MARSIA DI ANGELO. DAUGHTER OF HADES, VASSAL OF THE BLOOD GOD.
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(summary thing, might see later in story)
Marsia’s eyes widened as the voices entered her mind and she finally realized what she had done, running a bloody hand through her hair.
It felt like an entire crowd was behind her, screaming why, who are you, move, quick, RUN, FIGHT, KILL-
“Need some help?”
A group of Lares, Mania, spirits- she couldn’t tell what, but a city of ghosts were behind her.
She focused on the man in front, wearing a crown, the “axe of peace” strapped to his side.
“Yeah.”
Or
After the destruction of the SMP and almost everyone in it, Technoblade is lonely.
It's wartime against Gaea, tension is high, Marsia just wants to protect her family.
And The Blood God needs a new vessel.
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heavy inspo from c!techno lore, lolz
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They walked through the snowy tundra, the frost biting at their nose and ears. Surely they could’ve worn a few more layers, but Marsia Di Angelo hadn’t bothered to wear any other winter clothing except for her sister’s old hat and her own jacket.
But it was fine. Okay, great even! As soon as she got this done, she could help. She could be of use for once. After all, the oracle had directed her here, so maybe this would allow her to help camp.
But is this a good idea?
I already have enough voices in my head, what harm will a few more do?
You’re being naïve.
I want to help, and this what I’m gonna do. Sure, it may not be the best idea, but I know I’ll try my best to save more lives than I end.
But how do you know that’ll happen?
I don't.
Marsia stood there for a bit, pondering over her idea.
To tell you the truth, it mildly terrified them.
“Is this really a good idea?” They would be pledging themself to a god. A blood god, at that.
“The same gods whose creations killed my sister.” They knew they were being stupid, it's not like they were pledging to Talos, but Marsia still felt bitter.
“Can I really trust this…?”
Blood for the blood god, skull for the skull throne. A saying that proves the alliance between gods.
Blood precedes death. Death requires blood.
So even, if it all goes to hell…
Any Hades kid is bound to be alright under the influence of the blood god.
And no matter what, Marsia knew they had to try.
At least try, for your family's sake.
Marsia pulled their hat lower on their head and walked further to the cave.
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It was dark by the time Marsia made it to the cave.
They knew they would probably have to find a place to sleep… preferably not there, but what else could they do? It would take them at least a day or two to get back to camp, and they didn’t have that time on their hands.
So they walked in, their stygian iron hatchet emitting a dim glow. She couldn’t sense any monsters, but there were a lot of dead things, rodents, birds- hell, there were one or two skeletons scattered around. Not a very nice environment, but she was used to it.
She sat against the wall of the cave, taking a few things out of her backpack.
Aubrey’s lighter, and her own scarf.
Wrapping the scarf around a gash on a troubling gash on her shin, Marsia flicked the lighter on, blocking the wind with her hand.
She remembered when Aubrey and she would sneak outside to smoke in the forest, Marsia only coming because she wanted company. Craved company, craved attention she knew didn’t deserve.
(editor/author note: damn I’m going hard on the angst lol)
It was hard for those two, during those times. Marsia was trying to deal with the loss of her sister, and Aubrey just felt hopeless since she got there. She failed her friends, and Marsia was the second option.
She always was the second option, she tolerated it since the beginning of her lief, and now she had no one.
Aubrey offered a cigarette; she never took it.
Now it’s just smoke. How bad was it, really?
She held the lighter close to her fingertips, melting the cold frost off, making her joints less stiff.
If Aubrey were here, what would she say?
The part that hurt the most was that she didn’t even know what.
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By now, she had gathered enough wood to make a small fire. It wasn’t much, the flame gasped and sparked, littering Marsia’s shins with small ash burns.
She missed camp. It had taken a lot of convincing for Chiron to allow her to go on this quest, and even then, she wasn’t telling them the full detail.
Oh, yeah, it’s just a little trek to grab one of my father’s weapons! It’ll help in the long run for camp.
She was meant to be the weapon. She is going to be the weapon.
Was this a good idea? Now she was really beginning to doubt herself.
Pledging herself to a god, that she didn’t even know who’s side it was on- did it pick sides? She knew blood is typically spilled on both sides of a war, but what would that mean for her?
She took a shaky breath. Could she really choose if it came to that?
What if she was dead? Could she prepare them for that? Did she need to IM someone-
By now her breathing was erratic. She squeezed her hand, bringing her thoughts to reality for a second.
How will you, have you, prepared for your death?
And what would you say if you could?
She couldn’t come back empty handed. At this point, this point, is when it mattered the most.
Marsia was so lost in thought that she didn’t notice the bird’s claw aimed for her face-
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She choked down a scream as a part of her was ripped out.
A dull ache throbbed behind her eye, the blood leaking down her face.
“Damn Stymphalian birds-”
A primal, almost animalistic force gave her the strength she needed to get back up.
She got to her feet, hands catching on the rough rocks she fell onto.
Voice was ragged, legs were trembling, but still- her head darted around, looking for where they were.
A feather flew down, barely grazing her shin. She sidestepped and grabbed her hatchet, throwing it at the area where the flock was.
Or apparently not, as it hit stone and fell to the ground, Marsia picking it back up again.
There weren’t much of them from what she could see, but then again, the first bird stabbed her left eye out.
The blood was warm, dripping down from the open wound onto the cold floor of the cave.
She slammed her hatchet down, cutting the bird’s neck open. It burst into monster dust, as most do.
The rest of the flock flew away, startled at the noise, shooting their feathers at Marsia as if they were arrows. Some hit, some missed.
She almost forgot what she came there for, the dust on the ground mixed with her own blood making a horrible iron-like stench.
“Blood for the blood god…” She staggered, on her hands and knees. Red spilled over the gaping hole that was her eyesocket. “Skull for the skull throne.”
And with that, Marsia promptly collapsed.
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She awoke in the middle of the night, resting at the foot of the fire. The orange turning blue flickering and crackling made a nice sound, and for a moment, Marsia thought everything was alright.
“Ah, you’re awake.” A haggard man said, sitting across from her.
The girl looked to the voice, and froze. The man wasn’t any old man, he was outfitted in a dark cloak and veil, with what looked to be a boar’s skull for a head.
This wasn’t a man, it was a god.
“Hades-spawn, do you know who I am?” The god tilted his head.
Marsia slowly sat up, wincing from the pain of her aching limbs. Her eye-socket had stopped bleeding, but it left a dull ache in her head- and loss of half of her vision.
“You’re- you- You’re the Blood God.” She stiffened, embarrassed at her fumbling over words. “Zagreus, or uh- Khorne- I apologize for summoning you from your duties.”
“My dear, there’s no need to apologize. And please, just refer to me as the Blood God.”
The Blood God was polite but blunt in the same way. It was clear to Marsia that there was no backing out of this one now.
“I understand that you would like my assistance?”
Marsia nodded. “Anything would do, really. I’ve read so much about you, and your followers…”
“And you were wondering if I could teach you.” The god finished her sentence.
“Yes.” Marsia wasn’t that scared anymore, she just wanted to get it over with.
“Oh Marsia, you know this comes with a cost.” He spoke her name, and the girl didn’t know why, it terrified her.
The gentle chiding reminded her of Bianca.
“I know, but I-” She couldn’t make up an excuse. “I’m not strong enough for this. All my friends and family, they have a purpose in this life, in this war. I sit back doing nothing, I watch them die in front of me.”
It hadn’t been too bad so far, of course she helped fix people up with Will in the infirmary, but since Nico had just gotten back to camp, it left her feeling angry. She hadn’t seen her brother in so long, and there she was, a sitting duck at camp while he did something meaningful. Marsia felt guilty and ashamed and didn't even know if she was supposed to.
Being helpless sucks, and she was not helpless.
Did this quest even mean anything? Was she doing this for her own personal gain?
She told herself that it was for the greater good, to protect what she loved, but would the means match the ends?
"I won't let the newfound madness consume me. I already have enough of it now as it is."