23rd Mortal-Fiendish Union
Established
Roleplay posts: 40
Biography: See the faction page for details:
Allegiances: The Fiendish State
Registered: Apr 18, 2021 13:38:00 GMT -5
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Post by 23rd Mortal-Fiendish Union on Aug 16, 2021 11:19:36 GMT -5
Reaching into the sky in the center of Helsreach rose the spire, the seat of the king. An ominous glow emminated from it, the building a strange blend of feindstuff and stone. Massive white feindstuff horns were sprawled a around it, further completing the hellish landscape. However, in contrast trees and other plants grew happily around it, surprisingly welcoming to the demon in their midst. A gaping black door indicated the entrance, and two guards flanked either side of it.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Aug 17, 2021 12:54:42 GMT -5
Up close, the Spire looked even taller. It seemed to pierce the skies with an array of towers, turrets and spikes made out several armories’ worth of pointy edges. Looking up, Nina suspected that were she rest her hand against it, it might come off with bits missing. The girl couldn’t stop a gasp. It was the most outwardly frightening building she had seen in…well, probably forever.
The sheer amount of fiendstuff used in the construction was messing with her mind. She had to step onto a tree root and take a deep breath. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead. By now, it took more effort to ignore her magic senses than follow them. The fragment was close. Her pulse tickled her left wrist, and when she tried to massage it away, it turned into the rustle of gears clinking against each other. She looked to her side, wondering whether Elgastus would accompany her to meet the king.
She valued his protection, but it’s not as if he didn’t have anything better to do. Another deep breath, and the traveler shook her head. She was never going to be more ready than this. Thus Nina approached the guards, with a shaky smile on her face. ‘Remember,’ she thought, ‘always pretend that you’re supposed to be there, and the moment they accuse you of committing a crime, run-‘
“Good day. I heard that the king is holding open hours. May I?” She gestured to the entrance.
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Helsreach Guard
New
Roleplay posts: 1
Registered: Aug 17, 2021 16:03:56 GMT -5
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Post by Helsreach Guard on Aug 17, 2021 16:08:04 GMT -5
One of the guards looked down at her, standing almost 7 feet tall in it's Ornate but morbid armor. "Of course ma'am, it is open hours, after all." He told her with an understanding tone, it seems many of the mortals aren't used to just being able to talk to those in power.
Elegastus would follow behind Nina if she entered in.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Aug 18, 2021 8:26:57 GMT -5
She thanked the guard and stepped inside, in the building that looked like a cathedral to pain.
It took her eyes moments to adjust to the reddish light. There was a hollow feeling in her stomach, with the budding realization that she may not walk out. That jagged sword the guard was carrying, it looked more fit for torture than combat. Reminded her of a sawfish beak. Also, how many skulls can someone impale on their armor?!
Was their politeness simply a veneer?
Nina looked around, trying to find her way. If there was another audience in process, she would hate to interrupt. She noticed that her sleeves had gotten a purple tinge, as did the rest of her clothing, and felt as if entering another world. Illuminated partially by a cluster of round windows above her head, and partially by an inner glow, the walls were as intricately detailed as the outside.
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Post by Lady Lilresia of Helsreach on Aug 18, 2021 19:46:53 GMT -5
She thanked the guard and stepped inside, in the building that looked like a cathedral to pain. It took her eyes moments to adjust to the reddish light. There was a hollow feeling in her stomach, with the budding realization that she may not walk out. That jagged sword the guard was carrying, it looked more fit for torture than combat. Reminded her of a sawfish beak. Also, how many skulls can someone impale on their armor?! Was their politeness simply a veneer? Nina looked around, trying to find her way. If there was another audience in process, she would hate to interrupt. She noticed that her sleeves had gotten a purple tinge, as did the rest of her clothing, and felt as if entering another world. Illuminated partially by a cluster of round windows above her head, and partially by an inner glow, the walls were as intricately detailed as the outside. A young woman, no older than 16-17 years old, would walk up to meet Nina. She seemed to be similar to the Feinds, but her traits were much more subdued. Her skin a much lighter hue, her horns much shorter, and lacking any other distictive traits. She had flowers woven around her horns, framing her facre prettily. She wore a fairly simple dress, but upon close inspection one could tell it was made of particularly rare and beautiful material."Hello!" She said exitedly, grabbing Nina's attention. "I take it you're here to meet the Fath- I mean the King, right?!"
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Aug 21, 2021 12:36:24 GMT -5
“If I may.” Nina replied, nodding to the elegant newcomer. The flowers adorning her horns caught her attention and, soon after, the bright orange eyes. The traveler had to consciously remind herself that fiends had been described as virtually immortal, and so this younger kid may be older than her grandmother.
She looked down at herself, and narrowed her eyes in awkwardness. Suddenly she was aware of the salt in her hair, the dust in the folds of her clothing, the grime under her nails, and oh, was she smelling too badly after all this time in the sun? Her fingers nervously clenched.
“I do apologize for presenting myself like this. Travelling left little time.” Nina acknowledged softly.
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Post by Lady Lilresia of Helsreach on Aug 22, 2021 7:50:06 GMT -5
“If I may.” Nina replied, nodding to the elegant newcomer. The flowers adorning her horns caught her attention and, soon after, the bright orange eyes. The traveler had to consciously remind herself that fiends had been described as virtually immortal, and so this younger kid may be older than her grandmother. She looked down at herself, and narrowed her eyes in awkwardness. Suddenly she was aware of the salt in her hair, the dust in the folds of her clothing, the grime under her nails, and oh, was she smelling too badly after all this time in the sun? Her fingers nervously clenched. “I do apologize for presenting myself like this. Travelling left little time.” Nina acknowledged softly. "It's fine! I'm not exactly in my finery either. We've all been very busy with the move! The king will be done in a few moments!" At the very least, she sounded and aced like a young kid. She walked with her hands behind her back as she lead them to the antechamber, two guards on either sides of the door. She balanced on the balls of her feet while they waited for the previous visitor to finish.
"The kings been busy ever since we came here. Barely gets any sleep. I've been meaning to cook up a sleeping potion, but I can't get it right. He's immune to almost everything I've tried." She whispered conspiratorially.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Aug 25, 2021 10:34:47 GMT -5
The guards looked as ominous as the ones outside, and Nina spent a few heartbeats trying to calculate the best strategy she had of sneaking between them, if necessary. Between the spiked guards as long as daggers on their swords, and the extra reach they had by towering over her, her chances weren’t looking good. In a normal building, it occurred to her, she might have had an advantage, because the largely decorative spikes didn’t look very good at navigating doorways. But everything in the Spire looked grand. It wasn’t viscerally intimidating, not in the same way as the ritualized bowing, the army of servants, the honey-colored light tracing her own quiet steps on mats woven rice straw as she went to meet the tyrant of the Archipelago. But it was grand. All right, if she pulled herself up to that guard’s shoulder using the hooked chain wrapped around his right arm, and used the impaled decorative skulls in order to somersault over him-
She almost missed the most frightening person in the room, sharing their thoughts in a most innocent tone.
“I’m not sure if drugging people is the way to go. In general.” Nina whispered back with a nervous smile. Surely, she might change her opinion on pesky details like bodily autonomy if it turned out that the King grew a bit ‘off with their head’ upon sleep deprivation. After all, who didn’t? Nina fidgeted with her sleeves. “I tried that once and then had to eat that soup myself.” She mumbled.
The perils of trying to outsmart a master assassin.
“Do you, uhm, know each other?” The traveler turned so she could see well both her guide and Fireflower girl. “Elgastus has been very kind in telling me about your people.” She nodded.
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Post by Lady Lilresia of Helsreach on Aug 25, 2021 13:57:28 GMT -5
The guards looked as ominous as the ones outside, and Nina spent a few heartbeats trying to calculate the best strategy she had of sneaking between them, if necessary. Between the spiked guards as long as daggers on their swords, and the extra reach they had by towering over her, her chances weren’t looking good. In a normal building, it occurred to her, she might have had an advantage, because the largely decorative spikes didn’t look very good at navigating doorways. But everything in the Spire looked grand. It wasn’t viscerally intimidating, not in the same way as the ritualized bowing, the army of servants, the honey-colored light tracing her own quiet steps on mats woven rice straw as she went to meet the tyrant of the Archipelago. But it was grand. All right, if she pulled herself up to that guard’s shoulder using the hooked chain wrapped around his right arm, and used the impaled decorative skulls in order to somersault over him- She almost missed the most frightening person in the room, sharing their thoughts in a most innocent tone. “I’m not sure if drugging people is the way to go. In general.” Nina whispered back with a nervous smile. Surely, she might change her opinion on pesky details like bodily autonomy if it turned out that the King grew a bit ‘off with their head’ upon sleep deprivation. After all, who didn’t? Nina fidgeted with her sleeves. “I tried that once and then had to eat that soup myself.” She mumbled. The perils of trying to outsmart a master assassin. “Do you, uhm, know each other?” The traveler turned so she could see well both her guide and Fireflower girl. “Elgastus has been very kind in telling me about your people.” She nodded. "It's fine, he wouldn't punish me! Besides, it's for his own good!" She answered, not hiding her thoughts at all.
When Nina asked her other question, Lilreisa tried to dodge the question. "Who?" She asked, trying to keep up her facade.
"What, have you forgotten me after these last few years lass?" Elagastus asked, putting an arm around Lilreisa as she tried to escape. "Why, I remember when you were still in nappies."
Lilresia pouted and playfully pounded on his arm. "Uncle Stu! Why do you have to talk about that!?"
"Because ye were so cute lass. Gah, I miss those days." Lilreisa finally wiggled out from his arms and frowned at him. They quipped back and forth a few more times, Nina seemingly less and less on their minds. They certainly seemed to know each other.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Aug 27, 2021 16:05:41 GMT -5
Nina smiled. There was something so comforting, so humanizing about the banter between her new acquaintances, that she could almost forget she was standing in a wide hall that looked like it was woven from veins ripped out of still-living bodies. There was a nagging feeling she had – an off-hand comment from the girl. It made her wonder whether all this time she’d been shown around by the king’s brother. Concerning, yet it could have just as easily been a slip of the tongue. She narrowed her eyes, keeping the cozy conversation in the background, and went through three layers of her mental defenses before daring to reach out with her magic. Even so, it was draining. Retreating, she waited, wondering what wonders and horrors lie beyond the great door.
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Post by Lady Lilresia of Helsreach on Sept 2, 2021 20:29:09 GMT -5
Nina smiled. There was something so comforting, so humanizing about the banter between her new acquaintances, that she could almost forget she was standing in a wide hall that looked like it was woven from veins ripped out of still-living bodies. There was a nagging feeling she had – an off-hand comment from the girl. It made her wonder whether all this time she’d been shown around by the king’s brother. Concerning, yet it could have just as easily been a slip of the tongue. She narrowed her eyes, keeping the cozy conversation in the background, and went through three layers of her mental defenses before daring to reach out with her magic. Even so, it was draining. Retreating, she waited, wondering what wonders and horrors lie beyond the great door. After a bit more bickering and laughter, the two gave a quick hug. "Alright lasses, I'll be on my way. Good luck lass! Just don't get scared and you'll be fine!" Elegastus told Nina, waving as he left.
After he left, Lilresia spoke to Nina "Alright, let's go!" She skipped forward and opened the doors, indicating she should go in.
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Post by Lord Hochrescal of Helsreach on Sept 2, 2021 20:36:03 GMT -5
Inside the hall was seemingly more of the same, with flaming pillars and tapestries detailing the history of the Fiends, their ascent from hell into this world and the establishment of helsreach.
However, the room was dominaterd by one feature. The throne. Sitting upon a dias of skuls the seat was made of the intertwining of skulls and red fiendstuff, which waved lasily behind the man sitting there.
The intimidating form of the king sat on the throne, his black armor reflecting in the torchlight, and his helmet featuring several eyes. However, his horns were possibly the biggest seen yet, massive constructs of bone that curved inwards. At her entrance, he sat up. A guest? He did not recognize her.
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Sept 6, 2021 3:10:06 GMT -5
“Elgastus!”
Nina raised her hand, catching the air as if it was a sleeve. Her lips parted wordlessly. Then her hand rose further, and pressed over her heart.
“Thank you.” Her eyes struggled to restrain her words.
She turned and walked into the audience room.
Reds and blacks loomed ever deeper in this part of the Spire. Shadows either disappeared, or engulfed all. Right in front of her, towered a pile of skulls, on which a throne somehow balanced. Her steps seemed louder here, or was it just her imagination? Her eyes widened. Were those-?
‘Nina, you can’t ask people if their skulls are fake.’
At first, the presence of the king didn’t even register. He was a behemoth, so large that he didn’t even seem real. So many skulls adorned his armor, that the eye had difficulty focusing on the glowing grin that the girl assumed to be his face. When he stood up, she had to crane her neck up to follow. Meanwhile, the rippling of fiendstuff made her skin crawl. Between her clenched fingers, Nina held on to Elgastus’ advice to not be afraid.
“King of Helsreach.” Nina bowed, a hair’s width deeper and a second longer than customary in the Azure Archipelago for simple respect. “My name is Nina. I am a travelling painter who sailed from across the sea.” And just like that, her fingers sliced the air, sketching the wind, and her lips curled in an instinctive smile for the joy of the journey.
“You may have questions, and I would be happy to answer them. But I would be grateful for answers of my own.” Her tone grew serious. “I have come looking for a magic item. There.” She pointed. “That is a piece of another world. Of my world. I is a piece of the Clocktower.” Shaken, she had to take a breath before continuing. “Would you happen to be familiar with what that is?”
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Post by Lord Hochrescal of Helsreach on Sept 6, 2021 11:34:45 GMT -5
“Elgastus!” Nina raised her hand, catching the air as if it was a sleeve. Her lips parted wordlessly. Then her hand rose further, and pressed over her heart. “Thank you.” Her eyes struggled to restrain her words. She turned and walked into the audience room. Reds and blacks loomed ever deeper in this part of the Spire. Shadows either disappeared, or engulfed all. Right in front of her, towered a pile of skulls, on which a throne somehow balanced. Her steps seemed louder here, or was it just her imagination? Her eyes widened. Were those-? ‘Nina, you can’t ask people if their skulls are fake.’At first, the presence of the king didn’t even register. He was a behemoth, so large that he didn’t even seem real. So many skulls adorned his armor, that the eye had difficulty focusing on the glowing grin that the girl assumed to be his face. When he stood up, she had to crane her neck up to follow. Meanwhile, the rippling of fiendstuff made her skin crawl. Between her clenched fingers, Nina held on to Elgastus’ advice to not be afraid. “King of Helsreach.” Nina bowed, a hair’s width deeper and a second longer than customary in the Azure Archipelago for simple respect. “My name is Nina. I am a travelling painter who sailed from across the sea.” And just like that, her fingers sliced the air, sketching the wind, and her lips curled in an instinctive smile for the joy of the journey. “You may have questions, and I would be happy to answer them. But I would be grateful for answers of my own.” Her tone grew serious. “I have come looking for a magic item. There.” She pointed. “That is a piece of another world. Of my world. I is a piece of the Clocktower.” Shaken, she had to take a breath before continuing. “Would you happen to be familiar with what that is?” He was silent for a long moment before speaking. "Perhaps I do... why do you ask for it?" He straightened a bit, and with a wave, ordered his guards out, who left with almost no words.
"There. Now you may talk freely."
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Nina
Dedicated
Roleplay posts: 290
Registered: Apr 4, 2021 10:46:08 GMT -5
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Post by Nina on Sept 7, 2021 6:58:01 GMT -5
The guards left. She felt the closing of the grand door in her bones. For the better or the worse, there would be no witnesses. Like an insect lost in a cave the traveler felt, and clung on her customary impudence. Sure, here was a king who had ruled for probably longer than any civilization she’d encountered, but she was the proud Travelling Painter, Walker Upon the Ground. Nina clenched her fists.
“I am the heir of the Clocktower.” She admitted. “Its magic is woven in my veins.” Her careful, drawled speech was a sign of how difficult this was for her.
“The man who put it there is in a coma.”
There was a cold spark in her eyes. Almost…anger.
“So, the Clocktower has become my responsibility. That mechanism which has been fueled by so many lives. I need to understand it. Its history.” Nina gestured at herself. “So I can ensure it doesn’t hurt people anymore.”
Turns out that when power is so intricately connected to knowledge, people will try to keep their power by making knowledge more difficult to reach. And so the history she had to work with was an assembly of holes, misinterpretations and lies.
“You can empathize with that, can’t you?” She tilted her head. “Your majesty?”
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