"Of course the Prince believes in fate. His entire family has been fated for greatness ever since the Prophet sundered the Red Mountain, and drove the Djinns from the lands. For as longs as I've known him the Prince has been destined for world changing things. Besides winning the right to wield Red Flight, he single handily routed the Asura horde at the battle of the Holy Temple, and even defeated one of their generals, a six armed demoness, in the process," declared Nahbob proudly.
A few short months ago, Bey Javindar would have glowed with pride, and even rapped his servant for forgetting to mention his mastery of the oceans, but for some reason the Bey shrank at the praise, and even blushed in embarrassment at the platitudes.
The Baroness raised her hands in mock defeat and shot the Prince a sly glance."Okay, Okay I get it you believe in fate. You believe in destiny. So therefore you believe in prophecies? Am I correct?"
"Yes…I believe in them," said Javindar half-heartedly. While prophecies were generally accepted as true in Vinraj, it was also accepted that one held their own fate in their hands. While Javindar didn't give it much thought, he supposed that both schools of thought did clash with each other. He would normally dismiss such things as chatter for Prince Lalit and his philosopher friends, but with the playful gaze of the Baroness on him, he couldn't help but ponder if that particular doctrine was true.
The Baroness paused their conversation briefly as she hailed a carriage down. Javindar saw that there were many other people waiting in que for a carriage, but she was able to get one almost immediately through a series of subtle hand signals. "A trick I learned from an associate of mine,"she explained as the three got in. "To the Admiralty please."
Javindar wasn't sure why he was following this woman so eagerly. If anything he should proceed with caution. Since arriving to this dark city he's been assaulted and beaten by bandits, and then psychically assaulted by demons. Following this self-admitted half demon, did not seem a wise choice of action. He glanced at Nahbob, to gauge what his servant thought and saw that he was looking towards him for instruction.
Before he could voice his concern, the Baroness Stille continued with her story. "I'm not sure if you know, but Holy Sampada had expressed interest in the Black Scrolls for some time now. I'm sure you've heard the tale of how she was attacked by the Rakshasa when she was young and how she was cut off from her noble birthright as a girl. "
Javindar nodded. He's heard that story from many troubadours. It was an interesting tale with many versions, though he preferred the ones where she wasn't rescued by a tough young street urchin, but instead by her uncle Sardar Milan. She was then brought back to Nashput where she became a cultured if somewhat aloof beauty.
"After the battle with the Rakshasa Rajah Mogombo, apparently one of the Black Scrolls was taken from his lair. I was not sure how or when, but it was purloined by a …ahh…a dashing rogue with more speed than sense. He did not know what he had taken, but he also didn't mind to reveal it. Both Sampada and I were fascinated by it, but we paid it no heed at first for we did not know what it was. It was a pity though, since the man with the scroll left before we could fully study it."
Javindar noticed that the Baroness paused at the mention of this rogue, and seemed deeply sorrowful about him. Before he could question her about him, she quickly returned to her cheerful self.
"Later when Sampada was back in Vinraj and firmly established in her holy temple, she began to research various holy topics. She found some information about both a legend and a prophecy. About a Demon King, that almost conquered the mortal realms with ancient infernal knowledge bound in a tome. Not only was he immortal to the point that gods could not slay him, but he could also unravel the magic that binds reality and had the power of foresight."
"The demon whose name that rhymes with Borkus? His words?" asked Nahbob.
"No, that's a completely different myth. I'm talking about the seals that binds the mortal realms and keeps out the outer and lower realms."
"Ahh the great seals. One being that of the Holy Temple of Nashput," nodded Nahbob.
"Yes, that is the one that shuts out the plane of Abaddon," nodded Stille before continuing. " The Demon King was on the verge of taming both heavens and hells, but as so often happens, a mighty hero was able to slip past the Demon King's visions of the future and sundered that knowledge into three parts and sent it scattered around the world."
"Wait, " interrupted Javindar. "If it was an evil book, how come this great hero didn't just burn it and be done with it."
The Baroness shrugged. "Magic Book," she said before she continued.
"The portions of the text were in the care of powerful guardians, but I assumed they have either failed or died since it was so long ago. One of them was a dragon from the east, another the hero's shield maiden, and the last was the hero's blade itself. It was mostly an interesting research project at first, for both Sampada and myself since we enjoyed our scholarly correspondence, but you saw first-hand the power of the second scroll. Reality was broken, and the Asura hordes poured through."
Javindar nodded. While they were victorious, it was a closer battle than anyone would care to admit. If he didn't swing his forces to shatter the enemy's flank the Asuras would have torn down the Holy Temple and established a more permanent base in Nashput.
"Sampada theorized, and I agree rightfully so that it was the work of one of the Black Scrolls that we've been researching," sighed Stille.
"So, here's the part I don't get," interrupted Javindar once again. "Everyone from Vinraj has heard bits and pieces of this legend. If the Black Scroll can shut down the seals, why get another Black Scroll to counter it? Shouldn't there be an easier way? Shouldn't we just stop it's magic with a holy artifact or something. It just seems counter intuitive to stop evil with umm…more evil. If you ask me, it'll just make things worse."
"Yes it does seem illogical from a cursory glance, but the way the hero defeated the Demon King was to trick him, so that the evil within the book fed upon itself. I suppose you could just march into Abaddon and take the black scroll those demons possess but things aren't that easy are they? It was Sampada's belief and mine that the fragments of the book held the secrets of the other scrolls. A way to counter itself. Or at the very least give her more knowledge about what she's facing."
"Yes, yes. We know this. What does this have to do with destiny?"
Before Stille answered, the carriage came to a stop. While most of the architecture in Grom was an eyesore to Bey Javindar, he was suitably impressed at the massive multistoried building that he found himself before. It was at least a hundred feet tall, with multiple terraces and domes. While it didn't have the decorative columns and statues that he was so familiar with in his home country, it did project a sense of power and dignity, like the mighty Black Fort of Aneela.
Before he was overtaken by the awe of the structure, the Baroness talked to some of the overly armoured guards, and their group was escorted in. There they passed several large rooms, with what looked like large ships made to resemble large fantastical sea creatures. Javindar wasn't sure what the purpose of these oddly appealing works of art were, but they seemed to be in storage of some type.
"As I was saying," began Stille again as they were lead into a waiting room. "What little research I did on the Black Scroll that I had a fleeting chance to study, spoke of a prophecy where a demon, or Asura army if you prefer, would be released on the world when the sun was devoured by Rahu the eater of light. "
"Rahu is the Asura lord of eclipses," said Nahbob as he lounged on the unusually plush chairs in the waiting room. "During the last partial eclipse, the Asuras broke through the wards sealing them in the jungle and only Prince Javindar's heroic actions saved the day. "
Stille tilted her head to the Prince. "Nicely done, but as I was saying the scroll also said that not only would the demons invade, led by a terrible demon with multiple heads. "
"Taraksun, the Awakener of Wrath," said Nahbob." Oh sorry, nevermind me, continue."
"The demons would ravage the land, causing untold destruction," said Stille shaking her head. "A sad story, yes I know, but it does have a happy ending. Well sort of. The scroll also says that the demons' reign would end when the scrolls would be united and then read by the Mahadevi of the Holy Temple in charge of that particular seal. "
"Wait, that's ridiculous. We don't have any scrolls let alone three, and didn't those demons say that the Holy Sampada has been abducted," said Nahbob. "She's the only Mahadevi we have. If, god's praise I'm wrong, something terrible would befell her, we would have to wait…ummm…."
"..years until Prince Lalit fathers a child. I believe the position is hereditary under the Holy Temple, am I not correct?" asked Stille. Javindar and Nahbob both nodded.
"Aye, it would be a catastrophe. Years of demonic rule spreading from Nashput, and most likely all of Vinraj. "
Javindar scratched his goatee in thought. "If the scroll is basically a triumvirate of an evil artifact, could it not be that it has manipulated its prophecy. It might be simply spewing rubbish to get some …adventurers…" he said with a hint of disdain.".. to reassemble it."
"Aye. I know it's all a prophecy on a dusty old scroll that was scavenged off a crazy cat spirit, but considering the recent events it's a bit hard to dismiss. The scroll has been correct so far. I've seen the power of the scroll of immortality and I am assuming that you've seen the power of the seal breaker, and you know how dire the situation can become if it's portents has even a hint of truth. "
Javindar weighed her statements. Regardless if the prophecy she read was true or not, it was troubling. He trusted the Baroness, but he wasn't sure if he fully believed her divination, though there was enough about it to make him think. Think hard. Even if what she said was just some mad scholarly musings, the Asura was real, their ability to break to break the Holy Temple's seals was real, and their invasion was definitely real. If the only way to stop this conquest of Asura was to reassemble the scrolls and get Holy Sampada or her successor to read it, then he would have to at least consider it.
As Javindar pondered, a Grommish naval officer entered their room. "Admiral Edmund will see you now Baroness. His time is short though."
Stille flashed a smile that almost caused the officer to trip as he guided them to the Admiral's office. Inside was an old man being helped by an attendant into a light suit of chain. While the man was clearly bulky, he more resembled an old bear than a large hog.
"Oh hullo Baroness. You've caught me at a bad time,"apologized Admiral Edmund in a gruff voice. "While you are always welcome to my office, it seems we have a situation brewing near Ramsford."
"The fishing village? Whatever could be so important there that the Admiral of the fleet has taken notice?"
The Admiral raised his arms as his assistant strapped the arming belt around his waist. The Bey wondered why they didn't just wear lighter armour in the first place. Though Javindar was familiar with the concept, he scoffed at the notion. It was to help distribute the weight on heavy armors so that one's shoulder did not bear all the weight.
"You see, one of our patrols redirected a heavily armed flotilla of ships headed to Grom City a few days ago. They haven't attacked yet, but their mere presence worries me. They aren't merchant ships mind you, but war ships from one of those Vinraji kingdoms."
"War Kaylons?"
"Eh?" The Admiral stopped as he finally noticed Stille's guests. Which wasn't all that surprising considering how she magnetically draws people attention to her when she wished to.
"This is Prince Javindar, Bey of Ghata and this is Nahbob his companion," bowed Stille.
Javindar bristled at the term companion instead of servant, but he let it pass.
"Greetings your highness. May I be so bold to ask if you are associated with this fleet?"
Javindar shook his head. "We are not good sir. Not directly at least. Though, I suspect I have crossed paths with it. During our journey here we did meet some War Kaylons that attempted to intercept us. We managed to give them the slip, but ….they might possibly have captured or killed a companion of mine in the process. "
The Admiral pondered his statement. "When you met them, did they possess some sort of supernatural creature or did they have some kind of demi god with them?"
Javindar looked puzzled. "No sir. At least not that I can tell. They had an exceptionally powerful wizard with them, but nothing out of the ordinary. If I were to meet him again, I think I could best him."
The Admiral raised an eyebrow. "Something from this fleet immobilized two iron golems. Two iron golems. A wizard would not be able to do so."
"What's an iron golem?" Javindar asked Nahbob in the Ghata tongue.
"A towering war construct sir. One that is practically immune to magic," explained his servant. "If one were to best two of them, it would require tremendous raw strength or exceptional skill at arms."
"I could beat such a creature," boasted Javindar. While never having fought an iron golem, he was familiar with the concept of constructs and knew that speed could win where might and magic could not. "Perhaps we could assist you in the coming battle. If this is the same band that attacked my ship earlier, than what we seek is within their grasp."
Edmund looked at Javindar dubiously, gauging the strength of the man.
"The Prince is a mighty warrior, but I fear we do not have time for such a skirmish," said Stille. "I am here to warn you, the Emperor, General Olive, Lord Reinhardt, and whoever else you can contact to be on high alert. There are portents in the air of a demonic invasion soon, and I would like Grom to be ready for it. It will originate from the east, from Vinraj if you haven't guessed yet. As for my companions and myself, I will need access to your 'special' map library. Specifically pertaining to the seas around sunken Alphatia."
Javindar gave her a puzzled look. "I thought you wanted to rescue Holy Sampada who is now a prisoner of some 'man in yellow'. If I'm guessing right, he should be with that fleet of Khanians. What you are suggesting is that we rescue Whelp. If she's even alive. My heart yearns to do so, but my duty is to the Kingdom and the world first."
"I believe that if Whelp were still alive, she would be with those War Kaylons. That is if they are the same ones that we encountered on that island full of frog men," added Nahbob.
"I did a private divination earlier, one that concentrated on Whelp. When you were concentrating on Prince Lalit, I was scrying the location of her crossbow. I do not know her fate, but her crossbow is still somewhere in the Sea of Dawn.
Admiral Edmund ignored the debate about Whelp and pressed his own point.
"Demon invasion? Vinraj? I have a lot on my plate already Baroness," Edmund waved to his assistant and nodded at the man. "I will do as you ask, simply because of your past services to the realm. Your advice is something I do not take lightly, and I am flattered you came to me first."
Javindar was about to add it was because you were the closest you fat fool, but he held his tongue.
"Thank you Edmund. Please send the maps to my residence at the Academy. I will return them after I have gleaned the information I desire. In the mean time I most likely will require the services of a ship. Something fast."
"I can lend you a schooner…."
"Nonsense," interrupted Javindar. "You can sail on my ship, the Golden Eagle. However, you haven't explained to me why you are so determined to rescue Whelp instead of Holy Sampada. Does she have some ability to track her mistress? Or does she have some hidden knowledge of the scrolls we seek."
Baroness Stille shook her head. "You still haven't figure it out yet? After all this time. Sammy told me you were dense, but I didn't figure you were this dense. The woman that the demon's captured and taken by this 'man in yellow' is nothing but a diversion, a body double. The real Holy Sampada has always been closer to you than you think. She is the woman you refer to as Whelp."