Partial or whole chapters in [Alpha Draft]
It Ended With a Few
The end had finally come for the world known as Craylon and it pounded at the battlements of Castle Atlas. It didn’t end with a bang or some witty remark like it did in an action film, but with the lives of the beings that defended their world from an evil beyond reality that had wormed its way into theirs. Only a few would ever truly know how close they were to being swallowed by the void, and it was all Karber could think about as he flew through the open skies of Craylon. He bet this worlds survival… No, the whole reality on a few beings and it nearly ended with the void claiming yet another. Karber laughed, frightening a very large flying whale that in its own panic, made a hasty retreat.
Ignoring the feeing creature, the gargantuan dragon continued his flight towards the Capital intrenched in his own thoughts. The final battle with Gulhigha had been a close one. Had it not been for Danny, a few lucky breaks, and Ross’s combat prowess and it would have all been lost. Then, there was something he both sensed and said that made its way to the front of his mind. “The flows of chaos runs wild with entropy.” Why had he said that? Chuckling again at his good fortune and that of Craylon’s, he couldn’t help but wonder, just what happened to Danny in the Realm of Chaos? It felt like taboo, but the one almighty being that brought him and the others into being must have ordained it to be their destiny. But, if he was going to quote a holy book from the humans of a specific solar system, “Who was the clay bowl to question the potter.” However, his involuntary statement about the flows of chaos still burned bright in his mind.
Flying over a small village, he landed on the far outskirts and changed into his humanoid form, and then sat down on a rotting log that looked to have once been a part of an old camp site. He chewed on his words and repeated them a few times trying to piece the puzzle together. Was it a message, perhaps? Could it have been a part of his greater self-connecting with the realm of Chaos, or maybe it was a lingering effect of his iteration’s travel through the realm itself to save Danny. Either way, the words felt natural coming from his lips and yet, they felt as if they came from another.
Laying back onto the log, Karber let his head dangle off the end and let out a troubled breath. When He opened his golden eyes, he noticed an old man making his way towards the dragon’s makeshift rest stop. Someone way out here wasn’t rare, but it was the direction in which the old man came from that was, especially on foot. He waved at Karber and gave the dragon his best smile. “Hello.” The old traveler greeted. Karber sat up and greeted the man warmly, but was surprised at the man’s body language. It spoke of familiarity. “Hello. Where are you headed, if I may ask.” He had to be from the village. His clothing was to clean to have been out on the roads or traveling long distant. “My destination? Well, I am already at my destination, but what about you?”
Karber just stared at the old man in silent astonishment. He wasn’t sure if it was the lunacy of the statement or his expectations being denied. Either way, he didn’t know how to react and decided to move forward with the conversation. It didn’t matter anyway. He was a mighty high dragon and this old man was human. Looking back up, his eyes met the old man’s and the old man let out a little chuckle, causing Karber to frown. “I am headed to the capital.” The old man shook his head. “No. You seem pretty lost to me.” He than pointed at Karber’s heart and then at his head. He closed his eyes and took a calming breath, only to find the old man roasting freshly skewered meets over a camp fire that wasn’t there before. “Who are you?” The man just smiled that same prize-winning smile. “I am the potter who sculpted the clay pot.”
Karber’s mouth worked wordlessly, and an impossibly perfectly cooked meet skewer was placed into his open mouth and he ate the meet, skewer and all, and suddenly he felt fuller then he had ever felt. “You have done well, but know your part in this is over. Worry about my sons and daughters here. Forget the flows of chaos. That was for Gulhigha to here.” Realization dawned and Karber was on a knee before the old man. “Enough of that. Please take a seat.” Karber began to weep, taking his seat once more. “I worry for those two. Dan has bartered with the entity.” But the old man stopped the dragon by placing a comforting hand on Karber’s shoulder. “Be still my child. It has gone as I will it. Your right to worry for them, but I have plans for those two. For you see, humanity may just have a new paradise, should they prevail. Free will is such a finicky thing.” He looked pensively at the fire for a long moment.
He had so many questions, but as they were forming, he found in his heart that he already knew the answers. “Fath-” Karber began to say as he looked back to where the old man was sitting, only to find that he was gone. He looked down at the fire once more and found that it too was gone, like it was never there. Getting up from the old and decaying log, Karber took on the form of a mountain sized dragon and let out a terrifying roar that both flattened the grass in front of him and shook the world around him, feeling much of his tension leaving him. With a mighty leap and flap of his wings, Karber took to the air once more.
***
Danny Anderson and Ross Rynolds had taken their time in enjoying the passing months, while Lent was out to find and scout out the dungeon. After the battle, the monks of Caylonia bid goodbye to their most beloved and respected founder and leader who took a leave of absence to go and stay with his brother for a time. This had confused the monks as it was well known that Voe’s brother was a leader of what was rumored to be a cult, but in rumor only. Alaxander took his place as the temporary head monk. As for Dan and Ross themselves, they received multiple invitations to the continent’s capitol city of Karber by King Arista, which were delivered to Castle Atlas by the regions High Lord’s closest aid.
Lord Cranston insisted that they except the invitation. Given the circumstances, Craylon has existed with this unknown dungeon for an unknown amount of time and didn’t seem to be in any dire straits, just some discomfort and concern about a very dangerous orb so black that not even light could escape it, but it was under extreme lock and key with enough security to deter an entire nation. Add the full support of King Arista, and it would take several nations committed to a full 3-year siege. So, they really didn’t have any excuse to turn it down. They were all branded as heroes, after all.
Pargen felt the venom having an immediate impact. His legs started to feel like jelly. He knew he didn’t have a lot of time. Acting almost on instinct, he ripped the little bastard off his neck and tossed it out the door. By this point he had lost most of the feeling in his body, and with what little grip he had on the handle, he fell backwards closing the door and hitting the ground with a loud thud. “I amth goin toof-” the commander slurred out but couldn’t finish. Instead, he settled on a death stare that held many ill promises behind it. Burgess came out with Lurine in a princess carry. “Chambers. You and Lurine are fucked.” He laughed, until the commanders angry gaze fell onto Burgess. “On second thought, I think that anti toxin is ready.” Burgess set Lurine down next to the commander, and rushed out the door to make good on his excuse to be any ware but there.
It turned out that Lent, like Eyla did not have a taste for such things and preferred to not join if all possible. The doppelganger would have likely robbed the place or ate the first noble that looked at him funny. Thankfully, he wanted nothing to do with the event and used the, “It might be a good idea for me to scout the dungeon.” excuse to deflect the invitation, which placed Eyla in a weird situation. Not only did she not like or trust the doppelganger, but she would be going a lone with him and the dislike was mutual. She’d have likely end up as a tasty to go road trip snack, which really wasn’t appealing to anyone. That, and Lord Cranston had sent her through the teleporter with Master Timdel ahead of the Royal procession that was to escort Dan and Ross back.
The fact that King Arista hadn’t sent any of her troops to help re-enforce the line during the siege didn’t allow for easy trust between the soldiers and the Royal escorts. The sentiment was universally shared amongst the other soldiers who fought and blead for the world they lived on. Yes, she sent Karber and yes, the Lord Commander had gotten really lucky in securing the help of the monks of Caylonia, but even with them, The castle had nearly fallen twice. The war mountain was powerful, but the enemy was relentless and unending. It was the bear versus a pack of wolfs analogy.
Ross was jarred out of his thoughts when he felt a cats’ paw bat at his face. Swiping at the perpetrator, he looked over to see his lap free of the menace and his friend standing in front of him with clothes in hand. “You know I hate it when you do that.” Ross said. “And I hate being ignored.” Danny countered, tossing the travel cloak at Ross’s face while laughing. Ross grinned. “You become more cat like every day. I wounder if you might be losing yourself to the beast within.” Understanding the reference was one thing but knowing ware beasts actually exist on this world, and seeing the uncanny similarity with his situation, Dan felt panic give chase to his senses.
Seeing his friend hit that non to unfamiliar state of deep thought, Ross grabbed his attention. “Relax that brain of yours. You’re not a ware beast.” “I know. I know. I’M just shapeshifting. You know that’s not funny, Ross.” Ross just kept laughing. A sudden knock at the door brought the two out of their banter and to the speaker beyond the door. “Sir Rynolds. Sir Anderson. May I inquire as to your state of ready?” They each looked each other’s over, making adjustments here and there. The clothing was fancy. It had the Royal colors of Purple Red and Gold with the Royal crest on the right sleeve and cloak. The crest depicted a cat being held in the open claw of a dragon that looked suspiciously like Karber. The dragon’s tail was depicted as being protectively wrapped around a planet. On the chest of their outfit was where a family crest would go, but sense there’s was of a long dead world, the pair decided on using their family’s ancient crest.
Ross’s depicted a shield with a dragon on the left with splayed wings and a lion on the right on its hind legs and clawing at the air with the top half of the shield containing a fruit bearing tree with a crowned knight’s helmet above the shield. Dan’s depicted a knight’s helmet that sprouted oak leaves and a tassel on each side of it. Below the feathered helmet, was a shield that had a fleur de lis in each of its corners. In its center lay the depiction of an extinct breed of dog known as a greyhound.
Finally deciding that they were presentable, they opened the door to their frustrated and time aware escort. Neither gave the man any further issues since the challenging part of getting the ceremonial armor and garb on was over. Their escort rushed them through a sea of soldiers who all gave the pair looks of adoration, reverence, and worry as the royal procession began ushering the pair into mana powered coaches that looked like cross between a 1950’s t bird t and a 17th century stage coach.
The inside was quite luxurious. It was quite reminiscent of the inside of a limo in some respects, and not in other ways. It had spacious seating in car like seats made of soft and plush fabrics with a cold compartment in the center that held and unending supply of food and drinks. Unlike a limo, it did not house the entertainment convenience of a holodisplay. “I beg your pardons Sirs, but we must be going. The king must not be delayed.” This caught Dan’s attention. “If were going to be that late, why not teleport us and get it over with?” Ross nodded his agreement.
With a frustrated sigh, their escort explained, “The magic in this region is too low to teleport us all. Your valiant and heroic efforts at Castle Atlas have drained the regions mana levels well below the recommended levels.” He said the last part with a bit of awe in his voice like that was some sort of impossible feat when in reality, it was already low and Karber’s powerful magics just re-depleted the recovering mana levels. Their mis-conception of events made complete sense, given that all the recharged and remaining mana batteries were being used to power the castles defenses to keep the orb safe from the hands of any seeking it. In short. If a person couldn’t handle the load, no teleport. Their journey under way, they sat back and enjoyed a nice glass of wine.
***
King Arista sat in her comfortable chair and activated the privacy enchantments that lined the very room she was in. This meeting was predicted to have a very decent chance of getting ugly and she did not particularly care for it. Her meeting was with the lord commander and his sister, the high lord of the no longer besieged territory.
In the passing months, the other high lords and their minor nobility had reached out to her to make their official statements about the war. It was the usual graveling and they rightly should. As is the law of her land, the loosing side was subject to the demands of the victor. In this case, that was high lord Gwenith and lord commander Cranston. They could demand anything from their whole bloodline being expunged and replaced to monetary compensation. In either case, she had to approve it as the king of these united lands and she had. After all, it was their folly that almost doomed an entire planet. It wasn’t like she was completely clean in this either. Her overestimation of her noble knight’s abilities was a complete disaster.
A blue gem started blinking and Arista palmed it. Immediately, A bluish and magic representation of the brother sister duo sat across from her like fully formed ghosts. “Your majesty.” They greeted. “High lord and lord commander.” She returned. They wore grim expressions. As I thought. It is going to be about that. “Have you spoken to the other nobles who voted yes for this war?” The monarch took a deep and calming breath. “I have and they are claiming they were being controlled.” The two lords faces twisted in anger, but she listened. Part of ruling was managing and right now hearing vs demanding was the right move. After their brief shouting match, the brother, lord Cranston spoke first. “I watched the meeting back at the castle, and I saw no traces of magic. I lost good men out there, your majesty. Whole families have been ripped apart by this act of folly and it threatened more than this kingdom. The monks of Caylonia are proof of that.” Gwen spoke up next. “I am very magically attuned and I did not see or feel any magic in use. You even warned me that this was coming, and weather or not the vote succeeded or failed does not matter. The war still happened, good people died and the world was nearly destroyed.”
She just listened with a neutral and unchanging expression. When Gwen had Sat back down, King Arista stood up. “I am very aware of this. Lord commander. You said in your report and I quote “The magic thrown about the battlefield by the enemy was undetectable.” So, how do we know for certain they were not mind controlled.” The high lord and her brother frowned and looked to be about to object when Arista spoke once more. “I know that If this was brought to my court for a trial, I would have to judge them innocent and have them replaced under an election by your territory, but this is different.” She closed her eyes. Her mind was made up. This was not just some criminal intent mixed with murder. This was action falling under the Wartime Act under subsection 12c: Judicial after actions. Her hands were tied and she had approved.
She opened her eyes and locked gazes with them. “Under the circumstances of the Wartime Act, I have no choice but to approve, but I exercise my right to an addendum. If they are under the influence, it will call into question further votes in future discussions. I will order Karber to investigate this matter and issue an order for their arrest as well as the subjugation of their direct line of succession. I will also send replacements from my court as temporary leaders of the people until elections can take place in the coming months, but” and she emphasized the but. “if it is found that their line of succession is under mind control, then they will be spared with their right to rule permanently revoked and subject to lock and key until treatment can be administered successfully.” Lord Cranston and high lord Gwenith looked at each other’s for a moment as if they were silently debating something, and then turned to face Arista with a nod. “We except our majesties decision and her mercy to others.” The line went dead and their irate ghostly images faded. She sighed. “And the day is not even close to being over.”
She turned into a cat and hopped out of the chair. With that out of the way, it was time to move onto the rest of the day’s agenda. There was still the matter of the group that saved her collective countries and the world. Rumore had it, that one of them was a cat with a human who practiced a dead sword style from the days of old along with a very insidious doppelganger. In truth, it was a leaked report that re-affirmed the rumors and more. She turned the corner and sighed as she faced another door. She loved being in her cat form. It was very comfortable to be in, but this was item 2 on her itinerary, and this was another meeting that required her humanoid form.
Sitting in a wheeled contraption was a woman who held a special status among minor independent nobility, Lord Rayna Aldrich. She looked haggard and worn out. Rumor had it that there was an assignation attempt on her life. Despite the possible truth, she was here in person to make her report. She sat down opposite the detestable woman. “Thank you for coming lord Aldrich.” Once the report was over, they dove into other issues.
Getting straight to the point, Rayna slid a paper across the table and Arista took it. She glanced over it and paused on a very specific set of lines. She was seeking to name a successor. She looked back up and met Rayna’s hate filled gaze. Was it a front or did she hold true animosity to everyone around her? As far as Arista was concerned, it could have been a negotiating tactic to put her on edge. It wouldn’t work. Rayna was playing politics in her kingdom, not the other way around. Independent nobility or not. She was still under Arista’s kingship and therefore still had to abide by some of her laws, even if decorum was not a prerequisite. “You have named an air?” Rayna almost sneered at the question but chose to grimace instead. Arista continued. “They are still young and not blood tied to you in succession.” The King met Rayna in another hard stare, but the lord met her hard stare, raising her an uncomfortable silence, a tactic that king Arista often employed herself.
As the silence grew to a staccato, the king’s competitor finally caved. “Yes.” Rayna looked away with a new emotion, one that seemed almost alien for her. It looked like regret. “As insane as this may sound, the world has rejected me.” King Arista knew of this. She was a divine beast herself. Who, like the ancients, held a connection with Craylon. Unlike the ancients, she communed with the world and knew this already. “I know, and now you seek a way to regain your lost power by giving up what you have here and starting over. Where her influence does not exist.” Rayna, regaining her original demeaner, locked eyes with the king. “I had it all. I want it back and if that means exposing a new dungeon, then I will claim it, and not even you can stop me.” Arista’s eyes went wide. How did she know about that place? Infineetus was something only her, Craylon and a few at Castle Atlas knew about. She could have her killed here and now, but that would only spark another war with Red Party Alliance and that was a war she was ill equipped to handle at the moment.
King Arista’s cat like ears flattened in agitation. “Oh ho ho. You were just thinking about having me killed. Were you not? As you know, I am a member of the Red Party Alliance. That would be an act of war, according to the Red Treaty Pact and the charter.” Rayna said mockingly and with a smile that spoke of victory. “Fine!” the king shouted. “But you will in no way harm or hinder my people from entering, or you will find that Craylon can do a lot worse than strip you of power and as far as your successor, I approve Har.” She growled out that last part. She glared at the lord who was smiling in victory as she didn’t even give a nod of respect and wheeled herself out. The king slammed her fist onto and through the mahogany table. She had a rat to expunge and it may have just cost Dan and Ross and possibly Craylon herself. Then a smile crept onto her face. Accidents have been known to happen on the roads of her kingdom. For now, she needed to reach out to her trusted advisor. Where there is one rat there were always more.
***
Pargen Sampson led a special operations force for king Arista. He was running his soldiers when the order came down to mobilize for a special mission. It wasn’t until he met the king’s lord commander that he got his orders decoded for memorization and have his mind protected against psionic and enchantment magics. The first part of their orders was expected. Him and his team were to meet with the escort at the regions border and assist in escorting the VIPs to the capitol. What didn’t line up was the kill order listed as a priority above the escort mission.
Pargen’s eyebrows nearly jumped off his face and he let out a whistle. “Something wrong, commander?” his lord commander challenged. “No sir, just surprised at the opportunity.” If security wasn’t such an imperfect construct, he would have said, “What the ever-loving fuck. Are we trying to start a war with the Red Party Alliance?” Lord commander Briant held Pargen’s gaze. “You have your orders, commander.” Piece was being held together by so many, and if he failed, would end with a few.
Pargen met his team afterwards. They were in the common room of their barracks. As soon as he entered, his people greeted him with a salute. “Gear up. We got orders.” They all groaned, but he could tell it was their way of giving him a hard time. “What are we doing this time? Starting a war?” laughed Turmen. When Pargen didn’t respond, the others got quiet. Then the silence was broken once the gravity of the implication struck home. “No. Are we really? Hey Burgess. Drag Lurine in here. She is definitely going to want to hear this.” announced Chambers. “Wait. What happened to Lurine.” Pargen asked a little worried. “She found a miniature dragon caught in her ring of protection. She freed it, but it bit her and now she is paralyzed. We are waiting for the anti-toxin to arrive. Suddenly the commander heard something glass shatter against the floor in the other room and a tiny dragon darted into the room and latched its jaws onto the commander’s throat.