13org

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

After the reinforced meal and coming to terms with the fact that she probably wouldn't have a chance to have such a filling meal for some time, Amaris followed soon after to rest and prepare for the departure in the morning of the next day. After a rather uneventful, and especially due to that, quite relaxing night followed by a reinforced breakfast, Amaris and the rest were on the road again, after the Castellan generously accepted trading their horses for his, so they could continue on their travels.

---

While Amaris herself was reasonably accustomed to going into missions with other inquisitors and even the rather rough treatment she was sometimes subjected to, she had honestly underestimated how rough and long the trip was going to be. The empty and monotonous scenery only make it even worse. By the time they arrived into Sielse, Amaris' mood already wasn't particularly good. Even with the monotonous and empty steppes giving way to green forests, there were still clear signs of a war torn land. Empty and ruined houses and even entire villages became a rather common sight. When signs of violence began appearing, the atmosphere, which was already rather bad, became even worse and the reason for their party being rather well armed became quite clear.

It didn't take long after the first signs of violence until they heard a desperate call for help, just after stumbling into a dried skeleton, hanging from a wooden pole. Carmen was the first to react, immediately going after the sound.

Truth be told, Amaris herself would normally not been that keen in helping every poor soul suffering under a war torn land plagued by militias and bandits, but other than the amount of abandoned houses they saw, Amaris noticed how they hadn't meet a single living soul for two weeks since they arrived on Sielse. There was definitely something wrong with that place. Hopefully, whoever was calling for help would be able to shed some light on what was going on.

Upon getting closer to the source of the noise, they were met by a rather grim scene. Five soldiers in uniform, tying a rope around the crying peasant's neck, standing next to a very familiar pole... The same one they saw a few moments ago with a dried skeleton hanging from it.

To say the soldiers, more specifically the one using a metal helmet, visibly more armored than the rest, were suspicious was an understatement. From the first word directed at their group, the soldiers already showed hostility, meeting them with their weapons pointed at them. Despite Captain Carmen showing his goodwill and trying to talk with the soldiers, he was met only with more hostility and an unwillingness to cooperate, culminating into direct threats of hanging, should they not return to their own country at once.

Amaris, who was already annoyed with the long trip, couldn't help but let out a grim, malicious smirk as she looked at the soldiers, definitely not taking kindly to their hostility. Unlike the soldiers, the peasant, while begging for his life, seemed to be much more willing to cooperate with them, going as far as mentioning he knew about the man they were looking for, Paladin Thomas.

Having heard what she already needed to hear, Mirielle seemed to be convinced that it would be useless trying to talk with them and simply continued walking forward, stating her intention to take the peasant under their custody while flaring her aura in an intimidating manner.

Despite Carmen and Carnatia's attempts to defuse the situation, the latter even mentioning her status and Amaris' infamy to try and discourage the soldiers from attacking, the moment Mirielle started walking towards the peasant, it seemed that there would be no other solution to that situation than violence.

"There is something wrong about all this. Even for a war torn province, not meeting a single living soul in two weeks is too absurd..." Amaris said, agreeing with Ludvig as she heard him mentioning they were hiding something.

With the sergeant immediately swinging at Carnatia, whom thankfully dodged the first blow and deflected the second and the loud noises of the muskets firing at them, Amaris simply gave Captain Carmen a glance, with a sinister smirk before she calmly gave a step forward, stopping just a step behind Carnatia and Rezello as she deflected the sergeant's attacks and the latter summoned his Bec de Corbin and swinging at his legs. Using Rezello's attack as a distraction, Amaris suddenly dashed forward, past the sergeant as she went straight towards the musketeers. There was more than enough justification for her to employ deadly force without being chastised or worse... having the robes activated.

"Diplomacy is reserved to those who act like civilized beings. Act like a rabid animal and you will be put down like one." Amaris said as she rushed past the armored sergeant. With the corner of his eyes, the sergeant would be able to see a spiked iron chain materializing, swirling around her as she ran towards the musketeers, hiding behind Mirielle to avoid shots as she approached.

The very moment Amaris got within range of the musketeers, the chain would quickly shoot forward, coiling up around one of the musketeer's weapons, quickly approaching his dominant arm, aiming to coil around it before Amaris quickly pulled it back towards her, shredding it to pieces in the process.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

Truth be told, watching Mirielle's composure being shattered upon the mention of friendship and the many shades of red she was turning as she struggled to regain it was incredibly amusing for Amaris. Even the way she sat down made it clear that she was still recovering from the shock... Which only encouraged Amaris to further poke fun at Mirielle.

"I couldn't help but to notice that this is the second time you referred to me by my name... I wonder if behind all those tough words you are secretly coming to enjoy my company..." Amaris said, with a teasing smirk as she looked to Mirielle, before addressing the more valid concerns Mirielle had.

"No need to worry though. I never had any problem with alcohol and I seldom drink more than a single cup." Amaris said in a more serious note, reassuring Mirielle that she wouldn't have to worry about her getting drunk.

Ironically enough, the moment Ludvig himself began to speak, it quickly became Amaris' turn to get shocked and embarrassed. As she heard his confession, Amaris couldn't help but stay as still as a statue in her chair, covering her mouth with her hands as she tried processing what she had just heard.

While she already heard a few times about her beauty back in Dargolad, nobody had ever been this forward with their feelings about her before and honestly, Amaris herself didn't know how to react. Too stunned to react, Amaris simply stood still as Ludvig held her hand, something which would normally have earned him quite a scolding before.

"Oh- I-I see... Sorry for... misunderstanding you..." Amaris said, stumbling on her words as she gently pulled her hand back, not really sure on how to take Ludvig having used her earlier... or if that was indeed the entire truth about how he was acting.

"I am very flattered... You are... quite good looking yourself and you're very sweet, but... Maybe you are going too fast don't you think? As you said, there are more... pressing matters to solve at the moment, for both of us. Besides, we both know ourselves too little to speak of love, Ludvig. Attraction might be the word you are looking for." Amaris began saying. It was her first time dealing with a confession like that and Ludvig's had completely overwhelmed her due to how suddenly it came and how 'intense' it was. Finding a way to delicately let him know that such advances were a bit too fast for her without wounding his pride was a... new experience for Amaris.

"Most importantly... There are still a side of me you are not aware of... Regarding what happened in that slaver settlement... I did say I am not guilty of killing innocent people. I never said I wasn't responsible for the slaughter that happened in that town." Amaris said, both her expression and her tone growing darker for a brief moment.

"Still, I was worried. Especially given how you left the room after what happened and how you distanced yourself from the rest of the group. I am glad to know you are fine. Regarding your confession... I.. I am not saying no, I'm just saying... Let's give it some time and a bit more thought. Should your feelings remain the same after all this is over... Then... who knows..." Amaris finished with a smile, even if a bit awkward, followed by an even more awkward silence.

Fortunately for Amaris, on the exact moment she finished, the food was served, including her quite generous meal. A good mug of dark beer, sausage roll and the main dish, Knodel and Schweinshaxe. A big bite of the sausage roll, together with a rather generous gulp of dark beer seemed to be quite helpful in taking Amaris' mind off the sudden confession and the awkwardness that followed, which seemed to be almost the complete opposite of what Mirielle meant by avoiding overindulgence.

"Anyways! You really weren't lying when you mentioned your sausage rolls are ones of the best, were you?" Amaris said surprised as she glanced towards the barkeep, who was talking with Rezello as she tried to disperse the awkward atmosphere that was in the air after Ludvig's confession.

"I could share some of mine with my dear friend, should you change your mind!" Amaris said, with a teasing smile towards Mirielle after she heard Carnatia's reply to her.

"Sure, there is nothing wrong in appreciating life, but Mirielle is also correct. Moderation and balance are the key, should you really want to live life to the fullest." Amaris said, giving a playful wink to Amanita and extending her fork towards her, offering a piece of her sausage roll, making the same offer she jokingly did to Mirielle.

The Envenomed: Military Science Fiction Deniable Operations

The moment Kleo 'greeted' the support team, Alice's immediately opened her eyes wide in shock. Even though Alice did notice that Kleo was, in her own way, standing up for her own team, which did made Alice a bit satisfied, noticing how Kleo seemed to be integrating into the team a bit more and feeling more like a part of it, the way she did so gave a terrible first impression. While it was true that the one who greeted also didn't exactly give a good first impression, more confrontation was the last thing both teams needed just before the mission.

Fortunately, King seemed to quickly be able to draw attention to the perilous mission at hand, making Husk, as the scielto introduced himself, reveal more about what he knew about the place they would explore. Feeling the ethereal signal the scielto had sent to her as a greeting, Alice nodded her head, acknowledging it as he approached her.

"Indeed, I was part of a research team on a ship focused on the Oneiric Chasm and the Abyssical Plane. Already went in quite a few expeditions there... Which only taught me to always be on guard and never consider oneself overly 'familiar' with the Oneiric Chasm or the Abyssical Plane. I only hope the creatures down there aren't particularly troublesome. I have quite a few in mind that would make our life down there a living hell should they be left to roam freely through that maze..." Alice said, replying to Husk.

With that said, despite their attempt to steer the conversation away from a possible confrontation between Kleo and Husk, the sparks continued to fly as Husk addressed Kleo's previous outburst. Thankfully, a Vrexul member of the support team silently chastised Husk with a slap. Alice quickly looked to the Vrexul, thanking him with a silent nod before she turned to Kleo, intent on hopefully discouraging her from further putting fuel into the fire.

"Hey Kleo, are you looking for any particular equipment? It's better to be well prepared. Not even I am sure of what type of creatures we will find there." Alice began, putting herself between Kleo and Husk as she delicately tried pushing Kleo towards the arsenal.

"I'm happy that you finally see yourself as part of the team." Alice said in a low tone after they got a bit away from Husk, with a delicate smile, discreetly letting Kleo know that she did notice that she was standing up for them back there.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

Having Carmen reassuring her that the guards from Dragon's Maw had already been informed about her was very comforting for Amaris. Given the respect he seemed to have and the old position as a cavalry colonel, it should be more than enough to give her a free pass to walk around without being accused. The mention of pigs being a staple on Dragon's Maw was very promising. She didn't particularly care about 'refined' meals, only about good meals. With meat being one of her favorite.

"That sounds delightful! It would be nice if someone could also drag Ludwig out of his self-imposed exile as well..." Amaris said with a sigh. Maybe she was indeed a bit too hard on Ludwig, but it had already been days since that incident...

Mirielle also was quick to reassure Carmen that she would escort her, albeit in a way that made Amanita misunderstand it as being friendship, which gave Amaris a wonderful opportunity to tease the ex-inquisitor about it.

"Isn't it, Amanita? I didn't know Mirielle cared about me so much!" Amaris said with an teasing grin as she looked at Mirielle.

"Why don't you come with us as well, Amanita? I do find your company to be quite pleasing." Amaris said as she turned to Amanita, with a gentle smile as she extended her hand towards her.

---

"Thank you again for your generosity, Linceleste." Amaris said, with a smile as she thanked Linceleste for the meal as they entered the tavern. The young noblewoman was still a bit of a mystery for Amaris. Even though she heard Linceleste was on this mission to rescue her uncle, with how young she was, she expected her family would object to her decision to go, send someone in her place or at least a bodyguard. But regardless of the reasons behind her presence, Linceleste seemed to be, despite being rather quiet, a very kind girl. Similarly to Amanita, she was someone Amaris found relaxing to have nearby.

While Amaris didn't care about how 'fancy' and 'refined' the tavern wasn't, she couldn't help but to think Carnatia's requests didn't fit the place at all. As the talk with the barkeep continued, Amaris was almost certain they would be kicked out, as the barkeep seemed to start finding Carnatia's requests to be offensive. Due to that, when the cook suddenly appeared from inside the kitchen, saying that it wouldn't be a problem to indulge Carnatia's requests, she was quite surprised.

"Quite a nice guy, that cook fellow, isn't he?" Amaris said, looking to the young cook and thanking with a silent nod and a smile before she turned to the barkeep as he asked about their orders as well. At first, Amaris would simply ask for whatever Carnatia was asking, but after hearing Osric's order and seeing how proud the barkeep seemed to be about their sausage rolls, she decided to modify her order a bit.

"Knodel and Schweinshaxe sound wonderful for the main dish! Although, if possible, I would like a sausage roll with some black beer for the appetizer. I don't mind a reinforced breakfast, seeing the long way we probably still have ahead of us." She said with an amicable smile, hoping the barkeep would find her choice of appetizer a bit more to his liking. Especially since the barkeep seemed quite proud of their sausage rolls.

"Before you say anything, don't worry, Mirielle. I am not someone who enjoys drinking until I fall or something. A mug of dark beer simply sounded like a good combination." she said, making sure to Mirielle she wouldn't need to worry about Amaris getting drunk. Unlike other times, this time Amaris was simply informing her and not teasing. Which would be probably a refreshing change for Mirielle.

With the matter of their order settled, Amaris finally turned to Ludwig, who had gotten to the tavern before them and was sitting a bit apart from them. Sighing heavily, she turned towards him with an annoyed expression.

"Come sit with us, Ludvig. I get that I was a bit too harsh at you back then, but I'm not that mad at you. I don't think anyone is, to be fair... It's already time for you to return to your normal, cheerful self, isn't it?" Amaris said, a bit annoyed.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

To say the small 'incident' on the feast before they left for Dragon's Maw had left a sour mood was a bit of an understatement. Just like Osric and Rezello mentioned after Mirielle left, the first impressions weren't exactly the best and conflict in the group were a very real possibility, especially as the mission went on.

On the first days of travel, Amaris could clearly feel the discomfort some of them had after her identity was revealed. The only saving grace was how uneventful the entire trip was, giving Amaris enough time to at least learn the name of the other members of the group whom she wasn't introduced before. Ludwig, who was the man who was inadvertently wounded by Amaris was still apparently quite affected by what happened, keeping silent through the whole trip, content in staying by himself and away from the group. More than once, Amaris considered saying a few words to him, just to see if he was really fine, but again and again, her pride prevented her from doing so, instead using any reasonable excuse she could find to send one of the other members to check on him. Besides that, Amaris came to quite like Amanita's company. Not only due to her calm and relaxing demeanor, but also due to how cute and adorable she was.

While most would consider the trip 'uncomfortable', the years Amaris spent as a prisoner, or how the inquisitors and the clergy from the Order liked to say... a 'penitent', did give her quite the tolerance to... less than ideal living conditions... Especially while on missions being escorted by inquisitors. When compared to those times, the current trip was almost like a vacation. Despite the vigilant stares from Mirielle, Amaris was treated quite well by the group.

Upon arrival at the frontier city of Dragon's Maw, they were greeted by sight of the imposing mountains that gave name to the city. To say the sight of the morning light bathing the mountain range was breathtaking would be an understatement. The very city of Dragon's Maw was also quite surprising for Amaris. For a frontier city, it was much bigger, busier and well established than what she was expecting. The reason for such would soon show itself to be the fortress and the military activity which seemed to be the blood that kept that city running... Much for Amaris' dismay, given her... troubled relations with Westernant authorities. Fortunately, judging by captain Carmen's relaxed demeanor, it was fair to assume that he was both well known and among allies while in that city. Which would hopefully help them avoid instigating any problems with Amaris, should they recognize her.

"Just one, Carmen. I assume you are quite well known through these parts, right? Considering my... 'luck' with Westernant authorities, should some of them share our dear ex-inquisitor's opinion about me, It would be quite useful to have someone like you, captain, to attest to my innocence, since you know well how unlikely most are to trust my words. Even when those are true." Amaris said with a teasing grin and a shrug as she looked to Mirielle.

Through the trip, much to Mirielle's dismay, Amaris had found herself enjoying quite a bit teasing and provoking the ex-inquisitor whenever possible.

"I got to admit... the idea of a good local meal is quite attractive! Don't get me wrong, the travel rations were fine, much better than most stuff I had to eat while under the loving 'care' of a few of the most... 'passionate' inquisitors, but given the lengthy mission we have ahead of us, it might be a good idea to take every opportunity we have for a bit of comfort while we can, no?" Amaris said, agreeing with Carnatia's suggestion.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

Amaris watched in silence as the brownish-orange haired man got up from the ground, his hand impaled by thorns. His relaxed and confident expression was completely gone from his face as he apologized and promptly left the room. Truth be told, despite what he did, seeing his previously overflowing confidence disappear like that did make Amaris feel quite bad. It was almost like seeing a cute, overexcited puppy that was just scolded after playing around too much walk away with it's head and tail lowered.

"It seems my infamy precedes me. Although... I would be grateful if you had a little more faith in me and refrained from stabbing me over a mere act of self-defense." Amaris said, with a provoking smirk towards Mirielle. Amaris did not fail to notice Mirielle's reaction during the confusion, especially her hostile stare and obvious intent as she got up from her seat.

"I really didn't intend to hurt him though... Was I too harsh on him?" Amaris asked with a heavy sigh, looking at the door where the man, with both his pride and arm wounded, made his exit.

Osric too seemed to be a bit taken aback. Amaris didn't know if it was due to what had just happened or the whole revelation of her true identity. She did appreciate his honesty after she told her story and his attempt to lighten the atmosphere though.

"It's okay, Osric. I don't expect any of you to believe my words. My only request is, should you really be interested on what truly happened nine years ago, doubt the words being told by the authorities and the order, investigate by your own accord." Amaris said, sensing his discomfort as Osric raised a toast, before she turned to Mirielle.

"Especially you, Ex-Inquisitor Mirielle. Do not think of your Order as being perfect and incorruptible. By the words of your own clergymen, only the Creator is perfect." Amaris said, with a serious expression as she looked to Mirielle. Unlike other times, there wasn't a teasing tone to her voice or a smirk accompanied with her words.

"I don't know much about the Archbishop. I only met him recently, but despite being quite cunning, he seems like a very reasonable man. More than most. It might be even a bit naive from me, but I would even go as far as to call him a 'good' man. But even someone as revered as he is among the clergyman has enemies inside the order. Those who would rather see him fail and take his position for their own..." Amaris said, looking to Mirielle. She wasn't sure of how much she should say about her small conversation with the Archbishop and the deal they made, but telling Mirielle that much would likely be enough to spark curiosity and make her doubt of the apparent incorruptibility of the Order... Having such a determined and loyal inquisitor turning her eyes to the evil within it's very order would be very advantageous for Amaris in the future...

With the whole incident hopefully dealt with, Carmen was quick to put an end to any further discussions about it, both apologizing and reassuring that impulsive and inappropriate actions such as the one before wouldn't be tolerated.

"Thank you for your patience, captain Carmen. I shall not delay myself." she replied as Carmen said that they would be leaving early tomorrow.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

The next person to greet her was an older man with quite the surprising physique. While his eyes and his grey hairs betrayed his age and experience, his clothes and strong body made it clear that he was used to working with his body. Perhaps an engineer or smith, judging by the apron and the rough, callused hands.

"Please to meet you, Osric. It would be nice if the rescue proceeded without any major issues... But in case it doesn't, it's indeed comforting to have a few more allies to count on." Amaris said, returning his greeting with a smile and a nod.

As expected, the inquisitor did had something to say upon seeing Amaris. While she only said a single word, her eyes as she did so told more about what she thought about Amaris' presence than words could. Amaris wasn't a strange to the inquisitors' fanaticism and the wrathful stares they usually directed at her. As a response to that, she simply looked back at the inquisitor, waving at her with a provoking smirk.

Much to her own surprise though, a red haired woman, one of the two people in that table that seemed to fit more around nobles than inquisitors and mercenaries, immediately interceded for her, chastising the inquisitor for her reaction.

"Thank you for your kindness, but it's fine. I've grown accustomed to the inquisitors' hostile behavior. In the other hand... It's not everyday that someone intercedes for me like this." Amaris said, looking to Carnatia with a discreet smile.

Still, the red haired noblewoman wasn't the only one to thank for holding back the inquisitor. The other one was a rather stern looking man, wearing a feathered hat. While he did kept a welcoming smile, the stare he gave towards the inquisitor made it quite clear that he probably was in a higher position than her.

"Greetings, captain Carmen. I assume you will be my handler, am I correct? I look forward to working with you." Amaris asked, discreetly looking at his hands, searching for the presence of a familiar signet ring.

Amaris' discreet evaluation of the man who was going to hold the key to her life was cut short though, as the first person who noticed her appearance spoke, trying to apologize for his reaction upon seeing her... Even though he was failing quite amusingly at it, stumbling at his own words and probably letting out more than he intended.

"I wonder if you are always this well articulated or if my 'beauty' left you at loss for words." Amaris said with a teasing smirk.

"A bit too... exotic for a fashion statement, is it not? Although I must say that if it wasn't for it's purpose, I would have even liked it's looks with a few adjustments... I kinda like the spikes and all, but the robe itself is a bit too plain and boring for my liking, you know?" Amaris replied as he asked about her robes while laughing.

Just as she was about to explain what it was, the inquisitor, or ex-inquisitor as she herself stated, was rather quick to accuse it's real purpose, together with a rather refreshing reminder that she would keep a watchful eye on her.

"It is exactly as our dear ex-inquisitor Mirielle said. Although she did, conveniently, fail to clarify what 'sin' I am guilty of..." Amaris said, not-so-subtly provoking Mirielle, as she continued.

Before Amaris could continue though, she suddenly felt a hand touching the back of her neck, accompanied with the voice of the man who was speaking about her beauty a moment earlier. Distracted by the small exchange of jabs with Mirielle, Amaris had completely failed to notice the fact that one of the members of the group, simply wasn't at his seat anymore and was not right behind her.

Immediately upon feeling an unfamiliar touch, a chain of iron thorns, much like the ones who adorned her robes immediately materialized a few centimeters away from the ground, shooting up in a zigzag pattern with a frightening speed and missing the man's forearm by a hair's breadth, likely saving it from being tore apart in the process. The noise of the vicious thorns hitting against each other and the chains moved violently upwards was enough to completely drown every other noise in the room, before it stopped as suddenly as it had began, with the chains stopping between him and Amaris in the same pattern, almost as if they were frozen in time.

"While I do enjoy the attention and the flattery, I do not appreciate being approached by behind, much less touched without my consent." Amaris said, slowly turning back to face the offender, her voice assuming a much darker and hostile tone, nowhere near the gentle and amicable one she had a moment ago as she waited for him to go back to his seat.

"Nine years ago, in the border between Westernant and Varenheim, an incident happened where an entire settlement was slaughtered and destroyed by a Sarkaz Witch in a single night. That settlement was, surely, painted as filled with innocent victims by the authorities in order to hide their corrupt deals with the place... But the truth was that the entire settlement was a front for a slavery ring, focusing on 'marginalized' races like the Sarkaz. In the next morning, after killing most of the humans on the settlement and freeing the slaves, the Sarkaz Witch was captured by the order without resisting." Amaris said with a serious tone, as the chains began to quickly rust and decay, before fully disappearing.

"Two years after my capture, due to my 'good behavior' I was allowed to serve as a weapon for the Order to reduce my sentence. Even now, after seven years of 'service' I have yet to raise my hand against innocent people." she finished, letting her words linger for a good minute of silencebefore letting out a deep sigh, with her expression becoming calmer and lighter, returning to what it was previously.

"I am sorry for the outburst and for interrupting the feast like this. I wasn't planning on telling about why I am here now like this. I hope this hasn't ruined the mood." Amaris said with a disappointed sigh.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

---

Amaris took a brief moment to take a quick glance at the group just after the Archbishop announced her entrance and before introducing herself. At first, she was expecting a curated group of inquisitors and fanatics, but much to her surprise it seem to be quite a healthy and varied group, although she did notice at least one person who fit the previous category quite well if one was to believe the rumors. With that said, considering the fact that she was assigned for this mission, it was undeniable that there would be at least one inquisitor between them, an issue Amaris decided to leave for another moment, as the least she could do now was to show her willingness to work with the group by introducing herself.

"Good evening, I hope I am not interrupting the feast. " Amaris said as she gave a step forwards, picking one of the vacant seats at random and standing behind it. Truth be told, the scent and appearance of the food was truly divine.

"To those who do not know or haven't heard about me, I am Amaris. I was assigned by the Archbishop to aid you in the upcoming mission." she continued, waving back to one of the members who had been quick to notice her arrival, a tall man with quite the striking brownish-orange hair which for some reason, seemed to be quite shocked by it too, making Amaris let out an amused grin, before she delicately pulled the chair and sat down.

"I am sure that there are some between you who do know me. To those I assure you I that the successful completion of this mission is as important to you as it is for me, as I am quite sure you might know, and that you will have my full cooperation to ensure that it goes well." Amaris completed giving a quick glance towards a certain white haired woman, who was rather infamous even among the Order's clergy, or famous depending on who you asked, due to her extreme... passion... for her job and observing her reaction, before turning her attention to the rest of the group again.

"Should any of you have any question, please don't be afraid to ask." Amaris said, taking a moment to carefully watch every member's reaction before she gently took a dish for herself together with a glass of wine and started to eat, apparently greatly appreciating every bite and sip.

Absolved Will Be the Saviors

Amaris Mallory

---

Amaris Mallory	General Information Name - Amaris Mallory Age - 85 Species and Gender - Sarkaz / Female Mana Pool Type - Container Hair Color - White Affiliation - Order of the Golden Sun - Prisoner

Detailed Appearance

While Amaris lacks the characteristic horns that most Sarkaz usually have and most of the visible traits are hidden by her robes, her striking appearance is usually more than enough to mark her as someone incredibly suspicious. At first sight, her red eyes and sharp teeth already contribute to the rather sinister aura she has, but if one pay enough attention, the white, demon-like tail is still able to be seen. Aside from the obvious physical traits, what perhaps contribute even more to the sinister appearance Amaris has is the robe and veil that she is forced to wear by the Order.

The aptly named Robes of Penitence were initially a magical artifact made with reinforced fabric and dark colors, but after being worn by Amaris, the robe changed to be filled with sharp iron spikes. While the rather violent and hostile design was not exactly intended, it ends up working quite well to warn that the one wearing it is both dangerous and undergoing punishment... or 'penance'.

If one is able to see past these sinister and dangerous appearance, Amaris could easily be considered quite an attractive woman. Standing at 1.82m with beautiful, long white hair, it doesn't take much to imagine how different she would look if she wore different clothes and perhaps had a more amicable, gentle smile... Similar to the ones she is sometime seen with when talking to Sarkaz children.

Personality

Most know of those who have heard about Amaris' 'sins' and what she was responsible for see her as a monstrous, sadistic witch. A walking disaster that was responsible for the massacre that happened on the border town between Varenheim and Westernant. At least partially, those people aren't exactly wrong. To her enemies, Amaris shows herself to be a ruthless, sadistic witch that doesn't hesitate in slaughtering those responsible for her people's suffering, but there is much more to her than just the stories that are told.

While it is true that Amaris is cruel, ruthless and sadistic to those whom she consider either her enemies or 'guilty' of committing injustices, her rather strict moral code shows itself quite clearly when innocent people are involved, be them Sarkaz or not. This very moral code seems work almost as a failsafe, limiting her cruelty to prevent her from crossing a line she shouldn't.

Since she became a prisoner of the Order of the Golden Sun, Amaris learned to control her fiercely rebellious spirit, teaching her at least some patience and restraint. This time spent as a prisoner also did quite a bit to calm Amaris down and make her behavior less explosive and destructive. In another hand, this made clear that Amaris is a dangerous woman in many ways, showing herself to be a very cunning and scheming woman especially now after she learned how to bide her time instead of acting solely on her impulses.

Surprisingly enough, she seems not to show that much hostility to most members of the clergy, with the notable exception of the Inquisitors... Often the targets of acidic, sarcastic comments and provocations about them being the church's 'hunting dogs', eager to show service and 'condemn' whoever they are told to, regardless of the crimes they committed. Even though Amaris isn't stupid to directly attack an inquisitor, she seems to shows a habit of not particularly minding about collateral damage to them, if she is ordered to attack an enemy with them nearby.

The few times Amaris was allowed to meet the children of the orphanage, she has also shown herself to calmly and kindly answer to inquiries made by the braver ones among them that weren't afraid by the stories, as long as those were polite. While she shows little to no patience to rude and unruly children, she seems to have a soft spot for polite and innocent ones.

Bio

It is hard to forget—and even harder to forgive—the hatred and the old wounds left open after decades of war. For some, time does not heal all wounds. Even after the city of Dagorlad was built as a symbol of peace, the scars of the Sarkaz genocide, inflicted by the Elves during the cruel reign of Serensiel, remained fresh in their memory. The Sarkaz people, once proud nomads, now suffered the stigma of that dark history. Many still saw them as untrustworthy outcasts, regardless of their attempt to rebuild their shattered pride and culture.

Amaris Mallory, the third daughter of a prosperous merchant family, saw in Dagorlad little more than a gilded cage. It was a fragile city... Built on a promise coexistence and a new beginning, while lacking the mutual respect from other kingdoms to sustain such coexistence. A place where the Sarkaz slowly attempted to reclaim what was stolen from them, even as those responsible for their suffering walked free. The Elves who had committed unspeakable atrocities thrived in lands taken by blood, while the Sarkaz were left to pick up the pieces, their pain ignored.

To Amaris, the bustling marketplace in Dagorlad’s merchant district, filled with colorful stalls and traders shouting their wares, felt like a cruel joke. The very city was build as a result of years of Sarkaz suffering, and yet people still lived as if the past didn't matter anymore... As if all their problems had been solved, ignoring the Elves, in their prosperous kingdom, built on stolen lands. The noise of the crowd only made Amaris' heard tighten. The peace their city offered was impossible to trust. Their so-called nation was small and vulnerable, constantly overshadowed by the power of the Elves and Humans.

Day after day, Amaris wandered through the district, her heart heavy with the burden of unspoken anger. Merchants who traveled to Human land spoke of their experiences... The stories were always the same: polite smiles masking condescension, whispered insults calling them scavengers, wanderers, or worse. The Sarkaz could build cities, they could carve out a place for themselves, but they could not erase the past.

While many in Dagorlad tried to adapt to their new lives, Amaris felt suffocated by it. While coexistence could be possible, the past had first to be acknowledged. The crimes of the Elves under Serensiel's reign could not simply be buried and forgotten. Most importantly, the Sarkaz would never be truly respected as long as their past grievances weren't solved and the crimes committed against them, repaid. For Amaris, there could be no true peace without retribution.

As she grew older, Dagorlad became more and more suffocating. Her family, unlike Amaris, had adapted well to the changes. Her father, a merchant through and through, saw opportunity where she saw injustice while her mother, believed that time would smooth over the rough edges of their history. Both of them did little to understand her discontent. To them, Amaris was wasting her potential and her magical talents, on rebellious thoughts and dreams of a different world.

In the end, Amaris decided to leave with the excuse of "learning about the world". Unsurprisingly, her family didn’t resist. They had already grown of her dissatisfaction and rebellious spirit and maybe they believed that leaving Dagorlad might finally open her rebellious daughter's eyes and get rid her of her rebellious streak. She chose Westernant as her destination, where she hoped to find answers to the questions that gnawed at her soul... How could her people heal if their past was ignored? How could they move forward when the those responsible for their disgrace still walked free, unrepentant, their hands stained with Sarkaz blood? And perhaps even more importantly... seeking some respite from the suffocating feeling of impotence and the hatred that burned her chest.

Truth be told, Amaris had no grand plan as she left for Westernant, no certainty about what she would find or how exactly would most humans treat her. Only a burning, smoldering anger. A belief that justice, true justice, could not be bargained for or bought. It had to be taken, to be earned. As long as the Sarkaz let the humans look down at them or the elves believe they can just ignore what they did in the past, they would never be respected.

At first her the one thing she noticed in Westernant was while there was indeed the prejudice she heard about from other merchants, not every human was like that. While there were only some that didn't view her with prejudice, those that didn't only shown curiosity as she looked at her. While that curiosity could be another way to earn the human kingdoms' trust and respect, Amaris was far too quickly shown the dark side of human society the moment she stepped into one of the first settlements in the border between the kingdoms...

In one of the first border towns Amaris visited, the first thing she noticed were the suspicious, harsh stares the moment she arrived. Unlike the others, those went beyond simple curiosity or prejudice... The people's stared had a mix of nervousness, fear and hostility to them. Every step she gave, Amaris felt she was closely watched. Strangely enough, it felt almost as if every person looking at her was a hair's breadth away from jumping at her. Under such strict surveillance, not only there was no possibility of her finding out what was going on, but the threat of having a dagger plunged into her back was tangible. Due to that, Amaris quickly left the place.

It took quite a bit of questioning the rare merchants that passed on the nearby roads and observing who entered and exited the settlement from a distance, but when Amaris finally realized what was going on, she felt her heart drop with shock, before it lit up in anger and wrath. While it was well disguised, it was obvious that that small settlement was a front for a group of slavers. Amaris watched, in horror as a bound sarkaz was hurriedly escorted inside the settlement by a group of rough looking men, before it was taken inside a building.

In silence, Amaris returned to the slavers' settlement, her eyes burning with anger as one guard came to stop her. They knew... They all knew what was happening in that place. The guards, the merchants who were staring at her earlier, even the authorities on that place knew... and they did nothing... Raising her hand, a chain of interlinking, symmetrical, iron spikes began slowly forming as she looked towards the guard... There was no negotiation, no warning or accusations, there was just a one-sided massacre. The humans that escaped quickly alerted the authorities, with desperate tales about a Sarkaz witch and the storm of bloodied chains and spikes that followed her.

Rushed by the urgency of the reports given by the fleeing survivors, the Order of the Golden Sun arrived almost an entire day later. Only to encounter the small settlement completely destroyed. Bodies impaled by huge spikes of iron appearing from the ground or entangled in a sea of chains made of interlinking iron spikes. In the very middle of the destroyed settlement, a single Sarkaz woman stood kneeling on the ground, wounded and exhausted, but still alive. Surrounded by a a few dozen of the symmetrical iron spikes embedded on the ground, almost the height of a human and dozens of bloodied chains spread through the ground in a sea of blood, corpses and debris. The almost nightmarish scene of iron obelisks, chains and spikes seemed to be something straight out of a horror story, some of the iron structures already starting to oxidize, rapidly decaying due to the exhaustion of the Sarkaz witch, the red rust color mixing the the blood of the corpses on the ground...

[...]

Reminiscing about the past was... Unpleasant for Amaris. It's been almost 9 years since the massacre of the slaver settlement. 9 years since she was saved from being executed in the very spot she stood by some of the Sarkaz slaves she had freed before the massacre, interceded for her and explaining what had happened. Many times she had thought if she could had done something different... of how she could have dealt with that settlement in a better way... But in the end, those thought went away as quickly as they returned. It was useless to think about what could have been.

After she was captured, it took almost two years of interrogation and sermons (many which were completely ignored by Amaris) until the Order saw Amaris worthy of the smallest bit of trust and allowed her to work with inquisitors in order to repay for what she had done, reducing her sentence. After nine years, Amaris knew well that there was more to that slaver settlement than what she thought, as the truth behind it had not yet made public. Now, she worked to the order as a somewhat begrudging ally. Every mission completed without any 'incidents' was another step, another reduction to her sentence and another promise from the Order that when it was all over, the truth would finally be told and her name, cleared... Working with inquisitors was still as unpleasant as it was in the beginning, but if there was anything Amaris had learned in those nine years was that it paid off to be patient.

Passives

Blood-iron Thorns: Amaris is able to materialize iron chains made of interlinking, symmetrical iron spikes and control it freely either from a distance or as whips from her arms. Her control over said chain is enough to move it almost any way she wants to in a range of 15m, including wielding them just like a normal whip would. Only one chain can be materialized and controlled, with additional chains being materialized as Amaris is able to score hits on enemies with normal attacks or by sacrificing 10% of her health per chain. Can only control four chains at a time. Always has one chain with her. Chains can be broken with strong enough attacks.

Blood-iron Magic: Amaris' magic is one of blood and iron, an old ritualistic magic based on blood sacrifices. As long her chains are able to absorb blood, be it her own or others, she gets progressively stronger.

Agile Caster: Due to the almost instinctive way Amaris' magic works, she is able to move herself freely as she uses it. The rush of adrenaline and excitement as she continues using it made her develop a fast, agile and aggressive fighting style. Not wearing armor also contributes to her agile steps in the battlefield.

Spells

Chains of Resentment: Spends one of her chains, sending them towards an enemy, slithering and coiling around them before tightening, making the thorns dig into their skin, causing severe bleeding and slowing both their movements and attacks. If three Obelisks were summoned, more chains appear shooting from the ground, piercing the target and holding them in place. Allows the usage of the Reckoning ability if three obelisks are summoned.

Reckoning: Can only be used against enemies affected by Chains of Resentment. Makes the chains that are already slowing the target's movements and attacks start tightening even more, grinding against each other and the target's flesh, digging further and further into it. Against enemies who are already held in place, summons a smaller spike from the ground, slightly behind the target, impaling them and raising in the air, with the chains binding them to it.

Blood Iron Curtain: Spends one of her chains, making it burst into individual thorns, orbiting Amaris, creating an aura of 5 meters around her where projectiles have a high chance of being deflected. After three obelisks were summoned, this area extends to 10 meters, protecting her allies, completely stop any projectiles and working together with the obelisks' chain links, causing bleeding to enemies inside the radius.

Bloodforged Obelisk: Spends three Blood Iron Thorns, sending them burrowing into the ground, wall or any solid object. The chains move underground to make a giant iron spike, bound by chains, to erupt, impaling any enemy unfortunate enough to be above it and knocking away those nearby. The obelisk will remain on the battlefield as long as Amaris wills it or as long as she remains conscious. While very durable, can still be destroyed. When three obelisks are summoned on the same battlefield, the chains binding them break, with each individual chain link, each individual thorn, flying outwards and orbiting an area of 15 meters around each obelisk, causing persistent damage and bleeding to anyone who stays in the area. Subsequent casts of this skill after three obelisks were summoned will only cost a single chain and will instead, simply relocate one of the previous spikes. If all three spikes are destroyed after they are 'activated', the storm of thorns ceases, with Amaris needing to invoke the obelisks again. As long as a single obelisk is still standing after being 'activated', Amaris needs only to spend a single chain to summon the others.

Equipment

Robes of Penitence: A cursed artifact made by the Order of the Golden Sun to control highly dangerous and powerful prisoners. Takes the form of a black robe, made of reinforced fabric. Offers little to no protection, but it's nigh impossible to destroy, thanks to self-repairing enchantments. Due to how tricky it is to seal or prevent powerful prisoners from using their powers, this artifact makes use of the caster's own powers against them. In the case of Amaris, it became filled with iron spikes, thorns and chains. Can be activated from a distance by any high-ranking member of the Order of the Golden Sun or by whoever was given the responsibility of being Amaris' 'handler'. Upon being activated, the thorns grow inwards, piercing Amaris' skin and causing a great deal of pain while the chains tighten, both cutting and immobilizing her. It was designed to cause as much pain as possible and immobilize without killing, but a special command can be used solely by a high-ranking member of the Order to immediately execute the wearer.

Mundane Skills

A Merchant's daughter: While Amaris isn't exactly good at bargaining or negotiating, she knows how to handle money and numbers quite well. Despite her lack of enthusiasm with her family's business in Dagorlad, Amaris is actually a very competent accountant. The years she passed observing and seeing her father working also taught her to be quite cunning and scheming. Traits she had not shown before, due to her previous tendency of letting her emotions run wild and cloud her judgement.

First Aid: Due to the obviously dangerous nature of Amaris' magic, more than once she cut or wounded herself while learning to control it. Due to that, Amaris learned how to disinfect, clean and close wounds quite effectively.

Light steps: Years of dodging her responsibilities to the family, running away from chores & the like made Amaris quite adept at sneaking around and moving silently.

13org's characters

Amaris Mallory (alt)

---

Amaris Mallory	General Information Name - Amaris Mallory Age - 85 Species and Gender - Sarkaz / Female Mana Pool Type - Container Hair Color - White Affiliation - Order of the Golden Sun - Prisoner

Detailed Appearance

While Amaris lacks the characteristic horns that most Sarkaz usually have and most of the visible traits are hidden by her robes, her striking appearance is usually more than enough to mark her as someone incredibly suspicious. At first sight, her red eyes and sharp teeth already contribute to the rather sinister aura she has, but if one pay enough attention, the white, demon-like tail is still able to be seen. Aside from the obvious physical traits, what perhaps contribute even more to the sinister appearance Amaris has is the robe and veil that she is forced to wear by the Order.

The aptly named Robes of Penitence were initially a magical artifact made with reinforced fabric and dark colors, but after being worn by Amaris, the robe changed to be filled with sharp iron spikes. While the rather violent and hostile design was not exactly intended, it ends up working quite well to warn that the one wearing it is both dangerous and undergoing punishment... or 'penance'.

If one is able to see past these sinister and dangerous appearance, Amaris could easily be considered quite an attractive woman. Standing at 1.82m with beautiful, long white hair, it doesn't take much to imagine how different she would look if she wore different clothes and perhaps had a more amicable, gentle smile... Similar to the ones she is sometime seen with when talking to Sarkaz children.

Personality

Most know of those who have heard about Amaris' 'sins' and what she was responsible for see her as a monstrous, sadistic witch. A walking disaster that was responsible for the massacre that happened on the border town between Varenheim and Westernant. At least partially, those people aren't exactly wrong. To her enemies, Amaris shows herself to be a ruthless, sadistic witch that doesn't hesitate in slaughtering those responsible for her people's suffering, but there is much more to her than just the stories that are told.

While it is true that Amaris is cruel, ruthless and sadistic to those whom she consider either her enemies or 'guilty' of committing injustices, her rather strict moral code shows itself quite clearly when innocent people are involved, be them Sarkaz or not. This very moral code seems work almost as a failsafe, limiting her cruelty to prevent her from crossing a line she shouldn't.

Since she became a prisoner of the Order of the Golden Sun, Amaris learned to control her fiercely rebellious spirit, teaching her at least some patience and restraint. This time spent as a prisoner also did quite a bit to calm Amaris down and make her behavior less explosive and destructive.

Surprisingly enough, she seems not to show that much hostility to most members of the clergy, with the notable exception of the Inquisitors... Often the targets of acidic, sarcastic comments and provocations about them being the church's 'hunting dogs', eager to show service and 'condemn' whoever they are told to, regardless of the crimes they committed. Even though Amaris isn't stupid to directly attack an inquisitor, she seems to shows a habit of not particularly minding about collateral damage to them, if she is ordered to attack an enemy with them nearby.

The few times Amaris was allowed to meet the children of the orphanage, she has also shown herself to calmly and kindly answer to inquiries made by the braver ones among them that weren't afraid by the stories, as long as those were polite. While she shows little to no patience to rude and unruly children, she seems to have a soft spot for polite and innocent ones.

Bio

It is hard to forget—and even harder to forgive—the hatred and the old wounds left open after decades of war. For some, time does not heal all wounds. Even after the city of Dagorlad was built as a symbol of peace, the scars of the Sarkaz genocide, inflicted by the Elves during the cruel reign of Serensiel, remained fresh in their memory. The Sarkaz people, once proud nomads, now suffered the stigma of that dark history. Many still saw them as untrustworthy outcasts, regardless of their attempt to rebuild their shattered pride and culture.

Amaris Mallory, the third daughter of a prosperous merchant family, saw in Dagorlad little more than a gilded cage. It was a fragile city... Built on a promise coexistence and a new beginning, while lacking the mutual respect from other kingdoms to sustain such coexistence. A place where the Sarkaz slowly attempted to reclaim what was stolen from them, even as those responsible for their suffering walked free. The Elves who had committed unspeakable atrocities thrived in lands taken by blood, while the Sarkaz were left to pick up the pieces, their pain ignored.

To Amaris, the bustling marketplace in Dagorlad’s merchant district, filled with colorful stalls and traders shouting their wares, felt like a cruel joke. The very city was build as a result of years of Sarkaz suffering, and yet people still lived as if the past didn't matter anymore... As if all their problems had been solved, ignoring the Elves, in their prosperous kingdom, built on stolen lands. The noise of the crowd only made Amaris' heard tighten. The peace their city offered was impossible to trust. Their so-called nation was small and vulnerable, constantly overshadowed by the power of the Elves and Humans.

Day after day, Amaris wandered through the district, her heart heavy with the burden of unspoken anger. Merchants who traveled to Human land spoke of their experiences... The stories were always the same: polite smiles masking condescension, whispered insults calling them scavengers, wanderers, or worse. The Sarkaz could build cities, they could carve out a place for themselves, but they could not erase the past.

While many in Dagorlad tried to adapt to their new lives, Amaris felt suffocated by it. While coexistence could be possible, the past had first to be acknowledged. The crimes of the Elves under Serensiel's reign could not simply be buried and forgotten. Most importantly, the Sarkaz would never be truly respected as long as their past grievances weren't solved and the crimes committed against them, repaid. For Amaris, there could be no true peace without retribution.

As she grew older, Dagorlad became more and more suffocating. Her family, unlike Amaris, had adapted well to the changes. Her father, a merchant through and through, saw opportunity where she saw injustice while her mother, believed that time would smooth over the rough edges of their history. Both of them did little to understand her discontent. To them, Amaris was wasting her potential and her magical talents, on rebellious thoughts and dreams of a different world.

In the end, Amaris decided to leave with the excuse of "learning about the world". Unsurprisingly, her family didn’t resist. They had already grown of her dissatisfaction and rebellious spirit and maybe they believed that leaving Dagorlad might finally open her rebellious daughter's eyes and get rid her of her rebellious streak. She chose Westernant as her destination, where she hoped to find answers to the questions that gnawed at her soul... How could her people heal if their past was ignored? How could they move forward when the those responsible for their disgrace still walked free, unrepentant, their hands stained with Sarkaz blood? And perhaps even more importantly... seeking some respite from the suffocating feeling of impotence and the hatred that burned her chest.

Truth be told, Amaris had no grand plan as she left for Westernant, no certainty about what she would find or how exactly would most humans treat her. Only a burning, smoldering anger. A belief that justice, true justice, could not be bargained for or bought. It had to be taken, to be earned. As long as the Sarkaz let the humans look down at them or the elves believe they can just ignore what they did in the past, they would never be respected.

At first her the one thing she noticed in Westernant was while there was indeed the prejudice she heard about from other merchants, not every human was like that. While there were only some that didn't view her with prejudice, those that didn't only shown curiosity as she looked at her. While that curiosity could be another way to earn the human kingdoms' trust and respect, Amaris was far too quickly shown the dark side of human society the moment she stepped into one of the first settlements in the border between the kingdoms...

In one of the first border towns Amaris visited, the first thing she noticed were the suspicious, harsh stares the moment she arrived. Unlike the others, those went beyond simple curiosity or prejudice... The people's stared had a mix of nervousness, fear and hostility to them. Every step she gave, Amaris felt she was closely watched. Strangely enough, it felt almost as if every person looking at her was a hair's breadth away from jumping at her. Under such strict surveillance, not only there was no possibility of her finding out what was going on, but the threat of having a dagger plunged into her back was tangible. Due to that, Amaris quickly left the place.

It took quite a bit of questioning the rare merchants that passed on the nearby roads and observing who entered and exited the settlement from a distance, but when Amaris finally realized what was going on, she felt her heart drop with shock, before it lit up in anger and wrath. While it was well disguised, it was obvious that that small settlement was a front for a group of slavers. Amaris watched, in horror as a bound sarkaz was hurriedly escorted inside the settlement by a group of rough looking men, before it was taken inside a building.

In silence, Amaris returned to the slavers' settlement, her eyes burning with anger as one guard came to stop her. They knew... They all knew what was happening in that place. The guards, the merchants who were staring at her earlier, even the authorities on that place knew... and they did nothing... Raising her hand, a chain of interlinking, symmetrical, iron spikes began slowly forming as she looked towards the guard... There was no negotiation, no warning or accusations, there was just a one-sided massacre. The humans that escaped quickly alerted the authorities, with desperate tales about a Sarkaz witch and the storm of bloodied chains and spikes that followed her.

Rushed by the urgency of the reports given by the fleeing survivors, the Order of the Golden Sun arrived almost an entire day later. Only to encounter the small settlement completely destroyed. Bodies impaled by huge spikes of iron appearing from the ground or entangled in a sea of chains made of interlinking iron spikes. In the very middle of the destroyed settlement, a single Sarkaz woman stood kneeling on the ground, wounded and exhausted, but still alive. Surrounded by a a few dozen of the symmetrical iron spikes embedded on the ground, almost the height of a human and dozens of bloodied chains spread through the ground in a sea of blood, corpses and debris. The almost nightmarish scene of iron obelisks, chains and spikes seemed to be something straight out of a horror story, some of the iron structures already starting to oxidize, rapidly decaying due to the exhaustion of the Sarkaz witch, the red rust color mixing the the blood of the corpses on the ground...

[...]

Reminiscing about the past was... Unpleasant for Amaris. It's been almost 9 years since the massacre of the slaver settlement. 9 years since she was saved from being executed in the very spot she stood by some of the Sarkaz slaves she had freed before the massacre, interceded for her and explaining what had happened. Many times she had thought if she could had done something different... of how she could have dealt with that settlement in a better way... But in the end, those thought went away as quickly as they returned. It was useless to think about what could have been.

After she was captured, it took almost two years of interrogation and sermons (many which were completely ignored by Amaris) until the Order saw Amaris worthy of the smallest bit of trust and allowed her to work with inquisitors in order to repay for what she had done, reducing her sentence. After nine years, Amaris knew well that there was more to that slaver settlement than what she thought, as the truth behind it had not yet made public. Now, she worked to the order as a somewhat begrudging ally. Every mission completed without any 'incidents' was another step, another reduction to her sentence and another promise from the Order that when it was all over, the truth would finally be told and her name, cleared... Working with inquisitors was still as unpleasant as it was in the beginning, but if there was anything Amaris had learned in those nine years was that it paid off to be patient.

Passives

Blood-iron Thorns: Amaris is able to materialize iron chains made of interlinking, symmetrical iron spikes and control it freely either from a distance or as whips from her arms. Her control over said chain is enough to move it almost any way she wants to in a range of 15m, including wielding them just like a normal whip would. Only one chain can be materialized and controlled, with additional chains being materialized as Amaris is able to score hits on enemies with normal attacks or by sacrificing 10% of her health per chain. Can only control four chains at a time. Always has one chain with her.

Blood-iron Magic: Amaris' magic is one of blood and iron, an old ritualistic magic based on blood sacrifices. As long her chains are able to absorb blood, be it her own or others, she gets progressively stronger.

Agile Caster: Due to the almost instinctive way Amaris' magic works, she is able to move herself freely as she uses it. The rush of adrenaline and excitement as she continues using it made her develop a fast, agile and aggressive fighting style. Not wearing armor also contributes to her agile steps in the battlefield.

Spells

Sacrificial Chains: Spends one of her chains, sending them towards an enemy, slithering and coiling around them before tightening, making the thorns dig into their skin, causing severe bleeding and slowing both their movements and attacks. If three Obelisks were summoned, more chains appear shooting from the ground, piercing the target and holding them in place.

Blood Iron Curtain: Spends one of her chains, making it burst into individual thorns, orbiting Amaris, creating an aura of 5 meters around her where projectiles have a high chance of being deflected. After three obelisks were summoned, this area extends to 10 meters, also protecting her allies and completely stop any projectile.

Bloodforged Obelisk: Spends three Blood Iron Thorns, sending them burrowing into the ground, wall or any solid object. The chains move underground to make a blood iron obelisk, bound by chains to erupt, impaling any enemy unfortunate enough to be above it and knocking away those nearby. The obelisk will remain on the battlefield as long as Amaris wills it or as long as she remains conscious. When three obelisks are summoned in the same battlefield, the chains binding them break, with each individual thorn flying outwards and start orbiting an area of 15 meters around each obelisk, causing persistent damage and bleeding to anyone who stays in the area. Subsequent casts of this skill after three obelisks were summoned will only cost a single chain and will instead, simply relocate one of the previous obelisks.

Equipment

Robes of Penitence: A cursed artifact made by the Order of the Golden Sun to control highly dangerous and powerful prisoners. Takes the form of a black robe, made of reinforced fabric. Offers little to no protection, but it's nigh impossible to destroy, thanks to self-repairing enchantments. Due to how tricky it is to seal or prevent powerful prisoners from using their powers, this artifact makes use of the caster's own powers against them. In the case of Amaris, it became filled with iron spikes, thorns and chains. Can be activated from a distance by any high-ranking member of the Order of the Golden Sun or by whoever was given the responsibility of being Amaris' 'handler'. Upon being activated, the thorns grow inwards, piercing Amaris' skin and causing a great deal of pain while the chains tighten, both cutting and immobilizing her. It was designed to cause as much pain as possible and immobilize without killing, but a special command can be used solely by a high-ranking member of the Order to immediately execute the wearer.

Mundane Skills

A Merchant's daughter: While Amaris isn't exactly good at bargaining or negotiating, she knows how to handle money and numbers quite well. Despite her lack of enthusiasm with her family's business in Dagorlad, Amaris is actually a very competent accountant.

First Aid: Due to the obviously dangerous nature of Amaris' magic, more than once she cut or wounded herself while learning to control it. Due to that, Amaris learned how to disinfect, clean and close wounds quite effectively.

Light steps: Years of dodging her responsibilities to the family, running away from chores & the like made Amaris quite adept at sneaking around and moving silently.