Gaze Long Into The Abyss
Posted: Sun May 14, 2023 12:44 am
TIMESTAMP: Frost 66 122
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While fully capable of transporting himself and Hector to Zaichaer by methods more magical, Vergil did not need to make use of his newly minted magic in this scenario. Their presence in the ruined city was a bit more 'official' this time and the pair arrived via dreadnaught for what had been officially labeled as 'humanitarian' reasons. Which, to a degree, was true– the Imperium was offering some genuine assistance, but with any matter of Gelerian diplomacy, such a thing was not borne out of true altruism.
In any case, the two of them were sent to survey the areas most immediately around the crater in the middle of the city. It was a curious phenomenon, something that not many would be able to go anywhere near by its very nature, and the Imperium wanted information regarding the nature thereof; while it was an inherently dangerous endeavor, sending two vampyres with both combat prowess and the ability to fix themselves ought anything run awry was considered the most ideal option. Most others would be lacking in adequate fortitude, unfortunately. And though Hector was far slimmer physically, Vergil's fortifications had him as quite robust in the present.
Further, wherever these two went, there was also a third party. Permanently intertwined with Hector was his aidolon– a strange eldritch being that, up until recently, was nameless. More specifically, he couldn't recall his name, but shortly after meeting with an ancient member of his own bloodline did several memories begin to unbind and reveal themselves, his old name being one of them. Al'Kassis; Hector, however, being lazy, usually shortened it.
When the intrepid trio neared the crumbling, rocky edge of Zaichaer’s crater, they'd taken note of the fact that all of the monstrosities they'd passed as they grew closer were not hostile; they'd appeared almost…dormant, as if thralls. The crater itself was like peering into the void; even amongst the rest of the city's devastation, this was remarkable. As above there was a tear in the sky, so below had the earth been rent– each equal in their eldritch grandeur, each akin to open wounds marring what was once a very vibrant, if rigid, city.
Hector took pause looking into the inky abyss of the crater, and as he did so, his spirit expanded from his shadow; Al'Kassis manifested himself as mist.
"ｗⲏₐ𝑡 𝑑ₒ 𝑦ₒᵤ 𝑚ₐⲕₑ ₒ𝑓 𝑡ⲏᵢ𝑠…?" His inquiry was vague, though pointed.
Hector squinted. "Precious little!" He sighed, appearing somewhat annoyed at his own lack of knowledge.
As if nudging the boy forth, "...𝑡ₒ Լₑₐᵣ𝑛, ｗₑ 𝑛ₑₑ𝑑 𝑚ₒᵣₑ 𝑡ⲏₐ𝑛 𝑠ᵢ𝑚𝒑Լₑ ₒ𝑏𝑠ₑᵣᵥₐ𝑡ᵢₒ𝑛, 𝑛ₒ…?" The spirit seemed oddly eager, as he saw something that the half-mortals did not.
And to that, Vergil immediately bristled. "Know you the nature of this abyss? Or are you making vague suggestions based on nothing? I'd rather we not throw our lives away based on your conjectures, spirit.."
"ₒⲏ, 𝑐ₒ𝑚ₑ 𝑛ₒｗ, ᵥₑᵣ𝑔ᵢԼ– ⲏₑ𝑐𝑡ₒᵣ ₐ𝑛𝑑 ᵢ ₐᵣₑ 𝑏ₒᵤ𝑛𝑑; 𝑚ᵤ𝑐ⲏ ₐ𝑠 ᵢ Լₒₐ𝑡ⲏₑ 𝑡ₒ ₐ𝑑𝑚ᵢ𝑡 𝑡ₒ 𝑡ⲏₑ 𝑐ₒ𝑑ₑ𝒑ₑ𝑛𝑐𝑦, ᵢ𝑡'𝑠 𝑡ᵣᵤₑ; ⲏᵢ𝑠 𝑑ₑ𝑚ᵢ𝑠ₑ ｗₒᵤԼ𝑑 ⲏₐᵣ𝑚 𝑚ₑ 𝑔ᵣₑₐ𝑡Լ𝑦, ₐ𝑠 𝑦ₒᵤ ｗₑԼԼ ⲕ𝑛ₒｗ. ｗₑ 𝑐ₐ𝑛 𝑔ₒ 𝑓ᵤᵣ𝑡ⲏₑᵣ…ｗₑ'ԼԼ 𝑠ᵤᵣᵥᵢᵥₑ, ᵢ ⲕ𝑛ₒｗ ᵢ𝑡." The spirit's response did very little to assuage Vergil's concerns, but it did ignite further curiosity in Hector.
"Do you, now? An abyss made in the wake of a cracked sky and destroyed city is just fine to traverse? I very much doubt that." Vergil's tone was always fairly flat, but this was near to mocking.
Al’Kassis realized that convincing Hector to jump would’ve been an easy feat should it have been just the two of them on that edge, but with Vergil there…? He doubted there was a tale that he could spin that would convince the older of the pair to indulge in his curiosity. And yet, in the earth’s maw that laid out before them swirled a black miasma, if one were to look with a more discerning eye. He recognized it as somewhat similar to that which composed his own body, and should that be the case, what lay within would benefit him…and if it benefited him, it ought to benefit Hector, too…no? At least, that was his logic.
But since he knew Vergil to be obstinate in situations like this, the spirit’s fog began to gather and condense, granting him the body he’d only recently discovered how to manifest. Deliberately, he’d appeared between Hector and Vergil. The ‘man’ was about as tall as Vergil, though much more lithe, pale of skin and striking in features. Almost casually, with no fanfare nor warning, he lifted an arm and grabbed Hector by the shoulder, shoving the elf into the abyss.
In situations like this, Hector’s default was to freeze; he fell wide eyed, but silent. Vergil’s immediate response was to grab the now corporeal spirit by the arm and jump after the boy– though he was very clearly none too pleased with this turn of events.
In any case, the two of them were sent to survey the areas most immediately around the crater in the middle of the city. It was a curious phenomenon, something that not many would be able to go anywhere near by its very nature, and the Imperium wanted information regarding the nature thereof; while it was an inherently dangerous endeavor, sending two vampyres with both combat prowess and the ability to fix themselves ought anything run awry was considered the most ideal option. Most others would be lacking in adequate fortitude, unfortunately. And though Hector was far slimmer physically, Vergil's fortifications had him as quite robust in the present.
Further, wherever these two went, there was also a third party. Permanently intertwined with Hector was his aidolon– a strange eldritch being that, up until recently, was nameless. More specifically, he couldn't recall his name, but shortly after meeting with an ancient member of his own bloodline did several memories begin to unbind and reveal themselves, his old name being one of them. Al'Kassis; Hector, however, being lazy, usually shortened it.
When the intrepid trio neared the crumbling, rocky edge of Zaichaer’s crater, they'd taken note of the fact that all of the monstrosities they'd passed as they grew closer were not hostile; they'd appeared almost…dormant, as if thralls. The crater itself was like peering into the void; even amongst the rest of the city's devastation, this was remarkable. As above there was a tear in the sky, so below had the earth been rent– each equal in their eldritch grandeur, each akin to open wounds marring what was once a very vibrant, if rigid, city.
Hector took pause looking into the inky abyss of the crater, and as he did so, his spirit expanded from his shadow; Al'Kassis manifested himself as mist.
"ｗⲏₐ𝑡 𝑑ₒ 𝑦ₒᵤ 𝑚ₐⲕₑ ₒ𝑓 𝑡ⲏᵢ𝑠…?" His inquiry was vague, though pointed.
Hector squinted. "Precious little!" He sighed, appearing somewhat annoyed at his own lack of knowledge.
As if nudging the boy forth, "...𝑡ₒ Լₑₐᵣ𝑛, ｗₑ 𝑛ₑₑ𝑑 𝑚ₒᵣₑ 𝑡ⲏₐ𝑛 𝑠ᵢ𝑚𝒑Լₑ ₒ𝑏𝑠ₑᵣᵥₐ𝑡ᵢₒ𝑛, 𝑛ₒ…?" The spirit seemed oddly eager, as he saw something that the half-mortals did not.
And to that, Vergil immediately bristled. "Know you the nature of this abyss? Or are you making vague suggestions based on nothing? I'd rather we not throw our lives away based on your conjectures, spirit.."
"ₒⲏ, 𝑐ₒ𝑚ₑ 𝑛ₒｗ, ᵥₑᵣ𝑔ᵢԼ– ⲏₑ𝑐𝑡ₒᵣ ₐ𝑛𝑑 ᵢ ₐᵣₑ 𝑏ₒᵤ𝑛𝑑; 𝑚ᵤ𝑐ⲏ ₐ𝑠 ᵢ Լₒₐ𝑡ⲏₑ 𝑡ₒ ₐ𝑑𝑚ᵢ𝑡 𝑡ₒ 𝑡ⲏₑ 𝑐ₒ𝑑ₑ𝒑ₑ𝑛𝑐𝑦, ᵢ𝑡'𝑠 𝑡ᵣᵤₑ; ⲏᵢ𝑠 𝑑ₑ𝑚ᵢ𝑠ₑ ｗₒᵤԼ𝑑 ⲏₐᵣ𝑚 𝑚ₑ 𝑔ᵣₑₐ𝑡Լ𝑦, ₐ𝑠 𝑦ₒᵤ ｗₑԼԼ ⲕ𝑛ₒｗ. ｗₑ 𝑐ₐ𝑛 𝑔ₒ 𝑓ᵤᵣ𝑡ⲏₑᵣ…ｗₑ'ԼԼ 𝑠ᵤᵣᵥᵢᵥₑ, ᵢ ⲕ𝑛ₒｗ ᵢ𝑡." The spirit's response did very little to assuage Vergil's concerns, but it did ignite further curiosity in Hector.
"Do you, now? An abyss made in the wake of a cracked sky and destroyed city is just fine to traverse? I very much doubt that." Vergil's tone was always fairly flat, but this was near to mocking.
Al’Kassis realized that convincing Hector to jump would’ve been an easy feat should it have been just the two of them on that edge, but with Vergil there…? He doubted there was a tale that he could spin that would convince the older of the pair to indulge in his curiosity. And yet, in the earth’s maw that laid out before them swirled a black miasma, if one were to look with a more discerning eye. He recognized it as somewhat similar to that which composed his own body, and should that be the case, what lay within would benefit him…and if it benefited him, it ought to benefit Hector, too…no? At least, that was his logic.
But since he knew Vergil to be obstinate in situations like this, the spirit’s fog began to gather and condense, granting him the body he’d only recently discovered how to manifest. Deliberately, he’d appeared between Hector and Vergil. The ‘man’ was about as tall as Vergil, though much more lithe, pale of skin and striking in features. Almost casually, with no fanfare nor warning, he lifted an arm and grabbed Hector by the shoulder, shoving the elf into the abyss.
In situations like this, Hector’s default was to freeze; he fell wide eyed, but silent. Vergil’s immediate response was to grab the now corporeal spirit by the arm and jump after the boy– though he was very clearly none too pleased with this turn of events.
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Aidolon Speech
'Thoughts'
"Kathalan Tongue/Speech"
"Vallenor Tongue/Speech"
"Common Tongue/Speech"
"Mythrasi Tongue/Speech"
