Child of Ember - Chapter 17

The Crumbling Land

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Previously: Dreams

PC Message
DM

A short knock on her door awakens Kat. Awaking she notices a rose laying on the table next to her bed. The thorns have been carefully plucked.
"Madam, it is time to rise. The lord of the manor wishes to see you." The voice is educated and gentle, if somewhat anxious.

Kat

Lifting the rose up, and sniffing of it's delicate scent, Katherynne is once again awed by the subtle beauty found in such simple things of nature.
Acknowledging the voice, Kat rises still semi-nude and casually begins dressing herself. Clucking softly under her breathe, she sifts through her apparel and omes up with black breeches, and a soft black tunic trimmed in dark hunter green. Glancing in the mirror above the basin, she is satisfied that the outfit complements her long dark hair and violet eyes. Adjusting the collar of her tunic, she reaches for a hair brush, and brushes the sleep induced mats out of her waist length black hair, causing it to fall into soft waves that gently caress her face and back. Touching a wet cloth to her face to wash the sleep from her eyes, she adjourns to the hallway, searching for the one who spoke to her. (if he is present, she'll follow him, if not, she'll seek out a path to Dolph on her own)

DM

There in the hallway stands a man of senior years. Silver has touched his dark hair, and his face is pinched with lines. Dressed in all black he looks as much an undertaker as he does a buttler.
With a stiff, formal bow he says, "It is good to see you in such high spirits this evening mistress Kathryne. The master of the Manor awaits your pleasure in his study." Here he pauses. "You do know your way there correct?"

Kat

"Vaguely I believe" Kat replies with a winsome smile, and twinkling eyes.
"But mayhaps it would be quicker, were someone to guide me just in case?"

DM

"As you will Madam. Please follow me." he says leading you through the hall and up a flight of stairs.
He gently opens the door,"The master awaits."

Kat

Kat enters the study and looks around. When her eyes alight on Dolph, she smiles and acknowledges the rose she is holding but sniffing of it's scent once more.

Dolph

Dolph is sitting at his desk. His eyes have bags beneath them, as though he did not sleep well. He smiles at her as she steps in.
"Good evening, I thrust you slept well?"

Kat

"Wow! did I sleep through a whole day?" she asks innocently. "forgive my saying so my friend, but you look as if you have not slept at all!" pausing for a moment, her observations sink into her sleepy brain. "Did something else happen?" she asks

Kat

"No, alas sleep has proven fleeting for me today. And no not the entire day. I have merely been busy, attending to the education of my ward, and the duty to my people." He rises and pulls a chair for her.
"Sit, please."
She notices on his desk sits a book with an ash bark cover.
Noticing your gaze, he asks, "Can you read Elvish?"

Kat

Looking sympathetic, Kat lessens her smile in deference to his difficulties.
"Yes actually. I can read. Why?"

Dolph

He hands you the book. "This I believe, is a text on the ancient history of the land. However I have only managed to pluck a few secrets from it. Perhaps you could do better?"
The cover is written in Old elvish, a tongue that is difficult for you, though with a little work you are able to puzzle out the tittle, Moridana, the crumbling land.

image of book cover

image of book page

Kat

"Well, I guess that depends on what the name of this land is." Kat replies as she puzzles out the title. "This book is entitled Moridana, the crumbling land. Are we in Moridana?" getting back to business she continues "I can translate this book, but it's written in an ancient dialect, and will take a bit of time for me to do."

Dolph

Dolph nods, "I believe that the nation of Richmulot was once known as Moridana, and that is was vastly different. This text was found in some ruins that have been almost completely overgrown by the forest. It was as if the forest itself wanted to hide it for all time."
"Consider it a gift, to help you acclimatize here in this land. Take all the time you need," he says with a smile.
"So was your room comfortable?"

Kat

Distracted as she speaks, from looking at her new book, Katherynne reverently thumbs through the pages. "Yes. It was quite nice thanks. I slept well finally." She smiles absently, turning the pages carefully to avoid damage, and begins tuning out the world as she deciphers.

Kat

Kat loses herself within the pages of the ancient tome. Thumbing through several pages, her face knits into an expression of deep concentration, marveling in the preservation of such an old book. "This elvin dialect is one almost forgotten" she breathes in awe, speaking to no one in particular, as she continues to peruse the crumbling pages. "and fairly well preserved!" she continues speaking more to herself than anyone else

After a few moments of study she discovers there is more here than just history. The final page looks as though it contains prophetic prose...
If only she could decipher it...

Kat

Kat continues to study the last page of the book, her expression displaying shock and horror, as she silently translates each individual word and symbol. "Oh my Goddess" she exclaims, before turning to Dolph. "the others" she squeaks out in a whisper "I have to tell the others." Returning to the book, and refusing to answer questions, she waits for the other people involved in the fire last night to rejoin them.

DM

Celestia finally finds the study after taking the scenic route.
Walking in and seeing Dolph and Kat there, Celestia says "Hi. We were just looking for a place to gather our thoughts and decide how to proceed in finding the 'Child of Ember'. I have some 'special' skills I was going to use. Have you discovered any leads?"

Dolph

Dolph looks up from his desk, "I believe that Kat has something she wants to share," he says.

Dea

Dea casts a look outside, wtaching the sun set.
"I will have to leave soon, lest I will be late for the funeral services. I would like to hear your findings, but speak quickly, because time is not on my side right now."

Kat

Looking up from the ancient crumbling old tome she is reading, Kat's eyes spark with recognition if not friendship. "I have discovered a passage in this book that disturbs me, and if we can decipher it's meaning, I believe it will have bearing on the events of the other night. It looks as though we may have stepped into a larger problem than I at least thought before. Now listen carefully." As Kat begins to speak, she takes a piece of parchament, and a quill and begins to write in common what she translates aloud.

five scourges shall there be
fire wind earth and sea
each bear the key
to unlocking the tomb of the bastard king of nothing
when the child of embers stalks the crowned
the mists roll in bearing hungry dead
the shadow throne shall be found
and rivers all run red

"that's all of it. This book is an ancient history of this land we are now in, before the name was changed. The title of the book is Moridana, the crumbling land, and Dolph informs me that Richmulot was once known as Moridana."

Dea

""So, what you say is...
If the Walls of Vesanis encrouch upon the land, the dead will rise and we all die? Sounds to me we will have to hurry this investigation."
Dea smiles cynically, but her smile fades a bit as her eyes pass over Dolph. "Well, if you all don't mind, I am expected. I will meet thee all at the Three Rats Inn later, hmmm?"
With that, she turns around and walks outside.

Dolph

"I will be joining you, I have bussiness with Andros. And I also have bussiness at the church." Dolph says.

Dea

Dea shrugs. "Sure." she says, a nervous waver in her voice. "Anyone else?" She waits a few seconds for others to join, then starts walking down the stairs to the keep's gate.

Lit

Lit sits down and listens, trying to compose himself, until he hears the prophecy.
"Five scourges? One each of the four elements, but what's the fifth? Shadow throne? Rivers of blood?"
He drops his head into his hands. "What in the world does it all mean?"

Kat

"Probably spirit or something of that sort. Many users of the arcane and oft forgotten arts consider the elements as 5 not 4. Water, Air, Earth, Fire, and Spirit. Of course there is a very good chance I am way off base and it is something else entirely." Kat speaks softly, still reverently holding the crumbling tome.

Celestia

Celestia looks at Dea and then at Kat. "I think I will stay here. As much of a tragedy I think the woman's dying was, I think there will be enough time for mourning when we have stopped 'The Child of Ember'."
Turning to Dolph, "The Passage mentioned other 'elements'. Have there been any other unusual deaths? Maybe a drowning or strangling or suffocation? I can only think of being buried alive or some kind of natural/unnatural event like a mudslide for earth. Maybe Martyrdom for the spiritual part. The 'Child of Ember' could very well change into some other kind of element. Does anyone else have any other ideas?"

Dolph

"Death is not uncommon here," Dolph says as he rises,"yet i have not heard of any such disasters as that in more than a decade."
"As to other deaths, many in the ruins of the city are far from being natural. Those who venture into them rarely venture out," he says as he peers through a tower window into the night beyond.
"Unlike many lands, Richmulot has few maniac killers roaming the darkened alleys. Those that do rarely last that long..."

Kat

"I just can't deal with this right now" Kat mumbles under her breath. "Here." She hands the book back to Dolph. "I'll write down the translation for you, to help you in your quest, but I just... I just can't be a part of this right now. I need stability in my life you know... I've had so many losses already" A lone tear winds it's way down her cheek, to be brushed away with an impatient hand. "If you'll give me some parchament and a quill I'll pen this translation before I go. Thanks for everything Dolph"

Dea

Dea casts a last look behind her, then leaves the room, descending the stairs of the keep and stepping out into the garden, making for the city. Her face seems darkly serious against the revelry of the festival, as she approaches the temple.

Dolph

Dolph follows silently on her heels, walking silently, lost in thought.

Lit

Lit watches Dea walk out, and for a moment turns back to the room as if to let her go on alone. Suddenly, he reconsiders.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to...keep Dea company if you understand my drift. I have been thinking, and perhaps this 'Child of Ember' will attempt to disrupt the funeral ceremony, and I would not wish to see a possible companion harmed for her knowledge. Feel free to accompany me."
The fire mage walks from the room, hoping to catch up with Dea.

Celestia

Celestia watches as the others leave. She turns to Kat, "Are you going too?"
Celestia walks over to the table and starts moving some of the books. She clears a corner and then pulls out the pounch hanging from her belt. She carefull opens the pouch. Inside the pouch is an oil skin and inside the oil skin is a brightly colored cloth tied with a colorful ribbon. Celestia lightly kisses the cloth and whispers "Let the wisdom and skills of my ancestors guide my hand and the endeavor I am about to undertake."
When Celestia unties the ribbon, the cloth falls open, almost magically, to reveal a deck of cards. Celestia picks up the deck and carefully starts shuffling them. After a couple of shuffles, she turns to Kat "Could I get your help? If it is ok, with you could I place the deck first on the book you translated and then could you shuffle the deck until you feel it has been shuffled enough?"

Next: Griffen's Investigation

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