Tuujaimaa

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

"Sentiment, at a guess? Familiar to them before the change took them, perhaps... If I were to turn, I would think I'd go back to Hemwick--luckily that isn't possible!" Ophelia mused in response to Moira's last question, bending down to address the little ones as she did so. Once she finished speaking, she held a hand out gingerly and thought about something that Moira had mentioned earlier--that Gerlinde was both too curious and not prudent enough. She could remember being much the same way when she was first taken in by the Witches, eager to learn every secret under the sun without heed for how dangerous those secrets were and what knowing them could do. Their bodies might have been immortal, but their minds were more vulnerable than most. It was a tradition among witches to take apprentices--as had been done for her--and she figured that seeing as neither Farren or Torquil seemed overly invested in learning the secrets of the worlds beyond the waking one beyond what results they could achieve or obligations they could fulfil... Gerlinde, if she was willing and if she was worthy, could perhaps make a good student. She might be able to steer the mysterious fourth paleblood away from the madness that lurked at every corner, Mother Moon willing.

She extended her finger out and began to trace words over the proferred scroll, watching text suddenly appear on the immaterial canvas before her:

"Dear Gerlinde - I am Ophelia, another Paleblood Hunter recently bound to the Dream that we now share. Your name has come up a number of times during my travels across our city, and I hoped that we might meet to discuss our mutual interest of the Arcane. I am out on a Hunt at the moment, but if you wish to accept my little invitation please do write back and we can rendezvous in the Dream. I look forward to meeting another student of the mysteries of our world.

Mother Moon keep you,

Ophelia"

That done, she rose up to her full height and looked around--waiting for something to happen with the others searching for tracks of the beast. She had the most confidence in Farren and Moira's ability to track, so she kept an eye on the junior Hunters as best as she could and was ready to help if they called for it.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia's senses were assaulted by the toxic airs and fumes of the industrial zone of Yharnam--but as one who spent her formative years at the very heart of Hemwick, she was more than used to the stench of death. The stench of the tanneries was fierce, especially now to her keener Hunter's senses, but a mere wrinkling of her nose was all that escaped her before she quickly became used to it. She spent her time looking around, observing details about this area of her city that she'd never been in before. The way the cobblestones had worn down, the wideness of the path compared to her memories of Hemwick Charnel Lane and dense forest paths and even the labyrinthine clusteredness of Central Yharnam. It took her a second to notice the lamp on its little wooden post, though she immediately pointed it out once she'd seen it.

"Ahh, look there loves. A lantern--how wonderful." She mused, speeding up to a jog and weaving her way dextrously through the four Hunters of Moira's party to meet the lantern. She expected the little ones there, crawling up and over each other to meet her and Torquil and Farren, and extended her free right hand out gently towards the lantern.

"Quite convenient. Let's hope the beast is somewhere around here."

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia had meant to only spare Torquil and Farren a cursory glance, but something about the way that Torquil looked struck her like a dagger--like a rabbit who'd just realised he'd wandered into a trap. She stopped dead in her tracks, turning her head away from Torquil because she could not bear the shame of looking at him and realising that she was the one who'd made him feel like this with her own anger and pride. She was too proud to back down, she knew that, and she cradled her cheek against the Holy Moonlight Sword. While Farren spoke she let her mind and soul touch it, and she prayed in her heart of hearts to be worthy of its guidance, to let go of that beast within her and return to purity. To know that if she was tested and found wanting, she would earnestly try to be worthy of its blinding grace. There was no mote of pity in her heart for Victor, for she had truly gone out of her way to earnestly protect him as gratitude for what he'd done and what he'd given for them... but then she thought of Torquil's face, the way that his eyes flitted and his expression soured. She sighed softly and her stiffened posture relaxed into a defeated slump of her shoulders, and she knew that she couldn't leave things like this. Not only would it break her heart every time she looked at sweet, simple Torquil... she could not let him down. It made sense to her, in that moment, what Dietrich had said--his overindulgence... the way that he didn't even flinch at the brand... He truly must have lived through a lot, to make it four years as a Hunter. That was no excuse for his rudeness, but her reply to that had been far ruder than he had... and he had just seen his friend dead.

She thought about how scared and angry and sick she'd felt when Torquil had died and she didn't know that he was effectively immortal. How glad she'd been to find him returned hale and whole, what an incredible miracle Mother Moon had provided for them all. She would not get that if Victor died. He'd just be another corpse, another body hauled to her home on a cart that she'd prepare for burial, or for ritual, or for the dogs. She'd be no better than a beast in Torquil's eyes, and unlike almost everyone else in the entire world she was going to be with him for better or for worse. They could go their own separate ways somewhat, certainly, but they would run into one another--and if he looked at her like Victor had, like she had at him, she would not even be able to die from shame. She would have to live with that until... until she became like Moira, she supposed, freed from the Dream. Away from her Mother Moon.

She turned around, and saw Farren tossing a blood vial to Victor. She brought her hand down to her own pouch and felt it, feeling the weight of those extra vials, and she resolved to try and do the right thing.

"Victor... These blood vials are for you. I asked the Vicar to give me some blood vials, so you would have enough for the journey back. Take them, and... I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that, and... you've been very good to us." Ophelia spoke, tone remorseful and shameful, before quickstepping to catch up with him and offer him the five vials in her hand. Her eyes glistened with dew and were cast slightly downward, though she still focused on his person.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia pondered thoughtfully at the dilemma presented when Victor made it known his intention was to go back immediately to Upper Cathedral Ward, and she turned her head to look at him even as she knelt down and passed the runebrand back to the Messengers for safe keeping.

"... Your report is of little use if you die alone out there, Victor. Come with us, please? Your skills will improve everyone's chances of survival, and then we can return to Dietrich together to deliver the report. He'd want you to be safe and prudent, I'm sure of it, and that means travelling in numbers--even if that involves a small delay."

Victor frowned. "I'm pretty sure I have much better chances sneaking back to the Ward on my own than I do intentionally seeking out an especially dangerous beast."

Ophelia laughed gently. "In the presence of Moira, Liam, Myrna, Birk, and we three Paleblood Hunters? Do you believe your stealth more reliable than our combined might? To say nothing of the fact that we may summon the Moonborn Hunter to aid us. There are no dangers greater than isolation on a Night of the Hunt--they send you out in multiples for a reason, love. I just want to you to be safe."

By then Farren had crossed his arms as Ophelia attempted to convince Victor. “She's right. Running about alone is one thing before the sun has fallen, but now? The moon will rise soon and these streets are dark with bloodstarved beasts waiting for a victim.”

Victor threw up his hands with a groan of frustration. "Yeah, because you, who have been Hunters for a whole hour or so, are perfectly suited to tell me, who have been a Hunter for four years, how to survive a Night of the Hunt. I've seen the kind of thing they're after before, okay? And yes, I absolutely will take my chances alone against whatever rabble comes across me on my way back rather than go up against that!"

Looking back with an expression that was hard to see through the visor of her helmet at this distance, Moira remarked: "You don't have to fight. None of you do. We can handle the beast ourselves."

"Fine!" Victor spat angrily. "If you're so determined to bring me along, I'll go! But don't count on me throwing myself at some giant monster."

Moira nodded her head once. "Also: don't summon the Moonborn Hunter. Too unpredictable. Doesn't listen. Liable to kill people."

Ophelia's face suddenly turned cold as Victor vented the heat of his anger at them, and she blinked two times in quick succession before she affixed him with a piercing gaze. "You saw what happened to Stefan. Will you let the beast called pride take you too, all because you have some absurd idea that because we were only awakened as Hunters recently we don't have a lifetime of experience too? Have some respect and listen to a good idea when it's staring you in the bloody face, Victor." Ophelia retorted, her tone taking on the quality of equal parts chiding mother and dangerous witch. Her withering stare did not end when she finished speaking.

The impatient frustration intermingled with a hint of fear in Victor's expression likewise gave way to something colder and darker, as he looked at Ophelia with eyes smoldering with dull anger. Even though he had already agreed to come with them, at this point he simply turned around and started down the street to the west without another word.

"I guess he's not coming after all," Moira observed.

"Apparently not. Let him die alone, then, if that's what he wants." Ophelia shrugged, turning on her heel in equal measure and moving to follow Moira. She cast a sidelong glance at Farren and Torquil and the harshness on her features began to thaw, and she shot them each a questioning glance as she followed Moira and the other Black Church Hunters.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia branded each of the Hunters dutifully, though only Victor did she give a small and wan smile to. As she performed the work she spoke back to Moira, offering a quick glance to Farren as he spoke but otherwise remaining trained on what she was doing.

"It is mine, after all, since the Witches are gone. They would want me to protect Hemwick, but... my Hemwick is gone. So I turn to you, my new brothers and sisters, and offer you what protection I can. Take any advantage indeed." Ophelia spoke, though her voice was soft and rueful. Memories flitted across her mind's eye like little sprites, happy ones and sad ones, filled with love and grief and light and dark in equal measure--but she did not let herself reminisce about what was. It was gone, now, and there was no bringing it back--there was only this new life that she'd been suddenly thrust into. Practically everyone she'd ever cared about was dead now, dead or... something worse. The Blood Moon had taken so much from her, and even as she avoided letting the memories engulf her she saw the pattern in their traces--that night, years ago, would play out again tonight. She was certain of it, thanks to the little hints offered by the Messengers, and a feeling of almost-deja vu that she couldn't quite shake.

"Ah, I am Ophelia. I had wondered if Victor had shared our names already, but I suppose it's just polite to introduce ourselves either way. We'd be happy to join you on your hunt, love, if you'll have us... green as we are. Freshly turned tonight, and reeling from the magnitude of it all. All that I would ask in return is for a few motes of your guidance, you who have trodden this path before. Shall we move?" Ophelia finished, a sudden sharpness and clarity coming over her as she processed her feelings and let her mind return to the state of sharpness that it required for the task ahead.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

"Amygdala, you say? I don't know what they are, but your assurances are enough for me. I've seen the statue of you, Moira, in the Dream--it's really quite an honour, I must say." Ophelia began, looking thoughtful but thoroughly excited. She gave Moira a gentle curtsey and even a bow of her head--though she was enamoured with Dietrich, she felt a certain sort of kinship with Moira. She'd heard plenty of tell about the Black Healing Church's creed in her time amongst friends and strangers, about how they served the needs of Hunters in a way that the White Church never had. She never thought that she'd be a Hunter, never mind a Paleblood Hunter, and never mind the only True Paleblood Hunter in their little trio--if anyone could be said to have an experience that mirrored hers, it would be Moira.

"I know you are busy, out on the Hunt, but... Do you think it would be possible for us to carve out some time to talk? You know what it's like, surely, to be bound the Dream and filled with questions but have little in the way of guidance. The Shopkeeper and Doll are lovely, of course, and my the Shopkeeper is terrifying to behold in battle... but despite how darling they are, they lack a certain... familiarity. Ah! Before I forget, I have a gift for you, dear." Ophelia spoke, first addressing Moira and then switching to Victor at the last moment. She bent down briefly with her right arm outstretched and beckoning to the little ones, willing them to bring forth the runebrand. She took it from them gently, whispered a 'thank you', and pointed the tool towards Victor with a firm grip.

"I have a Rune I'd like to anoint you with, love, if you're willing to accept. Something to keep you safe. It will sting quite terribly, but it can offer you a premonition of danger a little before it strikes. I'd be honoured to brand the rest of you, too, good Hunters--if such is your desire. This... this is going to be a long Night. Every little advantage will help. Do you still have a rune, Moira? I assume the brand was there when you were yet tied to the Dream." Ophelia spoke, softly and kindly. She felt obliged to Victor, even if he had only been following orders--and as best as she could tell, he truly had acted sensibly. She wasn't sure why Farren was so huffy all of a sudden, but he'd been getting more terse and gruff the longer things had gone on. Perhaps this was simply who he was, and he was just now remembering... perhaps it was something else.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia's face went through a similar series of changes to Victor's: first into a smile of joy at having found who they were looking for, then to curiosity at the brigade of people he'd brought with him (though less why and more who), and finally landing on intrigued curiosity at the assembled personages. Something about the one in black near Victor and leading the others immediately struck her as familiar--from that statue in the Dream, with the saw cleaver and blunderbuss to boot. If she didn't know any better, she'd have put her finger on it being Mother Moira--and at that, the cold and judgmental pallour on her face melted into something warmer.

"Ah, Victor, dear! I'm so pleased that you're safe, and that you brought company! Skinner is dead, so if that's what you were frantically rushing back this way for... There's really no need, now. Though... you could go back and check the body, if such is your wont. I... might be being a little presumptuous here, but are you Moira?" Ophelia asked, looking intently at the one cladded fully in black with the distinct and recognisable weapons. She scanned their frame up and down as she spoke, looking for... something, some hint of recognition. If it truly was her...

"Ah, but we should move away from here. There's... something up there, though I can't see it, and standing in its presence makes me very uneasy. Should we move along? I have no doubt you will want to verify my claim of Skinner's death--his corpse should still be where we left it." Ophelia added, her eyes occasionally glancing up towards that big invisible spot surrounded by sprites. Something about it chilled her to the core, the not knowing, and she turned her head back to Victor with a big smile as she awaited Farren's input or a response from the group.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia caught glimpse of the guidance sprites swarming around... something, something that she couldn't see, and she used her free right hand to point up towards the space above them in the air where they gathered in a swarm. She also spoke Farren's name, just to be safe, though she didn't bother directly informing Torquil. He seemed to be quite content with just tagging along and taking whatever direction was given to him when it was needed, more a follower than anything else, and that suited her just fine--she'd follow her whims for as long as they aligned with Farren's, but that sense of unease pricked at her again from within and returned her from her thoughts to the issue at hand.

"Up there... sprites. A whole swarm of them, too--like... there's something big up there, something of the Nightmare? But I can't see it, only the sprites surrounding it." She mused, keeping her tone above a whisper but below normal speaking volume. She had half a mind to try something, and anoint herself temporarily with the Eye rune once again--perhaps it would reveal some insight to her, now that she knew where to look?

Can you sense what is there, my guiding moonlight? she thought, her right hand returning to give it a tender stroke as she offered her thoughts to it and posed her question. Before anything further could happen, though, Ophelia caught sounds of footsteps approaching from beyond the corner, and her head snapped to attention as her eyes focused and her muscles braced. Something in her posture changed, as though ready to fight, and she rose to her full height and kept herself on guard. Like this, there was almost something regal about her--imposing and bright, but frightfully cold and dispassionate at the same time. It was a curious opposite to her voice, which was always warm and familiar.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

Ophelia paid Farren close attention while they were speaking, and something uneasy began to rise within her the more that she observed. The misnaming of Gerlinde couldn't have been an accident, not with her having spoken the name mere seconds before... there was a story there, some snag in the proverbial tapestry. She briefly gave thought to pulling at it, but decided that such things could be revisited later--though she resolved to keep more of an eye on Farren in the interim, just to be safe.

"Well, before we set off I should give you the lay of the land, so to speak... I'm not quite sure what the gold means, not yet, but the markers in the Dream that have it have odd lanterns--like the ones we're used to, in the Dream and Rebirth's Rise both, albeit all of their metal is gold. They also rest upon these queer little golden plinths, decorated with eyes and people striding into the ocean naked. The little ones seem unable to show up anywhere this gold has taken root--I didn't get the message you'd sent me until I returned to the Dream, and I tried to call them to send you a message while I was there to no avail. The leader, Vicar Harold, he..." Ophelia began, gesturing for Torquil to come closer as she began speaking and waiting for him to be comfortably in earshot before she continued. When she began speaking about Harold she paused for a moment to gather herself, shuddering slightly at the memory.

"He's doing something to everyone there, worming his way into their minds. They all look at him with dreamy eyes and call him a 'nice old man', with exactly that phrasing, and they all seem unaware of the compulsion that's seeped its way into them. I had the thoughts too, though my... particular affinity for the arcane, my tutelage under the Witches, and my guiding moonlight seems to have let me really see them for what they are. I doubt the two of you would fare as well, and would fall under the same compulsion: so I'll warn you now, loves, don't go near the Vicar. Don't listen to him, don't approach him, don't even think about him--he's more dangerous than anyone else I've ever seen, I'm convinced of it... Other than our dear Shopkeeper, of course." Ophelia added, relaxing somewhat with the catharsis of verbalising how violated she felt--and grateful she could hopefully ward her companions against it.

Night of the Hunt - Paleblood

Ophelia

"Mm, it would seem that the Shopkeeper's assistance comes with a price indeed. That's the only thing different as best as I can tell. Ah, well, now we know. Mother Moon gleams all the brighter without cretins such as he to blemish her light, and Dietrich'll be terribly pleased. Oh, he's lovely--a consummate gentleman. Should... should we go after Victor? I'd hate for anything to happen to him. Otherwise, we could retire to the Dream so a proper conversation can be had away from prying eyes... and if so, I've an idea. I'll ask the little ones to send Gerlinde a message, ask her to meet us in the Dream. What I've discovered about the White Healing Church concerns us all, she deserves to know. What do we all think? Try and save Victor from whatever horrors lurk out here, or retire to the Dream?" Ophelia replied, the menace fading from her eyes as she mentioned Dietrich and recalled her time spent earlier. The juxtaposition of scenes like this, bloody and visceral and dangerous, against the clean and organised whiteness of the Healing Church. Against the gentle garden of the Hunter's Dream, where Mother Moon's light shone so abundantly. From bliss to horror and back, with no notion of which was truly which... She could see how such a thing might imperil one's sense of self. Fortunately, she had the glorious light of the cosmos by her side--it would always help her return to clarity and focus, moon-bright thoughts resonating in perfect synchronicity.

She awaited a response from Farren, mostly, as the Shopkeeper and Torquil seemed to be as laconic as they usually were.