Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

Katie gets up, running over to Abigail and hugging her.

"Abigail...I'm scared..." Katie says, terrified.

Abigail gives the human a withering look.


Stephanie increases the size of the barrier while I leave Artemis; the vines losing their eyes and teeth, and venus fly traps becoming more hidden, but a lot less deadly. I run up to the closest guard and possess them, using their body as a meat shield to fight the other guards with shadow katana.


Rineth doesn't get a response, but he feels listened to.


The instructions for putting the armour on seem to be similar to what Praecantatia did with the original armour. However, this kit seems to be made entirely out of wood, string and nails. A lot of the pieces seem too small to actually cover Xlentia entirely, more just covering Xlentia with bits of wood nailed together and held on with string. It offers no psychic protection, and would likely just burn off if it was set on fire; perhaps causing more damage than it protects if it broke and splintered. However, the instructions to mention the requirement of a hammer to nail the bits of wood together.

A piece of paper slips out from the instruction booklet, which seems to be a recipe for some "Guardian Approved" meatballs.

 

"You'll be fine, I promise. That is my cue that I can't stay any longer, though."


Their body vanishes a second after you take control of it, leaving you vulnerable. Fortunately, none of the other guards seem to be focused on attacking you.


"Mistress Xlentia, your counterpart, is missing. I watched some sort of argument between her, Lady Praecantatia, and Lady Gaia in the library recently, but I was warded from being able to approach. I was hoping she was here, but her armor was left in the library hall and she's nowhere to be found. That, however, is only why I'm panicked. Forgive me for calming my nerves before relaying what I... well... may be hunted for."
Pause.
"Your son, the demigod that was erased, was erased because he had been opening more rifts in the void - three, before he was stopped. Three alternate versions of the reality I hail from. Only one has interacted with us so far, and it is worse than I could have ever hoped. The Emerald that was in the library as of late belonged to a time where the Hive Master had succeeded in taking control of our reality - specifically, one that suffered from you and your children retracting their aid. Most of the guards are dead, several relics from the archives including a godslayer weapon were swiped, and again - Xlentia is missing. I beg of you, whatever oath I must take to see my old mistress once more I will. Until then, or the day I am no longer useful, I am yours."

 

"Be seeing you." Abigail says dismissively.


Noticing this, I rapidly possess as many bodies as I can, leaping to the next as soon as it vanishes; and slicing any guards along the way.


"You shall be protected." Tenebrae responds.

 

“Stay safe.”


The guards spread out in response, and it only takes about a minute to realize that you’re starting to kill people a second time already.
It may be wise to book it before the path out is blocked by lava once more.


“What is your first request of me, Mistress? Perhaps I could fetch Ihra to aid Lady Gaia and Lady Praecantatia?”

 

I signal to Artemis and Stephanie, before starting to kill the guards in a line toward the palace to create a path through. Stephanie makes a smaller, more precise barrier and begins to move forward to the palace.


"Ensure Ihra's safety, and bring her here." Tenebrae responds.

 

The guards release another volley of razor-feathers and obsidian shards, before a few start to hurl a more persistent stream of projectiles from behind.


“You will not see me again until Ihra is in this very room, you have my word.” Rineth says, beginning to stand up.

 

Stephanie makes the shield a little smaller to create a dome, a lot of the vines losing hostility as Artemis speeds up her pace. The mushrooms and venus fly traps seem to stick around, however.


There's no more response from Tenebrae, the connection disappearing.

 

The guards loose another volley, primarily focused at the front of the dome. Strangely enough, they don’t seem intent on trying to barricade the trio out of the palace.


After a few hours, Rineth returns to the prayer room with Ihra in tow before he bows again.
“It is done, Mistress.”

 

The dome holds, Stephanie moving a reinforced part of the dome to block the main attacks as I target those firing. Artemis occasionally grows trees through guards to temporarily block off fire, though they don't live for long.


"I have another task for you, Rineth," Tenebrae responds, "You must stand still, and lose communication with me."

A portal briefly appears in front of Tenebrae's statue, a lot of the Shadows praying looking up in shock. Praecantatia's psychic lockout generator is dropped through the portal, and begins to activate.

 

A few of them begin to pepper you with obsidian shards, though they don’t offer too much in terms of resistance.

You manage to reach the palace gardens, which are entirely set ablaze in preparation for your approach.


Rineth only nods in response, otherwise unmoving.
Ihra, on the other hand, books it out of the room.

 

A jet of water erupts from just outside Stephanie's barrier, trying to extinguish a path through as I hold off the guards from behind.


Guards step in to seize Ihra, trying to grab her and take her into the ever growing psychic lockout. Rineth feels his connection with Tenebrae disappear entirely, and his mental powers seem to be limited to just normal thoughts and memories.

 

The water vaporizes instantly; you have little problems holding off the guards, but progression is stymied nonetheless.


Ihra resists, easily being able to wrestle out of the guards’ grasp. However, it’s enough to get her inside of the lockout field, and it doesn’t seem to bother her.
Rineth remains still and stoic, to the point of holding his breath.

 

Instead of water, a blast of fire is sent out of the dome instead. It reaches through the flames, before trying to direct them to the sides to create a path.


The portal opens again, the generator falling back through it and the lockout field disappearing.

"You have passed my test," Tenebrae responds, Ihra able to hear this time too, "I offer you asylum in my realm, and the others offer earth's realm too."

 

The flames begin to bend as Stephanie wills until all at once they erupt in an even more intense inferno.
“No, no, I’m still tidying up. I was expecting guests later.” Atavul cooes, stepping into the palace entryway. “Go home, where you belong.”


“Asylum? What’s going on?” Ihra asks, concerned.
“We have more pressing matters to address before that.” Rineth says, bowing again. “You have my eternal gratitude, Mistress. If you ever have use for me, please let me know immediately.”
“Mistress? Okay no, hold on a minute, what the hell happened?” Ihra asks, a touch exasperated.

 

Stephanie changes her focus to protecting the dome from flames, before a magic missile is sent straight towards Atavul's face.


"Relations between our realities have become...strained, somewhat," Tenebrae says, "Gaia only wishes to keep you safe, and Rineth came to me to serve. I had him bring you here so you are out of danger."

 

He blocks it with a wing, flowing the movement into a bow.
“Please, no need to bring fireworks. We have plenty here. Surely you’ve been treated to a display, no?”


“Okay, strained was obvious since you went to gut Xlentia. I have no idea what you’re on about in terms of danger, though.” Ihra says, even more confused.
Rineth opts to say nothing.

 

Artemis grows a tree-sized parasitic mushroom underneath Atavul, which jiggles as it releases a mass of spores; lifted by the thermals of the fire.


"The rift between our realities was recently compromised, by both Xlentia's action and disappearance. We don't know how long we have, though if the hive master begins to make a move, Temporus and Caelia are willing to make a large sacrifice to seal it," Tenebrae explains, "Gaia didn't want to leave you trapped behind."

 

Even stronger heat waves push the spores out towards the trio.
“I suppose you’re as sick of this stupid act as I am. Go run, I’m not interested in you three.” He scoffs, his guards standing at the ready but otherwise not making a move.


Ihra hesitates before shaking her head.
“Give Lady Gaia my regards, but this incident is because of disregarded warnings. Furthermore, asking me to forsake my friends and my home isn’t protection; it’s blackmail. If you have a change of heart, find me on the front lines. Until then, Iris will address you in my stead.” Ihra says, hurt as she turns to leave. “Do not speak of protection when you leave countless to die.”

 

The spores don't seem to have much of an effect on Stephanie and I, though they end up effecting nearby gurads.

Stephanie and Artemis do as asked, leaving through the gap I've created. I join back with Artemis, and the three of us take our leave.

Once out of sight, Stephanie removes the dome, instead casting a potent shrouding spell on Artemis and herself; cloaking the pair under invisibility. Stephanie takes out a deep blue potion, downing it quickly before moving back toward the palace.


"Very well, I shall not change your perception if you wish to view things that way." Tenebrae says, letting Ihra go. The guards don't try to stop Ihra this time.

Ihra and Rineth feel their connection with Tenebrae disappear.

 

The guards seem to trail the trio, not giving them sufficient time to break line of sight.


“I do not bend for those unwilling to change.” Ihra grumbles before leaving the realm of shadows.