32nd of Frost, 120 AS
The first gem was in place, and Lyra sighed in relief them. It was almost time to close up the chest cavity, but before she did Lyra took some of the bone salves from her tray, using a finger and spreading it on the underside of the ribcage. Using her carving hook Lyra added glyphs along much of the inside of the chest, infusing them with the strength to help protect the heart and everything else within the space. Later, when she had more time, Lyra would return to add more defenses. For now, adding a bit of extra protection was sufficient. With that done Lyra applied the bone salve to the edges of the cut sternum, then using the carving hook she smoothed the surface before applying marrow gum. She also used sinew thread to prepare the incision in the protective tissue around the heart before closing up the chest cavity. After she had closed up the opening Lyra used thick bandages to wrap the entire upper portion of the body, binding it tightly in place so that the openings would heal over time.
When she was complete Lyra moved back down to the abdomen and the circle there. Once more she used the carving hook to add several, smaller pictographs that added to and strengthen the design that was there. This was the primary space where the Souls within the body resided and interacted. They connected to the rest of the body through her soul totem which was now safely secure inside the chest. Next, she needed to add the Soul Gem and Core into their spaces.
She started with the Core, the softly glowing purple gem seemed warm to the touch as Lyra lifted it. She placed it into the very center of the schema. This core, the heart stone, the centerpiece of the entire Soul Space. Lyra and Naila's Soul Gem would provide their own aether to keep the soul space active, but this Core would be what gave it shape and provided the most in its upkeep. Lyra had ensured not just with the circle but with the pictographs on the core that she could control this Center Stone. If she were to lose control then not just the Soul Space, but the vessel and potentially Lyra herself would be in danger of falling with its influence instead of the other way around. Because of this Lyra took no chances.
Lyra wrapped the Core with Sinew thread, binding it tightly into place. Then she used the thread to connect the core to each of the 3 outer circles, as well as to parts of the mess that made up the container of the soul space as well. This would help give the Core greater control and influence over the space itself and by extension Lyra herself. As Lyra finished the circle shimmered with power, the aether in the dragonshard quickly spreading out along the lines so that everything glowed for a moment before growing dark.
Nodding Lyra then picked up the soul gem, noting that it still pulsed and caused a slight static tingle with everyone. When she pressed down onto its space in one of the 4 outer circles within the soul space there was a moment of stillness, and then lines of blue arched out from the dragonshard and raced long the diagram. Lyra stepped back in surprise, but could do nothing but watch as electricity seemed to arch over and through the body, causing the hair across the body to stand on end. Then as quickly as it came the surging energy stopped, though there was a faint trace of static in the air as Lyra approached. Frowning Lyra cautiously reached forward and touched the dragonshard, but there were no further reactions. She could not say what had occurred, but as there were no other signs that something was amiss Lyra began to tie in the Soul Gem just like she had the core, using sinew thread to bind it in place and then linking it to the Core at the center with more thread. She did not, however, give this soul gem access to the Soul Space directly. She could not risk Naila gaining too much control, lets Lyra be unable to take the vessel back at any point.
Then, at last, it was done. The core of what Lyra needed to do was complete, and with slow motions Lyra replaced the organs in their proper orientation, using more of the balm to help regeneration of tissue before closing up the abdomen completely. She could have called her to work complete, and for all intents and purposes, it was. There were, however, just a few more modifications that needed to be made that would aid in this body's usefulness to Lyra.
Lyra moved to the left shoulder first. What she planned was not complicated, and it would give her more options with the vessel than she currently had. First, she rotated the arm so that the palm faced upward. She then made a long incision starting at the shoulder, along the outer side of the arm, down toward the elbow. Using claps, a few probes, and the carving hook Lyra made her way to the bone, exposing it to the air with as few cuts as possible. Bone Salve was used to soften the bone, and Lyra used the carving hook from there to create a series of glyphs that ran down to the elbow. At the shoulder, however, Lyra drew her usual sigil, the coiled snake with no eyes surrounded by a circle. After activating the glyphs Lyra closed up the incision and opened up the forearm down its center from the elbow down to the wrist. She carved similar designs down the Ulna there and closed the incision once more. This created a clear pathway for her aether to travel along the arm, more efficient than simply using the general influence pathways she would need to simply move the body. She wanted more control, for a very specific reason. Now on the palm, Lyra used the carving hook to make a stylized eye, connecting it with a small glyph near the wrist to the hidden pictographs along with the bones of the arm. Through this connection, her aether could moe freely, and the eye was an output. She would be able to send her tendrils out through this glyph, instead of always needing to blow out to release her essence. It was a small utility improvement, but one Lyra had been considering for some time.
The process was repeated on the right arm, and something similar for each of the legs. Lyra intended for her aether to pass through this body far more efficiently than it did her current. Periodically as she worked she added another layer of her infused ichor, rubbing it into the skin and the glyphs to reinforce their ability to facilitate her habitation. When it was finally done Lyra started on the last thing she wished completed. Slowly, and carefully, she rolled the body over so that it was laying on its stomach. Then, nearly straddling the vessel Lyra used her bone stylus and blood ink to carefully trace out a design, going behind later to carve with the carving hook along the same lines, before repeating the steps with the ink once more. The final product was a large tattoo of a snake. Its head was the center of the coil, and it stared outward open-mouthed fangs bared. the Coils covered the entire back and wrapped the shoulders and down to the hips. The snake had no eyes. As she had worked Lyra spun a song of aether, black smoke flowing out and around her and the body, being absorbed steadily as she made line after line.
"Hidden, gone, turn away." Lyra whispered as she worked, weaving mesmer deeper and deeper into the vessel itself. The powerful glyph was a mask, to hide Lyra and her soul from the eyes of those who sought her. She could not stop those with power from noticing her, but she COULD mask herself to the point she was unrecognizable. That was what this glyph was designed to do. It would fuzz the aura of the one known as "Lyrielle", confusing the readings, and through mesmer help to turn attention away from the peculiarity. The glyph also worked as a larger version of the designs along with the limbs. She could run her influence heavily through it, and enter or exit the vessel through the snake itself. A back door, and a curtain to hide behind.
Then it was complete. Lyra slid from her position on the slab, simply looking down at her completed work. Her vessel, her new body, was complete. She began cleaning up her tools, cleaning and storing them away one by one. When that was done Lyra bathed the body from head to toe, returning it to its back and gently combing out its hair so that they lay in glossy locks that fell like a waterfall off the edge of the slap. One final layer of infused ichor was used to coat the body, and then did Lyra let herself finally relax.
It was done.
The first gem was in place, and Lyra sighed in relief them. It was almost time to close up the chest cavity, but before she did Lyra took some of the bone salves from her tray, using a finger and spreading it on the underside of the ribcage. Using her carving hook Lyra added glyphs along much of the inside of the chest, infusing them with the strength to help protect the heart and everything else within the space. Later, when she had more time, Lyra would return to add more defenses. For now, adding a bit of extra protection was sufficient. With that done Lyra applied the bone salve to the edges of the cut sternum, then using the carving hook she smoothed the surface before applying marrow gum. She also used sinew thread to prepare the incision in the protective tissue around the heart before closing up the chest cavity. After she had closed up the opening Lyra used thick bandages to wrap the entire upper portion of the body, binding it tightly in place so that the openings would heal over time.
When she was complete Lyra moved back down to the abdomen and the circle there. Once more she used the carving hook to add several, smaller pictographs that added to and strengthen the design that was there. This was the primary space where the Souls within the body resided and interacted. They connected to the rest of the body through her soul totem which was now safely secure inside the chest. Next, she needed to add the Soul Gem and Core into their spaces.
She started with the Core, the softly glowing purple gem seemed warm to the touch as Lyra lifted it. She placed it into the very center of the schema. This core, the heart stone, the centerpiece of the entire Soul Space. Lyra and Naila's Soul Gem would provide their own aether to keep the soul space active, but this Core would be what gave it shape and provided the most in its upkeep. Lyra had ensured not just with the circle but with the pictographs on the core that she could control this Center Stone. If she were to lose control then not just the Soul Space, but the vessel and potentially Lyra herself would be in danger of falling with its influence instead of the other way around. Because of this Lyra took no chances.
Lyra wrapped the Core with Sinew thread, binding it tightly into place. Then she used the thread to connect the core to each of the 3 outer circles, as well as to parts of the mess that made up the container of the soul space as well. This would help give the Core greater control and influence over the space itself and by extension Lyra herself. As Lyra finished the circle shimmered with power, the aether in the dragonshard quickly spreading out along the lines so that everything glowed for a moment before growing dark.
Nodding Lyra then picked up the soul gem, noting that it still pulsed and caused a slight static tingle with everyone. When she pressed down onto its space in one of the 4 outer circles within the soul space there was a moment of stillness, and then lines of blue arched out from the dragonshard and raced long the diagram. Lyra stepped back in surprise, but could do nothing but watch as electricity seemed to arch over and through the body, causing the hair across the body to stand on end. Then as quickly as it came the surging energy stopped, though there was a faint trace of static in the air as Lyra approached. Frowning Lyra cautiously reached forward and touched the dragonshard, but there were no further reactions. She could not say what had occurred, but as there were no other signs that something was amiss Lyra began to tie in the Soul Gem just like she had the core, using sinew thread to bind it in place and then linking it to the Core at the center with more thread. She did not, however, give this soul gem access to the Soul Space directly. She could not risk Naila gaining too much control, lets Lyra be unable to take the vessel back at any point.
Then, at last, it was done. The core of what Lyra needed to do was complete, and with slow motions Lyra replaced the organs in their proper orientation, using more of the balm to help regeneration of tissue before closing up the abdomen completely. She could have called her to work complete, and for all intents and purposes, it was. There were, however, just a few more modifications that needed to be made that would aid in this body's usefulness to Lyra.
Lyra moved to the left shoulder first. What she planned was not complicated, and it would give her more options with the vessel than she currently had. First, she rotated the arm so that the palm faced upward. She then made a long incision starting at the shoulder, along the outer side of the arm, down toward the elbow. Using claps, a few probes, and the carving hook Lyra made her way to the bone, exposing it to the air with as few cuts as possible. Bone Salve was used to soften the bone, and Lyra used the carving hook from there to create a series of glyphs that ran down to the elbow. At the shoulder, however, Lyra drew her usual sigil, the coiled snake with no eyes surrounded by a circle. After activating the glyphs Lyra closed up the incision and opened up the forearm down its center from the elbow down to the wrist. She carved similar designs down the Ulna there and closed the incision once more. This created a clear pathway for her aether to travel along the arm, more efficient than simply using the general influence pathways she would need to simply move the body. She wanted more control, for a very specific reason. Now on the palm, Lyra used the carving hook to make a stylized eye, connecting it with a small glyph near the wrist to the hidden pictographs along with the bones of the arm. Through this connection, her aether could moe freely, and the eye was an output. She would be able to send her tendrils out through this glyph, instead of always needing to blow out to release her essence. It was a small utility improvement, but one Lyra had been considering for some time.
The process was repeated on the right arm, and something similar for each of the legs. Lyra intended for her aether to pass through this body far more efficiently than it did her current. Periodically as she worked she added another layer of her infused ichor, rubbing it into the skin and the glyphs to reinforce their ability to facilitate her habitation. When it was finally done Lyra started on the last thing she wished completed. Slowly, and carefully, she rolled the body over so that it was laying on its stomach. Then, nearly straddling the vessel Lyra used her bone stylus and blood ink to carefully trace out a design, going behind later to carve with the carving hook along the same lines, before repeating the steps with the ink once more. The final product was a large tattoo of a snake. Its head was the center of the coil, and it stared outward open-mouthed fangs bared. the Coils covered the entire back and wrapped the shoulders and down to the hips. The snake had no eyes. As she had worked Lyra spun a song of aether, black smoke flowing out and around her and the body, being absorbed steadily as she made line after line.
"Hidden, gone, turn away." Lyra whispered as she worked, weaving mesmer deeper and deeper into the vessel itself. The powerful glyph was a mask, to hide Lyra and her soul from the eyes of those who sought her. She could not stop those with power from noticing her, but she COULD mask herself to the point she was unrecognizable. That was what this glyph was designed to do. It would fuzz the aura of the one known as "Lyrielle", confusing the readings, and through mesmer help to turn attention away from the peculiarity. The glyph also worked as a larger version of the designs along with the limbs. She could run her influence heavily through it, and enter or exit the vessel through the snake itself. A back door, and a curtain to hide behind.
Then it was complete. Lyra slid from her position on the slab, simply looking down at her completed work. Her vessel, her new body, was complete. She began cleaning up her tools, cleaning and storing them away one by one. When that was done Lyra bathed the body from head to toe, returning it to its back and gently combing out its hair so that they lay in glossy locks that fell like a waterfall off the edge of the slap. One final layer of infused ichor was used to coat the body, and then did Lyra let herself finally relax.
It was done.
