The companions cleaned some the mess the prisoner’s interrogation and death had left. As they did that, Bangor explained the Devout’s reference to the so-called ‘Hidden Paths’. He explained that even though the Howling Jackal Clan had severed its ties with the ancestral totems, they still followed the Spirit Way. Only, the spirits they followed were corrupt by the Warp and the rituals they employed were unholy and dangerous. The Hidden Path was a reference to such a ritual that these dwarves apparently used to travel fast, only it wasn’t really teleportation but some vagrant violation of spatial distance.
After a while, the companions resumed their journey. Andrion and Vass continued their conversation. Andrion accused the Repulsar that he was bloodthirsty, to which the knight remarked that he took no pleasure in his actions and merely did whatever was necessary for the common good. Vass said that he never claimed that his actions were right from a moral perspective. But regardless of that he was resolute to use whatever means available to protect the Empire.
Andrion seemed to relent, but requested that from now on they should discuss such things beforehand. Vass compromised on that, but also stated a warning. “Challenge my command in front of the enemy again and there will be serious repercussions.”
Kang’s simple remark on that was “Well, back in my village, when you talk back to the boss…”
Orecius agreed on Vass’ last point. While he made it quite clear that he did not believe in brutal interrogation as he considered it impractical as well as wrong (not only because of a general notion regarding proper treatment of prisoners, but also because—as he claimed—no one is beyond redemption), he nevertheless agreed that from a tactical point of view, Andrion’s rush gave false signals to their enemy and made them appear divided; a major error.
After the conversation had ended, Bangor had this to say to Kang regarding Vass: “You know, that knight reminds me of you—only he’s wiser.”
The companions had left the forested area they were and had now entered what could be described as badlands. Now that the adrenaline from the battle and the interrogation was behind him, Orecius couldn’t stop thinking about his tower. For all he knew, the place was overwhelmed by the Warp or even crushed by the meteor. Thoughts of his family and friends there kept tormenting him. He urged them to move faster and faster.
At some point, Bangor noticed tracks on their way. Some belonged to humanoids, while others belonged to creatures he couldn’t identify. In almost all cases, the tracks seemed to appear out of nowhere and the more they moved ahead, the more these tracks multiplied.
Eventually they could see far ahead of them what seemed to be a dust cloud. It was evident that a large force had been mobilized and their destination was Orecius’ Tower Omniscient—or at the very least that they would pass from there.
Distraught by that, Orecius resolved to lead them through a short cut in a desperate attempt to end up ahead of the force before them. Indeed, eventually they found themselves overlooking Tower Omniscient from the top of a hill.
Orecius was overjoyed at the sight of his tower still standing but this did not last more than a couple of seconds. Unfortunately, he realized, a large force of darkly dressed men had approached the edifice, and they were apparently mobilizing to surround it.
“By the Gods,” the mage said. “I hope everyone is safe.”
“I will pray for their safety,” Vass told him in a reassuring tone.
“With respect, but I fear that what I need of you is your sword and not your prayer,” the mage told him.
The knight smirked. “My sword is my prayer.”
Proceeding with all the haste they could muster, the adventurers managed to reach the Tower’s back entrance before the place was completely surrounded.
Much like with Black Tower, the name ‘Tower Omniscient’ was a misnomer. Omniscient was no mere tower, but a walled castle of resplendent ivory color. It seemed to be carved by a single slab of white marble, but close inspection revealed it to be a truly remarkable work of stonemasonry and you could barely see the lines and gaps between the different blocks of marble stacked together.
“Tower Omniscient stands here since before the time of the Firstborn Empire,” Orecius had explained earlier. “It was a fortress of the Ancients, long before the Curse turned them into the stregoni. My great-great-grandfather, Hermes Loreweaver, claimed it and in time the Ascended King officially recognized House Loreweaver’s ownership of the fortress.”
The companions hastily entered the courtyard and were greeted by Orecius’ servants.
“It is good to have you back, milord,” the servant said with a bow.
“Is everyone alright?” Orecius asked anxiously. “Are the children safe?”
“Everything is exactly as you left it, milord,” the servant replied.
“Where is my granddaughter?”
“Lady Maleena is with the children. Everyone else is at the Grand Hall.”
Orecius took a deep breath. Everything was in order in his domain. “Very well,” Orecius said with a decidedly calmer tone. “Take this girl here,” he motioned to Isabella. “Escort her to Maleena.” The wizard then turned to the little girl. “Isabella, this is my home. You’ll be safe here. This man will take you to meet the other children.”
“Thank you gran’pa,” the little girl smiled. “Thank you for everything.”
“The rest of you,” he said to his companions. “Follow me.”
The adventurers did so and all of them made their way towards the Grand Hall. The castle was filled with narrow—one might even say claustrophobic—hallways. Despite its evident massive size, it seemed it lacked large spaces altogether.
“Wise Old Man,” Kang spoke, “what is this place?”
“This is a school of magic,” Orecius replied. “A licensed school that is,” he added with a meaningful look towards Vass.
“By Tir, I’m not here to make an inspection, Orecius,” the paladin replied.
“What sort of magic do you teach here?” Andrion asked.
“We focus on the Arcane as well as Ritual Magic,” the mage replied. “But my main priority is not minor magelings. Here we train wizards, swordmages, bards, artificers, and we even help those born with the gift of sorcery come to grip with their powers.”
“No warlocks?” Rasvahn asked.
“Practicing the power of the Eldritch Pacts is prohibited,” Orecius replied sternly.
“Not vestige pacts,” Vass remarked.
“Indeed, but I don’t trust warlocks either way,” the mage said.
“Wise man,” said Vass with a smile.
“I have noticed,” Bangor spoke up, “that your ‘Tower Omniscient’ oddly seems to be smaller on the inside than what one would think looking it from outside.”
“That is quite true,” Orecius said. “As I said, Tower Omniscient is a place most ancients and it holds many secrets. And though I know more than most, even I don’t know them all.”
“Well, this place gets my seal of approval,” Bangor said.
At that point they reached the grand hall. Before them was an array of about a dozen scholars, mages, and other assorted individuals.”
“It is good to see you safe,” one of them said.
“The feeling is mutual, Jerome,” Orecius told him… Told me.
Yes, dear reader. I too am part of this Chronicle. Though I am merely a satellite whereas they are the planets and the stars are the vicissitudes of fate pulling us all in and holding everything together with their gravity.
“This is Jerome DeLuntier,” Orecius said and introduced me to the men who defined our time.
“Give me a thorough status report,” Orecius asked me.
“Well, as I’m sure you noticed, your predictions were accurate. The Blood Moon did occur. The meteor shower spared most of the surrounding area, but then these riders appeared.”
“What can you tell me about them?”
“Three of them approached the castle and claimed they were on a pilgrimage,” I explained. “They asked to enter the tower to rest and resupply. I, of course, denied them that request.”
“You did well,” said the wizard. “They are Devout.”
“Yes, I noticed their symbols.”
“We need to contact Toran,” Orecius said.
“But milord,” I told him surprised, “we can’t.”
“What do you mean we can’t?!”
“I thought you had realized by now,” I began to explain, “the warp from the meteor shower, it has distorted magic itself. I’m afraid magical communication does not work aside from close range. That’s why we weren’t able to make contact with you these last two days.”
“Damnation,” Orecius exclaimed. “I had not realized that. We were given a mission from High Commander McKenzie in Black Tower. We are to investigate the largest meteor that crashed to the south of here.”
“Yes, we saw it streaking overhead,” I told him.
Orecius rubbed his forehead for a few moments and then looked at me again. “Jerome, do you know of Sophia Renauld?”
“Yes of course,” he replied. “I know her personally. I have reasons to suspect that she is Devout, but aside from her eccentric plays I’ve not been able to stumble into any hard evidence, despite my recent visits to her manor in Heathglow.”
“We’ve passed by her manor,” Orecius said. “Let’s say we found some quite compelling evidence that proves it.”
“You encountered her then?” I asked.
“No, she was long gone by the time we arrived. Isabella told us she went to Black Tower. I believe she and her Devout collaborators did something to cause the Blood Moon.”
“Isabella, sir?” I asked.
“You said you went by her manor, I imagined you’d met her.”
“Met who, milord?” I asked intrigued.
“Isabella,” the mage explained, “you know, the little girl. Renauld’s handmaiden. Blonde, pigtailed and with freckles.”
“Milord, I was in Renauld’s manor less than two weeks ago and I saw no one with that name and matching that description and trust me, I was on the lookout to note anyone present.”
Orecius’ jaw dropped at my comment while Vass unsheathed his blade.
“I knew there was something off with that kid!” the knight said. “We need to hurry.”
“Yes, we must!” Orecius said and turned around.
“What is going on?” I asked him.
“We brought Isabella here,” Orecius replied hastily. “I’ve been such a fool! My instincts told me something was wrong but I ignored them! She tricked us into thinking she’s just an innocent girl. And now I led her within right within Omniscient. Jerome, place the castle on full alert; we’re going to find her.”
“I don’t understand what the fuss is all about,” Andrion spoke up, “she’s just a little a girl.”
“I’m betting you she’s not,” Vass told him as they rushed away. “In fact, I’m willing to bet she is Sophia Renauld!”
“Again, she’s just a kid,” Andrion said.
“Magic, Andrion,” the knight mocked him. “Magic. She transformed.”
The companions quickly made their way towards the hall where Maleena was supposed to take care of the children. On their way there they found a dead body. It was the servant’s; the same servant that Orecius had escort Isabella to Maleena. On the floor next to him a symbol was drawn with his blood.
“I know this symbol!” Vass said. “For the past week I’ve been seeing it in my dreams.”
“We’ll discuss this later,” Orecius said. It was quite apparent to everyone that anxiety had once again gripped the old wizard. His thoughts kept racing around the safety of the children and of Maleena as well as someone else…
In moments, they reached the room were Maleena and the children were supposed to be located. The gruesome sight arrayed before them sent chills down their very bones.
The children were dead. The room was altered. Vine-like protrusions had covered the walls like a lattice of interwoven strands of rotten flesh. Each strand ended in a sharp point and on the end of each such point, a child was impaled. Mystical sigils were drawn in various places in the room while at the center of the room the same abominable symbol was drawn.
“Welcome to my world,” Vass said to Andrion. “This is why I do what I do.”
Kang grabbed Bangor by the shoulders. “WHO DOES THIS TO CHILDREN?!” he yelled, shaking the dwarf violently. Vass and Andrion stared at the jiax, puzzled by this odd outbreak. Orecius on the other hand was frantically searching the room for Maleena until at last he spotted her in a corner in a pool of blood.
Everyone rushed towards her. She was a young—and very beautiful—woman in her early twenties, and she was seriously injured in her abdomen by what appeared to be claws.
“Andrion, Bangor!” Orecius demanded. The runepriest and the shaman used their magics immediately and the woman’s injuries closed and her bleeding stopped.
“She’s going to be alright,” Andrion said. “But it’ll take awhile before she regains consciousness, and it couldn’t hurt if a proper physician took a look at her. Magic can only get you so far.”
Orecius did not respond. He held Maleena to his chest and appeared to still be in shock.
“Orecius,” Vass called out. The old man did not respond. He kept hugging Maleena and was whispering to himself.
“Orecius, pull yourself together,” Vass spoke up.
“My precious child,” Orecius whispered to Maleena.
“Orecius,” Vass said with a softer but firm tone and touched the wizard on his shoulder. “These people need you. Your people. You must focus.”
The wizard barely registered Vass’ words. The paladin shook him. “Orecius!”
The mage finally lifted his gaze to the paladin. He looked at Maleena again and placed her on the floor softly. Standing up, he gave Vass a grim look. “They’ll pay,” he whispered. “I’ll burn them all to Hell.”
“Good,” Vass said. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Everyone get ready. We’re going on a seek-and-destroy mission.”
“I think I like the sound of that,” Kang said and pulled his fullblade.
“When we go up against the monster that did this,” Vass told the jiax, “and you get that rage of yours, think of those children.”
“I will.”
“Let’s move out…”
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