This is very OOC knowledge. I am sharing it as I think it is about time Syvil's secrets were a bit more public. Please do not use what you read below in RP before Syvil has revealed it. You are free to show up in the actual RP though, if you think your character might have reason to be nearby. Ithiloneth M. said: After
the horrible incident with the demonic vine beast in the cultist's
lair, Syvil has come to realize his mastery of Calinaar is not what it
ought to be. The transformation into... something else... has taken a
toll on him and for the following couple of days he is feeble and tires
easily. Slowly regaining his strength, and with it; his wits, he has
begun to process what might have gone wrong. Because surely Calinaar is
not supposed to invade his very own being like that? Meditating
on the matter he comes to realize his own inadequacy, the failure must
be that rather than channeling his magic into Calinaar; using it as an
amplifier or focus, he is channeling Calinaar's magic into himself. A
grave error but just the sort of mistake you might expect of someone
only just learning to handle magic. And so he reaches out to Calinaar; asking for guidance on how to master it's powers. Stephen Dove said: You
are correct Syvil Dernsson. I was made for those with the Holvari
Blood, and though there is some in your veins, it is too dilute. Only by
exposing yourself to Emerald Fire can you become what you must become
to defeat evil. But I warn you, this is no small thing. Once exposed,
you will forever be changed and this change cannot be undone. Even the
Holvari of old were afraid to do this. If you would do this, seek out
Ulrich, for I sense he has felt the flame's touch and must know of it. Ithiloneth M. said: Indeed,
I am not Holvari, solely. Do you know anything of my other ancestry?
Ulrich thought it might be Elvarin; would that be bad if I went into
this Emerald Fire?No matter the response Syvil will go put the question to Ulrich. Master Ulrich, spare some time for a strange question? Probably best done in private. It concerns a certain Emerald Fire... Stephen Dove said: Ah Yes; Syvil. How can I aid you. I sense a question. Perhaps you would like to come into my study. Ithiloneth M. said: Once
inside the study Syvil sits down if offered a chair. As always the
matter I come with is not one I understand myself, but something I've
heard of; what can you tell me about the Holvari and the Emerald Fire? Stephen Dove said: Hmm;
these are grave matters indeed. The Emerald Fire is what burns in the
Mysts; it is the essential agent of creation and destruction. Most of
the time it cannot be seen. Mystwalkers can wield its power; though I
must tell you that some of my collegues would have it the other way
around, that the Mysts wield power through the wielders. It is a fell
power indeed, for it is the source of the High Magic of old. I guess you
seek to master your blade Syvil. I can help you with that, but warn you
of it's dangers. No; not that you will be horribly changed nor that
you'll be corrupted. It is that you become an agent of destiny once you
bind yourself to its power. You become a fulcrum around which fate
moves, as the Dwarren once said. You are also fated to see everything
you know fade into dust, for time shall not age you. This sounds a
simple thing; yet it drives most mad in the end. We use the
Emerald flame as a training aid here. We can only conjure very weak
Emerald flames here, but they are enough to enact a change in those who
sleep by them. If you would do this thing, then take this dust and
scatter it on a fire and sleep by its light for a week. After that,
return here and we shall see what effects we can discern. Ithiloneth M. said: It is already my fate to see those I care for age before me, though I
will not boast of immortality... Perhaps this choice is one already
made for me, but I see now why Calinaar has not urged me to embrace it
fully. Thank you master Ulrich, I will be taking this trial.And so saying Syvil takes the powder, gives that slight bow, now slightly deeper, and leaves. He spends the next week sleeping next to the fire and then returns. Ithiloneth M. said: Having asked Calinaar to keep wake over him during this period Syvil completes his week. Ulrich, it is done; should we adjourn to your study? Stephen Dove said: Ulrich
leads you into his study and closes the door. He takes out something
that looks like a laen glass but is covered in alchemical markings, and
holds it up to you. The glass glows faintly. Hmm; I see the fire has
had it's effects. You have have begun a journey, though it is by no
means at its end. In the end, you will have to seek out the flame in the
Mysts to complete this process; though that lies long in the future for
now. Try now to contest with your blade and I think you will find a
subtle difference that will grow with time. Ithiloneth M. said: Contest?
Do you imply that me and Calinaar are not truly of the same purpose? He
has not voiced any concern on this, it was in fact he who sent me here,
to do this. In any case I shall continue to trust in you, yet again I
find myself in your debt Ulrich; perhaps there might be something I
could do for you? Stephen Dove said: Aha;
well there is seldom a complete union of purpose when a soul and an
artefact are joined in this way. I do not mean that Calinaar is your
enemy merely that it has a portion of each of it's former wielders bound
into it, as you will now also be partially joined with it. Ithiloneth M. said: I
will be made part of Calinaar? Magic indeed is a confusing and
marvellous thing... Well then, if that was all I will take me leave of
you. Thank you again, Ulrich.Syvil leaves, his head
spinning slightly. Deciding to take a walk before sitting down to talk
with Calinaar his steps unwittingly lead him to the door of Viola. It
seems a good as place as any; if not even a better place than most. He
enters to find that Viola is not in at the moment and sits down on a
cushion in the corner. Calling out Calinaar he places the blade on his
lap and thus begins focusing his mind; not really sure what else to do.
When at first nothing happens he instead addresses Calinaar directly; So,
It has begun, would you lead me down the path further? Shall we finally
begin? Hopefully I have proven myself worthy, though I cannot say my
attempts have been great. You find me as I am, and likely always will
be, for I aim to always be a child at heart, if time so age me or
circumstances jade me, I tell you now; the one thing you will not have
is my memory of laughter, of sunshine and friends, but the rest, in
time, I fear will now be lost. Stephen Dove said: If
you would journey further along this path, you must first contest your
will with that of the previous owner. Are you ready Syvil? Ithiloneth M. said: No, I am not, but like the child of summer must face winter, so must I face these changes; I accept the challenge. Stephen Dove said: How
mete that you should say that; for truly winter is what we face. Cernas
is a winter spirit as are all his servants. It is them you are destined
to meet Syvil, for is my name not Frost Reaver in the common tongue.
Now; let us be about this.Calinaar has you enscribe a
circle in the dust and then place him into the ground. Suddenly all the
lights go out and you are standing in a strange vale, surrounded by
Mysts. The cliffs overhead are carved in the faces of stern but wise
looking men and you are taken aback by the amount of dedication it took
to carve these faces into the hills. Before you are graves of
turf and from each one a sword emerges. You count that there are thirty
in a glance and are moved to stand before one of them. Suddenly, you
feel a presence and grab hold of the blade; you feel a surge of power
but also of memory. You are in a Myst shrouded forest; you see
your reflection in a pool of water and it is of a fair haired women
dressed in ancient armour. She is leading a group of white clad elves
out of a glade. Screams come from the glade. Dromen boil out of the
woods and you have no way to fight them, so you conjure Calinaar. You
turn and strike at them and they fall back. Then, all at once a fell
creature bursts from the woods; huge and terrible and wearing a Horned
Helm. Wherever he steps the plants wither and before him goes a killing
cold that strikes down many of the elves, leaving them frozen ruins. He
reaches down to crush you but Calinaar surges forth and strikes the
creature in the eye and it falls back and screams, now blinded by white
fire; and the fact that one eye socket is now empty. The scene
shifts and you see a wooded isle before you; you are on a fair ship,
crafted of stone, and it's white sails bear you and a group of the Elves
you saw before; though now they are filled with power. Dromen again
boil out of the shore, but the Elves raise their voices in song and
suddenly the Dromen are thrown back, and cover their eyes in rage and
terror as you jump into the water and freeze it into a path, running
across the sea to confront them. Finally, you see before you a
great tower of black glass. It burns with red flame and at it's gates
are a legion of Dromen. At your back are the Elves and they sing and
then Dromen quail in fear. Battle is joined and then a Horned figure
bursts from the Tower, as tall as a God and wielding a fell mace. He
smashes the Elves all around him and yet still they do not fall back.
You call Sithi; To me! Come Arawn; let us finish what we started!
And then you meet your foe in batle, though this time something is
different and he flames with red fire and though you greviously wound
him, you too are wounded. Flame burns from your wound and you flee the
battle, as the Sithi slay the Dromen and are slain in their turn. You
stagger to a cave and there dig Calinaar into the ground. I shall not become one of the cursed ones. Calinaar; bind me into the walls. Do it now that my spirit might be saved! And then there is no more................ You
are back in the strange valley and above you loom the faces of thirteen
grave men. Settling yourself for a moment, you heft the sword aloft and
as you do so you hear yourself crying aloud an ancient pact; I do
here avow my life, my soul and my fate to Elisvara. I shall protect all
the races from the stain of Darkfire. I shall chase the servants of the
Vor-ar until their end and I shall bind myself to this blade, that I
might serve even afyer death. And ere I enter battle shall I cry the war
cry of my order and the enemy shall know the power of Elisvara at the
shout of Exelsis!!!Suddenly you are back in Viola's room; drenched in sweat and several days have passed. Ithiloneth M. said: Shaken
to his very core by the vision Syvil tries to gather his wits about him
but finds he craves only two things, and that they blot all else out;
water, and sunlight. And so he crawls forth and out from the room, into
the bright light outside. There he finds the closest water barrel and
near on drowns himself in it, and gasping he stands up, shivering, and
as if remade.
