CHAPTER VII

A fate forged with fire

The room opened into a wide open space, the ceiling reaching high enough to fit some species of tree. Roglin filed in with the others, A warm glow came from an ornate, sconced brazier in the center of the looming space filled his bones with vigor and life. The light revealed runic etchings and skillful carvings along the supporting pillars spread throughout the room. The rest of the room was void of light however, and the contrast made him feel rather unsettled. he wasn't sure if there were even walls past that orange and yellow glow. 

Bontu led them to the glowing structure. Once they had circled around the Brazier, he spoke.

“once the binding is complete, you will be tied to one another stronger than mother to her child. Once done, you will be given strength bestowed by the god’s to the old watch.” he looked at each of them in turn and after a hesitant pause he continued.“I must warn you, if you die, or break your oath, the strength and will of every other Watcher will suffer. So if you have sever doubts or dread, you will be more helpful walking away now.” 

Sam shifted slightly but nobody else seemed to notice.

 “Very well, you have spoken your peace. Before we begin all of you will raise your right hand and one by one you will speak these words;  I, then give your name, swear by the power of the Gods, that I will keep watch over this world and will protect the innocent and god fearing. For the bonds of nature, for order and peace, for the dying, for knowledge, for the skies and the seas, for the inovation, love, laughter and passions of mankind, I will keep Watch.”

Confirming they all understood, he continued,  “Good, best is he move clockwise. Varawyn, you can begin.” 

And she did. As she spoke, her raised hand began to glow a vibrant green and as she finished, the light lifted from her hand and took the shape of a scaled serpent, writhing and coiled before fading into the flames below.

It was a wonder she could finish, Roglin wouldn’t be able to overcome his shock. Yaz recited the pledge after her and Sam followed him. A yellow flame and fox proceeded Yaz, and a dark blue flame and wolf, Sam. each came to a rest with the green flame in the brazier.

As Roglin began his oath, a glowing red flame raised above his hand. As he finished the shape of a great bear took shape and roared above the brazier. His heart raced as flashes of the crypt returned. Red flashes, growing anger, and pleasure. The blood of his friends on his axe. The face of Katri bloody as he laughed. 

Jolting back, he nearly fell as the red flame settled in with the others. He thought he was safe from those cursed images. His eyes began to tear and if he spoke he thought he would weep. He barely noticed Sorkin’s purple flame or the accompanying raven.

Eventually, after everyone had sworn the oath a brilliant and beautiful pillar of wondrous colors engulfed the entire Brazier. It soared, spiraling upward. Five fiery embers flew from the conflagration and struck the heroes in the forearm of their risen hand, leaving a mark of their animal scorched In the skin. As the embers touched the skin, each hero felt a rush of confidence and strength. 

Roglin couldn’t be certain, but he thought, for a moment, he saw Bontu reach for his wrist.

“The Ritual is complete,” Bontu said. His eyes turned down into the brazier.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

They had been teleported. That was the only thing that made sense to Yaz. They had been taken away after that ritual and thrown into this mansion of glowing lights and intricate carvings. He was sure it was the same place they had entered from the decrepit smithy but it had an energy that didn’t make sense. Like it was alive!

“Uh, Sam?” he said. 

“Yah?” Sam never looked at him as they walked around. He couldn’t blame him, he couln’t take his eyes off it either.

“What happened to this place? It ‘feels’ different.”

“You know, I’m not sure, I think it has something to do with that ritual we completed. Like this place shares a similar bond as we do.”

With the fires in the sconces and the shimmering magic in the chandeliers. the grand Hall; as there was really no other way to put it, stretched high enough to fit entire buildings. There was a stairway along one of the walls that led to a hanging walkway and several doors set within the wall.

“How could such a place go dark?” Sam muttered to himself. 

Yaz had no idea. It was sort of unsettling, thinking about the stories that this place could have heard or seen. He never really cared for the Gods, they always seemed too serious and kind of petty, so whatever the reason, he was sure that their squabbling probably caused this place to die into obscurity.

He recognized the symbols of each of the gods on the hanging Banners around the room, though the images portrayed by their statues was new to him. He wondered if this was truly the visage of the gods?

He felt a hand palm his face. He saw Sam looking at a mural on one of the walls through the other man’s fingers. It depicted a couple fully armored men with blades crossed.

“Hey, do you think they have somewhere in here to sparr?”

Yaz pushed his massive hand off. “Ooh, that sounds fun, I’ll bet there's probably a sand pit down one of these halls.”

Sam recoiled his hand. “Oh, sorry.” he said nonchalantly.

“I’d be game if you wanted to throw some knives.” looking around Sam continued. “Things have been too serious lately. I need to juggle some steel. You game?” 

Yaz was indeed. He wanted to think about the future and clear his mind. He hoped he hadn’t been roped into working for a higher power but he would get to that when it came, for now he was going the enjoy the experience. Now if only he could figure out the fox etched into his forearm.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Varawyn sat pondering by the large War table in the middle of the great Hall. The snake on her wrist didn’t necessarily hurt, but why a snake?

Her fingers traced the coiled beast as she listened to Bontu mutter to himself. He was looking at a map of Terridorn on the table, cuts and marks scored the surface.

“Tell me again, this, this dream; was it the same for all of you?”

“The main points; the mountains, the forest and large Tree. most of the words differ” Roglin said.

Roglin Comforted her. He’s a bit awkward and bone headed, but he reminds her of her father. It’s been so long since she held her father. Tha day seemed to her as the day love died. It was difficult for Varawyn to trust anyone. 

Parts of the conversation begin to break through her musings.

“...I don’t know.” bontu was saying. “I do know some people in Vistra that might, however.”

 Why should she trust anyone? She has done nothing but make other’s lives better, yet whenever she lies down her head in an inn or a hay loft, someone gets words that she’s a half-elf and they chase her out. In some cases they burn her out. 

Her fists begin to clench, her veins making the serpent on her arm writhe. That blasted village! That old man nearly drowned in his own pond and he has the gall to run me out of town. She was sure it was him.

“I know we don’t have a lot of experience Bontu, we can start small.” Roglin implored. “Let us follow the trail maybe we can figure out why he didn’t come back. We don’t have to go further than a few miles”

“Yah, and we could be back before you leave for Vistra!” Yaz exclaimed.

Snapping out of her Ruminations Varawyn caught onto the conversation. “What are the chances that Sekuria’s assailants are even still there? I mean, it’s been weeks since the attack on the wall and we haven't seen or heard anything since.” She added.

Shaking his head bontu responded. “It might cost your lives to even go that far. If what you have told me is true then you all have seen these monstrous pale beasts.” he looked at them all in turn.

“They are what attacked the walls. Not a group of bandit’s, hungry wildlife, or even angry elementals. We were nearly overrun.” his eyes were downcast as he finished. “If Dastum wasn’t on rotation from Glefwyn I’m not sure we would have survived at all.”

Silence followed. Nobody dare look at anyone else. “I don’t know what they are but they are scouring that forest for something.”

After a moment sam joined in. “Bontu, I’m not sure what they are either, but you brought us here for a reason. We need to try.”

“And you will.” Bontu cut him short. “But we need a plan first. People die when you are unprepared.”

“What all do we know?” Sorkin asked. “Sekuria vanishes the same night these monstrosities make themselves known, several of us have visions from some entity claiming that Seglock is in jeopardy from a figure they called the Grisle king, Bontu is told of plots in the Island City, and a fire wielding wizard makes these vermin run as if they didn’t just have their way with us. Did I miss anything?”

“I have failed to mention one thing.” Bontu added hesitantly. “Mind you all, this musn’t alter our plans. When I visited sekuria’s manor, there was no sign of his wife and young son. Instead I saw an old enemy of his. A man named Tordale. Well, it is my impression that tordale has been waiting for Sekuria; which doesn’t bode well for his family. I believe this is why Sekuria left.”

“Is there a chance we could find them?” Yaz asked quietly.

“I fear there is too much involved to spend needed days looking for one man’s family.” he finished in a rush. “Especially since they are most likely dead already.” Varawyn thought he heard the old man’s voice crack. “I would if I could, but I’m afraid of what I would find.”

“And so we can add a dead or dying family of an old veteran.” sorkin mumbled. “Still not a super helpful list.”

“We need more information.” Bontu said. “I’ll go to vistra, the Five of you should be safe if you are careful enough. Follow the road north for about 10 miles then look for clues. Try and figure out if these visions can be trusted.”

“We all had the same vision. Why not trust them?” Yaz asked. 

“I’m not afraid that they’re wrong, I’m afraid they’re right.” bontu answered. “If they are true, then those cliffs might be a more ominous omen then the rest.”

“If those visions are to be trusted, then I think I might know where he is.” almost to quiet to be heard he continued. “And Tawquerma is not where any of us ought to go.”