Strengthening the Mind

[13:41] Kofe lead Ella into the temple of Njorun. A sacred place built over a thousand years prior; one that had been burried deep within the sands of the desert only to be uncovered by a few fated Rhoynish. The large statue depicting a man wielding a giant axe in his hands with a war horn hanging to his side.

The Primordial Njorun.

On the walls were paintings and carvings of this very same man facing many. Dozens. Hundreds. Thousands. All on his own. Victorious.

Four pedestals remain in the corners, the energy that once powered them now drained, though the marks of blood upon their surface was... not as old as the paintings on the walls. Dried for sure, yet no longer than about a decade.

The sheer amount of spiritual presence could be felt, especially by a Spiritmancer like Ella. Down below dwelled many, many ancestors. Some bound to Kofe directly, some more distant.

When he spoke of a wonder hidden deep under Ilburg he was not lying. This was merely scratching the surface and it was something unique enough. To think that there was more under was insane.

"Here we are."
(Kofe)
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[14:00] The woman would follow Kofe into the inner sanctums of Ilburg. Deeper and deeper they would dive until she could almost feel it. Her eyes opened up with glee as Kofe would show her to the new room. A story, of Njorun. "These markings are like the tattoos we wear, correct?" Her brows quirked, asking Kofe the question.

To her, it truly seemed that way. Each significant battle inscribed on the walls, just like the tattoos of the insignificant battles on their bodies. "What are these pillars however?" The Druid approached, her lilac hand reaching over to graze them softly.

Yet the ancestors below, she could feel them as well. Their connection to Kofe directly linking them with her. It was almost overwhelming to feel such a magnitude of power here.

"This is truly splendid, Kofe. I do wonder what more there is to find, probably a lot more as well."
(Ella Gracia)
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[14:10] "Yes." He answered to her question, allowing her to explore, to question the pedestal that stood tall for them, yet that kept their mysteries only to those who had delved deeper in the past.

"Those are used to seal the district further down, where the gate is and where some of our ancestors still remain. My mother's keeping guard of the gate for now, so it doesn't need to be sealed, but..."

A pause, and a smile.

"It takes Rhoynish blood to function, and when activated it reveals an enigma. It nearly took some arms when we opened it the first time." He said, looking back towards the large open stone door further away.

"There's a lot more below. When I feel it's time, I'll show the world just about everything. Probably around the time we finish the gate-link project." He said, nodding lightly to himself.

"There's another reason I brought you here, Ella. I... think it's time I either get rid of the cloak or learn to overpower its whispers. I don't think throwing away the spoils of victory from the expedition is wise."
(Kofe)
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[14:16] Penelope was down there, guarding the gate? No wonder that she hadn't seen her around, she from Ella's knowledge didn't even know that they were married. Yet still, it didn't really matter. What did matter was that the gate was well protected.

"Rhoynish blood to open a gate to the spirits below. It makes sense, the sacrifice that you have to make." A soft smile escaped the woman. While blood magic or using blood in sacrifice was not something Ella did often, she still valued it as a powerful tool to use.

"And yes, the gate. It will take some time, but... I think we can do it." Yet she smiled at the mention of the cloak, her head tilting to the side. "Overpower the whispers?" She shook her head slightly. "Why would you do that?"

It was a simple question really. Why would he want to get rid of the whispers. "If there is something reaching out towards you, why not reach back? Bind with it - bond with it. Become, allies so that those whispers become useful."

"Overpowering them, will be the same as getting rid of them. It will be of no use to you, Kofe." She concluded.
(Ella Gracia)
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[14:21] Kofe shook his head lightly.

"I didn't mean to crush them. I need to learn how to... become stronger. Mentally. I gotta finish what I started when I first launched myself on that quest to make sure no one would end up going crazy like my sister has. And that includes protecting myself. Being strong enough for Vro'diark's influence to be unable to reach me."

To call it by a name showed that it wasn't just the whispers of many spirits like that crown Finley wore, no. This was the way a man had been swallowed whole and turned into a source of power for a Nethradin to rise up and conquer a whole city, turning spirit after spirit into a Wraith, or a Nethradin like itself.

A strong spirit. A lord of darkness.

One that remained alive, sealed, but alive nonetheless.

"It's imbued by his power, and short of killing him I won't be able to stop the flow that comes in. Reaching out to him would be to bind my spirit to his."

And become a witch. Literally.
(Kofe)
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[14:28] Would binding with a Nethradin truly make one a witch? The connection they had with Helheim, was it not with the 'Dark Lord' who ruled over it? She hummed slightly, thinking over exactly what Kofe had spoken about.

"What if..."

She trialled off, consumed by her own thoughts after Kofe spoke. Frankly, this was something that she was not too experienced in. Nethradin, Demons and Witches - while hot topics and something that they she despised... She truly didn't know that much about them.

However, she was a Teraphim and Mistseer of Myllenoris. There had to be something to help.

"I'm unsure if it's possible." She began, looking towards her Husband. "What if you, cleanse this Vro'diark? If he is a powerful spirit, or a Wraith - I believe there could be... a way to cleanse him." The woman suggested.

"It could be as simple as tracing him using the cloak, and their link. Or else... Summoning him here, or and fighting him." Those were just two simple suggestions that Ella had made.

"Or, you can try to /whisper/ back so to speak. If he is bound to him. Then I bind you to the cloak, you will not be bound to him or Helheim. It could be a way for you to establish dominance." This was tricky, and she had to speak out any ideas that she possibly could. Anything, that Kofe could possibly grasp on and use in his attempts to overpower such a being.
(Ella Gracia)
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[14:36] Ella's words garnered some reactions from Kofe, that much was certain. A first it was curiosity, then confusion, then he seemed to think it was a joke, only to feel that she wasn't kidding with those suggestions. They all lead to a frown and him shaking his head lightly, asking a single question.

"What is wrong with you, Ella? Summoning him? People nearly died when we last fought what was just an AVATAR of him. Summoning the whole thing would destroy Ilburg. Are you out of your mind?

I don't wanna bind myself to him, or to the cloak— I'm just trying to make sure that those... horrible whispers can't reach my—"

He stopped himself, looking over his shoulder and towards the cloak in question of course Vro'diark's words would reach through when someone made the suggestion of summoning him forth to the world of the living. Trapped and pushed back by the group of adventurers he sought out a way to return.

To wreck havoc upon the living realm.

Kofe's golden gaze went back towards the Teraphim, still full of anger.

"You went from having an interest in understanding how to defend yourself against witches to trying to become one. What's wrong with you?"
(Kofe)
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[14:46] …

It was only after Kofe explained what had actually happened, that she too would frown. It seems that Ella, for one reason or another had no idea who these Nethradin was, or that they even fought him in Ilburg before. "O-..." She would frown.

Seemingly very dissatisfied with herself, and almost angry for what she had said. "I had no idea that happened, Kofe, or the name of the Demon that attacked this place. When the whole situation happened, I wasn't there - I was still recovering from my blindness and working on a few things here and there."

She completely speaking.

"Then you need something to overpower his very whispers. To fight them." Her hand gestured towards the walls around them. The hundreds and thousands of battles depicted there, all ending in victory. "What if you tap into your ancestors, and call for their help in fighting this evil." She would speak.

"I'm sorry, I misunderstoodthe situation, dear."
(Ella Gracia)
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[14:54] It took him actually pushing and getting upset at her for her to understand the kind of danger they'd be facing with more than mere whispers. Just how long had he endured them, one may ask themselves.

Her words and her apology were well-received, however. Just as swiftly as he'd gotten angry at her, he would forgive her.

Especially because she actually brought an idea to his attention. To use the spirits around. To call upon his ancestors. There... there was a method to his ability to confront madness.

".. Call of their help..."

He mumbled to himself, looking absent-mindedly towads nothing before he suddenly rushed off.

While she may want to follow him she'd know in the depths of his heart that he would return soon enough.

And within his grasp was a war horn. The very same one that was carried by the statue at the centerpiece of this temple. A smile was spread upon his lips as he spoke up, explaining his train of thought at last.

"I usually treat people who have gone mad by trying to calm them down, to imbue them with my music in order to shield them. That's how I do it for others. For me, though, it's different. I.. expect it. It's part of me.

But it's not only my heart or my lute that plays music. This.."

He rose up the Horn of Njorun.

".. is an instrument too. I'll use it to call upon my ancestors, just like you said. And within that song I'll protect myself."

It made sense to him. If his music could affect others, then why wouldn't his own ancestors' song be able to affect him? To shield him from the very thing they'd fought against: Nethradin.
(Kofe)
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[15:03] The Rhoynish, a people who after they die would be in combat forever with the forces of Helheim. She smiled, waiting for him to return with the horn that he could play the music with, a slow breathe escaped her as the suggestion was made.

"Are you sure that they will not mistake you, for the Nethradin?" What she said was an honest question. "If you wear a cloak imbued by its power, could the Ancestors mistake it for you." Yet perhaps there was still something that she could do to help that.

Her magic was about binding and unbinding of spirits. "I could try to bind that melody to my crystals, Kofe." She began. "That way, the horn in a way will always be blowing. It will always be loud and strong enough to deafen the whispers and allow you to still utilize the cloak."

She was not here to just give the man ideas, perhaps the combined effort of the two of them was what it would take to truly make Kofe come out ontop in this.


(Ella Gracia)
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[15:11] "They'll probably recognize me. We fought together against those horrible beings down there." He said when she voiced her worry over how dangerous this may reveal itself to be. A glance towards the statue is offered for a moment before he shakes his head.

"I'll remember its sound as long as I live. And my ancestors are always present, watching over me. This is just... Music. The same as what I use for other people. Except this one's not my creation, even if I'm the one playing it."

A pause, and a glance offered towards Ella.

"Remember that sound in your heart. We've bound our spirits, too. It'll always be there to play just with your presence."

A beautiful narrative. The kind that may or may not be necessary to truly overpower this darkness held by the fabric.

Yet, the placebo effect would do just fine. Whether or not Kofe needed a song made by another to shield his mind or if he was able to shield it for himself was a mystery.

One left behind as his lips pressed against the horn, blowing into it at last.

A loud, echoing call for war. One that fired up Kofe's instincts the same way it had back when they were called upon to fight Wraiths and Nethradins alike. It was in his blood, in his spirit. It may just reach Ella, too, making her ready to fight just about anything that'd come forward due to having bound herself to Kofe's own ancestry.

That song would not only echo within the room, but within his heart and mind too. It would pierce this shell protecting Vro'diark and make him shriek in memory of what happened the last time that sound was made.

A single call for war. One that embedded itself right into the man's heart.

Now, and forever.

The spirits that were called upon needed not many words to understand what was going on. The mere sight of that cape and this feeling of that presence being beaten back would be enough for them. Though many may be grumpy, and the anger from one Pariah was sure to be had in the coming days, Kofe would find himself using that relic of the past in a manner thusly unexpected, yet all too significant.
(Kofe)
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[15:23] It was true, it was only the memory of the sound that the two needed to truly fire up the wall of defence once more. It was what he needed, what they both needed. That the true defence against such a creature, was the combined forces of the Rhoynish ancestors.

As Kofe blew the horn, it was almost deafening. It pierced her ears and went right down to her crystal heart which started to beat faster. It invigorated her, her hands curling up into tight fists. Just because Kofe had gone behind her back to protect her - didn't mean that she was done fighting.

No, she was far done from it.

While she may have acted in haste, and in desperation... Her time will come. She just needed to wait. The connection between the two would seemingly pull, Ella's gaze looking towards her bound.

He knew very well that neither of them are ever going to stop fighting.

Yet it was not the sound alone that was made known in the room, as Ella's eyes would beginto glow with determination... The carvings on the wall seemed to come to life. Njorun himself, animated in the depictions of his battles.

He swung his axe, besting everyone who may come into his way. Yet it was just a projection of the stories, nothing more. It was a declaration of war against the Nethradin who resided within the cloak. To make them remember what it meant to deal with the Rhoynish, and what they would do to it if he wouldn't stop pestering Kofe with its whispers.

(Ella Gracia)
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[15:29] It was a wonder of Esshar. A relic of the past that those who'd come before were never informed enough to find. One that held its story back over a thousand years ago, yet, its truth was so strong, so real that any and all who'd come upon it had no choice but to accept it.

The sound of that horn broke through the animosity that had been left between the two in the past few months. The odd actions, the decisions that brought Ella left and right and had Kofe worry for her in a manner he couldn't quite explain.

Being bound was more than becoming one; it was about being there when the other failed to be themselves. To be there for the worst, and live the best together.

As the spirits understood this call of war wasn't one with numerous enemies but to inspire one man only they began swirling around the room. Like a whirlpool of ethereal strands completely blinding the blind woman, they sunk back into the ground.

The horn had been sounded.

The call for war was answered.

And Vro'diark's whispers were reduced to naught. His blessing remained, his voice did, too, yet far too quiet before the sound of the everlasting horn of Njorun.

Kofe's mind was strengthened, at last.

A smile traced itself upon his lips as he quietly stared towards Ella, leaning in closer to hold onto her, tightly.

With a clear mind for the first time since the war.
(Kofe)
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[15:34] Perhaps the whispers that influenced Kofe's mind truly were influencing her. It would answer the questions as to why she was so rash and bold over the last year or so. While Kofe was able to reject them, she was not. Through their mind, the influence may have reached into her very mind.

Yet as the spirits swirled around them, her spectral vision becoming obscured by their sheer amount - it all seemed to vanish at once.

The spirits, the heaviness on her very heart that she had felt over some time now. It all seemed to disappear - thanks to Kofe. Even if, he had not seen it, he had cured her. In doing so, he also managed to fight back the whispers of the cursed spirit.

She smiled.

There were no words that needed to be spoken just yet. The spirits had answered his call, and the sound of this treasured Rhoynish artefact pushing back the Nethradin.

"You did great."

Finally she smiled, looking towards him.

"Can you hear it still?"
(Ella Gracia)
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[15:38] "I hear it, but it doesn't compel me anymore he answered, stepping back slightly and looking upon Ella's form directly once more.

"You look like you feel better, too. Like the moon shining bright during a warm summer day, you illuminate my life and my heart."

A compliment. A rather lengthy one, too.

It'd been since the end of the war that he hadn't given a proper compliment, hadn't it?
(Kofe)
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[15:41] She had told Kofe before that poetic compliments were her favourite. She chuckled, nodding her head. "You're a pillar of guidance that stands in my life, Kofe. I would have veered into a ditch if it wasn't for you." Her hands grabbed his gently.

"Thank you. If you hadn't told Finley, I would have done something stupid and probably died. Wasting what we have, and... Well, dying in vain." She admitted to him that she was wrong.

"I will speak to Finely and explain that... I was not in the right mindset. But we've overcome it - together."
(Ella Gracia)
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[15:43] He took her hands and held them there for a long while, eyes still stuck onto the empty canvas that were hers.

"Even if you had thrown yourself into a ditch I doubt I would've been able to hold myself back from pulling you out. I love you, Ella. And... I think it's time for us to move forward. Together. Alive.

I'll make Ilburg a great place, and I'll let you make Osrona a great place, too. It doesn't have to be about saving the world, so long as we're happy."

It wasn't their role to be the heroes, the champions, the saviors, after all.

They were good as is.

He pulled her with him, heading out of the temple.
(Kofe)
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[16:00] "It is though, Kofe."

She would look towards him, reaching out to hold his hands. "We are of a primordial faith, and have you noticed that... they all seem to have a thing in common? Nethradin and their hatred for them. As Njorun and his warriors are locked in eternal combat with them in the spirit realm."

"I of Aschea am locked in the same battle here, but with witches. All of us, are linked in some way by this." She frowned slightly.

"I will make Osrona great, you will make Ilburg great..."

She paused.

"But I will do everything that I can to stop the plague on our continent. The plague that seems to get away with more than just a few things."
(Ella Gracia)