Part 3/5 of the Highborne Backstory Segment.
Maluineth shares her fears with Tylarwin, asking him to search for the evidence needed to expose him. What he finds is more horrifying than he ever imagined.
Transcendence: Gaiden
Corruption most Foul
Tylarwin raised an eyebrow as he looked at the basin before him, a simple stone plinth supporting an even more simple bowl. But apparently this object was the Cup of Elune, the so called washing bowl that was said to be used by the priestesses of Shen'dralar. It could bestow visions of faraway realms, be it at a distance or even into the spiritual realm.
Hard to believe such a simple looking thing held such power, perhaps he had spent too long in Eldre'thalas and the upper court. It may have skirted his views on how power often is associated with beautiful craftsmanship and grandiose ornamenting.
"I fail to see anything of note." Tylarwin said, wanting to know why she had dragged him here to look at the artefact that Mildreas had stolen and then returned.
Was she making a complaint? Considering how volatile she had been of late and how hard she seemed to be trying to maintain her anger it was no surprise. It was almost shocking how much effort she was going into in order to try and keep her hatred towards Mordent alive.
"That is because you are looking and not sensing." Maluineth replied, stepping around and gesturing to the Cup again. "Look with your magical senses rather than your eyes, they will see and feel what I came here to discuss."
Tylarwin again was wondering where Maluineth was going with this but chose not to argue and extend his senses to try and determine what was amiss with the artefact. His skills in the art of magic were not as refined as a true mage, yet he should have enough control over what magical energies he had within to at least do that much.
It took only a few moments for him to sense the arcane energies of the Cup, not as powerful as he expected them to be. Yet he noticed something amiss, a sudden flare of some other dark energy emanating from within the very stone of the artefact. He retreated from it as it seemed to flare from his probing.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Maluineth asked.
"Yes, what was that?" Tylarwin asked, turning to the Archmage.
"The Fel." Maluineth said, scowling as she spoke the dark utterance.
Tylarwin's eyes widened slightly, that was something he had not expected to hear from the woman. He quickly wracked his brain for a possible explanation, some came up but he did not know if any of them were preferable over the others.
"Was it exposure to the demons in Shari'adune?" Tylarwin said, there had been requests for him to send out guard detachments to protect the magi as they scour the ruins.
The Satyr's infect that entire region and before their arrival demons and other foul creatures would regularly occupy elven ruins. They likely have been occupying them for millennium, that long period of exposure would surely saturate the relics with this taint. No matter how small it may be.
"Many of the artefacts were exposed and tainted, that is why they are in the vaults being cleansed." Maluineth said. "We actually extracted some of the sap from the trees that Codexia created in Mannoroc Coven and Shadowbreak Ravine, it has shown to be able to absorb and remove Fel taint. We had hoped to use it to do the same with these artefacts and it worked."
They had observed that the trees created by Codexia in the demonically infested ruins had been powerful enough to absorb the corruptive energies of the Fel and not be tainted. In fact it collected these energies and stored them in fruits that slowly evaporated the Fel taint and left behind fruit filled with arcane energies. Extracting these fruits had been a plan but the sap was also something they were interested in as it was capable of absorbing the fel taint from anything it was smothering over.
"Then what is the problem?" Tylarwin asked.
"The Cup was one of the artefacts that was cleansed and rendered pure, when we ran out of the sap we had intended to later use the Cup to remove the taint from smaller objects but never came around to it." Maluineth replied. "Somehow this artefact and all of the others taken by Mildreas have been exposed to the Fel."
That was concerning, if they had been previously cleansed and exposed to this level of taint it could only mean that the energies that were present were highly potent. But that was not what was most chilling of these revelations, it was who was in possession of these artefacts when such corruption and taint occurred.
"You suspect that he is responsible then?" Tylarwin inquired.
"I do, and I want you to investigate." Maluineth asked.
Tylarwin knew very well why she asked him and even brought him here in secret, so to not rouse the suspicion of Mildreas towards the possibility that he knew about the Guard. As of this moment only Maluineth would be suspected of anything, and would likely have eyes and ears open for anything she might know.
"I will begin immediately, and have my most trusted men on the case." Tylarwin replied, turning and moving for the doorway.
"Let me know what you find." Maluineth gave in farewell.
Tylarwin had not spoken to her since yesterday morning, dusk was soon approaching and he had yet to find the evidence he needed to prove that Mildreas had committed any wrongdoing. Sad to say that his investigation had been mostly focused on using the search for Mordent Evershade as a cover to find the location of Mildreas and his secret study.
Sadly Mildreas was quite elusive in his way and attempting to find him was impossible, although there were others that could help him in this matter. He had been keeping close observation upon the two fellow nobles, Elaallaes and Nytheas were most definitely allied with the man.
"Is this accurate?" Tylarwin inquired.
"Yes, the private stocks reserved for the Court have not been touched." Ylannul Truerage was one of Tylarwins most trusted and dedicated lieutenants.
When his Guard had been ordered to massacre the people in the lower wards of Eldre'thalas over a thousand years ago Ylannul had gone against orders.
While he was captured and detained Tylarwin did not have him executed, instead he promoted him because it was a show of character. Tylarwin did not believe in what he did back then, and if there was anyone he could trust to make sure another evil did not transpire this man was the one he could trust to do it.
"Not a single drop in the five days since the Spirits were captured, that is unusual." Tylarwin mused, narrowing his eyes in suspicion of what this little titbit of information could mean.
Each Noble had their own private stock of Draught that was for their personal use, usually divided into daily shares. While it was said that they would get equal amount as the people, the truth was that the Noble court received doubt the rations. He made an example of himself with only a single ration a day, while Maluineth based on this report seemed to be drinking it as fast as it came in.
Mildreas, Elaallaes and Nytheas, however, did not seem to have taken a single bottle from their private stashes. Not a single withdrawal was noted from Mildreas.
Thinking back to the meeting two nights ago he recalled that Mildreas was the only one not partaking of the Draught, Elaallaes and Nytheas did so but sparingly. Strange for a man who was suffering from the strain of the addiction as much as any of them would not partake of it. But it was even more suspicious that he didn't have the normal signs of arcane starvation.
'But he was clearly agitated, more than usual.' Tylarwin mused.
They were onto something.
"Have keeping tabs on Elaallaes and Nytheas been beneficial?" Tylarwin inquired.
"There is one thing that is interesting. A serf regularly brings a Draught to their room, daily I might add and from the requisition sheet here they are not taking it from their own stashes. Or as they taking it from anywhere else distributing the Draught." Ylannul replied, crossing his arms and frowning in mimicry of his superior. "Question is: where is this Draught coming from?"
"Nowhere good." Tylarwin replied, scowling as he rose from his seat and moved for the doorway. "I need to take part in this personally, no more waiting for results."
He had a thought for a moment.
"Where is Caelyb Greenearth?"
"Last I was informed he was at the Palace, currently on some kind of errand." Ylannul replied.
More than likely he was on an errand from his father, that man had little care for his offspring. He was willing to sell his daughter to earn another's favour. Expressing exasperation that his son died in Maraudon rather than come back alive, not even that show he performed during the previous gathering convinced him that Mildreas was sincere. The man cared only about power and what others could do for him, Caelyb was a perfect example of what happens to those who displease him by not being of use.
Tylarwin intended to use that to his advantage and learn where he was keeping those artefacts before he had to return them.
He moved through the maze of halls and spoke with his guards occasionally, making sure to speak only to those he had known personally and quite well. Soon he had an idea where Caelyb was, down in the streets preaching to the masses regarding the recent rumours that had been spread by Mordent Evershadw and the rogue elements of the Shen'dralar.
Exiting into the Plaza he glanced ahead towards the massive pylon that the Draught was being distributed. One of several across the city but this one was the most visited, often because of the sudden market that was slowly taking form across the circular court.
Hundreds gathered around the pylon to receive their daily rations from the Shen'dralar mages that extracted and stored it in porcelain jars. Yet his eyes followed the voice of the one who preached to the masses as they gathered to gain their elixir. Circling the crowd he found Caelyb finishing up his speech.
"Drink and feel the wholeness that has escaped our reach for so many centuries, no longer will our people starve and grovel for our needed Draught. No longer will we be divided by uncertainty and the ravages of hunger." Caelyb said, soothingly speaking to the crowd and allaying any fears they may have had.
With the Draught it was easy, the euphoric feeling you receive from a few sips is more than enough to make one susceptible to the right words.
"All will receive their fair share and no one will take from you, this is yours to have and enjoy. Remember that and the other gifts that have been given to you, remember that this is what it is meant to be like when a people are ruled by the good and righteous." Caelyb finished, smiling as he waved to the people when he descended from the stage.
"Excellent work, you certainly know how to work a crowd." Tylarwin said, taking the young mage by surprise. "Along with subtlety make the people think better of the nobility. It is good that you have the best interests of the Nobility at heart, considering how well you serve some."
Caelyb looked a little uncomfortable with speaking with the Guard Captain in an informal capacity, for the mage was not one to fraternize outside of his duties. But he was hoping that in that awkwardness that the boys guard was down.
"Tell me how your father is, he has not been noticed beyond the Palace – or within it for that matter – I was hoping to discuss several matter with him." Tylarwin asked, leading the boy back towards the palace and hoping to not set off any suspicions outside the palace.
"He delves into his studies, I am not privy to them." Caelyb replied.
"I see, but I still require to break words with him. Do you know where I can speak with him? Where he has run off too?" Tylarwin inquired, keeping his words light and casual so that the boy does not think this a serious or professional request.
From the way he was handling it there was obvious tension, the boy's social inelegance was Tylarwin's advantage at the moment. As they ascended the steps he looked at the boy in a queer manner, expressing his confusion for his lack of response and reaction.
"Well?" The single word seemed to do more than the dozen others before.
"I am sorry… I cannot help you." Caelyb replied, moving for the door in a quick manner.
"How is your sister?" Tylarwin inquired, words more serious and possessing the gruff of a typical soldiers.
This had caught the mage by his heels and stopped him, he looked back to Tylarwin in surprise. Yet the Guard Captain placed a hand on his back and pushed him lightly forward, signalling him to keep going.
"I need to know where your father is, this is an important matter that concerns Maluineth and the artefacts he returned to her." He made sure to catch his eyes with his own, expressing the seriousness of the matter.
Caelyb was silent for a moment, unwittingly he had only just realized that now that they were within the Palace halls that the conversation from before was a ruse. But now that he was alone with the man, only the guards that lined the hall that were present were all subservient to the man he now spoke with.
"Where is he?" Tylarwin asked.
"I do not know My Lord." Caelyb replied.
"Do not lie to me, your father is a master of the art and can escape my prejudice but you cannot." Tylarwin warned, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Catching onto the lingering threat he tried to salvage the situation.
"I cannot tell you, he thinks ill of me now and if I do something to displease him…"
"When he is threatening the entire populace of this city your own sake comes at a second to the rest of our people." Tylarwin replied. "I need to know where he was with those Artefacts, now."
"My Lord…"
"There is a taint here, of corruption not only of rank but also magic." Tylarwin said, catching the mage by surprise and with some terror. "One that we both know of and only one of us is willing to seek out and tear away if need be. The only thing that is important right now is how loyal you are, to either the people or to him."
Tylarwin held the mage's gaze for a few seconds and waited for him to cave in to the demand, he knew that he wouldn't protect his father. The man was willing to do everything in his power to achieve his own goals and his family was not above such manipulations. His own wife had been a tool to procreate children to gain allies and favour in certain circles. Caelyb was lesser than that, for he was a failure in his father's eyes and seen as nothing but a broken wand that could be used for some menial task.
"North-Western side of the city, just south west of the docks you will find a single building. Enter through the sewers, it is the safest way in where you won't be seen." Caelyb replied, releasing himself from Tylarwin's grasp and quickly departing.
Tylarwin let him go and didn't even bother to say or look at him as he ran off, instead he moved for the backdoors of the Palace. He could exit out into the docks and move to where Caelyb specified, from there he would find what he searched for.
Tylarwin was greatly irritated with this little mission of his, deciding to take care of this matter personally may have been an oversight on his part. Considering that he had to trudge through a filthy sewer that was ankle deep with rotting matter and mud.
That along with the smell and near perfect darkness did not help him, even with the glowing orb in hand did not seem to help against the oppressive darkness that hung over him. Yet he pushed through the personal levels of discomfort he was feeling to find this secret chamber that Mildreas had stashed the Artefacts in his use of them.
It had progresses into an hour long search before he finally found it, a sealed chamber behind an illusionary doorway.
A simple thing to see with his keen eyes, the distortion of light over its surface was noticeable as well as when his hand phased through its surface.
Stepping through his blade at the ready he found a deserted chamber, large and filled with many tables and instruments of a magical nature. He could not identify them all, yet the distilling equipment around the room told him of the purpose was to filter large quantities of a liquid. Possibly even a Draught of some kind, having seen similar utensils put to use when distilling the Draught from the pylons.
Soon he found a pylon no different to those that hovered around the city and dispensed the Draught to the people, yet this one did not possess the same blueish tint of the others. Instead it was a sickly green and covered in cracks, even the crystal appeared to have melted in places and rotted away. That would explain the foul green liquid that now pooled at the floor beneath it.
The entire room smelled of decay and rot, more so than the sewer, yet it was of a more foul nature and it seemed to come from this foul chemical. The ground was caked in a bubbling green liquid that seemed to be decaying the very stone it touched, turning it black and slowly making it crumble. He dare not touch it, less he suffer the same fate as the rock.
"What is this?" Tylarwin said, looking up at the tubes that carried this foul liquid to this chamber from another.
He followed them and as he pushed open the doorway he was caught by surprise, this room was also occupied but not only by equipment. He strolled forward and looked at the series of objects that lines the walls, all of them glowing green and housing a dark shape within them.
"No… you wouldn't." Tylarwin said.
His stoicism lost as he stared at the crystal prisons eerily similar to those used to contain the Primal Spirits were now used to hold something of a darker nature. From within he could make out the large horns, cloven feet and long tail that marked these creatures as Satyrs.
"He has gone mad." Tylarwin said, stepping into the room and finding that there were close to thirty of the crystal prisons in the chamber.
All of them contained a demon and all being drained of power to be siphoned out and into the adjacent room where it drained into the vessel. Mildreas was harvesting the Fel energies of demons and using it to create his own Draught, he was mad.
"How could he be doing this?" Tylarwin said, before he quickly left the room and back into the chamber he first entered.
He tried to take a breath and nearly chokes on the putrid air, he quickly moved for the way he came and escaped. He needed to find Maluineth and tell her of what he had found, then he would need to warn A'oraen of this treachery. Mildreas had been corrupted by the demonic.
He ran through the sewers and then found a quick exit, rising up he found himself on a desolate street and was thankful for that fact. Taking a few deep breaths he savoured the fresh sea air and the lack of rot assaulting his nostrils and throat.
Turning he walked along the street, savouring the slight reprieve he was given he was slow at first to move towards the Sanctum to report to Maluineth.
"Captain!"
Tylarwin turned to the call and reached for his blade on instinct, yet he halted when he found a warrior moving towards him with haste. Mounted on a horse, one of the beasts they had acquired from the Warlocks in Mannoroc along.
"What is it?" Tylarwin demanded.
"Invaders, in the North-Eastern section of the city! The guards are pursuing them and require reinforcements!" The soldier said.
Tylarwin's eyes widened before he moved forward and snatched the reigns of the Horse, forcing the Guard to dismount. He would need to investigate this personally before he met with Maluineth.