RP:A Pilar Crumbles

Part of the Rest in Pieces: Vailkrin! Arc

Part of the In Darkness We Trust Arc

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.

Summary: Pilar's treachery is finally revealed to Larewen and she's banished from Vailkrin as punishment. Bradyn, of House Mahara, is also allowed into the Necromancer's Guild and given to Khitti so that she might teach him things that Larewen cannot while in her ghostly form.

Forest Of Abyssal Darkness, Vailkrin

Larewen feeds off the traces of her own magic that linger within her body, lips set into a thin line. Those approaching House Dragana will see something rather odd: there are two Larewen’s. One is her body, kneeling upon the grown and oozing corruption as it serves as a binding point for the invisible wall that holds the corrupted golem back from Vailkrin. The other is slightly less corporeal, slightly less there, and oozing dark ectoplasm. It is this Larewen, the one standing, that is actually the necromancer. She appears perplexed and frustrated - after all, being without a body makes for a surprisingly lack of fun when you enjoy bathing in the blood of your victims!

Pilar , when she wasn't thinking about Reginae and her death, was thinking about the state Larewen had been in at that ill-fated coronation. Whatever had happened, Pilar couldn't help but wonder if it was her fault. She needed to face Larewen, find out why she was a ghost, and confess her treachery. Yozenra, who had been staying with Pilar ever since Jaize had relieved her of duty, insisted on coming with. She worried about Larewen's response to what Pilar had to tell her. She had no armor, anymore, nor a trident, but what use would those things be? The duo, vampire and naga, made their way towards the forest in silence. Pilar's face was twisted with worry, but Yozenra was stoic as ever. Her eyes widened, however, when they came across the Larewens. Pilar gasped in horror. “L-Larewen! What... what happened? I... I was too late, wasn't I? I-I'm so sorry!” Yozenra looked at her, frowning. Pilar needed to stop blaming herself for everything that went wrong.

Bradyn was in search of Lady Dragana, both he and Khitti were in fact. Their search had initially taken them to her house, having managed to bypass her in this location unintentionally but upon arriving at her home they were informed that their search was in vain. She was not at the location, as such their travels had taken them away from House Dragana and back into the forest. This is when Larewen and Pilar are encountered. Larewen is observed first and foremost, her current form of....well a vampire with more of a heart would have been concerned but Bradyn is more intrigued than anything else. Long strides would carry him closer to Pilar and Larewen, positioning himself between the ghost and the vampire with grey eyes located on the apologetic one. How sweet, he wants to help Larewen? No, not really. He wants into the Necromancer's guild and thus has motivation for scrutinizing Pilar's intentions. For now he does not interject, he is not familiar with why Pilar may be apologizing.

Khitti knew of Larewen’s unfortunate ghostly predicament, but the whereabouts of her body had obviously went unknown. As both her and Bradyn approached, her olive-colored line of sight narrowed at the younger female vampire and her naga counterpart, a rather disdainful expression forming on her pale features. The urge to mock her, to say ‘Oh Larewen! Oh no! What have I done?!’ in quite the dramatic way was bit back -- Khitti was still quite bitter about -also- being stabbed and slashed repeatedly by Emrith with that magic-draining dagger until she reached near-death. “Larewen” is all that’s said though as Khitti shifted her attention from Pilar over to the banshee; just something to hopefully temper the spirit’s anger that was sure to come after she found out about what Pilar had done.

Larewen seems largely unbothered for someone who’s just seen a friend of hers assassinated at their own coronation. But then, Larewen’s made it rather well known that her first and only concern is, more often than not, herself. If there is something to gain from a situation, she’ll find it; otherwise, she’ll make sure she doesn’t lose by it. A dip of her ghastly crown is cast to Yozenra before dark brows arch at Pilar. “If you were too late, Vailkrin would be leveled already,” the elf says, her voice a disembodied echo of the silvery notes it once was. There’s bitterness in her voice, vexation no doubt, before her attention is drawn toward the approaching necromancers. A lift of her chin is offered to both, mismatched eyes focusing on Khitti as she studies her appearance. Last she’d seen the woman was after she’d nearly succumbed to Emrith’s blade as well and, after the Haathian ruins, the younger necromancer has become much like a daughter to the elf - some of that likely because of the hallucinations she’d suffered through bites and stings from those awful insectoid creatures. To Bradyn, she offers an upward lift of her lips. “I’ll have to hope you have no intentions of taking this opportunity and knowledge to finish what Emrith failed to do. Especially since that would be counterproductive to your desires to join the Guild,” comes the elf’s idea of a greeting. Honestly, she’s more business than anything else. Finally, to Khitti, she offers the softest of her words, “I am glad to see you are recovering, Khatja.”

Pilar saw the other two arrive and swallowed the lump in her throat. Khitti already knew, but the newcomer... Would there be no end to her shame? Yozenra placed a hand on her shoulder, looking over Bradyn and Khitti with little on her face to betray her thoughts. She recognized Khitti from the wedding, had heard from Pilar what had happened, and how Khitti had ended their sisterhood. Yozenra expected things to go poorly, here. Pilar gulped and reached into her satchel, pulling out a wine bottle filled with magic-restoring potion. “I... I made more. I don't know if it... if it'll work, with... um... you outside your body...” Her hands were shaking as she walked towards Larewen. Yozenra stayed close to her side. “I... I have to... to tell you something, Larewen...” Pilar murmured. “But... I don't know if this is... is a good time...” Her eyes flickered over to Khitti nervously.

Bradyn has given no indication that he had intention of causing any trouble in any fashion save potentially for Pilar. Or at least one might have assumed with the way he had initally tried to put himself -between- Larewen and Pilar with his attentions on Pilar and not Larewen. A grim, unimpressed, and unamused smirk for Larewen before Bradyn decidedly distances himself from the vampiric woman. He was now positioning himself somewhere along the perimeter and had half a mind to abandon the area entirely. For now he would linger, silent through all of this so far.

Khitti tilted her head at the elder vampiress, frowning somewhat, “I have, for zhe most part.” There’d been nightmares and daymares aplenty, between the almost successful slaughterfest that Emrith had wrought and having her many wounds stitched up by the Tranquility’s new healer; it was far too much like what had happened back in Dhavislaav with the necromancers and the mindflayer that they had served. “Zhe rest of my afflictions vill fade in time, however.” She hoped they would, anyway. “I see zhat you’ve still not recovered fully yet, zhough. Now zhat I’ve returned from Cenril again, I’ll do vhat I can to help you reclaim your body.” Thin arms crossed over her chest as she returned her attention to Pilar, “Oh no, Pilar. You’ve got something to say. Please, get it off your chest. If zhere’s one zhing it’s always a perfect time for in Lithrydel, it’s betrayal.” It’d been one betrayal after another lately for Khitti and she was getting rather used to it.

Larewen parts her lips to say something, but whatever words were prepared to vacate her ghastly vocal chords never break their silence as her mismatched stare moves between Pilar and Khitti. Betrayal? Something seems to switch in the elf’s intangible visage, something more guarded surfacing as her weight - or whatever it is when you’re a ghost - shifts to one leg. Semi-translucent arms fold over her torso. “Speak now, Pilar. Best to let the bad news out while I’m not in possession of my body,” Larewen says and there is a chill in her voice. To Khitti, she offers a thin ghost (haha, pun not intended) of a smile - or something like it. “Bradyn wishes to be part of the Necromancer’s Guild. He will be your student for the more physical lessons that are necessary for the time-being,” she states. There’s no need for an explanation as to why that may be. “We will need to find another way to bind this creature before my spirit can be tied to my body once again.” And this is precisely how she welcomes the Maharan Noble to the Guild; no fanfare, no cheery hello! welcome aboard! Perhaps under better circumstances there might have been a chat over a drink, but Larewen is in a position where she must blindly trust a member of the House she personally wishes to see fall. “You’ll have to fetch him his robes, when the chance arises.” Once she's said this, she fixes her stare once more on Pilar.

Pilar flinched and tears came to her eyes at Khitti's words. Yozenra put her hand back on Pilar's shoulder and leveled her gaze at Khitti. The naga's expression hadn't changed, but inside there was a raging fire. How dare she hurt Pilar this way, when Pilar was already hurting enough? The vampire in question was shaking even more now, and tears were streaming down her face. “I-I-I told E-Emrith... what y-you did. G-ga-gave him my-my-my knife...”

Bradyn had come this direction without knowledge of Larewen's current condition and with intention of continuing their discussion prior. It was quickly becoming obvious that other matters were afoot and while Bradyn could attempt to brown nose a bit by offering his aid to Larewen....He is not quick to do so. There is a very distinct lack of want to be of any assistance to Larewen at this -exact- moment in time, for it is no secret to him that she wishes to see the destruction of his House. Motive to stay is given the moment that Larewen proclaims that he is to be Khitti's student for the time being, which means entrance is granted. Which means...Larewen, Khitti and Bradyn are presently on the same team. He will stay, he will linger, his attention finds focus on Pilar again in an unblinking stare that many would find to be unnerving. It could easily turn into two and a half (sorry Lar) against one, if Larewen so wished it.

Khitti nodded silently to Larewen and her instructions. Teaching? Well, teaching necromancy would be new to her, but not teaching in general. The gears in her head were already turning on the subject, a side-eyed glance offered to Bradyn. First thing was first: find out what Bradyn already knows. Yozenra’s stare hadn’t gone unnoticed, of course, as it practically bore into her very soul with that fiery hatred. The stare was soon returned, red brows furrowing angrily to accompany it. Oh, she had words for that naga and her attitude, but she’d not say them now, and probably not ever. It’s not Khitti’s fault that she’s prone to vengefulness, you know. One can only deal with so much treachery until they too grow spiteful. If Lar should require assistance, Khitti might give it, but she too is hesitant, much like Bradyn. The thought to set Pilar aflame had certainly been there when Khitti learned of the news, but it would be wholly unlikely that she’d actually do it. Khitti knew much of moments of weakness, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t be hella upset about the entire thing -- she -did- almost die and lose -everything-. Khitti’ll remain where she’d been standing since her arrival; Larewen, unlike Pilar, could certainly deal with matters herself when the need arose.

An unnatural silence settles over the twisted forest in lieu of Pilar’s admission. It’s the kind that only those dead and left to haunt can bring to a place. Rage doesn’t even begin to explain the expression that takes over Larewen’s features, but it becomes clear at this exact moment exactly what type of entity Trajek has created from the necromancer with the Shade’s help. Bradyn and Khitti may feel a tugging upon their magic as what traces remain of Larewen’s own reach out hungrily for fuel, for the energy necessary to bring her into a more corporal state of being. Those delicate and scarred elven features morph into something otherworldly as her mouth stretches open impossibly wide. When she speaks, it is at an ear-splitting keening, for she has no lungs with which to scream at the younger vampire. Yozenra’s presence, even as comfort to Pilar, only makes this admission worse for the necromancer: while Pilar’s telling of Larewen’s feeding has cost her the man she loves, the younger vampire’s own lover stands beside her. “You… what!?” the banshee howls and the sheer force behind her voice sets the trees around her trembling; it excites the golem, which wanders nearer and begins pounding on the barrier once more. “Because I had to feed, because I made use of a gift to feed not only myself, but others of my House, of my City, you conspired with the one man I truly loved to end my life?!” The entity moves then, floating nearer to Pilar. She does not disguise the bitter chill of her presence, nor the negative energy that has come to comfort her rage. There is so much emotion gathered in the banshee that her form begins to flicker between being visible and invisible. “You. Cost. Me. Everything. I. Loved,” she hisses in that same staccato that Trajek speaks with. And then… and then the elf is cackling in near manic distress. “After I gave you a home; my protection; whatever love I am capable of, THIS is how you repay me? Get. Out. Of. Vailkrin. If I so much as -smell- you, I will return on you tenfold what you’ve done to me, beginning with a lovely, nagahide dress! This is the only mercy you’ll be granted, for you gave me none. Be gone!” The final two words are screeched, so much so that, should Bradyn and/or Khitti have allowed her any of their magic, those within range might find a sudden, agonizing pain within their minds; their ears might even bleed.

Pilar dropped the bottle, allowing it to shatter on the ground and spill the precious potion in the dirt. Yozenra made to move in between Pilar and Larewen, only for the vampire to grab her by the arm and pull her away. Pilar ran from the forest, practically dragging Yozenra along, sobbing uncontrollably.

Bradyn could feel the tug upon his magic the moment that Larewen begins to leech from him, the feeling brings about a smirk rather than any cause for worry. The Maharan male was not as young as his appearances might suggest (he's not ancient either, of course!) and one might hope he has honed his abilities within the dark arts that he might be able to severe the siphon on his magic....but he does not. He would lend Larewen his magic so that she can have what he presumes to be a moment of vengeance but he is sorely disappointed with the mercy shown to Pilar. Especially since he is forced to suffer the costs of the scream as well, ears definitely bleed but his reaction to any pain he might be experiencing is at this point minimal. Pilar is left to run out of the forest, sobbing uncontrollably, and Larewen will know exactly what Bradyn thinks of this situation. It's not words. It's a look, a look that shows he believes that Larewen was too soft on Pilar. This opinion is heavily swayed by the fact that Bradyn is not the kindest vampire out there.

Khitti allowed Larewen to take just the barest hints of her magic as well, though she did regret it as she had been standing rather close to the female. The redhead, still quite young in vampire years, cringed visibly at the last two words uttered by the elder vampiress. It’s not that she felt Larewen was too harsh, but goddamn was she loud--it was certainly something Khitti’d add to her list of things to learn from the woman at some point. The bit of blood that had trickled from both ears was cleaned away, her eardrums and head pounding from the noise, but she said nothing about it. There’s a shake of her head at Pilar’s weeping, for it was something she knew to expect from the girl, before she ignored the girl and addressed Bradyn. “It’s best zhat’s she’s not killed.” Oh yes, she could tell what that look of his meant. “She has ties to Frostmaw, as do I, and neither Vailkrin or even just House Dragana itself is capable of fighting back against Hildegarde’s forces right now. No point in starting a var anyway vhen zhere’s other zhings to be done.” She didn’t have time for a war; she barely even had time to finish compiling the ingredients for her cure.

Larewen watches as Pilar flees, resisting the urge to chase after her, to haunt her until she crosses out of the Dark Lands. What remnants of magic remain after that outburst, the necromancer manipulates and funnels into her own body. It won’t do for her body to find true death before she can be returned to it, after all. She still flickers in and out of sight as she quivers with rage and Bradyn’s look does not escape her. “The guilt of her actions will eat her alive; the girl’s pathetically emotional,” she adds to Khitti’s reasoning. Her words are hardly more than a hiss of cold, angry air. The air crackles with the unholy energy and, once some of it has settled within the elf’s body, the traces that remain find their way back to their respective owners. The banshee’s chest heaves with an unnecessary sigh. “Let her suffer as Vailkrin grows; my vengeance will come another day.”

Pilar ran until she and Yozenra passed through the dark portal, whereupon she collapsed to the ground and wept. The naga knelt by her side and pulled her into her arms, ignoring her own bleeding ears. As far as she was concerned, Pilar had done the right thing in trying to put an end to Larewen. Her threat alone, with its implied violence towards anyone Pilar cared about, was proof enough of that. But Yozenra knew Pilar would need a lot of convincing to see it that way. She said nothing for the moment, though, opting instead to merely console her.

Bradyn did not know Pilar's reputation at this point in time. The meaning of his look was obvious because yes, he felt perhaps Larewen had been soft (okay he wished that she had been more extreme, shh) but the man shrugs. He would not chase after Pilar despite his opinion for this ultimately was not his matter. "Death is not the only act of vengeance we can seek." Surely three necromancers can be a little more creative than straight to death...but it has been established that it is no matter for Pilar was leaving and the vampires were holding their ground. The mortician settles grey eyes on Khitti, "It seems we have matters to discuss at some point in the near future." It is obvious that despite Larewen's status as leader of the Necromancer's Guild that Khitti was going to be regarded with -slightly- more respect than Larewen herself. He's kind of salty at Lady Dragana. I mean....she has to know why, right? His intention is to depart, but his gaze travels to Larewen once more as if awaiting any final sentiments from her. And if she had none...

Khitti was a bit more cool to the situation, quite the opposite of Larewen’s burning anger. Funny, really, considering Khitti’s own fiery temper. “Vhat’s done is done and ve both survived. Barely, but ve did. She’s none of our concern now. Emrith is more a problem zhan she ever vas. I’ve not been able to speak vith Lionel yet, or even Hildegarde, so zhis issue is ours alone to deal vith for now. I’ve not seen hide nor hair of Emrith, but when I’m out and about beyond Vailkrin, I vill certainly keep an eye out for him.” The ever weary female lets out a heavy sigh, her verdant gaze coming to rest on Larewen’s poor body, “Emrith vill get vhat’s coming to him eventually, vhether it’s by our hand or someone else’s.” A nod is given to Bradyn then, “Indeed. You can either find me here in Vailkrin, or vhen zhe ship called zhe Tranquility is docked in Cenril, I am often zhere as vell. In a veek or so, I must return to Frostmaw for some sort of feast zhat Queen Hildegarde is holding--and I should check in on zhe spirits in zhe ruined city too--but I von’t be gone forever. Vhen zhe time comes, if I’m needed urgently…” She gave a dismissive wave of her hand, as if to say ‘you should know well enough how to reach me’. Khitti gave another sigh, this one slightly more disappointed as she side-eyed where Pilar and that naga had run off too, but she said nothing more.

Larewen lifts her chin to Bradyn and her anger subsides, if only minimally, as she curls her lip at him. She’s not oblivious to his saltiness, nor does she seem concerned by it: after all, she’s made more than one threat to House Mahara, so it is deserved. Of course, that’s another subject the necromancer means to touch upon, but not tonight - and she says as much. Mismatched eyes fix squarely on the mortician. “We have more to discuss, things that… depending on their outcome, could be of benefit to you, especially. Tonight is not prime for that, though; I am more likely to want to rip you limb from limb, than practice any form of diplomacy.” Could she be blamed, though? She didn’t think so, really. Her gaze sweeps back toward Khitti. “I would like you to take Bradyn with you to the ruined city. It is there that my own studies began,” she explains. To Bradyn, she continues, “But do not touch the spirits there; only observe them. They are sacred, and as Khatja has already said: war with Frostmaw is not yet something Vailkrin or House Dragana is prepared for. A strained alliance is better than none.”

Bradyn makes the choice to leave without much fanfare. There is a nod for Khitti and then one for Larewen. It is a very terse one as Bradyn Mahara was struggling to control his temper in the wake of yet another threat from Lady Dragana. Rip. Him. Limb. From. Limb. It almost made him want to snarl in annoyance but expression on his face is stonewalled and cold, as one might expect from your cliche glum mortician. This also serves as indication that he would go to the ruined city - likely not the feast but the city. Would he behave with the spirits? Again, the only indication was that single nod...which is not very specific to his agreement on much of anything. He was annoyed though and Larewen was starting to bring about the temptation to tempt his luck. Rip -him- limb from limb? After she needed to -borrow- his magic? Of course there was Khitti....but the temptation was still great. It's alright. Best leave. Go calm down, Bradyn. A few deep breaths clearly are not going to help the situation but the point remains....And that's it. He's gone.

Khitti sighed heavily at Larewen after Bradyn leaves, the male very clearly upset. She resisted the urge to facepalm right through her head, but… she only casually chided the elder vampiress instead. “Ve’ll never get any new members if you keep zhat up. And your efforts at leadership vill prove useless if you just keep making enemies. You need allies, Larewen, moreso zhan anything else.” Her tone of voice was soft, though, not harsh like Larewen’s had been with the other two vampires, evident of that strange bond the two now shared. Khitti’d only shake her head though and head off towards the house, leaving the ghostly woman in peace.