3/1/2019 - Blood Blade3 - Riftmancy Lesson 1

[23:27] Knock knock.
(Aspen Invidia)
[23:27] Malentine floats through the cathedral turned laboratory before turning back to Aspen.
(Malentine Invidia)
[23:28] Malentine Invidia says, "Greetings."
[23:28] Aspen Invidia says, "Greetings, Lord Malentine and Lady Donovan."
[23:28] Donovan Draskovic whispers something.
[23:28] Donovan Draskovic says, "'Allo."
[23:29] Malentine Invidia whispers something.
[23:30] Donovan Draskovic whispers something.
[23:32] Worth another try, yes? Spirits scouted around the northern areas, signaling the former Yano of incoming Nethradin, allowing her to trek through different pathways. A sharp eye, and blade made of the woman's crystallized blood kept by her side incase any of the demonic presence of the terrain were to attack.

Fortunately for once they hadn't!

The young Invidian thrall at least reached the lab of the north for Malentine while Priscilla was busy. The woman entered after knocking, grinning at both vampires while bowing.

"It's been awhile Lord Malentine. I've returned to talk more about the Fateless, and perhaps lessons on riftmancy if you're not busy at the current moment."
(Aspen Invidia)
[23:36] Malentine whispered something to the other vampire beside him before giving Aspen his attention. The mention of riftmancy and the Fateless of course drew his attention.

"Of course. The Fateless will have to wait until I've spoken with everyone and make my decisions. Donovan has been advising me on who to trust within the group and who to avoid... only time will tell if she's correct though."

Malentine smiled. "Though we may begin with a riftmancy lesson. What do you already know of the practice? If anything?"
(Malentine Invidia)
[23:37] Malentine Invidia whispers something.
[23:38] Donovan Draskovic whispers something.
[23:39] Malentine Invidia whispers something.
[23:40] Donovan Draskovic whispers something.
[23:42] Malentine Invidia whispers something.
[23:43] 'Ah.. fuck,' Aspen thought to herself in regards to Malentine's statement of Donovan's informing, and assisting with The Fateless's decision making. Without another acknowledgement, aside from a mere nod, Aspen moved the subject on to the other portion.

Riftmancy.

"Great! For the knowledge I know that riftmancy is a vile manipulation of the lifestream. Distorting and bending reality. Forging a threshold elsewhere and where its practitioner creates to step through. Teleportation. That's all I know, or have heard on it."

That was as much as she could answer. No attempts herself have been made, especially when the young woman wasn't very knowledge on its art, how to perform it, etc.
(Aspen Invidia)
[23:43] Donovan Draskovic whispers something.
[23:43] Malentine Invidia whispers something.
[23:50] "I once held a class on the subject of riftmancy in Baukdengrad. It's a shame no one ever did anything beneficial with that information... Vel still has my tome as far as I'm aware, which would make the practice all the easier to learn." Malentine seemed to be rambling ever so slightly. Riftmancy was, after all, his greatest passion.

"It's as you say; normally seen as the art of teleportation, of ease of transport. But the source is much more sinister. Riftmancy itself is similar to the arcane, but much more deliberate, if not... messier. Just as the arcane is the power to manipulate the Lifestream and the reality of this world, riftmancy is a direct tear into it."

Malentine's blade lifted off of his back and floated between them. It went parallel to the ground and spun slowly so that Aspen could see all of its aspects and details, the most prominent being the screeching gem upon the hilt.

"Generally speaking, a connection to the Spirit World is also beneficial. I myself found my roots of Riftmancy within that treasure upon my sword; a gem from a Warden's helmet, an enemy I slew who foretold my death. I understand you're already dabbling with spiritmancy, yes?"
(Malentine Invidia)
[23:57] Half, at this point. It had taken a while to get through her brief conversation with Malentine, but throughout she'd taken small piece after piece. Bite after bite. And though she ate slowly, to indulge for as long as she could, half of the body she held had already been stripped of flesh. A bit of cloth stuck out of the corner of her mouth as she chewed.

Donovan's face was bloody. So was her neck. Her chest. Her arms, the upper portion of her thighs toward the front of her body- A good portion of the floor, too, had some darker red staining the carpet. There were few bits of shattered bone there, scattered across the floor.

As the two continued she took another bite, this now taking a massive hunk of the thigh. With a wet squelch it was torn away, and slowly she chewed it down to a more manageable size. All the while she stared, blank-faced, quicksilver and pearl white locked onto the woman that had entered. On the blade upon her back. Then her face.

She remained quite silent, but for the occasional mutter.
(Donovan Draskovic)
[00:02] * You have been awarded 0.25 Roleplay Points! *
Vel still has my tome as far as I'm aware, which would make the practice all the easier to learn.

The inquiry of the other Invidia kitsune's hold on the information was responded to with a smile, even while Malentine's explanation was paid full attention, until divided with the sword spinning before her.

Aspen stared at the blade with immense scrutiny. The treasure of the Warden's helmet was known from their first meeting together. Still. Seeing the gem brought a mien of amazement. The man's past actions never ceased to amaze the thrall.

Donovan's activities over yonder aren't gazed upon for now while Aspen's attention remains focused on the information Malentine was providing.

"Aye," she responds. "I'm working towards summoning a Nethradin of my own to control. My presence in the mountain's territories will be more frequent. I plan to study them, try to samplesome and more for information for their summoning."

Her mahogany hues glance between Malentine and his blade.

"It's a dangerous art, therefore I haven't been bothered to attempt it myself without the proper steps from a teacher before I work on it myself."
(Aspen Invidia)
"It is dangerous. Not only do you run the risk of cutting yourself in two should an unstable rift close on your body, but the act of becoming a riftmancy is akin, if not worse, to partaking in necromancy. You run the risk of being fought against, seen as a monster, and for good reason." Malentine said all of this knowing what his own reputation upon Agartha had become. He was the shadow under the bed of many of Huangzhou's citizens, if not also Gehennans as well. The mountain had become a target for would-be heroes coming to undo the effects of the riftmancy that had torn a hole in the sky itself.

"My first attempts were volcanic. It took a great many tries to cut into the Lifestream, and once I succeeded, I nearly killed a great many. Gluttony was there at my first attempt, a gate I managed to open here atop the peak. I had gathered so many to watch and they all almost died had it not been for the then Exarch's sacrificial efforts in sealing my attempt.

I often wonder what would have occurred if he'd failed."
(Malentine Invidia)
Donovan Draskovic says, ".. Prob'ly woulda died."
Donovan Draskovic says, "Hehe."
"Cutting myself in two.. I'd prefer to push some non-magi into my portals first to test them in the early stages. Precaution, of course!" Aspen huffed out a laugh.

"How exactly do you get started on the art? Materials? Do you have to be a runescribe?"

Whatever questions the woman could muster up, they were failing to come forth. Aspen's maw opened to speak, but nothing came out.

The spirits that followed the Yano within the vicinity of Malentine's lab were gazed at. One at a time, turning Aspen in a circle.

"Ah, how similar is it to summoning spirits? For that - I envision a door to the spirit realm in my mind to perform the art. Could it be similar to that? Imaging it and ripping into Eternia's space?"

The woman quirked a brow. It was an idea albeit likely not the right one she had.
(Aspen Invidia)
"Something of the sort." Malentine began. "You won't need a runescribe, though learning some elementary knowledge of blood runes might aid in anchoring your preliminary gates. And as far as materials go, a simple sword and enough will to bleed the Lifestream should be enough. All it takes is the concentration and the vision to see through the physical boundaries the Lifestream constrains our world with. You're tearing through a living thing, like an arrow through an animal.

You can't hide from that fact, nor euphemize it to any degree. You must understand that the damage you're doing is deliberate, purposeful, and desired. Your spirits can likely aid in your endeavors, and practicing on a living target as to not endanger yourself might help, but there will come a time when you have to walk through your own gate, and that will be the real test.

Feeling yourself step from one end of the continent to the other and hearing the Void in that slim space in between... that's what awaits you should you master the art."
(Malentine Invidia)
The physical threshold envisioned in Aspen's mind proved fruitful in being a weapon. An incentive from the young woman's childhood. The door of her childhood that she stepped through, freeing herself in the realm's embrace several times before. What felt like freedom, a cool, joyous sensation that oft allowed her the visions of what the realm held within. Imaginary? Perhaps. Likely unreal visions that proved to aid in the summoning of the trio following in her wake. They were proof of her success.

While Malentine explained more about the art of Riftmancy, the eyes followed on of the few spirits who stepped at her side, scrutinizing its form. The last she'd summoned aid, they were more akin to deformed beings, like a failure in their bringing. Freakishly large warriors with spiked armors, larger swords as tall as them, etc.

This wasn't anything like it, and to it she quirked a brow accompanied with a purse of her lips. Each step closer to Nethradin, towards bringing one forth to control it, was met with failure.

Something more, something new. Aspen knew she needed to work more on her arts, and with Hatsu taking leave from her life? It brought on a new motivator for her. To work harder, and achieve exactly what she aimed to do.

The thought caused a smirk, and her eyes followed back around to Malentine's own. The woman's blade, formed of her own crystalized blood was held forth.

"This'll be good enough. My weapon, my own vitality, ripping into the fabrics of space and knitting together two thresholds, will be what bleed it then. Lady Priscilla would assist me with the endeavor's, I'm sure. She knows quite a bit about blood runes." That thought only managed to increase her smile.

Watching a physical boundaries be torn through. It was akin to that. Like the door of the realm Aspen frequently envisioned to open. That's what stuck out to her the most.

"Mmm.. I understand," she responds, repeating the information given for memory.
(Aspen Invidia)
"Yes, Priscilla was in attendance at my class... I'm disappointed she didn't become a riftmancer herself. But that'll be all for now. Everything I've said is as much aid as I can give until you put it to practice at least once."

The riftsword returned to Malentine's back with some grace and a flick of his wrist. It seemed as if it knew here it belonged, like it had a mind of its own, but both Aspen and Donovan were smart enough to know it was the Chaos Magi himself who manipulated its every movement.

"Return here once you've opened your first gate. Better yet if you put it to the test and maim someone with it... that's always been a favorite pastime of mine." He hummed and smiled, likely remembering those very opportunities where he fed something, or someone, directly to the Void itself.

"Doorways to Helheim and beyond are beautiful things. Riftmancy is an art that should never be taken from this world."
(Malentine Invidia)
Donovan Draskovic exclaims, ".. If you maim someone.. bring me the rest of them!"
Aspen Invidia says, "Aye, of course, Lady Donovan! "
Aspen Invidia says, "The day I open a rift to Helheim will be the day I rip away a Nethradin from its realm and force it to do my bidding."
Malentine Invidia says, "I wish you luck then, Aspen."
Aspen Invidia says, "I'll be on my way then, Lord Malentine and Lady Donovan. Thank you for the lesson. I'll come back when my progress in the art has immensely progressed."
Aspen Invidia exclaims, "Thank you, and Farewell!"