Interlude 5 - The Trials - The Price of Salvation
Raven could feel the tension in the air as she fully opened her link with Dylis, dividing her mind between her office and the grove. She could feel his fear. His sorrow. And most powerfully, his anger. The rest of the phoenixes were also with him, and they weren’t in a much better state.
“[And you’re sure about the identity of the body?]” Dylis finally asked.
“[Yes,]” Vestian said.
“[Where?]” Amara asked.
“[The Eyes tracked her to an old servant’s dormitory in the inner ring. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, she was already dead. By her own deathshard.]”
Flames licked across every other phoenix present as they fluffed up their feathers angrily.
“[So it was Nightcrawler,]” Akari hissed. “[Have you found anything else?]”
“[When the Eyes searched the premises, they found the fireplace had been recently used, and had the ashen remains of several documents as well as some ceramic, alchemical vials. Our best guess is the latter used to have the poison they used on the little miss.]”
“[Were you able to recover anything?]” Amara asked, her tone sharp with worry.
“[Nothing but burnt residue,]” Vestian replied. “[By the look of it, she used balefire. We’ve sent the remains to the fire-callers, but I doubt they’re going to find much of anything.]”
Amara slumped down as a series of pained trills came from her throat.
“[Dreaming darkness, we needed those,]” Amara finally said, nearly trembling with rage. “[Whatever this stuff is, I’m sure it’s Chaos-alchemically enhanced. Philomena’s completely cut off from Sunset through their link, but she’s still experiencing everything Sunset is.]”
Amara paused as she fought to compose herself.
“[And whatever’s happening in her mind, it’s affecting her body. She’s got cuts and bruises just appearing out of nowhere.]”
Worse and worse, Dylis sent, his frustration mounting.
It seems that wherever Nighcrawler has been hiding, he learned more than a few new tricks, Raven sent ruefully. And planned this out too well. Just how many more of his spies and agents has he snuck into our cities?
A new feeling of distress came from Dylis through their link.
Raven, please don’t start thinking like that. It's that sort of paranoia…
…that led Steel to where he is today, Raven sent with a sad sigh and a feeling of defeat as she took off her glasses, pressed her forehead into the palms of her hands and leaned her elbows on the surface of her desk. Fire and light, we needed to take her alive. Nightcrawler really outplayed us this time.
There’s always a solution to the puzzle, Dylis sent firmly with a feeling of sympathy. You should know that better than anyone.
This one’s probably one of the hardest we’ve faced in decades though.
It hasn’t stopped us before. And it’s not going to stop us now.
True. We know Windy Skies was part of the Endless Decay, or she wouldn't be able to manifest a deathshard. And the fact that she used it to kill herself means that Nightcrawler wanted us to know that he was behind it.
If she was the one to kill the other three, then she was the one getting orders from the Cult, Dylis added.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t get us any closer to a solution. We need information. Repairing the documents is impossible. The balefire made sure of that. And without knowing what Sunset’s been given, the only ones who could cure her are Queens Celestia and Lumina.
Moving her is out of the question though, Dylis sent frustratedly. The flight to Heliopolis would take hours, even if Spitfire carried her. And it's the middle of the night. Without the sun, Nighcrawler could ambush us if we try to get her back to Mt. Liakeed.
So it all comes back to identifying the poison. Without that, we’re stuck. But we can’t get information like that out of burnt paper, alchemical cinders, or a corpse.
Raven’s head shot out of her hands as a chill of dread ran down both her and Dylis’s backs simultaneously.
We can’t get the info out of a corpse… Dylis sent as his chest tightened.
…but a master shadow-wielder could, Raven concluded.
Raven could feel Dylis’s apprehension through their bond. Apprehension that she shared.
We both know who you’re thinking of, and I’m going to tell you right now that this is a terrible idea. For more reasons than I want to count.
It is. Raven rose from her desk and began to make her way to one of the side rooms, locking the door behind her. But unless we can find another necromancer with the kind of skills she and her kind have, we don’t have any other option.
I hate that I have to suggest this, but we could always ask a linnorm.
They’d be even less likely to help than she is, Raven sent as she began to remove her formal clothing to reveal a suit of grey, skin-tight Sky-striker armor underneath.
I know, but I had to present the other option. Even if it really isn’t an option, Dylis sent, before turning his attention back to the other phoenixes, who had been sitting patiently while he and Raven had conversed.
“[Akari.. Amara. I need to speak with Vestian and Steel privately. We’re about to have an Eclipse-Blue Five level conversation,]” Dylis said gravely.
Both Akari and Amara let out startled chirps, shuffling nervously on the branches.
“[You heard Dylis,]” Vestian said, his tone just as hard as Dylis’s. “[Leave. Now.]”
Neither of them needed any more prompting as they took to the air, flying away as swiftly as their wings could carry them. Once they were away, Raven cast a sound dampening privacy spell with a one handed spell-dance, allowing the magic to manifest through Dylis.
“[I have a feeling we’re not going to like this,]” Vestian said as he fixed Dylis’s eyes with his own.
“[Probably only a little less than I do,]” Dylis said. “[First, I need to know where the bodies of the four cultists are.]”
“[Waiting to be disposed of in the barracks,]” Vestian said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “[Why?]”
“[I need you to bring me their heads as quickly as you can. Make sure they remain as undamaged as possible.]”
There was a moment of silence as Vestian stared at Dylis, though Raven could tell that he was really scrutinizing her. She could almost feel the debate going on in Vestian and Steel’s shared mind as they carved her request apart and examined each piece.
“[Raven, I can’t let you do what you’re about to do,]” Vestian finally said. “[It’s blasphemy. And, it's too dangerous, even for you.]”
“[Steel, if we’re going to save Sunset, this is the only way.]”
Vestian let out a frustrated hiss and shifted on his perch.
“[Ask the kirintal. The stags are capable of necromancy. And since it’s their fault you had to bring Sunset, they can fix the situation they created.]”
Dylis shook his head.
“[The only necromancers among the kitinal that can do what we need are Magistrates who have reached and passed the Circle of Compassion. And we can’t reach them for the same reason we can’t get Sunset back to Heliopolis.]”
“[Then we let her die. Better to lose a new phoenix-born who hasn’t come into power than to risk you.]”
Vestian was unphased by Dylis’s hiss of anger, and continued to glare daggers at his brother.
“[Do not make light of that, Steel. Sunset dying would be a national tragedy. Or have you forgotten Sweet Stuff and Lettie.]”
“[Don’t you dare bring her up against me, Raven Inkwell,]” Vestian said in a low, dangerous voice as flames licked across his body. “[Do you think I want to see any phoenix-born die? Don’t you think that I would love nothing more than to track down Nightcrawler and introduce him to osteophage gas for what he’s done? But I’m looking at this rationally. Sunset’s death will be tragic, but we’ll recover. But if you die too, it would break Solaria. Not only will we be left without the voice and hand of Celestia, we will be left without one of the founders of our nation. And even if you succeed, what will you have to give in order to get the information we need?]”
“[This isn’t a debate, General Sentry,]” Dylis said firmly. “[As Seneschal of Her Majesty, Queen Celestia, and hand and voice of the throne, I am ordering you to bring me the intact heads of the four cultists as swiftly as possible. Do I make myself clear?]”
Vestian silently seethed, matching Dylis’s glare with one of his own. Rolling the bone she’d just rolled was risky. Steel could refuse to obey, which would delay her even more. And would likely result in Steel reporting to the queen what she had planned to do. Something that would assuredly result in her being reprimanded, not Steel. And no matter what, was going to drive the wedge deeper between them. But she couldn’t waste time. Not with Sunset’s life on the line.
“[As you wish, Lady Inkwell,]” Vestian finally said with a clipped, professional tone as he stood at attention. “[However, I will be accompanying you on this excursion.]”
“[No, Steel. Only one of us can go.]”
“[Then let it be us. The sun-blades can survive under Spitfire’s command if things go wrong.]”
“[No. Aside from the animosity between you and her people, it has to be Raven,]” Dylis said firmly, shaking his head. “[She’s the only one who can invoke the Law of Royal Parlay.]”
“[The what? You’re going to try using that?]” Vestian asked incredulously. “[What makes you think that they’ll honor the Law?]”
“[The same reason I know we would honor it should the Traitor’s speaker somehow arrive on our borders. It is the Empress’s Law, and all of those who live in Harmony’s embrace are bound to it.]”
Silence filled the warm autumn night as both Dylis and Vestian glared at one another.
“[We don’t like this.]”
“[Neither do we, but we’re not going to lose another phoenix-born. Not like this.]”
Neither phoenix spoke for a long moment as a cold night wind blew through the grove, its mournful fluttering shattering the silence that hung over it like a funeral shroud.
“[Just be sure to come back,]” Vestian finally said, his tone becoming dangerously icy. “[We’ve had to avenge one phoenix-born. We don’t want to have to avenge two more.]”
*****
Far from Rose’s Blossom, the moonlight was shining down on a certain stretch of particularly thick woodland. This notorious stretch of woodland was situated in a deep ravine between two isolated spines of the Dawning Mountains. The forest’s dire reputation had, over the years, caused the local sun-gazers to abandon the roads that strayed too close to its borders. Within the wood, the shadows clung to the trees in a peculiar way, as though the understory was resentful of either the light or darkness. Briars and brambles clogged much of the understory, making travel harrowing to nigh impossible if one didn’t stick to the game trails.
But more than either of these things, very air felt sick. Any who entered the wood found a strange weakness infecting them, as though the very breath was being pulled from their throats. Those who spent too long in the wood found themselves choking on the very air. Those that survived a trip into the wood were more prone to disease for days after leaving. For all these reasons, the region earned the name Plaguewood.
There was a sudden rustling of the branches and a gust of wind, as though something unseen were passing through a gap in the canopy at high speed. The gust was followed by a light impact on the ground, followed by the rippling of a heat mirage parting to reveal Raven. Unlike her usual attire, she wore simple traveler’s clothes over her sky-striker armor along with a pair of flight goggles instead of her glasses. On her belt was a small pouch that held four, apple sized objects, while in her right hand was a tall stick bearing the ancient Harmonian banner, one of a crystalline tree with nine glowing lights on the tips of its branches.
No turning back now, Raven sent to Dylis as she removed her goggles, slipping them down around her neck and replacing them with her glasses. Are you ready?
No, Dylis sent curtly, his perspective showing a devastated Roseluck, Amara and Philomena all sitting by Sunset’s bedside, the latter perching by her bondmate’s head, resting her chin on Sunset’s throat. Sunset herself was growing pale, along with a myriad of cuts, bruises and scrapes showing marring her flesh. But, as soon as you find what we need, I’ll tell Roseluck.
Good. Now we just need to hope that she’s willing to listen.
Dylis only sent a feeling of concern and support in return.
Taking a deep, bracing breath, Raven twirled her left finger in the air, summoning a will-o-wisp, which floated up above her to light her path. Then, she headed into the Plaguewood.
Raven found her nerves beginning to twitch as she penetrated deeper and deeper into the woodland. While she’d never been to the Plaguewood before, she had been to other areas like it before. That familiarity did little to make the experience pleasant. There was an inexplicable sense of claustrophobia and disorientation, as if the trees were both closing in on her and shifting from moment to moment around her, making it impossible to get her bearings. There was also a sense of dread that permeated the trees. A primordial fear as though the light of her will-o-wisp was the only thing holding back some fel creature from lunging from the dark to kill her.
Unlike the local sun-gazers, she knew the source of the malaise that permeated the wood. She inadvertently felt her hand tightening on the pole of her banner, wishing that it was her battle amp Dusk Requiem.
But she’d left the enchanted bec-de-corbin back in Rose’s Blossom. Along with every other amp she could have brought to defend herself.
Such was the Law of Royal Parlay.
No weapons of any sort.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she walked, her ears straining to pick up the faintest sound amongst the trees. There was one in particular that she was waiting for. One that would tell her that the master of the Plaguewood was near.
From across their link, Dylis sent feelings of comfort and encouragement, while keeping otherwise silent. Both of them knew she couldn’t afford to be distracted.
And then, off in the trees, she heard it.
A faint hissing sound like the movement of a great serpent, growing louder by the moment.
Stopping, Raven turned to face the direction of the sound.
Only for it to fade away and stop.
“[You are foolish to come here, Tyrant-spawn.]”
Raven forced herself not to react to the speaker who was now somehow off in the trees behind her. More disconcerting was the sound of their voice, which reminded her of wood splintering, branches cracking in a strong wind, and the rustle of dead, dried leaves. Despite the unnerving qualities of the sound, the language itself was regal, conveying a sense of dignity and authority.
Turning around slowly, Raven faced the direction of the speaker and bowed deeply.
“[Greetings, Great Träklo, Master of Plaguewood. I am Raven Inkwell, hand and voice of Queen Celestia,]” Raven said respectfully, using the speaker’s own language. “[By the ancient Law of Empress Harmony, forever may she reign, I seek an audience with the one who speaks for the Shadow.]”
“[I know who you are, Tyrant-spawn. And I care not why you have come. You have trespassed in my domain. I should kill you where you stand for your impertinence.]”
“[And yet, you will not. By the Law, those who speak for the Trinity may seek audience with their counterparts among their master’s siblings, and shall be granted safe passage to do so. You, who serve the Shadow are bound to this Law, just as all of Nitor is.]”
A low, threatening growl came from Träklo. Moments later, Raven could feel her breathing becoming more difficult.
“[You would violate Harmony’s Law?]” Raven asked, keeping her tone as firm and strong as possible despite how hard it was to draw in life giving air. “[I come under the banner of Harmony. I am unarmed, and seek parlay with she who is speaks for the Shadow, as is my right as the hand and voice of Queen Celestia. I thought better of you and your kind, Träklo.]”
Raven suddenly found drawing breath became easier, as though whatever force had been drawing it from her ceased. She still felt weaker, but the worst of it had passed.
“[You play a dangerous game, voice and hand of the Tyrant,]” Träklo voice growled from behind her. “[And for what reason do you seek my Master’s beloved?]”
“[My reasons are not yours to question,]” Raven said, her tone respectful yet forceful as she rose from her bow and turned to face the direction of Träklo’s voice. “[The longer you delay me, the greater the chance that the agents of Grogar and D’compose will triumph in their machinations. You and your kind swear allegiance to the Empress and are tasked with guarding this world against Chaos. I call on you to fulfill that duty, and provide me with the audience I seek.]”
Another low growl like the sound of a falling tree rumbled through the air as a pair of enormous, glowing green eyes stared down at her balefully from the shadows of the trees. Moments later, a reptilian head emerged from the gloom, its snout long and narrow, and a pair of long, back-curving antlers that looked like the gnarled branches of a tree adorning it like a crown. The creature’s scales resembled the coarse bark of an ancient pine tree, while a mane of long, scraggly, lichen-like gray hair ran from between its horns down to the base of its long, serpentine neck.
Next to emerge was a pair of powerfully muscled limbs, attached to a stocky, serpentine body. Each of the limb’s four fingers ended in long, deadly looking talons that resembled polished wood, which Träklo used to aid in drawing himself out into the light of Raven’s will-o-wisp. Like his head and neck, his back was covered in the same barklike scales, while his belly resembled the scutes of a great snake made of polished wood. Patches of moss and lichen clung to his back in random spots, making his body resemble an enormous fallen tree trunk.
In total, she guessed he was close to twelve meters long, three of which consisted of his neck and head.
A head that was now staring directly at her less than a meter from her face.
“[You are wily, speaker of the Tyrant,]” the great forest linnorm growled. Raven could smell the stink of rotting wood and leaves on his breath as she got a far more intimate look at his dozens of ten centimeter long ziphodont teeth. “[You shall have your audience. But if your reasons do not satisfy my Master’s beloved, know that I will be claiming your life as recompensation for the insult. Am I understood?]”
“[Yes,]” Raven said as she unflinchingly met the linnorm’s glare.
“[Very well,]” Träklo said. Fast as a striking snake, the linnorm wrapped his right hand around Raven’s torso, lifting her from the ground and pinning her arms to her side, along with the banner she was carrying. “[You will be deprived of your senses while we make the journey. I will not have you finding your way back to where my sacred communion with the Shadows occurs, should you live.]”
Raven could feel Träklo calling on his magic. As he did, a cloud of shadows formed around her, not only cutting off all light from reaching her, but all sound as well. Then, there was a sudden feeling of inertia as the linnorm began to move.
Looks like we made it through the easy part, Dylis sent.
Now comes the real test, Raven sent, opening her link with Dylis to take comfort in his presence.
*****
The veil of shadows vanished like a puff of smoke, leaving Raven temporarily disoriented as sight and sound returned to her. Even with the shroud gone, she could barely see anything outside the dim light of her living flame’s glow, its luminance barely providing enough light for her to see more than a meter from around her.
There was one other source of light in the chamber: a massive red crystal that gave off a soft internal glow. From the dim light it was producing, Raven could see that at the base of the crystal, there was an elaborate, rune-filled triangle carved into the stone. But in such feeble light, she couldn’t see much else.
Raven’s stomach lurched as Träklo gently set her down.
“[Stay where you are,]” the linnorm growled. “[Your filthy light taints this holy place. I don’t want you polluting it any more than nescessary.]”
Raven didn’t reply, only bowed her head respectfully.
With a dismissive harrumph, Träklo slithered towards the crystal. Soon, the linnorm coiled himself around it, blocking its feeble light and leaving her standing in near total darkness.
Through their bond, she could feel Dylis’s worry as he saw the world through her eyes. She sent him a feeling of reassurance in response, though it was almost as much for her benefit as it was his.
She could feel a cold chill run through her body as the glow grew strong enough to become visible from between Träklo’s coils, then erupt into a swirling maelstrom of shadowy energy that rapidly spread outwards to engulf the entire cavern.
Instinctively, Raven raised an arm and turned her head away to protect her face as the storm of shadow energy washed over her.
Then, there was a new presence in the cavern. One hidden from her view by the linnorm, yet palpable all the same. Every one of Raven’s instincts was roaring to her that she was in grave danger. That she needed to flee whatever it was that was hidden by those coils
She fought down the feeling while opening her bond more fully, allowing Dylis’s presence to calm her nerves.
“[I am sorry for calling upon you so suddenly, my lady,]” Träklo said. Unlike when he had spoken to her, his tone was one of deep respect and deference. “[The Tyrant’s speaker has invoked the Law of Royal Parlay, and has requested an audience.]”
Silence hung in the air for a few moments.
“[She would not. Only that it was a matter for you alone, and that involves the others of her ilk.]”
Another pause.
“[As you wish. I will be nearby should you need me.]”
…
“[Of course. By your leave, my lady.]”
Slowly, Träklo unwound himself, and began to slither towards Raven.
“[She will hear you,]” he said with a dismissive snort. “[Hope that she finds your request worthwhile.]”
Raven didn’t reply to the linnorm as he exited the shadow maelstrom. Mentally bracing herself, she approached the crystal.
And the woman that was now standing near it.
She was about a head shorter than Raven, with grayish heliotrope skin, long, pale arctic blue hair worn loose and free flowing, and piercing arctic blue eyes. She was dressed in a set of silver, blue and violet arcanist robes in a style that Raven had seen in the old Harmonia archives, one that was fashionable nearly five thousand years before the Spintering, along with a blue crystalline staff of similarly archaic design.
She might have been able to pass for any other mortal being, were it not for one highly disconcerting feature.
She bore no shadows anywhere on her body. Not under her hair. On the folds of her robes. Under her chin. Even the shadow she should have cast on the ground in the light of the crystal was completely absent. There was only flat color, making her difficult to look at due to appearing to have no dimension to her. Like she was some sort of stained glass image come to life.
Despite the uncanny nature of her visage, the woman was both hauntingly beautiful and impossibly regal, carrying herself with a self-assurance that rivaled Raven’s own.
Once she was within four meters of the woman, Raven stopped and bowed deeply to her.
The other woman didn’t return the gesture, instead choosing to simply stare impassively as Raven slowly rose.
Raven ignored the slight, raising the banner she was carrying, bringing the butt down onto the floor. The harsh crack of metal on stone shattered the silence of the cavern as the spike punched into the ground, planting the banner in place.
“In Harmony’s name, I, Raven Inkwell, hand and voice of Queen Celestia, and highest of the phoenix-born, invoke the Law of Royal Parlay. I solemnly swear on the crown of the Queen to abide by the Law. For the remainder of the night, I promise no war. Only peace.”
Raising her staff slightly, the woman brought the butt down as well, the sound of the crystal piercing stone answering Raven’s own. Then, releasing her hold on the staff, the woman lifted her hands and began to sign.
“In Harmony’s name, I, Radiant Hope, herald and hand of King Sombra, and mind of the umbrum, acknowledge the Law of Royal Parlay. I swear on the blade of my King that the Law shall be observed. So long as no war is brought to this place, I will only give peace.”
No sooner did she finish signing her acquiescence to the Law, than the atmosphere in the room around Radiant Hope felt suddenly more dangerous than before.
“Now that we have dispensed with the pleasantries, what has happened to the child?” Hope signed, fixing Raven with a glare that would have wilted a lesser person to a husk on the spot.
Raven wished she was surprised by Radiant Hope’s question, but was not.
“I see you are well informed as ever, mind of the umbrum. The Cult of Endless Decay has managed to administer an alchemically empowered hallucinogen to Sunset. The agents that poisoned her have taken their own lives, and destroyed all of the evidence we need to find a cure through the use of balefire. Now, her life is burning out, and will soon be extinguished.”
Radiant Hope’s eyes flicked over Raven, briefly coming to rest on the bag on her hip. She could see the gears turning in the umbrum’s mind.
“I can provide you what you seek. But my aid comes at a price.”
“I expected no less. I will hear your request, but do not promise anything,” Raven said as evenly as possible. “Know that I can not and will not place Solaria at risk, even for the life of the one I aim to save.”
“You risk Solaria by coming here, Tyrant’s voice. You know that almost as well as the butcher does,” Radiant Hope signed, turning away and walking up to the crystal. Facing Raven again, she continued. “My price is twofold. The first is a sacrifice from you. The spells that I must cast require great amounts of life-energy. You will provide it.”
“Fear not, for you will live. I would not violate the Law by taking enough to kill you. Nor will I give the Tyrant’s butcher a reason to unleash his bloodlust upon my people.”
“And the second?”
Radiant Hope turned to the crystal, placing her hand on its surface, staring into its facets for a long moment. Returning her attention to Raven, she signed, “There are things in motion beyond the borders of your Tyrant’s cage. Things that could one day threaten the Empress’s plans, maybe even Nitor itself. The second price I demand for my aid is a promise. A promise that when the time comes, you will provide one your kind of my choosing to aid us in preventing such a disaster.”
Raven, Dylis sent, forcing Raven to divide her attention, Sunset is getting worse. I’m not sure how much longer she’s got.
Raven found herself in two places. The cave she was actually in, and the room where Dylis, Amara and Roseluck were watching over the convalescing form of Sunset. Since the last time she saw her, Sunset had grown even paler, and now bore numerous wounds, including the remnants of a jagged cut to her jaw that Roseluck had clearly treated with magic.
“Which of us do you want?” I cannot focus on that now, Raven sent, her tone apologetic. Radiant Hope has us in a corner.
I understand, Dylis sent. But please, hurry.
“Only when the bones land will I know. It may be you. It may be the butcher. The coward. The marauder. The child. Or one of you yet to be born.”
“You know I cannot give such a promise, mind of the umbrum,” Raven said with a shake of her head. “Not without guarantees on your part.”
“You seek to bargain? Now? Perhaps I misjudged you, Tyrant’s speaker. You may actually be worthy of your role. Very well, what assurances do you seek?”
“First: that you do not use this promise as a means to increase your incursions into Solaria. I will not permit your kind to prey upon my people because of my debt to you. This promise will only be for aid against this impending threat of which you speak. Otherwise, nothing changes between us.”
Raven’s keen eyes saw the slightest phantom of a smile on Radiant Hope’s face.
“I see no reason to deny you this. This matter is between us and us alone. So long as you do not escalate, neither shall we.”
“The second guarantee is that whoever you chose will come back to Solaria alive.”
Radiant Hope stared at her for a few moments, her expression completely unreadable, even to Raven.
“You are in no position to make such a demand, for such a promise can never be given. If that is your stipulation, then you will receive nothing from me.”
“Mind of the umbrum, you honestly can’t expect me to make such a promise,” Raven said as she folded her arms behind her back. “Especially one so ill defined. You want me to give you the life of one of my fellow phoenix-born for something so nebulous as a future threat to Nitor? Chaos claws at the Empress's defenses every moment. What makes the threat you speak of so much more dire? I will not betray my duty to Solaria and Queen Celestia by giving you such a thing.”
Radiant Hope’s expression shifted to an irritated frown.
“You are as short-sighted as the Tyrant, child. Your duty, as you put it, is to Harmony and Nitor. Just as is every one of us. The bones will fall as they fall, by the hand of the one who’s fate it decides. I can no more control it than you.”
“And what assurance do I have that you aren’t simply sending one of my family to their death?”
“You have none. And you will get none. You are asking me to save a life. I am merely asking for the use of a life in return. A life for a life, to ensure that all life can thrive. That is the pact I offer. If the price is beyond what you can afford, then you need not pay it.”
This really isn’t a choice, is it? Raven sent, her chest feeling tight as she unclasped her hands and reached for the pouch on her belt.
No, I suppose not, Dylis sent, their link fully opening. The Queen won’t be happy about this.
I’ll deal with that when the time comes, Raven sent as she untied the knot holding her pouch to her hip, saying “Very well. I accept your terms, mind of the umbrum. Now, please, I need to know how they’ve done what they’ve done.”
“Then it is agreed,” Radiant Hope signed as the hem of her robes transformed into a tendril of shadows that slithered across the ground and extended itself towards Raven. “Give them here, and we’ll see what secrets they hold.”
Opening the bag, Raven formed tendrils of her own with her living flame, pulling the apple-sized, severed heads of the cultists out. With a flick of her wrist, she undid the enchantment shrinking them. Once returned to their normal size, she extended her tendrils to the one created by Radiant Hope.
No sooner did Radiant Hope take the severed heads, than a sudden wave of pain and fatigue washed over Raven. Doubling over and sucking in her breath through her teeth, she looked at the umbrum, who had her hand outstretched and wreathed in shadow as she siphoned off the life energy she needed to power her magic.
Raven nearly doubled over in pain as the fatigue grew worse, her eyes barely able to remain open. Then, the pain was gone, though the weakness remained.
Dylis…
I’m here, Dylis sent, waves of worry for her coming through their bond. I’ll get Amara to heal us.
Good. Make sure Roseluck is ready when Hope gets what we need.
Through the link, Raven knew Dylis was telling Amara to begin to cast healing magic on him. Roseluck wanted to know what was happening, only for Dylis to tell her that it was classified. And that Raven was acquiring the knowledge to save Sunset, and that she had been hurt in doing so. She could see Roseluck wanting to push, but relented under Dylis’s glare.
As the exchange between Dylis, Roseluck and Amara was taking place, Raven was simultaneously focused on what was transpiring in the cavern. Radiant Hope had suspended the severed heads by their hair with the shadow tendril. Lifting her right hand, she reached out and touched each of the heads in turn. As she did, shadows began to writhe around each.
Then, from the stumps of their necks, a stream of liquid shadows began to pour onto the cavern’s floor. The pools of shadow seethed for a few moments, before surging upward, forming into shadowy duplicates of the four dead cultists.
“[Echoes of the dead, shades of memory and remnants of life lost,]” Radiant Hope signed. “[I am Lady Radiant Hope, and you will answer my questions.]”
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Ooo, I'd been waiting for the shadows to show up again.
great chapter love it
Wow. Just, wow. This chapter was everything I could’ve hoped for and more. I love the was you portray each character. It feels like I am watching a movie with all the details you add. I can’t wait for the next chapter of this outstanding story. Good luck on write the next chapter. This is Phoenix Flame and I hope you have an amazing day! ❤️
Given the previous prophecy, Sunset is definitely going to need to answer this call in the future. Hopefully raven gets what she needs and is ok in the end.
Her shaders hadn't loaded, and never would again.
Fascinating bit of interaction. The Empress's legacy lives on, even if her subjects deeply resent it given all that's happened in the intervening years. But while the sibling's subjects may squabble, they'll still band together against Chaos. (Also, I do wonder what the other phoenix-born think of Radiant's names for them. And what Sunset might get called when she's no longer a child.) Looking forward to more.
That is certainly how you handle high stakes diplomacy an art form that has been lost Among Us lowly Mortals. So, Sunset's body is being ravaged as well as her mind. That is so baaaad juju magic. I wonder how many of those scars will be permanent reminders.
I imagine even for someone who is pretty much immortal having your life drain to the point of near death is pretty harrowing. Also in your description of the high velocity mold spores I have to say, eeeeeewwwww. That's a lousy way to die. As always, wonderful chapter.
11706117
Like I said in the notes, it wasn't planned, but sometimes, the story decides, yes?
11706237 11706602
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
11706924
Maybe…
11707000
Pretty much. I don't know how muc you know about Classic World of Darkness, but I like to think of the siblings and their followers have a relationship with one another very close to the Ananasi: they will squable and fight among themselves, but when an external threat comes, they will drop said hostility and work together.
11707162
In that regard, her phoenix regeneration will erase most of them.
Definitely. Its one of the reasons that shadow wielders, and especially the umbrum, are so feared.
it is, with one caveat: its not mold. Its moss.
11707428
Who doesn't enjoy a backhanded compliment every now and then? She's justified, I'm just a lot more laid back.
Religious bordering on cultish, it seems. Even the Old Testament's directions weren't this convoluted. I wonder who came up with all the directions.
11709282
Right, I get that, but even in the Bible a parent is like God to their child. Perhaps to a devout speaking to the Metatron would be staggering, but children are ignorant to most things save what their parents have taught them.
Sounds like Sunset is going through more mental ordeals while all of this is happening. I wonder how it will change her when she comes out of it?
11711141
It's got the potential to put her on a pretty dark path, to say the least.
11712009
No I meant something that actually matters lol.
It's interesting that the different factions all openly revere Empress Harmony and will parlay with each other where a common threat to Nitor is concerned. And it more or less confirms that Sombra isn't as fallen from grace as the Solarian history indicates.
Ah, Endless Decay, shouldn't be too surprised. Personally, I am more worried about Sunset's mental state when she returns, kids are more resilient than people give them credit for but the memory of having to kill a close friend, Windigo hallucination aside, will be troubling. No matter what I am excited to see the next chapter!
11712114
I'm just going to say that a lot of the Nitoran Sombra's characterization is based more heavily on the MLP comics than the show.
11712244
She's not going to be in a good place. Especially since the incident at Clear Spring was only the opening chapter of her head trip.
11713721
i see where your coming from, but i also think the story contradicts you here, at least a bit. Mainly because of the chapter "Honey or Dagger", that clearly showed Sunset that Inkwell was one of the top dogs and wasn't afraid of the nobles she was teaching. also while Sunset does come from a remote place she has been completely immersed in the culture here for 4 weeks so she'd have to have had learned something about it.
it's just been a bit of a pattern in this book so far that Sunsets Cleverness can't surface on it's own every time she's done something clever so far it's been prompted by someone else, normally Raven. which is fare but I'm hoping to see more of sunset being clever and smart without her having to be remind that she's allowed to do that.
what I'm trying to get at is that so far in the story she's been a very reactive character her only real decisions so far being applying for the server lotto and deciding to talk back to sapphire that first time. now most of that's understandable as having her instigate things against sapphire and them would make her that bad guy, and just saw a an opportunity for her her to act for herself get taken away.
not going to knock your story telling though, well not to much; sunset still needing to be hand held threw Raven knowing she's an orphan after the Sky Runner said, "I delivered that to you in person." is just kind of brain dead and could have been fixed with a simple, "Oh." from sunset when that piece was placed there.
I'm going to stop rambling now, and get back to reading. I know I'm liking this though as my brain's actually engaged enough to think up critiques, if it was just okay i like wouldn't bother thinking up things like this.
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I think I'd rather be "smashed by an all powerful godly aura" than be slapped around by a... small man.
Is that piety? Sunset has never even met Celestia or Raven prior to this. She is purely functioning on stories and hearsay. Even her view of Luna is skewed as you said. It's all relative. Luna's followers love her, and if she's anything like Tia it's been developed from hearsay and stories. Now obviously this doesn't apply to Raven and Celestia's relationship, but as the reader we've been given no opportunity to form an opinion on any of the "deities" up to this point so I'll choose to say that as of now, I wouldn't lift a finger if I was in a similar position. "Love this being because... stories and we tell you she's amazing."
11715008
It is part piety, and part a healthy dose of sheer bullheadedness and stubbornness.
Yes, but you're not a sun-gazer. To the sun-gazers, there is no question about their devotion to Celestia, because she is a tangible, fundamental aspect of their existence. Celestia gives them the gifts of the sun and elements (the sun is the furnace of creation), bountiful harvests (plants need sun to grow), a safe nation to live in (relatively), and originally taught them to wield the light that is the flame.
And, really, the above statement underscores the difference between our culture and theirs. Sun-gazers value hard work as acts of faith to the centaur who brings them the light each day, and the bounty of the land. Acts of faith and devotion like what Sunset and the others are doing prove their worthiness to a being that they owe so much to. After all, who is more worthy of the blessing of a goddess than one who seeks to prove themselves? Someone who believes themselves due a boon just because they want it? Hardly. Even the nobility are expected to show their worthiness of their positions by acting in accordance with nobles oblige. And rest assured, Raven will be addressing that with Sapphire next chapter.
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Such passion. I appreciate the replies. Reading more.
11715755
Happy to engage.
11717960
I can tell. The fun you have writing Dawn comes through. That's really cool that she wasn't just written for this as well.
No spoilers. I'll just keep reading.
As far as Luna...
There aren't enough clips on YouTube for me to express my sadness or disappointment.
11719781
More please.
Radiant, huh? Hmmm. If we go by canon, or who am I kidding? Twilight should have been on Celestia's side, not Luna's. Cadance is not there, as well as Shining, not even as a recruit. We ARE before the return of Luna. So, Twilight should have been an even smaller child, and with an older borther, that just starts his career as a royal guard. She should have had Cadance, supposedly Phoenix Born, as a babysitter.
But, as we seemingly established that Twilight is on Luna's side this whole logic goes out the window...
Let's see what more that should have been. Cadance should have been originally a sky runner. Shining is fire caller, and so is Twilight. By the way, haven't seen Fluttershy and Rarity...
11720264
Cadance has shown up, and was indeed a harpy.
Rares and Flutters are Selenian, just like Twi and Shining.
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I'm not saying they are not justified in moving or training her. What is NOT justified are THEIR punishments on Sunset, as she doesn't HAVE a good grip on her emotionts. She CAN'T do better, it's not malice, it's literal hormones. She must be sat down and talk to, but not really PUNISHED. Maybe as a front, to appease some more rebellious nobles, but that's it.
11720708
It's not about if someone comes from Solaria or not. They are literally attacking a Phoenix Born, therefore become enemies of state. Unless they already are enemies... But still, this is only adding heat on them.
Something still makes me wonder about Solaria: The current festering corruption and lack of morals on the part of its upper classes is probably a product of a long process (because of how natural decay is gradual - if it was a sudden happening, it would probably be investigated and acted against better, as it would be seen as a subversive action of Selenian/Umbrian origin - or worse, as a work of Chaos). And given how it produces things (xenophobia, discrimination and even attempts at segregation) that are all deemed negative things by both the Queen and her Senechal numerous times in the story, then how come they did not take preemptive actions against it? And I do not mean that by themselves - I am aware of the fact that despite them being immortals, they are not omnipresent, and so can only focus on a limited number of things at once, but it was also stated that there are many groups (the Sun-touched for example) who are zealously loyal to Celestia (Since she is essentially a living god, I can imagine an almost Warhammerian level of zealotry directed towards her), and would never deviate from her will even the slightest. Why didn't they think of placing such personnel into key positions back during the foundation of Solaria, from where they can assist them in overseeing the "evolution" of the nobility? This way in my opinion, even with just a little nudging, the nobility of present-day Solaria would be much more moral, mannered and loyal, not like how they turned out in the story, paying lip service to the Throne, but clearly more interested in serving Hybris and Avarice.
And also, before the Splintering happened, the people of Sun and Moon lived together - and I assume they also intermingled with each other. Which inevitably would have led to relations between sungazers and startouched, and give birth to half-breed Nitorians. What would their fate be after the Splintering?
11720226
Well it was said in the story that the members of the Cult of Endless Decay would (like certain fundamentalist terrorists) happily sacrifice their life if it means taking out a high-profile target.
11722760
As has been shown, there are members of the nobility that are fundamentally good people (Fancy and Fleur, Redheart and Snowfall Frost). We just see most of rot most clearly because Sunset is caught in the middle of a huge patch of it. And, fundamentally, they do their jobs. Some of them may be worse than others, but they do manage the bureaucracy.
I based a lot of Solaria on the aristocracy in Europe. Sure, the church was there telling them how to behave morally, but that didn't stop a lot of them from being complete bastards and doing some really f**ked up s**t, even against the wishes of their kings and queens.
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Sun-gazers and night-weavers are not inter-fertile; i.e. they cannot produce children with one another.
11723021
I see. However, this gives birth to a new set of questions.
1. How come the commoners (especially the non-Heliopolians) have been so chill about it the whole time? Because being a sun-gazer means being a follower of Celestia. And the Heliopolians and the nobility seek to strip them of this, out of the delusion that they are worthy. And this is essentially their religion. In medival Europe, if you told the commoners of a country that "Sorry, you cannot be Christian because you are not noble, or are from XY city" that would have led to unrest on a massive scale. How come it does not here?
2. So the nobles are the bureaucracy. But that brings up a new question: How can such achievements like the "magic MAGLEV" or the Eyes of the Sun be made with this being part of the picture? Both of these (a very advanced mean of transportation, and a very competent and wide-reaching intelligence agency) were only created IRL in a time, when noble control has been long abandoned in favor of professional bureaucracy, simply because of the fact that they did not have the skills and training to oversee the creation of something like this. Or how can even a city that is so large you need a magic MAGLEV to get somewhere, and therefore I assume has a population in the millions be managed by nobles for whom this is not a full-time job, just one thing out of many they do? Cities rarely reached a population of above 100k in Europe before the mass employment of bureaucrats, and even then they were hotbeds of disease, poverty and crime, and generally a pain in the butt to manage for the state apparatus of the time, let alone a gleaming wonder like Heliopolis.
Also, I know that the illusions/dreams Sunny sees are result of the poison, but does the fact that she was given so little positive and so much negative feelings by her enviorment, while being a 10 year old, who is still very much forming her worldview, and is affected by such things much easier, also amplifies its effect?
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To address the first question, its mostly because the Heliopolans and the Westerners/Easterners do not interact all that often. There's also a healthy dose of "We don't give a flip about what those jerks think. We're just as devoted to Celestia as they are." And again, it's not all of the Heliopolans. Just a large number of them.
The bureaucracy itself refers to the running of the cities, all of the lands held by the nobility, etc. Most of the nobles don't just sit around all day, drinking brandy and talking down to the commoners. They manage a lot of logistics. It's just that their power is not granted by way of getting a job. Rather, it's hereditary.
As far as the sky-rails and the Eyes are concerned, those are a bit different. The sky-rails are a relatively new invention, having come about in the aftermath of the War of Storms (see my lore entry on The Heralds of Lightning). The Eyes are a bit different. Nobody's exactly sure when they were created, but they became the most visible during the Skellweb Crisis when Raven and Steel needed to weed out members of the Cult of Endless Decay. If they existed before that time, only the phoenix-born and the queen know.
11723881
I'm going to hold off on answering that, because it's something I'll be addressing in the next few chapters.
What exactly is the Goldsun Syndicate if I may ask? I have a few ideas, but I am not so sure about either of them.
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The Goldsun Syndicate is a heretical sect of sun-gazers / organized crime syndicate that view any non-inherent immortals (such as phoenix-born) to be unnatural and against the order of Harmony's world. Their reasoning is that the unnatural immortals didn't arise until after Chaos contaminated the world and Harmony departed, meaning they were not part of her plan. The syndicate arose in the wake of the Skellweb Crisis and the plague of undead that decimated the Eastern Territory. In the wake of that tragic war, some sun-gazers began to draw parallels between the Chaos derived immortality of undead creatures and the induced immortality of the phoenix-born. Eventually, they came to the conclusion that any induced immortality was against Harmony's design, and needed to be eliminated.
Members of the Goldsun mostly work to undermine the Phoenix-born, either through monetary influence, acts of terrorism, or straight up assassinations. They are relatively small in number, but fanatical in their beliefs. They're also very cagey about acting overtly, as they know that the "Chaos-born" are the rulers of Solaria, and therefore have a lot of power.
Is there a Lunar Alliance as opposed to the Solar one? And if yes who are its members?
11727848
The Lunar Collective does exist. The core members are:
Moon wolves - the children of Ceredwin and the bondmates of the Selenian asecendants, the star-singers.
Baku - dream beings that aid Luna in her protection of the dreamscape, hunting down and devouring nightmares.
Chiroptera - bat people who regularly trade with the night-weavers, and have a mutual defense pact against their more violent cousins, the camazotz.
Banshee - nocturnal race of fae who sing songs of the recently deceased
Spilosoma - semi-humanoid moths that resemble Vestial tiger moths
Is everyone's favourite Wallflover Blush part of the story, given her relation with Sunset in base MLP?
And one question regarding the nature of the Empress Harmony: Is the Empress the Harmony itself, or is Harmony a primordial force like Chaos, and the Empress is its physical and coessential manifestation?
11727864
Moon Wolves, hmmm...? Let's hope their loyalty will be greater than that of their namesakes in the XVIth Space Marine Legion 😆😄
11728014
Wallflower's place in the story is determined, but I'm not going to reveal that because it's a spoiler for my plans. Sorry.
11728022
That's another one of those details that I haven't decided yet. However, I'm going to err on the side of she is Harmony itself.
11728076
I haven't ever played 40K, so I have no context to comment.
11728164
Thank you for the answers.
It was pretty much just a joke I made for myself, but the context is that the XVIth "Luna Wolves" Legion was led by the greatest traitor of Humankind prior to his rebellion, and they have almost unanimously followed him into betrayal.
What is believed to be the fate of the deceased after their passing? Do the Nitorians believe in some form of transcendent afterlife? Or do the passed souls become one with the primordial Harmony itself?
11730655
I am no Voice, but I would assume it is not something they would actively pursue. A mortal partner could only tie their lives to them for so long. After that, they are just left alone again, as history literally passes them by.
This is what Celestia talked about. That every phoenix-born must find something, some action that anchors their sanity down, as the tide of time washes over them.
11730313
When someone dies, their vital energy returns to Nitor, where it eventually mixes back into the heart of the world, and returns to form new life. The thing is, the individual that they were is lost in the process. Think how water leaves the ocean, becomes rain, falls down onto the land, and then eventually returns to the sea. The individual raindrop may have form at first, but when it rejoins the stream, it is lost. Nitorans know that the life they have as the individual they are is all they get, so the cherish the time that they have before they return to the heart of the world.
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Pretty much.
11730866
Oof. So it's like Inuyasha's human state, but way less often.
That freaking SUCKS.
That all is really sad with the romance thing. So here's a question.
You mentioned Raven loves Dylis more than any romantic partner she could ever have. Which is greater, the love for a phoenix-born and their partner or the love for a phoenix-born and Celestia?
11731149
Regarding the romance thing, yea, it kinda is. But, consider that any relationship with a mortal would be a mayfly-december romance. Imagine falling in love with someone, and within a week, they've aged to death. That's what it's like for a phoenix-born. It's why it takes an exceptional circumstance for one to willingly open themselves up to such heartbreak.
I'd say it's a very different form of love. With their bondmate, the love is a mix of family and soulmate. Were we to use the Greek concepts of love, love between the bondmates is mostly agape and philia. Conversely, their feelings for Celestia are less love and more adoration and reverence. There wouldn't really be a choice between the two, because phoeinx-born exist as Celestia's spear and shield. They are perfectly willing to sacrifice themselves for their goddess, and both partners would do it willingly.
11731167
I... don't feel like I got an answer, lol. I mean I know you said:
But still. Perhaps a scenario.
Celestia and her children are at war. The entire thing hinges on a sacrifice. Am I to assume that the Phoenix-born would make that sacrifice, no hesitation? They would both die then. Are the phoenix as dedicated to Celestia?
For that matter, would Celestia sacrifice herself for her children? I know it would probably throw everything out of wack, but I'm trying to get a feel for Celestia here.
11731174
That gets addressed in a later chapter.
As for sacrificing herself for her children, that's a complicated question. Allow me to answer that with a thought experiment: If you have an aquarium with hundreds of fish resting on a three legged stool. Cut one of the legs off. What happens to the fish?