"We know there is a demon in her -- A DEMON! Pure evil!", Velisai's words struck out in the cover of the forest.
"She taught me who I am, love. She made me get honest.", Alvis replied in a manner that seemed not his own.
Velisai's concerned gaze dropped to a cold stare. She did not trust him. Alvis might've guessed that she didn't even believe him. She suspected something...
"Then tell me, who are you?", Velisai asked him firmly.
"Oh, come on, don't be so distant.", Alvis said, "I'm Thrym, eh? You know me..."
The scars of his veins and the steely grey of his eyes contradicted these words, however. Alvis kept these things as hidden as he could, but hardly a thing escaped Velisai's observation, especially at this close range. His veins looked almost as if they had been burned very precisely, but only underneath the skin. He wondered if they would ever fade to allow him to more easily reach societal advantages.
Not only was this contradictory, but his entire manner and tone were off from the Alvis that Velisai knew, both before and after his poisoning by demonic blood. Before he was talkative, but not so smooth or sure of himself. After, he had difficulties speaking sometimes, and at one point fled from those who would seek to keep him from returning to the source of his unnatural addiction. Now he was returned in a third form, where a dark personality similar to Ambrosine's seemed to dominate -- cool, oddly sweet, slowly manipulative, and occasionally hostile or uncaring.
But Velisai knew he had gone through some kind of torment. She knew he was brought to the Union half-dead that day. He had spoken vaguely about what Ambrosine had done, how she had literally burned her blood from his body. There were some things about which he had not spoken, but the feared truth seemed unrealized by Velisai: Ambrosine no longer remained a part of him. His desire to return to her (out of need, at least) had disappeared. Everything he did now, he did on his own.
"She taught me who I am...", the words had echoed... and Alvis truly believed it.
Alvis smiled and lifted a palm slowly as he said, "A chain is broken, and now I'm... back."
Tears of the Afflicted ((Closed))
Moderator: Gamemasters
Tears of the Afflicted ((Closed))
Last edited by Thrym on Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Artimer flopped onto his bed, "Well, its not my fault that he is broken." Artimer rolled his eyes as he settled in.
"Honestly, who does he think he is? He tries to act like her, but he isn't like her. He just thinks he is." Artimer sat up then on the edge of his bed and watches the fireplace for a momment. "Athian says that if he wasn't helped, then Alvis would end up getting killed. Velisia doesn't want to lose her friend. I don't either, to be honest. But if he is going to choose, he is going to choose. It seems like he already has, and there is no real point in us trying to sway him now. However his death can't be tolerated."
Artimer moved to the fireplace, and placed a pot of water above it to boil. "I like the old Alvis. He is a good man. If it is truely is an effect of the blood, then maybe he can be moved back to the normal way. Who knows? Its not really my place.." Artimer said calmly, moving about the house and tidying up the round table there.
"Yet it is. If he keeps going towards whatever it is, he may become dangerous. Or be killed. Or maybe nothing will happen at all. But he shouldn't be playing a game he doesn't understand." The pot began to boil, and Artimer let out a sigh as he breathed in the steams.
Artimer added a few aromatic herbs, and then said, "But that doesn't mean I do not know anything. I still know enough about this that I am right. Alvis may think I do not understand, but I do. He is too focused on his old problems and himself to see what is happening. To say I don't is to say to a panther it doesn't know its claws."
As the fire began to die, and his mind cleared he said, "That ring should help some. Hopefully, every time he sees his hand he will think on it, will stop to consider what he is doing is right or not. There is no power in the ring that I know of.. but maybe it will still do something, even if Carinia disagrees." Artimer took another deep breath, took the pot from the cold fireplace, and stepped out again. "It will work out, just maybe not in the way that we want."
"Honestly, who does he think he is? He tries to act like her, but he isn't like her. He just thinks he is." Artimer sat up then on the edge of his bed and watches the fireplace for a momment. "Athian says that if he wasn't helped, then Alvis would end up getting killed. Velisia doesn't want to lose her friend. I don't either, to be honest. But if he is going to choose, he is going to choose. It seems like he already has, and there is no real point in us trying to sway him now. However his death can't be tolerated."
Artimer moved to the fireplace, and placed a pot of water above it to boil. "I like the old Alvis. He is a good man. If it is truely is an effect of the blood, then maybe he can be moved back to the normal way. Who knows? Its not really my place.." Artimer said calmly, moving about the house and tidying up the round table there.
"Yet it is. If he keeps going towards whatever it is, he may become dangerous. Or be killed. Or maybe nothing will happen at all. But he shouldn't be playing a game he doesn't understand." The pot began to boil, and Artimer let out a sigh as he breathed in the steams.
Artimer added a few aromatic herbs, and then said, "But that doesn't mean I do not know anything. I still know enough about this that I am right. Alvis may think I do not understand, but I do. He is too focused on his old problems and himself to see what is happening. To say I don't is to say to a panther it doesn't know its claws."
As the fire began to die, and his mind cleared he said, "That ring should help some. Hopefully, every time he sees his hand he will think on it, will stop to consider what he is doing is right or not. There is no power in the ring that I know of.. but maybe it will still do something, even if Carinia disagrees." Artimer took another deep breath, took the pot from the cold fireplace, and stepped out again. "It will work out, just maybe not in the way that we want."
"It must be your fault, then.", the warlock in front of Alvis had said.
"What must be?", Alvis replied.
"The fact that the dead have been rising up in this forest..."
Alvis sat at the aft of a ferry as the words echoed in memory. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't supposed to happen! Foul things called up wherever he went? Why? How? He had no more power than any other man. Indeed, he had much less than many. All he had was a desire... But that couldn't be it, either. If dark desire was all that was needed to call up the dead, why does every Temple member not run about dragging animated corpses with them? There was something else. He had to find out what.
Perhaps that seer of Artimer's might prove helpful after all. Too bad she was far inland.
"What must be?", Alvis replied.
"The fact that the dead have been rising up in this forest..."
Alvis sat at the aft of a ferry as the words echoed in memory. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't supposed to happen! Foul things called up wherever he went? Why? How? He had no more power than any other man. Indeed, he had much less than many. All he had was a desire... But that couldn't be it, either. If dark desire was all that was needed to call up the dead, why does every Temple member not run about dragging animated corpses with them? There was something else. He had to find out what.
Perhaps that seer of Artimer's might prove helpful after all. Too bad she was far inland.
Velisai ran out of the northwoods quickly, not looking behind or pausing. She had unknowingly trespassed into the land of the seer and was closely inspected apparently. Things, which looked like born from a nightmare followed her and here they were bold, tearing at her hair and clothes. It was Ambrosine's presence which drove them off, before it was too late. She ran straight to Bane and after that to the place that might solve her own problems.
The soothing glow of the mana well gave her enough rest to think about the strange events of the recent days and her conversation with Ambrosine.
"Your world is full of so many illusions pertaining to mine... he assumed I was nothing more than an evil demon, with intentions to take him along with me and show him vast powers. I shocked the idea out of him, but in his mind he is still meant to become something dark and terrible, and he thinks he has no choice but to follow through." She had to convince him of that, that he indeed still had a choice. It would be a task, barely possible to accomplish it seemed, but she had to try her best to do it while trying to get her own mark cleansed off herself.
"And keep him out of the north. Those things you encountered would tear him to shreds. My mark is too fresh on him." she said and it was clear that she was right. The creatures were loose, hunting for both of them, but him particularly. He must be like a bright light to an insect for these things and he was seeking to enter their domain. She had to find him, but knew not where to look.
The soothing glow of the mana well gave her enough rest to think about the strange events of the recent days and her conversation with Ambrosine.
"Your world is full of so many illusions pertaining to mine... he assumed I was nothing more than an evil demon, with intentions to take him along with me and show him vast powers. I shocked the idea out of him, but in his mind he is still meant to become something dark and terrible, and he thinks he has no choice but to follow through." She had to convince him of that, that he indeed still had a choice. It would be a task, barely possible to accomplish it seemed, but she had to try her best to do it while trying to get her own mark cleansed off herself.
"And keep him out of the north. Those things you encountered would tear him to shreds. My mark is too fresh on him." she said and it was clear that she was right. The creatures were loose, hunting for both of them, but him particularly. He must be like a bright light to an insect for these things and he was seeking to enter their domain. She had to find him, but knew not where to look.
Alvis sat on the beach of the Sirani Isles. Everything was so very peaceful. The moon shone on his dark form, bathing it in silvery light. Since Ambrosine left, more trouble had fallen, but when he met Carinia, that most valuable Carinia, things took a turn for the better. His overall personality was beginning to change again, seeming to shift closer to what he was before, but... only time would tell. The next major event was bound to happen any time now...
Alvis knelt by the pool in a dark cave, lit only by the faint glowing of green mushrooms. His hand swirled lightly in the waters before him, his mind in a similar deep swirling pattern of thought. The water of his body moved within, and coursed with each renewed feeling of suspicion and eager expectation. There were many things to consider, much to weigh carefully, much he still needed to learn, and much he wished to softly, subtly manipulate. But yet every time his thoughts coursed in one direction, they then seemed to break pattern and disperse before he could bring them under control again. There was another presence here.
The air grew chill, despite the warmth of the day. The hairs on the back of Alvis's neck stood up. A familiar breath blew softly on his right ear... he closed his eyes. Why had she come back?
"Guess who?"
"You've been misbehaving, Alvis dear..."
The air grew chill, despite the warmth of the day. The hairs on the back of Alvis's neck stood up. A familiar breath blew softly on his right ear... he closed his eyes. Why had she come back?
"Guess who?"
"You've been misbehaving, Alvis dear..."
Another long conversation passed between Alvis and Ambrosine. This, then, is the end of it.
"I am not in your world.", Alvis proclaimed flatly to Ambrosine.
"Arent you?", she asked softly, "Learning about demons, frequent visits to the seeress..."
"I am not in your world.", Alvis persisted, "You simply left yourself in mine. If I am not mistaken, these things will pass. Though visibly unchanged, I have learned that your marks will lose their scent to... unwanted watchers."
"It is true.", she replied.
"Then I am not in your world. Your blood has left me.", Alvis once again stated, "To me... your scent faded as well."
Ambrosine looked him over, nodding as he continued, "As the days passed, I spent less and less time in thought of you. You had begun to pass out of interest. I expected not to see you again."
She began to form the word "Good", but Alvis spoke over it, "But now you came when I expected you would not."
Alvis straightened himself, not out of pride, but sound assurance as he said, "I am not bound to you."
She nodded again, "Then I suppose we are finished here."
She turned to go, pulling her hood over her raven-black hair. Alvis intended a farewell, but would never call her by the demon's name. The woman thought alike.
"Don't call me...that name, again. It took me too long to break free of her.", she said.
Alvis moved up behind her, softly, leaning inward in what seemed like an imitation of what she had done to him in the past. The tide of memories washed over his goodbye as he placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "Fare thee well...
Vaetta."
She lowered her head and paused for a moment, so slight, before walking away, vanishing within a few steps.
"I don't expect to see you again.", Alvis spoke to the emptiness that he knew was not truly ever empty. His voice lowered to a whisper.
"But that doesn't mean I won't hope to."
"I am not in your world.", Alvis proclaimed flatly to Ambrosine.
"Arent you?", she asked softly, "Learning about demons, frequent visits to the seeress..."
"I am not in your world.", Alvis persisted, "You simply left yourself in mine. If I am not mistaken, these things will pass. Though visibly unchanged, I have learned that your marks will lose their scent to... unwanted watchers."
"It is true.", she replied.
"Then I am not in your world. Your blood has left me.", Alvis once again stated, "To me... your scent faded as well."
Ambrosine looked him over, nodding as he continued, "As the days passed, I spent less and less time in thought of you. You had begun to pass out of interest. I expected not to see you again."
She began to form the word "Good", but Alvis spoke over it, "But now you came when I expected you would not."
Alvis straightened himself, not out of pride, but sound assurance as he said, "I am not bound to you."
She nodded again, "Then I suppose we are finished here."
She turned to go, pulling her hood over her raven-black hair. Alvis intended a farewell, but would never call her by the demon's name. The woman thought alike.
"Don't call me...that name, again. It took me too long to break free of her.", she said.
Alvis moved up behind her, softly, leaning inward in what seemed like an imitation of what she had done to him in the past. The tide of memories washed over his goodbye as he placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "Fare thee well...
Vaetta."
She lowered her head and paused for a moment, so slight, before walking away, vanishing within a few steps.
"I don't expect to see you again.", Alvis spoke to the emptiness that he knew was not truly ever empty. His voice lowered to a whisper.
"But that doesn't mean I won't hope to."
Artimer smirked slightly, as Alvis walked away. Alvis gave an annoyed reply, but that was all that was needed.
"He will be fine now. His choices are his. He is fully aware of the consequences. And he shows remorse." Artimer whispered to himself, as Alvis faded from sight and turned the corner of the workshop. Soon after Alvis had left though, Artimer had another visitor. Perched on the window sill of the tailoring room, was a dove with a letter. Artimer read over it, and nodded lightly.
"So Velisia will be alright as well." With that, he folded the parchment away and into his robe pocket, gave the dove some grain, and sent it on its way. Artimer then left to go to his house. He passed through Troll's Bane, a thoughtful face obvious to those who paid him any attention, but none did. He reached his house, and stepped inside.
"And so, the story continues. The marks upon them fading well, and recovery holding itself true. They will be entirely safe within a week, no doubt." He let out a sigh.
"If only I knew who was the writer." He chuckled slightly, slide the letter out of his robe and into a drawer, before continueing on his way.
"He will be fine now. His choices are his. He is fully aware of the consequences. And he shows remorse." Artimer whispered to himself, as Alvis faded from sight and turned the corner of the workshop. Soon after Alvis had left though, Artimer had another visitor. Perched on the window sill of the tailoring room, was a dove with a letter. Artimer read over it, and nodded lightly.
"So Velisia will be alright as well." With that, he folded the parchment away and into his robe pocket, gave the dove some grain, and sent it on its way. Artimer then left to go to his house. He passed through Troll's Bane, a thoughtful face obvious to those who paid him any attention, but none did. He reached his house, and stepped inside.
"And so, the story continues. The marks upon them fading well, and recovery holding itself true. They will be entirely safe within a week, no doubt." He let out a sigh.
"If only I knew who was the writer." He chuckled slightly, slide the letter out of his robe and into a drawer, before continueing on his way.
Artimer smirked slightly, as Alvis walked away. Alvis gave an annoyed reply, but that was all that was needed.
"He will be fine now. His choices are his. He is fully aware of the consequences. And he shows remorse." Artimer whispered to himself, as Alvis faded from sight and turned the corner of the workshop. Soon after Alvis had left though, Artimer had another visitor. Perched on the window sill of the tailoring room, was a dove with a letter. Artimer read over it, and nodded lightly.
"So Velisia will be alright as well." With that, he folded the parchment away and into his robe pocket, gave the dove some grain, and sent it on its way. Artimer then left to go to his house. He passed through Troll's Bane, a thoughtful face obvious to those who paid him any attention, but none did. He reached his house, and stepped inside.
"And so, the story continues. The marks upon them fading well, and recovery holding itself true. They will be entirely safe within a week, no doubt." He let out a sigh.
"If only I knew who was the writer." He chuckled slightly, slide the letter out of his robe and into a drawer, before continueing on his way.
"He will be fine now. His choices are his. He is fully aware of the consequences. And he shows remorse." Artimer whispered to himself, as Alvis faded from sight and turned the corner of the workshop. Soon after Alvis had left though, Artimer had another visitor. Perched on the window sill of the tailoring room, was a dove with a letter. Artimer read over it, and nodded lightly.
"So Velisia will be alright as well." With that, he folded the parchment away and into his robe pocket, gave the dove some grain, and sent it on its way. Artimer then left to go to his house. He passed through Troll's Bane, a thoughtful face obvious to those who paid him any attention, but none did. He reached his house, and stepped inside.
"And so, the story continues. The marks upon them fading well, and recovery holding itself true. They will be entirely safe within a week, no doubt." He let out a sigh.
"If only I knew who was the writer." He chuckled slightly, slide the letter out of his robe and into a drawer, before continueing on his way.