Guilty Code had actually spent the night in Sanctuary working with Hellsing Corp. R&D helping to prepare the replacement M-tek horses for Dash, Lilith and Luseal, so we were able to make magnificent time. The new technology showed much promise.
We arrived at where we had anchored The Black Ruby and realised that we had not planned for our landing vessel to transport four mechanical horses back to the ship. It was a relatively simple matter to load three of them into Sanctuary using Lightning's forge. Although it was no longer powered by a power supply from space, it still did its job. We also rotated out the crew of the ship for a fresh crew from Sanctuary.
Once aboard we set sail immediately and sailed east. As we approached Brillveer; The easternmost continent of the known world we spotted ships approaching from that direction. They flew flags reminiscent of the elven kingdom’s but with a few alterations. We dropped the sails and cut the engine, and waited for the ships to approach. I figured our magical defences would be enough to negate any advantage a surprise attack would benefit. As the shops drew near we could see the men on deck were not preparing for an attack, So we relaxed a little. Once close enough we could see elven mages using wind magics to manoeuvre their vessels. A stern voice requested that they be able to board our vessel. The voice spoke in common, which was rather surprising to me as the noble elves I had previously encountered always spoke exclusively in elven.
We complied and exchanged a few lines, and before we had a chance to do so ourselves, they extended an elaborately adorned boarding plank to The Black Ruby. I immediately noticed the half-elf members of their crew, and perhaps more shockingly the captain herself seemed to have some human blood. The captain of their ship offered to escort us to a dock, but when they learned of my quest to track down the necromancer they insisted on escorting me to the royal harbour to speak with their leader. She left behind a member of her crew to help navigate the local waters and extended an offer for me to board her ship to exchange information.
The elven ship was made of a beautiful white hardwood adorned with visible gold colored frames. The upper deck was broad and open, and the captain of the ship led me into her ready room. She waved her hand when she entered and it seemed to illuminate crystals throughout the room. Luseal and Lilith were separated from their avatars as the ships distance became too great, so they just listened in on the conversation.
I spent the better half of a day learning that the new kingdom of Brillveer was built on the remains of the lost 4th kingdom and the lands that once belonged to the betrayers. It was founded by the last elf king. But now populated by many humans as well. The elves who inhabited these lands eventually became known as high-elves. I had always assumed that Brillveer was populated by humans based on the type of civilization I heard about in my youth. It seemed the high-elves had their own interpretation of the prophecy, and actually welcomed half-elf individuals.
Sailing further south revealed the high-elves’ kingdom. It was built atop a familiar looking crystal foundation, but the castle constructed on top looked more like the elven ship I had encountered. It was pearl white with gold-capped spires. Large gems and crystals sat on top of poles and embedded in the pathways I could see from the ship as I grew nearer.
We docked in the royal dockyard and I was able to reunite with my band (reanimating one of their avatars). The captain told me she enjoyed our conversation and told me that she would send word ahead to prepare a room for us in a hotel. She told us that someone would come for us when our audience with the king was at hand. So it seemed like I was to establish unofficial diplomatic relations with yet another faction. I discussed the upcoming meeting with my companions. We spent the night splitting the hours between vampiric soul-links and dreams hosted by Dash. By morning we all agreed that it would likely be best to attempt another exchange of technology.
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Come morning we were summoned by the king’s guard and brought before the grand throne room. Upon entering the palace I felt a surge of energy from Luseal. I confirmed that she was okay, but she was less talkative while within the seemingly ancient walls. A woman introduced the king, King Woulfgang. He wore a crown which obscured his face. He appeared to be a pure blooded elf and held a large crystal ball in one hand, with a book in the other. As I felt his gaze shift upon me I saw the book in his hand flutter away into a ring he wore on his finger.
Our formal conversation was brief and unfruitful. But the following informal discussion yielded much information of great value. He described the gems his people used in their own implementation of M-tek. And revealed the royal dungeon found in the ruins beneath his kingdom. He showed me his own royal ring, host to its own pocket dimension. His royal private space was primarily built upon a library.
He showed me books containing information on the 4th kingdom. It seemed they too were human, meaning there were once two human kingdoms. And discussing the orc who fell from the sky led him to deliver an intimidating warning about “flying too high” but it seemed he meant it quite literally. He asked “Why do you think the age of heaven came to an end?”. I tried to coax a little more information on the subject from him but got the strong impression that he did not wish to discuss it further.
Finally the subject of discussion turned to the necromancer. The high-elf king theorised that the necromancer was a human from the 4th kingdom using the goddess Fate’s entrusted gift to manipulate her creations. He revealed that the necromancer’s whereabouts were likely on the southern cape of the continent. Before heading off to avenge the death of my lover, King Woulfgang and I spent a few days exchanging contraptions and visiting one another’s workshops. At one point I was even able to introduce the king to the dwarven princess; Beth.
It seemed the high-elves tech had a lot to offer us, and our tech likewise had much to offer them in turn. So much so that we ended up deciding to temporarily exchange a few engineers and artificers to assist each other in R&D.
Of course we were discreet when openly discussing the diplomatic relations between the growing number of kingdoms across the world. Woulfgang pretty much confirmed that there was a plot by the 4th kingdom; To prevent the other kingdoms from threatening their grasp on the planet. He believed that their kingdom existed in the sky and that some of their numbers may still be observing the actions of the other kingdoms to this day.
One day Luseal made a request of the king. She asked that she see the “core” of the palace. I was confused by the request but the king seemed intrigued, and obliged. He led us into a dungeon passage and into a labyrinth. After many twists and turns we entered a small room with floors that seemed to expose the bedrock. And in the middle of the room there was a sword with its blade plunged into the stone.
Luseal abandoned her mechanised avatar and assumed her dream avatar form. She had never done this outside of the chi rich environment of Sanctuary. As she approached the sword the king stepped forward and warned us that the palace was supported by this device. Luseal nodded in acknowledgement but reached for the handle of the sword anyway.
Luseal was enveloped by a flash of light and her appearance had altered drastically. She felt more real, as if more solid. She was no longer an avatar, but a corporeal being. She had gained a set of feathered angelic wings and although appearing eleven in nature, she no longer possessed their more distinguishing features. She took a moment to gain her thoughts and informed us that she was an angel. That before Fate had created the dragons to do her bidding she had created another race to assist her in her goals. Next she told us that her real name was Lucretcia, and this blade was her sister sword. While not possessing a soul of its own, it contained pure heavenly energies; Like the ones allowing it to manifest an entire palace!
It seemed Luseal was no longer in need of her avatar, so I began to formulate a way to integrate it into the chi clone avatar Lilith had been using. I thought the term homunculus was suitable for a soulless body, but after some discussion it seemed golem was suitable. Although a little confusing for individuals familiar with golems as animated stones, usually empowered by an individual with a soul, and even sometimes possessing a soul of its own.