Remerged Maiden Armor
Remerged Maiden Armor is possibly one of THE rarest Astyvern Artifacts that exist in all of Alézun'Teran. Only five known instances in 6 millennia have occurred where the process necessary to remerge a Splintered Maiden Armor have commenced. Two of these were deemed inadequate and thus cleansed entirely from the Fabric of Reality.
It is the final destination on a path a Maiden is unlikely to wander, one which she would be an utter fool to attempt to reach, as she is more likely to find her end as a Splintered Maiden. Sorrowful. Mad. Corrupted. Bloodstained.
Cleansed Artifact.
"I never thought it would be possible to cleanse something so utterly corrupted...
Remerged Maiden Armor can very well be considered a prime example of a Cleansed Artifact. More so than its forevariants, it is one of THE most powerful and protective armor sets that has ever seen the light of dawn. Only a handful of entities in Vael'Eteria can stand against its power, and fewer still would be a credible threat to the wearer. Another example of its might is that the effects of Plot Armor is nigh-nonexistent in the presence of a Remerged Maiden.
Beyond that, it is also a testament that even one of the most corrupted and damaged artifacts ever to exist can be cleansed and unbroken again. For Splintered Maidens, it is a faint flame of hope in an ocean of despair.
Guardian's Chosen Few.
"Hello Tonarus... Surprise?
Only rumors and guesswork exist on the processes regarding how Remerged Maiden armor comes to be. The only one who knows for sure is Guardian: The Son of Architect Himself.
It is by His hand that a Splintered Maiden will live on reborn into something greater. How one is chosen over others – and why it has happened so infrequently – one can only guess. For none has spoken a word as to why and at most only given hints, which may be intended to lead one astray.
Remerging the Splintered Shards.
The creation process of the Astyvern Armor is also what partially birthed its most utilized name. And it is connected to the Twin of the Splintered One. You see, dear reader, when the Twin dies at the hands of the Splintered One they do not vanish. No, their dusted and splintered body coalesces around their murderer like a cloak of faintly glinting dust.
A Cleansing & Remerging.
By the will of Guardian, the splintered halves remerge in a damp shockwave that shoots off from beneath the Maiden's feet, as if the ground she stands upon is wet from heavy rainfall. Heartbeats later, a fierce tornado of purifying, liquid silver-white light and corrupting sooty darkness erupts around Guardian and now Corrupted Maiden, momentarily obscuring them both from view.
As the tornado dissipates after a few additional heartbeats, the now cleansed Maiden herself can be seen floating above the ground as if weightless, with her head gently cupped in Guardian's hands. As she is lowered and her feet touch the ground, a second damp shockwave will erupt. When this occurs, it will seemingly shatter the outermost layer of the Astyvern Armor into thousands upon thousands of minuscule, diamond-shaped shards whose formerly internal side gives of an intense shimmer of inverted colors. As these shards strike physical objects in the vicinity, they will evaporate into damp mist.
What is thus unveiled is a fully Remerged Maiden in silver-white Astyvern Armor, surrounded by a nigh-blinding shimmering aura that with each successive heartbeat lessens until it is merely a faint glow of purifying light.
Appearance of
Remerged Maiden Armor.
Remerged Armor is a full-body armor that is continually emitting a faint glow of purifying light, making it appear to stand in a cascade of sunlight, even in complete darkness. Its surface is also regularly covered in Sereoth Dew, as if the wearer has just wandered through a heavy mist.
Its color shades are either silver, white or silver-white in various intensities, regardless of the apparent material the Asyvern Armor is made out of. It may also differ depending on their surrounding light.
The apparent materials it is made out of are either silk or steel. Of the three examples that exist, it is clear that a Remerged Maiden Armor will lean more towards one or the other though. Appearing more like standard metallic armor or silky clothing.
Appearance of
a Remerged Maiden.
"I know I do not look exactly the same, but I swear it is me!
Remerged Maidens certainly stand out in a crowd. One reason is the illumination aura that they passively emit. Something that is believed to be a physical manifestation of the various Auras they give off. Though it can be subdued with enough concentration until it is barely perceivable to the naked eye.
When it comes to their eyes, they are no longer pale red. Instead, they have a silver-white shade that can make even a Dhavinar shiver; it is said to be too similar to the ancient eyes of Guardian Himself. In regards to their skin, it is smooth as silk and has a shade similar to freshly fallen snow a late starlit winter night. It also emits a pleasant heat that is difficult to put a finger on. And their hair is akin to either platinum white or silver-white, depending on the light, and it is quite cool to the touch.
Protection Offered.
"I am sorry, but was that supposed to hurt me?
In terms of protective capabilities, a Remerged Maiden is fully capable of standing at the epic center of an explosion from a hydrogen bomb and not having even a single silvery strain of hair scorched.
It offers absolute protection from impacts caused by shockwaves, melee weapons such as Shock-Wave Hammers, and long-range weapons such as Anti-Matter Rifles. Whatever impacts that makes contact with the Astyvern Armor is barely even felt by the wearer, nor is any physical harm caused, even if it touches their bare skin, as if a skin-tight force-field covers them.
Legitimate Threats.
"I admit it... That actually kinda hurt.
Legitimate threats to a Remerged Maiden are few and far between.
One of the most obvious ones is another Remerged Maiden. However, due to the fact that only three currently exist and they all are under Guardian's supervision, this has only been witnessed in controlled environments such as festival matches at the Cericor Colosseum.
Another threat that a Remerged Maiden should be cautious around, is the Dhavians, not only due to the fact that their aura is so strong it has adverse effects on the Fabric of Reality, but also due to their advanced Dhavi-Tech.
Other possible threats that can bloody a Remerged Maiden are the Faceless Constants if they were to take their gloves off.
Auras of
Remerged Maiden Armor.
Enhanced Healing Precense.
Healing the Biological & Mental.
"Ever since Francesca returned, we have had less sick. And everyone feels invigorated. It cannot be coincidence.
Ssimilar to its forevariant, Remerged Armor presence brings forth recovery of both the mental and physical. Living beings in their vicinity will feel little to no muscle pain and exhaustion and their general health is improved immensely. In regards to their mentality, people become more clear-headed, alert, and able to remember events with noticeable more detail, as well as able to take in information easier and faster. A better example is that someone who has been severely sick and bedridden for the better part of a year will be up and walking with gusto within a mere few hours.
Healing the Nonbiological | Reverse Entropy |
Time Reversal.
"I swear, even the whole district looks healthier...
Their Aura of Healing will also positively affect the nonbiological. How exactly it works is still fairly debated but it is theorized that this aspect of the Aura of Healing reverses entropy until said nonbiological material has re-entered its constructed prime. Some variants of this theory use the term Time Reversal instead of Entropy Reversal and argue that it in fact reforms the material towards a point in time when it was in prime condition.
Another theory is that, similar to how it works with biology, it creates new material to replace that which is deteriorated and damaged, allowing it to effectively regenerate into a prime state, that may be even sturdier than it originally was. Examples include rusted swords that will return to their prime state within a few hours, or a castle ruin reverting to its former splendor within a few weeks.
Healing the Metaphysical | Soul Healing.
And not only will it merely affect the material, but also the metaphycal. In more than one aspect. For example, in regards to one's Táeno, Andsál and Sálfrod of a Mésvéstellian Humans, it will have similar effects to one's biological nature. Damages upon the metaphysical will slowly heal, at an exponential rate than what would otherwise be natural. Remarkable really, considering that, naturally, damages of this sort does not entirely go away.
This form of healing will have a general noticeable effect on someone's physical nature. Similar to what their main healing will do. Some even theorize that there are simply just two sides of the same coin, where the positive effects on the physical are a possible side-product of the metaphysical healing process.
Healing the Metaphysical & Fabric of Reality.
Another aspect of the Metaphysical Healing that is even less understood, is the supposed healing of the damaged and tarnished Fabric of Reality.
Theorized to work similar to non-biological healing, it either reforms the Fabric of Reality to a point in time where it once was in its prime state or reverses the entropy affecting it until similar results are achieved.
How this reflects on the material is quite debated. Some argue that it is a similar case with the double-sided coin of the theory regarding Soul Healing, that non-biological healing is merely a side-product of the Fabric of Reality being healed. A common counterargument to this theory is that it would imply that a mere sword rusting represents damaged Fabric of Reality when it is a simple result of oxidation. That matter reforming is actively harming it?
Another theory is that the healing process in fact reinforces the laws of nature. Makes the material world more stable and grounded. That it is effectively and inherently connected to the Remeged Maiden's Aura of Stability. Reality-altering effects that do not adhere to the natural laws concerning a Plane of Existence or Reality, are greatly reduced and actively counteracted.
Enhanced Stable Presence.
The presence of a Remerged Maiden is capable of stabilizing an entire Realm. Reinforcing the laws of nature that are ingrained into the Fabric of Reality that affect that specific Realm. Making them more rigid and durable.
One could also say that Reality even receives a higher definition in the light of a Remerged Maiden; becoming more detailed to the senses of man, especially sight, touch, and smell.
Lowering Threshold of
Reality-Altering Countermeasures.
As mentioned prior, reality-altering effects that do not adhere to the natural laws of the Realm will be greatly reduced to the point where they are nullified.
Some effects will even be actively counteracted by one of the more enigmatic laws of nature, which can be compared to the type of firewall or anti-malware that becomes significantly more active with a Remeged Maiden nearby; one could say that the threshold for reality-manipulation countermeasures is lowered significantly.
Nullifying Plot Armor.
"I-Impossible! I have Plot Armor!
The effects of the Aura of Stability is most noticeable in the presence of Plot Armor. In contrast to its forevariant, Remerged Maiden Armor is completely immune to the reality-altering effects of Plot Armor.
Its effects will be nigh-completely nullified, though it will still be able to keep the wearer safe from long-range and melee weapons directed at it; as long as the attacker is not a Remerged Maiden that is.
"That matters not to the likes of me. This is a warning from Highest Order, Tomb Raider.
You are interfering with matters you have no place in, no matter the nature of your Armor. Choose your next path wisely. Know that you are watched. And if you step out of line again, you will die.
Enhanced Pacificying Presence | Conflict Healing.
When a Remerged Maiden walks the streets of Varldstan Cericor, acts of aggression and turmoil rarely if ever happens within their vicinity.
People will become calmer and more rational. Less sharpening of knives and more in-depth conversation over a cup of coffee. Actions that can very well resolve years of ongoing disputes and bloody conflicts, though the greater the crevice is between groups the longer it takes for relations to heal.
Mild disputes that happened a few days ago will be resolved in hours if not minutes. More bloody conflicts that have been ongoing for years will possibly take several months of continued meetings between factions.
And despite what one may assume, this is not something that will just end up in flames the moment a Remerged Maiden leaves. Instead, its effects will persist for some time, varying between a few hours to a couple of weeks. And when the effects have dissipated, the instigators of the conflict may have cold down enough to seek peace without the influence of the effects caused by a Urh Artifact of Power.
Enhanced Purification Presence.
Poisons and toxins affecting biological entities are completely purified and nullified by the presence of a Remerged Maiden within mere hours or even minutes.
Only certain variants of poisons and toxins that have an origin among the Urh, Predecenses, and Dhavians will require more concentrated efforts to be purified, something that might very well turn ethanol into clean water within mere minutes.
Unpopular Bar Visitor.
This whole ordeal has made Remerged Maidens quite unpopular in places where alcoholic brewages are actively being consumed, much more so than their forevariant. Thankfully, they are able to lessen this Aura of Puficiation to such an extent that will take several weeks to purify alcohol to that extent that it would no longer be considered alcohol.
Debated Inner Workings.
It is theorized that the Purification Aura functions similar to either Biological Healing or Non-biological Healing, depending on what is affected. Though there is still a debate on whether that which affects alcoholic brewages, as well as other toxins and poisons, is entropy reversal or time reversal.
Abilities of the Remerged Maiden.
Enhanced Life Sensation.
"THere are five people sneaking up on us from that direction. And two others that are standing by over there.
A Remerged Maiden has a passive capability to sense the presence of all sources of life in their vicinity. Sneaking up on them is all but impossible, even in their sleep unless one uses technological devices that do not register as alive in the biological sense.
Normally, this Sense reaches out about a kilometer in each direction but can be elevated to several hundreds of thousands of kilometers if they concentrate enough. The reverse may also happen, in that they may subdue its reach with merely a few meters outwards: this is most often done in more populated locations, such as Varldstan Cericor.
Remerged Maidens can also quite accurately tell the distance and general health of the life source from where they stand, and they can latch on to that life source to better localize the presence and tell of their general local.
Enhanced Healing.
The healing capabilities of a Remerged Maiden is said one of THE most potent variants that exist in all of Vael'Eteria. That it is only thwarted by the capabilities of the Predecences, though there is still some debate to this. Some are of the opinion that their healing is only thwarted by the Urh Firstborn Themselves, a claim some may consider nigh-heretical.
Healing the Braindead
A Remerged Maiden is capable of freeing a recently deceased person that has been braindead for about three minutes. As long as the brain is at least partially intact, the damage can be reversed. Nor does it matter if more than half of your body is crushed or literally absent; within minutes it will be in better condition than it was post-damage.
Theorized Possibilities
It is even whispered about in taverns during late evenings, that with a mere drop of blood a Remerged Maiden can reconstruct the body. Others say they can take hold of one's soul and give it back its physical form. According to Avaline Sidra — the second Remerged Maiden — it is certainly theoretically possible but as far as she knows it has never been accomplished. Something about it just feels too wrong to do, as if doing it is stepping out of line that will result in punishment.
Known Possibilities.
Some feats of healing are seen more as miracles than anything else. Such as making the infertile fertile, allowing the paralyzed to walk again and the blind to see. Even late-stage cancer and fourth-degree burns also require nothing more than a few minutes of concentration.
It should be noted that these all can be cured just by being in the presence of a Remerged Maiden, but it takes considerably more time.
Manifestation.
The healing manifests as a near blinding light that is emitted from their hands, though it can be subdued if need be, to the point where it is nothing but a faint shimmer. Though it should be noted that the intensity of the light has no correlation to how potent the healing itself is. A portion of the light appears to be absorbed by the body as the damage is healed, and according to those who have experienced it says that it feels like having pure coldness injected into their bloodstream, followed by a slight hot sensation that lasts for a few seconds.
Enhanced Non-contact Healing.
Remerged Maidens do not necessarily need to touch the victim in order to heal them. While this is passively done through their Healing Aura, they can actively accomplish it by holding out their hand with their palm open towards a damaged individual. What happens next is dependable on which variant they use.
The lesser variant is that the targeted victim will begin to give off a light aura that may linger for several minutes, up to a few hours. This aura will accelerate their healing but won't do it instantly. It will also tire out the individual when it dissipates.
The stronger variant is not dissimilar to its forebearer's version, which is that concentrated beams of healing light will be emitted from their palms and positively affect those they touch. The Remerged Maiden can also form their healing into orbs of physical light that can be thrown and will explode on impact, healing everyone to an extent that the light touches.
Enhanced Purification.
Similar to Healing, a Remerged Maiden's Purification ability can be seen as a more actively concentrated variant of their Aura of Purification. Essentially, it allows for the purification of perceived impurities, both within the material and the metaphysical.
For the material, a Remerged Maiden is able to cleanse poisons and toxins from drinks or food, as well as from biological entities. In regards to the metaphysical, they can cleanse the Fabric of Reality of any impurities and imperfection. All of it in minutes, hours or days depending on their severity, in what otherwise would have taken the Remerged Maiden several weeks or even months if done passively.
A more severe variant of their Purification is that they can essentially cleanse an individual from the Fabric of Reality, erasing both their physical body and soul from existence with a concentrated and palm upon the chest. Not even dust is left to be scattered to the winds.
Silver Eyes of Purification.
The Remerged Maiden's Silver Eyes are quite distinct. Not only are they ever-present, but they also imbue a feeling of dread into those who have caught the Maiden's ire. This might be an instinctual reaction to the fact that they are able to emit concentrated beams of purification light that are able to cleanse matter from the Fabric of Reality from a distance.
They may also affect a larger area by using the flashlight variant of their Purification Eyes, which affect everything in their line of sight, including their peripheral vision. The largest area that has so far been affected was around a kilometer in diameter.
Pacification Gaze.
"They can literally intimidate a raging firestorm into ceasing by just giving them a stern look...
Everyone who meets the eyes of a Remerged Maiden will become calmer, less prone to aggressive acts, and more willing to listen to reason. Even the Splintered Ones will be unable to escape its effect.
And not only will it affect biological entities, but also natural phenomena such as thunderous storms or raging fires; at the gaze from a Remerged Maiden, they will all quiver and become more subdued. More survivable and tolerable. Its effects are usually activated with a physical quirk, such as a raised eyebrow or a squint of the eyes, and sometimes their silver eyes will glow slightly to showcase it is active.
Subdued Eyes of Apathy.
It is said that the Apathy Gaze of a Remerged Maiden is the most subdued of all its forevariants capabilities. But it is still capable of causing a person to become indifferent to life in general, to such a degree they will not react even if said Maiden comes at them with murderous intent.
However, if the Remerged Maiden puts effort into it, then its effect will be enough to drive a healthy, mentally stable man to suicide within a few hours after being exposed to it. And if prompted, then said person may end it all then and there by any means necessary.
The only cure for it is the healing touch of the Remerged Maiden, or of someone who is equally powerful in the same field.
Subdued Bone Growts.
Another subdued capability is Bone Growths; the process of manifesting bone from both armor and one's surroundings. They are unable to create large quantities of bone and will tire out relatively quickly from something that a Maiden would consider small potatoes.
On the other hand, the manifestations of a Remerged Maiden's Bone Growth are far more harder and durable, supposedly able to withstand the gravitational pressure from the core of a star for at least an hour before breaking apart.
Most Bone Growths creations of a Remerged Maiden are bone claws, swords and halberds when it comes to melee weapons, and duel-wielding pistols or crossbows in regards to long-range weapons. Unicorn horns are also relatively common creations, and they can be both large or small, and able to pierce even some of the toughest armors.
Intimidating Bone Fangs.
Something a Remerged Maiden will retain from their time as a Splintered One, is the manifestation of the Bone Fangs; exo-skeletal jaw-bones with protruding fangs that act as additional protection. Its main purpose, however, is its intimidating factor as it has an intricate connection to the monstrous beings they once were. It is something they mainly manifest when they want to show that they mean business and won't back down unless explicitly ordered to do so by their Patron.
Subdued but Effetivized Blood Drainage.
Remerged Maidens still adhere to the core rules of the Maiden Armor. To absorb Corruption. And in order to keep it at bay, they need warm blood.
This is something that is either actively ignored or something that more than a few have expected to cease once they ascended. Alas, the Maiden Armor is still an Astyvern Artifact created by Architect and thus its core functions are infinitely difficult to alter, even for a Firstborn.
Still, a Remerged Maiden Armor does not need to consume blood often. Usually, it is enough to feed the Armor twice a year, and their victims usually survive thanks to the Armor's enchanted healing unless their existence is deemed expendable.
It should also be noted that they will be completely conscious while the Blood Drainage process is ongoing.
Enhanced Splintering.
Thanks to the experience gained as Splintered Ones, Remerged Maidens are capable of a more refined and safe form of Splintering.
The primary usage of Splintering for Remerged Maidens is to split themselves into tiny pieces that mainly manifest as tiny silvery butterflies that are somewhat similar to Glimwings. They might do this either passively, for example to move around obstacles, or actively to utilize it in combat. Another reason to use it, is of course to subdue Corruption.
No Splintered Twins.
"No, not again. Never again...
Though it does not normally involve splintering themselves into Twins; they are certainly capable of it and not forbidden to do so by Guardian, but it is an act that gives them serious PTSD that they won't recover from for several days. They will only do it if it is absolutely necessary and at the command of Guardian, and even then they might hesitate.
Effectivly Immortal.
Remerged Maidens are effectively immortal and ageless. They will not appear to have aged a day since they were approached by Guardian, at least to the naked eye. They also do not need to eat or drink, as their enhanced healing will keep them alive well enough, though it is an activity they will be more than happy to indulge in, given the chance. Especially with friends.
Handling the Corruption.
In contrast to Maiden Armor, the Fate of Vilting is — supposedly — nonexistent for Remerged Maidens. But they still draw in and assimilate the Corruption. However, thanks to their enhanced Purification and effetivized Blood Drainage it is well-kept at bay and takes several millennia to collect to such a degree that the Darkening Process is initiated. And even then, it has its stark differences from the forevariant.
The Darkening.
Ordinarily, the Darkening will affect the Armor; make it more twisted and wrong in a sense that the mortal brain just cannot quite process. For a Remerged Maiden, however, the Armor will merely lose some of its shine and heavenly feel but will otherwise be unimpacted.
The real difference will occur on the wearer herself. As the millennia go on, they will find their skin darkening until a point where it is black as coal. It will also become hotter at the chest and colder at the fingertips but still remain as smooth as silk.
As this happens, their craving for warmblood will only marginally increase, forcing Remerged maidens to feed the Armor with blood at least four times each year. They will also utilize Splintering much more in everyday usage.
Unknown Fate.
It is currently unknown what this entails for the future. If a Vilting Process exists for the Remerged Maiden it has so far not been enough time for it to begin, even after six millennia.
Holy Armor of Cleansing.
Pure Armor of Stability.
Untainted Armor.
Uncorrupted Armor.
Steadfast Armor.
Pure Maiden.
Cleansed Maiden.
Remerged Maiden.
Once again you create a very interesting article! It is also very well made in all the sections and we get to know more about your world through it beyond the artefact in itself. I am happy to read that Francesca is "alright" (if you can say that). She seems like a character that one wants to know more about now that you have read about her in all the articles related to all of the armour's stages.
You are welcome to explore Nimenra, a world in conflict between Humans and Demons.
My summer camp articles and half-finished pledge document: Summer Camp 2022
Thank you!
Yeah, I grew to like Francesca and wanted to give her a more or less good ending ^-^
"If you look upon the stars, know that you look upon a light of the past."