A darker night

[Kalinda]

„Don’t kill me. Please don’t kill me …“ As Dimitri hoisted her up into his arms, the girl gripped his shirt as if her life depended on it, as if he was the only thing that stood between her and certain death, not knowing that he was the one who had come to destroy what little hope remained. Tears were streaming down her face. “Please tell them not to kill me”, she whispered to him, and her eyes seemed to be looking into his very soul. “Please help me.”

~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~

“Not likely”, the pale woman told him as they moved down, towards the Collegium. “The vysstichi are not as weak as those above ground. A spell that affects Har’oloth would have to extend for dozens of miles. It seems impossible to me to drive both those above and below ground insane. As for gifts and guidance …” She smiled at him. “I have a network of spies and smugglers. Do you know who the Lich was? Not Toherro, the dragon, but the criminal who once terrorized Vortex and Har’oloth? I killed him, and his people are now mine. I will send a few to aid your progress. I have watched the Empire and its people since before you were born.”

She entered the Collegium, taking in everything in sight. She noticed that the glowing veins that had once laced the black marble walls were now dead. The Headmistress’ sign was gone, had been replaced. No more students walked through the hallways. The classrooms were all empty. The portal that had once connected the Collegium with another cave was gone. It had been destroyed when the Second House of Har’oloth had attacked. She had had no love for the Masters of the Collegium, but as she looked at the building now, she felt a sudden sadness.

“Did you find the treasures that have been hidden here?” she asked Dimitri. “The spellbooks? Did you ever find the shrines? The creatures trapped below? Did you ever try to find out if the portal, the other portal, still exists?”

The girl shivered as Dimitri let his hands run over her body, but she didn’t tell him to stop, she only said the same words she had said before, “Please help me. Don’t let them kill me.”

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"I have left it as it was, I have merely taken a few rooms for myself on the lowest level. My harem and my experiments as well as a few rooms for my closest, Dorvold Hammerhelm and Taulkis, I am sure you have heard of them. I have made them rather notable as of late." He smiled gently, "It is frustrating that treasures loom so close to me, I control this place with the soldiers of the second house and patrol it with a few of Barra's creations, for now they respond to a few basic commands. I am unsure what to do with this place, perhaps I will restore part of it to what it once was, or perhaps I shall merely make it a large residence and Citadel for myself." He smiled gently and kissed the girl gently on the forehead, her babbling was irritating him, but he would stand her for now.

"Perhaps you might give me a tour of any notable locations? Coin, magics and anything of intrest would be useful, books too. I have a voracious appetite for knowledge." He smiled gently, "I need such things, creatures would also be of some use."

[Kalinda]

„Hammerhelm. He is the captain of the guards now, is he not?“ the woman asked. “A dwarf. There are not many of his kind in the city. They either avoid the vysstichi or try to kill him, but rarely co-exist with them peacefully.” She ignored the girl that Dimitri had decided to take with him, finding her irritating and moved deeper into the Collegium. “It’s strange that you haven’t explored it completely yet. One would have thought that it would have held more of your attention. Did you know that Barra used to teach here? Did you know that an Archmage was once imprisoned on the highest level of the Collegium? There are so many things here …”

She led him to the former entrance room of the Collegium where a five pointed star could be found on the floor. Once it had glowed with a crimson light, but the light had disappeared now. The portal had been destroyed. “Back when necromancers still lived here, you could not find the Collegium through ordinary means. There was no door. There was a statue, a portal in Har’oloth that only those that had a dark heart could enter. It would be good to find that portal and repair it or destroy it …” She turned around as she heard a moan, a sound of pain so intense that it didn’t seem possible. An utterly inhuman sound …

Statues had once stood in niches in the walls in this very room, but they had been taken away now. There was only one thing here now, a morbid reminder of the Collegium’s tragic past. A man hung on a metal cross on the wall, crucified. He was – or had been – human, with pale skin and white hair, about middle-aged. His black robe had been torn to shreds. Somebody had removed his eyes and cut his chest open to remove the internal organs. He had been the last High Priest of Jalat. His corpse had been preserved for all eternity by those who had killed his kind. He was forever suspended between life and death …

The pale lady approached him, was almost magically drawn towards him. She brought her face close to his mutiliated body, let her hands run across his cheeks almost lovingly – and then drew away with a look of disgust. “He’s gone”, she whispered. “Too far gone to bring him back. There’s still life in him, but it has been twisted beyond recognition … he’s worse than those zombies Barra creates. He still has his soul. Trapped … trapped for all eternity. His blood is cold and dry, and yet he’s still there …”

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"His clan was disgraced, I told him I would restore him here in the great Mountains, he is firm and his mind is lost to greed now, he makes an ideal companion for wickedness." He still had the girl, still cradled her into him like a child. For all his desires and supposed evil Dimitri was still a human and unlike his guest his heart beat rythmically. he felt sorry for this child who the beast before him wished ill for, he would stand up for her perhaps, they would see when the time came. At least he would see to her first he hoped, he had carried her for that purpose in any case.

"I knew of Barra, not of the Archmage I confess." He smiled, "I have not yet looked over my demense, a shame I know, a guide is rather useful. And I concur, to repair such a portal would make me more secure, I shall have my people look into it." He smiled gently, portals had always intrigued him, it would be nice to have a few of his own to play with.

Dimitri smiled as she spoke of the man on the wall and spoke himself in a tone of contempt for a moment, "You could be describing yourself. But then you are special, you can control yourself can you not, you can move of your own will and retain memory, sentience is the great gift you have." He smiled as he looked at the man suspended before him, "I am fond of him and he shall stay where he is, every house should be filled with wails, human misery makes for touching drama of the soul." He paused and turned to her again, "Come we search this place, let us go upwards first, to where this Archmage was imprisoned, then later I shall show you my treasures."

[Kalinda]

„His name was Avanthar Dra’Aran“, the lady explained. “A necromancer, both teacher and student at the High Collegium of the Dark Arts. He was imprisoned by the Matron of the Second House, but she undererstimated him, and he killed her and almost everybody else. He played a crucial role in Embracing Oblivion’s downfall.”

“No, not myself. I’m not like him.” She avoided looking at the dead priest, as if the sight of him were painful for her. “I still have my heart even though it is not beating any longer. I have more than he ever had. Follower of Jalat, priest of Death, what a waste of time ...”

She finally turned away from where the last High Priest of Jalat hung and began to lead him to the prison, to the highest tower in the very center of the Collegium. There was only one way to the prison, a single starcase that led into the black marble spire.

There was a dome made of black marble where nothing had been only a few short patterns ago. The ceiling was about ten metres above Dimitri’s head. There were no windows here, but it was not dark. The entire dome was filled with a dim red light that came from nowhere in particular.

A statue stood in the middle of this otherworldly chamber in a small, round pool that was filled with steaming water, the statue of a naked vysstichi woman – Haya, the goddess of lust. Walls of glass separated the dome into several rooms – or maybe cells ... cells made of class, cells of a shimmering, almost unnatural beauty, but just as effective as bars made of iron ...

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"It is a fool who mocks the gods." Dimitri smiled, "I find your kind more able patrons, Toherro is a generous benefactor though he is all in this world I fear." He cast a last glance to the man suspended before him and smiled gently, eternal life in a strange way, how queer life was.

"And what fun, I have visited the fortress of the aformentioned Master Dra’Aran however his orcs were highly unfriendly so I regrettably never got to see him." When they reached the top room he set the girl down by the statue of Haya and stood back to listen to her speak. "A Prison is always useful, and even if I dont worship Haya, I appreciate her form and beauty." He moved over to his guest and wrapped his arms around her waist again. Clearly in his own abode he was feeling more confident, "A rather good place to store some notable guests, I dont suppose you would like to stay here, can you reccomend anyone I can learn from in this place? Anyone worth having?"

[Kalinda]

„I find the gods useless most of the time“, the lady said. “Haya is of some interest as in Jorel, but I favour those that still dwell on the mortal plane. Jalat is a fool who seems to have no intention of hunting those that escaped him and betrayed him down, and the others … they sit comfortably in their Aetheria and watch.”

In the time she had dwelled on this plane, she had found the so called gods a nuisance at best. Haya, Jorel, Jalat, Ioannes and whatever else they were called, people prayed to them, people died for them, without ever attracting their attention. The real gods, those that affected the world around him, that shaped the future, were here, among them rather than in some far away Aeternia or Aetheria.

“So you do not fear me?” She seemed to find it interesting rather than offending that Toherro was all he feared. She allowed him to wrap his arms around her waist this time. She seemed to mind his touch less, seemed to even enjoy it slightly now that they were in a place where people had been tortured and died. “I met him once, this Dra’Aran. An interesting man although he possessed an unfortunate connection to the God of Death.”

“Store notable guests?” she laughed. “You mean imprison them, don’t you? There are still a few Masters of the Collegium alive besides Barra. They certainly wouldn’t mind returning to this place. I know where they are. I know who they are and what they are doing, even though they probably aren’t aware of this. Shall I invite them?”

“As for me, no, I don’t want to stay here. I have my own house, and my son is waiting for me. But I thank you for the offer.”

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri smiled and kept her drawn in closely to him, his smile never left his wide mouth. "Unless these prisons are of immense power and stop the magics of necromancers I would find it unwise to store such people here, I however would appreciate your knowledge. You of all people should know people of renown in this city, people who stay underground." Dimitri smiled, "Criminals with bounties on their heads, those former masters here you spoke of, golem-crafters and grafters, alchemists and mages who have kept away from the light. I would welcome them here if you tell me how to find them."

Dimitri smiled softly, "These cages will be for the sons and daughters of the wealthiest nobles and merchants in the city above, to ensure some loyalty, can you reccomend anyone to fetch them for me?"

[Kalinda]

„I know everybody that matters in this city“, she said as if it were nothing special, as if everybody possessed that kind of information – which was of course not the case. She was one of the few that really knew. She wasn’t one to show off. “I will give you a few names – later on, in more comfortable surroundings. It will take some time. Surely you would not mind sharing a drink or two with me? There is an … establishment in Har’oloth that I frequent from time to time, catering to people with special tastes. We can talk about it there – unless you are afraid of meeting me in my own territory?” She smiled at him.

“As for somebody to fetch the sons and daughters of Vortex’ nobles … Why do you not ask Barra or the woman that owns the slave market? Both have people in their employ that would be more than capable of it. It does not take a lot to break into a House on the surface. They are too trusting, too self-confident, otherwise they would not have let me live in their middle or let those mercenaries that once worked for me terrorize them.”

“But why do you want to store those human children here? To what end do you want to bring them here? What do you want to accomplish? When I took somebody, I never brought them to the place where I live, but hid them somewhere else so that nobody could suspect me if the worst happened, and I never showed my face. It’s different with the necromancers, their allies are gone and most of them are alone now, but it would be a bother to have a couple of humans knock on your door, even if they probably wouldn’t be able to hurt you seriously.”

“If you want to live as long as I do, if you want to change this world, there are things you have to take into consideration …” He showed promise, but there was still so much he had to learn before he could be of use to her or this city, before he was ready …

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"When I first decided to releive myself of my calling I intended to be quiet, to move behind the shadows and gently move events from nowhere. This is your game, your subtlety impresses me, I myself as captain of the guards and head of the army did something similar. Even now the guard and the army patrol where I wish, they move like a fist where I intend. I could close this city down and I know everyone who enters and everyone who leaves. Who collects taxes from the villages, it is I. Who runs slaves down here, I do." He smiled for a moment and held her closer as though this knowledge he had passed buoyed him, made him stronger.

"One day I may establish a Grand Duchy or even a Kingdom, when this Empire falls, if you grant me your powers I shall be able to wait for centuries for such a thing to happen. I shall control Southern Arium and all of the Great Mountains, even now I establish my power with the orcs and wild humans there, what use is it to me if people do not know me? It is dangerous I know but I cannot help but gain a reputation. Let the nobles and the merchants know that I am to be feared, let them pander to me to gain their daughters back. I hide behind Taulkis and Dorvold, should I not show my face or should I continue to hide, guide me?"

He smiled softly, he enjoyed her company, the fear gave him adrenaline and the lust was wonderful. Barra would have gone wild for her, his perfect woman. "Perhaps I am ambitious, perhaps demons or devils or whatever Barra or Toherro or yourself can conjour up for me can be placed here, I would relish teachers in such matters." He smiled, "A compulsion, I have a prison I want to fill it with something." He giggled gently and kissed her on the forehead enjoying the cold skin against his lips, "Shall we continue our tour? Or is there anything left with this room? I had half a mind to donate it to the slavers council I intend to establish, perhaps you would appreciate a representative on that particular council?"

[Kalinda]

„Impressive.“ This time the lady was not mocking him, she was not being sarcastic, she was indeed impressed. They were similar, they were running things, without anybody being aware of it. She controlled some of the illegal business in Har’oloth, she had been involved in Alaret Kitrye’veresi’s downfall, she had been behind some of Iseril Al’lende’s deeds in Vortex, but people were blaming others for her crimes. But while she was perfectly content with her existence in the shadows, while she found it delightful that people didn’t know it was her, that nobody suspected her to be responsible for her own crimes, Dimitri didn’t seem to be content with that.

She looked at him. Shivanya did of course understand it, on some level at least, that need to be famous, to be known, to be feared, but with making yourself and your deeds public, came too many risks, for somebody like her at least, somebody who was both a necromancer and closer to the dead and to the living. She at least had to hide her existence from the Empire, from all those that wanted her dead. On the rare occasions that she travelled outside the vysstichi city, she claimed to be nothing more than an Ariumite noblewoman, a half vysstichi of some wealth with somewhat eccentric manners.

“I understand. Be assured that I understand this need, that I understand the need to be known”, she told him. “I understand it more like anybody else in this city, but if you make your power – and your crimes public – people will eventually move against you. Could you defend yourself against an army sent from Nexus Prime? An assassin that sneaks into your bedchamber and night and tries to murder you in your sleep? A lover that puts poison into your food? If you want to have all the things you have now – and more – and you want people to be aware of it, you always need to be one step ahead of them. Do you know who Jharalynn’ Dhor’csar was? Do you know the fate of E’laith Dhor’csar, his father, the thief of the elven crown? Do you know the Lich? Those people had similar ambitions. They did not want to hide any longer, and they were killed because of it. Do you think you can last where they inevitably perished?”

“As for my powers, such a thing is never granted easily and never right away. I can teach you my art, even the secrets of the undead, but you will never be like me, not in the near future at least. Others came, others asked me, and others were denied. I am a solitary creature, I enjoy being the only one here, why would I want competetion?”

“A representative on the slavers council? Certainly. I might even give you something to fill your prison.” She would be Barra’a perfect woman, but unfortunately the necromancer would never be perfect for her. She needed somebody at her side that saw the world in exactly the same light, that didn’t spend his time sleeping around and seemed to have no ambition to rule, to be in control. “There is another room on one of the lower levels that I always found rather interesting. It contained a peculiar kind of enchantment”, she said as he mentioned continuing the tour. Pale, slender fingers brushed across his cheek, lingered on his chest. “But what of her? Your little slave?” She glanced at the girl Dimitri had decided to take with him, the girl that was still shivering and murmurring words that made little sense.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

"I shall remain down here in my hole, my eyes slowly darkening. I have slaves, I have undead, I have my control, when I do see control the city shall already be mine, I shall merely snap my fingers and things shall change." He nodded, "I still plan a little event this season though, just to let the nobility know that there is a duke claiming this place, plant that little seed." Dimitri chuckled softly, he was not letting her go yet, his fingers interlocked behind both of them and his smile grew broader.

Finally his hands left her and he stepped back a smile still playing across his face, "You amuse me so, and I know none of your history, you shall have to tell me fo the elven crown and the lich and so forth, also of the undead. I am a druid but I wish to control them, I would like to have servants, sentient undead servants I could control, loyal and powerful minions I crave." Dimitri smiled and glanced down at the girl, "I want to keep her with me, call it an oddity, I like to hold them sometimes, I want to have her with me when we walk." He did not know why he wanted this pojntless creature here, but he went over and scooped her up, it as almost his morality, if he gave her to the thing then he was truely gone, perhaps he held on to retain what shred of humanity he had. "Show me to this room, I have used only a few so perhaps this one is not known to me." He paused for a moment, "I have seen goblins also, pray tell me what they do around this estate?"

[Kalinda]

„Hole?“ The lady shook her head. “I would not consider the Collegium a hole. There are worse places to live in than a fortress where Masters and Archmages once walked about.” She didn’t let go of him either. She seemed to enjoy the contact in some way, was preying on his warmth. She seemed more alive as long as she was close to him.

“A druid can never control the undead completely. You are a master of the living and have the power to shape them to your liking, but as long as you only rely on this one sphere you will need others at your side, necromancers who take care of your undead servants.”

She was stating a simple truth. Even an Archdruid could not control the dead as a necromancer could. He dreamed of undead servants, but without necromancy those undead servants would not last long, and he would have to rely on weak druidic spells and willpower to keep them in check.

“The goblins?” She shrugged her shoulders, deciding not to dwell on the matter of controlling undead any longer. “Their uses are limited. When the necromancers lived here, they were servants, and now they seem to have taken to gather what treasures they can find, hide in their holes in the ground and scare those that dare to venture here.”

“Now follow me …” She took him through numerous hallways, down a couple of stairs to a black metal gate. It was dark here in the heart of the Collegium – and cold – but as she opened the gate, everything was suddenly filled with a silver light. She seemed to have taken him straight to the stairs. Silver lights glowed in the darkness of the Collegium, but after a few moments it become obvious that the light was not as intense as it should be. Dark spots were everywhere between the silver stars, dead stars that had ceased to glow. Still, this chamber was a miracle, a bit of sky in the underground.

[Dimitri Wladisyaw]

Dimitri smiled, "I will have the goblins as servants also, one should never underestimate something so small and so vicious, they will make admirable servants and they shall breed admirably I am sure." Dimitri smiled and followed her slowly, he always paused to marvel at his home again and again, it still amazed him. The finest hole to live in, in the Empire.

When he was introduced to this new room his reaction was dismay, all about him his home was a ruin and it needed to improve. He turned to her and smiled, "We stand in the ruins of the immortal, the stars are extinguished, portals no longer work, prisons are no longer filled. I despair of this situation, tell me, what is needed to get this place back to what it once was? What do I need to do to establish the portals and replace these stars, how do I unlock the potential of my citadel?" He looked at her and smiled gently before speaking softly, "Will you help me?"

[Kalinda]

„Each star stands for a necromancer“, the lady told him. Even though she had never been close to the Masters of the Collegium, she seemed to know the place intimately. “One star for every necromancer that walked through these hallways, from the Collegium’s beginning to its destruction. They say there is a way to track the necromancers through them, but I never found out how. The dead stars belong to dead necromancers. Those that are still shining, belong to those that are alive. I’ll help you of course. I have a desire to see the Collegium rebuilt as well, even though our reasons may be different.”

“You need a sorcerer to repair the portals. You need people in here, mages, if you want to replace the stars. Empty, the Collegium is of no use.” She seemed sad as she said this. The last time she had been here it had been to help a friend, a friend who was long dead now. The Masters – especially Barra – had been more interested in experimenting on her, but she had never wanted their death. The Collegium was necessary. It had acted as a buffer between the vysstichi houses. Vortex itself was weak without the Masters.

“There is another chamber below this one where those that desired to reach the rank of Master were tested. They kept rare creatures there, for the students to cast their spells on and experiment with. You should have been there when this place was filled with life.”