01-06-2018, 03:00 AM
The sound of knocking pulled Evangeline’s attention to the door.
“My lady, the oil and soap you requested have arrived.” A masculine voice called from behind the door.
“Have the alchemists do as I instructed.” Evangeline called back. She wasn’t exactly in a position to answer, with only a white towel covering her still drying body as she stood, eyeing her discarded garments. “Grind the soap into a powder and then add it to the oil in a one to eight ratio by volume. Stir until it periodically until if forms a gel.”
The amount she required was impossible to make it all on her own, and even to feudal alchemists it was not a difficult task, just labour intensive. Which meant she was left with time, time to dwell on the revelations of the day. With a huff she walked over to the bed and collapsed backward onto it’s soft upholstery, all the while the image of the creature rose to the surface of her mind, Omni. Promises of eternal life providing it was entertained, and anything she wanted.
What you want most.
The words resonated. What Evangeline wanted most was a way back to the comfort of her sisters, or so she believed. Perhaps there was something within her that didn’t want to return. She considered the arduous nature of life in the 41st millenium, her mind always on guard for corrupting influences and her body always ready for war. It was an idea that she was able to quickly dismiss. Though the landscape was alien, the monsters were very familiar, and she felt no more at ease here than in the Imperium. The only difference was that she was alone. Perhaps she did want an escape from the Imperium, but it would not be to a place such as the Moor.
The thing she wanted most was definitely to return home. More than anything. It had been in the background as she pushed forward, like a little child calling out to her father. Something she had to ignore and drag with her as she pushed forward. Now in the quiet of an opulent room, as far as feudal standards go, she could entertain it. Indeed she had been for quite some time now. She wanted it, more than anything. So either the creature was lying to her or a path home was off the table.
Something simpler then. She cast her eyes back to the shield robes she’d left in a heap in the corner, festering in the rotten muck of the swamp. She knew it must be cast upon the fire yet she had not yet done so, and she knew the reason. It was not something like an attachment to the holy garment of her order. Her reason was vanity and comfort. Being born of nobility Evangeline had a taste for the finer things. High thread counts were the standard growing up, and she considered the clothing of the community leader on par with sackcloth. It was a line of thought that began many self-flagellation rituals, though her time in the Hospitalia only served to strengthen those notions. In practice, the cleaner and more well made her equipment and dressings were, the better the outcomes for the patient. Nonetheless, her instinctive vanity was a trait she felt was inappropriate for a sister of the Adepta Sororitas.
“Do not think of such things.” A voice, feminine but abrasive, said in front of her.
The room had morphed into a small chapple. The walls and floor were made from white marble and the altars and pews made from Ivory. Each had an opulent golden trim. Coloured light filtered in through the stained glass windows, it was all slightly formless however, as though it was always a fuzzy mess until her eyes set upon that particular place, only to turn into liquid the moment she lifted them. Evangeline herself was 3 feet talk, hunched over at the altar and praying when she heard the voice.
“Your narcissism is an affront to the God Emperor. Cleanse such deviant thoughts from your mind lest I cleanse your presence from me with the flame.”
The woman was dressed in golden power armour with wings poking out either side of her shoulders. Again, much like the room the specifics were formless, save her face which was like a mirror.
“And here you are, moments after listening to the words of a formless creature to now follow the abominations instruction. Whatever gifts it offers are heretical, it’s powers obscene.”
“I know that!” the child protested apologetically, with tears in her eyes, streaming down her face “But I am alone, and face the ruinous powers.” She pleaded with the angelic figure “What would you have me do? Use the muskets of these men to defeat the great evil?”
The angelic figure was silent. She wanted to say ‘Have faith that the Emperor will save you.’ but the lack of warmth she felt from the astronomican gave her pause.
“I was fighting agents of Tzeentch.” The angel said with with the same tenor as before. “I cannot assume that this isn’t some ruse by one of their magicians, to turn me from the emperor’s light."
The child wiped her eyes clear and stood up. “On the off chance it isn’t, don’t I also have a responsibility to the innocents of this world?” She asked with a slightly sheepish, shaking voice.
“This power cannot be trusted. I cannot risk being tainted by it.” The angel became dismissive.
“I already am.” The child straightened up “My tooth was healed. And apparently I’m reborn when killed. This power is already woven into my being.”
“If that’s the case then I should end it now. Put this rebirth to the test.” The angel’s infection was hesitant.
“If not me then who will protect the villagers? No one else understands the threat the rot poses.” The child said with a determined voice.
The cathedral shattered in a moment and everything regained its focus. Evangeline's mind was no longer split into to two, now only she remained, the hospitalia dressed in Sororitas armour. Her thoughts became lucid and she recognised that she was dreaming, but the dream had suddenly taken a different turn.
“My lady, the oil and soap you requested have arrived.” A masculine voice called from behind the door.
“Have the alchemists do as I instructed.” Evangeline called back. She wasn’t exactly in a position to answer, with only a white towel covering her still drying body as she stood, eyeing her discarded garments. “Grind the soap into a powder and then add it to the oil in a one to eight ratio by volume. Stir until it periodically until if forms a gel.”
The amount she required was impossible to make it all on her own, and even to feudal alchemists it was not a difficult task, just labour intensive. Which meant she was left with time, time to dwell on the revelations of the day. With a huff she walked over to the bed and collapsed backward onto it’s soft upholstery, all the while the image of the creature rose to the surface of her mind, Omni. Promises of eternal life providing it was entertained, and anything she wanted.
What you want most.
The words resonated. What Evangeline wanted most was a way back to the comfort of her sisters, or so she believed. Perhaps there was something within her that didn’t want to return. She considered the arduous nature of life in the 41st millenium, her mind always on guard for corrupting influences and her body always ready for war. It was an idea that she was able to quickly dismiss. Though the landscape was alien, the monsters were very familiar, and she felt no more at ease here than in the Imperium. The only difference was that she was alone. Perhaps she did want an escape from the Imperium, but it would not be to a place such as the Moor.
The thing she wanted most was definitely to return home. More than anything. It had been in the background as she pushed forward, like a little child calling out to her father. Something she had to ignore and drag with her as she pushed forward. Now in the quiet of an opulent room, as far as feudal standards go, she could entertain it. Indeed she had been for quite some time now. She wanted it, more than anything. So either the creature was lying to her or a path home was off the table.
Something simpler then. She cast her eyes back to the shield robes she’d left in a heap in the corner, festering in the rotten muck of the swamp. She knew it must be cast upon the fire yet she had not yet done so, and she knew the reason. It was not something like an attachment to the holy garment of her order. Her reason was vanity and comfort. Being born of nobility Evangeline had a taste for the finer things. High thread counts were the standard growing up, and she considered the clothing of the community leader on par with sackcloth. It was a line of thought that began many self-flagellation rituals, though her time in the Hospitalia only served to strengthen those notions. In practice, the cleaner and more well made her equipment and dressings were, the better the outcomes for the patient. Nonetheless, her instinctive vanity was a trait she felt was inappropriate for a sister of the Adepta Sororitas.
“Do not think of such things.” A voice, feminine but abrasive, said in front of her.
The room had morphed into a small chapple. The walls and floor were made from white marble and the altars and pews made from Ivory. Each had an opulent golden trim. Coloured light filtered in through the stained glass windows, it was all slightly formless however, as though it was always a fuzzy mess until her eyes set upon that particular place, only to turn into liquid the moment she lifted them. Evangeline herself was 3 feet talk, hunched over at the altar and praying when she heard the voice.
“Your narcissism is an affront to the God Emperor. Cleanse such deviant thoughts from your mind lest I cleanse your presence from me with the flame.”
The woman was dressed in golden power armour with wings poking out either side of her shoulders. Again, much like the room the specifics were formless, save her face which was like a mirror.
“And here you are, moments after listening to the words of a formless creature to now follow the abominations instruction. Whatever gifts it offers are heretical, it’s powers obscene.”
“I know that!” the child protested apologetically, with tears in her eyes, streaming down her face “But I am alone, and face the ruinous powers.” She pleaded with the angelic figure “What would you have me do? Use the muskets of these men to defeat the great evil?”
The angelic figure was silent. She wanted to say ‘Have faith that the Emperor will save you.’ but the lack of warmth she felt from the astronomican gave her pause.
“I was fighting agents of Tzeentch.” The angel said with with the same tenor as before. “I cannot assume that this isn’t some ruse by one of their magicians, to turn me from the emperor’s light."
The child wiped her eyes clear and stood up. “On the off chance it isn’t, don’t I also have a responsibility to the innocents of this world?” She asked with a slightly sheepish, shaking voice.
“This power cannot be trusted. I cannot risk being tainted by it.” The angel became dismissive.
“I already am.” The child straightened up “My tooth was healed. And apparently I’m reborn when killed. This power is already woven into my being.”
“If that’s the case then I should end it now. Put this rebirth to the test.” The angel’s infection was hesitant.
“If not me then who will protect the villagers? No one else understands the threat the rot poses.” The child said with a determined voice.
The cathedral shattered in a moment and everything regained its focus. Evangeline's mind was no longer split into to two, now only she remained, the hospitalia dressed in Sororitas armour. Her thoughts became lucid and she recognised that she was dreaming, but the dream had suddenly taken a different turn.