The Anomie of the Nightmare Anew, a Living Hel [Skarnfel v. Aphros]

[Heimdalic_Dreams]

Within the Church entrance, settled with the weight of the world upon his massive ebon wings and shoulders, stood a man of grim face and determined eyes. He spoke firmly to those who surrounded him, the Blood Knights own leather appendages stiff with formality whilst the Baron of what was once Blood Rose spoke. In his golden eyes glowed a promise, a commitment, every word a slab of earth into the injured wounds of all which they had last. A forced mend in too short a time.

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"What, is a gravestone..."

"It is as a Soul. Sacred. Coveted. To be Mourned upon. To be praised. Spoken to regularly. Cared for. And beloved."

"To be protected. Washed daily. Vices uprooted. Sweat offered. It takes work. Strong, back breaking, steady work. Yet it is done regardless, every day, for the sake of those who can no longer do it for themselves."

"Before I was a Baron. Before I was a Captain, a Knight, a Squire - I was the graveyard keeper. Still am, even. Every morning, when I can, I wash the tombs for the dead, set as markers upon the legacies that Were. Placed there, for the lives that Will Be to look upon, and regret, and cry, and smile, and accept. For their memories to continue past this realm, past whatever realm that comes next, and into the realm of the hearts of those who are willing, WILLING to sweat for them still, even in their death."

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A pause as those same eyes dimmed, a crimson ring upon the edges of his vision sinking like teeth into a willing neck.

"I accept my selfishness, in hand with my selflessness. I grasp for the hand of Duality, for the Warden of Hel, with praying hands which are most unworthy - Hoping the strength of the evocation will gift me the might needed to do as I need in His name." He stares upward, then, to the Atrium of the church. "I hold in my heart, two gods. Yet both are of Balance. Of the virtues they appear. One a Warden of the Dead. One a Dead Goddess, whose memory flushes forth in the lunar light above."

"I swore long ago, to do my best in protecting the people of Aphros. Of carrying what weight I can carry, as a man, upon my shoulders. For the Oracle. For those she, herself, protects, and promised my bladehand to Athelios, to Umbra, to Astra; To Aphros. And if the city in which I love someday crumbles, with the Tombstones and Marks and Memorials of the Dead being the ruble of our city... If all become the markers of which I have spoken, legacies to those who come after... And if I am somehow not under those stones myself... I will carry its spirit in here, in this swordarm, so long as it is with me!"

"I ask the same for you - Out of my selfish love. Out of my selfless wants. Fight with me - Defend this sanctuary, the whole of Aphros, and all in which it stands for."

"Defend the church! Defend the bastion of Athelios!"

"Defend Aphros!"

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The Bloodknights of Blood Rose peel their eyes away from the island what once was Blood Rose, focused now as clear as ever upon Aphros, in clear defense.
They know what they desire, yet the loyalty and care their Baron holds for this Church and City, will never be enough to truly show his love. 



Objectives:
Defend Aphros!
Defend the Church! 
Defend the Oracle!