Prayer

Candy Queen hesitantly followed the Order haedian deeper into the Orders territory, blood red crystals sending ominous shadows stretching and dancing across the tunnel walls as they walked. Occasionally she could hear whispers from some where in the dark as other Order haedians tagged along behind the two just out of sight. She really hated how needlessly theatrical and creepy this clan was and really wished she didn't end up visiting them again. As she was led into the capital of the Order once more she caught sight of yet another thing she really wished she would never see again. Looming ominously over a crowd of Order haedians a massive empyrian was encircled by a crowd of Order haedians. As the two approached Candy could hear the cultists happily chatting up ahead. The sound of almost normal chatter was somehow even more disturbing as Candy Queen approached she couldn't hide her grimace as the horrifying empyrian caught sight of the obnoxiously colorful runner. Wolgroth smiled her familiar predatory smile as she greeted Candy Queen, 'delighted' by the unexpected reunion. The order haedians gathered around Wolgroth murmured as the runner finally came to a stop before them, unsure whether to greet the runner as a friend of Wolgroths or to maintain their usual stoic hostility.

As the haedian cradling the nyxthorn stepped forward to tell the group why they had brought the runner to their capital, the gathered haedians decided to regard her with the latter attitude. Upon hearing of the surface dwellers invasion of the Matriarchs chamber the gathered haedians murmured and bickered between themselves, unsure how to react with the intrusion of the surface dwellers. As the arguing began to reach a fever pitch Shira emerged from the darkness of the capital and sauntered menacingly forward. Candy Queen couldn't help but notice the distinct charring and burns across the haedians crystal armor, an obvious sign that she had recently fought Wolgroth. "Silence," the Orders leader commanded. The crowd immediately fell silent, turning their attention to their leader with expectant eyes. "The Matriarchs body is afflicted with the blessing of Oris. For eons she has sustained us in these accursed caverns." The terrifying cult leader began her speech as she stalked a circle around the tiny runner, her eyes feral and wide as she stared down at the small vayron. "The blessing of god was too much for a mortal vessel and now she is bound to the earth. If you surface dwellers are able to assist in saving our Matriarch..." she paused before grimacing, as if the very idea of accepting help from the surface dwellers was repulsive to her. "Then we shall do everything in our power to assist as well."

Candy Queen blinked in surprise, not expecting for Shira to offer to help but she quickly got over her initial shock and bowed deeply in thanks. Shira turned her gaze to Wolgroth who had been silently observing the situation, the empyrians bright red eyes crackling with an other worldly energy. "You," she pointed to Wolgroth begrudgingly. "Follow me to the altar, we will commune with Oris to ask for his understanding as assistance with easing his blessing." Wolgroth smiled broadly, remembering the times she had accidentally connected with Oris when she awakened her magic. This was going to be marvelous! With a happy swagger in her step, Wolgroth followed Shira as the crowd moved to a massive obsidian temple. The interior of the temple was breathtaking, a mixture of gothic and archaic architecture that met in the middle to create a harsh and oppressive yet awe inspiring atmosphere. In the middle of the temple a polished statue of crystal rutilated with gold depicting a massive bull draped in ornate silken clothes and golden shackles on its horns stood ominously. Wolgroth and Shira took their places before the statue while Candy Queen and the crowd of Order haedians took positions in a semi circle around them. The Order haedians began to chant in an unknown language with their heads bowed, Candy Queen had no idea what was going on so she merely bowed her head and sheepishly muttered nonsense while trying to sound like she was part of the chant. Wolgroth on the other hand didn't need the chant, she closed her eyes and reached deep into her soul looking for the source of her magic.

Shira eyed the black empyrian curiously as she felt the shift in the atmosphere but continued her chanting. Wolgroth found the source of her magic with well practiced ease and then turned her attention to the bridge attached to it. Ever since she first awakened, the bridge had been there. It wasn't until she had reached the level of a spellmaster that she finally realized what this bridge was. Inwardly she followed the bridge as the Order haedians' chanting escalated until they were almost screaming their chant. Wolgroth reached the edge of the bridge, finding the familiar abyss that felt as if she was gazing into something terrifyingly incomprehensible and inwardly stepped forward. Immediately upon making contact with the void the crystal bull statue reacted, red energy seemed to swell within the bull illuminating its eyes in a terrifying fashion that made Candy Queen instinctively shrink back. The chanting immediately ceased with the change in the statue, never before had the statue reacted so distinctly to their prayers. As Shira bowed before the statue she glanced at Wolgroth out of the corner of her eye and was horrified to see the black empyrian stretch up defiantly to her full height to stare at the bull statues eyes. She was about to reprimand the arrogant outsider for her lack of reverence for their god and direct defiance when she saw a black and red smoke seep out from the bulls nostrils. The smoke wrapped around Wolgroth, crackling against her body as the empyrians blood red magic reacted at its touch.

The air in the chamber noticeably shifted and everyone present began to since something... Oris was amused? Candy Queens eyes darted back and forth between the bull statue and the terrifying empyrian. This was great and all but how exactly was this going to help the Matriarch? Just as quickly as the connection was made, it was severed again. Wolgroth blinked as if she was coming out of a pleasant dream before she turned away from the statue and started to leave the chamber. Momentarily stunned, no one moved to follow until Shira shot up to her feet and quickly followed shouting at the rest of her clansmen to rally and follow. This surface dweller has an exceptional connection to Oris, but how could that be? Shira glared daggers at the back of Wolgroths head, incredibly angry and annoyed that out of any creature on this planet their god had seemingly chosen some random surface dweller and not one of his devout followers. Ignoring the Orders leader and her obvious rage Wolgroth smiled as she followed the order her god had given her. It was time to free the Matriarch from her bindings.