The Magecraft Chronicles III Story Thread

[Mizagium]

“Hold him.” Valendis tapped the crystalline skull, Ramses, and the earth ceased churning. Instead, the rocky jaws held Haymitch in place. “Who are you,” he demanded, trying to avoid killing, “and why are you trying to kill us?”

-

Marion Criss made a raspberry sound. “I dunno, maybe? Sounds like something important.” Telan and Jolie also answered in the negative.

Fezziwigg scratched his draconic jaw. “Seekers. Hmm. I swear I’ve come across this in my research.”

Once again, it was only Kugo who understood. “I do. Partnered with Celestials, yeah?”

[Damien]

"Celestials, you say?" said Vynalion. "My allies and I faced one in combat not long ago. We barely made it out alive. Immensely powerful beings, those."

"Indeed," said a disembodied voice coming from not far away. It carried an accent that sounded...Hellan. The group turned towards the voice just in time to see a Hellan fade into view after dispelling his invisibility, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Everyone grabbed for their weapons, but Vynalion stopped them before they could do anything.

"Wait!" the cleric cried. "He's giving us the Hellan sign for peace. He means us no harm."

"Very good, priest," said the Hellan. "Not many have studied our culture enough to know our mannerisms. I am impressed."

"Well, if you mean us no harm, why are you here? Who are you?" asked Vynalion.

"I am Zahiir. I am a maharib alssahir. In your language, you call us death jesters. I was exiled by my people for my views when I was just a boy. I've tried endlessly to convince my people to come out of isolation and rejoin the world, to convince them that not all non-Hellans mean us harm. If you mean to try and stop this rebellion my people are contemplating, I want to help. I do not wish to see my people march to their death, but if this rebellion goes forward, that is surely what will happen."

"How do we know we can fully trust you?" Vynalion asked.

"You know my people's culture, priest," Zahiir answered, looking Vynalion square in the eyes, "so you know what my weapon is to me. I give you permission to remove it from my possession as a sign of trust."

Vynalion gathered fire in his hand. "Very well. If you try to attack me, know that you will be immolated where you stand."

"I understand."

Vynalion slowly approached the Hellan, never breaking eye contact. The Hellan's arms were still crossed at the chest, even with the cleric within reach of the man. He looked to the Hellan's weapon, an ax, and saw that it was tied to his belt in such a way that it could not be easily or quickly removed. Vynalion dispelled the flame in his hand and began untying the weapon from the Hellan's waist. When he was finished, he stepped back, the Hellan's arms still crossed, but his face had changed almost imperceptibly, showing just a hint of worry...and maybe fear?

Vynalion turned to face the group. "In Hellan culture, a warrior's blade is a part of his very being. To lose it or to have it taken from you is dishonorable. By letting me take his, he has proven that he bears no ill will towards us. I trust this Hellan completely." He turned back to Zahiir. "Knowing what I do of your culture, I cannot in good conscience keep your ax." Vynalion held out the blade, returning it to Zahiir.

Zahiir held the scimitar blade-down in a saluting gesture. "I thank you, priest."

"I'm sorry," said the cleric, chuckling. "I never introduced myself. I am Vynalion, high priest of Artemis, one of the many good celestials."

"I see," Zahiir replied. "I thank you, Vynalion." He clipped his ax back onto his belt, and crossed his arms once more.

"Now, I know we were in the middle of something," Vynalion said, back to his chipper self, "but I believe now is as good a time as any for introductions. Afterwards, we can all share what we know about the current celestial threat, including my colleagues' venture to find the Mage of the Beginning..."

[Sariel of Tevet]

"So uh............"

Eleazar ran off to the table of food near the now smoldering serpent and began to grab fistfuls of food, shoving them into his mouth and pockets.

"...sorry to eat and run and all but..."

He jumped up on top of the serpent, shoved a fistful of tamales into his mouth, and clicked his heels into the serpent rodeo style.

"Maius Attollere Creatura!"

The serpent started to kick back to life, of sorts, spread it's wings, and began to leave the building. Eleazar leaned down and picked up Izaak on the way out and the serpent took flight.

"I sure hope you know where to find Romeo, or else we just left a city where we could have been gods for nothing. "

[Myrdraxxis]

Kasser shrugged. "Not really, but it can't hurt to try." That said, he spent a good minute finding the controls for the aerial vehicle. "Well it doesn't look too complex." the stormtrooper muttered to himself.

A few more minutes of fiddling and Kasser nodded. "Alright I think I've got it. Hop in."

The blimp lifted off.

After several moments of gaining altitude, a thought occurred to Kasser. "So uh...where are we going exactly?"

---

All three Seekers stared blankly at the sudden newcomer. A Hellan who apparently didn't have a gripe with humans. That was a new one. Arrick cleared his throat, his train of thought thrown off. "Uh, I'm Arrick Sorien. These are Cormac and Mei. We're Seekers."

"Mortal partners to certain Celestials here on Mundus Magica." Cormac continued. "See, when the Mage kicked 'em off this world, they left behind a lotta weird stuff. Stuff that needed to be stopped from falling into the wrong hands."

"Right, that's where we come in." Arrick nodded. "Seekers are given a small portion of a Celestial's power, mostly longevity, to aid them in hunting Celestial remnants. There were, at one point, Seekers who were contracted to Celestials that had more malicious purposes in mind."

'The Dark Seekers.' Solomon spoke up. 'Servants of those Celestials who now threaten this world in physical form.'.

'In retrospect, the whole Dark Seeker crisis might have been nothing more than a first scouting strike against this realm.' Cainte said from Cormac's artifact. Arrick nodded grimly.

"Right, well. Tiamat was one of the Celestial lieutenants responsible for the Dark Seekers." Arrick said.

[Razgat]

Deyanira's grip on Nathaniel's sleeve grew tighter.

That's why she felt uncomfortable. He wasn't alive, not really. She absolutely hated the undead.

Use your power! Control it!

"I...um...I don't know if I can do this...."

You're a necromancer! It's in your blood!

She laid her free hand over the hilt of her dagger. "Do they even have blood? Nathaniel, I don't normally fight these....things."

God, I'm such a coward. Strong enough to escape jail and confront the captain of the ship, but not enough to face the undead or whatever a Death Knight was.

[Mizagium]

To pretty much everyone's surprise, Jolie spoke up, having thus far been a mostly forgotten side note. "What can we do to help?" Marion regarded the young woman with amused appreciation. Telan even seemed more resolute. When these two had first come to her back at the agency, they'd been pleasant, but timid newlyweds. In the short time since their capture by the Red Hellens, they'd grown. Marion honestly hadn't noticed until now. They stood straighter, they spoke with more certainty. They stood together, but didn't cling.

"Yeah. I'm a pretty accomplished adventurer, you know." She fished around in her pocket and handed Arrick a business card. "Marion Criss, dungeon-crawler."

"I'm a fire drake," the Professor said, "and also a somewhat notable scholar."

Kugo folded his arms. "Apparently I'm from the past. I was there during the Dark Seeker Crisis. Whatever I can do to help again, I will."

[Myrdraxxis]

Nathaniel honestly wanted to be surprised by Tarvitz's appearance. He wasn't though. If anything he just felt a grim sort of resignation. Was he fated to constantly run into necromancers, death knights and practitioners of their like? Sure he was a Mage Hunter and it was kind of in his job description, but Nathaniel got the feeling that he had been overshooting his quota lately.

"What's wrong?" He tilted his head to the side to glance at Deyanira. She was rooted in place, rather than running for the door, and looked completely terrified. Of this man?

Tarvitz muttered a quick curse. "Look, you two. I apologize for the deception, but this was just the sort of reaction I was hoping to avoid."

"And just what were you hoping to accomplish by bringing us here?" Nathaniel asked him. "From my understanding the Lich King's minions are vile things that despise life."

"I'm...retired, I suppose you could say." Tarvtiz sighed. Nathaniel blinked.

"Retired?" he echoed. Tarvitz nodded sharply.

"Aint no more Lich King around any more, 'ncase you didn't notice. Not sure why I didn't immediately drop dead again after he bought it, but I stuck around." THe death knight glanced down at himself. "I did a lot of bad, and only once the Lich King's influence was gone did I realize that. Best I can do now is just hide out here int he mountains away from everyone else."

Nathaniel lowered his gun slightly. "Why help us?"

Tarvitz shrugged. "Why not? I aint any sort of good person, but the very least I can keep myself from being a killing machine."

][

Arrick grinned faintly at the group. One thing he always found fascinating was the number of adventurers and helpers ready to rise up in times of crisis. Probably the only reason Mundus Magica wasn't a pile of ash by now.

"We'll head for the border, to Vaer." He said. "Seekers are gathering there and then we plan our next move. I'll need to contact Commander Andermann in Arcia."

"Should probably let the Emperor know there's a small army ah' pissed off Hellans at his doorstep." Cormac added dryly. Arrick nodded.

"Right that too. If you guys have anymore questions you should ask them while we walk."

"Or I could teleport us there." Veraask piped up. Arrick spared the arkarris a pained look. He really didn't like using Chaos magic travel. It was foul stuff but...

He shrugged. "If everyone else is up for it I guess."

[

"Aldryan, that's enough."

THe voice made Aldryan freeze in place. He knew that voice. He knew it. He knew that person. Aldryan turned sharply, Dorian still held clutched in one hand.

Magnus stood several feet away, frowning at the crazed death knight. When had he appeared. Had Aldryan's ghouls not sensed the man approach? Magnus calmly raised one hand out to the methusela.

"Let him go, Al."

"Not my name." Aldryan growled. "You took it. You took my name and everything else." The rage that filled him began to boil over at the sight of this man. THe one who had locked away his memories. His very being. How dare he!

"Let him go." Magnus repeated. With a snarl Aldryan tossed Dorian aside, no longer interested in the mortal.

"How dare you." Aldryan growled.

"How dare I?" Magnus raised an eyebrow. "How dare I stop a mad dog from killing even more than he already had?"

"You took away everything from me!" Aldryan yelled. Magnus shook his head.

"THe Lich King did that, Aldryan. He made you more of a monster than you already were when alive. If anything I agve you a new chance. A better life." Magnus's gaze sharpened into a frown. "Do you really want to waste it now?"

With a howl of rage Aldryan threw himself at Magnus.

[Damien]

Having been tossed aside by the monstrous Aldryan, Dorian tucked and rolled, coming out of the movement in a crouch, rapier drawn. He opened his mouth wide and let out a loud scream which, empowered by his magic, became a concussive burst of sound, flinging boulders at Aldryan in an attempt to slow him down before he reached Magnus and give the mage enough time to react.

Immediately following his sonic blast, he cast his message spell again, updating the group on what was happening.

Al is attacking again. Magnus is here with me, but we could still use some back up. He described the grim landscape around them in hopes of giving members of the group some way to tell where they were, making it easier to find them.

-----

Izaak heard Dorian's message and began scanning the area below them.

"There!" he cried, pointing off towards a dark, desolate area. "Take us there, Eleazar!" He then whipped up a tailwind to make their flight faster. Hang on, Dorian, he thought. I'll be there soon.

-----

Vynalion listened as the Seekers explained their purpose, all the while holding onto the relic in his possession.

"Well, whatever help we can give," he said, motioning to himself and Lenore, "you will have it." Though he was speaking for Lenore, he hoped that she would be willing to help as much as he was.

"I, too, will help however I can," said Zahiir. He held his hand in front of his face and made a wipe motion from top to bottom, veiling himself in an illusion, changing his appearance to that of a human. "Best not to cause any problems with my appearance. No telling what would happen if people saw a Hellan walking into a human settlement, especially Vaer."

[Monika]

Kazan, despite not having any skill in hand-to-hand combat, somehow found himself effortlessly keeping up with all of Ursine's punches, ducking and weaving with an agility he didn't know he had. He blocked a few blows for a time before finally intercepting both of the giant's fists, putting the two at a standstill.

"I'm with Vally," Kazan said, a bit more sternly than he'd meant. "Who are you, and why are you trying to kill us?" he asked.

And why shouldn't we kill you instead? thought some deeper, darker part of his mind that he wished he could silence.

---

"Ah, yes, I am also ready to help!" Lenore said, finally snapping out of her year-long reverie. She had been spacing out rather frequently as of late, and couldn't help but wonder if it was exhaustion from their battle with Ahriman, stress from their encounter with Vidalia, or some combination of the two.

Brushing that aside to focus on the matters at hand, she cleared her throat and announced, "My name is Eleanora, if it isn't too late for introductions. 'Lenore' for short, if you prefer. I've seen a Celestial once, and only once, and I'm not sure how we escaped with our lives. If partnering with you means defeating them, then I am more than happy to do so."

[Myrdraxxis]

Arrick nodded. He turned to Veraask, the arkarris waiting patiently for the group's decision. Seeing as there was no dissent the chaos mage quickly conjured a portal, a red, glowing tear in reality that looked and felt so different from normal magical means. Arrick had always been privately disturbed by the sudden increase in chaos magic use in the recent years. It certainly hadn't been a thing back in the day, but when the arkarris had appeared to the world, suddenly there was a whole new field of magic to study. A shame that it was such a malevolent field of study.

"Off we go." Veraask chirped, unperturbed by the twisting portal beside him. Arrick exchanged a glance with his fellow two Seekers and realized they were waiting for him to lead. With a great sigh he stepped through the portal first.

Several moments later, brushing off the errie feeling of being watched as he passed through the portal, Arrick found himself in Vaer. More specifically he was standing at the edge of a small town at the edge of Vaer. Hammelin was a small border town, one that he'd used passed through to get to Cebrus. There wasn't much here except the small population of farmers and the occasional soldier from the border garrison. The town had become a great deal busier since he'd last visited.

The town square was filled with an odd mix of people: Humans of all nationality, hellans and beastkin and even a couple of shades. All were armed to the teeth with an eclectic mix of weapons and magical artifacts. There was no uniform or reason to their appearances. Each Seeker was their own person, their own warrior. Arrick scanned the group with a small smile. TO him, the oddest thing about the group wasn't their appearances, but the simple fact of so many Seekers being in one place at one time. There was varied reaction to his sudden appearance, but most simply watched, unalarmed.

Mei and Cormac joined him a moment later, exiting the portal. Veraask followed them.

Arrick waited for the others to join and then began to speak. "We have a situation." He spoke, and the town square was quiet. The assembled Seekers watched, waiting. Arrick would fully admit that he was still somehwat uncomfortable with being the unofficial leader (the Seekers having very little the in the way of organization) of the Seekers.

"Celestials are walking free on Mundus Magica, and left unchecked they will drag this world into oblivion."

"Aye, we've all felt it." Someone spoke up.

"The Arcian and Vaerian militaries are aware, but lack the necessary mobility to deal with this sudden threat. Which is where we come in." Arrick paused, letting everyone process that. "We can hunt these Celestials more easily, and coordinate more quickly. What I need from all of you is only what you have always done: Hunting Celestials."

"We'll need to work more closely together." Mei pointed out. "Seeking out Celestial artifacts is one thing, but taking on Celestials head on?"

"Tread carefully." Arrick agreed. "I will be coordinating from here in Vaer for the time being, I want reports of any movement you all can find. If we get so much as a whiff of Celestial activity I want a team ready to go." Arrick issued several more orders and the Seekers got to work, many grouping up and planning out their next move. Arrick let them; Seekers worked better independently and knew to alert each other if support was needed. Most had centuries of experience.

"Mei, head to Arcia and alert Commander Cole of what's going on here." Arrick said. THe Xiolinese woman nodded. "Cormac, keep a few Seekers here and watch for hellan movement. If Tiamat rears its head again I want us to be ready."

"Aye."

Arrick exhaled slowly and turned to his newly acquired group of adventurers. "We'll head to the Vaerian capital. The Emperor still owes me a favor, which should be enough to get us an audience."

[Sariel of Tevet]

"Shit." That's not good. Alex looked up and saw the battlefield around her erupting with one explosion after another. She sunk down and warded herself as best she could while looking for a way out. She spied Haymitch already trapped at the edge of the area and shook her head.

"Damn kid. But I guess miss thing up there might not fire on her own buddies. Let's see what I can do."

She released a squadron of illusions to run interference in the middle of the explosions while she took to the shadows and ran in an arc around to where the rest of the group was fighting. While Valendis was busy trying to interrogate Haymitch, she pulled up behind him and placed a blade around his throat.

"Alright, alright. You don't have to let the kid go. He should be able to squeeze out of there by now if he's worth his salt. Still learning and all. But uh, mind calling off your little celestial friend up there?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Ursine smiled. It had been a while since someone was an equal match for a beastman like himself. He noticed everyone gathering up just out of reach, and then tilted his head to wink at Kazan with his one good eye.

"Tell you what. You want the answer to that? Ask my boss. I'll take you to her."

He clinched his fists around Kazan's hands and wound up for a mighty toss, and threw him right at Haymitch, who was still trapped by the jeweled skull.

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

Eleazar, covered head to toe in looted rain forest gold, clicked his heels into the winged serpent and let out a battle cry.

"Welp, you heard Romeo, put us down girl! Er...or boy? I didn't think to check. Izaak you're the expert here, check for a penis during our descent. I'm sort of just curious now. And also you have to do what I say because I'm a indigenous god or something. Awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!"

And with that the trio dove to intercept Dorian and Magnus.

[Mizagium]

"Kazan! Ramses!" Valendis jerked his arm vaguely at the airborne Kazan. He didn't have have to properly formulate a plan, but he hoped the spirit would understand. Ramses pivoted in place and dropped his jaw in something like a smile. It laughed a little; it sounded like rocks grinding together. The earth split again and thrust upward. A hand - or close enough to one - reach out to catch Kazan. Ramses did it's best to intercept the man and minimize impact speed, but it could only do so much.

In any case, Kazan was caught.

Now Ramses itself was mad. These clowns were making a mockery of him - him! Ramses! The crystal skull's eye sockets flared with a golden light. The earthen jaws holding Haymitch squeezed much tighter than before, and then didn't seem like they were going to stop.

"Talk," Valendis ordered. "Ramses isn't having fun, anymore. And neither are we."

-

Marion whistled. "You sure are something, Arrick the Seeker. Got a small army ready to jump when you say jump. And a favor from the Emperor? Can't help but say I'm a little jealous. Maybe sticking with you was the way to go after all. Ain't a better adventure out there than hunting Celestials."

The Professor tutted. "I do wish I had my notes. I could learn so much about these beings!"

"I'm sure ol' Arrick here knows more about them than anyone else, eh? That right, Arrick?"

Telan and Jolie whispered together about meeting the Emperor, while Kugo waited patiently.

[Monika]

"Oof!" Kazan landed in Ramses' hand with a thud, jumping back to his feet after a brief moment of recovery. "Geez, Vally! You couldn't summon something a little softer? Like a marshmallow spirit?"

This is getting us nowhere...

"Shut up," Kazan muttered under his breath.

You fools have never interrogated someone before, have you?

"We'll figure out why they're trying to kill us, don't worry. We're pretty much at a standstill, so they'll have no choice but to tell us soon."

Pathetic. They'll sooner flee, laughing themselves all the way back to their base, before having any useful information coaxed out of them by your ridiculous tactics.

"I said we'll figure it-"

You have ten minutes. If you haven't broken them by then...then I will.

Kazan exhaled sharply, fixing a stern glance on Ursine, before shifting his eyes to the rather defeated looking image of Haymitch and then to Alex.

"Look," he said, his voice now a low growl. "You all have a very, very short amount of time to tell us what's going on. Who sent you to kill us, and why? If you don't tell us soon, then I am not liable for what happens next."

---

"The Vaerian capital..." Lenore thought about their current destination, mildly concerned by the potential ramifications. She was an Arcian. More than that, she was the daughter of a Senator of Arcia - a mageocracy in all but name. Setting foot on Vaerian soil, her country's diametric, anti-magic opposite, already seemed like a huge step of some boundary. But to go to the capital and meet with the emperor?

"Will this...be all right?" she asked, more to herself than to anyone else.

[Myrdraxxis]

Arrick waved off Lenore’s concern. “It will be fine.” He said, glancing around the group. He said that, but there were a few…eye-catching members of their little group. The professor and Zahiir being the primary culprits. Luckily, Arrick was always prepared. With a wave of his hand a quickly muttered spell, magic wreathed itself around the two members of their party, and after a moment two normal-looking humans stood where once a dragon and hellan had been. “It’s simple illusion magic, but this is Vaer. Nobody of importance will notice the spell.” ’Hopefully.

“I did not take you for an illusionist.” Veraask spoke up, eyeing the Seeker curiously. Arrick shrugged.

“Not much of one, honestly. But after a few centuries, you pick up a few tricks.” He gave the party another look-over and nodded. Veraask would be fine as is; Arkarris were an oddity, but not unwelcome in Vaer. “All those scary stories about mage-hunters are mostly untrue.” He said to Lenore. “No one will immediately peg you for a mage though…” his eyes caught her distinctly Arcian features and clothing. “If you have a cloak or something, it couldn’t hurt.”

Regardless, Arrick quickly made arrangements for their group to reach Helgras. They couldn’t teleport into the city without raising a fuss, of course. More mundane methods were required. As luck would have it (or Mei’s foresight and planning, whichever) Hammelin had several shiny new trucks used for large food deliveries. Automobiles were just beginning to hit the scene in Vaer (and were practically unheard of elsewhere except maybe Mykonos), so it was a surprise that this out-of-the-way village had any at all. Fortunate for them.

Less fortunate were Arrick’s skills in driving. “These things are brand new, I haven’t had a chance to learn yet. Shut up!”

A few close calls, creative swear words, and nearly 8 hours later, the capital city of Helgras loomed in the distance. Vaer’s capital city was a site to behold from the ground, all towering masonry and wrought iron splendor. It’s grand, ancient appearance fought a fierce battle with the air of progress and advancement that came from the steel buildings and skeletal scaffolding of new, modern houses that were popping up. As Arrick guided their vehicle into the city proper, the signs of Vaerian ingenuity became apparent.

Even at this time of morning the city was busy. Automobiles and carts of all sizes filled the winding streets and people similarly packed the sidewalks, bustling about. Music wafted out of café doors and shop windows from brand new radios.

“What a fascinating place.” Veraask murmured, looking around with avian quickness, eyes taking in all the sights of metropolitan Vaer. The only real city that he had been to was Kyros, which was wholly different from the sprawling labyrinth of steel and stone that rose up around them.

“It has its charms.” Arrick agreed. For all the seemingly ridiculousness of rejecting magic, Vaer has made astounding strides. Here, you can be whatever you want, magic or no magic.” Granted, that simply meant you had to have a great deal of wealth in order to be someone here. The economic class divide of Vaer was not lost on Arrick. He glanced out the window as they drove, noting more than a few streets that seemed to lead to poorer areas. A few minutes later, after leaving the lower districts and finding a spot among the tall buildings of the business sector, Arrick pulled their truck to a halt. “We have a little time before our meeting with Darius. Feel free to check out the town just uh…try to keep a low profile.”

][

Magnus looked bored, and it infuriated Aldryan all the more for it. For every swing, every strike of his weapon, Magnus simply either dodged around the blow fluidly or teleported a short distance away. With a growl, the death knight charged Magnus once more, deeper into the ruins. Not once had the mage made any attempt to fight back, just dodging, with that same damn bored, disappointed look on his face.

“Fight back, damn you!” Aldryan spat, raising his free hand. Sickly green runes formed in the air as Aldryan cast, the death magic coming to his call effortlessly. An orb of emerald light wreathed in dark flames shot towards Magnus. The man stood still, watching the missile approach. An inch from Magnus’ face, the spell struck some invisible force that rippled in the air, briefly illuminating a hexagonal wall in front of the mage.

“Is this the best that a death knight of the reviled Lich King can do?” Magnus taunted, tilting his head. Alryan saw red, but refrained from charging again. He glanced around and noted that Magnus had drawn him away from the other human, his original prey. Clever. “Frankly I expected better. If that’s the best magic you can wield, you were better off staying a student at Altinor.”

“The prison you bound me to? I think not.” Aldryan replied.

“Would you have preferred true death?” Magnus asked him. “Like the rest of your kind?” He frowned. “If so…”

The air around Magnus glowed blue as a flurry of arcane swords formed around him. Then, hovering in midair, they all pointed towards Aldryan. The death knight’s eyes widened and he dove out of the way. Not fast enough. Even in his undeath, where sensation was dulled, pain shot like liquid fire through him. Alryan let out a cry of pain and tried roll away. He couldn’t. Five magical blades pinned him to the ground. Struggling proved useless, doing nothing more than sending more lances of pain through his body. Footsteps brought his attention back to Magnus, the travelling mage now standing over him. The white-haired man’s gaze bore into him. “If you’re so eager to die, then by all means…”

][

Hecate had largely let the fight progress on its own after firing the initial shots. Mostly because she wanted to see just what her allies were capable of. Now that things had come to a sort of standstill…

“Tis obvious that they are the thralls of a Celestial.” She spoke, hovering lower so Kazan and Valendis could hear. “As for which one…” She trailed off, regarding the opponents carefully. “I could glean the answers from them, though their minds will not survive. And they may have more useful knowledge later.”

[Sariel of Tevet]

Alex watched as Haymitch looked about on the verge of passing out from pain, still in the jaws of the crystal skull. Ursine came running up and slid to a halt when he noticed that Kazan had been uncomfortably caught some giant hand. His eyes fell on Alex, to see what their next move would be. Haymitch wouldn't last much longer, the Celestial was finally paying attention to them again, and everyone else seemed to have the drop on them. Things weren't looking great, and he sensed that Alex knew this as well.

She let out a sigh and dropped her shoulders, followed by a twirling of her blades and she dropped them into their sheaths.

"Look. I'm just a hired hand. I follow the money and if shit gets too real, I bounce. I might be full of myself, but I know when things have fallen out of my favor."

She glared at Haymitch. That boy was going to get her killed one day if he doesn't shape up any faster. He caught a glimpse of her cold eyes and tried to awkwardly smile, but mostly just ended up grinding his teeth, as he was still being crushed.


"Ever hear of the Arbiter?"

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

Oberon stood in line at the First National Bank of Vaer, the largest, overcrowded, and most powerful bank in the capital. A paycheck hung out of one of his hands and his arms were crossed over one another.

You do realize that the Seekers probably already had their meeting. We've been standing in line for years. Actually. How have you not starved to death? And are you fired now? Why is this line so long?

"Something something Seeker powers? How should I know? And no, supposedly this is pretty common at the capital. Why else do you think you never see the same employees twice? It's because they get their first check and end up having to stand here forever. I'm not saying it's a good system...its just the one they have here. Once you finally cash it you head back and repeat. At least you get a lot of vacation days. "

If that's what you want to call this...

A teller rang a bell and it was finally Oberon's turn to head to the counter. He slammed his paycheck down on the counter triumphantly, "I don't suppose you have to wait in these lines when you get your paycheck, do you?"

The teller didn't even look up to acknowledge Oberon speaking to him. His soul had certainly died years ago by the looks of his glazed over stare. However, that more than answered his question. The teller slipped a few large bills across the counter to Oberon, and then calmly rang the bell so the next person could come up.

Oberon. Do you feel that?

He was making his way out of the bank, flipping through the underwhelming amount of money he had made after standing in line for two years.

"I mean, hardly. There isn't much to feel here. I only have like...three or four pieces of cash to flip through here."

No, you idiot. The energy. The Seekers, they are here.

"Are...are you sure?"

Oberon looked around as if he would actually know what the Seekers looked like in the midst of the crowded city.

I'm positive. We must find them.

[Damien]

Eleazar had directed the abomination to begin landing. Izaak, being somewhat impatient in wanting to get to Dorian, jumped off, using air magic to slow his descent to the ground.

"Dorian?!" he cried out, desperate to find the illusionist.

"Izaak?" he heard from a distance. The elementalist turned, seeing Dorian shakily getting up from the ground.

"DORIAN!" cried Izaak, running towards the man. When he was within reach, he grabbed Dorian and pulled him into a tight embrace. "Dorian!" he said, his voice quaking, eyes tearing up. "I was so worried that we wouldn't make it in time."

"It's okay, Izaak," Dorian replied, returning the embrace. "You got here just in time."

Once it finally dawned on them what was happening, Eleazar looking at them with a "called it" look, they separated a bit, both blushing profusely, but smiling all the while.

"I'm just glad you're okay," Izaak said, burying his face in Dorian's shoulder, crying tears of happiness that the man he loved (yes, loved) was alive and okay.

"I am," Dorian replied, "and while I'm sure we'd both be content to just stay like this, we need to go help Magnus."

"Agreed," the elementalist said, lifting his head and removing himself from the embrace. "Not that he really needs much help from what I know about him."

The pair ran off towards the ruins where Magnus had led Al. The eventually found the mage standing before the methusela, arcane swords pinning him to the ground as well as floating in the air, pointed directly at him.

“If you’re so eager to die, then by all means…” the mage said, preparing to skewer the undead abomination.

"Wait!" yelled Dorian, bringing Magnus' attention to him. "Is this really necessary? Can't you just recast the illusion? Does he really need to die?" Both Dorian and Izaak looked Magnus, hoping he might be swayed to spare Al.

-----

"It’s simple illusion magic, but this is Vaer. Nobody of importance will notice the spell,” Arrick said, having cast a minor glamour on Zahiir and the Professor, which was placed over the one Zahiir had literally just cast on himself.

"So I assume my glamour was unsatisfactory?" he asked, a little miffed that he, a master illusory duelist, was apparently not to be trusted with his own glamours...

"I'm sure he meant no offense," said Vyn, hoping to diffuse the situation. It appeared to work as Zahiir huffed in annoyance and began walking with the group.

[Mizagium]

Valendis considered Hecate’s without reacting – then the girl backed off. Kazan had done it, he thought. Or maybe it was the summoned spirit. Whatever.

Ever hear of the Arbiter?

“No,” he said slowly and with narrowed eyes. “Should I have?”

Sensing the change in mood, Ramses quit crushing Haymitch – although not not actually release the boy.

-

Telan and Jolie marveled at Helgras, having never seen such an industrious place, and were eager to sight-see, even if they were ultimately meeting the emperor later. Marion let them go, preferring to linger with Arrick and company.

“Ahem,” the Professor said. “Perhaps I should remain behind – or at least with the vehicles. I am still a Fire Drake, illusion or not. I rather not draw attention to ourselves by, ah, knocking people down would be the least of it.” He’d had to fly most of the trip, taking breaks by riding atop the vehicle. But it hadn’t been so bad. Kugo had flown with him for much of the way.

He seemed awkward, standing alone there, giving everyone else a wide berth. The various glamors and illusions layered on him hid his bulk and would convince anyone he impacted that it had certainly been anything other than a drake that knocked them down. Still, it was a constant reminded of his mistakes.

The illusions cast had unintentionally twisted to a form resembling his human self from a few years ago. Human, stocky. Scratchy graying beard and long hair. Glasses. An academic’s suit, worn and stretched from years. Not a perfect body, but it was his. And he did so miss it. Some nights he dreamed of surrendering to the drake, of disappearing into the jungles and never returning – which wasn’t too far from what actually happened, now that he considered.

Fezziwigg sat, and his glamour performed a similar action. Kugo sat as well, facing him.

“It is not good to be so alone, Professor.”

“It has been my life for some time, Mr. Agatev.”

Kugo smiled. “Kugo, please. We have fought together. I consider comrades in arms to be my friends.”

“In that case, my first name is Penrose. Thank you for sitting – and flying – with me, Kugo.”

“Being alone is good sometimes, necessary to understand who you really are.” He clenched and unclenched his fists. “But too much will reduce you to nothing. I have wandered for a long time – have wandered out of my time.” He tried to hide the pained expressed that crossed his face.

“My loneliness feels comparably small to that.”

Kugo smiled. “No, no, it was not my intention to out-sorrow you, Penrose. I am a man out of his time – you are a man out of his body. I do not think I can say I am more alone than you.”

Penrose laughed. “Very well, Kugo Agetev, let us be lonely together.”

[Monika]

"Low profile," Lenore repeated, glancing at the rear-view mirror of Arrick's truck. It wasn't something she considered before - she'd never had a reason to - but she did look pretty Arcian. Maybe picking up a cloak wouldn't be such a bad idea. The last thing she wanted to do was attract a rogue mage hunter and spark an international incident.

"I'll be back," she said, and she stepped out of the truck, leaving her summoning books concealed within. She took in the sights of the city for a few moments. Massive buildings climbed toward the sky, adorned with lights and signs. Motorized vehicles zipped about every which way. Thousands of people walked to and fro, going about their daily lives as if it were all...normal.

"Do people really live like this?" Lenore asked herself. Whenever she wanted to travel long distances, she would just summon Ixion and ride on its back (albeit reluctantly). Dinner had always been served by familiars at her home. Household chores were routinely done with a flick of the wrist or a brief incantation. Was it really possible to live in a world without magic?

She shook her head, clearing it of the thought. "You can worry about the cultural differences later, Lenore. Now, you need to find a cloak."

And so the young mage set out to find a clothing store, doing her best to navigate the labyrinth of buildings while avoiding collisions with passersby. Fortunately, most of them seemed to be focused entirely on their own business. It felt cold and distant, but at least it kept Lenore from arousing suspicion. Eventually she came across a particular complex of steel and concrete. Posted into the ground was a sign that read, "Vaerian Mega-Mart: We sell everything."

Lenore was at once intimidated and intrigued by the concept of such a store. "Everything?" she asked. "I suppose that has to include clothes, doesn't it?"

It certainly wasn't the type of place one would see in Arcia, but at this point it was her only bet, so Lenore cautiously pushed opened the glass doors to the shop, unaware of the terrors that lay beyond...

---

"Arbiter...Arbiter..." Kazan let the word sit on his tongue for a bit. He was almost certain that he'd heard the word before, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint where. He had quickly come to the realization that whenever this feeling hit - this feeling that he knew something that he had no way of knowing - it was probably due to his inner-self.

"Well?" he muttered under his breath. "Any answers?"

Hmph. Now you want my help? came the voice in his head. The only being I know who would be pompous enough to call themselves 'the Arbiter' would be a...

"Celestial?" Kazan answered tentatively. He met Alex's eyes and said, with a bit more confidence, "You're working for a Celestial?"

[Myrdraxxis]

Magnus hesitated, staring down at the death knight. “The spell can be recast…”He said after a moment of contemplation. Aldryan sneered at him, causing the mage to frown. “But does he deserve another chance?” He turned and asked Dorian. His eyes flickered to Izaak- he’d noted the other mage’s arrival of course, and posed the question. “Well? You’re the one he attacked Dorian. I’ll leave it up to you.”

A faint sound caught his ear and Magnus’ attention turned past the pair up into the horizon beyond. Three shapes, steadily growing larger as they grew closer, sailed through the air towards them. “Choose quickly. It looks like our ride is finally here.”

][

“Visual confirmed, captain. It’s them!”

Captain Corvinus sighed in relief, sagging in his chair. A smattering of cheers went up from the crew as he did. When the ground team had departed, Corvinus and the other captains had done their job and waited at safe distance above the cloud line until it became obvious that something had gone wrong. Check-in times were missed, and while their fuel supply was fine their food supplies would need to be replenished before they left.

Then a part of lord Nathaniel’s retinue had just reappeared on the ship.

Ishabel, Xing and most of the Mage Hunter’s retinue had, by some stroke of luck, been cast back aboard their airship by Magnus’ spell. The Emperor’s luck must have truly been with them. Ishabel, being a scryer, was able to discern the locations of most of the other ground team members. It had taken time, but now almost everyone was accounted for.

“Magnus, Dorian and Izaak.” Nathaniel strode up beside the captain, the relief palpable on the youth’s face. Nathaniel and his companion, the blood mage Deyanira, had been quick to leave the strange hermit’s home, and ever since then Deyanira had locked herself in her quarters and refused to leave. A matter for later, Nathaniel assured.

“That leaves only a few others.” Corvinus muttered. “The Celestial, the Arcian lad and the Ossen summoner, yes?”

“Right.” Nathaniel confirmed. “We’re lucky we managed to run into Kasser and Roluo on the way here.”

“Lucky, he says.” Kasser, the stormtrooper, muttered from his spot near the exit. The airship had indeed nearly run into his and Roluo’s air balloon…literally.

][

Satisfied that the group wouldn’t get themselves in too much trouble, Arrick excused himself. “Try not to get too lost around here. The signs are easy enough to read. Stay out of the Cleft, that’s where the criminals hang out. And if any of you check out the airship docks, be on the lookout for outbound ships. We’ll need to make a trip back to Arcia at some point. Meet me at the palace gates when you’re ready.” With that parting advice, Arrick departed. The meeting wasn’t for a little while yet, but he figured he’d walk up to the palace, taking in the sights and sounds as he did. As ideologically separated as Vaer was from the rest of Mundus Magica, it was still undeniably one of its great powers. Its capital city was a beating heart of commerce, travel and, most importantly, information. Things would have begun moving since he departed from Kyros.

One of the primary problems facing them now was creating a unified force. Sure, the expedition to hunt for the Mage of the Beginning was a good first sign of solidarity. In fact, it was rather promising that both Arcia and Vaer were willing to work together. It wouldn’t be enough. Arrick had spent centuries digging amongst the ruins that the Celestials left behind. Their works, their weapons, their very ruins. Gods above. In his early years as a Seeker, Arrick had wondered why the Mage didn’t simply have his people try and coexist with the Celestials, who already lived on Mundus Magica. Surely there was a better way than to wage a one-man campaign of conquest against them and drive them to the planes in between reality? Three hundred years later, and Arrick knew it was because there was no way that humans could have coexisted with the Celestials of old. That arrogant, hedonistic empire of being so alien that even their remnants of their malicious empire warped the mind.

Even Solomon had agreed that it was better this way.

Arcia and Vaer themselves wouldn’t be enough. They needed more troops, more magic, more….everything. The enemy would not be idle. Ahriman moved in the East, necromancer warbands rallied a united front under the banner of Apophis to the north, and now apparently that damned serpent Tiamat had found its own proxies to wage war.

“-heard from my husband this morning. His unit’s being moved back into the mountains.”

“The radio said this morning that the plague is beginning to spread out from the Cleft! My doctor-“

“made three whole months worth of earning just off this week’s haul!”

Arrick let the chatter of the crowd float past him, picking up bits of it as he walked. Most was mundane, day to day stuff. People discussed work, their lives. Many were worried about the war in the south. More observant folk noted the rise in airship traffic from outlying towns. A sense of tension was building in Helgras.

Arrick slowed his walk, eyes drifting to the people passing him by. Here, in the side streets of Helgras, he could see past the glamour and air of progress that Vaer espoused and got a glimpse of its bleaker nature. Beggars and homeless folk lined the alleys, victims of their own sad fates and buried beneath Vaer’s towering skyscrapers. Many of them were hellans. Despite its on and off again conflict with the Ceberus hellan peoples, Vaer had a notable hellan population of its own; Immigrants seeking asylum from the southern conflicts or even those who had grown up in Vaer. It wasn’t illegal for a hellan to live in Vaer after all, but their lot in life was certainly less than fortunate. It was no wonder so many were driven to join the ranks of the Reds. “That’s a problem that will need to be dealt with sooner than later.” Arrick muttered aloud.

Vaer was trapped between two forces, though it didn’t know it yet. Apophis to the north with his necromancers, and Tiamat to the south, with the blood-crazed hellans. Whether this was by design or not, it placed Vaer in a precarious situation. One of these forces needed to give, and personally Arrick wasn’t keen on letting the hellans get their hands on more blood magic. The Mage Hunters had done well enough with keeping Nostia’s death mages at bay for decades. He’d have to believe they could continue to do so.

Arrick started walking again, dragging his eyes away from the alleyways, and then paused. He turned back, eyes catching a poster taped to the nearby brick wall. “Hmm.” He read over it, then promptly ripped it down. Stuffing the poster into his coat, he continued onward.

The city of Helgras was built upon a plateau, its districts stretching over much of the geographical formation. The Royal Palace dominated nearly all of that plateau’s northern face, elevated above the rest of the city. Though mostly shielded by Helgras’ many towers and skyscrapers, the palace was a constant presence in the Helgras city skyline. The Imperial Family had a tendency towards the ostentatious, and it seemed that every generation added something new to the palace, or replaced something from it. In a way, it was a good representation of Vaer itself: always changing, growing, improving. Depending on who you asked, anyway. Arrick found it to be a bit excessive.

“I think I liked it better back when Ignatius was emperor.” He mused, standing before the great wrought iron gates. “Remember him, Sol? He added that small forest to the palace’s western grounds wall.”

’This place has grown since then.’ Solomon noted. ’I believe those ‘western grounds’ are now a park in the middle of the servant dormitories.’

“Oh how times change.” Arrick sighed, ignoring the odd looks the two gate guards were giving him as he approached. The Gates were open, allowing petitioners to the palace inside, but only to the first foyer. Whether or not you got to see the Emperor was a matter of guile, importance and patience. A lot of patience.

There were only three other people standing near the gates to get in. One of them was, of all things, a Shade garbed head to toe in blackened plate mail. ’Interesting.’

[Damien]

"Well? You’re the one he attacked Dorian. I’ll leave it up to you."

Dorian hated having responsibility thrust upon him, but this was just cruel. Magnus had made him decide whether Al lived or died. He didn't know Al at all, but when he came up to the group when they'd first met, cheerful and carefree, it looked like genuine happiness, and as someone that knew illusions and how to manipulate emotions, he could tell the difference between true happiness and that brought on by a spell.

He looked to Izaak, hoping that he'd be able to help him decide. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, it was love at first sight for him with regards to the elementalist, and Al could have easily killed him, ending whatever chance the two would have in the way of a relationship.

Their eyes met, and in an instant, he could feel Izaak's thoughts on the matter: everyone deserves a second chance.

The sound of the airships arriving was accented by Magnus' final words on the subject. "Choose quickly. It looks like our ride is finally here."

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Dorian responded, "even if they did just try to kill me. He seemed like a genuinely good person before we got sent here by your spell, and I know you're not to blame for that. You did what you had to to save us. I'm grateful for that, and I'm certain the real Al would be, too.

"This Al here? He's obviously being controlled by some kind of puppet master. I know a good deal about mind magic, and I know mind control when I see it. This isn't the real Al. The real Al is the one that came to greet us back in that town. So I say let him live. However, I don't think just recasting the spell will be enough. I say we use a mind blank spell, which should, in theory, remove any hold his master has on him. We'll give him back his memory prior to being controlled, put up some mental wards to protect him from future control, and then you'll teleport him somewhere safe. I know it's risky, blanking someone's memory and then constructing a new one, but dammit, he doesn't deserve to die just because some evil bastard was controlling him!" He looked the white-haired mage straight in the eye, his gaze resolute, his mind certain that this was the best course of action. "So what say you, Magnus?"