Amdirlain’s PoV - Desolute Elven City - Cemna
“Is it complicated, or are you making it complicated?” Isaac teased.
Amdirlain winced, uncertain what the truth was herself, she tried to explain. “He’s a Celestial-”
“A Fallen interested in a Celestial—that isn’t complicated. It’s trouble,” Ilya interjected.
The words of explanation that had slipped from Amdirlain’s lips to be greeted by Ilya’s warning, slapped against her long-held fears. The burning twin hooks of guilt and paranoia twisted in her mind, only to be abruptly shoulder checked to the curb by a notification.
[Achievement: Look, Ma, I’m on top of the world!
Condition: Have your Faith declared to be a country’s Principal Faith.
Reward: Easier to gain followers
Additional Condition: Country’s population exceeds ten million Souls
Reward-
1) Promotion from cult to religion
2) Increased chance of followers becoming Priests.
3) Missionary benefits are automatically granted to any follower so inclined.
Note: Someone needs to use the missionary position to feed your cats.
Note: Well, fifty-fifty chance it was going to be you. Don’t you feel so special? Aren’t you glad there wasn’t more competition?]
Without further warning, wisps of connections she’d never felt before rushed into place. Their presence brushing under her skin contained barely perceptible whispers that became a sparking static along her nerves. The choices of others forged the links that bound her onto a path others had incorrectly said would be needed. Did that count as the first time a Celestial had betrayed her? Had they lied to her and told her only one option they knew? Her thoughts had her automatically slipping into Zen State’s icy calm to stem the jealous scream that suddenly formed in her throat.
A disconnection of ‘what ifs’ sliced poison-smeared razors through her veins, mocking the glib words that had turned into her title. Every connection was a thorn that buried itself Soul deep and added more weight to her burden of responsibility. Each link carried within it an individual’s hopes and choices, but it was an energy that taunted Amdirlain with the cost of failure.
No one gave me a choice about being here.
Please, can’t I go home?
Her Domain’s aura suddenly made sense in that wash of emotions, amid the increasing torrent, it pointed out what she’d missed. The valley’s existence provided a twisted mockery of her selfishness in that instant. She hadn’t intentionally created a place to make the Petitioners feel at home; instead, she’d started it resonating with those feelings of home and her hungry longing for it. The Domain effect had translated it for others into the comforting aura, but she'd poured into it her long-suppressed hope of seeing family again.
She offered familiar words to push back against Ilya’s interjection but didn’t bother to correct the reaction she could see in Rach’s face. Ilya’s words weren’t her only issue that suddenly screamed for attention; they merely touched on one among a thousand icy cuts sipping at her life.
The conversation continued while Amdirlain struggled to hold onto her calm. The extra weight continued to claim her attention and press down on her until only her focus on the moment blocked the urge to howl. Simple animal minds flittering about with momentary concerns greeted her mental net within the Outlands. Their presence grounded her and helped restore her wavering balance, Isa’s beautiful song to close the Gate added to her calm.
“I thought it was a trick.”
The moment those words had left Isa’s lips, the hurricane tore at her again, heralded by an image
Ilya’s mind cast forth a teenager’s blank, unseeing gaze, already cloudy in death, staring from a ruined face contorted in agony. Fragmented teeth poked like coral spikes through the churning surf of her pale bottom lip. Muscles contoured the face into a rictus scream that death hadn’t released. The neck’s flesh—shredded and peeled away—swayed in a breeze that brought more of that sweetness forward. Thirst clawed its way up, taunted by the thick metallic odour, so salty-sweet in the cold air, it saturated every breath, sliding across the tongue and filling lungs with death.
Blood welling from the wound sent droplets to slip from the ragged stump, yet they fell in slow motion. Black nails and maggot-white fingers laced through the girl’s soft brown, gore encrusted hair presented Ilya her prize.
Memories of nails and Abyssal fire scorching flesh and Soul shuddered along her spine, but she adjusted her body to prevent it from reacting. Her mind filled with flashes of remembered battle within her Mind Palace, Viper’s imagination caused the sensation of putrefying flesh and burning raging pain. Only when the Demon had feared for her own safety, had she finally broken off.
Yet the memory of the battle in her Mind Palace pulled others to the surface that she’d thought destroyed. Glimpses of fighting that Livia’s memory walk had only hinted at, roared to life. A memory of her own pushed through Ilya’s and a young man’s face replaced the girl. Her fingers tangled in his hair while she could only look on and plead while Viper used her body to implement her sadistic tactics. A hollow melon sound reverberated with its impact against a tree, the pollen drifting on the breeze, the stench of death—voided bowels and more. The skull exploded and she pounced on the young man’s friend, who she’d allowed time to crawl away, trailing shattered legs. Laodice’s presence hadn’t even objected, but continued to grab for Amdirlain’s attention. Memories of blood slid across her tongue, mingling with the taste of the Outlands’ summer breeze, the memories distorting and taunting amid their conversation.
Isa’s description of the river Dis had her biting back retorts about the Abyss’s inferno and the eternity within it she’d experienced three times.
The cliff notes Isa provided told her what else she’d missed, and jealousy’s venom became clear. She’d walked so long alone, with only fleeting moments of friendship, where Isa had come out of numbness into Ilya’s company. However their relationship had developed, Isa had found someone, in Hell of all places, that had her back, but Odyis had betrayed her.
The comparison rattled forth locked memories and had her swaying, held aloft in memory by the ropes made from her own skin and tendons. A blade pierced skin, and a pop shuddered through her when wing cartilage gave way. The blade had carved her up repeatedly while Naz’rilca purred out of her pleasure, tracing patterns across unbroken skin with Amdirlain’s blood.
Tightening her focus to Isa held the haunting memories at bay, but the child in Ilya’s memory slammed repeatedly with the kindness of a car door against her mental grip. The pain called out to memories of other agonies and had them clawing and hammering against their vaults’ walls. The churning seared mental scabs away and eroded mental barriers between roaring flames and burning, icy rage. Yet she pushed on through a whirlwind of razors whose acidic blades carried misery, madness, and jealousy.
The beautiful aurora of Isa’s wings drove a blow to her gut, spine-deep, and mixed relief with pain. Isa’s freedom sent a wave of relief through her, yet that distraction let the jealousy grind spitefully through her bones. Deserved happiness immediately curdling amid the torments she’d long held at bay. Shards of fragmenting pain speared through her mind, evoking the violation of impaled Souls and pressed her against oblivion’s cliff.
“Thank you, Sage, that makes sense,” Isa said and let Amdirlain hold on to the moment against the sudden taste of iron.
“Ebusuku and Sage, could you spare some time to help sort out equipment at Duskstone?” Amdirlain asked, her voice filled with eerie calm, its ice held back the rising tide broken from their vaults.
Ebusuku nodded, but opened her Gate across the clearing and never looked away. The Gate opening drew attention from Sage, Isa, and Ilya, who moved towards it through the crowd of Archons, who had begun to disappear back to the Domain, along with Solveiga.
Beyond the rapidly diminishing gathering, Sage stepped through first—disguised as a male Moon Elf now fully clad—Ilya followed, and Isa hurried after to catch her in a hug.
“Is everything alright?” asked Ebusuku via her Oath Link, and the moment Amdirlain established a mental link, she continued on. “I would have thought you’d be ecstatic about Rachel being free?”
“I am ecstatic.”
Frost that etched within their connection mocked the offered reply. Her gaze hadn’t left Amdirlain’s normally leaf green eyes, concern growing at their appearance of frozen mildew. “Then why do your eyes look so hollow, and your link cold enough to shatter trees?”
“There are other things on my mind that I need to deal with,” replied Amdirlain, and frowned when Ebusuku went to object. “I can’t delegate these.”
“What needs to be done?” asked Ebusuku carefully.
Amdirlain smiled emptily and motioned her through the Gate. “I first need to talk to Sidero, let her know Isa's situation and—”
The sentence fell into stillness and Ebusuku eventually prompted her across the link. “And?”
“And then I won’t be back to the Domain anytime soon. Please arrange equipment and explain what’s happening with the Erakkö’s world and Cemna? I permit them to go to Letveri. Hopefully my intent there is enough; if not, send me a message. Truthfully, I don’t care if they help or not, but Ainla believes I expect repayment.”
Ebusuku pursed her lips and flicked her gaze coldly to the pair still caught up in each other’s embrace. “What trouble are you looking to get yourself involved in?”
“The most dangerous kind—searching within myself. Livia told me I needed to find my balance with Viper, but she was wrong; I never possessed proper balance, even when I was alive. Holding together through force of will doesn’t count, Viper was simply the iceberg’s peak while Livia was around me.”
“Wouldn’t it be best to meditate within your Domain?” asked Ebusuku, concern clearly fighting a losing battle to warm the link.
“Absolutely not!” growled Amdirlain aloud. The conflux of emotions wrenched the words and prompted Ebusuku to step close. For a moment, Amdirlain said nothing, but then tears streamed down her cheeks, and words slid forth. “Even before I appeared in the Maze, I wanted to go home, Ebusuku. I’ve pushed past it so long, but it’s tearing me apart, everything hurts less. I wonder if that’s why I can mutilate myself so easily; it’s all a lesser pain. Now with Isa free, everything I’ve held back is trying to drown me at once. The Domain alters my perspective in ways I don’t understand and reacts to my emotions. Both of those are good reasons to keep clear of it until I have my balance settled.”
“Amdirlain, you need-“
Amdirlain scrubbed her hands across her face, and her grimace stopped whatever Ebusuku had been about to say.
“Isa being free removed one massive reason I’ve always had for delaying, and yet also has me off balance, Ebusuku. I’ve gone from a three-legged stool’s balance to lurching about on stilts. Things are churning around like I should be fighting to catch my breath, and now memories I thought destroyed are nipping at my heels,” admitted Amdirlain. Swallowing back a scream that wanted to burst forth had her fingers pulling unnoticed at her braid. “I need to deal with everything I’ve compartmentalised.”
“Perhaps you need to refine your Way?” asked Ebusuku, in concern.” I believe that is the term Farhad would use.”
The sudden shoulder slump prompted Ebusuku to shift to her own Elven form and embrace Amdirlain. She went to speak but stopped the moment Amdirlain continued on. “No. Lately, I’ve had trouble keeping my focus for long, and thought it was because I needed to sort out my priorities. But having your head in the sand doesn’t stop something from kicking you in the arse. I thought looking at my priorities and stripping the noise would help, but it meant Ilya’s memory hit harder.”
“What memory did this to you?”
“A teenage girl’s severed head. It prompted memories of when Viper took control and killed those first Slavers. She smashed a slaver’s face into a tree until it exploded simply to scare his friend, who she’d already crippled. The agony and fear on his face resembled the girl’s so much,” admitted Amdirlain in a whisper.
“They’ll need you to let them into the Domain,” mentioned Ebusuku, not releasing her embrace.
Amdirlain stiffened in her arms, but her voice didn’t raise. “No, they don’t get invited inside, at least not yet. Maybe they can stay in the Giant community, if they even want to be nearby. I’m not sure I know Isa now. I certainly don’t know Ilya, and I’m not sure I even know myself.”
Ebusuku’s hands rubbed Amdirlain’s back comfortingly, but her first question didn’t escape her lips— “Where do you plan to go?”
Amdirlain replied across the link before Ebusuku asked, and their conversation became a rapid-fire of responses; every question Ebusuku formed answered the moment it came.
“I’m going to talk to the Githerazi; they said I was welcome to come study. I need advice about the mind from someone that Hell hasn’t twisted.”
“What about the Archons?”
“If Isa helps, ask her if she’ll team with them for short periods. Holy Smite hurt the Thri-Kreen, so it's likely the Lantern’s bolts will; otherwise, get them to train around the Domain. When Runa gets back, please ensure she doesn’t go racing off again until that occurs. I’d like her to have training first.”
“What should I tell Isa?”
“Tell her I’m taking her advice about skills, and her comment about things I’ve tucked away to heart. Given she can use the True Song, I’m sure she’s an Anar. While I’d love to see her face when she gets to read that part, I’m not in a state for it at present.”
“What state are you in, besides tormented and in need of care?”
“Not in a fit state, but not looking for any fights. I will seek the best care to help with all my suppressed stuff. Don’t take my issues out on them please, I already fucked that up,” replied Amdirlain and pressed the grimoire with Planar Law into Ebusuku’s hand.
“They’re attuned to the Outland at present, but if Ilya learns this Spell List, she can reset it anywhere she likes. Please arrange copies—I didn’t notice how bad it smells—and give Ilya one.”
Ebusuku simply nodded and stored the grimoire before she headed through the Gate. Amdirlain caught Isa breaking the hug and turning towards Ebusuku in confusion as the Gate shrank.
[Diplomacy (1-2)
Note: Look who can learn! Who’s a clever girl then?]
I’m too tired, whoever you are. Can you just note them down and leave me alone for a while? Please?
[Diplomacy (2->8)
Note: Extra points for effort even if it wasn’t an A grade.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Note: I won the betting pool for how long you’d hang on for by miles, enjoy your meltdown. They all thought the prize won when you started crying on reaching the Outlands. What suckers!
Note: Don’t break any Githerazi! Who am I kidding? That lot already know they’re broken.]
Amdirlain blinked at the message, and without retorting, followed Sidero’s instructions to switch all notifications off.
“Sidero, Isaac is free from Hell. I’ll wait for you inside The Exchange’s main gates, near the building with the walls that look like flowing water. I’ll fill you in on the details when I see you.”
Planar Shift delivered Amdirlain into the entry area of The Exchange, the place far quieter than she had seen it any time previously. Unsure when Sidero would meet her, she took the queue whose runes showed it would allow a five-day stay. The place looked unchanged except for the variation in the crowd, and Amdirlain settled in to wait at her chosen spot.
Blades of emotion twisting inside her mirrored Naz’rilca’s knives and battled every attempt to stay focused on the cool breeze coming off the watery wall behind her. Memories of forming clothing, blankets, and objects crackled painfully along her nerves. The comparison in their agonies mocking her anger at Naz’rilca when she’d done so much worse to herself. Flayed wings slapped the ground within memories’ hold in time with every footstep nearby. With calm nowhere to be found, she grabbed detailed information from Analysis to distract her.
[Prestige Class:
Varni Glinnel (Evolution Class)
This variant of the Tier Seven Prestige Class - Melehta Glinnel - is available when all four base classes are level 100 or higher.
Other Requirements
* One Glinnel Class
* One Divine Caster Class
* Two Combat classes
* Tier 7 achievement available
* Only available to Species: Anar whose Souls have earned Royal Title in a previous or current lifetime
Glinnel Class
* Grand Master rank in True Song
* Grand Master rank in Resonance
* Grand Master rank in Singing
* Senior Master rank in Duet
Combat Classes:
* Senior Master rank in at least two weapon skills
* Senior Master rank in at least one movement Power or Skill
* Senior Master rank in a defensive Skill
Divine Caster Class
* Senior Master rank in Conviction
* Senior Master rank in Channelling
* Senior Master rank in another Divine Caster Power.
General Class Skills:
* Senior Master Rank in Perception Powers or Skill
* Senior Master Rank in Diplomacy
* Have evolved three Powers related to a Class
* Grand Master Rank in two Powers
* Senior Master Rank in six Skills
Provides the following gains:
* Species Evolution at time of selection.
* + 10 Willpower per Level
* + 10 Intelligence per Level
* + 10 (Primary Attribute of Divine Class) per Level
* + 10 (Primary Attribute of First Combat Class) per Level
* + 10 (Primary Attribute of Second Combat Class) per Level
* + 4 Free Attributes per Level
* + 7 times Total Melee Attack Power modifier from all base Classes per Level
* + 7 times Total Ranged Attack Power modifier from all base Classes per Level
* + 7 Defence per Level
* + 2 Skill Points per Level
* + 2 Knowledge Points per Level
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Daylight
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Sonic Barrier
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Multi-voice
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Silent Song
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Conductor
* Evolution of the two highest Combat Class Powers
* Unlock acquisition of Power: World Step (Group)
* Increases chance of gaining major insights in True Song and any other primary Glinnel power.
* Increases chance of gaining major insights in any Divine Caster Skills.
* Increases chance of gaining major insights in Combat and Social Skills.]
[Sonic Barrier
Allows a Glinnel to put in place a set barrier that will cause vibrational damage to anyone they don’t knowingly permit to cross it.]
[Multi-Voice
Allows a Glinnel to sing multiple concurrent parts of any multi-voice song simultaneously or perform two separate True Songs. ]
[Silent Song
Allows the Glinnel to project the True Song without actually singing, need for breath, or undamaged vocal cords. A combination of factors, including song complexity and power rank, may lead to Health backlash if any distraction occurs during the song’s performance.]
[Conductor
Enables a True Song Gestalt to be formed when directing a group with a minimum of three singers. The total number of effective skill levels between True Song and this Power determines the limit of members included in the Gestalt. It compounds the effectiveness the higher in rank this Power grows.]
[Name: Tircundo (Evolution Class)
This variant of the Tier Seven Prestige Class—Tácundo—is available when all four base classes are level 100 or higher.
Other Requirements
* Two Combat classes
* One Stealth Class
* One Arcane Caster Class
* Tier 7 achievement available
* Only available to individual accepted as the Protector of an Anar or Lómë
Combat Classes:
* Senior Master rank in at least four combat skills
* Senior Master rank in a defensive Skill
* Senior Master rank in a movement Power or Skill
Caster Class Wizard:
* All Tier Three Affinities known, along with two Affinities from Fourth and Fifth Tier.
* Able to cast all spells from twenty Spell lists
Stealth Class:
* Senior Master Rank in two Perception powers or skills
* Senior Master Rank in one Power specific to Stealth Class
* Senior Master Rank in a stealth or deception type Power or Skill
* Senior Master Rank in Danger Sense
Provides the following gains:
* Species Evolution at time of selection
* + 10 Intelligence per Level
* + 10 (Primary Attribute of First Combat Class) per Level
* + 10 (Primary Attribute of Second Combat Class) per Level
* + 10 Quickness per Level
* + 4 Free Attributes per Level
* + 7 times Total Melee Attack Power modifier from Combat classes per Level
* + 7 times Total Ranged Attack Power modifier from Combat classes per Level
* + 10 Defence or + 5 times total Defence modifier from base Combat classes —whichever is greater per Level
* + 2 Skill Points per Level
* + 2 Knowledge Points per Level
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Advanced Absorb Injury
* Evolve Defender or variant to Royal Protector
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Bulwark
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Disruption Parry
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Attend Liège
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Unerring Direction
* Unlock acquisition of Power: Health Surge
* Increases chance of gaining major insights in Primary Weapons groups
* Increases chance of gaining major insights in any Mana Finesse or higher skills
Increases chance of gaining major insights for Infiltration, and Social skills]
[Advanced Absorb Injury
Provides the ability to absorb all Health Damage of any type targeted solely at their sworn charge. This applies before any disruption of Power or Skill in use by the target and also absorbs accompanying conditions.]
[Royal Protector
Increases Melee Attack Power modifier to defence when in full defence mode while in the presence of their sworn charge. It also allows for any physical ranged attacks to be reflected at reduced Power.]
[Disruption Parry
Allows the possessor the chance to parry any Spell manifesting a visible energy structure passing within range of their weapon. ]
[Arcane Bulwark
Increases the defence rating of all combatants within the same defensive formation at time the Power is used; the duration runs to completion even if formation breaks apart. The effective level determines Mana cost, time required between uses, duration, and capacity limit of the barriers applied.]
[Attend Liège
Transport the user to within the immediate proximity of a living sworn charge, regardless of distance or Planar separation. The Skill level determines how much drift there is in arrival position, but the Power doesn’t allow for appearance within another object or person. The target is aware when Power used and may block its use at will, and inform them why.]
[Unerring Direction
Allows the possessor to know details regarding the direction, distance, and state of Health of their sworn charge with but a moment of concentration.]
[Health Surge
Provides a restorative surge of Health, not limited to user’s maximum. Excess Health will fade but provides an initial buffer against injury while it lasts. The amount provided, and the time required between uses, is modified by Skill level.]
I guess I don’t get to tell the variable aspects of someone else’s Prestige Class.
* * *
Sage’s PoV - Elemental Plane of Earth
“Isn’t she coming with us?” Isa asked, prompted by the Gate closing.
Ebusuku’s usually lively expression was far too calm, the same expression I’d seen repeatedly in the Maze. “She asked us to ensure you had everything you needed and to explain the places where we are helping. If you’ve further immediate need, I’ll contact her for clarification.”
“Seems she has other priorities, Isa,” quipped Ilya flatly.
I barely opened my mouth to object when Ebusuku’s retort froze the air. “Unlike either of you, she’s cursed still, or had you forgotten so quickly? Plus, she needs to speak with Sarah, who doesn’t possess an evolution option yet. There are too many things Amdirlain has delayed because of putting others first.”
I almost sighed, gesturing towards the fortifications, but focus on settling things. “Duskstone is just ahead and Amdirlain said to equip you with whatever you need; some items are on a connected world, but we can arrange for them to be retrieved. Amdirlain’s tale will take a while to read and consider; it has many details I found uncomfortable, along with a list of our current endeavours.”
“I take it she’s modest since she wrote it down,” scoffed Ilya.
“Ilya, stop jumping to conclusions,” Isa advised, resting a hand on her arm.
“Isa, I was to tell you she’s taking your advice about skills and not keeping things tucked away to heart. Sarah doesn’t have any capability to travel so easily as any of us, so Amdirlain’s gone to see her,” said Ebusuku, her tone regaining its usual warmth.
“Thank you,” Isa said, having the grace to nod in thanks. “Ebusuku, isn’t it? Amdirlain apologised, but I didn’t take the time to give my apologies to her for my words. When will she be meeting up with us?”
“You won’t see her again for a time; she has a complex task she needs to focus on. We’re to help you get settled.”
“What?”
Ignoring Isa’s blurted question, Ebusuku merely glanced my way, the coolness of her attitude making me wonder what I missed going through the Gate first. “Please help these two at Clan Gildenshield?”
“You’re just fobbing us off as well,” accused Ilya.
The muscle in Ebusuku’s jawline visibly bunched for a moment before she responded. “That Planar Attunement Spell Amdirlain used, gaining that grimoire, required dealing with a Demon Lady who almost arranged her destruction. Her version of Planar Law isn’t the common Spell list. It’s quite rare, yet she’s asked me to arrange a copy of the grimoire for you. Not sell you one, give you one. If the grimoire was mine, I’d charge you through the nose for a copy. I’m not 'fobbing you off'; I’m arranging things as per Lady Amdirlain’s request.”
“The whole grimoire?!” exclaimed Ilya, and Ebusuku’s curt nod set her blinking. “Maybe I was hasty, but I still don’t want Isa or myself to be another person’s tool.”
“We have tasks we’re tackling, and we will provide all the information we have. What help you provide will always be your choice—Amdirlain wouldn’t have it any other way,” declared Ebusuku, already stalking towards Duskstone.
“What name is Sarah using now?” Isa asked me softly, lingering behind.
“Sidero. She was turned into a Kyton.”
Isa choked for a moment and looked grimly at Ilya. “Sarah is Princess Sidero, last daughter of the Kyton’s Great Mother?”
“No one mentioned Princess, but the rest matches,” I admitted.
Isa pauses when I follow Ebusuku, but quickly catches up, muttering unhappily. “The song coming from her is merciless and cold.”
“Might not that have been her chain garb,” I suggested gently.
“The songs of the living are different to objects, even Hell forged. I only heard her song once and wanted to bury her.”
At that, Ilya spoke up from guarding the rear. “Scattering her ashes across the Ninth Layer of Hell would be more effective. That’s usually the Kyton’s Home Plane.”