Introduction (Morgan Fae)
"Nyx!" A man called out as he slowly walked through the slums of Valua, eyeing the destitute buildings with distaste. Even the Rakia's kingdom capital was poorly managed, Hades thought with a frown, brushing some rock dust off his suit absentmindedly as he scanned the surroundings for where his friend was supposed to be. "Nyx!"
"I came all the way from Orario for this!" He grumbled after a minute with no response, kicking a pebble in frustration. He winced slightly at the loud echo of the stone echoing off of a broken wall. He could still feel his shadow too, prowling through the ruins beside him. The girl was persistent after all. "I shut down my casino because Nyx found an interesting tome she wanted to show me, and she doesn't even bother to meet me on time?" Frowning, the black haired man shook his head, knowing something must have gone afoul. "Nyx!"
As he was passing a collapsed building around where Nyx had indicated where she had set up her base, he froze, cocking his head ever so slightly. Frowning, he took a few soft steps toward the collapsed wall before freezing once more as a faint cough filled the silent air, the sound coming weakly from the rubble. "Nyx?' He gasped, hope filling his chest despite the lack of a divine presence in the air. Rounding the wall, his eyes widened in shock at the smoldering ruins. "Nyx!" He bellowed once more as he took in the sight of strewn bodies around the room. Instantly his shadow was beside him, Alecto already having drawn her Thorn, eyes darting around the room.
"This is awful, Lord Hades," the half elven woman hissed. "A massacre." Hades nodded mutely, eyes sweeping over the carnage around him.
Pinned against the wall directly across from him by a broken spear was a red haired human girl, her eyes glazed over as dried blood seemed to have pooled from where the weapon had punctured her lungs, her arms hanging limply at her side. Beside her was a short sword just out of her reach, the blade stained red with blood. Lying beneath her was a blonde haired man, the Nyx Familia's captain if Hades remembered correctly. Pivoting again, he looked toward the front of the building, eyes flickering over two black haired humans, one with a missing arm and the other with his intestines strewn out before him, his blood caked hands lying limp in his lap.
Another cough echoed through the air, this time from behind the pair, causing him to once more pivot even as Alecto twisted, sword sweeping the area. "You're too exposed, Lord Hades. We must-"
Hades held up a hand, cutting the girl off as he took a step forward before his eyes fell on an arm sticking out from under a pile of timbers lying within the remains of one of the side walls. Looking around hurriedly, Hades gestured for Alecto to help him as he grabbed a thick beam from the ground, lifting it with some difficulty as he slowly fitted it into a gap between the ground and the rubble.
Giving Alecto a nod, he took a step back as she pushed downwards, the level two adventurer easily pushing down and slowly prying the timbers off the ground, before jamming the lever forward, locking it into place. Stepping forward and carefully grabbing the arm, Hades eased the person trapped underneath out, once again feeling shock fill his bones as he held a young black haired elven girl in his arms, cuts riddling her body and her exposed arm twisted at an odd angle. "Hey," He murmured gently, shaking the girl. "Hey."
The girl murmured quietly, the words unable to be picked up by the god of death. "Wake up," He murmured again, shaking the girl once more.
"My lord, we should go,"Alecto said once more, the adventurer again sweeping her surroundings. "This was clearly an ambush. You must see that. We have no idea who is lingering."
Alecto flinched slightly as the girl's breath hitched, her eyes cracking open slowly. "Goddess," She murmured, her hand reaching for the rubble. "Must… Save… Goddess…"
Hades looked back to the rubble, the feeling of unease returning. Looking back down into the girl's vacant dark blue eyes, he nodded slowly, letting the girl fall back into unconsciousness in his arms as he slowly stood. Turning back to the city, Hades took one heart wrenching step after another, fearing what he would find trapped beneath the rubble when he returned.
~HF~
"This isn't reassuring captain," Hades growled as he slammed a fist onto the desk, smirking internally as the guard shrieked away from the fuming god. "Why didn't you do a thorough search of the building where the goddess was? There are bodies that need to be recovered!"
"W- Well Lord Hades," the man mumbled. "We never got an order to investigate. Generally with gods, that falls to the army to investigate, no? They get really particular when we start poking into their business."
"Nyx," Hades hissed, the fist on the desk clenching as he clamped down on his divine power. "Wasn't subservient to Ares. And as she wasn't part of the military, that would make this a city watch problem, not a military problem." He straightened up, eyes narrowing. "Now, because of you, the adventurers there are dead. Murdered after their goddess no doubt, as they defiantly tried to avenge her in their final moments."
"Exactly!" The guard snapped. "If a group of level three and level two adventurers died, then we would be massacred ourselves!"
"Ha!" Hades barked. "No wonder Rakia is worse than Orario! The guards in this city are filled with idiots and cowards, who can't even realize that when the children were killed after their goddess, they didn't have their divine protections anymore." Turning around to the door, he threw a glare over his shoulder. "Go back and gather up the bodies and put them into coffins, then place them on the back of my carriage. Put their belongings in a separate trunk. If you have any questions, ask for either of my children Alecto Tisiphone or Rebus Keres." Not waiting for a response, Hades threw the door open and strode out the door.
~HF~
Morgan cracked her eyes open slowly, awaking to a wooden roof over her head. Turning to her right, expecting to see Artur standing over her as she normally does, her eyes widened as they fell upon a well dressed, black haired man sitting in a chair beside her, his eyes obscured by a large notebook. Jerking up right, Morgan's hand shot to her side, freezing at the lack of a knife.
Slowly looking up, dark blue eyes meeting amber, the man lowered the pad, greeting her with a sad smile. "You're awake then."
Morgan quickly glanced around the room, looking for any member of her Familia for help. As the thought of her familia crossed her mind, she froze, the memory coming back to her slowly. Goddess entering the room with Artur and Gwen flanking her, swords strapped to their hips. Her goddess informing them that they would be having a guest shortly. The eight Familia members sitting around their dining table for dinner. The sudden explosion of fire that burst through the walls surrounding them. The rubble slamming into her body. The feeling as her Falna left her. The bodies as she screamed for help.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" She screamed, launching herself from the bed at the man, her hands outstretched, nails bared like claws.
The man blinked in shock, then gave a yelp of panic, as the weight of the girl slammed into him, the surprise causing him to knock over the chair. Collapsing onto the ground, Morgan raised her hands, bringing them down onto the enemy repeatedly. "I'LL KILL YOU!" She cried again, beating at him. "I'LL KILL YOU! I'LL KILL YOU! ILLKILLYOU!"
The door suddenly burst open, a short woman sprinting into the room and knocking Morgan aside, tackling her with a strength that betrayed her own slight form before wrapping her hands around Morgan's neck. As the new woman squeezed down around her throat, the man slowly sat up and quickly placed his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. Let her down."
The newcomer nodded, giving her a contempt filled look as she complied with the order, before standing, leaving her on the ground with slight hesitation. Morgan reacted without any of the same. As soon as her feet hit the floor, she once again launched herself toward the man, her hands held out like claws as she slammed into him, trying to cut him any way she could. Slowly, as she continued to beat away at the man, she felt his hands incircle her wrists, locking them to his toned torso.
"You do not have access to your falna, child," He murmured softly, his free hand reaching up to pet her hair. Feeling her legs give out beneath her as her strength left her body, she dropped to the ground, the man following her, pulling her into his chest with ease. "I am so sorry this happened to you, child." Morgan ignored him, tears falling down her voice as she let out a heart wrenching sob. She pulled away slightly, trying to curl up and hide her face. Her shame.
"Shh," Hades murmured, rubbing her head softly. "Get some sleep. You need it." Tucking his free hand beneath the slight elf, he picked her up and slowly carried her to the bed. As he put her down, easing the covers over her still sobbing form, he brushed the hair from her eyes before rising. "Sleep tight, child. If you need anything, just ask."
~HF~
Morgan woke in a sweat, slowly blinking at the still unfamiliar wooden roof above her. Rising to a sitting position, she winced slightly at the bright light from the fire burning in the fireplace across from her bed, the grey stone glowing from the heat. She looked around the room slowly, eyes once more falling on the man from earlier. The man she had attacked. Morgan's eyes narrowed.
The man looked up, meeting her eyes. "I want you to know," he started, raising his hands. "That I did not kill Nyx."
Morgan glared at his amber eyes with her own midnight blue ones, swallowing slowly around a parched throat. "Wha-?" She began before being cut off by the man raising a finger, lowering the pad into his lap as he did so.
"I came here for a tome." He explained. "But I clearly arrived too late." He paused, looking over to the flames. "I have had the locals unbury the house and prepare your Familia for funeral rights." He continued after a moment of thought, his brow furrowed. "When you are ready, we can bring them to Orario and find a nice place to bury them.
"What's your name?" She whispered, coughing between each word.
The man frowned once more, the dour expression sitting easily on his face. "My name, child, is Hades." Hissing as if burned, Morgan scrambled away across the bed, pulling the blankets up to cover her form. "What?" He asked, his lips now twitching in amusement. "Don't tell me you listen to the rumors?"
"I don't need rumors," She hissed, wincing as the words left her ruined throat. "Goddess told me about you! She said you are filthy and a deviant!"
Freezing, Hades' eyes went wide as his body began to shake slowly, quickly picking up as he let out a large, soulful laugh. "Oh, she never changes, does she?" He asked, wiping tears from the corner of his eyes. Shaking his head, Hades crept closer, letting out a chuckle as she tried pressing into the bedframe. "Nyx just means I run a gambling and drinking establishment."
"My goddess said that your nights were filled with lust, gluttony, and alcohol!" She shot back, trying to edge away.
"While it is true that my casino is right next to the Pleasure Quarter," Hades muttered, raising his voice as her eyes began to gleam with defiance. "That is more for business than it is for… well… pleasure. It is easier to get others to part with their money after they visited a brothel than if they had to travel across town. Purely economics, my dear!"
Morgan opened her mouth to reply, before hesitating, blinking slowly. Shaking her head, she looked back to the fire, staring into the burning depths. "Did… did anyone else survive the attack?"
"No child. As far as I am aware, you are the only survivor." Hades said after a moment, all amusement drained from his voice. "At least four of your Familia had survived the initial attack, if that is any comfort." He paused for another moment as Morgan's shoulders began to shake. "Do you know who did this? Or why? I can't imagine they would have done this for a tome, which means they came here for something else."
She paused, before giving a shake of her head, her eyes flickering away towards him for a brief moment. "No."
"Are you sure?" He asked, the disbelief disguised by years of running his casino. He already knew that she knew. Or at least an idea. "Anything you may remember could help bring them to justice."
The girl shook her head again before looking up, her midnight blue eyes filled with rage. "Nothing," She whispered, her voice tinged with hate.
~HF~
Morgan laid back, her eyes open, staring up at the wood ceiling by the light of a candle as the sounds of the inn below became silent as the bar closed for the night. Climbing out of bed in her shift, she crept across the room to where her old clothes lay, the black fabric torn and frayed from where the rocks and timbers had snagged the cloth. Slowly slipping on the cloak and her combat boots, Morgan grabbed a candle from the dresser and eased open her door, the small light illuminating the hallway outside. Slowly easing her door shut, Morgan crept down the stairs of the two story building, her eyes glittering in the flickering light like stars in the night sky.
Exiting the inn, she looked up and down the empty street, picking out the gaudy palace that the Ares Familia called home at the heart of the city. Turning away from the building, Morgan began her descent into the city's underbelly, easily navigating through the dark alleys and roads that criss crossed Valua, the pathway through the slums, a simple task of memory work after almost eighteen months of making the trek. Rounding a final bend, deftly avoiding a pair of prums in the alleyway, Morgan's eyes fell on the shattered remains of the house she shared with her Familia. Had shared with her Familia. Shaking the thoughts from her head, Morgan crept forward, slinking through the shadows toward the wreckage.
Shaking her head once again, she walked toward the back right corner of the ruins, the light from the candle glimmering against something metallic on the floor. Snorting with veiled amusement, Morgan set the candle beside her, before crouching down and beginning to clear away the rubble, revealing a trap door underneath. Placing her hand on top of the handle, she gave a quick tug, opening the door and exposing the darkness of the basement beneath. Picking up the candle once again, the girl made her descent into the depths of her familia's home, its storage and bedroom, coughing as stone dust filled her lungs. Holding the candle aloft over her head, she scanned the dark room, her eyes lingering briefly on the portrait of the rest of the familia together, each one's smiling face captured perfectly by the artist. Miraculously, it remained untouched
Turning from the happy portrait she glanced over to her bed, the sight of her naginata filling her with joy. Quickly running over to her space, she lifted the black weapon up, the wood of the haft comfortable against her skin, as well as filling her with a sense of confidence. Grabbing the leather strap, she slung the black tipped spear over her shoulder, before turning her attention to the right, the bookshelf beside Goddess's bed having been cast astray from the explosion that had knocked down their house. Running to it, she knelt down, her eyes scanning over the book titles, until they fell on an inky black tome, the bind looking as if it was made of finer bones, while the lettering was made out in engraved gold. Grimoire Ton Nekron, the Grimoire of the Dead. Tucking the book under her arm, she scanned the room, searching for anything else she might wish to take with her. As her eyes tracked back toward the entrance, she froze, the shadowy image of Hades standing at the foot of the stairs.
Reacting without thought, she twisted away, the naginata twirling into her hand a millisecond later. "What are you doing here?" She hissed, wincing internally at the pain flaring in her still sore throat.
Hades stepped into the light, the dark haired god giving her spear a wary look, "You were lying earlier, about not knowing anything." Morgan hesitated, shifting the weapon in her hands, her eyes flickering toward the stairs. "Don't try it," Hades growled. "Alecto is up there, and if you somehow manage to get past her, I will have everyone looking for you between Rakia and Orario."
"I don't care," She snapped back, her throat protesting from the strain. "I will do whatever I have to do to get revenge for my familia. For Goddess."
Hades sighed, stepping a little closer. "And how will you do that? Read the grimoire?" He asked, pointing at the book in her hand. "You need to be part of a familia, and I doubt any in Orario will take you in, not after what happened here today, and we all know that Ares will just waste your talents. Besides, do you have any idea which familia killed your goddess?"
Morgan opened her mouth to reply before stopping, the question running through her mind. "No," She muttered, looking away. "What if it was you?"
"That's possible, I suppose," Hades replied evenly, crossing his arms. "But why would I? You do know that the two of us had been friends since Heaven, right?" Taking another step forward, hesitating as Morgan adjusted her blade, Hades raised his hands up, waving at her to calm down. "But I want to honor Nyx. She was my oldest friend, and since you were her family, that makes you my family as well."
"As if I would abandon Goddess so easily," She hissed, stepping forward, the blade leveled at the god.
Hades sighed, shaking his head, "You would have a base, supplies, a Familia with two other adventurers, and access to the Falna. This is extremely beneficial to you."
"And what do you get out of this?" Morgan snapped.
"Besides more help running my business?" He asked, his tone flat. "Like I said, I would like to honor Nyx, and ensuring your survival is the best way to do that."
Morgan hesitated, before giving him a hesitant nod. "As long as I get my revenge."
"Of course," Hades replied.
~HF~
Hades looked down at the girl lying face down on the bed of the inn, her smoothe back exposed. The healer, Hades noted to himself, had done a remarkable job on her, however, her back remained littered with scars and scabs, remnants from when the building had collapsed onto her. Pricking his finger with a needle, he held it over the girl's back, letting a drop of blood fall hit her before the room became bathed with light as images began etching across her back. Looking at them with wonder, Hades grinned slightly as a skull bisected with a line took shape, diamonds in place of where the eyes should have been.
Morgana Fae
Level 1
Strength- D519 Endurance- E400 Dexterity- A875 Agility- A890 Magic- S905
Skill:
Theïkó Tragoúdi
Enchanting Night
Magic:
Heal
"Your magic is all the way in S already," Hades acknowledged, feeling a sense of pride fill his voice at how strong his new child already was. "Nyx did well with you."
"Goddess was kind," Morgan murmured, twitching slightly where she lay.
Frowning at the skill, Astriki Melodia, Hades glanced to the back left corner of the room, the violin laying beside the naginata making a little more sense. Shaking his head, Hades pushed downward, the light fading as he did so. Standing up, Hades turned to the right, taking a seat at the table in the back right corner, slowly taking a sip from his bourbon.
As Morgan stood from the bed, facing away from him, and slipping on her shirt, Hades's eyes flickered again toward the violin, a cool smile beginning to play on his face. "That violin, you play?"
Turning to him, Morgan nodded, her eyes beginning to glisten. "Yes, Lord Hades. I would play for the Goddess almost every night."
Nodding slowly, Hades gestured to the instrument, "I would love to listen, if you wouldn't mind. Alecto!"
Morgan tilted her head to the side, before shaking it, her long, black curls swaying. Walking over to the violin, she took it from its base, bringing it up to her neck, the wand held out in deft fingers. Turning back to Hades, she frowned as she saw that the half elf had appeared in the room, the door having not even made a sound. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes. .
"Deep in the forest, our spirits take flight,
Where shadows grow deep, in the heart of the night.
With armor and courage, we step into the gloom,
To honor your name, Nyx, and dispel all the doom."
As the first line of the verse finished, the violin accompanying her sad melody, her body began to glow, an aura of vibrant green and pink and blue and red flowing from around her, the colors chasing each other around the room. Eyes wide in wonder, Hades turned back to the girl, the Aurora still swirling along to the sad music of the violin.
"Oh, goddess of Night, we dedicate this quest,
In your name, we journey, we're put to the test.
In the heart of the darkness, our swords gleam so bright,
With you as our guide, we'll stand up to the fight.
How we felt For the stars above, they sing their celestial tune,
In the Familia's love, we'll conquer the moon.
In the depths of this forest, we'll battle and claim,
With Nyx by our side, we'll win every game.
In the darkest of depths, our courage shines bright,
With swords in our hands, we'll stand up to the fight.
Oh, goddess of Night, your guidance we heed,
In this woodland's embrace, you're the light that we need.
You've shown us the way, this place we call home,
In the heart of the forest, where we dare to roam.
Though your eyes never see, the love that you've sown,
In our hearts, it's a fire, like the stars brightly shown.
For the stars above, they sing, their light never fades,
In the Familia's love, our bond never degrades.
In the heart of this darkness, together we'll sway,
With Nyx by our side, we'll face every day"
As the last word passed her lips, her eyes flickered open, the midnight blue orbs staring back at him shimmering with the light of a thousand stars, the Aurora around her slowly shrinking back into her body. Hades blinked slowly, before giving her a small smile. "I'm sure Nyx would appreciate that."
Nodding in reply as she turned about, Morgan slowly put her violin away in its leather case, casting a glance over her shoulder. "Do you have any idea who is responsible?" Morgan's eyes flickered to Alecto who twitched slightly.
Hades shook his head, his brow furrowing, "No. There are several possibilities. What level was your strongest familia member?"
"That would have been Artur," Morgan replied without hesitation, her voice filled with conviction. "He was a level three adventurer. Gwen and Emrys were level two, about to be level three. Lancel and Galahad both became level two about a year ago, but they were next in terms of power. Then we had Ector, Gareth, and myself as level 1, but Ector and Gareth were really close to level two. Goddess thought that they would Revel Up within the month."
"Within the month?" Hades asked, leaning forward. "What about yourself?"
Morgan shook her head, "I've only been fighting as a member of the familia for about eighteen months. Goddess didn't think I was ready to go out on an adventure on my own yet. She wanted me to perfect my concurrent chanting before letting me travel on my own."
"And were you close?" Alecto asked slowly, giving her an appraising look.
Morgan shook her head, looking away. "No. I need to work at avoiding my opponents' attacks to maintain my concentration."
"And they did not train you to do this? Your Familia?" Alecto cocked her head to the side.
Morgan shook her head again, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly. "No, they did not," she murmured.
"Oh?" The half elf took a step forward. "That's one of the first things they teach you, no? It makes you more useful in fights. Less resources are needed to protect you."
Morgan shuffled in place, looking down and rubbing at her arms before murmuring something, her face now burning scarlet. "Morgan," Hades leaned forward, catching her eyes. "What was that?"
"Goddess said she didn't like blemishes on her porcelain doll." The room was silent for a moment before the sound of Alecto holding back a cackle cracked the awkward atmosphere.
"Well," Hades declared, drawing her gaze to him even as he struggled to hold back his own laughter. "You will have plenty of experience in Orario. Though, we should look into getting you some gear to protect yourself while down in the Dungeon."
"Sure," Morgan replied, before her eyes took on a hard look. "Though I doubt we can trust anyone."
"I don't know anyone in Orario who would support what happened, you know," Hades sighed, standing up. Walking over to the slight girl, he rested a hand on her shoulder, leaning down to whisper in her ear. "Now, into the matter of why your goddess was murdered. I would like you to tell me what you know. Was there anything weird leading up to the attack?"
Morgan nodded slowly, once again looking away. "Goddess met with a friend and kept her at the house for a few days."
"A friend?" Alecto pressed. Morgan shifted uncomfortably on her feet.
"Goddess told us to tell no one," came the whispered reply.
Alecto sighed before striding across the room, moving from where she had stood behind her god. Reaching the girl, she moved her arms out, one hand clasping onto a trembling shoulder, the other grabbing her chin. "I understand, Morgan," she murmured, drawing the girl's eyes upward. "But if you want vengeance, you need to give us everything you know."
"I think the woman was another goddess," she said after a moment. "Goddess never said, but it felt like she was respected. And there was a presence. The woman's name was Astereus, or Astoria, or…" she trailed off as she noticed Hades stiffening out of the corner of her eyes.
"Was it Astrea?" Hades whispered, eyes wide. Morgan paused for a moment before giving a nod of assent.
"Evilus…" Alecto had also grown stiff, her body shaking slightly. Turning to her feet, she faced her god. "Lord Hades, if Evilus is connected… If they're connected…" She trailed off, her eyes flickering over her shoulder at the slight elven girl beside her.
"Then nothing has changed," Hades replied sternly. "They are being hunted, and we will be much safer in Orario." Looking at Morgan, he gave a soft smile. "You definitely helped us narrow down our search drastically. I promise you, we will find whoever is responsible for Nyx's death, and bring them to justice." Straightening, he turned away from her, his feet carrying him toward the door. "I will see you tomorrow. Make sure you get some sleep."
As he slowly opened the door, he looked back at Morgan, whose eyes were fixed firmly on the grimoire sitting on the nightstand. "Good night, child."
"Goodnight," She murmured back, her hand already drifting toward the book. As her pale hand rested on the cover, she looked back at the god standing in the doorway, her eyes distant but burning with what Hades could only assume was hate.
"Make sure you put it to good use," Hades sighed, nodding to the book. Giving a last, knowing look to Alecto, he closed the door shut behind him.