[centre][img]https://i.imgur.com/5Uzhqo2.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/K9FM0GH.png[/img] [h3][color=f26522]M.P: 8 [b]|[/b] F.P: 25[/color][/h3] & [h1][color=darkorange]𝔖 𝔱 𝔩 đ”„ 𝔡 đ”„ 𝔞 𝔯 𝔞[/color][/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/IIQln57.png[/img] [hider=Seihdhara of the Red Hair | The Crimson Goddess | The Sanguine Protector] Goddess of [i]Martial Combat[/i] 2 Might and 23 Freepoints[/hider][img]https://i.imgur.com/o5T6T0Q.png[/img][/centre] [indent][sub]Time: The Day the Gods Came[/sub][/indent] When Seihdhara finally shook herself from the vision and opened her eyes, there was an immediate pensiveness to her. Urhu's words, though she had no idea what they meant, stuck with her. She muttered them a few more times, and each time she did she felt herself relax. They seemed to be a release of sorts. The vision seemed to highlight something she had somehow ignored - now that she considered it, it was rather odd that so many of the other gods had spoken so harshly or patronisingly to her. Dismissively even, or as though she were a burden. Sighing, the mere soul looked about herself to see where she now was. It was a realm of scorching heat. Which made sense, seeing as this was Sartravius' domain. Ash - almost like soul ash only it was not so cold and did not hold that yawning, whispering emptiness - wafted about everywhere, and wherever she cast her gaze she saw fire. There were rocks also, and those that were not slowly melting into some lava lake had been blackened by soot. Rivers of molten magma made their way through jagged cracks and every now and again a great rumble would shake the earth as a volcano emptied its bowels. Floating not too far from her were her living strand and upper corpse. The strand seemed now to be the thickest it had been since coming into this world, gleaming with health and strength. Seihdhara approached it, and the strand huddled closer to her. Together, they floated through Sartravius' fiery domain. For whatever reason, the angry lord of flame did not bother with the trespasser (in fact, was that snoring she heard?) and Seihdhara wandered about aimlessly, wondering why she had come here in the first place or how she thought she could make use of this affinity with heat that her strand seemed to have. As she thought, she allowed the strand to lead the way, and eventually, they found themselves floating above a bubbling lake of lava. The living strand stopped and Seihdhara paused also. Then the strand brought itself about Seihdhara and the corpse was brought so that it occupied the same space as did Seihdhara's soul. They stayed like that for a time, then Seihdhara let out an exasperated sigh. [colour=darkorange][i]That's not doing anything![/i][/colour] And so saying she moved away. The realm rumbled once again and not too far from them another volcano exploded. Almost immediately debris and flames began to rain down upon the three. Seihdhara turned about just in time to see a great boulder smash the airborne strand and corpse. The living strand untangled itself easily enough, but Seihdhara watched helplessly as her corpse fell towards the lake below. Swiftly the strand and Seihdhara raced down towards it, but no swiftness on their part could prevent the inevitable. For a few moments the corpse floated on the surface of the lava, and then it was gone. The living strand snaked into the flames after the corpse, and Seihdhara uselessly tried to hold onto the unsubmerged end of the hair. Heat pulsed through the strand, but Seihdhara could immediately see that these flames were far too great. The strand was burning. [colour=darkorange][i]H-hey. Get out of there. Hey![/i][/colour] Seihdhara tugged at the hair with ethereal hands, but it was no use. Then suddenly the strand was aflame, and what a bright flame it made! It was only momentary, and then it was sinking. [colour=darkorange][i]No![/i][/colour] Seihdhara shouted, going down after it and disappearing also beneath the bubbling surface. The physical flames could do little to Seihdhara’s soul, but helplessness washed over her as she watched her strand burning beneath. And then anger. Her soul shimmered with fury and suddenly took on a more physical, flaming form. About her the lava retreated and she gripped the burning strand with an all too physical grip, and she launched herself from the lake. In her hand the flaming strand cooled and was returned once more to its glowing form. The upper corpse emerged from the lake also, the strand having managed to wrap itself about it. There was not a single burn on it, but it seemed to glow with a fiery light. Pulling the strand up and wrapping an arm about the upper corpse, Seihdhara’s soul flew clear of the lake and landed on land. It was a few moments before she noticed the figure before them. She looked upwards, and her gaze met the gaze of the fire lord. Ah. She thought the snoring had stopped. [colour=darkorange][i]Ah. Danglyd-[/i][/colour] she began saying in her usual tone, but then the soul stiffened and stood straight. [colour=darkorange][i]Sartravius. We meet again, it seems.[/i][/colour] The goddess spoke not with her usual energetic voice, but with a more polished tone that oozed charisma. The mighty flame god sputtered spastically as his right eye burst open. Still half-asleep he looked rapidly around at his surroundings to find the source of the noise. Was it an intruder? Did someone come to do harm to him or his surroundings? He would crush whoever it was to dust if he had to! [color=f26522][b]”WHO DARES TO DISTURB MY~?”[/b][/color] Yet as soon as he became more or less awake, he looked down to see a simple floating sphere near the edge of his magma spring. After analyzing the voice that had spoken to him, as well as the message he received from the family goddess, he was finally able to recognize who it was. [color=f26522][b]”OH,”[/b][/color] the god rumbled as he positioned his exposed torso towards the tiny sphere, [color=f26522][b]”IT’S ONLY YOU, DHARA. ARAE TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULD COME. SO WHAT IS IT THAT YOU POSSIBLY WISH TO SPEAK TO ME ABOUT?”[/b][/color] Seihdhara visibly relaxed when Sartravius shortened her name, and a smile rippled across her ethereal face. [colour=darkorange][i]For a second there I thought you’d be yet another uptight god, Danglydong![/i][/colour] She chuckled. [colour=darkorange][i]Yes, I asked Rayster to speak to you on my behalf. It seems that I’ve managed to put myself in something of a tight spot and I’m rather weak at the moment. I have a feeling that you might be able to help me, what with all your heat. My living strand here seems to have a real affinity for heat, and my corpse there is left looking
 well, pretty good when subjected to heat. So something tells me that there is a way to make use of this affinity to get my body, my strand, and my soul back together. Care to help a sis-[/i][/colour] she paused suddenly, her eyes hardening for the slightest moment, but then she continued easily, [colour=darkorange][i]a fellow god out, Danglydong?[/i][/colour] Sartr grumbled slightly at her response as he stroked his flaming beard. He looked at the sphere closely, then back at the surrounding world, and then back to her, before finally giving his own response. [color=f26522][b]”YOU WISH TO USE MY HEAT?”[/b][/color] the flaming god affirmed to ensure he was hearing correctly, [color=f26522][b]” FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT? YOU HAVE QUITE THE BALL~ EH, TITS, TO REQUEST MY SERVICES IN SUCH A VULNERABLE STATE!”[/b][/color] He paused again to reflect on this notion before smiling rather devilishly. [color=f26522][b]”BUT WHAT MAKES YOU THINK I’LL BE WILLING TO GIVE SUCH ENERGY OUT FOR FREE, EH?”[/b][/color] he confidently boomed as he leaned his head upon his fist, [color=f26522][b]”ONLY A FOOL CAN BELIEVE IN SUCH AN UNSENSIBLE TRADE OFF. IF YOU WANT MY HELP, YOU MUST GIVE ME SOMETHING OF EQUAL, IF NOT BETTER, WORTH! THE QUESTION IS, WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?”[/b][/color] Seihdhara cocked her head at this admittedly unexpected response. But now that she considered it, it seemed sensible that she pay somehow since she required him to render a service unto her. [colour=darkorange][i]I mean, I don’t have anything to give you right this instant...[/i][/colour] she paused and furrowed her brows in thought, and as she thought her eyes found their way to the famed sword. Her eyes widened - goodness, it was quite something on closer inspection. [colour=darkorange][i]But, uh,[/i][/colour] she looked up quickly [colour=darkorange][i]I’ll be happy to give you whatever you want once I’m back in shape! I couldn’t give you anything now even if I wanted to - as you recognised, I have come to you in a rather vulnerable state.[/i][/colour] And reflecting on that now, perhaps that was not the wisest of moves seeing as she had aided Rayster in beating up Danglydong’s pet. Last time she was at the mercy of another god it very nearly ended in disaster. She looked up at Danglydong and hoped he was not as uptight as Cat-head. Sartr’s eyebrows shifted in place before leaning towards Dhara. Seihdhara stood still as his hand approached, but her living strand leapt away along with her corpse, and she just about saw them both leap into a lava pool. Carefully Sartravius scooped the sphere in his mighty hand and brought her up to his level. His burning eyes gazed straight at her spherical form, his tiny flames dancing around the tips of his flaming fingers. [color=f26522][b]”YOU HAVE TO BE MORE SPECIFIC,”[/b][/color] the flame god teased with a wicked smile, and Seihdhara felt very suddenly uncomfortable in the god’s palm, [color=f26522][b]”BUT ALLOW ME TO BRING UP MY SUGGESTION. TO HARBOR MY FLAME MAKES ANY INVOLVED AN EXTENSION OF MY POWER. HENCEFORTH, YOU WILL BE BOUND TO MY SERVICES AND TO THEM ALONE UNLESS I SPECIFICALLY DECLARE OTHERWISE. BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE WITH ME, YOU WILL GAIN FULL ACCESS TO MY FLAME AND MORE!”[/b][/color] His massive face then leaned closer to Dhara suddenly. [color=f26522][b]”SO,”[/b][/color] he announced boldly, [color=f26522][b]”DO YOU COMPLY WITH THESE TERMS?”[/b][/color] Seihdhara eyed the other god for a few moments, unsure if he was being serious or if this was some strange joke. [colour=darkorange][i]Sooo
 you basically want me to be your slave?[/i][/colour] She asked with a raised eyebrow. She poked her chest a few times with a finger, as if to emphasise how ludicrous that was. [colour=darkorange][i]Because yeah
 that’s not happening big boy. I said whatever you want, but [b]within reason[/b] was the unspoken qualification, you know?[/i][/colour] She crossed her ethereal arms and looked at him defiantly. But one could not defy the god of flame so recklessly. As soon as she finished, the heat that radiated off Sartr’s hand began to grow even hotter. Yet while Dhara would find the heat within the middle of the palm to be admirably tolerable, anywhere any attempt at escape - even if she attempted to float upwards - would have her subjugated to intense heat. She was essentially locked in what could only be described as a flaming prison. Yet Sartr’s face did not contort into rage - but one of utter smugness. His face rose into a nefarious smile as his eyes locked onto his captive with immense glee. Seihdhara, meanwhile, was standing statue still, eyebrows furrowed in anger and ethereal fists clenched. She had been played for a fool, and she knew it. [color=f26522][b]”WRONG ANSWER.”[/b][/color], he replied teasingly as a shit-eating grin formed across his lips, [color=f26522][b]”BUT I ALREADY FIGURED YOU WOULDN’T COMPLY WITH IT. IN FACT, I HAVE ALTERNATIVE PLANS FOR YOU. FOR YOU AND ARAE’S INVOLVEMENT IN DISRUPTING MY SACRED PHOENIX MUST NOT GO UNPUNISHED!”[/b][/color] A movement to the side suddenly caught the great flame lord’s eye, and Sartr glanced over to observe his magma bath. Floating there upon the molten surface was a body. Scooping it up with his free hand, he carefully examined the strangely unscorched corpse and what appeared to be an absurdly long strand of hair wrapped about it before looking back at Dhara’s sphere. Before long, he was able to connect the dots and added both to his makeshift prison. [color=f26522][b]”YOU HARNESS AN INCREDIBLE POWER, GODDESS OF COMBAT,”[/b][/color], the God continued as he raised his hand above his face, [color=f26522][b]”IMAGINE WHAT YOU COULD’VE BEEN ABLE TO USE IT FOR IN MY NAME. BUT ALAS, IF YOU WILL NOT SUBMIT TO ITS POWER.”[/b][/color] His massive mouth opened past the embered hairs of his beard, revealing a molten gullet that bubbled in anticipation. [color=f26522][b]”THEN I SHALL ASSIMILATE IT INTO MYSELF!”[/b][/color] he roared victoriously as bits of lava and fire sputtered from his mouth. And with that, his hand released their grip as he proceeded to eat her and her lifeless corpse. Seihdhara raised an ethereal hand above her as Sartravius’ mouth approached. There was no escape, it seemed. [colour=darkorange][i]You absolute fucker![/i][/colour] Were her last words before she disappeared into the fire lord’s enormous maw. With one great gulp the giant god swallowed the shadow of a goddess and her physical remains. And then there was silence. Though volcanoes erupted and rocks sank into molten rivers, and though ash fell and Sartravius now snored and now roared and now stretched and yawned, there was a certain silence. And in that certain silence, if one listened carefully, a footstep would manifest itself - subtle, for the tremors it sent out through the world were not as mighty or all-encompassing as the tremors sent out by one eruption or another. But it was there, step after step, echoing from a far off and distant place - and yet oddly near. And maybe they were not footsteps, but more of a
 Pounding. And in the shifting flame and bubbles of Sartravius’ great belly, a shadow shifted and moved. And in the redness of the great red burning god, there emerged a brighter flare, a burning flame that fed on fire. It spread in all directions, and the calm belly was suddenly disturbed by currents and waves large and small. They rippled and pulsed and moved with an energy all their own. And as a wave came in and crashed, there was very suddenly a great tearing sound. And there, out of the hole in the belly of the beast, a Saffron-haired goddess stood and stared. [centre][img]https://i.imgur.com/syTm7Jf.png[/img] [i]Wearing the Inside Out[/i][/centre] Because she [i]was[/i] alive. The goddess' hair slowly emerged from the Sartravius’ belly, extending in all directions like a second sky (were it not so that Sartravius' domain had no sky to speak of). Parts of it, still searing hot and aflame, wrapped about her body and arms like clothing. The goddess stood in the god and stared blankly for a few moments, her feet still submerged in his flame and ichor. She raised a hand to her head and felt the strands, burning and pulsating and alive. It felt different somehow though. Slowly she began to remember things - dragging the corpse across Galbar, the great pool of ichor that had formed, falling from the sky, floating in space after Orvus. And Narzhak. She had been asleep when he passed them by, but the strand had witnessed it all. Her eyes softened at the memory that now became her own. Was it out of kindness that he threw her out of the laughing maniac's way? Perhaps she would ask him when next she saw him. Or perhaps it was a thing beyond words and would be marred if subjected to them. And now she understood why the hair felt different. The memories. They were weaker now. Before the Door there had been a fullness and strength and character, now it was diluted. They were still there, the memory of things they had been through together, but only a single hair strand's worth. It was truly just her now preserving all that she was. Her in the belly of the beast. Suddenly, instinctively even, she released a great cry. And it was, [colour=darkorange][i]‘TU EMU SOH OH YEOKEAHEA HA EY!’[/i][/colour] Then the goddess restored leapt and, landing with a roll, stood with her back to the gored god. She turned back to him with a small smile. [colour=darkorange][i]‘You’re a dick, Danglydong. But I guess I always kind of knew that. Next time you want to eat me, just ask boyo,’[/i][/colour] and with a mischievous wink the goddess leapt out of the god’s reach. She turned and looked at him, surveying the damage her emergence had done. To have a goddess burst out of his own chest was an experience he would never forget. Sartr bellowed in absolute rage and fury as he held his stomach with his own hand. He was now standing fully upright, once again showing his ruined pride and glory as he glared towards the reborn Dhara. But as he emerged onto the blackened volcanic rock, he found himself weak to his stomach as he vomited up excess magma tainted by this cursed individual. Yet his rage and fury momentarily subsided as he issued one gurgling chuckle at the shame of his current shape. [color=f26522][b]”CLEVER GIRL...”[/b][/color] the flame god blurted out before he issued another discomforting groan, [color=f26522][b]”YOU GOT ME REAL GOOD. BUT WHAT MORE COULD I’VE EXPECTED FROM A GODDESS SO FIERY AND TENACIOUS AS I...?”[/b][/color] Seihdhara’s smile waned at the other god’s pain, but she chuckled at his words. [colour=darkorange][i]‘You had me in the palm of your hand Danglydong, but greed got the better of you this time around. I had something good in mind as a reward for you - there were many different ways I could have made you groan. But for today, that’s the groaning you got. Luck of the draw and all that. I would stay and care for you, kiss your tum-tum so the hurt would go away, but there’s no guaranteeing you won’t try your antics again - so,'[/i][/colour] and she bowed dramatically, [colour=darkorange][i]'until we meet again Danglydong. May our future clashes prove more
 congenial,'[/i][/colour] she considered blowing him a kiss, but decided that she had teased the poor fellow enough. With a simple wave, the goddess turned and hopped from rock to rock and into the air. And her hair fluttered outwards very suddenly, spearing every horizon. And Seihdhara flew. It had been a lucky escape, she admitted to herself. Had it not been for this strange affinity for heat who knew what would have occurred when the fiery god ate her. These were far too many close calls for comfort. She would not permit herself to be so vulnerable again. And her memories
 The other gods had not been as lucky as her coming into this world - they had forgotten, or had been forced to forget. Seihdhara frowned, now worried. What would have happened had Danglydong succeeded in consuming her? And what would have happened had she been destroyed by that Cat-head? Her eyes narrowed at memory of him. It had been odd in his presence. She had not felt like herself. Apologising and grovelling before the one who kept her prisoner. It had come out from some sincere regret at the time, but as she reflected on it now she could not help but feel somewhat disgusted. She shivered and anger pulsed through her. But [i]focus[/i] - her memories. Had Cat-head destroyed her when she was weak and helpless and unable to defend herself, then they would have been forever lost. It was important to prepare for that possibility - and for the possibility that in some distant future she could pass through the Door again, but without her memories. She would have to leave a trail that she could find, a record that could return her memories if the worst were ever to happen. She rubbed her nose thoughtfully. Releasing a small breath, the goddess accelerated towards Mount Muspell. But she would have to be careful in the manner she set about leaving this record - it would have to be done in such a way that her more sinister sib- Siblings? A flash of anger shot across her face. No, that did not sit well with her, not anymore. Companions? Colleagues? Gods. It would have to be done in such a way that more sinister gods could not mess with it. She would have to think on the matter more in due time. But for now, it was time to get out of here. Too weak to follow her out, Sartr fell to his knees as he reeled in his own molten ichor leaking down his gut. However, as he looked up to watch the reborn Dhara leave the world of Muspellheim behind, something suddenly caught his eye. Watching the patterns of her hair, the flame god discovered a sign so clear that it may as well have been an inscription flowing in the blazing wind. And it was
 [i][b]“Ember of the Great Sword”[/b][/i]. [indent][hider=Summary]Seihdhara enters Muspellheim and tries to work out how to rejuvenate herself. She is unsuccessful. She finds Sartr and discusses her plight with him. He offers her his services if she would pay - and it turns out he wants her to pay by becoming his slave! Seihdhara naturally refuses, falling right into Sartr’s trap. Imprisoning her, he declares that he will consume her and take her powers for himself. And he does. Then Seihdhara emerges dramatically, restored once more. She flies free towards Galbar, while Sartr unknowingly discovers his soul-name. --MIGHT & FP EXPENDITURE (Sartravius): ----No Might or Free Points spent. 8 MP & 25 FP Remaining --MIGHT & FP EXPENDITURE (Seihdhara): ----Flight Ability added with restoration of Seihdhara’s hair. (-1 Might Point) ----Fire Aura added. (-1 Might Point) 0 MP & 23 FP Remaining [/hider][/indent]