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To Kill a Whale (and have to eat it)
Context: Weeks ago, Elene had a conversation with Iosyne while fishing in Mournhold. They covered a lot of topics, but the politeness of the Azudim is probably the one thing that stuck the most with Iosyne. All that being said, Elene requested to join the fishing expedition She was planning - provided that she is available when it happens. A few weeks later, the Malevolent fulfills that request, and then subsequently gets her into trouble.
Kudos to @Iosyne and @Slyphe for the entertainment, so much so I forgot to sleep.
- - - - -
Iosyne:
Slyphe:
Elene:
-------
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "You made a request of Me."
Harshly, you hiss afar to Iosyne, "Lady Malevolent."
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "I will indulge you. Shall we hunt?"
Harshly, you hiss afar to Iosyne, "Yes, Lady Malevolent. I will join Your hunting with avaricious delight."
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "Choose our grounds. The oceans. I will come to you."
-- insert movement to find a feasible spot --
Elene surveys the area here, floating around within the ocean. She stares at the abyss wall, glancing upwards as though striving to find the edge of the rock surface before shaking
her head.
You say, "This will do, I imagine."
You say, "I choose the bottom of this Abyss, Lady Malevolent. Will it suffice?"
Along the abyss wall.
The towering cliff face of the abyss wall extends straight up into the waters above until the murky depths conceal it from view. A few loose rocks that have dislodged from the abyss wall has gathered near the sandy base, which continues on like barren plane in almost all directions you can see. The bubbling of water alerts you to a prime fishing hole nearby.
You see exits leading north, east, and southwest.
The sandy base shifts imperceptibly as something passes beneath.
-- I lost the portion of the log here where Iosyne bursted forth from the sandy base, alighting upon the wall of the abyss, to which Elene raised her arm up to shield her eyes from the pillaring sand, only to find the arachnid form of the Goddess before her. --
Iosyne's maw opens - the water jettisons away from Her mouth, as if in fear of finding fate between those jagged fangs, leaving an eerie pocket as She speaks. Her raspy voice carries through the water, perfectly clear. "Curious one," She greets. The Malevolent cants Her head to one side, gouged eyes searching the ocean depths, before the Goddess pushes off, alighting upon the cliff wall. Eight spindly legs bend, coiling with unreleased pressure. "Come," She commands.
Come - to where isn't clear. You can't help but notice that Her bulbous arachnid abdomen looks rather comfortable to perch upon.
Without question, Elene steps forward from where she stands. She is surrorunded by a bubble of air, so she is able to converse easily enough. Her bare feet propel her forth across the waters, headed to where Iosyne stands. As she drifts closes, she trails to a stop before considering her options. Her head tilts, and she vocalises a soft "mm", then decides, perhaps, that the bulbous abdomen of Her doesn't seem to bad to perch upon after all. And so she does.
Iosyne does not seem to object - evident in the fact that you remain on Her lower half and not between Her jaws. The Goddess pushes off with violent force, legs leaving cracks spidering across the cliff wall as they leave its touch.
Intense motion as you travel along on your spider missile, unimpeded by the water's resistance. It is all you can do to hang on.
Elene struggles to stay upon Iosyne's bulbous abdomen, her hands stretching out to find for a handhold but seemingly finding none. She sways and teeters there, before she eventually throws herself down flat. Hands reach down, finding purchase upon the root of one spindly leg for support.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
The Azudim-Arachnid torpedo comes to a floating halt in the middle of the ocean, far from the comforts of land. Iosyne studies your surroundings - vast ocean, nothing else. The Goddess shifts Her head upwards, sniffing - again, unnaturally, water rushes away instead of towards. "There," She says softly, bending Her neck to stare below you.
Below you, a silhouette, just large enough to be discernible.
Elene manages to take a hand off Iosyne's leg. Sure that they are not about to zoom over, she removes the other hand too, and then finally assumees a seeated position upon Iosyne's bulbous lower body. Her bare feet swings idly off of it, and she leans forward, casting her pale gaze downwards, cutting through the waters, and the darker gloom of the ocean. She squints- and her eyes barely catch a silhouette, a very large silhouette in the distance beneath.
Prey spotted, reality seems to warp around you. For a moment, nothing makes sense. Then, perched atop Iosyne, you begin freely floating, no motion arising from the Malevolent. Downwards rather than up, the innocuous and yet utterly wrong motion disturbing. The silhouette grows larger and larger as you float deeper and deeper - realization begins to settle in on just how enormous your destination really is.
Elene's silvery hair ripples around her as she finds herself suddenly sliding off Iosyne. Her arms splay out to her side, as if trying to find her balance in the water, almost stumbling upon her bare feet. Her gaze is one of confusion, and then suddenly of understanding as she observes her footing - or rather, what makes up her footing. It is an animal. A very, very large animal.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. Gargantuan even among its kind, a titanic whale dominates the waters. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
On second glance, the whale does not actually appear relatively helpless.
In a soft, sibilant voice, you say, "We are on a behemoth of a whale."
"I attempted your mortal fishing," Iosyne says conversationally, casually strolling along the backside of the whale - Her spindly legs sink through its skin with each step, leaving bleeding punctures with each movement. "The rod always broke. You should really devise a more effective method."
Elene leans down upon one knee, her curious nature briefly overwhelming her as she presses one scarred hand against the thick dark grey hide of the creature. Nothing moves when she exerts pressure, so she goes even further, bending her upper body down so as to lay one ear against a titanic whale. She stays like this for a lingering moment, before she eventually straightens herself and stands. She twists upon a foot, facing Iosyne and watching her with interested, palid eyes. With every step of the arachnid Goddess, she takes two for herself, trailing after.
Cautiously, you say, "I am not certain, Goddess, if utilising a rod would be a wise method of capturing this creature-- not that I doubt Your herculean strength."
After a moment's pause, you say, "Did You desire to capture this one alive? A prize?"
Hazy memories of a dreadlocked Azudim loom before you, holding a bleeding chunk of flesh - your jaw - in one hand. His eyes are cold, leeched of warmth and love. 'We are ended,' comes the words, and he swallows the price that he has extracted from you whole. The memory dizzily fades.
Iosyne's path pauses suddenly. The Goddess' eyes close before Her serpentine tongue flicks out, pushing through the water near you, coiling around you just shy of making contact. Then it snaps back into Her mouth, jaws closing with a click. A contented sigh escapes the Malevolent at the taste of the memory. Ruined eyes open again. "Bore us a hole," She instructs, glancing back the way She came - geysers of blood float upwards from the holes of each of Her steps.
Elene sways upon her feet, clearly shaken by Iosyne's proximity in the wake of her fading memory. One hand rises instinctively to her jaw, pressing it against her jawline before she pauses, remembering where she is. Her mind shuffles the images away, returning to one of razor focus as Her words filter through to her. The Azudim approaches a nearby hole that geysers blood, taking a knee before it and pushing an arm down through the cracked hide of the whale. The warmth of the creature's life slips past her fingers in a sanguine stream as she finds purchase upon the flesh beneath, and pulls. Her second hand joins soon enough; it has procured an grotesquely oversized cleaver, which she uses to tear at the gaping hole, widening the wound and slicing through the flesh, sinew and muscles beneath.
Iosyne unceremoniously seizes you, dragging you headfirst into the wound. Everything blurs as you zoom through the whale, a fireball of destruction and gore - moving faster than you thought possible as you zig-zag through the entire whale, you can just make out flashes of the Malevolent's thrashing form - claws, legs, fangs eviscerating everything in your path with abject, uncontained violence. Shadow haze rolls off Her in waves as well, cruelly slicing through everything they touch. Tortured thrashing surrounds you, a seemingly never-ending mournful cry escaping your prey. An eternity, a blink of an eye. You float now, through crimson water, chunks of varying sizes joining you. One of the larger chunks is held in Iosyne's hands, raising to eager lips.
Iosyne brings Her prize to Her lips, chomping down with unabashed gusto.
Voice reverberating with the rhythmic susurration of crashing waves, Slyphe, the Maelstrom states, "Must You chew so loudly, Sister? That unfortunate whale had better purpose than You - the least You could do is honour its memory. In silence."
A flicker out of the corner of your eye, an irritating sparkle that lingers, suddenly blossoms into a whirling maelstrom. Starting small, the vortex widens as it comes closer to you, the frantic streams of water speeding up until they sear at your limbs in passing with honed precision. The gentle sound of shifting water grows into a meacing roar, carrying with it the feel of a portent.
For an instant, the obnoxious, disturbing sound of the Malevolent's feast can be heard, all slurps and gnashes and smacking of lips.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. This whale seems to have been slain in the most gruesome fashion possible, chunks of it contaminating the ocean with crimson viscera. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
Appearing slightly dazed, Elene is thoroughly drenched in the blood of the corpse of a titanic whale as she floats in the crimson water, once a featureless blue space. Gore has smeared itself across her face, but she swiftly recovers. Clearly, she is used to such messes, and she takes it with grace. Her head tilts, and her body turns as she joins Iosyne, picking up a smaller chunk of whale meat before she brings it up to her lips.
The corners of Elene's eyes spots the vortex that speeds up once it comes closer to her, and she trashes back in the water, the meat floating off from her fingers as she drifts closer to Iosyne. Her gaze is now guarded, wary.
Oh shit. What did I find myself roped into?
Ignoring the Malevolent, a soft voice resounds from the water itself, filling the depths around you. "If you wish for prey, petty creature of My Sister's, I should be delighted to introduce you to a creature closer to your own size. One that might actually notice you before you have a chance to play your childish games."
"My Sibling comes to feast as well," Iosyne declares happily around a mouthful of food, bits of flesh and bone escaping free of Her teeth as She speaks. The unnaturally shifting waters cause Her arachnid form to drift about, floating freely.
Battered around by the shifting, portentous waters, Elene does all she can do to stay small, a lesser target in favour of the presences that make Their attention known. However, the Azudim does not quail from the situation she finds herself in. Instead, she resumes what she was previously doing. One scarred arm stretches out to snare a floating chunk of whale for herself, before she digs in, lest she gets disrupted again.
In between bloodied chunks, you say, "Not a single chunk of this whale should be wasted, I think."
Iosyne stares dubiously at you at that, still swaying with motion of the ocean. She seems, uncharacteristically, content with Her single large chunk. "You are welcome to it," She notes graciously, spreading Her arm out to indicate the other four or so tons of the whale bits still remaining, stretching as far as the eye can see.
"Very well. Killing for food is an acceptable action for a mortal. I will not hold this trespass against you." The voice turns eerie, quiet - practically oozing harmlessness. "As long as you eat it all. Every. Single. Scrap."
Slyphe bares Their teeth in some semblance of a grin, staring at you with an otherwise entirely serious expression.
Elene's palid gaze sweeps around the bloodied waters, cautiously eyeing her surroundings. She tosses her half-eaten chunk away, then wipes her hands clean of the blood - or at least she attempts to, but fails as her robes are equally soiled with blood. Her pale gaze gleams with satisfaction now, finding the situation abruptly pleasing. She takes a moment to find her words, her arms propelling her closer to Iosyne as she murmurs in response to the Divine voice that previously directed barbs to her: "I requested to go on an expedition. No one goes on an expedition to hunt smaller game than t-" But she does not manage to finish her sentence as her gaze is suddenly drawn to Slyphe.
Uh. Uhm. F- Crap.
"Come now, Sibling, we are not greedy," Iosyne replies the notoriously gluttonous Goddess "You are welcome to partake."
Still choosing not to address the Malevolent, the changeable face of the Maelstrom seems to hold in some echo of amusement. "I am not unreasonable. Not even for trespassers in My domain. I will allow you... six weeks to finish this task. Does that not seem eminently reasonable?" Their voice is certainly quite calm, for all that the echoes of the tide resonate throughout it as They lift Their arms in supplication.
Maintaining her gaze with Slyphe, Elene dips her head briefly in greeting, remembering her manners. "You. You give me great honour in gracing me with Your presence, Maelstrom," she says, finally able to find words to put forth. Then she tears her gaze from Slyphe, swivelling them to the chunks of meat that float in the waters around her. She's clearly responsible in large part for the mess, and she does not even seem to deny this. "Could I tempt You into finishing some of this with me?" she asks.
Iosyne's tongue flits out again, very helpfully dragging another piece to find Her gullet. With the Malevolent's generous contribution, only a few thousand pounds remain.
"No." The word comes from every direction, suddenly amping up in volume until it rings in your ears with a forceful certainty. "There are limits to My willingness to play nicely, and you have found them for now. In six weeks, you may yet find another limit."
Translucency overcomes Slyphe's form as They effervesce into lustrous water in a heartbeat, dissipating in a flurry of shining droplets that vanish almost as swiftly as the God.
Flatly, you say, "Great. How am I supposed to finish the whole fucking whale?"
Elene coughs softly, one hand rising to press against her ichored lips as she silently admonishes her speech.
"With gusto," Iosyne replies, apparently delighted by the prospect. She grabs hold of another floating piece and devours it. If it made any discernible difference in your monumental task, you certainly didn't notice.
As if uncertain on whether to heed the warning of the Maelstrom, Elene snares a floating chunk of whale meat with that hand and stares at it. Then, she tilts her head upwards, staring at Iosyne. "I don't suppose You have any tips on how I could be as gluttonous as You."
By the Gods. The fucking whale will be rotten by the time I even get through a week. Let alone /six/ weeks! Surely, I'm not expected to eat spoilt meat?
Elene seems rather calm at the prospect of her task, as if she is still calculating the feasibility of actually accomplishing it. Absent-mindedly, she raises the chunk in her hand to her lips and tears off pieces, chewing on it as she would a snack. She makes very little progress on just that chunk, her small bite making not a dent to the thousand still floating in the waters.
Slyphe, the Maelstrom has bestowed a divine blessing upon you. It will last for 3 days.
I guess I am.
Elene shoots Iosyne an almost helpless glance.
Your predicament seems initially lost on Iosyne, the Goddess floating happily along the ruins of the whale. After a few moments of quiet introspection, however, She finally speaks. "I suppose the first step is to gather all this. I hardly imagine you wish to spend the next six weeks floating down here." A moment's pause. "Do you?" She asks, the question genuine.
Exhaling through her nose, Elene's action elicits little bubbles that trickle into the water, and rise upwards to the unknown surface. She grimaces, her ichored lips kept twisted as she eventually nods her head, as if accepting her fate. She spreads her arms out, then gestures at the surroundings. "I guess we'll need to gather all of it. I don't want to actually incur the wrath of Another, when my own is already angered." Amusement, however bleak, flashes across her features, and she begins swimming towards the larger pieces of the corpse of a titanic whale.
You start listing in your head the number of ways you could utilise the whale meat. Whale skewers. Whale stew. Whale barbecue. Fresh whale. Whale smoothie. Whale curry.
Iosyne swims alongside you, casually watching you work. It's not quite clear whether She is being purposefully or obliviously unhelpful.
Muttering under her breath, Elene continues her rather useless attempt to gather the floating chunks of whale. Her arms circle the slowly increasing pile held against her chest, but it's clear she doesn't actually have anything to store them in, nor the ability to gather the rest still bobbing in the waters. Finally, unable to surpress herself, she shoots another glance at Iosyne, before clearing her throat and asking politely, "Malevolent. Could I request for Your Divine help with my task?"
...maybe I should just stay here for six weeks.
Why did I open my bloody mouth and state that not a single piece of this bloody fucking creature is to be wasted?
"So polite," come the familiar words from Iosyne. The Goddess obliges you, zooming off to immerse herself in the remnants of your shared hunt. Pieces collide together with resounding force as She gathers each piece and smashes it into the rest, condensing the carcass into a manageable size as She goes.
Relief is evident in Elene's frame as she watches Iosyne go, Her swift arachnid form covering ground faster than she herself can manage. She drifts in the watery depths where she has previously stopped at, focusing to ensure her sizeable pile of meat doesn't collapse on her, to waste her effort previously expended.
Her words carefully picked, you say, "I must, of course, thank You, Malevolent, for bringing me to Your fishing trip. I regret absolutely nothing."
Sure. You regret absolutely nothing.
After a long endeavour, Iosyne has finally managed to gather the entirety of the whale into an impossibly condensed spherical hunk of meat. She reaches over to collect your own armful, mashing it proudly together with Her ball.
The cold sea water lifts hair, clothing, and the floating plants up and around you weightlessly.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
The waters around you rile up violently, the entire area becoming the eye of a maelstrom. The intensity continues to escalate, catching you entirely and pulling at the Malevolent forcefully until the ocean's depths will tolerate you no longer, and you are rapidly ejected from its embrace.
A rocky beach in a cove.
Dawn rises upon a cloudless sky, the dim, reddish rays of the sun shining down upon the land. There is a pearlescent moon snail shell lying here. A spot of brilliant indigo calls attention to a cowrie shell. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
You see exits leading northeast, southeast, and south.
Ejected from the territory of the oceans, Elene lands hard against the rocky beach in a cove. She bounces off the ground, and she groans a little, one hand against her head. Slowly, surely, she picks herself up and onto her feet.
Bloody water streams from the blood-covered form of Elene as she stares down at herself.
Iosyne washes ashore with the force of the ejecting waters, seeming to enjoy Herself quite thoroughly before Her body finds sand, sinking slightly into its grasp. She sits there for a moment before rising to Her many feet - water and sand alike slide off Her body, unwilling to bear such proximity to the monstrous Goddess. "Ah, truly a pleasure that My Sibling returns. Such large creatures were in short supply before Their stirring."
With that, Iosyne drops the condensed whale carcass into your hands.
You see Iosyne raise Her voice and shout, "For My Sibling's gracious feast."
An uncomfortable presence fills the atmosphere, the skies tinting red as the blessing of the Malevolent empowers the faithful Congregation of Slyphe, the Maelstrom.
"I am glad, Lady, that You have enjoyed Yourself," Elene speaks politely, and she sinks several feet deep into the sand beneath her feet as she accepts a condensed whale carcass from Iosyne. "That might be my first time casting my gaze upon the Maelstrom. Probably not the greatest first impression."
Iosyne waves a hand dismissively at that, indicating the condensed whale carcass within your hands. "Even Their followers fish. I'm sure the Maelstrom does not mind. Provided you finish that in time, of course."
Blargh. Right.
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "Of course, They never specified you had to finish it alone."
You nibble lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
You take a bite of the whale carcass, flesh and blubber oozing down your chin. As the sphere magically replenishes itself, you feel this is all you can stomach for the next hour.
Iosyne's appetite seems reawoken - She seizes the carcass from you, taking Her own bite.
Iosyne nibbles lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
Iosyne takes a bit of a whale carcass, flesh and blubber oozing down Iosyne's chin. As the sphere magically replenishes itself, a look of queasiness appears on Iosyne's face.
Iosyne gives a condensed whale carcass to you.
Elene grimaces as she stares at a condensed whale carcass, holding the returned flesh sphere in one hand as she studies it with some disgust.
You nibble lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
You cannot stomach any more whale for the time being.
You say, "Ugh. No more for the time being. Lest I retch."
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "I hope you have ravenous friends, Elene Arcan. Would you like to be dropped somewhere?"
Storing a condensed whale carcass away properly, Elene nods her head quietly, the gears in her mind rolling away as she begins formulating her plan to get through her task within the deadline.
You say, "The Inner Gate of Spinesreach, please, Lady."
A large, writhing tentacle erupts from the ground, slithering in a corkscrew pattern around your body.
The tentacle slithers back in the depths of the earth, dragging you along with it.
You are moved by a fleshy raft.
The Inner Gate of Spinesreach. (road)
A black marble pedestal has been knocked over, cracking the bowl that once rested upon it. The Inner Gate of Spinesreach looms high overhead here. Suspended from a venantium hoop, a windchime of nacreous black crystal hangs here. There are 2 spectral game attendants here. A veranda has been constructed here, providing welcome shade to those in need of it. A wooden chest is here, carved to mimic the Spires of Spinesreach. Carved from ice, a sculpture of a wolf rests here on its frozen haunches, regally surveying all who pass by. A tall banner dangles from a thick wooden pole here, carrying the colors of green, yellow, and white. There are 2 Syssin Defenders here. There are 3 Republican guards here. There are 2 jherzan Archivists here. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. A plain wooden box is here. There are 3 conscripted Spirean soldiers here. There are 4 Spirean Sciomancers here. There are 6 bags of fertilizer here. A white trellis is here, planted sturdily into the ground. A small wooden sphere has been left here. There are 5 worn scarecrows here. Dead Set Qelres Misi is here, giving off a truly ghastly stench. Ser Kanivara Sor'Tirivan, Surgeon General is here, shrouded. She wields a massive halberd in her hands. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here. Reaper Swara Valdsam is here. The air crackles softly here, as if the element responds to every rancid breath that sweeps by the gate from the Dragon Spire above.
You see exits leading north, east, southeast, west, and down.
A large, writhing tentacle deposits you in the presence of the Malevolent Goddess before retreating back underground.
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "Feast well."
Qelres blinks.
Elene sways upon her feet to steady herself, and then her head shoots up as her surroundings reform.
Kanivara smiles at Iosyne.
Elene dips her head to acknowledge Iosyne. "Malevolent."
With a wistful look on her face, Kanivara touches a jade-plumed, black cavalier hat housing a mantis.
A curious mantis peeks up from the brim of the hat, antennae probing the air. It hops from its perch atop the hat onto the ground, straightening itself before scurrying off into the distance.
Qelres smiles wide at the atypical arrival.
The mantis rushes back into the room, dragging a carniverous black and red flower with it before triumphantly returning to the hat it calls home.
Ser Kanivara Sor'Tirivan, Surgeon General says, "Behold! Hatl--- ... okay she's off to get You a flower."
You say to Qelres, "You. You are hungry, yes?"
Iosyne places a hand fondly on the back of Qelres' head, allowing the swarm to momentarily crawl up Her arm before settling back to its owner. She nods to Kanivara as well. "I hope you brought your appetite," She says sweetly, cryptically.
Iosyne warps out of perception, Her monstrous form separating into inky threads of shadow which slither away in different directions.
- - - - -
So. Anyone wants some blubber meat? I seem to have plenty on my hands now.
Kudos to @Iosyne and @Slyphe for the entertainment, so much so I forgot to sleep.
- - - - -
Iosyne:
She is an Immortal of massive proportions, a half-woman, half-spider monstrosity of terrifying shape. The sharp, angular features of Her face are hardened into a cruel countenance, Her sightless gaze naught but narrowed white orbs lacking their pupil. A haze of creeping shadows partially swathes Her form, surrounding Her like a heavy fog, and partially melding with the wild mane of crimson-streaked black hair cascading from Her shoulders. Whipcord muscles beneath sleek ebony skin suit Her monstrous form well; where Her humanoid waist ends, an arachnid thorax begins and continues into a bulbous black abdomen splattered with red blots. Eight segmented, spindly legs carry this body aptly and swiftly, dexterous appendages capable of moving in any direction with frightening speed. A pronounced gap is above Her left breast, where Her heart would be - instead, there is a black diamond-shaped hole, out of which emerges smoky tendrils of shadow.
(at the back of the neck) : a black-inked tattoo of a pair of crossed fists
(at the back of the neck) : a black-inked tattoo of a pair of crossed fists
Slyphe:
They are an Immortal, tall and regal with a distinctively Kelki form. The resemblance ends there, with a figure that shifts in height and contours constantly: from powerful and muscular, to slender and willowy, to lean and athletic at any given moment. Flesh that shades from cerulean to azure to turquoise without pause provides a mesmerising background to the deep blue tattoos spiralling across every visible stretch of skin, ending in sharp spirals and depictions of the many creatures of the sea. Their proud visage is angular and sleek, with piercing eyes of a deep sea green hue.
(draped loosely about Them) : an iridescent robe of the sea
(fitted snugly upon Their forearm) : an engraved metallic arm piece
(draped loosely about Them) : an iridescent robe of the sea
(fitted snugly upon Their forearm) : an engraved metallic arm piece
Elene:
She is an intelligent Azudim. Possessed of a well-proportioned physique, she stands at an unassuming height of six feet. Gray-skinned and slender, she carries herself with a palpable air of agility and predacious gentility. A shimmering curtain of argent hair cascades from her high crown, ending just beneath the woman's shoulder blades. The silvery silken tresses neatly frame her small face; her eyes blaze a pure white against the setting of her dark-toned skin perched above a aquiline nose and a pair of ichor-ridden lips. Precise numerological markings scar the stretch of skin along her jawline, meandering down to cover her neck. Imprinted in sharp relief upon the back of a slender hand is the brilliant image of a golden crown. Translucent strands of spiderweb periodically weave around her form, empowering her with Iosyne's blessing. Duskywing butterflies flit lazily around her as a sign of Chakrasul's blessing.
(pinned neatly upon her robe) : a striped orchid
(enfolding her slender frame) : robes of Corruption
(resting elegantly upon her brow) : a stately, silver filigree circlet
(draped elegantly across her back) : a profane cloak of ambiguity
(gleaming vicariously upon her right arm) : a twining armlet of jagged, blackened platinum
(worn tightly around her ring finger) : a corrupted band of pallid green rosebuds
(dangling perilously from both ears) : a pair of finger-bone earrings
(semi-hidden beneath folds of cloth) : a black weaponbelt of the Spheres
(snugly fitted upon her index finger) : a jewel-encrusted earthen wedding band
(worn around one wrist) : a length of jade and onyx prayer beads
(slung lightly over a shoulder) : a stygian ritualist's satchel
(hanging upon the other wrist) : an encaged miniature duskywing butterfly
(entwined about her silvery tresses) : a crimson hair ribbon of Jherza
(slung loosely from her back) : a gem-lined banded shield
(ensnaring an ankle with its silvery chains): a repulsive anklet of canine teeth trophies
(pinning her hair behind a petite ear) : a bloodstained Black Rose hairclip
(hooked into the flesh of one wrist) : macabre chains of razor glass
(inked into the marred skin of a wrist) : a flickering elemental brand
(pinned neatly upon her robe) : a striped orchid
(enfolding her slender frame) : robes of Corruption
(resting elegantly upon her brow) : a stately, silver filigree circlet
(draped elegantly across her back) : a profane cloak of ambiguity
(gleaming vicariously upon her right arm) : a twining armlet of jagged, blackened platinum
(worn tightly around her ring finger) : a corrupted band of pallid green rosebuds
(dangling perilously from both ears) : a pair of finger-bone earrings
(semi-hidden beneath folds of cloth) : a black weaponbelt of the Spheres
(snugly fitted upon her index finger) : a jewel-encrusted earthen wedding band
(worn around one wrist) : a length of jade and onyx prayer beads
(slung lightly over a shoulder) : a stygian ritualist's satchel
(hanging upon the other wrist) : an encaged miniature duskywing butterfly
(entwined about her silvery tresses) : a crimson hair ribbon of Jherza
(slung loosely from her back) : a gem-lined banded shield
(ensnaring an ankle with its silvery chains): a repulsive anklet of canine teeth trophies
(pinning her hair behind a petite ear) : a bloodstained Black Rose hairclip
(hooked into the flesh of one wrist) : macabre chains of razor glass
(inked into the marred skin of a wrist) : a flickering elemental brand
-------
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "You made a request of Me."
Harshly, you hiss afar to Iosyne, "Lady Malevolent."
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "I will indulge you. Shall we hunt?"
Harshly, you hiss afar to Iosyne, "Yes, Lady Malevolent. I will join Your hunting with avaricious delight."
Agony wracks you for an instant as Iosyne's words bestow the gift of Pain upon you, "Choose our grounds. The oceans. I will come to you."
-- insert movement to find a feasible spot --
Elene surveys the area here, floating around within the ocean. She stares at the abyss wall, glancing upwards as though striving to find the edge of the rock surface before shaking
her head.
You say, "This will do, I imagine."
You say, "I choose the bottom of this Abyss, Lady Malevolent. Will it suffice?"
Along the abyss wall.
The towering cliff face of the abyss wall extends straight up into the waters above until the murky depths conceal it from view. A few loose rocks that have dislodged from the abyss wall has gathered near the sandy base, which continues on like barren plane in almost all directions you can see. The bubbling of water alerts you to a prime fishing hole nearby.
You see exits leading north, east, and southwest.
The sandy base shifts imperceptibly as something passes beneath.
-- I lost the portion of the log here where Iosyne bursted forth from the sandy base, alighting upon the wall of the abyss, to which Elene raised her arm up to shield her eyes from the pillaring sand, only to find the arachnid form of the Goddess before her. --
Iosyne's maw opens - the water jettisons away from Her mouth, as if in fear of finding fate between those jagged fangs, leaving an eerie pocket as She speaks. Her raspy voice carries through the water, perfectly clear. "Curious one," She greets. The Malevolent cants Her head to one side, gouged eyes searching the ocean depths, before the Goddess pushes off, alighting upon the cliff wall. Eight spindly legs bend, coiling with unreleased pressure. "Come," She commands.
Come - to where isn't clear. You can't help but notice that Her bulbous arachnid abdomen looks rather comfortable to perch upon.
Without question, Elene steps forward from where she stands. She is surrorunded by a bubble of air, so she is able to converse easily enough. Her bare feet propel her forth across the waters, headed to where Iosyne stands. As she drifts closes, she trails to a stop before considering her options. Her head tilts, and she vocalises a soft "mm", then decides, perhaps, that the bulbous abdomen of Her doesn't seem to bad to perch upon after all. And so she does.
Iosyne does not seem to object - evident in the fact that you remain on Her lower half and not between Her jaws. The Goddess pushes off with violent force, legs leaving cracks spidering across the cliff wall as they leave its touch.
Intense motion as you travel along on your spider missile, unimpeded by the water's resistance. It is all you can do to hang on.
Elene struggles to stay upon Iosyne's bulbous abdomen, her hands stretching out to find for a handhold but seemingly finding none. She sways and teeters there, before she eventually throws herself down flat. Hands reach down, finding purchase upon the root of one spindly leg for support.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
The Azudim-Arachnid torpedo comes to a floating halt in the middle of the ocean, far from the comforts of land. Iosyne studies your surroundings - vast ocean, nothing else. The Goddess shifts Her head upwards, sniffing - again, unnaturally, water rushes away instead of towards. "There," She says softly, bending Her neck to stare below you.
Below you, a silhouette, just large enough to be discernible.
Elene manages to take a hand off Iosyne's leg. Sure that they are not about to zoom over, she removes the other hand too, and then finally assumees a seeated position upon Iosyne's bulbous lower body. Her bare feet swings idly off of it, and she leans forward, casting her pale gaze downwards, cutting through the waters, and the darker gloom of the ocean. She squints- and her eyes barely catch a silhouette, a very large silhouette in the distance beneath.
Prey spotted, reality seems to warp around you. For a moment, nothing makes sense. Then, perched atop Iosyne, you begin freely floating, no motion arising from the Malevolent. Downwards rather than up, the innocuous and yet utterly wrong motion disturbing. The silhouette grows larger and larger as you float deeper and deeper - realization begins to settle in on just how enormous your destination really is.
Elene's silvery hair ripples around her as she finds herself suddenly sliding off Iosyne. Her arms splay out to her side, as if trying to find her balance in the water, almost stumbling upon her bare feet. Her gaze is one of confusion, and then suddenly of understanding as she observes her footing - or rather, what makes up her footing. It is an animal. A very, very large animal.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. Gargantuan even among its kind, a titanic whale dominates the waters. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
The immense body of this whale gives the impression of being well muscled yet slender. It has a well-defined dorsal fin set two-thirds of the way along its body while its tail has broad, notched flukes, and its flippers are pointed. The thick dark grey hide has some patches of white on the chin and throat. Pockmarks in the hide give it a mottled appearance, and there are two distinct ridges on the head on either side of the midline. It moves slowly, unperturbed by anything in its path as it skims the water for plankton and tiny shrimps. Its thick gray skin protects it from the cold of the deep ocean, and the swooshing of its heavy tail makes it a formidable foe.
A titanic whale looks relatively helpless.
It weighs about 1842 kilo(s).
A titanic whale looks relatively helpless.
It weighs about 1842 kilo(s).
On second glance, the whale does not actually appear relatively helpless.
The immense body of this whale gives the impression of being well muscled yet slender. It has a well-defined dorsal fin set two-thirds of the way along its body while its tail has broad, notched flukes, and its flippers are pointed. The thick dark grey hide has some patches of white on the chin and throat. Pockmarks in the hide give it a mottled appearance, and there are two distinct ridges on the head on either side of the midline. It moves slowly, unperturbed by anything in its path as it skims the water for plankton and tiny shrimps. Its thick gray skin protects it from the cold of the deep ocean, and the swooshing of its heavy tail makes it a formidable foe.
A titanic whale almost glows with nearly god-like power.
It weighs about 1842 kilo(s).
A titanic whale almost glows with nearly god-like power.
It weighs about 1842 kilo(s).
In a soft, sibilant voice, you say, "We are on a behemoth of a whale."
"I attempted your mortal fishing," Iosyne says conversationally, casually strolling along the backside of the whale - Her spindly legs sink through its skin with each step, leaving bleeding punctures with each movement. "The rod always broke. You should really devise a more effective method."
Elene leans down upon one knee, her curious nature briefly overwhelming her as she presses one scarred hand against the thick dark grey hide of the creature. Nothing moves when she exerts pressure, so she goes even further, bending her upper body down so as to lay one ear against a titanic whale. She stays like this for a lingering moment, before she eventually straightens herself and stands. She twists upon a foot, facing Iosyne and watching her with interested, palid eyes. With every step of the arachnid Goddess, she takes two for herself, trailing after.
Cautiously, you say, "I am not certain, Goddess, if utilising a rod would be a wise method of capturing this creature-- not that I doubt Your herculean strength."
After a moment's pause, you say, "Did You desire to capture this one alive? A prize?"
Hazy memories of a dreadlocked Azudim loom before you, holding a bleeding chunk of flesh - your jaw - in one hand. His eyes are cold, leeched of warmth and love. 'We are ended,' comes the words, and he swallows the price that he has extracted from you whole. The memory dizzily fades.
Iosyne's path pauses suddenly. The Goddess' eyes close before Her serpentine tongue flicks out, pushing through the water near you, coiling around you just shy of making contact. Then it snaps back into Her mouth, jaws closing with a click. A contented sigh escapes the Malevolent at the taste of the memory. Ruined eyes open again. "Bore us a hole," She instructs, glancing back the way She came - geysers of blood float upwards from the holes of each of Her steps.
Elene sways upon her feet, clearly shaken by Iosyne's proximity in the wake of her fading memory. One hand rises instinctively to her jaw, pressing it against her jawline before she pauses, remembering where she is. Her mind shuffles the images away, returning to one of razor focus as Her words filter through to her. The Azudim approaches a nearby hole that geysers blood, taking a knee before it and pushing an arm down through the cracked hide of the whale. The warmth of the creature's life slips past her fingers in a sanguine stream as she finds purchase upon the flesh beneath, and pulls. Her second hand joins soon enough; it has procured an grotesquely oversized cleaver, which she uses to tear at the gaping hole, widening the wound and slicing through the flesh, sinew and muscles beneath.
Iosyne unceremoniously seizes you, dragging you headfirst into the wound. Everything blurs as you zoom through the whale, a fireball of destruction and gore - moving faster than you thought possible as you zig-zag through the entire whale, you can just make out flashes of the Malevolent's thrashing form - claws, legs, fangs eviscerating everything in your path with abject, uncontained violence. Shadow haze rolls off Her in waves as well, cruelly slicing through everything they touch. Tortured thrashing surrounds you, a seemingly never-ending mournful cry escaping your prey. An eternity, a blink of an eye. You float now, through crimson water, chunks of varying sizes joining you. One of the larger chunks is held in Iosyne's hands, raising to eager lips.
Iosyne brings Her prize to Her lips, chomping down with unabashed gusto.
Voice reverberating with the rhythmic susurration of crashing waves, Slyphe, the Maelstrom states, "Must You chew so loudly, Sister? That unfortunate whale had better purpose than You - the least You could do is honour its memory. In silence."
A flicker out of the corner of your eye, an irritating sparkle that lingers, suddenly blossoms into a whirling maelstrom. Starting small, the vortex widens as it comes closer to you, the frantic streams of water speeding up until they sear at your limbs in passing with honed precision. The gentle sound of shifting water grows into a meacing roar, carrying with it the feel of a portent.
For an instant, the obnoxious, disturbing sound of the Malevolent's feast can be heard, all slurps and gnashes and smacking of lips.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. This whale seems to have been slain in the most gruesome fashion possible, chunks of it contaminating the ocean with crimson viscera. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
Appearing slightly dazed, Elene is thoroughly drenched in the blood of the corpse of a titanic whale as she floats in the crimson water, once a featureless blue space. Gore has smeared itself across her face, but she swiftly recovers. Clearly, she is used to such messes, and she takes it with grace. Her head tilts, and her body turns as she joins Iosyne, picking up a smaller chunk of whale meat before she brings it up to her lips.
The corners of Elene's eyes spots the vortex that speeds up once it comes closer to her, and she trashes back in the water, the meat floating off from her fingers as she drifts closer to Iosyne. Her gaze is now guarded, wary.
Oh shit. What did I find myself roped into?
Ignoring the Malevolent, a soft voice resounds from the water itself, filling the depths around you. "If you wish for prey, petty creature of My Sister's, I should be delighted to introduce you to a creature closer to your own size. One that might actually notice you before you have a chance to play your childish games."
"My Sibling comes to feast as well," Iosyne declares happily around a mouthful of food, bits of flesh and bone escaping free of Her teeth as She speaks. The unnaturally shifting waters cause Her arachnid form to drift about, floating freely.
Battered around by the shifting, portentous waters, Elene does all she can do to stay small, a lesser target in favour of the presences that make Their attention known. However, the Azudim does not quail from the situation she finds herself in. Instead, she resumes what she was previously doing. One scarred arm stretches out to snare a floating chunk of whale for herself, before she digs in, lest she gets disrupted again.
In between bloodied chunks, you say, "Not a single chunk of this whale should be wasted, I think."
Iosyne stares dubiously at you at that, still swaying with motion of the ocean. She seems, uncharacteristically, content with Her single large chunk. "You are welcome to it," She notes graciously, spreading Her arm out to indicate the other four or so tons of the whale bits still remaining, stretching as far as the eye can see.
"Very well. Killing for food is an acceptable action for a mortal. I will not hold this trespass against you." The voice turns eerie, quiet - practically oozing harmlessness. "As long as you eat it all. Every. Single. Scrap."
Slyphe bares Their teeth in some semblance of a grin, staring at you with an otherwise entirely serious expression.
Elene's palid gaze sweeps around the bloodied waters, cautiously eyeing her surroundings. She tosses her half-eaten chunk away, then wipes her hands clean of the blood - or at least she attempts to, but fails as her robes are equally soiled with blood. Her pale gaze gleams with satisfaction now, finding the situation abruptly pleasing. She takes a moment to find her words, her arms propelling her closer to Iosyne as she murmurs in response to the Divine voice that previously directed barbs to her: "I requested to go on an expedition. No one goes on an expedition to hunt smaller game than t-" But she does not manage to finish her sentence as her gaze is suddenly drawn to Slyphe.
Uh. Uhm. F- Crap.
"Come now, Sibling, we are not greedy," Iosyne replies the notoriously gluttonous Goddess "You are welcome to partake."
Still choosing not to address the Malevolent, the changeable face of the Maelstrom seems to hold in some echo of amusement. "I am not unreasonable. Not even for trespassers in My domain. I will allow you... six weeks to finish this task. Does that not seem eminently reasonable?" Their voice is certainly quite calm, for all that the echoes of the tide resonate throughout it as They lift Their arms in supplication.
Maintaining her gaze with Slyphe, Elene dips her head briefly in greeting, remembering her manners. "You. You give me great honour in gracing me with Your presence, Maelstrom," she says, finally able to find words to put forth. Then she tears her gaze from Slyphe, swivelling them to the chunks of meat that float in the waters around her. She's clearly responsible in large part for the mess, and she does not even seem to deny this. "Could I tempt You into finishing some of this with me?" she asks.
Iosyne's tongue flits out again, very helpfully dragging another piece to find Her gullet. With the Malevolent's generous contribution, only a few thousand pounds remain.
"No." The word comes from every direction, suddenly amping up in volume until it rings in your ears with a forceful certainty. "There are limits to My willingness to play nicely, and you have found them for now. In six weeks, you may yet find another limit."
Translucency overcomes Slyphe's form as They effervesce into lustrous water in a heartbeat, dissipating in a flurry of shining droplets that vanish almost as swiftly as the God.
Flatly, you say, "Great. How am I supposed to finish the whole fucking whale?"
Elene coughs softly, one hand rising to press against her ichored lips as she silently admonishes her speech.
"With gusto," Iosyne replies, apparently delighted by the prospect. She grabs hold of another floating piece and devours it. If it made any discernible difference in your monumental task, you certainly didn't notice.
As if uncertain on whether to heed the warning of the Maelstrom, Elene snares a floating chunk of whale meat with that hand and stares at it. Then, she tilts her head upwards, staring at Iosyne. "I don't suppose You have any tips on how I could be as gluttonous as You."
By the Gods. The fucking whale will be rotten by the time I even get through a week. Let alone /six/ weeks! Surely, I'm not expected to eat spoilt meat?
Elene seems rather calm at the prospect of her task, as if she is still calculating the feasibility of actually accomplishing it. Absent-mindedly, she raises the chunk in her hand to her lips and tears off pieces, chewing on it as she would a snack. She makes very little progress on just that chunk, her small bite making not a dent to the thousand still floating in the waters.
Slyphe, the Maelstrom has bestowed a divine blessing upon you. It will last for 3 days.
I guess I am.
Elene shoots Iosyne an almost helpless glance.
Your predicament seems initially lost on Iosyne, the Goddess floating happily along the ruins of the whale. After a few moments of quiet introspection, however, She finally speaks. "I suppose the first step is to gather all this. I hardly imagine you wish to spend the next six weeks floating down here." A moment's pause. "Do you?" She asks, the question genuine.
Exhaling through her nose, Elene's action elicits little bubbles that trickle into the water, and rise upwards to the unknown surface. She grimaces, her ichored lips kept twisted as she eventually nods her head, as if accepting her fate. She spreads her arms out, then gestures at the surroundings. "I guess we'll need to gather all of it. I don't want to actually incur the wrath of Another, when my own is already angered." Amusement, however bleak, flashes across her features, and she begins swimming towards the larger pieces of the corpse of a titanic whale.
You start listing in your head the number of ways you could utilise the whale meat. Whale skewers. Whale stew. Whale barbecue. Fresh whale. Whale smoothie. Whale curry.
Iosyne swims alongside you, casually watching you work. It's not quite clear whether She is being purposefully or obliviously unhelpful.
Muttering under her breath, Elene continues her rather useless attempt to gather the floating chunks of whale. Her arms circle the slowly increasing pile held against her chest, but it's clear she doesn't actually have anything to store them in, nor the ability to gather the rest still bobbing in the waters. Finally, unable to surpress herself, she shoots another glance at Iosyne, before clearing her throat and asking politely, "Malevolent. Could I request for Your Divine help with my task?"
...maybe I should just stay here for six weeks.
Why did I open my bloody mouth and state that not a single piece of this bloody fucking creature is to be wasted?
"So polite," come the familiar words from Iosyne. The Goddess obliges you, zooming off to immerse herself in the remnants of your shared hunt. Pieces collide together with resounding force as She gathers each piece and smashes it into the rest, condensing the carcass into a manageable size as She goes.
Relief is evident in Elene's frame as she watches Iosyne go, Her swift arachnid form covering ground faster than she herself can manage. She drifts in the watery depths where she has previously stopped at, focusing to ensure her sizeable pile of meat doesn't collapse on her, to waste her effort previously expended.
Her words carefully picked, you say, "I must, of course, thank You, Malevolent, for bringing me to Your fishing trip. I regret absolutely nothing."
Sure. You regret absolutely nothing.
After a long endeavour, Iosyne has finally managed to gather the entirety of the whale into an impossibly condensed spherical hunk of meat. She reaches over to collect your own armful, mashing it proudly together with Her ball.
The cold sea water lifts hair, clothing, and the floating plants up and around you weightlessly.
Deep underwater.
This room has not been mapped.
The enormity of the ocean spreads all around you. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
There are no obvious exits.
The waters around you rile up violently, the entire area becoming the eye of a maelstrom. The intensity continues to escalate, catching you entirely and pulling at the Malevolent forcefully until the ocean's depths will tolerate you no longer, and you are rapidly ejected from its embrace.
A rocky beach in a cove.
Dawn rises upon a cloudless sky, the dim, reddish rays of the sun shining down upon the land. There is a pearlescent moon snail shell lying here. A spot of brilliant indigo calls attention to a cowrie shell. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here.
You see exits leading northeast, southeast, and south.
Ejected from the territory of the oceans, Elene lands hard against the rocky beach in a cove. She bounces off the ground, and she groans a little, one hand against her head. Slowly, surely, she picks herself up and onto her feet.
Bloody water streams from the blood-covered form of Elene as she stares down at herself.
Iosyne washes ashore with the force of the ejecting waters, seeming to enjoy Herself quite thoroughly before Her body finds sand, sinking slightly into its grasp. She sits there for a moment before rising to Her many feet - water and sand alike slide off Her body, unwilling to bear such proximity to the monstrous Goddess. "Ah, truly a pleasure that My Sibling returns. Such large creatures were in short supply before Their stirring."
With that, Iosyne drops the condensed whale carcass into your hands.
You see Iosyne raise Her voice and shout, "For My Sibling's gracious feast."
An uncomfortable presence fills the atmosphere, the skies tinting red as the blessing of the Malevolent empowers the faithful Congregation of Slyphe, the Maelstrom.
"I am glad, Lady, that You have enjoyed Yourself," Elene speaks politely, and she sinks several feet deep into the sand beneath her feet as she accepts a condensed whale carcass from Iosyne. "That might be my first time casting my gaze upon the Maelstrom. Probably not the greatest first impression."
Iosyne waves a hand dismissively at that, indicating the condensed whale carcass within your hands. "Even Their followers fish. I'm sure the Maelstrom does not mind. Provided you finish that in time, of course."
Blargh. Right.
a condensed whale carcass
This spherical mass of blubber and whale meat has been magically condensed into a manageable size.
It replenishes itself with each bite, seemingly endless.
It bears the distinctive mark of Squire Elene Arcan.
You feel there are 100 chunks left to be eaten.
You may NIBBLE on the carcass to eat a chunk.
This spherical mass of blubber and whale meat has been magically condensed into a manageable size.
It replenishes itself with each bite, seemingly endless.
It bears the distinctive mark of Squire Elene Arcan.
You feel there are 100 chunks left to be eaten.
You may NIBBLE on the carcass to eat a chunk.
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "Of course, They never specified you had to finish it alone."
You nibble lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
You take a bite of the whale carcass, flesh and blubber oozing down your chin. As the sphere magically replenishes itself, you feel this is all you can stomach for the next hour.
Iosyne's appetite seems reawoken - She seizes the carcass from you, taking Her own bite.
Iosyne nibbles lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
Iosyne takes a bit of a whale carcass, flesh and blubber oozing down Iosyne's chin. As the sphere magically replenishes itself, a look of queasiness appears on Iosyne's face.
Iosyne gives a condensed whale carcass to you.
Elene grimaces as she stares at a condensed whale carcass, holding the returned flesh sphere in one hand as she studies it with some disgust.
You nibble lightly on a condensed whale carcass.
You cannot stomach any more whale for the time being.
You say, "Ugh. No more for the time being. Lest I retch."
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "I hope you have ravenous friends, Elene Arcan. Would you like to be dropped somewhere?"
Storing a condensed whale carcass away properly, Elene nods her head quietly, the gears in her mind rolling away as she begins formulating her plan to get through her task within the deadline.
You say, "The Inner Gate of Spinesreach, please, Lady."
A large, writhing tentacle erupts from the ground, slithering in a corkscrew pattern around your body.
The tentacle slithers back in the depths of the earth, dragging you along with it.
You are moved by a fleshy raft.
The Inner Gate of Spinesreach. (road)
A black marble pedestal has been knocked over, cracking the bowl that once rested upon it. The Inner Gate of Spinesreach looms high overhead here. Suspended from a venantium hoop, a windchime of nacreous black crystal hangs here. There are 2 spectral game attendants here. A veranda has been constructed here, providing welcome shade to those in need of it. A wooden chest is here, carved to mimic the Spires of Spinesreach. Carved from ice, a sculpture of a wolf rests here on its frozen haunches, regally surveying all who pass by. A tall banner dangles from a thick wooden pole here, carrying the colors of green, yellow, and white. There are 2 Syssin Defenders here. There are 3 Republican guards here. There are 2 jherzan Archivists here. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. A plain wooden box is here. There are 3 conscripted Spirean soldiers here. There are 4 Spirean Sciomancers here. There are 6 bags of fertilizer here. A white trellis is here, planted sturdily into the ground. A small wooden sphere has been left here. There are 5 worn scarecrows here. Dead Set Qelres Misi is here, giving off a truly ghastly stench. Ser Kanivara Sor'Tirivan, Surgeon General is here, shrouded. She wields a massive halberd in her hands. The monstrous half-woman, half-spider form of Iosyne, the Malevolent is here. Reaper Swara Valdsam is here. The air crackles softly here, as if the element responds to every rancid breath that sweeps by the gate from the Dragon Spire above.
You see exits leading north, east, southeast, west, and down.
A large, writhing tentacle deposits you in the presence of the Malevolent Goddess before retreating back underground.
Iosyne, the Malevolent says, "Feast well."
Qelres blinks.
Elene sways upon her feet to steady herself, and then her head shoots up as her surroundings reform.
Kanivara smiles at Iosyne.
Elene dips her head to acknowledge Iosyne. "Malevolent."
With a wistful look on her face, Kanivara touches a jade-plumed, black cavalier hat housing a mantis.
A curious mantis peeks up from the brim of the hat, antennae probing the air. It hops from its perch atop the hat onto the ground, straightening itself before scurrying off into the distance.
Qelres smiles wide at the atypical arrival.
The mantis rushes back into the room, dragging a carniverous black and red flower with it before triumphantly returning to the hat it calls home.
Ser Kanivara Sor'Tirivan, Surgeon General says, "Behold! Hatl--- ... okay she's off to get You a flower."
You say to Qelres, "You. You are hungry, yes?"
Iosyne places a hand fondly on the back of Qelres' head, allowing the swarm to momentarily crawl up Her arm before settling back to its owner. She nods to Kanivara as well. "I hope you brought your appetite," She says sweetly, cryptically.
Iosyne warps out of perception, Her monstrous form separating into inky threads of shadow which slither away in different directions.
- - - - -
So. Anyone wants some blubber meat? I seem to have plenty on my hands now.
6
Comments
Also Elene forgot the Shark Pledge
Also:
@Elene @Tedrunai @Slyphe
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I have a feeling that at the end of all this, Elene is definitely going to die of blubber poisoning....