|
|
Post by Nerius on Mar 13, 2021 0:42:26 GMT -6
Though he looked calm on the outside as he approached the Temple, internally Nerius was buzzing with excitement. Magic. Power. Something he always craved more off, but hadn't been able to satisfy in far too long. The magical crystals had been the hangup, even with all his time in the mines, he'd ended up needing to trade for most of the crystals he had.
The final had come rather unexpectedly, a miner had been willing to swap their recently found water crystal for the earth crystal he'd found months ago. A more useful element for one who worked underground, but honestly Nerius didn't care what the person planned on doing with it, what mattered was that he finally had enough water crystals to craft a node.
It was rather late in the day, and the sun was starting to set. The trade had been unexpected, and he'd spent time reading over the ritual again, just to be safe, though he'd remembered it correctly.
(Nerius: 1/20)
|
|
|
|
Post by Nerius on Mar 13, 2021 1:11:37 GMT -6
The time of day didn't affect the ritual, for some magic the timing was essential, but for nodes it made no difference. The Temple looked even more menacing in this lighting, its already harsh shape casting long, jagged shadows. It was not a welcoming place, but Nerius was far too focused on his goal to be put off.
The carvings too were just as gory as he remembered them being, but he recognized some of the forms this time. Or at least, some of them resembled the Gods and Godly Creatures that had been described in scrolls. Not all of them were the sort of being many people would want to offer sacrifices to, but perhaps there was a reason the lore wasn't common knowledge. Nerius himself hadn't known anything about the local Gods the first time he'd done this, but then, learning a bit more hadn't put him off the process in the slightest, either.
(Nerius: 2/20)
|
|
|
|
Post by Nerius on Mar 13, 2021 1:23:24 GMT -6
But then, when it came to magic, would anything? The process for nodes was rather tame when compared to some of the things detailed in the carving. If the node process had been worse, required greater sacrifice, would he have still done it? Yes, yes he would, nothing shown, even here, would have deterred him.
But such gruesome sacrifices wouldn't be required today, just the crystals, and a bit of his blood and soul. And the berry, of course, but that was to keep him alive rather than actually going into the node.
It wasn't a short climb, but Nerius was hardly aware of the time as he went up the steps, and soon enough, reached the top. It wasn't any more welcoming, with the towers of bones, the bloody alter, and the stoic speakers. He nodded his head in a polite bow, but didn't speak. They weren't much for conversation, to the best of his knowledge, he'd never heard of anyone actually having a conversation with them.
(Nerius: 3/20)
|
|
|
|
Post by Nerius on Mar 13, 2021 1:41:11 GMT -6
The alter was just as bloody as he remembered it, though there was no scent of blood as Nerius approached it. Everything was dry, at least, and none of the blood transferred as he set out the six water crystals and lone mind crystal on the alter, arranging them in a crescent with the pink crystal in the middle. The steady thrum of the magic, like the rushing of ocean waves, was soothing. It wouldn't last, of course, once the energies were freed.
Now, to begin.
Nerius gently removed the healing berry from the container he'd brought it in, it had done its job, and the odd cluster of fruit was undamaged. He wasn't about to set it on the bloody alter, and after double checking to make sure the spirit dagger was within reach, he ate the berry. It was sweet, but for once he wasn't eating something for the flavor, rather its healing properties.
(Nerius: 4/20)
|
|
|
|
Post by Nerius on Mar 13, 2021 2:07:39 GMT -6
Next, the blood.
Nerius picked up the dagger, it was sharp and clean, though it had probably shed the blood of many people before him. He'd drawn blood from his arm last time, and chose than limb again, slicing another incision next to the previous scar. Odd that it had scarred with the berry, but perhaps the healing magic had been all used up on the soul tearing.
He set down the dagger, and carefully dripped blood on each of the seven crystals. As the blood hit the stones, he could feel something happening, the magic of the ritual was starting, and he knelt down in front of the altar. All was calm for a moment, but soon the thrum of magic got stronger, becoming more erratic and wild, no longer in harmony as the energies swirled and twisted.
Then there was a sudden jolt of excruciating pain, and Nerius remembered nothing of the ritual after that.
(Nerius: 5/20 +Added)
|
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Mar 23, 2021 20:25:11 GMT -6
Node Creation: Success
Cool-down will End: March 13, 2022 |
|
