[Archived]Taking a risk for all

[Farryn 860]

[Image belongs to its original source, not me]

 

This is a fool's errand… but it’s best this burden is on my shoulders than a non-Ascended.

 

Such was the statement Elvira kept reminding herself as she followed Zatanaes to her home. Was she truly a fool for accepting this or not? The Ascended knew full well she wasn’t, mostly because she was perhaps the most capable to get it done. Especially given the devastating effects that Ruibrium can do to a person.

 

It was Zatanaes’s plan -  she found a mine that held a fair amount of Ruibrium and decided to have it harvested by her golem, all for the sole purpose of using its dark abilities to end the September Prince. A ballista bolt made or containing the destructive crystals, capable of piercing the Prince’s form and draining away at his energy. A wonderful plan, yet one full of risks. The Tahariaen cleric needed someone who knew how to create ballista bolts, and also could withstand the Ruibrium effects better than most Descendants. That was where Elvira came in.

 

“Alright, come on in, Elvi. The Ruibrium is just downstairs, in my vault,”

Elvira merely bobbed her head and followed the Tahariaen cleric into the cabin, down the stairs that faintly creaked. She did not bother looking around the home and its features, she was here for one thing after all. The Ascended and Cleric made their way further downstairs, reaching a set of two doors that were heavily reinforced.

 

“The Ruibrium is in there, the box you have will be enough to hold it, right?”

 

“I do,” Elvira replied. In both her hands, she was carrying a thick box made of iron, three locks on the front and the container looked sturdy. She ensured that the box had multiple layers inside, keeping the Ruibrium’s aura within the box. Though, holding the box was a pain in the arms.

 

Zatanaes nodded and opened the two doors, allowing Elvira inside. The doors closed behind her and Elvira took a deep breath, making her way over to the box that held the Ruibirum. It was there that the Ascended slipped on a mask and a pair of thick leather gloves, not wanting to risk her life so swiftly. With a deep breath, she lifted the lid of the chest and peered inside.

 

She worked with many crystals and gemstones in blacksmithing - rubies, sapphires, emeralds, lightstone, and more. Before all this, she never heard of Ruibrium, but now she knew all of the blasted crystal from constant research. How it worked, how it affected the living within radius by slowly absorbing their lifeforce, and the effects it has on the Descendants. So as she took hold of the Ruibirum and held it up to her level, the clutch faintly flared red as it began to take her lifeforce very slowly. Yet the aura did not affect her mentally, an Ascended’s mind was fortified against a range of mental effects so she was safe.

 

This was a great risk she was taking, one that could take her life if she wasn’t careful enough. Yet this was one she was willing to accept - if a normal descendant took this task, they would risk losing themselves to the mental effects or mess up immensely.

 

She had to do this.

 

Spoiler

Screenshots of obtaining the Ruibrium from Zatanaes.

1

--- --- ---

 

Elvira began her work as soon as the ruibrium was secure within her vault. The Ascended swiftly made her notes on her blackboard, planning out all of the necessary information that she needed. First, she needed to form the most easiest part of all - forging the ballista bolts themselves, given that it was harmless compared to the Ruibrium. Then would come the trickiest part with the Ruibrium, but she’ll worry about that part when it comes. Thus she flexed her shoulders and went to gather the necessary materials she needed for the process.

 

 

As Elvira got to work, she muttered to herself once or twice. The woman knew that she would have to stay up all day and night in order to ensure the progress is swiftly done. Afterall, the siege was close and she needed the weapons done by then. Thus she worked through the night, the hours stretching out as she worked on the base of the ballista bolts. Not once did she drift off, keeping her spirits high by many cups of mocha and the fact this was all for the sake of the Descendants. The heat was intense, as were the heavy slams of her hammer against metal, the flames roaring with undying life. Yet none of them matched the determination that flowed through the woman.

 

Three days later, Elvira finished making the poles and the points were done, attached firmly onto each other. She polished the ballista bolts down, her fingers running along the smoothened bluesteel. Elvira bobbed her head in contentment and relief.

Now came the part she did not like but she decided to save it for later. She needed to let people know that she was, after all, still alive after spending three whole days in her workshop.

 

Spoiler

Screenshots of working on the bolts

 

https://gyazo.com/68b5d98b18d2800917b33e91591765b9

https://gyazo.com/7809c99ede9a6c690c0994518c22a4e5

https://gyazo.com/b33459dffa5581382d8c3b228065376b

https://gyazo.com/021fb16aa04d0d7b13cf22f78a73a007

https://gyazo.com/f208fc895caa9dccd9f8c75bd3872d5f

https://gyazo.com/82ab2e7e1bd609b5f376cd781a41fe5d

https://gyazo.com/5249ce1776a00651766c1f669ce1a757

 

 

 

--- --- ---

 

The next day, Elvira began her work with the dreaded Ruibrium. She decided to give herself one hour to get the crystal, else the Ruibrium would truly begin to have an effect on her. Even now as she chipped away at the crystal, she could feel her lifeforce slowly draining, the aura grabbing onto her hungrily. The Ascended was thankful that bearing Aeriel’s connection would protect her mind from insanity and the mental effects, she did not enjoy her first experience with madness, she did not want to feel it again. Yet that was another reason why she agreed to Zatanaes’ plan - any other descendant would feel the full force of the effects, be driven crazed by the Ruibrium, or perhaps suffer a series of mental illnesses from such. She agreed to do this so that no one else had to, for the sake of their own mind and body.

 

By the time the one hour mark came, Elvira managed to extract a hand-sized chunk of Rubrium and went to insert it into the ballista bolt. Her body felt immensely weaker, with her head pounding with a slight headache. Bits of her skin felt itchy but she shrugged it off, going to put the Ruibrium chunk away with the bolt also. She wanted to sleep badly, thus she called it a day and made her way out of the lab to rest herself up.

 

---- --- ---

Her body did feel a little better the next day, but not as much as normal. In fact, she felt worse; the headaches grew more violent and at times, her vision blurred here and there. Yet Elvira shrugged them off - her regeneration will kick in soon so she will be fine, plus she had a major issue to focus on.

 

She fell into the same routine once more - one hour to remove a hand sized chunk of Ruibrium and insert it into the ballista bolt. Elvira remained firm and focused as she gently tapped away at the crystal, yet the headaches and dizziness sometimes made it hard for her to focus. Parts of her arm and the right side of her face had begun to blister, hints of blackness forming from where specks of Ruibrium dust had formed. The whites of her eye containing hints of red veins.

 

It took her a little longer to finally get the crystal out but she got there and inserted it into the second ballista bolt, which joined its brother within the vault. A pained cough or two came from Elvira and she felt too tired to move after lifting the heavy objects. Thus she cleaned her desk and settled to resting there. She truly needed it.

 

--- --- ---

She went over the one hour mark and managed to complete the remaining three bolts on the sixth day. Yet in doing so, she suffered immensely.

 

Elvira didn’t know why she did it but she did it, after she had accidentally broke one crystal part she was trying to chip out. It turned into red dust and she swiftly scooped it up and chucked it into the fire. She could barely think, barely know what she was doing, thus she settled on continuing on and on. It was as if she was trapped in a loop, chipping out a crystal and placing it into the bolt, then chipping out another. The effects of the Ruibrium grew worse, she could barely even move after she had moved the bolts, with immense struggle, to the vault, and all of the Ruibrium had been used up.

 

The Ascended was in an extremely cruel state - her usually elegantly tied up birdnest of a hair now rather knotted and hung behind her loosely, and her skin was a deathly pale. The whites of her eye now a pale red, crimson veins pulsing within and the teal glow of her eye seemed to have gained a red hue to it, taking over the beautiful glow and making it one of dread. Even worse, the blackened spots on her face and arm had increased, her cheek nearly black with dead skin and speaks of red crystals were beginning to emerge from her flesh. She could feel them, tearing through her muscle and skin. It stung and burned, causing her to collapse a few times from the sheer pain. If she was mortal… well… Elvira knew she would be messed up in body and mind, even worse than this current state. Perhaps even dead.

 

Her regeneration had reduced some of the damage and healed, but now it was constantly battling the Ruibrium growing on her. Yet it wasn’t enough, both forces kept clashing but neither could overcome the other. The Ruibrium weakened Elvira and was strong enough to fight the regeneration. Meanwhile, her regeneration kept the Ruibrium back from spreading further and causing further damage, as well as ensuring Elvira remained alive. Yet with each passing hour and day, Elvira felt herself gradually weakening, the regeneration gave her time but it was slowly crippling away.

 

Elvira had managed to create five bolts that could potientally put the war with September into the Descendants’ favour, but at the grave cost of risking her own life and body being brutally torn. She risked it so that no Descendant would suffer more than her, and that the bolts would be done in time. She did it to ensure the Descendants would win this war, though she had to make a sacrifice.

 

Aenguls damn it, I was a fool… I should have been careful! But… I… accepted this burden and knew of the costs… I am glad I took such upon my shoulders, but I do not know how long I can last… I need to recover… I need...

 

The Ascended only had one final goal in mind and forced herself to walk. A letter would take too long and she needed to get herself help, fast. A pained tear flooding down her face as she took each step. With each step, she reminded herself she had faced worse.

 

I faced Gazadriael twice and survived him… I survived being nearly burned alive… I survived blades and weapons of many against me… I fought the darkness time and time again… I fought in countless wars… This will not be what will finally send you to the Soulstream…!

 

By the time she was out of the lab, her Ker’wolf had sprinted forth and immediately knew something was wrong. The Ascended managed to haul herself onto the great wolf’s back and softly muttered.

 

“To.. Sutica… Zatanaes... Quickly...”

The wolf did not heistate and the two were gone within seconds.

 

Spoiler

Ruibrium RP

https://gyazo.com/da5887b8834a1274edfb67e9187cad51

https://gyazo.com/35ce16b4a03d9989a1dda2e62ba0cd3f

https://gyazo.com/8b8dd264990079944e05a5571c8e0a0b

https://gyazo.com/e20a6dd451084a6c0e620130c27eeeac

https://gyazo.com/c4583e09adf947043eac1dd5c516e9e3

 

1

 

[OOC]

Spoiler

((I am cruel to my characters. Long story short -  Elvira worked to make Ruibrium Ballista Bolts for the upcoming fight with September but she had to face the backlash to using Ruibrium. Before any of you ask, Elvira is an Ascended but I do not fully agree with using the regeneration at this point to have Elvira suffer the effects for a very short time then bam! Regeneration kicks in and she's healed! Oh no, I decided to instead have her go through the effects with her regeneration only barely keeping her alive. So I read up on the lore to make sure I got everything right, as well as rped them out correctly.  and allow players the chance to heal her

 

So here we go. Special thanks to Wanderingfriend, the user who plays Zatanaes and Aila's golem, and also Treatycole for providing the Ruibrium and granting a unique development for me.))

1

 

[__WaterFox__ 636]

Zatanaes lies unconscious in a Sutican clinic, body pale and face covered from blood. She did commission Elvira to work with the material, it was only fair she at least stop the damage it would inevitably do and did indeed do.

[The Templar 195]

Aila stands at the bedsides of the sister she adores, and the traitor she deplores. True to her duty, she'd care for them both, though Zatanaes would seem to get the most attentive care.

[Jondead 260]

Sighard hears of this a furrowing of an brow "This is not too great... but maybe, no October would never, though this is a squndering of a plan if she remains indpendant, Reds and Octobers, we have to do something about this!" He exclaims going to try and find said October, before her plan is inacted.

[Mavromino 514]

3 minutes ago, Jondead said:

Sighard hears of this a furrowing of an brow "This is not too great... but maybe, no October would never, though this is a squndering of a plan if she remains indpendant, Reds and Octobers, we have to do something about this!" He exclaims going to try and find said October, before her plan is inacted.

A burnt and scarred high elf would watch the tree from above as Sighard brought him the news "They have design and we have a tree, find them and nothing changes." 

[Jondead 260]

9 minutes ago, Mavromino said:

A burnt and scarred high elf would watch the tree from above as Sighard brought him the news "They have design and we have a tree, find them and nothing changes." 

"But sir they could aid us!" he says straightening up a bit "as you said they have the design and we have the tree, but, their weapons could aid the deal."

[Mavromino 514]

19 minutes ago, Jondead said:

"But sir they could aid us!" he says straightening up a bit "as you said they have the design and we have the tree, but, their weapons could aid the deal."

"That's what I said." The scarred figure would snap.

[Jondead 260]

2 minutes ago, Mavromino said:

"That's what I said." The scarred figure would snap.

Flinches a bit at the snap "I see sir, I shall find her this instance!" He says at the snap going to leave the halls, the tree burning red like the Nether itself, as he exits the halls he swiftly leaves for Sutica trying to catch his old friend Elvira.

[TheDragonsRoost 116]

Through unruly rumors and other such things, Karren would hear about Elvira's condition and make for Sutica, wishing to help stop whatever kind of damage had been done to the poor elfess he'd grown fond of as a friend.

 

"This is no act in itself. My research can wait as my friend needs my help," Karren would say as he whipped out his soulstone and began to shimmer away to Sutica, but not before he'd say "I do not want one of my only true friends to die."

[osumanduas 1442]

This Client Modification has been archived!