by Vexademus on Mon Jul 25, 2022 9:18 pm
Lord Archaon's Gift - June 07, 2021
Varis stood there, just staring at the sand that was dumped near the temple and the rigged forge he'd need for melting it. At six and a half feet tall with muscular build, he was dressed in long black pants and a white tank top. His black hair was pulled into a bun and those lavendar eyes gleamed while waiting for the others to arrive. Vaden was in the temple changing his attire, as Varis told him it was going to be dirty work to make a large glass container for fish and then to make one for the dead bat.
Vaden had changed into clothes that were covered in paint; old clothes that looked a little ratty, a little torn. His ears flicked a touch as he came out and stood quietly in the doorway, to watch the sand getting dumped, a deep breath coming as he clutched his book under his left arm. That tail swayed.
Vexademus made sure that she dismounted SomeWhere by climbing down. After vaulting off the ornate saddle so many times, it was funny that she'd eventually hurt herself. Tying him off at a post near the temple, she wiped her face and looked around, shadow-licked mane held back and rivulets already working down her spinal column beneath her arch magi robes. The depths of the jungle for the Kirva temple were expected of their humidity but that didn't prevent her from sweating. Still, the mage liked it. The fish would be delivered soon. If the glass casing would be ready and cooled, the process could begin immediately. As well, soft shoes took her to the entrance of the temple and she swallowed before making her way inside. She didn't like places like this. "Hello? Hello??" she was already calling out, looking around.
Mae was riding her black majestic warhorse followed by two undead wolven. The black winged torian beauty wore a sexy black dress, her whip on her hip and black heels. She hadn´t been to this temple before but she received a message that her powers were needed. A large dead bat..well..that was something that caught her interest. She wasn´t there yet, but it wouldn´t take much longer now before she would arrive.
Varis watched Vexademus walk past his giant Clysdale and himself as she entered the temple and calls out to her.
"Out here!" He had told her it would be in the temple, but once the sand got there, he realizd he didn't want to clean up the temple *again*. He chose to have the sand dumped off to the side of the building. Varis moved towards Vex before she'd get to far down the stairs to the underground portion of it.
"It's over here." he said softly, gently trying to take her by the hand and lead her to the pit pile. Once there, he would nod to the *enormous* amount of sand pile and nods.
"We got the sand and have the "forge" in place. Just need you to start your magic. Someone's headed this way. One of your people?" He asked her while motioning for Vaden. Once he arrived to the dark elf's side, he would smile to his beloved. "Vexademus, this is Vaden. Vaden, this is Vexademus. She's the one supply the heat for the two glass containeres we're making." Varis was ready to go with this.
Vaden's ears flicked a touch as he looked to the mage, giving a small nod to the woman before his attention went to Mae, the catboy watching her for a moment while he adjusted his painter's clothes. "Nice to meet you," was said politely, inclining his head with a dip of red eyes briefly before finding gaze on Varis once more.
The OverSeer acquiesced, then she answered, "Aye. Aye. Magic and all that..." She looked over the sand pile and inhaled. It was a lot.
"I have the aether and energy. Let's get to work shall we?"
She glanced Mae and motioned her to join, "Yes, this is Miss Mae. And, an honor to meet you, Vaden." She bowed her crown and gestured, black velveteen robes dark and writhing still, as if alive. "This should be a fun endeavor."
When Mae arrived, she would dismount made sure the horse got everything it needed before joining the rest, her hips asway in her gait. Her two large undead wolven would follow her like bodyguards. Leaning weight to one hip, placing a hand on it as blue eyes surveyed the others. A teasing look and a grin on her lips. ¨Hello Miss Vexademus. I hope you have been alright?¨ She offered her hand to the couple, ¨Mae, pleasure meeting you two.¨ would come polite greeting.
The dark elf snorted, "Fun is one word for it," said with a grin, walking to start the fire to heat the sand to melt. "Vaden, don't forget to pour the melt onto the tool we made for making the jars, okay?" He reminded, giving the halfblood a loving smile before looking to the torian. "Varis. Pleasure. Let's get going." He responded, beginning to stir the portion of sand when the heat was applied to it. He and Vaden would be working together to start creating the bottom of the container for the fish to be in first.
The half-kit nodded lightly to Mae, taking her hand to give it a shake, "Vaden," before he joined Varis, brows knitting. He wasn't sure about this whole thing but he was glad to work with the dark elf.
Caster produced assent to Mae even though that face never really cracked smile, there was pleasance. Tipping her head as if listening to the wind, of which there is none, one could assume an incoming Message. And sure enough, up came the voluminous sleeve and whispered down into it. Another casting had her doing an entire preview of the area in full three hundred sixty degrees with strange silvery gaze glazed over. The spell faded and the return Message was sent off. A couple blinks and she followed along, shortly, "Where would you like the first of heat and where would you like the first of focused gravity?"
"Here, in the forge for the heat." he said, pointing to the square furnace he made the previous night. The special hearth was compressed, to keep the heat inside to help *cook* the sand.
He gestured, "That is where I want the first container made. Mae," He said looking at her with a frown. How could she be dressed like that in the heated jungle, especially as wet as it was, and about to do some hard labor? "Once I start blowing, would you mind assisting Vaden in pouring the melted glass on my tool? I have a feeling just one person won't keep up with it and I need to concentrate on blowing and shaping it."
She would squint for a moment when Varis didn't shake her hand and thought it kind of rude. Well, she wasn't here for childish behavior. She gave Vaden a smile as he accepted her hand in turn.
She inquired, ¨So, where is the dead body?¨ Then Varis inquired task of her. Was she going to make a container? She had never done that before. She noticed the frown. Judging her. Well, she didn't know what his problem was but he better not piss her off. Not wise to anger a necromancer. Especially not Mae. She agreed, ¨Of course.¨
At least his companion was more friendly. A smile was then laid at the dark elf, still flanked by her minions.
Vexademus responds to the previous question, "It will be delivered here soon. The acolytes had to secure it to a flat surface for teleportation. The fish will arrive the same way, only..." she left off the rest of that because she needed the fish tank up and filled first. The mage strode nearer to the forge, only close enough to focus and stare. She was quiet for a long few moments. As if she heard nothing but her breathing; unblinking. Pulling up her huge sleeves, she exposed the chaotic patches of silvery scars that started from wrists and possibly carried onwards up further, into the clothing. Intonations rose from throat and she went back and forth between burning fingers and a subtle'd energy bolt, growing it hotter and hotter.
"Just...tell me....when..." came the subtle tense reply.
"Now." he answered, and when the energy bolt was cast, he continued to stir the sand in the heat and took the glob of glass out of the furnace to place it at the end of a long blowing pipe. A shift of the pipe once it was bubbled on the end, he would set it down on a block, rolling it back and forth as he shaped it with a metal tool, all the while using thick padded gloves to protect his hands. The bauble form into an ovular shape. After that, it was up to Vaden and Mae to help get the sand into the forde and bring it to the form, to further shape and blow it as needed. Thankfully, he had memorized the jar figures that Vaden and himself had come up with. Shyntolin's slave worked quickly. He moved sand into the forge to make sure there was plenty, and then a molten glass glob was collected with metal rod, the halfcat having put on thick leather gloves also to do the work with.
The sorceress strained a little, having cast the spells accordingly with rather simple somatic and viable spill of incant, showing some drain. The components weren't too hard, bits of ash and lightning fixed thin glass crinkled within palms; back and forth. She was even heard to slide forththe word 'Fusilia' to better help, heating the furnace surrounding the fires. Not too hot though. She couldn't risk meltingthe forge. There was a frenetic glance at periphery, not daring to look for lack of concentration.
Mae would join Vaden to help him with pouring the melt on his tool. She was careful with grace. It wasn't like she could prepare the dead creature yet as it hadn't arrived so she would simply assist where she could.
Varis's top was half wet at the start, but the rain that started to fall only made him soaked, the fabric clinging to his form. Toned musculature flexed with each movement while constantly providing attention to blow into the piping and turn the shaping tool. With each glob that was added, the glass became thicker and longer; the oval shape starting to form more clearly now.
"You're both doing great!" he complimented as he hunched over to blow into the piping. Once done, he quickly put it down and ran back to the other side to continue to shape it bfore the next portion was put on.
Vaden seemed to dour more as the rain started, those ears flicking while moving to help. He stirred the sand as well, then ferried lumps of fresh glass over to Varis with Mae's assistance. It was very hot. He wiped his forehead on the back of his sleeve.
The mage couldn't see what was happening. So intensely was she centralized on making sure none of the aether escaped the coil within her midsection to be conversated out; the movements of hands to signify where she was pointing and aiming those spells, again and again. Unnoticed of the hurrying creatures to pour and skittering steps to move and position for Varis went by without her knowledge. The magess was falling into the magic and it was so delicious! Visible patches of blush began to run down from temples to cheeks to throat shown, alongside the rivulets of raindrops and salted sweat. The woman would be veritably soaked by task's end.
As the black winged torian didn't mind the rain, she would nod succinctly at Varis's compliments and returned to the task of helping Vaden. She hadn't expected manual labor but, no matter. She was an aid after all; it was her job. Besides, it was an honor that Vexademus had asked her to use magical talent.
The glass smith shaman continued the project, casting glances at Vex in the knowledge that she was concentrating, thus why he didn't say anything to her so as to interrupt. As both assistants moved to help with the dark elf's work, the container for the fish was speculated to be finished within two hours. After that, he let his lover know, "You can stop, Vaden. Check the containers to ensure I got it right, please."
His upper torso heaved up and down with each labored breath. He stepped to Vex and puts a hand on her shoulder, "You good?"
The wizard had tapered the spells down and when that checking hand came to rest on her shoulder, she shut her un-koaled eyes and sniffled. A snort of rainwater and moisture then she wavered on her feet. A swallow and she was nodding, dryness of throat making it hard for her to utter, "Water. More than what's on me right now..." Calm and ease and what looked to be satiation worked across visage as she rocked forward and back in stance, looking around while still blinking, wondering exactly where to go to sup. The next round would be vigorous as she would have to employ gravity spells soon.
He then nodded to all, "Provisions are in the temple's main room. The Inn was generous with what they gave us. Vaden set it out so he can tell you what we were supplied with." Those lavender eyes settled pleasantly.
The halfbreed scurried back and forth and back and forth with Mae, working hard, but not as hard as Vexademus or Varis. The kitten's tail swayed briefly, and several times he wanted to ask Varis to rest but, he didn't. The kitten looked over the containers, going slow, inspecting everything and comparing it in his head to the drawings they had made the day before, then he nodded, "It looks perfect. Matches up very well. Now rest for a time."
Mae had assisted Vaden and it seemed that they could stop. She would stand up and scanning the rest, spoke to Varis. ¨If you need some extra strength; my wolven could help you.¨
She leaned on one hip and crossed her arms, making her breasts push up. She would just follow their lead. Her eyes shifted to Vexademus. She could see that the woman was tired, hopefully she could keep it up. Of course, Mae had her magic as well..but it was more focused on the law of death.
When Vaden moved to Varis to tell him that everything matched up, he reached out to hug him. "You did great, my love," he whispered into his ear, and kissed behind it. Letting Vaden go, he nods. "We'll rest once we're inside," then moved to Vex to pick her up. Being hefted, she didn't complain, large ass just hanging from the bridal carriage the dark elf offered, one voluminous sleeved arm slung around the back of his flint neck. "Water is in the temple. Follow me," he told the others, carrying her like she weighed nothing to the Temple's entrance, down the stairs. Once in the main sermon room, a lavish picnic was shown to have been set up by Vaden. The sorceress felt the coolness assault her as they entered another area and then settled down onto a hard surface; a pew. After settling her, he grabbed a wineskin with water inside, holding it out to her. "Here's some water, sip it gently. Don't want or need you to have a belly ache. We still have the main tube to make." he reminded the witch. She shook a little, bringing it to mouth to sip; as he said.
The assistant kitten smiled as Varis did, hugging him back and shivering from the whisper and the kiss. His cheeks went pink, then he looked upward, "Does it always rain here?"
He turned to Mae, motioning for her to follow. "Let's take a break."
Magic was a mysterious thing to him. How did someone learn to conjure fireballs, or reanimate the dead? He could work with nature, and supposed that was strange enough. He followed Varis inside.
Vexademus barely heard the arrival of the marblized base on floating disc when a couple of acolytes blundered to the front of the temple. She was more concerned on getting something to wet her throat and tongue. She felt like she'd been licking a rather lengthy piece of pumiced shag carpeting and the exertion had made her all the more giddy if not feeling half-exhausted. The woman hadn't known what it had been like to bail hay for hours, but she had a good guess that that's what this was akin to.
The black winged torian would squeeze her eyes shut. Well, she offered Varis some help but clearly he had something against her. She would look at how Vaden and Varis were hugging and she would make a mental note of that. Always useful to keep eyes open for information. She watched Vaden when he motioned her and she would follow him. Her two undead shadowed her, guarding their mistress. She would just take a seat and crossed her legs, exposing one of the limbs. The necromancer surveyed the group while taking sips from her own drink.
The Inn had supplied them well. Random sandwichs with cheese, meat, and condiments were in other containers. Once Vex took a sip, he looked to Mae and offered her a tired smile, "Thank you, Mae, for your help. I couldn't have done it without you; all of you. Our Lord of the Land will be quite pleased with his gift." He plopped down in a pew behind Vex. "Take a break, eat and drink. I did have them bring some coffee and tea, there's in the tall containers, if wanted. Figured we might need the caffine. And yes, Vaden, it always rains here. It's a rain jungle, the temperatures and the atmosphere encourages it. Besides, the rain helped to keep the sweat out of our eyes." He said, leaning back and relaxing with hands behind his head and closing his eyes.
Vaden stepped to the side to make sure Mae and her undead could find somewhere to sit. Then he began to serve. He was a slave, after all. Not Varis', but he knew everyone was tired and worked hard. He turned to Vex and Mae, "May I get you ladies anything?" he asked while serving water to Varis.
Vexademus found the water to be relieving. It made her throat cramp a little, suffering unsticking and then she drank a little more deeply, lips mending a line across face while she sniffed again. Her face still bore the signs of pink, which had headed to a soft purple on her cheeks. The work was almost done. She needed to get to the fish tank. Message careened into her ear and she nodded, leaning up sleeve to whisper into the velvet, murmur barely audible. Looking to those who had joined her, holding a hand out to Vaden, "I have to get to the tank. Square footage of water and fishes into a place that I see." Never one to stop for too long, she was already trying to stand and set aside the skin. It was for His Grace. The mage wouldn't want to do anything to muss her mentor's reputation either; Infernis's pupil being brilliantly stubborn.
Mae would respond to Varis's gratitude, "You're welcome. But if you do need physical help, my wolven can assist."
Her blue eyes went to Vaden and gave a friendly warm smile. "Just sit and rest, sweetie. You need your strength as well." She would give him a wink and then looked at the sorceress, "You know it is important to rest. I understand you want to continue, but we both know that isn't the wisest to do now. So, rest." she would say with a friendly but firmly tone. Not really demanding, but she was serious about it. If Vex would become too tired, her magic could become dangerous. So it was foolish to not have herself in balance. Mae helped herself to some sandwiches, speaking around the food, "When you have caught your breath, maybe you could tell me more about this bat? I heard there was also a living one captured?" She asked curiously, wanting to have as much infomration as possible.
The shaman was sipping the water from Vaden when Vex tried to stand. He moved to her and nods. "I'll carry you up there. Is the water and fish on their way now? How close are they?" He asked her as he tried to pick her up once more. "After securing the fish and water into the tank, you will need to take a rest and eat, Vexademus. You need it before the tube for the bat. That's only going to be more taxing on you and you need to rest some more as well." He softly scolded her, and once he had her in his arms, he would move to walk up the stairs. Vexademus spoke, turning an eye to Mae, "I wouldn't want to disappoint my teacher, Miss Mae. But, you must be right, mm? Don't worry..." And up she went! Into that bridal hold once more, carried of uneven figure as if she weighed nothing more than just a bundle of sticks. The fact that he was commanding her to rest upon receiving the stuff - that was fine. He paused mid-stairs when Mae spoke and nods to her. "I will keep that in mind, but blowing and shaping is very important, and skill one has to have. If your undead wolven can help you two with the melt and delivery, that would be great. But, Vex WILL rest once the fish and water is in the first holder. We need them to cloud the water so we have to get up there to make sure they get into the tank safely."
Vaden frowned a little as those two went right back to work, an offer of a smile given to the necromancer before he grabbed a sandwich half and followed them up the stairs. He also picked up that lavender sketch book on his way by. "..I would like to see the live bat." His ears flicked a touch as he glanced back. "Eventually."
The mage couldn't really fight it. Once set down to stand, she leaned over and peered into the tank. Whispers into the surrounding aether and she blinked to concentrate her entire vision of it. Just as the last of her murmurs died down, she immediately stepped back, practically bumping into Varis in the action. It was just enough when suddenly, an entire ten gallons appeared! and then sploshed into the tank! Again and again. Each time provided more fish and water, the tank filling. Her sight had been sent with scrying and Message to several acolytes who were situated near a beach that had been invited onto property.
The torian necromancer would simply nod to the both of them, not really caring to argue. She came here to do her job. A smile back to Vaden. "Oh you will see the bat moving." She finished her sandwich, stood up, left free a deep sigh and just followed the group again with her two undead wolven. She would lean against the building as she watched Vexademus do her thing, crossing her arms, while observing what was going on.
Varis was indeed right behind the spellcaster and when she stepped back, so did he, but he put his hands on her shoulders to steady her. Once the tank was filled with water, he murmured into her ear, "Now they do their part in this. You are going back downstairs to the temple to rest, for at least an hour."
A look to Vaden and Mae. "Going back down for a good while now. Rest is needed by all," then picked Vex up and headed towards the entrance. He paused, "Mae, your wolven are undead, right? Keep them at the temple entrance so no one can come sneak in on us, if you don't mind. This way those who want to nap can. If that's okay for you?" he asked. She would nod, turning to her wolven guard and they would hand her a bag, starting to walk to the entrance to guard. Well, Aavran would have to accept that she came home late. "If you don't mind, I like to prepare a working place for me before the body arrives." She said. "You can all rest. I shall look for myself." Mae would push off from the wall and walk further in the temple. Looking for a suitable place. He nodded and began to carry Vex down the stairs to return her to the pew, giving her the waterskin again. "Drink, Vexademus. You need it. Care for me to fetch you something to eat?" He ask her softly.
Vaden smiled a little as he saw the tank filled with fish and water! Oh goodness, how incredible was that? He leaned in to peer at the fish, smiling a little before he turned to head back downstairs. His ears flicked a touch as he looked around the temple moving to finish off the half of sandwich he had left behind, munching hungrily.. He would eat a good lunch today.
Vexademus had nodded assent to his whisper, the concise measures of her transportation of being literally hammocked about was kind of nice. Not one used to being 'litter-born', she was settled back down. Looking to Mae when the shaman spoke, she seemed more at ease. There was something else. "Vaden..can you do the honors? The fish..." She paused, calming her breathing and thoughts to spill secondary sentence, "The fish need agitation. A knock every few minutes for the next hour. That should produce what I need. You can use knuckles or a stick. It doesn't need to be hard - just tap-tap-tap. And thank you, Mister Varis. I shall imbibe what I need later. I promise."
Varis regarded Vex, this was a hard job. He knew he should have stuck with his gut for one thousand mehrial, he thought. Upon Mae's request, he responds, "There's a gathering room that you can use that should fit the bat. It's this way. I'm still in the process of restoring it, so there's no furniture here. I hope this is helpful for you though."
Mae would follow Varis. "Thank you. It is good. I´m sure we can fix something like a table for the body.¨ She would look around for a moment. Yes. It will do but she'd rather have a table for the corpse instead of letting somebody use their magic for it. Not wanting to risk people to 'waste' energy besides, it would take a bit of time as she had cared of it's wounds. She would, in the meantime, look for something that could be used as a dissection table. Varis provided one after searching the temples' rooms.
The halfbreed had stayed behind with Vex to make sure she wasn't going anywhere, then he'd leave every so often, to tap the glass with a knuckle. His ears twitched, and his tail swayed when he returned, "I drew a sketch of the bat yesterday. Did you want to use it for something? It's to scale."
She looked at the halfblood and nodded, droplets still on her lower lip, "That would be something to see, if you don't mind showing me." She wondered about him, blinking and waiting for him to produce the sketch. She'd seen the dead thing up close and still had an aversion to it. What any creature, even a necromancer, saw in these things was still beyond her. "If you could make a copy, I'd like to archive it."
The kit's ears flicked a little to Vexademus, the kitten smiled sweetly as he went to get his sketch book, returning with the torn out page, "Here. I...I can make another sketch later." Indeed it was a very good, to scale, a drawing of the bat. "I hope it's good enough to be filed."
Vexademus shifted uncomfortably. The silence in the room they were in felt heavy to her. It was appreciated when it was broken by Vaden's movement or by something else; a snick of a whiffed candle, some crackle of incense, a creak from a pew, a skitter of spider taps. What? She looked up and around, trying to find the source and blinked, looking back to Vaden's sketch as it was handed to her. "Th-thank you. That's very kind of you..." She peered over a shoulder, seeming paranoid. But, it wasn't just that. She heard gurgle growls? "Maaaaae?" she called. It had arrived. On a floating disc once more, flat table-like service carrying the spread bat and it needed to be let in and guided to where Mae was.
"Thank you..that will do. I just don't want people to use their magic on something so small. I rather have them use their energy and spells on other things." She explains to Varis. She would prepare her tools and looked up when suddenly the large bat was being brought by a floating disc to be deposited on her table. Her eyes widened and a devious grin spread on her face. She would look at the bat. "Whoa...amazing.." She could hear the call of Vexademus and she would look at Varis. "I think you better make sure she got her rest. I shall prepare the body. If there's something, I will call."
She mostly worked alone when it came to preparing bodies. Mae was used to it as she had grown up in a funeral home. She knew exactly what to do and how and immediately got to work.
Varis grins to her and adds, "Isn't it? I can't wait until I can get my hands on dead bodies and create. I envy you, Miss Mae," he said, nodding.
The black winged torian looked his way, distracted from her process a moment, "You wish to become a necromancer?" Mae started first with the cleansing of the body with water and a sponge. It was a gift for Lord Archaon so the corpse needed to look at it's best.
"I do, yes. I have all these voices in my head to do so, so that's what I'm aspiring to do. I've got a long time ahead of me to learn and practice death magic, and I will have to find a mentor as well. Right now I just need as much money as possible to get a home first. Or, if I can do both, then I will. But I won't keep you from the body. Enjoy. And call if you need me." He reminded, returning to Vexademus, "You doing okay? What do you want to eat? I'll get it for ya." he offered gently. "But you do need to eat, Miss Vexademus."
The mageling nodded, seeing Varis reappear and knowing that the dead creature was delivered safely. "There's not much time, Mister Varis. I realize that I'm hurrying the process and that we really shouldn't..." she continued while carefully pushing the sketch of the bat into her satchel, "I only wish to get it installed as soon as I can. The mephos hatching is soon and there will be a meeting in His Grace's keep as well as the oncoming festivities and..."
She shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose and squeezing shut those lengthy lashes, "There's little time."
The slave was glad that Vexademus approved of the sketch. He'd draw another one later, "We should get back to work then." He ate the last of his sandwich, gulped some water, then got to his feet. "I can ferry the sand back and forth. Miss Mae does not have to help."
Varis crouched down before the worrying spellshaper. "We'll get it done. Mae is getting the body ready and we can start on the tube anytime you're ready. And if there is anything you need me to do; tell me. I'm getting a job as a rook rider at the castle, so I'll be around. If I'm not there, I'm here at Kirva's temple. Easy to find." he said to her with a smile, a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll get this done, today. Don't worry."
He stood when Vaden approached. "This tube is going to be thicker than normal, so we'll only need one person."
He stretched that muscular upper body for any and all, his white tank top was soaking wet and sticking to his body.
The mage released her pinch of fingers and swallowed, tightening jaw which lapeled temples to swell a touch. Standing, that robery swayed with it's soft enchantment via Shiho's talent and she gave a confident nod to the dark elf. "Aye. I'm ready. I'll use the heating to promote your glass and then two spells. Gravity Sinkhole first and then Reverse Gravity for the tube. It will help you elongate it and keep everything steady. You're ready to start?"
"Let's begin." he said, and then heads up the stairs to the rain, hurriedly heading for the forge, beginning preparations once more.
******************************
Mae continued cleaning the bat. She went through several buckets of water before it ran clear. While she was cleaning the corpse, she could see something interesting with the belly. Raising a brow, she inspected it. There was seen how some flesh was burned away. "What are those?" spoken to herself in a curious soft tone.
She would start to pull something out of the belly and place it to the side. "Hmmm..body parts of..lizards?"
Continuing to 'empty' the belly from those undigested body parts, she put them aside to manage study later. Taking some stuffing material, she started to fill up the belly to keep it's form and then produced some special needle and stitching thread to close wounds. She would then start to 'neaten' the figure to hide its burnt away fur. She groomed it and added some fake fur that she had luckily, just to match, taking her time. It was death quiet in the room. Mae found it very soothing while she worked. She grew up with death around her. Working everyday with her grandfather on dead bodies. A smile on her face with the thought of her grandfather. Oh, how she missed him.
******************************
Vaden slunk back upstairs, out into the rain, the kitten taking a deep breath as he slid gloves back on and removed his shirt. He didn't want to risk the sleeves getting burnt. The bells in his nipples and attached to his collar jingled.
Vexademus regained her position near the forge. Multiple spells would be needed before the more complex ones. Taking a deep breath, she held out her hands and began the incantations once more, followed by the telltale somatic gestures. Heating, charging, heating, charging. Again, the conduit of her uneven figure remained tense, strict adherence to the position of where those spells were to be maintained. Once the stirring and application began she would need to swivel and concentrate for when the tube began to take shape, the fellow participants would be warned aloud before concentration began. "Take...care. It will feel as though you will be slogging through quicksand. It will be hard at first and then...it will lighten. Breathe and concentrate on what you're doing. I promise, I won't hurt you..."
And then came the massive gathering of aether for the first spell. It would take some time to get it all ready.
"You got it, Miss. I promise I won't kill you either with the glass," he joked. Once the fire was going, Varis would stir the sand until it was all melted and pick up the glob of glass to begin inflating it. Afterwards, he moved to the end of the pipe and begins to shape it into the jar dome-like container that Vexademus wanted. It was on Vaden now to bring the globs of glass.
******************************
Back in the temple, Mae was inspecting the large lizard parts. Surely she could have them right? Or at least some? She grinned at the thought of use for them for her other undead minions. Yes! She grinned more. Taking another perusal of the giant dead creature, she rounded the table. It was a normal looking bat, except for its size. She could see that it just used it's sonar like normal bats, the way his wings were built showed that it was fast. The chiroptic figure would live in caves or thick forests. Closing her eyes for a moment, she felt the magic on the creature. "Hmmm. I can feel it, but it's just residual. Probably because of some of the fire magic that burned him. Not a magical creature."
Mae opened her eyes again. It looked good. Almost as good as new. She had managed to get the color back on the bat with some 'special make up' and embalmed it with special oil to preserve the corpse better. Taking a few steps back to look it over, she would smile covetously. "Such a shame that I need to give you away again. Now, for the hard part. It's time to wake you up, my darling."
******************************
Vexademus could feel the energies supped from all around her and within. Her skin was wet and blushing and that hair with the streaks was now sullenly stuck around her forehead and neck, curling some pieces and yet, generally looking like it was drowned, even in coloring. Eyes drew vapid and she looked as though a lover enjoying something beneath her robes. That fabric spooked a bit like a school of fish and there was some dashing of it as everything around the magess was suddenly hit with the Sinkhole's weight. Strength would be needed by those that surrounded the mageling. She focused and allowed the weight to grow, making it more diffult for really anything to stand. Slowly, she fed more magic into the mix and then began the gestures and incants for the reversal. Speaking louder, up came the click of tongue and then a bite to the inner left subligual portion. Blood pooled to mix within saliva and she swallowed, finishing the casting of Reverse Gravity. Focus was now on the tubing, the support of the molten shaping stuff, her primary target. Wielding this much had begun to elicit small quick breaths and stuttery moans that bubbled up from the caster's throat. They sounded...sexual?
The glassing shaman about fell over before Vex cast the reversal. As soon as he was able, he was running to the end of the pipe to shape the thicker glass he'd been working on. Thanks to the dual workmanship, the tube was floating in air and he was able to work quickly. Back and forth with each blob, his sweat dissapearing into the rain that soaked his clothing. He paused when he heard those sexual moans and quick breaths. He chuckled softly to himself and looked over to Vaden, calling out. "You okay?"
******************************
Mae had her eyes closed in concentration. Then an aura of darkness started to grow
like some kind of fog pouring from her body. Her lips curled in a devious and wicked grin. "Oh, that's it," she purred. The room started to fill more with the shadowy duskiness. There was a teething of her lower lip with teeth. Darkness; it could make her really dangerous. A killer maniac. Or a horny killer maniac. Or perhaps supremely aroused. For now, she seemed to resist her own innate depths. Those cerulean eyes flickered open and began to swirl and fill with black. The fog would reach out and surround the dead body of the bat, caressing it, filling it slowly with it's tendrils. Sneaking like a thief into it's nostrils and mouth and ears. Those black eyes adorned the grown devious smile. She would hiss out in the torian language, "From the darkness, rise. Rise for your mistress!"
She needed more. It felt so good! The dead body of the bat would start to bloat a bit, its lungs an empty cavity filling with what Mae fed it. She spread her arms and continued to speak, "Your body and soul are mine. Awaken!"
And with that, the aura increased and filled with weight as if night came alive at her command. The room looked absolutely drenched in the blackest ink. Only Mae and the corpse seemed visable. The undead wolven guarding the entrance began to howl. Mae's pitch eyes widened and then the body started to shake and stop. It's own orbs would open and the creature tested it's wings, a sound like leather rubbed against itself.
"Yes! That's it!"
A villainous chuckle spilled from the necromancer and the sound was malevolent. The animation swiveled it's dead gaze to Mae as if it knew her. It would spread those wings more and begin to flap, breaking free the straps, readying for her command. All of that aura seemed to be sucked up instantly to surround and caress Mae, returning the room to normal again. She stared almost loveingly at her reanimation.
******************************
Outside, Varis stopped moving and grabbed his head. Those voices! So much shrieking! They were howling louder than the wolven outside. He'd fall to his knees as the pain worsened. His own desire swirled within him, his true calling reaching out to him through the voices, regardless of his will. The kitten turned to Varis and called out that he himself was just fine, responding to Varis's earlier concern. Of course Vaden was alright. Why wouldn't he be? He was hot, and wet, and had a blister on his arm from when he got too close to the forge during one collection but he'd be fine. A small gasp issued when he saw Varis shudder to his knees, the kitten rushing over and putting his hands on the man's shoulders, on his back, "Shhh..you're okay. You're okay. I'm here." Although, what he could do to help was still up for debate. Through this, the Kirvan shaman had a job to do, and his halfbreed lover was near, encouraging him to grip his strengths. Forcing himself back to his feet, he regained his hold on the pole to continue to shape it, all the while those voices in his head just screeching, making his hands shake and almost disabling him.
The spellshaper's chest heaved and she continued to keep her focus, both mind and hands keeping the steady stream attuned to the spell's hunger. Shoulders lofted and fell in those great breaths and eyes were wide while she watched it all happen. Only from a small notice that Varis had fallen, clutching crown, his beloved worriedly checking on him in those minute moments; and then the dark elf was back up again, doing what needed to be done. The undertaking of this final task was massive; all the previous rest just seeming like sugar dissolved into tea. Lips parted as she panted, nostrils flaring as great gulps of oxygen sluiced in and out. Steady. Ready. And heightened in admiration for not only what was transpiring, but who all this was for. A great project, indeed! The woman relished at this noble scene; exalted. And rather over-aroused. Even though those thighs beneath all of that midnight fabric rubbed and squeezed together with intention, she kept on. Until Varis would say. Until he would call out for her to stop. She continued.
******************************
The necromancer had her eyes locked on her new undead minion. She could feel the loyal intention from it. She was in midst of admiration when her expression changed. Something was wrong. Something was waking. It moved like some slick serpent inside of her. There was somebody else within range that had a similar flavor. It was near. She could feel it. Closing those lightless oculars, she whispered, "Hmmmm. It feels like someone else, who is very close, has that iniquity inside him as well."
She opened her eyes and spoke at the bat. "Looks like we are going to have to, 'inspect him', my darling. Care to join your mistress? I might need your assistance." She grinned wickedly. Leaving the room with that terrible undead thing and an unrighteous smile in her wake, she began to follow the 'scent'. She heard her undead wolven howling, encouraging her along.
Once outside, she spotted Varis. A lick to her lips and in the torian language she spoke, "Well. There you are. You have something I like," looking at the shaman like a predator readying to pounce prey.
The voices continued to riot inside his mind. He continued to clutch his soaked black haired head from moment to moment, trying to work simultaneously. All those voices, thousands of them, just yelling and hollering to come back, to listen and fall into the death magic that was in play. His own calling swirled around him similarly, but he was defending himself as much as he could. A lean into Vaden's hands, whilst his own fingers tugged at his hair. "SHUT UP!"
He howled the spell of Spirit Bolt, hurling it into the forest and then...there was silence. He paused and began thanking Vaden, kissing his forehead and regaining his composure, returning to his work with renewed focus. "Next bit please," he asked with a shake to his voice. He moved back to the blowing part of the pipe, and when Vaden had the next glob on, he threw a large breath into the pipe and quickly went to shape the thicker glass. Halfway there, the wolven started to howl again and the voices slammed back, full force. He cried out in pain, clutching his head once more and falling down onto his back. It wasn't finished! Thick shadowy aura swirled around him like so much volatile black oil on a water's surface. There was no denying it now. Eyes popped wide when he heard that changed voice, and though he didn't know exactly what she said, he understood the intention behind it. "VITH'EZ elg'caress! Vrine'winith ol! Vrine'winith ol nin!!!", he shrieked.
It would be up to Vaden to stop Vex with her magic, as he was dealing with his own issues compounded by Mae.
The kitten took a few deep breaths. Okay. This was definitely something they had to talk about. The black and white halfblood rubbed his back, rubbed his sides, whispering, "I'm here," but when Varis asked for more glass, he tensed. He knew how important this was but still... His ears swiveled round to fall and quietly he brought over fresh glass, able to ply it before the next shriek and collapse of Varis. He turned to Vex. It was wrong. Something was wrong! "Stop! Stop it! Wait please!"
He looked past the shaman to the necromancer with the wet reanimated giant bat slunk behind her, his ears flattening out. Well, fuck him sideways!
The witch felt a tear in the mythos for a moment, as if something indented the space around her. There was another scream, howls, a screech, and then Vaden's voice broke through and the spell was interrupted. The magess lost her balance, the stamina needed to produce such magic giving out as did her legs. She toppled, unable to move but still conscious. She could only watch from a lain vantage point on the soaked ground, through the blades of grass as the rain continued to fall on the scene presented.
The torian had her eyes locked on Varis. She was grinning diabolically. Then her expression began to falter as she heard Vaden's voice cut through, slowly turning her attention to the slave. For a moment, there was resistance against that awakened persona. She closed her eyes and inhaled. That aura of Varis; it smelled good. Her gaze revealed back to that horrible depth of horizon at Varis while unholy smile returned. The necromancer saw he was already laying on the ground, seemingly prone for her. Mouth opened and with that, she would suddenly leap into the air while uncoiling her whip to dive down on her prey. Varis rolled when he saw Mae bearing down towards him, effectively keeping from being pinned. Though the whip caught his neck, it didn't bring him under her and he was already untangling himself from it's coil. In retaliation, Varis plied himself atop her instead, to pin her down on the ground, not hurting her, just holding her, which was difficult as those spirits in his mind continued to haunt tumultuously.
"Your insides," she purred, "I bet that desire tastes so very good...."
Mae had wanted to use her serpent's kiss on the shaman but was quickly denied. The idea of it made her think of kissing Durigon. Durigon....Durigon... Her eyes widened suddenly as that pitch started to drain away from her gaze. Durigon...her..Durigon...What was she doing? This wasn't right. Fuck! The inner [i]awakened[i/] battled was ongoing. "R..Resist.." she fought aloud..gnawing her lips ¨R..R..Resist Mae.." Her nails carved into the handle of the whip. She could feel herself calm internally a bit, winning against the tides. She took some breaths. ¨R..Resist...¨ The coil of her weapon was loosened, even though there were still remaining licks of that outlining shadow around her body.
"MAE! Calm down, DAMMIT!" He yelled, and then his grip loosened as her body started to slacken. He kept her on the ground, her aura thinning like smoke vaporizing into air. "MAE! MAE! Snap out of it!" He yelled again, hoping his voice would aid her further. Once he was satisfied that she had control, he'd disengage himself. His own malevolence receded slowly, the voices at a dull roar. He was at a loss at what to do next. He wanted to kill her, he really did, but that desire was pushed away. He hefted himself off the ground and left her vicinity, noticing Vexademus on the ground and rushed to her while calling out "Vaden! Help me get her to a sitting position." His strength was sapped from the flow of the events. He lowered down and cradled Vex's head in his lap, panting, "You're okay Vexademus. Hang in there."
Vaden had uneasily watched everything transpire. His ears flattened out, catching Vex's collapse out of the corner of his eye and hearing the call of his beloved. Everything gone to shit, he turned and rushed for Varis and the mage in the flowing robes, assisting Varis to lift her some.
All the while, the witch had watched them, feeling the hands scoop her and carefully hold her upright. She was already trying to speak, to reassure them she was uninjured. "No..I'm alright. No...strength...I'm unhurt.."
She swallowed and was likely jelly in whatever handling she was poured into. "Mae..Miss Mae..what's happening to her..."
Even as she was just unable to move because of her drained stamina, she was inquiring about the torian. She'd need help! "Mae..somebody help her.." The floppy magess didn't have the bodily energy to do more than just breathe and blink.
Mae still fought mightily with herself. She knew the awakened part of her was indeed dangerous and something she still didn't really understand. She didn't understand also, how powerful she really was either. She had aimed to pin Varis down and kiss him to taste some of delicious immorality, but he was too fastidious to turn them around, holding her to the ground instead.
She groaned as she closed her eyes. Reanimating that large creature drained both sides, weakening her spirit and figure for the moment. She would half cast the spell Boneshard, forming the sharpened creation into a slightly hooked but wickedly sharp talon. Sitting up, she pulled her dress to the side and starts carving at her leg with that talon, hoping the pain would bring her more focus. She groaned, falling back to lay with an arch of her back, pushing those tits in the air. Blood started to well from the slice. It wasn't a deep wound but heavy enough to get her adrenaline realized and her focus to sharpen. She would let out a deep sigh as she closed her eyes. The undead started to calm down and surround her body, as if they were protecting their mistress. She would just lay there with her eyes closed, feeling the rain patter on her skin.
Varis would frown, thinking of Mae's comment about tasting his darkness and liking it. Looking to Vaden, her let the slave handle the magess for the moment, gesturing his intent towards the necromancer, "I'll check on her."
Again to his feet, he walked over to the little gathering of reanimated trinity. Shoving a wolven to the side, he falls to his knees next to Mae and lifts her head to lay in his lap. "Mae... mae... open your eyes."
He gently nudged her with his words, trying to wake her. He looked between both mentally and energy worn out women from his position and then to Vaden. "Let's get them inside. I've got blankets in my bedroom." Lofting Mae bridal style, he staggered some, getting his balance correct over his exhaustion, beginning towards the building.
"You're about to pass out yourself," was said with a scowl to Varis. What a fucking mess. His ears dropped back and he scooped up Vexademus similarly, "I have you," was said softly to the mageling, and he carried her cradled as well, heading for the stairs to follow suit.
The mage tried to get her brain to send the signals to the rest of her limbs but she was totally worn out after casting such high level spells. And they'd gone off without a hitch! Except..."Wait. Vaden..Mister Vaden....the tank. Please, I must know. Was it finished? The tank...is it broken?" Fingers barely moved in flex as the hybrid lofted her, the caster's head lolling to look. She couldn't see it beyond his shoulder. If only..."Vaden, Vaden, Vaden..." She was fading. Sleep was overcoming her and the spellshaper knew nothing as heavy lids slid shut.
Mae would hear the voice of Varis and she would try to open her eyes. She would frown and focused with a few blinks. Her leg was bleeding. A boneshard was laying on the ground. She would be lifted by Varis before she could inquire more, but before she felt in notice of his off balance gait. She tired apologizing, "S..sorry...risk..of..being...."
One of her undead wolven would take Mae over as Varis was too weak to carry her. The two undead wolven followed while the large undead bat crawled in their wake to the room. Once there, the wolven would place Mae on a bed and again the three undead creatures would circle around Mae. Protecting their mistress. It was..amazing..she achieved to reanimate such creature..but..it took a lot of her..and she was easily overtaken by her more primal side. Her leg was still bleeding. Would..would Durigon be proud of her creation? Not from the inner demoness. She needed to just rest. Mae was a hard working woman; three jobs, a lot of things going on. But it was an achievement. Surely she wouldn't need a lot of rest, just for a few minutes and she could continue their project.
It was true, Vaden himself was ready to pass out himself. He emptied her into the wolvens' hold to take her. Leading both both Vaden and the undead Wolven to the bedroom, he spoke, "Put both on the bed. It's large enough for both."
Finding that white tank freed from his form, he tore it into strips and immediately began to bandage the wound with the wet pieces. "Vaden... please undress and dry them. Then cover them with the blankets. I'll get th extras out."
After Vaden finished the set task, Varis pulled him close, "Thank you, my heart. I'm going to go rest in the sermon room." leveling a kiss on the slave's forehead.
His lover took a deep breath as he set Vexademus down and let out a sigh, brows knitting a little. He leaned into the hug, and the kiss, his red eyes closing before he turned and went to collect a set of towels to dry them off. The kitten moved back quickly, and began to strip down Vex first since the undead guardians were unnerving. He did his best to do it so she kept modesty under the blankets... that is, if she stayed still. She didn't protest one bit so he set to drying her hair carefully. The slave dried off the lovely Vex, taking note of those scars before covering her with a blanket, a detaining move to get ahead of that stirring feline side of him. He took a deep breath, exiting to start cleaning up the food he had set out earlier. All the assisting amenities had tired him out for today.
She groaned a little bit as she felt Varis putting on that shirt to stop the bleeding, trying to sit up. Enough resting. She couldn't rest right now. She needed to fix this fucking mess she felt she created. Fuck, came the guilty curse in her mind. Taking the towel meant for her, she began to dry herself, still with her clothing on. A bath would come later. First things, first. She would take a few breaths and looked at her undead creations. "I´m afraid it is time to put you in a jar."
There was a mocking chuckle spilled out. What a shame. She wanted to keep it. But, it was for Lord Archaon and she was ever grateful to him. Slowly coming to stand, she pet the shoulder of Vaden. "Thank you, sweetheart."
A bob of head in gratitude to him for taking care of Vexademus. She would groan for a moment as she felt her leg stinging but she carried on, undead wolven following behind and still; that crawling reanimated bat. She puffed. "Almost, Mae. Rest is for the weak ones."
Once out in the open where the forge stood, and the muss of their project, she gratefully saw that the jar was finished. She would let the undead wolven hold the extremely ungainly and heavy jar in the right place. A turn and she reached her hand for its face, gently brushing it while letting her forehead rest against it's own. "Our time was short but you are amazing, my dear one."
A cast of dead speak and she could hear some returning words from it. A snap of her fingers and a gesture, the bat simply crawled into the oblong tank. She would smile like some kind of goodbye. Mae placed her hands on the jar. "Goodbye, my darling."
It was always the emotional part - when you had a bond with a undead creature. She would close her eyes. The creature positioned itself and squeeked and then darkness would illuminate from the necromancer's hands. Her head rested against the already cooled glass. Out of the bat's nostrils, mouth, and sharp ears the shadow flowed, returning to Mae's silent call. She sighed longingly.
Once Mae had the bat in place, the undead wolven had followed commands to empty the ammonia product - minus the fish - into the tank. Then the clear elven liquor was added to make the preservation solution, the clouded fish water clarifying slowly.
Varis would smooth on the last of the glass, his last creation he'd worked on after leaving the few behind in the temple. "The jar is complete. Want me to help you get on your horse or do you want to stay here and rest? Personally, I think resting here would be your best bet, at least for now," he commented as they stood in the rain.
"You are welcomed here." He continued, not really wanting her to leave in the state she was in. He was worried her wound would begin to bleed again if she traveled back to the keep. Depending on what Mae does, would determine what Varis would do. If sh wanted to leave, he would ensure she got on her horse and leave safely down the path he carvd out of the jungle himself, and if she decided to stay, h would help hr walk back down the steps and into th tmple proper and heads to the bedroom to lay down.
Mae would finish the gift for Lord Archaon. She would then use her magic and the help of her undead wolven to bring the jar inside. It needed to dry. While that was completing, she would look over her shoulder towards Varis. A soft sweet smile on her face, he could definitely see she was drained, perhaps more pale. "I...I think I should go back to the keep. I've ruined enough for today."
She would place her hand on his shoulder, "I´m sorry what I have done to you. As you can see, the path of necromancy is a dangerous one. It can change people once they choose to study it. So, think about the dangers it will bring if you are considering this path. You have seen what can happen."
She would walk inside, slowly. Mae was a strong willed woman. She could rest at the keep. "I shall collect my stuff and then you can help me on my horse."
They walked back to the room to do just that as well as reporting to the preparation room to collect the large lizard bodyparts. She plied command for the wolven to carry it all. Mae handed over a script of some things and handed it over to Varis. "Could you please give this report to Vexademus? It is the report of the biopsy of the body. I'm going to further investigate those other body parts at the keep." Once he took the paper mae would give him a soft sweet smile and walk towards the exit with Varis and her two undead wolven. She would let Varis help her get on the horse and she would give one last friendly smile to him. "Thank you. Perhaps we shall see each other again soon."
And with that, she would begin the ride with a turn of horse, back to the keep with her undead wolven, lizard body parts, and other things in tow.
******************************
The Gift
A large eight foot tall domed tube; a circumference measured at just about nineteen feet, was made by Varis, dark elf shaman priest of Kirva. The tubular glass holds within an alchemic embalming serum; a combination of the transparent elven liquor used in the Princess drink from the Lonely Inn and Gaea's Guzzler, as well as ammonia produced from live agitated fish bodies. The tank is settled onto a marble base, grooved deep and plugged with a wax sealant. Vexademus had done the mixing work and the calculations needed in alchemy to exact this recipe to preserve the seven foot bat creature, the necromancer torian named Mae had posed it's wings slightly loosened to show some wing span and the face of the creature inclined as if bowing allegiance to Lord Archaon. The preserved remains of what was brought back from the wild portal spawn, something that had appeared and let loose a battle between giant bats and wild mephos! Collected was the live giant bat that now resided in one of the many cages on the second floor of the Great Dome, near the Tower of the Way portion. Those who were responsible for the capture were Saphamira, Infernis, Carthellen, and Nighthawke. They were also responsible for bringing back the non-living bat.
Those involved in making the tank to hold the dead creature in preservation fluid were Varis, Vaden, Mae, and Vexademus.
Quite a nice (if not morbid) gift from those loyal to Lord Archaon. It nows stands behind his throne in his keep, watching over the main seat like the reaper stripped to his barest; a beastial embodiment of vengeance.
"In the whispers of the wind and water to the dance of the flames in the rock, behold the mystic weave of aether, for within every shimmering ember of energy lies the tale of destiny entwined and the magic that binds my soul to the arcanic tapestry eternal."