Ilya’s PoV - Eighty Kilometres North by North-West from Ecbatana - Kingdom of Darius
The sight of people going about their lives during our travels only heightens Isa’s joy at the sunlight. She delights in colourfully decorated buildings that fill the various villages and hamlets despite our purpose. Not that she’s alone in enjoying the journey. The wind dancing and playing about me slowly eased a pain that had eaten at me for years. The pain of losing my connection to the living breezes had become more apparent with its return.
Viper’s winding trail has crossed through settlements and always left problems in her wake. Disputes and arguments settled for years have flared up again, and she’d ‘accidentally’ exposed an affair with deadly consequences. Yet the problems she’s stirred aren’t the most significant issue the villagers face.
Even the smallest hamlet appeared more prosperous than where I’d grown up—it was a prosperity that attracted dangers of its own. The playful winds bring tales of trouble—both very recent and a prolonged disruption to trade; the disappearance of caravans explains why the adventurers are scouring the roads.
A thought from Isa sends my attention towards the overgrown woods about us, and she transforms into another Mortal Elf form. Her features are unchanged, just framed by the colouration of a dusky-skinned Elf with amber hints that match her eyes. Their shining gold muted and restricted to the irises, arrayed against the waist-length hair in the full scope of dawn’s hues. A glance amid the trees’ tight confines and I lean into the new Power to take Elven form as well.
The Elven Spell Singer half- robes Isa’s clothing shifts into matches that of Elves we’d seen at The Exchange. In comparison, I wear pants and a shirt, but the silken green cloth used in both our garments blends into the leaves about us.
“There’s a path hidden back there with a treacherous melody. It blends in with the hill’s music and recent death.”
Isa’s directions lead us straight to a concealed path heading into the hills. Its starting point, a stone’s throw from the actual road, clarifies its purpose. Weeks of infrequent but heavy use have cut it clearer than an animal’s path, and they’ve messed up by brushing only sections of animal tracks away.
We’re only a bow shot along its course when disturbed ground and fighting marks catch my eye. I determine the outcome quickly enough. A man—face down in the dirt off the path—his neck ringed by harsh scars from a wire-garrotte. The stale stench of dried sweat mixing with his voided bowels has already attracted insects, though the canopy has prevented aerial scavengers from coming to call yet.
“Are you close enough?” I whisper to Isa, who seems intent on the battle sounds. Isa nods, and a feeling of intense focus wafts through the bond. After decades of her mind being opaque to me to have such a clear insight into her is strange but delightful.
Her mind pushes words to me at my question. “Trying a new Power—Silent Song. I’ve got one held ready. The moment I’m close, Viper won’t be able to Planar Shift, Teleport, or even Blink. Be careful of the adventurers. Their songs seem fine at this distance.”
“I’ll set a barrier to hold her when I spot her. You can help their team clean up whatever raiders are here,” I reply. Shortly after we’re moving again, the clash of blades and agonised screams echo through the woods.
A wordless bellow of rage smashes the air, prompting me to pick up the pace—nothing human had managed that sound. Blades clash amid screams, and I hope we can catch our target distracted. A curve in the path along a gully brings a wall into sight; its main gate still stands intact, beyond a spike-filled ditch. The sound of fighting behind the wall has the guard’s backs to us, shooting their bows into the camp.
Teleport sets us on either side of them, and Isa drives a knife into a throat. Not bothering with a blade, I shoulder mine down onto a rack of spears positioned below the rampart. His surprised scream ends in a gurgling noise and a clatter of weapons when his body’s twitching pulls the rack to the ground atop him.
The adventurers are easy to spot amid a broadening vale I hadn’t suspected. However, they got in—it seems like they’ve nowhere to go. Arrayed in the curve of a stone barrier glowing with Mana. The position feels like they’ve become trapped before I see the top of cages beyond the wall. The possibility of prisoners makes their formation—and location—a defensive choice.
Split into two ranks, a fighter in solid heavy armour anchors the front, with a hooked axe and oval shield. While the two beside him are more varied than I’d expected. An equally armoured woman wields a kite shield and spear, while a man clad in chain both work to keep their foes from the lightly armoured members behind them. A leather-clad woman snipes at raiders beyond the immediate melee. The male robed Wizard opposite her is busy tossing spells and countering sloppy castings from among the raiders.
A fine setting for the Viper nestled in their midst, still the pale-faced Elven part-blood. Viper’s look of faked concentration is clear to me, but the Wizard doesn’t react to the cunning expression. I’ll forgive him since he’s got his hands full at present.
Around the vale the raiders stream towards them. A strange sight likely driven by fear of the she-beast yelling orders. A blue-skinned Ogre with a single horn and nearly twice man-height holds the centre of the raider’s rank that is already engaged with the party. Her presence raises questions about what else they’ve got in reserve. She keeps pressure on the fighter in the middle with whistling strikes from a massive metal folding fan. Despite the noise, every impact raises sparks, yet doesn’t dent his shield.
Scattered ramshakle log cabin-like structures break up the vale—some still oozing sap. Perched atop split-shingled roofs raiders make use of unstable footing to try and put an arrow in the Wizard, only for the lady’s arrows to frequently find throats first. Those that loosen arrows and live cursing a barrier deflecting shot after shot. The raiders stream in piecemeal sure to have been ground apart without the Ogre’s advantage to balance the fight.
“I’ve sealed her.”
Isa’s words push against my mind, and I form an Order barrier around Viper; the Spell set to contain her and strip her false form away. The crystalline light in their midst drew attention from friend and foe alike but too late. Isa’s first dire note comes in time with the Ogre’s backswing and her mass plunges like a felled tree amid collapsing raiders. The impact sprays blood about when she lands across her closest allies, but injuries among them aren’t a concern when the short song stops.
“Be with you shortly, Succubus,” I call out, and the wave I give has Viper glaring at me with bared fangs. It’s an amusing sight amid the adventurers’ shouts of surprise. The tiara of horns that arc along her hairline from ear to ear, is an interesting little twist I hadn’t expected. The bone they’re made of is as white as her ivory skin. A few Devils that favoured scrimshaw would have loved them as a prize.
Low cursing from the woman has the front rank risk a glance back, and the swearing spreads.
“What’s going on? What happened to Julia?” yells the fighter who’d stood toe to toe against the Ogre’s strikes. The enchantments in his metal shield have prevented it from denting, but still, the strength required to brace himself shows he’s not a lightweight.
“Julia never existed, not as you believed. This Succubus infiltrated the Adventurers’ Guild. The detections in place alerted us to her incursion, so we came looking. That Ogre looks stronger than something I’d expect Adventurers touring towns to be tackling,” Isa calls back, looking over the fighter fitted in solid metal armour. A leap taking her beyond the body prompts me to follow along—carefully keeping a line of sight on Viper.
He doesn’t need to know the detections are lies, but maybe we should suggest them.
“They’re all above level thirty. They’d likely have finished the fight well enough even if we’d not interfered.”
Isa’s words in my mind make me reassess their strength, and I reconsider the enchantment laden gear while I keep Viper’s cage in place.
“Anyone in need of immediate healing?” asks Isa when we get close enough to talk at a normal volume. Though the adventurers haven’t relaxed their guard, Isa strolls amid the bodies with a casual disregard for their foes.
“Some wounds, but we would have likely managed. You’ve our thanks—that weird Ogre was stronger than we expected,” replies the armoured woman, and when she shifts her shield, I catch sight of Vayu’s symbol. The golden spear wrapped in his swirling winds showing on her banded armour drives remembered pain through my chest.
The symbol reminds me of the shrine atop our village’s cliff, and the ceremonies to him with my sister beside me. Her face brimming with delight as the wind’s energy danced about his place. Long practice at holding back weaknesses in Hell restrains the tears I feel burning in my eyes.
“Are you a Priest of Vayu?” I ask trying to be respectful, fighting what Isa thinks is my urge to rebel against any ‘authority figures’. Isa pats my shoulder at my question, making my grief twist harder still.
“Yes. I’m Esther, and these are my friends….” Esther starts and cuts off when a boom of roaring flames erupts within the barrier. The raw, uncontrolled inferno turns into a ray of Abyssal Mana and gains her my focus.
“Not a good time to chat. I’ll hold this barrier while you free the prisoners. Apologies for cutting short your fight.”
“We’ve no way to keep so many under guard,” Esther motions at the fallen raiders.
“Why would you guard a corpse?” Isa asks, pushes the closest over, and raises an eyebrow at Esther’s grim expression. “Relax, Esther. It wasn’t their lucky day; if any of their songs had been worth saving, they wouldn’t have died. I’d hate for some youths seeking fortune to have tripped into this trouble, its good you took this task on.”
“That’s part of the purpose of the Guild. Previously, villagers could only hope that someone able enough might wander through or that the local nobles were interested enough to send a force,” replies the fighter. Though he rests the point of the oval shield on the ground, his hooked axe remains in his hand. “I hadn’t expected them to have an Ogre able to use magic in charge.”
Isa wrinkles her nose. “She might not have been their leader, her song was bright, but too erratic for even this much organisation. There was a cunning methodical song about, but it’s left, not ended.”
Esther gives Isa a sceptical look at her explanation, but the Wizard behind her speaks up.
“We’ll let the Guild know to keep an ear out. It’s outside the job we took from the list: discovering the cause of the disappearing caravans and getting whoever we could back safe.”
Even while he’s talking his wary gaze doesn’t shift from Viper’s display. Though, given he’s right beside a barrier holding a demoness—that’s fair. While her attempts at breaking free have currently stopped, and it might seem safer, safety with a Demon is an illusion readily shattered.
“Has anyone had dreams of late that seemed vivid and tempting you with anything? It might have been just before or since she joined your team.” Isa asks, and the adventurers shake their heads after a quick conversation among themselves. The Wizard focuses on the stone barrier, and it collapses to show a group of merchants and caravaners behind it shackled within cages. They take one look at the Succubus standing close behind the invisible barrier, and some scream in panic.
“Won’t keep you long. We’ve got folks to get safe, sit in your cage Demon, until we’re ready to chat,” I yell over the screams and prompt my breeze to carry my words about. The panicked thoughts calm at my words, and the breezes issuing soft calming murmurs has me sigh at their peaceful playfulness.
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“You don’t know who you’re dealing with, Elf,” snarls Viper, and I almost smile at her petulance.
Her retort doesn’t cause the lie detection song Isa had set in place to react. I can’t resist smiling at her smugly—glad for the confirmation she doesn’t have True Sight. Since she believes the Sunset Elf forms, it would seem to be the case.
“Oh, but I do, Viper. I know exactly what I’m dealing with. I’ve killed more than a few Succubi and other Demons. Your magic feels potent, yet I’ve got you locked up. Though for something with a Wizard Class over level one hundred, I thought you’d be tougher.”
My statement has the Wizard shift from watching the others prying open cages to casting a Spell that shatters the locks.
“Who sent you?” demands Viper, and it’s so tempting to have some fun after what Isa’s told me.
“I have information that I’ll trade for my freedom. But none of what I’m doing involves Elves. You might even profit.”
There is the first lie. The detection didn’t even react until she mentioned Elven involvement.
“Hush.”
Her lips waggle, but I don’t hear her words through the barrier’s re-inforcement.
“I’ll double-check to ensure there is no bond between any of you and the Succubus. If you’ve not had any dreams, she must have been taking things carefully.”
Isa’s prayer makes the air shine, and three dark lines spear away northwards.
“The Adventurers’ Guild asked us to mentor a Wizard named Julia, new to the guild,” Esther says, looking distinctly displeased.
“The detections aren’t local, so the person handling her signing up wouldn’t have known. It would be an improvement, but then she could have read the registrar’s mind—Succubi breeds have Telepathy. Who knows how many would have died if she’d run amuck?”
The Wizard amongst them winces at the thought. The familiar darkness of grief settling in his gaze has Isa twitching to comfort him. Only a few days free of Hell and she’s throwing all restraint away.
“Who do you work for? I’ve not heard of any Elves in the guild within Darius.”
The question arises from a lean-looking woman—who, by her leathers and light gear—I’d say has some sort of stealth Class.
“Would you escort the captives back to the village?” Isa asks the heavily armoured fighter and ignores the woman’s repeated question.
“Amdirlain’s servants sent us this way to ensure her banishment from this Plane. It’s them you should thank; they paid our fee.” I say with what I hope is a friendly smile. “You were lucky that we were strong enough to deal with her.”
Esther looks at me in surprise and stands straighter. “The Norse cult? I didn’t know they were involved in the Guild at all.”
“You’ll have to ask someone else for the details. Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to focus on this barrier, the last thing anyone needs is her getting loose and throwing that fire around.”
The Adventurers are quick to free the captives, but they’re faster still collecting all the raider’s loot. They provided the former captives with equipment from the raider’s gear and their own recovered possessions. Isa presses a heavy pouch into Esther’s hand which she bounces thoughtfully when they finally walk away. I’m not sure why she bothered.
“Soft touch,” I murmur quietly, and Isa gives me a glum smile. “Want to secure a glamour to block sight and sound?”
“Is there any point torturing a Demon?” Isa asks.
Patting her shoulder, I give a smile without taking my focus from Viper’s barrier. “Wasn’t thinking about torture; she’s a Demon, bet she screams threats if nothing else.”
“I’m not taking that bet.”
Isa’s song drifts around us, and the compound looks cloaked in mist within a few measures when the song starts. When she stops, I drop the re-inforcement and catch Viper in mid-rant.
“-will feed your ovaries to your little bitch a slice at a time while Manes fuck her.”
“Manes? Is she threatening us with low Demons after we trapped her?” Isa’s question brushes my mind. My Spell barriers allow her through my mental protections, but I can feel Viper trying to slip within my thoughts.
“Not sure. We’ll ask in a town—might be some local critter—if she doesn’t mean those pathetic things.”
I kick off the interrogation moments after I feel Isa take that thought from my mind. “Who summoned you?”
“I’m not answering questions without an agreement,” snarls Viper, the cunning in her gaze hidden behind a veil of faked rage.
The Blessing Isa casts has Viper hissing in pain, and when it ends black cords of darkness show stretching away from Viper drinking in daylight and spear away northwards.
“Viper, you are going to tell us everything, but first-”
Isa sings a complex fast-paced melody that set the black cords pulsing and before Isa finishes, her gaze has hardened.
“Manes are large gnoll-like monsters in this world. She’s got a bond to a Priestess of the Demon Lord Raivo and two of her bodyguards among them.”
Without a pause, Isa lets out a single note rising higher than I can hear. The black cords that had remained visible bloat and writhe about before they shatter into pieces. Their serrated ends recoiling into Viper dropping her to her knees in pain, vomiting demonic ichor.
A final cough from Viper sprays the inside of the barrier with more black blood before she whispers hoarsely. “What do you want?”
Both of us catch the sudden awareness of our names and a burst of details that seems an abbreviated imprint.
“What’s Analysis?” I ask Isa, enjoying the moment Viper’s gaze narrows in hatred.
“I’ll explain later. Viper, our names are a memory that you won’t get to keep. I’m surprised you still have Julia’s Analysis Power—the memory of that is going as well,” Isa says, her frown lines deepen, but her gaze stays fixed on Viper. “Again, who summoned you?”
Viper’s mind is a swirling mess of Chaos and hatred. Her will isn’t strong enough to keep us out entirely but it’s still hide-and-seek within. Isa’s Telepathy catches something and tosses me details from amid the Chaos.
“I’m so glad you had Analysis for him at least. So Yngvarr’s cousin summoned you. It seems we’ve got another stop to make.”
Isa’s statement has me looking at her in surprise. “Weren’t you wanting to go chat to that new Steward?”
“Yeah, he’s on my naughty list, but he’s in the same town—I wasn’t planning to go out of my way.”
“That’s handy then. Did you want to tell this Yngvarr fellow his cousin’s been bad or surprise him with a funeral?”
Isa gains a fury that is answer enough when she turns her gaze on Viper. “Those three monsters are now cadavers. Their songs were foul but you didn’t feel a hundredth of what I hit them with.”
“Change of plans?”
“Yes, she’s got too many memories I don’t want her having, so it’s more that will go,” Isa replies. She grimaces and shakes her head at whatever she heard amid Viper’s maelstrom of a mind. “I’m not torturing you, Viper, but I can hear the song of memories within you that aren’t yours to possess. You don’t get to keep a single second of Julia’s life. It will be up to you whether you lose other memories along with them or you share information, so I don’t blank it all out.”
“They are mine. Her body should have been mine! She took it from me! I WANT MY POWER BACK!”
Viper’s scream has blood and spittle spraying across the inside of the barrier before she unleashes more spells against it.
“At least I wasn’t the worst child in this whole situation,” I murmur. My words hang in the air for only a moment before Isa’s laughter enrages Viper further—the barrier under a near-constant barrage of shifting Mana.
“Cooperate and you’ll keep more of your memories, Viper,” Isa says. “If you don’t, I’ll let luck decide what memories you get to keep since you split from Julia. Everything before that is going.”
“Which of her friends are you? Aren’t you both supposed to be cursed into Hell? You think I’m the worst of her problems?”
“Then trade information and keep what you can for yourself,” I suggest.
Viper’s sneer of contempt speaks volumes about her determination. “They’ve promised to destroy me utterly if I mess with their plans. Bit hard for you to escalate the threat level. How can you top that?”
“Viper, you seriously need a better imagination. Destruction could be a merciful thing unless you tell me what I want to know. I could sing you into something else. So many options: a Laerve, or weak Dretch, a gestating Mane, perhaps? Oh, an Abyssal Chicken! Did you want to get eaten, Succubus?” counters Isa. “They’re not what I’d call a chicken, but I’ve seen plenty of Demons ripping their flesh apart.”
Viper can’t get any paler, but for the first time her eye goes wide, and a shudder sets her wings rustling.
“Your singing is True Song?”
“At least those stolen memories have use. Yes, and I’m sure you’ve heard many things about what it’s capable of,” Isa purrs, the smug tone spiking worry through Viper’s mind.
“They won’t care what form you put me in, it still doesn’t change the fact they’ll destroy me.”
“They’d have to find you first, bit hard to do that if I change your name,”
“My cult is linked to hers; you think she won’t be able to find me?”
Isa''s smile doesn’t shift but the fury in her gaze twists it into something else. “Oh Viper. Here Chickie, Chickie.”
“Alright, Usd’ghi is not why I’m here. What did she tell you about her time in the Abyss?”
Motioning her to get on with Isa crosses her arms and the rage cools from her gaze. “I’ll ask questions if there is anything I don’t know.”
“Raivo is Lêdhins’ name after his Demon ate his Soul up upon transforming into a Demon Lord,” Viper practically spits, and I can’t tell if it’s from distaste or envy. “He and Usd’ghi arranged Set’s demise during the purge of his Priests. Raivo has most of his worshippers among the Manes at present. The Manes wanted help to ensure the Adventurers’ Guild would fall apart; I told them that was my primary purpose. Raivo however, wanted me here to attract more worshippers in Egypt so he could seize swathes of Petitioners to increase his power base.”
“What did Yngvarr’s cousin—Himelchon—want?” asks Isa forcefully, and Viper doesn’t blink at betraying him.
“He wants Humans gone from their lands. Apparently not all the flower eaters like them being around,” sneers Viper. “Elves sullying their bloodlines by dallying with the animals gets folks so upset! Gosh, what a surprise! No idea how Raivo got his hooks into him. Promise to send me back with all my memories and I’ll tell you something dangerously important?”
Isa looks at Viper, and after a Blessing draws two cards from a deck. I don’t catch what they are but my jaw drops when she says. “I promise.”
Viper glares at us, grinding her teeth, and yet while Isa projects simple calm an insane giggle slips loose, and I laugh at her habit. The strange moment stole more bluster from Viper’s sails than Isa’s promise or threats.
“A bunch of Manes are pregnant to Raivo’s Brín with more planned. Next time the Manes hit the northern kingdoms, they’re going to face lots of Cambions and part bloods,” Viper eventually says, and the detection spell doesn’t object.
“Viper, I lied,” Isa says, and Viper howls in rage letting loose with handfuls of Chaos that tear chunks from the Order barrier. I switch spells and snap a Chaos barrier into place around the dissolving protection. Isa growls out a wrathful harmony while I keep holding Viper in place—jumping between spells—restricted from just killing her by whatever Isa has planned. Eventually, Viper doesn’t just collapse but explodes into dust.
“Couldn’t you have done that without telling her you lied?” I huff.
Isa gives me a smile that makes me groan with desire. “The cards spoke, and I needed her enraged.”
“What did you do to her?” I ask, wondering what her play had been.
“I wiped her memories of Julia’s life, Analysis, and us. All the linked memories’ songs are gone—an improved version of a Mind Wipe Spell effect. The part I needed her enraged for was redirecting her rage into loathing for Raivo and Usd’ghi. If I’m lucky, she won’t want anything to do with them. If I’m fortunate, she’ll plot against them, and that should get her annihilated. Maybe don’t tell Amdirlain since I took away choices.”
“She still has choices about how she gets herself destroyed. Could you have warned me about all the Affinities she had?”
“Aren’t you the one who taught me not to let my guard down regardless of expectations? I’m just glad she doesn’t have Amdirlain’s Willpower; getting anything from her mind would have been impossible.”
Amdirlain’s PoV - Limbo - Monastery of Will’s Hand
Master Tenzin bowed in time with Amdirlain when she arrived in the courtyard that morning. Thero’s information had occupied Amdirlain’s mind the remaining part of the night with a strange mix of thoughts. Being able to separate herself and save those at risk had lifted a weight from her shoulders. Anger at herself and the gathering had given way to a surety that she wouldn’t abandon them. A surety that helped dispel concerns that had undermined her calm for years.
“Know that I hope you’ve not arranged more challenges yet,” Tenzin said, with a note of dry amusement in her voice.
Amdirlain tried to lock her expression to calmness, but it ruined her reply when a half-muffled giggle made it out first. “Master Tenzin, my apologies for the disruption to the schedule.”
The look she got from Tenzin didn’t become the scowl she had seen the first day, and she simply motioned to her spot. “Know I can see how contrite you are, Novice Amdirlain.”
Hurried footsteps rushed along the hallway, and Amdirlain knelt on her mat to wait for ?daka’s arrival.
“Know I didn’t capture all the challenge, but I can share what I got if they don’t provide a copy,” Nomein said the moment she knelt.
“Copy?” murmured Amdirlain.
The grumble from Sarith distracted Nomein from her question. “Know I still don’t like you. Know that your behaviour was extremely insulting to the Grand Master’s Champion.”
Noting Sarith’s ramrod posture when she knelt on the other side, Amdirlain kept her apparent attention fixed on Nomein. “Copy of what, Nomein?” replied Amdirlain
“Know the way you played with her and drew the fight out to increase her shame was disgusting,” continued Sarith.
Nomein leant forward to glare around Amdirlain at the other Novice. “Know you’re being rude to me also, Sarith, so hush. Know that I was speaking first.”
“Know that it is good you are all so early to meditations, but the next to speak has an extra shift of garden duty,” stated Tenzin.
Nomein raised her hand shyly, and Tenzin sighed. “What is it, Novice Nomein?”
“Will there be any time allowed for Amdirlain to show us her techniques at a slower speed? Know I didn’t capture some of them clearly in my psi-crystal.”
Psi-crystals record things as well? Sneaky girl at least answered my question; wonder what she wants to pick out from my style.
“Know you will need to ask Novice Amdirlain in your own time,” Tenzin replied firmly.
Amdirlain just gave Nomein a wink before settling to wait for Master ?daka amid other Novices arriving to a silence, enforced by Master’s Tenzin stern glare. The barest whisper of displaced air announced ?daka’s Teleport setting her atop the mat, but she didn’t bat an eye at half the Novices already being present. She knelt with a nod of greeting before taking in Tenzin’s glare and letting her guard down enough for her mouth to twitch.
“Know Novice Amdirlain that the Masters are considering your request in this morning’s council meeting. Know that Master Tenzin will communicate their questions or decision,” stated ?daka, just before the last of the Novices took their positions.
Murmurs among the Novice cut off when Tenzin cleared her throat, and ?daka simply began the guided meditation. Settling into following her example, Amdirlain felt the erratic energy of Telekinesis among the Novices and tried her best to apply the Skill with as much subtlety as possible. The slow pace of the exercise helps refine the Skill and lets emotions settle.