Prologue
So I am now known as the Elan Culler Countess Markessa Varosh and Fleet Admiral the Liberator of the Northern Mountains of the Kern Empire. So where to begin with what shall become my Journal, perhaps as my Psicrystal Jared advises with the origin of my titles which seems like a good idea. The name that I was born with was Maka Varosh and I was born of Mondian stock in the Kingdom of Kern on Felishar 1 of Maurenna’s 8373 Rise which was also the Summer Solstice of my chosen Primordial Patron. The fact that I was born in the estate of the Master Vampire Count Nestrad Varosh is perhaps of little concern. For I was in reality a result of a complicated eugenics experiment to create a lifeform that would prove valuable to Kern and it’s espionage efforts. I was the only child of many born of a Seelie Nymph and a Master Seelie Vampire on the holy day of Maurenna and blessed to be Seelie that survived their birth. I will not dwell on my ravenous eighteen years I spent as a servant to Vampire’s my only friends the Deep Dragon Abagar and my ten personal servants but instead I will move on to my rebirth.
On Felishar 1 of Maurenna’s 8391 Rise I passed the rites of passage and I was brought before the Dark Elan Council and became a Newmade Elan. I also began my Psion training and came under the tutelage of Council of Eight and began learning of my eventual potential place in the world. My mind would eventually be filled with the secrets of the ages as I moved from Made Elan to an Eternal. My former Master had been slain but I was assigned to the Kern Espionage Branch and took up residence in the Mondian Empire where I would eventually meet my most loyal companion and lover the Elan Culler Baron Karon Nothal and Field Marshal Warden of the Eastern Isles of the Kern Empire the rest is history. As the years would pass the Third Far Realm Incursion would begin and together along with six others we would one day form our own Dark Eight Faction which will become the focus of my following entries.
Log Entry 1
Date: Felishar 1 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
The date was Felishar 1 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance the day of the Winter Solstice and Holy Day of the Primordial Selene and our planet of Xeron had passed as scheduled out of the twenty year alignment with the planet Xoriat a world loosely connected to the Far Realm. Perhaps loosely was too mild a word for in actuality the world held numerous direct portals to the Far Realm which Avatars of Soldiers of our world had gone to attempt to seal forever.
They had been betrayed and their betrayal while not a certainty had been anticipated by one of the founding member of the Dark Eight Council. The name she goes by is the Huntress and her companions Pride comprise the theological background of my cell. The natural savagery of my cell belongs to Shadow and Firre who both are always only awaiting an excuse to unleash their great power and skill. Widow and Rail are our secret weapons who we keep in reserve for when the time comes. Meanwhile Karon and I have taken the names Leopard and Glory for it will be up to us to set up the plans that will one day lead us to our eventual goal.
Huntress had been correct and the Avatars had not returned to Xeron and so while many troops of many nations were coming down from their states of readiness it was time for Shadow and Firre’s plan to begin. For the record before I continue I must state that while I may have been aware of a certain chain of events that if they were to occur could eventually prove very profitable to me I had no direct involvement in the events that occurred on the day in question.
Now what occurred was a crime spree the likes of which the City-State of the Four Winds had not seen in over a thousand years or so I am told by the Huntress. At the time of the so called crime spree which I became aware included piracy, smuggling, murder, larceny, and numerous cases of assault I was in the company of a long time associate and lover Shanara Bakar a beautiful Half-Celestial/Half-Fey, Unseelie Bard and proprietor of the Upper Dark Club called aptly Shanara’s Pit and Grill or more often in dark circles just the Pit. If you are ever looking for a place to relax away from the grind and strife of politics or just a good place to getaway and indulge in one’s more intimate desires then the Pit is the place to be.
I had arrived earlier that same day in the Four Winds via my personally financed Warship the Nestrad one of the prides of the Kern Fleet. One of only a few of the many privileges of race, rank and station all of which I am proud to possess. The Nestrad of course figures quite prominently into my plans for the future of course. So of course while I left her on display when I arrived I had ordered her taken down to the Undersea in the Middle Dark below the City-State of the Four Winds into territory bordering on lands claimed by of the UnderRealm Alliance. Not that I was worried or anything but my constant Deep Dragon companion Abagar had certain business dealings arranged for his Half-Deep Dragon company to attend to.
I was also early for the diplomatic summits due to be scheduled the following day on Aulora 2 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance. The summits were due to progress for two weeks while additional troops from around the world would be using the Godstones to maneuver their troops to various Embassy’s around the world for either release, active or non-active reserve or the reenlisting for active duty. Since while the War with the Far Realm might be over there would be for some time many stragglers to hunt down and pursue. I also had much to consider on a personal level for while the Commander and Chief of the Kern Military had asked me to consider becoming the Fleet Admiral of the Eastern Fleet which would give me dominion over the North Eastern, Eastern and South Eastern Fleets I had other plans and for the moment I did not see a reason to burden myself with the additional burden.
In addition the former Archduke Kelic Narcissis interim Lich-King who had been pre-crowned prior to the mission to Xoriat had asked me as a personal favor to watch over the Duchess Xavia Jordannus and member of the Society of Sinister Sport and report to him personally anything that I felt merited his attention. The fact that I was also a member of the ultra secretive Kern Mercenary Sect known as the Dark Eight I am sure played into his decision for while Kelic was older than I by far his age was dwarfed by the age and wisdom of the Huntress so I bid my time and waited for my time to come and in the meantime I enjoyed myself for after all the Incursion’s had stopped and while for some it was only time to be merry for me and a few of my close associates it was time to get back to work for things were about to become shall I say quite interesting.
Log Entry 2
Aulora 2 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
On the morning a report came to my mind from one of my crew that the Sherriff’s of the Four Winds had made numerous arrests and even the capture of a pirate ship named the Ghost Fang but so far had no solid leads as to who the Master or Masterminds behind the quite devastating crime spree that had occurred the previous night. I was not surprised in the slightest and to be honest I believed that the Shadow Empire would end up with the blame for they were always up to something to prove their superiority over the rest of Xeron.
I did make note of the names of the a few high profile arrests that had been charged with piracy none of which seemed to have an alibi. Of them all which included Jada a male Half-Celestial Elan Monk of the Mondian Empire, Legate Marcus Bane the Human Half-Fiend Wizard-Mindbender of the Shadow Empire, Namara Washa the Aventi Half-Water Elemental of Aquaticus and Baron Kelic Blackmore the Human Half-Vampire/Draconic of Kingdom of Kern, Ralph Marlow the Human Draconic/Amphibious Favored Soul of the Dragon Empire only one actually besides Baron Blackmore actually held my attention. It was because the one they called Mara Jadde it seemed had no identity at all and with regard to having been relieved of item that were most often seen with a Warlock a complete mystery.
Well not perhaps a complete mystery it was known to me that a few select individuals on the world over the centuries of my life had completed sacred rituals that could result in them being erased from the history of the dead and the living. Literally cloaked as if by a cloud of mystery one might even say. Of course one of my companions Shadow had that exact same gift which even prevented her from being detected by any magical or psionic means. It even warned her when someone tried to do so it was quite in impressive gift. Now of course a city like the Four Winds did not persecute unfairly or so they liked to say. So being cloaked in mystery was not exactly an enslaving offense like say in the Shadow Empire or a great opportunity to meet a Kern Grand Inquisitor but I try not to sweat the little things.
I therefore decided to spend the day in the company of my lover and fellow officer General Karon Nothal and even book a private suite in the hottest place in the City-State of the Four Winds where for the right price almost anything goes the infamous Shanara’s Pit & Grill & Casino. Shanara’s establishment just also just so happened to have the safest entrance to the Under-City of the Four Winds and don’t let me forget to mention it’s also one of the best places to gather information in the world. I had actually met the proprietor the infamous Half-Celestial, Half-Fey, Unseelie Human Bard over six centuries in the past when I was a Newmade Elan while I was being escorted by Shadow. Shadow by the way is perhaps the oldest Fey I have ever met and she told me that Shanara like herself saw the big picture and had long ago made plans to stick around as long as possible to one day see the Far Realm Incursions finally end. I had not known really what she had meant but I would later find out that they were both over two centuries old.
I had repeated the ritual some two centuries later when I had brought my first candidate for Elan status before the Dark Elan Council in Kern. The rest as they say in history and even then I been following orders of the Kern Eight. I had been forced to endure and serve the interests of not only the Council of Eight but the Kingdom of Kern and even the Dark Elan Council while I waited for my time to finally come. Well it had finally come and I had been ordered to hold back which after centuries of plotting and planning and acquiring many of the tools I would need to finally enact all of my plans I had decided to return to where it had all began.
Log Entry 3
Goia 3 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
I had ended my meditations in my crypt the next morning amid the dirt from my homeland. Actually it was the dirt from lair of my former Master Nestrad and resting in the dirt of my birth was something that even as I had passed on from the hunger I used to face as a living vampire I found it helped me to focus surrounded by dirt from where it had all began. I had also decided to begin to read an Artifact I had acquired during the war but had not had the time to use. I had only one other pressing matter to attend to. I had acquired six human female virgins the night before or actually first thing in the morning in a private auction who had never been blooded before. Never let it be said I don’t try to honor the Day of Commerce and alright I will admit it while I no longer really needed to feed for substance or for that matter to maintain my sanity it still felt good. They were after all a gift for my love and I to share just a little gift to show my appreciation of all that he has done for me over the centuries.
After my morning feeding I met my constant companion Abagar who has aged quite will I must say over the centuries. His stature also rose during the war where we had both decided he would be able to gain the most prestige and influence amid the Dragon Empire. He had actually risen to the rank of General of the Dragon Empire Marines and had even acquired lands and the title of Baron while all the while letting it be known that his first loyalty after endangered Dragons was to me. I will say this for some might wonder as to the reason for our closeness well you can actually blame my former Master Nestrad. For he had actually bred Abagar and in truth Abagar was actually an Evil Arch, Phrenic Deep Dragon so while most of his kind were greedy and dishonorable Abagar was actually while violent and suspicious quite friendly even diplomatic when the need arose. If you were to ask a soldier of the Dragon Empire if he was more feared or loved it would be a tough call for them to make.
Abagar and I had communed telepathically as was our way for of his many gifts telepathy and Mindsight were among them. It was perhaps the hardest thing I had ever done during the war having to say goodbye to both Abagar and Karon during the war while we built our own respective careers but it had been worth it. This was also no doubt the reason I had been sent as a babysitter to the irrational Xavia Jordannus. Basically to prevent her from starting a war before the news that the Champions of the World were not coming back and the Deities of the world had all gone silent. Actually on the Deity situation Huntress had a plan and while I had come to a similar conclusion her insight would be invaluable to completing my plan.
Log Entry 4
Athne 4 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
I let myself fall into a routine but Karon had reminded me that as was his way of the meeting with our companions within our Dark Eight cell. We had decided long ago on what was called the Day of Fortune to always meet in person or via telepathic and illusionary links in order to discuss business that affected our global plans. I know I said global for I will be honest while many may believe the Dark Eight are only a loosely affiliated Kern mercenary company if anyone actually knew the truth they would be quite surprised.
The day had passed uneventfully with Xavia only offering a few times to pitch key political adversaries into the Society of Sinister Sport’s Thrope Pit. To make a long story short Lycanthropes or Entomanothropes both vile disease infected limited shape shifters feared the world over are kept in check by an entire division of the Kern Government called the Society of Sinister Sport. They are literally kept in military camps and kept at bay with Shadows and Wraiths. In some militaries they have divisions called Monster Squads who are trained to deal with the most devastating of creatures not in Kern the Monster Squads are the real monsters. I will admit I keep one nasty female human Phrenic, Dungeon Breed Widowmaker Spider Entomanthrope who I raised from a child named Sierra De’Varosh who besides being my own personal assassin also serves as my mount. To bring this full circle there are only two places where the Society of Sinister Sport does not actively promote either slaying or hunting of Thrope’s and that is within the Druidical Gatekeeper Retreat in the Expanse and City-State of the Mechar home of the Warforged.
To put it mildly only the politically or physically powerful can afford to keep a Thrope on the payroll if one does not want to run the risk of having themselves hunted by bounty hunters the world over. So while I am both and Sierra is my possession or servant actually personal slave to be honest it made perfect sense why the current Lich King of Kern and my good friend Narcissis had asked me to watch over her. Of course with the implication that as a Fleet Admiral I could of course assign an Admiral to take my place if I so desired unless I wished to resign my military commission. I will admit while I knew Narcissis had no idea of my true agenda he was sometimes an inconvenience and if he kept pushing it he was likely to have my resignation.
Finally it had come time to meet with the others via telepathic image in my suite in the Pit as I like to call it and shall I say it was in interesting meeting. As the Elder of our Dark Eight Huntress laid out her primary passion as was the way of the Dark Eight which was to follow your passion.
Huntress merely indicated that she knew a young orb of darkness had been located in the world. She seemed concerned about her and a young emissary of Bahamut and she wished to know more about them in order to make sure they or any of their future allies did not interfere in our plans for the future. Huntress had been speaking of course of the mystery that was Mara Jadde and her companion the Gold Dragon Tundar Edar. A young girl and a Dragon can accomplish much this I know quite well only time will tell it they end up standing in our way.
Huntress’s primary Pride spoke next and he spoke mainly of being thankful that finally the shackles had been removed and he would finally be free to fill the Pain Chambers to capacity with the blood suffering and blood of our enemies. He meant of course anyone who opposed us actually and I will be honest if it were not for his primary Huntress who had raised him and oversaw his egotistic tendencies I might have been concerned that his lust for power and the pleasure he gained from his acts of ordered savagery might spell disaster.
Shadow was next and she spoke of her desire to oppose the Shadow Empire who she believed were the root of all the evils of world next to the minions of Thoon of course. She put the blame for the City-State’s recent problems on the Shadow Kings of the Shadow Empire. She warned us all if we were going to stay in town to expect the unexpected as the Shadow Empire cared not for the rest of the world and only thought of them as cattle to be exploited. I of course knew better for I knew the odds that the Shadow Empire was responsible for recent actions were at best fifty percent but that Shadow might somehow be manipulating the Shadow Empire was more like ninety percent.
Shadow’s primary Firre had spoken of how bored she was and how she was looking for a chance to hunt prey worthy of her skill. She had continued to relate that if there was anything she could do to help the Shadow Empire meet their end sooner rather than later she was all for it. She worried me also not only because of all the identities she had created around the world but that she was serious. I realized if the world was coming to an end and she was the only one aware of it she might very well wait until the very last moment to let us know.
I was next and I spoke my primary passion wealth and power and my plan for our faction too acquire it. Sadly my plan had a hole in it for within the confines of the City-State of the Four Winds there stood an Elder Portal. Actually a variant of a Psi-Gate but one that was rumored to be intact and had phased out of sync with reality before the First Incursion. It would be considered an Artifact now and it was believed to have been mysteriously shut down during the first war. The four Under-City Epic Portals had been built less than an eon later and had proved pivotal in every Incursion since the creation. They were also the problem for they were magical in nature and there very presence somehow interfered with the Psi-Gate or were perhaps even powered by it that was the mystery. I had theorized that the only way to breach the EarthMaster Gates Seal on our reality that prevented us exploring other realities beyond the Astral Plane and beyond was to find a way to activate the Psi-Gate. Of course how to make that happen still needed to be figured out. Otherwise the rest of my plan to search the Planes for treasure more valuable than any Xeron had ever known would be checked before I even had a chance to castle.
Leopard my primary spoke next and he spoke of his willingness to loan out a few of his best students to Shadow in order for her to ensure her operations proceeded orderly and efficiently. On the condition that if she found a way open the Psi-Gate she give us fair warning of her plans in order for us to take the proper precautions. It was more than that of course my Karon loved me and he like I had a feeling like I did that Shadow who had over three centuries on me might actually have a plan that might very well open the Psi-Gate.
Widow was up next and she was completely honest with her desire to acquire the Thoon operatives still held in custody anywhere they could be found for study starting with the Four Winds. She continued to explain why she needed them for she said that she believed I would find a way enter the Psi-Gate and that one way or another Shadow would see to it. That was when everything went quite for she continued and informed us that she sought a Husk of Infinite Worlds for if her studies were correct she had found a way to control it. So she related to how she had read all of our research and even believed if the Psi-Gate could be opened it might even start a gate reaction that would simultaneously open static portals to an infinite number of realities. She had even followed up with offering to supply grafts to any of Shadow’s operatives so that they could stay ahead of any plots hatched by the Shadow Empire. As always the protégé of Huntress and I did not disappoint for when I had referred to her as our secret weapon I perhaps had been underestimating her. For I have to admit she has never disappointed nor failed in any mission she has ever set her mind to.
Widow’s primary was the love smitten Rail who while powerful in his own right was perhaps in his own way more of a scientist like his lover. His specialty was weapons of all makes and kinds actually of the magical variety and what he proposed was right in line with the wishes of Widow. He offered to deliver any magic items necessary or the offer of creating it to be used as a bribe to ensure that Widow acquired access to the Thoon Minion imprisoned within the City-State of the Four Winds. He had continued and stated he would illicit favors with the Vampiric Underground if necessary or any mercenary to see to it nothing stopped the Psi-Gate from opening. I will admit I was starting to become concerned for while I in truth had the combined knowledge of the Dark Elan Council which had been placed in my mind before many of them had left for Xoriat even I had not considered the lengths the others seemed willing to take to accomplish a goal.
Don’t get me wrong I am not what many would call a good person I am immoral, cruel, and violent but I am also diplomatic, forgiving and an incurable romantic. So to say I wished others harm who did not stand in my way would be a false statement. The problem was I was beginning to wonder if my fellow six of eight had other plans.
Log Entry 5
Gaelnir 5 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
It was once again Gaelnir the day of Learning and so while I let myself become comfortable with my routine of Karon, Abagar and Xavia my nights were an entirely different matter. At night since I only needed one hour of sleep per night were spent learning the rituals from the Book of Shallows. To some the Dark Book would have been a trap but to me it thankfully was not it was actually a quite pleasurable read.
Using the Book of Shallows I was learning the dark arts of dream magic for while so only thought of Dreamscapes as mere fantasy I was learning that they were actually far more. There were dangers to be sure but fortune favors the prepared mind and my mind would be prepared. For I realized that there was by far more to what my fellow Dark Eight were alluding to and I needed to make sure I was prepared.
Log Entry 6
Gravicarius 6 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
After a day of focused thought the Gravicarius the Day of Pride was a perfect day to congratulate myself for I had realized what would need to be done to ensure that either way I would be prepared to face the worst eventuality that might lie before me and my cherished. Of course they were officially all called my slaves in Kern and in other nations I often used the more polite term of servants.
Many of them were located in Demi-Planes where I rarely needed to worry about them and a few choice number looked over my estate in Kern and others travelled either always at my side or aboard the Nestrad. I of course also ran more than a few businesses scattered around the world with perhaps only the Shadow Empire being entirely free of my sphere of financial influence.
Don’t get me wrong Kern is no ideal place to live where one must always show your power over the weak. While I was raised have accepted the necessary cruelty that is required of a Countess of Kern I also have the reputation of being the most forgiving to those that love me. I also long ago realized that true love can be hard to find for the skilled or the gifted can easily convince someone of anything.
Perhaps that is why often love has to be tested and while I prefer it to be done with words often it must be accomplished by deeds. Of course to those whose minds are shielded from me they have a more difficult choice which they eventually have to make to ensure me that they love me. They must accept a personal Soul Stone which they must wear at all times in my presence so that if they attempt to harm me in any way then their soul becomes mine.
I realize to some the expense of such an endeavor might seem a bit extreme but then I was also the sole heir to the estate of the Master Vampire Count Nestrad. Now of course add that to the immense fortune I amassed in the Mondian Empire in my youth then one might realize that money is not really something I worry about. Of course there is then the downside of my situation money can’t buy you love but I do believe it can ensure it.
Log Entry 7
Tyrexxus 7 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
I have never really loved Tyrexxus as it being the day of Wrath it is frequently a day when the lords of Kern can get away with being extra cruel to their subjects, vassals, slaves and captives. So altogether not a bad day really if those who served you were doing a bad job or had failed you in the slightest on the other hand it they had not. Of course that was my dilemma for the war was over and what was a woman to do when those around her pleased and loved her.
Even the crew of the Nestrad my personal command ship that had served me loyally since the latter quarter of the war had come to love me and followed my orders with vigor and conviction. So punishing members of my crew seemed bad form indeed even for me unless of course they deserved it which they for the moment had not. I was therefore left with only my newly purchased pleasure and blood slaves to torment.
I have been told when I put my mind to it I can be quite creative in my ability to inflict pain and suffering on those who deserve my wrath. I consoled myself in the fact that I would be distilling liquid pain from my slaves to the benefit of my future goals. I doubt they thought of it that way but at least they still had their souls and I took comfort in that.
Log Entry 8
Ulasta 8 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
Perhaps my least favorite day of the week Ulasta the Day of Envy for in truth did not everyone have someone they envied for something. I hate to admit it but even I must admit that there are those on the world that I envy. I have learned over the centuries that that is not always a bad thing actually but it can be infuriating at times. There is a saying in Kern live long enough and you will see even the greatest fall prey to their own avarice.
In addition to my other duties today was a day I chose to set aside the time to meditate on those I envied and how to either become better by knowing them or find a way to destroy them. Perhaps a bit violent I realize and honestly most of those I envy would not be easily destroyed but a woman can of course dream. Don’t get me wrong I actually cherish my elders as their fewer of them around than one might think. Of course the Fey are my weakness being Half-Fey myself but that is all about eugenics.
Speaking of my weakness for the Fey after all I am one of them so who would blame me. Even the Huntress herself also Fey understands my concerns after all if not for the Unseelie Fey things might be different. The Unseelie Fey and their insidious goals which were the complete subversion of the entire world by inbreeding had to be stopped at any cost. I envied the Unseelie Fey and their complete freedom and unbound lusts and even sometimes wished things had been different. Of course the Unseelie Fey knew that as well which was what made it so maddening. There is very little I would do to see the Unseelie Fey put down like the unruly vermin they are or at the very least confined to internment camps.
Perhaps then there could one day be peace between the Fey Empire of Corwyl and the Lich-Kingdom of Kern. Of course would open a clear path to the Dragon Empire so that the haughty Dragon Shamans could be brought down once and for all. Then dear companion the Abagar the Deep Dragon could rebuild them in his image so that they worshipped the rightful children of Io instead of the bastards of Bahamut and Tiamat.
Log Entry 9
In’nassi 9 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
Today would have been a day where my dearest friend and companion Maka would have been entering notes into her Journal but sadly today she was indisposed. She has no doubt spoken of me I am the Dark-Arch Phrenic Deep Dragon Baron Abagar De’Varosh Liberator of the Southern Coast and General of the Dragon Empire Marines. Now what may you ask has Maka as I call her as I have since I was five years old so busy doing on In’nassi the Day of Lust well if you have to ask then perhaps you might be too young to understand.
Suffice to say Maka is the only non-dragon I have ever loved. While it is true I have fathered many children in my over six centuries and they and their children serve me even to this day I love none of them. The pleasures that many enjoy on this day on the other hand I can fully understand I take advantage of that pleasure at every opportunity after all I am a Dragon. Although I am not Fey like Maka today is the day when she is able that she gives herself over to the pleasures of the Flesh and thankfully being an Elan frees her of ever having to pay the price of childbirth.
It is perhaps I find her only failing I have found her desire to be loved by those who serve her. I often believe she fails to understand that one can lust for anything and while I share her love of shall we say romantic activities I have found by not limiting myself it actually gives me more freedom. Perhaps that is why we are such a good team for we serve to balance each other and our goals do not compete with each other often and even when they do we love each other enough to find a compromise we are both comfortable with.
Log Entry 10
Mytaxx 10 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
Today I awoke from sleep in my crypt as I had actually passed out the night before something I had not allowed myself the luxury of doing in the last twenty years of the war. It was refreshing and as I rose on Mytaxx the Day of Greed and looked at the stern loving face of Karon my stoic Leopard who stood guard over me I was pleased. I was pleased because while I had succumbed to the pleasures of the night or morning before take you pick my every watchful guardian Karon had not left my side. Of course I felt the touch of Abagar in my mind that was what had stirred me awake in the first place so I knew all was right in the world and I was indeed loved.
Next on my agenda or shall I say to be added to my agenda was to find something I coveted and acquire it. Such were the pleasures of Greed for I have to admit that is why I believe that those who have the most always win. The same could be said for my flagship the Nestrad one of the prides of the Kern Fleet. I might add the Nestrad is seriously decked out beyond perhaps many lesser beings ability to even comprehend. To be honest she is perhaps the most powerful ship in the entire fleet perhaps only two others might even come close and those are the Blight and the Harkness. The Blight is the personal flagship of the Lich-King while the Harkness is the flagship of the Society of Sinister Sport. Each ship had certain modifications that I was eager to see installed on the Nestrad.
The Nestrad was a tri- propulsion craft which had four Elementals one each of Air, Fire, Earth and Water bound and controlled by a complex Elemental Helm in addition to an Astral Helm and finally a High Magic back up propulsion system. In my mind I needed one more back up and while some might have thought it redundant I like to be prepared and since you can’t take it with you why not take it literally with you. So I acquired a Lightning Turbine, a set of Planar Sails, and had a brand new keel installed a combination Earth and Cloud Keel. The last the Keel was a final backup just in case all other forms of propulsion failed. Unlikely I believed and expensive to be sure but I was not going to take Shadow’s warning about a coming threat posed by the Shadow Empire lightly.
Log Entry 11
Felishar 11 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
It was once again Felishar the Day of Miracles and I actually had much to be thankful for as I had managed to ensure at least immediate hostilities would be averted with the Stone Empire of Burok Torm. For that matter while the border conflicts I knew between Corwyl and Kern would not likely cease as long as an Unseelie remained free and unbound by either Kern or the Corwyl Empire itself none of those I loved were stationed at the border. Regarding matters with the Dragon Empire those were often the concern of the brutal Fiendish Duke Vinson Bromov who was famous for his savagery as he was his magical might. Thankfully he and I have never needed to oppose each other but if there was ever a reason to consider the promotion to Fleet Admiral then he would be a very good one.
The day when the special captives were to be tried was only a day away and I figured they would need a miracle indeed in order to escape the harsh punishments of the City-State of the Four Winds. I wonder if the City-State realized how close they were to risking a war with Kern over something as little as convicting one of its officers and nobles. Sadly they believed being a city revered by the Primordial Selene protected them from the harsh realities of the world. I had a good feeling they might very well find out that it Xeron was a new world and those that wished to make a name for themselves might just be ready to do it.
Personally I revere the Primordial Maurenna the Summer Queen and while the miracle I would wish for is to wield her Rod of Blooms she does not rule the winter. That post is reserved for Selene the Winter Witch and this is her season. Selene is also the Primordial of Secrets known as the Keeper and she is the one who blesses or curses those who seek to be remade and cloaked in mystery. It is believe that the other Primordials are capable of granting such boons but the trials one has to endure to even gain the attention of a Primordial to begin with make the term extreme require a more demanding definition.
To make my point the worlds Deities went silent ten days ago and holy men and women of Xeron set up a holy cry the likes of which has never been seen. They sought some sign of the status of the Deities for they had all gone silent. When I say silent I really mean all of those who relied on divine power with the exception of the druids who communed with the power of Xeron directly and therefore indirectly the Primordials lost their power. To continue each Primordial has on the world a chosen champion who is believed to be able to call on the power of the Primordials through an artifact if a dire situation arises. Suffice to say it took three days for the Primordials to finally answer and decide to intercede for the holy of the world to once again be able to access their divine power.
Now to them that might have seemed like an answer to their prayers but not really. For since the pathways for the Deities of the world had been severed they were not truly in contact with their Patrons. That meant no new Priests, Favored Souls or any other kind of Divine Practitioners until their link had been restored. In order for that to happen they would need to find ways to restore a link to their powers which actually amused me. Can you say Deity Quest well if not then perhaps you have not realized the big picture of the whole situation? Simply put whoever gains the ability to restore the Deities to Xeron will hold an extreme amount of power and prestige.
Power is what I am talking about the ability to cripple those religions who might stand in your way or rise up those who would suit your individual purposes. Finally the chance to banish both Tiamat and Bahamut was within reach and Abagar had been literally seething with desire which made his lusts almost impossible to contain. That was only in truth only a small piece of the puzzle. For if one could acquire the proper sequence of steps necessary to restore a Deity their enemies or even their worshippers would surely be willing to pay any price you might name. Also if one also had the to power to banish them as well then you could rid the world of the pesky Deities and replace them with ones who suited whatever purpose lay within your imagination. Now when I have that kind of power and have to ability to force those who grant miracles to bow my bidding that will be what I call a miracle.
Log Entry 12
Aulora 12 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance
Today is Aulora and therefore the day of Justice and my name is Kala the Psi-Crystal and Markessa Varosh has requested that I take over her duties due to as she would say the time for fun and games is over and it’s time to get back to work. Therefore with dictation taken directly from her mind I shall continue. As the Day of Justice was proving to be as Shadow had predicted quite interesting day indeed.
The day had began as our operatives and I mean Markessa and I as we are in truth of the same mind with the usual but today was also the court date for a number of select prisoners who seemed be worth observing. In what proved to be quite an interesting turn of events a mysterious new relatively unknown group of mercenaries calling themselves an investigative agency named Zaphfire had intervened in the court proceedings of High Judge Bako Demal. To be honest they had not only intervened but they had literally walked out of the court with two of the former prisoners in tow.
Granted it seemed that for some reason they were in the employ of the Dragon Empire the exact reason had not immediately been apparent. It had seemed that on their very way to the courthouse upon leaving the Dragon Empire Embassy they had been assaulted by operatives it seemed of the Shadow Empire for reasons known only to them for now. They had then managed to acquire a guard of four City State of the Four Winds Judges who then escorted them directly to the courthouse where the prisoners were being held.
They were not seen again until sometime later leaving with two of the former prisoners Ralph Marlow and Mara Jadde heading for the Four Winds Docks. Ironically at about that same moment there was an assault on them on the shore that seemed to be timed with the strikes against the other former prisoners as well as an agent of Thoon. Unbelievably all of the other prisoners and even the minion of Thoon were abducted but somehow against all odds Zaphfire had been assaulted by overwhelming odds and prevailed. Actually not only prevailed but taken captives even after a daring yet failed attempt to rescue operatives who had been left behind after they had failed to acquire Ralph Marlow.
They were next seen heading for the Citadel of the Four Winds under escort the Judges as the sun set while the entire city was put under lock down. Someone no doubt the Governor of the Four Winds Andre Imre chosen of the Primordial Selene had activated the City Ward around the six mile radius of the Four Winds proper. With the ward up divination was shut down but more importantly transportation by translocation or dimensional travel would be inhibited. If anyone tried to escape from that point on they would need to do it on foot which no doubt was believed would give operatives of the Four Winds the time to apprehend the culprits.
It of course looked like the sign that we were waiting for so Markessa had ordered via telepathy to Captain Sierra that the Nestrad be made ready for battle and all shields raised for departure by ten forty five pm. She realized that the only way out by gate was to move the Nestrad to the Undersea Gate and wait for midnight when the gates were next scheduled to open. I also realized that she expected something to bring down the City Ward before midnight or at the very least cause the gates to open early. I had a clue myself and since we both knew the Shadow Empire was more than willing to throw away the lives of anyone they please I understood her desire for haste.
It was only at that time around eight thirty pm when Karon had informed Abagar that he needed to attend to matters of State and vanished. I realized that if he had vanished it was no doubt due to a matter of law or honor as did Markessa but she was at the moment busy communicating with other operatives and inquiring into the state of her affairs for she trusted Karon her Leopard. An hour later with all of her matter taken care of and her officers in place we became aware of something that was indeed quite profound.
The Unseelie Fey bartender Elacar Baccus used a sending stone to inform us that a group of deputies of the Judges had been seen entering Shanara’s Pit and Grill. Not only that but at the very moment they were being entertained by none other than Shanara herself in her private chamber. The fact that they were going to see Shanara could prove to be an inconvenience as Shanara was if nothing else a big mouth for the right price. The fact that her price was often that one become her lover had been perhaps had drawn Markessa to her in the first place centuries ago. She was also the much older sister of the up a coming City of the Four Winds Judge Sheila Bakar obviously their Celestial father got around. Shanara was also a loose end and perhaps the only Unseelie Fey that Markessa tolerated which was the problem.
The problem was they might inquire about Markessa or they might have only received a favor from Judge Bakar either way they had already proved themselves to be worth watching. Markessa felt if worth watching then why not just meet them as well so as it was still dinner time she would dispatch a few of her most loyal servants to fetch them before they left. Well actually only if it looked like they were going to exit to the Under City of the Four Winds which could mean they were getting themselves into something in which they might not be able to handle. They might also prove to be a valuable source of information as the secrets of the Judges could be unsealed but it might take more time then was on the clock.
The newly deputized Zaphfire were indeed heading toward the exit to the Under City in truth the safest and quickest way to the Under City and so they were approached by a group of Captains. Our most loyal servants were also our most loyal Kern Captains and she dispatched the Psi-Forged Grim, Deepwyrm Half Drow Mila, the Half Trolls Baka and Tela as well as the Vampire Hadozee Darsh who had lost a bet. That still left us with the Ogre Magi Kel and Majara as well as the Deepwyrm Half Drow Gena, the Half-Vampire Yasha who had won the bet with Darsh. The Vampire thing was hopefully only a part-time condition or at least Abagar had said it would be and he was to be trusted.
What I had assumed would have been an easy detour for the Deputies of the Judges almost turned into their demise. It seemed that Mila had let Darsh do the talking and was often his way he had over stepped his bounds and caused Baka and Tela to lose their tempers. Next thing Mila always one to look for a chance to make Markessa look good had unleashed a magical maelstrom that proved that spell battle rings were indeed a good investment. Darsh followed up by side stepping and backstabbing their lead Deputy Serra Angel who posed as Wren. It only came to an end when one of their the Gold Dragon Tundar Edar posing as Ralph Marlow had held up his badge and accused the Captains of standing in the way of Justice.
Of course Grim had had to restrain Baka and Tela but by then cooler heads had it seemed prevailed and Mila and he were able to restore order and lead them to our table. At Markessa request Abagar had circled the table and healed them of their wounds as Markessa had apologized for the misunderstanding. It was from there that things went from promising to bad and finally to worse. For while we found out what they were up to we also learned that Karon or at the very least one of his students might be involved with the very matter the Deputies were being sent to investigate. Lead Deputy Wren seemed to be more informed of things than she should have been but her fellow Deputies seemed to be in the dark which we found acceptable. Markessa even removed one of her cold iron stars and imbued it with her psionic mark and using the power of her mind gave it to Lead Deputy Wren. She then told her if you encounter Karon who I know if he is involved in this mess at all is only because of loyalty to a student to tell him to return to his Lady while showing him the psionically imbued cold iron star.
I would later find out that Abagar had been speaking to Tundar as his own operatives had informed him that Ralph had been seen transforming into a baby Gold Dragon. He had warned him as he was leaving to be careful and even offered to take him with us on the Nestrad. Sadly it seemed that Tundar had indeed taken his vow to the Judges seriously and would not abandon is cause. So they were leaving or so it seemed to attend to their duties when suddenly our Captains who had been standing at attention inside the cloaked illusionary circle of our table were attacked. The illusion was just beginning to break as they exited when Lead Deputy Wren’s familiar had reached out and attacked Darsh who was suddenly panicked and needed to be restrained lest he flee in fear. I barely noticed what happened next but it was not pretty in the least for where once Wren had stood only a fine dust remained.
Markessa had partitioned her mind during the entire discussion and when Wren had attacked Darsh she had retaliated like only and officer of Kern was expected to do. Her partitioned mind had activated a power stone which held a maximized chained disintegrate and had unleashed it on all of the Deputies. Markessa was within her right for under Kern law an attack on a slave of a Kern officer or noble was an attack on the owner of that slave. Since in reality while Darsh held the rank of Captain in the Kern Navy and was truly a loyal and valued and loved servant he was also in reality a slave. Also because Wren’s actions had taken place in public where others were surely to see we had no choice but to strike with deadly force and even give the order to “Take Them for Kern!” that followed.
We surely expected them to be beaten to death but Abagar intervened informing us that there was a Gold Dragon among them and if they surrendered to please for her love of him to spare them. Abagar had give us a way out as the remaining Deputies surrendered he used his magic to stun them all with the exception of the one called Seriux who would prove to be quite the mystery. The next step would have been to secure them with anti-magic shackles at their arms and feet and box them for transport to Kern to be dealt with by our Psion Academy for retraining so that they could come to love us as everyone should.
First thought they were to be carried away and their minds probed and blood samples taken for further evaluation and study. Upon seeing what had happened we were met by Widow who was curious when she had found out that there three of them were invisible to revealing magics. Namely Seriux, Raedon and of course the one called Mara Abagar was beside himself for Widow was able after studying their blood able to learn much about them. Of concern to Widow was Seriux who turned out to be an Unbound Spider Entomanthrope which almost put her into ecstasy. While Raedon was a Pan Lung Dragon which was quite the surprise to Abagar for the Lung Dragons were perhaps the most rare of all Dragons and believed to have been hunted to extinction or subdued by the Shadow Empire eons ago. Oddly the mysterious equally shielded Mara Jadde seemed to be only a human of Ghost and Vampire linage. On the other hand the one named Giles whose name shall not be revealed to protect a possible future asset was a Rakshasas of the untrustworthy throwback variety believed to have been all enslaved or hunted to extinction by the Kern Empire less than a century ago. It’s a good thing that Pride and Leopard were not nearby or there might have been a battle over who had to honor of bringing him back to Kern. Of course Markessa was overjoyed to be in the presence of the Petal Fey Ambrosia and Gilda of the Seelie Fey House Nobel whose name for now will not be recorded as was later verified they were both Elder Fey with over three thousand years of knowledge and experience between them. It was almost a shame to have to intern them in Kern for they all showed such promise. Even though Widow seemed willing to take into her possession the dangerous and deadly Seriux it was quite a risk. For someone of Seriux’s caliber and mutations of which Widow seemed to envy was also the type of creature that if revealed could end up being hunted from one end of the world to the other. Actually forget that as soon as Firre found out about Seriux if she could help it she would have to find out for herself. The odds were highly unlikely as Shadow kept her on a tight leash but the chance was there.
Thankfully for the Deputies of Zaphfire as they were being made for transport a message was received by Abagar and referred to us that none other than Bailiff Kendra of the Order of the Four Winds had arrived and was prepared to discuss terms for the release for the as she had said the Emissaries of Justice. Markessa was for a moment upset but also relieved for while she knew Widow would say nothing about anything she had found out as she actually had a far different plan for the Unseelie Fey an her own reasons for seeing them set free. What Markessa was worried about was if the Kern Empire found out that she had revealed a deadly Entomanthrope and not revealed it to her Fleet Admiral she could be facing a court martial which could mean surviving a time period in the Society of Sinister Sports Thrope Pit which she was sure Xavia would just love to see.
That left only two viable courses of action either resign her commission and change our plans and return to the Varosh Tower in Kern as it would no doubt soon come under attack if Seriux was ever found out. Or accept the promotion to Fleet Admiral and therefore earn the right to have to answer only to the Lich-King himself but also the ability to keep information to herself that the felt protected the sovereignty of Kern. Was there really any other choice sure we could have refused Bailiff Kendra’s request but having one of the highest ranking members of the City-State of the Four Winds and therefore her lover the Governor Andre Imre owing her a favor could very well be her key to her very own cloak of mystery. Therefore simple as that was how via an instant telepathic act Markessa became a Fleet Admiral of Kern.
In the end Abagar saw to their release as he wished to have words with them not doubt to attempt to convince the young Dragons to be patient and stay out of our way. We had waited at the exit to the Under City to speak with the Zaphfire and demand the return of our cold iron star. The Baby Gold Dragon was asked to return our cold iron star as any arrangement we once shared were now over. The impetuous child had thrown our star to the ground with a look of contempt. I could not believe who this little Prince thought he was he had to be completely clueless. For if he had realized that I knew his brother was even now being used to fuel Liquid Pain vials and his flesh being used to create armor and other magics at the whim of Duke Vinson Bromov. Or that with a single thought from me his soul could be burned into a sword and fused into a Dragon Slaying weapons seconds later I am sure he would have been kissing my feet and professing his love for me.
Ambrose had chosen that moment to fly down and pick up my star and to have an Elder Fey lower herself before us was indeed humbling and in fact had never happened before. Markessa was for a moment almost speechless and fell in love with Ambrosia in the moment. For to have an enemy of Kern and for that matter a noble Elder Fey who had embraced the Unseelie way of life show such earnest kindness and respect for a Seelie Fey was humbling. We of course forgave the insult of the baby Dragon after all how can you blame a child. We even beseeched the Fey Ambrose via telepathy to leave Zaphfire and that we would protect them implying her companion Gilda as well. Ambrosia showed a devotion and respect for her companions that was truly a wonder to behold and stated that she could not leave her friends. She had even asked that I not reveal the knowledge I had gained about them to others and sadly we had to tell her that we would revel only what had to be but not all that was known. We then departed bowing to Ambrose and then found out we would have to deal with Dragon Empire.
While we had been enjoying the presence of Ambrose a Half-Green contingent had approached and they were joined by a male who seemed to be offering his services to the baby Gold Dragon Tundar. At which time the gentle touch of Abagar came to us informing us that with our leave and as one of the benefits of our new rank could we spare a few moments to speak with the Dragon Empire regarding Prince Nerisk Edar the Adult believed until recently to be deceased and brother to Tundar and yet another pesky heir to the Gold Dragon Empress Voreltuor Edar. It seemed that both the Ambassador of the Dragon Empire and the Deputy Ambassador were on their way to discuss options that could avert immediate hostilities between the Dragon Empire and Kern. We told him at best we could possibly broker a trade for a supply of dragonshards with conditions that might very well involve the baby Tundar but only if they arrived and the deal was done one way or another within five minutes.
Abagar had agreed to my terms and had even after some shuffling of a few of his marines arranged for two of his unit to escort the Deputies through the tunnels to the Under City of the Four Winds which he assured me was only to see the protection of the two Dragons. We warned him we were on a time table and if he truly valued his own half dragon spawn than to have them onboard the Nestrad as soon as possible. The Dragon Empire Ambassadors had arrived within a minute of the departure of the Deputies of the Judges. Meanwhile we had signaled Mila and Gena to make our Earth Tumbler available for hasted transport as we were on a timetable. Such transport was of course costly but rarely is money an object except when it comes to Artifacts and even then it helps to good friends with a few Midgard Dwarves. Quickly but as not to seem rushed we agreed to speak with the Duke Vinson Bromov regarding a stay of execution since you never know as things can always happen. Also we agreed to order our newly promoted Admiral Dalal Mikelovic a truly loyal Katane-Half Vampire who loves us to sail with his new fleet and pick up also newly promoted General Bado De’Nothal of also newly promoted Field Marshal Karon Nothal Monster Squads and set up camp at the Bromov Fields. Basically they reason to be there was twofold one to make sure Duke Vinson Bromov did not try anything that could cause him to lose the favor of the military and two the ensure that the Dragon Empire did not try anything sneaky. Finally we agreed to confer with them on the next day of Justice Aulora 12 of Selene’s 9001st Ascendance and if Tundar was available we might very well be able to meet them an if terms could be set Cote Sea and perhaps even make a exchange but only if Tundar and Zaphfire were in attendance.
After that we barely had time to make it to the Nestrad and raise all of the shields before Chaos itself struck. The entire interior of the Nestrad is thankfully shielded and we had all non essential passengers and crew within extradimensional spaces so we only lost six of our crew. The cataclysm that had suddenly erupted within the Under City of the Four Winds and no doubt would have lost more had it not been for a warning from Firre. She apologized but only related that she had become delayed and that she believed that the member of Zaphfire the Judges Deputy Seriux was in reality a minion of Thoon as well as a wild Unseelie Fey Entomanthrope. She believed that perhaps they were the true culprits behind the chaos in the Four Winds and that she was on her way out of the Four Winds and advised that we batten down the hatches as it were. We had done so just in time and as we had believed possible what stood before us was an open Psi-Gate which I was able to determine lead to Chaos Mountain a plane of portals.
Abagar was able to see to our fallen crewman as the wave of pure chaos and the lightning storm that accompanied it could only be the work of a Holocaust Stone an artifact of pure chaos. The earthquake that followed that began to wreck havoc on the surrounding ships left only one other ship intact near us. The four other Gate’s had opened as well and they were more like the rift that was within range of us and they each seemed lead to places equally dangerous. There was the Fens a swamp infested infinite bog. Another led to a realm called the Nightlands a world of eternal night and death. While yet another lead to a Hell unlike any that have ever been described filled with every known fiend imaginable. Finally there was a rift to a Wasteland a realm that had been blasted by a magical holocaust. We were left with little choice but to choose Chaos Mountain for while we felt betrayed by Ambrose the Great Storm of Zaphfire’s Justice for letting this happen we were reminded of an infamous Kern phrase “The only good Unseelie Fey is a dead Unseelie Fey.” For duty called and the answers we sought would not be found in the ruins of the Four Winds so we ordered Captain Sierra to make haste for the rift to Chaos Mountain.
