[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

[Annalisa] Sickness is nature's way of pointing out a fool.

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An undead citadel created before the cataclysm, Sahova is devoted to all kinds of magical research. The living may visit the island, if they are willing to obey its rules. [Lore]

[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Edreina on April 20th, 2014, 8:56 am

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30th of Spring, 514 AV
Wee Morning Hours
Annalisa Marin's Private Quarters


The darkness of Annalisa's Quarters tilted and rolled faintly as Edreina woke abruptly. Though the bare stone upon which she lay was usually enough to give her a fitful night's sleep, something else was wrong, on this night. Her skin felt cold and clammy, and yet there was a faint, sticky sweat across her brow and beneath her arms. For a tick, she remembered the one time she had caught a cold, years ago.

Any thoughts of a similarity were dashed away as the redhead shifted where she lay, causing her thigh to scream and protest where she had been branded only days earlier. A hand flew to her mouth and fingers fell between her teeth as she muffled a faint cry of pain, fearing what would happen if she woke Annalisa. The wound had, perhaps, been wrapped in the same dirty bandages for too long... Was it Razkar that had once said wounds needed air to heal properly? How many times had she changed his bandages? But hers? None.

Sitting up and bending her legs so that she could reach the knot on the underside of her leg, Edreina began to inhale and exhale ever so slowly, assuring herself that the wound was just sore... That it just needed to breathe a little. Everything would be fine.

The first layer of llama wool came away feeling stiff but faintly sticky over where the brand was. The Svefra's heart dropped. What would happen if she had managed to get an infection here? She had thought that wounds treated with heat would be less likely to grow infected. Was it not the same if they were caused by heat? Steeling herself, she began to peel the fabric away.

With it came her skin.

The sickening sound of flesh being pulled away was drowned out by a sharp sound of pain that echoed off of the walls before being silenced by a clapped hand over her mouth. Pained sobs came sharply through her nose and, in the darkness, she could not tell if Annalisa miraculously slept through her stupidity.

But, then again, she cared not enough to look or listen for her breathing. Her wound was oozing wave after wave of heat and each beat of her heart made her aware of the fact that it was more sore than any cut she had ever been dealt in her most vicious spars. Something was wrong with it. Edreina prayed to the gods that it was nothing, that a few minutes in the air would ease the pain and that she would be able to lean against the wall and sleep for a while longer.

Through her hand, she whimpered and started to count breaths, hoping it would abate. When it did not, if Annalisa was not already awake, Edreina would have no choice but to wake her as gently possible and ask if there was a healer on this island of the dead. Then, her hopes would be that this awful feeling was not to be yet another part of Annalisa's torture.

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Annalisa Marin on April 20th, 2014, 9:50 am

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There were rare occasions where Annalisa Marin’s sleep was dreamless and grey, blissfully absent the horrific nightmares that normally so plagued her. She looked peaceful as she slept, her head upon the small room’s mat and the heat of two women sharing this room kept her rather warm. An incoherent mumble escaped her lips at Edreina’s first disruption, the tall woman barely stirring from her slumber. The second earned a slight shifting from the sorceress, another mumble as well but nothing else besides that as the tall woman clung to the blissfully dreamless state of restfulness where she could be herself and just let the rest of the world melt away.

Sadly this was not to be as Edreina slowly shook her awake, slowly and gently but still the sorceress was roused from slumber. Anna’s eyelids opened slowly, a groan escaping her lips as the groggy orbs fell upon her slave’s blurry face. The sorceress rather disliked being awakened during a nice dreamless sleep, hated it really and when she was annoyed her slave was not likely to be a happy woman. The woman closed her eyes again and moved a hand to rub over her face, clearing some of the sleep from her eyes.

“What is it 1A… couldn’t you see I was sleeping? That had better be important otherwise I’m going to red your arse worse than an East Street whore earning double.” The sorceress groaned out, her eyes coming into focus and noting the somewhat unhealthy quality of Edreina’s flesh.

That prompted Anna to awaken just a little bit more, her form slowly getting up and her hand moving out slowly to touch Edreina’s forehead. Petching gods it was hot, her flesh clammy and extremely unhealthy all things considered. The other woman looked horrible, dreadful it most every sense of the word on the outside and likely was not too good on the inside either. The sorceress quickly wiped the remaining sleep from her eyes, looking over her slave and around her through the dark room.

Then she found the discarded bandage and the flesh with it and she felt her stomach drop, grey eyes flicking to the woman’s burn scar where the tall woman had burned in her initials. The wound look angry and fluid was oozing out of it, it certainly looked infected as all petch and that was putting it kindly. The woman moved to examine it closer, drawing a bit of res and lighting the room in and eerie purple light to get more visibility as she carefully poked at the wound.

“Petch… you have a pretty serious infection, 1A. If we don’t do something about that you could lose that leg. Let alone that fever ravaging you can’t be good for your continued life.” The sorceress said, her eyes locking upon Edreina’s as she herself went into contemplation.

This was not good; if she did not get some assistance for her slave then she could very well either die or become a cripple. The latter was not exactly the worst thing in the world, technically Edreina did not need her leg but having a defective slave would be an inconvenience. Perhaps the torture had been a little overboard, though she had been enraged and her emotions had gotten the better of her. Not exactly and excuse but an explanation at the least. Of course Anna did have someone she could go to about this, though Amaryllis was certainly not someone she wanted poking around in her affairs. Though likely the Nuit knew exactly what her former Apprentice had been up to as of late.

“Fortunately for you, my beautiful Test Subject, we have another option available. Let me get dressed up and ready, drink from my waterskin, you need plenty of water for the sickness or at least that’s what my mother told me last time I was sick. Relieve yourself if you need to and haven’t already.” The tall woman said, already standing and stretching as well as knowing the immediate need to relieve herself.

After finishing that bit of morning business with the chamber pot, the tall woman set about getting dressed in her fine black silk robes trimmed in purple. Amaryllis was all about appearances and looking anything other than her best in the Palsa Hydrasa would reflect badly upon her. She tied her sash quickly and slipped on her black dress slippers, her ring being slipped into place on her right ring finger. With that done she was read to take Edreina out to get her some medical attention.

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Edreina on April 22nd, 2014, 4:28 am

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“Petch… you have a pretty serious infection, 1A. If we don’t do something about that you could lose that leg. Let alone that fever ravaging you can’t be good for your continued life.”

Edreina stilled at the wizard's words, breath coming in short, frightened pants between her parted lips. Not only an infection, but a serious one. Her heart thumped up into her throat, choking her with fear. Had she really survived such tortures only to fall to a damned infection? She had seen a man lose a finger to an infection caused by a fish hook once... This infection was her leg. It was bigger, but would it fall to the same fate?

“Fortunately for you, my beautiful Test Subject, we have another option available. Let me get dressed up and ready, drink from my waterskin, you need plenty of water for the sickness or at least that’s what my mother told me last time I was sick. Relieve yourself if you need to and haven’t already.”

Honestly, she was surprised by the mistress's reaction. To call her beautiful and say they had an option? The blue eyed woman only faintly worried that this option was not a cage in the Dungeon. Looking over at the chamber pot, Edreina honestly doubted her ability to go no matter the amount of effort she put in. Fear and adrenaline were dancing through her veins in equal parts as some part of her subconsciously went to war with the infection tainting her very being. But, as ordered, the Svefra took hold of Annalisa's waterskin and started to take slow, deliberate sips of the painfully tasteless water; she craved the taste of salt and silt. As each cold gulp moved down her throat, Edreina became increasingly aware of just how hot she felt and the desire to pour the waterskin over herself.

Edreina moved to stand but swayed violently and had to catch hold of the wall to support herself. C'mon now... Don't let her see how badly off you are... She may rethink your value... The mental coaching was a weak little whisper, but it helped her to stand, if only on one leg. The other was held gingerly, but even her needle-pricked toes felt better than her inflamed thigh. Too tired to speak again, Edreina simply nodded to Annalisa, letting her know that she was ready and that she would limp after her, wherever she would lead her. It was ironic... Days ago, she had followed Annalisa to the end of a life as she knew it, now her life depended on her following Annalisa, again.

OOCI'm sorry it's so short. :((

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Annalisa Marin on April 22nd, 2014, 8:28 pm

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Anna blinked as she looked at Edreina, noting that she seemed rather likely to collapse after her rather than follow as the limp hardly escaped her notice in these close quarters. So she had probably gone just a little overboard, she probably could have punished the woman with other means but hindsight was a lovely thing. In any case, Amaryllis was the closest thing to a doctor Sahova had, though the majority of her patients where already dead. Still, she had been able to assist Anna herself when she had been sick of an infection so she could probably do the same for Edreina. For a price of her choosing naturally.

For her part the sorceress grumbled slightly and would offer her slave her shoulder to lean on, taking her arm and slinging it over to support her better if permitted. Anna rationalized it as just wanting to get there without Edreina falling over herself and holding them up, after all it was a good walk to the Palsa Hydrasa even if they avoided the Courtyard. The possibility of the Svefra making her sick was a slight possibility in the back of her mind, yet Anna merely pushed it aside and opted to continue to offer support to the red haired woman.

“I’d rather not have you stumbling and falling after me, we’ll waste time and it would look petching embarrassing. There is no shame in needing assistance when you are sick and have an infection.” The tall woman grumbled slightly.

With that she would open the door to her room and set off down the quiet halls of the Quarters, the added weight to her making the way slow going but the sorceress didn’t mind. At least at first, soon enough her shoulder started to feel a bit sore for supporting another person. Anna grunted slightly as they would come to a flight of stairs, annoyed that she had opted to do this in this first place but stubbornly continuing it despite any protests she might earn. The sorceress tended to be at least a little sympathetic towards sickness and those affected by it, her parents having been claimed by plague a couple of years back.

From the stairs the tall woman would lead them down another corridor, heading towards the entrance to the Courtyard from the Quarters. For the still naked woman’s benefit the dark haired woman took them down a side passage that would take them to the Palsa Hydrasa while avoiding the Courtyard. The last thing she needed at the moment was to jump out of her skin due to some ghost playing tricks, the fact Anna was making her walk around without clothes was probably not good. Perhaps she’d let the red haired woman use a cloak as a blanket at least.

“You’ve just seen the run down and aging parts of Sahova. I think you’ll rather like the Palsa Hydrasa, Amaryllis is right to be proud of the place but don’t let her know I said that.” The tall woman offered, a slight smirk on her face.

At last they would arrive at the massive heavily ornate doors that led into the Palsa Hydrasa, domain of Chief Embalmer Amaryllis. Anna had been just as sick as Edreina when first she had seen it, and under the influence of a hypnotist but still she had marveled at stepping into a true piece of the lost empire of Alahea. She still spent much time her, often seeking council from Amaryllis and attempting to keep the relationship between them strong. The Chief Embalmer was her patron in many ways upon the Island and though Anna was no longer her Apprentice, she still possessed a great deal of power over her.

The sorceress would set Edreina to lean against a nearby wall before turning and pushing open the doors, the glory of the fallen empire of Alahea before her eyes. She would the offer her shoulder to the red head again and lead her inside, smirking as the atmosphere of the Palsa Hydrasa washed over the pair. To Anna it was like stepping backwards in time, to a place long forgotten and lost but for this one place that had managed to withstand the test of Tanroa’s reach.

Immaculate was really the only word to describe the place, true Alahean architecture clear in the design of the place and almost a work of art to behold. Glassy pools of embalming fluid were placid and peaceful as ever, the cut stone of the floor on which they walked was smooth as well. Occasionally the odd white robed and starving looking slave would pass out of the corner of the eye, however it did very little to detract from the beauty of the place as a whole in Anna’s opinion.

“Small note, if Amaryllis asks you a question omit the ‘mistress’ or ‘ma’am’ from her name when you answer. She tends to be annoyed by such things, simply address her as Amaryllis. Miss Amaryllis if you need some formality.” Anna whispered as she led Edreina through the place.

She would lead then slowly through the domain and towards Amaryllis’ office, which was built almost like what one would expect a hall of worship to appear like. Anna would rap lightly on the door frame as she stepped inside, announcing her presence to the Chief Embalmer should she care to hear it. The Nuit was certainly ostentatious to an extreme; Anna would give her that but really it seemed appropriate considering her sway and influence.

“Amaryllis, I trust the day finds you well? In any event, my slave here has an issue of a medical variety and I was hoping you could assist.” The sorceress said by way of greeting, keeping the pleasantries to a minimum so as not to waste the Nuit’s time.

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Mirage on April 22nd, 2014, 8:58 pm

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Behind her desk Amaryllis sat dressed in bright colors and flowing robes as always. This day she chose colors of red and violet, the feathers of her robes matching the shades of makeup around her eyes. The Embalmer would merely glance up at her guests as they first entered, remaining silent as in her hands she held a rather large book, the very one she had stashed away once upon a time when Annalisa had entered as she did now. This time, however, the nuit simply held up a finger, indicating silence while she finished the last few lines she was reading before carefully closing the cover and pushing the book to one side. There was a title etched in its cover, in a language that was similar to Nadar-Canoch, but not quite enough for its meaning to be derived.

"Ah, Annalisa Marin. To what do I owe this unexpected visit...?" The way she asked the question was very neutral, meaning that this unexpected visit either was of interest to the nuit, or a terrible annoyance. Amaryllis would not even glance at Edreina. Hearing the reason for the intended visit the Embalmer would sit back in her chair, crossing her legs and folding her hands in her lap as she lifted one eyebrow, "I am no medical provider Annalisa, as you well know. If the slave dies then simply get a new one. It does not do well to grow too attached to your pets. They are all destined to die long before you do." She said this simply, matter of factly and when she looked at Edreina now with her cold eyes there was no indication that she thought otherwise. Still, despite her words Annalisa stood and walked around the desk, absently waving for Annalisa to step back so she could examine the wounds.

The embalmer's eyes looked over Edreina's flesh, the look in her eyes like that of someone who was appraising cattle. Interested to see the quality of the meat, but caring little for the person that dwell within the flesh. She raised one long fingernail and gently caressed the most obvious wound on the thigh and clucked her tongue, "She is going to die."

Straightening Amaryllis walked back around her desk, sitting once more and taking up a stack of papers, beginning to leaf through them, "Her wounds are beyond my skills now, and the infection appears to have festered too long. There is nothing that I can do for her. I suggest you begin looking for a replacement as I expect she shall expire before the end of the season, most likely sooner." Her voice was uncaring, but not in a cruel way. She simply did not care what happened to Edreina, but that was how it was in Sahova. She glanced up and smiled at Edreina, "When she does die bring her body here. She is quite a beauty, and I am sure she will make a wonderful vessel after a few modifications."

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Edreina on April 23rd, 2014, 10:50 pm

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“I’d rather not have you stumbling and falling after me, we’ll waste time and it would look petching embarrassing. There is no shame in needing assistance when you are sick and have an infection.”

Deep down, Edreina was thankful for the support but still did her best to rely on the wizard as little as possible, using her only as stability. Also, a bit deeper down, she became painfully aware of how easy it would be for her to crush the life from the frail woman in even so sick a state. On top of all of that, though, she was exhausted and fuzzy and just wanted to feel better. Her leg burned and her head was so heavy it threatened to pull her all the way to the floor.

When they reached the stairs, Edreina braced one arm against the wall of the staircase in order to remove more weight from Annalisa as they traversed the treacherous steps. Had she been more lucid, she would have focused her blue eyes and made a point of learning their path step by rickety step. A door closing with a creak sent a breath of cooler air rippling over Edreina and, in the same instant, she overjoyed to be cooled off and shivering as she felt ice in her bones. Everything felt far away if she let her attention slip for even a tick.

“You’ve just seen the run down and aging parts of Sahova. I think you’ll rather like the Palsa Hydrasa, Amaryllis is right to be proud of the place but don’t let her know I said that.”

There was water in her ears, it seemed. Though she heard each one, it was garbled and lazy sounding; ticks passed before the redhead nodded in faint recognition of being spoken to. Being up and moving seemed to be making her worse. Air hissed through her teeth each time her foot touched the ground and a ashy sweat broke across her brow, beneath her breasts and arms, and in the valley of the small of her back.

The place was beautiful, Edreina noted vaguely, and unlike any she had seen before. Bleary blue eyes fixated upon the curve of one of the Palsa's ornamentations, suddenly craving the cool, cleansing salt water of the Suvan. Surely that would make her better... if not, at least she could die upon the water as she was meant to, not on this seven times damned island.

“Small note, if Amaryllis asks you a question omit the ‘mistress’ or ‘ma’am’ from her name when you answer. She tends to be annoyed by such things, simply address her as Amaryllis. Miss Amaryllis if you need some formality.”

Finally, something simple enough for Edreina to grasp without fear of making a mistake. This Amaryllis, it seemed, was a far more reasonable woman than Annalisa. Titles were a silly waste of time, in the Svefra's humble opinion. The only one deserving of a title was a pod's Lia. Despite the obvious beauty of the place, there was a distinct eerie feeling that chilled Edreina even further. This place had the beauty of a far off mountain; it was remote, cold, and without any signs of compassion or humanity in the walls. This place, it seemed, was a dead inside as the Nuits that occupied it were on the outside.

The woman in the room they stopped in, finally, was a surprise to Edreina. The bright colors and feathers reminded the Svefra of her own kin in a roundabout way. It seemed to her as if the woman was trying very hard to look alive in every way despite evidence to the contrary. Perhaps the foreboding feeling of the place was only meant to be a greater contrast to the woman obviously in charge of it. Warmth and a faint trickling of hope moved through the redhead at the sight of her. It did not even cross Edreina's mind that the woman could have been alive; she had been informed how painfully few "Pulsers" existed on Sahova outside of the rank of slave.

There was silence, and Edreina swayed in place, hands trembling faintly as she worried over what was to come. Introductions were made in a span of a tick and, only a moment later, any warmth Edreina had held for the woman named Amaryllis fled before a glacial chill in her soul as she became unnaturally still, hesitating even to breathe. It was as if the woman's cold words and eyes had frozen her but, in truth, it was terror. The adrenaline that started to dance through her veins cleared her mind ever so slightly. She remained still and did her very best to square her shoulders even as the Nuit - For who other than the Nuit moved and spoke in such a way? - examined her. Trembles rushed over her body as being upright for so long started to take its toll and her muscles did their best to remain useful despite every urge to fade from existence and let her collapse in a puddle of jelly.

"She is going to die."

Before she could stop herself, Edreina whispered, "All die, eventually..." Her breath caught with the realization of who she was speaking before. "At least for a few moments..." The redhaired Svefra had not before thought it was possible to speak below a whisper. Had sound even left her lips? Instead of losing heart at the Nuit's words, she felt a fire flare within her, refusing to acknowledge any ounce of truth in them.

"Her wounds are beyond my skills now, and the infection appears to have festered too long. There is nothing that I can do for her. I suggest you begin looking for a replacement as I expect she shall expire before the end of the season, most likely sooner."

The way the woman looked at her, like a dress to be worn beneath her own feathered attire, pushed the sick woman's lips into a thin, determined line. She could not die here... Not here...

Abruptly she was seized by knowledge of her ability to do something, and the desire to try, at the very least. She could not die without putting up a fight. She just had to fight in an intelligent way. Not every problem is solved with your fists nor your steel, my love... She thought in the direction of Razkar's spirit, wherever it may have been.

A warm ocean washed over the redhead's mind as she immersed herself in her Djed, forcing herself to focus only on her purpose, not the physical pain and fuzziness that threatened to disrupt her concentration. An incantation could not be used, this time. Annalisa would surely know what she was up to, then, and she did not plan on making the cruel wizard aware of the extent of her skill, just yet. Like a barnacle on the hull of a ship, she had felt it growing within her each time she practiced. It was an undeniable part of her, as familiar as her finger.

The ebb and flow of energy started to rock through her being as she immersed herself in it entirely. In the span of a tick, she had seized hold of the Djed and started to move it through her body, a process that took nearly a chime with Reimancy.

A trickle, and no more, spread beneath her skin, and its effects were aimed at Annalisa. Deep within the wizard's subconscious, Edreina planted a vague desire outlined to appear somewhere along the lines of keeping Edreina alive and healthy. It was no more than a nudge for the bulk of her work was to be aimed at Amaryllis. The first casting upon Annalisa filled the Svefra with joy and courage, giving her the strength to be sure of the actions she would take next.

Like little golden drops, Edreina poured Djed into her eyes, swirling it and holding it in place as she finished forming her plan. Emotions would not work on Amaryllis... This had to be something that would appeal to a Nuit. If knowing Ignotus had taught her anything in the brief time that she had known him, it was that his kind was self-centered down to their core. Once blessed with endless life, nothing other than their life and their desires mattered. There had to be something here that would benefit Amaryllis.

Instead of bumbling about seeking out that desire and hoping to bring it to the woman's mind, Edreina took a far simpler approach. When the young Hypnotist met the Nuit's eyes again, they flashed with Djed as she slipped into Amaryllis's mind, as lightly as a feather from her attire would fall to the floor, a subliminal realization that there was a certain something about the sick woman before her. What that something was, she would figure out herself. Beneath the sweat and the paleness brought on by her sickness and despite the violet stones about her throat and limbs (or, because of them depending on the Nuit) there was something. Perhaps it was tied to Annalisa in some way, perhaps it was the fire in her eyes, perhaps the mark of Yahal on her back if she had noticed it. Either way, she continued to weave her magic for a moment, allowing the message to morph within the strain between them, that this something was a something that could be of use to Amaryllis, more so than if the woman were to continue to grow sick and eventually die.

At that point, Edreina did not care about the circumstances of her existence, only that she continued to exist. It took everything in her exhausted body to not droop when she cut the filament of magic dancing between their eyes and to ignore the feverish desire to continue working on the Nuit in hopes of success. What little Djed she had left had to be saved in case she needed it.

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Annalisa Marin on April 23rd, 2014, 11:43 pm

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That book again… what was the embalmer reading that could possibly hold her attention in such a manner? Grey eyes scanned the cover of the book displayed, the etched words resembling Nader-Canoch enough so that the tall woman started mouthing a few words, but nothing fit. It was similar yes but obviously either encrypted or simply in another language entirely, which irritated the sorceress. Language was a tool like any other, a weapon that could be leveled at ones opponents to take advantage of their ignorance.

The tone taken in her greeting, a dangerous thing as far as the tall woman could tell as she could not get a proper gauge on the Chief Embalmer’s mood at the interruption. Anna opted to remind herself that Amaryllis was still her closest ally in the Citadel; she could not afford to alienate her in any way that might overtly affect their current relationship. Edreina was a nice slave yes, but she was not worth losing everything she currently possessed on Sahova. Anna made a note to be very careful in how she proceeded here with the Nuit.

Anna rolled her eyes visibly at Amaryllis’ words, resisting the urge to call out the bullshyke in her statement of not being a medical provider. If she was not then the sorceress would no longer possess her left hand, more likely she was but only when it was convenient to her. Her words regarding the value and how replaceable Edreina was, were not unexpected by the tall sorceress, long had she come to terms with the fact that everyone upon Sahova was replicable. The dark haired woman crossed her arms under her breasts and lifted an eyebrow of her own.

The Amaryllis said something she most certainly did not expect, she told her flat out that there was nothing that could be done and that Edreina was going to die. The Svefra’s words were lost on the Sahovan Wizard, who looked rather taken aback at first by the statement. Her jaw locked in silent defiance of the Nuit’s verdict, not accepting that judgment so easily as the Nuit might have preferred. The bit of hypnosis directed her was similar to throwing a match into an already burning fire, rather redundant as the selfish sorceress was not fond of the idea of losing one as potentially useful as Edreina. Her body was but merely one part of the equation.

That was when Anna had noticed a slight emphasis had been placed on Amaryllis’ ability to do anything in this matter, implying that there was someone else perhaps. The Nuit did so love to string her along as much as she possibly could, which brought up the question in her mind. Was this a test? Was the Nuit trying to test her in some way, to either see how quickly she would accept the death of a slave as simple or how far she was willing to push this? The sorceress didn’t know exactly, and that was enough to cause her to be at least a little nervous.

A quick glance to Edreina reminded her that there were others, no matter how insignificant present and that displaying any information to those others might not necessarily be in her benefit. Anna was arrogant but she was not so stupid to be completely secure in her control over Edreina, the more in the dark she was kept the easier it would be to further her own control. The mindset crafted by a time in Sahova among those who had seen the rise and fall of centuries, hard lessons learned all of them. So to better this the tall woman addressed Amaryllis in the Ancient Tongue rather than in Common, her inflection improved from before being on Sahova but still far from perfect.

“You assisted myself when I… arrived here first. Is this not similar?” The sorceress asked, having to ponder over the words but hoping that Amaryllis would get the message of the change of languages.

“You said that you cannot… lend your skills in this matter. Is there anyone that can upon Sahova I might approach then? The girl is useful; she possesses skills difficult to find in other slaves.” Anna said, the Ancient Tongue falling from her mouth haltingly but well enough for a conversation.

“If she does expire, I will bring her here myself. However, she is more useful functioning than not functioning.” The sorceress finished, inclining her head slightly to the Nuit.

Her word choice made the sentences effective in transferring their meaning however they were not exactly flowing and natural, enough to get the point across but little else. The dark haired sorceress simply stared at Amaryllis for a good long while, not backing down but keeping enough respect in her posture and tone to avoid sounding challenging. If Edreina was indeed going to die that would be rather unfortunate, she rather liked the Svefra though if it was unavoidable such was the way of Sahova and it would be a lesson not to get overly zealous in administering punishment again.

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Mirage on April 24th, 2014, 2:21 pm

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As the Hypnotism began to work its course the nuit would grow still, her eyes turning on Edreina and an eyebrow slowly raising. She looked the girl up and down, the corners of her mouth turning down in displeasure but just as quickly as it was there it was gone once more as her mask slipped back into place and she looked once more at Annalisa.

"Your injury was much more minor, and your condition far different than what this slave shows." Her transition into Nadar-Canoch was seamless, her words perfectly enunciated, words chosen with ease that spoke of her years of experience. The nuit tapped her nails on her desk, setting the papers aside before entwining her fingers and leaning forward to look at Annalisa intently, "Is this girl really worth the effort? Is she really so valuable that she cannot be replaced? Think carefully on this before you answer my former apprentice." The embalmer was drawing on their past relationship, a reminder of what Annalisa was to her, what she had invested, and what was owed to her. The nuit's eyes did not leave Annlisa's as she continued slowly, "There is a way that she can be saved... but it is not without its dangers, which may perhaps not be worth the risk to your own life."

OOCSorry for the short post! I am setting something up, and for a heads up my next post will most likely be a short one as well. We can probably push through this part really quickly though if everyone is on board ^.^

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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Edreina on April 30th, 2014, 4:30 am

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Had Edreina more energy, she would have grown infuriated by the two women's abrupt shift in language. On top of being seen as an object easily thrown away, she may as well have been a dog, in their eyes. They did not see any point in keeping her privy to a conversation concerning her own fate. Some part of her worried that they were discussing the terms under which her dead body would be given to the Nuit.

Instead, she was vaguely disturbed. Beyond that, she was curious. If the fever did not kill her, curiosity would. When others held your life in their hands, there was nothing you could do other than wonder over your fate. Try as she might, there was nothing even remotely familiar about the tongue they spoke other than Annalisa's halting and faintly unsure patterns. It reminded her of how she now sounded when trying to speak Myrian.

Instead of relying upon words, Edreina decided to focus upon the more physical aspect of their conversation. Intense focus upon the others could, for a short while, take her focus off of her pain and her desire to fall to the floor. Their hands and posture could be so very telling when paired with their tone of voice. The Nuit laced her fingers, indicating thought? But what was she thinking about? A slight raise in tone before a momentary pause in her speech... A question? There was another, and Edreina became convinced that the Nuit was asking something of the wizard.

This was not enough for Edreina; she had to know more. A tattered, leather bound journal came to mind, then. For seasons, now, she had been pouring over it, trying to make the words translate within her mind to an expression of Djed. The woman who had written the book said that Auristics manifested to her in the form of a musical undertone in which the notes, rhythms, and many other terms Edreina could not comprehend told her everything she needed to know about the person upon whom she focused.

Try as she might, the Svefra could never really have the magic work for her. Each time she failed, she chalked it up to being without proper inspiration or focus. Perhaps she had been going about it in entirely the wrong way. Instead of trying to see beyond what was there, she had to focus on seeing more of what was already there. It could, perhaps, be like switching her brain from listening for the content of the words to their tone or the mannerisms accompanying them.

Slowly, she started to draw forth her Djed again, bringing it back to the surface and bringing it to heel. Her eyes, she decided, would be easiest. She already used them for Hypnotism, after all. The redhead had made her decision and rationalized such a use of magic, hoping that anything gleaned would give her greater awareness of what was taking place around her when there was a sudden silence around her.

A decision, it seemed, had been reached.


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[The Quarters] In Sickness and In Health

Postby Annalisa Marin on May 1st, 2014, 4:55 am

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Amaryllis’ inflection was naturally flawless compared to Anna’s, the result of one who had spent years speaking the Ancient Tongue. The tall woman crossed her arms under her breasts and returned Amaryllis’ intent gaze with a rather stubborn one of her own. They were alike in some ways really, and utterly different in others. Neither was fond of losing things that were theirs; however the sorceress allowed her passions to rule her far more often than the Embalmer likely would. It was her greatest strength and also her most fatal of weaknesses sadly, though she was loath to admit to such a thing.

The questions were loaded quite naturally and Anna carefully considered the implications here, what Amaryllis meant and what she said was often mutually exclusive. The tall sorceress simply sat before the Embalmer’s desk, resting one arm on the armrest and tapping her index finger against her chin. Her gaze never wavered from the Nuit, grey eyes more placid and calm but steely strong as they scrutinized her former Mistress. Was this a power play by the Nuit? What possible gain would there be in that? Amaryllis already had the sorceress very firmly under her thumb, what benefit would there be in jeopardizing and alienating her in such a way?

Anna gave a sideways glance to Edreina, drinking in the sick Svefra’s form and noting in this light how very terrible she looked. Sahova had a way of doing that to a person sadly enough, twisting and hardening them in such a way. The eyes turned upon Amaryllis again, pondering her answer for a moment and choosing her response deliberately. The embalmer was playing at something there was no doubt in Anna’s mind in that regard, the question was at what? Should she reveal her own hand and plans so easily or simply tell the Nuit what she expected to hear?

“Those are unimportant points. You of all persons should know, Amaryllis, I don’t like to lose that which is mine. Ever. She is mine, petch Dira’s claim.” Anna said, her words slow and halting in Nader-Canoch.

“Besides, it takes time to train a new slave properly. Time that could benefit my work instead, better to simply fix this one. Test Subject 1A is thick headed, but nicely obedient now.” Anna stated, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

“So, with that in mind. Tell me of this method. I have faced potential demise in the past, that has yet to have stopped me.” The sorceress urged, reclining back in her seat.

With that Anna simply stared at the Embalmer, awaiting her answer or reaction to the words offered her way by her former Apprentice. The Sahovan Wizard idly gestured for Edreina to move beside the chair she currently sat upon, the motioning of her wrist imperious as ever. Other than that she would not offer the Svefra any words or communication, knowing full well that more was not necessary. Amaryllis had offered a possible way for her to fix her slave, fixing that which was broken was a certainly a good thing as it meant she would not need to pay for a new slave. Edreina was already good and filled the roll nicely.

There was always risk upon Sahova anyway, she could walk into the wrong lab and end up engaged in a duel to the death with some mad master. She had survived worse thing she imagined, whatever Amaryllis could think of was likely nothing compared to the trial in the Heartlands. Then again, leaping headlong into a hurricane was less deadly or dangerous than entering into the petching Heartlands. That was something Anna would swear to her dying day.

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