Terminus: Priming Entropic Core

[20:23] The soldier of Antefinem enters the chambers- yet this time, an abnormality. Of course the insignis had come to fulfill his duties- his harvest never truly ending- but now, something was wrong... something that the patron could doubtless sense.

His cologne wasn't as strong.

No, that wasn't it, though the local clergy doubtless noticed. His circuitry was- distorted. The flow of mana horribly wrong, routing to places it should not in ways it shouldn't- most all of it being concentrated towards his core, his body actively drawing in power from the environment around him, the tyrium in his flesh amplifying these effects even higher.

Doubtless, what dwelled within was enjoying the feast- but it was burdensome to the rest of him, as he kneels before the pool once more.

"Caethir held a gala, to which I went and mingled, dancing. An assassin in Goldlight colors appeared and attempted to assault another member of such- despite his attempts at a disguise, I believe I know who it was, though no name is known to me.

I had fought this one before, I am certain of it. Diseased, then, as he was in the battle. There was already pus beneath his skin when I struck him.

I do not have a name, but I know him."

He did not forget those he had faced in battle with so distinctive a style and affect. Though the assailant wore a mask, the rest of his equipment had not changed at all, and his stench of seeming death a familiar thing to the soldier who had gotten so close to it.
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[20:25] Laurentius of Terminus thinks, "Though to be completely sure, I would need to find the masked one, and feed on him."
[20:52] The lack of scents to assault the nostrils of the clergy present proved evidence of Terminus' improving craft. The words spoken by Laurentius, heard by members of the clergy -- with immediate memories read through the present the words and perceived intent clearly to the Patron beyond the aquatic veil. It was all complimented by Laurentius' own thoughts on the matter, spilling the matter clearly to the Patron now.

Caethir, another budding settlement -- rather, a younger settlement that had managed to bloom on well fertilized roots. It would seem they were suffering from internal turmoil -- as was common amongst magus-populated festivities.

At the very least, therein lied a goal... A target to act as a proper demonstration of Laurentius' capabilities... Of Antefinem's influence.
The likes of mortal matters of such fashion lacked the care of the Patron, though a general curiosity concerning one's recounting on the matter did tickle at Terminus. Perhaps, it was something he could use...

"--and this, can be ascertained to be the cause of your malady?"
He could feel it from here... Circuitry funneled in a fashion that was counterintuitive to a magi -- likely intended to cause harm, to trivialize one's casting prowess and otherwise pacify Laurentius. Perhaps, it would come to their dismay, that they ultimately had managed to provide yet another instrument from which could be added to one's repertoire.

Further radiance from the depths of the pool would find faceless tendrils to protrude the surface of one's armor, flesh and beyond -- for the circuitry beneath, for the obstructions throughout. The properties of such matter acted akin to gaps in one's sensory perception, not unlike the petrification from before. However, this was far less uniform -- less encasing, and more shattered... Implanted, yet imposing as though inducting a vacuum-like environment.

He knew these properties well, throughout its long existence:
"Tyrium... In trace amounts. They meant to unmake you -- Providing a catalyst for this metal in the process... Or... No... Perhaps, they wished to experiment with my creation.

How they prove knowledgeable of this, I am uncertain. It will prove of little consequence, nonetheless..."
A subtle shift in weight could be felt, as entropic energies were examined remotely -- passively battling with this foreign mana implanted within Laurentius.

The Patron did not yet act...
They were listening for Laurentius' response... And... Further examining this enigma...
Attempting to establish its exact properties before taking action outright.
(Etheric Presence)

[21:29] Could this be the cause of his injury? No. Laurentius speaks again, clarifying. "Another moved swifter to oppose him, and we had already faced once with I the victor.

No, this came from a siren who's magical abilities completely nullified my own. Absorption magi are troublesome to fight, as are air magi. Together, it was not something I could overcome. I could not land a single strike once she adjusted.

I have since re-evaluated my approach, in favor of a more aggressive, close-in pursuit. I was reliant on a single trick, which, while sometimes very effective, made me useless if nullified. The new approach should be more... flexible.

There will likely be a need to adjust steadily and hone, still."

Laurentius was strong, certainly, very much so- but he could always improve and grow stronger. Compromises could be made, powers shifted around... one would always be weak to something, butsuch was combat.

It wasn't like his injuries mattered, really.

"They did not know. It is an unintended interaction."

The enigma. A circuit already overcharged with mana from the mark was pushed even further as ambient draw saturated everything- the tyrium pushing it even higher. If he were an absorption mage, it would honestly be a significant boon more than anything- but he is not.

... perhaps someday it could be leveraged to his advantage, all the same...
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[22:11] So it was not something that occurred at the Gala -- seemingly, rather a chance encounter with someone that had the means to circumvent Laurentius' fighting style entirely. At least, they had managed to improve remotely -- without immediate interaction. Though, inevitably they had accumulated damages -- humorously enough though, it sought to reverse one's drainage of mana. Surely, this was entirely damning for most, even feeding off ambient mana in the air to further weigh into one's vessel...

However, precautions had provided a diversion to such overwhelming accumulation -- To the Entropic Core. By now, it likely hummed with the resonance it was accumulating, however, it was rather feeble in its potential. It was far from self-sustaining, requiring flavors of null to be delivered to it throughout one's acts of rending it amidst battle.

"So it is... Fate smiles once more."
Perhaps it was Terminus' flesh within Laurentius that acted somewhat as a conduit...
Perhaps, it was the amplification process of the Entropic Core itself...
Maybe even, it was the incubation of Terminus' spawn within one's terraforming heart -- regardless, their manipulative embrace declined the requirement of having one descend into the inky depths of their pool.

The ethereal domain sought to act against Terminus... But a far more potent display had been actively invocating itself against him for years now. It had proven to be a rather well sampled malady to not only study, to practice with, and through...
As one's influence sought to act upon the malady, it was only further fed by the mana supplied -- a constant struggle between powers that sought to act against the foreign magic, and the incumbent spell ravenously consuming at the powers that-be.

The centre of what the Core had manifested from, was metaphysical in nature -- An instance that sought to consume, just as this enigmatic power of absorption sought to. Thus, it had come to be...

A contest of Wills...
Of the Will of an unborn singularity birthed of a self-proclaimed God...
Or the Will of a common adversary in Laurentius' ventures...

"I applaud their creativity... By all standard accords, it would've rendered most beyond discomfort.

Such an egregious endeavor would leave you imploded from within, especially had one's decided focus of their malady proven to be your 'heart'. It is clear they sensed your core... Whether they were capable of denoting it as what sustained you, or as a separate entity is entirely uncertain...

--And now? Irrelevant."
For as much magus flux was inducted, mana had to go somewhere... In most cases, it'd hyper-compile before combusting violently. In this case, the entropic core would find entropy amplified soon after, as the centre of the malady was relocated by Terminus' remote manipulation over the ethereal domain. No longer to act as a secondary pit, but an attribute wholly nullified by the instrument previously planted within.

To aid in the securing of such a matter, the very aspect of Null was unveiled, passed through the imminent domain and slipping into the very seams of one's armor. It lacked corporeal nature, thus it slunk past the flesh beneath, kneading for the core to feed into it. The immediate consequence would be the resonation of warmth... Of sensation... Of the world abroad. The woes of undeath seemingly lifted as they did once before: A brief reprieve from the sufferings of eternity via undeath.

Though, to add on to such... A subtle hum could be heard... Faint but murmuring at the back of Laurentius' mind... Or Mordeaux's mind. The Core was almost ignited, soon to be activated...
That fleeting sensation that one had been chasing could soon be claimed! Surely, now was the time to relish in it... To recollect on it once more -- It was soon to flutter... To fade, as it always did.

But for how much longer?
(Etheric Presence)

[22:15] Etheric Presence applies first aid treatment to Laurentius of Terminus.
[22:15] Etheric Presence applies first aid treatment to Laurentius of Terminus.
[22:15] Etheric Presence applies first aid treatment to Laurentius of Terminus.
[22:15] Etheric Presence applies first aid treatment to Laurentius of Terminus.
[22:34] Entropy, amplified... nullified. The energies that would have crippled were a mere inconvenience to him, if annoying. An incorporeal mass to slip within, the woes once more unmade- bliss, washing over, for a moment, at the patron's attentions.

A hum... the core, slowly spooling to life deep within as it is given what it wants- the soul inside's screeching only truly manifested when it had to process flesh to dust...

Murmuring, whispering, things nearly turned to completion... it hitches for a moment- not quite ready, not quite time yet... but soon...

Soon...

He just needed to collect a little more energy for it, that's all... and it would be time, then... for the harvest to amplify itself dramatically. He was but one, but he would fill the work of many.

In some ways, he already had.

Would he feel better, or worse, once it was charged...? Likely better, he muses, as the energies flooding hisform would repulse the stream more and more, further pushing it away from him.

Not long, now...

He lingers there, at rest, for a moment longer, before he glances up again, and reaches into his pouches to withdraw a shining, greasy stone- he had shown it before, he believed, but it was different now.

It glowed, alight with potent blood mana from many victims taken, the absorptive base having fed and fed upon many. A chunk of red, amberlike substance, rich in power... and yet, accursed and twisted all the same.

"The last piece added to this, was of a man with crowns in his eyes.

I believe it is empowered enough to work into useable form. Either as a ring, an amulet, or into myself."

It was an oddity he had never seen before... and one that bore mention.
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[23:26] The sensation of something anew came to Terminus... The presence of mana, small albeit potent. To scour the minds of clergy and Laurentius alike would reveal the immediate memory that'd detail the source to him:

It was a chunk of... Something. Was it crystalized? It certainly seemed so. Sanguineous in nature, yet rich was mana... The description and origin of its most recent addition justified why it proved more noticeable than last time.
Blood Amber

"Connection to one's essence, lies in their blood. Small as it may be, this characteristic you describe is... Not one I have seen for well over a century.

Stories told of those whom bore the blood of the Pantheon... Of the Constants: A Nephilim. How rare... A testament to how strong you have become... Or perhaps, a reflection of my own ascension at-hand. For Fate dictates my Divinity... Thus, it is onlyjust by it -- that you too, showcase the power to overwhelm the very agents of other Divines."

It was doubtful that whatever connection to Aether they may've proven capable of, would've been unlocked to Laurentius with only a sample of their blood. However, the mana enriched blood would prove enough to make quite the difference.

"As your anatomic structure is perfected by the growing buds of flesh, the blood is passively cleansed. To incorporate such directly into your vessel, would mean accepting its purging after your hardwork.

No... It would see no great use in such fashion...
This, shall prove most effective within the likes of a more... External instrument."

A ring or an amulet...
An amulet could prove potent, though more powerful artifacts could be used in greater quantity around the neck. A finger could be concealed, and withthe material? It could still store quite a sufficient degree of power.

Thus--
"An endeavor set out to construct a ring shall prove more beneficial to mitigate unneeded waste."
(Etheric Presence)

[23:39] The soldier had never encountered- no, he had, but he had never inquired- Nephilim in the past. A defeat given, though no aether was present within the amber itself... perhaps a Nephilim that had not fully awakened it's heritage. All the same...

A rung, or amulet. As a ring is suggested, given the relative lack of power, Lareuntius nods in acceptance.

"I could utilize it with the auguria ring you have given me- or create a new one, instead. Either way, it will likely be unusable while in guise..."

It was a visibly cursed thing, despite the sanguine power within... but of course, given it's nature, that was to be expected.

He knew nothing of the history of the ring in question- nor was it Equisol blood- but it would be a defilement all the same. To trap Nyctorre within would be even more of a cruel joke, yet- no, perhaps best to save that ring, until the time was right.

Until an Equisol lay broken, to be soul-shackled within, their blood staining the green metal scarlet.
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[23:55] Contemplation...
If one had taken it upon themselves to maintain as many resources as one could, with minimized waste? They could convert the Equisol's Wedding Band -- Though, the defiled construct would inevitably draw the ire of Gloomlight. Such was not a matter Antefinem could handle, a thankful realization that Laurentius would not conduct such shenanigans while adorn in Antefinem's colors. Though, a weakened variant of himself would prove troublesome when the circumstances called for it.

Was it moreso useful to have a duet of equipment to satisfy the circumstances of either persona? After all -- Laurentius was one of the few that had to carry multiple faces. It would be foolish to force them into sharing equipment between identities to allow those abroad an easy tip.

"Amplify the ring, and alter it per your desire... Then, restrict it to the identity you don during your hunts. There are few that would notice a ring beneath the sheath of one's armor, and many that shall recognize it upon your exposed form.

A new ring shall be constructed, and enchanted to compliment your societal aegis."

A way ahead, for now...
(Etheric Presence)

[00:01] To pollute and corrupt the equisol ring it was, then, as Laurentius bows his head. He would make another ring for the purposes of public affect, something that would make him more convincing...

Very doable.

Yet that brilliant metal, that entropic alloy, called to him- and so, he would need to hunt, more and more. Such was the nature of it, a waste not to use it... though more arcanium would need to be procured all the same in time. For now? A clear presentation of a way ahead, given.

"Thy will be done, my lord.

... There is one more thing. The overlord of Pscaela was reportedly struck by Athelios directly. Supposedly, he endured it. The state underwent numerous changes, including appointing Morrigan Shadecrest and Aisenliche to the council.

I do not know who these people are, but many assume that my hunting identity is a pawn of Aisenliche. I have not corrected any. None ever suspect us, only Pscaela."
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[00:01] Laurentius of Terminus thinks, "... or Varrach, once or twice."
[00:10] The mention of Varrach proved irksome enough, that even the stationary husk of Terminus shifted eversoslightly. The very name stirred spite from the likes of Terminus, if only an open thought.

Though, aside from the waft of chilled air, nothing immediately came of it.
The Patron spoke once more, this time overcoming their spite for a declared rival that would never acknowledge him in return... At least, to the same magnitude that the world should've claimed.

To them, he was naught but a creature -- The very same imp that managed to escape the oppressive boot of an overzealous Equisol demon-hunting over a century ago...

The Door to Godhood was knocked upon, and soon enough, it would be cracked open...
The proclaimed Former Demon God, would see the fruit of his labor, soon enough.
"Serpents, both literal and metaphoric, attempting to run yet another coven turned city. It shall claim the same entropic result as its countless predecessors.

The only constant shall prove to be.... Varrach."
The only constant was -always- Varrach...
Perhaps, it was not the name alone that irritated Terminus... But the realization that even in his own remote ploys, that Varrach would curse him even through the lips of others abroad. To the silence on the matter, he would return... After-all, this was still all in his own favor.
(Etheric Presence)

[00:29] Varrach. The imperfect had endured for longer than any other, the First, and now the Last... and something far worse, after his work...

But all had gone silent, then, outside of such spurn. Laurentius knew only that Varrach was hated, nothing more. Yet at the notions of the isle collapsing?

"A monument to their sins, and yet every one that fancies themselves as something greater is nothing more than another brick of flesh towards that edifice to their delusional malignance."

Sinners, all... to be purged, in time. Yet the Imperfect was a decided issue indeed... they were not in position to destroy such. Not yet, at least. Perhaps in time, if Laurentius were able to grow, if ambitions could be realized- then those who wallowed in such Sin would be cleansed along the path to the end.

Taken by subterfuge, or force... Mordeaux could likely blend without effort if he chose, among some. They all banded together, after all... yet he had nothing to offer for now, it was not time yet. Not yet. In time.

"When the time is right, and the tools are in hand, I will attempt to infiltrate myself into the ranks of those who dwell in Sin, and offer them poisoned bargains.

Eventually, all will fall under our sway, and in one final night- it will be over, and we will be the ascendant ones."

A steady plan, a realized plan, as the soldier's eyes narrow in thought. "As the gift of these within my heart matures, to be shared- and one day...

... all shall be under your command, instead. Souls to your cause."
(Laurentius of Terminus)

[00:44] Pscaela was quite like the many other covens he had learned of in the past...
It went without much further consideration that any settlement known for necromantic matter or witchcraft could be ascertained to be an enemy to Terminus' endeavors. They knew not his Litany, nor did they demonstrate care for any of his tenets. They did not demonstrate Antefinemite values as to showcase their capacity to be converted...

They were as Mininya was during their brief arrival...
Sinners that sought to declare each individual amongst themselves a penultimate assertion against the Natural Order, second only to their own egos. It was a matter that simply lacked a foundation for which to stand, damned to inevitably topple to oblivion, likely resulting in the destruction of all within a general radius of its unbecoming.

The plot wrought to the attention of the unrealized Patron came across like sweet honey -- a poison all on its own. One that lulled Terminus towards a statureof realized satisfaction.

There were many plots established across one's many years...
Many attempts of absolute genocide... Of total erasure...
Of total oblivion -- Of prophesized annihilation...
The resistances of the world, would see to it, that they were all foiled.

None had proven as securely developed, and proficiently packaged as this.
Perhaps, this generation would bode different for certain.

While Souls had proven to be vulnerable to his manipulation, the essence just still proving beyond his grasp -- The impact of that much, was more than enough to bring the masses to their knees. If only his husk bore a bottom maw, could his visage contort to emulate a twisted smile beneath those onyx depths.

"Until The End..."
They were pleased with this, enough to leave Laurentius to their devices with the plan made clear through speech and thought.
(Etheric Presence)

[00:54] "Until the end."

The soldier rises, as the plan and purpose is made clear... it will not be long, now. Their plans are steadily rising to a head, and time is something they have plenty of.
(Laurentius of Terminus)