“This area is swarming with Abyssal.”
Anneleigh said with alarm. “We can’t go
through this way.”
Daro Copperthumb smiled at her. “It was an Abyssal Stronghold, yes. I seem to remember you kicking that ball
rolling before you left.”
Anneleigh blushed slightly and hoped her
towering height over the dwarf prevented him from seeing it clearly. “So the Icewatch have taken back the
outpost? So soon?”
“Not completely.” Admitted Daro, “but they
have forced the Abyssal inside. This
pathway from Iron Pine Peak to Stillmoor is now clear.”
As they reached the crest of the hill,
Anneleigh was amazed to see the edge of the snow line. This far north, she had expected Stillmoor to
be an icy desert. The transition from
snow and ice to lush greenery startled her.
As they approached the small village at the
edge of Stillmoor they were hailed by one of the guards.
“Welcome to Stillmoor, traveler. Daro is one of the scouts I’ve sent to
recruit heroes such as you.” The man put
his hand heavily on the dwarfs shoulder.
“ I see you are a Guardian, which makes you doubly welcome to the Order
of Mathos.”
“What is the order of Mathos?” Anneleigh asked, hoping she did not sound
ignorant, but wishing a greater understanding of the chain of command in this
new province.
“When Prince Aedraxis sided with Regulos,
many in the court of Mathosia followed him.
Thus, the Endless Court was born.
These traitors turned our kingdom into a place of horror. The order seeks to rectify this.” He paused and looked at her curiously. “Any Mathosian who wishes to overthrow the
Endless Court is welcome to join us.
Some are descended from knights who rebelled against Aedraxis, though
many others are simply the people of Mathosia who have risen up against the
tyrants.”
“And what of the other free races of
Telara? What if they want to help?”
Anneleigh asked, a little concerned she would be shunned as a lesser race.
“I meant no disrespect, miss.” The guard said. “I speak of Mathosia as a nation, not as a
race. I don’t care what your background
is; we need every Ascended we can rally to defeat the Endless Court.”
Anneleigh breathed a sigh of relief.
“I will leave you here, Anneleigh. You can make it on your own following the
sign posts. A contingent of your people
is camped in Crusader’s Advance, lead by Clark Stamp. Seek him out to learn how you may help.”
Anneleigh took the path to the right and
started down the slope into the valley.
Stretching below her she could see the valley bottom, a large crater
with mountain ridges on all sides. She
continued down the path she found her way into Crusader’s Advance.
“Good to see you, Anneleigh.” Clark Stamp said to her as he shook her
hand. “As an Ascended, I suppose you’ve
been to Stillmoor before.”
Anneleigh shook her head. “Have many of us come to your aid here? I am sorry I was delayed.”
Clark looked at her with concern and took
her hand. “My dear, look around. Does this not look familiar? Think back to the time when Aedraxis called
on the power of Regulos and fractured the ward.
Stillmoor is where the armies of Zareph and Aedraxis Mathos met in
battle. As an Ascended brought back by
the Vigil, you probably fought and died in that battle. I wouldn’t be surprised if your memories were
hazy, however. I hear death can do that
to you.
Anneleigh gasped and became numb as he led
her to the edge of the mountain ledge the camp was perched on. The ruins of Stillmoor stretched out before
them, a land so obviously corrupted by the power of death magic.
“That is the Eye of Regulos,” Clark said as
he pointed her direction to the crater, “where Aedraxis met his brother Zareph
in battle, and the rifts began.
Anneleigh looked closer. The jagged pit was devoid of buildings, but
far from empty. An Endless Court army
teemed along the edges of the crater, allowing groups of mages to descend into
the pit.
“That rift, and Aedraxis’ undoing, marked
the end of the Mathosian War. But since
that time the Endless Court has dominated this land, now called
Stillmoor.” Clark said. “Their current purpose in the Eye is unclear
to us. Our best guess is that they’re
extracting death magic, but eventually, we’ll have to go there and see for
ourselves. For now, however, we need a
better idea of their plans.”
Anneleigh nodded. “What do you have in mind?”
“What we really need is to learn of their
plot before we go in. The Men-At-Arms
may have the answers. We’ll get them one
way or another.”
“Men-at-Arms?” Anneleigh asked. “Aren’t they honor bound to Prince Zareph’s
court?”
Clark laughed. “They sold their honor for the promise of
eternal life. Such villains deserver
whatever justice we decide to mete out.”
He handed her a golden chain. Anneleigh took it and frowned, unsure how the
simple chain would bind an Endless Cultist.
“Don’t look so dubious. This is
Vigil Chain. Capture one of the
Mathosian Men-At-Arms and bring him back here.”
Anneleigh went out into the village. It was crawling with cultists, with their
minions, and with the undead, but by being careful and skirting the edge of the
tree line, she was able to sneak up on one of the fallen soldiers. As she threw the chain around his upper
torso, binding his arms to his chest, the chain pulled tight and glowed with
the light of the vigil.
“Unhand me, Elf.” The Man-At-Arms
spat. “You won’t get away with
this. Don’t you know who my father is?!”
“I don’t see how it matters.” Anneleigh
said as she pulled him towards the camp.
“You dishonor him by choosing Regulos when so many died fighting against
him.”
Anneleigh pulled him to camp and was
directed by Clark to position him on a summoning circle near an altar.
“The guardian priests have been preparing
an altar to summon the Messenger of the Vigil.
They told me that she’ll answer the beckons of an Ascended Soul. No doubt the Man-At-Arms will offer up his
master’s plans in her presence.”
“Kneel, Coward!” one of the guards
commanded as Anneleigh approached the altar.
She knelt before it and called to the messenger.
Laughing, the Man-At-Arms remained
standing. “Bah! You’ll never make me talk, Guardian.”
“But I will.” said a soft lyrical voice
above her. “Behold my glory, mortal.”
“The power of Regulos will save me.” said
the fallen Mathosian. His words were
strong though he sounded a little more shaken than moments before.
There was a great burst of light, and the
prisoner fell to his knees.
“I recant!
My duty is clear, great messenger!” wailed the prisoner. “I can’t take it anymore! Alsbeth is reopening the first rift. Death will flood through all Telara.”
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