Alchryx | Artifact - City of Chaos
/ˈæl.krɪks/ (al-KRIX)
The Alchryx was crafted by the ancient vampire-witch Ysolde for Giovanni Bianchi, later known as Sunder. Forged from a deep crimson ruby and imbued with layered alchemic spells, it conceals the scars Giovanni bears from holy water burns and suppresses the dangerous fertility granted by the Devil's Crux, allowing him to live among humans without drawing unwanted attention. Its power is fragile. If the charm is broken, the protections vanish instantly, leaving Giovanni exposed to both the consequences of his nature and the marks of his past.
Maintaining the Alchryx requires ritual and sacrifice. The spells must be replenished every one to three months, depending on the type of offering Ysolde and Giovanni can provide. These sacrifices, ranging from animals to humans or other supernatural beings, carry weighty moral and practical consequences, making each renewal a calculated choice rather than a simple act.
Though crafted for a singular purpose, the Alchryx is not entirely static in form. Its appearance may shift or be recrafted over time, whether due to damage or forces not yet understood. Subtle changes have been observed across its existence, particularly in connection to Giovanni himself and the fractured presence known as Nexus. The reason for these alterations remains uncertain.
While Ysolde could craft other forms of Alchryx for different purposes, this one is inseparably bound to Giovanni. It is a personal relic of survival, secrecy, and the ongoing cost of existing as something more than human.