Terminus: To Birth a Wonder || The Nature of the Patron

Harbinger wasn't fond to the idea of having to stick their hand into Terminus' husk again. Much like twice before, and during the ascension ritual, Harbinger needed to meld minds with their Patron once more. At this rate, he almost saw himself as his new ''voice''. The thought made him miss Aldorin, and wonder where exactly they were.

With a sigh, the biomancer braced their mind and body for the unpleasant experience. The moment their hand re-entered the swirling smog in Terminus' chest, they were wracked by the siphoning curse of their latest wound. It was like karma's twisted joke unto him, a magi adept in stealing the essence of others, was having their own vitality forcibly stripped for a fourth time. The luster they carried around themselves started to vanish as he surrendered his mind to Terminus.

"P-Please, Great Beyonder. Enlighten me. Sh-Show me y-your... nature. Your... i-inner mechanizations. Tell me w-what would best suit y-your... new vessel to house you!", this pain was nothing. Harbinger was willing to sacrifice a hundred times more if it meant repairing their God.

It. Was. Worth. It.
(Harbringer)

Into the depths his hand would descend, choking at his hands, wrists-- up until the elbows in a blackened smog -- though, it was clear that it was a meld between the voidic essence planted by Za'agan and Terminus' essence radiated by the Godseed. It was fighting even now, threefold against the likes of Varrach and the Oni, amongst countless others. Through it all, Harbinger reached to touch upon his semi-exposed core.

The magus veins of his circuitry marred by Varrach's death magic were directly ebbing away at Harbinger now -- exposed to its radiation, amplified by the residual mana of Abendrot's past. It was akin to reaching through an acidic substance for the common mortal man. Yet, despite it all... He persisted, reigniting the psionic connection betwixt them and Terminus.

''P-Please, Great Beyonder. Enlighten me. Sh-Show me y-your... nature. Your... I-inner machinations. Tell me w-what would best suit y-your... new vessel to house you!''

||- Within Harbinger's Mind -||


The world would be rendered away, leaving naught but the opaque scape of onyx as it were before. Once more, they would be revealed to this humanoid silhouette of Cold Iron. This time, however... It walked in casual fashion, up to Harbinger with arms open wide... As though to behold him...
As to behold the world...
Nay... As though to -embrace- him.

"In my existence, I have come to know a-many of material and constructs, but not once had I delved into the machinations beyond the alchemical domain...

It is not lost upon me, that the works of artificer may be necessary to augment what has been torn asunder.

However, I can not surrender the flesh in its totality... Nay, only ensure that it is applied as the final puzzle piece to my endeavors thus far."

Ahand was risen buzzing with the rattle of bass -- blackening static arcing between his digits as the ignition of a full-bodied series of runic symbols shined an occultic saffron. Between the seams of this suit appeared to be an ebonic ichor... The very essence of Terminus consolidated, compressed to fit within a construct no greater than a slightly taller than usual humanoid.

At the chest-region, lied the Godseed, encrusted and exposed to the world as it pulsated its mana throughout his body.

"A blend between what is flesh... And what is metal: A living weapon, for which I am to anchor, with a brand I shall be able to impart upon those I touch... A mark of my design -- To feed my core, and amplify the heart circuit as he lay upon my touch.

Once those I touch wear my mark upon my heart, they shall be amplified -- and I, bestowed tribute towards an ultimate form."
If what Terminus' words were to be taken at plain value -- such a body, was meant to be a blend between flesh and metal. If such were the case, and it were capable of siphoning and compounding mana within his being then...
Was it safe to presume that his natural means of ascension, and this artificial emulation of ascension would unleash something... New?

Beyond the Ascendants whom had competed with divine-esque entities...
Beyond the common magus caliber in all aspects...
Introducing a new echelon to those of Antefinem, and Meranthe as a whole...

"Even with the completion of such a construct, it will hardly be as simply as moving my flesh into it. An instrument will need to be constructed from the same material... One, that can attune to me... Much like the mark I had scribed so long ago...

Much like the mark you shall scribe upon the construct...

Such an instrument will be applied on a medium of your choice, presented forth before the enemies you stand before, andsiphon from their essence in battle. When it is returned to me, it shall cement the transference effort."
||- Back To Reality -||


By now, the Harbinger was likely to be suffering some extensive damage. In order to satiate the ravenous decomposition of his flesh and mana circuitry, he was going to need to conduct a ritual that imparted a massive amount of mana unto Terminus' current vessel -- even so, it would not aid indefinitely.
(Terminus)

So much was shared with the biomancer, and so much was set to be prepared. The construction of this wonder slowly became more, and more complex with each passing moment. While it was a near-certain way to guarantee their Patron's return, none of it would be done anytime soon. Or at least, that was Harbinger's initial reaction to the revelation Terminus had blessed him with.

''A blend between what is flesh... and what is metal: a living weapon...''

''Siphon their essence in battle. When it is returned to me, it shall cement the transference effort.''



Esoteric and poetic as was to be expected from the Beyonder. Yet, thanks to the link they shared, Harbinger could understand what it is they meant. They needed a weapon -- an object that could transfer mana back to them. Yet, while Harbinger was more than willing to do such a thing, he knew not the method of which to go about it. The only way he knew to do this was through the forging of the weapon he'd been planning for so long now.

But, the materials he had currently were not to be used in the construction of his Patron's new body. Did he have enough for such a task? In theory, the weapon could be sacrificed later to form their new vessel, but would that hinder the entire process if that were to happen?

Harbinger needed to find a way to satiate these needs while still blessing Terminus as he had blessed him.

Upon removing his arm from the depths of the Beyonder's chest cavity, he gasped. The pain was unrelenting -- Harbinger's arm desiccated to the point that it was somehow even more emaciated than before. Quite literally, all that was left was skin and bone -- the musculature completely stripped from the several wounds plaguing Terminus' husk.

Falling to his knees, the marrow production in their body began hyper-production of blood while chronomancy began to undo some of the damages. If not for the biomancer's uncanny regeneration, he was certain he'd of completely lost the use of his arm. As the muscle quickly regenerated, and the damage was undone, his thoughts became clearer -- free of the burden of tempering their pain with their plans.

"Attune something to them through continued exposure to other sources of mana. Use that object to feed our Lord, then tie them to their new vessel.", he reiterated under his breath.

Think.

Think.

Think.

(Harbringer)

Throughout the collective endeavor, aside from Melia and Kaelvyr departing to procure schematics, Mehrune looking to forge Cold Iron, and Harbinger seeking for a clearer picture? The Maledictus had saw himself out, directing several clergymen to procure particular instruments to accommodate for such an occasion. It was never presumed that Terminus would find themselves like this -- however, materials collected throughout Vana'Rath and Terminus' tenure provided them with the necessary tools to kickstart such an undertaking.

First, was a carefully cradled Striped Mana-Absorbent Egg. It was meant for absorbing the essence, however acted akin to a very short-lived battery in most cases. Then, came an enigmatic instance: A small, obsidian box that shimmered with strange lights with a fathomless dark within. A glimpse inside revealed a statuette of a man, screaming out to no avail in anguish.

The resonance of such an encapsulated Anguished Scream carried a presence similar to the very deathly presence within Terminus' afflicted core: Of Death, and the Occult.

Next, came ancient armor from that of a fallen Fel Beast. It felt as though, it were forged from the depths of Hel itself with its sickly embrace. Demonic, and blessed by that of an Imperfect -- It was by all accords of some of the most morbid instruments known to Meranthe.

Though, it all came before the Maledictus himself, carrying the Centricon Of The Eternal... An artifact forged of Terminus' flesh...
One passed down, from one herald to another...
Once intended for Aldorin, and prepared for Azu -- but given the current circumstances? Offered in tandem to the other materials presented thus far, to Harbinger.


''I was guided by His voice as you communed with Him. These materials may aid in your efforts to complete his desires. I will do what I can to aid where-ever you may need it, Famulus.''

The Maledictus offered a slight bow, before making their departure.

Now, it was in the hands of the magi here...
Could they begin to tackle such a challenge?
(Terminus)

============================================================= THE DEVMATS =============================================================

Striped Mana-Absorbent Egg [SHIELD]
"An egg-shaped craft made with the intent of stowing away one's mana - a storage for the oft quickly dispersed or spent. The shell has been painted with a variety of different colourants, but it serves a dual purpose; the thickly-lathered paint is inscribed with runes, absorbent of all that in which isn't that of mere unattuned, simple, raw mana.

The more that is offered, the more vibrancy it exudes; like a Jack-O-Lantern on a halloween's midnight, the whimsical designs upon the surface will no doubt glow, budding into a vibrance otherwise unseen. Getting into the nitty-gritty, the build of these eggs seem to be an interior of purified, fused ki'yah, steeped in a thin, orichalcum glaze."
Boost: None
[D TIER RESOURCE]

The Anguished Scream [SHIELD]
"Occult Death item - After a brutal battle, a strange and mysterious creature seems to have left this behind - It is a small, obsidian box that seems to twinkle with strange lights before they are extinguished by the deep, and vile blackness. Inside the box, is a small statuette of a man locked in a expression of pure agony and terror."
Level Requirement: 999
Boost: None
[Cracked Portal]

The Fel Beast Chest Plate [CHEST]
"A well-made chest plate that carries with it the demonic taint of the Fel and Helheim itself. This piece has been masterfully put together by demons, and given a proper blessing by the Imperfect Mettadora. While it is obsidian in make, it has the blood of the Fel etched into it, cause it's ominous purple sheen."
Faction Requirement: Default
Boost: +5vit
{Faction}

Centricon Of The Eternal
"A grimoire wrapped in the pulsating flesh of Terminus itself. Sigils line its border, shining a subtle lavender with the occult energies that defile the material."

============================================================ THE DELIVERY ============================================================

Harbringer picks up The Fel Beast Chest Plate.
Harbringer picks up The Anguished Scream.
Harbringer picks up Striped Mana-Absorbent Egg.
Harbringer picks up Centricon Of The Eternal.