fortitude and might

DEIMOS

ache first, but then let the cuts close
spit out the blood

Not unlike the many altercations, wars, battles, and skirmishes he’d been a part of over the course of multiple lifetimes, motions were coming to a forefront. Heights of action, rising tensions, and the cost and course of exploits were beginning to weigh once again – with regions cleansed, Queens targeted, and the understandable nuances, reactions, and responses by the rest of Caido and Starfall alike, more needed to be done. He needed to be more as well.

Knowing Safrin couldn’t grant him higher abilities in incantations (that would be something he’d have to find and implement on his own), nor could he wield mageglass effectively given the shifts in his soul, the calculations measured out to strength, accord, and fortitude. How much he could endure. How much he could take on, when the pain split across mind and body.

Crouching and bending his head down at the Citadel’s altar, he placed several ornamental and handcrafted stars; meant to hang like windchimes, glassy and flecked with constellation arrays across the bounty of their blends and hues. “Safrin, I hope you are well,” came across in his residual rumble, striving to summon measures and explanations that would make sense, and not be parsed through potential, invisible listeners. Opting for the Attuned bond instead, he persisted. Given recent events, I am looking for a way to endure more. Is there something I could do to improve?

--

Deimos is looking to gain +4 stats in END in a quest from Safrin!

Regional Score bonus: +9 in all shrine visits, drops, PQ+s, KQs, etc. (You must post this at the bottom of any post where a +9 should be included)

watch your body pull itself back together
then let your soul do the same

Safrin

The air in the Citadel seemed to shimmer, the cold stillness giving way to an unseen presence. The handcrafted stars Deimos had placed began to glow faintly, constellations flickering to life. A soft scent of lavender and jasmine drifted through the altar, and then she appeared.

“Deimos,” Safrin’s voice was soft, resonant, infinite. She stepped forth, her gown rippling with stars, the galaxies woven into its folds shimmering with every movement. Her cosmic eyes settled on him, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Your offerings are always so thoughtful,” she said aloud, brushing her fingers over a glass star. It chimed gently at her touch, its sound pure and musical.

Then her voice came silently, pressing into his mind like a secret shared in the dark. Flora and Jack's murders...is not something I expected. Her gaze lingered, sharp beneath her serene expression.

Her voice curled again in his mind, softer now. If you were mine in the way Hadama is..there would be more I could give you. Her lips curved faintly, her tone lingering with gentle wistfulness; wanting that final step for him, as she always had.

"How are Evie? And Erebos?" she continued aloud as she moved closer as if to adjust the collar of his coat, her gown’s stars rippling like a living constellation. That I can do..

---

Deimos has been given a quest!

He must

1. Complete two training threads.
2. Complete a thread enduring something painful.
3. Complete a thread enduring something pleasant.

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

DEIMOS

ache first, but then let the cuts close
spit out the blood

Safrin’s appearance set some of his mind at ease; granting her another obliging smile as she advanced; the pleasantries exchanged over the surface; deeper intonations reeling below. “Thank you. You always do them justice though.” The constellations coming to life was far easier to behold than rampaging over the mental images of Flora, and by happenstance Jack, being mauled and marred; and he had to fight the inherent clenching of his jaw.

I suspect those will not be the only repercussions. Especially after the cleansing of the Wilds. We did not expect the loss of the rapier either. Whether or not they would come up with something remained to be seen – on the back foot with losing that particular relic – and with Ronin’s limitations on revivals, one might hope they’d all have a quiet Deepfrost. Sunjata has been healed, but there are others left. To lure or entice into springs; not yet readily known.

Her offer was granted another smile; but he knew better, and those boundaries had long since been drawn in the sand and snow. I know to acknowledge it, but nothing more. “They are well. Erebos is walking. Talking in bits and pieces. Already says more than I do.” He gave a crook of a smile, committing the rest of the notions to his mind. Thank you again.

~FIN

watch your body pull itself back together
then let your soul do the same