Plotting Course

Overhearing Alice listing all of those things, the Demon couldn't help but wonder - what is it exactly that she's planning to do? To advance her necromancy, or was it some new form of magic?

Regardless, it was worth asking anyway.

"Why do you need- all of those things- anyway?"
(Murmux)

A blink - the girl snapping out of her thoughts as she gazed towards the Demon, clearly excited and happy that he asked. While Stella was her aspiring Necromancer of a wife? Alice found herself not wanting to bother the woman until her own training was done, so often these things were kept private and confined to her journal or thoughts.

Alice doing a slow slide up into the personal space of Murmux as her journal was produced - the girl abruptly flipping through pages full of sketches and information about people, places, magics and happenings.

If Murmux had a watchful eye? He may even notice a page for himself, though a bit bare bones compared to the others. Eventually Alice stopped on a figure - muscular and androgynous in the sketch.

Along it were listings of different types of preperations, idea's, plans and research notes - the girl having delved into everything she could.

"So Human's are odd. We don't really have stages of evolution like Demon's right? So naturally we have to take depraved routes. People like Ikkaku? They are powerful, but they never undergo any type of ascension - he will grow old and die with his morals and Order.

But myself and Stella? We'll become Liches, and hold immortal bodies - never to be killed. With Lichdom? Comes power, and power is good yes?"

Looking to him, there wasn't really room for him to answer before she would continue.

"Unfortunately I can't reliably make my Undead in to Necromancers, let alone Liches, so my options are very low. However! Sin Magic is very incredible in what it can do - the enhancements to the physical form are quite incredible, and not limited to things like total regeneration; which as you can imagine would be fantastic for an Undead, but also physical youth and the like.

Soooo...I'm going to take a living person, and prepare their body. Make it as strong as physically possible - I'm talking muscle mass, runes, metal exoskeleton for the bones - and then strap him to a chair and pump him full of Rage Potions and flood his body with Occultism for an extended period of time.

The I kill him, surgically implant a control device, ressurect and bam! Wrath Sin Undead entirely under my control."

Wow. Maybe a bit hard to keep up, Alice just excited to have someone to share her plans with - in the end, she knew the Demon probably wouldn't care, but it was great to talk about her ideas regardless.

Staring up at him with wide eyes of excitement.
(Alice Cruor)

The Demon had certainly observed what she was showing to the Demon, and seeing that the girl had something on her mind, some projects to do, it actually did intrigue the Demon; as it has foreseen, she was indeed planning to further advance her studies in Necromancy, particularly those that would result in her Lichdom.

That was quite an aspect to undertake, really.

With a tilt of its head, however, it grew confused at some of these plans. To take the living man and pump him of Rage potions, hoping that he could truly develop the Sin of Wrath? That summoned a cackle from Demon - it was not condescending in particular, but it was the type of laugh that suggested... hilarious, perhaps even ridiculous idea, the mockery of it.

"Krekhekhekhe--"

"Alice- your enthusiasm is certainly aspiring- but you misunderstand- very simple concepts- on how humanity develops such things- as Sin of Wrath."

"Humanity's greatest weapon- and greatest bane- are their emotions. But Rage potion- is no emotion. It is just a drug- a high- for that human- to delve into their anger."

"If only- for a moment."

With a pause, the mandibles of Insectoid have moved about, if only to continue its speech.

"While creating the undead like this- is certainly an... odd- perhaps even- new idea..."

"Simply drugging them- to no end- with Rage potions... it will not yield- the results of Wrath Sin."

"I can- guarantee that."
(Murmux)

"Yeah..."

A low sigh escaped from her lips as she nodded in agreement with the last part - frowning just a bit as she stared at the pages. The chances of it resulting in a Wrath Sin? Were honestly relatively low - in fact it would be an incredible achievement of science if she found the way to do so, eyes scanning the pages once more.

A bit of a frown on her face.

"I am hoping that the results will end in addiction - permanently scarring his mind to being like that, and that it can transition over into Sin Magic with torture, tampering with his circuits and the natural corruption that an Undead exists as but..It may not work out as well as I want. Actually, it'll more than likely be a terrible failure.

But that's what Necromancy is about hm? Learning from mistakes, progressing the craft, and the slow climb to mastery."

A bit of a laugh as she flipped through the pages - looking through more interesting Undead. Large Golems made out of metal, ones with extra limbs or two heads; it seemed that the girls creativity knew no bounds, and that her moral compass was long broken.

Some artistic renderings a little more morbid than others. A silent moment before Alice would blink, slowly raising her gaze up to Murmux.

....Curious.

"If you were to create Undead, what would you do Murmux? What do you think is useful, and worthwhile, in a loyal servant? I do not want to make them monsters, but rotted corpses aren't quite that interesting or useful - and often a detriment due to their rot, smell and appearance.

If I were to give you the keys to Necromancy for a year, what would you create?"
(Alice Cruor)


Stella Cruor says, "Crafters."

Stella Cruor says, "I'd make crafters."
That was an interesting question to ask.

Asking the Demon's perspective on servants, however? It was perhaps quite a unique experience that Alice would get, considering that if anything, Demons were the masters of subterfuge, subjugation and corruption. And even if Murmux had yet to create something like a pact, on instinctive level, it already knew what would be a requirement to ensure someone's servitude.

"Hrm--"

"I would likely focus- on mental aspect- more than physical one. The key to loyalty- to their hearts- to their souls- is in the mind. If they truly believe you- to be what they need- they will never betray you- no matter what."

"It is much like- with the undead. Certainly- you control most of them- but should there be a magi undead- under your control--"

"-- if at any point- they believe that they do not need you- or that you've betrayed them- they will in return- stab you in the back as well."

"So play with their mind- instil it in them- that they need you. Make it comfortable- for them- to rely on you. Perhaps even- do something for them- to create a bond."

"The growth- the other modifications... inferior. It would all come with time- and you would have infinite hours- days- months- years... to practice."

"But that key- to power- to your ultimate creation... is in- their minds."
(Murmux)

The Demon was correct - and it was one of her fears in previous revival attempts. A pen dropped to the notebook as she jotted down each strand of information, thinking through her own thoughts. It wasn't uncommon that an Undead rebelled against its master, infact? It was very common indeed.

Should Alice revive an Undead above her own power? It wouldn't end well; the creature being far beyond her control, and when she was useless to it - the girl would be killed or betrayed, and likely at a moment where it would matter the most.

After the moment of silent jotting and thinking it through, Alice would nod and flash a smile - looking up to the Demon. Seeming to have gotten something clearly useful from the conversation, and having taken his advice entirely into consideration - and eventually? Practice.

"You're going to make a good Archon, Murmux. I've met many Demon's, but you are incredibly wise compared to the majority that I have run across - and that wisdom is mixed with your power. Hopefully we can keep assisting you to that throne of an Archon, hm?"

Nodding as she wrote down something else in the book before blinking a little, thinking about the Accursed. The girl knew little of them, but she did know what made them tick - and something else was written down as well.

Constantly putting new thoughts into the journal.

"Would you like to assist me with Necromancy some time in the future, Murmux? I'll be reviving the first of many true servants soon - ones that aren't simply fodder. If you think you can offer assistance then I'd love to have you there, hm?

And we can also see if Undead could provide you with a proper meal..Though I struggle to revive numbers without proper graveyards to pick from."
(Alice Cruor)

While the Demon wasn't full of experience like some of its kin were, for instance, the likes of Illaron that have been around for ages- it certainly knew how some aspects of life and overall existence function.

And it knew that such loyalty and obedience comes from the minds of people, and how they see you - it was also the reason as to why Murmux wished to appear charismatic after ascension, because there's no winning hearts of people for your cause if they all do not perceive you as what they need.

Such a simple thing, yet oft overlooked.

"Ah- yes. I still have ways to go- to achieve my Archondom- but I am looking forward to it- myself. Krekhekhe…"

"There are many things- about my kin- that I find hilariously bad- or how they're often mistaken. They seem neglectful- of their servants- of their peers... a fatal mistake- which is why this civil war- is even taking a place."

"One must- assert themselves- if they want to go far..."

But why even go over that topic anyway? Perhaps, partially because Murmux was quite bitter about some specimen - in particular, Ka'vas, the Demon that Murmux had sworn to devour one day. Alas, such goal was yet out of range...

For now.

"Yes- if there's something I could assist you with- then I would. You would make- a fine ally."

Whether that was the reasoning behind agreeing or just a compliment, that's up to Alice to decide.

"How is it- that you wished for me- to assist you- anyway?"
(Murmux)

Every sick word spoken by this beast, they into her mind like a thick venom. Never had she asked another how they would lead, let alone how one would force their servants to show loyalty or devotion-- but this doesn't mean that she hadn't been plagued with these thoughts prior.

Be lenient? Take the risk of kindness stabbing her in the back. Rule with an iron fist? She takes the risk of her own people turning against her. Do as she had been doing...?

Until the issues with Askaheim, there wasn't much room for doubt in her decisions, but now..? She'd come to doubt everything about herself. Easy as it was to pick on Alice for being self conscious, she too is crippled by the very same weakness.

Does Eidolon truly need her?

A question she keeps to herself, but one she ponders all the same.

"Mn.."
(Stella Cruor)

Way to inflate her ego, Murmux.

The girl was smiling brightly, beaming at the "fine ally" comment, even if it was just a very subtle compliment - if one at all. Very happy to have gone at least a little noticed, but her eyes would gaze back to the book.

A brow furrowing just a bit.

"Demonic tampering has had a place in Necromancy for quite some time - and has been used to physically enchance, but also control, living people. Malpercians were one such way, and as far as I know? Accursed another. I think with your assistance and insight, we could make something relatively useful - and command an army that would be much stronger than normal Undead."

These ideas were still in their infancy however, and were her most untouched ones. Alice had considered the help of a Demon, or an Archon, but never thought one would actually offer their assistance.

Now that one had? She would need to think harder and be a lot more clever with her practices of Necromancy to yield any results worthwhile.

"We'll see when the time comes hm? If you think of any interesting ideas, be sure to tell me, and if you raid farm houses or small homes on the outskirts of cities? Bring me the left over corpses or anything you didn't find worth eating - animals, or people."

The journal now closed, and put away - Alice would side glance over towards Stella. Mildly worried, easily able to tell something was on her mind, but unable to just approach and ask in public.
(Alice Cruor)

Ah, but of course. It made perfect sense. The fact that Accursed were still existing was the testament to the fact that there were always ways to improve the servants that would come to be, and in fact, ensure their loyalty while at that.

It was something to consider, really. Now that Alice brought it up, Murmux was genuinely interested in securing the arrival of new kind upon Agartha - perhaps with time, it'd be able to develop something akin to what Accursed are, except they'd be brand new species. How intriguing.

"Yes- that could be possible. Accursed are- indeed- Occult influenced humans. But I believe that- to make the initial parasite possible- divine magic could've been used. Such as- spire shards- as it is the case- with retrieval of Agarthan technology."

At the mention of it, Murmux had gone deep into its thoughts. Agarthan technology, but of course - if there was anything to reap from the ancient history, its exactly the technology of Demonkind, and the great wonders that it achieved.

"We could always attempt- to travel to Spire Islands- at some point- to the ruins- of civilization- that my people built."

"Doubtless that- there will be treasures- and signs of old technology... perhaps even the one- that could assist us- with pursue of new- species... yes."

With a few clicking noises coming out from the Insectoid, it continued.

"But when the time is right- yes. For now- it would be- most likely a futile effort."
(Murmux)

Several blinks.

It was almost as if the girl had forgotten entirely about the Spires shards, and a turn was had - gazing off across the water in the direction where one of the islands would rest. Arms slowly crossing, and a frown resting on her face.

Thinking it through.

"A mild expedition to touch land could be made, just to see what's going on - the creatures in the area, and proximity to a full Spire, could mean the islands are littered with shards anyways. It may be a dangerous effort but...

Maybe some divine rocks are what we need? Lucilius has expressed an interest in the crystals as well - and while I personally think they would be better used on our Undead, and army, it could be worth something to try and gather them."

Alice's brow furrowed as she considered the idea before giving another tiny nod.

"..I'll speak with Visionary and find out the method behind the Accursed - and take notes on advancedforms of Necromancy.

Maybe we could pull something incredible off.."
(Alice Cruor)

There were always Spire shards to fall back onto.

And that much the Demon has learned during its time around Aetherius. The wonders of technology, such as the ones that were re-created by the likes of Illaron, the transmitters and whatnot, they were all made with the usage of Spire shards, and likely schematics of old Agarthan technology.

For their goal, the same could be applied. Combining the features of the Insectoid alongside with undead, or even living beings, an entirely new species could be created like that. Though, obviously, such goal was still in its humble beginnings, as many of these were still to be obtained.

Both bodies and spire shards alike.

"Yes- they could be used- in order to make advanced forms- of necromancy. From what I remember- Necromancy and Spire shards- interact in many ways- that are yet to be explored."

"You could be the one- to explore them- and create something entirely new- yes."

"That is- a good... plan."
(Murmux)