AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 179 - From the inside
🕑 Added 2022-03-26 09:26:05 +0000 UTCAmdirlain’s PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand
The ashes teased within the Ki’s cycling, and Amdirlain repeatedly chased streams of them around within herself. The scent of death mingled in with their smoky taste, thickening enough to choke her only to evaporate again.
Flickering moments of memories stayed just out of reach until, the motion of the Ki’s wave releasing into the Domain snatched one up and sent her plunging into the memory.
* * *
The pillar of smoke reaches upwards from beyond the ocean’s horizon, adding to the haze already blotting out the sun. The waves are normal again, their swells tiny compared to the enormous rush of water that had left the village’s lower reaches a wasteland of drowned buildings and broken dead. While her Yιαγιά’s hand rest on her shoulder in an attempt at reassurance, the trembling in her touch speaks of the pain and grief she feels.
The normally hot late-morning sun feels cool behind the clouds of ash overhead. Their presence blurs out the light in the sky, looking as faded as the eyes of the dead. The few boats still in the harbour now wedged tight in laneways or having staved in buildings. Those caught too close to the docks are still being retrieved from the waters by survivors who keep watch, in case Poseidon draws the harbour’s water into his grasp again.
Her father’s heavy footsteps cause the stone beneath her feet to bounce with every step, and his shadow laying across her prompts her to look up.
Even this, his smallest form, stands head and shoulders above the tallest fisherman, and his horns reach further still. A broad face, and flat nose, nothing like anyone else in the village since she and her siblings shared their mother’s feature. A pelt of slate grey fur coats his bare torso and while burn holes pockmark his pants, the fur and flesh beneath them is, as always, unmarked. Seawater still clings to his legs from his wading through the shallows.
“Did you find mother and the twins?” I ask through sobs that start when I see the sadness in his gaze.
The words leave my lips in a language I can’t remember knowing, but the rest of their ancient Greek tongue rushes around in her memory when he replies in kind.
“No, Poseidon took them when the wave withdrew and didn’t cast them back ashore.”
Yιαγιά’s wail breaks loose and Pappous closes the eyes of a woman caught up in a torn net he’s carried up from the water and starts up towards us. My mother’s parents both look almost frail in their grief, and my own tears won’t stop, leaving a hollowness that deepens with every drop.
“How did this happen, father?”
“The noise that woke us before the dawn. Gaea told me that Poseidon forced the ocean into a fire chamber beneath Crete. The violence of the fire fighting with the waters destroyed the mountain that caused this wave to strike us later. More are dying—or will die—up and down the coastline for hundreds of leagues about us. Artemis guided this attack to us, but the laughter of many rings throughout Olympus this day.”
“Will you make them pay, father?” I ask with a pulse of anger and hurt, twisting against the raw pain of their deaths.
“If I can, but it will take time to plan and set things in motion. I don’t have-”
He stops and his finger is already on my lips to seal away my next words when a woman is suddenly nearby. A woman dressed in pure white robes the girl I’d been had never seen before. Though her bronzed complexion, deep chestnut hair, and gaze was far healthier than the villagers, her visage quickly connected to Amdirlain’s memory of Hestia. “Hestia, have you come to bear witness to more of their crimes?”
At his question, Pappous hurries my Yιαγιά inside but she still gets out a scream, her angry wailing and furious words ripping at the air from inside their home. Yet instead of lashing out as Pappous clearly expected, Hestia simply glances sadly at the hurriedly closed door.
“I’m sorry, Nicholaus, I was busy with those suffering on the islands near Crete. I didn’t know they aimed this at you.”
“Whether they aimed this at me, or another, they take whatever they want, when they want it,” father grumbles, and I hide behind him before I peek around his torso at Hestia. Fear of a Goddess who’s so close at hand is trying to smoother my grief and anger.
“What will you do, Nicholaus?” asks Hestia, her voice rich with sorrow and concern.
“They took my wife and our twins. Hopefully, our eldest son will be back within a day or so with his bride. When they arrive, we will go somewhere they can never find us. Until then, I have things to make, both for repairs and so the villagers have some spares while they find a new smith.”
“They will find you anywhere on this planet, Nicholaus, with the guidance of Artemis,” warns Hestia. “You know that it’s always only a matter of time before the huntress finds her prey again. Or are you just going to sit still for their next attack? What if they send someone in person before you leave?”
“We’ll be gone before they get done with their celebrating, you know as I, even lesser massacres always have them in their cups. When we’re far away, I shall make sure I have time to become secure against their assaults. We shall see who wins the next time our paths cross. Go care for those Mortals our siblings treat with contempt, Hestia, and leave us in peace,” says father, his tone rough with the threat of tears. When she vanishes, he lifts me up and sets me on his shoulder. “Come, little songbird, sing me one of your mother’s songs so we can bid her farewell while I work and think.”
“Father, promise me I’ll never be a God like one of those monsters. Can you take the spark from me before I’m old enough for it to bloom?”
“Perhaps we can find a purpose in life you are happy with,” replies father and strides up the slope towards our home high on the hillside. Even though he’s only just put me in place, he draws me off his shoulder and cradles me like an infant. As he walks, I touch my hand to his cheek and the first tear of many runs across my hand.
* * *
The shared grief of lost family spikes linking the mingling memories, and a sob breaks Amdirlain free from the Ki’s tranquillity.
Golden light has the room aglow, and the once near-black of the tattoo instead has green growth and brown thorns presented against her skin. Pushing the excess Ki overflowing the pool into the Mantle dims the room’s light back to normal. Cyrus was now sitting cross-legged away from her, but nearly triple the separation from a few minutes ago, and she fruitless looked around for Liranë.
“When did you move?” asked Amdirlain in confusion.
“I’ve moved a few times,” replied Cyrus before he rose and walked towards her. “I’m surprised you’re aware of your surroundings again so soon.”
“What do you mean ‘so soon’?”
“You’ve only been meditating slightly over a day. The way your Ki kept draining away, I thought you’d be at it for weeks yet,” Cyrus explained and sat down within arm’s reach.
“A day! I was supposed to attend Master Elliyna’s session and help Nomein with two spells,” objected Amdirlain.
Cyrus raised a hand to halt her objections. “We let Master Elliyna know and Master Liranë arranged some extra tuition for the Novice, though it sounded as if such is unnecessary. How do you feel after cycling? Would you explain what was occurring with your Ki? What I could see of it while draining was extremely strange.”
Though she had halted when Cyrus raised his hand, she’s barely kept her words in check at his question. “I feel better, but I just hope I’m not drowning my pain again in the Ki’s effect. Regarding the Ki draining away, that’s a secret I’m not ready to share, I’m afraid.”
“I sensed Souls observing me whenever I watched the pressure of your Ki lessen. They are a great distance away, yet somehow they still noticed me,” explained Cyrus. with a grim expression. “I would hope you don’t have Souls imprisoned somewhere.”
Did he see into the Domain’s Wellspring through the Mantle?
“No, not imprisoned. I sent the Ki to a place where Souls are resting between lifetimes. Hopefully, it helps them,” offered Amdirlain, and her words eased the tension from him.
“I sense the truth in your words, even if I don’t understand what you mean. But then, I’ll admit I don’t know how Pantheons arrange their afterlife, merely some of what occurs within the authority of the Jade Court. Why does a fallen have access to a place that is a haven for Souls?”
“I thought you said you were aware of my full nature?”
“So I had believed, but that isn’t as true as I had thought,” remarked Cyrus. “I guessed at your Anar aspect from legends I’d heard and crystal objects of power that feel as you do, but what I saw is beyond that.”
Amdirlain gave him a crooked smile, still considering the memory of being a grieving girl cradled in Nicholaus’ arms. “Well, as I’ve said to others, I’m not normal in many respects. Since you can sense the truth, I will confirm that I don’t intend them harm, nor do I seek to corrupt. Each of them is entirely there of their own choice, and I seek to keep them safe until they wish to be reborn. Would you tell me why you said the pattern would help me find my own truths, yet you keep providing interpretations?”
Cyrus frowned briefly but nodded his acceptance of her refusal to reveal the full situation. “Master Elliyna said you view things associated with yourself in a pessimistic fashion. I merely hoped to provide you with a counterbalance to your own perspective that you might actually seek long enough to find the truth and not drown yourself in fears.”
“Yeah, I need to keep working on myself from the inside,” admitted Amdirlain, before she rose. “First though, I need to go give my apologies to Nomein. I didn’t say I’d get someone to help her, I said I’d help her, and I broke my word.”
“The chimes signalling the end of evening meal occurred just before you opened your eyes,” advised Cyrus, and Amdirlain hurried off with a nod. Approaching the door, she spun on her heel and stepped back through it, using Spirit Passage to phase herself.
Once the powers I have would have had me feeling like a superhero, now they don’t seem like enough to stay safe.
Letting herself out the other doors normally, she saw Nomein and Lezekus coming along from the training hall as she got to the sleeping level. Nomein gave an amused smile and picked up pace, almost skipping along the corridor, the grin broadening as she closed the distance. “Know that I got both those spells working with the tutor Master Cyrus arranged.”
“Oh no, you replaced me,” replied Amdirlain, and clasp her hands to her cheeks in mock-shock. “Though seriously, that’s good. I’m sorry I got caught up.”
“Know he passed along a message from Master Cyrus explaining you were busy getting your meditation pattern settled properly,” replied Nomein.
“Know that every time I was near the stairs down to your training hall, I could feel a thrum of energy in the air,” Lezekus stated.
Nomein shot her a sceptical look and just shook her head. “Know I’m thinking you’re one of those strange Priest types Lezekus. Mysterious about the Power you serve and getting impressions from the air no one else gets. Has she told you who she worships, Amdirlain?”
Amdirlain kept a bland expression at Nomein’s interrogative gaze. “Isn’t who she tells her choice, Nomein?”
“Know that I worship Amdirlain then,” offered Lezekus in a dry tone, and wink she gave behind Nomein’s back had Amdirlain rolling her eyes. “Okay, Nomein?”
Nomein’s sceptical look returned in full force and she spun about to glare at Lezekus. “Know that some Powers can be jealous, so joking in such a fashion is dangerous to Amdirlain as well.”
“Some can be very petty, but I’d say Lezekus is safe,” offered Amdirlain. Nomein ducked to avoid getting scruffed by Amdirlain, who gave Lezekus an amused wink. “Not like she fooled you, right?”
“Any suggestion about the energy I felt in the air?” Lezekus asked, ignoring Nomein’s grumbling about being reckless.
“I was accumulating a lot of Ki during the meditation. Maybe you’re sensitive to it,” replied Amdirlain.
“Know that I felt nothing, and we’ve got the same classes except Priest,” protested Nomein, and gave Amdirlain’s arm a squeeze that didn’t even make an impression.
Amdirlain gave Nomein a half-hearted shrug and a smile. “Except that not everyone is the same, even with the same classes. But maybe it was a spiritual aspect of Lezekus’ Priest class that assisted her. I’m glad you still got your spells done.”
“Know I’ll practice the ones I know now until I build up enough mastery of them, but I’ll let you know when I want to learn another,”
Lezekus fixed Amdirlain with a smile. “Know that we’re going to the library since Nomein wants to hunt down more religious texts to find the symbol of my Goddess.”
“Is that why you’re teasing her tonight?”
Giving Amdirlain a mischievous look, Lezekus waved Nomein towards her room. “Who me?”
“Mind if I come to the library with you?” asked Amdirlain. “I’ve some research to do.”
“Know that you’re welcome to come along,” replied Nomein, and ducked inside her room.
Glancing between them, Lezekus looked at Amdirlain curiously. “What are you researching?”
“I thought I’d continue learning Ritual Lore, and get started on Magic Circles.”
* * *
The time they spent in the library allowed Amdirlain to unlock the Magic Circle knowledge—boosted by her existing Arcane Lore—and gain progress in Ritual Lore. As the others settled down to sleep Amdirlain sat in her room, and considered cycling her pattern again, but instead she reached for the Oath Links within her awareness. The moment she touched against Ebusuku’s to send a message, she wondered again at her new Use name. Having intended a few times to ask her, Amdirlain stuck with the original in her greetings.
“Ebusuku, I’ve been meaning to ask is your preference your new Use name or is it just a change for safety like Klipyl’s one? I’m sorry for interrupting you the other day. Do you have time to speak?”
“It was mainly a change to avoid old colleagues and family getting back in touch or laying traps. It’s fine to keep calling me Ebusuku, just don’t send a Message to my old Use name—Sidero bound it to an Earth Elemental. Farhad recovered from his blue balls and is organising training for a company of Angels that took form today after another set of blue and golden lights faded. Did you want to speak in your Mind Palace again?”
Amdirlain hesitated only briefly before settling into it, and regarded the changed showing through the clear crystal platform beneath her. Neither the sun’s sullen orange, nor the sky had changed in some time, but now as far as the eye could see there wasn’t a patch of tar still in place. It had all hardened into black obsidian, riddled with a mix of hairline fractures or widening cracks that revealed whatever lay beneath—ground or forms.
The form directly beneath her was more exposed than when she’d seen it less than a week ago. The once rotting throat wound had been cleared of gangrene long ago, but now pink scarred flesh filled in the empty void. Its obsidian covering had taken months to remove, and now the cycling of the Ki had washed large swaths of the clay-like soil away, exposing scared and blemish-free flesh alike.
When she extended Spirit Bridge to Ebusuku, the connection locked in place with a surprising speed, and Amdirlain snorted in amusement at the notification.
[Spirit Bridge [Ad](12->14)
Note: Learning to let those you trust in paying off for you?]
“The spire left a nasty scar on the throat, but this is looking healthier. Your Domain is showing more dramatic changes than what you’ve got here.”
Pursing her lips, Amdirlain motioned Ebusuku to spill. “You told me that everything was fine, but you never gave me details.”
Ebusuku’s brash smile earned her a glare from Amdirlain. “I don’t want to tell you. Many people are waiting to see the look on your face. The energy certainly transformed the Domain and expanded it in ways that I’m sure you’ll like. Is the knowledge essential to your healing?”
“You’re enjoying being mysterious,” protested Amdirlain. “When I get back there. I’ll show up without warning, so you don’t get to see the look on my face.”
Her protest washed Ebusuku’s smile away and turned her expression stern. “Please don’t do that. The Archons are looking forward to seeing your reaction. When your healer gives the all-clear, they want to give you a grand welcome home. We’ll open up a Gate for you from inside the boundary to ensure you’ve no risk of ambush, and that it’s a spot with the best view.”
Amdirlain pulled a face, but with a nod as she conceded to the request, and Ebusuku gave her a tight hug. “At least tell me what you lot have been doing. The number of Faithful is getting more than a little intimidating.”
“We haven’t been providing Divine Foci anymore—your priests create all the new ones now. Though considering only yourself, Týr and Sidero freely granted healing blessings, your groups of faithful are unsurprisingly increasing. I’ve even been told they’ve spread into the countries to the north, though mostly in major cities so far,” offered Ebusuku.
“Sidero?” gasped Amdirlain, going wide-eyed.
“Their culture has been focused on the Shaper’s steel for centuries and the General had a company join an attack on a breeding site. After they saw the way she controlled her chains and metal moved at her whim, there was a bit of a fuss,” explained Ebusuku in a deliberate understatement. “Some from the castle had spoken to her about Order. Yet instead of praying to Order, they started praying to Sidero; the Lady of Steel, World Binder, and seeker of Order. Her Faithful make Farhad look fickle, and she’s attracted a bunch of the shapers in the Castle.”
“Geez,” Amdirlain groaned and stopped herself from chasing down that rabbit hole. “Speaking of faithful I don’t suppose you have any information on an Erakkö called Kralin Pirên?”
Ebusuku just gave her a blank look, and a shrug, so Amdirlain continued. “They show up in my profile as the Head Priest with a combination of the Soldier and Priest classes.”
“I’ll ask Echo to investigate, he knows more of the Erakkö than I do,” admitted Ebusuku. “Have you tried recognising someone as your representative or Head Priest? I’ve heard Powers pick them and not just let levels determine who is in charge. You set Eivor in charge and even after Aggie out-levelled her, she still showed in your Profile for the Ten Kingdoms.”
“Point. I will have to see if I can work something out. Eivor I told in person,” replied Amdirlain.
“You intended Isa to be allowed onto Letveri, and she managed that. Just try focusing your intention again, but aside from meeting Tesfa when we freed him, neither of us really knows him,” cautioned Ebusuku. “For all you know, this Kralin might actually be a better leader.”
“True, I’ll hold off for now,” admitted Amdirlain, keeping her use of Soul Sight on him to herself. “Since Echo is handling coordination at the castle can you ask him to collect information on a few things, the highest-level priests, the various sects, and the countries to the north?”
Ebusuku nodded at each point and gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll sort that out with him. I know there are three northern countries they trade with and share any length of their border with. There is another two further north and countries on other continents where ocean-going vessels are their only link, but they don’t have any such vessels of their own.”
Amdirlain nodded as she considered how much in the way of resources maintaining a navy could draw away. “Too busy fighting off the Thri-Kreen?”
“Exactly, and the Thri-Kreen invasion paths are all inland routes.”
“How does she deal with cities of them?” asked Amdirlain. “I know their mental assaults would roll right off her, but I’d have expected her to call in support for cities.”
“I’ve not asked. Those we’ve examined have lots of heat cracked buildings, and enemies’ ashes baked into the stonework. Similar to the funeral pyre sites she’s left behind, but looking like it caught the Mind Flayers running. From the injuries Echo has reported her healing afterwards, they’re not completely one-sided fights. She calls in support for the breeding sites, but the experience from the cities she’s been keeping for herself and Klipyl.”
“Okay, I just hope she doesn’t bite off more than she can chew. Other than the physical changes that are around the Domain how are things?” asked Amdirlain, setting aside her concern for Sidero.
“Mostly the usual, organising new Archons, though there have been a few Angels manifesting recently. Oh, and Farhad finally asked me to marry him, so that official now,” Ebusuku added innocently, and smirked as Amdirlain spluttered.
“When’s the wedding?” asked Amdirlain, eager for details the moment she recovered her mental balance.
“What do you mean? He asked. I said yes, we’re married.”
Her matter-of-fact tone gained a glare from Amdirlain, before she yelled at Ebusuku’s disinterested expression. “Ebusuku! That’s not how it works. You’ve got to have some sort of celebration.”
“Yes, it is how it works. It’s my choice, isn’t it?” asked Ebusuku, her eyes glinting in amusement.
Amdirlain groaned and put her face in her hands, but her muttering didn’t stop Ebusuku from making out the string of cursing.
“You’re a spoilsport, weddings are important,” Amdirlain announced, finally dropping her hands.
Ebusuku merely waved off Amdirlain’s protest and wrinkled her nose. “No, they are not. I’d prefer to spend the time that goes into planning one having sex instead.”
“Fine.” Amdirlain grumbled, and Ebusuku just playfully pinched at her cheeks. ‘But they’re about celebrating as a community, so they are important to those not simply looking for their next sausage stuffing.”
“Once you’re back, you can plan and officiate it if you can talk Farhad into a wedding. I’ve got better things to do than plan one, and Farhad was quite happy to accept my take on how it worked. That’s how it works in many societies; some we’d have been married the moment we shared the same apartment in The Exchange.”
“I’ll just tell him the Law in my Domain is that a proper wedding is required,” teased Amdirlain with a playful smile.
“We were on Cemna when he proposed, so the local law that applies is none,” Ebusuku said smugly. “We’d just finished tearing through a horde of Mummy Lords who were all spell casters. Now that was fun!”
“Ebusuku, you’re a spoilsport,” muttered Amdirlain, only for Ebusuku to flash her palm.
She’s being talking to Sidero too much, talk to the hand indeed.
“You’re a goddess of freedom. Since it’s me saying I’m married, my choice is key, isn’t it? Or are you trying to restrict our freedom of choice?” asked Ebusuku.
“Fine, I’ll just hope everything goes swell then,” retorted Amdirlain.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Ebusuku suspiciously. “I feel there is some wordplay in your statement, but I still don’t have a proper understanding of the way you abuse English.”
“It’s called slang. I could say you’re looking mighty swell today, Ebusuku, to say you look good,” explained Amdirlain, her arms innocently folded in a fashion that had Ebusuku’s gaze narrowing.
“That’s not funny Amdirlain. If I get pregnant, I’m going to strangle you slowly.”
Giving a laugh, Amdirlain raised her hands in protest. “I don’t need to breathe, but you’ve got a higher strength you could hurt me. I don’t want to risk it, especially here.”
“I won’t strangle you, even here, but don’t say that sort of thing,” grumbled Ebusuku, her expression becoming concerned.
“Yeah, I know you’re just as much as a battle addict as I get called. You’d likely want to be pregnant over my dead body.”
Ebusuku chortled and, after giving an eyeroll, patted Amdirlain’s shoulder gently. “Seems some people are getting to know you. Don’t you mean I’d want to end up pregnant over my dead body?”
“I said what I meant. Since I ill-wished you, I’m sure you’d want to throttle me if you end up pregnant unexpectedly. Can Solars even get pregnant?
“I’d say it would be extremely rare for a Solar to allow such a distraction from its duty that raising a child would require to be true to them.”
Comments
Glenn Wright
Yes, that was a memory from her first life.
Silerus
Did I understand that memory correctly? In one of her past lives, probably the first, she used to be The Titan's daughter, before he created his realm?
Glenn Wright
From a D&D perspective, Sidero is Lawful Neutral, Amdirlain Neutral Good, and Isa is more Chaotic Good with some Chaotic Neutral tendencies
StormyAngel
Wow. I was wondering what memory we would be getting, but that was amazing. This explains so much, and it raises so many questions too! I, uh, was not expecting Sidero to form a religion. I wonder how she feels about it. Also, while I naturally think it'd be awesome for Amdirlain and Sidero to work out forming some kind of pantheon, I wonder if they'd work well together in that function or not. I wouldn't call Amdirlain *Chaotic*, but she's not Orderly by any stretch of the imagination. It might lead them to some unfortunate clashes when the chips are down.
Xtriver
This makes things interesting
