[color=#8B814C][center][h2][b]First Chapter, First Part - Revelations[/b][/h2]

[h3]Deep in the Southern Plainslands, Yesterday[/h3][/center][/color]

[i][color=8B8970]Child, love, what is it that you desire?[/color][/i]

[color=6CA6CD]“I want to destroy Denaris. I want to tear him to shreds.”[/color] She spat the words out, Denaris curling off her tongue as if she had tasted something foul.

[i][color=8B8970]Why stop there?[/color][/i]

[color=6CA6CD]“What do you mean?”[/color]

[i][color=8B8970]I said, why stop at Denaris?[/color][/i]

[color=6CA6CD]“What else is there?”[/color]

[i][color=8B8970]The entire world, child.[/color][/i]

Katerina smiled.

[color=6CA6CD]“What do you propose we do, Beoris?”[/color] Her interest was piqued. The campfire crackled softly before her, and some of the bitter edge drained from Katerina’s gaze. The smooth chocolate of Beoris’ voice often had that effect on her. Something to steady her dismal mind no matter the circumstances.

[i][color=8B8970]There has been a shift, my dearest. The dark prophecy that I, along with my brethren had foretold, has at last come to pass. The chosen are being assembled even as I speak.[/color][/i]

Katerina shifted into a comfortable position upon the soft grass of the plains, wrapped snugly in her cloak. Stars twinkled down at her. They seemed friendly on this night. Katerina gazed up at them, her lips upturned into a soft smile. This one was not a life worth casting aside. She and Beoris, alone on the open road, wandering from place to place, masters of their own destiny. But her lord had plans, and after all he had given her, who was she to deny him? She, and she alone, was his champion. Katerina was special. She giggled at the thought. Beoris was all hers, and she was all his. [color=6CA6CD]“Okay, love, tell me,”[/color] Her voice had a lightly musical quality, brushing the space before her in fine strokes. [color=6CA6CD]“I am yours to command. Always yours.”[/color]

Deep in her mind, she heard Beoris chuckle softly, his lovely tones cascading over her mind. [i][color=8B8970]Tomorrow we make for Silverwick. Since our flight from Kalaknos, that is where we have been heading. Now that you have steadied yourself sufficiently, it is high time I relay to you the clear details of my plan, and the entire truth of the events leading to our current circumstances.[/color][/i] Beoris paused, for a single, brief moment. [i][color=8B8970]It was centuries ago that I was called upon by my fellowship to craft the curse that would ensure our return. Through me, our joint powers were channeled into this last, vicious prophecy. The process left me shattered. I was left a miserable husk of my former self, and just like my allies, I was destroyed. What I haven’t told you is that the other eleven have also stirred from their slumbers. It was agreed upon, before the utterance of that terrible curse, that when the day came that our worthy vessels made themselves apparent, we would convene at the site of our greatest triumph.[/color][/i]

[color=6CA6CD]“Silverwick,”[/color] Katerina whispered in awe. 

[i][color=8B8970]Indeed. You are young yet, though no less capable to carry out my grand designs. None of the other eleven deserve your fear. You have my backing, and that is something that sets you apart. Even from the other Legionnaires, you are unique. You are mine.[/color][/i]

[color=#8B814C][center][h2][b]First Interlude - Resurrection[/b][/h2]

[h3]The Plainslands South of Kalaknos, Some Number of Weeks Ago[/h3][/center][/color]

The cart trundled along the filthy road, more mud than dirt at this point. The sickening [i]schlop, schlop[/i] of hooves struggling their way through the grime punctuated the air. Darkness loomed all around the driver, barely kept at bay by the meager lantern affixed to the wagon. The night was unforgiving in its crusade against the light; no moon hung in the sky, and it appeared as if each and every star had blinked itself from existence. Musty and humid as the air was, a fouler stench invaded the nostrils of Denaris Valdi. Piled high in the wain behind him was a stack of corpses. Buzzards circled in lazy arcs overhead. Ever hungry, and ever patient. 

Something stirred from within the mound of remains. The shallow rise and fall of a man’s breast betrayed the heavy presence of death around the corpse cart. Breath seeped in and out through the man’s mouth, whip thin and strained. The carrion birds cawed, as if laughing at the miserable creature beneath them that clung so desperately to life. Bruises covered the man’s half naked form. His face suffered far worse abuse. One eye was completely pulverised, with the other blackish purple and swollen nearly shut. An ugly wound, still red and angry, leaked pus from his neck. Yet despite the abuse his body was burdened with, a wavering ember of life stubbornly remained within the man’s core. And, as that last swollen eye slowly cracked itself open, no more than a thin slit, the fierce cobalt blue peeking out from within was unmistakable. 

The cart shuddered over a gaggle of loose stones, disturbing the balance of the corpses held aloft. The man found himself sliding free, until his leg caught, trapped within the dead heap that had nearly suffocated him. The buzzards cawed once more. Grunting with exertion, the man pulled on his leg, shaky hands grasping around the thigh, yanking with all the severity of a wild animal that would not- could not, allow itself to become another’s meal. He yanked, and yanked, the corners of his vision starting to blacken. Then there was a momentary rush of weightlessness, and the man collapsed face down into the mud. The corpse cart did not stop. 

The buzzards, however, drew closer and closer to the ground, lazily descending. Their cawing was vicious laughter in the man’s mind, as his trembling muscles fought desperately to lift himself from the suffocating pull of the mire. He could not see, could not breathe, and all he heard was the flapping wings of carrion birds come to pick his bones clean. Panicking suddenly, he jerked himself upwards with all his might, freeing himself from breathlessness. Heaving, he greedily sucked in air even as mud and grime spilled from his lips and was scraped from his face in slow, painful motions. 

Knees partially sunk into the mud, arms dangling uselessly at his sides, the man craned his neck upwards, seeing little from the swollen gaze of his left eye. Still, a faint glimmer of hope ensnared itself around his heart. He watched as the buzzards retreated up and away, into the darkness. Slop dripped slowly from between his fingers.

Struggling to his feet, Mikhal Valdi wandered off the road, and blindly into the shadows. Covered from head to toe in bruises, mud, and blood, Mikhal Valdi wept sour tears from the last eye he had. Desolate, miserable, and alone, Mikhal Valdi was alive. 

[color=#8B814C][center][h2][b]First Chapter, Second Part - Ode to the Sun[/b][/h2]

[h3]Approaching Silverwick, Hours Ago[/h3][/center][/color]

The odd duo had been walking for the better part of a day, the sun now beginning its descent below the horizon, like a drop of honey slowly dripping its way back into the jar. Brilliant shades of orange and purple surrounded the yellow orb as it dipped lower and lower, casting golden light over the plains. The grass waved listlessly in the breeze that carried from the distant sea. If it was Beoris that kept Katerina going day to day, the natural beauty enveloping them played at least a small part in making it all worth it. She outstretched her hands to the sun then, and spun around in cheer that had been absent for so very long. [color=6CA6CD]“Goodnight sun! I will see you again on the morrow, don’t doubt this! And what a day it shall be!”[/color] Laughter bubbled up from her throat then, clear and mirthful into the warm evening air. 

[i][color=8B8970]Good, child, good! That’s the bright hearted girl I watched grow up for all those years. Mayhaps she is here to stay?[/color][/i]

Katerina’s cheeks flushed, and then she sighed contentedly. A small smile flickered across her face. [color=6CA6CD]“I shouldn’t think so. The sun is just... such a lovely sight.”[/color] She sighed again, the smile fading from her face. [color=6CA6CD]“We still have more ground to cover. I was hoping to reach Silverwick before nightfall. Tell me a story?”[/color] 

A chuckle. [i][color=8B8970]Very well. There was once a boy, made entirely of wood, that desired more than anything to become a real human of flesh and blood. To this end, the boy struck a pact with a dark sorceress...[/color][/i] 

[color=#8B814C][center][h2][b]Second Interlude - The Empire’s Finest[/b][/h2]

[h3]A Missive Sent to the Imperial Court, Received Several Days Ago[/h3][/center][/color]

[color=#8B8386][i]My Lord Inquisitor,

As I have detailed in previous reports, I harbored suspicions regarding the younger Valdi girl, suspicions that extended to the family as a whole. What terrible circumstances lead to the demise of Lord and Lady Castris? And what truth lay within the rumors surrounding Katerina Valdi’s birth? I can say now with absolute certainty that Katerina is a fellchild, with the rest of the family guilty of knowingly harboring such a creature. At worst, they too are practitioners of dark aethercraft.

Gloriana Valdi had spent the most time with her younger sister, frequently interacting with the creature. My visits to the household revealed the two enjoyed each other’s company on a largely frequent basis. Be it lessons or play, the two were undeniably close. If Katerina confided her secret to anyone within the household, her sister would be the most likely suspect. Unfortunately, upon storming the Valdi household, Gloriana and her sister vanished without a trace. Subsequent search parties revealed no clues as to the whereabouts of either Valdi sister. I assume the two are traveling together, on the run, even as I write this. There is also a chance that the two have separated as well. I advise extreme caution when engaging Gloriana, for the fear that she too may be fell in nature. 

Mikhal Valdi is perhaps even more suspicious than Gloriana. When I confided in him my intents on how to deal with Katerina, Mikhal was quick to anger. He fervently denied my accusations, and was gripped by a terrible rage when I remained unmoved by his protests. Additionally, I have more troubling news to add. I took it upon myself to take the deceased servants and members of the manor far away from Kalaknos, so that I could dispose of them without incident. While casting the corpses into the fire, there was no mistaking Mikhal’s absence from the cart. Either he is an extremely lucky man, or, as terrifying as it may sound, a gravewalker. I pray that my fears here are unfounded. 

Katerina Valdi herself I have certain proof of her shadowy nature. The truth is simple enough. While storming the manor, Katerina revealed herself to me, just long enough to cast a very tangible curse upon my person. She said: “Uncle, this day you may have won, but I swear to all Gods beneath me and above, I will return to burn you and yours, as is my behove!” I still hear her dark work crying out at me in my sleep. If she is truly a fellchild, myself and all that I hold dear is in grave danger. 

With this knowledge now at your capable disposal, I humbly request for an official bounty to be placed upon all three Valdi siblings. Additionally, I suggest that the empire’s finest enforcers be sent out to search for these threats. 

I smell a storm coming on the horizon.

[right]Ever your faithful servant,

Court Inquisitor Denaris Valdi[/right][/i][/color]

[color=#8B814C][center][h2][b]First Chapter, Third Part - The First Step[/b][/h2]

[h3]Silverwick, Present[/h3][/center][/color]

Thick, gnarled trees curled out from the tightly packed ground like crooked, reaching fingers. The moonlight shining down from above was absorbed in its entirety into the terrible, black bark coating the miserably twisted claws. Clumps of dead or dying grass lay scattered about the stark landscape. The ground, black and gray like soot and ash, was a largely flat expanse, pockmarked by thin, jagged boulders. In the distance, the fallen city loomed. This was a grim place, dark and corrupt in its nature. Katerina swallowed nervously, teeth working away at her lower lip. [color=6CA6CD]“Home… sweet… home?”[/color]

[i][color=8B8970]The darkness that swallowed this place was a glorious sight to behold. ‘Tis good to see that time has left my- the triumph of myself and my brethren, unchanged. You have nothing to fear here, child. Silverwick is a dead place.[/color] [/i]

Katerina swallowed again, and slowly released her lip from between her sharp incisors. [color=6CA6CD]“And, the others? Are they… present?”[/color] 

[i][color=8B8970]I do not sense them yet, though I must expect they are to arrive soon. Within hours at the least, a few days at the most. We will not have to wait long. Take heart, love. At long last, the mutual destinies of we twelve Legionnaires and our twelve chosen champions begin to intertwine. You and I have a great role to play in the events to come. Of this, I am certain.[/color][/i]

That remark, at least, had steadied Katerina’s nerves. [color=6CA6CD]“I’ll set up a camp, then. It’s no sun, but a fire is sure to offer some degree of comfort.”[/color]