Category: Organization

#Lore24 – Entry #357 – Sci-Fi Month IV #22 – Vexations Along the Way

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “I must admit I’m a little hesitant to ask, but could you tell me more about those vexations?”

RV:  “You have absolutely nothing to worry about, my dear.  I assure you, though I may seem a bit angry at times, it’s not aimed toward you.  I consider this quite the honor, truth be told; a shame it’s taken you this long to seek me out, but I suppose all things come in time.

Now, my initial challenge in my study of this reaction was simply finding enough test subjects.  I had no way of easily identifying those who possessed this trait unless I could see them or interact with them myself, so given all my other duties, this proved quite troublesome.  Plus, the extremely low number of those that possessed this trait made it exceptionally difficult to find in general.  That was one reason I began expanding my search to other worlds when I was able to travel freely amongst them.

By the time of the Age of Legends, I would have an understanding of what exactly this trait was, what it indicated about the nature of those whom possessed it, and would shift the focus of my studies to attain a deeper understanding of what it truly meant, what other secrets may lay hidden around it and behind it.  Of course, my studies were delayed through war, threats to the entire world, and various other annoyances that would divert my attention.

Beyond the Imperium War, I had hoped to study the incarnation of Lila Darius of the period, but by the time I was able to return to my studies, she had died and been reincarnated elsewhere in the galaxy, and I could not locate her.  So, even without trying, she had caused me yet another delay.  With the spread of populations throughout the stars, one would think it would prove somewhat easier to identify the individuals I needed, but for a time, it seemed that my choices were very limited, had even seemed to have dried up for a few decades.  I through the drakonae of all people would have an abundance of these individuals, but they proved to be just as rare amongst them as any other species. 

I attempted to study this on myself over the years, of course, but ultimately could not find the data I needed without placing myself in greater risk than I deemed safe.  However, I would remain patient, learning what else I could about the pattern of draconic travel and details about their methods that were hidden deep within their ruins and relics.  Their newest creations that I could find, those only a few thousand years older than I, possessed some extremely fine details that were not present in older works, that had simply been lost to the ravages of time.  One could compare these small details to DNA strands, practically invisible and just as easily destroyed, almost as if they were coded into the very materials as they were forged by their draconic creators.

AG:  “What did these details reveal to you?”

RV:  “Unfortunately, nothing that I could immediately act upon for my own desires, but that would still prove useful in some form or another throughout DSM’s existence.  There were indications of methods that could be used to alter or influence the various aspects of life itself using magic and science that had been forgotten even before I came along.  Some small fraction of this knowledge I managed to extract and utilize, leading to some of the more significant contributions from DSM over the years, mostly in the form of advancing medical technology to the state where divine healing has become almost extinct in some areas of the core worlds. 

But that was research I mostly delegated to my underlings in the AR&D division, for it didn’t further advance the understanding of what lay beneath and beyond the flesh.  I would continue my studies of the patterns of draconic movements through time, though, and given their spiral nature, I arrived at a theory that would seem to be advancing to fact.  Even after their vanishing, the pattern continues, and after several more centuries, I was able to again begin to find more of the test subjects I required.  More of the individuals with this trait began to appear, several of which drove the further development of the corporatocracy as it is today, only this time I would not waste my time being subtle.  I would have what I wanted, whatever it took, whoever it was that I had to lay my hands on to study.”

#Lore24 – Entry #354 – Sci-Fi Month IV #19 – The Growth of the Corporate Empires, Power in the New Paradigm

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “So, Miss Volcarri, following your victory over Emperor Halaxaes and the dissolution of the Elvish Dominion, did you immediately return to your studies of draconic history, or did you immediately move towards forming DSM?”

RV:  “Now that my name was again on the stage, I was forced to involve myself with the political machine.  There were a multitude of obstacles to overcome relating to the former Imperium and specifically the Great Houses and the animosity many systems and countless peoples felt toward them.  My name had already been forgotten by most of the shorter-lived races save perhaps those who were chroniclers, but I changed it to its current form then, and pushed forward with an effort to rebuild, reform, and reemerge.  It helped that I had been witnessed to have slain Halaxaes by Lila Darius herself, for her word carried some weight, and though I couldn’t stand the woman, I am capable of putting my hatred of her aside for a time when there are larger concerns.  It was rather unfortunate that this particular incarnation would have a shorter life than some, so damaged by Halaxaes’ final assault was she.  I very much would have liked to have studied her; it may have advanced my research some centuries if I had the opportunity.

But, duty called, and I answered.  I began a push for reformation of the Great Houses into what would evolve into their current form, focusing each upon a different aspect of what would necessarily have to become the new paradigm in the galaxy if some semblance of stability and control were to be maintained.  Many of the systems which we had civilized and advanced were reluctant to become entangled with a centralized power, but still required some amount of support from other worlds for information and the supplies they could not provide for themselves. 

So, being the forward thinker I am, I first directed the Great Houses to offer reasonable reparations to some worlds that had been most severely affected by the Imperium’s actions, and, as a show of our willingness to participate on an equal level, oversaw the dismantling of the space citadels and disarming of most of the Imperium’s remaining warships.  Most would need to be refitted and repaired before they would be fully functional as vessels of war anyway, so it was little effort to convince the galaxy at large to allow us to keep a token defensive force while the bulk of the ships were recycled. 

It would take nearly two centuries, but with the good works I had directed the elves toward, and the heavy amount of propaganda I saw spread throughout the civilized worlds to regain some semblance of trust, about as much as most were willing to give my kind before the Imperium, anyway, I could once again return to something of my original plans.  I originally formed DSM as a transportation business, for interstellar trade was indeed booming during this period, but rapidly grew the company in a handful of decades to encompass multiple other companies that we had either formed through the Great Houses or had engineered to be taken over.  And thus you have what would become the DSM of today.”

AG:  “Did you meet with any resistance to the initial growth of DSM and the takeover of so many smaller companies?”

RV:  “About as much then as we have now.  When you’re the largest company out there, there is little that stands in the way of you getting what you want.  Once we had been firmly established, and others had started to follow our model, the members of the Big Four for example, and some others who have become institutions outside of the Andyllion Core, everything seemed to be moving exactly as I had wished it to.  There were bumps in the road, so to say, but they were relatively minor and dealt with via decisive action.”

AG:  “DSM is known to be the leading developer of arcane technology, and has been said to be responsible for the fact that arcane magic has survived to the modern day due to the efforts of your Arcane Research & Development department.  I take it the loyalty of the arcanists you bolstered during your and Ruvaen’s coup against Halaxaes remained?”

RV:  “Yes, that’s quite right.  Though it seems that many peoples are trying to push themselves to be rid of magic altogether, its never going away.  The underlying power that fuels sorcerous magic is literally everywhere, and has recovered greatly with its diminished use over time, and denying it is to our detriment as civilized peoples.  One doesn’t deny the power of the gods, so why deny the power of the arcane?”

AG:  “Some would say the power of the gods have diminished as well, for much of what once required their blessing to perform can be performed by science now.”

RV:  “True, their has certainly been a decrease in the faithful over the centuries, but that too is an inevitability.  They will simply have to seek out more uncivilized worlds in other regions of the galaxy that we’ve yet to claim if they want to cling to the old ways.  I’m sure they’re well aware of just how many of these worlds are out there.”

AG:  “Was a driving force in your creation and expansion of the AR&D division your interest in the draconic histories?”

RV:  “That’s accurate, yes.  I had much to decipher yet, and found myself a few centuries behind, so delegating some of my research was the next logical step.  I could not always trust those beneath me to do things as I wished, and when failures happened, those responsible were dealt with swiftly, but overall, I must say that bringing them into the fold was a marked improvement.  And with our prevalence throughout space, we could study even more sites and uncover more relics of the past.  I suppose we should move on to the meat of this conversation, my personal obsession with dragons and what remains of them.  I’m sure that’s what you’re really after, isn’t it?  Well, out of respect for the Goldeneyed Librarian, I will certainly indulge you.”

#Lore24 – Entry #352 – Sci-Fi Month IV #17 – Getting Personal During the Imperium War

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “I could help but notice that you have something of a…fascination…with Lila Darius.  Did this begin during the Imperium War, or was there something going back to her incarnation during the Age of Legends?”

Note:  Rivalle’s assistant is looking rather uneasy again.  I believe I may be treading upon a very touchy subject.

RV:  “There was actually something during the Age of Legends.  I witnessed some of her exploits from afar, but since I never interacted with her myself, I didn’t realize the true nature of the subtle feelings I had about her then.  There was always something about her that rubbed me the wrong way, some little thing that just made me dislike her.  Not simple envy or jealousy over her looks or personality, or any other such drivel, but something on a more instinctive, baser level.  I had experienced the same feeling with Marcon to an extent, but given his rather unique nature, the effect was greatly lessened.  It was when I finally met Marcon’s children, felt that same kind of unexplainable dislike as I had toward Lila Darius, that I realized there was a much deeper meaning to my obsession with studying draconic history.  During the Imperium War, though, that innate dislike was magnified by her constant interference in my plans.”

AG:  “How did your first encounter with this incarnation of Lila Darius start your rivalry?”

RV:  “This was a year or two after the Auralus incident.  I, or rather, Ruvaen, had been tasked, as he typically was, with hunting down yet another rebel cell and crushing them under the might of the Imperium.  In this particular case, the rebels had actually managed to acquire knowledge that I personally was quite interested in, relating to a draconic ruin that was unknown to me at the time.  There was potentially something there that had drawn their interest, enough so that this particular group had devoted a significant amount of their time and resources to locate. 

I, in the guise of Ruvaen, pursued the rebel courier who had come looking for one of the many Chroniclers who had gone into hiding, hoping that the Chronicler could decipher the mysterious artifact they had.  The courier had brought the artifact with them, and I intended to have it.  They proved to be quite a wily opponent, however, and would evade capture for some time.  Eventually, though, their luck would run out, and I would have them, though before their capture, they managed to hide the artifact on some backwater world, which, it just so happened, placed it within the hands of Lila Darius. 

As it turned out, Darius was a most talented arcanist during this incarnation, and nearly as skilled with a blade as I was.  Once I had discovered where the courier had hidden the artifact, I would return to the world only to discover it gone and would begin my hunt for Darius.  She would prove quite elusive, managing several vexing defeats of my soldiers through her own wits and luck, and those of the courier and a defector who had managed to escape with the courier while I was searching for the relic.

It was some time later that we had tracked the rebel cell down to a mustering point for their tiny fleet that I would first face Darius in combat, aboard one of our space citadels.  Though I had her defeated in our personal battle, that defector managed a lucky strike with a missile launcher, and they escaped.  It turns out the courier had managed to steal Ruvaen’s personal starfighter and led the rebel group into the depths of the citadel, destroying its power core and setting up a destructive reaction. 

I must admit, I was rather angry to have been foiled in such a way, and my frustration would only deepen as Darius and the rebels would continue a series of unprecedented victories against the Imperium.  Granted, our goal was ultimately the same in the end, but my own foundation had not yet been settled, so these losses were detrimental to my ultimate success.  I would say that the setbacks Darius and her FPC allies caused set back my plans at least a decade or more, and extended the Imperium War further than I had originally intended by perhaps another five years.”

AG:  “How many times would you face Lila Darius in battle during the war?”

RV:  “We fought personally on half a dozen occasions.  Each time but one, it seemed that the fates would favor her, and though I had carefully planned how I would entrap her, she would find a way out, through her own guile, her allies, or in at least one case, pure luck.  I’m not too proud to admit that I may have lost sight of my goals for a time during this period, so focused was I upon seeing that woman defeated.  She, and further incarnations, would be the only beings that would confound me so over the centuries.”

AG:  “In spite of the defeats the Imperium suffered, they remained firmly in control of the core worlds surrounding their capitol of Anyllion, and would prove most resilient to the FPC’s efforts to eradicate them.  Can you elaborate on the use of cloning technology during this time to bolster the Imperium’s armies?”

RV:  “Though I was quite familiar with the arcane technique for creating clones, Halaxaes’ scientists had indeed developed a method for creating clones that did not result in immediate attempts to kill the original, though the effectiveness of these clones was never especially great when compared to the originals.  Though they were certainly capable of serving, they were simply inferior to the originals, lacking their abilities to adapt quite so well and to think as quickly.  They made excellent fodder, though, and in the numbers they were eventually produced, would serve the Imperium quite well. 

The locations of these cloning facilities were a secret known only to the Emperor, Ruvaen, myself, and a handful of others, and were always at the top of the FPC’s list of targets.  I would again face Darius during one of the rebel’s assaults on one of these facilities, and it would be the one occasion I would best her in combat, though I have since questioned whether it was her plan to be captured in the hopes of doing exactly what we did later.  Though we are most often against one another, occasionally we seem to align in a strange way.”

AG:  “So you’re saying that you allied with Darius?  Could you explain?”

RV:  “The enemy of my enemy is my friend, as the old saying goes.  I took a chance that had to be taken.  I had learned some time before this that Halaxaes had a private bunker somewhere that Ruvaen was not even aware of.  The Emperor’s growing paranoia had led him to secret this away even from his own son, and I suspected that he had a reason for this.  I suspected that he had a clone body waiting, and that he had already made preparations to transfer his soul to that body should he die.  It was exactly what he had originally wanted for Ruvaen, but he had grown wary of Ruvaen by this time, sensing perhaps that all was not as it should be, that perhaps the golem body his son possessed was exerting a negative influence upon him, or perhaps, spite of the loyalty that had been displayed, there was an underlying threat there.

His instincts were quite correct; we elves are rather talented when it comes to our scheming, after all.  So, I made the decision to test my theory as to whether he did indeed possess a clone.  At the time, either it would be proven true and I could use the various methods at my disposal to find this secret bunker, though it would be somewhat complicated by the fact that Ruvaen would be seen as a traitor, or Ruvaen would be elevated to be Emperor of the Imperium, thus allowing me to advance my original plan by some many years, should there be no clone.

So, when Halaxaes had Darius brought before him, I gave her a few subtle hints that she managed to pick up on, and, though she did not trust me in the slightest, she too saw the potential gains.  When the time was right, I sprung the surprise, allowing Darius to deliver a surprising, fatal blow to Halaxaes, before I would aid her in her escape. 

As it turns out, Halaxaes indeed had survived, his soul transferring to a cloned body; within the hour he would be in command once again, though the Ruvaen faction of the Imperium was firmly in my control.  However small it was in comparison to the rest of the Imperium’s forces, it was quite powerful, for I had the bulk of his arcanists on my side.  This fracture would be the beginning of the end for Halaxaes’ empire.”

#Lore24 – Entry #351 – Sci-Fi Month IV #16 – The War Against the Imperium Begins

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

RV:  “Well…perhaps not save his life, rather, save his soul.”

AG:  “Save his soul?  Forgive, Miss Volcari, but I don’t follow.”

RV:  “Of course you don’t, so let me explain.  My plan for revenge required that I be exceptionally close to Emperor Halaxaes, for he had taken great pains to ensure that no scrying could touch him, had insured that his magical protections were second to none, and that he had grown suitably paranoid of more mundane methods of spying, so it would be no simple matter.  There was but one he would trust, and that was his dear, sweet son.  So, I had to make use of the boy, as he was Halaxaes’ one true weakness.

Auralus at the time was, at the time, a peaceful world, primarily used by the elite of the Imperium, those high within the Great Houses, as a secluded resort from which they could grow fat from the resources they siphoned off the rest of the Imperium, filled with themselves and their servants, and, in the areas accessible to those outside the Imperium’s upper crust, plenty of vices for their lesser to be distracted by.  Quite decadent.  It was here that I would see the first blow struck against Halaxaes, in particular, against Ruvaen.  Through no small amount of preparation and secret communication amongst no less than a dozen rebel groups, I engineered the factors that would allow the assembled strike team through the defensive network and to the surface of the world.  In short order, chaos had taken Auralus, and Ruvaen’s forcers were on the defensive, unable to reach the forces garrisoned upon the space citadel in orbit thanks to my interference with the communications network.  Oh, I had secreted myself aboard the citadel by this time, in the guise of a lowly novice arcanist, studying, and rather unsuccessfully, on a way to create the ultimate soldier through artifice.  I played the part perhaps too well, if I do say so myself.

Anyway, through the course of the battle for Ruvaen’s stronghold, I slipped away from the citadel and, in the chaos that had started up, saw myself through the magical defenses that had been in place so that I could attain the primary component I needed.  Using some rather advanced illusions to draw the attention of the rearguard, I infiltrated Ruvaen’s bunker and decimated it from within, the boy’s arcane talents, while impressive, were quite pathetic in the face of my own.  I made certain to keep the boy alive, if not entirely intact, and made sure that his body would not survive the encounter.

It was then that my planned disruption of communications ceased, and the Imperium’s forces swept down upon the rebels.  With Ruvaen’s condition suitably stabilized, if only for the moment, I once again donned by guise of the lowly researcher and returned to the citadel.  In short order, I found myself aboard the cruiser that housed Ruvaen’s broken body, which was slowly being consumed by the curse I’d laid upon it that prevented proper healing.  As the evacuation of the boy commenced, the next wave of rebels came in with the ships they had managed to secure through my generous donations, hampering the escape. 

As Ruvaen’s condition worsened, it was up to the lowly arcanist to save his life, though not in a way any would suspect.  It was then that my golem, more accurately, my special golem armor, was brought into play, though none would suspect it was indeed an armor.  It was made with life-sustaining magics from the ground up, so it seemed as likely a method as any to save the boy’s life, as desperate as the surgeons were at the time.  A shame those rebels managed to break through the outer defense perimeter during a peculiarly ill-timed systems glitch and just happened to know the exact ship their target was upon.

The first phase of my plan was ultimately a success; the destruction of the ship would not affect my golem armor in the slightest, its life support functions making certain that I would survive for quite some time within.  Ruvaen’s body, impossible to save by the point the ship was destroyed, was to be sacrificed as my golem armor absorbed his very soul into itself, just before the ship’s shields failed and it was shot down.  Of course, all hands, including that unfortunate researcher and all her data, were lost, aside from the newly reborn Ruvaen, and the passenger the armor was actually intended to protect all along.”

Note:  I am experiencing an unusual level of unease at the tone of Rivalle’s voice and the rather wistful smile upon her face, as though she were recalling a most pleasant memory, yet she has just spoken of an absolutely terrible series of events and the use of horrendously foul magics.

AG:  “That passenger being you, of course.  What exactly was your plan with this…golem armor?”

RV:  “It was the best method I could devise to get myself close to Emperor Halaxaes in a way that would allow me to have my revenge.  He would be quite furious once news reached him of the assault, then very nearly broken at the word of his son’s apparent death.  I could not know all that had passed between the two, of course, so I needed Ruvaen to fill in the blanks for me, to prove to Halaxaes that his sone did indeed still live, however strangely.  Though Ruvaen’s soul was firmly in my control, I would allow him some leeway in certain matters, to act as he normally would, and over the course of some weeks, he would again regain his father’s trust and prove that he was indeed his son, however altered and miserable within the golem’s shell.  His soul would mask my own presence, and with some minor influence from Ruvaen, the emperor’s arcanists would not be allowed to study the armor closely, for fear of doing something that could endanger the son trapped within.  Scans and magical probes would reveal a living body inside, if they were of sufficient power and duration, but this was simply taken as his broken body being sustained from within.”

AG:  “So…with that raid…the Imperium War began…with you right there beside Emperor Halaxaes all along.”

RV:  “Indeed.  I, with Ruvaen’s soul riding along with me, would prove quite the fearsome opponent for the officially announced rebellion, calling themselves the Free Peoples’ Compact.  Halaxaes’ revenge was foremost of course, and those rebels who were captured at Auralus were duly executed in public, though this would do nothing but enhance the anger against the Emperor throughout the systems he controlled.  Ruvaen would lead the assaults on the worlds that were confirmed to be allied with the FPC, or who hid their operatives.  Quite the bloody affair.”

AG:  “Were you responsible for turning the Emperor’s baleful glare upon the various arcanist orders, and the Chroniclers?”

RV:  “No, I did no such thing, though I could not exactly step in as Ruvaen to speak against it.  He knew that arcanists of no small talent were involved in the raid upon Auralus and would see to it that all such institutions were either made absolutely loyal to the Imperium or were eradicated as rebel sympathizers.  It was certainly a great loss for the galaxy; magical studies have truly still not recovered following his decimation. 

I believe your Order, the Chroniclers, while insisting upon a neutral stance throughout, had drawn his ire because he had gotten it in his head that they were holding back vital knowledge that would see Ruvaen restored to a proper body.  Cloning technology was severely limited in that time, and the old methods of creating magical clones were lost to all but a handful of arcanists throughout the galaxy, though historically speaking, most clones created through arcane methods tended to grow unstable quickly and usually tried to kill the original if awakened early.  He wanted to see his son restored, and when he could not find the knowledge he sought in the order’s archives, he assumed the worst and went to war against them, instead.

It was during this period that I would first come in conflict with Lila Darius, well, one of her reincarnations, in fact, and would be but the first of many vexations she would bring me in the centuries to follow.  It’s rather fortunate I remained on the sidelines during the Age of Legends, for if I’d met her then, history may have turned out quite different indeed.”

#Lore24 – Entry #350 – Sci-Fi Month IV #15 – Tightening Fists, Growing Discontent

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “I take it that the spread of the Elvish Imperium’s control would hinder your further exploration of the draconic ruins that had been discovered since the expansion from Andyllion?”

RV:  “It would, yes.  There was a specific something I was looking for, had been looking for since the Age of Legends, in fact; I’ll get back to this soon enough, I promise.  I could travel mostly where I wished, being an elf, but I didn’t want to have the many eyes of the emperor upon me.  I learned quickly that I was as much of a threat to Halaxaes as any of his enemies, for I was a power he couldn’t control.  There were several attempts on my life as I came out of my seclusion and learned of the new state of the galaxy, even rating the attention of one of the Hands of Mausolus when more mundane methods had failed.  This one was the newest Hand, Twilight Tokikatsu, not the legendary Korvalis Nightrunner, who was still active at the time, and would be so for a while yet before he would “retire”.  Still, I very nearly met my end at their hands at least twice. 

Sending the Hand of Mausolus after me was the second strike Halaxaes would earn.  Now, it’s common that you allow three strikes before retaliation, but I long ago lowered it to two.  I resolved upon my second escape from the Hand of Death that Halaxaes would need to be dealt with.  As much as it pained me, I would have to put my research on hold for a time and see this little struggle for ultimate control of the galaxy ended in a way that would satisfy me.  I could have perhaps simply eliminated him then and there, but I’ll admit to being rather incensed at his actions, so I vowed to make him suffer.”

AG:  “I see.  How exactly did you go about this?”

RV:  “I would remain in hiding, and let the story spread that I was afraid of Halaxaes.  I would do nothing directly to him, not at the time, anyway.  Rather, I would do what we elves do best, plant seeds and watch them grow over time; I had played this game centuries upon centuries longer than him, after all.  I would let the fool continue his expansion, let him tighten his grip to the point he could tighten it no more, to allow a proper discontent to grow upon the many worlds he would oppress with his military might.  The many space citadels he would create would help to ensure that discontent, as would the creation of the Sentinels.”

AG:  “You refer to the massive space stations that were capable of destroying an entire planet, yes?”

RV:  “That’s correct.  Sentinel Prime was the first and largest of them, supposedly the only one that still survives in fact.  Halaxaes was nothing if not insistent that bigger was better, and the idea of building a station capable of hyperspace travel that could easily match an entire fleet and still have enough left to obliterate a planet was the pinnacle of his power.  It shows how small minded he was, in my opinion; I can think of at least a half a dozen measures that would be more efficient when it comes to destroying a planet or laying waste to a system, in terms of manpower, resources, and time.  But, all are more subtle and hardly as blatantly obvious a threat to intimidate the populace into compliance, so his ways were not entirely without merit.  I just prefer more subtle methods of control, I suppose.”

AG:  “A more corporatized method, would you say?”

RV:  “I would.”

Note:  Rivalle seemed quite smug at that response.

AG:  “So you would allow Halaxaes to continue expanding his empire; what did you do in the meantime?”

RV:  “I helped encourage that discontent, helped to shift funds and resources to the growing rebellious groups in various systems, all under different identities I developed.  I even worked with several groups of Malvaxor worshippers to help start plagues and famines throughout many worlds where the Imperium was at tis strongest, just to keep Halaxaes and his people distracted, keep that little bit of discontent simmering within those most loyal to the emperor.  This would of course spread to other systems as resources were pulled from them to compensate, further growing the hatred against the Imperium.  It would only be a matter of time before the cracks would grow too wide to cover up.

I would also begin working on another golem during this period, quite a special one in fact, with a particular purpose in mind.  Halaxaes had a most beloved son, you see, Ruvaen, who was his right hand, a most devoted boy with no small arcane talent himself, a master swordsman and seasoned soldier, too, though he notably lacked his father’s ambition, otherwise he likely would have tried to wrest control of the empire from him some time before.  So, he would be my next target, and it was for him that I built this special golem.”

AG:  “Was the golem to assassinate him?  Was that what attacked him during the raid on Auralus that would spark the war against the Imperium in earnest?”

RV:  “Oh no, not at all, quite the opposite in fact.  This golem was meant to save his life.”

 

#Lore24 – Entry #343 – Sci-Fi Month IV #8 – Empires Come and Go

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “Did you return to the forefront of the Elvish Dominion once you had again mastered the arcane?”

RV:  “In a very limited capacity.  The political machinations of my people were a secondary concern.  They would ask my opinion on certain things and I would give it, or I would learn of something that needed to be addressed and would nudge them in the correct direction, usually relating to matters of dealing with the other races.”

AG:  “Historical records during the earlier period of the Reforging are very scattered, much like the people and lands themselves.  Were there any particularly notable events of the period that you would say impacted what was to come?”

RV:  “Well, outside of my own people, it seemed a new country would rise and fall almost daily, though I’m sure it took them somewhat longer, likely a few decades, to go through that cycle.  It was mostly the humans of course, short-lived and short-sighted as they are, who drove these changes.  They’ve made some improvements since, but back then they were still rather primitive in their ways, dividing themselves into one faction or another over the most asinine of reasons and generally being a nuisance to the other races, which, indeed, had become more insular, seeking to rebuild themselves first, and worry about forging alliances later. 

I suppose the greatest change came across the newly formed ocean, back on the side of the world where the planar detonation had occurred.  I had suspected that the entirety of the land was a burnt-out wasteland and couldn’t exactly prove otherwise due to the unreliability of divination magic then, and the more limited range at which it functioned.  But we would learn, oh, maybe five hundred years or so after the Cataclysm, that a new empire had been founded, and was actually flourishing under the joint rulership of humanity and the mazoku, which were much more numerous on that side of the world.  I believe you’re somewhat familiar with it… the Imperium Draconis, and their impressively large capital, Draconis Magna? 

I will admit to being somewhat impressed that humanity could create such a stable government after what I had witnessed on the other side of the world, though that I think was more the influence of the mazoku and their demon masters who still lingered and hungered for control than any sudden human enlightenment.”

Note:  When Rivalle addressed me regarding knowledge of the Imperium Draconis, she showed a rather odd look upon her face, which till then, had been mostly locked in that pleasant, no-nonsense corporate mask that she is always seen to wear.  It was almost to say that she knows something that I don’t, perhaps.  Or at least, that is the impression it gave me.

AG:  “I am curious about the relationship between the elves of the new world and the kerryns.  We know quite well that the Imperium Draconis enslaved them from their inception, for, they believed, the good of the world, though as you alluded, that was mostly the influence of the demons that remained.  How were they viewed by the Elvish Dominion which had previously been at war with them?”

RV:  “Time heals all wounds, as they say.  We only saw them as enemies then due to their steadfast alliance with the Aerians, our mortal enemies.  Had we been able to break that alliance otherwise, likely we never would have resorted to calling the demons at all.  But, with the aerians extinct upon Andyllion for the time being, we let the kerryns do as they wished, and they saw mostly to t themselves, though their goodly nature tended to mean they would continue being friendly and offering aid to others in need during the Reforging period.

I myself actually became quite fond of them during this time and kept several around in various capacities.  Some were research assistants, others playthings.  I liken them to pets, really, for being the second longest-lived race in the known galaxy means I can actually grow attached to them before they grow too old.  These days I tend to keep at least one nearby, as my dear Lila here can attest, as a stress-relief measure.  She’s quite talented, you see, and I have taught her much to improve her since she became my personal assistant, some of which would make an Erisayan blush and a Yurisayan envious.  Would you care to see for yourself, Ms. Ganim?  Lila has served my guests many times.”

AG:  “Perhaps later, Ms. Volcari…I would, um, prefer to keep the interview on track.”

Note:  I am certain this kerryn is not Lila Darius, though she looks exactly like her.  She seems eager to please, but I can’t help but observe a timidness about her as she remains ever ready to jump when Rivalle gives the command, though with a certain air of unease, perhaps that she may displease Rivalle, and is fearful of what may come of it.  I daresay that her behavior very much reminds me of accounts of how kerryn slaves would act to please their masters.

AG:  “Did you have a particular area of study during the Reforging period that you focused upon?”

RV:  “Oh yes, I became quite fascinated with history during this period, for much of it had been lost, as you know.  Ostensibly, I did it in the name of preservation and to maintain the power of the Elvish Dominion, for if we controlled the past, we could easily manipulate the future, and having powerful relics from before the Great Cataclysm would ensure that control.  But, my focus fell upon an even older period, when the great dragons ruled the world.  In some instances, the reshaping of the world had served to uncover long lost draconic ruins, while others that had been known were again lost.  I made it my goal t o uncover as much of their lore as I could, to attain as much of their remaining power as I could. 

I learned that I shared many characteristics with the ancient dragons, at least, some of them.  Ambition, instinctive mastery of the arcane arts, a drive for power, a tendency to hoard vast wealth and attain more.  I suppose it was only natural that I would eventually come to found and reign over the single largest corporate entity in the galaxy.  I could say, it was almost as if I was, and still am, driven by a power beyond even myself.  You can relate, I’m sure, being as devoted as you are to the Goldeneyed Librarian and filling the Tome Which Cannot be Filled.”

#Lore24 – Entry #340 – Sci-Fi Month IV #5 – The Calling of Demons

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

RV:  “I am most certainly NOT saying that, Ms. Ganim.  I am saying that I was responsible for discovering the methods of contacting the realm of demonkind and developing the methods by which we could gain access to their power.  Any irresponsible use after that cannot be placed upon my shoulders.”

AG:  “Of course, of course.  Could you explain how this line of research came about?  What were you researching at the time?”

RV:  “Interdimensional, planar travel, even the concept of parallel realities, the “multiverse” if you will; truly few minds were capable of grasping the concept in that era.  My initial research had focused upon improving the ability to transport our soldiers and supplies long distances through magical gateways, in concordance with the use of scrying to perhaps arrange for surprise attacks upon our enemies.  For as idiotic as they are, the aerians were wise to our methods, thanks to their kerryn allies, primarily, so finding a workaround to their detection and countermeasures was naturally a priority. 

It was during my studies of a particular draconic ruin and the ancient portal there that I pieced together the early concept of my multiversal theory and began to theorize that perhaps the dragons that we have so long sought could have not only left Andyllion and our galaxy, but they could also have left our reality entirely.  My unique brilliance has led me to many such radical theories over the centuries, and I have, more often than not, been proven correct.”

AG:  “Were you the first person on Andyllion to make contact with the demons, then?”

RV:  “I was, yes, quite possibly the first outside the Demon Barrier and the Demon Sector, in fact, but that’s something we’ll have to circle back to later.  It was during one of the many jaunts I took through the planes during that time.  I had taken precautions, of course, to hide my trail, and had not shared my ability to shift amongst the planes with my fellow arcanists at the time.  In those days, you see, only the priests were considered capable of such a thing, should they travel to the realm of their gods, and that was seen strictly as a reward for their devotion.  What I did then transgressed the commonly held beliefs at the time, for it was assumed that all magic called upon the “aether” present in the world, that elementals were summoned from the four elements, that sort of thing.  I could go on at great length about ancient arcane theory, but I don’t think that’s what you’ve come for.

To answer your question more thoroughly, I had found a trail of corruption in certain planes and realms I had visited, and with some deduction and insight, I followed that trail and puzzled out the particular ritual methods that must be performed in order to bridge the gap into the demonic realm.  Not knowing any particular demons at the time, I was fortunate to have encountered only a minor one that was well within my ability to slay, for it was quite hostile with me.  My future attempts to contact them would be within the most controlled of environments, with strong wards and multiple layers of protection spells designed specifically to deal with beings not native to our reality.”

AG:  “How did matters escalate to the point that the demons were allowed to invade the world?  Did something go out of control?”

RV:  “Only the ego of my people.  Once I had solidified my knowledge of planar shifting and the rituals required to deal with the demons, and a mostly concrete understanding of their hierarchy and ways, I revealed my knowledge to my fellow arcanists and the leaders within the Elvish Dominion.  By this time, things had escalated to full blown war between our forces and our allies and those led by the aerians and kerryns, and the tide had already turned against us.  I will admit that my attention was elsewhere, and I had not paid due attention to the situation.  It was a decision I made in the interests of self-preservation of myself and my kind.

We originally sought only to augment our forces to fend off the advance of our enemies, to push them out of our lands.  But, once the full extent of what I had learned in the intervening centuries was understood, a plan was formulated that would break our enemies and see the Elvish Dominion returned to its proper place atop the world.  So, instead of using the demons directly as our soldiers, we would discredit our enemies and tear them apart from the inside.

Through a series of planar jumps, we were able to infiltrate deep into enemy territory without their knowledge, and once we had established our base of operations beneath the kerryn capital of Shinsei Daitoshi, we enacted our plan, coordinating with the lord of demons known as Suzu’retani, the Queen of the Succubi, the Bringer of Calamity.  Oh, don’t give me that look, Ms. Ganim; she was destroyed thousands of years ago; if any demonkind still remembers her name to even hear it uttered, they can do nothing about it within my domain. 

Now, then, the invasion started subtly enough, with her forces causing all manner of disruption amongst the enemy.  A deal was made with the demons; in return for elvish dominance over Andyllion, they could have all the aerian and kerryn souls they could possibly want.  Though I led the initial operation to bring the demons to Andyllion, I would be well away from Shinsei Daitoshi when the Demonfall occurred.  I must admit, even I was caught by surprise when Suzu’reitani subverted the kerryn faith and managed to capture Saressh.  Even I don’t know exactly how she managed that feat, but it was the madness that filled the kerryn priesthood that signaled the beginning of the Demonfall, and soon enough, the beasts ravaged our enemies, taking souls as if they would never end. 

Their taint spread, and soon enough those who had once allied with the aerians and kerryns turned to us, and against them.  The aerians, without the help of their longtime kerryn allies, were wiped out and driven from our lands.  However, though the Elvish Dominion had made a clearly defined bargain, we had not taken into account the nature of the corruption that spilled forth from their incursion in the kerryn capital.  The very essence of the demons began to corrupt and taint the world, and seemed to affect the elves more quickly and fiercely than other races.  This was initially how we garnered so much sympathy from our former enemies, in fact, for we played it off that the kerryns had summoned forth the demons, set the corruption against us, and then lost control of the monsters they had brought forth.

My own corruption was significantly lesser than my peers due to the time I spent in realms beyond our own, though even I could see that something had to be done to reverse course.  I’ll admit that I played my part in the atrocity, but I likewise did what I could to save Andyllion from the destruction that my overeager brethren had wrought upon it.  I would find myself in strange company in this endeavor, for the being known as Marcon Shadowmist would seek me out to right the situation.  Not even I can understand his way of thinking, why he had waited this long, but it was his plan that we followed to restore the balance and stop the demonic invasion.  This was what led to the Great Cataclysm, and somehow, that was the better choice, not just for Andyllion, but for the rest of the galaxy, though we certainly could not have known that at the time.”

#Lore24 – Entry #339 – Sci-Fi Month IV #4 – The Elvish Dominion

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “So would you say you specialized in destructive magic at the academy?  Would seem fitting going to war.”

RV:  “At the time, yes.  As I said, rebellious young blood.  It was my first specialization, though I have since mastered all recognized disciplines…and perhaps some that aren’t.”

AG:  “Most intriguing; I will circle back around to this later.  For now, could you describe your first experiences upon the fields of battle?”

RV:  “I would call them positively invigorating.  After being confined to the stuffiness of the academy as I had been, being in a setting where things were actually happening was a most welcome change.  I was not possessed of the fear that often overtakes someone during their first real battle, rather, I found myself in my element, almost as if it were a natural state.  Though our engagements were limited at first, I relished the chance to rend my enemies asunder through my command of the arcane.  I do believe that this was the first time I truly recognized that I had a sadistic side to my nature.  I can’t recall any specific examples, but I know I would leave many aerians in various states of dismemberment and see if I could coax some screams from them.  They are dreadfully stubborn creatures, you know, even more so back then than they are now, and it was a rare treat to make one scream in pain.”

Note:  The casual manner in which she related this sent a chill down my spine, and I am quite disturbed by the look of fond reminiscence upon her face.

AG:  “I see…how did your battlefield experience lead you to improve your house and to the formation of the Elvish Dominion?”

RV:  “It was the lack of unity I saw.  For all our enlightenment compared to the lesser races, we elves tended to stick to our own blood for whatever reason, well, back then, at least.  I daresay that was why we could never truly control the world as we so often dreamed of, because we always saw a plot against us, usually from others of our kind, for we were the only ones to be able to think that far ahead, you see.  The shorter-lived races were of no real concern except in the moment; they could always be dealt with in some form or another, but the threat that was always there was our own kind.

Even though the aerians were quite brutish and backwards in their ways, they were tenacious and had an excellent ability to work together for a common cause, namely the eradication of any elves that crossed them, and more on top of that for good measure.  For all of my brutality in slaying them with my magic, they would return the favor in kind with their own barbaric methods and had been for some time.  I noticed early on that my people would make decisions that would benefit their houses over the greater good of the entirety of the elvish nation, resulting in losses that didn’t have to happen. 

I do believe this was likely when my natural ability to lead and inspire first manifested, for I began to create alliances that broke down some of the barriers between the houses, forged in the fires of war.  After a handful of years on the battlefield, I would return to my homeland with my inner fire burning quite hot and pushed the leadership of House Volcari to change their ways.  I won’t say that it was entirely the force of my personality that was responsible for these changes and growing alliances, however much I would like to say that was the driving factor.  No, there was no small amount of subterfuge and arcane methods employed, and no few people had to be made to disappear.  Luckily enough we had an enemy that was more than capable of being manipulated into doing the work for us, exploiting the opportunities that I and my loyalists would create for them.

It was the loss of many of the elder leaders of the various houses that spurred them to action, to lay aside ancient feuds and oft-imagined plots against one another and join together to form the Elvish Dominion.  As expected, this unification, and the formation of the twelve Great Houses that would lead the entirety of the elven people caused quite the stir amongst the people on the outside.  Most saw this as a threat to their own peoples, and perhaps it was.  Some would ally with us, and some would try to remain neutral or come to the defense of the aerians, seeing the elves as a real threat for the first time. 

Quite a tumultuous period, really. 

Though I would be prominent as a force of change for some years, I would eventually return to my arcane studies, firmly established as the true power of House Volcari.  It would not be without its own dangers, certainly, and I made it a point to master my protective warding magics during this period, for there were many attempts on my life during the early days, something that has continued to this very day, believe it or not. 

In spite of the relative unrest that would prevail during this period, my studies and experimentation would lead to several remarkable advances in the magical arts, born of the study of the ancient and long-lost draconic race that likely seeded Andyllion.  I would become quite fascinated with uncovering all that I could about them, driven by a desire from deep within my very soul, as it were.  Though I had little proof of it at the time, I would eventually come to learn the nature of this fascination and how my unique nature was related to it. 

During these scant few centuries, I would likewise uncover a plethora of previously lost sources of power that would prove quite literally earth-shattering in the coming years.  You know of what I am referring to, yes?”

AG:  “You speak of the Demonfall, correct?  Are you saying that you were responsible for calling the demons to Andyllion?”

#Lore24 – Entry #331 – Fantasy Month IV #26 – Averting Disaster, and A Very Messy Final Ritual

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos

A wealth of knowledge is, more often than not, a blessing, though in this case, I feel perhaps it was more a curse, for it turns out I was very correct in my speculations before we delved into the swamp.  Our journey into the depths was slow and fraught with dangers, from diseased trees and plants animated by the foul magics of Malvaxor, to lizardmen and other creatures of the swamps, driven mad from their diseased state, and horribly mutated so that their bodies would literally explode into a mess of diseased pus upon death.  Gresilda worked furiously to ensure we were not severely affected by these diseases, though I admit that none of us were entirely immune to feelings of great nausea and general discomfort during our trek, and all of us would begin to feel the effects of the sickness as we delved ever deeper.

Still, through our determination and no small bit of bravery, or stupidity, perhaps, that only adventurers tend to possess, we pushed deeper and deeper.  Towards the center of the swamps, the land grew thankfully firmer, and we started seeing signs of draconic ruins, which had been used by the lizardmen as their home for some time by the look of them.  Here too began to encounter the cultists of Malvaxor, diseased like their victims, only not suffering from them, rather, drawing strength from their foul god through his afflictions.

The cultists had surrounded the site of power and were absorbed in an extended ritual of infusing their god’s foulness into the standing stones as I had feared, the very essence of the god’s foulness already blighting the lands around us, its reach growing steadily wider.  Their numbers were many, and we had to resort to hit and run tactics to deal with them, but ever so slowly we whittled their numbers down until we could approach the standing stones and the leader of the cult and her closest acolytes, her body already consumed to the point of basically being a living vessel of disease itself, perhaps having become some form of undead creature.  I won’t relate the details of the battle; suffice to say we were pushed to our very limits, and very nearly met with disaster due to our weakened state, our infections growing worse seemingly at the will of Malvaxor’s priestess. 

In the end, though, we triumphed, stopping the cult and ending their ritual before it could be completed and could corrupt the standing stones.  The power of the infection, magical in nature, began to weaken almost immediately, the primal essence of the ancient stones at the heart of the swamp acting to cleanse the immediate area within their aura of Malvaxor’s influence before more slowly spreading throughout the rest of the swamp, though we would be long gone from the area before it would begin to heal.

We would rest in the center of the standing stones after cleaning up what we could of the mess, what wasn’t cleansed by the stones themselves, and would complete our final ritual the following day once we had recovered from our ordeal.  This rune appeared upon our chests, resonating with the others already upon us, signaling that we had proved our devotion and would be allowed into the ancient dragon’s vault. 

We didn’t even consider returning to Vindinium, for we were only a few days travel from the ruins in which we started our journey and were quite anxious to see what treasures lay within.  Following another day of rest, we set off, back toward the ancient temple with renewed vigor, the end of our quest in sight.

#Lore24 – Entry #330 – Fantasy Month IV #25 – A Cult Most Perverse

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos

It took us just over a day and a half before we encountered any gnolls as we drove across the grassland plains towards the swamps.  For a wonder, they were not immediately hostile to us, unlike our previous encounters with the other monstrous humanoids of the region, and simply watched us from a distance at first, though I confess to feeling a certain hunger in their stares.  They kept their distance, perhaps judging our intentions as we crossed their territory.  As we came within sight of the swamps late on the third day, the gnolls finally approached us with a casual loping gait, barking and cackling in their own tongue as they approached.

Wary, though certainly curious of their behavior, we paused our advance, myself taking the lead in our greeting to them.  I knew not their language, but they knew something of the common tongue, however crude and broken it was when they spoke it.  This close, I noticed too that they seemed sickly, their fur marred by boils leaking a yellowish-green pus that, when the wind shifted, smelled quite disgusting.  Their spokesman pointed at Gresilda, crudely naming Erisaya and indicating the holy symbol upon her neck and saying “healer” in a questioning tone.  They motioned to the curious affliction I had noticed and then back in the direction they had come, the gist of their plight being that a terrible sickness had overtaken their tribe, many had died, and more were sick like them. 

Though Risai and Shassk were against the idea of aiding the gnolls, Gresilda’s goodly nature demanded that she at least examine them and see if she could determine the nature of the affliction.  Wary of spreading the sickness amongst ourselves, she took proper precautions to protect herself during her examination of the hunters, asking questions as to when it started, any strange occurrences and the like.  Through our discourse, we learned that the gnolls had first encountered it in the animals they had hunted, a few at first, then more, and through deduction, we determined that it seemed to have come from the swamps based on their descriptions of the animals and nature of its spread.  The gnolls likewise stated that they had not seen much of the lizardfolk in many days either.  Gresilda then asked about any strange travelers besides ourselves, though the gnolls were not aware of any, though one made mention that another hunter had mentioned strange chanting coming from the swamp on the last full moon, and greenish lights from deep within. 

Gresilda told the gnolls various herbs to gather, describing their appearance when the gnolls were not familiar with our names for them, told them several times how to prepare them and even made them repeat it back to her several more times.  She also told them that it would only slow the sickness and alleviate the worst of the pain, that the true source of it would need to be dealt with in the swamps, and that, Erisaya willing, we would do just that.  With that done, the gnolls sped off, barking to their companions who had stayed back, the lot of them then loping off into the plains.

It was only then that Gresilda informed us of her suspicions, that this was not a natural plague, rather a magical one, created by followers of the dark god Malvaxor.  She had dealt with such sicknesses before she had journeyed into the Wildlands, as an apprentice, and curing the malady meant dealing with the cult that created it.  Villages on the outskirts of the Empire were the most often targeted by these cults, but some outbreaks had been known to spread to the larger cities, even the capital on occasion.  Her reasoning seemed sound to me, given my historical studies that had mentioned such things. 

Though I had no proof at that time, I surmised that perhaps the standing stones we sought hidden in the depths of the swamp, may also be related to the sickness that had afflicted the gnolls.  Even as we neared the swamp, there seemed to be a growing sickness in the land itself; the animals had already become scarce, the plants pale and drooping, if not already dying.  I cannot say exactly where my inspiration came from, perhaps a combination of my long hours of study or a divinely gifted spark perhaps, but the idea suddenly formed within my brain that the centralized location of the stones, the connected nature of the various sites, and the wealth of primal energies beneath us could make for an incredibly potent and dangerous way to spread a magical disease over an exceptionally wide area quite rapidly. 

With this idea voiced, our venture into the swamp suddenly took on an entirely new purpose.  I could only hope I was wrong, and that it was simply me overthinking matters.  Regardless, Gresilda blessed us with protections against disease, and we ventured into the dank, diseased morass, hoping and praying that I was wrong.