Owlriel

Devouring Light

Asran ate slowly listening to Markus, and Ayrie talk about him. As if he wasn’t sitting right there. He grumbled a little in annoyance. But, it did work out for him at the same time. He wanted to get up to go shift to his human form so he could properly enjoy himself. But, if he so much as stood everything would come to a crashing halt. Gods bellow he truly was royally screwed. He gave Markus a steady glare then turned to Ayrie. Hearing she needed a new pump handle he created one with magic. Offering it to her trying to motion to the symbols to tell her it was enchanted. To offer crisp clean, and delicious water, all without speaking.

Devouring Light

Asran just stared at Markus. Not only did he let Ayrie come to the main temple. Now he seats her at his table? Was he trying to give him heart palpitations? He rubbed at his forehead sighing deeply. Then turned back to the dancers. So much for enjoying himself by talking to his priests. While in this smaller state of his, his voice was normal. Meaning if Ayrie heard him speak she’d know just who he was. So he ate quietly as he observed the dancers. The urge to speak strong making him tap his claws on the table. He even avoided drinking in danger of becoming loose lipped.

Devouring Light

When the sacrifices dwindled down to just the elf. The man returned asking for just one thing. That her entire family be cursed, cursed to turn into mindless snakes each night. This was something Asran could do, and so he devoured the girl. Using the blood within her to fuel a powerful curse upon her family.
“With me having your sacrifices it is now time to imbibe in fine food, drink, music, and dancing” he said taking a seat. Priests brought food to Asran, and he ate in silence watching as people cleared an area for expert performers to perform before their lord. To show them in their own way their love, and appreciation to him. While others ate, and enjoyed the performances as well. The magic upon the sky fading as the moon began to rise.

Devouring Light

Asran let out a roar enticing an even bigger cheer from the crowd. He seemed to smile down at his people loving how happy they were to see him. He scanned their faces one, and all. Then stopped spotting Ayrie his eyes widened for a second. This was not good, what was she doing here? Wasn’t she supposed to be tired? Dammit Markus, Asran would be having words with him later. He turned his gaze from her as he looked at the rest of his people. Showing off his might he roared at the sky letting out a powerful burst of magic to the sky causing the sun to turn black, and radiate a blue glow. Soon the sky burst forth with aurora of lights.
Asran grimaced in pain. As expending so much magic hurt more every year. But, it was the only way to silence the crowds of people. The people quieted to a dull murmur, as they beheld the hauntingly beautiful sight in the sky. So much so that they hadn’t noticed their lord had flashed signs of pain.
”My beloved citizens, it is good to see you all having fun. Feeding yourselves in belly and in spirit. It makes me happy that I can provide for you all year round. To not see anyone starved to see that all are fed. But, now is the time you must feed me.”
The people looked at their lord once more praising him. One person who was particularly loud screamed, “I love you!” Which made Asran chuckle it was warm, and kind. “I love you too,” he replied still chuckling. To earn a woop from the loud man. He resisted the urge to do his signature head rub. Knowing full well that Ayrie was still watching him.
He turned to his priests nodding to them. ”bring the first sacrifice,” he commanded. A simple farmer approached bringing with him a gorgeous Oxen. Asran crouched alight beside the humble man asking him in a quite voice only the farmer could hear what it was he wanted. The farmer asked for a cure to his daughters illness that had taken her sight. Which the healers could not cure on their own no matter their attempts. Asran nodded smiling he clenched a fist as powerful magic flowed into it. Then he opened his Palm inside was something that glowed brightly before dulling. Asran instructed the farmer to apply this to her eyes. One drop each at sunrise, and sunset.
With the prayer answered Asran took the oxen in hand, and dropped into into his jaws swallowing it whole like a snake.

The procession of prayers went along smoothly up until it was the time for the people to be sacrificed. There was one man richly clothed with find silks, and jewels. He presented to Asran an elven woman. The man bowed low to ground before Asran. Begging for his wife to be brought back to him. To have the elven woman be sacrificed as she’d assassinated his wife due to jealousy. Even tried taking her place while he was unawares. Asran knelt beside the man looking at him with a deep sadness, as it was something outside of his power to grant. As he could not bring back the dead unless it was seconds after. After that, and it risked bringing back something twisted. Something neither party would have wanted. The man cried into the ground begging over and over again. Asran looked very troubled, soon priests came to escort the inconsolable man inside the temple. To get ahold of himself, and ask for something different. But, Asran just knelt there for some time trying to get ahold of himself as well. With a deep calming breath he stood once more. Asking for the next sacrifice to be brought.

The next one was easy the woman before who brought a dwarf before Asran asked for power. Power so that what the dwarf did to her would never happen again. He had done unimaginable things to her. Making Asran shoot a furious glare at the dwarf. He granted the woman a boon of his power just enough to make her powerful, but not enough that it would harm her. Then took the dwarf as they kicked and screamed. Then chomped down on them devouring them messily due to his rage.

Devouring Light

As the sun began to reach behind the temple Asran prepared to show his demonic form. He turned to his attendants as they brought him a list of all the sacrifices, and it was his job to decide in which order he wanted them. He’d start off with the animals to wet his appetite, then the people. He just hoped those with prayers were not impossible for him to fulfill. As every year there was at least one that asked for the impossible. Even he had a limit to what his dark power could do. Some things only one with light magic could accomplish.

He took on a giant demonic form the same one as the idols, and portraits depicted. Standing at an imposing twenty feet tall. Entirely covered in smooth shimmering black scales, with an intricate ice blue patterning looking almost like art. A long tail whipped behind him to allow balance, as he stood on two legs, with paw like feet tipped with talons. His hands human like in appearance with fingers tipped with small claws. His face had a long snout with interlocking fangs instead of lips. Steam escaping his mouth, and reptilian nostrils flared as he let out a deep breath. A glowing blue tongue tasted the air as his glowing blue eyes narrowed upon the crowd. A large mane of gorgeous snow white hair rolled down from the top of his head down his back. With two horns arching from sides of his head like a crown. He flexed his fingers and toes gently as he settled into his form. He shook his head out like an animal his eyes seeing within the souls of his people. Seeing the hungering desires they held within them.

Devouring Light

“Alright, and do be careful. I will see you around,” Asran said bowing his head goodbye. Then left the restaurant going next door. Where he clothes weee already waiting for him. He went to the changing room swapping out his clothes quickly. Then made his way to the main temple. Where people were cheering, and laughing.

Though among the crowds were people that looked somewhat terrified. They were in pristine clothing, and their bodies clean save for a mark upon their foreheads. Which was shared by many animals also found around the temple. These people were treated like royalty being tended to hand, and foot. But, their fear stemmed from knowing what was going to happen to them at dusk. These people were sacrifices for lord Gluttony some viewed it as a great honor. While others were scared, not wishing to become part of Asran. Even despite the crimes, and laws they’d broken here. Which honestly was why they were chosen to begin with.

Asran smiled liking the people brought before him. Two elves, four dwarves, and six humans. It made him chuckle how the sacrifices went by twos. He made his way inside the main temple disguising his presence. He was seen, and yet not see by the people. His magic allowed him to sit just at barely at the periphery of their sight. Enough to know he’s there, but not enough to know to know who he is. He walked past priests helping take account of all the sacrifices. Picking which ones were the best quality, and turning away those that did not fit the requirements. They handed enchanted tickets to the ones that passed the exam, the tickets would tell them when to come up. So that they may tell their lord what it was they wanted.

Asran got into the back chambers removing the magic that hid him. Startling some of the head priests. Making him chuckle, “Jeeze you guys sure are jumpy. What happened,” he asked. The priests looked among one another then to their lord. “It is the priestess they’re scared of,” a grizzled one said. They were one of the bravest, and hadn’t startled. “Ah, so you’ve all heard,” Asran said rubbing at his shoulder where markings irritated him. Which earned a few concerned looks. Nadia walked over, and began using water magic to soothe the pain. “Don’t worry, she isn’t strong enough to cause any issues. Besides I doubt she’ll make it to the head temple. She’s going to be taught my Markus. It’ll make her tired, and chances are she won’t make way over here. So I’m not concerned,” he said with a shrug. Then turned to Nadia smiling at her. Then turned back to everyone else. Which was five people each one was either a teacher of magic, and or leader of an offshoot temple. They all still seemed concerned for him, still scared Ayrie would cause problems at the festival.

Devouring Light

Asran was too enraptured by the delicious food to notice his robe top was slipped slightly open. But, when he noticed Ayrie staring at him he stopped to stare at her. Then followed her eyes to his chest, his revealed chest. Quickly he closed the top securing it. He looked at her again soon noticing the strange birthmark. But, he didn’t stare too long. Knowing it’d be rude seeing as if he didn’t like his runic bindings being stared at. She would probably mind if he stared at her lantern shaped birthmark. Which honestly was a little odd. As typically a birthmark was more a dot or splotch than something that had a definitive shape like that.
“So... I’m gonna head back next door, and change to my street clothes. Then head over to the festival. Gotta make sure everything is running smoothly,” he said slowly standing.
That, and he had to be there to receive his people’s prayers to him. So that way he could answer the ones that were properly paid for. Not to mention make an actual appearance in his demon form so they knew he was with them. To help reinforce their belief in him.

Devouring Light

Asran chuckled more seeing Ayrie took his words with humor. Which was somewhat of a relief. Asran kept eating, and soon the fried fish came. It’s flesh was still sizzling, and popping. The sauce was around it like it was swimming along the surface. With the tofu skins positioned like tiny flowers around it. Asran finished the lates plate of food, and started picking at the flesh with his chopsticks.
“This fish is so flaky trying to scoop it onto your plate is just gonna ruin it,” he warned. Then kept eating at his side of the fish.
The pudding was the last thing to come. On the bottom it was white, and at the top it was red. “Ah strawberry cream pudding, nice.”

Devouring Light

“Maybe soon, when I can go a while without getting annoyed at you.” Asran then smirked then chuckled shaking his head. Then started eating again enjoying his food immensely. He soon had several empty plates stacked on top of one another, and food was still coming. “I’m a big eater,” he said simply. He didn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. “I think just one more large main course plate. I think it’s a fried fish in a sweet, and spicy sauce. With fried tofu skin. Then a fruit pudding, that’s if I remember right. Their pudding is to die for,” he said.

Devouring Light

Asran looked to his markings then sighed deeply. “Yeah, they do. But, I have stuff that handles the pain. Also I don’t think light magic could help me. If anything it’d.” He then stopped himself from speaking more. Biting his tongue slightly feeling like an idiot. As he let that bit of scentence slip past his lips. As it was an indicator of him being something dark in nature. As humans didn’t have that particular weakness. Only demons, devils, or dark espers had a weakness to light magic.