Chapter 10-12 The Foreseen and Unexpected
Higher Greatling, the Authority
Cant be contacted right now, so our orders still stand. Right now, our target is at risk and
Abrel. We know why were here. The bullshits for the Authorities. Were your cadre. Just say the word.
Thanks, Zenna.
Sure. Maybe dont disembowel me next time we spar?
Ill think about it.
-Abrel Greatling to Zenna eldErich, Instruments of Highflame
10-12
The Foreseen and Unexpected
Jaus, the Ambassador? Draus muttered, Everyone wants the poor half-strand snuffed. Mirrorhead. His own people. Now you.
Zein opened her mouth to speak but paused. ... Ori-Thaum? They wish Valhu dead as well? Truly?
Ran into some Incubi, Avo said.
What? Zein said. Suddenly, she snapped over next to Avo. She was looking up at him, a hand braced against the table. Incubi you faced the Incubi? And they wanted Valhu dead as well?
A screen of flowing ichor spilled out from Avo, its crimson sheen aglow with dancing phantoms playing past memories. Brief flashes from his engagement against the Incubi played within a blood-made theater, and as the flashing traumas clashing against wards lit Zeins blank expression, he found himself pleased.
Another matter she seemed ignorant of. Another blindspot perhaps. Did her control over foresight only cover things she was aware of? Or directly related to her?
This should not be, Zein finally said. She sounded more curious than surprised. Kitzuhada was meant to deepen their peace with Stormtree. If there are elements within the Oris glaives or orders from the Mirrors, then something has changed within Ori-Thaum itself. The Five Annals should be in accord with his proposals. Something twisting the fabric of its leadership.
She clicked her tongue as she pondered the implications. This will prove to be interesting." A sharp cackle escaped from her. My people never change.
Avo looked to Draus but the Regular seemed as lost as he.
Ori-political shit? Draus asked.
Quite so, Zein said, letting out an amused breath. A path most unlikely has come to take prominence. Just as the Chivalrics had humiliated Highflame in the last war, Ori-thaum had their own Mirrors and Elders losing favor within the Diet. The electoral body cast many aside after the war, many from families and lines of great prominence. The old blood runs thick in the Ori and the Kosgans. For all our differences, it is the fault we share: The delusions of entrenched gerontocracy.
Draus snorted, understanding filling her face like she was imbibing fetid water. Thats all it is, aint it? Shiftin power and desperate ploys to hold on.
The singers change, but the music stays the same. Zein offered an apologetic glance. I pity you, girl.
The Regular sneered. And hows that?
You did not get the war you deserved. The fight you deserved. No? Zein gestured to Avo. She didnt need words to hint at what she meant. Alas. We suffer the path we stumble upon and not the one we dream of. She turned to regard Avo again and offered him a begrudging nod. You broke some of the mind-priests. This is good. This is a feat of arms. Bear it well, but do not be drunk on it. Build upon it, and soon skill will become mastery.
Leave it Zein to do a segue toward complimenting someones combative prowess in the middle of scheming and plotting.
Mustering her Heaven again, countless threads of time reeled around her in a spiraling staircase. Zein briefly flickered in and out of existence, her being like a dying lightbulb from an old Voidwatch movie. Countless futures came rushing like a tide, but the chaos of everything happening at the intersection that was Zein made events impossible to parse.
The moment ended as soon as it began, but now Zein was standing next to Kae. The Agnos did not respond immediately. For a long moment, she just stared at the place where Zein was, unsure if she had simply forgotten the old woman walking away or if Thousandhand had used her Heaven.
Agnos Kusande, Zein began. Kae jumped this time, but Draus was next to her, glaring down at the Godclad.
Walk over like a normal half-strand, Draus drawled. She steadied Kae as the Agnos looked around. Strangely, Avo found her eyes drifting more toward him. Or perhaps not so strange. He was the only other Godclad here, after all. Aint no need for that.
Im skipping past the pointlessness, Zein said, brushing aside the Regulars annoyance. She placed a surprisingly gentle hand on Kaes right shoulder as if challenging Draus to a battle of interpersonal influence. Agnos Kusande. We will need the details of Jhred Greatlings Heaven and Hell. Avo. Come over. It is time you learned to make prey of your own kind. She paused and laughed. Again.
Looking up warily at Zein, Kae did not seem reassured when the older woman offered her a flat, unassuming expression.
I promise you, Kae. You are the last person I kill in the room in certain futures. In most, I dont kill you at all. There is no testament in such an actno pleasure. She flicked her eyes up at Draus and licked her lips when she studied Avo. And surprisingly, Chambers.
Any time you want it, Thousandhand, Draus said, words spat out between near-clenched teeth. Avo guided his blood out in a weave around them, subtle reaching brambles over to Draus while directing other flows to circle behind Zein.
The Nether was down, but not for him. Maybe Thousandhand could see the future. But if he bent the environment sufficiently to his advantage, maybe the paths of time would be pruned.
Maybe there would be a single path that only ended in defeat.
Looking Draus up and down, an expression of pure malice became Zein. You are a wonderfully frustrating girl, Guard-Captain Draus. And you are totally and completely wasted down in this pit. Perhaps death at my sword would be a better fate than the suicide by limbo you seek.
Draus ran her tongue across her teeth now. She flexed her fingers. Avo threaded a cord of blood into her flesh and cast his influence inside her. At a thought, her session came back online.
+Draus. Im weaving blood around her. Doubt shell attack. Still hit her together if she tries.+
It was a testament to Draus reflexes and experience under pressure that she betrayed nothing of Avos presence in her mind. Still, linked to her Meta, he could taste the waters of her surprise.
And gratitude.
+Good odds shell snuff us both,+ Draus replied.
+Odds are she might do it anyway,+ Avo said. +She knows the attack coming. But still. Best chances together. No Nether on her end. Might null her if I can get through.+
A chuckle came from Draus. +Youre a real optimist, consang.+
And just then, Zein turned and winked at him. Again, the feeling that he was being strung along, that they were all being strung along slipped into his mind. With a barely suppressed growl, he spread his hair-thin roots of blood further outward, connecting to Chambers and Essus as well.
The father shuddered. The former enforcer cursed loud and clutched his head in shock.
Zeins smile only grew. He noticed her index finger twitching around the hilt of her umbrella. She cocked her head and took a step away from Kae. We will sample violence from each other someday, Guard-Captain. Rejoice on that.
Draus glowered. Not now? Am I makin mean ol Zein Thousandhand have second thoughts?
It would not be proper for the guest to shed blood in the hosts house, Zein said.
Considering Zein had done a copious amount of drugs in this very room, her excuse of etiquette was laughable at best.
Draus spat. The ball of phlegm sailed far and splattered against the ground. The metamatter drank it in and disposed of the waste. Now dont go civilizin yourself on my behalf.
Zeins hand tightened around the hilt of her umbrella. Avo snaked his blood closer behind her, mere feet away. Across the room, Essus stood and faced the older woman, his eyes burning red as his servos grunted in anger.
Chambers did the only thing he could. Heya, this isahwell and good but I was really interested in what uh he pointed desperately at Kae, she was supposed to say about the boss Frame or some shit, so I mean, we should really let her talk.
Thousandhand unclenched her umbrella, and Avo heard her let out a small but satisfied breath. She gestured at Draus while looking at Avo, her fingers tracing the outline of the Regular, but twisting, changing, like the other woman was clay to be sculpted into shape. We will speak of my civility should you survive what is to come. Agnos, I apologize for the digression. Details about the Greatlings Frame, if you would please.
Slowly, Kae looked back at Avo and he nodded.
He didnt know what Zein was planning for Mirrorhead. Or the Ambassador by this point. All he knew was that he planned on going over the details with Kae even before Zein intruded on their dive.
Sending his blood climbing upon the table, he injected phantoms into a sphere-like construct of blood, within which Kae would be able to interface with the simulated mem-data. Functionally, it would be like a Nether lobby, but in the real.
Insight flashed in Avos mind. Perhaps he could use this method to build cages or partitions for himself. Or use it to choke Nether traffic in specific instances.
Awkwardly, Kae reached her hand into the blood, and Avo took care not to stain her. Using his Haemokinesis, she contacted only his phantoms. From her shaking fingers, she entered the requisite mem-data she remembered, the flames consuming her mind splashing as her exo-cortex warred against her ever-eroding memory.
SPHERE III - BROADSWORD PATTERN LIMINAL FRAME
THAUMIC OUTPUT - 1002 THAUM/c
HEAVEN - TWICE-WALKER
->DOMAIN: (REFLECTION/SPACE/RADIANCE/GLASS)
->THAUMIC REQUIREMENTS - 554 THAUM/c
DOMAIN OF (SPACE)
CANON: DICHOTOMYS JUNCTION - ALLOWS THE MASTER OF THIS CANON TO BIND TWO PHYSICAL STRUCTURES OF AESTHETIC RESEMBLANCE; THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN FORM TWELVE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT OBJECTS
CANON: LIMINAL PARACOSMOS - A DEMIPLANAR TUNNEL OR PATHWAY CAN BE CREATED BETWEEN BOUND OBJECTS; UP TO SIX TUNNELS CAN BE CREATED WITH INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN THEM FORMING STABLE POINTS POCKETS OF PLANAR REALITY
HUBRIS: IF BOTH SETS OF A BINDING ARE DESTROYED AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL RESULT IN THAUMIC BACKLASH
DOMAIN OF (RADIANCE)
CANON: CHAINS OF THE PASSING SHINE - ALLOWS THE MASTER OF THIS CANON TO DRAW IN ALL SOURCES OF LIGHT AND RADIANCE INTO A REFLECTIVE CONSTRUCT; THE HEAT WITHIN THE CONSTRUCT WILL GROW WITH EVERY SOURCE OF LIGHT STORED UNTIL DESTABILIZATION
HUBRIS: IF THE LIGHT-CHAINING CONSTRUCT IS RAPIDLY COOLED, IT WILL GENERATE THAUMIC BACKLASH
DOMAIN OF (GLASS)
CANON: HYALOFICATION - THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN TURN SOLID MATTER INTO GLASS; ONLY 500 TONS OF GLASS CAN BE TURNED AT ONCE
CANON: HYALOKINESIS - THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN MANIPULATE ALL GLASS AT UP TO A TWO-THOUSAND FEET RANGE AND MOVE UP TO FIVE-HUNDRED TONS OF GLASS
HUBRIS: IF THE GLASS-MATTER CONTROLLED BY THE MASTER IS UNMADE WHILE THEY ARE STILL INFLUENCING, IT WILL TRIGGER THAUMIC BACKLASH
DOMAIN OF (REFLECTION)
CANON: SYMMETRIZATION - THE MASTER OF THIS CANON CAN OVERLAP THE ONTOLOGICAL NATURE OF TWO PHYSICAL OBJECTS AND FORCE THEM TO MIRROR THE SHAPE AND CONDITION OF THE OTHER WITH EACH CHANGE INFLICTED
HUBRIS: SHOULD EITHER PHYSICAL OBJECT BE DESTROYED IN CONFLICTING WAYS (I.E. ONE SHATTERED FROM ICE WHILE THE OTHER IS MELTED) AT THE SAME TIME, IT WILL TRIGGER THAUMIC BACKLASH
HELL - [THIRD CIRCLE] - TWICE-WALKER
->DOMAIN: (REFLECTION/SPACE)
->THAUMIC REQUIREMENTS: 414 THAUM/c
CANON: DIFFUSION SINGULARIUM - THE MASTER OF THIS DOMAIN EXPELS AND COMMANDS ALL LIGHT TOUCHED BY THEIR OWN ONTOLOGY TO SCOOP OUT PIECES OF SPACE AND CONCENTRATE IT INTO A SINGLE POINT IN REALITY, WHEREUPON ITS PLANE WILL COLLAPSE AND EXPAND RAPIDLY IN AN EXPLOSION OF DISPLACED SPATIAL REALITY
DAEMON: SHOULD NON-SOLID MATTER BE DRAWN IN AND RESHAPED BY THE LIGHT, the SINGULARIUM WILL BURST APART AND BIRTH AN ANATHEMA OF REFLECTION TO SERVE AS THE MASTERS ANATHEMA; THE ANATHEMA CANNOT BE SLAIN AND MUST BE STARVED
They all spent a moment reviewing the details then. The mem-data Avo had was clouded in mythological interpretations and other details regarding supposed lore-based feats. Yet, from that, Kae was able to compile a series of comprehensible domains, canons, and hubrises to review.
The first thing that occurred to him was Mirrorhead's ontological build. The Guilder mightve been of the Fourth Sphere, but he only had a single cycler, with two ontologic slots.
Why?
No second cycler? Avo asked.
Y-yes, Kae said, frowning. This is an extreme case. It-it seems that that Jhred Greatling is very much a tower. She paused and winced. Too much a t-tower. This this is terrible. W-what what is this? Who uh, allowed this?
The Agnos was actually fuming, despite the revelation of Mirrorheads vulnerability. On some level, Avo understood. The Conflux Necros were incompetent and thus were more soft meat to occupy his teeth rather than true adversaries to test his mettle. It made his dive easier, but seeing their failings offended him on a philosophical level.
It's a merit thing, Draus said. Them Guilder kids need to test for their Heavens. Frames. Earn enough merits and you got an inventory to pick from. The fact he only has one cycler though? That tracks for if youre backline or if you havent managed to graduate yet. Looks like Jhred here ran off before he was finished with his education.
A hum of surprise came from Chambers. So the boss did so bad at fancy clad-school that he graduated with half the god-bits? He wrinkled his nose. Well. I guess hes a bit like us after all.
Zein grunted a laugh at that. She blinked behind Chambers, putting her hands on the former enforcers shoulders. Chambers. You survived. She looked to Avo. Good job. Having the ultimate half-strand will come useful down many of the paths.
Chambers went board-stiff as Thousandhand petted him like he was a nu-dog. Iuh The man swallowed. I never told anyone
Not yet, Zein said. But you like to talk. And you are so very fragile. There are times you tell much thingssuch truthsthat everything inside you comes out, and your mind shatters because the perfect disharmony protecting you collapses. Those are the worst futures. The way you scream is no different than the noise you made as a child when your father pressed the barrel of his gun under your armpit.
The color fled from Chambers face. His mind went dull as a storm of spiking dread and mounting shame filled him. Reflexively, the enforcer swallowed and placed a palm over his mouth, covering his face as if a shy child. Inside, a spring of horror lurched repeatedly. Well. Uh. I mean, weve all been juvs once, right? He laughed. The note of his amusement wasnt very convincing.
Zein humored him anyway. True. Very true. Stay yourself, Chambers. You suit the city quite well. She patted him again, but this time her palm graced his cheek. Afterward, she shot Essus a brief look and did a double-take. She pointed at the former father and looked toward Avo. Bring him with you too. There is promise in one of the paths.
If Essus cared for Zeins prophecy, he didnt show it.
She blinked back over to Avo. Studying him momentarily, her eyes swiveled as she thought, considering the next steps. The paths have changed again. Little dagger. I would to trade with you a favor. An act for an act. Memories for memories.
Suspicion battled interest within Avo. Zein was manipulating himmanipulating everyone present. Of that, there was no doubt. But she also had knowledge far beyond his, the reach of her perception a thing of purest envy. If he could use her Heaven with his Necrojacking, there would be no ward he couldnt spoof, no mind he couldnt crack.
He shot Draus and look and she bowed her head. He offered her support before. Now she was waiting for him to respond.
Whats the trade? What do you want.
A vicious grin marred Zeins face. And suddenly, Avo wasnt sure if he was making a mistake or not. The same thing as you. The Greatling boy dead. But I need to give Ambassador Kitzuhada something first. And you need an opening to distract the Bloodthanes in the district across, no?
She knew about the Bloodthanes. Or could know. That would be indispensable. It would give him better odds of staying alive, anyway.
What memory? Avo asked.
Sequences from the Incubi. One with the details about the Ambassador. And after that, I need you to do something to Jhred Greatling
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