Matera

Matera was Yzmir Disciple and student of Afanas Korovinovich. She earned Initiate rank at ceremony at Well of Tears before being murdered by Lindiwe during Kraken battle.

Student of Afanas

Matera studied under Afanas’s tutelage at Kadigir. Afanas maintained mentor relationship with student, observing her progress through Yzmir ranks.

Initiate Ceremony

386 AC - Well of Tears Induction

Matera participated in procession of Disciples descending winding stairs of Well of Tears. She wore hooded figure robe like other Disciples in line.

Procession passed under plunging waterfalls, beneath stone arches, and over narrow ledges. Path wound along slippery cliffside leading down into chasm.

In middle of chasm, Megalith sparkled like crystal meteor floating in air. Although base was physically in reality, summit remained invisible - lost in misty swirls. This Aether Singularity was dangerous but held incredible power.

Flamel waited beside Afanas with kind smile lighting face. Eidolon customarily presided over ceremony at which Yzmir Disciples earn rank as Initiates.

Positioning and Recognition

Disciples reached bottom and positioned themselves in semicircle around Flamel and Afanas as rite required. Purplish glow of Megalith cast shadowy veil across faces hiding eyes.

Despite hooded robes and shadowy lighting, Afanas easily spotted Matera in group. His ability to recognize student demonstrated depth of their mentor relationship.

Receiving Rank

Afanas nodded to student in encouragement as ceremony proceeded. Flamel called first Disciple forward, then one by one others approached.

Eidolon handed each Disciple hammer and chisel - tools needed to collect fragment of Megalith for formal induction into Faction. Hammer blows rang out in vastness of cave.

When Matera’s turn came, she stepped forward ceremoniously. She collected fragment of Aether anomaly, completing transition from Disciple to Initiate rank.

Murder During Kraken Battle

392 AC - Killed by Lindiwe

Matera participated in Kraken battle during Rediscovery Endeavor. She fell as struck with full force by Kraken’s tentacle. Leviathan smashed through mage’s protective barrier as if thin layer of glass. Her broken body toppled backwards as she feebly uttered incantations to repair shattered bones.

Lindiwe watched remotely through crystal ball. Lindiwe felt Matera draw on all strength to repair body, fighting for life, before raging waters enveloped her and dragged down into abyss. Lindiwe felt her despair and panic. Matera didn’t want to die. She clung to life fighting.

Lindiwe determined using magic to heal was futile. Matera was doomed and wasting Mana wasn’t helping anyone. Lindiwe decided there were better choices - other people that energy could actually help.

Lindiwe watched Afanas through crystal ball. Old Battlemage looked on in horror as protégé fell like ragdoll. Lindiwe assessed he could still be useful if he could manage to ignore melancholy.

Telepathic Murder

Lindiwe started to incant and project will across space and time into glass ball. Like wolf pouncing on prey, she began to tear apart Matera’s essence, whispering to her to offer self in sacrifice. Matera was lost cause but master could still benefit from sacrifice.

For moment, Lindiwe got feeling that Matera could read her like open book, that she could discern Lindiwe’s true nature.

But in end, Lindiwe felt spirit resigning to inevitable death. Lindiwe tore out Mana from body and projected it to mentor just before crystal ball cracked.

Matera’s being began to disintegrate as Lindiwe severed all Mana bridges binding idea of who she was to matter. Everything that had shaped her essence and made her tangible in reality broke, leaving behind only pure droplets of Mana.

Afanas watched her disintegrate, fading away as if nothing more than fleeting dream. Afanas cried out in agony absorbing Matera’s Mana making it his own. Acolyte had appeared to sacrifice self to give final spark.

Final Moments

In final burst of lucidity, Matera had seemed to chant one last spell before disintegrating. Kraken had struck her crushing bones and body like mere twig. She had used body as shield taking brunt of assault protecting Afanas.

Eye wide, Afanas watched her fall with gaze dull and lifeless before disintegration.

Relationships

• Afanas Korovinovich: Mentor who observed Matera’s Initiate ceremony and nodded encouragement (386 AC), witnessed her murder (392 AC)
• Flamel: Eidolon who presided over ceremony, handed Matera hammer and chisel (386 AC)
• Lindiwe: Murdered Matera by telepathically tearing apart essence during Kraken battle (392 AC)
• The Well of Tears: Location of Initiate induction ceremony
• The Megalith: Aether Singularity from which Matera collected fragment
• The Kadigir: Yzmir Bastion where Matera studied
• Kraken: Creature whose tentacle struck Matera, creating opportunity for Lindiwe’s murder