Topic: Searching for the Crystal Tower

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2015-02-14 14:29 EST
The Southern Glen, about mid-day or so.



It had been a good while since he'd been this way, "Damn?"

His eyes panned the area with a rather distinctive scrutiny as he made his way from the east, towards the western end of the Glen that opened up to the lake. "I swear, no matter how much time goes by, this is one of the few places that never changes."

His eyes lifted to the sky, making note of the seemingly wondrous weather, despite what the rest of the realm had been facing in regards to the winter season. A cool breeze whipped through the area, causing branches to rustle and grass to sway, not to mention a faint smile on that face of his, as he found himself enjoying its effects as well, not to mention the thought of bringing Jenai and girls back here for a picnic, sometime soon. But that was something that would have to wait for another time, because as it stood—-Brian was not here for recreation at all.

He was here for what Kerri would call, "Da Bid"ness".

The small pack, slung over his right shoulder was slid off as he neared what looked to be a somewhat traveled trail, of sorts. His eyes panned the area once more, his hand working the clasp of said pack. "At least it isn't so active, right now?"

Fishing around inside the pack a bit, he pulled the artifact that had been given to him by Scion, all those months ago. The sentiment of the rather interesting being coming to mind, while his eyes looked over the piece with a careful scrutiny. "If I ever lose control, use this?"

A soft sigh escaped Brian, "Wonder how many times, that's been said to me, actually."

Thoughts of some of those times came to mind, as he continued to examine the artifact.

Emma, Renna, Jacyn, Rei, and others as well"

Each of them has asked in different manners, yet the sentiment was in fact the same. Should they ever lose control, they wanted him to be the one to end it. As to why, he couldn't even begin to say. It just was, what it was and that was about the whole of it. Twice he had done as asked, the first being Renna, the second was Jacyn, both were what literally was a lifetime ago for Brian, who was a very different soul back then.

Some of others however, hardly went as originally planned"

Which brought him back to the matter at hand, Scion.

Truth be told, Brian did not know as much of the being as he would have liked. That aside, he still had enough encounters over the last few years to have an understanding that what Scion had asked of him, was not asked lightly by any measure. To add to that understanding was the fact, that the artifact Brian had in hand"the very thing Scion had given him, had been dormant since day one.

That is, until a few days ago.

Which was about the same time, that a field report had been delivered to Brian, courtesy of Garet, who had been on an assignment for the Onyx Lotus.

Brian, "M' thought you may find this interesting. Enclosed are some photos taken from a distance, as we haven't been able to get any closer. Why she'd have me send this to you, I don't know. But here it is, so get back to me when you can. Tell Jen and the kids, hi from me too. ~ Garet

The photos enclosed were of what looked to be a rather sizable tower, which on close examination looked to be crystalline"at least on the outside. From the point of origin in regards to the photos, showed the photo-taker to be a few miles away at best. Which made Brian wonder, why they couldn't get any closer. So Brian had some resources from the 27th pulled, in order to give said photos another once over'save this time, they'd use their own tech.

Snapped back to the here and now, Brian looked to the artifact once more, which was once more pulsing—- almost as if it were a heart beating. Just as it had done before, a few days past.

And strange as it seemed, the artifact seemed to pulse stronger when it had been set in particular directions. Which is what had brought Brian here, today.

Lifting it to the air, he turned in various directions gauging each response carefully.

"Tell me, where to go' Hmm?"

To be continued

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2015-02-17 12:04 EST
He turned, again and again. Each time however, he remained still for a longer period of time in an effort to truly gauge the response of the artifact accordingly.

Which for some reason, began to take longer and longer.

"Alright, this is new" Let's try something else, then."

His free hand pulled a cord from the pack, as he began to carefully wrap it about the artifact. A few moments later, it was secured and tied off with a sizable loop and slipped about his neck to allow the artifact to hang like some type of charm from a necklace. Then a small note pad was fished out of the pack, as Brian went to work making a rather crude map of where he was, with notations for each direction as well.

Another glance was taken about the area, then it was down that somewhat traveled path he'd come to a stop at, earlier.

He was headed in a western direction, then a shift to the south a bit. Noted were quickly jotted down, specifically landmark notations. Also noted was the fact that he'd not had a real reaction from the artifact, as he moved. Yet for some reason, he felt this was the way to go. So that's exactly what he did, as he continued to wind his way along the path, which looked to become far less noticeable, the further along he went. "The girls would love this."

Fortunately the stream made a damned good reference point, since his path ran parallel to it for the most part. So if were sincerely lost, he'd have some back up plan in regards to his back tracking.

A subtle shift in terrain caused him to pause, "Elevation?" Notes were quickly jotted down, making sure to be exact where he believed himself to be, coupled with a shift of foliage to better catch sight of that stream once more, which most assuredly was lower than he last recalled. "Hmm, okay then."

Then it was back to hoofin" it for Brian, who went about 20 or so feet and then" "!?"

Coming to a dead stop, he lifted the artifact towards the direction he faced. And again? "!?"

Another pulse, a strong one no less.

Quickly, he backed a step. "Another one" weaker."

A step forward, "Damn."

It was solid, alright. Quickly, he jotted down where he was on that map of his and then just to be sure, he shifted direction to note reactions. "Gotcha."

There it was again, same direction as the stronger pulses.

So that's the direction he headed, southwest. The elevation grew, the further along he went as the path also seemed to wind a bit to the south now, yet the incline remained. And that path, now began to look more like a path again?in fact, he looked to be something crafted, stone plates in the ground, which was noted as well"mentally however, as Brian began to pick up his pace.

Once more, the artifact pulsed'seemingly it felt more of a pull, than a pulse now. So much so, that Brian noticed it, and yet couldn't relent that stride of his. So much so, that he ignored the wall of branches that were in his way, opting instead to plow through them.

Which of course caused him to lose his balance, thus crashing to the ground in a good bit of a tumble.

Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his feet finding himself before a pair of large stones. Each stood about 7ft or so in height and about 4ft in width, they were also quite weathered, yet looked solid as all get out. Despite the impressive build of each, or the fact that Brian found himself on some sort of natural balcony that overlooked the lake which was about 75ft below, he seemed to fixated on something else entirely.

Something between the stones that were right in front of him, yet looked to be so far away. Almost as if he were looking through a dirty window, of sorts.

Again the artifact pulsed strongly, the "window" before him reacted in kind, by shimmering—- almost as if it were focusing.

Brian's eyes narrowed the more so, as what was before him became all the clearer now. It was" "A tower?"

Not just a tower—- but the very tower that had been pictured by Garet's associates. The distance was farther, however. Yet it seemed all the more clear. Brian could make out the something else too' What looked to be remnants of something"

"A city—- ruins?"

Quickly, he located his pad and began to write down what was seeing. Hastily done were the notes, but there'd be time for a more detailed version later. Back from the pad to the "window" he glanced, all the while jotting note after note.

And then it all went black"

Garet

Date: 2015-02-18 09:36 EST
2 hours later



"How is he?"

"He should be fine, we just need to allow things time to run their course."

"I still can't understand why he'd be all the way out there."

"What is there to understand" He was where he was supposed to be, it's as simple as that."

"Is it really that simple, my Lady?"

"Specifically in this instance, yes it is. We had sent him the photographs, he was interested and of course went to investigate. Then he was located and brought here by our people, safe and sound I might add."

"Things are rarely that simple, when it comes to you."

"Garet, my sweet Garet. You make it sound as if that were some sort of horrid thing. If I were any less of a being, I would almost be offended. Fortunately, I am not."

"You know what I meant, Myllyanna."

"I do my dear, which is why I smiled."

"That was a smile" It looked rather sardonic."

"I believe your powers of deduction are as astute as ever my hand, It believe it was an appropriate expression, given the moment."

?"??"

"Garet, are you well" Should we have you checked to make sure whatever befell Lord Ravenlock here isn't spreading?"

"Oh I'm fine, my Lady. But you already knew that, same as the fact that you repeatedly leave me wordless from time to time."

"Careful, my Garet. We aren't alone, you know."

"Alright, then. Let's talk of the notations Brian here took, Myllyanna."

"Very well, but we will continued our prior discussion at a later juncture, my Garet. However, back to the matter at hand for you and I. That is the same structure, that your men had photographed is it not?"

"Yes it is, Myllyanna. However, we did not have sight of what else he noted here. These"ruins right here, along with the designs here and here. They almost look like some type of a crest, or perhaps a coat of arms" I will be headed to our library, to see if I may find anything that may shed some light."

"Very good, then. What of these other things here, what look to be stacks of books" Garet, that large book there" it looks to be a tome of sorts. What did he write there on the cover and that notation next to it?"

"It looks to say' wait, let me use this. Alright, better. Hmm, 'soZ suxeV" or "Vexus?"

"Zos" Vexus Zos, Garet. That's what I believe we need to look into, given what Lord Ravenlock transcribed here."

"You act like you know that name. So given that, I believe you know where I may begin my search?"

"The Alexandros Empire, my Garet. We begin there"and as to the artifact here, keep it close to Lord Ravenlock. That's where it needs to be."

"How so?"

"Because my Garet, that's what it asked of us."

"Understood, Myllyanna."

"He will wake soon, I have things to tend to as well, such as letting his wife know he is alright and with us."

"If possible, can you leave out the part of him falling into the lake below?"

"If possible.?

Brian Ravenlock

Date: 2015-03-01 18:57 EST
A few moments later, after Myllyanna had left the room. " "Ugh?" " "Welcome back, Brian. Just stay still for a few, alright." " "M"head" Damn. Garet, that you? Friggin" head's killin" me." " "Well, you did black out there for a bit, along with a fifty foot or so drop in that lake." " "I was in the Glen...wait a lake?"

"A lake, indeed. We fished you out fairly easy enough. Actually, it was a rather impressive fall, Brian. One of your better ones, to be sure."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. In any event, just relax there and try some of that tear when you're able to, it'll help a lot."

Brian nodded softly to Garet, "Thanks again, Garet."

"Hey, don't worry about it. Besides I owed you one from the last Yuletide, no?"

"Heh, so she liked it?"

"No, she didn't."

"She didn't Garet?"

"No, she didn't like it....she loved it."

Brian managed to sit upright, that cup of tea now in hand as he sipped slowly. "This is good man, thanks again. And, I told you, didn't I?"

"You did, in fact. However that doesn't allow you to look so smug while drinking tea that's helping to shake off that header you took."

"Well ^&%$ then, guess it really wasn't so impressive after all."

"It was impressive, Brian. You missed pretty much everything that would have made it a fatal fall, on top of the fact you didn't loose that little trinket of yours, either." Another sip of the tea was taken, as Garet's words stirred a realization in Brian. A string of curses let loose from the man, as he set the mug down and then went to searching himself rather hastily. "My notes! Ack, my clothes!" This is— silk— a yukata" Wait, I'm not ho— I'm in..." Brian's eyes looked to Garet with a sincere look of worry, "Garet, please tell me we're not in his place, are we?"

"His place?" asked Garet with a puzzled expression.

"Garet, I'm in a silk yukata with no underwear on, drinking herbal tea and top of that I smell sweet jasmine as well—-"

"Really, Brian' I mean, really' You think of all the places we'd bring you to recoup, before seeing Jen, it would be the love hotel that belongs to the 'Dragon of the South'?"

"Garet..."

"Brian really, we're in the Lotus. Myllyanna was just here, before you woke up. She's getting word sent to Jen, and your clothes are being taken care of too."

"She won't tell Jen, I took a header will she?"

"She'll try, I promise. I the mean time, let's talk about the tower. We recovered your notes and your sketches, I believe it's the same place that we photoed, but you saw something else. Those ruins, there."

Garet motioned to the notebook next to Brian, "We didn't take anything out, it's all there. Myllyanna thinks it's something to do with 'Alexandros'."

Calming more so, Brian nodded to his nephew. That mug of tea taken in hand again and sipped, "I heard that."

"You heard Mylly and I talking?"

"No, Garet I heard that when I saw the city. A voice called out to me, just before everything went black."

"Then it seems Brian, we've some research to do, yes?"

"Yeah, but—- I'd like my clothes first. Personally, I don't want to be floating around the Lotus commando, that's just bad form."

The Forsaken Ruler

Date: 2015-03-04 21:26 EST
"Just now....Was that?"

Though his was an undoubtedly calm demeanor, the sheer chill that ran down the back of the erstwhile magic knight as his body bore witness to the stark shift in the land's aether wasn't something he could pretermit, nor was the curiosity that overcame him in the same instant. The heavy, magicked burden that was the mail he sported began to resonate with an uncomfrtably familiar gleam. Magic seeped from the plate's enchanted linings and ebbed forth through the Glen, as if to beckon its wielder toward the point of interest that had it encapasulated. No longer bound even by his antiquated sense of etiquette, he ambled off in the direction of the aetherial anomaly, adamant in his desire to see his restlessness quieted forthwith.

In time, his hurried steps saw him reaching the same clearing that the scholar had some while prior. Immediately, his mind was racing, having been sent careening into the reservoir of memories associated with the pillar-like stones he observed before him. The sudden influx was enough to bring a lesser man a knee; however, in his case, all he suffered was some intense mental anguish.

"What....What manner of trickery be this"! I..."

He soon silenced himself, as the more his ruby gems fixed upon the crystalline stoneworking, the more he came to realize the magnanimous reason for their being. This was it! Moments passed amidst his bout of reverie and summary epiphany before his arm extended in the direction of the improvised threshold. All at once, the gems sprang to life with a sort of pulsing energy that rivaled magicks of the more (in)famous mages of this Realm. A brilliant array of light eclipsed the clearing as the dimensional barrier gave up its ensorceled concealment and the obfuscation spell bisected, falling away. And lo, there stood the massive spire off in the distance. Something seemed unusual about it, though...

"This cannot be. Wha— What's been done here...?"

Before the displaced despot lay an utterly beguiling scene. The ruins were beset by a terrible shroud of dark clouds, naught able to be observed above the newly-formed black sea. Small arcs of lightning erupted from the fallen city-state's surface, tinging the black miasma with dynamic violet hues. Had he not known better, he'd have mistaken the place for the Eurekan Dreadlands themselves. Someone had tainted his seal on the city and infested it with a plague unlike any he'd ever seen or could fathom: someone he must have known or met with at one point or another. He was the only one who knew the proper incantation and conditions in which to cast it.

Then, it hit him....He had died before, or rather, he'd experienced near-death prior to halting time and isolating his forgotten kingdom. Someone had sought to slay him, and in doing so must have been the one to unravel the peace of the land shortly thereafter. That person was the source of this tragedy. Enraged by the betrayal, he drew away his eyes, setting about on his way elsewhere. The last energy signature he'd sensed in this hidden clearing was not all that far off; and he would impose the legendary ire of his Ancient lineage upon the fool that had wronged his people, along with anyone who considered it a profitable concept to hinder his advance. The violator would know wrath Alexandrian.