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[h1][color=plum]Laurien[/color][/h1]

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She stayed in Laurienna for a day before the curse caught up to her, this time in the form of a fox. It was easily snuffed out, but she did not want to know how challenging the creatures of fire would become and thus she left her city. Her loyal followers would ensure that the city would run as it always did and they would keep on indulging themselves in her power, becoming twisted as it took root. She was excited to see what their progress would look like.

With nothing else on her mind but staying quiet, she skirted off the desert and into the jungle of the Nanhe, taking careful note to be cautious as she approached the river. There was no telling where his lordship would be, and no doubt be now, everyone probably knew what she had done and Shengshi would no longer be so kind. Thus she traveled far over the Dragon's Foot, and away from the majority of his influence. 

When she came to a boiling strait she was momentarily completed at the unique environment it had created. She explored it, stopping now and then to admire the kites(which she didn't actually know as kites but more like strange birds) and their many colors, before making her way on the land that the strait guarded. She knew not what was so strange with the land but knew the lack of diversity was noticeable. It felt as if it needed more, and her father's essence, faint as it was, was everywhere. It didn't take long before she found a clump of Orvium, the black metal was embedded in gray rock surrounded by newer dirt. Had chunks of the moon fallen here?

Aaldir approached the rock and said, "Why are we here Laurien? All we do is travel, we don't kill anything anymore and I hunger."

[Color=plum]"We travel because you and I are cursed. Or did you forget about that? Honestly I don't even know why you feel like you are hungry. You're a sword, swords shouldn't get hungry."[/color] Laurien huffed, sitting down on a rock as she leaned forward, her arms resting underneath her chin as she gazed at an empty expanse of land.

"You were the one who let me taste ichor… and it was delicious." The sword said, floating beside her in silent vigil.

[Color=plum]"Yes… I suppose it was me and you greedily lapped it up not even minutes after you were created. Your first taste of blood and now nothing else compares. I apologize."[/color] she said absentmindedly.

"Mhmm. Come, give me buy a little taste and make it all better." Aaldir said, floating closer to her.

Laurien turned her full attention to the sword and let out a sigh. [Color=plum]"Like I've told you a thousand times already, the answer is still no."[/color]

The sword grumbled and the silence returned.

[color=9d8168]”And why is the answer no?”[/color] asked many voices from behind Laurien, none of which voiced any true curiosity over the subject. 

She straightened her back at the sound of the voices and turned around as Aaldir entered her hands, hungering silently.

A tall, white figure stood behind her looking down upon her blackened form with its featureless form before it stepped back from its uncomfortable closeness. There were no others from which the voices could have come from as there was only the one being, unless there were more beings under the robes. It’s arms were folded behind its back as it reoriented its head to look past Laurien as it seemed to lose interest.

[color=9d8618]”What has brought you to Pāṟa?”[/color] the voices asked.

Laurien scrutinized the figure for a moment, lowering Aaldir as she didn't feel threatened. Then she spoke, [color=plum]"Pāṟa? Is that what they call this lonely place…"[/color] she tilted her head at the being. [Color=plum]"Nothing's brought me here, save the wind."[/color] 

[color=9d8168]”A traveler of nothing then,”[/color] the being commented before finally moving its head to meet Laurien’s gaze. [color=9d8168]”And who might you be, traveler?”[/color] it asked with a slight curiosity. 

She pursed her lips and thought a moment. She couldn't see what it's desires were, and that meant the being was of divine origin or shielded enough to escape her grasp. A God perhaps? But which one? She would have to be careful here. If it knew her name, she had to be ready.

Laurien suddenly smiled at the being. [Color=plum]"My name is Laurien. Who might you be?"[/color] she asked.

[color=98168]”I am Vakk, Lord of Speech, and creator of the continent you stand upon,”[/color] it answered simply. It’s faceless head split as a mouth erupted to mimic Laurien’s sudden smile. The god began to step around Laurien, circling her as it seemed to study her. Her own smile did not waver.

[color=9d8168]”Now, where do you come from, Laurien?”[/color] Vakk asked as it evaluated, continuing to circle her as the many voices spoke.

Vakk. That was an old name. One Orvus had warned her about. She raised her guard slightly and said, [color=plum]"The Dragon's Foot, my Lord."[/color] she let herself be studied and only looked at Vakk when he was in front of her. His form was hardly unnerving, for she was used to such things. They no longer frightened her.

[color=9d8618]”Across the strait? Not many have quite the resolve to pass through such heat… not by mortal means, that is,”[/color] Vakk stated, stopping behind her. Its shadow loomed over her as it stepped towards her, arms still folded behind its back as indicated by the shadow. There was a moment of silence between the two before Vakk asked another question, [color=9d8618]”Now, indulge me, what business does a spawn of Orvus have upon these lands?”[/color] 

[color=plum]”Wasn’t that bad, I just flew.”[/color] she winked. [color=plum]”As for this spawn of Orvus… Well, I’m afraid my answer is much the same. I travel, an unfortunate side effect of a curse.”[/color] she said.

[color=9d8618]”A curse?”[/color] Vakk asked with a clear interest, [color=9d8168]”And what did you do to warrant such a curse?”[/color]

[color=plum]”Well, depending upon who you ask, I did something very, very bad.”[/color] she said, amused. [color=plum]”Do you have any strong, particular love of your siblings? How would you react if, let’s say, a mortal attempted to kill a god?”[/color] she smirked. 

[color=9d8168]”I care little for the other gods. They did kill me after all. If you attempted to kill a god then I would react with, perhaps, a modicum of pride,”[/color] Vakk answered, a light chuckle coming from its form before finally moving its arms to its sides. It seemed to be slightly more at ease as it took a step away from Laurien. 

[color=plum]”You look lively, for one supposedly dead.”[/color] she giggled. [color=plum]”But yes, I did try… And in doing so Arae finally decided to curse me and the blade that stabbed Orvus. I can never settle in one place for over a day, or flame creatures appear, growing in strength until they kill me. Hence, why I’m here.”[/color] she said forlornly and with a final sigh. 

[color=9d8618]”Until you die…”[/color] Vakk echoed before taking a silent moment to think, [color=9d8618]”Luckily for you, death is reversible.”[/color] It loosed another chuckle before sitting in front of Laurien, cocking its head to the side as it thought for yet another moment.

[color=9d8168]”It would seem that your death would be highly pleasing to the other gods, yes?”[/color] Vakk asked. 

[color=plum]”Those that know what I’ve done, probably. I’m not sure who else might know now, but I wouldn’t put it past them.”[/color] she said, her hand tightening on her blade as she narrowed her eyes slightly at Vakk. 

Vakk sighed as she narrowed her eyes, moving its head back up, [color=9d8618]”Drop your unneeded skepticism, it will do you no favor with winning my favor.”[/color] It paused as it crossed its legs. [color=9d8618]”Your death would make the other gods happier, gods that I detest, gods that would likely desire to see me put back into my grave. Killing you would bring me nothing,”[/color] it explained, the voices growing colder as it went on, [color=9d8168]”I seek to make sure that death is something that is… reversible. I and my children are proof that it is.”[/color]

Laurien relaxed after a moment. Then she released her grip on Aaldir and said, [color=plum]”Away.”[/color] and the sword flew off. A soft smile fell upon her lips as she looked upon Vakk again. [color=plum]”I see, and how exactly is that possible?”[/color] she said. 

[color=9d8618]”Attaching the soul to a corpse or object,”[/color] it answered simply before continuing, [color=9d8168]”In the case of full vaporization, I do not know, but I believe that keeping the soul within an object would allow time for another body to be created, either from the object or… other means.”[/color]  

[color=plum]”How does the soul resist the pull of the Vortex? Wouldn’t these… undead go insane?”[/color] she questioned. 

[color=9d8168]”A long process that still fully eludes me. A reinforced soul, such as your own or my own, would be able to resist that pull. However, not enough time has passed for me to tell with my children.”[/color] Vakk stated.

[color=plum]”I’m sure with enough experimentation, a solution can be found for mortals. But I am curious… Are there any side effects? Does the soul remain the same as it was when alive?”[/color]

[color=9d8168]”It depends on how long one has been dead. I am sure that if the process was started when one has just died, the original soul can still be used. However, as is with my children, if all that is left is but bones and decay, then only a shell of the original can be replicated, but without emotion and desire to do anything unless otherwise ordered.”[/color]

Vakk let out a sigh at the fact, [color=9d8168]”Sadly, emotion can be replicated and replaced within those souls, but the process is draining and unrefined.”[/color]

[color=plum]”It seems you have your work cut out for you, Lord Vakk. I am most interested in it, I do say. To die, but live on? Truly remarkable.”[/color] she said smoothly. 

[color=9d8168]”I do thank you,”[/color] Vakk said, slowly returning to its feet before looking back upon Laurien. [color=9d8618]”Perhaps I was wrong, it seems that Hermes was the only mortal that soured my view of mortals, for you seem to be the most reasonable. Even compared to the other gods.”[/color]

Vakk stepped toward Laurien, [color=9d8168]”Perhaps a gift is in order to help you against this curse… Would you like an object that could reconstruct your body and bind your soul to it?”[/color]

She brought a hand to her chin and tilted her head as she thought for a moment. She then shook her head. [color=plum]”I will have to decline I’m afraid. Life is… Precious to me and I am still unsure of what the process would do to me. Though, I am flattered that you would think of giving me a gift.”[/color] 

She then blinked. [color=plum]Did you say… Hermes? If I might be so bold, my lord, when did you meet her?”[/color] 

[color=9d8168]”I never did. She did, however, steal something from me. When I went to exact punishment, K’nell and… Shengshi fought and killed me,”[/color] Vakk explained, its voice growing slightly agitated at the memory.

[color=plum]”Mhmm. I see. No one ever told me the fate that befell you. I am sorry to hear it, only now.”[/color] she said softly. 

[color=9d8168]”The victors often write history to make themselves seem better,”[/color] it said before stepping towards Laurien, [color=9d8168]”Now, perhaps I can gift you something to stave off death, since you find you life so precious.”[/color]

The god looked to the ground before the tendrils upon its back emerged and planted themselves into the ground. It took but mere moments before the tendrils emerged with a chunk of orvium, bringing the substance to Vakk’s hand. The tendrils went back into the ground once more as Vakk began to crush the metal, grinding it between its hands before the expected explosion came, but rather than radiating out, the explosion seemed to be caught, and maintained, within a field. Vakk looked back to Laurien before explaining, [color=9d8168]”A source of power.”[/color]

Eventually, the tendrils returned from the ground with a different substance, shining ever brighter as the tendrils morphed it into shape and smoothed its edged. A golden crown was formed and the explosion that Vakk held within its hands was forced and compacted into the size of a gemstone, its colors shifting from red to orange to yellow, only occasionally turning into a smoky black before the colors of the explosion were brought back. Vakk inserted the the gemstone into the front of the crown. The crown itself, was separated into three golden rows, only meeting to form a circle around the gemstone and connecting at the back .

[color=9d8618]”To protect you on your travels, it may not hold back the force of a god but it should be able to shield you from a great deal of punishment that might find its way to you.”[/color] Vakk said before setting the crown upon Laurien’s head. 

She had watched the display with a child’s curiosity, her eyes wide and full of wonder. It was a beautiful crown, and when Vakk placed it on her head a small shiver went down her spine. She touched it gingerly, felt the golden rows and the gemstone of many colors. Her gaze then fell upon Vakk and she said, [color=plum]”Oh thank you, thank you my lord! I will treasure his gift with all my life, I swear it.”[/color] her voice then grew softer and she briefly looked away before saying, [color=plum]”But… What did I do to deserve such kindness?”[/color]

Vakk thought to itself for a moment, [color=9d8618]”Perhaps it could be that I understand being hated by the other gods. You have shown an interest and understanding in what I do.”[/color] The Lord of Speech thought for another moment, [color=9d8168]”Perhaps it could be that I wish to see the other gods suffer through you living… I do not know.”[/color]

It allowed for a hand to fall upon her shoulder as it spoke to her in a more pragmatic voice, [color=9d8168]”Just do stay alive, you are the only mortal that I may actually bear the company of.”[/color]

[color=plum]”I can do that, my lord.”[/color] she said sweetly. [color=plum]”I wish I could offer something in return, but I fear I lack the power to do so, at this time. In the future, should we meet again, or if I stumble upon them, I shall give a gift.”[/color] she said. 

[color=9d8168]”Perhaps if you stumble upon Swahhitteh, maybe… that reminds me, do you know what happened to Tendlepog?”[/color] Vakk asked.

A confused look sprung on her face. [color=plum]”What happened to Tendlepog?”[/color] she asked. 

[color=9d8168]”It… is gone.”[/color]

[color=plum]”What do you mean gone? How does a continent disappear?”[/color] she asked bewildered. 

[color=9d8168]”Then it seems like this is a mystery that I must solve. Another task on a growing list of things to do,”[/color] Vakk stated, folding its arms behind its back as it looked out to the horizon. 

[color=9d8168]”This is where I make my leave. If you require my aid, all you need to do is pray my name, I will hear it for… not many pray,”[/color] Vakk said, looking back down at Laurien, before it disappeared to leave her to her own devices.

Laurien blinked as the god left. Her own questions coming into her mind. Tendlepog gone? She pursed her lips. It didn’t really matter, in the end. 

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[hider=Summary]
Laurien travels to the kick because she's cursed to travel. Talks to her sword then Vakk shows up and they have a conversation about things and Vakk actually ends up liking Laurien I guess. He gifts her a crown because Laurien is Queen, after all.
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[hider=MP Summary]
Laurien & Arya;
1MP & 6FP
Nothing Spent

Vakk;
8 MP & 16 FP
-3 MP for creating the [b]Crown of Protection[/b], a crown that emits a telekinetic field that protects the user from many sources of damage. It cannot protect the user against attacks from divine but can protect against powerful magical and non-magical attacks that would otherwise kill the user. 

5MP & 16 FP remaining.
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