Within the Fog
There was an everpresent ambiance about the fog like a soft howling tone of airy cries. Like a wind, but with no movement through the air. Everything was still and stagnant as if suspended in animation, or at least what could be seen. It was always best to keep the windows closed and the fires lit. Then it couldn't come for them. The fog was an unfortunate byproduct of their endeavors.
"Jesuda of the Cabal has arrived."
Savere looked up from the hearth where a fire crackled and blazed with its changing dance. He had been staring at it for nearly an hour while lost in his own thoughts, his eyes now dry and reddened from exposure. Time had been lost to him, even to the day for the sun no longer reached them in the denseness of the gray veil. He nodded to his assistant who immediately turned to retrieve the guest and bring her into the room for their scheduled meeting.
Rising from the plush mauve of his cushioned seat, he rubbed away the irritation from his eyes and smoothed back his dark blue locks. The Cabal were important and influential people within the Shadow community, and comparatively he was only just a minor player despite spearheading the movement in the Allied Kingdoms. Jesuda was ushered in and the two were left alone within the room.
Jesuda had traveled all the way from Edros upon his request. Savere, an almost insignificant Shadow Caster in comparison, garnered the interest of the Cabal, and to that he felt honored by her presence. There was no formalities in their greeting. She stood before him stoically, her attire that of Dradmida where the sheer fabric of her scarf wrapped around her neck and hair and veiled her gaslight blue eyes.
"What a mess you've made," she stated simply. Savere motioned to one of the chairs next to the fire, to which she accepted.
"Threats had to be eliminated by any means," he responded as they sat. "War was the easiest way."
"It made answering your request a bit difficult," she said in return. "But the Cabal is very interested in the portals you've managed to create."
"We're making-"
Jesuda held up her hand to halt Savere's report before he could even start, and he quickly obeyed. Frustration struck him as he was silenced, anger flashing in his eyes as he slowly rested back in his seat to allow her to continue.
"You are a half-elf," she noted. "What interest does a muddied soul have in a world you cannot access?"
Her words were meant to cut into him. The prejudices he faced from the beginning of his life inspired his course and path into Shadow.
"You don't know I can't access the Origin," he spat. "I am still half human. I have more of a connection to the Origin than any of you. My grandmother, Lisella, lived among them and bore two children from Origin blood. That Origin blood runs through my veins. How is this at all relevant?"
"It isn't," she said. "Simply curiosity. Where is Lisella? You said she would be present for the meeting."
"She…" His voice trailed off as he considered his words. What happened to his grandmother was still somewhat a mystery due to his own lack of understanding. Jesuda awaited his response with interest, her head tilting slightly before propping her chin up with her hand as her arm rested upon the armrest casually.
"She cast one of the forbidden spells found in Kal'katah," he explained. "At least… that is what I have surmised from accounts. It appears her soul was ripped from this world and merged with the Darkness."
"Merged?" she repeated in surprise. "Which spell did she cast?"
"Soul banishment on a massive scale," he said.
"That would have killed her, not merge her with the Darkness," Jesuda corrected.
"She is not dead," Savere said. "Nor is she living. She came to me. I was pulled into the Darkness against my will upon her…merge. And she came to me and brought me back out."
His words further shocked Jesuda as she listened intently, eyes widening with each reveal. "You… went into the Darkness?"
"Yes," he said. "And I think we all can. I think this is what we needed. I had originally called upon you to bolster our efforts with the strength of the Cabal, but we have always been missing an element which would connect the worlds. Our portals have only been able to reach across distances but not across worlds."
"And you believe that is achievable now?" she questioned.
"What was written in Kal'katah is true," he affirmed. "I've seen it, but not just in vision like the Sola had seen. And not like the paintings and charts. I was there in the Origin. Briefly, but I was there trough Lisella. She is the gateway we needed."
"That is… substantial," Jesuda stated. "I will send for the Cabal."
"I appreciate your support," Savere said with an inclination of his head, "but there is a matter which will set back our efforts if not handled swiftly."
"Then deal with it," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It will be a month's time before they will get here regardless. We have time."
"I may be able to expedite such an endeavor," he said cryptically. "But first, before we go, I would like to request a favor. I have a Vuaturi held captive and I need information from him. The Cabal is known for their mind infiltration, and I would be indebted to you if you would extract the information I need to proceed."
There was a flicker of annoyance in Jesuda's expression beneath the sheer veil as she considered his proposal. "Very well," she said. "Show me to this Vuaturi."
The UnderElm
The Stranger pursed her lips at Waethrin's blatant distrust. But what grounds had she given to deserve it? She was avoiding revealing her identity to people she did not know but requested they follow her to their freedom. "I don't know who I am," she stated simply. "Does that give you more ease? I can remember my purpose but not my name. This place makes you forget things. So while I can remember enough of what does matter, we need to move."
"Forget…" Idhrenan repeated the word and felt her fear grip her soul once again. She didn't want to forget, but in remembering she would be lost, and she was advised not to get lost. There seemed to be no way to balance out the obstacles within the UnderElm, for every path that seemed a solution was just another problem.
"We're in the UnderElm," she explained to Aurea. "We're not supposed to be here, so we need to keep moving before we're found."
They traveled through the darkened tunnels carved from unknown entities. Rumbles and growls moved the earth yet they could never find the source. Anytime a light was seen within the distance, the Stranger would change their course. Some tunnels spiraled upwards and some down further or crossed ways. It was never ending and always so very near complete darkness despite the soft light that followed them. Eventually, they reached a section of entangled roots like a network of webbing the Stranger began to weave through.
"Don't touch anything," she advised. "It will alert them of our location."
Idhrenan looked over to Waethrin and Aurea with concern. "What do you make of this?" she asked. "This can't be real… But I see it… I see the magic coursing through these roots."
@Red Thunder @Toogee @Mactomaton
The Plains of Thallas
Five pillars of fire blazed through the gray of winter as the remains of the butchered were put to rest. The orcish army watched, following the example of their leader as Drau'zul stared at the orange flames. There was a reverence for the dead and a respect displayed despite not only minutes ago the orcs were willing to defile them. But Drau'zul felt something in her change as she took in perspective.
She walked over to Addiver's side, bits of snow clinging to the furs draped across her broad shoulders and the braids of her hair. He didn't look at her. His eyes were fixed on the display that was now the funeral of the unjustly butchered. "I didn't know everyone they killed," he explained to her. "Most of them were criminals from the dungeons I never met. That's how Lisella was able to justify the butchering. How they all likely turned a blind eye. Thallas was desperate to meet your demands. Your people turned my people into monsters."
"Gabad was a strategic individual," she said in turn, her tone soft in consideration. She crossed her arms over her chest beneath the furs. "It was intended to weaken your people from the inside. It's a tactic of war. He knew you would need to resort to drastic measures to achieve the impossible goal."
"He did just that," Addiver murmured.
"I have been deeply moved," Draul'zul confessed matter-of-factly. "We achieved a desirable outcome to our own selfish wants, but at the cost of an entire culture's well being. You were not our enemies, and yet we treated you as such. The punishment we exacted does not match the crime. Lisella is to blame for the transgressions. The Shadow is the enemy, and we were fools to fall prey to Lisella's plot."
"We all have been manipulated," he said. "That's what we fought against. That's why the Guides were formed. We knew something was not right. We just… we had no idea…"
"Rally your army to march with us," she suggested. "Let us exact just punishment to those who have wronged your people. You will do this."
"Will I?" Addiver said with a huff of a laugh.
"The Shadow took my people as well," she stated. "Our numbers are fewer. With Thallas joining us we may march to the elven city to liberate it from the Shadow and eliminate the threat that plagues your land. You will rally your people. And through this our lands will be united. I want to propose a treaty."
Without waiting for his response, Drau'zul turned on her heels and called out. "Dragon Wardens! Prince of Elves! Tearful Thall! I propose a counsel of war! Come with me to my tent!"
Addiver watched the orc walk away, and for a moment he looked back to the pillars of fire that streaked the only color to the scene that reached up into the bright gray as snow floated down and began to cover the field more densely. Paulson rode up on his horse as the orcish army turned away to head for their tents and await further orders.
"I heard what was said," he stated. "I will relay the message to the royal house and advise the guards to remain here. We rally under you."
He rode off swiftly, addressing the guards before rushing off towards Rosenfall. Addiver looked up at the sky. He could no longer see where Grybil and Eosphelon had flown off to. What if they went to kill his people too? Where was the large earth dragon? How angered were these creatures and who did they place blame? Before heading over to the war tent, Addiver walked over to the remaining Dragon Warden trio.
"That dragon," he said to them. "The one that fell heavily from the sky. Is it… Is it alright? Is there anything we can do for it?"
@Elle Joyner @rissa @CloudyBlueDay