where the gods take you | vali day 2

[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

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The darkness bleeds away with the light of another entrance; a build up of the walk forward. Her pack slightly lighter than before. A whisper of the chill upon her cheeks where she can feel the world staring upon her. The gods dancing with every cold touch to her skin; a dramatic showing of their guidance upon the world. The silence still surrounds the land. A breath held. The calm before the endless chaos of a battle to be. The taste of iron upon her tongue is enough to show her the gods are watching with bated breath for them. It's a chill running down her spine as the cold resides where warm hands hold hers for a single moment. A rooted feeling of connection to the lives around her. As if she could reach out and guide herself forward in the empty spaces between; she isn't meant to feel anything. They're a means to an end. A final sacrificial lamb to the gods.

It's a pathetic feeling. One she's already growing annoyed with. Face taut with the exertion of annoyance, but she'd managed to collect the items of that room, handing off the helmet to Marceline with a gentle reminder of a touch. One of these days, she'll make Marceline and Hal become her sacrifices to the gods. They'll reach the great halls; dying in battle with victories upon their skin. Marceline still stands as the only one with blood on her hands as of the start. Cannons haven't sounded since bloodbath. A silence bites at her tongue as she mutters to herself. "Oh gods everywhere, guide me. I know tomorrow will bring forth the first part of your plans." Her eyes look around; a gentle search for the false gods. "I kill only for you. Tomorrow you will see." It's a bitter look forward before she sets back into motion.

Before her, is a cliff opening to lockers and a lift going elsewhere. The chill setting in as Vali looks from atop it and smiles; someone's been there. They'd managed to fix up this place. She's tempted to try and figure it out, but there'd be time for that later. Her eyes focus on the place for a moment too long. There's got to be something to find that could make or break them in the future. A hum on her lips, she bundles in just ever so tighter beginning to look around. Eyes scanning the area for anything that could be useful.

(Vali scavenges at the Mines Exit!)
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(Coal)

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[Kingston Cesaire D3A [Tom]]

❦

The piece of blackened stone she finds sends her spiraling for a moment. The blackened edges of the stone bleed onto her skin; her eyes stare intimately at the coal before she hums to herself. It's perfect for her needs. There's the taste of something putrid on the back of her tongue before she looks around to see no one else. Usually these rites are done by others, given as a gift to those who work with the gods themselves. Seers who practice the magic of the gods themselves. Only, she's a goddess herself; she could perform the rite herself. A deep breath before she moves back away from the lockers and into the light of the day where the chill starts to settle in. Carefully, she removes the gloves from her hands, to free her digits to the cold. Fingers ever so white and red; the flow of blood still there.

A deep breath as she goes down to her knees where she begins to remove her clothes; starting with the top to reveal an expanse of skin, she leaves herself open to the cold. The chill settling in as she starts to hum words out loud to herself. "I call upon the gods; old and new. To the allfather, the seers, and the weavers of fate; provide me with protection. Provide this body of mortal flesh with the blessings of your realm. May this fuel to burn guide me through the days with your protection against spirits old and new." Gently, her fingers begin to pull apart the coal into her fingertips. The chill residing through her body as she can feel the freeze starting to set in. Her fingers are gentle as she moves them into patterns along her neck, her chest, and her stomach. Pale skin marked by the blackened fuel for fire.

"Algiz. For protection and defense against all who oppose you." Three points to one, she draws the symbol. "Eihwaz. To guide my way forward; allow the spirits of mother nature and the gods above walk through me." A stagnant movement of fingers against her neck, she knows this'll be the one to show to all of Panem. A symbol of her present until she either rises in the mortal realm or the one beyond. "Ehwaz. For protection to all who surround me; loyalty burned to the flesh." A symbol carved into the deepest part of her stomach to be hidden away from sight, but always be there beneath the warmth. The gentle caress of gloved hands that'd provided comfort in the dark for just a moment. Settling with these blessings, she redresses away from the cold. A chill settling in as she hums to herself and begins to move once more.

She waits for a moment to linger near the lockers. Her lips are pursed together as she begins to search through the lockers once more. Invigorated by rite, she feels the chill making her chatter. It wasn't the best idea, but she'd needed to be bear to the world for them all to see her. Now covered in the debris of coal, she feels better about what's to come. The protection of the gods and herself, she sets to finding more for them. A hum upon her lips.

(Vali scavenges at the Mines Exit again!)
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(Insulated Coveralls (-2 weather damage))

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