Username: Maddigan Kthanid
Rpc Name: Nicolai Vengtras
Rpc Rank: Trainee
Class: Arcanist
Summon's Name: Loa Guede Quadrata
Summon's Rank: A-rank summoning, but the amount of energy varies depending on the amount of the 'bargain'.
Pic: There are four unique forms of the Loa Guede, each with a different effect -
CimetiereKriminelLa CroixSamediDescription of Summon: The Loa Guede Quadrata was one a powerful being that embodied both death and rebirth. Split into four different sub-creatures an unknown amount of eons ago, they hid themselves away in a deep crypt, guarding the remains of the single entity they'd once been - a serpant's skull, which brings with it the control of all four snakes. However, the most unique aspect of this summon is that its primary effects are not actually bestowed onto the summoner at all. To make use of the Loa Guede's ability, the summoner must make a willing pact with another sentient being. Upon the forging of the 'bargain', power is transferred from the ‘summoner’ to the ‘pact-maker’, in the form of one of the four serpents travelling out of the summoner’s energy field, wrapping around the pact-maker and sinking their fangs in. This directly sends an amount of energy (determined in the bargain) from the summoner to the one making the pact, as well as the serpent chosen for the pact;
Cimetiere is a joker, and likes to make light of an otherwise dramatic situation. He takes the amount of energy bargained upon and places it deep within the pact-maker's energy pool. Once they use all their own energy, this secondary energy store is called into being, giving them what is essentially a 'second wind' to their energy;
Kriminel is a vicious, brutal killer, who specializes in dealing out swift judgement. He holds the energy in storage, which is used at the pact-maker's volition as a buff to either their strength or speed by dividing the amount of energy by one hundred then rounded down - for example, 350 energy bargained becomes 3.5, which then becomes a +3 bonus to either stat. The energy doesn't all need to be used at once, but once the first boost is made, all remaining energy must be placed into that stat at a later time until Kriminel is used up;
La Croix is clever and personable, and a very quick learner. He puts the energy towards the next skill the pact-maker tries to learn, using a similar break-down system as Kriminal to shorten the posts needed to learn the skill without reducing it to less than one - again, using 350 for an example, for a skill that requires seven posts to master, reduces the necessary posts to four. Unlike Kriminel, though, all of La Croix's energy must be used on a single learning experience;
Samedi is the most powerful of the four, and applies the energy directly to the pact-maker's energy pool. However, Samedi's most unique aspect is that if the pact uses at least 1000 energy, and at least is half of it is left at the moment the pact-maker should die, they can choose to dump all their remaining energy to resurrect themselves.
Once the energy they've brought with them is used up, the serpent returns to the summoner in an ethereal form, able to find them over any distance by honing in on the Loa Guede skull. Here is the one thing they have in common - upon their return, the serpents carry with them an amount of energy equal to half of what the pact-maker bargained for. And while the pact-maker can recover this energy naturally, it serves as a permanent increase to the actual summoner's energy reserves.
The short-hand is as such : A bargain is made (for sake of argument) with Kriminel for 500 energy. Once all possible boosts have been used with this energy, Kriminel returns to the summoner with a permanent 250 energy bonus for them.
Rp Sample:The Crypt of Loa Guede…Nicolai had finally found it. His father had left a map of it amidst his writings, having briefly believed that the Loa Guede Quadrata would have lifted his curse. Now he sought the power of these dark beasts to help him secure his rise to power. He checked that his father’s sword-cane was in keen condition, and strode purposefully into the crypt, eyes darting about as they scanned the interior. There were four levels to this crypt, he already knew – one for each of the Loa Guede. His father’s notes stated that after a long time in their separated state, they’d begun to see each other as brothers rather than a single being divided. They also revealed that despite their spiritual power, they functioned in this state more or less as normal serpents, albeit large ones. The first was Cimetiere, the Mockery. A small grin crossed Nicolai’s face.
Let’s see if he’s clever enough to get a joke off on me…he thought.
The first chamber was decently lit, with what seemed to be a couple skeletal remains by the far wall. His eyes quinted as he observed this, then scanned the rest of the first cave. He could dimly hear the snake already, slithering about in the shadows.
“What walksss in my garden…” a voice hissed at Nicolai.
“One who seeks the power of the Loa Guede.” Nicolai replied confidently. There was a purple blur of motion, and the first of the snakes lunged into view. It didn’t move to attack, simply to intimidate, which failed to impress Nicolai. With another series of hissing noises, Cimetiere’s eyes narrowed.
“I’ve no patienccce for intrudersss…” the serpent muttered, flicking its tongue briefly at the air in front of Nicolai. Its head withdrew slightly.
“Heesssh…the air about you isss foul. Your blood isss tainted, boy. Be gone from my chamber, lessst I decide to overlook how foul you would tassste…” Cimetiere began to turn, but Nicolai shook his head.
“No, snake.” he said boldly.
“I come for the skull. I know I require the consent of each lesser serpent to reach the chamber of Samedi, where it lies. You will let me pass, or you will die. Though I would prefer to keep you all alive. You’re worth more to me that way.” The snake paused in its movement, then turned and snapped fiercely at the man before vanishing into the shadows. Its voice echoed through the chamber.
“None have ever made it to the ssskull, Cursed Blood. Few have even reached the chambersss passst my own. I’ll not become any mortal’s ssslave!” Another blur of motion flicked past Nicolai, leaving only the slimmest of cuts across his cheek. The Baron narrowed his eyes once more, then readied his cane, waiting for the moment to draw the blade within. The moment came upon the next attack, which was even closer. With a dominant gaze, Nicolai positioned the iron casing of the cane outstretched, catching Cimetiere under its fangs and shoving it up against the nearest rocky wall.
“Tell me, beast…have you any idea how people who keep snakes as pets tame them?” He drew the blade and held it close to the snake’s mouth.
“They de-fang them. I hear it’s quite the painful process.” Unable to properly respond, the dark serpent simply relaxed its body and closed its eyes in defeat. Nicolai drew his cane away and sheathed the blade, turning to see the door to the next chamber slide open by the skeletal remains.
“And don’t even think about trying to stab me in the back. Or did you think I believed that all the others who entered just happened to die just outside the door?” Without turning to look, The Baron moved to the next cave.
This was the chamber of Kriminel, the Rage. According to his father’s notes, Kriminel was the most aggressive of the four, and was not much of one for words, apart from his obscenities he liked to spew at any opportunity. Indeed, as soon as he reached the second chamber, he could feel a tension in the air. He drew his blade quickly, and moments later thanked himself for doing so. This chamber was far less well lit, and the enormous form of Kriminel was already charging towards him. He narrowly maneuvered to the side and held his blade out, dragging it along the snake’s side as it passed him by. Kriminel roared and slumped momentarily, then turned back to Nicolai.
“Impudent ******** youth!” it bellowed.
“My damned brother is weak – you shall not turn me over to your service with mere words and threats!” It took a series of biting lunges at him, which were again narrowly avoided. Nicolai was a bit more worried about this encounter – he could tell he’d fit very comfortably into Kriminel’s mouth. He’d have to focus on dexterity this time. For a few more minutes, he dodged around the serpent’s tenacious assaults, noticing only a moment too late that he was completely encircled by the beast’s writhing form. Before he could leap away, the scaled body pulled itself inward, and began to crush him.
“Impressive of you to come this far, Cursed Blood. But now…you will only ever be known as another useless-as-s**t mortal who died within the Crypt of Loa Guede.”Sputtering and coughing, Nicolai’s eyes showed no sign of surrender. As the serpent moved in for the devouring finish, The Baron tapped into his energy, causing his Kuro Kotogara to flare. It had no damaging or shielding effect, but so close to the beast’s mouth, it flared the taste of cursed essence quite profusely down Kriminel’s throat, similar to if a skunk were to spray into the open mouth of a predator. The snake wheezed and loosened its grip enough to free Nicolai’s blade arm, which proceeded to rise up offensively, stabbing into Kriminel’s hide and twisting sharply. The snake roared again and loosened more. Nicolai leapt up onto the creature’s back behind its head, and held his blade to its eye.
“That’s enough. I’d much rather you not be half-blind for when I need you…”“You might as well ******** kill me, mortal! I’ll not be your damned servant!”“Servant? You misunderstand my intentions, Kriminel…” Cautiously, Nicolai lowered himself from the snake’s back and stood before it, sword sheathed.
“I would not enslave ones such as you. You are entities of highest regard…and I would simply have you on my side to ensure the rise of my empire. You see?” He took one step forward, watching as the serpent began to take this in.
“So that when the world is united under one banner…and there is a single global order…everyone will know that the Loa Guede were instrumental in the events that ensured the world’s unification.” Slowly, almost grudgingly, the snake lowered its head, and a passageway slid open behind it. With a nod of gratitude, Nicolai continued.
The third chamber…belonging to La Croix, the Personality. This one could be tricky, Nicolai thought. Yet when he entered, there the serpent was, alone in the best-lit room yet, with nothing but a table before him. The table had on it two glasses, two stone cups, and a tall bottle, likely of some liquor. The snake-being known as La Croix looked to The Baron and smiled, which was discomforting enough.
“Ah. There you are, my lad. Do come in. I’ve brought out my best rum for the occasion.” Slowly, Nicolai’s hand drifted to his cane-sword as he inched forward.
“Ha! Oh, no, dear boy. No need to be so worried. Please, be at peace. I’ve already eaten, you see, so I won’t be attempting to devour your essence any time soon.” La Croix spoke in a noble, aristocratic voice, and even let out a small laugh as it finished its last sentence before taking a sip from its own glass, which was about half full.
“I simply want to…chat.”Nicolai stood on the opposite side of the table.
“So…no epic confrontation, then?” he asked.
“Well, now, I wouldn’t say that…” the large green serpent replied.
“But we shan’t be fighting with fang and blade, as my brothers have. Ours, you see, shall be a battle of wits and fortune. No need to hasten either of our deaths, after all. There’s so much for both of us to live for.” It took another sip.
“Rum? It’s exquisite. I’ve been saving it for the next time I had company.” Nicolai simply gave the serpent a look, and it sighed.
“Ah. Very well.” It motioned to the two stone cups, which Nicolai could now see had five dice in each of them.
“Oh. Liar’s Dice, eh?” The Baron asked.
“With one unusual addendum…instead of a one, each dice has a skull. That represents a wild, and stands for whatever the last number called should be. You understand?”Nicolai nodded, and picked up his own cup.
“All too well. What are the stakes?”“A life for a life.” replied La Croix.
“You win, I let you through to try and get the skull from Samedi. I won’t cheat. You’ll be free to pass.” It flicked its tongue tentatively.
“And if I win…I cut you up into pieces to feed you to my brothers. Then I extract your soul, put it in a bottle for a few centuries until it ferments, then use it for a mixer on a rainy day…or the next time I have company.”Nicolai knew he had little choice at this stage.
“Agreed.” Both smiled slyly at each other, and shook up their cups before slamming them on the table. With the die cast, La Croix looked to Nicolai.
“Well, sir? You are my guest, and I am your host. You may have the first call.”He peered at the dice under his cup. Without a single change in his features, he made his bet.
“Three twos.”After a brief look at its own dice, La Croix replied,
“Four twos.”He paused, then,
“Three threes.”“Five threes.”“Four fours.”“Six fours.”Despite the fact that six fours was quite a risky bet, there was something in the serpent’s confidence that Nicolai didn’t trust. So he changed tact.
“Three sixes.”Without missing a beat, the serpent came back with,
“Four sixes.”One quick survey of the serpent’s face, despite its usually still features, told Nicolai exactly what he had to do.
“Five sixes.”“Six sixes.” La Croix retorted.
The man shook his head.
“You’re a liar, La Croix.”“Oh, am I?” With a smooth motion, it tipped over its cup to reveal two sixes and three wilds, counting up to five sixes. The smile it began to crack faded as Nicolai revealed his own dice – two threes, two fours and a five. La Croix had been one die off.
The serpent’s tail twitched, but then its head slumped down onto the table. It motioned with its tail, and the final door slid open in the rear of the chamber.
“Cheer up, old boy.” Nicolai said, picking up the bottle of rum and refilling La Croix’s glass.
“One more and you’ll all be travelling with me. One big happy snake family.”Here he stood…the final chamber. His father’s notes revealed very little of Samedi, save that it was the most powerful and wise of the four. The room was the darkest of them all, lit only by a ring of torches surrounding an alter at the end of the room, where sat the Skull of Loa Guede. He only needed to take a few steps before he knew the final task was upon him. He drew his cane-sword, but a mighty scaled tail snatched it from his grasp and slammed it to the stone ground, with enough force to break it into pieces. Unarmed, and worried for the first time since this journey began, Nicolai backed up and gazed into the fearsome eyes of Samedi, the Titan. It sized up the Baron slowly, then met his gaze.
“Baron Nicolai Vengtras le Sorcier…” it said in a voice infinitely stronger than any other he’d before heard, yet it even pronounced his name correctly by leaving the ‘s’ in Vengtras silent.
“I’ve been expecting you.”He cocked an eyebrow.
“Have you? I suppose you can see and hear all that transpire in this crypt, then?”“Yes, of course. But that has little to do with it.” It rose to a height that caused Nicolai to step back, less out of fear and more so he could see it properly.
“Your father spoke of your imminent birth when he came before me three centuries ago.” This statement left Nicolai slightly speechless, which was just as well, as it seemed the monolithic snake had more to say.
“He claimed he was journeying to lift a curse he’d gotten himself stuck with. He said he didn’t want you and your mother to have to suffer similarly.”Nicolai shook himself of his semi-daze.
“That supposed to throw me off? That you met my father?”“Perhaps not. But perhaps you would be more interested to hear of his brief visit to me about two months before now.” Now Nicolai was baffled. His father…alive?
“And I can tell you where he went, and why he’s remained hidden from you all these years.”Now it dawned on the Baron.
“Oh, I see. You’re making me choose…I can stay and take the skull, or…”“Or you can pursue your father.”“And why would I do that?”“If not simply for the fact he is your only living family? Try this – he shares the same blood as you. He can teach you the deepest secrets of both your profession and your species as no other could. With that, you would no longer need us. Then the empire you seek…it could be constructed without the manipulation of me and my brethren.”The man narrowed his eyes.
“Did…did you make my father choose, too? Did you offer him…”“We could not have lifted his curse. But in his service, we could have led him to things that may have. Instead, I offered him information needed to protect you.”“Protect…excuse me?”Samedi stretched itself down to come eye-to-eye with Nicolai.
“What your father did not know is that your family was being hunted. By zealous bigots who sought to eradicate such Cursed Ones from the world. These hunters were en route to your father’s castle, where your mother was preparing to birth you. I revealed this to him, and he left with all haste to cut them off. He abandoned his quest for the skull to save you. Out of love.”Nicolai began to feel swept by a wave of catharsis. But after a few moments, he glared at Samedi.
“I doubt it.” He said.
“Pardon…?”“My father abandoned his pregnant wife, his unborn son, his damned castle, chasing a lead that only might have lifted the curse from himself. Which would still have left me tainted.” He took several confident strides past Samedi towards the altar.
“Even if there were really hunters on their way, he likely only headed them off to prevent them from burning down his castle and destroying his research. After all…we’re Cursed Ones, ‘oh great Samedi’.” Without bothering to look back at the serpent’s face, Nicolai concluded,
“…we don’t know how to love.” He lifted the snake skull from its resting place, and suddenly there was a roar from all levels of the crypt. Air and color rushed around Nicolai and into the skull, the very force of it keeping it within his hand. After a minute or two of this, the sound stopped rather suddenly, leaving only a light hiss in the air. The Baron turned to the ground, where the shards of the sword from his father’s cane lay shattered. But the cane portion was still in prime condition. He meandered over and, with surprisingly little effort, affixed the skull to the top of the cane.
“Well…” he murmured to himself,
“…that’s one more step on the long road.” Then, with slight bemusement, he added,
“Thanks, dad.” With that, he headed out of the crypt.
Do you like Pie?: Absolutely. Better than cake – pie isn’t a lie.
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