Checkmate Part 2

## Episode 60 - The FeyWild West

Behind the moon and stars in the Moonlit Castle. Death Ward activates waking the Iron Reaper, The Wanderer in White, Captain James Wilde, and Harmon. The stones that form the surrounding room had begun to bow inward toward where the dragon fell. Instead of the dragon's body, there is a small round pebble. Talia feels a sharp pain in her arm as the green script of her contract unwrites itself the green ink flowing back to the puncture mark from the bite. A venom green drop seeps out of the puncture it drops to the ground. The snake bite is gone. Stepping out of the chamber the dragon had been guarding is the Broker who congratulates them on their victory. He slipped in during the battle and now that it is over is going to return to the wedding. The room the dragon was guarding is 100 yards by 100 yards with vaulted ceilings filled with piles and piles of white gold coins. Into the portable hole goes 10 gems (worth a thousand gold each), 50,000 white gold pieces, a nickel colored battle-ax in a red case, a harp that is delicately engraved with vines and runes, a shield (gold-trimmed and rune inscribed with a single arrow stuck in it), a mantle with a silver-runed clasp (it is blue with gray trim). There is also an empty case with a large silver base 3 ft in diameter with intricately engraved creatures running screaming and shielding their eyes and faces from an upwards direction at where an object was held. Seline draws her cards, ace of swords inverted (some information that they are missing), seven of cups inverted (illusion, temptations, and diversionary tactics), two of swords upright (a decision that must be made but we lack the information to make the right decision at this time), 2 of pentacles (balancing a new venture), and the queen of wands. Talia realizes that the fey iron sword is what's missing from the empty case. As they returned to the wedding, they realize the ceremonies already concluded and food is set up for the attendees. Seline is nauseated and puts her hood up. At the head table is the Moonlight King, the Broker, and Seline… except with raven black hair and a dress made of shadows, stars, and twilight. The Broker gives the speech to thank the Moonlight King. As the Moonlit King rises Seline sees the bracelet that kept the madness at bay is gone. As the Broker goes to shake the Moonlit King’s hand, the Moonlight King closes his fingers around the Broker’s throat.

> You dare to lay a hand on my wife! You dare to claim her hand in marriage!
>
> Moonlit King

The Queen of Night and Magic quickly backs away from the scene with her hand on her chest and her face a mix of shock and horror. The Moonlit King fires a Moonbeam from his other hand as the Broker breaks free interposing himself between the King and the Queen drawing a sword. The sword gives off heat distortions as if it is still hot in the air. The guard and hilt are made out of the same crystal as Seline's sword. The hilt is constantly melting and reforming. The Broker swiftly runs the king through the chest. The king is confused as he falls his eyes going milk-white as the corruption overtakes him. An orb of light energy rises from the body of the king and slammed into the Broker before he sheaths his sword. A regal voice rings out...

> Honored guests, I am truly shocked at the abhorrent behavior of my father. Today, we should be joyous and blissful as all newlyweds deserve. Instead, violence has marred our celebration, but I will not let my father, may his mad soul rest in peace, ruin what is now good and true. The Moonlit King is wed again to the Queen of Night and Magic reuniting two powers that have always belong together and uniting two kingdoms that has been like two ships sailing in the night. So close but unable to see one another for what they truly are, partners! Partners in power! We are grateful you all are here to witness our union. The king is dead, long live the king!
>
> Her Celestial and Royal Majesty, Sarastra Aestruum, Queen of Night and Magic

As “Long as the king” repeats throughout the hall, the Broker, He who Stands Between, the Moonlit King looks at Seline and Talia, and they hear,

> Couldn't have done it without you.
>
> The Broker

Seline meets his eyes glaring with pure hatred as tears stream down her cheeks. The Broker’s Cheshire Cat grin falters and a familiar green corruption spreads from his left hand to his face. Confusion paints the Broker’s face as he looks at Sarastra before he disappears. Without missing a beat...

> It appears my husband has disappeared. I believe it would be in everyone's best interest to end the festivities for the evening. Again, We are forever grateful for your attendance and we look forward to seeing you all again in the future. You have my blessing for safe journey home.
>
> Her Celestial and Royal Majesty, Sarastra Aestruum, Queen of Night and Magic

With that, the Queen of Night and Magic leaves the hallway passing the Argent-Greys without sparing them a glance. Exiting the Glade, Talia tries to talk to Seline but Seline doesn't want to come back here. As they exit the feywild, Seline looks back at the moon and says final goodbye before returning to the park in Airpike. As Talia sees Airpike’s full moon the sensation of feeling of tightness in her skin returns. With her eyes transfixed on the moon, a breeze brushes the top of the mesa carrying the words, child and Talia. Unbidden, Talia shifts growing short fur, six inches taller, and 30 additional pounds of muscle mass. Her face becomes more muzzle-like while she grows a short tail. (they’re now level 12). She now has hybrid form as a wild shape. Her hands are more paw-like but still dexterous. Talia’s new full shift is a dire wolf the size of an elephant. Talia lets out a howl that is echoed by dogs for miles around. As the others go inside the mansion, Seline remains outside in the park wanting to remain alone for a little bit. Looking up at the moon, Seline starts to cry before sitting at the base of a tree and wrapping herself in her wings. Although she meant to come inside the mansion, the exhaustive events of the day take their toll on her and she falls asleep. Unbeknownst to her, Talia watches over her from inside the door. Realizing her wife has fallen asleep, Talia slips out from the mansion, gently lifts the exhausted form of Seline, and brings her back inside. Throughout the night, Seline dreams about the wedding. Waking up and speaking to Talia, Seline realizes that she can lie again. She regrets saying that she didn't want to be a fey in the Grove and she still feels hollow following the events of the previous day. Seline and Talia discuss Seline's hatred of the Broker. Seline also says that she's not angry at Talia anymore for making the deal. In the battle with the void dragon, she thought all the things that she was mad at Talia for didn't matter. As they discuss plans for the future, Talia notices Seline has a single white feather growing in.

## Epilogue - The Crossroads...

The Moonlit King has just fallen. A ball of light leaves his body and suffuses that of the Broker. The Broker tells Talia “couldn't have done it without you” as he takes on the mantle of the Moonlit King. In the back of his mind, he hears the dance calling for him and is urged to return to it even though the thought is not his own. A small prick stabbed his hand as the corruption spreads and thoughts of the dance grow louder. Before he can respond, he is summoned. The hall of the Moonlit King is gone and he is now standing on farmland in the material plane at a Crossroads. Though he can taste the ocean on the air, he also tastes a thread of power accompanied by sulfur. The Broker sees no one at first but after calling out, a woman appears behind him. It looks like what the mortals might consider a woman of power, high collar, long sleeves, straight black hair falling to just above her chest line with very dark makeup on, unnaturally pale skin, eyes that flicker and glow a deep red, and a sinister smile. She congratulated him and introduces herself as the dark dweller, Mistress of Fire, Crossroads demon, Illica. She circled him predatorily moving Junction to Junction. About the deal the Moonlit King made many millennia ago, she asks if he is going to pay or continue the dance. In exchange for her power, the Moonlit King is to give her souls, all he had and all he intended to get. The Broker explained his predecessor didn't have any souls and didn't traffic in them because of that he upheld his end of the bargain. Illica counters demon deals go by the law and the intent of the contract. By the Moonlit Kings failing to provide souls, Illica enjoyed watching the king dance for centuries. She says his predecessor wanted to take the kingdom of the Queen of Night and Magic, power enough to overtake a kingdom. The Broker notices that Illica is ancient and not a Crossroads demon. He also realizes that he's in District 5 which is close to the coast and whose major city is in a canyon. Illica’s power that surrounds him has corrupted District 5 to its core. So much power is here that's already starting to seep into the other districts. He says her influences grow slowly here in District 5 taking centuries when compared to his progress in District 1. He offers to guard the doors from the feywild to prevent more competition from coming through. Learning that there's a door to hell District 5, the Broker comments that others might be interested in knowing of its presence. Illica says she's aware of all the Broker’s trees littered around District 1 and there's also a door to Hell in Airpike right under his nose. Insulted at being called vermin once too many times the Broker gathers together the newly gained power of the Moonlit King and flexes it. A snap from Illica sends pain through the Broker’s body at the same time a voice that sounds like the Broker’s calls him back to the dance in the Moonlight. The core of what he is, begins to fade away. He writhes and screams in pain and madness until Illica snaps her fingers again and makes it go away. She offers the power enough to take over a kingdom in exchange for loyalty. Loyalty to her and only her is explained as him being her eyes and ears in places she can't go, she will have access to his body and mind as she wishes, he'll keep out as many fey as possible and deal with the ones who do squeeze through, and no deals in District 5. She amends she'll be able to inhabit his body and mind but he will keep control. He reaches out to shake but she puts her hand on his chest. Where they touch burns and he's paralyzed. Her eyes begin to swirl red and crimson. The crimson overtakes the red and part of the Broker knows that's his blood in her eyes. She reaches inside his chest and squeezes his heart. In a blink, her hand is back at her side. There are five marks where her fingers went through his skin around his heart and he can still feel the sensation of her hand squeezing. The corruption that had been on his hand turns black and flakes away. She steps back until she fades to Growing red eyes until those also fade away. As the Broker looks down he sees where she had been walking around him a spiral is burned into the ground like the one he saw in her eyes. Through the center are two lines like Crossroads. The Broker says to himself, Sarastra, you are one traitorous wife. However the distance he hears a familiar wolf's howl. He steps through a door leaving the crossroads behind.

## Characters

### Episode 60 Checkmate Part 2

#### Players

* Seline Argent-Grey (Voiced by Megzie Sass-Council)
* Talia Argent-Grey (Voiced by Cris Sass-Council)

#### NPCs

* Voiced by Dungeon Master Molly Hexcroft
	+ Harmon
	+ Captain James Wilde
	+ The Broker
	+ His Lunar and Royal Majesty, Ludomir Imbrium the XVI, the Moonlit King
* And Introducing Jess Richards voicing Her Celestial and Royal Majesty, Sarastra Aestruum, Queen of Night and Magic

### Epilogue - The Crossroads...

#### NPC

* Illica (Voiced by Dungeon Master Cris Sass-Council)