It had been several days since the imp had started the search on Vorcet's behalf. Vorcet had not been idle, he had done is own searching in tandem for more people that understood his view on things. Demosthenes had always been a loyal friend and trusted person within both Kossuth's church, and the Crimson Guardians. He was whole heartedly dedicated to whatever purpose life had for him at any given time. A perfect person to help Vorcet with finding others.
The Imp's reports had brought in several promising bits of information. Vorcet intended to seek those people out and chat with them as well. In the end There needed to be enough people to be able to watch the goings on of the world from all angles, to gather information, and to interpret it appropriately.
The followers of the elemental gods and goddesses made perfect candidates. All of them have a distinct interest in maintaining the balance. Without it even their element would become a victim of the impending disasters as had already happened. Mystra's followers were also prime targets. One of the earliest teachings a wizard recieves was of the balance involved in the weave and magic itself.
One by one he would gather people and create the network of people needed to keep eyes on things accross the globe. It would take time, but time was something Vorcet had in excess. However his first priority was to find Demosthenes.
Reunion
Vorcet found himself suddenly uncomfortable sitting in the leather chair and started to pull himself upright to stand when Elbryan chuckled, obviously amused at Vorcet's sudden discomfort. "How long have you been using this office in my absence? Ten years by now I would immagine."
"Give or take." Vorcet says guardedly before settling back into the chair.
"I've no intention of reclaiming whats mine old friend." Elbryan said "Besides, I've grown to like the freedom."
"It would have been nice to have your guidance occasionally while I was holding your church together." Vorcet said bitterly.
"Was it such a hardship?" Elbryan asked suddenly serious. "Did you think I would leave you unprepared to lead? From where I stand you did a perfectly good job leading until the end of all of the churches. What would my presence have done other than undermine your authority?"
"Still, I am not you. You and Atandella were the church." Vorcet replied. Some of the irritation leaving his voice.
"We were leading the church in a time of war. War is something I know intimately. With the Istishian church all but destroyed, Kossuth's followers needed someone a bit less.... violent. The war was never about destroying the Istishian church entirely. They would have thrown the elements into turmoil with their plans. We simply restored that balance."
The two old friends looked at eachother for a while accross the desk. "So in the end it all came down to restoring balance." Vorcet stated
"I see you no longer wear your Insignia from the Guardians." Elbryan said.
"I learned something with the destruction of the the old churches and organizations." Vorcet said thoughtfully. "We had failed our intended function in the end. We had set our focus on the petty squables of the churches. And while we were watching that, the insane followers of the Rok plotted and planned. Had we been watching the whole picture we would have seen that the there was balance to the petty bickering of the old churches. It all seemed pointless at times, but its like a forrest fire. It seems such a terrible thing to happen, until you see the new life it creates after the fact."
"It sounds like you have your direction now." Elbryan says.
"I do." Vorcet responds. "Ive got someone doing some research for me."
Elbryan nods slowly and turns to leave, "Ill be in the area a bit longer should you need anything. And one last thing, You need to find a better hiding place for your phylactery. Keeping it around your neck is reckless in the extreme."
A dumbfounded Vorcet watches Elbryan walk out as his hand makes it's way to the gem hanging from a chain on his chest.
"Pretty crafty.... for a corpse." Vorcet whispers to himself.
"Give or take." Vorcet says guardedly before settling back into the chair.
"I've no intention of reclaiming whats mine old friend." Elbryan said "Besides, I've grown to like the freedom."
"It would have been nice to have your guidance occasionally while I was holding your church together." Vorcet said bitterly.
"Was it such a hardship?" Elbryan asked suddenly serious. "Did you think I would leave you unprepared to lead? From where I stand you did a perfectly good job leading until the end of all of the churches. What would my presence have done other than undermine your authority?"
"Still, I am not you. You and Atandella were the church." Vorcet replied. Some of the irritation leaving his voice.
"We were leading the church in a time of war. War is something I know intimately. With the Istishian church all but destroyed, Kossuth's followers needed someone a bit less.... violent. The war was never about destroying the Istishian church entirely. They would have thrown the elements into turmoil with their plans. We simply restored that balance."
The two old friends looked at eachother for a while accross the desk. "So in the end it all came down to restoring balance." Vorcet stated
"I see you no longer wear your Insignia from the Guardians." Elbryan said.
"I learned something with the destruction of the the old churches and organizations." Vorcet said thoughtfully. "We had failed our intended function in the end. We had set our focus on the petty squables of the churches. And while we were watching that, the insane followers of the Rok plotted and planned. Had we been watching the whole picture we would have seen that the there was balance to the petty bickering of the old churches. It all seemed pointless at times, but its like a forrest fire. It seems such a terrible thing to happen, until you see the new life it creates after the fact."
"It sounds like you have your direction now." Elbryan says.
"I do." Vorcet responds. "Ive got someone doing some research for me."
Elbryan nods slowly and turns to leave, "Ill be in the area a bit longer should you need anything. And one last thing, You need to find a better hiding place for your phylactery. Keeping it around your neck is reckless in the extreme."
A dumbfounded Vorcet watches Elbryan walk out as his hand makes it's way to the gem hanging from a chain on his chest.
"Pretty crafty.... for a corpse." Vorcet whispers to himself.
The Beginning (Part 3)
Mysteri put Serenity on the ground in a distant forest. "Run Serenity. Run as fast as you can. Find her. Find Jaica. Now is the time. You are ready." Serenity looked at Mysteri and nodded. She looked into the sky and saw that the dragons were fleeing with their half-orc companions as well. Mysteri said "When you return with Jaica, we will return and battle with you both. We will prepare, but you must find her. Go...go now Serenity! Remember who you are, where you came from!" And with that, Mysteri flew into the sky and disappeared. Serenity only had a battered backpack with her, that she carried everywhere in case she wanted to train, and the clothes on her back. Serenity ran and ran. Tears streamed down her face as she thought of her parents, but she knew she could never forget. She stroked the locket around her neck and looked down at her bracelet. "Always Remember Serenity." "I will" she thought to herself.
The Beginning (Part 2)
Serenity, however, grew to be a very mature, caring and wise child. She befriended a dragon by the name of Mysteri. Mysteri allowed Serenity to learn the knowledge of the dragons and helped train her. She could tell that Serenity was going to become a very special, wonderful adult because she was already such a wonderful, kind child. Serenity was not a weak child, but she did not use her strength to bully other children. She was very kind, but that did not mean that she would do everything someone asked her. She had a powerful will and a strong sense ofjustice. Mysteri told Serenity after her second year of training, that when the time came, Serenity had to find a half-orc by the name of Jaica. "She is the key to the freedom of these lands. She is the key to peace and serenity." "Why can't I go now? I'm ready. We can stop all this suffering now" said Serenity. Mysteri shook her head. "My dear, you're still too young. There is much for you to learn. You will know when your time has come to find her."
Four years later, after a day of training with Mysteri, she was given a golden locket from her parents on her 12th birthday with a grass bracelet. The bracelet said "Always Remember Serenity". Her mother smiled at her and said "You've grown up to be a wonderful young lady. We love you so much." Her father picked her up and gave her a bear hug. He said "My dear daughter, please always remember to find serenity in your life, no matter how dark the hour. That is our dearest wish for you, my love." Serenity smiled and said "Of course I will. Always I will remember." The following day, a half-orc named Kryton who was a general for Rikorf's army, came to the village and declared "Your time has come to an end. The king wished for the dragon's secrets, but the dragons refuse. You all will now pay the price." Kryton and his men started thrashing the village and destroying everything, and everyone, in their path. Serenity saw her parents murdered before her eyes. Kryton smirked at Serenity, who, despite witnessing her parent's death, did not show fear. She was in emotional pain, yes that is true, but she was not afraid. She only had anger from the injustice of destroying the innocent village. Kryton lifted his sword, about to swing it to kill Serenity, when all of a sudden something grabbed Serenity by her shirt and she was suddenly flying in the air. Kryton screamed in fury at the loss of his prey.
Four years later, after a day of training with Mysteri, she was given a golden locket from her parents on her 12th birthday with a grass bracelet. The bracelet said "Always Remember Serenity". Her mother smiled at her and said "You've grown up to be a wonderful young lady. We love you so much." Her father picked her up and gave her a bear hug. He said "My dear daughter, please always remember to find serenity in your life, no matter how dark the hour. That is our dearest wish for you, my love." Serenity smiled and said "Of course I will. Always I will remember." The following day, a half-orc named Kryton who was a general for Rikorf's army, came to the village and declared "Your time has come to an end. The king wished for the dragon's secrets, but the dragons refuse. You all will now pay the price." Kryton and his men started thrashing the village and destroying everything, and everyone, in their path. Serenity saw her parents murdered before her eyes. Kryton smirked at Serenity, who, despite witnessing her parent's death, did not show fear. She was in emotional pain, yes that is true, but she was not afraid. She only had anger from the injustice of destroying the innocent village. Kryton lifted his sword, about to swing it to kill Serenity, when all of a sudden something grabbed Serenity by her shirt and she was suddenly flying in the air. Kryton screamed in fury at the loss of his prey.
The Beginning
Far, far away from the city of Westbridge, deep inside the forests...lay a small series of villages surrounding a large lake. These villages had no ruler, but worked together in harmony and peace. One day, an evil wizard found these series of villages and quickly overtook them. He named himself ruler and declared "I, Rikorf, will rule these lands. Any who dare oppose me, shall die a slow and painful death." Though many brave warriors banded together to fight Rikorf, they all died an immediate death. Rikorf was too powerful. For years, he used his power to recruit the strongest villagers to protect him. The weakest villagers, he used as servants and for entertainment. Rikorf treated the human race like scum, the lowest class, and all other races were just barely better. Despair, evil and poverty became the very core of these villages. Existence without these three things become impossible.
It was to one of these villages that Serenity came into the world. Serenity's parents had hoped that when their baby was born, there would be peace again amongst the villages. However, since it was the worst part of history for the villages, they only wanted one thing: for their daughter to have serenity. So, when their beautiful baby girl was born with her tuft of black hair and her father's sky blue eyes, they named their daughter Serenity, in hopes that she will find and have serenity in her life. The village of Lyika was a village where mystical dragons taught and trained the half-orcs everything they knew and learned from their long lives after proving themselves to a dragon. That dragon would become their teacher and companion. Human's had lost the privilege due to their consistent behavior in revealing the secrets of the dragons to others who had not earned the right in exchange for money.
It was to one of these villages that Serenity came into the world. Serenity's parents had hoped that when their baby was born, there would be peace again amongst the villages. However, since it was the worst part of history for the villages, they only wanted one thing: for their daughter to have serenity. So, when their beautiful baby girl was born with her tuft of black hair and her father's sky blue eyes, they named their daughter Serenity, in hopes that she will find and have serenity in her life. The village of Lyika was a village where mystical dragons taught and trained the half-orcs everything they knew and learned from their long lives after proving themselves to a dragon. That dragon would become their teacher and companion. Human's had lost the privilege due to their consistent behavior in revealing the secrets of the dragons to others who had not earned the right in exchange for money.
A Late Night Stroll : The Note (Part 3)
The note was written with sloppy, boxy letters:
I have committed several murders, though my recent murder occurred just yesterday. To find the woman I killed and the details involved, please speak with Serenity Kaze or the Order of the Radiant Heart.
Suddenly, the writing in the note changes to a cursive:
Those of evil intention with a heart plagued with hate beware...If you do not renounce your evil ways, then you will deal with us soon enough and you might not be as lucky as this man here.
-The Order of the Radiant Heart
I have committed several murders, though my recent murder occurred just yesterday. To find the woman I killed and the details involved, please speak with Serenity Kaze or the Order of the Radiant Heart.
Suddenly, the writing in the note changes to a cursive:
Those of evil intention with a heart plagued with hate beware...If you do not renounce your evil ways, then you will deal with us soon enough and you might not be as lucky as this man here.
-The Order of the Radiant Heart
A Late Night Stroll (Part 2)
The man smirked and said "You'll never know my name. But that doesn't matter because you won't live to see this night through anyway." "An empty threat" smirked Serenity. "You won't be able to fight your way through the four of us. Now," Serenity glared at him "Why did you kill that woman in the alleyway? If you don't answer, you'll only suffer and will be begging us for a swift death." Psycho stepped toward the man, and there was a flicker of fear that ran through the man's eyes as he looked at the black flames that surrounded Psycho, and said "You will tell us what we want to know. Or you will suffer. Slowly. Painfully."
The man cowered in fear and shouted "Fine! I'll tell you this! That lady was just a job! I was hired to eliminate her, but for what reason, I don't know!" "Who hired you?" said Serenity, tightening the roots that bound him and then releasing them ever so slightly. The man gasped for air and said "Rikorf! His name is all I know of him." His voice rose in panic "If I knew more, I'd tell you lady, but I don't. It was done secretly. All I can tell you, is that this man who hired me was obviously powerful and rich. He pulled some strings. He brought me out of retirement. I quit doing this a few years ago. I tried to play it straight. But the platinum he offered was too much to resist! Now please, can I go?"
Crovax, Psycho, Draven and Serenity all exchanged looks with one another. Crovax said "We never said anything about letting you go. Didn't you hear Psycho the first time? There are consequences to your actions."
The following morning, the sun shone brightly upon Westbridge. Though it was quite early, there was a crowd at Market Square. Tied to the bench, his mouth gagged and a note pinned to the front of his hat was a man with a scar underneath his jawline with four Vectorian Cityguard's glaring down at him. The man seemed severely battered, his clothes torn and dotted with splotches of blood.
The man cowered in fear and shouted "Fine! I'll tell you this! That lady was just a job! I was hired to eliminate her, but for what reason, I don't know!" "Who hired you?" said Serenity, tightening the roots that bound him and then releasing them ever so slightly. The man gasped for air and said "Rikorf! His name is all I know of him." His voice rose in panic "If I knew more, I'd tell you lady, but I don't. It was done secretly. All I can tell you, is that this man who hired me was obviously powerful and rich. He pulled some strings. He brought me out of retirement. I quit doing this a few years ago. I tried to play it straight. But the platinum he offered was too much to resist! Now please, can I go?"
Crovax, Psycho, Draven and Serenity all exchanged looks with one another. Crovax said "We never said anything about letting you go. Didn't you hear Psycho the first time? There are consequences to your actions."
The following morning, the sun shone brightly upon Westbridge. Though it was quite early, there was a crowd at Market Square. Tied to the bench, his mouth gagged and a note pinned to the front of his hat was a man with a scar underneath his jawline with four Vectorian Cityguard's glaring down at him. The man seemed severely battered, his clothes torn and dotted with splotches of blood.
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