trans_9 | The Accursed Island [Closed]

Planet Designation: Forcellia Status: Terrestrial, H-class. Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna. Semi-Sentient Life: Yes. Sentient Life: Homo Sapiens. Water: 69.5% of the planet's surface. Climate: Earth-like Landscape: Varied. Air: Normoxic concentration. Air Pressure: 101.3 kPa (kilopascals) = 14.7 psi (pounds per square inch) Sky: Blue, with variable cloud cover. Sun: A class G2V, yellow star. Warnings: Wildlife and plant-life can be hazardous. Humans can be hazardous. Mission: Negotiate for or otherwise obtain the artifact known as the Scepter of Domination.

Forcellia, or at least the part of it that contained the clearing in which the group now found themselves, wasn't exactly welcoming. The ground was little more than rocky soil, the sky violet-grey and overcast. Here, it was evidently late afternoon, edging into evening. It was slightly humid, as if from a recent rain; faint clouds of steamy mist seemed to curl off the ground, partially obscuring their view of their surroundings. Scraggly trees rose up out of this mist here and there, as if grasping towards fresher air.

The villagers in the area had supposedly been contacted ahead of time, and this had been the place they’d agreed to meet the crew. Whether or not they knew anything about this supposed Scepter of Domination, however, was not yet clear. What the Scepter even did or how it might contribute to their struggle was even less clear.

In the distance, they might hear the occasional whinny of a horse, or the lowing of a cow carrying up to them from the distance, though it was difficult, if not impossible, to tell from which direction the sound was coming from.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The way she spoke and her choice of words reminded her of the shamans and druids of her world. It's something she'd expect her eldest uncle to say.

Hearing that she was a witch made sense to her, at least if witches were the same here as they were in Azeroth, which were much different than those she'd read about in the earth books.

At the question she shook her head, "Not unless it's necessary. Usually forces such as him are an integral part of the world they belong to. All we want to is achieve our goal here and move along."

"I see," said Karla, a flicker of what might have been amusement in her eyes. "And if, in doing so, you leave him free to take more lives in the future?"

Then she grew more serious. "And are you certain that it is the Scepter of Domination that you seek? A dragon hoards many riches over the course of its lifetime, an ancient dragon more than most. There are no doubt items you could find in his stores that you could not hope to obtain anywhere else on Lodoss."

"If it's been like this for as long as you said he's been alive, than there's a reason for it, being part of the world or whatever scheme the gods of this world have for its denizens... As much as I'd like to help on principle... I can't make a decision this big without knowing more about what's going on."

Again, not wanting to make the mistake of possibly unbalancing the nature of the world and creating more harm than good.

"And maybe if I was in search of riches and other worldly glory. But I'm not here for his treasure, I was simply following the outlines of the mission..."

She couldn't say she was interested in possible items that might be useful to her studies or the mission, but this was hardly the time to be thinking about spoils of war.

"I see." That hint of amusement resurfaced. "A noble sentiment. In that case, perhaps I should tell you about what it is you seek. The people here have told you, no doubt, that the Scepter of Domination is a magical artifact of ill portent.

"In truth, it was created by the gods, who fell into conflict shortly thereafter over who would control its power. In the divine war that followed, it changed hands many times before it was deemed lost. Those who know of its existence have coveted its influence ever since."

Ronnae listened intently, liking less and less the idea of what they sought. In her experience, any artifact created by gods, and there after fought over, was always bad news... always. Like the Dragon Soul in her world, or the Eye of Sargeras... all of them had created much havoc while being fought over.

"I see..." she eyes her curiously before speaking again. "I'm going to guess here and say that you don't know where it is either? And what is your relation to the scepter? Are you like the guardian of this world?"

Maybe like the Guardians of Tirisfal.

Soren stepped forth from the shadows where he'd been listening, bent on asking a practical (though probably rude) question of his own.

"And what does this scepter do? I, personally, would like to know what it is we're risking our lives for."

Karla's gaze turned distant, as if remembering events long past. "According to legend, five hundred years ago, Lodoss was ruled by a kingdom of unparalleled sorcery. None of its citizens knew want or sickness; it bent the people of the nearby barbarian tribes to perform those tasks deemed too menial for the populace. Sorcerers then were as common as sellswords, capable of magics now dismissed as impossible or lost. It was the Kingdom of Kastuul that rediscovered the Scepter, and used it to stabilize its position of power... even after its citizens descended into frivolity and decadence.

"When it finally fell, its magicians bent the last of their powers to one purpose: compelling the Ancient Dragons to take the kingdom's greatest treasures for safekeeping until the time came for Kastuul to rise to the fore of history once more. The Scepter of Domination was one of those treasures, and it was Shooting Star to whom it was entrusted. Any scholar who has delved long enough into the written records can tell you this much."

Her expression hardened slightly at Soren's question. "The Scepter of Domination grants its owner the power of sovereignty. Absolute sovereignty. The power to rule Lodoss. The power to compell the Ancient Dragons. The power to control this world. Perhaps... more. But that is why you came here, is it not?"

She turned to face the mountains in the west, favoring the slowly smouldering volcano in the distance with a long look before returning her attention to Ronnae.

"Guardian of the world? Hardly. However, you might say that I watch over Lodoss."

"If the scepter's sole power is linked to this world.... Wouldn't it be useless aboard Stacy?"

She thought out loud, not really intending for it to be a question in the first place and more of a personal one. Nonetheless, it'd be good to ask since she agreed with Soren as to wanting to know why the mission was set forth in the first place... specially if the item they were searching for would be useless to them.

"Are there any remnants of this Kastuul?"

Karla's smile was enigmatic. "Who can say? It is not I that sent you here. Perhaps that is a question best asked of your taskmaster."

She motioned widely with one hand. "Of course. The occasional old grimoire that escaped the burning. The ruins far to the south, stripped and blasted. And, of course, the geis on each of the five dragons tasked to preserve the last of Kastuul, which protects them even as it binds them to their directive."

The Accursed Island [Closed]

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