Story name: Winter's First Chill
Author: Charles Matthias
Publication date: July 22 - 27, 2001 (TSA-Talk)
Date: December 24, 706 CR
Location: Metamor Keep (Wessex's apartments, Long House, Sondeckis Chapel), the Åelfwood, Ava-shåvais
Overview
Wessex performs an augury to learn the truth of Zagrosek. Charles has some Yuletide guests over for Garigan. Kashin learns the true depth of his mission.
Summary
Part 1
For the first time since he began sleeping in the magically warded dungeons of Metamor, Wessex has the nightmare of Zagrosek again, and it is more detailed than ever before. He dances with eight other figures, all joined hands in a dark chamber around a large crack in the earth that glows red but darkens as it descends. Many of the figures are unrecognizable, but Wessex recognizes a few of his enemies among them; most shocking is that Zhypar is one of them. In the center of this circle, battered and bound, is Jessica. Black ooze from the censor drips onto her from the darkness above, which suddenly tells Wessex that he is his. Wessex screams himself awake.
In the early afternoon of December 24th, Charles attends a Christmas party with Kimberly at the Long House. After sharing bread with Caroline and Misha, Charles's mood darkens when he gets a glimpse of Rickkter. Misha suggests Caroline show Kimberly around; once gone, Misha darkly asks how Charles's newly-healed arm feels. After all the great feats Charles has done, Misha can't believe that Zhypar could break his arm so easily, but he knows that it's because of the stupid feud with Rickkter, particularly the staff that Rickkter owned. Charles says it would be too hard to explain the thousand-year-old rivalry between their clans, and the staff is rightfully his clan's, but Misha points out that both have left their clans in the South, and that Charles can't divide his loyalties between Metamor and his clan. Misha gives him an ultimatum: if he does not return Rickkter's staff by February, he will eject Charles from the Long Scouts. Misha leaves, and Charles sulks.
In the Åelfwood, Kashin has decided to follow Andares into the Åelfwood to learn more about the assassins who killed the Patriarch. They travel on the remains of an ancient road that once lead to Yerebey, before it was destroyed by Herouc's armies. Andares has never forgotten how the humans betrayed the Åelf, after they had nurtured human civilization, and refuses to share one of the Åelf's beautiful songs with them, for now they are songs of loss. They crest a hill and behold the beautiful Åelf capital of Ava-shåvais. The Åelves stare at Kashin as he enters, who is humbled at being the first human to enter in thousands of years.
Part 2
The winter solstice is the most powerful time of the year to cast spells. Wessex realizes that he can use Rupert's anti-magic powder on one of Loriod's garments to find one with the most magical influence on it, so that he can cast a powerful augury and find the answers he has long sought. After sending a request for Phil, he tidies up the notes he has compiled on his nightmare, writes a short letter, and hides them both in a hidden mechanical cache in the stone wall behind his desk, feeling better that they are hidden.
Phil and Rupert arrive to give him the anti-magic powder; they were just about to leave for Lorland to spend the New Year with Clover. Phil asks what the powder is for; Wessex says he wants to test a theory, and will tell him about when he gets back. Both look forward to talking again like old times. After Phil and Rupert leave, Wessex uses a few grains of anti-magic to find one of Loriod's scarlet doublets loaded with magic.
It is late afternoon. Charles is with Garigan in their quarters, both in their Sondeckis robes. Garigan is about to become promoted from the yellow to the green. Charles is anxiously awaiting something, but Garigan tells him to go. They climb up a secret staircase to the Sondeckis Shrine, where they find Jerome and Zagrosek. Charles laughs, as he had been waiting for Jerome in his quarters; he is also pleased to see Zagrosek, and the three of them catch up on events, such as the matter of the Sondeshike, the situation back in Sondeshara, and the mysterious circumstances in the death of Brothus, the former White. Charles asks if they remember Zhypar Habakkuk, whom he and his two friends once met before in a Southlands village. Charles believes that he is a Felikaush, known for their prophecy and trickery, and since arriving in Metamor has been meddling in his affairs. Garigan defends Zhypar as well-meaning and wise, and Zagrosek suggests hearing him out, but Charles refuses to think any more of it. Wishing to think on happier things, the four Sondeckis begin Garigan's ceremony of the green, and all four sing the Song of the Sondeck.
Part 3
At sunset, with a freshly-drawn spell, Wessex begins the augury. His first vision is of Loriod's rape of Hough, which he quickly pushes past for a deeper memory. He sees Loriod's censer room, and watches Loriod enter, break some chalk, and put it into the censer. A fog arises, and three figures emerge. Wessex recognizes two of them, Zagrosek and Agathe, who tell Loriod that Matthias must be controlled. Wessex is shocked at the revelation that Charles was innocent all along, and begins wondering how he can make amends and warn him of Zagrosek's influence. The third figure warns Loriod of the north wall, and Wessex immediately recognizes Yonson. He remembers examining Yonson when he arrived at Metamor in the summer, but wonders how he hid his evil intentions. He resolves to investigate further.
Just then, outside the spell circle, Wessex sees movement. He ends the spell just as Agathe slips a wire around his throat. Wessex plunges his staff into her eye, and directs a spell into her face, but the wire cuts through his throat, and he cannot heal himself in time. Wessex feels himself descending into a peaceful blackness, where the spirits of Dorson and his family are waiting for him. However, he feels himself being pulled away into an unwanted vessel.
Agathe cleans up her wounds, but her face is permanently disfigured. Enraged, she casts runes on Wessex to bind his soul to his body as an undead ghoul. The ghoul of Wessex bloodily screams in horror, but Agathe tells him he has one last mission to perform; he will open the room to the censer, and plunge the Keep into eternal darkness, fully aware that it is his body doing it. The ghoul shuffles out, and Agathe casts flame runes throughout the apartment, destroying the clothes, the magic circle, his staff, and his bedroom, before the sound of approaching voices cuts her off short. She fashions an eyepatch for herself, and flees out into the snowy night.
Part 4
After an awkward feast with the Åelfs, Kashin is taken to Qan-af-årael, and is impressed by his magic, but is impatient to learn how Qan-af-årael knew about the Patriarch's assassination. Qan-af-årael tells him that it is not the assassin he should seek, but to explain why, he must tell him about the fall of Jagoduun.
Thousands of years ago, Åelfs ruled the north continent, and humans the south. A land bridge connected the continents, and on it stood an Åelf city named Jagoduun. Things changed when humans discovered magic; within a few years, wizards had conquered the Southlands, and a group of nine wizards sought to conquer Jagoduun and the lands beyond. The Åelf prince Yajakali feared the Åelfs could not outlast them, and he crafted three powerful artifacts powered by dark magic to defeat them: a dias, a censer, and a sword. During the midnight Solstice, with magic at its peak, he successfully used them to kill the Nine wizards, but the magic broke through reality to an evil land called the Underworld, dragging the city and its people into it. The land bridge was destroyed, and the lands surrounding it were turned into toxic swamps that deranged and killed all who entered. The humans retreated south and rebuilt their society to protect the land, rather than conquer it. The Boreaux clan took up ownership of the swamp, protecting the Southlands from its evil.
Kashin asks how this is related to the assassin. Qan-af-årael explains that Jagoduun continues to send out dark creatures on occasion, and it continues to draw people towards it that the Underworld can use. The Boreaux clan renamed the land to Marzac, and built a castle on it, the Chateau Marzac. In the process, they unleashed several more creatures, killing their entire line of mages. Kashin recalls that Marzac had been exorcised three years ago, but Qan-af-årael assures him that Marzac corrupts people without their knowing, and tricks them into believing things that aren't true, and into exposing secrets without knowing it. He believes the exorcist exposed the Patriarch's secret trip to Metamor to assassins. Their goal is to cause more death to weaken the fabric of the world, which will make it easier to expand the hole in Marzac. Kashin's true goal should not be towards the assassins hiding in Marzac, which would surely corrupt him if he goes there; he must instead seek and kill the corrupted in Yesulam.
Kashin jumps up and asks why he should trust an Åelf who hates humans. Qan-af-årael tells him of various signs that have happened recently: the censer of Yajakali was found last April in Metamor; an ambassador from Marzac arrived two months later, Metamor's first ambassador in years; and finally, Felix of Lee's prophecy that indicates Metamor's importance to the world's salvation, and his own descendants who predicted Kashin's involvement. Kashin takes a moment to respond. After an assurance that the Patriarch's assassin will suffer a horrible fate in the Underworld, Kashin resolves to travel to Yesulam and cleanse the Ecclesia. Qan-af-årael gives him a room to sleep in; Andares will lead him out of the Åelfwood tomorrow.
Part 5
Garigan's green ceremony is finished, and the four Sondeckis are celebrating in the Shrine, thinking of old memories and hopeful for new ones. When Zhypar the Felikaush is mentioned again, Garigan asks what "Felikaush" means. Charles and Jerome are uncomfortable answering, so Zagrosek explains their origin: it is little-known that Felix of Lee had a pregnant wife who fled to the Southlands. Their son showed similar gifts of prophecy, and within a hundred years their descendants had become a prominent clan. Their hometown was renamed Fellos, and the descendants became known as Felikaush, or "sons of Felix". However, the Felikaush have since become known for using their prophecy to manipulate others for their own ends, which Charles refuses to allow. Jerome suggests that, in addition, Zhypar's power could be too weak to see clearly, or he could be misinterpreting his visions; trusting Zhypar's words could be a mistake. Garigan argues that there is no harm in knowledge, and Zagrosek agrees.
Recalling the recent suspicions laid against Zagrosek, Charles decides to test Zagrosek, and proposes they go meet Zhypar right now. He leads them back through his quarters and down a route to Zhypar's rooms, which passes Wessex's apartments. Seeing them ablaze, they rush in and extinguish as much as they can. Jerome senses it was only started recently. Zagrosek finds burnt blood, and they follow the trail of blood in the halls until they find Wessex drawing an evil spell with his own blood on a convulsing wall. On seeing them, Wessex screams and throws magic at them. They try to stop him, but Wessex's powerful spells knock them to the ground, numbing their limbs so that they cannot stand up. Once he finishes the diagram, a black hand punches through the spell and through Wessex, throwing the hallway into darkness, and releasing the numbness spell on the Sondeckis.
Part 6
A shadowy figure emerges with long limbs, and only a mouth for a face, that produces a sound that can shatter souls — a Shrieker. Just as Charles realizes they will die here, the Keep reforms the area around them into a room with strange geometry, where distances are distorted and there are five walls giving off light in every direction. Jerome focuses on the Wessex ghoul, which has grown spidery legs and tentacles, while Zagrosek and Charles try to kill the Shrieker. The Keep is able to redirect Wessex's attacks onto himself, but the Shrieker is repelled every time Charles and Jerome try to stab it with their Sondeshikes.
The Shrieker moves to attack Garigan, but Garigan calmly reaches out his arms and snaps them back, pulling the air with him, just before the Shrieker reaches him. The Shrieker collapses in pain, and Charles realizes they have to counterintuitively pull the Shrieker towards them. He and Zagrosek get on opposite sides and aim for its head, as a Shrieker cannot live without its head. With help from the room's geometry, the Shrieker is split in two and sucked into the Symphony overhead, where it disintegrates. Jerome tosses the two halves of Wessex into the vortex; they do not dissolve instantly, and Wessex recovers enough to give one last pleading look before dying.
The room snaps back to a Keep hallway, and the Sondeckis regain their bearings. Charles knows the Shrieker must be reported, and realizes that Yonson, the ambassador from Marzac, must be involved somehow. After first cutting off Garigan's dangling teeth, they set off for the Long House. They stop upon seeing a battle between a group of Keepers and a band of Lutins. After helping them defeat the Lutins, Charles and his friends are horrified to learn that Nasoj and his armies are attacking the Keep.
Characters
Main Characters:
- Charles Matthias: A rat morph, a Sondeckis, a new member of the Long Scouts. Misha tells him to return his Sondeshike to Rickkter by February, or else he will eject him from the Long Scouts.
- During the fight with Wessex, Charles's tail and fur are singed and scalded, and his fur along his hands curled and blackened.
- For Garigan's ceremony, he wears his black Sondecki robe, with the Sondeckis heraldry on his breast, over his doublet and tunic. While in the Keep halls, he carries it over his shoulder.
- He normally keeps his Sondeshike on the Sondeckis altar for safe-keeping. He takes it with him while in the Keep halls.
- His tunic is burned to cinders during the Shrieker fight.
- He is queasy by the sight of Sondeckis blood.
- Charles distrusts the Felikaush, and especially dislikes people trying to manipulate him, and he is angry that Zhypar seems to want him to reveal his identity, and seemed to manipulate everyone last year.
- When Rickkter was in the infirmary, Zhypar warned him not to kill him, or he would doom himself to become a monster, instead of a Sondeckis.
- A month ago, his arm was broken, and he has spent the time scrubbing armor and doing other humiliating tasks. It has recently fully healed.
- After Misha's ultimatum, he began to drank heavily at the party, until Kimberly stopped him; his buzz wore off in an hour.
- Wessex: A child morph, a powerful mage. He had not had a nightmare since Legacies, when he began sleeping in the Keep's magically warded dungeons, until now. Wanting to end them, he casts a powerful augury spell on one of Loriod's garments, where he witnesses events from Keeping the Lamp Lit, particularly Loriod's rape of Hough, and Loriod's meeting with Zagrosek and his accomplices. Just after doing so, he is murdered by Agathe, and raised as a ghoul to open the wall to the Censor, whereupon his body opens and a Shrieker emerges. He briefly regains awareness just before his body is thrown into the Underworld.
- After summoning the Shrieker, his torso is torn from his lower half. Both halves grow spidery legs from the wound. Wessex's upper half has 8 legs; from his back are two bluish-gray tentacles with octopus suckers; his mouth has split open wider to shoot a black oily noxious fluid that burns stone.
- He did not celebrate Christmas or Solstice. He typically spends the time taking advantage of the seasonal magic strength, studying or casting magic.
- In the augury, he wore a white gown. He is last seen with his gown drenched in blood, his neck completely sliced open, hair matted with blood.
Supporting Characters:
- Krenek Zagrosek: A Sondeckis, one of Charles's childhood friends. Wessex knows he is behind several murders, such as Loriod, Akabaieth, and his apprentice Dorson. Unknown to him, Zagrosek visits Charles for Yuletide, and shows no ill intent or awareness of his murders. He and Jerome help Charles raise Garigan to the green, before helping Charles face a Shrieker.
- He has a wiry face with a handsome smile and tangled black hair. A small bit of black hair just past his ears; on occasion a strand of black hair will fall down his face. He has large hands.
- In Wessex's augury, he has narrow hateful eyes.
- He wears the same cloak as Charles, tucking it under his shirt while walking the Keep's halls. He possesses a Sondeshike.
- His shirt catches on fire during the Shrieker fight.
- Charles considers him an expert on Southern clans, though he claims he is more a connoisseur.
- He is willing to call out people's hypocrisy, such as Charles's dishonor in tricking a Kankoran. He also encourages Charles to listen to Zhypar's advice. He does not insist the point, however. He has always had a dry humor. He says he would prefer to mend wounds than cause them.
- In contrast to his previous appearances, he shows no sign of malice to the Keep, or any awareness of his plans with Loriod or the Patriarch. Charles never asks for clarification.
- Wessex believes that Zagrosek has been manipulating him to distrust everyone, making him easier to manipulate. He also believes Zagrosek will use his friendship with Charles to his advantage, possibly through access to the Keep. These suspicions are not substantiated here.
- According to Zagrosek, he spent the last 3 years wandering Sathmore and the Midlands, losing the Sondeckis' pursuit. Last month, he met Jerome in a Lothanasi temple. When he heard Charles was in Metamor, he insisted on coming.
- According to Qan-af-årael (though indirectly), he currently lives inside of Marzac.
- Zagrosek says he or Jerome could find a private tailor in the Midlands, and by the Spring send a tapestry to replace the lost one in Charles's Sondeckis shrine.
- He has a wiry face with a handsome smile and tangled black hair. A small bit of black hair just past his ears; on occasion a strand of black hair will fall down his face. He has large hands.
- Garigan: A ferret morph, Charles's Sondeckis apprentice. He has spent months as a yellow, and today he is raised to the green. He helps his Sondeckis friends defeat the Shrieker, and comes up with the final plan to defeat it.
- He has a gray-white face and dark eyes.
- Two of his front teeth are broken by Wessex, hanging by their skin until they're cut off by Zagrosek. He keeps the teeth.
- For the ceremony to the green, he initially wears an all-yellow robe and sash. By the end, he wears a green Sondeckis robe, though he puts it over his shoulder while walking the Keep. Like all Glenner scouts, he carries a knife in his boot.
- Despite not being a Black of the Sondeckis, Charles persuaded Jerome to tell him about Brothus's death.
- He personally trusts Zhypar, as he has never done anything explicitly harmful, and his anger seems to be frustration at others' poor decisions.
- He has a gray-white face and dark eyes.
- Jerome Krabbe: A Sondeckis, one of Charles's childhood friends. The only other time he visited the Keep was a brief visit to Charles, promising to go into hiding so as not to reveal Charles's location.
- He has broad shoulders, flowing shoulder-length auburn hair, narrow eyes, thin lips, a long hooked nose, and a well-shaped goatee.
- Jerome's shoulder is sliced by one of Wessex's boulders.
- He wears the same black Sondeckis cloak as Charles, tucking it under his shirt while walking the Keep's halls.
- He is committed to honor the Sondeckis. He considers Charles's trick upon Rickkter to be well-thought and well-deserved.
- Since going into hiding, he has not had open communications with the Southlands.
- He has broad shoulders, flowing shoulder-length auburn hair, narrow eyes, thin lips, a long hooked nose, and a well-shaped goatee.
- Agathe: A Runecaster. She is typically seen with Zagrosek. Wessex met her once before, when she was helping Zagrosek kill the Patriarch. She interrupts Wessex's augury to kill him, destroy his apartments, and send him on one final mission to summon a Shrieker. She is disfigured in the process.
- She had bloodshot eyes. She wears purple with the insignia of a pointing hand. Her usual expression is a sultry grin.
- Her face is scarred by Wessex's spell, and her right eye is lost by Wessex's staff.
- She sees Loriod, like most men, as a pig.
- At some point, she left the Runecasters. She learned other runes elsewhere, such as involving necromancy.
- She is currently aligned with the Underworld.
- She had bloodshot eyes. She wears purple with the insignia of a pointing hand. Her usual expression is a sultry grin.
- Kashin: A Yeshuel, a one-armed survivor of Akabaieth's massacre. He is brought before Qan-af-årael to learn the true history of Marzac.
- He wears thick water-resistant sheepskin boots and thick leggings.
- In Metamor, he wore boots that weren't water-resistant.
- While traveling through the Outer Midlands, he would stay in barns, and earn his keep by tending to the livestock.
- He wears thick water-resistant sheepskin boots and thick leggings.
- Andares-es-sebashou: An Åelf, Qan-af-årael's student. He was sent to bring Kashin to Qan-af-årael.
- Like most Åelf, he has never forgiven humans for the destruction of their past. Qan-af-årael, however, knows that he is not as stuck in the past as other Åelves.
- Qan-af-årael: A wise old Åelf. He teaches Kashin the history of Marzac, and gives him a mission.
- He has high long ears, joined eyebrows, golden eyes, high tight cheek bones, and long slender arms. He has a bright somber voice. He is centuries, possibly millennia old, long enough to have lived most of his life in Yerebey.
- He is titled "the Master of Ava-shåvais, the Lord of Colors in Åelfwood", and other titles that are only in Åelfish.
- Like other Åelves, he disdains humans, but claims he does not resent their supremacy in this era.
- He impresses Kashin by blowing dust from his hand, which spreads throughout the room and lights the candles around them. Kashin is apparently not able to see the magic at work; Qan-af-årael claims that it is an Åelfish secret.
- The Shrieker: A creature from the Underworld, summoned by Wessex's magic. It is torn in half by Zagrosek and Charles, before being apparently disintegrated by a modified Symphony spell.
- See Society below for general details on Shriekers.
Minor Characters:
- Misha: A fox morph, leader of the Long Scouts. Angry at Charles's and Rickkter's ongoing private feud, he promises to evict Charles from the Long Scouts if he does not return Rickkter's Sondeshike by February.
- Kimberly: A rat morph, Charles's betrothed. She attends Misha's Christmas party with Charles. She is taken to the Chapel for Hough's Christmas service, where she presumably remains at story's end.[2]
- Caroline: An otter morph, Misha's girlfriend, seen at Misha's Christmas party.[1]
- Phil: A rabbit morph, Crown Prince of Whales, Steward of Lorland, and Wessex's friend. He briefly visits Wessex, before leaving with Clover to Lorland for the New Year.[2]
- A heavily morphic rabbit, one of the few facial expressions he can make is a grimace. He has blue eyes.
- He wears a rich azure doublet and hose.
- Rupert: A gorilla morph, Phil's bodyguard.[2]
- He wears orange, color of the Whalish Marines.
- The female soldier. She has served Metamor for years. She tells Charles about the attack.[6]
- She has family in the town inside the Outer wall (presumably Keeptowne).
Cameo:
- Rickkter: A raccoon morph, a Kankoran, briefly seen at Misha's Yuletide party.[1]
- He and Charles are from rival Southlands clans, and have had an uneasy co-existence since Rickkter arrived. One particular grievance was Rickkter's ownership of a Sondeshike, the sacred weapon of Charles's clan. Rickkter lent it to him during the Battle of Stepping Rock, and has been trying to get it back.
- Kershaw: A red panda morph, a Long Scout, seen at Misha's Yuletide party.
- A female Åelf singer, who sings an exotic sorrowful song.
- Dorson: A ferret morph, Wessex's friend and star pupil, until he was killed by Zagrosek. Wessex sees his spirit in the afterlife.[3]
- Wessex's parents. Wessex sees their spirits in the afterlife.[3]
- Wessex's mother has brown eyes.
- Tilyå-nou: An Åelf, Ava-shåvais's village elder. He is old enough to have seen the founding of the present human world. He sits across from Kashin at the feast, saying nothing.[4]
- He has a hard-lined face. He is able to understand Common.
- A marten morph with a chipped fang, part of the team fighting Lutins in the intersection. He wears a mailed shirt.[6]
- 2 dead Keepers, killed in the fight with Lutins.
- About 20 Lutins who fight the Keepers, and are surrounded and killed by the Sondeckis. They wore chain mail and furs, and were armed with cheaply-made axes and sabres.
- One Lutin is seen killed by Charles, its spine crushed by Charles's Sondeshike.
- Two Lutins are seen killed by Zagrosek, their weapons broken and limbs severed by Zagrosek's Sondeshike.
Prominent Mention:
- Zhypar Habakkuk: A kangaroo morph, a Felikaush posing as a book merchant from the Southlands. Years ago, Charles and his friends met him in Makor. Charles believes that he is a Felikaush, a person gifted with prophecy.
- He has been writing a story for six years, actually a prophecy. In one scene, he wrote of a white weasel. In another, he had a man in white who alienated everyone around him, who died of a brain sickness — which predicted Brothus.[5]
- He spent most of his time studying in the Keep's library, apparently trying to interpret his own prophecy.
- He has been repeatedly hinting that Charles should reveal himself, much to his annoyance.
- He has been writing a story for six years, actually a prophecy. In one scene, he wrote of a white weasel. In another, he had a man in white who alienated everyone around him, who died of a brain sickness — which predicted Brothus.[5]
- Yonson: A lemur morph, a Weathermonger serving as a diplomat from the Chateau Marzac. He appears in Wessex's augury, meeting with Loriod. Charles remembers at the end of the story that, as someone from Chateau Marzac, he is most likely to want to summon a Shrieker.
- As a human, he had wavy blond shoulder-length hair. He was taller and broader than Zagrosek. If not for his eyes and tight smile, he would have a friendly face.[3]
- He is seen wearing purple long-sleeved robes with engraved lightning bolts on his sleeves and chest.[3]
- Wessex had examined him in Diplomacy, yet found no memories of Loriod or anything associated with Loriod, nor any evil intent. It is not known how he could possibly have hidden it.
- Was something controlling Yonson during his contact with Loriod? Was Yonson made to forget his memories? Does he have memories which can be concealed from magic scans? Was Wessex being controlled during his magic scan, so that he never noticed or remembered Yonson's intent?
- Yajakali: An Åelf prince of Jagoduun from millennia ago, the son of Kaerbashyia. When nine human wizards were planning to attack Jagoduun, Yajakali feared his people's mages could not defend the city. He studied the same eldritch magic as the humans had, and created three jeweled artifacts that he hoped would turn the humans into the beasts he saw them as. He succeeded, but at great and terrible cost to Jagoduun.
Important Mention:
- Altera Loriod: A male gendermorph, a corrupt former lord of Lorland. He met regularly with Zagrosek through a Censer.
- Jessica: A hawk morph, a journeyman mage, Wessex's student. Since the Battle of Three Gates, she is his only student to ascend to journeyman.[2]
- Hough: A child morph, the Keep's Ecclesian priest. In the spring, he had been captured and raped by Altera Loriod until the curse took him.[3]
- Before the curse, he had been tall, with a short brown beard. When he was captured, he wore a simple smock.
- The new patriarch (SPOILER), who has declared that Metamor is not directly responsible for Akabaieth's death, but that they are responsible for incompetence and complicity with the murderer. He has given no opinion on Sathmore.
- Geshter: The exorcist who visited Marzac 3 years ago. He was led to believe that he successfully exorcised Marzac, but he was instead corrupted. He, or an accomplice, revealed the Patriarch's plans to his assassins. Whether Kashin knows that he committed the exorcism or not, he is the new target for Kashin's mission.
- Felix of Lee: A highly-respected prophet who lived within the last 3000 years, called by Zagrosek the most important prophet of the last 3000 years. His prophecies indicate Metamor's importance. His descendants are known in the Southlands as Felikaush.
- Later in his life, he went mad from his visions, and was forced into solitary confinement.
- Brothus: the now-deceased former White of the Sondeckis.[2]
- His death took place over a few weeks. His mind failed, and he lost control of his arms and legs. Within a few weeks, he was paralyzed. His body slowly shut down over the course of a few days until finally dying.
- The specifics of his death were ordered only to be told to Blacks of the Sondeckis. Jerome was one of them.
- Yoenel: the new White of the Sondeckis. He is still trying to remove Brothus's cronies.[2]
- Kaerbashyia: An Åelf, the last king of Jagoduun. He was said to be the fairest Åelf who ever lived. He was horrified by his son Yajakali's work.[4]
- Ladero: A deceased Sondeckis childhood friend of Charles, Jerome, and Zagrosek.
- He was always the first to offer toasts.[5]
- Felix's wife: A little-known figure in Felix of Lee's life. She was pregnant when Felix went mad, and the Baron arranged her passage to the Southlands. However, instead of landing on the north shore, she traveled eastward around the Ebony Archipelago and settled in Kutelis, now known as Fellos.[5]
- Felix's son, born soon after his mother settled in Kutelis. At 15, he began showing signs of prophecy like his father, gaining the attention of a local lord, and becoming the ancestor of all Felikaush.[5]
Referenced:
- Eli: The Follower god.
- Akabaieth: The former Patriarch, whose murder Kashin seeks to avenge.
- Gregor: A capybara morph, the Keep's talented baker.[1]
- Brennar: A tabby cat morph, Gregor's apprentice, who made a surprisingly good cheese bread.[1]
- Clover: A rabbit morph, Phil's wife, who is going to Lorland with Phil for the New Year.
- Dream Serpent: A marten morph, a minstrel who has been teaching Caroline the flute.[1]
- Andre: A wolverine morph, a friend of Misha's who, with Charles and Misha and Rickkter, fought at Stepping Rock.[1]
- Nasoj: The evil wizard of the North who cursed Metamor Keep. He leads another attack on the Keep at the end.
- Benlan Rais: An innkeeper of Bozojo, who gave Andares directions to Metamor months ago, and days ago gave Kashin directions to Yerebey.[1]
- He gives a good price for his information.
- Wessex's brothers, who would beat him up when he was young, but were not always terrible to him. They grew to be strong fighters, but are now dead.[2]
- Herouc: A historical king of the Midlands. Hundreds of years ago, he and his armies sacked the city of Yerebey.[4]
- Copernicus: A lizard morph and Charles's friend, imagined to be bundled up by a fire.[5]
- The Baron of Lee, who advised Felix's wife to flee to the Southlands.[5]
- A local lord of Katelis. He raised Felix's son to prominence, leading to the city's rename to Fellos.[5]
- He was said to have been a man of high ambition, but also of good reason, and he dutifully followed Felix's son's advice.
- Calephas: The lord of Arabas, whom Charles fled from in April (see Keeping the Lamp Lit).[5]
- Three characters who only appear in Wessex's dream:
- An unknown Åelf.
- An unknown priest.
- An unknown nobleman.
Locations
- Wessex's apartments are burned tonight: see Wagging Tongues Will for more details. The following include details that may have been true up until the arson.[2][3][5]
- His workroom held a vast slate, on which every remaining Loriod garment was laid out. A mirror was set up at the far end to see any visitors.
- Agathe burns the garment to ash, shatters the mirror, sets alight Wessex's staff, and turns the slate floor to slag. By the time the Sondeckis arrive, only a piece of a bright satin garment remains.
- His study and private bedroom had not been slept in since Legacies. It had two bookcases, one empty from holding Christmas gifts for his students, the other stocked with his own Christmas presents. Among these gifts were a brush and cleam to remove wax from his damask lounge (see Legacies); and an ornate mahogany scroll case holding a map of the known world on thick paper. There was also a rug, a damask longue chair, ivory stanchions, a small mahogany bed, and a painting of his manor over the mantle. Wessex also left a pile of Loriod's clothes, which were mostly burned by Agathe, except for a scrap she took for an eyepatch.
- After the fire, only the hearth and painting are not touched by fire. The longue is only slightly burned. The bookcase frame is burned but saved, although the gifts are destroyed. The desk is partly burned, its legs buckled, and the ink bottle smashed.
- There is a natural cache in the wall, hidden by a spring-driven brick that pushes out when pushed in, its cracks dusted over to blend with the wall. Inside is a stack of papers, the first of which is a short letter, the rest containing every detail of his nightmares, and every note he had on Zagrosek (prior to his final augury).
- Wessex's library appears to have been saved, judging by Jerome's statements.
- His workroom held a vast slate, on which every remaining Loriod garment was laid out. A mirror was set up at the far end to see any visitors.
- Charles's quarters have a thick oak door. There is a nearby staircase that leads up and around corners to Wessex's apartments.
- At the far end of Charles's quarters is a door that looks like a closet's, but actually leads to a narrow spiral staircase to the Sondeckis Shrine. The staircase exists so that Charles and Garigan can practice in secret, without needing to pass through Long House's security. The stairs are worn and slippery, hinting at a long history of use. There are no torches inside.
- The Sondeckis Shrine exactly matches Charles's, Zagrosek's, and Jerome's childhood training shrine. The walls and floor are made of bright yellow clay instead of stone. At one end of the shrine is a closet made of balsam wood, inside of which is a green robe for Garigan (presumably placed there by the Keep). There is a larder as well, containing ale among other things. At the other end is an alcove connecting with the staircase to Charles's room, with a hook for holding a lantern.
- The Lutin fight occurs in a 4-way intersection, with braziers every 30 feet.
- The area around the wall where Wessex draws his Symphony is badly distorted. After the fight with the Shrieker, it is apparently sealed away, again by the Keep.
- The room the Keep provides to fight the Shrieker is a multi-sided room that does not obey normal geometry. Light enters from every direction, preventing any shadows. There is no floor or ceiling; a traveler can move across every wall, each of which has five walls bending outward at right angles. Distances and directions are also distorted, with circles in the air travelling in odd angles, and movement along the ground different from sight.[6]
- It is being constantly altered by the Keep; at one point, the geometry shifts so that Zagrosek and Charles are in multiple places at once, surrounding the Shrieker on all sides, with the Symphony overhead.
- Yonson mentions the north walls of the Keep. They are hard to reach from the outside, can accessible from the southern gates by a ridge.
- Lorland is implied to be higher than the other farmland of the Valley, given the plan to flood all but Lorland.
- From Bozojo, it takes most of a fortnight to reach the woods, across the Outer Midlands.
- The outer regions of the Outer Midlands are marked by farms and small villages along small rivers.
- The Åelfwood is an ancestral forest. Its trees grow in close clumps, and are as wide as horses or wider. The terrain to the north is hilly, grower flatter to the south, where it will eventually join the Flatlands.
- The Ruins of Yerebey lie 40 leagues or so north of Salinon. It had once been a city of ivory and jade towers. Now, its stones have been taken, leaving only foundations.[1]
- The Yume-tåi Road was an ancient tiled road leading from the ruins of Yerebey, subtly following the hills south of the Barrier Mountains and into the Åelfwood to Ava-shåvais. A once-major road, it has fallen into disuse, with the Åelfwood allowed to hide it; only the occasional chiselled green rock and exposed tile reveal it. It takes several days to travel.[1]
- Ava-shåvais is a very beautiful city. Slender spiral minarets, green with ivory spirals, seem to grow from the ground among the trees themselves, surrounded by clusters of small buildings. Some of the lower buildings have porcelain balconies. Every window pane and roof tile is a different shade of green and blue, intricately designed like rivers. Green walkways on the ground connect the buildings. The city is surrounded by a thick line of trees, preventing any light from getting through.[1]
- A river flows through the city, with at least two bridges made of ivory. One bridge closer to the Yume-tåi Road has an engraving of a deer in its center, with antlers protruding from the railing; the other is similar, but with a bear instead. There are bowls along its rim, decorated with flowers for feasts.
- Andares mentions a "first gate" in Ava-shåvais, but it isn't clarified where these gates are, or how they are numbered.
- Qan-af-årael's tower is the tallest in Ava-shåvais.[4]
- The walls along the stairs are decorated with frescoes and engravings. Each stone has delicate grillwork like porcelain or marble. Each window has a balcony.
- Qan-af-årael's room is in the topmost room of the tower. His chair has velvety cushions and a tree-like back, with jade "leaves" decorating its branches. Two marble stanchions with white candles are beside it, providing dim light for the room. A chair for guests, out of sight of the door, is undecorated but has warm satin cushions. Several candles sit in a half-circle around the room. On the walls is scrollwork of feasts and artists. The ivory windowsill has strange diagrams chiselled into it.
- Yesulam has beautiful crenellated onion domes with frescoes.
- Lee was a town in the Northlands, where Felix of Lee lived. It was ruled by a baron.
- The Ebony Archipelago is a dangerous feature for boats to travel through.
- Fellos is a now-destroyed city, best known for its mages, the Felikaush.
- Fellos was once a small village in the southeastern Southlands named Kutelis. It was renamed to Fellos after Felix's son's family became prominent aristocrats.
- Jagoduun was an ancient Åelfish city that used to join the north continent and south continent across the Splitting Sea thousands of years ago. It is at the current location of the Chateau Marzac.
- Stories say that the old story had spire-topped skyscrapers. Underneath the city were gold and jewel mines.
- The land currently surrounding it is an inhospitable swamp. Inside the ruins is a door to the Underworld; it only lets a few creatures through, usually when the barrier between worlds weakens.
- It is said that Yajakali's chambers are still underground, though warped by great power.
- After its fall, it remained connected to the Southlands for thousands of years. Sometime after 200 CR, the seas shifted, and it is connected to the north continent.
- The city seems to draw people towards it that it can use. Legends say that Yajakali himself is still alive, serving or being tortured by the Underworld masters to absorb the whole world.
- The Underworld is a separate plane from the real world, far more terrible than any Hell.
Chronology
- About 11,000 years ago, elves (Åelves in particular) were the masters of creation, who raised humans from barbarism and built empires together.
- At that time, the northern and southern continents, now divided by the Splitting Sea, were joined at Jagoduun.
- At some point, humans discovered magic. Mages came to dominate human societies, conquering and uniting the Southlands.
- Within 10 to 20 years of conquering the Southlands, human wizard commanders united to attack Jagoduun, about a month before the Solstice. Yajakali began to create his artifacts.
- After a month-long siege, on the midnight of the Solstice, both the wizards and Yajakali tried to use the Solstice's power to destroy the other.
- Yajakali's three artifacts threw the city and its people into the Underworld, destroyed the land bridge between the continents, and turned the land surrounding the ruins into a toxic swamp.
- An Åelf relief force of thousands who had been on the landbridge was drowned as well.
- For the first few years after Jagoduun's fall, all who entered the land saw unseen terrors, went mad, and died terribly.
- Nearly 10,000 years after the fall of Jagoduun, humans and Åelves once again got into conflict.
- In the last 3000 years, no one has been a more important prophet than Felix of Lee.
- Within 100 years of Felix's son's birth, the Felikaush had become prominent within the newly-renamed town of Fellos.
- Over the last 1000 years, Felikaush became known for trickery, rather than altruism.
- 500 years ago (circa 200 CR) was the last known appearance of creatures from the Underworld. The seas had not yet shifted then; the Boreaux swamp was still connected to the Southlands.
- Hundreds of years ago, Herouc and his armies sacked the city of Yerebey.
- Hundreds of years it has been since someone sat in the guest chair in Qan-af-årael's room.
- Before 615 CR (before Akabaieth's birth) was the last time Qan-af-årael received a guest.
- In 690 CR (16 years ago), Fellos was destroyed, and with it most of the Felikaush.[2]
- Years ago, while they were blue-rank, Charles and his friends were settling a small feud in the Southland city of Makor. There, they met Zhypar.
- At one point, Charles and Jerome both got very drunk and challenged each other to a fight. Ladero mock-toasted their bravery, and Jerome splashed Charles's face with wine. Charles gave away his wine-stained cassock.
- It has been 7 years since Zagrosek and Charles fought together.
- 6 years ago, Zhypar began writing a story, actually a prophecy.
- 3 years ago, Zagrosek left Sondeshara.
- Also 3 years ago, an Ecclesian priest visited Marzac to exorcise it. He, and the Church, where led to believe he succeeded; instead, he was secretly corrupted.
- A weather spell was anchored on Metamor Keep's north wall from at least April to May, holding the warm air over Metamor to melt the snows early and flood the valley.
- Last month, Jerome met Zagrosek in a Lothanasi temple.
- On December 24, 706 CR:
- In the afternoon, Charles attends Misha's party. Wessex hides his notes, and begins planning his augury. There is a heavy snowfall outside.
- At sundown, Charles and Garigan meet Jerome and Zagrosek in the Sondeckis Shrine, going by way of a secret passage in Charles's room. Wessex begins his augury.
- At some point in the evening (probably around 8:35), Wessex is murdered by Agathe and re-animated as a ghoul. Garigan's ceremony is completed. The four decide to visit Zhypar.
- About 10-15 minutes later after Wessex's death, the Sondeckis find Wessex's apartments.
- It probably takes about 5 minutes to follow Wessex's blood. Note that the Sondeckis never hear the alarum bell that rings at 9:00 pm; they are likely taken into the strange geometric room just before then, and leave some time after.
- By the time the Sondeckis reach the fight in the intersection, the outer wall and the inner town are already overrun with Lutins. The time is probably around 9:20 pm.
- At nearly midnight (in the Åelfwood), Kashin meets Qan-af-årael. Afterwards, he sleeps in a guest room.
- On December 25, Kashin will leave Ava-shåvais for Yesulam, guided to the edge of the Åelfwood by Andares.
Society
- Scouts in Glen Avery always keep a knife on them at all times.[6]
- In Yerusalem's cathedrals, priests and monks would sing harmonious songs.[1]
- The color of the Whalish Marines is orange.[2]
- There is a story known in the Southlands of a baron who was told he would lose his greatest treasure. He locked up all his wealth, but his actual greatest treasure was his penis, which was cut off by an angry prostitute.[5]
- Charles heard a version where the prostitute didn't know who he was, and was angry he disapproved of her looks. Zagrosek heard a version where she was angry he wouldn't pay her.
Åelf
- The Åelf have high cheek bones and long narrow ears. They tend to wear thin lace, even in the cold of winter, with bright colors, usually in green or blue. The women wear ankle-length dresses with thick artistic designs, and the men tend to wear ornate robes. A few Åelves, likely forest scouts, add yellows and whites, and are tailored for movement through the forest. They live longer lives than humans.[1]
- According to Qan-af-årael, Åelves both treasure the moment, and seek to preserve it. For example, they preserve the moment of the birth of the forest. Because of their long lifespans, they are unable to change and adapt to the world, though he acknowledges that they have adapted to life in the forest, though they hope to return to the plains.[4]
- They do not survive long when their spirit is crushed. Qan-af-årael says that Åelves are too "high" and "free" to be enslaved.
- Åelf magic is attuned to the forest; trespassers will, in Andares's words, "find themselves stymied". This comment leads to a wordless rebuke from Tilyå-nou; Andares realizes then that it is "not wise to stir magic when it is about us".[4]
- This seems to suggest that Åelf magic is easily tampered by language, though it could be mere superstition to not discuss it.
- The Åelf do not have prophets of their own.[4]
- For Åelf feasts, the bridges are decorated with flower arrays and tightly bound fronds.[1] Their feast includes vegetables and meat in an unknown sauce.[4]
- Åelves eat very slowly, one bite every few moments. Each course of a feast can last at least an hour, and the full feast can last up to half a day. During the feasts, Åelves will often play board games or talk to each other, sometimes in verse.
- Humans rarely visit Ava-shåvais for the thousands of years it has stood.[4]
- The Åelf sing songs of loss for their lost civilization. According to Andares, these came from the time of Yerebey, when they were celebratory ballades and sonnets. They resent humans for the destruction of their society centuries ago.[1]
- In the days of Yerebey, there were many more songs, believed to be the most beautiful ever heard. Most were lost with the destruction of Yerebey.
- They believe in time, humans will be overthrown by another race, allowing Åelves to return to the old days.
The Southlands[4]
- The Boreaux clan was the most prominent human clan after the fall of humans. They took charge of the ruins of Jagoduun, renaming it Marzac ("death" in their native language), and prevented its influence from spreading for nearly 11,000 years. Today, they are mostly a noble house on the northern shores of the Southlands.
- The only time they neglected their duties was when they attempted to build a castle on Marzac, unleashing many monsters in the process.
- They lost their strongest mages in the subsequent battles. Within a few generations, no new mages were born to the Boreaux.
Ancient Jagoduun
- The city of Jagoduun had epic songs, fine food and wines, servants.
- The humans at the time lived in the Southlands in tents, and warred with each other.
- Their society quickly changed with the discovery of magic. Human society became ruled by mages who harnessed eldritch powers. After the fall of Jagoduun, these powers were never used again.
- Qan-af-årael says that they worshipped false gods (though this predates the Lothanasi faith).
- Humans captured a few Åelves as slaves, but they died quickly.
- After the fall of the Nine and Jagoduun, humans dispersed to the Southlands, never to bother the Åelf for many millennia. Mages no longer controlled their societies; instead, they divided themselves into clans, and adopted ideals to improve themselves and the world.
Magic
- Magic is particularly strong on the solstice, and is strongest at sunset.[2]
- Increasing death throughout the world will weaken the barrier between the worlds, allowing holes between them to be expanded.[4]
- A few grains of antimagic can stun, or even kill, a mage.[2]
- The power of the Sondeckis was thought to be dead in the bloodlines north of Pyralis — implying that the Sondeckis is genetic.[5]
- Zagrosek mentions a "dance" with the Sondeshikes.
- Charles is able to absorb pain to power his Sondeck.
- A Sondeckis's Calm is able to shield them from all outside forces. All Sondeckis are intimately familiar with it.
- Magic is implied to be genetic in the Boreaux's case, where no more mages are born to them after all of their mages die in battle.
- Metamor is described in Felix's last few stanzas (either of his life, or his Horse King prophecy).[4]
- Felix's descendants mentioned Kashin as someone who would lose his arm, so that he would reach out and not hold back. It is his destiny to cleanse the Ecclesia and save others.
- Agathe uses a few runes on Wessex and his apartment:[3]
- One rune, not learned from the Runecasters, is traced over the victim's face and chest. When used on a fresh corpse, it will bind the victim's soul to its body, creating a strong undead ghoul.
- As a ghoul, Wessex is still able to use his magic.
- Another rune binds the victim to obey their commands.
- A flame rune, in the shape of an "F", burns anything it is drawn upon.
- One rune, not learned from the Runecasters, is traced over the victim's face and chest. When used on a fresh corpse, it will bind the victim's soul to its body, creating a strong undead ghoul.
- The censer is seen in Wessex's augury:[3]
- It has graven images of demons raping the damned and slashing them with their claws and whips. It is decorated with malachite, lapiz lazuli, sapphires, and rubies. There are chevrons around its base.
- When a piece of chalk (any chalk, or a special kind?) is dropped into its bowl, it instantly creates a liquid from which a black fog of evil arises, forming an even darker cylindrical tunnel through which Zagrosek, Agathe, and Yonson step through.
The Symphony
- Wessex's augury uses a variant of the Symphony, used on a garment to show memories made while it was worn. These images tend to be the most potent, nauseating, or emotionally-charged scenes. He ends the spell by lifting his staff.[3]
- There was some initial resistance on Loriod's garment, likely Zagrosek's doing. Wessex broke through it after 30 minutes, but the spell continues to pull him in like muck (see Legacies).
- Inside one circle, there are at least two smaller circles. One circle holds the garment; another circle, when activated via palm, boils the "muck" away, glowing orange and then blue.
- To show deeper images, a bit of magic is pushed in. The spell then turns brighter, with concentric circles flaring.
- The Symphony on the censer wall is drawn in chalk. The middle circle is red-stained with blood, unlike the outer or inner circles, suggesting either that they had been drawn before tonight, or that the blood is a crucial component of the middle circle.[5]
- The inner circle has a roundel (dotted disc) that bulges and creaks while incomplete.
- The outer circle is dotted. It has designated slots for nine chevrons. When the Sondeckis arrive, the middle chevron (the 5th) had not been added.
- By the time Charles and his friends reach the spell, there is a defensive spell that activates upon approach, covering the Symphony with a thin green layer. Upon touch, it breaks into a shower that chills and numbs the flesh, turning it gray and blocking any use of the Sondeck.
- When it is completed, the spell glows bright yellow, and a Shrieker is able to exit through the inner roundel.
- When in the room of strange geometry, the Symphony's chevrons swirl and change. (Was this part of its intended function? Or was the Keep rewriting the Symphony into a new spell, to send the Shrieker and the Wessex-ghouls back to the Underworld?)[6]
- The color shifts to a furious blue just before the Shrieker is wounded. This makes it behave like a vortex, sucking in the Shrieker's remains.
- As its innards touch the Symphony, the Symphony changes to a dark red sphere, sucking in all of the Shrieker and annihilating it on touch. It has no effect on Wessex's undead flesh, apart from holding it in mid-air.
- It then changes to a shiny black sphere, which seems to destroy the dark influence on Wessex.
Shriekers[6]
- A Shrieker is a creature shaped like a man, but with long spindly arms and legs, and a face that consists only of a mouth that opens to eternal darkness. Its surface is completely black, with no reflection or shine to their skin. Its skin radiates a strong heat (possibly when it is exposed to strong light); described as "necrophagous", it is also probably corrosive. Its innards consist of a black mucus.
- They die instantly with their heads cut off; thus, the best way to defeat it is by decapitating it.
- Light is unable to last long near them. They seem capable of sucking nearby flames into their hands. The walls of the Keep groan in their presence. Otherwise, it is able to move silently.
- Scholars say that they exist to shatter the souls of the recently deceased, to prevent them from ever reaching the afterlife. Their shrieks are so terrifying, listeners can feel their cells dying.
- Shriekers react oddly to physical force, being repelled only by being pulled towards something, not by being pushed.
- Note that this could be an effect of the geometry it was in.
Metamor Christmas celebrations
- Misha is hosting a Christmas party at Long House. It begins in early afternoon on December 24. It is being attended mostly by Long Scouts and their friends and families.
- A buffet table is already set up, with food including punches, ales, and a bread with cheese baked in the middle with cherries on top made by Brennar.
- Most Keepers are attending a worship service (either the Follower service, or the Lothanasi service).[5]
- Hough is holding a night-long service in the Chapel. Kimberly is attending, and Charles was planning to attend after Garigan's ceremony.
- Though he does not himself celebrate Christmas, Wessex gave each of his students a gift, who gave him one in return.[2]
Wessex's Dream[1]
- The nine dancers, and Jessica, are in a dark chamber, the only light being the red crack in the middle glowing red, but turns black as it enters some place deeper than the earth itself. In the center of the circle, Jessica is on a charcoal obsidian slab with red flecks streaming from the sides. Above her is a dark face, with two sickly ruby-colored eyes of the darkest evil, and black ooze similar to the Censer's (and the Symphony from Legacies) dripping from it. It opens up, revealing the heart of all evil, and rasps "You are mine" to Wessex.
- Wessex is powerless to stop dancing, and likely neither can the other dancers.
- An incomplete layout of the nine dancing figures in the circle is seen, each one with a particular numbered chevron. This story establishes Zhypar's chevron as the 9th; Liturgy of Blood established Wessex as the 4th. The numbering, therefore, can be established in the following order, going counterclockwise around the circle (from Wessex's left to right):
- an unknown Åelf or elf.
- Krenek Zagrosek.
- an unknown priest.
- Wessex.
- Altera Loriod.
- unseen.
- Agathe.
- an unknown nobleman.
- Zhypar Habakkuk.
The Three Artifacts of Yajakali[4]
- The Yajakali artifacts were crafted by Yajakali to destroy the Nine human wizards who sought the destruction of Jagoduun. Specifically, they were designed to activate at the Solstice midnight, when magic is at its strongest and the wizards were expected to use their magic. They were to take their magic, and leave the humans as the beasts that Yajakali believed them to be. They were powered by eldritch magic, and crafted with gold-plated iron and jewels from below Jagoduun.
- Each artifact was decorated with 9 arcane symbols, each specially made for one of the 9 attacking wizards.
- The first artifact was a 9-cornered dias. At each corner is a tall pole with a dull colorless gem at the top. These gems were to hold the wizards' energy for the other artifacts to release. On each face is an arcane symbol.
- This artifact took the shortest to make, at only a week.
- The second artifact was a jeweled censer. It was engraved with the same arcane symbols as the dias, and decorated with foul acts against humans. At least one candleholder sits in the center, though Qan-af-årael is unsure what else lays inside. Supposedly, a candle and wick was used of the purest obsidian, made from the substance of the night. There is a slot in the censer to slide the 3rd artifact below into, if properly aligned.
- The third artifact was a sword made of gold, with a 9-sided hilt each with the same arcane symbols. Lines of enchantment were drawn on the blade to draw in power and channel it into the censer and dias.
- This artifact took the longest to make.
- When the artifacts were used, the gems in the dias drew more power than expected. It consumed the power of the Nine and killed them, but also drew in the spirits of every Åelf in Jagoduun and blasted a hole through reality into the Underworld.
- The three artifacts had long been thought lost in the process, but the censer was discovered in Metamor in April 706. It is likely, then, that the other two artifacts still exist.
The Sondeckis Fight Wessex[5]
- The Sondeckis meet Wessex at the wall outside the censer room. Wessex's goal is to delay the Sondeckis long enough to finish his spell. The Sondeckis's goal is, at first, to figure out what he's doing.
- Wessex first throws fire at them. The Sondeckis dodge, but Charles is hit on the tail and his wrists by fire.
- Wessex then throws boulders at them. They graze Charles, and hit Jerome on the shoulder.
- Wessex then creates a wave of steam from the floor, scalding Charles, and separating them from him.
- The Sondeckis realize now their goal is to stop Wessex from finishing his spell. All three masters throw their Sondeck at the steam, dispersing it.
- Wessex retreats as they approach. The three masters approach the spell, and it coats their arms with a chilling, numbing slime.
- Wessex returns to the spell. Garigan slams his fists into Wessex's back, knocking both down. Before Garigan can crush Wessex's head, Wessex smacks Garigan in the jaw, breaking his front teeth.
- With the four Sondeckis out of action, Wessex completes the Symphony. When he looks through the roundel, the hand of a Shrieker punches through Wessex's back, pulling itself through, and leading to the next fight.
The Sondeckis Fight Wessex and the Shrieker[6]
- The Shrieker at first tries to kill the four Sondeckis with its scream, but the Keep intervenes, sealing them in a strange geometric room with no visible way out. Wessex's two halves split apart, both with spidery legs, the upper half spewing black ichor. Both sides are trying to kill the other.
- Jerome faces both Wessex-creatures, though their exact actions are not fully shown.
- At some point, Jerome attacks the lower-creature's legs. The upper-creature fires a liquid at Jerome, but he dodges and the liquid, thanks to the room's geometry, hits the creature in the back.
- Jerome then hacks the lower-creature's legs and body into pieces. The upper-creature is apparently defeated by the Shrieker falling on top of it.
- Meanwhile, Zagrosek and Charles (and Garigan) both focus on the Shrieker.
- The Shrieker first attacks Charles. Charles dodges and tries to hit it with his Sondeshike, but it tosses him backward.
- The Shrieker attacks again. Charles dodges and throws his Sondeck at it, which only pushes it a little.
- The Shrieker leaps at Charles, who tries to impale it on his Sondeshike, but his weapon is repelled by the Shrieker. Charles flees as his shirt catches fire.
- Zagrosek hits the Shrieker in the back of its head with his Sondeshike. Both are sent sprawling, though unharmed.
- After a few more bouts, the Shrieker punches Zagrosek (presumably in his upper torso), causing his shirt to ignite. Zagrosek rolls away and puts it out with his robe.
- The Shrieker then moves to Garigan, who yanks the air towards him with a sonic boom, knocking the Shrieker against the upper-Wessex-creature.
- Charles and Zagrosek then surround the Shrieker (thanks to the room's geometry), while the Shrieker tries to grow in height and scream loudly. As one, Charles and Zagrosek leap forward with their staves aimed for the base of the Shrieker's head. They are thrown hard against the floor, but manage to crack the Shrieker into two, and allow the Symphony above to despose of the rest.
Story Connections
- Misha mentions Charles's feats: his adventure in Arabarb from Keeping the Lamp Lit, the battle at Glen Avery in Declarations of Allegiance, and the battle of Stepping Rock in Killing Time. Unknown to Misha, that last battle was when he stole Rickkter's Sondeshike. This is the cause of their current feud, which led to Zhypar breaking Charles's arm in Relic.
- Wessex sees a scene from Keeping the Lamp Lit, where Loriod speaks with Zagrosek and his two companions, their names now fully revealed.
- Charles mentions a time when Zhypar visited Rickkter in the infirmary, referring to A Place Where There Is No Darkness, which also contains Charles's first meeting with Rickkter, and their truce. Charles then promoted Zhypar to Headmaster in the Writer's Guild, which was first seen in Decisions.
- Charles and Jerome refer to their previous meeting in Dialogues. Charles's correspondence with Jerome is hinted at in Intersecting Correspondence, but the specific interaction Charles and Jerome mentions was not previously shown in-story.
- The story of Herouc had been mentioned earlier in Fireside.
- Wessex's nightmares and the Symphony reappear from Fingers in the Weave, Intercessor, (especially) Legacies, and (mentioned in) Liturgy of Blood.
- Charles half-remembers Zhypar's story having a white weasel, referring to Lawbreakers.
- Yajakali, the Nine, and Jagoduun (misspelled Jogoduun) had previously appeared in Apologies.
- The Lake Head Inn from Bozojo is mentioned again, from Liturgy of Blood.
Points of Interest
- Misha says that this is Kimberly's first time in the Long House… except she was previously in the Long House for Craig's funeral in Remembrances. It's possible, though, that Misha did not notice at the time.
- Though Boreaux is clearly French-inspired, the French word for death is "mort", not "marzac".
| < Second Cycle | Matthias's Third Cycle | Fourth Cycle > |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | Stories in yellow are not part of the cycle proper, but give important context for other stories. | |
| False Winds · Stepping Up to Destiny · Fingers in the Weave · Four on the Floor · Fireside · Hunt · Intercessor · Intersecting Correspondence · Jormugand · The Three Sides of Truth · Lawbreakers · Casualties of War · Killing Time · Legacies · Libraries · Four by Four · Liturgy of Blood · Longing · Nuptials · Relic · Wandering the Keep · Winter's First Chill · The Winter Assault | ||
| Major Characters | Charles Matthias · Garigan · Kimberly · Misha Brightleaf · Rickkter Akabaieth · Caroline · Gornul · Father Hough · Jessica · Kashin · Phil · Saulius · Thalberg · Duke Thomas · Vinsah · Wessex · Yonson · Zagrosek · Zhypar Habakkuk |
|
| The Winter Assault | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assault | Winter's First Chill · The Winter Assault | |
| Post-Assault | O'Kane | Counter-Strike · Deeper Wounds · Burying a Friend · Choices · Four Times the Charm · Whispers of the Lost and Found · The Prize · Picking up the Pieces |
| Raven | Picking up the Pieces · A Pawn Advances · Misericardia · Koinonia | |
| Matthias | Wagging Tongues Will | |
