#[ the last one before her sight fully left minth/ara ]

[spiderwarden]

She transforms into her mother. Into her daughter. Into her former goddess herself as she paces circles around Minthara. Any creature she may've felt any affection to, any loyalty towards, any sentiment of care. Orin could give her anything she wanted, be anything she wanted - but that was not her role. It was this paladin's role to do for her. Orin can givith and Orin can taketh away. The satisfaction warms her belly and rises in her chest as she watches those beads of sweat slowly trickle down her drows cheekbone. Her body is steel .. but even she holds fear. It's Orin's vision to find that fear, weaponize it, and slowly chip away at the sanity of those caught in her claws until they are nothing left. This is how she pleases Bhaal. That is how she serves. Wearing Lolth's skin, Minthara's face is snatched in her grasp, forcing her close so her eyes can burn nowhere else but directly into hers. "Who do you worship?"

Nature has her standing straighter the moment she recognized her mother; a respect given when she had looked up on the House Matron that had her hands folding behind her back. But such a high regard was briefly mixed with confusion until she realizes who she was looking upon - Orin - Bhaal's blood. Then her stance shifted immediately from familial respect to tactical. A soldier, ready for battle - even as a her mental state reeled against the command inside of her head. Obey. Minthara inhales, eyes shifting forward. Do Not Resist. Yes. Praise be.

But then she changes again - a much smaller form and now her eyes dart to Orin. Recognizing immediately the small child inspires alarm in her - this was a face shes did not expect to see again. A face she pushed away for the sake of a new prospect - a new worship, and here she was. Staring at her daughter - then her Priestess of House Vandree, and despite her previous fortitude she knew felt herself shaken. Unnerved as her eyes turn down as Orin circled her, searching, prying for a crack in the armor. Truly this had to be a test. A test of faith - she must stay strong. She must - Lolth preserve her.

The very God she had been raised in now stood before her and Minthara head dips fully - brow flinching when she did not dare to look upon her face. She was being made to face her folly, for how could she so easily mimic the Spider Queen. So easily mocked by Bhaal, the God of Murder. Trepidation crawls through her skin like spiders dancing across her flesh; displeasure as the last of her will tied to her home snaps like web sliced from their cove. Severed, successfully torn asunder the second Orin ripped her head back up to her.

Reserve is shattered with her widening red eyes and flaring nostrils, the sweat riddled brow twitching with the press of her lips. Yes. This was a test; this was a test of faith. Minthara's lips twitch before her hand closes around hers - a daring touch she knew she would suffer for later. But Minthara swore to herself she would pass this test. Here she grips her hand just enough so she could dip her head again to press her lips into the palm of Orin's hand. She wore the skin of her former Spider Queen, but she knew that beneath the surface she was hers. She was her God, her Absolute, her Orin.

"You." She speaks in her hand, holding her eye, her answer of worship to the woman in red. "Praise the Absolute, in your name."

@beautykill / ..... *screaming internally*