Protect my heart

She bows to no one.

Having taken her time at Frey's Breath, night was fast approaching when she stumbled upon the shrine. It finally became clear why she'd been drawn to the Climb. Change was in the wind and it was evident that her resources were lacking. She had physical prowess, but that may not be enough to protect her.

Before she approached the obsidian cube, Thal used the remaining sunlight to hunt down a gore crow. Bringing the squirming bird to the bowl, she spilled its blood in offering, letting the bowl fill and the body go limp. Not feeling that the goddess would appreciate her meager offering, she pulled her dagger from her sheath and cut along her palm, letting the new blood drip into the pool. She watched closely as it rippled through the bowl, casting red reflections against the black obsidian, not even noticing the bite of the metal.

Feeling more confident in her gift, Thal clasped her hands against the side of the basin."Dygra, my lady, I am thankful for the abilities you have bestowed upon me, but I ask for more. These are dangerous times and I feel that I don't have the strength to protect myself. At least, not alone." Letting her words hang in the air, she broached the subject. "I humbly ask your assistance in obtaining a weapon in order to defend myself." Offense is the best defense, after all, but she still smiled mischievously. "And perhaps sew a little chaos in the meantime." Praying that both her prayer was answered and no fickle spirits lingered by, Thal closed her eyes.

---

Thalassa is praying to Dygra for a weapon.

Thalassa

Dygra

"Never be humble in asking for more."

The voice that fills the Obsidian Cathedral is low and sumptuous, a sword sheathed in velvet, and it whispers around the walls and thrums through the stone with enough body to set the bowl of blood to rippling. Thalassa will feel Dygra's presence in its entirety, even if she cannot see her. The goddess is present, and she listens.

"Sweet, dark, child - what shape will your chaos take, I wonder?" A hot breeze cascades across the Ancient's neck and shoulders; phantom hands grip her own. A spear? A sword? A bow? What does her body thirst to hold in its grip, to fight with and to take?

Table coding by Sky <3

She bows to no one.

Thal feels Dygra's presence like a weighted rumble around her, watching as the rippling blood confirmed her own observations. She dipped her head in reverence as the voice echoed throughout the cathedral. It was relieving to hear the words, like a mother comforting her for acknowledging her own desires. There would be no chastising for wanting power or destruction. "Thank you, my lady."

Considering the question and the warmth guiding her hands, she reached unconsciously for the daggers sheathed to her legs. They had been a welcomed presence in her hand, like some authors felt the quill melding into their grasp. She was familiar with swords and other weapons, but they never felt natural to her. If she was to fight with anything, she would want it to be daggers so that she may strike from a distance or see their suffering up close, with her hilt buried in their ribs. 

Smiling at the thought, Thal pulled the daggers out to present them. "I want to look my foes in the eyes as I watch their lives turn to ash. Daggers imbued with your flames would give me the most satisfaction to do so."

---

Thalassa asks Dygra for a quest to obtain fire daggers.

Thalassa

Dygra

Dygra is patient as Thalassa considers her desires, and though she says nothing, there is an undeniable pulse of satisfaction to see the daggers produced. Up close, personal, to feel the blood slick on one's skin and flesh part beneath one's hands - her sweet, dark child has chosen well, and Thal will know it. "Then this is what you shall have," Dygra croons, and the daggers will appear to grow hot beneath the Ancient's fingers for a moment or so, as if giving a whisper of a promise of all to come.

"A few things will be required. Let us begin."

---

Thalassa has received a quest from Dygra! She must:

1. Compelte a thread mining ore from somewhere in The Climb. (This can be any material she wishes).

2. Complete a thread dismantling her current daggers and melting them down in The Climb's lava pools.

3. Complete a thread combining the ore collected in #1 and the unrefined metal in #2 to smith a new pair of daggers in whatever shape Thalassa desires. (She can do this herself or have someone else do it!)

4. Use the new daggers to sate her bloodlust on something, ensuring they are coated in blood before she returns to Dygra to complete the quest.

Table coding by Sky <3

She bows to no one.

The hot pulse of her daggers had her smiling in mischievous excitement. She couldn't wait to begin the process. Thal tightened her grip on the hilts, flicking them expertly with deft fingers before sheathing them once more at her hip. It would require a lot of time and effort to transform her daggers, but she would expect nothing less from Dygra.

With a reverent bow of her head, Thal smiled. "Thank you, my lady. I will return with haste when I have done as you've instructed." After another dip of her head, she exited the cathedral, determined to start mining immediately. 

[FIN]

Thalassa