Thread: Shadows in the Light: Prologue

I appreciate the comments folks! And now, fresh from the presses! The next scene! Getting clearance to speak to teh Ancients wasn't easy. Alexander had been reluctant to let anyone into the lower levels of the base for a while now, and Nicolas understood why. It wasnt' an easy trip to make, and even harder to come back from. But this was for a good reason. Sophie was missing, and there was something more dangerous afoot than Nicolas had ever seen. He had to know. He took his first few steps down the long spiral staircase that would take him where he needed to go. The steps were carefully maintained, the few staff that cleaned this area were special cases, peopel with no ability to Step or See. If they had any talent in that regard, they'd be in too much danger to allow them to spend time here. He'd gone a dozen steps when he felt a kind of pressure on his mind. He took a deep breath, and took a Step, crossing the layers. The grey haze covered his vision, and he kept moving. Soon, the pressure redoubled, and he had to Step again. This continued until Nicolas knew that he was deep enough in that if he didn't leave in the proper fashion that he was likely never going to make it home. Nine layers in. People had died down here, unable to make it back after the construction of these chambers. Their sacrifice was still honoured every year by active members of the Order. Nicolas looked around the landing at the bottom of the stairs. The stone felt solid under his feet, but he was having a hard time making out details. He Looked a moment later, using just a hint of his Sight to cut away the gloom and restore things to a hard, crystal clarity. Hello? He called out. His words echoed around the chamber. He felt something shift in his boot, and looked down curiously. His dagger almost seemed...agitated, like a thing alive. He drew it out, and looked it over. The surface of the iron was...writhing, like it was trying to alter it's form. This was...alarming to say the least. He heard footsteps, and turned to look behind him. There was a woman there. She had the grey-scale look of a spirit. Nicolas instantly bowed his head. Honoured Ancient. He said as respectfully as he could. he heard a faint laughter. So polite! It's been years since we get a visitor, and we find a polite man! Such luck! She announced. Nicolas looked up curiously. This was not what he'd been expecting. Well? Don't just stand there! What do you need to know? I'm sure you didn't come all this way for the decor! Nicolas cracked a smile. He was liking this spirit more and more. I need to know what could create a blast of Banefire strong enough to burn a crater at least ten layers deep. She pondered a moment. It could be done by a category 12 Hellfire Colossus. Nicolas swallowed. he had to be honest, that didn't sound like something that he would be terribly pleased with fighting. He'd learned a long time ago that anything that was referred to as a colossus wasn't usually an exaggeration. Anything...else it might be? She gave a laugh, sounding just a touch off. Becoming a spirit changed a lot of things Nicolas had been told, but centuries of isolation had likely worn away at her sanity. Of course it might. None of them are pleasant, and I would require more information to make a proper judgement. Else, you would need to speak to Elmantrir the Sage. Who? i've not heard that name before. Is he one of the Ancients? Oh no, he was a sage, and member of the Order. Knew many many things. When he passed, he resisted the pull of the layers, and remained close to the surface. And then went quite mad. Caused untol levels of destruction to people until he was bound. Bound. He was bound into a blade? Oh yes, very much so. Had to be done you see. Yes. The more she talked, the more excited she seemed to be, but the more excited she got, the more the isolation madness seemed to be seeping through. Then he's out of reach. Once something is bound there's no way to get to them. Nicolas groused. The woman laughed. Oh my, what are they teaching you these days? Has no one taught you to walk within the iron? Nicolas gave her a blank stare. I choose to interpret that as a no! You have utterly no idea what I'm speaking about, do you? No. Not at all. There was a long pause. Would you like to share the information? Oh! Of course! Your blade, let me see it. Still in his hand, he flipped the blade around, adn offered it to her, hilt first. The spirit recoiled from the blade. What? How did you...the Heirloom Blade! You have no idea what you even carry do you? Gods and demons, what madness possessed them hand such a thing to you? Nicolas just stared at her. You've lost me again Spirit. She seemed to draw a deep breath, clearing her thoughts. The blade you bear. It is a unique item. You know that blades are retired, correct? Yes, they fill up. Usually able to hold about a thousand spirits before they can hold no more. They're retired into the vaults for safe keeping. Usually takes about two decades of service to fill a blade. And yet yours has been in service for more than five centuries. Nicolas was quiet, and looked down at the blade. How...how is that possible? He asked quietly. We don't know. The blade was forged under a great deal of secrecy, and those that were party to its making have been dead for far too long. But if you have it, tehn you have a powerful aid in your fight, once you learn its secrets. She explained. Nicolas nodded. I take it learning these secrets would be dangerous to me. Of course! All knowledge has a price! But are you willin to learn it anyway? There was no hesitation in his voice when Nicolas spoke. Yes. A good woman is missing, and may still be alive and in great danger. If this has any hope of answering my questions, then I have to do it. The spirit smiled. Good. Then it seems they chose a worthy soul to take up the blade. Come with me, and I shall teach you how to walk within the Iron. Nicolas was sitting on the floor. It was surprisingly cold, even for stone. He reasoned that there were no living bodies to privde any heat, and no heat down here anyway, what with no one living being down here. He also realized that he was distracting himself from the cold. He let his mind drift, just like he'd been instructed. The spirit was sitting close by, smiling as he started to work his way through the mental sequences she'd been teaching him. His blade was held gently between his hands. He let out his breath, and felt as though he was sinking. This was normal as he recalled from her intructions. Not something to be alarmed at. And then he opened his eyes, feeling as though there was hard ground under his feet. He looked around, and took in the room he was in. It was a hallway. A vast one, with a wide avenue. On either side of the hall were what looked very much like prison cells. He blinked, adn approached one. He came reasonably close when the figure within slammed into the bars, reaching for him. Nicolas stumbled back, taking in what he was seeing. It was the spirit that had been torturing Maka Koa. He was here, within the blade, looking at the beings that were bound. And they were aware of things within here. Nicolas became aware of a rising noise as there were voices calling out at him. He looked from cell to cell, seeing spirits and beings trapped within, some of them looking calm and adjusted, others railing in defienace, others looking like they'd entered a state of abject insanity. The mouting horror and pressure of ti all started to weigh on him, and he placed his hands over his ears, vying for silence. When that proved insufficient, he waved his hands as though to dismiss them. The cells slid away from him, vanishing into the seemingly endless corridor. Nicolas blinked, and looked at his hands. The spirit had taught him how to get here, but not how to actually manipulate things once he was here. With a smile, he held up a hand, and focused. After a few minutes of trial and error, Nicolas had discovered how to call creatures to him. It wasn't easy. he needed to have bound them personally, or know their names. Else he would have to walk the length of the blade. And he had not been wrong in his guess that the corridor was nearly endless. He walked it's length for nearly an hour without ceasing The cells had been empty, until he had waved his hands, and willed them to return to a normal positioning. Then he had been surrounded by spirits, demons, and ghosts beyond recognition. He had found then that while he could move the cells around as he needed, he was unable to make himself move. And he had been told that only fromt he tip of the blade, his point of entry, could he leave the blade. He ahd not found the information he needed, not yet, but he did have the means to find it now. He took a deep breath, waking up in the same position as he had been in when he started his walk. The spirit was crouched beside him. Did it work? She asked. Yeah. It's...incredible in there. There's so many things within it! So much that I could learn, that i could do! He said with a grin. She nodded. This is true. But keep in mind. Now that you're aware of them, they will be aware of you. They will try to trick you, to manipulate you, but you must stay on guard. You are now the Warden of that blade, not just it's wielder. Warden? And all that such may imply. Then...I can release those within? She nodded. Yes, and keep in mind, once a spirit has been within a blade, it may not be able to be re-bound within it. And those that are bound within were bound for good reason. Nicolas nodded. Is there anything else that they can do? She hesitated, but nodded. You can give them...limited releases. The ability to influence thing with their power. Meaning...? Should there be a mage within, who was well skilled at the use of fire, you might allow them to put a limited amount of their power at your disposal. Nicolas was struck by the implications. he looked at the blade in his hand. There was potentially unlimited power within this blade. It was a heavy burden to say the least. He stood, his cold, stiff limbs protesting. He stretched. I need to get back. Yes, I suppose you do. But Warden? Yes Spirit? Do not leave us alone down here. Please. The silence...it deafens. Send more to meet us, or bring us something to break the boredom. We were meant to be an advisory council. Not prisoners. he nodded. I'll do my very best. We can ask no more than that Warden. Fair journey. Nicolas started the long walk back up the stairs.