Eldritch Guidance

Intermission VIII

In the center of the town of Corpa, a group of people wearing red robes had gathered. They were busy piling wood around a pyre. There were a few local onlookers, many of whom looked troubled by the scene. On top of the unlit pyre, a woman was tied to a wooden post and screaming.

Woman: “You can’t do this! Please!”

The people in robes ignored the woman's pleas and kept throwing wood on the pyre. Another in red robes climbed on top of the wooden structure with a container in his hand. The man in the red robe emptied out the continents of the vessel, a flammable liquid, pouring it on top of the women’s head. Drenching her in the liquid, before the man climbed back down.

Woman: “Pleassss. N-no. I-I don’t want to die,” she said with tears rolling down her cheeks.

The woman looked around frantically for anybody that she could try to appeal to. Her eyes then landed on a man who was standing beside the wooden platform. The man wore simple brown clothing and looked like he was from here. The woman was very familiar with this individual.

Woman: “Steven! My love! Places stop this! Don’t let them burn me. Think of our son, Matt! He still needs his mother!”

Upon hearing that, the man named Steven had an incredibly pained look. He was in utter anguish at what was about to happen. Under the orders of the Red Church, his wife Alex was to be burned alive.

Another hooded woman in red robes saw this exchange and came up to Steven's side and rested her hand on his shoulder. Showing some sympathy for the man.

Red Robe Women: “Steven, are you ok? You know, you don’t have to be here.”

Steven: “No, I do. But…I’m not doubting the Red Church or anything. But, Thalia, are you really sure? Is my wife Alex really a…” he stopped mid-sentence, unable to utter the words.

Thalia withdrew her hand from Steven's shoulder and ascended the wooden platform. She stood face-to-face with Alex, pulling back the hood of her robes to reveal long platinum hair. Her beautiful face boasted striking green eyes. It seemed that many of the priests of the Red Church were exceptionally attractive, and Thalia upheld this perception with her own appearance. With a solemn expression, she gazed at Alex.

Thalia: “You know, it’s not too late for you to repent, Alex. I don’t enjoy doing this. The Red Church will accept you with flaws and all.”

Alex: “Thalia, please. I did nothing wrong,” she said pleadingly.

Thalia: “You’re still continuing this farce?”

Alex: “It’s not a farce. I’m innocent. I did nothing. It’s all a—Gah!” she screamed out in pain.

Thalia had quickly pulled out a dagger from beneath her robes and stabbed Alex in the shoulder with it. Alex screamed again as Thalia twisted the blade before pulling it out, leaving a wicked wound. It looked serious and blood was gushing out from it. Except, there was something odd about the blood. It wasn't red. The blood that was dripping out of the stab wound was blue.

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It wasn't normal. Maybe it could be explained away if she was a mutant, but Alex had children, which mutants normally can’t have. While Alex being a mutant was still a slim possibility, there was a more compelling explanation to Thalia that explained why Alex had blue blood.

Thalia: “Blue blood. The symbol of the Lapis Ichor cult. What do you have to say now, Alex? Are you going to continue to deny that you’re a cultist? That you weren't responsible for luring some of the children away to get them attacked by maw frogs? So you could collect their body parts for some twisted ritual.”

Alex remained silent, her head hung low, no longer struggling against her bonds.

Thalia: “Hmm, nothing to say now? Fine then. Light the pyre!” she called out to the other red robe

Thalia started to climb down from the platform and managed to get halfway down before Alex started screaming.

Alex: “IT ALL YOUR FAULT! You damn weird new cultists and you guys pretending to be a church bullcrap! I could have continued to collect children's blood if it wasn’t for you fucks!!”

The locals who were present were surprised at what Alex just said. Between what they heard and the blue blood Thalia revealed, any apprehension some of the people had turned to anger. Anger that one of their own was secretly killing their children.

People were getting frenzied up, and now actively cheering on Alex's execution.

Bystander: “Burn her! Burn her!” one shouted.

Another Bystander: “My child died because of her! Kill her now!!” another shouted.

Some men in red robes were now approaching with lit torches in their hands, preparing to light the pyre.

Steven was taken aback at everything he saw and heard.

Steven: “Alex! Please say it’s not true!”

Alex: “Shut up you stupid man! Your only purpose was to sire me a child that I could offer up to my god!”

Steven: “But he’s your son!”

Alex: “Exactly! Perfect material for a ritual.”

Steven could look on with his mouth agape at what he just heard. This exchange was heard by everyone nearby and started to frenzied them up even more.

Thalia stepped off the pyre and stood beside Steven, watching as the men with torches approached the wooden structure and prepared to set it on fire.

Steven: “Wait! Stop!”

The men stopped and looked at Steven with confusion. Unable to believe that someone would protest this execution.

Thalia: “Steven, you’re not seriously trying to save her? After what she said and did,” she echoed the thoughts of the Red Church members here.

Steven: “No...I’ll do it myself.”

Steven grabbed one of the torches out of the red robe man and walked up to the Pyer.

Alex: “OH! Finally growing a pair, you fucking idiot,” she mocked Steven.

Steven: “I won’t let you hurt our… my son. Goodbye Alex. I guess I didn’t really know you,” he said with tears running down his face.

Steven threw the lit torch into the wooden pile. The wood quickly ignited, creating an inferno around Alex.

Alex: "YOU’LL ALL PAY! THE GOD OF LAPIS ICHOR AND THE OTHER NAMELESS GODS WILL PUNISH YOU ALL!! THE RED CHURCH WON’T BE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU!!” she screamed out as the fire consumed her.