[Solo] Playing With Shrivenflame

[Vassilios]

65th of Frost, 4622

Despite Slugger's roaring engine, a deafening silence clawed into Vassilios' mind like a hawk overtaking its prey. His breath quickening, he put the pedal to the medal while his thoughts took root.

He always talked about driving chariots to Lykos and his regulars to the point of exhaustion. He even had a fund that Lykos helped him put together when he started working more seriously at the Well. The sly look on Lykos' face as he shaved some of his earnings, mentioning, "This will be for your chariot." Thinking back on it, Vassilios always disliked when Lykos took money from him. Although, if Lykos did not do that, Vassilios would never have had a chariot fund or even understand responsible spending.

But in an instant, that changed. Vassilios wanted a Chariot, and now he had the Chariot, Slugger. But Slugger came at a severe cost. Not in money, but in blood. He had stepped into the Creaky Window, a run-down bar that was no Well in Fortune. However, it was only the worst place to drink if the Ironmoon sought your head. But Vassilios did not mess with them at first. Instead of gambling his funds away, he tried darts with a man named Ironarm. Funnily enough, he said Ironeye once or twice, but the man seemed well-meaning to Vass. But after the drinks and games, Ironarm lured him to several Chariots parked outside the bar. Ironarm guided him to Slugger and showed him to turn it on, and just as he was about to return, what he saw he buried in his soul.

The rowdy patrons and mouse bartender had approached Ironarm, weapons ready. Before Vass could turn back for Ironarm, he screamed, "Drive, boy! As fast as you can!" Vass drove with all haste and felt the grasp of remorse wrapping its bone-chilling fingers around Vassilios. The chill enveloped Vassilios during that long, silent drive. Vass' curses shattered the silence as he felt the adrenaline pulsating. Watching Ironarm's face turn in horror as the band discovered their acts, seeing the bullet run through the back of his head and between his eyes before he took off. And the nail in the coffin was not that he did not get hurt, but perhaps that he could have quickly died. Then, the game would be over, and no one - even Lykos or Miki would know of his fate.

A hoary scream filled the void as Vass awoke rampantly to find himself not still on the road but in a fresh bed in a home made from iron and scrap metal. "Damn, man. A nightmare?" He began as he rolled doggedly from the bed. Fear's icy grip froze his legs as he struggled to keep moving to figure out where he wound up and who had such a cozy bed. An approaching footfall rang out as he tried to reach the doorknob. A woman dressed in an ember-covered apron dress steadily opened it as Vassilios crawled back for the bed. A familiar tut-tut sound escaped her crimson-red lips. Vassilios looked up, seeing that he was with friendly company.

"Vivila? That you?" Vassilios began.

"Hey, gorgeous. You never did tell me you rate for an hour. So how much dranari are you charging for your time?"

That spurred a couple of twitches in Vassilios' legs, but Vassilios kept a straight face with Vivila. "Good one." He began. "How the hell are ya?"

"I should be asking you that." She began. "You were driving your new toy like you saw a ghost. And you passed out, too!"

Vassilios grimaced as Vivila spoke, and a frown crept upon her face. "Please, tell me, what is going on with you? I even brought out some water and some fruit for you." Vivila placed a basket on the bed, filled with a flask of fresh water and fresh fruit, and bread. "Right from an Entente's garden, or so it's been said." Vassilios crawled back onto the bed, reaching for the bread and taking a large bite. "It's like this, Vivi." He spoke in between bites for a loud swallow. "I went to a bar called The Creaky Window. There I met perhaps the coolest guy I had ever met. Name's Ironarm. I called him Ironeye for a sec." Vasilios' eyes began to water, and a single tear slipped from his right eye. "We were playing darts for a good while, and then he asked me, 'Hey, you got a chariot?'" He paused. "That was all he had to say. It hooked me."

"He took me out of the bar, and I saw rows of chariots. Then Ironarm shows me this one chariot. He called her Slugger. She's rusted to all hell, but the beast is fast, bulky, and a heavy hitter, according to him. Once I got on that seat and started driving. I thought I was dreaming, but when I turned around-" Vasilios took three sharp breaths.

"I hear 'Drive, boy. Drive as fast as you can!' Ironarm a shot between the eyes! I don't think about it! So I drive off, and I hear two shots! One doesn't connect, but the second does. Grazing my left arm, I thought the game was nearly over, but it grazed my left arm." Clutching his heart in his chest, Vassilios tried to keep breathing as he recalled the moment.

Vivila nodded but smiled a wry smile. "Sounds like you've finally arrived, little Vass." She began as Vass raised his brows. "Say what?"

"Little Vassilios. Little Wannabe Raider. Little Thief wanted to live on the razor's edge, where most actions could mean life and death. Ironarm placed a stolen chariot in your hands. And from the sound of things, you've got a bounty on your pretty head. And if you're not ready, you'll lose your head!" Vivila hissed as she coiled her arms around Vassilios's neck, grasping him tightly. He gasped for air before grabbing her arms and prying them off his neck. A decent struggle as Vivi began to tighten her hold, but Vassilios grabbed tightly on her forearms, slowly pulling her off his neck. He pinned her down by her collarbone, his breathing returning to him.

"THIS ISN'T A FUCKING GAME to me! I didn't mean to steal somebody's chariot. And I didn't just steal someone's chariot. I stole from the godsdamn Iron Moon gang. And I bet that even if I did hand Slugger over, the last owner isn't going to smile and buy me a beer after. She's going to want my head or something else," He began, gritting his teeth before Vivila's stern gaze. "And I thought maybe I lay low, but I'm not too keen to stay put for long. She'll find me. She saw me, and I saw her, too! I'll never forget her face. She had dreadlocks, dark skin, and a bone through her nose. Piercing, solid white eyes that tear holes right through my soul."

"Vassilios." Vivila chimed in. "Who else knows about this? Does Miki know?"

"Miki doesn't know dick yet." He answered. "And telling her would be the least I can do."

"You understand that Miki or any of us will help you, right?"

"I don't want anyone's help." Vass shot back, his eyes darkening as his hands tightened their hold. "My father told me to chase my dreams. I couldn't dare smile at myself to die empty-handed! I must get stronger. I need to protect my dreams, the dreams of all who depend on me, and to make my dream reality of being strong enough to lead a fucking army! I am ready now to accept all risks!"

"You're starting to sound like a greedy Entente. But your avarice has moved me. So much so that I would be a fool not to grant my magic, Sigilic Pyromancy." The two struggled briefly off the bed and soon got off their feet. "I'm not keen on magic, Vivi," Vassilios answered.
"You want to get stronger, don't you?"

"Of course I do."

"Well, this magic might fit right at home in your arsenal. You can enchant your weapons with fire, and you do like weapons, right?"

"Well yeah."

"Then this magic will be a boon for you. You won't have to change much."

"How about you tell me more?" Vassilios asked. "Don't magic users inevitably go mad from using it?"

"Well, yes, once you overuse it. It's easy to lose yourself in the earlier stages. But the wisest mages use their power in moderation. And if you moderate your magic use, you have to risk overstepping, but in doing so, you will gain more power." Vivilla began as he walked towards her living room, complete with a simple table, two chairs, and a makeshift fireplace accompanied by a rocking chair. Vivilla took place by the fire, sitting in her rocking chair as Vivilla looked towards the fire.

"There's a massive chunk of history with Sigilic Pyromancy, so I will try to give you the highlights." Vivila began. Vass nodded as he attempted to brace his mind, taking a seat by the fire. "Hit me." He answered.

Sigilic Pyromancy draws from a Mark of Control. It's a conduit to harness the soul's power known as the 'Beacon.' The Sigil is the basis for this magic and the properties of common pyrokinesis. However, some could not conceive of the Sigil as a Mark. Others view it as a gift.
Vassilios nodded intently with Vivila's explanation. "So, How do I start learning this magic? Do you teach me?"

"If only it were that easy, Vass." Vivila began, looking at Vassilios, making contact with matching intent. "To start learning any magic, you must be initiated. And it isn't an easy thing to accomplish." Vivilla arose from her rocking chair, maintaining eye contact with Vassilios. "The Mark of Sigilic Pyromancy is shared through spreading a Black Sigil to others. I will draw and imbue energy from my Sigil onto you. Within this Sigil is a killswitch, activated through catalyzing ether. Once done, the Sigil will sear, the black contours become filled with molten colors of flame as the initiate's soul will attempt to stem the tide of a fire that grows inside you." She briefly breaks eye contact for one. "But if you fail, the Beacon will never form within your soul; your body will instead erupt into Shrivenflame-"

"What's Shrivenflame?" Vassilios asked, furrowing a brow.

"Let's just say it will be a long death." She answered curtly. "Now, at first, you're going to a fascinating warmth before it becomes an unbearable all-encompassing burning sensation. After that, your entire body will feel like it is on fire. Then, if you do succeed, you will become a Pyromancer. Now, are you ready?"

"I was born ready!" Vassilios answered, taking five deep breaths as he stood on two feet. "Let's do this before I change my mind."

Without a second thought, Vivila sighed with remorse as she drew energy from the Black Sigil on her thigh and held it deep within her grasp. She then imbued the vitality onto Vassilios' chest. The Black Sigil manifested at the back of his neck. The Sigil was forming on his body; a warmth filled his body from his neck to his arms. Vassilios started grinning, feeling the heat spread further down his legs and feet. However, his grin opened into gritted teeth. The Sigil's black contours began to etch into Vassilios' neck. Vivila could only watch with a wry frown as the burning sensation urged her to look away.

Vassilios slammed his fists onto the ground, eliciting to open his mouth with howls of agony from deep in his throat. He punched the ground twice, clawing at the earth underneath him as the flame burned from the inside. His lungs began to fail him; Vass looked down at the bottom as he clutched his heart. Finally, he looked up at Vivila, managing a grin at her. She gave in, making eye contact with him. "I told you I wanted to do this! Just wait! I can take a beating. And I'll bet my soul can play with this fire!"

"Vass-"

"Besides, if I couldn't handle this, I couldn't run out there wanting to live life! So this flame will be mine! You're looking at a new firestarter! And that'll be me!" His grin grew wide as deep down within Vass' soul, the flame raged even harder, eliciting his grin to grow wider. But before long, the tide of the fire began to settle and encircled his soul. Vassilios gasped for air as the burning sensation slowly dissipated from his body. Once the feeling indeed passed, Vassilios got back up on his own two feet, much to Vivila's amazement.

"Well, what do you know? It looks like I managed to pass." Vassilios beamed with a smile.
Vivila smiled back. "You certainly had me ready to assume the worst! Thanks for proving me wrong."

"It felt like I was burning up from the inside. I imagine this must be what happens when you throw a log into a fire." Vassilios answered with a smile.

"Well, since you're not dead, time to put you to work." Vivila began. "Now that you're a Pyromancer, you'll need to study how to use your new magic. We'll start in the more-"

"Can we start now?" Vassilios asked earnestly. "I want to learn something right now!"

"All right. All right. We shall start with Enkindle." Vivila began again, shouting with a sly smirk. She began to pace with an eager gait as he glared at Vassilios, "Enkindle will be your fundamental ability to you, Page. Cinders will be drawn from the Beacon to infuse a weapon with fire. The Enkindled weapon acts as an instrument for the Black Sigil to channel the flame, gathering the fire around the Enkindled weapon before it is shaped and released. The Beacon will enable your future abilities. Though it is a passive infusion, a Pyromancer is limited in how many weapons they may infuse and cannot remove the infusion without touching the object."

"Uhmmm… Would this mean I would need an Enkindled weapon on me at all times?" Vassilios asked.

“Correct, Vassilios.” She began. "It is imperative that you NEVER surrender your weapon or be disarmed. As an incentive, Enkindled weapons are much harder to fracture, damage, or even break and simmer with small sparks and flames while drawn. They are incredibly hot and, therefore, easily cut through several objects. Moreover, they are presumably immune to the negative effects of fire, and they will not corrode or melt as a conduit. And finally, only a Pyromancer can use their Enkindled weapons."
"Makes sense. What would ever happen if someone who wasn't a Pyromancer tried to use an Enkindled weapon?" Vassilios asked.

Vivila shook her head as she answered, "I think we are better off not finding out."

"So, how do I use Enkindle?" Vass asked, looking confused.

"Draw your blade and try to channel your power."

Vassilios drew forth his iron sword and clasped the handle firmly. He shut his eyes and attempted to focus. "There isn't a manner of rite or incantation to this, is there?"

"Nope. Just try to focus your power on your sword."

Hearing that, Vass breathed profoundly and returned to focus on his sword, thinking of his blade enhanced by the pyromancer's flame. He breathed deeply; a sigil etched onto the handle. Then, with one long breath, crimson flames the sword before his eyes.

"Holy shit!" Vassilios exclaimed. "Holy SHIT! Did you see that? It's on fire!"

"It's hotter and more durable due to being used as a conduit for your flame! Now, it's more durable and cuts through many objects. But, of course, nobody can wield that blade. We'll go over Flamelance in the morning." Vivila chuckled, giving Vass a gentle push. "You need your rest."

[Treachery]

Vassilios

Lores
Sigilic Pyromancy:

Loot: N/A
Injuries: 2 Points of Mageblight

Points 5 exp (all of it can be put into Sigilic Pyromancy

Comments: "The inner flame flickers and burns, its calling would make one yearn; scorched but thrilling, warm yet chilling, to discover the Shrivenflame; one must be willing to pay a tithe to learn."

!	Message from: Treachery
	OOC: Please list your 6x specific lores as this is required for Raw Magic if you wish to progress; Message me when you have your lores submitted so I can update the Review.