Forgotten Curses

[Alais d Nitesong]

Artemus had laid hands on me as I was about to exit the Arena, and forcibly brought me to Kurgen Keep. I was furious with him for his temerity. He had wanted to speak to me, but we have nothing to say to one the other. But here we were, inside the keep as he maintained a hold upon me that I could not break without causing him significant damage.

We appeared with a flash in a large chamber that seemed to glow with its own light source, and that was a bit too warm, as though a heat source lay beneath us. And the sound of air movement that sounded more like breathing than actual air flow.

Artemus ignored my protests against his behavior as he dragged me along, “You’ll see why.”

I narrowed my eyes at him in fury, “Yer naught bu’ a vile bully Artemus… Ah’ve nae interest ‘n ‘earin’ wha’ ye haff tae say. Now, le’ me gae this instant!” When he did not, I continued, growing angrier by the moment, “Artemus, Ah dinnae wish tae ‘urt ye, bu’ ye cannae jus’ abduct me li’ this! Yer broother wouldst nae approve o’ this Artemus.”

He continued moving toward the sound of air movement, “I’ll be done with this soon enough.” We rounded a corner and he stopped, pulling me in front of him and pointing at a slumbering creature of gigantic size, and completely mismatched body which was chained in place. It slept peacefully, and Artemus’ voice was soft, “Meet Chimara, fountain head of the Kurgen bloodline.” He eased his hold on me then slightly before continuing, “Our ancestor. From three drops of this mighty creature’s blood, the first Kurgen’s were created to be it’s guardian and caretakers, to make sure it never woke up.”

I lifted a sable brow as I studied the mythical creature. “Yer tae keep ‘t asleep? An’ ‘ow dae ye dae tha’?” Trusting Artemus not to waken the creature and tap into its power troubled me deeply. He had shown himself to be power hungry in the past, what stopped him from using the power of this creature?

He released me then, “that’s still to be learned because time is running out. The specific rites to doing so are not in the books of the library…they have traditionally been passed down from generation to generation verbally. But in my case, and Sylus’, our father was killed before he could tell us. Everything Sylus and I know about this creature and our heritage, we had to learn on our own. Till finding this place, I thought our father was a shepherd from a small village and our mother a seamstress.”

I dragged my attention from the creature, “Wha’ dae ye mean ye dinnae ken? An’ ‘ow dae ye ken tha’ th’ time ist runnin’ oot?” There was much Artemus was not telling me, and if he was insinuating that he had no idea how to keep the creature dormant, that could be trouble indeed.

Artemus looked between the creature and me, “but that is not entirely why I brought you here, though it is still important. I felt you should know of this because at some point our family became cursed. For every child born to one of our line, on their 15th birthday the parent who carries the Kurgen blood dies. The methods have varied, but they always never make sense, appear as a freak accident. In the case of my own parents, it was an Orc raid, to which orcs had not been seen in our homeland for over one hundred years.”

I gave him a long assessing look, “an’ ‘ow didst ye find oot aboot th’ curse? ‘f ye didst thin’ yer parents were shepherd ‘n seamstress?” He certainly knew a lot for someone who had no guidance from parents he had not spent time with during his childhood.

[Alais d Nitesong]

He watched the sleeping creature, “Knowledge is the one thing I have always prized above all. When I found the library upstairs I felt like a child at Yule Tide, I dove into the books not thinking of what I'd find...till I came to a particular section that had the history of the Keep itself and our family up to my father written down. Seems he'd been coming here from time to time and adding to the history. Looking through it...I noticed that members of the family started dying 15 years after the birth of their oldest child. All the certificates are there if you need proof. One thing remains though...not one of my ancestor's knew who or what did it nor how.”

I was shocked. “thence ye d’scovered ‘t ‘ow? An’ doth Sylus ken all o’ this?” If all of this was written down in the library, surely the answers to keeping it dormant must be there as well. And how could Sylus have just left knowing this thing was down here?

He motioned toward the creature, “I showed it to him, and this….: He glanced at me, “During the first Dragon War, this creature came into being and it served a singular purpose. Any dragon's found fighting each other...it slew them without thought or mercy.”

I regarded him levelly, “wha’ doth make ye b’lieve tha’ th’ time draws near tae haff tae keep ‘t sleepin’?” He seemed so certain it was about to waken, but had not explained why he believed thusly.

He gave a faint shrug, “I'm not entirely sure how to explain this.” Then he gave a deep sigh and seated himself upon a nearby rock, “Since Amaris was born...I've felt this...kind of… hourglass in my head, it could be the curse counting down to my own time to end, but I want it to be tied to this things sleep pattern.”

I quirked a sable brow at him, “’ow dae ye propose tae accomplish such?” What the hourglass in head represented may or may not be the time of his demise, and it may or may not be tied to the sleeping chimera. There was no way to be certain without the texts advice, or another living Kurgen.

“I don't expect you to sympathize or feel sad for me, I've done enough in my life to deserve whatever fate the curse dishes my way. But the one thing I do not want is for Amaris to have the life I did. I brought you here because of your love for Sylus...and this is something you of all people need to know. And to find who cursed us, I think one of the elder dragon's were behind it. They of all races have the biggest reason to keep this thing asleep or see it destroyed. They didn't quite have the power back then according to the text...because obviously neither myself nor Sylus would be here if they had. They'd have simply killed it and been done with the whole affair.”

Well, at least he understands where he stands in my view, but I was clearly shocked by his comment about Sylus. “Le’s be verra frank wi' one th' oother Artemus. Ah dinnae li' ye 't all. Ye 'n Ah parted company whence ye slandered Sylus 'nfront o' me. Sylus ist well b'loved by me, an' ye tell me he doth ken this situation. An' th' dragons, Ah've nae 'eard anna speak o' this thin'.” He was tying in the old dragons, and yet I had never heard any of the ones I knew mention such a beast in their lore.

He glanced at me then, “Think for a moment Alais....in the last year...when has Sylus really had the chance to speak of this with you? And how would you go about telling something of this magnitude to the one you love more than any other?”

[Alais d Nitesong]

I frowned at him, Sylus had had many chances to tell me, and as to how to tell me such, well, we had shared far worse between us, “'e 'ad manna chances.... we didst spend enou' time taegether.” I would not justify the time Sylus and I had to this one.

He let out a tired sigh, “It's not easy...I know the chance I took bringing you here. And of course the dragon's would not think of this. They've tried to forget about it, and erase any trace of it from history...” He turned back to face me then, “He may have had chances, but what has been the major point of concern before and after his capture?”

I simply would not discuss Sylus with Artemus. Our life and love was none of his affair, and I focused on the creature at hand, “Why nae d’story ‘t tae end th’ curse?”

“Because the curse is on the bloodline itself. Destroying it won't end the curse...of that I'm sure...and I do not have the power to do so. I don't think any being does in this age. The curse hit the family when we were are our largest. When there were many clans, had elves, dwarves, faeries, wood nymphs...many different beings integrated into the family....but thanks to this curse...it's down to just Sylus and Myself. Least as far as we know.”

I was angered that he had known about the curse, and still had chosen to bring a child into this world. “Thence wha' makes ye thin' ye cans't free yer daughter froom 't?”

“I have to believe I can.” His expression showed that he would accept no other outcome, but generations of his family had no doubt felt the same, and all had suffered the same fate. “There has to be a way, and I'll find it no matter what I have to do. I do not know about you...but do you have any idea about how it feels for the most beautiful day in your life to begin the countdown to your own destruction? That on my little girl's birthday...I'm going to die, unless I can stop this curse.”

I shook my head, I had no way of knowing how that would feel.

“There has to be a way.” He rose again and looked at the sleeping creature, “Chimara is my family’s duty, it’s power our gift, it’s crimes our curse. And our children pay the price for the grudge owed to every dragon line that goes back all goes back all those millenia to when this thing was in its prime. Though all of the dragon lines have a reason to see this thing destroyed and the possibility of one of its descendants take up the old vocation....so much time has passed that we suffer something that should have been stopped ages passed. As I will suffer the fate of my father, and his before him, and his mother before him, and her father before her. Just as any children Sylus has will suffer because of this curse.”

It still angered me that he’d known, and still brought his daughter into this world, “Mayhap yer righ' sae ye've cursed yer daughter tha' she mayst suffer yer fate? Ye knew, yet ye ‘ad a child?” How could someone be so cold as that?

“It wasn't planned...of that you can be sure. But she's my little girl, Alais.” His face softened as he spoke of his daughter, “Since the day she was born I've had to rethink everything I do. Had to think of the kind of legacy I want to leave her, the kind of man she should know her father was in life. I deny her nothing...she wants to go outside for a walk in the garden...we go for a walk...she wants me to put aside whatever spell I'm working on to play...we play. She's the most important being in my life and with Shandren gone....that makes her all the more important to me. Every time I look at her I see Shandren.”

I lifted a hand to stop him, I could not listen to his reveries about his wife, and the reasons he’d brought a child into the world under such a curse. “Why're ye showin' me Artemus? Wha' dae ye wish froom me? Ye brought me 'ere fer a reason oonla ye ken 't th' moment.” And I prayed that Sylus knew better than to do the same as his brother.

“I need to know if I'm right, and it was one of the old dragon lines that put the curse on our family. And given the history involved...I can't just walk up to Tasslehofl and go "Hey, remember the creature from way back when that slaughtered hundreds of your kin?" I came to you....because I need help with this. Rhaine worked with me to figure out if it could be cured through the blood, but then she got called off by her Temple and had to put that on hold. I'd ask Topaz, but she'd tell me to straight up ask Tasslehofl. I'm stuck.”

[Alais d Nitesong]

Ah, there it was. He wanted me to see what I could find out about the ancient dragon line that put the curse into place. “Ah see,” I said as I glanced again at the sleeping creature.

“How can I ask Tass about this?” His hand swept toward the creature, “And because I had a romantic interest in Kyndra before he and her met ...I'm not his favorite person...he learns I have the possibility to tap into this creature's power I know what he'd do.”

I lifted a brow at him, “Ye've made yer oon bed 'ere Artemus.... bu' wha' wouldst ye dae 'f ye found oot which dragon line ist r'sponsible fer th' curse?” If Tass fried him for asking, I certainly could not blame Tass.

“Being Keeper of Earth...for a time I sought Yggdrasil, the tree of life thinking it had enough power to cure us all of this curse. But its magic is greater than my own and it hides itself well, just when I thought its location was in my grasp, I was holding mist and shadows. As for what I'd do, obviously enough time has passed to set this grudge aside. How many hundreds or thousands of my family have died to satisfy any blood debt owed?”

I lifted a brow at him, surely he understood, “dragons reckon time verra dif’rentla froom us.”

He nodded, “I know...so if whatever line is behind it still bears the grudge...that'd leave me only one recourse, because I doubt they'd let me walk away alive. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to keep my daughter from having to suffer this curse. I vowed long ago....that if whatever force it was that took Shandren from me ever came near Amaris, I'd rip heaven and hell apart.”

They were admirable sentiments, but certainly not unique among parents. “Ah see Ah cannae promise ye annathin' ye dae ken tha?”

He rose then, the expression on his face grim, “I'll take what I can get...but I felt you needed to know this. And you're the one person I know who puts duty above personal feelings, unless I've judged you wrong. I need help with figuring out this Pandora's Box.”

I glanced at the chimera again, “Ye'll be needin' 'elp, wi'oot a doubt.” But would I help him? Would I seek out answers he needed?

“And should this thing wake up, the gods help us all.”

I turned to look at him then, “indeed,”

He gave another weary sigh and turned toward the entrance to the cave, “I'm sorry for the method in bringing you here...but I hope you now understand why I did so. I'll walk you out, unless you wish to look through the histories yourself?”

I studied him a moment, while the histories would no doubt be interesting, I did not desire to spend time alone in the Keep with Artemus, “Ah've soom diggin' tae dae, bu' may take ye 'p 'n tha' later.” Then, I reached out and touched his arm, putting it instantly to sleep, as though he’d cut off the circulation, “An' Artemus... dinnae effer r'peat yer actions o' taenigh.”

He quickly looked at his arm and frowned, “Guess I deserved that,” then nodded, “I'll walk you out then....what I do now...all of it is to see my daughter free of this. I'll bare any pain to see it happen.” He lifted his good arm and gave me an “after you” motion.

I preceeded him through the doorway, “Ah'll wish ye success fer yer daughter's sake Artemus.” I could not yet wish him well for himself.

He walked beside me, and lightly touched my shoulder, “thank you Alais.” A sense of calm settled into the air around them as they walked, “May the Lady of the Forests precede your path and lay out all you need.”

I paused to look at him, “g'luck tae ye 'ere Artemus. Tha' thin' mus' nae awaken.” I stepped into the night and faded into a column of shimmering silver mist.

[Errtu]

"Oh, how I've longed for this moment, ancient Chimera.."

My eyes rested on the mighty beast with reverence. The magic I could feel locked away within its scales called out to me like a church hymn to the christian god. "So much power, all here for the taking...and there is nothing you can do about it. How ironic. Your own descendant has handed me the keys to claiming your power for my own."

It was so exciting, feeling those mismatched limbs beneath of my borrowed fingertips. Well, the whelps fingertips. But they sufficed for now till I could find a proper body. One deserving of my power, this one was far too...deminuitive.

"But I'll not feast yet, there is a magic I long to taste before dining on you. The wards of the so-called Twilight Isle are just too tasty to pass up. I certainly hope you understand my sleeping friend."

I intend going to have so much fun with my freedom. And there is no one that can stop me. No living thing can stop me, and this time around it wouldn't be so simple a trap that locks me away.

"Now those wards are calling my name. And I would hate to disappoint them."

Wrapping myself in shadows it was back to the Isle, and a feast that awaited.

[Errtu]

The Isle’s magic called to me, and I for one would not be so cold as to neglect it so. How I wish I did not have to put up so much façade just to be nice to these fools who knew nothing of magic. Knew nothing of the true power available to them in the subtle way the threads of the wards are constructed. The Grand Mage knew his business, but there were things he never mentioned to those that would come after him. All magic wards can be undone. It’s just a matter of finding the minute crack in the energy.

It would be like this pathetic meat sack to create some sort of attraction with All Hallows Eve fast approaching, and though I regretted using so much energy, it was necessary to keep up such a pretense. Done with forming a “Haunted Castle” for these ridiculous fools, I had a particular craving for the wards of the magic. Finding one empty, it just called to me, saying “Feed from us Errtu. Slate your hunger.”

I had just started to feed, feeling my power return when the so called “Arch Mage” of this isle had the nerve to interrupt my meal. I hate it when people come calling while I eat.

“ Artemus?”

It was just too comical and I had to laugh, of course, she had noted my meal. What was so sacred about such a flimsy ward? Only a little taste and was flickering as if weakened. Only to add to my amusement the caller flew off the couch, more than likely having felt the draw for energy from the magically warded ring.

“What in Hades are you doing?”

Was it not obvious what I was “doing”? I know women are blind, but that was ridiculous. Perhaps I overestimate the regulars of this place far more than they deserve. But it did not matter, the ward called to me and I answered. Feeding once again, oh how sweet this magic tasted.

That dratted pixie chose to interfere again and put a barrier between the ring and myself. Never a moment’s peace when I’m trying to eat. Seems I would not find a proper meal this night on the magical Twilight Isle.

“Stop that, Artemus!”

As if, her commands had any meaning to me. Both women were nothing, and would have to learn that sometime soon. For now, I had no choice but to keep them thinking I am the friend they know. How I long to shed this mortal coil and reclaim a proper body. Waiting a moment longer before letting my hand fall away it was time to deal with the minor annoyance. “I was feeding, that a crime?”

Standing with feet spread, I noticed the soft flicker as the one known as Jaleeisa, put her own shields up. I felt them shimmer for a moment as she gave them a bit of reinforcement. “Yes, it is.”

It was ludicrous that eating should be a crime, such strange customs these mortals have. I may need to drain a few of these patrons in order to properly know the new rules to this age old game. Then the pretty one with wings who spoke next and her voice made me want to down a bottle of aspirin. I despise those of the fae bloodlines. It was they who cursed me into the book this fool had opened; I would NOT go back into the book.

[Errtu]

“Do that somewhere else. Even Vanion has enough sense not to do that here.”

I vaguely remembered that one, though the boy hated that vampire. His methods sounded like a good time to me, just too bad the guy had no idea of true power. But all must learn for themselves, it’s not my style to throw anyone a bone. You learn for yourself, or you do not. It was as simple as that. But she thought the little note would mean anything to me, it may to “Artemus”, but not I.

“Since when?” These two would expect that kind of response from this one, so I gave it too them. Spoken calmly in an even tone, I just had to smile slightly as I was highly amused at their antics::

“You cannot draw from the rings. The wards have to stay in place and strong.”

I ignored the official as it was none of her business what I can and cannot do. The other caught my attention. The Arch Mage was the true threat; the other would provide some amusement, but the fairy would know how to seal me away again should she learn the truth.

“Since always” As she moved closer I had to suppress my true essence, those shields her kind have would pick up the difference. And I for one was not ready to have my fun ended, not after the first night. No way no how.

“And from what I know of the Island's history, even a Keeper, should not be able to do that.”

Will mortals ever learn that where magic is concerned, there is no such thing as a limit to what one can accomplish? Even in such a structured environ such as this, many things were possible Trusting in dated books could only bring one’s knowledge so far. There is still much more to know.

“The Grand Mage set up those wards we use very carefully and precisely. A Keeper should not be able to do that, nor should any other Mage or Arch Mage.”

Again the girl showed her limited knowledge. I may have to gain some time alone with that one and, upgrade, her education on what can be done with magic. Though I highly doubt she would appreciate it.

“ And don't you even think about touching me. You'd die.”

The little fairy sought my focus again and it made me want to grin that she thinks touch is the only way I can siphon magic. Another foot towards me and she’d have felt me drain from her on a truly minute level. Much like a sponge placed next to a puddle of water. I should try to allay their worry, as the damage to the rings was not anything serious. “Their strength will return, and it was an empty ring. And there is much the histories do not say, Jaleeisa.”

It was a sign of her dedication to her job when the official turned to the crowd hoping they’d understand the purpose of the delay. However I could care less about the histories, I’d read the text and saw enough loopholes around their precious wards. It was laughable to think none had even gone back through to correct that error. Perhaps once I am done, I’ll do so myself.

[Errtu]

“Aye, perhaps because you've not read deeply enough.”

The woman was so droll, her words had her coming off as a broken record, but it was the fairy’s next remark had my notice; fore I knew despite this body being that of her friend, she would pay it in full, should I press choice be pressed any way. It was one thing I always admired of the fae. They had not a single compunction killing even their friends if they crossed a certain line.

“I promise you this, Artemus: Do this again and I will destroy you.”

Now seemed a good choice to make her remember it was a friend she just threatened. See how well she took it and hopefully fill her mind with a might of doubt. Not even out of confinement for a day and already into problems. Seems the fates were not to be my friends this night. “Oh, I've no intention of touching you Topaz, that is one thing I'll not do. I don't harm friends. It would do well for both of you to remember that.”

“It would do well for you to remember my promise.”

I would indeed remember. Far after her bones were dust.

“And understand that mine goes along with it, Art.”

That one’s words were laughable. A weakling such as she was stepping beyond her own ability to think she had any power to threaten me with. The one known as Topaz remained my main concern. It was she who was the stronger of the pair.

“You may regard the ward as an intimate friend of mine, then.”

That comment alone made it all the sweeter for me to drain them and feed till my palette was sated. Oh how I wanted to lunge ,then and there, just to drain the fairy of her precious shields and sentient magic. The promises made me grin, a soft flash of fangs for a moment. “The wards will be fine, I've not harmed them in any way that is not reparable.”

The beings of this world are far too easily scared. They knew nothing of what true magic was. The fairy perhaps, but the other was spouting off at the mouth. Seems the only way they’d be appeased is if I gave the taken magic back. Their next words meant nothing as I returned their precious magic to the isle in the form of some dancing lights. That should make them feel better. Everyone liked pretty lights. Just too bad my fun had to be cut short so quickly, this place had had lost it’s appeal. I’d not find anything enjoyable as long as those to were about. Gathering the shadows around myself it was time to seek my entertainment elsewhere.

[Rhaine]

High Priestess returned from G'fenvass, frustrated by the need to be official, by the need to press on someone, to argue and order. Now the only thing she needed was a quiet evening... preferrably petting a big cat, or talking to Artemus which was a worthy equivalent. Shifter's presence always helped her to relax. With him she felt.. human. Delightfully mortal.

Surprisingly, Artemus was not at the Twilight Isle. Instead there was an odd company of Syous, gnome Gnimish, Rena and Archmage Topaz, listening to Gnimish's story. Topaz noticed the vampiress and they exchanged greetings - as official as possible. Rhaine had no need to vex Isle's Archmage. She was merely tired.

"You're looking fine this evening, Rhaine. What's the occasion?" Topaz inquired curiously.
"Just have not changed from negotiations I had to participate in."

Art, when will you get your lazy feline rear and get down to the Isle... Rhaine looked at the Tower of Earth impatiently.

"Oh, just negotiations, nothing fun," the fairy's lips curved slightly.

"Definitely. Especially when some fool thinks I did no background checks and tries to deceive me," vampiress' voice was embodiment of tired.

"Will you all be here for tomorrow's quiz?" the faery didn't stop pulling her nerves.

"Quiz? I will try, though I have to file my report and before that I have to write it..." gods, that was the worst thing to think about. Every diplomatic interaction had to be logged and submitted into archives.... "Results of negotiations, suggested further actions, all that boring stuff that is politics... Luckily it's not in RhyDin, so I can rest here from the dull talks."

"Sounds like they bore you quite a bit," at least Topaz could understand a tiny share of it. Rhaine was about to explain that she started as a knight and preferred action to boring talks, as the fairy continued.

"I meant to ask you something, and you glancing over at that tower reminded me. Do you know of a creature that works with shadow or umbra magic, may even be made out of that stuff, and tends to grow fangs in whatever it posesses? Someone said you might be the one with a helpful answer."

[Rhaine]

Rhaine almost bit off the neck of the water bottle. "Where... where did you see it?" she asked. Girrash! But Artemus would have told her if his demonic feline half was getting uncontrollable...

"In Artemus, or in a more of a round around Artemus sort of way. I didn't get to gather much information, what with it eating magic."

The tired look was gone from her eyes as if it never existed . "He did tell me he found some compromise with the girrash... But eating magic?! That's weird for the shadowcat."

It was puzzling. She remembered her encounters with girrash... the need to pull him off to allow Artemus normal sleep... the hunts. Would he eat magic? Never. He was a blood thirsty feline, but never a good mage.

"Compromise with such a creature? It's called a girrash then.... isn't that some sort of wraith like creature? Yes, he tried to drain the energy from the ward last week. I put a stop to that of course and the ward's fine. But it was quite a surprise that Artemus would do this, so I took the next chance I got to check on him."


"Girrash is an extra-planar shadow feline. Somewhat a morpher," the priestess explained, taking a pull from the bottle. This was all so... wrong. "Eating magic... Girrash is quite bloodthirsty, and aggressive, but not a magic eater."

"Hmm. Is it possible that Artemus needs some help, or could this sort of behavior be part of the compromise?" Archmage asked.

"Art has found this compromise a long time ago, and never behaved this way..." - oh, he never did... but how much do you know of his recent months, vampire? You were so busy with yourself, with the tasks given by your Lord... you never had a chance to check on how's the shifter doing...

"Hmm, so maybe what possesses him uses the girrash as well?"

"It may," Rhaine shuddered. Who would have power matching to that of girrash? enough to possess him and his human half? That had to be a lich, or one of her kin... In the latter case - crap, no, it can't be a Bound. A Bound would create a body, not possess it. "I know of several kinds of beings that may feed on magic," she started carefully


"What could it be then?" - what Topaz lacked was asmodean patience. Rhaine paced back and forth, her eyes returning to the Tower. "Umbran magic..." she muttered, frowning. There was something important to it. It was a momentary dawn. "The book... you son-of-a-cat, if you got to it again....!"

"Book? What book are you talking about?"

Yes! Now, where did he leave the book... the accursed tome that pulled him in... Art, you damn fluffy monstrocity, I'll skin you alive... "Not that we can get a hold of it at the moment," the priestess replied, searching frantically in her memory. Where did Artemus leave it? But the event demanded explanation, and she started to spit out the facts.

"About a year ago... a few months before meeting Shandren, Artemus was almost obsessed with studying umbran magic. He got that book from somewhere - he said it was kept in some old potion store, I had no reasons to think it was a lie... But he was hiding it all the time, and once it simply came to the isle. He said something about a fight... that he bested someone when the book pulled him in... he was so glad that he gained some skill with that umbran magic... why would he poke his nose into the book again..."

Syous was looking North, towards volcanoes in the distance. He might be eavesdropping, but Rhaine cared little. The situation was bad enough already.

"Odd, so he caused the posession himself. Well, that doesn't change that he's in a quandery now. So, anyway, that's specualtion...what do we do to help him get rid of the possessor?"

Practical Topaz. But Rhaine knew no answer to this. She wished to see him... to know what has happened to him. For a moment the vivid image flared in her mind - the dark chamber, rattling strained breath from behind her shoulder... blackness overcoming familiar spectral features, blackness in his eyes - as inpenetrable as the pale cyan blue mist that clouded hers... There were some warnings, some phrases about storming the tower and one of Isle officials getting a 12-hour amnesia, but she cared little.

"Better if I simply tell you if I find out anything, and if there are any existing data that we can use," she spoke, deep in thought. Why would Artemus delve in the umbran book again? He had no reason to do this... probably. And why would he absorb magic? And how much magic?

Meanwhile the dispute continued. Topaz and Syous got into purely theoretical aspects of destabilizing the isle. That had to be cut short. Rhaine knew how easily advanced casters get carried away. And she needed to leave.

"Any of my brethren is taught to avoid assuming too much," she spoke calmly.
"That's good advice, Rhaine," Topaz agreed.
"Standard practice," her fingers played with a ruby-silver-hematite medallion dangling on a silver chain from her neck - sigil of asmodean priest. She waited. And as Topaz left, she rushed towards the Tower of Earth.

[Rhaine]

The door opened, and she rushed in. Her voice was laced with genuine concern as she shouted out his name. The entrance hall was empty save the statues of past keepers. No one here... To the portal room in this case. The geode-like control device had no manual. Rhaine almost decided to try every combination when a faint whisper rustled near her ears.


"Red and blue will see you through....green and white will send you into the night... Orange and yellow make odd bedfellows, purple and gold lead to places ages old."

"Audiomanual," she frowned, starting with first combination, no matter how tempted she was to start with second.

The white light illuminating the stalagtites flickered before they light up, corresponding with the two smaller crystals on the stand and a pale purple light revealed a long hallway with smooth limestone flooring, the walls like bark, and the doors liniing the walls made to look like trees, handles carved into knots. The doors looked tempting, but at the moment Rhaine's mind contained only one thought, that buzzed like a bee hitting on a glass window. Artemus.... Artemus... you silly shifter... Only one door at the end of the hall was standing wide open with a faint light glimmering.

This new room was a mirror of the last with a minor difference. The crystals were all white and set into a pyramid shake with a crystal missing. Just like in the study hall in Ythvern, the traditional stack-moving exercise.

"Artemus... wait till I get to your ears, cat," she hissed. This puzzle game was getting annoying. "Puzzle freak," she muttered, using vampire speed to assemble the puzzle, leaving the top slot open.
"Everyone has a hobby I'm told..." that voice whispered again as the portal flickered to life showing a new floor. Open and vast looking much like the main hall with one minor difference. There stood row upon row of statues carved in the image of the current Keeper. Each one made from darkest obsidian.

"Nice portraits, Artemus. But I would prefer seeing the Keeper, not images of the Keeper," she tried to be calm. Was Art vexing her intentionally? Or was this a trap, was the shifter truly possessed by someone who made this Tower a trap for overly curious biomage?

In unison the statues took a step and turned, black robed arms pointing to a door carved into the back wall. Ancient runes glowed in a pale green light around the frame. "The way of the heart will open the door, the way of desire will mark the path, the way of balance will light your way."

"You're doing your best to tick me off, Art..." Rhaine muttered, walking to the door. Another of his stupid jokes. The door was locked. Damn... The audiomanual repeated the text.

"Do abstract categories count?" she asked, irritated by it.

"Think hard and think clear, thy way will appear," the rhymed sentences were getting on her nerves.

"Heart wants... my kin do not have a heart. We don't even use such an idiom... Art, fluffy, how did you possibly get into this..." she sighed leaning on the door. Does this game include dumb statements and confessions?

"Yes, I'm here for one shifter that managed to become the center of my system of coordinates... foolish but true. Even though Topaz hinted that it isn't him anymore..."

Surprisingly, the door cracked open slowly. She slipped in. She stood on a landing that overlooked a deep abyss. Her area of movement was a five feet by five feet square of quartz crystal that illuminated internally. Once again that voice whispered. "The way of desire will mark the path"

"Another step..." Rhaine sighed. Was someone interviewing her? "Desire? Mainly freedom from most confines imposed by my initiation... freedom from the threat of dissolution, from standard path of my kin.. And how can such an abstract category mark anything?"

"Desire to achieve a goal creates motivation.." the voice replied. And like that a door at the far end of the chasm lit up, showing her the path. All that was left was to light the way. She looked down into abyss, standing on the edge lacking fear as a class.

"Motivation for?" she asked, expecting the sentence to be completed. The medallion with the symbol was still strongly clenched in her fist. "Though the last question is hardly a challenge... at least for an asmodean. For my Lord is the ultimate balancer of my existence..."

"To thy own mind, body, and spirit be true..." came the voice again

"You wish me to spout some pathetic bullshit like "the Lord is my shepherd"? Hell no. He only creates the guidelines we follow, the line to walk on. We choose it willingly, but not as sheep. Combination of will and faith?"

"For each the balancer between mind and heart is a different variable. That which determines the ratio will answer the equation."

So it was a derivative of function of will in the point described by current and persistent motivation. Not a general one. What was the balance between wish to find the shifter and the desire to be... free and herself? Damn binding...

Admit it at last to yourself, Rhaine. Or you've no guts to admit this?

"... love doesn't balance, it only creates chaos and unbalances," she whispered. And twelve white tiles lit up leading halfway to the illuminated exit. Each one seemed to hover above empty space. It looked like the bridge to Tor Lara. " Before peace can settle, chaos must exist," the voice retorted.

"Chaos is a tool for order," priestess commented coldly. It was a common practice, and she felt on familiar ground. Six more tiles lit up along her path and a soft clapping was heard "Good, asmodean, you're almost there."

"Chaos is a tool for order, where lies the need for love if chaos creates order?"

"Active source of creative energy?" Rhaine-bound was speaking, calmly and freely. "We call it the primer, the "what if" - potential that can spring into being with energy applied. Love rather works this way... as a primer. Primer for crystal, like in synthesis of order from molten chaos. Primer for synthesis of new DNA - in the chaos of creation".

The interview was obviously over, as the last tiles lit up.