Kurgen Keep

[Artemus Kurgen]

The great fortress looked dark and forboding as the pair arrived in a swirl of shadows and starfire. The main tower seemed topless as it reached into the heavens. The shadows in the courtyard began to stir and writhe at the appearance and intrusion of the two beings.

With a silver bow slung across one of his shoulders the man in the bone mask strode towards the tower beckoning for the his companion to follow. As he approached the large double entry doors something around the tower flickered in a greenish light. Unconcerned the man stepped up to the protective field and laid his hand against the light and felt its' solidity under his hand, thrumming with great power.

As he began to chant in a low tone the protective shield began to flicker as fast as lightning strikes. He did not stop though. The more he chanted the faster and brighter the warding flashed. The green light pulsed as fast as a humn heart on an adrenalin rush. The light illuminated the skeletal maks on his face in a grzzly vissage. With one last final incantation the warding shattered inward from the point where his hand was. The warding looked like shattered glass as it flew away from his touch leaving the entrance to the tower unwarded. Moving quickly he pulled a large key from within his black tunic and unlocked the great entrance doors.

....Kurgen Keep was open for visitors.........

As the pair entered there was a flash of light and all the unlit torches along the entrance hall flared to life of their own accord. Grabbing a torch off of the wall just inside the door Artemus headed down the hall.

" Welcome to the Kurgen family home..." He said with a chuckles as he looked over his shoulder at Lady Alais. "We can talk here without fear of prying ears and eyes." With another laugh he began to ascend a large staircase at the end of the hall

Moving quickly he took her to the fifth floor, checking each entrance door to the other floors. The stair case seemed to run along back of the tower leaving all the floors open and unobstructed. The doors along this floor of the tower seemed to have the same green warding as was outside the tower.

With confident strides Artemus led the elf maiden to the end of the hall towards a large mural with a depiction of several people transforming into beasts and birds. " I do not know if Sylus told you...but each member of the Kurgen clan has an animal within them...it is our families curse....and our gift...." As he reached forth and touched the mural it faded, revealing a large audience chamber. " Come...and finish your tale".

[Artemus Kurgen]

He could not forgive himself for being so foolish. He knew touching the bloodspeaker's weapon would leave a taint within him ans still he though a cloth would protect him.

As he stalked through the halls of the Keep he kept pulling the piece of chalk that the liontaur had given him. " I hope you are right about this bit of jade, Rakeesh....for both our sakes...."

Moving into one of the first floor appartments he pulled a bed away from the far wall and walked a slow circuit around it. Taking the piece of chalk up in his hand he followed Rakeesh' instructions and drew a circle around the bed, the green chalk glittered softly in the firelight as he finished off the cirle.

"Lots of sleep....lots of rest.......and no impure thoughts......" With a heavy sigh he crossed the line of chalk, making sure not to step on it, and slid onto the bed. "Seems easy enough......but the easy things have a way of being the most challenging." Resiting his hand underneath his head he slowly drifted off into a fitful sleep as the taint fought against the effects of the jade circle. He had many visions. Visions of blood and death, lust and beauty, dreams of his past that made him the being he is now. All these soon faded as thoughts of Cheyenne entered his sleep and he found a peace that let him get through the night and into the next. Sleeping all the while, his thought empty. His body and the magic of the cirlce fighting the taint within.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Artemus had rescued me from Badside, but something remains amiss. There are shadows in Sy’s brother that feel sinister, that feel like the familiar taint I carry from Daigotsu, though where Artemus might have picked this up, I do not know.

I told Artemus everything I could remember about my trip to Hell, the horrible sin I have committed by raising Shahai, the power of the citadel to damp sorcerous powers, the things I had sensed when Daigotsu had jumped into my body and I into his. The Bloodspeakers were a powerful force, even if there were only 2 or 3 of them. My connection to Daigotsu has provided an insight into a third Bloodspeaker arriving in RhyDin. Raising Shahai may be worse than I anticipated if they are now raising more of their kind from Beyond.

As I studied the mural in the grand reception hall, I was reminded of Sylus, and the night we’d gone running with the pack. I wonder if Artemus knows that this is not a shocking revelation for me. The variants of shape shifters in the family is surprising, but not that both Sylus and Artemus were capable.

We talked long into the wee morning hours. I told Artemus that I should go for what I have done. No living person would understand the actions I have taken, but that to leave now would be an even bigger sin. The taint I carry has turned my silver eyes to deepest obsidian, and I feel Daigotsu’s pull every moment. How long before the pull drags me into the Bloodspeaker’s complete power?

I left Artemus and returned to I' Taurn.

It was time I sought out Sylus. Time for him to know what sort of monster I am. I found him alone, and as I solidified just outside of his reach, I could feel his shock and his relief at seeing me. He’d traveled to Hell and back to recover me from Daigotsu. I wanted to melt into his arms and forget the horrors of these last days, but before I could take comfort in his arms, he needed to know what I had done. That the carnage wrought by Shahai were my doing since I was the one who raised her. This was my fault. My crimes. Could he still be so happy to see me?

Sylus swept me into his arms and the world no longer mattered.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The reliefe I felt in my heart could not be measured when Alais appeared in front of me. I had gone to Hell and back to save her, shown more of my power than I had ever done before. I had faced darker beings than I ever could be and still had not found her. Yet here she was, standing in front of me, no illusion, no longing vision from my thoughts, she was flesh and blood. and yet......

And yet I sensed a great evil in her now.

This darkness within her gave me paused for concern. I knew that she would be changed after her imprisonment, but his was a startling revelation. If not cured soon...I knew she might end up becoming a Bloodspeaker like Shahai and Daigotsu...there were all ready rumos floating about that another of the accursed mages may have been raised...but if Alais joined their number......I doubt I'd be able to fight them.

I told her of the taint within Artemus, of teh events that had caused it, and of the latest threats coming from Legendazona. How the poltergeist was now threatening a young girl named Cheyenne. A young girl who is the first I've met to actually dare to have feelings for my brother, Artemus.

I could not help but wonder if she had any idea of the evils in Artemus' heart. Any inclination at all as to the attrocities he has commited in the name of right and good. I could not help but wonder if she knew how high the pile of skeletons in Artemus's proverbial closet went.

I can only hope and pray that she can change his heart. Save his soul. and help him walk the path I have taken to tred on. If Artemus can be saved then there is hope for others......

Taking Alais into my arms I showed her just how deep the rabbit hole of my devotion went......and how ensnared she had my heart.

Then I told her of my new job......at the Alley Cat Club.

[Cheyenne Fordyce]

"Sylus goddammit, where the hell are you taking me. This feels freekin weird, make it stop make it stop!" She'd finally managed to open her eyes to see the Keep in front of her, only mere paces away from her. She could feel the energies and powers radiating from the Keep of the Kurgens. Cheyenne had since found her way to stop her flailing as she looked at the looming Tower, her body shuddering of it's own accord as she gasped softly. The grip on her shoulder tightened as she turned to face Sylus. His voice was soft, yet encouraging to her.

"Go to him Cheyenne. Go now."

She shook her head, tears stinging her pale blue eyes as she remembered just why she was spirited here in the first place...to be rescued, to be protected...to hide. "I, I, I don't think I can do this Sylus. I don't think I can, no no I don't think I can." A new fear shone deep in the pale blue depths of the blue eyes as she gazed into Sylus' eyes.

"Go Cheyenne, go to Artemus. You are a strong woman, this I've seen. Do not run now Cheyenne."

And with those words Cheyenne was all sparkly again and flailing and cursing until she was deposited right outside of Artemus' chamber doors, still sputtering and cursing until she looked up to see Artemus standing over her with a smirk and the rogue was for the first time in her life, speechless as he looked down on her.

[Artemus Kurgen]

The smirk on my face broadened as I looked down at Chey.

"Yannow, while yer down here?" I waggled by eyebrows playfully before helping her stand up.

Not wanting to waste any time I got straight to the point. Ye love me, Chey?.......Truly?

With a warm smile I expressed that I felt the same.....It was hard for me to admit that I actually cared for another. Slipping an arm around her waist I decided it was time to show her something special...the family mural......

[Cheyenne Fordyce]

She laughed as she looked up to him, shaking her head at his proposed sexual innuendo as he helped her to her feet, she stood for a long moment, letting pale blue eyes gaze deeply into his before she offered him a very slow nod at his question, though she turned away as she spoke, "I believe that I am indeed falling in love you Artemus Kurgen, though I am not sure because I have never felt what love truly is. All that I can truly tell you is I believe this is the start." Chey heard him say that he was beginning to feel the same way about her, or in the same that he did feel the same and it surprised the rogue as she stood there looking at him again as she thought back to what Sylus had said about Artemus and sighed, only time would tell as the rogue would have to wait out her feelings and his as well.

She'd not been paying much attention as her thoughts had traversed elsewhere, something that Sylus had said earlier burning in her mind even though she was in his presence and she blinked a bit as he was taking her somewhere and Chey was a bit apprehensive as she was being led somewhere where she wasn't sure he was taking her, perhaps his bedroom? No, no Artemus was not that type of man, if he indeed was, he would have had his way with the rogue beforehand and left her be. The excitement that showed in his eyes as Chey watched him was weighed heavily by an apprehensiveness as well, perhaps even a fear as she went silently alongside of him.

Artemus had led her down the corridor a bit and turned left and then right, he turned her to face him as he spoke and she blinked a bit, watching him.

"Take a look at this mural...This mural shows my families greatest secret......few have seen this....My family is very old Chey...older than most elven bloodlines......"

Cheyenne paced the great hall of which the mural expanded it's length, pale blue eyes now wide with the curiousity of a child at a new toy. Her fingertips trailed over the mural and the many various animals on it. So vibrant and colorful was the mural, every imaginable animal was on the mural in some respect or position. The wheels in Chey's mind began to turn and work overtime as she listened to him speak and investigated the mural more. "You trust me enough to show me this?" She paused in her gazing to look at him.

"Yes.....I will keep nothing from you......"

A tender look was shared between the two before Artemus grinned widely and asked her she had figured out his families secrets and she had to turn back to the mural again, seemingly in deep thought as she spoke. "You are what my Nana used to call Shape Walkers, no?' He answered her with a nod and proceeded to show her what each his brother, father and himself were upon the mural, but there was never a mention of his mother, and this caused Chey to wonder more until she saw the pain in his eyes and knelt beside him..."Show me no more if it pains you so."

"Such pains are welcome...they let me know that my heart has not yet died......The heart can die, without the body following it Chey........When a heart emotionally dies...a person ceases to care about the things that matter..and become like Vanion...."

"You will not end up like him, will you Artemus?"

"No I will not....but had I not been tainted....and not gone through the sleep of purity to face my past...I might have.."

And Chey's mind would hold that thought for the days to come as the time progressed and again Artemus went missing after their brief share of her own secret on the beach.

[Alais d Nitesong]

I could not help but wonder if she had any idea of the evils in Artemus' heart. Any inclination at all as to the attrocities he has commited in the name of right and good. I could not help but wonder if she knew how high the pile of skeletons in Artemus's proverbial closet went.

I can only hope and pray that she can change his heart. Save his soul. and help him walk the path I have taken to tred on. If Artemus can be saved then there is hope for others......

Taking Alais into my arms I showed her just how deep the rabbit hole of my devotion went......and how ensnared she had my heart.

Then I told her of my new job......at the Alley Cat Club.

I had felt the darkness in Artemus, he is shadow where Sylus is light. Cold where Sylus is warmth, and I do fear for Artemus, though I have no clue what atrocities he may have participated in during times past.

I know too that I have commited an atrocity by bringing Shahai back from beyond, and that every death she causes is attributable to myself. This is a very hard thing to face.

The discussion switched to the new job, and I confess I like it not. There are some things simply not done in families that hold histories and positions of importance. I can only hope he will change his mind on this venture.

[Sylus Kurgen]

I felt drained, utterly and completely. My time with Mur seemed to last an eternity. The more he saw of my level of aptitude with magic the more he pushed my limits. I could feel my power growing, the sorcerous energies within me strengthening my all ready strong aura. As I came to the top of the landing to the sixth floor of the Keep I saw Cheyenne snooping around, holding something in her arms.

Moving closer I saw that it was the old pet of my grandfather, Meryl. I had not seen the creature in several years and figured it had gone somewhere to die. Personally I never liked the thing. It always gave the creeps when it would chitter and try and kiss whoever was holding it. When I heard it call Cheyenne "Mama" I just lost it and turned the other way.

Moving down the hallway on the fifth floor I looked at my families mural, my hand running along the polished surface. I knew where I was from, and this knowledge let me know where I could go. The more time I spent with Alais of late, the more I knew that my place was with her. I have spent most of my life alone, with only the cold steele of my swords as a bedfellow. Never fully sleeping. My defenses always in place, watching for the slightest sign of some fellow assasin seeking the title of Rhydin's Finest and my head as a trophy.

It has been many weeks since I last recieved word from Kelvar and I felt that something was terribly wrong. I sent missive after missive asking word of what is happening within the palace and the city. With not a single reply to allay my doubts and concerns. If I do not recieve a reply soon....I will have no choice but to return.

Heading to the top floor of Kurgen Keep I walked into my father's training room. Everything within these hallowed walls was as he left it. Not a suit of armor moved, not a map out of place. It was time I strapped on the first sword I had ever made.....Valerios......

Taking the large broadsword off of it's stand I let my hands run along the hilt in silent reverence. Despite the blades size it was extremely light. The ancient runes glittered along the swords mythril blade. I could sense the blades' joy and being held once more. The animals etched around the runes seemed to writhe and come to life as I lifted the powerful weapon before me. My mind drifted within the swords magics, feeling the powers I had imbued it with. I could see into the mind of every animal within the Keep. I could feel the air currents that whipped around the outter walls of my families home. Sense the water that ran through the great river under the keep. The fires that burned in the forge called to me through the blade. With this blade I am once more the master of the animals and the elements.

I had given this sword a good name when I made it.......Valerios....The sword of The Beast King.

[Artemus Kurgen]

I had not been to the Isle of Twilight in some time so I decided to reaquaint myself with my refered venue. Stepping through the portal I said my greetings to Brigath who was calling at the time and then spotted Chey playing on the beach. Feeling that it was best to let her have her fun for the moment I decided to have a small conversation with Illusia. She told me of how her baby was due any day now, and just looking at her I could believe her. It still struck me as odd that anyone would name their child after Max Blue.

As a duelist I have the greatest amount of respect for him, but the way he constantly flirts with women right in front of his wife still makes me think he is not whole hearted in his devotion, esspecially now that Altara is with child and twins at that last I heard.

It was after this that Lus asked how Chey and myself were doing. I conveyed my feelings and smiled warmly. Something about my features and how I spoke must have said something to Illusia's intuition for she said that something in me has changed. That I am not as cold and dark as I once was. Upon reflection I have come to see that she is right. Something about being with Cheyenne has changed me, and for the better I think, since I find myself actually beginning to see people as just that...People. When I meet a stranger on the street I no longer think of how I can possibly use that person in some scheme to get what I desire. Something about Chey has softened my heart. At one point I may have severed such a connection to save myself the emotional pains that might come with it, but now.......now that I have gone through the sleep of purity to save myself from becoming like Daigotsu, Shahai, and Yajindinn I find myself wanting these feelings.

Looking for a change of topic I cast my challenge for a duel. Almost immediately Mur and the warrior Joku said that they would. In my usual dipolomatic manner I told them to duel each other and that I would then fight the winner. This brought a laugh out of Brigath. Mur conveyed that he did not care who he dueled so long as he got one and told Joku that he could duel me. As Joku tole me that this was his first magic duel I decided to be respectful and be patient with him, let him feel like he was doing well. At first I kept the duel close and stayed defensive. It was at this point that one of Joku's thought flittered through my mind about how he had heared the magic duels were boring nad could now see why. He felt he was dueling a mage with no balls. This slightly angered me and made me smirk. I took the rest of the duel to embarass him as best I could, ending the match with a 5.5-2 victory. Broadening my already cocky smirk I told Joku that it was a good duel and left the ring.

Walking over to Chey I smiled and took her into my arms. We sat for a time and talked of how the assasins that hunted her family may come looking for her once again. When I mentioned hunting them, she made me swear that neither I or my brother would go near them. I could only speak for myself, what Sylus would wish to do I could not say. I could only guess.

I knew that I needed one more win to go up in rank and told Chey this.
"Then get in their and beat someone's ass" she said with a laugh. It was then that the WarDrac, Bapheloctus came onto the Isle. I saw this as my opportunity. I entered the ring and faced Baphe with all my focus, Chey took this time to go home and get me something. I ended the duel as quickly as possible, securing my win. Chey came back onto the Isle carrying a present. Inside was a baby tiger. I smiled broadly though why she would give a tiger to a leopard I do not know.......

We left the Isle early and returned to Kurgen Keep, where Cheyenne gave me yet another gift...one that is more precious to me than any other....her purity....

[Sylus Kurgen]

I knew that the trip to Harmon would take a few days so I took proper precautions. Moving through my appartments on the eighth floor of the Keep, I grabbed my vest with the multiple dagger sheaths which was more for personal security than anything else. Taking a small journey-pack from the closet I went from dresser to dresser taking out various articles of clothing. I must remembre to thank Cheyenne for doin launary. Finally I came to my swords, never leave home without one, and looked from my set of twin scimitars to Valerios. Each weapon had it's strengths and weaknesses, one offered speed but lacked power, the other could cleave a tree in half with one swing but was heavy and made movement slow. So I made a compromise...taking one swordbelt I strapped my left hand scimitar and placed the large broadsword into it's sheath at my back.

I arrived at I'Taurn shortly before dark......
I found Alais standing alone before the teleporter, her face downcast and hidden in shadows, but I knew what she must be feeling. It has been many years since she last went to Harmony...not since the days she had been with Ulysses......

I covered the distance to her in the blink of an eye and held her, being as compassionate as I could be. "Lais, it's all right to be torn" Holding her tightly I let her shed what tears she had been holding for all of these years as we traveled to Harmony......and towards her books of power......

[Artemus Kurgen]

Through the course of the day I had watched those that I drew a picture of and grew steadily as I still could not see into the Temple. I watched a pair of initiates wak through a market preaching the wonders of the White Lady and do their best to get others to at least take a look around the Temple of Divine light. I watched Vincent Smith through the bowl of water as he dueled Farek for the title of Keeper of the Tower of Water.

Yet what was making me mad was that everytme they entered the temple grounds all traces of them seemed to vanish. I tried almost everything short of slaying an accolyte and taking his robes. Scrying for a location brought up nothing, even when the piece of quartz crystal dangled over the Temples location on the map I had just bought. I knew the temple was warded, but not this heavily. Whatever went on within it's walls the founder did not want anyone unassociated with the temple to know about.

Feeling sullen I went to check the standings for the Isle of Twighlight and found that somehow I had gone up a rank. It was all I could do to keep from having an anxiety attack. I was steadily moving towards my goal. I wish and will do my best to be the first to ever hold all of teh Keeper titles on the Isle of Twilight. I knew of Sylus' designs to become Overlord but scoffed that idea....the polotics within the swords arena is to spurious and often leaves too many grudges for my tastes but as our mother often stated " To each his own"...I need one more win to move up to the next rank...I think I'll ask for the spells Meteor Shower and Ghostform.

Sighing heavily I sat on the throan-like chair as Shira nestled agains my leg. I had not seen Chey in several days and am becoming a bit worried, she told me she was going to start investigating the Temple. I had my fears that this was not a wise coarse of action as she had only begun to understand the power within her, but there was little I could do. I am not her gaurdian nor her master. What she chooses to do is her own right..I just don't have to like it. It was time I ventured to the Temple once more and watch it's coming's and goings, so I grabbed my pad and pencil and with the bowl of water I brought up the image of Aeron's mother...her form would suit for this evenings work.....

[Artemus Kurgen]

The figure darted from shadow to shadow as it moved closer to the figure it was hunting. Bone mask and black viel in place, cold gray eyes darted to the sides to make sure the shadows' pray was alone. Seeing nothing it moved closer to the hulking figure that had trespassed onto it's territory.

His steps were done in complete silence as the shadow unsheathed it's twin-short swords. Suddenly the wind shifted, putting Artemus downwind, and the large ogre raised it's head to sniff the air. Almost instantly he was moving, weapons drawn and ready. Artemus raced past the beast as it spun around, swing a grizzly looking club in it's powerful arms. Setting his arm wide, Art let his left blade slide along the creatures stomach in a simple but clean slice. The cut was not life threatening to a beast such as this but it was not meant to be; Artemus wanted to toy with the beast a bit first.

Ducking low underneath of a second swipe from the club, a red line appeared on the ogre's forearm from another simple slice of a short-sword. The beas howled in pain and frustration as it began to swing the club in its' hands with greater ferocity.

Artemus did not stop moving though, as he raced around the ogre that had shosen to kill a deer on his lands. The weapons moved in an absolute blurr while his feet moved in perfect unison to compensate the speed of his attacks. True swordsman do not just hack and slash with their weapons hoping to hit the enemy. Oh no, their body and mid opperate in perfect harmony.

The creature suddenly charged at him, swinging the cub across it's body. Artemus was taken off-guard for a moment, but that was all that the beast needed to land a hard blow to his mid-section with the club. He felt a couple ribs crack instantly before he sailed through the air into a nearby maple tree. He had just enough time to throw his arms wide before he struck the tree, the simple movement softened the blow but only enough to keep him from being winded by it. He fell the the ground in a crumpled heap, losing the grip on his right blade. The ogre was on him almost instantly, it's great club swinging downward hoping to finish the battle while he was at a sudden disadvantage.

It was instinct alone that saved him as he rolled out of the way, the massive club missing him by mere inches. His bearings came back to him as he rolled defensively to avoid three more swipes from the club. At some point his rolling had brought him near the weapon he dropped after hitting the tree. Artemus rolled toward the weapon, grabbing the hild as he passed over it.

His weapons returned to him, all he had to think about now was how to get back to his feet. It was almost as if some merciful god had heard his thoughts when the oger swung the club down at him again and it became lodged in the roots of a felled oak. Flipping to his feet, he covered a wince, and descended on the brute with a ferocity that was unrivaled. His movements were incomprehensible as he cut into the beast' body again and again and again. At one point he managed to sever the creatures arm from its' body. Howling in rage and pain the ogre charged at him again but this time Artemus was ready for it. Dropping low into a roll he let his weapon cut across the back of the beast's leg in passing. The cut neatly took out it's hamstring, making the ogre fall to it's knees. The ogre clutched it's wounded leg with the only hand it had left as Artemus stalked towards it with a deadly grace.

Eyes filled with sudden fear, the ogre looked up at the the man who had attacked it and began to wimper. His eyes remained cold and distant as he came closer to the cringing ogre. Unlike popular belief, ogre's are intelligent creature and can comprehend certain logical aspects...such as their own demise. Artemus kept his breathing shallow as his ribs began to truly ache now from the vicious blow from the club.

His next movement was as quick as lighting as he leapt into the air and came crashing down on the ogre's chest, his blade sliding into it's throat.

[Sylus Kurgen]

The large broadsword sang as it moved in a blur at the well honed movements fom his hands. Pivoting off of his back foor, he swung the blade in a dazzling arc but stopped dead in his tracks and pivoted in the opposit direction castig the blade into a perfectly executed parry. Spinning the blade around behind him, Sylus did a no-hands cartwheel. As he landed, Valerios was ready and inplace within his hands, the blade's song resounding beautifully within the training room. Sy had found himself training more and more with the ancient blade. Ever since he had talked with Ulysses and was told the he was approved of. That he had potential....Potential what? was what he kept asking himself as he went through the training motions that kept his skill sharp.

A light sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, chest, and shoulders as he walked back to his room on the eighth floor of Kurgen Keep. Valerios was safely sheathed at his back, and a small smile was on his face. Stopping by an outter window, Sylus saw his brother pulling a sled off into the woods.
"What games do cat's play while the dog appears to be away?" He asked himself as he watched Artemus fade from sight.

Replacing Valerios on it's stand in his room, Sylus moved down the steps to the front door and followed Artemus. Keeping behind his brother by several yards, he kept his eyes on where he was walking. Making sure not to step on any dead branches, Sylus found himself in a small clearing, with Art standing over an ogre's corpse. Knowing what had happened he sighed mournfully, and with a heavy sigh, returned to the keep.

He was just about to release the wards that protected the Keep from intruders when a rider approached. The rider wore simple chainmail under a forrest green surcoat. It was the emblem on the lads' surcoat that gave Sylus a moment to pause, for he knew it well. The sigyl was that of a blue bull wearing a crown of orchids with a red background. The emblem belonged to Varad Rovensheaf. Keeping his face steady he watched the rider come closer and riegn it's painted roan to a stop.
"Are you Sylus Adair Kurgen?" The lad asked in a droll monotone voice, his face was completely devoid of any kind of emotion.

Keeping my tone calm and casual "Who wishes to know?" my hand rested comfortably on my hip at the spot where my sword usually was.

"I have a message for you from the Council of the Seven Stars" the messenger stated as he reached very slowly into a sachel at his side. When his hand emerged it held a scroll with another sigyl on it. The emblem of my order.....The Broken Shield. " Sylus Adair Kurgen, you are hereby ordered to return to your order's mother house in the city of Kelvar. A new lord is being chosen, with the councils decision, at the behest of Lord Varad. Your pressence is requested at these viewings and interviews of a new lord. With the failure to complete your quest, the Council will decide if you are still fit to wear the mantle of Chief Asassin." A slight smirk slipped onto the messengers face as he handed me the scroll in his hand. "Should you fail to comply, the measures that will be taken are outlined in this document. You have three weeks to return."

His duty completed the messenger set off at a gallop. Undoing the wards to the Keep I opened the document and headed towards the eighth floor appartments.

[Artemus Kurgen]

.....Grief......

......Madness......

.....Numbing emptiness......

.........Ultimate suffering........

........Raging anguish..........

....and......Despair......

These are emotional states I would wish upon no man, because I feel them even now as I write this missive.

I cannot even begin to construct within my mind when or how it happened, but at some point after I had left Cheyenne...she......:: Tear drops stain the stationary::..she was attacked by one of the vile beings called BloodSpeakers. When I appeared in the walls of the arena, horrifying scene was being played out before my eyes. There on the floor with a ghastly wound in her side lay my beloved Cheyenne, Bapheloctus was kneeling over her praying to Ixiom to heal her, Anne was applying bandages to the wound.

I was beside Cheyenne in an instant, my hand enveloping hers, my voice calm and soothing as I tried to keep her from slipping into consciousness and away from me forever. Had I know what would happen next I would not have wasted my breath. A vince began to grow from her wound, covered in sharp thorns and slithered it's way to her throat.

The others began to attack the vien, keeping it from strangling the life from her. They should not have wasted their time. In the midst of the confusion Daigotsu appeared from the shadows and assaulteed Cheyenne's spirit in the middle of bing healed. The pendants I had given her for protection were gone, taken from her in the fight that wounded her so greviously. The BloodSpeaker's spirit flew into Chey's body, casting her spirit into Hell...and forever from my reach.

With a condescending smile and cold laughter he faded from the arena, letting Cheyenne change into a creature of his designs. I could only kneel and watch in horror as Cheyenne's beautiful blonde hair became black as a raven's feather and her sparkling blue eyes became brown like freshly trod mud. Though her wound was healed fully, I knew it was not my Cheyenne whose hand I held...but someone else...someone who would not know any of us....that someone was Kiara NightMyst.

I felt inexplicably cold as her brown eyes gazed upon me without the slightest hint of registration at my name or the name Cheyenne. My breath started to come in sharp gasps as the shock of what was happening began to register in my emotions. I was starting to hyperventilate. I felt the blackness of unconsciousness creeping towards me as I started to rock back and forth on the balls of my feet uncontrollably. My eyes wide and unseeing, my face blank of emotion.

I was unaware of everything that was going on around me and felt my body move of its own accord into an empty corner. I knew that there was no cure, magical or otherwise, for her amnesia....I was helpless....

To no longer know the feel of Cheyenne's touch nor the sound of her voice made my very sould wrench in agony. To never hear her laugh or tease me in the way tha tonly she could made me weep for all I am worth.

The plans I hade made for my future here in Rhydin have been shattered and I have nothing left to keep me here...I have only three choices left to me...

One....go into Hell and try and restore Cheyenne to her former self and most likely die trying

Two...seal myself away within the Keep and live out the rest of my days alone with my grief..becoming bitter and resentful of the world..

Or....

Three......Kill myself.........

Cheyenne has become to valuable a part of my life to easily forget as I once could have. She has softened the stone heart I once had and filled the cracks with creepers of affection and caring....No matter what I choose...the man I am now is no more....and a monster I may become....
:: The missive was left with a guard at the gates of I'Taurn and within Sylus rooms at the Keep::