Chapter 42 - Schism

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Schism
*Moonless Age chapter*

Main characters
* Chirinide Val'Kyorl'solenurn
* Shan'naal Val'Kyorl'solenurn

Related factions
* Val'Kyorl'solenurn

Sidestories
* A Tale of Colonies - Part II

Conflicts within the Val'Kyorl'solenurn start breaking out after Shimi’lande is assassinated, giving rise to a new, more aggressive Ill’haress.

## Summary

### Schism

#### The Val'Dutan'vir

As Sker and Minka reminisce about the past, they and several other members of the fallen Val'Dutan'vir who have found their way to the Val'Sarghress clan have gotten together as they attempt to take back their former home, now under the control of the Kyorl'solenurn.

#### Their Anguish

Chiri finishes penning a letter and asks her servant Petri'cho to deliver it, warning her to not let the Judicators see her. However, after the servant left, an assassin arrives, killing Chiri. And then Chiri wakes up from her vision. She has been seeing several such horrifying visions of late, and it worries her. As she attempts to calm herself down through training, Zewryel who was with her notices her stress before Chiri hears a commotion near the outer walls of the Kyorl'solenurn territory. As Shan and Re'van return looking despondent, Chiri attempts to cheer Shan up. When her initial attempt failed, she wears a dress and takes Shan out for lunch, an act which Shan appreciates.

#### Lunch

As they walk together to the restaurant, Shan tells her that as they were building the wall, the commoners protested, making their supervising Judicator angry and he ordered them killed, provoking outrage from the commoners as they threw stones at Shan and his companions. Last Shan heard, some of the commoners went to the Sarghress for help. Chiri tells him some good news as she received word of the Order of Serenity successfully parleying with Vanaheimr and Vanaheimr has sent an ambassador.

However, they overhear a discussion between Eclavdiira, Lythn and Kale'shido about the Sarghress Troops who attacked the Dutan'vir fortress despite it being currently Kyorl'solenurn territory. After gaining clarification from them, Chiri decides to speak with Shimi'lande, but before they could leave the restaurant, they see a large group of Inquisitors. Chiri takes time to change into her Warden armor before going to see Shimi'lande. The Inquisitors Ari'nara and Tar'shay then arrive asking Chiri to follow them.

#### Shimi'lande's Death

The Inquisitors take Chiri and Shan to Judicator Cas'nilhus whom Shan identified to Chiri as the Judicator who ordered him to kill the commoners. As they walk together, Chiri feels visions of someone being tortured. At their destination, two of the other Seers, Yakuise and Chime were already there, with one other Seer missing. Chiri was shocked to see Shimi'lande dead. Judicator Kyuusei states his belief that it was Kiel who assassinated her. Though Chiri now understands her vision of someone being murdered by someone who looked Kiel, she doubts it was her as she knows Kiel would have been more blatant.

#### Petri'cho's Torture

The missing Seer, Merril'lin was with Templar Mal'ligr and a commoner Sativah as they searched for the tortured prisoner that Merril'lin saw in her visions. Mal'ligr takes out the guard Miner'a and they enter the torture room to see Petri'cho being tortured by Rafal'za. As Merril'lin and Mal'ligr stop the torture, Rafal'za attempt to justify herself by saying it was an interrogation in a murder investigation while Petri'cho explains the Orders stopped her from trying to deliver Shimi'lande's letter. Rafal'za told them what was on the message, being the concession of all territory previously held by the Val'Dutanvir to the Val'Sarghress-Val'Sullisin'rune alliance.

#### Announcements

At the gathering of clan members, after listing her virtues, Kyuusei announced Shimi'lande's death, saying they will unleash retribution on the Vel'Vloz'ress for killing her and adding that they will also seek revenge on the Val'Sarghress for attacking their territory. Kyuusei then announced Shimi'lande's replacement, the eleventh Holy Mother Valla'drielle.

However, this was met with protest by two members of the Holy Lance, Belph'aegor and Thral'lin who had seen Shimi'lande's intended replacement at the Order of Serenity outpost. They demanded to know why she wasn't summoned. Kyuusei justifies the Judicators' choice stating Valla'drielle is strong while Shimi'lande's choice is untested. He then states the Seers will vouch for Valla'drielle, and pressured as they were by the Judicators, Yakuise, Chime and Chiri all vouch for the Judicators' choice, but Belph'aegor and Thral'lin remain unconvinced.

#### Schism

After Shimi'lande's funeral, Chiri and Shan head to where Chiri was first found by the Kyorl'solenurn, where Shimi left her a letter. Ky'ovarde and Lysire'indris make themselves known, demanding to know what was on the letter. Chiri replies that it was simply advice to follow her own path. Lysire'indris didn't believe her while Ky'ovarde simply asks whether Chiri and Shan was with them or against them. They answer neither. Lysire'indris and Ky'ovarde them leave.

At the Judicators' meeting room, a shocked Shinhwa reports to Kyuusei that Cas'nilhus was attacked and dragged of. The other Judicators are concerned about the situation but Kyuusei isn't. He knows Cas'nilhus won't talk and had already arranged for Petri'cho to be tainted to destroy her credibility. Kyuusei decided to use this as an excuse to purge the former members of the Dutan'vir within the Kyorl'solenurn, believing the other members of the Kyorl'solenurn will obey. However, Belph'aegor didn't and frees all the imprisoned Dutan'vir.

As Kyuusei then goes to talk with Kousei to send him to hunt Shimi'lande's presumed murderer, Kousei's order was already going to meet him to kill him for his wrongdoings. Lysire'indris and Miner'a hold of his bodyguards while Ky'ovarde kills him by throwing him onto spikes. Kousei and Chime witnessed this and Chime bows in gratitude to him.

Later, at the Slaver District the Sarghress recently captured, Chiri and Shan meets Ariel and Faen asking to go with them to the Old World.

### A Tale of Colonies - Part II

#### Scouting The Colony

As Skwerk scouts the colony of Dariya'ko, she finds Ilmssyn being tortured by Kio'nel for information. Ilmssyn refuses to give out information but Kio'nel guessed correctly that there are others and placed the Black Sun patrols on high alert. Skwerk returns to Vaelia to report to her where Ilmssyn is held. Syrak confirms her location with his goggles.

#### Infiltration

Based on intel from Skwerk and Sama'ki, the Highland Raiders form their plan. Suren gives the order for Vaelia to free Ilmssyn, reasoning she has the best chance of making it undetected while Nacht kills the guards they encounter. Vaelia makes it to Ilmssyn and frees her.

#### Chaos In The Colony

Suren and Syrak attempt to open the gates but encounter problems, including Kio'nel being alerted to their presence and he confronts the Raiders on his dragon. Ilmssyn decides to use mana grenades and succeed in opening the gates that way, allowing the slaves in the colony to seek freedom. Kio'nel attempts to stop them by with the Black Sun but the Highland Raiders kill the Black Sun who obeyed. Sami'ka joins the fleeing slaves. As the slaves and the Highland Raiders escape, Suren remains behind to allow them all the best chance of making it.

#### Sarghress Epilogue

The Highland Raiders and most of the slaves made it back to their rendezvous point, where they received a hero's welcome and learned their actions set the stage for Quain'tana herself to attack the colony. They celebrated their success while also mourning their Suren's loss. After making it back to Machike, the slaves with them were given freedom and most stayed in Machike to become productive members of the colony. Sami'ka was also joined by her lover Jens from Chel.

#### Sharen Epilogue

Kio'nel returns to Chel to report to Sarv'swati to report what happened to Dariya'ko, dreading her reaction. However, after giving his report, a messenger arrives bringing urgent news that a massive Sarghress force attacked the colony which Kio'nel knew nothing of. Angered at his failure, Sarv'swati attacks him with great brutality before killing him on the spot.