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Post by Ashe on Jun 5, 2019 16:12:10 GMT -6
Ashe was beyond thrilled as he walked the steps to the alter. He had been here once before, when making his Hollow node, and he had worked diligently ever since so he could one day make a return appearance. Now here he was, with a pocket full of crystals and a berry. He left Inyala just outside the temple, knowing they were within range of each other and if he failed and woke up at the Healer's Temple, he would find her there as well. But he would be beside himself if something in this magical place harmed her, if something disastrous happened to her in his power struggle. He had faith, and he knew what he was doing, but he also knew accidents happened when magic got involved. Solo, he continued up the steps to approach the alter. He would love to take a tour of this place on a day he didn't have a goal in mind. To learn about the carvings, to listen to the history of this place.
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Post by Ashe on Jun 5, 2019 16:20:03 GMT -6
Ashe carefully walked up the steps, feeling quite at home in a place like this. The carvings, the stories they told, the atmosphere of a place where magic was bestowed and sacrifices were made... Some might find it creepy or unnerving; Ashe felt a thrill in his veins, a quickening of his blood. He felt like his whole life had led to this point. Each step was taking forever, and yet escalating him to the beginning of the rest of his life. He had to take his time. He was an adult, not a child, he couldn't run forward at breakneck speed and make a fool of himself, or risk losing one of the ingredients.
Deep breath. He reached the top, the alter itself coming into view. It looked a little more dirty, a little more used, since the last time he had been here. How many others had contributed blood to the sacrifice for magic? He knew somewhere in that mess was Jack's blood. Possibly a lot of it.
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Post by Ashe on Jun 5, 2019 16:23:55 GMT -6
Some of it was also his. Under all those layers, some of his own stain was left, forever a mark on this place. And he was adding some more to it today. He approached, taking note of the bones, the silent, creepy figures ever watching. Had he mentioned he felt at home here? The disapproving gaze didn't affect him; that felt familiar as well, something he had experienced his whole time in this city and beyond. He was always pushing limits, sticking his nose where it didn't belong, trying to master things not meant to be touched let alone dominated. And it had all gotten him to this point in time.
Ashe stopped when he reached the sacred, stained, slab of stone. The familiar knife sat there, waiting. Ashe pulled items out of his pockets, one by one. First, by sheer luck and due to its oddball size and shape, the mind crystal. He placed it in the center of the alter, careful to make sure it didn't have a chance to roll off.
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Post by Ashe on Jun 5, 2019 16:30:57 GMT -6
One by one, Ashe slowly brought out the crystals. There were so many required for this particular node. Divine Crystals, they were called - Ashe had researched these, and the ingredients needed to create each node - and they were the most difficult to manage. Of course they were. Ashe was never really satisfied with the easy stuff, was he? No, it had to take years of searching and preparation.
Positive thoughts only. He was here, he had the materials, he would emerge successful.
Five... Six.... Seven.... One by one, he placed the crystals in a circle around the mind crystal. Each had been painstakingly cleaned so they gleamed, glowing softly in the twilight shining down from the hole in the ceiling. The dying sun lending its final rays. Nine... The final crystal was different, a prismatic. Its rainbow sheen stood out against the purple. There they were, all perfect, pristine, waiting. Ashe could feel the hum of magical power collected in this room. One more step before he could get started... The berry.
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Post by Ashe on Jun 5, 2019 16:44:39 GMT -6
Ashe pulled the berry out and popped it into his mouth. The suspense was building now that he was here, at the peak. It was akin to riding a Sarane high into the sky, turning around, and hovering for a second before executing a dive. He chewed rapidly, the juice flooding his mouth with the sweetest taste, leaving a bitterness afterward as he swallowed and it was absorbed, his body working quickly to spread the powers throughout. Heart pounding with excitement, he picked up the special knife and held out his arm over the alter. Palm cutting was the worst, just ask anyone who had experienced trying to heal it afterward, and the skin was tougher, it took more work to get the blood needed. Even if he had the healing berry, he didn't want to mess with that. He opted for a vein in his arm. The berry would save him from death if he cut too deep. Quickly, he sliced the soft flesh of his wrist, clenching and unclenching his fist in attempt to control the flow. He dripped a drop on each stone in the circle, including the one in the center. Thankfully, he had cut with enough enthusiasm that he didn't need to cut a second time, and soon each had a splash of Ashe's blood for decoration.
Feeling suddenly light headed - couldn't be from the blood loss so soon, could it? Surely not - he stepped back and dropped to his knees. He rocked back on his calves, and leaned forward, nose toward the ground, head lowered. He would gladly give up a piece of his soul for this power; the gods, the spirits, the elements - they would have an easy time pulling it from him. But that didn't stop the pain. A welcome pain.
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Post by Jack on Jun 5, 2019 18:26:34 GMT -6
Dark Node - Success! Next Attempt - 06-05-2020
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