Chapter 1: Of Knights & Nightmaren
Wizeman sat upon his throne, idly toying with an ideya in one hand while pouring through his tomes in search of inspiration.
A recent battle with the rebels had ended in failure, the plans for the new type ideya capture used in the battle were discarded upon the floor.
There must be away to claim a final victory he mused, something they will not expect. More 2nd levels perhaps?
A tap at the door brought him back to reality.
'Enter,' he said, 'and then stared in amazement as the guardmaren escorted a Visitor dressed in black and white, with a face shrouded beneath voluminous hood.
The light of his Ideya was strong, however there was another aura overlapping it. While it was similar to Ideya, there was a profound difference that unnerved him. But the Visitors stance indicated that he was not here to challenge him.
'Lord Wizeman, my superiors have sent me here to offer an alliance. The guardmaren within the chamber burst out laughing.
Wizeman ally with Visitors? This was comedy gold!
The Visitor glared at them, the aura of his Ideya of Courage wreathing him in red.
'You second rate fools,' he sneered and launched himself at them.
Taken completely by surprise, the guards, a mix of 1st and 2nd level minions were smacked around until Wizeman began to lose patience.
'Enough, 'he roared, and the Visitor stopped and returned to his place before the throne.
'As I said, I came here with offers of an alliance but not without bearing gifts.' he said opening a case with a padded interior. Within it were Ideya, but they were smaller then the conventional types, and greater in number.
'I give you the Ideyas of Vice and the Ideyas of Virtue,' he crowed.
Wizeman was intrigued.
'How did you come by them?' he asked.
'Countless trials, experiments and research upon Nightmaren and Perfect Dreamers.' the Visitor replied, 'the Somnium Knights labored unceasingly until we gained this great prize.'
Wizeman smirked, these Somnium Knights were dream walkers and they saw him as the one who held the keys to their own kingdom.
What he could accomplish if…
'I wish to deliberate on all you have said, ' he replied, 'return on the morrow for my reply.'
Wizeman had spent the day examining the Ideya samples and was intrigued with the possibilities they contained.
There were ten Ideya of Vice; Wrath (Red ), Pride (Yellow) , Sloth (Blue), Envy (Green), Greed (Brown), Gluttony (Lavender), Deception (Black) ,Vanity (Orange), Lust (Magenta) and Impiety (White).
These Ideya possess traits that Wizeman could tolerate, but then there were the others.
Serenity (Red), Honor (Yellow), Diligence (Blue), Benevolence (Green), Charity (Brown), Eschewal (Lavender), Truth (Black), Humility (Orange), Clarity (Magenta), and Piousness (White).
The power emanating from them nauseated him. However he felt that perhaps the qualities of these ideya could be tempered into something he could use.
He contained studying the Ideya, until sunset, when a knock at the door heralded the return of the Somnium Knight, accompanied by two more from his order.
'Greetings Lord Wizeman,' he said bowing low, ' as promised I have returned to hear your answer.'
Wizeman stared at the Knight. What the Visitor did not know was that he had discovered the theft of several volumes from his library. He suspected that the techniques to extract Ideya of Vice and Virtue had lain within, and that those responsible for the theft of those secrets now stood before him.
However he paused at striking them down, instead he would agree to their request, and create an alliance so binding, they would never have the power, nor will to brake away.
'I accept,' he replied, 'now let us prepare for our future.'