Naborea 2

[18:31] Naborea returns from the deep Mire his body a bit more drenched in the familiar scent of the occult. Although still far weaker than a fireflies light compared to the residence in the mire who practiced such magics.

He sat at the waters edge of the mire dipping his hands in the black liquids as he pulled it up to quench his thirst. A moment passed before he turned towards the gathered group wondering if they all followed Nyx as well. "Are you all believers of Nyx?" he questioned

wondering to what extent the Shadowy primordial reach lent it self to...Still desiring to know more about himself and the being whom he'd soon contract himself with.
(Naborea)
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[18:33] Aretha was minding her own business, watching the living pass by doing whatever it was they did between the act of slowly dying. When, of course, a voice does reach her ears. Immediately, she lifts a hand up to her face and shields her eyes from the sight of him. "Oh, why..." She quietly groaned under her breath.

Her failure to secure that boys soul was still fresh.
(Aretha)
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[18:33] Nestis' eyes flicked to Narborea when the question is posed, studying him for a few moments. She glances at the mutants off to the side, and the Nethradin on the other, before speaking out.

"Some, not all. Most of those in the Mire revere her, but not all are within Her Cult." Her head tilted a touch. "Are you seeking her, young one? If so, I might be able to assist."
(Nestis)
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[18:38] Leaving the interior of the cave, Euriale looked around looking for a certain person and soon he found her, perhaps today was his lucky day.

He moved towards the short pale-haired woman while with his mask on his face, he gazed at her while his snakes studied her, sticking their tongues out to smell the air around her, after all they only wished to become familiar with it.

The gorgon soon moved his right hand to the piece of wood that hid his face, he was in his home, he didn't need to hide his face from his people so he quickly removed it from his face and put it in his backpack once more.

"Good afternoon, Nestis, one more time I'm grateful for what you did to me and I would ask to become part of the cult of nyx in reverence to our mother."

He sighed.
(Euríale)
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[18:40] It was good to know that not all of the Mire was within Nyx's hold even if it was unsettling to know that there could always be naysayers to the cause but as long as there was respect there could be some tolerance afforded he assumed. "Yes, If I can truly become apart of Nyx's embrace I wish to learn all I can." He still had his reservations but with each of these cultists he listened to his hesitation drifted.


His attention drifted from Ivory who seemed to be in thought to the one who offered him aid he wanted knowledge, The knowledge to know that what he was doing was for his benefit and would help him accomplish great things. "I wish to know more of Nyx so I can be resolved when I am to take my pact with Ivory and the her mother. It is the path I have chosen now I just wish to know the best way to serve her...so in return I can reach the eternal peace I seek."


"Where do we begin he asked?"
(Naborea)
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[18:42] A glance was tossed to the side, at Euríale as he approached, before her eyes returned to Naborea. Her head remained tilted for a while longer, but she gave a nod.

"If you so wish. As you heard him say, I am Nestis - the Cult's current Bloodmistress, its head."

She let the words linger for a few seconds, before continuing.

"If you desire to join it, you ought first learn of her. Come with me, the both of you, and I will give you a short sermon, of sorts."

She clicked her fingers, then turned towards the north, towards the shrine itself.
(Nestis)
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[18:47]
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[18:50] And off they go. Nestis makes a good stride, marching along the edge of the cavern to a smaller cave within. Inside, the oppressive, occult atmosphere of the Mire is noticeably lesser, though the air within is scarcely less unsettling, considering the stench of blood permeated about and the crimson stains on the central altar.

The woman steps towards the front of the shrine, turning to face the centre. Her eyes flick inbetween the two youths, and she motions for the cushions. "Sit."

She folds her hands together atop her waist, twining her bony fingers. The woman waits for a few, long moments, before she begins in earnest.

"Both of you seek Nyx, the Night-Mother, the Primordial of Darkness. She is the patron of all those outcast by 'civilized' society, all those whom lurk in the shadows. Monsters, Occultists, be they killers or exiles, they are welcome within her embrace." She begins, slowly.

"Others are as well, and the Cult's task is to propagate her teachings to others, to ensure those surfacers fed the lies of the Light might have a chance to return to her embrace."

A short spiel, to begin with. She kept her eyes flicking inbetween the two, before posing a question.

"Most knowledge of her is Obscure, but as the Cult's head, I can teach you what you wish to know, and induct you within at the end, should you so choose. Now - the both of you - have you any questions of Her? Of our ways, our teachings?"
(Nestis)
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[19:03] As they made their way into the Shrine Naborea would sit as he was instructed to. Then took it upon himself to introduce who he was as she had done before. "I am pleased to meet you Bloodmistess Nestis. I am Naborea new to the Shadowmire but I wish to learn as much as I can."

He listened to her words, How the Night-Mother was a beacon to those who wandered darker paths, Neither murder or death would scare her, There was no judgement no lies being fed to one another, And as he came to the Shadowmire to find a cave full of devils instead he found a thriving community of worshippers who accepted the irreversible nature of all who enter their domain.

"When I first heard of Nyx I didn't think it would be possible but now I am starting to believe it more and more..."he rested his hands against his legs now still a bit jumbled by the spiel she gave.

"I've given it enough thought now, I desire only to be closer to Nyx and the darkness she describes and in return I will Liberate others from the lies of the Light. I see no truer goal than to be a liberator of the enslaved." his mind had already begun to twist from the training he'd been doing with the Occult and yet within that twist he had found his true calling.

To extinguish the Light...to liberate those who followed within the lies of the Church the church who called him and his people evil...and yet Nyx would still accept them into her darkness. "I want to be the Hero the Nightmother can depend on to liberate us from the Light." childish dreams for a child who had just began their fall into sweet depravity.
(Naborea)
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[19:11] Euriale would follow the woman while attentively observing the staff on her back, the quality of it was obvious and showed that it had enough influence or power to have something arcanium in her hands... and most impressive thing was that she had the hability to keep it with her, since now mutants are starting to get robbed by the humans.

He soon saw herself back inside of the cave, he glanced quickly at the bed in which he stayed the last time he was in there, it would be great if he stayed in there only for rest, not to fix his broken ribcage, he sighted.

Sitting in the pillow when she ordered, he ocasionally gazed at the bow filled with dry blood, making him wonder what they would do with it, the fact that we collect blood quickly got into his mind, maybe they used it as na offering? he would need to remember to question that.

After that he silently heard her explanation about Nyx, his snakes slowly coiling and playing one with the another as he kept his eyes focused on her, absorving all the info that he could from her.

"I have some questions Bloodmistress, two things at first, the blood that we collect."

He would shove his hand inside of his clothes taking out an vial filled with blood.

"Is it an offering to our mother? And what's the primest goal of our cult?"
(Euríale)
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[19:17] The woman waited patiently for the pair of them to speak, eyes flicking from one to the other. When they'd finished, she first focused on Naborea.

"It is not merely possible, it is real. She whispers to us, those who find their faith in her. It is our task to learn how to listen, to understand her." A pause. Her head tilted, slightly. "You've a drive to you, and that is good."

When her attention turned to Euriale, she quirked a brow, following his eyes to the bowl of blood. A slight nod is given at the question.

"The blood is an offering, in part. We primarily use it for a variety of rituals - blood holds power, as you should know, and the mana within it can be used as fuel for all manner of things." She pauses momentarily, at the second question.

"Our prime goal, is and always has been, to promote the Faith of the Gentle Dark, to serve Nyx, and to protect Her and the Mire as a whole from outsiders, who would do us harm." She raised one of her hands, pointing a finger upwards.

"Most of those on the surface would see us wiped out, and their faiths are anathema to ours. We strike at them, and seek to call those who would reject their doctrines to the arms of the Mother."
(Nestis)
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[19:24] Euríale slowly nodded as she talked soon to put the vial one more time inside of his clothing, soon to smile as he gazed at the bloodmistres, remembering much about what Amelia alredy teached him, about what she studied and what she shared with the Young gorgon.

"She truly sounds perfect, we are Always forced to live in the dark, yourself saw the damage that one of the surface did to me, just by who we are."

He gritted his teth an small "tsk..." scapping from his mouth, before his attention again would be into Nestis, his red eyes slowly shined togheter with all the eyes from his snakes some even watching Naborea who was beside him, it was an... strange sight.

"I have some other questions, if one desires power or knoledge, by rituals and the prove of Faith, our mother will grant to this person? is there any price to take?"

He gazed at her with an pure wish to knoledge, yes euríale wished to be powerful, but his reasonto enter the cult was not that, he just seemed curious.

"And do we need to do something to enter in the cult?"
(Euríale)
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[19:24] Unlaya says, "T-There."
[19:32] He listened and understood what Nestis was saying. Euri's questions seemed to invite even more clarity as to what their goal was as well. "So protecting the Shadowmire and unleashing our rage against the Light is our main goal? I can imagine that the surface fears us. I know how they are controlled by fear and bound in the chains of their restrictions. I desire to be free of that."

The offering of blood had a purpose, Rituals darker magic that couldn't be fathomed by someone barely in their youth who was learning and practicing dark magics and yet he could understand full well her intentions. He'd heard enough to convince himself that this was the proper path he chose, Of course he would need to prove himself as a worthy member of the cult in time in some way.

"I see now why Ivory told me to continue to grow stronger we must show more than just loyalty but strength and resistance towards the Light. It was clear to him now what he must do." He shivered his anticipation reaching its peak.

"I've always lived a life hunted by others I care little if I can make my mark permeant on the world." For once in his life he felt he was working towards something, He had a goal in minds and he wanted to devote himself to it. His faith was the truest thing about him. The Machine which had abandoned him. Kraus who had mocked him Now Nyx who accepted him and even would offer gifts for his loyalty.

"Theres a lot I am still naïve to and as such a weak magi I always accepted my role as the punching bag...But if Nyx can truly lead me to a path where I am accepted and become strong enough to fight against the Light I will do so. My faith is in Nyx."
(Naborea)
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[19:33]
{LOAD GAME}

[19:41] "She is our Mother and our Goddess, as perfect as we could hope for. What she wills, we do, and whom she hates, we hate."

The woman steps forward, pulling out a dagger from her belt. She holds it in her left hand, pressing the tip against the palm of her right, though not hard enough to draw blood.

"The relationship is not one of equal exchange. We provide her with sacrifice, with our undying devotion, and with the blood of ourselves and our foes - and the whispers of knowledge she grants us, those we come to understand, often hold the key to arcane abilities both foul and profound."

The dagger is twirled, and the faintest, slightest line of blood begins to drip from her right palm. Her eyes lower down to the knife, focusing on the blade.

"Induction as an acolyte comes freely to those whom seek her, but further progress, knowledge, is earned. I may induct the both of you now, if you so choose."

Her head raises, craning from Naborea, to Euriale, and back again. "If you wish for it, then kneel, and close your eyes. Else rise, and leave."
(Nestis)
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[19:44] There was a sudden electrical thrill that forced him to kneel immediately before the Bloodmistress. There was no longer any road blocks, If knowledge had to be earned in time he would continue to maintain and excel so he could do just that.

"Becoming a part of something powerful has always been my truest goal. I have no intention of leaving now." He prepares himself for the induction.
(Naborea)
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[19:47] Euríale didn't think for a second, he alredy knew what he wished to do, he didn't had any doubt, he desired to serve his goddess and aid her in the protection of his people from the ones from above.

"I wound't dare to turn my back to your offer, working and defending for the sake of our Mother is something that i can't see myself doing, our people suffers and i wish to help us and even more our mother."

he quickly changed his positions, now knealing in the ground as he slowly closed his eyes, his snakes callming themselves as even they closed their nictitating membranes.

"It's an honor."
(Euríale)
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[19:55] A wordless nod and the sound of flesh being sliced. Nestis cut into her palm, though the blood that began to drip from the wound never hit the ground - instead vanishing in thin air.

With that, they would begin.

On both Euríale and Naborea's foreheads, identical sigils began to form. A circle, and within it a closed eye, a base from which to expand upon. From it, a line began to emerge, down next to their left eyes.

"Through vision, you strove to find Nyx. Seek her out, to cherish."

The touch of the blood was hot - far more so than one might expect, and as each sigil was completed, they began to pulse gently.

On both of their left cheeks, another sigil was formed. Half a sun with a jagged edge, with blood dripping down the tear, down to their chins.

"Recognize the Mire as comfort, home, even as the whole world is arrayed against us."

From the top sigil, another line began to emerge, down their right eyes this time. On the boys right cheeks, a third sigil - an outstretched hand with a cut in the palm, akin to what Nestis had done to herself.

"Blood, expected of outsiders, sometimes requested of followers."

The lines continued down their cheeks, converging at their necks. Down there, a fourth and final sigil - an eye, to match the one on their forehead, but open, weeping a tear of blood.

"Euríale, Naborea. I, Nestis, Bloodmistress, accept you as Acolytes. Vow to teach all you learn of Nyx, to serve the Mire and to turn the blood of enemies against them."

With those final words, the four sigils on their flesh pulsed a final time, then fell silent. The still-hot blood began to cool and dry.

There was a long pause, afterwards, but finally, she spoke again.

"Open your eyes."
(Nestis)
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[20:05] It was an strange sensation, to feel those signs forming against his skin, but the warmth of it made his skin relax, he stayed motionless as his mind was only focused at Nertis words, seconds after she said to make his vow, the boy opened his lips starting to speak.

"I Euríale, son of Nyx and marked by the snakes, vow my loyalty to the Mother of Monsters and Occultists, spread her word and show her love to the ones who seek it."

He did an brief pause soon starting to speak one more time.

"I sware to protect our people, to be one who shall fight with my fists, legs and fangs to achieve our goal as an community, to fight against those who use the light to opress the ones who live in the darkness."

The gorgon slowly opened his eyes as he gazed one more time to the bloodmistress.

"I sware to destroy the destiny that the one's from the surface made for us, to create our own path and finally find some safity for our people."
(Euríale)
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[20:07] The process was jarring to say the least, The sudden rush of blood magic being spurred as the mothers sigils appeared before them he could feel the traces they made as it entirely drew across his face he could hear the cursed whispers beginning to echo within his head as the Bloodmistresses words began to echo and grow deeper and lull him closer to the Night-Mother.

As he was accepted as an Acolyte he could feel a breath of fresh air emerge from him the foulness that was once only in the Mire now became apart of him. No longer did he feel separate from the charms of the Mire folk. Rather he felt embraced. "I vow to serve the Nigh-Mother Nyx, Goddess of shadows, and mother of all creation. to grow my strength an to protect the Shadowmire with every last inch of my soul. I pledge myself to your cause mother."

He spoke gently as not to interrupt the other initiate yet he continued to whisper. Continued to hear the gentle voice in the back of his mind urging him tounleash his truth. As the sigils left him he was cloaked in an Umbral Darkness his resolve being witnessed as the armature occultists soon began to come into his own if not for a moment the aura faded.

Drenched in his own sweat Naborea opened his eyes as the Bloodmistress instructed and the emptiness he had felt for such long years had finally been removed. "I will Liberate all from the Light, And spread mothers message."
(Naborea)
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[20:10] Once it was done, Nestis' hands clasped together, and the trickle of blood from her palm began to subside. Her eyes focused on one youth, then the other, before she gave a long nod.

"Good. You are now members of the Cult itself, though as Acolytes, your most pressing task is to learn."

She took a step forward.

"Seek out places of solitude, and meditate upon the whispers that will come to you. To understand Nyx, you must learn to silence yourselves, to let her words reach you properly." A pause. Her eyes move to the entrance. "Speak to the other members if you seek to learn more. Ivory, you already know, but Tien and Samandriel are both knowledgeable enough, and may assist you on your path."

With that mouthful out of the way, she gave each of them a final look.

"Go, now. I will require some rest."
(Nestis)
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[20:11] Naborea says, "Thank you Bloodmistress I will do as you say and mediate."