necromancy 2

[13:21:04] Considering the recent circumstances, Saulot had made his way back to New Alteros; not only the local library hosted just enough source of knowledge for the Art of Necromancy and physiology of undead, he was relatively safe around here. Nostvale felt like one big mess, despite it's approval of Depraved Arts, besides the government in there didn't feel... trustworthy, at all. If Saulot had to pick between modified humans Oscuri and some grey skinned aliens, he'd stick with the first option.

Though, he had enough of Necromancy notes collected as of now. The day wasn't busy and he casually made his way to the market, sitting down upon the nearest bench with the tome that contained information about Art of Necromancy and other notes, reading through them carefully. Quite frankly, the concept was already easy for Saulot, for he already knew how to dwelve into Lifestream; with that knowledge, he could essentially pull spirits and souls from it as well.

Another reason as to why he'd end up on the market with that was the fact that he had to re-supply soon once more. Aspiring Necromancer or not, all magi go hungry, don't they? Besides, New Alteros was open about that kind of thing, so the fact that he was reading up about such on public wouldn't get him in trouble.
(Saulot Vykos)
[13:33:00] Gregory rested on the bench with his pantlegs folded.... no pun intended.... or was it~ And he looked out upon the city, looking at the marketplace mainly though. He was an odd sight too see, but a common one in Alteros as well. A sentient scarecrow would be the easiest way to describe him. With stuffed clothing for a body and a helmet for a head, like a gigantic stuffed person, or dummy, that was sentient and alive.... well, not alive, but active, giving off a great deal of depravity like undead tend to do, and making no attempt to hide it.

A pipe with wind runes along the sides was attached too his helmet, soothe reed sat in the end that was burning away lightly, and the wind runes pulled the smoke through the pipe and into his helmet and his stuffed body. Smoke as a result came out the eye holes of the helmet, along with his sides and whatnot, drifting through the fabric.

A hat sat atop the helmet and a staff rested on his back, he was humming lightly. He was Gregory Fantabulous, most fashionable undead around seeing as its what he was made out of. He gave off a depraved yet holy aura, yet in his right chest pocket something appeared too give off an occult presence around it.

He'd look too Saulot and extend a glove for a handshake. "Whats up dude. The names Fantabulous, Gregory. Fantabulous. Pleased too meet you. You chose a great bench to sit on y'see. Marketplace bench number three has always been one of my favorites."


(Gregory Fantabulous)

[13:40:41] Whilst reading up the notes once more, Saulot reached beneath his mantle to dig into his shoulder bag, fishing out an apple to chew on; making himself comfortable upon the bench, he was reading through the notes of Necromancy thoroughly - as it was already apparent and understood, one requires the soul or spirit itself, or physical link instead; though, if Saulot could already practice Riftmancy, perhaps that could work as advantage for Necromancy as well? After all, Riftmancy is also a gate to spirit world, full of souls that would eagerly allow themselves to be attached to new vessel to live once more... perhaps, he could create something akin to golems like this, and not just living corpses, by attaching souls to physical objects? That was an interesting theory.

Oh, but someone appeared! While chewing on the apple, he was caught in the middle of that process by Fantabulous with his speech. With a squint of his eyes, the young noble turned his gaze upon Gregory, eyeying his odd appearance; not like he hasn't seen odd people before, anyway. In fact, this one looked decent, not overly edgy or distasteful as some other 'special' individuals.

Offering him a polite smile in return, Saulot casually placed his apple in left gloved hand instead - and if Gregory paid attention, he could see that Saulot is missing a pinky finger from it.

He extended his right hand in return towards Gregory and handshook him, speaking up as well.

"Greetings. My name is Saulot, and pleasure is mine." - he took a look around, particularly eyeying the bench that they're on.

"Looks like quite a fine bench, indeed." - but was bench much of an interest whilst Gregory was sat next to him? Not really. He was looking at the wind runes, and particularly gear & attire that Gregory had.

What kind of... things are those, anyway?
(Saulot Vykos)
[13:48:22] When Saulot shook Gregorys hand he would likely notice that if he squeezed, it would be like grabbing a pillow, as his hand was filled with nothing more than cotton stuffing. He would nod his helmet too Saulot and go to speak once more, his voice youthful yet ethereal as well, as though filtered through a wind tunnel and a fan.

"Damn right its a fine bench!" He'd declare. "I've been sitting on this bench for nearly forty years doing my job serving this city!" He'd proudly declare, though oddly enough his voice didn't sound much older than early twenties at most.

"Ah yes, how the years have gone by. So many things have occured over the years, so much loss, the destruction of my body- yeesh that was a bad few months, and so much else. But one thing remains the same....."

"These benches are wicked! Like, they never rot or fall away, whoever does city maintenance is not getting paid enough if you ask me. Unless a Kyros decided there pays, or the Master himself, in which case they get paid the perfect amount." He'd declare.
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[13:55:12] The experience of meeting Gregory was rather... odd. He earned an arched brow from Saulot after displaying that sort of demeanor. Destruction of body? The Depravity he's feeling from him? Oh, of course, how didh't he notice that right away?

That was undead.

He smirked after. It was hilarious to some extent to see an undead with sense of humor, whom attempts to make the conversation amusing; ironically, the undead before him had more 'life' to him than the living, those that wander around with their heads down and unable to socialize properly whenever Saulot would address anything to these.

"That's true. I haven't been around here for longer than seven years myself, but I've never seen these benches suffer any significant damage. The city maintenance is working hard."

Kyros or Master? Oh, so that's where the source to his living is. Why'd he not figure it out that quick? Ryan isn't exactly someone who isn't known to public, in fact it's rather the contrary - who else would've kept Gregory in unliving for so long if not him?

"That's most interesting. For how long have you been in this... state? Could you describe how it's like?"

Maybe Saulot was a bit rushing there, but to encounter undead this old and not to ask such questions would be a waste.
(Saulot Vykos)
[14:02:52] He would nod. "One might almost think they were simply placed here by divine beings, forever part of the map of Valmasia, forever unmoving and unchanging.... But thats crazy talk!" He'd say with a laugh, "Ah but yes, great benches indeed."

He looked to Saulot as he was asked the question of what it was like. "Being a clothing monster? I suppose its alright. I can't complain, don't have to deal with the rotting anymore. Used too be a zombie but that form was destroyed and I died again, but y'know... I got better." He'd say with a shrug. "Continued on as clothing, pretty good upgrade if you ask me. Even if I'm not as strong as I was as a corpse. I'll get there eventually y'know?" He'd say with a nod.

"But if you meant just being undead? immortal? Pretty damn good if you ask me. Y'know, living forever and whatnot. Been around for like over thirty years now and I'm still kicking. Most of my friend aren't, even some of the other immortals I knew, but y'know, I'm doing alright."

"I've got no real complaints, losing people is tough but I mean thats what you sign up for when your an immortal ain't it?" He'd shrug once more. "Lifes good I guess."
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[14:10:33] A clothing monster? So it was a completely another vessel, not his actual body. Gregory wasn't made out of flesh, apparently?

His words were confirming the theory he had earlier in his mind just fine. According to the notes of Necromancy he had so far, once the body that was used as physical link dies again, all of it's mana circuits are burnt out and the body cannot be raised once more - though, the soul simply departs. And if one is capable of snatching the soul itself from the Lifestream, they could bind it again, just to a different body or vessel.

"That sounds... intriguing. So you've died once, were raised, died again and were raised a second time, but in another vessel? That's quite something to go through."

What else he could ask, think fast... there were so many questions spinning around on his mind, but yet he just had no clue where to start off.

"How much do you remember from your previous lives, or how did it feel everytime to be raised?"

Saulot decided to not rush him too much and ask one question at a time.
(Saulot Vykos)
Gained 1 Roleplay Points
[14:19:05] He'd shake his helmet.

"Nope. Not what I said. I died once, was raised as a Zombie. I then died as a Zombie, and I alone brought myself back, my soul clung too the mortal realm and refused to leave it, and found residence inside of my clothing."

"It then regrew in power until I could move around again, and I returned to my master. My brother Dave did the same thing, only he is now made of Soothe Reed."

"Neither of us are quite sure how we defied all pre-conceived notions of immortal death, nor is anyone else for that matter. But we're glad to be back." He'd say with a nod.

"So of course I remember being a Zombie, it was just my previous body. I do not remember being alive however, just that my name was Gregory. Other than that? I remember nothing from being alive, nor do I care too remember. I'm Gregory Fantabulous, perhaps I am like I was when I was alive, perhaps not. I don't quite give a damn to be honest."
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[14:25:04] Huh... undead being capable of bringing themselves back to life? That was odd. He hadn't heard of such thing, other than the Lichdom ritual of course, where magi binds his own soul to vessel, all while shutting off any body functions, thus effectively turning one into undead. Even then, that was not quite bringing yourself back to life, but rather simply becoming undead.

Still, perhaps his theory wasn't entirely wrong, and after the body was destroyed, the same soul could be binded to another vessel. Well, technically, that's what Gregory did... just on his own, kinda.

"That's strange. I've never heard of such thing happening. Are you certain that you weren't bound to your clothing as your new vessel by somebody else?"

Perhaps Gregory simply wasn't sure anymore at this point, or perhaps he was actually telling the truth.

"How was your experience as a zombie, though? Some notes say that undead are undergoing harsh pains while being, well... a walking corpse."
(Saulot Vykos)
[14:31:53] He would nod.

"Indeed, its strange indeed. Uncommon thats for sure. And no, I was not simply bound to my clothing, that wouldn't make any sense. The Master is the only necromancer I know, my clothing was nowhere near my body so it couldn't of just been pulled in, I had to cling to existance, locate my clothing in my blind state and enter them over a period of months before I finally started to wake up."

"I then returned to Alteros where people were quite surprised too see I had returned. I was bound to the Master once more, he didn't know how I returned and was quite surprised, but was glad nonetheless." He'd continue
"Dave, my brother, returned as well this way. Its uncommon, unheard of, thought too not even be possible. But we did it, we're back baby."

"As for my experiances as a Zombie? Well, the rotting was annoying but I fought it off using my holy magic, along with ice runes and whatnot. I was able to maintain myself for a few decades before I was blasted to pieces by that Golem."
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[14:38:43] That situation was probably one in a thousand. To think that a soul was capable to cling to material world on it's own is something unfathomable - though, perhaps due to mere fact that he was undead once already, his soul was 'hardened' in a sense, already used to going back from the spirit realms and into material world; though this time, he did so without Necromancer's guidance, completely on his own. But that was just a theory.

"Did you have to bind yourself to preserve your existance, or would you fare just fine on your own? If yes, was it a personal choice to return to your Master?"

Existance as a zombie was probably not really nice, considering all of the rotting; if that was troublesome, then most likely it was painful to some extent as well, clearly an unfavorable side-effect of Necromancy. It was odd, however, to hear of undead wielding holy magic... but at this point, it barely surprised him at all, considering the previous story of single-handlely returning to mortal realm as a soul.

"What Golem are you speaking about, by the way? Was it created with Necromancy as well, just by binding the soul into non-fleshy vessel?"
(Saulot Vykos)
[14:45:32] He would shrug.

"Perhaps I could exist fine on my own without being binded, perhaps not. But why would I wish to not be binded too the Master? Lord Ryan Kyros gave me immortality in the first place, but with it he gave freedom."

"All he asks in return is that we do something with ourselves, learn, grow smarter, live I suppose. For he gives us free will, and I would just be expected to return and throw that back in his face? No."

"I returned to the Master willingly, eaglerly in fact! For he gave me life, immortality! It is a small price to pay, serving one so truly awesome as he in return. My loyalty is eternal, as is my brothers. We were eager too serve once more upon returning."

"As for what Golem? I know not its name, but it was a big fucker, powerful too. Not crafted by necromancy I think, but I do not know. The Oracle, my old pal Sig, and myself were facing off against it. I was quite wounded and as were they."

"They refused to retreat, it swung at the Oracle with what surely would of been a kill strike, I jumped in front of the hit and took the blast, it destroyed my form and should of killed me, but that was fine. I am undead, we are replaceable creatures in the grand scheme of thing. Alteros needed its Oracle, it could survive without Fantabulous"

"Thankfully though, I returned. And so did Dave! Albeit his return took a much longer time, as he lost his body long before I did. Which is kind've funny in a way. Because for while I spent years mourning him, he was likely spending those years regenerating in a field somewhere, his new plant body growing."
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[14:51:31] It appears that undead remain fully sentient and are actually capable of feeling emotion to full extent as well; if Gregory decided to remain loyal to Kyros out of own will and appreciation, that would only mean that he feels despite the fact that he's no longer living. And yet most portray undead as monsters? It's likely most of the undead that commit horrible acts are in fact influenced by no less vile necromancers, those that seek evil ahd chaos in their wake. Seems like that wasn't the case here, after all.

"I see. That story sounds rather fascinating, indeed. And could you tell me more about Dave, in that case?"

Maybe the story of his friend was no less unique, and in fact had a lot more to it than Saulot could initially think. Acknowledging the function and physiology of undead was nice, considering his aspiring new Art that he'd dwelve into.

"And who's the Oracle that you speak of?"
(Saulot Vykos)
[15:01:45] He would nod. "Ah, you wish to hear about my brother. Alright. Dave the Dealer!" He would declare.

"Dave was a new undead when I first met him, one of the masters newest servants, Dave handed out drugs for coin or somethings for free, and he never took things very seriously. He wasn't around very long, but out of all the undead I've met...." He'd pause, placing a hand to his chest pocket and feeling the occult crystal within, all he had remaining of his spirit friend, he'd continue

"Excuse me, the best undead summoned by the Master I had ever met, the best sibling of sorts. We were fast friends. So much so infact that when we marched on Nerebia and I was knocked down, about to be destroyed.... He threw me out of the way and took the blast that should of claimed my life. He was new, he was inexperianced. He gave up his immortality for me."

"But like me his willpower was strong. His soul latched onto a seed of soothe reed that was caught in the wind, it blew into a field and began to grow with him inside. Years later when I was waking up inside my new clothing form, he woke up as well, he called together his body, a walking mound of drugs, and left the field. We own a bar now, Club Fantabulous"

"And what do you mean "Whos the Oracle?" Seriously? She's a huge figure in New Alteros, the Oracle of Azrael.... How do people not know this..." He'd sigh and shake his helmet
(Gregory Fantabulous)
[15:03:28] Saulot Vykos: (yo, ill be doing last post cuz its 3 AM here, got work tomorrow)
[15:04:19] Gregory Fantabulous: (alright)
[15:08:35] Whilst listening to Gregory's tales, Saulot was taking mental notes on what he was saying; there's plenty of things he found out now just by talking to undead with that much of experience with being one. Such knowledge offered him a new perspective, a new point of view to consider the undead at.

"That's amazing to hear. Sounds like you've had one hell of a ride with all of these adventures."

But as for Oracle... perhaps he should've studied history of New Alteros more thorough, but he'll get to that later on. There was a practice session for Necromancy still awaiting for Saulot, and while information from Gregory was certainly useful, too much of it at once would prove to be hard to memorize.

"I probably forgot. We could speak again next time, perhaps? I had other matters to attend to as well."

He said so whilst standing up; briefly offering him his hand for a handshake, he'd shake hands with Gregory (assuming that he would've accepted it) and then head out of town for his own matters, speaking a final goodbye.

"Farewell, I'll see you again."
(Saulot Vykos)