A Brief Midnight Meeting [Plot/Gilles]

In the Flames Reach local place of rest, Gilles would hear whispers on the wind. Creaaaaak! As old, decrepit wood moaned through the night. Laughs would follow the breeze almost now, waking the Sasanid in the middle of the night. A chill followed disembodied words.

"So far so good, Kyeeheheheehehehea!I think you're ready for bigger work"

It was a familiar voice, once she had only heard in her dreams before. Haunting the voice would lurch forward. Echoing, drawing closer with no one in sight.

"You should be proud, but I think this will help impress a lot more. Keep at your personal magic to impress them, but you wished for the chance to be closer to god. So I come bringing that, I hope it isn't too late for you, kyeheheehe!" As he laughed he would then appear, suddenly before her. His piercing eyes would stare into her, diving into her soul.

Circling, floating around her through the power of his magic he'd give her a second to focus. He didn't want her getting lost on what he had to say next.

"There's a magician, well mostly a merchant, but he's the younger brother of a professor in Magnostadt. Both are prominent magicians, the younger being a specialist in plant magic while the elder is a master of heat and life. I imagine both of them will be more useful to your cause."

Allowing a moment for the information to be absorbed he would wait, as there was more he had to offer to her. Connie would prattle on "Now, while you'll need to deal with the brothers on your own time, however, I have someone interested to meet you right now, that would be willing to help you find an artifact. It's simple, he'll give it to you for joining him on a job, now you can go now, or whenever you feel prepared. I just ask, are you up to the task right now?"

Dm notes: Job will be up soon, you'll need to be B-tier in order to take on the job. However, if you choose you can follow this plot if you choose and Connie will introduce you to the npc and you'll talk before moving to a separate thread. If not Connie will leave next post giving you details on how to start it when ready.

The Pale lady would wake up from her dream to a quite familiar voice and sigh, it was the strange man that spoke for her god again. SHe would get up and look at him, "Oh hello strange fellow come to give me more presents?" She asks before listening to what he had to say. She did not want to trust him but he acted like he could talk to her god so she must listen to the speaker. She would grin hearing about how to gain a religious hold in this city and nods. "OOO thank you, I would love to go see this friend of yours now please" She says smiling excitedly.

"Then let's take a little trip, don't worry it'll only take a second! And I guess you could call this meeting a little gift, the both of you share something in common!" he would say with a bit of vigor.

From beneath his cape, he would pull out a magic stave, a divine stave to be exact, in the shape of a sword. Its golden dragon claw of hilt would in actuality be the headpiece. Within its grasp, a dark portal would swirl, in the shape of an arrow as a larger one would begin to take shape in front of them. It would reveal an office, surrounded by bookshelves that towered to the ceiling that stood 30m high. They would line all the way through the magic circle and back to the walls.

It was dimly lit, and a man sat far back behind a desk, a black sword resting beside it while stacks of documents would decorate it sloppily. Upon seeing the magic portal open the man would look up, his tousled gray hair falling across his face. A smile would follow, as he hurried to come out from behind the desk.

"Come in, come in, it's good to see you again!" he would invite. He would pose before them bowing as they had the chance to enter his place of practice.


"Is this the person you said you were bringing to join me on on the expedition, is she combat capable?" he would ask. Realizing he had given an improper greeting by forgetting to actually introduce himself he would speak up again. "My apologies, where are my manners! It's a pleasure to meet you, I am Adam Kadmi President of the Magnostadt Archaelogial Foundation and Professor of History!"

Giving them the chance to enter and make themselves comfortable he would pull two seats forward. Connie had no wish to sit, but he had no worries just floating into the room as if he had owned it himself. He would wave his staff to usher in the young woman, give her the chance to say hello, and ask her questions.

Divine Staff in use:

The pyromaniac was excited to see this strange and unique magic somehow transport them to an entirely different area. She had already seen a few forms of magic but she had never heard of a transportation magic before. She wondered if there was a way to get her hands on that staff or something similar to it. She would look around seeing that she was now in some kind of office and that there was a gray haired man in the room. SHe would watch as he introduces himself and would nod while returning the introduction. "I am gilles, the leader of the religious order known as the Order of the Flames Reach. As well as knight of the Sassan Kingdom. I am actually in your country right now to purify it of evil. Also to purge the country of any champions of Fate. Also I am more than capable in combat." She would say going to sit on the chair by pulling her knees up to her chest grinning. "I would love to hear how we can help eachother. Perhaps you want to let me indoctrinate you into my order."

"Well you can say we have similar goals then," he would say "I've heard you're looking for artifacts of the flame, well I believe I know what you're looking for. The magician would pace, making his way around the desk to approach closer to the strange woman. His eyes were pits of purple and black, as his birch-like frame would waltz over. He didn't have much mass but he would stand above her, leaning back to give a more casual tone to his posture.

"There is a tomb of a King near Magno, he was one who ruled this land long ago, they say he carried a blade of white-hot flame. A flame strong enough to burn at one's essence, I don't know how true that claim is, but I think it's worth venturing don't you?"

There was more to it to that, they had to dive into an underground tomb filled with traps, they weren't the first to try, he was just lucky to find it. The magician could've told more lies, lied about the sword. Hopefully, there was truth to it all, he wasn't just looking for help, he was looking to buy her off for when the time arose. He saw how the dark fell, he saw how people went after their own friends. He needed people in his debt, he needed to make sure he didn't fail.

"We shall see my new friend, are you ready to head out, we need to leave before daybreak."

She would look greatly interested in what this Addam was saying. She was excited to hear that there was actually an artifact of the flame that she was looking for. "I am greatly interested to hear about this king, did they have connections to sassan or the order of the flames reach?" She would say as she stands up to go with him. She was not sure if she should trust him but if it turned south she could just offer him to the flame. "I will gladly go with you my new friend. We should be able to do this together easily."

"If this King knew any of the great Knight-Kings they would be long dead, there's no understanding of how true their reach was, but that's part of the truth I hope to uncover that." He would grab his satchel, leading the Sasanid toward the Door, with the tap of his staff a flight spell would lift them both. Weightless, the scholar would open the door with another wave, and prepare for the journey to come.

"Welcome aboard the ride, it may be a bit bumpy so make sure to control the bile to stay inside your stomach" he would joke.

It would be a long flight, but thankfully they had all night. There wouldn't be any time to greet the sun when they would arrive, so it was better for them to adapt to the dark.

---

Dawn began to break, the sun clenched on the horizon, bringing itself into the sky. While the morning was greeted with the chirp of birds, they would be greeted with a tomb, encased with a field of tall reeds. Wild grass, dirt, and who knows what had begun to cover the burial place of the ancient king. Lapis Lazuli, the only hint this was the place sparkled underneath the brush.

Adam had discovered only a few weeks ago, after using star charts, countless maps, and many historical journals he had found it. This was the resting place of the Lapis King, the great judge. there were only rumors of what he could truly do, but they were more than enough to entice him.

Brushing the moss away, showing decrepit stone, the magician would give a crooked smile. They needed to clear the way if they wished to dive further in.

"Could you do me a favor and clear this path for me? Gonna need to see the door in order to activate the mechanism" he would ask, but it came out like a demand.

There was no deceit to his words, the only way in was to activate the special lock. It was designed so that the massive tomb would need to have its' glistening stones pressed in a certain pattern in order to open the door. It was made so tributes could be brought to his grave, and today it would be the doorway to reviving the lost ruler.

"Do you care for a little history lesson, or would you like to wait till we meet our guest of honor?" asking yet another question, yet this time he seemed to hold genuine interest. Maybe Adam and Gilles would new friends.

The pyro would smile, excited to fly in the air. She had been fascinated with birds most her life, so it was amazing for her to experience what few could. The would eventually land and see the tomb, it looked like no one had been here for quite a while. She would grin as well excited to explore as one of the first people to step foot inside in years. At his command she wound nod and reach into the giant golden goose that had followed them in flight pulling out a spade. Pouring magoi into the spade she would create a hole right infront of the tomb that would uncover the front of the entrance, using her arm to clear away any reeds that did not fall away. "I would love to learn history" She would say smiling. She did not like being ordeed around but she was interested in learning about these kings.

items:

Magoi 170/180

"Excellent, I'll tell you on the way down." He would chirp, tapping the great lapis lazuli door that was revealed in Gilles excavation. The great blue circle was carved, lined with the pattern of a magic star. The entire thing was 50m in diameter, and from the influx of magoi he would send in the earth would open. As the ground shook, it would show a great hole in the earth, spiraling steps tracing around deep to reveal his tomb. There was no sign of light, they needed to provide that themselves. "Let us head down, and I'll begin to tell the tale of Judge Ezekiel, Flame of Abram."

As his staff would alight with yellow rukh, guiding his staff into the depth below. It would be a long journey down, long enough for him to blabber on about this King's history. His voice was like silk, the middle-aged man would blabber, beginning to tell the tale. " Judge Ezekiel was a Just but conflicted king, he lead the people of Abram. They were a small tribe of people, forced to move for 37 years after losing their home. His father, you see was a weak man, or so they say. As he had been to weak to stand up to the surrounding nations at a cost of war, and in turn, they took his lands."

Hoping Gilles was listening, his story would continue. "When Ezekiel had taken his father's place he found himself leading people amid an Exodus. It was harsh with no lands, no proper way to provide. Yet one day, they say when his hair had reached his waist, he had the strength to take on any challenge. With newfound might he fought, with a body harder than steel, a soul golden and vibrant in the glory of his people's name. He would acquire a blade of great flame, show he had the strength to fell giants. After these troubles as many gaining in age more than half in his life, he would finally find them a home. Of lush valleys and moderate hills, it was a land of milk and honey."

There was an almost sour note to his voice, it seemed as if there was more to the story, and there was certainly more to the way down.

She would be listening was the make their way down into the dark tomb. She was not much on history but she found it interesting that he was considered a judge as well as a king. By the sounds of it he had some kind of unnatural strength that helped him defeat his enemies, she was also interested in this sword. "So how did he gain his strength? It must not have been a normal kind. Also where is this home he found? Is it still there?" She would say grinning interested to know more like how he got the flaming sword. "What else is there to his story? It sounds like there is more to it."

"He had learned complete mastery of his body, he had learned to turn his life force into his own weapon. With these in combination, he had become undefeatable in combat. Yet, like many of great kings, his own kin would lead to his downfall." He would say pausing, graveness setting deep into his tone. The deep brown earth around them alit as they continued to dive deeper into the tomb.

"It was these lands, stretching onto the coasts of Magnostadt's reach" he would say pausing for a moment, illuminating the gate at the bottom. "It was a vast kingdom but at the time there were many kingdoms across the land. They had a great rival, a nation shrouded in hanging gardens and waterfalls, the Kingdom of Udr. They had gotten into constant conflict, the flow constantly shifting as Ezekiel aged. Within time, his eldest son Joshua had tried to lure them into a trap, to capture them in a valley."

Adam would stop, walking up to the round gate, its patterns held the stars of a magic circle but adorned with a grip of the blue gem that seemed signature by now. This gaudy tomb clearly showed their admiration. They just had to figure out how to open it now. His voice would sing out as he prepared to shine more of a light "while we figure it out, Ezekiel would warn his son but it did not matter. Joshua had ultimately failed, it was a ruse and they had been ambushed on their own way through the valley. With them went have their forces, and their main city was sieged. The king was strong, but he was old, and he cared more about his people's survival. As days passed, eventually turning into a week, then weeks and finally a month eventually they were all trapped in the palace without oil or any lamp, only his blade to provide warmth and light in the night."

He would finish, as the door seemed to be a giant magic circle, it seemed they just needed to activate the it like any other device, who had crafted this tomb?

Gilles kept listening staying quiet for the most part. She had found this interesting as it seemed that this king was an honorable man like her own king. She would look at the magic circle wondering what she should do. It looked pretty straight forward, just grab the gem and feed her magoi into it like any other magical items. "So I assume that their kingdom fell due to this Udr then? Where is this Udr located?" She was extremely curious about this country or waterfalls and wanted to learn more.

She would walk up and reach up to the gem, grasping it and attempting to feed her magoi into it. This was probably the reason she was brought along anyways, so that he could save his own magoi and use her as a battery.

"I won't lie, we don't know much about Udr, I'm still recovering what I can, we just know they were a continental superpower between the lands Heliohapt and Reim, they seemed to travel across the sea and wage war on our fair Judge Ezekiel." His voice held minor tones of sorrow, continuing the tale. "He could not hold out, he stood there, holding that blade till his last day. His people had managed to escape their siege, by breaking out at the night. He had lost his kingdom, he had lost his life, but the people he cared to protect would live on even if once again they had to leave their home. Some would stay, being under their persecution until revolting, and changing into another kingdom, and another until eventually kings would be replaced by the academy nation we have now. There are hundreds of years of history, but Judge Ezekiel was the greatest man to rule these shores by as far as I can tell."

The fanaticism in voice light up the room, but the room did actually light up as Gilles would activate the grand seal to the tomb. Crrrrrrrrrruuckkkkchkkkkk, the walls would shake, drenching them with dirt. As the great tomb came alive, they would see the great resting place within. Torches lighting, as more magoi seemed to drain from Gilles, seemingly taking enough from her to activate everything within.

Approaching Adam would say "Sorry, hope you're doing okay, I'll be able to handle the rest of the magic work from here."

The magician would lead the way in, the resting place of the Great Judge was deep, round in shape with states in the shape of his unknown forefathers. In a great golden casket, he would slumber. It was ornately carved with patterns similar to that of the Torran, with them leading towards the center where a giant piece of lapis lazuli would rest.

Six torches would connect across the room, in the shape of a star. It was symbolic, but it showed how much they revered the symbol itself. Did they believe him to be chosen, did they have djinn back then? It mattered not, he would be a worthy warrior once again.

"I believe both of our prizes are in this coffin, are you ready to see what's inside?" he would ask.

DM notes: 50 Magoi Drained to open the door

She was never much one to have an interest in history, but she was greatly intrigued about this Kingdom of Udr. The professor said that is was somewhere between Helio and Reim which she had already had plans on traveling to. She would now add discovering more about Udr a part of her plans now. "Would you mind giving me everything you have on Udr. I am going to find it myself." She would then turn and look at the coffin not certain what was going to happen once it was opened. She would nod and grin "Go ahead and open it up then my friend."

"I'll happily share my info, but Udr didn't last long, and they eventually evolved and changed becoming an empire known as Parthevia. However, the great leader between that transition is one of the people I plan to meet, you can join if you wish but I could also just send you the info so can learn what you need, but I could go on for days." He would say, his voice cracking and the mounting anticipation. Speaking once more he'd say "Now, let's wake up Ezekiel!"

Swiftly, the bottom of his staff would meet the cusp of the coffin. It would take some force, needing the might of them both to pop its' top. With each heave, each press the lid would raise up. It would take a great deal of force from them both, the tiring act reaching the climax with their final press. Dust, dancing around, exploding into the air. Under the vortex of ancient debris, laid the beautifully adorned bones of Ezekiel. In fine, egg-white linen robes with gold threading, a circlet wrapped around his head. Of course, all of his jewels were of a beautiful blue shade, most being Lapis Lazuli. In such a rich shade of hues all the blues decorated him beautifully. They were true in keeping his theme it seemed.

The corpse would lay there, hands folded over his broad chest. The bones had been worn away, the hammer of time beating away its beauty, its frame. There was still somewhat of a semblance of the behemoth of a man that lived here. His body was poorly preserved, with no skin, fading into the dirt but a shadow. While a ghost hung in the king's clothes it was enough for him to work with, before he would get to work he would gesture towards the sword for gilles.


The leaf-shaped blade was made of a tempered iron and a dark oak handle. In a time of mostly bronze he had a blade of iron, which held powerful magic. It was big enough to use with one hand but it would be heavy in the hands of the body manipulator. On the face of the weapon, at its' widest point was the magic circle. She would be able to feel the power in it just for now, she'd need to pick it up to truly examine it, and for the next stage to begin.

"Grab the blade when you're ready, we need it, I have a feeling he won't like when we bring him back from his nap" Adam would say, a small snicker in his voice as he placed the tip of his blade, right where the king's heart used to be.

Gilles would grin eagerly at this and nods. "I would love to meet this king. I will be in the area soon myself." She was eager to use this man that was also using her. She needed power in order to complete her crusade and bring glory to Sassan. She would walk up alongside Addam and put her singular hand on the staff, using what strength she could muster to pry the lid off of the King's sleeping place.

She would cough a bit at the smell of the putrid, stale air that came from the sealed coffin. She would give the body a once over before locking eyes on the sword. She would pick it up and begin examining every inch of it thoroughly. She was not entirely fond of weapons and preferred things to be more personal. However, she was also a worshiper of flames and anything that was an artifact of her god. She would look up and nod at the man, ready for anything to happen. She was curious though, why did this man want to bring back kings of the past? She could find out after whatever was to come.

Adam would bring out his black blade, his aging rasp of a voice radiating with a youth he often lacked. "O'Dark Djinn of Return and Love, bring forth the spirit of Nostalgia over my soul. Give the past form and grant me its glory! Resurrect, Orpheus! With his words dark birds would take form, metal swirling in shades of soul snatching black. Red would manage to show as well, but the beauty in his new shape was the grace of the dead.


The slouchy lanky magician, shrunken from years of digging and standing over a desk now stood proud. In his shroud of granted magic, he felt something more powerful than himself, Yet it conflicted with his nature as his own inner magics battled. While this mockery of a djinn would grant him the power he needed, it would be a pact that would give the world he wanted. His blackened metal gauntlet grasped his blade firmly. Adam's ebony talons lifted high into the air, with a few words he would mutter. Magic began to glow, lightning surging around the blade as life could be felt around its edge. His newly confident voice sang like thunder. "Become my household, carry my will and return the glory of your reign, NOW RISE EZEKIEL!"

The blade which had hung for what felt like minutes now would drive deep into the corpse's heart as black metal began to cover parts of his flesh, and the flesh inside him began to warp. It kept its same decrepit appearance. From his flesh and bone horns would form, the metal from his household fusing with the Lapis in his tomb giving the metals on him take their hue. As life would begin to follow, a noise, a wordless voice coming out to unleash the anguish of a centuries-long slumber.

GUAAAAGAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHRRGHR!!

The howl turned the grand mausoleum into a vacuum, tearing all sound from the room, even adam could only hold his breath as his hands grasped the precipice of his coffin. The gnarly mud-black flesh would grumble the decrepit stone. Garlic, mildew, and the strange smell of turmeric would waft up as he began to rise. His frame was tall, hinting at the greatness he once held, but the flesh and skin of his body clung tightly, drained of all life and color. His mouth and eyes both seemed hollow, an abyss holding the loss of his memories. Yet, sparks would glow in his eyes as lightning brought them to life.  His rukh was gone, but its mimic held true and wished for its' soul.


Flickering whites would dart around the skull of the deceased king. He knew he was but wasn't, strange magic coursed over his flesh, yet his desire to rule again seemed stronger. The reason was but sediment in the current of emotion as life had once again touched his form. His desperate, hopeless, and rage-filled eyes would look upon them both. He wanted to leap forward, and for a moment he would lurch toward them like a great shadow. Yet, in this hesitation, he thought at least there must be some reason for his resurrection. In a struggle, words would release from his dry lips. The voice came out like wind against dried papyrus and falling stone with its roughness.

"Why, Why does my body feel the ragged tug of fate and the burden of life once more, I gave it once for my people, what more befalls them that could warrant my awakening? Rage had been expected, this question not so much. Adam felt this was truly his moment to shine.

The dark king would say "To give you a chance to reclaim your lands, for your people no longer reign. Selfish people have taken from their subjects and I'm sad to say heroes lack that certain luster you golden age heroes bring!"

His comments did not make much sense to Ezekiel, but neither much did his current state of living. Slowly as breath came to his body he began to understand the abilities of the vessel apart of him. With this knowledge would come the storm clouds of an idea. "If the dead are to walk across fertile lands if fate is to turn black for freedom to return then so be it!"

Rubble would fall down, bouncing across the granite balconies and statues dressed in blue gems. The very tomb would shake as the first of the Ancient Kings would rise, taking a step forth from his resting place he would start to walk past them both, he some villages to visit, some friends to make along the way.

Dm notes: The first of the 5 Kings Special jobs chains to be released soon, follow up with Adam in your post to continue discussing the rest of the journey

The High Priestess of the Flames Reach would watch with great enjoyment at the feat that is before her. She had in her life only seen the taking of life from the world rather by the world or by her own hands. Yet, here she was now watching being cheated right in front of her own eyes. This was a great and marvelous sight to behold.

Once the king of times forgotten had arisen she would kneel before him, bowing her head. "It is an honor to meet you my king. I am Gilles, just a humble knight and priestess from a land called Sassan. I have heard your story and I want to help you in any way that i can. Just ask and I will follow." She would say, watching him walk away.

She would turn to Adam grinning, "That was a fantastic and grand sight to behold my friend! My offer stands to you as well. I will help in anyway i can as long as you are willing to help me in the future as well." Of course gilles knew that nothing in this world came for free. She saw his power and wanted to use it for her own goals as well.