Despair Eternal
One
Rayne opened her cloak, letting it fall to her back as she knocked on the door. There came a low creak as the reinforced wooden door swung open. Standing on the other side was a cute girl about your age, her green hair lying flat against her head, falling about halfway down her back. She gives a groggy look to Rayne and smiles.
"Hey... It's Auntie Rayne. Come on in." She let you and Rayne in and walks into the house. "MOM! MOTHER! IT'S RAYNE!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. From the kitchen came the gaze of another green haired woman you recognize.
"Gale, honey, don't shout. You'll give yourself strep throat and - " Her red eyes suddenly spot you and ignite. "YOU! I recognize you! You're that sticky-fingered little punk who stole from the Guardian Tower! How'd you -" She begins, Rayne jumping to your defense.
"Artix." Rayne speaks simply. "Artix has once again undid everything you've done, Maria."
"Artix?" Maria barked. "Artix let you out!" You nod a little, trying not to incite her wrath. She gives an exaggerated roll of her eyes and a heavy, defeated sigh before turning back into the kitchen. "I'm going to hazard a guess and say that you're here on business, and not pleasure." She continued, Rayne smiling some and giving a nod.
"You would be correct. Artix wants the information you said you had, and sent our mutual friend here to receive it."
"And you, knowing I'd rip that punk's head right off, right?" Rayne gave another nod, which prompted the other to roll her eyes again. "That paladin is always a step ahead, isn't he? Age hasn't slowed him down at all. Alright, have a seat, you two, and I'll spill the beans." Throwing a tea towel over her shoulder she took a pan off the stove and placed the two pancakes atop the others. "Hope I've got enough for everyone." She cleared her throat. "Safiria!" She shouted. "Breakfast!"
"Mo-om..." Gale began, fixing to chastise her mother for shouting.
"Do as I say Gale, not as I do." She gave a sniped response as you sit next to Rayne and Gale. "Now, eat up everyone. If there's not enough, I'll make more." She sits across from you, and looks you over. "So tell me." She address you plainly. "You managed to get into the Guardian Tower, which in among itself is a feat. Then you managed to get into the Library without being seen, another feat of strength. But once there... you take one stupid, illegible book. No arcane tomes, no historical records of Lore, and not the Guardian Ledger. Why just that one book? What makes all that worth the risk?"
You spend all of breakfast explaining to everyone assembled everything that brought you to this point in your journey, the Spider-Like Epheel commissioning you to steal the book for a fortune's in gold, the brown-haired man, who you learn to be Captain Artix Von Krieger of the Guardians releasing you under those conditions, as well as what you believe he has planned next. As you speak, Maria listens intently, taking in every one of your words, and judging what your own motives are.
"Artix was always a pretty good judge of character. Alright, kiddo, I'll play along. My name is Maria Despair, I'm a retired Guardian and full-time mother to this rapscallion." She pointed a threatening fork at Gale, who smiled and gave a stick of her tongue. "You've met my friend Rayne already. I remember when she was knee high to a grasshopper, way back when."
"Seriously, Despair, let's not go there." Rayne muttered, not even raising her head. Maria responded with a big grin and a chuckle.
"I imagine Artix sent you here for my notes, which I haven't made yet. If I told you everything he needed to know, you'd never remember it all. I need to make some notes for him, but I'm not about to allow you to laze about while I jot them all down. I have a request to make of you. You look pretty apt with a sword, and you're light on your feet, so here's the deal: While I'm making those notes for Captain Krieger, I want you to go into my yard and clear out some of the weeds." You stifle a laugh. "Hey, don't laugh. Those weeds will eat you for dinner and ask for more! They're Dragon Tooth Snappers, about eight of them. I asked SOMEONE to do it yesterday, but that SOMEONE forgot." She shot Gale, the green-haired girl who met you at the door, a dirty look.
"I can't help it. I forgot!" Gale answered drinking half the glass of milk in one sitting.
"Anyway, I hate to admit it, but those plants, while not dangerous, are a nuisance, and I need them taken care of. I'll give you a sword and some armor, and when you're done, you can keep them. By the time you're finished with the plants, I'll have those notes for you. OH! And be a dear, and pull some of their teeth out for me, would you? Warlic pays out the eyes for those thing's teeth, for some weird reason. DO that, and I'll split the gold with you. After all, you may be doing the work, but it's still my back yard. What do you say?" With empty pockets, and not much other direction to turn, you agree to clear her back yard. "Excellent!" She smiles at you and stands, collecting some of the dishes.
"Thanks, by the way." Gale speaks to you, helping her mother with the dishes. "I hate those things."
"Oh, don't think you're getting out of it, Gale. I want you to help clear them." Gale's smile suddenly does an invert, quickly turning into a frown.
"Awwwww! Mo-om!" She whines, clearly not wanting to do it. "But Kay and I are going out this afternoon!"
"Gale. Honey. There's eight of them. A swing each and they're dead. Stop complaining and help. You'll be done in a minute. Two if they decided to be sneaky and hide. You'll still have time to go out with your friends."
"Safiria!" She called to the black haired woman at the head of the table, who had sat down unseen to you. Without lifting her head, the woman muttered in a very fatherly manner.
"Listen to your mother." You pat Gale's shoulder and tell it's alright, that with two of you, it'll go pretty fast. With a sigh and a nod, Gale agrees.
"Yea... you're right." You watch Maria take a battered sword from a mount on the wall, and hand it to you.
"Here. This belonged to a friend of mine. You can keep hold of it, but don't loose it." She slaps your shoulder and ushers you and Gale outside. "Go. Have fun. Slay some killer plants." Sliding the door closed behind you, she locks it, assuring you and Gale don't return until your job is done. Gale sighs as she unsheathes her sword.
"Well, since we're out here, we might as well do our job." Offering you her free hand she smiles sweetly to you. "Gale Despair. It's nice to meet you. What's your name?" The sword feeling a bit large in your hand, you reply with your name, and survey the area. Gale nods as she listens, smiling some.
"That's a nice name you have. Maybe one day, you'll tell me what it means, eh, buddy?" She jumps off the porch and into the grass. "But now, we gots us some killing to do. Come on." Off in one of the close bushes, you see a small bulbous creature appear, scanning the area for prey. Looking you straight in the eyes, it barks a loud cry, seven more similar creatures appearing from different bushes. "Uh oh. They've seen us. And despite what my mother tells you, these things are NO push-overs! Get ready!"
Gale's words ring true to you. Their lithe stalks are surprisingly resilient to sword swing and, as Gale demonstrates many a time, magic blast. With the combined efforts of your sword and Gale's Magic, you manage to bring one down. With a hard step with her boot heel, Gale knocks a few of the snapper's teeth out, collecting and pocketing them. Sheathing her blade momentarily and cracking her knuckles, she looks you over again.
"Mom was right. You've got some serious skills. She told me what happened in Battleon, and I didn't think it possible at first. But now that I see it... I believe it." She laughs a little and pats your shoulder. "If Captain Krieger is right, you'd be a welcome addition to anything he has planned." She unholsters her blade and turns to face a second Snapper. "In the meantime, one down, seven to go." She dives head-long into another Snapper, attempting to finish this job quickly.
It takes the two of you two grueling hours to kill all eight of the Dragon Tooth Snappers, and when you do, you face Gale with a satisfied look upon your face, sweat pours down her face and soaks her shirt's collar. Sheathing her blade for the final time, she takes the tails of her shirt and wipes the sweat away, groaning with a pleased sigh. "Well!" She smiles at the job well done. "Mom's probably thinking we got lost between grass blades." Taking the pouch of Snapper Teeth from her belt and hands it to you. "Here. Warlic doesn't want me in his shop for another week since the incident yesterday, so mom's probably going to have you deliver those teeth to him." You take the tooth pouch and attach it to your own belt.
"Well. Took you two long enough. I would have had them dead hours ago." Maria's voice comes from the door as she allows you in. Choosing your next words, you carefully explain the various strength differentials between Gale and you, and Maria. The woman laughs heartily as you explain this, and nods. "Aye, yea, I suppose there is a difference there. I keep forgetting I'm no ordinary woman. You two hungry?" She smiles as she locks the door behind you. "I made some lunch for us all. You..." She directs her next words to your ears. "...Need to eat up. I'll need you to deliver those teeth to Warlic. I don't have anyone else to help me there after someone mixed Mandrake Root and Stone's Blood with Pixie Dust last night."
"You had to admit, mom. The explosion was pretty cool." Maria shot her with a dirty look. "I'm going to fix his roof this afternoon, promise." She muttered plainly.
"Good." Maria muttered. "As for you, I need you to go back with Rayne, deliver these teeth to Warlic and..." Taking a stack of papers from a table, she hands them to you. "...give these to Captain Krieger. He'll be happy to have them. Feel free to read them over yourself on the way over, some of them pertain to you, so you should know my thoughts. You leave once Rayne gets out of the bath." There came a knock at the door, Gale jumped to answer it, sprinting to the door.
"KAY!" Gale called as a young woman about her age walks in, Gale pulling her into a hug. "You're just on time, I just finished clearing the Snappers from the backyard like mom wanted. You ready to go?"
"Kay just got in, dear, don't you think she should sit down and relax for a few? Or are you just going to throw her right back out the door?" Maria asked, handing Sage a glass of water. "I imagine the run was quite strenuous."
"No more then usual, Ms. Despair." Kay answered, taking the glass of water. "Thank you."
"Maria, please." She corrected her, stepping back into the kitchen. "It's not bad enough knowing how old I am, you don't have to remind me every day. Sage, this is our newest friend... d'uh..." She blanks on your name. "I'm sorry... I seem to have forgotten..." Smiling and nodding, you tell Sage your name, and she smiles. "Yea... that was it."
"Nice to meet you." Kay answers, bowing. "My name is Kay Anasi, Gale's friend, it's nice to meet you." The two of you shake hands as a door opens behind you. Turning, you face a clean Rayne Anasi as she finishes drying her hair, dressed in a white t-shirt and a pair of denims. "Hi mom! Did Aunt Maria convince you to take a bath finally."
"Convince? No. She stripped me naked and threw me in. I had no choice in the matter." You, Gale and Kay all share a laugh at the thought, Maria coming in from the kitchen.
"Don't laugh. True story. She put up a good fight, but it was all for naught, as I'm stronger." Maria told us, putting a glass in a cupboard, tossing a tea-towel on the counter and walking into the room with us. "Rayne, will you be taking the kid back to Battleon? Few things I need done in town, and I can't trust Gale not to blow up Warlic's shop again."
"It was an accident!" Gale pleads again, throwing her hands up.
"Yea, an accident that Warlic won't let me live down. You're going to have to learn Gale, that your actions reflect on me as much as you." She looks over to you, a twinkle in her eye as some thought, most likely an evil one, enters her mind. "A good lesson for you, while I'm at it. Every action you do here reflects as much on others as on yourself. Artix put his faith in you, and your actions will come back to reflect on him as well. When you look good, so does he. Don't forget." She brightens her smile as she claps her hands. "Right! Rayne's out of the bath, and daylight's burning. You two better get back to Battleon before Artix thinks you got lost, or ran afoul of some undead or something."
"She's right." Rayne mutters, nodding. "Artix will be waiting our report, and we shouldn't keep him waiting." She pats your shoulder some. "Come on. We might make it before dinner if we hurry." Waving to Kay, she smiles to her daughter. "You have fun with Gale today, Kay. Don't be out too much after dark, now."
"Oh, don't worry. They'll be back well before then. RIGHT?" Maria made a stern question to Gale, almost as if she was giving her the answer. Gale smiled and nodded innocently, dismissing any concern her mother had. "Good! Now get out of here, both of ya." She shoos Gale, Kay, Rayne, and you out of the door. Rayne doesn't miss a beat as she hoists herself back onto the back of the white horse. You manage to get up with little problem. She gives you the 'watch your hands' warning again as you wrap your arms around her waist to hang onto the speedy horse.
The return trip to Battleon takes about two hours, about as long as the trip there took. Rayne parks her horse by the Inn on the right hand side of the road as she stretches. "I trust you can make your way back to the Guardian Tower when your business with Warlic is concluded, yes?" You give her a confident nod, which she returns with a satisfied look. "Good. Don't keep Krieger and I waiting too long. He's got plans for you, and I have a feeling I'm involved." She bows respectively to you as a farewell. "I'll see you shortly." She turns and walks up the path towards the tower, her cloak flowing behind her. Detaching the pouch of Snapper Teeth from your belt, you walk into the blue-roofed building with the arcane symbol drawn as a sign. As you open the door, a small bell heralds your entry, a white-haired man looking through a curtain at you.
"Greetings, Guardian." He drones, stepping through the curtain, staff in hand. Raising an eyebrow, you ask how he knew you were a Guardian. "Few things Artix does escape me, friend. I was the first who knew of your unique circumstances. I also happen to know you have something from me, from Maria, yes?" With a nod, you hand the bag of teeth to him, he accepts it graciously. Opening it, he takes one of the teeth out and examines it. "Quite a well-kept specimen. Maria did not harvest these, that is plain to see. You, perhaps? When Maria kills Dragon Tooth Snappers, she tends to cleave their heads in, damaging the merchandise. You have quite a good selection here, and I feel adequate payment is due. Here." He takes a pouch of gold coins from a desk drawer and hands them to you. "Five hundred gold coins for your trouble. I'll send Jimmy along with her share post haste." He takes a second pouch from the drawer and slings it around a small winged eye-like creature, who takes off and zips into the air. "Artix has also asked me to teach you a few things about the Arcane while you're here. As much as I loath free lessons, I suppose it is the least I could do. Follow me, if you would."
He leads you past the curtain he entered from and into a back study, dusty, massive tomes of untold knowledge lining the walls. In the center of the floor is a large summoning circle drawn in some glowing ink upon the stone. Placing his staff on the ground, it begins floating in place with no assistance. "Due to how mum was the word in which I am to instruct you in, I have chosen a couple of spells which should cover all your need for the time being. A simple healing, and a simple fire spell should suffice." He motions you to stand on the rune in the floor, which you comply with, as he clears his throat. "Magic is something that touches all of the Creator's creations on Lore, regardless of how much, or in most cases, how little it does. To harness and cast magic is the base of any successful Guardian. Knowing the right spell to cast... that is another thing entirely. Now... do as I instruct, and do not sway..."
He begins to instruct you on how to channel arcane energies from your body into your arms to produce many effects, the only effect he shows you is the creation of fire for defensive purposes, and the mending of minor wounds. You find a small joy in setting small, defenseless pots on fire, yet you understand that this should not be used for personal amusement. Warlic watches as you practice, impressed on how quickly you picked up on the magical arts and, as quickly as his lesson begins, it ends. He stops your cast mid-stride and gives you a nod. "You've proven to be one of my better pupils. You've taken what I've given and digested it quite well. Impressive. Now, you must hurry along and find Artix, I feel he will begin to grow impatient if you tarry too much longer." Taking his staff back in his hand, he tucks it close to his chest as he leads you back out into the shop proper. "If you ever desire further magical training, do not hesitate to return here, however, this is your one and only 'freebie'. I must make a living, you understand." You understand his plight and nod, giving him a thankful word and a friendly wave. "Good. Now off you go." Taking your leave, you exit his shop and begin to walk up the road towards the tall Guardian Tower in the rear of town, the sun now high in the sky. Several townsfolk of Battleon walked about town, going in and out of buildings and going about their usual business. A few see you on the street and give you and a friendly greeting, waving with a 'hello' or 'good morning', which you return halfheartedly. From behind someone slaps your back.
"Mornin' kid." A male voice drones, a figure appearing to your right. "Goin' my way? You must be the newbie Krieger was tellin' us about. 'Off the record' and all that good stuff." He's a tall man, probably in his forties, with shaggy brown hair and matching beard, two long swords on his belt. He wears the iconic plate mail of the Guardian Order, his cape following behind him, brushing the ground behind him. "Name's Wolfblitzer. Artix assigned me to keep you safe during your newest assignment. Although, if what he tells me is true, I shouldn't have to be doin' much in the ways of safe-keeping. Both Maria and Artix say you're good, and I'm inclined to believe Maria. Come on, lemme walk you up." Without even waiting for you to speak, he puts a firm, almost commanding hand on your shoulder and begins to walk with you through town and towards the tower. As you walk, you get the feeling of his very presence near you is assuring the folks of the town that you mean no harm, which puts them at ease.
He walks right up to the large double doors, to the two guardians standing there, and gives a friendly wave. "Mornin' Moon Called, Jaleco. Mind if we pass?" The two Guardians, a woman named Moon Called, and a man named Jaleco nod, parting so you can pass. "Thank you, and have a good morning."
"And you, sir." The pair of you step into the foyer of the Guardian Tower, the small hatch to your left leading to the dungeon where you woke up just hours before. The man standing in the foyer recognizes you and salutes the pair of you, though you feel he's more saluting your escort. You recognize the eye-patched man who objected to your release earlier.
"Commander Wolfblitzer. I see you've brought our lost dog back. How nice of you."
"Yep. That's me. Search and Retrieval. Where does Artix want us to meet him?" He asks, his voice fairly thick with sarcasm. The man, who Artix referred to as Wun-Eye throws his thumb over his shoulder to a staircase leading up.
"Big Man wants you upstairs, but I personally think this scum belongs back in the dungeon. But I trust Artix..." He gives you a cold stare. "Which is more then I'll ever say about you. Now get going before I decide to break the 'doesn't disobey orders' clause in my contract." Wolfblitzer gives the man a friendly smile and, his hand still on your shoulder, he shows you up the stairs.
"Just ignore Wun-Eye, kiddo. He's been here longer then anyone, and he hasn't climbed the Advancement Ladder one rung, and I think him loosing his eye to Drakkonnan a few years back didn't help. He's bitter to everyone, not just you." You and he climb the stairs in silence up three flights of stairs until you reach an office-like rotunda at the top. Wolfblitzer knocks before barging in. "Cap'n! It's us." He announces, pulling you in behind him. Artix is sitting at an oaken desk, writing with fervent haste on a piece of parchment. With Wolfblitzer's announcement, he looks up at you.
"Ah, there you two are. Come on in." Wolfblitzer was far ahead of Artix, already dragging you halfway into the room. "It's about time we discuss the second part of your release contract." Confused, you ask him what he meant. "Come on, it's only been a few hours. You couldn't have forgotten already? The second part of your contract was you help us capture Epheel. Remember?" Struck with the realization of what he said, you smile and confirm that you remember know, chastising yourself for how silly you must be to have forgotten. Artix smiles as you remember. "It's alright, kid. We all forget things in life. Tell me, did Epheel give you any instructions for contacting him in the event you managed to steal the book?" Thinking for a moment, you do remember him saying something about the Skraeling Desert far to the south of town. "Skraeling? Makes since, Epheel being an agent of the Devourer, he'd go for an unpopulated meeting point. Did he tell you exactly where in Skraeling to meet him?" Thinking again, you inform him he mentioned something about a summoning stone in Skraeling. "Summoning Stones? Odd. There are only three Summoning Stones this side of the Crystal Desert, and the only one in Skraeling is near the Canyon of Lost Souls. It would make sense, Summoning Stones are large, easily identifiable landmarks that would be simple for mortals, even ones unaccustomed to Battleon, such as yourself, to find. Alright, Wolfblitzer!"
"Yar?" He responds to the acknowledgment.
"Wait here while I gather Warlic and Galanoth, you four will be heading for the desert."
"Ah, really?" Wolfblitzer moans. "Man, I hate the desert. My skin gets all dry and junk."
"Stop your complaining, Mr. Blitzer." The calm voice of Warlic coos as he steps through the door with a large, well-built man in plate mail, a metal dragon's head over his own, covering his features follows. "Skraeling is fairly humid this time of year, yes, but it shouldn't be too much for a seasoned Guardian such as yourself."
"How'd you get here so fast?" Artix mutters, but shakes his head. "Oh, never mind, Mage. Can read minds and teleport. Man, why can't the Light have cool stuff like that? What does the Light have against telepathy and Fast-Travel."
"Powerful magics not easily controlled can corrupt, Artix. But that is not important, the task at hand is. Here." From his robes, he produces two objects; the first being a heavy, think, leather bound book with unidentifiable runes etched on the cover and written in the pages, the book you stole from the Library yesterday. The second is a small stone which he slips into your pocket. "You no doubt recognize the book. In order for Epheel to appear, you will have to show him to book, but do not let him take it. When he reveals himself, we will use that stone to teleport to your location and deliver a killing blow to Epheel." You carefully point out that it's a rock. "To the untrained eye, yes. But I have placed a special enchantment on this stone, one in which I can see through your eyes and know when the time to move is. The enchantment will also permit me to teleport directly to you, without the need to do much calculations. You are most assuredly safe." He gives you the book. "Now go. If you start walking, you'll make it before dark." Rolling your eyes, you exit the building and begin the long trek tot he Skraeling Desert.