Meeting bones - RPLOG
Participants
Date
24/5/478
Log
The trip to the manor had been filled with the foreshadowing rain that muddied the roads, and made wet all manner of clothing and gear for those traveling on this grim task. A single wagon had been procured for the group, to ensure that their travel would be swift, there amid the group sat Kalt, ever duitiful to her promise to join Fenris on this task for protection. Thankfully though no bandits had set upon them, and they had steered cleared of the majority of the undead... Leaving their arrival at the front gates the most anxious part of the trip, but there was no dead to greet them this day, only a clear path into the sepulcher, and down into the depths below. "Go on ya lot, I'll watch the cart an' go makin' sure they don't try nuttin' from up here." The Vixen nodding to the group as she leaned against the wagon, weapons in hand before ushering them down into the depths below.
The air was tinged with the stale air and scent of the dead, the belongings of the cultists strewn about all over the place for the group to eye... All of it clean, and recent, showing they were not alone. There then, in the Ritual Room, dusted and cleaned of all webbings, sat three hooded alligators in the dim glow of the few lit candles. Swords made of femurs were clenched in their hands, and upon the groups entrance their eyes were turned to them as if expecting them... But yet again, no move was made to strike out at them, the smallest of the group instead speaking with a voice as rough as gravel and as cold as the dead around them. "It's about time. Have you brought your offerings?"
Fenris strides along the dark corridors of the sepulchre. The darkness does not seem to bother him much. The big, fluffy tiger in his minamalist clothing seems calm and centered. He HAS spent most of the day in quiet contemplation, preparing himself for this. There is a faint glow coming from the thin, golden lines of some sort of minimally protective armor he wears. Or maybe that is just the reflection from the small, mathemagical light he carries. The tiger nods to the cultist's question, though he does not offer any physical evidence of any sort of offering. "We have come for an audience with Pyrrha, the White Lady," he says, simply.
Thelergramor nods at Kalt as she directs them downward, wet from the rain but not seeming to mind. The hooded wolf's armed, as he tends to be, following after Fenris and eyeing the cultist's belongings, trying to move quietly. He remains silent as they are addressed, looking over the cultists from beneath his hood, hands near his blades in case they turn hostile.
Cassidy stands towards the back of the group in her black and red gown, the white-frilled garment having been kept mostly dry by a hooded cloak kept tightly wrapped. She remains silent for now, content to watch and listen, and speak up if needed.
Natska eyes the alligators for a moment, then gives them a faint smile and inclines her head. "Not surprised to find you here," she murmurs. The jaguar takes a moment to open her belt pouch, and then she extends her hand towards the smallest, offering a piece of bone from the flats - bleached by the sun and scoured clean by wind and sand, then cleaned and polished before their trip here.
The smallest pulls his lips back as he looks to Thelergramor. "You'll keep that sheathed if you are aware of your situation -boy-..." His voice strained, before he falls silent once more and narrows his eyes at Fenris before taking the piece of bleached bone form Natska. His eyes traveling over this part of the offering as he hands it to the larger alligator whom places it upon the 'Altar'. "We know your intent tiger, we are not as foolish as you like to accredit us with... Now, is that all you have brought to offer, and will you mind your -hands- before the Mistress?"
Fenris tilts his head at the Alligator's question. "My hands?" he asks, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, "What is THAT supposed to mean?" As he speaks, the tiger produces a beautiful figurine, carved from some sort of bone and encrusted with artfully placed jewels. The figurine depicts a beautiful, female figure wearing a robe and a helmet shaped like the skull of a beast of some kind. It is very beautiful. The tiger gently places his offering on the altar and steps back, keeping his large hands in sight.
Thelergramor glares at the guy who called him 'boy.' "Pfft..." Shakes his head, muttering grumbling something inaudibly, probably some bravado about not needing a blade. His expression softens before he bears an amused grin at the cultists, unintimidated. He silently watches for now, letting those with more experience speak for the moment.
Cassidy brings up a gloved hand, turning it palm-up and opening her hand. A single, pale pearl rests in the center of her hand. "My offering," she says plainly before falling quiet again, keeping her arm outstretched until the object is taken.
Natska simply brings her hands together in front of herself as she listens, her ear flicking once. She remains calm and collected as Fenris banters with the alligators, and wonders just what is going to happen this time.
"Better, far better." The smaller alligator speaks as he first eyes Fenris' gift, then Cassidy's as the larger alligator retrieves it to place it with the others. "You wanted to speak with our lady, and you shall." The younger alligator rising as he turns to the alter, his voice hushed and low as he speaks. "Mistress Pyrrha, our beloved lady, we bring these outsiders to you this day... They have brought with themselves, the gifts placed before you. Gifts that we wish you find worthy enough to grace us with your presence! Mistress Pyrrah, our Queen of Death, we call upon you as your humble servants!"
The room falls silent as the Alligator finishes his words, a loud crack finally breaking the oppressive silence as bones clatter around them and a shadow forms near the 'alter'. A skeletal Serpent emerges soon from the shadows, her steps slow and careful as she walks forward and falls to her knees before the alter... If she had skin, one would assume the presence of a grin on her features as her clean, and immaculate bone fingers reach out to pick up each offering, examining it in turn before holding up the ornate statue to her face as she speaks with a voice cold enough to chill the blood of demons themselves. "These gifts... Are acceptable my beloved children~" The three Alligators are quick to fall to their knees as she speaks, pressing their foreheads to the ground so as to not obstruct her view as those hollow eye sockets fall upon the group. "Did you bring these then~? Such lovely gifts from my admirers~ Though, I remember faces here... Faces that were so smug a---" She catches herself as her voice begins to rise, cutting it off with a clearing of her hollow throat as she stands and begins to walk around the sarcophagus altar. "Well, errand children sent by my brothers and... Oh, one I have not seen for such a long time~"
Fenris slowly and deliberately kneels before the skeletal apparition, bowing low as if he were a visitor in one of the fine courts of the Jadelands. "Greetings, White Lady," Fenris says his courtesy genuine, "We are grateful that you would grant us audience. We come to ask your favor and your aid in our fight against the Craige."
Thelergramor eyes the skeletal serpent warily, having never seen a corrupt court spirit in person... Not sure how to feel about this, the wolf watches her, and seeing as Fenris knelt... He bows too. Kneels, even. "An honor, my lady." He doesn't sound spiteful or sarcastic, possibly even sincere on that front, though that's doubtful. No need to piss off the bony spirit!
Cassidy tilts her head to the side, before nodding at Fenris' words. "Yes. The Craige which do not follow you wage war on your 'children' as it were. An early death, robbing them of any opportunity to die naturally. Quite an affront, I'd imagine."
Respectfully, Natska bows her head to the skeletal serpent; she leaves it at that, however, sticking close to Cassidy and remaining watchful and attentive, while her tail curls back and forth.
"Do not preach to me child, I -remember- you, and you are only little better than they are!" The Spirit snaps her words at Cassidy, before taking a deep breath as she composes herself once more and smiles as she spreads her arms wide, tracing skeletal fingers across the backs of two of the alligators. "And they cannot kill the children that learned to love me, that accept and adore me... They, are not -flawed- like you impudent mortals~" Her voice gaining a bit of a coo at that last bit, before she turns her gaze to Fenris. "So you want me to aid you, in fighting them is that it? You want me to help you, and that -snake-, traitor and his petulant lackies that cast me out?" Her voice raises in it's tone, getting sharper and increasing in it's loudness as she looks at Fenrsiw with those hollow eyes. "Tell me, -WHY- should I aid you? Why should I help -them- keep the ones whom loved that they STOLE? Why do they accept you to reach out now? Because they're afraid? Afraid that when the craige slaughter each and every last one of you, I will be your sole island for respite? Because you will -HAVE- to love me?"
Fenris does not look up from his bow. "We all love you Lady," Fenris says, "But we fear you as well. I have run from you longer than I have any right to, though I hope that you have done well by those whom I love." The tiger bows lower, putting his hands before him and lowering his face almost to the ground. "We ask only that you hear us out in your infinte patience," he says, "That you might be willing to forestall our inevitable final meeting." The tiger is certainly eloquent, and it is obvious that he has thought long and hard on this encounter.
Thelergramor has no fear of the craige, but allies help. Thinks over ways to gain the assistance of the spirit... Keeps his head all bowed, respectfully and shit. Not nearly as eloquent as Fenris, but... "How could we not love you, eh? All... magnificent in your perfection and such." His usual charm lost as that's a bony spirit of death over there, and not... 85% of anything else. Continues thinking of ways to help, but not making too much progress.
Natska peers down at Llrwellyn.
Cassidy flashes a little grin at the reaction. "Preach? Who said anything about preaching? I am simply stating why it's in your interest to help us. They don't worship you. Not even in death. They're outside of your cycle of decay. And even those that do serve you... Their boons do not last forever. And what then? They will fall, too. As will your worship sites. You stand to gain from this allegiance, too."
Natska tilts her head as she listens to the back and forth between her friends and the Queen of Bones, then sighs softly and rubs at her muzzle for a moment. "Mmph. Please. R-" she starts, then cuts herself off; her ear twitches, and then she falls silent and brings her hands back together, listening again, shoulders slumping slightly.
The spirit paces slowly, walking close to Fenris as she looks him over, before examining Thelergramor as well. "Do you? Do you really now~?" The Spirit bending lowly as she speaks gently to Fenris. "Nobody, outruns me my child, all come to me in time~" Straightening her posture then as she looks to Cassidy slowly. "You believe those that walk are my only beloved children? You masked your ignorance well last time then." She huffs slightly, turning to walk her way up to the alter as she taps her fingers along her bone thighs. "... I want proof. I want proof, that all the children love me." The spirit's words are slow and measured before she turns her gaze back to the group. "I want you children to have a temple of my majestic and glorious nature built, right where all my children may visit... In the center of mossy stone. Then, I want a statue within your capital for love to be shown to me by -all-... In the center of your graveyard." The spirit falls silent then, looking off to the side before she speaks with a voice tinged with murderous disgust, a small spark glowing in those hollow eyes. "... And finally, I want the memento that traitorous snake covets, his last physical reminder of the -bitch- that started all of this. You will give this all to me to prove your love, or I will take those that love me, and leave you, and all of your loved ones who have passed or will pass, to burn in the fires of the craige, and wander lost for eternity with suffering their only companion."
Fenris frowns, and looks up from where he bows. "I have not come with vain flattery, Lady," he says, "I pray you will forgive my companions, they are young, and I think, do not understand you." He lowers his head once more in obescience. "Your requests are hard ones," he seems especially pained with her last threat, "I think. . ." he hesitates, "I think that you were kinder once. And beautiful. And could be both again, if you so chose."
Thelergramor's response is short, still bowed and kneeling. "Oh of course I love you. How could anyone who looks upon you not?" Feels like he might need to get drunk later... But remains low, respectful and all... humble. Glad he has his hood, wouldn't want to look his friends in the eye at the moment.
Cassidy chuckles softly and waves the comment off. She had no love for her. She didn't particularly care to help with those requests, either, outlandish as they were. She doesn't voice it, though, remaining silent to let Fenris agree or disagree as he chooses.
Natska slowly narrows her eyes as she glares at Fenris' back, then shakes her head. "One does not need to be old to understand being cast out, scorned, and unwanted, Fenris," she comments quietly. Then she looks back up at the skeletal snake. "As he says, those are hard requests, White Lady. Even if he could make that happen, it would take time for a temple to be built, and your brothers and sisters do not seem to think we have much time."
"Then you had better build it -fast-." The spirit turning around as she paces back towards the group. "I was used, oh so willingly gave my aid for free the first time! I helped them all because they said they loved me, and after I saved them I was -ABANDONED- by them because of that treacherous snake! I. LOST. EVERYTHING!" Her foot stomps to the ground on the last word as she softens her posture slightly and takes a deep breath. "You do not get my aid for free, if you do not love me enough to show it, then I will let you all burn. I keep those that love me, those that spit on me will be damned to their fate if they cannot see their own stupidity." She seems to pause for a moment then, idly reaching up to run her hand over her bone jaw. "I am pretty though, yes..." Her voice low and sweet as she seems to be talking to herself, before she turns and makes her way to the alter once more. "My children will not harm those that seeks to build to my glory, just as they do not harm those that have professed me their love... And now, it is time to see how much that -snake- loves you."
Fenris remains bowed. "I can see to it that a statue is built to honor you, Pyrrha, Lady Death," he says, "Only be kind as I know you can be. We must all pass through your gates one day." He spares a warm smile back at Natska while the Spirit is distracted and mouths the word, "Later," before bowing low again. "Once the danger of the Craige is past," he continues, "I will see that a proper monument is built for you here, even if I must build it with only my own hands. Please." Now the tiger rises to kneel, looking up steadfastly into the face of the skeletal Spirit. "What snake do you mean?" he asks, "And what would you have us bring you?" Of all the things she asked, this one seems to be the worst.
Thelergramor remains bowed throughout Fenris's response, before rising back up and scratching his muzzle. "You want a statue and temple, I'll build you a statue and temple..." Makes no promises of their quality, however. "Can't think of anything more worth doing..." In other words, he has nothing better to do. "Which makes sense, really. I mean, c'mon, you're you." Glances at Fenris, then back at Pyrrha.
Continues to kiss that bony ass. Metaphorically.
Cassidy tilts her head. "You find friends amongst the others of your court, do you not? I'm sure Fenris is as good as his word, for whatever he gives. But would you refuse help, even if Akros did not? Or the others?" She asks, sounding to be genuinely asking. "Because I imagine he would be one of our next stops."
Natska flattens her ears as Fenris glances at her, then crosses her arms. Her tail flicks, and then she lifts a hand to stroke a gem hanging next to her soul pendant. She remains silent for a moment longer, then shakes her head. "The next one we should visit is Ser'Ther. To ask about the Lady's request and if he will honor it for us."
"SHUT UP!" The spirit screams out as she turns, stomping her feet in a tantrum manner, the alligators near her feet not flinching as she seeths. "If they forget, if they give up because they're weak then so be it! But I. WILL. NOT. BE. BETRAYED. I will allow you to start the temple, but it -WILL- be finished, the statue will be done, and you -WILL- get me the DAMNED trinket from Ser'ther! He took what was most precious of mine, and I will rip his own from him no matter what! He cheated and stole her love from me, then he turned my family against me! They locked me away, intent to leave me for -ETERNITY-, and when I am freed I find new children, your own down here suffering at the hands of shadows... Having their souls ripped out, and bodies taken, AND I SAVE THEM. I kept their bodies, I kept their souls, and you all FOUGHT ME! I am -death-, I am feared, I am distrusted, but I. WILL. BE. LOVED!" Her bones shake as she takes long ragged breaths through her hollow throat, before casting her gaze aside. "I will not be denied my love again... Not now, not ever again. You have your task."
Fenris looks as though he would say more, but he stifles his questions and anything else he might have to say. He will doubtless see more of the poor, mad Spirit. The big feline bows low once more. "Thank you, Lady," he says, "You have been a gracious hostess. We will do as you ask."
Thelergramor conceals any reaction he has to the tantrum, rubbing his muzzle then tugging on his hood a bit. "What Fenris said. An honor to meet you, of course..." Bows, glances at the others around, particularly CnN, and falls quiet once more.
Cassidy puts her hands on her hips, watching the spirit have its tantrum and trying not to show her amusement. "Fear is borne of lack of understanding," she says calmly, eyeing the skeletal form over. "So... Maybe people just need to understand. What do the dead do, if you do not take care of their souls? What is a soul? If you can answer this... I will be genuinely thankful to you," she says, watching Pyrrha expectantly.
Natska crosses her arms again and nods, slightly, then perks her ears at Cassidy's question. She looks back over at the White Lady, looking curious, and remains silent as she listens and watches.
Pyrrha closes her fist as she looks over to Cassidy, her words slow and controlled though her recent rage still shines through in the tone. "You, do not get to know. You think I forgot your tauntings? You think I forgot how you wished to be beyond death just to -spite- me you little ignorant insect of a woman? Your mind could never grasp what I did, and do... And when you die, I will watch from afar for your soul to lay alone, and unloved in the cold void of death, just like that wolf bitch. I'm weak you said, you expected more... You don't play by my rules. -You- I will await, just like that kendrac whore, and all those who thought themselves beyond me or better than me... And your screams will be my music of eternity." The spirit turning then as the shadows wrap around her, the bones of the room clattering before once more silence fills the air, the group left to themselves.
The audience was certainly over. Fenris rises and turns his back on the altar and the cultists. "Well," he says, "That could have gone better. Thank you for your insightful words, everyone." The tiger then strides a couple of steps toward the the dark tunnels leading out, but stops short as he comes near to Natska. "I am sorry if I offended you," he says, "I did not mean you did not understand loss or any of those things. I only meant that Death is not so frightening nor so terrible as it seems from afar off. It must be hard for the Spirit of Death to be feared and hated for the kind service that she brings to us all." Then, without another word, and apparently deep in thought, he strides out into the darkness.
Thelergramor honestly saw that response coming. He shifts on his feet, hand falling on the hilt of his scimitar as he turns. "Guess that's that then. I've got a temple and statue to go build, I guess..." He smirks and starts heading back up. "Think she'll be offended if I build it in my worskhop in Shanty Town?"
Cassidy lofts a brow at that and pats her sleeve down, "Then I shall have to remove your and your concept from existence," she says cooly to the space where the spirit once stood, turning about to face the exit. "Are we done here, then?" She flashes Fenris a grin and starts off down the tunnel after him.
Natska slips her arm through Cassidy's as the fennec starts leaving, giving her a small smile. "We'll be together forever, love, no worries," she murmurs. Fenris gets a small nod, and a smile as well, but she remains quiet as the group exits.
The three alligators remain there as the group leave, their trip back up uneventful as Kalt awaits them at the wagon. "Been clear, m'thinkin' we're good to go on home then... Fenris, go an' sit up front so ya can tell me how it all went." The vixen waiting for the group to load up before ushering them on forward back to the city.
