Beyond the Beyond: Update 42.5: More Nighttime in Simone

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 42.5: More Nighttime in Simone

Continuing...

Somewhere in the darkness young Prince Edward, still reeling in shock, was facing a dilemma that was quickly spiraling out of anyone's control.

Wait!
Prince Edward you must survive. Wait here until Sir Samson or myself come for you, understand?
But...!
Someone's coming!

The figure scurries away in alarm as the wall slides shut concealing the fact that it was ever open to begin with.

It's not fair! You trained me to fight, Master Myrrdin. Why will you not let me help you? I...
...!
What's that sound?

With a startle Edward awoke to find himself still in Simone.

Oh, I fell asleep while reading. *rubs his forehead* Again that dream. Why am I forced to remember that?

Suddenly two mages enter the room Edward is in.

Hmm, I thought I heard a voice.
Oh! Elder Xelmet! I didn't mean to disturb you.
No it's quite all right. I was hoping to run across you again before you leave tomorrow. Prince Edward this is my assistant Margaret.
Good evening to you, ma'am.
As to you prince of Marion.
Margaret is something of an expert in history.
Elder Xelmet said that you mentioned the Vicious Ones earlier.
Yes. Actually I'm not sure who they are. Arawn mentioned them but didn't go into any details.
There are a few references to them in the histories. Those scrolls are very old, though, and fragile.
They are mentioned in some of the compilation works but those are retellings of the old stories.
What do those old stories say?

Elder Xelmet takes a moment to make himself more comfortable at Edward's table.

They are why I've enlisted Margaret to help me. I needed someone good with the old tongues. The name we know, 'Vicious Ones,' is actually something of an awkward translation that has only been in use for a few centuries.
They were originally soldiers of the Underworld, said to be great warriors of darkness and death. When the clash of worlds came it was they who led the legions of the Underworld against the armies of the Common World.
But that doesn't explain why that war happened.
Few records of that age have survived. Even here in Simone where we strive to remember time robs us of what little remains. From what was written it seems the rulers of the Underworld went to war with one another. When that conflict was over the Underworld was united under one queen who then turned her attention to our world.
They invaded the Common World?
Many nations became one and sought to make the two worlds one as well.
Such hubris.
The war did not end until the queen and her Vicious Ones were slain. An agreement was reached and the two worlds parted ways vowing never to interfere with one another again. The place where the bridge between the two worlds exists, Quamdar, was mostly sealed off from the rest of the Common World so that our side would not disturb it.
Who guards the bridge?
That I don't know. According to one of the compilations someone from the Underworld was supposed to be the sentinel but it is a point they don't agree on.
The Abyss sits between the worlds so there might be no need for a guardian. The Abyss itself is a formidable barrier.
I wish I could share your enthusiasm. Entire legions once moved across the bridge. If a new generation of Vicious Ones does indeed threaten our world it would be useful to know who might stand in their way.
Assuming any such guardian is still alive. If mighty Arawn himself is worried about the situation there can be no doubt that great power is involved.
As far as anyone knows no army has appeared at Quamdar so I guess it's possible something else happened.
But there's only one bridge, right?
In theory it is possible to create another bridge with powerful magic. No such magic is known here in Simone but the Underworld has its secrets.
Someone will have to go to Quamdar and see for themselves.
Where is it?
You're not going to like the answer. There is one route but the nation of Bandore was founded to protect it so it will be impossible to reach unless you find a way to deal with their aggression.
...
Well, as Margaret said Quamdar might be fine.
The Vicious Ones... If they exist they would be in Bandore, wouldn't they?
Probably. Their ambition would mesh well with Bandore's aggression.
And that ambition first turned towards Marion.
I thought Bandore hated Barbaros more.
They do. As neighbors they can barely stand one another but Barbaros is an inland nation of thick forests and heavy jungle, just the sort of thing that Bandore's naval forces are ill-equipped to deal with.
So Bandore attacked Marion instead. We were easier pickings.
A bold but clever military move on their part.
*takes a deep breath* I'll just have to focus on the problem I can possibly do something about.
If you'd like, Prince Edward, I have some time now to go over more details about the old stories.
It's rather late though.
That's all right, Elder Xelmet. We can stay on another day if need be.

Meanwhile it turns out Edward isn't the only one up late. Tont slips through the dark village with only moonlight to illuminate his way.

Prr. Whatcha' doin'?
GAH! Oh, it's just you, Steiner. Don't do that! You about gave me a heart attack!
Humans are so strange.
Wait, where's Finn?
Asleep.
Well what do you want with me?
I wanna know what you're doin' sneakin' around the village in the middle of the night.
Nothing! I, uh, always go for late night walks.
You're a really bad liar.

Flying past Tont Steiner spots a light in the adjacent house.

Ooooh, you're spying on someone. No wonder you're trying to cover it up.
I'm not spying and keep your voice down!
Can't have mom and dad hearing you out here can you?
That's it I'm leaving.
Hey wait I'm only kidding. I'm not gonna turn you in or anything.
...
If you want to just walk right in I'll back you up.
No way am I going in there!
Then why are you here?
Well, uh... I don't have to explain myself to you!
Well could you do that not explaining in a softer voice because you're also being bad at stealth right now.
Oh, uh... yeah.
Finn wanted to go talk to your parents. Did you know your dad was outside pacing around for hours?
He was? Er, uh, I mean what the hell was Finn thinking? I told him not to say anything.
He didn't. Annie talked him out of it.
Oh.
You could still say something to them.
No way! Not like this.
Pryaaarr?
*awkward shuffling of feet* Look, um, Elder Xelmet already kinda chewed me out about this so could you possibly skip the lecture?
Me, lecture?
You do it all the time with Finn.
That doesn't count.

Suddenly the door to the house is opened from the inside.

Eep!

The conspirators scatter as Tont's father steps outside.

Is someone there? Hello?
...
There's no one here. I must be hearing things.

The man goes back inside and once again all is peaceful.

Prr. Close one. Hey, wait a minute. Where'd ya go, Tont?
*reveals himself* I'm here.
So that cloak of yours really does work.
I told you it did.

Another night passes and the first rays of dawn illuminate Simone's forest.

I thought I might find you here. Out for an early morning stroll?
Couldn't sleep.
Well as a man with three rambunctious kids under his care I imagine you have plenty of restless nights.
...
Not one for conversation are you?
No, not really.
You're a man who keeps his secrets close to his heart. Don't want to upset the kids, I suppose.
I don't like it when they fuss over me.
Is it really just pride or is it your strong sense of duty?
Hrm.
You weren't going to survive much longer, Sir Samson. Nor was she. You know that.
I don't...
Come, come we are men of principle and honor. Lies do not become us.
...
She is gravely weakened by this ordeal. I can feel her fighting the impulse to go back to sleep. She must like you.
We have... our duty.
We...?
What do you want?

There is a moment of quiet as Zeon studies Samson.

Nothing. I want nothing from either of you. I just came by to see how you are doing.
I'm fine, now.

Zeon takes a few cautious steps toward Samson.

I won't pretend to understand how she has blessed you but I will say this: Don't waste her power. Arawn has given you a task that must be fulfilled. Don't lose yourself in the moment.
I know my own strength. I also know the limits of that strength. *pauses* Do you think that I am just using her for my own gain?
I didn't say that.
But do you?
You're suddenly very defensive about this.
I will never know what my life might have been like without her.
I'm not sure I follow you, Sir Samson.
She didn't have to choose me. She didn't have to do anything. She could have let me die.
You're not referring to the curse, are you?
...
And if she hadn't would the man standing before me have ever existed?
No.
Did she intend to make you the great hero of Marion?
No. I don't claim to understand how these things work. They just... do. Strange circumstances and what have you.
So she helped you and in the process made you a great lie. Hm. And if it weren't for a Vicious One neither of you would have realized the truth. There is an irony somewhere in there.
*exasperated sigh*
And what will the great hero of Marion do with his renewed power?

 

Next time on Beyond the Beyond - we'd better get moving.

Update Forty-Two | Index | Update Forty-Three

Comments

Done at last!

[ladyabaxa.livejournal.com]

After what feels like forever I finally got this done. This update finally broke me in the "use only assets in the game for constructed sets" because I wanted to inject some color variety to the Simone interior scenes and didn't feel like modifying another rug. It ended up being a mat that's mostly off screen so meh.

In other news Episode 40 got an update (http://ladyabaxa.livejournal.com/104231.html). I did some sequence breaking a few weeks ago and have added the results of that.