RP:An Interest in the Death Temple

Synopsis: Twisted by corruption and the effects of the soul-pendant, Larewen develops an interest in the followers of Vakmatharas. Shishi and his daughter accompany her on the way there, and briefly, they talk.

Outside the Temple of Vakmatharas, Vailkrin Necropolis

Larewen stepped into sight from the east and was headed toward the fountain in the west. Or rather, to the temple of the god of death. It was that place that the corrupted sorceress was now drawn to, though the Pool still tugged her toward the Cabal. She had enough sense, for the time-being, to choose the less costly of the two. A smirk curled her lips, her brief encounter with Kasyr having delighted her. Oh, the sorceress had plans regarding that man. Her head was dipped forward, her aura teasing the area around her as she continued to walk.

Shishi was waiting in that same spot he was the night before, leaning against the wall to the side of the road. Only this time Orange was there with him. The young girl holding onto small bag of peanuts that she periodically reaches into to hand a single one to the spider monkey following her around in circles in the road. Without a word Blue leaves his spot scanning the perpetual night sky and falls quickly into stride with Larewen. Leralynn follows suit, only she brings some words and punctuation with her, "Where are we going?"

Larewen slowed her pace as Shishi took up stride beside her and Leralynn spoke up behind. Before the corruption, Larewen would have afforded the girl a glance, a smile, and maybe even more. With a sudden halt, the dark sorceress turns to face Shishi, a gloved hand seeking his upper arm with the intent of curling her fingers into the limb. If successful, she would move to tug him closer, dipping her head so that hushed words could fall on only his ears, "The child should stay where it is safe."

Shishi and Orange both stop when Lar takes hold of his arm. The blonde girl tilts her head and shells one of the peanuts herself and pops the contents in her mouth. At this Belulah smacks the child on the back of the leg and awaits the next handout from the Little Mimic, distracting her from trying to eavesdrop. The assassin takes a glance towards his daughter and frowns slightly. "Going someplace more dangerous than leaving her here alone?"

Larewen inhaled sharply and exhaled, the unneeded breath cold as it fell across his ear. "Is it a risk worth taking, having her near me?" the dark sorceress growled softly. Her gaze flicked toward the cemetery before returning to the assassin.

Shishi blinks a couple of times, poking at his top left fang with his tongue while thinking of a response to that question. He took a glance towards Orange and Lulah as the former teases the latter with the bag of legumes and the assassin states flatly. "It's my daughter, Lar." he pauses wondering if the simple statement was enough of an answer. Finally he concludes, "She'll probably need to be near you eventually."

Larewen responded with a low growl, her fingers remaining tight around his arm. Then, finally, a defeated snort tugged itself free of her mouth. "If I'm still around when that time comes," the dark sorceress retorted. Her lips moved away from his ear then, instead moving to brush his mouth. He might even feel a brief tug as the sorceress's magic sought to draw on his energy. Shishi doesn't dignify her statement with a response. She might feel him smirk before she sees it. The assassin is oblivious to the pull she takes on his energy, as usual unable to sense something like that, at least while his family's curse is inactive. Eventually he looks away from the elf and towards Orange, tilting his head in the direction Green would lead them. The girl hands over another peanut to the monkey at her feet and starts moving to the couple, asking again, "So, where?"

Larewen pouted, briefly. Pouted because there was no return of the affection. A moment later, she'd shrugged it off though. When Leralynn posed her query once more, Larewen lifted her chin toward the southwest. "To the cemetery," she answered finally. With those words, she released Shishi's arm from her grip and picked up her gait once more.

Shishi felt himself shudder a bit at Larewen's answer. Had Yellow been here the two probably would have exchanged a wide eyed glance and muttered something like 'Ghosts...' at the same time. Arius is nowhere to be seen though so the vampire has to have his moment alone while Leralynn and Lu race ahead of he and the sorceress towards the cemetery. The Little Mimic asks with a glance over her shoulder, "Oh. Do we need a shovel?" A question influenced by her idol, no doubt.

Larewen watched the girl silently as she strode alongside her fiance. Her question was answered with a shake of the woman's head. Larewen had no desire to dig up bones. She was there for another reason entirely. She intended to explore, and nothing more. As their steps moved them that way, the woman said to Shishi quietly, "You're marrying a monster."

Shishi 's little mimic seems somewhat relieved. Digging was hard work after all. With a smile and a shake of his head Blue drifts closer to Larewen, nudging her a bit and firing back, "Better than marrying a Demon, I think." referencing that nickname he's earned himself.

Larewen almost smiled. Almost. But that would be far too happy of an expression for this corrupted woman. Her footsteps continued to guide them southward through the graveyard. The aura around her intensifies as they walk and her demeaner begins to change once more. "Don't stop me. Whatever I may do, whatever path I take, do not stand in my way.”

Shishi tenses up at her words, looking Orange's way and nodding to the girl. Leralynn drops back to walk beside her father now, Belulah climbing onto the girl, throwing her long arms over the Mimic's shoulders and hitching a ride as a backpack as the group moved through the graveyard. Preemptively Shishi's eyes flicker through their accursed change and the shadows in the area push back a bit against the aura Larewen puts out. Seems the Blue Demon is just letting the Sorceress know that he's here.

Larewen was silent as she continued on her way one hand toying with the Vakmatharas amulet around her neck. Eventually, she would slow to a halt and turn westward - whether the trio followed or not was an entirely different story. As they approached the gates, the dark sorceress turned eastward, toward the temple. That had been her destination and even now, the elf moved to step toward it.

Shishi stays in stride with Larewen while Orange falls into position behind her father, the girl glancing left and right every now and then as they approach the temple. Lulah lets out a noise that's half a yawn, and half a groan and earns a pat on the head over her shoulder from Leralynn, "Shut up." is said in the most affectionate way those words could be as the 'family' trekked further through the graveyard.

Larewen stepped quietly toward the temple, her own magic delighted by the darkness that could be felt within that shrine's confines. She slowed for a moment, glancing to Shishi. Not because she was doubting her decision to step into the temple, but because she was curious as to his reaction. The woman had come to a decision, perhaps spurred on by the tainted magic within her body. She would finally worship a god - and her path already lay before her. "Vakmatharas," she said quietly to him.

Shishi repeated it as best he could, "Vakmatharahs." He's walked these lands long enough to have come face to face with things he's assumed were gods, spoken with them even. Still he's never felt the need or urge to pledge himself to one or another, sure that he could make do without their help. Perhaps he's not convinced of Vakmatharas's existence having never laid eyes on him, certainly the notion of fate eludes him. So it is more skepticism than curiosity that creeps into his voice when he asks, "What does he do?"

Larewen chuckled at Shishi. "What do gods do?" she posed in retort. She was drawn to the temple, almost like she was drawn to the Cabal. Except here, there wasn't a Pool that would swallow her whole. At least, that they knew of. "Kyperion asked for my aid in helping exterminate the cultists that follow Vakmatharas. He is the one who gave me the amulet."

Shishi answers what was probably a rhetorical question, "Nothing. So far as I can tell." Another pulse of shadow moves through he night air surrounding them as the assassin's currently crimson eyes dart back and forth a few times, "Are they here now? The Cultists?"

Larewen lifted her chin. "Most likely. That's his temple," she answered quietly. Then, she faced him. "Excuse me. I am going to... take a look. Goodnight, Shi."

Shishi said, "Goodnight? I don't... I'm not going to. I can kill things too, Lar." Leralynn and the creature on her back blink back and forth between Blue and the elf as Orange tries to follow their conversation and the animal mimics the girl's movements.