The Chronicles of Mystria: Times of Sorrow I

[United World Order]

"Thank you for your help" Jeremiah said as he went to the nearby pub to the north and entered it seeing Madame Lucine, He went up to her and smiled, "Hello, My name is Jeremiah and im looking for information on some slavers that receantly killed a child" Jeremiah said

"I'm sorry I don't know what you're talking about." Madame Lucine said nervously as she went into the back room of her pub.

Who is this stranger? He's asking about the dead child, is he perhaps another slaver?

"I'm sorry we're closed!" Madame Lucine said to Jeremiah

"Look, I want to bring these tyraant killers to justice and free these towns from getting young boys kidnapped and you might be the only one that could help me do that, Please" Jeremiah said

[Crystal Spires]

"Look, I want to bring these tyrant killers to justice and free these towns from getting young boys kidnapped and you might be the only one that could help me do that, Please" Jeremiah said

Madame Lucine had a soft heart and immediately felt like she needed to tell him, but she had a feeling that this was not going to end well for her, but she figured she might as well do it for the children.

"I heard they've got caves to the north where they keep the slaves, but I don't know where they are. I checked them but I couldn't find them alone. It's a lot of ground to cover. Maybe you can help me find them with your friends." She said as she went outside.

"Follow me!"

[United World Order]

"Look, I want to bring these tyrant killers to justice and free these towns from getting young boys kidnapped and you might be the only one that could help me do that, Please" Jeremiah said

Madame Lucine had a soft heart and immediately felt like she needed to tell him, but she had a feeling that this was not going to end well for her, but she figured she might as well do it for the children.

"I heard they've got caves to the north where they keep the slaves, but I don't know where they are. I checked them but I couldn't find them alone. It's a lot of ground to cover. Maybe you can help me find them with your friends." She said as she went outside.

"Follow me!"

Jeremiah and his team followed close behind

[Crystal Spires]

The caves ahead were indeed expansive and there were many of them. It would take days for them to cover the whole area if they did it alone, and by then the slaves would be dead. Perhaps Jeremiah would need another strategy.

[League of Emberg]

Jabrill took a deep breath and sighed in relief and watched as the very angry dwarf lowered the gun.

That almost...I almost... That High Chancellor BASTARD.

"Your Highness." He said while bowing to the Dwarf, "I do vow to serve my sentence after I do the task I am sworn to do. I can't just give up now when I'm so close, I hope you'll find it in your heart to be patient." Jabrill said

I won't likely even get a trial in Terradin. I'll be lynched, not that it matters. That's assuming I can even get the Flower.

He looked at Jabrill and said "You have already been sentenced Foxkin, the punishment for Smuggling is Death." he then took a long draw from his tankard and continued to glare at the knight.

[Yesopalitha]

Back at the Forest of Hazingafar

The Unbidden Horde that had occupied the Forest of Hazingafar had been nearly wiped out by the battles at Cooran and Memphiste. However, others from Mystria had all been gathering to the Forest anyway, and the once empty Forest brimmed with Unbidden once more. Vampires, Werewolves, Goblins, Orcs, Minotaurs, Imps... They all came to the Forest, their numbers back in the thousands.

A murmur spread through them that their leader, Nirdasil, was coming back. The same leader that had sent over hundred thousand of them to their deaths, but also destroyed lots and lots of Bidden. A being to be feared.

Nirdasil ran through the crowd, and to her place in the clearing. She carried grace about her, as well as a newly found sense of peace.

She stood in place, and, to the crowd's astonishment... she bowed. No, she actually kowtowed, her head hitting the soft ground. Then, she stood up, and spoke these words:

"My Unbidden... My Brothers, my Sisters, my Mothers, my Fathers... I stand before you today a changed person.
I used to be like you are now. I wanted the blood of the Bidden for their persecution of us. I wanted them dead for the countless children that they have killed. That they have mistreated. The fear and the pain that we have all experienced. I wanted them punished for their deeds. But no more. No... Blood is not the answer. It is indeed the problem.
When one kills another, the other side will want revenge, and the cycle will go on forever. There will never be peace. Only blood shed on both sides. It is indeed true that we have been rejected, marginalized in the past. But we must face their blades with love. With compassion.
I have found a Relic of Zaiden. It is the Lucante Gremoire, and it answers questions that anyone may ask. I asked it if finding the Seven Relics of Zaiden will return him, and give us a Homeland that we desire. Yes, My Unbidden, a homeland, where no one can tell us what to do, none can hurt us, a land that we can call home, a land where we will be free. The Book, which doesn't lie, told me that Zaiden will grant us this Homeland if we get the Relics ourselves.
Are we going to seize these Relics by force? No, My Unbidden. We will not. We will go in force and camp out in the open, but we will not attack unless otherwise provoked. We will talk to them as civilized beings, telling them what we desire, and informing them that everything that they think they know about the Unbidden is indeed false. For we weren't always like this. The Wars against the Bidden, the persecution and the hatred have turned us into... the monstrosity that the Bidden see. Once they realize that the Unbidden is indeed a civilized Race, one that can be reasoned with, perhaps they will resist confrontation.
Do you remember ever feeling peace? Security? A sense of family? I realize that for years, I have been a being of terror, killing many Bidden, sacrificing many Unbidden, for my own cause. But now, I am changed. I realize that I am your Voice, the one that is supposed to take care of you... A person who will lead the Unbidden into a place where we will not only have power, but also respect, and honor, and peace.
Any peace that is fought by blade and blood won't last forever. However, peace that is derived by talking lasts a long time.
Forgive me for my past. Let me serve you for the future. Perhaps in our lifetime, the Unbidden will not be the Unbidden any longer... But become known as 'The Gifted of Zaiden'."

With that, Nirdasil kowtowed low once more, and continued to speak:

"Gather all remaining Unbidden. Tell them of our intentions. Remind them to lower their weapons... And to march with me. We march not to war, but to peace. If it is war they want, we will avoid it as much as possible, and it'll hopefully not come down to that. Remember: We march not toward war but toward peace. Thank you."

She stopped, and looked around. "I see all that Zaiden created... And I see my family. My heart. My people. I will do my best to lead you all."

The Unbidden were stunned. They had never expected those words... Some of them were crying, some of them had their weapons on the ground. The concept of a Homeland with no oppression was so foreign to them... but it appealed to them. One Vampire started to clap, and many others followed suit, to the point where the entire clearing was being filled with sounds of applause.

The Unbidden, from that day forward, called themselves the Gifted of Zaiden. They started following Nirdasil out of hope and love, not fear and intimidation.

And the Great March began.

[Metanih]

"Excuse me Knight, i found two artifacts, and that was alone. One was lost, not by my doing, Maven watched it. The Grimoire has a will of its own, and it is hardly my fault. You, and your whole team, found only one, and that one is in the hands of one who is not with you at the moment. Where is this Mari I hear about? One of the Heroes of Suld, and slayer of an Abomination if i am to believe the stories. You are in the stories too knight. However, no matter how many stories you are in, you still lack an artifact, such as the one i carry." Cherry said, holding up her locket, still in the bag Maven gave her. "What is the importance of the artifacts again? Why must they be united?"

[Crystal Spires]

He looked at Jabrill and said "You have already been sentenced Foxkin, the punishment for Smuggling is Death." he then took a long draw from his tankard and continued to glare at the knight.

"As I suspected. So, I can't get the Spectral harp myself..." Jabrill nervously folded his hands.

"No, not if you want to live. And to answer your question Miss Brightblossom it is said in legends that the relics will gather opening a pathway to the Gods and doing so will bring forth the final relic, the flower of Zaiden. However scholars also believe that this will open the pathway to the Gods and will lead to the Gods themselves returning to the earth and purging the impure and the wicked. This is what I've heard, but it is said that Zaiden, lover of impurity will stand against his God kin again, and will be slain again defending his kin. Others say that he will defeat the Gods and build a homeland for the unbidden, but it would come at the cost of the lives of all the gods and his very own. That is what legend says, and what scholars debate. The Hymns are vague enough to have varied interpretations, but they also do not know the nature of the relics themselves either. So this is my opinion as a religious man." Maven said as he looked at her with curiosity.

[Metanih]

"Interesting. Do you perhaps know where someone would take the Grimoire, once they had it?" Cherry asked, wanting it back.

---

Mari walked out of the gates, covered in a cloak. She didn't want Jabrill and Arvok chasing her down, and Maven would likely notify them if the guards knew her. It would be annoying, and would result in more time here. Mari hated cities, and the politics involved. She needed some time away from it. She walked alone on the road, the road to nowhere in particular.

[Crystal Spires]

"Interesting. Do you perhaps know where someone would take the Grimoire, once they had it?" Cherry asked, wanting it back.

"Perhaps they would carry it on their person. Such a tool is useful and light enough to carry in one's hands, but the problem is that the book is temperamental as we both know..." Maven said frowning at imagining the second bill for a broken window. He was planning on investing in more reinforced glass at this rare.

"So the bigger question would be what would motivate her to come back? This creature seems to have some sort of desire or agenda for which it would be wise to find out what it is. If this creature desires something or cherishes something, if you threaten it they will come." Maven said as he looked at Jabrill again. "But that's a dirty trick in the book you guys seem to be applying . So whatever you can come up with then..."

[Crystal Spires]

Mari walked out of the gates, covered in a cloak. She didn't want Jabrill and Arvok chasing her down, and Maven would likely notify them if the guards knew her. It would be annoying, and would result in more time here. Mari hated cities, and the politics involved. She needed some time away from it. She walked alone on the road, the road to nowhere in particular.

The peace of the woods became familiar as the winter winds came blowing the dried leaves through. Going North would mean colder weather, and the people seemed to be on a more guarded manner. This was strange. Perhaps it had to do with rumors about slavers kidnapping people on the paths and roads. The Imperial Guardsmen of Caltris seemed to extend now as far north as they were guarding the roads, which perhaps illustrated how dire the situation had been becoming.

[Metanih]

Mari was very glad she had her heavy green cloak, the one that had covered her at the gate, when a chill wind blew. She approached a guardsman, as soon as one appeared, and asked if something was wrong. The guard was not this far North normally, but Mari had not heard the rumors. If she had, she would already have come. She had been getting restless travelling with Jabrill for so long, and it was getting depressingly tedious. Jabrill had the head and voice for politics, but Mari was a warrior and a mage, but never a diplomat. Her blades were not used to so long without use. The Duskblade was not meant for wasting away, in diplomatic meetings. It was meant to fight for something, in Mari's opinion. That was another thing she liked about the open road. Only her opinion mattered at that point. Nobody else controlled her, nobody needed saving.

---

"So we shall have to wait?" Cherry said, disappointed. Her hand instinctively grasped the locket through the cloth. She always did that when she was stressed. She was not good at waiting.

[Crystal Spires]

Nobody else controlled her, nobody needed saving.

58 Miles West of Anherc

The Guardman looked at Mari and nodded from behind his helmet and took it off. "Hail traveler, There's been problems up and down the road with people speaking rumors of kidnappings. These have been said too many times to be mere hearsay and after the battle of Mephiste the people have become more anxious. This reminds me personally of the preludes to the 7th War of Attrition. Few of us recall such days without the feeling of fear and horror." The guardman said as he watched Mari "To which way do you go Traveller?"

---

Caltris

"Waiting no, but to set a trap you need bait. We do not know what kind of bait will work." Maven said "What do we know of this creature who stole the Grimoire?"

[Metanih]

"She was rather emotional last i saw her. She cast insanity upon us, then ran, tears in her eyes. She seemed sad for sure." Cherry said, recalling the words Tarahel said, about how her emotions gave him temporary freedom from control.

---

"Thank you good sir. I do believe i can help with these issues. I came to find something to avoid politics, and saving this land from kidnappers fits that bill perfectly. Perhaps you would know something about where these kidnappers are? I assure you, i can handle myself." Mari showed him her swords, which were previously hidden beneath her cloak.

[United World Order]

Jeremiah looked at the caves for a bit and looked to the road then at the caves again. Hmm this is gonna take some time he thought

[Crystal Spires]

58 Miles West of Anherc

"The City of Anherc has been trying to rebuild after it was razed, and the area's more unstable than most areas around. Caltris has sent a unit of Domestic Defense forces, and 1 squad of uncorruptibles, but they have had little success finding the kidnappers. Might I suggest you go east to Anherc and see what they say." The Guardman said. "I will continue to keep the roads safe where I can, Blessings of Fornt upon you."

The Guardman proceeded further North following the road ahead. The crossroads were coming soon and going East would lead to Anherc. The crisp air was making warm breath fog up, and it smelled like it would soon snow.

---

Caltris

"She cried then. She must have had something she was afraid to lose. And for that to be true there's a way to use that weakness to draw her out. That weakness... Is the Red Hand isn't it?" Maven said as he looked at the group.

[Metanih]

Mari went east, after giving thanks to the guard, and praising his work. It would be lonely, it seemed, to work the roads like this. But it was needed. Not all travelers could protect themselves. Of course, not all travelers wanted protection. Mari walked off of the road, a few hundred yards off, and walked slightly slower, as if with a limp of sorts, and slightly hunched over, as if in weakness. She would go east, to this city, but it would be unneeded if she found kidnappers on the way. She listened carefully, for any movement, any sound not normal in this landscape.

---

"I wouldn't know. I don't even know her name. I ran up, and she fled. Jabrill, what is your relations with this abomination?" Cherry said, anger and hatred apparent in her voice. One who would afflict insanity on another was a special kind of evil, in her opinion.

[Crystal Spires]

Jeremiah looked at the caves for a bit and looked to the road then at the caves again. Hmm this is gonna take some time he thought

Taelisven Cliffsides

The cold was becoming greater as the sun was beginning to set. this was dangerous because it meant that it would be the ideal time to move the slaves under the cover of the darkness. This could either mean that the Samurai would have to stand watch by the caves and see who would come out, or go into the caves and search more.

[Kalron]

Raren was dumbfounded by Maven. Trying really hard not just to shove a sword into him to shut him up. He cared not for trifles "Why can't we just head to Kalron ,get an Inquisitor and track her down on an official inquisition, non one expects them or can run from them, they know truth from lies and will do anything to protect the realm, then we'll have the artifact and an unbidden to question, as such, we will have more than we bargained for not to mention, if you are correct, she leads the horde! I mean think of what we could do with the witch. "
Raren was sure that this was the answer. He was also sure no one would agree. Kalron, though not being to far away, was still a journey and not to mention almost everyone but him hating his Order, nothing he suggested would be considered. Simply torn down and thrown out. The logical thing was always rejected by those who feared what they did not know.

[United World Order]

Jeremiah looked at the caves for a bit and looked to the road then at the caves again. Hmm this is gonna take some time he thought

Taelisven Cliffsides

The cold was becoming greater as the sun was beginning to set. this was dangerous because it meant that it would be the ideal time to move the slaves under the cover of the darkness. This could either mean that the Samurai would have to stand watch by the caves and see who would come out, or go into the caves and search more.

Jeremiah gathered his team. "Were gonna do an ambush on the kidnappers, They will probably exit the caves under the cover of darkness so we will ambush them then. Get ready and keep watch" Jeremiah said

[Crystal Spires]

Cherry said, anger and hatred apparent in her voice. One who would afflict insanity on another was a special kind of evil, in her opinion.

Caltris

"A friend...."

I think...A friend who wants to kill me.... I shouldn't say that.

---

57 Miles West of Anherc

There was a loud crack noise as there emerged several men.

"If you don't want to get hurt, come along with us." A Scarred one said as he pointed a Javelin at her. The whole group was human.

[Metanih]

"Oh, hello there. I assume you are the kidnappers i have heard so much about from the friendly guards? Tell me, have you heard of an Eldritch Abomination? Because i have slain one. And by virtue of that, your spear hardly scares me." Mari said calmly, pulling out the Duskblade in a smooth motion as she spoke, and stepping into a defensive posture. Her other hand was free for one of two things, magic, or possibly drawing a second blade. Whichever, these men would regret their choice in careers very soon.

[Crystal Spires]

"Why can't we just head to Kalron ,get an Inquisitor and track her down on an official inquisition, non one expects them or can run from them, they know truth from lies and will do anything to protect the realm, then we'll have the artifact and an unbidden to question, as such, we will have more than we bargained for not to mention, if you are correct, she leads the horde! I mean think of what we could do with the witch. "

"Because there's no need. I can tell truth from lies without torture, and I protect the realm. This is my land and this would be a pretext for another war of Attrition and I won't have it. I didn't forget when Archon Messandre allowed their spies to enter the High Council and assassinated High Chancellor Selanie, and I won't allow my lands to be subject to your inquisition as long as I have breath in my lungs. If that isn't clear enough..." He said while he looked Raren in the eyes with a smirk.

[Crystal Spires]

Whichever, these men would regret their choice in careers very soon.

"Oh God, It's the Elven Hero from Suld... Spare us please!" The youngest man said while the other two kidnappers began to attack Mari as her blade crackled with power.

The scarred man attacked Mari with his Javelin attempting to keep distance and range while his other companion that desired to fight loaded a crossbow .

[Crystal Spires]

Jeremiah gathered his team. "Were gonna do an ambush on the kidnappers, They will probably exit the caves under the cover of darkness so we will ambush them then. Get ready and keep watch" Jeremiah said

Just as the night reached it's peak a few men emerged and dragged a group of slaves pointing their crossbows at the crowd and leading them away from the caves and toward the East.