The epitome of good and the incarnation of evil. An obsession in most civilizations, especially in human culture. The struggle to measure such abstract concepts is difficult everywhere, including Fracture. Which one would think might be the exact opposite considering the sins and their counterpart virtues exist in that reality. Demarcation lines between good and evil don't exist and even things such as angels and demons deviate wildly. Demon's and the horned have been some or the greatest champions as well as malefactors. The same goes for the angel's and the haloed.
The haloed and the horned, the term for someone who has earned the symbol of either ran angel or demon's power through actions rather than birth. The methods vary, and are vast, but the easiest way to obtain either a halo or a horn are through virtues and sins respectively. Which is why the promiscuous pixie had Stygian working to advance both gluttony and lust. For her own reasons she wanted to make Stygian as potent as possible.
One must be careful when advancing a sin or, my dear friends, you might just fall into it becoming a savage mindless thing. Carefully indulging in a sin is the only way to properly advance it towards earning a unique skill as well as eventually earning a horn. Like trying to climb down a muddy hill in a rainstorm indulging a sin wasn't an easy task. The sin itself would actively poke and prod you trying to get you to slip and fall into it. Sins were not just the unfortunate desires of their host, no they were exponential exaggerations of personality. Leveling a sin would make it stronger so your will had to be stronger, which most of the time people overestimated themselves, and fell to their sins. Which is why most would seek absolution from their flaws and would try to gain a virtue.
Virtues were less dangerous than sins, but they were also harder to obtain. Sins were exaggerations, while virtues were all you my dear friends, meaning you would have to be devoted to the aspect of a virtue to gain access to it. Much like sins virtues gave a skill and eventually a halo instead of a horn. Falling into a virtue is also possible. While sins would turn you into some kind of monster, virtues would turn you into a narrow minded self obsessed fool who would believe that breaking with their chosen virtue deserved death. They would also believe themselves to be godly and infallible, so they would be a monster, but the worst kind. The kind that was almost sympathetic in a way. The kind that didn't look like a monster, but would try to corrupt everyone and everything with their lies.
Most chasing power would want to get their hands on a halo or a horn because it was fast if not entirely easy, and they power gained was ridiculous. Which is exactly how Gwyn was able to take over the pixie settlement. He had earned a halo of his very own.
Vae nor any other pixie knew how he had done it, but it had been done so why wasn't too important. After Vae had given Stygian a very similar explanation to all that I have just explained. The reason was that our bug was more curious about the halos and the horns then actual tale of what happened in the settlement. So after briefly answering the Psyling questions, as well as asking some of her own about the metamorphosis, Val began trying to explain what happened in the settlement, for the second time.
"A few days after I had returned from our last hunt Gywn called for an emergency meeting. I had informed the council previously that you would be gone for some time and didn't know when you would return, so hearing an emergency summons didn't bode well. Once all the elders arrived Gwyn began to monologue about pixie history and the desire to become a higher Fae."
"Whaaat?" Interrupted the ever curious Deväk psychically to Vae and all the remaining elders.
"It is the desire of most pixies to cast off our weak and limited forms for something bigger and more powerful. We are the weakest of all Fae, but with enough power we could shift our forms to something else. Much in the way you have, insect." The matronly elder who spoke made it quite clear that she was quite jealous of the deväk ability as well as scornful of the form it had chosen. Which was totally reasonable. Pixies formed clans and spent nearly their entire lives to become something more, and this infantile insect did it in a month. Well it was a different process than what pixies went through and was more akin to monster evolution, but the principal was the same. Jealous and resentment were valid reaction, to which Stygian retorted by bared the makeshift tendril teeth at her.
Vae looked disdainfully at both Stygian and the elder. "Can I continue, or do you want to keep flirting?"
The silence was solid as more hateful looks were cast at both Vae and Stygian. It was very apparent that the elders disapproved of Vae addressing them so casually. Though it seemed that the council had restricted Vae a great deal, because she was definitely more immodestly dressed than anyone else present. Which also factored into the disapproval. Stygian didn't really see what the big deal was though. It understood that both clothes and armor were useful as protection, but it didn't see the harm in not wearing them. Or Vae's case just were extremely see-through clothes. After all Stygian hadn't worn anything other than a flower, and that was only briefly.
The only reason Vae was wearing something so scandalous was to help hone and control the ever present and overwhelming urges of her lust. Which if mastered would earn her a horn. That however is besides the point at hand and once Vae was certain that nobody would interrupt she began where she left off.
"So Gwyn began his monologue about higher Fae and began to describe a world where the elevated pixies would over the other pitiful races. Then he declared that stone heart was no longer just a clan, but a kingdom where he would rule. Of course all the pixies laughed at him it was a foolish notion there hadn't been a head of the clan in generations and a king would be simply barbaric. At which point Gwyn laughed along with everyone and said something to the effect of, 'If you wish to live I'd kneel right now.' When nobody did a glowing golden halo appeared above his head and a hammer materialize in his grasp. He slaughter more than half the council of elders, before I created a barrier to stop him. He paced outside and offered to make me his queen if I lowered the barrier, said that we could usher in a new era of pixies. I told him to eat shit as some of the other elders create hole it the council room for us to escape through. From there we gathered some of the guards that remained loyal to the council instead of Gwyn, and made our way here."
"Sooo whyy heere? Aaand why Gwyn waaant you as queeen? And whyy leeave claan?"
"I think that we would all like an answer to those last two, Vae." The elder with the golden aura supplied.
"Well," Vae started with a sigh,"We came here because it is where you were Stygian. I left the clan because the basic magic I control finally became higher form of magic most just call advanced magic. It takes on the qualities of the caster and does their bidding without need to cast a spell, it still consumes mana, but it follows my desires instead of a spell-form. If I stay in the clan then my growth would be limited. Now that I can use magic without worry I need to train it in stressful and new ways. I need to go on adventures if I am to continue to grow."
This response inspired much bickering and bartering from the council to get Vae to stay and help other pixies branch into basic magic. Vae declined every requested no matter how tempting they were. Before long the room began to grow quite again and posed its second question again.
"Whyy Gwyn waant you as queeen?"
This time before she spoke Vae looked directly at Stygian.
"I'm sorry that I haven't told you before, but my real name isn't Vae and I'm not an earth pixies." The whole room seemed to still, holding their breath for whatever this revelation might be.
"My name is Vaelin Koroth and I am a noble pixie."
Oath
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Your oath has been updated. Lady Vaelin Koroth must be protected at all costs.
Everyone except Stygian was dumbstruck. Stygian was marginally upset that Vae, or Vaelin had been lying to it, but it was just a newborn so it didn't really hold it against her. It was interesting that its oath was updated to reflect her real name, and Stygian wondered if the knowledge would change anyone elses prompts. Judging by the looks of greed on the other pixies faces Vaelin had been hiding the truth for a good reason. Really Stygian only had one thing to say or rather ask, "Whaat's a nooble piixie?"
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"They are the first race of pixies to exist, so the stories say. The reality is that noble pixies excel at almost everything, and are the most often to become a higher Fae. They are so highly regarded because those around a noble pixie grow faster and can become higher Fae just by being there. Gwyn wants me around so I can propel him to the next level as well as his followers. I am a tool to him nothing more."
"Ooh... Waant mee to eend him?" This thought was only projected to Vaelin to which she shook her head.
"I don't think you could with his halo Gwyn three or four times stronger than he was before. At least I don't think you could do it alone. Gwyn is not fully attuned to his halo yet so he can only use it for about ten minutes before he returns to normal. If you an me stall him the elders or guards could finish him off when his halo fades away." She directed her focus to the elders now, "However we won't do this out of the kindness of our hearts. We will need compensation."
Most of the elders looked like the wanted to argue, but before they could the matronly pixie spoke up, "And what is it that you would want?"
"The weapon I commissioned will be given to Stygian free of charge. Second free Rhind he didn't do anything wrong except from being a long time acquaintance of Gwyn. Thirdly we will be free to go after Gwyn has been dealt with."
"Fine." Sighed the old female pixie, "Burli fetch Rhind, and get the spear."
The rather thin captain turned and sent two other guards off up the stairs. Presumably to get the spear and free Rhind. Stygian was excited for its new toy, but was also warry because the last spear Rhind had given the murder bug had corrupted its very soul. Deciding not to worry too much about the unknown just yet Stygian ask Vae a question, "Soo yoou hiide name because yoou noble pixie? Or anoother reeason?"
"Asking the tough question tonight, huh? Yes and no. Most pixies hide their full names because noble pixies do it. Most clans know the names or at least surnames of all the noble pixie family. I also hide my name because I am an outcast of sorts. I developed my sin very early and instead purging from myself I latched on to it and ran away. I spent year hiding from my family and indulging in all sorts of debauchery. Yet despite that I never let my lust run away with me and it never dipped beyond level five. Finally my brother found me and tried to convince to come home. He told me that I should stop acting the whore and embrace who I was. I killed him that night. He tried to do with magic what his words couldn't. In the struggle I used the paralyzing effect of my lust and ripped his heart out. It was an awful and wicked thing that I have always regretted, and after that I knew I could never returned even if I had wanted too."
"I knew you were running from something, but this well, it makes you a traitor to all of pixiekind." Said the obnoxious matronly elder, who seemed to have been elected the crisis leader.
Vae only shrugged in response, it didn't matter that she was a traitor or that the clan stone heart knew. The whole clan was viewed as traitors because they had been selling pixie made gear to humans and elves. The whole reason they were nearly exterminated was because the were selling to non-fae and because the matronly pixie was using pixie souls to create sentient items. Sentient items would alert their owners of danger as well as help them protect themselves. Exceptionally useful and extremely hard to craft the matronly pixie specialized in this brand of soul manipulation.
Rhind also specialized in a type of crafting, but his didn't involve bonding souls to equipment. His unique skill set allowed him to draw out inherent magical qualities of the materials he used when crafting. For example Gwyn would frequently supply the pixie with low level demon bones, and Rhind could draw out the demon's power from the bone. The essence of regular demon's was corruption, but corruption could be applied in thousands of various ways to accomplish whatever the demon had wanted. The horned were slightly different in that regard, but that conversation is best saved for another day.
Before long the spear and what seemed to be a fairly abused Rhind showed up. Stygian was surprised to see the pixie Smith there but it would seem that he insisted upon coming to see the deväk. Rhind bowed low presenting the spear to our psyling, and was about to blurt out an apology when Stygian Interrupted, "Sweear that thiis iis noo traap. And that Gwyn has no hand in this."
Stygian glared at the elder with the golden aura, and taking the hint said aura filled the room. Rhind a bit taken back hesitated for a moment before dropping to a knee, "I Rhindel Stoneson swear upon my life and soul that this weapon is no trap and that the usurper Gwyn had no hand in any part of this gift. Furthermore I beg for your forgiveness, I did not want to give you that bone spear but Gwyn made me. Anything you ask of me I shall do my best to provide for you, so long as you forgive my actions."
Stygian was a bit put off by the fact that Rhind wasn't the smith's full name, but guessed it was a pixie. Which was completely accurate, though a near baseless assumption by the bug. Our deväk had forgotten just pleasant this slightly gruff pixie sounded, and was honestly surprised to see him so remorseful. It could be an act, but the aura stayed golden the whole time. So Stygian despite being overly cautious decided to believe the smith and grab the spear.
A Knight's Fork
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A spear forged out of imprint steel by Rhindel Stoneson, enchanted by Vaelin Koroth, and soulbound by the elder Morvain The Soulless for Stygian Half-light the Knight of Lady Vaelin.
The spear in Stygian's hands was heavy, but we'll balanced. The overall shape of the spear looked like an overly large arrow, well in reality it looked like a normal sized arrow but our pixies and bug were quite small. The head of the arrow as it was, was not a solid chunk of steel, but rather reminiscent of a trident. Instead of three prongs there were only two. The missing inside section curved made an oval like curve between the prongs. This two prong design coupled with the deväk's sin is why Rhind called it a fork. There was an edge on both the inside and the outside of fork. The outside edge was useful, but the inside edge seemed superfluous. Whatever imprint steel was it gave the blade a greenish shein to the otherwise average looking steel if just a bit darker. The haft of the blade was carved to look like intertwined roots, or at least that's what Stygian thought there were supposed to be until it saw the weight at the other end of the spear. The weight was shaped like two miniature tendrils, maws lined with needle like teeth and everything.
The spear was a thing of beauty and it was quite plain how much effort went into making it. The only drawback was the Stygian wasn't sure how this art piece would fair in combat after all it seemed a bit more flimsy than its previous mass produced spear.
"It saays itss eenchalded? Enchanded? Whaat iis that? Allso what's aaa soulbound?"
"An enchantment, is the art imbuing extra magical effects into and item. For you spear I enchanted it with a split enchantment that allows it to split into two spears, I also gave it collapse, and extend. The hilt can gain an extra ten centimeters, while it can also collapse to be akin to the handle of a sword. It will remain the same weight so I asked Rhind to use extra dense materials that could handle the strain of such changes. I'd say he did an excellent job." Vae explained in her patient teacher voice.
"Appreciate the compliment, but it's really the metal that is doing most of the work. Imprint steel is quite accepting of magic, and the longer it is exposed to magic the more inturn it will grow. This particular metal has been bathed repeatedly in nature magic which is the essences of growth and change. It is what gives the blade that green shine. This imprint steel is more accepting than another metal I know of, but it also makes it more dangerous. Normally I wouldn't use this type imprint steel or imprint steel at all, but you're special case Stygian."
"Whhy aam I speciaal?" The bug was still working on stopping its words from dragging so much, but it was partial to the way its own voice sounded. So it wasn't trying very hard.
"Well that would be because you are a monster tamer lad. You see imprint steel takes in more than just magic. It takes on aspects of everything around it. So the more you use it the more it'll take on some of your qualities. So really useful, but it will also take on the qualities of what the blade kills perhaps even more readily than aspects of the welder. So using such a weapon to slay monsters will inevitably turn it into a monster, but being a monster tamer means that you could control such weapons. More over the spear would act as a sentient weapon without having to affix a soul to it." Rhind stopped with those biting remarks while glaring at the matronly pixie. It would seem that Rhind disapproved of Morvain's practices.
The matronly Morvain just rolled her eyes, impervious to disapproval. Vaelin broke in before a fight could break out, "Since the weapon should eventually become sentient, we decided to bind it your soul Stygian. Well really we set it up for you to be bound to it, but we haven't actually done it yet. A soulbound object means that this spear will always be yours, unless you give it away or someone powerful breaks the bound. It also means that the enchantments will work base off thought rather than special actions or phrases. It should theoretically feel like an extension of yourself instead of just a weapon."
The weapon was far beyond anything Stygian could have imagined. Our bug feared that he may one day become too big for the spear, but right now it was perfect. Nearly lost for words Stygian felt like a priceless treasure was in hand.
"ThhhaNk Yooou." Our little psyling was so stunned that it spoke the words aloud instead of projecting them. This spear was the culmination of three separate methods of crafting and magic, creating a wondrous weaving that couldn't replicate by anyone else. The weapon was art in both a magical and a physical sense. It was something that the psyling would appreciate for a long time.