Eicia's Baptism into Fain

Outside smouldering ruins of the Bell-Tower.
It is well below freezing and your breath is a white haze. A monument to Baalphegar casts its long shadow over the filthy flagstones here. A statue of Lady Jamilah, the Iron Virtue stands here, memorialising her noble spirit. A shuttered glass gas lamp lies dark and unlit atop a tall, ornately gilded post. Novitiate Eicia stands nearby, surrounded by a red-flecked aura of barely-suppressed violence.
You see exits leading east and west.

The light spread of cloud overhead fluffs up into sparse cotton bodies.

Eicia lightly pecks the air beside each of your cheeks, greeting you formally.

You have emoted: Anita reaches out and firmly clasps a bloodstained paw around Eicia's wrist. Her voice is barely a whisper, eyes bright as she speaks, "Come with me."

Eicia begins to follow you.

[moving to Fain's realm]

Chamber of Eyes.
A marble statue of a viscanti clutching wealth in his hands stands here silently. A marble statue of a taurian clutching its hoofs in rage stands here. A marble statue of an orclach hefting a broadsword in battle stands here.
You see exits leading south, northwest (open door), and through a silver mirror.

The surface of a silver mirror ripples fluidly as you approach and, taking a deep breath, you step into it. Icy viscous fluid engulfs you and slows you, substituting your momentum for one of its own. With a lurch, you feel yourself strung out, infinitely stretched and striated before the amniotic waters expel you into another location.

The Threshold.
Glinting eerily in the gloom, a large silver mirror has been mounted on the western wall.
You see exits leading east and through a silver mirror.

The Nave of Obeisance.
You see exits leading north, east (open door), west, and out.

At the Font of Rebirth.
Set upon a circular dais, a grotesque basalt font radiates an aura of palpable evil.
You see exits leading east, south, and west.

A narrow stairwell.
You see exits leading west and up.

A narrow corridor.
You see exits leading east and west.

The Halls of Hatred.
A comforting feeling of privacy pervades the area. The murky coloured walls of this circular hall are covered from floor to ceiling in the trophy skulls of many lusternian races, the primary ones being merians and elfen. Six crimson columns encircle a single gold brazier in the center of the hall, which sits cold and unlit. The air is cold and forbidding and a palpable sense of malevolence envelops you. The six pillars are cold and unadorned, but in the lightless gloom their surface ripples with eerie fluidity. Novitiate Eicia stands nearby, surrounded by a red-flecked aura of barely-suppressed violence.
You see exits leading east and south (open door).

Eicia perks up quietly, attentive to what you may need from her. She murmurs faintly, "What do you need?"

You bend down to an iron brazier and ignite a small spark. It ignites into a sudden, towering conflagration.

You grovel pathetically in the dirt.

With a hideous grinding noise, the floor parts in front of you, revealing a narrow set of steps leading downwards.

Within a ritual chamber.
A simple granite altar rests here, splattered with dried blood. A dapper marionette hangs here limply, suspended from silken ropes.
You see a single exit leading up.

You pull a bone lever and there is a rumble of gears behind the walls about you.

With a deafening squeal, a marble wall slides across a narrow set of steps, obscuring them from view.

Avurekhos opens his arms, extended side to side as he raises his hands on high before the altar. "GOD OF GODS, KING OF KINGS. WE GATHER HERE TODAY TO DRAW ANOTHER INTO YOUR MASQUERADE, MAY THEY ALWAYS SEEK TO APPEASE YOU. WITHOUT YOU WE ARE NOTHING, WITHOUT YOU THEY'RE NOTHING. THROUGH THE RECITING OF THE LIBER CRUENTUS THEY SHALL HEAR THE WORD AND KNOW FEAR TO YOUR GOD GIVEN RIGHT." as he turns his head towards you and Eicia.

A wind of cold air passes over your skin making it shiver with dread.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Let us begin, then."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says to you, "After the words are spoken, form the covenant as you see fit."

You have emoted: Remaining silent, Anita bows her head to Avurekhos.

You feel the very presence of Fain's hand in this place, His power within everything here.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Hatred, Conflict, and Greed. These make up the core structure of His will. Today, we shall be reminded of the Fear and Trembling all supplicants should understand when they're before him."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I speak of the Timor Et Tremor."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "As the roaring of the lion is the dread of the LORD. HIS voice is fear and the people tremble."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "For Behold, Darkness shall cover the Earth and the rivers will gush with Blood."

Avurekhos remains emotionless as he speaks, "HE is MASTER and I am HIS."

Eicia closes her eyes as she lifts a hand to touch her own shoulder thoughtfully, smiling faintly at the words.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage sings, "I sing of HIm with tremulous breath, I grovel before HIS icon."

A palpable tension enters the air, and the ambient temperature drops sharply.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "As the lowly worm am I before the LORD, I faint lest HE discover me."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "As the tiny ant am I before HIM."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "As the wriggling maggot, I am, upon the carcass. One like his servant of legion, identical in insignificance. Yet there is the germ of use within me, for I may be a fly."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Lowly and beseeching I pray to HIM that HE may raise me up and I may serve."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "For the future is CRIMSON BLOOD and pain."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Wherefore I exalt and praise HIM, for in the suffering of my foes am I made whole, always serving HIM."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "And the possessions of my enemies shall be rendered unto me, his wife is mine, his childer meat upon my table."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "And for I love the LORD, I hate HIS foes, and HIS foes are mine."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Swift striking is the Lord in HIS power, and sly beyond all other."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Let HIS praises be sung in the blood of the foe."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "For by BLOOD is HE known."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "And HE is called THE CRIMSON LORD, THE LORD OF THE MASQUE."

Smiling at Eicia, Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "And in the quietness of their hearts, all fear HIM. All shall tremble before the Crimson God of Gods. King of Kings."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says to you, "You may begin."

You have emoted: Anita takes a step towards a granite altar, dropping to her knees in supplication. Head bowed, the barest hint of her murmurs reach your ears before she rises once more. She turns then and takes a swift step towards Eicia, a look of malevolence darkening her face. With bloodstained paws, she grabs the viscanti woman by the hair and drags her to the altar. "To appease the Crimson God of Gods, I sacrifice you unto HIM. To show true devotion to the King of Kings, your soul will become HIS. To truly worship and be of the chosen few, you will renounce this body, this life and all ties for you are HIS and only HIS. For the Lord Masque is MASTER."

You begin to chant the words of vile darkness, and an iron cross rises up from the ground before Eicia. Vicious spikes slam into her flesh and nail her to the cross. She screams in pain and agony as blood is splattered in all directions.

Eicia jerks as the iron cross pulls her limbs, resulting in a sickening crunch of bones.

You chant the words of rot at Eicia, while cracking your knuckles loudly.
The flesh on the right leg of Eicia shrivels to the bone.
The flesh on the left arm of Eicia shrivels to the bone.
You sense the mark left on Eicia darkening slightly.

Eicia bleeds like a stuck pig upon the iron cross.

You chant the words of rot at Eicia, while cracking your knuckles loudly.
The flesh on the right arm of Eicia shrivels to the bone.
You sense the mark left on Eicia darkening slightly.

Eicia bleeds like a stuck pig upon the iron cross.

You loom over the pitiful form of Eicia and plunge your hands into her chest, ripping out her heart. You offer the bloody organ up to the Demon Lords of Nil, and are rewarded with an ecstatic surge of power and might.
You have slain Eicia.NAILED IT!!!!
Having been too much for the mortal threads of Eicia, she screams in agony as flames engulf her body and burn it to a crisp.

The ghost of Eicia turns to a dark, murky miasma, which slowly solidifies into a foul, undead creature.

Avurekhos quirks his lips, obviously appeased by the sacrifice.

Eicia proceeds to inhale sharply as her body forms again, eyes closing with a soft, pleased, "Thank you.. I would offer my life again for HIM, as the God of Gods is all there is and all that anyone would do this for."

Eicia grovels pathetically in the dirt.

You have emoted: Anita lunges forward to the reformed viscanti woman, bringing her to stand before the altar. Dagger in hand, she unflinchingly slashes her own wrist thrice above a basin flecked with dried blood, her own lifeforce splashing and soon overflowing on to the altar. Glaring at Eicia, her once soft voice now harsh, "You rise a maggot before HIM, and have been marked so. You are HIS. You shall sup upon the blood of superiority in covenant. Through me and the Warlord, the privellage to worship at the feet of the Lord Fain shall be granted to you.". The dagger clatters to the ground and she turns to the basin, plunging her paws within and bringing them back out cupped full of her own blood. Turning to the viscanti woman, she brings her bloodied paws to Eicia's lips, "Drink, maggot, and know what it is to belong to the Crimson God."

Clearly giving no delay or hesitation, as if the very thought appeals greatly to her, Eicia parts her lips, taking your hands and pulling them closer as she dips into a sinuous posture, much like a curtsey, and begins to consume the blood. She only releases you when she has taken all of it.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage smiles and says, "How pleasing, every last drop."

Avurekhos allows his features to become more stern, and less humorous, he sneers at Eicia for a moment before nodding. "You're His now, by HIS Will I grant you an opportunity to HIS Seeing. Speak the words upon the altar, these are personal and shall be an indicator of if the Lord finds you worthy to receive HIM." he pauses for a moment, "May you be worthy to have HIM use your bones as toothpicks in the very least." he gestures before the altar.

Novitiate Eicia hisses, "My Lord, I grovel before Thee. Grant me Your seeing. Empower Thy altar, that I might be raised up on high."

A palpable tension enters the air, and the ambient temperature drops sharply.

Novitiate Eicia asserts, "My Lord, empower me with Your hate."

With a steady hand, Eicia seizes the dagger from atop the altar and lacerates her left wrist with three steady incisions. Wincing, she holds it out over the altar, and her blood drips upon it and collects there, spreading along the grooves dug into the stone.

Eicia sways unsteadily and leans, panting, against the altar.

Steaming eerily in the cold, the blood atop the altar flows through the symbolic grooves into a reservoir.

Eagerly, Eicia cups her hands and grasps a drought of blood. Raising it to her face, she laps it up, spilling it over her face and down her front in gory rivulets.

Eicia winces and chokes, spitting the congealing blood back onto the ground in dark coloured chunks.

The crimson mists dissipate as the altar's power fades.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "Welcome to the Fold, sister of Crimson. May He look favourably upon you through the next purge."

You turn your head, startled by a whispering off in the shadows.

Eicia lifts her left hand to lick at the wound upon her wrist further before allowing the blood to fall on its own to her clothes and the floor, "Thank you."

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "There are many areas unaccessible to you at this time, in times past the Crimson Council may have deemed you uninitiated. But as the few that remain to serve the Lord, [redacted], you may be provided entry into areas only accessible by use of His Masque."

You turn your head, startled by a whispering off in the shadows.

Nightmare of the Glomdoring, Avurekhos Feyranti, Crimson Fist of Luciphage says, "I can permit it, as I have done so with your fellow Sister of Blood."

You have emoted: All evidence of malevolence extinguished from her features, Anita clasps her bloodied paws together against her chest. She steps beside Eicia and links a slender arm through Eicia's, eyes regarding the Warlord with an unreadable expression as he speaks.

[then the Warlord took us on a tour of His realm. Tada! Shiny new supplicant!]