#fellmoondoll

[swcrdstellaris]

fellmoondoll​:​

Rykard chuckled darkly, but his eyes bore no humor. How he wished those who dwells behind the high walls of Leyndell were simple, power-drunk lunatics. That, he could at least relate.

No, what irks him was the calculative ambition of Marika’s divine regime. Five centuries into its uncontended reign, the Golden Order was still hellbent on snuffing out any and all who remotely disturbs its absolute perfection. “You know exactly what. It’s not an act of familial love. We are to be the Order’s lapdogs, have it breathe down our necks day and night.”

Rykard’s brow furrowed with these words. An insult, maybe, but with the new demigod stature, Lord Paramount Rykard shall wield influence Prince Rykard of Caria could never have obtained...

Ranni’s mild, but unmistakable accusation snapped him out of his brief trance. Of all people, Ranni now lectures him on the dangers of dark magic. “Have you grown soft in these idle years, sister? Have you not heard of how Mother’s moonlight disintegrated the flesh of her adversaries? What draws the distinction between dark and light?”

Dipping his head, Rykard gently took his sleeve out of Ranni’s grip. That outburst might be uncalled for, but Ranni would understand. She always does.

“When I could not attend to Mother, I promise I’ll assign countermeasures to guard her in my stead. Be assured whatever I did, I did them out of necessity. One cannot walk this path unprepared to sin.”

@fellmoondoll

fellmoondoll​:

    The tepid anger of the Lunar Princes had dissipated slightly, feeling no need to get riled up at her older brother. Instead, the young woman pressed scarlet lips into a thin line - letting her expression tell him she wasn’t amused at his recent comings and goings.

    " I can ask him myself. “ She mused, they both knowing full well Radahn would happily do what his younger sister would ask of him. Her shoulders fell slightly, an almost defeated look fluttering over her visage, at the mention of their mother once more.

    ” She seems to lose herself more each day - ever since that man left her to rot. “ Ranni scoffed, placing her hands on her hips as she regarded her brother once more. ” If you love our mother, you need to be here for her, Rykard. Though it is heartbreaking to see her in such a state, our Mother cannot stand to lose any of us. “ The murmured ramblings of her mother had drawn the young princess to that conclusion.

"Mother has no consort. Mother needs no consort." Almost volcanic rage shone dangerously behind the young man's sharp, sunken eyes, sheer venomous contempt unbefitting one of his age. Something their Queen Mother never approved of, but in her current state, Rykard's flares of violent streak only worsened. The sad excuse of a man, their devout lapdog of a father who sits even now on the Elden Throne... needs to pay. It was power their house solely lacked, Rykard concluded long ago at that fateful night, when the Order reclaimed Radagon at a moment's notice, utterly breaking both Caria's honor and the Queen's heart. But he made no other visble move. Not for Ranni, never for Ranni. "I would leave her to no one else, Ranni. Be rest assured. But we both know mere sorrow was not what fueled mother's dementia and hallucinations. So out there I was, seeking answers in the darker corners of knowledge the Golden Order would not trend..." Letting out a sigh, he took off the heavy cloak he was wearing, and let his unkept hair from days of tireless work flow downwards freely. "But there're other news I must share with you, Ranni. My contacts in Leyndell reported they've proclaimed us demigods; emissary is on the way. Me and Radahn, along with your rightful Empyrean title - whatever that does under our Eternal Divine Majesty." The last words a hiss through gritted teeth.

@fellmoondoll​

[eritvita]

Rule of a foolish woman. Roland makes a sound of unamused assumption. "Borne from tallying in terrible Queries and misbegotten chemical assimilation," presumes he, as he places his hands flat against the ground, palm to wet soil, and begins to gently dig for a piece of that elusive, brilliant crystal.

He beams in winning teeth, so deep dost his dimples press in. "Wondr'us meet and fantastic Evening, Witch Ranni. I am Roland," gifts he. "Purveyor of the Unique and similarity of those What touch elusive Space. I am gift-Weaver and Future Sight, and Merry well and fine to meet thee in proffered gallantry." And he bobs his head into an amiable nod, with clutching soil wreathed already up onto his naked wrists.

The crystal comes easily and almost willing into Roland's animal palms, cradled like a newborn sparrow willing to be cooed, and dost Roland borne so: making wrinkled, kissing faces 'twards this glistening bauble, small enough to hold within the middle of his opened palms.

"Art thou a Wanderer, the same as I?" asks he, as he sits down, now, cross-legged amidst the soil.

    Calculating gaze followed the traveler as he attuned to the glintstone - hiding her faint smile from beneath the shadow of her hat. " Death hath been taken from these lands long ago. The suffering of man has given birth to many rots that decimate these lands. Undead forever suffer. " She explained softly, having already warned him.

    " Every plant and soul hath become tainted under the rule of a foolish woman. " Even the very thought of the missing god could shoot cold fire through the doll. Ranni met his stare with her own, forthcoming with her welcome this time.

    " I am Witch Ranni, Lunar Princess, and Daughter of the High Moon Rennala. I shall once again offer thee welcome into these lands - but once more shall I warn thee. Thy soul will wander these lands if tainted with decay. "

[thalassaschel]

The white-clad witch had a whole bunch of gifts to give, didn’t she?

With an arch of her brow, she extended her hand. And in her palm was placed a gold ring.

“... A ring?” she looked to the witch with a quizzical arch of her brow.

"The path that I have carved," the warrior mused aloud, a melancholic sigh accompanying her words.

"I have no desire to become Elden Lord... Hell, I wouldn't even know the first thing about lording... I alone can carve my own path. Yet I don't know where I want to go."

... Suppose she should be thankful for that old codger for existing and making her life hell.

With Margit on the prowl, she has that drive to defeat him.

... But what comes after? What'll happen should she use the golden fetish she brought from Patches?

[tacetnix]

---- At the Carian Princess' decree, did Mary rise from the floor. "Indeed it may be that the soul lingers; those of the Academy have always been... prideful in their declarations. Mine apologies for doubting the tenacity of our people." With another bow, the woman's white hair may or may not have conveyed memories for the royal. Hers was a house of nobility that simply fell by the wayside, related in the same ways that many claimed to be several-removed from Godfrey the Golden. She herself, though... was young at the time of the Shattering, the stories of Caria Manor but a fairytale when the gates were sealed.

She stands, and readies herself. To explain, and state her case, much as she would attempt to prove to a professor that a paper was worth writing or project worth pursuing. But this is a demigod she was speaking to! There carried with it no small amount of nervousness.

"To seek my own thesis -- my study of the world, my Lady. To make something of myself, for the study of the universe was ought that was left to us. I have studied in Sellia, and found my calling in unearthing the secrets of the Night Maidens. Before the Golden Order buried them, I sought the knowledge of the Carians; to see if we knew more about the Night and the Space Between the Stars...

So it is, as a humble seeker of knowledge and understanding, did I wish to see that which was my parents' pride. But, if it would please you, ma'am, I am at Caria's disposal."

For all that the student had imagined could be found in the Lands Between... she'd not expected a member of the Royal Family. Especially not one presumed dead for so many years. Why... this was exciting!

    The falling of the mask brought a curious tilt of her head. How fascinating. " Yes, I live - for it was only of mortal body that I perished. If thou hath been a faithful servant long ago, one would know the soul lingers for eternity in these lands. "

    " Rise to thy feet once more... " Came the soft murmur of the doll, like midnight whispers on the wind. Glowing, pale hue looking upon the other - trying to trace faint memories if she had seen this one before. " Thou sin is forgiven - but thee hath traversed far if thou stumbled upon mine Rise. Answer me here... why have you come? "

[fellomenking]

There was no sound, save for the heavy, rumbling breaths of the Fell Omen as he stood in the doorway of the rise, his eye locked upon the white-clad enchantress.

"... Renna,” the Fell Omen began at last, his voice low, and laced with a subtle hatred. “Or so thou hast called thineself for many a long year... T’was a clever thing, to model thine vessel after the crone who apprenticed thee.”

His fingers tightened upon the head of his staff of stone... For many a long year, he had dismissed the witch Renna, feeling she was of no importance. But he has gained intelligence into her identity.

An irony... The two of them were much alike, hiding under different names.

      @fellomenking has come to Ranni's Rise

    " To what pleasure do I have of this welcome? " Sat upon the small throne at the top of her tower, the small room nearly filled with books. But she regarded her looming kin with gentle tone, letting him suffocate room with his presence.

[dei-gratias]

"Nay, I would certainly hope not!" Dei blinked in surprise, "Lest thou'rt to spring a surprise assailment upon mineself, but I verily doubt that," the Tarnished chuckled ever-so-softly.

"I still hold respect for thine's family, 'twas not an easy feat to fell thine's siblings," Dei admitted in a quieter tone.

"I beheld their trifles firsthand and lent myself to end them of their ways of torment, all while they aided mine own journey of gathering the many Great Runes I can—"

"Alas, I seek not all of them. I am nary one for greed, merely grasping at ones placed within mine reach," another soft chuckle escaped his lips.

The Tarnished spoke slight deceit regarding his views on avarice, his draconic-turned eyes telling another story. He, himself, had dove unto the cravings of holding power as well, whether he'd admit to such a thing or not.

Yet, his specific speakings of greed regarding Great Runes was not a dishonesty—he truly did not seek to obtain every single one. He allowed the newly-spinning wheel of fate guide him to where he belonged on his journey, to which Runes he would obtain.

"Indeed I did away with thine's mighty illusion, 'twas a grand thing to behold, if not a difficult clash in tandem," Dei spoke, gazing off as he thought about the battle, "Art thou to cast another, keeping further interlopers deterred?"

Then came the most intriguing part to Dei—Ranni's state was no curse, but self-inflicted.

"Death? As in, the very thing outcast from these lands an epoch ago by Queen Marika herself?" Dei uttered in disbelief, gaze returning to the Lunar Witch, "Why such measures to separate thineself from body, if I may inquire further?"

He listened intently to each of the Witch's chilling, yet ever-calm, words. It was still peculiar to Dei that she would choose to adopt this new visage, by such drastic means no less, but Dei held that view not out of disapproval but, rather, his ever-fervent curiosity.

He had not heeded her corpse, nor the decayed state of once which held a fiery mane of hair of which Dei was most familiar. The Tarnished could only imagine where such a thing might lay, grasped by a once-banished shard of Destined Death.

He saw how many "sweetings" clambered to Rennala in order to be "rebirthed" anew, and thus perhaps such a sentiment of wishing to embody something new, separate from one's past self, was not uncommon.

Dei had turned down the Queen's offer.

Had his musings of wishing to be "perfect" while still training within the Academy stuck with Rennala somehow? Or was it simply something she offered everyone in her now ever-dreary state?

Dei hummed at the doll's final question.

"Ah...Mine journey, mine ambitions," the Tarnished trailed off, "They art endless; I wouldst do anything I must to claim the Elden Throne. I know throngs-worth of competing Tarnished have resigned, fallen, once more losing their sight of Grace..."

"But I shant allow such a fate to befall mineself," Dei grinned proudly, "To the ends of this world shall I reach, if I must, to obtain the future I seek. I pursue stability, happiness reborn anew," he mused, "I feel I must mend these fractured lands I once happily called 'home.'"

"And though I follow such a fickle God's order, I also, above all, fear it," he glanced away momentarily, "Dost thou understandeth...?"

The Tarnished was still taken aback by the Witch's disclosure of her trifles with Death. Yet, he remained calm at the mention of the aspect he grew to fear on his journey—Destined Death, enveloped in the cool chill of the moonlight and fog.

Dei knew much time had passed since his first, of now many, death. He knew he should let go of the past. Yet, he also sought, more than anything, to mend the Lands Between back to the era of peace he once existed within. His past was his fuel to carry onward.

He gazed upon Ranni with a hint of remorse, knowing well that she was no more the Carian Princess of a bygone era. But like all else on his journey, he would learn to accept it—wholly acknowledging her newfound identity of Ranni the Witch.

With so much change, there was no denying a new age was on the rise, fast approaching. Dei could only hope he would be the one to welcome it.

    " An honor to meet - but doth thou intend to slaughter this witch in combat ? Like kin thou hath struck down ? " She spoke in soft tone, no malice - no anger, only a faint air of curiosity. Even in the confines of the doll's body - the witch had heard whispers of the fall of her brothers.

    The eldest of the trio, Radahn, was plagued by rotting madness. He ate like an animal and killed like one - if she had a heart once more, it would have shattered at the sight of him and his steed. The middle child, Rykard, had fallen to a different madness - one brought about by the pursuit of power. For him, Ranni did not care for she had done nothing to stand in his way.

    " I assume thee hath slain my illusion, to which now thou stand before me. " She mused softly. " I know very well the state of my mother, her madness brought about by heartbreak... Father left her with that bastard egg - which brought about her demise. "

    The pale witch listened to his woes - her mind swirling with thoughts. He had most likely seen the mane of scarlet hair, a time when she was alive, in his past life - before the life of a Tarnished. Curious it was, that someone still remembered her most regal form.

    However, that was not who the Lunar Princess was anymore-- her own journey brought about the death of her mortal body.

    " No curse it is. " She reassured the Tarnished, lifting a hand to gesture for him to stop him. " When I stole the piece of Death long ago, my body was ripped from soul. " She could not guess if he had been to her former tower - where her rotting body lay. How long had it been since the witch dared to look at such a sight?

    Years - many years.

    Lifting her head, her lone, pale hue unwavering as she peered into the face of the Tarnished, Ranni hummed softly. " I walk the dark path, for this Land is plagued by the folly of a god. Tell me, Tarnished, thou hath been set on a path with this journey. What more will thou do for this sense of duty ? "

[swcrdstellaris]

fellmoondoll​:

    The tepid anger of the Lunar Princes had dissipated slightly, feeling no need to get riled up at her older brother. Instead, the young woman pressed scarlet lips into a thin line - letting her expression tell him she wasn’t amused at his recent comings and goings.

    " I can ask him myself. “ She mused, they both knowing full well Radahn would happily do what his younger sister would ask of him. Her shoulders fell slightly, an almost defeated look fluttering over her visage, at the mention of their mother once more.

    ” She seems to lose herself more each day - ever since that man left her to rot. “ Ranni scoffed, placing her hands on her hips as she regarded her brother once more. ” If you love our mother, you need to be here for her, Rykard. Though it is heartbreaking to see her in such a state, our Mother cannot stand to lose any of us. “ The murmured ramblings of her mother had drawn the young princess to that conclusion.

"Mother has no consort. Mother needs no consort." Almost volcanic rage shone dangerously behind the young man's sharp, sunken eyes, sheer venomous contempt unbefitting one of his age. Something their Queen Mother never approved of, but in her current state, Rykard's flares of violent streak only worsened. The sad excuse of a man, their devout lapdog of a father who sits even now on the Elden Throne... needs to pay. It was power their house solely lacked, Rykard concluded long ago at that fateful night, when the Order reclaimed Radagon at a moment's notice, utterly breaking both Caria's honor and the Queen's heart. But he made no other visble move. Not for Ranni, never for Ranni. "I would leave her to no one else, Ranni. Be rest assured. But we both know mere sorrow was not what fueled mother's dementia and hallucinations. So out there I was, seeking answers in the darker corners of knowledge the Golden Order would not trend..." Letting out a sigh, he took off the heavy cloak he was wearing, and let his unkept hair from days of tireless work flow downwards freely. "But there're other news I must share with you, Ranni. My contacts in Leyndell reported they've proclaimed us demigods; emissary is on the way. Me and Radahn, along with your rightful Empyrean title - whatever that does under our Eternal Divine Majesty." The last words a hiss through gritted teeth.

@fellmoondoll​

The Second Prince of Caria was a rebellious one. That's a fact known throughout Caria Manor, and none save the tranquil fury of Queen Rennala could keep the boy in line - many had tried, and many had failed.

Now, it seems the Queen's miniature version in all but hair color had managed the impossible.

"Down the dungeon, testing out- never mind. Shall we keep that between you and me, little sister? I'll send Radahn to crack some prawns for you." The young Prince managed a tight smile at the thunderous expression of his little sister; but Ranni would be far too shrewd to fall prey to mere bribery, that he knew.

"How is mother doing today, anyways? With or without me, I sense she grows weary by the day." Their Queen Mother was deteriorating slowly but truly, both body and soul. There's something more than mere sickness at play, he was certain of it, yet Rykard could not pinpoint the cause. It was infuriating, and he hated being left in the dark.

@fellmoondoll

[swcrdstellaris]

The Second Prince of Caria was a rebellious one. That's a fact known throughout Caria Manor, and none save the tranquil fury of Queen Rennala could keep the boy in line - many had tried, and many had failed.

Now, it seems the Queen's miniature version in all but hair color had managed the impossible.

"Down the dungeon, testing out- never mind. Shall we keep that between you and me, little sister? I'll send Radahn to crack some prawns for you." The young Prince managed a tight smile at the thunderous expression of his little sister; but Ranni would be far too shrewd to fall prey to mere bribery, that he knew.

"How is mother doing today, anyways? With or without me, I sense she grows weary by the day." Their Queen Mother was deteriorating slowly but truly, both body and soul. There's something more than mere sickness at play, he was certain of it, yet Rykard could not pinpoint the cause. It was infuriating, and he hated being left in the dark.

@fellmoondoll

         @swcrdstellaris has come Home

    " Where have you been? You had mother worried sick. " The young woman huffed, crossing her arms over her chest - staring up at her brother with a narrowed gaze. Despite their age, Ranni still took to attending to their mother matron.

[eritvita]

"I know little of the personal flux for Mortal death," comes he, none irreverently borne nor flaunting that inhuman breathing; he goes with the clicking of excited ankles to reach and to place soft, eager palm to that thrumming quartz, and to crouch at the bottom of those long stalks to find a loosened, new piece for plucking.

At this bedrock for avian leverage dost Roland now smell the heaping cloud of this very soil; a great wreathe of scarlet, of iron'd ingenuity and the vision of a rotting back tooth, with the gums all haphazard and willing to be fretfully soft.

He makes a face, fantastically worried and so disgusted by this new, unfamiliar scent. "For how long hast this rot borne onto the very ground with the white worms?" inquires he, crouch'd as a hermit with his elbows to his knees; look'd up to that blue-and-white doll and staring upon her as if were they Equals. His eyebrows rise for this want of amiable conversation.

"... hath I given thee a boon for introductions?" then says Roland, suddenly.

    He was truly a patron of the arts - and of madness. For who would stand and speak such words upon hearing the warnings of the doll witch. " Thou may grasp the crystal in thy hands - for it will do thee no harm. " That cold, glowing eye narrowed as he continued to speak. A curious one he was, one such curiosity Ranni did not admire.

    " I hath spoken the warnings for thy journey ahead but thou still stands. " She murmured. " Death doth not live in these Lands no longer - for only a piece of it was stolen. Now those who perish amongst the undead that rise here will be damned - to the madness of life. For the mortal body to be ripped from the soul, thou shall see firsthand on thy journey what such a thing does to its people."

[eritvita]

"Thus is Poetically heinous," announces he, his eyebrows risen high but, still, blinded by blue Beauty.

"Prithee, and come from the belly of innocent Query: wilt thou be too offended if shouldst I reach to touch, and to grasp one of thy surrounding crystals within the palm of my hand?" asks he, and comes again to purvey each Word. "Which of 'insanity' dost thou define? Dost thou mean the primitive tug at that middl'ng brainstem to confer to ape-like attributes?

"Or dost thou mean a soft, slow insanity to look, open-mouthed, to the Stars, to spend each waking Moment of Understanding that which is forever meant to be incomprehensible? A rot is borne for many Goods things for the growth of a proper ecosystem," refutes he, as Roland is riddled with fantastic images of What Could Be and Who Could Say. "Is thus referred to a decomposition of the spirit by means of excising? To erase Complete?"

    His bow, though good-natured in gesture, brought a curious tilt of the witch's head - her white-trimmed hat bobbing with the movement. The blatant disregard for caution as he strolled to the entrance of her Rise, Ranni wondered what made this one confident in his step. He did not know if she was friend or foe.

    " This land is plagued by rot. The scarlet rot, bringing thee pain and madness. The rot of decay of body and soul, for death does not bring its gentle release for those that live in these lands. " She explained softly, curious to see if he would take heed of her warning now.

    " If thou meets thy end in these lands, thou shall never know peace. Is it a noble enough cause, to bring storytelling to these lands, that thou might risk thy sanity? "

[tacetnix]

---- With Scarab mask impassive and Raya Lucarian robes dirtied and sullied from her travels, the student did not know what to say for the first few seconds. An appraisal, by the doll that claimed to be the Lunar Princess. And at first, a trembling hand wearing Carian Steel removes that scarab, allowing golden, grace-gilded eyes to look upon the doll in full view.

"...Lunar Princess Ranni. You... yet live?"

Nary a moment later does the student sorceress kneel, showing fealty in a way that her family has not been allowed to since the Shattering.

---- "My family are your humble servants, sealed with thy mother and barred from aiding our flesh and blood from the assault on the manor. Pray, forgive mine intrusion, and accept this, my sincerest apologies, my Lady Ranni."

       @tacetnix has traversed the Lands Between

    There was a lingering silence from the doll as her lone eye fluttered open - peering at the intruder upon her Rise. They had climbed to the highest point, where the witch sat - perched amongst her books.

    With a curious tilt of her head, the wide-brimmed hat bobbing with the movement, Ranni's melodic voice rang out. " ...thou hath bravery at thy feet - to enter unannounced upon the Rise of Witch Ranni. " The glintstone dragon guarded her home, but what had come of it if that trespasser was here? "

[eritvita]

And he bows in all sincerity, bowing low at the waist to throw his arms out behind him in palms splayed; elegant and long in this natural Poise of the peacocking Gentlemen. He beams winningly. "Thou art entirely welcome," says he, and goes 'twards that fluttering of beautific curiosity to jaunt closer to those glinting crystals, that shine what now begins to bloom within Roland's Woodlike eyes.

His teeth glint, a canine curled with childlike excitement. "I hath," confirms he, and bounces his handsome eyebrows in thrice. "But I do not Know of how hath I come. I am a Wanderer, a Storyteller, and a brazen nobility for that purple'd Walking: I Go where the wind dost blow, and where the ground is soft and where the ground is craggy, and I follow all sounds for a proper posting of a lovely forever-Song. What dost thou mean 'rot'?" asks he, stuck in this base configuration: the worry for health.

    Ranni found the creature to be ... strange. The crystals of her Rise were the protection of a powerful witch. The porcelain doll slowly shook her head at his words, lower arms placed gracefully in her lap as upper arms regarded her newest guest with a sweeping greeting. Even from under the darkened shadow of her hat was that unwavering, glowing azure hue - almost as if she was peering into his soul.

    " I shall thank thee for thy honeyed words. None other had traversed past the dragon to speak as such. ... Thou hath traveled far. " Mused the melodic tone of the princess before she continued. " But a kind warning to thee, these lands are defiled by rot...why doth thee stay? "

[thalassaschel]

The warrior stood and turned, blue eyes locked on the witch clad in white. She was stern of face. A hand was rest upon the hilt of her scimitar, ready to raise arms if necessary.

“Are you friend, or foe?” Asked the blue-clad warrior.

      @thalassaschel has traversed the Lands Between

    " How curious to come across the path of the very Tarnished the others whisper of... " A soothing, soft voice rang out from behind the resting adventurer. " I am Witch Ranni... "

[eritvita]

In all artistic resurrection hast that gleaming shine of those blue, scattered crystals become Roland's siren Call; his eyes reflect that Beauty, grown round for that Want of touch. His naked feet squelch upon the wet soil of this fetid swamp as he moves as if in a scattered daze, his skin prickling at the threat of the littlest insects what breed to suck at his inhuman, golden blood.

But dost he pause hard at the sound of a whispery, firm voice, and stops in his mid-step. "Oh!" starts he, to find that gleaming doll in its wide-brimmed hat, painted the same color as those gargantuan gems. "I beg thy pardon! Naught didst I rightfully realize 'tweren't indeed empty.

"Thine crystal Garden is most profound, and prettiest in parallelism of the very stars what dot the Midnight Velvet," mentions he, his throat borne meek in compliment. He waves. "Merry Night! How goes thee?"

        @eritvita has traversed the Lands Between

    " Take a step no further... " Called out with gentle tone, there the porcelain doll sat - on the crumbling steps of her Rise. The small form of the doll blocking the entrance to the high tower, she regarded the newcomer with a curious tilt of her head. " Thou hath trespassed upon mine land. But curious indeed...this witch can see thou fair from beyond the wall of fog. "

[thalassaschel]

"The path that I have carved," the warrior mused aloud, a melancholic sigh accompanying her words.

"I have no desire to become Elden Lord... Hell, I wouldn't even know the first thing about lording... I alone can carve my own path. Yet I don't know where I want to go."

... Suppose she should be thankful for that old codger for existing and making her life hell.

With Margit on the prowl, she has that drive to defeat him.

... But what comes after? What'll happen should she use the golden fetish she brought from Patches?

“A spirit summoning bell?” The warrior repeated, a newfound glint of wonder in her eyes. Could this spell truly summon the spirits of the dead?

She recalled... The crestfallen spirit tuner Roderika had imparted to her a gift of her own some time back: A box containing the ashes of a spirit jellyfish.

Could the bell, perhaps, work on this little box of ash? The Fell Omen yet prowls. And Schel could use all the help she could get.

“... But... Why?” The warrior inquired, turning to the white-clad witch once more.

A pause.

The warrior chuckled then at her own question.

Now that she thought about it, she’d been asking that same question ever since her arrival.

Why had Melina appeared before her, to offer to act as her Finger Maiden?

Why was she gifted the sight of grace, and brought to the Lands Between?

What made her worthy, that some outer force would see her fit to undertake the trials of the Elden Ring? She, who was born of humble origin, and lived a life of no renown? She, who was once a child born to mere fisherfolk, now a woman grown, who lived as part of a nomadic tribe of warriors?

“What’s so special about me, that you would appear to me, of all people? Surely there are countless others like me, come to the Lands Between, just as lost and confused?”

[thalassaschel]

“A spirit summoning bell?” The warrior repeated, a newfound glint of wonder in her eyes. Could this spell truly summon the spirits of the dead?

She recalled... The crestfallen spirit tuner Roderika had imparted to her a gift of her own some time back: A box containing the ashes of a spirit jellyfish.

Could the bell, perhaps, work on this little box of ash? The Fell Omen yet prowls. And Schel could use all the help she could get.

“... But... Why?” The warrior inquired, turning to the white-clad witch once more.

A pause.

The warrior chuckled then at her own question.

Now that she thought about it, she’d been asking that same question ever since her arrival.

Why had Melina appeared before her, to offer to act as her Finger Maiden?

Why was she gifted the sight of grace, and brought to the Lands Between?

What made her worthy, that some outer force would see her fit to undertake the trials of the Elden Ring? She, who was born of humble origin, and lived a life of no renown? She, who was once a child born to mere fisherfolk, now a woman grown, who lived as part of a nomadic tribe of warriors?

“What’s so special about me, that you would appear to me, of all people? Surely there are countless others like me, come to the Lands Between, just as lost and confused?”

A bell? A curious gift...

The warrior reached out, taking the bell from the white-clad witch.

“... Erm... Thanks?”

There was an arch to her brow as she looked the bell over. Just from her experience in the Lands Between, she suspected that this was no ordinary bell. But of course, she could be wrong...