Quote:
The Final Dawn
We looked out from the gold and iron balconies of new the Taj Nar. Only recently finished, the palace for the Kha was ready and celebrations were to commence tomorrow. The skies however looked more hazy than normal and the priestess told me that we must inform the new Kha at once. I thought it was just clouds or a dust storm, but I obeyed and set forth.
Running down the stairwell, I passed architects and artificers all boasting of their work to the elders and priests who would be living within. Making my way past, I nearly toppled a goblin, whose face was scarred with healing wounds acquired from the Nim a decade before. How I shudder, remembering that childhood nightmare; of the constant howling and the putrid, corrosive stench of the Mephidross creeping into our land. Due to the disease and metal rot that came with such garish marks, many were still tending them with balms and magic in attempts to close them for good. Though the wounds on our bodies may heal, the scars on our world and the Glimmer Void never will.
“Can Grack help you, Leenan?” the Goblin said. I realized I had been staring at him the whole time. “No, no. I am terribly sorry, Grack. I shall be on my way.” I embarrassedly answered. He smiled and continued up the way I had come, carrying a bucket of oil and whispersilk rags with which to polish the Parapets. Shaken back to reality, I continued down to the main corridor where dignitaries were meeting with the Kha.
Just before entering, I was stopped by an Elven maiden. She was short for her kind, and had a copper eye patch. She smiled and said, “Such a big rush, you act as if the Nim were at our border.” I hesitated and then realized who it was that addressed me. “Lyese! I beg your pardon; I bare a message for the Kha from the High Priestess.” At that, her smile broke for a moment and then she gave a warm look and said “I see. I won’t keep you then. Just make sure the Kha understands that I’ve been waiting hours for his audience, and that there are better things I could be doing with my white day light.”
I returned the smile and continued on my way. Once in the main hall I could see why the Viridian ambassador had been waiting for so long. There were Neurok artificers carrying scroll cases full of designs. There were Leonin elders from the outlying provinces, some talking in hushed tones and baring scars like the ones Grack had upon his face. There were an unusual number of Vulshok men and women, all seeming more impatient than Lyese had, and thrice as ready to leave( taking a few heads along with them as payment for their time) Possibly more disturbing than the Vulshok or the scarred ones was the single Moriok speaking with the Kha. The Moriok were known to be con artists and best and murdering necromancers at worst. Why the Kha would see a member of their tribe on civil terms would have to be of a grave matter.
I excused myself past the gathered crowed and tried to gain the Kha’s attention, but he was transfixed on the Moriok man. “And that is not even the worst of it, my liege. The Dross was one matter, but the utter decay we have been dealing with has been an absolute disaster. Please…..” the man said before the Kha raised his hand to signal the end of the tale.
“I understand that the Mephidross swamp is the decay of our world. What proof can you give me that this is not merely the swamps natural course, and you’re not trying to overtly infiltrate out land with this request? Sanctuary is one thing, but you ask for the majority of your people to be relocated from your domain into ours, with little in exchange. My people and the Auriok who call the Glimmer Void home don’t take kindly to blood rituals, necromancy, or the social domination your people enjoy so well in the swamps. The Loxodon wouldn’t hear of it either; they are still performing rituals to recede the swamps taint from the Razor Grass Field to the east.” The Kha finished, in a tone meaning that that was all that needed to be said. The Moriok didn’t feel it was so.
“My Liege, this is not only in our land. The Vedalken have witnessed similar decay in the Quicksilver Sea around Lumingrid. The Vulshok are here probably to tell you a similar story in the Oxxida Crags. The Viridians and even your own leonin people have all seen it.” He settled in a tone finishing like that of the Kha, though lacking the strength behind it. I spoke up at once, “Kha, the Priestess sent me with a message. I now feel it may be even more relevant as she said the sky is glooming and the fields to the west have dimmed. I wonder if this has to do with what the Moriok speaks of. ”
With that, the White Sun set, and the Black Sun dawned. As the clouds moved in and the dust kicked up thicker, we would never know how much we would miss the warming rays of the White, Red, and Blue and Green Suns… or even the knowledge that the Black Sun was still in the sky. That was the last day before the time of the Corrosion set in.
We looked out from the gold and iron balconies of new the Taj Nar. Only recently finished, the palace for the Kha was ready and celebrations were to commence tomorrow. The skies however looked more hazy than normal and the priestess told me that we must inform the new Kha at once. I thought it was just clouds or a dust storm, but I obeyed and set forth.
Running down the stairwell, I passed architects and artificers all boasting of their work to the elders and priests who would be living within. Making my way past, I nearly toppled a goblin, whose face was scarred with healing wounds acquired from the Nim a decade before. How I shudder, remembering that childhood nightmare; of the constant howling and the putrid, corrosive stench of the Mephidross creeping into our land. Due to the disease and metal rot that came with such garish marks, many were still tending them with balms and magic in attempts to close them for good. Though the wounds on our bodies may heal, the scars on our world and the Glimmer Void never will.
“Can Grack help you, Leenan?” the Goblin said. I realized I had been staring at him the whole time. “No, no. I am terribly sorry, Grack. I shall be on my way.” I embarrassedly answered. He smiled and continued up the way I had come, carrying a bucket of oil and whispersilk rags with which to polish the Parapets. Shaken back to reality, I continued down to the main corridor where dignitaries were meeting with the Kha.
Just before entering, I was stopped by an Elven maiden. She was short for her kind, and had a copper eye patch. She smiled and said, “Such a big rush, you act as if the Nim were at our border.” I hesitated and then realized who it was that addressed me. “Lyese! I beg your pardon; I bare a message for the Kha from the High Priestess.” At that, her smile broke for a moment and then she gave a warm look and said “I see. I won’t keep you then. Just make sure the Kha understands that I’ve been waiting hours for his audience, and that there are better things I could be doing with my white day light.”
I returned the smile and continued on my way. Once in the main hall I could see why the Viridian ambassador had been waiting for so long. There were Neurok artificers carrying scroll cases full of designs. There were Leonin elders from the outlying provinces, some talking in hushed tones and baring scars like the ones Grack had upon his face. There were an unusual number of Vulshok men and women, all seeming more impatient than Lyese had, and thrice as ready to leave( taking a few heads along with them as payment for their time) Possibly more disturbing than the Vulshok or the scarred ones was the single Moriok speaking with the Kha. The Moriok were known to be con artists and best and murdering necromancers at worst. Why the Kha would see a member of their tribe on civil terms would have to be of a grave matter.
I excused myself past the gathered crowed and tried to gain the Kha’s attention, but he was transfixed on the Moriok man. “And that is not even the worst of it, my liege. The Dross was one matter, but the utter decay we have been dealing with has been an absolute disaster. Please…..” the man said before the Kha raised his hand to signal the end of the tale.
“I understand that the Mephidross swamp is the decay of our world. What proof can you give me that this is not merely the swamps natural course, and you’re not trying to overtly infiltrate out land with this request? Sanctuary is one thing, but you ask for the majority of your people to be relocated from your domain into ours, with little in exchange. My people and the Auriok who call the Glimmer Void home don’t take kindly to blood rituals, necromancy, or the social domination your people enjoy so well in the swamps. The Loxodon wouldn’t hear of it either; they are still performing rituals to recede the swamps taint from the Razor Grass Field to the east.” The Kha finished, in a tone meaning that that was all that needed to be said. The Moriok didn’t feel it was so.
“My Liege, this is not only in our land. The Vedalken have witnessed similar decay in the Quicksilver Sea around Lumingrid. The Vulshok are here probably to tell you a similar story in the Oxxida Crags. The Viridians and even your own leonin people have all seen it.” He settled in a tone finishing like that of the Kha, though lacking the strength behind it. I spoke up at once, “Kha, the Priestess sent me with a message. I now feel it may be even more relevant as she said the sky is glooming and the fields to the west have dimmed. I wonder if this has to do with what the Moriok speaks of. ”
With that, the White Sun set, and the Black Sun dawned. As the clouds moved in and the dust kicked up thicker, we would never know how much we would miss the warming rays of the White, Red, and Blue and Green Suns… or even the knowledge that the Black Sun was still in the sky. That was the last day before the time of the Corrosion set in.
