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The Day the Wind Died: Recollections


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#1 JRPomazon

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Posted 24 August 2016 - 10:29 PM

So a little back story for this post. The Day the Wind Died was a project I started working on during the twilight years of the LA Chronicles. At the time, we had finished the largest arc in the section's history and a lot of hands made this happen. Of course, forum participation was winding down to a crawl by then and so finding active members was becoming more of a struggle. So I figured since the writing was on the wall, it was appropriate to pen the final chapters to the world we created. I regret not getting into Chronicles sooner, I feel I missed out on some fun writing and games. But I had what I had and I created a character that I adore even now to this day (even if I lazily put so much of myself into him). Many folks came into this project with me, some by request and others on their own. It was becoming something cool, although I wasn't entirely sure what. But people have lives and those lives took precedent over time otherwise spent writing. I can't fault anyone for that, it's just how it goes sometimes. But we couldn't keep the steam alive to finish the story and it was relegated to this infernal state of inactivity. Despite the beginning and the middle, I had always had an ending in mind. It was literally in the name of the story itself. It was the tale how the Viridian Knight, Jordan of the Whirlwind Spear, would come to face his final battle. And the costs that came with this outcome. What follows is the scenario that was established and the planned ending that was in mind. I'll start with the summary.

---
After the events in Olimandias, the capital of the government known as the Alliance in Verden, Chikara Nadir of the Labyrinth became the latest of many avatars to house the power of the god of Chaos known as Lazu. The domain factions (or dorms as we affectionately call them) were scattered as their homes were destroyed by the immense power of this harbinger of calamity and the remaining soldiers and warriors were forced to join one of the two nations that arose from the ashes. The Empire of Koridai to the south and the Kingdom of Calatia in the North which were governed by Chikara Nadir/Lazu and Selena respectively. The two sisters raised their nations from the ground in a matter of years, amassing great power and influence over the parts of the continent that had not been totally decimated in the aftermath in Olimandias, where Lazu's curse had warped the land and surviving people.
After a great many adventures during the conflict between these nations, Selena was able to form a group of warriors to stop Chikara before her empire was to grow too powerful to handle. With their latent abilities and with the power of ancient weapons to counter the god of Chaos' power, they overthrew the avatar of Chaos and severed it's power from Chikara Nadir. It was not certain whether she, or Selena survived the aftermath of this battle.
---


 

 

Forward to the events of the Day the Wind Died. 


 

-Part 1-

The two nations founded in the midst of the chaotic upheaval of Verden are now left without their respected leaders. Calatia rebounds from Selena’s departure while Koridai begins its downward spiral towards ruin as many of it’s leaders have either abandoned or disappeared from the nation. In the midst of the Empire’s chaos, Arch-Inquisitor Lucien has begun to hatch a scheme that will give him the reigns to the empire, eliminating potential threats while discovering certain secrets of the nation. This plan focuses around the last member of the Goddess’ inner circle, Solomon, the Grand Marshal of the Inquisition himself. Meanwhile, Jordan of the Whirlwind Spear recovers from his battles and hopes to continue his search Gwen, the woman he left behind in Verden, holding only the faint hope that she still remained alive somewhere on the continent. Sir Turtlelot wishes him well, hoping to find a new purpose with the sword of Diel in his possession. As he prepared to set off on his latest adventure, he is joined by Synile of the former Labyrinth who is seeking out his remaining kin, a Calatian woman named Eivor as well as the bard Jara.

 

"Lucien . . . I require the truth." Solomon asked.

"You have been sleeping for several weeks after you returned to us from your campaign . . . everything Sir Lester has told you is true. The Vangaurd has betrayed the empire and the goddess has left us-"

"LIES!" Solomon interrupted.

"THE GODDESS WOULD NEVER BETRAY HER PEOPLE! SHE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD, THE SYMBOL OF-"

"LORD SOLOMON!" Lucien reciprocated. A short pause followed. A quiet that lasted for a brief eternity.

"She has not returned since the day our forces took arms at the border of the Kingdom and Sir Drake betrayed us. I do not believe she has forsaken us, but she has left the empire and the empire is dying because of it."

Solomon's rage became fear, slowly churning in his soul.

"What of Lord Steel?" He asked.

"Missing, he is presumed dead." Lucien responded.

"His holiness the Pope?" Solomon asked again.

"Also missing, some claim he has abandoned the papacy." Lucien responded again.

Solomon slowly walked over to his bed and slowly say down, his hands clenching his head. This was not the first time his faith had been waivering, but the strongest it had ever been. The goddess, a force of change and rebirth, the deity that Solomon pledged his life to . . . was nowhere to be found within the cradle of her empire. The quadrate was no more. Koridai was orphaned.

"What . . . what is this . . .WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?"

It was said on that day, Solomon's anguished cries echoed throughout the captial and caused the entire Arbiter's Grounds to come to a complete stop.

 

Solomon is shaken to his core at the news of the Goddess’ disappearance and is convinced by Lucien to take a place of stewardship over the empire in her place. Leveraged against his own emotional instabilities and paranoia, Solomon agrees to protect the empire in the name of the goddess. General Shadow notices these changes in the empire and begins his own investigations in the goings on in the capital of Koridai, the Arbiter’s Grounds and discovers that Gwen is alive and well in the capital. He advocates for her to leave as his suspicions of the changing political environment grow grimmer the further he unearths while she warns him not to underestimate Solomon’s insanity. The general insists of sharing what he has learned with Solomon to expose the players trying to use him. Shadow’s investigations soon get the attention of Lucien, who frames the general of treason. Solomon, unaware of Lucien’s ploy goes after to arrest and execute Shadow and his men for their supposed crimes but is unable to apprehend Shadow himself.

The Calatian group begins it's descent from Snowpeak Jordan grows fearful of his new weapon, the black spear Cain Kazen and it's unknown properties while Synile deals with his own growing madness and violent tendencies from the effects of his cursed sword. Along the way, Jordan reunites with his old comrade in arms Ken Miyamasa, who has been affected by Lazu’s curse during the fall of Olimandias by his loss of his memory. The lone warrior joins the group, hoping to slowly piece together the man he was before in the company of a familiar friend.

 

"And what do you all believe? Are you like this man, this heretic who believes that such atrocities are true? Then what of Koridai? What of our nation? Do we forsake ourselves to allow this once shining land to perish like so many before us, to not realize our true destiny as the blessed flock chosen to be saved by the Goddess? Do you not remember the Cataclysm? Do you not remember when your neighbors and friends turned on each other with horrid bloodlust and became the cursed, who roam the lost Alliance like demons?! WHO WAS IT WHO TOOK YOU IN? WHO WAS IT THAT GAVE YOU THIS NATION TO CALL YOUR OWN? DO YOU FORSAKE THE GODDESS AND HER NATION AND THE FUTURE SHE OFFERED ALL OF YOU, A SHINING FUTURE IN WHICH ALL PEOPLES CAN SHARE IN THE UNLIMITED BOUNTY OF PROSPERITY? LOOK AT THESE LANDS! BARREN DESERTS AND EMPTY PLAINS UNTIL THEY WERE MADE FERTILE AND BOUNTIFUL BY THE GODDESS! NOW THEY ARE ROAMED BY WHORES AND VERMIN WHO INTEND TO DRAG US ALL DOWN TO THE DEPTHS OF DESPAIR! The Goddess is not here with us because we as people have lost our way to make this nation, this empire a suitable home for the goddess! BUT WE CAN STILL GET BACK ON OUR TRUE PATH! THIS EMPIRE WILL BE GREAT ONCE MORE BY OUR FAITH AND OUR BLOOD!"

The soldiers cheered instantly, the old ways victorious. Solomon smiled as he raised his sword to the sky.

"Today, we take back the nation! Today we prepare for the arrival of the goddess! Death to the vermin! Death to the heretics! With our swords we will help carve a new world. With the bodies of our enemies, we will lay the foundation for the future!"

 

Egann Gauvin, one of the last members of Koridai’s Vanguard still remaining in the city comes to the aid of Shadow, helping him free his men from the inquisition while helping them hide away in the city after becoming wanted men. As they evade the hand of the inquisition, Solomon brings the remaining factions of the military and the vanguard under his command to cleanse the city in the name of the goddess. Lucien employs his men to search for a candidate that might be of use for the future. Egann and Shadow both acknowledge Solomon’s growing threat to the whole of the empire. Together with his men, Shadow and Egann team up to prevent the mad Inquisitor from utilizing the full force of the Empire. They detonate explosive charges across the city to seal it's many entrances and exits to hold Solomon and his new forces inside the city walls. Shadow and his men escape the capital as Egann remains behind to handle things from the inside. Egann goes into hiding in the slums of the city.

 

Jordan splits from the group, attempting of overcome his growing uncertainty of his new black spear and tries to use it in battle. The spear severs his darker emotions and creates a reflection of Jordan from it's latent abilities. Jordan encounters his second self, only to be left near death by his more relentless and determined doppelganger. It’s cryptic words leave Jordan with the realization that he may be at fault for a great deal of his own suffering. Ken manages to find Jordan and brings him to safety to heal. During this time, the Calatian group faces further hardships as Synile's personality snaps completely under the pressure of his sword's curse and is taken over by the sword's bloodlust. Jordan and the others are unable to stop him and he escapes. Later that evening, Jara would sacrifice himself to save Jordan from a wild monster. Encountering his doppelganger for a second time, Jordan chooses not to fight his other self and embraces his faults with the vow of making good on his promise to find Gwen. The doppelganger reluctantly accepts Jordan's resolve and the two are unified once again.

 

Jordan was staggering, refusing to allow his own body to fall on the ground as his double stood just watching him struggle. It would not be sporting or honorable of either of them to engage in a fight as they were.

"I know how much you want to leave right now. You've grown so accustomed to just skipping off whenever trouble started to lurk it's head. Well, it seems that there won't be any skipping now."

Jordan fell to the ground, sitting on the cold earth as he clenched his painful wounds. The bundle of spears he carried over his shoulder fell and the weapons were scattered.

"Why are you doing this? Toying with me? Mocking me? I don't understand why." Jordan asked, panting heavily.

"Because I hate you. Because I hate the lies and the deceit and the selfishness and the delusions you wrapped yourself up in. Look at you, you've only gotten this far by throwing everything away and now you have nothing left. And you've been running . . . running and running to make everything better when you can't accept the change your brought on yourself."

"What change? What did I do?" Jordan asked.

"YOU LEFT! WHEN SHE NEEDED YOU, WHEN SHE JUST WANTED YOU THE BE BY HER SIDE YOU WENT OFF AND ABANDONED HER! AND WHEN THE CATACLYSM CAME SHE WAS ALONE AS THE WORLD CAME DOWN AROUND HER!" The double said, his remarks like nails on slate screeching through the ears and into the heart.
 

-Sornaiid, Two Years Ago-

"There's going to be a battle soon . . ."

"A battle?"

"Against the Alliance. There are some people aiming to put them under. I'll be leaving tomorrow to join them."

"Why? Why are you going to fight the Alliance? What have they done?"

"It's not just me. It's a coalition of the domains, the Fortress, the Woods and Ikana are going to take part as well. I've been called to help."

"But why? You don't need to endanger yourself, surely they have a force strong enough without you."

"I have friends who are going to be fighting in this together. I refuse to be a coward and abandon them after all they did for us. I've made up my mind and I'm leaving first thing tomorrow morning."

". . ."

"Listen, you don't know what I saw back there at the Eagle's Talons. It was horrible! The people, the land, everything was-"

"And you took care of it, didn't you? Played the hero and saved that day, right? That's why you're here, that's why you always show up here! Because you always get banged up and then you crash here like I've got nothing better to do than tend to your injuries and then let you run off again!

"Where is this coming from? That's hardly even fair and it's not true!"

"Oh yeah? Really? Then explain it to me, what's going on Jordan?"

"I . . . you know what, forget it."

"No! Don't puss out on the question! You can at least EXPLAIN why you are running off!"

"I'm not just running off! I have to be there! I have to make sure what happened at the Eagle's Talons doesn't happen again! I'm not some punk picking fights anymore, I'm going off to help make this world a better place!"

"Then can't you start here?! Can't you just stay put and be where I need you? Why do you always run away just to get beat up half to death and come back here? Why!?"

". . ."

"Damn it to hell Jordan! Can't you at least give me an answer!? I need you here . . . just as much as they do . . ."

"What if I'm not there!? What if I stay and everything goes wrong? What if there was something that I could do and I wasn't there to do it? What if Ken, or Goose, or Shadow, or Steel go out there and don't come back because I wasn't there?"

"I'm not selfish enough to say I don't understand that . . . but I'm sorry. You always go and you are gone for so long . . . Jordan . . . if you go . . . If you go then don't bother coming back here. I'm . . . I can't wait for you anymore."

"How can you say that? After all the times I've gone and all the places I've been I have never forgotten my way back and I have come back! Time and time again I always come back and this time is no different! I promise you that not matter where I go I will always come back because I . . . I'm not just the armor and spears."

" . . . Just go. Jordan, just . . . just get out of here and go . . ."

"Remember now? The last promise you gave her? And when you came back, she wasn't there. The house was in shambles and the village was in flames, the villagers had murdered themselves in madness. And that was the beginning wasn't it? The Grey Cloaks and Tiresias, you left them to fend for themselves against Solomon's Inquisition. Though the day was won, how many did you have to bury at Windfall? And then your new fellowship: the girl who despises you and your deplorable pride, the mad man who abandoned her, the warrior whose trust in you is dwindling and the old bard you left to be devoured as you escaped. Isn't this enough?!"

Jordan was broken, he sat on the ground as his empty eyes looked upon his double.

"There is no going back. Your betrayals end now." The doppelganger said, raising his spear and walking slowly towards Jordan.

" . . . no." Jordan uttered softly.

The double stopped.

"I will not show you mercy twice." he said, grabbing the black spear with both hands.

"I wasn't asking for mercy." Jordan replied, slowly getting up. He grabbed a spear, any spear he could find and used it to prop himself up.

The double said nothing.

"You're RIGHT, OK!?" He shouted back.

"When people needed me I wasn't there! I could list the reasons why I didn't or why I couldn't but the fact remains the same! I messed up! But reminding me won't change that!"

Jordan stuck the spear he was using into the ground, abandoning the weapon.

"You hate me? My selfishness? My delusional wraps or whatever you said? Well fine, hate me. But I refuse to let you make my failures DEFINE me! I know what you are now so if you are going to kill me then do it because frankly I'm tired of LOOKING at myself!"

 

Hoping to imprison anyone with connections to the now disgraced general Shadow, Gwen is brought in by the inquisition and is forcibly interrogated by Solomon. Lucien takes an interest in her after she manages to retain a strong will in the midst of Solomon’s savage nature. He removes her from her bondage, asking her to save the empire. Solomon enacts the Purge on the Arbiter's Grounds, slaughtering hundreds in the name of purifying the heart of the Empire. Seeing what Solomon is capable of, she decides to accept Lucien's offer to save the Empire. Meanwhile, Synile continues to slaughter innocent villagers and combatants alike, notably members of General Leo Crimson's Snakehead unit. The Dwarven general vows to bring Synile to justice.

 

"Do you know why you are here, Ms. Gwen?" Lucien asked, folding his arms behind his back.

"No sir."

"Then I shall be the one to tell you why it is I have gone through the trouble of saving you from a dungeon cell. Ms. Gwen I need to ask something of you."

"What is your request?"

"I ask that you save this city."

Gwen said nothing.

“I realize this must be a lot to comprehend. And to say it in such a manner must seem . . . surprising.”

More like insanity." She replied, no longer feigning respect. And why would she after hearing such a request. The arch-inquisitor did not expect her to be so frank and was caught off guard.

“I beg your pardon?”

What exactly do you expect me to do to better this situation? I’m a nurse, I tend to the sick and rarely get thanked for it. I know there are things I am capable of but perhaps you should research your candidates for salvation a little closer. Besides, you are proposing treason against a man who knows killing as well as breathing."

Lucien smiled inwardly. No wonder Solomon wanted to break her so badly.

“I am aware of the current situation in our midst and I’m sure you know of what has begun to transpire here in the Arbiter’s Grounds. As we speak, people are being forced from their homes and driven into prisons or killed in the street. As a nurse, you must surely feel some sort of empathy towards the sorrows of the masses.”

Laying on the charms to guilt the soul, he knew he would have her after that.

And as a nurse, I know there is only so much I can do. Besides, what have you done to prevent this Lord Lucien? I imagine a man in your position would have been able to do something about all this.

She would be perfect. Gervais had chosen wisely.

“And yet here I am, speaking to you in hush as people die in the streets.” He replied.

So you admit that you have done nothing to help the people?

“My duty to the people is to convince you of taking on the task of saving this nation. What I am doing is enlisting your help because right now you are the only option left to us because you, Ms. Gwen, can save this nation by wielding the power left behind by the goddess.”

Power of the goddess?

Lucien looked around, preparing to speak of secrets usually brings the paranoia out of man, even one as collected as the arch-inquisitor. He took a deep breath and started.

“A power sealed within the Mirror of the Twilight, an artifact that predates almost everything within the borders of the empire. It’s origin is unknown but what is known about it has been kept secret since the inception of this nation. The goddess herself did seal a small portion of her power away within this mirror for reasons I do not know. Only the power of her ladyship the goddess can bring peace again to the Arbiter’s Grounds.”

If something so powerful exists, why hasn’t Solomon used it for himself?

“Solomon is loyal to the goddess to a fault. He would not easily defile any holy artifact within the empire unless he felt he had no choice. I am less reserved about using what little gifts we have left.”

Gwen pondered all he said, her mind torn with confusion and the stress of the situation. Her eyes looked away from Lucien, not able to make eye contact as she considered what she knew.

I don’t understand why you have chosen me to do this. I am not the only person who can do this.

“An individual who knows the pains of the people and the heart to burden yourself with their woes. I instructed Gervais to find a person such as yourself and from what he has told me, you fit the bill rather nicely. I’m afraid Ms. Gwen, that time runs short. I will need an answer. Will you help us?”

 

Lucien, who had underestimated Solomon's effectiveness in a seat of greater power, quick enacts his own plans to create a new Goddess of Koridai. After discovering many secrets of the Quadrate during the times of unrest and chaos and with Gwen as a volunteer, she is infused with a fraction of Lazu's power that Chikara Nadir separated from herself and sealed away in the Arbiter's Grounds most ancient relic, the Mirror of Twilight. Solomon, who thought he was the only one who knew of the Mirror's secret realized too late of Lucien's intentions and is subdued by Gwen's newfound power as the new Goddess. Lucien moves onto the second stage of his plans, hoping to control Gwen as another puppet to rule through.

 

During the descent down the mountains, Shadow and his men meet with Jordan and the Calatian group. They share the events from their own sides and group together to return to the Arbiter’s Grounds not only to stop Solomon but to save Gwen. They follow the trail of destruction left behind by Synile and see first hand what he had wrought. They almost have an altercation with survivors of the village until Leo Crimson comes to the aid of Jordan and the others. Shadow’s men are ordered to stay behind and aid the Calatian villagers affected by Synile’s rampage. The group take what they can to replenish their supplies and finally leave the Calatian mountains to traverse the plains leading towards Koridai.


 

"It was Synile," said Leo painfully. "All of this was Synile; I'm assuming something in these villages or Snowpeak set him off, but I'm having second doubts about chasing him. A lot more lives could be lost that way."

Still having his own doubts about the Koridaians' 'flight from toil and hardship', Leo decided to let the matter drop and waited for Jordan's response, one he expected would be completely shocked and horrified.

 

 

 

 

-Part 1: End-


Edited by JRPomazon, 26 August 2016 - 08:19 PM.


#2 Egann

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Posted 26 August 2016 - 04:14 PM

Thanks a lot for posting this. I remember a fair bit of the later parts of the thread, but the early and middle? Not so much.

 

I suppose the only question is who kicks the ball off again.



#3 Selena

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Posted 26 August 2016 - 04:55 PM

I am frankly just astonished that my little secretary NPC became such a prominent figure in the RP the further we went with it.

 

 

Godspeed, Eivor. You will be honored in Valhalla.



#4 JRPomazon

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Posted 26 August 2016 - 10:17 PM

I'm trying to keep the summaries brief although I hope my brevity isn't doing the story a disservice. I thought I would have the summary done by now but it seems that there was a lot more content than even I remember. To get the TL;DR version, ignore the quotes. One more after this one:
 
 
-Part 2-
 
 

"I know I'm asking a lot but I need to make things right." Jordan said.

"Maybe not the way they used to be, maybe I can make things better than before. Just leave it to me. Please."


 
Despite their friendly reunion, the discovery of what Shadow and his men did to seal the city away did not agree with Jordan's sensibilities. Regretfully, the two knew what had to be done but the revelation of what had happened created a divide between them but it is Shadow's decision to help Jordan find Gwen that keeps their friendship from coming undone. Eivor, despite what she had seen decided to stay with the group in hopes of being able to reason with Synile despite the growing consensus that the mad swordsman had to be taken out not matter the cost. They gather supplies from the town of LeGrande and plot their course towards the Arbiter's Grounds, to find Gwen in the heart of the empire and stopping Synile from his massacre march.
 

-Yesterday-

"Idiot!" Lucien replied as his calm demeanor was broken by Solomon's protest.

"To attack the goddess herself? That is in itself the greatest act of heresy! Have you abandoned reason to quell your own thirst for power?!"

"My will IS the will entrusted to me by her ladyship the goddess Chikara Nadir! I will not suffer to serve the will of an imitation!" Solomon replied.

"Enough." Gwen said, breaking her silence as she stepped past Lucien straight towards Solomon. Before either man could realize what was happening she had taken hold of Solomon's wrist, forcing the hand that held his saber down. Solomon was astonished as Gwen forced him to lower his weapon without so much of an effort from her part. This strength was abnormal at best. He attempted to force his hand back up and cut her down but his strength could not be gathered.

"I was helpless last time, now things are different."

Gwen released Solomon, the grand marshal stepping back to distance himself from her.

"Speak no more, for you are nothing but a shade and a lie!" Solomon replied.

"I asked you if you thought the goddess would ever return and you said yes. Did you mean the goddess of this nation or Chikara Nadir?"

"They were one in the same!"

"Were?"

Solomon stopped himself, realizing what it was he just said. Past tense. Why did he said were instead of are? His mind was quickly overcome with confusion, dropping his sword on the sand dusted chamber floor and clenched his head with his hands.

Gwen simply watched him, her eyes locked on him like an eagle on it's prey. She knew that in order to stop Solomon she would need to do more than just use brute force. In her mind she calculated several ways of breaking him as darker impulses began to form. She knew what he had done. He had hurt many people, he had killed even more. He took hold of this nation and even in the brief time he did there was already so much he was to be accounted for. For each act she could hurt him. Ruin him. And for a moment, that is all she wanted to do.

But she stopped. Right there in the mirror chamber she quickly stopped herself and shook away these terrible thoughts. Held them back. She got closer to Solomon, still in control of the situation. Or so she thought. No longer clenching his head as his mind seemed to split in two, Solomon lunged at Gwen and attempted to throttle her and crush her neck. He shouted as he reached over and took hold of her neck only to find Gwen holding his own. His voice was silenced as her hand held firm to his throat. She looked at him coldly with her new found crimson eyes and stared straight into his, as the rage became blind fear. Then she whispered to him.

"Heretic."

 

The ground began to shake violently, the people falling to their feet as the sudden tremors caught everyone in the city off guard. And then they ended. And the people looked around and the eventually back up to the maiden in scarlet. She opened her crimson eyes once again and looked down to the people.

"I can understand your doubt. I appear different to you. And I have left you all to face much hardship. But know that my eye has never left this nation, or those who have remained true to it. I am your sovereign. I am your goddess. All I ask . . . is only for you to believe."

She widened the fingers of her outstretched hand, the waters from the various fountains circling the spire and other parts of the city began to wildly overflow. The water crept through the streets like river snakes, cleansing the dried blood of the purge as it past the cobblestone streets. The people watched this and looked back at her. Only three words remained in the heads of the people of the Arbiter's Grounds.

"PRAISE THE GODDESS!"

The sounds of their chanting and praise rose even higher than their doubt or their accusations. And they rose all the way to the heights of the Arbiter's Spire. To where Solomon remained bound in chains in the confines of his own personal chamber, defeated not by blade, strength or magic, but by his own doubt.

 
The citizens of the Arbiter's Grounds are released from their imprisonment after the events of Solomon's purge as Gwen takes the mantle of the new goddess. She preforms various miracles throughout the city and repairs the damage done by Egann, Shadow and his men to the Arbiter's Spire and the entrances to the city. With Solomon's sword in hand, Lucien offers relief to the wary victims of the Grand Marshal's atrocities to further prove he can no longer hurt them as Gwen is fully accepted as the new goddess by the people. Solomon is confined to chains in his personal quarters after his defeat to Gwen, his mind plagued with doubt and his spirit thoroughly shattered. Egann had been evading his pursuers within some of the city's less desirable locations but is eventually apprehended. He is subjected to various amounts of interrogation tactics with the hopes that he'll give up information concerning Shadow and his men.
 
On route to Koridai, Jordan and his party encounter the remains of a great battle between the empire and Calatia in a territory bordering the now cursed lands of Verden. They encounter a large undead beast, formally a great dragon used by one side or another that begins to spread deadly miasma throughout the area. With Sir Turtlelot, coming to their aid with the Sword of Diel, the party is able to defeat the beast and cross into the empire without further incident. They attempt to find signs of Synile's presence along the way but are met with failure as the mad swordsman attempts to retake control of himself from the cursed power of his sword, falling further and further into madness.
 
 

"Do you know how I did it, Gauvin?" He asked softly. Egann did not look up.

"Of course you do. The same way you and I know that General Shadow was not guilty of the crimes he was charged for. That's how I know it was your plan to organize the attacks. To save the nation from Solomon and his madness. And because you saw a little glimpse at what I was up to. But I assure you, you don't even know the half of it. But tell me, did you really think you could play it safe in the shadows and not expect me to find you? Ever since I arrived here two years ago.\ I've been working my way up all this time and allowed myself to be looked down upon by those whom I eventually surpassed. And when I finally got to where I needed to be, right below the puppeteer and right next to the strings, I waited. Writing scenarios I could control and manipulate as I saw fit to ensure that I ended up where I needed to be. It's a shame about inquisitor Gervais, if only he had betrayed me to serve your little cause he might still have a purpose in all this."

Lucien cleared his throat.

"So since we've nothing to hide from each other, just let me know how much it is you know and maybe there is a chance you could take Gervais' place."


Within the empire, Solomon learns how his actions brought about Lucien's plans and how he came to learn of the Mirror of Twilight. By being the reason for last resort measures, Lucien was able to gain access to the Mirror as well as use it for the Twilight Ceremony to give Gwen the power of the goddess. Discovering the role he played, he begins to form his own plans to counter his circumstances. Lucien attempts to convert Egann to his side. Egann however refuses the offer of the inquisition, stated that Lucien's plans were doomed for the start. He states his belief that whatever divinity the new goddess has come to possess will not last forever and may result in her own death. Realizing that nothing can be done to buy him off, Lucien informs Egann that he would be publicly executed for his part in dynamite explosions across the city. Much to Egann's surprise, Gwen herself comes to his rescue and helps him escape captivity. As Egann uses his expertise in dynamite to leave the Arbiter's Grounds via makeshift rocket, Gwen now knows of Lucien plans for the empire and begins to bide her time in dealing with him.
 

 

"Do you know how I did it, Gauvin?" He asked softly. Egann did not look up.

"Of course you do. The same way you and I know that General Shadow was not guilty of the crimes he was charged for. That's how I know it was your plan to organize the attacks. To save the nation from Solomon and his madness. And because you saw a little glimpse at what I was up to. But I assure you, you don't even know the half of it. But tell me, did you really think you could play it safe in the shadows and not expect me to find you? Ever since I arrived here two years ago.\ I've been working my way up all this time and allowed myself to be looked down upon by those whom I eventually surpassed. And when I finally got to where I needed to be, right below the puppeteer and right next to the strings, I waited. Writing scenarios I could control and manipulate as I saw fit to ensure that I ended up where I needed to be. It's a shame about inquisitor Gervais, if only he had betrayed me to serve your little cause he might still have a purpose in all this."

Lucien cleared his throat.

"So since we've nothing to hide from each other, just let me know how much it is you know and maybe there is a chance you could take Gervais' place."


Within the empire, Solomon learns how his actions brought about Lucien's plans and how he came to learn of the Mirror of Twilight. By being the reason for last resort measures, Lucien was able to gain access to the Mirror as well as use it for the Twilight Ceremony to give Gwen the power of the goddess. Discovering the role he played, he begins to form his own plans to counter his circumstances. Lucien attempts to convert Egann to his side. Egann however refuses the offer of the inquisition, stated that Lucien's plans were doomed for the start. He states his belief that whatever divinity the new goddess has come to possess will not last forever and may result in her own death. Realizing that nothing can be done to buy him off, Lucien informs Egann that he would be publicly executed for his part in dynamite explosions across the city. Much to Egann's surprise, Gwen herself comes to his rescue and helps him escape captivity. As Egann uses his expertise in dynamite to leave the Arbiter's Grounds via makeshift rocket, Gwen now knows of Lucien plans for the empire and begins to bide her time in dealing with him.
 

In bed with you. Not terribly tempting.” Egann sighed and stood up to the bars. “If you were really interested in offering me a place, you would have offered this Gervais the same opportunity. After all, he was probably bought before you ever met him, right? No thank you.”

You just want me to join you just to bide your time to stick a knife in my back.

Besides, I know enough to put you on your heels, too. You're checkmated by fate. I recognized that girl you were talking to from before the explosions. Gwen, right? I also sensed a glimmer of chaotic power.”

You mean that I sensed chaotic power.

You've obviously found some way to preserve the Goddesses power with Gwen, and with that you can keep Solomon on a leash. But I doubt it'll work for long. Even now the power is degrading, in part because all you've got is a sliver...but primarily because Gwen was never a suitable vessel.”

What do you know? Tell me! Tell me now!” Lucien grabbed Egann's shirt-collar through the bars and yanked him closer in.

Her own goals with no sense of community. An ancient crustacean from the Labyrinth. No human can be a truly perfect avatar for Lazu, but Chikara came close. Gwen, however, is not Chikara. She has a strong sense of empathy and community. Her spirit is aligned with Diel much more than Lazu. Now you've given her a sliver of the power of the Goddess of Koridai in her. The end result is unstable; a spirit aligned with Diel can't house a power from Lazu, at least not of any power or for a significant period of time.”

Lucien let go of Egann and stepped away in disgust.

Gwen's spirit is slowly consuming and canceling Lazu's power like it's a poison. It's only a matter of time before Solomon notices 'the Goddess' is hardly godlike anymore.”

And if I find a way to infuse the rest of Lazu's power into that girl?”

It wouldn't save you. Only kill her.
It wouldn't save you. Only kill her.”

 
 
The party comes to a town within the empire and quickly blends into the local scene to evade imperial authorities. Although they had not seen any signs of Synile, the group discover that they had been ahead of him the entire time as he begins attacking the city. At the crack of dawn, a battle within the city begins between the group and Synile, the latter cutting down anything in his path. Now completely possessed by the power of his sword, he no longer identifies as Synile. He has grown more powerful since their last encounter, able to fend off the entire group himself using his unnatural strength and the new abilities of his sword. More specifically, his ability to command shadows as an extension of his sword and to encompass and even possess his victims. Now trusting the power of Cain Kazen, Jordan is able to split himself into two different warriors to help fend off the possessed dead as well as switch places to disorient the possessed Synile. However, the sword's power sends both him and Egann to fight off their own demons within an illusion world contained within the shadows it commands. The two survive and the party takes down Synile by exploiting the sword's weakness to light.
 

You survived." he said calmly

"Yeah . . . did you know we could switch like that?" Jordan asked as he slowly got up, the clashing steel echoing above their heads.

"The spears switch between themselves, I suppose it makes sense for us to be able to as well. So long as we wield them."

"You didn't know, did you?"

"Focus."

The two jumped from below and landed nimbly on the rooftops above and dashed towards Shadow, who was holding his own against Synile. His attacks were random and vicious, the general discovered something vital enough to reduce the madman to a raging beast. The other Jordan quickly developed a plan.

"Strike low." He said.

With that said, Jordan took a leap into the air, coming down directly on Synile as he continued to slash at Shadow. Perhaps it was his hundreds of years of instincts or the shadow from above that gave Synile the feeling to look up. As Jordan came crashing down, the mad warrior narrowly dodged the spear's impaling descent. However, he did not see Jordan come from behind and strike the small of his back with the blunt end of Abel Stozen like a galley oar. A galley or that sent Synile flying with the force of a mighty gust exploding on contact with the Calatian swordsman. As Synile plummeted back towards the main street, the two looked at each other for a moment.

"You held back."

"I'm not here to kill him, I'm here to stop him."

 
Cornered, Synile plays for time and explains the nature of his weapon. A cursed sword that maintains itself on blood, forcing the wielder to slaughter in order to keep it's blade sharp. He states his intentions of destroying the Arbiter's Grounds, to further strengthen the sword while honoring the lost traditions of the Labyrinth of Doom. Using his shadows, he attempts to use Shadow's left over store of dynamite to blow the entire party to pieces but is stopped by Eivor, who lands a critical blow on him. Injured, Synile escaped in the chaos and proceeds to get a head start to the Arbiter's Grounds.
 
 

Synile coughed from the force of being blown into the ground. Nothing felt broken. Now certainly was not the time for physical weaknesses. The party was closing in on him from all sides. Standing in front was Shadow, taking action before Synile could shake of the Jordans' attack.

"Alright parasite, you'd better listen up, because all of us are more than ready to end your fleeting non-life in an instant if you so much as try anything harmful again, and I will know if you do." His tone was cold and stern, demanding cooperation. "The body you're using belongs to a friend of these people's. A body you've been using to commit mass murder. A body you were planning to wreak untold havoc in the capital of Koridai with. I think it's about time you told us why." Fire began to emerge from the fingertips of his free hand. "And I suggest you think about your answer very carefully, because right now there's nothing stopping me from turning that nodachi you're possessing into a pile of molten slag, much less stopping them from smashing it into dust."

Synile released his swords and raised his hands meekly. "I've been bested. I'll talk." Synile slowly rose to his feet, all the while making sure his hands were in plain sight. No sudden movements. Smooth.

"He's tried to destroy that sword before. It's cursed. It's more resilient than you'd know. The sword requires blood. That's why it doesn't need to be maintained. Part of the curse. Blood keeps it at it's peak. It was but a rusted relic when we found it."

"Who is 'he'? Who did you discover that sword with?"

"Synile, of course. He and I have been together for centuries. Both keenly aware of the other. Lately he doesn't like me as much, but the Synile you hear in the old horror stories?" Synile laughed. "That was usually me."

"And what of Koridai? Answer!" Shadow's temper was flaring. After the morning Synile had put everyone through it was no small wonder. The psychopath had torched an entire village and slaughtered countless people who's only involvement was 'wrong place wrong time'.

"Have you ever been loyal to something?" Synile's eyes were smoldering with fiery intensity. "To someone. Do you know what it means to bleed for a cause? Do you ACTUALLY know? You may have played at knight, but deep down, who were you truly loyal to?" Shadow was furious. Before angered words could leave his mouth, Synile continued. "I had a queen that I swore loyalty to. She gave me a home. She promised the world, and then she abandoned us. Abandoned ME. And behold. The sparkling jewel of the desert. Allowed to prosper because of Chikara. But did the Labyrinth prosper? No. We were the refuse. The shell, shed to become something more. To betray hundreds upon hundreds of years of loyalty with the ultimate treason requires punishment. That city is an aberration. It will be BROKEN and brought to HEEL and I AM THE MAN TO DO IT." Synile's eyes sparkled electric with a hatred far beyond what the years could instill in mortal men.

"I think not. Your senseless quest for vengeance ends here."

"Not so fast." Synile smirked. During the conversation, Synile's words became the focus. The fatal flaw. The hands Synile had raised in an act of defeat were raised high above his head, and bathed in sunlight. His hands were casting shadows on Shadow. "You've seen the tricks I can play with shadows. And I've seen how YOU react to those shadows as a cat reacts to water."

Instantly Leo raised his rifle, but before he could pull the trigger, Synile shouted, "Fire at me and we all die. You see, Crimson, Your friend here has a stick of dynamite in his pocket. I noticed it during our brief encounter. You don't survive thousands of battles without being able to see your enemy. Or did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"You bastard!" The dwarf cursed, slowly un-cocking his rifle. Shadow was the only one to feel what happened next. Whatever unholy powers Synile had acquired, he embraced. Synile quickly became a beacon for any able to sense dark energy. Within seconds, several of the straggling zombies from earlier had shambled towards the group with an interesting bit of cargo. The brainless minions were escorting the carriage of supplies straight towards Synile.

"Like moths to the flame. These things are surprisingly good at very basic tasks. Make way for the carriage, now. If I wasn't clear earlier, I've got a bomb." Synile made sure his left hand continued to cast a shadow on General Shadow, and used his feet to kick the nodachi into the air, where it was a simple matter to catch it with his right hand.

What Synile wasn't counting on was that Eivor was still in the carriage.

"Synile, that's enough." Her feminine voice sounded almost thunderous when contrasted with the tension Synile had effortlessly created.

"Oh. You. They're still dragging you along? I thought you to be dead weight they'd have cut from the carcass by now." Eivor casually strode right towards Synile. It was clear that she was not considered a threat.

Eivor was so close to Synile she almost whispered, "People tend to not think much of me. It's my greatest strength." Synile's eyes widened as Eivor slid her dagger into Synile, effortlessly parting his armor. Synile backhanded Eivor, and she fell to the ground. Pulling the dagger out with a grunt, Synile tosses it aside and uses his nodachi to sever the bindings keeping one of the horses attached to the carriage.

With pain wracking his voice, Synile shouts, "It's been fun, but I have a capital to raze." Jumping onto the freed horse, Synile heels it in the direction of the Arbiter's Grounds and kicks. General Crimson attempts a shot, but the steed proves too quick, and Synile becomes smaller as he sinks into the horizon.

 
Egann crash lands in the town in question, hurting his leg in the process and reunites with Shadow. He informs the party of the goings on in the capital, from Lucien's plans to the arrival of a new goddess. However, he keeps the identity of the new goddess to himself to honor Gwen's request after helping him escape. Shadow pieces the facts together but also remains quiet on the subject to keep Jordan from losing his temperment. At the Arbiter's Grounds, Solomon escapes his chambers and goes on the run within the city. Lucien begins to order for his immediate capture and execution but Gwen reassures him that as long as she is goddess, he'll know better than to kill another living person while he remains in the city as she'll quickly dispatch him herself. Lucien grows more uneasy with Gwen's new found independence as she exhibits more powers of Lazu's avatar which each passing day and respects his authority less and less, unaware that she is completely onto his game. Gwen also befriends a rather curious handmaiden. :3:

Earlier:
The morning was rising over the Arbiter's Grounds. As they appeared like mist, Gwen and Egann appeared elsewhere within the arbiter's grounds. She took off her hood and placed it on Egann to hid his face.

"Mr. Gauvin, I'm afraid you might be the only one I can rely on for this task. You need to go as soon as possible"

"With all due respect miss, if you are who you say you are then I don't understand why Lucien should be a problem for the likes of you."

Gwen looked increasingly more solemn.

"No, I'm afraid Lucien is the least of my worries right now. There's another matter that I'm not entirely confident about right now."

Egann looked confused.

"I can feel every living thing in the empire. Every soul. You'd think it scary or overwhelming, and it is, but somehow I'm able to manage it all. And I can feel something terrible coming closer. It's been coming for a long time. I'm worried of what will happen if it gets here."

"Well that's all well and good but I don't see why you need me to do anything-"

"You are partially right. About me. About being the goddess. But the power isn't fading from me, I think it's the opposite. I've only been the goddess for a few weeks but I, I can't help but feel as though I'm fading away. Like something is pushing me out and I'm slowly. . . well it's hard to explain. I don't know."

"So, what do you want me to do?"

"Get out of the city. Find General Shadow, with him is someone who can help. He'll be in green. Wields two spears, manipulates the wind. Bring him here, he'll be able to stop whatever is coming this way. But there is something I must ask you do when you meet him."

"And that is?"

"Please. Please don't tell him about me. Don't tell him who I am."

 

-End Part 2-


Edited by JRPomazon, 26 August 2016 - 10:18 PM.


#5 JRPomazon

JRPomazon

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Posted 28 August 2016 - 12:34 AM

-Part 3-
 
The group spends no time attempting to leave the city to intercept Synile before he can reach the Arbiter's Grounds, following the trail of blood left behind from his wounds in order to follow him. However, they reach a river and lose the trail. Without any means of continuing the search, the party makes camp at the location by the river and rest from the day's weary trials. In the empire, Lucien is confronted by his fellow Arch-Inquisitors on his plans and desires for the empire, where Lucien reveals his plans from using Solomon to making Gwen the goddess in the hopes of controlling the empire himself. Aghast at the news, the other Arch-Inquisitors attempt to seize Lucien but the guards summoned are under Lucien's hand and the other inquisitors are surrounded. Their fate is uncertain as the guards fall upon them. Despite these victories in his camp, Lucien is plagued by Solomon's escape as he finds his own chambers the victim of vandalism and the theft of Solomon's own sword.
 
 

Egann covered his face with his hands. Jordan had a history with Gwen. He'd just assumed Gwen was looking for Jordan because of his reputation, but no. Apparently not. It was personal.

"The situation with Gwen is a bit more complicated than that, Shadow. Gwen's got an order-based personality and she's infused with chaotic power. At first I thought that she'd be all right because she only got a sliver of Lazu's power. I thought it would fade with time. Apparently not. If what she said when she kicked me out of Arbiter's Grounds is true...that sliver is growing and she's fading. Lazu's power is literally eating Gwen's spirit out of her."

"Eating?" Shadow was stunned. "You mean...it's consuming her spirit to gain power?"

"It gets worse. I don't think just sending Jordan to carry Gwen off will work, even if they've got a past." Egann took a deep breath. "I think Synile is being drawn to Gwen. No, not just Synile. Chaotic powers all over the continent are probably homing in on Gwen. Move her and they'll follow."

"But why would they do that? To feed her more chaotic power?"

"They don't want Gwen to become the new avatar," Egann said, shaking his head. "They want to be the avatar themselves."

 
Egann and Shadow discuss the issue concerning Gwen being the goddess, which is overheard by Turtlelot during the night. The three try to plan for the eventual battle between themselves and a new avatar of Lazu, hoping to purge Gwen of Lazu's power as soon as possible but ultimately concerned if they would have to kill her within the event of a worst case scenario. Knowing Jordan's connection to the new goddess, they feared his sentiment would distract him and decided to keep mum on the whole thing. As Synile was being drawn by the chaotic power of the goddess, they knew they needed to move fast. Jordan and Eivor share a conversation, discussing on their motivations and why they have come as far as they have. Jordan restates his desire to find Gwen, uncertain of what will happen if the two were to meet again. However, the night is interrupted by a squad of imperial templars who had followed the blood trail Synile left behind to the group and they quickly made haste away from the scene.
 

"You told me a while back that you were going to the Arbiter's Grounds to find someone, or something." She started as she got situated by the fire.

"Yeah, I've mentioned something along those lines." Jordan replied, sitting down to join her.

She looked at him quizzically.

"Would you prefer I didn't ask about it?"

"It's fine, it's not a taboo topic. There was someone very important to me that I left behind in Verden on the day of the Cataclysm. She managed to survive and find her way south. I've spent the last few years trying to find her while fighting off the forces of the goddess."

"I think I pieced that part together already. About this woman, who was she?"

Jordan paused to pick the words he wanted to use.

"She was a person I am quite fond of, although I wasn't at first. She was the daughter of the man who trained me how to manipulate the wind around me, she could be as nasty as he was sometimes. Over time, we managed to become good friends. After her father passed away, I'd always come back to check up on her every so often. Have her patch me up good as new and send me off again into the world. No matter how many times I wandered and how many times I came back bruised and scuffed, she was there. She was always there. And I . . . well I took it for granted."

"So what are you going to do when you find her?" Eivor asked.

Jordan paused again.

"I don't know. I honestly don't know. I'm hoping that maybe things can salvaged. I'll try to work that out when the time comes."


The templars, known for their ability to pursue vicious criminal elements on all terrains, chase down the group to a sprawling woodland area that becoming increasingly more dense the further both parties move in. The Calatian party loses the templars, only to find themselves trapped within a living forest that has no intention of letting them escape. The damage inflicted upon trees and growth quickly regenerated, much to the confusion and irritation of the party. Leo and Jordan became separated from the main group, each party fending for themselves. The forest spawned humanoid "children" that eventually would destroy any foreign bodies within the forest itself, which began picking off the templars one by one. Shadow and Egann kept the party safe using stores of Shadow's Dynamite to create large enough blasts to fend off the invading forces of the forests. Jordan and Leo managed to subdue one of the survivors.
 

"What about him?" Leo asked.

Jordan thought for a moment. He inspected the templar. The strike did break his armor, but there was no sign of blood. Perhaps his ribs were broken. Other internal injuries.

"We leave him. He's one of Solomon's finest after all, I'm sure he can manage."

As they began to move, he heard the templar shift on the ground.

"I remember you." The templar said.

Jordan turned around. Now he wants to talk it seems.

"On Windfall Island. I saw your duel with Lord Solomon. I saw how you devastated our ranks, one man against a legion. But you didn't kill Lord Solomon that day."

"I am painfully aware of that." Jordan replied.

"He'll find you. He'll find you and he'll come after you again."

Jordan said nothing.

"And if he fails, the goddess will take you in his stead."

Jordan knelt back down, against his better judgement.

"Can I ask you something? Why all this? Why do you do this to yourself? You're not going to leave this forest alive in your condition, those monsters will make sure of that. And yet here you are giving everything, EVERYTHING to Solomon and the goddess. So why do you keep it up?"

The templar looked directly at Jordan.

"Because all we have is our faith, our convictions. That is what keeps us strong in an age where worlds can vanish like illusions in the desert. My faith will not abandon me in the end."

"Even if your goddess will?" Jordan asked.

"She won't."

 
Gwen appeared before Jordan and the others, spiriting away the templars who had survived and opening the path for the Calatian party to proceed. She warned them against staying too long, as the forest would once again continue to encroach on them once she had left the area. Jordan, shocked by the revelations that Gwen had become the new goddess tried to reason with her but to no avail. She left him to regroup with his friends and returned to the capital as she new Synile would eventually come after her and the power of Lazu. In a fit of rage and manic desperation, Jordan tried to follow her only to find himself withing a deeper part of the woods. He was confronted by a number of tree children and fended them off as his rage had further tempered his power. The forest quietly submitted at that point and allowed Jordan to leave, whether through Jordan's actions or Gwen's it remained uncertain.
 

"Gwen?" Jordan said.

She stopped, refusing to make further eye contact.

"I never wanted you to see me this way. If I could have avoided it, I would have. But you'd find out eventually, so I decided it was better now than later."

"How long have you been this way?! When did you become a avatar of Lazu?!"

Gwen didn't reply to Jordan's exasperated questions. A part of her considered toying with him, then and there. Why would he be so foolish as to assume it was her and not some illusion? Could he really know or is he just so pathetically desperate by this point? Press his buttons, make him squirm. It would be easy, to rip his beating heart right out of his chest and toss it right back to him. But these thoughts were not her own and she put them out of her mind. She raising her arm in the opposite direction of Jordan and Leo. The large trees and underbrush shrank back into the soil, revealing a fresh dirt path.

"You can take this path back to your companions. They're safe from the rest of the forest. A new road has been opened for you to make your flight from here. Do not stay long or you will be devoured by this place."

Jordan got up from the spot the templar once rested and tried to approach Gwen. She gave him a cold stare, he stopped that instant.

"The man you've been tracking is more than a day ahead of you now, you won't catch him in time. He'll reach the capital by mid morning and he will receive our welcome."

"I promised to stop him, I have to bring him back."

"You promise a lot of things Jordan. Maybe from now on it would better if you paid attention to what you say."

She stopped herself, she was going to let her emotions get the better of her. Jordan could almost feel a cold sharpness pierce his chest as she spoke.

"Leave Koridai, Jordan. I can take it from here, there is nothing left here for you to worry yourself over. Go on another adventure, see the world."

"Gwen, please, let me-"

"No."

Silence fell.

"Just go Jordan. Just get out of here and go."

 
Miles away a few days later, the capital celebrates the goddess once again in a parade to honor the removal of Solomon from power and her return. The celebrations are cut short as Synile makes his way to where Gwen is being paraded and quickly dispatches the local authorities. Knowing full well that Synile had come to kill her, she guided him away from the citizens of the Arbiter's Grounds and took him to a remote part of the inner city. However, she felt her control of her divine power wane and began to feel the strain of being the goddess during their conflict. Before Synile could kill her, Solomon arrived to defend Gwen. Stating that he would serve the goddess' power that resided within Gwen, he took to arms and clashed with Synile.
 

Then the sound of clashing metal. Gwen looked up to find the back of a Koridian Templar, wielding a crimson saber. She looked on, wide eyed and in disbelief.

Solomon had come to her aid.

"Solomon." She said as she slowly regained herself. She didn't even notice he was close.

They exchanged attacks, Solomon holding his own against this agent of chaotic power. The two back away from each other, a brief moment to recollect themselves.

"You'll protect me?" She asked him.

"You hold the last gift of the goddess. Because of this, I cannot permit you to die." Solomon replied.

"I WILL NOT BE DENIED!" Synile screamed.

The two exchanged blows once again, the clash of their weapons echoing throughout the hall. Solomon stomped on Synile's foot, causing the Calatian swordsman to flinch long enough for Solomon to punch Synile in the face.

"You will be silent, you miserable wretch." Solomon said, raising his sword.

The two clashed swords once again, Synile's nodachi held off by Solomon's shorter saber. And again, and again. Clashing and clashing, the two of them repeatedly trying to break each other's guards in order to get a hit in. Solomon could feel Synile's rage. Solomon decided to feed off it. Consume it. Let it seep into himself like water. Like blood. Tightening the grip on his sword, so much so that it hurt. Then give that hurt back. Give it back a thousand fold.

Give everything back a thousand fold.

Solomon's sword expanded to match the length of Synile's nodachi, a spray of blood dripping from the blade as it suddenly grew out.

"Are you prepared, cur?" Solomon asked.

 
What set Synile at a disadvantage was Solomon's own weapon that drained and siphoned the blood that made contact with it's blade. With every strike and parry, the cursed nodachi began to lose it's luster and rush over. To further disadvantage the mad swordsman, Solomon's ability to control blood as a weapon made every wound inflicted on himself a chance to summon and craft more blades to use against Synile. The battle raged on within the city, the people watching as Solomon protected the goddess and Synile losing ground.
 

Synile's prized blade was tarnished with rust in every place Solomon's blade had made contact. He refused to show it on his face, but every parry, every glance, every touch between their blades sent his head into agony. The nodachi was in pain.

"Come now. Your goddess is a pretender and a whore. Surely even a dimwit such as yourself can tell that is no Chikara." Solomon's face twitched. One who had reverence for the goddess would never tolerate someone taking such a familiar tone. "Hundreds of years before she was your goddess I knew her. No major power. Sure. Her tongue was always her biggest asset." Solomon managed to contain his temper. After a period of silence it was clear talk would get Synile nowhere. But he couldn't risk another confrontation. His sword was neigh indestructible, but here was a man who had tarnished the blade. In all his years Synile had never encountered this before. He was as a cornered animal. Synile reached for the secondary katana he usually carried on his hip, but his grasp found nothing but air. You lost that when they attacked you in the city several days ago.

Synile threw himself into Solomon. Grasping the nodachi with both hands, Synile unleashed a flurry of blows as fast as his arms would allow. And yet Solomon managed to be one step ahead. Successfully evading the attack, Solomon steps slightly out of bounds; his shirt becoming a tattered rag showing each of Synile's near hits. Then Solomon went on the offensive. His sword was greater than the length of Synile's nodachi but it was clear he was unused to wielding such a weapon. The range required Synile to parry occasionally, but the sword itself in Solomon's hand was clunky and not as precise as a standard blade. Each time the blades made contact Synile's head screamed; the damage to his nodachi amplified.

It's the blood.

Synile's sword bathed in the blood of his enemies and grew strong. Solomon's blade somehow had power over the residual blood coating the nodachi. This was only going to go downhill for Synile unless he could land a hit. The strength behind the swing was important, but eventually the nodachi would lose the ability to cleave flesh. Synile could not let that happen. Until he scored a solid hit, however, there was little he could do. The battle would, for the time being, remain a stalemate.


The group eventually reached another town, restocked on supplies while Jordan used both his halves to get the attention of local authorities to arrest Egann, Shadow and the rest of the group for the events in the Kordian town involving Synile. Jordan's darker half served to keep the group subdued while his lighter half double-crossed the town's soldiers. The two orchestrate this plan in order to acquire a new means of transport to get them safely to the Arbiter's Grounds without further conflict. On the way, Jordan and his other half share a brief conversation:

 

"Stop the wagon, I'll be switching over to the other one."

 

The wagon slowed and Jordan left the cabin to quickly hop into the other one. He was helped up by his other self, still dressed in his initial green armor. It was the only way the two could be told apart from one another, save for perhaps their mannerisms and tone. They shared the cabin with some of the others, but did not speak to each other. What would the sense be in talking to one's self anyhow? Would it be any different that thinking outloud? But this wasn't an ordinary exercise in philosophy.

 

"This isn't going to be easy." Jordan's other self mentioned, arms crossed and looking stern as always.

 

"I figured." Jordan replied, looking out the back of the wagon for the vague scenery.

 

"He's alive. Solomon. He knows we're in that city and he'll hunt us down."

 

"I doubt he has the same strength he did when we found him at Windfall, no one can recover fast enough from what I . . . we did."

 

"And still he is responsible for the mad-hunt that slaughtered scores of people in his own city. Regardless, he hasn't changed. Or rather, he's even more dangerous now."

 

"Do you think that was before or after Gwen became-"

 

"She was probably the one to stop him from killing more people."

 

Silence.

 

"You told me in Calatia to trust you, my weaker half, for atoning from the mistakes we've made. If you keep doubting like that I'm not going to give you the chance to do that. I'm not even going to let you remain apart of us."

 

"You can't just drown me out because it's convenient. We're the same person, compatible parts. I know. I don't know how I know but I feel it. Don't try to threaten me with that kind of nonsense. I put up with your dense drive and you put up with my wavering emotion or what have you. But because you need to be reminded, I'm going to go to the Arbiter's Ground. I'm going to save Gwen. I'm going to make right the mistakes I've made those years ago and that starts with helping her out."

 

Silence again.

 

"And if we have to fight her?" He asked.

 

"Of course we'll have to fight her. We've been fighting with her for years. Why would this be any different?"

 

"She is the living embodiment of chaos in this world. This may become another incident like the Labyrinth."

 

"I know. But we'll be ready for it." Jordan said, looking over the Cain Kazen in the hands of his other self.

 

 

-End Part 3-

 

And this is where we left off, right before the big climax. Before Synile and Solomon's duel ends, before Jordan and group make it to the city and before we find out whether the strain of Lazu's power proved too great for Gwen to handle and the results of Lucien's plans for the empire. For over two years, this was the end of the story. I'll be posting the what-ifs, the planned battles and the true ending to this story over the next week or so. Please, stay with us as we finally come to this long awaited conclusion.


Edited by JRPomazon, 28 August 2016 - 12:37 AM.


#6 Egann

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Posted 30 August 2016 - 09:27 PM

I have to say, I'm pretty proud of our work for TDTWD. Writing a finish to do it justice is actually harder than I thought it would be.



#7 JRPomazon

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Posted 31 August 2016 - 03:46 PM

I reckon I'll write out the bare bones scenarios for the more important pieces of the remainder of the story, offering folks the chance to write in their piece. Some scenes I intend to write by myself of course but I'd like this to be as accessible to others as possible.



#8 Egann

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Posted 02 September 2016 - 05:25 PM

Let me know what I can do to help. I did kinda bring it up.



#9 SL the Pyro

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Posted 02 September 2016 - 09:17 PM

Sorry I'm so late in replying. I've been here, but have been too busy to do much. Hopefully that'll be changing in the next few days.

 

I'll also pitch in to write if you want me to.



#10 JRPomazon

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Posted 06 September 2016 - 04:02 PM

Thank you everyone.
 
Alright, I'm beginning to write some parts of the story out in somewhat lengthy pieces to resolve some open ended questions. The idea is that the  larger events are covered, saves on time. There will be segments that are written like normal posts so I'll get a hold of you if I need you for some writing. Once I'm done with these segments, a little bit of a epiloge for anyone who wants to add how they end their role in this story would be nice. How they made out, where they went on to, etc. I would reccomend following this conversation so you can be updated when it gets new posts.

 

First one off the bat is going to be the fight between Solomon and Synile in the Arbiter's Grounds:
 
The Day the Wind Died: Synile vs. Solomon - The Parade Grounds Conclusion

The battle in the Arbiter’s Grounds rages in the parade grounds of the Arbiter’s Spire, Solomon rallying against a waning Synile. The ancient swordsman of the Labyrinth is slowly losing his ground in the battle, the power of his cursed nodachi being absorbed as Solomon’s Blood Sword clashes against it’s now brittle steel. Synile knows he must do something to turn the tides or face a swift defeat at the hands of his opponent. His armor is compromised, another hit cannot be allowed. This shift came in the form of the passing of the sun. The sun began to set slowly, the shadows of the parade grounds growing longer and darker. Synile smiled, knowing the advantage would be his in time, all he had to do was hold out until he could certainly land a solid hit. Solomon however was not unaware of Synile’s tactics as he was warned by Gwen that his power was in the darkness itself.

Synile leads him to the darkening area of the parade grounds, using a distant overhang to set his trap for the Grand Marshal. They exchange blows until the sun reaches a point where Synile can finally enact his trap, only to find that the shadows he coveted to win him the day did not appear as the structure that was casting them crumbled into piece before his very eyes. Gwen stood above them, using her power to reduce the shadows around them into nothing as she stopped the sun itself in the sky. Without the use of his other powers, Synile can only rely on his skills as a swordsman.

Solomon, expands his sword into a formidable Claymore and smashes the ground with every strike that misses the elusive Synile. Synile takes notice of Gwen’s current position and redirects his attack on her, catching both Solomon and the goddess off guard. Taking advantage of Solomon’s own shadow, launches a attack on Gwen. She is able to repel the attack, though she visibly shaken by doing so. Solomon distracted, Synile quickly swings his sword to cleave the Grand Marshal’s head. Solomon swings his now massive sword with a single hand, parrying the nodachi while landing a solid hit with his unarmed hand that sends even Synile flying.

The Labyrinthian loses ground but recovers. Solomon is breathing heavier now. Synile smiles, seeing where the borders of Solomon’s power. He can’t keep using his blood sword too long, as much like his own weapon it relies heavily on blood. However, his own weapon is worn and tarnished. One more hit. Just one more hit. Synile makes one last gamble on the next attack, an all or nothing offensive. He lunges again, Solomon cannot react fast enough. Although Solomon’s current armor is rent in the vicious attack, the cursed nodachi doesn’t withstand the impact and breaks into two.

The blade broken, Synile is finally released from the sword’s influence and falls to his knees. He has no strength left to muster and the shock of recovering himself form the sword’s power leaves him completely defenseless. Solomon’s sword shrinks back to it’s normal saber form and he prepares to kill Synile once and for all. Gwen tells him to stop, using her authority as goddess to call him back. Surprisingly, he accepts her terms despite being able to kill her himself if he wanted to in her weakened state. Lucien, who arrives on the scene agrees with Gwen’s terms and suggests that Synile be made a example by public execution.

---

Lucien surveyed the scene, his templar guards following in shortly after as they grabbed the incapacitated Synile from the ground. He was shocked to find Solomon, standing along side the Gwen in the glow of the battle’s aftermath.

“Kill Solomon! That man is a traitor to the empire and now attempts to seize the goddess!”

The templars drew their weapons and circled around to protect their goddess from her own savior.

Stop.” She said, her voice reverberating throughout the parade grounds. Each of the templars obediently stopped where they stood and put away their weapons.

Solomon is the one who stopped this man from his assault on me and the city. Though his past crimes cannot be excused he is the reason the carnage has ended. You will escort him to his chambers and he will remain there until I have given the order.

Solomon softly laughed, looking over to Lucien.

“Lucien, you’re far too kind to show yourself to me like this. I was thinking I would have to hunt you before I got the chance to cleave you into pieces.”

Lucien grew visibly pale but held his ground.

“Consider your situation Solomon, there isn’t a way you’re getting another step closer to-”

Solomon took a single step. Lucien paused and looked to Gwen.

“Your ladyship! I beseech you, stop him now!”

She went over to Solomon, firmly standing between the two men. She could compress him into the ground with a single thought. She could incinerate him into ashes. The voices, bickering in the back of her head so strongly advocated that they just destroy everything around them but Gwen stood steadfast in their wake and looked to Solomon and whispered something softly to the towering figure above her.

Lucien is mine. Go back to your chambers.” She said.

“DO NOT DENY ME MY JUSTICE.” He replied. She looked into his eyes, the absolute chaos the abyss that now possessed her could be seen in her now crimson eyes. Solomon felt this madness before as she looked at him, the same commanding madness that he once buckled under during his time with Chikara Nadir. In that brief moment, she saw everything there was in Solomon’s mind. She looked for the glimmer of something she could use to convince him. She saw a battle, a very long fought battle, a battle in which the wind ripped him into pieces and the burning rage that fueled the memory. She then saw Jordan clashing with Solomon, whether in the past of the future she could not say. Then the madness inside her all laughed and in that moment she almost collapsed. Everyone was surprised as Gwen almost lost her balance, even Solomon was caught off guard.

And you will not deny me mine. Go to your chambers, we both need him alive for the time being.

The wind blew across the parade grounds, a particularly strong gust that had no business in the air of the Arbiter’s Grounds. Solomon’s eyes were wide and Gwen looked on to him stoically. Her doing, of course and Solomon received the message clearly.

He willingly went into the care of the templars that escorted him back, the group vanishing along with Synile. When they were gone, Gwen fell to the ground, crying as she grasped the sides of her head. Lucien came to her side, the remaining templar guards taking her in their arms.

“Take her to her chambers! Immediately!” He cried.

 

---

 

Note: I'll be posting I'm hoping once at least every other day. Maybe more. We'll see.


Edited by JRPomazon, 06 September 2016 - 04:07 PM.


#11 JRPomazon

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Posted 10 October 2016 - 01:44 AM

They had successfully evaded the border patrols, passed off as military officials with prisoners in tow for the Arbiter’s Ground. The small band of warriors from the heights of Calatia had come a long way from the beginnings of their journey to the sought destination of the heart of the empire. For the disgraced general Shadow and his compatriot Egann Gauvin, returning meant saving the nation itself from the grasp of men who would see their own selfish aims destroy the empire from it’s very heart. For the Calatian heroes Turtlelot and Leo Crimson, it was about containing and stopping the threat of a dangerous swordsman possessed by evil itself, as well as the evil in the heart of the Arbiter’s Grounds once again presenting a threat to their kingdom. For the wandering swordsman Ken, it was a search for his lost identity. For the shield maiden Eivor, it was about finding a new life for herself.

For Jordan of the Whirlwind Spear, it was for finding someone he lost.

On their journey, they heard of Synile’s defeat at the hands of the goddess herself with the aid of her champion, the former mad steward Solomon. What is curious is how Synile was not killed then and there but set to be executed publicly in the heart of the city as a testament that the empire was once again a force not to be taken lightly. On the road, the following conversation takes place:

“Aye, looks like the problem was taken care of for us. Best to leave him to his fate for what he did to those villages and towns.” Leo Crimson had no love for Synile, the possessed swordsman had murdered several of the men under his charge and his aim was to see him face justice for what he did. Whether it was the justice of the empire or his own made no difference though he would have enjoyed being the one to dole it out.

“I agree, him being taken care of leaves us with less to worry about.” Shadow added, thinking of the trials that waited ahead. “We need to worry about the likes of Solomon and the empire’s forces if we’re going to take out the goddess.”

The words slipped out and Jordan’s hair stood on the back of his neck.

“And what do you mean ‘take out?’ Something you want to mention to me Shadow?” Jordan was staring right at Shadow now and the coldness of that look immediately made Shadow regretful of what he said. “Was that your plan the whole time? Killing the goddess and keeping me out of the loop long enough before I knew what happened to Gwen? Just how long did you and Egann think you could keep me out of the loop, by the way?”

Shadow and Egann looked at each other and with resignation came to explain what they knew and how long they knew.

“I’m the one who knew about it first.” Egann said, taking the heat from Shadow and onto himself. “Whatever is happening to her, it’s not good. There’s no guarantee that there is anything we can do for her now. What we need to do is contain the power of Lazu before we deal with something worse.”

“And that’s why Turtlelot is here? To seal the deal with the sword of Diel?” Jordan accused, looking over to the steel warrior. “Just how much did you all know? Just how much did you keep behind my back to keep me out of this?!” The calm of the party was vanishing rapidly.

“We weren’t keeping secrets just to dig at you!” Shadow replied. “We know she means something to you and we-”

“She told me to keep it a secret.” Egann interrupted. “She didn’t want you to know what had happened to her. Look, I don’t know what your history with this girl is or how any of this happened but it has and this is the situation we’re looking at right now. As it stands, the power of Lazu won’t just be guiding people like Synile to the heart of the empire but all types of crazies as well. This is only going to get worse and if Lucien and his flunkies succeed in controlling this power, a lot of people are going to get hurt or worse.”

Shadow cleared his throat. “And speaking of histories, we have Solomon to contend with as well. If we’re going to get through this alive, we need to be prepared for anything.”

“Tell me Jordan:” Egann started. “If killing Gwen was the only way to save the world from the power of Lazu, could you do it?”

Jordan said nothing. He knew he wouldn’t be able to do it if it came to that and resented himself for his own feelings. Turtlelot placed his hand on Jordan’s shoulder.

“For what it is worth Jordan, I don’t find any pleasure in the way things are. If there is any way to still destroy Lazu without harming Gwen, then that is what we will do without question. But you know how dangerous a goddess avatar could become. The dangers that await could be too great to ignore.”

Jordan understood what had to be done, should the situation call for it. He had hurt Gwen in the past. He left her on her own and through his own foolishness he cursed the situation he found himself in. He looked back towards the group.

“Can I trust you guys to try everything before it comes to this?” Jordan asked. “You clearly don’t think I can do it myself and maybe you’re right. If I can’t do it then can I ask you to?”

Egann looked over to Shadow and Turtlelot, the three knew they’d be the ones to handle this but looked back at Jordan with curiousity.

“What will you do?” Egann asked.

“If Solomon is in our way, I’ll handle him.” Jordan replied. “You can count on me to take him out so long as you can handle the Lazu problem.”






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