Artemesia Family/Ramuh 02/Netherworld

Kindling of a New Arrival

(Around mid-July)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Message sent to everyone in your realm

Once the ship had set down, Ramuh had remembered in his drunken daze that he had asked to join Heen. When he heard he was placed in the Netherworld, he only raised an eyebrow, and wondered where that was a realm of beer, ikrif, and cheap wenches.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Message sent to everyone in your realm

The letters fell out of Ramuh's limp fingers, scattering across sandy Tahgalez. A sandstorm was brewing outside the battered walls, the windswept grains of sand abrasive and painful against exposed flesh. For a long time, the "hero" from across the ocean stared into the distance, with a look of great confusion and fear. "I should never have gotten drunk on that ship." Was the most he could muster in the face of his current situation.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Message sent to everyone in your realm

There was sudden rumbling and a huge explosion could be heard near the volcano. Despite the explosion, there seemed to be no damage to the region. Within moments, the air shimmered, seemingly a floating liquid. As the air cleared, the surrounding appeared changed to everyone in Jobo's. In fact, all the living beings in Jobo's were not in Jobo's anymore at all but had been magically teleported to Binoaramet. No one knew why or how the event occurred. No one except perhaps Cimmerian and Seer. Soon after, any human wishing to enter Jobo's Mouth found it impossible to breathe the air. It was like the region had been connected to the true netherworld, the home of the Daimons. The air like liquid ash which filled and blocked one's lungs. The heat terrible, a place where no living being survived. From that moment on, Jobo's Mouth became inaccessible to any human.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Seer

Message sent to everyone in your realm

Seer did not quite realize what was happening. With a sudden pain in her left arm, the surroundings began to swirl right before her eyes. It wasn't long before she lost consciousness. Later she realized it wasn't a trance but she had actually fainted. Similar to Sherilynn, Seer dreamed of a pair of burning golden eyes set on an ephemeral shape alternating with Sherilynn's face. The dream hardly lasted for a few minutes. Seer remained unconscious for the next two days before she was roused by her guards. Weak from her ordeal, Seer immediately asked her troops to find out about Sherilynn and wrote a letter to Cimmerian about her dream.

Seer

Roleplay from Seer

Whether it was the alcohol Ramuh had consumed or the shock of finding himself in the netherworld, he could not tell. But soon after he landed in the blasted lands of the Daimons, Ramuh simply froze in mid stride and had a vision. A vision of an elegant, in-human but beautiful creature with dark, bluish skin, taller than most human woman. She seemed to be beckoning him, to the south, to Twillen and Ramuh, so entranced, was finding it difficult to ignore the call of the creature, the Daimon Seer. The vision quickly over, started to fade from Ramuh's brain leaving him with a nagging feeling of having missed something or having forgotten something.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Once he returned to what seemed to be his normal senses, Ramuh found himself turning south, and beginning to take a few steps, before he stopped. "What? What was I doing?" But before he had any more time to think further, he passed out, alone, amidst the abandoned ruins that was once the fortress of Tahgalez. The alcohol and the long ship voyage had drained Ramuh's normally robust stamina, and so he lay, facefirst on the warm stone, sleeping heavily as sand swirled around his prostrate form. In his sleep, he mumbled, "South...Sandy...I'll win...next time...Sand..."

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Noticing Ramuh passed out and mumbling to himself, a peasant trying to scour the broken citadel of Tahgalez for any loot pulled him to one side and propped him against the wall. Splashing some water on him, he brought the man back to consciousness. In the bleak environment, silence reigned. In the same silence, the peasant offered a small piece of bread to the foreigner.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

In a half-awake state, Ramuh looked at the only other life he had seen since leaving ship. He took the bread and thanked the peasant, or so he believed he did in his dazed state, but he did not eat.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Holding on to the bread, Ramuh attempted to speak to the peasant. Describing his vision, he asked the peasant about the creature, the Daimon. The peasant recoiled at being reminded of the Daimons and tried to leave. Holding his arm tight, Ramuh pressed on asking about Seer upon which the peasant vaguely indicated towards Twillen the Daimons were causing their destruction.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Though the peasant seemed eager to get away, Ramuh noticed some useful items in the peasant's possession. He motioned at some of them, then took out a silver bracelet that might have once belonged to a foreign noblewoman, for it certainly was not Ramuh's. The gesture appeared clear: Ramuh was proposing an exchange.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Message sent to everyone in your realm

As her soldiers left, Seer lay down, leaving her eyes open but concentrating her mind into the void, into the home of the Daimons. It wasn't long before she was in one of her trances. Once more trying to determine the face behind the golden eyes and the relation to the human girl, Seer drew up a blank. But the connection was stronger. Also present was the nagging feeling that there was some relation to the goddess.

Seer

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Message sent to everyone in your realm

Soon after the events in Jobo's Mouth, Cimmerian immediately sent a messenger carrying to Seer containing just one line: Seer, head to Bara'Khur. Meet Sherilynn there. She might be the one.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Seer

Seer had already left Twillen for the call of the girl was too strong. The events in Jobo's Mouth had predicate that the time of the arrival was near. Or was it past already? The city had to be abandoned for it was taking far too much time and all the while the monster threat was approaching nearer. The turning point of history was approaching soon. Ramuh would be disappointed to not find Seer in Twillen for she was headed to Ircymbar.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

In the storm of flame and blood that met Ramuh in the once proud city of Twillen, he saw strange forms, inhuman, just like the one he saw in his vision, but not the dark blue "woman" he saw. Slightly dismayed at making his way past the desert for nothing, he began his journey to the northeast, where the peasants had said the undying legion resided.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Knight of Nyghts

(About mid-October, maybe late October)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Message sent to everyone in the region Tahgalez

Before leaving for Hoellor after recruiting a fresh group of men, Ramuh sought out two daimons he had heard from several times, yet never actually seen. Wandering through the dry sandswept streets of Tahgalez, Ramuh asked the remaining people populating the citadel where he might find the daimons named Cimmerian and Seer, though most seemed to ignore him.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Message sent to everyone in the region Tahgalez

Most of the Daimons did not quite understand the human language but recognised the human as belonging to the Netherworld and let him pass unharmed. Finally, one of the humans pointed to the spires of the fortress that had been constructed by the Daimons for the Goddess which also served as Cimmerian and Seer's residence.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

He looked at the formidable towers, bracing himself for a steep climb. But he resolved himself for the journey. Ramuh gave quick orders to the mercenary infantry to move for Hoelorr to meet with the daimon Argent's forces. He would follow shortly after, once he finished meeting with Cimmerian and Seer.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Ramuh reached the gates of the fortified spires and asked the guard to be led to Cimmerian. The guards simply grunted and allowed him to pass through the gates. Contrary to common human belief, the Daimon's residence was not a House of horrors but was surprising similar to human houses except it being quite dark. Once inside, Ramuh had to look around before a frail, scared looking human girl, presumably a maid asked him what he wanted and what he was doing inside the spires.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

When he first saw the girl, Ramuh paused for a second in surprise, looking intently at her as though she reminded him of someone. It was only a passing moment, though, for quickly he asked to see Cimmerian.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian was mildly annoyed at being disturbed by the girl. When informed that a visitor sought her, she simply asked the girl to make the visitor wait. After a good half an hour, Cimmerian descended down to the parlour where Ramuh waited. At the first Cimmerian did not recognise the human for she had never met him earlier but quickly deduced who it could be since very few humans actually remained in the realm. Letifer and Alexey she knew from their stay in the dungeons and the other priest wasn't anywhere close by. Cimmerian simply walked in silently, not speaking a word and took a seat, waiting for the human to speak first.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Although Ramuh had long since been accustomed to seeing daimons close and in person, something about them still made the hairs on the back of his neck raise in alarm. He soon recovered his ability to speak, taking a few deep breaths, and realizing that Cimmerian alone appeared much more approachable than the large and intimidating armies led by Argent and his commanders. "Hello." The first word out of Ramuh's mouth sounded awkward and lost, and had Cimmerian been a human, Ramuh would have felt embarrassment at such a loss of words. But she was by far not human, and Ramuh continued on, fumbling for something to say. "Nice...place." He looked around in the dark room, searching for any recognizable objects, but found none, or at least none he could discern clearly. The human took a deep breath to steady himself. He looked at Cimmerian, though something made him want not to keep his gaze on the daimon. When he felt ready to speak again, he said, "Executioner Cimmerian, it is good to meet you finally. I saw that you had employed humans here, though the girl looked a bit scared. I suppose I would be too. She reminds me of someone, someone to whom I made a promise, to return home one day and reunite with the family. Well, I suppose now that might not be too certain." "It's cold here, even with the fires you wield. I don't know whether you understand what I am saying, since it might be a human feeling. I don't know the nature of your kinship to your sister, but I left mine to travel the world and seek a name for myself. I was such a fool for doing that. Now I have no family, except for my cousin who probably wants to kill me for working with you." Ramuh looked up at the incomprehensible look on Cimmerian's visage, unsure whether the daimon even understood, or cared, about what he was saying. "Sorry, I was distracted by something pointless. There is much that I have learned by fighting with Overlord Argent and his warriors, and there is much that I have learned from what you have shared with me. For that, I believe that I have grown as a warrior and gained rare knowledge. You have my thanks for that, always. "And if I might add, I think of you as my family now. I only hope that you do not take that as an insult." Having finished talking, Ramuh swallowed with his dry throat, and stood there silently, waiting for any response from the thusfar silent daimon.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian listened to the human remaining quiet for a while. Finally she laughed softly, at his words. "So you are Ramuh. Yes, you have indeed survived for long. Perhaps it is fate and you should accept it so by the grace of the Goddess. Do not speak so easily of death for you have not yet experienced it. Irrespective of what others claim, we are NOT here to cause death. It is a necessary evil sometimes, but it is not our goal." Falling silent, Cimmerian turned to a window looking outside and then continued, "We are of the fire. Seer is my sister and Argent my brother. Seer was not supposed to be here. She came for she has a connection to the Goddess and to your race. But for now, she is not to be disturb right now. You should not give up hope on your promise. Perhaps you will live to see her again"

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Ramuh looked with unfocused eyes at the daimon's back. His face showed many conflicting thoughts, though he was relieved to hear the daimon's words. He stepped wordlessly near Cimmerian's side, though still far enough away to maintain a respectable distance. "Thank you, Cimmerian. I do not know whether it means anything to you, but for me, much of my life is based on faith and will. What fate led me here is no longer something I question." When Ramuh faced Cimmerian, his look showed more resolve, though still revealed the inherent fear caused by seeing a daimon, especially in such proximity. "I did not choose to be part of the Netherworld, but I do choose to do what I can for you until the end." The human smiled at the daimon, and quickly bowed. "What a strange life this has been, though I daresay there will be much to tell if I do live through all this."

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian turned towards the mortal, much smaller than her and sighted him with her golden eyes. This one wasn't like the other humans, only looking to kill or greedy for gold. Time would tell if he would survive for if he did, he would achieve greatness in the world of the humans.

Cimmerian

Cimmerian's Warmth

(Around late October, early November)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

The path through Tahgalez to Cimmerian's residence was more familiar to Ramuh this time, so he made his way to the imposing structure quicker. Knocking on the door, he announced himself, and waited to see if anyone was inside.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian herself let Ramuh in, leading Ramuh without speaking a word. She was not dressed in her usual armour but a long covering wrapped around her torso. Her eyes seemingly graver than usual. She led Ramuh past the seating parlour into an empty room, devoid of any furniture. The walls were covered with words and motifs in the Daimonic language. To those creatures who could hear beyond the human range of hearing, they would feel a slight buzzing in their ears, the source indiscernible. Leading Ramuh to the center of the room, Cimmerian turned to him and finally spoke, "Ramuh, you have served the Netherworld well. You have adopted the realm and been loyal. You bear the mark of the Daimons which protects you from the blight. With the temples of the light, the war gets more difficult and it needs the hybrid of human and daimons. You have been chosen, chosen for this task. Do you accept?"

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Looking up at Cimmerian with awe, at the sheer foreign nature of the room he stood in, and the tall daimon before him, Ramuh slowly nodded. "I will do what I can to see this to the end." He said, with a voice no longer trembling as much in the presence of daimons.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian nodded, as if expecting that answer. With her palm, she closed Ramuh eyes and pushed him down to his knees. Suddenly Ramuh heard a deep guttural chant, his eyes flying open. It was Cimmerian. As the shock wore down, Ramuh closed his eyes once more. The room slowly warmed up, growing hot to the point of uncomfortableness. It was strange as there was no fire in the room. The fire, it seemed to Ramuh, was inside him. In his mind, Ramuh could literally see the fire. As the chanting continued, Cimmerian's placed her hand on Ramuh's head and then slowly moving it across his forehead, tracing a deep scratch with her nails. As the blood, literally boiling hot, flowed down his face, Ramuh started feeling different, strange as if his his mind had been altered. More confidence, lack of fear, even greater physical strength manifested itself in his mind. Soon the changing stopped and Cimmerian stepped back and after a while, Ramuh opened his eyes. While Ramuh himself was drenched in sweat, Cimmerian looked no different, not a drop of sweat, not an ounce tiredness.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

The sounds he heard from Cimmerian terrified him when he first heard her utter such unfamiliar sounds. It was a frightening feeling, one of paralyzing fear that even after encountering daimons many times before, Ramuh was not prepared to bear. But he recalled that it was still Cimmerian, and with familiarity his fears decreased, trusting himself to the daimon. As his eyes were closed, Ramuh saw flames dancing around him, even feeling his entire body burning, though strangely the sensations were not painful, even if uncomfortable. As Cimmerian drew blood from his forehead, Ramuh at first felt his mind explode as though a powerful blaze had incinerated him from within. He was lost in the shattered fragments of his mental landscape, raging with the fires that burned only within his mind. But he felt something stable, something much more powerful than him, repairing his broken psyche. Was it Cimmerian guiding him through this intangible storm? He could not tell, only reached out for the powerful presence, and in it, he felt a warmth different than the heat around him, surrounding him. It was calmer, and reassuring. In that sanctuary, aided by the greater power, Ramuh began reforming his mind, rebuilding it more firmly than it was at his birth, more sure of his abilities and strengthening his faith and will. Gradually his senses returned and the internal chaos simmered, bringing Ramuh back, mostly, to the physical world. The envelope of protective flame withdrew, and the human opened his eyes, his vision blurry, to see Cimmerian standing at an imposing height above him. He felt exhausted, and was sweating profusely. Even standing required a great deal of effort, yet he managed, with difficulty, to rise. "Cimmerian..." He gasped in a dry voice, and though he opened his mouth to say more, he could not form any more sounds in his state.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Cimmerian

Cimmerian watched Ramuh stumble and stand up. The ritual was not easy on the soul of man but in this case, she was certain Ramuh would survive. "Do not speak yet. You need to enjoy the sensation of the ritual, recall the visions you saw. You now bear the mark of the Daimons. While not a daimon, this is the highest you can achieve as a human. Now... Now you can lead Daimon troops. Outside the mansion, you will find troops waiting for you. Troops I summoned as a part of this ritual.. They will follow you as they follow us. It is not the same but it is something that you have been bestowed. Lead the men wisely and protect the mark. You are now inexplicably tied to my race for now you bear the trust of the Daimons.

Cimmerian

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Ramuh nodded, feeling the warmth that coursed through him, seeing for the first time, without quivering deep inside with fear, the daimon before him. They were a powerful and venerable race, and Ramuh felt honored to have passed through such a ritual. With the ability to gaze longer at daimons without averting his gaze, he found that Cimmerian was actually quite beautiful, especially after such a ritual. Still, there was much to do, and he retreated outside the room with a bow to Cimmerian. Outside he found a group of daimons wielding exotic weaponry that appeared to be made of familiar steel and other human materials. With a new purpose in mind, the human began moving with his new forces.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Seer's Warmth

(Around early November to late November)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Message sent to everyone in the region Tahgalez

In a quiet corner that used to host trading stalls, Ramuh silently reflected on recent events, wondering what had happened. He looked at the great spire where Cimmerian and Seer took residence, staring up along the structure. Standing up as quickly as he seated himself, Ramuh began walking in that direction, though what he would do was yet undecided.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Message sent to everyone in the region Tahgalez

Message sent to everyone in the region Tahgalez (3 recipients) For the third time, he was at the door to the mansion. Taking a deep breath, knowing that Seer too was inside as well, Ramuh knocked on the door. He stood there patiently, looking around at the activity in the fortress region. There were still some humans moving about, although there were many more daimons everywhere as well. But he was not bothered by them, and looked with some interest at what they were doing.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Seer had anticipated Ramuh's arrival and had remained in Tahgalez. She knew that he would want new troops. But would he survive the ritual? She sent the same girl who had met Ramuh earlier and had her bring Ramuh to the ritual room. Once Ramuh was there, she turned around, to see him with her eyes. With the Goddess far away, her thoughts were clouded again but the ritual room gave her some peace. Ramuh seemed more confident now. The mark had that effect on Ramuh. She spoke in her soft gentle voice "Welcome Ramuh. You have wanted to meet me for some time now". It was a statement and not a question.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

At last he saw Seer personally. Ramuh gazed upon the pleasing form he had first seen in a vision on his first night in Tahgalez, and second during glimpses before the ritual to awaken the Goddess. His soot gray eyes looked into the bright golden eyes of the daimon, and he felt very small and inexperienced. "It is an honor to meet you at last, Seer." Said Ramuh in a clear voice. "Though, this is likely no surprise. May I be of service?"

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

"You have done well little one". While she spoke figuratively, it could be taken as literally as well for she was tall, much taller than humans. "You have served the Netherworld well. And now you bear the mark of the Daimons. The mark remain on you but you left your unit behind. Why?"

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

"My apologies for that. I told them to stay in Hcallow to take care of the partisans from Sint, though I suppose they took that to mean they should station themselves there. There is, as well, still a small language barrier between us, which might have accounted for the miscommunication between us." He looked up and grinned, something he had not done in a very long time. "I suppose at the least they deter Sint from coming anywhere close to the capital. They also chased away that pesky lord who was no doubt scouting Tahgalez this entire time."

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Seer smiled back at Ramuh. "Their presence in Hcallow means nothing directly. You did well in Hcallow. You wish to lead the Daimon troops again. But can you sustain the ritual once more? It can be dangerous to you.

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

"How long would I live anyway?" Recalling who he was talking to, Ramuh quickly added, "Actually I would rather not know. But at most I would have maybe fifty years? That sounds like the normal human lifespan to me. I give my life and my future willingly to what fate the Netherworld desires of them. If I do not survive, then I suppose it would not have been worth living anyway. Though, if you know already whether or not I survive..." Ramuh looked inquisitively into Seer's glowing eyes, but he did not notice anything. "Well, I cannot know, so as humans say, 'No guts, no glory', was it? May I be of service to you how I can." So saying, Ramuh knelt down before Seer, amplifying the height difference between the two.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Seer smiled, a hint of heaviness in the smile, "You will live long. Long enough to perhaps be reviled by the humans. Or if we manage to curb the evil that plagues these lands, then a hero to them" "You are a brave one. You chose this difficult life and now you are ready to undergo the ritual once more. So be it. Close your eyes and free your mind" As with Cimmerian before, Seer placed her hand on Ramuh's head. But after a moment, she knelt and placed her hand over his heart. Her voice was equally startling as Cimerian's but for the opposite effect. Her voice, melodious with a hint of mysticism soothed Ramuh's nerves. Perhaps it was the reason why Cimmerian had Seer perform the ritual. Seer's voice did nothing to dampen the feelings of fire within Ramuh. If anything, it was much more intense. Slowly Seer's chanting increased in tone and was at a high pitch, enough to physically cause sharp pain in Ramuh's ears. But it was not for long. Within a few moment's the Daimoness stopped chanting. When Ramuh opened his eyes, he felt a warm sticky feeling in his nose and the tangy taste of his blood in his mouth. The ritual had caused internal bleeding this time. Slowly, Seer stood, lifting Ramuh easily to his feet. "You have survived little one. Well done. I must admit, I am proud of your strength"

Seer

Roleplay from Ramuh Artemesia

Swallowing down a wave of nausea and pain, Ramuh nodded. Very weakly, he embraced the daimon, though he only reached up to her waist. Saying nothing, Ramuh let go and walked staggeringly outside.

Ramuh Artemesia (Noble)

Roleplay from Seer

Ramuh's embrace was...unexpected for Seer. It was the one aspect that made humans a lot more interesting. Their unpredictability in most cases. Ramuh himself was lucky that it was Seer and not Cimmerian who might have swatted him by reaction which would probably have killed him. Seer, too stunned to react, simply stood and then watched him stagger outside.

Seer

Heart of Fire

(In progress)

Soul of a Human

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