ARESY, A humble healer from the South (Ysera Furyborn, Hell-Knight Signifer)
~8am, 25th of June, 5th Era 1486 RE (Day 13)
The Path of Amnesty, West Ylaskir
After a perilous journey east along the Path of Amnesty, Ramos, along with Aresy, Professor Glyph, Wolfgang, Duncan and the others are finally within sight of the solitary mountain. Amidst the isolated wild-lands of Western Ylaskir sits Mount Accolade (a long extinct volcano), and built into the very mountainside itself lies the fortress; Ascentium - A beacon of civilization and safety in a dangerous wilderness. The home of Ramos and the Order of Liberorius. The sun rises, and the large stone fortress sits proud and unshaken. It's design is crude and basic compared to the castles and bastions of the mainland realms. In it's center sits a large narrow tower which extends high into the sky - a watchtower. Ascentium is the primary residence and base of operations for members of the Order of Libertorius; rebel freedom fighters, that have forsaken the realms of Kings and Queens, and instead share a mutual ethos of equality, companionship and freedom of speech.
"Magnificent isn't she, Ramos? The fortress itself is worth fighting for, but the ideals that are allowed to flourish within are better still. I don't know about you, but no matter how many times I see the great fortress, my faith is renewed, and it puts to rest any doubts that I have about our cause."
- Brother Duncan
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| Johan 'John' Geist 14th Lord-Commander and Castellan of Ascentium |
"Ascentium is a glimpse into the future of our world, Aresy. A great utopia where all can live in harmony, no matter their religion, creed, or transgression...The Order of Libertorius has one simple ethos; to express these ideals, to scatter them over the world, and bring peace and freedom to all...I'm sorry, my child...I do have a tendency to go overboard when I speak about our cause with new faces. You must forgive me, I'm afraid I'm an immensely passionate person, but you will learn all that and more from your time here with the professor, so welcome. Welcome to our sanctuary."
- Johan 'John' Geist
Aresy seems unexpectedly warmed by the whole event, John doesn't seem worried or threatened at all by her arrival, exactly the opposite however. Despite all these great and important things going on, he still takes the time to ask her about herself. He genuinely seems to care about his 'brothers and sisters', and seemed excited by the prospect of her being Professor Glyph's apprentice - for he hasn't taken on one for many years. When Aresy mentions the book that she found - on Glyph's work on Ancient Symbols - John, seemed a bit uncomfortable, deciding that this was neither the place nor time to discuss that, and so he agreed to meet her later for a less-public discussion regarding that matter. Ramos also had business to discuss with John, and John gave him the same promise. For now, he gave a brief tour of the fortress to his new sister; Aresy, showing her the feasting hall, the narrow tower, the mage's quarter and armory, as well as the local automaton. A crude bipedal machine, humanoid in it's appearance. Aresy had seen these creations before - at the Battle of the West-Harbour - she held no love for these war machines, for they were capable of untold destruction. This automaton however seemed different, it seemed gentle somehow, and the local children were playing with it, and it seemed to be playing back. John introduced her to 'FRANK', explaining that this machine was incapable of causing direct harm to others. He had personally assisted in the wiring of the machine's mind, and said that even the idea to commit a harmful act for FRANK was not possible. John left Aresy to attend to some business with Ramos, reminding her that the feast would begin at six o'clock in the great hall. While he is gone, Aresy tries to test FRANK by giving him commands, and taking him for a walk outside of the fortress for half an hour or so. Sitting on his shoulder, she directs FRANK to a shrub, and commands him to uproot the shrub (which he does so), and in the hole she discreetly places her Hell-Knight signifer mask and bonded-dagger, before re-planting the shrub once again. She wraps a hair-ribbon around the stem of the shrub so that she could find it again in the future before riding back to Ascentium on FRANK's shoulder.
Ramos finds John in the feasting hall, prepping the long table with cutlery and plates, and asks for a moment of private discussion with him. John obliges and leads him into an office down the hall. When they are alone, Ramos reveals to John the success of his missions in the last year. He informs John that the Von Heltzer Paladin-Lieutenant; Heidi, is dead, and that Wolfgang was equally successful in his own contracts against Lord Emmon Hyegarl as well as the Mayor of Espire; Dejan Le Torrique. John seems relieved by this news, and that the realm has become safer with the results. The Order is one step closer to ending the Civil War once and for all. Ramos also reveals to John an epiphany he had while thinking of ways he could destroy the Hell-Knight Cabal of Vigilum. Ramos explains that the geography of the Hell-Knight Bastion's location could work to their advantage. Bastion Zenith is surrounded by mountains on most sides, so Ramos conceptualized one simple plan - bring them down on top of the Bastion. Bury the Hell-Knights with thousands of tonnes of jagged rock. Put an end to their corruption and oppression, it has gone on too long. John seems impressed with this plan, he mulls it over, and it seems totally possible. He agrees to speak to his engineers and pyromancers, and make the arrangements, although he insists it will take a great amount of time to arrange, and will place many of his men's lives at risk.
While John is pleased with Ramos' progress and ingenuity, he still seems quietly worried - for there are other graver matters on his mind that outweigh the urgency of the Hell-Knights and the Civil War even. Matters relating to Glyph's research, and to the Malefic Seven. Ramos seems confused at this, but John assures him that all will be discussed in the morning. For now, they must celebrate their triumphs over the south, and bask in their freedom at the feast tonight. Ramos leaves, and Aresy soon after arrives to discuss the book with John. He explains to her that the book contains a lot of harrowing and evil concepts that might unduly scare the people should they know it's secrets. He wants to address the Malefic Seven with his followers. But only at the right time.
Before the feast, Ramos takes some time to head over to the quartermaster to improve his armour and requisition a new glaive - for his old one was discarded by Guard Captain Vissaeus in High-Haven. This new one he enhances to give it the 'Agile' weapon quality. He also speaks to the quartermaster with regards to an idea he had for some improvised explosives, and the quartermaster agrees to make them. In addition to an ample sum of gold, Ramos also hands over the gold/silver rings (he acquired from Matheus' chest in High-Haven) as payment to the quartermaster. Following his new purchases, he heads over to the mage's quarter (a two-storey tower adjacent to the corner of the fortress walls.) to acquire a Necklace of Fireballs (VII) from the mage there, she accepts the gems and winter coat he acquired from Matheus as part-payment for the necklace. While he is here, he sees Aresy enter with Professor Glyph, and the two of them make their way upstairs to his study. Amusingly to Ramos, he sees Glyph hand Aresy a broom, and the maniacal halfling genius explains to her that the study will be very dusty - it finally dawned on Aresy that these sort of menial responsibilities were to be expected of her if she was to be his apprentice. They continued upstairs and Glyph outlined details of Aresy's tutelage. He gave her a boost of his own arcane power, making her permanently stronger, and he also began to teach her the Ancient dialect of Abyssal - the language he claims the Malefic Seven speak.
As evening drew near, everyone was gathered in the Great Hall for a huge and sumptuous feast along this long narrow table. Hundreds of people took up seats and ate and drank to their heart's content. All the while, musicians played joyous and upbeat music with fiddles, flutes, and drums. Everyone was there, the young and the elderly. John was sat calmly drinking his ale and laughing among his nearby brothers and sisters. Even Wolfgang was there with a glass of Chedonian Blue, he had recovered well from the poison after his treatment from the Fortresses' clerics. Ramos and Duncan drank their fill, and began to dance on tables at the climax of the partying. Aresy seemed reserved at first, but she eventually came out of her comfort zone, downing a mug of ale, and joining in the festivities, she spent much time dancing with Duncan on the table, and afterwards when the party was winding down, she smoked some heaven-leaf with him on a settee. Halfway through the merriment, John stood up to propose a toast to his much-loved brothers and sisters, he assures them all that victory is in the distance, and that the tyranny of the noble houses of Elmunred will be ended soon. They cheer for John, and for their freedom. And they continue to party into the early hours of the morning. Duncan invites Aresy back to his room for the night, and he leads her in. He lounges on his bed seductively (seductive for a drunk man anyway), and waits for her to disrobe herself before him. She doesn't seem to be on the same page as him however, and in a moment of genius, she decides to 'play a game' with him in order escape his drunken desires. She blindfolds Duncan (kinky), and punches him in the back of the head (not so kinky), knocking him out cold. She hogties him and hangs him from the frame of the four-poster bed before leaving to her own chamber.
In the morning, they meet up in the Grand Hall once again (with the exception of Duncan). The mess from last night's revelry has been cleared up, and an adequate breakfast buffet has been set up for them - soup with crusty bread, and freshly squeezed juice. Most of the people from last night have gone back to their quarters, and only John, and Professor Glyph are at the table, eating and conversing together, the pair of them look remarkably fresh-faced compared to the hungover Aresy, and Ramos (who stumbles in shortly afterwards wearing pajamas and a complacent grin). John bids them a good morning, and gets up to serve some soup and juice to the two of them. He informs them that after breakfast, they shall and discuss the details concerning a great evil that threatens Elmunred. They hear a thud from upstairs, and moments later a drowsy and disheveled Duncan joins them for a late breakfast. He appears to have a colossal headache, and doesn't seem to remember much of the shenanigans that happened last night. (probably for the best). The five of them are led out of the Great Hall and into a large open room with a tall ceiling. On all sides of this room lie stained-glass windows - the likes of which resemble those in a church or a cathedral, except this room holds no altar, pews or religious iconography. There is a statue at the end of the room of a knight (or paladin) holding up a curved sword in triumph, and near the middle lies a six-seater table and next to it, a large board with a map of Elmunred displayed across it.
Scarce few that have even heard of the Prophecy of the Malefic Seven, and those that have rarely regarded it as anything more than childish folklore, a story...or a riddle. Although the original prophecy has been lost to time and to mistranslation. It is generally relayed as such:
In the garden of men.
The great tree stands proud, watching over all.
It is a garden of many plants and flowers.
They live together in peace and harmony.
But the seeds of corruption lie deep beneath the earth.
And from the deep, Seven seeds of chaos will grow.
Their roots will expand and corrupt the land.
But the roots are cursed to never bloom.
They will spread across the land.
Tainting and deforming everything in their path.
They will spread across the land.
Tainting and deforming everything in their path.
Each seed wields a different form of chaos
It is a garden of many plants and flowers.
Afflicted and blinded by chaos, they will destroy each other.
The great tree wilts and decays, it cannot save the plants and flowers.
And so the garden of men shall be no more.
And so the garden of men shall be no more.
"The garden of men" refers to Elmunred, the Realm of Men (Humans)
"The great tree stands proud, watching over all." could refer to the Alliances of the Noble Houses.
"And from the deep, Seven seeds of chaos will grow." refers to the arrival of the Malefic Seven.
"But the roots are cursed to never bloom." meaning they are secretive, and indirect.
"Each seed wields a different form of chaos." meaning each of the Seven possesses it's own unique form of evil.
"Afflicted and blinded by chaos, they will destroy each other." could very well refer to the Civil War.
"The great tree wilts and decays, it cannot save the plants and flowers." could mean the Alliance is failing, and as a result, the Realm of Men is not strong enough to protect itself.
"And so the garden of men shall be no more."....One fears the worst.
Ramos also seems skeptical, but he's willing to trust John and the Professor on this one. He is but their instrument, the hand and sword of the Order. Aresy seems intrigued by all of this, and Duncan seems hungover still (for him it's too early to talk about the end of the world). But if the prophecy is to be believed. Then grave danger threatens all of them, and all of Elmunred. If the prophecy is to be heeded, then the Civil War and the Order's vendetta against the Hell-Knights do not compare to the threat of the Malefic Seven. Professor Glyph strongly demands some intervention in this matter, and John abides. When he points out on a map of Elmured where incidents/disturbances have taken place, there seems to be a worrying pattern emerging. Ramos and Aresy watch intently.
1.) The Western Reach
In recent years, this region has become a wasteland of emptiness, devoid of most life.
2.) The Northern Reach
Much of the local wildlife from this region has disappeared. Plants and crops suffer blight and die.
3.) Val Némor
The bodies of those living and dead are going missing, survivors are often disfigured and mutilated.
4.) The Nibelish Peninsula
The people here distance themselves from the affairs of others. Hedonists, they wallow in their own debauchery and desires.
5.) South of the River
Settlements and Cities alike in this region waste away, wealth is lost and frittered away on material possessions.
6.) The Bay of Elmunich
Corsairs are bolder and stronger, also there are reports of a great sea-serpent that dwells in the waters.
7.) Meridiangard
Bodies of livestock and people alike lie scattered needlessly across the countryside.
"And from the deep, Seven seeds of chaos will grow."
"And so the garden of men shall be no more."
There is an air of dread in the room, and John looks to Ramos, Aresy and Duncan. Ramos knows what John would ask of him, and he seems resolute, impetuous, and eager to lend his spear to whatever plan-of-action his Lord-Commander would have lined up for him. John stresses that these regions must be investigated, and these 'seeds of chaos' must be uprooted. Aresy agrees to join Ramos on this voyage (with Glyph's consent) and Duncan also seems to sober up and accept this task. Ramos looks to the map and decides that the Western Reach must first be investigated. The Lord-Commander reveals to them that the Order has lost contact with one of it's scouts in the region; a man named Octavian, so they should keep an eye out for him. Geographically however, they are so very far from the reach, and in order to hasten their arrival, John devises a plan to steal an Airship from a Royalist hangar in the township of Espire. He concludes that this voyage will take place in the next few days and that he himself will be joining them in the Airship raid.
When the meeting is adjourned, Ramos and Aresy leave the Temple Hall and when they are outside in the courtyard, they see a noticeboard with several wanted posters on it. The wanted men/women are all Hell-Knights and there names read; Gabriel Salvo, Mélanie Van Scherade, Parvane the Bloodhound, and Nefarion Furyborn. Moments later, an individual with a strange accent interjects.
"Well it seems we've arrived at a fortuitous time, wouldn't you agree?"
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