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Post by Briar on Dec 1, 2019 14:53:47 GMT -6
This was a strange place to find himself in. If Aubrey didn't know any better, he might have thought that it was haunted. The altar certainly did nothing to set anyone at ease that might gaze upon it, dried blood marking its carvings and statues, so that the place looked unsettling even in the light of day. He stood at the base of the pyramid and tried not to shudder, tried to ignore the coppery scent in the air. Some of it was old and dull, but some seemed uncomfortably fresh, and he didn't want to give himself any reason to be sick in a place like this.
Not that there weren't reasons enough, but he... didn't want to think about the consequences of losing his lunch in a place of magic and sacrifice. Never mind the priests standing by--- that would be bad enough, but who knew what the magical forces might make of that sort of indiscretion?
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Post by Briar on Dec 1, 2019 14:56:28 GMT -6
If any of his friends and family had known that he had planned to come here, Aubrey was certain that they would have tried strongly to dissuade him or, barring that, forbid him from coming through other means. That was why he hadn't told anyone. And if Aster had said anything, then that would have been the most hypocritical of all, considering he had done it once before.
But then, that meant he knew, and Aubrey didn't.
Still. He had done his research, asked around, filled in the gaps, pored painstakingly over old documents and scrolls despite the difficulty he still had with reading. He'd taken the precautions. A small set of healing berries rested in the palm of one hand even now, a winter gift from the King of Evergreen he'd been working with. He could do this. Aubrey took a deep breath and took the first step onto the stairs that led up to the altar itself.
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Post by Briar on Dec 1, 2019 15:00:43 GMT -6
The climb wasn't so bad, once Aubrey had started. The stairs weren't so tall as to give him trouble, even if there was a great many of them. The burn in his legs gave him something to think about other than the ritual that was coming, and at this point he was glad for anything to keep his mind from wandering in unpleasant directions. There was no sense in filling himself with terror before the process had begun.
It was only after he got to the top... He had known that there would be figures waiting there for him, but that didn't make their presence any less unsettling. He smiled reflexively, even knowing that it wouldn't do him any good, and only barely bit back a stilted, awkward greeting. These impassive figures were not here to make light pleasantries. They were merely here to observe... and maybe to intervene if something went wrong.
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Post by Briar on Dec 1, 2019 15:06:04 GMT -6
Telling himself that it would all be well, he let his gaze drift down to the altar itself--- and stopped. Another deep breath--- no, too much copper in it, and too cold, with the chill seeming to settle deeper into him as he stared at the blood-caked altar. A shudder went through him, but the impatient eyes of the robed figured urged him on, and gingerly he placed his offerings of crystals and the berry atop the surface, trying not to think about what he was looking at, or what he was about to do.
At least if there was anything fresh enough to slick the surface, it was frozen. He picked the berry back up again and ate it before he could think better of it. It was very mildly sweet, a little dried but still good. On another occasion, he might have enjoyed it--- though it was too precious to be eaten casually.
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Post by Briar on Dec 1, 2019 15:09:14 GMT -6
But here, there was no room for even small pleasures, and the thing that stayed with him was the feeling of pulp between his teeth as he chewed, then swallowed.
And then there were no more steps between himself and the knife.
Aubrey picked it up, feeling the weight of it in his hands, then closed his eyes and steeled himself. Opening them, he made a quick swipe across his arm, but wasn't quite able to stifle a sharp gasp of pain. The blade was sharper than he had anticipated--- which was good, it would make for a clean cut--- but he had misjudged, or maybe been too hasty, and there was more blood than he had meant for there to be---
Quickly, he held out the bleeding wound over the crystals, letting it run over the skin of his arm and onto each one in turn. Let this be enough... Let this ritual be enough...
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Post by Renathan on Dec 1, 2019 16:57:21 GMT -6
Hollow Node - Success! Next Attempt - 12-01-2020
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