The Chronicles of Mystria: Times of Sorrow I

[Metanih]

Jabrill was in the city. Likely already on trial, as he was such a case that they needed such a large escort. Mari and Cherry would normally enter the gate, but Mari didn't want anyone recognizing her as the wielder of the Duskblade, and Heroine of Suld, and possibly attempted Assassin of Maven. All of this would make her arrival more publicized than it needed to be, so she covered herself in a cloak, one that covered her swords, and gave her the appearance of an ordinary traveler. Upon seeing this, Cherry put her own on, thinking that the Prince would have alerted the gate guards of her appearance, and they may try and apprehend her.
After the preparations in disguise, the women entered the city,only to be stopped at the gate by guards.

[Austington]

"Alright, I can do that..." Jabrill said as they prepared to enter Terradin. He looked down the beautiful halls and even if he had seen them before, he was still feeling drained from the overload of discomfort.

"Let's go then." Jabrill said as he walked into the main hall wary of the slightest movement.

"Aye we should not keep the High Thane waiting for long, he has a short temper." replied Gundral. StoutHammer lead the way to the Great Hall in which sat the High Thane. Gundral walked in first and beckoned for Jabrill to follow him last in was StoutHammer.

"My Lord might I request that you send the others from the room, we come bearing sensitive information." said Gundral

"Very well. Everyone out bar the doors so none may enter General StoutHammer." said the High Thane

Fisk nodded to the two going in. " Good luck, Jabrill, you may need it." He wrapped his arm around Jabrill, sliding a knife into the cloak. Fisk whispered to him."There is something about this I do not like. you might need this."

"I suppose I will see what this place has to offer while you talk." He thought, 'You still owe me my reward.'

[Crystal Spires]

Jabrill stealthily concealed the dagger as he felt a little relief hit him. He could feel that it would be just enough if he really had no other options left. He hoped he wouldn't have to use it but he was not sure how it would go at all.

There really is nothing like the comforting feeling of not being completely unarmed in a place where most of the people want you dead. he thought to himself as he entered the room feeling just a little bit luckier. Of course luck was never Jabrill's strong suit.

[Servoth]

"Wear this." She threw a cloak on him and covered his likeness. "We need to sneak in as carefully as possible, if not there's no way we'll make it to Maven at all."

Amalia was glad to be landing so that she could be on solid ground again. She was still incredibly afraid of how rough the landing would be, but she would do her best to protect Dariken.

"Alright, let's go quickly." She said as the airship landed in Caltris Airpad.

"Lovely," Dariken said under his breath. It was abit silly, the cloak didn't do much for him at all. Dariken stood at 5ft and 11inches (1.8 meters) tall, and his two horns were obvious under the hood of the cloak. You would have to be practically blind not to see it was him. "You are sure this cloak is going to work, Amalia, doesn't it seem a little obvious who I am?" Dariken whispered to her.

[League of Emberg]

Gundral cleared his throat and began "Master Jabrill you may now remove your cloak. My Lord as Ordered I have brought forth the accused however I having interviewed him have obtained information concerning the charges that are leveled against him. He is also will to Give the Names of those he worked for in order for him to be set free. I feel that this more than would make up for the crimes that are leveled against him. We have also obtained evidence that show that he committed no murders but instead used a scare tactic of misinformation to keep people away from the smuggling site."

The high thane thought for a few moments and said "Very well in exchange for the names of the Hands of Fate I will drop all charges against you. I am not one to forget a favor, I now very well that this will not be easy for you and that they will seek your life, As such I would welcome you to stay in Terradin until such time as you decide to exit our grand hold."\

The Guards approached the two travelers "We must remove all of your weapons. They are not allowed with in our hold, They will be returned to you when you leave."

[Crystal Spires]

"You are sure this cloak is going to work, Amalia, doesn't it seem a little obvious who I am?" Dariken whispered to her.

"No. You look like my friend from primary school. He was a rather strange lad. Had a lisp too. I think it works. It suits you, but don't lisp or I will really think you're him and wonder if you've been around this whole time." Amalia said as she climbed down. "Now where could we find Maven? We need to see him quickly, just in case they really do find out that you're not my friend from primary school. We'll use that as your cover story if anyone asks too many questions."

He kind of does look like Aerys in that cloak... weird. It's uncanny. she thought as she followed Dariken not sure if she knew where the high council would keep Maven at all.

[Servoth]

"No. You look like my friend from primary school. He was a rather strange lad. Had a lisp too. I think it works. It suits you, but don't lisp or I will really think you're him and wonder if you've been around this whole time." Amalia said as she climbed down. "Now where could we find Maven? We need to see him quickly, just in case they really do find out that you're not my friend from primary school. We'll use that as your cover story if anyone asks too many questions."

He kind of does look like Aerys in that cloak... weird. It's uncanny. she thought as she followed Dariken not sure if she knew where the high council would keep Maven at all.

"I don't know, maybe the the basement of the High Council Building or a prison. I guess we'll try the High Council Building, if they moved Maven to a prison, the word about him being their would spread too quickly. Or although getting to the basement or where ever they are holding Maven will be a hasle to get to." Dariken explained to her. "And I just noticed that it's raining. I like the rain, along with lightning, too. It calms me down. Um, you want to go first or should I?"

[Almonde Tise]

"I KILLED MAVEN! I KILLED THE FOXKINS!! I KILLED EYLIS!!!"

"Maddy...what are you doing Maddy? Maven's still here. Maven's not dead, and he loves you. He doesn't want to see you like this. We need to help him before it is too late... Maven's always been a hero to me. He's always helping people, and going to people's rescue not thinking about how it would affect him. I've always known him to be like that. This time is no different, only Maddy... he can't just pick himself up from this one. He needs our help or he really will be killed and we won't have anyone else but each other. Maven's all I really have. The only family I can say...Is that strange? "

Yalij took the blades and set them aside and hugged Maddy.

Maddy's body began to quake in the sludge of mud that now completely enveloped her in its sad embrace. She could feel only a slight amount of warmth from the arms of Yalij but that too started to fade away until she felt nothing, felt like she was completely nothing. Tears stopped flowing from her eyes but not because she could hold the sorrow back but because her body had ran dry. Cheeks trembling, arms feeling useless, legs quivering, and knees sinking deeper into the mud Maddy's head fell limp over Yalij's right shoulder as she let out a series of long weeps deeper and louder than any dungeon before collapsing unconscious.

Her face had turned pale for a foxkin. She had not been eating nor had she been drinking fluids. Her mind, her heart, her body all of it shattered. There was no more energy to cry out but the sorrow continued into her dream.

---

Maddy's Dream

"Where...wha...where am I?" Before her lay an unending room divided in half completely by black and white. Maddy stood in the center of the line between the darkness and the light. "Hey.Don't touch me! Let, go!" she yelled as she felt an hand grab her, then another hand, another hand, another, until she felt numerous slimy, smelly hands grip her tightly. The hands were as large as her abdomen and felt as strong as a castle wall crushing its victim. She was their victim. They began to squeeze her body, bones cracking, protruding from her skin, and bleeding to a mashing pulp. Dissected like some dark experiment. Then she saw a winged creature out of her left eye that had not been destroyed as of yet through a slit between two large shadowy fingers carrying an object of indescribable nature. Then she could not see the light any longer.

The hands had stopped her torture. She felt like mush. She was mush. Bits and pieces of her were lying everywhere. Then she saw a six headed creature begin to eat her remains. She felt that pain of being eaten alive compounded by each molecule of her existence. Another figure cloaked in a shroud of unseen shining and not shining, darker and not darker, identifiable and not identifiable, stood before the six headed creature stopping its demonic jaws. Maddy's pain ended. Thankful for the end of the pain she called out to it, "Who are you?"

"Do not worry about my name troubled one. Only, worry about who you are. Join me. I shall rid you of all sorrow. I shall aid you. I shall end your suffering at the hands of the gods. All you have to do is seal it with your soul and blood."

"I...I...thank you for the offer but..."

"But what?"

"I...I...do not know you. I don't know if..."

"You can trust me? Fair enough. Then in due time you shall know who I am and I shall be waiting for you with the offer. Until then...I shall be with you always."

The ethereal presence fell into her body as if it were a sword plunging through her heart causing her an intense feeling of...

---

"AAAAAA!!!!!" Maddy screamed awaking in a strange bed.

"

[Crystal Spires]

I am not one to forget a favor, I now very well that this will not be easy for you and that they will seek your life, As such I would welcome you to stay in Terradin until such time as you decide to exit our grand hold."

"You majesty, you have to know that the guard too..." Maybe that would be too soon. ".... "the leader of the Hands of Fate is Gemae Idorfsye." Jabrill said as he calmly looked at the Thane. "I've already signed my own death warrant by telling you that much. Tarrus Grimroot also known as "Blue Hand", he's a Treefolk magic user, Tanilah Maniche is called the "White Hand" who is an elven sniper whose specialty is stealth killing. She's a skilled archer and can also use dual weapons, and has the ability of making a psionic weapon. Few people know her real name 'cept me. There's Dorfin Klongor a dwarf berzerker. He has the battleax and also is specialized in the crossbow. He's a master at dual weapons with monsterous strength, and is called the "Black Hand" and that's a few of them that I know. There's more but those are the ones you should be worried about."

[Metanih]

"Excuse me, we are simple travelers. We lack a need for weapons, and carry none. I am a mage, and defend myself without the need for weapons. My companion is a healer, also with no weapons." Mari told the guards. She was at least partially telling the truth. "Why must weapons be taken?"

[Crystal Spires]

"A simple precaution. If you'll allow me to inspect you for ore carrying implements we'll let you through. We've been having a bit of trouble with smuggling, and there's been reports of Trolls to the West. It's become dangerous to be letting in people without at least knowing that they're friendly. Carrying weapons isn't unusual for travelers, but it's unusual to carry mining tools, so if you don't mind..." He reached for their bag. "Let me take a quick look."

[Metanih]

"Sure." There shouldn't be much in the bag, but for rations, and other supplies. "Beautiful statues." Mari commented, handing it over, attempting to make pleasant conversation.

[Crystal Spires]

"The Dwarven architecture is rather unique. We do all of it by hand. It's much more sturdy." He said as he quickly searched and gave their bags back.

"You may pass but be alert. There's a lot of things going on in the city right now. It would be best to keep your head clear and avoid the main streets."

[Metanih]

"Thank you guards. We will heed your advice." Mari said, her and Cherry walking away, towards the side streets, and occasionally asking directions to the main judicial building, which seemed to be similar to the Thane's office. Cherry thought that Jabrill would go there first.

[Crystal Spires]

"And I just noticed that it's raining. I like the rain, along with lightning, too. It calms me down. Um, you want to go first or should I?"

"I'm following you. I don't trust myself with directions. We'll get lost for weeks and by then Maven will die. I'm following you." Amalia said as she shouldered her giant blade and followed Dariken, uncertain which way to go.

The basement... the council building... Beastlings sure are strange. They overcomplicate things. Why can't there just be an ordinary jail. Amalia thought frustratedly as she looked for a sign as to which building was the High Council one.

[Crystal Spires]

"AAAAAA!!!!!" Maddy screamed awaking in a strange bed."

"You've finally woken up?" Yalij said as he sat next to Maddy and held a cup of tea for her. "You've been having a rough time, I didn't want to wake you, so I let you sleep a little bit. You need to take care of yourself Maddy. You look like you haven't eaten or slept in days." Yalij said as he gave her a couple snicklemint cookies.

She won't like to hear that she's been asleep for as long as she has. I won't tell her. She might faint. Yalij thought.

"Here, try and take care of yourself and rest a little bit more." He said in the gentle way that he hand learned from Maven. It was clear that Yalij had picked up much of Maven's mannerisms and also his politeness was uncannily like Maven's.

[Crystal Spires]

"Thank you guards. We will heed your advice." Mari said, her and Cherry walking away, towards the side streets, and occasionally asking directions to the main judicial building, which seemed to be similar to the Thane's office. Cherry thought that Jabrill would go there first.

Jabrill awaited the judgment of the Thane and sat outside of the room as Gundral and the Thane continued to argue after he had given the names of the members of the Hands of Fate. He thought he gave them enough names, but somehow he knew there would have to be a catch. There always was a catch. He wouldn't be able to deal with another catch. He was tired of playing politic games, and him being the pawn to be sacrificed in the name of winning. He was just so tired. He looked up and accidentally let his ear be seen from his cloak and panicked as he hid it carefully behind the cloak. For a moment in the crowd of passerbys he could have sworn he saw Mari for a moment but perhaps it was his imagination. His hope getting the better of him.

[Servoth]

"And I just noticed that it's raining. I like the rain, along with lightning, too. It calms me down. Um, you want to go first or should I?"

"I'm following you. I don't trust myself with directions. We'll get lost for weeks and by then Maven will die. I'm following you." Amalia said as she shouldered her giant blade and followed Dariken, uncertain which way to go.

The basement... the council building... Beastlings sure are strange. They overcomplicate things. Why can't there just be an ordinary jail. Amalia thought frustratedly as she looked for a sign as to which building was the High Council one.

Dariken moved towards the High Council Building, the tallest building in all of Caltris or what he had seen of Caltris. He crossed the road, along with Amalia, over to the building and into the main lobby. He casually walked up to the main desk and asked the woman behind it, "Excuse me, but is there anyway you can tell me and my friend here, how to get down to the basement?"

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan walked up to Jabrill, smiling, and gently tapped the man on the shoulder. "Hey, Jabrill~!" he said innocently, then his face darkened. "Look at me." He had hidden the Arcanghouls, and they were living in small gems - he had devised the technique so he did not have to dismiss them, but could conceal their presence.

[Crystal Spires]

Dar'khan walked up to Jabrill, smiling, and gently tapped the man on the shoulder. "Hey, Jabrill~!" he said innocently, then his face darkened. "Look at me." He had hidden the Arcanghouls, and they were living in small gems - he had devised the technique so he did not have to dismiss them, but could conceal their presence.

"Sweet Goddess... What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here! Wait... Good evening kind sir, are you lost? I am not from around these parts so I couldn't tell you where the nearest pub is. Perhaps you should ask the man over there with the peg leg. He seems to have a better sense of direction. Tell Nirdasil, I'm sorry. I don't think I'm going to be able to deliver her wish, but I have something to ask of you. Can you do it? Jabrill whispered to Dark'han.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan nodded. "Mmn, but I don't think they would accept a wizened old man like me at the pub- " he chuckled "-but thank you." He leaned in, and whispered. "What's the favor?"

[Crystal Spires]

"Excuse me, but is there anyway you can tell me and my friend here, how to get down to the basement?"

"Of course. The stairwell to your right should lead you to the main lobby and take the lift to S-1 floor and then got out and take the stairs to the right." The receptionist said as she stared perplexed at Dariken.

What an odd one... he looks like he's sick too. I hope I don't catch a cold. The receptionist thought.

"Enjoy your stay at the High Council Building. May your day be a wonderful one."

[United World Order]

Jeremiah had went off to take a walk. Soon he would return he was extra carefull now that at anytime the assassians could return.

[Servoth]

"Of course. The stairwell to your right should lead you to the main lobby and take the lift to S-1 floor and then got out and take the stairs to the right." The receptionist said as she stared perplexed at Dariken.

What an odd one... he looks like he's sick too. I hope I don't catch a cold. The receptionist thought.

"Enjoy your stay at the High Council Building. May your day be a wonderful one."

"Hmm, easier than I thought, although that Receptionist look like she thought I was going to puke," Dariken said to Amalia, as they walked away from the main desk.
Do you think we'll she that she-witch around here? Who knows, but who cares we got Amalia with us and her sword. We'll be fine. Whatever you say, Dariken.

[Crystal Spires]

Dar'khan nodded. "Mmn, but I don't think they would accept a wizened old man like me at the pub- " he chuckled "-but thank you." He leaned in, and whispered. "What's the favor?"

"Tell her I'm sorry first of all, and I need you to find a friend of mine. She's an Elf, and she carries a strange sword. It's the Relic I entrusted to her and only her. Give her these..." He put the elemental stones in Dark'han's hands and closed them. "Tell her I'm sorry too. She's not going to like this but it can't be helped. I'm not really living up to anyone's expectations it seems...I'm not at all good to help you friend. I hope we meet again sometime. maybe in another life." Jabrill motioned to Dark'han to leave quickly. It wouldn't be long until Stout hammer would notice him. He couldn't risk it.