A Bear's Pilgrimage
Darkness fell across the ring of stones as night descended. All was silent and still, but for the gentle breeze that stirred the grass. Then a faint illumination, thin wisps of smoke that glowed pale blue, ghostly in the shadowy cairn. They spiralled, weaving between the stones, multiplying and brightening before finally converging over a small alter at the circle's centre. There, in a shallow basin carved from the white stone, the wisps formed a sphere of light. It flickered for a moment, like a cold blue flame, then began to crystallise. Like frost forming over water the light solidified, taking on a glassy appearance. Soon the glow was fully encased, and then faded, leaving behind an egg shaped cerulean stone, roughly the size of a fist, its surface marked by a pattern of swirling lines...
The King's eyes snapped open. He leaped up from his throne with a muted roar, grasping at Barrus and startling the old hound. "It's just as I have foreseen. Find every Spirit Stone. Go! Now!"
Barrus nodded and retreated to a side hallway. The King sank back into the throne. A moment later Mercurio entered the throne room from another hallway, just as the great doors were thrown open.
"You called for me, your Majesty?" Mercurio took his usual position beside the throne.
"Majesty! Lady Amber, as you requested." Two King's Guards entered from the doorway, leading a white rabbit in a finely embroidered gold and black dress.
The King tipped his head slightly in Mercurio's direction, "We have decided that your services are no longer required. I've had my men searching for someone who I feel is better suited to the position of Lord Steward."
The rat gaped at him, "You can't be serious. Who could be better suited? I am your most loyal and diligent subject-"
"Leave us!" The King snarled, "Before you wear out my patience."
Mercurio scowled, but then gave a low bow. "As you wish, Majesty." He turned and strode away, pausing briefly as he passed the rabbit at the foot of the throne. She was young, but the look she gave him was cold, measured. "I will remember this."
"You had better." She replied in a clipped tone.
He smirked and continued past her, between the ranks of guards that lined the room. She had clearly done this before; the commanding air with which she held herself was something one was born into. Maybe she'd make a good opponent. Mercurio hoped so, he craved the challenge. The doors slammed shut behind him as he exited the throne room. This was a setback but had little importance. His stay in the palace had been brief, though most informative.
Amber approached the throne and gave a deep curtsey. "Your Majesty. It is an honour to stand in your presence."
"Lady Amber." The King's voice came in a deep rumble that reverberated around the throne room, "I have heard much of your exploits throughout the kingdom. It seems you are a true hero, a favourite of the people. I believe you would be a fine choice to serve me as Steward."
"Thank you, your Majesty. I-"
"Why, then, should I trust you?"
Amber blinked, "Majesty?"
"I have long dealt with your clan, and I know who you are. Before Mercurio your uncle held the position, and was dismissed for his insolence. And before him your own father, who plotted to kill me and lost his life. So tell me why you, who comes here with your simpering and your platitudes, should be any different."
Amber felt a flicker of anger stir within her. "I am not my father, or Florian. I am not a traitor seeking power, neither am I a sycophant who would blindly follow you. What I am is a loyal subject of Armello who will continue to do anything I am able to protect this kingdom and its people, even if I must serve a king who forgets them."
A huge hand burst from the shadows and wrapped around her neck, claws digging into her flesh. As he leaned forward into the light, Amber caught her first proper glimpse of the King. She choked back a gasp as she perceived the true horror before her. Ariel, the great golden lion of Armello, sat hunched, face twisted in pain, his clouded eyes burning and fangs bared with rage. His mane had lost its lustre, hanging dark and unkempt as it framed his face, and ragged purple lines marked his skin like scars. They writhed slowly, as if something alive was moving beneath the surface.
"You could not comprehend what I have done to protect this kingdom."
For a moment Amber was lost. Then she found her resolve. Florian and the clan were relying on her. No, even if they didn't know it yet, all of Armello was relying on her. She knew then what she had to do. "I will serve you. Faithfully. I can help you. To bring the clans into line, to crush those who would sow dissent. Together we can reforge Armello, stronger than it's ever been. We both want the same thing, and it doesn't matter whether or not you trust me, because you need me."
The pressure on her throat relented and the King's arm pulled back. Amber gasped for breath. Once more the King's voice came from the shadows, softer now, "Then there is much work to be done."
Amber composed herself, straightening and looking into the deep purple eyes that glinted in the darkness. "What is your command?"
Sister Sana, I will be brief. I am sure you sense the darkness spreading. Old magic stirs. The power of the Rot. The elders agree. It has returned. This corruption must be purged before it manifests. If the Banes are to rise again, all may be lost.
Elarius, Brother Superior
Sana sighed deeply, setting the letter aside and dousing the lamp beside her before rising from her chair. She pulled a dark green cloak from a stand and wrapped it around her shoulders, fastening it with a gold Wyld Tree clasp. She picked up her staff, a gnarled branch topped with a glass spirit lantern, and pushed through the flap of her tent. The canvas fell back into place behind her, forest green and embroidered with a pale green bear standing rampant and clutching a branch topped with a white lily. The sigil was flanked by an image of the Wyld Tree on one side and the Druidic Sun on the other.
Sana's shadow danced in the light thrown by a ring of torches around the tent, flitting between the trees of the forest clearing. With one last look around she set out, but had not gone more than a few paces before a familiar voice called from the trees.
"Sana! I'm coming too, friend! Long time friend! I won't leave you now friend. We are friends, right?" A short lemur dressed in a puffy, purple and gold striped doublet waddled into the circle of light, a cheerful grin on his face.
Sana sighed inwardly, somewhat exasperated by the lemur's enthusiasm. Kip Fluffear was infamous for his unnatural good luck, though he wasn't the brightest and his recklessly excitable nature often landed him in trouble. "Kip, you ought to stay back at the village." The bear spoke gently, "I just need to run an errand for Brother Elarius. I'll probably be back soon, but it could be dangerous."
"And that's why I wanted to come and see you off! But I saw a pretty butterfly and followed it around the forest for a while...And then it got dark...But that's when I tripped over this strange thing," Kip reached into a pocket and pulled out a roughly hewn chunk of blackened wood. An image had been carved into its surface, a worm with its body coiling into a spiral, "It looks scary. What do you think it means?"
Sana immediately recoiled, then hurriedly snatched the object away. Her spirit lantern glowed with green light. "Where did you find this?"
"By the stream."
The spirit lantern's light intensified and the wood burst into flames. Sana dropped it to the ground where it was quickly reduced to smouldering ash. "Some kind of Rot totem." She spat, "Probably placed to spread plague."
Kip wrapped his arms around himself, quaking. "That sounds bad, Sana! Let's avoid the Rot." He quickly perked up again, stumbling after Sana as she continued on to the clearing's edge. "Hey so, where are we going again? I forget."
"The elders believe that the Rot has returned to Armello. They want me to investigate possible sources of corruption near the forest. I decided to head to the ruins of Castle Belaerian." She glanced over her shoulder, "If you're coming then try to keep up."
They left the forest's edge and made their way across Spring's Steppe. For the most part Sana travelled in silence, while Kip chatted happily. Eventually they came to a stone circle known as Bear's Repose. Kip's speech trailed off and he wandered toward the stones, head tilting from side to side. "Hey, Sana...What's that?"
Sana glanced over to see a blue glow emanating from the centre of the circle. She followed the lemur, weaving between the stones, until they saw the source of the light; a glassy stone resembling a spirit lantern, but shining an icy blue.
"That's a Spirit Stone!" Kip gasped. He hopped around the bear excitedly, "Sana! We should grab it! Keep it safe! Maybe play with it a bit." He suddenly stopped and took on a thoughtful air as he recited, "And to those that gather the stones almighty, shall come the ultimate power. Wyld and purity." He shook his head, returning to his usual self, "That's what an old bear mumbled. His breath smelt of fish so I didn't listen."
Sana approached the alter gingerly. "I thought they had all vanished and returned to the Wyld years ago. To find one now must surely be an omen of something..." She slowly reached out a hand and placed it on the stone. It was smooth and cool to the touch. Sana gently lifted the relic from its alter as if cradling a newborn cub.
Kip clung to Sana's cloak, his eyes wide and fixed on the stone. "A Spirit Stone! Yes! Can I touch it?"
Sana eyed Kip with a raised brow, "No." She said flatly, slipping the Spirit Stone into a pouch on her belt. "Come along now. We still have a ways to go."
They left Bear's Repose behind them and continued on to Thunderfoot Prairie. Sana pointed ahead as the silhouette of a crumbling old keep began to take form on the horizon, "There, do you see? Castle Belaerian. Or what's left of it, at least."
Kip cupped his hands around one eye as if holding a spyglass and squinted. A few moments later his hands dropped and he tugged on Sana's cloak, "Hey, um, do you see that?" The lemur pointed and Sana followed his gaze.
At first she saw nothing. Then the moonlight that lit the distant ruins seemed to dim, as if a dark fog had fallen across the castle.
"I don't like this," Kip murmured, shivering, "I'm scared."
Sana tapped her chin thoughtfully, "It may be best to continue this journey in the morning. The daylight will help us navigate the ruins."
Kip hurriedly agreed, and they found shelter nearby under a small copse of trees. Many would have preferred at least a tent but Sana, like most bears, had no qualms about sleeping out in the open. The loose canopy of leaves was all the cover she needed, and the stars that twinkled through the gaps in between soothed her. Huddled under her cloak, she soon drifted into sleep.
Morning found the pair climbing up the slope of the castle's dry and overgrown moat. The ruins were a relic dating back to one of the earliest clan wars. Built by a rabbit Warden under General Belaerian, the castle had appeared almost overnight. It was intended as a foothold for the Rabbit Clan to exploit the resources of the Great Forest. The bears had responded, and the castle was torn down just as quickly as it had been constructed by the Bear Clan's Scarcasters.
All that was left now was a decaying structure of scorched and pulverised rubble. Sana reached the top of the rise and pulled Kip up beside her. They walked a little way along the curtain wall until they found a gap and slipped through into the tangle of weeds and long grass that covered the old courtyard.
They stood in the shadow of the keep; its tower broken, and its gates shattered into bleached and rotten splinters. Sana walked a little way into the hallway within. She stopped in her tracks when her spirit lantern flickered softly. The air in front of her shimmered and coalesced into an image of herself. She frowned, reaching out to touch the mirror. The reflection seemed to be fading, another image replacing it, but her eyes weren't able to focus on it. There was an indistinct flash of black feathers and a sharp beak-
-the mirror shattered, jagged shards exploding outwards and snapping Sana out of her reverie. Even as the vision faded a thin tendril of purple-black vapour poured forth, caressing her outstretched hand. A stinging, icy cold instantly shot up her arm. She pulled her hand back, seeing the dark, blotchy stain left on her skin.
"Oh no!" Kip yelled from behind her, "Sana, you've been tainted with Rot! Don't turn purple, please!"
Sana growled, clenching her numb fingers. The light from her spirit lantern was intensifying. "Kip, get out!" She called, backing away as the flagstones before her started to crumble and give way, a yawning void opening up in the floor.
A chilling shriek rose up from the fissure, followed by a fang shaped cloud of black mist. It dived at Sana, who ducked out of the way. The shadow barely grazed past the bear's shoulder before tearing out of the castle and into the sky.
Kip glanced up from where he had thrown himself onto the floor, "What is that thing?!"
Sana ran back out into the sunlight to see the living darkness rise high above the courtyard. It hung there, a lance of roiling black, then sprouted a pair of wings that cast a wide shadow across the ground.
"A Bane!" Kip yelped, cowering behind Sana, "What horror! I never believed in the old bedtime stories, but they're real!"
The Bane's burning purple eyes scanned the courtyard, locking onto Sana. It let out a rending screech and dived, talons outstretched.
"Get back!" Sana pushed her companion aside and raised her staff. The Bane crashed against a dome of green light projected from her spirit lantern. It flapped its wings, talons scratching at the barrier and its black, razor sharp beak hammering down.
The barrier flickered, wavered. With a roar Sana planted her feet and pushed back against the monster with all her weight. The Bane staggered, its assault relenting briefly. Sana's barrier collapsed, replaced by a blade of light that stabbed out, impaling the Bane through its breast. The creature released a mournful scream, writhing violently, then crumpled to the ground in a heap of oily bone and feathers. It started to rapidly decay in the sunlight, specks of ash flaking off and floating away.
"You...you killed it!" Kip launched himself at Sana with a whoop and threw his arms around her, "That was amazing!"
Sana sighed, leaning on her staff. "That's quite enough excitement for one day." She looked down at her marked hand again with a frown. The numbness was subsiding but her fingers still felt stiff. She pulled a bandage from her belt pouch and wrapped it around her hand.
"What now?" Kip asked after the bear had managed to shake him off.
"I still need to see inside." Sana replied, turning back to face the castle. She entered the hallway again, looking down into the hole that the Bane had emerged from. At the bottom of a slope of rubble was a dark and dusty vault. It appeared mostly empty, but at the centre of the room stood a stone table covered in a faded red cloth. A low hiss rose from the pit and was answered by another.
"Uh...Sana? I think we're too late."
"Wait here." Sana climbed into the hole, picking her way carefully down the pile of shifting masonry. She reached the floor of the cold chamber below and slowly approached the table. Glancing around, she saw that the flagstones surrounding the pool of light from above was flooded with a thick black ichor. It bubbled and hissed, indistinct shapes rising and sinking. A piercing shriek rang out from a distant corridor.
"Sana?"
"Stay there!" Sana quickened her pace. She reached the covered table and threw the cloth aside, revealing a staff of smooth, varnished wood, topped with three carved dragon heads twisting together into a knot.
Sana's head whipped around as a Bane climbed out of the ichor pool, wings fluttering wetly. She snatched up the staff from the table, feeling her power flow into the artefact as she turned to face the approaching monster. The dragon heads glowed pale blue-green and writhed as they came alive. With a roar the staff unleashed a gout of emerald Wyldfyre that engulfed the Bane. The bear started backing away towards the vault's entrance as more Banes began to emerge and close in on her.
"Sana, come on!" Kip called out, wide eyed and trembling as he reached down into the vault.
Sana swept the Wyldfyre staff in an arc, cutting through a swathe of Banes, fending off slashing beaks and talons with her spirit lantern. She clambered back up the slope of rubble and out of the vault, grasping Kip by the hand. "Let's go!"
The pair ran down the length of the hallway and back out into the courtyard. Shrieks rang out behind them as living shadows filled the castle. Sana burst out into the sunlight and dived sideways, pulling Kip down beside her. A moment later a stream of Banes erupted from the doorway and flew into the sky, dispersing into a cloud of quickly spreading horrors.
Silence fell over the courtyard. It lasted for a long time before Kip slowly uncovered his head and pulled himself to his feet. "Well I'm glad that's over. Let's get out of here!"
"Agreed." Sana stood with a grunt and brushed off her cloak. "We should get as far from here as possible."
They fled from the old castle until night fell. While resting they discussed what their next move should be.
Kip scratched his ear thoughtfully. "I think we should probably take that Spirit Stone to the palace."
"You're right." Sana replied, "Banes have returned to Armello and the Wyld is stirring. I'm sure the King will know what to do."
They headed south toward the capital, crossing over the Winter's Bane mountains and through Thall's Stone Circle. The high white walls of the royal city came into view, reflecting the light of a thousand torches. Above rose the towers of the city's heart, and in the middle of it, tallest of all, the majestic spires of the palace.
A young soldier of the King's Guard knelt before the throne. He looked up as the King addressed him.
"What is your report?"
"Majesty. Several messages have come in from across the kingdom. Banes are pouring out from numerous sites believed to have connection to black magic."
"So they've come." The King turned to Barrus, "Lock the palace down, none shall enter. We must protect the kingdom."
"Yes Majesty."
Amber frowned, "Would it not be more reassuring to your subjects to show openness in this time of strife? Prove to them that their king is honest and kind, put their minds at ease."
"I will not be caught unprepared by this scourge again!" The King snapped, "The people require strong guidance, not kindness. Double their taxes to fund our army, ration food, and enforce a curfew across all settlements. Begin conscripting a militia to bolster the Guard, and have your men crack down on any sign of dissidence."
Amber opened her mouth to protest, then swallowed with a sigh. "As you command, your Majesty."
The King clutched at one armrest with a quiet snarl, "Barrus, have a squad stand guard in the north gardens. Something is coming..."
"Banes?" The old captain arched an eyebrow.
"Worse."
Sana and Kip approached the northern gate of the royal palace. The gates were left open and the portcullis raised, but the gateway and gardens within seemed deserted.
"Where are the gate guards?" Kip asked, glancing around.
Sana took a few steps into the gardens. Stretching out before her from the outer walls to the palace keep was a network of marble tiled paths separated by neat flower beds. The bear continued a little way down the nearest path. "Something isn't right..." She muttered. Looking down she saw that the grass and flowers at her feet were writhing and twisting.
"Sana, the palace seems different. The...the defences are up!"
Suddenly the plants burst upwards from the flower beds, roots and stems weaving together to form solid walls, leaves blooming into a verdant bulwark pressing in on all sides. Within seconds a vast, enchanted hedge maze had risen around them.
Kip clutched at Sana's cloak, "Doesn't the King know we have a Spirit Stone?"
A moment later eight King's Guards rushed from between the hedges to surround Sana and Kip, halberds lowered menacingly. One guard stepped forward and held a hand out toward Sana, "The stone, hand it over!"
Sana's eyes widened, "I don't understand, take me to the King-" She flinched as the ring of halberds tightened around her. She slowly withdrew the Spirit Stone and handed it over. The guard seized it from her and moved back into line.
A chilling, rumbling voice rang out from behind Sana, "Lock it in the dungeon." She turned with a gasp. The King stood blocking the way back to the gates, leaning heavily on a broad-bladed sword. She saw the purple marks that lined his body, just like the stain on her own hand. However, more than that, she could feel the Rot; an unpleasant prickling sensation within her own infected flesh. "And these intruders too."
Kip angrily confronted the guards, "That's our Spirit Stone! Not yours! Sana, they aren't trying to stop the Rot! They're leading us to disaster!"
Another of the guards came forward and spoke in a commanding tone, "We can't let you leave, Sister. If you come to the dungeons willingly your death will be quick."
Kip leaped behind Sana again with a yelp, "No! Sana! Save me! I'm too hilarious to die! Wait! Quick! Cast banish on yourself! We can escape before it's too late!"
Sana scowled. With one last look around at the King and the guards closing in she raised her left hand and uttered an incantation as she weaved the spell. A swirl of purple light appeared around her and Kip, and swallowed them both. They vanished as the light faded. The air whirled, buffeting the King and his men, then fell still once more. The King roared, hurling his sword at the spot where Sana had stood, shattering a flagstone and causing the guards to scatter.
Several miles from the capital, in the old rabbit tomb known as Broken Lair, a small pool of water glowed faintly. Ripples spread across its surface, and then Sana rose in an eruption of spray, soaked and gasping for air. She reached back under the water and pulled up her sputtering friend, tossing him to the pool's edge and climbing out after him, shaking the water from her fur.
"Never liked that spell." The bear grumbled to herself as she wrung out her cloak.
Kip pulled himself into a sitting position and tilted his head, trying to remove the water from his ears, "Thank the Wyld. Just in time. I can't believe it. Our king has been taken by the Rot! It's clear now that the King's days are numbered. But who's going to rule Armello?"
Sana shook her head, "The clans will use this opportunity to attempt to seize power. They'll go against the court and each other to claim the throne. It may come to war."
"Let's return and talk with the fish breath bears. They'll know what to do."
Sana pulled the lemur to his feet, "I hope you're right, Kip."