|← Previous Entry Next Entry →
The engagement was direct, their remains burned to ash shortly after defeat, suggesting either a failsafe enchantment or an intentional erasure of origin.
In the aftermath, we withdrew to the captain’s quarters to assess. In peeling the many layers of pain from the armor that remained, partial heraldry suggested a connection to Brightwater. The attackers referenced a queen. Whether this referred to Brightwater’s ruling power or another claimant was uncertain. I conducted a divination to clarify the origin of the command. The response was neither ambiguous nor fully explanatory. The voice was Xalithea’s. The instruction was simple: trust my instincts. I have decided that for an unknown reason the Queen of Brightwater is interested in my demise.
We arrived in Conscriptus without further interruption. The city is unchanged in structure but heightened in atmosphere as the War Games begin. We made our way to The Crucible of Five Crowns where The Games are hosted. We entered under disguise to avoid unnecessary scrutiny. Within the exhibition halls, the relic blades were on display. The Meridian Edge was present. Its internal constellations remain fascinating, precise and beyond replication. It is not merely a weapon. It is a statement of origin. I miss wielding it.
Other artifacts were displayed alongside it: Vorynth’s veiled blade, Lysandra’s armament, and the Sovereign Blade. Each carries weight, though none mirror the same balance of elegance and inevitability as my family heirloom.
Registration for the Games was formalized shortly thereafter. The structure remains consistent with prior years: multiple trials to determine seeding, followed by a final duel among selected champions. Mortality is acknowledged as a possibility, not an exception. We assigned roles with efficiency. Sal to the magical duel. Enoch to the obstacle course. Charles to marksmanship. Mazarin to the diplomatic gala. I will take the final duels.
Sal entered the Proving Pit and was nearly eliminated in the opening exchange, struck by a concentrated lightning assault. He endured. Whether by resilience, intervention, or refusal to yield is unclear. He adapted mid-engagement, shifted tactics, and closed distance with precision. The outcome, a draw for first place, was met with both confusion and acclaim.
NOTE: Records and private correspondence indicate that Charles Brand has continued communication with Belladonna Vorynth. During these exchanges, the name “Orcus,” identified as a Demon Prince, was referenced in relation to his weapon. The extent of this influence remains under observation.
Performance will determine positioning. Positioning will determine outcome.
Current Location
- The Open Sky
- Constriptus
- The Crucible of Five Crowns
Recap Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k330w2ekD-g
If video is not available below, click link above to watch on YouTube directly