TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (7) - Jesanthums

Eryn already knew why there were here. He had expected as much from the moment Chloe started causing trouble in public. They were here for her mind and the body that came with it. There would be no use in arguing her sanity; the priests would do anything to cure the King and create peace in the Steadfast.  If Chloe's madness could help cure him, nothing would stand in their way.

Eryn now thought back to the fact that she had threatened him while in a fit of lunacy and wanting to finish what he had started without hindrance, handed her over. The priests never said a word, however the leader smiled as he took hold of Chloe and passed her on to his followers. They left without confrontation or conflict. As Eryn turned around he bumped into the Grapnel guard who had purposefully blocked their way. To Eryn it would seem the priests were expecting a fight, or at least an initial rejection. The Grapnel quickly parted ways as the Aeon priests turned into the main walkway. Xera, although relieved that she had gone, now also questioned Eryn and how easily he handed her over, knowing what possible fate she would have.

An hour later they arrived at the Undercroft Market. Xera showed Eryn the way to his makeshift laboratory. It being located in the foundations made sure of two things; nothing of value could be kept overnight but also nobody would question what he was doing. As they arrived there were a couple of men, dressed more like poachers than city thieves. They were lowering down creates, with air holes that bled soil when knocked. The boxes were swinging violently, although no possible wind could rock them. Eryn questioned to what was in the crates, specifically the two that dangled from the floors above. Xera replied that they were an ingredient of sorts, volatile if untrained from infancy. Eryn was not satisfied, Xera was evading the question. He was about to peek through one of the crates that was on the floor when he heard a familiar voice. Styenbeck bounded out of the building with authority and a demanding tone. He commanded the poachers to carefully lower the specimens. One of the men became distracted by his shouting and in doing so, allowed the crate to swing to the floor. In a sudden sweep, Styenbeck was knocked off of his feet and was pinned to the wall, his only saviour was the barrier he had constantly surrounding him. His paranoid fears at least this time, saved him from being crushed to death. However the case had smashed open and the creature inside had now mounted a few crates to the side to get a height advantage.

It was dog like, although definitely not a domesticated animal. Its skin was made of thick bark and its head was that of giant flower with a serpents tongue for the stamen. The petals were a pale purple and green with black dots that blinked on its surface. It's claws, or perhaps roots dug into the crate below it before it lunged for an attack. It tried to pounce at Eryn who deflected the creature with fire hoping that its plant like nature would easily burn, he was wrong . Instead it retaliated by spewing a cloud of orange spores that enveloped the group. It was at that point Lily tumbled across the crate that pinned Styenbeck, suddenly appearing from his jacket pocket and rolling to the floor. A little dazed she stood up into the cloud and reacted violently, squinting her eyes and coughing wildly. Xera sent a dart into the creatures skin but it only seemed lodged. It lashed out at Eryn and was sent flying. Its landing was hindered by the other dangling crate it smashed into, freeing two more of its kind.

 One started its assault on Eyn, impaling its barb from its tongue into his shoulder, the tip of which could be seen from his shoulder blade. Lily was still reacting to the spores and now tried to find open air. Xera, refusing to give up tried to force one of the creatures into immobility, however the lithe target dodged easily. Eryn's coat of flames finally managed to sear off the creature from its impalement but now had no idea how the two of them would defeat their foes without Lily's assistance. Through the orange spores that had surrounded Lily, she was able to fire off a bolt of bone to one of the creatures, sending it back up against the wall. However, she immediately started cough after and retuned to look for air.

The three creatures were now circling them, tongues lashing. Styenbeck tried to berate Eryn and Xera, to get them to continue the fight, only to receive an impolite gesture from Eryn. The three now pumped spores into the atmosphere into a thick toxic cloud. It impaired vision and Eryn knew they would left defenceless if he did not do something. As he looked up and around he noticed the halo of fire above his head had burned away the spores around it. This gave him a dangerous idea. He shouted for everyone to get down to the floor and focused his energies to his fingertips and plunged them into his halo. He then made gestures as if he was trying to pull it apart from the inside of the ring. Fire spread from his tips in a circular fashion and ignited the cloud in a fireball. The creatures unfortunately breathed in their ignited spores and died on contact burning from the inside out. Xera was a little shocked and disappointed, the Jesanthums he needed were dead, he however did not let Eryn know of his distress, only their name.

Lily, finally able to see and breathe easy again gave a brief nod to Eryn before moving the crate out of Styenbeck's way and demanding answers on 'The Harvest'. He pushed past her towards Eryn and offered him a cigarette as thanks. It was gratefully received and instantly lit. A smile crept on Styenbeck's face as Eryn tasted his favourite food, although  he could not quite picture what it was. Xera stepped in before he could take another puff and yanked it from him, stamping it out on the ground. He explained that he and Styenbeck had been working on a personal project, the creation of Black Sunshine, a highly addictive additive that created sensations of your favourite food, when inhaled.  A way to to supplement some of the more expensive ingredients in the cigarettes while still being addictive. Eryn grumbled and tried to search to for a cigarette on his own person before realising Chloe still had nearly all of Styenbeck's stolen stock but luckily found a packet.

Before the conversation could continue, Lily grabbed Styenbeck by the collar and dragged him away. She wanted answers and loudly vocal. This raised a question for Eryn and so he too tried to follow up on 'The Harvest'. Styenbeck protested at both of them, but especially Lily. He accused her of being Silas' new favourite and that he had known of the plan but nobody had told him when it was going to happen, expressing that he was always the last to know. Eryn's barrage of questions were dodged with only one plea, for him and Lily to leave as quick as possible, to which she agreed readily. Now left alone with Eryn, Xera asked who that woman was, and where she had come from. He had no good answers for him, only ones that lead down darker paths. Overhead he could hear screaming as he saw two bodies fall. One was in the direction of Lily, whose screams he heard with the possibility the body had most likely fallen on her. The second fell next to Xera, and then more followed suit. Some had obvious signs of injury from the fall. Blood spilled onto the walkway, and as Eryn knelt down to see who the dead were and he recognised a face and the mercury that trickled from her eyes, and the corner of her lips. It was Neave, well a clone. He inspected the other bodies and they too were a facsimile of Neave. Now very concerned for his Neave's welfare and to a much lesser extent Shroud, he thumbed over the obsidian disk he had been given and Neaves voice rang his ears.

Without allowing him to speak, Neave asked if he had found out where her children were. He replied they were possibly taken by house Lyathra. She laughed and in a joyful tone shouted out loud, We can now extract his memories, we have received the information we needed. She thanked him politely with no tone of familiarity or past acquaintance. As she abruptly cut the connection while a man's disturbing screams echoed in Eryn's head. What had he just done?

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (6) - Catching Insanity

The aftermath of Chloe's sudden and incomprehensible action and of Eryn's torture had left the Xera and Saifu a little stunned. They had failed to notice that the hand that Chloe had cut off, had also been the hand that had been manacled from when she was released from execution. The manacle had, for a few seconds, stayed attached to the wrist, but during the interrogation it had snaked its way over to Chloe as she was unconscious. After a couple of minutes she finally woke up in a stupor. She passed her hand over what had now attached itself around her ankle  but did not seem to be paying any attention. When she had looked up from crying, all she could look at was the hand she once had, which lay on the floor across the room. She felt disappointment and failure although she had no idea why. Eryn cautiously went over to her and helped her up with an outstretched hand. She stood up quickly, her clothing now masking the manacle.

Sheba had now moved from the hand print on the window to the newly created pool of blood from Chloe's hand. It had only fed for a few moments before it started to make sudden clicks and chirps in what seemed like dismay. The Aeon Priest's eyes glazed over for a second before panic set in. He looked wildly around the room before his gaze fell upon Chloe. He backed himself out of the room, his eyes constantly fixed on her. As he turned out the door, Sheba followed him, and his pounding footsteps of him running were heard as left. Xera was now obviously confused and distraught, his compatriot in the research and an ally in its threats, had just left. In the wake of the madness, Xera was not as phased and watched on with a curious eye. Eryn kept a watch on the door as he walked Chloe over to the seat and got her to sit down.

He was interrupted by Valma who was very distraught at the fact that everyone was 'dying  again'. This was, to Eryn, another obvious rant by the child-like creature. Perhaps it was  a problem with whatever that linked its memories together. However Valma was not talking to Eryn, in fact it addressed Chloe but not in name. Chloe had seemingly passed out again, possibly due to exhaustion. Her lips however parted, and a voice scratched out of her vocal cords replied. The initial steps have been taken my child. Do not worry. They are of little use. Xera, not wanting to really interrupt, was becoming more and more uncomfortable around Chloe's presence. Eryn had taken a step back. He was now considering taking the threat Chloe had issued while she was in a fit of madness as a real possibility. She may or may not be in control of her own actions. Regardless, she was a threat now, but he still did not understand the relationship between the two manacles. and could not leave her there. Xera quickly changed the subject as the voice that came from Chloe fell silent. He told Eryn that he needed to head down to the Undercroft Market. He had some equipment there he could use to analyse whatever the nature of the poison was. There was also a quality in the air that had helped develop hardy plants, to which he either had grown parts of his equipment from, or were using the plants themselves as vessels and analytical apparatus. 

A breeze entered the room, more a wall of wind than a simple gust. Valma started to spark violently as she spun, ultimately tumbling to the floor asleep. The rasping voice returned only to describe a dark sphere, swallowed by the earth. There might be another way. The voice retreated back into Chloe and she regained her consciousness, with no memory of what had just happened.   She stared down at where her hand used to be and smiled at Eryn as she weakly but proudly presented the lack of a manacle. He was astounded to find that she had not caused herself any harm from doing so apart from the obvious and for a moment considered doing the same. He however wanted to study whatever the manacle was and searched the floor for where her's would it have fallen.  To his dismay he could not find it, none of them were able to. Eryn quickly came to the conclusion that the Aeon Priest had used the distraction of his pet to take the artifact. Angry and embittered, Eryn decided they should leave right now, rather than wait for anything else to happen. As they left, Margret too had disappeared on them, leaving only piles of parchment and a sizeable amount of rejected designs in her wake.

Chloe was slowly phasing in and out of consciousness. At times she could walk perfectly and others were nearly catastrophic falls. She was not an easy girl to contain, especially as her fleets of awareness were a little disconcerting to the people they passed. Xera was keeping very much to himself, observing Chloe's every movements.  Eryn was quickly realising a feeling that he had had before. He turned his head sharply and scanned the crowd behind him. There didn't seem to be anyone out the ordinary. A few shopkeepers, a mass of customers, a Guldspar or two and a three Aeon Priests.  He wasn't happy that he couldn't see the person following him, like he had with Lily's spy. He revelled for a moment in that particular event, reliving how proud he was to have spotted her informant and couldn't wait to parade that fact in front of her. If he was to try and distinguish who was following then, if anyone at all, then he need to get off of the main thoroughfare. He motioned to Xera to follow him. Eryn struggled with Chloe's unconscious body as he turned into an alley way, Xera outright refused to touch her in case he caught her mental state. The walkway was flanked by spires that reached up to the sky yet had no windows looking out towards then on this floor. The darkness would have been a perfect place to hide, if hadn't been for two Grapnel Guards at the other end chatting. Eryn turned, in hopes he had time to get into a better position but it was too late, his entrance had been blocked by the three Aeon Priests.

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (5) - Misused Assets

Lily could see the floor move upwards, she could feel it pass through her, or she through it. The feeling was similar to that of falling through the rubbish and the rock under the city. The room below Neaves had been buried in rubbish, the glass half fractured in the windows against the pressure of the things left behind. There was a flicker of a candle, a man's heavy groan before she was hit with something large and flat. She was knocked out instantly.

When her consciousness was regained  she found herself in sumptuous surroundings. The walls were panelled with a dark and lustrous wood, red velvet was draped to the sides of the windows. A desk seemingly carved from one piece of wood with matching animal hide chair were in front of her. She was on a similar chair and finding herself alone, decided to investigate. Her head was still pounding so she didn't want to venture far. She steadied herself on the desk, noting anything of value. The ink pot next to the quill had something swimming in it, multiple things, she could hear their tiny screeches as she put her eat to the stopper. As she tapped the vial the ink became darker, as though those creatures expelled it. There was a burning candle in orange wax and books piled neatly to one side. She tried jangling the drawers, trying to force them open without making too much sound. The bottom two and deeper than the first refused to budge, while the first opened as if its mechanism had recently been oiled.

The small blue bag inside tumbled around with clinks. It contained metallic plates, made of precious metals with rare gemstones adorning the centre. There was filigree across the stones in the design that similarly matched what she had been given. In the shadows of the bag, she swore she could see the bugs move slightly, like the wings did on hers. They hadn't changed into rings when she investigated them and owing to the fact she had one herself, dismissed the contents. She now had a good idea what kind of person she had been abducted by and this caused her a little confusion. She moved over to the bookcase, trying to discern whether the reading material would give her any insight into who was her captor. The books were complex with words she could not understand, in fact most of them were unreadable to her, although she found appreciation in the illustrations and the quality of the craftsmanship of the leather bindings. One described the world of insects as a kingdom, with a highrachy to suit. A weighty set footsteps pounded the floor boards outside the door, along-side heavy breathing with a hint of wheezing. She looked around the room for any spot to hide, or to gain an advantage but there wasn't any, so she decided to keep reading as a guise.

The door swing open and banged against the panelling. A heavy set gentleman in his mid-forties, his hair thinning and had missing teeth, causing whistling accompaniments as he gained his breath. He was dressed in all the finery of a merchant lord, however he seemed squeezed into it and rather uncomfortable. She could see that the skin of his hands were coarse, and there were flecks of straw in the hemline of his trouser's turn-ups. He had no sword, no staff, and to Lily, no physique to be threatening. He had found himself out of breath before he had even entered the room and this made Lily a little more confident than she should have been.

There was a simplistic tone to the man's voice, almost rudimentary. To Lily, this man had about the same amount of eloquence as she had proficiency in reading. His voice was deep and stern however and commanded Lily to sit, now referring to her as 'girl'. He asked her if she knew what she had done, to which she said she did not. He replied that she had gone against his wishes, she looked back perplexed. His tone changed from stern to almost as if he was trying to explain a simple fact to a child that refused to believe. He asked of her what she had told Areanna to do; she replied she had employed someone to spy on Eryn. He asked if that was part of her assignment and she shook her head. He asked who ultimately employed that spy, she bowed her head and replied You. He asked her who she worked for, to which she replied the same. He asked her to explain what she had done and now a drip fed apology. To his satisfaction she apologised for using his resources without his permission and for delaying the assignment.

He waddled over to her chair and with surprising strength, turned Lily and the chair around to face the window. He told her to observe. Outside, there were figures falling, women in fact, all falling to their doom. There wasn't a stampede, nor were many people paying attention. Out of the crowds of shoppers, or those that sought entertainment or shelter, there were women hurling themselves down to the depths of the city. One or two were being activly being chucked down by men, who seemed to unblock the path they were on.  The man turned to Lily and told her this event was expected and that the plan called 'The Harvest' was to be initiated. He gave no further explanation before asking if she could 'handle' the task. She nodded and the man slapped her on her back jovially, his belly wobbling with his laughter. She had taken the full brunt and fel to her knees. Smiling, he told her to wait a few moments as he disappeared behind a dividing screen that kept a locked cabinet away from view. He brought out a tulip, the colours of its petals reacting to the touch of the man. He stopped admiring the colours it produced and mentioned he believed this was the plant Melvile has on him. He passed her a wooden box and mentioned that he presumed she knew how to work it. To Lily, the man may have had some brute strength,  but he lacked her finesse and her intelligence and graciously accepted the box, in hopes to escape as quickly as possible. The man turned to the windows, making sure they were shut, mentioning how he couldn't wait to get out of the attire he had on before passing into the hallway and locking and bolting the door from the outside.

Lily could feel the back of the box was smooth, and possibly parchment. She unattached it from the back and read it to herself after making sure the man had gone. It was nice to meet in person finally, Love from Uncle Silas. She was a little bemused, was the man she met Silas? Why did he put 'love'? His attitude and behaviour  in Lily's opinion was nothing to be feared and most likely just a messenger for him. The other side of the note, which backed against the box simply stated. Betray me and you will never make it out of the city alive.

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions(4) - Madness

After arriving on the rock garden Chloe's vision had not returned like it had previously. She could see faint lines, threads almost, weaving through the air around her in all directions, crisscrossing and snaking between the spires. As she had put the box away, she noticed Valma had gone to sleep upon arrival. She knelt down to pick her up when, when upon touching Valma's metal skin, her left hand slowly changed from flesh to a pale golden crystal. A jewel, whose quality was as if imbued with the first rays of sunset. It spread from her fingertips to her wrist. It was like she had done to so many other objects, turning them from their form into amethyst. Without her instruction the hand picked up Valma and threw her through the open window. She quickly followed suit, bumping into Ecition and tripping over Sheba and she hauled herself up over the stone windowsill. Her hand flexed a little and moved side to side, stretching and tensing. The form her hand had taken was completely numb to her. A foreign object bonded with her skin. She cried out in pain and panic. It had to be removed before whatever force controlled it tried to use it against her. She reached out and found a blade and readied herself to separate the crystal from her arm.

Eryn's anger had been raised instantly when Chloe arrived. Although he was a tiny bit relived that Chloe was safe, her sudden intrusion and disruption of his interrogation was the final straw. He could feel his hands ready to catch alight from the anger and considered the possibility of his halo burning the floor  above him but she needed to be stopped. Chloe had stumbled into the room but had yet to speak aloud, her head twitching this way and that, her eyes constantly moving. In a sudden burst of agony, Chloe screamed and Eryn snapped. He pulled him arm back to swing at her when Valma danced in between him and Chloe and would not move. Valma would not give a clear explanation, causing Eryn to become increasingly frustrated. Chloe fell to her knees her hands covering her face. She rocked slowly, before removing her left hand and staring at it. She twisted it, examining it with look of horror. Her breath shortened, her eyes widened and panic spread like wildfire within her. She scrambled around on the floor for a few moments, crying out about her hand not real anymore, not under her control. She shouted it was going to kill her or that it was forever lost from her. She eventually bumped up against Eryn, and without warning, grabbed his dagger and stared down at her wrist. The three looked onwards with shock as she prepared to bear down with the blade on her own flesh and blood.

It was a quick and clean cut, thanks to Eryn's consistently sharp dagger, owed to its lack of use. Eryn without thinking, quickly cauterised the wound before standing back in shock like Xera and Ecition. Xera offered to put her into stasis for her own good while Ecition had taken a few more steps backward and had his back against the wall. She burst into tears and angry retorts, she would not be held imprisoned again, especially not in her body. She tore away from Eryn's help and suddenly her feet were plated, as she jumped out of the window. She intended to land of the wall of the building opposite and to fall straight to her demise. Her landing was impeccable, her hand was braced against the wall, her tip toes against the brick. She was prepared to fall, willing it almost. In the split second she landed, the voice that had wept earlier, with the chime of glass, boomed angrily in her mind. This vessel must be protected! Her head was forced to turn around, to look straight back into the room. The balls of her feet adjusted so that she could jump off. Her feet were not plated in amethyst this time but the golden tones of what she had seen her hand transform into. She was forced back into the room and landed as a heap on the floor. When she had come to, she scrambled backwards, after seeing her hand on the floor; flesh and blood, not crystal at all.  She burst out crying and as Eryn, in a brief moment of compassion for her tried to comfort her, she struggled to break free. He was scared and confused. He needed  quiet, a time to think, and without much thought kindled a few wisps of smoke to knock her out.

The room fell silent. The assailant from the shop no longer seemed to care about his own wounds and feared more for his own sanity. He jested that there was no way they were a threat to him, especially if Eryn couldn't prevent the madness that had ensued. There was a slight twinge in Eryn's neck, which rippled and surged its way to behind his eyes. His plunged his hands into the halo above his head and with his index and middle finger of his right hand, slowly burned his way through the flesh of the man's calf. He screamed out in agony but with the threat of the other hand was muffled. Eryn asked what the man knew. He winced, He is real! Eryn questioned who, and almost in response  the maniacal on his wrist which he had forgotten nearly all about tightened painfully. He could feel the tentacles wrap around his ear. The glint from the blade that Chloe had used, showed a reflection he had seen before. The voiced hissed Me. Eryn now panicked, tried to question, reason, bargain and threaten the voice to which it did not respond. The man no longer struggled to break free, believing sitting still was the best way to avoid being crazy. Ecition was shaking his head slowly, as if remembered a half forgotten fear, while Xera only watched on with curiosity. The voice and its presence faded and Eryn pressed his fingered into the holes he made once more with a warning for the man to never come back, and for his guild to leave them in peace.  Much to the surprise of Xera, Eryn let the man go and watched as he hobbled out the door.

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (3) - The Crash

Chloe had been completely unaware of what had happened to Eryn and Lily. She had been forced to wait outside and her curiosity which would have driven her inside was superseded by a sharp pain she felt in the back of her head. She wasn't sure if this was an illness or something more but her vision slowly wained into darkness. Slowly, she could see pinpricks of lights piercing the black. Then, as she turned her head, she could the earth she lived on; however the landmasses were a little different to what she knew. Her eyes followed a craft that could sail through the stars. She could hear sirens and screaming. The vessel then crashed with a volatile force, causing shockwaves and dust clouds to cover the earth that she could see. She could hear  a voice in her head cry and sob, tinged with the chinking of glass. She felt a pain running up her arm and soon the stars and the planet disappeared from view and her arm dissolved in, with Valma's aura enveloping it.

Valma had been brought over the sound of Chloe crying. Her eyes were dry however, and she told Valma she hadn't been crying and looked upo the secret keeper with supicion. Valma was instantly bored and therefore ignored her, now only wanting to play more games and learn more secrets. The voice inside Chloe's head uttered Be quiet child, with Valma responding  accordingly. It now had questions about the voice, why it could hear it and what the voice was. Chloe was now very confused, she had been feeling for quite some time that parts of herself were slowly slipping away, being taken by the voices in her head. Valma's reaction was probably also imagined, a product of whatever was in her head. Regardless, in hopes of getting Valma to be quiet, she told it of the vision she saw. Valma suddenly started to access a historical database, to which it was surprised it even had. It's aura changed, taking on a pale golden hue, although it now seemed to have a partly reflective quality. Its voice also changed, it didn't speak like a child, it's voice was more mature but also more synthetic with crackling undertones. It instantly stopped spinning, the illuminated obelisks and scriptures on its surfaces now in a dim light. Alert. Transdimentional Gravimatrix Drive initiated. All personnel prepare for shift. Valma stopped for a second, her tonal qualities adjusting slightly. Warning, failure in Transdimentional Stability Coils. Warning emergency engine shutdown unable to engage. Alert, catastrophic engine failure. Alert,  gravity lock on celestial body will not disengage. Warning,  impact on celestial body imminent. Likelihood of vessel remaining intact upon collision; less than zero point one. Alert to all personnel, contingency nine three one has been initiated, prepare for an emergency shift . Valma then screamed, as if every part of her being was being destroyed and resembled over and over again.  The screaming  soon trailed off but  was replaced with even more questions, Valma was partly sure it was there at the time of the crash but did not know how, nor did it understand where this knowledge had come from. Valma turned to Chloe for answers.

Unable to find anything of worth to tell Valma, she stared down at her wooden box hoping Valma would eventually become bored. She traced her fingers over the blood that had soaked in when suddenly the crystal panel lit up asking her to connect. She knew what to expect, and followed its instructions leaving Valma trying to figure out what was going on by itself. She called for Eryn who did not reply, then for Lily who did not respond either. Valma casually mentioned she saw hands dragging Lily beneath the floor before she heard Chloe crying. This was not a good sign, nor were the blood splatters, the split mercury and the range of scientific and alchemical devices and notes sheh ad stumbled upon in the room.  The sight of the it didn't sicken her, it was almost as if she couldn't see it.  The flower the device showed was something that she had not seen before but the locator and the description provided lead her to a plant with metallic leaves and fleshy petals. The box fired its two ceramic needles into the stem of the plant followed by a third from Valma, who was now excited about going on a trip. She asked what the destination was and without a reply Chloe connected, in hopes of loosing Valma and its aggravating habits.  

At Mezzo's Margaret was looking over a selections of sketches she had sent for. When Eryn arrived with the burned man and the two strangers, he noticed half of the parchements were scrunched on the floor. They were designs for a new synth box, preusmabley new storage for her lunch. She quickly questioned Eryn as why he had returned without Lily, as she was the owner of the room they wanted to use. A fact they could have bypassed with Chloe, but neither women were with them. He defended himself, saying that he and Lily were still associates and needed the facilities fast.  Margret tutted and lobbed they keys at him before turning back to the sketches, throwing another design in a crumpled ball to the floor.

The safe room had been just as Eryn had left it. The chair was still in the centre of the room, with ropes  attached, Mephisto's blanket was on the floor in the corner, and both the bloodstains on the brickwork of the window and the large spill on the wooden floor had soaked in. The two men Eryn had  met  looked at each other with worry. They both knew they needed the research that the girl Chloe had but she was not here, and the blood on the floor made them only think the worst.

Eryn grabbed his hostage by his black coverings, an identical match to Zarik, the image of his corpse now flashed before Eryn's eyes. He tied the man up and prepared for the interrogation, trying to imitate what he had caught out the corner of his eye with Lily and Styenbeck. He summoned his courage and lit his halo only for him to be hit in the head with metal object that had been flung into the room from the window. This was much to the surprise of Ecition, who had seen Chloe and a metallic pyramid appear out of thin air. He had accompanied his Ricora while she had been feeding on the hand print on the window and now had the urge to leap out himself to investiage the plants around CHloe. 

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (2) - Insects

With no words spoken, the five men leapt at the priest thinking he was the easier target. He managed to dodge one or two thrusts but was caught on the shoulder and forearm by two of the blades. In retaliation he closed his eyes for a second before a gathering stampede of scuttling noises revealed itself be a horde of Scrap Beatles from the rubbish from the bottom of the city. They swarmed the the cracks in the floorboards and up the leg of one of the men untill he was covered entirely. He reacted with such violent horror that it made the Priest smile just a little, realising insects were most likely a phobia of his. The other man reached back for his blowgun and managed to impale a dart on the man next to the phobic.  Eryn dashed as quick as he could away from his attacker, igniting the flame wall that protected him. The brute that was after Eryn, swiftly caught on fire and while he was distracted, Eryn held onto the metal part of his rapier, channelling heat from his halo to his fingertips, causing the metal to burn in the man's hands. The attacker crumpled over in pain.  The thug that was next to him tutted at his comrades inability and charged at Eryn. He suffered similar inflictions to the companion. Another went to the Aeon priest only to be swarmed by half the population that had crawled over the priests first target. He followed his up with an attack from Sheba. She runt of a Rocira, whose wings had been purposefully clipped. Eryn was instantly distracted by this insect. In swarms the Ricora were known to signal devastation when arrive and cataclysmic events follow them before they move onwards. The fear and terror they incite had caused towns to become deserted before the swarm even crossed their paths.  

Sheba tried to use her clipped wings as would do in flight, flattening them down into razor edged blades. However the reaction of the attacker was so severe that he was already running around the room before it could slice at his legs. The man who was now finally half freed from his horror, fled before the Ricora would cause destruction. The last man who had up to now been unharmbed by the doorway went for man with the dart thrower. His sword gleamed from the shop window light as he cleaved down onto his victim but he escaped, barely. The burnt hands of the first man now started to painfully blister. He could not carry out his deed without help and seeing his comrades fall with little concern of his well being, left as well.  Eryn decided he had had enough and motioned for the other two get closer to the floor. He ripped off part of a crate and started to smoulder it in his hand, causing dense smoke to fill the room. This wood was a little more yellowish than he had first realised and the smoke itself took on wisps of toxicity, causing painful coughing and stinging of the eyes.

The man who had been running from Sheba took his leave as well, coughing violently before succumbing to the smoke himself and falling to the floor outside. Sheba lashed out at the attacker who had not believe in Eryn's fire and hacked into his arm with its wings. On his hands and knees the dart thrower had a perfect aim. A bolt flew under the cover of smoke and popped the eyeball on the man. His wounds, the smoke, the attacks and the final explosion of his optic nerve left him dead. The last man retreated as fast as he could, failure was an option, as long as lived to repot back. The man who had fallen outside the room  had propped himself up against the counter trying to regain his breath. He was quickly set upon by Eryn with a barrage of questions, his response was to top rub the tattoos on his fingers, the markings spreading from his finger tips across his skin and clothes till his entire body dissolved. He was of no use to Eryn but the other man was still alive as long as he didnt commit suicide.

The man had barrelled outside but had been caught into the tides of the crowds. He was soon swiftly followed by the three.  He too had also been targeted by the Scrap Beetles on his way out and were dripping off of him. This caused the more delicate shoppers to feint and scream but did not cause the horde to part. The man with the dart thrower tried to get line of sight, mentioning he could stop the man in his tracks if he had a clear view. The priest smiled and sent forth Sheba, who caused women to leap from its path, the more irrational to jump from the platforms in hopes of landing on the floors below and for some to take to machines and abilities that allowed them to scale the spires unaided by a stable foundation. The fleeing assailant was soon put into an intangible cell from which he could not escape, with his hands as directed by Eryn, left outside of the field. Sheba tried to strike her wings at him but they bounced off, to which she made a few unsatisfied chirping noises before scuttling up onto the shoulder of the priest. Eryn was now angry, fed up in part due to a distinct lack of cigarretes All he wanted to do was rest. It was time he found out more about the Rings.

He grabbed the assailants hands and burned the tattoos off of his skin. The pain was blinding any thoughts the man had; rendering him useless to Eryn's enquiries. He decided to take him to Mezzo's. A more fitting location for an interrogation. He broached the subject of these men with two he had just met. The Aeon Priest introduced himself and his associate as Eciton and Xera respectively. They regretted they did not inform Eryn sooner of this possibility. The research they had been working towards, in separate locations, had put them under a very real danger. After months of correspondence they were attacked by similar men and the fear caused the two to meet. They wanted to discuss why their research had  been threatening their lives. This only added to the complex puzzle that Eryn was slowly trying to piece together.

TSC - Chapter 6: Reactions (1) - Scribbles

A little startled Eryn turned around to notice Lily who was already looking over the room. Eryn handed her the notes he had found by Melvile and asked her to look over them while he preceded to look around. He didn't mention that the two men, scientists or doctors or whoever they were; were intangible to him. In the struggle that ensued only ended up with him getting chocked up against a wall, before the two disappeared through it.  Lily on the other hand did not mention to him that she noticed a golden beetle as embroidery on the more distinguishable man in the screen he was holding. She looked down at scarab on her finger, the stone that formed its shell split open and tiny mechanical wings folded out. She tried to cover it up using her other hand, dropping the research. She felt hands grabbing her feat and covering her mouth as she was dragged through the floor. Eryn turned to notice the disarray of papers, her wooden box on its side on the floor, and Valma's sleeping form nestled in-between. He believed that his usefulness had been spent and she continued onwards with her own goals.

As he gathered up the notes, he noticed that the box was asking if he wanted to 'connect'. He first took this as a communication, probably from Lily. Eryn had now gathered this was typical for her, to be this self cantered and almost refused to answer on those grounds alone. His logic prevailed, and he gingerly picked it up and noticed the only option was a yes or a no. He looked over the box to see if there was an interface he could find on the box to guide his answer. Defeated, he placed both his hands on the sides of the box and under the thumbs he could feel raised nodules that responded to his touch. He moved the answer to yes and the screen changed. Following it was a picture of a two toned flower, with fuzzy white outer petals and crisp, sharp inner yellow ones. It was described as a Parnos flower and only a few feet away from him. He paced around the room searching through the liquid metal stains, the blood splatters, and the utter chaos of the apparent ad-hoc autopsy. In a smashed pot, on its side, was the Parnos flower. The box then asked for him to 'confirm', which he did. The box opened a small opening in the front panel and outshot two lengths of twine attached to ceramic needles, which lodged themselves into the plant. It then 'confirmed connection' and asked again for confirmation. With this last press, he noticed the plant's roots were connected to some sort of light under the soil which was just peaking through. All of a sudden he felt the burn of rope on his wrists as the rooms definition was lost. Shapes turned to colours which turned to greyscale and then to black. He awoke to find himself  in the storage room of what sounded like a busy shop.

The room was barely lit but from what he could see there were two men arguing over something. Not wanting to draw attention to himself after what had just happened to tried to listen in silence. However his arrival had betrayed him and no sooner had he moved than so too did what was stored around him in a almighty crash. The man on the left of the table which the two figures both stood over, now carefully approached. He removed one of the boxes to see Eryn half dazed and very confused.   Eryn recognised the attire this man, an Aeon Priest to be sure but it hadn't seen a tailor or dressmaker recently. It was moth-eaten, ripped and marred by dirt, but only at the edges, the damage must have been recent. There were hastily sewn insignias of Hawk-Eyes on the inner lining. Although the priest offered Eryn a helping hand up, Eryn was then instantly dismissed as uninteresting when compared to his method of travel. Without introduction the priest asked for any and all information about what was had just happened and the box. The other man left by the table was a lot more cautious. He had piled the papers on the table into a neat stack and had placed them under a book before turning around; holding his dart thrower from behind his back.

Eryn had backed away from the priest now who had  seemed to have had completely forgotten that Eryn was still occupying the space. He was forced to move over to the table and with a quick glance looked down at what the two had been looking over. The writing that was visible form the sides of the book were calculations, theories and scribbles notes. Most of it on the margins to a differently scrawled text, the handwriting of Melvile. There were two options now for Eryn. That these men were either working with the ones who were in Neave's house or perhaps something far worse in his mind. He thought best to introduce himself, to see their reaction, in hopes they would not recognise him. Their gaze never faltered. He mentioned now more honestly his method of travel and that of Melvile, who he noticed they knew of. He told them that a colleague of his had met Melvile recently and possibly had research from him.  This he hoped was his bargaining chip. The man with the dart thrower holstered and was stunned into silence. Eryn recognised his expression, the workings of a man behind his eyes. After a few moments the priest pulled out the plant that Eryn had arrived from, noticing the light that the roots were curled around and fed into, while the other broke down in faint tears. He told Eryn that he had believed for years that Melvile was dead. He was told of his death in detail, it was a fact he had eventually made peace with. In those last few seconds of revelation and unnoticed, the shop floor had gone quiet. There were creaks of many heavy footsteps on floorboards, and the mumbles of quick conversation with what presumably was the owner and a low voiced gentleman. Within seconds the door burst open and five men appeared, brandishing weapons and ring tattoos on their fingers.

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (7) - The Pale Gold Dress

Eryn dived quickly back against the wall, the motion knocking the contents of his pocket out onto the floor. He stared down at the obsidian disk and the image of Neave flashed before him.  Then came the memories of the times with Rose, before he was imprisoned. The smile on her lips, her laughter, the gleam in her eye. This image was swiftly forced out by the two faceless children, being brutally murdered, Neave and Shroud slain on the floor. He remembered Rose for what they once were, for one last time. He buried the memory, a keep sake at the bottom of his heart. He peered around the corner again and made for the cover of crates closer to her. She had stopped talking to the man that accompanied her and was now fully concentrating on a book. The man was now looking over the edge of the promenade, breathing in the morning air. This was soon followed by noxious smoke from a scrap of wood and he was knocked out cold. Eryn forced down the last of the memories of Rose and did the same. It was swift and silent. With her now over his shoulder, he now carried her out of Minotaur territory. Past the border was a small tavern now in ruins. Eryn decided it was probably best to hide the body to transport down and hoping to prove his theory correct, wanted to put Rose inside a cask.

Inside looked as if the Iron Wind had blown through. The room was upside down, glasses were smashed, chairs were broken and  dust refused to fall. A light cough alerted Eryn he was not alone. He placed Rose on the ground and approached with caution. A man was scrounging around on the floor. He seemed to be searching for what Eryn could see was his eyes; one of which was projecting the image of a playing card just above the retina. The man found the other eye first and with a quick rub on his robe, squelched it back into place.  He looked upwards catching a glimpse of Eryn through the haze and with the tilt of his head Rose. His voice was familiar to Eryn and he to the man. Maw had left the Foundations and would have seemed to have found himself with the Minotaur Gang. This was not how the plan was meant to go. Without a reply Eryn sparked up his halo of flames, plunged his right hand into it and leapt at Maws face. He could feel the flesh melt under his fingertips, the burning smell masking the rotting ale and the damp. Maw cried out in pain and fell to his knees. Eryn crushed the other eye with his heel, it exploded into fragments of optic nerve, tiny cogs and glass shards.  Eryn searched behind the counter and found a empty keg. He gingerly placed Rose inside and with the innkeepers tools that were left, nailed her in. Behind the broken remains of the bar there was a small floating wooden spiral that was parallel to the floor. Eryn touched it lightly and it hovered in the direction it was pushed. It was most likely a form of transportation for the barrels and so Eryn place Rose on top and trying give himself the demeanour of an inn keeper, left for lowers floor.

The morning crowds were swelling and his journey was a tight squeeze. At one point a rush past him knocked the barrel off its transport, letting it tumble down the promenade and off the side. Eryn's reactions were faster, and to much applaud and a few shins, rescued the barrel with his grappling hook. With a look of confusion he took a bow and proceeded onwards with more caution. He soon reached the Undercroft Market by mid morning, although there was no light down here to tell. He had caught the attention of one of the Silver Palm members and Dehart appeared in no time at all. He was surprised and thankful, secretly hoping this prisoner would get him back up to the top of the city, or at least level five.  His passed on knowledge of Neave's house in the poorest part of the foundations, although warned there were men with no insignia with heavy tools searching in that area. He also mentioned that the area was also being hit by something, or someone, as many of the poor were slowly disappearing night by night. He didn't know if the two were related by it was possible. Eryn left the barrel with Dehart and did not look back.

For Chloe the morning was quiet, the voices in her head were most likely asleep although she had found that during the night she had turned one of the blankets covering her into amethyst. Her first thoughts though were not of that but her dress. She leapt upstairs and to her surprise, one  befitting a merchant lord's daughter was left for her. She dived on it, trying to swiftly put it on, but in the process, as it fell into a fitting form, it too slowly turned into amethyst. However the crystal it formed was like nothing she had seen, it was almost as if the amethyst itself had taken on the properties of the material rather than a pure change of state.   She went to go wake Lily who stopped her as she walked out of the bar grabbing her by the collar, she had been oblivious that Lily was already awake.

Lily had received her orders. Chloe was to be her Marionette.  Melvile had been heard from since Chloe's apparent visitation to him, and the old woman wanted anything and everything she knew. Lily had to get the information from her, but it was too soon, her guard would be up. Areanna called Lily over, a happy distraction. She told her that while they slept a cloaked woman had visited, trying to ascertain if Chloe was here, she was sent away instantly. This was followed by the report of what Eryn was doing.  Much to Chloe's protest about not having any breakfast, they left for Neave's.

When they arrived they found a large hole, burned into the walkway  before the spire Neave lived in. This was along with charred remains of makeshift beds and shelters around the edge, leaning against the spires that supported the floor . Below in the void that was the rubbish pit, were heavy machinery; saws, drills and hammers. Chloe took a crystalline jump over to the open doorway, only to be knocked backwards, and nearly falling off the edge due to Lily, who had jumped in front of her. Inside Lily stooped, the ceiling purposefully lowered so that two families could fit into a single floor. She found Eryn clutching the spent stone tablet. Its screen was showing him trying to attack two intangible figures, one a mere shadow before they both disappeared  into the wall. There was blood splattered in every direction, mixed with mercury. There was a small selection of alchemical and laboratorial equipment, along with scribbled manuscripts littering the surfaces. To the left incense was burning, its tendrils caressing the surgical equipment  which lay mixed with blood spattered heavy machinery. The seating had been turned into two operating tables. There were body parts with probes and tubes feeding  blood, mercury and goodness knows what else into these segments. The bones inside the flesh were pure metal, surrounded by a lattice of metallic webbing that covered around its surface and extended into the flesh. Beside this were research notes in the handwriting of Melvile and a pale gold dress, adorned with finery of royalty. It was stained with a malachite coloured patch centred around a puncture mark in the fabric. Lily refused Chloe to pass into the room and told her to stay out.

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (6) - Passing of Time

The old woman brought out of her sack, a pressed flower and a wooden box with a crystal panel. Chloe tried to avoid her probing questions; the who, what and when. She was able to dodge a few  before the truth came out at least parts of it. Chloe produced the wooden box that Melvile had given her, making sure that his notes were safely out of sight.  She old woman nodded, mentioning that she recognised Melvile's work. Lily, trying to keep Chloe safe, well a happy by product, asked the old woman what she knew. The old woman before answering, closed the door, removed the any plants to the back room, turned the paintings around  and placed a hairpin that held an adornment on her hair into a bottle and covered it with water. She did this in silence, leaving Lily to wonder if she was more delusional that Chloe. When she sat back down she had changed, her face was more sullen than stern, her shoulders were relaxed and her gaze fell to the candle's flame.

I used to work with Melvile and by that I mean I was his Entwined and he my Marionette. He never knew who I really was or why I would come past his place of study every day. Eventually he divulged what I needed to know but a complication arose, two in fact. The first was his apprentice, Saifu , to which he had never divulged before nor had kept correspondence that I could find. Secondly a set of manuscripts of unseen theories and workings had been sequestered, or most likely stolen by the Aeon Priests. In fact we now have a pretty good idea who. A man we have continually tried to recruit, Xera. I forced Melvile's hand into giving us the research by threatening Saifu's life. We had already recruited him by now but Melvile wasn't to know. He was left to rot by Uncle Silas my Masterminder but I suggested he would perhaps be better suited to maintaining the application of his research. He was imprisoned, where you had stumbled. I presume that he had given you that box along with that flower. If you are wishing to keep it along with your life, I would suggest putting something around the node and the tangle of roots. Silas can and will do anything he deems necessary for the job to get done, and for his secrets to remain his.

The old woman passed over the wooden box to Lily and told her that she would only be able to use it when she was deemed capable, however if a complication was to arise, at least she would have the box on her.  She repeated the fact that she would be getting a new assignment in the morning, and all updates were to be delivered via the ring or through a relevant contact. She was now Lily's Masterminder. She jumped down off the wooden seat, picked up her sack and shuffled out the door in silence. Areanna carefully leaned out and quickly stepped in when she had left. Areanna seemed astonished by the state of the room, and by the hairpin in water. She asked Lily what she was talking about that made the old woman do this. Lily turned with closed lips and dragged Chloe downstairs.

In the early hours of the next morning Eryn as stealthily as he could crept out of the bedroom, out of the inn and into the early morning light. His dawn activities however was not  unobserved, Lily who had trouble sleeping all night due to  Chloe crying and once or twice screaming in her sleep. With half an eye open she observed him leaving and followed him upstairs. After he had shut the door Lily shouted for Areanna. She soon shambled in;  nightgown, dishevelled hair and all. Lily demanded that Eryn was to be followed. Lily didn't really know the terms of being an Entwined by hoped this was one of the perks. Areanna sighed, her shoulders hunching over her  body. She left the bar and quickly returned and nodded before she knocked her head against the doorframe out and went back to bed. Lily did the same.  She didn't believe in wasting any time following him herself and she needed to at least sleep for a short while.

Eryn's morning was quiet, the city was not yet awake and the window shutters were closed. He could hear Auspar sluggishly drifting into life. The merchants with no real estate were always out first, causing more bloodshed than most of the crimes in the city for a decent pitch. As he walked further down the levels, taking advantage of the city's ample grappling transport lines, with no shopping traffic. His peaceful decent was starting to be signposted by the dead, the members of the Minotaur gang. In the distance he could see a few members in green, trying to outrun two men, jumping around the cattle lifts that ran up most of more pivotal spires in the city.  Although he wished his morning did not have to involve corpses, involving himself with the Silver Palm would mean this would be an inevitability.

The first few dead seemed to be scouts or lookouts. As he progressed further, following the trail of bodies, there were more, clumped and less cleanly killed. It was at this point he realised that his plan had a flaw, he was not prepared to fight a gang, nor would he be able to know what they could and would do. The promenades ahead were deserted, but there where whispers.  He backed quickly up against a wall and carefully tried to observe what was going on around the corner. Out from one of the shops stepped a woman accompanied by what presumably was her lieutenant. She was dressed in a darker green, and her robe was the only one with a hood. But under that were locks of pale gold and the broach of a bird on her collar. She brushed her hair away from her face and almost seemed to stare directly towards Eryn. His heart was now poisonous stone, the eyes that looked at him were Rose's 

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (5) - Areanna's

After the departure of Shroud and Neave the group were left at a cross roads. Not one of them had any real direction. It was too late at night to go searching in the dark and the myriad of offshoots and dead ends. Of course this was under the assumption that the children were either going to a safe place at the time, or were already there. Regardless, they were all tired, aching and they needed their wounds tended to. With  what had just had happened Lily was not keen on going to a more well known establishment to rest for the night, in fact any place with a name was off the list. She remembered a small spot that was recommended to her by her employer. It was a small sliver of an inn, with most of the rooms occupying the lower floors rather than above.  The interior as well as most of the furnishings were made out of a dark stained wood, while the lighting was provided by candles that burned in different hues, giving off an intense concoction of aromatics. The innkeeper was a woman portly woman known as Areanna.

She was a kind soul and perhaps at some point she accepted and even enjoyed being part of something more but out of her control. She had a habit of being able to procure anything within the city, given enough time. At the bar counter Lily asked if Areanna could pass on a message for her, that her assignment was complete. Areanna nodded the disappeared for a few moments behind the bar and returned with a nod. She asked Lily to stay a while and there will eventually be a response. Chloe on the other hand had decided that if this woman could possibly get anything, then perhaps she could get her a dress of a fitting stature, something nobody could argue with or mistake her for anything else. Areanna nodded and said to Lily that getting this dress will count towards her favours and disappeared before Lily could respond. She shot a piecing look over at Chloe who had now gone back into herself muttering words under her breath.

By the time the focus had turned to Eryn he had already disappeared below to find his own quarters to sleep in. Unfortunately for him, he found that the sleeping arrangements were communal, although luckily nobody was here. He sparked the fireplace back into life with his finger tips and took some of the woollen blankets and curled up. His mind was working overtime in the quiet, trying to figure out the best possible solution to get to the children and to get them out of the city. He cast his mind back to the first few hours after he had been let go from the execution, back to the Pale Spine. House Ethis  was transporting illegal substances out of the city in barrels designed to look like casks for ale. If the children were small enough, or flexible enough, perhaps a repurposed barrel could give them passage. The only problem was gaining a silver coin for the Palm, since they were the ones carrying out the actual transport. He remembered that on the way to the hide out on the sixth floor, talking to an old man who was worried about his missing son. He had gotten involved in a criminal  gang called the Minotaur and had not been heard from the past few days. The man also mentioned the extent of his worry, that he had heard that that the lower floors were apparently being 'cleansed' by the Silver Palm, reducing any opposing faction that did not join the syndicate to smouldering corpses.  If he brought the leader of the Minotaur gang to the Silver Palm then perhaps they would exchange the life for a coin. He decided this perhaps would be the best course of action, and not to risk any further complications, he was to do this alone. Since Dehart was the only contact he had,  he would need to descend down the Foundations to find him and of course this would also mean the the right area to find Neave's house.

Back at the bar no customers had entered to this place since Lily had arrived and she was thankful;  a peaceful night for once. Areanna was slowly snuffing out the candles when the door creaked open and cast curls of smoke billowing from the doorway.  Areanna recognised the old woman that now stood hunched with a sack on her shoulder at the door. She disappeared into the back leaving Lily and Chloe alone with the woman. Lily recognised her as the key giver from the Tangent Bank, and under the thumb of a man named Silas and in league with Styenbeck. The old woman was dressed in more refined clothing, although the colours were muted. Her adornments and jewellery were plain silver and the cloth had an almost humble quality to it. She shuffled over to a table with Areanna instantly popping out to light the extinguished candle at the table. In the flicking cyan light, she curled a wrinkled finger to Lily in a gesture for her to sit.

Lily was in two minds; this woman was deceptive, intentionally so, but so was her employer  and perhaps the two were linked. Chloe was pushed into a chair in the corner of the room to stay out of trouble. Lily cautiously walked over with her hand on the hilt of her blade. The old woman told her that she had done well as a puppet, and although their mutual  employer was forced to intervene, the results were satisfactory. In fact her competency was to be rewarded. Inside the sack was a small plate with a gold scarab inlay set into a deep green gemstone. She passed it over to Lily who, as instructed, put it over her finger without much thought. The metalwork legs lifted themselves from the gemstone and curled round Lily's finger to form a ring. The woman proceeded to take out another stone and opened up a compartment hidden under the ring's facade. She placed it  inside and closed the lid, with the stone reappearing in the old woman's hand in blink of an eye.  She then informed Lily that she was now as they called an Entwined, a step up from being a Marionette as she the old woman described. With this new position however, her record was wiped clean, and so her behaviour and results were deeply unsatisfactory and would therefore she would be getting a new assignment in the morning to prove that their employer's investment was the right one. Lily kept quiet and nodded. On the other hand however, intrigued by the glimmer and the movement of the ring, Chloe had tried to sneak up to the table. The old woman turned to Chloe and asked what her business was. With little prepared for being caught, the only thing she could offer up was the flower. The old woman's only response in a bitter tone was Melvile.   

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (4) - A Mother's Love

The Neave they knew took the head over towards Shroud and placed it down on the boardwalk. She called out to Valma , who rustled out of Lily's bag, waking her up. The secret keeper flew over to Neave and stood spinning, it's aura now a shimmering grey. Neave reached into the neck cavity and pulled out a wires. Her hands were clean and no blood fell to the floor. This was a fact Eryn was not keen on, and took a step backwards. Neave leaned over Valma and whispered a few words before the top square folded outwards in four panels. The ornate scripture that covered Valma's body formed a design of upturned runic obelisk. Lily could make out the familiar shapes, they were designed like the sentry spires around Thaemor, similar to the one she used to live near. The pillars were smaller than the obelisk in the wider world and with no discernible entry point. Neave took the wires from the decapitated head and plugged them into the now open panel on top of Valma. She spoke to the head and it responded, although not loud enough for the others to hear. Valma's pulsing aura when she spoke also seemed to be attuned to the head. Neave talked to Shroud once more, disconnected Valma and chucked the head over the side.  She brought both of them up to the now confused and slightly afraid party. Valma danced over to the fully recovered Lily and spun around her in her matching aura. Neave addressed the party, her shoulders high. Her voice was now adorned with crystal chimes.

This is difficult for me, I didn't think I had the capacity. I have worked hard, and sacrificed and tried to stake my own claim in this world. Everything I have done was out of protection for my children. You must remember this.  I am engineered, a clone but not the only one. My...type...was recreated many times.  Eventually, after many assignments, I became pregnant and birthed a child, something unheard of. She was mine and I couldn't let them take her, I kept my cover and broke contact.

I have ended up working with lunatics, mercenaries and even my  old assignments. I couldn't leave Auspar and I couldn't hide forever. They found me after my baby boy was born, the same uniqueness as my first born. My creators  undoubtedly wanted to take me apart to find out how I ticked, what made me different. I countered, offering my services and my life for my children. All our lives forfeit for analysis if I failed. They begrudgingly accepted. Prior Braxx became my only ally during those dark times, my only place of solace, confession and perhaps absolution. Mine Sur, Lord Shroud, has many memories my creators wanted and I was the only one in a position to infiltrate. Then the necromancer found Valma, another crafted being by my creators but living metal.

When my superior learnt of the discovery of the construct, I was to be terminated, after bringing Valma to them. I could never leave my children to them. They are the rarest things in the universe and they must be protected. I cannot be 'terminated',. I won't let it happen to me. I won't let it happen to them.

 I have tried to deactivate the decryptions and safeguards and Valma. This creature may possibly hold the information my creators need to finalise their plans. I wasn't fully successful but I believe I have initiated a cascade failure. She will in time act like an adult. Lily, Eryn, you must raise this construct, as its programming becomes unblocked. The fragmented memory-net can be easily corrupted while it rebinds. With a successful recompilation and eventual reboot it could hold the key to stopping my creators.

The best thing now is to for me and mine Sur to carry on. I must honour my promise to make him a Lord. In the upper floors of the city, amongst the rich, I have never heard of a clone reaching such distinctions. Perhaps this masquerading power play will buy us enough time, knowledge and resources to end this. Enough to save my children, enough for them to have a future.  

Please find my children and protect them. I have used both my 'father' and the old woman near my homestead, to hide them. They were to put them in the safest place possible out of a list I had given them. A list they hopefully burned along with the memories of me, my children and anything out of the ordinary. You must convince Braxx  to try and get them to remember. The machines in his blood should react to the trace signals of the augmentations and repair them, along with the neural connections. If you found out anything, anything at all speak this word to a willing Guldspar, Antithykera.  That should hopefully activate his blood and through Shroud, fortunately, we can communicate.

I have a couple of things I have set up for you to retrieve that may be beneficial if you go to Braxx. Eryn this should hopefully solve some of the possible variations you go through. She handed over a a small stone tablet with a crystal screen. There is a device for you Chloe with Braxx, but be warned, it is only to be used in dire circumstances. And for the necromancer, something Valma suggested. She handed over a polished black obsidian orb with golden veins running through it. This has been the way I tried to dodge my creators, and their constructs. It is of no use to me anymore, the possibilities it can show are not certain and I have fallen foul of it. It may help your' unorthodox' approach to wealth or so Valma informs me. The last is this, an  octagonal plate. When placed between the palms of the hand, the veins in the obsidian should pulse, allowing a single communication to me, directly. I'm trusting you with this Eryn, only use that shard in a dire emergency. The daylight had faded and the cold light of the moon could be barely seen through the denseness of the clouding sky. The shadows of the city spires have now blanketed the city. It is time for us to go Mine Sur.  

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (3) - The Courtyard

By the time Shroud had gotten bored of erasing the Grapnel's memory he decided it was probably about time to leave. He glided down the hallway towards the servants room, in hopes of finding Neave waiting for him. He had tried to link to her but either her mind was closed for good reason, or she was out of range. Unfortunately for him he  laid eyes upon Chloe. Her mumblings under her breath had become more rampant and her head was twitching left and right as if in a struggle to stay still. He quickly and quietly pulled her up from her seat and walked her out, with the guards still belting they were both still inside. The evening light threw wide shadows across the walkways of the city. The once bright courtyard outside the Academy was now slowly being lit by lamplight and glowing orbs. From the far right hand side of the courtyard Neave ran towards Shroud and Chloe. Her hair was messy, her dress torn. She spoke with breathless urgency. She needed to know where Valma was and she needed to know fast. Shroud replied that it was with Lily and she would most likely be out in a moment. Neave tried to push past Shroud inside, to which he blocked her path. He told her to be patient, and that whatever was so urgent could wait a few more moments.

His mental link with Eryn was soon reconnected and he replied that she had safely arrived and he was now late. Eryn did not reply. Shroud tried to contact him again but to no avail. He then decided to question Neave on her current state, and how much it was going to cost them to replace. She dodged the question, occasionally trying to pass him towards the entrance. The lack of response made him only want to take matters into his own hands, and asked for the artefact he had given her at the Bank. She calmly replied offhandedly that she did not have it after they left the bank and had no idea where it could be. This raised a question in his mind, as he had purposefully checked that she had the device when she was unconscious. He tried to re-establish the mental link with her but she was closed to him, he tried again and again until he heard her scream Do not listen to her Sur. As her words sharpened his nerves , Lily was thrown out from the servant door of the Academy, over the fleeing and screaming servants beneath her. She crashed down onto the walkway and knocked her head against a crate and was knocked out cold. From the shadows of the doorway inside a shambling corpse lumbered out carrying two struggling Grapnel under her arms two which in then threw them off the edge. Shroud recognised her beauty, although her figure was a good seven feet tall. He spun around only to be lunged upon by the Neave next to him

.

Eryn had finally arrived at the Academy and stopped in his tracks noticing not one, but two Neaves, the latter being a mutated cadaver. He scanned the courtyard, noticing Lily knocked out cold and Chloe still rambling to herself oblivious to the dangers. Guards now flooded from the servant entrance trying to contain the monstrosity, they were easily flung off the sides and down into the arena below, or the ten story drop to the bottom. Shroud was now parrying with Neave, trying to find a way to distract her. Eryn dashed over to Shroud and shoulder barged Neave into the side the nearest spire. She was only out of action for a split second but this allowed him a gap to try and quickly snap Chloe out of whatever was going on inside her mind. A light pinch with hot fingers brought her back and she instinctively reacted firing off a shard of amethyst at him, which in her mental state, luckily missed. The hooded Neave now joined the fight in the courtyard. Shroud was still trying to divert his Neave, not wanting to cause her harm. Eryn had turned on the creature from the morgue, and Chloe was ready to have her jealousy fuelled revenge on the always more beautiful and now hooded Neave.    

With the Grapnel's help, Eryn managed to separate them from her and set alight the wood underneath, in hopes of destabilising it. Unfortunately the structure did not fall, but it did burn setting his opponent of fire. The pain was blinding and she soon lost her footing and smacked her head on the brickwork of the lower spires on the way down to the bottom. In the main courtyard it was hard to tell whether Chloe either had severe difficulty in aiming, or she was slowly trying to whittle down Neave, body part by body part. She was unable to cause any brutal and instant damage due to the constant barrage of attacks and dodge rolls. By the smile on her face however, when Neave had been  wounded enough, it plain to see it was intentional. She looked at her newly sculpted Neave and fired a shard into her abdomen.

With two now dispatched it was left to Shroud to finish with his. However the sadness in her eyes and his own memories clouded his judgement; not allowing him to harm her, or for either Chloe or Eryn to interfere. He was soon pinned to a wall between creates and barrels, still refusing to fight. He heard her voice calling to him, but her lips did not move. Within a blink of an eye the Neave in front of him was on the floor a few feet away, crumpled at Eryn's feet. Shroud then felt the touch of a woman's hand on his shoulder and went for his blade but the voice her heard calmed him down. Eryn and Chloe poised themselves to fight but the Neave Shroud was with was the Neave they knew, as she handed over the artefact from the Tangent Bank. Shroud and Neave both spent a few minutes together without talking which frustrated Chloe's curiosity. The dishevelled Neave by her feet  was still alive but was hardly moving. Shroud's Neave turned around and smiled at Chloe and Eryn as she walked over and apologised. Then with a flick of her wrist she pulled out a knife and  grabbed the hair of the woman on the floor. She pulled her head to waist height and slashed her throat, instantly decapitating and then kicked her body off the edge of the walkway.

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (2) - Rose

With the Grapnel guard safely out of the Tangent Bank, Neave and Eryn quickly made their way out and pressed on towards the Academy. Neither of them spoke on the journey over, Eryn trying to sort out a plan amongst the ever mounting odds.  The early evening shoppers were luckily far and few between, most favouring social circles. There was however a crowd that had gathered in front of Eryn. As he attempted to go around he found that there was little room on the edge, so politely asked if he could pass by. That was when he recognised a familiar voice and sighed heavily. He turned towards the orator, a man similarly dressed to himself. Surrounding his small stand and box crate  were posters  and small trinkets for the Hawk-Eyes. In each poster, it depicted Eryn defeating a fantastical foe, or performing outstanding feats. The crowd was enamoured with this man's tales and unfortunately Eryn had just drawn attention to himself. The crowd at the back grew excited which rippled to the front. They cheered and parted as Eryn was forced to the front. Arden put his hand down from his box and pulled him up and presented him. Eryn at that moment felt  like cattle or was about to be sacrificed to the mass.

Neave's update on her location brought Eryn back to reality. He couldn't possibly stay and as he tried to leave the crowd reacted negatively while every step back towards Arden was celebrated. It was make or break. He would have to do something drastic to finally get himself away from here, which could endanger lives, but it had to be done. He returned back to Arden only to look for a specific spot on the walkway that he could exploit but was distracted when Arden introduced his fiancée who had walked into the crowd. She was dressed in the finery of the current fashion; simplistic precious metals engraved with minute detail, a pale flared gown with a pastel corset, paired with a hoodless robe. The only thing Eryn noticed was the robe itself. It had obviously had its hood removed and from the slight discolouration of the fabric, repaired many times. It was the embroidery he recognised, the flowers, the birds. Rose.

 She seemed a lot happier than when he was taken from her all those years ago. She had let down her hair, which Eryn remembered she always wished the fashion would allow. She had a glow to her and as she was brought up onto the box with Eryn she seemed enthralled by her betrothed. The moments, the insignificant reason why he was taken from her, reeled in his mind. Renik Mallor was Rose's Steward, from the age of around five. As she was his ward, Renik was very protective of Rose and was intimidating to any potential suitors, especially the ones he objected to. While Eryn was in the midst of a blossoming courtship, he tried to defend Rose's integrity to a stranger, and in doing so offending the stranger, Renik. Although nothing more than words were exchanged, Renik's position turned it into a violent assault, with a suitable and unquestionable imprisonment. Arden then introduced Rose's sister, someone Eryn  had never even heard of before. Arden joked to the crowd that this young girl will unfortunately never experience the luxuries of being of house Mallor but perhaps she could marry Eryn. The crowd lapped it up, laughing with every off hand remark.

He looked over to Eryn and mouthed something to the effect of that he had understood what he had tried to do the last time they had spoke. Eryn had tried to downplay his heroism but to Arden he deserved recognition. Eryn was slowly losing all concentration, no matter how much he stared at Rose she hardly looked towards him, and when she did, she just looked through. She had a piercing gaze he was unprepared for. Eryn had only taken in Rose having a sister, completely ignoring Arden's lineage and looked over towards her. Her attire was less ornate and her cape was adorned with a hood. She pulled it down revealing the shadows of refined beauty under a heavy fringe. She tussled it away from her face and stared directly at Eryn. Neave now stood before him, but with an unfamiliar glare. He tried to communicate with her with their link, perhaps she was there to rescue him but he was having trouble even sensing her. Her eyes glazed over for a split second. This was not the Neave he knew. Arden now had his arms around both Eryn and Rose and his grip was surprisingly firm for an apparent teacher and orator.

This Neave slowly edged towards Eryn, with the glimmer of a blade edge under her mantle. He had to think fast, the cocktail of emotions he was experiencing only served to cause him panic, his rational judgement had no time to formulate. He reached around him, trying to grab onto anything he could. His fingers touched the edge of a poster and he channelled heat to the tips, setting the painting  ablaze. Panic and alarm sprang up from the crowd, although none seemed too worried, perhaps seeing it as just part of the event. Arden nearly sprang out of his boots and leapt towards his merchandise with Eryn only now realising that his image and his fame was being sold as well as recounted. With himself now free, Eryn jumped down to the crowds excitement and ran as fast as he could with Neave running after, pushing the crowds away in front of her. One or two was dangerously shoved to the edge of the platform . His mind now reeled with possibilities, most of them perhaps fatal. His mind called out to Shroud in the hopes of trying to warn him of the betrayal. His eventual reply; that she was safely with them outside the Academy.       

TSC - Chapter 5: Realities (1) - The Morgue

Ironspur was a man of pomp and ceremony. He loved the meticulous rigmarole that went into the Grapnel rituals. On the other hand however his physique was lacking. He did not possess the will or the resolve to improve his athleticism. These two facts made him a major candidate to be Prime Blade Reader, not Glaive  Keeper. His office was furnished with the fineries of life; voluminous cloth, finely crafted sculpture and exotic fruits on his desk to name a few. Lily, who sat opposite him, felt like she was in a merchant's coffin than a Glaive Keeper's sanctum. She noted the filigree on his thin metal plate armour. The sword on display that had gathered dust on its hilt, betraying the polished metal. Even for a Grapnel of little strength, he should have had a least a weapon holster on him. His image was crafted, a little too perfect for Lily.  He was a man who was past his youthful prime with an elegant stature that hunched at the top of his back. Flecks of grey seemed almost decorative in his combed hair. She wanted answers and fast.

He asked her if she knew why she was here and she replied she did not. He explained that she was slow, that her end of the agreement was not being met and their mutual employer had to unfortunately step in. There was strength in his eyes, a bladed look. He explained that he had been put into this position, not by choice but because she had failed to interview Zivians. By failure, he meant his Zivian's death. As he did not die by her hand, he would have more than likely to be almost impossible to get to as a corpse.  This, he explained was her one free pass from their employer. They had apparently high hopes her unique skills but failure  meant termination of not just her contract.  She nodded and he passed her a note and told her to walk left down the corridor till the walls were covered in frost. The dead, guards, prisoners and victims alike were all stored there for either further study, or discrete burial.

As she walked she saw into what she presumed to be a waiting area for servants with Chloe sitting almost peacefully. Every few moments however she would twitch and mumble to herself, stoking her hair flat. Nobody paid attention to her, which was probably the safest for both them and her. Further down to the right she looked into an interview taking place between Shroud and a Grapnel. Unfortunately for the guard he kept forgetting why he walked into the room and was constantly leaving to remember why Shroud needed to be interviewed in the first place. She flexed her shoulders slightly, at least the guards wouldn't be prepared if things turned on her and the group. Lily's breath started to cling to the air and she dragged her fingers across the wall, her touch barely melting the frost on the stone. She passed over a grate which gave off a sweet smelling blast of hot air. It's smell however gave way to synthetic chemicals, which made Lily cough.  Past the vent were two fur-lined  Grapnel. Their noses red and their lips with a hint of purple.  They would not let her pass. She tried to barge through but they resisted. She grunted and clenched her first and then whipped out the letter she had been given and shoved it in front of the guards. They apologised instantly and let her through.

The morgue's walls were like stone carved from frozen mountains, a cobalt grey. The ironwork on the handles for each cell had a frosted blue tint that refused to melt under her touch. She stood for a second to enjoy where she was, she felt the icy air tickle her lungs and batted her breath away from her. According to the note, the handle she now held led to where Zivians was stored.  She pulled out the now obviously badly injured corpse. Defensive and a few offensive knife wounds were carved into his body. His eyes however were stained with blue veins. Lily was a little confused, she placed her hands on the sides of Zivian's head and felt the bones from her finger tips dig like roots into his brain. She asked him who had killed him? He told her it was by his own hand. She asked about his wounds. He had been attacked by a man dressed in dark cloth, demanding to know where the princess was. He attacked when Zivian's refused to answer but he was the victor, the better combatant. She asked why he didn't die of his wounds? He had taken a slow acting poison the day the ceremony failed. The people wanted him dead for his failure, and he too felt like he had deserved it. The only true and fitting end would be a slow and excruciating poison, one last endurance test. He died to the poison before the wounds could have.  She asked him what he knew of the princess? He replied  that he had last seen her after some sort of dark green dye had gotten onto her dress during a Grapnel ceremony rehearsal over seven solar days ago, which she and the King attended. Zivians had escorted her out to her servants after the event. He further explained that it was two days later that it was announced she had gone missing. Lily demanded to know if he was lying, as many people she had asked had said the princess did not exist. He confided that he was told she was the Princess and that he knew nothing more. With that he shattered into bone then dust.  Lily was happy now, perhaps this would redeem her in her employer's eyes, whoever they were.

Out of curiosity she wanted to check a few of the other deceased. She was always intrigued about how they died and in that moment, what their dying thoughts were. Most were not interesting, with only a few that she would ever comment on again. The dead were slowing being outnumbered by the mounds of dust they left behind. Lily wanted to check one last corpse. She said a rhyme she knew as a child and picked the resulting casket. She slowly opened it, wanting to savour the last time she would be here. She peered in and stumbled backwards. The corpse was of a woman, Neave.   

TSC - TSC - Chapter 4: Tangent (7) - The Cost of Sight (3)

Lily without conscious thought, instantly knelt down and pricked herself with a shard of glass. From that dot of blood she drew forth a small sphere of bone. She then smashed it onto the ground and it disintegrated with an incredible light. The intensity was reflected throughout the vault. The creature had not vanished, rather its image had now been carried in the light. Eryn and Shroud were, for a split second, blinded and as it faded, the after image of the flayed creature melted into the dark. Lily ran as fast as she could, the glass below crunching under her feet. The mirrored panels were fracturing towards her, a tip of the creatures flesh touching the mirror where it  split. It flitted, mirror to mirror, it's eye never blinking. The shattering of the glass beneath its tip oozed tar like blood with sheen of oil. It was slashing itself on the glass intentionally. With each successive movement more and more poured forth. She dodged left and right, glass now blasting from their fixtures.  Her aimless flight took her stumbling over the others and there was silence. Only her frantic breathing and the mirrors crunching under them.

She tried to explain to them what she had seen but before she could finish they both interrupted with the same image. She confirmed that whatever it was in here with them, it was behind the mirrors, possible trapped, but violently desperate to get out. Hollow, metallic banging echoed in the chamber. Both Eryn and Shroud told Lily that they had to look after Neave, who seemed to be in a more stable condition and urged her to go check it out. With clenched fists she skulked around the storage pillars, keeping the sides at arm's length. On her way she tried to poke what looked like rippling in the glass, only for it to crack and fall to the floor. She knelt down to where the banging was coming from. The glass was vibrating under her touch but it was not rippling, this was something else. She shone her glowglobe in both directions to the left and right before taking out her lock picking tools. There were muffled cries now coming from the container as she worked, there was someone alive. With a final clink she pulled out the drawer and looked inside and was disappointed. Chloe blankly blinked at her, clutching the bag and flower. Lily turned around and took one step to walk away from Chloe, when in the corner of her eye she saw the creature coming towards them at speed. She grabbed the now standing Chloe by the wrist and pulled her to the group but they had gone. She dare not call out and covered Chloe's mouth when she tried to speak. She put a finger on her lip and sternly looked at Chloe, whose eyes had gone from amazement to terror. Mirror smashed in the dark. A guttural almost serpent like roar shattered any mirror still standing. Then there was silence again.

Lily heard Eryn's shout and for a split second considered not to go. It was foolish of him to shout in a chamber that echoed with a predator like that, and perhaps the creature could mimic his voice. If she was to die here, she would meet it face on, it was the now only option left. She caught glimmers of the light of their glowglobes; some in the mirror but most from blood dripping from the now empty frames.  They could still see it, in the shards on the floor, its writhing mass trying to force its way through. Eryn had found the way out and they left as quickly as they could. It was a relief to find the mirror to reception still intact. On the other side however it would seem the creature had broken through. The salesman that had discussed  Styenbeck's finances had been flayed open by glass, with large shards lodged all over his body. The room was immaculate otherwise, he seemed to have just died in his chair. The blood dripped to the marble below and in small droplets slid across the floor to form a line from the centre to the mirror behind his corpse. The receptionist stepped through carrying another tray of refreshments from the other side and screamed when she saw the body. The metal tray crashed to the floor with the delicate plates and cups a steaming scattered mosaic.

Shroud instantly accused her of the man's death and the assault of Neave. She screamed at his aggressive behaviour and collapsed into sobbing. Eryn knelt down to the woman and asked if there was somewhere they could rest Neave. She nodded, and pointed to the mirror behind. There was now distant shouting of men, perhaps they attacked. Lily listened to each mirror and found the voices were coming from the main mirror in to the room. She poked her head through and saw two Grapnel guards. There were discussing the uncanny knowledge of Ironspur and his strange requests since he was promoted. Each remark ended with a curse towards him, being a weak merchant than a fighter. They were looking for a necromancer and that meant her.

She silently slipped back through and grabbed Chloe and told everyone to get into the room next to this one. After they had all passed through the receptionist put her hand on the glass, it shined with octagonal glowing markings. They could now hear more guards entering the room. They all reacted, to Lily's surprise, with pretty weak stomachs, some almost vomiting just after arrival. They were ordered to search the room to which they found everything in order. Then it was the turn of the rooms adjacent. The group tried to hide as well as they could. It was a cross between a dormitory, a kitchen and a lounge and offered ample hiding space, if you knew where to look. Unfortunately for Lily, her over attentiveness to the room beyond left her vulnerable, so too did Shroud's lack of self care for his own anonymity. Chloe on the other had had a perfectly good hiding position, but with terrified screams and ramblings under her breath she stepped out.

The guards arrested them all on the spot. They were having to restrain Lily's servant girl for unstable afflictions and that, if she girl did not behave, she would be handed over to the Aeon Priests to further study.  Shroud said his goodbye to Neave, who was slowly coming around to consciousness. Eryn, who was next to her, confirmed a plan to meet up outside the Academy as soon as it was safe. Shroud only hoped that his link could carry across the city.