Part 1/5 of the Highborne Backstory Segment.
Maluineth and Tylarwin have a discussion in the underground tunnels of Ethel Rethor, their conversation in regards to a possible conspiracy.
Transcendence: Gaiden
The Discussion
Maluineth limped alongside Tylarwin, both descending the steps into the depths of the tunnels beneath the city's main streets. They had both walked from the palace after the attempted infiltration of Codexia, on Maluineth's request Tylarwin escorted her to the holding cells.
Both were on their way to interrogate Mordent Evershade who had been captured less than twenty minutes before. Yet her request for the Captain of the Guard's presence was not directly linked to the interrogation.
"We are alone now, what is it you wanted to speak with me upon?" Tylarwin inquired, words bland and holding the distinct militaristic tone that most highly trained warriors possessed.
"I have recently come across some information I think you should be privy too." Maluineth replied, pulling out a piece of parchment and handing it to Tylarwin.
He held it up, ignoring the tearing along its sides and instead focusing on the list of items on the parchment.
"What is this?" Tylarwin asked, scanning each name and coming to not conclusion as to the purpose.
"These are some of the artefacts that have been collected from Shari'adune, but these ones have gone missing from our vaults." Maluineth stated.
Tylarwin looked at her for moment, raising an eyebrow and then turning it into a deeply creased frown.
"That is something you should take up with your Relic Keepers, not me." Tylarwin said, thinking that she brought him here so he could reclaim her lost property.
"I take it up with you because they went missing while I fought against the Primal Spirits, and they were taken by Mildreas." Maluineth replied, this getting the expected surprise from the Captain of the Guard.
"Mildreas stole from your vaults? That is a bold claim to make, is there any proof of this?" Tylarwin asked, accusing a fellow noble was a very serious thing and would require a good deal of proof.
"His son, he was the one that provided a list to his father who then had them stolen by agents within the Shen'dralar." Maluineth replied, scowling as she knew that there were traitors within her order. "But I also uncovered that while he has people under his thumb in the Shen'dralar he also has several within the Guard."
Tylarwin stopped and whirled on the battered Archmage, narrowing his eyes as he glared into her brilliant orbs. She was suggesting that Mildreas was buying off his own warriors? He didn't believe it, that his fellows would actually betray him to that man.
"Impossible, my warriors have more honour than that." Tylarwin replied, scoffing at the possibility that his warriors would turn.
"But it is true, the man had already gathered allies within my order and yours is next." Maluineth said, trying to make him see reason. "He is trying to strengthen his hold over the people, with the Shen'dralar and the Guard he could take over the entire city. Especially with the artefacts he stole and the purpose he is using them for, he might have the power now to challenge you."
"What do you mean?" Tylarwin said, his expression a grim one.
"The Brazier of Elune and Elune's Handmaiden were just two of the artefacts taken, and from what I had been told he has used them to enchant his soldiers." Maluineth said, recalling the powers of the Brazier and Handmaiden clearly.
The Brazier of Elune had the power to give any who wiped the ashes over their body to be given incredible healing that could treat nearly any wound. In great enough quantities it could even repair internal organs and even replace lost limbs, but that would require an abundant amount of sacrificial food or fur.
The Handmaiden of Elune was capable of taking the magical energies within items and converting it into raw magical energies that could be inscribed onto new artefacts. Often these enchantments were hard to control and manage, but Mildreas had taken another tool to help with that flaw. With it he could offer enchanted armour and weapons to his personal soldiers, but like the Brazier it required weapons and armour to be broken at the base of the fountain.
Both required a substantial sum of materials to work and yet they had no idea where he could get it from.
"I see." Tylarwin replied, looking at the two mentioned items on the list and the notes on them. "How many warriors does he have?"
"Twenty five were part of his personal routine, those were lost in Maraudon. But beyond that I do not know, had could have many more warriors on his side than we know." Maluineth replied.
Tylarwin thought for a moment, he had just over one hundred men under his command at the moment. All of whom were within the city, the rest were lost in Maraudon after their failed attempt to kill Mordent.
"This will require some investigation." Tylarwin said, before giving one more glance to the other objects on the list. "I can understand why he has the Handmaiden and Brazier, alongside the Chisel and Hammer set, but what of the rest that were taken?"
"I have no idea, but I intend to find out. He stole a lot, along with two Artefacts that fell into Mordent's hands that were used by him to get inside the city." Maluineth said, knowing that the Raiment's of General Yaiden and Star Blade had been given to Sylerian.
"This is not pleasant news to hear, I think we best see to investigating our own forces for possible corruption." Tylarwin said, deep down he was vengeful at the man that would try to taint his order and warriors. "You have my thanks for alerting me of this, I never would have suspected it from that man or my own warriors."
"No thanks are necessary, only that we discover what Mildreas is up to." Maluineth said. "I think we should also bring this to A'oraen's attention as well, to let him know what Mildreas has been up to."
Tylarwin agreed, if Mildreas is making a play for power than the Head Councillor was likely in the firing line. Mildreas was always a coy and aggressive character, to think he would go to these lengths should have been such a surprise to them.
"I will call for a meeting, but I think it is best we mention only the Artefacts that were stolen and see to it that they are returned." Tylarwin suggested. "If he suspects that there is more afoot than just him stealing artefacts he might do something rash. Let him think we know little so when we investigate he cannot cover his tracks."
A prudent move on Tylarwin's behalf, it would be a good idea to make sure that no one knows of the possibility of corruption within the Highborne ranks. The less Mildreas was aware of their knowledge the better their odds were that they could uncover his plot.
"Good, but maybe a little testimony from our recent captive could be useful. If he fought against Sylarian in Maraudon than maybe we can use that, claiming him as the source of the leak." Maluineth said, before she smiled slightly at the thought of finding Mordent in his cell bound in chains.
Protecting Caelyb would be important in this, if Mildreas grew aware of his sons betrayal than there is no telling what the man might to do him. Keeping him alive and close to his father would be important, the more he sees gives Maluineth more evidence to turn against the old bastard.
"A wise decision." Tylarwin said, rounding the corner ahead of Maluineth and coming to a halt.
His expression tightened and his hand grasped the hilt of his blade, drawing it he rushed forward before Maluineth could ask what was wrong. Stepping around the corner she realized what had caused the Guard Captain such concern.
On the ground were the beaten forms of the guards protecting the cells, all of them unconscious and their wards gone. Rushing forward she looked into the cell to find everyone had indeed escaped and left their captors bloodied and shamed.
She seethed as she realized that the enemy of her family had escaped right under her nose, but how was it possible for him to escape? He was weakened and disarmed, how was it possible that no one realized.
"What happened?" Tylarwin said, kneeling before a barely conscious knight.
"Mages… when we… when we locked up Mordent… Mages attacked us… we didn't see them…" He said, struggling to speak coherently.
"Mordent wasn't alone when he entered the city." Tylarwin said, glaring at the adjacent passageways. "The passageways through here are sealed, there is no way they could have done deeper underground. They have to be hiding throughout the city."
The levels that had not been cleared and contained by the Guard were too dangerous to occupy, the Naga and Elementals that resided down there would make short work of any intruder. Their only way out was up, they had to be hiding in a secluded part of the city, there was no other option.
"Call the Shen'dralar, have them search the districts and I will do the same with the Guard." Tylarwin said, rising up and moving for the exit.
Maluineth remained in place looking at the empty cells and thinking of the man that had been a constant thorn in her side. Mordent had never truly gone against her before, in fact they barely knew each other really. But what he had done to her father alongside Prince Tortheldrin had left him broken and dead to the world.
Her father had suffered for his attempt to stop that madman from murdering the majority of their people back in Eldre'thalas. Staging a coup with many mages and warriors that would follow him, it had failed spectacularly and he was cast down and his magic sealed. Runes burned into his flesh and paraded around like an animal, condemned by the remaining populace as the cause of the slaughter.
He was cast down into the lower section of the city, as a hermit to rot away as the lower wards of the city decayed with him.
"You conniving snake." Maluineth growled, recalling his taunt to her back in the Sanctum.
She had spared him and he wanted her to do it so that he could come here and free his allies, he had tricked and manipulated her. That had been a blow to her pride, one so severe that she was certain she staggered in place when she realized it.
"I will find you! Place you in chains and make you suffer Mordent Evershade!" Maluineth turned and moved for the exit, she would need her entire order in on this.