfully played the guzheng, a true artist able to perform as she was now. He tried his best to match her melodicity, knowing how to sing to a degree, but with her shifting her voice to match his, it sounded as though they were truly in sync.

Within the home, Abahai and Algin listened on, the former having just heard the same story Takato had heard from Algin's end, and critiquing him for not having any contigency plans. With the music's presence, the two just stopped and enjoying it, before Algin led Abahai to the backyard. The two began watching as mother and son joined in harmony.

Slowly but surely, the song was over. Takato held his hand to his chest, trying to bare this moment as best he could. He felt his mother slowly approach him, so he turned to her.

"[...what name do you bare now?]" she asked him, holding out her hand. Confused for a moment, Takato realized it was to 'write' it, so he wrote 賈孝人, one character at a time.

"[...Gaá Xiaòzhou... heh, the human must've named you so... it's a nice name...]" she told him, "[...your father would've liked it...]"

"[Hey!]" Abahai suddenly yelled, surprising Takato and scaring Nari, before the latter realized who it was.

"[A-Abahai, d-don't yell like so...!]"

"[H-heh, sorry,]" she apologized, "[but the boy and I need to get a move on. Those six mortal minutes are nearly up!]" she joked, but she did think it was time to get a move on.

Takato looked at his mother, wanting to see how she'll respond; "[...the world does need as many helpers as it can get, right?]" she remarked.

Takato with a smile responded: "[Y-yeah...!]"

His mother motioned him to squat down slightly, which he proceeded to do. Slowly placing her hand on his head, and moving towards his skullcap, she raised it, and proceeded to kiss him between his shaven horns. Embarrased slightly, she gave him one last hug.

"[...promise me you'll find out what happened to your father after everything is said and done...]" she asked of him.

"[...I promise,]" he responded, reciprocating the hug.

They release one another, and Takato began to move towards Algin and Abahai. As he did, he turned to see Nari waving at him: "[...stay safe...!]"

"[I-I will!]" he told her, as he went inside.

Takato, Abahai, and Algin headed for the front door, where Algin made his goodbyes; "[I hope you got something out of this, boy... I'll miss ya,]" he said, giving his own hug.

"[...I did, uncle,]" he said, returning the hug, "[...it helped me plenty.]"

Soon enough, Takato and Abahai depart, Algin waving at them. Minutes later, the two arrive where the others departed. Abahai looked over at the hermit with a big grin, who seemed to be relieved that he had decided to take this opportunity.

"[Well, that was as emotional as I expected!]" she remarked, trying to lighten the mood, "[The others are probably still in the canyon, it takes more than an hour to get there at his usual speed, but I'm sure you could go fast enough to get there in about an hour!]" she said, patting the younger oni on the shoulder.

"[Y-yeah...]" he responded, not expecting the pat, "[Abahai...]"

"[Yeah?]"

"[...it's been a real honor getting the chance to meet you, and thank you for this,]" Takato thanked his elder counterpart, fully bowing.

"[Aw shucks! It's not a problem at all! Now, go on, get outta here!]" Abahai yelled at him in a friendly manner. Takato began checking if he was ready for flight.

"[Oh! And be sure to ask ol' lanky to do the brain thing that he does after the hand thing! You'll probably be late, so that'd help!]" she yelled without context.

"[Ah, ehm, alright?]" Takato just muttered, before waving at her goodbye.

"[Try and come back again! Maybe we can visit Yinjian, or fight!]" she waved back, as Takato ascended into the sky, and flew towards the canyon.

As Takato flew into the canyon, he considered the use of a talisman which enabled him to use a mystic technique that can propel anything forward at a greater force. Placing the talisman in question on his forehead would launch himself forward, and help shorten travel if ever slightly, though he'd have to be careful not to push himself too hard. Reaching for his pack of talismans, and grabbing the card in question, as he was about to place it on his forehead, he noticed his skullcap once more.

After the experience he just had, he didn't feel as troubled over the things he had been worrying about, mainly in regards to himself and his place. Remembering his mother's words, he decided to lift his cap slightly and take off the skullcap. Putting it in his robe, he then placed the talisman on his forehead, launching himself forward. These emotions he now felt, he knew others had known them before. He could understand that all felt them, but now he knew it himself. From the individual, to the greater. He knew now...

Abahai watched as Takato launched himself forward into the canyon, slowly disappearing into the distance. Despite that, however, she still felt his presence near her. Turning around, she yelled;

"[Alright, come out, you!]" she yelled in the direction of the presence.

Behind one of the houses, stepped out the shadow who had been harassing her this entire time.

"[So, tell me! When did you figure it out?]" she teased.

"[...about two hours ago... I only arrived here some 10 minutes ago, when you finished your business at the home,]" Shadow Takato said, practically seething at the thought.

"[Ooooh, did I ruin your plans or something?]" she continued to tease.

"[I should slaughter all within this village for what you've done!]" he spat out in rage.

"[But you won't~.]"

"[...]" he remained silent, with his gaze fixated at her.

"[So, what's it going to be now? Are you going to fight me?!]" she yelled, looking like she's getting kind of excited.

"[...gah, it's pointless. Neither you or they are important anymore. I have to concentrate on what to do now-]"

"[Oh, come the fuck on!]" Abahai cut the shadow off in anger, "[You spend the last how much trying end my life, and the moment your plan fails, you just move on?! You're spiritually killing me here!]" she spoke in frustration.

"[I owe you no fight, now if you'll excuse me...]" the shadow said, turning and seeming ready to depart.

"[Oh, no you don't!]" Abahai yelled, thrusting her hands forward, aimed at the shadow. Before the shadow could begin to care to notice, she had aimed her magic at him. The shadow raised his hand up, ready to dissipate, when as he tried to do so, he noticed a blue glow preventing him. He tried a few more times, growing more worried.

"[Technique I created after I beat enough of my own shadows,]" she revealed, as she approached him, "[can't escape for the next bit! You can't run away from the fight you were teasing me with!]"

Shadow Takato tried to turn around, but found himself kicked in the gut. As he tried to predict her next strike, she punches him hard enough to launch him out of the village.

"[Now! Show me what he can do! Hahaha!]" she proclaimed, jumping after him, as she proceeded to fight the shadow. The villagers who noticed what was going on informed everyone that Abahai was again fighting a shadow, resulting in a small crowd forming at the village entrance to watch.
---
Now, within the Tombs
Vucrox
The Land of Dead Kings


Takato stood by the side after hearing Vixas answer his question. As the tomb was on the way to the catacombs, he'll just wait until then. He was at least glad to hear that these things they're taking from the tombs will be returned once they leave the Abyss.

Likely no one had truly noticed, but after his experience at the village, he had been balancing his oni and hermitic aura, making not one strong than the other. With his shaven horns on show too, he wasn't hiding himself any longer. He was determined to face the challenges that will come up because of who he is, and the decisions he's made. He feared not confronting his beliefs as he did before, and so, to confirm this, he wanted to pilgrim to Zazriel, to pay his respects as his fellow oni did. To pay respect to his own kin, and to pay respect to those akin to his own beliefs.

 

[Breadman]

Henderson raised an eyebrow as the name Witlock was brought up. A saint no less. He flipped the hammer, placing the head on the ground and he leaned slightly on the handle as he started to think. There was no saint he knew of with that name, but the demon had no reason to lie to them now. What purpose would it serve him if he wants to destroy Sazak and keep his ascended nature. Then he remembered a conversation long ago with Theodore during one of his visits. 'The Archivists keep many secrets for the church.' He had said with a dry tone 'Don't think your existence is the biggest one they have. Your ego is bad enough.' At the time he didn't think much of it. But now it made sense. The little runt was right of course, but he didn't know about this either. His report would have made mention of it. But now the details seemed to have formed a story.

"Saint Witlock battles and humiliates Sazak." He started putting together the details "And just a few years ago, he is involved in an incident with an inquiry led by an inquisitor named Witlock and takes possession of her body after taking an item of great power. Seems too big of a coincidence." He shot a look towards Vincent "I think whatever the church did to erase her history didn't work if he managed to work that one out. A purge might be in order." A smile crept on his face "Just get rid of every archivist to be safe. Wouldn't want anymore demons coming to take revenge on this group's descendants."

 

[Dmaster]

Hudson turned his head toward Henderson as he made that incredibly stupid suggestion, unable to speak for a few seconds before he gave his stance on the matter. "No." the hunter replied firmly, though he did not move from his leaning position on the wall. "That's like suggesting that since a nail is loose on a barn you may as well demolish the whole wall to fix it. Though really I think you're just excited for the excuse to start killing a few harmless bookworms."

 

[K0mori]

"You would think a few of them might end up in the Abyss themselves," Mariette added with a sly grin, "given what terrible things the church has been up to as of late. That would simply shorten the Icons' commute, non?"

 

[Breadman]

Henderson turned his head as Hudson gave his response. The mutant's own retort was a loud 'HA!'. Rather amused by that generalization, he chuckled for a bit, letting Mariette contribute.

"Harmless bookworms he says. Oh sure, really harmless lot. Poking and prodding at me to find out what made me tick so they could kill me and replace me with something that they could keep on a tighter leash." He turned to the Ribberta "I assume they tried the same with you." Back to Hudson "And that's not even getting into what they do in their own time. I had the pleasure of being visited by many of their higher ranks during those long years in the cell. Half of them smelled rotten from the inside. The decaying smell of those who practiced necromancy, blood magic or some other dark art and tried to hide the marks it left on your blighted soul. Men of faith they are."

"Tho you are right, hunter. The thought of exterminating those rats does bring some measure of excitement."

 

[Dmaster]

His gaze scanned between Riberta and Henderson through his helmet, rather stalwart in his position despite the rather damning revelations involving the archivists being disclosed to him. "Did the poking and prodding occur before or after you tore people limb from limb?" Hudson asked the both of them with a casual roll of the shoulders. "Necromancy is rather indefensible, but it's not something so widespread that every single archivist could be a practitioner of it. Really I don't much care for the Church, either. They tend to wrap themselves up more in the precious bureaucracy of situations rather than divert their attention where it's needed most. Say what you will about Velin's Order but the independence granted through it is as much a blessing for some as it is a curse for others."

"You want to kill them simply for locking you up and testing on you? Pardon the transgression but I think they may have been on to something considering you seem to fixate on devouring person or mangled corpse alike."

 

[Breadman]

"Please hunter, I have standards." Henderson rolled his eyes at the idea of just devouring any old corpse on the ground. "Locking me up happened after I tore someone apart yes. It was a pureblood I caught by surprise. But that's a story I doubt you'd care to hear. My relationship with them was all downhill from there. But all that is besides the point." He shrugged. Henderson knew how mad his suggestion was. How utterly insane anyone would have to be to enact a purge on that scale and so forceful to root out a handful of rotten archivists. But he didn't care. He had no plan to go back to them, let alone see that they get their day in the court of Velin. They could all burn and he would play the fiddle if he could.

"That arm of the Order is rotten and needs an amputation. How they do so is up to them, but I think they should start at the top and work their way down. The taint might be more widespread than anyone could suspect. Speaking from experience, just reading a tome or two can have lasting effects."

 

[Infab]

"Ah, Vixas? Out of a simple curiosity, was there any icon that had a proclivity for collecting knowledge?"

Vixas turned his head towards the elf. "Arakoth, the Icon of Greed during the reign of the 30th Abyssal King, Xarzar. A former elven warlord, turned into a demon by the previous Icon of Greed before Xarzar assumed the throne. She had a fascination with knowledge alongside her typical greed-based tendencies, and was rather remarkably talented in the use of magic. She is considered the first elemental, as she mastered the arts of elemental magic. She died, however, when she attempted to learn how to control shadow demons....they ganged up on her and mauled her." he explained.

As he looked back towards the group, and noticed that Seriphine was returning with an Abyssal object on her head. "Ah, the crown of the demon warlord Ath'tiuth. An ally of Adriel, whom assisted in reigning in the other demons under her rule. She however declined the idea of becoming an Icon when their positions were manifested, and remained as an advisor to Adriel."

"Sazak's been on an upward climb, and clearly Witlocke didn't humble him nearly enough. He won't stop spreading misery until he's dead. Both him and that monster of a king he fancies so much."

Vixas turned his head back towards Hudson, tilting it. "Sazak is self absorbed, and craves power and recognition. He used Taranoch to ascend to his position...and if Taranoch is not careful, Sazak may seek an even higher position."

Vincent shrugged at Henderson's comments. "I don't meddle in the affairs of the scholars, as that's for someone of a higher position than I. But I'm sure if Velin caught a whiff of what they were up to, the whole branch would be purged and replaced."

Riberta also commented. "Yeah, they poked and prodded me as well. Trying to understand the characteristics of a hybrid, and how the vampire and lycanthrope strains mix so well. I'm sure if they captured Cassandra, they'd poke her a bit more than I. There's little information on purebloods after all." Cassandra chuckled. "A rather slim chance of that, you know." she replied.

Vixas looked about at the group once more, before slowly nodding. "Alright. Now that most of you have collected items to use, we shall move on to the tombs of Kings. If you have not acquired an item from the Icon tombs, you may seek out one from one of the kings." he said, before turning about, and floating off. The group began to follow, as they moved through the tombs of the Icons towards the inner part of the Necropolis.

The journey took over an hour, passing Icon after Icon, before eventually they arrived at yet another wall. This wall had an archway instead of a tunnel, offering the group a clear view of what lie beyond.

Just beyond the wall were easily hundreds of tombs, arranged in a circle around a barren flat land. And at the center of that barren flat area, an absolutely massive building. "The Keep." said Vixas simply, before floating through the archway towards the tombs. "These are the tombs of the Kings. Our greatest and worst leaders here in the Abyss, from Adriel to Koran, the king before Kaizen." he said, as they moved through the lavishly decorated tombs placed just so. Spaced out evenly, and seemingly well maintained. Some seemed to have strange growths on them. Odd, black masses that looked more like threads of some organic substance. The same marked most of the Keep ahead, massive strands of the black mass. "...The Abyss has a way of leaving its own mark on you. Either through corruption of the form, or the soul." muttered Vixas rather ominously.

There was no wind. No sound. But there seemed to be snow gently falling from the sky. It was at its coldest here, forcing visible breaths from the group. Luckily most had come prepared for such a cold.

 

[ANIMAL MOTHER]

Leakhena buttons up her coat all the way and pops out its collars to keep the freeze away. She still shivers occasionally, but at least the coat she's wearing is thick enough.

"Alright. Now that most of you have collected items to use, we shall move on to the tombs of Kings. If you have not acquired an item from the Icon tombs, you may seek out one from one of the kings."

"Vixas..." she timidly walks up to him. While the group stealing from the dead leaders and nobility of her people is an extremely detestable thing in her eyes, almost unforgivable, Vixas and Tariun both approve of this and with good reason. There's no other way to make their fight against the icons more even, especially if they might have to fight them up close. So, just this once, she's going to reach straight for the top just to be sure.

"Which one is Adriel's?"