Isrieal
Iron Tier
Posts: 13 
Pronouns: She/Her
Roleplay types: Short, Para, Novella
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Post by Isrieal on Oct 27, 2021 22:17:59 GMT -5
As a disciple of secrets and mystery the rumor of an alien artifact had caught Isrieal’s attention. An ancient artifact buried deep in the woods near to the abstract fog that was known to claim people. She didn’t want the discovery to be none but hers so she travelled alone into the depths where the swirling mists of night quickly made her lose her way. If she could claim such an artifact surely she would rise in the ranks, but there would be no such luck tonight.
Through the darkness drifted a phantasmal figure, a blend of pure darkness, a wraith in the night. Was it guarding what she so sought after? Either way she had angered it and no blade would cause it harm. She glances down at the tips of her fingers in panic, focusing hard to conjure lightning to strike upon it. Though it was no minor wraith, it was king of this forest and seemed to draw upon the very darkness that surrounded it, only making it stronger.
The tendrils of darkness that it calls forth from the either wind around her, binding her and the darkness felt suffocating as it entered her lungs and siphoned the very life from her body. Darker and darker her vision grew, a strange weightlessness befell her as it dropped her body to the ground. She should have hit hard ground below but it fell as if she fell forever. Was this what it felt like to die? Would she just keep falling and falling for all eternity?
Finally the ground below stopped and for how long she lay crumpled there she did not know. She manages at some point to push herself into a seated position, forcing her eyes to get used to the hollow darkness as she looks around not quite knowing where she was. Was this the realm of Death? She didn’t dare think what horrors could await her here but no worry. She was ever faithful to the Gods that would hear her.
With a deep breath she closes her eyes and folds her hands, palm to palm, before herself and loses herself in prayer. “Valient Diabolos, show me the truth and lead me the way.” Her words were breathed barely above a whisper. “For you do not fear the darkness which threatens to consume us all. It hungers for us but we should not fear it. Fear holds us back and we should ever seek knowledge. May your ambition fuel my own. Guide me through what we call ‘death’ and show me that it is not the end. Awaken me with insight above others. Awaken me anew to prevail in the world of life once more. Awaken me, to spread your knowledge upon the lands.”
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Post by Crystal Legends on Oct 28, 2021 7:52:44 GMT -5
It was impossible to measure time in this place. Had it been moments, or had it been an eternity? And how much longer, still, on the other side? There was no way of knowing.
It was still and quiet here, almost oppressively so, with only enough light to realize the coolness came from the fog that swirled over black earth. You couldn't see more than a yard in the low light and what you saw was more of the same nothingness.
But Isrieal had prayed earnestly and in genuine faith of her patron. And the rest of the world could look down on Diabolos' followers all they liked, whisper what they dared about him, but when he was called he would answer.
Sometimes, in fact, he answered even when he wasn't called, but that was someone else's problem.
The fog grows thicker, and the light lower, the realm dimming further with a sudden otherworldly presence. There is no need to pretend he is anything but who and what he is here, not to her.
"Isrieal," a voice speaks out of the fog, a warm, silky tenor that's almost conversationally human if there wasn't the air of supernatural power that accompanied it, "what have you done, my dear?"
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Isrieal
Iron Tier
Posts: 13
Pronouns: She/Her
Roleplay types: Short, Para, Novella
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Post by Isrieal on Oct 30, 2021 11:02:58 GMT -5
Her words still into silence when she feels the shift in the air, the darkness that dims the light. Slowly, she opens her eyes to gaze in awe upon the God before her. She could hardly believe she was actually gazing upon him in person. His voice spoke to her and she could feel it resonate through her very bones. Her hands lower, palms placed against the ground before her as she gazes up at him. "I..."
What did she do was the question of the day. "I was seeking..something." Would even he find her crazy if she lost her life over a rumored alien artifact? "And a wraith in the woods appeared. But it was no ordinary wraith." She shakes her head. "No. He seemed to draw upon the very power of the forest itself." Every dark crevasse that it could reach into. What vast amounts of dark energy did that forest sit upon?
She looks back up at him, lost in this abyss. "Please." She asks. "What do I do now? What shall I do next?" Only he knew where she could go from here and it would be a waste to be trapped here forever.
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Post by Crystal Legends on Oct 30, 2021 11:45:47 GMT -5
"Seeking something? Something forbidden? Secret?" Humor curled warm in his tone. That was just something one of his would do. They seemed to come in two flavors: those who had found something and guarded what they knew, seeking nothing further, and those who had never found a limit. It amused him to no end; he was much the same, ever prodding and poking and seeking.
"There are many dangerous things out there," Diabolos mused. "Especially in the fog. You took your life into your hands walking out into it, and you know that. Did you just... assume I would save you, or was it so precious that it was worth the risk? Tell me, dear, what price would you pay to have your little toy?"
Had she mentioned it? No. Had he sensed what was near her when she'd passed? Oh yes. He was surprised it had taken this long for someone to go after it, in fact.
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Isrieal
Iron Tier
Posts: 13
Pronouns: She/Her
Roleplay types: Short, Para, Novella
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Post by Isrieal on Oct 30, 2021 12:13:33 GMT -5
It was something of rumor, something not even from this world naturally. How many would risk their lives for a rumor? But she knew it must be tree. More things existed out there than what they knew of already. It was impossible to know everything and this thing was something nobody else knew of. Nobody knew the being it was connected to and she intended to be the first.
She casts her gaze down as he questions her. "It is worth the risk." She admits. "It could change the world as we know it. Bring something new to light." She falls silent as he asks what price she would pay and even she didn't know. If she could acquire it who knew what she could be capable of or what she could commune with. She looks back up at him after a moment. She already paid her life, how much worse could it get? This object seemed to call to her, begging to be found.
"Anything you ask." She says with defiance.
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Post by Crystal Legends on Oct 30, 2021 16:48:00 GMT -5
"Anything?" The mist swirls almost like a living thing, and the darkness before her grows deeper until it's almost impossible to look at. Laughter echoed oddly in the seemingly infinite space, gaining intensity as if it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard. "You offer me anything, child? Do you expect a reward for your bravery instead of a penalty for your foolishness?"
There was a soft tap-tap, and a whisper of fabric. The barest outline of a figure stood - not nearly so looming as one might expect, human-sized but still a good foot taller than Isrieal herself - and it was hard to make out in the rising fog. The longer one stared, the harder he was to make out, but if you didn't attempt to stare directly you might make out a lean figure dressed in a blood-red tunic and pants, a black hooded cloak further obscuring his face.
He spoke again, his silken tenor gone hard. "You offered anything and I will take everything. You are mine, and you will always be mine, before anything or anyone else. Even if you attempt to call to another, you are mine. You will never remember a time when you weren't mine. And should I call, you will answer, no matter what, because you have promised me anything with no terms. No limitations.
"But in turn," his voice warmed faintly, laced with indulgent amusement, "I will give you the powers you so desire."
The artifact winked into existence, bobbing in the air and drifting towards her.
"But I warn you, child... you will never be the same," Diabolos said, deadly serious.
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Isrieal
Iron Tier
Posts: 13
Pronouns: She/Her
Roleplay types: Short, Para, Novella
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Post by Isrieal on Oct 31, 2021 15:00:21 GMT -5
Was it foolishness? Bravery? Or was it that she thought she could be something special with this artifact. Something no one has ever touched, something no one would no the secrets of but her. The darkness made her eyes stretch wide, made it feel as it she were staring into the void itself until he manifests before her. She could catch the billowing of robes from the sides of her eyes, her teeth sinking upon her lower lip as his voice booms through the silence.
He would take everything. Those words stilled her heart if it even beat her. But no, not everything. The look of fear leaves her face as she looks up towards the shining metallic object in the air. A silver band with intricate design etched upon it like tech lines with a feint green glow from within. That could give her anything. She didn't care if she was never the same for she never wanted to be the same as anyone. This would give her the upper hand, this would keep the ones who thought their secrets were so grand from stomping upon her. She would show them a new truth.
"Fine." She agrees. If he wished to use her for her power from time to time then so be it, a willing price to pay. "You have my assistance should you call upon me. A true Priestess of Diabolos." She stretches her fingers out towards the object. "We would never advance were it not for change."
((db92f1 - Personal ref))
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Post by Crystal Legends on Nov 2, 2021 8:07:06 GMT -5
"You mistake me, that was not a bargain, little one - those were terms," Diabolos said, oddly gentle and back to being quite amused and genial. "You sound so very much like Ramuh when he was young... alas that's been a long time indeed. I hope, for your sake, this is all you desire."
He is still impossible to focus her gaze on, the heavy fog drifting closer, obscuring his form as he must have knelt and capturing the band in one palm before offering it for her to quite literally take from him. A boon, albeit one with a heavy price tag. "You are not the only one to defy death, my dear. Take your little trinket back, and find others. Perhaps... perhaps they will help you find your truth."
And he waited, patiently, for her to take it. Perhaps, to see for himself what it did to her, before returning her to the land of the living.
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Isrieal
Iron Tier
Posts: 13
Pronouns: She/Her
Roleplay types: Short, Para, Novella
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Post by Isrieal on Nov 11, 2021 18:12:07 GMT -5
What was so bad about Ramuh, she had to wonder. Was he not revered now as a God? This is all she desired as far as she knew. She glances back to him as he tells her to find others who have defied death. "My truth?" She asks softly as she looks back to the silvery gleam of the object, hand still outreached towards it. When she takes a step closer it snaps open and latches onto her upper arm, metallic spikes on the inside digging their way into her flesh as she screams from the pain and falls to her knees. The lines along it glow a bright blue as it fuses itself to her, steals her magic to shift it into something else entirely. Her fingertips claw into the ground as as the pain that wrecks her body slowly disspipates she is left panting for breath.
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Post by Crystal Legends on Nov 20, 2021 8:44:40 GMT -5
"There is always a price for greatness," Diabolos said quietly, and made no move towards her during her collapse. No, he waited, patient and perhaps curious, to see what would become of her.
Whatever he had expected must have passed, though, as he didn't seem eager to change anything. All was as expected, and whether or not it was as he desired it did still mean that she got what she wanted, something that he had granted at an acceptable price. What more could a mere mortal ask for?
"I think," Diabolos said, "it is time we bring you back to the land of the living, my priestess, now that you have your toy. Let you free in the world and see what happens."
There was the distinct sensation that he was smiling, and an impish one at that.
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