Asuras

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

Luna strode back into the village and took little time to sense her way towards Giselle and Akyasha. Julene's reaction earned a confused tilt of Luna's head. Whatever it was that had annoyed the blacksmith was unknown to the vampiress. She spared questioning the circumstance and approached her sisters, eyes briefly cast upon the reinforced building that had appeared to be approaching.

"None," she replied to Akyasha's question, "...and I trust you two remain in good health as well," she began, folding her fingers together and offering a warm smile. "Oh my -carrying her like that without even knowing her name? I did not take you for one so bold and expedient, Akyasha," Luna said, seemingly mostly sincere. Brushing aside a lock of hair from her face, Luna wasted no more time in detailing their own findings beneath the town.

"Dragan, Aleksiya and I have split up for different tasks. We ventured beneath to find tunnels rife with beasts as well as their apparent means into the town. It seems as though someone amongst the townsfolk's ranks was experimenting on them down there, though the human in question was nowhere to be found. What's more, this mad scientist also seemed to propose that the beasts were coming from none other than a..." Luna paused, and for a moment just barely seemed to glance towards Julene before continuing, "A vampire... Somewhere within the forest nearby. We were concerned that you, Giselle, might have found your way too deep into the forest. I am glad you're safe, however."

Luna gave Julene another brief look over, followed by the workshop, and smiled again.

"What have you two been up to?" she asked.

Bible of Ichor: Septet for the Dead

Luna Emeraltide

The vampiress turned her gaze towards the hole leading out into cold air, and hummed after Dragan's theory. The drifting apathy in her smooth hum exposed her own doubts -she seemed inclined to believe the nameless lord had at least some hand in this violence. Luna moved to the ladder, and turned back to Aleksiya.

"I would have us reach Giselle first, wherever she may be. She was last with us outside the gates. If she is yet in the forest, she may be in the most danger," Luna explained before climbing up the ladder. Her absurdly long hair hung below as she ascended, like the tail of a golden fox. A fox that, plainly visible to Dragan and Aleksiya, was in dire need of cleaning. Through their travels thus far, the floor-and-then-some-length hair had collected all manner of mud, twigs, and leaves at its splayed ends. The rungs of the ladder helped to sift out only a small amount of the debris.

At the surface, Luna instinctively spread her arms wide and stretched, as if taking in the glow of a moon which was no longer there. She turned about then, gaining her bearings after being hidden underground in an unfamiliar place.

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."