logs | ♰ Before the Next Sacrifice

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♰ Before the Next Sacrifice

WHO: Augustine G. Rosethrawn & others (Open To All)
WHERE: Stygia (mainly Serene)
WHEN: Throughout all of October
WHAT: October Event + General Catch-all
WARNINGS: Possible violence, swearing, and mentions of death.

[ I'll be adding more prompts throughout the week featuring the event stuff in question. If you would like to plot with me, feel free to drop me a DM or hit me up on

devillady. I'm always more than happy to make a starter or two. So don't be shy. Also, you're welcome to make your own starters as well. ]

PLOTTING 🌹 EVENT🌹 WILDCARD

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[As Cedrik recounts his tale regarding a group of aspiring but ill-fated adventurers, Augustine takes this time to study Puck. He settles down upon the edge of a tree stump and watches with keen interest as the boy focuses his attention upon Cedrik. It seems the Viera's creepy tale has truly won the fae's attention, so much that the boy has left the lantern unguarded beside him. His fingers itch as he stares down at the lantern.

Would it be foolish for him to try snatch the lantern away before Cedrik finishes? The boy is focused squarely on the Viera, not once glancing at him. Even though this seems like a prime opportunity to reclaim it, something in the back of Augustine's mind warns him otherwise. The woods are watching. Even if the dhampir somehow manages to grab the lantern, the woods itself will try to stop him. That much seems obvious enough after that leaf scratched his cheek.

A frustrated sigh escapes Augustine as he touches his cheek just to ensure the wound is sealed unbeknown to him that Puck is watching him. The boy watches the dhampir from the corner of his soulless eyes with a hint of a smirk upon his lips. Yes, the child knows what Cedrik's companion is thinking. The youth keeps his eyes on the dhampir for a moment or so longer than necessary before turning back towards the adventurer. Cedrik is a fantastic storyteller, someone who pays attention to the smallest details much like him. Puck cannot help but look overjoyed as this tale takes a puzzling turn for the worse. Hearing what dark fate awaited Edda and her friends pleases him to no end.]

You failed to save her...didn't you? [The boy questions with a mischievous little smirk that is quickly turning sinister.] From your failure, she died and became a spirit who would forever haunt the earth.

[A chuckle escapes the youth as he reaches for the golden handle of the lantern. Puck could feel the dhampir tense as he does so, relishing the man's displeasure. He stares at the both of them, his eyes devoid of light as he speaks. The flickering orange glow of the lantern makes him look far more demonic than before.]

No, I--

[ Puck catches him out immediately, having seen right through Cedrik's attempts to keep his involvement hidden. It...probably wasn't hard. Yet Cedrik is still taken aback, partly because he wants Puck to be wrong. He was able to help Edda, though it came far too late. Finding her spirit in that strange, Gelmorran maze and putting her to rest...is that the same as saving her?

His Shadow certainly doesn't think so and Cedrik can feel its laughter, echoing Puck's own wicked chuckle. The protest dies on his tongue and Cedrik finds himself looking to Augustine.

What exactly does he expect from the dhampir? Comfort? He's not sure--the thought ends up being forgotten as Cedrik catches sight of something in the distance, standing just beyond the light's edge near the trees.

A young girl in brown robes and a soft, wide-brimmed hat that obscures her face. Her hands are clasped in front of her and as she lifts her head, Cedrik can see the familiar smile, gleaming through the shadows. ]

Gods be good, that's not possible...

[ And she isn't alone. ]

[There's two battles being fought here, both of which neither of them can physically see. Puck is cruelly preying on both Cedrik's mind and spirit in hopes of causing those nasty self-doubts to unfurl. Augustine recognizes this tactic well. He's spent enough time with the fair folk to know they're not very fair. That's why the dhampir injects when the adventurer falters.]

Cedrik did his best. [He quickly states as he glares at the boy.] He did all that he could to ensure Edda and her companions could rest.

That's the meaning of mercy.

[The demonic faery grins menacingly at Augustine, his features lighting up with maniac glee as he stares at the dhampir. ]

So you claim but his mercy came with…pain.

[Augustine lets out a sound of distaste once he hears something rustling within the shrubbery. He figured that this little monster would invoke the dead but he was hoping Puck wouldn’t take it this far. Nevertheless, he’s not going to waste anymore words on the boy. It’s time for action, especially now that they have several undead fiends born from Cedrik’s trauma encroaching on them.]

Cedrik.

[He glances towards the adventurer with a smile.]

Don’t allow your anguish to define you.

[Without any warning, Augustine holds up a knife towards his right hand and cuts deep within his palm. The telltale metallic scent of blood entices the fiends lurking, causing them to charge forward. However, they won’t get a chance to taste this sweet nectar. In just a flash of blinding red light, dozens of crystalized gems suddenly appear all around Augustine and Cedrik before suddenly forming into a seemingly endless armiger of floating blood red swords.

The intricacies of blood sorcery is relatively known to many but the general rule is the more blood, the better. Augustine purposely lacerated his deep palmar arch in order to get the blood necessary. While he’s relatively numb to pain in general, that actually stings quite a bit. However, Cedrik won’t be able to tell since the dhampir quickly leaps into the fray.]

[ Some 'mercy'. You didn't act until she stood in your way, you barely knew she existed until then. What, no thrill to be had in helping a girl in need? You saw how she was being treated and did nothing.

He can't save everyone, he knows this, but the lesson will never sit well with him. It's an easy angle for his Shadow to exploit, helped by Puck's brazen mocking. It makes it far more difficult than it should to dispute his Shadow's point...what could he have done? He was a nobody adventurer back then. Even if Avere eventually looked up to him, he wouldn't take the word of another 'novice' trying to shame him into being kinder to his fiance...

The conflict distracted him, allowing Puck--or whatever magic is at work--to pull from those memories and put them in yet more danger. It's only when Augustine addresses him directly that he's able to push the doubts aside. The dhampir is right. That's another lesson he's supposed to have learned. Fray would be shaking him by the shoulders if he could.

Before he can respond, even offer a smile in return, Augustine has gone and stabbed himself in the hand and the ashkin are charging from the treeline. ]

To hells with it!

[ This, this, still manages to keep all his doubts at bay. There's no space left for them, not when the world narrows to the clashes of violence. In an instant Cedrik is on his feet, worn down knife drawn and held as Oboro once showed him, his empty hand held open in a defensive posture near his middle.

He can at least spare a thought for wonder, though. Augustine's magic, if one ignores the source of it, is strangely beautiful to behold. As the blood crystalizes it scatters the firelight throughout the clearing, creating their own sea of red stars. The slow moving ashkin are easy targets for Augustine, giving Cedrik the opening to focus on the necromancer herself. He charges past, heading for the treeline, right for Edda's phantom--only to be blocked by the flying, white, bloated head of Avere. ]

--of course. [ Cedrik leaps back from the monster's first swipe, it's spindly limbs holding surprising strength. ] Augustine! When you're able...!

[Augustine had just plunged the blade of his bloody sword through the throat of one of these ashkins, when Cedrik called him. He pauses momentarily once he sees the winged beast, his eyes wide with alarm. Judging from it being nothing more than a flying bloated head with webbed wings, that must be Avere. All Edda could save of her dear beloved was his head according to Cedrik. It's one thing to hear about something so horrific and another to see it. Nevertheless, Augustine plans to make quick work of this monster lest they'll never get the lantern back.

With just a flick of his bloody hand, a dozen or so floating swords suddenly point their blades at Avere before darting towards the beast at top speed. He signals for the blades to dive upon the ashkin, each blade skewering the monster's flesh from every side. It's a rather gruesome affair, especially since Puck spared no detail in creating these monsters but Augustine remains unperturbed. The dhampir seen quite a bit of blood and gore in his long life. It will take more than this to upset him.]

Be on guard. [He warns Cedrik after cutting down yet another ashkin that threw itself at him.] Such monsters aren't very intelligent but they're vicious.

[Knowing that this battle cannot continue for much longer, Augustine turns his sights towards Puck. The boy is still sitting there upon the tree stump with an amused expression as he watches them fight. As for the lantern, it dangles precariously off the tip of his fingers swaying within the ominous cold breeze.]

[ If only Augustine was around the last time Cedrik had to fight Edda's creations. It would have been a much faster trip. ]

AVERE!!

[ Edda's scream is as piercing as Augustine's blades, the anguish in her voice palpable in the heavy air, even over the sounds of combat. Even knowing it must be an illusion, it's hard for Cedrik to shake the guilty pang in his heart. Backing away, he watches the image of her rushing forward, kneeling at the corpse of her love. Dead again. ]

I can--I can fix this, Avere, I swear to you, I'll bring you back again...

[ As if spurred on by her sorrow, the other undead attack with increased ferocity. Edda needs to be stopped--but Cedrik can't afford to keep his focus on her. As capable as Augustine is, he's still vastly outnumbered. ~~Adds first, then the boss.~~

Returning to the dhampir's side, even Cedrik's dull knife is proving effective. The rotten flesh falls away easily with only a few precise slashes, the trouble is they just keep coming. ]

Oh, I'm well aware...

[ He puts his back against Augustine's, mindful of those wing, and braces himself against the assault. Would that he had his armor at least...

With all the footwork needed a lot of dirt is being kicked up and soon enough some of it is thrown over the fire. It's only a little, not enough to dampen it completely, but Cedrik sees something strange. The ashkin flickers in and out of existence, along with the light. In that moment Cedrik knows what to do, guided as much by instinct as the Echo. ]

The fire!

[ Ducking a clumsy grab from another zombie, Cedrik holds off his own assault to make three quick gestures with his hands. The magic feels strange but, and Cedrik doesn't know how lucky he is, it still works. Pressing a hand to the ground and releasing the mudra, a waterspout spontaneously bursts up from beneath the campfire, dousing it instantly as well as scattering the logs.

It's quiet again. Quiet and dark.

Above them, Puck claps his hands and cheers his approval. ]

Bravo!

[Augustine would be lying if he didn't feel a pang of sympathy for the poor girl. He can hear the desperation within Edda's voice as the last sword skewers her beloved. It seems so familiar, eerily familiar. Unbeknownst to Cedrik, he was once in Edda's place after losing all his loved ones when a rival house attacked them in the middle of day.

He still remembers that dreadful day vividly. While he does his best to ignore Edda's sobbing, it's rather noticeable that he's hesitant to slay the conjurer. Those ethereal red blades whip around Edda in favor of stabbing the other ashkins nearby. He doesn't think it's his place to put her down. If anyone is going to grant this atrabilious shade down, it should be Cedrik.]

I wish you possessed more than just a butterknife.

[The dhampir mutters once he feels Cedrik against his back. They're surrounded by enemies but thankfully Augustine's magic is making quick work of them. Once they manage to bring back the Mourning Lantern, he's going to demand that they're handsomely compensated for such harrowing work.]

Keep your wits about you!

[Quite aware that Cedrik can hold his own, Augustine didn't quite expect the adventurer to summon forth a geyser of water with some sort of bizarre magic. It was enough to cause him to pause since he had never quite seen anything like that before. Nevertheless, it seemed to have worked to bring this onslaught to an end. All of the ashkin seem to flicker out of existence, the same for Edda herself.

Augustine lets out a shaky chuckle before turning his gaze upward toward Puck. The boy is sitting on a branch of a nearby tree with the lantern still in his possession.]

Enough of these games--[He snarls as he slowly approaches the tree.] Return the lantern at once!

[Augustine makes a rather fearsome opponent with those glowing red eyes but if one looks closely, the dhampir looks a bit paler now. It seems he's used too much of his blood.]

...that was bracing.

[ If Cedrik had more than a 'butter knife', as Augustine calls it, he wouldn't have even broken a sweat. As it is he's a little winded, having had to fight twice as hard just to keep up. And speaking of the knife--

Cedrik winces as he notices the handle still in his hand...with the blade now at his feet. In retrospect he remembers it being in the hand he used to hit the ground when he cast the suiton ninjutsu--it must have been enough to finally break the old blade. With a click of his tongue he tosses the handle aside, looking up to see Augustine preparing to skewer Puck where he floats.

This time, he's not as inclined to stop him. ]

Of course, of course! After a show like that you deserve it!

[ Finally, Cedrik thinks, the tension starting to fade from his shoulders. ]

...if...

[ Piss. ]

You can answer one. Last. Question... I am a word that is hardly there. Remove my start, and I'm an herbal flair. What am I?

[ ...piss. Cedrik looks at Augustine, unspoken panic creeping into his eyes. Hitting things he can do all day, but riddles and the like? That's what his friends have always been for. ]

[An honest to God growl escapes Augustine as he glares up at the little trickster. He's in no mood for games, especially now that he's closely reaching his limit. His tolerance for pain is diminishing by the seconds and that nasty gash in his hand is still bleeding profusely. He really cannot afford to continue with this farce but at the same time, he wouldn't put it past Puck to attack them at their weakest.

Thankfully, the little imp has a riddle to ask instead of more cheap tricks. Augustine lets out a tense sigh as he decides to summon away some of those crystallized blades. One by one each of those ethereal red blades suddenly shatters like glass. Despite feeling quite fatigued, Augustine's mind is thankfully as sharp as a tact. He might lack a fondness for riddles but he knows his herbs well enough.

He gives Cedrik a quick glance in hopes of calming his fears before giving his answer.]

Sparsely.

[The answer is whispered but it's loud enough for Puck's ears.]

[ Loud enough for Puck's and certainly loud enough for Cedrik's. That has to be the answer, of course! Though he was expecting something less...literal. That always trips him up when it comes to riddles.

Sure enough, Puck gives Augustine another cheer and tosses the lantern towards him. Cedrik reacts without thought, lunging forward with his arms and catching the delicate thing before it can hit the ground. ]

...apologies. I know you wouldn't let it drop, but--

[ Cedrik pauses, glancing down. ]

--you're yet bleeding. Here, give me your hand...

[ Tying the lantern to his belt, Cedrik begins to tear away the sleeve of his tunic. As short-lived as mundane objects are in this realm, he'd be due to replace it within a week anyway. He's no healer but he knows a little, enough to improvise a bandage to put a stop to that blood loss. ]

[Just when moved to catch the lantern, Cedrik thankfully caught it instead. Finally, the Mourning Lantern is within their possession. It took a while for them to find it but thankfully, they did.]

All's well, it ends well.

[He mutters quietly before glancing towards Puck's direction only to find that the youth is no longer there. It seems the boy has vanished or maybe he was simply an illusion of some kind. Whatever the case, Augustine is thankful that this entire ordeal has ended.]

Now this just leaves the matter of returning it.

[The dhampir says before suddenly being cut off by Cedrik who seems quite concerned. He stares at him for a moment before glancing down at his wounded hand. It seems he forgotten all about the injury despite the pain.]

I-I'll be fine. [He quickly says in hopes of assuaging his companion's fears. However, words alone won't be enough to calm Cedrik down. Augustine lets out a quiet huff once the man starts bandaging his hand with a piece of cloth.] This is merely a flesh wound.

[The greatest lie ever told. If this was merely a flesh wound, then why does Augustine suddenly tripping over his words?]

[ The only evidence that remains at all are the scattered, smoking remnants of the campfire--and the lantern itself, of course. It sways securely from Cedrik's waist as he works, tightly binding the cut with strips of cloth until red stain finally stops growing.

Augustine's protest is given a flat and knowing look. ]

I've told that lie often enough to recognize it anywhere. Don't try it.

[ But the dhampir is letting Cedrik dress the wound without further fuss so he returns the favor by keeping his scolding to a minimum. Once finished he straightens up, putting his hands on Augustine's shoulders to make sure he's steady on his feet...because he doesn't look like he is. ]

We can afford to rest a little while before we return, if you need it.

[ They have the lantern, after all. The Oakwoods may yet be angry until it's returned, but...it's a bit of a difficult decision. Rush back now and put an end to the crisis, or spare a few minutes more to keep his friend from risking his health even further.

Cedrik decides on the latter. ]

[Judging from that shaky chuckle, Augustine really does need a moment. His body feels weak and heavy right now, almost like his entire body is slowly shutting down. Usually several days of rest would be enough to heal him but there’s no resting in the Netherworld, not when danger lurks in every corner. He could barely keep himself upright at this point but thankfully Cedrik is keeping him steady.]

Rest doesn’t come easy here. [He mutters.] Not here in the middle of such evil.

[Even though they may have secured the lantern, unless they return it to Myrtille soon, this forest is bound to consume everyone and everything that still draws breath. Even now, the shadows of this murky forest are slowly encroaching over them. He sees the black tendrils of the shadows inch ever so closer towards them but he’s helpless to do anything about it. There’s a great evil that lurks within these woods, something that honestly makes his skin crawl.]

Go on without me.

[He turns to Cedrik with a pleading gaze in hopes of sending the Viera off to seek the old woman alone.]

Our task is nearly done and I’m bound to slow you down.

[ The look Cedrik had leveled at Augustine before flattens out completely at the dhampir's suggestion to be left behind. ]

Now you're just being a fool.

[ The viera sighs and, without waiting for any more stupidly self sacrificing protests, takes Augustine's arm and draws it over his shoulders. He may be the shorter of the two but he has more than enough strength to support the man. ]

Come on.

[ And so Cedrik sets off back the way they came, with Augustine rather than without. ]

[Wait a minute, doesn't he get a say in this? Just when he was going to state there's not enough time, Cedrik suddenly just manhandles him. He knew this alleged rabbit faery creature was indeed strong but strong enough to carry a six foot two dhampir? To be fair, Augustine isn't hardly as heavy as he would seem since he tends to forsake food rather often. While he does eat on occasion, Augustine can go weeks without food.]

I swear if anyone sees us--[He warns before eventually giving in. His pride wouldn't survive the ordeal if this overgrown rabbit carried him into town. He's just lowkey thankful that Cedrik didn't just toss him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Poor Augustine would never forgive him otherwise.]

I suppose I ought show some gratitude.

[He grumbles.]

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♰ Before the Next Sacrifice

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