OUTSIDE STILLWOODS, ISCOBAL

COLRED

Travel log, day eight. We exited the Stillwoods this morning and are glad to be once again traveling in more open lands. Traversing the forest is challenging with a team of thirty-two people, and the aneens are much slower walking through the trees. However, I’m thankful there were no unpleasant surprises, having been attacked by nothing more than the occasional insect. We still have a couple more weeks of travel and it will only get more challenging once we leave the relatively safe roads of Iscobal and cross the border into the Pytharon Empire.

We were relieved to be able to camp outside of the canopy of trees, no sound of strange woodland creatures or foliage obscuring the view of our surroundings. I, for one, thought I would finally be able to get a good night’s sleep, but that was not to be the case.

TEOLNIS

Colred, wake up. You need to come see this.

COLRED

What is it, Teolnis? It’s the middle of the night, for Calaval’s sake!

TEOLNIS

Despien notice something wrong with Dannis while on watch. It doesn’t look good.

COLRED

Fine.

COLRED rises and he and TEOLNIS leave the tent. Sound of walking to another area of the campground.

TEOLNIS

Look at Dannis. See that? Do you know what it is?

COLRED

I can’t make it out. Hold the glowglobe closer to it. And why are you just letting her sleep with whatever it is that’s attached to her?

TEOLNIS

She won’t wake up. I can’t seem to wake her. I think she’s rendered unconscious.

COLRED

Well, let’s get a better look at it so we can figure out what it is.

TEOLNIS

I need to cut some clothes away. Can you hold this, please?

The sound of clothing being cut

COLRED

Hurry up.

TEOLNIS

Hmm. Shine the light in this area.

(beat)

Oh. Oh wow. It’s a tick.

COLRED

A tick? That’s too large to be a tick. It’s about the size of a loaf of bread!

TEOLNIS

The head and thorax are the size of any other tick. That must be the abdomen. Maybe it expands to contain all the blood it’s consuming.

COLRED

Well let’s get it off and kill it before it completely exsanguinates her!

TEOLNIS

Pass me your knife. I’ll have to cut it out.

(while cutting)

Good thing she’s unconscious so she can’t feel this.

COLRED

There is nothing good about this situation.

TEOLNIS

I’m just saying.

(beat)

There.

Sound of the swollen tick dropping to the ground.

COLRED

Well, what are you waiting for? Kill it!

TEOLNIS severs the tick’s head from its body. The sound of blood spraying everywhere

COLRED

Ugh! That’s disgusting!

TEOLNIS

Sorry, it was unavoidable.

COLRED

I’m not sure if she’s lost too much blood at this point. Hopefully she can survive long enough to get her to a healer. Tend to her as best you can. I need to get some sleep.

TEOLNIS

Yes, sir.

OUTSIDE STILLWOODS, ISCOBAL – MORNING

Fade in sounds of shouting, occasional screams

TEOLNIS

Sir, we need you out here right away!

COLRED

What is all that yelling?

TEOLNIS

You have to hurry! The encampment is under attack!

COLRED

Damn it!

Sound of COLRED hustling to exit the tent. The shouting and melee is clearer. Occasionally the sound of a creature can be heard.

COLRED

Prior Worlds! What are those things?

TEOLNIS

Some sort of large insects! Grab a weapon!

COLRED

What… what do I do?

TEOLNIS

Help us kill them!

Amidst the sounds of combat:

COLRED

Which one do I attack?

TEOLNIS

Take that one. There are more of us on the other two.

COLRED runs over to the bloodfeast tick scion indicated by TEOLNIS. He can be heard making tentative swings and thrusts at it, really making more effort to stay out of harm’s way

TEOLNIS

Try to stay behind it!

COLRED

I can’t! It turns too fast!

TEOLNIS

Oardan, Mollett, go for the legs!

TEOLNIS and their group is able to take down one

TEOLNIS

Ha! One down, two to go! You four, flank that on its right, get it completely surrounded! We’ll take this other one!

Shouts from the party can be heard as they battle the remaining two tick scions

COLRED

Why won’t they go down?

TEOLNIS

We’ve almost got them! Stay with it!

TEOLNIS’ group makes quick work of the one

TEOLNIS

Yes! Let’s go finish the other one!

They rush over and engage in a burst of combat, dispatching the last tick scion as it is greatly outnumbered. The party erupts in cheers. Once the shouts die down COLRED rushes over to TEOLNIS

COLRED

What were those things? Where did they come from?

TEOLNIS

I don’t know. We were packing up camp when they just seemed to come out of nowhere!

COLRED

Is everyone accounted for?

TEOLNIS

Let’s see…

(takes a quick count)

Only three casualties, it could have been worse. A few wounded. But we’re missing two people. And an aneen.

COLRED

Those creatures couldn’t have devoured them, could they?

TEOLNIS

By the looks of these things, I don’t see how, but you never know.

COLRED

Nonetheless, they are still unaccounted for. Let’s look around, see if we can find them.

They walk around the area, looking for the missing ones

TEOLNIS

I think I just found something.

COLRED

What is it?

TEOLNIS

See this? I’m almost certain this is Barrieff. Or was Barrieff.

COLRED

How can you be sure? The body is completely shriveled up, like a dried husk.

TEOLNIS

I can tell. The clothes. That’s what he was wearing. Oh my goodness, look over there. Another one.

COLRED

Correction, a third one. See that?

TEOLNIS

That looks like our missing aneen.

COLRED

What could have done this?

TEOLNIS

I’ll tell you what could have. Ticks. Remember the one we found attached to Dannis last night? They must have had them, too. Unfortunately we didn’t find them in time and they ended up completely drained of blood.

COLRED

Hence the shriveled bodies.

TEOLNIS

Three drained corpses… three large insects. Do you suppose those ticks feasted on enough blood to form a scion from them, resulting in those giant versions?

COLRED

I suppose it’s possible. This is the Ninth World after all, and if the Ninth World is anything, it’s weird.

TEOLNIS

Let’s get them buried then clear out of here.

COLRED

Yes, let’s. But no one is stepping a foot forward until we’ve checked every body, every stitch of clothing, and every mount for those damn ticks!

STIRTHAL, MALEVICH

JANUAE

I decided to spend a couple more days with Narla Deshu in Dynafel. It gave me the opportunity to regale her with the tales of my experiences since the split. I would say it was strange to watch her mourn my death as I stood before her alive and well, yet I was doing the same, but from the perspective of “that could have been me”. That was me, yet it wasn’t. If the Ninth World is anything, it is weird.

Narla had me try a few of her dream inducing devices. The one that proved to be most effective was an arm bracer, comprised of a material like a metallic cloth. It adhered and shaped itself to my forearm quite smoothly, and I could see slight glowing threads of turquoise and burgundy occasionally pulse through it. Upon donning it I found I immediately relaxed, and I allowed the band to pull me into a state that felt akin to being in between the edge of sleep and lightly dreaming. I would visualize places around Dynafel and instantly found myself physically standing in those very same places. Perhaps having to slip into a quasi-dream state in order to jaunt was a positive, it would ensure I would not jaunt immediately at the mere thought of any given location.

At one point I remembered the glass tube containing my blood that I had stolen from the Quiet Wagon when I left Ossam’s Circus. It seemed to have no effect on how I jaunted, nor did it automatically return me to Darla Neshu’s semblage. What purpose did it serve? How did they employ it while I was with the troupe? It seemed it no longer had any function without the glass ball, so I rid myself of it. One less reminder of that dreadful experience.

Satisfied with the results of the jaunting experiments, I asked Narla if she would be willing to part with some provisions that I may take in my travels, to which she agreed. She insisted I change out of the clothes I was still wearing when I left Ossam’s Menagerie, declaring that I would make more headway in gaining access to Archbishops if dressed in the raiment of an Aeon Priest. I tried to argue against her advice but my reasoning was far from sound, so I begrudgingly donned the emblematic robes of the Order.

Thanks to the dream state bracer I was able to jaunt to Thriest rather easily. I was less than impressed with the city and my meeting with Achbishop Jsang proved to be fruitless, the experience of which I have noted in a separate journal entry. Just as easily I was able to employ the bracer to then jaunt to the city of Stirthal. This city is quite large, close to twice the size of Jargolamis and Luigolamis combined. Stirthal rests on the edge of the Voil Chasm, often referred to as the Earthwound. Easily over three hundred kilometers long, it handily divides Malevich and the Pytharon Empire, as it is several kilometers wide and an unknown depth. As I walk further into Stirthal it appears as if part of the city had simply dropped off into the chasm.

Curiosity leads me closer to the city’s edge to behold this magnificent rend in the earth, likely the vestige of a great prior world battle. Much to my surprise, I find the city actually continues on down the side of the Voil Chasm, with buildings erected on ancient structures and outcroppings that jut from the chasm wall. Streets and walkways had been cut along the face that runs between the buildings that apparently house the wealthier residents of Stirthal by their appearance. A grand structure stands amidst the buildings, appearing as if it had been constructed upright, tipped on its side, and adhered to the chasm wall. I make my way to this structure, gambling that this would be where I would find either the regent or the Archbishop, if not both.

I was correct on both counts. My fortune did not extend to readily gaining an audience with the Archbishop, however. An appointment was made for several days out, which I was told I was quite fortunate to get, in no uncertain terms. The day of my appointment arrives and I am kept waiting in an antechamber for the better part of an hour. Finally, a young acolyte calls me in and I stand before the one who is clearly the Archbishop Tnoust, dressed in the robes of her position that show not a single blemish or unwelcomed crease. Her eyes are darker than any I have seen, and they gaze at me in a manner that instantly has me on my back foot. She brusquely halts my approach with an extended palm and I cease, coming no more than within eight meters of the ornate desk behind which she is seated. I notice no other chairs in this spacious office so I do not expect I will be invited to sit.

JANUAE

Your Excellency.

TNOUST

State your name.

JANUAE

Januae, from Qi.

TNOUST

Januae. State your business.

JANUAE

First of all, thank you for taking the time to see me, Your Excellency. I’ve come to speak with you about Pope Durranet’s crusade.

TNOUST

Yes, what of it? What’s the word?

JANUAE

I’m afraid it’s not what it appears to be. The Amber Pope plans to send troops to the Spiritlands as a means to unite the–

TNOUST

I am aware of the purpose of the crusade. Please don’t waste my time with information I already have. What updates are you bringing me on His Holiness’ plans on this regard? Is he ready for us to move against the Gaians? Please let him know that we are currently–

JANUAE

Pardon me, Your Excellency, but I was not sent by the Pope.

TNOUST

(after an uncomfortable pause)

I am going to assume you had no intention of interrupting me. Perhaps you are unaccustomed to speaking to someone of my station, though one would think an Aeon Priest would have been taught better. Next time it happens I will not make the same assumption and this meeting will end along with my patience. Is that understood?

JANUAE

Yes, of course Your Excellency.

TNOUST

Good. So am I to understand you do not have any updates on the status of the crusade?

JANUAE

Not exactly.

TNOUST

What exactly does “not exactly” mean? Either you do, or you don’t.

JANUAE

It means I was not sent here from the Durkhal. I come here not as a representative of the Order, but of my own volition. It is imperative that the Nine Kingdoms are informed of the Amber Pope’s true intentions for the crusade. This campaign against the Spiritlands is a propaganda tool to secure his legacy.

TNOUST

I was under the impression you were sent here from the Durkhal to provide me an update on the crusade. I do not appreciate being lied to in order to grant you an audience. Tell me why I should not throw you into the cellar, much less the Voil Chasm?

JANUAE

My most sincere apologies, Archbishop Tnoust. I told your attendant I had news about the situation with the Pope’s Crusade. That is the absolute truth. If your attendant mistook me for a courier of information from the Durkhal I would ask that I not be held responsible for that.

TNOUST

You wear the emblem of the Order. You hail from Qi. You bring information regarding the crusade. It feels deceptive and my tolerance for your presence is waning quickly.

JANUAE

Please, Your Excellency! Please give me a chance to explain why I am here! It was not my intention to deceive you or your acolyte. I sincerely believe this is information you need so you can make an informed decision about supporting the crusade with eyes wide open. I assure you I will be completely forthright with you from this point forward.

TNOUST

(sighs heavily)

Quickly.

JANUAE

Thank you, Archbishop. Again, my apologies for the misunderstanding. I was an Aeon Priest at one time but I had since left the Order once I had learned about the truth of the Pope’s crusade. I’ve made it my mission to travel the Nine Kingdoms and tell them of my experience in the Spiritlands. I once found myself beyond the Cloudcrystal Skyfields in the city of Cheloh. It was a population of spiritual people who practiced healing pilgrims in a great temple. They mean no harm to us. In fact, they hardly know of our existence. The Steadfast is not a place nor a word they know. If this crusade comes to fruition we will be marching against a land of peaceful people who are not deserving of the bloodshed they will experience at the order of the Amber Pope, just so he can have a common enemy to unite the Nine Kingdoms against.

TNOUST

I see. Well, I don’t know what to tell you, Januae. I’ve already reached out to Polele regarding this matter.

JANUAE

Polele?

TNOUST

Polele, the Bandit King. Right, you’re not familiar with this land. Polele is the leader of a surprisingly organized group of bandits that have proved to be a nuisance to the villages and towns strewn about Malevich. We have an understanding between him, the Regent, and me. He does not bother the nobles and members of the Order during their travels and keeps the filthy abhuman population under control, and we let them conduct any of their other affairs with no trouble from us. Well, when His Highness sent word of the crusade I reached out to the Bandit King. I figured who better to recruit to march into the Spiritlands than his crew of war veterans, mercenaries, and ruffians. The Order would arm them appropriately for the crusade and I assured him the rewards from these fresh new lands would be well worth the expedition. So you see, I’m already doing my part to support the Pope’s initiative. His Holiness needs to see that he can count on Malevich to–

JANUAE

Please reconsider, Archbishop! Those are innocent people who will end up victims of a propaganda campaign. I’m sure there is mercy in your heart for–

TNOUST

(seething)

I warned you about interrupting me and you DARE TO DO IT AGAIN!!!

(after a beat, demonstrating a disconcertingly cool demeanor)

You know what, Januae? Perhaps you would do well to speak with the Bandit King directly about your concerns. In fact, I will be more than happy to provide you with transportation to his primary camp. We’ll consider it a gift. Guards!

Two guards emerge from hidden side doors and take a hold of JANUAE

JANUAE

Thank you, Your Excellency. I appreciate your time and concern.

TNOUST

Tell Polele I said “you’re welcome”. Away with you, then.

JANUAE

(as the guards escort him out, none too gently)

Hey, no need to squeeze my arm so tight. I’m leaving willingly. Hey! Easy! Let go of me!