Legends Lost

From Captain Eli

For the eyes of Eirkas V.

A silent rhythm moves the progress of this world. I’ve always considered my heart to be in tune with this unheard pulse. I’ve come to know it as the heartbeat of nations. This constant resurgence of life is the drive of Nozeram. I’ve been offered the opportunity to work for a mercantile company. They believe many of my seastone contraptions can assist in building Ilderon’s first possible airship. Taking the job means coming ashore for several weeks. I considered it because in that time we could be together within Sky’s Reach, however, I am reminded of the rhythm of Ilderon and the measured steps I have taken to dance with its beat. I cannot justify pausing my song for a single beat, less my heart fall out of sync with the world’s pulse.

The Given Wills that guide me and the principles of the First Firewalkers that inform my decisions have called me to remain within the ranks of Nozeram. In doing so Admiral Jaldottir, (oh in my excitement to write you, I neglected to mention a group of Arcanists rescued Captain Jaldottir and in respect of her valor she has been promoted to Admiral) has promoted me to the Captain of the Fourthsight. My promotion comes on part of my dedication and qualifications, and the other half comes from being the only person in Nozeram who knows how to steer the ship.

Currently, Ardorserii has withdrawn their support from the Nozeram cause. Thousands of Ardorian soldiers have answered their Magnate’s call to return home. That leaves a shortage within our ranks. I am writing you two specific reasons in mind. Without the Ardorians to secure the footholds of Betrayer’s Isle, we cannot hold the Archblight from the shores. Soon the seas will become unsafe. I know you work on behalf of the Supreme Light and the Mapheus University, should you need to travel anywhere by sea send word to me and the Fourthsight will escort you.

The final reason I write you is because there is a need for bodies within Nozeram. You would be accepted as a willing sword at any Nozeram. However, if you come apply at the First Pillar I can put in a recommendation for you, and you’d be made a First Mate on a ship of your choice, and perhaps a captain in a few month’s time. I hope our paths again.

Stay safe in the coming storm,

Captain Eli’an Otukai

After resting inside of Primada Watch Roman slipped into a nightmare. He dreamt of a black storm gathering over the ocean. A writhing mess of tentacles rising from the sea as a swarm of demons flew towards the shores of nations. All of the tentacles entwined into a singular arm that pushed itself free pulling a towering being from the sea. He awoke in sweat and found himself following footsteps seeking the fresh air of the seabreeze. When he found a balcony to relax at he noticed Captain Kenyara Callendeer residing at the same balcony. She couldn’t rest, each time she fell asleep her dreams were haunted by a similar nightmare. She spent the night debating on the oath Roman asked her to take earlier before finally coming up to this balcony to breathe. After seeing Roman up here, she tells him she realizes it was fate pushing her to this path and takes the oath saying:

“Give every swing and each well swung

Never once to a head low hung

Heimel commands every breath

In futility's maw we stare death.

'Twas the Maiden sung Halldora's oath

In the sea tween eternity sat them both.

I vow to stare death in the eyes and accept it as my companion.

I vow to send those I deem worthy into its care. And I vow to send those who would seek to abuse the gifts of life and death to meet the Gatekeeper’s final judgement. I give my blade once as I did to Alilia, now to the Gatekeeper in eternity’s service to this oath.”

After Kenyara takes the oath, Roman hear’s a voice whisper in his head, “You have served well. Raez Mari’s soul is hers to command, should she wish to return to this world or continue her journey to Providence--she need only speak it.”

Before Roman can retire for the evening Captain Callendeer offers Roman a formal invitation to join Order 42. The members of an Order become family bonded in battle and in faith. She gave no time table on Roman’s invitation, as she must go and recruit many more members before the Order is anywhere near functional. Her wish was to start to repair the damage she caused fighting in the Tidegate and feels she could be her best self with Roman at her side.

While settling into Primada Watch waiting to travel back to the Mapheus University, Drelos received a string of several curious sendings into his mind from Anita Niven. (Haossac’s sister, the apprentice of the Moonlight Company Guild [the guild of adventurers ran by Raheimen Radifirhilenanthelharlorendixel.])

“Hello? Can you hear me? I’m new to casting this type of spell. I would contact Haossac, but your sister said you are wiser.”

“Oh it worked. We searched down every single sand in the desert of Galken. Olivia has disappeared, she is nowhere to be found. I’m sorry.”

“Fortunately we found your cat nearly starved when we swept back through Olivia’s lair. We were headed to Swordhaven for boat passage back to Alilnegi.”

“This is my last scroll. The Heimsdale Princess has gone missing. Raheimen has been contracted to find her, then we will return. Mialee (Your sister) says hi.”

After resting in Primada Watch, the region of Dawntouch remained chaotic as Supreme Light Primada attempted to bring stability to the lands surrounding Dockensdale. In his free time Admare explored the neighborhoods of Fatherway searching for the Roudy who stole information from his mind. His investigations resulted in the arrests of three identical woman all appearing to be the “Roudy” of the Bloody fog. As each arrest was made each of the Roudys appeared to have a contingency spell on them to wipe their memory if they were compromised. Eventually the guild disappeared from the squeezed neighborhoods of Fatherway and Supreme Light Primada pulled her resources to refocus them--claiming that the guild had been sufficiently scared off and powerful mind mages or not they have learned their lesson and could be hunted later.

With their new found freetime Admare & Tarren were able to give their attention to the mirror to try and understand the situation at hand more. Several scrying attempts over multiple days allowed Admare to view Milanthelgar Mari going through rather mundane tasks around the the Temple of Phianfall. One conversation in particular granted Admare worthwhile information.

The mirror swirled through fog to reveal Jinprius Mari talking to a woman with glowing green flames rising from her eyes. He recognized this woman as the lady his companions described to be Olivia the Lost. She walked into his chambers as he dismissed his personal attendants.

“I’ve been watching her for weeks. Wynrona is not stepping foot out of that university. I’m not going to fight my way through hordes of her arcanists to try and recapture her--it’s not worth drawing more attention to ourselves.” Olivia spoke.

Jinprius rested the tome on the table that he was reading and responded, “It’s fine. Let her stay locked away in her tower. Our only goal was to ensure the Archblight never got their hands on her.”

“Still, they have operatives inside the University.”

“I despise that woman, but do not underestimate her intelligence. She’s smart enough to know who she lets into her inner circle.” Jinprius exhaled. “Besides, we need to focus on our own endeavors… Imen’s soul has been sent to Providence.”

Olivia gritted her teeth, “that coward’s only job was to stay alive, and he couldn’t do that.”

“He died trying to stop Daxtren from pursuing us.” Jinprius said warmly.

“I will never understand the valor of humans.” Olivia shook her head.

Jinprius smiled, “You were once human.”

“And I was a fool.”

“Regardless, he must be replaced.” Jinprius looked towards her.

“Why? Terror Cry has judged many, his soul could act as a substitute for Imen’s.”

Jinprius shook his head. “We need Terror Cry, because he’s a Dethen. We can’t sacrifice him.”

“He spoke of a nephew in Ardorserii. A boy who is at the age of being afflicted by the same family curse.” Olivia shrugged. “We could recruit him, train him while he’s young. If he fills Terror Cry’s spot, then Terror Cry can fill Imen’s.”

“Yes… this is wise. Go and tell the boy who really hunts down his kind once that curse sets in. He’ll be eager to join us. I’ll prepare Lana for the next steps of our plan.”

Olivia bowed and stepped to leave the room, she stopped at the doorway. “Have you decided rather Heimsdale or Duzima is our next target?”

Jinprius walked to his balcony and spoke to the starlight, “If Ardor’s Magnate decides on peace and Soyesa is free to roam as she wishes, she’ll surely return to Heimsdale. We’ll have to focus on Duzima. But if not we’ll have to strike while we can.”

“It will be done…” Olivia turned back towards the door, “The world has caught wind of our scent. A ravenous pack of wolves track our trail. If I find out you have lied to me… I will join them.”

“I speak with the authority of three gods. I don’t spew untruths. Begone.” Jinprius hissed. Admare then saw his own face in the mirror as the scrying’s duration faded.

After returning to Primada Watch Kortus stayed vigilant on the task at hand. Refusing to forget about the evidence his kinsmen provided against Jinprius Mari, he decided to pour over it. Having been at the battle that Deelah cast the banishment spell, Kortus recognized loosely the spell and incantations written in the journal. However there were gaps and the penmanship was horrific. Daxtren seemed to have recreated what he saw from memory. The evidence before Kortus was flimsy at best. The orcishly-drawn half-completed spellbook and the handful of runestones no one else would understand wouldn’t be enough to turn followers of the Spoken Wills against the leader of their Faith. It would not be enough to unite nations against a force that only he himself comprehended. But in his brief exchanges with Daxtren he learned of his homeland. A new term rung in his mind, “Ascetar.”

  After doing research in the vaults of Primada Watch, Kortus learned of how the remnants of his people organized. They followed Ascetars, leaders given the divine right to rule. To become one, one had to complete an Ascendancy Trial. Kortus recognized these as echoes of the contests to win the Gods’ favor that his family once had to complete. Perhaps he didn’t have the evidence to unite nations, but completing one of these trials, perhaps in less than a year’s time he could return to Seadale with an army. He could be the force that united nations. According to Alilnegi’s anthropologists a cave in the once spiritual Highwind Mountains reoccurringly had become corrupted. The cave flashed through Kortus’ mind. It is the burial site of his father. By cleansing the tomb he could honor his ancestors, claim the title of his heritage, and become a force to potentially save Ilderon from further destruction.

To Kadrus Nelteg:

I understand my actions inside of Isildread may have left you with questionable opinions of my intentions. I have betrayed your trust and that can never be undone. However, I wish for you to understand what motivated my actions. If we can repair our bond and perhaps even form a friendship we can be in a position to help each other out. I was made aware that there is a circle of powerful clandestine mages who seek to someday come and destroy what you have turned Isildread into. Together let us forge an unexpected alliance and best the forces that seek to use or destroy us.

It is true. During my time in Isildread I did try to organize a coup against you. This was spawned from a singular goal. To understand this goal you must first understand I have been gifted the extraordinary power to move between worlds at will by another in my circle. Even with this gift it was pure happenstance that I stumbled into Isildread. Isildread exists as a place out of sight from all mortals and gods alike. It was the ideal staging ground for me to establish a base of operations to prepare a contingency plan. The only obstacle in my way was your established rule over the city. For this I apologize.

You must be wondering what contingency plan I needed to setup. I have been co-opted into the circle of the Milanthelgar of the Spoken Wills. Each nation must sacrifice something they are unwilling to give up and rather than negotiate around their unwillingness he has constructed a plan to take what is needed. In order to do so he has promised a soul, love, conquest, justice, and power to beings with dangerous abilities in Ilderon. The Milanthelgar has assured me that there is nothing to fear, as when all is said and done he will hold ultimate authority to prevent them from doing anything to harm the world. If one thing goes wrong, if one of these beings acquires too much power it could have far reaching and cataclysmic consequences for Ilderon.

These beings are immeasurable forces of influence on Ilderon and if the eventuality of my fear came to pass there was no crevice in which I could plot to undermine them. That was… until I found your domain. In my dealings with you, I have come to understand the Milanthelgar’s way more. By conspiring with someone who stands on the opposite end of my moral spectrum, I emulate him. But now I have come to see your help as necessary. In that, I hope you will see the earnestness of my plea.

Help me. Permit my most devoted followers to hide in your domain. Help me steal the gifts Jinprius has promised to these horrifying few. In return, I’ll use the power I gain to destroy the mages that wish to return to Isildread. I give you two options. I give you my kindness. I have sent you my daughter, my gem and the light of my moral compass. I know she will be safe from the events of Ilderon in your domain. I will step out on faith and trust she will be safe in your care. My second option I give you my fury. I have tracked down the mage you fear named Ysel. I have sent one of my followers with a similarly worded letter.

By the time you receive this letter he will have given Ysel my message--a careful set of instructions on how to find his way back into Isildread if I do not hear back from you. Contact me soon.

Do Not Speak in Shadows,

Supreme Light Imen Solemn