ROLEPLAY HQ - becoming-death

she gasped violently for air as she came to, to say she was panicked and afraid would be an understatement, she tried feeling her face to attempt at seeing what happened, then moving down to check herself for injuries, finding none, and the confusion immediately set in, she distinctly remembered the piercing pain of the knife being forced into her chest, but all she finds there was what she guessed was a scar, upon making this Discovery she started listening to her surroundings, trying to understand where she was H-hello? she let out, hoping someone would hear her, not knowing wether or not she was alone or not

1:30 AM

@Al the Killer

A shrill scream, almost human-sounding, split the air as the sacrifice arrived. A desolate woodland of no sun surrounded them, the facsimilies of trees darkened while no foliage covered the ground. Cold stone, on which nothing should have grown and no life but that screaming creature dwelled. Up ahead, where there had once been a great fortress, a small cottage of stone with a thatched roof appeared. The current god-usurper of death heard his barn owl's cry from inside. According to the signal, there was an intruder. Odd, when the souls of the dead had no reason to wander here. He left his study to see the source of this disturbance. An energy came from the woods outside, of death, of confusion but intent - not her own, but that of others. He opened the door and stepped out. Karma, the owl whose cries sounded like a scream, went quiet as he approached the figure on the ground. One look at the streak of white in her hair was all he needed to see for the rage to build up inside. He could have sworn he had scattered the Cult of Haion to the winds, yet here she was, another victim of their zealotry. He had no wish for some sacrificial bride, and the presence of one would not stop the natural cycle of death. "Hello," he answered back, though it had been some time since she had called out. One could not simply send a sacrifice back to the living, but he could decide what to do with one. "Follow me." @Bing Crotchby

she flinched a little as she heard his voice, but she climbed to her feet, stumbling for a moment, and turned to face where she heard the voice Alright.. Uhm.. i hope you dont mind leading me for a little? My eyes aren’t exactly working you see… she chuckled a bit nervously, rubbing the name of her neck as she tried taking a wobbly step for herself, only to stumble once more, barely catching herself this time oh Pardon me… it feels like i’ve forgotten how to walk for some reason… (edited)

2:04 AM

@Al the Killer

Rel kept a distance at first, observing the newly-deceased. Blindness was not a side effect of death, but a total loss of proprioception certainly was. "You get used to it," he commented. He closed the distance between them in an instant, gone from his prior spot and beside her without taking a step. He grabbed her wrist with his left hand, which had been stripped down to only bone during his godhood-induced transformation. Despite the lack of tissue, the grip was solid as he pulled her to a better standing position. "Preferably soon. I'm not carrying you." Though he spoke harshly, he walked in step with her to guide her properly, rather than walking ahead. "Do you remember who killed you?" @Bing Crotchby

i remember being held down against a hard slab… kicking, screaming, hearing the chanting of words i couldn’t understand…sounded really guttural… and then i felt a knife in my chest and then i came to here… all after the village doctor said he could find a way to give me sight… she seemed to regain some of her ability to walk after a few steps, straightening her posture ever so slightly oh, there was a word they kept chanting alot… dont know if you know what it means, ‘heion’ i think it was… not sure though… i was more focused on trying to Get away… @Al the Killer

He listened as he led the way to the cottage. "The doctor was either lying or a fool," he said. "Haion was, and according to their beliefs still is, the god of death. At best, they thought you would be able to see when you joined the afterlife. As you can tell, that isn't true. Death doesn't erase who you were in life." He stopped in front of the building and let go of her. "Wait here." He opened the door. The inside was crowded, not with people, but with a collection of decor over the centuries. The art on the walls wouldn't be a problem, but the statues might be. He took a moment to consider how to navigate her through, then reached for her arm again. "Step carefully. The sacrifice does not need to be the last they see of you, but we will need to discuss what it is you want to do about them." @Bing Crotchby

last they see of me? What do you mean? Are you saying that i could somehow take my revenge on them? she looked understandably puzzled, and she held out her arm for him to grab onto, just on pure reflex And how do you suppose we do that? Forgive me if Im rude.. but i dont exactly understand how that is possible? she took a moment to try and think how such a thing could work, coming up empty… @Al the Killer

Once he took her arm again, he led her through the maze of a hallway, taking his time not to let his guest bump into anything. Every instinct said to send away this girl who had been put through the same thing he had so long ago. But if there were worshippers of Haion still around, there was a risk this might happen again. Not for a long time, but eventually. He considered the how of it in silence until they reached the sitting room. "...The exact methods will be yours to determine, within reason." He guided her to a sofa and let go. "Here, sit down. Make yourself comfortable." It was a plush piece of furniture, with an assortment of down pillows adorning the cushions and a fur blanket draped over the back. He took his own seat in a wingback chair close to it, though doing so required moving around a couple of other pillows. "The underworld is not a permanent prison, if you can find your way out." He held out a hand and Elysie, his undead raven with a skull for a head, flew over to perch on it. "As Haion's... let's say replacement... I am in a position to ensure you will not be powerless in the overworld." @Bing Crotchby

she sat down gently as told, gently feeling the coushions with her hand, noting that it was surprisingly comfortable hmm, Alright… she seemed to think for a moment, her mind adjusting for the most part … so what Im hearing, is that i could come back to life to seek the revenge of those that wronged me? she asked curiously, already coming up with a handfull of different ways of exacting said revenge

3:23 AM

@Al the Killer

"Define 'back to life'," Rel answered, slightly hesitant. He hadn't really spoken to another person in years, and wasn't sure if he was doing this right or not. "I can't unkill you. True resurrection would be within my power, but a disruption of the Balance that I'd never hear the end of from the rest of the pantheon. Your existence among the living will rely on magic to sustain the longer you stay there, and you would be better off returning to the underworld eventually than not. But yes, you could have potency among the living. Necromancy would be my easiest gift to grant, but you are not limited to that. Did you have something in mind already?" @Bing Crotchby

i cant quite put my finger on what i could do… but i certainly want them to pay, there’s this part of me that just wants to hear them scream with the same fear i felt, i want them to be able to feel how it feels to be powerless beneath someone- she stopped herself for a moment, taking a deep breath, as her mind was transported back to that cold stone slab, and she could already feel the panic settle in once more

4:28 AM

@Al the Killer

It wasn't exactly a memory Rel wanted to relive, either. For a moment, he closed his eyes and was there again, on that cold altar as the body he had once occupied was killed before its time. It hadn't been a form he had wanted, but it wasn't a death he'd wanted, either. And to think it had been only the beginning of a nightmare... He shivered, though he didn't feel cold. "I... Know what you mean," he said after a moment. "They will fear you. I can promise that much. I'm guessing you will want your return to include more than just quick deaths for them, then." Surely, that had been his mistake, the reason his own vengeance hadn't felt satisfactory. @Bing Crotchby

she simply nodded, still shaking a small bit, her face beginning to twist with the emotion of rage i want them to feel each agonizing moment, i want to hear their heartbeats slow into a crawl until they finally stop… she once again stopped herself, clearing her throat a little, calming herself somewhat Pardon that… dont know what came over me there… just… i suppose Im still a bit angry…

8:59 AM

@Al the Killer

As she spoke in more detail, Rel found a faint smile creeping across his face. Granted, he'd nearly forgotten how to smile; birds didn't care about facial expressions. Granted, neither did people who couldn't see them. Still, rage was a good sign. He wouldn't accept a sacrificial bride as her killers had likely intended, on account of the concept alone being creepy as hell, but she would work well as a protoge. The motivation was already there. "A bit?" he asked, as though faintly amused. His expression turned serious again. "Anger is normal, and reasonable under the circumstances. And who's to say you can't enjoy visiting justice upon them?" He leaned forward, folding his hands in his lap. "There will be time to plan. I can help, but I will leave their priest to you."

9:22 AM

@Bing Crotchby

That sounds good… i must admit it would bring me some satisfaction hearing him beg for mercy… her face turned to a more focused one, moreso cold than any particular emotion how do you suppose we plan for this? All i remember mostly is that they dragged me deep into a mountain… well.. i think it was a mountain? The walls of the room i was in before it were all rocky… it sounded like there were others there too… she looked thoughtfull as she tried remembering anything she could from her time in the cult’s hands @Al the Killer

Rel thought for a moment. The old village had been razed to the ground, but the mountain sounded familiar. There was no guarantee that they hadn't either gone to a different mountain or rebuilt the village in the same spot. "Was it a mountain cave, a day's journey from a small village surrounded by forests?" he asked. They'd had a temple in the village, but sacrifices were always done in the mountain, under the belief that doing so brought them closer to their god. "Or something else? Finding their current location would be a good start."

10:04 AM

@Bing Crotchby

she looked a bit surprised at his question, and after thinking for a bit … yes, it was a day’s ride from the village which was surrounded by a forest… as for wether or not it was a cave Im unsure, i just remember being placed in a cart and after a day i was knocked out… and woke up in a rocky cell…. @Al the Killer

Rel scoffed. "Six centuries and they haven't even thought to update their methods," he said. "If they hadn't murdered two people at this point, the lack of creativity would be the most offensive thing about it." He leaned back in his chair. "The cult of Haion normally only sacrificed animals back in my day, but desperate times will lead people to escalate to absurd extremes." @Bing Crotchby

she chuckled a bit, finding a small comfort in the remark you can say that again… now i understand why the textbooks said: «the jump from sacrifing a goat and a human isn’t all that great»… imagine my surprise.. she chuckled once more, a poor attempt at humour but one that made her at least feel a little less bad about her predicament

1:01 PM

@Al the Killer

"There is no way textbooks say that," Rel said, though he was smiling a bit more naturally now, his amusement clear in his voice. "Still, there must have been some catalyst for them to sacrifice another human... Do you remember anything happening around the village? Illness, natural disasters, war... anything that could cause mass death?" The knowledge of it was not strictly necessary for their goals, but he had to wonder what had brought this on after so long. @Bing Crotchby

hmm… cant say heard of anything.. i wasn’t exactly taken out of the house much… my family didn’t want to deal with me getting lost anymore…

1:52 PM

she chuckled nervously i have a nasty habit of doing that, though i cant exactly help it.. my sense of direction is just about… zero… well… in some senses that is @Al the Killer

Rel listened. It made sense; his own ability to navigate had lessened after the loss of sight in his left eye, and that was with half of his field of vision still perfectly functional. "I'm sure we can find ways to make navigation easier for you, while we're at it," he commented. Elysie had hopped onto the the back of his chair during the conversation, and now wandered to rest on top of his head. He frowned as the talons tangled in his hair and scraped his scalp, but he knew she wouldn't cause any real harm. Besides, the raven always tried to be gentle. "That will come in time, though. For now, do you have any questions for me?" @Bing Crotchby

i dont know… well… mostly how does the whole ‘being dead’ thing work… like, am i just stuck here or is this kind of a proverbial ‘waiting room’? The whole things kinda new to me after all… and- no that would be rude…. she looked down at the floor, that’s to say, she turned her head in that direction @Al the Killer

"The afterlife is, you will unfortunately find, much the same as the world of the living in terms of how it functions," Rel explained. "It is a vast world, larger than that of the living, so if you get lost here, you may never find where you intended to go. Most remain in this realm forever, though every now and then someone will find a way to be reincarnated into a new life among the living, usually with no explicit memories. This forest is only a part of the underworld, a part that I have shaped with the intention of not having visitors." Which clearly hadn't worked, but she seemed to be tolerable company. "Of course, if someone is sacrificed, even if I don't want them to be, they will apparently turn up right in front of my home." There was no irritation to his statement - merely a matter of fact. "Now, out with whatever else you were wondering. I don't care for whatever the social graces of your time are and neither should you." @Bing Crotchby

Alright.. Uhm… are you… made of twigs?- she seemed to now acknowledge the absurdity of the statement well, when you grabbed my arm it felt more like a hand shaped twig? I dont Even know what Im saying anymore…. she looked a little embarrased to be Frank, she honestly hated asking questions as direct as that… @Al the Killer

Whatever he had expected, it certainly wasn't that. He could simply stare at her with his good eye for a moment while his mind pieced together her logic. After a moment, he couldn't help but laugh, an unpracticed but relaxed sound, almost like he didn't have a care in the world. A faint memory told him that he shouldn't be laughing at her, but he ignored that thought. "No, nothing like that," he said. "Just bones, like everyone else. Except on my left hand, that's all there is to it." @Bing Crotchby

Hm… now i know what bones feel like… i guess you learn something Even in death.. she chuckled gently, a small smile growing on her face well, then i feel need to Ask how your left arm specifically came to be…. Defleshed? she looked unsure if that was the right word for it, if it was a word at all @Al the Killer

"There is much to be learned in death," Rel agreed, looking down at his arm. "It is... a long story, to say the least. But let's say I am lucky to still have this arm at all." He looked back toward the hallway. She would likely be staying here while they worked on their plans, but it would be a nightmare to navigate. He'd have to rearrange things at some point. "Now, for our return to your village, do you want to return in full force, with an undead army and immediate mass panic, or are you hoping for something more subtle?" @Bing Crotchby

she looked thoughtfull for a moment how about… we trick them in thinking a war is coming, so they send away say… the children, then we come in and burn down the village? I know it’ll likely be hard, but… i dont think the children should be held responsible for the generation Prior… dont you agree? @Al the Killer

Rel considered for a moment. He preferred having the option to select their kills anyway, but there were plenty of ways even that could go wrong. "They shouldn't," he agreed. "But there's no guarantee that everyone will send their children away. Or that half of the adults wouldn't flee with them. Humans tend to cling to life, to the point of cowardice." Elysie flew from her perch atop his head and toward the sofa, settling beyond Ophelia in order to study the guest carefully. @Bing Crotchby

hmm… that’s true… its a hard choice for sure… if it comes to it i wish at least a Swift death upon them… she looked uncomfortable with the thought, trying to think of a foolproof method of making sure they weren’t in harms way, coming up blank for the most part @Al the Killer

"If you prefer to avoid their deaths, we can definitely try," Rel said, because it wasn't his own revenge this time. "But in that case, burning it all down may not be your best chance. Unless we stage a mass kidnapping first. I could ensure myself that they would all be taken somewhere safe. Just... Probably not without trauma. Living people don't take kindly to being spirited away by walking corpses." That and they would be orphaned either way. Nobody claimed revenge was a clean business. "Finding homes for any village children after the fact would present its own challenges, but it's that or a quick death." He faintly remembered a time when he would have balked at the thought of it. But centuries among the dead had greatly dulled his care for the living. @Bing Crotchby

hmm… perhaps a Swift end is the better way… she said, having the children live lives forever scarred didn’t sit right with her either, she sighed gently i hope the afterlife for them at least wont be anything… uncomfortable… @Al the Killer

Now she was in his realm of expertise, far more than with any ethical questions about their plans. "It's a big change, finding yourself in a new world, no matter your age," he said. "But children are more adaptable than adults, and I try to make things easy for everyone here. As it is, they won't have to worry about the basic survival needs that trouble people in life. It is... peaceful, in a sense." @Bing Crotchby

a small smile grew on her face well that certainly is true, and a great comfort if anything else really… she chuckled for a moment as a thought entered her mind probably means i’ll finally be able to practice on my navigation skills, an eternity should do wonders right? she chuckled once more @Al the Killer

He hadn't expected her to have a sense of humour about this, but it was a relief. He never know how to deal with people who died and immediately devolved into a mess of panicked sobbing. "It will, though I'll remind you we should work on our plans within the current cult's lifetime. And before they can sacrifice another human life." He closed his eyes and chose his next words carefully, not wanting to sound as though he was revealing a weakness of his own. "There are ways to accommodate a lack of vision. I have seen some people use a cane to feel for obstacles ahead, and from personal experience, my hearing is more sensitive on my blind side to compensate for the loss of vision. You may find that such adjustments happen more easily without a physical body." He opened his eyes. "And if you do choose to learn necromancy, you can even use that in your favour, depending on whether the mechanism of your blindness lies in your eyes or the part of your brain that processes vision." @Bing Crotchby

hmmm… i suppose so… perhaps the cane will do in the short term at Least, and i’d like to learn some necromancy in that case, of course if you’d be willing to teach that is… who knows, maybe i’ll be able to see what colour the sky is finally she chuckled a bit though i doubt it… being born blind is for all i know kind of an irreversible thing…

11:32 AM

@Al the Killer

"I wouldn't have offered if I was unwilling to teach," he said. "As for the sky, it's..." He trailed off, because 'blue' wouldn't actually mean anything to her. And wasn't always accurate. "I mean, it depends on the time of the day. But no, birth conditions are irreversible. The assistance with necromancy would be the possibility of seeing through another's eyes. That is, as long as you are reanimating a corpse that still has perfectly intact eyes. And assuming the corpse themself was not blind in their lifetime. It would be temporary, and not quite as... synchronous as if you could see by yourself, but it can make a difference. You would also be able to attune yourself to auras, which is useful in terms of locating other living beings and works through its own sense, separate from any you would have experienced without magic." @Bing Crotchby

her interest seemed more than piqued, her head tilted to the side, and a curious expression grew on her face interesting… i might have an idea on the sight front already… shouldn’t be too hard to Get ahold of a dead bird or two right? Wait… they do have eyes right? shw looked a bit worried for a second

12:01 PM

@Al the Killer

Rel's expression lit up on the subject of birds, because of course he had plenty. "It depends on the stage of decay," he answered. "But I tend to keep mine in a fresh state." Some were still alive, but most were birds he had found dead. Then he realized his statement probably sounded really weird. "I train birds - mostly for falconry, but not always - in my free time. Which I have entirely too much of," he explained. @Bing Crotchby

oh, well that works out wonderfully in that case, i’ve never really been near birds, i’ve heard them, but other than that i’ve just trusted other people on their existance… she chuckled, putting a hand to her head god i sound so silly…

12:35 PM

@Al the Killer

"Trusted...? Did you doubt that birds are real?" Rel questioned, faintly amused. He stood up, and the sound of wings sounded near the young woman's head as Elysie took off from her sofa perch. "There was one near you this entire time, but I'll bring you to some of the others." He walked toward her, then held out his hand to help her out. The right one, the one that still had skin. "My hand's in front of you if you need it. I promise this one won't feel like twigs." @Bing Crotchby

she smiled gently, reaching her hand out in front of her and grasping his well what do you expect me to do? I haven’t exactly seen one.. she chuckled at her own joke, gently standing up, and suddenly turning her head looking around the room oh, seems Even in death the edges and Lines appear… her head turned to look in the directions available to her seems… quite cozy here… @Al the Killer

She had a point there. He kept his arm sturdy to help her stand, then slowly led the way out of the sitting room - calling it a living room would certainly have been ironic - and back into the hallway. "I like to think so," he agreed. "When I first... ascended, so to speak, Haion had this place as some absurd fortress. I hated it, so I changed it into something that felt more like a home. You won't have to eat or sleep while you're here, though they are certainly possible. I just... don't have a kitchen or bedroom right now." This was his domain, though; it could easily be remedied if need be. He slowed his pace as they approached the staircase leading up to the aviary. "Watch your step. We're going upstairs." @Bing Crotchby

she simply nodded, cautiously raising her right foot and slowly searching for the first step, not too slow of course she had dealt with a similar process her entire life, so it wasn’t anything foreign to her, and once she had found the step she let her free hand search for any railing to latch on to as they began traversene the stairs, and her attention momentarily shifted upward, where she could hear a noise, one she in life had been told were the flaps of wings oh, do you keep your birds upstairs? I could’ve sworn i heard a small racket up there… @Al the Killer

A simple railing of smooth and polished wood was set into the wall, providing an easy handhold for whoever needed it. "Many of them do roam freely," Rel said. "But they tend to roost in the aviary." The aviary took up most of the upstairs area. It was less wall and more window, most of them stained glass with one window hole left empty so the birds could fly in and out as they pleased. Several watched from their various perches, while a glass display held the various corpses for reanimation, all of them labeled with names and species. "Now, you were considering one whose eyes you could see through, yes? I'll just... introduce you for now, but you'll learn reanimation in time." @Bing Crotchby

to say her interest was piqued would likely be an understatement introduce me? How would that work with a lifeless bird?- the likely answer to the question she posed appeared in her mind oh… that way… she said, before briefly focusing back on the conversation well i’d say if the bird in question had at least one eye, that would be nice yes… she said, gently nodding along as she carefully navigated the last few steps there! Unless there’s more stairs after this.. she said with a chuckle

10:54 PM

@Al the Killer

"If you're ready to learn reanimation, then yes," Rel said. "You're done with the stairs. The floor is clean." He let go of her hand and walked over to the display, trusting her to follow based on sound. "Let's see, you want one with eyes... good ones, I assume. I imagine it would be quite the novel sensory experience for you, so we'll take it in short intervals for now." There was a soft click as he unlocked the display then opened its lid carefully. "An eagle would be the best option, but they're too large to keep in here. A hawk will do well, though." He carefully picked up the body of a medium-sized bird, careful to support its head without touching the sharp hook of its beak. @Bing Crotchby

she was curious to say the least well Im certainly willing to learn, i’ve been told Im somewhat of a fast learner at least in some matters… she tried to gently reach out her hand toward where she heard the click, curious to know how the hawk feels

7:52 AM

@Al the Killer

The bird's feathers would be cool to the touch, but still had a sleek sort of softness to them. "Dead humans normally can't learn to wield new forms of magic," Rel admitted. "But there are ways to overcome that." He used his elbow to lower the case's cover, before setting the hawk gently on top of the glass. "Give me your hand first." @Bing Crotchby

she wasted no time offering him her hand, though carefull not to bump it into anything as you wish sir, and i have to say, its feathers felt surprisingly nice… haven’t really touched a bird before to my knowledge at least… she chuckled nervously for a moment, adjusting herself, as the edges of the room started to take shape for her and make navigation easier, slightly

9:43 AM

@Al the Killer

"I assumed as much, since you weren't even sure they were real," Rel said, with a hint of amusement. "It will just be a moment." He took her hand in his. He'd never shared his power with a mortal before, but the process proved to be intuitive. The transfer of magic brought a chill to the air, and a flash of a memory. The last transfer, where the cursed blade had pierced Haion's heart. A flash of blood, of shock and pain but of victory and relief, experienced through both the old god and the one who had slain him, in that moment one and the same. Rel let go of her hand and all but stumbled back, startled by the memory, himself, even though he had been there. @Bing Crotchby

to say she was a little worried for a second, she wasn’t exactly prepared for him suddenly getting startled is something wrong sir? Did something happen?she asked, almost barely not noticing the surge of power she had felt moments Prior, but she wanted to make sure he was okay first and foremost @Al the Killer

Rel blinked and looked over at her. "...Did you not experience that, too?" he asked, since he'd assumed the memories would have transferred with the magic. Maybe not. Or maybe she just hadn't cared. "Never mind. I'm fine. Just... not used to it. Now, I haven't named this bird yet... would you like to do the honours before we get into reanimation?" @Bing Crotchby

well in all fairness i did feel something? Though i didn’t really know what to make of it… just flashed on by i suppose.. she answered him, genuinely having only experienced it in a Flash, and she took a moment to think, mostly upon what to name something she had no real idea what looked like… no matter, she just placed her hand on where she remembered the birds head was, finding it eventually, and she looked as if she Petted it i think- she paused for a moment, probably to ask herself if she in fact was sure.. yes, i think maybe Aquila would be a good fit?

10:58 PM

@Al the Killer

He didn't press the topic. The less information she processed, the finer he was with it. At least there was evidence that the transfer had worked. "Aquila sounds good," he agreed. "Now, you need to focus on the new power inside of yourself first. Once you're in tune with that, you should be able to notice voids where life had once been." It would be obvious within the dead birds, but also him. And her. @Bing Crotchby

she nodded, and her eyes closed, and she focused on that initial feeling, and after a few moments she’d open her eyes again, As she felt the power surge once more and settle, and remarkably, she could sense the bird at first, feeling the almost cold emptyness of the lifeless husk, and then she’d feel that same sensation from herself, having to take a moment to adjust woah… this is.. certainly new…

2:40 AM

@Al the Killer

"You get used to it," Rel promised. "Now, reach out to Aquila. Not physically, but with the power I shared with you. Then use your will to move him. Magic should give you an idea of the shape of the body even without sight, where his joints are and how they should naturally move. Use that, work with the natural form, and it will be easier for you." Of course, it would likely still be a challenge at first. New magic usually was. What mattered was that they got started. @Bing Crotchby

Alright… she took a deep breath, and focused her attention on the void within Aquila, the bird beginning to gently twitch as she did her best in familiarizing herself with its form, feeling the small strands of energy branch out and through the many nooks and crevices of the bird, the muscles gently spasming as if they’re electrocuted, of course that was the more easy part, and she seemed to start concentrating harder as she attempted willing the bird to move, though it seemed to be an ordeal in and of itself, she managed at most to move its head, and making the bird sit upright, but only for a real moment before it collapsed and she snapped out of it, almost clearly exhausted @Al the Killer

The twitching was normal, for a first reanimation. Rel kept his hands on the hawk, keeping Aquila balanced so Ophelia could work through sensing the nerves, the muscles, each aspect of its body. Bodies were incredibly complex things, which made the manipulation of their movements a challenge for any newcomer. "Good," he said as Ophelia dropped it. She had a long way to go, but he'd been there, too. "You got it moving, so that's a start. It takes practice to build up the focus and endurance required, but for now you can take some time to recuperate. Do you want to leave Aquila here, or bring him with you?" @Bing Crotchby

i-…. I think i’d like to take him with me, if that isn’t too much of a hassle of course? she seemed quite out of breath honestly, though she kept herself together remarkably well… maybe i could familiarize myself more every now and then, making it somewhat easier to move? I dont exactly expect it to work miracles but some constant practice never hurt anyone right? she chuckled nervously, she was dabbling with forces she had no idea the mechanisms of, and yet she didn’t mind, Even without the bird she had aquired a way to ‘see’ regardless, though it was merely the shapes of things that happen to be deceased, it was still a start regardless @Al the Killer

"Of course not." Rel held Aquila out toward her. "Hold your hands out. If you want a space here to call your own, that can be arranged as well." He could, after all, change the form of his domain at will, so accommodating her wouldn't be a problem. After what she'd been through, it was the least he could do. "And you're right, practice never hurt..." He looked back toward the stairs. "Do you truly not remember why you were sacrificed?" he asked, wondering if he should explain the intent behind the sacrifice or just let it be quiet. It wasn't as though he planned on treating it as anything other than a post-mortem alliance between the two of them. After all, he hadn't had much choice in the matter either. @Bing Crotchby

no, all i know is i was forcibly dressed in a dress, though it felt more like it was made from rags and whatnot though, filled with holes… though i quickly understood why… then after it happened, i was here, Damn near instantly… she’d hold out her hands, whilst trying to think of anything they might’ve said

4:57 AM

@Al the Killer

Rel looked over at her as he placed Aquila gently in her hands. A dress made from rags was about right, and true to his own memories. He tried to repress those memories and lighten the mood a bit instead, still not sure how to breach the topic of the cult's purpose. "Honestly, the greatest mercy of all is that you didn't have to see the dresses they put their human sacrifices in. That shit's hideous," he joked. Only half, really; there was no accounting for the death cult's taste. @Bing Crotchby

she chuckled, a small smile growing on her face as she hugged Aquila close to her i suppose i’ll have to take your word for it, all i know is that they felt comparable to burlap, the thing felt ancient….

5:36 AM

@Al the Killer

He smiled back, then looked toward the stairs again. "Anyway, we can go back downstairs. Did you want a room of your own?" he asked. Maybe he didn't have to say anything. He wasn't about to go along with the cult's 'sacrificial bride' thing anyway. Much better to share power and then destroy them all. For real this time. But for now, he did offer his arm for guidance if she wanted. @Bing Crotchby

well preferably i’d like one yes, though in fairness as long as i just have somewhere to rest my head i’ll be more than happy! she chuckled some more, taking his hand and let him guide her back down the stairs @Al the Killer

There were plenty of places to rest, but privacy would probably be important. The sound of stone shifting form could be heard from down one of the hallways as they descended the stairs, and the statues that might have been in the way moved so they would no longer interfere with her path. "Then consider it done," he said. "It will be basic for now, but somewhere to rest nonetheless - mind the last stair." @Bing Crotchby

she as asked did make sure to mind that last little step, and she smiled thank you kindly, i’ll make sure to try and familiarize myself with the layout of this place, to the best of my ability that is… it’ll probably take some time but i’ll probably be able to move unasisted eventually…

12:20 PM

@Al the Killer

"It should get easier once you start working with Aquila more," Rel promised. "Even if you don't manage to see through his eyes, he can still guide you." He let go of her hand. "It should be alright for you to follow the sound of my voice now that we're on a flat floor." He considered for a moment. "I don't think I have clothing would fit you, but we could see about an expedition to the world of the living to find something other than the rags you have on at some point." Creating living areas was one thing; he needed only to think about the landscape as-is. Creating actual clothing, something that would fit on a person's body, required focusing on that body with a level of intensity that was frankly uncomfortable for everyone involved, and anything he created within his domain would cease to exist once they left the underworld. Even his own clothing and leather armor was from the living world. @Bing Crotchby

she placed her now free hand around Aquila, and proceeded to follow Rel’s voice yes… in all fairness it feels like this ‘dress’ is hugging me in much too unmodest ways…. she said, pulling her skirt down a smidge not to mention that it also feels like it’ll disintegrate at any moment… she chuckled nervously, she hadn’t really had much time in processing just how the dress felt, and she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed dressed in something like this… @Al the Killer

Of course, her mentioning it drew his attention to the hemline she was adjusting. He looked away just as quickly. "I didn't notice, sorry," he said, and considered the options. He really didn't have any proper clothes that would fit her; he was a short twig of a man, and she was decidedly taller. "If it's modesty that concerns you, one of my cloaks might be suitable for now," he said, since they were generally made in one size, and his tended to end close to the ground. "But unless it's centuries old, I don't think you have to worry about it spontaneously disintegrating." Wait, was it centuries old? He really hoped it wasn't the same one he was sacrificed in; that was a level of stinginess that he simply could not forgive. He looked over at her to see if there was more than one person's worth of blood staining the front, before reaching a new door. "Anyway, here's your new room." He opened the door and looked inside. The furniture was sparse for now, since he assumed it would be easier to navigate. A small brick fireplace warmed the area, with a flame that would always burn but never leave its hearth. The bed was more than large enough, with plenty of pillows, and there was a dresser even if it was empty for now. @Bing Crotchby

looking closely it was clear to see the older stains of blood, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch to say the dress was not intended for someone, her size, not that she was large by any means, but the dress looked like it was intended for someone who was smaller, which made her complaint of it hugging her in uncomfortable ways make much more sense really Oh lord i hope it isn’t that old… and i’ll gladly borrow that cloak if at all possible… just in case… she paused as they reached the door, and she made a small knock on the doorframe, making note of the echo resulting from it sounds spacious- is that a hearth?

4:27 AM

@Al the Killer

"Lord...? I guess, but I don't usually go by my title," Rel joked. The dress was definitely centuries old, seeing as he'd been sacrificed in the same outfit, and might actually fall apart if she wasn't careful. The sooner they got her something else, the better. Rel didn't mention it, though, wanting to avoid questions about why he'd been sacrificed in that dress. "I'll bring a cloak over for you," he promised instead. "And yes, it's a hearth. Don't worry, it won't burn out of control. Your safety is guaranteed here." Not anywhere else though, aside from the fact that permanently killing someone who was already dead was quite the feat indeed. Not unheard of, but rare enough. "I'll leave you be for now." @Bing Crotchby

she chuckled gently at Rel’s joke I’ll keep that In mind, i’ll make sure to familiarize myself with the room and all, just so i know where things are, wont take much time at all really she said, stepping inside and putting a hand out touching the wall, and then just gently tapping it again, and she seemed to focus again, before she turned her head to face the bed, before walking over to it, and gently putting Aquila down onto it, and sitting down next to him @Al the Killer

He closed the door behind him as he walked out. He'd grown used to being alone with his birds; having a stranger share his home would take some getting used to. For now, he focused on doing what he'd said he would, and walked down the hall to his own bedroom. There were a few different cloaks hanging in the wardrobe; he grabbed the largest one with clasps to enclose it all the way down the front, to make sure she'd be comfortable. He paused as Karma let out another scream. Odd, he wasn't expecting one visitor today, let alone two. A knock on the front door followed shortly after. "In a moment," he called. He draped the cloak over his arm and walked out to the front door. @Bing Crotchby

she couldn’t help but notice karma’s shriek as well, though she had discovered something peculiar with Aquila, well… it was peculiar to her, she had begun to notice what to her felt like strings, floating aimlessly from Aquila’s corpse, and out of curiosity, she reached her hand over to try and touch them, and finding they seemed to, be pulled towards her? Even going as far as connecting to her, and a small Chirp sounded from the bird, which promptly made her jump, servering the connection immediately @Al the Killer

Rel opened the door, and was met with a face he had not hoped to see. The spirit Prelaan had served as the original Haion's advisor, but continued to hang around sometimes now, ever the steadfast bureaucrat. Their obsession with rules had been helpful at first, then annoying once he had learned them all and decided that he simply did not care for them. Now Prelaan stood in front of him, their back inhumanly straight despite their otherwise extremely human shape. They looked like a village Lord's secretary, more than anything. "Prelaan," he greeted flatly. "What is it now?" Prelaan opened the book in their hand and peered at it over their half-moon glasses. Rel wasn't sure where they'd gotten them from; they hadn't had glasses when he had first arrived in the underworld, and had seemed to manage perfectly fine without them. "Based on our records, you have recently accepted a sacrifice," they said. "Yes, a matter of hours ago. What is your point?" "Accepting a sacrifice means accepting all conditions of the sacrifice," Prelaan reminded him, a fact that he had sort of... forgotten. "I cannot speak for certain about the consequences in the overworld without visiting, but in terms of here..." Rel flinched preemptively and looked away, a hint of guilt stirring about his factual omissions earlier. "Does she know?" @Bing Crotchby

she’d overhear bits and pieces, and admittedly she was curious, she let Aquila lay on the bed as she silently walked out to about just before turning the corner to the front door, and there she stood, listening, a good thing with having a sharpened sense of hearing was that you’d know how to be silent enough to not hear yourself, and she managed to Get there in time to listen to the final part of the conversation, a small lump in her stomach forming, though she didn’t know why… @Al the Killer

"I made my intentions perfectly clear," Rel answered. "There's nothing more to it, practically speaking. Whatever the intent of the cult, whatever connections that created, it can't make either of us do anything we don't want to. I'm sure as fuck not going to be like my predecessor, if that's what you wanted to hint at." Prelaan kept their eyes on him, seemingly unaffected by his words. Haion had been their original employer, and they had been loyal, but they definitely understood his dislike toward the dead god. "Nonetheless, it would seem she has a right to know about this... Connection," they said. "You may be able to make the exact rules surrounding it in this regard, but accepting a sacrificial bride does still create a marital bond. Stronger yet if you chose to coordinate or to share power, but existent regardless." Rel fell silent, and Prelaan arched an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you shared power already." "I..." He hadn't thought of the consequences of anything he'd done today. He had a bad habit of not thinking through consequences at all. "She had good use for it. She asked for help, and it wasn't like turning her away would lead her to a better situation. It's not like rejected sacrifices get to run free, back to the overworld; leaving her to wander the Forests of the Lost for an eternity seems a whole lot worse." Prelaan shook their head. "I won't fault you for accepting, but you have to tell her." "How do I even explain something like that?" Rel asked. @Bing Crotchby

she stood there, near frozen in shock… the words ‘sacrifical bride’ echoing again and again, only compounded by the further questioning from Prelaan, she couldn’t help but feel the chill of panic set in, and her breathing started to quicken, as she sat herself down leaned against the wall with her knees to her chest, just trying not to completely lose it @Al the Killer

"Well, it would be easier if you'd said it right away," Prelaan pointed out. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind just as soon as I figure out how to time travel," Rel said dryly. He held his hands up in a gesture of near-defeat. "I'll figure it out. I just... I've been in her position, and I'd rather make sure she knows she's safe first. Neither of us asked for this, after all." "The more you delay, the harder the news will be to take. Don't put it off for too long," Prelaan warned. Rel crossed his arms. "Did you show up just to give me unsolicited marriage advice?" "You need all the help you can get," Prelaan said, ever the beacon of unwanted honesty. "But no, I seem unable to see the village that sacrificed her anymore. It will be necessary to send someone to the overworld to see what happened when you accepted the sacrifice, or to go, yourself." Rel relaxed a bit. Something to do. Tasks were easier than dealing with people. "I'll have to consider..." He trailed off as something began to bother him, something at the edge of his senses. He looked toward the corner that he hadn't realized Ophelia was standing just around. "I'll get back to you on that, Prelaan." @Bing Crotchby (edited)

her mind was racing, just stuck reliving the moments of her demise, trying to find anything she might’ve missed, anything pertaining to the situation she found herself in, though any such rational thinking was quite subdued @Al the Killer

Prelaan took their cue to leave as Rel walked toward the corner. "Ophelia," he said, his tone perfectly neutral. At least this saved him some trouble, if she stayed calm instead of panicking. It didn't look like he'd be that lucky, though; she appeared to be frozen on the spot. "Ophelia?" He reached toward her, hesitated, then thought better of it and let his hand fall to his side. "How much did you hear? Did you want to talk about it?" Because he sure was hell didn't, but it might be necessary. @Bing Crotchby

hearing him call her name made her at least responsive, though her voice was shaky, and her breaths were quickened, shallow to boot, and she sniffled before speaking i-… i heard mostly everything after ‘sacrificial bride’… she paused, swallowing for a moment and-… maybe we should talk about it… at some point at least, i dont think Im in too good of a shape for it… she started trying to slow her breaths, forcing herself to take deep heavy breaths @Al the Killer

So she had heard that much. Rel assumed she wasn't dumb, and could piece the rest together. "Yeah, kind of the worst way to sacrifice a human being," he said, though there was no humour to his words this time. "I... I'll answer any questions you have when you're ready. First, take a moment to steady yourself. You don't actually need to breathe when you're in the underworld, but hyperventilating will only make you panic now anyway - your mental state will still react to what you're doing." He looked away. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner." @Bing Crotchby

she didn’t respond at first, partly lost in thought as she tried understanding the whole thing, sniffling as she did could-… could you help me back to bed?- i know its probably a silly request, but my legs feel like they’ll buckle in an instant… she sniffled @Al the Killer

Rel couldn't say he blamed her. It was an all-around fucked up situation, no way around it. Then again, so was her death without context, and she had handled that surprisingly well. But everyone had their limits. "It's reasonable," he assured her, taking hold of her upper arm with his more lifelike hand. "Is this alright?" @Bing Crotchby

she nodded, before trying to Get herself up, with his help, almost immediately stumbling s-sorry…. I guess being dead and intended as a bride was-… the final straw for my head… its been alot… she said, her head pointed down toward the floor, her hair falling slightly in front of her face @Al the Killer

He instinctively reached for her other hand with his free one to help steady her. "So it seems," he said. "And it shouldn't have happened at all. The human arrogance required to assume what a god wants is astounding." Shortly, he started to guide her back to her room, giving her time to be more steady on her feet. "In some ways, I'm more bound to their will than they are to mine. The sacrifice created some form of spiritual connection that I truly cannot undo, but what it actually means isn't anyone else's to decide." She didn't have to be treated as anything more than a guest here, after all. A guest who he was teaching necromancy and helping to achieve revenge, and who he'd given a portion of his power that he couldn't take back, but a guest nonetheless. @Bing Crotchby

yes, sounds like it makes sense to me at least… Even if my head is spinning she feigned a chuckle and smile, it seems she tried to make light of the situation as much as she could, though she still seemed shook @Al the Killer

Rel laughed with her, if only to alleviate the awkwardness of it all. He stopped by her door and opened it for her. "Here you are. Can you make it from here, or are you still a bit unsteady on your feet?" If she needed him to lead her to the bed, he would. He looked over at the shoulder he had the cloak draped over, just now remembering that he had it. "And I brought a cloak for you, by the way, in case you still wanted to cover up more." @Bing Crotchby

i should be able to Get over to the bed from here, thank you, and i’ll happily take that cloak still yes… she said, a slight shudder going through her as she remembered the fact that she could become a whole lot less covered at any moment, regardless of the validity of the statement, the feeling was undeniably there, and the feeling of the fabric’s tension against her skin certainly didn’t help… @Al the Killer

He let go of her arm. "Here you are, then." He draped the cloak carefully over her shoulders, stepping around in front of her to make sure it was secure before realizing that he definitely could have just handed it to her and let her handle the rest on your own. "Sorry," he said, pulling away awkwardly as he worried he may have overstepped some unspoken boundary. "I'll leave you be for now; I have to consider what I'm going to do about finding out the other consequences of the sacrifice." @Bing Crotchby

she smiled gently, as much as she was reeling from the bombshell of a revelation, she appreciated the gesture, and she nodded in the meantime… i’ll see if i cant Get the little bird to move… or maybe just sleep… she said, putting her hand put to support herself on the doorframe

8:31 AM

@Al the Killer

"I would hardly call Aquila 'little'," Rel commented, since hawks weren't exactly small by bird standards. "If you need anything..." He trailed off, able to sense the magic of their connection now that it had been brought to his attention. "I guess I'll know. But don't hesitate to come find me anyway." He walked away and down the hall, letting out a low whistle. Elysie responded, the skull-headed raven flying to meet him. He stopped walking and held out a hand for the bird to perch on. "There you are." He stroked the feathers on her back with his free hand. "Do you want to do a bit of scouting among the living for me, Elysie?" @Bing Crotchby

i’ll at least try to she chuckled if you hear me stumble and fall i suppose you know where to find me too- she chuckled some more, it seemed she really enjoyed this type of gallow’s humour, and she simply went over to her bed and sat back down, before starting to pet the currently lifeless Aquila again @Al the Killer

Rel's raven bobbed her head up and down. Though she could speak - he had granted her that ability as one of his undead, at least - she often did not, when she knew she would be understood anyway. "Good. Go to the village that sacrificed Ophelia and see what has changed. People who should have died but have not, or boons of life where nature should be showing its destructive side." Elysie cawed in response and flew away, the front door opening on its own to let her through. @Bing Crotchby

meanwhile she had started noticing the little strings again, and curious as she is, started testing what they did, as before she simply covered her hand over Aquila, letting the strings Connect to her, and she was more prepared for the Chirp that escaped Aquila this time, and she started gently moving her hand in various ways, discovering that, Aquila moved as well, much like a marionette, turning her hand appeared to turn where he was facing, and moving each finger up and down seemed to move a separate part of him hmm… strange…. she remarked, having her head facing the bird, and finding that she could… ‘see’ him.. @Al the Killer

Magic stirred behind him. It wasn't his. Or it was, but no longer belonged to him. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled. She'd been serious about practicing, then. He had to admit, he admired the dedication. His own ambitions had died long ago. There was still the matter of duty, though. He continued down the hall to make way to his study, where he could sit down and concentrate on the results of Elysie's investigation. Without eyes, the raven could not see, but she did not need to. The answers would lie in the energies of the place, the magic that resided or did not reside there. Seeing without seeing. She was still on her way to the nearest gateway, but he could sense her journey as he took a seat at his desk and focused. There it was, a gate to the world of the living, the first warmth of sunlight... Nothing. Emptiness. The connection was severed. His eyes shot open as he sat up straighter. "What the fuck?" This had never happened before, and it couldn't spell anything good. @Bing Crotchby

she was none the wiser, still curiously fiddling with the magic, slowly learning how to make Aquila move, though albeit not independently yet, she is at least learning to command a movement or two.. and she could at least Get him to be ‘alive’ and sitting on her lap @Al the Killer

Something had happened, Rel knew it. But Elysie hadn't sensed anything. What in the world could have possibly snuck up on them like that? Rel paced around his study, thinking it through. He had to go see for himself, but that meant leaving his wi- er, guest - alone when she was still processing everything that had happened. Unless she came with him, but that carried its own risks. Then again, if he had to go anyway, the choice of what happened with her should have been hers. He was unused to leaving the decisions to other people, and wasn't sure he liked it, so he put it off by telling himself she still needed a few minutes to herself. But every minute waiting was a minute wasted. "Damn it..." He sighed, trying to think back to any warnings he might have heard about venturing to the overworld, or any times he'd lost connection with his undead previously. @Bing Crotchby

she decided to let both herself and the bird rest, for now at least, as composed as it may have looked, it took a great deal of energy… and she noticed how exhaustion seemed to creep up on her, only noticeable when she was Damn near about to faint, she’d have to be more carefull in the future, for now though, she decided to lay down, at least for a short nap of sorts, she never was known to be a heavy sleeper… @Al the Killer

Better to give her some time in case she had opted to rest, Rel decided. He searched Haion's journals instead, dusty leatherbound volumes he hadn't touched in years. Even the idea of connection with any aspect of the former god's death hit with a sense of revulsion. He began to read through them anyway, searching for anything that might explain his problem with losing Elysie. @Bing Crotchby

the notes appeared as they always did, mostly the scribbles of a mad god, going into more detail about past exploits than anything of note, though there was a curious repetition, each time some kind of offering was recieved, there seemed to be mention of something he described simply as «a most vexing occasion» Even going so far as to complain that his hands felt tied…. Though pridefull as he was didn’t describe it in greater detail, must’ve been due to him not wanting to admit it more than he already did, his own twisted way of soothing his ego… @Al the Killer

As much as Rel hated to sympathize with the bastard, yes, the situation was most vexing right now. But there was nothing of practical use here. After hours of reading, he reached the part about his own arrival, and slammed the volume in his hands shut. That was not something he was willing to read. Not that name, not that description, not a single detail of what had followed his arrival... the thought of it made his stomach turn, for so many different reasons. He put the journals back into place and left the study. It had been long enough, he assumed. How long did mortals usually sleep, again? Time didn't mean much to him, and he personally never slept anymore. Either way, he made his way to Ophelia's room and tapped as lightly as possible on the door. If she was asleep, he didn't want to wake her, but he also didn't want to leave without saying a word. @Bing Crotchby

she’d awaken, not abruptly or anything, but she didn’t take alot of time either, she seemed to grumble a bit in her half-awake state, and she sat herself up, before speaking out so he could hear her yes? Is something the matter? @Al the Killer

He reached for the doorknob, then thought better of it. He was pretty sure he couldn't just barge in because she'd answered. Could he? Probably best not to. "You could say that," he answered. "I sent one of my birds on a scouting relationship, and she disappeared." Despite the bird in question being an undead construct, the anxiety was still clear in his voice. Elysie had been the closest he'd had to a friend in forever, a fact which was... actually kind of sad, so he opted not to think about it. "I'm going to the overworld to see what happened. Do you want to come with me, or would you rather stay here?" Better to offer the option, since it was still an unfamiliar house to her, but he didn't want to drag her around because she didn't feel she had a choice. @Bing Crotchby

her interest piqued at him losing contact, not to mention the seeming genuine worry for the hitherto unnamed bird «Well i’d gladly go with you, might prove an ample opportunity to Get some clothing regardless…» she gave Aquila a quick pat on the head, and she slowly stood herself up, and made her way over to the door, and fumbled for a moment for the handle, not yet having been familiarized with the room at large, but she got the door opened shortly, she hadn’t really taken off anything regardless, to her knowledge, she was decent «besides, i am kind of missing the feeling of the sun on my skin… though it did always make my eyes hurt whenever i turned toward it-» she caught herself rambling again, and she promptly stopped «sorry…» @Al the Killer

She had a point; even if the concern of remaining covered had been taken care of, she still needed something comfortable, and that was a higher priority than modesty. Though he heard her fumbling, Rel waited for her to open the door herself, because she hadn't asked him to and because it would do her some good to get it figured out. "There are areas of the underworld that do have..." He trailed off. "It is not exactly the same sun you are used to, but it is similar, and feels the same. It might do well for your attunement to death to practice in other areas of this realm, instead of staying here all the time." It was, in a sense, an offer for later - if she wanted to go elsewhere, he would bring her there. "You have nothing to apologize for. Now, follow me." He turned and started down the corridor, only briefly looking back to make sure she was following and not lost. @Bing Crotchby

she chuckled nervously for a moment, before following along, doing her best to follow the sound of his footsteps aye aye captain, gotta say i appreciate the way you walk, makes it easy to hear at least- damnit, started rambling again- she seemed to be mentally kicking herself, it was clear she was used to being reprimanded and scolded for her mannerism, at least in some capacity @Al the Killer

He was quickly getting used to the... abundance of chatter. Truthfully, he didn't mind much, though he did have to consider the exact words for a moment. "I didn't think my steps were that loud," he commented. Then again, she did seem to have acute hearing, which would make sense for her. "Never mind. If you have something to say, I won't stop you from saying it. Whatever you may have been told in the past, you can speak freely here." He only hoped he would not end up regretting that. @Bing Crotchby

thank you, and i dont mean your steps are loud, its just from what i hear you put some extra pressure as your heel hits the ground, not much though, but it makes for a distinct sound, not many people i knew did that… she seemed to relax quite a bit, having to try and reel herself in all the time made for quite the tense exsistance… so… how does it work in terms of going back to the overworld? Is it like opening a door or-? she asked, genuine interest in her voice, perhaps she was trying to occupy her mind with something other than the current situation, however possible @Al the Killer

Rel considered for a few seconds, then nodded. "Huh. I never even noticed." He shrugged, noticing that she seemed a bit less distressed. Good. "There is a gateway," he said. "Not indoors, but just outside of this area of the realm..." He opened the door. "We can walk there, though." The gateway itself would only be a few minutes' trip. Perhaps longer, give her difficulty with narration. A stone path materialized on the ground in front of them, so that she could still follow the sound of his footsteps. He would be weaker once they stepped through though, so if the terrain was soft as he remembered, sticking together might be more challenging. "You mentioned before that you didn't get to leave the house much before, right?" he asked as he walked. "I'm curious as to exactly how many times you've gotten lost to lead to such a decision." Back when he had been human, he'd never been able to tolerate staying indoors all day. Which was probably why he'd been so excited when his father had caved in and let him join on his hunts. @Bing Crotchby

oh, well, when i was considerably younger it was Damn near every time we went out, it got less with time, but when someone decided to attempt to abduct me at the age of 15… well i suppose it was the last straw… after that the only place i was allowed to go outside would be the family garden, and i spent most of my Adult life confined to that house she chuckled softly for a moment i remember feeling happy when my maid told me she’d take me to see my doctor, which meant we’d have to go out to see him, since he didn’t do housecalls at that hour… though i never did think twice on how Odd it seemed, out of Character of him…. she took a moment to steady herself, taking a few deep breaths Pardon that for a moment, felt a bit of a panic attack for a second… i should be fine @Al the Killer

Well, that story had escalated faster than he'd expected. It was understandable - he couldn't blame parents for being overprotective - but it wasn't right. Then she seemed to... not quite freeze up, but something close, the slightest indicator of fear. He stopped walking and looked back toward her. It wasn't his problem to fix, but it was one he could understand. "It happens," he said, knowing too well. "It doesn't get much easier. A bit, but not a whole lot. Not enough for it to be comforting knowledge. You learn to live with the memories, though. At least, I did... I don't know any others who have been in this exact situation." He sighed. "Sorry, it was my turn to ramble. Are you sure you're alright?" @Bing Crotchby

Im fine, really… just suddenly started feeling a pain in my chest, usually that signals a panic attack, Im not exactly a stranger to those… she said stopping as well, and turning her head around to Get a ‘feel’ for the surrounding soundscape… which was practically nothing… @Al the Killer

A panic attack didn't sound like she was fine, but he let the topic go. They were still in the desolate landscape he called home, but beyond the bare trees, he could make out the shadow of the gateway. "We're not far," he told her, changing the topic as he started walking again. "From what I saw, it is daytime out there, so don't look directly up when we step into the overworld." After all, she'd mentioned before that facing the sunlight directly hurt her eyes. @Bing Crotchby

though his back was turned she smiled a bit as she started walking after him thanks for the heads up, i- she paused for a moment, suddenly hearing something, the sound of a shovel piercing the ground i know this may just be a stupid question… but do you perchance know anyone with a penchant for digging nearby? Could’ve sworn i heard a shovel digging….

12:28 PM

@Al the Killer

Rel stopped and looked back as she paused. "What?" he asked, not quite hearing the sound. "...No, most spirits don't really come out this far." There were other gates to the overworld in less desolate areas, but even then, traveling between as one of the dead was generally ill-advised; those who refused to stay away and cut ties risked becoming trapped between worlds for an eternity, after all. Accepted sacrifices were different, and shared more freedom with less risk, but the point remained: there wasn't a reason for anyone to come out here and dig. Or rather, none that he thought of. "Which direction did it come from?" He had to reach the gate and continue his search, but he wasn't about to dismiss Ophelia's claim, either. If she heard something that unusual, it was worth investigating. @Bing Crotchby

she took a second to process where it came from, lifting her hand to point, and by happenstance she pointed at the gateway its strongest from there i feel, though it does also sound very close all around…

10:15 PM

@Al the Killer

Rel looked in the direction she'd pointed in. Someone coming in from the overworld, perhaps? He hoped not; it happened sometimes, but was always a nuisance. "Let's go, then." The sword he carried around was mostly for show, but he still placed a hand on the hilt as he started walking. "Be careful. I don't even know what this is." @Bing Crotchby

Reply to: @Rel Haion (@Al the Killer) Rel looked in the direction she'd pointed in. Someone coming in from the overworld, perhaps? He hoped not; it happened sometimes...

its only natural she got weary, but she followed nonetheless, and she made sure to listen for any more sounds that would ring out, though she didn’t hear any, only the soft breeze from beyond the gateway, this admitedly puzzled her somewhat, maybe auditory hallucinations were normal when one were ‘freshly dead’? She didn’t want to talk about it much… @Al the Killer

To see nothing was almost a relief. Maybe she'd just been hearing things, after all. He hoped that was the case. "Whatever it was, nothing appears out of the ordinary." Aside from Elysie's disappearance. "Let's go." He approached the gateway. On their side, it appeared as a massive archway of bone, through which a graveyard in a valley appeared like a room on the other side of a door. On the other side, to living humans, nothing would appear. Simply a strange feeling, a strong sense of foreboding strong enough to keep even the bravest warrior from continuing past a certain point. As he stepped through, he began to hear it too. A steady scraping of metal against dirt. Up ahead, visible between the gravestones, someone dug a hole. A body lay beside the digger, shrouded in cloth. He froze, not needing to see the body to know whose it was. Well, this was awkward. @Bing Crotchby

she stepped through too, and she didn’t need to see to sense the body, it did after all have the same signature as her when she used that sense she had just been taught… she froze, and Rel could see that body suddenly twitch, if he looked over to Ophelia, he would see something that might elude to what is happening, her eyes are locked on the body, staring intensely, she took a deep breath for a moment, and a look of fury started to grow on her, and she turned her head to face Rel, her eyes still locked on her once living body, and she whispered do they look like they’re apart of the cult? she asked, not exactly knowing how many, nor what they actually look like, her look of silent fury had no real outcome on her voice, it still sounded cool and collected, the intent was rather clear, she’d likely have little difficulty with reanimating her own body, after all, she’d lived in it her entire life… it’d be like riding a bike … right? @Al the Killer

Rel was not nearly as surprised to see the body's convulsions as the gravedigger himself was. The labourer paused to look over at it, uncertain whether it had been a trick of the light. On seeing the next movement, he lifted his shovel nervously and began to back away slowly, unsure whether to scream and run or stay as still as possible. "The cultists didn't have a 'look' to them," Rel admitted, looking toward Ophelia. Understandably pissed off, as he would have expected. He'd never seen his own corpse, and for that, he was grateful. "They were the ordinary townspeople. Merchants, doctors, farmers... anyone could have been one." No spooky robes or sigil tattoos for this death cult. Nothing so simple to tell who was a threat or not. Just neighbours making the occasional human sacrifice. "But it's safe to assume this one is at least complicit, if they are handling your body." He stayed back and didn't interfere. He had never tried to reanimate his own corpse before. Truth be told, he wanted to see what she was capable of, and where this would lead. He smiled and let curiosity keep him as a mere observer for now. @Bing Crotchby

got it. she said shortly, returning head to face forward once more, as her eyes began glowing a bright, cold blue, the sclera darkening as her corpse started convulsing for a few moments, as she figuratively grasped the marionette strings and began to wring the body to life, her body, forcibly shuffled off of her by the cult, and it began slowly shambling to its feet, and Rel would see and hear the two women take a deep synchronous breath. Ophelia took a few moments to adjust, considering she was sensing double, smell, hearing, touch… it was alot to take in, but that could wait, her corpse’s head turned to face the gravedigger, who undoubtedly was now shivering in sheer terror at the sight, clutching his shovel like a weapon in an effort to defend himself, peculiar about feeling and hearing double, she felt her sense of space being better, she knew where everything around them was, she could somehow ‘see’ the layout of the grounds around them, she focused harder, and the corpse’s veins started glowing that same cold blue color as it lunged at the gravedigger, attempting to swat away the shovel, but ending up instead breaking the thing in half, interesting… to say the least it wouldn’t take long until the man was torn to near literall ribbons, then they were left there, alone, two Ophelia’s and a Rel Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke… @Al the Killer

Ah, so this was what pride felt like. It wasn't the smooth, precise control of someone who had spent years mastering the dark arts, but there was a totality to it nonetheless, a synchronization the living simply could not achieve. And it was strong. As the shovel's oaken handle snapped in two, the gravedigger gave up on it. His voice returned at last and the man screamed in terror, turning to run away. With the corpse's shambling, he might even have made it out, had he minded the stones jutting from the ground as they were wont to do in mountainous areas. He fell onto his face, then rolled over to look up at the corpse as though being face-up might give him a fighting chance. It didn't. Oddly enough, even if torn to shreds, he wouldn't die. Which was not how things were supposed to work, regardless of what was tearing him apart. Rel's smile faded as he picked up on something in the air, some... interruption. To test the cause, he attempted to summon one of his undead birds. Nothing happened. Though it seemed necromancy worked here for some, he specifically could not use his magic. "...Fuck." @Bing Crotchby

she was puzzled to say the least, first upon hearing Rel’s expletive, and then again once she heard writhing and what could only be a gurgle, likely an attempt at a pained scream what the-? she stopped herself for a moment, now hearing her voice coming from two place was…. Strange to say the least, though the one emanating from her once mortal Shell had a distinct breathlessness to it, likely from the punctured lung… tends to happen when you’re stabbed through the ribs… She once more turned to face Rel, a catious look of confusion on her face i dont suppose you know what’s going on here do you?- @Al the Killer (edited)

Rel looked toward the gravedigger's writhing remains for a moment first, a silent pause before answering. "...He should be dead but he is not, and I can't use my magic here. You have made what I gave you your own, so you are unaffected." He scowled for a moment, irritation rising up at the thought. Not at her. She'd done nothing wrong. He just remembered what it was to feel powerless, and he despised it with every fibre of his being. "I think I have an idea of the conditions for their sacrifice. Whatever is happening to the village here, it gave them such a fear of death that they killed you to secure their own immunity." Selfish of them, not to mention short-sighted. The effects likely would not extend beyond the village itself, but the long-term consequences would be disastrous. Not to mention the challenge of exacting revenge under the circumstances. He clenched his fist and looked toward the shadows of distant buildings. "That is why I lost my connection to Elysie when she came through here-" Alarm hit him then. Where was she? "...Is her body around here?" He couldn't do anything with it, but at least he would be able to carry her to safety, lest scavengers find a well-preserved corpse to be easy prey. @Bing Crotchby

she tried her best not to let her rage take over as she heard they sacrificed her for immunity to death.. Well… when did you loose contact? Is there like a special entrance for pets? she asked, as she tried sensing anything that was both dead, and a bird… she hoped sincerely this wasn’t a pet cemetary… @Al the Killer

He searched the cemetery with his eyes, finding that he could not sense corpses anymore. Of course not! How had he not noticed sooner? He silently cursed himself out for his unobservance, to the point where he nearly missed her questions. "I... don't remember, give me a second," he said. If he'd had his sense for death here, he would have noticed numerous animal corpses buried, and one unburied stuck in the branches of one of the trees beside the gateway they had walked through. A raven with a skull for a head. "No special entrance for pets, the village didn't revere animals enough. Some people did come to the cemetery to unofficially bury pets though, in unmarked graves or with no grave marker at all." Sort of like how now grave marker had been brought for Ophelia. "...I think it was this part of the cemetery. That's not really relevant though, I just lost contact a couple of hours ago and the people here wouldn't bury an animal they have no connection to." @Bing Crotchby

Alright… she said, sensing the almost alarming amount of pets in this particular area of the graveyard, and she gritted her teeth just a tiny bit seems i was to be buried amongst the animals… she said, teeth still clenched and she tried to sense further, sensing something over the ground, though she could only make out the vague direction of it its-… its hard to make out, all the other animals buried here and whatnot are making it hard to focus on anything else, but there is one feint signature above ground in that- she waved her hand in the general direction of the tree -direction… she said, ceasing to sense, for fear of discovering just how many other humans were buried here…. If any… @Al the Killer

For a moment, Rel wondered where he was buried. He wasn't keen on finding out, though. He certainly never wanted to see that corpse again. Best to let it stay buried. There were more important matters at hand. He looked in the direction she gestured, squinting as he looked up and down, and there it was. A black and white shape among the branches. It seemed intact still. He breathed a sigh of relief and ran over to it. "Wait there," he said stopping as he reached the tree. A bit of a ways up, but the lower branches were sturdy enough to climb. He'd been in reasonably good shape in life, but he had to admit, he was out of practice when it came to things like this. "Hm... Might take me a moment..." He placed a hand on one of the branches and pulled, testing its weight bearing. Definitely sturdy enough. "We'll go to the village and see what can be done about reversing their immunity, but this..." He pulled himself into the bottom branch, keeping close to the tree trunk for balance. "...This is important. Elysie was one of Haion's servants prior to my Ascension, but she somehow maintained a well of her own beyond his control." He climbed higher, and could see the bird more clearly. "...She showed me where to find the blade I used to kill him." @Bing Crotchby

it just hit her, he at some point killed death… and a mix of shock and confusion hit her, before it turned an idea hold on- so you have well at least in theory a blade that can kill death? Or a god if it.. wouldn’t it then extend to people who cant die?…. she asked, conspiratorial curiosity laced in her voice because in the broad strokes of things arent gods just people that cant die? Like… oversimplified that is…. @Al the Killer

It was a bit more complicated than that, but Rel focused first on reaching up gently until he could pull Elysie carefully from where she had been stuck. "Well... first of all, had," he admitted, cradling the bird's body in one arm. "I destroyed it to avoid making things too easy for any other ambitious spirits in the underworld." He looked down, and realized he hadn't thought this far. "Could you, um... follow the sound of my voice and come over here? I'm going to hand Elysie's body to you so I can climb down." Which gave the perfect opportunity to continue explaining. "So it's a matter of theology. You can think of the gods themselves as specific powers and energies within the universe, without independent consciousness. Those cannot be destroyed. Their physical manifestations, which do have wills of their own, are more like... avatars? We just call them gods to simplify things. The physical form can be destroyed with a powerful enough cursed weapon, but as a result, the essence of what makes an entity into a god occupies the body of the one responsible for that destruction, because it needs to go somewhere and it is easier to transfer to someone new than to create a form from scratch." Which didn't exactly address her question. "I don't know if the cursed weapon method would work against non-celestial immortals. The situation is... unprecedented," he admitted. "Nor do I know what consequences doing it may incur if it does work." @Bing Crotchby

Alright, give me one moment then! she responded, moving toward the sound of his voice, nearly tripping on a few things, but against all the odds, she remained standing, now underneath the tree where Rel was, and she turned her head upwards to face him is this close enough? Pardon if it isn’t, as you know… she waved a hand in front of her face, signaling her inability to see with a humorous gesture @Al the Killer

Rel took a moment to gauge the distance then nodded. "Hold your hands out in front of you," he instructed. He moved carefully, aware of his precarious balance at the moment as he passed the bird's body down to Ophelia. Once he was sure Elysie was safe, he climbed down from the tree to stand beside her. "Now, if you want to try to find a proper cursed weapon, we can, though I wouldn't be sure where to start." His tone remained apprehensive. Being around something that could easily kill you was something mortals did every day, but it just hit different for someone who couldn't die as easily. "...I personally was thinking I'd just threaten their leader with torture until he asked me to reverse their wish for immortality. It's inelegant, but seems like it could be effective." He wasn't too keen on the possibility of actually going through with those threats if they didn't work, though. He was familiar with inflicting death and fear. Physical pain, beyond what was necessary was... A different matter. @Bing Crotchby

she took the bird and held it as gently as she could hmm… well i suppose we could have it as a last resort? If all else fails i mean… she said, cradling Elysie and ever so slightly petting the bird, though she paused for a moment as she felt the bird’s head Hm… didn’t expect that… she muttered to herself, returning her attention to Rel, resuming the petting well, i could always assist in your plan, hell if need be… i could see what i could do with the torture… she said, not Even a hint of apprehension i think i could… apply some things i learned here and there… at least from possessing a human corpse that is… she gestured to her-dead-self, which seemed to stand idly by for now, still breathing in sync with her…. Freaky… @Al the Killer

"I find the threat alone is generally enough," Rel commented as he landed. "It's unlikely that we would need to go through with any threats. But, given my current... condition... I would still like to have you around." He jumped the last bit of the distance and landed on his feet. "In case things go awry, I can't rely on physical strength alone, so having someone capable of some magic nearby would be ideal." He held his hands out. "I can take her back now. Anyway, if this doesn't work, then we can set to work finding a cursed weapon to use, but I honestly have no leads on the location of an effective one." The thought also crossed his mind that she could turn it against him. He didn't think he'd given her reason to, nor did he intend to do so, but he also wasn't going to let his guard down too much around the person he'd just instructed on how to kill him. @Bing Crotchby

she handed the bird over as gently as she could, it was clear it meant alot to him, going so far as to climb a tree for it, not that she would understand it, but it in her eyes at least was a good sign here, i also noticed her head is like your hand… which i realize now is probably much more obvious to you than it is me… she said, a slight embarrased flush appearing on her face oh… good to know my face gets hot still… she reached up and put a hand to her face @Al the Killer

He could relax a bit once he had his bird back. "It is," he agreed. "Most birds aren't, but for as long as I've known her, she's been like that. Likely due to being undead." He smiled, noting the slight redness to her face. A hint of life he hadn't expected to see at all. It was refreshing in a way, after so much time spent among the obviously-dead. "You still breathe, too. And sleep. Many who come to my realm do not. Perhaps a part of your soul still clings so strongly to life that it continues to replicate the processes of it." He turned toward the village. "Now, let's see what we can do about this immunity to death matter. And find you something more comfortable to wear in the process." @Bing Crotchby

she chuckled, and a small smile crept onto her face as she made sure to follow along, taking a brief moment to assess wether or not she should bring… herself… she decided to do that, with the scare factor being on full display and all… plus she heard the wood handle snap… making the quick connection that it might have the same effect on bones.. well its comforting to think about i suppose, at least some part of me is ‘alive’ in a way.. she responded, following along, listening to the wind rustling through the trees @Al the Killer

Honestly, she was one of the liveliest dead souls Rel had encountered in a while. Possibly because he did not socialize much. He kept his eyes ahead as they walked down the path from the cemetery. While it was considered part of the village's territory, they kept the graveyard some distance from the village proper, which meant they had a decent trek ahead of them before they could reach civilization, most of which would be surrounded by the forest. The road was clear, but that wasn't exactly helpful for Ophelia. "Do you want my hand for guidance, or can you navigate this area on your own?" He looked down. Despite his magic not working, his appearance remained unchanged from its godly form, which was... fortunate. "And which hand?" @Bing Crotchby

her attention had drifted to the sounds and smells of the forest, though it immediately snapped to Rel as he spoke, seemed involuntary in the way she winced slightly oh, sure! The sounds of the forest makes things… hard to follow you Get me? Its like pinpointing a melody played by a single person in a 30 person orchestra- she answered, as briefly as she could and, the choice of hand is up to you, i dont mind either, whichever is best for you- she said, just, gently holding out her hand for him to take i just prefer not to Get lost is all- @Al the Killer

It made sense when she explained it like that. "I wouldn't let you get lost," Rel promised, taking her hand in his. The one that still had skin, and still carried the same warmth as a living human. It was the one closer to her, after all. "Not unless you wanted to, at least. Here, have the hand that isn't made of sticks." He recalled her amusing mistake earlier, before he'd explained that it was bone. Since he had a functioning eye to navigate with, it was easy enough for him to follow the forest road. "I will admit, I never had the opportunity to hear an orchestra when I was alive. In the underworld, certainly, but the village never had the population to sustain one. Has it grown much since then, or did it become less isolated?" Times were bound to change, after all, and while they could glimpse into areas of the mortal world, the gods were not truly omniscient. Except the god of knowledge, but that came with the territory. Also that guy was a pretentious prick, so Rel preferred not to speak to him. @Bing Crotchby

oh? Well yes, my father is the one directions the town orchestra, now i dont know how many were in the town in back in your day, but there were at least a solid few hundred that i at least knew of… though i wouldn’t be surprised if there were Even more people… she said with a slight chuckle all i know is that my father directed an orchestra for as long as i’ve lived, according to him at least, had no reason to doubt him in any way y’know? she said, gladly following alongside him, with a firm but gentle grasp on his hand as for wether or not we were isolated or not… i didn’t really know… i was isolated inside myself…. she said, her attention seeming to drift up, as if she noticed something, and a slight confused look started forming on her face as her pace slowed slightly wait- she seemed to try and focus for a moment, her head returning to a level position, only slightly turning her head so that one ear was pointed upward do- do you hear that ticking?- could’ve sworn i just heard a clock or something- @Al the Killer

It made sense, of course. Populations had their way of growing, despite Rel's previous attempts to wipe out the cult in its entirety. Maybe his mistake had been assuming some people were innocent and letting them live. He'd been more... human... back then. He listened to her speak, slowing down as she did. "I don't hear anything," he said. "One second..." He listened, but there was only the gentle breeze through the trees and the chirping of insects and birds. "I can't hear any ticking, but your hearing is more sensitive than mine." He wasn't about to dismiss what she said she'd heard, especially after she had been right about the digging. "Whatever the source, we might find it on our way to town. I'll let you know if I see anything." He absently gave her hand a gentle squeeze of... he wasn't sure what. Reassurance? Grounding? Either way, the gesture happened, and he picked his pace steadily back up and kept on walking. @Bing Crotchby

surprisingly, the gesture helped, though she did continue pondering on the ticking… well, there is a clocktower in the town, though that had more of a… deeper tick to it? Seemed also alot heavier… this one… she listened closely is coming from straight up? And down? she listened further, though as many answers as she got she stood there with an Even more puzzled face what?- it- its coming from everywhere?- she sounded confused to say the least, though there was a noticeable effect, when she focused harder on it- Hm, when i focus on it the ticking stops- but Rel would also notice, unlike her, that, it got really quiet, and the wind stopped- @Al the Killer

Rel stopped talking altogether as he listened for anything. The two of them were the only sound now. "It's coming from everywhere, yet I can't hear it..." That did sound like a hallucination, but he'd seen and heard enough strange things to know better. "And now that you say it's stopped... Do you hear that?" He paused to let the utter silence of the forest around them sink in. "Can you focus on the ticking again? This time try to remember what it sounded like, see if it starts up again." Maybe it meant... something. He didn't know what, but she seemed to be exerting some sort of magical control over something, and he wanted to understand beyond vague ideas. @Bing Crotchby

sure… i can try- she said, and she tried focusing some more, and she perked up, as the silence retreated and slowly the sounds of the forest came back the ticking is back! But- it seems to take a while for it to quicken again…. she answered, though on her hand there appeared to have been some… golden cracks forming, unbeknownst to her of course, they seemed to recede as the forest returned to normal… @Al the Killer

Rel looked down at her hand. Odd. Perhaps concerning, considering how the gold in those cracks looked almost like ichor. She wasn't a celestial though, as far as he knew; surely, it wasn't that. "I think we should leave it be for now," he suggested. "Until we know what it's all about and the possible costs of whatever you just did." He lifted their entwined hands, brushing his thumb across where the golden cracks had appeared for a moment. There didn't seem to be anything now. "Did your hand hurt when you did that?" @Bing Crotchby

a look of confusion formed on her face, as well as a small flush of pink Hm? No, didn’t really feel much in them besides a tingling now that you mention it- she said, her expression turning more, thoughtfull but sure, i just find it wierd, the clock tower is in the center of town, we cant possibly be that close- seems her mind was rather caught up on that, but she did her best to shake it off, not to mention to try and ‘cool off her face’ @Al the Killer

A slight, involuntary smile made its way to Rel's lips as he noted her reaction. It soon fled his expression as he reminded himself of her situation. Also of the situation they both were in, with an immortal village of cultists on their hands. "We aren't," he confirmed. "No matter how good your hearing is, I don't think you'd be able to hear it out here." He lowered their hands and looked toward the village. "Which means it must be something else. How about we head to the village? If it gets louder, that will mean I'm wrong and it is the clocktower. If not, then we'll have eliminated one possibility." @Bing Crotchby

hmmm… Alright- she agreed i doubt my hearing improved that much though in my death- she said, but in all fairness, she didn’t know how it worked, for all she knew it just might work like that- she decided to try something she hadn’t really done in a while, to make the undoubtedly long trek to the town less, lonely? Hard to say, either way she started small talk- i just realized, i’ve never really had a concept of time… couldn’t have exactly read the clock as all the other people did- i always heard people saying times but i never knew when they were… i dont Even know what a clock looks like- seems the whole clock thing had suffused her thoughts as she rambled on- @Al the Killer

Rel listened to her talk while they walked toward town. "Well, the numbers on a... clock, you say?" They had only had sundials when he'd been sacrificed. "...Those only represent the meaning humans ascribe to the passage of time, if you think about it. Wouldn't feeling the warmth of the sun, even through a window, or the cooling air of nighttime still give you some idea of the passing days, at least?" Not the point of what she was saying, he chided himself silently. "If you want, we might be able to find a clock in town that you can touch, to get an idea of it. You're really interested in the clock thing, aren't you?" There was no judgment to his question, but simple observation. @Bing Crotchby

well that sounds nice!- and sorry- kind of hard to think of anything other than clocks when the ticking is ever present- she said, chuckling with a hint of nervousness but it did genuinely make me think, and, aside from the heat on my skin in the day, or the lack of it at night i really had no way to confirm… my room didn’t have any Windows so if i spent my entire day there i wouldn’t know until one of my family members comes to check on me… Hm… never thought of that too much really…. her demeanor suddenly changed, as if she suddenly recalled something Hm… strange… i suddenly started remembering that time i played hide and seek with my brother, we were out in the woods and i hid against a like a pretty flat upwards facing rock, i think it had something carved into it but it honestly could’ve been just some oddly shaped cracks? I didn’t think much of it but when my brother found me he seemed scared…. Said all the vegetation just looked… grey… i think that’s the word he used, he also said there were more i think… hmmm- she seemed to look into it alot more than she normally would, on account of her own predicament- @Al the Killer

Rel's expression shifted to one of mild horror as she talked about not having any windows in her room. Maybe it was just because he'd spent so much time outdoors during his lifetime, but that didn't sound particularly humane. What harm could she possibly do through a closed window? "I'll make sure your room in my domain has a window," he said, mildly apprehensive. "Not for the sights, just because not having one seems like a safety hazard." Wait, she was already dead... oh well. The story sounded interesting, but he could not for the life of him figure out what, if anything, it might mean. He let her ramble, not minding it at all. Soon, the buildings of the town came into view from between the trees, and he looked over at her. "Has the ticking grown any louder? We're nearly there," he informed her. @Bing Crotchby

she tried listening, and she pursed her lips for a moment well… there are two tickings now… one i recognise, one i dont… it was evident she was slightly worried about it, though she chose to disregard it for now, though a small tremble had begun settling in her, it was unclear wether or not it was from the nerves regarding the ticking, or simply being close to her home after… what happened… @Al the Killer

"The clock tower this time?" Rel guessed. He felt her hand shaking and gave it another gentle squeeze. It was almost becoming a habit at this point. "We'll be fine. If they recognize you..." He trailed off for a moment, imagining the panic seeing the woman they killed walking around might cause. Death cultists or not, it was human nature to panic in such a situation. He smiled. "...All the better for it. It won't be like when you were alive; right now, you are the most powerful being here." It was almost painful to place himself back on the level of mortals, but until he regained his hold over the village, it was the truth. @Bing Crotchby

yes, its the clocktower… she remarked, her nerves calming themselves at least somewhat, and she seemed to try and listen for something hmm… we’re at the west end i think… at least from what Im guessing, i can hear the orchestra practicing… i think its the orchestra anyway… Dad used to say they practiced in a hall on the western outskirts… @Al the Killer

Rel considered their next move. Going straight to the leader might be ideal, but the question was who that was now and where they might be. He couldn't go by appearance, considering the only witness he knew to the sacrifice. Perhaps there was something else though. He slowed to another stop as he saw the treeline open up ahead and the path turn into a proper road through the village. "Ophelia, there is something we should consider... in your final moments, do you remember anything distinctive about the person leading the sacrifice? Unless the ritual has changed since my death, they would have been the loudest voice chanting, the closest one, holding the knife." @Bing Crotchby

she thought for a moment, focusing on what she remembered of the man’s voice the voice sounded male, gravely, though with a- she paused as the question ran through her mind once more hold on- why do you- how- she stopped dead in her tracks (no pun intended) as the scattered dots she had connected and snapped together, and she just stood there, blinking in silence at her realization i- uh- she cleared her throat for a moment, trying to find something to say uh- she took a deep breath for a moment i dont- know how to react- uh- she shook her head for a moment, trying to regain her senses to answer the question that had been posed @Al the Killer

Rel sighed as she cut off her own answer. Half a response wasn't exactly helpful, but he supposed he hadn't told her that he had been in the same exact situation. It had seemed weirder to tell her, in the form he inhabited now, that he had also been a sacrificial bride once, than to omit that little detail. Maybe his wife did have a right to know in theory, but in practice it didn't seem relevant. He was here to discuss death cults, not the intricacies of gender. "I was the other human sacrifice they made a long time ago," he confirmed bluntly. "Now let's focus on the matter at hand. Likely male with a gravely voice, is there anything else you remember about him?" @Bing Crotchby

right! she got back to thinking about it, taking any excuse not to focus on the handfull of questions she has that would not fit the situation at hand hmm, he sounded… old?- there was like this small wheezing element to his voice, hard to describe but its like every breath was a bit more taxing to him than most people, hell, most of the people sounded like that.. apart from maybe a handfull… the ones i can clearly make out anyway… she responded, it was clear though that she was at least somewhat embarrased of the earlier spectacle, that small pink flush slowly forming on her face @Al the Killer

The description helped paint a slight picture of the cult. Mostly either old or suffering from some sort of respiratory illness, possibly both. People with every reason to fear death as imminent. It was starting to come together. "Do you know anything about your village elders?" he asked. "...Is that still a position of honour now?" He likes down, trying to remember what changes he had heard of. There was so much that happened in the overworld, and so many dead constantly coming to the underworld, that it was impossible to track every small detail that reached his ears. "Some could also have been ill, in which case it may not have technically been a lie that you were being brought to the doctor, either." He looked over at her again, noting the colour in her face. Reluctantly, he had to admit to himself that it was kind of cute. "And if you have any questions to ask of me, you can ask them later." He saw no need to make it a big thing, but curiosity could be distracting at times, so it was only fair to let her get it out of her system at a more appropriate time. @Bing Crotchby

well… i never really heard much about them, they only ever showed themselves at important events… and Even then i was told they were wearing some kind of masks… she remarked, though if it was true was hard to say, though at least she spoke the truth she knew… @Al the Killer

As mysterious as always, then. Perhaps some things hadn't changed, after all. "That's how it was when I was living," he admitted. "It is often those who worship death who fear it the most... It sounds like the village is still well within the cult's grip, and has been for your entire life at the very least." Which only confirmed that he'd failed to eliminate it the first time around. "You'll have to forgive me for acknowledging that this isn't only your revenge anymore. Still, let's get this... deathlessness matter sorted out first." @Bing Crotchby

Damn… 600 years and they’re doing the same thing- she said to herself and thought for a moment, he could almost hear the gears grinding in her head.. Yeah, makes wiping them out… rather difficult… but, how? How do we kill something untouched by the shackles of mortality?- she was mostly thinking to herself oh! And- uh- we also need to Get clothes- i doubt this 600 year old dress is going to hold much longer… she said knowing full well that at least one of her- still weird to think about it- wouldn’t need to worry and the other one is dead- well… at least technically?- Anywho, some clothes her size would do splendidly- @Al the Killer

Rel was ready to remind her that the current plan was to convince the cultists to put those shackles of mortality back on, themselves, but the topic was quickly changed. A side mission he'd nearly forgotten about, as he'd made it an explicit point not to think about the dress under the cloak he'd lent her or the fact that said dress could fall apart at any second. "Clothes first, then." He took her hand again and led the way toward the town once more. "We'll find a clothier, then the village elders once you're more comfortable." The trees parted as the path led them into the village. The buildings were larger and sturdier than he remembered. With it being a clear day, plenty of people were out and about their business but, as they spotted a man with a skeletal arm and inhuman eyes leading a dead woman - or two - into town, they mostly changed course, staying out of the way and leading their children inside while watching the two figures anxiously. At least he was still intimidating enough, if nothing else. "I recognize that the general avoidance of us here will make it challenging to ask for directions," he whispered to Ophelia, though his tone seemed more amused than annoyed by this fact. "So bear with me, it may take a moment to find the correct merchant." @Bing Crotchby

she giggled slightly at Rel’s remark, it helped against the wildly uncomfortable feeling of everyone’s eyes upon her, well.. both of her… as the corpse walked behind them, not nearly as shambling as one might have expected… As long as we Get there before the dress desintigrates i think it’ll be fineeee she giggled once more, choosing to ignore the small buildup of chatter around them @Al the Killer

Rel nodded, keeping an eye out. "I'll make sure we do," he promised. There were a few places of business showing their edifices the further they got into town, their signs showing both words and symbols to indicate the sort of establishment within. Which was more than helpful, as written language had changed somewhat since his time as a living person, and he had meant it when he'd said it wouldn't be easy to stop and ask for directions from a fearful public. He eventually stopped in front of a building that displayed a sign for a clothier and tailor, with a spool of thread to drive the point home. He led the way to the door, where he stopped and looked back at Ophelia. "Are we finding identical clothes for you and yourself...?" he asked, before settling on the better question. "Do we bother finding something new for your corpse? She is wearing the same thing as you now." @Bing Crotchby

she took a moment to think Uhm… maybe we should Get something that’ll not just disintregate?- would be awkward if that were to happen i think… she said, a small flush coming to her face though i doubt she needs little more than a sundress… or something alike… @Bing Crotchby

Despite himself, Rel had to laugh at her response. "I assumed that much was a given," he said. "But alright, let's focus on keeping both of you covered." Warmth would not be a concern for the corpse. Possibly for either of them - he didn't mind the cold, but couldn't remember anymore what it had been like for him prior to Ascension. The longer he spent as he was now, the more those old memories felt like a bad dream. He opened the door and stepped aside. "The front entryway is open enough and there are no stairs; you can go ahead." @Bing Crotchby

she gave a small nod and a smile thank you she responded, promptly moving inside, though she stopped about three or four steps in as the corpse dragged itself into the shop as well hmm… her head(s) turned to face the shopkeeper in question, which, given the situation, understandably looked a mix between confused and shaken @Al the Killer

He followed her inside, taking a look around at their surroundings. A variety of samples hung out on display, showing off a selection of what the shop had to offer. And then there was the poor, apparently alone, employee, seeming uncertain of what would come. Rel assumed the cultists would be less confused, so perhaps this particular person was not directly involved. No harm in trying to seem less threatening, then. "We're paying customers," he assured him, before whispering an aside to Ophelia. "They do still accept gold here, I hope?" Otherwise, payment may not be so simple a matter. @Bing Crotchby

she whispered in reply right back i believe so? her voice sounded uncertain for a moment at least whenever i heard my father pay for something there was always a sound of metal hitting the counter, gold is a metal right?- @Al the Killer

"One of many," Rel confirmed. But it would have to be good enough. He turned his attention back toward the worker. "We're paying customers," he said again, more certain this time. "We just need clothes for..." He trailed off, unsure whether it was really appropriate to describe Ophelia as his wife when neither of them had agreed to this situation. Accurate or not, it was probably still weird. "...These two ladies here. Something decent. And lending a certain gravitas, preferably." Because where was the fun in revenge if they couldn't all look the part? "Anything you would like to add?" he asked Ophelia. @Bing Crotchby

not really she passed a hand in front of her face a few times Im not the one that’s going to see it anyways, just make it comfortable to wear and i’ll be over the moon she chuckle for a moment, both of her… oh- Pardon that- she said slightly embarrased @Al the Killer

The tailor blinked, forcing himself to pick his jaw back up and act like a professional instead of staring in stunned silence for their entire visit. "Yes, of course, everything will be custom-fitted according to y-" He froze as the walking corpse laughed in unison with the young woman, losing his train of thought. "Uh..." "You really are picking up on things quickly," Rel commented to Ophelia, not even bothering to hide the pride in his voice. "You have nothing to apologize for." He looked toward the tailor. "Right, you were saying everything will be custom-fitted?" The tailor gulped, casting one last anxious glance at the woman and her dead body. "Yes, yes," he said, quickly recovering. "I can grab a few samples you may like, and we can go from there?" Rel nodded. "That would be great, thank you. Will it be alright if she touches them, to get a feel of the fabric?" After all, he wasn't going to judge what might be comfortable for her or not. "Of course," the tailor replied, because he got the impression that these two... three?... clients were not to be refused. He scurried to the back to fetch samples and temporarily escape the strange man's watchful gaze and the dead ladies. @Bing Crotchby