RP:To Hear The Call Of Death And Pleasure

Part of the Through The Looking-Glass: Return To Wonderland Arc

This is a Devout's Guild RP.

Summary: After given the ability to use both light and dark magic by the Prophet Cirice in the Shadow Plane and needing to get her revenge on Jessamine and James for kidnapping Brand, a bloodlust that Khitti has not known in years resurfaces. The need to kill those that do harm against her family and the denizens of the Shadow Plane, and even that realm itself, and the pleasure of even just plotting their demise starts to become a concern for Khitti. Concerned that Cyris would abandon her if she pursued the idea of following Vakmathras and Delisha as well and killing people like Jessamine and James in their name, she asks Zahrani to meet her at the Sanctum to talk, as Zahrani has been in this religion game a hell of a lot longer than Khitti has.

The Sacrosanct, Sanctum Of The Divine, Kelay

The letter had been sent out to Zahrani and Khitti received one in return. Of course, she figured she would, but that still hadn’t put her mind at ease. The redhead would be at the Sanctum, but she’d be in her office, and Zahrani would be directed there by whomever the feline ran into on the way in. There’d be no cookies this time around. But there’d be a couple empty bottles previously filled with whiskey, and another half gone--it’d appear she’d started drinking heavily again. There was no color to be found on Khitti’s attire, her outfit as black as night and her make-up the same. For those that knew her a couple years ago, it’d almost be like she took several steps back into the past. Besides this change, the only other thing was the fact that both hands were wrapped in bandages, the main focus being her palms--which is the reason why she was able to write at all to Zahrani, it seemed. Tenbatsu Kaji laid on the desk near the empty bottles, next to another newly acquired sword. The dark steel blade was covered by a charred black wooden sheathe, but dark magic radiated from it stil, as well as its obsidian hilt. As she waited for the feline, Khitti only stared at the two swords, the occasional look of concern or anger contorting her face as she indulged herself with more whiskey.

Zahrani makes her way into the Sanctum, having just arrived from some serious business in Cenril regarding the Isran Collective. Traffickers made the mistake of targeting them, and the cleanup took longer than expected. The panther wears her more feline form, her panther face neutral and her dreadlocks arranged in a bun behind her head. The soft clicking of platemail boots announces her approach towards Khitti’s office. A knock on the door, then it opens. The cat steps in, clad in a mixture of platemail and the robes attributed to the devout of Cyris. Cyan eyes survey the room, moving from the two swords. Tenbatsu Kaji, she recognized; the darker blade, not so much. The fur on her tail puffs up slightly upon sensing the darkness emanating from it, before settling again. She then turns to the empty whiskey bottles, then to the person who had been emptying them. Khitti was unrecognizable at first, the feline having a slightly concerned look on her face as she joins her comrade, “I got here as soon as I could. What can I do for you, my friend?”

“I have tried doing nothing but good for this realm--and the Shadow Plane,” Khitti said, motioning with a bandaged hand to the chair near her. It was a place for Zahrani to sit without this feeling like the feline was having a meeting with her boss. No, this was definitely a time where Khitti was seeking Rani’s guidance, as she’d said in the letter, for the feline had been in this religion business a hell of a lot longer than the redhead had. “And yet, I’m still being called on to do the impossible. I don’t even get a break. I don’t even know -who- is doing the calling,” Khitti sighed heavily, a hand moving to her face to rub at her tired eyes. “Is it possible for more than one god to ask things of you at the same time? Following multiple gods is one thing, but actually being asked to do something by them? Is that even a thing? Would Cyrus even let me do something like that without striking me dead? Because I know what he’s like, and obviously that’s why I didn’t become a paladin like you. But… what if the person calling me isn’t exactly what people would consider “good”? I don’t think Cyris is done with me, but… Seika and I haven’t really spoken much of late, not since she gave me my own holy magic, so I didn’t have to draw from her power, so I don’t even know if -she- knows what to do about it.”

Zahrani sits down in the chair offered, listening keenly as Khitti regales her of what she has recently experienced. She nods in understanding about not getting a break, but she imagines this is very different. Two gods speaking to the redhead and asking them to perform for her. The paladin remains silent as she turns each question over in her mind. “I gravitate towards Cyris in my love of Freedom and empowering others, but others might argue that I also gravitate towards Delisha in my love of physical touch and pleasure. The way I see it, only in certain circumstances do those two conflict. Those conflicts usually involve acquiring pleasure at the expense of another’s freedom. It is a balancing act, but a good rule of thumb I’ve discovered when I am at such a spiritual crossroads is: are the requests of one God in direct conflict with another? I guess my questions to you are: what exactly is being asked of you, and who do you think would ask of such a thing?” The feline looks towards Tenbatsu Kaji, her divine energy brushing against the sword as if to say to Seika, ~Hello. I’m here if you want to talk.~

It wasn’t often that Seika showed herself outside of Cyris’ chapel, for it took quite a lot to conjure up a projection of herself that seemed to suit the wielder at the time. She did so now when Zahrani attempted to coax the sprite out, Seika adorned in that simple rose gold armor she often loaned to Khitti via the sword’s magic, her long fiery (the literal sort;) hair out on display, tamed only by her circlet. The sprite stood against the wall behind Khitti, leaning against it, arms crossed as she looked from Khitti to Zahrani with concern, “I think whomever is calling her has been for awhile now--she just didn’t want to see it. Or, she’s just out of her Cyris-loving mind again, what with everything that’s been going on.” Khitti frowned, shooting a bit of a glare over her shoulder at the sprite before returning her attention to Zahrani. “I’ve been asked to help the Shadow Plane again--and for once this time it’s not my doing that things are so frakked up. It’s really bad over there. There’s an entity over there; a treant name is Cirice. She replaced the one before her after he’d been kidnapped and tainted. Emeritus, another treant, had helped me with my path towards the vampirism cure, sort of. Long story short, he was very much a pacifist. Cirice is not. He was brought into creation during a time of peace and neutrality--as neutral as that place can get--and she was born of fury and war. Cirice gave me that blade. Gave me back my dark magic,” Khitti said, waving her hands a little to denote the bandages. “Her followers… protectors… called me She Who Walks Both Paths. Apparently my dark magic was never gone in the first place, just locked away. I feel like this is more than just Cirice tasking this of me, to get rid of what’s plaguing that realm. The feeling is too strong. The need for justice. For death. Certainly Cyris has a hand in this, because I’d be setting the Shadow Plane free of that taint, but there’s something else… It feels darker. I’ve tried thinking about who else might be calling. Aramoth maybe? His love of war can certainly be looked at as a dark sort of thing. Or there is Delisha. Or… I don’t know. I worry I ride the line too much already, with this constant need to fight. You’d think I was still a vampire, because I guess you could it bloodlust to an extent. I’ve been on edge again, angry. Cirice’s own fury felt right? It felt similar. Relatable. Like I’m definitely meant to be doing this.” Khitti shook her head with a sigh. She’d started rambling; it was sort of obvious she was a bit drunk. “Or maybe no one’s calling me. And maybe I am just nuts.” Seika scoffed at the templar, the sprite’s amber-colored eyes watching the back of Khitti’s head, “If anyone’s calling you, you know exactly who it is. You can’t preach the things you do and just turn a blind eye to it, girl. You asked Vakmathras for help. You made a deal. Oh sure, he got those souls of his--your family--but there’s always a bigger fish. Someone like Facilier’s like a top shelf liquor in Vakmathras’ eyes--even moreso because he was a high priest and probably stronger than Gevurah.” Seika pushed off from her spot against the wall, took a step towards Khitti and reached a hand around Khitti’s neck, lightly yanking at the lapis lazuli necklace that barely left Khitti’s person, “The God of Death didn’t get -that- soul.”

Rani does her best to piece all of this information together, taking it in and turning it over like puzzle pieces in her mind. “So, you feel like both Vakmatharas and Cyris are attempting to pull you towards something?” Honestly this doesn’t seem to surprise the cat at all. She glances at the bottles of empty liquor, taking note of her friend’s inebriated state, before looking up to where Seika had projected herself. “I always found it strange when Vakmatharas is...in a hurry to gather certain souls. You would think deities would be unbound by time. Every mortal soul passes into his realm eventually...” Cyan eyes glance towards the door leading out into the Sanctum, where every shrine is kept, before turning back to Khitti and saying, “If you want another example of Death, Freedom, and Desire intertwining in a single event...then Revolution would certainly be where you would find all three. And based on what you told me about these...treants, it sounds like that’s something the Shadow Plane could be steering towards.” A pause, then she says, “You seem to have gotten an inkling of what these different forces want, but I guess my question to you is: what do ~you~ want in all of this?”

“I’m not sure what I want,” Khitti said at length, side-eyeing the holy sprite standing next to her. “I’m just scared, I guess?” Her attention drifted then towards the bottle that still had alcohol in it, her hand reaching towards it. The aforementioned appendage didn’t grab the bottle, however, instead pushing it back further away from the redhead. “Maybe Vakmathras is impatient because he’s not been getting the souls he needs. Larket’s probably been too busy with their public relations to offering him anything, and from what I hear trickling out from the Underdark into Vailkrin is that Gevurah’s gone and gotten herself married. I imagine their politics down there doesn’t exactly leave room for the gods at the moment. The drow are far too stuck on themselves.” There was a pause, the gears in Khitti’s head clearly turning now. “Maybe he wants someone that can give him what he wants without all the frills of royalty, without all that vanity.” Another pause. “It’s just… confusing, is all. But, I guess maybe he’s heard me preaching his “good” name. And maybe does Delisha have a hand in it too because I don’t particularly hate fighting. That… bloodlust or whatever you want to call it, isn’t there for nothing.”

The paladin finds it odd that a god could get impatient, what with them being immortal and outside of time and all. “Deities are incomprehensible sometimes. It’s hard to know just what their motives are, since their very existence flies in the face of...well, everything we mortals could experience or have a reference for.” Zahrani rests her head in her hand, tenting her elbow against the table as she ponders what the Templar had been conjecturing on, regarding Vakmatharas getting tired. “The followers of the Gods can be even less predictable; they’re not all monolithic or believe the same thing. Some of our more zealous devotees to Cyris see Macon’s very existence as an absolute monarch to be “blasphemy”, while others are less direct and more nuanced. I’m sure a God of Death would probably take full advantage of the chaos that could bring within his own followers. If I were him, I would reach out to everyone with power or ambition, then bring them together on a collision course. I would imagine there are sects of his cult that he’s inspired to undermine the Larketian monarchs, because the death and destruction would feed him...I feel like we’ve had a similar conversation many months ago...You might not be the only one he’s reaching out to in this game of his.” The feline offers a reassuring smile, “And there is nothing wrong with being scared, under the circumstances. The thrill of bloodlust and having your Desires fulfilled is compelling. If I were you, I would try to get an ear to the ground in some of Vakmatharas’ sects; maybe see if there are any others he’s speaking to in a similar fashion.” The panther shrugs; it’s an idea that is not without risk. “As for Cyris, as long as you respect the agency and Freedom of others, assuming they’re not trying to take away yours, His protection will not leave you.”

Khitti shifted her attention to Zahrani, olive-green eyes watching her as the paladin spoke her thoughts. “I mean, a lot of that’s just my speculation anyway. I’m not blessed enough for them to actually speak to me,” she said with a bitter smirk. “Or, at least, not as clearly as they speak to some.” Seika rolled her eyes at Khitti, “That’s because you’re not properly listening. Do as Zahrani says and it’ll sort itself out eventually.” The Devout’s Guild leader looked to Seika briefly before returning her line of sight to Zahrani with a heavy sigh. “Alright, alright. If you’re sure Cyris isn’t gonna smite me a thousand times over.” Khitti mustered a faint smile for the feline, “Thanks, Zahrani. There’s not really a whole lot of people I could talk to about this. I suppose a trip to Larket and either Vailkrin or The Nameless Desert is in order eventually, even if it’s just to scout things out a bit. Maybe the desert first, out of those two. Vailkrin’s been… Vailkrin lately.” She said this as if most people knew how Vailkrin was: chaotic, a pain in the ass, and a total bitch to deal with. It’s no wonder Khitti still gravitated to the place, even now.

Zahrani shrugs, “I don’t venture into Vailkrin very often, but if you need someone who has prior experience with the Nameless Desert, then I can certainly come with you, if you want company.” She offers a smile in complement to the offer for company into the hot arid portion of Lithrydel’s mainland. It’s not safe to venture there alone. She pauses for moment, looking from Seika to Khitti before asking, “Was there anything you wanted to talk to me about?”

Khitti smiled at Zahrani’s offer, giving the feline a nod of her head, “I would appreciate it. I don’t go to the desert often. Last time Meri was with me. She used to frequent the place a long time ago, before her and I met. Here’s to hoping it’s not quite as hot now that it’s autumn. I’m sure I won’t have such luck though.” Khitti smirked at the thought, then eventually shook her head, “No. That’s it. I’m sorry to drag you all the way here for this. I wasn’t sure where to find you and figured this was the easiest way.” She took a moment to think of it though just to be sure, crimson brows knitting together again, this in pensiveness instead of the flurry of other emotions she had swirling about in her head. “Wait, no. There is something.” There’s a pause before Khitti continued, “Lanara’s back. She’s been staying in The Enchantment.” A sigh left the redhead, “She was never insane at all. She’d been depressed, of course, as one would be after someone disappears on you right before your wedding, but she wasn’t insane. She told me she had tried astral projection for the first time, to escape her body to try to calm herself, but a spirit took it over. Did all of those awful things people said she did. Now she’s on trial. And if she doesn’t win, they’re going to burn her at the stake for crimes she didn’t commit.” Leaning back in her chair and sinking down into it a bit, Khitti eyed the desk in front of her. “I’ll be doing what I can to help her, but when it comes down to it, when the trial happens, I’m not sure if my voice will do any good. That half-orc that joined the guild recently, Largakh, he’s an ex of hers and is completely convinced she did it. To the point that they happened upon each other in the Enchantment while he was completing one of the guild tasks and he yelled at her. Apparently said some pretty nasty things. Made her cry. He’s free to think what he likes, of course, but the voice of the dissenters can be so much louder than those that speak truth.”

Zahrani inhales deeply, exhaling slowly as she listens to what Khitti has to say about what happened with Lanara, “I was wondering what happened. Nothing about these accusations made sense. So you need a character witness to help support her.” The feline sighs at Larz believing she did it and even yelling at her, responding with, “Of...course he did. What he thinks is one thing. What he does, though...That man needs to respect boundaries...” Lest he run afoul of Cyris, or one of his paladins. “I’ll do what I can to support Lana...it’s just been so long since I’ve even seen her. My least favorite part of my duties is not being able to always be there for my friends...”

“Oh trust me, Larz is lucky I’ve not seen him yet. Because when she told me, I wanted to beat the hell out of him. The possibility of a physical altercation has long since passed,” Khitti said, almost sound disappointed about it, “but a verbal one is not entirely out of the question. She intends on rejoining the guild and while I’m not going to strip him of rank or anything, because he -has- done some good for the guild in the short time he’s been here, he does need to know boundaries, as you said. Despite all he said to her, she still seems willing enough to work with him when it’s needed that the entire guild work together. I’m hoping perhaps his tune will change when it’s proven that she’s innocent. The fact that he believed it so willingly after having spent considerable time together is… worrying, to be completely honest. He worked as a guard in Gualon some time ago; he specializes in detective work. So, I’m trying to piece together how he didn’t see any of the signs in front of him that this wasn’t Lanara at all.” Khitti sighed heavily and shook her head. “Beyond all of that nonsense though, there’s nothing of importance at the moment. Both Lanara and I would be grateful if you could help with a witness statement. Even if you’ve not seen her in some time, anything is better than nothing.” A hand reached out towards Zahrani, gingerly touching the closest forearm to her. “You do what you can when you’re able to and it’s entirely appreciated, Zahrani,” Khitti said with a faint smile, “You may not be there all the time, but you’re there when people call upon you. That’s all anyone can expect. You do have your own life to live, as do the rest of us. Don’t try to do everything that needs tending to. It’s not possible. Don’t be like me.” A smirk formed at the last bit of her words. If there was anyone guilty of trying to take care of literally everything, it was Khitti.

Zahrani sighs, before nodding and placing her other hand on Khitti’s. “Thanks for the reassurance,” she says with a warm smile. The Templar is right, of course.The cat’s life has largely been lived in service of others; those others often remind her to take some time for herself, to recharge and enjoy the good parts of the world. “It was great to see you again, my friend. If there’s nothing else, I think I’ll head north to see someone close to me. She works at the House of Ara.”

Khitti nodded, offering the feline a smile, “No, that’s it. You know where I’ll be if you need me.” The redhead would give Zahrani a hug before letting the paladin head to Larket.