The Magecraft Chronicles III Story Thread

[Sariel of Tevet]

Aboard the Sylvina

“Liulfr! Back here you unruly undead mutt!” Roluo was sprinting down the hallway after the wolf and breathing heavily.

“I told you not to raise him on the ship! But you never listen you big baby.” Suri was right on Roluo’s heels, and pissed off of course. Her blood was about to boil and she wasn’t even using her magic.

“It’s not my fault! He likes to run after I haven’t raised him in a while”, he shouted without turning his head so that he didn’t accidentally run into someone.

“Hey you two, can you slow down? I’m not exactly in my twenties anymore!” Eleazar was trying to keep up, but he was breathing harder than Roluo and Suri combined. He didn’t exactly have much to do during his time with the Arcian Mage Knights, but there were definitely no runaway undead wolves to chase after.

Liulfr turned a corner and bolted down a hallway and ran straight through a very large man’s legs and almost knocking him over. Roluo however, ran straight into him and succeeded in knocking him over. Suri jumped over the man, barely missing his head with her knee, and Eleazar just casually jogged around him, using the obstacle as an excuse to slow down for a few seconds. Unfortunately for the necromancers, someone in the background had yelled “Are you ok Lord Kell?!"

Liulfr made his way to the end of the hallway and onto the bridge where he ran directly up to Nathaniel and jumped up to lick his face, placing his paws on his shoulders. Roluo slid to a halt and placed a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder blade, Suri stopped and put a hand on the other shoulder blade, and Eleazar, who at this point was entirely out of breath, crawled the last five feet and placed a hand on Nathaniel’s foot, and started weezing.

Roluo began to laugh. “I guess we are back to this again. Now all we need is Deyanira to grab on to you as well. Good times.” He stepped back and clicked his heels together, mockingly, and saluted the mage hunter. “So what’s next sir?” Suri snapped in line and saluted him as well, grinning ear to ear because she joined the game. Eleazar sighed deeply, rose to his feet sort of, and managed to salute as well. Roluo shot a glance at Luilfr, who then trotted into line as well, sat, and then placed a paw on top of his ear.

[Myrdraxxis]

Nathaniel fought the violent urge to twitch in annoyance –an improvement from the first few days of knowing the necromancer trio- and instead continued to walk towards the bridge, motioning for them to follow. Partly because he didn’t’ want to miss the launch, and partly so he could get the necromancers as far away from Lord Kell as possible. The man was like an uncle to him, but he was also one of the best Mage Hunters in Vaer.

“The others are choosing their quarters in the ship. I assume you two have already done so.” He glanced back at them. As much as he hated to admit it, he no longer found them to be as irritating. They had proven themselves invaluable to his team so far and Nathaniel was thankful to have them along. He still wasn’t quite sure where Eleazar had come from. Thus far he’d allowed the necromancer to stay because he obviously was connected to Roluo and Suri in some way.

He was becoming uncomfortably aware of just how many “illegal” mages there were on his team of “illegal mage” hunters.


I’m heading to the bridge to watch the launch. Feel free to join me I suppose.”

The trip to the bridge wasn’t a long one, and Nathaniel stepped up beside Captain Corvinus, whose eyes were locked on the Arcian airship that filled the bridge’s view.

“Never woulda thought I’d see the day that when our ships shared the same air without trying to blow each other away.” The captain said, shaking his head in bemusement.

“These are interesting times.” Nathaniel agreed. Corvinus snorted.

“You’re way too young to be talking like that. Sir.” He added with a grin. Nathaniel grinned too.

“I blame my job.” Nathaniel replied. “Makes me too old too fast. Or so Ishabel tells me.” She wasn’t wrong either. Nathaniel was perfectly aware of just how utterly serious he was all the time. It was just how he was. When his parents had died Lord Klein had taken him in and apprenticed him. The life of a Mage Hunter was all he knew. As such he had very little experience with just…being a person.

Corvinus opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by a general announcement from one of the crew. “News from the Rubicon! All ships are fully prepped and ready for launch.”

“Are all crew aboard?”

“Aye sir.”

“Then disengage from the dock and form up behind the Rubicon.” the cptain ordered. The crew jumped to obey and Nathaniel felt the ship move beneath him as it separated from the air dock.

“Well,” Captain Corvinus mused. “Here we go. Off into the unknown.”

~][~

Magnus strode into onto the bridge of the Rubicon and the crew snapped to attention. He nodded at them and they resumed their tasks. Magnus joined the ship’s captain in the center of the room.

“Captain Lucien.” He greeted. The captain of the Rubicon, a middle-aged man with bright blond hair slicked back and slim features turned to him.

“Commander. We have received word that the other ships are ready to go.”

Magnus nodded. “Alright then. Undock the ship and I’ll get this started.” Captain Lucien relayed the order, and there was a sense of excited anticipation from the crew. Arcia was a nation of magic, and all of its people had at least a small talent for the mystical arts. All of them were relishing the chance to see magic so powerful and exotic as to travel between dimensions. It was a gift that seemed lost on the Vaerians.

The Rubicon hovered away from the dock and glided through the air, out towards the sea. The Veritas and the Sylvina formed up behind it.

Magnus stood in the center of the room and inhaled deeply, preparing himself. He almost didn’t notice when Hecate stepped up beside him. He stared at the Celestial woman in confusion.

“I’m going with you.” Hecate said before the question could be asked. “We do not know what dangers could be waiting, and it is possible that some of my kind will be able to follow us.”

“And the Commander is okay with this?” Magnus asked. Hecate smiled –an action that again made Magnus aware of how lovely the Celestial woman was- and inclined her head imperiously.

“Cole couldn’t stop me if I wished it. But we both agreed that my place should be here. He is a strong man and a resourceful commander. He will do well in my absence.”

Magnus blinked.

“Are we going? I am most curious to see this spell of yours.” She said, giving Magnus a studying look. Magnus sighed and returned his attention to the task at hand….now feeling a bit self-conscious.

He began to chant a string of words. The chant wasn’t anything important, simply a bunch of nonsense that allowed Magnus to focus his mind into a state that allowed for magic. It was one of the first lessons his master had taught him. Magic was shaped by the mind and powered by the will. Be it chants, arias or magical symbols, as long as it helped the caster center himself, it didn’t matter what medium was used to cast magic.

Magnus had long ago mastered spellcasting without the need for such mental foci, but this spell was different from most, and the slightest mistake or distraction could spell death (or worse) for the crew. So he chanted, an assurance that nothing would go wrong.

The hum of the ship, the crew and his own droning words faded into the background as Magnus focused his magic and extended his mind out into the world, and then past the world. Into the very fabric that made up reality. He sent magic out and tugged, opening a hole in that fabric.

Then he began to shape it, make it stable enough to physically access. His focus returned to the ship and he found the eyes of everyone one on the bridge staring at him.

Before the Rubicon, a vast portal hovered in the air. The air around it shimmered like matter, the portal itself a gaping void of darkness.

“Impressive.” Hecate murmured, eyes locked on the portal. “Far less violent than anything my kin would have used.”

Magnus grinned. “Aw shucks, you’re making me blush.” Hecate moved her eyes to Magnus and gazed at him coolly, turning his smirk into an uncomfortable cough.

“Right then.” Magnus said. “Captain Lucien. All ships forward.”

The captain recovered himself and nodded. “Aye sir. All ships, forward!”

The three ships flew towards the large portal. Magnus grinned as the portal filled the ship’s viewport.

“Once more into the breach, eh?”

The three ships were swallowed up by the portal and disappeared.

~][~

The sudden transition from the inky blackness of the interdimensional void to bright sunlight left Magnus blinking rapidly as his eyes tried to compensate.

The crew, for their part, maintained control of the ship as it passed through the void and into this new world. Though many looked shaken.

“Well, sunlight is always a good sign.” Magnus commented as he walked towards the ship’s viewport, trying to get a better look at their surroundings. “Looks like we’ve got a rather stable world on our hands. Excellent.”

Hecate glanced at him. “Should we have been worried about that?”

Magnus shrugged. “Not particularly. Most worlds are habitable places, but every so often you get a real doozy.” Hecate stared at him for a moment before accepting that and returning her gaze to the new world.

“Captain, contact the other ships. I want the captains and the landing party here for a briefing.” And by landing party he meant Nathaniel, Valendis and the others who had decided to come along. They made up the core group if this intrepid crew.

“Aye sir”

Twenty minutes later Nathaniel and his team filed into the Rubicon’s briefing quarters. Magnus and Hecate were already there, waiting.

“Lord Sorien.” Magnus greeted. Nathaniel returned the gesture.

“Commander.”

“So how did you enjoy your first trip across the multiverse?” Magnus asked cheerfully.

“It was….” Nathaniel wasn’t quite sure how to describe it. “Well, it was something.”

Magnus chuckled. “It definitely was that. I suppose now we just wait for the others.”

[Calefrun]

Denfar and Adthie entered the room along with Nathaniel and the others. The former found a corner to lean in while he awaited further instructions. The latter stood near her commander, keeping a hand on her gun and her eyes on the Hellan.

[Damien]

Izaak boarded the ship on which the other members of the expedition were having the meeting. Seeing as he was one of the few people there, he decided to sit off to the side and continue studying his tomes, still trying to memorize the newest pages of arcane and elemental formulae that he had recently added to them.

[Monika]

"You certainly are noble, Vynalion," Lenore noted, gazing at her instructor with a mixed expression of reverence and bemusement. "I certainly could not name many people who would willingly get dragged into this Celestial mess and aid all of the injured. Not even myself...I've got quite a lot to learn." Lenore, realizing the full extent of her powers was not great enough to help her allies, had opted to stay behind with Vyn in order to master the art of healing. The next time Kazan or Valendis are hurt like that again...I'll be ready! "So, what is my first lesson, um, Master?" Having been raised as a noble since birth, she was unaccustomed to using the title 'Master' to refer to those of a presumably lower rank. The title felt appropriate in this situation, though. The word felt strange, yet necessary, as it escaped her tongue.
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"Well, that certainly wasn't as exciting as I had anticipated." Kazan walked up behind Nathaniel, Valendis and the rest of the main party. He had been anticipating an epic portal hopping experience and was thoroughly underwhelmed. "Maybe it's just me, but I get the strangest feeling that I went through one of those before." Kazan scrunched up his face in concentration, vainly attempting to recall a previous dimensional crossing event. After failing to remember one such experience, he sighed and said "Well, whatever. At least I can tell Nori she wasn't missing out on much..." He looked down at the ground, a solemn tone to his voice as he said this; he and Lenore had been traveling together for the better part of five years, so it was unimaginably strange for her not to be there chiding him about his behavior or rolling her eyes at his comments. It was almost as if a part of him were missing. Desperately trying to clear his mind of the thought, he made an attempt at changing the subject. "So, uh, you think they have any weapon shops in this new world?" he asked. "I think I lost my swords during that Celestial...incident." He glanced at Valendis, noting his barren hands and the lack of steel sheathed at his side. "Looks like Vally could use a new blade, too."

[Razgat]

Deyanira laid on her bed with all her limbs completely spread out. She simply sat there...thinking.

She wasn't really any help during any fights. Honestly, she little to no fighting experience. When you're living in the middle of nowhere, you don't really have to defend yourself much. Plus, who does that on a day to day basis? Honestly. It's like everyone lived in an ongoing cage match, and she's just been a pedestrian this whole time. She wasn't even at the level of pedestrians. She was a low life that people wanted to kill on sight. In fact, that's probably the motto of her country. Kill on sight. Take their stuff. Move along. That sucks. That sucks a lot.

"Is there anyone in this world that doesn't want to kill me?! I can't walk around my country without worrying about being killed. I get arrested just for being near criminals. I get thrown in jail, and then fought Nethaniel AGAIN, then thrown in another jail where I'm tied down in a hospital ward. Then I get dragged around to a fight I sucked at, see a fucking celestial that's pissed, and a whole bunch of other crap. I mean, what the hell, Steve?! Seriously!? How can I be happy and cheery all the time when nothing good happens! It's tiring me out!"

She looked at Steve. She had placed him against the wall next to her door in case she needed to rush out. She sighed heavily. "You can't even really respond. I mean, I can hear you, but no one else can. They don't even know I'm a Necromancer, and honestly, I'm not sure if I want to tell them. That would probably just get me into more trouble."

She turned over and buried her head into her pillow. Maybe someone would summon her soon, or maybe someone would visit her just to talk. That would be nice.

[Mizagium]

Valendis grimaced. "Yeah. Gram is gone. I can't believe I lost one of the Holy Swords..." He grunted. "Not like it was working anymore anyway. Yeah, Kazan. We'll go sword shopping when we can." He had to force a smile, but it came off naturally.

"So, Nathanial. What's our next move?"

[Myrdraxxis]

Nathaniel shrugged. "Commander Magnus is the one who's done this before. I'd say it's up to him." he said.

Magnus nodded, getting everyone's attention as he stepped forward. "Now that we're all here, we can get a bit of a briefing underway." he began. "I don't know where we are right now. I've never been here before. But it's safe to say that this place in't downright hostile since we have yet to be eaten by elder dragons or shot down by predator drones."

He got mostly blank looks of incomprehension."...Anyway, We need to send out a scouting party first, which is why you guys are all here. Normally when I go to a new world I spend a couple of days acquainting myself with the locals."

"We're short on time." Hecate reminded him.

"Right. Which means we need to begin searching for any signs of the Mage immediately."

Which left the question: "How do we do that?"

Nathaniel didn't need to voice it. Magnus beat him to it.

"I'll be going down too. I 'd still recognize his presence anywhere and even if he isn't here right now, he would leave behind something for me to track."

"So why do we all need to go then?" Faust spoke up.

"We don't know what's out there yet. Having a good security team would be nice." Magnus explained. "Any questions?"

[Sariel of Tevet]

The trio of necromancers left the meeting and wandered over to Deyanira's room. Suri knocked on the door softly and cracked it open.

"Hey, we are all about to leave and follow Magnus out to.....well....wherever we are. Are you and Steve ready?"

[Razgat]

Deyanira sat up with a pillow on her head. "No. Steve is air ship sick. He's wabbling like a land-legged sailor. Look at him!"

She gestured to the stationary Steve propped up against the wall. "You're not helping, Steve! Why can't you go along with my plans?!.....Don't you bring my mother into this! Wait you don't even know her.....Wow, I'm impressed, that comeback was spot on."

She turned to look at the people that she had forgotten the names of. So many new people to remember. "Oh, fine.....SHUT UP, STEVE! I AM NOT A HERMIT! Don't listen to him, he's crazy."

She hopped off her bed and skipped to the door with a smile. "Ready!"

[Mizagium]

Valendis glanced at everyone, raising an eyebrow. "All right, I'll say it. Shouldn't we try to a bit more stealthy than dropping everyone down in a foreign...world?" Wow, that felt weirder saying than he thought.

[Calefrun]

Denfar grunted. "How do you know a small force would be 'stealthy?' This isn't our world, and we can't be sure that it operates on the same rules as ours. Anything that could be hostile towards us might be able to detect a couple of us just as well as they could detect an army. The only thing we can really know four sure here is that if we get into a fight, there's safety in numbers. Probably." He shifted uncomfortably, unused to talking so much.

"Just like a hellan," Adthie grumbled, shaking her head, "the only things that he considers absolute are matters of brute force. Still... I have to agree with him on this one. We really have no idea what we're up against here."

[Mizagium]

Valendis still wasn't entirely comfortable with the whole thing, but he saw the merit in Denfar's words.

"I suppose we are safer together. We should probably try to not look like an invading army, though." He thought about that. "But then. We are on a tight schedule, aren't we? I'm with you Nathanial, Magnus, let's just be careful."

[Sariel of Tevet]

Eleazar placed a hand over his mouth, leaned in towards Roluo, and whispered, "Is she the one you were telling me about? She's completely bug nuts. Blood mages can't talk to the dead."

"I know right? Either she got left out in the cold a bit too long back home, or there is something she's not telling us. Just...just try not to encourage her."

Unfortunately, he was whispering too quietly for Suri to hear. At that moment she was walking up to Steve and pulled a lemon from her pocket, and placed it on top of him (saying "she placed it on top of his head, seemed a bit redundant). "There! My Papa always said that the best cure for air sickness was to balance a lemon on your head and suck on a glass of water...or...was that suck on a lemon and balance a glass of water on your head? Wait...that's for sea sickness...oh just as well I suppose! Poor thing needs all the help he ca.."

"Okay Suri it's time to meet back up with the group. We are supposed to be leaving soon remember?" Roluo grabbed her by her arm and drug her out of the room while Eleazar followed, shaking his head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now back with the main group, they caught the tail end of all the arguing. Eleazar stepped forward.

"We Nostians aren't exactly a...diplomatic bunch...but we'll go with the group. Just don't expect us to reason with anyone. If anything my shadow magic can keep us hidden if need be."

Liulfr came trotting in behind the group and laid a lemon at Suri's feet.

"Liulfr!! Did you take this from Steve?! Bad dog!! He needed this to fix his tummy ache! How rude."

Roluo just smacked his head with his palm and slunk down against the wall. "They're all crazy."

[Razgat]

Deyanira shrugged off the missing lemon. "Oh, Steve will be fine. He'll get over it. Do you think the blood will have any different consistencies down there? That could be cool."

Deyanira glanced at her slightly empty blood pouch. She'd have to refill it, but it would be best if no one was looking. She didn't want to freak the non blood mages out.

[Myrdraxxis]

"Okay everyone, I suppose we should go down there and see just where the hell we landed." Magnus said. Ten minutes later the main scouting party had landed and the airship had retreated back into the clouds. Luckily they appeared to be in a forest so nobody had seen them appear. It was always easier than having to explain why you just appeared out of mid-air to the panicked populous.

"Well I suppose we should find a town or something." Nathaniel said, glancing around.

[Razgat]

Deyanira looked around at all the trees. "Well, Steve, we might as well pick a direction and stick with it."

She spun around with her staff outstretched until she was too dizzy to spin anymore. "That way!"

She skipped in the direction Steve had picked.

[Mizagium]

Valendis watched Deyanira wander off with a frown. Aside from something being off about her, he didn't like this entire situation. Was it really ok to go monkeying around in other worlds? The whole era of time before the sealing of Mundas Veritas was a giant example of why worlds should stay apart.

And yet...

"I don't suppose anyone has a map?" His joke was hollow, devoid of anything except words, meaningless words in an attempt to keep his doubts at bay.

As luck would have it, a town appeared shortly after they began walking. Then a new question arose.

"Can anyone speak the language here?"

[Myrdraxxis]

“I don’t use maps.” Magnus scoffed. “Just pick a direction and adapt as I go. Part of the adventure.” He grinned and looked around at the group. Hecate was giving a blank look and Nathaniel’s gaze was his typical no-nonsense half glare. Which was reflected by his retinue. Magnus heaved a big sigh.

“I guess I’m the only one enjoying myself here.” The mage muttered.

“We’re on a military mission here. We don’t time to be enjoying ourselves.” Nathaniel retorted. Magnus responded with a snort of derision.

“Kid I’ve run more military operations than you’ll ever be in. Just let me do my job how I like and you might just learn something.” Nathaniel frowned and opened his mouth but his response was cut off by Hecate.

“If you boys are quite finished I can see the town from here.” The Celestial said, walking past the two of them and following Deyanira’s trail. Magnus sighed again and followed.

Several minutes later the town came into view for those without Celestial sight. It was a small if prosperous –looking village. And very obviously one from a civilization that had yet to fully realize industrialization.

“Well, it’s a farming village from the looks of it.” Magnus squinted. “Human too. That’s always a relief.”

“You run across many non-human worlds?” Ishabel piped up, practically brimming with curiosity.

“A few.” Magnus replied. The group made their way to the edge of town, drawing a few odd looks from passersby. “Though usually that just means that I landed in a spot where humans don’t live. You’d be surprised how constant our species is in the multiverse.”

“Might wanna keep that to yourself.” Nathaniel muttered, glancing around. No need to cause more attention to themselves than necessary.

“We need to ask the locals for help.” Faust observed. “At least to find out where we are.”

“Travelers are ye?” A voice made Nathaniel and his lieutenant turn. An old man bent low from age was staring at them. “You lot don’t look like yer from around here.”

“That’s right.” Magnus stepped forward. “We’re actually a little bit lost.” He grinned sheepishly. The old man chuckled.

“Happens sometimes. Most people don’t wander too far out this way these days. Not since the troops stopped movin’ around. Name’s Max by the way.” The old man extened a hand.

“Magnus.” The mage returned the gesture.

“Well met.” Max gazed around at the assembled team. “You guys traders?”

“Something like that.”

Max rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Well to be honest there’s not much to be found here. Yer better off trying yer luck in one of the major cities hereabouts.” He pointed off towards the west. “Tintalla’s about a day’s walk that way if ya don’t mind those creepy Methusela folk.” The old man shuddered. “An’ Altinor’s about a three day’s journey north of here.”

Nathaniel’s eyebrow rose in surprise at that. Altinor? As in, the city-state/magical academy that had all but cut ties from the rest of Mundus Magica? He looked over to Magnus to find that the grin had slipped off of the man’s face replaced by shock.

The group stood for a moment while Magnus processed that.

“Thanks for the help.” Magnus said after a moment. “We’ll be on our way.”

“Happy to help.” Max nodded, either not noticing or not caring about Magnus’ surprise. With that the old man wandered off down the road continuing on his business.

“Care to share Commander?” Hecate asked.

Magnus nodded faintly, gazing off to the north with a faint frown. “I know where we are.” He said. “I’ve been here before.”

[Mizagium]

Valendis raised an eyebrow. "Well, that should make it easier, right? We've got a landmark we recognize, we somehow speak the same language, and Magnus knows the place - why are we not celebrating right now?"

"I don't like it here," Jorsin piped up. "This place....the magic feels...strange." Raefe and Hesseppatt both nodded warily.

"Magnus?" Valendis asked of their expert. "What's going on?"