I didn't want that for Mictian.
But now that he's left the city for his travels again, I suppose it's safe to share it.
Nota bene: I am not an Immolator. Our philosophies align; our methods, currently, do not. Questions, complaints, conspiracy theories, reactions, and whatever else about the Immolators' Guild may be directed to Mercurian Steele, if he lets you find him. I suggest looking for him at any of the branches of the Immolators' Guild, or Steele Industries. I'm sure he'll be happy to answer you.
If you'd like to read the following anecdote in Mictian's own hand, call me or find me at The Ritz. I can arrange a private viewing.
Without further comment, our history.
Before the two World Wars, the Splinters of Dusk split off from the Immolators Guild out of disgruntlement with their passivity. Large-scale propaganda was a new weapon, and the new clan knew to use it well. Its spies were less tolerated. After years of nurtured resentment, the Immolators lashed their leader to a roof for the dawn to erase. Yet allies found him just shy of True Death and five decades is what it took to put him back together again.
What remained of the clan had scattered or reformed. The extremist teachings became a codex for self-reflection, rather than an excuse for harm. Pain as a meditation, not as punishment. But then the five decades were over and he came back to judge what had become of his kin. He did not tolerate what he observed: He wanted not to erase weakness, but those with weakness.
In pursuit of reclaiming the name Splinters of Dusk, he taught them pain they had not known existed: Pain of True Loss. Pain of betrayal. Pain of denigration and enslavement. Pain as a test, not as an opportunity for growth. A tool to terrorise, not enlighten. And they did not fight back, because it was teaching them something, and they did not submit.
And because they did not submit, they bled and bled again, because they did not know what else to do but bleed. They had never allowed themselves to do anything else.
We are not always prepared. If you expect pain, endurance is easy. If you expect insult, stoicism is easy. But we cannot expect everything. Not everything is likely, not everything needs defence. Perfect defence would leave room for neither joy nor sorrow and so we must all contend with an imperfect guard.
Violence is common. The Splinters of Dusk breathed in violence and breathed out restraint. But those who wanted their name dealt in a subtly different language.
I am Mictian d'Avarice. Of me, they had taken the bond of sire and childe by force. They burnt my childe to ashes unprovoked. They drained me of blood to bind me to their leader. They made me lick from the tiles what bound my marrow to him, as that no one could ever break the bond. They made a toy of me for another man's pleasure.
But I am still here. I did not strike back. I kept the codex, even as it was my undoing. I saw a man suffering when I looked in the mirror - and to bring him back into me, I burnt out my eyes to be alone with the darkness, until I found my way once more.
I joined these men who were tormenting my people, because I needed to learn what they wanted, and in doing so, I discovered their plans and what they wished to do with the Guild they had once sprung from.
I was there when the founder was burnt by the Immolators. His pain hurt every fibre of my body and I wanted it to stop.
For all I had ever embodied, it was a shameful thing to want - but I have learnt it is a more shameful thing to deny. The truth does not care if you want it and it will not go away if you refuse its call. Our failures have much to teach us and shame is a sign of a great lesson waiting to be learnt.
I am still learning mine.
OOC NOTE: The author of this story has kindly recorded and shared what she's written about the Immolators here: https://immolators.pinkgothic.com/ and https://blood.pinkgothic.com/encyclopae ... immolators
She's also written her own version/flavour of Guild lore here, if you're interested: https://blood.pinkgothic.com/encyclopae ... what=guild
pinkgothic has very generously given me, and I'm assuming the playerbase at large, permission to write the NPCs involved/detailed in this story; the reason the website has remained up and public is so that interested writers can add to this lore. If you do decide to write the NPCs or add to the lore, I have to ask on behalf of pinkgothic* that you first read through what she has written to remain true to the spirit of it and her characters. I plan to do the same myself.
ETA: *I am personally requesting that you read her lore if you want to add to it, although pinkgothic has expressed to me that she is firmly of the belief that she doesn't need to like what people do with her NPCs, just that it's a bonus if she does. I'm personally requesting it, but I have to be clear, I'm not going to gatekeep or tell you what to do with any of it, I just really love the stories and characters she's made, and I think it would be a shame to lose the essence of them!
If you have any questions about changing, editing, or creating an alternate version of Immolators' lore, or making your own entirely, and if you're concerned that doing so will cause any upset for the author, pinkgothic has an Ab account and is, I'm sure, happy to answer any questions. As pinkgothic has expressed to me, all of this lore is optional. Please be good to her, she's a lovely, generous human.
Full RP of Mictian and Yawa's meeting here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3571
