Legend of Ransera

It wasn’t more than a moment’s time back in Hilana’s apartment that a startling knock rapped against her front door. Once it was answered, she would see no one at first and only after blinking did she see a black figure seem to phase into existence. The veiled Sentinel stepped inside without welcome and paused, noting Raithen, to bow to him. The Sentinel spoke in a voice as ambiguous as their veiled and vested figure.

“Your Resplendence.” And back to Hilana, “Ms. Chenzira. The Vigilia Magna is most interested in your progress on the isle. I have been tasked with escorting you both to a debrief at a secure location with Vigilia High Command. Please take a moment to pack for a week-long excursion. Duke Raithen, your packing has already been seen to. The Magnati congregate in the meanwhile, so tarry not.”

With that said, the Sentinel would step aside. It was unclear how they knew Hilana and Raithen had returned. Had they been staking out the apartment Scanning for shifts in the slipspace? Was some sort of alarum beacon set? Or was it some larger network of surveillance, suspected by many and unknown to most? Whatever the case, they’d wasted no time in stepping in. If Hilana had not already suspected her endeavour was drawing close to a climax, this certainly seemed like a good sign that such was the case.

When things were squared away on Hilana’s end, the Sentinel lifted their hands and executed a series of gestures, whispering in Vallenor, as the shadows began to gather from the corners of the room in which they’d lurked, forming a ring. The ring widened to a size through which even Raithen could step without ducking his wings.

“Follow.” The Sentinel stepped into the ring and was swallowed by shadow. As the others stepped through, neither Semblance nor Traversion would give them a full picture of what was being done. It was clearly intentionally obscure, though Raithen would sense Traversion magic was being utilised. It was complemented by something else, which concealed the slipspace pathways being Traversed.


Once through the portal, they would find themselves in unfamiliar environs. It was a simple, dimly lit chamber, rather like a holding cell. Stony grey walls with no windows nor even doors surrounded them. It was simple, spartan and bereft of adornment. No paintings on the walls, no furniture upon which to recline. Just an austere, unwelcoming box of stone.

“We will wait here unti—” The Sentinel’s voice was interrupted by a booming baritone that seemed to emit from every surface surrounding them:

“We are gathered.” With no sound, the wall before them shifted, a fissure of light emerged in the centre and widened into an opening about the breadth of a set of double doors. Through it, they could see a massive chamber with high ceilings, towering columns and a high daïs at the end of the tiled floor. It was far enough that they could not determine the identities of the five figures who sat on imposing thrones. The Sentinel who’d brought them, began to step forward marching the vasty length of a hall so great it might house every member of both royal families, even the dragons in their true forms. It seemed very empty, holding only five at so great a distance.

Drawing closer, they would see plainly who sat in the middle. With platinum white hair and metallic wings, sat Zalkyriax in his semi-elven seeming. Cithæra sat at his right hand, Valæra at hers. To the left of the Crownwyrm sat Phocion and to his left Vrædyn Princeps.

Upon reaching the inner sanctum, the Sentinel stepped to the middle of the pattern in the tile a few metres from the daïs and genuflected. When obeisances had been made, Zalkyriax spoke:

“You have walked a long path under your own auspices with marginal support from the realm. I deemed it ill-advised to commit resources to the outset of a quest that may come to nothing. You have now dismissed those concerns. How would you proceed?”

Well, she hadn’t expected that. She had figured she would need to go back to the Vigilia Magna and let her know what she’d learned, because she definitely needed a wyvern to go and explore the place from overhead. And possibly borrow a better Sembler than she was… “Understood, Vigil. Would you care to wait inside?” she offered, before hurrying to her room to get changed and packed. Preening Raithen’s wings was going to have to wait. She knew her cats wouldn’t bother the veiled figure, if only because they’d never notice them there.

The Vastiana would make quick work of it. She got changed into clean skirts of black, silver, red, and gold, and tidied her hair up. She didn’t know what type of excursion to expect, and that meant prepare for just about everything. She already had her Volumen and her Mask packed, along with her Ring of Traversion. Restoratives, elixirs, medical supplies, and tools went next. The dragonshard chip gloves for her hands. Waterskins, aqualyth dragonshard, lodestones. A couple lengths of rope. The masterwork falcata she had found in Ecith. Travel cloak, tarp. The less obstructive attire that she had worn before when they had ventured to Kaladon would do, along with a few other sets of clean clothes. She would shove shelf-stable snacks of nuts, dried fruit, pitas, hard cheese, and jerky in the bag.

Fail to plan, plan to fail.

She left a note for Lia on feeding the cats, and then she was ready to go. Her sister could take care of the rest of it from there. With her rucksack on her shoulders and her featherlight satchel draped across her body, she followed the Sentinel through the portal when it was made, and smiled up at Raithen, glad that he was there with her. Hopefully she would be able to grab Finn before they left, too.


When they emerged through the portal, Hilana looked around at the barren stone holding chamber, and did not fuss or fidget, her hands resting on the straps of her rucksack. They didn’t have long to wait, either, as the booming baritone certainly reminded her of His Exalted Majesty. This was a massive, imposing hallway indeed, and she kept up with the Sentinel as the hems of her long skirts swept along the floor. When the Sentinel took a knee, Hilana sank down and kowtowed before the five upon the dais. She might not normally take her knees before royalty, but the Crownwyrm was another matter entirely.

She had wondered about Prince Vraedyn's presence when she initially saw him, but then it made sense to her considering the fact that he was beside Prince Phocion on the dais, and he was beside the Crownwyrm. Avaerys Imperator, Varvara Imperatrix, the Crownwyrm, the Vigilia Magna and Princeps Sibylla, and Princess Valaera. She did not look up upon them, nor dare speak until she was addressed. Her hands were folded on her legs, and she looked up at the Magnati.

"Your Exalted Majesty. Your Serene Highnesses," Hilana began. The Founders could observe through Their chosen, but she could properly address them when They made an appearance. "We have located Insula Celatium, which I believe to be the last known location of Israxa the Black Dragon. It is approximately seven miles east of Insula Vrontium. We have learned that there are, or at least, were, a number of educated and advanced white-haired human people that have been there at least ten generations back by Neptori standards. I do not know if they are still there, as the last contact that their neighbours had with them was approximately 337 years ago. They bartered for what I believe to be lytirisyte from the locals at that time, and have not been seen since. I was going to request to borrow a wyvern, and ask for the assistance of a Sembler with stronger skills than my own to go and investigate the island with the Mask of Midnight's Mother in order to do some reconnaissance before beginning a ground search for further clues to locate Israxa and the Zalkyrian Horn."

Cithæra answered Raithen's bow with a faint smile and a nod of acknowledgement, though the others remained stoic and consummately formal in the presence of the Rex Draconum. Prince Vrædyn, though not outwardly emotional by any normal standard, was amongst the least guarded of his family and his sidelong check-ins toward the Umbrian king betrayed his frayed nerves in present company. It was not just that he was in the presence of an ancient power who'd been contemporary to the Gods he'd devoted his life to, it was also that he was still a Luxian on paper. And, while a regent held the position normally held by a sovereign, Vrædyn was in contention to assume that lofty position. There was political peril in the company he'd been keeping of late, and his trust in the Vigilia's discretion, great though it was, did not put his fears entirely to rest.

All eyes turned to Hilana as she gave her account of the recent progress and her notions for how to move forward. There was stillness upon the daïs as she spoke and it was only when she spoke of her planned requisitions that Zalkyriax moved, shaking his head.

"A wyvern will not be necessary. Your mission has reached a point at which greater resources should be committed than those which the Umbrium has proffered thus far. Princess Valæra?" He tipped his head in her direction and she nodded.

"I have spent the bulk of the past few years committed to a project which should prove useful as you embark on the next leg of your adventure." The moonborn princess rose from her seat and executed a complex hand gesture, which cause the faint hieroglyphs engraved in the tile of the floor to glow to life. The light began to gather into a dome, in which an image or model was projected. It was unclear whether this was a recorded moment, a live feed from elsewhere in the empire, or a fabricated scene, but what was being depicted was clear.
"This is the Callidus Victoris, a prototype that has is ready to be exploited in the field. It will be manned by a Sentinel complement and will transport a party of your choosing to Insula Celatium. Out of respect for the work you have done thus far in this endeavour, His Exalted Majesty has insisted that you serve as the mission leader for its final leg. Whether you elect to invite paupers or princes to witness the culmination of your achievement, the Pyramid tilts in your favour for the duration of the campaign." Valæra, being hard to read as most of her kin, might have sounded vexed by this honour, but her outward coldness was often interpreted that way as Raithen was well aware.

"I will be very clear." The raven-haired vigilia continued, "We do not know what lies ahead. It is very rare that we are as ill-informed prior to committing such vasty resources and lives to an expedition. This is as much a burden as it is a plaudit, and you would be wise to be mindful and deferential in the delegation that will be required of you as a leader."

Phocion spoke up:

"I have volunteered to captain the maiden voyage of the Callidus Victoris, but will serve at your pleasure with a compliment of my wardens prepared to face off against any particularly potent hostile entities we may encounter."

"I would suggest a Grandmaster Mesmer in addition to the Sembler you've already proposed." Cithæra noted, "A practitioner at the level of His Serene Highness Prince Vrædyn or his Exalted Highness the Crown Prince would be an immense asset."

"It would be my pleasure to serve, should Ms. Chenzira ask it of me." Vrædyn offered.

"I expect you will want for The Duke Raithen's deft hand with a blade at your side, as well." The Vigilia Magna observed with a smile to her golden son.

"Enough." Zalkyriax lifted a halting hand, "You will have sufficient time to brief her and jockey for positions ere the voyage commences. Before I quit this chamber and you are able to tour the Callidus Victoris, have either of you questions or concerns you wish to raise?" He looked from the Vastiana to his stepson and back, brow arched in anticipation.

The entire time she was before these Magnati, she reminded herself of Cithaera's advice to Princes Phocion and Arvaelyn and herself the last year on her birthday when they had first descended into the Thalamum Draconum with sealed titanium scroll case. Be not bold, be not familiar, be not presumptuous. It was good advice, and it had served her well ever since it had been given to them that day. She had found that it had stopped her from making a number of missteps that might have been deeply problematic, and gave her a mantra to make her slow down and think before she spoke.

Which, realistically, was highly necessary. It was still an ongoing lesson, but she was at least making little improvements. She hadn't been turned into crispy fried Hilana yet, or been sent to the College of Compliance...

When she had delivered her anticipated plan of action going forward, she had expected that a wyvern and another Sembler would have been the appropriate response, to not waste valuable resources or lives. A small team to go in quietly and see what could be found using her treasured Artifact, and then report back again, preferably with a lot more intelligence, to see what could be accomplished from there. It might well have been that those who had been there for so long had died out, or they might have been seriously armed to the teeth and prepared to repel those who were looking for something else entirely.

Apparently not.

Her eyes get quite enormous to see the image that manifested for them. She had to stop herself from her jaw dropping. She had seen airships in Kalzasi when she had been, though she had not gone near them or rode one. The Vastiana did mouth 'oh, glories', awed. The Callidus Victoris... She felt the name was quite a nice touch; especially considering what was apparently going to be its maiden mission. That Phaedryn Callidus' planning from thousands of years before might be finally realized. They were banking on the Tubae being here, that Israxa had not gone elsewhere, but they had trusted her to fulfill her task. She needed to fulfill hers.

Despite the impressive manifestation, the young woman listened carefully. She mind Valaera's tone; she had been that way, mostly, when they had gone to investigate the crystal tower to the west. She had also been that way a year ago when Hilana had successfully coaxed Arvaelyn Princeps and Finn to the Frost Festival. It was just the way she was, and even if she had been vexed, Hilana wouldn't have taken it personally. Most of them were fairly vexed by her.... and rightfully. But she felt that there was sage advice being offered here, and she knew that she would heed it. None of them had steered her wrong yet, and they weren't about to do so now. She bowed her head respectfully in acknowledgement.

The Vastiana was grateful for the larger force planned and offered, and while it was a risk as Princess Valaera said, she could see the wisdom in going ahead with it. If the small expedition force had been caught then they would have lost any element of surprise if there was one to be had, and given a warning to these Ifaísteii that had taken up residence in the Hidden City. It may well have been better to go hard from the start with those who had decades and more of training while they had the element of surprise and the best chances for success. They were the ones with immeasurable experience between them in many different fields, and she trusted their judgment.

Phocion volunteered to act as Captain, and for that, Hilana was thankful. He had been with her from the start of this journey, and had helped in many ways along the way. While she had tried to stay out of trouble, there had been the Lykos incident, and he had certainly made things a lot easier. She had found that no matter the situation that she had found herself in with him, she trusted his judgment. He was capable, intelligent, and insightful. He was quick on his feet, and she felt that it was rather fitting that he was with her for the final leg of the of this quest.

Cithaera's suggestions were solid - Vraedyn Princeps, who agreed to accompany them, and Raithen Dux. She wondered if Arvaelyn Princeps might be willing to go as well, especially as she would ask Finn if he wanted to accompany them. But the last time he had ventured out with her, he had gotten an arm severed, and this was bound to be risky, too... more so, if she had to guess. There was a great chance of danger here, and if Finn got hurt again, Arvaleyn would have her disembowelled just to start... Death would be slow, and it would be ugly. She pushed those thoughts away for the moment. She wondered if Valaera might join them as Sembler, considering her capabilities and her familiarity with the Callidus Victoris... but she would need to ask. Raithen would come, she knew, without question... but she would ask him properly all the same.

Her brain was starting to go at a thousand miles an hour when Zalkyriax spoke up. That brought her back to the present, and she considered the Crownwyrm's words. What questions and concerns did she have? She was quiet for a moment. She had concerns aplenty: there were so many unknowns and there was a lot of risk at play here. A lot of lives could be hanging in the balance, but she trusted the skills of those around her. Not only did she trust them, but she believed in them. Those concerns that she had might be better addressed to those that would be accompanying her, rather than trivialize the Platinum Greatwyrm with them. Be not bold, be not familiar, and be not presumptuous. "I thank you, Your Exalted Majesty, for placing your trust in me. May I ask what advice you would offer for proceeding with so many uncertainties as Princess Valaera noted?"