Setting
The altar room sits within the original Patronus temple, nestled within the heart of the mountain. Though forgotten by many, the old temple is still maintained for its historical value and out of reverence for those that once presided over it. Lining the walls between the columns stand tall statues of gods and goddesses long forgotten and at the base of each statue resides a small altar. For lighting sputtering cressets ring the room. Further passageways open out from either wall of the room, though the east tunnel is collapsed and impassable.
The Altar Room
The altar room sits within the original Patronus temple, nestled within the heart of the mountain.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
The Altar Room is a part of 
Mountain Side Temple.
12 Characters Here
Shayla Knosis [22]
Lzothozsh [22] Bigger, darker, meaner. Maddening. [quote]LZOTHOZSH, DEVOURER OF MINDS[/quote]
Pathos Methedon [19] A broken elf, he wanders through the worlds for a calling or a purpose.
Kushin Zetsumei [8] I still had so much to do when they killed me. Too bad I didn't stay down. For them.
Mike "Milk Man" Simmons [6] Warrior among the stars
Guacamole [0] Guacamole
Ashton Valentine A.K.A The Shadow [0] she is a master of every single martial art plus every weapon you can think of(though she prefers knives and the staff). she is one of the most hired assassins of her time.
Pyralis [0] Fire
Halassa [0] WIP
Vates Umbra [0]
Start Character Here »
1 NPCs Here
Whisper stood quietly in the altar room letting the silence fill the vast chamber. She hadn't said a word to Messor since Mephit's departure, and she looked rather like she had seen a ghost, or in this case felt one. She felt sick inside, and she couldn't shake the building anxiety within the pit of her stomach.
She heard Messor before she felt him, descending into the temple after her. The cavernous stone walls served to amplify the smallest sounds and his footsteps echoed loudly. She should speak to him she thought, but she couldn't find the words to do so. Mephit's appearance and his claims had blind sided her. The only thing she could be certain of was that things were about to change, for better or for worse.
She turned away from the entrance of the temple, hands resting atop the stone altar as she bowed her head in thought. She wasn't a pointedly religious person, but if there was ever a time for prayers it would have been now. But these forgotten statues of deities long gone were little more than stone. She would find no answers there.
She heard Messor before she felt him, descending into the temple after her. The cavernous stone walls served to amplify the smallest sounds and his footsteps echoed loudly. She should speak to him she thought, but she couldn't find the words to do so. Mephit's appearance and his claims had blind sided her. The only thing she could be certain of was that things were about to change, for better or for worse.
She turned away from the entrance of the temple, hands resting atop the stone altar as she bowed her head in thought. She wasn't a pointedly religious person, but if there was ever a time for prayers it would have been now. But these forgotten statues of deities long gone were little more than stone. She would find no answers there.
Messor slowly strode down the stairs, thoughts and emotions a roiling storm within him. He'd been so close to destroying Mephit out of hand, and then...
The hybrid needed time to think on what had been said, but more than that needed to speak of it with Whisper. He wanted her thoughts on it all, since it was only possible with both of them. He took a breath before descending the last step.
Messor opened his mouth, about to speak, then closed it again. How to put his thoughts into words, without sounding like the selfish child begging for his own way? Trying again, he spoke quietly.
"Whisper, I..."
The hybrid seemed to wilt into himself, hands curling into tight fists. A curse of immortality spent alone, was never knowing how to truly express his own emotions. He looked about the room, staring through the walls as he fought to say his mind.
The hybrid needed time to think on what had been said, but more than that needed to speak of it with Whisper. He wanted her thoughts on it all, since it was only possible with both of them. He took a breath before descending the last step.
Messor opened his mouth, about to speak, then closed it again. How to put his thoughts into words, without sounding like the selfish child begging for his own way? Trying again, he spoke quietly.
"Whisper, I..."
The hybrid seemed to wilt into himself, hands curling into tight fists. A curse of immortality spent alone, was never knowing how to truly express his own emotions. He looked about the room, staring through the walls as he fought to say his mind.
“Don't ask me to do it, I cannot,” Whisper replied as she swallowed hard. Taking a deep breath her fingers curled against the hardened stoned beneath her palms. “You asked me what I feared. Now you know.”
Her words sent a pang of guilt through Whisper. Even with the long period of separation from Nyx's influence, some ties were not easily broken. She wanted her back, just the same as Messor, and no amount of logic would ever rid her of that. Nor would it rid her of the guilt and sense of betrayal instilled in her to refuse her aid on this matter, to Messor and Nyx both.
Her words sent a pang of guilt through Whisper. Even with the long period of separation from Nyx's influence, some ties were not easily broken. She wanted her back, just the same as Messor, and no amount of logic would ever rid her of that. Nor would it rid her of the guilt and sense of betrayal instilled in her to refuse her aid on this matter, to Messor and Nyx both.
Messor felt something within him crack, hearing Whisper's words. All that he'd denied, all he'd tried to run from descended on him at once. His knees buckled, but he refused to fall. Staff whirled from his back to slam into the stone, pride still stronger than despair. His words, when he could finally speak, were barely enough to carry to her ears.
"So I do. And that fear, it keeps her dead. Gone." A broken laugh escaped him. Messor stared at the floor, held upright only by a death grip on his staff. For once, he felt none of the dragon's rage, or the elf's cold indifference. He just felt himself, broken creature cast aside but unable to be left alone.
"So that's it? Fear." Another broken laugh.
"So I do. And that fear, it keeps her dead. Gone." A broken laugh escaped him. Messor stared at the floor, held upright only by a death grip on his staff. For once, he felt none of the dragon's rage, or the elf's cold indifference. He just felt himself, broken creature cast aside but unable to be left alone.
"So that's it? Fear." Another broken laugh.
“Messor...” Whisper began before stopping. What could she possibly say to him to justify her actions, her words. As Messor's immortality was a curse to him, Whisper's empathy was in turn a curse of her own. She couldn't simply disregard the result her words had, not when she could feel it as if it was her own.
“You don't know the things she did to me, but even that isn't what stays my hand. I would have given her anything, done anything for her. I would have driven a knife into my own chest and died for her, if she had but asked for it. I could not tell friend from foe any any longer, they were meaningless concepts. If I aided you in this, what would become of me? Would I become a shadow, a shell to her will once more? It seems strange that I, a mere fragment of Whisper, should fear the loss of identity and self more than anything. I fear the things I would do if they were taken from me.”
“You don't know the things she did to me, but even that isn't what stays my hand. I would have given her anything, done anything for her. I would have driven a knife into my own chest and died for her, if she had but asked for it. I could not tell friend from foe any any longer, they were meaningless concepts. If I aided you in this, what would become of me? Would I become a shadow, a shell to her will once more? It seems strange that I, a mere fragment of Whisper, should fear the loss of identity and self more than anything. I fear the things I would do if they were taken from me.”
Messor raised his head, lambent eyes blinking slowly. He could not deny her words, but he had knowledge of a change. Something Whisper would not, could not know, for to find it one had to enter the grave...and return.
"Nyx was not always what she was. Before the...Orsa," The hybrid spat the word as though it were foul. "She was simply a succubus. My friend. The Orsa changed that."
He remembered her when she made him her's, dying of instability. Rejuvenated by an Artifact, swearing himself as a lieutenant. The mark burned into his skin.
"She was always arrogant, but no more than any other demon. But as a general, she wasn't the same. Wasn't who I had come to know."
He touched his arm where he had been branded, fingering the empty skin. His words, when spoken, were thoughtful. "Death removed its taint. And I no longer care to be dominated."
"Nyx was not always what she was. Before the...Orsa," The hybrid spat the word as though it were foul. "She was simply a succubus. My friend. The Orsa changed that."
He remembered her when she made him her's, dying of instability. Rejuvenated by an Artifact, swearing himself as a lieutenant. The mark burned into his skin.
"She was always arrogant, but no more than any other demon. But as a general, she wasn't the same. Wasn't who I had come to know."
He touched his arm where he had been branded, fingering the empty skin. His words, when spoken, were thoughtful. "Death removed its taint. And I no longer care to be dominated."
Whisper shook her head. “It's more than that, Messor. You have never been human, you don't know what it's like. You don't know what it's like to lie with a succubus as a mortal,” Whisper murmured softly. The words were pained, a confession she had never given voice to before. “Do you know what it is that allows a succubus to devour the souls of their victims? It's because in those moments, they would give up anything, even their own soul. Would you ask that of me?”
Messor faltered. There was the line he refused to cross again, the reason he'd left the Reavers behind. He knew what it was like to take souls, and guilt twisted a knife in his gut. He knew her fear from the other end, and he turned away.
It was a long time before he answered. "No. I couldn't ask that of you."
The hybrid shuddered, unable to face Whisper. He'd never known mortality himself, but he'd seen enough to know its horrors. Being one of those horrors was something he'd never forgiven himself. "I can't ask for you to sacrifice yourself. But I ask for your help nonetheless."
He couldn't have hated himself more for those words, but he spoke them anyways. He sighed, and turned to face her once more.
"I have to try Whisper, even if I have to try alone. I...can't just walk away. Not anymore. Not after...Host."
It was a long time before he answered. "No. I couldn't ask that of you."
The hybrid shuddered, unable to face Whisper. He'd never known mortality himself, but he'd seen enough to know its horrors. Being one of those horrors was something he'd never forgiven himself. "I can't ask for you to sacrifice yourself. But I ask for your help nonetheless."
He couldn't have hated himself more for those words, but he spoke them anyways. He sighed, and turned to face her once more.
"I have to try Whisper, even if I have to try alone. I...can't just walk away. Not anymore. Not after...Host."
Whisper could feel her resolve wavering. The strength she once possessed was gone to her. She could feel it in him that he would try to do this regardless of her assistance. She also knew what it would do to him should he fail in his efforts. Her shoulders slumped and her grip upon the stone altar relaxed.
She had but one life to live, Messor had an eternity to look forward to. If she could not bear the weight of the world for even a year, who was she to ask Messor to do so forever.
She was lost and without direction, without purpose beyond surviving from day to day. Was this existence really worth what Messor would endure forever more? She wanted to sink to the floor right then and there, to just turn her back on the whole matter, but like Messor before her, pride kept her on her feet.
Many moments of silence passed as Whisper gathered her composure. “Very well. But I do this for you, not her.” Why that distinction was important to Whisper was hard to say, but it needed to be said.
She had but one life to live, Messor had an eternity to look forward to. If she could not bear the weight of the world for even a year, who was she to ask Messor to do so forever.
She was lost and without direction, without purpose beyond surviving from day to day. Was this existence really worth what Messor would endure forever more? She wanted to sink to the floor right then and there, to just turn her back on the whole matter, but like Messor before her, pride kept her on her feet.
Many moments of silence passed as Whisper gathered her composure. “Very well. But I do this for you, not her.” Why that distinction was important to Whisper was hard to say, but it needed to be said.
Messor nodded slowly, then answered. "Thank you."
He did not allow himself to feel triumph, nor joy. That could wait until Nyx stood with him once again. He strode to Whisper, coming to a halt a few paces away. He reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Whisper."
He did not allow himself to feel triumph, nor joy. That could wait until Nyx stood with him once again. He strode to Whisper, coming to a halt a few paces away. He reached out and rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you Whisper."
As before, the weight of Messor's hand upon her shoulder was a welcomed gesture. Loneliness and weariness urged her to stay here and take comfort in his company, to idle away the time reminiscing over days long past.
Reaching up she rested a hand upon his for a moment before she let out a heavy sigh. Stepping away from him she let his hand fall free. “I must see to some matters... Reis will be back soon. Would you see to it that he knows not to disturb me this evening?”
Reaching up she rested a hand upon his for a moment before she let out a heavy sigh. Stepping away from him she let his hand fall free. “I must see to some matters... Reis will be back soon. Would you see to it that he knows not to disturb me this evening?”
The foraging had been quite good, as the small satchel of various berries, leaves and fruit suggested. So, whistling jauntily, Reis descended into the alter room, swinging the satchel of food. Probably one of the best hauls yet, his foraging trips usually became less productive, but as long as you were willing to travel all the way down the mountain just to forage, there were all sorts of odd pockets of natural production.
Though, whistling as he was and obviously too loud to come close enough to hear anything without alerting them, he seemed unsurprised that Messor was there. 'Heyo.' Reis didn't let up the happiness in his voice and mood. Hard not to notice a dark cloud. Even harder when you just overheard a conversation about it.
'Where is Whisper?' The question was casual, though not more-so than normal for Reis. And discerning gaze would notice the slightly indecisive glance that the half-elf shot Messor's way, though. To ask or not to ask? He didn't like to be rude by eavesdropping. But he also had to know who this person they were talking about was... To ask or not to ask, that was the question.
Though, whistling as he was and obviously too loud to come close enough to hear anything without alerting them, he seemed unsurprised that Messor was there. 'Heyo.' Reis didn't let up the happiness in his voice and mood. Hard not to notice a dark cloud. Even harder when you just overheard a conversation about it.
'Where is Whisper?' The question was casual, though not more-so than normal for Reis. And discerning gaze would notice the slightly indecisive glance that the half-elf shot Messor's way, though. To ask or not to ask? He didn't like to be rude by eavesdropping. But he also had to know who this person they were talking about was... To ask or not to ask, that was the question.
Shrugging, the hybrid glanced at the half-elf. He sighed, leaning against the altar with indifference to any consequences to the action. "Not sure. She asked to be left alone though. Probably mulling over thoughts and the like."
The hybrid ran his clawed hand over the surface of the altar, trying to distract himself from his own train of thoughts. Events were speeding up rapidly since he'd come here, and nagging suspicions plagued him. His perusals in the library and his various forays around the temple had done nothing to shake his belief that whatever had brought him back was watching, or even what it was. And Mephit...the little imp had thrown him. That bothered him.
His attention returned to Reis. "Anything unusual out there?"
As far as Messor knew, there wasn't. But he remembered, painfully at times, how quickly that answer could change.
The hybrid ran his clawed hand over the surface of the altar, trying to distract himself from his own train of thoughts. Events were speeding up rapidly since he'd come here, and nagging suspicions plagued him. His perusals in the library and his various forays around the temple had done nothing to shake his belief that whatever had brought him back was watching, or even what it was. And Mephit...the little imp had thrown him. That bothered him.
His attention returned to Reis. "Anything unusual out there?"
As far as Messor knew, there wasn't. But he remembered, painfully at times, how quickly that answer could change.
'Musing, huh? She's done that a couple of times while I've been around.' Almost idle, he flicked his gaze back and forth for a moment. Casually lax, his fingers played with a piece of rock as he replied. 'Out there? Nothin' I saw. Except for the oppressive feel of this place, everything's clear as an empty sky. Bar the sky itself.'
Oddly enough, he wasn't even trying to be particularly humorous as he focused his mind. 'Though, if you don't mind me asking, do you know anything about someone called 'Nyx'?' Internally, he kept a tight reign on both his apprehension about the name, and his excitement. 'I heard her mutter it some time back.'
And I hope the dragon-man couldn't hear over his talk with Whisper well enough to know I overheard. Quickly suppressing the smile at his own thoughts, he stared intently at Messor.
Oddly enough, he wasn't even trying to be particularly humorous as he focused his mind. 'Though, if you don't mind me asking, do you know anything about someone called 'Nyx'?' Internally, he kept a tight reign on both his apprehension about the name, and his excitement. 'I heard her mutter it some time back.'
And I hope the dragon-man couldn't hear over his talk with Whisper well enough to know I overheard. Quickly suppressing the smile at his own thoughts, he stared intently at Messor.
Messor focused on Reis sharply, a frown slowly crossing his face. The depth of the hybrid's attention was such that his pupils had expanded into slits, absent his concentration to repress them. For several long moments he studied the half-elf, trying to decide whether this was coincidence or something else. He kept the wariness out of his voice.
"Yes, I know of Nyx. She's an old friend of mine, and at one point was Whisper's and my...," Messor paused to find the most vague way to continue. "Leader."
A suspicion was beginning to worm its way into his mind that he'd let down his almost legendary paranoia at an inopportune time.
"Yes, I know of Nyx. She's an old friend of mine, and at one point was Whisper's and my...," Messor paused to find the most vague way to continue. "Leader."
A suspicion was beginning to worm its way into his mind that he'd let down his almost legendary paranoia at an inopportune time.
'Ah.' And he's getting suspicious' He nodded amicably. 'She's lost a lot of people she knew, from what I can tell.' He commented lightly, his eyes almost mockingly staring back. Not intentionally to rile the other up, merely his inexplicable need to make fun of the long stare he'd received.
'Though, I've yet to see myself the darkness she's trying to avoid currently.' A subtle-ish subject change. Hopefully onto one that would trigger less alarm bells...
'Though, I've yet to see myself the darkness she's trying to avoid currently.' A subtle-ish subject change. Hopefully onto one that would trigger less alarm bells...
Messor 's eyes narrowed briefly at the first. Messor forced himself to ease back, though he elected to leave his draconic eyes alone. Suspicion still roused, he schooled a more thoughtful look at the mention of this mention of some malevolence. "Nor have I."
"Has Whisper told you about it at all? It might be possible I know something of it from elsewhere." Possible, with his immortality. But he remembered he'd not known of Krycis before he'd revealed himself, either.
"Has Whisper told you about it at all? It might be possible I know something of it from elsewhere." Possible, with his immortality. But he remembered he'd not known of Krycis before he'd revealed himself, either.
Subtly relaxing in reply to the easing back, Reis allowed himself a moment to pat himself on the back for avoiding that, and frowned. 'She called it the Corruption? Mentioned a name, but it was something complex and I'm afraid I can't recall it now'.
'I'm afraid'... You sound like an uppity gentleman. He scolded himself as he shook his head. 'And they're after her for some reason, and I believe they caused her loss of her eyes. Did Whisper ever have a sister?'
'I'm afraid'... You sound like an uppity gentleman. He scolded himself as he shook his head. 'And they're after her for some reason, and I believe they caused her loss of her eyes. Did Whisper ever have a sister?'
Messor thought on the name for a time, but failed to associate any of the myriad monsters, demon, wraiths, revenants, or other malefics he'd encounter before. Shrugging at that, he allowed himself a rather true look of puzzlement at the mention of Whisper having a sister.
"None that I was aware of. Why would you think she had a sister?"
It was Messor's turn to dance around the truth. It seemed as though Whisper had never told Reis about her personalities, and the hybrid wasn't about to reveal that particular fact. At least, not without her knowledge or permission.
"None that I was aware of. Why would you think she had a sister?"
It was Messor's turn to dance around the truth. It seemed as though Whisper had never told Reis about her personalities, and the hybrid wasn't about to reveal that particular fact. At least, not without her knowledge or permission.
Raising an eyebrow, the bard cocked his head. 'Just curious.' Is all he replies as he stows the reply away. No sister with the names? There was an answer to this, and damned if Reis was going to miss out on it.
'What was she like younger?' The sudden, odd question almost startled the asker himself. But, almost used to voicing questions as he thought of them, he flowed with it, the momentarily odd look on his face fading quickly. 'Or was she always so paranoid?'
'What was she like younger?' The sudden, odd question almost startled the asker himself. But, almost used to voicing questions as he thought of them, he flowed with it, the momentarily odd look on his face fading quickly. 'Or was she always so paranoid?'
Messor shrugged, for he knew little about her earlier years himself. "You'd have to ask her that, since I only met her a few years ago myself. And what we were doing left little time to get to know each others' pasts."
The hybrid thought he had figured what the half-elf was up to. He believed Reis was fishing for answers, trying to complete the partial picture he'd put together from things he'd heard...
Something clicked in Messor's mind. You hear a lot of scraps eavesdropping, and the hybrid had been distracted enough to let him get away with it again. He managed to conceal his revelation, if barely. He grudgingly admired the half-elf for it, even if he was somewhat irritated by it.
The hybrid thought he had figured what the half-elf was up to. He believed Reis was fishing for answers, trying to complete the partial picture he'd put together from things he'd heard...
Something clicked in Messor's mind. You hear a lot of scraps eavesdropping, and the hybrid had been distracted enough to let him get away with it again. He managed to conceal his revelation, if barely. He grudgingly admired the half-elf for it, even if he was somewhat irritated by it.
Old friend was it? He couldn't remember strictly what she'd called Messor, himself. But it amused him. Most things did, anyways. 'Ah. I think I heard a little about what she was doing before the Corruption. She didn't speak much of it, though, and was very vague about it.' Vague described a lot of her answers...
Turning away, just slightly, his mouth turned up into a small smile. 'I admit. The more I hear about her, the more curious I get.' Broken by a short laugh, the half-elf continued, 'she has more secrets than a coat full of sealed pockets.'
Turning away, just slightly, his mouth turned up into a small smile. 'I admit. The more I hear about her, the more curious I get.' Broken by a short laugh, the half-elf continued, 'she has more secrets than a coat full of sealed pockets.'
Messor shrugged again with a grin at Reis, revealing only in the way he watched the half-elf that he knew what he'd been doing. He chose his next words carefully, intending them to be as much a warning as agreement.
"That she does, just like everyone else. It's just the...degrees that we all conceal our own that differs. Whisper is vague, and I...well there's another one I won't share."
Petty as it was, it lifted the hybrid's mood. Not much, but enough.
"That she does, just like everyone else. It's just the...degrees that we all conceal our own that differs. Whisper is vague, and I...well there's another one I won't share."
Petty as it was, it lifted the hybrid's mood. Not much, but enough.
The raised eyebrow as the face turned back was almost an issue and acceptance of a challenge, the smile quirking into a grin of his own.
'Without secrets, there wouldn't be much of interest to look at, no?' Flicking his eyes across the hybrid, he pauses for a moment. That sounded quite impudent and prying... Not quite how he'd wanted it. 'I'm not interested in prying deep, but one can't help but be intruiged by mystery.'
'Without secrets, there wouldn't be much of interest to look at, no?' Flicking his eyes across the hybrid, he pauses for a moment. That sounded quite impudent and prying... Not quite how he'd wanted it. 'I'm not interested in prying deep, but one can't help but be intruiged by mystery.'
Messor snorted, shaking his head. "Say that when you're immortal. You get tired of finding out secrets and remembering them through the ages."
The hybrid sighed, once again feeling the years. He pitied a few other immortals who's ages made him look barely newborn in comparison. The trick was to find your own way to pass the time and hold onto your sanity as everything around you crumbled to dust as the years wore on. Being reminded of it all just made him weary.
What Messor said next was almost too quiet to hear, filled with a strange sense of longing. "But mortals, they find secrets all too enticing, never thinking that the revelations only last till the sands run out."
The hybrid sighed, once again feeling the years. He pitied a few other immortals who's ages made him look barely newborn in comparison. The trick was to find your own way to pass the time and hold onto your sanity as everything around you crumbled to dust as the years wore on. Being reminded of it all just made him weary.
What Messor said next was almost too quiet to hear, filled with a strange sense of longing. "But mortals, they find secrets all too enticing, never thinking that the revelations only last till the sands run out."