《AfterMath: The Forsaken World》 The Beginning.... In the beginning The Goddess and the Darkness ruled the Light and the Dark in Harmony. Together they created the Stone men, the Kindered, and the Elves: and for a time, all was well. The Stonemen were the Protectors of the land and the lesser beings; the Kindered were the Children Of The Dark; and the Elves were the Gardeners of the Land, and for a long time the three Races lived in Harmony. And the Goddess and the Darkness were happy. But the Darkness became bored with all the harmony, and started to Whisper in the Kindered¡¯s dreams about becoming something more, maybe they should be the Gardeners or the Protector? So, the Kindered started to hunt and destroy the Elves and the Stonemen. When the Goddess caught on to what the Darkness was doing, She tricked the Darkness to help her create Humans to disrupt His plan. Some humans learned quickly that they could wield the Wild Magic that came to the First Races, and it was then that saw that the Races need not to stay the way the Goddess and the Darkness had made them. Humans saw that Kindered could nurture just as well as Elves could, and that Elves could protect just as well as Stone men: and that all could worship and wield the Wild Magic as they wanted. So came about Mages, Priestess, Warrior, and the Bard classes- and all Races were encouraged to be what-and whom-the wanted. The Goddess was happy that Her and the Darkness¡¯s children had become harmonious with each other-but- The Darkness, turning jaded, thought that the Kindered, His one and only True Children he molded in His image, were being misused. He thought the Kindered should be the Head Race; should be worshiped as Minor Gods second only to HIM And again he Whispered in dreams, but only the Dark Ones of the Kindered listened, and for a hundred years they split off from the other of their kind, and they began the Dark Sect. The Goddess, seeing this, in turn Whispered to the Inferno and the Blood Kindered leaders-to start some of the bloodiest first battles of the land, but with the Death of the First Three, the Dark Sect was defeated, and the Kindered races finally became united.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. But the last straw-and what turned The Darkness into the heartless being he is now- was the Goddess going behind his back, and creating the Dwarfs. The Goddess saw that, while all the races could tame the Wild Magic, and make magical weapons and magical things- most of the makers went quickly insane, an in turn hurt more than they helped over the course of their short profession. The Goddess thought that there should be a race that was null to the effects of magic and could help out its brethren by making all the magical things they all needed, without being poisoned by magic. So unknown to the Darkness, She brought forth Dwarves to the land. The Darkness, believing there was now too much goodness in the land, vowed He would one day get even, and would never stop trying to corrupt all that lived on the world He helped create, and make the world in His liking. The Goddess-being stronger than ever with all the love of the races behind Her- banished The Darkness into his dark underworld, where to this day, he plots¡­ schemes ¡­and Whispers in dreams to ones that are weak, to help Him one day destroy all that is good in the world. Chapter 1 As the huge, barcinaled-coverd bell rang in the close by harbor, Sylvar Krisneiros, also known as Sy held up his hand to stop his troop of followers. B. Steel,, S.K¡¯s 2nd in command rode up beside the tall Elf ¡°what do you think Steel, shall we go see if anyone worth recruiting coming in?¡± Sylvar asked his trusted Co leader and friend. The huge Rock man slowly turned his head and smiled ¡°I figured that was what we were here for all along. Had a feeling the trade run was just a front.¡± Sy grimaced, ¡°I am just worried for the guild, we are losing too many, and all the Races are keeping their best fighters close to home. No one knows IF or WHEN the Darkness is coming, and everyone is afraid. The Guild needs more able bodies to help the priestess beat this Whatever... ¡­if it shows up on our shores.¡± Steel slowly nodded ¡°Aye, I agree, I can send Raist and Sonja Blue ahead and see what is coming in...¡± The Elf smiles ¡°yes, send them. Be it Beef or bodies...we need whatever the tide is bringing in!¡± Steel signaled the lanky Kindred blood vampire, and the Human forward ¡°I would settle for some Gold to nibble on myself¡± Steel replied as the two came to stand in front of the big stone man upon his Obsidian Rhino ....... ¡°Sonja, Raist, I need you to go into Wayward Harbor, and see if there are any able bodies coming in on the boat¡± Sy started, ¡°Any race, any skills. You both know we need them all¡± Sonja sneered ¡°even foul smell humans?¡± Steel taped her on the head with his granite hammer ¡°hush you¡± Sonja looked back at Steel, then at Raist, and smiled, with just a hint of fang showing¡­ ¡°Well, they DO smell better after a bath.¡± Raist pulled at his collar...¡± Not too good I hope¡±, Sonja just showed more fangs. Sy chuckled...¡± go now, no biting, no hitting...that¡¯s for both of you, be back in 3 hours, we will set up camp close by, and will have Lil K. on the lookout¡± As the boat banged against the docks, a small, light skinned man, with a full beard walked down the middle of the gangway ¡°everyone, get up and get ready! Gangplank goes down in 5 minutes, all ye off the boat in 15! I isn¡¯t got time to wait on yall!¡± ¡°Cranky dwarf¡± thought the Kindered, as she got hit by the spittle flying from the squat little gnome looking man as he walked by. Ivy Nod sighed as she pulled up the hood of her cloak over her waist long midnight black hair she had braided for travel, ¡°another town, another dock, and no work to be had more than likely¡± she mumbled to herself as she followed the few people that were heading for the side of the boat where the plank was being attached to. An Elf with a Lute hanging from a strap from his back, looked over at Ivy, and did a double take, ¡°Where do you hail from lovely creature?¡± He asked Ivy. She in turn looked over the Elf in a dismiss sniff: He looked just like all elves, tall, silver haired, almost glowing silvery-blue skin. Almost like the Kindered themselves.¡± Around...¡± she said vaguely as she tried to move away from the Elf. Ahh...same as me it seems¡±The elf said as he followed Ivy, ¡°looking for adventure, good times, and songs to sing¡± ¡°Not quiet¡± Ivy replied as she got in line behind a creature called a stone man; huge, lime green, and smelling like saltwater. ¡°Work then?¡± the elf asked. Ivy turned to stare at the annoying man, ¡°Why all the questions Bard, I take it you are a bard, with the Lute, you have work waiting, a home to go to, a LIFE?!?¡± ¡°My name is Michiro,¡± the elf started, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask¡± Ivy replied. ¡°and alas,¡± he went on like he did not hear her,¡± I have no work, home, or life either, I too am looking for all of that too¡± Ivy rubbed her temples in an annoyed way, ¡°sorry...Michiro, I tend to get bitchy when I have gone a bit without eating. Guess we are in the ¡®same boat¡¯, so to speak. My village was destroyed by The Dark Darknesss, I escaped with barley anything, and made my way to the closest town, and hop on this poor excuse of a water vessel, hoping to find a way to get back at The Darkness that killed everyone I loved and cared for¡± Michiro gently put a hand on Ivy¡¯s shoulder ¡° ¡°Aye young Kindered, I too share part of your story, I too have lost almost all, and want revenge,¡± He then smiled,¡± thankfully we did also end up ¡®on the same boat¡¯, I think we both could get what we both want¡± Ivy let a small smile lift the corner of her mouth, ¡°maybe Michiro, maybe. It may also be good to have a friend after all we both have been through.¡± Michiro beamed his joy in a dazzling smile that lit up even his ice blue eyes. ¡°Joy comes from your lips, upon my ears lovely Kindered. Let us leave this wretched ship, go find something to feast upon, and plan our next move!¡± Ivy shook her head, yet smiled back¡­ ¡°Bards, I didn¡¯t know you could be so annoying!¡± Three hours he says. THREE hours! ¡°Sonja mumbles as she pulls up her HellRazer mount. Raist comes up beside her on a Lightning Charger...Both animals appear the same-horse like,6 feet tall at the withers-but unlike the Charger, when a certain spell is spoken, the Razer turns into a beast that the likes of Hell would be afraid of-spewing fire from its mouth in an attack, and glowing embers for eyes that can see any bespelled creature that carries a Dark Curse.¡± How does he expect us to find anyone in Wayward worth of joining US in three hours?¡± Raist adjusts the daggers at his waist in a nervous gesture, the Woman he is traveling with scares him, she is a pale, glowing white, with red eyes, and a temper that would have her slit your throat rather than talk sense to anyone. Raist, never leaving his small village until he hear the call of the Priestess, had never really seen any of the other Races in the world, he had heard of them, yes, and had met a few Dwarfs, but not the other, more exotic races. He smiles to himself thinking of the hodgepodge of people that is now in his life¡­B. Steel, a Stone man of the lower regent, he is huge-over 9 feet tall- and looking like a hunk of a slate hill that had come to life but having a heart of Gold (also his fav. Snack) ¡­Sy, the leader of the guild called Aftermath, a ¡°fine specimen¡± of an Elf, to hear the ladies talk, Silver hair, like all elves, but with golden skin, hinting to a mix of some other race, probably human, and the Ice blue eyes of the Elf. There were other Elves in A.M. but, Sy stood out, and being a warrior himself, was a natural borne leader. Then there were the Dwarfs, like Lil K., , they were a strange lot, living close to the Stone men, some light skinned, some dark, the men were naturally vile sometimes. The hawking of spittle, the scraggly beards, and the body noises they make, but the females...Aww...They were almost too perfect! Dainty, sweet of voice, but you put one of that cannon-of-a-gun in either of the dwarf¡¯s hands, and you better run! They were lethal shots, both men and women dwarfs! Lil K. the sweetest lady dwarf Raist had ever met, had shot the eye out of a Shadow Spirit 200 yards away¡­at night! Then¡­then there were the Kindered, and Raist was not even sure how many sub-races there were of the Vampire-like humans. Sonja was a Blood Kindered, as in...must drink blood, sometimes, and a temper that would scare even the strongest of any race, then there was Dark, a sect saved from the Dark Spirit over 1000 years ago, but still somewhat shunned because of their long ago afflation with The Dark, and then there was the Inferno Kindered, almost never seen, living so far north, it was rumored that the fire of their blood was the only thing that kept them going in such frigid temperatures where nothing hardly else could live. Raist had never seen any Inferno Kindered, but he had heard, the paleness of their skin would glow an almost dark blue, when upset, or provoked. They were the true wielders of magic of the 3 sub races Raist was not sure if were more, but had never heard of any but the 3¡­ all the races,-Dwarf, Stone Man, and Kindered-plus Humans like himself ,made a motley crew that makes up the Guild of Aftermath, and doing the greater good for the King and Queen of Myrda, and the Priestess of All, and Raist would not trade any of them, his Guild, his family now, for anything. ¡°Sonja, I¡¯m sure we will find someone.¡± Raist finally says as he looks over at his companion, who is now giving him a look of pure annoyance, ¡°we should get there as soon as they get done with unloading any goods the boat is carrying, and you know there is that Tavern. The Bejeweled Haven, right by the docks. I say we look there first, we may get lucky this time.¡± Sonia sighs,¡± your right Raist, and I hope we do, we lost so many that last battle, we need new blood, new magic in the guild, to heal, and to help, it¡¯s just I have been with them so long, it just hurts so deep to see Steel, and SY, hell, all of us being so beat up, and hurt like we were.¡± Raist smiles at Sonja, then digs his heels into the side of his horse, ¡°Then let¡¯s get going, we don¡¯t want to upset the Rock, and he would squish us both!¡± He yells back at the startled vampire as his horse takes off... ¡°Why You...Slow down!¡± Sonja yells back at the retreating backside of the assassin! ¡°Do we have everything set up?¡± Lady Armina the head healer of the guild, asks the Kindred standing beside her.¡± I do believe so Lady Armina, Rinka replied, as she wiped down the last of the few tables in the small dinning tent. ¡°I can¡¯t remember everyone¡¯s dietary requirements though¡­¡± the healer holds up a sheaf of paper.¡± I have them all right here...we didn¡¯t bring many along, most are still back at guild, rebuilding¡± Rinka takes the paper and looks it over,¡± shew!...I¡¯m glad I brought that charcoal with us¡­I know Key master hasn¡¯t been getting enough as it is! Armina smiles ¡°Key is getting all that he Needs, believe me!¡± Rinka laughs at the insinuated suggestion ¡°I¡¯m sure he is Lady Armina! When should we expect everyone in for dinner?¡± Armina looks at the sun, just hitting the zenith in the sky, ¡°I am thinking they will all be in for the last mealtime, I¡¯m really not excepting much in for luncheon.¡± Just then a broody looking Kindered walks into the tent, and looks around, spotting the two women, he walks over to them ¡°is there going to be anything to eat today?¡± he asks in a not-so-nice tone, Rinka shrinks back a tad, but the healer straightens up to her full height, ¡°Yes Lord Grakarrerth, we will make up a light meal for luncheon.¡± The Dark Kindered vampire looks down his nose at the woman, ¡°Good! I was so not looking forward on getting my hands bloody today¡±, he then turns and stalks out of the tent. ¡°Oh, how I hate the Dark ones!¡± Rinka mutters under her breath after the man leaves. Armina pats her on the arm ¡°Now, we all must get along Rinka¡± she says. Rinka, still glaring after the way Lord G. left, ¡°maybe, but I¡¯m not liking that one at all. He doesn¡¯t smell right.¡± ¡°Maybe not,¡± Lady Armina. Replies¡± But SY, and Steel trust him, and the other Dark Kindered, and so must we. Now, let¡¯s get at least something cooked up for whomever else wonders in for some food, shall we?¡± and the two ladies walk out of the tent towards the fire pits.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Ivy, and her new friend eyed the rustic, yet but clean tavern with some suspicion. ¡°Are you sure about this place Michiro?¡± The bard looks at all the foot traffic from the back of his unicorn looking Virtuos Steed,¡± it looks like it is a well-liked place¡­¡±. Ivy¡¯s mount, a rare horse called a Soul Swallower, only found in the area she is from, nickers in agreement with the Bard ¡°how would you know.¡± Ivy muttered to the horse, it flicked its ears back, and nickered again, Nassha here agrees, we go here I guess¡± Ivy says as she dismounts, Michiro follows suite. ¡°The horse agrees?¡± he asks her, and Ivy just shrugs, ¡°She¡¯s smarter than she looks¡­¡± and walks the horse over to the stable on the side of the tavern. A few moments later, they both sit at a scarred, yet clean table with some bread and cheese in front of them, and tankards of the local wine within easy reach. ¡°Ok, we have the feast Oh Poetic Bard...Now what?¡± Ivy asks before she takes a bite of cheese. Michiro scans the faces in the tavern, ¡°now we look and plan. I am sure there are two different types of people in this place...those who need help, and those who offer...We just need the right kind of offer.¡± Ivy too scans the crowded bar,¡± What kind of offer are we wanting?¡± The bard looks at Ivy,¡± the one that doesn¡¯t get us killed I would assume.¡± Ivy shakes her head...¡± Is there any of that kind in this day and age?¡± Michiro shrugs,¡± Maybe not, but, we should hopefully find a guild that is looking, they have many openings usually, some that does NOT include killing.¡± Ivy shakes her head at that suggestion. ¡°A guild?!? You really think we could find someone looking to recruit for a guild...in this place?¡± The man just shrugs a shoulder as he looks around. Just as Ivy goes to reach for her wine, a huge green arm comes over her head, and grabs up the Bard that is sitting with her,¡± Guess what I have for you little Elf?¡± the arm now has a face, a Stone man, Lime green, and smelling like the same one that was on the boat then proceeds to belch in the Bards face! ¡°Oh! You stinking excuse for a pebble! Put me down you horrendous pile of rubble!¡± The stone man just laughs. Ivy, with dark blue whorls of color starting to collect around her eyes, and the tips of her fingers, jumps up to get away from the trouble that seems to be brewing,¡± No little Kindered, sit back down, I know this sorry excuse for a singer.¡± The stone man says as he obliges Michiro¡¯s request. ¡°Sorry Excuse!¡± Michiro exclaims, ¡°at least I wasn¡¯t stuck under the reefs in the sea of Tranquility for 2 months!¡± The stone man laughs as the Elf straightens up his wrinkled shirt, and at the barb. He then looks again at Ivy as he sits down on the floor, his torso, and head still 3 feet taller than herself standing ¡°Hello there, I am Don Vito, brave Stone Man of the Onyx clan, and friend of the Elf-who-think-he-can-sing, and who might you be?¡± My NAME is Michiro, you stinking coal-dust pile!¡± the bard mumbles, Don waves off the sounds coming from across from him. ¡°I am Ivy, from the...err...northeast lands.¡± She says as she gets herself under control, pulling her cloak over her hands, and closer to her eyes. On top of a hill, not too far from camp, sits a strange contraption called a Mech Leaper, and its rider, Lil K. The Mech is old, a level 1, and K looks at it in disdain ¡°stupid piece of metal¡± she thinks, as it grumbles and clanks beside the female dwarf as she keeps an eye out for the rest of the guild. Steel and SY had come back an hour ago, right before noon, and it was now past 1 if she was reading the sun right, and she was starting to feel a little hungry. She had eaten her Quick Rations an hour or so ago, and she was wanting to get some lunch. Wishing she had her pet Wind Puppet-a small winged creature from the deserts that are highly intelligent- when they weren¡¯t chasing anything that flew by them- to go get her something to ,she scans the road leading towards the camp. Then she sees a figure coming. As she squints, she can tell by the cloak, and the stilted gate that it is Mourbius, one of the two Dark Kindered in the guild. As he gets closer, she can also see he is caring a basket! ¡°Food¡± she thinks and sighs, not really caring at the moment who is bringing it. A few moments later the man gets to the top of the hill, panting and huffing. ¡°My word, did they HAVE to put you so far high in the hills?¡± Mourbius exclaims as he reaches the Dwarf at her post. She giggles as he sits the basket down, and then collapses in a silken-cloaked heap beside her ¡°Ah Dark One, this is nothing for this pile of metal beside me.¡± Lil K says as she not so gently pulls the basket towards her, and rips away the lid, releasing a glorious smell. ¡°I see Lady Armina has been hard at it¡± Lil K comments before ripping off a chicken leg from a roasted quarter of a bird. ¡°Umm...Yes, she and Rinka, and Key have been hard pressed to fix something appropriate, too bad this is also going to be supper¡­leftovers you see.¡± The Kindered says as he gazes across the green landscape ¡°What is wrong Mourbius?¡± Lil K asks as he just sits there with a sour expression on his face. He turns to the kind, yet knowing Marksman ¡°Why does everyone hate us so?¡± ¡°Hates who...Me... you...who?¡± she asks him. ¡°No, not you K, Lord Grakarrerth-Gossom- and myself, we can sense that people do not like us, it is hard to fit in with a shadow of doubt over our heads.¡± Lil K set down her food and looks the troubled man right in the eye. ¡°It is not you, so much as it is Lord G. Rumors run rampant that he still practices the Dark Teachings in secret. That is why no one was allowed to bring pets on this trip, it is close to the Bringing, and Steel was afraid G would do something to the pets.¡± Mourbius looks appalled, ¡°No, I cannot believe that! We have talked, Lord G and I,I have never gotten a feeling that he does anything like that!¡± Lil K leans back some,¡± I just wanted to let you know. You ARE a Dark, and Lord G is also, some people may think you are in Cahoots with one another.¡± Mourbius shakes his head, ¡°we are not even from the same clan, the same land, my family denounced The Dark at the very beginning of the TurnOver 1000 years ago, and we have done good since!¡± Suddenly the Kindered stands ¡°I must go put a stop to this!¡± Lil K also rushes to her feet and grabs the shaken man by the wrist.¡± No! Say nothing of what I told you Mourbius! Sylvar and Steel are watching Lord Grakarrerth, to see if the rumors are true, do not put yourself in the middle of this, if it is true, they WILL find out!¡± Mourbius hangs his head and lets out a ragged breath. ¡°Fine! I won¡¯t but I will also keep an eye on him, and if I hear of anything, I will let you know.¡± ¡°That is all you can do for the moment Mourbius, and to stay out of the line of fire IF Lord G is still tainted.¡± Lil K says and sighs, ¡°Now, you get back to the camp, and thank you for bringing this...I was starving!¡± He smiles down upon the Kindly Dwarf,¡± You are most welcome!¡± Sonja Blue, and Raist ride up to the front of the Bejeweled Tavern, just as a man roughly pushes a Dwarf out the front doors. ¡°Another fight Charlie?¡± Raist calls out as he climbs off his horse. The man looks up as he wipes splotches of blood nods off his white apron with a damp towel ¡°Every time a new bunch comes off a boat, it happens. Someone has to show off he is bigger ,badder than some other fool that is fully trained in magic!¡± Sonja takes both of the mounts leads and walks away in a huff. ¡°That is how we found her.¡± Raist says to the barkeep and winks. The other man laughs. ¡°anything in there worth talking to by the way?¡± Raist asks as they both walk up the steps leading to the building, Charlie rubs his chin, ¡°Maybe ¡­there are 3 sitting in the far corner, by the fireplace, can¡¯t miss them ,one is a Stoneman¡­¡± ¡°And the other two?¡± Sonja asks from Raist shoulder, making him jump a little. ¡°An elfin Bard, and a Kindred.¡± ¡°We have enough of my kind I think¡± Sonja says.¡°You still may want to talk to this one, she seems¡­different. Had an odd blue glow to her at one point.¡± The Assassin, and Blood Kindered look at each other oddly ¡°Thanks for the tip Charlie, and we will take the usual.¡± Raist tells him as they all walk in. Ivy feels a cold prickle of, not fear, but of wariness along her spine as two new people walk into the bar. She glances to the door, and then down at her hands to make sure the blue whorls are gone, and not trying to come back. ¡°What is it Little Kindered?¡± Don asks as he sees the shift of Ivy¡¯s attitude. She jerks her head to the side, towards the Human and Kindered that walked in and stand at the bar. ¡°Ahh¡­The colors of a Guild!¡± Michiro whispers to Ivy,¡± What we have been looking for!¡± Ivy looks again at the two, they do seem to be wearing identical colored clothing¡­A dark blue and copper combo, with an intricate A and M golden Symbol on the shoulder of the human. ¡°Do you know the guild?¡± Ivy asks, her two companions shake their heads,¡± But they look clean, and well fed, if not a little battle worn.¡± Michiro replies, as Don tries to turn to get a better look. ¡°Don¡¯t be so obvious ya sea turtle rockhound¡±, the bard hisses at him. Don turns a little more ¡°A & M...I do believe it is something -Math...But don¡¯t hold me to that ¡± Ivy then inhales a quick, startled breath, ¡°they are looking at us! Why? Why are Guildies in here?¡± ¡°Probably recruiting¡± Don says nonchalantly, picking up a piece of Soda-Ash cake, he missed. ¡°Well, no time like the present to go say hello¡± Michiro says as he stands and adjusts his Lute on his back. ¡°No¡­.¡± Ivy whispers and tries to grabs at his hand as he walks by, but the bard ignores both attempts to stop him. ¡°Here comes one...¡± Sonja whispers to Raist as he turns to grab his cup of coffee the bar keep had just sat down in front of him, ¡°Which one?¡± he replies, The Bard¡± Sonja says back as she takes up a loose, yet very obvious attack like stance. Raist rolls his eyes at the subtle shift in his partner¡¯s stance, then turns to see the Bard coming up right in front of him. ¡°Hello Young Guildies, may I buy you a drink?¡± Michiro asks as he comes up to the pair.¡± How did you¡­¡± Sonja starts, and Michiro taps Raist on the shoulder, at the ensigns there. Raist smiles at the rattled looking Kindered, then looks back to Michiro ¡°No thanks Bard, but I do wish to talk to you and your friends. ¡± Michiro bows to both, ¡°Come then, I am sure we would like to hear what you say¡± Chapter 2 Head Mage Damia sits back at the guild base, with something troubling her. She has been feeling uneasy since Sylvar and the rest of the troupe left 2 days ago. It worries her to no end because she cannot put her finger on the uneasiness. She knows that the Guild Portal is down, and the other Mages are working around the clock to fix the huge cracks in the Sapphire stone, and they are close to being done, but that she feels is not the cause of her disconcert. She decides to go to her private study, and to get the Oracle out, and ask it what may be going on, if it is the Darkness getting ready to strike-or Goddess forbid! - a shipment of bad fish getting ready to come in. She starts down the hallway of the lower levels of the Guild¡¯s castle, where all the magic work, and most of the damage was done in the last attack by some unknown Entity of The Dark that was unwittingly let loose by some novice¡¯s un-authorized experiment, Damia could of personal strangled that fool, but sent him packing instead, AFTER Steel ripped him a new one! ¡°I feel for anyone that hires that muddled brained Elf!¡± she thinks to herself as she stops at the doors leading to the Guild Trackstone. The doors are made of Ironwood, and Silver, two stories high, and looks like an Obsidian Rhino should be there to pull or push the door open, But Damia, with the help of the magic bespelled into the wood, pushes open with just a touch of a finger. She walks in, looking for her Allocate, and second in Ranks of the Mages, Boracea and finds her ankle- deep in the Sapphire slurry they have made to fix the cracks in the stone. Damia watches as Boracea takes a small amount of the slurry and touches her Staff to the mix in her hand. She speaks a spell in High Language, and the mix floats gently from her hand, and heads for a crack close to the bottom of the Stone. Boracea then waves her hand in a wiping-on gesture, and the Slurry adheres itself to the crack, and seals to a seamless patch. ¡°Well done Boracea...Well done. I knew that crack was going to be a problem right at the base!¡± The grayed haired Mage says to the Honey Blonde one. Boracea wipes her hand off with the hem of her work robe, and smiles¡± Yes, I was worried about that one too, the rest should be easy, and the trainees should be able to handle the rest¡± Boracea has also felt the uneasiness and has a feeling what Damia is about to go do. ¡°Good, I want you to come with me then Boracea, I have to- ¡°I know, I feel it too Damia,¡± the lesser mage says, ¡°Do you think the Oracle can see anything, it has been having a hard time since the Darkness was released into the Work rooms and all.¡± Damia shakes her head ¡°I am not sure, but I have to see if it can tell us anything about this feeling, we both are having. I am taking it to my study, the room there may be pure enough for it to see.¡± Boracea gives her Mentor a worried look. ¡°Are you sure it is safe enough to leave its room?¡± Damia¡¯s eyes get a hard glint ¡°It is going to have to be, this feeling is getting harder and harder to ignore, I-we- must know what is going on!¡± Boracea bows her head and nods ¡°as you say Damia¡± ****************************************************************************** Sy had been in a melancholy mood ever since he and Steel had parted ways with Sonja and Raist that morning. He always felt like these trips to Wayward was a waste of days, especially now that they couldn¡¯t use the Trackstone to get back quicker -1 or 2 days now turned into 3 or 5, depending on who came with them, and how many boats came in during the time they were in town. Right now, they were looking at a longer stay, but had brought a fairly small party with them, they needed to stock up on supplies that the winter, and the accident / battle had used up. Lil¡¯K needed to make some inquiries into the new parts they needed for 28 Mech¡¯s that got destroyed, a Mages went to the Mage Library, trying to figure out how that elf-what was his name, Frost¡­Lost?- had made such a blunder in that experiment, and how not to have it happen again, And Lady Armina, Key Master, and Rinka were to head out tomorrow morning for medical supplies and to get some supplies trains to head for the Guild in a few weeks, and to get the basics to hold them all over. All totaled,15of the 121 Guild members where along for this trip, the rest were back at the castle, repairing damage, building up the defenses ,and setting all that was broken to rights. The last fight they had against the Astral Guild had come right after the Dark Entity was let loose in the work halls of the guild, and at the worst time! Sy wondered if it wasn¡¯t timed to happen that way. He sighed as he reigned in his Charger form the run, he had the horse in, he loved the feel of the sturdy mount racing along the valley he was in, not far from the camp, it felt like all the cares of being the leader was being left behind as he urged the horse faster, but he knew he could not outrun it, especially if he was constantly thinking of it! And he knew in his heart he could never stop thinking of all the problems, and of the Mighty War that was sure to come. All these little skirmishes against Guild, and sects, that was on The Dark Minnoin¡¯s side, were just a test he felt, of what that mighty battle was sure to be. And he was so afraid that his little guild, even though being blessed by the Priestess of Heavengrace, in the Lungrand woods, was not up to the challenge that was sure to be put in front of them. Sylvar pulled his Charger up by a small stream he had seen coming down the last hill before they found the campsite they always used when they came close to the harbor town. He saw a humanoid looking pile of rocks that was not there the last time they were in the area and smiled ¡°Looks like Steel needed some space too¡± He thought as he jumped off his horse, and put his sword in its saddle scabbard. ¡°Hey Pebble Neck!¡± Sy called out as he walked towards the stream. The Stone man smiled as he turned to face his friend. ¡°Ey Flashy foo-foo-Fairy¡± Steel replied laughing. ¡°I am NOT a fairy; those things don¡¯t even make good Rune Wolf kibble!¡± Steel roared in laughter, ¡°no... And I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t either!¡± Sy picked up a rock and slung it at Steel, who grabbed it, then ate it¡± Not quite Gold¡­¡± Sy laughed and sat down beside the Co-leaderThis story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The guild leader sees that the Stone man has a fishing pole in the water, and a pile of fish in one of two baskets sitting beside him, and a pile of smooth pebbles in the other. He gives Steel a questioning look, and the Stoneman then pulls the pole up with something that looks like a string of the smooth pebbles wiggling on the end of the line ¡°Bespelled fishing line from Damia, catches your fish, and my Rock Bass.¡± He says with a knowing wink. Sy laughs, ¡°I didn¡¯t know your kind ate - umm- fish¡± ¡°Oh yes,¡± Steel says as he takes off the odd-looking thing from the end of the line and holds it out for Sy to see. When the line of rocks settles in his huge hand, Sylvar can see it does looks something like a Bass. ¡°Do you eat them raw?¡± Steel makes a face, ¡°Eww-nooo-Key master has a good way to cook these guys, and burns them to a crisp, with a little lemon, the burnt tastes almost like lava rock!¡± Sy looks away with a frown.¡± What ails you friend?¡± Steel asks, sitting his pole, and the fish down. ¡°Nothing¡­EVERYTHING.¡± Steel looks at him strangely, and Sy sighs.¡± I am just worried is all friend. Worried about the battles yet to come, about our Guild, hell, it seems I am even worried about fish cooking! It is just that...that...I really didn¡¯t ask for all this, to be leader, it was just pushed on to me because I was there when he died, and he handed me the leader¡¯s insignia¡± Sy looks at Steel, why didn¡¯t you take over the guild after Asher was killed? You have tenure, you were here way before me!¡± Steel folds his huge hands in front of his mouth for a few moments as Sy gets himself under control from his outburst. ¡°As for the worry Sy,¡± Steel says after he seems to gather his thoughts.¡± I am right along there with you. I too worry we will not have a full guild, a full fighting force, do you know that the Aftermath Castle can hold over 1650 people, staff, fighter, mages, the whole bunch, comfortably?¡± Sylvar shakes his head. Steel nods, ¡°OH yes, that and more if needed. 121 souls seem to just echo sadly in the halls, and yet, the 121 people we DO have, are some of the strongest, most determined, and fearless I have ever seen SY! They are NOT afraid of hard work, they are NOT afraid of facing any adversity that comes our way, and they would die for Guild, family, and us!¡± Steel looks across the stream as if he is thinking of another time ¡°Yes, Asher was a fine leader, for a Kindered¡± he chuckles¡± And he is the one that got this entire bunch together if you recall. He searched all of the eight realms for the best of the best before the Darkness started to reemerge, and there was less than what we have now.¡± ¡°But that last attack he was in, when the Rouge Sect of Dark Kindered attacked, that took us all by surprise, even Asher, he knew some of the ones that killed him.¡± Yes, I remember that night, that¡¯s when we found Lord G also.¡± Steel nods, ¡°You were there to take over Sy, it was like the Priestess had you in the right place, fighting along beside him when he fell.¡± Sy thinks back of finding the leader before him, with six bodies of dead Dark Kindered laying around him, but with a huge whole in his chest, he remembers kneeling down beside the fallen man, and the man handing him the Golden crest of Aftermath ¡®you will lead them now brave Elf, you and the strong Steel will lead them to victory over the Darkness. Never forget, that aftermath always comes with redemption, ''Na-ti be lac tre power'' Sy still does not know what the very last words meant, but he will never forget any of them. Steel coughs bringing the Warrior elf back to the present. ¡°As for me being the leader, I will let you in on a not ¨Cso- secret-secret, some people think we Stone men are not very bright, that we are only good for Protecting, not following. We do not agree of course, and neither do a lot of others, but I felt it was wise to let you take up leadership, and let ME just sit back and eat my gold, and nudge you in the right way¡± Sylvar smiles at the Huge rock that he gladly calls a friend, and co-leader, ¡®Well, you do have the eating of the Gold right on the money!¡± Steel and Sy roar in laughter together. Don Vito and Ivy watch their friend, and the two strangers walk towards the table they are sitting at. The Kindered was trying to put out an air of calm, but Don could see little spirals of dark blue trying to form along the corners of her eyes. She drew in a deep breath, closed her eyes, seemed to mumble something to herself, and the swirls vanished. Ivy opened them again when she heard Michiro offer the new woman his chair and heard her decline. ¡°We don¡¯t have a lot of time,¡± Sonja says as she stops in between her companion and the Stone man ¡°so I will get right to the point. We need new people for our Guild, Aftermath, and from what I have seen come off the boats so far today, you TWO are the best we are gonna find so far, unless more boats are due in.¡± ¡°Two?¡± Don says as he looks over his friends,¡± there are three of us sitting here.¡± Sonja looks at Ivy, then waves her hand in a dismissive gesture, ¡°We don¡¯t need any more like her.¡± Ivy stares at the other woman in shock. ¡°Then you don¡¯t need any of us Kindered. ¡± Don says as he starts to stand up,¡± we are all together, or none of us at all!¡± Michiro nods his head,¡± Yup, package deal, you can¡¯t split up a package!¡± Raist grabs Sonja by the arm,¡± Excuse us for a moment.¡± He says to the others as he pulls her with him back towards the bar. They get close to the counter, and Sonja jerks her arm out of Raist¡¯s grasp.¡± What!?!?¡± She growls at the human, looking at him like he could be an afternoon snack. Raist ignores the look, ¡°We are here to get as many as we can that want to join, why are you not giving that woman a chance?¡± As Sonja starts to tell Raist an answer, a Mage walks into the bar, walks over to the owner, Charlie, and leans in to tell him something. CLANG CLANG CLANG!! Goes a huge bell at the end of the bar Charlie is standing at to get everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°People, I have just informed we have a huge storm getting ready to come in. No more boats for at least a week, they are saying. You got an hour, maybe two, to get where ya need to be!¡± Raist looks at Sonja, as a lot of the people at the Tavern start to call out to waitress to pay up their tabs. ¡°Look, ya heard him, we have to get back to camp. We take them all and let Sy and Steel figure out what to do with them.¡± Sonja glares back at the three they were talking to, now standing up, and getting their travel packs together. ¡°Fine...¡± she grumbles,¡± I¡¯ll go get the horses, I hope they all have a way to keep up! ¡± As she turns and stalks out of the Tavern, Raist walks back over to the group of 3 they were talking to. ¡°Come on, you¡¯re all in!¡± he says with a cheeriness he really does not feel. Don, and Michiro high five each other, and Ivy lets her breath out that she did not realize she was holding. Capter 3 Lil K watches the darkening sky off to the west with worry. She has been watching it for close to an hour after Mourbius left. ¡°That is gonna be hitting Wayward Harbor in about an hour, if not sooner¡± she thinks,¡± and we are less than an hour away from town, I hope Sonja and Raist are on the way back.¡± She licks her finger, and holds it up to the wind,¡± and then us not long after.¡± She turns as she hears the unmistakable sound of a Mech trudging up the tall hill and smiles to see that it is Gunny riding the machine. ¡°Sali pulchri Namum!¡± The male Dwarf yells up to Lil K when he sees she has spotted him ¡°Sali, meforma- Man.¡± She calls back. The Mech lumbers up to the top of the hill, and the Male Dwarf pulls it alongside of Lil K¡¯s mechanical mount. ¡°I am not ugly!¡± Gunny says to K, then rubs his hand across his nose, then up into his hair. K laughs.¡± And yet, you are lovely.¡± Lil K gives Gunny a grin,¡± That I will agree with.¡± She laughs, and so does he. Gunny looks off towards the west, where K was just looking. ¡°I see we are all going to be getting a bath soon.¡± He says,¡± and me without any soap.¡± Lil K looks again also, ¡°yes, but it doesn¡¯t seem to be Dark-borne¡± ¡°Any sign of Raist and Sonja?¡± Gunny asks, K shakes her head, ¡±No, but I expect soon, with that storm brewing close to town ,I know Sonja doesn¡¯t want to be stuck with him ,and any newcomers they may find in town for any length of time!¡± Gunny nods as he rubs his chin. ¡°Aye, she can be a little testy around more than one person-herself.¡± He chuckles.¡± She isn¡¯t that bad, I like Sonja, granted, she can have a temper, but all in all she is a Kind soul.¡± Lil K replies. Just then, something catches her eye off in a valley about 5 miles away. ¡°Look there Gunny, five people, four on mounts, and a Stoneman running along with them.¡± Gunny gets a telescope from his side pack, then looks the way K is pointing, ¡°Yep that is them, Sonja in the lead! I need to go let Steel, and Sylvar know, about them returning, and the storm on the way.¡± ¡°I will be down after they pass, to make sure no one is following them ¡° K tells him as he climbs back on his Mech. Gunny gives her a thumbs up, and starts down the hill. Lil K watches him for a brief moment, then turns back to the group coming down the valley, ¡°What did ya bring us today.¡± She thinks to the Kindred in the lead, with the others close behind. ****************************************************************************** The hallway Damia was walking was dark and had a faint smell of decaying moss. Feeble light from magical globes flicker as she walks past,¡± I must send someone down here to recharge these¡± She thinks as she passes the globes, and the doors they hang over. She comes to the one she was heading for, a door made of the same Iron wood and silver as the Trackstone doors, the only door like it down this hallway, and a different spell in cased in the wood that only Damia knew. She takes her Silver-plated Staff, with its Moonstone at the top, and waves it barley in front of the door, as she speaks the spell that opens the door. As it opens, brighter globe flairs to light, emulating the only two things in the room, a table, and a small, yet interracially carved maple box. The box¡¯s decorations where actually a binding charm that kept the box sealed until a locket Damia had around her neck was placed in the small indention on top of the box. She picks up the box that weighs nothing and heads out the door and then towards the set of secret stairs on down the hallway that leads to her study.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. When Damia reaches the top of the stairs, she moves a drape that hides the second hidden door to her her study slightly open and nods to herself knowing Boracea is already inside setting up. She looks down at the box in her hands, squares up her shoulders, and walks on into her study. ¡°Ah Damia, there you are!¡± Boracea says as she comes into the room and sets the box down on her desk. ¡°Do you have the extra seals on the windows Boracea?¡± Damia asks as she takes the Locket of Heavegrace from around her neck. Boracea nods, as the other Mage looks her way. Damia gestures to the door, and the Acolyte goes to close it, and then Damia speaks another spell to seal the door. ¡°Are you sure this will hold the Oracle Damia?¡± Boracea asks again, Damia shoots her a look, ¡°You doubt me?¡± she asks. The other Mage holds up her hands,¡± No no ...I am just gun-shy I guess.¡± Damia sighs,¡± that is understandable Boracea, but you must learn a lot of things come with a risk anymore.¡± The younger mage nods her head in agreement. Damia takes the Rose engraved locket and sets in the indention in the box that looks just like it. A small whisper of sound comes from the box as the lid slowly opens, and up lifts a glowing blue orb of light, with dark waves of blue pulsing through it. ¡°Ahh¡± the orb sighs as it lifts higher from the box and slowly twirls around.¡± I see pureness in this room¡± It speaks as it comes to halt. It then floats over to a window, and seems to push against it, ¡°and yet I still cannot leave.¡± The Oracle comes away from the window, and hovers in front of Damia, ¡°I see you still hold the locket, Mage.¡± It says to Damia,¡± Yes Astral Guardian, and I still hold you.¡± She replies to the magic being. It pulses an even darker blue, almost black, then whirls around the room in a dizzying fashion, making Boracea duck as it comes near to her. Damia though, never moves as the Guardian dips and zags around the room, each time coming closer and closer to her head. ¡°NO ONE HOLDS ME!! ¡°The blue orb screams as it flies around, trying to crashing into things, making stuff fall off shelves and tables, trying to break whatever it comes near. Nothing moves but the wind as the thing whips itself into a whirling dervish. ¡°I Hold You, OH Astral Guardian, until the day it is safe for you to return to the stars!!¡± Damia says loudly over the sound of what seems to be a tornado forming in the room, with a bright-as-the-sun center. The Oracle suddenly comes to a complete stop in the highest part of the room. ¡°The Darkness. Yes the Darkness is why I cannot leave, why I cannot go from this world.¡± It says sullenly. ¡°Speak to me of the Darkness Guardian¡± Damia whispers. The globe of light comes to hover in front of her face. ¡°The Darkness is growing, becoming stronger, fouler. It seeks the pure, the innocent, the weak of souls. It wants to swallow all the light and make it black as a demons heart. The Darkness Of All is coming, with its blood-dripping teeth, to tear the very flesh from all that is against it. You have not long to be ready, and your numbers are pitiful, and yet...I see an Inferno in the mix, and with that you may have a chance.¡± The Guardian¡¯s light slowly starts to fade, as it goes to hover over the box,¡± I need to rest Mage, may I sleep now?¡± Damia walks over to the box, and lifts the lid, Yes dear Oracle, rest, and dream of your stars.¡± The Globe of light almost completely goes out as it descends into the box. ¡°The stars¡­. yes...Home¡± It sighs as Damia shuts the box, and removes the locket.