Tension on the Horizon

Tension on the Horizon was a thread started by Mraize on May 15, a day before Calm Before the Storm concluded.[1] The last post was on June 14, and the thread was closed on July 4. It is Phase 2 of the currently ongoing Guild War.[2]

## Events

Following the events of Calm Before the Storm, Rhaizen (Mraize) awakens in a Dakhor Monastery in Sel. They give him the power of enhanced strength and speed, as well as the ability to resist and negate Aons. This requires the sacrifice of 50 people. The Gragdet Vatheson, who is looking after Rhaizen, promises that the Dakhor will fight alongside him.

Septimus (Blazenella) has been practicing Sand Mastery on Taldain, and returns to the Alleyvillage with some sand after gaining some expertise. In the Alleyvillage, Drako (Grey Knight) and his forces have been helping to rebuild the desolation caused by the previous battles. Voidus is also preventing the Alleyvillage from Realmatic destruction after the use of Dor in the area. Drako, looking over the city, remarks that Rhaizen had failed in breaking it.

A messenger from Lopen (LopenTheTwoArmedHerdazian) appears to a number of characters and gives them a message and a playing card with an Aon Tia inscribed on it. The message states that their help is needed in capturing Rhaizen before his plan to gather Investiture is completed. Nei’an (Gancho Libre), Soul (Life&Death), KoTiel (kenod), and Aaric (EddyJ) all tap the cards and are transported to Sel. Septimus also is transported to Sel, but arrives in a different location, with a note telling him he was sent to a different location due to his temperament.

Rhaizen, wandering the monastery, encounters Yzabet (I Am Witless), who was once an old friend of his. She appears annoyed at him. Lopen talks to Septimus, revealing his plan for him to teach his troops in Sand Mastery. Septimus says it can’t be done, and that while he will help in Lopen’s plan he will also follow his own path. Due to being an Elantrian, Septimus also sticks out like a sore thumb. The other characters join willingly, however. KoTiel is tasked with impersonating an artheth, although he says he isn’t good at impersonation and cannot harm a human, and is given a Seon for communication. Lopen asks Mac (MacThorstenson) to help teach his troops in Awakening and Surgebinding. Mac says that mixing magic systems will be difficult, especially for those not experienced with them.

Yzabet and Rhaizen begin to talk, with Yzabet saying she was sent to check on him. Concerned and on the verge of panicking, she asks hat kinds of Investiture he has gathered, knowing that some kinds of magic corrupt people more than others. Rhaizen lists some, leaving out Hemalurgy to prevent her from panicking, but she is still disturbed by his Dakho powers. Yzabet says that she found him by using a tracking agent (possibly the one planted by Nei’an during Calm Before the Storm), and that she thinks he left TUBA because of pride and hunger for power. Rhaizen says that it was not either of those things, but because he needs to gather Investiture to fight a great being which may destroy them. He states that it is attracted to the ‘end negativity’ of the Worldspike, but Yzabet says he shouldn’t be fighting it.

Septimus approaches the Dakhor monastery and knocks on the front door. Nobody answers. He gets tired of waiting and breaks into the building, and comes across Yzabet and Rhaizen in the courtyard. Lopen detects that something is happening using Fortune and transports his group to the courtyard so they can face Rhaizen. A battle ensues among the Dakhor monks and the other characters, with KoTiel fleeing and Lopen attempting to subdue Rhaizen using Sand Mastery. Rhaizen escapes and, using Investiture given to him by Vatheson, notes that his Shardplate and Shardblade have red lines covering them and that he absorbs Voidlight. Yzabet and Rhaizen originally attempt to stand their ground, but soon start to flee. Rhaizen subdues Septimus by sending him into the Cognitive Realm. While he and Yzabet fly to their safehouse, Tevarah (Jehoida) hold the others off.

(Nobody paid attention to this part. I am just going to say Kane didn't interact with the other characters formally until DWF. -Bit) Soul’s foot is sliced by Tevarah’s Shardblade, but Lopen helps him heal it with gold metalminds. Eventually, Soul is incapacitated briefly and Tevarah begins to run towards Rhaizen. The others follow close behind.

Yzabet has grown a large tree cave using Progression and they are hiding within it. Rhaizen reveals that he is collecting Investiture after someone met him and gave him a metalmind. It contained a memory of a Chaos which ravaged a distant city. The person told him to collect Investiture to combat it. They have a tender moment and kiss, and in celebration the characters politely wait until they are finished, before planning and carrying out a wedding for them, replete with cake and decorations.

Afterwards, Rhaizen and Yzabet escape Sel, ending up near the Horneater Peaks. When Nei’an tries to follow Rhaizen spikes him, killing him. Septimus discovers the body and become enraged, as does Soul. A number of characters begin to track Rhaizen, baying for blood. Rhaizen is bitten by Lopen and the wound become infected. Mace Klasten (Archer) arrives and creates a diversion using a Hemalurgically enlarged nightmaw, so that Rhaizen and Yzabet can escape using Tia cards. The nightmaw is killed, but no one is able to follow them.[2]

## References

1. Calm before the Storm
2. Tension on the Horizon