The group, laden with dead men's equipment, climb the stairs. The stairs end in a door built into a stone wall such that it's barely recognizable from the wall. Opening it leads you between the legs of the more worn-down massive statue back in the nave.
No light filters through the holes in the walls and ceiling anymore - nighttime has descended.
"TEMPEST."
I'm guessing so speaks Apollo, in response to Kori's question.
Did you and Dmitri clear those last few rooms, around by that spider we fought earlier?
Well if not we should do that and call it a day I'd say!
As the word Tempest suddenly pounded in his head and the images played through clearer than ever, Dmitri put a hand on his forehead after stopping for a moment.
Today's carnage had been... appeasing enough. He'd earned the favor of a lovely, if unrefined, drow. He'd killed 2 things, and the day before he'd forced a cleric to heal a wounded woman. Even better, it had been against his will.
There was... much to do. Nowhere near enough blood had been shed. Dmitri had been on an unholy pilgrimage, seeking to gain power from Lilith herself. He privied the idea of becoming that which followed best, an Anti Paladin. Yes, the idea rolled off his mind like sweet candy, and he grinned as he'd have it soon. Oh so soon.
But there was still a final appeasing to be done, and on a grander scale. Normally, Dmitri would just find a place to empty out and perform it, but the only room even remotely good for it now would be...
Oh yes... he turned to look back as he walked toward the courtyard, assuming the work had been done already. The prior room, a holy area of Sarenrae, yes. Yes! Oh, Lilith would be pleased in the near future.
With that being said, a wicked glint appeared in his eyes with a new plan that would likely come to fruition tomorrow. For now, however, he had to appease these memories as best as possible, at the least to avoid distraction.
That being said, Dmitri strolled toward the courtyard using the quickest possible path, making sure to be on the lookout for doors that had yet to be opened. This... Tempest was second to pleasing his comissioner, Almah, of course.
Kori drops one of her javelins, as the new sword adding to her weight felt like it was just enough to slow her down. According to the others this was a good weapon, so she'd give it a few tries. She swings it around as she walks, getting a feel for the balance and edge of the thing. "Nah, I'm pretty sure we got it all checked out up here. Can't tell since you two went downstairs and wanted us to follow. If we're done here, I got no problem finding a nice place to call it a night. Too bad the baboons messed up the one room. Maybe the room with spiders?"
There are two remaining rooms unexplored in the hallway containing the Sarenraen statue, and those are the only remaining unexplored rooms in the monastery.
As Dmitri walks into the empty courtyard, he begins to feel a pulse emanating from below the ground. The geier nest is in the way, and still fills quite a bit of the groundspace in the courtyard, but just a foot or two beneath the ground, he feels a presence.
Walking up to the center of the courtyard, Dmitri easily distinguishes the previously discovered nest. Massive thing, really, and probably a wonderful predator owns it. Unfortunately for it, Dmitri didn't much care about that.
Despite the pulsing, Dmitri's conscious mind was still very capable of serving his various female companion's wishes, even down to providing breakfast. It was amusing, really, but, still. Dmitri sat the eggs aside, far from where he was going to be digging.
The pulse nagged at him really, as he sank his Sickle into the dirt quizzically. He felt he knew exactly where it was, and without much thought into it, began digging.
As Dmitri digs deeper and deeper into the ground, the whispering in his mind grows steadily louder and more insistent, although never loud enough to be annoying or truly present in the rest of his existence. A foot down, Dmitri uncovers a bit of shining, pointy steel. Digging around it, he discovers something remarkable.
Still held in the hand of a strangely large humanoid skeleton, rests a large and ornate scythe. The haft is red with golden detail, and the blade shines and has not rusted even with the likely centuries spent in the dirt. The entire length of the haft and blade is inlaid with wind and air motifs, and the handle is easy to touch and always cool, although not uncomfortably so.
The moment Dmitri's hand touches the weapon, the presence in his mind recedes with a satisfied sigh, although does not quite disappear. He knows this is Tempest.
Very obviously forged in non-earthly forges, Tempest is a +1 scythe.
Alright guys, well I'm gonna do one last search of the place before we call it a night.
I'm sure nobody checked the opposite alcove to the one I inspected. Same for the room next to those damn bugs that attacked me! Looks like I'll be going there.
Jumping out of thought, Apollo turns to the group.
Have we got any more light sources, or is there something we can at least make a torch out of? Wood, flint and steel? I don't have such belongings.
Waiting for a response, the hammer wielding man shoots a question at the Dwarf. Angmar my friend, do you wish to join me? I'll be checking the room on the right, near the area where I had to deal with those giant bugs, and I'm pretty certain none of us checked the small alcoved room, the other side of the cathedral. Could do with a light though!
Apollo stands there briefly, to see what the others have to say/suggest.
Sure let's see what we find. Angmar replies to Apollo.
As the dust settled and he reached in to grab this new weapon, Dmitri was... satisfied, to say the least. Whether it was the memories that granted him the knowledge of it, or some sort of vision sent by his deity, he'd just been given a weapon to replace his own. It was a decadent moment, really, and he was thrilled.
The first thing Dmitri did at that point was remove the cumbersome mace from his side and sat it to the side of the dirt. While he'd not liked it in the first place, it was weighing him down more than it should have been. It also wouldn't be useful in his ritual.
The weapon seemed lethal, really, and he tested it simply by gliding a finger across. It slid through the soft lower bits of the gauntlet's leather and blood began to trickle while Dmitri savored it.
"Ghask mis...."
The words trickled off like a cruel form of honey. With that, Dmitri, donning the new weapon and leaving his broken scythe in the dirt where this one had been, decided to move towards the statue of Sarenrae.
Kori just stands for a bit in the courtyard, Lizard-friend and Short-legs going to look for any place that might have been missed. Pain-lover dug up a new weapon from the dirt, then just walked off. She looks between the two groups, undecided.
She was annoyed by Pain-lover's constant attentions, but was loathe to admit that it felt weird for him to ignore her and walk off. If she goes with Short-legs, he just keeps trying to tell her what to do, and Lizard-friend doesn't make any sense to her.
She decides to follow Pain-lover, in case he's attacked, she tells herself but knows better. She has no idea where he's going, so she just follows him without speaking.
The pair meander over to the hallway with the one remaining unchecked room in it, drops of blood marking Dmitri's path.
Crossing the Sarenraen statue, Dmitri enters the one remaining room, Kori a pace behind him. Beyond the doorless arch appears to be a large kitchen complete with walls lined in shelves and cupboards, a huge central table, and an enormous oven against the north wall. Several drawers and cupboard doors stand askew, and the floor here is a jagged field of broken glass, smashed pottery, bits of sharp stone, jagged bones, and discarded cutlery.
Walking towards the unexplored alcove, the pair find the following room:
The brightly painted walls of this small chapel, probably meant for personal prayer and reflection, stand out as unusually garish for the otherwise reserved architecture notable elsewhere in the monastery. On the walls, numerous rectangular wooden plates traced in gold filigree depict a strapping warrior battling creatures of fire, riding a chariot on the wind, and engaging in other acts of noble heroism. It is the same figure depicted elsewhere in the monastery, but the sheer number of images here suggest that this shrine was especially important to the
clerics who honored him as a saint of Sarenrae. Perhaps a quarter of the gold plates have been pried away or hacked apart by long-absent vandals.
Opposite the door, dominating a section of the north wall, stands a man-sized statue of the warrior, its face marred by what look like numerous blows from an axe. The statue holds in both of his hands a large an ornate scythe that is inlaid with wind and air motifs all along its length. Several deep rents from similar axe blows make it clear that someone tried to hack the arms from the statue decades ago, but was unable to do so.
Well Angmar, time to check the next room!
Apollo waits for Angmar to be ready and then heads south from the alcove to the unexplored room next to where the Stirges attacked him.
I like his style! thinks Apollo, as he looks at the imagery of the Chariot Riding Warrior.
Dmitri could easily hear the sound of Koritylija following him, and it made him have a smile. She didn't ask about the scythe, which was interesting to say the least. Finally they entered what was apparently a kitchen, and a rather large one at that.
The sight of bones was something he didn't particularly enjoy, at least, not without the meat still attached. Even then, he didn't much care for skeletons. That aside, Dmitri couldn't help but sigh as he entered the room.
The day had been both rough and eventful, while at the same time, nowhere near intense. He wanted a rush, and all he'd obtained were insects and a broken scythe at the hands of... pitiful creatures. Finding comfort in the fact that Kori had followed him, he decided to take his time in his search of the room and surprise her with a quick lesson on the drow deities.
He talked as he searched, having put some thought into a deity that Kori could... enjoy.
"Of the various demon lords, there are, unfortunately, only 3 women. That is, of course, excluding dearest Lilith. The first, of which I believe you would most find solstice in your prayers, is Nocticula. Truly one of the most grand Succubi to ever reach a forefront, she's as lethal an assassin as she is a temptress."
Dmitri gave a slight smile as he worked, rather happy about speaking so openly about his knowledge of the more dreadful planes. "She is a favorite amongst drow, and, while she doesn't "discriminate" as Lilith does, I do believe she has everything you would seek, no? But, of course, this is merely an assumption. Regretfully, I don't know much of you."
That being said, Dmitri raised a brow as he searched, taking a moment to look back at her as he did. "Are you comfortable with your past? Would you care to tell me of it? I know nothing of you, really. It's difficult to place you in a flock without knowing much about you, wouldn't you agree?"
He was sincerely curious, really. He'd never learned anything of Kori, outside of her interest in her own people's deities.
Kori just listens as Pain-lover once more blathers on, feigning disinterest yet still paying keen attention to his knowledge of the drow gods. He missteps, though, when he innocently asks of her past. Her eyes stop following him as he speaks, instead they stare blankly ahead, and after a moment her brow furrows into a well-known scowl.
She speaks for the first time during his efforts at conversation, answering all four of his questions at once. "NO!" That one word indicating that much of the little progress he has made with her, has just taken a serious hit. She crosses her arms, huffs, and kicks one of the askew drawers out of its place in the frame to clatter across the shard-covered floor. Satisfied enough with the destruction, she steps out of the room to stand just outside the door frame, and leans against the wall.
Hmmpff. Interesting imagery Angmar ponders as he studies the statues. Also rather, interesting with this Scythe and all, kind of like our buddy Dmitri. I wonder how come some of this gold was stolen and some wadn't... then the Dwarf goes on to meticulously inspect every detail in the hopes of finding some long forgotten detail.
If ye gets bored Apollo ye can go run and play I got some things to study here...
That's what I thought. said the man in response to the Dwarves remark about imagery.
Perhaps the Gods did something to ward off the thieves of those tiles for desecrating a Holy area? I don't know if I believe in all that rubbish, but I've heard some strange things in my time spent at Katapesh. That, or maybe a few bugs got the better of them? Apollo laughs.
Well Angmar, there's only a few rooms left that we haven't checked, but they're the rooms Kori and Dmitri have supposedly dealt with, so I think I'm gonna find a place to rest up for the night.
Apollo pauses, thinking on something then looks back to Angmar and speaks quietly before walking off.
Dmitri....he's a strange one. I'd be pretty pissed if my weapon broke before it could serve its purpose, but to be so broken up about it to a point of tears....? Either there's something severely wrong with that man, or there's more to him than meets the eye.
Chuckling ever so slightly, he continues on to say His relentless flirtation with Kori overdoes it a bit too. Kinda stalker-ish. Anyway, night friend. before heading to the cathedral area where he flips two pews around to face one another, placing his bedroll over the furniture and weapons by his side, before crashing out for the night after removing his breastplate.
Nom follows behind, having a little bite to eat from all of the dead Pugwampis around, before joining his human companion in the land of nod.
The sudden outburst of Kori was something of a surprise to Dmitri, though, not something he didn't expect. Surface drow lived eventful lives, but, unfortunately rarely were they enjoyable. While he anticipated the reaction, it still kind of twinged at him, and he'd still managed to upset her, obviously.
Looking at the drawer on the ground, he grimmaced as he continued to search the room. As he'd finished going through the remaining, unbroken drawers, he circled the room with a melancholy air about him. He felt a bit defeated, but, invigorated at the same time. Part of him honestly wished she'd take out her aggression on him, but that was asking a bit much.
After a few seconds of silence; "Fair enough." as he finished. Feeling his transgression struck too strong a chord, he made sure to pick up a piece of glass that had retained most of it's size. Squeezing it till blood trickled from his hand; "Forgive me, it was rude to overstep my boundaries."
As he'd said that, he made it a point to throw the piece of glass through the door, not really worrying about whether it broke or not.
"Should you wish to know of my past, I'd privy you, but perhaps that's a conversation for later."
Kori ignores the apology, and the offer to tell of himself. Instead she just offers curtly. "If we're done looking through the junk here, we need to find a good place to sleep." She unfolds her arms and looks at all the doors and rooms in this section of the monastery. "Where'd Lizard-friend and Short-legs go?"
The statue is held in the position and stature regularly reserved for Sarenraen saints, but you don't recall the specific saint. He's likely a local one.
The statue is also on a rotating and rolling base. IF you move it aside, behind it there is a stairwell that leads down into the undercrypt.
Dmitri shrugs. "I didn't much look after them. I assume they've taken refuge in the more sturdy bits of the church. I shall retire soon, as well, though I'll find comfort in the one of the rooms not far from this place."
Dmitri pursed his lip as he walked out of the surprisingly empty room, making sure to look directly at Kori. "Tomorrow, the bird that owned the nest in the courtyard will likely return angry. I suggest you retrieve those eggs I spared if you wish to have an enjoyable meal that doesn't involve rations."
Sharply turning his head forward, he waved as he walked off slowly. "Get some rest, Koritylija." Despite everything that had recently transpired, he still found enjoyment in saying her name.
Kori is once again baffled by Pain-lover almost brushing her off, but decides that maybe he actually got sick of bothering her. She accepts the recent change, and heeds his suggestion. She goes and finds the eggs he set aside, gathering them up in her blanket so as to not break them before they're cooked.
She then thinks hard about where she will stay for the evening while everyone else seems to be doing their own thing. She finally settles on what she figures to be the safest room. It has only one opening, and there is a door to it. Going into the rotted library, she climbs up to the wooden balcony, and moves to the portion extending right over the door. Using her javelins as poles, lodged between the wall and railing, she cobbles together a lean-to with her blanket and settles in underneath it.
She wonders what the others are doing as she drifts off. Lizard-friend is probably telling their camels all about the glory he found today. Short-legs is most likely making plans and rules that they are all supposed to follow when he is in charge. Lastly, Pain-lover is... is... no, he wouldn't do that here, she hopes. She allows herself a smirk at her own jokes before sleep overcomes her.
Eventually, after searching the hidden chapel and its path down into the undercrypt for some time, even Angmar gets to sleep, dozing off in the octagonal chapel.
Many dreams are had by the group as they doze restfully. Today was a very long day.
For Apollo, his dreams are of death or glory. for Kori, her dreams are of sweet, sweet freedom. For Angmar, his dreams are of an old childhood friend. For Dmitri, his dreams are bloody and sick (by normal standards. He likes it a lot).
The morning comes quick enough in the Katapeshian desert.
No birds chirp in the middle of the desert. The monastery is very empty, and silent as the grave. The party makes quite a ruckus waking up, however.
Almah's caravan is due to arrive in a day or two. It's much harder to climb a stretch of hill with a bunch of wagons than it is on foot, even after Keth and Sabeen had gone back to tell them it was all clear to start moving. Neither of those two would return, however. They had moved on to more pressing matters.
This day would not be without guests, however. As the group sleeps, a Kelish alchemist begins his trip from the caravan to the monastery, and arrives first thing in the morning.
Letting out a big yawn, it would seem Apollo was the first of the group to wake up.
Stretching his arms, the man climbs over the pews he'd pushed together, oddly feeling well rested. Looking to Nom, he can see that strangely, the dinosaur has grown a little.
Since when did you start growing again? he said happily to the Lizard.
Slinging his armour on and grabbing his things, he wraps up his strung bow within the bedroll he carries once more, covering it over with the Canvas yet again.
Well, I guess it's time to find the party. I wonder where they could have got to?
---
The night before
---
As Dmitri's dream's carried on their usual manor, a sudden warmth came over him. He was standing in a long hallway with black and red colored glass on the many, many windows. The room had been circular, and in it's center, a large mosaic on the floor, which had obviously been his deity, which was also of the same colors as the windows.
It was rather remarkable, as even the few pillars in the room had giant spikes and hooks on them, their purposes all too obvious.
As Dmitri turned in this new area, obviously enjoying the decor, he felt a familiar wetness under his eyes. Touching at them revealed they'd been, and still were, bleeding. His gauntlets and armor, all of it disentegrated slowly, whisking itself away out of a broken window. His arms began to bleed, as did his chest and back. Small trickles happened everywhere, but they lacked any pain, which baffled him.
It was only after a few seconds of realizing that these were of the demonic alphabet, that, suddenly, a pair of arms hugged him from behind. Without turning around, Dmitri knew who it was, as her wings carried over from behind. 6 of them, no less. Her skin was soft, and her claws sank into him.
The following words dripped with silver; "You seek it, don't you?" Dmitri, of course, knew what she meant by that. The whole point of his pilgrimage was to become closer to Lilith, and here he was, with the chance to speak to her. As he began to mumble a word, sheepishly, a wickedly barbed haft of a scythe muted him. His eyes widened, as 5 more blades came into view.
Dmitri couldn't speak, but from his shoulder, he heard a decadant whisper. Softly, gleefully, and sadistically, through gritted teeth; "Beg for it! Paint the walls with your devotion! Make me want to give you it!" With that, the wings and scythes all engrossed him, stabbing his body. Claws raked, and scythes too. All at once, the pain became apparent, and then, nothing.
---
Waking up
---
Dmitri awoke wide-eyed. He knew that he'd be doing the ritual soon, but that was... her... way of explaining how to go about it? He wasn't sure, but he was delighted, and happy. A twisted kind of happy, but, a kind of happy nonetheless. He'd finally get the favor he'd wished for, or at least more.
Having slept in his breastplate, he picked up his weapons nearby the bed. More than ever he was ready to begin at the earliest convenience. The room he intended to use was either the crypts, or the laboratory. He wanted to begin as soon as he could, and didn't much care about what his allies had planned. Most likely they would lounge for the day, no?
But there was a problem. On the list of things considered good, what he was about to do would most definitely not be considered such, as the ritual required self-mutilation. Fortunate for them, too, as it didn't involve the rest.
Regardless, Dmitri walked to one of the more obvious rooms, and figured they would either have slept near the large statue, or in the church itself along with the pews. Grabbing his new scythe and placing it on his back, he began to look for his allies, if only to inform them he didn't wish to be disturbed.
Dmitri isn't aware of it, but, blood did actually trickle down his eyes at night, and the lines are apparent to anyone.
Waking up alone in the deathly quiet of the library, Kori realizes this is the first time she has ever been this alone. She always had either handlers, fellow slaves, or wards nearby as she slept. The quiet of her own thoughts finds her uncertain what to do with them. She decides that it is best to stay fit, especially after the light work they did the day before, nothing to truly test her muscles.
She performs some slow stretching, and a few calisthenics she's learned from the few times she did battles for her owners to gamble on. Feeling the heat of the day begin, and a sweat start to form, she feels it's time to stop and get ready for the day. Bundling the eggs up in her pack as she breaks down her lean-to, she decides to find a good place to make a fire and have breakfast.
She heads to the courtyard, some of the old trees, dried grass, and especially the big nest, would make for a good morning fire to cook one of the eggs by.
Seeing Dmitri enter his sleeping ground, Apollo pets Nom, stands and lets out a huge stretching yawn.
You're up early. Get much sleep?
At this point and hard to miss, he notices the blood dried on Dmitri's face, wondering why or how it got there, but not seeming to care too much, having slept with his own and the flying bugs blood completely caked all over him.
Dmitri....I don't know what you've been up to, but you might wanna clean the blood off your face. Also, your Scythe.....Where did you get it? Says Apollo as he glances towards the statue of the Holy Warrior, not breaking conversation with the masochist.
Last I saw you were all broken up about the loss of your weapon, but now you have a shiny new one...and one that's identical to the weapon depicted in the statues hands over there.
The dark haired man then points in the direction of the statue.
Dmitri didn't pay much attention to Apollo until he made mention of blood on his face. At that point he shot him a curious look, then felt of his face. It was true, and strange, but he enjoyed the sign of his deity's favor. He rubbed a bit of it between his fingers as the dried scab-like resin fell to the winds.
"I did. I found this marvelous new weapon in the courtyard, buried. The hole should actually still be there..."
He stopped rubbing his fingers and looked at the statue, curious, but not breaking conversation. He rubbed his eyes and flaked off the blood that was on his face as he walked toward it. "I was visited in my dreams last night by my patron, and it appears she's shown me her favor..."
Placing a hand on the statue, he looked it up and down.
Realizing it was a bit strange to unearth a new weapon, Dmitri felt the need to avoid useless assumptions. "Yesterday, ever since that mold fight, i've seen memories that haven't been my own. They were rather... persistent... about retrieving this. I left the mace in the grass when I'd found it."
That wasn't much less, as far as strange was concerned.
Angmar had a long day and thus he follows that up with a long night's rest. After having rissen he keeps to himslef as he withdraws to prey and munch upon his supplies.
Hatim after pacing back and forth deciding if it would be too much of a risk to leave his home; finally catches up to what seems to be the group he was wary of joining. Peering through the main west entrance he can hear two males exchanging words, and can smell a light hint food. He's unsure if the smell is pleasing or not. Hatim stands in the doorway slightly feeling out of place, and is careful as to not touch the walls. He wears clean starched clothes, and his overall skin appears to have been roughly scrubbed. His eyes are wide, but doesn't speak out of anxiety. However, after doing a once over at his current position he does spot the two individuals whom had been speaking. Still he says nothing, and waits.
As Dmitri took note of the statue, he took note of the new arrival. He didn't seem particularly threatening, at least, not from his gite. Assuming he was another person from the Caravan, Dmitri walks away from the statue and Apollo, following the smell of what was most certainly Kori indulging herself.
As he walked toward the courtyard, he gave a half-wave to the new man, if only so they could learn his reasons for coming and when the caravan might arrive.
Getting to the courtyard, Dmitri leaned up against a pillar, not really trying to be subtle about it. "Good morning Koritylija. Sleep well?" he asks. Crossing his arms; "It would seem we've a new arrival from the caravan."
Kori turns to look at Pain-lover as he entered. Her cheeks are stuffed, and she chews ploddingly, as if she is really trying to finish her last bite just to not waste it. While she chews, she offers Pain-lover the portion of the egg she hasn't yet eaten, anywhere from half to two-thirds the original amount of the egg. After all, he did remind her about the eggs last night.
When he asks about her night, she just nods and lifts an eyebrow of slight surprise, chewing still. When he mentions the new arrival, she scowls slightly in confusion, before chewing a little more to force down the majority of the bite she's been working on. Talking around the remainder of the bite, she asks "Jus one? Whabout th'others? Waduz he want?"
Dmitri happily receives the food and politely eats it. He's got plenty good table manners... well, as much as one could have when eating a fist-full of egg. He shrugs; "It seems he's the only one, yes, as the others weren't with him. It must be difficult to harder to move the caravan up hill than we'd thought. As for what he wants, I've no clue. I left him with Apollo."
Dmitri sighs a moment, thinking back on the dream. Kori was likely the only one he could even mention that too, let alone inform of what he'd planned for the day.
Kori nods while finally swallowing the last of the egg she's going to have this morning. She stands up, wiping her eggy hand on her breeches, before heading out to see this new guy and what he wants.
Visited in your dreams? questions Apollo.
I'm sure whatever you dreamt about is only stemmed from your imagination. Regardless though, you've got a new weapon, so make good use of it!
Apollo smiles and then thinks about the Mace. As Dmitri walks away however, the Hammer wielding man notices someone enter the hallways.
Heads up. Looks like we've got company.
Grabbing his hammer, and leaving the rest of his belongings on the pew for now, the tall man walks over to the man who just arrived.
Morning friend, what brings you here today?
Hatim finally steps in the doorway, and turns his head towards the man who spoke.
He then points behind him and says, A camel. He looks as though trying not to gagged at the thought, then coughs it off. Dreadful thing.
Apollo slowly claps at the gag. It may be dry humour, but it's humour all the same, and deserves a playfully sarcastic response.
Haha, what a joker! Maybe this'll lighten the mood of things.
Slightly amused, Apollo walks towards the nest area and checks on the egg he plans to keep.
Kori walks out to see meet the new person Pain-lover had mentioned. As she exits from the direction of the courtyard, she passes Lizard-friend on the way in. "Why do you all walk away from him, is there something wrong with him?" She walks up to the figure standing in the entrance, crosses her arms in a guarded stance as she looks him up and down, before asking, "Who are you? Why are you here? Is the caravan coming?" She points to the spear he has, adding "Are you any good with that?"
As Kori leaves, Dmitri looks down at the destroyed nest and it's lack of eggs, smirking for a moment. While they're talking to that new person would be the best time, no? Yes... Making sure he had his sickles on his side at the time, as well as his scythe. He made his way into the laboratory at a rather leisure pace, making sure to prick his main finger.
Looking at the door, he wrote a simple warning on the front of the door.
Please do not disturb. Performing ritual.
Thinking that a simple enough warning, he walked into the laboratory. If he was capable of locking both doors, he made it a point to, if only as a warning system. The only thing he worried about was someone trying to stop him.
He began slowly, placing his sickles on the floor, and entirely removing his breastplate and upper coat, making sure to put them in the corner.
The new scythe lay propped in the corner of the room. As a Lilithayan disciple, this was when he was certainly at his most vulnerable, as the ritual was nothing short of reckless abandon. To completely lose one'self in a pinnacle of choice in her faith. Sadism, Masochism, or Debauchery. Truly Masochism was the one to worry about the most, as it had known to be fatal to the weaker constituted of the faith that had no choice but to do it.
Shirtless, he ran a hand up his arm, remembering the faint memories of every scar, each magically healed so as not to whelp, but still be notable. Truly a well-done thing, and as good a reason as any as his bodies unnatural amount of blood.
With a breathe that seemed to linger for minutes, he could feel the temperature in the room rise as the anticipation started. His heart began to beat quicker as thoughts filled his head of ruthless sadism and surreal masochism.
The ritual was almost artistic, and certainly, some people made it a point to be as delicate in the work as possible. Dmitri was more for... passion, than anything. Bordering madness.
Reaching into his pack, he retrieved two wickedly sharp bits of shrapnel from his other scythe that had broken prior, each about 2 inches long and as eager as a razor.
On each hand, he slit them across, rather deep, and walked to the center of the room. Clenching his fist, the blood pittered on his fingers, rather deep in color. He knelt down, and began to inscribe the symbols of his faith in a glorious circle, all letters from the abyssal alphabet.
As the blood started to trickle faster and faster as he started to lose himself in the sensations, his eyes became wicked. When he'd finished the setup, a large 4 foot wide circle, crudely drawn in his own crimson succor, tainted the floor. A triangle in the center, and the abyssal alphabet sprawled in every edge. He was certainly ready to begin.
Placing his fingers on his eyes, he dragged them down his face, remaking the "tears" from earlier. Palming his forehead in both hands, he pulled his hair back, effectively placing red in his long hair. A wicked light filled his eyes as he bit his lower lip rather harshly. He was enjoying this a little too much, but that was the whole point of it, no?
Still with the razors in his hands, he quickly slit his forearms, top and bottom, as well as the tender skin beneath his eyes, going so far as to make a small incision at the top of his forehead. His visage quickly turned to that of something moderately insane, if not, just... weird.
Carefully taking his razors farther, he placed even more cuts along his abdomen's sides, even to his hips, effectively making a circle of cuts on his chest.
Wickedly enjoying this, he made severely deeper cuts at the top his hands. Tossing the razors away, he reached down, kneeling, enjoying the tear of his skin as he knelt over. Grabbing the sickles, he began to dance, flinging blood in various directions and inflicting new wounds, as he did, losing himself as his sight reddened and he lost himself to the madness that was slowly overtaking him as his unholy acceptance surged where his blood once flowed.
Engrossed in his unholy fervor below, Dmitri is oblivious to the goings-on above as he paints the laboratory in his own blood.
Angmar, Kori, Apollo, and Hatim gather in the nave to speak amongst themselves about their mission.