NEVRAS
Inside the Egg, we wandered about for so ti. The inside was divided by four distinct floors, divided by switchbacks, caves, and finally a staircase at the end of each. The islands of flesh and blood and bone extended for so long that sotis we walked down a path, and it seed like it was going sowhere, only to find out in fact that the island just hung suspended in space or led to a walled-off section. Worse, we often ran right into creatures. It was so strange seeing creatures again. For so reason, they had been scarce lately outside of dungeons. Maybe God was overprotective of Tamashii.
The athyst dragons, we at least knew what to expect, even though they were very powerful, more so even than gold dragons. That sa old thing, avoid the tail, the teeth, the claws, and the breath. I used my Dragon Roar ability, aware that each ti, I had to rest a bit, because the strain of the technique hurt . When I was older, I’d have heart trouble. The Brides of Hell were a bit more dangerous, as their arrows were fully strong enough to penetrate our shields, and I shudder to think how powerful they were be against us without them. We would probably wind up looking like we'd been hit by a rail-gun. It was only thanks to Yazim Jianne's quick thinking, using a shikigami to impersonate us, and then using several illusions to get them to attack each other that we made it through. Elias took care of so giant oozes using industrial strength soaps to break apart their cell walls. And Azrael quickly dismissed a group of lich masters.
It would be tempting to say that we could deal with any enemy now. But to tell the truth, these creatures were incredibly strong and we constantly worried about running out of steam and getting gobbled up, ambushed by archers, or so other colorful way to die. And I wasn't sure how well God could Reset things here. This was a strange place.
Despite everything, we did manage to make it through this area, but the worst opponents we managed to encounter were yet to co. Between getting terribly lost and fighting other critters, there were valkyrie scattered around the area. These were beautiful won with plate armor, loose skirts, tal boots, and funny helts with a feather design. They were predominantly ard with spears and shields and they were able to fly, not with wings but by floating in midair. They fanned out in elaborate formations to try to get the jump on us. Sotis they appeared alone, sotis they were in small groups in three or four, and sotis they were a whole unit of flying troops. The valkyrie had petty magic, which mostly involved blessing and protection, small elental blasts, and so healing effects. But more problematic was their their armor had the ability to deflect all thaumaturgy (including Azrael's Solid Spells) back at its caster. Zoe cast her Fire spell, only to slightly scald her forehead creating a small ashy spot. We had an extended fight against these won, and I had to do quite a bit of the work. Lilith and Michael were so help as her demonic powers and his Script weren't technically thaumaturgy, but they were mostly taken down by martial prowess. They fought to the last woman, and we repeatedly had our healers gulp down restorative potions after spending most if not all of their mystic power keeping all of us healthy and alive.
It was exhausting, and most of us were hungry from our exercise. We had nothing to eat or drink except what we brought, so every effort was that much harder. The terrain made it feel like a vast wilderness, yet we were not tempted to eat or drink anything, since the water was blood and the only food was the walls and floor of human and animal flesh. And so, most of us suffered hunger and thirst within this chamber.
When the last valkyrie was finally stabbed, decapitated, or otherwise mutilated (for they would not quite for any but the most lethal wounds), we believed that the worst was finally over for our travels through this nightmarish non-Euclidean terrain. How wrong we were! We had made it through most of the third floor, gradually becoming used to the high-level creatures to the point where we could finish them off without a thought. I was worried that all of this death and destruction might do sothing to us later. Possibly we might beco shell-shocked. Or worse, we might not be affected at all... Yet we had no ti to think on these things, as a large man with a stern countenance stared at us with one eye. I rembered him! Santa? This was Odin! In addition to the terrifying thought of fighting such a strong being, I was filled with the notion that co Christmas Day, many children would be extrely disappointed. Not even coal in their stockings!
Unlike his valkyries, Odin wasn't immune to magic. He was frighteningly tough though, and he appeared to quickly heal from any wounds. Worse, he appeared able to change his immunity and weakness with regard to the elents. At one point, fire hurt him, at another only lightning caused pain and fire tickled him, and still another ti he was only weak to the cold. We threw all sorts of things at him, but I rember Belial being slightly easier to damage. “I'm going to have to use the Sword of Sorrow, guys,” said Zoe. She disliked using her sword, since while it was very effective at bringing back the dead, it could also kill with a touch anything living or undead (it was worthless against golems though). Rushing forward, she swung the sword using her shoulders and pivoting her hips. A small yet jagged slash ford across his chest. “Hah, you think that wee little sword would do naught against ? Why, nothing could be further from the tru... Egad! What have you done?!?” he said, noticing that unlike the other wounds, it appeared to rapidly be becoming necrotic rather than healing. “Even so, I shall return to life on the first new moon of the next solstice...” he said. Azrael shook her head, “I won't allow that.” She swung her sword with all her might, making another larger slash that overlapped the first. Azrael's Eternal Moon was not quite as sure of killing as the Sword of Sorrow, especially with her... condition now, but it was effective in making sure that things stayed dead. His body began to glow gold, and started to slowly turn to stardust. There were things that the Eternal Moon probably by definition couldn't destroy, such as Saints, God, and so rare beings like the Tatarimokke but usually...
But with immortals like Odin, there was an added wrinkle. Even though the sword could kill them and make them stay dead, they couldn't fully die until they passed on their Domain. That is to say, an immortal remained immortal until he or she gave what they represented up to soone else. He couldn't revive, but neither could he die. And so, I saw the revenant of Odin harpoon
and drag
towards him by the leg. The lance wasn't real enough to seriously hurt , but it was enough to bring
right to him. “You seem like a decent person,” he said to , “I'm passing this to you.” And then he touched , and my hand had a mark resembling a snowflake, and my body was filled with the Spirit of Christmas. I knew things that I shouldn't know, like how to command the remaining armies of valkyrie, how to give all children in the world presents in one night (and trust , it's a complicated process), and how to pass on my immortality to soone else. This I resolved to do imdiately when this was over, to Frigg, Odin's wife.
BRUNHILDE
I had served Estheriel for a great deal of ti, despite her confusing relationship with her guy (who seed to simultaneously be an official marriage, and an affair thanks to Odin/Odr being the sa person). The valkyries and I knew this to be the case, but Frigg in all of her knowledge was kept blissfully ignorant of her husband's dual existence.
I had carried the dead for her, I had cheered her up after she found so sort of cursed Ring that traumatized her. I had even assisted her in battles. But lately, she wasn't acting like herself. Well, that was an understatent anyway. Like Odin, Freya or should I call her Estheriel had no fixed form. As an immortal, she was all woman, but as an angel, Estheriel was an androgynous male. As Freya, she was a goddess of war, death, love, sex, beauty, fertility, and gold but as Estheriel (he?) was responsible for vengeance, justice, and healing, oddly enough. To say that she wasn't herself was probably accurate no matter what happened. But I guess I could say she was even more unlike herself.
In any case, Estheriel asked
to send my valkyries to guard this place, while business at its center was resolved. Apparently, there was so sort of secret to what this Egg was. I didn't ask questions, because my duty was to follow her orders. “I swear by God and all that is holy, I will defend this place from attack, and if I fail to do so, I will defend you, my lady Freya.” It looked like she rembered sothing unpleasant, because she cringed at my words, before snapping at . “I will hold you to that promise! You will never be allowed to betray , and live! Dearest husband, go with them, and be sure they succeed.” Odin nodded, and he too went to defend
All of this happened but a little while ago, and I had waited here since then. I indeed t with trouble, and so, drawing a valknut on the ground, I cried out, “Co forth, my valkyries!” Odd, the valknut was a sacred oath that must be obeyed. As long as they were alive they should co. These people, they were quite fearso if they could defeat my entire squadron. Ah, no matter, Odin would still be able to defeat them. And so, I called him forth. “He's not coming,” said the guy that the others would later call Nevras. He showed
his hand, patterned with a snowflake on his palm. He was the new Spirit of Christmas. And that ant... Odin was dead. Freya would be pissed...
It also ant that as much as I might want to take revenge, this Nevras was now the acting leader of the valkyrie. I had to respect the chain of command. “General,” I said to him, “I request permission to retreat.” He shrugged, and then waved
off.
“What...” she glared at , “what are you doing back here? I told you that if you retreated from battle, I would kill...” I explained, “I had no choice! Soone has taken the Domain that Odin has. I can't defy them!” Her face fell, “They killed my husband? I'll make them pay...” Estheriel drew her sword, and a fire filled her eyes.
Reviews
All reviews (0)