Member
xVampire3go
Lord Zee
Neziul
Vec
CitrusArms
Not a Sayan
Rekkuza
The Conundrum
Into the Heart of Corruption - Part 1
“Ashevelen is intelligent, and she knows that a tree cannot grow in the shadow of its parent. I’m the seventh daughter of the sun, and I’ll show you the answers you seek since you and I are a singularity. How to help: Help? Help! Hehe. We should raise a tribe!” Desire declared as Pyrrha, and the Hanged One held out her hand towards Penumbra.
Penumbra listened to the words of Pyrrha and shook their head. “ Another riddle or do you really want us to raise a tribe? I’m sure I’ll regret this but here we go. ” said Penumbra with a thin smile as they took Pyrrha’s hand into their own.
“An agreement! We’ll have to find others, and we’ll have to stand together against the storm… We’re going to travel far, and find five more to join us - to have seven sacred spirits for the spell to be cast - for the ritual to begin.” Then the other hand of the otherworldly deity clasped hands with Penumbra, and soon afterwards she slowly tilted her head as though she heard a strange sound that alerted her. “Speaking of a storm…”
“ Five more to join us? Five more what? You? More divines? What is this ritual you’re talking about and will it stop me from doing my divine quest from the Lady? I will not abandon it, no matter what. I hope you remember that. ” asked Penumbra in a rapid torrent of questions, barely taking a breath before asking the next.
And as if on a queue, their magical sense flared too. Something was going on. Something…big.
“ Please tell me that’s you. ” said Penumbra while getting ready for a fight. Pyrrha simply shrugged in a blithe manner, before bringing Sunset Orange beneath both of them and pointing to the north-eastern lands where an eldritch glow enveloped the horizon. A wave of wicked energy had emerged suddenly, and was approaching them as it engulfed everything in its wake.
Pyrrha placed a palm upon Penumbra’s shoulder, soft skin pulsing with soothing serenity despite the imminent arrival of destruction and disaster. “Hmm… Let’s surf the sea of shadows again!” She suggested, shouting as the tumultuous presence of the terraforming power thundered across their surroundings - scattering the camp - it was a cruel and cacophonous herald to the coming calamity. Nothing at all could be seen beyond the blast of corruption that had come from the fiery mountains of the Malignancy.
The soothing, pulsing power washed over Penumbra’s body and they shook their head.
“ And…it ain’t you. Damn. ” shouted Penumbra as they joined Pyrrha onto the Sunset Orange and into the shadow sea of the Lady. The shadows were blending into them, calling upon the champion to join them, to be part of them.
That wasn’t normal and that’s when Penumbra noticed their surroundings. A corruptive blast spread across the land as much as they could see. Everything was washed away by the power of Oa. Everything was corrupted. Even the shadows. The blessed shadows.
“ This…corruption. Is this the work of the one called Oa? The one that the Lady warned the Umbra about? ” said Penumbra as they mentally fought off the corruptive presence of the shadows.
“I don’t know… Only one way to find out!” Pyrrha proclaimed as the two of them ascended upon their shimmering artifact, and swiftly sailed forward blindly into the blackness. Pushing and pulling upon the threads of the tapestry, weaving the world around them, the goddess protected herself and Penumbra from the brunt of the blast, but the land would be burned and broken as sinister veins of baleful shadows spread across the accursed Steppes. The Malignancy had finally reached farther with its terrible touch, though the two of them had survived and passed through the summoned storm. The last lingering clouds of darkness receded, and ash settled upon the scorched earth, as the pair upon Sunset-Orange hovered away from where the remnants of their camp once was.
A look of disgust took over Penumbra. This corruption, this destruction…it perverted everything it touched. Killed many in its path. Long has Penumbra heard about the centaurs that roamed the Steppes, long have they heard of the nomadic tribes that found their way here…gone now. All of them, gone. Dead, destroyed by a divine’s whim.
There was a war within Penumbra, their view of the world has been changed after their trip to Hades, as such, they struggled to see the other side of this corruption. To understand what else there is. The duality of corruption eluded them. On one side, they hated what happened here but on the other side, their curiosity and thirst for knowledge overcame their senses.
“ What happened here and what’s its purpose? You’ve tried to teach me about the duality of things. Forgive me but I don’t see it here. I don’t understand. Care to explain? ” said Penumbra, their voice inquisitive.
“A broken heart bleeds horrors; letting such sorrow and pain spread like a profane poison poured in the sacred source of creation. Shouldn’t we heal what’s been hurt?” Pyrrha replied softly, as her ruby-emerald eyes shimmered with silent tears that reflected all of the ruination and suffering she solemnly stared upon. She shook her head, and allowed herself a shadow of a smile as she sailed towards the far-away sight of the fiery mountains without saying much more.
“ Should we heal it? Do we need to do that? Let me be a true Umbra and ask, what is it in for us? But even so, put as you did, maybe that’s the duality of it? Creation needs another side. Destruction. Corruption. Anything that’s blessed can be…unblessed? Cursed? ” replied Penumbra with a half voice. They were deep in thought and barely registered where they were going. Surely if there is life, there has to be death and if there is creation, there has to be the destruction of it.
From the origin of the explosion, far within the Malignancy, the two could see at the center of it arose a great palace; a colossal citadel with towers that pierced even the clouds. Dark stones perverted with a purple glow surrounded a castle standing in the wasteland illuminated by a shrouded sun that emerged from the west instead of the east, as though the two traveled backward through time. The fortress was jagged and pointy in many areas with walls upon walls in a hill to protect it from intruders, and at the center both could see at least what looked like a giant door fit for a throne room where remnants of corrupting energy that created the wastes was still awake in the air.
The energy surrounding the palace threatened to overwhelm the Umbral Champion. Their magic sense was on the edge of going overboard. It kept pounding in their head, like a migraine that never seemed to end while the corrupted shadows talked and talked. A never ending chorus of whispers, just at the edge of the hearing. Loud enough to hear them but not loud enough to understand what they were saying.
Swift and steady as the two of them surfed upon the suddenly seen currents of the Stria, Penumbra and Pyrrha approached the perturbing palace of presumably Oa, the one whom the Lady of Swift Trade and Shadow had warned of amongst the Umbra. A deadly and dangerous deity. They came to a halt, hovering close above the towering citadel, and gazed upon the grim domain of the ominous goddess. Wild and windswept waves of warm light lingered around Sunset Orange, announcing their presence in the ashen sky, and Pyrrha peered back at Penumbra before briefly plunging the benevolent blade of the Jade Knife into them.
“If you’re overwhelmed or injured, let me know. I’ll quickly heal you.” She said as she summoned a myriad of mystical strings that surrounded the two of them, shielding them from the insidious sounds that struck at them, and attempting to provide the solace of almost-silence. Pyrrha appeared perplexed when the Jade Knife was withdrawn from the Umbral Champion without using its curative powers, until she stepped back and shrugged with playful acceptance.
“I’ll be beside you at least, hehe!” Pyrrha proclaimed, as they slowly descended to the dreadful dwelling of Oa, supposedly.
“ I thank you, Pyrrha but I wish to understand what this is. Even if it means putting me at peril. These shadows, they may be corrupted but their essence? They are shadows. Still under the command of the Lady and as much part of me, as they are of me. I think. I am not sure. My mind is constantly being attacked. It’s like…whispers. Hundreds of them. All saying different things, I can’t understand the language they’re talking but I can see they’re using different words. One repeats something on and on, another one…it’s like singing. I need to…understand. But please, if you do see me fall off the Sunset Orange…catch me. ” explained Penumbra to the Goddess while adding a gentle-strained smile at the end.
Together they alighted afore the massive entrance; the structural behemoth both sturdy and sealed, but devoid of dutiful guards, so they stared at it and awaited any indication that they should come inside. “Patience is a virtue, except perhaps our would-be host is a little preoccupied?” Pyrrha said, before she gestured for her numerous silvery strings to surge forward and fasten themselves to the immense door, swiftly spreading across its shape, sinking their lithe forms through its solid surface, then finally finishing their task as the giant gate became detached from the walls surrounding it.
Penumbra laughed softly at Pyrrha’s comment and replied swiftly “Whatever the host is preoccupied can’t be that good. ”
The sight of the currently suspended door caused Pyrrha to sigh and avert her gaze with scarlet shame. “Shall we!” She declared softly, Sunset Orange sailing forward as she spoke, and then the two of them passed through the threshold into a tenebrous chamber ahead, wherein it was empty of any denizens once again to greet them as guests.
The room was empty, quiet and empty for both once the board they stood upon came to a stop - it seemed like the palace was mostly deserted. The strange sun in the horizon seemed to fully go down as the night seemed to return to the land. Before either of them spoke, they heard a voice echo throughout the hall. “Ai iserrae er ouhuua aeesslolo” they turned to the end of the hall illuminated by a lightning bolt outside, and sitting atop a throne with a base of marble and gold trimmings and the mid top top of its structure made out of obsidian - a throne large enough to reach the windows of the hallways. With steps serving as a walkway towards it, seated there, jagged and intimidating to the eye, was a woman with pale skin, white hair with patches of black, black horns atop her head akin to a dark crown, and red eyes shining in the dark, looking at the two of them with a relentless apathy. As thunder seemed to stop, she raised her arm, and the gate to the throne room shifted and seemed to reattach itself to the door frame.
Penumbra’s arms transformed into long, sharp swords. Their shadow armor seemed alive as it moved and swayed with their form, turning towards the sound of the voice. Tentacles came out of their body and formed a shield, placing themselves right in front of Pyrrha. The dumbness of the situation didn’t escape them. How could a mortal protect a divine?
“ Stand behind me, Pyrrha. I shall protect us to the best of my ability. ” said Penumbra in what was their most heroic voice.
Seeing the woman on her throne made Penumbra feel the corruption stronger. The power was radiating from what seemed to be the center of it, the woman. Not sensing any divine energy from her didn’t fool Penumbra as she proved her point by reattaching the door that Pyrrha broke with a simple hand raise. Taking a single step towards the divine, but making sure Pyrrha was still covered by their shield and body, Penumbra raised their voice and talked in the most charismatic way they could.
“ Greetings, great divine being. Sister of the Lady. I am the Champion of the Lady of Swift Trade and Shadows. Behind me, stands in your presence, a sibling of yours. Accept this from the Lady. ” as soon as they finished their speech, Penumbra threw a single coin towards Oa. A sign of respect.
Oa’qeisskesi remained on her throne, staring at both; she seemed emotionless soon looking to the side. Silence, then she looked towards the coin that hit her throne, before she swiftly stood. As she walked down the stairs, Penumbra could see the size difference between them and the second deity; she was easily twice their height - towering over them and Pyrrha. Her corruption energy felt stronger until she stopped, looming over Penumbra then shifting their red gaze to Pyrrha. Oa’qeisskesi leaned closer to them, her crimson eyes seemed to pierce through them like a spear, before she said in her strange language: “Ihoyurilaheshou ras yhe?” directing her voice to Pyrrha she then said in the same language “...aasua era ras yhe? Young yin…” Though she seemed to be speaking in the common language, but with an accent that wasn't very familiar to both while leaning a bit too forward.
“Hi! I’m Pyrrha - child of the Flame, and this is Penumbra - child of the Shadows. We’ve come to talk with you, though we only understand the common tongue. You’re Oa, yes?” Pyrrha replied to Oa’qeisskesi, still on the other side of her smaller protector, however something subtle in her voice suggested she sincerely appreciated what Penumbra was doing. Now compared to the towering height of the one standing before them, they seemed like lost children being scolded by an annoyed adult.
Penumbra stared at the mountainous size of the divine coming their way and none would’ve blamed them if they would’ve taken a step back but…they saw death. They saw Hades itself and they’ve been hardened by it. What was the worst that could happen? Using the last of their tentacles, they pushed into the ground and managed to get about half of the size of the divine. Enough for maybe, just maybe, a single strike if it came to that.
Oa’qeisskesi peered at Penumbra, still seeming emotionless, yet a hint of curiosity shone subtly in her red stare. Standing upright she looked at Pyrrha after the introduction, then said aloud. “Th' bairn o' flames 'n' th' bairn o' Ashevelen cam fur a visit 'n' yin is a mortal champion. Curious...” Penumbra could feel as the corruption grew stronger as the deity spoke. Oa seemed interested before saying: “ye resist well, th’ influence…”
“So… we were talking a while ago when a wave of destruction interrupted the two of us. A wave of destruction that came from here... We’re seeking an explanation.” Pyrrha proclaimed, her hands on her hips as she spoke with a hint of sternness, and Sunset Orange slowly rising higher so that Penumbra and she stood at a similar height to the towering Oa, or at least so that they stayed level with the looming deity.
Oa gave a low gentle grunt before saying: “What you saw was me beginning some of my early plans on this land. Nothing more and nothing less than a god enacting its will in a land.” Oa circulated both almost like an intimidating shark, then she said. “Forgive me as well. I am not very used to having guests, or good welcomings in many places.” With a snap of her fingers, lights all around the room were simultaneously lit, illuminating the dark room for the first time, and Oa was easier to see now. The woman seemed rather sickly with dark veins on her skin, but she also wore a dark toga with gold trimming, and jewelry, and a large skirt following her.
“Hmm… you’re not the only god though; won’t others come and be angry because you killed all of the creatures that were once here? I don’t think those that perished were your people, though I also don’t know whether you’ve permission to purge the land or not either.” Pyrrha furrowed her brows with frustration as she pondered aloud, before she shook her head and sighed to herself. She was evidently a poor peddler of knowledge.
With a smile, as much as they could manage, Penumbra stared at the Goddess. They understood with a struggle what Oa this time, the tongue she spoke was weird to say the least but afterwards she swapped to something they could understand.
“You corrupted the shadows but the shadows are still under the domain of the Lady and I am first of her Champions. This is nothing for one such as me. ” replied Penumbra. Their shadowy skin started to change colors slightly and started to become harder, a sign of death between the Umbra. The poison of the divine slowly affected them.
Suddenly, the shadows of the room started to vibrate and music started to be heard. One of Dahm’s own songs. One of courage and valor. Suddenly, Penumbra dropped their shield and went on one knee as out of the shadows, a woman walked. Ashevelen herself. Dressed in a long robe that seemed to move and shift whenever one would look upon them and a small tornado of coins, appearing and disappearing.
To be continued