2. The Onslaught
I'm not sure what just happened. The world became a blur of horrible ill will and unprovoked aggression. I looked everywhere for the answer: the books; keepers of knowledge, the window; the outside world, and listened to the deplorable screams of my people as they die. Regardless, nothing could offer my mind sanctuary. I reached for my scepter, its black gem glistened for a second, and the light was swallowed in the vast depths of the jewel. I could feel the essences from my body being channeled into the staff, like an exorcism of sanity. My rage came out as I tore open the door to my chambers.
That, you see, is the very power of the black moonstones. All things in this world have an essence, and the black crystal simply redirects this essence into an onslaught of power, amplifying it a hundredfold. That is why the stones were considered sacred for so long. It wasn't until the Discovery that we even knew how they worked. Science, the killer of all things religious. Nevertheless, the stones guaranteed our civilization a chance to show the ranks of the world we are a force to be reckoned with. Would we even still exist if it were not for these solidified enigmas? The current situation tells me my answer. But then why would the Silver Civilization attack us? We have been allies since we were ignorant. Why launch an attack at the height of our understanding? We have realized our power. It would have seemed wise to eliminate us when we were a feeble nation.
Regardless, this betrayal will not go unpunished. As I sprint down the corridor, my officers joined me one after one. The foundation shook with the force of cannon fire, the lights dimming and the ceiling spitting dust like a viper ready to strike. Running down the hall, I soon felt the presence of an invisible force. It was Sarlinto, my first mate. Every now and then, he finds it funny to surprise me as I walk down the hall. Now is not the time for games. I reach out with my crystal staff and knock it against his forehead. He cannot surprise me in a heightened state as I am in now. Sarlinto does not live in this world. He is... unique. Sarlinto is a retired assassin from the Black Dagger; the best assassin guild in all of Arcadia, which stands as a testament of how corrupt civilization has made my people. He somehow became one of my crew, but there is no time to tell that tale. Right now I'm focused on one thing: getting to my ship and defending my people.
My flagship, the Harbinger, sat floating at its dock. The ship looked like a grontus, a native creature of the Dark Rift with wings and a body mostly made of a mouth and stomach. However, grontus' are peaceful creatures, this one can bite. The gangplank lowered the moment we were in sight of the ship, and the repair personnel made final preparations for our departure. Positions were taken, orders were given, and the docking bay doors drifted open. The drift winds tore into the palace with a heated fury. I could feel the anguish of the dead scratching at my face and I could only look back apologetically. Channeling my essence, I dispersed my shadow overtop the hull. My energies now became the ship's armor, my awareness was lent to the whole crew, giving us a way to communicate and synchronize our actions. I could feel the fire of a hundred angry souls preparing for war. I could feel the sorrow of the crew's losses; their murdered relatives, murdered lovers. The burn of the pain from this unified sense of being was almost too much to bear, but if I must bear the weight for justice, I would a hundred times over. Port, starboard, bow, and stern, all the ships extremities were crying out in anguish.
A column of fire rose from the ground. Those bastards were using magic on innocent people! Along the leyline of souls, the weight was increased. I could feel my sanity drip away, slowly compensating my straining mind with its sacrifice. I could feel the armor thicken as the unity of consciousness became more and more dense.
"Ready the engines, on the double. We cannot afford delay. Full speed ahead." As I spouted out orders, another ship appeared from God's Eye, and another, and another. There was a relentless deluge of silver and gray. Every ship introduced meant more tension to the unity and an æon recoil on my sanity. Soon there would be nothing but rage. I had to act fast. Luckily, I was on a fast ship. We were soon within boarding distance of the Serena, the flagship of Ralinto Cales. Ropes and grapples flew overboard. Men jumped onto the ropes and slid down the lines. My consciousness was released from its black bonds and I made my way to board, Sarlinto at my side.
"What's the first order of business once we're on board, captain?" he inquired in a shadowy voice, "Should we secure prisoners or spare the dungeon of mercy's weight?" He had his mouth covered with a mask, but I could sense his sinister grin. Strangely, I couldn't help but feel the same way. We jumped to the ropes and slid onto the opposing deck.
"There will be no killing. Head straight to the bridge and take Cales into custody. I would like to have some words with him." He only gave a slightly disappointed bow and disappeared into oblivion. I ran on, lacking the ability to disappear. How I envy him sometimes. able to live in another reality, coming and going as he pleases. Why can't I have that too? Reality is a blessing, not an anchor. My subconscious awoke again, now free of its bonds of thorns. I almost prefer the pain of a hundred tortured souls to the retorts and sage advice of my mind. Just like science to ruin anything emotionally driven. Why can't it just leave people alone to speculate amongst themselves? There are answers out there. Aren't you tired of staring at the emptiness of the Rift in your mind? Dammit! I wish I could draw my mind blank, but I needed to stay alert. There were opposing crewmen scattered all over the ship, ready to spring on any life that invaded their lair and extinguish it. I drew a dagger from my ankle brace and forced the gem on my staff to form a triangular blade. I had to aim for legs. I didn't want any more killing. My awareness was heightened through the power of my scepter. One by one, I rushed past crewmember after crewmember, lightly slashing at shins, calves, anything that would temporarily cripple. I detested killing. Gashing one leg, tripping another, and making my way to the glass door leading to the bridge. I was not going to spend anymore time than was required. My people were still dying.
The door was locked, and beyond I could see at least ten guards standing in wait for an excuse to reach out and render death on anything that enters. I waited. Suddenly, I hear a "poof!" then an "oh crap!" and about ten thumps on the floor. Something walked to the door and unlocked it, opening to reveal Sarlinto and a Silvite man half in shock with his sword drawn. Sarlinto walked casually around him, leaned his elbow on the poor man's shoulders and gazed on at me. Paralysis is his specialty, aside from invisibility and teleportation. I looked down at the fallen soldiers and pleasantly found there was no blood escaping their bodies.
"Are you pleased, captain?" He asked in a slightly sarcastic tone. I shot an annoyed look at him and walked beside the frozen Cales. His eyes shifted to look at me, his despair polluting the air and his brow perspiring. He was in for it. He was going to answer my questions, then, when I had no further use for him, he would serve his punishment.
"Why have you openly attacked MY nation unprovoked? Who sent you to attack us? Why would YOU attack the country you will soon rule after our marriage and the coronation?" Yes, we were betrothed. WERE.
"I... I'm sorry. I did not want to attack our future kingdom, but I had orders from the Silver Magistrate themselves. If I did not, they were going to execute me and send a more ruthless general in my place. Those were warning shots to surrender, and when we saw you send ships out, we launched a small volley of magic onto the ground. We did not mean for it to escalate to this. I care for these people as well. They're my subjects!" Just then I heard a loud crash and a sudden keel to the Serena. I looked out the window to see the Harbinger sink over portside. A gunner below deck accidentally lit the fuse to his canon, and the shot struck the moonstone engine. Both crews were quickly running from their fights and cutting the grapples free from the ship. I watched as my flagship fell into Deep Sky.
"Give the orders for ceasefire to the other ships. Now!" I took Cales by the arm and threw him against the moonstone transmitter. He let out an ooooff! and began his surrender.
"All ships are to ceasefire, I repeat, cease all gunfire."
"I'm sorry, but we cannot do that..." A raspy voice was responding in mutiny to the general's orders, it was Ralinto's first mate Almino; "The orders given to me from the Magistrate were to fire until nothing stood three feet from the ground. They knew you would disobey orders if you knew what the true mission was. I'm sorry general, but you are relieved of command under the authority of the crew and the Silver Magistrate of Arcadia. Prepare to be... relieved, captain..." The transmission ended. Suddenly, cannon fire whizzed by on both port and starboard sides of the Serena. There was a crash and a slight buckle to the port-stern. We were hit. My subconscious took over my actions. I grabbed the wheel and allowed my subconscious to take over the ship. It reached to every crewmember aboard; opposing forces put down their weapons and went to tasks.
I looked over at Ralinto and said, with a face wincing in blinding pain, "I am now captain of this vessel. Any objections will result in immediate casting overboard. Right now we have to get the hell out of here!" I flung the wheel into a spin, abruptly turning the ship and pointing the nose to God's Eye. We have to get out. We have to get help. For my people... for myself.
I'm not sure what just happened. The world became a blur of horrible ill will and unprovoked aggression. I looked everywhere for the answer: the books; keepers of knowledge, the window; the outside world, and listened to the deplorable screams of my people as they die. Regardless, nothing could offer my mind sanctuary. I reached for my scepter, its black gem glistened for a second, and the light was swallowed in the vast depths of the jewel. I could feel the essences from my body being channeled into the staff, like an exorcism of sanity. My rage came out as I tore open the door to my chambers.
That, you see, is the very power of the black moonstones. All things in this world have an essence, and the black crystal simply redirects this essence into an onslaught of power, amplifying it a hundredfold. That is why the stones were considered sacred for so long. It wasn't until the Discovery that we even knew how they worked. Science, the killer of all things religious. Nevertheless, the stones guaranteed our civilization a chance to show the ranks of the world we are a force to be reckoned with. Would we even still exist if it were not for these solidified enigmas? The current situation tells me my answer. But then why would the Silver Civilization attack us? We have been allies since we were ignorant. Why launch an attack at the height of our understanding? We have realized our power. It would have seemed wise to eliminate us when we were a feeble nation.
Regardless, this betrayal will not go unpunished. As I sprint down the corridor, my officers joined me one after one. The foundation shook with the force of cannon fire, the lights dimming and the ceiling spitting dust like a viper ready to strike. Running down the hall, I soon felt the presence of an invisible force. It was Sarlinto, my first mate. Every now and then, he finds it funny to surprise me as I walk down the hall. Now is not the time for games. I reach out with my crystal staff and knock it against his forehead. He cannot surprise me in a heightened state as I am in now. Sarlinto does not live in this world. He is... unique. Sarlinto is a retired assassin from the Black Dagger; the best assassin guild in all of Arcadia, which stands as a testament of how corrupt civilization has made my people. He somehow became one of my crew, but there is no time to tell that tale. Right now I'm focused on one thing: getting to my ship and defending my people.
My flagship, the Harbinger, sat floating at its dock. The ship looked like a grontus, a native creature of the Dark Rift with wings and a body mostly made of a mouth and stomach. However, grontus' are peaceful creatures, this one can bite. The gangplank lowered the moment we were in sight of the ship, and the repair personnel made final preparations for our departure. Positions were taken, orders were given, and the docking bay doors drifted open. The drift winds tore into the palace with a heated fury. I could feel the anguish of the dead scratching at my face and I could only look back apologetically. Channeling my essence, I dispersed my shadow overtop the hull. My energies now became the ship's armor, my awareness was lent to the whole crew, giving us a way to communicate and synchronize our actions. I could feel the fire of a hundred angry souls preparing for war. I could feel the sorrow of the crew's losses; their murdered relatives, murdered lovers. The burn of the pain from this unified sense of being was almost too much to bear, but if I must bear the weight for justice, I would a hundred times over. Port, starboard, bow, and stern, all the ships extremities were crying out in anguish.
A column of fire rose from the ground. Those bastards were using magic on innocent people! Along the leyline of souls, the weight was increased. I could feel my sanity drip away, slowly compensating my straining mind with its sacrifice. I could feel the armor thicken as the unity of consciousness became more and more dense.
"Ready the engines, on the double. We cannot afford delay. Full speed ahead." As I spouted out orders, another ship appeared from God's Eye, and another, and another. There was a relentless deluge of silver and gray. Every ship introduced meant more tension to the unity and an æon recoil on my sanity. Soon there would be nothing but rage. I had to act fast. Luckily, I was on a fast ship. We were soon within boarding distance of the Serena, the flagship of Ralinto Cales. Ropes and grapples flew overboard. Men jumped onto the ropes and slid down the lines. My consciousness was released from its black bonds and I made my way to board, Sarlinto at my side.
"What's the first order of business once we're on board, captain?" he inquired in a shadowy voice, "Should we secure prisoners or spare the dungeon of mercy's weight?" He had his mouth covered with a mask, but I could sense his sinister grin. Strangely, I couldn't help but feel the same way. We jumped to the ropes and slid onto the opposing deck.
"There will be no killing. Head straight to the bridge and take Cales into custody. I would like to have some words with him." He only gave a slightly disappointed bow and disappeared into oblivion. I ran on, lacking the ability to disappear. How I envy him sometimes. able to live in another reality, coming and going as he pleases. Why can't I have that too? Reality is a blessing, not an anchor. My subconscious awoke again, now free of its bonds of thorns. I almost prefer the pain of a hundred tortured souls to the retorts and sage advice of my mind. Just like science to ruin anything emotionally driven. Why can't it just leave people alone to speculate amongst themselves? There are answers out there. Aren't you tired of staring at the emptiness of the Rift in your mind? Dammit! I wish I could draw my mind blank, but I needed to stay alert. There were opposing crewmen scattered all over the ship, ready to spring on any life that invaded their lair and extinguish it. I drew a dagger from my ankle brace and forced the gem on my staff to form a triangular blade. I had to aim for legs. I didn't want any more killing. My awareness was heightened through the power of my scepter. One by one, I rushed past crewmember after crewmember, lightly slashing at shins, calves, anything that would temporarily cripple. I detested killing. Gashing one leg, tripping another, and making my way to the glass door leading to the bridge. I was not going to spend anymore time than was required. My people were still dying.
The door was locked, and beyond I could see at least ten guards standing in wait for an excuse to reach out and render death on anything that enters. I waited. Suddenly, I hear a "poof!" then an "oh crap!" and about ten thumps on the floor. Something walked to the door and unlocked it, opening to reveal Sarlinto and a Silvite man half in shock with his sword drawn. Sarlinto walked casually around him, leaned his elbow on the poor man's shoulders and gazed on at me. Paralysis is his specialty, aside from invisibility and teleportation. I looked down at the fallen soldiers and pleasantly found there was no blood escaping their bodies.
"Are you pleased, captain?" He asked in a slightly sarcastic tone. I shot an annoyed look at him and walked beside the frozen Cales. His eyes shifted to look at me, his despair polluting the air and his brow perspiring. He was in for it. He was going to answer my questions, then, when I had no further use for him, he would serve his punishment.
"Why have you openly attacked MY nation unprovoked? Who sent you to attack us? Why would YOU attack the country you will soon rule after our marriage and the coronation?" Yes, we were betrothed. WERE.
"I... I'm sorry. I did not want to attack our future kingdom, but I had orders from the Silver Magistrate themselves. If I did not, they were going to execute me and send a more ruthless general in my place. Those were warning shots to surrender, and when we saw you send ships out, we launched a small volley of magic onto the ground. We did not mean for it to escalate to this. I care for these people as well. They're my subjects!" Just then I heard a loud crash and a sudden keel to the Serena. I looked out the window to see the Harbinger sink over portside. A gunner below deck accidentally lit the fuse to his canon, and the shot struck the moonstone engine. Both crews were quickly running from their fights and cutting the grapples free from the ship. I watched as my flagship fell into Deep Sky.
"Give the orders for ceasefire to the other ships. Now!" I took Cales by the arm and threw him against the moonstone transmitter. He let out an ooooff! and began his surrender.
"All ships are to ceasefire, I repeat, cease all gunfire."
"I'm sorry, but we cannot do that..." A raspy voice was responding in mutiny to the general's orders, it was Ralinto's first mate Almino; "The orders given to me from the Magistrate were to fire until nothing stood three feet from the ground. They knew you would disobey orders if you knew what the true mission was. I'm sorry general, but you are relieved of command under the authority of the crew and the Silver Magistrate of Arcadia. Prepare to be... relieved, captain..." The transmission ended. Suddenly, cannon fire whizzed by on both port and starboard sides of the Serena. There was a crash and a slight buckle to the port-stern. We were hit. My subconscious took over my actions. I grabbed the wheel and allowed my subconscious to take over the ship. It reached to every crewmember aboard; opposing forces put down their weapons and went to tasks.
I looked over at Ralinto and said, with a face wincing in blinding pain, "I am now captain of this vessel. Any objections will result in immediate casting overboard. Right now we have to get the hell out of here!" I flung the wheel into a spin, abruptly turning the ship and pointing the nose to God's Eye. We have to get out. We have to get help. For my people... for myself.
