~This chapter contains some graphic description~
Somewhere in Harmek
As observed by the Divine
The council sits in silence as they contemplate the implications of what they just observed. Each of the ten human males sitting around the table look intently at the movements of the three remaining dots on the map that lays in the middle of the table.
Two dots are brought to the middle of the unnamed forest near the border that was being scouted as a staging path for the army. The third dot is moving towards the border before suddenly stopping, then also being brought to the center of the forest.
"How did those three just... vanish?" One of them asks. He gets no reply. "I mean, it's clear that they encountered something..." He continues. "Save for complete destruction of the scouts bodies, the tracking enchantment on them should still work." Another informs.
The room once again falls silent as the three blips on the map start moving in unison towards the nearby village. "W-why! Are they captured?!" A gruff sounding man exclaims. "Either that, or whatever made the three other scouts vanish has eaten them. At this point we might simply be looking at the movements of some random monster." A fourth man shrugs as he adjusts his spectacles.
Everyone observes in silence as the three dots arrive at the village gates. "Would be rather strange for a village to allow a monster to just walk up to their gate like that though." The gruff man notes. "Then I guess they were captured by patrolling hunters, though we have no recent intel that suggests such tactics being employed currently." The fourth man retorts.
Suddenly, the three dots become six again. "What's this nonsense? Is that even possible? For an enchantment to cut out like that, I mean?" The first man asks the second. The second man thinks for a moment before replying; "Possibly, their bodies were stored in the Hidden Space Skill. But that should be impossible. The current holder of that Skill, Berkey Hargenbough, is missing, and besides that, an enemy of the kingdom of Parshura. It is inconceivable that he would help them in this manner."
"So wait, maybe he died and someone else got the Skill now?" a fifth man asks, meekly. "Impossible. Even if Hargenbough was killed today, it would still take nine months for a new holder to be born." The second man informs. "Unless..." a sixth man leans in and inspects the dots closer.
"Unless, the new holder is the Monarch." He looks at the others. The three dots that have always been visible are separated into different places in the village. The three reappearing dots are brought to a spot a bit outside the village. "How does that make sense? Unless the Monarch killed Hargenbough and obtained the Skill via its Power Osmosis, it wouldn't be able to have that Skill." The second one chides.
"Besides, I highly doubt there is any truth to King Dervixs claims about him having gained the loyalty of the Monarch. He might have regained possession of the Tear of Ashala somehow, but that only proves we were fools to trust Hargenbough." The fourth one adds.
"Well, maybe we'll never know." The sixth shrugs. "I am, however, sad that we lost those scouts. Seems we wont be able to use that route if someone, or something, able to take those six out lives there." He continues. "I suggest we cancel further scouting of that area and focus on other routes instead." The others nod in agreement.
"Well then, council adjourned. I thank you all for coming here on such short notice." The gruff man announces as he gets up from his chair. The others also rise, give a salute to each other before leaving the room. The gruff man gathers up the map and some paperwork before heading for his office. This would need to be reported to the Queen.
B'dur city, the throne-room
As observed by the Divine
Dervix grumpily rubs sleep out of his eyes. Although he is renowned for his vigilance and desire to protect the kingdom, being woken up before sunrise always left him sour. "Report, please." He instructs the glowing crystal in front of him.
The image of an elderly woman is displayed onto the largest facet of the gem. "Ex-Colonel Myra Drakefang reporting. We just received six Harmekian scouts, three live, though one of them is very badly hurt, and three deceased." A slight hiss of static comes with her voice, a result of a powerful magic field interfering with the transmission.
"Is there a reason for the interference?" Dervix asks. "Ah yes, it's a result of your pet... Monarch making her Lair in the nearby forest. It was actually she who brought in the scouts." Myra informs. Dervix has to cover his mouth, feigning a yawn, to hide the manic grin he is currently wearing.
To think! She actually decided to listen to him! And not only that, she brings him the scouts of the enemy! He strains to keep from kicking his feet in delight. "I guess you've dealt with the deceased?" He asks. "Yes, standard anti-undeath treatment, then buried in marked graves on the edge of town." She replies.
"Could you tell cause of death? And what of the injured scout?" He has to know, just in case, what manner of Skills his Monarch employs. Myra pauses a moment, seemingly finding something outside the view of the crystal.
"Two were killed by heat. Seems it was intense enough to instantly kill them before flash cooking them in their armors. The third suffered catastrophic internal injuries, though the actual cause of death was having his lower head and upper neck destroyed by something, possibly an Earth Spike of tremendous power, as it pulverized the armor as well." She reads off of a piece of paper.
Myra pauses before continuing. "The injured survivor had the muscle on his left calve ripped off, seemingly by a high heat, high pressure water jet of some kind. It's not unlike the injuries seen in Alberger Tortoise victims. The biggest difference is of course that it penetrated his armor and shredded that as well. If he is to survive, we'll need to amputate the leg to prevent infection of the now exposed bones." She looks at Drevix, who is now sitting in silence.
"I should tell you that their armor is made of high quality Nightwraith parts. I guess your Highness can understand the implications of this." She finishes. Nightwraiths, a mid tier Dark-elemental Dragon. The majors of Noctus, the Dark Elder Dragons', army. Drevix pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to contain himself.
"Very well. I'd like for you to treat the injured scout for now. I'll send a delegation to... help with the interviews." He looks Myra in the eyes. He knows all too well that she is very aware of his twisted excitement, but he also knows, that she knows, the consequences of mentioning it. "Anything else?" He asks. "No Sir. Ex-Colonel Myra Drakefang signing off." She salutes before the image in the crystal cuts out, and the King is once again left in the dim light of the beginning sunrise.
Dervix giggles to himself with glee. This is perfect! But! He mustn't get ahead of himself! Patience, carefulness, and planning is still required, even though he currently holds the upper hand. He rises and heads for bed, maybe he'll be able to get in an hour or two before his royal duties begin for the day.
Somewhere in the Wilds of Parshura
As observed by the Divine
A female acolyte walks down the stairs into the basement of the main building. Her steps are carefully measured, as to not spill a drop of the broth she carries in a bowl. Since the failure of Leicher's vision, he has isolated himself in the basement, seeking a new prophecy to guide the cult.
She is stopped before the door by two guards. Offering up the broth to them, one of them accepts it before taking it inside. The young acolyte waits until the guard returns before leaving with the now empty bowl. Always two people outside the door, never more than two inside the chamber. She walks back outside to return to her other duties.
????????
Leicher wanders within himself. A warm feeling passes his lips before fading. Then returning, this repeats a few times. His inner world shifts and swirls as his physical vessel is fed. He focuses inwards, stabilizing the landscape once again.
I observe from a distance. The translucent veil between our minds falter as I prod and poke it. Finally I have the strength to reach out to him.
The world of Leichers mind warps, heralding the arrival of something. He steels himself. Carefree greeting of Others can be hazardous in this place. The carefully curated library of his mind twists and undulates in the presence of the other. Mahogany bookshelves, each filled with a lifetime of knowledge, fall to pieces and the remnants sprout roots and leaves.
I thread carefully. If I do not, I'll rend his sanity from him, and I'll be back to square one...
Before Leicher appears a formless, seething mass of oily dark. The area beneath it quickly stains a dark purple. He is unsure; this isn't the Other that usually grants him his visions. Just looking at it fills him with revulsion.
He looks disgusted... and maybe even disappointed... Oh well, let's get this over with before my strength fades.
"Human. I appear before you for one reason."
Leicher reels at the utterances of the mass. He almost loses his focus, and with it, his grip on this place.
"Who are you?" He hisses.
"My name is not yet given, but you could call me... a demon. I believe we seek the same thing."
Leicher has not heard of such a creature before. He narrows his eyes as he struggles to keep calm.
"If that is so, how would you help?" He asks. He can feel his focus failing, he is about to wake up.
"Seek the abandoned Goblin nest near the edge of Illomen forest. It lies past the first river, go north after crossing the bridge, until you reach an area of felled trees. Then continue east until you find it." The mass instructs before vanishing, leaving Leicher alone once more.
Leicher awakens with a start. He shivers, before throwing up onto the floor. He wipes his mouth before getting dressed. He has an announcement to make.