Terminus: Inverted Baptism [Part 1]

[13:50] The midday sun's shine unto Varseia dimmed, ever so slightly. The shadows lengthened with the shift beyond noon -- but the chill of a familiar stygian variety clung to a stilled air. It betrayed the likeness of cryomancy, likely to be presumed to extend from Agrona herself. Though, it spanned vast, stretching forth to encircle the denizens.

It briefly sought to poke and prod at the likes of the War Beast. Etheric in nature -- it dared to penetrate the surface, to explore the circuitry beneath; to understand what it was interfacing with, appeared to be the goal.
Such an endeavor would not be exclusive to the demon, however...
This nameless presence sought to extend that very same treatment to the Tenebris of substantial stature: Invictus, himself.

The ebb and flow of the air, or rather, it's unnatural warping insinuated Spatial Manipulation at-work... But the chill it harbored? It was undeniably a result of the Dark Arts.

To the telepathically inclined? A psionic hum murmured within the confines of their mind... As though something were trying to make contact. To explore the nature of this entity would reveal a combination of spells at-play... Perhaps, that was how it managed to spread out across such a wide area.
(Etheric Presence)
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[13:53] Etheric Presence's voice (to Agrona): <*The hum of static fizzles away, allowing for the coo of a voice to break the veil.*> What an interesting prospect... Such a war you hunger for... Is something I can offer. The boons you seek, are my power to give.
[13:53] A presence... Agrona does not hide, it may look upon her form as it wishes. She is a being of dozens of scars, seventy or more battles risking serious injury. Soaked once, in the blood of Na'Ria, and bearing marks from the fight for the massacre of the Kasca lineage.

Soaked, too, in her own. She is a thing of occultic make, of manufacture, not a being born naturally, but one fabricated by dark arts.

One who was ordered once, only one thing, to fight and return with essence... yet never told why, or what the point of it was.
(Agrona)
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[13:54] Agrona ponders, "I have reached before to the whispers and been denied... ever to slip beyond my grasp despite all their promise. And yet, you offer thus?"
[13:54] Agrona thinks, "Then I would eagerly accept"
[13:54] Agrona snaps her gaze towards the armored figure who has appeared in behind the crowd.
(Agrona)
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[13:55] Etheric Presence's voice (to Yorumi): <*The hum of static fizzles away, allowing for the coo of a voice to break the veil*> It would appear as though the one named 'Mininya' is not present... Thus, you will take upon the privilege of invoking my blessing unto the Tenebris... Are you capable of committing to such a feat?
[13:58] Pierre gazed at the demon, then at Mildred. There was a small silence that engulfed Pierre, whom moved a hand to his chin as he pondered. "Hmph…" Pierre gazed at the demon, "Hmhpp… hmphm,hmpmhp…"

Pierre gazed at Invictus, "Invictus, I leave the choice to you. To allow Agrona among us, or to follow Mildred's desire. My personal opinion is..." Pierre turned his gaze towards Mildred.

"I'll save it for myself, I'll await your or-"

SKREEEK!

Pierre's marks started to twirl into spirals, forming small marks that mimicked a fire engulfing Pierre's skin. "Invictus, something is watching us." The occultic nature of Pierre's cursed-seal had discovered something, a presence lurking nearby that was not visible to the naked eye.

Pierre's instincts told him that they were not alone, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as a sense of unease washed over him.
(Pierre dul Vique)
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[14:05] Arms crossed, the titanical man stood there watching the interaction between Pierre and Agrona he raises a hand to Pierre's words suddenly, before he can answer, a chilling sensation invades the giant's body and one eyebrow raises. His eyes drift to Yorumi, he knows that the girl is especially sensitive to spirits and other entities difficult to detect.

Pierre's words confirm it and nods, he immediately commands.

"Yorumi, this is your chance, something is lurking among us, try to identify it."


Just in case, the giant snaps his fingers.

WOOOORRRBLLE


The onomatopoeia of his occultic energy shield quickly protects the kids in the area, namely Yorumi, Mors, Matav and Mirelle, just in case.


There is no wounds in Invictus.

None.

Zero.


Despite being a warrior who appeared on each battlefield, despite facing the atrellyan extermination, despite his extensive curriculum. The man harbors no wound.

After, his name means 'The one who can't be conquered'


He awaits for Yorumi
(Invictus Tenebris)
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[14:14] The girl had been told to get used to the occult, the shivering presence of the form of magi and art of war had been around them since the beggining... Whilst some like Invictus could mask it well, for though it was a part of him the occult was far from being his whole.

The Etheric Presence, however, was the sheer embodiment of such, it's cold touch like death permeated the camp with it's being, spreading like mist in the early morning, unseen yet felt by all who were present.

Invictus knew that she was sensitive for such, that her talents developed and grew in the natures of percieving the unseen- and as such...

Yorumi's purple eyes would close, absorbing the whole that came with the waves of it, allowing it to enter her mind and openly search within her- And as finally the etherial tune ressonated into her mind-

She would open them, looking up at Invictus, Pierre and Endrius, one hand lifted calling for the attention of her seniors.

Firstly they land on Pierre.

"Do not freth, the one who watches IS one who took residence in our camp."

Then she turns to Endrius.

"It is Harbinger Of The End itself- Terminus..."

The name is offered with a grave entonation as she turns to Invictus, the girl's purple eyes glimmering with maana as the from within her mouth, something starts seeping out... A smoke- purple in nature that pools at her feet and spreads- like oil touching water, revealing to the naked eye the entirety of the being's presence.

Not quite revealing it's form but where it was spreading through them.

"I've told you about him before, that which took residence in our camp and it is willing... Willing to aid and grant us anything we may desire- asking only for one thing in return...!"

"Aside from few tributes."

The purple eyed child then points at the other demon Agrona.

"That we do what we do best- War and conquest."

If it is destruction the Agrona demon wishes for, war? They were in the right place for it.
(Yorumi)
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[14:24] Curiosity.
Caution.

This entity had seen it all, time and time again...
Battle after battle...
Victory after victory...
Defeat after defeat...
The only constant was after it all -- it still persist: A constant, in the bobs and wakes of the Ages of Man across Meranthe.
Hel was here...
The Harbinger Of The End
was here...

"Be Not Afraid."
The voice boomed out... Clearly, the tributes were strengthening the Patron over the course of time.

"Your settlement has garnered my interest. Your bloodline... Your endeavors... Your followership... They shall see my blessings."
An ebonic miasma wrought itself into being, just outside of the occultic energy shield mustered by Invictus. The psionic connection betixt itself and Yorumi strained by such separation, but not quite severed.

The rogue ebonic mist sought to transmogrify what once lied beyond the gaze of human eyes... Manifesting from a shadowy veil, enraptured in telekinetic stasis... A few brief moments, and it'd falter to the grasses below. The immediate plop upon the ground sought to siphon it of its lifeforce, rendering it to naught but a decrepit remnant of its former stature.

There didn't seem to be any form of declaration as to what it was...
Why this was... Or even, what brought upon this act.
Only that, with closer inspection -- One could find...

A demonic finger? Nay, it was an instrument of some sort. Not unlike a vial, albeit made of flesh - the very flesh of the End itself. To pop it open would reveal a deep lavender fluid within it...
Demon Blood? What for..?

Perhaps, Yorumi would know.
(Terminus)
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[14:25] Terminus's voice (to Yorumi): Pick it up... Within it, my blood... To bless a boon for battle. Consider it a demonstration... When the ritual is to commence, I shall provide the words to you, and you only need to speak them aloud.
[14:30] Terminus's voice (to Yorumi): Use the blood on Head of the Tenebris bloodline, yourself, or the demon... Once your choice is made, repeat the words as I present to you.

[14:46] The Primarch of Varesia listens attentively to Yorumi's words paying attention in the midst of the string of words from those present, nods slightly and a hint of his shadows lightly pinches his cheek.

"Good job señorita."


With the pressence identified, Yorumi had already told him about the vague presence that radiated occult energy, generating a slight interest in the giant, the one who calls himself Terminus reveals himself and his first words cause a huge laugh in the titanic Primarch.

"That's a nice joke."


'Afraid' a term they learnt upon arriving Meranthe, a feeling nonexistant in those who were born dead and they are living without clinging to life.

Yet the entity soon enough makes the giant frown, being a place of materialistic virtues in the philosophical sense with a strong anti-theistic component, Invictus raises a hand "I hope you are saying 'blessing' figuratively speaking..." with Yorumi's help, he can cast his emerald gaze on the ethereal pressence "... I appreciate your interest, but we might need to talk more in depth about Varesian principles and values and your goals, to see if they align."


Truth be told, Varesia is an odd place, the acceptance of the cursed heritage ones and antagonizing esoterism makes them to fall in a gap where they can't be tagged in the dual system Meranthians seem to use, that manichaeaism of good & bad, fel & no-fel such a theological way of seeing like.

Then gis gaze turns towards Mildred and Pierre "You two, come with me, Terminus, you too we shall talk in private." his gaze looks for Endrius who's dashing around as usual and screams "Endrius... where is this man?" a small sight "Yorumi, come find me if anything happens."
(Invictus Tenebris)
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[14:50] Being the one who cast the spell to reveal more of what that entety was, Yorumi could easily follow where the shadowy veil concentrated, where the stasis syphoned through and concentrated on the ground, as his voice boomed through and the one named Agrona taunted the so called 'twice-blessed'...

The little girl would move with clear intent, like a little black bird gliding in the midle of them, aiming for the thing that took form, before even it was fully revealled- she could see it at her feet.

Lowering down, she would carefully cradle the fleshy vial in her hands, looking around to her companions, towards her clan.

'The unseen made clear.'

'The first blessing of Teminus.'

In her mind she would quickly make her choice... Invictus, Pierre, Herself... And She looked at both Mildred and Mors-

Yet they were called away, maybe... Maybe they would have to wait a little more- yet Yorumi would be ready now...

Putting the vial around her neck, the girl would nod towards Invictus.

"I'll reach you if anything happens Invictus."
(Yorumi)
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