NEPHELE
down in the forest we'll sing chorus
Nephele is not the soul of the most devout faith in the Village. She is too enamored with the science of it all, with figuring out the earthly puzzles her Gods have encrypted into the smallest pieces of creation itself. Where they move mountains and make miracles, Nephele pursues the knowledge they leave behind for mortals to decipher. It had never bothered her before, still raised to cherish and worship the Gods of the world she has always known.
Now...
The Blight was an infection she could not parse, could not fight. And when Eriadne began to show signs, began to change in ways Nephele knew she never would, her heart plummeted straight down to the core of the earth. All her efforts had been useless. She was still so young, so useless. No magic nor mettle, no mind of greatness to find the solution she so desperately needed.
So here she is, desperation turning the scientist back to the soul-path. Neph had trusted the Old Gods her entire life, decades of passing devotion. Perhaps she had not been as devoted as they wanted, but she had no other choice now. Nephele needed their counsel, even just the strength of the Shrine that would drift over her like an ocean. And so she alights upon the earth, shriveling and decaying as it may be. Grips her own arms to contain the shiver of fear, of defeat, that crawls up her skin. And enters.
The world around her brightens with such bloodletting that it stuns her for a moment, wings fluttering nervously at her back. It is...well, it's gorgeous. A well of life, a sign of hope, and Nephele can't help the tears of relief that drip down her cheeks. Without questioning the pull that directs her forward, she falls to her knees more than kneels. Digs her hand into her satchel for her spade - a crudely but creatively made tool from a scapula of a deceased animal. And she begins to dig, carefully navigating around roots, working herself into a sweat that she ignores in her fervor. Whatever drives her doesn't matter. She believes in Vi, and whatever Vi wills, she will perform.
When she has three, palms bleeding and spade chipped, she heaves herself to her feet and rushes out, taking immediately to the skies.
She will help fix this.
