[video] A Blood Cultist's Introduction

[sacrament_of_blood]

[The girl that pops up appears to be about 16, and aside from her red eyes, as she speaks sharp teeth can be seen.]

Truly this is a most perplexing situation, to be snatched away to where one cannot feel the Goddess, to a place full of soulless abominations. Nevertheless, they seemed not hostile at all and there was no trace of the Empty Ones in them, so I restrained from slaughtering every one I saw and letting the rivers of blood flow. I would appreciate it if someone informed me whether this restraint was wise or not.

Truly I do not know what to do or say. This is truly the strangest situation I have found myself in. I do not know what dangers I should be wary of, what customs I should heed, even what role there is for me here. I would look to the Goddess for inspiration, but here she is silent.

Pray tell, are there any other who follows the teachings of She Who Walks in Blood and the Living Corpse?

Comments

Video

[cool_skeleton]

UM, YES, THAT WAS PROBABLY A WISDOM. BECAUSE EVEN WITHOUT SOULS, IT'S STILL VERY ILLEGAL TO SHED THAT MUCH BLOOD. I'M A GUARDIAN. THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE BOOKS!! WHICH I'VE READ!!!

[Respect his skeletal authority.]

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT TEACHER, BUT TRADITIONALLY PEOPLE...FIND JOBS!! SO, WHAT ARE YOU GOOD AT? ASIDE FROM VIOLENCE???

[sacrament_of_blood]

[There's a pause and an obviously stunned expression. What matter of skeletal creature is this? However, it would probably be rude to inquire what he is, no matter how confounding he is to her and how much she badly wants to ask. After all, she was taught to be polite. Besides, he spoke of being a guardian, which is a truly excellent profession. Finally, she is able to rouse herself enough to speak.]

I can administer the rites of She Who Walks in Blood, but if there are naught of my people here, there would not be a call for it. Aside from that, I am proficient in hunting down people and killing or capturing them as necessary. But how much call for that exists here?

[Video]

[kalmaleader]

I would say the restraint was wise. There is already tension between humans and those dark creatures in Everglade because of needless prejudicial slaughtering. A random slaughter by a newcomer would only rouse more suspicions.

"She Who Walks in Blood and the Living Corpse?" That almost sounds like the Plaguebringer where I come from...but she walks more in disease and decay rather than blood and corpses...

[cool_skeleton]

YEAH, UM, SORRY, YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE OF...THOSE I'VE HEARD OF.

[He's kind of hoping the last, too, if they're this blood-crazy.]

THEN YOU'RE IN LUCK, BECAUSE THERE IS! SORT OF!! BOUNTY HUNTING'S A BIG THING IN ALL FIVE CITIES!! YOU EVEN GET A COOL LICENSE IF YOU DO IT IN NOVA CITY!!

JUST, YOU KNOW. WITHOUT THE MURDER. BECAUSE THAT TOO IS VERY ILLEGAL.

[sacrament_of_blood]

There are two gods. The Bloody Goddess deals in death and slaughter, slaying all that would harm Her people. The Living Corpse deals in life and peace, giving His people the means to survive. As much as they might different in method, they are united in purpose: the safety of my people. The Goddess is the one I have given myself to and as such I am her hand to bring death as necessary.

[sacrament_of_blood]

[She still badly wants to ask what he is.]

Ah, so I see that is the purpose I was brought here to serve. I have heard tales of the bounty hunters from the old days, so I shall be glad to follow in their steps.

But might I inquire your name? I am called Merciless, because it is a virtue to be merciless to ones enemies.

[cool_skeleton]

UM...THAT'S NOT A VIRTUE I'VE EVER HEARD OF!! NOT LIKE FRIENDLINESS, WHICH CAN TURN ENEMIES TO THE OTHER SIDE!! THAT'S WHY I DON'T HAVE ANY!! ENEMIES, THAT IS.

[That he knows of. Hoo boy does this lady unnerve him something fierce.]

YES, I AM CALLED THE GREAT PAPYRUS!! PLEASED TO MAKE YOUR ACQUAINTENCE!

[kalmaleader]

How curious...

Why is the god called the Living Corpse? It seems to contradict His purpose...

video;

[namemeansbeauty]

She who walks in Blood and Living Corpses? I assume that would be the Goddess you mentioned before, correct?

[Belle was probably not a fan of that one, but learning was always a good idea regardless.]

[sacrament_of_blood]

[The struggle not to ask what Papyrus is all too real.]

Truly you are a kind person. In that case, I shall protect you to the utmost, for such kindness deserves to be protected.

[Also, someone this naive needs protection.]

[sacrament_of_blood]

He is called such, because he sacrificed his life with the help of the Goddess, who slew him so that his flesh and blood might become refugee, food, and many other things to us. And yet he still lives.

[sacrament_of_blood]

You are not the first to hold this confusion. They are in fact, two gods. The Bloody Goddess teaches us to joyfully slay our enemies, while the Living Corpse teaches us how to live in joy.

[cool_skeleton]

[Oh, but she knows exactly what he is: kind and naive. Though he'd never admit that last one.]

I'M FLATTERED BY YOUR COMPLIMENTS AND HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO PROTECT ME. EVEN THOUGH IT'S PROBABLY NOT NECESSARY, FOR THE GREAT PAPYRUS IS VERY STRONG!

[By monster standards, anyway. 680 HP is nothing to sneeze at!]

W-WELL, IF YOU CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY THAT MUCH, AND IF YOU SPREAD OUT YOUR ENTHUSIASM A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS AN ENTIRE CITY, MAYBE YOU COULD BE DEPUTY...? BUT ONLY IF YOU MET MY STANDARDS!!

[On the one hand: still nervous. On the other, still greedy. He hadn't filled out the five deputies he could recruit and was always on the lookout for new talent. And, disturbing as "Merciless" is, it was clear she needed someone impeccably excellent and moral like him to put her on the straight and narrow.]

[sacrament_of_blood]

It is good that you are so strong then. There are some wicked souls that would take advantage of such kindness despite how despicable an action it would be. The world truly would lose something if you died.

[She's... being unsettlingly sincere.]

And it is all of humanity itself that I guard. I suppose that extends to all nonhumanity that thinks as well. Speaking of, what do you classify yourself as?

[Okay, she couldn't resist given a good timing for the topic.]

[kalmaleader]

How...curious.

[And kind of gross, but he'll keep that part to himself. Who knows what this Living Corpse's flesh is even made of.]

It's amazing what our gods will do to protect their worlds, isn't it? And yet they are so ignored...

[cool_skeleton]

PERHAPS, BUT IF ANYONE CAN UNWICKIFY THEM, IT'S SURELY THE GREAT PAPYRUS!! WHO HAS AN UNBROKEN RECORD OF LIVING EVERY DAY!! THAT MUST BE WHY THEY CALL ME "UNDEAD!"

[Though there may be another reason...]

I'D CLASSIFY MYSELF AS: FIRST!!!

[First-class chef, first-class Guardian, first-class pokemon trainer, first-class friend...]

[sacrament_of_blood]

Those two are the only two true gods.

[She pauses, considering.]

Though matters might be different in other worlds....

[Now she's feeling a bit of theological confusion. There's a moment of silence before she continues.]

But you are correct. They have done their utmost for us and if your gods are the same, then they are worthy of respect.

[She'll... give that much at least?]

[sacrament_of_blood]

[...

She has no way to described how confused she suddenly is. She was already doing her best to follow along, and then that non sequitur appeared out of nowhere. In the end, she decides to just bore onward.]

Very well. Are you a human who has had some unusual fate occur to them, or are you something else entirely?

[cool_skeleton]

[That's the recommended strategy.]

OF COURSE NOT!! I, THE GREAT PAPYRUS, AM A PROUD MONSTER. AND A SKELETON!! WHICH IS ONE OF THE CUDDLIEST, BEST KINDS!!

[sacrament_of_blood]

[And there is her answer. Now she can mentally file that puzzle away as solved.]

I have heard fables of monsters that were malicious and monsters that were kind and helpful. I will take it you fall into the latter category.

[Many of those stories were based on pop culture passed down as oral traditions.]

What would the qualifications for a deputy be, then?

[She wants to keep an eye on him just in case someone does something to him.]

[kalmaleader]

Different worlds have different gods. The fact my gods do not exist in your world, or vice versa, does not make them any less "true."

The Eleven in my world are...finnicky, but still, they gave birth to dragonkind, and so we are grateful.

[sacrament_of_blood]

Very well. I have my true gods, and you have your true gods. It is good that you respect yours.

[She'll just deal with her theological confusion by deciding what applies to her world doesn't apply to others and what applies to other worlds doesn't apply to hers.]

[cool_skeleton]

[Well if she likes puzzles, just wait! Because Pappyrus' are not actually very good.]

AS YOU CORRECTLY OBSERVE, MY KINDNESS AND HELPFULNESS ARE NO FABLE!! THEY'RE THE STUFF OF LEGENDS!!!

[Oh, she's actually considering it. And here he thought her aims of helping everyone forever were too universal to be confined to just one fifth of the world. His compelling charm must have won her over, like always.]

THEY'RE VERY EXACTING!! ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST SHOULD CONSIDER SUCH A DASHING AND DARING RESPONSIBILITY LIKE BEING ONE OF MY DEPUTIES!!!

FIRST, YOU MUST SHOW UP TO WORK ON TIME, WHICH COULD BE ANYTIME!! EVIL NEVER RESTS, SO WE CAN'T EITHER!!

SECOND, YOU HAVE TO GET ALONG WITH ME AND THE OTHER DEPUTIES!! WHICH WON'T BE HARD, FOR I'M GOOD FRIENDS WITH BOTH!!

THIRD, YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR BEST TO PROTECT THE CITY OF FAYREN, NO MATTER WHAT!! IT HAS TO COME FIRST!!

FOURTH, YOU HAVE TO KNOW AND RESPECT THE LAWS HERE!! GRANTED, SOME OF THEM KIND OF SUCK AND THEY'RE NOT ENFORCED ALL THAT WELL, BUT I AM WORKING ON IT!!

FIFTH, NO SWEARING OR CURSING!!

[Not true, but he really gets mad if you do.]

SIXTH, YOU HAVE TO APPLY!! BECAUSE YOU CAN'T BE HIRED UNTIL YOU DO!!

...I THINK THAT ABOUT COVERS IT!

[robodorable]

You particular word choice on that is disconcerting to this unit.

Good day, nonetheless... This presumed divinity name is unfamiliar to this unit, sorry.

[Video]

[peaceful_shadows]

[It's curious that she might address a supposed goddess as that. To Nikola, it almost sounds like a descriptor for his Mother...or any other number of Kindred he might think of.

Regardless, his curiosity demands he answers or at least as questions.]

She who walks in blood and the living corpse? That is quite the title for one woman to handle. Exactly, what sort of things does this Goddess teach to her followers? I admit you have me rather curious.