Sacer Sanctus, Sacer Spiritus (Tyr)

[MKR]

November 15th, 2880
Erebonia, Pāvilosta
19:42 PM

The wind howled across the flats of northern Erebonia, sea salted wind carrying across vast distances but ever since last week they beat against something beyond the trees which lined the area. Now, nested deep in the woodlands but towering far above it stood a structure of stone. Ancient brickwork, grandiose and formidable now weathered the seaside breeze which breathed life into the lands of the Nortian province.

Despite the strangeness of the structure the locals stayed far away from it, be they scared, uncaring or knowing better it mattered not for today it would be disturbed all the same. Word had traveled near and far about these strange shrines appearing across the Erebonian nation and some had begun seeking them out, be it for profit or curiosity it mattered little. If people had returned alive from them they were not sharing the secrets of how to escape with one's life.

This place however- this place was different even from its peers. For no other shrine held that same promise on approach, the resounding power emanating from the structure. Like the breeze it breathed back, each exhale of its strength flowing against the wind and letting its presence be felt upon approach. Hairs standing up, a heartbeat rising, like a final warning before one dared enter the vicinity of whatever lay here.

Was it boast? Bluster? A tactic to cause some to turn away from great treasure by playing into the part of their mind wired to the ape from which they came?
It was uncertain, but perhaps instead. This was a test, for who would have the will to even stand before the grand doors of foreign rock, a large wheel like structure resting at its top as the stonework split down into a door kept closed.

Its inside was much less grandiose than its outside from an initial overview, rubble lay across a simple path spiraling down into the darkness. But in return the presence of the power was felt much clearer. The interior itself seemed to flow with magical energies, elements not circulating in the outside world could be felt here by those spiritually attuned to their presence. This place, where it had come from and what it contained felt forbidden, like a long sealed temple for a distant god.

Yet- who was it that dared enter sacred ground?

Hero? Villain?
Man? Monster?
Saint? Sinner?

And would these questions matter?

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“I don’t like this place. I’m getting bad vibes all around…”

The Aschen Knights had set up a temporary camp, a bit aways from the grandiose doors, running a few last checks on their Soldats and supplies. Mira had been the first to finish up her work, and had been staring at the massive building for a good ten minutes before she spoke up, drawing the attention of her Captain. Hildeburg let her jacket sway a bit as she stood alongside the rail thin homunculus, giving the entrance a glance of her own.

“I cannot argue with you there. There’s something wrong about it, but… That is how it went the last time, yes? This is why we’re waiting for others, this time around. Supposedly there should be some others coming, so the best we can do is grin and endear.”

“Endure?”

“That one, yes. Now, why don’t you eat something, you’ve haven’t had a break all day.”

 

[Hitura Rael]

Emperor Magnus Xos Deus slid the tomestone across the table to young Raen across from him. Koharu fidgeted in her flight suit for a moment before taking the pad up in and reviewing the report.

"As a quick overview, our Earth side allies have requested support in researching this... shrine." The emperor stood from his seat and paced to his table of spirits to pour himself a drink. "It will provide both of us a tactical advantage. And if something exists within, an Eikon or technology, it would give us an upper hand if we secure it for ourselves. We do not know what the terrain will be inside the shrine, making Emerald the best of the four to deploy."

The least devastating to lose he meant. Diamond was more versatile for the unknown, but that meant possibly losing the young princess if things were to go wrong. Koharu, on the other hand, was a conscript from Doma, easy to cow and manipulate, fearful and protective of her brother. And yet, she possessed a brilliant mind, tactile and cunning, better suited for the unknown. Emperor Magnus returned to the table and set a cup of Doman spirits in front of the young girl. "Should you succeed and return unharmed, you will be greatly rewarded. Full citizenship for you and your brother."

Koharu gripped the pad and forced a straight face to hide the frown. This was a dangerous mission to dangle citizenship in front of her. They would be treated as Garleans from then on, no longer looked down on. Maybe the emperor would stop threatening them with each other as well. It was an opportunity she could not pass up. She nodded and took the cup to sip from it.

Magnus graced her with a friendly smile and raised his glass, "To your success."

---

Emerald's arrival was heralded with the crash and snapping of trees. While suited for land, sea, and air combat, it was not the smallest, nimblest, or inconspicuous of the units. Ruby would have made it through without a problem, but Emerald? She was beefy, as Hald put it. The massive machine stopped short of the perimeter of the shrine, the camp of the Aschen Knights picked up on sensor sweeps. She had no desire to drop some trees on them by accident. After all, Koharu was not here to fight, she was here to research the phenomena.

 

[Tyr]

In an odd coincidence, or perhaps a twist of fate, while the Emerald WEAPON was barreling its way towards the ancient shrine, another arrival was fast approaching the camp the Aschen Knights had set up. Far more inconspicuous in its approach, there was no sound of crashing debris to announce its arrival. Though it clearly showed on any and all radars, its coloring blended in with the sky, and the telltale red streaks from its thrusters while easy to spot once seen were thin enough that spotting its approach with naked eye was difficult until it got close.

Its flying was almost graceful, almost looking more like a kite than an Armored Core in its current position, with the entire body in a single straight line.

Close to the makeshift camp, the output of the thrusters was lowered enough for the Ibis' to smoothly descend towards the camp, its weapons clearly unpowered. Landing, it slid on the ground, carving twin grooves into the soil. The AC's head turned to each member of the Aschen Knights one by one, but it did not move from the grooves.

"A pair of Soldats, a Knightmare... and one of the Divine Knights." A voice spoke out from the Ibis. Heavily modulated and altered, it was impossible to tell any distinct features of the voice or the mannerisms of the speaker. Only that the speaker likely was female, but it was so heavily modulated even that had some uncertainty to it. "An Erebonian squad, here for the request I take it."

The head turned towards the treeline where the Emerald WEAPON was, the AC's body slightly turning towards it as well. "An unknown machine, but distinct in style, and clearly unlike Britannian, Erebonian or anything in space... Garlean then?"

The winged AC straightened - what little it could with its reverse-jointed legs, its head turning towards the doors. "I am Etna. Erebonian team, have you finished your checkups?"

 

[MKR]

As Mira and Hildeburg gazed out to the Shrine, the pair could plainly feel the pressure emanating from within. Though, were they inclined towards that sort of sensitivity what accompanied it was not like what they had felt before meeting the Divine Knight they journeyed with. This power felt different, of a different source than their ally and yet felt... Hollow, akin to a void with pressure and presence. Whatever these things meant, the outside of the shrine would not disclose.

The question lingered however, what was it that remained here? Or worse yet, some twisted fragment of the Great Power. Perhaps this was a tomb, crafted to seal something within or had a being nested itself here for its own ends? Yet their stay here had almost been uncomfortably safe, even dangerous wildlife having no desire to get close to this location. The wind blew trees from side to side, shrouding parts of the surroundings in leafy cover before revealing them once more, bringing with it the worry that perhaps something would appear when the winds blew to one side or the other.

Yet that same silence persisted, no beast nor man came in the pursuit of any of the many who were here.

---

As everyone collected near the camp, be they watching. or landing within, it far beneath something stirred. Heavy thumps of movement and shifting posture as a gaze went skywards. Eyes closed gently, some ritual perhaps? Yet no movement further followed for a while. The gaze shifted no longer looking to the heavens as the same eyes previously shielded reopened.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“And so arrive the other players…”

Hildeburg tensed as the Garlean weapon descended, with Mira taking step in front of her captain. A few deep breaths, and the Garlean girl would hold up her hand in greeting.

“Perfect timing, both of you. Hildeburg Cheesewright, a pleasure to meet you Etna and… Our Garlean Friend. We’ve just finished our final checks, and as long as you’re ready to go, we can.”

The Aschen Knights would enter their mobile weapons, each hissing to life, with Valimar taking the lead, for the moment, and approaching the doors.

“Any questions?”

 

[Hitura Rael]

"Affirmative," Koharu answered almost inaudibly. This was after she had nodded her own head in silence to the question of Emerald's origin and dismay at the lack of ability for the WEAPON itself to nod, stiff as it's neck was. At least she felt safe and confident in the knowledge that if an Eikon were to be present in the shrine, Emerald could contain it once weakened. The rest of the group was the problem. They all looked... loud and out going. What if they wanted to talk the whole time? Or asked questions? Maybe she should have piloted Ruby instead, then at least her brother would be here dealing with people, not her. Magnus had said nothing of alliances and truces or cooperation!

"My names Koharu," her voice died the longer she spoke, her name almost being a whisper to them. And that was as much as she was willing to say. She had plenty of questions, none the teams likely could answer. All she had to do was step through the doors, hope Emerald's chunky frame could fit, and gather the intelligence. Then she could go home...

 

[Tyr]

"Koharu, you needn't force yourself. Hildeburg, you are the ones outside your rides, while both of us only now arrived." Despite the heavily altered nature of the voice, it still carried through a faint hint of gentle admonishing. Ibis raised one foot, gingerly taking a step forward, and while a part of it could be attributed to its care to not step on anything important, as well as to not wanting to seem threatening, it also gave the impression that walking was not something the machine was particularly adept at. Or something it did often.

"I presume all of us feel the welcoming? The pressure of power?"

Ibis' ginger, careful steps came to a stop several steps before the giant doors, the machine turning towards Hildeburg. It bent down slightly, gesturing with its hand and head towards the door, signaling Etna's intent for the Aschen Knights to go in first. Its gaze turned back towards the doors.

"Exciting, isn't it?"

 

[MKR]

When the Ibis approached the front first the grand, stalwart doors opened with a rumbling sound sliding into the walls that surrounded them. Ancient looking stone making way and opening the path to those who would dare enter. Greeting the group was no grand display of sights beyond mortal reasoning, no views that beggared belief and astonished unbelieving minds. Instead they were faced with a tunnel, going downwards ever deeper.

Illuminated by luminous crystals of gentle sky blue nested within pillars of rock, the interior of the Sanctus Shrine showed the telltale signs of decay and disuse, large rocks seemingly fallen from the ceiling dotted the path down- no that was a wrong assessment as the ceiling showed no signs of demolition or instability, this place was unfinished. Stone quarried out in parts but not in whole, a tunnel going deeper beginning to be decorated but having only the combination of torch and support that lined the walls in azure light until they too were replaced by simple yet ever burning lanterns that illuminated the way down.

Still however, no foes would appear to bar their path. None at least they could see, or feel. Though attempts at the latter were made difficult by the deafening presence that was coming ever closer with every step down the rock and stone pathways.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Hildeburg’s body would vanish in a sparkle of light, leaving Mira alone on the field, nodding once more to the rest of the Knights crew. After she started jogging for her Hector, Valimar would rise, its shoulders rolling, as if stretching. “Very well. We’ll take the lead then. It’s hard to deny that I’m not… Excited, by it’s beckoning. Now. Let’s answer it.”

The interior of the Shrine was enchanting, if not haunting. Gentle crystal lights, it certainly seemed similar to the very dungeon they had recovered Valimar from. Deeper, the trek would take them, cautiously taking their time, yet not quite making the attempt to be stealthy.

Hildeburg would about take this opportunity to try and send their Emerald ally a quick message. “Koharu… Doman?”

 

[Hitura Rael]

At least Etna wasn't as stern as the Emperor. She was more than happy to not force herself to interact with them. Of course that did not bar them talking to her or yelling at her. With no one to yell back... How she wished it was Mila or her brother here and not her.

Thankfully, focus shifted from introductions and interactions straight to the mission. Her heart sunk at the sight. Underground. This was Ruby's Domain, not Emerald. Magnus should have sent both and allowed them to decide which would go based on what was inside. But... the rest of the team had their hands full, she supposed. Emerald would be fine so long as it didn't get too narrow down there. At least it was pretty. And with the new technology provided by the captured machines from the Earth's Burn... Emerald was capable of recording the interaction.

Emerald moved to take as close to point as possible, it would do no one any good if it blocked escape routes after all. Better to be in front and use it's massive girth and armor to act as a tank for their allies. A small whimper muffled in her throat as one of the other girls messaged her. "Yes," she squeaked.

 

[Tyr]

Etna let the Emerald go past them before entering the shrine, bringing up the rear of the impromptu squad, a position that suited Ibis' weaponry well enough. They could only hope that the insides were both wider and taller than what the entrance was. Ibis needed the room to fight effectively. But before walking inside, there was one thing to do.

Main system
Activating Combat Mode​

Powering up the weapons.

Inside, Etna felt out of place. Almost like they were singled out by the circumstances. The Divine Knight as well as the Soldat seemed to fit into the place and its atmosphere, like they naturally went together. And while the Garlean machine fit in as poorly as the Ibis did, it still was from a world where magic was common place. Which the shrine around them seemed to be designed to invoke feelings of. The same could not be said of Ibis.

The unfinished nature of the shrine did not take away from the beauty of what was there, but it did bring doubts with it. "Hopefully they didn't leave crucial support structures unfinished."

 

[MKR]

The singular tunnel led deeper and deeper, any attempts for measuring distance failing right about now as the sensors would give contradictory evidence on both depth and location. It was like the group had found themselves somewhere between two places yet still firmly in the physical realm. Yet, as the ground began to equalize instead of decline the elaborate brickwork returned as well.

A lone bridge over a chasm leading to a door was the one way forward as the room opened up immensely, even something the size of the ancient super robots of yore could have passed over it- if barely and with perhaps a large question of whether the bridge could hold them. Still, this was fortunate enough for the group present as the ceiling was raised from before as well. Whatever was meant to be here was humongous it seemed.

And by the increasing potency of the power, just beyond that door.

Once the first of them had set foot on the sole structure saving any pedestrian approach from the pit beneath the door would begin to slide open akin to what the entryway had done. Ancient stone mechanisms grinding against the soil and parting, revealing beyond it a grand chamber. Its ceiling more than a hundred meters upwards and its depth at least twice that.
The shape would be reminiscent of the cathedrals of eld faithfully remade inside Erebonia's cities yet at the end there was no altar, no benches lined the room and no balcony for the choir to sing from.

Only them, and a beast.

Its form flickered like a mirage, a fata morgana belonging to neither time nor space.
Rising from its sitting position it gazed over the group, though its form may seem like it waver in the wind, or be seen through a veneer of water its eyes red as flame were ever distinguishable.

And its presence as firm as the earth it inhabited.

"Welcome." It spoke "Little humans." Its voice was low, yet unlike its appearance not obfuscated by any veil.

"Welcome as well, Shattered Divinity. Guest from Eitherys and Scion of the Emperor..." It paused after it stated that last greeting, "Perhaps not, it seems I have mistaken you for another."
The ring around its neck calmly spun counter clockwise as it sat there, surveying the ones who had approached it. Being this close to it, it was clear that the power this being emanated was what had been felt outside and going down. Here it almost choked the room even as it just sat there.

"I am A̵̷̬̺̟͇r͉̮͉͇͡ͅg̱̙͎̭̞̪̬̀̕r͓̼̬̬̩̥̤͢͝è҉̸̞̜̗̱̹̯̰̺ͅs͔͔̦͙ even if that name still is lost." When it spoke its name it was like fifty towels had covered its mouth, leaving only the notions of speaking and the count of vowels the name contained. A hint of sadness inside its tone after its name was drowned out.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

Every hair on Hilda was on end, as they entered the grand chamber, and their host made their introduction. Valimar and its pilot stared slack jawed at the large, alien figure, although dragon, might have been more apt. A feeling of awe, that they shouldn’t… Quite be seeing what they were seeing. A feeling that a curtain had been drawn, but the wizard was still a wizard.

“Thank you,” The half breed garlean would try and mimic the mouth of the dragon, feeling all the more like an idiot after the weird nonsense words her mouth put together.

“Well, ah, I am Hildeburg. This is Koharu, Mira, and Etna.” The Ashen Knight would gesture to the Weapon of each of her companions in turn, feeling ever quite… Out of place. “I apologize. I would have thought to bring gifts, if I had realized we would be intruding.”

 

[Hitura Rael]

Deeper and deeper into the bowels of the mine they went. Koharu was confused that Emerald actually fit the whole way. It was so wide, so bulky, and it floated! She had been braced to scrape against the ground the whole way and eventually get them stuck, not carry on unimpeded. At least she didn't have to deal with the vibrations and sound from the noise of metal on stone at least.

The bridge looked perilous, and suddenly she was thankful Emerald floated instead of stepped. How it held the weight of her companions, she had no idea. Small miracles she would not question deeply. Not when larger mysteries lie ahead, past the doors that swung open upon their approach.

And inside a massive... Dragon? That had to be a dragon. It looked similar to some of the depictions of dragons she had seen in paintings and stories from Ishgardians. Large, white, and long. Perhaps one of the first brood? But then again that one was told to have massive wings like that of a white bird.

She could not comprehend the name if her life depended on it. Something about the vibrations when the dragon spoke it's name rubbed her horns the wrong way, like an avalanche roaring down a mountain side. Whatever this creature was or called, it had an otherworldly aetherialness to it that marked it different from Eikons.

 

[Tyr]

The echoes of the IB-01's footsteps accentuated the silent, almost solemn descent of the party. Even when the sensors lost any semblance of rationality, Etna did not break the silence. There was an easy enough explanation for it; magic.

It was ironic, that the term once used by humanity of old to explain things beyond their current understanding was once again in use, to describe the genuine article.

Yes, they felt it. Whatever laid beyond felt like it was calling to them, beckoning to them.

Behind the doors, the truth was revealed. A majestic beast towering over them, flickering like a mirage yet with an undeniable presence, marking the lie to any notions about it not being real. Everything about it seemed to yell 'magic!' with the strength of a thousand megaphones, enough to make Etna feel wildly out of their depth.

Or it would have, if it did not feel so very familiar to them. Distantly, but undeniably so.

Ibis shifted on its legs, and almost like it was listening to someone, turned its head. Etna expressing themselves through the machine, treating it as an extension of their body. "This is unexpected." If the Armored Core had the capacity for blinking, it certainly would have done so. "You are kin to them, in a way, are you not?" A statement masquerading as a question, seeking confirmation.

"How do you lose a name like that?"

 

[MKR]

The creature, bereft of its name regarded the group calmly as they took in its presence, its very existence within this chamber. Each individual had a unique reaction, and it took it in. The faintest notion of a smile, not visible on its face but its mood as Hildeburg apologized for the lack of gifts.
"Rest assured, you are considered not as intruders nor as invaders but as guests." It spoke "Neither are you obliged to grant me any tribute or gifts."

It was at this point, that the pilot of the Ibis spoke and the beast's head turned towards it slowly.
"Kin... None are left I would give such a title though others may claim me as theirs." it paused, a sorrow long past but never forgotten hung in the air. Radiating from the being like power continued to, the reasons for these feelings it kept for itself but finally it spoke in vague notions of affirmation "What we share, is the history of being born of Earth." But only the vague notion, as such a statement could apply to all bar the Zentraedi, the Beta and the Invaders.

It was the second question that got the beast to close its eyes for a moment. Contemplation on what tale to tell, what words to say and whether to speak at all. The answer however, was that they deserved to know a history unwritten, a history forgotten. Fate, it deemed, had drawn them here and a tale, tragic though it may end was no more than words without any to remember it.
"Sacrifice." It answered resolutely, "A divinity forged in the midst of a maelstrom of malice was to be born of two. A curse that was poised to burn the land and salt the earth with its presence." Its eyes opened once more, "We could not slay it with just two of us remaining. So only one course remained, seal it for eternity. A rot delayed until the sun would swallow this planet whole."

It flexed its appendage, not a tinge of regret but plenty of longing had filled its voice so far as its recollection of this past deed was repeated for those not yet born to witness it then and there. "She was to stand guard over me, I was to stand guard over its torment as it ate away at my very being. Both of us failed."
"She was slain by a Hero, fallen from grace and twisted by the malice I failed to contain. My flesh fell against two more from distant stars. Both at odds with their destiny from the little I saw."

Its muscles relaxed after it spoke of 'her' and moved back to its own tale.
"And now the divinity can be brought back to the forge and made in earnest." Its head turned back to Valimar "But as one of its shards, you already felt that did you not?" There was that ever distant pang of hope, that malice would not consume it this time. Even if distant hope felt like the correct term for this being who had once already seen the darkness and lived it for untold years to feel about anything like that. Still, it was a path deserving of just that, hope.

"Ere that forge heats and those dark days are witnessed once more by men, I must rest and recover." It seemed that despite what it had lost, its flesh, its name and for all those years its wits. It did not intend to forfeit this bout.

 

[Tackle Jackie]

“Vague understandings…”
“Memories that feel closer every day, but still distant.”


As she sat in her Knight, the feeling that Valimar had forgotten more about the situation that she could remember dug itself firmly into the back of her mind. Only a flimsy understanding of what she would need to do as an Awakener, and that which had been passed on to her by others.

“Might I ask what it is that we can do for you, at this junction? Twould seem foolish to assume that your sanctuary would reappear on the surface once more without a more direct cause. Is there something about the Rivalries that is pushing things forward?”