Asuras

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Returning from whence she'd disappeared off to for a brief time, Luna contemplated within the study after hearing from the others, pinching her chin between fingers.

"Well, it should not be difficult to pin the source of this foul research from the townsfolk. We have all seen them- scrawny, scared little things. Strength is foreign to them, even moreso magic. There would be few among them who could even have the knowledge with which to carry out these studies. I surmise it would not be difficult for them to point a finger at the culprit among them," she said.

"Were it not for the ignorance latent in these pages, I might have guessed another undead was hidden amongst them. Now... should we find this purported vampire lord in the forest- what is our course? Forgive me if I overstep, but I sense that..."

Luna paused, and looked between Aleksiya and Dragan a few times each.

"...That we are not as bloodthirsty as our unnamed potential brother or sister. Despite our power and providence, a human village remains standing, untouched, by our presence. Our steps have been light upon the mortal realm thus far- would we accept the behavior of a vampire lord that dispenses things as this?" she asked, gesturing to the general grounds around them.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

The moment that Aleksiya's magic was made manifest before the mundane lives of the villagers, Luna stood promptly, and attempted to placate the concerns writ upon their silence. Whether they believed her or not, or if they cared at all about the voice of a 'witch' was no matter.

"Vestiges of the blessings an old god yet remain in our grasp, Mister Giles," she began, "Consider it a windfall that we have come in the nick of time to your home." She wasn't lying, per se, though the deeper truth of the matter was something to keep hidden still. One shock at a time, Luna thought. Better to assuage one fear of the poor mortals before delivering another. Luna fell in line with the others into the basement, quickly lamenting the sorry state of their produce. Still, it fed them... perhaps not fully.

With initiative taken upon the distracted beasts, Luna set upon the feasting creature with her magicks while Dragan fell upon the other. An extended hand shot towards the beast whereupon a moonlit silvery glow emanated. It coalesced and bound together into a set of glimmering chains that wove and bound about her target in an attempt to immobilize. Her other hand would flow to her sabre, and therein charge the beast with deft slashes and cuts.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Luna was soft smiles and dainty strides as she followed the others into the village, quiet for the time being. Shabby homes and drab colors weren't much to look at, and her demeanor was all the former priestess could offer to the downtrodden and grim -perhaps more enthralling and amicable than her companion's appearances. Once inside the barricaded building, Luna found herself a squeaky chair to sit down upon. To keep up an air of normalcy, she refrained from moving anything heavy, and maintained her dainty appearance as a lithe young woman. Dragan would break no such illusions whilst helping, to which Luna giggled quietly to herself, watching the others work.

"Luna Emeraltide," she introduced after Aleksiya. With crossed legs and folded hands, she patiently awaited the others' questions before adding on:

"As well, how many times you've braved a direct fight against any?" she asked, "And... how many losses you have incurred."

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Luna of course did not demand Fra attend to their journey, and allowed her to stay at the cathedral. Regardless of her brief attempts at lifting up the timid thrall, Fra seemed resolute in her desire to be alone -perhaps even forgotten. Luna gave her farewell and bid her first thrall to keep safe.

Though they had triumphed over the paladin in the end, the loss of Ilena had settled a caution in Luna that she had not felt since waking from the coffin. As measly as the stalking beasts seemed during their journey to the village, she couldn't help but wonder if the things here were of a considerably stronger nature than when she last walked the earth. Still, if a ramshackle village of mortals could persist, then surely the beasts were still only mere beasts.

The state of the world was disheartening, albeit only slightly unexpected. With the condition that Alavaris was in, it seemed fitting that the human realm was similarly decayed. Humanity needed, she felt, their guidance and protection, now more than ever. She only hoped that their strength as vampires would be welcomed as a source of hope, and not resented as monsters like ages before.

As much as she wished to speak on behalf of the group -never mind her enrapturing power- to no doubt skittish and wary humans, Luna made no complaint to Giselle's first approach. Folding her hands together, she watched and listened patiently. A wandering thought drifted into her mind; there was a time when her priesthood was well-known, and the traditional practice of treading the earth barefoot normal, but Luna wondered now if such practices or memories persisted in what remained of human civilization. She cast her eyes down.

Though she no longer suffered from the aches and bruises of long journeys, her attire, never mind her comrade's attires, surely would alert the otherwise drab villagers. She only hoped that Giselle was tact enough to dissuade such fears.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

The wince that Luna bore upon Ilena's grave wound was short lived, for even as the vampiress was alight in silvered flame, Luna held out hope that the girl would return. Or perhaps, it was mere denial -denial that so quickly they'd lose one of their own. If their numbers were to drop so quickly and easily, their prospects in the coming journey seemed grim. Such thoughts stayed deep in the back of Luna's mind.

Were her body still capable of physical exhaustion, Luna might have sighed then. Dragan and Akyasha finished the battle, and Luna remained standing beside the site of Ilena's fall; waiting, praying that her enshadowed form would coalesce once again, injured or not. When she did not, Luna fell to her knees in prayer, and drew within her thoughts even as Fra offered advice.

Luna stood and hummed, taking a moment to recollect what her thrall had said.

"I am to assume that this village dismisses these madmen and beasts with pitchforks and cutlery, and not with words and gestures -so what are their defenses like?" she asked Fra before tilting her head, "And am I to assume you wish to stay here? What business do you still have?" Luna leaned down to take the serpent's heart Ilena left behind. She had no baggage, and no ethereal form with which to hide the heart within, and so for the time being kept it gripped in hand.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

With her woven disorder spread across the battlefield, Luna turned then to more directed and immediate defensive measures. Her comrades locked in combat needed more specific aid, and in the moments that the skeletal beast began lifting its massive hand to crush Dragan, she saw opportunity for exactly that.

Where song wove broadly, her eyes focused upon singular targets. Luna's gaze became as piercing spears, and with it ethereal chains pulled by the inertia of weighted points. Manifesting above the skeleton's arm, several chains descended and weaved through ulna and radius. Clamoring and clanking beset the air as the magical metal swung wide and circular, wrapping and coiling the forearm. By her will, Luna sought to bind the slamming arm, and stop it short of collapsing upon Dragan.

Not content with staying there upon the walls in this hectic moment, Luna dropped down to the others, and put in her comparatively meager strength to dispatch the rank and file of the battle. Her silver sabre drawn, she took to striking gracefully, fluidly, at the skeletal and zombified minions. Though pitiful, any amount of breathing room for the others who were engaged with far more important targets, could go a long way.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

There was, perhaps, a pang of disappointment in Luna's expression when Fra detailed her lack of expertise in 'anything but being unseen'. It was not for a lack of usefulness -being able to skulk was surely a skill- but for her unsurety at Fra's sincerity. Just how much the thrall was being inconsolably humble, and how much was true... Luna would find out eventually. Her thoughts and feelings remained secreted from Fra, and Luna instead nodded with a hum.

"Then keep within the cathedral," she paused, stepping outside and for the gatehouse, "I would ask that you not throw yourself into danger, as sacrifice or otherwise. Harrowing as things may yet turn, we would all appreciate if confidence were forefront on your mind, and not worry for our safety," she smiled. Luna left Fra within the sanctity of the cathedral before exiting to join her comrades. With no battle experience and a yet-exhausted spirit, the thrall would be more a burden than an asset.

Though she drew her saber, Luna intended to remain at the rear of the formation. Newly rejuvenated, a burning in her chest begged to be let free into cold air. A welling song focused her senses, and she stepped to the edge of the gatehouse, and pressed her hands to her chest. The music started softly at first; a gentle hum in her throat as memory returned, and muse chimed.

"♫ Clouds and stars, steeds and coin... ♫"

Luna was no necromancer -she could not raise the dead from coffins and graves like Dragan could. But her charms cared naught for origin, and an essence of necromancy was the captivation of something.

And for that, she too could wrest control.

Luna's song grew louder and louder, carrying itself across the developing battlefield. She made no attempt to take control from Dragan, or even from the necromancer that controlled the rest, but rather sought to weaken the hold that unseen enemy had on their own forces. For the Death Knight, the effort he would need to exert was lessened. More and more shambling undead would feel that much simpler to steal.

And for those that he did not turn his hand upon, confusion and miscommunication would set in.

"♫ All turn in turn, in the dust of Dawn and Dusk ♫"

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Making their final preparations to leave, Luna strode to her thrall with newfound (or rather, enhanced) confidence and extended her hands, taking the thrall's into her own with care. "Fret not -I will have use of you in the near future, I am certain. For now, simply rest. You have returned from near-death after a long journey. As we leave, take care by my side; you already know of the dangers lurking outside. Have you any experience with combat?" Luna paused, her eyes turning upwards.

"There is one more matter to take care of," she smiled, "You need a name now. Stripped of one in your previous servitude, it is fitting that you receive a new lease under my eye." The vampiress hummed a little tune to herself in thought, the melody nevertheless strikingly -indeed, supernaturally- pleasant for all its half-heartedness. "You shall henceforth be called Fra. Fra Mauro," Luna declared.

Leading the newly-dubbed 'Fra' out to the west gate, Luna then took the moment to greet everyone properly.

"Before we set out upon this great journey, let me be the first to say that I am confident in our abilities, together, as six lords of the Goddess. I, Luna Emeraltide, shall put my all into securing this broken world for all our kind. Let us assure our future," she said, giving a curt, rehearsed bow to the entirety of the other five. "Though we are newly fed and revitalized, let us be nevertheless cautious; the full extent of our powers, I assume, are yet to return, and we are now aware of potentially antagonistic forces brave enough to lurk so closely to us."

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Much as the thrall had her own ideas of servitude and punishment, Luna had her own -and who would have a better handle on what was best: herself, or a thrall? As the nameless woman slipped back into unconsciousness, Luna disregarded Dragan, and began the quick ritual to revive the woman as her new thrall. With shut eyes, she could hear Dragan's motion in the background. Quickly, blood dripped from her eyes as gentle tears, and ran down her cheeks. She cradled the thrall with one arm, and with her other hand reached up to pry a single droplet. She paused, her body freezing at the feeling of something washing over her.

A warming voice, distant and pleasant, roused her ears and fluttered her unbeating heart. Ichor's voice rolled over the balcony and banisters, and its familiar, enlightening spirit drew greater power from Luna's eyes; her tears flowed more freely, more voluminous, and in turn poured greater power into the ritual. It was not her intention, but this thrall would given more strength than Luna had planned for. In her trance, it was difficult to care.

Prying a single large droplet from her closed eyes, she fed the blood to the thrall through her lips, and offered a short prayer.

"Beneath Ichor's gaze, this child, this master commands thee to rise anew. Born again as servant to Luna Emeraltide."

Whether the thrall awoke or not, Luna stood, still carrying the woman, and hurried up the stairs to the second floor where the others had gathered to witness their Goddesses' light and hear her command. She set the thrall to the side -away from the gates which Dragan had opened- and joined the others. She practically fell to her knees, and clasped her hands in silent prayer as her ears caught the last vestiges of Ichor's mystic presence. Even as it left, she remained there in pious reflection for a moment more.

Standing, Luna only then acknowledged the three additional faces. Little introduction was needed for so notable a crew. Though, truthfully, Luna had little inclination to give regards to one in particular. Their journey was just beginning, and there was little room for petty squabbling and rivalry Luna felt. It was time to behave and consolidate.

"Have we any needed preparations before going?" she asked to the group at large, "Did you find anything of note yourselves?" she directed to Akyasha, Aleksiya, and Giselle.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Luna allowed the dwindling thrall to touch her cheek, albeit briefly, before softly taking her hand and pulling it lightly away. The tenderness of the dying woman was a welcome feeling after eons of sleep, but at the same time the gesture was unsolicited, and by a servant no less. She nevertheless held the woman still, and followed her words towards the heart Ilena held up until it disappeared into blackness.

"Other lords? Were they awoken here in Alavaris as well?" Luna hummed, then turning her eyes to the cathedral's entrance. "And you... where did you come from? How did you even survive?" The vampiress listened to Ilena, and promptly squeezed the thrall more tightly -possessively. She offered Ilena a wholly lighthearted glare -almost pouting- and retorted.

"She will not die! Such a dedicated servant could never be discarded. Look at her," she continued, "She has surely gone through quite the ordeal just to rejuvenate us. And... all without drinking a single drop herself; otherwise she would not be in this state. To say nothing of completing it without a master. Tell me thrall, what is your name?" she asked.