I finally got vaccinated (as of 23rd June 2023). Thailand got to it quite late due to political bullshits, but it is finally here.
P.S. The writer block really fucks me up, didn't I? That and Indian/Hindu myth series.
I take a page out of G.R.R.M. books and try using unreliable narrator. I'm not sure how good it is in this format but I gonna do it anyway.
Chapter 28 Shroud of Dusk
…
Review, Q&A
AshKing1: Doesn't Biting blade basically just give x/0
Not as an MTG card. They still haven't printed a card with that name yet. I imagine it as a fanged mouth with a blade on the other end. :)
Hadrain Caeser: Nice
Cheers
Trinity seven: You wrote the word Venezuela in chapter 3
That's my poorly attempt to insert a reference from Addams Family the musical.
Lanaxdxp: Direwolves should appear after Cat leaves the North. They would be treated as a gift from the Old Gods for getting rid of her.
That's a great idea. I will do that when the times come.
Guest: I'm super late to the party but if you want to show Arlinn protecting Jon, you might want to make her a card that does not incentivize sacrificing him.
If I want to convey that Arlinn would be a good traditional caring mother, then that would be correct. But I decide that she doesn't be anything such. So, what you get is someone who has a twisted sense of motherhood. I make her kinda less protecting, more avenging sort of mother.
It is my theory that planeswalkers would see the world quite differently than normal people, as they could be anywhere anytime, they want. Even more so when you take an account that most of them experience life-threatening trauma for their spark to ignite.
…
Previously
"By the right of my office, by the will of our holy lady, I name you The Guardian of Thabren. Arise, Guardian Thalia. May Avacyn by above to bless you, below to support you, before you to guide you, behind you to protect you, beside you to support you, and inside you to give you strength."
"Now go. Protect the city. I will channel Avacyn's blessing to empower our forces from the main chapel."
…
"You are telling me. That you need to 'kidnap' the Lunarch to make the army of the dead retreat? Then you need to kill him before the necromancer uses him to unlock the Helvault?"
A valid concern to be raised. He is sure of that. Sometimes he wonders himself how that would even possibly work, but he assures himself of Ugin's lesson. Doubt always leads to downfall.
Yes. He knows that the opposite is not always true. Recklessness could also lead to downfall, but what choice does he have? He already commits his cause to that of Sorin's. He would rather take his chance infiltrating Thraben with a half-assed plan than facing a pissed-off ancient planeswalking vampire. At least if he really fucked up here, he could planeswalk away and try again.
Sometimes he thinks that liberally use of planeswalking is quite a cheat. If it doesn't tire him out unlike no other, it would be a whole lot more useful. Its real combat application is almost nonexistent, but for a task like these. Perfect. No downside at all. Not counting that one time he went berserk and return to wreck things back in Winterfell.
Come to think of it, should he return to let his 'family' know that he is alive? Or it would make everything worse, considering there is someone making a blood sacrifice to him there.
He could rule them like God. Angry god.
Nah. Probably not. Why would he ever return to that shithole? There are much more exciting planes out there. If he wants to be bored to death, there is Strixhaven college on Arcrivos. Rumor says that the schools were established by dragons, and all the magic archived there was descended from them. Sound very impressive when he said it like that.
.
.
.
But he already learned under Ugin. What does he need to go to 'College' for? … Apart from a better role model, which is at best 'rolling a dice' and hope the outcome is better than before.
What is he in here for again?
.
.
.
Oh yes. Splitting up. He isn't sure that 'Carla' would betray him. For one, if she wants him dead, she could already stab him when he was distracted. But then again, she is a complete stranger who already admits she is a spy. She also betrayed both the church and the demon cult. And, in his opinion, is as crazy as any …. Well, anyone with power on Innistrad.
The more important question, however, is how did she trust him over a mere … prophecy? It doesn't make any sense. Well, unless she is lying, which he already established as unlikely. He could be wrong, of course. Heck, he could still be wrong and becomes a pawn in her convoluted agenda. But would it matter if the result is to his satisfaction? At least he could count on that she doesn't want humanity to end. The church loses a lot of its influence, maybe, but not one that results in total annihilation.
Right?
"Are you still with me?"
'Carla' seems annoyed. Of course, she is. He just blanked out right in front of her. From his understanding, it is a very offensive gesture, according to his auntie. His mother, on the other hand, would punches him in the face to keep his attention long before it come to that. Oh yes, he needs to respond now, isn't he? Think. Jon. Think.
"Yes?" He sheepishly replied.
He heard a groan but no answer. Yet her stare tells him everything. It's definitely I'm both angry and disappointed. Yes. He knows that he fucked up. But for all his learning and training, he doesn't know what to do. So he just ignores it and says what he wants to say, unknowing of how much of a dick move it is.
"You want us to split up. And you expect me to trust you to carry out my plan. No offense, if I presume something, but I don't think we trust each other to that degree. Heh, I would not trust myself to that degree. Yet, I know I could not do it alone. Not after the ruckus that you caused. The Lunarch would be even heavier guarded…"
"And that is where you are wrong, kiddo." She interrupted. "You see. This might be the first time you do a proper infiltration, so let me educate you in some intricate details. Show you the …. Never mind, you are not going to understand that saying anyway."
Her smugness seems to increase tenfold.
"I had been here for a long time, little wolf. Long enough observation that I could predict the actions of anyone who is anyone here. Believe me, Mikaeus will not be tightly guarded. Not by your little lover, at least. He will be in the main cathedral manipulating Thraben's leylines to his own end. Lucky for you, Mikaeus requires absolute tranquil silence to work. His defense would be light, nothing you couldn't manage, I reckoned. You, however, need some distractions for after you got to him. Whenever the spell the Lunarch is casting is interrupted, everyone here will know. And the entire city will want your head. I still cannot believe that you intend to keep him alive just to be killed later. It will be much simpler for you to just assassinate him. But hey, it's your plan."
At this moment, Jon realizes that his half-assed plan is worse than his image. There are much more holes in it than something he should not mention even in his thought alone. So many variables that he doesn't even know to think of. After this is over, he requires a long meditation about what happened tonight. Finally, Ugin insistent urging him to sit down and reflect will cease. At least he hopes so.
As for now, well, what the fuck could he do but carry on till the very end. His mother doesn't raise a quitter. His mother doesn't raise a coward. More importantly, his mother doesn't raise someone who will go back on his word, let alone the dire consequence of double-crossing another planeswalker.
Well, failed at double-crossing another planeswalker. He prepares to betray the necromancer in the next step of the plan, but he rather faces lady Liliana than suffer lord Sorin's ire. What does a necromancer want anyway? Doesn't she want to absolve her contract with demons or something? Perhaps to make up to her, he would help her kill Griselbrand.
Yeah. This plan is getting more and more like a bad idea, isn't it? Jon doesn't think things through, but then again when did he ever.
"You're doing it again!" Carla seemed even more annoyed. Her face is akin to that of his mother when she is about to kick his ass. Not that she doesn't wear that face already, but the quantity is increasing.
"Sorry. Sorry. There is a lot to think about. …. Well. We will split up, aye. You delay the guardians. I will go get the Lunarch. If everything went well, we might not ever meet again until this is all over." He said as he observes her, if he isn't mistaken, rolling her eyes. It makes him feels so powerless.
It is as if his words had no meaning at all. He needs to learn how to do that soon after this mess is sorted out.
"SO! We shall do it like this …"
…
Sometimes later
Life. Life is never easy for Thalia. As long as she knows, there is never a day in her life that everything is bliss. There is always something wicked looming in the distant shadow, even under the light of the church. Never in her life does she could lie down without any worry. She had to admit some of the days came close, then BAM! Surprise heresy! Go purging those mad heretics. Rinse and repeat.
Tonight, however, is something special. Something worse. It is as if the soul of Innistrad itself wants to fuck with her. Worse still, the attack doesn't even start yet.
"What are your orders, Guardian?" She heard someone asked.
'Right. Now is not the time to wallow in unfairness.' As Thalia steels herself for the upcoming battle, she looks around. From her position, she could see smoke come out of the devastation from two important sites in the city. One of them is her order's main barrack. The other is from the old church. Baffling, she had to admit. Why would anyone target the old church? Yet another question she doesn't have time to answer.
"Guardian? Thalia?" She heard the same voice.
"Huh?"
"Your order. Sir."
At this moment she repeatedly asks herself "what would Lothar do?". Surely, he will be decisive and would continue even many of his subordinate is down. Even when he is wounded, he would be more decisive than her now. But it is hard to be decisive on anything when you have no idea what the fuck is going on. Should she concentrate the defense on the wall? Or should she sacrifice the wall and hold the more secure position? Fuck if she knows.
What about Jon? Should she listen to his warning? Should she listen to his lies? What is he planning? What should she do about him since Lothar is no longer with her?
Should she decide to stick to the plan and let Avacyn sort it out? She knows it is irresponsible of her, but it would be workable. She needs to know more before committing anything else.
"We stick to Lothar's plan." She answers. "Reinforce the wall but be ready to fall back at any time. The enemy should concentrate on one side, but they are not mindless. Those controlling them are likely to cause some sort of distraction. I don't want us to get caught off guard. Ready the messengers. Evacuate citizens inside the child's wall. Let the drafted militia garrison the merchant's wall."
Her recent subordinates listen and obey without question. Such loyalty to her position is inspiring, but that doesn't make her nervousness goes away. Had it been any other day, she would be proud of herself. Today, however, she needs someone to double guess her and point out a flaw in her logic. Because if she fucks it up, Thraben burns.
BURNS.
Wait.
.
.
.
.
Oooooooh.
With a smile, she issues another command. "Also, tell them to get their hands on any flammable liquid they could. After our tactical retreat, we will push them back with fire. BURN THEM ALL."
*Clap*
*Clap*
*Clap*
"Well done, Thalia. I know you have it in you. Lothar doesn't choose wrongly. We might just survive this." A familiar voice comes from behind her. Not long after she feels a pair of something soft pushing on her head. Thalia knows full well what those are. It makes her jealous of its owner.
Just wait when she is fully grown, humph. She would show them al…. Actually, she would not show them to anyone. The wording is, in this instance, is terrible.
Well, perhaps Jon would get his lucky chance if they could sort out the shit that they somehow got themselves in.
"CARLA!" She heard the questioning subordinate shout. Recalling his name, she thinks he is Marcus? Makaus? Mikaeus? Nah, probably Marcus. "Do not disrespect the Guardian."
"At ease," Thalia commands. "It's alright. No needs for formality."
How does the day lead to this anyway? She woke up from a 'wet dream' that Carla held witness to and would never let her live that down, then some few super mind fuckery hours later she is the new Guardian of Thraben. Her roommate is now her subordinate. She could only wonder if she commands Carla to shut up about the incident, would that be an abuse of power?
.
.
.
Wait.
Why did Carla here? She is part of squad 13. She should have remained with Lothar when the barrack blew up. Not that she isn't glad her roommate survives, but it raises a lot of questions. Questions that she should not be partial to, considering their closeness. Nor it is a question she could ignore at the eve of the siege. One traitor is all it takes to bring down the defense. Everything changes now. She is the Guardian. Thraben is her responsibility. Nothing is more important than her duty. Not even friends.
"I'm glad you survived, Carla. But I must ask you…" Thalia turns toward her older friends. "HOW IN THE HELVAULT DID YOU STILL ALIVE AND UNHARMED!"
Carla just rolls her eyes and laughs. Thalia internally held a sigh of relief. At least her roommate's response remains consistent. So, it is less likely some stranger wearing her face. The possibility is still there, but some liberal use of law magic can solve that. Yet, confirming that she is who she is doesn't exclude any suspicion about her at all. If Carla is indeed a traitor, however unlikely she is, the consequence for letting her roam free will be severe. Not that Thalia is confident anyone could interrogate Carla and get anything in time for the attack. If push comes to shove, detaining or neutralizing her has to do.
"Well. I was never there. Months ago, I received a secret mission in tracking down demon worshippers in the city. How did you think Lothar knows about the assassination attempt today? He sent me to confirm their location to wipe them out when they expect the least. Alas, we don't expect someone else to interfere." Answered Carla. The older girl shakes her head solemnly. Her word is mournful. "It appears that the demon cultists also suffer the same fate. The second explosion had wiped them out as far as my observation goes. Did you know that Bishop Jarren and father Jofridus were demon cultists? That all I could identifiy from their remains."
WHAT!
Well. Hand on heart, Thalia doesn't expect that answer. Not in a million years. As an apprentice to Lothar, she prides herself in getting to know many secrets of the church and the city. She could recite how many times the enemies tried to infiltrate Thraben, and how did they got repelled. She could remember how many times the church itself is wiped clean of corruption, both figuratively and literally. She knows, by her instinct at this point, how to spot the attempts by the agents of darkness. Vampires, Demons, Mad heretics, Werewolves, none could escape their sight had they looked. This brings up the problems about Carla's 'report'. On one hand, it is possible that she was doing her duty and got lucky she didn't get caught in the blast. On the other hand, she likely knows what and how to answer the question to get away from accusations.
Now, the question is what should she do next? Even if she tells the truth, Carla doesn't even confirm whether there is a third party. She only suspects it. And even if they exist, they could be anyone. Her gut only tells her that had the groups truly exist, they would strike again. But how could she prepare against anyone? How could she strike against something that does not even exist? There are so many enemies, she couldn't prepare against them all.
Well, she suspects one. She just couldn't bring herself to believe it. To be fair, this wasn't how werewolves operate. Then again, Jon Snow is not just any other werewolves. He is cunning. He is charming. He is devious. Yet, making two explosions against two highly protected targets should be beyond his capability. What can a boy with a spear do to cause such unrelenting destruction?
"There is a third party in this treachery?" Asked 'Marcus'.
Thalia is brought out of her internal monologuing to a stop. Personally, she is well past that point to be shocked. It seems her recent subordinates don't. How could they don't expect this situation when everything else but them are their enemies? Isn't part of an elite guard requirement being the ability to analyze the situation to effectively neutralize a threat? Somehow blind devotion and mastery at arm are enough to offset that. It's something she needs to change if the order is still left standing after this mess.
"Who could it be? Vampires?" The questioning subordinate continues. "They ally themselves with necromancers?"
He might get a point there. What if the attacks were to take out major players in the city? Actually, what if the army of the dead is just a distraction? It is an interesting thought, but not the one she can comfortably sit on. There is no indication that the attack will stops when whoever want this distraction completes their task. No necromancers worth their bonemeal would just raise a colossal army worth of zombies just to cause a distraction. If it is up to her, she would just throw the entire mass against Thraben's walls anyway just for shit and giggle at least. Not that she has any kind of heretical ideas, but theoretically it is what she would do had she been in that situation.
"I don't know, Marcus. There are many factions that have the means and motives to achieve it, and we are at war with all of them. It could be a werewolf for Avacyn's sake. ... Unlikely, sure, but it could be. All it takes is one resourceful enemy at the right time."
WEREWOLF! *Trigger* *Trigger* Thalia's face pale, as she behaves like a deer caught in a banishing light. 'Impossible' She thought. There is no way Jon could do it. He would not send her the letter, unless … He wants her there with Lothar.
.
.
.
'That sniveling little bastard.' Her eyes could only see red. Jon just doesn't kill her mentor and father figure, but also tricked her, played with her feeling again. And he just makes it so personal.
'Forget what I said earlier. When I'm done with you, I'll turn you into a rug. That's I swear.' Thalia internally curses.
She knows what she wants to do. So, she orders. "Stay vigilant, brothers and sisters. Mobilizes the reserves to keep an eye for anything suspicious. Look out for a Kessig boy with beautiful curly black hair about 13 years old. If anyone finds him send the words to me immediately. DO NOT ENGAGE! I will deal him, personally."
The order is quickly transferred throughout the defense force. Leaving a stunt and confuse Marcus alone with questions that he knows better not to ask any. Carla, meanwhile, seems to be amused. How could she not, everything is going as planned. The more they look for the wolfboy, the less the defense his target is. As for how could he get out? Well, agitated Thalia is an easily exploited Thalia. She will think of something. Eventually.
…
Meanwhile, in the main cathedral, a lone werewolf boy somehow sneaks in unchallenged. There is a ridiculously low amount of defensive measure in the area as if this would be a trap. It is too easy. In fact, had 'Carla' doesn't tell him that the Lunarch would be here alone, he would suspect a trap fifteen minutes ago. Heck, it could be a trap by 'Carla' for all he knows, but to the brave goes the spoil. He could still planeswalk away if anything goes, as his mother uses to say, tits up. He is confident that he could hold on long enough if caught in a trap, at least.
Besides, he scouts with the mind-controlled heron beforehand. His mentors will beat him senseless if he recklessly walks into an ambush. He is the hunter, not the other way around.
Still, letting the head of your church be alone and unguarded in the building is stupid. What if there is an assassin coming for him? Wouldn't make his plan goes down the cliff? Seriously, he had enough of a surprise for one day. Should he thank Avacyn for his luck to make sure Mikaeus still live? No. Probably not. Avacyn will smite him for being a werewolf for sure. If 'Carla' story is true, no matter how unbelievable it is, that she smote her own sister for being friends with his kind, then he would be fucked had they met face to face.
Huh, one more reason to not let Liliana unseal the Helvault and let the crazy bitch out. His mother is only the crazy bitch he needs in his life.
Screw it. He's going in. Stealthy, of course.
Clinging to the shadows, Jon slowly and steadily moves through the empty hall of the cathedral. No guards springing up against him, no guards are in hiding as far as he could sense. So far, so good. In contrast to the altar, the hall is eerily silent. The lit hall's candles flicker dimly, while the Lunarch's body glows with holy power. As he creeps closer, he could hear the man chanting. Chanting? At this time?
'Something is not right here' Jon thought. 'Even though his sense could not pick up any alarming sign, his instinct tells him that there are magics at play here. Some sort of ritual is going on, but he doesn't know what it is. It is nothing that matches what his mother told him about the holy magic of the inquisition. The chant sounds more like a song. An anthem. And it is terribly off-key.
Seriously, how bad could one sing?Mikaeus is worse than that, especially to those with a heightened sense of hearing like Jon Snow.
'Must resist spearing him through.' He reminds himself. 'I need him alive. For now.'
Jon steads his mind and draws mana toward himself. The chapel is saturated with white mana such that drawing the other colors is limiting. Lucky for him that he has spare time to do so. Black, red, and green mana flush his body as he feels a euphoric rush of power. His muscles crack with raw magic as his physical prowess grows higher and higher. There is no takeback. There is no do-over. He has only one chance to see it through. He will see it true.
Calming his mind, Jon explodes out from his hiding place with a speed unmatched by anything in Thraben. Red mana unleashes it might as he cut through the empty space of the chapel. There is nothing that could stop him from reaching his goal. Black mana carries his unyielding will and carves out its own space, dimming the light from the altar. All shall know fear and feels despair as the wolf comes for them. Closer. Jon continues toward his prey unobstructed. Nothing can stop him now. NOTHING! Green mana intertwined with his entire body. The rune mark of the Temur clan shines brightly on his arm. The ferocious power of his spectral claws will not be found wanting this day.
*Whooosh*
Then he hit his target. The blinding flash from the shield of faith lights up against his fist. For what it feels like an eternity, all Jon could do is observing his surrounding as he is suspended in the air. The Lunarch's face is a mixture of surprise and terrify. The anthem stops. Absolute silence ensues.
Then the cracking begins.
…
Custom Card of the Chapter
Name: Carla, Liesa's advocate
Mana Cost: WWB
Type: Legendary Creature – Human Soldier
Card Text:
Lifelink
Whenever a player casts a spell, they lose 2 life.
Flavor Text: "Liesa must be avenged."
Rarity: Uncommon
