Rayclast Styxx - Studying the Relics - Chapter Two

**Studying the Relics - Chapter One**

The Queen of Eladramere and Agaros where holding an almost senseless Styxx when they has met the High Priestess. Kendike asked that the woman was tugged into one of her rooms.

Styxx is sleeping deeply in the second room of the private quarters of the High Priestess in the Eladramere's Temple. Kendike has given first assistance to the exhausted woman and also some highly nourishing food. Then she leads the Queen and Agaros into the other room to talk about Styxx and what happened. What came out was a bit confused but was clear that a supernatural entity has drained life energy from Styxx.

Kendike replied with the words of an old fable she heard when was a kid: "A demon can steal your life, a demon can give your life back."

The Queen, more than Agaros, was stuck and whispered a name.

Later, Vanessa Ralien was quietly chatting with the slave of lady Ralien in front of the fireplace at home. Kinethiel heard a knocking sound and went to open the door. She was surprised to see the Queen of Eladramere, her fierce red hair barely hidden by a hood, behind her was Agaros, who is well known by the slave.

The conversation was not too long and in some moment difficult. Starianna wanted the help of Vanessa, not as Helzbelt ambassador, but as half-demon with some supernatural abilities. What the two Elads have not considered, was that no half-demon could do what Kendike had suggested. But Vanessa has accepted and the truth begin to surface slowly into the minds of Starianna and Agaros.

Well... they didn't flee screaming, but was not easy to swallow anyway.

The price asked by Vanessa was strange. The need to keep that secret was quite obvious, but the need to feed in that disturbing way was hard to accept. But the Queen of Eladramere accepted, almost relieved that the request was not a different one.

The trio walked slowly and quietly into the almost desert ways of Helzbelt under the usual red light.

Styxx is waiting, kneeling at the Shrine of the Fallen, quietly. She doesn't noticed the strange trio walking up to there.

Starianna Stormbringer, Queen of Eladramere.

Agaros Xamaroth, High Mage of Eladramere.

Vanessa Ralien, ambassador of Helzbelt, not wearing the long, flowing free dress of her role, but the more light red-orange formal dress of her family.

Styxx's right ear twitches from the people moving up behind her. She seems to have recognised their approach and her head turned a little to the right as to show she was attentive to them.

Starianna pauses as she spies Styxx at the monument, slightly surprised to see her out of bed, but moves behind her and lays one small hand upon Styxx's left shoulder and gives it a small squeeze.  "I thought you would be resting, Styxx."

"I am resting - my Queen. Hello to you too, ambassador and Agaros."

Starianna nods to Styxx and presses her lips together and and offers, "Styxx, I am deeply worried about you performing this ritual.  The last time it left you far too drained.  To do so again... I fear for your life."

Vanessa was lying on a pillar, looking at Agaros like there was a silent, wordless conversation between them, but at last she shakes her head while the dialog between the Queen and Styxx continue.

"The ritual was draining but it was the subsequent state that I had found myself in which weared heavily upon my mind."

"Yes, and I can not risk you doing harm to yourself in this persuit again...so we went to try and find a way to hopefully fortify you against such a drain...Vanessa can you  tell her please?"

The Helzian ambassador nodded.

"My dear, your Queen has asked me to assist you, screening you from nefarious interference and from spiritual draining, eventually giving you my energy to restore you. To this add that if your life would be in danger, I will shutdown every connection you will have with any entity."

"What if my life was not at risk as we know it but insanity was the price to pay instead?"

"I can feel that, lady Styxx. I have already faced that, when I saved my wife life."

"If you wish to take the sacrifice instead of myself, then so be it. I shan't stop thee from such a choice."

"Forgive me if I use 'big words' but it will be like my soul will take hand by hand yours. I will feel any danger you will face." then Vanessa looks at Starianna: "Safety first, correct?"

Starianna looks between the two and then over to Agaros, her gaze pausing, "Do you concur with this still being the best course, Agaros?"

The mage promptly answers: "I can attempt a type of 'lifeline' if you desire."

Vanessa looks at Styxx: "What danger we will face? A god, a demi-god, a powerful spirit?"

"Something that may surpass all of that."

Agaros looks at both: "That's the trouble, I've no concrete idea what The Lady is."

Starianna nods to Agaros, her brow knitted in worry: "I think that will be for the best... I want this to happen with the least amount of risks for all involved."

Agaros starts to find in his bag for some ancient tomes until he finds two of them, one a

thick, leather tome bearing an unusual symbol, the other is a hefty tome, black leather binding it together.

Agaros: "Styxx, Vanessa and Starianna, I will need you three to join hands in a triangular formation and Starianna, step on to the memorial"

Starianna places a small hand upon Styxx's shoulder and applies some small pressure.  "Should we fortify you first, then we can gather the relics for your needs."

Darian begins his ritual of solemn silence, and respectful waiting, remaining apart from the group until he was addressed, when Agaros calls him "Darian, I will need your help"

"Hm?" Eyes lifted, looking to Agaros.

"We are playing with powers beyond our comprehension so, I will need an assistant to ensure we somehow remain intact"

"....So the usual then?" The man's polite grin was never there, and his tone is both amused, and flippant.

Starianna, Styxx and Vanessa hold her hands, forming a circle.

Agaros starts to talk in a clear tone, pointing at the Memorial: "I have in my hand a book of Sovereign Magic. We will be establishing an anchor with these three, using that memorial. Bestow upon them a blessing of Spell Resistance, fortitude, and willpower. Welcome to your first time with circle magic."

Darian's eyes go wide, and he throws back the hat, looking to the fellow mage, "You are not serious, are you?"

"I am a servant of Eladramere, and I am very serious."

Darian looks bewildered for the space of two breaths, then stoicism slams back into his form once more, rigidity find it's place in his gaunt physicality, "I will need a moment to prepare my spells."

"Please do so. I will convert this architecture into an anchor", the wizard speaks in Draconic, calling upon the numerous deities of the earth, Chauntea, Grumbar, and others as he circles the platform. "Three stand hand in hand. Three stand with one goal for this land.

Darian exmaines the inscribed silver scales that make up his spellbook, pouring over the pictography until at least he has settled his hands and his mind to the task at hand.

Agaros starts to recite the spells: "Three stand hand in hand. Three stand with one goal for this land. Three stand upon the the Sacred Kingdoms of the Lady. Three stand awaiting the blessing of Calimshan, Zaydi. Three stand with one purpose, one life. Three stand to delve deeper into this endless strife. By the authority of the crown of Eladramere, Queen Starianna Stormbringer hereby asserts her dominion upon this land. The memorial is her anchor. It is her fortress. She hereby grants Lady Styxx the privilege of this journey into the depths beyond the Void, to meet, The Lady."

Darian's magic was borne of both the divine, and arcane... and as he worked, he pulled both from the weave, enchanting every spell of protection he could thing, and more besides for the trio... A master of Abjuration, pulling from the Divinity of the weave... This would be his gift for the trial ahead.

**Studying the Relics - Chapter Three**